 take a house filled with 40 people, then add a man with a mission and danger lurking behind every smile. That's our story, the first stone taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. This is John Steele. If you like your stories hard with action and fast with excitement, come in, sit down and make yourself comfortable because we've got a story waiting for you that's guaranteed to curl your hair, wear out the edge of your favorite living room chair. And the wait won't be long because here's John Steele adventurer's producer, Bob Monroe. Bob? At least once each year, and this being the usual time, I try to get across one particular fact to those of you who follow John Steele and his stories. And here it is. Like everything else in the world, our programs are the product of combined effort. These people, all of them, work hard each week to attempt to bring to you an interesting and entertaining story. First, there's director Elliot Drake, who worries and writes too. Next to him in the control room is writer Lois Landau, who has quite a following down Carolina Way. Another Elliot, Elliot Gruskin, has the responsibility of keeping this show time properly. Out here in the studio, we have the large and small of things, the man who make calculated noise, soundman Walt Schaefer and Adrian Pennett. Within queuing distance is the man who makes our musical moods Doc Whipple. And in the glass booth, handing technical matters is engineer Don Williamson. Add to these the cast we've used this year, whom you'll meet tonight under their own names. Do all of them for a fine job. Thanks. And at least once each year, and this being the usual time, we're going to a party. It's like any other party, almost. The story itself begins as a car moves along a snow-covered street. There are three men in the car. Oh yes, the story is called The First Stone. I'm glad you could make this, boss. You would pick New Year's Eve. Well, it's the only time they'll all be together. I know. Oh, right here, Maury. Turn down the heat, William. It's like an oven in here. Okay, Mr. Steel. Nice town, Maplewood. Yeah, yeah. You wouldn't think you'd find a foreign agent working a place like this. They're not particular. No, I guess not. I don't like to say this, Johnny, but what? You've been on this case for a year. The bureau is beginning to want action. Well, I can't help that. This is a tough one. What have you found out so far? Not much. The blueprints, experimental data, all the records are kept in one room. Somebody's getting that information outside. Yeah, only I don't know who it is or how they're doing it. Only five people have access to that room. The records are in plain view of everyone. Nobody could copy them without one of the other four seeing it. Could they be memorized? Don't think so. This is pretty complicated stuff. Where they kept at night? In a vault. The vice president himself takes care of that. Who's he? He's throwing this window tonight. Who made him? Have you checked him? He was the one that asked for help. Oh, don't I tell you, boss, this is a tough one. I haven't had a single lead in a year. Do you think you've blown your cover? Oh, no. I'm sure nobody knows who I am. Not even the president. What's the matter, Maury? This street hasn't been plowed. How can he get through? I give it a try. That doesn't seem possible that they're all in on it. There's a leak there someplace, Johnny. We've got to find it. Yeah, yeah, I know. Raymond Precision Optical Company has a lot of government contracts. They deserve the best protection we can give them. I know, boss, but whoever is behind all this is a pretty smart boy. Got any ideas at all? Just one. I tried to figure out how I'd go about doing a job like this. Yeah. You know, almost everybody lives in a glass house. We've all got something in our past. We wouldn't want none. That's a pretty good whip to hold over somebody's head. Yeah. So I went ahead and I checked. I figured if I could find the one who didn't have anything to hide, we'd have our man. What makes you think it's a man? Maybe it isn't. Well, what you find out? All five have something to hide. What do we do now? Oh, that's why I wanted you here, boss. Tonight I'm going to go around to all five of those people and drop a subtle hint that I know what they're hiding. Then we just sit back and watch. Yeah. If I'm right, it's going to be an awful lot of glass houses with broken windows before we're through. How are you doing, Maury? Oh, we'll make it. That's Elm Street up ahead. Well, it's a block down on the right. Okay. Oh, by the way, Johnny, I've got good news for you. Huh? Bureau okayed your request for China. Oh, that suits me fine. It's undercover