 Two weeks from tonight October 5th. You bet your life starring Groucho Marks will be heard at this time over most of these same CBS station We offer you escape starring Victor mature Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure You were camped in the dry mountains of Mexico 100 yards from a treasure and buried gold a beautiful girl is sitting across the fire with a gun and Somewhere out in the night a horseman waits like the girl For you to make just one mistake Tonight with Victor mature as Toby Manning we escape to Mexico with a story of conflict between love and the lust for gold As Jeffrey household told it in the fortune of Vargas from his exciting novel the third hour It was dark and hot the tropic night air was like warm steam Night sounds drifted over from the docks and from the native quarter of Panama City I stood outside the hotel entrance and looked up at the lighted window on the third floor where Baitley was waiting After tonight, I hoped I'd never see his ugly face again Somewhere Somehow I had to make the break Okay, okay, you can have your three weeks off, but you'll never do it You haven't got the guts to break away Baitley It doesn't take guts to break away from a lousy job peddling mining machinery in Latin America Oh look Toby you could be South American manager in ten years It could settle down and work at it and stop beating your head against the wall. Yeah. Yeah Yeah, maybe in 25 years. I could retire and drop dead Look all I need is one right break and I'll take it from there any kind of a break You need more than a break Toby if one fell right in your lap You'd play it just so far and then you'd start doubting yourself or somebody else and that's what would beat you maybe so But I've got the next three weeks now look every time I come to Panama You say you're gonna quit every time you tell me a big chance for real money is just around the corner Why don't you get wise to your all right? All right lay off of you. Will you bakely? Report to me in New York on the 29th. I'll lay out your new schedule for you Don't count on it. You'll be there. All right. I'll give you out on it I'll bet you don't do a thing except sit in the Sun for the next three weeks Sit in the Sun for three weeks That would suit Bailey fine To see me come crawling back again Well, I didn't have a definite plan, but I knew I'd keep on the move I was so fed up with Bailey the job mining machinery. I'd have jumped at anything a Guy in a mood like that Can get into plenty of trouble and three days later? I found it You have any dust in your minding welcome back to colonel to the cafe Madrid. Hi, Emanuel. What's new new? Well, it's not our Amigo the world grows older, but that is not you Yeah, and they say Amigo sit down sit down. Thanks. How's business? Say your place is empty. Well, she's sometimes good sometimes bad, but never it is Interesting see or in fact, I have said to myself with a life of this kind. I am Yeah, how do you call it that up? Hey, see see yeah, I saw my look Why don't we team up and start a revolution somewhere? Caramba I was in one once in Mexico. I was a captain with dinner a lot We were defeated Lara Lara was ambushed somewhere around Torrey on wasn't he see a Migo? We were outnumbered and he was killed, but I was more lucky. I walked 300 kilometer to the sea coast escape on a Dutch freight ship I hope I will never do that again. I hope so too. You know, there's not much profit in revolution All right, let me have a raw manual see Here you are, sir. Thanks You were wrong about the revolutions in your manning in Mexico with Henry Lara May they fortune like a man never dreams about Enough to open this cafe. Look, I don't call that a fortune in your manning in Mexico is one half million dollars in gold Which belong to me a half a million bucks. Yeah. Yeah, sure. It is true. I may go. I swear it You would take a little chance for that much perhaps perhaps And we are going to have talk tonight. I have already decided that before you come here this time I don't get it. What do you mean? Why you think I ask questions from you always when you come here, huh? You tell me because I wish to find out if you are right man for the plan I have I have decided you are a boy now. Well, let's talk tonight and my cousin. Why not now? You think there is no danger for one who knows the secret to a fortune one must be careful a fortune a The big chance Come on Manuel, let's get over to your casser and start dealing the cards So is it tell you senior manning everything works according to the plan which Henry Lara has made the dynamite Explodes and the train is wrecked our men break open the freight cars and load the pack horses and ride for the round of wood Torion everybody except to you and general I was at it