 Standard of California, on behalf of independent shepherd gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invites you to let George do it. Death in fancy dress, another adventure of George Valentine. Personal notice, danger's my stock and trade. If life's tossed you a wet blanket and you're trying to stagger out from under call on me, George Valentine. Write full details. My dear Mr. Valentine, because of a hobby that's dear to my heart and certainly innocent enough, I've received several threats on my life of late. I'm aware that this can't be a world-shaking importance, but it is a confounded nuisance to me. If you decide to take pity on me and come to my rescue, please drop in at my apartment, the Hampshire Tower. Apartment at the Hampshire Tower is tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock. Would you verify this appointment by phone? Signed Lloyd Baskin. Oh, dear old Baskin, whoever he is. Several threats on his life and he loses composure completely. Well, at least he did admit it was a confounded nuisance. I suppose if some scoundrel sprayed him with a shotgun, our friend would say it was a blast of annoyance. Yeah, well, what intrigues me is this gentleman's hobby. What does he collect? Atomic seat truth? Hey, you know, Bruxy, I've always wanted to find an exciting pastime for my spare moments. Come on, Angel, verify the man's appointment. Well, here we are. My trophy room, you might call it. Mr. Baskin, all I see is a lot of junk. Yes, now take this particular piece of junk, a broken wine glass. The one with which Lucy Graham plunged her coming out party into a furrow. She practically gouged Tony Warren's eye out with it while she was deep in her cups. I bought it from the caterers. As you see, I have it all neatly tagged. The occasion, the date, etc. And this 1945 license plate, Mr. Baskin? But, oh, yes, the very proper and respected Mrs. Olinton McKenzie was dragged into court on a hit-and-run charge. That's the plate of her Dusselberg. I bribed her chauffeur to get it. Oh, it was a beautiful scandal. Ah, well, I can see where this sort of thing wouldn't make you the most popular boy in your set best. I could not help being born with a silver spoon. But there's nothing to prevent me from reminding my friends of their more scandalous escapades. Now, look here, this lovely lock of red hair. A very lurid story goes with this. If you like, you gentlemen can retire to the smoking car. No, this little affair was quite well publicized. Celeste Dupre, the nightclub singer who was accused of the murder of Malcolm Gardner the broker. She was acquitted. Dear me, I wonder what ever happened to the dear girl. Now, over here... Yeah, well, we get the general idea, Baskin. This is your private wax museum of dead scandals you like to keep alive. Oh, well, put me in time. I must remember that phrase when I show off my collection at my next party. You mean you deliberately keep bringing up all this? Oh, pardon me. I'll see who's at the door. Huh. Man after my own heart. If you're not careful, Angel, he'll cut it out and put it in his collection. What surprises me is that Mr. Baskin's been allowed to go on breathing this long. What's the matter with you, Reddy? I didn't come here to talk. What is the matter? Have you lost your mind? Yes, maybe I have. Stop it, Reddy! You fool! Many a time, until you... Come on, boys. Break it up. You hurt me, Frank. Get off of him. Get out of my way. Now listen, Buster, don't make me hang you up to dry. I'm a peace-loving man. What else have you got here that belongs to my wife, Baskin? I don't know what you're talking about. Oh, yes, you do. You see, I found those letters you left under the Christmas tree. Very well. You found them. I'm as bull as my word. I promised Donna I'd let her have them back to the present. But too bad you had to find them. The package wasn't addressed to you, Reynolds. Never mind that. I burned them without telling her I saw them. That's too bad. Donna must be very distressed at my breach of faith. Now, Reynolds, if you don't mind, I do have company. Oh, don't mind us. I don't know how much Donna paid you for them. Lord knows she's the one with the money. I don't care. But if you have anything else of hers that you can hold over her, I swear I'll break your filthy neck. Just remember that. Oh, shit. See what I mean, Valentine? No. Suppose you draw me a diagram. You've already earned part of your fee when you haul Reynolds off me. That was on the house, Baskin. What do you mean? I think he means it's no go. If you want protection, you better call out the National Guard. Put it another way. I don't like your idea of fun. I don't like your museum, and I particularly don't like you. Now, wait a minute, Valentine. That's it. Go on, Bruxy. I don't want to be late for my paper route. Hey, hold it a minute, ain't you? What is it, George? Anything wrong, Reynolds? What? Oh, I'm just sitting here trying to calm down. I had a few drinks before, and... Yeah, you're looking pretty bad shape. Hey, let me have the wheel. I'll take you home. Hop in the back, Bruxy. Really, Mr. Reynolds, you didn't have to bother inviting