 Old Dutch Clencher, famous for chasing dirt, presents... Nick Carter, famous for chasing crime. Each week at this time, two great names are joined, as Old Dutch Clencher brings you one of the most resourceful and daring characters in all detective fiction. Nick Carter, master detective. All right, Nick. Steve Evans has escaped. You're sure, Patsy? I got him out of the subway. He got away from a crowd there. How about Waldo? Waldo got him across the river. He's in open country on the way to freedom. Good work. Now all we've got to do is make sure that he's captured. All the case of the missing thumb. Today's adventure with Nick Carter, brought to you by Old Dutch Clencher. At 10 o'clock on a Monday night, a man in a uniform of a sergeant of police walks down a dark side street and enters a small hardware store. Anybody in the store? Police is service, pal. We're just close. Holy smoke, the cops. I'm looking for Laurie Evans. He's my old man. What do you want to see him for? It isn't a pinch, kid. Just a friendly visit. Laurie and I used to be pals long time ago. Oh, oh, I see. They call me Steve. Pop! Hey, Pop! Come on out. Hello there, Steve. You got a visitor, Pop? Pull down your glasses and take a gander. Hello, Laurie. Yes. Yes, below. Say, Pop... Go to bed, Steve. I'll knock up. But... Go to bed. All right. So long, Sergeant. Good night, Steve. Well, guess, you finally located me, huh? Yeah. What's the cops' uniform for? This is a cover-up for a job. Us two are gonna pull tonight. Oh, can't you leave me alone? I've been straight for 10 years. I haven't done a job since... Since the St. Louis deal, huh? I lost my thumb in St. Louis, but you lost your nerve. Maybe. Anyway, I'm straight and I'm staying. Listen, Laurie, I've been a long time finding you. Don't think I'm gonna let you back out now. All I gotta do is pass the word that good ol' Laurie Evans is here running a hardware joint on Mayor... Okay. What's the deal? You're gonna help me crack a safe tonight, Laurie. Now, there's nothing much in that safe, but a list of names. Names? 20,000 names. You're gonna help me grab every one of them. Maybe I'll do. Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Carter won't be able to see you this morning. He'll see me good-looking. I'm from the government. One side, honey. See here, you can't force your way into Mr. Carter's office. What's going on? Oh, who's this? Nick, this... Mr. Carter, I'm from the government. I've got important business for you in this dispatch case. You have, huh? What's your name? Steve Evans. Your Evans, you're lying. Huh? Dispatch case is new. The leather's unscratched, and the price tag is still on it. Your clothes are new. Your Army discharge button is new. You're obviously a recently discharged soldier. What are you up to? Gosh. You sure tag me. That's my business. Mr. Carter, I've got something for you in this case. Here. Hey, what's this? Nick. It's 800 bucks cash, all I saved in the Army. Oh, what's it for? I decided I'm going to learn how to be a detective, and you're going to teach me, Mr. Carter. What a love of... This is my entrance fee, and if it costs more, I'll get more. Look here, Evans, this is impossible. I'm flattered and honored, but really... You've got a duty to us veterans, Mr. Carter. Of course, but I really can't discuss it with you now, Mr. Evans. I'm late in a case already. I've got to be running along. Great. My first lesson. I'll go along. Oh, all right. Come along. Come along. We'll discuss this on the way. Well... Fancy I'll be down at Irving Place at Matty. Safe burglary and murder. I'm here. Well, it's about time. I've been waiting a half hour for you. I... Who's this? This is Steve Evans. He wants me to teach him the detective business. I haven't had time to talk him out of it yet. Steve, this is Sergeant Matheson of the Homicide Squad. Hi, Sergeant. Okay, Nick. Stack the kid in the corner and get a load of this case. It's a Lulu. Go ahead. This is the business office of United Veterans Incorporated. It's a veterans organization that publishes a magazine for its boys. And last night, someone was admitted to this office and broken to the safe. How do you know if he was admitted? Neither the lock nor the door were touched. Ah. See the safe there? And the body. Yeah, watchman. Slugged over the head and