 This is Hunter Galloway opening the doors of the mystery playhouse. Tonight our stage will be taken over by Inner Sanctum and a huge wolf. We'll get a chuckle of two and an excellent mystery story from Inner Sanctum's host, Raymond. We're at your door, Mr. Holtz, so open it won't you? Welcome. Come right in. It's room enough for everybody. As a matter of fact, the more bodies, the better. Don't be surprised by the gloom. It's our new paint job in black, so the blood stains won't show. And now, friend, draw up your chairs, dim the lights and listen to a story designed to free the spine and set the teeth on edge. It was written by Michael Sklar and Richard Manoff, and it's called The Confession. Now a star is Santa's fatiguer who plays the role of Alex. The last thing I remembered was the gunshot, the thought of the bullet, and the burning pain in my stomach. And everything got black. When I regained consciousness, my impression was of blinding whiteness. Don't try to move, Mr. Sturgis. Where am I? This is the emergency ward at the general hospital. I felt no pain. Just an overall numbness and a desire to sleep. Am I going to die? Yes. How much time have I got? A couple of hours. Doctor, I... I want to make confession. I want to confess to... Murder. I told the doctor about the money, and I know she was much younger than I. And she thought because I owned a little drugstore I must be prosperous. And I suppose that's why she married me in spite of the difference in our ages. But it wasn't any money for fun, a nice clothes. So she became restless, but I loved her. And I did my best until the other night in the drugstore. Overclocked, Nathan. Time to close up, Alex. Another customer might come along. Just like an old man, chasing pennies, never getting anything out of life. Be reasonable, dear. I'm trying to make a living for her. Is this your idea of a living? Is this what you promised me before we were married? I know it's not what you deserve, Lenore, but someday... Oh, you make me sick. I must have been crazy when I married you. Lenore? I'm going to say something I've had on my mind for a long time, Alex. Rather than go on this way, I prefer to be dead. I don't have to put up with you. I'm still young, Alex. Out in the open. An old man with money would have been acceptable. But because I had no money, he was going to leave me. I wanted to plead with her. I would have gotten down on my knees. But before I could say anything, the street door... and the man stumbled into the store. I helped the man to a chair. He'd been shot on the chest, and the front of his coat was covered with blood. His breathing came hard. Bullet. My chest. Patch me up. I'm only a pharmacist. You need a doctor. Uh-uh. Call Dr. John. No, I don't want any doctor. I want you to help me. Is it because doctors must report bullet wounds? Is that why you want a doctor? I remind my reason. I've got plenty of dough. I'll give you $500 to take care of me. I'd better call the police. No, lady, no. Look, mister, take care of me. Give it quite a... I'll give you a thousand. A thousand? No. Let me see the money. Here. It's a thousand dollar bill, but I've got plenty more. Lenore, help me take him into the back room. Oh, but Alex... No, I'll take him myself. You get busy and wipe the blood off the floor. Oh, no, you can't. Wipe up the blood. Do as I say, Lenore. Yes, hello. I'm looking for a certain medicine among these bottles. I'll be ready for you soon. Lenore, did you get the floor clean? Yes, it's clean. How is he? He's in bad shape. Weak from loss of blood. Alex, you haven't done anything for him yet. Be quiet. But you've been in here five minutes, just like he was before. Alex, you're stalling. But he's dying. I know. Alex, call the police. No. Are you going to let him die? Yes. He's as bad as murder. I didn't shoot him. It's not my fault if he dies. Lenore, he's got money. Thousands of dollars. No one knows he came here. This is our chance, Lenore. What do you mean? I'm going to let him die. Take his money. And then get rid of his body. There was a wallet containing a few one-dollar bills and the driver's license, which I handed to Lenore. His name is James Kirk. He lives in Hillsboro. His pockets were crammed full of bills of large denominations. Lenore watched, fascinated as I counted. How much is it, Alex? A little over $70,000. We're rich, Lenore. I'm frightened. There's nothing to be afraid of. All we have to do now is wait until he dies and get rid of the body. Do you need me to help you? No. I can manage alone. His body's heavy. What are you going to do now? It'd be dangerous to wait here until he dies. Anyway, what difference does it make? He'll be dead when he goes into the water. No. No. No, that's murder. That's what you like. We've gone too far now to stop. You wait in the car. I'm going to carry him to the edge of the pier and drop him over the side. Carry it out to sea. One doesn't picture a middle-aged drugist committing a perfect crime. Kirk's money. And it seemed that no one could connect his debt to me. I rejoined Lenore in the car. Started for home. After I'd driven for a few minutes, I noticed she was strangely quiet. What's the matter, then? Nothing. Nothing at all. Something's troubling you. What is it? Nothing. You act as though you're afraid of me. No. You are afraid of me. No. Why? I never saw you act this way before. Something's happened to you. You're different. Oh, nonsense. Don't you feel