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More Frigidaire refrigerators serve in more American homes than any other make. Now Frigidaire presents Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, the man called X. A report from coach in China, Ken, on the latest accident at the Mekong River Dam. Another diamond explosion chief? Right, destroyed the new anchor block. What does John Dryer have to say? He's pretty sick about it. The French government requests his services from the Bureau of Reclamation because of his terrific reputation as a hydroelectric engineer. And now Dryer can't get the first base building that dam across the Mekong River because of accidents. Chief, I'd better show off a coach in China. Well, there are American business interests and mineral deposits there. And hydroelectric power could make it a pretty productive area. More than that chief, with that dam built, a couple hundred thousand enemy villages won't be further out of their homes every year. They get a taste of decent living conditions for change, of civilization. You're right, Ken. Let's see, the nearest town is Banham Bang. I'll have Miss Bruce get your passage in there. Yes, Miss Bruce? Okay. Banham Bang? Yes, sir. Read it out to me, please. Yes, sir. When I read all about this Mekong Dam, so I stowed away... I mean, I caught a fast freighter and came here to Banham Bang. You didn't read anything about me coming here, Pagan? Oh, there. With this American engineer, John Dreyer, building the dam, and plenty of United States money tied up in tin and copper and stuff. Where else would you go when there's a lot of accidents and big explosions? And besides, I've got a hot business deal for you. The only deal I mean is the dentist's transportation to the Mekong Dam. Oh, I got that, too. Now, there are the docs. Don't worry about it. But this business deal you're so excited about. Look, we sell insurance to the Anamite workers at the dam. We positively, absolutely guarantee they don't get knocked off by accidents or nothing. What happens if they do? We bury them. They can't lose. And I already paid off Honglin for plenty of protection. Honglin? Sure. Big shot with the natives. Take care of the snakes. Religious stuff, you understand? Uh-huh. Anyway, anything he says goes. So I guess maybe you'd like to get on the basement, eh, Mr. Thurston? Or shall we say, uh, 500 smackers? Hang on. I'll put you to the work of Bureau Scale. $20 a day and expensive. And your first job's getting satisfactory transportation. But, Mr. Thurston... I can assure you, Mr. Thurston, the transportation shall be more than satisfactory. Well... My seaplane is more to the dock. We can take off at any time, Mr. Thurston. See, Mr. Thurston? I told you I arranged for everything. Yeah. You seem rather surprised, Mr. Thurston. Oh, please, might be a better word. Mr... Very delicoster. Miss delicoster. Mm. That perfume, quite rare, isn't it? And quite expensive. Yes. And your reasoning is quite correct, Mr. Thurston. My interest in flying you to the Mekong Dam is not financial. Of course not. This cookie's a big shot stockholder in the Hanoi Mining Company. They'll make a fortune when the dam is built. That's hardly the point. I'm going to marry Edward Collender. He's just an engineer of the project, Mr. Thurston. And I don't like accidents. Particularly when they happen around my fiancee. Oh, that's understandable. That's why I decided to fly up there with you. Perhaps together we might do something about them. Well, I suppose I should feel flattered, but why me? Oh, I'm glad to know that modesty is one of the characteristics for the man called X. Nice going, Pagon. Uh, uh, a clip of the tong you understood. Oh, sure. Would you have any ideas as to where we might start working together, Miss delicoster? According to rumor, the Anamite natives think the dam is a desecration of their sacred river, the Mekong, and they'll stop at nothing to halt its construction. Yeah, but you don't believe that. I believe that back at every destructive deed, you'll find someone reaching for a dishonest dollar. That's a very definite opinion. Any candidates? You might find it interesting to check the financial condition of the man supposedly most concerned with the building of the dam. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll warm up the engines for takeoff. Hey, there's only one guy she could be talking about. That's right, Pagon. The guy was responsible for me being out here. The American engineer, John Dryer. If I'm Mr. Dryer in the construction office over there, Mr. Thurston. You're not coming in with us, Miss delicoster? Oh, I'd rather not. It's been two weeks since I saw it once. I'm sure you understand. So if you don't mind... Oh, of course not. Boy, what a sweet pursuit, eh? And did you see how she goes for me? Oh, sure, Pagon. That's why she made a beeline for Edward Colander, the minute he landed. Oh, probably just going to break the bad news to him. Yes, Mr. X. Yeah, in the construction office. Come on. I suppose we'll relax and talk things over. Who are you, Mr. My name's Ken Thurston. You, Dryer? That's right. And my name, sir, is Charlie Dong Ray. What went on here, Dryer? This two-faced crook was trying to get me to buy a second-grade building material for the dam. Wanted me to take a split of the graft. And I told him what he could do with that kind of a proposition. He pulled that