 Now The roma wine company of Fresno, California present bring you mr. Lee Bowman as star of I won't take a minute a suspense play produced edited and directed for roma wines by William Spear Suspense radios outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment by roma wine That's r-o-m-a roma wine Those excellent california wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live To your happiness and entertaining guests to your enjoyment of everyday meals Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant as roma wines bring you mr. Lee Bowman in a remarkable tale of suspense She was very good to look at Which is why I waited till I was 25 and met her Here's how she went First a lot of gold all beaten up into a froth and poured over her head and allowed to set there in crinkly little curls Blue eyes and a mouth with real lines And in addition Well, she had everything just about right and believe me I was gonna throw away the sales slip and not return the merchandise once it got to my house That's why I nearly went nuts every evening waiting for her to come out of the building where she worked She was always the last one out and this particular evening. She was later than usual It got dark The street lights came on and the rush hour was over before she put in an appearance I'm sorry, you've been waiting long. Oh, no, no, I just nearly got run in for picketing the place That's all I hurried all I could please don't be mad at me. I'm not mad at you the slave driver you worked for Why do you always have to be the last one out? Yeah Come on. Let's go. I got a delivery package on the way home for his nib, but you're not going home We're going to fill our money Thursday remember, oh won't take any time at all honey. It's just around the corner for this team Martin Street Okay, that guy nerves me up making you play messenger girl after hours Let's talk about us been counting the day all day 13 less and a half. Don't forget the half if it's to be a noon wedding Well, that's about the half. I don't like 13 by itself. I'll be glad when it's tomorrow in only 12 days left See your cute The more I know you the cuter you get I bet you won't say that a year from now. You'll be calling me your old lady then you'll always be stuffy to me Just not even Stephanie. No too sophisticated too far inside Steffy that's you. Hey, what number you're supposed to deliver that package to 415 must be it What a dump Your boss have many customers and dumps like this Hold a mask on me. What do you can't see the name? Yeah, that's better. Yeah What was the name? Muller partner 4b. Oh here. Here it is name cards fallen out of the slit and gotten lost. No wonder I couldn't find it Maybe they're not home. I'll ring it again There it is I don't like those automatic door latches. You never know who's up. Oh, don't be silly. Wait here, honey. I won't take a minute I never timed a cigarette. I suppose they take around five minutes This one seemed to take longer, but then look who I was waiting for I punched it out with my foot and let another I thought Won't take a minute. Yeah, I might have known it. I thought what's she doing saying a tea up there Not at my change just to give myself something to do I took off my hat and looked it over like I'd never seen it before Five cigarettes later. She still hadn't come back Things happen nothing much little things that were to last so long A stout lady and a ratty looking fur coat came in holding some candy in one hand and a little boy by the other After they'd gone more waiting started and I commenced tracing patterns with my feet Circle diagonals Maltese crosses Finally I got fed up. I stepped over to the bell panel picked out 4b and nearly sent the button through to the other side of the wall Here at ringing away off somewhere Quiet house too quiet I leaned on the bell who my thumb joint got all white down to my wrist And something did happen I heard the door of the automatic elevator open I waited nonchalant like filing my fingernails. I thought I'd play a little hurt when she arrived I could see it was her all right walking toward me She opened the door and then Walked past me like she never saw me before I let her go on figured she'd turn around by the time she got to the door But no Steppy Hey steppy wait Steppy Hey steppy, what's the big idea? I beg your pardon Oh, I I thought you were I mean your dress just like I would advise you to be sure to whom you are talking Before you go to grab a strange girl by the coat. Oh, no kidding. You look a lot like her even the clothes That little tam and the the red really I don't find this amusing Okay sister pardon me for living next time make sure it's one of the girls that live here There was a shock I didn't like the looks of the place from the beginning