it, Alex? You're a murderer. No. You wouldn't even wait until he was dead. Listen to me, Lenore. Whatever I did, I did for your sake. I wanted the money for you. So you could be happy. Oh. How can I be happy with this... this thing hanging over us? We had breakfast the next morning in absolute silence. Then Lenore went to open the store. While I wrapped the money in a parcel, took it to the bank, placed it in my box in the safe deposit ball. No one paid any attention to me. Although the bank was swarming with police detectives. From the bank, I went directly to the drug store. And found a man there waiting. Sturgis. Yes? Biggate is my name. Mark Biggate. What can I do for you? I'm an insurance company detective, Mr. Sturgis. I'm investigating the first national bank robbery from my company. I want you to tell me everything you know about that robbery. It was a big man. But not fat. Although he didn't appear to be very intelligent, he had a look of cunning. His clothes were rumpled. And he rolled an unlit cigar around in his mouth as he spoke. Suppose you start from the beginning, Sturgis. There's nothing to talk about, Biggate. I don't know anything about the robbery. You don't, eh? No, I don't. Why should you come here annoying me with silly questions? I'll tell you why I'm here, Sturgis. And then maybe you'll see your way clear to talk. You know the bank was robbed last night and the crook cut away with better than $78,000? Yes. The night watchman was shot. He's in a coma now, but before he was shot, he shot one of the crooks. What does that have to do with me? I'm coming to use, Sturgis. I'm a slow man, but I'm thorough, which is more than you can say for the harness bulls and the police force. Think those harness bulls. They didn't spot the trail of blood that wounded crook left when he ducked on the alley behind the bank. Funny thing, they clean missed it. But I noticed it, Sturgis. I followed it through the alley and straight up the street. And here's another peculiar thing. The trail ended right smack at the door of this drugstore. Are you implying... Two and two makes four, Sturgis. As I said, I'm not a fancy pants detective, but here's how I figure it. This yag was wounded. So he came in here and asked you to fix him up, and you did. In exchange, he gave you a nice big piece of the date to keep your mouth shut. Am I right, Sturgis? You're 100% wrong. If you were smart, you'd talk now and save yourself a lot of grief. I've got nothing to tell you. Suit yourself, Sturgis. But here's my business card. In case you change your mind, you can reach me, the Hotel Empire. By the way, the company is offering a $5,000 reward for the return of that money. I'm not interested. Good day. Okay. It's your next edges. I'll be seeing you. I heard what he said. He knows. I should have thought of the blood outside. How can you stand there and act so calm about it? He knows, I tell you. Take hold of yourself for now. He only suspects. And his suspicions aren't worth two cents unless he can produce evidence. Believe me, we've got nothing to worry about. I was cocky then. Too cocky. And all was right. I was a changed man. That money had put iron into my spine. And then, that afternoon, I got the first of the phone calls. Hello? Sturgis Drugstore? This is he speaking. Yes, of course. What chances? I'll extend the money. Alex, please. I'm frightened. Listen, Leno, calm yourself. It's perfectly clear what happened. One of the bank robbers came with Kirk as far as the store. He must have been frightened away by the police. Now he's using this method to get the money. But he won't get it. What are you going to do? I'm going to put a water, blank paper and an envelope and mail it to that post office box. Then I'll stand watch at the post office and see who claims it. And then what? That money means everything to us, Leno. I've already killed one man for it. If necessary, I'll commit another murder. I placed blank strips of paper and an envelope and mail the envelope to that post office box. The next morning, I went to the post office and stood near the window, waiting for someone to come along and claim the envelope in box number 11. I was fast. I got hungry. My legs began to shake from exhaustion. I couldn't leave that spot. I meant to stay there until... What are you waiting here for, Stooges? A voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up. It was Kelly, the policeman. He was suspicious. The clerk noticed you hanging around and called for a cup. It's nothing, Kelly. I arranged to meet my wife here. She's late. I saw your wife through the drugstore window as I came up the street. You must have forgotten all about your appointment. You'd better get back to the store, Stooges. I couldn't stay there after that. I walked around the block. When I came back, the policeman disappeared. I entered, went to the window, asked the clerk if anyone had claimed the mail in box 11. He nodded. The letter was gone. My plan to discover the identity of Kirk's confederate had failed. There was nothing to do but go back to the drugstore. I felt a sense of danger as soon as I entered. So I closed the street door quietly. Walked as silently as I could to the door of the back room. Hello. Hello, Empire. Hotel? Hello, could you connect me with Mr. Bigert, please? Yes. Mr. Mark Bigert. Hang up, Lenore. Hang up the receiver. Alex! You were calling that detective. Suppose I was. What of it? You were going to tell