killed. Maybe he let the crook in and was double-crossed. Maybe. Now, what's peculiar about the case? There was a little hitch. There was $5,000 in a drawer in that safe and it wasn't touched. Sure. You know the only thing he lifted? The magazine subscription list. He stole 20,000 names and addresses. That's all. A guy must have been nuts. Who asked you? Sorry. Let's have a look at the safe. Very neat punch job, huh, Maddie? Yeah. Dial knocked off the sledgehammer, spindle punched back, and the small sockets broken. The way the cracking is safe, I haven't seen in a long time. Ah. Look at the edges of the broken sockets. Traces of rust. Not from the safe itself, but from the burglar tools. Yeah, must have been an old set of tools. How can you tell? Look at the way the sockets are broken. Huh? Two blows of a chisel to each bolt. Took a strong man to do that. Yeah, I noticed that. Learn anything from the body? Now, nothing makes signs of a struggle. Two blows on the head, that's all. Ah-huh. Watchman was either tricked and then killed. The killer was an accessory and a double cross. The killer stole nothing but a list of names from the safe, and that's what he was after. And that makes this a very serious case. Yeah? Why, Mr. Carter? Because Steve, back in 1932, when Washington announced that a bonus was to be paid war veterans, some crooks broken through the office of a veteran's publication and stole a subscription list. Right after that, all veterans who were on that list were besieged with commons for every known form of confidence game. Holy smoke. The vets were cheated out of their bonus dollars. And this is the same setup. He stole a name before I'm a sucker list. That'll milk a fortune from veterans who have mustering out pay. The list has got to be located before it starts circulating through the underworld. Well, how, for Pete's sake, Nick? Well, the man will crack this safe. I'll identify him through my files. And we may be able to locate him. Come on. Be sure you get every card off, Patsy. Right, Nick. Oh, Mary, explain to Steve how we keep files on crooks. Oh, from a... I'm a veteran, Sergeant. All right, all right, now listen, kid. Every crook uses a personal technique on a job, see? He never changes it. It's almost like an autograph. Here are the cards, Nick. Well, thanks, Patsy. Now, Steve, we're looking for a burglar who opens safes with a punch technique and who cracks bolts with a chisel rather than a wrench. Yeah. This technique is so unfamiliar to me, I'm sure he hasn't been active lately. All right, let's have him, Patsy. Adams, no records since 28, specialty blowtorch job. Brookman, no records since 34, specialty punch job. Take that card, Matty. Easy possibility. Okay. Denison, no records since 29, specialty chopping job. That's a technique, Steve, of turning a safe over and chopping the bottom out. Denison isn't our man. Right. Dugan, 37, specialty ripping job. That's ripping open a safe with a kind of giant can opener. No, kid. Dugan's not our man. Ever. Oh, what's the matter, Patsy? You better read this one yourself, Nick. Maybe it's a coincidence, but then again, seeing what happened this morning. Hmm? Hmm. I see. Steve, what's your father's name? Laurie. Laurie Evans. I see. Why'd you come to see me this morning? Well, I already told you I want to be a detective. You're sure that's the reason? Not too late to tell the truth. Well, why would I lie to you, Mr. Carter? Where is your father? In a hardware store on Mayor Avenue. Hey, what is all this, Mr. Carter? Explanations will keep. Right now, we're all getting into my car and driving out to the hardware store. I've got to see Laurie Evans fast. This it, Steve? Yeah. Come on. Look, Nick, what's the kid's old man going to do with this? You'll see, Maddie. Open the door, Steve. Right. The store's empty. Where's your father? Oh, he's probably in the back of the store. Call him. Hey, Pop! You got somebody here to see you? Wait a minute, Nick. Yes, what is it, Patsy? The floor here behind the counter. Yeah, behind the... Holy smoke! Nick! Pop! What's happened to him? He's dead, Steve. Been murdered. With his strongest lead to the stolen names murdered, Nick Carter seems farther away than ever from the solution to the case. We'll see what he does next in just a moment. All back to the case of the