 From Hollywood, California, the Lux Radio Theatre presents Edward G. Robinson in Bullets or Ballots with Mary Aster, Humphrey Bogart and Otto Krueger. Lux presents Hollywood. Bullets or Ballots. This is the question answered in tonight's play. The vivid drama of a battle against racketeers. Screened by Warner Brothers, you'll hear it starring Edward G. Robinson, Mary Aster, Humphrey Bogart and Otto Krueger. While our special guest is Frank B. Gumpert, nationally known criminologist. Louis Silvers conducts our music. Adjust the word before hearing from our producer. Your complexion and the care you give it is mighty important to you, isn't it? Then, of course, you don't want to take chances with inferior soaps. You want to be sure the soap you use is non-irritating, really mild. It's nice to know that every ingredient that goes into gentle Lux toilet soap is tested for extra fine quality, for purity. Now you know why 9 out of 10 screen stars use Lux toilet soap for their million-dollar complexions. They can depend on its gentleness and mildness. You can, too. And that's so important to your good looks, to your happiness. So I hope you're making Lux toilet soap your regular complexion care. If you haven't a generous supply on hand, put it on your shopping list now. And now, the producer of the Lux Radio Theatre. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Racketeering is a comparatively new word in the American language, but an old bugbear in American history. Following the Revolution, American vessels in the Mediterranean were plundered and their crews thrown into slavery so frequently that the United States, to continue commerce in those waters, signed a treaty with the pirate's ruler, the Sultan of Algiers. Uncle Sam paid $800,000 for the ransom of imprisoned sailors and for years paid an additional $23,000 annually as a guarantee for future safety. Until our Navy under Stephen Decatur forever ended this racket of the barbaric pirates. Today's racketeers, dealing in millions of dollars, would score on the modest sums involved in historical racketeering and only by militant public resistance, such as that shown in tonight's play Bullets or Ballots, can America purge herself of these internal parasites? In his screen characterizations, Edward G. Robinson has often lived outside the law, but tonight he walks a straight and narrow path as he pins a badge inside his coat and becomes, as he did in the picture, Detective Johnny Blake. An established air personality because of his own program, Big Town, this fast-talking, fist-swinging favorite is from Warner Brothers Studio and will soon appear in Confessions of a Nazi Spy. In Bullets or Ballots, you saw another brilliant performance by one of the screen's best bad men, Humphrey Bogot, who likes playing villains and tonight resumes the part of Bugs Brenner. In our glamour division, there's Mary Aster, who brings her loveliness and talent to the role of Lee Morgan. Otto Kruger displays his genius for the sinister and changes only his first name in playing Al Kruger. We raise the curtain now and the Lux Radio Theatre presents Edward G. Robinson in Bullets or Ballots with Mary Aster, Humphrey Bogot, and Otto Kruger. A radio station in a large eastern city. At a table in one of the smaller studios, a man reads earnestly from a typewritten page. Behind the glass enclosure, the radio engineer sends the speaker's voice out across the city into the homes of listening millions. The man nears the end of his speech. For the radio audience, there are a thousand rackets, rackets which are forcing prices beyond the reach of the poor, looting business, food, laundry, poultry, dry cleaning, and still the American people let the racketeer go free. Men like Al Kruger, protected against the law, return from mock trials to collect their share of the $200 million plunder taken each year from this city alone. And again, I say, these rackets must be stopped. Ladies and gentlemen, I've been ordered by the crime combine to discontinue these broadcasts. The gentleman who phoned added, or else. For his information, I shall continue the broadcast regularly. And my papers will continue their present policy of open attack on racketeers and directors of organized crime who are the really dangerous enemies of society. Ladies and gentlemen, you have been listening to Mr. Ward Bryant and his march against crime. Mr. Bryant, we'll be heard again at this scene. Mr. Bryant? Good night, Joe. That was a fine speech tonight, Mr. Bryant. I heard it here on the speaker down the hall. Glad you like it. Get me a cab, will you, Joe? Sure. Yes, sir, you sure have the right angle on this racketeer business. I... Hey, look out! Look out, Mr. Bryant! Look out! It's me, Miss Lee, Hyman. Can I come in? Come on. Good evening, Miss Lee. How are you, Herman? They said you was in your office. So why are you surprised? How are the collections today, Herman? Oh, just fine, Miss Lee. You really got something in this numbers game. It's gonna catch on up here in the Bronx even better than in Harlem. Here, here's one day's collections. Did you have to bring it all in, Nichols, Herman? No, ma'am. There's two other bags, too. Green money. Mm-hmm. That's very nice. Yes, ma'am. You know, if it keeps coming in like this, you can sell this cabaret and move right into Park Avenue. Thanks. We'll stick to the cabaret in the Bronx. Bye, Herman. See you tomorrow. Oh, say, there was something else I wanted to tell you. Never mind. It'll come. Uh, oh, I remember. Yeah, I saw Mr. Blake when I come in. Blake? Yeah, that detective fella. Where was he? In the bar. The bar? Is he drinking? Yeah. What's happened downtown? Any extras out? Oh, yeah. Yeah, that publisher was murdered. The one named... Uh-huh. That explains it. Oh, the name is... Never mind, Herman. Sit down and rest. Uh, I got it. Brian. Thanks. Hello, Johnny. Oh, hello, Lee. Sit down a while. Don't mind if I do. Yes, it's all right for the boss to chin with a guy she hasn't seen in months. How have you been, Johnny? Okay. Why don't you let me know you were here? Well, I was busy reading this about Brian. Yeah. That was real brave killing, wasn't it? Did you know