 Autolight and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Lloyd Nolan in tonight's presentation of Suspense Tonight Autolight presents a story based on fact the documented report of a man who lost a jar Which contained the destruction of a city vile of death our star mr. Lloyd Nolan You know today's my birthday it is well Congratulations sheriff yep, and I've covered a good many miles in my day and congratulations to every driver who uses those world famous sure-firing Fit and fabulous auto light spark plugs the spark plugs that are ignition engineered for the finest performance money can buy Oh my car slow on the pickup not performing up to par Well, why not take that car into your auto light spark plug dealer for a spring checkup if your spark plugs are worn out He'll recommend a new set of auto light spark plugs either standard or resistor type Then you'll be set for smooth driving days ahead. Well, how can I find his address? Just call Western Union by number and ask for operator 25 She'll quickly tell you the location of your nearest auto light spark plug dealer the man with ignition engineered Autolight spark plugs and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light and now auto light presents vile of death Starring mr. Lloyd Nolan hoping once again to keep you in Suspense when it happened you knew nothing about it The events of that long frightening night began about the time you were catching a bus or a streetcar toward home Probably you had dinner that night played with the children and went to bed you slept In the morning you got up came to work and it was just another day By then it was all over Many innocent people missed an appointment with death that morning You might have been one of them. It was five o'clock in that particular night as I climbed the stairs of the downtown Central Station I'm Lieutenant Joe Holloway acting chief of detectives during the night watch Most of the men on the day watch had deserted their desks and were climbing into overcoats as I passed them in the hall Sam Hey, weren't you off yesterday? Yep Have a nice day. I guess so I Stayed up when I should have been in bed took the kids out to the zoo and when I should have been up I went to bed Today instead of going to bed. I was up but to answer your question lieutenant I enjoyed my day off, but I should have stayed in bed Well, I guess I should spend more time with my kids, but I don't work in nights six days a week I never have time to see them. I can understand that little tenant, but today. Yeah, I may be next week there Anything interesting on the hot-shot sheep? No, nothing exciting Hey, there's a ruby coming here on a steak out tonight. Oh Well Might as well make out the watch for tomorrow Evening papers come in yet. No, excuse me. Is this the office of the chief of detectives? That's right Lieutenant Holloway Yeah That's a lieutenant Holloway. Mr. Are you in charge here? That's right. I'm professor Harold M. Frohlich The officer at the front desk told me to see you. What can I do for you professor Frohlich? Well, I'm afraid I'm going to need your help lieutenant. You see my my car was stolen a few minutes ago Oh You want the auto theft division is right down the hall of your right? No No, you see I was on my way to the university at Brenton for some lab analysis And I stopped at a drugstore just a few blocks from here to buy some pipe tobacco. Yeah Well when I came out of the drugstore my car was gone stolen and I'd left my satchel in the car, too It contained various instruments and a sizable amount of narcotics. Oh, I see No, you don't I'm not so concerned about the loss of my car nor the narcotics Well, then what are you concerned about professor Frohlich the vial? That's what worries me what vial there was a glass vial of bacteria in my satchel, too You see my work is developing antibacteriological techniques protective methods against germ warfare in this work I use living microorganisms Bacteria and the vial contained an extremely large amount of these bacteria. Oh, I see now what kind of bacteria did the vial contain? cholera bacteria Cholera Cholera. Yes, enough to start a cholera epidemic throughout this city in a matter of hours If the thief finds that vial and and opens it how contagious is it? Oh, if the slightest amount gets on the thieves hands are clothing Sooner or later. He's certain to get it in whose food or drinking water in which case He would undoubtedly develop cholera and then could pass it on to others or Thinking the vial is worthless. He might throw it away on the street and break it Or he could easily throw it into one of the reservoirs around the city not knowing what it is Do you understand lieutenant? Yeah, I understand Animals and rodents present the greatest danger of all if they become carriers an epidemic is inevitable and almost impossible to curb Wouldn't the bacteria die if they were exposed to air? No, they wouldn't become exposed even if the vial were broken You see the vial contains a peptone broth a milky substance the bacteria in this peptone broth like Bees in a honeycomb it not only protects them, but it nourishes them as well. I see Lieutenant Holloway, you must find my automobile before the thief has a chance to get at that vial You can't imagine the horrors this city Where was your car stolen at the corner of Kenton Main Street about 