Mystery House
that strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn
where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff before it is accepted for
publication
Mystery House
Barbara, you said tonight's story had something to do with the Scotch background
Right Dan? Well now no cracks about the Scotch being stingy please you know my ancestry
Scotch
How could I forget? Say I don't see why everybody thinks it's so smart to crack
wise about being economical
it's just good common sense. Oh you're an expert on common sense are you Tom?
I certainly am Mr. Glenn and I can prove it. Listen.
Okay, places everybody. Set the scene will you Tom?
Daggers in the dark
tonight's story opens in the makeshift dressing room which adjoins the small
auditorium of the women's club
in a small Midwestern town. The room's only occupant
alive is Jean Gordon. Jean, Jean is that you?
Jeanie, what the? Great Scott.
Father murdered with a thunder.
Jean snap out of it. His own death
right through the heart. Oh babe who could have killed him?
I don't know sweetheart but I wish I did because that's a question the police will be
asking us.
Alright
I'm Joe Briggs sheriff here I take it you're Gordon's daughter
that's right sheriff Jean discovered the body. Who are you? Vail, Pete Vail, booking agent.
Yeah where's the body? Let's have a look at it. Hasn't been touched sheriff
there under the window where Jean found it. Ah what's this get up?
Did he always wear this? Kilts? Sure he was a Scotch entertainer that's why he's here in town.
Didn't you see the show? You mean he wore skirts on the stage?
Oh please sheriff my father's dead. It was a Scotch act sheriff father and daughter
Scotch songs and dances both of them dressed in tartans. Both of them?
What about the young lady? She ain't wearing them.
I changed into street clothes before. Before your father was murdered huh?
What about this knife sticking in him? Ever see that before? That's what the Scotch call a
dirt, a dagger.
Part of the costume, part of the act. You mean these people are knife sawers? No the
Scotch Highlanders wear a knife in their stockings just below the knee at the top
of the stocking.
That Dirk was Gordon's the one he wore in the act. Eh, all either one of you knows is
that
he was found laying here on the floor with that knife in his heart. Is that it?
No, no sheriff that isn't all. Not Jeanie. Be quiet Pete.
This is something the sheriff should know. All right come on out with it. What is it?
Father and I, well we've been quarreling.
Jeanie for the love of my life. No Pete they'll find out sooner or later.
I'd rather tell it my own way. Jeanie you're just making it tough on yourself. Now you lay off mister.
What's your story young woman? Well father was
old-fashioned. He used to be a big-time entertainer with his Scotch stories and
songs but he didn't realize that times had changed.
Get to the point. What she means is I was fighting with her old man.
What? No sheriff I wanted to break away from that.
I did it once and was doing all right on my own doing modern stuff.
But he got so angry about his own daughter singing jazz songs that
he came out of retirement and had Pete set up this tour of tank toms.
Eh? Look sheriff it doesn't mean anything. Old man Gordon was big-time sure twenty years ago.
Command performance for Kings and all that stuff made a lot of dough.
When Jean here got set to be a star in her own right he got mad. Especially when she
started jazzing Scotch songs.
What's that got to do with this? Nothing. You see the only reason
Pete is here. I'm their manager that's why I'm here. Oh don't try to kid me Vail. I know
managers don't come along on one-night stands.
Especially managers of people performing before small-town women's clubs.
That's right sheriff. Pete and I want to get married.
That's why. Jeannie now you have done it. Pete wanted to have it out with father
once and for all but I asked him to let me do the talking.
I knew father didn't want me to marry Pete. I knew Pete would just make him angry so...
So I talked to dad and it was just as I'd expected.
He wouldn't give his consent. I told him we were going to get married anyway.
Tonight. So your old man tried to stop you and you stuck the knife in him.
In self-defense huh? No. Look I was just outside when she screamed I ran in and caught her.
Oh so that's your story huh? The only thing she didn't tell you is that I saw her
father right after the show.
You saw him? I thought you was waiting outside. Well I wasn't.
Well you'd better tell me where you was or I'll have to dig it out of you. I don't have to
talk unless I want to.
Pete please. Sheriff he's only trying to protect me.
