December 29, 2023 • 30 mins
The Sealed Book was a radio series of mystery and terror tales, produced and directed by Jock MacGregor for the Mutual network. Between March 18 and September 9, 1945, the melodramatic anthology series was broadcast on Sundays from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm.Each week, after "the sound of the great gong," host Philip Clarke observed that the mysteriously silent "keeper of the book has opened the ponderous door to the secret vault wherein is kept the great sealed book, in which is recorded all the secrets and mysteries of mankind through the ages.
Here are tales of every kind, tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds strange and terrible beyond all belief." After this introduction, the dramas began, with three organ solo breaks for inserting the commercials of local stations carrying the program. Although this anthology series did not have recurring characters (other than the Narrator and the Keeper of the Book), the writers often used the same names for different characters from week to week, including "Hester", "Drake", and most especially "Roger".
Here are tales of every kind, tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds strange and terrible beyond all belief." After this introduction, the dramas began, with three organ solo breaks for inserting the commercials of local stations carrying the program. Although this anthology series did not have recurring characters (other than the Narrator and the Keeper of the Book), the writers often used the same names for different characters from week to week, including "Hester", "Drake", and most especially "Roger".
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:10):
The seal Book. Once again.The Keeper of the Book has opened the
(00:36):
ponderous door to the secret vault,wherein is kept the Great sealed Book,
in which has recorded all the secretsand mysteries of mankind through the ages.
Here are tales of every kind,tales of murder, of madness, of
dark deeds, strange and terrible,beyond all beliefs. Keeper of the Book,
(01:02):
I would know what tale we tellthis time. Open the great book
and let us read. Slowly.The great book opens one by one.
The Keeper of the book turns thepages and stops ah the strange story of
(01:29):
a wealthy man who, to enjoythe fortune he had stolen, wove the
web of death around those who stoodin his way, a tale titled the
Man with the Stolen Face. Hereis the tale The Man with the Stolen
(02:38):
Face, as it is written inthe pages of the Sealed Book. Our
story begins in the large, richlyfurnished office of John Harrington, famous financier.
It is late afternoon and Harrington isspeaking to Matthew Brakes, his very
confidential secretary. Well, this isit. I swore I was going to
(03:01):
retire when I had twenty million dollarsand now I have it. I've worked
hard and now I'm going to playhard. And do your plans include me
still? Of course they do,Matt. I couldn't get along without you.
I see. Yes, I supposeyou still need someone to do your
dairty work for you. Why,Matt, what a thing to say?
(03:22):
Now, where would you be ifyou hadn't hooked up with me? Executed
and buried these fourteen years? That'swhere I know you don't need to remind
me, because after all, youdid kill that man, Matt, kill
him in cold blood. No,you and I belong together. You could
send me to jail, but Istill have carefully locked in my lawyer's safe,
(03:44):
all the evidence necessary to send youto the gallows. Yes, I
know. Now, Why don't yourun along to the apartment. I think
I'll sit and smoke one last cigarhere in my office. I'll see you
later. Oh he hates me,there's nothing dars do about it. Well,
(04:04):
I suppose a lot of people hateme. I'm not going to let
that worry me. And now isthe time for me to enjoy myself and
I'm going to fun. That's myprogram from now on. That program will
have to be canceled. Harrington.Who are you? I'm Jeremiah Call Harrington.
You don't recognize the name I see, why should I? I never
(04:27):
heard of you before in my life, I dare say not. But you've
heard of my father, Nathan Cole. He gave you your first job twenty
years ago. Well, what ofit? I don't suppose you've forgotten that
you got your start by cheating himout of his business. I did nothing
illegal your own my father after he'dbefriended you when he died of a broken
heart. I've spent twenty years trappingyou, and now I'm ready to pull
(04:47):
the news tight. You're crazy.There is no man alive who has anything
on me. I have san Quentin, Sam Quentin. What are you talking
about? When you were nineteen yearbefore you came to the city and dad
gave you a job. You escapefrom san Quentin and you kill the guard
doing it. Nonsense. You're You'recrazy. Believe me, I can prove
(05:10):
it. I've spent almost twenty yearsgetting ready for just this moment. What
do you want? I want twentymillion dollars. You can't be serious.
Well, that's every cent I havein the world. You ruin my father,
and I intend to ruin you.Turn over to me your entire fortune,
and I'll consider that punishment enough.No, no, I won't do
(05:30):
it. I have two detectives waitingnow in the outer office. Do you
want me to call them in?No? Oh, wait, all right,
I'll do it. I'll give youeverything. I thought that would be
your decision. Very well, justsign this paper and then you care what
(05:53):
are you doing? Take your handsoff my fool? You fool here think
I'm man to give up that easy? Soho you? Yes, I have
to coin ten million dollars and nobody'sgoing to take them away from me.
