Nero Wolfe: The Lost Heir 04/20/1951

0:00Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. What is it, Archie? My name is Horace Crale. His secretary says he wants to talk to you. What about it? I don't know. Haas? Mr. Walsh rather busy right now, but I'll give him a message if you wish. Yes. Wait a second, Mr. Walsh. What? Black on red and red on black. Archie, this is Solitaire. Solitaire is a game that is played by one single person alone. I wish to put a red card on a red card or a black card on a black card.

1:00You're cheating. Of course I am cheating. What is the message Mr. Horace Crale, secretary asked you to convey? Just that he wants to see you. In a rather tragic sense, I suppose he does. Why tragic? You know that he wants to see me. He is blind. Tell him to come here at his own convenience. Okay. What does Mr. Crale want to see Mr. Wolf about? A murder? A murder that may still be prevented. Archie, just a second. What? I have run the cards out perfectly. He said he's owned right in, Mr. Crale wants us to prevent them. Ladies and gentlemen, it's that renowned genius who is the bulkiest, most ponderous and most brilliant detective in the world. Yes, none other than that chair-born mass of unpredictable intellect, Neil Wolf, created by Rex Dowd and brought to you in a new series of adventures

2:02over this NBC network in the person of Mr. Sidney Green Street. Once in a long while, Mr. Wolf and I talk about this affair. When we do, we call it the case of a lost heir. But I don't think the title is quite adequate. For me, it ought to be called the case of a gone goose. And I was the goose. Well, Archie, do you see any red on red or black on black? Nope, so what? You better take me, Archie. Okay, you won your little game of solitaire perfectly, as you say. Now, who is Horace Crale? A prominent industrialist. If you read the papers, you would know. Horace Crale. Oh, yeah, the Crale Company. Exactly. How did you know he was blind? If he is. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. How did you know he was blind? If he is. The papers of Canada's story, the headlines read. Blind Father welcomes lost daughter.

3:03Oh, yeah, I remember a few days ago. There was a picture, too. I thought you'd remember the girl at least. Well, if it's the one I remember, I remember. Archie. Oh, well, it probably isn't true. By the way, let me tell you what I found out about the facts of life. The daughter, Archie. Mr. Crale is here to see Mr. Wolf. Oh, yes, come in. This is Mr. Crale. I'm his secretary, Hugh Gaines. There's a step here, Mr. Crale. Of course. Who is this man? I'm Archie Goodwin, Mr. Wolf's assistant. Mr. Wolf's waiting for him. Where is Mr. Wolf, Mr. Goodwin? I led the way that blind man and his secretary followed. Mr. Horace Crale was tall, thin, white-haired. His face was heavily lined, but the lines were not those of care or worry. He wore very dark glasses through which he might not have been able to see, even if he had had his sight. Hugh Gaines, the secretary, was in his late 20s, surprisingly young,

4:04and surprisingly handsome for the kind of a job he had. I led them into Mr. Wolf's office, made the introductions and sat them down. Where's Mr. Crale? What can I do for you? As you see, Mr. Wolf, I've blinded. You need to say you have my devious sympathy. I don't give a hoot for your sympathy, Mr. Wolf. Oh, thank you, of course. I imagine my condition merely because it affects the position in which I find myself. Go on. Uh, Hugh. Yes, Mr. Crale? Tell Mr. Wolf about my daughter. Or incidentally, Mr. Wolf, I asked my secretary to do this, because in this way, you will get a firsthand account. Now, let's see. A few days ago, Tuesday to be exact at about three o'clock in the afternoon, a young woman walked into the house and said she wanted to see her father. I spoke to her myself. She said her name was Magda Crale. I asked her certain questions. Why, Mr. King? He asked her questions because he thought, and I thought that my daughter died 13 years ago. Oh, either the girl who came back to me is my daughter, or she is an imposter, and she belongs in jail.

5:05Is there any dad in your mind about it? Of course, that's why I'm here. On the teddy bear, you said something about preventing men. Well, I have a stepson named Anthony George, to whom I intended to leave my money, not because I liked him, simply because I had nobody else to leave it to. Except your daughter. Except my daughter. If she is my daughter, we'll be talking about Madder. I was talking about my daughter and my stepson. Same thing, I think. Maybe. I don't know. Mr. Crale. Yes? I am not a wealthy man, but I am certainly able to make ends meet. Yeah. What do you mean? We'll explain how she is. I think Mr. Wolf means that if you don't want to be frank with him, you'd rather not waste his time. Mr. Wolf, I apologize if I've seen her spa with you. You see, a blind man can only judge about what he hears and smells of heels. So? Most? I must be a little more cautious than I would have to be otherwise. I am sorry, Mr. Crale. Patience is not one of my virtues.

