 We have delayed the start of our schedule program to bring you a bulletin from CBS news Two helicopters carrying the United Nations ceasefire team left K song shortly before nine o'clock Sunday morning, Korean time Communist officers are already in K song to participate in the preliminary ceasefire talks. This bulletin has come to you from CBS news We now resume our schedule program Most Saturdays at this time we spent an exciting half hour of adventure in action with America's public hero number one the hop along Cassidy Well, even two fisted cowboys take summer vacations when they can and hoppy is no exception Hop along and topper will be back with us riding the CBS air trails again 11 weeks from tonight September 22 Get this and get it straight Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave There's no other end, but they never learn From the pen of Raymond Chandler outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character in the adventures of Philip Marlowe Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe we bring you tonight's exciting story a seaside sabbatical Wire in my hand said it all need your help urgent meet me at 8 30 tonight ships galley cafe Long Beach signed Dale Higgins The time and the place were known factors the need for help the urgency and most of all Dale Higgins were unknown And my hazy recollection of algebra told me that three unknowns are mathematically impossible to find Call it a challenge call it money call it a chance for a short dinner call it anything you're like But 815 found me pulling into a parking lot on Ocean Boulevard not far from the amusement pier Hi, you're right. How's it going? Oh great. Thanks. What brings you to the capital of Iowa corn My aim's getting bad red. I thought I come down to the pike and try for my limited a shooting gallery. She really yeah Greatest practice in the world Is it still 35 cents and no questions asked all the part the car. Yeah, that's it Okay, get keep it. Oh, thanks. Hey, I'm mine if I recommend the quick quack. How's that again? Used to be the dead duck best shooting gallery in the pike from Idaho. Oh that quick quack. Oh sure anybody be a fool to go Anywhere else. Yeah, my sentiments exactly see you red you bet mr. Marlowe Red's a nice kid. His name was a natural. He was blonde I've bobbed along Ocean Boulevard in a direction that instinct and a blaring blue neon sign indicated would lead me on cost of the ship's galley The night was muggy and close You wore it like an extra coat And the ocean breeze I'd anticipated it retired in favor of alternate waves of fog that rolled in and Golfed you for a moment. There's suddenly rolled out again. I Was very nearly on time for my 830 appointment with Dale Higgins as I turned blue beneath the ship's galley neon and stepped inside to be Graded by tight little groups of faces that opened and closed to admit food drink and talk all in to go The door behind me closed on two thoughts My dreams of a short dinner were blasted and the ship's galley emerges the last place in the world for anyone in need of urgent help To discuss his problems, but then I didn't know Dale Higgins Are you Philip Marlowe by any chance? That's right. Yeah, look like you were looking for someone I'm Higgins. Oh, how are you Higgins? Do we talk here? Probably not very well. I'll walk along the beach. Oh fine Say Higgins, did you ever wonder why people pack into a hot little rooms on a night like this? Oh, you mean the ship's galley? Yeah Philosophy is not my business Marlowe. What is well? I don't quite know how to tell you I guess. Well your wire set urgent. That's good enough for openness. Yes Well, the truth is I was a little quick sending that wire No, it's pretty upset about a situation at the time of things have resolved themselves now I won't require any help. Oh Well, you want to know I expect to pay you of course the trip down and your customary fee It'll be 25 a day in expenses seven cents a mile for 23 miles and oh, yeah Yeah, 35 cents for parking my car seven times 23 $1.61 a 35 dollar 96 26 96 all together is Cash all right Always has been Marlowe I am sorry about this. I didn't set out to bring you on a wild goose chase Yes, looks like I have got the right amount. Thanks. Don't worry about it Higgins. Anybody can change his mind. Yes I guess that's right. Well Thanks for your trouble not at all Yeah, well I Turned in the direction of a voice but the fog is a cute way of diffusing sound as well as sight And I realized I wasn't closing in on anything that the fog was circling me and I was circling it So I stopped and waited and listened and heard nothing but the sound of the sea and the faint wheezing of the pike caliopee Then suddenly it hit me Somewhere