 Now we present Herbert Marshall as the man called X the Friday night feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy music mystery and drama transcribed for you by Canon towels famous for color for design for durability among towels America's number one best seller By RCA Victor world leader in radio first in recorded music first in television and by the makers of Anison for fast relief from pain of headache neuritis neuralgia Herbert Marshall as the man called X Wherever there is mystery intrigue romance in all the strange and dangerous places of the world there you will find the man called X But before we set out on tonight's adventure in mystery and drama here's a word about dramatic values the greatest May towel sales in history famous cannon towel sales Packed with value big beautiful buys terrific bargains. Don't miss them Get to your store now and get in on these great money-saving events Cannon towels give you the most for your money in beauty value lovely color and design cannon towels absorb more Where longer stay lovely longer? No wonder more people buy cannon towels than all other towels combined Get the most for your money get cannon big fluffy thirsty cannon towels as summer comes You always need more towels now's the time to get them and the towels to get our Cannons right now in these big cannon towel sales see them in your newspaper get to your store quickly Get in on the big Big cannon values It has been said many times of course that wherever there is danger in all the far-off places of the world There you will find Ken Thurston the man called X and Rare it is when Ken finds time to sleep even one night in his own Manhattan apartment and rare are still when he sleeps there uninterrupted with Ken Thurston speaking. Oh Pagan What time is it anyway? I hope you want Why do I have to do it at? 5 a.m. So long you call me later Wait nothing. Go get some sleep. Oh, fine. Now get yourself a hotel room and sober up George cola all has been dead for six months. Where are you calling from? Where are you now? Pagan Operator operator. This is Ken Thurston. Oh Yes, will you trace that call please and fill me at the bureau right away? You come right down to it Ken There was never any actual proof that Karloff was killed in that plane I know chief was more matter of reasonable assumption right, but the plane did crash at sea. There's no question of that Records washed up along the California coast for weeks afterward, but apparently Karloff didn't crash with it unless You don't think Zell Schmidt's trying to pull a fast one to some kind Ken No, I don't think so. I'd say Karloff just out guessed us. Well, we aren't the only ones he out guessed Walked into that Los Angeles aircraft plant wearing a phony beard handed them a forged letter and flew off in their latest model test plane They're top secret job. Yeah, and he's been doing things like that for years chief One of the stickest boys in the whole espionage business. Well, at least he slipped up on that job. Maybe Huh? I got a hunch that that plane crash was part of Karloff's plan But it wasn't an accident but what could he gain by it can the plane itself was the only thing that Hello Yes, he's here. Just a second. It's for you Ken. Thank you Ken first and speaking. Yes Countess to grass here come old California. Thanks very much operator Hmm. Let's see. I can fly down. I can fly to San Francisco. I can hire a car there Drive down Ken. Who's the countess to grass here? I don't know at the moment. She's apparently Pagan's foestas Hmm. That's quite a house party. Zell Schmidt and a dead man a former dead man chief. There's a big difference Call you from Camel They got the beat the door open Just relax and up Well, so that's the game. All right, just as soon as I Just connect this booby trap Your friend the counter seems to have some unusual ideas of hospitality Hey, Mr. X the only one I saw was George double crossing crook. He was supposed to pay me five hundred dollars to keep my mouth I mean too well. Well, you never wear much good at blackmail pay down Mr. Thursnets never mind never mind So he lured you down here from San Francisco and then locked you in a boom closet. Where's he now? Who knows I haven't heard the sound for the last hour. I guess he Well, let's take a chance Countess to grass your residence Not at the moment, but I'm her business agent. Could I help you? I'd be happy to Yes, I know I'll tell him. Thanks a lot Come pay gone. I got a car parked out in front where we're going Mr. Thursnets Hawaii. Oh, I'm fine now that How I in a car we may we don't get up to San Francisco before that ship sails The way I figured mr. Thurson this call of guy just wanted everybody to think he was dead That's the way it figures. You mean I'm right. Well, you can't always be wrong It's against the law of averages. The only thing I can't figure is Hey, are we trying to break a speed rocker record or something no We're trying to find out whether that car back there is following us or hold on Well, they're sure sticking to us tight it in the wet bathing suit. I know nothing's the same card It was parked down the street from the next they're gonna pass us wish I could get some speed out of this thing Look, there's a curve coming Can you come down give us a hand you don't can you hear me? I saw your lights go over the bank stop my truck as quick as I could Anybody heard? I'm all