 Halls of Ivy starring Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman. Ronald Coleman inviting you to join us again on the campus of Ivy College. Welcome again to Ivy, Ivy College that is in the town of Ivy USA. Every college president to be successful must have some talent for improvisation and all good improvising being compounded of memory and vagueness and facility. The position of these qualities makes Dr. William Todd Hunter Hall, Ivy's president, a gifted extemporizer. Just now as his decorative white Victoria enters the room he's applying his knack for improvisation to the piano. Vicki, I didn't see you come in. Possibly I had my eyes closed. You wouldn't have seen me if it had them wide open darling. I came in behind you and just sat down. I would have known it because with your entrance the room always lights up a little. What were you playing? Oh I have the slightest idea my sweet. My hands were on the keys but my mind was not. I suppose I play for the same reason that some men whittle or tie trout flies or doodle on blotters. And you not being here to look at I was just giving my eyes a rest. From what Toddy? From this book. Here. Studies in graphology. Oh handwriting. Yeah and you hobby. No I was checking various types of handwriting for a specific purpose. You know the bookmark. Oh quite a bookmark a check for $2,500. You must have joined the Bookie of the Month Club. What horse was it? It is a dark horse a horse of another color or a horse on me depending on the viewpoint. And you'll notice that the check is typed out to the Ivy Glee Club. The only handwriting is the signature. Abraham Smith. Who's he? That's what I'm trying to discover. Why does the Glee Club want to know who Mr. Smith is? Why don't they just cash the check with a happy little cry. Thank you Mr. Smith and go buy some mandolin picks. That's the problem. We want to thank the generous Mr. Smith but we don't know who he is. Well ask the Ivy First National Bank. They have the account. Well the Ivy First National Bank states courteously but unequivocally that they cannot reveal such information. They intimated that Mr. Smith is a fictitious name used for charitable purposes. It was suggested in bankerish terms of course that I let sleeping dogs lie, let well enough alone, do not stir up the mare's nest, refrain from looking gift horses in the mouth and other assorted cliches to the effect that I should mind my own business. But not to be rude dear if I don't you. Officially I'm going to but unofficially my curiosity is so aroused. Somebody at the door tell me and I hope it's Ellery Queen or Charlie Chan. I could use a little detective assistance. Well Professor Warren come in. Victoria just passing by so I thought I wouldn't. Am I in opportunity to say not in fact you can have a key to the front door any time you want it. Sit down professor and let's settle a few world problems. Thanks I will sit down that is but I'm afraid world problems will have to wait into. What's the matter a spring lose that. Seem to have sat on a book. I try to get all mine bound in limp leather studies and graphology. Who's going in for handwriting analysis. William is doing some detective work. I just stand around smoking my pipe and being elementary like Dr Watson. I'm finding it quite fascinating Joseph when you consider that an individual's handwriting is actually a projection of his personality the result of. I just thought of something well I said me it's perfectly permissible even admirable for a college president to think of something now and then. What's on your mind son. Are you Abraham Smith who's Abraham Smith the brother they didn't have room for on the cough drops. No and either you are an excellent actor or you're not the man I'm looking for it seems quite a reasonable idea you're the only member of the faculty I know who's financially able and would be willing to donate twenty five hundred dollars to a good cause under an assumed name well thanks but on the rare occasions when I perform any good works I signed them Joe Warren my credit in heaven is so over extended and I got such a late start mending memorial fences that I can't afford to be on modest. What is all about what is using that name I made a check out the Ivy Glee Club and will you want to find out who it is so we can thank him or to give you a little background the Glee Club was short of funds they couldn't buy costumes or new musical arrangements for their annual tour and then a mysterious Abraham Smith mounts his ballpoint pen and rides to the rescue with this check. Let's see it. Recognize the handwriting professor nope but as one detective to another you can rule out anybody in either the engineering accounting or medical departments not precise enough for an engineer and accountant and the first thing a medical student learns is to write so only an experienced pharmacist can read it. But I think obscurity in writing is demanded by the medical profession. You see medical men quite properly for the safety of the public are conservative which is probably why with the foundations of medicine going back to the Phoenicians and the Egyptians doctors have retained the use of hieroglyphics in writing prescriptions. It lends itself admirably to to the abbreviation an abbreviation which extends even to the gown supplied to hospital patients. Here we go again. These dreadful garments originally designed I'm sure the victims of the Spanish Inquisition on the way to the stake that they do have I suppose some utilitarian value to the practitioners of surgery. However when you consider that the fabric of which a hospital gown is composed a blend of cactus fibers and low grade sandpaper diabolically compounded for the abrasion of both soul and epidermis. How did I get here in the hospital and I have a conversational