Up to then I was just sore now. I began to get scared Maybe there's some guy up there trying to get funny with her. I thought I better get up there fast and find out What this is so I laid my hand flat over all the bells in the place so somebody'd open up The door down do you hear me steppy Are you in there honey? Maybe why don't you say something? Oh, that's what I want to know. Who are you building superintendent? You got a pass key to this flat. I have what do you want in there my girl She took a package up. I've been waiting for her downstairs. I don't know how long She never came down again. Now they won't answer the bell. No, wait a minute young fella She couldn't be in this flat. Oh, don't try to tell me. Don't you try to tell me? I say she couldn't be Why I'll show you why Hey, now you see why It's empty empty Nobody lives here But there was someone here a while ago. She rang the bell and they let her in Mr. This place ain't been rented for six months. Listen. She came in here. I tell you Maybe you and a little girl had a quarrel Maybe she figured to play a little joke on you. Give you the slip. We never had any choir. We're getting married Why don't you go to her place? You'll probably find it there She didn't come out again. I tell you I was there at the door the whole time Uh, what about the back way? Is there a back way off? Not a back way. There's a delivery entrance But that goes right past my quarters. Nobody went out that way Uh, Muller The name was Muller. If he doesn't live in 4b, where does he live? Muller Huh, we never had anyone with that name in the whole 12 years. I've been working here For suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you a star Mr. Lee Bowman in I won't take a minute Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills Suspense Between the acts of suspense This is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines In the hurried hectic shopping weeks between now and Christmas There'll be many a night when you'll be glad to relax in the warmth and comfort of your own home And what more delightful way to enjoy a quiet restful evening than with a glass full of roma california muscatel And nuts or cakes? You'll thoroughly enjoy this magnificent Roma wine So tempting with the distinctive fragrance of the world famous muscat grape with its rich mellow sweetness It's glowing gold and fire Roma muscatel is delightful with desserts too Famed hostess Elsa Maxwell says Roma muscatel is a sure to please easy to serve entertainment wine when guests drop in Like all Roma Wines, Roma muscatel is a true wine Crushed from selected grapes Unhurriedly guided its taste perfection by age old wine making skills And Roma's new low prices save you as much as one fourth Get Roma muscatel tomorrow Insist on roma r.o.m.a For uniformly fine wine quality at low cost That's why more americans enjoy roma than any other wine And now roma wines bring back to our hollywood soundstage Lee bowman as kenny in cornell woolrich's story of a vanishing lady I won't take a minute a play well calculated to keep you in Suspense Cop on the beat was a nice guy. He rang every bell and every flat of the building and questioned the occupants No one has heard anything no one had seen her Finally a single plain closed man was dropped off at the door Lieutenant gillman. He kept calling me bud He looked around the empty flat and he looked at me bud. There's nothing to show that this girl or anyone else came in here I tell you she rang the bell of this flat and someone released the door catch for her from up here All right. All right, assuming she got in here how'd she get out? I don't know. I don't know Maybe the fire is look at those windows. Look at the dust on these frames The person can't move in a place like this without it showing Listen, don't do this to me. Will you you make it sound like she didn't come here with me at all That's what it does sound like bud Look, I was taking her to the concert tonight. We go every Thursday But here's my ticket. I think we better build this thing from the ground up and see what we've got now What's this girl's name? Stephanie Stephanie rizka address 120 faragin uh-huh what she looked like Well, she She comes up to about it here next to me blonde Little curls close to her head blue eyes I I'm no good at description. Don't let it get you bud I'm not scared because she's gone. I'm scared because she's gone in such a crazy way I can't get a grip on it. Now you say you met her at 6 15 outside the Bailey Goodwin building with a package to be delivered here Who'd she work for? A press clipping service the green star. It's called it's operated by a guy named hesson big outfit Adjust him and his secretary and an office boy She was getting 22 a week. All right, bud. You've given