WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.000 Mystery House 00:30.000 --> 00:31.300 Mystery House 00:31.300 --> 00:34.940 that strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn 00:34.940 --> 00:38.960 where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff before it is accepted for 00:38.960 --> 00:40.560 publication 00:40.560 --> 00:47.560 Mystery House 00:52.760 --> 00:56.440 Barbara, you said tonight's story had something to do with the Scotch background 00:56.440 --> 01:00.520 Right Dan? Well now no cracks about the Scotch being stingy please you know my ancestry 01:00.520 --> 01:01.040 Scotch 01:01.040 --> 01:04.840 How could I forget? Say I don't see why everybody thinks it's so smart to crack 01:04.840 --> 01:06.320 wise about being economical 01:06.320 --> 01:09.840 it's just good common sense. Oh you're an expert on common sense are you Tom? 01:09.840 --> 01:16.840 I certainly am Mr. Glenn and I can prove it. Listen. 01:20.880 --> 01:23.680 Okay, places everybody. Set the scene will you Tom? 01:23.680 --> 01:27.200 Daggers in the dark 01:27.200 --> 01:32.560 tonight's story opens in the makeshift dressing room which adjoins the small 01:32.560 --> 01:34.200 auditorium of the women's club 01:34.200 --> 01:37.960 in a small Midwestern town. The room's only occupant 01:37.960 --> 01:44.960 alive is Jean Gordon. Jean, Jean is that you? 01:44.960 --> 01:48.280 Jeanie, what the? Great Scott. 01:48.280 --> 01:51.800 Father murdered with a thunder. 01:51.800 --> 01:55.760 Jean snap out of it. His own death 01:55.760 --> 01:59.080 right through the heart. Oh babe who could have killed him? 01:59.080 --> 02:03.120 I don't know sweetheart but I wish I did because that's a question the police will be 02:03.120 --> 02:03.760 asking us. 02:03.760 --> 02:10.760 Alright 02:17.160 --> 02:20.880 I'm Joe Briggs sheriff here I take it you're Gordon's daughter 02:20.880 --> 02:24.960 that's right sheriff Jean discovered the body. Who are you? Vail, Pete Vail, booking agent. 02:24.960 --> 02:28.080 Yeah where's the body? Let's have a look at it. Hasn't been touched sheriff 02:28.080 --> 02:31.640 there under the window where Jean found it. Ah what's this get up? 02:31.640 --> 02:36.000 Did he always wear this? Kilts? Sure he was a Scotch entertainer that's why he's here in town. 02:36.000 --> 02:39.360 Didn't you see the show? You mean he wore skirts on the stage? 02:39.360 --> 02:43.520 Oh please sheriff my father's dead. It was a Scotch act sheriff father and daughter 02:43.520 --> 02:46.720 Scotch songs and dances both of them dressed in tartans. Both of them? 02:46.720 --> 02:50.000 What about the young lady? She ain't wearing them. 02:50.000 --> 02:54.600 I changed into street clothes before. Before your father was murdered huh? 02:54.600 --> 02:58.680 What about this knife sticking in him? Ever see that before? That's what the Scotch call a 02:58.680 --> 02:59.640 dirt, a dagger. 02:59.640 --> 03:03.720 Part of the costume, part of the act. You mean these people are knife sawers? No the 03:03.720 --> 03:06.800 Scotch Highlanders wear a knife in their stockings just below the knee at the top 03:06.800 --> 03:07.400 of the stocking. 03:07.400 --> 03:11.920 That Dirk was Gordon's the one he wore in the act. Eh, all either one of you knows is 03:11.920 --> 03:12.120 that 03:12.120 --> 03:15.480 he was found laying here on the floor with that knife in his heart. Is that it? 03:15.480 --> 03:18.840 No, no sheriff that isn't all. Not Jeanie. Be quiet Pete. 03:18.840 --> 03:22.520 This is something the sheriff should know. All right come on out with it. What is it? 03:22.520 --> 03:26.560 Father and I, well we've been quarreling. 03:26.560 --> 03:29.600 Jeanie for the love of my life. No Pete they'll find out sooner or later. 