Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Nick Carter: The Case of the Missing Thumb (EP1470)

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Nick Carter: The Case of the Missing Thumb (EP1470) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:28
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:34
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
0:39
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at
0:44
Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com
0:50
Slash Radio Detectives. Before we do get started, I want to encourage you
0:55
to pick up your copy of All I Needed to Know I learned from drag
1:00
In It, I examine life lessons from seven more great detectives of literature,
1:06
radio and film, including Poirot, Johnny Dollar, and of course Joe Friday.
1:11
It is available as an ebook through the Kindle and for all other devices
1:17
at smash words dot com. Well, before we get into today's episode of
1:22
Nick Carter, I have to offer a preface that there are a lot of
1:27
skip parts in today's program. The good news is that the story still makes
1:34
sense, so we can still listen to it, but all the transitions,
1:38
commercials, pre show announcements, it's a very sparse, so that caution aside.
1:44
Here now is the Case of the Missing Thumb from May fourth of nineteen
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forty seven at ten o'clock on Monday night, A man in the uniform of
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a Trogeant Fleet walks down the dark side street and there's a small hardware star.
2:00
Hey, anybody in the store coming, gotta wait for certain just the
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cops. I'm looking for Laurie Evans. He's my old man. What do
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you want to see him for it? And it isn't a pinch kid,
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just to friendly visit Laurie and I needed to be pounds a long time ago.
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Oh oh, I see they call me Steve Pop. Hey, Fox,
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come on out, you got a visitor, Fox, pull down your
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glasses and take a dander. Hello Laurie, Yes, yes, below,
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Hey Pop, but go to bed. Oh gosh, all right, so
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I'm Sargy Cann Steve. Well, I guess you're finally look at it here?
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Yeah, what's the cops you were going for? This is a cover
2:53
up for a job. Bus two are going to pull the No. Ten
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should leave me alone. I've been stayed for ten years. I haven't done
2:59
a jobs since a Saint Louis deal. Huh. I lost my thumb in
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Saint Louis, but you lost your nerve baby. Anyway, I'm straight and
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I'm staying. Listen Laurie having a long time finding you don't think I'm gonna
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let you back out now. All I gotta do is pays the word that
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good old Laurie Evans is here one in a hardware joint on me. Okay,
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what's the deal. You're gonna help me crack a safe to night,
3:23
Lorie. And there's nothing much in that saint but a list of name,
3:27
name, twenty thousand names. You're gonna help me grab every one of them
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that you all though. I ain't want the money, but maybe i'll do.
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I'm trying. Mister Cardon will be able to see you this morning.
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You'll see me a good looking I'm from the government. One side, I'll
3:46
see here. You can't force your way into mister Carter's office. Right on,
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Oh, Nike, say that's tocarda. I'm from the government. I've
3:53
got important business for you. In this dispatch case. What's your name?
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Steve Evans's you'ly huh? Satch case is new, The letter's unscratched, with
4:01
the price tag it's still on it. Your clothes are new. Your army
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discharge buttoner's nude. You're obviously your reasonably discharged soldier. What are you up
4:09
to gosh, you sure tag me? That's my business, mister Connor.
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I've got something for you in this case. Here, Hey, what's this?
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It's eight hundred bucks cash all I saved in the army of question the
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four. I decided I'm gonna learn how to be a detective, and you're
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gonna teach me, mister Carter. For the love of this is my entrance
4:32
fee, and of course more I'll get more. Look here, Evans,
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this is impossible. I'm flattered. Non You've got a duty to watch veteran
4:39
mister Carter, of course, but I really can't discuss the brigonomous revens.
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I'm later in a case. Already's got to be running along. Wait my
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first question, I'll go along. Oh all right, come along, come
4:47
along. We'll discussed this on the way. Well, that's me. I'll
4:50
be down at Irving Place with Mattie, Safe, burglary and letter. All
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right, already, I'm here. Well, it's about time. I've been
4:59
waiting a half hour for you. I who's this? This is? Steve
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Evans wants me to teach him the detective visits. Huh. I haven't had
5:09
time to talk him out of it yet. Caesar's inside and lets another homitize
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squad. I had guardian okay, Nick stacked the kid in the corner and
5:15
get a load of this case. It's a little the head. This is
5:17
the business office of United Veterans Incorporated. It's a veterans organization that publishes a
5:24
magazine for its boys. And last night someone was admitted to this office and
5:28
broken to the safe by do you know he was admitted, made at the
5:30
lock of the door, were touched. See the safe there and the body.