He thinks the evidence looks bad for me. Well right now don't look so good for either one of you.
Are you sure nobody in the audience knew your father was killed?
Well I don't know. I didn't hear anything before it happened.
Wasn't anybody working backstage? Sheriff these women's clubs all they've got is a
committee to run the show and everybody on the committee is so busy congratulating
themselves after it's over nobody worries about the performance.
And it strikes me young lady that neither one of you been paying much attention.
That makes it tough when you're trying to get away with murder. Come along.
Well Alma Peabody what are you doing in the courthouse? Joe Briggs this is serious.
I have something to tell you. Well I'm always glad to talk to important people Alma.
And I got about as much work to do as I ever had here. I know that's why I'm here.
All right all right get it over with. It's a cinch I won't be able to do anything until you do spill it.
Joe I know something about that murder. What do you know?
You're president of the women's club that sponsored this Scotchman's appearance.
Is that what you know? No Joe I knew Angus Gordon a long time ago.
I mean I know him well. You mean you were a Bobby Soxer when he was a big star like Harry?
Harry what was well anyway Alma this is serious business.
Joe it's hard to say this but you well you may find it out yourself and then it'll look.
Well I was married to Angus Gordon. What? It's true Joe.
Are you losing your mind Alma? You was married to Jim Peabody before you came to this town.
Everybody knows that. Everybody thinks I was never married before.
Because I was so young when I came here with Jim Peabody.
But I was born in Scotland and my parents married me off to Angus Gordon when I was 16.
Angus was just a coal miner then. Well all right Alma all right you kind of knocked the wind out
of my sails there for a minute but what does all this have to do with murder? I'm trying to
tell you Joe when Angus and I came to this country he was just a struggling Scot singer
for the church mouse. So when Jim came along and offered me real security as the wife of a bank
president I left Angus. I never loved him anyway. Alma you've been thinking that I might suspect you
of Gordon's murder if I found out about this. Well my conscience bothered me. I just had to tell you
for fear you or someone would make it seem different than it really was. Well you've got
nothing to worry about. I got your ex-husband's daughter locked up along with her boyfriend.
Between the two of them I figure I got the one who done it. But you think the girl is actually
implicated Joe? I doubt it. I figured the boyfriend done it. The girl's trying to protect him but
that won't last long when I turn the heat on. Joe do you trust me? Well that's a strange question.
Oh don't hedge Joe answer me. Well I don't know when it comes to murder I don't trust anybody
but to be sheriff in this county you've got to be careful of your politics and
you swing a lot of votes. That means you do. What do you got up your sleeve? I think I might help
you and at the same time do something charitable for Angus's daughter if you let me Joe. You sure
you're not holding out on me about this girl? She's not your daughter is she? Oh heavens no. Angus
adopted her right after I left him. Then what is your interest? I suppose it's conscience. I feel
badly about what happened to Angus and I'd like to do something for Jean. Something that might help
you. Help me? How? Well if you put Jean in my custody temporarily I could be nice to her. That's
no help to me. But don't you see let the young man out too. If he did murder Angus and if Jean knows
he did. Oh you mean they might try to get together. Exactly. I'll watch Jean like a hawk. Only she'll
think I'm just being nice to her for the sake of her father. Then if this person she wants to marry
comes around I'll be able to find out what he's cooking up. Something you could never do as long
as you hold them both in jail. Well it's crazy. It ain't right. But you'll do it? All right Alma
I'll send the girl to your house.
Pete. Let me in before somebody sees me. Oh Pete where did you get the ladder? How did you get here?
There I made it. Oh Pete you're crazy. What are you doing here? That sheriff has an idea we'll try
something together. That's why he sent you here and let me out on bail. But this time of night
what's the idea? I wanted to be sure old Mrs Peabody'd be asleep so I could talk to you privately.
She's asleep all right. But Joe what are we going to do about you? The sheriff is sure to get you
convicted for what happened to father. He practically told me that. Yeah I understand he offered you a
nice little deal. What do you mean? That's why I'm here baby to tell you you can't get away with it.