accident. Yes you did you were struck by a runaway digression. You got any other guesses about Abraham Smith. I'm familiar with college affairs and you I thought is a wealthy novelist. Oh please please just because I sold myself down the literary river and typed out 450 pages of fraudulent history and busty intrigue. Don't go throwing my ill gotten gains at me. Wait a minute. Let me see that check again. You have a hunch. Well I could be wrong but I think I've seen that type writing somewhere. See that crooked W in that lopsided. Oh yes. Where did you see it. I have the slightest idea. But it was quite recently. Look can you spare this check for a few hours until tomorrow morning I have to turn it to the manager the glee club Tommy Thornhill. He seemed to think I might have scorned to Guatemala with it. I'll give it to Tommy if you like. He has an early morning class with me but I'll check this and if I hit anything I'll tell a phone. Finding graphology very interesting Vicky you see see this example you see that the high stem and the slim loop indicates a high regard for personal dignity. Of course if I were to comb the student body and the faculty for someone with a high sense of dignity the search would broaden out of some three hundred people. Now on the other hand they take this sample here near where did I put the small be with the initial hook indicating an animated conversation list. Do we know. Vicky. I was listening I think a sense of dignity three hundred people. Yes yes darling and combined with a strong Davis in a no small family from the Cranibas or am I being must have frightened as to brow that's right couldn't be anything else. Victoria yes you come home darling all is forgiven. I know I know three hundred small bees. I was looking for something have you seen my hairpins hairpins well no I don't think I came in here I had a little white cardboard box full of hairpins I don't remember where put them well I think we can eliminate Professor Warren his scalp is so bereft of foliage that happens would be done sorry I live through this. I had the box in my hand when you were playing the piano and then when Professor Warren came in I set the box down so much oh well if that's Professor Warren telling me if he returns my hairpins will ask no embarrassing question as if he can tell me who Abraham Smith is I'll buy him a permanent way. Oh yes professor yes you did who good heavens you're joking I really thank you very much yes I'll keep you out of it but professor I owe you a permanent way wish you prefer poodle or stay. I know I'll explain it later goodbye obviously answer was what. And how readily I ignored the rules of graphology how after all the high sense of dignity the rapid conversation of course I thought it please. What do you don't do this to me. Do what darling what was it Mr. Wellman Mr. Clarence Wellman. No yes. I had to believe. I take back a lot of things I've said about Mr. Wellman yet not all of them just. I know but as Coleridge said think not of his errors now remember his greatness his munificence think on all the lovely features of his character let's not go mad you know. Anyway Sherlock the case is closed the mystery is solved and you can put up put on your smoking jacket and play a violin I'm sorry Watson but cases have been few and I gave my file into the land lady in lieu of rent however we still have the piano. My goodness what happened to the piano they must have fallen in. Where beauty is lost is music gain I rather like the honky tonk effect. Presentation of the Halls of Ivy starring Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman return to the Halls of Ivy we find Dr. Mrs. Hall discussing Mr. Wellman who turned out to be the mysterious Abraham Smith who sent a generous check to the Ivy Glee Club Tommy Thornhill the Glee Club student manager is also present Dr. Hall is saying but Professor Warren has the check Tommy he'll give it you tomorrow if it was Professor Warren who discovered Mr. Smith's real name can't be doing Mrs. Law and who was it obviously someone who is closely connected with the college but I'm afraid we can't divulge either the method or the individual Tommy he evidently desires anonymity and we must respect it OK but we'd sure like to give him a few courses of happy days he got the Glee Club off a bad spot can't even give me a hint Dr. Hall if I had just his last name in his phone number I could figure the rest of it out myself. I'm sorry for one thing a person who goes to such length to conceal his generous instincts would quite properly resent our prying into his identity however much we would like to thank him you see Tommy Dr. Hall places great emphasis on good manners he says that our social machinery is oiled by courtesy and that please and thank you are the three little squirts that keep it running. I didn't say that at all I know I know I added the three little squirt bit myself. Anyway Tommy when he can't thank someone for something they've done it hurts him it hurts me too Mrs. Hall and if Dr. Hall can think up some way we can show our appreciation without spilling any beans we certainly think I will sounds like you've got visitors or I'd run along I won't be necessary Tommy I think Dr. Hall Mrs. Hall my phone I didn't know you had a wellman this is Tommy Thornhill student manager of the Glee Club that Mr. Wellman Tommy evening evening. This is a business meeting I mean my interrupting of that is I was really I was told not at all Mr. Wellman Tommy was here to see if he could find some way of thanking a mysterious benefactor of the Glee Club and Mr. Wellman some shy angel yanked us out of the red with twenty five hundred bucks and we can't find out who he is to pen a garden on him I told Thornhill that the donors privacy must be respected Mr. Wellman of course of course can't go