5:34
Yeah, watchman slugged over the head and killed it. Maybe he let
5:38
the cook in and with double course, maybe I what's the protrusier about the
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cap one little hitch. It was five thousand dollars in a drawer and that's
5:46
safe and it wasn't touched, so you know, the only thing he lifted
5:50
the magazine subscription list. He stole twenty thousand knees and addresses. That's who
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the guiments have been nuts? Who I ask you mine? Let's have a
6:02
look at the safe. Very neat punch job on that. Yeah, dial
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knocked off of a sledge family spin will punch back in the small socket's broken.
6:15
The way of cracking and safe I haven't seen in a long time.
6:19
Look at the edge of the broken sacketshiss of rust, not from the safe
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itself, but from the burglar tool. Yeah, it must have been an
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old set of tools. How can you tell a look at the way the
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sockets are broken. Two blows of a chisel to each boat, to the
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strong man to do that. Yeah, I noticed that done. Anything from
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the body. No, not the next sign of the struggle. Two blows
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on the head. That's all watching. Its either tricked and then killed or
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with an accessory in a double cross they kill as still nothing but a listed
6:46
names from the faith and that's what he was after. And that makes this
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a very serious case. Yeah, why, mister Carter, Because Steve's back
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in nineteenth thirty two when washington announced the bonus was to be paid war veterans,
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and Crook's broken to the Office of Veterans Publication and stole a subscription list.
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Right after that, all veterans were on that list were be seized with
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comments for every known form of confidence game wholly smoke. Thousands of vets were
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cheated out of their bonus dollars. And this is the same setup. He
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stole a name to form a circle list that will no a fortune from veterans
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who have must bring out pay. The liss has got to be located before
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it starts circuling into the underworld. Well, how for Pete's satan, but
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a man of crack. That's safe. I identify him through my files and
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we maybe relocated. Come on till you get every card down, Paty,
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Right, Nick, well matter, he explained to see how we keep files
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on kuruk Oh from a veteran sergeant. All right, all right, now
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listen, kids, Every crook uses a personal technique on the job. See
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he never changed it exposed like an autograph. Yeah, the car's Nick,
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Thanks, thatctic a feo. We're looking for a burgler who opens faces with
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a punch technique and who cracks boats with the chisels rather than a wrench.
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Yeah, this technique is so unfamiliar to me. I'm sure he hadn't been
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acted lately. All right, let's have him pressI Adam. Here's no records
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in twenty eight specialty blow towards job bookman, no records in thirty four specialty
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punch job Take pet card, Matty, he's a pout ability Okay, Dennison,
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no records in twenty nine specialty chopping job. That's a technique, Steve
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it turning a safe over and chopping the bottom up. Dennison, isn't that
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man right? Du getting thirty seven specialty ripping jobs. That's ripping open the
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safe with the kind of giant can opener. No chiding slup man edg.
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Well, it's met about that. You better mean this yours. Maybe it's
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a pain incidence, but then again, seeing what happens, Matty, I'll
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see Steve. What's your father's name, Laurie, Laurie Evans? I see
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why did you come to see me this morning? We already towards I want
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to be a detective. Yeah, sure that's the reading. Not too late
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to tell the truth. Oh why would I lie to you? Mister Carter?
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Where is your product in the hardware store on Mare Avenue? Hey?
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What is all this? Mister Carson? Nations? Will keep right now.
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We're all getting into my car and driving out to the hardware store. I've
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got to see Laurie Evans. Fat, Yeah, come on, look,
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Nick, what's the kid's old man got to do with him? And you'll
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see Eddie opened the door. See right, Sardenty where your credit? I
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probably in the back of the store. I call him, Hey, Pop,
9:31
that's somebody here to see you. Wait a minute, Nick, the
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glory here behind the counter, behind the holy smoke, Nick, Pop,
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what's happened to him? Pop? He dead? See the murdered behind the
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sales counter of the Evans Hardware store in Brooklyn. Nick examines the body of
9:52
Lurie Evans while patting Mattie and Steve Evans watch. Laurie Evans was in a
9:56
fright before he was killed. Yeah, look at the scratches on these hands.
10:00
Face. And if I'd lay behind this car and see the nail kegs
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and tools knocked off the shelves. Yeah, and he was thrown down here.
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I wish I'd been here. Head shruck that sack of plaster pairs,
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putting it open. Feller drab a screw diver and stabbed Laurie with tremendous force.
10:13
Heard him almost interesting? But why, mister Carter, why Geeve?