along the fog swept beach a girl had called my name And nobody knew I was in Long Beach except right at the parking lot and Dale Higgins Yeah, the choice was obvious Did you find Joe came mr. Marlowe? Yeah. Yeah, red. She did you tell him where I was why sure I told her you and me always did our shooting at the quick quack good boy now. Tell me who she is Who she is yeah? You mean you don't know her mr. Marlowe. That's the general idea red. Well. Well, I guess she's my age. I know who is she? She's yeah she's You want your car mr. Marlowe? No red not now. I think I left something back at the quick quack Everything that was young and pretty along the pike was hanging out of a sailor's arm Around gene on those quick quack the nearest thing the youth and beauty with a neatly lying 22s poised across the counter Are you like mr. No, no, thanks just lucky not by yeah, see I just lost my girl Don't blow your brains out here these guns is for shooting ducks. I see what you mean We said we'd meet here if we got separated. Have you seen him by any chance seven eight feet tall glandular case Three stalls down build the tooth thing. Thanks so much still just looking not buying still just look Try it from a distance. It looks even better go on I spotted her at least I'd spotted a frightened phone of a thing who caught my eyes if we were the only two on the pike And there was something about her that made me wish we were I Followed her away from the crowded amusement section up the ramp toward Ocean Boulevard Suddenly she broke into a run dotted into an alleyway. I wasn't far behind me No, we saw you did they Follow me like who he might And there may be others. I don't know. I don't know that makes two of us now. Wait a minute. Let's talk I saw you meet him. I thought it was you at the parking lot. I saw you meet him the ship's galley Something like you lost in a mob. I'll kill you. You know if you're with them. I'll kill you I've got to before someone kills me No, I don't know now listen baby baby. I'm with you. Don't come in any near all right. All right I can't walk out of here with you. He's around somewhere. I know he is Mr. Marlowe, you'll help me. You'll have to there isn't anyone else course. I will of course I will then look as soon as you can get your car Don't let Val see you now Val. You know Val. Listen in your car. Meet me at 7th and Anaheim I'll get there. I'll have to and then we can talk wait a minute hold it and Anaheim. Mr. Marlowe I'm Dale Higgins It was a steady in contrast all the way The din and kaleidoscope of rainbow pier against the lonely sound of a fog horn The gray feel of fog and the dank gray black of the warehouse district at 7th and Anaheim an urgent wire sign Dale Higgins Dale Higgins and a guy who called himself Higgins husband lover what? Well, here we go again Marlowe I parked the car and waited the fog hugged the streetlight, but the sign was intermittently visible I had the right place I don't know how long it was before I heard the footsteps But it was long enough for me to stretch my legs out along the car seat lean my head back against the door and feel the Damp touch of fog sweep against my face from an open window I remember starting to turn my head toward the direction of the steps and thinking that Dale had made it in good time In just a moment we will return to the second act of Philip Marlowe, but first Just as systematic exercise builds a strong body So does systematic saving build a strong future Save systematically for your future and for your country's future with the United States defense bonds And now with our star Gerald Moore the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's story a seaside sabbatical I could almost hear the chain pulleys clanking the first time I opened my eyes And it took another game try before the fuzz faded away and the room slowed down to a lambeth walk Off somewhere the faint sound of breakers And I did the ceiling walls in one corner of an expensively furnished room before I sent it on the fuzzy indeterminate face at my bedside a kind face motherly and pleasant It talked. I'm Mrs. Higgins. Oh, oh, no. Yes. Yes, I am Everybody in Long Beach named Higgins. You don't really feel a bit. Well, do you know not really? We're awfully. Sorry, Mr. Marlowe I know when Dale realizes what she's done. She'll be sorry too. Yeah, I spoke Dale bean me What with a peer? She's often violent. I'm afraid Such a high-strung girl gives way so easily, you know, yeah imagines all sorts of things and then well just gives way Yeah, but I won't worry you with that Dale's my problem. I I won't worry you with anything. Mr. Marlowe. Just you get a nice rest. I'm a cinch We'll pay whatever damages there are of course, but I