 First of all, this changes 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 Greetings as always mystery lover time for another visit with Valentine. I Think our menu for mayhem is particularly enticing this adventure It's called the blue plate special and it was created especially for those of you who are trying to lose a few pounds You see it doesn't contain a single protein or calorie or even a vitamin for that matter Just a couple of fat heads, which you should be able to digest very easily Now if you'll take your elbows off the table, I'll tell the chef to commence serving much. Did you say? What's that Josh? I said how much did you say? Oh? Well $1.75 is what I said, but you know me. Yes, Sam I know you've been in the family a long time I suppose must have meant a good deal to your dear old mother rest is so how much I guess Of course with you boys It's a little different, but I want you to understand nothing would make me prouder than to do business with the Higby family Never mind that old maid business of yours, but I mean Well, what did I say? 250 was that what I said. Oh, sure Josh. I'd be glad to pay you $3 Pay me for that place Well for $3 I break it over your head. Do you hear me? Trying to take me for a dodo well, I'll break every place in the house before you get it and I'll break you too Dear mr. Valentine, you've got to come to Higby corners before something terrible happens before I'm ruined Mr. Valentine, I want you to to steal a plate yours truly Sam Ferris You are listening to let George do it our adventure will continue in just a moment now back to let George do it and George Valentine Here we are that big place with the iron deers way out in the country is there mr. Ferris Why do we stop here next door? Some of these iron deers always turn out to be live dogs. Oh, but don't you worry none They won't bother us if we walk on the gravel and make a lot of noise. That's what I always do now Wait a minute. That's a fast from what you said and from the looks of their house These Higby brothers practically own this part of the country, right? Josh thinks they do. Well, they have got a pile of money I guess yet you told us he wanted to sell you a plate of all things to raise cash Oh, well, it's a farm you see Josh wants a new tractor. That's all and it makes sense that house of theirs full of Air looms they never even look at but what kind of a plate early to bed early to rise That's what it said. Oh, what will you see I run a furniture store here in the corners Yes, we know that much well in this part of the country a man gets to have a nose and reputation for antiques Know what I mean? Well, some of them early China wear hand-painted models and things aren't you know the type my gosh They can get me two hundred dollars a piece sometimes in the city only this one you looked at wasn't any good This one I looked at was a fake cheap imitation. You could buy for a dollar But out of the kindness of my heart I offered more than that you mean out of the fact You're scared to death of Josh Higby, right? Well mr. Valentine I've been in business around here for 27 years. I got a standing know what I mean Well, so's Josh Higby, but he's mean and vindictive too and once he starts after you you might as well move out of here He thinks that plates worth a hundred dollars or more I know it's not but he's already telling people I'm a liar and not to be trusted and they should take their antique business to Somebody honest and I suppose you want me to steal that plate so you can prove to people that it is a fake, right? You won't do it, huh? What do you think? Well, of course, I didn't exactly mean to steal like the ordinary teeth I know but it seems to me that this whole thing is nothing but a tempest and a teapot anyway So why George wait somebody's coming. Oh, well, no no no now careful what you say people can get killed in tempest You know and when Josh gets all riled up What are you doing out here? Oh, it's you You think it'd be anyone else so are you standing out here in the front lawn finally thought I better either chase you away or ask you in Just baking some cakes and they're not all on order. So why don't you and your friends come in for a piece? No, no, no, no, no. This is miss Brooks. Mr. Valentine widow Parsons. Hello, Mrs. Parsons. Yes cottage in the trees there That's hers, but if you let's you know, I know you think you're going next door, don't you? Isn't Josh or Amy I heard both their cars drive out hours ago. Oh, well if they're gone And I suppose that makes you prick up your ears cause that makes you think the coast is clear No, no, no, don't be shit coast clear for what Mrs. Parsons Well to steal behind their backs. Oh Sam, I know you're right But the way those two Higgbees look after her you would have a chance not that I blame you any I guess every man in the country has eyes on her and after all the way Her tell me you're talking about why that little secretary that Doris Brewery She's spending the summer there Didn't you know and those two Higgbees acting like 17 year olds and Sam here? No, no, no stop it. She don't mean anything to me Boy anyhow, she's not home either making her weekly trip to the city and she's not back yet. So they're Oh, oh that last no, she knew no, no Sam. No, I'm still interested In fact in the morning. I'd be only too glad