 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, and all the strange and dangerous places of the world There you will find the man called X Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, the man called X Did you know that every year forest fires in the United States burn over an area equal in size to New England? Neither did Ken Thurston until Hubert Mitchell of the U.S. Forest Service came up from Washington last week and dropped in at the office of the Bureau Mitchell was pretty upset. In view of that kind of a situation and the urgent need of conserving our natural resources The government is deeply interested in seeing that this Oregon plant gets into operation Hmm and the government has guaranteed part of his fee financial backing. Is that right, Mr. Mitchell? That's right, Mr. Thurston. The company that's actually building it is made up of about 60 small timber owners around the town of Tulosa But of course they didn't have the money to swing a five million dollar project. So all right, Mr. Mitchell We realize the importance of conservation and it's unfortunate the construction of this sawmill and by-product plant is running behind schedule But where do we come in? Well, that's it chief. I don't know exactly There's been an unusual number of delays on the job and the contract carries a deadline Yes, the plant isn't in operation three months from now. It'll be sold at public auction But I still don't see what we can do about it. I think there's a little beating around a bush going on here Maybe a bush named Ray Brown. All right, Brown was our forest ranger in the Tulosa district You've been looking into some of the recent delays on the construction job fires and so on. What did you find out? He wired me last week implied he'd come across some pretty startling information He wanted an investigator sent out so so before we had a chance to send a man Brown was accidentally killed Found dead in his cabin He'd apparently fallen asleep with a lighted cigarette caught his mattress on fire Suffocated in the fumes Pretty careless trick for a forest ranger. It was careless of somebody. What do you mean? Mr. Thurston? I'd known Ray Brown for years. He never smoked anything but a pipe Well chief Well, Ken, I'll be calling you from Tulosa, Oregon Pretty a scenery this side of the pearly gate. Do you drive down to the junction every day? No, meet the train three days a week, Mr. Thurston. Run the store up in Tulosa the rest of the time I see not many folks come in on airplanes like you did they don't a nope ain't that big a hurry to get here You ain't figuring on going into business here. Are you? Oh, no, it's gonna have a look at the new plant That's all be quite a sawmill if they ever get it done Understand they're going into some trouble. Yeah to laminate fires acts of the almighty first one thing and then another Good thing. You're not figuring on going in business. Mr. Thurston. Why so not enough business to go around Ain't hardly enough for me. What do you do? You close up your store when you go on these trips? Yeah, folks will come back shut her down another hour every day while I start out the mail. Oh, you're the Postmaster tool. Oh, sure. I have been Isn't that smoke up ahead there? Yeah Brush fire car park there side of the road now. What the tarnage is somebody's fighting it Over there by the edge of the tree that's Jean Fox. He sure can't do much over there Is on the windward side of it look you think got much of a start yet. Come on Let's let's give my hand got some shovels here in the back here. All right. Let's go this way, Mr. Thurston over here Jean. Let's head off here in the draw All right, Mr. Thurston, let's start working on it along here. Just sling dirt that's all won't be Too hard to stop another five minutes. Oh, and it'll have been in three What's that that line of poles back of the ridge there temporary power line Supplies all the power for the construction work. I see Driving past and seen the brush burning over here. Good thing you did mr. Thurston. Mr. Fox. Come on Jean swing dirt. All right There's some crazy fool threw a cigarette out of a car. I'd say somebody did a lot more than that Huh? What do you mean surprise you didn't notice it mr. Fox Over there along the edge of the road There's a strong smell of gasoline No, but yeah Little more time to get started. It might have been a lot worse than a brush fire Here to smell gasoline. Hey, no doubt about it. Mr. Crumb Just who is that fellow Fox Jean? Oh, he's the contractor that moves the log drives from small owners up river moves them Where about 20 miles down the river to the McDermott sawmill of course if Marty Hill ever gets the new plant started All the timber will be handled right here And that'll put folks out of business. Yeah, I think well He probably will get some kind of a job in the new plant. Oh sure Looks like we got a hitchhiker Raven to us up there. Yeah station wagon stop beside the road. I can't pass anybody up here in the woods Bill McDermott MacDermott fellow that owns that small sawmill down the river. I just mentioned. Hi a bill Afternoon Howard what might be the chance for a lift in the town sure climb in Mr. Thurston, Mr. McDermott glad to know you begin to think I'd be stuck there for the day Oh, Jean Fox is back down the road be along pretty soon. That's all. Oh, you can leave me at the garage when we get into town What was wrong, Mr. McDermott motor trouble? Oh, no just my own carelessness. Mr. Thurston. I