him? Yeah, a little. Swell fellow. He had a swell wife and kid. Gonna be plenty tough on them. Wife and kid, huh? Yeah. You're a funny person, Johnny. When you come out of your shell, you're really human. Well, I don't like to see decent people pushed around. And something big breaks down there and your old stampin' grounded gets under your skin, doesn't it? What makes you think so? It's the only time I ever see you take a drink. Oh, no, this is just a celebration. I found out who stole Mrs. Blausmeier's laundry. That must have been something. It was. You weren't on the level. Oh, sure. I've been transferred up here now regularly. Well, for... That's a fine finish for a great police career, isn't it? Trying to find stolen laundry in the Bronx. Well, it's better than being pensioned off at the firehorses. I'm not kidding myself. I'm no use to them downtown anymore. With things like this Bryant killing going on, it looks like they need you plenty. They ought to have your whole flyin' squad back in action. Now, they don't believe in kicking the rats in the line anymore. Nowadays, you're supposed to kiss them and tuck them in. Your friend McLaren doesn't think so. Well, McLaren's only a captain. He takes orders, too. So you just go on, stay in loyal to McLaren and the police department, huh? That's about it. And lookin' for laundry. Sure. Someday Mac will be back up on top. Then you won't have to worry about me anymore. Johnny, who killed Bryant? Al Kruger. You're sure of it? It wasn't Al himself. It was one of his Stooges, Bugs Brenner, maybe. How do you know? Well, Kruger had the most to lose by a cleanup. He controls every racket in town. Yeah, not the numbers. The numbers. Say that small time. If it ever gets big enough, he'll grab it just like he's grabbed everything else. Yeah. He's got an organization, that guy. Crime Incorporated. Protected right down the line. I can't lay a finger on him until we find out who's behind him. The higher ups, you know, who see to it that he gets away with anything he wants, including murder. I wish they'd let you take a crack at this job. Why? Feeling sorry for me? Ah, maybe. Or maybe just because I hate to see a swell guy eatin' his heart out. Oh, forget it. Well, see you around. When, Johnny? It's a long time between your visits, you know. Oh, I'll make it soon. And swell. Hey. I thought you didn't let mugs into this place. I don't when I know him. Well, look who's coming in. Who is he? Crale. I sent him up to Singsing a couple of years ago. Well, well, well. If it ain't Detective Blake. Now, the parole board turns you loose on the public again, eh? Yeah. No thanks to you. Well, I hear they cut the big shot detective down to size. Gee, it must be tough not to be able to kick the boys around anymore and make them tip their hats to you. Yeah, but they still do. To a Bronx flat foot? Yeah. As long as I'm part of the force, they'll keep on tipping their hats. Remember it next time. All right, everybody. It's all over. Mugs, they throw that guy out. Music, Harry. Well, I guess I'll go downtown and see what's going on. You haven't lost your gentle touch, have you, Johnny? I'll see you soon. Don't hurt your knuckles. I want to see Al Kruger. Yeah. Blake's the name. Detective Blake. Oh. Wait a minute. Oh, come in, Johnny. All right, Vinci, get out. All right, Johnny. Sit down. Well, big night for you, huh? Working overtime. Yeah, that happens a lot. Well, your records must be doing all right. Yeah, about 5,000 last week. Yeah, 500,000, you mean? Maybe. I can't count that high. Yeah? Thanks. I thought you were homesteading in the Bronx. What are you doing down this neck of the woods? Oh, just poking around the old hangouts. What do you think of Brian Steff? Yeah, just reading about it. Too bad. He was a fine fellow. Now, they'll probably blame it on you, Al. You're telling me. A couple of the boys are up here from headquarters a half hour ago. They were very nice about it, though. Yeah, that's the trouble. They have to be. You'd have taken me around the corner and rolled up a newspaper. Yeah, I guess I would. I didn't get much out of you the last time I gave you a going over. You came close to it. I wish I'd known it at the time. You'd have got some more. I wanted to get you on that rap. Yeah, good old days. Yeah. You've traveled a long way since then. Well, you'd have gone a long way, too, if you'd thrown in with me the first time I asked you. Maybe I would. You'd have been a great help for this business, Johnny. You know more about the inside of this town than any bird that ever lived in it. If I'd gone in with you, well, I'd have done it to nail you. Ah, no, you wouldn't. You never double-crossed anyone in your life. Even a crook if he told you something in confidence. You rode the pants off all of us, but you always let us know where you stood. Yes, you always known what I thought of you. Yeah, you're the only fellow that I'd take it from. Well, I still want you to throw in with me, Johnny. Well, I'll stick with the department. After all the kicking around they've given you? Mm-hmm. You're a chump. All you'll get out of it is a petty larceny pension. I could do more for you in a year than you learn in a lifetime on the force. Well, maybe I'd like to make my money the hard way. Well, no. I'll probably still be asking you ten years from now. If you live that long. Hey, Al, have you seen the papers about... Hey, what's he doing here? Well, if it isn't Bugs Brenner. We're getting out of here, Blake. Hold your horses, Bugs. I asked Johnny... No, never mind Al. Bugs hasn't been able to forget the week he spent in the hospital after he took that swing at me. I don't think much of him either. See you around. Oh, uh... I forgot to compliment you, Bugs. Nice clean job you did on Brian. What are you talking about? Nothing yet. Good night, Al. Hey, what's he talking about? As if you didn't know your ten-cent thug. I told you to leave Brian alone. I didn't know nothing about him. It's a matter of what. Is he dead? Yes, he's dead, and you did it. I pull you off a truck and you pay me back by taking a chance on ruining a million-dollar gold mine. Someday you'll get wise of the fact