 Autolight and its 96,000 dealers bring you Mr. Herbert Marshall in tonight's presentation of South spends Tonight auto light presents a spy story the true story of that series of events known as the 39 steps Starring mr. Herbert Marshall Yes, have what was that all about? I was just demonstrating the auto light electrical system have you weren't sure it goes to work every time You start your car sound the horn play the radio or turn on your lights or heater the electrical system does all that sure Have the auto light coil distributor generator and all the other units and thousands of component parts They're all related by auto light engineering design and manufacturing skill and used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars So friends when your auto light equipped car needs replacement parts Insist on auto light original factory parts be sure because from bumper to tail light. You're always right with auto light And now with the 39 steps and the performance of mr. Herbert Marshall Autolight hopes once again to keep you in South spends Of course, I realize these are trying times and all that you have your orders about foreign spies and atomic secrets of the usual international rows But don't get the wind up you'll muddle through somehow take my word for it and I know where I speak We had our troubles too in our day, you know, Jolly serious. They seem at the time. I can tell you for instance, did you ever hear of the 39 steps It was in the spring of 1914 I spent the last ten years on the African felt in the Buluwio country made a modest little pile and come back home to enjoy it The only difficulty was I didn't enjoy it. There was something wrong about England and about London for me And then I realized what it was. I was down I had nothing to do when I was playing simply bored That is I was until that memorable evening when I returned to my flat near Portland Place It was the first floor front and I was in the hall fitting my key in the lock when a little man with a bowler hat Stepped out of the shadows from beyond the door to the next flat back I saw that he was frightened He was carrying it off well enough, but he was frightened as I had seen men frightened before Frightened of his better life. You're mr. Richard and I aren't you? Yes. That's right. Can I speak to you a minute? What about inside if you don't mind? Well, what if you wish? Thanks. Thanks a lot that door locked. No, but I'll do it myself. It's all the same to you. I Know you must think I've got a lot of nerve, but there are times when a man just can't be too careful No, I suppose there are Well, what you come in by the fire? Thanks. Thanks. I had a hunch you were the kind of guy I could trust was considered Yes, I could sure use one. I Guess you're wondering who I am America, aren't you? That's right. Scudder is the name Frank P. Scudder. I have the apartment right over yours I've had an eye on you ever since my troubles began. Really? Here's a drink. Good Lord, man. Don't drop it Yes, I'm a little shaky You see if you'd come along about five minutes later. I'd probably be a dead man. I say Well, cheerio. Here's to you. No job. What's on your mind? Did you ever hear of a Greek politician named Carolides? No, I can't say that I have Got it in for you. Has he? He hasn't got it in for me. They've got it in for both of us Carolides in me. They who's they the Schwarz's stem the black stone Schwarz's stem black stone Sounds like some sort of German sporting society. Well, you're not far off at that, but it's not the kind of sport you're thinking about Their sport, mr. Fanai is war Sound serious. It is serious. It's deadly serious, but let me start from the beginning I guess you know that all the countries over here have their spires including your own one hairs of that sort of thing naturally That's true. I'm with your people The only trouble is I've gotten in a little deeper than I figured out sounds like interesting work It is if you can stay alive and right now that's my big problem because tomorrow morning It will be announced that this Carolides has been appointed Prime Minister of Greece and that he's going to pay an official visit to England He'll arrive on the third on the fourth. He'll be assassinated I'm the only man in the world who can prevent it and they know that by they you mean the German chefs. Yes, that's right. And that's why they're after me or if you want my advice I'd say there's nothing to it Simply go to the authorities. No good. No good. They'd find out about it and then they just change the plans You know your business I suppose still I hardly see how the murder of an obscure Balkan politician can very well involve anyone in war that will only be the Incident there's something else something I can't tell you about yet Not even sure about it myself, but believe me, mr. Hanai unless I am alive until the fifth Your country will be at war This is all pretty hard for you to swallow, isn't it? Well, you must admit is rather a tall tale Let me show you something come over here by the window for a minute Now pull the blinds very carefully Tell me what you see A couple of chaps Loafing in the doorway doesn't it strike you as pretty late for people to be loafing in doorways Waiting for someone I suppose that's right. They're waiting for me. Oh I see. I'll even describe them to you one is short heavy set dark Whether it's tall young blob. Am I right? Yes, but jovial are they are the black store, mr. Hanai And there's another one who isn't even with them The head man He's older than either of these two Chubby thick glasses like a professor One of his eyes looks milky like he was getting a cataract and he's completely bald If you ever run across him, mr. Hanai watch out I don't intend to run across him Can I stay here in your place for a few days lie low