6:07Now I beg your daughter, or your non-daughter. What's her name? Magder. She calls herself Magder Crale, which was my daughter's name. What makes you think she isn't your daughter? Well, ten million dollars, partly. Once again, Mr. Crale. My estate may be worth more than that, but surely not less. You? Surely not less, Mr. Crale. Rather more, I should say. Yes, ten million might have some appeared in an ambitious girl, A.R.G. Sure, but I'm not a girl and I'm not ambitious. Nobody could accuse you of either fault. Mr. Crale, we are getting nowhere. How do you take your story from the beginning or take it somewhere else? Archie, I like some beer. When I went out for the beer, the kitchen was a mess, and incidentally, I saw what was being prepared for lunch. When I got back to the office, Mr. Crale and his boy were gone.

7:08One beer from Mr. Wolf. What happened? We took you so long, Archie. I had a sandwich. And spoiled you then. You know what you're having for lunch? Of course, I planned it. Baby Octopus. Delicious. I'll take your word for it. What happened to the blind tycoon? Did you book with you, Archie? I wanted to give you a few notes. Just a second. Okay. Item? Item. You needn't repeat everything after me. Yes, Master. Item. Horace Crale was born blind. Item. His wife and their six-year-old daughter, Magda, disappeared in their private train 13 years ago. Magda returned last Tuesday. Item. No matter what he says to the contrary, Horace Crale is afraid he's going to be killed. I think Mr. Crale is right. Memo, from Archie Goodwin to Nero Wolf, time 4.32 pm.

8:08The notes you dictated on the Crale case are on your blotter. Three pages of them. You are with your orchids. I am on my way to the Crale domicile to meet the other characters in this turgid drama. As per instructions, I will bring them here if possible. Love Archie. Yes, sir? My name is Goodwin, Archie Goodwin. I believe I'm expected. In this way, please, sir. Yes, sir? Thanks. Hello. Don't tell me you're Nero Wolf. You might buy a couple of hundred pounds. I'm Archie Goodwin, his assistant. Well, I'm Magda Crale. Nobody's assistant. But also, your game's creature said Nero Wolf wants to talk to me. He does. Where is he? Waiting for you. No hurry, though. No hurry at all. Just play and don't worry about a thing.

9:15Black hair, green eyes. Skin like a magnolipid. Beautiful, beautiful. Whilst he finished what he was playing, I watched. Beautiful. Well. Beautiful. Mr. Goodwin. Archie. Oh, we could get along together Archie. If that's the way you are. So where am I? Can't seem to do anything about it. Where is Anthony? Anthony. Oh, Anthony George. Well, I thought both my repulsive half-brother and I were supposed to meet Nero Wolf. I'm here in case anybody wants to know. Over there in the shadows, listening with all his ears. That's Anthony George. Shall we go and talk to Nero Wolf, Anthony? Goodwin. You look like a normal sort of person. Well, that's open to question, but go on. If you had to choose between ten million dollars and killing a woman by due process of law,

10:18which would you choose? I'll think about it between now and July 1994. Now, shall we go talk to Nero Wolf? Miss Claire. Yes, Mr. Wolf. Why did you wait until now until the last Tuesday to let your father know that you were living? Does it make any difference? I think so. 13 years ago, I was six. What she means is that she was six when she died. But I didn't die, Anthony Sweet. Obviously, but Magda Crayle did with my mother. His mother. Anthony says he doesn't remember me as a child. But I remember him, the brat. What about me? Well, when I was about four or five, you were eight or nine, I suppose. Do you remember dressing up in one of Daddy's tail coats, the sword, and mother's hat with a plume? Suppose I did. You're still not my sister. Don't worry, Anthony. When poor father dies, I'll support you. All right, geezer. I made a mistake.