that the strong-arm stuff went out with prohibition. You're not running liquor anymore. You're in big business. Sit down. Al, that's right. We've just seen the... Yes, sir. Right away. That ought to satisfy you. Who was it? The big fellas? The first time they've called in six months. When they call it this time of night, it means they're going to rake me over plenty. They're liable to pull the props out from under me for this Bryant mess. And if they do, it'll be the last thing that'll happen to me. Hey, Al, who are these fellas? Who are they, Al? If you knew, you wouldn't sleep much tonight. Now, beat it. Mr. Ward Bryant cannot stop these broadcasts. The march against crime will continue. Faithful to the memory of one who died in the service of the people. The first step had already been taken. A new police commissioner was recommended by the grand jury last week. A man with a splendid record and fine reputation for honesty and integrity. We are pleased at this time to inform our listeners that the appointment was ratified today. The new police commissioner of this city is Mr. Franklin McLaren. Mr. McLaren. Herman. Yes, ma'am. Get Mr. Blake on the phone. Circle 0461. Yes, ma'am. See, I... See, that's what I've been meaning to tell you about Mr. Blake. Well, what? Well, Mr. Blake got fired from the police force this morning. Fired? Someone's kidding you. No, no, it's true. You ask him. This Mr. McLaren started a big shake-up and I fired a lot of fellas. But he was depending on McLaren. Well, you ask him, Miss Lee. Oh, now where was I? Oh, yeah, yeah. See... Wait, never mind calling. I'll run over and see him. Hello, Johnny. Well, how are you, Lee? I never thought you'd get over this way. Well, shall we just stand here and swing on the door? No, no, come on in. What are you in an uproar about? Herman said you were fired. That's right. Yeah, sit down, make yourself comfortable. Who did it? McLaren. And you're the one that was telling me that when McLaren got on top, everything would be just fine and dandy. Well, I was wrong. Sure. It's about time you got wise to yourself. Around this town, the only reason friends pat you on the back is to find an easy place to break it. You're a friend, aren't you? I guess you're dumb enough to think so. Oh, no, I'm not dumb, Lee. You like me pretty well. Well, that goes both ways. You know, women and home life had been on my line. I had fallen for you a long time ago. It'd been sort of nice, wouldn't it? Yeah. There wasn't any cards, Lee. You can't beat the cards, can you? No. You didn't get enough salary to save much, did you, Johnny? Oh, I'll get along. I suppose you'll be looking for a job. Mm-hmm. I thought you might like to come in with me and help me run the numbers game. You've got all the help you need. Oh, I won't have. It's getting bigger all the time. Some week that brings in 10 to 12,000. Boy, 12,000? Isn't that penny anti-game? Mm-hmm. Well, the last time you told me about it, you were only getting a few hundred. I know, but they're crazy about it in Harlem, and now it's going over in the Bronx. Oh, please, come in and help me run it, Johnny. You could do a swell job of building it up. You'd make a lot of money for both of us. You're pretty regularly. You'll do it? No, not a chance. Any money I made would be just coming out of your pocket. I don't take money away from women. Well, I thought I'd tell you about it. Well, thanks, you're the same. I'm sorry you got kicked out. It's going to be tough for you to break into something new after all these years. Yeah, I guess so. What do you think you'll do? Well, I'm just leaving to take in the fights. I've got a good card on tonight. Don't hurt your knuckles. Still on, Johnny. Hi, Johnny. Hi, Louis. You missed a sweet battle, Johnny. Yeah, well, that's too bad. Yeah, your pal McLaren liked it a lot, too. What's that, McLaren? Is he here? Yeah, whatever it is. See? Oh, yeah, thanks. See you later. Oh, hello, Mr. McLaren. Oh, hello, John. Congratulations on your new job. Thanks, John. They told me you were trying to see me today. Sorry I was busy. Oh, it's OK. I can say it now. I just wanted to thank you for the kick in the teeth. What? Come here. I'll kick your hand off me. Now, you can't sock the commissioner and expect to get away with it. Then let go of me. Will you prefer charges, commissioner? No, just run out in the street. You want another drink, Johnny? Mr. Blake, to you. Oh, sure. Sorry. I'll freshen this one up. Hello, Al. Right, have I said that? I just came from the fights. Oh, yeah, I saw you when I went in. You don't miss much, do you? It's a habit. How was the main event? They ought to have you in the ring. That was a sweet punch, Johnny. Well, McLaren had it coming to them. Oh, yeah. Finally washed up. Yes, plenty. A lot of thanks you got from McLaren and the public. Yes, not even that petty Larsonia pension you were talking about. Now on, I'm going to see what it's like looking out for number one. That offer is still open, Johnny. And I'd like to have you in with me. Doing what? Well, I get a hunch we're in for some trouble with McLaren and that grand jury on a tear. If there's any weak spots in the organization, I've got to find them now. And you'll be the first one to spot them. I want you to look over the whole setup. And the only one you answer to is me. You've got a lot of confidence in me. Yeah. Well, I've heard fellas you've sent to prison say that if you ever made a deal, you'd see yourself dead before you'd back on it. Well, how about it? Okay, Al, it's a deal. We have come to the end of the first act with bullets or ballots, starring Edward G. Robinson, Mary Aster, Humphrey Bogart, and Otto Krueger. The curtain will go up on act two after our short intermission. But now, here's something that happened recently, which I would like to have you hear. Not a hurry, Mary. We're going to be late. All right, yes, sir, woman. Gosh, you've been pimping for an hour now. Don't be crossed, Bill. Well, hello. How about you never show up? I'll say you look wonderful. You like it? Like what? The hat, of course. Oh, gosh, the hat. Sure, I like it. But I like what's under it better. How about a little