 Suspense and the producer of radio's outstanding theater of thrills the master of mystery and adventure William M. Robeson One of the many useless nuggets of suavezant philosophy that cluttered the mind of man is the half truth that What you don't know won't hurt you the story you're about to hear categorically denies this Eternal verity in it a man meets death face-to-face because of what a rather whom he did not know A girl he had never met but whose haunting beauty led him to the brink of doom The role of the hapless and harassed victim is played by an actor well-known to American audiences as the newspaper Correspondent in foreign intrigue Tonight he doffs his trench coat for a pitchman's Benny and Abandoned as the cobblestones of Stockholm for the sidewalks of Chicago's loop Listen listen then as Jerome Thor stars in 19 Deacon Street, which begins in just one minute We have together Ample capacity in freedom to defend freedom This is NATO the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Day after day month after month since April 4th 1949 the activities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have moved steadily forward on many fronts This complete cooperation must and will continue because the concept of national self-sufficiency is out of date Countries of the free world are interdependent and Only in genuine partnership and by combining their resources Sharing tasks in many fields can progress and safety be found The United States of America is a part of NATO You should be aware of and alert to the objectives and programs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and now 19 Deacon Street Starring Jerome Thor a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense Nick ties and my business All say I came to Chicago with a red hot line and an exclusive to the Middle West all sewed up At first I had to find a place to do business and a place to live Well, some ham actor on the train tipped me off to a theatrical rooming house at 19 Deacon Street So I go to this place and the dame that answers the door Looks like a tired old Duchess. Oh, good afternoon. I'm looking for a room. I'm very sorry We have no vacancy. Oh an actor in the train said maybe you could put me up an actor Are you an actor? Well? Yeah, sort of well I do hate to turn you away if you're in the profession There was a time when we catered exclusively to theatrical people any kind of a room would be okay Well, come in young man. We'll see what we can do. I Do have a room that I've never rented It's not really fixed up for renting. Look lady. I'm not particular I'm away all day and all I want is a place to sleep, you know Well, I'm going to show this room to you on one condition. Yeah This room belongs to someone very dear to me She's away, but well, I expect her back sometime So I want you to promise that no matter what you will not disturb anything or ask any questions about her That's a funny request, but I must make it promise Okay, it's a deal. I'll turn on the light Well It's kind of feminine, isn't it yellow fluffy curtains costume dolls cold cream and grease paint and hey Lady stockings. Yes We haven't changed it at all because Someday she'll be coming back and she'll find everything just as she left it She's good. You see no matter what they say is this her picture on the mantle. Yes Isn't she beautiful? Yeah Yeah, I never saw such a beautiful day When do you expect her back I I don't know what didn't she say no She didn't say a word One day she was here and the next she was gone without a word How long ago did she leave in a few days? It will be 10 years Well, I rented the room and the landlady left I took the French doll off the pillow and plopped down on the bed for a little nap But from where I lay I could look straight at the picture of the beautiful blonde And I felt the back of my neck crawl There was something about her eyes and her long golden hair Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer. I jumped up and turned the picture to the wall and I dozed off as she was My dream Cry Just her face Soft gray eyes and a golden hair What was she crying about? What was wrong? What's wrong? Laverne What's the matter Laverne? Laverne, what are you crying? Mr. Schwartz, are you all right? Yeah I'm all right Just a bad dream, I guess. But I heard you calling out. You were calling Laverne Who? Laverne That's the name you were calling, wasn't it? I don't know Laverne Yeah, I Guess I was How did you know mr. Schwartz? How did you know her name was Laverne? Well, I don't know. I don't know how I knew I knew her name. I knew the name of a blonde, but I'd never met her I pestered the landlady for details Faked her to tell me Laverne's last name and now she disappeared, but the old dame wouldn't talk So when I finally got rid of her, I locked the door and went to work to find out myself I went through that room with a fine toothed comb But I couldn't find a thing to tell me who the girl was Not a letter, not a card, not an envelope nothing But I did find a key in a jacket pocket had a tag on it and the figure nine was written on the tag There was nothing in the room the key would fit But maybe some place I'd find a locket was made for and then high on the closet door I found a telephone number scrawled with eyebrow pencil Aragon 8612 I went downstairs to the whole phone dialed it and got a busy signal Well, at least the number was still alive and maybe just maybe somebody in the other end could tell me about Laverne An hour later I was still dialing that number and still getting a busy signal Finally, I went up back to my room After all what business was it of mine if some babe disappeared ten years ago? I had my own headaches at 400 dozen fancy neckties to get rid of But Laverne was still in that room. I felt it in my bones and I couldn't sleep In the morning I