 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. Standard Oil Company of California on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the west, invites you to let George do it. The Prairie Dog, a transcribed adventure of George Valentine. Come on, come on, give me my change. I'm trying to get the 515. Thanks. Oh, excuse me. Pardon me, lady. Excuse me, that's mine. All right, so it's not the 515. Oh, look who wants to read the newspaper. Who's following who, friend? You or me? Come on, loosen up, what are you... Hey, look out! Let go of my... It's Jerry Mace. That's who it is, all right. Or was. One of my boys who went out to get the body said he thought he recognized him. He's a friend of yours, Valentine. That's why I got you down here to my office a fast... Wait a minute, Lieutenant Johnson, didn't he have any identification? Pockets were practically empty, Miss Brooks. Wallet, stuff in his side pocket, gone. So he must have been slugged first, robbed, and then shoved in front of the train, okay? That's right, Miss Brooks. Otherwise, it might look like he just fallen or maybe even jumped off that station platform to kill him. Sure, he was a nice guy. But you don't have to beat around the barn to prove it was murder. What do you mean? He just got a new job a couple of months ago. Private investigator for the Independent Insurance Company. For what? Yeah, you heard me. Was anything at all left in his pockets? Handkerchief, couple of theater stubs. Things were over there. He used to carry a blue notebook, George, remember? Did he write up his cases? Jefferson theft case. I remember now, insurance bulletin. Independent insurance company. Yeah. Yeah, that's the insurance company in the case, all right? What are you talking about? We'd each match-killing 50,000 taken and before that, the Prairie Bank job. All one man, Prairie Dog, the boys' column. Clear it up, Lieutenant. Now, the one man I wanted to get more than anyone else in the world. Six unsolved crimes in the past two years. One of them are murder. Each time with the same guy. Dumb crimes. Clues all over the place. But we've never been able to catch him. What's that got to do with the Independent? He's sloppy. He leaves cigarettes on the floor when he cracks his safe. He uses a funny black kind of sweetie safety match. Where's a pair of greasy gloves? Oh, we know lots of things, but we can't catch up. Lieutenant, I ask you what happened. His last crime was another robbery murder. That insurance company your friend here worked for got hooked. Oh, so that might have been the case Jerry was working on. Prairie Pawn Shop. Watch it. Hock your shirt, we'll loan you another. Ah, it's a pawn ticket. Slipped down through a hole in this pocket, I guess, into the lining of his coat. No date on it. Yeah, well, me, I'm going to find out for sure what Jerry Mace was working on from the Independent Insurance Company. It's after 6 o'clock, Lieutenant. I know their office will be closed, but in a little while ought to be able to find somebody. What's the Prairie? What is it? Didn't you ever hear it called that? Commercial Street, lower end from front to third. You mean it's a district right here in town? Sure. In the daytime it's industrial, nights in other matter. Shadows don't even trust the street lamps. Every man for himself and the devil has to pay admission. Yeah, nice place. That's where this Prairie Dog killer of yours comes from? Maybe, I don't know. That's why I want to check what Mace was doing. Okay, come on, Angel, we're leaving too. Where are you going, Valentine? To hock my shirt and see what I get in exchange. Clothes, George, the shop's closed. Anyway, I don't understand why you're so interested. Angel, why would Jerry hock anything? He's always had all the dough he needs. Unless he was interested in the place. Or unless it was somebody else's ticket he picked up for some reason. Or unless this place had some connection with the... Sixty bucks a month. What in the... You want it or don't you? Utilities paid until the fifth. Sixty in advance and I won't take a check. If you don't want it, loiter somewhere else. I'm nervous about the plate glass. Want what for heaven's sake? I own the building. What do you think? I'm out walking for my constitution. Hold it, hold it, brother. The hock shop here is for rent. Yeah, tenant just closed up today. Name is Felix. Very substantial citizen. Always paid in advance. Can't you read the sign? Here. Yeah, George. Out of business. Story to let. Yeah, we didn't notice. All right, now you do. Think you want it? Let me know. Choice location. Yeah, sure. Well, George, at least this is one lead. You can cross off your... What's the matter? I read to the sign. I'm reading between the cracks. What? Yeah, there's a light between the cracks. Premises aren't quite empty yet. Let's try one of the side