 Take one man with a talent for trouble add the orange flash of gunfire and hunted footsteps echoing in the night That's it Inside story taken from the files of John Steele adventure of This is John Steele and this is the meeting place for those of you who like to give your nerves a little exercise You know you meet all kinds of people in this world Some are nice easy-going folk to whom nothing out of the ordinary ever happens Then there are people who have an affinity for excitement no matter where they go or what they do Things are always going on around them. Jim Hannigan was that kind I first met Jim when I was on the police force and he was a reporter for one of the big city papers And sure enough every big case that came along he was right smack in the middle of it But suppose we let him tell you about one particular case one that he was a lot closer to than I was Jim the first day I joined the paper I was called into the old man's office all the guys out in the city room said he was tough said He had ink in his veins instead of blood He was tough all right and shrewd and calculating and knowing too But he told me some things that day. I've never forgotten He said Hannigan. I don't want any milk sops on my paper and I don't want any fancy dans either He said I want circulation and you don't get circulation by writing great literature or by having a heart Smell out the story write it in one syllable words and if anyone gets hurt by it, that's their lookout not yours I remembered and he was right covered a lot of good stories worked my way up the hard way There was a lot of people who didn't understand like Laurie But I didn't let that stop me I was coming in the office one morning late. I'd wound up a scarletty story the day before and been out doing a little relaxing What do you say Yeah, thanks, thanks Good morning Laurie. You're trying to be funny. Well, oh you too. Well after all it is. Yeah. Yeah, I know can a guy relax once in a while Asperin in your top left hand drawer. Thanks Any calls Burgess call wants to meet you for lunch. Oh, no, I can't go through any appointment for tomorrow. Thanks Anything on Taylor has the contacts ready good and the old man wants to see you great. He sounded mad. Oh my head Go out of the office bring you some water. Yeah Please thanks Big night, huh big head. Where'd you go? I remember after 10 or 11 day. Yeah, I think so Pretty I know I know I can't even remember what it's nothing What's the matter with you nothing at all? Well, they're just for the record, mr. Biggie when I had a small appointment last night We did we did Yes, we did and I gave up another chance to see guys and dogs. Well, now don't let that worry Doesn't even say sorry. Oh, I'll take you to see guys and dogs. You've only been saying that for a year now I mean it when? Hmm. Well, Saturday night. All right, Saturday night. I'll believe it when I show you call my ticket agent. Oh, that's great Now I have to get the ticket. Well, it's just that I'm okay. Okay. Okay some day See that did it Ah, come on honey. Let's kiss and make don't you dare, baby Now I gotta see the old I said I gotta see the old baby. Oh, why do I let you do it? Oh, you know me business first. Yes, I know you wouldn't want me to lose my job. Would you? Oh, no, that's the last thing I'd want to happen See Now let's get down to work character Almost forgot. Huh? There's been a mr. Derubo waiting to see you since nine o'clock Derubo said he knew you in school Yeah, he's not my idea of the aleman I can stall him if you want to see the old man first No, better get over with what I said bring him in Okay The old man's gonna be sore That'll be all miss jones Yes, mr. Hannigan What can I do for you derubo? Smart boy, I try to be it didn't be too smart. What's that supposed to mean? But you did to my boy scolati. He was a jerk. Maybe maybe so you know he was He had a lot to learn but he was a good boy depends on where you're sitting. I can't learn nothing for 15 years We don't like business risk. Well good boys is hard to find. I got my own troubles. We don't like it to happen again Tell your boys to be more careful I like you Hannigan. Thanks. I don't want to see you get Sick or not. I see You start playing around with city hall. Now look derubo. This is strictly business with me I'm not cleaning up the city or riding any white horses. You got your racket. I got mine If it's a story, I'm going to print it. That's all that's why I like just tell you mark the smart enough And there won't be any trouble, but when they're jerks like scolati I'll get them every time where everybody makes mistakes and that's when I catch him. I don't like that. That's too bad Sorry to interrupt mr. Hannigan, but there's an old man outside wants to see you right away Says it's important. Who is it didn't give me his name. Tell him. I'll see him in a minute Whatever you say anything else derubo. Oh sure. I got plenty to say. I'm busy Now look go on out and see the old man I wait here. You said your piece now beat it go on I like your company Hannigan. I wait here Okay, but I'm leaving the door open Where is he Laurie out in the hall boss cut that why don't you bring him in you wanted to wait out there? Okay, okay Keep your eye on that creep You wanted to see me What do you mean do you robot? What stop him stop him you hope it Dead I don't know somebody shot him. Did you see him just shot him and ran where'd you get the gun picked it up pull the trigger It was