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Nick Carter, Master Detective - "The Case of the Clue Called X" (1948) · Old Time Mystery Radio | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: On November 14th, 1948, the Mutual Broadcasting System aired episode
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: 366 of Nick Carter, Master Detective, The Case of the
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Clue Called X. Lon Clark stars as Nick Carter, with
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Charlotte Manson as Patsy Bowen. Nick is drawn into a
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: desperate case when Joe Gibbs, an ex-convict he once helped,
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: is accused of murdering a jewelry salesman and stealing diamonds,
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: placing Joe's future and his marriage to Edna in jeopardy.
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: With Patsy at his side, Nick follows the trail of
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: an unusual diamond ring through a neighborhood bar and a
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: diamond dealer's office. And now, our story begins.
• 0:44
  Speaker 2: You post-war old Dutch cleanser famous for chasing dirt presents
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: Nick Carter, famous for chasing crime. Every week at this time,
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: two great names are joined as new post-war old Dutch
• 1:02
  Speaker 2: cleanser brings you one of the most resourceful and daring
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: characters in all detective fiction.
• 1:07
  Speaker 3: Nick Carter, Master Detective.
• 1:16
  Speaker 4: Joe, darling, you can't die. You can't. You're all I have.
• 1:20
  Speaker 5: Oh, Joe.
• 1:21
  Speaker 4: Oh, please, Edna. You've got to get a hold of yourself.
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: Hey, Nick, do you think there's any chance he'll live?
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: Afraid not, Maddie. I doubt if he ever regains consciousness.
• 1:30
  Speaker 4: Oh, poor Joe. Both Nick and I like him so much, Sergeant.
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, Patsy. I guess it's better for his
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: wife if he dies. What?
• 1:37
  Speaker 4: Why, Sergeant, what in the world do you mean?
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: Even if the doc saves him, it'll only be for
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: the electric chair. Now, the case of The Clue Called X.
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: Today's adventure starring Lon Clark as Nick Carter. Brought to
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: you by new post-war old Dutch cleanser. When Joe Gibbs
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: used to deliver the evening gazette after school, Nick was
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: his best customer. And when Joe grew up and got
• 2:03
  Speaker 2: into trouble with the law, Nick helped him get a
• 2:06
  Speaker 2: parole from the state penitentiary. Then when Joe married Edna Marsh,
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: he asked Nick to be his best man. And Patsy Bowen,
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: Nick's assistant, was bridesmaid. And so today, at 10 in
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: the morning of their first anniversary, it's Nick and Patsy
• 2:20
  Speaker 2: that Edna has come to because Joe's in trouble again.
• 2:24
  Speaker 5: Joe never did a wrong thing in his life when
• 2:26
  Speaker 5: he was sober, but when he's drinking, he goes crazy
• 2:29
  Speaker 5: or something.
• 2:30
  Speaker 4: But, Edna, you told me only last week that he
• 2:32
  Speaker 4: hadn't touched a drop since he got his parole.
• 2:34
  Speaker 2: As a matter of fact, the parole board forbade him
• 2:35
  Speaker 2: even to enter a bar room.
• 2:36
  Speaker 4: He didn't either, Mr.
• 2:37
  Speaker 3: Carter.
• 2:39
  Speaker 4: Not until yesterday.
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: And what happened yesterday? Well, we.
• 2:43
  Speaker 4: we had a fuss. Not about anything important, but it
• 2:46
  Speaker 4: was the first time we'd ever quarreled. Oh, now, Edna,
• 2:50
  Speaker 4: stop it. This isn't doing any good.
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: I know.
• 2:54
  Speaker 4: Well, Joe got all upset and he slammed out of
• 2:57
  Speaker 4: the house. That was about 2 o'clock.
• 2:59
  Speaker 6: Ah.
• 2:59
  Speaker 4: He didn't come home until early this morning.
• 3:01
  Speaker 5: Where had he been all that time? I didn't know,
• 3:03
  Speaker 5: but I could see he'd been fighting. There was a
• 3:06
  Speaker 5: cut place on his chin. His new suit was all
• 3:09
  Speaker 5: dirty and wrinkled.
• 3:10
  Speaker 4: He was a pretty unhappy guy.
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: Edna, honey, I'm sorry.
• 3:14
  Speaker 7: Oh, I'd give 10 years out of my life if
• 3:16
  Speaker 7: I hadn't gone into Barney's place yesterday.
• 3:18
  Speaker 5: Oh, don't worry about it, Joe. I know you won't
• 3:20
  Speaker 5: do it again. I was to blame anyway for nagging
• 3:23
  Speaker 5: at you.
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: Oh, you're not to blame for anything. Not for anything.
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: The cops come here. I want you to remember that.
• 3:28
  Speaker 4: Cops? You mean because you broke your parole?
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: Yeah, sure. That's what I mean. Because I broke my parole.
• 3:35
  Speaker 4: Oh, they probably don't know anything about it. Come on, darling.
• 3:38
  Speaker 4: Drink your coffee. I'll try to clean your suit up.
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: Gee, you're swell. Silly.
