WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.800 Mystery House. 00:21.500 --> 00:25.840 Mystery House, that strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn, 00:25.840 --> 00:29.040 where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House set 00:29.040 --> 00:31.440 before it is accepted for publication. 00:31.440 --> 00:33.440 Mystery House. 00:33.440 --> 00:41.440 Well, Barbie, tonight's Mystery House story deals with blackmail, doesn't it? 00:41.440 --> 00:43.440 It certainly does, Dan. It's called, 00:43.440 --> 00:45.440 Soft for the Goose. 00:45.440 --> 00:46.640 That's an intriguing title. 00:46.640 --> 00:47.440 Let's go. 00:47.440 --> 00:57.040 Just a minute, Dan. Before you do, here's a message from our sponsor. 00:57.040 --> 01:09.040 Alright, we all ready? 01:09.040 --> 01:10.840 Get to the scene, Tom. 01:10.840 --> 01:13.640 Soft for the Goose. 01:13.640 --> 01:16.340 Our story opens with Joe Wood, a private detective, 01:16.340 --> 01:22.040 driving to a party with his girlfriend, Mary Farr. 01:22.040 --> 01:24.040 Well, here we are. 01:24.040 --> 01:27.040 And Joe, if the Jenkins want us to play Bridge after dinner, 01:27.040 --> 01:29.440 please don't refuse. 01:29.440 --> 01:32.040 Bridge? Hey, hey, you're doing well enough 01:32.040 --> 01:34.040 to get me to come to the Jenkins for dinner. 01:34.040 --> 01:37.140 You didn't say anything about Bridge with those stuffed shirts. 01:37.140 --> 01:39.340 I'm going to make a human being out of you yet. 01:39.340 --> 01:47.340 Okay, okay. Mine not the reason why. 01:47.340 --> 01:50.040 It's number 314. 01:50.040 --> 01:51.940 Still up to the third floor. 01:51.940 --> 01:57.940 I'll ring. 01:57.940 --> 02:00.440 I might at least live in a building with an elevator. 02:00.440 --> 02:02.040 Oh, the walker do you good. 02:02.040 --> 02:05.940 Yeah. Hey, Mary, wait a minute. Wait a minute. 02:05.940 --> 02:10.140 You smell anything funny? 02:10.140 --> 02:11.440 It smells like gas. 02:11.440 --> 02:12.440 John right it does. 02:12.440 --> 02:18.140 It's coming right from this apartment here. 02:18.140 --> 02:19.340 Door's locked. 02:19.340 --> 02:20.340 Give me your nail file. 02:20.340 --> 02:23.140 Wait a minute. Here it is. 02:23.140 --> 02:25.940 Yeah, thanks. 02:25.940 --> 02:28.040 Yeah, I think the tumbler's clicked. 02:28.040 --> 02:30.240 Let's see. 02:30.240 --> 02:31.640 Look out. Stand back, Mary. Stand back. 02:31.640 --> 02:33.240 Say what's the door. 02:33.240 --> 02:36.040 Oh, Joe, you aren't going in there. 02:36.040 --> 02:39.040 Of course I am. I'll be right back. 02:39.040 --> 02:42.540 Joe, are you all right? 02:42.540 --> 02:45.140 Is there anyone in there? 02:45.140 --> 02:46.140 Joe. 02:46.140 --> 02:48.640 Yeah, she passed out. 02:48.640 --> 02:50.240 Thank goodness she's still breathing. 02:50.240 --> 03:01.540 We've got to get her to the hospital right away. 03:01.540 --> 03:04.240 Come on, Mary. We're going to find out what this is all about. 03:04.240 --> 03:07.240 The nurse said room 205. 03:07.240 --> 03:09.740 It's right here. After you, my dear. 03:09.740 --> 03:15.640 Thank you. 03:15.640 --> 03:18.240 Well, how's our patient? 03:18.240 --> 03:19.240 Who are you? 03:19.240 --> 03:22.440 Oh, that's right. You wouldn't know, of course. 03:22.440 --> 03:25.540 This is Miss Mary Barnes and I'm Joe Wood. 03:25.540 --> 03:28.140 We're the folks who got you out of your apartment. 03:28.140 --> 03:31.040 Oh, I suppose I ought to thank you. 03:31.040 --> 03:32.540 No, it isn't necessary. 03:32.540 --> 03:33.740 Well, thank you for nothing. 03:33.740 --> 03:35.640 Now I'll just have to do it all over again. 03:35.640 --> 03:37.940 Oh, now come it can't be that bad, Miss. 03:37.940 --> 03:39.040 Things are never that bad. 03:39.040 --> 03:40.540 You'd like to know how bad it is. 03:40.540 --> 03:41.840 That's why you're here, isn't it? 03:41.840 --> 03:43.740 You think maybe it's an exciting story. 03:43.740 --> 03:45.440 Why, of all the ingratitude. 03:45.440 --> 03:47.740 Well, what did you expect, Miss Barnes? 03:47.740 --> 03:49.640 I knew what I was doing when I turned on that gas 03:49.640 --> 03:51.340 and I knew what I wanted to do. 03:51.340 --> 03:53.040 It took nerve to do it. 03:53.040 --> 03:56.440 Don't ever let anybody tell you that only a coward commits suicide. 03:56.440 --> 03:59.440 I know different. It takes a lot of courage. 03:59.440 --> 04:02.240 Courage? Sure it does. 04:02.240 --> 04:04.440 Also, it takes a mighty stupid view of things. 04:04.440 --> 04:05.040 But you can't. 04:05.040 --> 04:06.540 Oh, yes I can. 04:06.540 --> 04:08.340 You or any other dizzy redhead. 04:08.340 --> 04:09.940 Not a brain in your head. 04:09.940 --> 04:10.740 That's my guess. 04:10.740 --> 04:13.940 Why, you big...get out. 04:13.940 --> 04:15.140 I said get out. 04:15.140 --> 04:16.640 Just who do you think you are, anyway? 