 You're twice as sure with two great names, Frigidaire and General Motors. Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as the man called X. Wherever there is mystery, intrigue, romance, in all the strange and dangerous places of the world, there you will find the man called X. Serving more American homes, Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, the man called X. Unusual in the way it started. The girl was one of Pagan's big moments and Ken had met the two of them accidentally in a New York supper club. All in all, a pretty ordinary incident with not the slightest hint of the strange and dangerous things to follow. After all, how can you become involved in a murder just by saying... How you do, Miss Mouton? Likewise, Mr. Thurston. Only why don't you just call me Pearl? Everybody does. Don't they, Pagan? That's right, Mr. Thurston. Of course, it's all right with me, you understand. Pagan, you told me just yesterday... Pardon me, Miss Mouton. I've been admiring that pinnial wearing. It's very unusual. Hang it, though. All them different-colored jewels in it. I... I just gave her that this evening, Mr. Thurston. 200 simoleons. Nothing but the best for Pearl. Oh, thank God. 200 bucks, eh? Miss Mouton, I'll give you 250 right now. Do you want to sell it? Mr. Thurston. Gee, where's... I mean, well, gosh, it's got a kind of sentimental value and all. Well, I just... Pagan, tell me about you and him going on secret missions, but he didn't say nothing about you being such a heavy expense. Well, as a matter of fact, I came in here to look for Pagan. He's going to leave right away on a secret mission. Oh, ain't that the way it is just when the party gets started? But, Mr. Thurston... Come on, Pagan. Have it with me, Miss Mouton. Likewise. If you're ever around this way again. In all my life, I've never saw anybody pull such a dime. Pagan, there wasn't any other way around it. I'll explain later. What I was trying to tell you, I was just kidding. Hurry, I only paid ten bucks for that pain. I can get you a hundred like that. You'd better buy him, Pagan. You'll never get a real ruby any cheaper. A ruby? I offhand I'd say it's worth about... $100,000. But then you bought. Then I gave. And then you... Ah! How did, Mr. Thurston? Maybe some stick-up guy was in the shop. Looks more like a torn neighbor. You say the owner's name is what? Rubin? Sure. Sal Rubin. Mm-hmm. He's a very good friend of mine. Absolutely legitimate, you understand. Like all my friends are. Oh, sure. But I don't know why he went off and left the shop empty like this. Somebody's given it a going-over, all right. At least they didn't get the save open. Yeah, it's still locked. Yeah. I'd like to get a look inside of it, too. Well, I might just possibly be able to... All right, go to it. These big old-fashioned kinds are a cinch. So I've heard, of course. Now, let's see now. Did Rubin try to make you buy that particular pin? Oh, no. In fact, he said he shouldn't sell any of them until Mr. Smith had a chance to pick out what he wanted. Who's Mr. Smith? Oh, some customer of Sal's that's always won his first chance at the South American shipment. Uh-huh. I think I'm getting somewhere. Now, uh... South America, eh? He must have bought the stuff from this Estella company and listed here on the ledger. Mm. A Suzion Paraguay. Funny place to buy costume jewelry. Hey, it's the first... See? Look. Is that your friend Rubin? Sure. But it's the first time I ever saw him inside a safe. Yeah, and it's probably the first time you ever saw him dead. There's a question about it, Ken. Dr. Soto Linn says the ruby is pretty well known to gem experts. It's a part of the Heron Castle collection. Heron Castle? Isn't that the Nazi who died in South America a few years ago? Yeah, a couple of months after he was convicted of espionage. They confiscated all his property, including the $3 million collection of jewels. Wait a minute, Chief. That was... Sure! It was in Paraguay. That's right, Ken. A Suzion. And according to the wire I got just now from the Paraguayan authorities, the entire collection is still in their treasury vaults. There's at least one ruby that isn't... They had the stuff appraised and it's held now as a part of the backing for their monetary system. $3 million. They might pay the dickens for their economy if anything happens to it. Yes, yes. I think their annual budget's only around $8 or $9 million. Chief, I think I know where to pick up the trail. Hang