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The Whistler - "Murder in Haste Ep Afrs" (Old Time Radio, 1946) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: February 25th, 1946. The Whistler brought listeners episode 196, Murder
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: in Haste. In this CBS Pacific Network broadcast, originally sponsored
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: by Signal Oil, Albert Taylor leaves Florida aboard a northbound
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: train for New York after a violent quarrel with his
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: wealthy wife. A suspicious detective keeps watch. and Taylor acts
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: on an opportunity to exchange identities with a celebrated mystery writer,
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: an impersonation that carries him into mounting risks. Written by
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: Eleanor Beeson, the cast includes Joseph Kearns, Gerald Moore, Elliot Lewis,
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: and Marvin Miller. This Armed Forces Radio Service version, circulated
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: as Mystery Playhouse, edited from the original broadcast. And now,
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: our story begins.
• 0:55
  Speaker 2: Good evening, creeps.
• 1:02
  Speaker 3: Your mystery playhouse invites you now to listen to the
• 1:04
  Speaker 3: whistler story of Murder in Haste.
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: Now, here is the whistler.
• 1:35
  Speaker 4: Albert Taylor was two people.
• 1:38
  Speaker 5: To the Cafe Society crowd in Miami, he was the
• 1:41
  Speaker 5: charming young husband of a silver fortune from Denver, aged 45,
• 1:46
  Speaker 5: amply mature and a little crotchety. To his wife Helen,
• 1:50
  Speaker 5: the silver fortune, he was something else again, an unpleasant
• 1:54
  Speaker 5: little boy whose unpleasantness had to be bought off with
• 1:58
  Speaker 5: hundred-dollar bills instead of chewing gum.
• 2:01
  Speaker 4: This made for friction, of course.
• 2:04
  Speaker 5: After three years of marriage, Helen was heartily sick of
• 2:08
  Speaker 5: both Elberts.
• 2:09
  Speaker 4: And more careful with the hundred dollar bills. And Elbert, too,
• 2:13
  Speaker 4: had reached the saturation point.
• 2:15
  Speaker 5: As a matter of fact, the unpleasant little boy was
• 2:17
  Speaker 5: on the verge of a tantrum.
• 2:21
  Speaker 6: Elbert?
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: Is that you?
• 2:22
  Speaker 7: Yeah.
• 2:23
  Speaker 6: Elbert, I'm awfully upset. Oh, what now? My bracelets.
• 2:29
  Speaker 8: The diamond and emerald one.
• 2:31
  Speaker 6: I put it in the drawer of my.
• 2:32
  Speaker 3: Vanity last night, after the party.
• 2:34
  Speaker 6: Well, what about it? It's gone. I've questioned the servants
• 2:37
  Speaker 6: and they don't... Did you, uh, call the police? No.
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: Good.
• 2:43
  Speaker 6: What do you mean? I told you I'd get money somewhere, Helen.
• 2:46
  Speaker 6: You took it? Of course I took it. I see.
• 2:50
  Speaker 6: And what did you do with it? I sold it,
• 2:51
  Speaker 6: of course.
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: Oh!
• 2:52
  Speaker 6: What did you expect?
• 2:53
  Speaker 3: Think I'm going to sit up and beg you for
• 2:54
  Speaker 3: every time I need five dollars? Sure, that's what you want,
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: isn't it?
• 2:58
  Speaker 6: Come on, come on. Watch Elbert, the train carrier.
• 3:00
  Speaker 3: Eats, sleeps, walks, talks, thinks like a human being.
• 3:03
  Speaker 8: That's enough, Elbert.
• 3:03
  Speaker 6: You bet it's enough. I'm sick of it. I'm through
• 3:06
  Speaker 6: being your favorite charity.
• 3:08
  Speaker 8: You don't know how right you are.
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: What?
• 3:11
  Speaker 6: What does that mean?
• 3:12
  Speaker 8: It's very simple.
• 3:14
  Speaker 7: I'm going to call the police and tell them you've
• 3:16
  Speaker 7: stolen my bracelet.
• 3:18
  Speaker 6: Oh, wait a minute. Don't be ridiculous. Get away from me.
• 3:20
  Speaker 6: Give me that phone. Let go of my hand.
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: Why, you nagging.
• 3:23
  Speaker 3: This is disagreeable.
• 3:24
  Speaker 7: Albert, I'm sorry.
• 3:27
  Speaker 6: You want to watch me jump, don't you? You want
• 3:28
  Speaker 6: to crack the whip and watch me jump? You're hurting me.
• 3:31
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 3:32
  Speaker 6: Let go, please. I'll hurt you all right. I'd like
• 3:35
  Speaker 6: to shake you until... I'd like to shake until your
• 3:38
  Speaker 6: teeth go bad.