until I can get my plans figured out again just a few days That's all I ask Well, I can't very well turn you out in the street at this time of night after what you told me can I Come along. I have an extra room fortunately nothing posh, but comfortable enough. Thank you. Thank you There you are suit you. Oh, it looks like heaven to me right? Way to turn in there now you yes Listen, I'm very sorry to trouble you That's quite a way Um, you don't mind if I lock the door. Do you from my side? You still think maybe I'm crazy, huh? Maybe those two guys outside of my keepers. Oh, I wouldn't say that I'll go ahead lock the door. In fact, it'll make me feel better that you are and mr. Hanai Yeah, I'll be grateful to you until the day I die It was a queer sort of yarn. I didn't quite know what to make of it As a matter of fact, I was more than half inclined to think the poor fellow was a bit balmy But I wasn't so sure after I got my london times at the front door next morning I had a look at the foreign page Because there was a story about this bleach up carol ideas just as he told me New prime minister panning a trip to england and all the rest I went to scutters door not There was no answer so I ventured to unlock the door and put my head in The shade was flapping at a wide open window which was natural enough americans are fiends for fresh air But there was something else that was not at all natural For scudder lace pulled on his side across the bay of his face white as a sheet his mouth working as he tried to speak to me and I The steps scudder. What's the matter? Fight the steps low tide the fifth the thirty-nine steps And then he rolled over in his face quite dead and I saw the knife It was buried in his back to the hilt When I got myself in hand I began to think it wasn't very pleasant thinking Here I had hold of some sort of information that a man had just been killed for And if I went to the police the odds were good. They'd hang me for his murder Got to make a run for it. I thought until I can think things through Head for open country scotland would be best And then I thought of something else I crossed the room and looked carefully out of the window to the street below There they were sure enough the same two lads Not waiting for scudder now waiting for me Suddenly scotland seemed a very long way off And all at once I heard the sound that was my inspiration the milkman Rattling his cans on the stairs outside my flat. I ran to the door and opened it I say my good man. Hi morning governor. What's up? I'd like to have a word with you Now what about I'm light enough as it is about making a sovereign for yourself step inside would you? Oh, well, I'm not one to turn down good coin in the room. What's the game? I want the loan of your cap and jacket and your milk cans for just five minutes. It's uh, it's for a bet Well, I don't know, uh, I'll tell you what if you could make it too quick you're done. Here you are Right. Oh, I never saw I'm a man to spoil a bit of sport Thanks now all you have to do is to stay here until I get back. Right you are Governor I've pulled a cap down a bit more. There you are as proper a milkman as ever. I see fine now. Give me the cans And just wait here understand right Uh, only five minutes now. Yeah, yeah, I'll be right back and mind you don't just let milk about so stop worrying and shut up Well, all right. There's no need to get shirt I opened the door and stepped out briskly onto the street the two lads across the way looked at me sharply But I kept on until I rounded the corner As soon as then I heard them coming after me. I crossed the milk cans over a wall and began to run And I ran as I've never run before or since Caught the northern express was in pancreas station by a matter of inches And for the moment I felt safe I have a third class compartment of myself except for an old codger who does most of the time And during the restless sleepless sleepless night. I tried to get my thoughts together and hit them on some plan of action As it happened the matter was taken quiet out of my hands For a new castle my traveling companion had bought a morning paper See here in the paper that our foreign office is meeting with the french Make an agreement in case of war really Mapping out a plan of mutual defense Disposition of our feet all that sort of thing very wise I should say Mm-hmm Is it jolly bit another murder murder Some fellow named honey Did in another chap with a knife? They found him Not yet The portland place murderer they call him And give the description tall fair about 30 small moustache Silly business could be most anybody Hmm Could be you for that matter you answer fairly well to that Yes, I suppose I do Sort to be traveling north it says You see that could be you too Uh police must be stupid fellows. Do you think that they can nab him with that sort of flim sister? Yes Police notorious the stupid of course Hey, hello Wonder what they're stopping for A little train go by a good string possibly She Jews all hashed up lately I don't run things the way they used to I say go out. Yes, sir. And step in here in a moment. Will you? Yeah, what's the delay a lot of constabulary didn't answer Looking for the measure the portland place fellow. That's right. They're gonna tip these down this train Really? I see what a mark. Well, I think I'll step down for a bit of air You can't leave the train now sir. Why not police order sir. Sorry Yeah, hold on take your hands off me I talked the rise of the more I saw they had been fanning out in every direction It soon had me hopelessly surrounded There was only one chance Country house a few hundred yards away nothing for it, but to throw myself on the mercy of the owner Sorry to bother you, but I'm A little trouble. Could I come in? Well, I'm just leaving going out for a