The F.W. Fitch Company, makers of Fitch's saponified coconut oil shampoo and Fitch's shaving creams, presents Dick Powell as private investigator Richard Rogue. In Rogue's gallery. Rogue speaking, as I walked down the corridor of the death house, the butterflies in my stomach were doing a soft shoe dance to the beat of a dirge. In a half hour, Mike Royal, the man I was about to see, would die of sitting in a chair, an occupational disease common to the business of murdering. This was not my idea of a pleasant way to start an evening, but that's the way it was. I was there by special request of the condemned man and completely in the darkest of light. When the guard and I reached the cage, Mike Royal was standing there with his face squeezed into the bar. Already they had slit his trouser leg and shaved his head, so 50,000 volts could enter quickly without knocking. Here we are, Rogue. Thanks, Hanson. Hello, Mike. Oh, thank God you're here, Rogue. I didn't know if they'd let you come. I got here as fast as I could. Go on in, Rogue, but you've only got five minutes. Order. Okay, that's all we need. Well, Mike? Has he gone? Listen, Rogue, you've got to help me. Now, Mike, your lawyers throwing the book at them. Every appeal has been turned down. What can I do for you? I'm not talking about something for me. I want you to help somebody else. Who? My kid. Didn't know you had a kid, Mike. Yeah, yeah, a girl. Florence. She's 14 in the parochial school at Arlington. Father Shea knows. You must help me get some money for her, Rogue. Well, sure, Mike. Sure, the press boys will chip in. We'll get up a little benefit. No, you'll get up nothing. I don't want a handout. But Mike is... Listen, listen, I only have a minute left. Now, I want you to get the reward money and split it with her. Ten grand for her and five for you. Oh, save your breath, Mike. The insurance company isn't paying 15,000 for your pals, even if you don't turn them in. They'll only pay for the return of the stone. I'm talking about the stones. I wouldn't sing on my pals. You know, you know, they know it. But what they don't know is where the stones are. And I do. And I'm gonna tell you. Why not tell the cops? Because I want her to get the money. You hear? I've never done anything for her all the time that I was alive. And now that I'm as good as dead, I can. You hear? Yes, Mike. I killed a man and I'm ready to burn for it. Well, that's okay. But wherever I'm going and whoever I have to answer to, I can face it better if I check out doing something decent. And you're the only one who can help me, Rogue. Well, you've just got to give me a break. Okay, Mike. Okay, I'll do what I can. Not for you now, but for your kid. Where do I get the stones? An angel will hand them to you. Now come back to earth, will you, Mike? Where do I get the stones? An angel will hand them to you. An angel, huh? I see. Yeah, I get it. That's all I can tell you, Rogue. That's all I can tell you. Okay, Mike. Anything you say. Time's up, Rogue. Right, Hanson. Promise me you'll do it, Rogue. Sure I will, Mike. Sure I will. Anything you say. Yeah, yeah. And then split it ten and five, huh? Sure. Anything you say. Yeah. Rogue. Yeah? So long, Mike. That was very nice of you, Mr. Rogue. Oh, Father Sher, I didn't see you. I just couldn't help hearing you promise to do something for Mike. I don't know what it is, but I can see your heart's in the right place. Father, you haven't been worrying about me. I confess I was beginning to. You know, you've been pretty close to the line of the law. Always just inside, Father. I think you can stop worrying. Perhaps I will. Granting a dying man's last wish is a good sign. A very good sign. Well, the least I could do was say I would. Say you would? You mean you're not going to? I would if I could, Father, but I'm no crystal ball. I can't read his mind. Mike's got angels and his daughter and fifteen thousand dollars all mixed up in his mind like farmer's salad. Perhaps I can find out what he means and tell you. No, Father, Mike told me to go see an angel, but I'm not quite ready to meet the angels yet. Father Shea turned and walked back to Mike's cell. Then Hanson, the guard, joined me and we started down the corridor. Our Father, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. I can hear Father Shea and Mike praying together. I wished I could