04:16.640 --> 04:18.940 Well, first of all, I'm a guy who's always barging 04:18.940 --> 04:20.540 into other people's business. 04:20.540 --> 04:23.140 And right at the moment, I'm a guy who's trying to find out 04:23.140 --> 04:25.540 whether a certain girl's feelings are completely dead 04:25.540 --> 04:28.140 and I don't think they are. 04:28.140 --> 04:28.740 What do you mean? 04:28.740 --> 04:31.040 If you were completely whipped, you wouldn't give a lead nickel 04:31.040 --> 04:32.540 what anybody thought about you. 04:32.540 --> 04:33.740 I could insult you all night 04:33.740 --> 04:35.440 that wouldn't make any difference to you. 04:35.440 --> 04:36.940 But you do care. 04:36.940 --> 04:39.240 So things can't be all together, Hopeless. 04:39.240 --> 04:41.940 All right, I'm properly grateful for all you've done for me. 04:41.940 --> 04:42.640 You were wonderful. 04:42.640 --> 04:45.040 You saved my life when I don't want it. 04:45.040 --> 04:46.840 So now leave me alone. 04:46.840 --> 04:49.840 I don't think we're making much of a hit, Joe. 04:49.840 --> 04:51.740 You catch on. 04:51.740 --> 04:52.640 Maybe we'd better go. 04:52.640 --> 04:54.440 No, before we go anyplace, 04:54.440 --> 04:55.640 I want to know some of the answers. 04:55.640 --> 04:57.940 It wouldn't do anybody any good. 04:57.940 --> 04:59.440 But maybe I could help you. 04:59.440 --> 05:01.540 Nobody could help me. 05:01.540 --> 05:05.240 Well, why not let me be the judge of that? 05:05.240 --> 05:10.740 Well, suppose you're entitled to something for your trouble. 05:10.740 --> 05:11.640 I haven't got any money, 05:11.640 --> 05:13.940 so the best I can do is give you a story. 05:13.940 --> 05:15.840 It's not a very pretty story. 05:15.840 --> 05:16.240 We're listening. 05:16.240 --> 05:19.740 There isn't any romance in it, not much excitement. 05:19.740 --> 05:22.740 I was a clerk in the Johnson's menswear store, 05:22.740 --> 05:25.240 a really smart haberdashery. 05:25.240 --> 05:26.240 I know the store. 05:26.240 --> 05:27.240 Go on. 05:27.240 --> 05:28.940 Well, one day about a year or so ago, 05:28.940 --> 05:31.140 I'd been having a rush of business. 05:31.140 --> 05:32.340 At 10 o'clock in the morning, 05:32.340 --> 05:34.940 a well-dressed man came up to me. 05:34.940 --> 05:36.540 I'd like to look at his shirt, please. 05:36.540 --> 05:37.240 Yes, sir. 05:37.240 --> 05:39.340 We're having a sale today on these plain white ones. 05:39.340 --> 05:41.240 Either plain or French, cost $2.65. 05:41.240 --> 05:43.540 They're $3.50 value, just as advertised. 05:43.540 --> 05:45.040 One of these should be all right. 05:45.040 --> 05:46.840 15 and a half collar, 33 sleeve length. 05:46.840 --> 05:48.440 Yes, sir. 05:48.440 --> 05:49.740 Here's a $5 bill. 05:49.740 --> 05:54.040 Thank you. 05:54.040 --> 05:56.840 Your change and package will be back in just a minute, sir. 05:56.840 --> 05:57.940 All right. 05:57.940 --> 05:59.940 I'll say, I'd like a good linen handkerchief 05:59.940 --> 06:01.640 for my coat pocket. 06:01.640 --> 06:03.040 Let me see. 06:03.040 --> 06:04.740 This is a nice one right here. 06:04.740 --> 06:06.440 Rolled edges and sticks. 06:06.440 --> 06:07.440 Excellent linen. 06:07.440 --> 06:08.140 How much? 06:08.140 --> 06:09.140 $1 each. 06:09.140 --> 06:10.640 $6 to $5. 06:10.640 --> 06:12.840 I guess one will be enough. 06:12.840 --> 06:15.340 Well, here's your package. 06:15.340 --> 06:17.340 And here's your change. 06:17.340 --> 06:19.840 That was $2.70 with a tax. 06:19.840 --> 06:24.840 Let me see, $2.75, three, four, and one is $5. 06:24.840 --> 06:26.740 But I want the handkerchief now. 06:26.740 --> 06:27.840 A dollar, you said? 06:27.840 --> 06:29.640 A dollar, too, with tax. 06:29.640 --> 06:31.240 I guess I have a couple of pennies. 06:31.240 --> 06:32.640 Let me see. 06:32.640 --> 06:33.840 Yep, there they are. 06:33.840 --> 06:35.840 I'll have the handkerchief wrapped up for you. 06:35.840 --> 06:36.840 No, that's all right. 06:36.840 --> 06:39.240 I'll just stick it into my pocket. 06:39.240 --> 06:39.940 There. 06:39.940 --> 06:40.740 Look all right? 06:40.740 --> 06:42.240 Mm-hmm, very nice. 06:42.240 --> 06:44.340 Oh, I'd better make out a sales ticket on it. 06:44.340 --> 06:45.440 I'm in a hurry, Miss. 06:45.440 --> 06:47.040 Could you help me, please? 06:47.040 --> 06:48.540 Just a moment. 06:48.540 --> 06:49.740 Thank you, sir. 06:49.740 --> 06:51.040 Now, ma'am, what would you like? 06:51.040 --> 06:53.240 I want to look at those next ties in the cage. 06:53.240 --> 06:54.740 Those right there. 06:54.740 --> 06:59.240 I always take out my husband's ties. 06:59.240 --> 07:00.940 I didn't know it at the time, but the man 07:00.940 --> 07:03.440 was from the Personnel Investigation Bureau, 07:03.440 --> 07:05.440 a firm that investigated salespeople 07:05.440 --> 07:07.840 to see whether they were honest. 07:07.840 --> 07:09.740 I was busy all the rest of the morning, 07:09.740 --> 07:11.540 late getting away for lunch. 