Nobody threatened me. That's what happensto men who threatened John Harrington. And
(06:23):
now I've gotta get your body outof sight. Yes, of course the
vault I have noted you get andyou have room in it for a dead
blackmailer. So you go, andthere you are out to close the door,
(06:45):
set the time clock, and nobodywill be able to find you before
monday. As for your detectives outside, there's a back door to this office
by which I can leave. Youdidn't know that, did you? Miss?
Coal? And a lot of thingsyou wouldn't know, and one of
them is that you shouldn't try toget the better of John Harrington. So
(07:17):
John Harrington slipped away by means ofthe back door, and, once safely
outside, telephone Briggs, giving Briggsinstructions to meet him at his mountain lodge
that night with all the money andsecurities he could put his hands on.
Harrington then made his way by lonelyback roads to his isolated lodge in the
(07:38):
hills, at which Briggs presently arrivedto learn his employer's unfortunate flights. But
John, what can you do ifyou kill this man? Coal? I
don't see how you You're here tohelp me, not to hang creep.
All right, just tell me whatyou wanted to do, and listen.
We're safe here for quite a while. Nobody knows about this hideaway, but
you wan me. We have plentyof food and we can stay here in
(08:00):
definitely, yes. But the minuteyou leave here, someone will recognize you.
That rugged face of yours has beenin the paper's newsreel so often.
Everybody knows that. I'm aware ofthat. So I've got to have a
new face, a new face.Why not I know just the man to
do it Lord with Molla. Mola, you mean the plastic surgery expert who
was mixed up with that gang outin Chicago. That's the one he was
(08:20):
given five years for altering the featuresof members of the gang. Hell,
he must be out now. Thatwas six years ago. Yes, yes,
I don't doubt he could do it. But I have it all planned
out. How First you've got tobring Molla here with all the necessary equipment.
Then you have to find someone myage and my height who's willing to
become John Harrington become you. That'sinsane. Why even for all your money,
(08:46):
who would trade places with you willgo to the electric chair. Don't
be stupid, Matt, I tellyou I have that worked out too.
Now. Listen, You've got tofind someone my age in general bild who
has no wife or family, who'snot wanted by the police, and has
never been involved with the law inany way, who's lived an inconspicuous life
and has never attracted much attention.I'll take his place and live his life.
(09:09):
He'll take mine and become a millionaire. But I don't argue. You
find such a man and bring himhere, and I'll guarantee to persuade him
to make the exchange. When Imake a plan, it doesn't go wrong.
(10:37):
And now to continue the story asit is written in the sealed book.
(11:13):
A week passed, then a secondand a third. Then late one
evening Briggs returned. In the car. With him were two men, one
large and heavy set like John Harrington, the other slender, pale, and
nervous. Briggs ushered them to separaterooms. Then he reported to his master,
(11:35):
well, man, we'll be gotto take my place. His name
is Quinsay, William Quincy. Ihave his whole life history written down for
you. Yeah, I see hum, William Quincy saidy nine born in Detroit,
parents dead, unmarried, no policerecord, college education, traveling salesman,
(11:56):
down on his luck at the moment, he seems to fit the bill.
Does anybody know you've brought him here? Now us? All good?
Bring him in. I'll put theproposition to him. All right, Come
in, Quincy, John, thisis William Quincy. Hello, Quincy,
Sit down, holdly, smoke yourJohn Harrington. That's right, Sit down,
(12:18):
have a cigar, and we'll getdown the cases. Quincy, what
would you do for a million dollars? A million dollars? I am ready
to pay that much money for someonewho'll spend ten years maybe less in jail
in my place. What kind ofa trick you trying to pull? Briggs
told me you wanted for two murders. I'm not trying to pull any trick.
(12:39):
I'm innocent of the California murder,and I wished I could get for
killing that full in my office's manslaughter. He was a blackmailer and I lost
my temper. Well, is ita deal for a million dollars? Yes,
yes, it's a deal. Good. I'm afraid that you'll have to
sell me your face as well asyour time, Quincy, sell you my
(13:01):
face? Ha ha ha Oh that'sa hot one. That's so funny about
it. Excuse me, mister Harrington. I've always heard that a man's face
was his fortune, but I neverknew mine had any market value before.