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry.
• 3:53
  Speaker 5: Well, Albert, why don't you do something? Why don't you
• 3:57
  Speaker 5: go over there to the hearth and help her up?
• 4:00
  Speaker 5: Or perhaps you're not as dazed as you look standing
• 4:03
  Speaker 5: there in the middle of the room. Maybe even now
• 4:06
  Speaker 5: you realize Helen isn't going to get up because she
• 4:09
  Speaker 5: struck her temple on the andiron when you hurled her
• 4:12
  Speaker 5: across the room. Yes, Albert, she's lying there so very still.
• 4:19
  Speaker 5: Because she's dead. There'll be no more ugly squabbles over money.
• 4:38
  Speaker 5: No more jumping through hoops for Helen. Because the last
• 4:41
  Speaker 5: argument was final, wasn't it? So final that Helen lies
• 4:45
  Speaker 5: dead in front of the hearth. A minute later, you've
• 4:49
  Speaker 5: decided on the only course of action possible. You leave
• 4:52
  Speaker 5: her in her bedroom and lock the door. The servants
• 4:55
  Speaker 5: in their separate quarters are used to your arguments and
• 4:58
  Speaker 5: probably have paid no attention. Two hours and 20 minutes later,
• 5:02
  Speaker 5: you're standing on the observation platform of the limited express
• 5:06
  Speaker 5: bound for Jacksonville and points north.
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: Nice night.
• 5:12
  Speaker 6: Oh, I didn't hear you come up.
• 5:15
  Speaker 2: Sorry.
• 5:16
  Speaker 6: I said it was a nice night.
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
• 5:20
  Speaker 6: I saw you running for the train when we were
• 5:22
  Speaker 6: pulling out. Just made it, didn't you? Yeah, it was
• 5:24
  Speaker 6: kind of close, all right.
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: You been in Miami long?
• 5:29
  Speaker 6: No, been fishing off the Keys just a week or so.
• 5:33
  Speaker 5: I see.
• 5:36
  Speaker 6: My name's Ricketts.
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: Glad to know you.
• 5:38
  Speaker 6: I'm Brown, Richard Brown.
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: Uh-huh. You going up to New York, Brown?
• 5:45
  Speaker 6: That's right. Well, I guess I'll be getting inside, Ricketts.
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: Good idea. I'll go with you.
• 6:04
  Speaker 4: You knew it the minute he opened his mouth, didn't you, Albert?
• 6:07
  Speaker 5: Ricketts is a plainclothes cop. And there can be only
• 6:11
  Speaker 5: one reason why he's so interested in you. He's right
• 6:13
  Speaker 5: behind you as you walk back through the train to
• 6:15
  Speaker 5: your seat. And you're wondering if he'll sit beside you
• 6:18
  Speaker 5: when you stop there. Then when you're ten feet from.
• 6:21
  Speaker 6: It, it hits you.
• 6:22
  Speaker 9: You realize why he's following you.
• 6:25
  Speaker 5: Your luggage with your initials E.T. on it is in
• 6:27
  Speaker 5: the baggage rack over the seat. And Ricketts is just
• 6:30
  Speaker 5: waiting for you to stop there. You hold your breath
• 6:33
  Speaker 5: and keep on going.
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: Uh, Brown? Yeah? Isn't this your seat?
• 6:39
  Speaker 6: Why, no, no. I have a compartment up ahead.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: Oh, I see.
• 6:45
  Speaker 6: Well, good night, Browns.
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: Good night.
• 6:55
  Speaker 5: There's only one place to go, the club car and
• 6:58
  Speaker 5: the bar, where you can sit for a minute and think.
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: Yes, sir?
• 7:03
  Speaker 6: Make it a Manhattan.
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: Dry.
• 7:05
  Speaker 6: Dry Manhattan. Right, sir.
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: Thank you.
• 7:09
  Speaker 6: Oh, is this your magazine here, sir?
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: What? Oh, no, no.
• 7:12
  Speaker 6: May I look at it?
• 7:13
  Speaker 2: Sure. Thank you. Are you going to New York?
• 7:15
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 7:16
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 7:17
  Speaker 10: Well, it'll be cold up there this time of year.
• 7:18
  Speaker 10: A lot of snow and all that. Yes, I suppose so.
• 7:22
  Speaker 10: You know, I'm as excited as a kid. I haven't
• 7:24
  Speaker 10: seen snow for an age. Matter of fact, I haven't
• 7:27
  Speaker 10: set foot in America for, well, five years. Oh, it's
• 7:30
  Speaker 10: great to be back. I get a kick out of
• 7:32
  Speaker 10: just talking to Americans again.