street doors. Anybody here? You said the man's name was Felix, didn't you, George? Yeah. Hello, is anybody... What are you doing here? So here I guess. We're just... Come on, stop blowing your nose. I'm talking to somebody else. Yeah. Hey, take it easy. I want to see you. That's all, Felix. Can't you read signs? Now go away, stranger. I don't want to hawk anything. Oh, here, hawk a smoke. Smoke is cheaper in heating, you know. It keeps your stomach quiet. Beat it, I said. You want a handout? Stick to the soup kitchens. I've got an inventory. Ah, please, Felix. Listen. Hey, tell me... Well, somebody says you were... Loan money on... things. What do you think a hawk shop does? Bake donuts? Yeah, but I mean... Stranger for the love. Oh. What have you got? A wrist watch. Let me see it. Yeah, my grandfather gave it to me. Wonderful man. Pretty valuable, don't you think? George. Hey, Ebroxy, watch this. Your grandfather, huh? Only, of course, it's a lady's wrist watch. I know. I guess he must have bought it for my grandmother. Don't you think? Piece of junk. But, all right. Come out back here a second. Oh. Piece of junker. Worse something sometimes, though. Don't you think? You see, uh... Uh... Your name, Felix? Yes, that's right. What is this? A house? Well, we want to see you. That's all. I know. Everybody does. I'm out of business at the side door, too. If you were a gentleman, we should discuss something. No, no. Give me that thing. And you stick around, tall boy. Sit down, sister. I'll only be a minute. Oh, really? I could come back on Sunday. Give it to me, I said. Yeah. Get it here in the lights. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Look at that. Rhinestones aren't even real. Your grandfather got taken. Ah, shut up. Hello, Prairie Pond Shop. Oh, hello, Sergeant. Well, the same to you. But look, Sergeant, I'm locking up my place, and I... Yeah, yeah. Oh, okay, okay. Let me have the description. Brown hair. Skinny. Sure. But look, I've got other things to do than watch for a stolen wristwatch, huh? Wait a minute. You say the guy sniffles? Hey! Hey, you! Stop it! Stop it! The old swore himself down. Well, you were a great help, tall boy. Let him go. All right, so who cares? Great neighborhood, huh? Classy type of people. Sister, what do you think of having a shop where guys like that come in? What's the matter? Want to use this phone, that's all. Well, if it's all the same to you, I... What's the idea? The phone's dead, isn't it? Kind of a convenient call from his friend the sergeant, wouldn't you say, Bruxy? I wondered why you brought that guy back in here. Where's the button? Oh, yeah, here we are. Sure, step on the button and range. Not bad, not bad. Bum walks in obviously trying to pedal a stolen watch. So you step on the bell and pretend to get a call from a police? And then the bum runs away, leaving you the watch. Nice clear profit. Hot as steel from a thief. Great neighborhood. Classy type people. All right, all right. No skin off of your neck, is it? No. The prairie. You better watch yourself in the clenches in these parts, tourist. George, what do Lieutenant Johnson mean about Swedish matches? Well... Look. And it's black, too. It was a safety match. Let me see that. Yeah. Now sit down, Buster. You and I are going to have a little talk. No, no, George. It was the other man, the sniffy one who dropped it. It was when he lit his cigarette coming in here, I remember. You sure? I'm positive. Come on. Headed up the alley, Valentine, but I cut him off. Chased in three blocks and Spelix gave his yell, but I lost them. Hey, listen, there's another cop's whistle. They must have got him on the next street. All right, then ducked in some place just a second ago before... No! You're here. Back at the barbershop. Yeah. You're close to the scanners from Tony. Ah, sure. You're coming into my shop. There he is. You got him. All right, Tony. You can get off his chest now. A lady I have under the machine. He came running into my shop. She could pull her hair out by the roots. He was just trying to find a way through the alley, I guess. I catch him at the Tony. Catch him. I chase him. First, he tried to fight. Stop waving that razor around. All right, all right, we said. Come on. On your feet, Sniffy. Thanks. Yeah. Much obliged. Oh, obliged, he says. All right, look, mister. I'm still no watcher. I didn't do nothing. Oh, assault, battery, trespassing, scaring to death a woman under the machine. Give your shirt on, Tony. There's probably a reward for catching prairie dogs. What? What are you talking about? I'm getting out of here. Oh, no, you don't. Yeah, that's better. Yeah, Sniffy. We'll forget the watch. You're under arrest for what's called suspicion of murder. 