on. I guess I must have dosed off a little. No, doze back in again. We're heading for Paraguay. It's impossible, Sir Thurston. I'm aware that Dr. Soderland hears and recognizes authority, but it is simply not possible that these jewels are imitations. Gentlemen, please! I don't think Dr. Soderland has made any statement like that yet, Mr. Hernandez. Oh, but he is going to, I can tell it by his face. See, he has placed them on the table and looked at them one by one. And each time he shakes his head, it is not possible. Must make few so sure it isn't possible, Colonel Mazzaro? Because in your Thurston, I am in charge of the Federal Police and Association. The men who guard these treasury vaults. And with me in charge, such a thing could not happen. I see, Colonel. I, uh, I might suggest, however, that you ask the worthy deputy of economic affairs whether the real jewels were ever placed in the vaults. Well, Mr. Hernandez? I can assure you that they were seen on Thurston. You may recall, my dear Colonel, that the collection was appraised by several experts at the time. Can you finish looking at them, Dr. Soderland? Uh, yes, Mr. Thurston. And the results are... You have already anticipated my conclusions. These gems are imitations. Sir Chris, how does it be obvious? Sir Thurston, when this information gets to the public, the exchange value of the Guarani will drop to ten cents. If your job is here, it doesn't get to the public, Mr. Hernandez. Meanwhile, I'll talk over a plan of action with Colonel Mazzaro. Very good. And, uh, perhaps the talk should be a private once in your Thurston. I can. Let's go. It might also be well if we had a private talk, sir. I'll see you late in the day, Mr. Hernandez. I must warn you, this man, Hernandez, is not to be trusted. It is best not to tell him anything we are doing. Yeah. Well, I... There you are, Mr. Thurston. What did you find out? Very little, Pagan. Colonel Mazzaro, I got a couple of things I wanted to check on. Those I meet with staff headquarters in about an hour. Excellent. As a matter of fact, I certainly recall an engagement I'd forgotten. Well, at least you remember it, Carido. You're late already, you know. Felicia! Oh, boy. Pagan. Felicia, may I present to you a Thurston from the United States. This is Senorita Ruiz. Thank you. Thank you. I was in a very important conference, my dear. Well, in that case, I forgive you. Thank you. I'm sorry. I... I was admiring that pin you're wearing. But unusual. Mr. Thurston. Thank you. It was made for me by a rather close friend. Mm-hmm. Set with Onyx. From Paris, isn't it? No. It's a local product. Oh. In the language of the gems, Onyx means a happy marriage, you know. Which, of course, refers to me, Senor Thurston. Felicia and I are engaged. Oh, congratulations, Carine. Well, I shall be in my office in about an hour. Come, Carida, may I? I still have this, Senor Thurston. Goodbye, Senorita. I thought you were going to give him... give her 250 bucks for it. What for? It was a phony. Come on, Pagon, let's go. That's Trella Company. Dumb little John, eh? What's the rest of the time, Mr. Rex? Manufacturing jewelers. Come on, let's go in. Doesn't seem to be anybody here. Good. In that case, may... You can't get down! Hm? If I get out of... if I get out of this alive, I swear by the father of my father... Oh, skip it. You're all right. You're all right. You better wait for the back to fall. Who can I... Not who, but you have a police uniform. What was he trying to do anyhow? He was crouched down there in front of the safe. Found it trying to open it. Oh, no. Not another safe. I guess I'd better go and get some lunch. Pagon? Yeah, but maybe inside... I mean, after all, who knows? Who'd be? Nobody in the shop. Come on, Jimmy Valentine, get to work. When a hundred thousand dollar ruby turned up in a worthless piece of costume jewelry, and the body of one Sal Rubin was found stuffed in his own safe, Ken Thurston decided the best place to pick up a lead would be down in Paraguay. Strangely enough, the trail down there has led to another safe. The combination of this one is giving Pagon... I've been storing around there for 20 minutes. Oh, who knows, Mr. Rex? Maybe the combination of this one is in Spanish. Well, come on, get out with it. Oh, please, quiet, quiet, please. I think something clicked just then. Hey, is that tamale with a gown? You would have raised your hand. I was looking forward to seeing him again this year, but he's