 Welcome, Weirdos. I'm Darren Marlar and this is Retro Radio, old-time radio in the dark, presented by Weird Darkness. Each week I bring you a show from the Golden Age of Radio, but still in the genre of Weird Darkness. I'll have stories of the macabre and horror, mysteries and crime, and even some dark science fiction. If you're new here, welcome to the show and be sure to subscribe or follow the podcast so you don't miss future episodes. And if you're already a member of this Weirdo family, please take a moment and invite someone else to listen in with you. Spreading the word about the show helps it to grow. If you're here because you're already a fan of nostalgic audio and print, you'll want to email WeirdDarkness at RadioArchives.com. When you do that, you'll get an instant reply with links to download full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp e-books and old-time radio shows for free. That's WeirdDarkness at RadioArchives.com. Coming up, it's an episode from Dark Venture. Not to be confused with the old-time radio series Dark Fantasy, which we heard last week, Dark Venture is a psychological thriller show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The show centered on horror and mystery and aired from 1945 to 1947 with John Lake as the narrator. It was a different kind of thriller where the listeners were able to go into the twisted mind of the killer and learn about his plans and thoughts. Although the methods through which the killers murdered their targets weren't exactly creative, the listeners still found the show particularly interesting because of the way the killing is plotted and how the killer can sometimes get away with it. Even though John Lake was the official narrator all throughout the series run, most of the narrating in each episode is provided by the character of the killer, a very unique idea especially for the time. In this episode, a robbery that leads to a murder turns into a desperate attempt to elude the police. Now, bolt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights and come with me into the Weird Darkness as we listen to Dark Venture from July 31, 1945 and Pursuit. Over the minds of mortal men come many shadows, shadows of greed and hate, jealousy and fear. Darkness is the absence of light, so in the sudden shadows which fog the minds of men and women are to be found the strange impulses which urge them on to their venture in the dark. There are some men whose entire lives are concerned with evil. They're born to flourish and die in the shadows. Their every move is a venture in the dark. It is a story we tell you tonight as we present Marvin Miller and Eric Snowden in Pursuit. A dark, deserted side street within the inner reaches of London. In the distance, Big Ben sombrely tolls the evening hour. Quiet now, here he comes. You see, Henry, you see how I followed your orders? Every day for a week I've watched him not so loud. Every day he takes the same streets. A tedious little man walled in by habit. What's that? Nothing, Lord, nothing. The shawty has the money. Sure is death, Henry. When he left his office he was counting the notes. See how thorough I am? All right, now shut up. When he gets here you know what to do. Don't make any mistakes this time. What do I ever do that was... Shut up, I said. It is. Big pardon, sir. Oh, what's that? You wouldn't have to have a match now, would you? Oh, a match? You startled me for a moment. I didn't see you there in the darkness. Yes, certainly I have a match. Did you care for a smoke? No, thank you. Yeah, I'll strike the match for you. Blow out that flame bullet. What? Keep your hands just where they are now. You shouldn't have let him strike that match, you fool. Get down the street and keep a sharp watch. Now, see if you're out. Go on, Bart, move. All right, Henry, but I didn't mean to have him strike the match. Swap me, I didn't. All right, your wallet. You will not get away with this. It's all clear, Henry. I have influence, I want you to know. Great influence. You've picked the wrong men tonight. Stop jabbering. Take that ring off your finger. Come on, get it off. What are you trembling about, a man with your influence? The ring's stuck. You better hurry and get it off, mister. Here you are. Someone's coming down the street. You see, you'll never get away with it. Now your pocket watch hung so elegantly across your plump stomach. Henry, they're still coming, hurry. Fine-looking watch. You'll pay for this. You'll see. I'll have you tracked down. Remember, I saw your feces when I struck the light, though I... You did it that, didn't you? Well, at least I think I... Henry, it's too old. I'm just down the street. I'm almost through. You know, it's too bad you're such keen eyesight, my friend. Why, well, I don't think I could identify you positively. I mean, I just caught a