• 3:42
  Speaker 7: Just look at this cold.
• 3:43
  Speaker 4: Dirt all over it.
• 3:45
  Speaker 3: Blood.
• 3:45
  Speaker 7: Blood?
• 3:46
  Speaker 4: Yeah, from that cut on your chin, I guess.
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: Yeah, sure. Sure, that's where it's from.
• 3:51
  Speaker 4: Here, take your cigarettes and your... Joe.
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: What's the matter?
• 3:55
  Speaker 4: There's a ring in your coat pocket.
• 3:56
  Speaker 6: A ring?
• 3:57
  Speaker 4: A diamond ring. It looks real.
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: But I.
• 3:59
  Speaker 4: Joe, where'd you get it?
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: Well, I... Well, this is our anniversary, ain't it? I
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: always said I.
• 4:03
  Speaker 3: Joe, please don't lie to me.
• 4:04
  Speaker 4: This is a man's ring.
• 4:05
  Speaker 3: I'm not lying.
• 4:06
  Speaker 4: I know you. They stole it, didn't you?
• 4:08
  Speaker 6: No.
• 4:08
  Speaker 4: Oh, you can tell me the truth, honey. It won't
• 4:10
  Speaker 4: make any difference to me. But Ed and I... I'll
• 4:11
  Speaker 4: keep on loving you even if you killed somebody.
• 4:13
  Speaker 6: Huh?
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: Why'd you say that? Say what? Say that about me
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: killing somebody.
• 4:19
  Speaker 4: Because that's the way I feel. Oh, Joe, you've got
• 4:21
  Speaker 4: to take this ring back. I can't.
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: It's too late.
• 4:24
  Speaker 4: It's not too late, Joe.
• 4:25
  Speaker 5: Look, you can explain to me you didn't know what
• 4:26
  Speaker 5: you were doing.
• 4:27
  Speaker 4: Edna, please.
• 4:28
  Speaker 3: Please leave me alone.
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: I'm almost crazy now.
• 4:30
  Speaker 4: I can't take it anymore. I'm getting out of here.
• 4:33
  Speaker 6: Joe, don't.
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: You should have known better than to marry a jailbird.
• 4:35
  Speaker 4: Joe, come back, please. Joe.
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Joe. And you don't know where he went when he
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: left the house?
• 4:45
  Speaker 5: No, I.
• 4:46
  Speaker 4: I don't. Well, what do you want Nick to do, Edna?
• 4:50
  Speaker 5: I thought maybe if he could find out where Joe
• 4:52
  Speaker 5: got the ring and give it back, maybe they wouldn't
• 4:54
  Speaker 5: have him arrested.
• 4:55
  Speaker 4: But, Edna, you don't know that he stole it. Couldn't
• 4:58
  Speaker 4: have got it any other way.
• 5:00
  Speaker 2: You say he was at Barney's place yesterday?
• 5:03
  Speaker 4: That's what he said.
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: Well, I'll go around there now and see if I
• 5:05
  Speaker 2: can find out anything.
• 5:06
  Speaker 5: Oh, Mr.
• 5:06
  Speaker 4: Carter, would you?
• 5:07
  Speaker 6: Yes.
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: You got a picture of Joe?
• 5:09
  Speaker 4: Yes, I always carry one in my purse.
• 5:10
  Speaker 2: Good.
• 5:11
  Speaker 4: Here it is.
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: If Joe's in trouble, I'll certainly do whatever I can
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: to help him. Well, it be, folks. Just some information, thanks.
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: Are you Barney? Yeah.
• 5:31
  Speaker 6: What can I do for you?
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: Here, Nick. Here's the picture.
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: Show it to Barney.
• 5:34
  Speaker 6: Right.
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: Can you tell me if that fellow was in here
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: last night? Let's see. Oh, sure. That's Joe Gibbs.
• 5:41
  Speaker 4: Then you know him.
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 5:42
  Speaker 6: He works for the company that's been putting in my
• 5:44
  Speaker 6: new sprinkler system.
• 5:45
  Speaker 4: Sprinkler system?
• 5:46
  Speaker 6: You know, one of them automatic things that puts out
• 5:48
  Speaker 6: a fire before it even gets started.
• 5:49
  Speaker 3: Turns in the alarm and everything.
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: And Joe installed it, is that right?
• 5:52
  Speaker 6: Yeah.
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: Took him about ten days, so we got to know
• 5:55
  Speaker 2: each other pretty good. Did he ever take a drink
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: while he was working here? No.
• 5:58
  Speaker 6: I never seen him take a drink till last night,
• 6:01
  Speaker 6: but he sure made up for lost time then.
• 6:03
  Speaker 4: Uh, did he behave himself while he was here last night?
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: Oh, sure.
• 6:09
  Speaker 6: Him and some friends sat here right in that there booth,
• 6:12
  Speaker 6: shooting the breeze all evening.
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: Who was the friend, you know?
• 6:15
  Speaker 6: Somebody he met in here, I guess. Guy about my size,
• 6:18
  Speaker 6: maybe 50 years old, gray hair, pretty good clothes.