gun on me. I'm afraid Mr. Dryer is falsifying before his own gods. He asked me to supply inferior materials so we could share the profits. When I refused, he threatened me. I drew the gun in self-defense. Why, you dirty lying, Dryer? He won't get anywhere that way. You are quite right, Mr. Thurston. But it might be well to remember that inferior materials may go into the building of a man as well as a dam. In Mr. Dryer's case, that could mean disaster to my people. That is something I shall not allow to happen, Mr. Thurston. Even though it may mean I must deal forcefully with you, as well as Mr. Dryer. Good day, gentlemen. There she is, Thurston. The make hung river. The baby we're going to tie down if we have no more accidents. What about those accidents, Dryer? You got a theory? I don't believe in theories, Thurston. I work on facts. That sounds like you have a few. I have. About the animites? About Ed Colinda, my assistant. Oh? He wanted the dam built a hundred miles farther downstream. Because he thought it was a better location. That's what he said. I understand he has an interest in rice plantations down there. I see. If he could sell his land as a site for the dam. He'd make a fortune. And ever since we started building here, he's been beefing about changing the site. Saying the animites here won't ever let us finish it. Which brings us right back to those accidents, huh? Yeah. Particularly the last one. The explosion. Colinda has joined to the dynamite stores in this jar. Those are enough facts for you? I think I might have a little talk with him. He'll find him in my tent. He's wicking on some reports in there tonight. I'm not certain that talk will be good enough, Mr. Thurston. Well, well. Hello. Mamo. I thought I told you to stop hanging around here. Now get out before I come here. Wait a minute, Dryer. Who's this girl? Her name's Mamo. I thought up on the mission at Banham, but she's full of the same cock I'd superstition in all the others have, but the Mekong being a sacred river. I have never said that I believed in my people's superstitions, Mr. Dryer. I do, however, believe in their right to worship as they choose. I've been a message to you, Mr. Thurston, from Honglin. Honglin, that's the snake man, isn't it? Yes. And he speaks for my people. They ask that this desecration of the sacred mekong cease at once. Now, you're an educated girl, Mamo. You don't believe that the construction of the dam means that? I believe that whatever brings happiness and contentment to my people is good for them. Whatever brings them sorrow is evil. But that's why this is so important to them. It'll bring electric power for their farms, lights for their homes, modern civilization. You've got to make them understand that. I am afraid those things are not enough, Mr. Thurston. Not enough? What more do you want? My people's happiness, Mr. Dryer. What good is your modern civilization if it teaches them greed and destruction? Why give them electric lights to see by when all they will see is deceit and treachery? And you believe the dam is bringing all that to them, Mamo? You're a wise man, Mr. Thurston. I think you may learn the truth of what I say to my Dua Colenda. Colenda? Meanwhile, remember that my people still believe that if the construction continues, the curse of the evil one Sheeva will descend upon them. They will do everything possible to prevent that. Good night. What do you make of that, Dryer? Those threats aren't going to stop me from building that dam. Maybe not. But we ought to take the young leaders advice. Now look here, Thurston. If you think I'm going to quit... I think we'd better have that talk with Colenda. There's my tent, Thurston. The one with the lamp lighted inside. Colenda's still in there. Yeah. Yeah, I see a shadow against the tent wall. Supposed to make out reports and he falls asleep over the desk. He's not sleeping, Dryer. What do you mean he's not sleeping? Good Lord. That spear, driven through the tent wall into his back. Yeah. So that's what Mamo meant. Her people thought Colenda was responsible for the dam and they killed him. No, Dryer. To anyone standing outside this tent, the shadow on the wall wasn't Colenda's. It was yours. Mine? Yeah. Somebody made a mistake. They killed the wrong man. But we'll continue with Frigidaire's Man Called X created by J. Richard Kennedy. This is Wendell Niles speaking. Think how you have to crowd things into the refrigerator you're using now and then think of this. New Frigidaire refrigerators give you up to 50% more food storage space in the same kitchen space. Yes, Frigidaire's completely new design gives you a refrigerator that's far bigger on the inside. So no matter what the size of your kitchen or how large your family now you can have that extra refrigerator room you need. You get a refrigerator that matches your needs exactly too because Frigidaire offers you a wide variety of types and sizes all with extra room for storing foods all powered by the famous meter miser, simplest cold-making mechanism ever built. In addition, deluxe-type Frigidaire refrigerators, for example, give you such important features as a big full-width super-freezer chest for frozen foods. A handy sliding basket drawer for eggs and small packages. Special cooling system for keeping all foods at their best and many others. Remember all the advantages that Frigidaire puts into the refrigerators it makes