Simply ran out of gasoline Thanks Nice looking place best general store in Tulosa. Yeah, only one as a matter of fact come on in Looks like somebody waiting for you on the bench there in front must be an out-of-town Everybody here knows this is my day to close up. How do you do? Oh, no? I assume you must be the proprietor of this driving establishment. Yep, that's me my good man I'm here to save you not only from bankruptcy, but also from pay gone Zell Schmidt. Why hello, Mr. Thurston. Oh, I can see this is a very happy surprise for both of us Hey, you need new glasses. Mr. Crumb this character goes with the name of Zell Schmidt better lock the cash drawer Howdy, Mr. Zell Schmidt come on inside Pagel I'm designed to have you turn up in Africa Asia or even Australia But when you fall in it will place like Tulosa, Oregon That's the last straw, but I didn't follow you Mr. Thurston I'm now a member of the ancient and unreprofessioned of traveling salesman. Yeah, sending what the Ahmed Zell Schmidt double-headed hatchet The what sure cuts all fells all patent practically applied for a lot. Hmm funny-looking acts head on both ends of the handle They're cut with both ends every lumber John and the woods will want one all you do is You almost cut your head off Uncle Ahmed forgot to give me the instructions. Well, Mr. Crumb, thanks for the ride Now I think I better look around for a room the hotel's right next door. I'll show you mr. Thurston I was going to check in there myself only. I didn't have any money. Uh, you were still down. Oh Mr. Crumb you wouldn't want to buy a gross of this hat, would you a dozen One little sample maybe oh Well, I didn't think you're bored. Here's your room key. Mr. Thurston. It's number 16 best room in the house Wait, don't tell me that you're the yep. I'm the hotel manager too. Bye, Mr. Thurston To work mr. Thurston. Hey, maybe it's the wrong room. No, no, no, it's number 16. Maybe we try to try to come in the doors unlocked Hey, there's a girl inside mr. X. Yeah Well So there is hello. I'm Elaine. Come on in mr. Thurston. Thanks Elaine Boy, what a luscious little chipmunk. Um, pay gone but but but All right, I'm going you don't have to hit around the bottom I could be in the wrong room, of course, you're not I knew you'd get number 16 out of towners always do Hmm And why are you here? Oh Couple of reasons The one thing I wanted to tell you not to believe everything you hear. I saw no believe any of it What's the other reason let's say I just want to decide you up Oh And what's the verdict? I think you might be pretty tough to handle mr. Thurston. Uh-huh. We'll find out as things develop You're not leaving. Oh, we'll have plenty of time You know only two people could have told you about me McDermott or gene fox Well, I know both of them rather well William McDermott in particular since he happens to be my father Mr. Thurston will certainly cooperate with you forest service men in every way possible to get to the bottom of this thing It's just about got me licked and I'm willing to admit it. You're in full charge of the construction work That will set up mr. Hill. That's right, and I'll probably run the plant if we ever get it finished Well, the deadline's still three months away, mr. Hill A few more of these accidents and it might as well be three years Suppose you don't finish and the plant sold at auction Who'd be the most likely buyer? Oh, I'd say McDermott Chances are he'd move the equipment down and set it up in connection with his own mill The rest of us are in up to our necks already What's your guess about these accidents mr. Hill? If we're still courting them accidents mr. Thurston I'll give you all the help you want on this, but I'm not doing any guessing A ranger by the name of ray brown made that mistake. Yeah, you may have something there You haven't know a man named gene fox. Oh sure fox is the contractor who takes the log drive down the river Mr. Thurston, what's the matter pig on a big animal something's moving around out here in the dark Maybe it's a bear. What of it? You've got your double-headed axe Wrong time of the year for a bear to come down this far. Well, I suppose we have a look All right, pig on where is this animal of yours? I think it was over this way Or maybe this way I get a doll turned around in the country wait Here's something yeah Over to the left Whoever it was must have beat it. Yeah Rotten shooting that light from the door made us perfect targets Well, mr. Thurston, I think they're coming back. Huh? Steps coming this way all right. It's somebody in the path here now Oh, it's Howard crumb this chores and weapons in the middle of the night people high tail it down the path like that was crazy Well You saw somebody out there. Yeah, bill McDermott running full speed didn't even stop to say howdy middle of the night too You're keeping pretty late. I'll yourself mr. Crumb Even for the storekeeper post master and hotel manager just you never mind, mr. Thurston gotta get to the bottom of things Gotta know what's going on ain't nobody. It's got a better right to know After all I'm the constable around here Frigidaire's man called x starring Herbert Marshall. Oh, come on pig on wake up Why of course queen victoria? I'll be only too glad to be the president of the bank of England Oh pay gone and I will also What's the matter mr. Thurston nothing's the matter except you only got 20 minutes to get on the job Well, in that case, I'd be better Job what job the