 Personal notice. Danger's my stock and trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you got a job for me, George Valentine. Write full details. Say, you all set for another visit with Valentine? You know George. He's the boy whose motto in life is let George do it. Nothing too small, nothing too big. Better still, nothing too dangerous. He runs an ad in the personal column, but some of his clients are sent by friends. That is, if you can call Lieutenant Riley a friend. Dear Mr. Valentine, I am without doubt the ugliest man in the world. Hey, wait a minute, who is this? However I need your help or the man standing beside me will go crazy. Because Mr. Valentine, I'm dying. Riley, it's you, isn't it? Lieutenant Riley. Yes, yes, it's me and I'm the one going crazy. All right, have it your own way. Only, what are you talking about? Valentine, I've got a client. Ugly stumble bum wants your help. A slot machine repair man, no less. He needs help or at least he won't help me unless somebody helps him. Only he won't trust the police about me. I don't blame him, you make so much sense. Okay then, let's say, oh, this little guy isn't much, but the idea is... Riley, hold it, will you? You said this guy is dying? Police hospital. The doctor gives him a day or two at the best. Can't operate, can't stop the infection. From what, Lieutenant? Oh, gunshot wounds, Miss Brooks. One gun, but all six shells. Happened in a dark alley. Whoever it was didn't want to miss him, I guess. That little man must be tough. Maybe, or lucky or unlucky. He's one of those guys who was born to end up at the bottom of the pile, Valentine. Then why are you so interested in him? It's just possible that he can steer us all the way to the top of the pile. His name's Trailer. I told you he was the littlest shrimp in the slot machine racket. The repaired man. Well, we've never found out who the big shrimp is. Ah, I see. I've worn my way into the man's confidence, and then maybe he spills, is that it? Blows the whole racket apart. No, no, no. You just helped the little guy find his girl. Betty. Betty, that's her name. I was going to see her tonight. Betty who, Trailer? What's the rest of her name? She's beautiful. I'm not what she is. I'm just her build, she said. You don't believe in anything. Trailer, can you understand me? There's nobody in the world to believe. You've got to be careful. You can't trust people. You've got to test them and test them and test them. And then you can't trust them because they're all the same. You're talking about the racket? I won't tell you anything. I won't. I shouldn't. Oh, well, I'll take it easy. Who shot you? Ants. You can test people to see if they're ants, you know. Put honey in front of them. See if they took themselves. Why did you ask me? Betty. They tried. Find Betty. Hey, look, Trailer. Nice. Betty. Guess you can have him back for a while. We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment. Now, back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. Raleigh and Willem de Betty doesn't know anything that'll ever help you pry open the big time. Is that so? Well, just let me show you. Look in here. Oh. You mean the tall, skinny man over there? Yeah. Yeah, Wilton. The highest price legal beagle in the state. Waiting to see if anybody offstage needs defending. That's it. That's dog. Ever alert. Just in case the police have a squealer who might stop worrying about the girlfriend and climb out of his delirium long enough to sing. Sing? What's this? What's all this, Lieutenant? Somebody's singing? That's right, Mr. Wilton. Trailer in there tells me you own all the slot machines in this state. Yes, of course. It's just a sideline, all rather, a bother particularly when I don't live in this town. Are you here on business, Mr. Wilton? I beg your pardon. Mr. Valentine and Ms. Brooks. How do you do? Child. No, I've been retained by a client, Mr. Valentine. Oh, who's that? The black company. Riley here knows about it. Oh, yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Out-of-town corporation. Manufacturers will of the wisps. Well, I'm only a lawyer. I'm not familiar with it. All the black company's quite an outfit, Valentine. Perfectly legal. Only nobody knows who runs it. But do they own the slot machines? Of course not. No more than I do. Do they know who they make bank deposits for? Does this bird trailer even know who he works for? Does anybody? The basis of all good organization, Lieutenant, is the pyramid. Like a spy system, huh? No one man knows enough to incriminate any of the others. Then why are you here, Mr. Wilton? Why are you worried about this trailer