missing thumb. Today's adventure with Nick Carter brought to you by Old Dutch Cleanser. Behind the sales counter of the Evans Hardware Store in Brooklyn, Nick examines the body of Laurie Evans while Patsy, Maddie, and Steve Evans watch. Laurie Evans was in a fight before he was killed. Yeah, look at the scratches on these hands and face. The fight led behind his counter. See the nail kegs and tools knocked off the shelves? Yeah. And he was thrown down here. I wish I'd been here. Heads truck that sack of plaster of Paris, putting it open. The killer grabbed a screwdriver and stabbed Laurie with tremendous force. Killed him almost instantly. But why, Mr. Carter, why? Steve, you'll have to know the truth sooner or later. Here's the card for my files that led me to ask you about your father. Laurie Evans, inactive since 1935. Specialty punch jobs. Further characteristics. Cracked safe bolts with chisel. There's not... This isn't true. My father isn't a crook. He never was. Steve, it's the truth. There's no question, kid. Your old man pulled a veteran job last night. That's a lie. He's got an alibi for last night. What alibi? He was with a friend of his, a cop, Sergeant Maloney. And that's the answer to the burglary, Maddie. I was wondering how Evans got into that office. The watchman was duped. Evans was with a pal in police uniform. Well, how do you know the guy with him was a crook? Why, wasn't he a real cop? Because you left a signature here. What do you mean? Look, where the plaster of Paris is spilled on the floor, there's a handprint on it. A right hand with a thumb missing. A policeman can't stay in the active force with a right thumb missing. You're right, Nick. Maybe this Malone high-pressure'd your father into doing this job, Steve. But that isn't the important thing now. The important thing is to find Malone. In the 20,000 names, he stole them before he peddled them to every crook in the country. Now, just a minute. Maybe Steve Evans fooled you, but he hasn't fooled me. Nick, I want to know why he came to you this morning after his old man cracked his safe at Irving Place. Sergeant Maloney, I swear. This is official, Nick. You can worry about a sucker list of 20,000 names. I'm worrying about two murders. Steve Evans is my number one lead. He's coming down to headquarters with me for a long talk. Now, how about it, Manny? Will you try it my way? God, sir, darn this scheme you've ever come up with, Nick. And if he is guilty... But, Sergeant, I swear, I never... Well, Manny, Manny, I don't know. All right, all right. What if it backfires? It won't, if Nick sends it's okay. Now, Steve, listen carefully. Yeah? As I've been telling you, Sergeant Mathers, the only way I can see to locate Malone and those stolen names is for you to escape. So I gathered, but how do we work it? We'll take it. After you escape, take the northbound subway to Isham Park. Yeah? Get out of Isham and take the ferry across the river. From the ferry landing, strike north along the reservoir road. Got that? Yeah. When you reach a town called Hessian Courthouse, give yourself up to the police. Give myself up? But I thought you... I thought you were in the army. Do you have to understand orders to follow them? No, Mr. Carter. Very well. You've got to get through to Hessian Courthouse, Steve. And you've got to follow the route I've scheduled, no matter what happens. Oh, yes, one important thing. Wear a pair of gloves. A pair of gloves? Yes. All right. I'll do it, Mr. Carter. The police headquarters is coming up. When we get out of the car, we've got to put on a good show for the benefit of any onlookers. So you hit me in the jaw and then run. I'll make sure to follow against Maddie so it looks good. Duck down on the subway and get going. Yes, sir. All out far as we go. Maddie, you're a fool. I don't know whether Steve is guilty or not, but the important thing is... They're not arresting me! Nick! Hey, come back here! Watch out, Nick. The kid's getting away. Get off me, will you? They won't have him. Stop that name! Stop him! He's got me. Good. He's away safely. Now, let's get to work. I'm finally concerned to relay this announcement to help in the search for Steve Evans, suspect in the murder of a watchman at Irving Place and his father, Lori Evans, in a hardware store in Brooklyn. Steve Evans