 Gallon camps present Pat Novak for hire lost a shoe and so she got a maid the modernist has learned from this in Gallon camps you read more miles to a Gallon camp yes Gallon camps the family shoe stores with the yellow fronts the largest shoe chain in the west with stores from Canada to Mexico to serve the West GL LEN KAM PS Gallon camps present Pat Novak for hire sure I'm Pat Novak for hire that's what the sign out in front of my office says Pat Novak for hire down on the waterfront in San Francisco you don't get prizes for being subtle if you want to make a living down here you got to get your hand in the till anyway you can your Rob Peter to pay Paul and then you put it on the cuff it's a happy life if you don't mind looking up at a headstone because sooner or later you draw trouble a size too big I found that out Tuesday night was about 11 o'clock when I came out of the office and I started down the waterfront was raining and the street was as deserted as a warm bottle of beer as I got near the corner an old man stepped out of the darkness and started across the street was a short trip because a car started up down the street and the old man couldn't have made it with a pocket full of aces I started over to him the car slowed down for a moment and then turned the corner and disappeared as it passed under the streetlight I caught a glimpse of the license plate in a dull surprise way the way you grab a feather out of an angel's wing I bent over the old man and I rolled him on his back was breathing hard as I cushioned his head please help me can you please help me that's a big order mister I must talk to you well if you've got any good quotes you better get them off your chest fast my pocket inside my pocket please put your hand in here yeah sure two envelopes what about them one is money for you so far so the one please keep sealed and you will give it to John St. John John St. John yeah well where's he live we don't understand it's not I want to tell you you don't understand he was right on that one I didn't understand a thing except he slipped out of my arms and stopped paying taxes I dragged him over to the side and I went through his stuff was nothing there no identification just a card with an address on the other side of town I opened the envelope and $300 tumbled into my best pocket the other one was sealed there was no name on it but up in the corner there was some kind of marking it looked like two crosses spliced together there wasn't anything I could do for him except pray and I owe some back dues so I went over to my office and call police headquarters I told him where the old man was and then I checked in the phone book there was no John St. John listed well so I looked up the only honest guy I know an ex-doctor in a bozer by the name of Jaco Madigan a good guy what to him my hangovers the price of being sober I finally found him singing in a Mason Street bar Jaco I want to talk to you. Ah Patsy you're just in time for the counterpoint I'm singing a song a little sentimental thing from my childhood little keep I got a problem Jaco you'll always have a problem Patsy because you can't keep out of trouble you know that don't you have no self-control all right you have no more self-control in a bucket of mercury dumped on a marble staircase all right Jaco check the bright talk I just saw a guy get killed you're like some violent disorder in nature some large but unprofitable storm you keep whirling in circles Patsy and if you ever go more than ten feet in one direction it's because some woman is nine feet away then it begins all over again are you all through yes get to the point that's another of your troubles you never get to the point some old guy was killed down on the embarked arrow he checked out 50 feet away from me who killed him I don't know and my deal care professional jealousy some car came out of nowhere and clipped him you sure it wasn't an accident yeah just like the fall of France will you stop kneeling mean Jaco I told you the guy got killed he was murdered right in front of me I gotta find a guy called John St. John how St. John John St. John I don't feel like vaudeville a night Jaco the old man gave me three hundred dollars to deliver a letter I made him a promise well you can break it now with only the slightest risk I got the license number of the car I want you to hop down and look it up then check it headquarters to see if the guy's got a record I don't like policemen they depressed check it I gotta go out here to this address here huh what kind of neighborhood is it well it's not exactly a neighborhood it's more like an architectural afterthought a lingering defense against the early California Bay all right all right no speeches just checking that license plate now if I'm not at my place try this address here yes that's always very interesting at this time of night now goodbye lover now Jaco was right about the neighborhood when I left him I doubled by my place and I left the envelope I put it in another envelope and stashed it behind