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The Whistler - "Grave Secret Ep Afrs" (Old Time Radio, 1949) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: February 27th, 1949 brought episode 351 of The Whistler, Grave Secret,
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: to the CBS Pacific Network under the sponsorship of Signal Oil.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: At the Eldridge home, Harriet Eldridge keeps up the appearance
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: that her wealthy employer is away by depending on a
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: regular flow of letters. That household routine is interrupted by
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: the unexpected arrival of the employer's niece from Australia, whose
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: courteous questions bring strain and suspicion into the quiet neighborhood.
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: Sarah Selby, Howard McNair, and Betty Lou Gerson are heard
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: in the cast. Steve Hampton wrote the script, with Bill
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: Foreman as the whistler. Settle in for a half hour
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: from one of radio's familiar voices of suspense. Now, back
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: to the golden age of radio.
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: And now the Whistler's strange story, Brave Secrets.
• 1:05
  Speaker 3: From the parlor window, Harriet Eldridge watched the postman wheel
• 1:16
  Speaker 3: his bicycle down the tree-shaded street, saw him turn into
• 1:20
  Speaker 3: the driveway and approach the house. She stepped out into
• 1:24
  Speaker 3: the hallway and stopped for a moment to rearrange a
• 1:27
  Speaker 3: bowl of dahlias.
• 1:28
  Speaker 4: On the tables.
• 1:29
  Speaker 3: Then hurried to the door, a faint smile on her lips.
• 1:33
  Speaker 4: The letters had become very important to Harriet Eldridge. Yes,
• 1:37
  Speaker 4: very important.
• 1:38
  Speaker 3: And she was pleased that they were arriving with such regularity.
• 1:43
  Speaker 5: Morning, Miss Harriet.
• 1:44
  Speaker 6: Good morning, Henry.
• 1:46
  Speaker 5: Here's another one from Australia.
• 1:49
  Speaker 6: Oh, from Mr.
• 1:49
  Speaker 4: Teddy.
• 1:50
  Speaker 6: How nice.
• 1:52
  Speaker 5: Sure is having a big vacation for himself, ain't he?
• 1:56
  Speaker 5: I wish I could retire, go gallivanting all over the world.
• 2:00
  Speaker 5: Only I wouldn't go off visiting relatives.
• 2:03
  Speaker 4: Mr.
• 2:03
  Speaker 6: Pettis has no living relatives, Henry. He's just visiting friends.
• 2:08
  Speaker 5: I've got relatives back in Sioux City. If I never
• 2:11
  Speaker 5: see them again, it's okay with me.
• 2:15
  Speaker 6: But, oh, I'm sorry, Henry.
• 2:17
  Speaker 7: What did you say?
• 2:18
  Speaker 6: I was reading Mr.
• 2:19
  Speaker 7: Pettis' letter.
• 2:20
  Speaker 5: Oh, nothing. Are those photographs? Oh, yes.
• 2:25
  Speaker 6: You know Mr. Pettit and his camera.
• 2:27
  Speaker 4: Here, let's see.
• 2:29
  Speaker 6: Something written on the back of this one. View of
• 2:33
  Speaker 6: Queen Street, main thoroughfare of Brisbane. Isn't that nice, Henry?
• 2:38
  Speaker 5: The old boy sure is getting around, ain't he? Must
• 2:41
  Speaker 5: be having a great time.
• 2:42
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 2:44
  Speaker 5: They say them Australian women are real pretty.
• 2:48
  Speaker 6: Now, Henry.
• 2:48
  Speaker 5: Don't see why Mr. Pettis has to go chasing off
• 2:51
  Speaker 5: to Australia when he's got the best-looking housekeeper right here.
• 2:55
  Speaker 8: In Santa Rosa, USA.
• 2:57
  Speaker 6: Oh, thank you, Henry, but.
• 2:59
  Speaker 9: Oh, it looks like you've got company.
• 3:02
  Speaker 5: And a taxi, too. Say, that's your brother Melvin, ain't it?
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: Yes.
• 3:08
  Speaker 4: Yes, it is.
• 3:10
  Speaker 5: Well, I'll be going along now, Miss Harriet.
• 3:13
  Speaker 4: Bye.
• 3:14
  Speaker 3: What?
• 3:14
  Speaker 6: Oh, oh, yeah, yes. Goodbye, Henry.
• 3:17
  Speaker 3: You smile at Henry, watch him for a moment as
• 3:25
  Speaker 3: he turns and walks away.
• 3:28
  Speaker 4: Then your eyes swing back to the man who has
• 3:30
  Speaker 4: just stepped out of the taxi.
• 3:32
  Speaker 3: And a frown crosses your face. Moments later, he steps
• 3:36
  Speaker 3: into the hallway, closes the door, and sets his suitcase
• 3:40
  Speaker 3: on the floor.
• 3:40
  Speaker 8: Oh.
• 3:43
  Speaker 4: Hello, Harriet. I.
