 Dana Andrews in an exciting tale of danger and espionage. I was a communist for the FBI From the actual records and authentic experiences of math sephatic come many of the incidents in this unusual story Here is our star Dana Andrews as math sephatic who for nine fantastic years lived as a communist for the FBI When you pose as a communist for the FBI, you're on guard constantly Wondering if the party suspect you being careful never to make a slip This is all part of my nine years as a communist for the FBI In a moment listen to Dana Andrews as math sephatic undercover man math sephatic undercover man This story from the confidential file is marked red red herring The eye you live the life of a spy You trust no one tell nobody what you're really doing not even your own family and hanging over you every minute is the threat of exposure Being found out You know what that would mean so you stay on guard, but still you can't cover everything This is mad from fine, mom. Any messages for me? No There was man here earlier this evening a man one of my yes one of them one of those Comments you mean look What did he say you wanted? Tonight when are you going to come to your senses and break away from this terrible organization? Mom back home here with the rest of us mom We've been over all this before And that was here cold and hard Suspicious they were his name Burkhead Burkhard. Are you sure you're sure that was the name? Trouble oh, of course not mom. I gotta go now. I'll be calling you. Huh. Goodbye Judio was a second floor piano school on 9th Street We used it for secret meeting sometimes in case the regular hall was wired Two men beside Burkhard were waiting for me her beam inch chairman of the cell at the time and Jason cook secretary None of them look friendly Sorry, herb. I didn't get home till late you have met comrade Burkhard Yes, about eight months ago in New York possibly you don't remember it come I remember it Sit down take the chair at the end of the table. Thanks Did you say something about not getting home until late That's right, and mom gave you the message so I came straight on down here come at spedic Are you certain you even went home? What do you mean very Lizali was waiting for you all evening in a parked car in front of your house mat He just phone said you still hadn't showed up What is this what difference does it make when I come home and what's the idea of having Benny spying on me? I'm sure none of us in the party would mind a little questioning from his leaders unless he had something to hide What do you mean something to hide? You know my record in the party. You know the work. I've done maybe we've only known part of it Svetik come at cook. I'll handle this if you don't mind Svetik would you mind telling me about your operation at the Conover manufacturing company on over What do you mean about planning that agent in the drafting department? That's right Well, I got him hard through my connections in the US employment service Still working at the plan is a draft one using the name of Kepler and what were his instructions come at spedic The Conover plant is working on army contracts control mechanisms for guided missiles Kepler was to keep his eyes open and pass along any Information he could get a hold of and that's what he's been doing and has he made contact with any other party members at the plant? No, he was specifically told not to None of the others even know he's there who does know about Kepler. Well, just myself Comrades cook Venus here only the three of you And all three of course are of unquestioned loyalty to the party. I don't get it Burkhard. What are you driving at? Just this Comrade Kepler was arrested by the FBI today. I was caught off base. The three of them sat there watching me waiting for my reaction The heat was on. It was a luck How did it happen? We thought you might know comrade Svetik. I wish I did But I don't see what possibly could have gone wrong It almost seems as though the FBI had been Tipped off about it tipped off But no one except Bemis and cook and I even knew tipped off by whom by you spedic you dirty rat Now wait a minute cook spedic the evidence at the moment seems to bury him out evidence The evidence of elimination Seems highly improbable that either comrade Bemis or comrade cook could be a traitor They've both been in the party for years. All right, but why pick me you're the only other person who knew Kepler's assignment that I'm elected Is that it? Yes Unless Kepler has a different idea that seems to be it Meanwhile, you check in at the Barrett Hotel with comrade Lozatti. You stay with you until we make a decision Guarding me. Is that what you mean? Comrade Svetik. Yes Lozatti will be guarding you Then in Lozatti and I checked into the Barrett Hotel a half an hour later I was on the spot and I knew it, but I did have one advantage I realized that Burkhardt and the others were only guessing they had no real evidence of my connection with the FBI If I could manage to slip them a red herring some other fall guy a Plan began to take shape, but somehow I had to contact the FBI and fast I Got the chance when Benny decided to take a shower and clean up I waited until he had the water running then ease the phone off the hook and gave the operator the FBI number This is Parker L's with Parker Kepler business. Sorry. We couldn't warn you He got hold of some top-secret stuff this afternoon. We had to move in on where are you now Barrett Hotel 417 look I've got to make contact tonight. All right. Where I'll try to be downstairs in the Barrett Grill Benny Lozatti will be with me. I'll be covered. So it'll have to be smooth check Hey, Benny What's a three letter word meaning a small dirty rodent resembling a rat? How do I know? three letters like a rat Hey Maybe it's the FBI Yeah, it's a good guess for the second letter is a I don't get no place when I try to work them crossword puzzles. Look, Benny You don't think I'm working for the Lazy FBI. Do you that ain't up to me, man? All I'm doing is being sure that you stick around until they make up