person? I haven't really said I even know the man, have I? Or that the company I represent is interested in anything more than employees indemnity, his accident and so on. Spoken like a lawyer. Riley, maybe it is possible that the best of pyramids get a little wobbly once in a while. Huh? Maybe it is possible that the reason the trailer in there got shot was that he found out too much about the higher-ups. Yeah, hold it, hold it, Mr. Wilton. Yeah, hello, Lieutenant Riley. Oh, I... I wanted to speak to the nurse about Bill Trailer. Well, all right. Who's calling? Well, I... Just the nurse, please. The nurse on duty there. Well, just a second. Valentine. Valentine, it's a girl. I'll take it, will you? You're the intern on duty or anybody, anyway. What's this? Misrepresentation, Lieutenant? Here, let me have it. Hello? Nurse? Well, she'll be here in a second, honey. I'm the receptionist. Well, I just wanted to find out about a patient. His name is Trailer. Trailer? Well, wait till I get my cards here. Trailer. Hurry up, please. Somebody said he was there, but I want to know what happened to him. Well, we had an appendix case come in this morning. No, just tell me what happened to him. Just... What? You don't handle cases like that in the police ward. I meant in the other ward. Hmm. She hung up? It's all right. We've got the number. It's from a phone in a bar at 1612 Commissioner Lane. The old Derpy Hill section, huh? Yeah, yeah. It's kind of district. A 50-cent flop house or a $5,000 penthouse. It's what the harness boys call the Ant Hill Valentine. The Ant Hill? Mm-hmm. Let's go, Brooks. A million people a day use that for my friend. Every third one tries a slug. But bartender, all we wanted to know was... Besides the whistle of the dame, where's it get you? Maybe your boyfriend's a prize fighter. I'll take television any day. The girl used the phone only a few minutes ago. Who was she? Should I know? Should I watch the cash register and be a bulldog for the phone company at the same time? All right, all right, you don't know. Or maybe you don't want to know. I suppose you never heard of a guy named Trailer around here, either. Trailer? No, not until the fight last night. What fight? Him and Louie. Who'd you think? Nice guy, that Trailer, I guess. But he'll never amount to much. Make sure you end up with a guy like Louie. Hey, slow down, will you? Slow down. Who's Louie? And what was this fight about? About a dame natural. Classy Blonde lives up the street named Betty. Fight ended quick. He threw him both out. Betty? Sure. See what I mean about whistling a dame? You mean this guy, Louie's tough? Come on, come on, more about him. Not a price that I know, but a real sharp boy. Just the same. Working his way up for a good outfit. Makes collections for the black company. That's slot machines to you. Oh, fellow employee. Only Louie's higher up in the pile. He makes collections from guys like you. From me? You're crazy. Sure. Sure, what's the rest of his name? Louie, what? Ask me no questions. I'll tell you no lies. Good day, friend. Booksy, this is where your job begins. I said I'm sorry, sister. Wrong place. Nobody here. I'll beat it with you. Hi, lady. Find your party. Well, no, this gentleman said that. Look, what is this? A census bureau? Bax of flowers, Max. Sign here. What? Oh, look, all of you go someplace. I haven't got all day. Sign in. Don't keep the pencil. All right, all right. Yeah, not clear off. Good day, Jane. Uh, people send you flowers? Come on in. I don't know where Betty is. What do you want? Well, just to see her. Betty Singh's down at the nightclub I found out. She mentioned to me once about a job and I thought maybe dancing or selling cigarettes might... Oh, they're great unemployed, huh? Look, you gotta be a joke not to get along in his world, sister. What's the matter? No angles? Oh, I'm just new in town. Gee, that's a pretty box, isn't it? You're gonna open them? How do you like that? Dated yesterday. Now, there's a florist who's gonna fall right out of business. Better get some like that all the time, sister. She knows her way around. Nothing better than the best. Gee, I met Betty's boyfriend two months trailer or something. That's what he told you? Boyfriend. There's a laugh. Most jury wasn't dressed so good. Oh, hopeful, Harry. She can do better than him anyway. I didn't know. You mean you're the one she... Say, roses. Look, I'm Betty's brother. My name is Louie. Oh. Now, where did you say you met Betty? Gee, as a girl got to relieve all of her privacy. We was only in the beauty shop. I was seeing about a tent. Don't look at me that way. She spoke to me because