Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Sherlock Holmes: The Elusive Agent, Part One (EP0829)

Transcript

Sherlock Holmes: The Elusive Agent, Part One (EP0829) · 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
0:38
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives not Net, follow us on Twitter at
0:43
Radio Detectives, and call us to await nine nine, one, four,
0:49
seven eight three. Well, today's episode is brought to you by the financial
0:54
support of our listeners. Thanks so much for all your support. Well,
0:59
we're going to play a very interesting series of programs. This one not noted
1:07
for being a multiple part episode of Sherlock Holmes. We skipped over a couple
1:11
of episodes to make sure that we would be able to play the Bluke Harbuncle
1:19
when we did. This particular episode comes from March twenty feet of nineteen forty
1:23
nine and the Tondel as the Elusive Agent from New York City. The makers
1:36
of clipper Craft Clothes for Men, and more than twelve hundred leading retail stores
1:40
from coast to coast present that immortal character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
1:45
the world's most famous detective Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley. This week's story
2:02
the adventure of the Elusive Agent. It was the quarry we've followed from the
2:08
docks. Went into that room off the scolard of bike Watson. What are
2:12
we waiting here for? But are we just go in? Patience? Wats
2:15
and patience. We cannot precipitate ourselves into a trap on sheer impulse, Great
2:21
quick Watson into that room. The trap has spung. We must get to
2:23
the victim. We're at the door of doctor John Watson's study and we're about
2:31
to hear another of his adventures with the fabulous Sherlock holds. Well. Okay,
2:35
good evening, mister Harris. Good evening, doctor Watson. You have
2:38
a memoir for us tonight. I hope I have, indeed, mister Harris.
2:42
In fact, I had just finished editing it. When you kill it.
2:45
I might say that this particular adventure is a first rank importance, not
2:49
only in the life of my friend Holmes, but on the course of history
2:52
itself. The stakes were the highest, and on the outcome hinged the issue
2:57
of empire itself in no other adventure. So that I can recall, we're
3:00
are plutagonists, more ruthless, more shrewd, and more cruel. H sounds
3:07
like you've got a treat for us tonight. What do you call it,
3:08
doctor Watson? Will Holmes and I always refer to it as the adventure of
3:12
the Elusive Agents. And after you have enlightened our audience to the merits of
3:15
Clippercraft clothes, mister Headers, I shall proceed with this highly unusual story today.
3:22
It's official. It's spring time for you, mister man, to get
3:25
a new spring suit and a new spring top coat. Make sure you get
3:30
clipper Craft, clipper Craft, the best clothes you can buy for the money.
3:34
Beautiful new spring all wool worsted clipper Craft suits only forty five dollars.
3:39
Clipper Craft all wool, gabardine or covert top coats only forty to forty seven
3:45
fifty clipper Craft clothes make you look your best because they look like they cost
3:50
much much more. Get your clipper Craft spring outfit tomorrow. And now,
4:00
doctor Watson, what about the Adventure of the Elusive Agents? Well, mister
4:05
Harris, it began in nineteen thirteen. This was a year when Holmes's brother,
4:11
now Sir Maycroft Poems, had publicly achieved the post Administer at Large Whitehall,
4:15
which secretly conducted the affairs of British intelligence nineteen thirteen, I might add,
4:20
was a year of international tension, notably between Britain and Germany, which
4:25
a year later culminated in the First World War. It was behind the shadowy
4:30
scenes of espinage that this adventure first began, and specifically it began one dark
4:35
night on the Berlin Express, plunging northward the Budapest turned, the German capital.
4:42
There was a knock on a compartment door. Yah, who is it?
4:47
Hostap right in factor herm alone? What is it? What do you
4:50
want? I have a telegram for your hair. My hair. Oh my
4:54
moment I got. You're not gonna make a samelon. Get back in that
5:01
combat yours? Get back, I said, or I'll blow your head off.
5:05
That's better my frame, that's better. So you're an Englishman? What
5:11
do you want to the plans my hair plans? I don't know what you're
5:15
talking of. Down to Hammelin and listen las night in rude vest who nine
5:18
and englishman in the back because waterproof packet of paper from it You're on your
5:23
way to deliver them to the villam Strass and Berlin now and above the quick
5:26
about it. You will never get those plans. You'll swine Hiller Hermelin.
5:29
But I must have them now. No, yes, I must have yes
5:36
Hermeler. Congratulations, my dear Norton, You've done an excellent job in intersembling
5:48
at German agent and returning these players to our embassy here in Berlin. Thank
5:53
you for macro Unfortunately, our problem is only begun, my dear boy.
