 wreckage of his life, taunt him with a false hope for escape. That's our story, the sixth bullet taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer, with another story of thrilling, suspenseful, and hard, fast action. And this week's tale is worth listening to carefully, because it's about a man and a decision, probably the most frightening decision that one can make. To tell it, here is the man, Harry Wilson. Harry, some people can get used to anything, to loneliness, to worry, to failure, to ugliness. I wasn't that kind. All my life I'd never gotten what I wanted, only I couldn't laugh it off like other people do. I tried, but it didn't work. I guess it all came to a head that night when I got back from the office. I'd been working for three months setting up a company insurance plan for a big client. If it went through, it would mean a new life for Grace and myself. We could move out of the apartment, get out in the suburbs, maybe even buy a house. When I got home, Grace was in the kitchen getting supper. She heard the door slam and called to me, the dinner would be ready in 15 minutes. I walked into the living room, picked up the paper and sat down, but the headlines didn't interest me. I wondered if Marie would have called from the kitchen, or if she'd have met me at the door. Marie. She was the girl I wanted to marry. Is that the table, Harry? Yeah. I cut this gum out of the thing. What did you charge? Isn't there something you could do about that? Like what? I don't know. Must be something you could pour down the drain that'll help. I'll ask the grocer. Do that. They didn't hold for a while. Dinner will be ready in time. Put out butter plate. Huh? Just something extra to wash. Yeah. Really, Harry, I'll put them away. You go wash. I can't run the water so hard. I told you the laundry went away today. Please, Grace. Sit down. Everything's ready. Left the light on in the bathroom. So what? I'll get it. Leave it on. Trying to make ends meet. Leave it on. What happened at the office today? Wondered if you were going to ask. Are any of your moods again? No. No. Well, what happened? The Bridgeport deal fell through. Why? Did they have to give a reason? They just said the board of directors decided against it. I don't get it. The corporation has the money. The plan with sound was a good investment all the way around. The only reason they gave? Yeah. Just like everything else. Everything else. Nothing works out. What got us? I'm 40 years old, Grace. We've been married for 10 years and we've got nothing to show for it. Nothing. Living in a lousy two-room apartment. Have to watch every penny. Not a red cent in the bank. We don't even have a kid. Oh, it's probably lucky we don't. Don't talk like that. Everything I touch turns to stone. I'm 40 years old. I haven't got much more time. What are things going to get better? Harry. I have a failure, Grace. Don't you understand? A failure. I can't stand it anymore. I just can't stand it. Harry. Where I was going, I just knew I had to get out of that room, away from Grace and all the ugliness she stood for. When I got down on the street, I walked over to our car and got in. The window by the driver's seat was still cracked where Grace had hit the tree six months before. I remember I looked at the gas gauge before I stepped on the starter. I put a dollar's worth of gas in the tank last Sunday and there was still some left. Then I was driving away from the city and out into the suburbs. It wasn't a conscious thing, but suddenly I realized I was in John's neighborhood and I decided to see him. He had helped me before on nights like this. Maybe he could help me now. Hello, John. Oh, come in. Come in. You got company? No. Let's go. John. Let's go into the library where we'll be comfortable. Sure. You dropped in. How's Grace? All right, I guess. She got over cold yet? Yeah, sure. John. How about a drink, Harry? No. No, thanks. Scotch? Right. No thanks. Beer? I want to talk to you, John. Okay. Shoot. I... It's the same old thing. I thought you were all straightened up. So did I. Happened all over again. Sure you don't want a drink? No. Well, let's start at the beginning. Bridgeport deal fell through. Just like everything else. No matter what I do, I fail. It's true. Never gotten anything I wanted. It's too much for me. I can't take it. It's too much for me. Take it easy, Harry. How can I? You don't know what it's like. You can't think when you're upset like that. That's all I do. I could just turn my mind off for a while. Think, think, think. That's all I do. You've got to get a hold of yourself. Do you like your job, Harry? It's 