stuff. It's for the birds. We'll be out with his room to swing if you have to. You'll be on your way as soon as you wind this one up. Good. A house with all the lights. That's it. You'll be back to town, Maury. Oh, you guys have all the fun. Oh, taking a movie or something. It's a good run at the strand. Mysterious traveler. Who plays the lead? I don't know. Keep going. Okay. Happy New Year. Better give me a name for the night. All right, what'll it be? Call me Don. Don Douglas. All right. Now, there's going to be a mess of people here. I'll let you know which ones to watch. Right. I wasn't sure you'd be back until now. Miss the New Year's Eve party tonight. Yeah, fun. Always do, you know that. Sheen's been out of California. Oh. Is this your friend? Yeah. Sheen, meet Don. Hello, Don. Let me take your coat. It's awfully nice of you to include this right here. Who is it, dear? Loud, yes. Well, it is now. Oh, uh, this is Don. Hello, Don. Nice to have you with us. Thanks, Bill. Oh, dear. You'd better drive into the Aram Wine and Liquor Store on 52nd and Broadway. We're low on scotch. Oh, I don't. Shoot in the corner to the Bird in the Hand restaurant on 51st and pick up the chicken. Oh, all right. You know everybody, Johnny. Just go and make yourselves at home. Yeah, sure, Bill. Will you excuse me? One of these things takes more concentration than the other. Hey, Johnny. How are you, will you, Ben? Oh, the snow held us up. Yeah, I thought all the good stuff would be good for you, got it. Oh, I knew it was in safe hands. I will let you down. Mort, meet Don. Oh, Mort. Ah, yeah. Now, you two stay. You two stay. Both of you stay right here. Where you are, and I'll go get you a drink. Oh, OK. That's one of the five. Mort? Yeah. He's been with the company for years, worked his way up from the machine shop. He's a technician now. Uh-huh. Hey, Johnny, why don't you go get a sandwich or something? Just one. OK, OK. Where can you do, huh, Johnny boy? I've been doing a torch for him for years, so I got it. Hey, Johnny, you seen Phil? Over at the piano, Joe. Oh, thanks. Sure, he's hard to keep up with. He has got just as big a torch for her as she has for Phil. Oh, three of them going round in circles for years. They important to us? Oh, no, no, no, no. I'll let you know the fine when we hit them. Mm-hmm. Good, good. Can I love you for a drink? Here's your drink. Thanks, Mort. I'll tell you, stay right where you were, and you're most... Sorry, Mort. Ah, you're lucky. Why? Last of a good stuff. If I didn't find you, I'd have drunk up my stomach. Every year is the same thing, you know. I come earlier than by the time the good stuff runs out. I don't carry, boy. Well, I'll remember that. Oh, thanks, buddy. Come on, come on, come on. Let's go around and meet the people. What's your name, old pal, old pal? Don. Yeah, that's it. Come on. Hey, I've been looking for you. Oh, me? Oh, Johnny. Oh, hello, honey. Did you see Mother got back? Yeah, yeah, she let us in. Doesn't she look wonderful? Runs in the family. Why, thank you, sir. Ah, is this Don? Oh, yes, yes. Hello, Don. I'm Joyce. Hello, Joyce. Mother said Johnny's friend was very good looking. Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute. What she did? Well, that's her problem. Come on, dance early. Later, huh? No. Oh, I can't leave Don, dude. Ah, I'm not sure about old pal, old pal. I'll take care of her. Yeah, go on, you two. OK, old pal. Call me Titer. Oh, yes, ma'am. He didn't wear the suit I liked. Well, I wore it last night and the night before that. Oh, I still like it. All right, I'll wear it tomorrow. Good. Who's Don? Just a friend. What's he doing in Maplewood on New Year's Eve? He was passing through. He looked me up. Good friend? Yeah. Where do you know him from? War. I'm sorry, Johnny. For what? I guess I was being curious again. Oh, forget it. No, you don't like it. Forget it, honey. It's just that there's so many things I don't know about you. You never talk about yourself. Honey. Sometimes I feel like I don't even know you. Please, joys. OK. Come on, I better get back to him, huh? Sure, Johnny. Oh, there he is. OK, honey, I'll see you later. Oh, well, I see you met Ross and Viv. Yeah, hi. Hi, Johnny. How are you, kids? How's that new baby, man? Oh, he's just wonderful. He's starting to talk yet? Give him time. He's only seven weeks and three days old. How many minutes? All right, wife, guy. You ought to get married and have one of your own. Then you'll see. Me? Yes, you. Maybe I will. I wish you could have seen him today, Johnny. No, honey. Oh, OK. But he was cute. People haven't got a drink. Mort, old pal went to get him. Oh, I see. Good old Mort. Yeah. How's your dad, Ross? He's