 Personal notice. Danger's my stock and trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you got a job for me, George Valentine. Write full details. Greetings as always, Mr. Lover. Time for another Let George Do It adventure. You know, I'm particularly fascinated with the title of this epic. It's called The News Hangs High. Now, that's a switch if I ever heard one. And better still, it gives one an insight as to what is about to take place. You see, George Valentine is always sticking his neck out. Now, for the first time, he has a place to stick it. Let's see if he makes it. Dear Mr. Valentine, I'm J. H. McHugh. I'm editor of the local Sunday magazine section. And come to think of it, I've always wanted to run a feature on you, that crazy admiral. But I figured the true revelations of a Turkish secret policeman had more family appeal, and so I've got about it. Anyhow, this letter concerns a different matter. Valentine, I'm going to make a report for you. You're going to be the author of a serial on the Tover Embrons. What became of the exotic prince's wedding stones? Did the eminent hornithologist, Ensil Fairweather, find them or didn't he? What was the mysterious curse that brought death to Fairweather ten years ago? The riddle of the two recluses. Why have the two big brothers refused to cross the threshold of their own gloomy mansion? And for that very same ten years. What is the mystery of number 37 Ashton Street? Well, well, isn't it the greatest story you ever heard? Well, Mr. McHugh... I noticed you came trotting over here fast enough. I tell you, it's the best feature we've had for years. Since the last mommy sued King Tert for alienation of affections. What? Well, I always preferred the classic case history of the two-headed werewolf. Now see here, both of you. Oh, come on now, McHugh. You've been mashing your own corn too long. I gather all the purple double-talk has something to do with a man named Ensil Fairweather. Well, I looked him up. He tied a rope around a chandelier and hung himself at 37 Ashton Street ten years ago. Ten years ago today in a gloomy brown coat. Trot your local color. He'd been to the Himalayas looking for rare birds once. He was probably one himself. But any talk about emeralds is strictly for the birds, too. One's like you. Well, I may have overspressed that aspect a bit. Just a bit. All right. Forget them. Look at the facts. He took a jury to decide his death was suicide, didn't he? Well, it was a very unfair trial of his two cronies, yes. The Binks brothers. And they still live in that same house. Never stepped out of it since. Oh, we didn't know that. I thought not. That's the story. The rest is all trimmings, I'll admit. Big Jared Binks and little Tom Binks have holed themselves up for ten years in a place where Fairweather committed suicide. Why? It only took two minutes for the jury to exonerate them of his murder, if that's what you're driving at. Fairweather was sick, despondent, out of his mind. No, no, no. I'm not trying to say they killed him. And to be unfairly accused of his murder might make anyone withdraw from the world a little. You think I'm trying to make something out of nothing? Cook up a story that's a little too wild? We think you're an expert at it. No offense, of course. Not at all. And of course you understand, Mr. Valentine, I would no more seriously think of hiring you even to write your own name than I would jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. Well, now that's better. Well, now that we've got that off our chest, what do you really want me for? In fact, for nine years I've tried to get a little anniversary story on Jared and Tom Binks. Uh-huh. Why they're such reduces. Are they? Really? Every reporter I ever sent, and don't worry, they've been clever about it too. They've been thrown out in his ears. To my knowledge, the brothers have never been outside that house. And no visitor has ever been inside it. Why? You get the facts. I'll write the story. You get pain. You are listening to Let George Do It. Our adventure will continue in just a moment. Now back to Let George Do It and George Valentine. Leave before I see you throw now. Brooks, you're a sadist. Look, you go and check on Farewell this death. Uh-oh. Here's the little one. Oh, and how do you do, sir? My name is Valentine. How do you do? I represent the City Fire Protection League Department of Fire Inspection Service in the interest of fire prevention. I'm sure you won't mind me taking a