5:57
These plans are of the highest importance and we must get them out of Germany
6:01
and back to Whitehall at once. Are you understand these are the originals,
6:05
the only copies of the plans in existence. They were stolen by this German
6:10
agent you intercepted from the inventor himself before he was able to get them to
6:14
the War Office, and we could have copies made. But I understand your
6:16
returning to London tonight, are you not, Sir Macroft. I am,
6:19
but I cannot take the plans with me. No, why not, sir?
6:24
Ostensibly I am, Sir Microft homes British Minister without portfolio here on official
6:29
business. Actually, I am here to see that these plans get back to
6:32
London, and the Wilhelm Strasser knows it. I see. I have been
6:35
watched every step of the way. The Germans have revoked our form of privilege
6:40
and will examine all diplomats of the customs, and we can't risk relaying the
6:44
data to Whitehall by code on the chance that the Germans may already have broken
6:47
it. It will be a dangerous and delicate mission to smuggle about of German
6:53
in a moment. One moment, my boy, I joke, I believe
6:58
I habit, Yes, sir, I record reading in the newspapers that you
7:01
are to marry a British subject here in Berlin by the name of miss Pammela
7:05
Rivers. That's right, sir Maccoon. And if I remember, you were
7:09
to be married this Saturday, and we'll return to England for your honeymoon.
7:13
Yes, sir, those are our intention. Yes, I'm sure it will
7:15
work. Philip Norton British Chatache takes bride honeymoon's in England. Excellent, excellent,
7:24
very romantic, innocuous in purpose, not calculated to arouse suspicion. So
7:28
I don't understand Naughton, my boy, marry your girl, take your bride
7:31
to England with you, and take something else in addition, Yes, sir
7:35
mcra the plans. Norton, the plans Darling, Darling, Philip. Oh,
7:53
it all seems like a wonderful dream, does it, pa, Yes,
7:56
Philip, Yes, I'm glad you didn't dance that last dance. I'm
8:01
glad we came up on deck here together, just the two of us alone.
8:05
I think I'll always remember this moment, Philip, this moment of our
8:07
honeymoon. I'll always remember what the music was playing, and I had how
8:11
the moon shone up there on the sky, and the lights of England at
8:16
home shining over there on the shore. So will I, Pam, So
8:18
will i, Philip? Yes, put your arms around me, homely close.
8:24
Closer, Darling, closer. That's it, Oh, darling, Darling,
8:30
Philip, kiss me, No, tell me that you love me.
8:35
I love your pen I love you, I love you. Do you really,
8:41
Darling? What a surprise, Darling them you've got a name. Yes,
8:48
you're English swine and you're going to feel the blade again. No,
8:56
my dear departed bridegroom the plans, Yes, in your cold pockets, I
9:01
thought, No, if I can roll you over bought will the opening in
9:05
this reel? Over you go? Goodbye, my romantic darling, and thanks
9:16
for the wedding present. Pot Hole who's thought should be below in a small
9:26
boat. There's the arrangement. Who's that? Who's that? Are you there?
9:31
Line? You have a plan, Yes, hould them down to me
9:35
for the pot hole you are thank you for a line. That's swine.
9:41
Norton so he thought he could smuggle the plan one moment, coustaff only half
9:45
the plans are there. I have the other half. What does the meaning
9:48
of this? It means that the half I have is for sale? I
9:52
see. But they happy actor has paid your will tell you our master if
9:56
he wants the rest of these plans, he would have to be more generous,
9:58
you under stand. With that anywhere I shall tell him. And when
10:01
you come ashore, filite, we shall be waiting for you at the harmyfool
10:05
help you lisit? So? Young Norton disappeared while the Oceania lay at quarantine
10:18
in Southampton. Ay, Mycroft, Yes, Sherlock, I'm sorry to rouse
10:22
you and doctor Watson here in the dead of night on a mission you never
10:24
anticipated. But we have impounded the passengers and crew of the vessel at Southampton
10:28
for questioning, and we need your talents desperately now. Indeed, if the
10:33
plans are not recovered the life of England, and if the empire itself are
10:35
in Japanese, sounds like a formidable affair, I must said, fight.