07:11.540 --> 07:13.540 I hurried back, and there was a message for me 07:13.540 --> 07:15.940 that my boss wanted me to go to see a Mr. Carson 07:15.940 --> 07:18.140 in the Layton Square building. 07:18.140 --> 07:22.840 I went up to his office and said, 07:22.840 --> 07:23.840 Sit down. 07:23.840 --> 07:25.240 Thank you. 07:25.240 --> 07:27.740 I suppose you're wondering why you're here. 07:27.740 --> 07:29.640 Why, yes, I am. 07:29.640 --> 07:31.440 You didn't think anybody would ever catch up with you, 07:31.440 --> 07:33.040 did you? 07:33.040 --> 07:34.640 What do you mean? 07:34.640 --> 07:36.840 Don't remember me, do you? 07:36.840 --> 07:38.540 I know. 07:38.540 --> 07:39.540 Oh, wait a minute. 07:39.540 --> 07:41.540 You bought a shirt from me this morning. 07:41.540 --> 07:42.940 And a handkerchief. 07:42.940 --> 07:43.840 Remember? 07:43.840 --> 07:45.740 I bought a handkerchief, too. 07:45.740 --> 07:48.240 Well, wasn't everything all right? 07:48.240 --> 07:50.640 Everything was not all right. 07:50.640 --> 07:53.040 Miss Moran, your boss hired me to find out 07:53.040 --> 07:55.840 whether or not his employees were honest. 07:55.840 --> 07:57.540 How long have you been robbing him? 07:57.540 --> 07:59.140 Why, you. 07:59.140 --> 08:01.140 With the idea you can't talk to me that way. 08:01.140 --> 08:02.540 Come off the high horse. 08:02.540 --> 08:03.540 You're a thief and you're caught. 08:03.540 --> 08:04.540 I'm not a thief. 08:04.540 --> 08:06.540 I never took anything that didn't belong to me in my life. 08:06.540 --> 08:07.540 Sure. 08:07.540 --> 08:09.340 That's what they all say. 08:09.340 --> 08:11.340 If you're so honest, why didn't you turn in that dollar 08:11.340 --> 08:14.840 sale you made to me this morning? 08:14.840 --> 08:18.240 I was so busy I never got a sales ticket made out on it. 08:18.240 --> 08:20.140 But the money's in the back of my cash book. 08:20.140 --> 08:21.940 I'll turn it in as soon as I get back. 08:21.940 --> 08:23.540 Oh, no you won't. 08:23.540 --> 08:24.940 Because you're not going back. 08:24.940 --> 08:25.940 But the money's there. 08:25.940 --> 08:27.440 I haven't cheated anyone out of anything. 08:27.440 --> 08:28.240 I was busy. 08:28.240 --> 08:29.340 I just didn't get a chance to make money. 08:29.340 --> 08:31.340 You had all the chance you're going to get. 08:31.340 --> 08:33.340 The money's not in your cash book now, 08:33.340 --> 08:35.540 and you don't get a chance to put it back. 08:35.540 --> 08:37.040 That'll be getting off pretty easy. 08:37.040 --> 08:38.340 Look here, I'm not a thief. 08:38.340 --> 08:40.740 I work hard for every cent I earn at Johnson's. 08:40.740 --> 08:43.140 Sister, you're on the road to jail right now. 08:43.140 --> 08:44.440 But you've got to believe me. 08:44.440 --> 08:45.940 I believe what I see. 08:45.940 --> 08:49.140 And what's more, I know how much you've stolen altogether. 08:49.140 --> 08:49.940 Altogether? 08:49.940 --> 08:51.540 You think there's more? 08:51.540 --> 08:52.240 I know it. 08:52.240 --> 08:53.240 You're insane. 08:53.240 --> 08:55.440 I never touched a penny of that store's money. 08:55.440 --> 08:59.040 Altogether, it comes to $1,000. 08:59.040 --> 09:00.840 $1,000? 09:00.840 --> 09:02.140 That's ridiculous. 09:02.140 --> 09:04.540 I wouldn't know what to do with that much money. 09:04.540 --> 09:07.140 Didn't know it added up to that much, did you? 09:07.140 --> 09:09.640 $1 one day, $2 a night. 09:09.640 --> 09:12.040 You worked in that store over two years. 09:12.040 --> 09:15.040 I wouldn't be surprised if you've taken more than that. 09:15.040 --> 09:18.740 But I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. 09:18.740 --> 09:20.240 This simply can't be true. 09:20.240 --> 09:21.840 Things like this, you read about them, 09:21.840 --> 09:23.040 but they just don't happen. 09:23.040 --> 09:24.040 Yeah? 09:24.040 --> 09:25.840 Well, it's happening to you right now. 09:25.840 --> 09:27.440 And I've got good evidence, plenty good 09:27.440 --> 09:28.640 to stand up in any court. 09:28.640 --> 09:29.640 Court? 09:29.640 --> 09:30.740 Oh, but you wouldn't. 09:30.740 --> 09:32.240 I wouldn't? 09:32.240 --> 09:33.740 That's my business. 09:33.740 --> 09:35.140 I'd send you to jail in a minute. 09:35.140 --> 09:36.140 Jail is where you belong. 09:36.140 --> 09:37.040 But you're wrong. 09:37.040 --> 09:38.640 That's what they all say. 09:38.640 --> 09:40.740 But I'm going to give you another chance. 09:40.740 --> 09:42.140 What do you mean by that? 09:42.140 --> 09:43.940 How much money have you been able to save out 09:43.940 --> 09:45.240 of what you've been knocking down? 09:45.240 --> 09:46.340 I tell you, I haven't taken it. 09:46.340 --> 09:47.940 Skip it. 09:47.940 --> 09:49.240 How much money have you got? 09:49.240 --> 09:52.540 Oh, nearly $300. 09:52.540 --> 09:54.540 I'm going to give you a chance. 