see senior We are the only ones who know of the shipment of gold, which is secretly on board We find it of course load our horses and head north to the hills with the federalist close behind us At nightfall we bury the gold and ride for Torion I have four days later and there are Lara is killed and I escape as I tell you and the gold is still there a half a million dollars worth see senior And I am the only man who knows where to find it But if I enter Mexico, I will be executed within 24 hours That is why I need a partner. You've got one only one thing amigo Do not think that there will be no danger In Mexico are thousands of banditos who will cut your throat for one tenth as much money And on the other hand a half a share in a fortune a quarter of a million dollars I'd shoot the works for a whole lot less than that point Then I will explain to you how to find the foot what is Here's somebody move outside the window Almost up here careful, Manuel Manuel away from that door here. Let me get the lights off There did you see who it was? No, I think the shotgun from the bushes across from the door Well, maybe we better take a look Let's get to the door fast and step to the side. You got your gun season. You're okay. Let's go I do not hear anything senior. No, this is black as a hat I'm going across Manuel Keep me covered boy. No, it's nobody there amigo. No Whoever it was must have run down the alley there as soon as they fire Say you've got any ideas. Well, it's no amigo Look Manuel if nobody but you and Laura knew about this gold and Laura's dead Then how come the shot and why have you been packing a gun? Senior Manning When there is a treasure so big as this It is possible that even the coyotes can smell it You still Wish to go on Yeah, I still wish to go on three days later on the train between Mexico City and Durango I got a few of the answers or thought I did The coach had been empty most of the way except for a couple of soldiers up ahead and a few Indians near the back I was busy watching for some of the landmarks Varga had given me So I didn't pay much attention to the Mexican girl who came in and sat down the seat opposite. That is not until she spoke Then you're You're wasting your time This three kilometers farther yet. Hmm. What place where the train was, right? I Said we're not there yet Honey, I don't think I know what you're talking about. You're lying You know well enough and do not call me honey, senior. My name is consuela consuela. Hmm. That's a pretty name Honey, do not play the fool with me Manuel Vargas. Tell you where he hide the gold. So do not lie to me. Oh So it was you out there in the bushes with the gun that night You know, you're a bum shot. I do not try to hit somebody I only shoot to have the chance to get away What a fool if you think because I am a woman I am weak I know all the tricks of men. They are peros dogs all of them and I would not trust one that far Okay, honey, take it easy take it easy. I spend a long time to find Manuel in Cologne. I watched But I learned nothing until you come And now I am here for my one half share of the gold What do you mean your hand? Penarallara was my father So that's your right Well, you'll have to work it out with Varga. I don't know anything about I am telling you now You'll still think I'm a silly girl who can do nothing Look All right, look It's a nice guy. You better put it back down You see honey if you shoot me you'd have no one to lead you to the gold. I know where it is You don't You lead me to it and don't forget. I'm very good at shooting Okay, honey for the time being count yourself in But have no mistake senior I shall take my share of this gold Even if I must kill you to get it you understand sure I understand we'll argue about that later And something else, sir. Yes Do not call me honey I Guess we're ready to pull out. How about a councilman? Well, thanks a lot for your trouble see not by squalus say you know it looks like you've run it as five of the best horses in It's very bad country for jargon senior perhaps you would like to hire a guy No, thanks. I know that country pretty well, but of course a guru and you're going to call it the mine During the same you read time cell machinery, but that yeah, yeah, that's right I think you need a guide senior some of the mines are very hard to find especially the gold mine Gold mines. Oh Well as far as I know it's all lead in silver country up there Of course see mostly it is but there is an old saying gold is where you find it But I don't know senior wasting time this man would be of no help to us. How do you know ever seen him before of course not Well, you ask just wondered. I've never seen him before Okay, honey, how do you senior? Goodbye my children Oh, we have an cheeto Have my horse