kiss? Come on. Let's get going. I'm going to be proud. There's nothing like a soft, smooth complexion to make a new spring hat do its best. And as a matter of fact, the best-looking hat in the world can't do much for a woman who's been careless about her skin. The woman who's let cosmetic skin develop, dullness, little blemishes, and large pores. That's why clever women everywhere take the screen stars tip. They use cosmetics all they like, but they're always careful to remove them thoroughly with lux toilet soap. This mild white soap that nine out of ten screen stars use has active lather. Let it help you keep skin smooth and soft. Lovely to look at. Nice to touch. Mr. DeMille. Act two of Bullets or Ballots, starring Edward G. Robinson Mary Aster, Humphrey Bogart, and Otto Kruger. Fired from the police force, Johnny Blake has gone over to the racketeers as a working part of Al Kruger's crime combined. But now an outraged citizenry demands action. Swiftly and without warning, the new police commissioner cracks down. McLaren! One by one, the rackets fold, and thousands of dollars are turned back to the taxpayers. In a hotel room, Joe Vinci, the latest racketeer to feel the lash, lavishly reads the headlines. Police raid jewelry fences. 200,000 diamonds recovered. 200 grand. Well, that fixes my business plenty. No, you ain't getting any harder than the others. It's phony to me. The cops couldn't have found out how to hide out without somebody tipping them off, and I'm gonna find out who's doing it. You don't have to look far. All this has happened since Blake got in. What are you talking about, Bugs? I'm talking about Blake. I'm gonna ask him a few questions. Let me speak to Blake. Oh, yeah? Yeah, when he gets back, I want to see him right away. Move that town. This is a no-parking zone. I get it, copper. This car belongs to Al Kruger. Thanks. Want me to put your name or his on the ticket? You'll write a ticket for Al Kruger, and he'll tie you that neggy, yours upside down. Yeah, what goes on? What's the idea of the ticket, darling? What's it to you, Mr. Blake? A man afraid McLaren will fire you if you don't get rid of all those parking tags? No, he's already weeded the rats out of the department. You wouldn't like to climb down off that horse of yours for a minute, would you, darling? I'd be glad to. Now, wait a minute. Take it easy, Johnny. I'm off. What do you want to make of it? This! Hey, you! Johnny, you're cutting the cop! How's that, darling? It's a lot more slippery, sir. You need a horse to be a cop, don't you? You're too fast. This is for the whole floor. All right, sir. But give it to him. Well, if it ain't Johnny Blake. Come on, Johnny. You've had enough work for your fist today. I took two of you to do it, as usual. Shut up. You all right, darling? Yeah. Call the wagon. Yeah, call the wagon. Get a whole squad to take me in. Joe, tell Al if he wants me at that meeting on time, better rush a lawyer down. Now, someday, McCoy, I'll run into one of your boys when you're alone. I'll mark off the days on my calendar. How are you, Johnny? Well, hello, Mr. McLaren. How'd you get in here ahead of me? Well, they sent me word that you were on the way. And that I socked Donlan too hard? Well, you didn't do him any good. Or me, either, that night at the fights. You know, Johnny, you want to learn to pull those punches. Well, if I pull them, they'd look phony. How's your jaw? Still in a sling. What did you start the first for this time? I had to see a loan. This was the only way I could manage it. Well, what happens next? I wish I knew. Here, here's another report. A whole poultry racket, down through names and addresses. Here, this is a plane of garage, a business headquarters, so forth. I'm afraid it won't do much good, though, except for raids. Well, that's good enough for the time being. We've been doing pretty well on your information, Johnny. So I've been reading in the papers. Did you find out who bosses Krueger? All I know is that there is somebody higher up, and he controls everything. Now, if we can nail that bird, the whole works will fold up on the inside. Does Brenna know who it is? No, nobody except Krueger. Do you think you'll ever get it out of him? No, not a chance. Well, well, how are you working it? We've got to know. Now, look, Brenna is Krueger's number one man. If anything happens to Krueger, and I'm going to see that it does, Brenna steps up. But I'm not going to let him, because I'm going to step into Mr. Brenna's part. How? Well, I don't know yet. Is that all you've got to tell me? Well, that's all for now, except keep on smashing him as fast as you get my instructions. When the break comes, I'll know what to do. I'll play the cards the way I deal them. There's, uh, only one thing tough about it, though. What's that? Well, Krueger. Now, he's just as much of a rat as the rest of me. Knock me off in a minute, if you found out. And I'll hate to cross him. Because you haven't given him an even break? Yeah. Well, I haven't given you one either. We had another man on the force who tried to smash that mob. They threw acid in his face. His headlights don't burn anymore. I handed you a rotten job, Johnny. Oh, I asked for it. Hey, all I know is handling mugs. Better come back to work for you if I had to ride a horse or hand out traffic tickets. On the legs. Yeah? Krueger's lawyer's in the office. The rich for you. All right, come on. Oh, so long, Mac. Well, take care of yourself, Johnny. Sure, and as soon as I've sent you here for me. In the meantime, make them tip their hats. You heard me, Al Blake. Nobody else but Blake. I tell you the guy's double crossing. Shut up! Now, wait a minute. I said shut up! That means you two bucks. I'm running yourself it. Now, I'm the chief. I tell you that all the time. I don't get much. Good evening, Jack. Well, thanks for the fast legal service, Al. What's the matter? What is this, a wake? It might be. See in the papers. New racquet raids. Nice picture of McLaren. Yeah. The boys think you're working for them. I'm wandering. I'm not. Buck, shut up! What have you got to say, Johnny? Oh, sure. Sure, Al. I just sold you right down the river. The cop said they were