 We delay the start of our schedule program to bring you a bulletin from CBS news The Associated Press quotes an authoritative source in Tokyo As saying that some United States combat troops have been alerted to go into action in South Korea at a moment's notice According to this authoritative source The deteriorating military situation in southern Korea may force the United States to commit ground forces to the battle This bulletin came to you from CBS news We now resume our schedule program Get this and get it straight Crime is a sucker's 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 Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum the refreshing delicious treat that gives you chewing enjoyment presents for your listening enjoyment Raymond Chandler's most famous character in The Adventures of Philip Marlowe To make every day more enjoyable treat yourself often to refreshing delicious Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum Here's a taste treat you can enjoy indoors outdoors at work or at play the cool long-lasting mint flavor Refreshes you the smooth steady chewing helps keep you fresh and alert adds enjoyment to whatever you're doing Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum healthful refreshing delicious Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe the makers of Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum are glad to bring you tonight's exciting story The pelicans roost Marlowe speaking Phil thank heaven you're home tonight Lynn. Yes, Lynn Russell. Oh, baby When did you get back to town yesterday Phil listen? I'm at Eugene's. It's a beauty salon We'll shoot just west of Los Siena. Yeah, come over here right away. Will you me to a beauty shop You've got to help me get out of here. What's the matter kid got your head caught in a drive Phil, please. I'm serious I'm scared. There's a guy waiting for me outside when I leave here. I'm afraid he's gonna try to kill me Now look, this isn't just for laughs. I'm baby Phil this time. I'm not fooling this man's crazy His name is Ward Erling. I had a few dates with him once He was in an accident three months ago just before I left on my cruise He's supposed to be in the hospital right now, but he isn't He's here just waiting for me to leave. Yeah, but Lynn I I'm not asking a favor Phil. I'm hiring you Okay, baby, it'll take me 15 minutes to get there. Oh, thanks How would I say you walk by? I Drove out to Wilshire Boulevard and kept telling myself that I could trust Lynn Russell Why because I like her She was a glossy brunette born with all the natural equipment of a top model and the cover of oil wells in her own name She rushed at life, but she'd always been smart enough to stop short of real trouble Well, I was 930 when I got to the section of Wilshire's miracle mile that housed Eugene's beauty shop I drove by saw no one outside. So I pulled into an alleyway parked and walked back slowly As I passed in front of the show window. I winked at a guilt mannequin with purple hair And when I heard the door open behind me, I stopped and lit a cigarette Lynn Russell hurried by without a word ran to a cab at the corner and drove away Now that was all there was to it. I turned around headed back to my own car and got as far as the handle on the door Oh, I fell against the car as the blow came again. Oh Made syrup of my legs I Ooze down under the pavement stay there. I know you You're Marlowe the private detective Okay So I'm Marlowe. Let me tell you something Marlowe I've spent three months flat on my back because of an accident that wasn't an accident I'm gonna get even with her you understand How to get what it costs? Palmer Sloan or anybody else can hire a dozen like unit won't stop me. So stay out of my way. I Climbed up my front fender hand-over-hand got back on my feet It's time to clutch a glimpse of a new convertible emerald green with what must have been waterling at the wheel Now there was no use trying to follow in the condition I was in so I headed for Lynn's place with all my windows open The cool air helped Pulled up in front of a wrought iron arch label garden caught bungalows and followed a flagstone trail back to number four, which was Lynn's I Felt almost normal again Until I saw her front door It was standing half open framing a man against the dark interior who was trying his best to see inside This time the advantage was mine and I took Get inside just a minute turn on the lights Lynn I Doubt she's home. Miss Russell is not in the habit of sitting around in the dark. Oh, you know our habits, huh? I do and you I know she has bad taste in men. I wonder if I should resent that you don't qualify What are you to Lynn when she wants