ready to live up once I'm going to take a little trip You are listening to escape Starring Victor mature Tonight's a big night on CBS for the welcome mat is out for two of radio's greatest shows the Bing Crosby show and the return of Burns and Allen in just a little while over many of these same stations Derbingle will be on hand with his songs his humor and his guests comedian Abe Burroughs and Peggy Lee Right after Bing's housewarming George and Gracie will keep the celebration going with the first of their new series So stay with us tonight for Bing Crosby and for Burns and Allen and their opening shows on CBS where this fall you hear them all Now back to escape starring Victor mature We camped at dusk about a quarter of a mile from the spot where the train had been dynamite Vargas had given me directions starting from there After we ate I lit a cigarette and rolled up my blanket and watched Consuelo cross the fire She was worth watching. I kept wondering about several things But mostly who the horseman was who has been following us all day I'd seen the dust cloud hanging back a mile or so behind us ever since we left Durango I didn't say anything about it to Consuelo. I still hadn't decided what I was going to do about it I figured I was fairly safe from her or from anybody else until the minute I tipped off the location of the gold And right thens when the picture would change and change plenty Just wondering some things With the girl like you would really kill me just for gold All right, but let's drop the senior make it Toby Look Suppose I made a deal with you string along and don't start any trouble until I get the gold in New York Then if you're really Lars daughter, I'll try to get Vargas to agree on a three-way split one third for each of us What do you say? I Think I do not like it You know York, I will be in strange place here. I'm at home here, too. I have gone In save it well think it over anyway, but your best bet I'm gonna turn in now We'll start early in the morning Yeah, I Will think it over but senior Toby yeah I wish you to know that I Do not trust you either Okay, honey, I do not trust anybody you understand that sure sure I understand Good night. Cancel the second day out the traveling was ten times as rough and all day long Same dust cloud stayed with us following a mile or so behind I knew there'd have to be a showdown sooner or later But not yet when we finally made camp at nightfall I was dripping with sweat and dog tired and Consuelo was slumped in her saddle All of manuals landmarks had checked out during the day and although she didn't know it The gold was supposed to be buried within a hundred yards of our camp This was the night to trim the cat's claws I Was counting on one thing that she couldn't stay awake two nights in succession And I was right by two hours after dark with the full moon barely above the horizon Consuelo was sound asleep. I slid out of my bedroll and moved quietly around the fire towards her I knew the gun was under the blanket of her head. So I bent over her and slowly Gently slipped my hand on her and found it eased it out into the open inch by inch and dropped it into my pocket I'd forgotten about her knife until it glinted in the moonlight. She leaped from the ground and came for me I'd earn for his scratch While she's Twisted fought like a pad for as small as she was I could hardly hold Get hold of her other hand I don't wonder the life the life might slip loose at any second But staying on our feet I could see only one thing to do I pulled her towards Bend her arm back and twist it drop it cancel drop that knife No drop that sorry You shouldn't she'll drop it Don't he spring better than being cut to ribbons the way I've been Why you waste time talking? You think I'm afraid to die. You're wrong. You have the gun you have my knife Go ahead. Kill me while you wait. Wait a minute. What do you get this idea? I'm going to kill you Well, why else you wait for me to sleep and steal my gun. Oh you silly little fool Look, I was trying to make sure you wouldn't take a shot at me after we located the gold tomorrow You weren't Not going to kill me of course not look Why don't you get smart and find out you can trust somebody once in a while? I'll wake up now and get some sense in your head. I'll shake some sense into you if I have to Yeah Here Here's your knife I know I know I know but look you better keep it for protection Never mind. Just just take it Well, I'm going to turn in now and look you'd better get some sleep, too. We got a tough day to borrow and honey If you decide to cut my throat during the night make a clean job of it. Are you awake? Yeah Buenos nachos I was a fool to give her back the knife Still if she wanted to kill me it wouldn't make any difference