The public telephone in the all-night drugstore kept ringing. One man called about a jewel robbery. Another spoke of murder. And the third man planned to double-cross them both. His timetable of crime was perfect. His own alibi airtight. Yet three men would die. Hello, Creeps. Sergeant X opening the doors of the mystery playhouse. Well, tonight we have another story of the perfect crime as told by the Whistler. That is, it's almost perfect. The motive is furnished by a fortune and jewels, and three slick gunmen try to outsmart the others. The tale is called Death Marks the Double-Cross. And fast action and unexpected murder marks just about every step. So let's join the Whistler as he leads us down the pathway of crime and violence. I am the Whistler. And I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. To this day, the police records and newspapers of Portland attribute the robbery of the swank Wellington jewelry store to a lone wolf. Perhaps it's because they refuse to admit the possibility that guilty accomplices still remain at large. As a matter of fact, it wasn't a lone wolf. True, Joe Strickland was alone, standing in the shadows at the back of the store when he saw the watchman turn the corner on his 1115 round, then slunk down the alley to the back window. But at that same time, two other members of the corporation were waiting for him in a little black coupe parked near the highway in Tygard, a little town just out of Portland. They'd been there for almost two hours when Terry looked at his watch. Two minutes and one. It's an hour late. I'm getting uneasy. I don't want to say I told you so, Mike. What do you mean? He ain't coming? You're beginning to get the idea, huh? After all, why should he? He's taking on the risk. Ah, no. If he wouldn't cross me, he knows better. You're pretty sure of yourself. Maybe he had a way till the watchman's next round. Maybe a patrol car decided to park across the street. It could be a million things happened to make a guy late. The watchman hasn't changed his schedule for two weeks now. 1115 and 1145. Now what? So maybe he wasn't detained. He said he could pull it in five minutes. Remember? Ah, he was bragging. Punk kid shooting off his mouth. Oh, well, have a jewel in it. There ought to be 10 or 15,000 in this, Mike. And almost enough to make a punk kid forget to come home. Hey, I'd kill him. And he knows it. Remember what he was saying just the other day? Tired of Portland, going south when the right time came. Maybe this is the right time. With 15 grand in his jeans. Well? What? I've got an idea what you're thinking. What is it? That's what I said. There's something else. I can't tell you. I promised him I wouldn't. What do you mean? Spill it. I said spill it. All right. Strickland tried to make a deal with me yesterday. What? He, um, seems he felt you weren't necessary to the corporation. And it might be a good idea to eliminate him. You lie. Let go of it. I didn't ask for it. What are you into now to tell me for? I promised the kid. Okay. I told him he was crazy. I told him you'd kill him if you even knew he was thinking about it. Okay, okay, go on. I'm going. Well, he said he couldn't see why he was taking all the chances for a third of the payoff. A lot of things like that. Little rat. And he said he knew a fence named Bush downtown in the Grady Hotel where he could get rid of the jewels. I was supposed to ditch you out here somewhere and meet him tomorrow and ask for it. And when he saw I wouldn't go for it, he got scared. And I hit him a couple of times and he broke down. Yeah, yeah? He said he'd stay in line and made me promise not to tell you. I wasn't going to, but... I see. The Grady Hotel, huh? Yes, room 108. I think I'll take a look. You might be wrong. What if he comes out here and we're gone? I guess Mr. Strickland's got to learn the hard way. What are you going to do? I'll call you at the drug store around the corner if he doesn't show up at the Grady. Okay. And if he does? I won't have to call you. Just look at the headline. The Grady Hotel The Grady Hotel No, the robbery of Wellington's jewelry store in Portland wasn't the work of a lone wolf. Joe Strickland did it all by himself, it's true. But there were two silent partners, both of them wondering why Joe was late. One of them determined to kill him if he shows up