right. I guess my friends knocked out here Yeah, help me lift him up, right Okay car passed me doing 80 or better. What they do side swipe here. I guess I haven't pretty fast Yeah, turn the light on his face Cut on the forehead. It's not bad. I can't press will stop the bleeding here. Let me get one here One sure thing we can always count on you boys in an emergency When you spend most your time on the road you get used to helping people never know when you need help yourself There You'll be all right a few minutes. Are you heading towards San Francisco by any chance? No, I'm going south I think as far as Salinas Junction. Oh good. I can phone from there you Got an important data some kind up in Frisco. Oh very important It's with a countess and a dead man. Uh, huh? We're saving for Honolulu together if I get there in time Simply can't do a thing about it in spite of your credentials mr. Thurston ship sail 20 minutes ago That's that you know whether the countess to grass there was on board. She was I escorted her to her stateroom personally Did you arrange a reservation with a man named George call off now only for the counters? I wish I could help you mr. Thurston, but it's just too late ships probably moving through the Golden Gate right at this minute Well, that's fate mr. Thurston. Maybe it's all for the best anyway. Those characters are pretty tough cookies Let's go get some sequel. Hey, it's a good idea Pagon. I'm having mine on board that ship I just told you mr.. Never mind. You know where I can channel a fast launch in a hurry Yes, good now. I'm gonna put call through to New York on this phone You use the other one there to get the learning by radio phone I'll talk to the person if you can get him or if not the captain now hurry Mr.. Thurston, you mean we got to climb all the way up to the deck on that little ladder Yeah, now wait big on don't get caught between the launch on the side of the ship Way to the launch Right budget pay gone give it here we go The long boys thanks for the lift I Don't know why I didn't deserve what we're still on dry land Climbing up ladders in middle the ocean Trying to kill us. Oh relax Pagon now. You'll have another chance to blackmail call off. Hey, I never thought of that Yeah, let me give you a hand. Thanks. That's it Well Obviously they have quite a welcoming committee. Well, it's a little unusual to break the schedule slow down the ship and take on passenger Yeah, but I've had radio calls from New York, Washington the maritime bureau even from the owners of the line Well, I pulled all the ranks I could think of to get a board person. Yes, sir My name is Blake. I've arranged a pair of cabins for you assigned your table and oh Here's one of your table companions now. I was afraid I would have to make myself obvious. Mr. Blake Countess. This is Mr. Ken Thurston. Carlos de Grazia. I've been looking forward to this country Really? Well, I must say it is a little unexpected on my side Oh, you have to admit that neither of your two attempts was particularly clever to share I didn't know that you would matter only indirectly. Mr. Blake. Yes, and now that we do come face to face We are outside the 12 mile limit Fortunately, which means of course that we can make our own rules. Tell me how's George cola. Oh I Think you are going to be a highly entertaining dinner companion. Mr. Thurston. I'll try my best Maybe we'll find we have a lot of things in common Like airplanes and espionage Ghost stories and George. Oh, yes, especially George We will continue with the man called X in just a moment Here's a word from RCA Victor what the fireplace was to early American homes The television set is to modern American homes It's the center not only to your life, but your living room So be smart insist not only on RCA Victor million-proof television proven in well over two million homes But on RCA Victor million-proof television in a console cabinet You have your choice of a breathtaking variety of RCA Victor console models every one of furniture masterpieces Worthy to occupy the most important place in your living room Period models like the Regency in the Rutland and the Hillsdale which look like treasure straight out of an 18th century palace Classic models like the provincial whose simple dignity makes it equally fitting for cottage or castle Streamline models like the modern a clean line functional beauty on a swivel base See your RCA Victor dealer tomorrow for your RCA Victor television console and to you and your family in every sense of the word happy looking And now to continue with the man called X starring Herbert Marshall with Leon Balasco as Pagan's elch mitts An international espionage agent named George Koloff supposedly dead for six months is seen in a San Francisco bar and the result Finally leads Kim thirst into a cabin aboard a ship now one day out of Honolulu Also aboard is Korlov's Confederate the Countess de Grazia, but so far the quarry himself has not been found As far as I'm concerned, mr. X. I don't even care if we never find that character. Oh What's happened your enthusiasm Pagan? Enthusiasm I've looked at passengers all week until I'm green in the face And so what if I did find him you wouldn't let me blackmail him anyhow So that was your reason for trailing him down to Carmel. Well, why not? He's a crook. No. Yes, he is now we dock in Honolulu tomorrow and as far as I've been able to find