And now, another tale well calculated to keep you in...
...the fence.
What coffee, dear?
Hmm?
Coffee, darling. You want some more?
Oh, no. Yeah. No, I mean no.
Toast?
Hmm?
Toast, darling. You want some?
Huh?
Atlas, if you just put that newspaper down for a moment, you'd hear what I was saying...
...and your breakfast wouldn't get cold.
Oh, God, yeah. This thing in the paper.
Yes, obviously this thing in the paper.
You're not just reading that paper, you're staring at it.
And?
You look so strange. What's the matter?
This story and this picture.
What story? What picture?
Jan, I never knew what Al Tinney looked like.
Al Tinney the Rocketeer?
Yeah.
Well, I don't know what he looks like either.
Honey, you haven't answered my question in a while.
I never even saw a picture of him.
What kind of thing have I ever needed to die? I wouldn't know until he bumped into me.
Jan, what the heck have I been doing?
Well, the point is, I didn't when he did.
What are you talking about?
I didn't know Tinney when he bumped into me. Last June in Capital City.
In the lobby of the Guarantee Building, bumped into him, apparently right after he committed the murder.
What is all this?
Well, the whole story is right here in the paper.
Tinney goes on trial in a few days in Capital City for murder.
He's accused of shooting a man in the man's office in the Guarantee Building up there last June the 5th, around 11 a.m.
So?
Well, so everybody's sure he's guilty, but he's got the usual Rocketeer-type alibi, 20 miles away at the time of the shooting.
Well, if they can't break that alibi, he's going to get away scot-free. Understand?
You mean because nobody can place him at the scene of the crime?
Exactly. But Jan, I can.
Oh, yes, no.
Yes, I was there on business that day, you remember?
And in the lobby of the Guarantee Building at just about 11, a man bumped into me, almost knocked me down.
Never apologized, just glared at me, shoved me aside, and hurried out.
And?
Now I know the man with Al Tinney. Here's the picture in the paper.
Well, you see, Jan, I know his alibi's a lie.
But maybe it's not the same man.
Yes, it is.
But that was four months ago, 500 miles from here. Maybe you're not really sure.
No, no, Jan, it was Tinney, all right. I'm positive. So, you see?
Ed, what are you going to do?
Do? Isn't it obvious? I'm going to the police here in Franklin. I'm going to tell them.
Oh, no. No, Ed, don't. I don't want you involved in this.
Well, this Tinney is notorious. Who knows what might happen to you?
But Jan...
No, Ed, please. Ed, I'm scared of this. Now, don't tell the police. Please don't. I'm scared.
All right, Mr. Adams, now these.
This one, yes.
Well, that one, no, no.
And that one, no.
What was that last picture?
Yes, again.
And this group?
Number one, no.
Number two, no.
Three.
And four.
And five.
Oh, yes.
Well, how am I doing, Captain A?
I've got to give you A for memory, A for observation.
Well, once you've seen that man, please.
I know, but these other men in the pictures I've been showing you look an awful lot like Tinney.
Now, that settles it. You sure do remember him.
So, what's next?
I notify Capital City's DA that he's got a voluntary witness to place Tinney where he belongs, which I assure you will start a celebration.
Well, anything else for me to do now?
Just go home.
As soon as Capital City tells me when they need you there and what arrangements they want to make for your transportation, I'll get in touch with you.
The trial starts in, let's see, five days.
Meanwhile, go home and relax.
Relax?
Of all the words, of all the words in all the dictionaries, just look at tonight's paper.
I know, honey, I've seen it.
What's going to happen?
It's right on the front page, all about you.
All about how you're going to testify and how important you'll be to the state's case.
Don't you see what this means?
Well, Jan, it was bound to get into the papers.
Where everybody can see it, including people who may want to stop you from telling your story.
Jan, they can't stop me.
Can't?
I'm no expert on crime, but a man like Tinney must have friends or henchmen or associates or whatever they're called.
Oh, oh, shit. Darling, that sounds very funny.
Well, none of this is funny to me.
And I asked you not to do this.
Don't you understand, darling? I am afraid for you.
This story is public property now. Any moment we may...
Oh, no, darling, it's just a phone.
Don't answer it.
Jan, now, don't, dear, everything is all right.
Hello? Yeah. Oh, hi, Bob.
Yes, yes, we thought. Well, it's true.
Come on, now. Cut it out. You make me feel like a tough shirt.
Sure, right here next to me.
No, she isn't crazy about it. I mean...