their minds After that well, I do what they tell me to Well, we'll find out tomorrow How's about something to eat Benny? You got sandwiches or something? No, the grills open downstairs Who's buying? I'll buy well As long as it's still in the hotel. I don't see why not wait a second 27 horizontal Slang term for gullible person who is easily swindled six letters. Oh forget it man. I don't know nothing about that stuff Wait, I got it. That's your CK er sucker Okay, Benny. Let's go The crossword puzzle was only a blind I'd folded a sheet of note paper underneath and along with working the puzzle I'd written some quick instructions to pass along to the FBI if they were able to make contact. It was all up to them There was a late supper crowd and the grill was about half full when Benny and I walked in We took a booth in the corner ordered some food. I looked around the room trying to spot my contact no luck 10 minutes passed and Then some little blonde number who had been playing the jukebox apparently decided we looked available Okay, if a lady sits down You're too anxious. I'm gonna sit over here by Mr. Womanhater. Where do you get the womanhater idea cuz you act like it You're unfriendly, you know, I used to go around with a guy like you fellow named Parker I don't remember his first name. I see Music stop anybody got some nickel. I sure baby. I got some change. What do you want to hear? All right, honey, it's Ellsworth Parker are you Washington office transferred out here three days ago. What's up plenty? They put this goon on me until they decide whether I'm working for the FBI Hold still I'm going to slip a paper into your coat pocket. Yeah Got it. I'll be back in a minute. Most of the instructions are on that paper Tell them to use Richards for the frame. Benny knows it Richard on the frame up tech Have them stick the coffee shop from seven o'clock on the meeting's called for eight right and good luck. Thanks. I'll need it Betty Basin Where's Benny and who's this girl you're with? She ain't with him Jason. She's with both of us. What are you doing here? I live here you half-wit Oh, yeah, yeah, I forgot you lived at the bar Where were you Benny this play in the jukebox? What's eating you Jason? Get rid of this girl Hey, what's coming off here playing clothesman? I said get out Look you didn't have to do that Jason we were just having some fun You were given an assignment get up to your room and stay there both of you. Yeah, but come on Benny He's frothing at the mouth already. Why cook? What are you so excited about? I'm going to enjoy breaking you spedic. You know that sounds like a personal feeling with me the party always comes first I wonder if you're as loyal as you claim to be you Good night. Comrade. Come on, Benny Jason was a rabid Marxist and along with it. He carried a sullen sadistic hatred of the whole world Even the other party members detested him. That's what I was counting on because I'd picked Jason cook for my fall guy Sevetik and I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story was own room a few floors above Then he and I turned in I lay there for a while thinking as I had many times before That these things weren't happening in Europe or Asia. This was the USA my own country I'd grown up in it and never realized until I started working undercover for the FBI Communist plotters spies secret police the whole rotten authoritarian system right here in America, and I'd never known it It was just before daylight when the knock came at the door of our room What's matter? Hey, was that you Matt? Oh somebody at the door Benny. I'll get it Good morning comrade Svetik Mind if I come in Would it make any difference if I did not in the least However, you're hardly showing the attitude of a loyal party member. I'm sorry comrade I want to get to the bottom of this just as much as you do. I imagine so Take the chair there beneath the lamp. Oh comrade Lizadie. I suggest you go back to sleep. Stay in bed This doesn't concern you Now let's review the facts in this matter again now this time of the morning There is no one as truthful as a drowsy witness comrade Svetik We often prove that principle at the lenient Institute suppose we turn the lamp so It's right in my eyes. Yes another little technique of the Institute We've just lost a very valuable agent and we seem to have a trader in our midst an FBI informer I'm sure it's the desire of both of us comrade Svetik to discover that tool of the enemy and to Eradicate him lean back comrade Relax Look at the light. There's nothing to worry about The questioning went on for an hour and a half Burkhardt was clever. He reworded phrases and used trick questions But when he finally turned off the light and left I was fairly certain I hadn't fumbled anything Not that I was any closer to being in the clear of course That would depend on what happened in the coffee shop between 7 30 and 8 in the evening Yes, we got plenty of time to eat get over the meeting by 8 o'clock Funny time betting man. I'm so hungry. I could eat a three-pound sailing easy comrade. That's capital is food Yeah Just wait'll we take over and see what we give them these no share and share alike Benny not for them crumb buns We'll be the big shots then all us guys have done the dirty work What about the old brother of a man? Oh, that's for the birds met We'll be the guys with the big cars and the dames and anybody that don't like it knows what they can do You know something Benny you and I think exactly alike I went on eating and talking to Benny But I kept my eyes on my top coat hanging on the wall by the cashier's desk At 7 35 a small unobtrusive man a few tables away finished his meal and went up to pay his check He fished through his pockets for change and casually brushed against my coat No one else noticed but I did the FBI had made a plan I knew a sealed envelope had been slipped into the pocket of my coat The first half of my instructions had been carried out So far so good, but the second half of the plan kept hanging fire I knew Jason cooks habits. I figured him to leave the