09:54.540 --> 09:56.740 You make up that $1,000, and I can keep Johnson 09:56.740 --> 09:57.340 from prosecuting. 09:57.340 --> 09:58.340 But I tell you, I didn't. 09:58.340 --> 10:00.340 Now listen, sister, I don't care what you tell me. 10:00.340 --> 10:02.240 Now, get this through your head. 10:02.240 --> 10:03.640 You've been caught with a good. 10:03.640 --> 10:05.740 We go to court, and we can send you behind the bars. 10:05.740 --> 10:07.740 There'll be plenty of publicity, too. 10:07.740 --> 10:08.740 You'll be marked for life. 10:08.740 --> 10:09.740 But it's not true. 10:09.740 --> 10:11.240 That dollar is in my cash book. 10:11.240 --> 10:11.940 I know it is. 10:11.940 --> 10:13.540 And I know it isn't. 10:13.540 --> 10:15.440 I checked this new while you were out to lunch. 10:15.440 --> 10:17.440 You probably bought your lunch with it. 10:17.440 --> 10:19.340 Are you going to make up what you stole from your boss 10:19.340 --> 10:20.140 while you're going to jail? 10:20.140 --> 10:21.640 But I tell you, I didn't take anything. 10:21.640 --> 10:22.640 You've got to believe me. 10:22.640 --> 10:24.040 Oh, no, I don't. 10:24.040 --> 10:26.240 I'm not in this business for my health. 10:26.240 --> 10:28.740 I get half of everything I can turn back to your boss. 10:28.740 --> 10:30.740 That's why I'm not particularly interested in sending 10:30.740 --> 10:31.940 you to jail. 10:31.940 --> 10:33.940 Gail, you don't do him any good, and you don't do me 10:33.940 --> 10:35.140 any good either. 10:35.140 --> 10:36.740 What do you want me to do? 10:36.740 --> 10:38.940 I want you to sign a full confession. 10:38.940 --> 10:40.240 I have it all written out for you. 10:40.240 --> 10:41.740 Well, I'll do no such thing. 10:41.740 --> 10:43.540 I'm not guilty of anything, and I'm not admitting 10:43.540 --> 10:44.940 something I didn't do. 10:44.940 --> 10:47.340 Big brave word, you little tramp. 10:47.340 --> 10:48.840 How dare you? 10:48.840 --> 10:50.840 Sit down. 10:50.840 --> 10:52.340 Quit the yakking. 10:52.340 --> 10:54.940 I've been through it before with better actresses than you. 10:54.940 --> 10:56.340 Now sign this paper. 10:56.340 --> 10:57.240 No. 10:57.240 --> 10:59.140 Sign it, and you get a chance to pay me back the money, 10:59.140 --> 11:00.440 $1,000. 11:00.440 --> 11:02.540 If you refuse to sign it, you go to jail. 11:02.540 --> 11:04.940 Sign it, and Johnson and I are the only ones who will ever 11:04.940 --> 11:06.340 know that you're a thief. 11:06.340 --> 11:08.140 Don't sign it, and everybody in the world 11:08.140 --> 11:09.040 finds out about you. 11:09.040 --> 11:10.140 I'll see a lawyer. 11:10.140 --> 11:11.740 Ha, ha, ha, that's a laugh. 11:11.740 --> 11:13.340 Lawyers want clients who aren't guilty. 11:13.340 --> 11:14.040 But I'm not. 11:14.040 --> 11:15.140 Now listen. 11:15.140 --> 11:17.640 I know how to get my evidence, and I've got it on you. 11:17.640 --> 11:18.840 Now come on. 11:18.840 --> 11:20.140 Sign up. 11:20.140 --> 11:23.340 And if I sign this, there'll be no story? 11:23.340 --> 11:24.340 That's right. 11:24.340 --> 11:25.540 That's the end of it. 11:25.540 --> 11:26.940 You'll not even be questioned. 11:26.940 --> 11:28.940 It'll be worth it to avoid suspicion. 11:28.940 --> 11:30.240 Why, sure. 11:30.240 --> 11:32.840 After you sign, Mom's the word. 11:32.840 --> 11:34.140 When do I pay? 11:34.140 --> 11:35.640 You pay $300 now. 11:35.640 --> 11:36.840 The rest of the time goes on. 11:36.840 --> 11:38.140 Why, that's blackmail. 11:38.140 --> 11:39.640 Now look, I'm giving you a chance. 11:39.640 --> 11:40.440 Do you want it or don't you? 11:40.440 --> 11:41.340 But I didn't take it. 11:41.340 --> 11:43.640 It's an open and shut conviction, otherwise. 11:43.640 --> 11:46.440 Now sign. 11:46.440 --> 11:48.840 I suppose there's nothing else to do. 11:48.840 --> 11:50.840 Now you're being sensible. 11:50.840 --> 11:53.140 Here's my pen. 11:53.140 --> 11:55.640 And don't think you're going to skip town either, 11:55.640 --> 11:57.740 because you'll be watched every minute 11:57.740 --> 12:01.640 until that $1,000 is paid. 12:01.640 --> 12:04.840 Well, I paid the $1,000 more than a year ago. 12:04.840 --> 12:06.540 I know, because I kept track. 12:06.540 --> 12:07.840 Then what's the difficulty? 12:07.840 --> 12:10.840 This man, this Carson, who runs the Personnel Investigation 12:10.840 --> 12:12.940 Bureau, still has my signed confession, 12:12.940 --> 12:15.240 and he says I still owe him $500. 12:15.240 --> 12:16.640 How come? 12:16.640 --> 12:18.440 Well, it seems there are a lot of thieves 12:18.440 --> 12:20.440 involved in collecting from me. 12:20.440 --> 12:22.440 There's a little matter of interest. 