has escaped police custody and is at large in the city. He's 20 years old of medium height, red hair, and gray suit, gray hat. What's the thumb from his right hand? One last scene, Steve Evans was on the subway headed north toward Isham Park. Please communicate any information to me at once. There is a reward for his capture. The city's buzzed around trying to kill this old man. Carter said that. Yeah, and an eyewatchman. Oh, he's a guy about medium height, say, like you, and he's got red hair like you, too. Well, but let me see your right hand. Sorry, Mac. This is my station. So long. Get up out of the station in Isham Park. Steve, over here, quick. Who's that? Matthew Bowen, Nick Carter's secretary. Get over here on the bench with me, hurry up. But how did you? I was on the train with you. I got out of the head, but I heard the trouble. Steve, this is an emergency. Make eye to my boyfriend. Put your arms around me and keep your head down. Quick, here they come. Excuse me, please. Ah, the pizza. Can't people get a little privacy in a park? Yeah, a guy ran past you toward Broadway. Don't chase us. All right, Steve, we can break it up now. Who's pulling this up? Get on the ferry and keep going. Follow Nick's orders. But he's double-crossing me, telling people I killed my father in offering a reward. He's never double-crossed anyone in his life. Just follow instructions, Steve. Keep going. Steve Evans was last seen headed for the Isham Ferry and is probably attempting to cross the river and escape into open country. All officials and citizens in that vicinity are warned to keep a sharp lookout for a red-haired man with a thumb missing from his right hand. Remember his mighty pretty around dusk, hey, buddy? Yeah. 28-it. This here river looks so calm and peaceful, but there's a lot happening on it right now. His armed guards are on both sides. Yeah? How come? Hey, you heard? There's a killer trying to get across on this here ferry. Kill his own man, he did. Name is Steve Evans. Everybody's looking for him. Yeah? The guy in the car to himself was directing a search by radio. Do you have a cigarette? No, thanks. This is Steve Evans. He's a veteran, see? He's got red hair and he... Hey, buddy. Yeah? Why are you wearing gloves? Well, because I'm cold, that's why. Well, I better be moving forward. The ferry's due to dock now. Just a minute, wise guy. You ain't slipping away so easily. Do you see that guy there? He spotted again. I gotta find him. Hey, hey, Evans. Steve Evans, this way, that. What? I'm Ward O. McGlinn. The car's his assistant. Get into my truck here. Hurry up. Get under the canvas in the back. I'll drive you off the ferry. But, Mr. McGlinn. Hide it there. Hide it this way. I'll come up for you. Keep this crate over for you. Chris is picking up hitchhikers. I gotta keep on. I should go to the courthouse. I promised Mr. Carter I... Who's that? There's somebody behind that tree. It's Nervous again. He's coming up the road. I better duck into the ditch again. Down this road a dozen times looking for you, kid. I've been listening to them Nick Carter reports like I was a cop myself. Listen, Malone. Come on. Get into the car. And no argument. This rod ain't a water pistol. Look Malone. Get into the car. I'm gonna drive you to my office. It's a quiet place where we can have a nice little talk. Gas Malone and Steve Evans get into the car and drive off. Does this leave Nick with his plan completely destroyed? We'll hear the conclusion of the adventure in just a moment. Now for the conclusion of the case of the missing thumb. Today's Nick Carter adventure brought to you by Old Dutch Clemser. 30 minutes after Gas Malone picked up Steve Evans on the reservoir road, his car draws up before a small building in downtown New York. Don't get funny Steve. I just assumed drop you now was later. I'm not trying anything. Not as long as you've got that gun. Open the door. Go straight upstairs. You'll kill my father Malone. Yeah kid. His conscience started bothering him about the way I knocked off the watchman last night. I left a phone in the cops. I had to shut him up. No hard feeling kid. It was business. Yeah. Dirty business. Just like I got nothing against you kid. Maybe you're a nice guy for all I know. Open the door. Nothing against you. But you might make trouble for me. Listen Malone. I got a nice setup here see. Quiet little office. 