won't hear of you leaving now until you're much better Oh Hey Mother of the Higgins clan and locked the door and walked away My head felt big and woozy and rammed down into my neck. I Was not in the pink Mother Higgins had ordered a nice rest and it looked like I'd need it I don't like strange rooms and locked doors and high-strung girls would give way I'm still trying to get out of bed when another dog clicks slowly open on the other side of the room My little frightened fawn was back And my head hurt That's how I knew you were here Mr. Marlowe, did they hurt you? They sure did It wouldn't do you know if they found me talking to you. I feel better now that you're here. I wish I did What happened to you? Do you know I have a rough idea? Say honey, how much do you weigh? That's not important listen, I can't stay long you know a romance with you would be rough Please mr. Marlowe, they're going to kill me Val and Marie. All right. All right. I settled down. They are and I don't know why Maybe if I knew why I'd understand. Yeah, but listen. I I didn't even know Val in Val Nickles a friend of Marie's She sent him to the boat to meet me Ever since then I just know they are gonna kill me there. Listen to me I don't know Val as matter of fact until you told me I thought his name was Higgins and I don't know Marie What makes you think they're gonna kill you? You met Val last night the ship's galley You talked to him Marie was just here. Don't try to confuse me. You're all I had. All right, honey, but tell me isn't Marie your mother? My stepmother Daddy's dead When I got off the Orange Coast the other night whenever it was there was Val the Orange Coast That's how I came back Mr. Marlowe, you you're not trying to understand if you won't help me that Don't let I hope that you're not bothering mr. Marlowe. No, no, I'm not He asked me to come in He likes me of course he does dear We all do no Feeling better mr. Marlowe the worst way. I'm sorry come Dale. Let's let mr. Marlowe rest You could use a little rest yourself my dear. No, he wants me to stay. I'm not bothering you're not bothering at all Honey, but maybe it would be better if you come back a little later. Yes. Yes, of course it would dear now come along now I Can come back though mr. Marlowe You promise sure if you promise. I know you'll keep it Never mind Val. I came in alone. You know I can find my way out She's sweet She's sick Very sick young lady Marlowe troubled She's got nothing on me Look, what is this all about? I don't know what day it is what I'm doing here who you are anything Well, it should all have ended with our meeting at the ship's galley last evening You're not clearing anything up for me You know you've seen her talk to her you must realize is that she imagines things right now She imagines that she's been away from here a long time that she came back a few days ago On a ship that her mother and I want to kill her she did send me the wire. Oh, yes, yes Well, we had no idea one of her spells was coming on We left her for a short time yesterday Switchboard has its instructions, of course, and they reported it to mrs. Higgins when you return So we we thought it best if I met you and call me up. It's not in your line Marlowe. You're right I'm gonna keep it that way so mrs. Higgins realizes that she's going to have to do something about Dale Institution perhaps some long range treatment at any rate Dale was in no condition to be running around last night playing mysteries Taking up your time whoever hit me in the head last night was in pretty good condition Well, if I had gotten there two minutes sooner, I could have spared you all that you were following her No, no, no, I was coming back from my boat. I had gone down to the harbor after I left you No, it's on the way back. I just happened to see Dale and knowing the state. She was in I followed her of course I see she doesn't know she hit me does she I Don't believe that she has the slightest idea what happened Things started swimming again Val Nichols became part of the draperies. I Was trying to think but it hurt everything hurt The chain pulleys were lowering my eyelids again. That was all for a while Next time I tried I was more successful Sunlight was streaming in the room the clock on the night table visible for the first time said it was almost noon So I got up It was still pretty fuzzy on the edges, but I found my clothes hung neatly in the closet Managed to get them on in the right order and made it to the door that had been locked before but it wasn't this time Mr. Marlowe, you shouldn't be up and I'm always flying in the face of great odds. Mrs. Higgins bill's character So you should stay in bed a while really I'm fine. Thanks, but you're not leaving I