 suspense and the producer of radio's outstanding theater of thrills the master of mystery and adventure William and Robeson one of the greatest pleasures we find in this business of keeping you in suspense is the discovery of new talent and of unusual story twists and what you're about to hear we think we have combined both the twist you'll never guess it no matter how familiar you are with that mystical literary device the ventriloquist dummy and the new talent two young men Bob Jorn whose first radio play this is and DeForest Kelly a bright new luminary in the Hollywood firmament put them all together you have a strange half-hour ahead listen listen then as DeForest Kelly stars in Flesh Peddler which begins in exactly one minute it took mighty men to conquer mighty America and the men set before themselves even mightier heroes some real some not for instance there was the legendary Keele Boatman Mike Fink a let Mike tell you about himself I'm a salt river rower I'm a ring-tailed squealer I'm a regular screamer from the old Massasip whoop I'm the very infant that refused his milk before his eyes was open and called out for a bottle of old rye I love the women and I'm chock full of fat I'm half wild horse and half cock-eyed alligator I can hit like fourth-proof lightning and every liquor making the woods let's in an acre of sunshine I can outrun out jump out shoot out brag out drink and out fight any man from Pittsburgh to New Orleans and back again the St. Louis come on you flatters you bargers you milk white mechanics and see how tough I am to jaw I had a fight for two days and I'm spying for exercise folklore belongs to every nation's legendary past and I guess we Americans have our share of some tall ones and now mr. de Forest Kelly in flesh peddler a tale well calculated to keep you in I'm an agent a booking agent flesh peddlers we are sometimes unkindly called but I don't pedal flesh I saw a talent singers musicians nightclub acts and I'm pretty good at it I've got an instinct for talent when I find a new act it's really got it I go after it until it's mine only the ventriloquist team of Wilson and Oliver I wish I'd never heard of them then I could sleep better nights my wife and I were vacationing in the Catskills last summer and the night before we would do back in New York a carnival pulled into town I don't want to sound like a snob but to me the carnival is the lowest form of show business I hate them but my wife Gloria loves them since I love Gloria we went to the carnival Pete isn't it exciting it's just cheap noise oh I wish it had come to town sooner I wish it hadn't come till tomorrow oh come on Pete you might even find some new talent here why not freaks are for side shows honey not class spots you never can tell a bearded lady might go great at the cope I can tell right here for the wonder of the midway hey the one and only Alexander Wilson and his lovable little dummy pal Oliver hey you've seen Ben Phillip is before you say hey but you never seen anything to eat for Wilson the remarkable Wilson and Oliver you know passes by friends he can't go in but the triliquist a dime a dozen come on honey you've seen a hundred just like him or maybe he's one in a hundred all right all right we pushed through into the small tent and took our places on the hard uncomfortable benches Wilson was already seated on the platform a typical childishly dressed dummy on his lap he was a man in his 50s I'd say with the saddest face I've seen in 15 years of show business when the people were in he suddenly sprang the dummy to life you're sure Oliver sure but then say hello to the people hello to the people oh now come Oliver you can do better than that I can yeah well you ought to know the routine was awful dull time worn but for some reason this Wilson fascinated me he had a talent all right his handling of the dummy was amazingly accurate as the act went on I began to think that Wilson was even better than the Barker said he was and he was going over with the house Wilson had Oliver sing while he himself smoked a cigarette after a few more gag routines and a couple of neat tricks the performance is over and I knew I had to sign the act I parked glory on the merry-go-round and then went looking for Wilson I walked back of the midway through the maze of painted trailers that were home to Carney people suddenly the door to one of them flew open and a woman stepped out a neatly trimmed beard covering her chin what do you want I'm looking for Alexander Wilson Wilson why I'm a talent agent from New York I'd like to talk to him agent yes Peter Harris in Europe Bernice it's on the posters oh yes of course Bernice what do you want with Alexander Wilson I told you I was a Bernice talent agent never mind go back in agent I'm looking for Mr. Wilson oh well I'm Arthur you caught my knife act you know I could pin a flight to a penny of quiet don't mind him flesh peddler go away go home agents are no good for us leave Wilson alone and you know like I could put out a candle flame with a pen night at 30 feet agent man Arthur and go back in maybe he could sell my act go in white Wilson's in trailer 17 agent man hey if you ever need it shut up Arthur shut up get in there forget what he said Arthur is well he isn't quite bright you know what I mean yeah what's so wrong about seeing Wilson there are plenty acts like his you don't