 master detective tonight's curious adventure missing Harold escort for Nick Carter and the great kidnapping mystery and here's Nick Carter himself to tell you the story as you've probably already noticed I'm not going to tell you the story that I announced last week instead I want to tell you a rather different kind of tale one would start it as Patsy and I rang the doorbell at the rather magnificent home of Mrs. Philip escort just off the upper end of the park at about 10 30 one morning yes I'm Nick Carter Mrs. Ascot's expecting me yes Mr. Carter won't you come in please thank you if you and the young lady will go into the living room I'll tell Mrs. Ascot you're here certainly gosh Nick the escorts must have more money than they know what to do with just look at this place yes Patsy the escorts belong to one of the oldest families in the city old and conservative rich but never ostentatious so I think I wish I could I think I hear Mrs. Ascot coming oh Mr. Carter I want to thank you for coming so very promptly I know how busy you are but I really am in trouble desperate trouble and I don't know who else to turn to but you why Mrs. Ascot I'd be very happy to help you if I can this is my assistant Patsy Boone how do you do now what's wrong it's my son Harold mr. Carter he's been kidnapped I found this note inside my newspaper this morning what is it saying says we've got your son you want him back don't call the cops we'll tell you what to do later there's no signature can you tell anything by that letter Mr. Carter of course the handwriting is obviously disguised half printing and half writing papers good bond paper as a watermark it looks like a dragon's tail top of the sheet of papers been cut off pair of scissors apparently is the cut isn't quite even why do you suppose they did that there was probably a letterhead on it and the writer didn't want the paper traced of course but they didn't cut quite all of the pinning off can't read what's left but later on it may help to identify it looks like hotel stationary doesn't it me especially just what I was thinking I'll have scabby make a run of the hotels and see if you can find the one it came from who mr. Carter do you think you can find my boy I certainly hope so mrs. escort and I'll do my best but in the meantime just sit tight and wait until you hear from me again or until the kidnap gang makes its next move hi and Nick didn't take you long to get here no time to waste in the kidnap case coming you never could be sure when the gang will get frightened or annoyed and kill the victim are you fine the same kind of note paper here you say I sure did Nick the same size same watermark and as near as I can tell from what's left in the kidnap note the same pretty at the top good but what now Nick how does the paper came from here help you know the paper came from here it's quite possible that whoever wrote the kidnap note was staying here in the hotel at the time yeah and if he was the hotel register may give us a further clue oh but the handwriting on the note was disguised Nick quite so scabby but it's impossible to completely disguise any writing so that it may not be identified even when the writing is apparently completely changed there will always be some peculiar characteristic left that'll give it away oh I didn't know that oh clerk is you mind if we look at your register a moment not at all sir here you are now let's see young escort disappeared on Tuesday afternoon and it's possible that's a signature we want might be under Sunday or Monday's date well you know what to look for yes or no scary I've memorized the looks of the writing in the kidnap note and I expect to recognize any similar peculiarities in a signature here no nothing here under Sunday's date let's try Monday okay right over here here here look at this one James Cannon I never heard of him of course you haven't either of I but look at that s yeah and the J note how oddly they're made this signature like the kidnap note is half written and half printed to ever agree the work of a man to learn to write late in life and a man who never writes easily oh I see what you mean no questions got me this is our man yes sir is this James Canada in the hotel James Canada no sir he checked out this morning I was afraid of that you recall what he looked like medium height sandy haired little mustache he had a crooked little finger on his right hand I remember him because he asked a lot of questions last night thanks for well do you know I'm like well yes coming but I sent that man up the river three years ago for a five-year stretch well maybe he's out maybe I know a man who can tell me I'll get my ring and see come on well whom did the description fit Nick sounds like Jack Vincent scabby yeah for journey con man no time or the business I can't see for the world how oh pardon me for a minute oh sure Nick I'll wait here this is Nick Carter oh fine fine thanks say a bill is Jack Vincent still up at state prison oh two weeks ago no nothing special yet well thanks Bill good luck goodbye well what do you say Nick Vincent was pardoned two weeks ago he's our man all right you know it's a funny thing Nick but while you're in there phoning a couple of men went by me and I heard one of them say to the other I saw Vincent grady's bar last night maybe that's where he hangs out you say you just heard that now scabby yeah just now that's clear oh how do you mean scabby things are going a bit too easily a note paper that can be traced the name and the register the description and now the conversation you say you overheard you mean you think it's some kind of a frame up might be scabby oh gee if it is Nick you better is I'm going ahead just as