 It's another case for Nick Carter, Master Detective! Yes, it's another case for that most famous of all man hunters. The detective whose ability at solving crime is unequaled in the history of detective fiction. Nick Carter, Master Detective. Presented by the three great Linux home Brightoners. Linux Clear Gloss, Linux Cream Polish, and Linux Self-Polishing Wax. Created by ACME, America's great producer of ACME quality paints. Today's curious adventure. The funeral wreath. Or Nick Carter and the mystery of the white verbenas. In just a moment we'll hear how Nick Carter made a funeral wreath, give him the answer to a cold blooded murder. But first a word of advice. As a homemaker, you know what a job it is to keep a home attractive. That's why you've appreciated the new beauty which ChemTone, the miracle wall finish, has brought to your walls. And that's why you'll appreciate Linux Cream Polish, which restores your furniture's original handsomeness in one quick easy application. Yes, Linux Cream Polish saves one whole step in your housekeeping routine. For it cleans as it polishes without tiresome rubbing. And it removes cloudy dust and polish accumulation, vanishes fingerprints, helps to conceal ugly scratches, drawing to a hard finish that leaves no oil to attract more dust. So ask for Linux Cream Polish now at your hardware, paint or department store. Headquarters for all three great Linux home brightness and ChemTone, the miracle wall finish that covers in one coat. And now for today's mysterious adventure with Nick Carter. As we look in on Nick's office, we find Lieutenant Riley telling Patsy and Nick about a rather unfortunate experience. Well, it's like this, you see, Nick, tonight after old man Bramble give me the devil this morning about there being four robberies on his street in three weeks, I picked the best man I got on the force and I sent him up to Pine Street where all these robberies had been taken place and I told him to watch like his life depended on it. And then about one o'clock this morning I got to thinking about it and I decided to go up there and have a look for myself. Just to be sure, you know. Sure, I know. The demon of the police force goes on the job himself. Oh, now look, Nicky, you've got to let me tell this or not. Sorry, Riley, go on with your story. Well, like I said, I went to Pine Street myself and I found the cop I'd set up there was right on the job okay and everything was quiet as far as I could see so I asked him how he was making out. Nothing's storing so far, Lieutenant. No suspicious characters around at all. You've been right here all the time, Agree. Oh, every minute, Lieutenant. Good. Just dropped around to be sure. Uh, Lieutenant, have you got a minute to spare? What do you mean, have I got a minute? It's like this. My wife's having a baby tonight, I expect. She went to the hospital this afternoon, just before I came on duty and being is how I'm out here where no one could reach me. Well, I just kind of thought I'd like to find out. You don't want to kind of see if you're a father yet? Well, yes, sir. And I thought that if you wouldn't mind watching here a minute I'd just phone from the drugstore just around the corner. Only take me a minute, sir, if you wouldn't mind. Oh, sure, sure. Go ahead and phone. I'll wait till you come back. But don't stand gabbing for half an hour, man. Oh, I won't, sir. So he went off and left you all alone, huh? Not too bad. I see it was too bad. If we'd both been there, we might have got that dirty crook. So what happened then, Lieutenant? Well, I stood there in the shadow of the corner house, you see, watching. And a moment later, I saw a dark figure come out of all Bramble's house which was just two doors up the street. I knew Bramble and his wife lived there alone with all he had made, so I wondered who it would be coming out there at that time of night. And what made me even more suspicious, there was no light on in the hall like there would be if somebody was saying good night to him. So I says to myself, I'll just go over and find out who he is because I've not taken no chances tonight. And you went over? I did that. The guy just stood there at the top of the steps. He seemed to be fumbling with something in a bag there. And as soon as I got up to the house, he turned around and hung something right beside the door. But it was too dark to see what it was at first. But as he started down the steps, I saw it was a funeral wreath with a long stream and a purple ribbon on it. How was the man dressed, Raleigh? Just like an undertaker, Nick. Black gloves and a tall hat and a long black coat. Could you see his face? No, not very well in the dark, Batsy. Well, I wasn't looking for nothing like that. So I asked him who was dead. I regret to inform you that Mr. George Bramwell has just passed away. Bramwell, you say? Old man Bramwell himself? Yes, very suddenly. Almost in his sleep, you might say. Oh, and he was down to see me just this morning, looking fine he was. Yes, very sad. Well, if you'll pardon me, I must be going. Allow me to present you with one of my cards. In case you ever have need of a man in my profession. A card? Oh, yeah, thanks, thanks. This is J. Atherton Osgood, Martician. Yes. If you should ever need my