us in. The least I can do is offer you and Mr. Valentine a drink. Say, look, Reynolds, don't worry about that little scene of it. Baskin's going any farther than us. Thank you. I'm not in the habit of washing my dirty linen in public. Just make yourself comfortable there in the drawing room. I'll call Donna. Yeah, thanks. George, I don't know about you, but... I know, I know. I'm not too comfortable either. We'll just waltz through the formalities and blow. Darling! Over there! Look! Yeah. I've got to think of a Valentine. Donna said... Hey, wait a minute, Reynolds. Could we go across to that room for a minute? Why? What's the matter with you two anyway? Why are you standing there like that? I just think it's better that you don't come in here right now. What are you talking about? What happened? Please, Mr. Reynolds. Get out of my way. Let me in here. Donna. Donna! Take it easy, Reynolds. Don't. But she... she's dead. Here, you better sit down. Oh. Oh. Ask him, drove her to this. Might just as well have pulled the trigger himself. I felt like killing you before, now I will. You can't do that. Let go of me, you... How can you look at her like that and say that? Let go of me! Somehow, Baskin will get what's coming to him. Not Baskin. He never does anything he has to pay for. The law can't punish him. That's why I've got to do this myself. Sorry, Reynolds. I've got to hold you right here until you pull yourself together. Bruxy, call Lieutenant Riley. All right, Valentine, here it is. Yeah, Lieutenant. Between the medical examiner's report and my amateur sleuthing, it's just what you thought it was when you walked into that room across the hall. Suicide, pure and simple. I wasn't questioning that. What? Then what were you questioning? Why did you drag me into the case, just for ol' angzine? Oh, well, it just seemed a good idea at the time. It isn't easy, Lieutenant, to know that a man has driven a woman to suicide and not try to kill her. I've driven a woman to suicide and not try to do something about him. Okay, Valentine, I know your heart's in the right place, but look, young boy, why don't you grow up? There's a lot of slimy characters in this world. But, Lieutenant Riley, we know Baskin was blackmailing Mrs. Reynolds. Oh, do we? All I know is she wrote him some silly letters and he was gallant enough to return them to her as a Christmas present. If anything, that makes him out just ginger peach. I might give a lot to get something on that guy. Go to it, young boy. Go to it. But remember, keep it legal. Now I got a mosey along. Well, Reynolds, leaving... Yes, yes, there's nothing more for me to do. I'm sorry about everything. Well, so long, Valentine, and good luck. So long. I suppose I should thank you for hoping that before, Valentine. I don't know what I would have done. But there's something else, Reynolds. Yes? Nobody can go racketeering with other people's lives without making at least one bed slip somewhere along the line. It seems there are others who feel like you do and would like to see Baskin dead. I want to find out why. What's that? I want you to hire me to look into our friends' past and present. See if I can find that one little slip. Is it a deal? I suppose so, sure. Okay, you got yourself a dollar a year, man. It may take you years. That's okay, Reynolds. This is going to be a labor of love. We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment. Meanwhile, a word from a wise motorist. Can you imagine driving around the world not once, but four times without an engine repair? Well, in actual mileage, one man has driven even farther than that on compounded RPM motor oil and without an engine repair. His name is George M. Hollingsworth, an insurance agent in Bakersfield, California. Here's what Mr. Hollingsworth said, quote, one of my cars has gone 123,000 miles on RPM without engine repairs, unquote. And lots of western motorists have told us they've driven seven and eight years on RPM without engine repairs. Thousands of others have learned that RPM pays its own way many times over. For RPM is compounded to stop carbon trouble, to guard engine hotspots left bare by ordinary motor oils, and to keep the whole engine system cleaner. Try RPM motor oil tomorrow. Get it at any standard station or any independent Chevron gas station where they say and mean, we'll take better care of your car. And now back to tonight's adventure, George Valentine. Your would-be client turns out to be, among other things, a blackmailer responsible for the suicide of one Donna Reynolds. So in a complete reversal, you find yourself pitted against the gentleman and determined to find just one slip-up somewhere in his checkered career. If you're like George Valentine, you're as patient as a terrier watching a gopher hole. But you get nowhere, except to Lieutenant Riley's office down at headquarters where you've been rudely summoned. I think you know this gentleman, Valentine. I wouldn't admit it to anybody but you, Lieutenant. I, uh, bask him. How are you enjoying your incursion into my life? I've had pleasanter assignments. What do you want with me, Riley? Well, as you know, we're