few minutes of your time for an examination of the premises before I... What's the matter, friend? You're not listening. Well, uh, perhaps I have a card here. Is that girl with you? What? Me? No, I was just asking directions. You're not busy, young man. You're free for the next few hours, perhaps? Well, I... Thank heaven. Come in, come in. Please, do come in. I'm so glad to see you. Yes, come right in. Oh, Jerry, Jerry, where are you? We have a visitor. Isn't that wonderful? What in the man? Gentlemen, come right in, George. Are you sure it's the right house? Somebody's throwing curves. Now work fast. Wouldn't you, Angel? I'll see you later. Yeah, good luck. Yes, yes, hurry, Jerry. This way, sir. Valentine, you say? Yes, yes, that's right. Your, uh, Tom Binks? Oh, yes, yes, quite. Tom Binks. Uh-huh. Somehow she have here. Don't you ever open the shutters? Oh, yes, yes. Forgive the lack of furniture. We've never bothered about the hallways. And the parlor in there makes such a handy place to store things, don't you think? We're very informal here. Oh, brother, there's an understatement. Pile of magazines, clothes, boxed up books. Oh, look out. Oh, this way, please. Hey, here. What's the matter? Afraid of a loose chain on the chandelier? What? Oh, no. No, not at all. Oh, oh, yes, sure, the chandelier. That's what fair weather hung himself from, isn't it? I thought you said you were from the fire department. How much it's worry hung himself? One of it. Well, Mr. Merton. What are you doing here, young man? Well, I invited him in. There's no reason. You might answer the same question, friend. I thought these guys lived alone. Yeah. The name is Merton. Binks boys aren't crazy. I am. I handle their business affairs. Mr. Merton is just on his way out. Yes. You know what I mean? I've been trying to leave for the past three hours. Now Tom kicks me out. Oh, no, no, but I think all about it... That's because you walked in. I make one visit a year to this place. I spend the rest of the year calming down. I don't follow you, but I guess that's all right. Of course you don't. Who could? You don't know it, but you've been tapped to take my place holding hands. What? Now, now, Mr. Valentine is interested in our work, and I was just going to show him through the house. Oh, it's all yours, son. You scare the boogeyman for a while. The boogeyman? Yeah, sure. Make a good story for you. Now, come on, tell the truth. What newspaper are you from? Newspaper? None. But what's the story? I don't really care who you are. Tom, where's my coat? Oh, oh, I hung it up. I'll get it. Boogeyman. That's the story, you know. It's a haunted house. Okay, Buster, I'm dumb. What's going on? So am I. Valuable property, but kept in a mess. Good securities, but all gummed up. Couple of loony clients, that's all. Well, look around you. Nuts. Lived alone so long they imagined that... No, no. Hey, what's the matter? The light cord. Martin, look. A Jared. Jared, come down here. Oh, for the love of what? Well, you see, another knot. It's tied in a knot like the others. The light cord in the closet here. Tied in a hangman's knot. A noose. He's found some others around like that. Well, now, who's the practical joker that did this? None of us. That's it. None of us ties those knots. Well, what is it, Tom? What is it? Look, look here. I didn't do it. Well, of course you didn't. And no one did. Oh, Jared, this is Mr. Valentine. I asked him to... I could hear you from upstairs. I could hear. I don't think it is good to ask people in. There you see, young fellow, I've got a card to the club like I have. You have finished your business, Mr. Martin. Get out. Jared, now, wait. I know what happens when people come in. I'm not afraid of any nooses. There is nothing for anybody to be afraid of. Please, Jared. Perhaps you tie the nooses yourself, Tom. Of what? Perhaps you don't know that you do. But it's all right. There's nothing to be afraid of. Oh, no, no, I don't. It occurred to me when I saw the shadow on the stairway from the same noose, I suppose. What shadow? The stairway? Well, no, no. This door was shut. Oh, brother, now, take it easy, Tom. Oh, look, yes. You can see it on the wall. It's a shadow of a noose this time. Yeah, sure. I'm upstairs here. Only place it could have come from. There is nobody else in the house, Mr. Valentine. Hey, now you can't see the shadow anymore down there. Oh, Jared, for the love of God. That doesn't. I'm getting out of here. Where's your telephone? There's one