Yeah, yeah, sure. That's right. We'll talk about it another time.
Yeah, sure. Bye.
It was just Bob. You see, dear, you don't have to be so jealous.
And?
Come on, dear. Now, you answer it this time. It won't buy it.
No, no.
Jan, please.
Hello?
What?
What was that?
Who is this?
Ed.
Who is it, Jan?
Tell them...
Jan, what's the matter? Who was that?
Some man.
What did he say?
He said, tell Adam to change his story quickly, or you'll find out.
Get it?
You'll find out. Dead men can't testify.
What else?
What else? Wasn't that enough?
Ed, what are we going to do?
Hello?
Oh, no. Not again.
Oh, no, stop it!
Jan, who was it?
That same boy, that same messy fight yesterday, three times today.
What did he say this time?
The same thing!
Why did you have to get into this thing?
Jan, get a hold of yourself. There was nothing else I could do.
You don't have to be a hero. Other people in that lobby, they didn't volunteer.
Maybe they didn't see it.
Maybe, maybe not. Maybe they knew better than to get involved.
Darling, I don't want you to earn a posthumous medal for public esteem.
Jan, dear, don't cry.
Didn't Captain Hale send a police car to watch the miles?
Look out the window. It's right there. See?
I know.
Everything's going to be all right, I tell you. Maybe it's just a crank call.
You can't know that!
Anyway, nothing's really happened.
You would be given the chance to retract. By now it's obvious you won't know.
I'll get that. Hello? Yes? Who is it?
Jan?
And I can't stand it anymore. If that phone rings again, if I hear that voice again,
you call Captain Hale. You tell him we've got to get out of here.
Some place where we can't hear that phone!
All right, all right. Whatever you say. Now, dear.
No, wait.
The way that you realize, maybe that's the whole purpose of being a hero,
to call us.
We have to get you out of this house.
Hello, Mr. Adams. It's Captain Hale.
The capital city just called. They're sending a Lieutenant Neal of their police
to take you up there. Tonight.
Yeah, that's right. He'll fly in this evening, then he'll take you back on the
10 p.m. flight from here.
What?
Oh, no, no. You won't be alone for a minute.
The Prowl car will take you and Mrs. Adams down to headquarters right now.
As soon as Lieutenant Neal arrives at my office, we'll have a bite and get you
to the airport.
Right.
Lieutenant Neal, one of the best. I've heard a lot about him myself.
You haven't got a thing to worry about, believe me.
We're sending you up there with the right man.
A real pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Neal. I'm Lieutenant Kane,
Captain Hale's squad.
Hello, Kane. Kind of surprised to hear myself being paged as I got off the plane.
Didn't expect to be met here at the airport.
We don't know you by sight down here, Neal. Hale wanted me to be sure not to
miss you. See, there are a couple of changes in the operation.
Oh, like what?
For one thing, you don't go to headquarters. We moved Adams to a private
house on the outskirts of town. That's where I take you to meet Hale.
Why the switch?
A little added security. Hale's afraid that... Look, I'll explain it on the way.
I got a car outside. Let's go.
Well, you can see what Hale has in mind. He simply figures that somebody may
make an all-out try to get Adams. And he figured that if somebody knows all
the details of how we're moving Adams tonight, why something may go wrong.
What, for instance?
Who knows? He's just being double cautious. That's all just in case.
Well, what makes him think anyone could know? It's been secret. How would
they find out?
There's one way.
What way?
What if they had a wiretap on Adams' phone?
Any reason to think they had?
Could be, Neil. Personally, I'm inclined to think it's a very good possibility.
Yeah, a very good possibility.
Let's see. How much further to where we're going?
We're practically there, as a matter of fact.
Now, before we get there, there's something I've got to give you.
What?
This.
Ow!
Oh!
Sweet dreams, Cupper.
Sweet dreams.
Of course you'll want to see my credentials, Captain Hale.
Thank you. Let's see now. Your shield, your identification card,
a letter from the district attorney in Capitol City.
Fine. Credentials all check out okay. Happy to meet you, Lieutenant Neil.
Pleasure to meet you, Captain Hale.
This is Ed Adams. Mr. Adams, this is the officer from Capitol City
who will be responsible for your safety. How do you do?
Hello, Adams. I've been looking forward to meeting you.
And this is Mrs. Adams. Mrs. Adams, Lieutenant Neil.
Miss Adams.
Lieutenant.
If Mrs. Adams looks nervous, it's because she is.