• 7:34
  Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah.
• 7:35
  Speaker 10: I was sitting in my compartment a few minutes ago
• 7:37
  Speaker 10: and thinking... You have a compartment?
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: Oh, yeah, yeah. A couple of cars ahead.
• 7:41
  Speaker 6: Oh, wow. My name's Brown, Mr... Jameson.
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: Uh... Leslie Jameson. Jameson?
• 7:49
  Speaker 6: Wait a minute. You're not the mystery writer.
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: I'm afraid I am, yes. Here you are, sir.
• 7:55
  Speaker 10: Drum and hand.
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: Oh, thank you.
• 7:57
  Speaker 6: Well, here's to you, Mr... What's the matter?
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: Oh, nothing.
• 8:03
  Speaker 6: Say, Jameson, why don't we go to your compartment? Be
• 8:08
  Speaker 6: quieter there. We could have the drinks sent in.
• 8:10
  Speaker 2: Why, of course, if you'd like.
• 8:19
  Speaker 4: Yes, Albert, the compartment would be quieter.
• 8:22
  Speaker 5: And you'd feel a little more comfortable, particularly since you
• 8:25
  Speaker 5: noticed your friend Mr. Ricketts stroll into the bar and
• 8:28
  Speaker 5: sit down, still hunting for the occupant of your seat,
• 8:31
  Speaker 5: no doubt.
• 8:33
  Speaker 4: Mr. Jameson finds the compartment pleasanter, too.
• 8:37
  Speaker 10: Well, a man can't stay forever in Buenos Aires and
• 8:40
  Speaker 10: continue to write for the American public.
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: Has to keep in touch, you know. Don't you think so? Oh, yes, yes,
• 8:48
  Speaker 2: of course.
• 8:49
  Speaker 6: So you say you left Buenos Aires, huh?
• 8:51
  Speaker 10: Yes, planned to anyway, but made it a little earlier
• 8:54
  Speaker 10: on account of that nasty business with my assistant.
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: Ah, yes, I see. Well, I'll probably go back in
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: a year or so. Did you ever read anything of mine, Brown?
• 9:01
  Speaker 3: I can't say I've done much reading in the detective storyline.
• 9:05
  Speaker 3: You have a serial running in one of the magazines right.
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: Now, haven't you? Yes. Murder in Haste. I don't suppose
• 9:11
  Speaker 2: you're reading it.
• 9:12
  Speaker 6: No, I'm sorry. If I'd known I was going to
• 9:14
  Speaker 6: meet the author, I'd have boned up on it.
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: Oh, don't apologize, Brown. Well... How about a nightcap before
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: we turn in, eh?
• 9:21
  Speaker 6: Oh, it's early yet, Jameson. Surely you're not going to
• 9:23
  Speaker 6: give up the ship so soon.
• 9:25
  Speaker 10: Well, I've got to confess I'm a little bush. I've
• 9:27
  Speaker 10: been rattling on like a magpie all evening.
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: There. There you are. Oh, thanks.
• 9:32
  Speaker 6: Wow, that's beautiful brandy.
• 9:35
  Speaker 10: None better. Well, Brown, what do we drink to? Oh,
• 9:39
  Speaker 10: I have it to crime, Brown. Mighty profitable business, for
• 9:43
  Speaker 10: me at least. Yeah, here's to crime.
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: You know, that's odd.
• 9:47
  Speaker 10: Murder is my business, and yet I've never in my
• 9:52
  Speaker 10: life seen a murdered man.
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: A fact? No.
• 9:55
  Speaker 10: Never been in a police court. Hardly ever known a policeman. Well,
• 10:00
  Speaker 10: I'm really sort of a phony when you get right
• 10:01
  Speaker 10: down to it. Well, Brown, it's been great talking to you,
• 10:05
  Speaker 10: but I.
• 10:05
  Speaker 6: Tell me more about your agent. You were saying you've
• 10:07
  Speaker 6: never met him personally?
• 10:08
  Speaker 2: Oh, Farrell.
• 10:09
  Speaker 10: Well, he's a great agent. I've often wondered what he
• 10:11
  Speaker 10: looks like. Sometimes I think he must be a magician
• 10:14
  Speaker 10: with a long beard, the way he pulls royalties out
• 10:18
  Speaker 10: of a hat.
• 10:18
  Speaker 2: Ha-ha. I sold my leading character to a radio series. Wow.
• 10:23
  Speaker 6: You've never even been to New York?
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: Never. Probably the only man in the business who can
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: say that. Well, Brown, it's close to midnight and I.
• 10:29
  Speaker 6: Uh, look, Jameson, what about this serial you're running? Maybe
• 10:31
  Speaker 6: you could bring me up to date on it and I.