momentary glimpse, I... Yes. Please, please don't do anything to me. I've got three children at home. That's very unfortunate. I feel so sorry for your three children. Don't use that gun. Please. I'll give you anything. I'll... Henry, you shot him. You shouldn't have done that, Henry. What's this, Bart? Are you trying to tell me what to do? No, but you heard what he said. He's a man of influence. Don't let that bother you, Bart. His influence is now at an end. I'll be glad to get in the house tonight, right enough. This night's done me in. It's a fine night, Bart. Look at those stars. Winking down at us as if they shared our every secret. There you go. Talking crazy again. I wonder what we got out of him. You're counted when we get in the room. You see how I'm learning, Henry? Knew just the streets he'd take and right to the minute. Yes, it was also very clever of you to let him strike that match. Well, here we are. Home, sweet home, up the stairs and... He's walking down the street. What do I do, as I say? Sure, Henry. Walk natural, not too fast. What's wrong? I don't know. But there were two policemen waiting for us in the hallway. This is Henry Bell, Mrs Graham. I don't want no trouble. Oh, I'm trying to keep you from trouble. A friend of mine said he passed your rooming house tonight. There were police in the hallway. Knew I roomed with you, so he told me. I just called to see if I could be of help, that's all. Who are you now? Yeah? For me? I should go right into the old room. What do they want of us? Well, we've not done anything. That's a lie. Now, look, the man saw your faces for a moment. From his description before he died, the police nerds you and Bart. Thank you very much, Mrs Graham. What's that? What are you trying to pull off? Goodbye, Mrs Graham. No, don't hang up yet. Do you think I'm going to give you time to trace this call? I'm so sorry. I can't oblige. Give me the phone. Inspector Lane of Scotland Yard. Yes, Inspector. Goodbye to you, too. It's no use, Bill. You haven't a chance in the world. Give yourself up. I don't think so, Inspector. You shot the wrong man tonight, Bill. You shot Donald Bailey. The right honourable Donald Bailey with a seat in the House of Commons. Getting up in the world, aren't I? We'll catch you before morning. We're forming a dragnet that stretches across the entire city. You can't escape. Is that so, Inspector? Would you like to wager on it? Well, do you get the train tickets? I couldn't, Henry. I just couldn't. They got coppers all over the railway. Stars should do anything right anymore. What are we going to do, Henry? What are we going to do? Listen, you've got to hide us out. We've been running from the police all night. We can't take it much longer. Dick... Dick, are you there? Hello? Hello, hello? Henry. Not so loud. Will he help us? I'm worn out, I tell you. I'm worn out. Will he help us? He wants no part of us. No one in the old Blooming City will help us, and that's a fact. Young, great. And that ain't all, Henry. What? The coppers are throwing a barricade around this entire district. Won't let anyone in or out. And all the time they're squeezing in tighter. Squeezing in tighter, Henry. What makes you think Sam will help us, Henry? Sam will do anything for money. You shouldn't have killed him, Henry. Not a right honourable gentleman like him. Right honourable gentleman. What else should I have done? I don't know. You're the one that always figures out. You're supposed to watch out for us. I am watching out for us. If you hadn't let him strike that match and let him see our faces, this would never have happened. Oh, I do like you tell me, Henry. It's like I always say you've got the brains, but you need more than brains, and that's where I come in. Then do as I tell you now. Stop talking. Come along. Wait. Look. Is someone walking down the street? Let him walk. Ignatial. I think it's a copper, Henry. Just keep walking. Here, let's stand on the street. Henry. Henry. I'll tell you it's a copper. Look, he's turning down the street with us. All right. Just take it easy. Don't do anything to raise your suspicion. I'm scared, Henry. I'm scared. Shut up. Yeah, you see. He didn't follow us. Here, let Sam's house just ahead. He'll hide us out. I hope so. Up these stairs. I'll ring the bell. Why doesn't he answer? Take it easy. Where is he? Who's there? It's me, Sam. Henry. Okay. Sam, we're in trouble. Terrible trouble. Quiet, Bart. Sam, we got into a little mix up tonight. I heard all about it. Yeah. Come in. We're obliged, Sam. Much obliged. Been running from the coppers all night. Yeah, sure, sure. Well, sit down. Rest yourself. Bart gets a bit excited, Sam. It's really not that bad. Not bad, he says. How much did you get off the game? Well, we haven't counted it yet. Look, every cop in town is looking for you. I'm taking a big chance doing