• 3:45
  Speaker 6: I wasn't expecting you back so soon, Melvin.
• 3:49
  Speaker 4: Oh, I know.
• 3:50
  Speaker 6: Did everything go well?
• 3:52
  Speaker 9: Yes, everything went well. I did exactly as you said.
• 3:56
  Speaker 6: How did you like Australia?
• 3:58
  Speaker 9: Well, it was all right, Harriet.
• 4:02
  Speaker 6: Have you had your lunch? There's some cold ham, potato
• 4:05
  Speaker 6: salad from last night. Would you like that, Melvin?
• 4:08
  Speaker 4: Yes, yes, I suppose so.
• 4:10
  Speaker 6: Get seasick at all?
• 4:12
  Speaker 3: Oh, no.
• 4:13
  Speaker 6: No, no, I didn't.
• 4:14
  Speaker 4: Harriet.
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 4:18
  Speaker 4: Harriet.
• 4:20
  Speaker 9: Did everything go all right here?
• 4:21
  Speaker 4: I mean.
• 4:23
  Speaker 6: Oh, yes.
• 4:24
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: When.
• 4:27
  Speaker 9: When did you do it?
• 4:28
  Speaker 4: The day you left.
• 4:30
  Speaker 6: He was dead before you stepped on the boat in
• 4:33
  Speaker 6: San Francisco.
• 4:35
  Speaker 4: Harriet.
• 4:36
  Speaker 6: Yes?
• 4:38
  Speaker 9: What did you do with Mr.
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: Pappas?
• 4:41
  Speaker 9: I mean, where did you.
• 4:43
  Speaker 6: Do you want tea or coffee, Melvin?
• 4:46
  Speaker 4: The tea.
• 4:47
  Speaker 3: For a moment, he stares at you, then turns and
• 4:53
  Speaker 3: looks out the window.
• 4:55
  Speaker 4: His eyes blink nervously.
• 4:57
  Speaker 3: His fingers fumble at his tie. You know what he's
• 5:00
  Speaker 3: thinking about, don't you, Harry?
• 5:03
  Speaker 4: He wants to know what you've done with the body
• 5:05
  Speaker 4: of Mr. Petty. Exactly what happened on the night.
• 5:08
  Speaker 3: He left for San Francisco. Yes, he wants all the details.
• 5:14
  Speaker 3: But you decided long ago, the less Melvin knows about.
• 5:17
  Speaker 4: The affair, the better it will be.
• 5:20
  Speaker 3: He stays in his room the greater part of.
• 5:22
  Speaker 4: The day and evening.
• 5:24
  Speaker 3: And then shortly after 8 o'clock that night, the front
• 5:26
  Speaker 3: doorbell rings.
• 5:31
  Speaker 4: Good evening.
• 5:32
  Speaker 7: You must be Miss Eldridge.
• 5:34
  Speaker 6: Why, yes.
• 5:35
  Speaker 7: I'm Valerie Heston, a friend of Mr.
• 5:38
  Speaker 4: Pettis.
• 5:39
  Speaker 7: Is he in?
• 5:40
  Speaker 5: No.
• 5:40
  Speaker 4: No, Mr.
• 5:41
  Speaker 6: Pettis is away. In Australia.
• 5:44
  Speaker 8: Oh, I see he hasn't notified you.
• 5:46
  Speaker 7: He's back. He's back? Why, yes, his boat docked in
• 5:50
  Speaker 7: San Francisco a week ago.
• 5:52
  Speaker 8: Why, no, I was on it, too.
• 5:56
  Speaker 7: Strange he didn't let you know. Is he usually that
• 5:59
  Speaker 7: way about things?
• 6:01
  Speaker 4: No. No, he isn't.
• 6:04
  Speaker 8: Well, I'll be in town for several days. I'm staying
• 6:06
  Speaker 8: at the inn.
• 6:07
  Speaker 7: Would you tell him when he arrives?
• 6:08
  Speaker 6: Of course, Miss Hinton. I'll tell him.
• 6:11
  Speaker 8: Good night.
• 6:19
  Speaker 4: Melvin.
• 6:20
  Speaker 6: Melvin.
• 6:21
  Speaker 9: Oh, yes, Camilla, I.
• 6:23
  Speaker 6: Melvin, why didn't you tell me you'd arrived in San
• 6:25
  Speaker 6: Francisco a week ago?
• 6:26
  Speaker 7: Oh, well, I.
• 6:27
  Speaker 6: And who is this Valerie Hinton?
• 6:29
  Speaker 4: Valerie.
• 6:31
  Speaker 9: How did you know?
• 6:31
  Speaker 6: She was here a moment ago asking for you.
• 6:33
  Speaker 3: She is?
• 6:35
  Speaker 6: Why did you have to tell her you were Albert Teddy?
• 6:37
  Speaker 4: I was only doing what you said. You told me
• 6:40
  Speaker 4: to use the name to establish his presence in Australia.