03:29.600 --> 03:33.400 I'd rather tell it my own way. Jeanie you're just making it tough on yourself. Now you lay off mister. 03:33.400 --> 03:37.120 What's your story young woman? Well father was 03:37.120 --> 03:41.360 old-fashioned. He used to be a big-time entertainer with his Scotch stories and 03:41.360 --> 03:44.480 songs but he didn't realize that times had changed. 03:44.480 --> 03:47.600 Get to the point. What she means is I was fighting with her old man. 03:47.600 --> 03:51.080 What? No sheriff I wanted to break away from that. 03:51.080 --> 03:54.320 I did it once and was doing all right on my own doing modern stuff. 03:54.320 --> 03:58.960 But he got so angry about his own daughter singing jazz songs that 03:58.960 --> 04:02.520 he came out of retirement and had Pete set up this tour of tank toms. 04:02.520 --> 04:07.680 Eh? Look sheriff it doesn't mean anything. Old man Gordon was big-time sure twenty years ago. 04:07.680 --> 04:10.840 Command performance for Kings and all that stuff made a lot of dough. 04:10.840 --> 04:14.400 When Jean here got set to be a star in her own right he got mad. Especially when she 04:14.400 --> 04:16.000 started jazzing Scotch songs. 04:16.000 --> 04:19.920 What's that got to do with this? Nothing. You see the only reason 04:19.920 --> 04:23.760 Pete is here. I'm their manager that's why I'm here. Oh don't try to kid me Vail. I know 04:23.760 --> 04:26.200 managers don't come along on one-night stands. 04:26.200 --> 04:30.000 Especially managers of people performing before small-town women's clubs. 04:30.000 --> 04:33.560 That's right sheriff. Pete and I want to get married. 04:33.560 --> 04:37.200 That's why. Jeannie now you have done it. Pete wanted to have it out with father 04:37.200 --> 04:40.520 once and for all but I asked him to let me do the talking. 04:40.520 --> 04:45.040 I knew father didn't want me to marry Pete. I knew Pete would just make him angry so... 04:45.040 --> 04:49.240 So I talked to dad and it was just as I'd expected. 04:49.240 --> 04:53.280 He wouldn't give his consent. I told him we were going to get married anyway. 04:53.280 --> 04:57.240 Tonight. So your old man tried to stop you and you stuck the knife in him. 04:57.240 --> 05:01.560 In self-defense huh? No. Look I was just outside when she screamed I ran in and caught her. 05:01.560 --> 05:05.560 Oh so that's your story huh? The only thing she didn't tell you is that I saw her 05:05.560 --> 05:06.680 father right after the show. 05:06.680 --> 05:10.120 You saw him? I thought you was waiting outside. Well I wasn't. 05:10.120 --> 05:13.480 Well you'd better tell me where you was or I'll have to dig it out of you. I don't have to 05:13.480 --> 05:14.560 talk unless I want to. 05:14.560 --> 05:18.320 Pete please. Sheriff he's only trying to protect me. 05:18.320 --> 05:22.640 He thinks the evidence looks bad for me. Well right now don't look so good for either one of you. 05:22.640 --> 05:25.720 Are you sure nobody in the audience knew your father was killed? 05:25.720 --> 05:29.880 Well I don't know. I didn't hear anything before it happened. 05:29.880 --> 05:33.440 Wasn't anybody working backstage? Sheriff these women's clubs all they've got is a 05:33.440 --> 05:36.920 committee to run the show and everybody on the committee is so busy congratulating 05:36.920 --> 05:39.560 themselves after it's over nobody worries about the performance. 05:39.560 --> 05:43.560 And it strikes me young lady that neither one of you been paying much attention. 05:43.560 --> 05:50.560 That makes it tough when you're trying to get away with murder. Come along. 06:00.920 --> 06:05.160 Well Alma Peabody what are you doing in the courthouse? Joe Briggs this is serious. 