to investigate this case of the plate. Yeah, there might be more to it than I thought The dog makes a lot of noise Hello there good morning, what you mr. Higbee? Oh, yes, yes What do you want? Well, this may sound a little silly, but I want to talk about a plate, huh? Oh from Sam Oh, no, no, it's Josh you want. I am a miss Higbee. I don't know where my brother is Please don't bother us now. I'm sorry. Hey, wait a minute. I just my brother Josh is a fine man a fine man You hear me? He's no With him. Oh, I don't know Brooks. He but if Josh isn't here. It isn't him. I want to see anyway. Come on But if there's nobody here why go in that girl angel She's supposed to be back from the city by now, isn't she? Maybe she can tell us why people get so excited about China where The plate it's broken and in the hole there. There are others broken Yeah Plate can be a pretty good murder weapon. Can't it? I guess that's the secretary She's dead I'll take it easy. Take it easy all of you. Nobody's upset, but you sure all right hang it. I am upset Why shouldn't I be you Pete? Yeah, get those men out fine and Josh Higbee. Okay? What about Amos Higbee? He was the one we saw coming out of the house and the doctor says it didn't happen over an hour or two Yes, yes, sure, but he wouldn't hurt anybody not Amos. Well, I was quite a fight no matter how it happened Hair and curlers bathrobe. I guess she must have come down for breakfast I have an idea sheriff Where are we going always light when this happened wasn't it said so yourself around breakfast time If there was a real fight here, what about that next door neighbor? Isn't she supposed to be a snoop? No No, I didn't hear anything, but Mrs. Parsons. Are you sure honestly? It's it's too far to hear anything Yeah, she's right Valentine it is give it for a second when you Mrs. Parsons those two Higbee brothers both have been making eyes at their secretary. Isn't that right? No, no They're really nice. It wasn't that way at all. Of course. They made eyes at her They couldn't help it no more than any other men around She was somebody sent to them by their lawyers in town to help out with the books But she didn't want to be a working girl all her life. She was a nice girl. I talked to her several times Oh, this is Parsons. You sure changed your tune. Well, what's that? Well, I don't mean you really were critical of anybody last night But now there's been a murder so everybody's perfect. Oh, I didn't mean that But it doesn't do any good. It might do some good if I pointed out your kitchen window has a nice clear view of their front door And their front hall where the murder took place has glass It won't do any good. What won't do any good. Mrs. Parsons. Who are you afraid of? I don't know. I I mean You saw it didn't you you saw who was in there with that girl leave me alone I've been their neighbor for 12 years. You can't make me say things. I'm sorry, but who was it mrs. Parsons? I Saw him come out. I saw her. I was going to you. It's such a lovely morning. Did you see the murder? I heard a scream they were alone because I saw him leave earlier for the field wait a minute Who which is the him that left it won't do any good. I tell you You can't hear anything but a loud noise like a scream and then and then and then I saw her fall and Then he slammed the door shut. You've just been sitting here ever since scared to death Yeah, we'll take care of you. Don't worry, and it's good enough. I witness for a jury. All right Don't me in the circumstance. Yes, mrs. Parsons. You still haven't told us who it was It's no good. I tell you I don't know I couldn't hear but I could see him Hey Wow Hello, Higby Yeah, I'm sorry mrs. Parsons. I guess this is the one huh? Amos Higby. What's all this? My name is Josh Higby stranger heard you wanted me sheriff and I thought I'd better hold it with you You're the same guy. We talked about in front of your place only an hour ago You're Amos. Yeah, you were scared and you ran away. I'm sorry It won't do any good. Are you trying to make a liar out of me stranger? Oh shut up Josh Valentine you don't understand the circumstances. That's all but you realize Josh and Amos are identical twins You are listening to let George do it our adventure will continue in just a moment. I'll back to George Valentine It all started over a plate or did it? Apparently visiting secretary of the city the girl named Doris Drury was quite a dish herself Or at least both of the Higby brothers and every other middle-aged man in the vicinity thought so But now Doris is dead struck down by one of those same heavy plates Well for a moment the crime looked simple and practically an eyewitness It was obviously a Higby who did it All right, but which one because if your name is George Valentine you've just learned that the Higby's are identical twins Yeah, at least it was one of you twins. That's something sure. That's something all right, sir Well now is that all you're gonna say Josh? Don't know yet. I haven't talked to my lawyer. All right, but in the meantime, I gotta lock you up You know that well don't apologize for it. Mrs. Parsons says it was one of you. You heard her say that didn't you? They're on the farm. You're both dressed about the same. I heard I heard laughing blabbermouth. She can't help it Should have sick the dogs on her the first time she borrowed