• 6:44
  Speaker 4: You met this woman in Australia? Yes, yes, I did.
• 6:47
  Speaker 3: I see.
• 6:49
  Speaker 6: And this week you spent in San Francisco, was that
• 6:53
  Speaker 6: devoted to Miss Hinton?
• 6:54
  Speaker 9: Well, at first I saw no harm in it, Harriet.
• 6:56
  Speaker 4: Oh, she's a wonderful person.
• 6:58
  Speaker 6: Did you have to tell her you lived in Santa Rosa?
• 7:00
  Speaker 4: I didn't. Oh, she must have seen the Santa Rosa
• 7:03
  Speaker 4: postmark on the letters you sent me in Australia. Oh,
• 7:06
  Speaker 4: believe me, Harriet, when I ran out on her in San.
• 7:09
  Speaker 9: Francisco, I never thought I'd see her again.
• 7:11
  Speaker 6: You ran out on her?
• 7:13
  Speaker 4: Yes, I realized it would be dangerous.
• 7:15
  Speaker 9: What with everything... happened here.
• 7:18
  Speaker 7: So, she followed you.
• 7:21
  Speaker 6: Oh, Melvin, don't tell me she's in love with you.
• 7:24
  Speaker 4: Oh, I don't know.
• 7:25
  Speaker 6: Are you in love with her?
• 7:26
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 7:29
  Speaker 6: I'm sorry, Melvin.
• 7:31
  Speaker 8: We'll have to get rid of her.
• 7:32
  Speaker 4: Get rid of her?
• 7:34
  Speaker 6: First thing in the morning, you're going down to the
• 7:37
  Speaker 6: inn to see her. Tell her this great love of
• 7:41
  Speaker 6: yours is no more. Tell her you're already married or
• 7:44
  Speaker 6: tell her anything, but... I want her to leave town.
• 7:47
  Speaker 4: Do you understand? Oh, Harriet, there must be some way.
• 7:50
  Speaker 6: Get rid of her.
• 7:52
  Speaker 4: She's dangerous.
• 7:53
  Speaker 6: She can upset our entire plan.
• 7:54
  Speaker 4: Oh, but Harriet, it's... What was that? Did you hear that?
• 7:59
  Speaker 6: Oh, yes, it's the shutters downstairs. A wind's come out.
• 8:02
  Speaker 4: Are you sure?
• 8:03
  Speaker 7: Nobody else could it be. Well, I don't know.
• 8:04
  Speaker 6: Did you think it was Mr. Pettis back from the dead? Oh,
• 8:07
  Speaker 6: really now, Melvin.
• 8:09
  Speaker 3: Harriet? Yes?
• 8:14
  Speaker 9: Where is Mr.
• 8:15
  Speaker 3: Pettis?
• 8:17
  Speaker 4: What did you do with this body? Why won't you
• 8:20
  Speaker 4: tell me?
• 8:21
  Speaker 6: You needn't concern yourself about that, Melvin. I've taken care
• 8:25
  Speaker 6: of everything.
• 8:27
  Speaker 4: Now, good night.
• 8:29
  Speaker 6: And don't forget what I said. I don't want the
• 8:33
  Speaker 6: Hinton woman hanging around town.
• 8:45
  Speaker 3: The following morning, you're alone in the big house. Melvin
• 8:49
  Speaker 3: has gone down to the inn. He's promised to send
• 8:51
  Speaker 3: Valerie Hinton away. But you wonder if he really has.
• 8:55
  Speaker 4: The courage to face her, to go through with it.
• 8:58
  Speaker 3: The hours go.
• 8:59
  Speaker 4: By, and Melvin doesn't return. And finally... Good morning, Eldridge. Oh,
• 9:10
  Speaker 4: good morning.
• 9:11
  Speaker 7: Has Mr. Pettis arrived yet?
• 9:12
  Speaker 6: Why, yes. Yes, I gave him your message. He left
• 9:16
  Speaker 6: hours ago on his way to see you.
• 9:18
  Speaker 4: Well, that's strange.
• 9:19
  Speaker 8: I just came from the inn. Well, I suppose he
• 9:22
  Speaker 8: stopped somewhere.
• 9:23
  Speaker 4: On the way. May I come in? Yes, yes, of course.
• 9:28
  Speaker 7: Ah, you kept the place so attractive. Darling, I suppose
• 9:34
  Speaker 7: you've grown to care for this house as though it
• 9:36
  Speaker 7: were your own.
• 9:37
  Speaker 4: Yes, Mr.
• 9:38
  Speaker 6: Pettis has always made me feel at home here. Won't
• 9:43
  Speaker 6: you sit down, Miss Inge?
• 9:44
  Speaker 4: Thank you.
• 9:47
  Speaker 8: You know, Miss Eldridge, I feel as though I'd known
• 9:49
  Speaker 8: you for a long time.
• 9:51
  Speaker 4: Mr.