started scrounging around the Luke looking for a place to set up shop And I finally found it down on South State a Building all boarded up. It looked like it was once a theater And it looked like it hadn't been used for 50 years so the rent couldn't be too high and it was big in Central so I just ankle the round to the alley and tried the stage door What do you think you're doing oh Hello officer. I was looking for the janitor It looked like there'd be a janitor around with the doors all padlocked like this. Yeah, but there's a light burning inside It's just a work light on the stage burns all the time. What do you want mister? I want to rent the joint. Where can I find the owner? Rent it, huh? You better get in touch with Jasper Florence the big stage producer That's right used to run this little burlesque house before he was in the chips got his start here You'll probably get him on the phone at his office. Okay, pal. Thanks a lot Good morning Florence production. Hello. I'd like to speak to mr. Florence, please Who's calling please my name's Swartz. What do you wish to talk to mr. Florence about please? He's very busy. Yeah, I know but I ain't no ham actor looking for a job Tell him I want to rent some space from it rent space Yeah, the old Florence theater on State Street. Oh Well Hello, I'm sorry, but the Florence theater is not for rent not for rent But why mr. Florence orders? I burned up the nerve of that guy letting his theater sit there empty while I needed it so bad Well, I wanted back to the rooming house and got a detective mystery and tried to pass the time away But it didn't work. I couldn't think of a thing except Laverne Then I lay back on the bed and I must have been dead tired because and nothing flat. I was out And there she was again that beautiful girl sobbing this time I was sure she was trying to say something Trying to get a message of some kind But I just couldn't understand I Was she trying to say was she asking me to find her We continue with the second act of Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsythe Joe Joe Come on Joe get up. It's two o'clock. What do you want Joe? You got to get off that couch and fix up the yard Oh, let me sleep. No, we've got to keep the place in good shape now rise and shine. Oh, come on Daphne I'll do it tomorrow tomorrow always tomorrow. You can't keep putting things off I don't who was it bought the savings bond to take care of our future who suggested the idea Well, who read the story in the paper that told about bonds being a good investment because they pay off four dollars for every three And who pointed out the article for you to read well, right and now I'm pointing out the art to you Our bonds are guaranteed by the government our grass isn't Moe that proves it what a little knowledge in the hands of the wrong person can be dangerous What does that mean? You know one plain simple fact Bonds are a good investment now You're not only use it to get me to buy a bond a month and a payroll savings plan But you'll probably use it against me the rest of my life if it gets you to mow the yard I will move out boy. I'm going. I'm going but understand this My next wife is gonna show more respect for my hard work. So would I if I ever saw any? Murder and now Starring Jerome for act 2 of 19 Deacon Street It took two sleeping pills before I got rid of Laverne The next morning I set out to see mr. Florence personal He lived in a very classy pad up on the Gold Coast He looked just like his pictures tall and gray looking with a nice sort of a smile, but his neck tie was lousy I believe my secretary told you yesterday that I'm not interested in renting the theater I'm sure she did but mr. Florence. Did you ever have a hunch a hunch? Yes, of course. Well, I got a hunch about your theater I see I'm afraid it's out of the question, but why? Well, it's where I produced my first shows and it has memories for me not so pleasant Opening it up again would be like opening up a part of my past that I'd rather keep closed But ain't that kind of silly mr. Florence? I wouldn't put on shows there All I want to do is sell neckties and wholesale lots. I admire your persistence mr. Schwartz, but The answer will always be no Okay, you win for now, but I ain't giving up because when I want something real bad I usually get it now. Here's my card I've written my phone number on it in case you change your mind and you'll change your mind mr. Florence You think so? Yeah, I think so as you say I'm persistent So with nothing better to do I spend the next couple of days on the phone bugging mr. Florence about his theater and trying to get the arrogant number. I found in Laverne's closet Lawrence kept telling me no and the arrogant number keeps on sending a busy signal But like I say I'm persistent and finally it answers Hello little Joe Sariento, huh? This is a little Joe Sariento who you want is uh Is Laverne there? Oh, we got an Oliver and what the number you call? Arrogant eight six one two You've got it the number, but we know got an Oliver and where are you located corner north of Clark and it will be thanks I'll be over for a pizza Little Joe Saranto was a rundown spaghetti joint. I went inside and right away open the corner I saw the telephone that had been giving me the busy signal and no wonder It's a public phone booth and right now one guy is in it and two others are waiting for it I go over to the bar and cut up touches with little Joe the proprietor How long you had this place Joe? 14 and nearly 15 years what you've seen a lot of people come and go huh my show plenty You got a memory for faces. Hello. Can you see I'm busy, mr. Here take a look at this picture So what you recognize that for sure she been in here a long time ago. What's her name Joe? I can't remember her name Aspet she was a showgirl. I think a Claire something