 I hope I haven't kept you waiting. Yes, this is the crime club. I'm the librarian. No time for murder. Yes, we have that story for you. Come right over. You're here. Good. Take the easy chair by the window. Comfortable. The manuscript is on this shelf. Here it is. No time for murder. The very intriguing story of a clock that chimed in with death. Let's look at it under the reading lamp. It was early evening and Peter Woods, a young lawyer, had time to kill before his appointment with Hilda Ryan, his fiance. So he took a walk along Madison Avenue, which was practically deserted. Then he stopped to window browse outside a bookshop. He was just getting interested in some of the titles when he was joined by a couple. He's stopping here for a dick. Maybe I like books. Maybe you don't. Maybe you're just stalling for time. Oh, Steve. Oh, let go of my arm. You are hurting me. And I then let's get moving. No. Now you don't really mean that, do you, baby? Steve. Excuse me, mister. I don't like to break into a love scene. Well, then don't, pal. Take your hand off her. Okay, so go ahead. Now I'll give it to you. No, Steve, don't. Oh, you knocked him out. Huh? With one punch. Yeah. Maybe I'm stronger than I thought. What is your name on me? Peter Woods. Oh, Peter, darling. How can I thank you? Look, Dick. If it had not been for you, I would have been... Oh, you've done some time, officer. This girl was being molested. Yeah, by whom? That man down... What man down where, buddy? Well, he disappeared. He was just lying there, officer. Let me smell your breath. I'm not drunk. Ask this lady. She'll tell you what happened. You bet I will. Officer of this man, Peter Woods, he tried to kill me. You hear that? And if I hadn't stepped in, why, what? What did you say? You tried to kill me. And all because... Yeah, darling, dear. Now, we've got a place for men like you. Now, wait a minute. This girl's framing me. Yeah. Well, tell it to the judge. He's a great one for fairy tales. The accused, Peter Woods, having been charged by the complainant, Dixie Martel, with bologna and sestalt, with intent to kill is remanded for questioning by the grand jury of this county. Bail is hereby set at $1,000. Hello, Hilda Ryan speaking. And if it's you, Peter Woods... It's me, Peter Woods. Don't you dare say another word. I'm sorry, Hilda. You had an appointment to meet me here in my apartment at 7 o'clock. You were going to take me out to dinner and to the theater for the first time in six months. Hi, I know, dear. It's 11 o'clock now. Well? Hi. Why didn't you call me? I'm in the district attorney's office. Hmm? Of course. Well, as long as you're working on a case. Yes, honey, and it's all mine. Well, I should hope so. You know what I think of lawyers who split feet? The defendant, too. You? I'm being held for the grand jury. Good heavens. What have you done? Nothing. Oh, no. I mean it. I never saw that girl before in my life. What girl? Dixie Martell. I was walking along Madison Avenue and she and her fellow by the name of... What did she say you did to her? A song. What? With intent to kill. But she's out of her mind. Why? She told the judge in night court that I tried to pick her up. Oh! Jail? Well, that's where they're going to take me now. And if a jury believes that girl, I'll go to Singsing for five years. And I'll be disbarred. Oh, Pete. I'm just a big dope. Darling, if you could come down to the DA's office and bring a thousand dollars... Bring a what? My bail money. Otherwise, I'll have to stay in jail until the grand jury gets around to me. But where am I going to get a thousand dollars now? How about your relatives? I've been lending them money. Oh, thank you. That means I'll have to go to the bank. Hilda, I love you. Oh, my truth's on money. Don't get it back. After the jury says not guilty. Yes. And it better say not guilty. Or I'll see that you get life. Pete, if your girlfriend were home... She's not my girlfriend, Hilda. Well, all right then. If Dixie Martell were in her apartment, she'd have opened that door long ago. Don't think I haven't thought of it. Then why do you keep buzzing? Hope springs eternal. Come on, we'll get some lunch and men come back. Maybe by