Mole, M-O-L-L-E. Mole, the brushless shaving cream with a special protective film that guards your face, presents the Mole Mystery Theater. Tonight, Mole, the brushless shaving cream which puts face protection first, brings you another in a series of programs which puts mystery and excitement first. Each Tuesday night at this time, you hear one of the great mystery stories, selected either from the famous classics or from the best of the moderns, by Mr. Jeffrey Barnes. Mr. Barnes, having made a lifelong study of mystery fiction, is a connoisseur of fine detective stories. Mr. Barnes. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Mole Mystery Theater. Tonight's story is unusual in many ways. First, it is an original mystery written especially for radio. Secondly, it is the work of a young man who has never before written a mystery story. The writer is Corporal Frederick Matho. Corporal Matho walked into my office one morning with a script under his arm. I promised him I would read his story. I did, and I got the shock of my life. Here was a first-time effort, and yet, in my opinion, it ranks for the very best in mystery literature. So it is with a great deal of pride that we now present for the first time anywhere a story written by Corporal Frederick Matho, entitled The Comet Strip Murder. Now, friends, before our Mole Mystery Theater play begins, listen. Listen to the sound of a weapon fired at our men by the enemy, but aimed by someone here in America who talks too much. Yes, Americans, when someone here at home talks carelessly, it helps the enemy aim his bombs and guns and other weapons at our men. So don't you be that someone. If you know any war secrets that have not been reported on the radio or in the newspapers, keep it a mystery and help keep our men alive. And now to our play, The Comet Strip Murder. This evening, two people sit on a dimly lighted terrace of a New York penthouse apartment. One is the district attorney, the other a woman who looks tense and frightened. Eleven thirty. And my husband's going to murder me at midnight, Mr. Hanley. Tonight? Mrs. Stetson? You think being married to a comic strip artist has given me an overactive imagination? Well, I thought so too when I first went to see you, but not anymore. Look, Mr. Hanley, let me tell you the whole story. These past few weeks, Mark has been drawing Buzzo Keith with blood on his pen. My blood. You follow Buzzo Keith in the morning telegram, don't you, Mr. Hanley? Why, of course, everybody does. You've eaten up his lurid tale one bloody episode after another? Well, I've lived with that comic strip for nine years. I've been Buzzo Keith this and Buzzo Keith that until I could scream at the sight of a drawing board or a newspaper. Mr. Hanley, now I'm frightened. Very frightened. You see, Mark's murders are so messy. His fans love blood and pistol shots and poison and spike doors and charred bones and acid. Gee, Alice, look, Buzzo Keith locked in the cellar and it's filled with ammonia again. Uh-huh. And that model, Juliet, upstairs in the penthouse. Yeah. How's he ever going to save her? He's been locked up like that. Times Square? Okay, mister. Say, you read Buzzo Keith today? That guy's really in a jam. I think this fond soul's getting tired of that babe's double-timers. He's gonna kill again. Today? Yeah, but, well, yeah, I read it. Hiya, Bill. What'll it be? Toast and coffee? Yeah, and the telegram. Yeah. Why do you read it? I'm not reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. Yeah, and the telegram. Yeah. Why do you read Buzzo Keith this morning? I think this fond soul fella's gonna murder that chick, Juliet. He's reading books on flesh-eatin' acid. If he's gonna use that stuff, it's goodbye, Juliet. She ain't gonna keep that classist Cassie long. Buzzo favor? No, not this time. Curiouser, gonna. Recky's mad. She oughta die. Must the guys wanna kill her? Wouldn't fool around like that. Fires! Fires! Fires! Fires! Fires! Fires! Fires! Fires! Fires! Mr. Hanley, I am Juliette in the comic strip. The reason Mark is going to kill me is because of John Slater. See, Mark and John are partners in the O'Keeffe strip. Golly, I remember the night Buzz O'Keeffe was created nine years ago. Mark and John hadn't seen each other since they graduated from college the year before. It was our first wedding anniversary, and we were at a small nightclub uptown. Well, John, you old bat, it's about time you showed up. That's right, John, we thought