some books then I hit it out to look up John St. John must have been about midnight when I got there and it was the kind of a neighborhood where a for rent sign reads like a ransom note I found the place though it was an old rooming house a third floor apartment I knocked at the door and when she opened it I knew it was time to wire home for money if they pick a miss blowtorch of 1946 she'll be right up there in the running that's all blonde blister with lots of fahrenheit she stood there leaning against the door smiling and looking at you as if you had gold-plated muscles gave you a weak feeling where your dinner ought to be and her voice came right out of the oven well you're all kind of late yeah I'm looking for a guy named John St. John oh won't you come into my cobweb sure for a spider you're nice and chubby well a spider man my name's Lee Norton you want to write it down I'm Pat Novak and I'm looking for a guy named John St. John you seem to be running a temperature on the subject I don't know a John St. John I found a dead man lugging around your address why I don't know perhaps he admired me from afar like a sunset or something now he stopped admiring sunsets about 20 years ago I see what are you the avenging angel they gave me a sealed envelope and you were supposed to give it to a man named John St. John that's right they gave me 300 bucks to ease the pain now I figured that you don't look like the charitable type he was a nice old guy so I'm gonna find his boy perhaps I could help you you got a clear fast track let's see you go I told you I don't know John St. John but I'll do this yeah I know you're gonna be big-hearted and offer to take that letter just in case you ever meet someone named John St. John how did you pay the rent this month keep the kettle on I'll only be a moment only if we're only just give us a magazine no come on in well just enough for bridge you're right you're only gonna moments who your friends don't suck that they like the manhole before they left home his name's Novak yeah that's a pretty name don't rhyme with anything but it's pretty and Joe yeah it's all right let's have the letter Novak you got hold of a bad rumor fellow the one I got screwed let's have it I don't want to strain your mind junior but try to understand I don't have a letter ask him again come on home mister you're not gonna get anything out of me except a small tip now if you're good boy I'll give you a nickel for your friend too all right Joe hold him up yeah just a minute he's got a head of hair hold him up all right Mike that's enough that's enough all right baby don't look so sorry you can't have everything we'll be back to Pat Novak in just a moment you ever worn uncomfortable shoes perhaps the size of his wrong or the shoe was the wrong shape for your foot but no matter why there's nothing more uncomfortable than shoes that don't fit the more you're on your feet the more you know it gallon camps specialize in properly fitting shoes for the whole family right from the toddler's first important step and gallon camps good shoes are built to give support to active feet listen to an authority on shoes he's mr. John F stall 64 years young a retired postman with a hobby you guessed it he likes to walk he says I've been on my feet most of my life since 1935 when I retired as a litter carrier I walked 10,000 miles and just walked to San Francisco from Trinity Center California that was 410 miles walking is fun but take it from me you must have good shoes that's why I stick to gallon camps gallon camps are good shoes and there you have it from a man who knows gallon camps are good shoes that's why gallon camps are the West favorite shoes and gallon camps tremendous value makes possible gallon camps reasonable prices for style for quality for a reasonable price for good shoes for the entire family visit the stores with the yellow fronts mr. stall walked 410 miles to shop at gallon camps but there's a store in your neighborhood and now back to Pat Novak for hire you know it's easy to sleep if you got the right friends when those two gun-offs were through I hit the floor and made rip van wink a look like an insomnia victim I didn't like the floor but it wasn't better shape than my face I don't know how long I was there but it must have been a couple of hours I rolled over once and tried to get up but it was like trying to barbecue a cake of ice it was a sick sweet smell in the room I tried to place it but my nose was out on strike so I went to sleep again next thing I know it sounded like New Year's Eve go patsy up on the couch what's the matter nothing if you're a kitchen stove the room is full of gas oh some of my playmates I guess well you weren't at the apartment so I tried here yeah what time is it two o'clock who got the queen idea of the gas chamber a girlfriend it was love at first sight did you get the letter I left at home you're getting smart yeah 300 dollars worth they lifted my dough you couldn't use it where you were going I checked on that hit-and-run car it's