services, I should be happy to be of service in any way. This is J. Atherton Osgood. There ain't no one to take her in this town where that... Hey, you! Just a minute. There ain't no one to... No! So long, Copper. Lieutenant, what happened to that man? The one with the black bag. Well, there's nobody on the street, Lieutenant. What happened to him? He knocked me down. What's that? A care for a brimel's house. Come on. Are you all right, sir? Of course I can't walk. Let's get going. Lieutenant, no wonder you're working. I'm afraid to read what the newspapers will say. I can see him now. Lieutenant Riley is a metropolitan police. Talks to murderer on steps of murder's man's home. And then is tricked into letting him go. It is a sorry day for me. Well, Riley, feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to hurt you anywhere. This man interests me. He goes to commit a murder and takes a funeral wreath along to hang on the door of his victim's home. That's a new one on me. Nick, why don't you give Riley a hand? See if you can find this crook for him. I think I will, fancy. That is, if Riley wants me to. Wants you to? What do you think I've been telling you this for? Just to pass the time of day? Very well, Riley, very well. Since you beg me so politely, I'll be only too happy to put my talents at your disposal. Where do we begin, Nick? Now, you say the murderer wore gloves. So you must have left no fingerprints behind him. Yeah, that's right, Nick. And I went all through the road's gallery this morning. There's nothing there that looks like him. Which leaves us, if I'm not mistaken, with two clues. The funeral wreath and the card he gave you. Neither one of them is worth the tinker's damn. No? Why not? Well, that's the same kind of wreath they tack on anybody's door when there's a death in the family. And you certainly don't think that guy forked over his own card, do you? You're wrong on both counts, Riley. Now, how do you figure that, Nick? Well, take the card first. May not be, probably isn't his own. But it's somebody's card. Look at it, Fatsy. It's not printed. It's engraved. Mm-hmm, you're right. If it was a phony, chances are it would just be a printed one. Ah, good morning, folks. Beautiful morning. Lovely morning, isn't it? Get out, I hear you. You report to me. Hi, Johnny. Come on in. Oh, morning, Johnny. It's just in time. Now, look here, Johnny. Would you see if you dared to print a word of this in that yellow rag you work for, I'll... Now, now, hold on, Lieutenant. It's not a yellow rag and I don't work for it. I'm a feature writer and not a reporter. So just keep your shirt on, huh? Whatever it is, it's getting you all hot and bothered. Riley's in the spot, Johnny. And the very thought of publicity makes him squirreled. Oh, fear not, fear not, lovely policeman. Your secret shall be locked forever within the four walls of my heart. Lovely police, ain't it? It's a long story. I'll give you the details later. But right now I've got a job for you if you have time to do it. Always at your service, Nicholas. And the beautiful Patsy. Speak on. I want you to get hold of someone who can let you into the public library. At this hour of the day? I don't care if it is early in the morning and I don't care how sore they get about letting you in. But dig up somebody who can find you a copy of the Mortician's Annual. The Mortician's Annual? Yes, you know. What's the undertaker's trade publication? See if you can find an undertaker named J. Atherton Osgood. J. Atherton Osgood, huh? All right, then why? Come back here and let me know what it says about him. And make it a rush order. This can't wait. Consider it, Don Nicholas. I'm on my way to the loop. Nick, are you Batty? Do you mean to tell me you think that guy's name really was J. Atherton Osgood? Not at all, Riley. But since it's a genuine business card, he must have picked it up somewhere along his travels. This man Osgood may help us get a line on him. It's too much for me, Nick. You want me for anything more here? No, not just now, Riley. I'll let you know if I do. Or what are you going to do? I'd rather be shot than do what I have to do, Nick. What's that, Lieutenant? You go down to headquarters and explain to the reporters how it happened that that crook got away from you last night. Oh, well... Well, good luck to you. And you better put a shamrock over your left ear for luck. Okay, Nick, okay. Have your fun. With your laughing at a sick man. So long. So long, Lieutenant. I don't envy Riley when reporters get after him. Well, Betsy, we've got something to do ourselves. Get me the latest city directory. Right here, Nick. I was using it. What do you want to know? I want a list of all the florists in the city. What on Earth for? We're going to call on them and see which of them made this funeral wreath and for whom they'll get busy. Nearly through, Betsy. Just a couple more, Nick. But what a list. Maybe we'll be lucky and only have to call on a few of them. I should hope so. Why, if we have to call on them... Hi, folks. Your messenger is back. Johnny. Well, oh, yes, yes. Very well. I might say okay. What do you mean? Well, I routed out the sweetest little redhead sub-third assistant librarian you ever saw. The name was Myrtle O'Toole. And I