this. What do you mean, Sam? How much did you get? Oh, he'll take care of you, Sam. I'll take care of myself. So that's the way it is, eh? That's the way it is. It's a dirty trick. You think so? Come here to the window. Both of you. Look through these curtains. A copper? Right. Yeah. He's the one that was following us. You see, I'm sticking my neck way out. And I'm not doing it for my health. Oh, we didn't get very much, Sam. Don't give me that. Come on, let's see it. Bart. Yes, Henry? I want to talk to Sam alone. But, Henry, we don't have no secrets, you and I. We are partners, we are. Uh, Bart. Bart, why don't you go in the back and wash up, huh? You do as Sam says, but go on. All right, all right. But it's a mighty peculiar way for a partner to act if you ask me. Now, what did you want to talk about, Henry? I need the money I got tonight, Sam. I've got plans, great plans, running through my brain. You have, huh? You don't imagine for one minute, do you, Sam, that I'm content doing what I am now? Bart seems content. Oh, that ox. He hadn't let that fellow strike that match. We wouldn't have been in this mess at all. No, I'm afraid my plans go beyond my friend Bart. Well, what's all this got to do with me? You're from America, well, they know how to think big. I admire you, Sam. You think like I think. You're quick to grab hold of an opportunity when it presents itself. I like that in a man. Well, I've got a few deals in my mind where I could use a man like you. You're smart, Sam, very smart. Yeah, yeah, maybe. I know one thing. I'm too smart to hook up with a marked man. Marked? You killed the wrong fellow, Henry. But that was Bart's fault. I don't care whose fault it was. You've got to date with a noose. You may delay it by thrashing about this way and that, but in the end they'll catch you. It's not true. Have you finished your little talk, you two? I think so. I'll take the wallet, Henry. It's not fair, Sam. All right, I'm a reasonable man. I'll take nothing and you can go back to the street. Here's the wallet. Thank you. After all, Henry, you just said you admired me because I grab hold of an opportunity when it presents itself. Anything else? Justice Ring. How about cuff links or watches? Didn't you pick the guy's watch? He wasn't carrying a watch. Okay. You two go in the next room and get some sleep. Go on. You know, I'm so fagged out I could sleep forever. You'll be on the lookout, won't you, Sam? Sure, sure. All right, go to sleep and don't worry. Blighter. He had no business taking the Ring and wallet. Well, there ain't much we can do about it. He took everything. Not everything. What do you mean? I'm not exactly a fool, Bart. Look at this watch. Didn't get that. Say, that looks pretty. It's a fine watch, solid gold. Yeah, we'll be able to get 10 pounds on that, all right. 10 pounds, nothing. I'm... I'm retaining this watch. I've been needing one for some time now. Yeah, that ain't fair, Henry. Why not? Oh, we're supposed to be partners. We are. That means 50-50 on everything. Don't be such a fool, Bart. I'm the one that runs this little partnership. Remember that. Well, all the same. All the same, nothing. I'm keeping this watch and I don't want to hear you mention it again. You all act in mighty queer, Henry. You didn't used to be like this. Perhaps I don't appreciate your stupidity as much as I should. Yes, perhaps that's it. Oh, tonight was just a mistake. Just a mistake. There you're going. Gonna turn out the lights. Why? I want to see if that cop is still out in front. Well, that's more like it, Bart. This shows some signs of having a brain when you think of things like that. I'll just raise this blind a bit and... Henry! Stop shouting like that. Come here quick. What is it now? Look down there on the street. Where? There's Sam talking to the policeman and he's pointing to this house. Why, that? Now they're coming across the street. What are we going to do? Come on, quick. There's a back entrance to this house. Where can we go now? We've no time to think about that. Let's get out of here. What'll it be, gents? Capote. Same for me. Two cups of tea. No finesse. I've got some fine slab cake. Nothing else, just tea. Tea it is. What are we going to do? Didn't you think? If we only had enough money to get away, we could hire a car. Who's talking about that? Having a penny. You could get some money for that watch at this time of night. We could find a pawn shop somewhere. We could sell it to someone on the street. Get out. I would like to keep the watch. It gives me a certain distinction. I don't intend to give it up. But it's a harrow. Shh, waiter's coming back. Here's your tea. You sure you don't want some slab cake? How late do you stay open till midnight? The underground train stop running it off past 11. And I get a pretty good train from them. Suppose you bring me a slice of