20,000 names of XGIs. The hottest sucker list an operator ever got his hands on. After I take the cream off the list. I can sell them names for two bits each. The grand in this deal for me and I sort of got to protect it. Listen Malone you don't have to kill me. Right now the cops want you for the killings. I don't know how you got mixed up and I don't care. Just to soon leave you to handle them as yourself except for one thing. What? How come they said you was missing a thumb? They said I was missing a thumb. Yeah how come what you tell them? I never told them nothing. Now look this is the clutch kid. We're all alone here. You, me and this gun. Now I want some answers. What about the thumb? Honest Malone I don't... Hey! Missed you that time Steve but I'll take better aim the next time. Why'd the cops say you was missing a thumb Steve? Don't try to shitter Malone. Make up his gun Steve. Okay. Sorry I was late getting up the stairs but the door of the luggage compartment of Malone's car jammed on me. It took time for me to get up. Stop your whining Malone. I just put a bullet through your left hand that's all. Maybe you'll lose that thumb too. But it won't make any difference to you when you're in the chair. Mr. Carter I still don't understand why I had to go through that whole routine. You were bait Steve. But why? You see Steve it would have been impossible to track Malone down and time to stop him from using those stolen names. So instead of looking for him I made him look for me and lead me to the stolen names. Yeah but he was looking for me. Well naturally that's what I wanted. So I stirred up a big fuss made broadcasts every 15 minutes kept stressing the fact that you had a missing thumb. Well that's what I don't get. Malone believed the police were after you but he couldn't understand about that thumb. Finally his curiosity got the better of me. He had to find you and ask you about it. Oh. I made sure he'd know where to find you. But he might have killed me. Not until he found out what he wanted to know and I felt sure he wouldn't try anything where he picked you up because there might be police around and don't forget Steve. I followed you up the reservoir road hiding in the brush behind you. Then that was you behind that tree. That's right. As soon as I heard Malone say he was going to drive you to his office I slipped into the baggage compartment of his car while he was talking to you because his office was what I wanted to locate. I passed you seven times on the road Steve. I was a Knicks Roadster. My how fast you dove into the ditch. And didn't you spot me Steve boy? Old Wildo passed you twice in that truck. When she hid behind the billboard and when she got behind the detour sign. Holy smoke. Hey Mr. Carter is this what detectives have to do all the time? Most of the time. Which brings up the original question of your taking lessons from me. Now look Steve. You don't have to say anything Mr. Carter. None of this business of being a detective for me. You know what I'm going to do? Get myself a nice easy job. I'm going to re-enlist in the army. Can you tell us something about the adventure old Dutch cleanser is going to bring us next week Nick? Oh certainly Bob. Next week's story is about a crook who stole a vanished fortune. If the fortune hadn't vanished he would have landed in jail. But it disappeared so he was murdered. And it all started with a can of coffee and ended with a box of cigars. Coffee, cigars and fortunes that don't exist. What do you call the case? I call it the case of the stolen earth. Nick Carter master detective is presented each week at this time and over these same stations by the Cuddy Heap Hacking Company makers of Old Dutch Cleanser. Here master detective produced and directed by Jack McGregor is copyrighted by Street and Smith Publications Incorporated. Lon Clark is starred as Nick with Charlotte Manson featured as Patsy. Waldo is played by Humphrey Davis. Matty by Ed Latimer. Today's script was written by Alfred Bester. Original music was played today by Jack Ward. This program is fictional and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is Bob Martin saying when minutes count, use Old Dutch Cleanser. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.