 stand by for crime Chuck Morgan speaking KOP newscaster in Los Angeles you know in spite of all the kidding that goes on between my blonde secretary Carol Curtis and me she's really quite a gal I depend upon her more than I sometimes care to admit she's an eager beaver when it comes to lining up feature stories for my broadcasts which when you have to dig up two feet is a day is a big help but every once in a while Carol goes overboard and her attempts to ferret out these features like last week she claims she had a hot tip from a mysterious person whose name she didn't know and who told her that a big shipment of marijuana was scheduled to be smuggled across the border at Kalexico and if we wanted an eight-columned headline yarn we'd better be on hand well I wrote that one up to one of those crackpots that were forever phoning in and told Carol we'd cover their IOA state picnic instead two moneys later I arrived at my office prepared to be greeted by Carol's cheerful grin as usual and instead found pappy Mansfield owner of KLP sitting at her desk oh happy where's Carol hi Chuck what do you mean where's Carol didn't she tell you tell me what one day before yesterday she asked for a couple of days off and I told her she could happen oh she did and you did yeah how do you like that she's got a nerve who does she think she's working for anyway if she wants to be my secretary that I just take it easy Chucky boy it happens that you weren't around when Carol made that request and since I only happened to own this coffee pot you're both working for she probably figured that I was next in authority so she asked me for the leave of absence leave of absence that sounds as though she's going to be gone for a year what'd you say she was going your phone's ringing Chucky boy I asked you where she said she was going she didn't say and your phone's still ringing how about that I hire a secretary and she walks out on me just when I needed her most I asked you how about that Chuck answer that phone you know what I think I do I think I'll fire that one hello she's got to understand that I'm the boss as far as she's concerned someone's talking to you Chucky boy right oh hello who is it what do you want it's Carol darling now listen now look glamour push you're fired you hear that you're fired where are you anyway I'm in jail at likely story now look what did you say I said I was in jail in Kalexico I was caught trying to smuggle marijuana across the border oh you dope you empty had a dope pappy kick that chair over here will you I think I better sit down sure so she got caught did she you're not being funny pappy I think I am Chuck are you still there who are you talking to a man with no sense of humor now look I'm going to frame Chuck and I'm mad and uncomfortable and disgusted and you've got to come down and identify me because they won't believe I'm who I am what do you mean you were framed well I went across the border and when I came back the customs officials opened my suitcase and there was about a ton of marijuana inside Chuck the meals are horrible in this jail would you please hurry up claimed meals are hurry up okay glamour push I'll be there anything wrong Chuck no no nothing pappy nothing by the way I'd like to have a two-day leave of absence how about it why sure Chuck of course you realize when you take a leave of absence your pay stop I know okay pappy stop my pay I'm leaving for Kalexico Kalexico is a border town lying some 200 miles southeast of Los Angeles on the other side of the line in old Mexico the town is called Mexicale the names of both being a play on words a bunch of years ago it was a song written about Mexicale in some kind of roles I can hear it now as I recall it one popular favor when I pulled into town around four in the afternoon and went immediately to the customs office glamour person said she was in jail but I figured it might be a good idea to establish her identity before I went over to bail her out I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the customs official in charge was a man named Dave Walker who I knew when he was stationed at Tijuana Dave was sitting in his office with his feet cocked up on his desk and there was a good-looking blonde babe with him the blonde babe I recognized to her name was Carol Curtis hi Jackie boy come on in and sit down with Chuck Morgan how are you boy long time no see good to see you Dave who's a babe who's okay I'll go along with a gag the babe claims she's Carol Curtis she was picked up this morning trying to run some marijuana across the line see what's a wrap for that day oh four or five years good she deserves it yeah yeah say look Chuck if you really want in on a big story Dave I'll see you around Chuck who said that okay funny man you've had your joke now if you're just I'm sorry ma'am you seem to have the advantage am I supposed to know your prisoner Dave well look Chuck you don't have there's only one thing I have to do Dave and that's get back to LA and report the Pappy Mansfield so I can get back on the payroll I was asked to come down here and identify someone who is mistaken for a smuggler well I haven't seen anyone to identify old Chuck for heaven's sake that expression sounds familiar but I still don't know the face oh there's just one thing Dave was this babe actually picked up and did you find marijuana in her suitcase well yeah only it was a gag you see she wanted to come up to me I've been sucked in on deals like this before this time I'm bowing out you have your prisoner and the evidence carry on old boy so long Chuck I went out of there and I was mad I should have known the whole thing