empty. I'll call the police You want to know oh it looks bad. What do you mean nobody out in the hall? We hear a couple of shots come out find a dead guy. Oh, yeah, then you got the gun in your hand You don't pin this on me so loud Hannigan just before he got it. He said your name. Can you prove that? See I don't care how it looks. So what do you say to make one mistake? That's when I get it Every time you dirty looks bad You better clear out for a while. Nobody low till it blows over Go on before the cops come Maybe I will go on get going. I'll see you again to robo Yeah, I'll see you again I'd been framed and framed good. I got out fast I knew it looked bad, but I had to take that chance I got out on the street and headed for the nearest movie I'd be safe there for a while. I could do some uninterrupted thinking Myself, I don't like the movies, but you ever sit through one three times brother About nine o'clock that night. I went down to the lobby and called lorry I gave her the names of the three most influential people I knew in town I asked her to call them and then meet me in the theater Then I went back to the last row in the balcony to wait At about a half hour. I saw her struggling up the aisle You couldn't be that heartened I couldn't couldn't I well, yes Sorry, I forgot my alpin stock. Thanks for coming lorry. How long you've been here since morning? Aren't you dizzy? I brought a couple of sandwiches. Oh, I meant to tell you You could at least say thanks. Oh, yeah. Yeah, thanks. I had a fig newt in about five. They're great for a hangover He sees you feel better. Yeah What's the movie? Is that important? No, I guess no. I've seen it before, anyway But you have to slander our good name in front of all the neighbors Really? You can be most unfeeling She's awfully attractive. Oh, the girl in the movie Oh, oh, yeah, yeah Of course This is close as you become the guiding out. I wasn't in a position to be choosing. I think the least you can do Oh, sorry Oh Feel better much why'd you come here? Well, I couldn't go home first. I was going to go to your place, but then I figured that'd be the second place They'd look what you feel like to be the hottest man in your room. It's no fun All the crazy things to do what run away. Why I'll tell you later every paper in the city has story pictures and everything Me full page. I couldn't forget you if I wanted to that's bad Why I stand on my time a few days and every drink with a nickel for a paper will no be by heart I blow sorry Why doesn't he go someplace else if he wants to see a movie bright remark of the week You see did you call jankins? Yes. What do you say? Sorry, can't help. What's the district attorney for? He said there was nothing he could do and even if there were he wouldn't do some friend Well, you weren't exactly kind to him during the gambling investigation. That's business. I guess he figures shows this Yeah With the old man Well, what do you say He said it'd make a better story got out of it by yourself. That's great How about McCarthy same thing? What do you mean? He said it was about time. He had some heat on the back of your neck Well mad dog What's this mad dog business? That's what they're calling you in the papers Mad dog murder is still a glory. Will you two shut up or do I have to call the manager? Sorry Oh, you don't think I did it No You're a rat hannigan, but not that much of one Oh, that's better. What do we do now? Got to do it alone. That's all. Okay. Where do we start? Let's see. I got the gun, but that's not help. No, the old man The only thing I remember about him was he had a wart in his left eyebrow. That eliminates all the right eyebrow Now if I wanted a hard-up old man, then I'll go off. Where would I go city hall the bar? Yep, that's it The cubs find anything on him. Just his name cyrus p smith had to be smith couldn't be krinkowski or something like that Come on gloria. We're ever going to see the picture. We better change that buddy. Stay there. We're leaving Let's go lorry I've been in training. Sorry. It's taking so long. That's all right I think I want you in the bar a to keep a girl in shape. All right. Got to be careful You can't tell the cops from the hoods down here. It's all right You know You're quite a girl, don't you just about run out of joys, haven't we? Oh, I mean it I think we've talked every bum on the street. I uh, I know you don't want to but I'm going to talk about it. It's hardly the setting. Well, I kind of like it character What do you want lorry? Do you ever think about it? Oh never I just go home climb into bed and fall right off to sleep. Come on. I'll be serious Why? Because I am All right I know what I don't want I want to be able to sleep at night I don't want to have to worry about my guy where he is what he's doing What mobster he's playing hide and seek with tonight Oh, I see Why don't I go to bed and have him next to me and know he's going to be there every night for the rest of my life If he isn't a big shot Well, what's the difference? As long as he likes my coffee The guy's got to do what he likes some guys This guy So why did we start talking? I don't know lorry. Jim Don't look now, but that crown behind it's been following us for two blocks. Where don't look Just keep walking. Uh-huh act like nothing's happened We can make it to that alley I don't know got your bag when you pick it up sneak a look Yes, he's gaining on it. Walk a little bit faster. Not obvious. All right. Come on up this alley, right? Quick hide in the store way Run away. Might be a cop Well, I'm from behind alley, didn't you? What do you want? Thought you'd be going away from me, didn't you? I know every whole mystery everyone. All right, you're a smart guy now. What do you want? Don't make me mad Come on most in Jim get away from her Don't like another Yeah, you the father was asking about seismic what's it to you? Okay, you feel that way up on it. No, no wait What do you know about it something I don't remember talking to you. We didn't I heard you asking. Oh, why didn't you talk? We could talk business better alone How much how much are worth you? 10 bucks, would you say panicking? 