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Proved in the laboratory and checked out in severe road service, new RPM motor oil is sold with a money-back guarantee of satisfaction. Ask for it at standard stations and independent chevron gas stations where they say and mean we take better care of your car. And now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. Six unsolved crimes in the past two years all done by a man they call the Prairie Dog. Why? Well because of the district they've occurred in but also because of the robber killer's strange ability to remain uncaught. That is until now. Because if your name is George Valentine you've just delivered a suspect to Lieutenant Johnson and the Lieutenant is liking him more and more. There you see that? Well we've drawn up in all the Prairie Dog cases. Let's see. That same kind of match has been found in every single one of them. Why? I wonder. Because the guy's dumb, Miss Brooks. Also because he smokes. Big logic. No, no, look there. Each one was a robbery that took some time. Makes sense. Yeah, and one is safe was blown and another a combination was worked out. Well, is Sniffy a clever enough man to... Guy gets nervous. He smokes while he works. Grinds his cigarettes out into the floor. Here. Like that. He's always the same way. The janitor will love you. You can't buy those matches in stores. Try it sometime. Sniffy's cigarette was the same brand too. Cheap but not too popular. I didn't see any greasy gloves on him. That friend of yours, Jerry Mace, who got killed was definitely working on finding the Prairie Dog. His office said he was working on a hot lead today but they didn't know what it was. You'll have to say more than that, Lieutenant. Before you'll buy that it was probably the guy who was after who killed him. Right? Well, Sniffy can't offer a single explanation as to where he was at the time of any one of the Prairie Dog crimes. Also, we've already turned up a witness who says he saw Sniffy on that station platform this evening when Mace was killed. Why didn't you say so in the first place? How could I witness? That's why I didn't. For skeptics like Valentine, I'm waiting to get some more witnesses so I... Come on, let's get down and see Sniffy, huh? All right, all right. If you don't believe me, watch him hammer the nails in his own coffin. You understand? I want to cooperate all I can, gentlemen. Just a simple misunderstanding. Oh, I don't blame you. I know how these things can happen. Why'd you steal that wristwatch you tried to sell to Felix Sniffy? Yeah, I'm glad you asked me because I've been trying to explain to this other gentleman... Can it? Valentine, we can't find any record of it being stolen. Of course you can. See, my grandfather... Can it, I said. Well, I just want you to understand. I have stolen things before. So you've got a record, too, huh? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. They'll find it out sooner or later. Might as well be honest, don't you think? Just like that business of the station platformer, it suddenly occurred to me that I was there this evening. Oh, is that so? It was just hard for me to remember. Oh, not that I was there when any murder took place, but I find the Inner Urban's a very cheap place to sleep, and there are always plenty of newspapers to read, and so you see, I generally am at almost every station in town every day. Ah, speaking of cough and nails, Johnson. Oh, would you like a cigarette? Excuse me. Of course. Oh, thanks. New brand, huh? No matches, too. Hi, only. Want to be helpful, that's all. Hold it. What'd you get these? Didn't they take his stuff away from him and Johnson when they dressed him in a freighted suit? Oh, I suppose one of the guys... Get away from me. Don't... Don't let you wear a bustier. Cut it out, snippy. Candy bar, a package of gum. Well, none of that stuff is worth more than a few cents. Now, any of it, the man's got to be comfortable, doesn't he? What'd you get it? Yeah, even a cigar. What? Hey, that's mine. That's one of my cigars. Very good cigar, Lieutenant. I meant thank you. But how in the love of... Our friend here is a pickpocket, Johnson. Simple as that. The big suspect. Oh, for peace. You see, I've mended my ways. I wouldn't touch anything valuable. Telephone for you, Lieutenant. Kill this guy for me, Valentine. Is it wrong for a man to like his little comfort? You took this stuff from the guards. From anybody who's been near you, right? Well, perhaps. Just like the Swedish matches and special cigarettes you might have taken from anybody. Well, it's an embarrassing thing. But who? Come on, remember. Where'd you get those matches? I wish I knew. Anybody I guess? Anybody I bumped against? Oh, brother. Felix himself, I suppose. Come to think of it, a man like Felix is much more the criminal type. Go on, go on. We're letting you out of here. You've given me enough bad ideas for one night. Felix isn't the prairie dog. I can tell you that