 Blair of the Mounties, a story of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We present the 17th episode in Blair of the Mounties, in which we find Inspector Blair in an entirely new role. Beginning in the early years after the Great War, and steadily increasing through the next decade, the stream of deadly habit-forming drugs from the Orient into Canada and the United States has created a tremendous and baffling problem in crime detection. Assigned to special duty in connection with the drug traffic with headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, Blair has requisitioned his friend, Sergeant Marshall, to work with him. Very much worried at being called in to work in which he has no experience, we find Sergeant Marshall, as our scene opens, entering the office in Vancouver with his chief. There you are, Marshall. This is where we work. But this is a business office. Well, yes, I hope so, Marshall. But I don't see the idea. What's that name on the door? United Equity Company. Why, don't you like it? Yes, the name's all right. I'm glad you like it. You see, I invented it myself. Very appropriate. Equity is another name for justice. Got the idea? Yeah, but don't you have any trouble with callers? No, not particularly. Miss Guest handles that. Miss Guest? Yes, you'll have to meet her. She's over in Victoria today. Very efficient lady. Knows all about the drug business. Speak Oriental languages. Worth her weight in gold. You see. Oh, she's in the service. Yes, very interesting woman. You'll like her. Look here, Inspector, I want to talk to you about this job. Fine, sit down, Marshall. How's everything in Renfield? Oh, quiet, as usual. How's my old friend George Redmond, the sheriff? Same as ever. You know, I was rather glad to get away from George. Ever since that sudden case, he's been a nuisance. How do you mean? Well, you know George. To hear him talk, you'd think he was the one that first got onto Clayton. Good old George. But you're looking worried, Marshall. What's the trouble? Oh, it's this dope business. You know, Inspector, it's a highly technical game, and I don't know the first thing about it. Excellent. Yes, but listen, Inspector, it's a highly specialized business. A man has to be an expert. I've been 18 years in police work now. But when it comes to the drug traffic, I know less about it than the average city cop. So that's the trouble, is it? Yes, that's the trouble. That's funny. You know, three months ago, when I was assigned to this work, I was called to Ottawa to see the commissioner. He's a pretty big man, Marshall. I'll say he is. That's why I took a chance when I went in to see him. I came out flat-footed and told him I thought he was making a big mistake. Your what? Yes, I told him I didn't know a solid thing about the drug traffic. What did he say? No, he just laughed, said that was just why he'd picked me. Sounds a bit contradictory. Yes, that's how I looked to me at first, but the more I've thought about it since, the more I agree with him. Well, I hope you're right, Inspector. On that basis, I ought to be a first-class choice, but I don't follow that sort of reasoning. Look here, Marshall, the trouble of the world today, and modern police work in particular, is that everybody's trying to be too smart and technical. Well, but one has to move with the time. In a way, yes, but look at the Mounted Police as an organization. We're rather an old-fashioned lot when you come to think of it. You mean the uniform, red coats, stats and hats and all that sort of thing? Yes, that's part of it, but it goes deeper than that. Our system is still the simple old-fashioned style, yet the old force still keeps up a pretty good reputation for results. Yes, I've often wondered about it myself. The answer is, Marsh, that human nature is the most important thing in crime detection. Whether a criminal uses a knife or an automatic pistol, whether he makes it get away with a dog sled or a high-powered car, he's still the same sort of human machine with the same kind of a brain. Yes, I see. Yes, there's something in that. There's everything in it. Look at modern police work in general with filing systems, scientific methods and all that sort of stuff. And look at the criminals who get away. In a way, that's true. And look at modern trial systems, expert witnesses, psychiatrists, murder trials lasting for weeks. Those old days, it generally took a few hours. Well, the things were simpler then. Simpler, yes, but no easier. Just think of the old organization in the Northwest. Handful of policemen, a couple of judges and a hangman. They wouldn't have known a psychiatrist from a load of hay, but they knew a criminal when they saw one. Well, we're getting off the point. We have a lot of work to do. Anything special? Yes, a lot of dope filtering into the U.S. from the Orient lately, mostly through Seattle. What's that got to do with us? The U.S. authorities claim it's coming in through Canada. No, I don't think so. They have some pretty good men on the job down there and their systems ahead of ours. Certainly looks as if the bulk shipments come in here and are broken up for distribution across the body. Distributing plan seems to be somewhere up here. Any suspects? Yes, we have one or two. I'll talk about that later. Frankly, Inspector, I feel utterly helpless in starting this work. Surely there's some technical knowledge necessary. Oh, of course. Don't misunderstand me, Marshal. In the running down of peddlers and all that sort of work, the city police forces are very efficient. And in searching ships and so on, the customs people have plenty of good men working. We've nothing to do with that. Then what in the world is our job in this work? Toughest of all, we have to go after the men behind the racket if we can find them. Now I begin to see it. Yes. We have an idea that the people are financing and directing this work are pretty high up, probably very respectable. Sort of society job? Possibly. And now let me give you a few instructions. First of all, we stick the undercover in this work, plain clothes all the time. Know anybody out here? Oh, one or two friends. I'm afraid you'll have to keep away from them for the present at least. All right, that's easy. What's the first job? Oh, nothing definite yet. I'm interested in Mr. Abraham