Standard of California, on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invites you to let George do it. Murder, it's a gift. Another adventure of George Valentine. Personal notice, danger is my stock and trade. If you're ready to throw in the sponge without giving the deal another whirl, you got a job for me, George Valentine. Full details. My dear Mr. Valentine, no doubt you'll consider this transaction stale, flat and unprofitable. I wish to bestow a beautiful and precious gift upon a member of my family, the worthiest one, the rare Wittenberg Bible. I want to see it bring to someone else the happiness it brought to me. You can help me. The address is 715 Warren Road. Kindly call Sunday morning when I can be sure all my little family will be at home. Signed, uh, Wesley Hart. Mm-hmm. Brooksie, when was the last time you did something ennobling and spiritual with your Sunday morning? You mean beside getting up before noon? Exactly what I mean. Now here's a chance for both of us to make atonement come this Sabbath. So let's get up early and see that the right person does get Mr. Hart's rare and precious gift. Oh, but George, a father should know his own family. Which one is, to quote the worthiest? Oh, you'd be surprised how often Papa knows very little about his own brood. Oh, maybe you're right. The night of my first dance, my father did believe I was going out to get the milk instead of trying to tiptoe in with it. Oh, Angel, you've had a lurid past. But seriously, we have a date for Sunday morning. Mr. Valentine, most people like to leave what they consider their fortune and will to be used only after they die. That's the usual routine, Mr. Hart, yeah? Well, I'm going to be different. Here, sit down, Miss Brooks. Sit down. Oh, thank you. Uh, just how are you going to be different, Mr. Hart? I'm going to give someone my only treasured possession while I'm still alive so I can see him enjoy it. Oh, that's a pretty fine notion. I believe you're a better citizen on earth if you don't wait for your citizenship in heaven. Again, a happy notion, but, uh... About this valuable Wittenberg Bible of yours, doesn't your family know what's going to be left to them? Not to which one, and not that I'm going to leave it to him right now. Oh. That's why I wrote to you, Mr. Valentine. I want you to investigate each one of them, look into their pasts. What's that? Well, surely in your own family you ought to know enough about... Well, again this morning. I need some black coffee, pops and fasts. What's the matter, son? You seem nervous. I wonder why. I can always run 50 balls in a game of straight pool, but last night my hands were shaking. And just when it would have really paid off. Now, Sam, you shouldn't take your recreation so seriously. It's only a game of billiards. Only a game of... Oh, sure, yeah. Oh, Sam, these are two friends of mine. They'll probably be staying here with us. Oh, but really... Well, that's well, pops. If you can't get any food here before ten o'clock, I'd better go in the kitchen and see if I can't make eating. Give me some coffee. Yeah, you'd better do that, fella. If you expect to maneuver any ham and eggs to your mouth. What's that, mister? Just an observation. Oh. I must like that leave me cold so early in the morning. Why are you rushing off, Sam? You're your usual self, aren't you? Well, that's Carla, wonderful girl. You couldn't ask for a finer daughter. You came in even later than I did. Who was it? Did you make the grade? As a matter of fact, I... Well, at least I have you three for an audience. Oh, Carla, these are two friends of mine. They'll probably be staying here with us. Well, I don't... How delightful. Is anybody interested in the fast-talking gentleman who tried to convince me that under my strict and starchy nurses uniform, there beats a feminine heart? Oh, I'd love to hear all about it. As long as it's in the family. Carla's a nurse, you know. She spends all her life trying to take care of people. Thank you, Fox. Anyway, this Casanova I was out with last night was the subtle type. He didn't just talk about fur coats and bracelets and stuff like that. He actually had them with him. He was so amazed I don't play that way, Fox. Good girl, Paula. See you at breakfast. Well, that's quite a family you've got here, mister. Yes, haven't they? Breakfast is ready, Mr. Hart. Oh, Miss Purdy. These are the two friends I told you about. Oh, how do you... Let's not go through that again, Brooks. Well, there's room for them at the table. Now let's not waste any more time. Oh, of course. I know when you run a boarding house, everything must be on a schedule. Boarding house? You know I