me something definite. We'll uh, we'll do some checking But uh, first of all, we go back to the place. She worked Telephone booth she told me the place was small, but I never figured on this not even a window All right. All right. Let's have a look desk Filing cabinet Yeah clippings Well, so far your story checks Except for one thing. What's that? There's no fire for anyone. They muller Oh, this must be a desk Yeah Cheers Not much of a personal touch here not even a hip. Oh Find something Special you found something there. I saw you dropping an animal out and sticking your pocket. Listen, bud. Who's running this investigation? You are me Sorry You I guess okay. Let's keep it that way Our next stop was one of those bungalow type places in the outskirts. That was where hesson lived the guy she worked for Oh, good evening. Good evening. You mr. Heston. That's right. I'm from police headquarters. May I come in? Oh, I uh, certainly I want to sit down gentlemen. We won't take how much of your time, sir First of all, uh, do you know anyone they muller at 415 martine street? No, I don't know anyone for that name I think we have a miller and this is Elsie miller on our list who divorces and marries quite frequently We'll let do She owes us $29. You didn't send a package over to muller apartment for b 415 martine street at 615 this evening No, I'm sure I didn't But uh, wait a minute. It's easy enough to confirm that. Oh, uh, Stephanie Stephanie you call me, mr. Heston. Yes, my dear. Oh, this is my assistant gentleman. Mr. Stephanie risk out That isn't steppy. She's calling somebody else by her name my dear young man She came out of that building while I was waiting. I spoke to him. Let's cut that later Uh, now then miss, uh, how long have you been working for mr. Heston since october of last year About eight months now and your name is Stephanie risker. Oh, yes, of course Have you any identification on you? I don't know Maybe uh, maybe there is something here in my handbag. You mind if I look it's all right my dear. He's uh from the police Oh Oh, well in that case. Thank you. Listen. I don't know what these two are trying to pull but she's not steppy You've got to believe me. She came out of that building dressed like steppy the way steppy was dressed when she went in Stop that. We're here Uh, thank you, mr. Scher. I'm sorry to inconvenience. It's quite all right I I noticed they have quite a supply of chewing gum there. That's hard to get these days I make a hobby of them. Have some. Oh, thanks. My mouth's kind of dry Well, uh, uh, mr. Heston. It's quite all right I don't know what this young man has got himself mixed up in but if we were able to help Oh, you did help a lot, sir Come along bud. I've got some more checking to do This time it's on you Okay, but now stop talking skillet. What's your pitch? I told you the truth that girl wasn't steppy. I never saw her before was the man hesson Oh, he looks just like him this girl of yours. Uh, what kind of gum did she chew? She didn't chew gum. She hated it You asked me what it was. I picked up back there in the office Well, here's what it was A water gum stuck under the edge of the desk that girl back there at hesson's place belongs in an office But she had a letter addressed to herself in that handbag and her initials on the outside of it It wasn't a new one and it wasn't fake What's your racket, but Are you a pushover for mental observation? Or did you do something do some little blonde blue-eyed number? And are you trying to pass the buck before we even found out about it? I don't know. I don't know. Maybe I am not Things like this Well, the things like this just don't happen. They can't One minute she walks into a building produce a single personnel even then long but actually late night on this girl Are yours? Where's the folks where'd she come from? What's constant? The folks are all dead. Ha ha I thought so Well, I'll give you one more spin for your money, but you stand or fall by the place you say she lived Have you been there? Yes Could you describe it? Okay Sticking in the mirror of the the dresser she's got a little of the holy mother On the radiator. She's she's got a rag doll that I won for at cony island On on a little shelf against the wall. She's got a gas ring with it with a tube running up to the jet From the light fixture to this to the jet. There's a string attached And she'll have stockings hanging here to dry Are you listening? Yeah, yeah go on go on. Will you remember those things? Yeah, but We'll see Now listen bud get this straight. I don't want one word out of you the whole time. We're here. Yeah, I won't say a word so help me Yes, you've got a girl named Stephanie risker living here second floor front. She ain't home now. I'm from the police. I think you