in the library, but we don't want any policemen. This is nothing to be upset about. Who sent anything about policemen? They've got an extension. They'll listen while you're called. Come on, move me to the drugstore. Let them listen. I'm like you are, Jared. I'm not nervous. I don't get a gilly feeling when I look at a noose. Not yet. Hello, operator, get me... Mr. Valentine. Mr. Valentine. Yeah, everything's funny. I was just going to call you on the World Cave then. What? I was going to tell... Hey, Tom Brinks. Looks like he fainted or something. George, for heaven's sake. He's crazy. They're all crazy. The whole place is crazy. Brooks, he's so am I. Now listen, Angel, I was going to tell you the Marquis out here was too thick to be true, but I guess I'm wrong. I guess I was saved by the bell when you called. Will you please tell me... On account of everybody's seized nooses out here. Well, now I do too. What? Yeah, Angel, there's one made out of rope neatly draped around my neck. You are listening to Let George Do It. Our adventure will continue in just a moment. Now back to George Valentine. The two Brinks brothers, Jared and Tom, two Reckless's whose friend hung himself ten years ago. Now the Brinks brothers are seeing the shadow of a noose. Light cords and sash cords have been tied with Hangman's knots. Well, if your name is George Valentine, the whole thing looks a little wild to you. That is, until you yourself get knocked out and come to with a rope around your neck. Angel, I don't know what hit me, I tell you. But George... You've got a funny sore neck, though. If I had to kill you... Oh, Brooksy Skipper, will you have more right? What did you find? Well, all that silly stuff about emeralds may not have been so silly. Huh, what? Oh, Mr. Stones in India, and the only ones they've ever found have been in Kansas, just one or two. Oh, you make a lot of sense. How it's when someone must have found them. Yeah, only the police don't know who. And there's nothing illegal, anyway. They were found. Somebody just sold them. Angel, I love you. What? You're fitting the first piece into the jigsaw. Only this house out here is such a big barn of a place with so many rooms and so much junk that I'll call you back in 15 minutes. Hello. How are you? Cleaning lady at the booby hatch. Ah, lady with jokes, huh? I worked in a real booby hatch once. Come in to bring their weak spools for the binks, that's all. I'm a long order cook now. I've got to eat, don't they? Only say. What did you do to Tom there? Nothing. He fainted. He's all right. Yeah. Any funny one. Spends all of his time drawing birds. Looks kind of like a sparrow himself. What are you doing? Put him down. I know where I'm at. I was a nurse once. No, I'm all right. No, please. Every time I come to this place, something crazy happens. Um, there's a man out back to see you, Mr. Binks. What's that, ma'am? That man who owns the house, that fair weather. Fair weather? Man, who owns it? Any of you are a business, mister? Duchess, go tell Amanda White. What? Yeah, you're losing your job as nurse. Get out. I never trusted anyone, Mr. Valentine. I was tried for murder once. Jared and I, but we hadn't done anything. Do you know what it's like to be tried? Sure, sure, Mr. Binks, but I'm only trying to help. There's nothing secret about our work. All those crates of specimens downstairs, birds. That's what they are. We've collected them from all over the world, and I am drawing them. Jared and I. For 10 years? Oh, it will take much, much longer than that. We don't work very fast, and there are more than seven problems. Yeah, sure, I get the idea. And Ansel Fairweather was your partner in that work. He was an ornithologist, I remember. So now explain who this other fair weather is who's alive and waiting for you out back. A cousin of Ansel's. He's been trying to get the house. Mabel said he owned it. He has some old deed that Ansel gave him. He says it's quite valuable property. That's why we're moving. Moving? Well, didn't you know? That's why the birds are all crated. We're being thrown out of the house next week. Ah. Huh. Why didn't you buy it? Why'd you let him get it? You guys have money, don't you? Or something worth money, maybe? Now, see here, young man. You told me it was some sort of a fire inspector. I asked you into the house and all you do is ask questions. Just like all the rest. Jared told me not to talk to people. He warned me every time anyone gets nearer. Take it easy, take it