Well it has one million dollars.O kay, you've bought it. Of
course you have to take my facein exchange. Oh sure, huh,
(13:24):
sure, I understand. Good.A lot of things to be settled ed,
but we have time for that,ah Mad. Will you bring in
Ludwig Muller? Of course, John, there's just one thing I want to
know, mister Harrington. Uh whenI'm you, how am I going to
clear myself of that California rap whichyou're innocent of? Very simply you will
(13:45):
take my face, but your fingerprintswon't gibe with a prince on file at
San Quentin. That'll be obvious proofyou are not the man. Very clever,
mister Harrington. I think of everydetail Quincy as you'll see. Oh,
come in, doctor, doctor Muller. This is mister Harrington. Please
not doctor Muller. I have nolicense. I'm playing mister Marler just as
(14:07):
you like, mister Muller. Butto sit down, please thank you?
Now? May I ask why Iwas brought here? Just to help me
and mister Quincy here exchange faces?Exchange faces? But why should you wish
to do such a thing for personalreasons? We plan to exchange identities.
(14:30):
You could make my face look likeQuincey's and his like mine. Couldntume Yes,
yes of course I could. Butthen you're going to do it,
and I'm going to pay you amillion dollars. A million dollars. No,
you cannot mean it. I domean it. With that much money,
you can become a man of scienceagain. You can build laboratories,
(14:50):
experiment, become famous, all justfor a simple job of plastic surgery.
Not simply no, but yes,mister Harring, I will do it.
(15:13):
Muller began work upon the two men. Day after day. He worked patiently
with skilled fingers, changing their features, making the face of one into the
face of the other. It wasa long and difficult job, but as
a time for the removal of thefinal bandages came closer, John Harrington was
(15:35):
in excellent spirits. Well, Quincy, I feel ready to take over the
role of John Harrington millionaire anytime I'vepracticed your walk, your signature. I
even know what you like to eat. What are you going to do after
you become William Quincy esquire. Idon't suppose you'll be going back to my
(15:58):
old hometown Detroit. You no,I hadn't planned to. Well, take
a tip from me, don't.What do you mean? Why not?
Are the people there who don't likeme? I thought? Briggs said,
you had a perfectly clear record.Oh, I have, but I quarreled
with one or two people, werenothing legal. But well, you wouldn't
(16:22):
know who my friends were and whowere my enemies. So on the whole.
It'd be simpler just to give Detroita wide birth. You're talking very
strangely, Quincy. What's behind it? Not a thing I've just worked up,
I guess, because tomorrow we're goingto see what we look like as
each other. The next day,Ludwig Muller removed the bandages from their faces
(16:56):
and from Harrington's hands, and whathe held mirrors for them to see themselves.
Good heaven, you do not recognizeyourself, firm, mister Harry,
I should say not why I'm almosttempered to say hello Quincy when I look
in the mirror. It's my finestjob, I'll say it is. Personally.
(17:18):
I like the change. I congratulateyou, Mulla. We must drink
a toast to your success. Thankyou. That's a good idea. We'll
drink to Harrington safe in jail andQuincy adrift in the wide dangerous world.
What do so? Oh? Helloman, how do you like my new
(17:38):
face? It's a perfect job.We were just going to drink to it.
It brings some glasses and at thecandle, will you, in fact
bring the special decanter of Napoleon Brandy, certainly get it. Napoleon brandy.
Eh, sounds good. Hell,we'll drink to our futures. I may
be going to jail for a while, but when I got out, I'm
(18:00):
going to live high, wild andhandsome. And how about you, mister
Harrington Quincy, where are you headedfor? With my face cool, I'll
see what New York is like?Then try bonus as and real Desionio is
it? John? Shall I potherdrinks? Yes, madam, and one
for yourself. No thanks, Ihave a drink you know that. But
(18:23):
here are Quincy. Thank you,Doctor Miller, Thank you John. Thanks,
gentlemen. I propose a toast youare collective futures. I'll drink to
that. Come on, Doc,bottoms up. Ah, that's smooth stuff.
(18:48):
How very good. Indeed, misterHarrington, lad you liked it.
Now if you'll excuse me, Ihave some business to talk over with Matt.
But keep the decandor and help yourself. The day is a day to
cut loose, and I'm going tocut force both another. Doc, sure,
come along into my office, Matt. Yes, John, I'll sit
(19:11):
down and let's see where we are. I've taken care of everything I can
think of, all transfers of moneyin stocks, have been finished except for
a couple of million. I'm afraidwe'll have to let those last few millions
go too much danger trying to transferthem. But you've done well, Matt.
Thank you, John? And Iwhat was that? It's like somebody
(19:33):
falling there it is again. Irather imagine it was Quincy and Muller.
The poison I put in that Brandyyesterday works fast poison. Of course,
I only pretended to drink mine.You mean you exactly. I couldn't let
them live. They knew too much. Have you no human feelings? Whatever?
