 transcribed the National Broadcasting Company presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston 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 far south in the vast reaches of the Great Pacific Ocean at the very backdoor of Asia lie tiny hidden islands of mystery called the islands of spice Java Sumatra Borneo Ballet nearby across the treacherous world of the Java sea moves a vessel whose cargo is death but of course Pagan's El Schmidt knows nothing of these things when he answers the phone in his room in New York Mr. Pagan's El Schmidt speaking listen Kathy huh who are you listen sure the fish peddler arrives in Batavia by boat in a week so who cares Mr. X might care huh why should he mr. who I don't know anybody with a name like that if you know what's good for you you'll get this information to Ken Thurston right away but but if you wanted him to know how come you didn't call him yourself because he'd have figured some way to trace this call you're not that smart hey wait a minute hello hello hang up on me will you well I'll tell you a couple of days or two nice of you to give me a hundred dollars mr. Thurston but of course I didn't really expect anything you understand just for delivering a massive oh sure pay gone be forced it on you well I can this could be the break we've needed for two and a half years chief it seems almost too good to be true if it is true it is the absolute truth how could I make it up I don't even know who is this this fish peddler that's the trouble neither do we pay gone be know what he is all right or what she is maybe yeah the worst international crook and the whole dirty racket the fish peddlers been back at the scenes and the taking over of every country in Eastern Europe at the past ten years buying and selling information bribery assassination you can throw a good chunk of Asia into that part to chief and come up with a winning hand China career French into China oh but how could one person do all those things he or she has got a string of agents scattered all over the world known as the net and we don't know who any of them are but this may be the chance chief it wouldn't be the first time one of those boys got soured up on that kind of a setup and did some straight from the shoulder talking you think that accounts for the phone call could be anyhow pay gone and I are going to the East Indies and find out but mr. first they gone if this turns out to be one of your bum's tears I want to know exactly where they're hands on you chief I'll wire you from a castle a castle I thought that message said the boat would arrive in Batavia the Dutch Airlines office says the only boat you in Batavia one week from today is a cargo liner from the castle makes a free day run across the Java sea and I'm going to be on board with the person smells like a fruit spice market pay gone if you want a ton of cinnamon here's the place to buy it what would I do with a ton of look mr. X over then that blue sarong pay gone pay gone well I was only here now here's the restuffle cafe come on is this where that Captain Janssen hangs out that's what the shipping agent said let's go in we're looking glad to see a new face step right in and shake hands with Michael Joseph's that you tell it a time counter to keyboard hi the world's greatest hot piano player bar none sit on sit on you asked me about Ellington jelly roll Morton I never hate him here take a listen well that's right use that as my theme for 16 months at a nightclub or Piccadilly went from there to the first year played a full season back in 27 hey remember this one and brings back memories oh sure sure now look just call me Joe everybody calls me Joe this cafe jobs only a fill in you understand yes you've got a big engagement over at the opera house in Batavia next week a solid tidy minute that's great great Joe maybe we'll catch your act over there but right now I want to talk to captain the answer wait a billion yeah that you cargo liner name Parker Macassan to Batavia my name is Ken first and captain happy to know you man here one passage maybe you're for two you got wrong yeah only three four passengers so far we say in the morning fine then if you've no objection you will pardon me kept any answer perhaps I should be going now oh for pf me money a thirst tell me to introduce dr. Mohammed Singh dr. Singh is a how you say it again a zoologist mr. Thurston specializing in the study of reptiles I have collected some specimens from the jungles here to take back to Batavia yeah I understand all kinds of strange reptiles around here these days I hope you're satisfied with the specimens you've collected dr. Singh oh yes yes quite satisfied mr. Thurston they will make excellent additions to my collection all of them are quite vicious quite badly snakes in boxes it's a funny business yeah you're sailing with us then dr. Singh that is correct mr. Thurston I trust the voyage will give us time to become better acquainted and perhaps if circumstances allow you will be able to make the acquaintance of my reptiles also I'm certain you will find the most interesting thanks for the kind invitation