 Personal notice, danger's my stock and trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you got a job for me, George Valentine. Write full details. California, on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invites you to let George do it. In the desert, another adventure of George Valentine. Dear Mr. Valentine. Look at that, dear Mr. Valentine. Just like any amateur, like any old woman who shakes in her boots. So, I'm going to say it differently. George, you all bust a rescue me quick. I am surrounded by heat. I am shipwrecked in perspiration. I am lost in the middle of a hotel room, in the middle of an island, half in your country, half in mine. An island in the desert, amigo, in the middle of the continent. With dirty old buildings for trees, with snails for people. Ah, but George, if I could look out the window across the border and know that you are there, ah, George, then I could hope to escape. Two days I am here, and it is I who am burning up because there is lots more in this old pair of border towns beside the heat that's titled. Sometimes it catches on fire, and where I should find just ashes. Sometimes I find lizards, I find rattlesnakes, I find... And that's all he wrote, huh? Eh, si, si, Mr. Valentine. But, Sheriff. Buenos dias, Pacheco. I'm mine. That's what we call you. I mean, here in Mexico. Eh, oh, sure, sure, baby. Sheriff, that's for me. They found the letter under his body, Mr. Valentine, there in the hotel room yesterday. I get it. Sheriff, sure, why not, baby? They have one on your side, so I persuaded my own people over here. You, you call me Tazco. Ah, well, I didn't mind coming down here in a hurry, but... Pablo! Pablo the clean glasses! Cold beer! You'd better identify this guy who was writing. He'll get killed. You'd better show me his body, hadn't you? Oh, go slow, senor. Go slow. This is not the one. First, I'll show you my hospitality, my little bar. And wipe them off. Pablo, Pablo, clean! Pretty fancy hospitality. What, the slot machines? Well, this is my business. Sheriff is my pleasure. But in my own bar, I can also keep eyes on people. Eh, move, move over, Dutchman. Excuse me, excuse me. So, two birds with one stone, huh? Ah, here we are. Nope, looking at you, baby. Oh, thank you. Yeah, tastes good in this weather. Only this guy who got killed. Oh, he seemed energetic and crazy like you, Mr. Valentine. You mean stubborn. Yes, stubborn. All right, but what else did he look like? Oh, good clothes from Mexico City. Young, bald with a gun. Oh, yeah, he had a gun. Huh? He carried it under his jacket. Dutchman. Good, excuse Costco, but this is the murder you talk about. Wait a minute now. Come on, friend. What do you know about it? Well, we eat in the same place, the same hotel. We don't talk, but I see him hang up his clothes. So, I... Americans. You are Americans. He was Mexican. I am Dutch, you understand? I'm so anxious to get a passport to USA. Perhaps if you could assist me with your vision... And what's all this? What's he talking about? What do you know about the man? Well, Todd. Nothing. You know nothing, huh? Nine, nine, Todd. Excuse me, I... Americans must be careful. He's looking for a handout, that's all. All right, drink up. I have already checked around. That's all the facts the official police will need. That's all. Let's skip the beer, huh, Tosco? You and I ain't gonna see that body right now. Only cool place in town, huh? Oh, brother, you got a great sense of humor. No, no, I am not your reverend, only your realist. Death comes often here. Like so. Or a shoulder gun. Well, you never got a chance to use it. His name's Riedos, Mackie Riedos. We worked on a case together several years ago. Case? Yeah, Mackie was a private detective. One of the best ones in Mexico. Private detective? Oh, so that's who he was. Hey, my sleepy town. He must have had some idea. Didn't he have any identification on him? What are you gonna do in the past 24 hours? Must do things easy, senor, in his heat. No, no identification. Just a man around town asking questions and hiding his name. The letter was all I had to go on addressed to you, huh? Yeah, sure. I'm just a little sore, that's all. He was a nice guy. Hey, the wheels are in motion, don't worry. You have done your work, now we'll do ours, senor. Well, well, well, what's matter? Fire, fire, sir. Oh, boy, of course the grass fire, the rain's never come, but the fire is on the American side and the hill in your town. Our engine goes to help sometimes, that is all. Don't know, don't be so nervous, so Mackie Riedos was a fire insurance officer. What? You heard me. He investigated fires. Well, so in my town, that would be appropriate. The Americans say you can fry eggs on