 And now, the Mole Mystery Theater, presented by M-O-L-L-E. Mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream for tender skin. Good evening. This is Jeffrey Barnes, welcoming you to the program that presents the best in mystery and detective fiction. Tonight's play is a modern melodrama with the emphasis upon terror and suspense. It's entitled, The Creeper, and is the story of a mysterious killer of that name, an unknown madman who terrifies an entire city by a series of murders. And just who is The Creeper? Well, answering that question is the challenge of tonight's play. And Joseph Roscoe, the author, has cleverly fashioned a story deliberately designed to fool you. So be on your guard. You've had fair warning. Gee, Mr. Barnes, I'm scared before we even get started. Oh, and say that reminds me. Men, if just the thought of shaving gives you the willies, because you have wiry, hard-to-cut whiskers or tender skin, try this. Shave with Mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream. Yes, sir, with Mole, it's smooth. So smooth. It's slick. So slick. It's a smooth, smooth, slick, slick shave you get with M-O-L-L-E. Mole, the heavier brushless cream for tender skins. That's right. Mole is the shaving cream that's heavier, the cream that's especially good for a wiry, hard-to-cut beard or a tender skin. Because Mole is heavier, it not only softens your whiskers, it stands them up straighter and your razor clips them off clean as a whistle. So you shave faster, closer, easier, and you shave painlessly with Mole. The heavier brushless cream for tender skins. Mole. And now for tonight's Mole mystery, the Creeper. In the kitchenette of a New York apartment, a man and his wife listened to a morning news broadcast. New York, the unknown killer called the Creeper, has struck again, adding a third female corpse to his toe. Virginia Peters, a comely waitress, was found strangled to death in her third floor apartment early this morning while her radio blared. As in the previous murders, a note was found scrawled on the wall with the victim's lipstick and the plea, for heaven's sake, catch me before I kill more, I cannot control myself. Police insist. Why'd you turn it off? Oh, awful. And in this very neighborhood. Let's hear the rest. It intrigues me. Oh, you. Don't go turning that radio on against Steve Grant. I've heard enough. Go out of my mind for heaven's sake. That's it. That's a good solid clue. What is? For heaven's sake. How many men ever use that expression? Oh, shut up. Okay, Mrs. Grant. Pass the biscuits, my little pigeon. Pass the biscuits. Eat, eat, eat. Three women in three days murdered in cold blood by a mad fiend right here in the Heights. I'm too sick to go out, too scared to stay in the locks, broke. And he says they're eating, eating. Pass the biscuits. There's nothing wrong with my appetite. Of course. That's because of your job on the police force. Well, when I even think of it. Well, some men drink to escape. I.e. Escape what? What? An ugly tongue, a beautiful face and a roving eye. In short, a wife. See, you're starting that again. You and your crazy jealousy. Maybe that's the creepiest way of escaping, too, Georgia. No. Shut up. Go ahead and get a divorce. Go ahead. Can I help it if men look at me? I don't know why you come home at all. Where do you go? What do you do with yourself? Where were you this morning and why'd you come back anyway? To eat. Someday I'll lose my appetite for that, too. When I do, my dear. I'll be no excuse. Now I'm off again. Kiss. Still using stage lipstick. I'll wipe it off. How many times would I tell you? You're married now, remember? At least go buy me my medicine. Sorry, no time. I'm not coming here alone. Stay home this afternoon. Please. Don't be silly, Pat. Nothing will happen to you. If a dormant here and elevator boy and Mrs. Stone across the hall or phone, they're safe enough. But the night lock, it doesn't work. You can't lock me out anymore. Something's happened to it since last night. It doesn't catch. I can't get a locksmith. I tried all morning. All right. I want to phone you. Where will you be? Out. Goodbye, my dear. Take care of your cold. Oh, well, Steve Brent. Well, if it is an old pearly chase. Here you got thrown off the force, Steve. Here you got thrown off the news, pearly. You heard wrong. I wasn't fired. I was just warned. I wasn't fired either, just suspended for three days. I eat too much. That's my trouble. I drink too much. Here you're living up at the height, Steve. Name me too. Here you're married now to a beautiful and lovely young... with admiration. I can say that again. You used to be on the stage, you know. Yeah, I think I knew her. Wasn't her stage name Georgia Dixon? That's her. I love that watch, but I have women. How does a guy handle them? Maybe the creeper has the right method. Thank you for taking the words right out of my mouth. Who is the creeper, Steve? Any angles? You tell me and I'll split the reward with you. There's one thing though, and I don't think even the police have put it together yet. Yeah? In all three cases, just before the creeper struck, the door locks