15 minutes ago? It's a blue sedan four-door get this same right. What's your 51? license number Six n1 six eight three seven. What about the satchel black usual doctor's bag with my initials on it in gold HMF describe the vial. Oh, let me see About eight inches long diameter two inches a silver pressure cap with a lump on top It can't be opened without pressing the top the contents are milky fluid It's about the size of a baby's feeding bottle Sam get lieutenant Ruby off that stake out right away Tell him to meet me at 10th and main. Okay, I'll put an APB on the car Radio room. This is lieutenant Holloway broadcast this immediately To all units stolen car registered to a professor Harold M. Frohlich License number in the eight column six Nora one six eight three seven a 1951 blue four-door sedan If this car is located hold and notify Lieutenant Holloway Central Division immediately you got that Yeah, now also put out a call for all B units in the fourth fifth and sixth districts to report to me at 10th And main code 3 same yeah Notify the chief and call the city health officer and tell them to meet me at 10th and main right away, right? This is Holloway send every available man to 10th and main code 3. I'll be there in five minutes We'll start a search of the neighborhood where your car was stolen. Maybe we'll find the car nearby Maybe not but it's a start a lieutenant. Yes, what we must anticipate a cholera epidemic should the bacteria get loose Serums facilities doctors will take that up with the city health officer And we must notify all hospitals and emergency wards to report immediately in a case that appears with the symptoms of cholera Then if a case is reported we will have something to work on yeah, we will indeed have something to work on It was seven o'clock that evening when a hundred and twenty officers and reserves gathered at the intersection of 10th and main Where professor frohlich's car had been stolen? The curious was shuffled off the press band Lieutenant ruby reported for duty, and I briefed him At 730 the city health officer arrived serums were ordered Red Cross alerted doctors and nurses notified of beyond call if an epidemic started Hospitals have been told to notify us if a case appeared with symptoms of extreme intestinal pain spasms Pharmadine and severe dehydration Everything was done without attaching the word cholera to the operation At 815 a break just a small Professor frohlich's car was found 10 blocks away. This is it. This is my car. He didn't drive it far Oh, I hope the satchel is still in it. I will so know There's nothing in the front seat He's still in it Ruby check the trunk right Don't touch anything doctor. Maybe it's in the back seat nothing it Find anything Ruby nothing in the trunk Joe. Well, I guess he took the satchel with him I will no fly on it probably Ruby yeah, get a latent fingerprint man down here to dust this car right tell him to hurry Now watch lieutenant now We try to find that satchel an hour passed to no progress The only fingerprints found on professor frohlich's car were his own Suspects were picked up no make The search for the satchel continued Midnight still no progress. I Thought about the other parts of the city quiet asleep Unaware of the night and what it had produced At 1 30 another break one we'd hoped wouldn't come When was he brought in nurse a little after 12 his condition critical respiration very low severe dehydration You're certain about the symptoms quite certain also the lab confirmed presence of live Vibrio's organisms Who brought him in was an ambulance call the patient had been in one of those awful bars down the street He suddenly became ill Delirious and fell to the floor with intense spasms of the intestinal tract I better get the health officer on that bar right away. Yes, it must be quarantined at once in here I thought it best not to put him in a ward Well, professor frohlich Can you can you visualize this happening all over the city your wife possibly your children any chance of a mistake? Presence of live Vibrio's organisms. There's no doubt now Nurse was there any identification just the wallet there on the stand anything there Joe His name was Al Walker 8200 Carl Street I Walker can you hear me? Al listen, I've got to ask you some questions tried to answer me Al Al did you steal a card and I pretty weak Joe Al? Can you hear me? Al Look professor. Can I do any harm now? Do I have muster tenant Holloway, but hurry? He's almost Al Al listen to me. Answer me. Did you take a glass vial out of that card and it was in a satchel a glass jar and a black satchel Al Yes, did you take it the jar I Can't breathe out did you take that satchel out of a car tonight really lieutenant quiet and can you hear me? What did you do with that glass jar that was in the bag? Did you open it? Milky Inside he opened it. What's what's wrong with me? I Can't breathe out. Where is that glass jar now? Where? Where where find out where where where did you throw it out? Where? Oh They're loose Enough cholera bacteria to start this all over the city in the morning Auto light is bringing you mr. Lloyd Nolan in vial of death tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense Friend Slim corraled himself a whole herd of wonder workers. He did sure yep He got a set of them auto light resistive spark plugs says they're the finest