10:41
But my dear Mycroft, since we are to become involved with these plans,
10:43
it might be helpful to know something of their nature. These papers ten in
10:46
all, were the designs of a new weapon, Sherlock, a kind of
10:50
land monster built to revolutionized modern warfare. In short, an armor plated mobile
10:56
vehicle we call a turn. But she serves it this sounds like something out
11:03
of Jewel's verse. Yes, it does, Indean Watson with sher like,
11:05
I beg of you to bend every effort of the recovery of those plans,
11:09
to use every passage of your genius to track them down. I'll be a
11:13
good chair, my craft. It's my opinion that the plans have already been
11:16
spirited from the Oceania, that it may not yet be too late. I
11:20
get aboard. I shall have some pertinent questions to ask. Whom will you
11:24
begin with, Hope, Since it's the bridegroom who's missing, my dear Watson,
11:26
I shall obviously begin with the bride. Now, missus Norton, exactly
11:39
what happened after you and your husband had gone to the upper deck of the
11:43
vessel here it was a little chili. I asked Philip to wait for a
11:48
moment. I left him alone, went down to my cabin to get a
11:50
rap. When I returned, it was gone. And after you searched the
11:54
boat and couldn't find him, you notified the captaman. Yeah, yes,
11:58
doctor Watson. Yes, it's the home side clean. I can't answer any
12:03
more questions. No, Philip's hes gone, loved it. I'm I'm sorry,
12:13
this is not I realize what a strain you've been undone, and there's
12:16
no need to detain you any longer. You are liberty retired your cabin now,
12:20
can't get me the Jews hole. I must confess I found it a
12:26
heartbreaking experience watched this poor girl, did you, Watson? What do you
12:33
mean? I mean that the woman lied? What come come, Watson?
12:35
It's painfully obvious. He distinctly said that she went down to get her rep
12:39
did she not? Yes, yes she did. But what is considered,
12:43
My dear fellow, if you were a bridegroom on your honeymoon and in a
12:46
chivalrous mood, would you allow your bride to go to the trouble of getting
12:50
her own rap no, no dash the precisely you would not know, man,
12:56
would Watson Hope notify the authors to allow all passengers to smbarkers. But
13:01
Holmes, you haven't questioned any of the other I don't think it necessary,
13:05
Watson, time is too short, and we must gamble at long odds.
13:07
From now on we shall concentrate all our energies on following the berieved bride.
13:20
Now, with your permission, we're going to transport Sherlock Holmes and doctor Watson
13:24
from England to America for a few moments. They are in a typical American
13:30
city. I say, that's a very successful looking chap standing there, isn't
13:33
it, eh, Banker, would you say not at all, my dear
13:37
Watson. He is not a man of wealth, opposition, but a man
13:41
of extremely good taste. He looked successful because he's succeeded in finding an excellent
13:46
tailor. That he's an athlete is at first glance, yes, but I'm
13:50
quite sure that his broad shoulders and tapering waist are ready the results of excellent
13:54
clothing design. We must be wealthy to a force to spendid tailor to see
13:58
what beautiful fabric because in his suit, or, my dear Watson, you're
14:01
obviously unfamiliar with the American way of life. That man to whom you refer
14:05
is wearing a clipper Craft suit, which, if I'm not the stick in
14:09
selves for only forty five dollars. But how will you see, Watson?
14:11
Some twelve hundred retail elections all over to Medica have pooled their tremendous buying power
14:16
to make these really extraordinary clippercraft nus possible rock Watson as a symbol of the
14:22
honest New England quality and value of clippercraft clothing. They have adopted the name
14:26
clipper Craft in emulation of the famous New England clipper ships and the modern aircraft
14:31
of the same name. These are synonymous with New England quality. Oh,
14:35
I see it. But tell me, Holmes, how did you recognize that
14:37
chap as the wearer the clippercraft suit elementary, My dear Watson, he's the
14:43
best dressed man in sight? All right, you are, Sherlock Holmes,
14:46
the best dressed man in sight. A successful looking man is the man who
14:50
wears a clippercraft suit. Yet Clippercraft new spring suits cost only forty five dollars
14:56
and clipper Craft Gaberdine and covert coats only forty to forty seven fifty See the
15:03
new clipper Craft spring styles tomorrow. Clipper Craft clothes are sold by your local
15:07
store, whose business it is to give you honest value. That's why men
15:11
who know insist on Clippercraft clothes bearing the Clippercraft label. So be sure to
15:16
visit the clipper Craft store in your city. These leading stores in the metropolitan
15:22
area are proud to add their names to Clippercraft in your suits and top coats.
15:26
In Manhattan, John Wannamaker's Men's Stores Broadway at eighth and sixty seven Liberty
15:31
Street, Sacks thirty fourth Broadway at thirty fourth in Brooklyn, Abram and Strauss
15:35
in New York, New Jersey Boulevard Men's Shop Kresgi, Nork, And in
15:39
Jamaica the B and B Clothes Shop one six four o eight Jamaica Avenue.