don't consider it that, Mr. Hart. You and the others are just paying gas. A proud woman, Miss Purdy. I always think of her as my sister, another member of my family. And I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. I'm sure she's a good friend of mine. Now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. Well, a good and pious man decides to leave his one valuable possession, a rare Wittenberg Bible, to the person most worthy of it. Furthermore, he wants to leave this legacy while he's still alive, so he can share in the happiness of the one who receives it. Now, if you're asking questions with your know-you-know end, if you're anything like George Valentine, you see, you're not too sure you're getting the right answer. Valentine has only one answer, the one the medical examiner gives. Well now look, I don't want to be a character, Lieutenant, but suppose I don't go along with that conclusion. Well then, Pally Chum, you can just go and... Please, please, Lieutenant, don't be too specific in your direction. Huh? Well, I'll just leave what I mean to your imagination. I'm not being stubborn, but I think Wesley Hart was murdered. Well, now at least everything is out in the open. Valentine, maybe the good doctor used words that are too big for you. Suppose I break him down. Yeah, do that for me, will you? Wesley Hart was a hail and hearty old fellow, as sound as a rusted apple. Remember, I met the gentleman first, Lieutenant. No one could drown a man like that in a half a tub of water without him foot-putting one heck of a scrap. Why, you'd have to hold his head under for quite some time, you know. George, just on general principles, I'd like to be on your side. But there were no signs of a struggle at all. No water on the floor, no scratching, no bruising. Yeah, I know. It's just like the doc says. The old boy either faded or he had a heart attack when he sat down in the tub. All this excitement about him giving away that Bible at dinner tonight. But still, the timing was so bad, Riley. That's what keeps bothering me. Well, you'll live through it. Now let me have that Bible. We'll find out whose name's on the flyleaf. Give it to him and call this case closed. Would you still do that if I proved this was murder? Ah, for Pete's sake. There he goes again, Miss Brooks. Well, don't look at me. I've always told you it was stubborn. Oh, may I come in, Lieutenant? Ah, sure, sure, Miss Purdy. The sergeant outside said you might be here sometime, so I took the liberty of making some coffee. Oh, well, thank you. It's fine. Glad somebody feels fine. I feel lower than anything you can name. I was merely using a figure of speech, Miss Steele. I'm glad you are, Lieutenant. Maybe I wouldn't feel so rotten about Pops if I weren't a nurse. Well, there's nothing you could have done about it, Cora. Well, I was home in my room. Pops had only cried out, made any kind of noise. I'd have been there to help him. He drowned so quickly, I don't understand it. Mr. Hart was a truly good man, Lieutenant. He trusted everybody. I could never teach him to keep the door to his room closed. Okay, Miss Purdy, we're all sorry about the old gentleman. Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. Yes, Lieutenant, we must be slowing down. What are you talking about? Yes, Judge, what is it? It just hit me like a sneak punch with brass knuckles. I'd like to try an experiment, Lieutenant. What kind of an experiment? Well, now, ordinarily, I'm not an exhibitionist. But if I could get into a pair of swimming trunks... Swimming trunks? ...and into a tub half full of water, I think I may be able to prove a very important point. Okay, that doesn't... I think that's the amount of water, heart-grounding. I should say so, yeah. Oh, you'd better hurry up, George, or you'll catch cold. Same swimming trunks are a little snug on me. Don't we get to see this remarkable experiment, Lieutenant? You people stay out there in the hall. We've got a full house as it is. Okay, Johnny Weishmiller, let's see what's on your mind. The same old thing, Lieutenant. Murder. All right, all right. Come on, let's see you drown yourself. Well, I got to have some help, Lieutenant. Glad to oblige. Name your person. I think I could use Sam. Oh, Mr. Keith, will you come in here, please? What are you going to do with me? What's this supposed to prove? You don't mind cooperating with the law, do you, Sam? No, but I don't like being framed either. Mustn't be so suspicious, friend. I just want you to do a little job. Yeah? Yeah. Now, lean over the tub. That's right. I'll lie down like this, and when I give you the signal, pull my feet up suddenly with a jerk. Keep them