 Standard of California on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West Invite you to let George do it the little man who was everywhere Another adventure of George Valentine personal notice changes my stock and trade if you can't handle it alone without getting hurt You got a job for me George Valentine right full details Dear mr. Valentine a man is trying to drive me mad and it's very annoying He's a little man with big glasses. I see him everywhere. I go What would you do if you kept seeing the same little man staring at you sending the threatening notes? He has no right to do this to me. It's most inconsiderate. You must do something about him Does exist if he writes threatening notes Okay, angel. I'm intrigued. Let's go and see about this little man who is or isn't there In the executor of the car new comer state that was Vivian's father and it's probably a good idea that I'm here What do you mean, mr. Wilton? Oh just to make sure you understand what Vivian says. Oh, what's the matter? Doesn't she speak English? That's just it decidedly. She over speaks it Her father used to say Vivian has a grasshopper mind the way she jumped Only time I feel Vivian Oh, I didn't know you brought company with you David drive me out of my mind Harry Sterner You mean, you know who this man is. Oh, yeah. Yes Davis show mr. Valentine those notes They used to come every day. Just a few words scribbled on Vengeance shall be mine You mean just that George There's another one you shall perish in the flames of your own conscience Did the thought of her keep you awake last night too and more in the same group say who is this turn you see mr. Valentine you come I say there consists almost entirely of a number of apartment houses down in the old river flat section apartment houses Isn't that giving those eyes so as a rather fancy name mr. Wilton? Well? I admit they were built quite a few years ago, but many people are satisfied to live in them about mr. Sterner some months ago. There was a regrettable fire in our place at 39 Morton Street Unfortunately, Mrs. Turner was lost in it. Oh, how dreadful now I'm beginning to see what this is all about Of course, I'm terribly sorry for this poor man. Mr. Valentine, but why does it blame me? I have nothing to do with it miss newcomer. Did you ever show these notes to the police? Oh, yes, yes, and they spoke to him He stopped sending the notes, but he goes right on popping up Everywhere and just looking at me in that frightening way say come to think about it Haven't there been several fires recently down in that section? That's the other side of this problem After the one in 39 Morton Street, they've been three others all in our building Luckily the damage wasn't too great stoner. We don't know but we'd like to oh you must do something about that man Okay, okay now this turner where can I find the poor fellow keeps sneaking back into the house at 39 And so it can stay in the apartment. He had with his wife The building is boarded up, but he gets in and out You must force this man to realize how unhappy he's making me mr. Valentine No, I'm sure he realizes that miss newcomer. I'm just wondering how unhappy he plans to make you I don't care who you are How did you get in here look what I want to know stoner is how do you live in this place no lights the windows all board And the stench of burnt wood and that's what I like most it doesn't let me forget what happened Not for a moment. Why do you torture yourself like this friend? It can't do any good I look around this burned out tenement and I think of my wife and when I think of Irene I Think of miss new car and then I find out where she is and I go there and I stand just looking at her She's beginning to crack under it isn't she why don't you face it stoner miss newcomer isn't gonna let this go on Oh, what can she do the streets are free. That's one thing her money can't change Look if you carry this thing too far a couple of guys in white jackets are gonna suggest a pad itself for you Is it insane to want to teach a woman some respect for human life or her buildings of fire traps? She knows that but still she doesn't do anything about it. Oh look. I can understand how you I Mean she didn't have to die that fire didn't have to sweep through here like it didn't it was plain murder You don't let a known murderer get away with it. Do you those other fires than the Nokoma buildings? Is that part of your little campaign police weren't able to prove anything? Oh, yes, and since the last when they've been following me. Oh, yes I know you'll go back to miss newcomer and tell her she can go on wondering what I'm going to do next and There's nothing you can do about it. Mr. Valentine Miss Brooks if it has to do with fires the arson squad takes care of it Homicide keeps me busy so you can tell Valentine I've got a perfectly good excuse to stay off his merry-go-round this time Oh, but you were sweet enough to go to all the trouble to get the information George one Well Yes, but you can tell him if it took me more than five minutes. I wouldn't information Please Tell him Sterner used to be your watchmaker till he got arthritis couldn't handle the tools after a while Oh, what does he do now now? He's a watchman in one of the loft buildings in River Flats Now about those fires hard to believe any man would deliberately set fire to a crowded tenement the arson boys say They were definitely the work of a pyromaniac a firebug The jobs were too sloppy to