Those threatening phone calls, you know.
Of course. It's only natural.
Lieutenant, you will be very, very careful, won't you?
Mrs. Adams, I'm here to take care of your husband. I'm going to do it.
Yes, ma'am. I'm going to take real good care of him.
You see, Jan, I told you everything's under control.
Come on now and eat mine.
Well, I guess everything's all set, huh?
So how about getting started? I mean, you and me, Mr. Adams, here we go.
It's early, Neil. An hour till your plane leaves.
It takes only ten minutes to get to the airport from here.
Sure, but I thought...
And we haven't had dinner.
Yeah, but don't you think...
And I think everybody's hungry. I am, I know. How about you two?
I don't think I'll eat again until the trial is over.
Well, personally, I'm starved.
Yeah, but so that's that. We eat.
Relax, Neil. We've got plenty of time.
The only question is, where do we eat?
Shall we send out or go out?
Well, the airport dining room's fine with me.
With me, too. No objections?
Good. Dinner's on me.
Uh, no, no. It'll be on me.
See, in view of everything, the least I can do is buy Mr. Adams his dinner.
And I don't want you to hold back, Mr. Adams.
Order anything you want for the meal.
I want you to eat like there's no tomorrow.
Come on, wake up, you.
Come on, I'll snap out of it.
What's going on?
You're under arrest, that's what's going on.
Now get out from behind that steering wheel.
You're not driving any more tonight.
Driving? Me?
Yes, you. You did a fine job.
Drove this convertible up on the sidewalk,
then parked it neatly against the fire hydrant.
Now come on, out of the car.
Stop shaking me.
Up the daisy and out you come.
Oh, easy.
Oh, my head.
Cut it out. You're not hurt. People don't die from a hangover.
They just think they will.
Now try standing by yourself, huh?
There's something wrong. You don't understand.
Don't I?
What's wrong with you?
I'm not a sniffer you, mister, than anybody would understand.
Now, stop walking.
Officer, I'm just beginning to remember.
Listen, I'm not drunk.
Mister, when I find a guy sleeping over the wheel of a car
he parked on the sidewalk up against the fire pump
with a whiskey bottle three quarters empty on the seat next to him
and the guy smelling like a distillery, I make a deduction.
Drunk.
I said, let's go.
Wait, I'm a police officer.
Neil, Lieutenant Neil of Capitol City.
This isn't what it looks like.
I'm not going to lie to myself.
Just let me show you my papers.
My shield, right in this pocket.
My wallet.
My credentials.
They're gone.
Oh, come on now, sober up.
I found letters on you
addressed to William Taylor, Grand Rapids, Michigan
and a wallet with initials WT to match
and no driver's license.
Explain that to the sergeant.
Wait, you gotta listen to me.
The phony, he slugged me.
He's going to use my credentials to get hold of...
What time is it?
Driving without a license.
Driving while under the influence of liquor.
Damaging private property.
Damaging city property.
And resisting arrest.
Busy evening.
Sergeant, we're wasting time. I've been trying to explain what happened.
I can identify myself if you...
Oh, yes, also impersonating an officer
or trying to.
Is that right, Tom?
Will you stop this nonsense and let me explain?
You call these charges nonsense, Taylor.
For the last time, my name isn't Taylor.
And I can identify myself if you let me use the phone.
No, you're identified now.
Then you use the phone. I'll tell you where to call.
Forget it.
Don't you see? Time's running out. Look at that clock.
All he has to do now is present the decapitain Hale
of your police department right here in Franklin.
And when he's done... Franklin?
Now, look, you. You're in Sunnyvale.
Ten miles outside of Franklin.
What kind of an act is this?
So I was moved here. It's all part of what I'm trying to tell you.
I'm here to protect the witness.
His life is at stake. I tell you, my credentials will be used...
Look, there's no time to go through the whole thing again.
It's getting late.
Right. Bedtime for you.
Tom, put him in a cell where he can sleep it off.
You'll be arraigned tomorrow, Taylor.
You can't do this. I have a right to use one phone call now before arraignment.
That's right. You have.
And I've been trying to give you a break.
You make that call now, and the condition you're in, you waste it.
Now look at you. You're drunk. You're wild-eyed.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Now, you sleep it off first.
Make your call in the morning. Tom, lock him up.
I have a right to one phone call now. It's the law.
So it's like that, huh?
Okay, mister. I'll let you make a phone call.
I'll make a phone call.
Okay, mister. I'll let you make a phone call.