better let us in Oh, certainly Let's see a room. Yeah, follow me She's a nice clean roomer. I'd hate to lose her. I hope she's not in any trouble. No trouble Now gilman right over there Hey, it's changed They've changed it all around shut up As she always had to fix this way, man. Well, since the first day she's here only one thing I got to complain about There it is again chewing gum leaves it all over. Let's see that I thought so Exhibit see bud same as the other two she belongs in that office and she belongs in this room Look out. We better hold your friend. Let him hold. This isn't anything to the falls He's going to be taking five or ten minutes from now. What'd he do murder her? Not her, but I've got a good hunch. He murdered someone and picked the wrong number a name out of a hat I didn't hear any more. They said while we were going down the stairs The light bulbs in the place were doing funny things turning red spinning around in spirals I was still on my feet, but as soon as you'd notice it The spinning didn't stop till we got to the foot of the stairs The thing that stopped it was an umbrella stand beside the front door It had a naughty walking stick jutting up out of it I grabbed it in my free hand as he walked in the past watch out. Look at him. He's going to hey you I didn't stop to investigate whether I'd kill him or only knock him out I was a block down the street before the landlady could open her mouth to screen I made for the martin street flat that was in stinker The place I'd last seen her calling me back When I got there I ganged up on the janitor's bell and waited a thousand years Didn't you find again? What happened to that detective fella that was with you? He he sent me back to take another look. You don't have to come up. Just giving a pass key All right, come on in My head was still spinning when I let myself into the door of apartment 4b I don't know what I was looking for some clue. I guess some magic clue that would pop up and give her back to me I tested the walls for secret panels What a laugh and a 50 buck a month flat I dug out plaster with my bare nails cased the cracks between the floorboards I'd been there about 10 minutes when I heard steps coming up the hall I held my breath All right, sonny come out of there with your hands up where I commit you Give me a minute. Please one minute. Maybe I'll find it find what please one minute If you want out of there by the time I count 10 I commit you can you hear me? Yeah. Yeah, I hear you One three I didn't stop to think I crossed the room and threw up in the window The one that opened on the forest day Down looked too far. So I started climbing I didn't yell back at it. I was saving my breath On the roof I took a quick look both directions There was about a yard high partition wall dividing it from the next roof over but before I could get I think I busted my leg. Yeah, well, let's see Now just park your shin a little Oh wait till I finish with you wise guy. Oh, what are you waiting for? Go ahead You promised me a beating go ahead. Don't you worry? Hey Where did that come from? What that package there beside you package? Package That's it The package you took inside with all right steady. What's in it? What is it? Newspapers newspapers. It's a dummy Look Those papers they've had stuff put down them that proves they came from Hessens Clipping Agency Well Doesn't it someone did bring a package to the night Oh, what a sap. I've been I kept thinking about that room. She was never in that room. I was right about that They must have grabbed her in the hall and taken her straight up here to the roof through the skylight But why I don't know Maybe that's Steve Peterland. Maybe he knows and if she does she's gonna talk and talk fast All right grandma come on spill it. You can't scare me. I've got bigger men than you on my side What do you mean your side? You'd like to know all I have to do is make one telephone call. I have the number right here Let's see that number. Take it call it yourself. Who gave you that number? Ask me no questions. I'll tell you no lie. Who gave me this number? The FBI man who was here now, you know who I'm working for go ahead call the number Oh, I get it Tell me grandma. What did this FBI man look like? All right, I'll tell you all you have to do say yes and no The guy's about my height bald wears pinch glasses, right? He got you to work with him. So this woman he described as one of his agents could step into the identity of this stephanie riska, right? Seemed to know all about I know more than that. He wasn't an FBI man and a girl who took stephanie riska's place was not a federal agent Then who was he? I'm not sure grandma, but I've got a hunch. Calhoun Calhoun get out to have this place murdered as fast and keep it