06:05.160 --> 06:09.280 I have something to tell you. Well I'm always glad to talk to important people Alma. 06:09.280 --> 06:14.160 And I got about as much work to do as I ever had here. I know that's why I'm here. 06:14.160 --> 06:18.880 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. 06:18.880 --> 06:22.560 Joe I know something about that murder. What do you know? 06:22.560 --> 06:26.320 You're president of the women's club that sponsored this Scotchman's appearance. 06:26.320 --> 06:30.720 Is that what you know? No Joe I knew Angus Gordon a long time ago. 06:30.720 --> 06:36.080 I mean I know him well. You mean you were a Bobby Soxer when he was a big star like Harry? 06:36.080 --> 06:40.080 Harry what was well anyway Alma this is serious business. 06:40.080 --> 06:44.960 Joe it's hard to say this but you well you may find it out yourself and then it'll look. 06:44.960 --> 06:50.080 Well I was married to Angus Gordon. What? It's true Joe. 06:50.080 --> 06:54.320 Are you losing your mind Alma? You was married to Jim Peabody before you came to this town. 06:54.320 --> 06:57.520 Everybody knows that. Everybody thinks I was never married before. 06:57.520 --> 06:59.920 Because I was so young when I came here with Jim Peabody. 06:59.920 --> 07:04.560 But I was born in Scotland and my parents married me off to Angus Gordon when I was 16. 07:04.560 --> 07:09.680 Angus was just a coal miner then. Well all right Alma all right you kind of knocked the wind out 07:09.680 --> 07:14.000 of my sails there for a minute but what does all this have to do with murder? I'm trying to 07:14.000 --> 07:18.880 tell you Joe when Angus and I came to this country he was just a struggling Scot singer 07:18.880 --> 07:23.600 for the church mouse. So when Jim came along and offered me real security as the wife of a bank 07:23.600 --> 07:29.440 president I left Angus. I never loved him anyway. Alma you've been thinking that I might suspect you 07:29.440 --> 07:34.720 of Gordon's murder if I found out about this. Well my conscience bothered me. I just had to tell you 07:34.720 --> 07:39.120 for fear you or someone would make it seem different than it really was. Well you've got 07:39.120 --> 07:44.080 nothing to worry about. I got your ex-husband's daughter locked up along with her boyfriend. 07:44.080 --> 07:48.160 Between the two of them I figure I got the one who done it. But you think the girl is actually 07:48.160 --> 07:54.160 implicated Joe? I doubt it. I figured the boyfriend done it. The girl's trying to protect him but 07:54.160 --> 08:00.080 that won't last long when I turn the heat on. Joe do you trust me? Well that's a strange question. 08:00.080 --> 08:05.840 Oh don't hedge Joe answer me. Well I don't know when it comes to murder I don't trust anybody 08:05.840 --> 08:09.920 but to be sheriff in this county you've got to be careful of your politics and 08:10.560 --> 08:16.640 you swing a lot of votes. That means you do. What do you got up your sleeve? I think I might help 08:16.640 --> 08:21.680 you and at the same time do something charitable for Angus's daughter if you let me Joe. You sure 08:21.680 --> 08:27.200 you're not holding out on me about this girl? She's not your daughter is she? Oh heavens no. Angus 08:27.200 --> 08:32.960 adopted her right after I left him. Then what is your interest? I suppose it's conscience. I feel 08:32.960 --> 08:37.360 badly about what happened to Angus and I'd like to do something for Jean. Something that might help 08:37.360 --> 08:43.680 you. Help me? How? Well if you put Jean in my custody temporarily I could be nice to her. That's 08:43.680 --> 08:50.080 no help to me. But don't you see let the young man out too. If he did murder Angus and if Jean knows 08:50.080 --> 08:56.320 he did. Oh you mean they might try to get together. Exactly. I'll watch Jean like a hawk. Only she'll 08:56.320 --> 09:00.560 think I'm just being nice to her for the sake of her father. Then if this person she wants to marry 09:00.560 --> 09:04.880 comes around I'll be able to find out what he's cooking up. Something you could never do as long 09:04.880 --> 09:11.440 as you hold them both in jail. Well it's crazy. It ain't right. But you'll do it? All right Alma 09:11.440 --> 09:21.280 I'll send the girl to your house. 