a close little family down here at headquarters. You better give me the next line. I forgot my cue. Sergeant Olson downstairs told me that this gentleman would like to swear out a warrant against you. So I thought we'd better talk it over first. Now, Mr. Bassett... You're doing very well, Lieutenant. Go ahead. Yes. Complaint number one, illegal entry. Valentine, have you been prowling around in Mr. Baskham's apartment? Well, I never. An apartment? Why, I thought it was a museum. Such fascinating exhibits, broken wine glasses, old license plates. I thought it was open to the public. So, as I remember, I did drop in. Yes. Complaint number two, questioning Mr. Baskham's friends causing him unwarranted embarrassment. Oh, no, that's not fair, Lieutenant. Sure, I talked to a lot of people who knew this gentleman, but not one of them would admit to being his friend. Come now, Valentine. Let's not have a battle of wits. You're so unequipped. Touché, Mr. Baskham. Touché. Cliché, Mr. Valentine. Cliché. What the devil's going on here? In two words, a two-syllable, Lieutenant. If he doesn't stop bothering me, I shall expect that warrant to be served. I think that would be all. Good day. Lieutenant, did you get that? Can you tie that monkey? Uh... Now, look here, Valentine. We've broken bread together. Mrs. Riley likes you well like a son. Yeah, and I think of her every time I hear an Irish teller. I told you to keep it legal when it comes to Baskham. He and the commissioner have mutual friends. Why do you keep saying that? Just because of some letters between him and the late Mrs. Reynolds, this drawing room character suddenly becomes Jack the Ripper. What have you found anyway? Nothing much, Lieutenant, nothing much. We check most of the people on those tags in his collection. They all hate his guns, but won't say anything. Okay. Okay, but remember, pal, I warned you. Hello, Lieutenant. May I come in? Oh, Brooks, sure. Tell me to meet you downstairs. Yeah, yeah, I know. Sometimes I'm just an old chatterbox. Well, the last anybody heard of Celeste Dupre was two years ago. She was working in Jake Swansea's cocktail bar out on Fulton Boulevard. Celeste Dupre, how's she mixed up in this? One of her beautiful t-shirt locks is in Baskham's collection of a meadows. Remember, she was accused of murder once? I was going to stop by at Swansea's new club. I thought I'd better talk to you first, Don. Good girl, Brooksy, good girl. We'll go over and have a talk with Jake right now. Swansea says for you to wait in the bar, he'll be right down. Okay, thanks. Come on, Brooksy, let's go. Wait a minute. Just a minute, George. Wouldn't that be Reynolds talking to himself at that corner table? Oh, yeah. Looks like he's drowning his sorrows, coming up for the last time. Let's see if I can get him out of here. Hello, Reynolds. Don't you think you ought to go home? Oh, Valentine. Would you like us to call you a cab, Mr. Reynolds? What I'm doing, I can do better right here. Thank you, Mr. Brooks. You know, getting crocked isn't going to help anything, Reynolds. Got me something, Valentine. Did you get anything on basketball? Skeleton up in the attic, trunk full of kind of $5,000 bills. When do I come to his trial? Okay, Reynolds, you win. Let's take it easy, will ya? Swansea's waving over here at the mayor, you. Oh, I think that's our cue, Mr. Reynolds. Look, Valentine, if Reynolds is a friend of yours, maybe you can get him home. He's been here like that every day. Oh, he'll snap out of it. Look, Swansea, maybe you can help me. Sure, sit down. Can he get you anything, Ms. Brooks? No, thanks. What can you tell me about Celeste of Prairie? Well, Swansea. Cigarette? Uh, you didn't answer my question. When did you leave that kid alone? Didn't you have enough trouble back there being accused of murder and everything? Didn't she work for you once? Yeah. After it happened, I was the only one who'd give her a job. Well, if you want anything, it's on the house. Sit down, Swansea. Now, I asked you, what happened to Celeste of Prairie? What do I find there? Can't you see I don't feel like talking? You know I'm going to find her sooner or later anyway. And when I do, I may come back. I want to know why you didn't tell me. Okay. Don't build any fires under. Make that a personal favor to me. I don't like to see anybody hurt, Swansea. Red Liz at the Shelby Arms. Only now her name is Seal Dawson. Police? Not exactly, Celeste. Or do you prefer Seal? Does it matter? My name's Valentine. I'd like you to answer a few questions. Just whom do you represent? In this case, Valentine, as much as anybody else. I can't keep you from asking questions. Why did you give Lloyd Bask a malachi ahead? What did you? And when did he give you for it? He usually pays for mementos like that. Why don't you leave me alone? I hate to come at you from left field like that, but sometimes it gets results. During my trial, Baskin asked me for luck with my hair. I didn't see any harm in giving it to him. The one I saw looked like a recent acquisition, but we'll let that rest. It's not too bad. What do you mean? You've done pretty well for yourself, Celeste. This