Pete what are you talking about? I never thought this would happen to me falling for a gal and
having her turn out to be a double crosser. Pete I've never seen you like this. No? Well you never
will again. Do you really think I'd tell you off? Oh spare me that will you Jean it's bad enough to
know. Peter Vailop. Oh you really think? I don't think anything anymore. I just came to tell you
I'm going to beat it. But before I go come over here close to me. Pete what's got into you?
Nothing's changed between us. Listen Jean before I go there's just one thing. Oh Pete please
not this way. I won't listen to you. I can't. Okay baby if that's the way you want it. Oh no
no.
Oh
no
oh
Angus Gordon the Scotch entertainer was murdered and now Angus daughter Jean was uh was she murdered
too? Well it looks very much as if Sheriff Joe Briggs has plenty of problems to solve in the second
act of Dagger in the Dark. But now while the scenes are being shifted listen to this.
And now act two of Dagger in the Dark. Sheriff Joe Briggs has arrived at the home of Mrs.
Alma Peabody to find Jean Gordon bleeding profusely and still unconscious. As the curtain rises the
sheriff is talking to Alma. I sure was a fool to listen to you Alma. If I'd have left the girl in
jail this wouldn't have happened. Oh I know Joe. I regret this even more than you do. But there's one
good thing about it don't you see? What's good about a knife wound in a pretty gal like her? Oh
I don't mean that. I mean now you know who did the other murder who killed Angus Gordon. You mean
because you saw Pete Bale hauling the ladder up to the side of your house? Of course Joe. I saw him as
clearly as I see you. He climbed up the poor Jean's window and stabbed her. That's the way he stabbed
her father. You see him do it? You got the knife? Knife? Well whatever he stabbed her with. You've got
the weapon? Of course not. Well then we don't know as much as you think we know. All we know is you
think you saw this guy hauling the ladder up. I did see him. Well how'd he get away then? You claim
you called me as soon as you saw him. I did. He just must have got away. Uh-huh. Well how? My men
were all around the house the whole time. When I got here myself you were just coming out of Jean's
room and you say you got to the girl right away. Oh Joe don't argue about such inconsequentials.
Do something about Jean. She's all right. The doctor in the other room fixing her up. She's
going to be all right. But what about the man? Her boyfriend? We'll get him. Don't worry so much.
That's my job. What? Jean! Wait a minute. What are you doing out of bed Miss? Where's the doc? I'm
all right. The doctor left me quite a while ago. Jean you should be back in bed. Come I'll help you.
Leave me alone Mrs Peabody. I want to know what happened to Pete. You mean you're worried about
that Dale fella yet? Sheriff tell me what happened to him. Is he all right? Ah be sure to find out.
Jean I ain't seen him. Only Alma here claims she's seen him with the ladder outside your window.
Well sure he was here. But is he all right Sheriff? See I told you Joe. Please Sheriff I've got to know.
Pete thinks I lied to you about him. Did he get away? Now look young lady you shouldn't be worrying
about a guy who stuck a knife in your back. Pete didn't. I know he didn't. What? Jean you're not
rational. Why of course it was he. It was so dark you couldn't see. But not so dark I couldn't feel.
Look. Your finger's scratched. What about it? Whoever it was who tried to kill me was behind me.
I could still see Pete against the window when this hand was clapped over my mouth. Joe don't mind
her. She's so weak from the wound she just can't remember right. No. I felt this hand over my mouth
and I reached up and tried to pull it away. That's how I scratched my finger. On the knife? No. On a
diamond ring. What? I could feel the ring when I tried to pull the hand away. Don't you see it
couldn't have been Pete. He never wore any rings at all. But Jean who else could it have been? The
house was locked. There wasn't any other way of getting in except through your window. It must
have been your friend Pete. I don't know who it was but it wasn't Pete. Well this beats me.
It teaches me a lesson not to listen to women. Even women like you Alma. Joe you've got to do
something about this. I can't have my reputation at stake this way. Your reputation? Attempted
murder happening right here in the Peabody house. Buffle the town thing. Joe you've got to clear this
up right away. That's a fine attitude. Now wait a minute you two. Just what you might expect of a
Tanktown big shot. Why Jean after all I've done for you. All you've done was you who got my father to
come to your old woman's club show. Me? I heard the other women talking about it. I know you didn't
write the letter but it was your idea. And now all you're worried about is what people will think
about you. Even though father is dead and somebody tried to kill me. Jean you ungrateful. That's no
way to fix anything. Well neither one of you has to worry about me anymore. I'm going to get out of
here and find Pete Vale before he gets caught for something he didn't do. Oh no you don't.