things in Texas join the union Well, they sure are sheriff the greatest advance in spark plugs for automotive use in 25 years that built-in Exclusive auto light 10,000 ohm resistor makes possible such outstanding advantages as double spark plug life smoother engine performance and quick starts and The auto light resistor spark plug is only one of a complete line of world famous auto light spark plugs Ignition engineered for every use so lasso yourself a whole set of them auto light resistors spark plugs partners They're available at your nearest auto light spark plug dealers to locate him quickly call Western Union by number and ask for Operator 25 and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light and now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Lloyd Nolan in Elliot Lewis's production of vial of death a dramatic report well calculated to keep you in Suspense Al walker was dead Not knowing what the stolen vial contained he had opened it and exposed himself to disease Then he thrown it away This is what faced us in our city that night an epidemic of cholera Professor frolic Ruby and myself left the hospital We crossed a sleeping city to the address found in Al walker's wallet 8200 Carl Street It was an apartment house. We woke the landlady and she led us into Al walker's room. We searched I always said that Al walker was a good for nothing. He never worked low Drank you're certain. He was here about seven o'clock positive. I heard him come in and go out Nothing but dirty laundry. Well, what does he do steal them things? Where do we go from here lieutenant? I guess we'll have to go back and start with that bar You know You better quarantine this place and get the health department out here watch that anyone who came in contact with Al walker We'll have to be vaccinated. Well, what was the matter with him? He was Sick you're very bad bad enough to kill him Al's dead. That's right And you say anyone who was near might catch of what he had if they aren't vaccinated right away. They might well then mrs There's something you haven't told us Well, I I do want to cause anybody no trouble, but when Al was here earlier tonight He stopped in to see mrs. Pierce. They were friends. Where does mrs. Pierce live in 306 the end of the hall I wasn't snooping. It's just that I like to know what's going on in my place. That's all, okay Now you better get back to bed lady bed. Who can sleep with a thing like this in the house? What time is it lieutenant 3 a.m. There it is daylight in a few hours. There's much time. I know Sleep wouldn't you be? Police open up Open up. What do you want you mrs. Pierce? Yeah, why do you know Al walker? Al walker Yeah You hold it down. My husband's asleep. When was the last time you saw Al walker last time Well, I couldn't say a week ago. Maybe What's going on out there? Nothing class go back to bed Who these guys the police? It was smell now look, it's very important We've got to know if either one of you saw Al walker last night Al walkie I told you no, we ain't seen him if you ain't been seeing that punk again. Have you I ain't seen him I told you I wouldn't miss his Pierce Last night Al walker stole a car when he left it. He took some things with him Among them a black satchel containing a small glass vial a jar This vial was filled with a milky substance that milky substance would Well because of it he's dead now Then he died a few hours ago Al Then anyone who came in contact with Al last night after he opened that vial can expect the same thing You saw him Yes, I thought you promised me you wouldn't see that punk no more This pierced did Al have that vial when you saw him. Yes, what did he do with it? He opened it here in this apartment. He opened it and that and smelled it He put the top back on because he said it smelled like rotten eggs What was it? Will I get it too? Will I get it? Hey, Ruby? Call downtown tell them to get out here fast for vaccination right now. Mrs. Pierce. What did he do with the vial? He took all that stuff with him to a Pawn shop a third and lock and the old man there is a fence Al takes all this stuff to him You stay here the health department will be here pretty soon to vaccinate you don't try to leave the building am I gonna be okay? I won't get it will I I don't think so you've been seeing that punk after all after what I told you shut up I hope you'll get it. Whatever it is. I hope you'll get it good such a right Come on. We'll try the pawn shop 330 a.m. We pulled up in front of the pawn shop a third and Larkin the shades are down in the windows But there's a light somewhere in the back Someone's coming. Yeah, he's up late. I know it has to be here. We've got to find it before morning. We'll soon know Open up police Police open up What for I said open and I will break it down. Well, it sure sure what it would every say All right now listen, I want some answers pop and I want them fast sure fellas I always cooperate with you boys Al Walker was here last night. He sold you some stuff Walker Who's he look at this my satchel? It was on the counter. Oh, that's yours. Mr. Never know where this stuff comes with you quit strong We know Al Walker brought that in here and there was a glass vial in that satchel. Where's it now? I tell you I don't pop I'll walk us dead from what from the contents of that vial That milky stuff then you have