was a trick of carols to get me down here just because of a crack pot telephone call when it was high time that she understood that I and I stopped thinking along those lines and stood stock still staring at a yellow custom book convertible part across the street most anyone in LA would have recognized the convertible that belonged to Max Craig the gangster racketeer gambler as I watched Max himself came along the street got into the convertible and drove away so what was Max doing in collection for my money there was only one answer to that max was mixed up in the smuggling well that would make a good story I was on the verge of turning back to the customs office when a girl came running across the street you're more than you're more than Rosita well I'll be Rosita Gonzalez how are things what are you doing in Calexico then you remember me see remember you how could I forget how long ago was it we worked on that wetback story a couple months wasn't almost I think I am very happy that you could come this time I think you will have a big story you sound as though you expected me didn't miss Curtis tell you miss Curtis look Rosita let's duck into one of these saloons so we can order a beer and talk so it was you who called Carol see for many reasons I disguised my voice you must promise to keep what I tell you very secret sure I won't say a word first you must know that I am a member of the border patrol no kidding as you know my husband Jose was killed by a smuggler some time ago yeah I had a hand of running down his murder and for that I am very grateful that is why I called you about the top smugglers it will make a big story I think well that's fine Rosita but dope smuggling doesn't make very good copy anymore it's become too common now if you could set it up so the boys could dig up the big shot that is what we are going to do tonight as you say there are many little men who smuggled up all of them work for this big shot when one of the little men is captured the big shot really hires another small man to do his dirty work for you yeah and Mr. Big is too dug gone smart to have a show himself but we have contacts oh you see senior in the doctor vision of the border patrol there are only 50 men to guard 2,000 miles of boundary yeah I knew they were pretty badly undermined 50 are in North senior it is easy enough to smuggle the dope across the border it is after it is in the United States that the arrests are made when the contraband is transferred to the American distributors should think that'll be the toughest part of all oh no it is the contacts the informers who make it easy some of these people we pay some important because of dislike for dope smugglers or there are many reasons I say there is one man in town who is my contacts and you're he has a very important man and many times he has given me information that has led to the capture of the smugglers and deers who is this jet I will tell you his name senior because you must meet him but again I must ask you not to repeat if his identity becomes known the patrol will suffer greatly I understand perfectly his name is Pancho Florit a naturalized American he has an important man in town a banker and politician he has many friends among the pay-ons many sources of information are open to him and the senior Florit know the identity of the big shot several days ago a big shipment of my one that came across the border it will be worth many thousands of dollars when it is so retail Pancho has information that the big shot himself will be on hand to pay the money and receive the contraband there's no right now where the transfer will take place tonight senior Pancho will meet you and me at a secret place he will give us the information we need you and me who isn't the patrol going to be on this senior as you know I am a very excellent shot yeah it would be a great honor to me to make this arrest alone and to you senior would go the owner of what you call the scoop no Zeta if you hadn't helped me prisoner for a whole day in Dead Horse Canyon a couple of months ago I turned this deal down flat but then you will do it senior see see for many more reasons than you think it's just one thing if you're seen so frequently in the company of senior Florit wouldn't boss senior Morgan no one knows I am a member of the patrol and this senior is young and very handsome I drove out a town about 10 miles and stopped at a motor court at 10 o'clock that night was he to pick me up we drove along the highway for a half a dozen miles and turned off into the desert we came to a wide spot in a dirt road and parked switching off the lights was a crescent moon hanging on the horizon in a soft breeze blowing you sure your boyfriend will show up yes not my boyfriend senior Pancho is married and very happy with his family I envy him but you said that he is young and handsome see it is very convenient for the roles we both play in this game I see there's a patrol pay Florit for the information he supplies Pancho will accept no money oh he has three children people who handle dope he detests more than the lowest form of life he has seen too many lives right and go along with them there listen the car was approaching over the bumpy road it slides out in a moment or two a long side a man got out and was it introduced me to him in the dim light I could see that he was as was it a said young and handsome he motioned was it a to get out and they crouched over a smooth place on the ground Marie drew a rough map with a stick speaking rapidly in Spanish and he scuffed out the map said goodbye to me briefly and drove away was it a nice out in the head along gravel