had already been tampered with. I don't say. Yeah. You got a theory? Sure. I mean, take that note on the wall. For heaven's sake. For heaven's sake, catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself. Right. What man uses an expression like that? Along the short of it is this. The creeper is a woman. A roost. Just like the height of the message from the floors of a roost. Six feet. And yet I'll lay yards. The creeper's no more than a guy your height. Say, a mine. Five, nine, just like us. You and me. Only crazy. How do you figure that? A little certain. The creeper's not so smart, he's just crazy. You play along crazy, see, and you'll one jump ahead of him. That's the trouble with the police, why they're up a tree. You expect logical clues from a mad man now. You play along crazy, make out you're the creeper. What's your compulsion? Go ahead, let's see. The victims are all red hens, everyone. You've noticed that, of course. Three in three days. They all lived in their heights, right? Agnes Martin, Jane Krutsky, Selma Davis. Right. What was the number of the apartment in each case? Agnes lived in 1A. Jane, 2B, Selma, 3C. Don't ask me the fire, the wherefore. Don't ask me the logic, just play along crazy. You see what I mean? See where he's going to strike next? I don't get what you're... The next victim of the creeper lives in the heights. She's a redhead. A night block's been tampered with. She's going to get hurt. She's going to get hurt. And her apartment number is... 4D. Well, why are you staring at me? You don't like my arithmetic? Why are you staring? My wife's a redhead, probably. We live in the heights. And our apartment number is... Ah, you're just a boozy reporter. Your apartment number? 4D, I told you. 4D, of course. I'll have it delivered. I was busy admiring your lipstick, Mrs. Grant. I have nothing like it in stock. 4D, I should have guessed it anyway. Why? Face is a number, believe me. Since you moved into the neighborhood, Mrs. Grant, for me it has a... It has a special number, like Double Dandy Delicious Dream. 4D. You see? I'll bet you tell that to every customer, female. I'm a ladies' man, like the creeper. What did I say? What's going on in this block? Raw nerves, you can't joke. The creeper, that's all I hear all day. It's mass hysteria. There ain't such an animal. You don't think so? I assure you, Mrs. Grant, it is the fairy tale. For circulation of the tabloids. I'll send you a prescription up for the boy. No, I'll just wait here for it. It'll take some time. You should go right home and stay there if you're getting over the flu, believe me. I'll deliver it myself. It'll be a pleasure. I don't want to be there all alone. I'm afraid. Very well, suit yourself. Have a seat. Heaven's sake, stop me before I feel more. I cannot control myself. Wait! That creeper's note I had referenced too. I'll set the fairy tale... Wait, Mrs. Grant, your prescription... Oh, it's you, Mrs. Town. What's your hurry, dear? Oh, I just got to just scare. Since all these awful murders in this neighborhood... Yes, isn't it terrible? You're walking home? I guess so. I'll go with you. It's good we live in the same house. At least if I had a double lock. But the night when doesn't work, can't get a locksmith. They're all so busy. But don't you worry, we'll stay together this afternoon till our husbands come home. Think of it, we've never visited that we live right across the hall from each other. Isn't that like a big city for heaven's sake? Oh, would you rather I dropped in on you? Well, I... Then make it yours then. Isn't it terrible? The ghastly things they're saying, the theories? One doesn't know what to expect next. You believe the latest? The latest? That maybe it's the woman, the creeper. A woman? Can you beat it? I can't imagine how in the world the police figured that for heaven's sake. Can you? Well, I... I don't know. I... I'm just thinking of something my husband said. Though I can see where a married woman now, if her husband was faithless, say, our frat's only weak. No will of his own against buy a cheap thing in skirts. And if the wife say, who's merely getting at those female homebreakers? Well, I can understand such a theory. Because you take my husband now. You've met Mr. Stone, haven't you? Hmm. Why, Mrs. Grant, why on earth are you staring at me like that for heaven's sake? I don't feel well. I must get home at once. I feel faint. But Mrs. Grant, for heaven's sake... As the curtain falls on Act 1 of tonight's Molly Mystery, the big question is, is the creeper a man or a woman? Come to think of it, a man wouldn't use the expression for heaven's sake. Would he, Dan? Well, no, Mr. Barnes, but there are times when he might say a lot worse. For instance, sometimes he's apt to say something like... Uh-oh. Watch your language. Well, I was only going to say, Jeepers, I'd rather face a firing squad than shave. And say, man, if that's the way you feel about your morning shave, chances are you've got wiry whiskers or a tender skin. So try mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream for tender skins and get a shave that's smooth as a waltz. Yes, mole