I complimented her on the corsage she said her boyfriend gave her. Boyfriend. Look at that, sister. Those aren't just roses. A wristwatch wrapped around them, you see? Oh. I'm an admirer, see? Guy, she hasn't even met. Told you she was good looking. You ought to hear what they say about her singing. Well, gone places, her and me. You don't have to hate my wrist about it. So go be unemployed. Peter, will you? Dear Betty, I look forward to meeting you. What's that? I'm on the level and I don't mean just opposite your eyes when I say I'm not a masher and won't you please, please telephone me at Derpy Hill. Yeah, give me that. Hey, let go. It's just a card with the roses. That's all. Come on, get out of here. Gosh, I'm not going to try to beat Betty's time or anything. I'll say you're not. I never heard that name anyway, Mr. Black or Black. Of course, of course, she's all right. You talk to her yourself, did you? Sure, Brooks, he read me the note she'd seen on the flowers. We had a man watching him. After Miss Brooks left that place, a slewy fellow took off in the opposite direction like a flying duck. But my man lost him. Now, now, will you please clear up what you've been doing? That Derpy Hill number in the flower note. It's a new number, Riley. Private listing and installed only a couple of days ago from somebody from out of town who just rented this place. What place? The fanciest penthouse in the whole section. Hey, Riley, people really look like ants from up here. You mean... Sure, sure, I'm in the place. There was a loose hinge on the service door and nobody inside. You've got the loose hinge, my friend. Don't you realize it was a Mr. Black who sent those flowers? Well, Riley had two and two, would you? Nobody knows who owns the slot machines. Who runs the black company? And yet a mysterious Mr. Black shows up in town, a man nobody's seen, not even a janitor downstairs. Traylor's girl, Betty, she must have seen her. No, remember, he just wanted to meet her. Probably had seen her at the nightclub or something. But that was Black's mistake if he wanted to stay in Cognito giving a girl his telephone number. Because now here I am with $10,000 in my pocket. What'd you say? There must be collection time in the three-lemon business. About two seconds ago, a delivery boy hands me an envelope at the door. Inside was an accounting sheet for all the slot machines on the south side and proceeds for the past month. Well, Riley, I figured out who's the man at the top of the anthill. Don't ask me how long it'll last or why it works this way. But right now, Riley, that man seems to be me. We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment. But now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. You go to help Lieutenant Riley because there's a man dying in the police hospital who might tell what he knows about the slot machine racket provided somebody helps him find his girl, Betty. Well, so far you haven't found Betty, though you have discovered that there's someone else in her life. Someone a little more successful than Traylor, a man who calls himself Mr. Black, who owns the slot machines, whose identity is a secret even from his own employees. Only if your name is George Valentine, now it's you who occupy Mr. Black's apartment. It's a dangerous game and no one realizes that better than Claire Brooks. Down at the police hospital now she seems unable to help. I don't know anything. Traylor, if you could just remember why you and Louie had that fight last night in the bar, was it over, Betty? Betty. Or is something wrong in the business, in the black company? Fine, Betty. Just fine, Betty. Oh, of course not, Brooksie. We've gone way past Traylor now. We're in the middle of the ants, the scramblers. The police have the apartment surrounded now, George. Well, tell them to keep out and lay low unless I whistle for help. But George... Angel will never find out who fired those shots in the trailer or who runs this racket unless we ride right along with a gang. You'll ride yourself right under the person who rented that apartment. We'll come back and then... I said, don't worry. Will you, Brooksie, as long as I could... What? What do you people wash those shirts in anyway? So that makes it easier. The collars come back with ground glass on the edge. George, what's the matter? Well, just don't use so much starch. That's all. Door was open. All right, then. Shut it and come in. Well, what is it? What do you want? Don't get so opposed. I'll take it easy. Your name's Louie, isn't it? Yes, it sure is. How'd you know? You fit the description. Look, look, I know I'm not supposed to be here. I know I should have just sent the stuff up by messaging the way we always do, wherever the point is each month. Oh, so that's it, huh? You're a collector. Uh, Durfee Hill and East Side, sir. You brought some money. All right, let's have it. Here, here. The accounting sheet's right on top. I had all those figures in my head. It's a trick I taught myself. Right, Paul. I know it's not healthy to come up here and find out who you are like this, but I... Relax, relax with you. Wow. Yeah, yeah, I knew you wouldn't mind when you saw that. It's almost double last month. 