at Bush's, the fences room at the Grady Hotel at the wrong time. Terry Dexter waits on the street corner until Mike's car has disappeared. Then he saunters toward the all-night drug store on the highway, smiling and quiet. Yes, sir? Yeah, make me a ham sandwich and a cup of coffee, will you? You bet. When's the next bus to Portland? Oh, I'm afraid you're going to be long late, brother. Let's see, you just missed the 115. Next one's 315. Don't run so often this time of night. Two hours, huh? Well, nothing much I can do about it, huh? I'll be right back, got a couple of phones, though. Hello? Hello, Joe. How did it come out? Who's this? Terry. Where you been? I'm in Saugard at an all-night drug store. What's the idea of setting me up to your apartment? You said you'd be here at 12. I gotta get out of here, I tell you. Don't worry about it. What do you mean, don't worry? I'm going nuts. Take it easy. How did the job go? It's... I don't know. I can't tell you now. I gotta get out of this apartment right away. It went well. It wasn't sloppy. No, no, I wasn't followed. Okay, okay. Take the west highway out of town and I'll meet you across from the drug store. Yeah, yeah, I'll be right out. And listen, lock my apartment and lead by the back way. I don't want anyone to know you've been there, you understand? But Terry! But what? Well, nothing. I'll see you in 20 minutes. I see, Terry. You and Mike aren't both wondering what happened to Joe Strickland. Now one more call to prepare for Mike's arrival at the Grady Hotel. Hello? Grady Hotel? Room 108, please. One moment. Hello? Mr. Bush? Yes, sir? This is Joe Strickland. I called you yesterday. Oh, yes, Mr. Strickland. I'll be in to see you in about an hour. What is it, please? A jewelry. 15 grand at least. Very well. I'll have it for you. Goodbye, sir. Here's your sandwich, sir. Oh, that's great. I'm hungry. You can have more cream if you want. That's all right. That's really a tough break. Missing that 115 bus. A two hour wait is no joke. Oh, I don't mind. I'll be soon be here. Anywhere else. The next two hours? Yes, Terry. The little drug store in Tyguide is a good place for you during the next two hours. A place to sit at the control board and pull switches. Or perhaps you're more like a man with an intricate jigsaw puzzle, fitting the pieces together carefully. Each one adding a little to a picture of $15,000. The next piece moves slowly into places. Mike enters the Grady Hotel a few minutes later and walks down the corridor to room 108. Yes? Open up. What do you want? You know what I want. Just a moment, please. Oh, I thought you were... Who do you think I was? I don't know. You were expecting someone? Not to hear. I have a time for... Oh, get your hair, Mr. Bush. We've got plenty of time. Mind if I make myself at home? Well, I was about to retire, Mr. Fleagle. Mike Fleagle. You usually up this late, Mr. Bush? It's two o'clock. Yes, Mr. Fleagle. I generally stay up... Stay up? That bed over there looks like you just got up. Maybe someone by the telephone, huh? Someone with a little business for you. That doesn't concern you, Mr. Fleagle. I'll have to ask you... Oh, but it does. Fill it, will you? I didn't come here to play games. Who's coming here? Nobody, Mr. Fleagle. Wait a minute. Give me that phone. Give me that note. That's better. Huh. Pick up. Sure. $15,000. Well, ain't that a coincidence, Mr. Bush? He's just a boy I'm interested in. Mike, where you are, Fleagle? Oh. It's getting a little rough, ain't it? Huh? Now, that kind of artillery wasn't made for little jokers like you. Stop. I can't... Better put it down, Mr. Bush. Now, you wouldn't want to flock our cops up here any more than I would. I'm a coward. Oh. There, there. Like I was saying, Mr. Bush, punks like you shouldn't play with 45. They're liable to kick right back in your face, see? Get out of here. Oh, really, Mr. Bush. You're in no position to be asking things. Now, when's he coming here? Well, I... I don't know. Okay. I won't press the point. Now, just sit back and relax. Hmm? I'll be back in a minute. Oh, I see. Oh, I see. Oh, I see. Oh, I see. Oh, I see. Oh, I see. Oh, I see. Hello. Who is it? Terry. Oh, okay. Look, I'm at the grady. Bush is expecting our friend in a minute. That was right, huh? Yeah. Are you going to do it, then? What do you think? Listen, Mike, I don't