help Mike's kid, but I couldn't see myself getting mixed up in this thing even if it did have a payoff. No, sir, I couldn't see it. The prison gates clanged behind me and I grabbed a cab, told the driver where to go, and leaned back with my thoughts. I thought of four big shining diamonds. I thought of a fifteen thousand dollar reward and of a little girl in parochial school and of her father who had made a death house will and testament naming me executive. And I thought of Father Shea's eyes when he thought I was backing off on my promise and that one screwy line of Mike's, an angel will hand them to you. But anyway I looked at it, all it added up to was a headache. By the time I got home I was, I was plenty tired. Maybe in the morning it would make sense. What I needed now was sleep. I went up to my apartment, walked in, and speaking of angels, there in my favorite armchair sat what appeared to be at least a very reasonable facsimile. A dark-eyed redheaded dame who smiled and said, hello, the manager let me in. I said I was no friend. You're not seeing things. That's what you think. Who poured you into that gown? Won't you come in? I won't bite you. Oh thanks, I'm a blackened dog myself. Won't you sit down? Thank you. Oh here's your purse. Thank you. I make it a point never to sit on ladies purses, especially when there's a gun in them. Might go off. All right baby, what is this? We'll continue our story in just a moment, but first here's something a woman told us the other day. I like Fitch's saponified coconut oil shampoo for a special reason, and that is that it, well it always leaves my hair smelling so fragrant and clean. Yes lady, that is important, more than most people realize. For it's a fact your scalp perspires too, and the hair collects and holds odors, dust, and dirt. But there's no need to risk offending with scalp odor when regular use of Fitch's saponified coconut oil shampoo will keep your hair fresh and clean. This clear golden liquid shampoo makes mountains of delicately fragrant lather that quickly washes away every bit of dust, dirt, and scalp odor. Your hair is left smelling fresh, sweet, and clean, and it will be radiantly lustrous too, for Fitch's saponified shampoo contains a special patented rinsing agent. This rinsing agent ensures that no dull soapy film will be left to mar the luster of your sparkling clean hair. Ask for a bottle of Fitch's saponified shampoo at your drug or toilet goods counter, or have a professional application at your beauty shop. Now back to Dick Powell as private investigator Richard Rogue in Rogue's Gallery. I'm not the type who expects handouts from angels, so when Mike Royal told me just before he was executed that an angel would hand me the Maris Diamonds, I was as groggy as a New Year's morning. But when I reached my apartment, there sat something that looked very much like an angel, until I found a gun in her purse. You're very clever, aren't you? Well, the doctors at Yale and Harvard are both bidding for my head when I die. I might give one to each. Anything else you'd like to know? Yes. What did Mike Royal tell you? Mike Royal? I didn't come here to play games. Oh, what a pity. What did he tell you? Now listen, baby, I don't know who you are, what you want, but I haven't got it. You're poisoned, and I don't want any part of you. Now beat it before my fists get out of control, and take your water gun with you. As soon as I empty the water. There you are. Now crawl back under your rock. Now listen, Mike Royal told you something, and you're in this whether you like it or not. I don't work alone, and my friends play rough. Baby, I don't care how rough your friends play. We knew Mike would talk before he died. We tailed every visitor and tapped his lawyer's phone. We knew when he sent for you. You were the last guy to see Mike alive, and we also knew you wouldn't tell the cops, because you love a greenback more than anything in the world. That's right. I love greenbacks. 