someone to help her lift a martini glass? She calls on me. We've been going on like that for years. Just tell me your name, Junior And he's off on the small my name is Sloan Palmer Sloan now. It's your turn mr. Muscles never mind Lane Lane I what right are you snooping around like this? Just who are you anyway here? Here's my card Lynn hired me tonight. Oh So you're Marla the detective. Yeah, Marla that it's any idea where she is. It's important none. Whatever I Had a date to meet her here, which never means very much to her Why did she think she would need you tonight because she was afraid of a guy One who gave me a crack on the skull and incidentally doesn't think much of you either Ward Erling ever hear him early. Yeah Well, yes But Erling is still in the hospital He met with an accident, you know something about brake slipping in a car and he was uh, He was crushed Accidents not what he calls it and he's got a gun just for emphasis. What's his connection with Lynn? Oh? Oh Help yourself Marla. It won't mind. Get your snoot out of that glass and answer me. She discovered him like all the others That sculpted two years ago and the cowboy takes Harrison Early last year was that fellow with the racing boats and so on They are hobbies fun and games to live. She's got too much energy far too much. What's the difference with Ward Erling? Well, he fell in love with her. It was charming And then he wouldn't be brushed off told off or bought off. She tried them all so she left ran out took a cruise He wanted to marry. I simply wouldn't take no for an answer Imagine that those two belong together like scotch and kerosene. You know you sound a little like you're in love with yourself Maybe I am But I know my quaint little position in her life. I'm her errand boy Marlo. Nothing else You don't care how dirty your hands get What do you mean skip it? Now look Aaron boy her life's in danger right now. I've got to find Ward Erling in a hurry any good ideas You might try the four bell jump in Santa Monica. What's that? It's a jive joint on the waterfront at surf and Wilshire That's where Lynn dug that character up originally. He's a musician if you want to call it that some do He was the piano player and leader of a small and for some reason successful Combination that's still there so far as I know yeah and one more thing Lynn left here in an awful hurry She might be looking for you and I might later, too I'll go home wherever that is and wait. Why not? Oh It's 210 in the big bin plaza 210 and if my apartment doesn't answer try the bar When I pulled out of the parking lot at the four bell jump The first thing I saw was the nose of the emerald green car Erling had been driving peeking out from the side of a building I checked it and found out it was registered to one William Freeman Now that meant nothing so my next stop had to be inside The club was a low-ceiling mixture of dusty fishnets the smell of bad bar whiskey and noise The band had just finished the set climbed off the stand and drifted out to join the customers I saw the name howdy bub Freeman stenciled on the base drum It was a flyway to carry most of it on an oversized head equipped with a pair of protruding yellow eyes It's not got even further when I followed him up to a back room Hey, bub. Yeah, that's your car around the side the green one. Yeah, right new nice, huh? Too nice to loan out Better come again. Where's Ward Erling? I thought he was the piano man here What he used to be he's in the hospital now had a bad accident a while back Who says it was an accident? Well It was an accident I say so of course it was I saw it the brakes slipped in his car It rolled down an incline pin him against the wall. That's um Who says he's in the hospital? I do Hey, look, what's your grift? You're a liar bub Erling borrowed your car tonight, man. You're dragging me. I'll see you around come back here Look, look, I got I got no beef with you, mister. Where can I find Ward Erling? Why don't you go off somewhere and drop there? Where is he come on little man before I shake it out of you? You look like a shake off of easy. Where's Erling? Wait a minute. I don't know I swear I don't I don't care if he used my car I didn't know he's a bring down a spook keep going. He blew his cork over some society doll it practically wrecked our combo We've been working five years to build up Also, it broke the heart of one very sweet kid Maxine so gone she'd scrub floors for a warden. He couldn't see it and disgusted with him Maxine who? Where can I find it? Now look little man. Do I shake some more? Maxine adjuster that's better. She's inside the end of the bar blonde a little blue dress Take it easy will you? It's a good