 proudly we hail another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding traumatic half-hours starring Lee Tracy and presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force from Radio City New York here is your host and star on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star Lee Tracy thank you Kenneth Banghardt and hello everyone welcome again to proudly we hail you're really going to enjoy this program it's all about a private eye you know I'm anxious to begin the play so I'll be back in just a moment after a few words from Ken Banghardt highly important words too Lee your army and your Air Force need men and women right now and if you volunteer you'll have your own choice of a number of fields so why don't you visit your nearest army and Air Force recruiting station today and now Lee our audience is eager to hear what a private eye does how we operate believe me Ken this particular investigator certainly gets into some mighty tight spots but well you know us private eyes never a dull moment in our lives with our star Lee Tracy in the role of Clint Flint your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production of follow that man Clint Flint's the name occupation private eye Midland City is my beat the city is peaceful and quiet and dull as a rainy Monday afternoon my office is in the cellar of the Parker building looks out on a panoramic view of the furnace I never get tired of that view it means something to me only I've never been able to figure out what my girl Friday is Myrtle lush you just heard her sweet spirited laughter a couple seconds ago Myrtle's a cute kid plenty smart I wouldn't be in business without her like I said cute kid the case I'm gonna tell you about I call the blue goose caper it all started the day she showed up I remember I was sitting in my office looking out at the furnace thinking things over when Myrtle gently intruded upon my thoughts Myrtle how many times have I told you not to use the cold shoot there wouldn't be someone out there to see me would there what does she look like all right send her in after Myrtle went out I sat there alone for a moment thinking about things my eyes on the furnace that's how it was when she walked into my life and my business you meet a lot of people all kinds I was used to that sort of thing but when our eyes found each other and locked everything changed for me skin like curdled yogurt tawny hair with the faint smell of burn ashes eyes pink and searching it's difficult to describe those first impressions they seared their way deep into me time stood there and waited for us to catch up strange maddening creature that she was she was the first to break the silence hey are you one of them see a noise I'm Clint Flint private operator at your service won't you sit down miss a lamb Rod McGee is the name you got quite a lay out here it serves nice view too I can see that we understand each other that's the way I am understanding how can I help you miss McGee call me flam Clint all right flam now what's the caper you make it hard for a girl to breathe Clint my brother Ram is missing I'm scared I'm scared way down deep inside I have a feeling suppose you just give me the whole thing right from the beginning well it's kind of hard to know where to start Ram is not a bad boy high strung I guess you'd call him he had a run in with the law a few years back with thrown an old lady down a flight of stairs he was just at that age you know sure you can't help boys enthusiasm well Ram learned his lesson and when he got off for good behavior you never saw such a sweet guy he didn't try to throw anybody downstairs for a long time but then then he got mixed up with the crowd the crowd flam yeah the big boys at that classy nightclub la Rookery Charmont the place I don't grove and vine yeah that's the joint anyhow big Nick splotch took a liken to Ram Nick runs the place well to make it short it wasn't long before Ram was a part of the crowd overnight he changed he threw another old lady downstairs and went out to live at the racetrack I heard he was doing a lot of gambling and losing heavy one of the boys told me he owed big Nick 10 G's and Nick was kind of sore well that crowded the Rookery plays for keeps and something Ram said that night made me feel like they were going out to get him what was that flam he said big Nick's going to ventilate me if I don't pay up the dough I owe him flam have you gone to the police what could they do smart girl I don't like it I don't like any of it now think hard what time was it Tuesday night that you saw him eight o'clock on the button are you sure sure don't lie to me flam I can't do anything for you if you try to hide things now what time was it well all right it was 10 after eight that's better if you want me to find your brother don't try to cover up for him I know but it's not easy to say these things listen flam I want you to go home and get a good night's sleep you'll feel a whole lot better tomorrow in the meantime I'll do a little nose in around you mean you'll take the case yep that's just what I mean but I'm broke never mind about that now just leave your address and phone number with Myrtle I'll get in touch with you as soon as