15,000 of them. 15,000. For the arrest of the Marist Vault Breakers and killers of the guard, and for the return of a aforementioned jewelry. It wouldn't be easy to find those persons. For 15 grand, I'll work hard. So that's it. Little boy scout catches the gang, turns in the stones, and collects the merit badge. And 15,000. The stones worth half a million that you can turn in now for a hundred thousand cash, is that smart? Play along, and we'll be rich. We? Who's we? You and me. Don't you think we could get along? Well, I shouldn't be surprised. What about the rest? Your friends? They're on their own. I said you and me. We could go away somewhere together. Think of it, Rogue. A hundred thousand dollars. Mmm. Well, that's a lot of mood. You can have anything you want, Rogue. Anything you want. Just you and me all the way. So what do you say? I, uh, I'm hanging on the ropes, baby. I keep punching. Look outside. It's snowing. It's cold. But in Florida, it's warm. And the muter, all year round. It's getting warmer right here. What did Mike tell you? How do I know you're on the level? Here's a down payment, baby. Then it hit me. Oh, the guy must have flown out of the closet like a moth. A two-legged moth, swinging a sap that caught me over the right ear. Every steeple in the world began chiming nine o'clock. The hands of one big clock kept whirling around like a propeller, with me stuck like a hunk of gum on the end of the minute hand. Then the clock fell over on its back. I was still whirling, but now the hands of the clock were of merry-go-round, faster and faster and faster. And there I was on cloud eight, my home away from home, where my old friend, my alter ego, Ugor, was waiting for me. Hello, Rookie. Say, where have you been for the last couple of weeks? Oh, hello, hello, Ugor. Say, Ugor, do you know any angels? What's the matter, Rookie? Don't you like the company you've been keeping? An angel with a handful of diamonds? Hey, Rookie, you'd better get back downstairs. You're in trouble. But what did Mike mean? I can't figure it out. Oh, use your head, Rookie. No, I did, I did. For a baseball. Somebody batted it for the circuit. That's why I'm here. Go on back, Rookie. All they want is what you know. Tell them, Rookie. It won't mean any more to them than it does to you. But, Ugor. Over this side you go, Rookie. So long, Ugor. So long, Rookie. Come on, rogue. What'd he tell you? Come on or I'll beat it out of you. Did you see Mike Royal tonight? Yes, I saw him. Did he say anything about the jewels? Did he say they were in a vault? Did he say they were in a safety deposit box? Did he say he gave them to a fence? Who did he say you'd get them from? From an angel. What? An angel. Nuts. The only gives us a double talk. I'll slap it out of him if I have to slap his head off. Maybe he really doesn't know. He knows plenty. He's seen us, hasn't he? Wait a minute. Listen, rogue. I'm going to give you one chance more. Who did Mike say would give you the jewels? An angel. No, Joe. Take care of him. Almost 10. I've got to dance with the club in 20 minutes. I don't want them to think there's anything wrong. Keep him here. I'll be back. Okay, leave him to me. Just be careful, Joe. And now, brother, I don't want to hear no more talk about angels. Well, then stop asking. I'll keep asking until I get a straight answer. No more funny talk. What did Mike tell you? Here we go again. Sure we do. Until you talk. I'm going to ask you just 10 questions. One with each knuckle. What did Mike tell you? What did Mike tell you? Come on, talk. He hit me with everything he had. I went sailing across the room, three sheets in the wind. I hit the wall and fell to my knees, grabbing at the telephone table for support, and then the phone fell off the cradle. Hang up that phone. And I did. Hung it right on his head. He went down like the 29th stock market. And now something besides Joe's fist was connecting in my head. Mad said she had to dance at the club. Mike Royall used to hang around the Cherub club. The Cherub club. It was a shot in the dark, but I couldn't stop now. I looked at Joe sleeping on the floor. His return train from the land of dreams wouldn't leave for at least an hour. So I went out to the Cherub club. Mike Royall had tagged me, and I guess I was it, whether I wanted to play or not. Throw them again, Mr. Rogue. Throw them again. Pause your point again. You're kind of fond of that number, ain't you? Yeah, I don't know why. Six. Take them up, Mr. Rogue. Huh? Oh, oh, yeah, yeah. Say, why don't you keep your mind on this game? Gonna watch the floor show? Watch the floor show. Gonna play dice? Play dice. I'm sorry, Sam. I'm just looking the club over. Looking it over? Thinking of buying in or