that time... I'm not giving up the watch, darling. But we could be easy. I'm going to be here when Dixie comes home and she's going to tell me why she cooked up that... Pete! Take it easy, Hilda. It's not the mysterious traveler. But the door... I leaned against it. Then it wasn't locked. Well, how did you figure that out, darling? Well, you said... Listen to me, Peter. What's the next time you get into trouble? Get somebody else to put a bail for you. All right. Find me another girl with trousseau money. Pete. Have you got one? Are you going in there? Of course. But I... We came here to see Dixie. Does that mean we've got to stand in the hall till she gets here? I know, dear, but... She can be sitting down. Look. Comfortable chairs. And a sofa. Pete, isn't there a law in this state against unlawful entry? In a lot of states, Hilda. Then why take chances of being arrested again? Aren't you in enough trouble? Hmm? How many grand juries do you want to face? You're right, sweetheart. Let's go back to the hall. Oh! Well, come on, will you? Before Dixie barges in. Ah! Ah! What's the matter with you? Look... Behind the open door. Don't tell me it's... Good grief. Is that... Dixie Martell? It was, Hilda. Oh, Pete. Now, it's just her mortal remains. Aaaaaaah! Well, Pete? Yeah, she was strangled, Hilda. Oh... Took you a long time to find out. I was looking for a bullet wound or a knife wound, you know. I'd rather not. Then I noticed the marks on our throat. I thought there'd be fingerprint impressions, but there weren't. Oh... Whoever killed her must have worn gloves or used a... What's the matter, Hilda? Don't you feel well? I couldn't feel worse. Come on, let's get over to the window. That won't do any good. Pressure. Let's get out of here, Pete. I can't. You're not hypnotized, are you? I can't run away from it, Hilda. What are you talking about? Murder. Hmm? Dixie's murder. The police will say I did it. Oh, no. Don't kid yourself, honey. They said. And I'll have the Devil's own time proving I didn't. But what about me? Don't you think I'll have something to say? Yeah. After all, it isn't as if you found Dixie dead and then told me about it. Yeah. I was with you and I've been with you all morning. That's the trouble, darling. What? You posted bail for me. Now, what in the world does that mean? You've got a special interest in me and when we tell the police and the district attorney that we're engaged to be married. Oh. Understand? They'll say I'm prejudiced in your favor and therefore... Oh, but Pete, what are we going to do? There's only one thing, Hilda. Yes? I'm a lawyer and officer of the court and I'm not supposed to do it. Hmm? I'm not supposed to conceal a crime. Uh-huh. As a matter of fact, no citizen should conceal a crime from the police. But in this case... Thanks for coming out of the where for it. What? Let's have the to it. I don't follow you, Hilda. Don't try. You just got lost in your legal training. What was I saying? In this case... You're not going to tell the police about Dixie Montel. That's right. But Pete, we can't just leave her here. We'll have to, honey, until I find out who killed her. Very, very interesting. Oh! Oh, hello, Steve. You're a lawyer, huh? Hmm... What law school did you go to? Not the one you're going to, Steve. I've been there. And I learned the value of a closed door. Pete! It's too late, Hilda. The horse is in. Uh... Let's take a look at that eye, Steve. Got from where you're standing? Don't be afraid. I won't hurt your gun. Pete is, uh, the man you told me about. Yeah, the guy who threatened Dixie and got clipped. Uh, nice shade of blue I'm wearing this season, huh? Why did you come here, Steve? Why? I mean, at this particular time. I get impulses, baby. Like the one that strangled Dixie? Huh? Ha-ha-ha. Don't try to laugh it off, Steve. She tried to get away from you last night. You don't say. Are you denying it? Ha-ha-ha. You killed her, Steve. And before you left the building, you saw Hilda and me coming in. So you hung around. Uh, just to nab you with the goods, then. Why did you kill her? Uh, listen, pal, would your name be Peter Wood? Never mind changing the subject. Answer that on. Yeah, I, uh, I knew