sorry to kick me out the forest. Why, McLaren sent me a basket of flowers for heading them on the jaw. Said, if I want to come back, he'd give me the whole Bronx to wander around in. I wouldn't clown, Johnny. Ah, we're wise people. We're wise people. You wouldn't clown, Johnny? Ah, we're wise to you, Blake. You're true. Oh, no, I'm just starting. Hey, now listen, cop. Take your hands off me. I don't like guys that put their hands on me. Let's keep this a business meeting. All right, start talking. Al, I want to work for you because you wanted help. I didn't come to you. You came to me. Now you think I crossed you? Well, I couldn't get a dime a dozen if I handed this whole mob over to the cops and you didn't know it. You can see now why you need help. Well, and you need plenty of it. Hey, Al, are you going to let this guy talk his way out? Shut up. Keep talking, Johnny. Never fails, does it? When mugs get in the jam, they only start off by knighting each other. I thought you were smarter, Al. What would you suggest? Well, let McLaren have his fun. You can't stop him. As soon as he's made a showing, the grand jury will fold up right under him. Do you know that? Sure. And meanwhile, we sit back and wind up rope. No, spend your time bellying up new rackets so that when McLaren comes up for air, he'll find a dozen more going. Just pull him right out of the hat, huh? No, you just go to work. Quit playing cops and robbers. Stop knighting each other. I suppose you've got a good racket in mind. Well, name it. Sure, I've got one. Numbers. Go ahead. Now, what's the odds against picking the right number out of from one to a thousand? Well, thousand to one. That's it. Now, we take the last three numbers of the racetrack payoff every day. The suckers try to guess it. The payoff is 600 to one. That is, if anybody picks the right number. Now, a lot of people who try to pick that every day if one dollar would wind them 600. Oh, what are you trying to sell us at Penny, Andy, Gamely mortgage running up in a Bronx in Harlem? Well, it's so Penny, Andy, that she's picking up 12,000 a week out of a few neighborhood stores. Most of the bets are nickels and dimes. Now, seven million people in this town are all of them looking for easy money. You just offer them 600 for one and watch this thing spread like a four-lomb fire. And they won't be playing one number apiece. They'll be picking four or five. Now, if you want to control the winning number, you can pay off on racetrack bets and manipulate the totals. Now, all it needs is organization. You get a million people buying numbers every day, and this one racket will clean up $300 million a year. Why, it's easy. It's a cinch. $300 million? That's right. Did somebody say something about Penny, Andy? All right. You fellas beat it. Mr. Blake and me want to talk business. I said, beat it. Okay, Mr. Krueger. Nice talking, Blake. Now, sit down, Johnny. You know you're a pretty smart guy. Yeah. My mother used to say I was going to be president. Miss Lee, I got to see you right away. What's the matter, Herman? Where'd you get that shiner? Miss Lee, it's important. Come inside. Well, Herman, spill it. They took the money away from me. The numbers money, the bag and everything. Who did? I don't know. Some men. They stopped me on the street. They told me to keep my face out of there. They said I couldn't even make collections no more. Oh, they did, did they? All right. Sit tight, Herman. What are you going to do? They're mugs, Miss Lee. I'm going to tell Johnny Blake about it. He'll run those chislers right off the end of the 93rd Street dock. Wait here. I'll be right back. I was told that Mr. John Blake had moved here. That's correct. I'd like to see him, please. My name is Lee Morgan. Sorry, but Mr. Blake isn't in his room. He left just a moment ago. No. Thanks. You're very welcome. Evening. Are you looking for Johnny Blake? Well, yes, I am. My name's Brenner. Maybe I can help you. I've got to find him right away. Ain't you the Lee Morgan who runs the numbers game in the Bronx? Yeah. I hear they started running you out of it tonight. Well, they won't get away with it. Yeah, I know. It's a dirty trick. I don't blame you for gunning for Blake. Gunning for him? Yeah. He's the one that's taking it over. Blake. You're a liar. Oh, he's grabbing it to put himself in strong with Al Kruger. Why don't you go in and ask him? He's in the coffee shop. Yeah? Thanks. Hello, Johnny. Oh, Lee. Well, sit down, Lee. Thanks, but I may not be staying long. No? What's on your mind? Just one thing. Are you taking over the numbers game, Johnny? Well, are you? Yes. Why? I can't tell you. I see. I tried to take you in with me. Sort of worked out better to toss it to the wolves, didn't it? Well, I thought they'd let you keep on running your end. I guess that wasn't poetry about friends finding an easy place to break the back. So long, Johnny. Good luck to you. 40,000 and one makes 41,000. That's your cut, Johnny. Oh, thanks. Hey, that's not so bad. Well, you earned it. That was a great idea taking over the numbers. I guess it was. By the way, you better sink that cash in the safety deposit box. Don't put it in a regular account. No? No. Oh, sure. A safe deposit. Oh, I get it. Is that what you do, Al? Yeah. It's easier to get at it than they can't trace it. Well, you and the bosses must have had to take over a vault. I don't know where they put theirs, but they're plenty happy. Hey, how about meeting them sometime? Not a chance. I'm the only one that knows who they are, and I guess they wanted to stay that way. I suppose you can't blame them. Well, good night, Al. Oh, say, what would happen to them if you got lost? Well, pick someone else and keep on going. No. It would probably be you. Me? Yeah. They think you're the best man I've got. You wouldn't want it, Johnny. The top job, but it's the last one a guy ever holds. There's only one way out. That's the payoff for helping them, huh? Yeah. But don't worry about getting it. I don't intend to get lost. Oh, sure. Well, uh... Good night. Hello, McLaren? Yeah. This is Johnny Blake. I'm ready to go, Mac. Grab Kruger right away. You've got to and put him where nobody can get at him. What are you going to do, Johnny? Well, I've got no time to answer questions. I know, but just... That's not all. Crack down on Brenna's milk rack and break it up, smash it, you hear? Oh, whatever you're saying. Well, thanks, Mac. You'll hear from me later. This is the last move. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. We've ended the second act of bullets or ballots, and our stars bring us Act III shortly. It's intermission and guest time now, and first, a suggestion. Screen stars use lux toilet soap to help care for million-dollar complexions. They use it as a bath soap, too, because it has active lather that leaves skin fresh and fragrant. Here's what Joan Blondel says. Use lux toilet soap as a beauty bath. It's the best way I know to protect daintiness. You'll love it. Are you enjoying the luxury of a daily beauty bath with this white, gentle soap screen stars use? You'll love the delicate clinging fragrance it leaves on your skin. You'll be sure of daintiness. Now, our producer. The battle that Johnny Blake is fighting in our play against racketeering and terrorism is being fought throughout the country by men like tonight's guest, Mr. Frank B. Gompat, who matched the brawn and daring of gangsters with the relentless weapons of science. Mr. Gompas is the criminologist in charge of the research laboratory of the sheriff's office of Los Angeles County. He's a policeman who fights not with machine guns, but with microscopes. Has a degree in law, is a master of sciences, and a doctor of philosophy. He's been technical director of several movies dealing with crime, and has worked on some 8,000 cases, hundreds of them murders. As a 20th century Sherlock Holmes, Mr. Gompat, tell us just how do you do it? Well, we have to deal in chemistry, ballistics, physics, toxicology, and handwriting, Mr. DeMille. No one man can be outstanding in all fields. But a laboratory, combining experts in each field, can come pretty close to solving any crime. To me, one of the outstanding values of our laboratory is not its power to convict the guilty, but to free the innocent. Hundreds of times, evidence that might have otherwise convicted a perfectly innocent man when examined in our laboratory has freed him of every suspicion. I know that you are perhaps the nation's greatest expert in solving crime with the evidence of human hair. While you might have some difficulties with me, what can you learn from those whose tresses are a bit more abundant? You'll do fine, Mr. DeMille, as long as you have a single hair left on your head. From that single hair, we can usually learn a man's approximate age, his environment, the places he visited recently, his type of employment, his personal habits, and frequently, his race. We can also learn a dozen things from a cigarette. A cigarette? Yes. Anybody who smokes a cigarette reveals secrets through the saliva that remain on the end, even though many months have elapsed since it was smoked. Saliva tells us to what blood group the man who smoked the cigarette belongs. There are 20 blood groups with which we deal, and often we can eliminate 19 out of 20 suspects by a blood grouping test. I can see it's getting harder and harder to commit murder. Not to commit it, but to get away with it. But while we solve crimes, the public can do far more than we can do in preventing them. Don't be intimidated by the threats and boasts of racketeers. Every time you surrender, you betray not only yourself, but your neighbors and your community. At the first sign of a threat, get in touch with your local authorities. And now, ladies and gentlemen, just to prove what an ordinary piece of evidence may reveal, I gave Mr. Gumpet a coat which I wore some time yesterday. He examined it and is now going to tell exactly what he found out about me from that coat. You sure you want me to go through with it? Yes, of course I did. We really don't have to, Mr. DeMille. Backing out, are you? Okay, Mr. DeMille, you asked for it. I took your coat and last night beat out all the dust. Here's what it told me. Yesterday morning you took a walk with a brunette between the ages of 20 and 25. An actress, probably a star. You stopped at Hal Chester's flower shop, bought an orchid, had lunch at the Brown Derby and ate, among other things, a shrimp cocktail. No, thank you. That's plenty. But don't try to tell me you learned that from my coat. You probably followed me. Sorry, you're wrong. Here's how it was done. A few black hairs on the coat told me the lady's age and a preparation on the hair revealed she had something to do with acting under powerful lights. I guess she was a star instead of an extra because the face powder also found on the coat was very expensive. You were walking. Because if you had been riding, the powder would have been differently placed. It was in the morning because that particular powder will not look well on a brunette at night. You went to Hal Chester's because I found pollen from a Senbidean. That's a terrestrial orchid. And Hal Chester's is one of the few shops carrying it. You went to the Derby because I found a tiny spot of sauce used for a seafood cocktail. It contained a trace of herb which I won't name because the chef at the Derby claims that it's part of his secret shrimp recipe. You win, Mr. Gompheth. But who was the girl? Well, that's for you to reveal. It happened to be my daughter, Catherine. I have only one suggestion to make. The next time you go to the Derby for lunch, how about asking me along? And thanks for the invitation here tonight. Great detection. Great detection, Mr. Gompheth. Not to date. Edward G. Robinson and Bullets or Ballots with Mary Aster, Humphrey Bogart and Otto Kruger. Confident that the higher-ups will choose him to replace Al Kruger, Johnny Blake has ordered the gangsters' arrest. The trap is ready to spring. But Bugs Brenner arrives at Kruger's apartment first. He faces the leader, a revolver in his hand. Well, hello, Bugs. What are you doing over here? The cops just smashed my milk racket. So? So I'm starting to take over the numbers game. Racketeer found dead in hotel room. Who is it? Morning, Miss Morgan. Oh, come in. Mr. Brenner, wasn't