coming along fine. He out of the hospital in another week. Ross's dad is the local J.P. Morton, you know? Banker? Yeah, yeah. Maplewood's most respected citizen, huh, Ross? Yeah. He was the one who had that gambling house on Route 29 closed up, wasn't he? I wonder what's keeping Mort with those drinks. Said it was upsetting the economy of Maplewood. I heard one guy drop 20,000 out there. Nothing, Dave. Yeah, I'd better go look up more. You coming? Yes, dear. See you later, Johnny. Yeah, babe. Two down, three to go. I take it he's one of our five. Oh, well, did you see that reaction? Hey, Johnny, where you been all night? Oh, hello, Wendell. I got the funniest story, where you been? Oh, Wendell, this is Don. Hi, you, fella. Listen to this story. Seems there was an American soldier in Paris during a war, and he was sitting in this bar one night when a couple of Frenchmen come in and sit down for silence. Frenchmen. Well, he starts to listen in on the conversation, and he hears them talking about a petite noir. Well, he don't understand French, so he says to himself. Wendell. Uh-oh. Wendell. Oh, there's a wife. I'll finish this later. Yes, dear? He needs someone to crack ice in the kitchen. I said you'd help. Hello, Johnny. Hello, Abby. Come on. Now, everyone has to pitch in. Yes, dear. You know how it was last year. Yes, I do, dear. Later, huh? Tell me he's one of them. Oh, no, no, no. Come on, everybody. Still's going to sing a song for us. Be, baby. Uh, something slow. No, no, you've got to put some life in the party. How about, um, I can't give you anything but lollies. Well, there's plenty more out in the kitchen when you need it. Well, I could use another. How about you, Don? I'm ready. OK, thanks. Yeah? Yeah. I thought, oh, no. I'm sorry. All right, come on in. Isn't often you catch a man kissing his wife. This is Don. Jack and Inga, Don. All right, Don, you know, Jack. Looking for a drink? Yeah, where's Wendell? I thought he was crackin' ice. Well, I took over for him. Really put your heart in your work, don't you? That is the trouble with you old bachelors. You do not understand, Roman. You were bachelors, too, Don. Huh? Oh, uh, yes. What a kid. Jack and Inga supply the glamor in Maplewood, huh? Oh, Charlie. I wouldn't say that. They met in, uh, in Berlin after the war. They're a big international romance. Oh, really? Where do you come from, Inga? I've lived in Berlin all my life. Eastern or, uh, Western Zoll? Eastern. Well, see, this is, uh, what? You're fourth New Year's here, isn't it, Inga? Yes. You know, it's always been a wonder to me that you got her over here so fast, Jack. The quotas were so small right after the war. What are you drinking, Scotch? Yeah. Yeah, I heard that some of the guys had to smuggle their wives in. Have you got my comb, do you? Yeah. I think I will go fix that. Will you excuse me? Who do you think we ought to get back to the party? Oh, you run along with Inga, Jack. We'll be out in a minute. Yeah. Yeah. Seems like a nice guy. Oh, you never tell. He's the technician out of the plan. Mm-hmm. Let's see. That's Ross and Jack. Who's the third? Mort. Oh, hell. You haven't met the other two. Mm-hmm. I'm not sure how to drink, but you aren't there anymore. Sorry, Mort. So, Cal, pal. Hey, come here. I'll let you know a secret. I got one bottle of the good stuff in the way. Well, we just had a drink. Thanks, Mort. OK, OK, Johnny. When you're ready, you'll let me know. I'll fix you on it. You know, you remind me of a guy who used to be in my outfit during the war. Oh, why? Always knew where the good stuff was, you know? Well, it couldn't have been me. I was in the first one. Yeah, I know. Too bad about this guy, too. Why? And dishonorably discharged. You sell, pal? He deserted. Maybe there was a reason. Maybe. Don't forget, any time you want a good drink, you'll have more to know, huh? Yeah. Sure, Mort. Sure. All right, takes care of him. Yeah. Kind of tough. Not a nice way to make a living. Come on, let's get back to the party. OK. Oh, Joe, I haven't. Thanks. Hey, where have you two been? Out in the kitchen, getting a drink. Oh, you missed all the excitement. What excitement? Ross and Phil almost had a fight. What about? Oh, it's nothing. Francis had a little too much to drink. Why did he pick on Phil? Didn't you know? Phil used to work out of that gambling house on the highway. Uh-huh. Excuse us, Joyce. We'll be back in a minute, huh? Hey, don't be gone too long. I feel like I haven't even seen you tonight. Well, it's started. Yeah, let's get to the other two, huh? Right. Oh, uh, Connie. Connie, come here a minute. Yes, Donnie? I want you to meet a friend of mine. Don? This is Connie. Hello, Donnie. I'm just