got it open, one of the branch libraries for me. Did you get what I wanted? That's you. Myrtle was kind of sore at me for making a lease of beauty sleep, but, uh, I sued her. Oh, yes, I sued her. Cassanova winter's in person. Johnny, what did you find out? Ah, Yannick, down in black and white. J. Anthony Nasgood. Funeral Chapel, Akron, Ohio. Yep. Johnny, Patsy and I are going out. I want you to go through the files and see what you can find that has to do with Akron. Right, Nick. Ah, about what dates? Say, um, say within the last year. I'm not quite sure of the dates yet. I finished the list, Nick. You want to go now? Yes, Patsy. The sooner the better. Okay. Get your hat and let's be on our way. Hi, Nick. Where are you going with that funeral wreath? I don't know for sure, Johnny, but I hope to hang it around a murderer's neck before long. So Nick believes the funeral wreath, which the killer hung on his victim's door, will lead him to the killer himself. What can there be about that wreath that makes it such an important clue? We'll see in just a moment. Ever notice how much a shining, clean floor adds to the appearance of any room? All your rooms will look brighter, more attractive when you protect your wood floors and linoleum with Linux clear gloss, the durable coating that flows on easily without brush marks, drying to a hard, tough finish which wears and wears and looks well for a long, long time. Linux clear gloss gives a lustrous, transparent finish to all wood or linoleum surfaces in your home, resisting boiling water, hot grease, perfume, fruit acids, even alcohol. And it's so easy to keep clean. For Linux clear gloss keeps the dirt on the surface where it's easily wiped away. It's gleaming beauty. It's protective durability. Make it a standby in thousands of American homes. So get it now. Famous Linux, spelled L-I-N-dash-X. Linux clear gloss. The ideal way to protect your floors and woodwork. Remember to ask for it at your paint hardware department store where you'll find all three great Linux home bright news and Chemtone, the miracle wall finish that dries in one hour. Now back to our story. We left Nick and Patsy trying to find the florists who made the funeral wreath which the killer hung on the door of the man he had just murdered. That's it, Patsy. Just ahead. I, Silverman. I hope this florist can tell you more than the other four we visited. They didn't know from nothing. I hope this wreath doesn't get worn out before I find out who made it. Did this funeral wreath come from your shop? From my shop, let me see. No, it couldn't be from here. All day, yesterday, business was very bad. I send out not one single order all day. Only two customers ordered. All right, I'll take your word for it. But how about the day before? Did you send it out then, perhaps? That's not possible, mister. These flowers, they are too fresh. They could not have been peaked before yesterday or so fresh they wouldn't be now. You mean the wreath was definite and made up yesterday? Sure, mister. Couldn't be before yesterday. The flowers, they are too fresh. Any idea who might have made it up? Doubt I couldn't say, mister. It's a very ordinary piece. Could be anybody made it. Okay, thanks. Uh, come sometime when you want to buy something. Maybe, yes, mister. Thanks, I will. Any luck, Nick? No. I did find out the wreath was definite he made yesterday. Is that all? Well, who's Nick on the wreath? Before we visit the next place, I want to call Johnny and ask him what he found. Maybe that'll give us a leave. This isn't the Akron police, Nick. Any of them the men we want, Johnny? No, descriptions are so general, I don't mean much. What are the dates on them? Well, one is dated almost a year ago. One is dated about three months ago and the other is two months ago. I see. Well, not much help there, I'm afraid. And, uh, wait a minute. Two of the men are wanted for murder and robbery and the other for robbery alone. Okay, Johnny, sit tight. I may need you again. So long. So long, Nick. I gather he didn't find anything that will help us. No, not without some additional evidence. Okay. Well, I better call him the next florist on our list. That's the only lead we have, that's any good. Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz. Could you tell me if you made this wreath? Did I make it? Oh, Mr. I did not make it. Well, could you tell me who might have made it? Let me look. I could not see for certain, Mr. but I am in this business for a long time and I think this was not made by the florist. Oh, that's so. Are you sure? No, I am not sure. But it looks as if it was made by someone who's seen a lot of wreaths like this, but it's not a regular florist. Someone who's seen a lot of wreaths like it, but not a professional florist. Funny none of the other florists noticed that. They probably were not as experienced in the business as I am or they did not look closely enough. I am sure it is not professional. And, well, another thing. These flowers. Yes? Like a book, I know all the greenhouses are on here and not one of them goes flowers like these. But I'm sure. Thanks very much. You told me a lot, Mrs. Schwartz. So long. Goodbye, Mr. Can you lock this down, Miss? That's it. I think we've got something. Oh, good. What is