want any part of this. Don't worry. You'll take him out the other way, huh? The East Highway? Yeah, the East Highway. But look, stick around that store another hour. I might want to call you again. Okay. Yeah, people out of Spain would want to know if I got the bus yet. That's funny. They called you on the pay phone. Yeah. I guess I'll take a walk for a few minutes. Okay. 315, remember? Six. Well, Terry, it's all working out beautifully, isn't it? You figured everything down to the last detail, and the next piece slides into place within a few minutes. You pace up and down in front of the drug store a few times, and then a cab pulls up to the curb. Terry? Terry, Terry, listen. Take it easy, Joe. What's the matter? Look, here it is, all of it. And you take your cut, and I'll take mine, and we'll separate now, huh? Right away. Nothing went wrong, did it, Joe? No, no, Terry. Everything's fine, see? I just want to... Give it to me. Hmm, not bad. The bracelet ought to bring a thousand, even. I want to get going, Terry, right now. You're sure nothing happened? No, Terry, honest. What about the watchman? What do you mean, the watchman? It was 1115, 1145, wasn't it? Oh, yeah. Just like you said, Terry, I was out of the store by 1130. It's just sitting in your apartment and... What, Terry? And thinking of Mike. Oh, why did we do it, Terry? I told you I'd suicide across that guy. He'll kill us all. Oh, that's good. Oh, don't worry about Mike, Terry. I just carried him. He's meeting up in Antonia. Antonia? He believed you? Hook, line, and stinkers. We'll be out of the state before he wakes up. Oh, I still don't like crossing Antonia, just like I told you. We all agreed... Don't be a jerk, or they'll like it. He's gonna leak in my throat long enough. I did the casework, you did the job. He's just looking for a free cut. I can't carry anything he says. Just give me my cut and let me... Yeah, not so fast. We're gonna fence it tonight. It'll be too hot to handle tomorrow. There's a man named Bush in the Grady Hotel downtown. There's his address. I want you to go there alone. Alone? Well, what do you mean? I don't trust him. He says he has the 15 grand ready, but I want you to check first. Keep the stuff to be recalled. I can't go back to town, Terry. You're going. Then? Listen, you don't know. You don't know why I can't... I tell you, Mike is in Astoria. Now, beat it before someone wonders what we're doing here. But... Terry, can't we do like I said? Don't argue, you know that. They'll be waiting for you. All you have to do is make the check and call me at the drugstore. All right, Terry. Oh, God. Would you... Oh, another thing. Give me your gun. Huh? Your defense doesn't like his customers coming here. I'll keep it and give it back to you later. Well, the pieces of the puzzle are beginning to make a picture, aren't they, Terry? You can see the 15,000 pretty clearly. Right in the center of it. All it needs is a little routine work around the edges. There ought to be a warm reception for poor Joe Strickland when he walks into that room with the Grady. Mike is a pretty hard man to explain things to and gets in the wrong frame of mind. He has a careless habit of shooting first and thinking afterwards. Yes, it's quarter of three now and things are probably beginning to happen down in Mr. Bush's room. Hello, Joe. Hello, you don't. Stay right there, Joe. How did you get... You ought to know me better than that, Joe. I play for Keats. Right, Mr. Bush? I'm dreadfully sorry, Mr. Strickland. Ah, you two know each other, I see. Only by telephone, I'm afraid. What do you mean? I never talk to you. No, it's no use, Mr. Strickland. He knows everything. But I... Okay, okay, come on. Let's go. Oh, what do you mean? What do you expect? A bronze medal? Last time there was something wrong. Shut up. You don't have to tell me there's something wrong. Come on, come on, we're going. And give me the stuff. I haven't got it. You what? Terry's got it. I left it with him. Oh, give me that. Put up your hands. You haven't got it. Where are you hiding it? Frank, tell you, Terry's... You're lying, rat. I ought to let you have it right here. Come on, come on, we're going. You put hands on the wheel, Joe. You got me all wrong, Mike. Honest, it wasn't my idea. I want to know what you did with the stuff. You're going to tell me or