telling Don about you. Oh? Company's most efficient secretary. Oh, Donnie. This girl is the rock of Gibraltar, Don. Nerves of steel. Do you want me? When everybody else at the plant is blowing their wig, Connie is the one person that never loses her head. Oh. You know how you can usually spot the kind that crack up under pressure? This girl, never. Connie, did you always live in Maplewood? No. Where'd you come from? Why? I just wondered. Barrington, wasn't it? Yes. That's up near the state mental institution, isn't it? You're a nice guy, Donnie. Will you excuse me please? Brother, how to be the most popular man in town? I know. But if we catch our face, it'll be worth it. Yeah, I know. All right, one more. Come on, let's get this over with. Hey, Johnny, come here. What? I want to finish that story. Well, not now, Wendell. He'll die of laughter, then. That's what's not a moveable. Let's see, where was we now? Yeah, the GI in Paris. And he heard the Frenchman talking about the petite noir. And he didn't know French, so he decides he's going to find out what a petite noir is. So he goes out of the bar, and he walks down the boulevard. Pretty soon, he sees the boulevard, and he sees a very distinguished-looking Frenchman. And he says to himself, this guy, I don't know. So he walks up to him, and he says, what is a petite noir? And the Frenchman whips out his gloves, sits him across the face, challenges him to a duel, and takes off. Oh, that's more. Yeah, that's more. Well, the GI, he says himself so. Wendell? Wendell? Oh, yes, dear? I thought you were cracking eyes. Hey, Jack, what are you doing here? Well, Jean needs some help in the dining room. Honestly, you men wouldn't lift a finger. All right, dear, I'll say it. Excuse us, Johnny. I'll be right back, Johnny. OK, Wendell. Saved by the bell of the ball. What ball? 1890s? All right, come on, this is the last one over in the corner. Right. Oh, hello, Jim. What are you doing over here all by yourself? Hello, Johnny. I have some candy. Huh? Oh, Louis Cherries. Thank you. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Don. Jim. How are you doing? Hello, Don. You know, I've heard of you. Really? Yeah, one of the country's outstanding physicists. Well, now I've heard. But I hear, oh, it's nothing to excel in the work one is chosen. You know, that's funny. Oh, what, Johnny? I always had the idea that you should have been a doctor. No, no. Those long, thin hands? Surgeon, maybe. No, Johnny. I'm happy. Well, maybe you're right. I wouldn't want to be a doctor. There's too much responsibility. I'm happy. Especially a surgeon. So much can happen in an operating room, you know. The patient dies. Sometimes this can be hard to explain. Well, how'd we get off on this subject? I don't know. Hey, Jim, could I see you a minute? Of course, Jack. Excuse me, gentlemen. Yeah. Well, that's all of them. What do you think, boss? Let's go out in the kitchen where we can talk. OK. I did before. Well, it's got to be one of that five. Maybe it's two of them. Sure. Maybe it's all of them. Could be. I hope the next job Washington gives me will have an answer. This one has an answer, Johnny. You just haven't thought of it. Oh, yeah, I know. Let's see if I've got them all straight now. Ross the gambler. Jack married to the German girl. Mort the deserter. Jim used to be a doctor. And, uh, Connie. Oh, yeah, Connie. Well, we'll just have to sit tight to see what happens. Shouldn't be long now. No. We'll split up. You stay in here for a while, and I'll cover the party. OK, boss. Holler, if you need me. Couldn't help over here. What? So that's why you came to me. What do you mean? You don't love me. What are you talking about? I'm just the boss' daughter. I made your investigation a little bit easier. Look, I can't talk about it, Joyce. I'm not being curious now, Johnny. You were so right. I wish I never had been. I was a lot happier when I didn't know this. Joyce. Oh, there must be an easier way than this to make a living. It's like Grand Central. Hello, nice guy. Hello, Connie. I want to talk to you. Go ahead. We're going to get out of town. Why? Because you point a gun at me? You got a better reason. Sure. There's your little glass house is getting ready to fall in on you. You know, I've been trying to find you for a long time. I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you're not the one. Johnny, will you please get out of neighborhood? Why, Connie? I've worked too hard to forget the past. If anyone knew I'd been in the state hospital, I just couldn't face it. Look, you know, that's nothing to be ashamed of, Connie. Somebody's been working on you over time. Please, Johnny, please. Listen, honey, your secret is as