one I talked about a hill into giving you he's the man in charge of building this new plant remember Mr. X. I don't feel so good this morning. I got pay gone. Get out of that bed and start moving I wanted to talk to the workman on the job keep your ears open find out if they've got any ideas About who's behind this dirty work. It's mr. McDermott. He's he's the one who showed that last night Maybe but if McDermott is is in it. He's not in it alone Then to what we have is how it comes worth it. McDermott was even around Oh Mr. Thurston when you fixed up this job, I hope you considered my outstanding capability my numerous talents. I took all that into consideration Good Uh assistant manager maybe at about 200 hours a week pay gone the job pays nine sets an hour Digging ditches hooray, then I'm Oh no Job from here. Mr. Fox. Yeah, sure is I come up here every day or so Just to watch other people working not uh busy yourself right now Well, it's off season for log drivers And I guess it'll be a permanent off season when marty hill gets the plant operating A big part of the drive is a 20 mile stretcher river between here and McDermott's mill I suppose there'll be some good jobs in the new plant Well, I got a little money saved up I think I'll retire great retiring country up here. Mr. Thurston Fishin hunting or you know, yeah. Yes. I did some hunting myself last night Any luck not yet Morning, mr. McDermott. Mr. Thurston gene. Hi bell. I understand you had a little shooting affair last night, mr. Thurston Yes, yes, that's right. You should have stuck around. What do you mean stuck around? We might have had quite a discussion on night hunting Silhouetted targets and so on if you're thinking I was the one behind that gun, mr. Thurston You better do some more guessing. Oh, I thought maybe that was the same gun there on the seat beside you I've been taking too many chances for too long from now on. I'm protecting myself I'd advise you to do the same good day Mr. McDermott, I've never stopped doing Exactly that Hey, I heard about that shooting last night mr. Thurston You got any ideas better than that mr. Fox. I'm pretty sure who did it We are hey, mr. Thurston. Pagon not only I work my fingers to the bones But now I got a look all over the place for something nobody knows where it is Have you seen mr. Hill somewhere? No, pig. I'm never fat. I was just going to look for myself Where can you find him at the scalen house over the other side of the ravine Hey, you can walk across on the timber slide. It's not an operation yet. Thanks, mr. Fox What do you want to see him out of here about Pagon? Everybody says since he's the boss that he's the only one that knows where it is Well, what is what the foreman sent me to look for a left-handed shovel Just step Pagon this slide is pretty steep along here For me, mr. X. It's nothing Did I ever tell you about the time my aunt Lula was a tightrope walker in the search? Yeah, you tell me and she started to You tell me oh, I did Hey, what is this timber slide we're walking on looks like a wooden sidewalk Up on stilts When the plant starts up the logs will come in at the far end back there Slide across the ravine on this wooden sidewalk and go on into the plant Now what have you found out so far anything uh-huh. I'm very glad you asked that There's one guy down there that claims he or you mean about this soulman Or he was talking about a babe. He used to know in Sucity Great. That's a lot of help Anyway, it was a very interesting thing. Yeah Listen Get over the edge there hang on to the brace underneath hurry up mr. X What is it logs coming down this slide hang on So the timber slides not in operation yet Well Come on Pagan That could have been a pretty close shave Nothing to it mr. X We hear a noise so we jump out of the way Like the time my uncle Ahmed was a bullfrog Pagan Take a look over the side of the trestle. Huh 300 feet to the bottom of that ravine Huh Pagan Fine time to faint No, no matter what I was looking for you were laying among other people Really, how did you happen to know where I was? I saw you tie your horse over here in the trees. You will be around somewhere Been hunting no riding I brought the rifle along in case I ran across anything worth shooting Anything or anyone meaning? That rifle's a little surprising judging by the empty cartridges. I found you Used the pistol last night. Well, that's quite an interesting opinion. There's more than that. I'm sure of it Who are you trying to kill me or Marty Hill? See that little stump about 75 yards up there at the edge of the path Oh nice shooting Elaine if I ever shot at anyone I'd hit some ken you can bet on it All right, so you meant it as a warning then why if I did anything like that It might be because I like you Maybe but that's not the reason I do like you can a whole lot that makes it worse worse. Oh ken I'm scared. Oh elaine. I mr. Thurston. Are you all right? I was Uh-huh. I see what you mean. I've been looking for you for the last half hour. Mr. Thurston all over this force Wish I'd known it pig on I could have set a trap in the trail. Why aren't you working? Oh, I got fired I see how'd you manage it? I wasn't doing anything that I believe I was only building a fire to cook some coffee trying to keep my body and sold together. You understand Oh, sure. How should I know those little sticks? I used mark the place for some kind of a railroad railroad Railroad pig on You may have dug up the answer to the whole