road this is all very mysterious it is the only way the smugglers will operate when they make the transfer oh why is that it is very quiet on the desert at night an approaching automobile can be heard a long way off I get it what are we going now there is a deserted range cop not far from here it is there that you're on the boat will be made we reached the range camp in about half hour and Rosetta parked behind a couple of mesquite and she opened up the trunk compartment took out a flashlight and two guns she gave me one of the guns and we went inside it will be a long wait senior you do not mind none at all I have charming company but we must not talk or smoke and the smugglers will arrive first with it open we must hold them prisoner until the man who is to buy it arrives so we waited an hour past to the hankering for a cigarette was becoming unbearable I was considering making a tent of my coat and lighting up when Rosetta said I think they're coming this is strange don't you say they would arrive by horseback something's gone wrong do you think I do not know but whoever these are they will not be friends and none easy feeling that been a hit somewhere along the line but there wasn't anything we could do about it now the car stopped outside and we had footsteps approaching the shed it sounds as though the word doesn't or more than the door open the people came in all right get your hands up the conclusion of stand by for crying well this was a fine kettle of fish lying on the floor bloodstaining the right sleeve of her blouse was Carol standing above her a gun smoking in his hand was Dave Walker behind Dave with two other border patrol officers but all this was only subconsciously registered on my mind all I could see was Carol lying on the floor I crossed quickly and kneeled down Carol you're having glamour for speak to me hi Jackie boy you're you're all right all right as anyone can be with a bullet large dinner on all these curses I am so sorry Rosita Gonzalez what are you doing here yeah what are you doing here job of mind that right now we've got to get Carol to a doctor Rosita let me have your scarf here I'll bind this up and then we've got to get out of here and there wouldn't be any dope peddlers captured this night if anyone had been within 10 miles of that range camp they'd have heard the shots and yells we drove back to town rooted out of doctor got Carol's arm fixed up then gathered in Dave Walker's office and were told where to head in Rosetta you were under strict orders not to pull a stunt like I'm sorry senior I only wanted sorry doesn't help matters any you're under suspension for a month aren't you being a little rough on her Dave if you want to know the truth I'm being easy on her what you people can't realize is that border patrolling isn't the game for a bunch of adventurers it's darn serious business the result of tonight's escapade we probably missed our one chance to pick up Mr. Baker all right all right simmer down a bit Dave I don't blame you for being sore on throwing your weight around but if this is such serious business why did you have any part in helping Carol trick me into coming down here oh Chuck that isn't fair it's fair well Dave yeah yeah you're right it's my fault as much as anybody I apologize let's skip the whole thing I'll probably be the one to be suspended when the boss hears about this boss won't mind if we had to Mr. Big we've got a fat chance of doing that now I don't know you know Max Craig was in town sure we've had a man on him ever since he got here you think he's your boy if we did and could prove it we'd have nailed him a long time ago sure you wouldn't by the way who tipped you off about the rendezvous at the range camp Rosetta isn't the only one who has good contacts in this outfit I should have known it it is all my fault I was thinking selfishly only about a great honor it would be skip it Rosetta this will be a good lesson for you the border patrol functions as a team that's the only way it can be successful yes I know I shall not forget the game have you got any ideas Chuck sure I've got ideas I've always got ideas you want to hear them Dave what can I lose thanks that's encouraging look if you got anyone else spotted besides Max Craig who might be Mr. Big sure about five why they all here in town some are some aren't that doesn't matter so long as none are farther away than Los Angeles I don't know what you're getting at we've been trying for months to put our finger on the one man who handles the greater part of the stuff that comes over the line and so far all we've picked up is small fry and it's high time you made it the big fish into your net you know whoever your boy is he's probably already been told about the incident at the range shack or how does that prove anything Chuck the chances are that no one was close enough to identify any of us as a matter of fact knowing the type of people who handle dope they probably hit for the border like a bunch of scared rabbits that's under the first shot so so our friend Mr. Big is probably sitting at home right now wondering what the devil was happening at the rendezvous last night well what's your big idea suppose we send a telegram to the five people on your list of suspects just say something like meet me rendezvous tonight midnight important and what do you think will happen all but one of the five who received the wire we either disregard it or turn it over to the sheriff the fifth will be the boy we want will be the only one who knows whether rendezvous is located you think he'll show up at the range camp and no good Chuck he'd become suspicious in a minute