I'll get it. I'll get it. Yeah sheriff speaking. Who? Gil Lambert. Yeah yeah well bring him out here.
Yeah right away. I know it's Pete. What's happened Joe? Oh it's that Vale fella all right. Gil Lambert
the lawyer was on the other end. He said Vale walked into his office an hour ago. They're coming
out here right away. Okay Gail come on in. You too Vale. Hello sheriff. Oh Pete. Jeannie are you all
right? Now break it up you two. This thing isn't settled yet. The idea. The audacity of this young
man. Now Mrs. Peabody don't be too unkind. Joe Briggs if you're any kind of a sheriff at all you're
going to. Oh what are you fretting about Alva? There's plenty of men guarding the house. Nothing
can happen. Why don't you arrest this young man and be done with him. Well first I want to hear
what Gail has to say. You uh said it was important didn't you Gail? I didn't. Well I'm not going to
listen to such struttle twaddle. Now look here Alva. Oh it's all right Joe let her go. We don't need her
for this. Let me go. I like that. I'll go as I please and next election I'll see we have a new
sheriff in this community. Yeah go ahead Pete. Tell the sheriff what you told me. Oh Pete please
get yourself out of this. I will sweetheart just a minute. Now come on Gail let's hear it. Not so
fast sheriff. You almost got me on this when you told me that tall tale about Gene ratting on me
but in a way I'm glad you did. What do you mean? Let him tell it Joe. You wanted to find out which
of us was guilty so you told me Gene accused me of murdering her father. That's what brought me here
to Gene's room and that's what started me seeing things. But what Pete? Gene I knew I hadn't put
that knife in your back but I also knew that if I was found with you everybody'd be sure that I had.
So? So you ran out on her. So I could see that whoever used that knife had missed the mark.
I knew Gene was going to be all right so I left to find the clue that would tell me who did it.
This. That's the knife that killed Angus Gordon. That's right Joe. I took the liberty of getting it
out of your office. Take a good look at it sheriff. See anything? Pete what are you getting at? That's
father's dirt. No it isn't. Look at the head. Yeah some kind of scratches. But there's writing on it.
The engraving is so small I can't quite read it. That's right. Look at it through this enlarging glass.
And and fare thee well my only love and fare thee well a while and I will come again my love
though it were 10 000 miles. Wait that's Bobby Burns. A nice sentiment isn't it? What are you
getting at Vail? When I left Gene here I went back to the dressing room where Angus died.
All his personal stuff was still there so I went through it and I found a small box full of
sentimental things about his marriage. You mean his marriage to Alma Peabody? How did you know? She
came to my office and told me. Oh she did did she? Well that's just fine. What about the box Pete?
Well it was full of letters and a lot of other stuff all about Alma. Apparently your father was
a sentimental man even before he adopted you. Tell them about the knife Pete. Right now in this box
there was a sales slip for a handmade dirk with four lines of engraving and specifications that
have been made smaller than the normal size. I don't get it. There was also a letter to Angus
from Alma in which she thanked him for the dirk he had given her when he went away on his first tour
of this country and she quoted the lines engraved on the dirk those lines from Burns. You mean
that this knife belongs to Alma? That's right Joe. But how? You see Pete came to me because he said
he needed a lawyer and he was sure he could clear himself if I'd agree to help him. After he went
through that box of your father's he was sure the weapon found in your father's body was smaller than
the dagger your father used in his act. It proved he was right. The two daggers were identical in
design but this one is smaller and has the engraving. You mean that I'm supposed to arrest Alma
Peabody because of this? What? Arrest me! Shut up Alma shut up. What would she be killing her next
husband for? Revenge probably or jealousy because he'd done so well. She probably hated him. Ah well
Alma looks like I gotta take you into the courthouse. What? Arrest me for murder? Why Joe Briggs? I'll sue
you for defamation of character. I got my duty Alma and it kind of points toward you. Come on.