• 9:51
  Speaker 7: Perris has spoken so much of you.
• 9:53
  Speaker 3: Oh?
• 9:54
  Speaker 5: Yes.
• 9:54
  Speaker 8: I don't suppose he's told you about.
• 9:58
  Speaker 7: The way we met?
• 9:59
  Speaker 3: No. No, he hasn't.
• 10:01
  Speaker 7: It was in Melbourne.
• 10:02
  Speaker 8: I happened to be glancing through the newspaper.
• 10:04
  Speaker 7: I noticed a list in the shipping news, a list
• 10:06
  Speaker 7: of new arrivals, and there it was.
• 10:09
  Speaker 3: Mr.
• 10:09
  Speaker 4: Albert Pettis.
• 10:11
  Speaker 3: Oh?
• 10:11
  Speaker 7: Well, of course, I dashed right over to his hotel.
• 10:14
  Speaker 7: Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Mr. Albert Pettis
• 10:18
  Speaker 7: wasn't Mr. Pettis at all.
• 10:20
  Speaker 6: Well, what do you mean?
• 10:25
  Speaker 7: Not my Mr.
• 10:25
  Speaker 4: Pettis, that is.
• 10:27
  Speaker 8: My Uncle Albert. He's quite a shot.
• 10:31
  Speaker 7: I suppose I should have realized there'd probably be more
• 10:34
  Speaker 7: than one Albert Pettis in the whole world.
• 10:38
  Speaker 8: Oh, yes.
• 10:40
  Speaker 4: Yes, of course.
• 10:42
  Speaker 7: So you see, it was just an accident. My meeting
• 10:45
  Speaker 7: your Mr.
• 10:46
  Speaker 4: Pettis. A lucky accident.
• 10:50
  Speaker 7: Wouldn't you say, Michele?
• 10:53
  Speaker 6: I love you.
• 11:25
  Speaker 3: It frightens you, doesn't it, Harry? The knowledge that Valerie Hinton,
• 11:29
  Speaker 3: the woman your brother Melvin met in Australia while he
• 11:32
  Speaker 3: was posing as Albert Pettis.
• 11:35
  Speaker 4: Is actually the niece of the man you murdered.
• 11:38
  Speaker 3: You wonder if their meeting was really accidental. Wonder if
• 11:41
  Speaker 3: she suspects the truth. A thousand confused thoughts race through
• 11:45
  Speaker 3: your mind. You were so sure Albert Pettis had no
• 11:49
  Speaker 3: living relatives.
• 11:50
  Speaker 4: That there would be no.
• 11:51
  Speaker 3: One to spoil your little plans.
• 11:54
  Speaker 9: Yet, here she.
• 11:55
  Speaker 3: Is, sitting in the parlor of the big house, chatting
• 11:59
  Speaker 3: gaily about her meeting with your Mr. Pettis. And then
• 12:02
  Speaker 3: suddenly something she says stirs a flicker of hope within you.
• 12:05
  Speaker 8: Oh, no, I haven't seen Uncle Albert in years.
• 12:08
  Speaker 7: Lost track of him completely.
• 12:10
  Speaker 8: Not his fault, of course.
• 12:12
  Speaker 7: After all, I'm supposed to be dead.
• 12:14
  Speaker 3: Dead?
• 12:15
  Speaker 4: I don't understand.
• 12:18
  Speaker 7: During the war, I was a writer living in Java.
• 12:21
  Speaker 8: There were several bombing raids and the confusion. I was
• 12:24
  Speaker 8: reported missing and given up as dead. I suppose Uncle
• 12:28
  Speaker 8: Albert was notified.
• 12:29
  Speaker 4: I see.
• 12:32
  Speaker 7: When I got out of the hospital a year ago,
• 12:33
  Speaker 7: I tried to find some trace of Uncle Albert, but
• 12:36
  Speaker 7: I wasn't successful.
• 12:38
  Speaker 8: Well, I'd earned a living, you know, so I went
• 12:41
  Speaker 8: on to Australia. Then one day, I ran across his
• 12:44
  Speaker 8: name in the shipping list.
• 12:45
  Speaker 7: Well, you know the rest. I met you, Mr. Pettis.
• 12:50
  Speaker 4: He's dead.
• 12:51
  Speaker 6: And you have no idea where your uncle is?
• 12:55
  Speaker 4: None at all.
• 12:57
  Speaker 7: Maybe dead, for all I know.
• 13:00
  Speaker 4: I've about given up finding him.
• 13:04
  Speaker 7: I'm devoting all my time to writing now. That's why
• 13:06
  Speaker 7: I've come back to the States. To try my luck.
• 13:09
  Speaker 3: Oh, Harriet, how are you?
• 13:11
  Speaker 9: Hello, Albert!
• 13:12
  Speaker 4: Oh, Albert, Albert.