easy. Only suppose I go out and talk to the new landlord, huh? Hey, all this stuff on the back porch. Do you suppose it's going too, Mr. Fairweather? How should I know? A couple of blame crackpots. Now him and the house torn down as soon as they get out. Yeah, sure. Go over an inch by inch, huh? What's that, Mr. Valentine? Never mind. You're a real estate man, huh? A business deal? Business deal, that's all you. I know. I met that lawyer or whatever he is of theirs. Oh, Merton, sure. Just saw him down at the drug store. And he's smart. He won't even eat their food. He didn't offer to buy the place for them, though, huh? Mac, a cousin of mine I never met. Used to live with these bird birds here. Now that's ancient history. But a friend of mine discovered this old deed and I found I could get the place. So why not? So I've got it. Got a key, too, I suppose. Come in and out any time. What? 30 rooms, three stairs. An army could be wandering around. Fresh, girl. What's eating you, anyway? Just because I won't sell a house to Looney and Goonie Banks? Well, sure, they offered to buy it. What of it? I'm in real estate. I got plans for the whole block. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Just stop justifying yourself. Flashlight. Oh, go jump in the lake. Hey, how long do you figure to take to tear this house apart if a man wanted to find some emeralds? Oh, that old story. You're just another Looney yourself, huh? Well, I'm in business, friend, and I don't have... So blame much, junk, isn't there? Here, ever see a flashlight rigged up like this? What's that wire thing? Found it in the trash barrel. Put the button on. See? The wire is twisted around in a circle. Makes a nice shadow out there on the back wall. Shadow of a noose. Jared! Jared! What in the name of... Jared! Tom, where are you? What's happened? Shandler there. The noose. He's dead. He's dead! Tom, Tom, come back here. Come back here, Tom! Oh, you crazy idiot. Who says he's dead, huh? Just as well be I suppose. You hung yourself, sure. Oh, brother. Not heavy or anything, are you, Jared? Tom! Hey, anybody! Okay, come on, Hermit. Let's get you out of here. You need help fast. Hey, you. You're the pharmacist? Yes, that's right. What do you have? Get out of that car as fast as you can. There's a man been choked. Hit over the head, too. What? Joe, you, too. Come on. Come on, I'll be with you in a minute. Well, hello. Well, well, sit down, sit down. Have a piece of pie. No thanks, Mr. Martin. So, had enough prying around in the booby, had you? Hermit's hollow. Once a year's all I can stand. Sure, sure. Whose taxi is that out there? Oh, waiting for me. I got a job back in real life, as they call it, to worry about. See the house from here, but nothing happening yet. Well, what are you talking about? What's the matter? Come on, come on, let's wait in the taxi. Hey, what are all those guys doing around that car across the street? Police will be here in a minute. What? Come on, get in the cab. Wait here, Mac. No place. Jared Binks may be dead or alive, I don't know. He was hanging from the chandelier. Jared? Now, look at this. Only person strong enough around there to lift him up for it is that woman, I guess, that Mabel. Well, get your eyes off of my muscle. Oh, you weren't there. I haven't got any muscles. Unless Jared hung himself, but that's a fair chance. Besides, I've got a sore neck, too. Now, look. And that rope around me wasn't pulled tight. And I don't know what knocked me out. But if Mabel was telling the truth, if she had been a nurse and worked around an asylum, well, it's one way to quiet somebody in a hurry. Slap him in the back of the neck, heal of the hand. What are you guys talking about? Just keep turned around, driver. I'd like to know what you're talking about, too. Well, why wasn't the rope around me pulled tight? Why wasn't I killed? Go ahead, watch the house. I can see the alley entrance. What for? Oh, we're not waiting for Mabel to show up. That's a police job. By now, she must be blocks from here. So am I. You don't wear it, and it's pretty clear. I got the flashlight off her service porch. I don't know who else could have been upstairs to throw that shadow in the noose and then duck in a hurry. Well, stop looking so sad. Mabel's a hired hand. That's all a female thug. Oh, brilliant. But what I'm not sure of is who she works for. Hey, look. There he is. There's Tom. Well, how mean. Yeah, the little man himself with a suitcase. Oh, yeah. Follow right