25 50 no more Fair enough. All right. What do you want to know money first? Oh, how do I know you got what I want? Okay. All right. All right. All right money first There you are I haven't got my wallet. Glory. Have you got of course? 30 40 50 Yeah, now what do you want to know two days ago? I come down the street had 100 bucks with him. I don't know where to get it to pay from who the rubo No, no, he was smarter than that who? Vincenietta, that's worth 50 bucks. Come on. Laurie see you around Sure, whisper the canister. No sometime. Come on, Laurie Vincenietta the name rang a bell, but I couldn't get it placed It was there in the back of my mind like a song you can't remember, but I couldn't get it out in the open I didn't like to do it, but I had to take the chance We went into the nearest drugstore and found a phone booth in the back behind a counter If we played it real smart and lorry did the talking we might be able to get away with it Lieutenant steel, please Come on. Come on. They're getting it take the night off again. Hey Hello, lieutenant steel about time. This is Laura jones from the bullet No, I haven't seen him What's he want? He knows I'm with you. No, I said I know how wait a minute The last I saw him he was standing in the hall with the gun You must be mistaken lieutenant. Come on. We're wasting time honest. I have it All right, just a minute. He wants you you crazy. He knows where to get her. He's hard at the movie Out of the way You're getting fat Steel you're hurting your head now. Wait a minute. I'll hang you up by the thumb Steel I'll put you away for 20 years. I didn't do it. I get a hold of you. I didn't do it Where are you? Never mind. I said where you have this call tray. So help operate that way hanging in and you know it If I can't outsmart a bonehead reporter What'd you run away for I had to sure I did you pulled a lot of fat hip stunts in your day hanging But this is the worst you've got to believe me. Why because you know, I wouldn't kill anyone This was supposed to be my day off. Would you like to hear about my day off? Glory and I were supposed to go to the beach But what happens she has to work and I have to sit in a one-room apartment all day with the humidity At 96 percent Then we go to an air-conditioned movie to get away from the heat and what happens Some joker sits about 10 six away and all he does is eat rattle paper and talk I wish well then we get out on the street and I stop to buy a paper or what's plastered all over the front page But that's silly. I respect of yours Then the light goes on stale if I'd only know it was you in the movie stale I need some help help. I wouldn't help now. Listen to me if you and i'm gonna throw the book at you So help me listen. What do you know about vince anietta? Why what do you know about it? He was a two-bit gunman got mixed up in the smuggling rag at about 10 years ago to center for 15 years Why that's it. Is he out yet? I just pulled up out front what a police car You had this call traced to you I won't forget this Come on lorry here. They come out the side door Vince anietta. I knew I'd heard the name before probably out on good behavior or maybe even made a break. I didn't know I spent the night in a cheap hotel on the west side and first thing in the morning I went over to the pool room where anietta used to hang out But he hadn't been there for days I was lucky and I bought his address from a rag boy for 10 bucks I beat it over to a tenement on the lower east side But the landlady told me he hadn't been there since yesterday Then I remember the shack on the west shore of staten island that had been used as a dropback on the smuggling days I called lorry and she picked me up in her car at time square She wanted to come along but the pace was getting too hot So I put her in a cab and headed for staten island There was a cop at the ferry entrance So I went back to the brooklyn bridge and took the 69th street ferry for the island Things were going too smooth I drove out along the west shore till there was nothing but me in the dunes Through green ridge and about five miles past new springville I saw it one of those old weather beaten houses with a lot of gingerbread All the shutters were drawn and not a sign of life anywhere had pulled into the yard I want to talk to you on yonder Feed it cover I'm no cop Feed it I'm Jim Hanigan from the bulletin Who? Hanigan from the bulletin Stand up! Okay! Go to the front door! It's open! What happened to you? The roobo tried to knock me over last night Nice guy How'd you get out here? I got ways Heard bad? Sick slugs than me I'm about to get you to a doctor Get back! Okay What do you want? What do you know about Cyrus P Smith? Well, he... What? Ain't talking I know you set him up for the job So? Who killed him? Come