a cup of sugar Get in there Don't see Amos anywhere. We'll get him. Don't worry now. Listen Josh I'll get your lawyer, but he's going to advise you the same as I am that you should tell everything you remember about what happened Oh, so so be glad well What he saw at this furniture guy this Sam about one of your family's heirlooms of plate I think he's a liar. I'm no authority, but those plates everything in the house is as good as What's that got to do with it? Well, you see Josh? Oh, nothing Josh, but that girl Doris was certainly pretty what in love with Amos. I understand What are you trying to do leave her out of it? Well, that's a little hard to do in the present situation This is our town not choice mister because you've been putting on the dog for two. Isn't that right get him out of here Thank you murderer didn't you Well quite a temper did you kill her Josh? You still haven't told us anything But time did you get up this morning Josh usually out in the fields early both of you But which one was first? Oh, come on Sheriff. Let him wait for his lawyer And make a man talk, you know now, but you can trip him up We better work fast before you get a permanent puzzle thrown in your lap Hey, where are you going to start at the beginning where I came in on a plate Okay, Sam. How many items that we found now that a fake well now? Let me see there's the Dresden doll that strictly Detroit and then and three plates out of the ten there on the wall I'll go take a look through the other room George. Okay Let's stick to just the stuff we saw so far Sam. That's all of it I think plus the early to bed early drives and that pair over there. What's the total value? I mean of the fakes. I don't get you. Oh, yes, you do because each one call for an imitation, right? Well sure to match out the sets. So what's the total value of the fakes if they were real? Oh, oh, yeah Well say 150 times three and Dresden, of course, is higher prices just in rough figures, please $1,000 all told 1200 maybe But that's not enough to go killing people over. I don't get what you're driving at. Don't you? Sam maybe the reason Josh was mad at you the other day was because he really had no idea. There were imitations in here Hi, yeah, broxy. How much do you suppose this one's worth? What's that a package? Yeah, all neatly wrapped up It's almost a shame to open it. Let me see. What'd you find it? It's in the suitcase under the stairs Wait a minute. Take a look at this Sam. Hmm another plate. It's a real one. All right. It is And the initials on the suitcase are DD George Doris Drury Say she used to make trips every week to the city for the Higgins. Yeah, I know all begins to fall into place doesn't of course She took things back and forth all the time. Well her trips were for business I mean the Higgins wouldn't have known the difference and she could have picked up imitations to replace things with that's the idea She was killed, but it was a crime of passion a fight Sam here started the ball rolling He got Josh all upset Josh told Amos and if one of them found out what Doris was doing Yeah, that's right. It'd be a pretty big blow Especially to a middle-aged guy who thought he was the reason for lowered eyelashes from a good-looking young woman And then he finds out she was stealing and not even large amounts that would George The police all through here What do you mean? They were out of the house even before we came back, but just now I felt a draft behind me Must be from the back hall. I'm getting out of here I don't want any part of this Be careful Valentine. Why there's only one person that can be all right Amos come on Amos the channel one No, no, I don't know don't know what come on. What's your story gonna be no No, no, I won't tell you anything but you were hiding here and earlier you ran away Your brother's already accused you of a murder, you know, what? What did you say he said no, no, no, I don't want to hear it. I won't tell you anything Good very fine At least we got both of them, haven't we well sure if I tried one bluff one Amos, but it didn't work Don't worry. I'll keep them separate. All right, I suppose sooner or later We can cross check and break down their story. We hope The attorney's gonna kill me if I hand it to him this way. It's gonna be one for King Solomon Mm-hmm twins are identical in appearance one of them committed murder The other one is keeping quiet to protect him and keeping quiet so neither one can be tried for first-degree murder Holy smoke you can't hang two men when only one did it What's the court gonna do end up by saying they both aided and abetted a criminal lawyers could argue it'll doomsday Hey sheriff, would you trust me? No, I don't know What do you mean? I always wanted to play King Solomon. Why because he had a thousand why never mind Just give me those keys. What do you give you what you sell keys? Then meet me back out at the Higby's don't worry your deputy Pete can take now look I want those guys kept apart the only way we're ever gonna saw this twin act in half You want the murder solved don't you okay? Let's throw a little party Sit here Josh, I'll be right back My own driveway Come on, bro. See George. Are you sure you know what you're doing? I want to get Mrs. I'll get her you stay there and watch. Hey Pete Come on I said step on it Hey George you can't