This is Ken Roberts inviting you to listen to another adventure of Casey crime photographer Ace cameraman who covers the crime news of a great city our adventure for tonight bad little babe Night In his rather untidy bachelor apartment Casey slumps comfortably in an ancient over stuff chair reading the popular mystery story. Now just when I'm about to find out who's done it. Hello. Mr. Casey? Yeah? What time do you got to work tonight? Well 12 o'clock I'm on a lobster shift this week. Who is it? Then in about half an hour from now you'll start walking toward the garage where you keep your car. Yeah? Don't do it. Don't do it? If you do you'll be killed. Huh? Killed I said. Men are watching your apartment house now waiting for you to come out. Call the police and tell them to get those men. Who are you? Never mind that. Call the police and don't leave. Now look here. You're talking more goodbye. Hey. Huh. That's just a gag. Hmm. Hmm. Homicide bureau Captain Logan to you. This is Casey pal. Oh? Say look I'm probably wasting your time pal but I just got a screwy phone call that might be on the level. Screwy phone call? Yeah now if this turns out to be somebody's idea of a practical joke I know how you'll use the needle Logan but a gal just phoned me. I didn't recognize her voice and she wouldn't give her name but here's what she said. Whoever the gal was who phoned you Casey I don't think she was a practical joker. No? Now before I sneaked up here to your apartment by the back way Sergeant Bretton I spotted a car parked up your block with two guys in it who registered as red hearts all right. Why should they be laying for me? You're always sticking your neck out aren't you? If you'd stick to press photography. Oh nuts Logan I'm no different from any other newspaper guy on a crime beat and I haven't been sticking my neck out lately. That remains to be seen and we'll see when we land those bugs with the goods. Well how are you going to do that little thing? Now by the time you leave this joint the street will be completely covered by cops. Now you walk out of this building alone and start towards your garage. Sergeant Bretton will instruct his men not to act until they see you're definitely threatened. Definitely threatened? When and if the birds in that car or anybody on the street flash guns the cops will close in. Yeah I suppose they're there just a little too late on that close-in then I'll be the late Mr. Casey I suppose. I'm hoping that won't happen pal. Oh you're hoping? Sure I am. Oh put on your hat and coat Casey we mustn't keep your would-be killers waiting. The suspicious car is way up the block there Casey a black sedan and a gunner will probably wait until you're nicely outlined under the next street light before. I'm gonna make a swell target there Logan you know. It would be safer than in church there are at least a dozen cops covering you. I can't even see one cop. You don't think I told Bret to post him whether he could be seen do you? There's his signal that everything's all set. Now he's in a car around the corner now the time you get under that street light his driver will be passing that black sedan and ready for any funny business. Okay step out of this doorway now and get going. All right here I go. Don't worry pal. Oh I'm not worried. No not at all. Ah well the whole thing's probably a gag something with a moron sense of humor. There'll be a nice big clay pigeon under that street light. Well this is it I guess. Well nothing happened. I knew this was just a gag. Are you okay KC? Yeah I seem to be all in one piece Logan but a couple of slugs whizzed by awful close. My guys have everything under control up there come on. Yeah I want to see these mugs. Sergeant what did you do to him? We couldn't take chances captain. Yeah both dead huh? Yeah you had no choice. KC take a look at these stiffs. You recognize them? No never saw either one of them before. That means they were hired to get you. But why? Come on down to headquarters KC where we can look for the answer in comfort. You and Captain Logan ain't figured out who was behind that attempt to mow you down last night huh KC? No I figured it out. Now everything points to Joe Kirby KC and you know it. I don't know anything of the kind Kirby looks on me as anything more than a nuisance. It wouldn't take the trouble to have me bumped off. Bumping a guy off ain't much trouble for that Joe Kirby. He's got the smoothest work and crime