up. This is a screw you're... Do as you're told. Okay, now. Well, you can come out from under the water now, darling. Hey, what is this? Valentine, put his feet down, you fool. George. He's out like a... George! Here, come on, give me your hand. Get him out of this tub. Hey, nurse, get in here and hurry up! He ought to be coming out of it in a minute. Maybe we still ought to call the emergency squad, Lieutenant. He'll be okay now. I hope so. What happened? He certainly couldn't have drowned in a few seconds like that. He was out to set a new world record. Got him breathing regularly now. George. You heard him. He told me to do it. It was Valentine's Day. He was out to set a new world record. He was out to set a new world record. He was out to set a new world record. He was out to set a new world record. You heard him. He told me to do it. It was Valentine's Day. And you sure went at it with the right goodwill, Sam. Are you all right, George? Isn't this the spot where I'm supposed to sit? Where am I? Here, fella. Get up. Come on, come on, give me your hand. That's it. Oh. That worked a little too well, didn't it? Is that what happened to Mr. Hart, George? Yeah, but with him it really worked right, Booksy. And that poor old man was murdered. And after all, Mr. Valentine means one of us did it, Miss Perry. How long you read my mind, Cora? It's just like putting a finger on me because I got in trouble once. Ah, quiet, all of you. Listen to me. This was murder, all right. And Valentine, while Miss Steele was working on you, I called up the medical examiner. And? Under the hair on the back of Mr. Hart's head, there's a slight bruise. They couldn't see it at first. You've got an exact duplicate, Valentine, when you hit your head on the bottom of the tub. Okay, I'll take your word for it, Lieutenant. But that's not what knocked me out. It was the water suddenly rushing up my nostrils that knocked me out. Better than any left hook. And if Sam continued to hold my feet up in the air a while longer, I would have drowned, without making a sound. And without a struggle. Yeah. And the three of you were all home when the old man was taking his bath. Yes, Lieutenant Riley. And Miss Ferdy, you yourself mentioned his cute little habit of not locking his eyes. His little habit of not locking doors behind him. You all would have known that. Lieutenant, I'd like a word with you alone. Okay. Sergeant? Yes, Lieutenant. Take these good people downstairs and keep them amused. I'll be right there. All right, come along now. Now, before we do anything else, Valentine, let's go and take a good look at that Bible. The person whose name is on that flyer leaf certainly has a motive. Yeah, that's just what I wanted to talk to you about. Lieutenant, let's not look at it. Not until we're all seated around the dinner table. What? May I express my amazement, too? Well, that's the way the old fella had it planned. Why not carry out that last wish? You mean just out of sentiment? Half and half, Bruxy. Half sentiment. And half the satisfaction of seeing a murderer put his own neck in a noose. I can't say I'm enjoying this meal. Why, I think it's delicious, Cora. Compliments to the cook, Miss Perry. Hardly the time for light conversation, Miss Brooks. Sorry. Lieutenant. Yes, Sam? You having trouble digesting your food, too? If you think you've got anything on me, do something about it. I've got a date. I want to leave. I think the pool room will still be there. Sit down. All right, folks, we can get to the point now. Thank you, but not too much. All of you know that Mr. Hard had decided to leave this Bible to one of you. A decision he reached mostly on the basis of my investigations. Don't you mean you're snooping, Mr. Valentine? When you get paid for it, Miss Perry, it becomes investigation. Your moral support is highly appreciated. Anyway, this afternoon, Mr. Hard removed this Bible from the safe deposit box and placed it in his bureau drawer. While he was taking his bath, you all had a chance to go in there and see whose name is on the flyer. Yeah, once again, the little matter of leaving doors open. Well, right now, the lieutenant and I are going to take a look at it. You see, ironically enough, the lucky beneficiary is going to be saddled with a fat, juicy motive. He's going to get one hefty shove toward the gas chamber. An assist from beyond the grave, you might call it. Well put, Lieutenant. Now, suppose we have a look-see. Say, wait a minute. Yes, Cora? Cora's Pots decided to leave it to me. Oh, to any one of us, it doesn't mean we'd kill him for it. What right do you have to assume that? Hey, Lieutenant, you can read the inscription. Okay. Uh, after