TP you live in must run you quite a nut. What do you do for a living? My model clothes. The warmth of a model gets wouldn't run a doghouse in this neighborhood. Now, suppose we get out of here. Hello? Yes. Yes, that's right. I didn't expect you to call. Oh, you should. Take your hand off the phone. Say what I tell you, Celeste, and I'm not fooling you. Valentine just left. Go on. Uh, Valentine just left. What's that? Tell him you want to see him. Get right over here because it's important. No, nothing's wrong. But I wish you'd come over. Yes, very important. Goodbye. I believe you would have hit me if I didn't play parrot for you. Could be, Red, could be. I'm none of my best behavior these days. You don't know who that was. Could have been my cousins and 29 palms. However it was, Celeste, I'll be waiting downstairs in front of the house to greet him. He didn't waste a minute getting here, did you, basket? Valentine, I thought... Don't look so grief-stricken. Celeste didn't cross you. She had to say what I told her. Yeah, you're telling it to quite a problem. Yeah, well, let's go up and join Celeste. We have a lot to talk about you and I. Including why you called her to see if I was here. Ah, you first, basket. Yes, I could stand to drink with that. As I recall when we first met, you were wondering what became of Celeste's pride. Oh, that... There you are, basket. Hey, Reynolds. I was waiting for you. I'm going to kill you. Hey, don't drop it, Reynolds. Stop that. That door of mine... He's getting away. I'm out of here. One of those bullets nearly had my name on it. You heard? I didn't expect you. Now, let's get out of here. Cops will be flogging around here any minute. I'll talk to you later. Hey, would you take it easy, Bruxy? All the pieces of the puzzle are there, but it's still a puzzle. All right, but hold your arms still. Bascum is in the middle of something big. It may be genteel, but it's against the law. Now, what could it be? Do you think that could... Ouch! Hey, look, Angel, stop fussing. Well, it's only a scratch. Well, it could have been more than that. Darling, why don't you let this thing ride? Somebody's going to make a little hole in you yet. Anyway, Reynolds isn't going to rest until he gets Bascum, and there's nothing you can do about it. Think of it, hiding there in the lobby, waiting. If only... Sure. Sure, that's it. Just like that. Wham! Sorry. Are you off on another tizzy? What is it now? Go on, Bruxy B, to take a walk for yourself. Find yourself some saltwater teffy. Will you get off the banter wagon and tell me what this is all about? If you want to find out, meet me at Lieutenant Riley's in about an hour. Now, go on. All right. I don't like tassels. You mind if I make it cough drop for this cold? Oh, Bruxy, baby, you put your finger right on it. Hey, operator, let me have the phone number of Jake Swansea's club 18. Look, Valentine, you could have come over to the club if you wanted to see me. Oh, no, Swansea, you wouldn't want anything like this to happen in your club. Oh, my God! Hey, what is that for? What's the price? I got to get you in the mood to talk about the tie-up between you and Celeste and Baskerville. You say around town you're a little buzz-headed, and I never believed it before. Come on out of your talk or do we have ourselves a game of ping-pong first? I don't mind. You don't want to bite me, Jake. You keep him up there. I know what about it, Swansea. What about it? Smart guy. I'll put my knee right through you if you don't open up. All right, all right. Okay. Just lay there. Catch your breath. Howdy. Anyone ask me? First, I'm going to tell you. Yeah? What? You're not just mixed up in blackmail, muster. There's murder involved. Go on. You know about it, and you're prompted by it. That's being an accessory after the fact. They lock you away for that. Yeah. I see what you mean, pal. Okay, now you're being bright. If you play it smart, maybe they'll go easy on you. You win. I guess this calls for a drink. Yes, Swansea. And a little trip down the headquarters. Okay, Swansea, okay. You've been very eloquent. I just wanted to be helpful, Lieutenant. Oh, yes, yes, I know. Well, now you can join Mr. Pray in the other office. Oh, Sergeant, send Baskerman here. I'm right here, Lieutenant. Well, well, sit down. Thank you. At any time, you look a mess. Fighting again? Ah, yeah. But it was worth it just for this one little occasion. Baskam, you met Celeste during a trial. What happened? You were looking for mementos for your collection. You didn't get one until some time after, when you and she got to know each other rather well. But don't expect any comments from me. You're spinning this fairy tale. All right then, Baskam, shut up. So sorry. In fact, you and Celeste became so chummy that somehow she found herself in a perfect spot. You had arranged all the unpleasant details, Baskam. And she could sit back and blackmail you groggy. And Swansea was just the boy to see that you paid off. Come on, son, come on, get to the point for the man. The murder. The murder? Oh, you know all about that, Baskam, don't you? After all, you worked it