kid. So am I we'll get along fine. I'll see you bub Be for you mr. Scotch Oh, that one's taken lady. You'll be right back. I'm sorry Water some water. Thanks. Your phone's broken. I didn't get my nickel Oh, I want me to freshen up that drink Maxine. No, thanks Larry. It's fine Maxine yeah, maybe you can help me Maybe No, what I mean is I'm looking for Ward Erling try under a rock You know you sound a little bitter. I'm as bitter as a slot machine these days. What's it to you? Well, I'm an acquaintance of Lynn Russell's names Marlowe. You know I'm axing I've seen her the jam sessions We used to go to she used to show ward off to her little groups like a prized pup Sure, you got a pig right, you know, she tried hard to shake She's the gut rocks type would sink a yacht just to watch the bubbles and that's only Only what Maxie? Never mind skip it Good night, mr. Marlowe. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Don't I get to buy you a drink some other Tuesday. Good night I watched her as far as the door Decided to go after and then I caught the bartender giving me a very cold Didn't thaw and he's I down my drink and saw him high-sign the bouncer Looked like my welcome was wearing thin so I went outside and sat down in my car and tried to figure out who was covering up what They only got as far down the list as Palmer Sloan It had come from the back room in the club. I was a poor third and getting to I'm a waiter in a white apron and the fat Sax man both beat me over here. It's Bob. Bob Freeman. Oh, catch. What's wrong with him? He's been stabbed there in his neck and I speak Bob No use fella It was gone before he hit the floor Whoever did that to him got him dead center To make every day more enjoyable treat yourself often to refreshing delicious Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum The lively full-bodied real mint flavor cools your mouth Boicens your throat Frashens your taste and the chewing itself gives you a little lift helps you keep going at your best So for real chewing enjoyment that's refreshing and long-lasting always keep Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum handy Healthful delicious Wrigley's Spearman gum will make every day more enjoyable Now with our star Gerald Moore the second act of Philip Marlowe and tonight's exciting story the pelicans roost Howdy Bob Freeman was face down and dead The ice pick that had killed imported straight up Rigid like an accusing finger To the right of the dead drama sprawl legs was the fat saxophone player his face shiny with a fine sweat of fear And to the left The waiter who had found Freeman's body For a backdrop there was the doorway crammed with astonished faces and the funny kind of Cracked voices people always have at a time like that might close them off The waiter objected now wait a minute mister. What are you doing that for we got to call a cop say? You ain't the cop say now. I'm a private detective names Marlowe. That ain't good enough. We got to get the law The model will tell you anything you want to know my name is Lager Manny Lager But Freeman was a good friend of mine even if he's the reason waterling went to the hospital What'd you say that from my corner Freeman dead only adds one way He put waterling in splints to keep him from wrecking the band by running off with Lynn Russell on a 90-day cruise Yeah, sure negative and early put a nice pick in his neck. That's the right from his hospital window You know keep up with the news. Do you Lager? Erling left the hospital this afternoon probably by way of the fire escape waters out out and So that the accident was the kind that's planned well in advance. I Know because we've already had a chat and you mean that early did this to get square He killed Freeman it could be but there's another angle Yeah, an angle named Palmer Sloan that society loss it didn't want his girl from mixed up with anything as degrading as a musician That's it in it. Maybe Early was after Palmer Sloan or Lynn Russell. He never mentioned Freeman. Yeah, but where's the tie? Howdy Bob didn't fall on that ice picker. How does it figure playing his sheet music? Was Bob and Palmer Sloan working together? Palmer knew that Erling was on the loose. He was afraid Bumbett spills. He quieted him with that right Marlowe No, no, I think you're wrong both you look here. Yeah, I found this on the floor near the window This wouldn't belong to a man. Mr. Marlowe not even the Palmer Sloan. Let me see that a Mascara case. Yeah Could be the very personal property of Lynn Russell. Yeah, her and a couple of million other dolls You can't hang around that every guy carries my shoulder. Will you like it as a trade name on this case You gene will