09:26.880 --> 09:32.960 Pete. Let me in before somebody sees me. Oh Pete where did you get the ladder? How did you get here? 09:33.680 --> 09:39.760 There I made it. Oh Pete you're crazy. What are you doing here? That sheriff has an idea we'll try 09:39.760 --> 09:44.480 something together. That's why he sent you here and let me out on bail. But this time of night 09:45.280 --> 09:51.280 what's the idea? I wanted to be sure old Mrs Peabody'd be asleep so I could talk to you privately. 09:51.280 --> 09:57.440 She's asleep all right. But Joe what are we going to do about you? The sheriff is sure to get you 09:57.440 --> 10:03.680 convicted for what happened to father. He practically told me that. Yeah I understand he offered you a 10:03.680 --> 10:10.160 nice little deal. What do you mean? That's why I'm here baby to tell you you can't get away with it. 10:11.040 --> 10:16.240 Pete what are you talking about? I never thought this would happen to me falling for a gal and 10:16.240 --> 10:22.880 having her turn out to be a double crosser. Pete I've never seen you like this. No? Well you never 10:22.880 --> 10:28.080 will again. Do you really think I'd tell you off? Oh spare me that will you Jean it's bad enough to 10:28.080 --> 10:33.920 know. Peter Vailop. Oh you really think? I don't think anything anymore. I just came to tell you 10:33.920 --> 10:42.480 I'm going to beat it. But before I go come over here close to me. Pete what's got into you? 10:43.520 --> 10:50.320 Nothing's changed between us. Listen Jean before I go there's just one thing. Oh Pete please 10:50.320 --> 10:57.360 not this way. I won't listen to you. I can't. Okay baby if that's the way you want it. Oh no 10:57.360 --> 10:59.360 no. 10:59.360 --> 11:01.360 Oh 11:01.360 --> 11:05.360 no 11:05.360 --> 11:13.360 oh 11:26.640 --> 11:33.520 Angus Gordon the Scotch entertainer was murdered and now Angus daughter Jean was uh was she murdered 11:33.520 --> 11:39.120 too? Well it looks very much as if Sheriff Joe Briggs has plenty of problems to solve in the second 11:39.120 --> 11:43.920 act of Dagger in the Dark. But now while the scenes are being shifted listen to this. 11:56.080 --> 12:03.360 And now act two of Dagger in the Dark. Sheriff Joe Briggs has arrived at the home of Mrs. 12:03.360 --> 12:09.840 Alma Peabody to find Jean Gordon bleeding profusely and still unconscious. As the curtain rises the 12:09.840 --> 12:14.720 sheriff is talking to Alma. I sure was a fool to listen to you Alma. If I'd have left the girl in 12:14.720 --> 12:19.760 jail this wouldn't have happened. Oh I know Joe. I regret this even more than you do. But there's one 12:19.760 --> 12:24.480 good thing about it don't you see? What's good about a knife wound in a pretty gal like her? Oh 12:24.480 --> 12:30.160 I don't mean that. I mean now you know who did the other murder who killed Angus Gordon. You mean 12:30.160 --> 12:34.720 because you saw Pete Bale hauling the ladder up to the side of your house? Of course Joe. I saw him as 12:34.720 --> 12:39.680 clearly as I see you. He climbed up the poor Jean's window and stabbed her. That's the way he stabbed 12:39.680 --> 12:45.760 her father. You see him do it? You got the knife? Knife? Well whatever he stabbed her with. You've got 12:45.760 --> 12:51.360 the weapon? Of course not. Well then we don't know as much as you think we know. All we know is you 12:51.360 --> 12:56.720 think you saw this guy hauling the ladder up. I did see him. Well how'd he get away then? You claim 12:56.720 --> 13:02.560 you called me as soon as you saw him. I did. He just must have got away. Uh-huh. Well how? My men 13:02.560 --> 13:06.640 were all around the house the whole time. When I got here myself you were just coming out of Jean's 13:06.640 --> 13:12.480 room and you say you got to the girl right away. Oh Joe don't argue about such inconsequentials. 