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You? I have to know the truth sooner or later. Here's a card
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for my files that led me to ask you about your father. Long heavens
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and acted since nineteen thirty five. Specialty punch jobs for the characteristics cracked safe
10:35
both with chisel is not fitter than true. My father and the cook he
10:39
never watched, Jeeve. It's the truth. There's no question. Did your
10:43
old man told the veteran job last night? That's a lie. He's got
10:48
an alibi for last night. But he was worth a flanding as a cop
10:50
started him along and he didn't. He answered to the burglary. May I
10:54
was wondering, how haven't got into that office to watch him? Was duped?
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Evans was with a parent police uniform. Oh do you know the guy
11:01
with him as a crook? Why was you real cop? Because you left
11:03
your signature here? What do you mean, Buck? But the Platt parents
11:07
are still in the floor. That a handprint on it, a right hand
11:11
with a thumb missing. The policeman can't stay on the active for it for
11:13
the right thumb missing. You're right, Nick, Maybe that's my high press
11:16
of your father there doing this shab Steve. But that is the important thing.
11:18
Now. The important thing is if I'm alone and the twenty thousand names
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he's stolen, the toy pedals them to write a cook in the country now
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just a minute, maybe Steve Evans fools you, but he hasn't fooled me.
11:28
Huh, Nick, I want to know why who came to you this
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morning after his old man cracked a safe at Irving Poem? Why where riot?
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This is an official nick that looks and worry about a sucker list of
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twenty thousand indies. I'm worrying about two murders, and Steve Evans is my
11:45
number one lead. He's better began the headquarters with me for a long turk.
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Now how about it? Will you try it in my way? The
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darnest speed you've ever come up with me, and it's the heads But fucking
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I swear, I well, Mary, all right, old line. But
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if the fact I want to take stake, it's okay. Steve wasn't testling.
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Yeah, I've been telling, doesn't matter. The only way I can
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see the locate alone in those still remains is for you to escape. So
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I'm damned. But how do we work it? They'll pay after you escape?
12:16
Take the northbound subway to Liifron Park. Yeah, get out of the
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ice. Would take the ferry cart the river from the ferry landing strike north
12:22
along the Reservour Road. I bet yeah, And Theresa Town called heshim kurtas
12:26
give yourself up to the police. Pot myself up. But I thought I
12:30
thought you in the arm. Maybe you have to understand orders the follow him.
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Well, mister Carter, very well, you've got to get to the
12:35
Hessian courthouse. Keep you got to follow the roue's schedule, no matter what
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happens. Oh, yes, one important thing. We're a pair of glove,
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a pair of glove. Yes, all right, I'll do it,
12:45
mister Carter. I believe tad Quarters coming up. I'll get out of the
12:46
car. We're gonna put a fist show for the benefit of any onlooker.
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Hit me in the drawn and not. I'll make sure to fall against Maatic
12:52
so it looks good. Duck down on the stepway and get going. Got
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here, Oh up, far as we go. Marry you're a fool.
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I don't know whether Steve is really or not. That's the important thing.
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Where see hey, come back to watch out your kids getting away. I'm
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going. That's work, ladies and gentlemen. This is Nick Carter. I'm
13:22
broadcasting from my car by short waves. Your local station is kind of consented
13:28
to relay this announcement to help in the search for Steve Evans, says thanks
13:31
in the murder of a watchman attrving place and his father Laurie Evans in a
13:35
hardware store in Brooklyn. Steve Evans has escaped police custody and it's at large
13:39
in the city. He's twenty years old, a medium height, red hair,
13:45
brown eyes. He's wearing gray suits, gray hats, blue overcoat.
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He has lost the thtain from his right hand. My last scene, Steve
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Evans was on the subway headed north toward Aisham Park. Please communicate any information
14:00
to me at once. There is a reward for his cast. Hey,
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buddy, you got announcement on the air. One announcement. I heard of
14:11
this before I got on the glass station. Nick Carter's off with a big
14:13
reward for a killer. Old cities buzz around, turn of crabbit. Yeah,
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who's you looking for? Guy named Steve Evans killed his old Many say
14:24
he killed his old man. Carter said that, Yeah, and a night
14:28
watchman. How's the guy about medium? I'd say, like you, and
14:31
he's he's got with her like like you too. Hey, let me see
14:37
your right hand? What for? I'm ride what? Ford tays off his
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love Let me see your right hand. Sorry, man, this is my
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stake. Comeong, hey, salmon, salmonth. That guy's the killer.