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: Did he and Joe leave together?
• 6:23
  Speaker 6: I wouldn't know about that. You see, I was only
• 6:25
  Speaker 6: in here from 7 to 8 while Pete, that's my bartender,
• 6:28
  Speaker 6: went out to eat.
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: They were still here when I left.
• 6:31
  Speaker 4: Then we'd better talk to Pete, hadn't we, Nick?
• 6:33
  Speaker 2: Yeah, might be a good idea.
• 6:34
  Speaker 6: Well, I guess you'd find him at home. He never
• 6:36
  Speaker 6: gets up till noon.
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: Can you give us the address? Well, sure.
• 6:39
  Speaker 6: I'll write it down for you. Joe is a nice guy.
• 6:43
  Speaker 6: I hope he ain't in any trouble.
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: I hope so, too. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
• 6:48
  Speaker 4: Well, let me see him.
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: I got back to the bar about 8.30. Now, wait
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: a minute, Pete. Barney said it was 8. Well, that's
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: when I was supposed to be back. But Barney asked
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: me to stop at the drugstore and get him a
• 7:13
  Speaker 2: bottle of that dope he uses on his hair.
• 7:15
  Speaker 4: Well, he uses enough of it. He looks like a
• 7:17
  Speaker 4: wet seal.
• 7:18
  Speaker 2: Yeah, he plasters it on all right. Well, it was
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: all out of it, and I had to run all
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: over looking for the right kind. Barney's horrible particular about
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: his hair, you know. All right, so you got back
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: at 8.30. Joe was still there? Yeah, yeah. Him and
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: this other guy was all alone in the place, just
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: like when I left. There's never anybody in at that
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: time of night. Barney's trade don't go for cocktails. Yes,
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: I know. Did Joe leave with his other man? Uh-huh.
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: Just a few minutes after I got back. By that time...
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: They both had too many. Why, this other guy, he
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: was at the place where he was losing things and
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: accusing people of taking them. What did he lose? Well,
• 7:57
  Speaker 2: first it was his overcoat. He claimed I must have
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: lifted it until I showed it to him hanging.
• 8:02
  Speaker 3: Right on the end of the boot.
• 8:03
  Speaker 4: What else did he lose?
• 8:04
  Speaker 2: Well, and next it was his keys. According to him,
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: they was in his overcoat and he went through all
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: his pockets looking for them. Here, wait a minute. But
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: he wasn't... He didn't lose a diamond ring, did he? No.
• 8:15
  Speaker 6: Oh.
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: But it's funny you'd say that.
• 8:18
  Speaker 4: Why, Pete?
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: Because that's what him and Joe was talking about all evening.
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: The guy sells diamonds, I guess, and Joe was saying
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: he wanted one to give his wife for an anniversary present.
• 8:28
  Speaker 4: Nick, we're on the right track.
• 8:29
  Speaker 2: You don't know the other man's name, do you, Pete? No,
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: but he's got an office in a well-born building. I
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: know because I heard him telling Joe they'd go up
• 8:36
  Speaker 2: there and look at some rings and stuff.
• 8:37
  Speaker 4: Nick, let's go over to the well-born building now. Maybe
• 8:39
  Speaker 4: the man hasn't even missed his ring yet.
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: I hope you're right, Patsy. It's our only chance to
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: keep Joe out of really serious trouble.
• 8:57
  Speaker 4: Why, Nick, isn't that Sergeant Matheson over there talking to
• 9:00
  Speaker 4: that man?
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: Yes, it is. I wonder what the devil he's here for. Well,
• 9:03
  Speaker 2: I'll be doggone. Nick and Patsy. Say, Patsy, you're looking great. Oh, thanks.
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: Where'd you get that dress?
• 9:10
  Speaker 4: I like it. This is the first time I've worn it,
• 9:12
  Speaker 4: and Nick didn't even notice.
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: It's swell, but... And isn't it a little bit too long?
• 9:17
  Speaker 4: It's the new look, Sergeant.
• 9:20
  Speaker 6: Oh, yes. Look, Sergeant, if you've got any more questions,
• 9:22
  Speaker 6: let's have them, will you?
• 9:23
  Speaker 3: You got me out of bed to come down here,
• 9:24
  Speaker 3: and I'm losing a lot of sleep.
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: Oh, yeah, yeah, sure. Nick, this is the night elevator operator.
• 9:29
  Speaker 2: I was just asking him a few questions. Don't let
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: us stop you. Now, look, young fella, you say Mr.
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: Forster and this young guy came in about 9 o'clock, huh? Yes, sir.
• 9:37
  Speaker 3: I remember because Mr. Foster had lost his key, and
• 9:39
  Speaker 3: I had to let him in his office with my passkey.
• 9:41
  Speaker 4: Lost his key?
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: Let's hear the rest of it. That safe in Foster's office,
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: was that where he kept his diamonds? Yes, sir.
• 9:50
  Speaker 3: He had the safe installed when he moved here three
• 9:52
  Speaker 3: years ago.
• 9:53
  Speaker 7: And Mr.