our favor. Moscow, you just said my job was done. Now you'll do yours, is that right? Well, yes, but of my hospitality. Okay, then go ahead and do it. I'm leaving, Buster. This place is too hot for me. Senor, it's Mackie with a friend of yours. You're not going to just run away. Mackie didn't tell anyone in that town his name, Brooks. He left all his identification at home. Now why would a licensed detective do a thing like that? Don't you get it? Oh. Yeah, sure. He didn't trust anybody in this town, not even the police. Pascal? Maybe, I don't know. But at least I don't want to beard that two-language double-talk artist again until I know what I'm talking about. You're going to see the local police here on the American side? Brooks, we're going to see the American Fire Department. Well, there's only the three of us, Mr. Valentine on regular. This is a small town. I see. I understand you had a grass fire a little while ago. Oh, yes, Miss Brooks. Didn't amount to much, though. Mexicans gave us a hand. Well, you burned your shirt and got your hair messed up. Ain't that something? How do you think you'll impress a lady with your hair? Hey, this is Place. He's our driver. Miss Brooks, Mr. Valentine. And this is Al. He saves the babies and gets the medals. Pleasure. How are you? Hello. Place? Yeah, yeah. Like between win and show, huh? Place used to be a jockey. What do you think I am now? Sure, I boot at home more losers over in Cali. And he's... Place! Mr. Valentine's here to see about a murder. Well, how much does he charge? Very funny. Now, listen to me, both of you. A friend of mine, a Mexican detective, a fire insurance outfit, was across the border on some kind of a job. Well, I saw the Mexican engine come over to help you, so I thought maybe you'd gone over there sometimes. So, Mackie must have been around to ask you boys some questions. Hey, holy smoke. Poor young guy kind of thin. Yeah, there was a young Mexican here. That's him. Dead, huh? That guy's dead. Murdered. Well, sure he was here a couple of days ago. He said he couldn't do anything official out of his own country, but he talked to the chief to, uh, Slim. I think it was about there being too many fires over in that town. I think Firebug was his angle. Come on, Slim's already down at the boarding house. That's where we hang out. It's sort of a pool, old lady. Firebug. Mackie was asking questions about a firebug. Well, we never have any trouble on our side, but over there, well, they've had a lot of fires. Oh, sure. Look, see, that makes sense. And now I know why Mackie wanted me here, why he started to let it to me. What do you mean, George? Oh, my. Hey, where's the telephone? It's on a wall back in the office, sir. I'll meet you in the boarding house, that pool room. Well, it ain't no jockey club, Miss Brooks, but the clientele's nicer. Slim here rigged up an alarm bell outside for it. Yeah, but it only rings when place needs an excuse for missing a three-cushion shot. Now, boys, boys, I'm retiring soon, you see, Miss Brooks, and that's what I told your friend Mackie. And I said that, in my opinion, a fire's a fire. From 25 years of experience, I've never caught a firebug yet. And I said, in this area, it don't make much sense anyway, bringing coal to Newcastle, setting fire to 80, and for the more. All right. Turn it off, Bob. Here he comes now. This is Slim the Chief, Mr. Valentine. Oh, yeah, Slim. Brooks seated. You're asking about the fire. Yes, George. The fires they've had lately in the other town. What did you... Son, you know you remind me of nephew I had once? Yeah. Almost as big and husky as Al here. I used to say to him in my... I'm sorry, Slim, but let me see that list, Angel. I'm in a hurry. Here. Well, now this here nephew was... City-owned garage. That's the one. That's the one. What? Yeah, 10 days ago. I talked to Mackie's office in Mexico City. They hadn't even been notified of his death yet. But that's why they sent him up here, that one, but there sure wasn't nothing suspicious. City garage wasn't nothing but a ramshack. Chief, it was insured for $25,000 more than it was worth. Holy smoke. City garage. You know who that means, don't you, Mr. Valentine? I mean, well, it's just like in our country. Every once in a while, a guy gets control of the city. Careful? The one that calls himself sheriff? Heh. You should hear what the Mexicans call him. Uh-huh. I think I'll go back and see him now, Brooks. But, George... Pasco didn't start firing on himself. He didn't. Well, why would Mackie want me here? When he's Mexican, the insurance is Mexican, the fires are in Mexico. Oh, no. Mackie must have found that something came from the USA. Only he couldn't do anything about it. He wasn't