it will be my humble pleasure mr. Thurston I will see you later there sure see one board doctor ah it is a funny car goes sometimes I carry yeah especially funny on this trip captain one of your passengers happens to be wanted wanted money yes by almost every one of the western nations in the UN you mean here see and you know maybe who it is not yet I made it your help linear it is my business to hold cargo or passenger it's not my business to catch criminal like this one it no bother me I know bother him I know one trouble with nobody I just mind gonna take me to dinner you are well I I forgot you coming here many a first and is your honor is this your daughter captain yeah yeah yeah maybe they go eat now glad you pop I'm starving yeah yeah yeah well come have a little met your miss young food are you going with us in the morning by the chance what oh yes mr. Thurston I am as a matter of fact why do you ask oh let's not bother with it now we'll have a lot of time to talk about it before we get to Batavia the cargo liner Nambok Macassar to Batavia that looks like a rusty old bathtub my uncle Ahmed once gave to my aunts in Obia for a birthday present yeah not as trim as most of the Dutch ships will see in these waters maybe this captain young soldier has got worries in his mind I don't pay attention after business would be playground here let's get aboard oh sure how that old Giza ever got such a luscious Lollipop for a dog like that Johanna gone somewhere mr. yeah aboard the Nambok the objection maybe what's your name Ken Thurston and I'm pagan zelchman we're both of us going yeah yeah I know maybe some day the skipper learned at passengers a bad luck on freighters never seen any yet that didn't bring trouble with them sounds like you're expecting some on this trip mr. who are you Anderson first officer and you're right I am expecting trouble plenty of any particular kind with rusted boilers ready to blow bow place ready to split wide open if we hit even a lemon crate what's your guess well sounds like all the meetings of a pleasant little journey mr. Thurston yeah mr. Thurston welcome aboard I should have that little cookie in the blue surrong of this trip mr. X I never saw such moonlight before that's like daylight there young you can almost see the Java coast over there you do what I told you to mr. Thurston I've been buying drinks for all these characters in the lounge trying to get them to talk well well Joe plays that piano and talks about Broadway back in 1926 all that dr. Singh cares about the snakes captain Jansu talks about eating your honor she spends all her time with you yeah she's very interesting mr. X these people don't know from nothing I don't think this fish peddler crook is even on board anyhow I'm practically broke yeah the only chance you'd have of making any money is a way that's out of the question huh you mean there is a way well the fish peddler will probably pay plenty to find out who I am you mean like you said mr. X it's out of the question I wouldn't tell us so oh I know that of course you wouldn't a guy that's a matter of fact I don't know who he really is tell me about he's the man called X or maybe it's worth about 50 bucks to find out Joe my friend as a matter of fact pay gone my friend I was wondering if I could borrow about five from you just until we get to Batavia of course I wouldn't tell this to another show that the same but mr. Thurston is really called mr. X so I find this most interesting most interesting so maybe it's worth about a hundred bucks hey mr. Zell Smith to a poor scientist such an amount seems staggering oh my good friend please take my advice and never become a zoologist financially it is most unprofitable Thurston the man called X oh sure I know him for years but then who else have you told about this the soul I only thought you might like to hey hey wait that you can I thought you'd show up here on the bridge sooner or later here mr. you want to see me money same thing the fish peddler fish peddler fish peddler I tell you it's not my business somebody that vicious is everybody's business but you tell me you don't even know who is it fish peddler I mean oh pretty quick oh just how do you intend to go what is it bigger mr. Thurston come quick down to your cabin what's the matter it's Joanna my daughter what has happened well she I mean she's oh come on let's have it she's she's lying gonna door to your cabin mr. Thurston somebody killed her dead blood all over captain did not see a couch in there yeah I'm gonna get this right this way oh my poor easy big one easy watch your step poor little bit to you I wonder who could be such a dirty no account over to the couch with her pay gone easy now now captain what about your first aid equipment yeah yeah right here it is but will it be enough for my poor little girl we'll soon find out I see time is that roll of gauze pay gone here you are mr. Thurston thank heaven she is not dead when he was done with you you you come to bridge and say my daughter is dead and I think I died too right right there well she looked kind of dead no wonder whoever did that wasn't fully but