12:22.440 --> 12:23.440 Oh, don't you see? 12:23.440 --> 12:25.840 As long as he has that signed confession to hold over my head, 12:25.840 --> 12:27.840 he can go on bleeding me for the rest of my life. 12:27.840 --> 12:29.840 Why, he couldn't do a thing like that. 12:29.840 --> 12:31.940 Yeah, couldn't maybe, but he's doing it. 12:31.940 --> 12:34.240 I'd rather die than go on like this. 12:34.240 --> 12:35.740 For nearly two years now, every penny 12:35.740 --> 12:38.440 I've been able to get my hands on has gone right to Carson. 12:38.440 --> 12:40.740 And the only way I can beat him is to die. 12:40.740 --> 12:42.240 No, Miss Moran. 12:42.240 --> 12:44.440 I think it's going to be much simpler than that, 12:44.440 --> 12:46.440 and not nearly so painful. 12:46.440 --> 12:47.240 Mary? 12:47.240 --> 12:48.440 Yes, Joe? 12:48.440 --> 12:50.440 You are about to become a thief. 12:50.440 --> 12:51.140 Oh? 12:51.140 --> 12:52.240 Yes. 12:52.240 --> 12:54.240 I hope you do a good job of it. 12:54.240 --> 13:15.240 What plan has Joe Wood decided upon to beat Carson? 13:15.240 --> 13:17.240 We'll find out in the second act of our story, 13:17.240 --> 13:40.240 but right now, here's a message from our sponsor. 13:40.240 --> 13:43.240 And now, for the second act of the sauce for the goose, 13:43.240 --> 13:46.240 we go to the personnel investigation bureau. 13:46.240 --> 13:49.240 Mr. Carson, the owner of the bureau, has a caller. 13:49.240 --> 13:53.240 It's Joe Wood, who seems to have a problem. 13:53.240 --> 13:55.240 That's why I'm suspicious of her, Mr. Carson. 13:55.240 --> 13:58.240 I can't get any proof, but I'd almost be willing to swear 13:58.240 --> 14:01.240 she's been doctoring my books and robbing me blind. 14:01.240 --> 14:03.240 You came to the right place, Wood. 14:03.240 --> 14:05.240 I've caught more thieves than the whole police force 14:05.240 --> 14:07.240 in this town put together. 14:07.240 --> 14:08.240 You know how I do it? 14:08.240 --> 14:09.240 No. 14:09.240 --> 14:10.240 How? 14:10.240 --> 14:12.240 By making it easy for them to steal when they think 14:12.240 --> 14:14.240 there isn't a chance of getting caught. 14:14.240 --> 14:15.240 What's this girl's name? 14:15.240 --> 14:16.240 Mary Barnes. 14:16.240 --> 14:17.240 I'll catch her for you. 14:17.240 --> 14:19.240 Don't worry any more about it. 14:19.240 --> 14:21.240 And I'll be able to get quite a bit of the money back for you. 14:21.240 --> 14:24.240 You understand my fee, 50 percent? 14:24.240 --> 14:26.240 Oh, that's quite all right. 14:26.240 --> 14:28.240 That's cheap, the one way you look at it. 14:28.240 --> 14:31.240 Now, I'll have to pose as a client of yours. 14:31.240 --> 14:34.240 I'll make my payments in cash to Miss Barnes. 14:34.240 --> 14:36.240 I won't wait for any receipt. 14:36.240 --> 14:37.240 We'll have an open and shut case. 14:37.240 --> 14:41.240 Yes, but what if she won't pay up? 14:41.240 --> 14:43.240 Oh, she'll pay all right. 14:43.240 --> 14:45.240 They all do. 14:56.240 --> 14:58.240 You sent for me, Mr. Carson? 14:58.240 --> 14:59.240 Yes, Miss Barnes. 14:59.240 --> 15:01.240 Something about your case? 15:01.240 --> 15:03.240 Sit down, Miss Barnes. 15:03.240 --> 15:04.240 Thank you. 15:04.240 --> 15:08.240 Miss Barnes, how much money have you stolen 15:08.240 --> 15:10.240 from Mr. Wood altogether? 15:10.240 --> 15:12.240 I don't know what you're talking about. 15:12.240 --> 15:14.240 Oh, yes you do. 15:14.240 --> 15:16.240 And it isn't going to be tough to find out 15:16.240 --> 15:17.240 because you're really guilty. 15:17.240 --> 15:20.240 What do you mean, really guilty? 15:20.240 --> 15:21.240 Now, look here, Miss Barnes. 15:21.240 --> 15:23.240 You've been framed and caught. 15:23.240 --> 15:26.240 I gave you a $50 payment to Mr. Wood yesterday, 15:26.240 --> 15:27.240 and you didn't enter it in the book. 15:27.240 --> 15:29.240 What, you said you didn't want any receipt. 15:29.240 --> 15:30.240 Right. 15:30.240 --> 15:32.240 I wanted to see what you'd do. 15:32.240 --> 15:34.240 You couldn't prove you'd paid it. 15:34.240 --> 15:36.240 Oh, yes I could. 15:36.240 --> 15:37.240 It was Wood's money. 15:37.240 --> 15:38.240 The bills were marked. 15:38.240 --> 15:40.240 Oh, you dirty scheming crook. 15:40.240 --> 15:42.240 Now, now, Blondie, that kind of talk 15:42.240 --> 15:44.240 won't get you anywhere. 15:44.240 --> 15:46.240 How much have you taken from them altogether? 15:46.240 --> 15:48.240 Nothing. I haven't taken anything. 15:48.240 --> 15:49.240 How much, Blondie? 15:49.240 --> 15:50.240 There's a jail cell waiting for you 15:50.240 --> 15:51.240 if you make it too low. 15:51.240 --> 15:54.240 What? I... 15:54.240 --> 15:55.240 $7,000. 15:55.240 --> 15:56.240 What? 15:56.240 --> 15:58.240 $7,000. 15:58.240 --> 15:59.240 And he'd never have caught me 15:59.240 --> 16:01.240 if it hadn't been for you. 16:01.240 --> 16:02.240 Sister, I'm going to send you to jail 16:02.240 --> 16:04.240 for a long, long time. 16:04.240 --> 16:06.240 Ha! Don't make me laugh. 16:06.240 --> 16:07.240 You won't do any laughing, Blondie. 16:07.240 --> 16:09.240 Not when you're behind bars. 16:09.240 --> 16:10.240 You haven't a chance. 