licensed here, so all he could do was ask questions on this side. He needed me to run down... George, the fire bug. Mackie must have found out that whoever started the fire came from over here from the United States. That's it, exactly. But then why are you going down? I'm going to where the trouble happens, friend, Mackie found. Son, I might be a bit of a windbag sometimes, but I'd better point out to you that your friend, Mackie, he may be found out too much. Here's to me, he must have got killed for asking questions, for getting too close to something hard. Okay, Chief. I'll see how close I can get. I'm sorry, Mr. Valentine, but I said no. I'm responsible for immigration here and you can't cross that border. I what? But we were just over there a few hours ago. We've got a local problem to deal with. We have to cooperate with the other side. Oh, I get it. And they have to cooperate with Tosco. But look, I left him with the impression I was going home for good, skipping his hospitality. Don't underestimate him, Mr. Valentine. Like he didn't you. But he has no authority. But he's got a lot of friends. He'd know it if he got across to his town. Frankly, Mr. Valentine, I'm thinking of you. I don't like to let a man get down there and then maybe come back home for good on a sled. What's the matter? Hey, listen. The bell. Smoke, Angel, on the Mexican side. Sure, that bell's the one outside the pool and the fire alarm bell. Meet me there later. George! Nobody's going to stop a fire engine, Brooksy. But I'm going across Tosco and not. Hey, Slim! Slim! Wait! You've got a new fireman. In just a moment we'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. You probably got your vacation trip already mapped out. I don't know whether you're driving north or south or east or west, but I can throw in a reminder that will make your vacation miles more pleasant. Between Canada and Mexico and the Pacific and the Rockies, here's how to be sure of finding clean restrooms for your convenience. Just stop at independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations. Here, the restrooms are cleaned thoroughly and inspected often, kept well supplied with soap and service stations you're never made to feel obliged to buy. So wherever your vacation takes you in the west, count on the convenience of clean restrooms at standard stations and independent Chevron gas stations where they say and mean, we take better care of your car. Now, back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. You came to this double-border town because your friend Mackie Reliedos, a Mexican private moved in the sleepy, sweltering place. Mackie had been murdered. Now, he wanted your help because there were things he couldn't do on the United States side of the border. And then you found that you couldn't get back into Mexico. But if your name is George Valentine, you've found an answer to the dilemma. You've remembered that no one ever stops a fire engine, at least when it's headed for a fire. That was easiest rolling off a lot, Mr. Valentine. Nobody even noticed you. Everybody was around in the last turn. Valentine, please, you're up against a little change of plans. You better get lost and hop for another part of town. Yeah, I get it. Tosco's bars on fire. It's Tosco's old building. Wow. What a pile of insurance that must carry. Hey, and there's a guy who carries it. Go on, go on. I'll snuck out a sight fast. Thanks. So long. Right. Oh, see, you're... oh, hello, Mary. Yeah, you're one of the guys I'm looking for. Tell me some information, only Tosco shuts you up. Well, it was nothing, really. I just told it, Buster. You buttonhole all Americans. Well, Mackie apparently had a figure, the guy who starts fires is American. Maybe starts them from Mexican property on us. So tell me about the Americans you see over here. Oh, no, no, no, let me go. I don't know anything. Hey, wait a minute, you. On your coat here. Well, let's go. I wondered why you were edging away. It's kerosene. It's kerosene. Okay, Mackie, we go wrong. Hey, stop that guy, will you? Get out of my way, he's the one. Hey, which way? He started a fire. I'll just see you. Get out. I guess this is where Valentine and the safe passage part company. So long fire engine, I got work to do right where I am. He's a Dutchman. Well, look, this is the Barzio, isn't it? Hotel, running house, whatever you call it. Oh, oh, see. Okay. Well, does he live here? That's what I mean. Is he here? Look, there's a lady in a restaurant. Says he's been around for months. Savendo to get to the USA. No, sorry. Oh, like that, huh? Yeah. Do I mean anything to you? Yes. All right, two bucks. See? You're at home, huh? Where else do we look, friend? Where