• 13:19
  Speaker 3: You watch Valerie rush across the room, throw her arms
• 13:22
  Speaker 3: around Melvin. He stares back at you over her shoulder,
• 13:26
  Speaker 3: a bewildered, hopeless look in his eyes. You turn, hurry away.
• 13:31
  Speaker 3: Moments later, you're upstairs in Mr. Pettit's room, searching through
• 13:35
  Speaker 3: the closet. Then you find what you want. You take
• 13:40
  Speaker 3: the photo album, sit on the window seat, and start
• 13:43
  Speaker 3: turning the pages.
• 13:51
  Speaker 4: A half hour.
• 13:52
  Speaker 3: Later, you hear the front door close. And then Melvin's
• 13:55
  Speaker 3: footsteps approaching your door.
• 13:57
  Speaker 8: Harriet?
• 14:00
  Speaker 5: Yes?
• 14:01
  Speaker 6: Is she gone? Yes.
• 14:05
  Speaker 4: She won't be back.
• 14:06
  Speaker 6: What'd you tell her?
• 14:07
  Speaker 9: What difference does it make what I told her? She
• 14:09
  Speaker 9: won't be back.
• 14:12
  Speaker 4: What are you doing?
• 14:13
  Speaker 6: Just looking through the old album. I found what I wanted.
• 14:18
  Speaker 4: What?
• 14:19
  Speaker 6: Never mind. Come along, Melvin. It's almost time for your lunch.
• 14:29
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 14:30
  Speaker 3: You found what you were looking for, haven't you, Harry?
• 14:33
  Speaker 4: A faded photograph. A young girl.
• 14:36
  Speaker 3: And you're certain it's Valerie Hinton.
• 14:39
  Speaker 4: She's really his niece, isn't she?
• 14:41
  Speaker 3: At least that much of her story is the truth.
• 14:44
  Speaker 4: But you're still a little afraid.
• 14:47
  Speaker 3: And you know that you'll be afraid until the girl
• 14:49
  Speaker 3: herself has left town. Late that afternoon, you step out
• 14:53
  Speaker 3: on the front porch and wait while Melvin drives the
• 14:56
  Speaker 3: car out of the garage. Then a taxi pulls into
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: the driveway. Then despite the recent assurances of your weakling
• 15:05
  Speaker 3: brother Melvin that she wouldn't be back, Valerie Henson steps out.
• 15:09
  Speaker 3: The shopping list drops from your hand and your eyes
• 15:12
  Speaker 3: are fixed on the suitcase she carries.
• 15:18
  Speaker 4: Hello, Miss Eldridge.
• 15:20
  Speaker 6: Oh, Miss Hinton, you're leaving. You've come to say goodbye.
• 15:24
  Speaker 8: On the contrary, Harold.
• 15:27
  Speaker 4: I'm moving in.
• 15:28
  Speaker 6: Moving in?
• 15:30
  Speaker 4: Here?
• 15:30
  Speaker 5: Why not?
• 15:31
  Speaker 8: I have a perfect right, will you know?
• 15:35
  Speaker 6: After all, it's my uncle's house, isn't it?
• 15:39
  Speaker 3: Oh!
• 15:49
  Speaker 4: Harriet?
• 15:50
  Speaker 7: Yes, Melvin?
• 15:52
  Speaker 4: What are we going to do about Valerie?
• 15:54
  Speaker 6: There's only one thing to do. We're not going to
• 15:57
  Speaker 6: stand by and let her ruin everything.
• 16:00
  Speaker 4: Harriet?
• 16:01
  Speaker 9: Send her away.
• 16:01
  Speaker 4: She'll go to the police.
• 16:03
  Speaker 6: We're not going to send her away.
• 16:05
  Speaker 4: But Harriet, we.
• 16:06
  Speaker 6: We.
• 16:08
  Speaker 4: Harriet, no! You can't do that again.
• 16:12
  Speaker 6: Have you another solution?
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: Well, I'll have to think about it, but.
• 16:16
  Speaker 4: You must forget what you're thinking, Harriet. I won't have
• 16:18
  Speaker 4: it that way. Do you understand? I won't have it.
• 16:20
  Speaker 4: Watch the road, Melvin. You hear me, Harriet? One murder
• 16:22
  Speaker 4: is enough.
• 16:23
  Speaker 6: Still in love with her, aren't you? Well, perhaps you're right, Melvin.
• 16:29
  Speaker 6: Perhaps the whole matter can be solved some other way.
• 16:32
  Speaker 4: Oh, yes. Yes, Harriet. We'll find a way.
• 16:37
  Speaker 6: I'm sure we will.
• 16:45
  Speaker 4: The whole plan is in danger, isn't it, Harry?
• 16:48
  Speaker 3: Melvin is still in love with her, and you know
• 16:50
  Speaker 3: that he can be very weak. That you alone must
• 16:53
  Speaker 3: provide the strength to carry things through. Late that evening,
• 16:59
  Speaker 3: after Melvin has gone to bed, you and Valerie are
• 17:02
  Speaker 3: left alone in the library.