I can track down a couple of leaves you may look like a dumb like but you sure got a good heart after she'd gone I sat there alone I'm a growing darkness looking out at the furnace after a while I got out of fifth the milk and poured myself four straight fingers I took it neat well I'd made my decision I knew a lot of heads might fall before I was through it might even mean curtains for Clint Flint but this was my kind of case I left my car at the corner of congrave and walked slowly west toward Dickinson it was a dark muddy night with a smell of rain with my snap brim hat go low over my eyes I took the wrong turn suddenly found myself back at my car again I shrugged my wide shoulders and figured if it's gonna be like that all right I can play it on the cuff too five minutes later I walked into la Rookery Sharma Sharma is a barn like place full of glass blocks with ronium-plated cigarette girl there's a lot of class caters to the disk staff side I ambled up to the padded bar and quickly sized up the situation there only a couple there but seated at the far end of the bar all by herself was big nicks girl straggler we'd known each other in the fourth grade I walked over and sat on the stool beside her what would be Mac double milk on the rocks well buddy you know little Clint Flint himself hi striker hi strike I haven't seen him in months and let's not get personal hi honey this lug bothering you now he's just buzzing through his ears you got something on your mind Flint or is this a purely social visit a little up both neck there was something on your mind I would have to be little play it for laughs neck that's what I like plenty of laughs all around shut up sugar all right what do you want and make it fast it'd be quieter in your office wouldn't it so now we got to have quite a you know as a matter of fact it would be quite a much quieter right this way mr. Flint this was beginning to get interesting there was tension in the air I could see it flickering through Straggers long green hair I could see it rippling and big nicks bulging shoulders as I followed him cat footing down a dimly lit hallway we came to a big heavy door on the left hand side it was marked private go carefully Flint a small voice warned go carefully go right in that's killer come in here that's and killer were two of the largest ugliest torpedoes I'd ever set eyes on they looked mean too I realized that after soft pedal my approach if I wanted to get out of this place in one piece wouldn't pay to be too direct now the best attack would be a subtle flanking movement you were saying mr. Flint I wasn't saying Nick I was asking what do you know about the disappearance of Ram McGee who's Ram McGee you're lying and I know it that's killer would you be so good as to take care of mr. Flint for me they led me down the narrow dimly lit hallway toward a door at the far end I knew I'd have to play this one close to the chest these babies were rough they meant business you came to the door that's opened it and pushed me out ahead of me I saw her on a back porch before me there was a long wooden stairway leading down into a courtyard filled with ash cans this was no time to await developments this was the time for action I move fast tore my arm away from fats and grabbed for his neck after a while I pulled myself out of an ash can my head hurt there was a taste of melon rind in my mouth when I got the melon rind out I felt much better brush myself off picked up my hat and pulled it low over my eyes then I went out to the street in a limp slowly north and Gavin road no one had to tell me I was under something big the pieces were all there true some of them didn't quite fit but the outline of the pattern were becoming clearer it was big big and dirty I tooled along on Sebastian heading east to kept working the whole thing over my mind a new despite everything I was making progress I knew to I had to be awfully careful from here on in setting it up like a chest problem I could see certain ramifications when I came to Gramercy I turned left onto the racetrack road few minutes later in my lights pulled up a hundred feet away from the racetrack station the stadium stood huge and silent and empty against the night sky get out of the car sticking close to the shadows made my way toward the main entrance all around the stadium there ran a wire fence about 10 feet high I realized it could be only one way to get in I backed off about 20 feet from the fence I got set and spurred it forward at the right instant I leaped after I'd gotten up brushed myself off I knew there had to be another way I limped on in a few seconds I came to the main entrance once inside I stopped let my eyes become accustomed to the darkness suddenly the hair went up in the back of my neck I knew I wasn't alone someone was in the passageway with me I stood motionless frozen not moving a muscle the chips were down I steeled myself to wait to keep calm there's a big big something moving ahead of me I sprang forward in a dive I got up brushed myself off again already in my mind there was a faint glimmer of light intangible yes but it was growing five minutes later I found what I had known must be there by the bedding windows enough light