you'd never get here. You know, you've been promising to come eat for a long time. It's been a long time since I've seen you, Mark, and it's been a long time since I've seen you. Are you making any progress in the commercial art field, Mark? Well, this freelance business is all right in spots, John, but... But we do all right, John. Oh, I see, like that, huh? Mark, why don't you get into a steady line in art? How about newspapers? Political cartoonists do well, or say, why don't you do a comic strip? Good money in a different catch, huh? Well, Mark's tried that. I guess they don't like the sense of humor. You said nothing about humor. Comic strips aren't funny anymore. Get up a good bloodshiller, an adventurer for a leading character, a detective maybe. A guy who's always getting you the tough spots and getting out of them again. The crying, the gore, the bitter. Well, it's an idea. Look, look, Mark, do me something to show around. About a week's strips, the bells of the story and outline. I'll sell it for you, Mark. What do you say? Well, why not? I think a detective would suit me best, though. Should have an Irish name. Let me see. Brian of Keith. Oh, Keith. That is good. Oh, look, how about calling him Buzz? You know, sort of a dizzy sounding name. Buzz-O-Keith. Buzz-O-Keith, yes, Buzz-O-Keith would do well. Waiters. Yes, sir? Bring us another arm. We're going to drink to Buzz-O-Keith. Who? Never mind. You'll know him soon enough. And that's how Buzz-O-Keith was born, Mr. Henley. John Slater and my husband, Mark, became partners. John is the promotion man and business manager. Perfect success story, huh? Not quite. There were lots of things we didn't figure on. See, Mark worked hard and late to make newspaper deadlines. He never went anywhere. I worked hard with him, I guess. I modeled red swans, did research work in crime. We thought that this trip would let us lead a normal life after we got it going. Well, it didn't work out. Then John Slater began taking me off. Oh, it was Mark's idea. He brought it up that afternoon. John dropped into the studio above. About two years ago. Hello, Drudges. What's buzzing today? Drudge is right. I'm in a mess here tonight at O'Keefe's. He's on the top of a building holding on to a high-tension wire, and Concrete Head Joe is cutting the wires, and what I... And I'm rooting for Concrete Head Joe. How are you, John? So, Julian, I just dropped in to tell you about the new five-year contract I've got for us. How about celebrating? Oh, I can't, John. Too much to do. But say, Julie's tired of working. Do her a good step up. Why don't you two celebrate? Good hunch. How about it, Julian? Well, the idea's pretty appealing if you really don't mind, Mark. No, no, not at all. Run along to have this party. That should never have happened, Mr. Hammond. You see, I thought John Slater was over his crush on me, but I guess he wasn't. And I guess I... I realized, too, that I was sick of O'Keefe and what he had done to nine years of my life. And that I was sick of Mark, too. Well, one night about four months ago while we were at a cocktail party, Mark came out into the garden and he... he found me and John Slater's army. There was no scene. Oh, not then. We didn't talk at all until later in the car on the way home. I knew Mark's been drinking heavily, but he seemed sober to me. Finally, I couldn't stand the silence and I said something I'd been meaning to say for a long time. Mark! Mark, I want you to divorce me. Out of the question, Julie, darling. I need you near me for a while. It's more convenient. You see, I may want to kill you. Mark! Yes, Julie, kill you. Listen, what kind of a fool you take me for. Don't you think I know that... that Leach Slater is taking away from me? I do all the work. He gets the same royalties I do. And now it's you he's taking. Or has taken... Mark! Mark, you're drunk. Not that drunk, darling. Not that drunk. I didn't close my eyes that night. I wanted to wake Mark to hear him say something that would assure me that he hasn't said what I knew he said. Well, the next morning Mark came down the studio in his robe, as he always did. He seemed quite normal. Morning. Good morning. Wonderful day and all that. Good night's sleep. How about my morning cup of coffee, darling? Mark. Mark, last night we... Last night? Oh, last night. Yeah. Quite a ball we had, wasn't it, huh? I remember part of it, like filling the Manhattan all over Mrs. Drew or Drup or whatever her name