11. But do you like it? What's that got to do with it? I thought maybe you were due for a change. I've thought of that. Well? I thought how nice it would be to start all over. No responsibilities, no nothing. Just start all over with a clean slate. Why don't you? Huh? I think it would do you a world of good. Yeah. Any reason why you can't? Six months behind on the rent, three months installments on the car, doctors bills for Grace. I didn't know she was that sick. It wasn't that. She wanted to have a kid. Oh. She can't. I'll be glad to help you out, Harry. Get you back on your feet. That's not the answer. Well, you know best. Whatever I can do for you, let me know. Yeah. Think I'll take that drink now? Sure. What'll it be? Anything. Okay. I'll be back in a minute. I had caught the gun on John's desk. I saw his back disappear through the door and the door closed. Then I was over at the desk picking up the gun. It felt cold and efficient in my hand. John was right. I had to start over with a clean slate, and that meant Grace. Grace was the millstone around my neck, tying me down to ugliness and failure. Clean slate, that's what I wanted. I walked softly down the hall, opened the door and stepped out into the night. The highway stretched straight and shiny in the moonlight before me. The car was running smoothly under me, and inside my heart was singing. I felt that I was at the beginning of a new life. Things would get better from now on. They had to get better. I thought with pleasure of the look that would be on Grace's face when I stood before her with a gun in my hand. All those wasted, wasted years. But now they'd be forgotten and I'd be free. Then I heard a loud report. The car swerved. The guard rail danced crazily in the headlights and my head crashed forward on the steering wheel. The first thing I heard was the sound of steam and I thought of fire. I tried to move to reach the ignition, but a white hot paint shot through my body and I realized the steering wheel was crushed against my chest. The smell of gasoline filled the car and I knew I had to turn off the motor. I leaned forward again. This time I reached it and the motor died. The branch of a tree was sticking through the window by my side and the leaves were brushing my face. I raised my arms to break the branch but the wood was tough and I couldn't break it. The car had landed right side up in a ravine by the side of the highway and every once in a while I heard a car go by on the road above me. I noticed my headlights were still on. It wouldn't be long, I thought. Surely someone on the road above would notice the headlights and stop. Help would come soon. I tried to relax, make myself comfortable, but the pain in my chest was unbearable. The car passed above but it didn't stop. I tried to remember what happened but all I could see was the guard rail dancing and the headlights and the car racing for it. I seemed to remember being happy and I tried to think of where I was going. Oh yes, I was going to kill Grace, that was it. Yes, yes, yes. It's like everything else, everything else. Everything I touched under stone. I couldn't even kill my wife without bunkling the job. What was the use, what was the use of it? The gun, that was the only answer. The gun I'd intended for Grace. I'd use it on myself. I didn't want help now. I reached up and turned off the headlight. I tried to move to reach the glove compartment and the gun but the steering wheel was pinning me to the seat. I grabbed the wheel with both hands and pushed with all my strength but it didn't budge. Finally I worked my right leg free, reached as far as I could and banged the glove box with my foot. The pain flashed through my body like a branding iron and I had to stop and rest. And I tried again and rested. Again and rested. Again, again, again, again. And finally the glove box dropped open and the gun fell to the floor. I kicked the gun under my feet and reached. I could feel the barrel at the tip of my fingers but I couldn't pick it up. Upon the road I heard a car stopping. I pressed down on the barrel with my heel and my fingers touched the trigger guard and the gun was in my hand. Whoever it was coming down the ravine, I lifted the gun to my head and the steel was cold on my skin. Before I could pull the trigger. Anybody in there? Get back. Huh? Get back I said. What's the matter? I've got a gun. Don't come any closer. Are you all right? Stay where you are. I'm a Springdale police. I want to help you. I don't need help. You go through the fence up there. Yeah. Are you hurt? Leave me alone. You crazy? I'm gonna kill myself. I'll get out of