something? No, just that I see a lot of changes since I was here last. All for the worse, too. Yeah, nobody to look after the place since Mike Royall got in trouble and left. Poor Mike. Hey, Mike did hang around here a lot, didn't he? Sure, he was General Handyman. Dulled the place up. Fixed props for the girls on the line. Mike was always puttering around. Busy little man. Yeah, too busy. Come on, Mr. Rogue. Throw the dice. Your point's four. Seven out. Wanna go again? No, just a minute, Sam. Say, you got a dancing doll here who answers to the name of Madge. Madge? Sure. She's out on the floor now. In that line? Second from the end. Oh, in the devil costume you mean with the pitchfork? No, that's little. Madge is on the other side. The angel with the wings and the crown. Angel? Yeah. They hadn't changed that hungry number for three months since before Mike left. I can't look at it anymore. Angel, huh? Hey, Sam. Sam, I got ten bucks that says you can't tell me how to get backstage. I'll take that bet. Huh? Oh, hello, Joe. I thought I left you in dreamland. I'm a light sleeper. What are you doing here? Playing totally winks. What are you doing here? What does it look like? Playing dice, stupid. Don't get funny. Joe, for Pete's sake, don't start anything here. You know the boss don't like it. Stay out of this, Sam. Okay, Rogue, you don't want to talk? You can walk. Where to? You wanted to go backstage. Okay, this gun will show you the way. We'll return to Rogue's gallery in a moment, but now a word to the men. Your face is something that accompanies you wherever you go, so every man wants a face that's smooth-shaven, without nicks and scars. If you are the type whose super sensitive skin makes shaving a chore, try Fitch's Noble Brush shaving cream next time. It has a special skin conditioning action. When it turned out Madge really was one, with wings and crown and all and all, a gun poked me in the stomach. I looked up and saw Joe on the other end of it. Seems my phone call to his skull must have been a bum connection, because there he was walking around again, friendly as a toothache. He took me to a back office and shoved me in a chair. No use looking around, Rogue. There ain't no phone in this place. No double cross between you two. I'm staying here. If you're gonna talk, talk. I don't talk with a gun crowding my tonsils. Tell this mug to put it away. Put it away, Joe. Now put a slug into him. Put it away, I said. All right, Rogue. Where are we gonna get the diamonds? From an angel. Angels again? You know what I mean, don't you, angel? No. I'm telling you, that's all I know. All right, Joe, do it your way, but not with a gun slug him. We'll drag him out of the car like we were walking a drunk. Then we'll finish him. Wait. Can't we, uh... Go ahead, I got him covered. Look, I'm telling you the truth. All right, George Washington. Here's a little phone bill I owe you. No, no, wait. Joe. Joe, there are the diamonds. What? There they are. Madge is wearing them. What are you talking about? Mike told me an angel would hand them to me. Madge is the angel, Joe. Look at the way she's dressed. Those are the jewels in her crown. Four of them, see? You're crazy. These jewels are paste. No, they're not. Listen, Joe. Mike worked here, didn't he? Gave the girls their props. They've been doing this number at the club since before Mike was put away. There were four stones, weren't there? There were four in that crown. Look at those stones, Joe. They're real. Madge, give me that crown. Don't fall for that joke. Finish them off. Didn't I tell you before an angel had them? Yeah, you said it before. You dim-bob, can't you see, starling? She knows it's true, Joe. She's gonna try to pull a double cross. Give me that crown. Wait a minute, Joe. Don't let her get out of this room with those stones, Joe. She'll double cross his board. Let it out, Rome. You're getting Joe excited. He doesn't know he's doing half the time anyway. Give me that crown. Listen to me. I'm still running the show and you're gonna take my orders. You'd have burned with Mike tonight if it weren't for me. Shut up. You just watch this monkey until I get back. Keep your gun on him. You ain't leaving this room with that crown. Don't be nuts. Madge. Let go of me. Look out, Joe. Too late, baby. I've got him. Hey, you're breaking my arm. I will if you don't drop that