not quite the student. Obviously. May I ask what you are doing here? May I ask what you're doing here? My father happens to be the owner of the Estrella Company. Senor Röhrse, so that's who makes this jewelry. Where is he now? What have you done to him? The only person who ever we came in took a couple of shots at us and left. He was wearing a police uniform. Police? That is ridiculous. That gun makes me nervous, Mr. Thurston. Why don't you take it away from her? Any suggestions as to how? Listen to this talk. You will tell me at once what has happened to my father or I will shoot you both. Both? Now, now, now, wait a minute. Maybe we can make a deal. Senorita's not going to shoot anybody to drop the gun, Felicia. Special animal. Thanks, Mr. Hernandez. Come in. Everybody's got a gun. Since you leave the treasury, Senor Thurston, I have concentrated and put two and two together. There's only one man in our solution who makes jewelry, Senor Röhrse, the father of Felicia. I have come to talk with him. So why? Only he seems to have stepped out. My father is guilty of nothing. Manuel, tell me what this is all about. Manuel, is that Colonel Mazzaro, your fiancee? I will tell you nothing. I demand you find my father at once. Senorita, that's exactly what we were trying to do. All right, Pagel, back to work and be safe. Well, the truth is, Mr. Thurston, I mean, I don't know just how to say this, but, well, you see, it's like... If it will help any to find him, the combination is left 21, to the right, 236, and left 81. Mr. Thurston, I did it. Open it up, then. Oh, no, not me. You remember the last time? All right, then I'll... Well, you can't find a body every time. Well, that's that. Perhaps somebody warned him, Senor Thurston. Could be. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Could be. Senorita, what the color your eyes are right now, you're wearing the wrong kind of jewelry. Senor, I do not... Yeah. Instead of onyx, it should be sapphires. Sapphires? Yes. They are very difficult to find. What would not the words will do? No, I suppose not. By the way, have you seen this before? A hotel key? No, Senor. I have never seen it before now. Mr. Thurston, why don't we scram out of this joint and find something to eat? Yeah. Mr. Hernandez, why did you stick that gun in your pocket and talk this thing over at the nearest café? Whatever you think. Best thing or Thurston? There. But I really think we should do something. I was waiting for you to do that. Alicia! There she goes, Mr. Thurston. She escaped from us. Yeah. I kind of thought she would. What? But now she will rejoin her father. I thought she'll get far. Asuncion's not a very big city. It shouldn't be too hard to block off the exits. I shall notify the police immediately. Good idea. But maybe you'd better get some of your own men out, too. Don't forget who's in charge of the police. Colonel Massaro. I will give the orders at once and I shall watch the airport myself. Good. And you may as well limit the search to policia. Never mind, Senor Royce. But why not, Senor? Because he is lying dead over there behind that workbench in the corner. Hope you remember I still haven't had anything to eat, Mr. Thurston. You can order something self of the room, Pagon. Come on. What is it? I have a call for you. Just came in. The party is on the line now. Oh, thanks. You can take it. Mm-hmm. Ken Thurston speaking. Oh, go on. Senor Royce in the river. He has been shot to death. What? He is the father of Alicia. It's on connection with this case. Yeah, I know. Where'd you say you found his body? Floating in the river at the south side of town. All right, Colonel Mazzaro. Meet me at the Treasury Office in half an hour. Very well, Senor. Adios. Pagon, take a taxi up to the airport and find Hernandez. We'll meet you at the Treasury Office in half an hour. Okay, Mr. Thurston. What do you mean, we? Oh, Felicia and I. Oh, well, I thought Felicia. Hey, where are you going to find her? Miss, I'm badly mistaken. She's upstairs in my hotel room. You've been placed under arrest. Oh, no, Colonel Mazzaro. Not yet, anyway. I at least have nothing to hide, Manuel. I'm not afraid. All right. We're all here together, so let's take a quick look at the thing. In the first place, somebody here stole the Herna Castle collection of gems and substitute limitations in the Treasury vault. I hope you're nothing playing with me. Then they worked out this scheme with Royce to get the real stones out of