listed under the name of Sydney Bronson has he got a record now everybody's a beginner well let's go home it'll be dull but you get used to it wait till I wash my hands sure yeah what did your girlfriend look like was she the lively type yeah why what's the matter because she's not anymore yeah those gunsles play rough she's kind of pretty what did she do besides send out vibration I don't know but she knew all about John St. John yeah she picked up a bait like a hungry bass also look at that ring how did you get around to that the insignia on it it's the same one that's on the envelope spliced crosses let's go home Patsy the police will be here yeah even Helman will know she's dead come on we bet on your way out the door Jaco try it sideways because I think it's blocked hello my back you look pale it's my color scheme what do you care Helman and she looks peaceful yeah be quiet he'll wake her up she always cut her throat before she goes to sleep who is she Novak I don't know it's awful cozy here for a bunch of perfect strangers I don't know every dead girl in town Helman you'll have to check you can still write can't you know that that's all you'll need done at headquarters come on get out of the haze Helman you don't know who's dead yet but you're gonna book somebody yeah what are you doing up here praising the joint I came up to find a guy named John St. John she doesn't look like a guy named John St. John she was my lead I came up here to smell out a rat she had a half Nelson on me when two gunsles walked in they came up to fix the gas meter I think you stay out of this I'll make every effort now if you're smart you'll fingerprint this place Helman those boys were cute they've been in somebody's jail I'll handle my job you stick to murder we'll go a long way to pin this on me Helman I can go a long way Novak not with what you got to drag we got a call in the middle of the night come up here and find you standing over a dead girl that's right and you want me to sprinkle powder all over back up and take a better look Novak if you was fine Helman and if you'll take a good look you'll know why you haven't got anything to give the DA except a slim lead in a fat hand you're gonna need help not a nice one you need help to find the street come on back to center Helman even with both hands you couldn't forget it so take the medicine like a good boy I'm not gonna walk out and let the two of you tour the town I'm gonna book one or both of you on a murder charge all right book Jocko here then I love you in a generous mood you got a string then Helman somebody's got to find John Saint John who's gonna find Jocko stop worrying I'll bail you out you haven't got the right size heart Novak you'll let him die on the vine Helman sometimes you're guilty of unexpected wisdom I know it's reflex action but it's consoling anyway I want you Novak I want you bad I'll take this guy's a down payment but I'm gonna close out with you remember that I will all right come on mister wait a minute Patsy you're not gonna let him lug me off like this what else can I do the guy likes you now it was a bum curve to throw Jocko but somebody had to dig us out of a hole and Jocko wasn't the boy he can't shovel dirt with a bar rag I had no idea where to start there were two murders and they were both tied up with John Saint John he didn't look like a good guy to know there was that insignia too the one on the letter and the girl's ring oh sure it could be coincidence but that's what they said about bluebeard the only thing I could do was open that letter so I went back to the apartment I didn't have to turn on the light they were running in pairs tonight she was sitting there on the couch proud of a pair of long silk legs and smiling like a guy who knows he's got a million bucks in the bank she was blonde too a little more lemon juice maybe but blonde anyway she was nice and comfortable and I got the idea she just signed a lease and good evening how do you do not very well so far sly remark mr. Novak now I'm just bringing you up to date your girlfriend's dead yes yeah I just want to let you know all the gas jets out in the kitchen don't shout I'd like you better if you've heard I don't need your vote who's John Saint John I don't know John Saint John is he worth breaking your heart over there's a good guy down on the clink sweating out a murder rap for me so I want John Saint John you've got nice friends who's Sydney Bronson how does that fit into the picture this started with a waterfront corpse the leftovers belonged to an old guy that was hit by a car the car is registered in the name of Sydney Bronson mr. Novak you seem so intense it's a pity to waste it on random speculation I told you I got a friend in the jug loyalty is a nice trait one of your nicest yeah you're a pretty pink cat see don't get fooled by the rapper I'll take a chance anybody ever brief you on trouble you're hard to see that far away come on over in the focus fancy yeah you're pretty fancy you look like you want to bill a sale I'm the