15:48
Do doctor Watson. Doctor Watson, you were relating to us the adventure of
15:52
the elusive agents. So I was, mister Hens, So I was our
15:56
tusk Is homes that explain to keep the bereaved bride, Missus Philip Norton,
16:02
under our watchful surveillance, and this in the theory that she might lead us
16:06
to the stolen plans for the new British armored monster named the Tech. We
16:10
saw it take the train to London and we followed. Then at London she
16:14
took the underground and we followed, keeping out a side in the next car,
16:18
and finally she emerged at the suburban station of Goldi's dream spent into this
16:25
house. I believe I saw someone admitted of that door there, and the
16:27
colonels quite you shall wait here for her to emerge? Ons, Why don't
16:32
we just go in nations, my dear man patience. Our belief is that
16:34
Missus Naughton did not see a shadow in her, but we cannot be sure.
16:38
Shrewd, my dear fellower and summit actress, and no fool, for
16:42
all we know this may be a trap. Have your sad This revolva will
16:45
be once it right here that I had it ready at, My dear fellow,
16:51
it is short time you may have occasion to use it. Ah,
17:02
so you have already come tusius or not. I do not wish to be
17:04
caught prow any longer. The vokery is over, and that pool not nestad
17:10
as your wish, whereas your master. As you know, we have a
17:14
business appointment. The actor has delegated me to represent in these negotiations. Very
17:18
well, I have half the plans. Your master has the other half.
17:22
But that's one portion. The other portion is listed. How much of my
17:26
big good stub the hand we night dos in climbed to be generous. You
17:30
have already been well paid, but he realizes that a certain expenses he's willing
17:37
to pay you ten thousand pounds on the seat of your heart, ten thousand
17:42
pounds. There's a handsome some idea to pay up black. It's a pittance.
17:47
The artists know. The price is fifty thousand pounds. You must be
17:52
mad with Greek. Fifty thousand pounds, My dear good stap, I know
17:56
what bolt these downs are worth. Price is low, and have no confquence
17:59
to the organiztion you represent. Consider what the British would pay for those papers?
18:04
Well, Gutta, I remempower the goals higher. Twenty thousand pounds.
18:11
That is my final offer. Fifty thousand and death is my final offer.
18:17
You have the papers with you I have. Oh, I don't think you
18:21
can take them from me by violence? Will start and remove me for good?
18:25
It really wouldn't be worth it. You know, I have a trusted
18:27
friend in London and he has a sealed letter. In this letter is all
18:32
the information I possessed concerning the German Eskiana's dring. Not only are the continent
18:37
but in England too. You understand that, fol and I understand. And
18:41
finally, the letter contains the identity of the ringleader himself, Gutta, you
18:45
are master and mine. In the event of my disappearance, my friend is
18:51
to mail this letter to the cheaper British intelligence at quite all the crisis still
18:56
fifty thousand pounds will stap? Perhaps you had the talk that they had like
19:00
a personally, My dear Folland, isn't the next moment I would summon him?
19:06
The Folne is here naturally, I'm sure with the consistance, and who
19:15
do you mean for her life? So consider talking able to visit our little
19:18
hideaway far out here in Golden Street. I understand who've named the price for
19:23
those plans? Fifty thousand pounds. It's a little high. May I make
19:30
a counter of her. What is it? This simple, hey, good
19:37
stub the idea way to make a bargain quick, efficient, ruthless. And
19:44
so we beat a farewell to the brand. But the letter, the letter,
19:48
you also take me for a full destob But the friend and the letter
19:52
would destroy long before she arrived in England. I haven't my agents, honeycoming
19:56
this powl and miserable island for nothing? Quick now search up at the Yeah,
20:02
open open the door they've gotta knocked. Okay, it's here's quicker out
20:07
the back way. It's not fine now by while we can have the part
20:10
of the sea. Quick with your pistol. Wats this right? The thing's
20:25
gonna wear with the gun walls. Well, who's you've got the plans?
20:30
Yes, Watson, they've got on Missus Knaton's body here. And fortunately,
20:33
however we have only half the packet half fright, Only five designs are here,
20:38
and you'll record my cock doors of a ten in all this would the
20:41
other five where could they be? No doubt in the hands of the roofless
20:44
agents who just truck Missus Knaton here might very well have been that she came
20:47
here with the idea of selling them and Watson. This, who you detect
20:52
a faint owner of tobacco in this room? Be yes, yes, Come
20:59
to think of it, I do, interesting, sent Watson. Very what
21:03
do you mean? Smells like ordinary tobacco to me? On the contrary,
21:07
this one's a rare and very unusual blend. It's a cross mixture, Watson.