One call.
And then, mister, I'll want some straight answers.
Now, who do you want to call?
Captain Hale of Franklin Police Equipment.
Oh, I see. I get it now.
You're a big shot, huh?
You know, big brass in the big town,
and you want to put some pressure on, is that it?
For Pete's sake, son!
Well, I've got some news for you.
This may be a supper, but we don't take orders from anybody.
Have a long night, brother.
Just a few more steps to the death.
Yes, sir.
Upper class, drunk and disorderly sergeant.
I found him sitting on top of the war memorial,
singing hinky dinky parley-voo.
He threw peanuts at me when I told him to come down.
Won't give his name.
Of course. Inconquered me so.
From distant metropolis.
Anyway, what's in a name?
And for that matter, who is Sylvia?
What is she?
Listen, you, I'm in no mood for another drunk.
Why don't you make my phone call?
Alas for the decline of manners.
Cannot a visiting gentleman celebrate with purest song
the wedding of an old college chum in the wretched,
peasant village that chum inhabits?
And having so celebrated,
cannot he be booked in the local pokey, sir,
without interruptions from all car...
Why, what are you doing here, Lieutenant Neal?
What?
What did you say?
What was that, lass?
I have spoken...
Speak again.
You know this man?
No.
I charge you this is that same Lieutenant Neal,
peer of detectives,
who arrested me in capital city at my brother's wedding.
That is a denial to be there.
Preston Kentwell III.
And your humble client.
Well, Sergeant?
No, I get the picture.
Oh, I'm sorry, Lieutenant. How can I...
Skip it, there's no time. Call Hale.
Yes, sir.
Franklin Police Headquarters, quick, emergency.
Look, Lieutenant, I can't tell you how bad...
Forget it!
It was touching, your loyalty, Lieutenant.
Hold this distance to sponsor my suburban carter.
Carter, I think I shall go to sleep.
Hello, Franklin Headquarters.
Sunnyvale Police, Sergeant Byrne speaking.
Captain Hale, please.
What?
He's not there, Lieutenant.
Where is he?
Says he's at the airport dining room with some people.
You got a phone in there?
935, how far is it from here to the airport?
The airport's close to Sunnyvale and Franklin.
Seven, eight minutes to squad car.
You want to try to page Hale to the airport?
No, it'll be dangerous. Hale know you by sight.
Yeah?
Go ahead, get off the phone.
Sure. Thanks, no message.
And now what?
I'll tell you what we'll do.
Even the coffee's good here.
Well, it's ten minutes to take off, Mr. Adams.
They're boarding the plane, so...
How about saying goodbye to the missus?
Yes, I guess it's about time.
Already? And I really wish you...
Captain Hale, the check's paid so you and Mrs. Adams
have some more coffee, huh?
Mr. Adams and I can get started.
No, I'd rather see him on to the plane.
Yes, me too.
That's not necessary. I'll take over now.
For the aging Lieutenant Neal of Capitol City,
will Lieutenant Neal come to the superintendent's office important?
For you, Neal?
Yeah.
Well, go ahead.
The superintendent's office is just outside this dining room.
Look, it's getting late. Must miss a plane.
Let's disregard this.
Will Lieutenant Neal please come to the superintendent's office
immediately urgent?
Better go, Neal. You've got time.
Well, I think...
All right. Come with me, Mr. Adams.
Adams can stay here till you come back.
Extra minute with his wife.
But...
But what?
Ha-ha-ha.
Can't trust me to watch him?
Okay.
Captain Hale?
Sergeant Burns.
Captain, I've got something to tell you.
Here's what happened.
Somebody paging you?
Buster, get your hands up.
Attaboy. Now face the wall.
That's it.
All right. Now lean.
My credentials, my gun.
You're Hale?
Burns explained the whole thing.
Good. Then I'll leave this prize package to you.
Book him for assaulting me in suspicion of attempted murder just for openers.
And I hope he tries resisting arrest.
With pleasure, Lieutenant.
Five minutes to take off.
So if you don't mind, Captain, I think maybe it's time for you to introduce me to Mr. Adams.
Suspense.
You've been listening to Death and the Escort by Harold Huber.
Included in the cast were Don McLaughlin, Elspeth Eric, Bob Dryden, Joe Julian, Larry Haynes, Leon Janney, Harold Huber, Maurice Tarplin, and Ian Martin.
Listen next week to The Beetle and Mr. Bottle, another tale well calculated to keep you in.
Suspense on CBS Radio.