I was before just be a little bit more careful that's all well they want me to go to grady's bar that's where I'm going see at the office later scabby pretty Jake hook line and sinker just like you said I got a hint to you and you told him where he could find me I said it real loud right beside that stooge is I said I'd seen you in grady's place here he's coming here now yeah I beat it on a head to let you know he was coming good we'll take care of him when he gets here you're off with smart Jack ain't no wonder I can't go for you but don't forget I only want to he sent my pop to the chair for bumping off that old rat of a watchman last winter I ain't forgot that you bet you okay cut the gab looks like Carter's coming in now he can't see us where we're sitting yeah that's him hey do I look okay in this apron I borrowed from paper sure you look like a regular waiter Ben hey got a tray here right here you sure he don't know you been broke up my record last year but he never seen me we all got it in for him eight week you bet we have and here's where I pays off watch bring me a large in general cool coming right up lots of familiar faces here but nobody really know one intervention might have moved out of town after this match and that conversation scubby overheard if he did over here it sounds to me I said oh thanks yeah give a change thank you sir well at least this ginger ale's cold doesn't taste that bad so the odd flavor to it must be a new brand of coke they mix with it and see that I enjoy it isn't hot enough in here to make me dizzy like this it seemed to be Nick you fool you've been doped you bet you've been you must have made it strong you bet I did I ain't taking no chances I put three of them in I go on goodie and get the car and make it fast I don't want none of Carter's friends to come looking for him before we can get him out of here okay this is the day I've been waiting for for three years it's like a great detective does he all tied up and gagged like that I'll say don't he looks more like a trust up chicken or a dead duck and that's what he's going to be as soon as he wakes up dead duck you mean you ain't gonna kill him now there's no fun in killing them when he don't know who's doing it I want him to look me in the eye when I sent a bullet into his brain oh gee Jack I thought you'd let me kill him nothing doing this is my party private and exclusive to get his guns yeah both of them hey should we leave him here in the back room for now Jack yeah he won't come to for another couple of hours you'll be safe here you will Gertie stay here and watch I got some stuff I want to take care of I'll be back with the time he wakes up okay here you go mr. master detective day you stayed till we're ready for you have a nice sleep and keep your eye on Gertie then she might forget and bumpy more fall by herself Carter's office why no he isn't has something else come out good heavens a hundred thousand dollars I've no idea where he is he should have been back here long ago you better just do nothing as he said until we hear from him he's bound to call me pretty soon unless unless something's happened to him being such an idiot I knew what I was walking into and I walked right into it gosh but it's dark in here wish I could send my cop to the chair did you never send nobody else there cuz you ain't gonna live no longer I'm gonna fix you right now I'm but so I'd have to be so rough with you lady it's my life for yours you're only stunned now I can reach that knife she had dropped before she gets her senses back I can cut these ropes they're only see behind my back where is that my able to reach it now just quite quiet you try to call for help I'll be forced to kill you did you I heard you coming in so I sat up stuck my legs out and kept you you dropped your knife knocked your head on the floor and I stunned you then I found that I've cut my ropes now I'm getting out of here no you can't Jack I'll kill me he'll murder me should have thought of that before I don't try anything your friends overlook this little pistol I carry in my shoulder hoster it's very small but effective I assure you what are you gonna do why'd you do open bring me here to kill me well Jack and Ben were scared you'd try to break up their plans for the kidnap job listen carefully who else is in this house now only then he's in the next room when I tell you to call Ben tell him you're afraid I'm waking up ask him to come in here but don't you warn him you want me to ask him to come in here yes but no funny business now call him all right then then I think Nick Carter's waking up you better come have a look at him yeah now stand aside I'm leaving here and don't try to stop me I'll be seeing you both later under different circumstances in the world if you've been we've been waiting for you for hours sorry Betsy anything special been going on anything special I should say so Mrs. Ascot is called five times she got a note from the kidnappers telling her it would cost her a hundred thousand dollars to get her son back and she's going crazy waiting for you to tell her what to do Hey Patsy have you heard anything from me scubby well Nick what happened to you Jack Vincent laid a trap for me and I walked into it did you learn anything no scubby I didn't accept that it all has to do with the kidnap case we're working on well did you have any trouble Nick well depends on what you call trouble scubby tomorrow that later what about Mrs. Ascot well she wants you to call her as soon as you come in I'll get her for you all right Betsy you gotta move fast maybe too late even now my being there and getting away doesn't help any Mrs. Ascot just a minute please here she is Nick hello