(19:56):
Not where my own skin is concerned. I proposed to start my new
life as William Quincy, with aclean slick and no witnesses left behind me.
Oh does that include me? ToJohn, I'm afraid it does.
Matt. No, I don't know. I have my gun here in my
pocket. Say yes, I seenow I've been a fool, haven't I.
(20:19):
I'm afraid so you should have acdit first, Matt and killed me.
Yes, I should have, butI never had the courage. The
race is to the strong, neverto the week. Maybe you're right,
John, maybe, but the weeksometimes win two. This is a joke
on me and on Quincy. Butit's a joke on you too, John,
(20:44):
because we had good bye Matt.That's that when the police find you
met together with my buddy, thestory worry of John Harrington will be over
for good and all. But thestory of William Quincy, footloose and fancy
(21:06):
free is just beginning. And nowto continue the story as it is written
(22:55):
in the Sealed Book. A daylater, John Harringdon slipped away from the
mountain hideout, leaving death in solepossession. He had no qualms and no
fears. His new face was thatof another man, and he became the
other man as William Quincy. Hereached New York and went to the hotel
(23:18):
where Matt Briggs had made a reservationfor him by mail, Hey, yes,
sir, can I help you?My name's Quincy, William Quincy.
You're holding a suite for me?Oh yes, sir, seventeen e if
you'll just register, certainly age.And here's a letter we've been holding for
you, mister Quincy, a letterthank you writing. And there were two
gentlemen asking for you yesterday, twogentlemen. Yes, sir, what did
(23:41):
you tell him that you hadn't checkedin yet? Sir, if they ask
for me again, tell him I'vecanceled my reservations. I'm here for a
vacation and I don't want to bedisturbed by anyone. A few minutes later,
John Harrington was alone in the luxurioussuite Briggs had reserved for him.
(24:03):
He stared out at New York witha scowl on his brow, fingering the
letter the room clerk had given him. Who the deuce could have been asking
for me? And why in theworld should mat have written me a letter?
Suppose marked the tenth You must havefrightened it the day before. I
I much of a reader, DearJohn, He'll get this letter when you
(24:30):
reach New York. By then youwill be William Quincy for good and all,
and Quincy will be John Harringdon.I've talked with him, and he
has agreed as his first act toask your lawyer for the evidence you've been
holding over my head all these years. He will destroy it. Then at
last I will be free of youforever, the poor devil. That was
his mistake? And what else didhe say? And now I want to
(24:55):
give you a word of warning.The worm has turned. After all these
years I have outsmarted you at lastwith your own help. What sunder does
he mean? Why do you supposeQuincy was so willing to take your face
and go to jail, even formoney. He had good reason for it,
believe me. He who is it? Telegram? Just a second,
(25:25):
Let's have it all, right,Quincy put him up? Come on in,
Rocky, Yeah, Lefty, Well, Quincy, old pal, you
don't seem very glad to say.What's the meaning of this? Who are
you? And what do you want? That at Quincy might trigger fingers Itchy
back up a little, but that'sbetter. Who are you? What do
(25:45):
you want? Why we want you? Quincy? You want to know that.
I don't know who you are orwhy you're here, but you're making
a mistake. Listen to him,Rocky. He's forgotten his old pals,
Lefty and Rocky. I tell youI never saw you in my life.
I mean, you've forgotten all aboutit, Detroit. Quincy, you know
you double crossed the boss and mykid brother six months ago and got him
(26:06):
both bumped off by the cops.Well, ain't that forgetful of you?
No, you're wrong, You've gotthe wrong William Quincy, Hey, Lefty,
you don't suppose this could be thewrong guide, do you? What
makes you say that? Your nuts? No, but well, it's just
that this guy's voice don't sound likethe way I remember Quincy's voice. That's
right, I'm not the Quincy.You know, I have a mind a
(26:27):
voice, Rocky, Look at theface. There'll be two guys in a
world with a push like that.But I tell you I'm trying to stall.
Let them have it. No,please, I'll give you a million
dollars. Well, that takes careof that. Yeah, that pays off
(26:48):
for the boss and your kid brother. He should have known. We keep
looking for until we found him here. That's stuff about a million bucks.
You must have been nuts to thinkwe listened to guff like that from a
cheap dope peddler like Bill Quincy.Yeah, but you know, Lefty,
I'd still kind of like to knowwho sent us that letter tipping us off.
(27:08):
We'd find him here at the Clokhousein New York. And so ends
the tale the Man with the StolenFace, as it is written in the
(27:29):
Sealed Book. The plot which JohnHarrington had so cleverly contrived to change his
identity led him to his doom atthe hands of William Quincy's enemies. Twisted,
indeed, are the strands of fatein which Destiny entangles mere mortals.