16:10.240 --> 16:12.240 You seem kind of sure of yourself. 16:12.240 --> 16:13.240 I am. 16:13.240 --> 16:14.240 Why? 16:14.240 --> 16:16.240 With what I know about Wood's clients, 16:16.240 --> 16:18.240 he's never dared get me into court. 16:18.240 --> 16:20.240 I talk and talk plenty. 16:20.240 --> 16:22.240 Wood isn't the guy who'd take you to court, 16:22.240 --> 16:24.240 sister. I'm the one. 16:24.240 --> 16:26.240 You mean you... 16:26.240 --> 16:28.240 I mean I'm in charge of this case. 16:28.240 --> 16:29.240 Wood doesn't have anything to say about it. 16:29.240 --> 16:31.240 He pays me half of what I recover. 16:31.240 --> 16:32.240 That's all. 16:32.240 --> 16:34.240 But you... 16:34.240 --> 16:35.240 Isn't there some way? 16:35.240 --> 16:37.240 Turn over that $7,000 to me 16:37.240 --> 16:39.240 and I don't care what happens. 16:39.240 --> 16:41.240 There's only one place where I can get it. 16:41.240 --> 16:42.240 Where's that? 16:42.240 --> 16:43.240 From Wood. 16:43.240 --> 16:44.240 You're crazy. 16:44.240 --> 16:46.240 Oh, no I'm not. 16:46.240 --> 16:48.240 The man he helped in the big swindle case 16:48.240 --> 16:51.240 is coming in tomorrow with $8,000. 16:51.240 --> 16:54.240 But Wood, why do you care where I get the money? 16:54.240 --> 16:56.240 Just so you get yours. 16:56.240 --> 16:58.240 Maybe you're right. 16:58.240 --> 17:00.240 But now if you'll just sign this confession. 17:00.240 --> 17:02.240 No. Uh-uh. 17:02.240 --> 17:03.240 No dice. 17:03.240 --> 17:05.240 Nothing doing. 17:05.240 --> 17:06.240 Either you sign or the... 17:06.240 --> 17:08.240 Be yourself, Mr. Carson. 17:08.240 --> 17:10.240 I'm not signing anything. 17:10.240 --> 17:12.240 You want the dough? 17:12.240 --> 17:14.240 You'll get the dough. 17:14.240 --> 17:15.240 Tomorrow. 17:15.240 --> 17:29.240 Well, Miss Barnes, I see you brought your employer with you. 17:29.240 --> 17:30.240 How about Carson? 17:30.240 --> 17:32.240 It's no use, Mr. Carson. 17:32.240 --> 17:33.240 He knows everything. 17:33.240 --> 17:35.240 Oh, so he found out about you, hmm? 17:35.240 --> 17:37.240 About us, Mr. Carson. 17:37.240 --> 17:38.240 About what? 17:38.240 --> 17:39.240 About us. 17:39.240 --> 17:40.240 Get your coat, Carson. 17:40.240 --> 17:41.240 We're going down to the police station. 17:41.240 --> 17:43.240 He made me confess everything, Mr. Carson. 17:43.240 --> 17:44.240 What's this all about? 17:44.240 --> 17:46.240 I won't go anywhere with you. 17:46.240 --> 17:47.240 Take it easy, Carson. 17:47.240 --> 17:49.240 Unless you want to ride to the morgue in a dead wagon. 17:49.240 --> 17:51.240 Miss Barnes confessed. 17:51.240 --> 17:53.240 Oh. Oh, confessed? 17:53.240 --> 17:54.240 Well, that's fine. 17:54.240 --> 17:57.240 I expected to get her signed confession today anyway, 17:57.240 --> 17:59.240 but take your hand out of your pocket. 17:59.240 --> 18:01.240 We're going to the station, Carson. 18:01.240 --> 18:03.240 I said she'd confessed everything. 18:03.240 --> 18:06.240 That confession will put you in jail, or I'm badly mistaken. 18:06.240 --> 18:07.240 You must be out of your head. 18:07.240 --> 18:08.240 I'm sorry, Carson. 18:08.240 --> 18:10.240 I had to tell him he forced me to. 18:10.240 --> 18:11.240 I don't know what you're getting at. 18:11.240 --> 18:12.240 He got it all out of me. 18:12.240 --> 18:16.240 All about how you made a deal with me to go on stealing his money and split with you. 18:16.240 --> 18:17.240 What? 18:17.240 --> 18:19.240 Are you dirty little liar? 18:19.240 --> 18:20.240 You can't call me... 18:20.240 --> 18:21.240 She didn't leave out a thing, Carson. 18:21.240 --> 18:23.240 She told me how you made a deal with her to go to work 18:23.240 --> 18:26.240 until she could steal enough from me to make this case worth your while. 18:26.240 --> 18:27.240 Oh, she's lying. 18:27.240 --> 18:28.240 Sit down, Carson. 18:28.240 --> 18:30.240 No funny business. 18:30.240 --> 18:32.240 You're in a spot, bud. 18:32.240 --> 18:33.240 A bad spot. 18:33.240 --> 18:34.240 You can't... 18:34.240 --> 18:35.240 I said sit down. 18:35.240 --> 18:36.240 All right. 18:36.240 --> 18:39.240 Now, I'm going to give you a chance to come clean. 18:39.240 --> 18:42.240 How much of you and this girl stolen from me altogether? 18:42.240 --> 18:43.240 You're crazy. 18:43.240 --> 18:44.240 Oh, no, I'm not. 18:44.240 --> 18:47.240 I know exactly how much you've taken. 18:47.240 --> 18:49.240 I'm giving you your chance. 18:49.240 --> 18:50.240 Why, I didn't... 18:50.240 --> 18:51.240 I mean, I never... 18:51.240 --> 18:53.240 You've already taken $1,700 of my money, haven't you? 18:53.240 --> 18:55.240 That's a bare-faced lie. 18:55.240 --> 18:57.240 I've never even touched any of your money. 18:57.240 --> 18:59.240 This girl was trying to rope me in to make things easier for herself. 18:59.240 --> 19:02.240 Mr. Carson, I had to tell Mr. Woods everything. 19:02.240 --> 19:04.240 You might as well come clean. 