is a heavier cream, the cream that not only softens your whiskers, but holds them up like a blade of grass and lets your razor mow them down easily. With mole, you shave faster, closer, easier, and you shave painlessly. Try it and see if you don't say, it's smooth, so smooth. It's slick, so slick. It's a smooth, smooth, slick, slick shave you get with M-O-L-L-E. Mole, the heavier brushless shaving cream for tender skins. Mole. And now back to Jeffrey Barnes and act two of the Creeper. Georgia Grant is in terror that she is to be the next victim of a mad killer known as the Creeper. She suspects everyone she meets, both men and women. Now in panic, she dashes through the streets, unnerved after an encounter with a neighbor, Mrs. Stone. Good afternoon, ma'am. Oh. Out shopping? Oh. I... You have a new door, ma'am. Yeah, just relating Charlie. A nice weather out. Help me with your packages? No, thank you. Let me ring the elevator for you. No, you don't have to trouble. Oh, no trouble, ma'am. There. Part 1-4-D, yeah? Yes. How'd you know? Doesn't take long. Yes, yes. Up and down, up and down. The ups and downs of life, that's me. I'm a living milkshake, Mrs. Grant. Ah. Uh-uh. What's wrong, Jimmy? Stuck. Imagine, getting stuck between the second and third with a production like you. Get going, sonny. Do you want me to report you? Okay, okay. Can't you take a joke? Maybe I... I misconstrued that smile you always give me. Maybe you shouldn't ought to smile that way. Fourth floor. Let me out. More receptive. Oh, thank goodness at last. Must be going out of my mind. Key. Where's my key? The darn lock. This darn lock. Is the locksmith in yet? Well, I want to know how soon I can get my lock changed. Yes, of course, I left my order. Hello, Georgia. Don't you know, foolish me, you want the whole house to hear? That's better. What are you doing here? I'm playing along crazy. You're talking about. How'd you get in here? Alias Perley Valentine. Take it easy. I haven't a thing to worry about. I've come to protect you. Give me the phone. Hello? Never mind about the lock, thank you. Well, long time no see, Georgia. What do you want, Perley? Me? A headline. Your husband wants too. He wants I should keep an eye on you. What's that? Sure. You didn't think Steve and I were acquainted, did you? Yeah, from way back. Just met him at a bar. I don't believe you. What do you mean, keep an eye on me? Oh, just in case the creeper... You've heard of the character? You're mad. You've always been mad, Perley Chase. Where is he? Why should he send you? Why should he think the creeper will come here? What are you doing here? Told you, playing along crazy. Got a drink? You're drunk now and you're getting right out of here. You're nothing but a no good rummy. You're nothing but a no good... When I took the drink, it was to drown you out and you know it. I'm still a rum pot, Angel, which means I haven't got rid of you yet. Get out. You little two-timing redhead. You're all the same, you redhead. Who are you? You haven't changed, have you? Even a wedding ring can't do that to you. Oh, come on. Don't play the innocent. My business is snooping. I make a living at it. Between drinks? So your new models love thy neighbor, huh? Mr. Stuckland across the hall? Poor dumbstead. Why, you dirty... Sit down, darling. Just play along with me while I play along crazy. Sit down. It's just like we're expecting company. I must be crazy doing this. Why wait here for the creeper? Why not a hundred other streets, a thousand other apartments, a million other dames, because I'm riding my hunch, that's why. Let's have some music. Don't just sit. Let's have some music. Turn on the radio. Let's dance. That's it. Now, let's dance. Give me your arm. Let's dance. Yes, sir, just like old times, huh? Around and around, just like my brain. Why are you trembling? I still love you, you little fool. Come on, ask me why. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. You lovely redhead. I could kill you when you deserve it. Turn on the radio. You could scream and nobody would hear. I could put my hand on your throat like this, see? And I could strangle you. Don't. Why are you crying? Stop it. I'm here to protect you. Stop crying. Cut it, cut it, cut it, cut it. I can't stand it. I never could. Okay, okay, you want me to leave? You want me to leave? All right, I will. It's your funeral. What am I saving you for anyway? In a few minutes, I'll be a knock or a ring or the door will just open, see? And you'll be lying in a pool of blood just like the other three. Goodbye, my worth. Let's give my regards to the creeper. That's looking in his eyes like a madman's. What if he comes back? He wants to kill me. He wants to kill me. Someone wants to kill me. Like the other three. A pool of blood. Like the other three. Like the other three. Any minute now, there'll be a knock or a ring. This is Jeffrey Barnes again. In just a moment, we'll bring you Act 3 of the Creeper. Thousands of people who suffer the social and business handicap of dandruff are discovering that the way to combat it effectively is with double dandering. You see, double