be professional. Well, and that seems to point to Stern Okay, if Stern is playing with matches, they're gonna nail him and if he keeps making faces at Miss Newcomer He's gonna end up in the booby-hat. Yeah Yep, but long-last and nice simple job for our friend Except for one thing. I think I know what you mean. Yeah Nothing Valentine's in the middle of ever stays simple sir Mr. Valentine yours truly Edward Beasley selling insurance for almost every company in the world Covering any risk except your chances of surviving and Adam bomb That's a very cheerful. Yeah, we haven't got our statistics ready on that yet To come to the point Beasley Yes, I understand you wrote the fire insurance and the newcomer properties. Yeah, that's right Tell me with the amount of the insurance tempts someone to put the torch to them one by one Well, as a matter of fact, it's quite a sizable amount Hey, wait a minute. Are you implying that miss newcomer? I just have an inquisitive nature. That's all But that's exactly what you are implying if those fires weren't started by some crazy fire bug as everybody knows They were it would have to be done by someone who stands to profit just a thought There are times when all of us can use some ready cash I look young you're barking up the wrong tree if you asked me this turner fellas at the bottom of all this I don't happen to believe that what oh I'll admit he has a screw loose because of what happened to his wife But that's the very reason. He's not our firebug. Well, that's the darnedest reasoning. I've ever heard Stern has had too much tragedy in his life He wouldn't risk letting the same thing happen to a lot of innocent people. Well, there may be something to that Have you told your clients about the way you feel Valentine seems to me that would be only ethical I'm gonna do that little thing right now Beasley. Then I'm gonna see sterner again In the fact, you're putting me in miss newcomer and a suspicion I only know the way I feel Stern it didn't set those fires and they weren't started by any wild-eyed pyromaniac are they there's a purpose and a reason behind them So now what do you want me to do? If I told you to get off the case Valentine I'd only be admitting that there's something wrong So I want you to stick with it. I believe I speak for miss newcomer, too. Okay. I still think you'll find that's Stern as your man, but the important thing is to stop him from hounding Vivian She may not sound it, but she's a fatally frightened woman indeed on the verge of a breakdown. Okay. I'll do what I can I just thought you'd better know how things stand before I go to work on Very frank young man Oh Vivian I Just wanted to tell you I think you made an admirable choice in Valentine. He was just here He said he doesn't believe Stern had anything to do with those fires And naturally I told him to go right ahead. I Think everything will be all right Probably darker places than this, but I can't think of any George. Yeah, I should have remembered to bring a flash Wait a minute. I'll let another match Yeah, we're almost up to the top floor now. You know George. I could have sworn I heard someone downstairs in the hall Probably just plaster falling off the ceiling can't imagine anyone living here. You're gonna match your stoner doing Time off another match angel by all means let there be light That's the door just ahead You know, it's very interesting what Riley had to say about stoner I thought it was strange that a man as well spoken as he should be living down in this section Hey stoner, this is Valentine Look, I got a few things to tell you come on open up might be he isn't home if you can call this home Well, we just have to wait for him. Oh, no not up here. We won't I have a sudden desire to fill my lungs with good fresh air I think we can find our way down without this much You stay right behind me Angel. You don't have to worry about that George And cats really see in the dark You better stay away from this newcomer. You're beginning to sound like I don't know Turn to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment Meanwhile a word about playing it safe When you shop for meat, you're confident of quality because you know, you're protected by health department regulations But how can you be sure of quality when you're buying a battery for your car? The National Society of Automotive Engineers established protection for you when it established three rigid battery tests Atlas batteries excel in all three of these tests required by the society Next time you look at an atlas battery notice the certified Capacities embossed on the back panel, which also shows the number of plates in it So for a sure starting battery with greater capacity through a longer service period make sure it's an atlas battery You can get one at any standard station or independent Chevron gas station certified atlas batteries and Expert battery service are two reasons why independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations say and mean We'll take better care of your car And now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine Well a slightly pixelated lady complains that a man has been deliberately driving her out of her mind the man You find a pathetic grief-stricken husband who's lost his wife in a tenement fire like George Valentine You can't believe he's also a half demented firebug as everyone else suspects So along with Bruxy you find yourself on the darkened stairs of a boarded-up tenement