19:04.240 --> 19:05.240 But I didn't. 19:05.240 --> 19:06.240 I tell you I... 19:06.240 --> 19:07.240 Come on. 19:07.240 --> 19:08.240 We're going over to the police station. 19:08.240 --> 19:10.240 Wait a minute. 19:10.240 --> 19:12.240 This is ridiculous. 19:12.240 --> 19:13.240 I'm not laughing. 19:13.240 --> 19:14.240 Come on. 19:14.240 --> 19:16.240 She couldn't prove I'd taken up any of your money. 19:16.240 --> 19:18.240 Yeah, but we'll talk that over at the station. 19:18.240 --> 19:21.240 The judge will decide whether she gave you any of my money. 19:21.240 --> 19:22.240 But you can't take me to court. 19:22.240 --> 19:23.240 Oh, no. 19:23.240 --> 19:24.240 Boy, you'd ruin me. 19:24.240 --> 19:25.240 My business is... 19:25.240 --> 19:27.240 You mean the publicity wouldn't be good for you? 19:27.240 --> 19:29.240 No employer would sign a contract with me. 19:29.240 --> 19:31.240 He'd think I was working with the thieves in this firm 19:31.240 --> 19:32.240 instead of trying to find them. 19:32.240 --> 19:35.240 All I want is my $1,700. 19:35.240 --> 19:37.240 Well, I told you I don't have your $1,700. 19:37.240 --> 19:39.240 I never heard of such a thing. 19:39.240 --> 19:41.240 I did. 19:41.240 --> 19:42.240 I heard of it. 19:42.240 --> 19:43.240 You? 19:43.240 --> 19:44.240 Yes, me, Nancy Moran. 19:44.240 --> 19:46.240 You ought to remember me pretty well. 19:46.240 --> 19:48.240 I never forget a thief. 19:48.240 --> 19:50.240 I ought to punch you in the nose for that, Carson. 19:50.240 --> 19:52.240 You took $1,700 away from this girl. 19:52.240 --> 19:53.240 A thousand. 19:53.240 --> 19:55.240 And she stole them from her employer. 19:55.240 --> 19:56.240 She admitted it. 19:56.240 --> 19:57.240 I have her signed confession. 19:57.240 --> 19:59.240 What if she's already paid back the money? 19:59.240 --> 20:01.240 What are you doing with her signed confession? 20:01.240 --> 20:03.240 Why, she hasn't paid all the expenses on the case yet. 20:03.240 --> 20:04.240 Mm-hmm. 20:04.240 --> 20:06.240 Your blackmail scheme's all wound up, Carson. 20:06.240 --> 20:08.240 It isn't a blackmail scheme. 20:08.240 --> 20:09.240 That's a perfectly legitimate business. 20:09.240 --> 20:11.240 There's nothing legitimate about it. 20:11.240 --> 20:13.240 In the first place, you know that your evidence 20:13.240 --> 20:15.240 wouldn't stand up on any court in the country. 20:15.240 --> 20:16.240 Oh, yes, it would. 20:16.240 --> 20:18.240 I have signed confessions. 20:18.240 --> 20:20.240 Ah, and those confessions are secured 20:20.240 --> 20:22.240 by what the law calls entrapment. 20:22.240 --> 20:24.240 You know that our courts aren't interested 20:24.240 --> 20:27.240 in convicting people by inducing them to make mistakes. 20:27.240 --> 20:29.240 You make it easier for the poor people you trap 20:29.240 --> 20:31.240 to keep the money than to turn it in. 20:31.240 --> 20:33.240 You actually persuade them to steal. 20:33.240 --> 20:35.240 They sign those confessions and agreements 20:35.240 --> 20:36.240 of their own free will. 20:36.240 --> 20:38.240 Ah, it's a rotten racket, Carson. 20:38.240 --> 20:40.240 It's one of the worst I've ever seen. 20:40.240 --> 20:42.240 Yes, you give them a choice, all right. 20:42.240 --> 20:45.240 A choice of going to jail or paying you blackmail money 20:45.240 --> 20:46.240 for the rest of their lives. 20:46.240 --> 20:48.240 If they aren't dishonest, I don't hurt them. 20:48.240 --> 20:50.240 I never did a dishonest thing in my life. 20:50.240 --> 20:51.240 You frame me and you know it. 20:51.240 --> 20:53.240 They all talk like that. 20:53.240 --> 20:56.240 Now, look, Carson, I won't beat around the bush. 20:56.240 --> 20:58.240 You're being blackmailed yourself right now. 20:58.240 --> 20:59.240 What do you mean? 20:59.240 --> 21:02.240 Well, Miss Barnes has given me a signed confession 21:02.240 --> 21:04.240 that she was splitting the money she stole from me, 21:04.240 --> 21:05.240 splitting it with you. 21:05.240 --> 21:06.240 But that's a lie! 21:06.240 --> 21:08.240 Sure it's a lie. 21:08.240 --> 21:10.240 And, uh, you want to know something else, pal? 21:10.240 --> 21:11.240 What? 21:11.240 --> 21:13.240 She never even stole any money from me. 21:13.240 --> 21:14.240 It's crooked! 21:14.240 --> 21:15.240 You couldn't get away with it. 21:15.240 --> 21:17.240 I never knew it to fail. 21:17.240 --> 21:18.240 A crook always hollers for the law 21:18.240 --> 21:21.240 the minute somebody else puts a squeeze on him. 21:21.240 --> 21:24.240 Oh, no, you aren't entitled to any protection, Carson. 21:24.240 --> 21:26.240 All right, I won't ask for any. 21:26.240 --> 21:27.240 But get this. 21:27.240 --> 21:28.240 You take me into court 21:28.240 --> 21:29.240 and the girl goes right along with me. 21:29.240 --> 21:31.240 Send me to jail, you have to send her too. 21:31.240 --> 21:32.240 Yes, again, Carson. 