I saw that face someplace. Matt is 11. Matt just straights courts last night. Is it true what Dixie said about you? Okay, Steve, play dumb. And she was a friend of mine, Pete, and now look at her behind the door. Oh, well, well, let's tell the police about this, P.D. Boy. Get away from that phone. Don't be ridiculous. It's a public utility. I'm with you, Steve. Oh, you dumb clock. No, you're a dumb clock. A lady screams when you turn around. Gentlemen, Steve. I'll break you in half. Swing him around this way, Pete. I'll hit him with this flower pot. All right, Hillet. It's not all right. Can't you two stop dancing for a minute? I'll kill you, Wood. No, Hillet. No! Here, that, Dutchess. Thank you, pretty little charmant. Pete. Oh, Pete, darling. I got the wrong man. Oh, Rod. Pete. All right, Hillet. No. Pete, will you ever forgive me? No, Hillet. It's all over, darling. I hit you by mistake. Oh, dumb clock. A lady screams. What did you say? I was all set to hit him, Pete. And then he swung you around. Oh, my egging head. Is there something you'd like me to do? Yes, but not now. Where's Steve? He left with his gun. Didn't he phone the police? No. Oh, so he was bluffing. Uh, help me up. Sit there for a minute. I've got something I'd like you to see. Hillet. This piece of paper. What is it? Read it. All right, if I can see straight. Hmm. Prepare a ticket for a clock. So? Well, when I hit you on the head with the flower pot, the pot broke and this ticket fell out. Oh, Carl Andrews, jewelry sold, clocks repaired, 980 East 69th Street. That should be on the next block, Pete. Now why should Dixie bury a repair ticket for an ordinary clock? Maybe it isn't an ordinary clock. Uh-huh. Uh, help me up, sweetheart. I think I've seen everything. Good afternoon. Can I help you? Are you Mr. Carl Andrews? I have been for 56 years. You know, what can I do for you? Oh, we have a ticket for a clock that was left here by Dixie Martel. Miss Dixie Martel? Oh, yes, yes. And may I have the ticket, please? Thank you, sir. Well, let me see. Where did I put that clock? Oh, yes, yes, yes. I remember. Here it is. Shall I wrap it up? Well, let's see it first. Oh, of course. Oh, Pete, it's beautiful. Yeah. Now, what would Dixie be doing with it? I never can tell, Helden. I wish he used it to tell time. But a thing like that. It's a real antique, ma'am. Oh, that's what I mean, Mr. Andrews. And very expensive. A collector's item, if you don't mind my saying so. Oh, we don't mind. Then perhaps you won't mind if I ask you a question. Hmm? I am responsible for this clock, and if you are strangers to me, of course you brought in the ticket, but you want to know how we got it. Yes. Please don't be offended. Well, not a straight question. Calls for a straight answer. Thank you so much. We got it from Dixie. Miss Martell, to you. Naturally. She had to go away a long vacation. Oh, you poor girl. I told her she was working too hard. I guess being a nightclub dancer is a very difficult profession. It keeps a girl on her toes, Mr. Andrews. Of course I do hate to lose a good customer, but what is best for her is to... Well, you understand. Perfectly. Will she be coming back someday? I don't think so. Her plans were very dull. Oh, that is too bad. Well, if you should see her employer, tell him I'm sorry he's lost such a good performance. Do you know her employer too? Oh, indeed I do. Mr. Jackson is one of my best customers. He owns the Pelican Club on West 49th Street, you know. And the clocks there... Are never on time. I see you know, Mr. Jackson. Are you sure you wouldn't like me to wrap the clock for you? Sure. Well then, if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to my work. People get so angry when their clocks are not ready on time. Good day. Same to you. Now, that's a sweet old man. Uh-huh. Meet the next time we have a clock that needs fixing or some jewelry that needs buying. I'll keep it in mind. Still there. Didn't you notice something queer about that sweet old man? Queer? He didn't ask me to pay him. Pay him for what? The work he did on the clock. Oh. Well, maybe Dixie did that before. You know, in advance. Boy, how you women stick together. Come on, let's get a