walk Those police after you. Yes. I was on the London train They stopped it down there. I'm suspected of something I can assure you I didn't do London train Come in quickly. Thank you. Coming up to the door just to be to this wardrobe closet until they're gone. Thank you Thank you very much Just close the door after you You'll be all right there for a bit I'm sure you'll find no murderers here You're welcome to search the ground. Very good sir. Well, thank you I must say you did that beautifully and I can't tell how grateful I am and I'm grateful to you Mr, and I You know who I am indeed I do and I would have turned your way if you hadn't been so persistent Stute of me not to guess immediately, but uh in my wildest dreams I wouldn't have hoped to catch you on my own doorstep Catch me. Who are you? You don't know I suppose that's because in your wildest nightmares you wouldn't dream of walking right into my house Or uh, maybe it's this hat I'm wearing and the light's not too bright One moment. Mr. and I Can you guess? I've never seen him before but scudder had described him to a tee The head man of the black stone chubby thick thick glasses like a professor completely bald One of his eyes milky And I remembered scudder saying If you want if you run across him, mr. Hannah, I watch out Well, here I'd run across him sure enough and while I was gathering my wits. I sensed something There was someone behind me I moved but not in time Something came down with a sickling crash on the back of my head and I felt myself falling through black and bottomless infinity Is bringing you mr. Herbert marshal in The 39 steps tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills South spends How's the team? You mean our basketball team harlow? No, no, no I mean the autolight team in your autolight equipped car that team of autolight electrical system units Including the coil distributor generator starting motor and all their thousands of component parts Why they're all related by autolight engineering design and manufacturing skill to give your car the smoothest performance money can buy That autolight electrical system does a big job me harlow. You said it hap And it's vitally important to the smooth and efficient operation of your autolight equipped car Then i'm off to treat my car to a check-up at an autolight service station right hap and friends Visit your car dealer or nearest authorized autolight service station You'll find the authorized autolight service station nearest you listed in the classified section of your telephone directory Or call western union by number and ask for operator 25 And remember from bumper to tail light. You're always right with autolight And now autolight brings back to our hollywood soundstage mr. Herbert marshal in elliott lewis's production of the 39 steps A tale well calculated to keep you in South spence I came from my senses with a raging headache and found that I was locked in a sort of storage room The heavy bolted door and barred windows Climbing to the window. I saw that it was nearly dusk And that there was a powerful touring car sitting in the drive I surmised that they were only waiting for doubt to dispose of the permanent But when I was taking mournful stock of my seemingly hopeless surroundings I heard something that made my heart leap Someone at the door By hitting on the back of the neck as hard as I could Seconds later I was at the wheel of the touring car and speeding out into open country I drove on the white roads that ribbon the moor circling doubling climbing At dawn I drove off the road into a narrow veil among tall fir trees and I stayed there Hidden among the trees Till nearly dusk Drove all the next night until I reached the fishing village called rough There I came to a kind of pass where the chimney of a solitary house Sent up a plume of smoke In the distance the sea The road swung over a bridge and leaning on the parapet was a young man I grew up beside him Good evening. Is that place an inn at your service, sir? I'm the landlord you are the young to be an innkeeper Well, it wasn't my choice of a profession. You see, I wanted to write books Well, an innkeeper should make a good storyteller I may be in the old days when you had pilgrims and ballad singers and highwaymen But there's even more adventure out on these roads today If you have eyes to see it Maybe your rubbing shoulders with it right now You think so Put me up for the night. Give me a hot supper and I'll tell you a true tale And a month from now you can make it into a novel Well, I pitched him a lovely yarn I altered details, but I put in some of the truth Told him I was a mining magnet from Kimberley who had crossed a gang of cutthroats I told him they chased me across the ocean kill my best friend in Portland Place And now they were on my tracks and on top of that The police thought I had done the killing He believed every word He was young, but he was the man I needed. He told me I could stay as long as I liked and nobody would know And the only pay he wanted was more stories about my adventures So Two present days went by I stayed in my room ate in my room And I began to breathe easier No sign of the black stone And no more alarming news in the papers about the Portland taste murder Then one night 23 pages of newsprint and not a story and all of it politics is all assassins Shot some Greek chap in London carolides carolides Just a scutter said you know him Oh, no, I've heard about him and look here defense packs meetings between us and the french Just gives those silly frenchmen an excuse for a trip. Did you see their picture in the london paper? I brought back this afternoon. I didn't notice it now. Oh, I have it over here on the desk With a picture of them going into the final meeting I never saw such an idiotic looking crew in