right now. Because Felix happens to be dead. Murdered. That's Felix, all right. How about it, Sergeant? Now, the prairie dog, sir. That's all the patterns. We've got a lot on instrument. Grease stains on the paper weight there. Same as on the briefcases. Motive robbery, huh? Sure, sure. A parrot like this guy, Felix, must have made a pretty penny at the time. Oh, look out. Don't stand there, sir. A couple of marks on the floor, that's all. Hey, where's this landlord? Did you find him? Yeah. Come in here, will you? Sure. Say, ain't this a tragedy, though? You shows you never can tell. You people saw me. Never mind the alibi, friend. Does he was here helping Felix pack before, George? Pack? Yeah, going to Florida. Florida Nassau. He made his pile. What do you mean? Going to retire. That's why he closed out his shop. Casting all the stuff he owned. Had a briefcase full of securities and stuff and a roll of green goods in his suitcase. That would have choked a horse. Who knew that Felix would be right for robbery right now? Gary Mace, for one, George. Maybe that's why he was interested in Felix's place today. Yeah, I thought of that. But who else could? Almost everybody in the neighborhood, friend. Must have had some idea what was going on. Felix was a pirate. Wouldn't take much to figure he was worth knocking over. But knowing his exact schedule, the fact he'd be late in the shop tonight. Believing from here and so on, well, maybe not so many. A bit more than just you, I suppose. Don't think I'd fall into that one, do you? I wasn't born yesterday, tourist. Lieutenant, come here. Take a look. Tennis shoes. That's from what I mean. The killer was wearing them on the floor, you see. Same as in the last Prairie Dog case. Same type shoe. What are you trying to do, rub it in? Every time we learn more and more about less and less. Clues, clues. Cigarettes. Matches greasy gloves. Do we get any fingerprints? No, no. I tell you, this Prairie Dog is one guy who want to... Take it easy, Lieutenant. Valentine he could be practically anybody in this entire city. He's one of the people today. And we haven't moved one inch closer toward catching him. Yeah, yeah, I get the general idea. Only then I changed it. I decided I've heard enough. And if I'm right about what I've heard, then it's all over with the shouting. Now look, master of mine. Oh, you and Caligari here, just sit tight and I'll be back later. Come on, Angel. Let's go to work on a Prairie Dog while he's still out in the open. I don't see him, George. I hope we made it in time. Well, he had to change his clothes again. That's where we'd ever find him. Yeah, coming down the other steps. Hello, Smithy. Ah, even, Miss. Well, welcome to the fresh air. No, wait, I need your help. Sure, some things I'm pretty handy at. Well, it's just helping my memory, that's all. Wish I had one. You know, I walked into this case because a friend of mine was killed by the Prairie Dog. He was getting too close, I guess. In fact, from the location of that railroad platform, he was probably on his way to see Felix. He'd nosed around there before, so I guess Jerry had practically figured what the next crime was going to be. That's all? Or maybe he'd figured how simple all of these Prairie Dog cases really are. Figured the clues. Figured why the clues were always the same. I don't get any of this, Mr. What I didn't figure until now was what it was I walked into myself this evening. When I walked into Felix's place. That's where the memory comes in. Yes, we walked in by the side door and then we heard Felix moving around and he spoke and we thought he was speaking to us. Oh, sure. Yeah, I know. I was there. You see, I had this watch of my grandson. Yeah, yeah, that's right. But I'm trying to remember what it sounded like when you and Felix walked into the back room. Remember? I do. I remember. Only, of course, it's a lady's wristwatch. Yeah, I know. I guess he must have bought it for my grandmother. Yeah, a piece of junk. But all right, come on out back here for a second. Uh, pieces of junk are worth something sometimes though, don't you think? Yeah. Two of you coming into the back room but only one pair of footsteps. His. I don't get it. And I remember the same thing when he pretended to get that phone call and you ran. He didn't make any noise. I don't get it. I suppose you dragged that watch in just so he'd invite you to the back room where people would be less likely to see when you robbed and killed him. I don't get it. Why don't you say something different? What we walked in on was murder. That's the real reason you ran. Well, you're worse than that little tenor. I didn't kill Felix. Remember? I was in jail. You weren't in jail when Jerry Mace was killed, huh? You don't understand why the same clues were always left by the prairie dog. Of course not. You're dumb like