21:11
The faces are strong and heavy, peric tempered with a bit of burley
21:15
and more than just a touch of Euphrate's yellow leaf grown in the river valleys
21:18
of eastern Turkey. Only one expert in London, or in all of England
21:22
will create an extra like this Grimsby. Grimsby, the tobacconist. He specializes
21:27
in these rare and exotic blends. He owns a little hole in the wall
21:32
in soho By serve those we can go there. And I certain who ordered
21:36
this blendby precisely. One thing is sure, my dear fellow. One thing
21:41
is certain. Now that we possess half the plans, our constant companion is
21:45
danger and we are marked men. So you did mix that blend, I
21:57
described, Grimsby, Yester Holmes. I did. I most certainly did A
22:03
very unusual format, a very unique I made it to the purchases who quest
22:07
the court? And who was this purchaser right now? It was a foreign
22:11
gentleman named Marcos, the amy macOS Marco. Would you describe him too?
22:15
A soul, yes, mister Holmes. He had the most unusual face,
22:19
one that who wouldn't soon forget her? A tall man, he was her
22:23
very prestidiously dressed. Today he takes somewhat like a hack, but it was
22:30
his mouth would notice anywhere? Yes? What about his mouth and adapter watching
22:34
it? He had a sort of unportant twitched the corner every now and then,
22:38
a very annoying habit, to be sure. Would you know where this
22:42
Emuel Marco lived Grimsbre Yes, mister, course I would. I had a
22:47
messenger deliberate in it. Did tobacco mixture to its paying the back littel?
23:00
I said, I say the rule block. Yes, gentlemen, what could
23:04
I do for you? We're looking for a gentleman named Marco, Emile Marco.
23:08
What whom did the occupy? Why he did occupy his sweet on the
23:11
third class? Did you mean his left three? Yes, sir, he
23:15
left early this morning? Would you know his destination from here? Let's see
23:19
Marco Emile Market. The utmost important that you remember. Well one moment,
23:26
I do remember this, What did you girl? I recall his luggage was
23:30
routed for the hotel Metropol in Paris. I remember it from the label Metropol
23:34
in Paris. Come up and there's no time for us upbraid them? You'd
23:42
be city nine two three? Yes, are you there? This is Bradley
23:49
at the bar day. The gentlemen were here. They found out about Marco
23:55
in there trading into Paris. Yes, sir, I told them where they
23:59
could finding myself. Well, doctor Watson, you've got us sitting on the
24:14
edges of our chairs. What happened next in Paris? Patience, my dear
24:17
mister Harris's patience. Next week I shall rob with the adventure of the Elucidation.
24:22
I can only tell you that from her on events moved forward with breast
24:26
ticking speed, that we walked in the midst of the strange espionage plot,
24:32
met some rootless and deadly persons, and almost lost our lives. So until
24:37
next week, at the same time, mister Harris, I shall say good
24:41
nights. The makers of clipper Craft clothes and more than twelve hundred stars from
24:52
coast to Coast have brought you another in the new series of broadcasts featuring the
24:56
world's most famous detective, Sherlock Home. Our stories are based upon the character
25:04
Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the program is produced
25:08
and directed by Basil Lochran. Sherlock Holmes is played by John Stanley, Doctor
25:12
Watson by George Spelton. This week's story was written by Max Arley with special
25:18
music by Albert Berber. If you don't know your clipper Craft dealer, write
25:27
clipper Craft two hundred Tip Avenue, New York City. Be sure to listen
25:41
next week to Sherlock Holmes in Part two of the Adventure of the Elusive Agent.
25:53
Socie Harris, speaking for clippers Flap Polls as Demitral Broadcasting, welcome back.
26:00
Well. The way that Microft's guy was murdered was just particularly cold blooded.
26:11
Of course, we're left with a lot of questions. Is tough as
26:15
to where the ringleader really is, who that guy at the nesk was,
26:22
and so much more that we'll have answered in future episodes. One thing we
26:27
don't need answered is whether clever Craft can possibly get any more cheesy with its
26:34
advertisements. I think we can answer after today safely. The answer is no
26:41
using Holmes and Watson in character to sell suits. To quote the great chessler
26:48
Riley, what a revolting development. But storyline is developing interesting. We'll see
26:52
what will happen next week in part two of The Elusive Agent. Be sure
26:57
and join us then for that Tomorrow is yours truly, Johnny Dowler, and
27:02
this will be our last week of five episodes a week. Starting next week
27:07
we will have six episodes a week, with that six show being the lineup.
27:12
In the meantime. Sandra comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives, not
27:15
met, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and be sure and rate
27:19
the show on iTunes. But from Boise, Idaho, this is your host,
27:23
Adam graham Son and off