23,500 bucks. What did you do? Fix the machine so they pay in bubble gum instead of jackpots? Oh, no, sir. No, I didn't touch them. But I've been in there giving them the old boost, you know, talking it up with a bartender. A real climber in the business, aren't you, Louis? Now, what's this really about, Buster? How did you make so much money this month? Well, the truth of the matter is... What happened to Traylor, the repairman? I don't know what you mean happened. Who shot him? Boss, listen, he was cheating you. Did you know that? Did you? I can prove he was. He was what? Hold now. Jack up the setting and the machines and then split the rake off with bartenders. That's how he did it. You must have heard the same thing about the districts. He floated around all of them, didn't he? You know what's getting too complicated for me? Now, wait a minute. Listen, that's how I build up my total for them all by catching them at it and stopping it. Yeah, you earned the Silver Star already. Look, who are you going to call? Listen to the rest of what I got to say. Buster, I'm going to see a man about pinning a medal on you. But I didn't do it. I didn't empty any gun into him. Well, everything happens at once. You want me to get it for you once? No, no, I'll get it. Go make yourself a drink or something. Don't mind if I do. I know who it is anyway. This is great. Oh. Hello. I guess you're the man, huh? Are you the girl? Don't be funny. I mean, well, after all the notes you've been sending me with the flowers. Oh, sure. Come in. Come in, Betty. Thanks. See, you live all right, don't you? I hope to. You know, you're not so easy to find, Betty. I've been wanting to meet you for some time now. Yeah, I got the idea. Do you always use that whirlwind stuff, flowers and presents on a girl, Mr. or whatever your name is, black? Hey, slow down. Take your coat off. Sure. You wanted to meet me. You saw me in the nightclub and you heard my singing and you wanted to meet me. Well, now who wouldn't? You're very beautiful. Do a girl good to be known she associates with you? No comment. Any girl would break her neck to get up here. She'd give her ITs to walk up close to you like this. Hey, what's the matter? Hey, sis, cut it out. Cut it out, sis. You said you'd be nice. Now stop it when you cut it out. I don't know what's the matter with the boss. Honestly, I would. Suppose you both be quiet. She said she was coming up here to see you. She promised, she promised you would. You know, I told her what a great guy. I said, shut up, killer. What? Now look, boss, this is my sister. Say one of the greatest kids in the world. I know, I know. A guy could go places if his sister associated with a big shot like me. What was it you said? You call a little... Buddy, you came up here to find out about Trailer, didn't you? To slap my face and ask the big shot which one of his hired hands was responsible for your boyfriend being down there in the hospital. Wasn't that it? He's not a boyfriend. She's ten times as good as him. It's only been hanging around a couple of months. Sure, he's not an eager beaver like you, Buster. He wouldn't try to use his own sister to get him ahead in the world. Oh, no, no. They just thought about it. In that party other night? Oh, yeah, but that was all... I told him to stay away and he got mean. It took me one at a time. Honestly. You live with the eggs. Don't you know what they're like yet? Oh, is that what you saw in Trailer? That he was a little different from the scramblers? He was a dope. He was stealing. Hold him out. You want to bet it was you who was holding out from collections, Louis, and he caught you at it? Boss, no. No longer a chance to get rid of two birds with one stone. Get in the boss's good graces and cover your own tracks by being the guy... You said you didn't see Trailer after that fight. All I know, Buddy, is that your brother said something to me a minute ago about a gun being emptied into Trailer. Well, it so happens he was shot six times. Only how could you know about that little specific thing, Louis, unless you