won't think of it. You'll lunch with us at least no no really I've got to go, but I'd like to see Dale first I sort of promised her I wouldn't she's sleeping. Mr. Marlowe. We gave her a sedative doctors orders, of course She's had such a trying time. I wouldn't want to disturb him Maybe I can call later that would be so thoughtful of you. I know she'll be disappointed at not seeing you But I oh Val, I'm talking about so soon Marlowe. Yeah, she's sleeping. Isn't she Val the sedative and all? I mean, I was just telling you she's resting very well Marie. I don't don't fret about her Well, I'll take you to your car Marlowe. Oh Oh, yes Well, Mrs. Higgins, it's been downright dreadful, and I know it mr. Marlowe If I can do anything to right this terrible wrong, please let me know. I love I can think of anything I'll let you know. Goodbye, Mrs. Higgins. Tell Dale goodbye for me. Would you? Oh, yeah? Yes, of course. I will Looks like another lovely day, doesn't it I Followed Val Nichols lead to an elevator and for the first time discovered that I was in an apartment hotel on a different stretch of Ocean Boulevard and the one I'd grown below the night before Val filled in a few last details as he walked me to my car in the underground garage Seems he driven Dale and me to the apartment from 7th and Anaheim in my car and set a lackey back for his It fit We shook hands and that hurt my head too. I drove off Somewhere in the harbor district the need for coffee and a few lungful of ocean air forced my hand I Parked the car and found both in a ship-shaped spot with a clear view of the docks The first cup cleared my head And the second one down near cleared the colors Hey, watch it. I am. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay It'll wipe up. How about you get me on you? No, I don't think so You know anything about ship schedules like what like that first one out there at anchor The Orange Coast. Yeah Well, it seems to me she landed three or four nights ago. I don't know how long she'll be tied up She's a fruit boat though and their office is just a block from here. No more unlikely their books solid But if you want to check Mr. Marlowe there was a passenger Higgins on the Orange Coast when the dock Tuesday Miss Higgins it was miss Dale Higgins according to our records any record of where she boarded the boat. Let's see now. Oh Yes at macapa macapa Brazil macapa Brazil Was she driving alone by any chance? I really don't know there's nothing here to any other Higgins as a board No, how about a passenger named nickels any chance of that? No no nickels either. Okay. Thanks. Thanks very much It was my turn to send a wire only it was a cable this time It was gonna be a while between answers so I checked into a nice clean inconspicuous hotel Had some food and a half bottle of aspirin and placed two phone calls Dale Higgins was still resting comfortably according to a stepmother But Muff Benjamin was still willing to do anything for a buck. He was there in no time Heard you were here mom something big could be you tell me you're the guy who hears things about you being here Hey, you know because people see people people tell people it's nothing. Yeah, I know it happens all the time now look muff I gotta know things quick. Well, why yeah for money Who and what all right? I get this the name is Higgins man old enough to have an 18-year-old daughter I don't know his first name. He's dead. I think but the daughter's name is dead. You got that and the wife that survived And is called Marie having apartment on Ocean Boulevard the shore. I think it is. I got it Okay, now a guy named Val Nichols check on him, too. If Higgins is dead find out about a will I'm ahead of you. Good. Get back as soon as you can. Huh? You double a doe. I'll double the speed. You're double Hello Speaking oh good. Give it to me slow, huh? Did you say order of the Holy Cross? That's right. Oh, not yet. Anyway, thanks So you see father if you could help me contact the convent in Brazil I could find out how long Dale was a student there that might shed some light on the situation, huh? I see I'm not schooled in your ways, mr. Marlowe Still we're both seekers after truth, aren't we? In this case a very specific truth. That's right father. I want to help of course Your cable said this was a sisters of the Holy Cross convent. Yes If there were any way we could call down there, you see father time is pretty important If it's possible, we shall call my son Meanwhile our prayers are with miss Higgins come, mr. Marlowe My prayers were with the phone company, too and with muff and of course there Because if her version of things were true, she was in real trouble Until I knew what it was for It was very little I could do