You will live to regret this Joe Briggs. I've never been so humiliated in my life. There's nothing much I
can do about it Alma. Nothing that'd interest you anyway. Interest me? What do you mean? Why there
ain't really any evidence against you except what I got. What do you mean Joe Briggs? Oh that stuff
about the daggers. That could be blown higher in a kite. You see I'm the only one who knows your real
motive. What? What are you talking about? Peabody's been dead quite a spell Alma. Money don't last
forever. What? The way I figure you asked this Angus Gordon for some money for the sake of old
times. Well how did you know? And I make it my business to know such things. Sheriff ain't I?
And he turned you down. Wouldn't give you a penny. But Joe you couldn't know that. Oh I heard it myself
Alma. Gordon was a mite worried about you. Yeah figured you might be up to something. Joe that's not
true. He was well as nice to me as he could ever be to anyone. Sure would look good for you if I
was to testify about that meeting wouldn't it? Well you couldn't. You couldn't do such a thing to me.
Well I've got my duty Alma and then there's the law. What about the law? Well a man can't testify
against his own wife. What? Joe Briggs you must be out of your mind. Be quite a thing for Joe Briggs to
be married to Alma Peabody wouldn't it? Have folks buzzing plenty and it'd clinch you're not getting
caught too. But Joe I didn't murder Angus Gordon. Sure sure but you think it over Alma.
We found something very interesting among Alma Peabody's souvenirs Joe. Yeah well now you look here
Lambert you've got no right to be snooping through her house. It ain't legal. Legal? If I can convict
dad's murder I don't care how legal it is. Here's the weapon sheriff. She'd put it back on her writing
desk her letter opener and it's a little long for its holder Joe. Apparently when she killed Angus
Gordon she left her dirt in his body and then she took this but his knife was long and didn't quite
fit the letter opener case. You see? Yeah about an inch difference in the length but she didn't have
any motive. I'll bet these two planted it there. I don't think so Joe. We wired New York and talked
to his lawyers. We found out about Angus Gordon's will. Well what about it? He left his money share
and share alike to his adopted daughter and his former wife. You don't say but he never let Alma
know about it did he? And I still don't give her any motive. You don't really think you can get away
with it do you Briggs? Hmm? What are you talking about me? Dad's will said he'd investigated and
found his former wife was in need of money. Well? Dad wouldn't have paid for an investigation. He
never paid for anything he could get for nothing. He'd have written to the sheriff. What? You mean?
Don't worry Mr. Bridges. We could check that. Dad never threw away a piece of correspondence
but I know how he'd operate and when you found he was coming here you saw a chance to capitalize
on what you knew. Now now wait a minute wait a minute. I never had a letter from him in my life
and I didn't know a blamed thing about any will. You'd figured some way to get part of that money
Briggs. What was it? Nothing. Look if anybody was to benefit it'd be Gil Lambert. He's been lending
Alma money to live on for close to three years. Why she must owe him nearly ten thousand dollars
and he's a lawyer. Stop it. No you don't. Don't put down that gun Gilbert.
Sorry I can't oblige you sheriff. You were wrong Miss Gordon. Your father paid for his
investigation. I made a deal with Alma Peabody after I'd corresponded with the old man.
I'd finance her till she got the money and return for half of what she got. You you killed dad and
you didn't even know him. Yes and I'd have killed you too with a little luck. I had a hurry to get
home before your boyfriend found I wasn't there. I saw him pounding at the front door and I had to
sneak around the back way. I pretended I'd been asleep. How he ever happened to come to see me.
Put down that gun Gil. No thanks sheriff. She still gets her share of the money and someday I'll get
my part of it from her because you won't get me. No I think I'd rather keep it all for myself Mr Lambert.
What are you. Yeah nice work Alma. You got him. I was never much good with the dirt but as a girl I
rather prided myself on my marksmanship. I knew he was guilty but I was scared to death.
When you went to Mr Vale I was well blind with fear. I don't blame you Mrs Peabody. But Pete
how did you happen to pick Lambert. I don't know Ginny just a well a stab in the dark.