snooping into a fair like that man wants to help somebody without any brass flags I mean a band's waving what I mean is that you say you manage the Glee Club of Thorndyke. Yes I'm the student manager Mr. Wellman and my name is Thornhill not Thorndyke so it was spelled M. U. D. Until this check came along now I can get the show on the road thanks to Mr. Smith Mr. Smith Mr. Wellman the mysterious friend who sent the check if I knew who it was I'd give him a kiss please I miss all I don't think it calls for any such emotional display I mean this miss fellow who ever gets must be very bad by the way I'm an old Glee Club man myself Thornhill yes I know that Mr. Wellman I've seen your picture you were a tenor straw hat and a king class of was it nineteen thirteen and nineteen forty not a factor I was student manager myself had a rough time to know money empty treasury people seem to think we've traveled on freight cars and eight grass promises promises promises wrote a song about it in fact well that's very interesting Mr. Wellman then you probably know how much the club appreciates the generous Mr. Smith well I'm glad to have I mean glad to have had the experience myself managing the club with no money so I'll tell you yes I suppose they might think well of this Smith don't know who he is I don't but Dr. Hawes says that it must be someone who was close to the college you know he wouldn't have known about the league how difficult it is very likely a good thing but I wouldn't be nosy about it probably some sentimental old grad more money than sense by the way Mr. Wellman what was the song you wrote about getting all promises and no money not a very good song really a corny I believe is the word Mrs. Hall would know yeah I called it fair weather friends with a full chorus and a good accompaniment that didn't sound too bad but as a solo well with some good music available it was it was like like carrying coals to her. Wait a minute fair weather friends and the one that goes like this fair weather friends fair weather friends imagine anyone remembering is a wonderful town where have you gone when it's obvious Tommy why you're the manager of the club instead of a scene. To find the corner of the rest of the the. How do you know about this song well when it looked like we were a short of money for new arrangements Mrs Hall we started going through the trunks for some oldies somebody came up with this fair weather friends and it was great real barbershop stuff really you liked it from the idea of my goodness I never would have made my song I'd like to hear the club sing again sometime sure they'll be happy to do it for you Mr. Wellman if only by way of thanks maybe I'm a little thanks for what Dr Hall and writing in 1914 what looks like a nice heart revival in nineteen fifty two Mr. Wellman yes yes it is good as a donation oh yes. Well glad you can use it or we'll use it all right sir well thanks Dr. Hall Mrs Hall nice to meet you Mr. Wellman everybody fine boy that's long ball. Think of them digging up my song after all these. What if I could remember the whole thing and may I use your piano certainly Mr. Wellman but you won't like it it's. A lot of tune. Let me see. Is that me or is it the piano. Happens Mr. Wellman. Well of all I knew you had your little eccentricities Dr Hall but filling your piano with happens is. I didn't come here to discuss music it's about the first National Bank of Ivy I'm a VP as you know seems that you call them trying to find out who sent that check to the Glee Club well it seemed too bad that such a generous gesture should go unsanct Mr. Wellman so you took it upon yourself to snoop and cry if this mysterious a contributor or whatever his name is Ezekiel Smith Abraham Smith this. How do you do Mr. Smith you. You know all the time. Not all the time and then don't don't blame your bank Mr. Wellman they gave no information someone who will be very discreet recognized your type writing Mr. Wellman but who I mean how I thought I'd take it every pre-court I mean even so who had the opportunity to I mean look well when a man tries to remain anonymous in a thing like this white as well well it was well if this privacy isn't can't be respect well man for what is it. Any any prying or snooping which was done was my fault and mine alone I simply couldn't bear the thought of such a helpful act not being acknowledged rest assured that your identity is known to only three people Mrs. Hall myself and one none of us will divulge it without your permission now with this assurance permit me on behalf of the college and the Glee Club to express our very great thanks. Well sure nobody will all I mean if this doesn't get all over the campus and will. You're welcome. How about tomorrow taught it to my oh yes yes Mr. Wellman now what about by way of a small celebration over having been financially rescued the Glee Club is having a small luncheon tomorrow expense. The Dutch treat Mr. Wellman and you are the little Dutch boy who stuck his checkbook into the dyke. And please I did. If you don't mind I'd like to see a few techniques we haven't used at the board of governors Mr. Wellman as chairman I've made a note of it. A gentleman the Ivy Glee Club has with it this noon to very good friends President Hall a baritone with a steady job who is always welcome at any face for I have ours as well and chairman of the board of governors to whom we are special debt of gratitude. I didn't when it looked like we'd never get our pitchforks off the campus we went through the files looking for all numbers that didn't need new arrangements and it was a song written years ago by Mr. Wellman that snapped up the repertoire on your feet gentlemen and show him our top number for this year as it was the top number I'm sure in 1914 fair weather friends. My song. Take it boys.