organization in this town. You've been much more than a nuisance to him. He knows you've done your best to trace the murder of Sam Alberts to here. I haven't gotten anywhere with my tracing have I? Well he may think you've gotten further than you have and you didn't let me finish about his reasons. Now you've tried to interfere with his personal affairs. Oh you mean that? I mean Sandra Lamson. You've done everything possible to keep her away from him. I've gotten nowhere with that project either. Who's Sandra Lamson? Oh poor little rich gal who's seen too many glamorous gangsters in the movies. Well she's fallen for Joe Kirby and he likes her. You butted into that sort of thing KC? Look I've known Sandra ever since she was a kid. Her father was Judge Lamson. He was a grand guy and he did me a whole lot of favors. He was a judge who got killed in that auto smasher. That's right about six months ago. His kid's only 19. She's got no relatives except a couple of old maid aunts and she's pretty too. So to protect her from the wolves our Mr. Casey elected himself her guardian. Well an somebody had to. She's a good kid. She's a bad little babe and you're simply being stubborn. And there's still another thing that ties those gunmen up with Kirby. There's nothing that ties them up with Kirby. Will you ever let me finish what I start to say? Well and you... All right go ahead. Thanks. Who do you suppose the woman was who saved your life last night? The gal who called you on the phone? I told you I don't know. Well she must have had a motive for a tip off. Not you. Emma Humphreys had a swell motive. What? Emma Humphreys? She's Kirby's old girlfriend. Yes, Ethelbert. Until that Lansing day came along, Emma Humphreys' standing was number one. And lately she's been giving the old gradual freeze. Yeah that's right. She must be boiling at the Lansing kids. And Casey you're the only person who's tried to break up the affair between her and Kirby so... She sure had a motive for tipping you off, Casey. Yeah but I... Well I'm gonna have a talk with Emma Humphreys. You're finally waking up. I still think you're doping this thing wrong, Annie. But just to show you that I'm not stubborn. That I want to see. Okay all right. Wait a minute though. I can't go direct to Emma. If she gave me that tip and if Kirby was behind those would-be killers... All right you'd be putting her in a spot. Yeah but I can't... Darn that phone. Always when I'm busy listening... We've got to dope out a safe way to get to her, Annie. Blue Note Cafe, Ethelbert speaking. Let me think. All right think. Just a minute. Your city desk, Casey. Oh that's... You keep on thinking, Annie, while I go to the phone. Hello, it's Casey speaking. Underhill Road in Garland Park. Yeah I got... Hey wait a minute. We're not on duty, Burke. Oh you thought this assignment of interest, Mr. Speaker. That's your theory about last night. The body's been identified at... What? Thank you, Burke. Yes, we'll start right away. You're Casey. Oh boy. I figured a fairly safe... Forget it, Anne. Forget it. Huh? Emma Humphreys has been murdered. Emma Humphreys? Right. Since the news stories about my life being saved by a woman's phone call hit the streets this morning. Casey! Yes, and our city editor has exactly the same idea you have. Emma Humphreys was taken for an old-fashioned ride, Miss Williams. The doc says she was killed around noon today. Shot twice with a.32 revolver. We have the bullets. And of course you know who Emma Humphreys was, Captain Logan. Oh yes, and I've given orders to have Joe Kirby brought to headquarters as soon as he can be found. Annie has a theory about Emma Humphreys and Joe Kirby Logan. So have I, Casey. I've concluded she was your tipster last night and that he found out she spoiled his murder plan for you. You know pal, so have I now. Kirby's here, Captain. Oh, bring him in, Sergeant. Casey, you keep your trap shut to this guy. I'm keeping my trap shut. You too, Miss Williams. We know. Good evening, Captain. Oh, Kirby. You've been told what's happened. Miss Humphreys. Yes, the news came as a frightful shock to me. I'm sorry, Captain. I'm sorry. You've been told what's happened. Miss Humphreys. Yes, the news came as a frightful shock. I can imagine. Yeah. Oh, Casey, Miss Williams, please forgive me for not noticing you before. My state of mind... Give it, Kirby. If that's the way you want it. How can I help you, Captain? Emma Humphreys was killed