need him well you've got my curiosity going now Bernice I hadn't intended that but forget your curiosity and go home now why believe me flesh peddler you will thank me for this advice someday which is trailer 17 I couldn't see why Bernice was so healthy was none of her business anyway I roamed through the trailers with my cigarette lighter held high looking for number 17 finally I found it a small aluminum antiques set apart from the rest with the pre-war Chevy attached to it the trailer was completely dark mr. Wilson I'm Peter Harris I'd like to talk to you what do you want well I'm an agent mr. Wilson I'd like to see you just a minute yes I just caught your act mr. Wilson enjoyed it very much thank you I'd like to do business with you do business here's my card my office places acts on all four networks and all the principal nightclub I'm afraid it's out of the question I never played nightclubs but I never played nightclubs mr. Harris well could I come in for a moment explain my setup maybe when you know forgive me for appearing short but I I'm not interested in any offer you have to make begin with I can get you 200 a week excuse me 250 I'm very tired if you'll pardon me okay mr. Wilson but will you tell me why you want to stay with a two-bit freak show when you could make a small fortune working with me no no I'm afraid I can't tell you good night I suppose I should have forgotten all about it but I'm not used to the brush off like I say when I see an act I want I go after it until I get it and then there was something about Wilson's reluctance that wasn't somehow on the level as I walked back toward the bright lights the noise of the midway a figure step from behind one of the darkened trailers so you saw oh Bernice yes I saw him and are you satisfying not at all just more curious exactly only fools push their noses into other people's business flesh peddler um Harris is the name and only fools get themselves and other people into trouble trouble all I wanted was to offer him a nice fat job 250 a week and he slammed the door in my face Alexander Wilson cannot leave this carnival why you don't know mr. Harris and you're not going to know know what stop asking foolish questions your curiosity can do a great deal of harm Bernice where does the carnival go from here really mr. Harris you don't expect me to look I can ask any one of the barkers are set up men ask them then all right I will but remember flesh peddler if you follow us to pick up see how pockypsy very well now you know but if you follow us and try to see Wilson again you are a fool in just a moment we continue with one of the more colorful lumberjacks of the Midwest was a lad named whiskey jack sort of fellow who could single-handed lick an entire logging crew or swim one of the great lakes with one hand tied behind his back but as in all heroes lives there came a tender moment as legend recalls whiskey jack was not much for learning certainly couldn't write his name it was always the big X that he made on any slip of paper then one day he came in quiet like a little subdued and when they gave him his pay envelope he signed for it with great deliberation the clerk looked stopped and called out hey jack why the two X's whiskey jack replied my son I have just met me a lovely young lady in the next river town and we was hitched so I thought it only proper and fitting that a married man should change his name folklore belongs to every nation's legendary past and I guess we Americans have some good ones and now we continue with the second act of flesh peddler starring mr. de forest Kelly a tale well calculated to keep you in glory and I drove back to Manhattan the next morning and two days later I hopped to Poughkeepsie local out of Grand Central the more I thought about Wilson the more of a challenge he became I wanted him for my less but more than that I wanted to find out what was behind Bernice's strange attitude now I wish I'd forgotten about the whole thing and Poughkeepsie I checked into hotel took a cab to the carnival grounds at the edge of town it was late afternoon as I pulled up in front of the gaudy tents and booths waiting for the evening crowds I made my way through the cluttered midway looking for Wilson's aluminum trailer and hoping I wouldn't run into Bernice Asian man I hey Asian man hello hello remember me Arthur the knife thrower I can put a fly to a penny yes I remember you and you've come for me what's that you come always wait to get me for your agency well no I'm afraid not oh well that's all right I mean you know like I've been given it a lot of thought and I don't think I could go with you anyway I see so I couldn't leave Bernice in the carnival my sister says Carney folk should stay with Carney folk your sister Bernice oh Arthur why is Bernice so so close mouth about mr. Wilson she acts as though she's afraid of him I'll ask Carney folks stick together see like we don't like other people sticking their noses into our business Bernice said that yes Arthur where's mr. Wilson's trailer I don't know oh come now Arthur Bernice says you know I know Bernice says too much I don't know anything agent man well I have to go practice my knife so now I gotta practice every day you know you know well it was clear Bernice had given Arthur his instructions and no thanks to him I finally found Wilson's trailer set off from the rest