out Call off isn't on board. Why not? Oh, don't ask me. He admitted to you that he just come from Hawaii And as soon as you talk to the Countess she hated for there Just doesn't make sense that he wouldn't go along with her doesn't make sense to me either way, mr. Thurston I don't think that stolen plane crashed accidentally. I think call off panned it that way, but why? And where does the countess come into it? Why this trip to Honolulu? Unless unless what mr. X? It's a possibility Let's see a person to seven through I Wish I knew what you're talking about Hello, mr. Blake Ken first and say I wonder if you can meet me in the baggage hold in five minutes Yes, it may be very important. Goodbye Let's see now the countess to grant his baggage should be in cubicle 17 right here ahead of us, mr. Thurston of course she has a pair of wardrobe trunks and some other luggage with her in her cabin I know it'll be tough to get into it. I'm hoping we find something here find find what mr. Thurston. I don't know. Oh, here we are Now her things are right against the bunker here. I believe oh Yes, these two steamer trunks and this wooden case well the trunks could be legitimate this wooden case Okay, too, mr. Blake You got anything would use to try the lid off. Well, one of these steel cargo workers ought to do the job Don't say we though mr. Thurston my orders to cooperate only go so far. Oh, thanks Maybe a wild goose chase Well, oh, I wish somebody would tell me. What are we looking? I did tell you big or I don't know Well Let's see what the countess is taking to look so for complicated. Do you know what it is mr. Thurston? Yeah, I know what it is One of the latest models of the new robot stabilizer for jet fighter planes top military secret So that was called off scale. What do you mean? He wasn't after the whole plane only this stabilizer You must have taken it off Parachute it into the water with it and left the plane to crash into the ocean. I Wonder if the countess owns a yacht as a matter of fact. She does mr. Thurston I heard discussing it with one of the other passengers a few evenings ago And she probably has a prospective buyer for this thing waiting in Honolulu Only what's happened to her partner called up look mr. Thurston this name on the outside of the case Leo born Lynn Honolulu. Yeah, she's keeping herself covered. Hmm in case of trouble She can claim she never saw the case before I think I better find out a little more about the countess for the ship's radio is yours mr. Thurston any time you want to use it Thanks meanwhile, I wonder if I could borrow about a dozen of those steel cargo wedges Champagne they are going all out this evening last night of the voyage countess is the customary captain's dinner And the last one we shall have together. Mr. Thurston. I'm going to miss these delightful little Conversational interludes. Oh, I thought it was more like passages at arms, but clever and clever men are so rare Well, I am sure you must have fathomed all of my darkest secrets by now. I know no, I'm afraid you've beaten me there. I Imagine you're much more about me than I know about you Well, I was born of impoverished but piously honest Ukrainian peasant stock. Yes I'm at the age of two you were kidnapped by a roving band of gypsies You have found out it was only after narrowly avoiding being sold in the slave market in Algiers That you decided to become a spy. Oh dear. I have no intention of telling that part And it was then that you adopted the name countess the grassy the count was quite old and an awful bore I poisoned him for his time Let that be a warning to you mr. Thurston the poison you mean oh, oh, I'm tasting the wine very carefully I'm sorry to bother you mr. Thurston, but I thought this radiogram might be important. Oh, thanks, mr. Rick, do you mind countess not at all go right the head? But excuse me, but aren't we going to go on with my history? I don't think so you see it's quite unnecessary now. Good night I I'm starved mr. Thurston what a lowdown trick to leave me here alone the scabbard for a whole hour and ten minutes Well, we've flipped the coin to see who ate first big on I know I think you're double-headed nickel. Yes, but I thought I had the one with double tails. You didn't know here It is I picked parking. Mr. Rick sometimes. I think you you're as better as that countess cookie. No, I doubt that And according to this radiogram. She's not the countess. What do you mean? That's only one of the aliases she uses she manages to hold passports in three different countries Been suspected of espionage over and over and never been convicted Oh, well, you may as well go on down and eat pig honor I'll take care of the baby in the closet there boy. You only have to tell me once all the great food They got at this bottom only chance. I the only chance I direct Those luck I see well back away from that bottle. Hey somebody shot the nozzle some country That's a live steam hose Yeah, it's this closet quick. I don't get any suppression The idea was to scold us a quick. Yeah, yeah, it goes I knew I shouldn't have come to this book. I'm on now here. Help me stuff some clothes and the cracks on the door Mr. X 20 it's gonna get hotter. We won't last two minutes in here unless Even Very young you you may be lucky Help in here Here they are now give me a hand Mr. Thurston, can you hear me? That's you big. Yes, what happened