Farke. Suspected? Yes, he's our number one suspect at present. Leads a very respectable life. He's the director in the Fortuna Mining and Development Company. Offices in this building. I see. What a rather mining property. Well, there aren't any that I know of. This company has a new method for prospecting. It's all of instruments for finding minerals. They seem to have plenty of money to spend and do their traveling by sea plane a good deal. Sounds interesting. Yes, it may not be anything, but I'm checking up on Mr. Farke. His movements are very puzzling. Got anything on him? Not a thing, except our tip from the U.S. authorities. They claim he's been connected with suspicious rackets in the States and Mexico, but they've never been able to get anything on him. Pretty vague business, Inspector. Yes, it's vague all right. His fellow moves in good society of him. Since he came to Canada, he's been left strictly alone just to see what happened. Where is he now? Right here in this building. That's what puzzles me. Don't follow him, Inspector. All right, I'll explain. He left here a few days ago for a Victoria. Left there by the boat that goes up the west coast of the island. It takes several days to make the round trip, but he landed back here 12 hours after he started all on that boat. Well, isn't there some other boat connection? No, of course he came back by plane, but I'm interested in the place he got off on Vancouver Island. Should be possible to find that out? Of course, but remember we're working alone in this business. I don't want to cause any excitement by checking up through police channels. Miss Guest went over to Victoria yesterday. She's a regular ferret, but so far I haven't heard from her. Well, I must say, Inspector, you and I have been on some strange jobs, but this is the limit. Sending a woman out to check up on a suspect. That's a new one on me. Yes, there's a little novel, but bear in mind, Marshal, we leave the life of tourists. Don't go near police stations or telegraph offices except in emergency. You've got to learn to be terribly unofficial. Very well, sir. Hello, good afternoon, Miss Guest. Good afternoon, Inspector. I'll see you here, Miss Guest. What did I tell you about official titles? Oh, dear, I'm sorry. Well, don't do it again. This is my friend, Marshal, Miss Guest. How do you do it? I hope you'll have a pleasant holiday with us. Oh, yes, yes, of course. Thanks very much. Fine, that's the stuff, Marshal. Well, Miss Guest, any news? Yes, Parker got off at Kittleat Harbour. Kittleat? I see. Where's that? It's only a little way north of Victoria, on the west coast of the island, there's a small hotel there. Kittleat, yes. That sounds interesting. Anything else? Yes, he called on Commander Richford at Kittleat. And who is Commander Richford? He's a retired naval officer, very eccentric, they say. Lives in an old house on Kittleat Lagoon with his daughter. I have a letter of introduction to Miss Richford. Nice work, Miss Guest. That means, I suppose, that you're planning a trip to Kittleat. Well, of course, if you think it's necessary. Certainly, we'll all go. They said it's good fishing in Kittleat Lagoon. I think it's next in the idea. The boat leaves Victoria tomorrow morning at eight. Fine, get the transportation, Miss Guest. Remember, we're all strangers to each other. We get acquainted on the boat. Now, Marshal, we'll go up town and get you some tourist clothes and fishing tackles. You mean that, sir? Certainly, and not so much of a sir. Oh. We're just a friendly party, going to have a nice little time up at Kittleat. And, uh, don't forget your music, Miss Guest. Marshal's quite a singer. Let's see here instead. Oh, hang it all up. When do we go over this case? Any of time for that, Marshal. Come on, let us straighten up in the office, Miss Guest. We'll see you at the boat. Bravo, Marshal, that's fine. Come over here, you two, and look at this view. Yes, isn't it gorgeous? All right, keep up the conversation. I suppose that's why your friends live, Miss Guest. Yes, that's the house across the lagoon, quite a big place apparently. See that girl coming up the steps? She's from that house. Then they got my message. Yes, keep talking, Marshal. Hey, George, look at those fish jumping. We ought to get some good spot tomorrow. Oh, yes, I'm going to try that new spinner of mine. Excuse me, are you Miss Guest? Yes, and you're Miss Richford, aren't you? Yes, I got your note, and it was kind of you to come. And these are two gentlemen I met on the boat, Mr. Blair and Mr. Marshal. How do you do? How are you, Miss? You have a beautiful place, Miss Richford. Yes, it is lovely here, isn't it? Are you staying long at Kiddler, Miss Guest? Oh, I never know, my dear. Travelling's my hobby, you see. I'll stay till the next boat comes back anyhow. Perhaps longer. I see. I'm so sorry I can't invite you all to the house. You see, my father's practically an invalid, and we never entertain. Oh, please don't trouble about that. My friend and I are thinking of trying the fishing in the morning, Miss Richford. I understand the stream in your private grounds is a good place for trout. I wonder if we might presume on so slender an acquaintance to... Really, I don't know. You mustn't misunderstand me, but my father is a little peculiar. I'm not... Oh, don't trouble him. By the way, I met a friend of your father in Vancouver. Mr. Parker, his name was? Fortune Mining Company. Oh, yes. I know him slightly. Oh really, Miss Guest, if you don't mind, I'll have to get back. My father needs attention constantly, and I'm afraid I must go. Certainly, my dear, I understand. I'll come down to the boat with you. Oh no, no, please. Don't bother. I'll come back sometime tomorrow. Well, I'm done. What's the matter with that girl? Careful, Marshal. Somebody's listening. Play something, Miss Guest. Hey. Marshal, there's something here. That girl was frightened to death when I mentioned Parker. Yes, I noticed that. Careful of these people in the hotel. Where's your gun? In my pocket. All right, be sure it's working. Tomorrow we'll get out on the boat where we can talk. And tomorrow night, I'm going to find out what's in that house over there. You have heard Episode 17 in Blair of the Mounties. For the conclusion of this story, tune in for Episode 18 of this series.