for her What's the information from the sisters helpful mr. Marlowe? Well, they were very cooperative father Dale's been a student there for almost seven years winter and summer a stepmother visited her every day But they all never left the convent until two weeks ago Maybe it all fits huh? I'll bless her my son. Thank you father. Thank the sisters of the Holy Cross My Benjamin was waiting at my hotel when I got back Was another study in contrasts so far? I dealt with a priest an informer and a sister superior and together we were all coming close to an answer His name was Dale Higgins to the dolls father died seven years ago loaded Yeah, left the second wife Maria good income, but the big load went to the kid. All right What'd you get on Val Nichols? Oh, he's a bad one. Yeah, specialty is knocking down rich widows Currently fraternizing with this Murray Higgins thing bless you muff. Huh? I mean, here's your dough You do look so much better than when you left mr. Marlowe really is Dale still sleeping. Why yeah, I think I'll look in on her Huh, no, I mean, I'd rather you did where is she mrs. Higgins? Oh, you have no I wonder if she liked it at the convent what seven years a long time to be away from home A lot of things can happen in seven years, you know mrs. Higgins You can even end up legally dead why I I'm sure I don't have any idea Dad must have thought a lot of her. I'll bet she was pretty close to him too. She was they Mr. Marlowe, what are you do you tell me mrs. Higgins? There's nothing to tell you seems to think there is which room is hers She she isn't here. I mr. Marlowe. Don't ask any more. Oh, she's with Val, huh on his boat I didn't want it this way. I thought if she could have been declared legally dead Oh, I'd have taken care of her. I mean kept her there in the convent. No one knew she was there Val had to have a really dead is that expensive mrs. Higgins help her mr. Marlowe. He'll do it this time. He'll kill her I know believe me. I don't want how long have they been gone Not long half an hour maybe but no longer. I'll go with you Marie really cracked on the way to the harbor It was going to be a fishing accident in the channel and Val would get away with it too unless we found something That could outpower as 30 footer. It was called the Queen Marie one guest who had given it to him I found the boat. I needed all right, but the skipper seemed reluctant to go for it wildest thing I tell you it's a matter of life and death the coast guard can't go on every look a month ago We needed you off Balboa when I motor conked out in your cane, but we've received no distress call from the Queen Marie What do you think this is? I'm giving you please don't waste time talking all right come on How about it? Okay, but if this isn't on the level you're in some trouble Marlowe By the time we'd clear the harbor I knew Val didn't have a chance every boat in the area had been alerted I didn't know about Dale though. I just hope the sedative Val had given her was merciful The coast guard took care of Val once we came alongside the Queen Marie And I took care of Dale She was in the galley tied securely still dopey, but she came around after a while Mr. Marlowe you take it easy baby. You're okay It was night now The lights that stretched out along the shore looked friendly and warm I friendly and warm I Wonder when people are going to realize that the only happiness there is in the world Is what they can give each other? happiness that is Not a stab in the back But you know there's one thing about me Yeah, I have to admit it I'm an optimistic fella the adventures of Philip Marlowe bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character star Gerald Moore are produced and directed by Norman McDonald and written for radio by Kathleen height Features in the cast were Jean Bates, John Daner, Irene Tedrow, and Lee Malar with Harry Bartel, Barney Phillips, Luke Ruegman, Donna Hainer, and Stan Waxman Gerald Moore may soon be seen in the Santana production, Sirocco The special music is composed by Pierre Garagank and conducted by Wilbur Hatch Be sure to listen again next week at the same time when Philip Marlowe says This time an old lady got taken for a new kind of ride by a new kind of chauffeur And I got involved up to a gun in my ribs all because I decided to spend a quiet day at home Don't miss broadways my beat featuring Detective Danny Clovers the cop who knows every character every star every crook Frequenting the great white way. It's tomorrow night at the stars address Now stay tuned for gangbusters which follows immediately over most of these same CBS stations This is Roy Rowan speaking This is CBS here Horace Hyde every Sunday night the Columbia broadcasting system