(28:56):
And now, keeper of the Book, I or you close the great volume,
show us the tale we tell nexttime? This one, ah,
yes, the tale of a handsomeand mysterious man who had a strange power
over people, and who caused heartbreakin ruin wherever he went, a tale
(29:21):
titled my Beloved Must Die. Besure to be with us again next time
when the sound of the Great Gongheralds another strange and exciting tale from the
(29:49):
Seal Book. The Sealed Book,written by Bob Arthur and David Cogan,
is produced and directed by Jock McGregor. M
The seal Book. Once again.The Keeper of the Book has opened the
(00:36):
ponderous door to the secret vault,wherein is kept the Great sealed Book,
in which has recorded all the secretsand mysteries of mankind through the ages.
Here are tales of every kind,tales of murder, of madness, of
dark deeds, strange and terrible,beyond all beliefs. Keeper of the Book,
(01:02):
I would know what tale we tellthis time. Open the great book
and let us read. Slowly.The great book opens one by one.
The Keeper of the book turns thepages and stops ah the strange story of
(01:29):
a wealthy man who, to enjoythe fortune he had stolen, wove the
web of death around those who stoodin his way, a tale titled the
Man with the Stolen Face. Hereis the tale The Man with the Stolen
(02:38):
Face, as it is written inthe pages of the Sealed Book. Our
story begins in the large, richlyfurnished office of John Harrington, famous financier.
It is late afternoon and Harrington isspeaking to Matthew Brakes, his very
confidential secretary. Well, this isit. I swore I was going to
(03:01):
retire when I had twenty million dollarsand now I have it. I've worked
hard and now I'm going to playhard. And do your plans include me
still? Of course they do,Matt. I couldn't get along without you.
I see. Yes, I supposeyou still need someone to do your
dairty work for you. Why,Matt, what a thing to say?
(03:22):
Now, where would you be ifyou hadn't hooked up with me? Executed
and buried these fourteen years? That'swhere I know you don't need to remind
me, because after all, youdid kill that man, Matt, kill
him in cold blood. No,you and I belong together. You could
send me to jail, but Istill have carefully locked in my lawyer's safe,
(03:44):
all the evidence necessary to send youto the gallows. Yes, I
know. Now, Why don't yourun along to the apartment. I think
I'll sit and smoke one last cigarhere in my office. I'll see you
later. Oh he hates me,there's nothing dars do about it. Well,
(04:04):
I suppose a lot of people hateme. I'm not going to let
that worry me. And now isthe time for me to enjoy myself and
I'm going to fun. That's myprogram from now on. That program will
have to be canceled. Harrington.Who are you? I'm Jeremiah Call Harrington.
You don't recognize the name I see, why should I? I never
(04:27):
heard of you before in my life, I dare say not. But you've
heard of my father, Nathan Cole. He gave you your first job twenty
years ago. Well, what ofit? I don't suppose you've forgotten that
you got your start by cheating himout of his business. I did nothing
illegal your own my father after he'dbefriended you when he died of a broken
heart. I've spent twenty years trappingyou, and now I'm ready to pull
(04:47):
the news tight. You're crazy.There is no man alive who has anything
on me. I have san Quentin, Sam Quentin. What are you talking
about? When you were nineteen yearbefore you came to the city and dad
gave you a job. You escapefrom san Quentin and you kill the guard
doing it. Nonsense. You're You'recrazy. Believe me, I can prove
(05:10):
it. I've spent almost twenty yearsgetting ready for just this moment. What
do you want? I want twentymillion dollars. You can't be serious.
Well, that's every cent I havein the world. You ruin my father,
and I intend to ruin you.Turn over to me your entire fortune,
and I'll consider that punishment enough.No, no, I won't do
(05:30):
it. I have two detectives waitingnow in the outer office. Do you
want me to call them in?No? Oh, wait, all right,
I'll do it. I'll give youeverything. I thought that would be
your decision. Very well, justsign this paper and then you care what
(05:53):
are you doing? Take your handsoff my fool? You fool here think
I'm man to give up that easy? Soho you? Yes, I have
to coin ten million dollars and nobody'sgoing to take them away from me.
Nobody threatened me. That's what happensto men who threatened John Harrington. And
(06:23):
now I've gotta get your body outof sight. Yes, of course the
vault I have noted you get andyou have room in it for a dead
blackmailer. So you go, andthere you are out to close the door,
(06:45):
set the time clock, and nobodywill be able to find you before
monday. As for your detectives outside, there's a back door to this office
by which I can leave. Youdidn't know that, did you? Miss?