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: I'll tell you about it tomorrow, Brown. Right now, I'm
• 10:36
  Speaker 2: awfully tired. Oh, it's early yet. Now, see here, I
• 10:39
  Speaker 2: don't want to be rude, but I'll have to ask
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: you to.
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: Good Lord, what's that?
• 10:44
  Speaker 6: I'm trying to stop. Stop the train.
• 10:45
  Speaker 2: Back up! Back up!
• 10:55
  Speaker 5: An open switch, a signal down, and the southbound local
• 11:00
  Speaker 5: is suddenly there on the same track without warning. It's
• 11:03
  Speaker 5: over in a split second, and then you open your eyes, Albert.
• 11:07
  Speaker 5: You're all right, miraculously safe, in the tangled network of
• 11:11
  Speaker 5: steel and sprinted wood that used to be a Pullman car.
• 11:15
  Speaker 4: And there's Leslie Jameson.
• 11:17
  Speaker 5: He wasn't so lucky, Albert. There's nothing you can do
• 11:20
  Speaker 5: for him now. The other end of the coach is
• 11:23
  Speaker 5: in flames and they're moving towards you. Finally, you managed
• 11:26
  Speaker 5: to get out.
• 11:27
  Speaker 6: I've got to get out. Through this window. Watch this glass.
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: Here, let me help you.
• 11:31
  Speaker 4: Give me your hand.
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: That's it. Oh, thanks. You all right? I think so.
• 11:38
  Speaker 6: I'm a little dizzy.
• 11:39
  Speaker 2: Oh, sure.
• 11:39
  Speaker 4: Oh, it's you, Mr.
• 11:40
  Speaker 2: Brown.
• 11:41
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 11:42
  Speaker 6: Ricketts.
• 11:43
  Speaker 2: You're lucky.
• 11:43
  Speaker 6: This coach got it worst of all. Look at that fire.
• 11:45
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 11:45
  Speaker 6: Got out just in time.
• 11:46
  Speaker 4: Hey, that fellow you were drinking with at the bar
• 11:48
  Speaker 4: went to your compartment with you.
• 11:49
  Speaker 2: He still in there?
• 11:49
  Speaker 7: My compartment?
• 11:51
  Speaker 6: Pretty sure he's Albert E.
• 11:51
  Speaker 4: Taylor.
• 11:52
  Speaker 6: Murdered his wife in Miami. Is he still there?
• 11:53
  Speaker 2: No.
• 11:55
  Speaker 6: No, he left a few minutes before the crash.
• 11:57
  Speaker 2: Well, you better get on ahead, Mr. Brown.
• 11:58
  Speaker 4: I gotta give him a hand here. Can you make
• 11:59
  Speaker 4: it up to the crossing? There's a highway restaurant up there.
• 12:01
  Speaker 6: Sure, sure.
• 12:02
  Speaker 2: I'm okay. Thanks. Okay, Brown.
• 12:04
  Speaker 6: Take it easy.
• 12:04
  Speaker 11: Farewell.
• 12:13
  Speaker 5: Well, Albert, you stand there dazed for a minute, watching
• 12:16
  Speaker 5: the fire move closer.
• 12:18
  Speaker 4: Then you decide to take a chance.
• 12:20
  Speaker 5: Crawl back to Leslie Jameson's body, take his wallet, his ring,
• 12:23
  Speaker 5: and watch. Exchange them for your ring and watch. Engraved,
• 12:27
  Speaker 5: to Albert with all my love, Helen. Then as the
• 12:31
  Speaker 5: flames move close, you find his briefcase and bag and
• 12:34
  Speaker 5: crawl out with him. Ten minutes later, you stagger into
• 12:36
  Speaker 5: the highway restaurant at the grade crossing.
• 12:41
  Speaker 6: Say, uh, I wonder if you fellas can help me.
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: Hurt, mister?
• 12:45
  Speaker 9: We got the doc in the back room.
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: Come on. No, no, no, I'm all right.
• 12:47
  Speaker 6: I just want to get out of here. I thought
• 12:49
  Speaker 6: I could hire a car, get a bus to New York.
• 12:51
  Speaker 4: You were in the wreck? Yeah. Say, I'm the AP
• 12:53
  Speaker 4: correspondent here. Could you give me your name? I'm Leslie James.
• 12:58
  Speaker 2: Leslie James.
• 13:00
  Speaker 6: Say.
• 13:01
  Speaker 4: Aren't you the fellow who writes those murder mysteries?
• 13:03
  Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, that's right. Well, if that ain't a coincidence, Frank,
• 13:06
  Speaker 6: only last night you and me made that bet.
• 13:07
  Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, now we can settle it once and for all.