out. Deliverly fancy, but very neat. Classy picture of suicide, motive and all. Yet it was murder. Lieutenant, I'm beginning to present the unrestrained use of that word as a connection with me. Yeah? Well, I'll just take my chances on you of being angry with me, too, Mr. Baskam. I'm holding you on suspicion of murder. On what evidence? With what Mr. Prey and Swansea will have to say, I'll risk being wrong. Mr. Reynolds, just arrived, Lieutenant. Oh, yeah? Well, I suppose he ought to know what's been going on, so we haven't come in. I should like to call my attorney, Lieutenant. There'll be plenty of time for that. Come on, Anne Reynolds, you missed the fireworks. What's that? Well, this should give you some satisfaction. We're holding Baskam for the murder of your wife. What's that? Could you say, murder? Yes. Oh, Sergeant, take this guy away now. All right, come on now. This way. I'll wait a minute. Hold this, Sergeant. I don't want you to make two trips. What's this, Lieutenant? Don't rush me, Lieutenant. Tonight when you were pouring shots at Baskam, you were really trying to kill me, Reynolds. What are you saying? Why would I do that? You didn't follow him to Celeste's place, as you said. You couldn't have. You were already inside the lobby. Miss Brooks reminded me of that. Then everything fell into place. I still want to know what reason I'd have for doing anything like that. What about it, Valentine? A man will do anything to get away with murder, Lieutenant. It was Reynolds who killed his wife. Oh. Oh, will you stop it, Brooks? Oh, be still. You're just a big baby. Nothing but a little iodine. Oh, a little iodine. A little iodine. Lieutenant, do something. She's tortured. Oh, you'll live, chum boy. Fine thing. I fix your arm and you have to go and get into a fight. I guess people never will learn. I mean about murder. If they want to kill, why don't they just bash somebody over the head without being fancy? What a fine way for a Lieutenant to talk. Oh, they'll get caught. Sure, sure. But think of all the trouble they'd save. Oh, but don't forget the creative touch, Lieutenant. It means a lot to a man like Baskam. Think of the setup. Months back, he introduces his charming pal, Reynolds, to the wealthy Donner. She marries Reynolds all according to the plan. Ouch. Oh, quiet, Junior. Then it's all a build-up to our entrance, St. June. We were there to witness the clash between the aggrieved husband and the supposed blackmailer. And all the time the poor woman was lying home dead. No threats on Baskam's life? No letters for Reynolds to burn. No blackmail, no nothing. Just a plain, unsimple murder. Reynolds gets the money from the estate. Divides it with Baskam, then Swansea and the girl get their cut from him. Let's settle it. Hmm. Don't tell me you're through, Bruxy. Yes, Sissy. Hmm. I can see that when little George falls off his scooter, I'll have to render first aid. Uh, what's that? Little George? And when his baby sister tumbles out of her high chair, I'll have to... Oh, George Valentine. Sometimes you get me so mad I could... Oh, oh, oh, Bruxy. Oh, what? That's no way to talk to the father of two children. With 1949 just four days away, probably you've got your list of New Year's resolutions well started. But how about putting this resolution near the top of your list? Why not promise yourself to get the most out of your car? To do this, make sure you ask for Chevron Supreme gasoline, the premium quality gasoline that you can get at all standard stations and independent Chevron gas stations. The reason Chevron Supreme allows your car to do its very best is that it's fortified with high-octane blending agents. These blending agents give your car smoother acceleration on the straightaway, smoother power and extra power on the steepest hills. Also, Chevron Supreme's climate tailored to each different altitude and temperature zone in the west. Tailored to give you fast starts and speedy pickup in stop-and-go traffic. So for best motoring in 1949, why not make a resolution right now to give your car peak performance by getting Chevron Supreme gasoline at independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations, where they say and mean, we'll take better care of your car. Next Monday night, a new case for George, murder and one to go. Tonight's adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard of California on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the west. Let George do it. Stars Robert Bailey as George with Francis Robinson as Claire. Wally Mayer appears as Lieutenant Riley. Tonight's story was written by David Victor and Herbert Little Jr. and directed by Don Clark. Also heard in the cast were J. Nevello as Lloyd Bascom, Louis Van Root and as Reynolds, Gloria Blondel as Celeste and Ken Christie as Swansea. The music is composed and conducted by Eddie Dunstetter, your announcer, John Easton. Listen again next week for Murder and One to Go on Let George Do It. Remember, next week, those listeners who are now in standard time states will hear this broadcast one hour later. This is the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System.