else? Uh... Hold it. Maybe just his room's good enough. What's the matter with you? Leave me alone here, will you? Go on, Gabby. It won't hurt your conscience. Okay, here's five bucks. Now get out. Find out where he's going. See? See? There's a little book. Mackie, I think we're getting even closer. Because I think we're wrong again. Now listen carefully, Brooksie. The Dutchman has a very interesting bank book. George, I don't understand. And yes, he's the fire bug, all right, but look. But how can you be... But what? Hey, look, I can't hear very well. That better? Yeah. Oh, George, I was so worried about you. I'll skip it. You're there in the firehouse, aren't you? Yes, in the office. I've been walking around outside, but I grabbed the phone the minute you rang. They've been back here for hours. Angel, you're alone there, aren't you? Well, yes. Everybody's over at the pool all I follow. We had this whole thing figured backwards. The Dutchman's closet's full of cotton warding and kerosene. And he's also made bank deposits. On every single date they had a fire down there. Ouch! Oh, I burned them a few minutes ago. Cigarette butt's still hot. You're on the pencil rack. I'm sorry, George. You said... Bank deposits, Brooksie. The Dutchman's been paid for starting fires. So if there's an American involved, the way Mackie figured it's the employer, not the fire bug himself. George! Angel, I know it doesn't make sense, but I checked. Every penny the Dutchman's deposited has been in American money. And... Wait a minute. Call you right back, Brooksie. Oh, it's you. See? See? Oh, did you find him a friend? Where's the Dutchman? Holy mackerel, mister. The Dutchman's dead. Just murdered. Bingo! Huh? See? Brooksie, the Dutchman ran out of here just before I arrived. He received a phone call only a few minutes ago. His body's in an alley several blocks north. The border, George? Yeah, that's right, Angel. He got called to his own death. And the operator said the call was from your side. But you said it a few minutes ago. Darling, that's just what I said to you about a cigarette being here. Never mind. Get out of that place fast. Meet me at the American telephone office and step on it. George, there's a record of all calls that go across the border. And the only one around that time to that Dutchman's number was from where we thought it was. And that phone on the wall in the firehouse. All right. Come on. But, George, I was there, outside walking around, and I didn't... I know, but it happened, didn't it? Somebody was in there to phone. Come on, let's cut through here and take a look. Yes, George. Somebody just before me, but I... Hey! Mr. Rontine! Wait! Wait, uh... Well, when it's not just, baby. Fast guy. Well... A little out of your bailiway, can't you? Big shot. I explain. How long have you been around here? Come on. Since the fire, my fire. Oh, my beautiful bar. I come over. I've been looking for you, Mr. Rontine. This is better be good, Buster. I was not very helpful this morning about your friend, Mackie. Say that again. Baby, please. Fire insurance investigation. It is an embarrassment, but not a crooked one, I'm sure. A city garage burned ten days ago. It seemed to be over in short, but... Your bar burned down today, and I bet it had plenty of insurance. Oh, my beautiful bar, baby. Had not one penny of insurance. I want your help now. I'm ruined. Not one penny! George. Okay. Come on into the fire house into the office here. They leave the door open, Buxton? Yes, but I don't understand. My insurance, I tell you the... I heard you, Buster. I heard you. You said it. All right. This case has nothing to do with insurance. What? Yeah, yeah. In fact, you make it a whole lot easier that way. But then... Oh, I know Mackie came here on an insurance case. That garage. And there had been too many fires. But suppose he stumbled into something totally separate, and that's why he got killed. Go on, George. Sure, that's why it was murdered. And the Dutchman got his because he could have told me the whole story. What story? The Dutchman got a phone call and came rushing to an alley near the border. Whoever called from here must have told him where to come. Who? Who is whoever? Yes. How can you ever hope to tell who made that call? Everybody comes in here. Come on now. Think, Bruxy. Think. We'll never find a clue here. I know that. But what did you say to me? Something you said. You... You were the next person in here next after the murderer. The cigarette was still burning. Remember? You burned your finger. Yeah. Yes, George. You said you couldn't hear me until I raised the mousepiece. Yeah. Ran out of beer over the pool hall, got a call a liquor store. What's the matter? Hiya, Tosco. Well, what time? Al's a big guy, isn't he, place? Huh? Al, Al, the guy you work with. Well, cigarettes never stunted his gross. So is Slim. Even Tosco here. Hey, look, what in the name of the devil? But, uh, you used to be a jockey. Yeah. Put him home at Caliente. Drive a fire engine off. George, look, I think all of you smoke, right? You've been exposing yourself to the sun. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Bring yourself to the sun, Mr. Valentine. I'm sorry, place. Go ahead. Call the liquor store. George. Oh, Senor Valentine. Yeah. Yeah. Tosco, you kept asking me what else instead of insurance was involved. Well, that's simple, like all of it. But I grant you, I didn't catch on. What's all this? I'm not sure yet, mind you. But all day, I've been beating my head against a border with its check stations, officials and red tape. But once today, I went across there without even slowing up. Because nobody would stop a fire engine. International cooperation. Well, I suppose a real smart guy wanted to take things across that border. Wouldn't that be a neat way to do it? Smugly. Carrying whatever it is in the fire truck someplace? Only being a middleman, he'd have to meet a schedule. He'd have to pick his days. So naturally, he'd have to hire somebody to start fires. Then in the crowd and confusion, I suppose it's an easy matter to load up or unload whatever the smuggle goods of the day are. George, about our telephone call. I remember now. I know, I know. He just did it now. Just now, in reverse. See him? Brooksy, you use that wall phone right after the murderer did. You're not very tall yourself. But wait till I raise this mouthpiece, you said. The murderer who talked on it before you must have been pretty short. The jockey place here had to shove it down to fit him just now. Look, Mr. Valentine, just because I'm a jockey, she is taller than I am. All this stuff you say I ain't no- Your little bike. Cut it out for me. Cut it out for me. Not fit, chef. Guess you can go back to just frying eggs in your street now. Place admitted it was all true. Yeah, sure. He arranged the fires and hired the Dutchman to start them for him whenever he wanted to bring over a load or pick one up. It's so crazy though. Isn't it, baby? He should kill men too. He should do this thing with Mr. Valentine, breathing down his neck. Well, the heat was on, that's all. Heat like a snowball. He must have had a hot load in his truck to get rid of, so with us nosing around, it was the frying pan of the fire. He had to go ahead. Like a snowball in a frying pan, huh? Our weather finally got him. Oh, yes, baby, I know, he makes sense. All right, Tatsuko. But I don't like some of the words you use either. Oh, please. Please, I know. The big shot's not popular, but... Now I will have to go back to work to build up my bar again, so I will have no time for a big talk. Well, I'm glad to hear it. But that wasn't what I meant. It's a way you keep talking to Miss Brooks. It's that word baby. So? And what is it, Mr. Valentine, you have against babies? Huh? Well, I... Well, that is... That's all, George. You might think that long weekend trips and hundreds of vacation miles would be the hardest kind of driving on your car's engine. But that's not true. Hometown driving is even tougher. For short trips, with a cool engine produce acid-laden moisture inside cylinders. And that can account for as much as 80% of engine wear. How do you stop it? By getting RPM motor oil. First choice where driving's toughest. There's good reason why folks will tell you more people prefer RPM than any other brand of motor oil. RPM is compounded to keep a moisture-proof film of oil on engine parts. To fight off that rain of acid moisture, it clings to engine hot spots that other oils leave bare, stops carbon and sludge. In fact, it's the finest engine insurance you can buy. Ask tomorrow for RPM. First choice where driving's toughest. Ask at independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations where they say and mean we take better care of your car. Night's adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard Oil Company of California on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the west. Robert Bailey is starred as George with Virginia Gregg as Brooksy. Let George do it is written by David Victor and Jackson Gillis and directed by Don Clark. John Daener was heard as Tosco, Sidney Miller as Place, Peter Leeds as Al, Gilda Slim, Anthony Barrett as Mackie, and Larry Dobkin as the Dutchman. The music is composed and presented by Eddie Dunstetter, your announcer, John Heaston. Listen again next week, same time, same station too. Let George do it. This is the mutual Don Lee broadcasting system.