that cake if it's as good as you say it is? Slab cake, right, Dove? Do you hear what he said? That's a good business here. Must have plenty in the till. That's what you were thinking, eh, Henry? If we had enough money, we could get away from here till it cools off. That's right. You suppose you could do something right for a change? Oh, Henry, I didn't mean to. Here he comes again. Here you are. Now, if you don't mind, I want to get the news. It's just coming on. This is the BBC news resume. The conference at Potsdam is proceeding well according to reports. Next time he comes back, we'll do it. All right, Henry. When I put the gun on him, you'll make a rush for the cash register. You have to move fast because a customer might come in at any minute. Wait. Listen to the wireless. It's about us. Promise and arrest within very few hours. Names and descriptions of the criminals are known to the authorities. Every means of escape is being watched. Why don't we give ourselves up, Henry? I tell you, it's no use. We'll not give ourselves up. But... I told you before I'm making the decisions. I get in closer all the time. I can feel it again like a noose around me, Nick. Don't talk like that. And all for nothing. All we got out of it was an old watch. That's the breaks of the game. It's a mighty fine watch. All the time getting closer. You heard what the wireless said. There's nothing left for us to do. Here comes a car down the street. Yes, here. Give it a stop, please. It's stopping. All right, men. Let's give this block the going over. They can't be far from us now. You hear that? Yes, I hear it all right. Let's give up, Henry. No. Maybe they'll give us a chance. They will not give us any chance. Hurry. Walk down this alleyway. Keep close to the wall. We'll never get away. They haven't caught us yet, Miret. The night's only begun. What's that entrance down there at the end of the street? I don't see it. There, there, with the warning lights burning over it. It looks like the subway entrance. There's a sign on it. Let's see if I can read it by the light of the street lamp. The cops will be honest in a few moments. Be quiet. Let me see. Station no longer in use. Enter through Brighton Station to Squares North. Come on, Henry. Excuse me an idea. We can't waste any time. Remember what the waiter said? What? He said the train stopped running at 11.30. After that, the tube's empty until early morning. Well? Let me look at my watch. Almost 20 minutes to 12. We've finally got a break. What do you mean? The subways will be empty. We can escape through the tube. Is it safe? Certainly it's safe. Look at the watch for yourself. It says 11.40. Hey, you! Henry, it's them. Stop! Tell me steps. Hurry! There they go. That's what we're doing. Hurry, hurry! Oh, my ankle! Oh, come on, come on. I can't. Yes, you can. Take a window in the subway. Bring up the lights. We're trapped, Henry. No, we're not. We're going along the tracks. But it's dangerous, not dangerous. Remember the train stopped running 15 minutes ago. Come on. Oh, my ankle hurts. You can see them anywhere. Henry, they'll catch us this time. No, they won't. I keep stumbling against the rails. I'm going to light a match and see where we are. But that's what got us into trouble before, Henry. They have to take a chance now. Henry! Forget it. We've a way out. A way out? A way out? I could see them alike. Just a few feet, the subway branches off. We've got 50-50 chance of we take the tunnels to the left. Two constables wouldn't dare spit up knowing I have a gun. Yeah, maybe that's right. I know it's true. I'm afraid I can't oblige, Inspector. I'm afraid I can't oblige. I think we're going to be all right. I told you so. They took the main tunnel just as I figured. You'll get frightened too easily, Bart. It is so black in here and narrow. Just room for the rails. That's what it was made for. We'll have to be careful to get out before morning before the train starts running again. You won't have to worry about that. But if we went to sleep... Oh, I have to think about what happened. I said you won't have to worry about that. What do you mean, Henry? I've been thinking... About what? About a lot of things. You know, being down here 100 feet beneath the earth is good for the mind. Ah, there you go talking crazy again. Oh, crazy, is it, Bart? Well, here's something for you to think over, my boy. What are you talking about? You're stupid, Bart. You know that, don't you? Well, you're big and strong. But you can't think, Bart. You rely on me for everything. Don't we fist, Henry? You can't say that... You have a very bad habit of interrupting, Bart. I'm sorry. Didn't you ever wonder why I bothered to take you along with the omnig's jobs? Well, I'll tell you, Bart. I'm a man of mentality. I'm a planner. But I don't like to soil my hands with dirty words. That's