careful thought, I give this Wittenberg Bible to the person for whom it can do the most good. I give it with all my love to Sam. It's not true. He'd never leave it to me. He knew all about me being in jail that time. You told him, Valentine, you found out all about me. Well, don't all of you look at me that way. I like the old guy, and I kind of think he liked me. Save it, Sam, save it. We'll have a lot of time to talk about that. If you're making the trip downtown, Lieutenant, why not take along the right person? What do you mean? I mean you, Cora. Me? Just what do you have against me, Mr. Valentine? Nobody could have seen that Bible today after I came home with Pops. I never left it out of my sight. Well, what happened? But Cora was so sure it was left to her, she began to protest. A little too quickly and much too much. That's right. We didn't hear Miss Purdy or Sam say a word. You gave us the motive after all, Cora. Oh, really? You naturally thought the only one to hold Mr. Hart in all his saintliness would leave his precious Bible would be you. Miss Purdy and Sam had blemishes on their past. Well, you're just guessing. You can't fool me. As a nurse who's given plenty of badge to her patients, you'd know how a little deal like this would work. Just because I'm a nurse, that doesn't mean... Miss Purdy isn't strong or young enough to kill in just that way. Well, what about Sam? It was his name in that Bible. That's why I chose him for that little experiment. He wouldn't have done it so efficiently if it meant tipping his mitt. Well, you seem at a loss for words, Miss Steele, but that makes sense. Yes, Cora. It could only have been you. Hey, now, let me get this straight, Sam. This Wittenberg Bible is worth what most people would consider a small fortune. Just the same, Valentine. I'm not going to sell it. I'm just going to hang on to it. Well, the money might be the thing to put you back on your feet, Sam. It's worth more than that, Miss Brooks, knowing that a man like Pop said faith in me. I thought people stopped passing that stuff out. That's what was keeping me behind the eight ball. Well, I suppose now you'll be thinking of getting married. Maybe, but of course I guess I'll have to, well, make good. Mm-hmm. Well, it doesn't always work, Sam. I've been trying to make good with George for a long time. And just look. What? Never mind, Sam. That's a private joke. How many women drivers do you think there are in the West? One million? Two million? Well, conservative estimates tell us there are two and a half million in California alone. With so many women driving in Western states, let's hear what one of them says about RPM motor oil. There's Mrs. Jerome Barline of Spokane, Washington, and she says, quote, I don't know much about cars, but I do know I haven't had to spend one cent for repairs since I started using RPM, unquote. And from that, I'd say Mrs. Barline knows plenty about car operation. Other users of compounded RPM motor oil say they have gone seven and eight years without engine repairs. That's not so surprising when you know that RPM actually fights off your car's worst enemy, internal engine rust. It stops carbon trouble, too, clings to engine hot spots, and prevents bearing corrosion. So why not give your car a new lease on life starting tomorrow? Get your crankcase drained and refilled with RPM motor oil at any standard station or independent Chevron gas station, where they say, and mean, we'll take better care of your car. Next week, when you tune our way for another adventure of George Valentine, you'll find George off on another case starting with a letter that reads, Dear Mr. Valentine, any sane person knows that a room can't murder a man. Yet after living in a certain room, I have a definite feeling that's what's going to happen to me. I need your help, so meet me at Farewell Lodge as soon as possible. Signed, Burton Hillyard. Next Monday night, another case for George Valentine, The Room That Killed. Tonight's Adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard of California on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West. Let George Do It stars Robert Bailey as George with Frances Robinson as Claire, Wally Mayer appears as Lieutenant Riley. Tonight's story was written by David Victor and Herbert Little, Jr. and directed by Don Clark, also heard in the cast were Pedro de Córdova as Hart, Don Diamond as Sam, Betty Lou Gerson as Cora, and Anne O'Neill as Miss Purdy. The music is composed and conducted by Eddie Dunstetter. For an answer, John Easton. Listen again next week, same time, same station, to Let George Do It. This is the Mutual Downly Broadcasting System.