• 13:09
  Speaker 9: Yeah, we was betting which one would turn out to
• 13:11
  Speaker 9: be the murderer in that serial you're running.
• 13:12
  Speaker 2: In a post.
• 13:13
  Speaker 6: Oh, well, that's very flattering. Now, I wonder if you
• 13:15
  Speaker 6: could help me about the bus I'm in.
• 13:16
  Speaker 4: Say, Mr.
• 13:17
  Speaker 9: Jameson, could you give us an advance tip on the murderer?
• 13:20
  Speaker 6: Yeah, then we won't have to wait for the magazine
• 13:22
  Speaker 6: to come out tomorrow.
• 13:23
  Speaker 4: Who was it, Mr.
• 13:23
  Speaker 2: Jameson? Who?
• 13:24
  Speaker 4: Well, I don't think that would be.
• 13:25
  Speaker 2: Give me a fast cup of coffee, will you? Yeah, sure.
• 13:27
  Speaker 6: Oh, Ricketts.
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: Oh.
• 13:30
  Speaker 6: Pretty rough out there. Three cars gone.
• 13:32
  Speaker 9: What are you guys standing around here for? You been
• 13:34
  Speaker 9: out there and looked at it? Well, I gotta stand
• 13:36
  Speaker 9: by the car. I'm a recorder, pal, and I'm getting
• 13:37
  Speaker 9: the story. Or I was until you.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: How do you feel, Brown? Brown?
• 13:43
  Speaker 4: That's Leslie Jamison, the writer.
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: Huh?
• 13:45
  Speaker 6: I thought your name was Brown. Oh, of course I... Well,
• 13:49
  Speaker 6: you know how it is.
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: Here's your coffee. Thanks. No, Mr.
• 13:52
  Speaker 6: Brown, I don't know how it is. How is it?
• 13:56
  Speaker 4: Leslie Jameson, famous mystery story writer.
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: Well?
• 14:02
  Speaker 4: Traveling, incognito.
• 14:04
  Speaker 6: Well, you see, Rick, I didn't want to.
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: Oh, I get it.
• 14:09
  Speaker 4: We've been reading Mr.
• 14:10
  Speaker 6: Jameson's serial in the post, Murder in Haste. Had a
• 14:12
  Speaker 6: little bet with Frank here on who the murderer was. Oh,
• 14:14
  Speaker 6: I can tell you that. I read the last installment
• 14:17
  Speaker 6: last night.
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: Yeah? Sure.
• 14:18
  Speaker 6: Got it at a newsstand in Miami. Well, we ain't
• 14:20
  Speaker 6: got it here yet.
• 14:21
  Speaker 4: Well, Mr.
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: Jameson, whodunit.
• 14:23
  Speaker 6: Well, I don't want to spoil the story for you.
• 14:26
  Speaker 6: You ought to finish.
• 14:27
  Speaker 4: Afraid we won't buy another copy of the magazine? Yeah, yeah,
• 14:30
  Speaker 4: come on, Jameson.
• 14:31
  Speaker 6: Well, it's a matter of ethics. What do you mean, ethics?
• 14:36
  Speaker 6: I know how it ends.
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: Sure, Jameson.
• 14:38
  Speaker 6: I can tell the boys I got it straight from
• 14:39
  Speaker 6: the author's mouth.
• 14:40
  Speaker 4: Come on, now, what goes?
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: Well, I don't want to.
• 14:43
  Speaker 6: I got you a car, Lieutenant.
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: Oh, good. I'll be right with you.
• 14:46
  Speaker 6: Hey, you guys know anyone who wants to go to
• 14:47
  Speaker 6: New York? I got a car and I want someone
• 14:49
  Speaker 6: to share the driving.
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: Well, Jameson.
• 14:50
  Speaker 4: Sure, you said you were going to New York, didn't you, Jameson?
• 14:52
  Speaker 6: Well, as a matter of fact... Well, you can come
• 14:54
  Speaker 6: with me, huh? Give me a hand with the driving.
• 14:56
  Speaker 2: Come on. All right.
• 14:57
  Speaker 6: Oh, but first, give him a break. Tell him who
• 15:00
  Speaker 6: the murderer was. Oh, no, I'm sorry. It's against my principles. Well,
• 15:06
  Speaker 6: it's your business. Come on.
• 15:11
  Speaker 11: Hey, it was the old lady did it. You got
• 15:24
  Speaker 11: hotel space in New York, Jameson?
• 15:26
  Speaker 6: No, not yet. I thought I'd arrange that when I arrived.
• 15:29
  Speaker 6: You haven't been around much lately, I see. Probably isn't
• 15:31
  Speaker 6: a room that he had.