Mrs. Ascot sorry I've been held up where you couldn't get hold of me what's up oh Mr. Carter I received a note from my son it says that I'll have to pay his kidnappers a hundred thousand dollars if I want to get back the note also says that I've got to take you off the case or he will be killed he says that so far they've not mistreated him but he begs me to pay the money and get him free is the note in your son's handwriting oh yes yes I'm sure that what shall I do Mr. Carter or does the note give you any way of getting in touch with him yes it says to put an ad in the personal column of the clarion address the safety and let them know what I decide good put the ad in the clarion tell them you're willing to pay the money and ask them how they want to pay all right Mr. Carter but not getting rid of you you know what I understand Mrs. Ascot tell them in the ad that you'll guarantee that I'll have nothing further to do with the case but that that would be alive wouldn't it yes of course it would but would you prefer that the kidnappers kill your son all right then put the ad in just as I said and let me know the minute you get an answer then we'll plan our next step Carter I'm so glad you come an answer to the ad that I put in the paper just came in the morning mail here it is thank you on route 77 be five and two tenths miles north of route 31 is a large single oak tree right beside the road it's the only tree around make up a bundle of 10 20 and 50 dollar bills $100,000 no throw the bundle out at the foot of the tree this afternoon at five o'clock sharp drive by it not less than 25 miles an hour and do not stop your son will be sent back to you tomorrow morning you'll be alive if you follow directions he'll be dead if you don't pass it where's that map I asked you to bring along here it is Nick I still don't know how you could tell what section of the state we're going to need a map of Patsy when I went back to the gang's hideout yesterday afternoon it was deserted the only things I could find that interested me were a rough draft of the original kidnap note made in the back of an envelope addressed to Jack Vincent and also a timetable showing trains running to a certain part of the state and what part was that the part I asked you to bring the map up very simple very simple to you well where is it here now let's see route 77 B is here route 316 crosses it right here it's about 45 miles out of the city a very thinly settled section what shall we do about it mr. Carter we do just exactly as the note says have your bankers make up the bundle of $100,000 in 10s 20s and 50s take patsy with you and have your chauffeur drive you up to the spot designated in this note throw the bundle out and then leave the rest to me I'm sure glad it's clear today otherwise we'd be out of luck see anything scubby no that's yet hey Nick do you suppose anything has gone wrong I doubt it I have entire faith in Patsy's ability to follow instructions she sure as sort of deserted around here isn't it yes only a few scattered houses and very little traffic oh yes scubby suppose you take over the controls of the plan for a while while I take the glasses and have a look around sure Nick here thanks got the stick yeah I'll set these glasses are really our power don't they hey I think I could yes yes there they are and right on time are you sure this is the right road James yes Miss Asgard this is the right road oh I feel so much safer if mr. Carter were here why if any little thing were to go wrong it might mean my boy's life that's why I'm here Mrs. Asgard just to see that nothing does go wrong the place you want is about a half a mile ahead Mrs. Asgard dear so soon I'm all of a jitter miss Bowen you'll have to throw the package out I just can't do it now don't you worry Mrs. Asgard I'll take care of everything slow down just a little will you please James yes miss I wish I knew how Nick is planning to get the money back again could go anywhere from here and we'd never know where it was I hope mr. Carter won't do anything to to end fear with my getting my boy back he's worth all the money I have you can trust Nick to do the right thing there's the tree just ahead now help me up with the package all right that's it yeah no I'm gonna let it go out the window here it goes that's that oh you're wonderful miss Bowen did you see anybody no no nobody not a soul around here anywhere I still can't see anybody the bundle is still right by the side of the road where it fell oh heck this curve cuts off the view entirely well at least we've done our part we've done our part the rest is up to Nick yep those are Nick's orders sheriff drive as close to the house as you can and then park your car in the bushes just off the road okay where's Carter now oh well he went on ahead to get the layout of the place wants to get his plan set by the time we get there I don't understand how you know them fellas are hiding out there you say neither you nor Carter never been near the house well I'll tell you sheriff it's really very simple when this is escort drop the bundle of money out of her car this afternoon Nick and I were overhead and explain watching everything through his extra high-powered field glasses yeah we saw the crooks come and pick up the money and then we watch them beat it back to the farmhouse they took every back road and cow pad they could find a keeper being fallen but we could see them no matter where they went yeah all the time the one man that they're really afraid of was up there over their heads watching hey that's quite a stunt I've heard tell me sneak Carter's quite a fella I don't believe closer to the house with the car I'll just run her off into the bushes here so