here. What? Get out. Wait a minute, mister. I don't want to hurt you. Leave me alone. Let me talk to him. I told you. I don't want to hurt you. You don't want to do it. I don't want to hurt you. Now get back. Put it. He took a shot at me. Yeah. Cortis, tell him to get some help out of here fast. Heavy smoke of burned gun powder. For the first time in my life the cop climbed back out of the ravine and I was alone. Off in the distance I heard them radio for help. This was the time for it. If ever there was a time this was it. The slight pressure from the finger. I might even feel the shock in my arm then. A car stopped on the highway above. Then another. And another. I heard the cop tell them to move on but the crowd started to grow. They stood around silently watching. Bulchers. All of them bulchers waiting for the feast. Then one of the cops was climbing down into the ravine. How do you feel Wilson? What? We checked your plates. How do you feel? I'm alone. Anything I can do for you? No. You don't want to do this Wilson? I'm alone. No matter how tough things are they aren't that bad. Get out of here. I'm not going to do nothing just talk to you. I'm alone. You like baseball? Looks like the socks got the pendant in the bag. Be nice to be around for the world series. Be it. You a ball fan? No. Do you like? Nothing. Must be something. Let me alone. Shut out. Don't you change your mind. No. If you could do a clean job that'd be one thing. What? Maybe you just mess yourself up and you'd be worse off than before. Let me alone, will you? A lot of them do you know. Let me alone. Do you ever think of that? Come on Wilson. Give me the gun. Right back. You don't want to kill yourself. Don't move. More bulchers. What? Come down for the feast. Hey your friends Wilson. Yeah. Better stay where you are Mac. That's all right officer. Harry? What are you doing here? I came as soon as I heard. Let me alone. I'll take care of him. He's dangerous. Took a shot at me. I'll take care of him. Okay Mac. Hope you know what you're doing. What's it all about Harry? It's all over. What? I'm gonna finish it. Why? I can't stand it anymore that's all. I was afraid of this when I found the gun missing. Make them turn off those flashlights. I can't do that Harry. Why? It's their job. They're trying to help. Yes. Why don't they leave me alone? They can't. Harry will you let me get into the car? No. You're hurt. You'll die anyway if you won't let us help you. I'd do better than that. A lot. Sure. Because I don't think you want to go through with this. Oh let me alone. You've been in the car for two hours. If you wanted to you'd have done it by now. Get out of here. Talk talk talk that's all I've heard. I'll do it you wait and see. I'll do it. I'll do it. Why haven't you Harry? Every time I start something happens. That's not the real reason. Somebody starts to talk. It's more than that. All right it takes guts that's why. That's what I thought. It takes guts to pull that trigger. No it doesn't. That's the easy way. Easy way. It takes a lot more guts to face the music. Get out of here. You know what I'd do if I couldn't. What? I'd come in that car and beat some sense into your head. I don't try. What's the matter with you? Have you lost your mind? I don't understand. I understand all right. You had a couple of hits on the head and now you're turning tail and running. No I don't understand. I know dozens of men who have 20 years of their life to be in your shoes. Sure. Take a look at yourself Harry. You've got everything you came into this world with. Two arms, two legs, two eyes, everything. Go away. You ought to be ashamed. Go away, we'll go away. I'm going to take that gun away from you. Don't you. I'm coming. I don't want to hurt you. Don't you. Next time I'll shoot at you. You've left me as much as before. Every once in a while John came down and talked to me. He asked me if I wanted anything, but most of the time they left me alone. I had the feeling they were waiting for something. I didn't know what. The crowd got bigger and bigger and pretty soon I saw flashlight bulbs exploding as the reporters arrived. None of them dared come close enough. I just sat there and listened to the crickets. Once I started the lighter cigarette, but then I remembered the gasoline and changed my mind. Not that way. At least I wanted it to be clean. If they'd only go away. If they'd only go away, I'd do it. How do you feel, Harry? Hmm? How do you feel? I'm okay. You changed your mind? No. I want you to talk to someone. It's no use. Just promise me you won't do anything. It's no use. What have you got to lose? Promise? Come on