why I let you hang around just to do my dirty words. Oh, I always figured you need more than brains. You need muscles, too. I didn't think of it as dirty words, Henry. I don't know what you're getting at. It's just this. You're no help to me anymore. You've hurt your ankle, and in the morning you have trouble moving around. And then, too, your attitude's been annoying me. What am I doing? When I'm annoyed by someone, I just walk out on them. Henry! But in your case, there's a drawback to that. You see, I don't want you around and talk to the police, Bart. So there's only one thing I can do. I'll have to kill you. You may have the brains, Henry, but I'm strong enough to kill you with one strike. No, you are, Bart. You forget. I have the gun. Stage is lit how a gun can make me just as star as you. I'm doing it, Henry. We've always been a team. I'm doing it. As the body of Bart drops to the tracks, a thin smile crosses Henry's lips. Then he straightens his clothes and begins walking down the tracks. Somewhere along the line, there'd be a station. He would escape through that. Without Bart, he could move around quickly, lay low till the excitement died down, then come back again. He began whistling as he walked along. Hands in his pockets. His fingers touched the fine gold watch. That was something really to be proud of. Yes, he would go away. Maybe he'd go to the sea. A nice rest wouldn't hurt him. He'd always find a way to pick up a few pounds and maybe find a sweet young thing to... Henry pauses, uncertainly. Looks back where the sound is growing. But the sound was getting nearer and nearer. The train. It can't be, it can't be. I've got to get out of here. I've got to get out of here. It stumbles over the tracks. He jumps in his feet and rushes on. His hands brush the narrow walls for some way of escape. It can't be, it can't be. The train stopped running at 11.30, it just can't be. But now the sound of the approaching train fills the tunnel. No escape, no escape. Then in the growing light, Henry sees a way out. A door. An emergency door. I've got to get it open, get it open. He throws himself against the door. His fingers tighten around the handle. The rumble of the train is now a continuous thunder. Get it open. Get it open. It must, it must. But the handle, unused for years, refuses to budge. Now the train is rounding the last bend and tunnel. Its headlights spearing through the gloom. Open. Open. But Henry hasn't the strength to open the door. In his last frantic terror, as he turns to face the onrushing train, a sudden thought knives its way to his tortured mind. You need more than brains, Henry. You need muscles too. Bart had said that. Bart had the strength. Bart could have opened the door. Henry raises his arms as if to ward off a terrible blow. And the train thunders on. Across London, in a small office in the city morgue, the widow of the right honourable Donald Bailey has come to claim the personal effects of her late husband. This is all we found on him, madam, his clothes, this tie-clip, the umbrella, and the loose change. They weren't satisfied to steal his wallet and his ring. They even had to take his watch. Was it a valuable watch? Only to him. He had been in his family for generations and had become quite antiquated. Kept time very badly. Gained an hour a day or more. Yes, I dare say whoever stole the watch will have nothing but trouble. If time means anything to him. Next week over most of these stations we'll bring you another original story about the land of the shadows. Eclipse. The strange tale of a man who walked from unconsciousness to find himself a hunted murderer. It will give you another opportunity to examine at close range the strange impulses which lure human beings into their dark venture. Pursuit was written by Larry Marcus and Robert Light and featured Marvin Miller as Henry and Eric Snowden as Bart. The narrator was John Lake. Original music by Dean Fossler. Ladies and gentlemen, your government needs your help during the current meat shortage. Yes, your government asks you as a patriotic duty to play square with meat. If every person played no more than legal ceiling prices and exchanged the proper ration points for meat the black market would be stamped out. It's that simple and that difficult. Your government through the Office of Price Administration sets these rationing and price controls to protect you to ensure you that you'll get your fair share of the meat available. To your share, play square with meat. This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company. Radioarchives.com and get an instant reply with links to download full-length pulp audio books, pulp e-books and old-time radio shows absolutely free. That's Weird Darkness at Radioarchives.com. I'm Darren Marlar. I'll see you next time for Retro Radio, Old Time Radio in the Dark.