mr. Wilson mr. Wilson the door to the trailer was unlocked and it swung open at my mouth Wilson obviously wasn't there but I didn't think he had mine if I went in and waited the inside of the trailer was dim and musty I left the door open to let in what little sunlight the day had left and sat in the lone chair in front of the makeup table I was just about to reach for a cigarette when I had the feeling that I wasn't alone I turned slowly in the chair in the back of my neck began to crawl there on a shabby army cot was Wilson's dummy propped up against the wall the steady unchanging expression of its face with the staring eyes and painted smile ran back at me it was weird and uncomfortable to be so close to this lifeless thing unmoving wooden it seems so real and alive on the platform in the tent I tried to ignore it but I couldn't I looked away but I could still feel it there grinning at me and the early evening dimness when I could stand it no longer I got up and walked out of the trailer and bump right into Bernice what did I tell you flesh peddler Bernice I what were you doing in there waiting for Wilson what did I tell you now look Bernice I don't like you or anyone else tell me what I can or can't do I want to see Wilson again I'm waiting here come with me please I must talk to you privately in my trailer sit down well what's on your mind Bernice I didn't really think you'd follow us I told you I'm not easily discouraged Mr. Harris I must warn you again to leave now without seeing Wilson I don't think you understand me I'm used to getting what I go after Mr. Harris I intend to see Wilson to try to talk him into signing a contract and you've said so far all that you've said is go away can you give me a good reason for not seeing him okay then why did you insist on dragging me in here Mr. Harris can you assure me your interest in Wilson does not go beyond signing him as a client what do you mean your interest in Wilson wouldn't by chance be in his past his private life and not in his professional talent I never heard of him until I caught his act three days ago Mr. Harris I'd hoped I wouldn't have to tell you this I didn't realize you were so stubborn but yes well Alexander Wilson lost his mind many years ago that doesn't disturb you it might if I believe Japanese what I don't think Wilson's nuts apparently something's bothering him something big maybe but it's not insanity I suppose you know Wilson better than I do I didn't say that but a man in my business meets every kind of person there is the cheats the phone is the right guys the bum so so you develop an instinct about people and my instinct tells me Wilson is not insane you'll have to try something better to scare me off Mr. Harris Wilson thinks he's a murderer you are trying to scare me aren't you if that's necessary to protect you and us yes you think he might murder me too I don't mean that actually never murdered anyone look Bernice you don't make sense don't you understand no I said Alexander Wilson thinks he is a murderer he thinks he murdered a woman a long time ago he's lived with this thought for years nourished it until he really believes it it's driven him out of his mind Bernice do you expect me to believe a cockamamie story like that it's the truth so don't you see the only place for him is here in the carnival with his own kind we understand why hasn't anyone tried to help him to make him realize beyond that now but with us he's all right outside is disturb him you haven't scared me off Bernice you got to stay away from him why if anything you've told me is true it's only half the truth it's enough for you to know from you maybe perhaps Wilson will tell me the rest I've warned you I will not warn you again oh Bernice oh hello again agent man hi Arthur how's your throwing arm well I'm in Arthur mr. Harris is just leaving yes so long Bernice goodbye mr. Harris when the trailer door closed behind me I guess Bernice would start talking her fury out on Arthur so I moved around to the small window in the back of the trailer to see if I could learn anything more I don't care I don't even want you to say hello to him nothing understand well you know I just say hello don't hurt does it Bernice I don't want you to open your mouth in front of that man even to yawn I had to lie to him to get him away from here and I don't want you saying anything to bring him back all right Bernice just pray he goes back to his flex peddling in New York on that first break just as I thought Bernice had lied to me I was determined to get to the bottom of this double talk about Wilson more than ever this had become more important to me than signing him to the usual seven-year management contract when I got back to Wilson's trailer there was a light inside who's there it's Peter Harris again who Peter Harris I spoke to you a few days ago and what do you want I want to talk to you mr. Wilson go away but I've come all the way from New York I must ask you to leave at once look mr. Wilson I'm not a detective all I wanted when I first met you was to book you into the big time but now there's something more I think you need help you need help badly no you're mistaken and I come in and talk to you good heavens no well how about having a drink with me before the show you look like you could use one please leave me alone Wilson Wilson don't you see what these people are doing