• 9:53
  Speaker 3: Foster was a private dealer in diamonds, you know.
• 9:55
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, look, give me the
• 9:58
  Speaker 2: description of the fellow with him.
• 10:00
  Speaker 3: Well, uh, I'd say he was about 23 or 24. Yeah?
• 10:04
  Speaker 3: Close to six feet tall. Uh, read a poorly dress.
• 10:08
  Speaker 4: Nick, it was Joe.
• 10:09
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I know his first name was Joe, but... Hey,
• 10:13
  Speaker 2: do you two know the guy? I think so, Matty.
• 10:16
  Speaker 2: Probably Joe Gibbs, a friend of ours. Great, then you
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: can help me find him. I can take you to
• 10:21
  Speaker 2: where he lives, but... Hey, what's Joe done, Matty? You
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: wouldn't be here if it were only a robbery. Well,
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: it was robbery, Nick. Your friend Joe got away with
• 10:31
  Speaker 2: everything in Forster's safe. Maybe $ 20, 000, $ 30, 000 worth of diamonds.
• 10:34
  Speaker 4: But, Sergeant, you're on the homicide squad.
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: Sure, Patsy, that's why I'm here. Because Forster put up
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: a fight and this Joe Gibbs beat him to death
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: with a bookend.
• 10:44
  Speaker 6: Oh!
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: You better park here, Matty.
• 10:57
  Speaker 6: Right.
• 10:58
  Speaker 2: Joe lives in that tenement above the fruit store. Okay, Nick.
• 11:01
  Speaker 2: Not that I expect him to be sitting home waiting
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: for us.
• 11:04
  Speaker 5: Nick, I just can't believe that Joe would ever have
• 11:06
  Speaker 5: done a thing like that.
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: Oh, no? What did he get sent up for the
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: other time?
• 11:09
  Speaker 5: Well, he got mixed up with bad companions, and they
• 11:12
  Speaker 5: talked him into driving the getaway car while they stuck
• 11:14
  Speaker 5: up a nightclub.
• 11:15
  Speaker 2: Oh.
• 11:15
  Speaker 4: But I don't think Joe even knew what they were doing.
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: Neither do I. That's why I helped him get his parole.
• 11:20
  Speaker 4: We've both known Joe ever since he was a kid, Sergeant.
• 11:23
  Speaker 4: And we both like him so much.
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: Now, hold it, Maddie. Back in this doorway. You too, Maddie.
• 11:27
  Speaker 4: Yeah.
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: What's the matter? There's Joe now, coming across the street. Oh.
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: Let me talk to him first, will you? Yeah, sure, but... Wait,
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: here he is. Hello, Joe.
• 11:36
  Speaker 6: Huh?
• 11:37
  Speaker 2: Oh, Mr. Carter. Miss Bowen. Joe, this is Sergeant Matheson.
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: A cop... What'd you bring a cop here for?
• 11:43
  Speaker 4: He wants to talk with you, Joe.
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: What about? About murder. Huh. Okay. So you got me.
• 11:50
  Speaker 2: But you ain't gonna keep me, Joe. Wait. Stop.
• 11:52
  Speaker 6: Stop.
• 11:52
  Speaker 2: We're on fire. Joe, look out! That truck! In this
• 12:00
  Speaker 2: desperate attempt to escape the law, Joe Gibbs is struck
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: down by a heavy truck as he tries to cross
• 12:04
  Speaker 2: the street. We'll see what happens in just a moment.
• 12:13
  Speaker 2: Now back to The Case of the Clue Called X.
• 12:16
  Speaker 2: Today's adventure with Nick Carter, brought to you by new
• 12:19
  Speaker 2: post-war old Dutch cleanser. It is a few minutes later.
• 12:23
  Speaker 2: Edna Gibbs is kneeling beside the unconscious body of her husband, Joe,
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: where he lies in the street in front of their
• 12:28
  Speaker 2: tenement house after being hit by a truck while attempting
• 12:31
  Speaker 2: to escape arrest. He's dead. Oh, Mr.
• 12:37
  Speaker 4: Carter, Joe's dead.
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: No, Edna, he's still alive. The ambulance will be here
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: in a few minutes, so we'll know what his chances
• 12:42
  Speaker 2: are then.
• 12:44
  Speaker 4: Oh, Edna, don't. Joe's going to be all right. I
• 12:46
  Speaker 4: know he is. I don't care what he did. Oh, Joe, Joe.
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: Hey, Nick. Yes, Matty? Come over here a minute, will you? Okay.
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: What's on your mind? You think there's any chance for him?
• 13:00
  Speaker 2: You'll have to ask the doctor about that. I doubt
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: if he ever regains consciousness. Better if he don't, I guess,
• 13:07
  Speaker 2: for his wife's sake. If the doc can save him,
• 13:10
  Speaker 2: it'll only be for the electric chair. This is Forster's office, Nick,
• 13:25
  Speaker 2: but I don't know why you wanted to come up here.