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Nobody's got me sitting away, he got I gotta hide somebody out of the
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station, Hide and f it's a big h Steve. Here, Chris,
15:05
who's that you go in? Ni Karti's secretary. Get over there on the
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benure, Greeve, hurry up, But how did you? I was on
15:11
the train with you. I got out of the head, but I heard
15:13
the trouble. See, this is an emergency. Makes I see my boyfriend.
15:16
Put you on drum and keep your head down here they come right your
15:22
peace sake. Can't you forget a little privacy in a park? Yeah?
15:26
A guy ran panty towards Broadway. All right, Steeve, we can break
15:33
it up. Now, who's foll in the down a ferry? And keep
15:35
going following exporters. He's double crossing me telling people I chilled my father's offering.
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Well, woman, don't ever double cross anyone's life, just following such
15:43
seeds. Keep going right, gentlemen, this is Nick Carter again. Steve
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Evans was last scene headed for the ICEM ferry, and it's probably attempting to
15:52
cross the river and escape into open country. All officials and citizens in that
15:56
vicinity I warned to keep a sharp lookout. You're a man with a thumb
16:02
missing from his right hand. He remembers, mighty pretty around desk, Hey,
16:07
buddy, Yeah, funny edit his hair. River looks so calm and
16:12
tasteful. But is the love happening on that right now? He tom gods
16:17
and boot signs yeah, don't come. And you heard, says Akila,
16:21
trying to get a Cromos into Perman King's old man. He did the name
16:26
of Steve Evans. Everybody took me. Yeah, n Carder herself. It's
16:30
directinistrates by radio in some signette and lovesank. There's Steet Evans. He's a
16:36
bitter and he's got red hair and he he puddy. Yeah. Why you
16:41
learn clubs because I'm called That's why. Well, I'd better be moving forward.
16:48
Harry's good at dot now just a minute twice going. You ain't tipped
16:52
away so weak again, are you ever? Steph? Is this what I'm
17:00
word over? Big because of the Disney. They're giving you my truck here,
17:03
hurry up, you get under the tender in the back. I'll give
17:06
you off the pity. This is the play I'll comor play. He just
17:10
craze over run, Ladies and gentlemen. This is Nick Carter again. After
17:22
eluding capture by swimming ashore from the Ace ferry, Steve Evans has made for
17:26
the Reservoir Road and headed north. I wonder what all motorists against picking up
17:30
hitchhikers whase report any information from me immediately. I'm gonna keep good. I'm
17:41
gonna keep on the hands of the court house, I promised mister Carter.
17:45
Who's that? I want to find that tree? What's nerves against? Off
17:55
the ruse? And then it stuck a bitch again? All right, kid,
18:11
come out of the dish. Malone, Yeah, gas Malone, how
18:17
did you? I've been up and down this road a dozen times looking for
18:21
your kid. I've been listening to them Nick Carter reports like I was a
18:25
cop myself. Let him alone it Come on, get into the car and
18:30
no argument. This rod ain't a water pistol. Floodlone. Into the car,
18:34
kid, I'm gonna drive you to my office. It's a quiet place
18:40
where we can have a nice little talk. Don't an adapter. Gas Malone
18:45
picked up Steve Adams on the Reservoir Road. The kind of grows up before
18:48
a small building downtown New York. Wait here, kid, get out,
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Okay, don't get funny, Steve, I just as soon drop you now.
19:03
Hours later. I'm not crying anything, not as long as you've got
19:07
that gun. Open the door, go straight upstairs. You'll kill my father
19:12
Malone. Yeah, kid, his conscience started bothering him about the way I
19:18
knocked off the watchman last night. It was all a fall in the cops.
19:22
I had to shut him up. No hard feeling, kid. It
19:26
was business, yeah, dirty business, just like I got nothing against you.
19:32
Kids. Maybe you're a nice guy for all I know. Opened the
19:36
door, go on in. No, no, kid, I got nothing
19:42
against you, but you might make trouble for me. Let him alone.
19:47
I got a nice set up here. See quiet little office. Twenty thousand
19:52
lines of X guys. Gohar has suck a list an operator ever got his
19:56
hands on. And after I take the cream off list, I can sell
20:00
them names for two bits each. White. There's fifty grand in this deal
20:06
for me, and I sort of gotta protect it. Listen alone, You
20:08
don't have to kill the cops want you for the killings. I don't know
20:14
how you got mixed up, and I don't care, just as soon leave
20:17
you to handle a mess yourself. Except for one thing. What how come
20:22
they said you was missing a thumb? They said I was missing a hot
20:27
com. What you tell him? I never told him nothing. Now look,
20:32
this is the clutch kid, all alone? Here you, me and
20:37
this gun. Now I want some answers. What about the thumb? Honest
20:42
Malone? Idel Hey, mischief that kid, Steve. But I'll take better
20:48
aim the next time. Why did the coups say he was missing the thumb?