to you for some reason you're a haunted man and this carnival is the worst place in the world leave me now leave me please these people are all the help I need leave me alone I'll be at the hotel overnight if you change your mind Wilson call me I was mad if he wanted to rot there going with a carnival until it wasted away it was no business of mine I had a few drinks in my room at the hotel phone Gloria that I'd be home the next day went to bed yes Wilson right right away what time is it well I sure okay where are you calling from where is it okay it took me longer to wake the cab driver in front of the hotel than it did to get to the carnival grounds I told the cab to wait and made my way through the dark intense and trailers to number 17 come in what's the matter mr. Harris I've changed my mind I I want to leave with you tonight tonight well what's the mr. Harris you're the first person outside of the carnival I've talked to him more than two years you're the first person I've had the courage to approach go on I trust you mr. Harris I can't see why but I know you'll believe me and help me I can't live like this anymore sure now just taking no no no listen two years ago I killed a woman beautiful woman I loved her more than I've ever loved anything or anyone in my life when I tried to tell her how much I loved it she laughed at me I couldn't stand that laugh I understand Wilson but that isn't exactly justification she and her son she was divorced we're working in this very carnival when I first saw her back in my hometown in Illinois yes I fell in love oh you can call me a room anything but I was in love I quit my job and followed the carnival for months that's how much I loved her and she laughed at me so I shout her one night and then I wanted to die too and when I saw her lying there at my feet I I wanted them to hang me but they laughed at me they laughed at the law the police that they didn't believe I'd done anything they wouldn't let me give myself up where did you get this crazy idea will it isn't a crazy idea it's the truth look lots of people get lots of funny ideas they think about something they want to do and they think about it so much that they they really believe they've done it was real from the beginning I killed her I did but there was no evidence against me listen Wilson you're not making sense listen he destroyed every bit of evidence so he could punish me himself the police couldn't arrest or even suspect me who destroyed what evidence Wilson her son Oliver Oliver yes Mr. Harris he's referring to me a trick no Wilson was too upset to be tricky me I wheeled the sound of his voice and there in the doorway stood Wilson's dummy Oliver a small but capable pistol in his hand you are just as curious as Bernice said you were a Mr. Harris I love her Bernice told me a lot about you you had to know and now you do no you're not you're shocked to learn I'm a midget I must admit you gave me quite a start when you made yourself at home in the trailer this afternoon but that was it was me Mr. Harris fortunately I was already made up for the evening performance Mr. Harris hasn't done anything Oliver let him go that depends on you you see Mr. Harris Wilson is no ventriloquist I guess that's obvious now it is Wilson murdered my mother and I protected him from the police but why why so the law couldn't punish him what satisfaction will there been for me if they just hanged him he'd been dead at an instant is that enough punishment for a man who was murdered your mother no he deserved more and I've given it to him I've punished Alexander Wilson for years that's right Mr. Harris he's held us over my head ever since sitting on my lap at every performance reminding me nice and day well I've had as much as I can stand so go ahead Oliver shoot shoot Oliver be sensible if you pull that trigger there in a year they Bernice and Arthur and everyone else Bernice already knows and now I don't care if the others do I haven't said shoot me get it over with shoot me your monster shoot me with horror frozen on his face Wilson slid to the floor dead and Oliver turned on me pupils of his eyes tiny with madness and his frail little body trembling I'm afraid this is one act you can't book Mr. Harris Oliver you wanted to know everything Oliver and I'm really sorry for your sake he asked me to let you go but under the circumstances no I'm sorry mr. flash by my head and landed quivered in Oliver's chest a long gleaming knife blade and there was Arthur in the doorway of the trailer with Bernice his face like stone watching Oliver crumpled a little distance to the floor slowly the faces of the others appeared in the doorway silent the terror I was holding back was a physical pain I walked to the door and stood looking down at the little body lying awkwardly like a dummy now a lifeless thing and moving staring even with the traces of a painted smile grinning up at me this couldn't have gone on any longer I suppose the police will come now and at last there'll be an end to it go home flesh peddler and forget all about us I went home but I haven't forgotten and I'm afraid I never will suspense in which to forest Kelly starred in William and Robeson's production of flesh peddler written by Robert Jiren suspense has been brought to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States armed forces radio and television service