gun. Madge, get this guy off me. Okay, let go of him, Rome. Oh, no, you don't, baby. Oh, Claus, huh? Okay, break it up. Break it up. I've got you covered, all of you. Hey, cops. Urban. Urban, where did you come from? A switchboard girl at your hotel called me when you didn't answer after your phone fell off the hook. I got to your room in time to see this lug stagger out and I tailed him here, but I didn't know where you were until I heard the scuffle. Now, what the devil is going on anyway? I'll explain in a minute, Urban. First, there's a little unfinished business to attend to. Yeah, what's that? Just this. Oh. Ah, little Joey boy's been asking for that all night. I'm sorry I can't oblige you too, Madge, but I'm a gentleman. Darn it. Hey, Rogue, what gives? Well, Urban, you'll probably be pleased to know that my little playmates here are the Marist jewel thieves. Yeah? Yeah. Now, Madge, if you'll just give the nice man the crown you're wearing. No, no, you don't. Listen, baby, I could forget about being a gentleman very easily. Give it to him. Here you... That's better. Okay, O'Brien, take these two down and book them on suspicion. Come on, you two. Now, Rogue, what's this crown business? That, my friend, is a death house legacy. A ten grand windfall to a skinny little kid. Huh? Mike Royall knew where the Marist jewels were. He wanted to tell me so I could turn them in and split the reward with his kid, but he knew his pals would be laying for me, and he knew they'd try to beat out of me whatever he told me, but what I didn't know I couldn't tell under fists or bullets. So? So, all he told me was that an angel would hand them to me. He hoped they wouldn't be able to figure it out, and I would. And you did? I certainly did, as usual, I might say. And there are the jewels in that crown. In this crown? Rogue, are you kidding? These are paste, ten cents store stuff. I know diamonds when I see them. Oh, let's not go through that again. Those are diamonds. Yeah? Suppose I pound them a little with my gun. If they're diamonds, it won't hurt them. Go ahead. Look, that's one. There's a second one, Rogue. Oh, brother. Well, it's like a one, Rogue, or do we just go home? You win, Urban. Let's get out of here. Ah, the cherub club. Well, I'm glad to see the outside of this place. The narrows, jewels. Oh, brother, telling me about diamonds. Thanks for the lumps, lady. Hey, Rogue, who you talking to? The angel on that sign up there. That sign. Hey, uh, hey, Urban. You say you know costume jewelry when you see it? A mile away. Ah? Well, take a look at that sign up there. See the stars in that angel's hand? See how bright they are? Now, what would you say they were? Four glitter stones. From the five and ten? From the five and ten. Ah, get yourself a ladder, Urban. Climb it and take the Maris jewels out of that angel's hand. Well, I, uh, I knew it all the time. I was kidding about the crown. You see, Mike didn't tell me an angel would give them to me. He said an angel would hand them to me. Smart, wasn't I? Yes, I found the jewels all right. Mike Royal, the club handyman, had put them in the angel's hand when he knew the police were closing in. And Mike's daughter in the parochial school got the ten grand all right. And Joe and Mads got theirs too, life. And me? Well, I took my five grand and had a wonderful time. Went right back to the galloping dominoes at the cherub club. Tried all night long, but I never did make my point. You know, that four is hard to make, even the easy way. You know what I mean? This is Dick Dick Polligan, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you liked our story tonight. Thanks for listening. Now, once again, this is Jim Doyle. Be with us again at the same time next week, and be sure to see Dick Dick Powell in his latest RKO picture cornered at your local theater. Remember, tune in next Thursday, same time, same station, when you will again hear Dick Powell as private investigator Richard Rogue in Rogue's Gallery. Remember, if dandruff is your problem, ask for Fitch's dandruff remover shampoo. It's the only shampoo made whose guarantee to remove dandruff is backed by one of the world's largest insurance firms. No other shampoo can make this statement. Ask for Fitch's dandruff remover shampoo at your drug or toilet goods counter, beauty or barbershop. Fitch is spelled F-I-T-C-H.
