And now, another tale well calculated to keep you in.
Night Fairy to Paris by William N. Robeson.
In the great smoky cavern of Waterloo Station in London, there shines a bright and tiny
beacon.
A neon sign in gayest red which reads, Night Fairy to Paris.
Beneath the sign is a door.
You enter, you go through customs.
You board your train, you go to sleep.
And next morning when you wake up, you're in the Gare du Nord in Paris.
It's that simple.
Or it's supposed to be.
That is pity.
Right this way, Governor.
Oh, thank you.
I beg your pardon.
Yes?
You're checking the Night Fairy to Paris.
Ah, yes.
Do you mind?
Could I tag along?
Why, sure.
You see, I'm all alone and it scares me traveling alone.
My uncle's meeting me in Paris.
Oh, don't you worry, don't you worry.
I'll take care of you.
Here, let me carry that case.
Oh, no, it's not heavy.
You got the family jewels in there?
No, nothing like that.
But you can carry my coat.
Okay.
Thank you.
Right through here, Miss.
Your bags are ready to be inspected.
Thank you.
For a girl who was scared and helpless, she certainly commanded service.
But then why not?
Who wouldn't be willing to do practically anything for the reward of that warm, golden
smile?
How much money you're carrying, Miss?
Money?
Oh, I have no money.
My husband carries money.
Oh, my heart sank.
And then I saw she was pointing at me.
Before I could catch my breath, the customs officer was reaching for my passport.
Thank you, sir.
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'll ask him the question again.
The one before?
Yes, sir.
But fires.
a vote. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. I'm going to be a newly acquired
wife aboard the train and this will be attending quarter as quickly as I could.
Thank you. Thank you. Is there anything else I can do for you. Yes. All the
compartment doors shut tightly. Yes.
Now my dear young lady would you kindly tell me what's the big idea. Of
identifying me to the customs as your husband. What things smuggling fast sums of
money out of England. The first thing that popped into my mind when you get into
a lot of trouble lying to the customs. Well you lied to. You said he got married
since our passports were issued. Well I felt I couldn't let you down.
No. You were going to do from the first time I laid eyes on you in the station.
You want anything you say. Of course not but you were sweet to carry my coat for
me and to help when that silly man started asking tiresome questions. You
know if you weren't so pretty and so not I'd think you were trying to get away
with. The.
The. Here I am deeply indebted to you and I don't even know your name why yes and
since I'm your publicly acknowledged husband you want to know if Mars how much
could be worse.
It's. Not. I don't get.
One of them is one more thing. You mean you like to ride backwards.
No you are not.
Where you from. Yes I know but what part of the.
State. California. No kidding what part. San Francisco well what do you know small
world department are you. No so some we don't.
Oh yes just to close the Golden Gate in San Francisco in the ring. You sound like
a guy. I haven't read anything but guidebooks for the last month.
And I have a cigarette. Like.
Looking for. If I had
a lean forward to give you a light. Why would anybody want to shoot me I don't
know. I would be. Wait a minute. You were sitting here you asked me to change
places. Why would anybody want to shoot you.
A.
There was something about this girl. Whatever it was it wasn't helping and
anybody in his right mind would have gotten out of their fat but there was really
nowhere to go on board the night train. One of the most.
Well anyway after the assassin's bullet broke the window in her compartment we
moved to my green to keep the matter to ourselves. After all the same that might
ask question we are exactly in a position to answer the laundry I have nothing to
hide but quite a bit to explain. What the.
Side but you've got to admit. That you're going to be this way you go back to your
compartment and. You seem to forget that that was your compartment where I nearly
met an untimely and we are now in my compartment. You wouldn't throw me out
well I might I might get a little sweet. Yeah I know I'm.
Also. I wish they'd stop bumping these cars all over the place I think you're
a very very traveling contend Oh yeah well just remember you picked me up I
think you are certainly wasn't my idea.
Not really. Did you feel.
How old just and like a boat railway cars are supposed to do that one is they must
have switched it on the back of the front of the car and that.
The further off from England and the area is. Turned not to know the love of sale.
I'm. Talking about Alice in Wonderland the market.
Will you want you will you want you will you join the dance.
Exactly. You will prove about us in Wonderland.