Suddenly something sends both of your hurtling down to the landing below Are you sure you're all right George? Oh? Oh, yeah, yeah, just great. What about you? I'm still all in one piece. I think oh I landed right on top of you poor darling good for something anyway Hey, what the devil was that on the stairs anyway? I'll never Mind that now. You just stay where you are. I'll go get some help We came into this place together. We're going out the same way here. Give me a hand Fancy seeing you lieutenant. Oh, I just happened to be in the neighborhood Valentine Couldn't resist dropping by at the office and seeing how quickly you hear I thought you were gonna stay off the Mary's around this time lieutenant. Oh, well, this is just a duty call on a sick friend Thank you very much. The abrasions are numerous for superficial. I warn you lieutenant He's in a very sour mood. Yeah Well, maybe this will cheer you up. Why thank you lieutenant You know, I've always wanted to have a piece of wire my very own Now what is this? This is what was stretched across the stairs. Let me see that after you called me miss Brooks I went down to Morton Street and had a look see of course George There was somebody in the hall and whoever it was put the wire there while we were fussy outside Stern's door And I can tell you who it was Stern's all right now make me believe it Valentine this is a special kind of wire very fine very strong and it's used almost exclusively by Watchmakers I checked and Stern it used to be a watchmaker George. All right, and I can tell you why he wanted you out of the way Go on lieutenant. There's a strictly your party now Well, here's something we all overlooked all four of the fires down in River Flats happened on the 8th of the month Beginning with the one that got mrs. Stern Lieutenant are you trying to say that these fires are a sort of anniversary present from Stern it to the newcomer estate Well, that's the way a firebugs mind would reason. Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute today is the 8th of the month, too Well, don't you see he wants you off the scene. I take it you've questioned Stern and lieutenant Yeah, and he denies everything and we don't have enough to pin it on him But now we'll detail an extra man to follow them Okay Yeah, hello What now wait a minute? Who is this? Oh? Yes, mr. Newcomer One thing at a time. What is your French poodle have to do with it? What's that? Oh I see Yeah, okay. I'll be right there Now what does she want? Yeah, come on. Let's have it. It seems my word happy client has had a change of heart Now she wants me off the case Please Vivian, I know how attached you weren't the dog, but what's done is done exactly what has been done Mr. Wooden why that fiend he poisoned the pier now my dear. We're not sure well Who else could it be that's Turner's way of saying that I'll be next? Oh, what will I do about fear Davis? Shall I have him cremated or buried in a pet cemetery? I think that he would have won. Yes, I'm sure he would have now. What's this about me? We wanted to drop the case give him this check baby. Yeah, you are Valentine. I'm sorry. I see Had it already, huh? Well, don't you see mr. Valentine? Turner knows that I hired you that's why he killed Pierre if I don't just miss you I'm sure you'll do away with me. Thanks for the check, but I'm still in the case From here on in I'm working for Stern. How can you work for a man who goes around killing dogs? Mrs. Stern had died in a fire that could have been prevented I'm stretching a point to say that the person responsible is worse than a man who killed a dog. I See we're not gonna have any trouble with booby traps this time. I bought the biggest flashlight I could find George yeah, have you any real reason to believe sternor didn't poison that dog? No, Bruxie. What could be that miss newcomer or Wilton use the dog as an excuse to get me out of the picture? I might be getting too close I Beasley was in here when I opened the door they're all against me But I'm stronger than all of them put together and I'll show keep quiet. It's all about George find out Well, I was waiting for him here I had enough of this nonsense if something happens to him in here the insurance company is going to be responsible You don't have to go about it that way do you be all there's no use talking to this loon All he can do is babble about me taking him away from his wife. What kind of talk is that? George I found this on the floor This spool of wire belong to you sternor mine. Oh, no, no, no, no, I never saw it before Okay, I don't know about you Valentine, but I'm through coddling him I'm going to the police and have him thrown out No, no, no, you can't I've got to stay here with George it's cruel to leave him in there like that all alone. I'm not leaving him angel But there's something I want you to do. Yeah, what's that get a list of all the newcomer tenements Then drop by each one and write out a detailed description. Well, that'll take some time. Well, hop to it I have a few things to do myself. Oh I just can't go and lock sternor up for the night find an excuse lieutenant I want to prove that even with sternor locked up. They'll still be a fire tonight is scheduled. I'm sorry. No can do Miss newcomer get a warrant sworn out against sternor for poisoning your dog You'll want to see him at jail, don't you and what will he do to me when he gets out? Oh, no, no I won't George you're just guessing you couldn't tell just by looking at