 This is Conrad Nagel inviting you to stay tuned for the next half hour for one of radio's outstanding dramatic productions on Proudly We Hail Proudly We Hail and now another Proudly We Hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hours transcribe coast-to-coast in cooperation with this station and presented by your army and your Air Force From Radio City, New York. Here is your host and star on Proudly We Hail the distinguished star of the theater screen radio and television Conrad Nagel Kenneth Banghart. Hello everyone. Welcome again to Proudly We Hail Conrad. What's the title of our play? Kenneth's titled Lady on the Run and we meet Joan Flagg a very frightened young lady in very frightening circumstances Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment after this brief but very important message Here's a special message the United States Army needs young men men with ambition who want to continue their education If you can qualify the army will send you to one of its many fine technical schools The army trains its men in such interesting exciting fields as radio radar Electronics mechanics meteorology and many many others you'll not only get the finest training in the world But you'll have the special pride that goes with wearing a United States Army uniform Today there are plenty of chances for a man to get ahead for our army is growing fast and ambitious young men can grow with it But why not learn for yourself about what the army has to offer? Go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station Have a talk with a recruiting sergeant and learn all the facts and now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Norman Webb your army and your Air Force present the Proudly We Hail production Lady on the run You know, it's funny how a thing gets started You try and think of all the ways it might happen and usually what does happen is quite different from anything you'd imagined the world of illusion and the world of reality divided for the science of logic Sometimes all three get so wound up in each other the result affects your whole life It began when I walked into the Continental Trailways bus terminal on a warm evening in October. I Was surprised the number of people who were going places. You would have thought it was mid-summer Crowd was a good thing for me though made it so much simpler to lose my identity Continental's ticket agents had things down pat The line I stood in move rapidly and almost before I knew it The only thing in the way of me buying my fare was a lovely looking dark-haired girl Who didn't seem to be quite sure where she wanted to go? Your buses go to New Mexico. Yes, ma'am all over the Southwest. Where did you want to go in New Mexico? Santa's Santa Fe. No, no Albuquerque. That's it Albuquerque and please hurry bus doesn't leave for another 15 minutes Miss round trip or one way one way here is this enough? Oh, it's not that much. It's only one please hurry Yes, ma'am. Now you go through that gate to your bus. Now. Here's your ticket. Thank you. Oh miss miss your change Well little lady seem confused. Yes, sir. I wear two one way To Albuquerque. I was the last one to climb aboard It was best to be sure Well the bus was big and modern air-condition with thick comfortable seats. I picked one a little more than halfway back Uh, excuse me, mind if I sit here? Oh, no, no, I guess not If you'd rather be alone, I can't find a seat further back. No, that's all right. I don't mind Good sit down Maybe you want to read there's a light there above your head. I know I don't want to read. Thank you More fun to watch the lights a More fun to watch the city fade away You know, I always get a kick out of leaving someplace any place good to be on the move Like a cigarette not right now. Thanks. Are you going far? Yeah. Yeah, long way to son. How about you? I'm going to Phoenix Well, what do you know you live there? No just a visit to see my brother-in-law It's first time I've ever heard that one. What do you mean? What's so funny about that? I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you Do you know usually people go to see their fathers their mothers or sisters or grandmothers or somebody like that? Brother-in-law just struck me funny. Why not your sister? My sister's dead My brother-in-law is all I've got left to go to. Oh, oh, sorry. It's not your fault Look since we're going to be traveling a long way together. Why don't we introduce ourselves? I'm Norman Webb. My name is Joan. Joan flag. How do you do? Do I call you Joan or miss flag? I Must say you work fast. Just I hate formality. I hate to waste time Look, we're two people traveling a long way on a bus. We might just as well get to know one another Sooner the better Suppose we sat here like a couple of wooden Indians and never said Buddha one another what a waste But you're Joan. I'm Norman and isn't it a wonderful world? Sometimes it can be a very horrible world I think but a black nightmare It was about three o'clock in the morning when we stopped The city we pulled into or the silence of deep night The building standing dark and empty behind pale sleepless street lights a straight cat scurrying into an alleyway Breeze hurting pages of newspaper along the gutter Well, some of our fellow passengers followed the driver into the terminal eager for that vital cup of coffee But most of us stayed put I Didn't think my dark-haired companion was asleep But her suddenly jerking upright with a short gasp of fear certainly proved it What's the matter of those men a long black card pulled up on the other side of the street and two men had gotten out They were both big both wore top coats and felt hats They came across the