cab. Peter, you crazy? You will find out. This isn't utopia. Cab rides cost money. Take a look at the back of this clock. A metal plaque. Read it. From the collection of S. Parker Jackson. Well, all right. Mr. Andrews said. What you get at, honey? S. Parker Jackson. Excuse me, dear. This is my dumb afternoon. S. Parker Jackson might be the fancy moniker for a guy named Steve. Oh. Oh. Don't explode, darling. I need you. This darn traffic, it'll take us a year to get there. Oh, well. Hilda, for Jiminy's sake, will you stop playing with that clock? I'm only trying to wind it, Pete. Only trying. You've been turning that gimmick for ten minutes. You must have broken the spring. Oh, we'll find out. Steve? Hey, take it easy. That thing's an antique. You shake the guts out of it. I've shaken something out of it. A drawer. In the base of the clock. Pete, look what's in it. Let me see. Stuck with glue or something. Hilda, I love you. Hmm? These are diamonds. What? Those four pieces of glass? Uncut diamonds. I'll bet this drawer wasn't in the clock when Steve Jackson bought it. Pete, do you know what you're talking about? I've got an idea. Those robberies in the diamond center for the past year. Oh, no. You've read about them, haven't you? Yes. All right, dear, you're getting off the next corner. Oh, now, Pete. No arguments, honey. I've got plans. And I've got a thousand dollars wrapped up in you. Harder than money. Do this for me and I'll owe you my life. Would you go to the Pelican Club without me? Yes, dear. But you'll be there, too. Hello, Mr. Jackson. Huh? Well, Pete's. Well, if it isn't my old friend, come in. How's your head? S-parkhead, Jackson. Yeah, I come from Goodstock. Bottled and bonded. Yeah. How, uh, how'd you get in here? I walked. That's quite an office you've got. Mmm. I like comfort. And those clocks on the walls. Some collection. Uh, mind if I look at them? Who, um, who told you about this place? A clock that Dixie had given to Mr. Carl Andrews for repair. Andrews? Ooh, Andrews. He, uh, he does all my repair work. Yeah, so he says. Where is that clock? How much is it worth to you? Let's say your life. Ooh. You talk big. Where's that clock, Pete? Now, look, Steve, I'm a lawyer. I get paid for asking questions. You'll get paid off if you... Yeah? Okay, name your price. What does that clock mean so much to you? It's valuable. The only one of its kind in the world. A portable diamond mine, hmm? What'd you say? I'm giving the answers now, Steve. All those clocks on the walls, those rare antique clocks, are loaded with diamonds that were stolen from the diamond center. Er, that crack you got on the skull went right through the brain, didn't it? Right through with a ticket. Now, let's have it, Mr. S. Parker Jackson. You killed Dixie Martell because she stole one of your clocks with diamonds in it. Killed Dixie Martell? Remember that body behind the door? There's a hospital a few blocks from here. You better go there right away. Killed Dixie Martell. Oh, that's very funny, isn't it? Well, it's a riot, a body behind the door. You've been seeing things, pal. Now, wait a minute. Dixie or Corp, when she hears about this, come on, I want you to tell her. What? Dixie Martell, she's upstairs rehearsing a new number. You mean that she's here in this club? Yeah, all here. But, well then, who was the dead girl in her apartment? Dead girl? What dead girl? Rehearsal room, Pete. Let's stop. So that's Dixie, huh? Always was, pal. I'll introduce you to it. Cut it, baby. Yes, sir, sir. Hi, Steve. Like the new routine? I am. Hey, Dixie, I wanted to meet Peter Woods. Oh. Oh. From Hollywood? Nah, from hunger. He's a lawyer. Oh. Well, he's a friend of yours. Now, listen, let's watch your name. It's Dixie Martell, honey. Yeah, since when? Since... Say, what is this, Steve, a census taker? That jerk, baby. Thinks you're a corp. What? A what? You know what people say nice things about... You're misrepresenting, Steve. She's not the girl we saw. She's Dixie Martell, Pete. But she's not the... And you know it. Don't you tell me who I am. All right, I won't, but I'll tell you what you are. Yeah, go ahead. You're, uh... Waitin', mister. You're, uh... Well? What's the