came in so I could see him sitting in a chair tilted against the wall his head dropped forward on his chest soundlessly I edged closer to him my reasoning had been right everything fitted into place it was now or never I got set and plunge forward when I was over got to my feet slowly we put up a terrific fight now he lay motionless I reached down I grabbed him by the shoulders and I hauled him upright got him on my back and headed for the main entrance I knew this wasn't a healthy place to stay but I'd better get out and get out quick there wasn't much time left we're really getting a bang out of your portrayal of Clint Flint the glint in all American private eyes we'll be looking forward to the second act of follow that man in just a moment right now however I like all of our audience to join me for a brief but very serious message is to the men and women of the medical profession as you've doubtless heard over the air before your United States Army and your United States Air Force need physicians dentists nurses and other medical personnel and as we all know both services always go all out to provide the very highest standards of care so you doctors dentists nurses dietitians therapists veterinarians who volunteer now will not only receive extra benefits but at the same time will also be serving your country when needed most right or wire the surgeon general of the United States Army or the surgeon general of the United States Air Force in Washington DC today you are listening to proudly we hail and now for the second act with your star Lee Tracy as Clint Flint in the proudly we hail production of follow that man all right send her in nothing ever go home Meryl no she lives here sit down flam what's it all about it's about Ram Ram Ram who your brother Ram all that look here flam you didn't want me to find him didn't you brace yourself flam I've found your brother holy cow is he in one piece more or less he put up a terrific fight didn't want to come with me because he was scared but I brought him along anyway way you got him in that closet well get him out let's have a look at him sit right where you are and don't be afraid afraid of what of anything that frightens you I'll see that no harm comes to you are you going to take Ram out of that closet patience my dear time up and gagging now listen Ram your sister's here so you can just relax nobody's gonna hurt you oh still well I cut these cords gag okay Philip come on out and say hello to flam well it's your brother Ram of course that ain't my brother Ram that ain't anybody's brother Ram I'm getting out of here waking up girl cut that out I'm gonna have you thrown in jail I want to talk what's your name you'll find out let me out of here sit still now what's your name well my name is Matt and weaver now you let me go quiet down what were you doing out of that racetrack I was I doing well as I do well that's where I work I'm the night watchman you're lying you're crazy don't you ever learn I don't want to make this tough for you but you're gonna talk if I have to choke the life out of you understand all right now let's have it from the beginning what do you want where's Ram McGee Ram McGee where is he how should I know I never heard of him you let me not tell you talk I ain't done nothing wrong I don't know no Ram McGee and when I get out of here I'm gonna go to a cop and have you thrown in jail okay that's the way you want to play ball scram but just remember I won't be responsible you're hiding what you know and when it catches up to you I won't be there to give you a hand it's too big for you to play alone I could have made it worth your while now scram get out of here if I ever see you around again I'll forget I'm a gentleman I sat there alone in the office going over the whole thing from the very beginning true elements of confusion still remain but I knew with absolute certainty that only one major piece was missing from the puzzle when I had that I had everything I knew now where I would find it the risk was doubled but once committed I could not retreat La Rookery-Sharmon was my destination once again I sat in the padded bar room Strager next to me haven't I seen you around someplace yeah Strager I guess you have I knew I couldn't forget a face like that taunts won't get you anywhere Strager you're a pretty sharp tomato but you can play it a little bit too close to the fat boy I can straight I want you to answer me one question where's Ram McGee I don't know where is it look what do you got to gain by clamming up you play straight with me and I'll see that you get a break oh that's wonderful lover boy why don't you go home to bed I'm trying to be nice about this I'm sure you all just because you're one of the back again I get around Nick maybe you'd like to go where it's quiet again that might not be a bad idea this time I think Strager better come along Strager you come to we're all gone where we can be real nice and quiet I follow them down the narrow dimly let hallway to the door mark private there was something very familiar about the whole scene but I couldn't quite put my finger on it this I realized would be for high stakes winner take all it was now or never come right in I'm gonna be quiet