street toward the bus. It's them It's them take it easy. Don't take it easy. You know these men. I've got to get out of here Please let me get by you don't think I'd let them hurt you. Oh get out of my way Easy easy does it you wake up the bus They're going in there probably get a cup of coffee now's my chance One of them standing outside. Look, who are you? Please stop asking stupid questions and let me get off this bus If you don't I'll call for help that'll attract attention. Please. Why won't you let me go? Whatever it is. You're afraid of your much saver with me. That's what you think. Listen Here they come pull that blanket up around your face. No, no, no higher doing putting my arm around you All right, get your head down on my chest. I just relax and let your uncle know I'm gonna handle this What's the matter you're looking for something? In a matter of fact, I am well, whatever it is. You won't find it here Who's that my wife if it's any of your blasted business come down buddy. You're talking to the law the law What do you want with us? We haven't done anything. I don't panic Mac Seen anything of a girl looks like this They're not light on there. You can see better not on they do I can see all right No, no, I haven't pretty ain't she so what not a year enough fruit cake. That's all Dangerous I go on back to sleep. Sorry. I bothered you Forget it. I suppose I got some sleep. I suppose you believed in Picture he showed me he was of a girl with blonde hair Your hair's dark. You knew it was me. I don't know anything You you think he really was a policeman. Don't you well, it's what he said Why didn't you hand me over? You heard what he said Not here in the fruit. Who wasn't Now calm down calm down. You're all right Like we can talk about this in the morning after we both had some sleep Can I sleep sample just put your head on my shoulder They won't be looking for you on this bus anymore You don't know them you didn't fool him for a minute if I hadn't told him you wouldn't be here now They wouldn't take me off the bus. They're too smart for that They'll wait the way till no one's around The funny way for the law to do business. That's just it. They were no more policemen than I am. Well, who were they then? well Can't tell you you you'd think I was crazy too sometimes I think I am People tell you if they're long enough. Maybe it's so All the next day we pounded westward The country had that wide open look in the miles fell away with ease My companion had little to say we'd almost assumed that wooden Indian method of travel of which I'd spoken It was quite a situation a Lovely girl who dyed her hair black a Lovely girl who was supposed to be out of her mind, but to me only seemed nervous and frightened a Lovely girl on the run who said she was going to Phoenix, but was really headed for Albuquerque And two men from whom she was fleeing who said they were police Science of logic was getting all beaten up in my mind But dusk we made one of those ten minute wayside halts in a dusty little town and how are out of Amarillo Why do you time to eat when we get to Amarillo? Yeah, I want to stretch a bed all right might be a good idea nothing like a good stretch after a long quiet day Yeah, that's better You're showing signs of improvement No, no there no black cars out there. Hey, what's your step? Well once around the block will be about all we have time for you know, you haven't told me what you do Hey, that's right. I haven't like I haven't told you much at all about myself I'm a very interesting fella. You've got about ten years to spare. I'll tell you all about me. You're so modest I'm the soul of modesty. I wasn't modest or to take 25. I'm really very grateful to you Want to tell me anything about it? You wouldn't believe me. Why not because no one has Harry's my last chance. Oh the brother-in-law. Yes You say our friends last night Weren't the police well, they weren't the police. I've been to the police. They didn't believe me either Go on well Those two men they they work for Everett Dunlop. He is all I've heard of him What's he got to do with you? Well, he's my guardian until next month then I'll be 25 You see my father and mother were killed a little over a year ago in an automobile accident My sister was with them too. Dad was quite wealthy and everything was left to me But not until I'm 25 ever it done it was left in charge of the estate You think Dunlop is after your money. He's rich enough. At least he seems to be Well, I think he's been trying to drive me insane drive you insane But what now wait a minute. Let me finish after the accident I guess I did go after out of my head for a while. We were very close my family and the shock and well Well, it was too much for me to take I cracked up And I got out of the hospital ever it Dunlop couldn't do enough to help He insisted I come live with him and his sister they have a big ugly Yes, I know I've seen it. Well, it depressed me. I didn't like it there They insisted I stay until I was well nothing seemed to matter very much then and I let them have their way Well about three months ago it had had all I could take Told them I wanted to get a job and they were very understanding about it ever said he thought he could help well and then That night the light had burned out in the hall when I came out of my room to go down to dinner I fell down the stairs my ankle was broken and then I hit my head a concussion the doctor said Only I didn't slip. I was tripped Someone had tied a piece of wire or string across the top strip. I remember it hitting my ankle That was the beginning. How do you mean little things things you couldn't prove Waking up in the middle of the night and