Very well we'll be serious look out there for that flashing buoy what's that remind
you of the mind. Remind me of the view from the Sausalito.
Now but there was. When did you leave home.
Two months ago. Nothing.
To. Know what to do. I'm going to turn in.
Well look when I die begins to fall for a girl a little bit it hurts to find out
that she's a pony that's all. The guy.
You. Know what I mean.
Now listen to the Susan or whatever your name is wherever you come from you don't
come from San Francisco San Francisco would rather be condemned to live in Los
Angeles and call their city. And there is a man woman or child alive in the Bay
area who didn't shed a tear when the last of the fairies the Sausalito Ferry
was shut down a few years ago. I'm sure you don't come from San Francisco as a
matter of fact you might not even be in America. Now that I come to think of it
that business in Waterloo station calling me your husband and all could that be
because you didn't want them to look too carefully at your passport and making me
carry your coat what's in that coat on Susan huh huh you won't talk huh you know
what I think you are Susan I think you're a spy this year but. No Mademoiselle
Susan is not so at debt no she's not a spy merely a courier cut out and a prince
spy and now. She may not live long enough to become anything all right who are you
you notice Mademoiselle Suzanne does not ask tell your friends who we are
that is Susan I never saw you before in my life either of you but you do know
who we are I know nothing Bravo Bravo the Monsieur
permit me I am Anton and my rather large companion holding the gun is Raoul the
identity of our employers of no consequence to you but I think you may
wish to know that our assignment is to relieve Mademoiselle Suzanne of a certain
small package she carries you are mistaken I carry nothing on me on you or
in you we will find it no I swear look this is nuts now just put down that gun
and stop playing folk and dagger we are not playing the shoe. Let go of my phone
I'll report this to the captain. Go on go on shut your head off in this way he never
hear you. Go go Raoul and he'll shoot you and jump you over the side no one will
know the gun has a silencer. Sit down say Raoul.
I don't believe it I don't believe I'm hearing all this is not true is it I
don't know what they're talking about. You have given us a great deal of trouble
and we want no more of it of course we realize that you are innocently involved
in this matter. I was at Suzanne attached herself to you in what a loose station
the moment she realized we were on her. You know it is why do I.
You are right Monsieur in surmising that she identified you as her husband as a
devulnerable tactic to take attention away from her counterfeit passport. And the
shot that was fired through the train window? Oh yes that was intended for
Mademoiselle. Had he detached her as planned we would already have obtained
what we are after and have left the train before her body would have been
discovered. We must get what we came after and we will if we have to drop
Mademoiselle over the side. Now wait a minute. I was afraid you would not be
sympathetic with our ends or our means. And you were right. So we will have to place you
out of combat. And Raoul he's yours. Now look look. Please please please stop. Don't kill him. Just put him to sleep.
And Raoul did put me to sleep deeply and for how long I don't know. I dreamed sweet dreams of Susan.
The dream in which I was a hero and she was covering me with the kisses which
our heroes reward. It was accepting her voice sounded different and her kisses were
extraordinarily moist. And slowly I realized that my admirer was a French
poodle and I was slumped in the corner of the baggage car. And the car was no longer
rolling and pitching but rattling along on its rails as a well-ordered train
should. And I came awake with a start. If the train was on rail then we were
assured in France. And Susan, maybe Susan was somewhere back there beneath the
dark waters of the English Channel. I had to find out. I had to know. I gave my poodle
pal a farewell pass. Started back through the train. The going was rough but unimpeded.
Until I got to my car. And here my progress was stopped by a half-awake
plane. Uh, Monsieur searches for something? Yeah yeah my compartment. Which one is
that, Monsieur? 302. Compartment 302 is occupied. By a young lady? Yes. And two gentlemen. Do they have tickets?
Ignatas, the hour it was made. Well I do have a ticket so let me buy please.
Monsieur, may I ask if you have a ticket where have you been sleeping? You won't
believe this pal but I'll tell you anyway in the baggage car. What? This is highly
irregular. Yes yes it is indeed and uncomfortable. Now let me pass. I've got
to get to my compartment. But Monsieur it is occupied. I have several others which are
green. Look I want to get into 302. But you will disturb the occupant. I doubt it. Come
along with me. I may need you in case we run into any more irregularities. The
puzzle train had been followed me down the dark and silent car. Outside 302 we
paused. For a moment there was no sound from within and then I heard the window
being opened and Antoine's voice. All right mademoiselle I'll give you one more chance.