she a boulevard Beverly Hills? So what's that prove? They prove you wrong leaguer. I'll see you boys Marlowe Sloan have you heard from Lynn? No Marlowe. I haven't and I probably won't so please let's not call here Save it for the country club Palmer and get a good grip on this the drummer at the four bell jumps been murdered Looks like our not so sweet friend did it Lynn Oh, you're out of your mind. I'm out of my mind now Tell me if she did this be any idea where she would head no Marlowe No, I don't the boat is tied up her car is in the garage for repairs. Okay, so she didn't take a car or a boat Would it be by Hey, wait a minute Sloan. What was that about a boat? Is it a yacht? Maybe not exactly Marlowe? It's a cabin cruiser Anker off the Santa Monica pier at the moment a Sloan that fits. What's the name of it? Crest of the wave. Why what makes you think she'd go out there? Well, among other things a crack a lady made earlier tonight a lady named Maxine Majestu loves Ward Erling and hates Lynn Russell. Bye. Bye Palmer. I Made it to the fog veiled Santa Monica pier in less than 10 minutes Then was another five getting out to the breakwater that joined the end at right angles to form a Protecting L for the 50-yard boats moored within Boats that ran from the kind of sleek yachts that good girls stay away from to a leaky rowboat With a rusted outboard labeled faithless and all were moored in a series of slips connected up front by a Narrow wet catwalk that did not have a guardrail Except for a quiet old man with his pipe and pass the end of the pier was deserted No light showed on any of the boats When I'd gone along the catwalk as far as the crest of the wave a neat chrome finished 50 footer I had a clammy uncomfortable feeling that said I was too late But that disappeared in the next minute when I spotted Maxine Majestu standing alone on deck a Blonde hair damp and flat to a drawn glistening face The face that didn't brighten at the sight of me Lynn Russell Have you seen a maxi land, but you are waiting for her. Oh, no, why would I? I mean you always come out here nights. It's good for a girl's hair. Is that it, baby? Marlowe stay out of this, please so you can get to her alone I mean that Marlowe this thing goes up real easy Where is she Maxine? I Don't know. Oh word. I knew you'd come here after her. That's never mine That's I want Lynn Russell Maxine. Why why darling? Oh ward. Aren't you through with her yet? Didn't you do enough to you she and that Just tell me what she is keep those hands up Marlowe. I had an itch. I'll ask permission next time Ward Ward listen to me. What difference does it make well in me as she doesn't love you She never did you were a five-minute in a mission, but us we were different we were in love what we had every Oh Come on. You have to wait in Maxine Where is she? Oh, please? Tell me what I want to know the guy who runs the hamburger joint the other side of the pier sorry here machine Nice going a dentist you got your answer didn't you yeah Just like I'm gonna get Lynn Russell Ray state will be overjoyed. What's that supposed to mean detective something like Lynn Russell just killed hearty buff Freeman You're a liar. Really? It doesn't matter It's true. I'll just be a little harder on the fine lady. How hard can you get kid? hard enough Up to a sitting position too much blood to the head is bad Come on. Yeah, we go. Oh There we are. I'll be fine in a minute. Oh, it's quite the blow there. Yeah Hey take that light out of my eyes, will you? Oh Who are you? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I noticed you out in the pier earlier Hey, the name is spoon elven spoon, but they call me scotty that figures. Oh Oh Scotty tell me Where's the pelicans roast? Was it nightclub or what nightclub? Oh, no, no, it's far from that how far what is it the pelicans are used to the old fishing here In Santa Monica a collection of rotting wood at the foot of 2nd Street. Hey, but what business could the man have there? Bloody the dirtiest Thanks for your help scotty are you Wait a minute. Let's be it something you drop Yeah Something I dropped while being dropped I'm a scarer case. I never really looked at before buddy. You seem so puzzled. I'm not puzzled scotty just dumb Lottie here has been jumping to the wrong conclusions and all because he didn't take a good look at this and And what? In the color of a girl's hair So long scotty. Thanks again for your help may get me to the pelicans roost on time The nickname for the cuck-eyed assortment of barnacled pilings that Complain with every surge of the sea and complained again with the undertow that always followed was no misnomer At least a thousand sleeping pelicans