was. And then there was... And then there was the drive home. Huh? Drive home? What about it? Oh, now don't tell me I was beating you. Great, Scott. Won't I have a lurk? Mark! Yes, Julia? Nothing. Here's your coffee. Thanks. Now you run along. Let me work. Oh, before you go, there's something you can tell me that will help. If you were a beautiful model named Juliette, you were going to be murdered. What would be the most horrible thing you could come to? That was the beginning, Mr. Hanley. First I thought he was really planning a murder for his cartoon detective to solve. And then... Well, one night we went to a reception a publisher gave to Jim Tull, the mystery novelist. While I was dancing, Mark and Tull sat down and began to talk. When I came back, they were sitting in an alcove and they were deep in conversation. They didn't notice me as I stood close enough to hear them. Do you mean to tell me you haven't yet figured out a way to murder your character, Julia, yet, Mark? Well, I have some ideas, but none of them quite satisfy me, Jim. You see, there's so many ways to kill a beautiful woman. And the man who's going to do it hates her so. I thought you might have a suggestion. Why murder her, then? She's so proud of her beauty, so... so arrogant. Well, wouldn't it be a more fitting revenge for your murder at a main work? Just figure her. I've considered that. And it is the best. But for my purpose, she must be killed. Maybe I can do both. Why not? You've created a shallow, treacherous beauty. Your rate is a relish thing of beauty destroyed before she dies. Jim, I think you've got something there. That's what I'll do. Or a straw, rather. I think I can do both by using a path of flesh-eating acid. I can just see the murderer in the dark. What happened? Julie! Julie, darling, are you all right? What happened? It was the next day that I first came to see you, Miss Hanley. After I left you that day, I came back to the apartment to find Mark working feverishly at his table. I stood behind him as his long, slender fingers brushed in the shoreline. Mark? Mark? Mark, why did you model your Juliet's apartment and her terrace after hours? Why should I draw one from imagination when I have a perfectly good one to come to his? It makes it easier, that's all. You're even putting in our fishpond. Very observant of you, my dear. Yep, I've got good use for that little item. Oh, have you noticed the size and shape of our fishpond? Well, I... No? Well, I measured it the other day. It's five and a half feet long, two feet wide, and 18 inches deep. Master Kat, please. Ah, but I do. The perfect cough. And by the way, Julie, in tomorrow's episode, we'll see if Ellen Drumm can pass it. Ed, put that paper down and eat your breakfast. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. Gosh, looks as though Virgil Keith is going to have a murder to solve soon. Von Sewell's buying the acid today. Ed! Okay, okay, I'm eating, ain't I? Sam, with passion and the rushes to the ceiling, you're sitting reading the newspaper. Oh, I've got to finish with Buzz O'Keefe. Acid Russell is buying today. And for my tailor yet, just like to me he was coming. Okay, Mrs. Jones, I'm ready for your permanent now. Oh, you're reading Buzz O'Keefe. Ain't it something? All of Juliet's boyfriends are murder movies. And the acid, well, isn't it just too horrible? She's going to get it. When will it be? It's five gallons of it. I bet it's going to be in the fish pond. Horrible, ain't it? Hey, look at this. Buzz O'Keefe. Buzz O'Keefe. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Well, Mr. Evans, it looks as though Julia is right. It seems as if things that happen in Mark's comic strip are mighty apt to happen to her in real life. Yet, of course, it could be just coincidence. That reminds me of a friend of mine who was always blaming things on coincidence. For instance, he'd always nick and irritate his face while shaving. Then he changed to mole and started getting swell shades. He said, oh, that's just a lucky coincidence. But I noticed that he kept on using mole, and he kept on getting smooth, comfortable shades. And gentlemen, this is why. Mole Brushless Shaving Cream contains a special protective film. This special film helps guard your skin against tiny, almost invisible nicks and scrapes that make your shades uncomfortable. As a result, you get a really pleasant, comfortable shave every morning. So why not try it tomorrow? Remember to ask for mole. The