around noon today. You have an alibi for that time, of course. Why should I? As it happens, I was having a conference with the president of the Warwick Square Bank between 11 o'clock and noon today. The Warwick Square Bank is way downtown. Emma Humphreys was bumped off way uptown. Yes. Where were you last night when we cops interrupted that shooting party prepared for Casey? Why, I was having supper with a lady in the Tiger Room of the Hotel Bombay. Dozens of people will remember I was there. Who was the lady with you? Miss Sandra Lampson. Nuts. This line of questioning is most ridiculous, Captain. Save that injured innocent stuff for the jury. Casey's been getting in your hair and you wanted him out for keeps. You figured Emma Humphreys tipped him off to your plan so you had her finished. Hold that. We'll prove a lot of things on you eventually. You know you're not as smart as you think you are, Kirby. You made some big blunders when Sam Alberts was murdered. Casey! That's all you mean. I told you to keep your mouth shut. Okay, Logan. That's all, Kirby. Get out. Well, Captain, Casey, you've shown such an interest in Miss Sandra Lampson. I must give you some news about her. And me. Well? We're going to be married. Married? Yes, I thought you'd like to know. Oh, you dirty lousy. Casey, before I let you ruin the life of Judge Lampson's kid. Let me go, Logan. Let me go. Let me go. Let me go. All right. Get out now, Kirby Pest. Goodbye, Captain. Screw you. Come on, Casey. That egg. Casey, you're going to lose control of your temper once too often around here. Sorry, Logan, but when he said... Stop fussing about what happens to Sandra Lampson. Well, you don't know her as I do, Anne. That's what you think. I can get a better line on one of my own sex in five minutes than you can get in a lifetime. I'm betting you're right, Miss Williams, but forget about the Lampson kid. Casey, I know you've been doing some private snooping into the Sam Alberts killing. What did you mean by telling Kirby he'd made some big blunders? Oh, well, that was just a bluff, Logan. Well, anyhow, for the first time since I've known that fish-eyed croaky looked a little scared. Yeah, he did, didn't he? You made my bluff sound better by shutting me up. Now you think we really have some. Well, since we have it, that gets us nowhere. No, it doesn't. Say, can I use your phone, Logan? I want to call Sandra Lampson. What for? To see if she'll make a date with me. I want to see her alone. Maybe I can talk some sense into her. Come on into the library, Casey. It's more cozy in here. Okay, Sandra. I used to talk to your father in here. This was father's favorite room. Sit down. Oh, all right, thanks. Not way over there. Here on the sofa with me. Oh. I imagine you've been in touch with Joe Kirby since I met him at police headquarters yesterday. I had lunch with him today. You told me you and he are going to be married. Is that true? Why shouldn't it be? Kirby's a crook. He's a rat and a murderer. So you've told me before. You've been lucky and clever, but now he's slipping. Slipping? He displayed bad judgment in attempting to have me shot the night before last. He displayed even worse judgment when he had Emma Humphries killed for tipping me off. He had nothing to do with either of those. Oh, Sandra, get wise to yourself. How dare you talk to me like that? What's the matter with you? Because I was a friend of your father's. Because I think you're a right kid. Now you listen to me, Sandra. Listen to what? I'm not a child. Give me some proof that what you say is true. You told me Joe was responsible for the murder of Sam Albert. Casey, if you can convince me that he was behind the murder of Albert, I give you my word that I'll never see him again. Oh, you want to know what the cops and I have dug up about the Alberts killing? It's your duty to tell me. Yeah, you just made a little mistake, Sandra. Mistake? Well, your hammy gestures knocked this lampshade crooked. Lampshade? Cute little microphone you have underneath. Let's see where the wire from it leads to. Casey! A tape recorder hidden behind the sofa you insisted that I sit upon. Yeah, you would have played nice and find out what had been discovered about the Alberts killing. Kirby had this recording outfit set up and showed you how to work it. Okay, Sandra, I'll leave the thing turned on and give your boyfriend an earful. Kirby, I don't care what happens to Sandra anymore. She's