seen it. Well, I did have where is it now? We we throw it away Wasn't worth anything. Why did you throw it? In the alley out back. All right shows was it open? No, no, no clothes. I didn't know the stuff of sound All right save it pop. Will you yeah? There I threw it in that pile of junk. I don't see it I don't either. Are you sure you throw it here? All right up top I'm trying to cooperate with you boys honest How it isn't here look keep looking it has to be but he threw it there through all the junk out there and Damn kids what kids? Some kids were playing here late last night always play here And they're always picking things up and taking them away you say kids. Do you know any of them? I don't know for sure look at this this chalk drawing on the wall. What about it? Well, they them kids through that they're always doing it under this face. It says Louie is a gooey Louie Sure, sure. I know Louie. He was one of them He lives over over there in one of them apartment buildings which one I don't know which one I seen him go that way sometimes nearly four o'clock lieutenant Can we get through all those buildings before morning? We have to try we better get pop here Vaccinated before we run them in say Joe what don't you think it would be a good idea if we got vaccinated just in case Well, sure. Yeah, but we haven't got time Ruby. Come on It was a big block covered with big apartment houses an Additional 60 men were called in and we started checking from apartment to apartment asking for a kid named Louie and the glass vial The people half asleep must have thought we were crazy what they thought wasn't important what they would wake up to in the morning was Five o'clock six. It got a light out Then six thirty and seven It was a bright beautiful sunny morning A few people began to appear along the streets buses and street cars were running The city was waking up and still we hadn't found Louie or the glass vial of cholera bacteria We still had dozens of apartments to go through if we don't find it pretty soon lieutenant We've got to let the city know about it warn them to watch for the vial not yet not yet another hour maybe here's the next one Okay Bacon. Yeah smells good Yeah police police What's wrong? Do you have a child here named Louie? No, no Louie here. Why well do you know of a boy by that name in the building? No, all my boys are good children. They done nothing wrong Sibyl's got my jar and she won't give it Tommy. Don't bother me now. Who makes Sibyl give me my jar lieutenant. Yeah, hey Tommy Where's Sibyl? Hey, you can't come in like that. Take us to Sibyl Tommy. She's in the bedroom. I'll show you stay here lady You've got a lot of nerve telling me what to do in my own place. Where'd you get the jar Tommy? I took it away from Louie. It's a pretty jar. I'm gonna keep spiders in it Here's the bedroom There's Sibyl in the crib Joe look mama says Sibyl's cutting teeth easy does it If she takes it out of her mouth and let's go but it'll fall on the floor Careful lieutenant Don't frighten her. I got it Don't drop it Joe. Don't worry. Oh Last thank goodness. There you are doctor One glass vial containing two or three million cholera germs intact If the people in this city only only knew what you boys but they won't know professor. No, I Guess not lieutenant. Well Joe Beautiful morning Ruby. Yeah It's gonna be a nice day Yep You know Robi Instead of going to bed this morning. I think I'll have breakfast with my family and Then I'm gonna take my kids to the zoo suspense Presented by auto light tonight star mr. Lloyd Nolan This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for auto light world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment Auto light is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry They are members of the auto light family as well as other 98,000 auto light distributors and dealers in the United States and Thousands more in Canada and throughout the world Our family also includes the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great auto light plants from coast to coast and Auto light plants in many foreign countries as well as the 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in auto light Every auto light product is backed by constant research and precision built to the highest standards of quality and performance So remember from bumper to tail light. You're always right with auto light Next week a new and terrifying tale in the suspense tradition The story of a man who overhears a murder plot and is discovered in his hiding place by the murderers It's called pigeon in the cage our star mr. Dick Hames That's next week on suspense Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morović and conducted by Ludlustin Vile of death was written for suspense by Augustus C. Bays featured in the cast with Joseph Kearns Jerry Hausner James McCallion Truda Marson Martha Wentworth Charlotte Lawrence Joseph Granby Naomi Stevens Clayton Post and Jeffrey Silver Lloyd Nolan can soon be seen in Island in the Sky a Wayne Fellows production from the book by Ernest K. Gann and Remember next week mr. Dick Hames in pigeon in the cage Resister or standard type spark plugs all right electrical parts and all right stay full batteries at your neighborhood auto light dealers Switch to auto light. Good night. 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