You tell me where the packet is or I will throw you out the window. No! No I told you over and over I don't have it.
You searched my things you haven't found it. I tell you again I don't have it.
And you will tell us where it is. Don't let mademoiselle. Shut up. Go ahead Raoul. Go out. No! No!
I slid the door open before Raoul could reach Susan. The big gunman whirled toward me and
fired. I was already diving for his ankles in a low tackle. I connected it
heaved upward and Raoul toppled backwards out of the window. I snatched up the gun
he dropped and covered him. Oh no. No you said you had some vacant compartments. How about locking up
this gentleman in one of them. But why? This man is a dangerous spy who has just
attempted to commit murder on your train. I insist that you lock him up and turn
him over to the authorities when we arrive in Paris. I regret I cannot comply
with your request monsieur. By what authority? How do I know? Listen to me look have you had any
windows broken on your train tonight? Why this in the next car in compartment A?
Exactly and this is the man who was responsible for it being broken. Monsieur
what about these? I denied. Well I will prove it when we get to Paris. I need not
remind you my friend that willful destruction or breakage of state
property is a crime and the railway cars of the Chamond de Ferre d'Etat are
state property therefore this man is guilty of a crime against the state. You
have reason monsieur but he denies it. Ah yes and I accuse him of it. You better not
take a chance my friend you better let the surrogate decide this. Yes I suppose
you are right. Come along monsieur. What? It is my regrettable duty to lock you up. Here here take this gun and use it if he tries
anything funny. Merci monsieur. Come along you.
Thank you Tom. You saved my life. Not at all anytime. Oh don't you need that gun to protect yourself from me?
No I don't think so. You are dangerous all right but a gun is no protection. The only
defense in a situation like this is attack. Come here. What are you going to do Tom?
Just checking up on a dream.
Just as I thought the real thing is better than the dream. Tom what are you talking about?
Later honey for now just relax.
The rest of the trip was uneventful if that's the proper description for a
lovely tousled head on one shoulder. The Parrots night ferry finally ground to a stop in the
Gare du Nord. The man who met Susan and whom she addressed as her uncle took over the details
of turning over her assailant to the police. And finally Susan and uncle and I were seated
in the quiet corner of a sidewalk cafe catching up over some breakfast croissant and cafe au lait.
Tom is a very difficult uncle. He won't believe a word I'm telling you. That's right
miss she claims she lives in San Francisco. I don't believe her. She says she's an American.
I don't believe her. She says you are her uncle and I beg your pardon but I don't believe that either.
Well my dear Suzanne what a pity. Your very first assignment in your cover story is shot full of holes.
You nearly get yourself killed and you fail to deliver the package with which you were entrusted.
I'm afraid you will never make a successful agent for our country.
Uncle. Security.
Security? No our friend Tom has guessed too much already thanks to your blundering.
I did not blunder. Maybe I did not know everything I should about San Francisco but you cannot say I did not deliver the goose.
I have not received that.
You will. Tom hand me your trench coat please.
What?
Here is the packet Uncle zipped into the lining of Tom's trench coat for safety.
Oh no you mean look if they knew I grew up.
That's right you could have been killed.
Oh and you wouldn't have cared?
Well not then. You see the packet originally was in my coat.
And I carried it aboard the train.
That's right.
Well well I take it back my dear you have done well.
It's a pity however we cannot avail ourselves of your services in the future.
But that of course is now impossible since Tom knows your identity.
Oh that's all right Uncle.
I have been becoming less and less interested in the career of a ladies spy.
I'm looking forward to Tom showing me for I mean San Francisco if he will.
Well I don't know why I'd like to but is it safe?
Suspense.
You've been listening to Night Ferry to Paris written for suspense by William M. Robeson.
Heard in tonight's story where William Redfield as Tom, Elaine Ross as Susan, Robert Dryden as Anton, Guy Rack as the train attendant,
Brett Morrison as Uncle and Frank Milano as Raoul.
Listen again next week when we return with Truck Stop by Peter Fernandez.
Another tale well calculated to keep you in.
Suspense.