and knowing knowing that there was someone else in the room Calling for help and when they came no one there or putting a book down on the table and leaving the room and coming back and finding it Gone then when I asked being told I'd left the book on the terrace. I can't tell you all the things and Then they'd look at me and pretend to be concerned. I Wasn't well. I needed rest poor Joan Finding suggesting it might be a good idea for doctor friend of theirs had a talk with me Well, not that it was serious, but they wanted to help and then when I could get out Those two men following me wherever I went and and when I spoke about it a look of horror There were no two men. I must be mistaken. I mustn't think such things. I must only think about getting well Desperate there was nobody I could turn to our home had been in Kansas City Finally I went to the police. What did they say? They were very polite. They listened After all it was no proof. Nothing. It was all against me Ever done look an important figure wealthy a staunch pillar of society and the poor girl. Well, uh Suppose you were declared insane If I could be declared insane he could go on administering the estate till Kingdom come Worth how much something over two million dollars? How come your father didn't leave it to you outright Guess he thought that by the time I was 25 I'd be sane enough to handle that much Sane enough now look miss Crane. You you said Crane How did you know my name was Crane? I told you your name is Crane and you're not going to Phoenix You're going to Albuquerque you know Well, you're one of them, too. Let go of me. Wait. Wait, Joan. Joan. That's so good. You can't get away you little idiot Starring in the role of Norman Webb in the proudly we hail production lady on the run will return in just a moment for the second act I have an important message for intelligent young men a new United States Army regulation now permits you to apply for OCS Officer candidate school before you enlist. That's right If you're at least 19 years old and can meet the physical and metal standards for Army officers Regardless of whether you're a high school graduate you can go to your recruiting station and volunteer as an officer candidate You'll take basic training attend leadership school and then go to the next available class at OCS You'll be promoted to corporal when you go to OCS and upon graduation become a second lieutenant in the United States Army With good pay and allowances for food and quarters Young American women have the same opportunity to become officers in the women's Army Corps But you'd better act now for no one knows how long it will be before our growing Army has all the officers it needs Go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and get all the facts today You are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Norman Webb We present the second act of lady on the run She could run I'll say that for of course fear can make a sprinter out of anyone But it wasn't until we'd left most of the town and some might he start looking pedestrians behind that I finally caught up to her Wait a minute take it easy will you go on yell your lungs out if it'll make you feel any better Sit down there Lord what a woman you won't take me back. You can't you can't make me go your guardian. Mr. Dunlope won't be very happy if I don't Should have known you were one of them. You knew all about him. Why couldn't I see look there goes our bus? I'll wait here until another one comes. Yeah, you've run far enough, Johnny It's time you walked a little with me to slow you down I was figuring on hiring a car to drive us over to Amarillo where we'd get a plane for home But it wasn't necessary as we approached the town's only hotel. I saw standing in front of it The familiar black car with the out-of-state license plates looks like we got a ride One of what brought them here as if you didn't know But the bus is gone. Oh, they're smart just like you. They probably find out we weren't on it There's our old pal Hey, how about a lift? Hey How about a lift to Amarillo? Gotta catch a plane. It's you a character Climb in Miss Crane My friend here, and I've got a little talk to have yeah, let's do that We like it George. Yeah, get George by all means Time we stop this fooling around and say that again Hey George, look who's here Miss Crane, please don't ever take a powder like that again You don't know how worried mr. Dunlop easy easy does it both the girls all tired out. Yeah, so are we Driving half way across the country. We're just going to visit her brother-in-law Do tell and to think I'll be still she means shut up You know dames are all nuts, but this one takes the cake Looks like we're coming into Amarillo What are you gonna do with a car? George? He has been appointed to drive it home. I'll take the plane with you We don't want any more mix-ups the little lady needs Taken care of hey better eat some of that Joan. It's good. I'm not hungry You should have an appetite like book over there. Yeah, I eat like a horse. I just just like to be left alone I'm tired. I want to sleep. I'll have a shirt. Let's bring your pillow. Never mind. We'll be landing soon Miss Crane Then you'll get plenty of rest Is the Dunlop he'll see that nobody disturbs you he's quite a guy Loves her like a daughter. Yeah, she's a fine man. All right perfect gentleman He's got your best interests at heart Miss Crane. We all have I Think that sums up the whole thing perfectly Well, we made the drive in the airport to Everett Dunlop's big cold-looking estate in silence It's quite some way out of the city in one of those sections where all the homes were big Our charge sat hunched down in the corner