• 15:32
  Speaker 2: That bad?
• 15:33
  Speaker 6: Worse. Well, I think I might be able to fix
• 15:35
  Speaker 6: you up at the Midtown. I know the manager there. Oh,
• 15:38
  Speaker 6: I couldn't possibly... Oh, forget it, Jameson. Glad to help
• 15:41
  Speaker 6: you out. Can you fix him up, Walter?
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: Oh, I think so. Just sign the register, Mr... Jameson.
• 15:59
  Speaker 6: Leslie Jameson, the writer.
• 16:00
  Speaker 2: Well, why didn't you say so? Look, I.
• 16:03
  Speaker 6: I don't want to put you out.
• 16:04
  Speaker 2: Oh, nonsense. We're honored, Mr.
• 16:05
  Speaker 6: Jameson.
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: I'm a mystery fan myself.
• 16:08
  Speaker 9: I want to tell you that murder in haste has
• 16:10
  Speaker 9: me fooled right up to the last page.
• 16:12
  Speaker 2: Oh, Peters.
• 16:12
  Speaker 6: Yes, sir?
• 16:13
  Speaker 2: This is Mr. Leslie Jameson. Now get the boys over.
• 16:16
  Speaker 6: I want to take a few pictures. Pictures?
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: No, no, no.
• 16:18
  Speaker 6: Wait a minute. I don't want any pictures.
• 16:19
  Speaker 2: Oh, nothing to it, Mr.
• 16:20
  Speaker 3: Jameson.
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: Just a couple of the boys from the Star Express.
• 16:23
  Speaker 2: I know you're tired, but it won't take long. And, Peters. Yes?
• 16:27
  Speaker 2: Have some flowers sent up to Mr. Jameson's room.
• 16:30
  Speaker 10: We'll have the pictures taken there.
• 16:32
  Speaker 2: Uh, Peters is our press agent, Mr. Jameson. He'll take
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: care of you.
• 16:35
  Speaker 4: Oh, certainly will, Mr.
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: Jameson.
• 16:36
  Speaker 4: Right this way.
• 16:38
  Speaker 3: Say, um, look here, Peters. You look like a reasonable man.
• 16:43
  Speaker 3: I never have my picture taken, and I don't intend
• 16:45
  Speaker 3: to stand for it now.
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: You just don't know New York newspaper photographers, Mr.
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: Jameson.
• 16:49
  Speaker 6: It's much easier if you give in. What'll happen if
• 16:52
  Speaker 6: I refuse?
• 16:53
  Speaker 4: You'll find out. And you did find out, didn't you, Albert?
• 17:03
  Speaker 4: You were helpless. There was nothing you could do.
• 17:06
  Speaker 5: They came, they saw, they took pictures, and all you
• 17:09
  Speaker 5: could do was rage.
• 17:10
  Speaker 4: And try to keep your face covered. That only made
• 17:13
  Speaker 4: a better story for them.
• 17:16
  Speaker 6: They were delighted, Albert.
• 17:18
  Speaker 5: The next day, there are pictures of you in the tabloids,
• 17:20
  Speaker 5: hiding your face under the caption, Leslie Jameson, mystery author,
• 17:25
  Speaker 5: stages publicity scene in room.
• 17:27
  Speaker 4: At Midtown Hotel.
• 17:29
  Speaker 5: And to complete the success of your change of identity,
• 17:32
  Speaker 5: the second page of the same paper carries the news
• 17:35
  Speaker 5: that you, Albert Taylor, wanted for the murder of his
• 17:39
  Speaker 5: wife in Miami, perished in the train wreck. You're all
• 17:43
  Speaker 5: mixed up now, aren't you, Albert? But you almost wish
• 17:46
  Speaker 5: Helen was with you again to make the decisions for
• 17:49
  Speaker 5: you like she used to.
• 17:50
  Speaker 4: And then suddenly there's nothing for you to do. The
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: decision is all made.
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: Yes? Mr. Jameson? Yes?
• 18:00
  Speaker 3: Mrs.
• 18:01
  Speaker 9: Jameson is on her way up.
• 18:03
  Speaker 6: What?
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: Your wife. I assumed it would be all right to
• 18:06
  Speaker 2: tell her that.
• 18:08
  Speaker 6: Never mind.
• 18:08
  Speaker 8: Hello, Leslie.
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: Oh, what are you.
• 18:18
  Speaker 8: Maybe I'd better come in. Well?
• 18:24
  Speaker 2: Well, what?
• 18:27
  Speaker 6: All right, what are you going to do about it?
• 18:29
  Speaker 8: You're an awfully simple sort, aren't you, Mr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is?
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: All right, I suppose I am.