brushless shaving cream that puts face protection first. And now back to Jeffrey Barnes and Act Two of The Comic Strip Murder. Julia Stetson sits in her penthouse apartment telling the district attorney about her husband's plan to kill her. Kill her precisely as he plans to kill his comic strip character, Juliet. Kill her by submerging her in a large fish pond filled with deadly acid. As you say, Mr. Hanley, Mark isn't well mentally. But it hasn't been for you out of runaway long ago. Well, after Van Poole, the comic strip character, bought the acid Mark did the same thing. When I asked him about it, he only laughed at me. He showed me the labels and said it was dry cleaning for the way he bought from a tailor. He was going to clean the upholstery of the car himself. But Mr. Hanley, his contents are in the fish pond right now. Look, today, this morning, I had an attack of hay fever, so I came down to the studio later than usual. Mark, please, very early. Well, this is the day, Julia. The comic strip murder's finished. I've got the actual murder taking place in three days' stretch. I've had them done for some time, but I've hidden them from you. Hidden them? Yes. But since I'm turning them in this noon, I think it's only fair for you to see the fate of the fool, Julia. So here, take a look. But Mark... This man... That's right, Julia. You see, it wasn't the fool who sent the acid-filled wine bottle to Julia. It was his new character. Well, her husband. Yes. Looks a little like me, doesn't he? Well, he's been watching her. And hating her. See how horrified Julia is. Look at the wonderful expression I got on her face in this panel. When her husband takes the hypodermic needle out of his pocket. Good, huh? And look at the action in these panels. See? He grabs her arm here, and she starts to scream, but he gags her with his hand... and plunges the needle into her neck. See? Horrible! That needle in her neck! And here, the final touch. Masterpiece of tenderness. Her husband kisses her gently on the forehead before putting on his rubber gloves. See? Here. And then he lowers her gently into the fish pond. And she can't move a finger to stop him. But, Julia... You're trembling. I've never seen you so interested. So affected. Oh, should I take these away? Maybe you'd rather not see them. No, no, I... I mean, yes, I want to see them. Good. But that panel's the best. We showed Julia's husband calmly, smoking a cigarette as he looks. Look at the face. Smile. Look. What's going on in the fish pond? Of course, we can't show that. But you can imagine. There you go, darling. Mark finally left, Mr. Hanley. But his last words to me were, I'll be back late, darling, around midnight sometime. You'll be here, won't you? That's a story in every detail I can remember. I see. Mr. Hanley, Mark's going to be here in a minute now, and I know. I know he's going to try to kill me because... Well, tonight's the night Julia, the girl on the comic strip, is going to be killed. I'm frightened, Mr. Hanley. I'm frightened something will go wrong with our plan. Mr. Hanley, you won't let him out. I mean, he won't have time to... No, no, no. No, Mrs. Stenson, he won't have time to murder you. I'll be behind the screen every second. At any rate, if something does go wrong and he reaches you before I have time to interfere, use this revolver and use it quick. All right. And I'll stand at the far end of the terrace. Yes, as far away from the fish pond as you can. At twelve. You'd better... No, no, no, don't worry about a thing, Mrs. Stenson. I'll be behind the screen. I'll be behind the screen. Julia, where are you? On the terrace, Mark. Oh, I knew you'd be waiting. Well, let's get our first ritual over with. Then I've got a real surprise for you. Where's that... Mark, Mark, what are you going to do? What's that need for Mark? Well, now really, Julia dear, after all, this can't be news to you. We've gone over it before. You should be passing by fighting by now. No, no, Mark, no. Well, stop screaming. It won't hurt. That's why I'm doing it. No, no, no, you're trying to kill me. No, no, let me go. Let me go. Let me go. Julia, you fool, give me that gun. Mr. Henry! Mr. Henry! It's all right, Mr. Stenson. They were blank cartridges. Mrs. Stenson, I arrest you for the attempted murder of your husband. What did you say? You can drop it now, Mrs. Stenson. It's curtain time. You don't know what you're talking about, will you try to use that needle on me? It's full of