20:51
Steve, don't try to say the money. I want to think of
20:59
a gun? Okay, Sorry, I was like getting up the stairs at
21:03
the door of the luggage compartment of Malone's cards end on me too, tempt
21:06
me to get up he car. Stop your whining, Malone, and that's
21:10
put a bullet to your left hand. Asoh, maybe you lose that sum.
21:14
True, but I won't take any difference to you when you're in a
21:17
chair. It's the carner. I still don't understand why I had to go
21:21
through that whole routine. You were day, You were right, just beach,
21:25
But why have you seen Steve? It would have been impossible to track
21:27
Malone down in time to stop him from using those stolen names. So instead
21:30
of looking for him, I made him look for me and lead me to
21:33
the stolen names. Yeah, but he was looking for me naturally, that's
21:37
what I wanted. So I stirred up a big first made broadcast every fifteen
21:40
minutes, kept stressing the fact that you had a missing thumb. Well,
21:44
that's what I don't care. Malone believed the police were after you, but
21:48
he couldn't understand about that sun. Finally, he's curiosity got the better of
21:52
me. I had to find you and ask you about it. Oh.
21:53
I made sure he'd know where to find you, but he might have killed
21:56
me. I until he found out what he wanted to know, and I
21:59
said, I'm sure he wouldn't try any anywhere he picked you up because I
22:02
might be police around. I don't forget Steve. I followed you up the
22:04
reservoir road, hiding in the brush behind you, and that was you behind
22:07
that tree. Right as soon as I heard Malone say he was going to
22:11
drive to his office, I slipped him to the baggage compartment of his car
22:14
when he was talking to you, because his office was what I wanted to
22:17
locate. Attacked your seven times on the road, Steed, I was a
22:19
Nick Rolster my house aast dove into the ditch and just put me te boy.
22:26
Well, they'll pass you twice in that truck when he's behind the dude
22:30
God when he got behind a detour sayingly smoke, Hey, mister Carter,
22:34
is this what detectives have to do all the time most of the time,
22:37
Which brings up the original question of your taking lessons from me? Now looks
22:41
you don't have to say anything, mister Carter, none of his business of
22:45
being a detective from me. You know what I'm gonna do, get myself
22:48
a nice easy job. I'm gonna re enlist in the army. Welcome back.
22:55
I really liked the concept of having a veteran learn the trade of being
23:03
a detective from Nick Carter, and in many ways that's a nice throwback to
23:07
the magazines where Nick Carter's assistants were really training to be detectives in their own
23:15
right. So it's a shame they didn't go that round. I definitely can
23:18
understand why he wasn't too eager to stick around, because next plan was a
23:22
little bit crazy, but that is something that comes with the territory if you're
23:27
going to be trained by Nick Carter. Well, at any rate, we
23:30
turned out a listener comments and feedback, and we have a comment from Tony.
23:36
Hi, Adam, I'm from Dunnsboro, Western Australia and have been a
23:41
fan for a couple of years, my favorite being a toss up between Pat
23:44
Novak and Jeff Reagan. I'm very glad you have resurrected these classic radio shows,
23:48
and even though we have an abundance of alternatives to watch and listen to
23:52
these days, I'm happy to travel back in time and have a liance view
23:56
of this golden age. Thanks again, Adam, your passion is infectious.
24:02
Regards Tony Well, thanks so much, Tony, and definitely appreciate the comment,
24:07
and we may end up revisiting Jeffrey in one of these days, and
24:11
not to rehash old episodes, but more on that another day. I do
24:18
appreciate so much your comments. And finally we have a brand new app review
24:22
our first of twenty fifteen. Seve Reeves says this is the best podcast and
24:26
the best app. I'll listen everywhere I even go to sleep with a lot
24:32
at a lot of times. I love that they play in chronological order when
24:34
possible, and Adam's info is just the best. You'll learn about the actors
24:38
the series in each podcast, Like I said, simply the best. Well,
24:42
thanks so much, appreciate your kind comments that will actually do it for
24:47
today. We'll be back tomorrow with yours truly, Johnny Dawler, and then
24:52
join us back here again next Thursday for another episode in Nick Carter in the
24:56
meantime Sendor Comments Box thirteen at Great Attack Net, Follow us on Twitter at
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Slash Radio Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and off