fun until we get there Gelman, Gelman. Do you think she's all right? I'll keep your fingers crossed butt and pray I told him to keep this house covered Go on nobody here. Yeah. Yeah Hey Stand back against the wall somebody's coming you in here. What's the big idea? I told you to keep this place spotted now. They're gone. I tailed them They piled into a car locked up the house in the lift way to Peer seven north river they got some kind of a fuzzy tramp steamer that shoved off in less than a quarter of an hour I tried to reach the other girl with him No, two men in the stringy blonde. They call auger. That's all too late. We're too late We could pull them up with quarantine. I'll make them talk. Come on. Let's get out of here and get some fresh air Thanks, Donna. Yeah smells like they'd had to place fuel me get it or something Hey, what's the matter? That's Mel. That's gasoline gasoline Here's something like a clock the basement. Come on Tell me tell me now. Don't wait till you get her. Yes, she's alive. Come on. Get out of here. Don't you hear that sticky? I'd better watch that bomb You'd be around a second or two. How's Calhoun? Burned pretty bad. It was an incendiary Kenny Oh, baby, it's okay. That's sure Everything's okay now Steffi. Who are you? This is lieutenant Gilman. We owe a lot to him Steffi. Thanks lieutenant Gilman I'm just a dumb flat foot Steffi and I had to be conked over the head before I got wise to what was going on Even then I didn't figure it right I figured hessin and his powers were a bunch of spies or something. Well, weren't they? Well hessin became an american citizen in 1929 up to now his records absolutely clean. I'm glad of that I'd hate to be working for a spy, but but I don't get it Why did they want Steffi out of the way that was all just doing the girl who was impersonating you Steffi You see she's hessin sister She's a fugitive from a couple of war crimes and figured that least her brother could do for was to finish her with a nice clean nationality Their original plan was to bump Steffi off in that empty flat and leave her there without anything to identify her Only only they figured on her coming there alone There was no time to work out a plan on the spot So they scrammed over the roof taking Steffi with them Hey killman, we're doing headquarters. You're coming. Hey, hey, run away run away Well, I gotta go kid. Thanks killman. Thanks for everything. I'm glad to help you out. Hey another thing bud. You weren't lying about She is pretty No hard feelings. I mean about me hitting you over the head. Oh, oh say I almost forgot Something I meant to give you before we say goodnight. Oh, you've done enough. Haha. That's what you think Oh It was uh a while before I knew what hit me It felt like a cement mixer My head cleared Steffi. I had changed roles. She was the one sending over me And he said to tell you no hard feelings But when anyone socks dick gillman with a walking stick, they get socked back even if they're the best of friends He said that did he? Does it still hurt? I'm still seeing stars. Oh gee kenny. I'm sorry I don't care I'm seeing you too. Listen Listen, it's midnight. Yeah Only 12 days to the wedding now, baby We've licked the 13th Roma wines have brought you lee bowman as star of I won't take a minute tonight study in Suspense This is truman bradley for roma wines the sponsor of suspense This year, you're probably having difficulty finding the christmas gift you want Why not solve your gift problems with famous roma wines you flatter your friends Save both time and money shopping roma offers you a full selection of choice california wines for entertaining roma sherry port muscatel or toke For added mealtime enjoyment red robust roma burgundy for delicate pale gold satern For happy occasions that demand the best sparkling unforgettable roma champagne Each of these fine roma wines is a true wine Each a superb unhurriedly perfected masterpiece of the vintners ancient art Delight your friends this christmas with gifts of roma wines Give one bottle several or a case Remember more americans enjoy roma than any other wine And roma wines now offer you the same uniformly fine quality at the lowest prices in years Insist on roma roma Find roma wines for good living Good giving this christmas Lee bowman appeared through the courtesy of columbia pictures and will soon be seen Co-starring with rossel and rossel in their production. She wouldn't say yes Next thursday same time roma wines will bring you mr. robert taylor as star of Suspense radio's outstanding theater of thrill Resented by roma wines r o m a made in california for enjoyment throughout the world This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system The skippy hollywood theater k qw san jose follows in just a moment