21:32.240 --> 21:35.240 I bring an action against you for the recovery of my money. 21:35.240 --> 21:37.240 I don't have to bring any action against Mary 21:37.240 --> 21:39.240 unless I feel like it. 21:39.240 --> 21:41.240 And I don't feel like it. 21:41.240 --> 21:43.240 You couldn't collect 1,700 cents. 21:43.240 --> 21:45.240 No, but I could cause you an awful lot of trouble. 21:45.240 --> 21:47.240 I don't imagine you'd be too happy 21:47.240 --> 21:50.240 to have the authorities looking into your affairs. 21:50.240 --> 21:51.240 I'm within the law. 21:51.240 --> 21:53.240 Oh, no, you're not, Carson. 21:53.240 --> 21:55.240 I've got you on compounding a felony. 21:55.240 --> 21:56.240 What? 21:55.240 --> 21:56.240 Yes. 21:56.240 --> 21:59.240 When you sent Mary back to get $7,000, 21:59.240 --> 22:01.240 you thought she was going to get it by stealing it from me. 22:01.240 --> 22:03.240 And yet you told her to do it. 22:03.240 --> 22:05.240 You couldn't prove that either. 22:05.240 --> 22:06.240 I suppose you deny it. 22:06.240 --> 22:08.240 I don't have to deny it, Blondie. 22:08.240 --> 22:10.240 You're not up against a half-wit wood. 22:10.240 --> 22:12.240 The things I put in writing are all legal. 22:12.240 --> 22:14.240 The things I say, 22:14.240 --> 22:16.240 well, I don't have to be very fussy 22:16.240 --> 22:18.240 when I'm dealing with a lot of crooks. 22:18.240 --> 22:20.240 You're not claiming you work your blackmail racket 22:20.240 --> 22:22.240 on people who don't dare go to court 22:22.240 --> 22:24.240 because you're holding their signed confessions. 22:24.240 --> 22:25.240 So what? 22:25.240 --> 22:27.240 So now you're going to be hauled into court 22:27.240 --> 22:29.240 on a charge of stealing $1,700 from me. 22:29.240 --> 22:30.240 1,700? 22:30.240 --> 22:32.240 Why don't you make it 50,000 while you're at it? 22:32.240 --> 22:33.240 Make it good. 22:33.240 --> 22:35.240 I made it 1,700 because that's the amount 22:35.240 --> 22:37.240 you bled Nancy Moran for. 22:37.240 --> 22:38.240 How touching. 22:38.240 --> 22:41.240 Look, I still have my hand in my pocket, 22:41.240 --> 22:42.240 and I'm not fooling. 22:42.240 --> 22:43.240 Now, you either pay up, 22:43.240 --> 22:46.240 or we take you over to the police station. 22:46.240 --> 22:48.240 All right, Wood, you win. 22:48.240 --> 22:50.240 I'll pay the 1,700. 22:50.240 --> 22:51.240 It's worth more than that to me 22:51.240 --> 22:52.240 to keep the police from getting nosy. 22:52.240 --> 22:54.240 Just a minute. 22:54.240 --> 22:56.240 No funny business. 22:58.240 --> 22:59.240 There you are. 22:59.240 --> 23:00.240 1,700 dollars. 23:00.240 --> 23:02.240 Count it if you like. 23:02.240 --> 23:03.240 Count it, Mary. 23:03.240 --> 23:04.240 Okay. 23:04.240 --> 23:07.240 And you're forgetting something else, Carson. 23:07.240 --> 23:08.240 Yeah, what's that? 23:08.240 --> 23:10.240 That signed confession of Miss Moran. 23:10.240 --> 23:11.240 But I don't... 23:11.240 --> 23:13.240 You don't think we'd leave that in your hands, do you? 23:13.240 --> 23:15.240 Now come across, or else. 23:15.240 --> 23:17.240 All right. 23:17.240 --> 23:18.240 There it is. 23:18.240 --> 23:19.240 Thanks. 23:19.240 --> 23:20.240 The money's all here, Joe. 23:20.240 --> 23:21.240 Give it to Nancy Moran. 23:21.240 --> 23:22.240 Thanks again. 23:22.240 --> 23:24.240 And I'll get off. All of you. 23:24.240 --> 23:25.240 I ain't never won a chance. 23:25.240 --> 23:26.240 Nancy, we're glad to be. 23:26.240 --> 23:27.240 Come on. 23:27.240 --> 23:28.240 I... 23:28.240 --> 23:30.240 Oh, pardon me. 23:30.240 --> 23:31.240 What the hell? 23:31.240 --> 23:33.240 Inspector Slavery, I believe. 23:33.240 --> 23:35.240 Yeah, hello, Joe. 23:35.240 --> 23:36.240 Fancy seeing you here. 23:36.240 --> 23:37.240 How are you, Miss Barnes? 23:37.240 --> 23:39.240 Just fine, Inspector. Never better. 23:39.240 --> 23:40.240 What's this all about? 23:40.240 --> 23:44.240 Joe, would you by any chance be the guy 23:44.240 --> 23:47.240 who made that anonymous phone call to me? 23:47.240 --> 23:50.240 Why, Inspector, what are you talking about? 23:50.240 --> 23:53.240 I got a call that if I'd stand out in the hall 23:53.240 --> 23:55.240 at 1015 Layton Square building, 23:55.240 --> 23:57.240 I'd get an earful. 23:57.240 --> 23:59.240 And I sure been getting it. 23:59.240 --> 24:02.240 And then, Sam, enough to put this guy, Carson, 24:02.240 --> 24:05.240 out of circulation for 50 years. 24:05.240 --> 24:06.240 Why, you... 24:06.240 --> 24:07.240 Get him, Slavery, get him. 24:07.240 --> 24:08.240 The fire escape. He's heading for the fire escape. 24:08.240 --> 24:10.240 He's going to get away down the fire escape. 24:10.240 --> 24:12.240 Ah! 24:12.240 --> 24:13.240 No, no, Miss Barnes, don't look. 24:13.240 --> 24:16.240 Well, I guess the old one still goes. 24:16.240 --> 24:17.240 Oh, it's there. 24:17.240 --> 24:44.240 It's always good to look before you leave.