over. No, Harry. Grace. John's idea. Not mine. It's no use. I want it to say if you've been unhappy. I'm sorry. Yeah. You don't think it was all my fault? No. Go on, Grace. I want it to say that I don't care. God what? Go on. I don't care what you do. Hmm? So you needn't be dramatic. Nobody's going to miss you. I didn't think you would. You can do anything you want. Harry, don't you believe in the God. If it was your time, you would have been killed in the ring. John. Don't do it. Harry, it's wrong. It's wrong. Come on, Grace. I couldn't go through it. I know. Get her out of here. You've no right to do it. John. Come on, Grace. It's wrong. It's wrong. It's wrong. I thought it would help. Oh, it would help. Harry. I want to die, can't you understand? I want to die. Why, you stupid. I want to die. You don't know when you're well off. Dad, I hear. You know what this thing is doing to Grace? Dad. She loves you. Sure, there were a lot of things wrong. But she loves you anyway. Will you leave me alone? He came down here and said the things I told her to say. Because she loves you and she hoped that it helped. You know how hard that was for her? I don't care. Oh, shut. She'd be better off without you. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. No matter what happens, I'm saving that sixth one for myself. He's going to have to be careful from then on. They thought they were smarter than me. Thought they could get me to shoot all the shells. But I'd show them. If they wanted to play that way, I'd show them. They always dragged by. Steele came down and talked to me. But I didn't listen. I was onto it now. I'd show them who was smarter. The pain in my chest had gone away and I was happy again. Wouldn't be long. It wouldn't be long. Pretty soon I'd do it. I knew I would. They didn't understand how hard it was. How do you feel, Harry? I'm fine. I'm fine. It's getting light. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I'm waiting for. I want to die in the dark. Are you in pain? What? Are you in pain? No. No, I feel wonderful. Grace, still there? No. I sent her home. What? I said I sent her home. That's good. I want her to be here when it happens. Yes. Thought you were smiling at me, didn't you? No, Harry. Thought you could trick me. I only want to help. But what? I said no, Harry. I'll show you. Who's that? If I can just get one picture. You're crazy. Get out of here. Who is it? Nothing, Harry. Nothing. Come on, Wilson. Give me a break. What's you want? This picture makes every... Beat it! What difference does it make to you, Wilson? Picture. Come on, Wilson. Get out! Get out! Can't you let a man die in peace? Give me a break. Only two more. Only two more shots. But what? Are you tired? I'm okay. Can't even lift it off the seat. No. Get back! Better get up for the ambulance. I'll go home now. Yeah. But I think he learned his lesson. It was the fifth bullet, wasn't it? Mm-hmm. Who's the sixth one on himself? That's something we'll never know. Why? Harry didn't know it. But there wasn't any sixth bullet. The sixth bullet. The story of a man who was yet to learn that his greatest failure was his first success. Well, friends, if you liked Harry's story, why not come back again next week? I'll have a man who found that the price of hate is destruction. I like to call it backfire. So until next week, this is John Steele saying, a life of adventure is yours for the taking, wherever you find it. Only don't look for it. It might find you. Well, goodbye and good hunting. John Steele, adventure is produced by Robert Monroe, written and directed by Elliot Drake. Jack Edwards was heard as Harry. Also in our cast were Connie Lemke and Sidney Poe. John Steele is played by Don Douglas. Musical effects were created by Doc Whipple and your announcer is Ted Melly. Remember, next week, mutual presents backfire, another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele, adventurer. This program came from New York. There's mystery in Mutual's Air on Sunday afternoons, too. Mystery from the hard-boiled sleuthing of Martin Cain's private eye to the western adventure tales on the Roy Rogers show. For those with a taste for real-life crime drama, there's true detective mysteries. The shadow brings a strange power to Cloud Men's Minds, the undoing of all criminals, and Nick Carter, master detective, unravels another baffling case to its ultimate solution. You'll agree there's no mystery like Mutual's mystery. When you listen to Martin Cain's private eye, the shadow, true detective mysteries, Roy Rogers and Nick Carter, where you hear the announcer say, this is the Mutual Broadcasting System.