called it home Now as I moved out along the splintered lopsided boards that here and there give way I Try to be careful Not to wake too many of the birds and stir them to flight because that would give me away But the heavy clinging fog and the waves crashing over the jagged jutting rocks below Or on my side. I made it out to within 20 yards at the end of the pier without being seen There I slipped my 38 out of my shoulder holster and went forward a slow foot at a time Until I saw Lynn Russell Alive and alone huddled near a slick oily piling a face in her hands a body trembling with her tears But I didn't see it was the man who would come up beside me and take a name Beating on the sidewalk a beating on a boat now this third time's a charm of Donis. Haven't you heard? Feel your hand. It must hurt. Don't waste your sympathy Lynn the gentleman here thinks you're a killer He thinks you knocked off howdy bub Freeman because you and bub plan my accident and you were worried about bub talking too much Bill, how could you believe that? Oh, it was really easy Lynn You had the motive and that plus a box of mascara that came from your beauty shop just about sold me I don't understand. What about the mask? Well, it was found near Freeman's body It wasn't until a few minutes ago that I found something else The mascara is brown and that fits a blonde not a brunette. What are you trying to say? My guess is that Maxine Majesta's that blonde she happens to use the same brand as you Lynn Maxine I did kill bub. We both planned your accident ward But because he didn't want you to ruin everything you two works a hard for and I because I I because I'd rather have you in the hospital than with her back Maxine he has a gun so do I but I'm still ahead You see Marlo, I got here before you did I've been watching them yet all the chance in the world to shoot But he didn't and he won't and that's why you only got shot in the hand He's not a killer. You only hit the killer's temper And he's just learned that revenge is hollow unless you are a killer You killed Bob. Yes, I did he was afraid you'd find out everything He thought his only chance was to tell you what we did and put the blame heavy on me Put me in the hospital nearly killed me just to keep me for yourself. Yeah Stupid wasn't I ward selfish and I lost but if I can't have you nobody Those rocks you've got to get it not a chance Wouldn't do any good if we did We make done early Marlo. I never mind this speech One back to the hospital get out of here Yes All right, Marlo. It was midnight when I called the Santa Monica police and when all the paperwork was done It was three in the a.m. Lynn and I drove by the old pier insect looking at the rotten timbers Tried not to talk about the poor kids somewhere underneath them Lim yes, Phil How do you feel about? Everything I don't Just numb Maybe that's the best way numb Anesthetized insulate our hearts our sensibilities That way nothing can get to you Then just as we think we're all snug and cotton wool life explodes the insulation the hot ends the anesthesia and We're back grabbing at brass rings Yeah, I Want to go home Okay, kid but remember That may not always be a way home Remember friends to make every day more enjoyable treat yourself often to refreshing delicious Wrigley's Spearman chewing gum There's lots of cooling real mint flavor in every stick and chewing Wrigley spearmint helps keep you feeling fresh and alert You feel better work better get more fun out of doing things So indoors outdoors wherever you go keep some helpful refreshing Wrigley spearmint chewing gum handy To make every day more enjoyable treat yourself often to delicious Wrigley's spearmint chewing gum The adventures of Philip Marlowe presented by Wrigley's spearmint gum Bring you Raymond Chandler's most famous character and star Gerald Moore Phillip Marlowe is produced and directed by Norman McDonald and written for radio by Robert Mitchell and Gene Levitt Featured in the cast where Lillian Biaf Larry Dobkin Georgia Alice John Dana David Alice Paul Dubov and Jack Krushen The special music is composed and conducted by Richard Aroft The makers of Wrigley's spearmint chewing gum hope you enjoyed tonight's adventure of Philip Marlowe and that you're enjoying Wrigley's spearmint gum every day We invite you to be with us next week when Philip Marlowe says This time it was a big city dirty from a trigger-fisted thug and yellow suede shoes a Lady's heart dropped in the gutter and a corpse in a Hollywood duplex But in the middle of it all and setting the pace was a sweet little girl from pumpkin center, Kansas This is Bob Stephenson speaking and this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system