I wonder where Nick is you ought to be here anymore yeah I want to take a chance and find the window and see for myself I want to be able to slip the latch and I know window like this this knife will do what I think longer I guess it's safe to use my flashlight here sound keep absolutely quiet you all right yeah quite a pretty bad cold yesterday though but who are you you're not one of the game I'm not one of the game I'm Nick Carter yes gee I've heard of you you're gonna save me huh that's just what I'm gonna do I'll get these ropes off your arms and I feel better because she is not see if you can stand up well it's not very easy yet but I'll be all right good boy we got to get you out of here Pronto before one of the gang comes up to have a look at you all right how do we get out out of the window same as I came in but come on now quiet okay whatever you say Mr. Carter climb out the window under the roof easy now easy that's the boy gee it's dark out here can't see anything hardly just follow me there's a post in the corner of the porch we can slide down I came up it careful now there it is here we are okay I'll come right behind you you go ahead Mr. Carter not Mr. Carter Harold just call me Nick Nick am I gonna have something to tell the fellas when I get back home all right gee that was easy wasn't it all right son sure let's get going away from here all right my friend scubby in the sheriff whatever you were there on the edge of the brush hey that's you Nick yes cubby and I have the boy to suffer and catfish mr. Carter how in heaven the same do you get him out of there I get caught it was easy Nick's a good detective I bet he can do anything thanks for the plug Harold now here's my idea are the three of them still in the living room where they were a few minutes ago yeah I just took a look and they're still there what's your idea Carter this is it they think Harold is still tied up nice and snug in a static room now they should happen to hear him out here in front of the house they've probably come rushing out to see what's up wouldn't they sure I don't want any shooting if I can help it somebody might get hurt so you and I will stand one on each side of the front door scubby while the sheriff goes round to the back door ready to come up from behind them and Harold will stand out here in front of the house and shout good and loud they'll come out to see what's what and we'll poke our guns in their backs no shooting no trouble all nice and simple gee that's well what'll I yell Nick oh whatever comes into your head anything at all okay sure yeah sounds nice and simple if it works well here goes your rear guard come on scummy and get your guns ready okay and Harold if anything goes wrong you run for the woods they'll never find you out there at a back night like this okay Nick when do I yell count five slowly that'll give scubby and me time to get into position beside the door okay one two three four five rent rule is a mounted yippie wow get your hands up and fast don't try reaching for your guns we've got you surrounded Nick Carter how did you just keep those hands in the air Vincent all right scubby get the guns okay Nick only one on Ben and two on our friend Jack find your scale trying to skip out the back way so I'll brought her along she blows this outfit I'll see she does she was the one to watch me while the men went out for the money well looks like we got everything going it certainly does share everything but the ransom money which must be here in the house somewhere Nick can I hold a gun I'm one of them quite sure son yeah take Jack's gun and keep it pointed right at him all the time hey Carter don't have that gun he don't know nothing about guns it might go off and somebody to get her quite right Vincent but would it interest you to know that I wouldn't care if it did as far as I'm concerned kidnappers are pretty filthy things the lowest of the low Mr Carter how can I ever repay you for what you've done for me and my boy I'm very happy that we were able to get the boy back for you Mrs. Ascot and the money too please tell me how much I owe you Mr. Carter I want to send you a check at one for a big one you owe me nothing Mrs. Ascot but Mr. Carter you really want to repay me I suggest that you put at least an extra ten thousand dollars into war bonds in this fourth war-lone drive and give the bonds through the associated boys clubs of the city I can think of no better way to spend money right now buying the bonds helps the boys who are fighting for us today and giving the bonds to the boys clubs helps the boys of tomorrow it's a wonderful combination this has been another of the strange adventures of Nick Carter master detective which are brought to you regularly at the same time by W. O. R. Mutual what can you tell us about next week's story Nick well all I'm going to tell you about it is this there's such a weird and unusual case that for the only time in my life I was almost compelled to believe that vampires really do exist I call it death after dark or the mystery of the vampire killing so long so long see you next week in the strange adventure you have just heard Nick Carter was impersonated by Lon Clark Patsy by Helen Chote scubby by John Kane original music was played by Lou White the entire production was written and directed by Jack McGregor next week at the same time listen to another curious experience of Nick Carter entitled death after dark or Nick Carter and the mystery of the vampire killings this story is a copyrighted feature of Street and Smith Publications Incorporated the return of Nick Carter is broadcast in the studios of W. O. R. and is broadcast over most of these stations every week this is mutual