I don't think so he knows that something went wrong last night he knows a smuggler won't contact him personally but he'll understand that telegram okay now how are you going to get the smugglers there with their marijuana unless a transfer is made we'll have nothing on the boy we want I'll be the smuggler and you provide the dope Dave just put a little in a box and fill it up with something to make it weigh as much as the shipment that came over the line a few days ago well I finally talked Dave into it Dave was in the position of a man who was willing to try most anything after the fiasco the night before frankly I wasn't too hopeful that my plan would pay off but I kept thinking that if this was a really big shipment Mr. Big wasn't going to pass it up there were too many other buyers who could take it over in small lots so we sent the telegrams and then got some sleep 4 p.m. Dave checked the sheriff's office and was told that no one had reported receiving a mysterious telegram this wasn't surprising the five men to whom the wires had been sent were all shady characters and it wasn't likely that any of them would want any truck with the law just after dark we all piled into my jalopy and drove up to the range camp I parked in plain sight told Carol to stay in the car and if anyone showed up to get down in another site I didn't want it to get mixed up in any more shooting as he denied went into the shack Dave and the other officer would come along hidden the bushes waiting was a repetition of the night before only this time it was easier I was pretty sure our man was going to show up about a quarter of 12 we heard a car coming across the desert car is coming senor yeah I hear it get over to that window but keep down out of sight you need that worry you have the package yeah right here well here goes so I opened the door of the shack and stepped out keeping in the shadows the package under my arm a car was parked next to mine plan up was was nowhere in sight I stood still and waited at first I thought the man behind the wheel wasn't going to get out he just sat there watching me I didn't move either after a while the car door opened and the guy got out and walked toward me slowly he stopped about 10 feet away his space in the shadows that's the stuff yeah you got the dough package on the ground back up so I put the package of a ground and backed away the man waited a minute then he moved forward his hat was pulled down and his coke collar turned up turn around so I turned around and waited a couple of seconds past okay I turned back the package was gone there was an envelope lying on the ground the man was backing toward his car I reached into my pocket and pulled out my gun all right punch a flurry get your hands up are you worried didn't get his hands up he'd been holding a gun all the time he lifted one arm slammed a shot of the shot of a crash of glass then he dropped to one knee and took a shot of me I let go with an answer but Floree was on his feet zigzagging toward his car Dave and his power coming from their hiding places but Floree slammed the door of his car and missed the gears then a figure rose up behind him and smashed something heavy down in his head side forward like an empty sack I went running up and found glamour put standing up in the backseat of the convertible with a heavy wrench in her hand glamour bus I'm sorry Chuck but I wanted to be in on this too did I do all right did you do glamour bus remind me to tell you how wonderful I think you are the next time we're alone blond secretary of mine had what it takes she'd been watching the shack and seen Rosita's face at the window and a guest what was going to happen was it after all was a woman and was therefore curious and couldn't resist taking a look at Mr. Big when she recognized her contact Poncho Floree she was probably so startled she just stood there and gaited fortunately for each bullet mister well by four o'clock that afternoon glamour plus and I were back in LA telling the story to Papi Chuck figured it all out Papi don't you think he's wonderful oh he's terrific what's your arm doing in the sling carry oh never mind that you see Chuck reason that Max Craig wouldn't be stupid enough to show himself in colexical driving his familiar yellow convertible if he were Mr. Big I see you won't be able to run a typewriter for quite a spell will you oh who cares so then Chuck figured that this Poncho Floree had to be Mr. Big you want to know why was it an accident or did Chuck break your arm all right I'll tell you Poncho was in the business so he knew everyone else in the business so when anyone else began to get big he just informed on them and had them eliminated and at the same time he kept himself in solid with the border patrol through Rosita get it Chuck was pretty mad when he left here the other day and also Chuck reasoned that nobody but Poncho could have had enough information to know about the trap we were setting up that first night I don't want to sound catty but I can't help being glad that Rosita wasn't as smart as she thinks do you think I'm being catty pappy well I'll tell you what I think Carol if you want to know the truth I do well then I think happy oh hello Chuck are you still here yeah back in the payroll again look pappy do me a favor will you not Chuck I told you that I'll leave about the only thing I want you to do is get out of here what yeah scram beat it get lost well if I'm in the way you are hmm well okay I'm the last man in the world to stick around some places I'm not so long pappy bye pappy family buzz yes Chuck want to know something right you're wonderful oh oh Chuck