near Thurston if I if I ever find who stunned this with these two hands I break his bones and I know someone who'll end your helping hand yeah it's the best I can do you think she she would be all right my dear I'm no doctor captain my guess would be that the sooner we reach one in the table the better I will order them full speed ahead if the boilers I burst I will get my job sounds maybe like a torpedo or a pirate or a mine oh maybe somebody called the fish peddler pig the fish but hey now the engine stopped oh hey what is happening on my ship I think we better find out come on yeah yeah sure mania must get those engines going on advice by your honor today mr. Thurston how long we've been standing outside the ward room dr. Singh standing mr. Thurston you are mistaken I was approaching the door as you opened it it was my intention to inquire as to the well-being of the young lady my daughter your honor yes I trust her injuries are none too serious is that just sympathetic solicitude doctor or more personal concern I failed to grasp your meaning mr. Thurston do you then how come you you your honor have been injured in the first place it was your most estimable friend mr. Zeldschmidt who informed me that's a lie besides which it isn't true I didn't tell nobody enough so so then if nobody was telling you there is only one answer you would have won who with these hands of mine I will hold it hold it hold it wait get an answer sir all right all right what is that better be an excellent one yeah well dr. Singh what does your answer when I gave you mr. Thurston I heard mr. Zeldschmidt informing you in captain Jan Sult of the unfortunate occurrence to miss your honor it was purely sympathetic solicitude as you put it that prompted my inquiry as to her present state of health now do I receive an answer we can repair those engines and get to Batavia first she'll be alright excellent thank you for relieving my mind now with your permission I shall remove myself to the lounge good day gentlemen my new first I don't know take on why don't you go to the lounge with him go with him but he could be this fish beddling guy yes but maybe he's not and the real petal of my pair visit to this ward room while you're here with you Anna sure that's just what I'm talking he might make up your own mind pay gone come on captain let's take a look at that engine room but mr. first what has happened down here with the engine that explosion she wouldn't answer the wheels so the first officer had to stop the engines just where was that explosion after some else the first officer is checking on it now all right keeps team up they're going to need it I I saw come on captain let's see what the first officer can tell us about this maybe here yeah let's get up there fast there's the first office in our money at the head of the companion yes I see what's going on up there mr. somebody took a couple of shots at me sir well I was trying to check the rudder controls on the bridge no sir they were fired from the shadows a tender one it's the same guy or to carry the hatch covers hatch covers what about them they're all batten down a whole cruise locked down below decks except the engineer captain can we reach the cruise quarters through the engine room and it's no possible way then we can't get out now whoever tried it will be too easy a target out there in the moonlight that's right sir you have a gun no sir what about you captain I do not carry one but we have evidence in a lock in the radio room three pistols one rifle good that should be enough to hold off the fish peddler while we radio behavior for a sea plane to bring a doctor and a police inspector isn't the radio check just after this companion way let's see if we can make that without being shot at yeah I'm with you man here come along so far so good he hasn't spotted us or there's the door to the radio check come on oh no it's American oh smashed the pieces what about the gunlocker there it is mania look for yourself yeah forced open empty then that means that means the fish peddler is doing a pretty thorough job but why mania why is this person acting so now and what is on his mind for the future I think he's found out who I am infuse is getting pushed into a corner so oh him again mania Thurston I make that mistake before I think criminal is no my business this mistake I do not make again that's what I figured captain but he is a drift on the ship along with the rest of us love for what does he hope to do now let's pay a little visit to the lounge and find out hello mr. Thurston everything is under control yeah I can see it is big on step right and gentlemen bandoneer won't cost you a thanks Joe glad to find you and pay gone in such a cheerful frame of mind why not we're gonna get mighted we're gonna get mighted that's all why don't you have a little drink too nothing they go where's dr. Singh who knows I was keeping a very close watch on him but all of a sudden it was cool sure then except for him and the crew below decks all of us are right here in the lounge we forget about your honor mania it's all right you think I locked the wardroom door