in the corner is that all right Nick sure you can be quiet any place you want can't see clean that'll depend on a lot of things excuse me a second that's until I come on in here okay boss now you were saying Clint just this I want you to come around with I think you've met bats and killer yeah I've seen him around hi yeah sit on boys okay Clint we're listening I don't want to take up too much of your time I I just want the answer to one question well it doesn't seem too hard to take what's the question don't make it difficult for all of us where's Ram McGee you know I swear you said in that chair and asked me that before don't hedge I want it straight that's the way I like it well where is he ain't here that's more like it go on anywhere he is fat no you killer I pass for no Trump double great double are you boy show mr. Flynn out the games over they liked it pleasure I'll be seeing you Nick anytime boy anytime at all everything on the house they let me down a narrow dimly lit hallway toward a door I knew I'd seen before they pushed me out on the back porch a long flight of wooden stairs dropped away before me to a courtyard filled with ash cans I knew this scene if only I could place it this was no time for thought however this was a time to act and fast I pulled back away from them tore my arm free from killer's grasp swung sharply on the balls of my feet lashed out with my right with everything I had behind it after a while I pride myself from the ash can I had somehow become tangled with there was a taste of ashes in my mouth but after I'd spit them out I felt better I picked up my snap brim hat pulled it low over my eyes after brushing myself off I limped slowly out to the street dawn was just beginning to color the sky a lot had happened this night a lot I'd never forget it had been a long night in a rough one but everything fitted together everything was in its place I had the answer at last it was the next morning I sat in my office looking out at the furnace waiting for the hands of the clock to reach 10 I'd made up my mind I wouldn't call her before that she needed her sleep and I needed to do some thinking the whole thing was in one sense fantastically simple in another most complex I worked it over in my mind looking at it from all angles then it was 10 o'clock I picked up the phone dialed her number and nearly bowling alley flam hi Joe this is Clint flam oh Clint good morning Clint how are you feeling today I'll do flam I got some news for you I don't want you to get excited but I'm on to something big that's well Clint I always knew you'd make good what's it all about I don't think it'll be long before I know exactly where your brother is you want to speak to him speak to who my brother Ram he's right here showed up right and early this morning what where was he went down to Atlantic City for a few days said he had a nice time too I knew that was it if he'd stayed there another day out of found him sure and when he's right here let's put all that behind us flam we can forget if we try hard we can what how about lunch we'll talk it over I'm sorry Clint I can't I'm getting married today how about tomorrow getting married who who's a lucky guy big Nick splotch I'm gonna be Mrs. Big Nick do you know him he's an sat there for a long long time after that seeing nothing not even the furnace I felt like I'd been hitting the teeth with a load of cement nothing made any sense anymore she'd meant everything and now she was gone out of my life forever well a guy in my business should know better than to fall for a dame I always did learn the hard way but I knew deep down things would never be quite the same what is it Myrtle a woman what does she look like send her in send her in please many thanks for making all of us laugh and congratulations on being a real private eye you know that Clint was quite a boy well it was a lot of fun but I'm sure that all of us realize that the real-life private eyes do a wonderful job in service and speaking of service you have a message of real importance well we've had our laugh with Clint Flint ladies and gentlemen but right now I'd like to get in a few serious words let's face it building up the defense of our nation isn't an easy job you can do your part by joining the United States Army for instance you young men can have a choice of several branches if you volunteer immediately engineers armor infantry artillery take your choice ask your nearest U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force recruiting station for full details today this has been another program on proudly we hail presented in cooperation with this station by your Army and your Air Force proudly we hail stars Lee Tracy supporting Mr. Tracy in the cast were Miriam Wolfe Patricia Hosley Helen Christian Joe DeSantis Jack Jason and Bill Lipton follow that man was written by Dewitt Cup the music was composed and conducted by John Guaneri proudly we hail is directed by Charles Wilkes this is Kenneth Banghardt speaking and here again is your host and star Lee Tracy we hope you'll be with us next week for another proudly we hail presentation it's entitled concerto and it's a touching romantic story together with some wonderful music goodbye