even see the cars from here let alone the Higby Listen, there was a car door. They're getting together. Say look, I bet it. I know this is all against police practice, but there's a reason Yeah, Mrs. Parsons over here. Come on out I want you to take a look at something. I'm sorry. I got a job those two backs Hey, wait, wait, they handcuffed out there. Oh for the love of bring her over brooksie George. No, look the Higby's aren't in the car Where are they stop you guys Sam? There's one of them after Sam George help him. Hey, hey you See how Josh came at me mr. Valentine you put Mrs. Parsons up to a sniveling little horse Yeah, well, yeah, what is all this? Mrs. Parsons, can you tell these two men apart? Oh, I'm so sorry Of course I can Josh. I didn't mean all right. Take it easy, please. I can tell them apart myself now But you couldn't at a distance. I know that well It's true Josh may be a bit more aggressive than I am sure Amos and Josh jump for Sam because Sam put Mrs. Parsons up to something What hey now lookie here, but I think the boys will talk now Sheriff. How about it Josh? If you mean did I kill her? No, I didn't I don't believe that see what I mean Sheriff easy way out of a riddle. How about you Amos? She was a very sweet girl. Why would I kill her? Oh, I'm so glad I told you I didn't want to say anything No, no, I still saw what I did sure. We're just as bad off as we were Mrs. Parsons But at least we know now that the Higby's kept quiet because they hadn't checked with each other yet And now wait a minute Sam get over there and stand beside them. Huh? You heard me. Well, he's about our size No, darling, I know you've known us for years, but you could have been mistaken about us hold it all of you, please I'm afraid this is pretty simple. There were a couple of tip-offs. I didn't think they were strong enough But I guess they are Josh your secretary made weekly trips to the city didn't she? Hmm Well, that's right see we got a lot of holdings and investments last night. She came back from the city So if she were stealing some of that authentic China She'd scarcely wrap one up and leave it in her suitcase until next week's trip Hey, that's right In other words somebody planted that there after the police left the house so we think Doris was a thief So we get the wrong idea about motive. What's all this stealing place? I don't even know what you're talking about. Take it easy You couldn't have done it. Anyway, you were in jail Besides it was too neatly wrapped watch that Well, I couldn't wrap a plate that neatly. I doubt if any man could mr. Valentine Except a dealer in those things No, no, wait a minute. I know I must I thought of that But there's another clue same tiger Mrs. Parsons you bake cakes on order don't you so I guess you haven't too much money She's all right, mr. Valentine you've lived here for years been in and out of the Higley's house You could have stolen a few things. Couldn't you not much but enough to help out? I saw somebody out the window. I was at my kitchen window. Nobody else out here, but you and the Higley brothers So you grabbed at the straw of being a witness. I was a lot of work, too Only this was a real crime of passion wasn't it the pretty young thing from the city sure of primping and getting all the She was awesome. Oh, no, she wasn't but the Higley's have a lot of money And I guess she might have had a cap set for one of them Anyway, she'd be rough competition for a middle-aged widow What happened she decide you were a nuisance she find out about the plates and threaten to tell the Higley No, no, she didn't and she wasn't any good for all cut it out lady The girl had come downstairs to talk to somebody Josh and Amos always went out to work early. She came down in a bathrobe with curlers in her hair Well, did you ever see a woman who was trying to make an impression and come downstairs with curlers in her hair looking like a mop to meet a man? George that poor mrs. Parsons. Well, she committed murder didn't she angel so come on. Let's get out of here We can figure the rest on the way home Back to the conclusion of our let George do it adventure in just a moment easy to see how it happened I guess yeah, sure living next door for years and years Probably considered the Higley brothers her private property hoped to marry one of them Then along came a line at turn the only thing I don't understand is why Mrs. Parsons would steal from Considered their property hers, too. I guess jumping out gun on what she hoped for the future. Maybe it wasn't much through the years Yeah, she must have been panic-stricken and the girl found out of us You know George sometimes you're very pretty all those feminine type clues Wrapping packages Curlers and hair that surprised you Your secret angel. I spent a good many years observing women imagine but you should have caught on to that business. No, not I I've spent all my time observing men. Oh We ought to get together something now there There's an observation You have just heard blue plate special another let George do it adventure Robert Bailey will start as George Valentine with Virginia Greg is Bruxy David Victor and Jackson Gillis wrote the story with music by Eddie Dunsteader Now this is yours truly inviting you to another visit with Valentine when you will again hear what happens when you let George do it