business. I did Well, thank you, mr. Thurston. Oh What did I do? I think it'd be a pretty good idea if we stopped beating around the bush, mr. Macdermot I'm not trying to frame you for anything. You're not guilty of all. I wanted some information All right, mr. Thurston. What do you want to know anything you can tell me about the new railroad? There isn't one yet Planned to build one over a year ago even surveyed the route Then when this new plant came up, they decided to swing the route around and come in from the north I see What if you'd mind marking that on this map both routes the old one and the new one sure glad to It swings up through the canyon Then follows the river Where do you plan to get timber after the new plant starts operating then runs due south We've got plenty to keep going for years Then hope you get this straightened out. I think i'm about to mr. Macdermot. Thanks and um Don't worry prowling up around too looser tonight. This time the gun might be pointed the other way So that seems to explain Macdermot's angle and the thing pretty well, mr. Crumb He's been playing detective all by himself. Well, could be mr. Thurston should have come to me though He's too hard headed and he knew that sooner or later. He'd be suspected that doesn't explain that daughter of his, you know She doesn't need any explaining boy. What a dish Mr. Crumb is gene fox one of the timber owners. No, you used to be sold out a year or so ago Yes, gene's retired. You might say don't do much of anything. It's got the right idea How about you mr. Crumb? Do you own any timberland around here? Well a little piece here and there Let's the speaker Oh, even a small track might be a lot of trouble for a man with as many jobs as you got Don't run him myself. Mr. Thurston got him leased out. I see Well the way things stand now all I need is one more answer got any idea where to get it I think so at the plant construction office Guess nobody's over there this time of night. Oh marty holds probably there. He works pretty late Suppose we go over and find out. Well, I don't know. I got a lot of things to do. What things mr. Crumb The store's closed post office closed. Nobody wants a hotel room. Well, I uh, I ought to do some work on the book They'll keep come on mr. Crumb Let's go look for that last answer I don't think anybody's here mr. Thurston. No sign of life. The lights on though Come on. We going inside mr. Thurston any reason why not mr. Crumb Good evening Didn't know you had company mr. Hill. How are you Elaine? Well, she I was just passing by ken stopped in to say hello You stopped in for the same reason you've been hanging around here for days playing detective Same as your father has I thought relax Elaine. He's not involved in this I got a map here mr. Hill I'd like to ask a question about it Well, if it's anything about the construction here, maybe I can answer it You'll notice two lines marked there the proposed routes for the new railroad the old plan And the new one Yeah, that's right If your plant here fails and is sold at auction macdermantle probably buy the equipment and set it up down river Chances are in that case the railroad will be built on the old route. No doubt about that mr. Thurston, but uh What are you getting there most of both lines are on public land But one seven mile stretch of the old route crosses a private track A seven mile right of way might bring the landowner a pretty good price, but ken Oh Nothing One of you could tell me who owns that track mr. Hill You won't let yourself don't you marty? Uh, there's a Matter of fact I do it's too bad you found out. Look out mr. Thurston. He's dropping an axe All right. He'll drop it. Oh my arm. I said drop it I'd have killed you like you did ray brownie All right, constable crown takeover glad to mr. Thurston. He'll get live sure shoot you somebody sure of that don't know why not After all i'm the judge come on marty It's a good thing for him. He didn't have one of uncle ahmed's double-headed hatchets. He would have killed himself There you are. That's exactly what he did. Huh? Anytime somebody starts out to cheat the people who trust him He's picking up a double-headed axe And while he's cutting out a profit for himself with one end He'll cut his own throat with the other There's no way he can keep from it because there are two things Put together exactly alike A double-headed axe And a double cross Engineer star herbert marshal Let me remind you of something That everybody benefits when everybody gives to the community fund Make your contribution now And make it generous The money you give comes right back to you because the community fund Helps make your hometown a better town for you And for everybody in it Now thanks for listening and i'm sure you will want to hear next week's story called no greater evil For it's packed with suspense and thrills. So I think you'll enjoy it as usual Beyond the last will be along as Pagon's elchement. So join us won't you when next I return At the man called x. Good night Frigidaire's man called x is directed by jack johnstone with music composed and conducted by johnny green Tonight's story was written by less crutchfield And 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 are fictitious Any resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental Remember every thursday for the best entertainment tune in and stay tuned in to cbs the biggest show in town This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system