13:12.480 --> 13:16.480 Do something about Jean. She's all right. The doctor in the other room fixing her up. She's 13:16.480 --> 13:21.360 going to be all right. But what about the man? Her boyfriend? We'll get him. Don't worry so much. 13:21.360 --> 13:27.280 That's my job. What? Jean! Wait a minute. What are you doing out of bed Miss? Where's the doc? I'm 13:27.280 --> 13:32.240 all right. The doctor left me quite a while ago. Jean you should be back in bed. Come I'll help you. 13:32.240 --> 13:37.280 Leave me alone Mrs Peabody. I want to know what happened to Pete. You mean you're worried about 13:37.280 --> 13:42.880 that Dale fella yet? Sheriff tell me what happened to him. Is he all right? Ah be sure to find out. 13:42.880 --> 13:47.280 Jean I ain't seen him. Only Alma here claims she's seen him with the ladder outside your window. 13:47.280 --> 13:52.960 Well sure he was here. But is he all right Sheriff? See I told you Joe. Please Sheriff I've got to know. 13:53.520 --> 13:57.920 Pete thinks I lied to you about him. Did he get away? Now look young lady you shouldn't be worrying 13:57.920 --> 14:03.200 about a guy who stuck a knife in your back. Pete didn't. I know he didn't. What? Jean you're not 14:03.200 --> 14:09.040 rational. Why of course it was he. It was so dark you couldn't see. But not so dark I couldn't feel. 14:09.040 --> 14:14.320 Look. Your finger's scratched. What about it? Whoever it was who tried to kill me was behind me. 14:14.320 --> 14:19.440 I could still see Pete against the window when this hand was clapped over my mouth. Joe don't mind 14:19.440 --> 14:24.480 her. She's so weak from the wound she just can't remember right. No. I felt this hand over my mouth 14:24.480 --> 14:30.400 and I reached up and tried to pull it away. That's how I scratched my finger. On the knife? No. On a 14:30.400 --> 14:36.240 diamond ring. What? I could feel the ring when I tried to pull the hand away. Don't you see it 14:36.240 --> 14:41.280 couldn't have been Pete. He never wore any rings at all. But Jean who else could it have been? The 14:41.280 --> 14:45.120 house was locked. There wasn't any other way of getting in except through your window. It must 14:45.120 --> 14:49.680 have been your friend Pete. I don't know who it was but it wasn't Pete. Well this beats me. 14:49.680 --> 14:54.240 It teaches me a lesson not to listen to women. Even women like you Alma. Joe you've got to do 14:54.240 --> 14:59.520 something about this. I can't have my reputation at stake this way. Your reputation? Attempted 14:59.520 --> 15:04.000 murder happening right here in the Peabody house. Buffle the town thing. Joe you've got to clear this 15:04.000 --> 15:08.400 up right away. That's a fine attitude. Now wait a minute you two. Just what you might expect of a 15:08.400 --> 15:14.560 Tanktown big shot. Why Jean after all I've done for you. All you've done was you who got my father to 15:14.560 --> 15:19.520 come to your old woman's club show. Me? I heard the other women talking about it. I know you didn't 15:19.520 --> 15:23.760 write the letter but it was your idea. And now all you're worried about is what people will think 15:23.760 --> 15:29.840 about you. Even though father is dead and somebody tried to kill me. Jean you ungrateful. That's