She could knock my head in with a rock while I was asleep just as easy. I Never know on a woman like her At 10 o'clock the next morning we found the gold That is all you Toby. There's no more. No, it's all on the pack horses Now look starting right now. We're going to ride hard until we hit the Narses River Somebody's been following us ever since we left the wrangler I don't know who it is or why maybe you do Toby. I swear. I do not okay. Okay here Now look you better take your gun back. You may need it in case we get separated I'm going to stay with the gold sure you are but you better take the gun anyway now come on Let's go Mile after mile we pushed our horses on the trail to the north riding most of the day over broken basalt rock to hide our Trail there was no dust cloud to show whether anyone followed, but I was sure somebody did I was hoping to reach the Narses River before the showdown came I knew there was only a rope bridge over the narrow gorge and once across I would cut the ropes and Close off any further chance of being followed. So we pushed the horses and rode hour after hour By late afternoon cancella complained more and more being tired Wanted to stop at rest and I couldn't be sure she wasn't trying to slow us down Two hours after talk we reached the river You're not alone honey Lucky there's a moon. This thing's no cinch to cross in the dark. It looks very weak It's only held up by ropes. It's safe enough. Whoa boy. Whoa now whoa whoa Hold my horse. I'll leave the pack animals across on foot to be Are you worried about me or the gold hurry, please take them across Can you see he's in the shadow right by the bridge it's past quality that guy in Durango Were you expecting Your you will drop your pistol on the ground very slowly Was very kind of you to discover the gold for me How did you know we were looking for I forgot to tell you in Durango? I'm Sargenti Alberto Pascuales formally with the fourth regiment of general Lara and the army of the revolution One of my father's soldiers for five years. I have wait for Captain Vargas to come back for the fortune, which I knew he had a stolen Stand out in the moonlight Bastante that's far enough Now I lead the horses across the bridge and then I cut the rope so that you cannot follow me If you move I will have to kill you To be quiet and don't move it doesn't know I have a gun. No consular. No, no don't don't Pack horses reared at the shots I lunged to stop them stumbled into consular grabbed her and held on to the people from falling the half mad animals carried Pascuales out under the bridge and drove him along in further pounding hooves I heard the rope supports creek and groan and then snap with a loud crack They're like slow motion the whole end of the bridge Pasquale isn't at three pack horses loaded with gold it plunged down into the guards below Hurt what do you mean? No easy not lucky you're going to be all right. Now don't worry Yeah I like it very much When you call me Sure, honey, I'll be calling to that thousands of times. Well, I'll be Can't you I'll Can't you I'll I know there in the moonlight holding her my arms With the bare-brown hills of Mexico around me and curse myself for a fool The gold was gone Lost in the torrent at the bottom of the gorge But it didn't seem to matter very much. I found a greater treasure Because I had too little faith that treasure lay dead in my arms. I Lord her gently and sat there for a long time Then I picked up the gun she died trying to use The empty gun I'd taken the cartridges out of because I didn't trust her and threw it into the gorge Then I dropped down on the ground and wet. I remembered Batley's words You need more than a break to be if one fell right in your lap You'd play it just so far and then you'd start doubting yourself or somebody else Told you'd show up to be you even got here a day early. Yeah, I know Bailey Well, let's settle up my schedule. You must have had yourself quite a vacation Didn't find the big chance did you know I didn't find well what you do you sit around in the sun for three weeks Come on. Tell me about it. Didn't anything happen. That's right Bailey You hit it square on the head Nothing happened Not a thing Escape was produced and directed by Gordon T. Hughes with Victor mature starring as Toby Manning tonight We have presented the fortune of Vargas adapted for radio by less Crutchfield Victor mature will soon be seen in the 20th century Fox Technicolor production Wabash Avenue Next week we escape with Van Heflin starring in Joseph Perkishheimer's terrifying story wild oranges Good night, then until this same time next week when once again we offer you escape starring Van Heflin This is CBS where Bing Crosby can be heard every Wednesday night The Columbia Broadcasting System