dandering is unlike many hair preparations available today. For such products, really do no more to fight a common type of dandruff than plain water does. That is, they simply wash loose dandruff away. But double dandering actually combats this dandruff by killing the germs that many outstanding authorities contend are its cause. And double dandering kills these germs on contact. Now, a special ingredient named Alzan is the reason for double dandering's amazing effectiveness. Alzan is an active antiseptic, so remarkably efficient, many hospitals use it. And of all hair preparations, only double dandering has it. So try double dandering and see if you don't agree that most ordinary hair preparations can't compare with its dandruff combating effectiveness. If you're not satisfied, return the empty bottle and get your money back. Buy double dandering at your druggists. Yes? The druggist is here with the medicine. Shall I let him come up? Listen, why, sure, I don't... No. Now, don't let that man up. Want me to bring it up? No, no. No, I'm perfectly all right. I don't need it. You hear? Don't you dare come up to him, anyone. Locksmith? Well, please. Please, I must have a change right away. My lock, my door lock. Yes, this is Mrs. Grand. Yes, I do want it, of course. Anyone can get in here, anyone. They want to murder me, but I don't know who. It's the creeper. Thank you so much, but hurry, please. Hurry, I'll go out of my mind. Oh, oh, oh, oh, thank you, little lord. It doesn't come in time. Like the other three. A pool of blood. Any minute now. It'll be a knock or a ring. Who's there? It's me, dear, Mrs. Stone. Oh. What do you want? Why, I've been worried about you. Are you ill? No. No, I'm all right, Mrs. Stone. I'm feeling fine. Open up, dear. Don't you want me to keep your company? No. And now thank you. I was just, stop it. Oh, let me in, silly. No, no, no, go away. I'm going to sleep over here. Let me go away. Hello. Oh, Georgia. You all right? Oh, Steve, Steve. I've been so frantic. It's so good to hear your voice. Where are you? At headquarters. Oh, not now. Not when I hear you, Steve. I don't know what came over me all day. I've been imagining things. So silly. My nerves. Forgive me. Oh, of course, forgive me, Steve. I've been bad, bad wicked. Or if you know what I've gone through today, the most dreadful state, and then that, Steve, did you send somewhere here today? Early chase? And you did. To keep your company? I know. I just got rid of him. He's an all right guy, smart reporter. Lives in the neighborhood, too. Honey, I know it sounds cocky. I mean, early's theory. But I was a bit worried when I got to thinking so. Listen, Georgia, don't let anyone in the house to like it home. I won't, Steve. What do you want? Are you here? Not anyone. Oh, wait, Steve. Lock Smith. Hello. Oh, wait, Steve, it's... Oh, thank goodness it lasts. Now I can breathe easy. Just a minute, dear. Hello, Georgia. Georgia, hello. Hi. Hello. Georgia. Oh, thank goodness you've come. Please step in. It's the lock on this door I want. Just in all my husband's on the phone. Steve. Oh, it's all right. Everything's all right now, Steve. You needn't worry. Didn't I just hear you talking to someone? Was that someone at the door? It was no one, Steve. Just Mr. Frank the Lock Smith. Oh, what a load of... The Lock Smith. Georgia, listen. Listen, Georgia, that's what I was going to tell you. What is it? The police are on a new trail. They think maybe a Lock Smith. Georgia, you're listening? It may be that the creeper's a Lock Smith. Get him out quick. What nice lipstick you use, Mrs. Graham. Georgia, answer the phone. Georgia, answer the phone. Georgia, answer the phone. Georgia, answer the phone. Georgia, what's the matter? Georgia, answer the phone, baby. What's the matter? Where are I...? Hello? Hurry. Catch me before I kill more. For heaven's sake. Hello, city desk? Early chase. Now, shut up and listen. On that creeper's story, I just gave you this dope. The reward for his capture goes to the elevator, boy. He heard Georgia Grant scream and called a cop. The creeper was shot running from the building. Yeah. It's ironic, though, isn't it? Imagine the Lock Smith was the killer. The one man Georgia thought would protect him. What an ending to a lovely, lovely... And now this is Jeffrey Barnes bringing down the final curtain on tonight's presentation of The Creeper. Join us again next week when we present a hard-boiled crime story entitled Spanish Blood, and written by one of the greatest names in detective fiction, Raymond Chandler. Mr. Chandler is known to all of you as the writer of the recent hit movie, Murder, My Sweet. So don't miss a real hard-hitting, hard-boiled melodrama next week when we present Raymond Chandler's Spanish Blood. The original music for the Mollay Mystery Theater is composed and conducted by Alexander Sandler. The Creeper was written by Joseph Rothscholl and Charlotte Manson was featured in tonight's program. This is Dan Seymour saying good night until next Friday at the same time when the Mystery Theater presents Spanish Blood. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.