• 17:05
  Speaker 6: I was looking through some things, Valerie. Papers and newspaper
• 17:09
  Speaker 6: clippings that belonged to Mr.
• 17:10
  Speaker 4: Pettis.
• 17:11
  Speaker 6: Oh, I found this.
• 17:15
  Speaker 7: How interesting.
• 17:17
  Speaker 6: A full account of your death in Java during the war.
• 17:20
  Speaker 6: Your name was Valerie Pettis, then?
• 17:23
  Speaker 7: Yes, it was.
• 17:25
  Speaker 6: I was wondering if you'd taken any steps to rectify
• 17:29
  Speaker 6: this impression that you're no longer among the living.
• 17:32
  Speaker 7: Of course not.
• 17:35
  Speaker 4: You've read this article, haven't you?
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 17:38
  Speaker 6: Before her death, Valerie Pettis was wanted by the police.
• 17:43
  Speaker 7: That's right.
• 17:45
  Speaker 8: So you see we're in very much the same position,
• 17:48
  Speaker 8: aren't we?
• 17:50
  Speaker 7: Neither of us can go to the police.
• 17:53
  Speaker 4: Or anyone.
• 17:55
  Speaker 7: About the little secrets we've both discovered?
• 17:57
  Speaker 6: You're quite confident?
• 17:59
  Speaker 3: No.
• 18:01
  Speaker 7: Just very observant, Harriet.
• 18:05
  Speaker 8: I know exactly what's going on here.
• 18:07
  Speaker 3: So?
• 18:07
  Speaker 6: So what?
• 18:10
  Speaker 7: That's sufficient reason why you'll keep your.
• 18:13
  Speaker 8: Secret as long as I keep mine.
• 18:15
  Speaker 4: I see.
• 18:16
  Speaker 8: Now, there's something else, Harriet. Uncle Albert's money.
• 18:20
  Speaker 4: Money?
• 18:20
  Speaker 6: Yes.
• 18:20
  Speaker 8: Yes, I know about that, too.
• 18:22
  Speaker 7: Uncle Albert received a lot of money in jewels several
• 18:25
  Speaker 7: years ago in inheritance.
• 18:27
  Speaker 8: And if I know dear Uncle Albert, he's kept it
• 18:29
  Speaker 8: right here in this house.
• 18:31
  Speaker 7: I'm one who believes in sharing the wealth, Harriet.
• 18:34
  Speaker 4: The money, the jewels, and this house.
• 18:39
  Speaker 6: You intend to remain here?
• 18:41
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 18:42
  Speaker 8: I like Santa Rosa.
• 18:43
  Speaker 7: It's charming, quiet, and safe. Besides, I've grown very fond
• 18:49
  Speaker 7: of Melvin. I know he's quite fond of me. So
• 18:54
  Speaker 7: I wouldn't try anything, Harriet dear. Melvin might not like it.
• 19:01
  Speaker 4: Good night.
• 19:02
  Speaker 9: Good night.
• 19:09
  Speaker 3: Well, Harriet, it's out in the open, isn't it? The
• 19:12
  Speaker 3: contest between you and Valerie. And it's a contest you
• 19:16
  Speaker 3: can't afford to lose. You must get Valerie out of
• 19:19
  Speaker 3: your way. And you know how to begin, don't you?
• 19:23
  Speaker 4: With Melvin.
• 19:24
  Speaker 3: You must turn him against her. And the very next day,
• 19:27
  Speaker 3: you start working on him, systematically.
• 19:30
  Speaker 4: Using his love for.
• 19:31
  Speaker 3: Valerie as a wedge.
• 19:34
  Speaker 4: Each day, you have something to drop in his ears.
• 19:37
  Speaker 3: If Valerie goes for a long walk or to the
• 19:39
  Speaker 3: public library, you manage to suggest to Melvin that she's
• 19:44
  Speaker 3: keeping a rendezvous somewhere with another man. Slowly but surely,
• 19:48
  Speaker 3: he begins to break down. to draw away from the girl.
• 19:52
  Speaker 4: Sometimes even getting up from the dinner table and.
• 19:55
  Speaker 3: Leaving her in the middle of a conversation.
• 19:57
  Speaker 7: What's the matter with him?
• 19:59
  Speaker 3: Melvin?
• 20:00
  Speaker 8: Yes, why did he walk out of the room like that?
• 20:02
  Speaker 6: Well, I'm sure I don't know. Perhaps he's tired.
• 20:05
  Speaker 4: Tired of me, you hope?
• 20:07
  Speaker 6: I didn't say that.
• 20:08
  Speaker 3: Hmm.
• 20:09
  Speaker 6: As a matter of fact, Valerie, I've come to grow
• 20:11
  Speaker 6: quite fond of you.
• 20:12
  Speaker 8: I'm not foolish enough to believe that.