for you. And always remember, too, ask to see the name Frigidaire when you ask to see a new refrigerator. And ought to continue with Frigidaire's man-called ex-starring Herbert Marshall. The giant dam being built across the Mekong River in Cochin, China will bring the blessings of power and light of modern civilization to the long-suffering and backward Anomite peoples. But the Anomites have been told that the dam is a desecration of their sacred river. Edward Colanda, assistant engineer, lies dead with a native spear buried in his back. Now it's the following morning in the construction office. Ken faces John Dreier, the engineer in charge, and Betty DeLaCosta, the dead man's fiance. You're sure you want to stay on here, Betty? I do not intend to leave, Mr. President, till I learn who is responsible. I shall spend my entire fortune, if necessary, to bring him to justice. You don't have to, Miss DeLaCosta. The Blueprints player, the Anomites are behind her. I wouldn't be too sure, Dreier. What effect is this going to have on the construction work? It'll make it pretty tough for me, if that's what you mean, but we can still go ahead. A matter of fact, we're going to pour the concrete for the new anchor block tonight. Good. Meanwhile, I'll pay a little visit to Hong Lin. Hong Lin? The snake man? That's right. How do you figure he fits into this picture? I'm going to learn if he's being paid off to stir up this trouble. If there's any western gold mixed up with a curse of sheaver. A personal island. Good. Just to be sure. There's his hut, right up ahead there on the path. Yeah, I see it. Who else lives here with him? Nobody. Just him and his snakes. Got them all locked up in cages. Boy with a screwball. Him and that Charlie Dong Bae. Dong Bae? You know that guy who tried to bump off Dreier? One of his boys told me he visits with Hong Lin. Maybe they play chess or something. Uh-huh. Here's the hut. Nobody home, right? Let's go in and make sure. I can hear them in my Uncle Ahmed's soul. I'll get used to it in a minute. You, uh, smell anything? How can I smell anything when I can't even see? And I got snakes on my brain so much I almost think there's a couple of callings around the... Yeah, there is. Look how big a... See where they are. I got them. Two beautiful King Cobra's. Cobra's? Oh. They're even worse than northern snakes. Boy with a close shave accident. Accident? Look at those snake pens. Are they... Hey, somebody left them open. Yeah. Somebody expected us, Pagon. And left those snakes to welcome us. Those radiograms of the teeth, Pagon. Use the commissioner shortwave station of Anam. Then bring the answers back to me at the dam. But maybe the snake men still after us. You might need me to protect you. I don't think so. Look back at the island. At the island? What's the secret about those two vouchers settling down on... I don't think we'll have to worry about the snake men any longer. This native girl, Memo, she brought us the news camp. How do you know about it, Memo? The word has spread like a wildfire through the village, Mr. Thurston. It has proved to my people that the curse of Shiva has fallen. Nothing can stop them now from seeking the destruction of the dam. Except maybe the truth. That Honglin was paid to spread that story and was killed to stop him from telling me who paid him. It may be as you say, Mr. Thurston, but mere words cannot stop them now. Maybe not. But if you'll take me to your village, I'd like to try. I have but one objective in life, Mr. Thurston, to see that my people are made happy. Yes, I shall take you to my village. You're a fool if you go, Thurston. He's right, Ken. When I think of what happened to it, what? I'll take my chances. Dwyer, get that concrete poured. Once that anchor block is up and no curses fall, we'll have proof for the animites. We'll start pouring at midnight, Thurston. Good. All right, Nemo. Hello, Mr. Thurston. Boy, have I got news for you. You got those answers from the chief? Have I got answers? You know what those radio messages say? Listen to this one. Never mind, Pagan. I'll read them for myself. So that's it. All right, Nemo, Pagan, let's go. By the way, Dwyer, the chief says you filed a petition in bankruptcy before coming out here. Yeah, that's right. I'm an engineer, not a businessman. I made a few bad investments. What's that got to do with you? Oh, nothing. Oh, now I'd hate to see anything stop that concrete from being poured at midnight. Get it, Mr. X. We start out for the village, and then all of a sudden you send that Nemo ahead. And we come back here to the dam. What gives, anyway? That's what I came back to find out. Huh? Suppose I asked you to stop that concrete from being poured a few minutes from now. Could you do it? There will be a slight consideration involved. Natural. Then it's a sin. You see how they got the mixers way up on top there? And they're going to pour that cement down here into those giant mold things. I'll get a couple of sticks of dynamite from the powder house and put them at the bottom of the mold form. Step into it. Fine. Wait for me, Mr. Therson. I'll be right back. Don't bother, Pagan. Somebody else beat you to it. Huh? Look over there. Near the entrance to the mold forms. Near the... Mr. X. You see who that is? Yeah. Let's go over and pay our respects. Hello, Dongbei. Mr. Therson. It's kind of dangerous playing with dynamite, isn't it? Not if one knows