become the same sort of rat that you are. But get this, Kirby. Someway I'm going to pay you off big. You'll regret that, Casey. Goodbye, Sandra. You've been the biggest mistake I've made about this case. Now try not to make any more. That Sandra Lampson sure turned out to be the bad little babe Miss Williams called her. Huh, Casey? Yeah. Don't rub it in, Applebee. Well, she used to be a good kid, Annie. From what you've told us, Casey, you've talked pretty big into that recording machine about paying Kirby off. How are you going to make good? I don't know. I was soaring, shooting my big muppet. But you've made his grudge against you more personal than ever. I wish Captain Logan hadn't let you talk him out of having you guarded. Logan knows I got sources of information that completely dry up if there's a smell of cops around. You got some crook in mind, Casey, who might... No, no. But I've passed the word that the paper's willing to pay plenty for information, which it is. And in the meantime, you may walk into another trap. Forget it, kid. I'm keeping my eyes open. One of the few times in my life, as a matter of fact, I've totally forgotten about you. Tolling a gun. You really are? Yeah, Logan insisted on it. The darn thing feels like a lead weight in my pocket. Well, Annie, it's only eight o'clock. We don't have to go to work till midnight. Do you like to see a movie? Excuse me. One down a speeder. I don't think so, Casey. Blue Note Cafe, Ethel Birch Bacon. Why not? Because I'm so worried about you, I wouldn't enjoy it. Just a second, Annie. You're wanted on the phone, Casey. Well, who is it? Well, a guy wouldn't give his name, but he said to tell you it's important. Oh, it probably isn't. Hello, Casey speak. Yeah? Wait a minute. Who is this? Blue? Okay, okay. I'll start right away. Where are you starting right away? Well, that was an old pal of mine, Annie. He wanted to see me. I promised to go over to his hotel. Well, I've got to hurry. So long, you two. So long. Casey lied to us, Ethel Birch. Miss Williams. I think he did. Okay, Lou. Hop on inside. I said go on quick, Casey. You didn't tell anybody I phoned you. No. I never sing on a tipster. I've got one that'll make curious stand out to hear. Lou, you're one of Joe Kirby's mob. For all I know, you may be planning to pull me into a trap. I'd figure that way too if I was you. Well, here's my gun, Casey. Take it. That proves to you I'm leveling. Well, it helps. Just happens that I have a gap with me tonight, fella. It's pointed at your belly under my overcoat. I'm going to continue to keep it handy. The world's going around. The rag you work for will pay high for information. That's correct. But I've never known you to sell information. I'm not selling it now. I'm giving it to you. I've never known you to give anything either. That's because up to now I've never had a good enough reason. Casey, I carried a torch for Emma Humphreys. What, you? Yeah. I never got anywhere with her. She was Kirby's gal and Kirby was my boss. The guy can hope, can't he? I hoped that she'd give me a tumble after the boss began making a play for that Sandra Lamson babe and edging Emma out. I never thought the two of them would kill Emma. What? The two of them? Yeah. Kirby made the plan and the babe did the shooting. Sandra Lamson? She hated Emma. She wanted her out of the way. When your paper told how you were saved by a woman's phone call that night, she offered to take Emma for our last ride. You're sure of that? I made it my business to be sure. But look, now I bow out, Casey. You forget I ever talked to you. Payoffs got to be completely yours. Well, how can I prove anything? The cops have the bullets that killed Emma, haven't they? Yes. You're going to find the gap those slugs were fired from. And where? Sandra Lamson's bedroom in her home. She didn't throw that murder gun away. It's a gold plated.32 that Kirby had specially made up for her. You'll find it wrapped in a silk neckgown in the second drawer of her bureau. How can you know that? I went to her house tonight looking for that gun. I knew this was the servants' night off and that she and Kirby were having dinner together downtown. Then they'll be at the theater for the next couple of hours. You can have the joint all to yourself. There's a trellis you can climb to a bedroom window. You might have planted the murder gun in her room yourself, Lou. Oh, are you still trying to kid yourself? That skirt's on