• 20:13
  Speaker 6: On the contrary, you're foolish not to.
• 20:16
  Speaker 7: Now, where are you going?
• 20:18
  Speaker 4: Out.
• 20:19
  Speaker 6: Isn't it rather late?
• 20:20
  Speaker 7: I don't care. I've got to get outside, walk somewhere,
• 20:22
  Speaker 7: any place. Somewhere I can think.
• 20:25
  Speaker 6: I understand. I'll tell Melvin that you went.
• 20:29
  Speaker 3: For a walk.
• 20:30
  Speaker 4: THE END And you do tell Melvin, don't you, Harry?
• 20:40
  Speaker 4: Only in your own way.
• 20:42
  Speaker 3: The way you've told him many times before.
• 20:46
  Speaker 9: I don't believe you, Harry.
• 20:47
  Speaker 4: I don't believe you at all.
• 20:48
  Speaker 6: I'm sorry, Melvin. I know what it must do to
• 20:51
  Speaker 6: your pride, but there isn't any doubt. She's admitted the
• 20:54
  Speaker 6: whole thing to me.
• 20:56
  Speaker 4: She told you there's someone else?
• 20:58
  Speaker 10: Yes.
• 21:00
  Speaker 6: There's been another man all along. You know I wouldn't
• 21:03
  Speaker 6: lie to you, dear.
• 21:05
  Speaker 4: She's made a fool of me.
• 21:06
  Speaker 3: A fool.
• 21:07
  Speaker 6: Forget it, Melvin. You've got to.
• 21:08
  Speaker 7: Stop telling me to forget it.
• 21:09
  Speaker 6: That's all you do.
• 21:12
  Speaker 4: You don't want me to know anything. Or think about it.
• 21:15
  Speaker 3: Oh, Melvin.
• 21:16
  Speaker 7: Where are you going?
• 21:18
  Speaker 6: Out.
• 21:20
  Speaker 3: You smile. Congratulate yourself, don't you, Harriet? Because you know
• 21:24
  Speaker 3: you've won. That Melvin will do anything you want him
• 21:27
  Speaker 3: to like a man who's been hypnotized. You're certain now
• 21:31
  Speaker 3: he wounded a fear with your little plan to get
• 21:33
  Speaker 3: rid of Valerie.
• 21:34
  Speaker 4: Yes, you're quite pleased with the.
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: Way you've handled things, aren't you? Moments later, you turn
• 21:39
  Speaker 3: out the lights in the library and go up to
• 21:42
  Speaker 3: your room to bed. You lie awake for a long time,
• 21:46
  Speaker 3: waiting for Melvin to come home. Finally, you hear the
• 21:49
  Speaker 3: front door close. You hear his footsteps on the stairs.
• 21:54
  Speaker 3: And then, just before you drop off to sleep, you
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: wonder why Valerie hasn't returned home.
• 22:09
  Speaker 4: Yes?
• 22:13
  Speaker 6: Good morning, Miss Eldridge.
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: This is Sheriff McQuaid. Sorry to be calling at this
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: early hour.
• 22:18
  Speaker 6: Something wrong?
• 22:19
  Speaker 2: There's been a young woman staying at your house.
• 22:22
  Speaker 4: Miss Simpson, yes.
• 22:23
  Speaker 6: Yes, what about her?
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: We found her in the woods beyond your place half
• 22:27
  Speaker 2: hour ago.
• 22:28
  Speaker 6: You found her?
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: She was dead. Strangled to death. Apparently with a rope.
• 22:33
  Speaker 4: Oh, no.
• 22:34
  Speaker 6: The poor child. She'd gone out for a walk last night, Sheriff.
• 22:39
  Speaker 6: You haven't any idea who.
• 22:41
  Speaker 2: Oh, sorry, we haven't. Could you come down to make
• 22:44
  Speaker 2: the identification?
• 22:45
  Speaker 4: Oh, yes. Yes, of course.
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: There isn't any doubt, actually. It will only be routine.
• 22:50
  Speaker 2: Just routine.
• 22:52
  Speaker 6: I understand. We'll be right down, Sheriff.
• 22:57
  Speaker 7: Now, where did I.
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 23:01
  Speaker 3: Oh, Melvin.
• 23:02
  Speaker 5: Hello.
• 23:04
  Speaker 9: Who was it, Harry?
• 23:05
  Speaker 3: The Sheriff.
• 23:06
  Speaker 6: They found Harry.
• 23:08
  Speaker 9: You won't be bothering us anymore. You're not angry with me,
• 23:13
  Speaker 9: are you?
• 23:14
  Speaker 6: Did anyone see you?
• 23:16
  Speaker 3: No.
• 23:17
  Speaker 6: Are you certain? There was a bright moon last night.
• 23:19
  Speaker 9: No one saw me.
• 23:21
  Speaker 6: What about the rope or whatever you used?
• 23:24
  Speaker 9: No one will ever find it. I hid it.