safe with me as it is with you. No, you need a guy that's got some... I was just looking for a cell. Oh, Joe, wait. Come here a minute, huh? No, what's the matter? Joe, would you do me a favor? Yeah. Look, would you take care of Connie for the rest of the night? See that she has a good time. Connie? Well, sure. Yeah, glad to. Please, Johnny. Don't you worry about anything, baby. Thanks. You know, it's funny, Connie, but I don't think you know what I'm thinking. Who knows? Maybe I should charge admission. Hey, Charlie, old pal. Oh, more. What are you doing out here by yourself? Oh, I wanted to get away from the noise for a minute. Hey, come on, come on, let's have a drink, huh? Still got some of that good stuff hit away. So when I put it, found it selling. Go on, Mort, I'll stay up here, huh? Yeah. Okay, okay. Yeah, final life. Oh, I don't. Switch. Hey, that is drink. Oh, okay. Watch your step. Well, you watch yours. Yeah. I said that's far enough. I've been a little sick of people waving guns at me. Stay where you are. I was wrong once before tonight. Don't move. Hey, I'm not wrong now. Get down, Johnny! He's our man, all right. All right, how do you know? We figured it out, Johnny. He was taking little pieces of information from all four of the others. None of them realized how important it was. Of course, they didn't talk it over among themselves because they were all trying to hide their past from each other. You were right, Johnny. He was holding that whip over all their hits. Told him he wanted the information so he could learn more about his work and get a better job. Well, they'd known Mort for years, and they all liked him. We didn't know how serious it was. And Jim and Jack got together tonight after you talked to them and compared notes. We never would have done that except there wasn't much secret anymore. We're very ashamed, Johnny. Well, you should be. We know. What do you want to do about us? Oh, nothing. We got the guy we wanted. I'll take him down to the local jail for tonight. But use my car, will you? I'd like to feel like I've done something. Okay. I'll sneak him out the back door at no point in breaking up the party. Come on, you. I'll get in touch with you in the morning, Johnny. Okay, boss. Talk to you about your next job, then. Oh, so soon? Not much time to waste. Yeah, I know. All right, good night, boss. Good night, Johnny. Come on, get going, you. Oh, hey, Jack. Jack, would you ask Joyce to come in the kitchen and see me, please? You bet, Johnny. I need to talk about Johnny. Don't we? No. All right, then we won't talk. Stop! Guys, listen to me, character. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you all about myself, but if we're going to get married, you're going to have to learn to trust me. Marry? I wouldn't... Yes, you would, and we don't have much time to do it in, either. Why? Because I've got another job at... Stop asking questions. I can't help it, Johnny. You want to know something? I can't, either. That's why I'm in the business, I mean. Come on, let's take a look at this party. All right. Let's see. Now, where are we? We're in the... What about Joyce? All right, all right. Let's see. So the freshman is going to do all the G.I. So the G.I. says to himself, I've got to find out what this here petite noir is. So he goes walking down the avenue. I'm supposed to pull the bar. The avenue, so he meets a cute-looking French guy. You know one of them, real... Well, so he walks up to her and he says that he says... Wendel! Wendel! So he says to her, he says... Wendel! And she says... It was my joke in the first place. The story of a man who went to a party where many faces covered one dangerous mask. False faces, that is. And if you like Johnny's story, friends, why not come back again next week? I'll have a man who sacrificed public acclaim for a personal greatness. I like to call it Stargazer. So until next week, this is John Steele saying, a life of adventure is yours for the asking, wherever you find it. Well, you don't look for it, it may find you. Well, goodbye, good hunting, and a grand new year. This program came from New York. Mutual is your network for sports. There are two terrific football games on Saturday. First in the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, you'll hear a thrilling pass-by-pass, plunge-by-plunge report of the North-South blue-gray game followed over many of these stations by the Shrine, the East-West game from San Francisco. Yes, for top football thrills, just before the King of Sports bows out for 1950, listen to the blue-gray game followed by the East-West game over many of these same stations on Saturday. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.