it? Yeah, that's right. A lot of news in that paper. Yeah, who did it? I don't know. We're trying to find out. Thought he was your friend. Yeah, he was. You don't seem very upset about it. Well, there ain't no use crying if the dice fall that way. Well, what do you want? Do you want to go back in a numbers game? What are you trying to do? Kid me? Ah, you started a game. You ought to have a share in it. And I suppose Mr. Blake will let me have it. He'll have nothing to say about it. I'm running things from now on. If you want to Bronx and Harlem districts, they're yours. If you need protection, you'll get it. Yeah, that sounds good. Too good. They don't trust me, huh? I don't trust anybody. Yeah, neither do I. Now, we ought to work fine together. How about it? You're going to take it away from Blake? Yeah. All right, go ahead and take it. Ah, that's the girl. Hey, come over here. Now, we'll get along swell, you and me, huh? Yeah. In the numbers game. Okay, okay. I call the boys for a meeting tonight. They don't know it yet, but they got a new boss. We'll find out who got Al sooner or later. But we ain't got any time to waste worrying about it now. The question is, do I run this business from now on, or don't I? Eh, it's all right with us. But the bosses may have something to say about it if we ever hear from them. I'll take care of that. Why didn't you just break in on this here meeting? Because he ain't got to be so important from now on. He's the one that sold Al on sitting back waiting for McLaren to run down. Well, it ain't worked out that way. I'm gonna put the rackets back in full swing. What, it has trouble with McLaren or not? Oh, sorry, I'm late. Are you, uh, holding an election, boys? It's already been held. Oh, and you're it, I suppose. Yeah. Yeah. You got any objections? No, a few. Now, what's the first one? Well, the job was given to me. Why did you? The bosses called me in two hours after the news broke. You expect us to believe that? Well, I told them you might have a few doubts, but I couldn't persuade them to come down here and prove it. Now, who are they? Did Kruger tell you? No. Well, I think I'll keep sitting in their seat till I hear from them, personally. Oh, sit anywhere you want to, but don't try and stop me from carrying out orders. I have to take charge of the week's collection and have it to them by 10 o'clock tomorrow night. I'll meet you boys at the garage at 6. Oh, no, you won't. How do we know they called you? Yeah, how do we know? Because I'm telling you. Is that enough? No. I'll answer that. Get away from that, Blake. Hello? Who? Yeah, he's here. Who's this? Okay. It's for you, Blake. Who is it? They wouldn't say. Now, excuse me, gentlemen. Hello? Blake. That's right. Well, name your time. Sure, where? I see. Ask for Mr. Thorne. Oh, yes. Well, thanks. I'll do that. Goodbye. Well, I'm sorry I have to run, boys, but I know you'll excuse me. I've got an appointment with the bosses. So long. Mr. Blake, my name is Thorne Dyke. Oh, yes, the president, huh? That's right. This is Mr. Hollister. How are you, Mr. Hollister? How do you do? And Mr. Caldwell? Mr. Caldwell of the Caldwells? Well, so you're the heads. Yes. No wonder the organization has been so well protected. Why did you try to take Kruger's job over? No, I didn't try to take it over. I took it over. Well, didn't you think we might object? Oh, I should you. That proves that I can run a better than anyone else. Runner isn't any good. Yes. You have given us quite a bit of revenue. I've given you more than any four of them put together, and I'll keep on doing it, provided you give me a few breaks. You know, I'm not in this for fun. You're satisfied, gentlemen? The job's yours, Blake. Thanks. You're not making any mistake. Oh, incidentally, Mr. Blake, you're the only one who'll know who we are. I understand that. Now, the first thing we want you to do is collect our receipts from the garage tonight and bring them here. Yeah. Well, I've already arranged to collect them. Oh. Would it be all right if I get here, 10? Not quite all right. Now, before we get into the detailed instructions, I suggest we have a drink to Mr. Blake's success. How about it, Mr. Blake? Oh, thanks. It all tastes pretty good. Hello? Hello, McLaren? Yeah, Johnny? We're all set, Mac. I'm in with a big shot. Why? Well, what's the difference? You can't pick him up yet. You'll have to catch him with the dough to make it stick. Well, go on. Now, look, I'm meeting the boys at six tomorrow night at that garage I told you about. When you see me leave there with the dough, pull up fast and raid the joint. Go on. Then send your men to 24 and Wall. I'll pass that 10 o'clock shop to meet the big shots in their office. When I give the word, you can make the pinch. Nice work, Johnny. Now, remember, a few minutes after six of the garage and come in shooting. That's all, Mac. Is the idea coming in the back way, Bugs? The cops are after me. Has Blake been here? No, what's happened? Nothing, except that he's done what I always said he was going to do. Put the whole crowd in a spot for McLaren. They got everybody except me and Joe. Raided the garage. Wait a minute. Johnny was... He worked with the police? I've been working for them the whole way, and now I'm going to pay him off. I'll get him if it's the last thing I do. I'll... Hello? Lee Morgan. This Bugs better there. Who's calling? Tell him it's Joe. Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't seen him. He said I could reach him there. I'm sorry, but he's not... Wait a minute. Give me that phone. What's the matter with you? Give it to me. Hello? Yeah? Go ahead. I found him, Bugs. Blake? Where? He's hiding. Okay, okay. Thanks, Joe. Bugs, what are you going to do? I'm going to pay Mr. Blake a visit. Wait, now listen, Bugs. Get away from that door. Bugs, please. Wait a minute, Bugs. Oh, Joe. Hello, information. Listen, I want the number of a house at 1124 East 18th Street. Yes. Hurry, please. Stop right now. Who's that? Who's down there? Bugs. Your old friend, Bugs. Hey, I hear you're making a trip out to see the big fellas, Johnny. Yeah. In a hurry. Too bad, Bugs. You only hit me once out of four shots. I guess I did better with only two. Hey. Johnny, I tried to call you. There was no phone here. Yes, I know. Has Brenner been here? Yes, he's in there on the floor. Oh. Are you all right? Oh, sure. Drive me over to Wallin' 24th, will you, Lee? All right. I've got some business. Sure, Johnny. I was afraid he'd kill you. He told me you were working for the police. Yeah, I don't know. I've been a heel, Johnny. The things I said that night at the hotel. Oh, you didn't know. Forget it. I tried to stay sore, but it seemed sort of funny not seeing you around. You're all through with it now, aren't you? Yeah. I'm glad. You can go back on the force. Maybe the Broadway District. Yeah, maybe. Here's where I get off. Thanks, Lee. Thanks. You sure you're all right, Johnny? Oh, sure. Run along. I'll wait for you. Oh, no, no. You'd have to wait too long. You're racist, Lee. I'll remember that. Will you? Good night. Good night, Johnny. How are you, gentlemen? Well, 10 o'clock on the dot. You'll keep your appointment. Yeah, I wanted to make the first job perfect. Here's the money. All right, open it up. You have any difficulty with Brenner? No, no, no. We got along fine. Well, how does it feel to be head of the organization? I've been waiting for a night like this for 15 years. You deserve it. Thanks. Will you, gentlemen, need me any more tonight? No, we'll contact you next week. Well, that's fine. Fine. Wait a moment. What's the matter with you? With me? Oh, nothing. Why? You're hurt. Oh, no, no. Everything satisfactory, gentlemen? Yes, of course. But I... Well, good night, then, gentlemen. Good night. Did you nail him with a dough? Yeah. Well, that's that. Who got you? Brenner? Yeah. Where is he? He's washed up. The bullet he put into me were the ones that killed Brian and Kruger. They're all from his gun. You didn't miss a bet, did you? I tried not to pull the punches this time. I guess Brenner didn't either. Oh, don't worry, Johnny. I'm taking you to the hospital. Oh, no, no. Won't do any good. So long, Mac. Just keep kicking him in the line, Mac. I would have... I would have, Johnny. Yeah, I'd like to think that when the mugs see a policeman, they'll keep on tipping their hats. A life and a play end together. And now the late Johnny Blake becomes Edward G. Robinson. And Lee Morgan is once again Mary Aster. And here's a question, Mr. DeMille, that I've been waiting for a long time to toss at Mr. Robinson. Yeah? Don't you ever get tired of dying, Eddie? Being Hollywood's favorite bull-tie? Well, I don't mind being bored by a bullet, Mary, if the results don't bore the audience. But I'll admit it's a distinct relief to be able to die occasionally on the side of the law and order as I did tonight in bullets of ballast. How did you like the story? Well, speaking as Lee Morgan, not so much. You just about ruined my life by dying. But speaking as Mary Aster, well, Eddie, I've learned that anything connected with the name Lux must be good. I found that out years ago when I started using Lux soap. Anyone who's at all fussy about her looks knows that Lux soap is about the nicest, most dependable complexion care there is. I guess I'm like most actresses in Hollywood because I'm never without it. Incidentally, Mr. DeMille, the last time Eddie was on this show, didn't I hear him promise you a job on his own program, Big Tom? He certainly did. He even gave me a name. I was to play Benny the Bomber. That's the last I've heard about it. Well, the truth is I haven't had a spot lately for a torpedo. Besides, I don't think you'd be much of a pineapple juggler, Mr. DeMille. Well then, couldn't I play a detective sometime? No, sorry. No experience. Well, couldn't I take some lessons from Mr. Gompat? I might have an opening on Big Town at that. Oh, thanks, Eddie. Thanks. Hey, do you mean it? Of course. You send that Mr. Gompat around sometime. He sounds like a great bet. Oh, and remember, keep tipping your hat. Good night, Mr. DeMille, and don't give up. I'm sure you'd make a perfectly lovely Benny the Bomber. Thanks, Mary, and good night. So long, copper. You'll hear from Mr. DeMille again in just a moment when he brings you great news about next Monday's program. Our stars were assisted tonight by Edward Maher as Joe Vincy, Wallace Clark as Franklin McLaren, Chester Clute as Herman, Lou Merrill as Thorndyke, Ted Bliss as McCoy, Wally Mayer as Craio, Lindsay McCary as Ward Bryant, Galen Gault as Dorman, Ross Forrester as Louis, Earl Ross as Donlan, and Frank Nelson as Hollister. Mary Aster's new film is Paramount's Midnight. Humphrey Bogart is from Warner Brothers Studio and is now appearing in Dark Victory, with stars Betty Davis and also features George Brent. Louis Silver's is from 20th Century Fox Studio. He directed music there for the story of Alexander Graham Bell. Here's news for our Canadian listeners. Beginning this week, 28 Canadian stations are joining our network for the broadcast of the life and love of Dr. Susan. The makers of Luck's Toilet Soap bring you this enthralling story about the love and problems of a young attractive woman doctor every afternoon, Monday through Friday. Look in your newspapers for the time and station. The life and love of Dr. Susan comes to you in addition to the Luck's Radio Theatre. Our producer, Mr. DeMille. An average young man marries into a wealthy family, only to find that neither big business nor a glittering social life can alter his affection and ambition for a racehorse named Broadway Bill. Bill's adventures on the racetrack and our hero's experiences with his wife's relatives provide the gay and romantic play you'll hear next Monday night. And leading Broadway Bill to our barrier will be four Hollywood stars who are favorites at heavy odds. Robert Taylor, Francis D., Gail Patrick, and Raymond Walburn. Our sponsors, the makers of Luck's Toilet Soap, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night when the Luck's Radio Theatre presents Robert Taylor and Francis D. in Broadway Bill with Gail Patrick and Raymond Walburn. This is Cecil B. DeMille saying goodnight to you from Hollywood. Your announcer has been Melville Roy. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.