along, driver. Okay. Yeah, I guess Jared had all the courage. It's a cinch Tom couldn't ever face the police again, so he's finally running. What's that? No, the guy's walking up there. Just keep your mind in the front seat, driver. And that's what the rope was put on me for, I guess. Same reason as the hangman's knots in the shadow of the noose to scare the pinks boys. Only what happened with Jared? He catch on who was doing it? That's why he was strung up to put the final thread into Tom and make him run? Oh, stop dribbling. Tom. Hey, Tom. Who is it? It's me, Merton. Over here, Tom. If there were any emeralds in that house, nobody'd ever find them. The pinks has never talked about them. What's been pretty hard on you, Merton, wondering how you could get your hands on them? You're smart enough to know a gun when you see it, I hope. Hey, what the... You too. Shut up. Oh, hello, Tom. Hop in. Well, I don't know. It's all right, Tom. You can tell me some things. Like who this guy Merton really is. I told you... Tom. Tom, get in here. Get in. Oh, of course. Merton, don't point that gun at me. You see, Merton's been so careful to get himself an alibi. Taxi already and waiting. Shut up, I told you. And Merton told me he came to see you men once a year to handle your business affairs. Well, I have one of it. Once a year in April? One month after income tax? Does that make any sense for a business manager? All right, genius. You've said enough. Goodbye. Well, Merton... Give me that suitcase. Come on, I'll step on it. Yes, no, no. You get out from behind the wheel and turn around. Hey, what now? I'm leaving you right now. Get your hands off that... Get in the suitcase, banks. It has the emeralds, right? Isn't that the point of the whole business? The scare you went to running and when you run, the one thing you take with you is the emeralds that a man could spend his life searching for in that house? That a man could get one at a time, you mean, once a year. That's who I am. I handle a business all right, one at a time, once a year. Merton, please. But never a glimpse of the rest of them. Well, now I've got the whole mess. Get out of my way. You're going to mess, all right, Buster. But look out! I'll kill everyone! Not in April, sweetheart! Mr. Valentine, yes. Yes, that's all true. Give me the suitcase then, Tom. This guy's safe at the police. I want to find how your brother is. But people will come and they'll bother me. There'll be policemen and photographers. Well, there's nothing wrong with you having the rest of the emeralds. But, Jared, and I only use the emeralds to carry on our work. Not another suitcase. You open it. What the? Is there anything wrong, Mr. Valentine? Well, no, not from your point of view, friend. But in a few minutes I've got a date with Miss Brooks and a guy named McHugh at my office. I'm going to find out how they can take a surprise. Back to the conclusion of our Let George Do It adventure in just a moment. You heard me, McHugh. Skins of birds. That's what he carried in that suitcase. Uh-huh. Yeah, if Tom could take one thing of value from the house, that was it. After all, what are emeralds compared to birds? Jared, thanks. We'll be all right, George. Good, Bruxy. That's fine. The police caught that woman, Mabel. She had been working for Merton. Birds. Yeah, you see, McHugh, Merton finally got an itchy palm and ganged up with Mabel to try and scare the boys in her running. That's the only way they'd get excited enough to tip where they'd hidden them. Bird feathers. They had over a hundred emeralds, and how many did Merton sell for them through the years? Seven. Well, what's the matter? What are you sore about? He wants to know where the rest of them are, George. But Tom and Jared will never tell. Mr. McHugh, we got your story for you. What if we didn't find the emerald? It's certainly a better story than the usual Vampire Scotland yard confessions of a werewolf that you usually print in that sewage. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. But it's a little wild, don't you think? The noose hangs high. Hmm? See what I mean? Who will ever believe it? You have just heard The Noose Hangs High, another Let George Do It adventure. Robert Bailey was starred as George Valentine with Virginia Gregor's Bruxy. David Victor and Jackson Gillis wrote the story with music by Eddie Dunstetter. Now this is yours truly inviting you to another visit with Valentine, when you will again hear what happens when you Let George Do It.