in a weary and resigned look on her lovely haunted face Yeah, I was almost over Yeah, pay the man book after you miss Crane I hope mr. Dunlop has a bed yet Don't worry about him never goes to bed. I just lean on that bill. Yeah, I'm leaning Cozy little spot Joan Joan You've come back Boke you we got a misted Dunlop. Well come in come in. Who is this? Lieutenant Webb police department Lieutenant Webb, but why don't we come in like you said? Yes, yes, of course Joe Why did you do it? Why did you run off? Olivia's been worried sick. I I've been frantic. Why where can we talk mr. Dunlop talk? I Don't think I understand. Why don't we talk right here? We'll go into the dead After you Joan Where did you find the boat? Oh tenant here? He found him Didn't with us since she got on the bus we ran into him outside of Amarillo sit down Now fix a drink and never mind this won't take long. Oh Miss Crane here paid us a call about 10 days ago. Mr. Dunlop. I wasn't there, but she told my boss her troubles The story she told in the whole much war where you must understand that she's been a very sick girl There's no reason to think I told you I told you Suppose you let me finish a Few days later you paid us a call. That's right. I came there were Worried about her as I know all about that too your story held water See I'm the kind of a cop that never takes anything for granted mr. Dunlop. I decided to do a little routine checking After all if the girl was on the verge of cracking up as you so reluctantly pointed out It might not be a bad idea for me to keep an eye on her just to see that she didn't do anything to endanger herself or Anyone else but look at it where but you remember I said I know what you said First thing I found out was that Boak here and his sidekick were keeping an eye on her too Well since Boak and George both have records that would fill a book. I Began to wonder who they were working for Wasn't hard to find out. Oh, come on. Aren't you exaggerating there's nothing wrong with giving a couple of men a chance to live Honest life. No, no, nothing at all Admiral in fact See I didn't stop there. I Began checking up on you. You began checking up on what what do you mean? I mean, you're just about broke. Mr. Dunlop. Oh, you hidden it well, but it all came out Well, of course, there's nothing wrong with that either but one miss crane decided to take a bus ride I decided to go along with her. I Didn't tell her who I was until I was convinced. She was a perfectly sane young lady Being scared out of her wits You didn't want her dead or I'm sure she would have been dead long ago If she died you'd lose that two million bucks But if you could drive her into an insane asylum, you'd be saying pretty why why have all the utter rot? I'd be quiet There's no proof I'll grant you that Only your word against hers. Just see I'm buying just a moment. Who's your superior captain Gillian? I? Called him from Amarillo. He wants to see you in his office at eight o'clock tomorrow morning And as for you both I could have you and George run in for impersonating police officers So you show up on mr. Dunlop does and he said he wanted help I've had enough of this. I hope it's just the beginning mr. Dunlop Joan Tell them you made it all up. You tell them effort. They always believe you. There's just one other thing Miss crane here comes into her estate in another month Until that time she'll be under our protection. I should say my protection I'll be her guardian as long as she thinks she needs me you can't bluff me I'll fight you this girl's mentally incompetent now. I've got doctors report Suppose you say them for the judge and when you hand over what you've been keeping for it had better all be there Or you know where you'll be Well, I guess that's it Got anything say Joni. Yes, let's get out of here. I'll call a care. No, I've got a car This will break who leave his heart. It probably will but not the way you mean Eight o'clock tomorrow Dunlop Captain Gillian doesn't like to be kept waiting You were wonderful. I'm sure I'm always wonderful. It's a wonderful world, too No more horrible nightmares. Not a one good You know, I could stand a wife with two million bucks, but I could never stand one with nightmares Conrad Nagel will return with a word about next week's show in just a moment Did you ever stop to wonder why your United States Army has such a long tradition of victory? Well, the secret is a very simple one. It's training that pays off Old soldiers will tell you that it's good training plus the best leadership that spells victory Your United States Army has always emphasized both The United States Army is rapidly expanding now young men and young women with the will to learn can get ahead fast So take advantage of the opportunities for advancement that can be yours by enlisting now Visit the United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station in your neighborhood and learn all the facts and list in the United States Army today This has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force Recruiting Service proudly we hail stars Conrad Nagel Supporting Mr. Nagel as Joan flag was Helen Christen Lady on the run was written by Dewitt Cup. The music was composed and conducted by John Guarnieri This program was produced under the supervision of Charles and Rogers Productions and was directed by Charles Wilkes This is Kenneth Banghardt speaking and here again as your host and star Conrad Nagel the friends. We hope you'll join us again next week over the same station for proudly we hail Travel with us to the Old West and follow a United States cavalry patrol in the Western Badlands in a thrilling story titled Warpath Until then Goodbye