hate me? Mike, believe me, it's like I told you. I left it with Terry. He told me to meet him at his apartment. And what was he doing with me and Tyra? I don't know. He said you were in Astoria pumping. I didn't want to, Mike. You've got to believe me. I don't. And talking ain't going to do you much good, Joe. This is your last trip. Look, there's an oil station. Why don't you call the drug store? Yeah, that's it. Terry's gone by now, I'm sure. You said you told him to stay there another hour. Well, if he's gone, would you believe me? He'll be there. Give me a chance, Mike. Call him. I tell you, it's a double cross. He's gone with the stuff. Okay, pull in. Now, remember, I'll be right behind you. Yes, sir, how may I help you? I'm going to the store. I'll be right behind you. Okay, Joe, just one minute. I'll be right back. Sure. I was shut up and it's watching. All night. I'm looking for a party by the name of Dexter he's expecting a call. Oh you must mean the man who's been waiting for the bus. Looks like you're wrong. Joe. What do you expect. Hello hello. Terry. Mr Strickland and I have taken a ride. He tells me he saw you an hour ago. That's what I want to know. Wait a minute. What are you doing. Tendon. Standing over there with your right hand again I'll tell you right here how was the job. Go on telling what about Joe. He tells me he left the stuff with you. Well I. Think. That's all I want to. Very very you know what to do. I can't. Say that I'm going to for a ride. You and me. I don't know you. I. Watch me don't move back to my head by the pump. I'll take care of the phone I don't try to put anything to one fancy movie down the next time. I. A six one five seven. Smart guy. Smashing my phone thinks this is the only phone in a neighborhood. Sitting in the drug store in Tiger you don't see that happen but don't worry you'll know about it soon enough everything comes to him who wait and the pieces are all falling into place now. Certainly a popular man tonight Mr Dexter don't believe I ever saw so many incoming calls on that phone. My friends never give me a moment's red even at three in the morning what kind of business you're in Oh little bit of everything I can you know if I was you I'd plug that phone and it what's the matter. That police car. Oh yeah that's Matt the night patrolman pulls in every night about the time for a cup of coffee. Oh hello I mean I'll make her think OK little busy tonight I'm not a cup of coffee and I'm already boy. Thanks. That's what I need I haven't seen a night like this and I've been on the floor for the year busy now I'm sure that one on paper hang around it brother got a done it and I sure here I'm good yeah hold up murders never seen anything like it the guy was just bumped off on a service station the other side of town yeah you got nothing on who did it and they even go into trial brother radio patrol picked up the guy he talked it off. When I say picked him up that's what I mean he was going 70 when they drill his rear tire there ain't enough of them left to recognize it. There's your bus Mr 315 right on the nose where I'll see you later Henry thanks for the hospitality. Very pleasant. That's funny. Look on that guy's face when I was talking to him then almost as if he was ready to butt out laughing. He surely must be happy about something. No wonder Terry Dexter couldn't help grinning as he walked outside and onto the bus to town and his apartment and the bag in the closet packed for a long trip. The jigsaw puzzle was all together now every piece in place and it made a picture of fifteen thousand dollars with no split to make no silent partners with grasping hands. No fate must have been the silent partner in this. He hadn't dared to hope that Mike would be eliminated so easily. He thought perhaps of tipping off the police about the murder may be planting the gun you have in your pocket after making suitable arrangements for the jewels of course. Mike wasn't much of a worry after all with a murder rap hanging over his head. Yes Terry you'll get the jewels and all you have to do now is pick up that bag at your apartment. Your double double cross works beautifully only are you sure you did you double cross yourself too? You must be Mr. Dexter. Who are you? Keep your hands away from my pocket. Lieutenant Walker of the homicide squad. What are you