difference? You're not Dixie Martell. Get him outta here, Steve. Get him out before I wrap him up a burial. Funny scene. Quite a funny scene. What's the matter with you, huh? I've got work to do. New routine. That's gotta be ready by tonight. Well, then work. Let's go, Pete. Yeah. Well, goodbye, miss. What's your name? Oh, go feed yourself to the squirrels. Some number, huh? Yeah, that's what I've been thinking. Let's go down to your office, Steve. Maybe I'll find a number for you, too. And, uh... You hear, Pete, some of the publicity we've sent out on Dixie. You'll break into nice papers. With or without pictures? With. Here's a couple of pictures. Steve, either you're a guy with plenty of gall or you're just plain... You're getting weaker, pal. These are pictures of the girl upstairs. Dixie Martell. What's the gag? Who do you think you're gonna kid with a stunt? Oh, you're getting tough again. Now, look, Steve, I'm not crazy. And neither is Hilda. There was a dead girl in that apartment. We all saw her. You were going to phone the police. Was I? That girl was Dixie Martell. And the girl upstairs... Oh... I have a feeling I don't know, but perhaps... Dr. Baker. Oh, excuse me, pal. Yeah? Come on. Oh, so you're still talking? Oh, me? What is this? Don't tell me you don't know. Around the dead supposed to be her. What? Yes. You recognize the voice now, don't you? Dixie Martell. No. How does it feel listening to a ghost? I'll let you know. You thought I was dead, didn't you? You were so sure. The guy who does such a perfect job on everything... Oh, wait a minute, sweetheart. Oh, you're mad. Okay, but... You tried to kill me. And why? Just because I swiped one of your lousy clocks with diamonds in it. Was that a reason for the murder? Oh, that's a big question, honey. I can't answer it now. That's all right with me, Steve. You're through. Well, in trouble, Steve. It's all done. Well, when you have too many... It was your girl, Pete. Huh? Hilda. You put her up to it, didn't you? Now, chum, if I knew what you were talking about... She makes a very bad ghost chum. Oh, that! Yeah! Don't reach for that gun, Steve. I've got one right here in my pocket. That fact of fiction... Don't try to find out. Uh-huh. Once the lawyer? Oh, the lawyer? What does that mean? How much? For you, 2,000 votes. Now, how about 50,000 bucks for you? In cash? In cash. All right, Steve. Get on that phone and call the police. No, Dyson. The police have. Okay. What do I tell them? About diamonds and Dixie and death. You're really nuts. Squirrel food. And while you're dialing the operator, you can tell me all about that girl upstairs you were posing as Dixie Martell. Oh, you mean Mona. Mona. A not so delectable slice of ham. Oh, you're wrong, pal. She's very delectable. Very delectable. Nice work, Mona. Your timing was perfect. Oh, thanks for leaving the door open, Steve. Everybody wants to get in the act. But you, baby, you belong. What do we do with him? Leave him there. Come on. Help me get the clock down from the wall. Clock? Steve, we. Come on, honey. Time marches on. We've got to keep them set. Pete. Now, Hilda. All right, Hilda. Now. I didn't do it, Pete. You can't blame me for everything that happens to you. Now, get up. Yeah, yeah. Get up. It's a club. Hilda. How do you do? What happened to me? That's what I'd like to know. How did I get down? Oh, yeah. Somebody hit me on the head. Who? I don't know. Steve was standing over there. I had him covered with a gun I didn't have in my pocket. A gun you didn't have? I took a chance and he fell for it. Then he. I know. Oh, now we'll get someplace. It was Mona. It must have been Mona. Who's Mona? That girl in the rehearsal room had pretended to be. Hey, the clocks. What happened to the clocks? Huh? The clocks that were in this room. The walls were covered with them. Pete, you poor darling. You're delirious. Two hits on the head in one day. They're gone, Steve. Mona, clocks and diamonds. Beat it. Are you trying to me? No, no, no. The clocks that were full of diamonds with those two killers. Oh, dear. You mean I was Dixie's ghost for nothing? No, dear. Don't you realize the evidence is gone. And sooner or later, somebody will find