no 15:29.840 --> 15:33.760 way to fix anything. Well neither one of you has to worry about me anymore. I'm going to get out of 15:33.760 --> 15:38.000 here and find Pete Vale before he gets caught for something he didn't do. Oh no you don't. 15:38.000 --> 15:50.800 I'll get it. I'll get it. Yeah sheriff speaking. Who? Gil Lambert. Yeah yeah well bring him out here. 15:51.600 --> 15:57.200 Yeah right away. I know it's Pete. What's happened Joe? Oh it's that Vale fella all right. Gil Lambert 15:57.200 --> 16:02.240 the lawyer was on the other end. He said Vale walked into his office an hour ago. They're coming 16:02.240 --> 16:19.360 out here right away. Okay Gail come on in. You too Vale. Hello sheriff. Oh Pete. Jeannie are you all 16:19.360 --> 16:23.600 right? Now break it up you two. This thing isn't settled yet. The idea. The audacity of this young 16:23.600 --> 16:28.080 man. Now Mrs. Peabody don't be too unkind. Joe Briggs if you're any kind of a sheriff at all you're 16:28.080 --> 16:31.280 going to. Oh what are you fretting about Alva? There's plenty of men guarding the house. Nothing 16:31.280 --> 16:34.800 can happen. Why don't you arrest this young man and be done with him. Well first I want to hear 16:34.800 --> 16:40.640 what Gail has to say. You uh said it was important didn't you Gail? I didn't. Well I'm not going to 16:40.640 --> 16:45.360 listen to such struttle twaddle. Now look here Alva. Oh it's all right Joe let her go. We don't need her 16:45.360 --> 16:51.760 for this. Let me go. I like that. I'll go as I please and next election I'll see we have a new 16:51.760 --> 16:58.080 sheriff in this community. Yeah go ahead Pete. Tell the sheriff what you told me. Oh Pete please 16:58.080 --> 17:02.400 get yourself out of this. I will sweetheart just a minute. Now come on Gail let's hear it. Not so 17:02.400 --> 17:07.360 fast sheriff. You almost got me on this when you told me that tall tale about Gene ratting on me 17:07.360 --> 17:12.160 but in a way I'm glad you did. What do you mean? Let him tell it Joe. You wanted to find out which 17:12.160 --> 17:16.720 of us was guilty so you told me Gene accused me of murdering her father. That's what brought me here 17:16.720 --> 17:21.680 to Gene's room and that's what started me seeing things. But what Pete? Gene I knew I hadn't put 17:21.680 --> 17:26.240 that knife in your back but I also knew that if I was found with you everybody'd be sure that I had. 17:26.240 --> 17:30.880 So? So you ran out on her. So I could see that whoever used that knife had missed the mark. 17:30.880 --> 17:34.480 I knew Gene was going to be all right so I left to find the clue that would tell me who did it. 17:35.200 --> 17:40.320 This. That's the knife that killed Angus Gordon. That's right Joe. I took the liberty of getting it 17:40.320 --> 17:44.800 out of your office. Take a good look at it sheriff. See anything? Pete what are you getting at? That's 17:44.800 --> 17:50.320 father's dirt. No it isn't. Look at the head. Yeah some kind of scratches. But there's writing on it. 17:50.320 --> 17:56.320 The engraving is so small I can't quite read it. That's right. Look at it through this enlarging glass. 17:57.200 --> 18:08.160 And and fare thee well my only love and fare thee well a while and I will come again my love 18:09.120 --> 18:16.320 though it were 10 000 miles. Wait that's Bobby Burns. A nice sentiment isn't it? What are you 18:16.320 --> 18:20.480 getting at Vail? When I left Gene here I went back to the dressing room where Angus died. 18:20.480 --> 18:24.720 All his personal stuff was still there so I went through it and I found a small box full of 18:24.720 --> 18:29.760 sentimental things about his marriage. You mean his marriage to Alma Peabody? How did you know? She 18:29.760 --> 18:35.360 came to my office and told me. Oh she did did she? Well that's just fine. What about the box Pete? 18:35.360 --> 18:39.040 Well it was full of letters and a lot of other stuff all about Alma. Apparently your father was 18:39.040 --> 18:44.160 a sentimental man even before he adopted you. Tell them about the knife Pete. Right now in this box 18:44.160 --> 18:49.200 there was a sales slip for a handmade dirk with four lines of engraving and specifications that 18:49.200 --> 18:53.760 have been made smaller than the normal size. I don't get it. There was also a letter to Angus 18:53.760 --> 18:57.920 from Alma in which she thanked him for the dirk he had given her when he went away on his first tour 18:57.920 --> 19:03.120 of this country and she quoted the lines engraved on the dirk those lines from Burns. You mean 19:03.120 --> 19:08.000 that this knife belongs to Alma? That's right Joe. But how? You see Pete came to me because he said 19:08.000 --> 19:12.560 he needed a lawyer and he was sure he could clear himself if I'd agree to help him. After he went 19:12.560 --> 19:17.280 through that box of your father's he was sure the weapon found in your father's body was smaller than 19:17.280 --> 19:21.760 the dagger your father used in his act. It proved he was right. The two daggers were identical in 19:21.760 --> 19:26.400 design but this one is smaller and has the engraving. You mean that I'm supposed to arrest Alma 19:26.400 --> 19:32.080 Peabody because of this? What? Arrest me! Shut up Alma shut up. What would she be killing her next 19:32.080 --> 19:38.560 husband for? Revenge probably or jealousy because he'd done so well. She probably hated him. Ah well 19:38.560 --> 19:45.040 Alma looks like I gotta take you into the courthouse. What? Arrest me for murder? Why Joe Briggs? I'll sue 19:45.040 --> 19:51.440 you for defamation of character. I got my duty Alma and it kind of points toward you. Come on. 20:01.040 --> 20:06.080 You will live to regret this Joe Briggs. I've never been so humiliated in my life. There's nothing much I 20:06.080 --> 20:12.080 can do about it Alma. Nothing that'd interest you anyway. Interest me? What do you mean? Why there 20:12.080 --> 20:17.280 ain't really any evidence against you except what I got. What do you mean Joe Briggs? Oh that stuff 20:17.280 --> 20:24.400 about the daggers. That could be blown higher in a kite. You see I'm the only one who knows your real 20:24.400 --> 20:30.720 motive. What? What are you talking about? Peabody's been dead quite a spell Alma. Money don't last 20:30.720 --> 20:37.440 forever. What? The way I figure you asked this Angus Gordon for some money for the sake of old 20:37.440 --> 20:43.600 times. Well how did you know? And I make it my business to know such things. Sheriff ain't I? 20:44.240 --> 20:50.240 And he turned you down. Wouldn't give you a penny. But Joe you couldn't know that. Oh I heard it myself 20:50.240 --> 20:56.480 Alma. Gordon was a mite worried about you. Yeah figured you might be up to something. Joe that's not 20:56.480 --> 21:02.640 true. He was well as nice to me as he could ever be to anyone. Sure would look good for you if I 21:02.640 --> 21:08.000 was to testify about that meeting wouldn't it? Well you couldn't. You couldn't do such a thing to me. 21:08.000 --> 21:14.800 Well I've got my duty Alma and then there's the law. What about the law? Well a man can't testify 21:14.800 --> 21:21.120 against his own wife. What? Joe Briggs you must be out of your mind. Be quite a thing for Joe Briggs to 21:21.120 --> 21:27.440 be married to Alma Peabody wouldn't it? Have folks buzzing plenty and it'd clinch you're not getting 21:27.440 --> 21:34.240 caught too. But Joe I didn't murder Angus Gordon. Sure sure but you think it over Alma. 21:34.240 --> 21:52.400 We found something very interesting among Alma Peabody's souvenirs Joe. Yeah well now you look here 21:52.400 --> 21:57.200 Lambert you've got no right to be snooping through her house. It ain't legal. Legal? If I can convict 21:57.200 --> 22:01.600 dad's murder I don't care how legal it is. Here's the weapon sheriff. She'd put it back on her writing 22:01.600 --> 22:07.440 desk her letter opener and it's a little long for its holder Joe. Apparently when she killed Angus 22:07.440 --> 22:12.800 Gordon she left her dirt in his body and then she took this but his knife was long and didn't quite 22:12.800 --> 22:18.320 fit the letter opener case. You see? Yeah about an inch difference in the length but she didn't have 22:18.320 --> 22:24.000 any motive. I'll bet these two planted it there. I don't think so Joe. We wired New York and talked 22:24.000 --> 22:29.360 to his lawyers. We found out about Angus Gordon's will. Well what about it? He left his money share 22:29.360 --> 22:34.480 and share alike to his adopted daughter and his former wife. You don't say but he never let Alma 22:34.480 --> 22:39.280 know about it did he? And I still don't give her any motive. You don't really think you can get away 22:39.280 --> 22:44.640 with it do you Briggs? Hmm? What are you talking about me? Dad's will said he'd investigated and 22:44.640 --> 22:49.920 found his former wife was in need of money. Well? Dad wouldn't have paid for an investigation. He 22:49.920 --> 22:54.640 never paid for anything he could get for nothing. He'd have written to the sheriff. What? You mean? 22:54.640 --> 22:59.920 Don't worry Mr. Bridges. We could check that. Dad never threw away a piece of correspondence 22:59.920 --> 23:04.480 but I know how he'd operate and when you found he was coming here you saw a chance to capitalize 23:04.480 --> 23:08.800 on what you knew. Now now wait a minute wait a minute. I never had a letter from him in my life 23:08.800 --> 23:12.640 and I didn't know a blamed thing about any will. You'd figured some way to get part of that money 23:12.640 --> 23:20.160 Briggs. What was it? Nothing. Look if anybody was to benefit it'd be Gil Lambert. He's been lending 23:20.160 --> 23:25.520 Alma money to live on for close to three years. Why she must owe him nearly ten thousand dollars 23:25.520 --> 23:29.040 and he's a lawyer. Stop it. No you don't. Don't put down that gun Gilbert. 23:30.720 --> 23:36.240 Sorry I can't oblige you sheriff. You were wrong Miss Gordon. Your father paid for his 23:36.240 --> 23:41.600 investigation. I made a deal with Alma Peabody after I'd corresponded with the old man. 23:41.600 --> 23:47.760 I'd finance her till she got the money and return for half of what she got. You you killed dad and 23:47.760 --> 23:52.160 you didn't even know him. Yes and I'd have killed you too with a little luck. I had a hurry to get 23:52.160 --> 23:56.960 home before your boyfriend found I wasn't there. I saw him pounding at the front door and I had to 23:56.960 --> 24:02.400 sneak around the back way. I pretended I'd been asleep. How he ever happened to come to see me. 24:02.400 --> 24:08.400 Put down that gun Gil. No thanks sheriff. She still gets her share of the money and someday I'll get 24:08.400 --> 24:13.920 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. 24:13.920 --> 24:23.280 What are you. Yeah nice work Alma. You got him. I was never much good with the dirt but as a girl I 24:23.280 --> 24:28.000 rather prided myself on my marksmanship. I knew he was guilty but I was scared to death. 24:28.000 --> 24:33.120 When you went to Mr Vale I was well blind with fear. I don't blame you Mrs Peabody. But Pete 24:33.120 --> 24:49.120 how did you happen to pick Lambert. I don't know Ginny just a well a stab in the dark.