Coal? And a lot of thingsyou wouldn't know, and one of
them is that you shouldn't try toget the better of John Harrington. So
(07:17):
John Harrington slipped away by means ofthe back door, and, once safely
outside, telephone Briggs, giving Briggsinstructions to meet him at his mountain lodge
that night with all the money andsecurities he could put his hands on.
Harrington then made his way by lonelyback roads to his isolated lodge in the
(07:38):
hills, at which Briggs presently arrivedto learn his employer's unfortunate flights. But
John, what can you do ifyou kill this man? Coal? I
don't see how you You're here tohelp me, not to hang creep.
All right, just tell me whatyou wanted to do, and listen.
We're safe here for quite a while. Nobody knows about this hideaway, but
you wan me. We have plentyof food and we can stay here in
(08:00):
definitely, yes. But the minuteyou leave here, someone will recognize you.
That rugged face of yours has beenin the paper's newsreel so often.
Everybody knows that. I'm aware ofthat. So I've got to have a
new face, a new face.Why not I know just the man to
do it Lord with Molla. Mola, you mean the plastic surgery expert who
was mixed up with that gang outin Chicago. That's the one he was
(08:20):
given five years for altering the featuresof members of the gang. Hell,
he must be out now. Thatwas six years ago. Yes, yes,
I don't doubt he could do it. But I have it all planned
out. How First you've got tobring Molla here with all the necessary equipment.
Then you have to find someone myage and my height who's willing to
become John Harrington become you. That'sinsane. Why even for all your money,
(08:46):
who would trade places with you willgo to the electric chair. Don't
be stupid, Matt, I tellyou I have that worked out too.
Now. Listen, You've got tofind someone my age in general bild who
has no wife or family, who'snot wanted by the police, and has
never been involved with the law inany way, who's lived an inconspicuous life
and has never attracted much attention.I'll take his place and live his life.
(09:09):
He'll take mine and become a millionaire. But I don't argue. You
find such a man and bring himhere, and I'll guarantee to persuade him
to make the exchange. When Imake a plan, it doesn't go wrong.
(10:37):
And now to continue the story asit is written in the sealed book.
(11:13):
A week passed, then a secondand a third. Then late one
evening Briggs returned. In the car. With him were two men, one
large and heavy set like John Harrington, the other slender, pale, and
nervous. Briggs ushered them to separaterooms. Then he reported to his master,
(11:35):
well, man, we'll be gotto take my place. His name
is Quinsay, William Quincy. Ihave his whole life history written down for
you. Yeah, I see hum, William Quincy saidy nine born in Detroit,
parents dead, unmarried, no policerecord, college education, traveling salesman,
(11:56):
down on his luck at the moment, he seems to fit the bill.
Does anybody know you've brought him here? Now us? All good?
Bring him in. I'll put theproposition to him. All right, Come
in, Quincy, John, thisis William Quincy. Hello, Quincy,
Sit down, holdly, smoke yourJohn Harrington. That's right, Sit down,
(12:18):
have a cigar, and we'll getdown the cases. Quincy, what
would you do for a million dollars? A million dollars? I am ready
to pay that much money for someonewho'll spend ten years maybe less in jail
in my place. What kind ofa trick you trying to pull? Briggs
told me you wanted for two murders. I'm not trying to pull any trick.
(12:39):
I'm innocent of the California murder,and I wished I could get for
killing that full in my office's manslaughter. He was a blackmailer and I lost
my temper. Well, is ita deal for a million dollars? Yes,
yes, it's a deal. Good. I'm afraid that you'll have to
sell me your face as well asyour time, Quincy, sell you my
(13:01):
face? Ha ha ha Oh that'sa hot one. That's so funny about
it. Excuse me, mister Harrington. I've always heard that a man's face
was his fortune, but I neverknew mine had any market value before.
Well it has one million dollars.O kay, you've bought it. Of
course you have to take my facein exchange. Oh sure, huh,
(13:24):
sure, I understand. Good.A lot of things to be settled ed,
but we have time for that,ah Mad. Will you bring in
Ludwig Muller? Of course, John, there's just one thing I want to
know, mister Harrington. Uh whenI'm you, how am I going to
clear myself of that California rap whichyou're innocent of? Very simply you will
(13:45):
take my face, but your fingerprintswon't gibe with a prince on file at
San Quentin. That'll be obvious proofyou are not the man. Very clever,
mister Harrington. I think of everydetail Quincy as you'll see. Oh,
come in, doctor, doctor Muller. This is mister Harrington. Please
not doctor Muller. I have nolicense. I'm playing mister Marler just as
(14:07):
you like, mister Muller. Butto sit down, please thank you?