• 18:36
  Speaker 8: How did you expect to get away with it after
• 18:38
  Speaker 8: all the publicity? All right, where is he? What have
• 18:41
  Speaker 8: you done to him?
• 18:41
  Speaker 6: Now, wait a minute, Mrs. Jamison. I can explain.
• 18:43
  Speaker 8: Maybe you'd better.
• 18:44
  Speaker 3: Your husband was killed in that train wreck in Florida.
• 18:47
  Speaker 3: I had reasons for wanting to disappear, so I took
• 18:51
  Speaker 3: his identity.
• 18:51
  Speaker 6: I never meant to keep it up. Now, if you'll just...
• 18:55
  Speaker 6: Just what? Now, look, there's nothing we can do for
• 18:58
  Speaker 6: your husband. Now he was killed. You believe that, don't you?
• 19:00
  Speaker 6: I don't... Well, I'm going to leave town. All I
• 19:03
  Speaker 6: ask is that you forget you ever saw me.
• 19:05
  Speaker 8: I see.
• 19:08
  Speaker 6: What are you going to do?
• 19:11
  Speaker 8: I could go to the police, of course.
• 19:13
  Speaker 2: Wait a minute. Wait.
• 19:16
  Speaker 6: I can make it worth your while to.
• 19:17
  Speaker 8: Oh, stop simpering. Does anyone know you here in New York?
• 19:21
  Speaker 2: No.
• 19:22
  Speaker 7: That's very fortunate. You see, Leslie and I, we didn't
• 19:27
  Speaker 7: get along. As a matter of fact, we'd been separated
• 19:30
  Speaker 7: for some time. He said he was cutting me out
• 19:32
  Speaker 7: of his will. So, with Leslie dead, I don't get
• 19:35
  Speaker 7: anything at all.
• 19:36
  Speaker 8: But, with Leslie alive.
• 19:38
  Speaker 6: Wait a minute. You wouldn't... Why not?
• 19:41
  Speaker 7: He could retire right now and live off his royalties
• 19:43
  Speaker 7: without doing another lick.
• 19:45
  Speaker 6: You want me to keep this up?
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: Of course. Don't be ridiculous.
• 19:49
  Speaker 6: There are a dozen reasons why I can't. He'll discover
• 19:51
  Speaker 6: it in a week.
• 19:52
  Speaker 8: You have his baggage.
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 19:55
  Speaker 8: And I know his signature.
• 19:56
  Speaker 7: I can imitate it perfectly. I know his background like
• 19:59
  Speaker 7: a book. You may as well get used to it, Mr.
• 20:02
  Speaker 2: Jamison.
• 20:03
  Speaker 6: I tell you I won't do it. It's the most
• 20:04
  Speaker 6: fantastic thing I ever heard of.
• 20:06
  Speaker 7: There's a Lieutenant Ricketts down in the lobby. You know,
• 20:08
  Speaker 7: he seemed quite interested in our relationship.
• 20:12
  Speaker 8: Of course, if you like, I'll bring him up to date.
• 20:17
  Speaker 6: All right, Mrs. Jameson.
• 20:19
  Speaker 8: Darling, just call me Ruth. There's a dear. Ruth.
• 20:32
  Speaker 2: Ruth. Yes, what is it?
• 20:34
  Speaker 6: I tell you, this can't go on. You're spending money
• 20:36
  Speaker 6: like a child.
• 20:37
  Speaker 3: $ 28, 000 in three months besides the deposits I made to
• 20:40
  Speaker 3: your account.
• 20:41
  Speaker 6: Why, we're behind in the rent. The maid hasn't been paid.
• 20:43
  Speaker 6: Just look at these bills.
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: Look at them.
• 20:44
  Speaker 6: I haven't got a penny. Are you all through?
• 20:48
  Speaker 8: You know, there's your quarterly royalty check due tomorrow.
• 20:50
  Speaker 6: That'll only pay part of the bills.
• 20:52
  Speaker 8: It's not paying any of them, darling. It's going into
• 20:54
  Speaker 8: my account.
• 20:55
  Speaker 2: Oh, I see.
• 20:56
  Speaker 6: Maybe you've got a fast way of getting out from
• 20:58
  Speaker 6: under these bills.
• 20:59
  Speaker 8: That's your worry, dear, not mine.
• 21:10
  Speaker 2: Five, seven, fourteen, thirty-two.
• 21:13
  Speaker 8: Having trouble?
• 21:14
  Speaker 3: Oh, nothing at all, sweetheart. It's just that my account's
• 21:17
  Speaker 3: overdrawn by $ 500. Of course, you could finish your book, dear.
• 21:22
  Speaker 7: Sure.
• 21:23
  Speaker 6: Finish the book. Write a Leslie Jameson mystery novel.