it? Find me a telephone. I want to talk to Mr. J after the Nasgut of Akman. And, jeez, it looked like a cartoon of old man Gloom. I see, Mr. Nasgut. And you say he left your employee very suddenly? Yes, it was about three months ago. He went home one night and he never showed up again. No word from him at all. That's the man all right. Thanks very much, Mr. Nasgut. Could he help you, Nick? Yes, Patsy. He says he had a man working for him as undertaker's assistant who left him suddenly about three months ago. And his description of the man agreed with Riley's description of the man who killed Bramwell last night. So what do we do now? Visit some more florists? No, Patsy. We visit some undertakers. Why are you so sure the killer works for an undertaker, Nick? It's logical, Patsy. He apparently came to town about three months ago. But he started these robberies as far as we know only three weeks ago. Now, what could be more natural than from to get a job at the trade he knew undertaker's assistant? That would give him time to look over the town and decide where he wanted to pull his jobs. And would it also legalize his being in town in case anything came up to question it? Well, we've tried seven undertakers and none of them had any nice, fresh assistants. Hope we have better luck at this next one. Yes, Mr. Carter, we do have a new assistant. Hey, Mr. Carnes, a very fine man, most efficient. Came here about three months ago, but I'm sure he can't be the man you are. What does he look like? Why, he's about as tall as you are, not nearly as heavily built, his cheeks are thin, and he looks rather like... Like old man Gloom? Well, I wouldn't like to say that, but he does. Now that you mention it, he does rather resemble that character, yes. I'd like to see him. Well, he's not here today, Mr. Carter. He's home packing his bag. Packing his bag? You mean he's leaving town? Well, just overnight, that's all. We're shipping one of our late clients to Cleveland. Mr. Carnes is going with the body to deliver it to relatives there. I see. Well, you mind telling me where Mr. Carnes lives? Why, I'm not sure, Mr. Carter. I've never become that friendly with Mr. Carnes. Great heavens, man. Surely you know where your own employees live. Oh, but he's not one of my employees, Mr. Carter. I'm not the head of this establishment. Mr. Grayson is. He could tell you, of course. Well, where's Mr. Grayson? I'll ask him. I'm very sorry to say he's not here. Not here? No, he's been called out into the country to supervise a very special... All right, all right. And you say you don't know Carnes' home address? No, I don't. But I believe he lives on Oakmont Terrace, if I remember correctly. Oakmont Terrace? Yes, Mr. Carter, but I don't know the number. I'll find it. I'll... By the way, this body that Carnes is taking to Cleveland, who got it ready for shipment? Why, our Mr. Carnes did. He came to work early this morning, in order to get it ready in time. And now he's... Thanks. That's all I want to know. So long. I mean just that, Raleigh. He lives on Oakmont Terrace, but I don't know the number. Now, listen, Raleigh, meet me at the corner of Oakmont and Danborough as soon as you can. Okay. I want you to identify the man for me when I find him. I'll be out there in two shakes of a lamb's tail, Nick. I want to get my hands on that guy. I'll give him the worst trim. Yes, I know, I know, Raleigh, but wait till we catch him first. See you at Oakmont and Danborough in 20 minutes. I'm slowly along the street, Betsy. I want to see if I can get any clue to which is Carnes' house. You don't expect to find him sitting on his doorstep, do you, Nick? Hardly, Betsy. But one of the florists I visited gave me an idea. Not here about what? About the flowers and that wreath. He said that... Ah, there, that's the house. My hunch was right. You mean the house where Carnes lives? Yes, I'm sure of it. Why, Nick, how can you tell? By the garden in front of the house. Well, what can... Oh, there's Raleigh putting around the corner up there. Shall we go meet him? Yes. I want to get this over with as soon as I can. Right. Just this, Raleigh, I feel sure the killer of Old Man Bram well lives in that gray bungalow up the street. I think he's probably in there now. I'm going in and see. You wait outside in case he gets away from me. But why not let me go in? Because you know him. When you see him, I don't. So you wait outside. And you, Patsy, stay down here at the corner out of the way. But suppose he tries to shoot you, Nick? Wouldn't it be safer to take Raleigh in? If there's any shooting, Raleigh can come in and give me a hand. Do that, Nick, and happy to get a shot at that rat. Okay, let's get going. Leave your car here so he won't suspect anything because you'd happen to look out the window. Sure. How'd you happen to get on the track of this mug? Investigation, Raleigh. Investigation and deduction. Plus, common sense. That don't tell me much. I'll give you the details later. All right, here's the house. Now, remember, stay here unless there's shooting or unless he gets away from me. Then you'll grab him. Right, Nick. Good luck. Mr. Carnes here? Uh, yes. That second door there. Shall I call him? No. He's expecting me. Thanks. Oh, all right. You can go right in