my life here That one with his little moustache looking like he he smells something bad And that young slim one there rolling his eyes for the ladies albet And look at that chubby chap with the thick glasses. He looks blind in one eye What whatever's the matter, sir? You look like you just caught sight of Beelzebub I've seen Satan himself the head man of the german black stone was looking placidly out at me from that newspaper picture He'd been there with the french delegation He'd attended those secret meetings and now the plans for the defense of england and france for for the disposition of the british fleet We're in his hands on their way to germany That was what scudler hadn't been able to tell me But he'd said something just before he died low tide the fifth Did he mean they were salient low tide on the fifth? But from what point? Sailing in what? I excused myself and went into the bar the inn Was crowded with fishermen playing darts drinking arguing about the day's catch Here you are sir a print of half and half. Oh, thank you. Oh here give me another drink Are you not taking a wee bit too much there out? Had a rotten day rotten luck eight blessed hours. I was anchored off the 39 steps Didn't haul in more than two dozen for the whole 39 steps 39 steps That was what scudder said The steps at low tide Uh bartender. Hi, sir. Well, I fill it up again if you don't mind Thought I'd do some fishing tomorrow. How do I get to uh, the 39 steps? Oh, you'll find a sort of a track out over the headland that takes you there Are there really 39 of them? Well, you know, sir, I've never counted them I've been down them two or three times to going to the cave. Just have a look around you can Oh, that cave gives me the creeps. Uh, yes, sir. Where are you going? You owe me three and five Oh, sorry What's your big hurry my boy? Sorry officer. Yeah, I haven't seen you around rough before here. Let me take a look Oh some of the time I'm in you look a lot like that fella that after portland place murder they call him You just come along with me So I out distanced him easily enough But it was only a question of time. I have to work fast Find the steps find where they lead I ran all the way to the edge of the headland overlooking the sea The sky was overcast and it was dark as my pocket I stumbled along barky my shins on rock and scratching my face and hands of the gorse Then I found them Narrow steps carved in the face of the cliff leading down I felt my way along the rock wall going down step by step They led into the cliff itself I countered them as I went 35 36 37 38 39 The steps ended on what seemed to be a wide shelf of rock I strained my eyes in the blackness of the cave and gradually made out the dull sheen of water Below me was an underground lake that seemed to rise and fall with the movement of the sea I was too intent on seeing if there was a boat of any kind in that strange underground harbor So I didn't have footsteps behind me until I was pinned in the beam of a torchlight Mr. Honai Who? What have you found? I heard the excitement. They're looking for you. I brought you a gun Tell me Can boats sail into this lake? Boats? I, a rowboat, maybe. The water is deep, but there's no headroom It's nearly low tide now, isn't it? Almost to the minute Submarine! A submarine doesn't need headroom. Give me your light. Now, look, look Isn't that an underground stream coming in from the left? Something coming down the stream A dory, three men in it There they are This pie is going to be done Now run and get help Quickly! Right you are, sir I have a gun this time, Professor Mr. Honai, quickly, row! Keep rowing! Surrender, Professor, or I shoot Seven weeks later, as all the world knows, we were at war But German had been so certain of success that his plans were by then too far in motion to be halted For myself, I served as an officer of infantry throughout the show But I like to think I did my best bit For ever, I went into uniform South Spence Presented by AutoLite, tonight's star, Mr. Herbert Marshall This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for AutoLite, world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment AutoLite is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry That's why, during the early months of 52, the AutoLite family will join in saluting the leading car manufacturers who install AutoLite products as original equipment Our AutoLite family is made up of the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great AutoLite plants from coast to coast And instill other AutoLite plants in many foreign countries Our family also includes more than 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in AutoLite As well as 96,000 AutoLite distributors and dealers in the United States And thousands more in Canada and throughout the world Our AutoLite family will salute Crosley Motors on the next AutoLite Suspense television program If you live in a television area, check the day and time of suspense on television so that you'll be sure to see this program And remember, be with us next week for another thrilling AutoLite Suspense program on radio Next week on suspense, our star will be Mr. Joseph Cotton In a story about three people that drift in mid-Atlantic, each wanting the other dead A tale we call a watery grave In weeks to come, we shall also present Frank Lovejoy and Robert Young All on Suspense Suspense is produced and directed by Elliott Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Ludluskin The 39 steps was adapted for suspense by Sylvia Richards from the book by John Buchan Featured on the cast protruder Owen Joseph Kearns, Ben Wright, William Johnstone, Charles Davis, Byron Kane and Raymond Lawrence Herbert Marshall may be heard each week in his own radio program the man called X This is the CBS radio network