gentle kind Novak I'd just like to break your ribs go ahead I can get a brace come here mr. Novak I'll bet you do a swell rumble yeah what's on your mind what you're gonna say when you find out about this gun that's right sweetheart my finger isn't hollow back up and take a look at the gun whoa you got to that purse huh that's right you've ruined my confidence I'll give you a testimonial in the meantime I want the letter you go after everything the same way I want the letter it's on the desk come on right here in the top drawer oh the ghost stay away from me I'm already here lady come on all right drop the gun sis drop it you can let go of my arms now well that's your version let go of me let go of me I what was that for a little something on the house now beat it well you've ruined my confidence got lucky go on home you won't change your mind about that letter no sit yourself I'll be going oh Patsy yeah I can't help you on John St John but I wouldn't worry about that fellow Sidney Bronson why because I'm Sidney Bronson see you soon that began to look like a big fat well fed double cross I had to find out what was in that letter so I made tracks for the bookcase all I could do was browse because the letter was gone well things didn't look rosy for me or Jaco I was about to buy a file and bake a cake when the phone rang oh helmin the coroner got a report on that dead girl she died at 12 30 now that's pretty close what's he got to stop watch 15 minutes either way those fingerprints panned out too yeah couple of LA strong arm well that's new for LA you got a call out we already picked them up your favorites name welcome danglers I could make a joke I already got one they're set up with a perfect alibi for 12 30 that means I killed the girl nobody's arguing I got some more news yeah I'm out at the seal rocks you got the figure for it we just found an envelope floating around the water it's one of yours you found an envelope so what so the envelope turns out to be in some guy's pocket come on out well that only meant one thing whoever took the envelope out of my place got popular was getting late so I grabbed a cab and rode out to the beach when I got there helmin was standing down in the water he had jocco with him the surf was rolling in and jocco wasn't much better hello percy hello jocco how's jail dry thanks for coming no back you're sweet where's the envelope here mm-hmm yeah it's the same one that makes you look good that was a letter in here did you take that with a guy's money helmin you got all there is hmm this guy on the beach is the third one it's my opinion the case will solve itself we're running out of people who is the guy his name is walter avery here's the stuff yeah what's left well the splice cross really gets around and keeps bobbing up here it is on this guy's fountain pen I'm gonna run this guy through the morgue and then I'm gonna look you up no back yeah sure we want you done with us that's right I'll introduce you to all the best people good night lover was close to five so I tagged by my place for some sleep I tossed around like a fish on the living room rug helmin called about nine to throw more dust in my eyes he said one of the airlines had a passenger to portland named walter avery just to make it tough the guy made the 12 o'clock plane and got off at portland I had left field all to myself I got dressed I looked up Sydney bronson's number there was no answers so I went over the place was locked and I looked up the janitor he wasn't going to let me in but it turned out that his wife had a birthday coming up well I found something in the apartment it was a card and it said bellcrest sanitarium down in the corner there was a guy's name Dr. Amel Schoenig psychiatrist vienna without the walls the bellcrest sanitarium was down in the peninsula so I borrowed a car and headed down that way everything was fine until I got in the front door they didn't even let me register I woke up on a couch in Schoenig's office it was dark outside and my left arm was throbbing like a love story in a woman's magazine the radiator sitting beside me was Sydney you're a deep sleeper I think I got some help what happened to my arm hypodermic you only need one arm anyway in your case I need a spare who did it Dr. Schoenig he's a darling boy where is he out on the phone trying to figure out what to do with you what's that make me a patient that's one way of putting it you made things easy we were coming to you for the letter you want to try that over again we were on our way when you stumbled in you're wrong Sid somebody's giving you a fast pitch that letter was gone when you were up at my place I don't want to bum ribpatsy I want that letter the trail in the field angel I told you the letter's gone a guy by the name of walla revery took it out of my place Walter revery that's right and somebody thanked him I found him this morning making like a dead seal Walter revery left for Portland last night a plant sweethearts you better read up on your friends yeah thanks Bertie I told