him about the money. You were going to double-cross me for the reward. You're so smart, Alex. What are you going to do about it? No. Don't you understand? I don't want the money for myself. I took it for you. To give you the things that will make you happy. Big hearted, unselfish, Alex. What are you laughing at? I'll tell you why you took that money, Alex. You thought you could buy me with it. Well, you're wrong. I wouldn't stay with you if you had all the money in the world. Lenore, would you leave me after all that's happened? I'm packing up right now. No. You can't stop me. I love you, Lenore. I did my best to hold you. Can't have you? No one else will have you. What do you mean? Alex, stay away from me. I'm going to kill you and all. Alex, no. I'm going to kill you and my darling. Empty. Drain all emotion. I buried her body in the cellar of the doctor. I was even a bit glad that it ended in this fashion. For now and all. But be with me. Did I say it was ended? I was wrong. I found no peace. For the very next morning, bigot came to the doctor. Good morning, Sturges. Nice morning, isn't it? What do you want? Just stop by to have a chat, Sturges. We're giving a lot of thought to the First National Bank robbery. You know, that night Blutchman came out of his coma this morning. Why tell me about it? I thought you might be interested. Here's an angle, Sturges. The watchman says the robbery was pulled by only one man. One single crook, and he was shot. Nice angle, isn't it? Is it? Yes, it gave me a new idea, Sturges. I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but I figure it this way. That crook came in here and asked you to fix him up. We've gone through this before. I'm going to take it a little further, Sturges. The crook asked you to fix him up. But you've got to peek at all that money. So you let him die, took the money, and disposed of the body. How's that for you? Very clever. Can you produce the body? No, the police haven't been able to locate it. But I'm not the scourge, Sturges. Those harness bulls aren't very smart. I'll find that body. And when you do? I'm an insurance company, Dick, Sturges. I want that $78,000. When I find that body, I'll come around here and you'll cough it up. I told you before I know nothing about that robbery or the money. Now I've got work to do. Both of you run along. Okay, Sturges. Hello. Hello. Sturges Druckstahl. Yes. This is he speaking. Read it to me, please. Yes. Is there a signature? No. A signature? Out of the confusion in my mind, one thought emerged. The night watchman had said Kirk had no confederates in the bank robbery. Whenever the person sending me the telegram must be Kirk. The salt water of the bay must have revived him. Kirk was still a liar. I found Kirk's wallet on a shelf while I know I had placed it the night all this began. From the driver's license, I copied his home address. I waited till afternoon night. I drove to Hillsborough, where I found Kirk's apartment in an old tenement building. The door was unlocked without my gun. How did I know you were going to come here, Sturges? Sit down in that chair by the table and I'll tell you. You sent the telegram? Yes, I sent them. You got me to think that Kirk was still alive. That's right. And you followed me here. You trailed me. It's all clear now, isn't it, Sturges? You take two and two and add it up and it comes out four. Now, where's the money? The money? We're going to cut out the cute stuff, Sturges. How about that money? Now, where is it? It's in a medicine jar on a shelf in the back room of the drugstore. All right, let's go, Sturges. First, you'll give me the money, then I'll take you down to police headquarters. We drove to the drugstore. I led him into the back room and knew exactly what I was going to do. And one of the shelves was a bottle of hydrochloric acid. Bigger thought it was the bottle containing the money. I reached up, uncorked the bottle, and plundered the burning plate with into a- I'm blind. I'll kill you for this, Sturges. If I can only see you, where are you, Sturges? Sturges! Sturges, where are you? I was huddled against the wall. He stood between me and the door, screaming in pain, firing his gun blindly. The first three shots missed, but the fourth bullet struck me in the stomach. The last thing I remember is Biggett running out of that room shouting for help. I lost consciousness soon after. When I came to, I found myself here in this hospital. You know the rest of the story, Doctor. That's your confession, eh? That's my confession. Did you get all that down on paper, Mr. Bigger? Got every word of it, Doctor. Biggett, you- how did you get here? I thought- I had a car accident. You thought you blinded me permanently, but not enough of the stuff getting into my eyes to do any real damage. I- no! Dad, Biggett, I've seen a lot of funny cases in my time, Doc, but this speaks the more. He's a man who commits murder to get a lot of stolen money for his wife. Then he kills his wife, and finally gets killed himself. And the money? The money is safe and sound in the bank's safe deposit wall. Exit Sturgeon. Yes, Biggett smoked him out just like a poor fish. Smoked. It's the confession. Tonight's mystery playhouse presentation. We'll be hearing from you again in the near future. Greetings. Until next time. This is Hutter Galloway closing the doors of the mystery playhouse, and reminding you to sleep tight. Good night. The armed forces radio service.