• 23:28
  Speaker 4: All right.
• 23:29
  Speaker 3: Harriet, I... No, no, no.
• 23:31
  Speaker 6: I'm not angry with you.
• 23:34
  Speaker 7: Now is.
• 23:35
  Speaker 6: Better get dressed and go downtown with me. And don't worry, Melvin.
• 23:40
  Speaker 6: Everything will be all right.
• 23:59
  Speaker 3: At the coroner's office is just as the sheriff says.
• 24:02
  Speaker 3: It's simply a matter of routine, isn't it, Harry? The
• 24:06
  Speaker 3: two of you. Melvin's stony-eyed silence easily mistaken for the
• 24:10
  Speaker 3: shock grief that he appears to feel.
• 24:13
  Speaker 4: And your own nervousness in answering his questions.
• 24:16
  Speaker 3: It's something the sheriff seems to have witnessed many times before. Finally,
• 24:21
  Speaker 3: the identification is over and they lead you out to
• 24:24
  Speaker 3: another room.
• 24:25
  Speaker 6: Sheriff, it's almost too much to believe.
• 24:28
  Speaker 10: I know, I know. Best thing is try to forget it,
• 24:31
  Speaker 10: Miss Eldridge.
• 24:32
  Speaker 6: Yes.
• 24:32
  Speaker 9: Just forget it. That's what we have to do, Harry.
• 24:35
  Speaker 4: Forget it.
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: Come along.
• 24:37
  Speaker 10: I'll drive the two of you back to the house.
• 24:38
  Speaker 6: Well, thank you, Sheriff. That won't be necessary.
• 24:40
  Speaker 4: Oh, no.
• 24:41
  Speaker 2: I insist. Bring my car around front.
• 24:44
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 24:46
  Speaker 10: Hey, tell me, Miss Eldridge, have you heard from Mr.
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: Pettis lately?
• 24:51
  Speaker 9: Still in Australia?
• 24:52
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes.
• 24:52
  Speaker 6: Yes, he is. I get an occasional letter.
• 24:56
  Speaker 10: Fine man, that Mr.
• 24:57
  Speaker 2: Pettis. They're all missing, you know.
• 24:59
  Speaker 6: Sheriff, you needn't bother driving us home.
• 25:02
  Speaker 4: It's not far.
• 25:03
  Speaker 5: No, no, no.
• 25:03
  Speaker 10: No trouble at all. I've got to go out there anyway.
• 25:06
  Speaker 10: Something I have to check on. I've already sent some
• 25:09
  Speaker 10: of my boys on ahead.
• 25:11
  Speaker 4: What?
• 25:12
  Speaker 10: We got a call from one of your neighbors.
• 25:14
  Speaker 4: Might give us a lead.
• 25:15
  Speaker 6: I don't understand.
• 25:16
  Speaker 4: Your neighbor, Mrs.
• 25:17
  Speaker 10: Enfield, tried to call you this morning. But it was
• 25:20
  Speaker 10: while you were on your way down here. When she
• 25:22
  Speaker 10: couldn't get any answers, she thought we'd better investigate.
• 25:25
  Speaker 6: Investigate what?
• 25:27
  Speaker 10: It, uh, it seems late last night she saw someone
• 25:30
  Speaker 10: doing some digging out in back of your house.
• 25:33
  Speaker 7: Digging?
• 25:34
  Speaker 4: Yeah.
• 25:34
  Speaker 10: There might not be anything. Months and again it might
• 25:38
  Speaker 10: have been the killer burying the rope on his way
• 25:41
  Speaker 10: back to the highway. Valerie Hinton was strangled, you know.
• 25:45
  Speaker 6: Burying, burying the rope?
• 25:47
  Speaker 4: But where, Sheriff?
• 25:49
  Speaker 10: Your neighbor says he was digging in the dahlia bed.
• 25:53
  Speaker 10: We thought, uh, we might do a little digging there ourselves,
• 25:56
  Speaker 10: if you don't mind.
• 25:58
  Speaker 7: The Gallaudet.
• 26:00
  Speaker 3: Oh, no.
• 26:02
  Speaker 4: What is it, Miss Elvis? Harriet.
• 26:04
  Speaker 3: Harriet.
• 26:05
  Speaker 4: You never told me. Is that who you are?
• 26:09
  Speaker 3: Yes, Melvin.
• 26:11
  Speaker 6: Now you know.
• 26:14
  Speaker 3: Mr.
• 26:14
  Speaker 6: Pettis was always so fond of Gallaudet.
• 26:17
  Speaker 7: I thought it would be appropriate.
• 26:36
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• 26:40
  Speaker 11: for listeners in the United States, has been rebroadcast for
• 26:44
  Speaker 11: our armed forces.
• 26:45
  Speaker 4: Throughout the world.
• 26:46
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• 26:48
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• 27:15
  Speaker 1: That concludes The Whistler, Grave Secret. Follow The Whistler for
• 27:19
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