captain it's right I forget well what we do now we identify the man I'm after how you find out who is he mr. Thurston right now he's probably the only person on board beside me who's got a gun that's all I wanted to know if well Joe so you're the fish peddler smart guest Thurston only it's a little late I'll take your gun thanks all right now just take it easy maybe no one will be hurt you try to kill my oh shut up pop your daughter shouldn't have barged in on me while I was going through mr. X's cabin Joe what are your plans very simple for a spur of the moment idea it's less than 10 miles to the Java coast so I'm taking the power launch and heading in I see and with the ship's radio knocked out and the motors dead we don't have much of a chance of contacting anybody before sometime tomorrow that's right now let's go out and lower the launch you do a good job of it maybe I'll let all of you wave goodbye to me cheer up my friends in five minutes I'll be gone and off your hands gentlemen what is happening I've been looking for you doctor come on follow him with the rest of him mr. Thurston why does this man have a gun tell you about that later doctor right now we've got to help friend Joe get this launch into the water all right captain young soot push out that stern daffy to help murderous keep his pet fishing I'm afraid we haven't got much choice all right better down glad you're so good natured about this person I was afraid I might have a little trouble with you must use you're the one who's got the gun well there she is ready to go good my deepest thanks to all of you now move back down the deck I don't want to get slugged with a wrench when I drop down into this one he will get away nothing can be done don't be too sure about that mr. X in this coil of rope guns gun he's on when you shut up hit the deck fan he has hidden behind that ventilator he's undercover but he can't move away from it but these guns I found them where he'd hidden them before we've been to the launch I was waiting to do better over the side all right Joe games over come on out I think we can make a deal not a chance not even for the names and addresses of the net the rest of my organization huh I've got a list of all 26 of my agents here in a notebook well I can toss it to you or I can throw it overboard it's up to you what do you want for it your word that I can leave in the launch without being shot at it's a deal Joe let's have the book I thought so here run into each other again sometime so long chums but many of us I'll trade one for 26 any day captain but this is the one who was killed by your honor we cannot get out of what they view in time now there's plenty of time she only had superficial cuts she's all right all right but you said just trying to get reactions from those aboard and I wouldn't worry about Joe getting away we'll have him back by the end of the week there's no place one to hide in Java if you will pardon me mr. Thurston might I disagree with you slightly in what way dr. Singh I should like to express the probability that mr. zitcha Taylor will never reach the coast of Java no why not I overheard what was happening in the lounge what a character it's got used like a couple of elephants I took the liberty of emptying one of my specimen boxes into the bottom of the launch those snakes yes snakes quite deadly they were rather sluggish but perhaps by now the heat of the launch motor has made them very lively and he won't even know about them until one of them hits him well well it serves him right mr. Thurston he'd just assume kill anybody has looked at them yeah you may be right at that pilgrim in a way there's nothing we can do about it now isn't an old proverb here in the East Indies something about the conscience of an evil man being sharper than the fans of a venomous serpent maybe Joe could tell us if that's true or not right about now now here is our star mr. Herbert Marshall thanks for being with us next week our story is called a journey to Xenophon a journey that is started by an innocent old lady and ends with mr. X encountering one of the most vicious international records of his career and as usual where records are concerned we find his playmate Pagon Zell Schmidt portrayed as usual by Leon Bolasco so join us won't you when next I return as the man called X good night the man called X darling Herbert Marshall is a J. Richard Kennedy production and is directed by Jack John Stone with music composed and conducted by Felix Mills tonight's story was written by Les Crutchfield with additional scenes and dialogue by Sydney Marshall all characters and incidents used on this transcribed program are fictitious any resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental so until next week same time same station this is Jack Latham saying good night for the man called X three chimes mean good times on NBC the chimes ring for Dennis Day and Judy Kanova tomorrow night on NBC Dennis gets himself into more merry mix ups but still has time to sing in his beautiful tenor voice and Judy Kanova goes operatic tomorrow because her guest on the Judy Kanova show is eight co pincer