doing here? You haven't got any time in to keep those hands up. Now. Oh. 38 38. That is my name. Two shells firing. Not very smart Mr. Dexter. An idiot would know better than to walk around with a rod as hot as this. I'll keep those hands up my friend. Now take another look. Now let's see inside your pocket. You're a walking brief with the prosecution and bag of jewelry. Now what would you be doing with that Mr. Dexter? I didn't do it. I should tell you that anything you say I'll be held against it. But you couldn't say anything that matters now not when we add this to that dead watchman in the next room. What? Dead? What are you talking about? What are you trying to pull Dexter? You ought to be smart enough to know when you're late. You robbed the store at 1125. Oh we even know the time. The watchman came back accidentally in time to see you leaving and followed you here. You didn't know it until too late. So you waited for him in the doorway downstairs and plucked it. Well. And was stupid because you must have known the shot of he heard and investigated. But the prize was pulling him into your own bedroom with a blood trail that lead us right to him. That's right. And then to top it off. You dropped back now with the gun that killed him and the jewels in your coat pocket. Well that's not mistaken Mr. Dexter. Your trial will be one of the shortest in history. That was Death Marks the Double Cross. One of the Whistler's better yarns. Next time we're going to meet an old friend of yours, Lamont Cranston better known as the Shadow. In this episode you'll investigate the mysterious case of the flaming skull. It takes all of this Shadow's old-time ingenuity to crack this one. But perhaps you'll get a better idea of the difficulty of the problem if we step down to the green room to hear a bit of the rehearsal for our next show in the mystery playhouse. Follow me please. Well this is a fine thing Mr. Cranston, a fine thing indeed. What's eating you Margo? What's eating me? The question I've been wanting to ask you. You sit around like a bump on a log all day. I was thinking, no worrying about the flaming skull. Suddenly at seven o'clock tonight you announced we're going for a drive. Where? To visit a friend. Why? To pick up a clue on this case. Who's the friend? Dr. Neil Harrison. I sent Steve Grant to see him yesterday afternoon. It's just possible that Steve might have said something to Dr. Harrison that would give us a clue. Then all that worrying I mean thinking this afternoon didn't help? No inspiration? It certainly did help Margo, but right now the fire of inspiration needs a little more coal. To be shoveled on by Lamont Cranston Stoker. No no Lamont Cranston Shadow. Next patient please. That's odd waiting room is empty. I could have sworn I heard a patient come in. Who's that? Your patient Dr. Harrison. Patient? Where? An invisible patient doctor. This is absurd it's some trick. Who are you? Man call me the Shadow. The Shadow? You have heard of the Shadow Dr. Harrison. The Shadow seeks only one thing, the truth. The truth about what? The truth about all things. The truth about Steve Grant. Grant? Oh yes yes. He came to you yesterday? Yes. Lamont Cranston sent him. You treated him? No I did not. Why not? The truth Dr. Harrison. Yes I'll tell the truth. I could not treat him. He was dead. He's dead. Shot by somebody from outside that window. Lamont! Lamont! Where are you Lamont? Right here Margo. I heard you're waiting in the car. Someone fired through the window while the Shadow was questioning Dr. Harrison. The doctor's dead. Now come on we've got to locate that killer if we can. But it's dark Lamont. Careful careful we must have run off this way. Do you know who killed the doctor? No I'm afraid we'll never find out now. Lamont! Yes Margo. Look running down the street. Way up there. Oh Lamont. Yes I see it Margo. It's a flaming skeleton. A flaming skeleton is no easy thing to explain. Lamont Cranston is battled. Margo Lane is puzzled. And the police don't believe the story at all. But something or someone did commit. One of the most bizarre of all crimes. So join us next time for the surprising explanation of the weird puzzler. The case of a flaming skull. This is Sergeant X closing the doors of the mystery playhouse. Good night. Sleep tight. This is the Armed Forces radio service.