Now? May I ask why Iwas brought here? Just to help me
and mister Quincy here exchange faces?Exchange faces? But why should you wish
to do such a thing for personalreasons? We plan to exchange identities.
(14:30):
You could make my face look likeQuincey's and his like mine. Couldntume Yes,
yes of course I could. Butthen you're going to do it,
and I'm going to pay you amillion dollars. A million dollars. No,
you cannot mean it. I domean it. With that much money,
you can become a man of scienceagain. You can build laboratories,
(14:50):
experiment, become famous, all justfor a simple job of plastic surgery.
Not simply no, but yes,mister Harring, I will do it.
(15:13):
Muller began work upon the two men. Day after day. He worked patiently
with skilled fingers, changing their features, making the face of one into the
face of the other. It wasa long and difficult job, but as
a time for the removal of thefinal bandages came closer, John Harrington was
(15:35):
in excellent spirits. Well, Quincy, I feel ready to take over the
role of John Harrington millionaire anytime I'vepracticed your walk, your signature. I
even know what you like to eat. What are you going to do after
you become William Quincy esquire. Idon't suppose you'll be going back to my
(15:58):
old hometown Detroit. You no,I hadn't planned to. Well, take
a tip from me, don't.What do you mean? Why not?
Are the people there who don't likeme? I thought? Briggs said,
you had a perfectly clear record.Oh, I have, but I quarreled
with one or two people, werenothing legal. But well, you wouldn't
(16:22):
know who my friends were and whowere my enemies. So on the whole.
It'd be simpler just to give Detroita wide birth. You're talking very
strangely, Quincy. What's behind it? Not a thing I've just worked up,
I guess, because tomorrow we're goingto see what we look like as
each other. The next day,Ludwig Muller removed the bandages from their faces
(16:56):
and from Harrington's hands, and whathe held mirrors for them to see themselves.
Good heaven, you do not recognizeyourself, firm, mister Harry,
I should say not why I'm almosttempered to say hello Quincy when I look
in the mirror. It's my finestjob, I'll say it is. Personally.
(17:18):
I like the change. I congratulateyou, Mulla. We must drink
a toast to your success. Thankyou. That's a good idea. We'll
drink to Harrington safe in jail andQuincy adrift in the wide dangerous world.
What do so? Oh? Helloman, how do you like my new
(17:38):
face? It's a perfect job.We were just going to drink to it.
It brings some glasses and at thecandle, will you, in fact
bring the special decanter of Napoleon Brandy, certainly get it. Napoleon brandy.
Eh, sounds good. Hell,we'll drink to our futures. I may
be going to jail for a while, but when I got out, I'm
(18:00):
going to live high, wild andhandsome. And how about you, mister
Harrington Quincy, where are you headedfor? With my face cool, I'll
see what New York is like?Then try bonus as and real Desionio is
it? John? Shall I potherdrinks? Yes, madam, and one
for yourself. No thanks, Ihave a drink you know that. But
(18:23):
here are Quincy. Thank you,Doctor Miller, Thank you John. Thanks,
gentlemen. I propose a toast youare collective futures. I'll drink to
that. Come on, Doc,bottoms up. Ah, that's smooth stuff.
(18:48):
How very good. Indeed, misterHarrington, lad you liked it.
Now if you'll excuse me, Ihave some business to talk over with Matt.
But keep the decandor and help yourself. The day is a day to
cut loose, and I'm going tocut force both another. Doc, sure,
come along into my office, Matt. Yes, John, I'll sit
(19:11):
down and let's see where we are. I've taken care of everything I can
think of, all transfers of moneyin stocks, have been finished except for
a couple of million. I'm afraidwe'll have to let those last few millions
go too much danger trying to transferthem. But you've done well, Matt.
Thank you, John? And Iwhat was that? It's like somebody
(19:33):
falling there it is again. Irather imagine it was Quincy and Muller.
The poison I put in that Brandyyesterday works fast poison. Of course,
I only pretended to drink mine.You mean you exactly. I couldn't let
them live. They knew too much. Have you no human feelings? Whatever?
(19:56):
Not where my own skin is concerned. I proposed to start my new
life as William Quincy, with aclean slick and no witnesses left behind me.
Oh does that include me? ToJohn, I'm afraid it does.
Matt. No, I don't know. I have my gun here in my
pocket. Say yes, I seenow I've been a fool, haven't I.
(20:19):
I'm afraid so you should have acdit first, Matt and killed me.