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: I wanted to see for myself what really happened. Is
• 13:31
  Speaker 2: everything just the way you found it, Matty? Yeah, nothing's
• 13:33
  Speaker 2: been touched except that the body's been taken to the morgue,
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: of course.
• 13:35
  Speaker 5: There must have been seven-five the other way.
• 13:37
  Speaker 4: All these chairs and things are knocked over.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: Yeah, it must have been quite a battle. Didn't the
• 13:41
  Speaker 2: elevator operator hear it? No, Nick, he said he didn't
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: hear a thing. Did he take Joe down again later?
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: He says not. After Joe killed Foster, he must have
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: walked down the stairs. I see. And the medical examiner
• 13:52
  Speaker 2: says Foster was killed within an hour of the time
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: Joe and Foster came up to the office. Right, yeah.
• 13:58
  Speaker 2: Here's the pictures of the body. Let's see. Now, this
• 14:02
  Speaker 2: one is the whole room. Here's a couple of full-length
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: views of the body from different angles. And this one
• 14:08
  Speaker 2: is a close-up of the face. You can see where
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: the book and... Yeah, wait a minute, Manny. What are
• 14:14
  Speaker 2: those marks on Foster's face? Oh, those little cuts like
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: an X? Yeah. The medical examiner said they might have
• 14:20
  Speaker 2: been made by a ring when Foster was hit.
• 14:23
  Speaker 4: But Joe wasn't wearing a ring.
• 14:24
  Speaker 2: Well, he came up here to look at rings, didn't they, Patsy?
• 14:26
  Speaker 6: Yeah.
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: He might have been trying one of them on. Well,
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: that's possible, but... Hey, look at that.
• 14:33
  Speaker 4: What is it?
• 14:34
  Speaker 2: This wall safe. One of the old-fashioned kind that opens
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: with a key. Yeah, that's where the diamonds were, but
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: you can see it's empty now. What I'm getting at, Matty,
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: is that the keys are still in the lock. Several
• 14:43
  Speaker 2: of them on this one ring, including the door key. Well,
• 14:46
  Speaker 2: what about it? Foster said he lost his keys, remember?
• 14:49
  Speaker 4: That's right. The elevator operator had let him in with
• 14:51
  Speaker 4: his pass keys.
• 14:52
  Speaker 2: Oh, Nick, look, the guy was drunk. The keys were
• 14:55
  Speaker 2: probably in his pocket all the time. Or, well, maybe
• 14:58
  Speaker 2: he left them in the office when he went out.
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: This door has an automatic lock. Yes, Manny, there's an
• 15:02
  Speaker 2: explanation for everything, I know. But it seems odd that
• 15:05
  Speaker 2: so many things would have to be explained. Oh, Nick,
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: stop it. This case is closed. Maybe. What does this
• 15:12
  Speaker 2: door lead? That's a closet where he keeps supplies, I suppose.
• 15:17
  Speaker 2: Imagine you think that you... Hey, that's funny.
• 15:20
  Speaker 4: What is, Nick?
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: Stuff in this closet. It's all crowded together in a
• 15:23
  Speaker 2: jumble on both sides. But the center is clear. And
• 15:27
  Speaker 2: here on the floor, just inside the closet door, there's
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: a spot of blood. Well, so what? They probably poured
• 15:32
  Speaker 2: all over the room.
• 15:33
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: This closet's been painted recently, too. Even the underside of
• 15:39
  Speaker 2: this shelf.
• 15:40
  Speaker 4: Nick, what are you twisting your neck like that for?
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: Trying to see the bottom of the shelf.
• 15:46
  Speaker 5: Uh-huh.
• 15:47
  Speaker 2: There's a greasy spot on it.
• 15:49
  Speaker 6: Well?
• 15:50
  Speaker 2: And here's another one on the back wall, directly opposite.
• 15:54
  Speaker 2: I think I'm beginning to figure this thing out. Now, look, Nick,
• 15:56
  Speaker 2: if you're off on some wild idea of proving Joe
• 15:59
  Speaker 2: Gibbs is innocent, just because of a couple of grease spots...
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: That's exactly what I'm trying to do, Matty. Oh. What's
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: the latest report from the hospital? Well, Joe's still unconscious,
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: but the doc said he thought he was going to
• 16:09
  Speaker 2: pull through. It'll be a long, hard fight, but it...
• 16:12
  Speaker 2: Can we talk to him? Well, the doc said he
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: could give him a shot or something to bring him
• 16:15
  Speaker 2: around long enough for a few questions, if it was
• 16:18
  Speaker 2: really necessary.
• 16:19
  Speaker 6: Good.
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: I think it is necessary. Let's go.
• 16:22
  Speaker 4: Oh, Nick, you've got to wait till Joe's stronger.
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: No, Patsy, I'm sure now Joe isn't guilty, and I
• 16:26
  Speaker 2: want to hear what happened from his own lips. Maybe
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: that'll tell us who really did kill Foster.
• 16:41
  Speaker 6: That injection should take effect in a few seconds, Sergeant.
• 16:44
  Speaker 2: Okay, Doc, thanks. Hey, Matty. What? Look at that cut
• 16:48
  Speaker 2: on Joe's chin.