poison or drugs, you say? Yes, poison you put into it this afternoon. Poison you put into your own hypodermic needle. Oh, we know your husband has been giving you injections by AP. What about the acid? You and John Slater bought that acid, not your husband, Mrs. Stenson. You and Slater had motives for killing Mark, so he wouldn't give you a divorce to marry Slater, so with Mark dead, Slater would get your husband's royalties from the puzzle keeps trip. And the plot for the entire Juliet secret? That's why she gave me that. She gave me that story. I thought it was such a good story, too. But she was leading to this crime, you... The most ingenious part of the whole thing was calling me in on the case. If I'd believed the story, she had just got through weaving for me, and if she had shot you, it would have been a clear case of self-defense with the district attorney as her star witness. But they always slip up somewhere. What do you mean? How? You forget that today was your wedding anniversary. So? So I was lucky enough to find that out. Mrs. Stenson, a man who was going to murder his wife doesn't arrange a surprise party for her at midnight. Mrs. Stenson, come back here! Stay away from that parapet! Julia, don't climb over! You'll fall! Come back! No, I'm not doing it! If you don't like it, come and get me! Tammy, stop her! She's trying to walk along the legs and then escape with the fire escape! Oh, good Lord! It's 50 stories down! She's mad! Don't you look out! Don't you look out! No! Good heavens! Julia! Julia! Oh, for God! Mark, go to a hotel for the night. I'll get in touch with you in the morning. The bell. I'll... Well, I'll... Well, what is this? You've forgotten! Come on, everybody! All together! Happy wedding anniversary! Oh... Yes. Happy wedding anniversary! And so, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the end of tonight's exciting Molle mystery theater presentation of the comic strip murder. Mr. What's so funny? Oh, boy, what a comic strip! It's called The Little Shaver. It's all about this guy who makes and breaks his face while shaving every day. Oh, is that funny? It sounds very funny. What's happening in the strip today? Well, here's where he dreads to begin his shaving. And here's where he nicks himself. Well, say, why doesn't someone tell him about Molle? Why, that's spoiled. The comic strip? Well, then there wouldn't be any problems. No problems, no comic strip. Well, friends, it's true. Molle does put an end to shaving problems. Molle helps guard your face from irritating little nicks and scrapes because it puts face protection first. Because, you see, Molle's special film has more real body and substance than light fluffy cream, it gives your razor something to ride on. And then also, Molle's special film contains a blend of beard-softening ingredients and non-irritating oils that are actually of medical purity. Molle is made of official United States pharmacopeia ingredients, the same as used to fill a doctor's prescription. Yes, in every way, face protection comes first when you use Molle. So your first Molle shave is really pleasant. And day after day, as that special film helps guard your skin, your shaves get better, better, and better when you shave with M-O-L-L-E. Molle, the brushless shaving cream that puts face protection first. And now once again, Jeffrey Barnes to tell you about the Molle Mystery Theater Play for next week. For next week, ladies and gentlemen, I have chosen a classic short story of suspense and murder by the eminent W.W. Jacobs. It is entitled, The Interruption. So, mystery fans, we invite you to be with us next week for an ingenious tale when you will learn the secret behind The Interruption. The original music for the Molle Mystery Theater is composed and conducted by Jack Miller. The comic strip Murder was written by Corporal Frederick Maito. Until next Tuesday, this is Dan Seymour saying good night and good shaving with Molle. The brushless shaving cream that puts face protection first. Every day, thousands of men and women supplement their diet with IY, ironized yeast tablets. Is your diet deficient in iron? Do you need more vitamin B1? IY tablets give you extra iron to help build rich red blood, extra vitamin B1 to help keep nerves steady, help you maintain pep and strength. To help keep vigor and vitality, take ironized yeast. They're small, easy to swallow tablets. Insist on IY, ironized yeast tablets. This is the National Broadcasting Company.