Yes, I should have, butI never had the courage. The
race is to the strong, neverto the week. Maybe you're right,
John, maybe, but the weeksometimes win two. This is a joke
on me and on Quincy. Butit's a joke on you too, John,
(20:44):
because we had good bye Matt.That's that when the police find you
met together with my buddy, thestory worry of John Harrington will be over
for good and all. But thestory of William Quincy, footloose and fancy
(21:06):
free is just beginning. And nowto continue the story as it is written
(22:55):
in the Sealed Book. A daylater, John Harringdon slipped away from the
mountain hideout, leaving death in solepossession. He had no qualms and no
fears. His new face was thatof another man, and he became the
other man as William Quincy. Hereached New York and went to the hotel
(23:18):
where Matt Briggs had made a reservationfor him by mail, Hey, yes,
sir, can I help you?My name's Quincy, William Quincy.
You're holding a suite for me?Oh yes, sir, seventeen e if
you'll just register, certainly age.And here's a letter we've been holding for
you, mister Quincy, a letterthank you writing. And there were two
gentlemen asking for you yesterday, twogentlemen. Yes, sir, what did
(23:41):
you tell him that you hadn't checkedin yet? Sir, if they ask
for me again, tell him I'vecanceled my reservations. I'm here for a
vacation and I don't want to bedisturbed by anyone. A few minutes later,
John Harrington was alone in the luxurioussuite Briggs had reserved for him.
(24:03):
He stared out at New York witha scowl on his brow, fingering the
letter the room clerk had given him. Who the deuce could have been asking
for me? And why in theworld should mat have written me a letter?
Suppose marked the tenth You must havefrightened it the day before. I
I much of a reader, DearJohn, He'll get this letter when you
(24:30):
reach New York. By then youwill be William Quincy for good and all,
and Quincy will be John Harringdon.I've talked with him, and he
has agreed as his first act toask your lawyer for the evidence you've been
holding over my head all these years. He will destroy it. Then at
last I will be free of youforever, the poor devil. That was
his mistake? And what else didhe say? And now I want to
(24:55):
give you a word of warning.The worm has turned. After all these
years I have outsmarted you at lastwith your own help. What sunder does
he mean? Why do you supposeQuincy was so willing to take your face
and go to jail, even formoney. He had good reason for it,
believe me. He who is it? Telegram? Just a second,
(25:25):
Let's have it all, right,Quincy put him up? Come on in,
Rocky, Yeah, Lefty, Well, Quincy, old pal, you
don't seem very glad to say.What's the meaning of this? Who are
you? And what do you want? That at Quincy might trigger fingers Itchy
back up a little, but that'sbetter. Who are you? What do
(25:45):
you want? Why we want you? Quincy? You want to know that.
I don't know who you are orwhy you're here, but you're making
a mistake. Listen to him,Rocky. He's forgotten his old pals,
Lefty and Rocky. I tell youI never saw you in my life.
I mean, you've forgotten all aboutit, Detroit. Quincy, you know
you double crossed the boss and mykid brother six months ago and got him
(26:06):
both bumped off by the cops.Well, ain't that forgetful of you?
No, you're wrong, You've gotthe wrong William Quincy, Hey, Lefty,
you don't suppose this could be thewrong guide, do you? What
makes you say that? Your nuts? No, but well, it's just
that this guy's voice don't sound likethe way I remember Quincy's voice. That's
right, I'm not the Quincy.You know, I have a mind a
(26:27):
voice, Rocky, Look at theface. There'll be two guys in a
world with a push like that.But I tell you I'm trying to stall.
Let them have it. No,please, I'll give you a million
dollars. Well, that takes careof that. Yeah, that pays off
(26:48):
for the boss and your kid brother. He should have known. We keep
looking for until we found him here. That's stuff about a million bucks.
You must have been nuts to thinkwe listened to guff like that from a
cheap dope peddler like Bill Quincy.Yeah, but you know, Lefty,
I'd still kind of like to knowwho sent us that letter tipping us off.
(27:08):
We'd find him here at the Clokhousein New York. And so ends
the tale the Man with the StolenFace, as it is written in the
(27:29):
Sealed Book. The plot which JohnHarrington had so cleverly contrived to change his
identity led him to his doom atthe hands of William Quincy's enemies. Twisted,
indeed, are the strands of fatein which Destiny entangles mere mortals.
(28:56):
And now, keeper of the Book, I or you close the great volume,
show us the tale we tell nexttime? This one, ah,
yes, the tale of a handsomeand mysterious man who had a strange power
over people, and who caused heartbreakin ruin wherever he went, a tale
(29:21):
titled my Beloved Must Die. Besure to be with us again next time
when the sound of the Great Gongheralds another strange and exciting tale from the
(29:49):
Seal Book. The Sealed Book,written by Bob Arthur and David Cogan,
is produced and directed by Jock McGregor. M
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