everybody else so it never occurs to you those clues, the cigarettes ground out, the special matches, the greasy glove marks, the tennis shoes were only to make people think in terms of one man. But suppose the prairie dog is two men, working together. And how to fool people. Not bad. Each would have an alibi one time or another, all sorts of neat ramifications. That's a pretty word. And you're trying to make something against me just because you think I was wearing tennis shoes. Well, you don't make sense. Look. That's left. Just pair in a city dog. And don't the rest of your memory work? Felix gave a yell. The cops started after me. I've been in jail ever since. My hair I got dragged in with. No spares in my pocket. See? That's why I'm so sure it's you. You've changed shoes. When? When can I change my shoes? You had to change them. Your murder of Felix was interrupted by us and there you were with all the evidence ready for planting. Well, you could save yourself on the matches and cigarettes by that little pick pocket exhibition in jail. But if you'd been caught with the shoes on, they would have hung you. So, I wish the pair of hard ones out of the air. Mr. Mr. When? When could I have? Only one person who could be your partner. Only one person you could have given the evidence to so he could go ahead and kill Felix and get you off the hook as well as collect the loot. Only one person you could have run to when you knew the cops had you surrounded and it wouldn't have you any second. The guy who caught you. That barber. Tony. Yeah? Is that so? The only way it could work, Buster. Just like the only way Jerry Mays could have had his pockets emptied before he was shoved in front of that train. He couldn't have been slugged in public and then rolled an end push, could he? George, that's right. Yeah, ain't sure we missed that before. His outside pockets were empty. In the crowd, the only way that could have happened was if a pick pocket did it before Jerry even though he was there. So you hung yourself on that one, Buster, showing off your ability. Now come on. We're going to go see the barber about a two-headed haircut. Look out, George! Thanks for giving me an excuse, Buster! And it was the barber. No one would ever have guessed if he'd been given time to get rid of the things he stole from Felix. Yeah, a couple of pretty sharp boys, Angel. Like Sniffy's act of being a bum. Just a nuisance trying to resist the urge to pick pockets. The barber pretended to catch it. The last two guys anybody possibly suspect. Except you. Only way it could work. Well, that's the end of the prairie dog. Both of them. I thought the prairie might be a real place. I mean, when Lieutenant Johnson first told us about it. Oh. I thought for once we might be lucky. Buster, some nice places out in the desert. Real fancy places where there's sun and moonlight. Things. You like those places? Well, it's a little nicer setting. I mean for... Oh, well, anyway. Yeah, I know, Angel. You and I might get out there sometime. But who knows what might happen? A bomb might go off. With warm weather coming on, it's wise to get your car all ready for spring driving. Motoring that's not only safe, but economical. There's one check you can make right now which may save you a good-sized repair bill later on. That's to drive into any independent chevron gas station or standard station and have them check your front wheel bearings. These vital bearings should be repacked with fresh protective lubricant regularly. Badly adjusted or damaged bearings can cause excessive tire wear. Pound out bushings and kingpins. Make steering hard and dangerous. A real hazard to safe driving. So for your own economy and safety, take a look at your mileage since you last had your bearings checked. And if they're due for a repack, let the car savers lubricate them with RPM wheel bearing grease. Ask for this car saver service at standard stations and independent chevron gas stations where they say, and mean, we take better care of your car. Tonight's transcribed adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard Oil Company of California on behalf of independent chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the west. Robert Bailey is starred as George with Virginia Gregg as Bruxy. Let George do it is written by David Victor and Jackson Gillis and directed by Don Clark. Ken Christie was heard as Lieutenant Johnson. Bob Jellison as Sniffy. Bill Conrad as Felix. Joe Forte as Caligari. Frank Gerstle as Mace. And Don Diamond as Tony. This music was composed and presented by Eddie Dunstetter, your announcer, John Heaston. Listen again next week, same time, same station, to Let George do it. Let George do it is heard overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. This is the mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System.