Dixie's body in her apartment. The police will start asking me a lot of questions. What'll I tell them? Oh, excuse me? Oh, hello. I am looking for Mr. S. Parker Jackson. I have it. Oh, haven't I seen you two before, something? Of course you have. We were the two folks who, uh, you remember. Dixie Martell's clock? Oh, yes. You will pardon my bad memory, I hope. How are you? Oh, so-so. Oh, that's too bad. And you, young lady? Oh, fine, Mr. Andrews. And you? Oh, I can't complain. Are you waiting for Mr. Jackson? Oh, is it? Uh, is that a clock you've got in that package? Yes, Mr. Jackson wanted me to repair it. A great rush. I had to promise to have it here exactly at this time. And now, will he be here soon? Maybe, if we can reach him. He hasn't gone away, I think. Well, after a fashion. But you can leave the clock. Leave it? With me. I'll see that it gets into the right hand. Well, I am sorry I cannot do that. Why not? Mr. Jackson is very particular about his clock. But you aren't. You're right. The one you repaired for Dixie was a very bad job. Well, I peed. That's right. It didn't go. Took you a long time to remember that, Hilda. How about you? Took me a long time, too. Now, Mr. Andrew. I am afraid I don't quite understand what you young people are talking about. Well, then let me put it this way. That clock you've got wrapped up has got a drawer in it. I did not notice. A drawer you put in it. That's the kind of repair work that you've been doing for Steve Jackson. I? Young men. Shall we check? Leave this package alone. We're checking, Mr. Andrew. I said, leave it alone. Ow! Please! Oh, hey. I'm sorry I did not mean to hurt you. Well, the old guy's got a grip like a pair of handcuffs. I'll come back later with Mr. Jackson. Just a minute. Don't stop me, young fellow. You won't take me by surprise again. You never knew what was going into those clocks, did you? I want you to get out of my way. But when Dixie Martell brought a clock to you, not for repair, but for safekeeping, you looked in the drawer. You saw the diamonds. I am warning you, young men. You took them. That is, you thought you took all of them. Then you went to her apartment this morning and strangled her. I am not going to warn you again. It's no use, Mr. Andrew. I can wrestle, too. You strangled her. No, I just... Just to make sure you could keep the diamonds. That wasn't nice, Mr. Andrews. That was murder. Oh, a hot dog, a bottle of pop, and dowels. I just can't get over it, Pete. Mr. Andrews. He did it. The police found the diamonds in the back of his store. Greed, greed, greed. Once is too much, Elder. Well, people won't do for money. Well, if they wouldn't do it, it'd be all right, but the trouble is, they do. You can't beat it, honey. Ask Mr. Andrews. And when you get through asking him, you can ask Steve and Mona. You think they'll get 20 years? Maybe 30. But if I were the judge... Someday, darling. Yes. Come on, let's get some peanut. Pete, what made you suspect Mr. Andrews? I was alive. What? And I wouldn't have been if Steve were a killer. Oh, you mean... That's right. I knew too much about his business, but he didn't kill me. And so, when Andrews came in... Make it simple, dear. I took a chance. That's all, and it worked. Well, where can I get peanuts around here? Are you going to eat them? Why not? Squirrels do. Are we any better? We're not even as smart. And so closes tonight's story, No Time for Murder. Steadman Coles wrote the radio script, The Power Produced and Directed. Myron McCormick played Peter Woods, Charlotte Lawrence was Hilda Ryan, Raymond Edward Johnson was Steve Jackson, Cameron Poudon played Carl Andrews, and Gene Ellen was Dixie Martel. Oh, I beg your pardon. Hello, I hope I haven't kept you waiting. Yes, this is the crime club. I'm the librarian. Yes, come over a week from tonight. Good. We have the very unusual story of a trip that was arranged by death. It's called cow hide. In the meantime... Well, in the meantime, there is a new crime club available this week and every week at bookstores everywhere. Yes, it's available now. Fine. And we'll look for you next week. This program came from New York. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.