on, Anyeta, who are you shielding? Get back! Why did the roobo have you gunned? Freight eye talk That doesn't make sense What? He's afraid you'll talk so he has you shot down and now you won't talk So? What are you shielding him for? Why should I help you? Now look, Anyeta Unless I get you to a doctor, you'll probably die And I'll never be able to get to the roobo Suppose like I don't croak You're dying on your feet right now Shut up! See? Get back! Who killed the old man? I did You? Yeah, but the roobo said it was a soft touch See? Just, just routine But then when I found out there was a big fish like, like you in the line I, I wanted more dough Always that way Knock over some little guy nobody cares about Get hushed up in a hurry, that's easy Get a, get a big shot Make stuff in it and everything Goes haywire Takes dough, I've been in it before I know The roobo wouldn't pay and try to kill you so you wouldn't talk Yeah Get back, get back Not taking me in I don't want you Anyeta, I want the big guy If you sign a statement, I'll see it goes easy on you Anyeta Anya Anya Phone There must be a phone around here I called Laurie and told her what to do Then I beat it back to town The guy at the ferry wanted to know how my windshield got busted And I told him somebody took a shot at me He said I was lucky I didn't get hit I was back in town by four o'clock and well right over to the roobo's apartment The doorman said he wasn't in so I went up and waited Amazing how many doors a ten dollar bill will open It was one of those real lush joints all glass and chromium With a potted palm every five feet I've been there about a half an hour when I heard his key in the lock You're not surprised No I said I'd see you again I've been expecting you Oh I thought you'd be here sooner I was tied up What? Plenty Drink? No We won't have time We're going something? Write down on the paper I want to get the story before the cops do You acting pretty sure of yourself I know some things you don't Like what? I found Vince Agneter Alive And he talked plenty I'd like to see Agneter Don't worry He's where you'll never find it Oh I know you're not bluffing Agneter hired Sy Smith for a hundred bucks Smith came to my office and got me out in the hall Agneter shot him but he thought it was a push over When he found out it was bigger than that he came to you for more money When you wouldn't give it to him he threatened to talk So your boys took him out for a little air But it didn't work Everybody makes mistakes Yeah that's right Want any more? You make the mistake too I thought of that Put the gun away What stops me if I shoot you now? My office knows where I am If I'm not back at the paper by five o'clock They'll have you picked up for my murder Now we got ten minutes What are you going to do Derulo? What can I do you think of everything? Yeah I thought you'd be smart You've already got two murders against you Two? Yeah Who? Smith and who? Agneter maybe? I knew you was bluffing smart boy Give me that I hear the deets you punk It's you, let go Scum, I am Drop it, drop it Not just you and me All right punk What is better? Smart boy No guns Just us Now get up, get up You punk you got more coming No darling, darling can we just kill you? No no stop it, stop it I'll do anything you say Anything I can do please I've gone through a lot to get this story Now come on smart boy Your shoulder all right? That's okay Let me help you up Oh stop what you're fussing Mean old man There see All right I love the excitement Just looking at the cricket goes out Yeah yeah I can hardly wait to hear I've never been in a You're not even listening Jim There's big boy Scully Where? Over there With all the wheels from Universal Steel Panigan You promise But there might be a No more stories remember Oh Jersey No more playing with dynamite I want people to like you Okay And no more underworld connection I said okay That's better But I was A couple of what you got for a nickel in your evening newspaper Well friends if you like Jim's story Why not come back again next week I'll have a man who tried to build a new life By building the strangest house in the world I like to call it gateway So until next week this is John Steele Saying a life of adventure is yours for the taking Wherever you find it Only don't look for it It may find you Well goodbye and good hunting John Steele adventure is produced by Robert Monroe Written and directed by Elliott Drake Grant Richards with Curtis Jim Also in our cast were Charlotte Lawrence Ross Martin, Jack Arson and Earl George Don Douglas is John Steele Musical effects were created by Doc Whipple And your announcer has been Ted Malley Remember next week mutual presents Gateway Another story of suspense and action From the files of John Steele Adventurer This program came from New York To bring listeners the most up to the minute reports On happenings of importance all over the world Mutual presents veteran commentators On the news every night Monday through Saturday Weekday evenings brings Gabriel Heeter The man who's a must for millions As well as Bill Henry in the five-minute news capsule And Frank Edwards who reports on the domestic and foreign scene With penetrating insight And on Saturday nights the man who eyewitnesses Accounts of wartime action brought him well-deserved fame Cecil Brown reports to mutual listeners On current newsmaking events All these men where you hear the announcer say This is the Mutual Broadcasting System