• 16:49
  Speaker 5: Yeah.
• 16:51
  Speaker 2: It's like an X. The same as we found on
• 16:54
  Speaker 2: Foster's face. It's already beginning to heal. Why, it couldn't
• 16:58
  Speaker 2: have been made by that truck. That only happened a
• 16:59
  Speaker 2: couple of hours ago. He's opening his eyes. Joe. Joe,
• 17:05
  Speaker 2: can you hear me? It's Nick Carter. Yeah. I hear you, Mr. Carter. Joe,
• 17:12
  Speaker 2: tell me the truth. Did you kill Henry Foster? I.
• 17:17
  Speaker 7: Oh, what's the use?
• 17:18
  Speaker 2: Sure I did. Uh-huh. But, Joe, why? Not for the diamonds.
• 17:24
  Speaker 2: You were never a thief. I.
• 17:27
  Speaker 7: I wanted to get a ring for Edna. I always
• 17:29
  Speaker 7: promised to want it. I guess that was it. I
• 17:33
  Speaker 7: don't know.
• 17:35
  Speaker 2: Okay, Joe. Better not try to talk anymore.
• 17:37
  Speaker 7: It's funny. I don't even remember fighting with him.
• 17:41
  Speaker 2: You don't remember it?
• 17:42
  Speaker 7: No. Last thing I know, he was sitting in Barney's...
• 17:47
  Speaker 7: talking about diamonds he had in his office.
• 17:49
  Speaker 2: And me saying I wish I could buy one for Ed.
• 17:52
  Speaker 2: And then you went up to the office to look
• 17:54
  Speaker 2: at him? I guess so.
• 17:56
  Speaker 7: Because when I come to about five o'clock this morning,
• 17:58
  Speaker 7: I was laying on the floor there.
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: I knew I'd been fighting again. You mean from the
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: condition of the room?
• 18:04
  Speaker 7: Yeah, and my jaw was sore where he'd socked me.
• 18:09
  Speaker 2: And I seen him laying there, dead. Go on, Joe.
• 18:14
  Speaker 7: That's all. I got down the stairs without anybody seeing
• 18:17
  Speaker 7: me and went home. I didn't even know I took
• 18:20
  Speaker 7: the ring until Edna found it in my pocket and.
• 18:22
  Speaker 6: You better not talk anymore, Mr.
• 18:25
  Speaker 7: Carter.
• 18:26
  Speaker 2: All right, Doctor. I found out all I need to anyway. Mr.
• 18:29
  Speaker 7: Carter, would you and Miss Bowen please kind of look
• 18:34
  Speaker 7: out for Edna after.
• 18:38
  Speaker 2: Don't worry, Joe. You just take it easy and get well.
• 18:42
  Speaker 2: Unless I'm mistaken, you'll be taking care of Edna yourself
• 18:45
  Speaker 2: for a good many years to come. Oh, Barney. Hi, folks.
• 18:59
  Speaker 2: Business seems a little dull this afternoon.
• 19:01
  Speaker 6: Yeah, there's never anyone in this time of day. Hey,
• 19:04
  Speaker 6: what'd you find out about Joe? I think everything's going
• 19:07
  Speaker 6: to be all right for Joe.
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: Hey, that's swell.
• 19:09
  Speaker 4: You see, Nick thinks that somebody stole Mr. Forster's keys
• 19:12
  Speaker 4: when he was here yesterday.
• 19:13
  Speaker 7: Huh?
• 19:14
  Speaker 2: Wouldn't have been hard to do, Barney. Foster's coat was
• 19:17
  Speaker 2: hanging outside the booth, wasn't it? Sure, but.
• 19:19
  Speaker 5: And someone might have overheard him telling Joe about all
• 19:22
  Speaker 5: the diamonds he had in his office. And that someone
• 19:25
  Speaker 5: could have decided to take the keys and go up
• 19:26
  Speaker 5: there and get those diamonds for himself.
• 19:29
  Speaker 2: Ah, that's crazy.
• 19:30
  Speaker 6: Nobody was here except them two. The joint was empty,
• 19:33
  Speaker 6: just like now.
• 19:34
  Speaker 4: You were here, weren't you, Barney?
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: What are you getting at? Why aren't you wearing your ring, Barney?
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: What ring? The one that left a mark on the
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: second finger of your right hand.
• 19:45
  Speaker 6: Oh, that.
• 19:46
  Speaker 2: Why, it got too tight.
• 19:48
  Speaker 6: Why?
• 19:49
  Speaker 2: You have the ring here at the bar? Sure, it's
• 19:51
  Speaker 2: back in my office. I'd like to see it, if
• 19:53
  Speaker 2: you don't mind. Why should I?
• 19:55
  Speaker 6: Come on, back this way.
• 19:57
  Speaker 4: The ring doesn't have a big X on it, does it, Barney?
• 20:00
  Speaker 6: No, it's one of them signet rings, gold with the
• 20:03
  Speaker 6: initials BG.
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: Here's the office. Step in. Okay. Inside with you, sister.