were the guy? Boss, look. Everything I've done is for you. It's for the good of the company. I'm looking ahead all the time. See, I want to... I'll probably do it if you like. What? Hey. What's that for? I've got a gun. Shut up. Hello, Mr. Wilton. Party's over, huh? Yes. Yes, the party's over. I'm afraid. And besides, it's making too much noise. Next door? No, I've been on the back of a wardrobe you overlooked. Oh, sure. Well, I didn't think it could last. It never did make sense that such a careful setup as this apartment wouldn't have... Wouldn't have me. Yes. Me. Surprise. Yeah. So's Louis. So's Betty. I don't... I don't know what you're talking about. Look, who is this guy? Now, if the three of you would just... I'll take care of him. Put down that gun buster. Don't worry. He can't get away with anything. Louis, stop it. You're making a mistake. Louis! Hmm. Ambitious to the end. Couldn't resist trying to make one last impression on you. Could he? Mr. Valentine. Mr. What? Yes, Betty. I'm afraid I'm the Mr. Black who's been so anxious to meet you. Yeah, it was too bad. Things couldn't have worked out better for us. But if you're Mr. Black... A great organizer. The best of pyramids taught her once in a while. I was here to make my own collections this time. I thought it was about time for a visit to South America. So if you would just hand over my money... Why don't you come and get it? You've caused enough trouble already, Valentine. Sure, come on, come on. Shoot some more pain. I'm warning you. No, it's the only way you're going to get out of here. Valentine, I... Stop that gun! Well, thanks, Riley. Mr. Slot Machine King, see what the sound of those shots brought you? Three lemons. We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment. And now, back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. And that was it, Trader. A gun test proved that Louis shot you. Yeah. Why? Well, ambition, I guess. Cover his own mistakes, get him good with a big boss. Can you understand me, Trader? Can you understand what I'm saying? Yes, it's all scrambling around. That's all Louis was. Sure. That's all wilderness, too. But the girl's different. I think she'd like to see you, Trader. Yeah. Yeah, we found Betty. She's a nice girl. Yes, I know. Since when? What? I said, since when did you know? I mean that she was the kind of a girl who's a little different, who might have really meant it when she said she liked a nugly little guy like you. Mr. Valentine, I'm very tired. I'm very... Wilton isn't kidding anybody. I just want you to know that I know that, Trader. I begun to guess that I... His biggest mistake was trying to take over the Slot Machine Empire tonight. Like the rest, he couldn't resist the opportunity. George. Think back, Angel. Wilton's tall and skinny. Would he have ever written a note to Betty, just an ordinary-sized girl saying, I'm on the level and I don't mean just opposite your eyes? No, of course he wouldn't. He told me a lawyer, a rat trying to grab what he can off the sinking ship. Mr. Valentine. I had no idea. I'll say it for you, Trader. Wilton didn't ever own the Slot Machines like he claimed he did at the last minute. And he wasn't the Mr. Black in the notes. No, they'd have to be a short man, probably. A little guy. Yeah. A little guy. Like maybe a man who'd made such a success out of not trusting anybody that he couldn't believe a girl liked him. He had to test her by making her think a big shot was after her to see if she'd drop him and run for the honey. He was in town for the collections anyway and it knows around the way he always did inspecting the anthill he'd built while looking like a repairman. You mean... Trailer here is really Mr. Black? Yeah, Brooksine. What would you have done, Trailer, if Betty had dropped you and chased after you, Mr. Black, the way her brother wanted it to? I... I would have killed her. You know... No, I... I wouldn't... I don't... I don't... I know, Buster. It's pretty ironic. You kept your identity so secret. You did so well that what happened? You got shot by a guy whose only ambition was to get in good with a boss, make a big fine impression on you. Now you still want to talk to Betty while you can, Mr. Black? No. No. She... Leave her out of our anthill. You have just heard the anthill, another adventure with George Valentine. Robert Bailey stars as George Valentine with Virginia Greig as Brooksine. Tonight's story was written by David Victor and Jackson Gillis, with music by Eddie Dunstetter. Now this is yours truly inviting you to another visit with Valentine when you will again hear what happens when you let George do it.