hotel by 7 40 But at 7 45 he still hadn't come out and I began to sweat then at 10 minutes till 8 I saw him leave the main entrance and start along the sidewalk outside the window by our table Look man. There's Jason leaving the hotel where oh Yeah, I must be on his way to the meeting. Oh, it looks like he's running to a friend Yeah, he's stopping to talk to somebody. Oh, no, no, I guess not Guy must have just wanted him light Jason's given him some matches. Yeah, I guess that is it Fellas doing a lot of talking though. Oh might be somebody who lives here at the man What's the matter Benny? I know that guy. Oh, he questioned me once His name is Richards. He's an FBI agent. Oh, you must be mistaken Benny Look, he's shaking hands with Jason patting him on the back. I'm not mistaken His name is Richards and he's FBI Come me so friendly with Jason. I don't know but I'm beginning to wonder why What's the wonder about Jason's the guy to look at the he's the stool pigeon. Oh, there must be some That match business was nothing but a cover-up I bet he handed a report or something the riches right then. Yeah or took something from it. That's it. I'll pay off That's what it was. Look Matt. Will you back me up? Sure, Benny? I'll back you up It was eight o'clock when Benny and I climbed the stairs to the meeting hall Jason Burkhart and Bemis were already inside As we took off our topcoats in the anti-room I managed to slip my planted envelope into the pocket of Jason's coat and we went on inside No late spedic. What's the matter? Afraid to paste the music. I've got nothing to be afraid of Jason as I told Comet Burkhart this morning when he Interrogated me hardly an interrogation Comet spedic rather a mutual attempt to arrive at the facts. All right a mutual attempt then Is a birdie Ken Matt our lawyer got in to see comrade Kepler today. Yeah, what happened be miss Kepler says there was no reason for him being picked up except on a tip-off See and he picks you for the number one probability Why on what basis basis? You're the only one it could have been What more basis does anybody need then apparently in the face of nothing more than a wild guess all the work I've done for the party doesn't mean a thing It's a matter of total security the good of the cause itself. Don't you agree with that principle comrade spedic? Yes, of course I agree, but I wait a second everybody I Got a question here on my own I want to ask Benny you're only here on an assignment. Nobody's interested in your question Well, I think they might be if they heard it come at the side Jason Who is that guy you met out in front of the hotel a few minutes ago the one at shook hands with you and Potting on the back. I don't know who he was. He wanted to borrow a match. What difference does it make? It might make quite a lot Jason Benny says he knows the guy. Well, what of it plenty the guy's name is Richard He's an FBI agent Are you certain of that sure I am he picked me up once you don't think I'd forget them Do you I tell you the man asked me for a match commented on the weather? I don't know why he shook hands I didn't know he was an FBI. He gave you something to Jason. What was it? Nothing, that's a lie. You can search me if you want. I think that's an excellent suggestion If you don't mind, they're lying both of them. I only know what I saw Jason I didn't think anything of it myself until Benny recognized the man doesn't seem to be anything incriminating Unless didn't you wear a top coat this evening come let cook sure he did. He had it on when he was talking to the guy What'd you hide it Jason? What'd you do with it? It's in the anti-room you for what did you think I'd do with it? Would you bring the coat come I'd be miss? Yes, of course This is ridiculous. Why everybody knows sit down come let cook As I think back over it I recall you as being the one most energetic in pressing the suspicion against comrade spedic I find that somewhat interesting sure. He was just trying to cover up for his own game. Here's the coat comrade Birkin. Oh, yes Nothing in this pocket. I told you there wasn't just a moment That's not mine. I never saw that envelope before seal no address. No, it's a frame of somebody planted that on me Hey money, yes $500 is that the price you got for capital comrade. It's a lie. I don't understand it We've got to get to the bottom of this and find out quiet comrade spedic Seems we owe you an apology. That's all right comrade I'm just glad we found out the truth and happy that I can go on serving the party as I have in the past I Made me hungry man go for a sandwich the grill still open. No, I think I'll grab a Texan going home, Benny I wonder what they'll do to Jason or run him out of town beat him up a little maybe I Wish they'd give me that job When you think about him being the one who was always trying to push everybody else around and all the time He was stolen for the FBI. You never know Benny. You just never know It's a body. Yeah, somebody jumped out of the hotel Pardon me, pardon me, please Matt, it's it's yeah, let's get out of here. It's Jason. It was he couldn't take it Couldn't face the disgrace. He committed suicide. Maybe I Didn't know whether Jason cook had fallen jumped or whatever. I still don't know for sure But I do know that Burkhart left town early the next morning as Bemis put it. His work here was finished I left Benny and walked along the street alone. I felt sick all over Maybe Jason deserved it, but I hadn't planned to put him on that kind of a spot. I Tried to push it out of my mind An undercover agent can't afford feelings any more than he can afford friends or a family And the one main objective was still safe. I was still on the job Still a communist for the FBI I Still walk alone. This is Dana Andrews with the word about the story. You've just heard in this story as in all others Names dates and places are fictitious to protect innocent persons Many of these stories are based on incidents in the life of Matt Sabetic who worked undercover for the FBI Next week another fantastic adventure. Join us. Want you?