• 20:17
  Speaker 6: You.
• 20:18
  Speaker 4: You hit him.
• 20:19
  Speaker 2: Sure, a blackjack is just a thing for taking care
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: of Snoop.
• 20:22
  Speaker 6: Oh, Nick.
• 20:22
  Speaker 4: Nick, are you all right?
• 20:23
  Speaker 6: Get away from him until I get his rod. A
• 20:26
  Speaker 6: shoulder holster, huh?
• 20:28
  Speaker 4: So you're the one who killed Foster.
• 20:30
  Speaker 6: Maybe that'll learn you to keep your trap shut. Well,
• 20:33
  Speaker 6: how do you like my office?
• 20:35
  Speaker 5: Office?
• 20:36
  Speaker 4: Why, this is a.
• 20:36
  Speaker 2: It's a storage room, sister.
• 20:38
  Speaker 6: Nice thick walls and no windows. You'd stay here forever
• 20:42
  Speaker 6: and nobody would ever know.
• 20:43
  Speaker 4: You aren't going to keep us here.
• 20:44
  Speaker 6: No, I ain't going to keep you here long. But
• 20:47
  Speaker 6: first I'm going out in the bar and put a
• 20:48
  Speaker 6: few nickels in the jukebox. And turn it up loud
• 20:52
  Speaker 6: just to be sure nobody hears the shooting. That's right, baby.
• 20:56
  Speaker 6: Because I'm coming right back to take care of you
• 20:59
  Speaker 6: and your nosy friend.
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: For good. As Barney leaves the storeroom, locking the door
• 21:08
  Speaker 2: behind him, Nick lies unconscious and unarmed, helpless to protect
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: himself or Patsy from the coming attack. We'll see what
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: happens in just a moment. The End Now for the
• 21:22
  Speaker 2: conclusion of The Case of the Clue Called X. Today's
• 21:25
  Speaker 2: adventure with Nick Carter. Brought to you by new post-war
• 21:29
  Speaker 2: old Dutch cleanser. Locked in the almost soundproof storeroom of
• 21:32
  Speaker 2: a tavern called Barney's Igloo, Patsy frantically tries to rouse
• 21:36
  Speaker 2: Nick before Barney can return and kill them both.
• 21:38
  Speaker 4: Nick, open your eyes. Please, Nick.
• 21:41
  Speaker 2: Oh. Oh, thank you. What happened?
• 21:43
  Speaker 4: When you turned your back, Barney hit you with a blackjack. Here,
• 21:47
  Speaker 4: let me help you up.
• 21:48
  Speaker 2: Oh. My head. Hey, what happened to my gun?
• 21:54
  Speaker 4: Barney took it. He's coming back to kill us, Nick.
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: We better get out of here.
• 21:58
  Speaker 4: But we can, Nick. The door is locked and there's
• 22:00
  Speaker 4: no window.
• 22:01
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 22:02
  Speaker 4: He said he'd be right back. And that was almost
• 22:04
  Speaker 4: five minutes ago.
• 22:05
  Speaker 2: Maybe a customer came in and he's waiting till the
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: place is empty again.
• 22:08
  Speaker 4: Don't just stare at the ceiling. You've got to think
• 22:10
  Speaker 4: of something.
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: It's what I'm doing, Patsy. I think I've got him. Oh, good. Here.
• 22:13
  Speaker 6: Here.
• 22:14
  Speaker 2: Help me pile some of these beer cases under that
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: little metal rosette.
• 22:18
  Speaker 4: The what?
• 22:18
  Speaker 2: Up there in the middle of the ceiling. It's an
• 22:20
  Speaker 2: automatic water sprinkler, the kind that goes into action when
• 22:23
  Speaker 2: the temperature reaches a certain point.
• 22:25
  Speaker 4: Oh, Nick, this is no... Hurry up, Patsy.
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: If Barney gets back before we're through, we'll be... There.
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: I think that's enough. Now let me hold onto your
• 22:31
  Speaker 2: shoulder while I climb on top of these cases. All right, but.
• 22:34
  Speaker 4: Oh, careful, Nick.
• 22:37
  Speaker 2: I'm all right. Okay. Now, if I only have a match. Yeah,
• 22:43
  Speaker 2: here's one.
• 22:44
  Speaker 4: Oh, Nick, I don't know what you're doing, but.
• 22:46
  Speaker 2: I'm getting ready to give us both a shower bath.
• 22:49
  Speaker 4: A what?
• 22:50
  Speaker 2: Holding this match under this sprinkler outlet should provide enough
• 22:53
  Speaker 2: heat to... Nick, it works!
• 22:56
  Speaker 4: And the alarm bell's ringing!
• 22:58
  Speaker 2: That ought to attract plenty of attention. In a few minutes,
• 23:01
  Speaker 2: this place will be swarming with firemen.
• 23:03
  Speaker 4: Oh, Nick, you're wonderful. Barney won't dare try anything now.
• 23:06
  Speaker 2: You bet he won't.
• 23:06
  Speaker 4: Oh, that water's cold. I'm freezing.