then. Thanks. My name, Carnes. Yeah, so what? I want to talk to you. Is that any reason for busting into a guy's... I mean, is that any reason why you should enter my room without knocking? Oh, yes. I was afraid I might not catch you if I lost any time. You seem to be leaving town. I don't know what you have in your mind, but I'm sure I'm not the one you want to see. I don't believe I know you. Well, I know you. You work for Grace and the Undertaker, don't you? And you're leaving town to chaperone a dead body to Cleveland? That's quite correct. I know a lot more, too. I know you killed George Bramwell last night and took 3,000 in cash and 10,000 in jewels from his safe. It was a pretty slick stunt to impersonate a departing undertaker and leave the wreath in the door. The door knew interest me. But that was where you made your mistake, Carnes. Because a florist told me that wreath wasn't made by a real florist, but by someone who's seen lots of them. So I figured that the killer who might have worked for an undertaker at some time was you. So you picked me out as the culprit. But another mistake to you is that card you picked up in Akron gave us a good line on you. Of course, going into the undertaking business here was an excellent idea. From your point of view, gave you a splendid chance to find out where the rich homes were located without attracting attention. Is that all? Not quite. I have a hunch that if we were to pry up the lid of that casket, you're going to chaperone out of town, we'd find you'd hidden the loot in there. This is all very entertaining. But so far, you haven't shown any proof that connects this wild story up to me. So I must ask you... How about this, then? That homemade funeral wreath was made of white verbenas. A very uncommon flower around here. And there's a fine bed of verbenas growing in front of this house. The only white verbenas anywhere around here. So put on your hat, Carnes, and we'll go out and let Lieutenant Raleigh identify you as the man who slugged him last night. You can go to... Oh! Oh! Oh! You take better aims, Carnes. You really hope to shoot your way out. You've got nothing on me. I was just trying to... Whatever you were trying to do, that shot you fired just now was a sign of confession of guilt. Yeah, you're all right. You can get it. Everything's under control, Raleigh. There's your killer. Hey, that's the guy all right. Convicted by his own funeral wreath, which is poetic justice if I ever heard it. In just a moment, Nick and Patsy will bring you a preview of next week's exciting case. Here's a suggestion. Give your floors a handsome surface in a jiffy with Linux self-polishing wax. The liquid wax you simply wipe on without rubbing or polishing. Linux self-polishing wax keeps all your floors wood, tile and linoleum looking their shining best. Yet it's so quick to use and it dries to an elastic, satiny finish that wears amazingly and is unusually resistant to dirt and water. It contains the greatest possible amount of genuine Carnaba wax with no gum, shellac or resin to chip or crumble. So get it now. Linux self-polishing wax to keep your floors beautiful the easy way. If your dealer hasn't yet received his supply of the three great Linux home brightners, he'll probably have them soon. Ask him to save one or all of them for you. Acme will see that he gets them and you get them as quickly as possible. Now let's hear from Nick Carter himself. How about it, Nick? Have you got something new and exciting for us next week? I think so, Ken. In the courtyard of a new and expensive apartment building, the body of a man was found floating in the lily pool. With a large knife in his back? There was practically nothing to tell us who did it or why. But when I got started on the investigation, I found a very confusing trail that took me all over town in unexpected directions. And led right to the murderer, thanks to a costly mink coat, which unfortunately did not belong to me. That's it. You made a nice little sum of money out of that coat, even if it wasn't yours. True enough. There was some compensation for what I went through. Sounds interesting, Nick. What do you call a story? I call it Death in the Pool. Or the mystery of the mink coat. And that's all until next week. So long. So long, everybody. And so long to you, Nick and Patsy. We'll be looking forward to seeing you again next week. Next week at the same time, listen to another curious experience of Nick Carter, master detective, entitled Death in the Pool. Or Nick Carter and the mystery of the mink coat. Nick Carter, master detective, is a copyright feature of Street and Smith Publications Incorporated. It is presented at this same time and over these same stations by the three great Linux home brightness. Linux clear glass, Linux cream polish, and Linux self-polishing wax, created by ACME, America's great producer of ACME quality paints. In the Nick Carter adventures, Long Clark is starred as Nick. Helen Chaud is featured as Patsy. Lieutenant Riley is played by Humphrey Davis. Original music is played by Lou White. The programs are written and directed by Jock McGregor. This is Ken Powell speaking for the thousands of Linux dealers all over America, and saying, so long until next week. This is Mutual.