• 21:26
  Speaker 7: Well, then I suppose you'll just have to think of
• 21:29
  Speaker 7: something else.
• 21:30
  Speaker 6: Ruth, be honest with me.
• 21:34
  Speaker 3: Actually, how long do you intend to carry on with this?
• 21:39
  Speaker 8: Indefinitely, dear. You know, I know when I have a
• 21:41
  Speaker 8: good thing.
• 21:42
  Speaker 6: You mean, then, there's no end?
• 21:44
  Speaker 8: Oh, there is if you want one. There are always
• 21:47
  Speaker 8: the police, of course.
• 21:48
  Speaker 6: Will you quit throwing that up to me? You could
• 21:51
  Speaker 6: be decent about it, you know. There could have been
• 21:53
  Speaker 6: plenty without you bleeding.
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: Me to death.
• 21:55
  Speaker 8: I think I've been pretty fair with you. Six months now.
• 21:57
  Speaker 6: No sleep. Pounded day and night. I can't eat.
• 21:59
  Speaker 8: This isn't getting us anywhere.
• 22:01
  Speaker 6: I'm trying to dodge my shadow. I'm getting nowhere. Afraid
• 22:03
  Speaker 6: all the time.
• 22:04
  Speaker 3: This dagger hanging over my head.
• 22:06
  Speaker 8: Alfred, what's happened to you? Alfred, get a hold of yourself.
• 22:09
  Speaker 2: No way out, is there?
• 22:10
  Speaker 6: I'm trapped. I run into a corner. There's no way
• 22:14
  Speaker 6: to turn. Albert, stay away from me.
• 22:16
  Speaker 8: There's no way to turn, is there?
• 22:17
  Speaker 6: What are you doing?
• 22:18
  Speaker 9: There's no way to turn.
• 22:40
  Speaker 2: Yes, sir.
• 22:41
  Speaker 6: You're... You're the desk sergeant?
• 22:44
  Speaker 2: That's right. What can I do for you?
• 22:46
  Speaker 6: Well, you can take this down. I, uh.
• 22:49
  Speaker 2: What's the matter, pal?
• 22:53
  Speaker 6: I just killed my wife.
• 23:05
  Speaker 4: Well, Albert.
• 23:06
  Speaker 5: For the first time since that awful night in Miami,
• 23:09
  Speaker 5: you feel relaxed.
• 23:11
  Speaker 4: It's over now, isn't it? The hounding, the fear, the
• 23:14
  Speaker 4: dagger hanging over your head. They're gone now.
• 23:19
  Speaker 5: You sit down in a chair by the sergeant's desk
• 23:22
  Speaker 5: and start to tell him the whole thing.
• 23:24
  Speaker 3: And then I wandered around the streets all night. I
• 23:31
  Speaker 3: thought about running away again. And then it all seemed so.
• 23:36
  Speaker 2: Useless. You came into the station and spilled it, huh? Yeah.
• 23:41
  Speaker 6: What, you're going over there?
• 23:43
  Speaker 2: I've been there. Found her an hour after you did it.
• 23:45
  Speaker 2: I see.
• 23:48
  Speaker 6: You may as well know that she's not my wife.
• 23:52
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, we know that, Mr. Jameson. She was your
• 23:54
  Speaker 2: assistant in Buenos Aires. What? You say she was shaking
• 23:58
  Speaker 2: you down, huh? What'd she have on you? I... I'm
• 24:02
  Speaker 2: her assistant. Oh, that's right, your assistant. Have you, uh,
• 24:08
  Speaker 2: had a lapse of memory or something, Jameson?
• 24:11
  Speaker 4: Your assistant?
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: Yes, I have.
• 24:13
  Speaker 10: Now tell me, Jameson, what was she threatening to take
• 24:16
  Speaker 10: to the police? Okay, but a three-year-old would have known
• 24:19
  Speaker 10: it was a bluff. That's the last thing in the
• 24:22
  Speaker 10: world she would have done. No, you don't know her.
• 24:24
  Speaker 10: She would have done anything.
• 24:26
  Speaker 2: Not if it meant her neck, pal. Huh?
• 24:29
  Speaker 10: You have got a bum memory, Jameson. It was all
• 24:32
  Speaker 10: over Bonazeri six months ago. She's wanted down there.
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: For murder. That brings down the curtain of the mystery
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: playhouse for tonight, creeps. So, good night.
• 24:56
  Speaker 4: Sleep tight.
• 25:00
  Speaker 2: This is the Armed Forces Radio Service.
• 25:12
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry.
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: That concludes The Whistler, episode 196, Murder in Haste. Follow
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: The Whistler for more classic broadcasts.