Wasn't it Laverne Joe? That's right. Laverne Claire. Yeah, she always come in with a big shot the big shot Well, it wasn't so big shot then but he was going to places and then she gilly him and run off with another guy Yeah, I remember very good because he used to come in here after that he get drunk all the time So break him up pretty bad and who is this big shot? You remember that Joe? Show a bigger producer at Jasper Florence In just a moment we continue with the third act of Suspense the evolution of a medal in 1847 during the war with Mexico Congress established a citation award for conspicuous service by members of the United States Army This was the certificate of merit strictly for army enlisted men in 1891 almost a half century later Non-commissioned officers became eligible to receive the certificate No medal went with this award until 1905 when a coin-shaped medal in bronze bearing a Roman eagle was approved and adopted The suspension ribbon was vertically striped in red white and blue In July 1918 Congress abolished the certificate of merit replacing it with the distinguished service medal and the distinguished service cross The medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service to the government while the cross is reserved to honor Extraordinary heroism in connection with operations against an armed enemy Before the certificate of merit was discontinued in 1918 1211 enlisted men had received the award Given in recognition of gallantry in action or exceptionally meritorious service during time of peace The certificate of merit retains an important place among America's historic medals and now starring Jerome for act three of 19 Deacon Street Well, that was that So first thing tomorrow, I'd go out and find some other place to peddle my ties But when I got home, I found a note for my landlady. It said Jasper Florence called He's changed his mind about the theater will meet you there at eight o'clock Well, I hot put it over there the padlocks are off the front door So I walked in no one was in the lobby. So I went into the theater and There in the center of the stage was the one big work like the cop told me Florence kept burning all these years. I Started to get a feeling in my stomach Sort of a scary feeling There on that big stage is where Laverne danced. Oh, she must have killed her audience I walked down the long aisle then up the stairs onto the stage and looked around Way up above me in the shadows for the flies alongside the catwalk and the asbestos Curtain an old-fashioned one and a heavy wooden roller. I Was looking at it when I saw something that made me almost dropping my tracks I saw somebody move. I was sure of it Just off stage a guy moved in the darkness. Come out of there you out of there He didn't move I walked over closer The dressing room the guy I saw was Mari Swartz. That's right me Mari Swartz reflected in a dressing table mirror But just then I saw a door to another dressing room across the hall and on it was the number nine I remembered the key I had picked up in Laverne's room in a flash I had it out of my pocket was trying to get the door number nine the tag said and it worked I Stepped in and then I stepped on something was dark and I couldn't figure what it was. So I lit a match There on the floor were the white bones of a skeleton Beside them long golden strands of hair And I knew Florence had killed her he had killed her then closed this theater locked it up So she'd never be found no wonder he wouldn't rent and because I wouldn't take no for an answer He thinks I know something about a murder. That's why he called me down to the theater. That's why he left the door unlocked To get me in here and never let me out. He's in here somewhere now But where I had to get out of there fast There was only one exit across the stage over the footlights now the door had come in I crossed to the stage and reached the footlights when suddenly The master curtain was a rolling crashing down on me. I Jump back just in time Save me the trouble Florence. Where are you? But I can see you I'm on the catwalk in the shadow But you're well-lighted by the work like you make a very good target. Ah, I will be that short You make one move to put out the lighter to get away I'll cut these counterweight and you'll be smashed to nothing. You can't get away with this Florence I've got away with it once and I will again You don't have much of a chance to you The master curtain has you fenced in on the stage and you can't get over the footlights I can get up by the side Florence. That's a long walk my friend and Long before you take it. I'll drop these sandbags on you. Maybe I'll be faster than you will Then what Florence then you'll fry for killing that girl. She had it coming And some of you my friends are meddling and you're going to get it because I'm cutting the way Now That's a long way to fall and an awful way to die Even for you Florence Well There's the story if you don't believe it. I wouldn't blame you, but that's the way it happened. Oh By the way, you happen to need any ties. I got a nice new lining Hope you won't think it's in bad taste But these ties and they come in all colors Got a girl's picture on them. I call it the Laverne tie So don't forget look me up. I got a little stand in Rosenblatt's department store. You can't miss it It's in the bargain basement In which Jerome Thor start in William and Robeson's production of 19 Deacon Street by Lawrence Marcus and Robert Webster light Supporting mr. Thor in 19 Deacon Street were Paula Winslow Sidna Scott Jack Krushen Ted DeCorsia and Norm Alden listen Listen again next week when we return with another tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense Suspense has been brought to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States armed forces radio and television service