the country in the United States. I cannot understand how my father would ever do such a thing. He would make up cheap costume jewelry for shipment to a man named Rubin in New York. And with each order, he'd include two or three of the real stones. Wasn't much chance of them being caught in customs. You mean my old friend Sal was mixed up in this room? I don't think so, Pagon. New York partner was this Mr. Smith, who would insist on first chance of the Paraguayan shipments. He's the boy who killed Rubin when he found the real stone was missing from the last order. Thought Sal had got wise to him. Mr. Royce, he was killed, too. Right. If that was so, I wouldn't have a chance to talk to him. But, Mr. Therson, who is the big shot that's back of all that? It had to be somebody with access to the Treasury vault. That lets Felicia out and leaves Colonel Mazzaro and Fernandes in. I will not be in solitude, sir. You're ducking before your head, Colonel. You were accusing me by implication. Look, you're engaged with the daughter of a man we know was in on the scheme. She knew nothing about it. Pagon and I were shot at by a man in a police uniform. You reported finding Royce's body in the river. And I'd already seen it in the back of his shop. I did find it in the river. Sir, I told you Colonel Mazzaro was guilty. In New York, everything was pretty carefully covered up. But down here, the whole case points to Colonel Mazzaro, which adds up in my book to somebody else. What? Oh, yes. For instance, to Mr. Fernandes, maybe. In Paraguay, sir, Therson, we insist upon evidence. Well, how about the jewels themselves? They'll be pretty good evidence. And what do you think they are, sir, Therson? A man with a fortune concentrated in gems will probably keep them pretty close around him. Ready for a quick break. In your case, Colonel, they might be in the pouches of that cartridge belt. You're at liberty to look. With Senior Fernandes, I'd say in that diplomatic briefcase he carries everywhere he goes. I suppose we have a look. Over that case, I'm warning you. Watch him, Colonel. One move, Fernandes, and I shall kill you. Oh. A little better bag here in the bottom. I suppose we just... Well, there's your evidence. Just look at them jewels. Yeah. There's about a third of them missing, though. Your partner, New York, ought to do all right with them, Fernandes, since we don't know who he is. Senior Therson, I'm well aware of the treatment I can expect from my old friend, Colonel Massaro. I have no desire that my partner should be free of the same difficulties. He is Martin N. Hill. You will find him at the Hotel Barstone in New York. Good. And that winds it up. Wait a minute, Mr. Therson. Hey, how did you know Felicia was going to be in your hotel room, huh? I sent her there, Pagon, by mentioning sapphires. Huh? Yes, senior. In the language of James, a sapphire means escape from danger. And the hotel keep telling me where to go. You see? Yeah. Yeah, I get it now, all right. Okay, Mr. Therson. Well, let's blow out of this town and get back to New York. I want to see Pearl. Oh, which has probably spent that $250 by now. Well, after all, Mr. Therson, money isn't everything. Why, Pagon coming from you? Sure, it isn't everything. But there are a lot of people who think it is, who sacrifice their countries, even the world for it. We've stopped in Nandish, or we're letting others a whole lot smarter, go on running loose. What's the matter with us? When are we going to wake up? America needs more steel. Scrap metal helps make steel, but it is very scarce. So look around your home, won't you, for scrap iron and steel? Turn it into your local scrap dealer or to your local scrap metal drive. And thanks for being with us. As usual, I'm sure you all know that Pagon Zeltschmidt was played by Leon Belasco. Next week, ladies and gentlemen, a very special broadcast, one that I'm sure every one of you will want to hear. A little off the beaten track, but of vital importance to every one of us. So be sure to listen. And of course, join us once you're next. I return as the man called X. Good night. Directed by Jack Johnstone, the music composed and conducted by Johnny Green. Tonight's story was written by Les Crutchfield. So until next week, same time, same station, this is Wendell Niles speaking for Frigidaire, made only by General Motors. All characters and incidents used on this program are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting Center.