you to watch him Sid you had more shots what's the difference on then I suppose why don't you mix us a drink while I talk to mr. Novak and be right with you well mr. Novak you're one of my best patients that's because I like your needles you better go easy on that drink yes why you'll get drunk and run somebody down the way you did that guy in the waterfront oh a good guess you should be proud that's a good sensible final emotion you should drink em all thank you my dear as to you mr. Novak sorry there's no drink for you mr. Novak he probably will be huh forget it em all I talked to mr. Novak before you came in he thinks you're a heel he does and so do I I can stand it he told me about Walter revery I'm sorry about that Walter got that letter you killed him and took it I was supposed to blend around till you got rid of me too that's a bum joke em all you're getting hysterical with laughter em all you put one of your boys on the plane when he know that cared the wash too fast suppose I did somebody have to bring you up to date Sydney you've been hanging on too long the free rides over I might as well tell you now you're all through I carried the whole bunch along and I'm all through what's the matter with me what's the matter with me see and give him a hand Novak you just got a bad drink you wouldn't do that sin I'm full of surprises you got a stomach full of poison you got a stomach full of poison in 15 seconds em all put down that gun em all I want you to sit please em all put down the gun I'm a selfish fellow this happens kind of fast for you lots of noise huh Petty yeah I'll get you a pillow I'd rather have your lap you get mercy not love maybe thanks for small favors how do I look not so good that was the three and two pitch yeah I had it coming up I'll tell you about John St. John I know there was no such guy that's right was the name of the group those spliced crosses yes you found out a little late but it's always that way that's the way I found out about you yeah you had a funny little hunt about you and me I found out a little late but I know now Petty does that help well John St. John was the name of an organization buying and selling government information that old man tried to tell me but he checked out too fast I began to figure something like that when those spliced crosses started showing up Schoenig killed the old man in Sydney's car he couldn't stop because I was around the two girls and Walter Avery were both in on the deal Schoenig knew who I was when he saw me go into my office he trailed me to my place and left Avery there to look for the letter he killed that girl up in the rooming house and then he found out she didn't have the letter when Avery showed up he took it away from him threw him to the fish he was trying to shake Sydney by sending her up to my place after he had the letter the scheme went haywire when I showed up at the sanitarium just trying to work himself out of that one when the payoff came John St. John right from the start Jaco said he was either dead or in the state pen because anybody with a name like John St. John would have killed his parents as soon as he got old enough to find out about it we'll return in a moment to find out what bothered Inspector Hellman but now it's Cinderella time Cinderella lost his shoe and so she got a mate the modern miss has learned from this in-gallon campshield rate a pretty face a graceful figure lovely shoes that's a combination that no man can resist what a delightful feeling to know that from the top of your head to the tip of your toes you are the picture of glamorous perfection here's what Marilyn Buford miss america 1946 says probably the most fun of being chosen miss america is modeling the gorgeous clothes what girl wouldn't be thrilled to select costume after costume from a collection of america's leading designers and after seeing the importance they attached to the right shoes for every costume i'm glad i learned about gallon camps years ago yes mariland there's magic in a pair of shoes as every woman knows and having the right shoes is no longer a luxury thanks to gallon camps the home of lovely shoes at reasonable prices and that's why miss america's favorite store is the favorite store of america's missus dinderella lost his shoe and so she got a mate the modern miss has learned from this in-gallon campshield rate and now back to pat novak i'd worked out all right they found the letter out at shonig's place and there were some plans for jet planes and a few other trifles hellman asked only one question how come shonig didn't kill me before i could talk to the girl it's always that way with a guy who commits murder either he goes too far he didn't go far enough be sure to join us next sunday evening and every sunday same time same station for radio's newest show pat novak for hire and don't forget the store with the yellow front is the gallon camp shoes store gallon camp shoes are good shoes there's something about them you'll like franklin evan speaking this is abc the american broad