how to handle it properly, Mr. Therson. Millie takes a slight twist of the wrist. Oh! Drop that knife, Dongbei. Drop it. Oh! Get it, Pagan. It's as good as God. Huh? You know, Mr. X, I knew all the time this no good was mixed up in this. Yeah. His shining words about his people got a little tarnished, Pagan. With gold. Sure. He got mad on Dreyer because he wouldn't split the graph 55. He only tried that to frame Dreyer and get him thrown off the project. What he really wanted was to sell some rice land to the French government. A hundred miles downstream. But Dreyer set colander on those lands. No, Pagan. They belong to someone else. Yes, that is quite correct, Mr. Therson. And in return for my freedom, I should be happy to disclose everything to you. You won't get any deal from me, Dongbei. But as proof of my good intentions, I can give you the name of that person now. In return, I own the... Mr. X, what's come from? From the entrance of the mold forms. Hello, Betty. Would that father coming over to join me, gentlemen? Or should he join Charlie Dongbei instead? Wouldn't think of it, Betty. You're not too surprised to see me, can't you? Why should I be? Only you and Dreyer knew I was going to Hong Lin's. One of you prepared that snake trap. And Dreyer doesn't wear a perfume. The scent was still in the hut? Yeah. You know, Betty, your window dressing was perfect. No one would suspect a rich young Miss Della Costa with any ulterior motives. In what way do you think I had one? You went just a little too far. Talked just a little too much about your lack of financial interest, your fortune. There was only a phony about it. And the Chief's radio gram told me where it was. Hey, that's right. It told all about the gambling she was doing on the stock market. All the dough she lost. You were losing control of your stock in the Hanoi Mining Company, Betty. I needed big money to recoup. Money you could get by selling that rice van was a sight for that damn. So you tried everything you knew to get it moved down there, even to killing Dreyer. Dreyer? But it was Kalender who got money. That's a mistake, Pegon. The shadow on the wall fooled the killer. Which one of your stuges did it, Betty? Hong Lin or Dong Bei? It happened to be Dong Bei, Ken. Not what it matters. The knowledge will do you very little good now. Betty, better check for the commissioner from Ben Arm before you pull that trigger. These men have this place surrounded. Sir, what is this, a trick? It is no trick, Madam Wussel. I have warnings for your arrest on charges of sabotage and murder. You will please surrender at once. Surrender? I don't think so, commissioner. Sit down, Pegon. Mr. Thurston, you are all right. Yeah, but never mind me. Get the girl. But she has run into the mold forms, Mr. She would get away at the other end. No, commissioner. No, she won't get away. Mr. Rex, the boys! Stay! Stay! That's right, Pegon. They started to pour the concrete. They read under all that concrete. So, Mr. Thurston. Yes, ma'am. You heard? Everything. I did the counsel for my village. My people and I, we shall never be able to thank you enough. Don't try. When that dam gets built, I'll have thanks enough. You need worry no longer, Mr. Thurston. Good night, then. May God bless you and your nation for what you have done for us. Mr. Rex. Huh? That girl's really civilized. Of course she is, Pegon. Mamma was weird, humbly, in the heart of Asia, and bitter delicastre among the advantages of a modern world. But one thought only of her people, the other only of herself. Which one was rare to civilize? Sometimes it makes you wonder. Best wishes of your Frigidaire dealer. We invite you to come in and learn about the famous line of Frigidaire electric appliances. Refrigerators, ranges, water heaters, home freezers, the new automatic washer, dryer, ironer, and many other Frigidaire refrigerating and air conditioning products for homes, farms, stores, offices and factories. A Frigidaire automatic washer? That's what I want next, Mr. Niles. You'll like it as well as your Frigidaire refrigerator, and that's saying a lot. When you're at your Frigidaire dealers, ask to see the new Frigidaire automatic clothes dryer and electric ironer, too. And our Frigidaire star, Herbert Marshall. Many people in Europe and elsewhere are desperately in need of food and clothing. If you would like to help, send ten dollars to the Relief Organization care, and a well-chosen packet of food or clothing will be delivered in your name to some needy family in the country of your choice. That care, spelled C-A-R-E, and the address is simply New York City. Thanks for being with us. Next week, the girl who didn't remember the most unusual story filled with mystery and suspense, about a $15 million theft and a secret locked in the mind of... Oh, but why not listen to it and hear for yourself? As usual, Leon Velasco will be along as Pagan Zeltschmidt. So join us, won't you, and next I'll return as the man called X. Good night. Man called X is directed by D. Engelback with music composed and conducted by Johnny Greene. Tonight's story was written by Sidney Marshall and Maurice Zim. So until next week, same time, same station, this is Wendell Niles speaking for Frigidaire, made only by General Otis. All characters and incidents used on this program are fictitious. And any resemblance to actual persons or incidents is purely coincidental. This is CVS.