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: Sorry, Patsy, but just remember, we're making it plenty hot
• 23:12
  Speaker 2: for Barney.
• 23:12
  Speaker 4: Achoo!
• 23:13
  Speaker 2: Gesundheit. Thank you.
• 23:14
  Speaker 4: Well, it's all over, Patsy.
• 23:31
  Speaker 2: After the police got him to headquarters, Barney made a
• 23:33
  Speaker 2: complete confession. He even told them where he hid the
• 23:35
  Speaker 2: rest of Foster's diamonds.
• 23:36
  Speaker 5: I'll bet nobody would have ever suspected him if he
• 23:39
  Speaker 5: hadn't left those stolen keys hanging in the lock of
• 23:41
  Speaker 5: that wool safe.
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: Well, he didn't expect Joe and Foster to arrive so
• 23:44
  Speaker 2: soon after he did. When he heard them at the door,
• 23:47
  Speaker 2: Barney had just got the safe open. And the only
• 23:49
  Speaker 2: place he could find to hide was the supply closet.
• 23:53
  Speaker 6: Joe!
• 23:54
  Speaker 2: Gesundheit. Thanks.
• 23:56
  Speaker 4: So that's why the stuff in the closet had been
• 23:58
  Speaker 4: shoved over to the side.
• 23:59
  Speaker 2: Sure, Barney pushed them aside to make room for himself.
• 24:02
  Speaker 5: And those grease spots on the closet shelf and on
• 24:04
  Speaker 5: the back wall were from Barney's hair?
• 24:07
  Speaker 2: That's right. Barney says when Joe opened the closet door
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: to hang up Foster's coat, he hit him on the jaw.
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: And Joe passed out without even seeing who hit him.
• 24:15
  Speaker 4: So it was Joe's blood on the floor of the closet.
• 24:18
  Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.
• 24:19
  Speaker 2: Foster saw him do it, though. And that's why Barney
• 24:22
  Speaker 2: killed him. Then he planted one of the rings in
• 24:24
  Speaker 2: Joe's pocket to make Joe look guilty.
• 24:26
  Speaker 4: Well, that reminds me. What kind of a.
• 24:29
  Speaker 2: Gizuzite?
• 24:30
  Speaker 4: Never mind. I skipped that one.
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: Excuse me.
• 24:34
  Speaker 5: What kind of a ring was Barney wearing that made
• 24:36
  Speaker 5: those X-shaped cuts on both.
• 24:38
  Speaker 4: Foster's and Joe's faces?
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: It's called a crossbones. It was the crossbones that made
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: the X.
• 24:42
  Speaker 4: Hmm. How very appropriate.
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I figured that the chances were that only
• 24:48
  Speaker 2: someone in the bar could have stolen those keys from
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: Foster's pockets. And only someone with greasy hair could have
• 24:54
  Speaker 2: left those spots inside the closet.
• 24:56
  Speaker 5: So you suspected Barney, especially considering that Pete said there
• 24:59
  Speaker 5: wasn't anyone else in the.
• 25:00
  Speaker 4: Bar at that time.
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: And when I saw that mark on his finger where
• 25:03
  Speaker 2: the ring had been, I was practically certain.
• 25:06
  Speaker 5: Nick, will Joe have to go back to jail for
• 25:08
  Speaker 5: violating his parole?
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: No, no, I don't think so, considering all that's happened
• 25:11
  Speaker 2: to him.
• 25:12
  Speaker 4: And he's going to get well?
• 25:13
  Speaker 2: He'll be as good as ever in a few weeks.
• 25:15
  Speaker 2: And this time, he's going on the water wagon for good.
• 25:19
  Speaker 5: Ah, men, I guess the only permanent damage was done
• 25:22
  Speaker 5: to my new look.
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: Your what?
• 25:24
  Speaker 4: My beautiful new dress.
• 25:26
  Speaker 6: Oh.
• 25:26
  Speaker 4: After being soaked by that sprinkler, that dress looks like
• 25:28
  Speaker 4: a bathing suit. It's not funny.
• 25:31
  Speaker 2: Maybe not, but... Nick, what's the matter? I think that
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: sprinkler system gave me a cold, too. Gesundheit. THE END
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: Nick Carter, Master Detective, is presented each week at this
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: time by the Cudahy Packing Company. It is produced and
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: directed by Jock McGregor and is copyrighted by Street &
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: Smith Publications, Incorporated. Charlotte Manson is featured as Patsy. Ed
• 26:19
  Speaker 2: Latimer plays Matty. Today's script was written by Jim Parsons.
• 26:23
  Speaker 2: Original music is played by Henry Silvern. This program is fictional,
• 26:27
  Speaker 2: and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: purely coincidental. This is Michael Fitzmaurice saying, when minutes count,
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: use new post-war old Dutch cleansers.
• 26:37
  Speaker 3: This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: We close tonight with Nick Carter, Master Detective, and The
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: Case of the Clue Called X. Good night, and thank
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: you for joining us. Follow Old Time Mystery Radio for
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: more classic mystery and detective broadcasts.