this list The answer to everything is right here angel tonight. There's gonna be a fire at 63 Ferris Street No, it's all quiet George Well, it's a cinch. Nobody can get in or out of that place without us seeing him There's only the front entrance and if no one shows someone will brooksy and I'm betting it won't be sternor Now I see all the lights are out in the warehouse next door The last truck went out a few minutes ago and by a fabrics corporation must be working overtime Yeah, George Down the street just turning the corner. Yeah, let's get back in the doorway. He ever shake those detectives. I don't know Oh, he's going into 63. All right. Well, I gotta stop it. Mr. Nick wait a minute, sir I'm asking you that I thought you told me you were gonna work tonight I did but I thought of something I had to do. Oh, yeah, I can imagine now look Stay here brooksy I have to go in and drag him out Oh, you wouldn't dare start a fire now that he knows we've seen it in his frame of mind I don't know what he'll do. I'll go with you get out of here, brooksy But you get over to the corner put in an alarm. We're trapped here on the top floor But there's a window just below this one. Yes, I'm gonna let you down outside as far as I can then I'll swing you in No, no, no, no, no, I'm afraid you prefer the fire. No, no, I'll do anything. You say all right now climb outside Don't worry. I won't let you fall I'll take my chances with this drain pipe all the way kept mumbling about his wife Finding an answer here to just one more errand for you. Angel and we can call it the day Yeah, what's that get hold of lieutenant Riley and meet me at the hospital George. I'm so glad you got here Mr. Sternock keeps calling for you. Oh, it's pathetic the guy thinks you can help him He doesn't seem to realize that all you can do is land him in the state hospital for the criminally insane How'd you make out George? Yeah, where were you anyway? Well, you call it illegal entry lieutenant. Here's the present What's this? I lied fire and engender to company amount of insurance $800,000 Wow name of insured Empire fabrics corporation That's the name on the warehouse right next to the tenement where the fire was tonight The idea was for both of them to burn down, but there go on lieutenant the line on the bottom name of agent What's this? Huh? Edward Beasley. Yes Beasley the fire bug who was Crazy like a fox. Yeah, well it's on your hot good angel to see Beasley. Yeah, Miss Brooks He folded right up when I shoved that policy under his nose. Well, George, just what was the racket? I don't quite understand. Well, Beasley took advantage of a tragedy When Sterner began to harm his newcomer Beasley saw a chance to create the myth of a fire bug He knew the Empire fabrics people were having money trouble So he cooked up a deal to split the insurance money with them. Well, I'd say it was pretty slick if it weren't so Well grim. Beasley phoned Sterner and tricked him into showing up at number 63 If Sterner died in the fire everybody would say the pyromaniac was caught in his own trap No doubt about it being a professional job It was all the fire department could do to keep the flames out of the warehouse Then all those trucks last night they must have been removing everything that was really valuable Oh Beasley didn't miss a trick from the wire on the stairway to Miss Newcomers French poodle Yeah, well while on the subject of that lady, I must remember to buy a pair of glasses glasses All right, I'll play straight man. Why? Every time she turns around she's gonna find me staring at her until she does something about those fire traps she owns Say incidentally, what's the penalty for driving someone bad? Well in this case Miss Brooks the biggest bouquet of roses you can buy on a cop's pay Now that summer is officially over I'd like to pass along a money-saving tip for your autumn driving Chances are your car has purred through many a cloud of road dust in the past few months and The air cleaner under the hood may be as clogged up as a freshly used tea strainer If that's the case you may be wasting as much gasoline as you would be with the chokeout all the time And the fact that a dirty air cleaner lets dust and road grit mix with the gasoline is equally costly maybe more So for driving economy ask the independent Chevron gas station or the standard station to service your air cleaner tomorrow While you're there ask them to tell you how to get rid of grease and foreign material in the cooling system Both of these services are speedy and inexpensive and helping you maintain low-cost operation is another reason Standard stations and independent Chevron gas stations say and mean we'll take better care of your car Next week when you tune our way for another adventure of George Valentine You'll find George faced with a new problem and a new client dear mr. Valentine I know I must be about 18, but I may as well have been born yesterday My mind doesn't go back any further than that. I don't know who I am or what I might have done I'm in trouble mr. Valentine, so please hurry night'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 player 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 Howard McNeer a sterner Sarah Selby as Vivian Adrienne Cordova as Wilton and Franklin Parkler as Beasley Music is composed and conducted by Eddie Dunsteader your announcer John Heaston listen again next week Same time same station to let George do it the mutual Don Lee broadcasting system