mr. Thurston somebody tried to boil us with a steam hose I can't understand it. Nobody did but the crew would know where to find a hose and then they crew Of course what I double checked every passenger on board, but I I didn't check the crew Help me up to break this girl This is mr. Hawkins our chief engineer mr. Thurston Charlie. Oh, I do I told you about mr. Thurston's authority Oh, yeah, well anything I can do to help well what we're doing is checking the crew Charlie We've pretty well covered the deck gang already looking for a man named Corlough Corlough No, there's nobody by that name in my bunch. Well, you're probably using an assumed name mr. Hawkins. In fact How about Bourne Lynn Leo Bourne Lynn? Oh, yeah, she is one of my oilers is named Bourne Lynn Good, he's working down there now on the number two injector pump You want to talk to him? He's the right man. I want a good deal more than just a talk Oh, come on. I'll show you where he is. Oh, well watch your step these deck plates get kind of slippery with oil sometimes Oh, sure. Oh, there you are mr. Thurston He's not working in the galley. I looked over the whole one. I think we found him pay gone These are the man here in the engine crew with a name the same as the one on that wooden case He ought to get like trying to make it climb big out of us that's born and yonder bending over that pump slide That's him mr. Thurston. That's good. Yeah. Well the rest of you better wait wait He's seen us mr. Thurston. Look out. He's got a gun pull up rub it pull up stop. Oh, he's running around behind that pump. Yeah Call up drop that gun the slide valve. Come on Look didn't even slow down. Let's go on dick get some pleasure Mr. X a million stars for once you didn't make an overstatement. Hey What's that glow in the sky way up ahead there Honolulu, I imagine they do the dock at midnight Oh, so that's why there's parties going on all over the ship. Hey, maybe we're gonna go and celebrate too, mr Thurston some of the time thing now. Oh cheer up, mr. X everything solved now And so what if that car loves dead he he had it coming at that phony counters Hey, what are you gonna do with about her? Nothing Nothing, you mean you're not going to run around. I wouldn't do any good. I've got no evidence on her She's beaten a lot tougher cases than this. Oh, but you can't just let her get away Oh, I thought very much you'll get away Pager And the one she has a buyer for that stabilize are waiting for in Honolulu Well, maybe so the director good deal of money from him. Yeah, well sure He opens that wooden case and finds there's nothing in it but steel cargo wedges Well, I think he might be a little Indictive yeah, yeah, I see what you mean and in the meantime, we take the real stabilizer back to the United States The real stabilizer Or it's a valuable piece of military equipment. All right, the good thing. It didn't fall into the wrong hands But the way this shaky world goes wobbling around off balance. I Don't think the real stabilizer has been invented yet Now there would be a cause for celebration Our star mr. Herbert Marshall will return in just a moment If you suffer from pains or headaches neuritis or neuralgia You should discover what many thousands have known for years that anison brings incredibly fast effective relief Anison is like a doctor's prescription. That is anison contains not just one But a combination of medically proven active ingredients in easy to take tablet form Probably at some time you've received an envelope containing anison tablets from your physician or dentist Thousands of people have been introduced to anison this way Try anison yourself the next time you suffer from the pains of a headache neuritis or neuralgia You will be delighted at how quickly relief can come anison is spelled a n a c i n Your drug list has anison in handy boxes of 12 and 30 tablets and economical family size bottles of 50 and 100 for your medicine cabinet Ask for anison today. Oh, here is our star mr. Herbert Marshall Thanks for being with us Those you heard in tonight's cast where Joan banks will write Peter Leeds George niece Harry Lang and Carlton young There's enough intrigue in next week's story to fill a book and can find himself right in the middle of it and That on his back as usual will be Leon Boleska was paid on Zelschmidt So join us won't you when next I return as the man called X. Good night The man called X is the Friday night feature on NBC's five-show festival of comedy music mystery and drama Transcribed for you by Canon towels famous for color for design for durability Among towels America's number one best seller By RCA Victor world leader in radio first in recorded music first in television and by the makers of Anison for fast relief from pain of headache neuritis neuralgia The man called X darling Herbert Marshall is a J. Richard Kennedy production with music composed and conducted by Felix Mills Tonight's story was written by Les Crutchfield all characters and incidents on this program are fictitious And any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental Be sure to hear the magnificent Montague with Monty Woolley formerly heard on Friday now brought to you as a Saturday night feature of NBC's all-star festival and Until next week same time and station. This is Jack Latham saying good night for the man called X William Bendick stars in the life of Riley enjoy it on NBC