the level. Oh, I guess I can't. But I don't trust you and Nicholsworth. So you and I are going there together. Okay, if that's the way you want it. Yes. You'll be just a step ahead of me, Lou, with both your gun and my gun pointed at your back. I got the window up, Casey. Make a voice down, Lou. I tell you, there's nobody home here. All right, we'll see. I'll climb inside. Remember, I'm right behind you with these guns. Close the drapes over that window and circle your flashlight around. Okay. You see, we're all alone here. This the bureau? Yeah. Second drawer. You open it. Sure. Well, here's the little gun wrapped in a nightie, just like I told you. You convinced? Yeah. You finally sold me on your story, Lou. Lou is a swell liar. What? This a.44 you feel at your back, Casey. Drop those guns or I'll blow you in two. Okay, Kirby. I got them, boss. This is like taking candy from a baby. Boss was waiting for you in that clothes closet, Sam. The boss and... And me, Casey. So you're in on this trap too, Sandra. I planned it. Give me my gun, Lou. I'm handling this. Here, Sandra. Go to it. Put on the lights so we can take a last good look at this chump. Sure. And what a chump you are, Casey. I'll tell the police I thought you were a burglar and that I shot you. I don't think they'll believe that story. It'll be impossible to prove that she wasn't just a poor frightened girl all alone defending her home. You should have consulted me before you sent those hired gunmen off to Casey Joe. I might have had a simple and workable plan like this to give you then. I'll consult you about everything from now on, kid. You weren't allowed in on the first scheme to get rid of me, Sandra. No. I'm afraid Mr. Kirby didn't altogether trust me until after he heard that tape recording in which you turned on me so unpleasantly. Well, he should have trusted you after you killed Emma Humphries. What a chump this guy is, boss. Still believes something I told him. But you... I took Emma for a last ride myself. I did the job just like you wanted, didn't I, Kirby? You've always followed my instructions through the letter, Lou. And Casey, how close have you and the cops got to me on the Albert's bump off? You'll find out someday. Didn't expect a different answer from you. Well, I'm not too worried. Get this over with, Sandra. I will, Joe. Because you've spilled everything I hoped you would. Put off your hands, you and Lou. Put them up or I'll shoot. Boss. Get their guns, Casey. The guns they were foolish enough to put back in there. No, I got them. My own too. But what is this? What I want to know. What is this double cross, Sandra? The ending of a game I've played ever since you killed my father, Mr. Kirby. He kills crazy. No. You drove him to suicide. Suicide? My father deliberately drove his car into a tree because Kirby had been blackmailing him to force his consent to our marriage. He left a letter telling me what you've done, Mr. Kirby. A letter I didn't let you know about until now when I'm able to send you to the chair. If you think the admission Lou and I made here can convict us of anything, you're nuts. We'll deny everything. My lawyer can make liars out of both of you. He won't be able to contradict the evidence of your own voices. You taught me the value of recording machines, Mr. Kirby. One hidden under the bed has been recording every word that's been said here. Boss! You lousy little rat! That'll be all from you, Kirby. Sandra, you are one swell little babe. Call the cops. It was really Sandra Lamp's new phone, did you the tip that gunmen were laying for you that night, huh, Casey? Yes, Ethelbert. She had no idea, of course, that Emma Humphreys would be blamed and murdered for that tip. Sandra purposely exposed the microphone under that lampshade, so I'd say, well, only what I did say. Miss Williams, you sure made a big mistake about that Sandra Lampson. Yeah. Well, that's not rub it in, Ethelbert. I'm not going to. It's so easy for these superior females to underestimate the character reading ability of us men. Yeah. Women are very complicated females. You know, men wouldn't have nearly as much trouble if it wasn't for all these women. Why, women, we could get along much, women. They're, why, we've, they're interesting, though, aren't they? This adventure of crime photographer starring Scott Cotsworth as Casey came to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, the voice of information and education.