11:18A mistake? You? How did I want to talk to these young people? I don't. Take them away. TV, I made it to an anchor. On my salary? It has part of our investigation. It will be charged to Mr. Hudders Crayle. It was no hardship at all. In fact, it was a pleasure. We dropped Anthony George off at the Crayle place, and Magden and I went on. And on. You're a wonderful dancer, aren't you? You can't make enemies that way, honey. Archie, why didn't Mr. Wolf want you to take me on? To find out whether you really are Crayle's daughter. How did he expect you to find out? I don't know. You think he knew? He probably had some idea, but I don't know what it could have been. Honestly. Honestly. Archie, do you think I'm telling the truth? No. But wait a minute, baby. I don't think you're lying, either. I just don't think.

12:18Give me my handbag, Archie. Thanks. I've got something here that might interest both you and Mr. Wolf. Here. Those are snapshots that were taken of me before I was six. Huh. Ah, cute. Now look at me. Beautiful. Beautiful. Can't you see those pictures of me? Kids out young all look the same, honey. But suppose they are pictures of you, whatever. Well, just this. I found them in one of Mr. Crayle's old photographs album. My father, I mean. I hear something. Well, one lying on my tummy on the white bearskin rug. All babies get the pictures taken that way. You give it to me. Wait a second. What's this mark under your shoulder plate? It's a little birthmark. Like a strawberry. That's clear. Uh, look, honey. Why are you so interested in babies, Archie? Because I always thought I should have been a mother. Now look, have you still got that mark on your back? Of course. At least I suppose so. I don't go away. Do they? Yeah. Where are you going? I'll be right back. You know what I'm speaking?

13:26Archie got one. And with Magda Crayle. No doubt. What? No doubt, I said. But never mind. What do you want? One ask a question. You want? You don't think Magda's are as Crayle's daughter, do you? I don't think anything. You're stealing your lines from me. Never. All right then. No. I don't think the girl is Crayle's daughter. That's just what I hoped you'd say. Why, Archie? Because we want you wrong. She's pretty, isn't she? Yes, she is. Also, she's got a birthmark. You have seen it? No. But nobody's going to be fooling up to claim a birthmark. It isn't there. It's too easy to prove. Good night, Archie. Aren't you deserted me, Archie? You know you're games, don't you? Hello, games. Hello, good one. Making hay while a moon shines. You know, if you work that into a routine, it could be pretty dull. You don't like me, do you? Do I have to? No. No, not in the least. Well, that's good. Mr. Wolf and I feel it's wrong to like any of our clients, especially a nightclub.

14:27Really? Why? Because they might sit down at your table while you're making a telephone call. I'm sorry. Never mind. Finish it, Crayle. Once again. I'm sorry. Forget it. Mr. Crayle seems to think that Magna's trying to rock him. Apparently. What do you think? I'm here too, you know. What? What do you think, Mr. Games? Well, to me, it's a matter of no importance, one way or the other. As for Mr. Crayle, what he wants is absolute proof. And of course, there's no such thing as proof that is absolute. Do you want me to add it up for you? Yeah. That's exactly what I want you to do for me. Add it up. Three years ago, Mrs. Crayle and her small daughter, Magda, bought her a charted plane in St. Louis to fly across the Ozarks to Hot Springs, Arkansas. They took off, and that's the last that ever was heard of them, all the pilot, all the plane. Okay, add some more. Mr. Crayle had the whole area searched for months. The search itself cost almost $50,000. And the plane was not found. They finally decided that it must have fallen into the Mississippi

15:29where it would sink to the bottom and did stay forever. Magda. Yes, Archie. Don't you remember anything about this trip? Nothing. Not a single thing. The last I remember is Mother putting me to bed in a strange city, in a hotel. And that's all. Okay, what's the next thing you remember? Archie dear. Yeah. Didn't my father go over this whole business with Mr. Wolf? I suppose he did. And do we have to do it again? There must be some reason why he wanted me to take you to a nightclub. Because I might say something I haven't already said a hundred times. Baby. What's the next thing you remember after your mother put you to bed in a strange city? Archie. I have a confession to make. This I believe. Go ahead. $10 million is a lot of money. So I've been told. I don't really remember a single solitary thing before I was six years old and going to school in Rogers, Arkansas. Not Anthony George wearing tails in a sword? It was one of the pictures in the album. Not your mother putting you to bed in a hotel in St. Louis? $10 million, Archie. So you're not Magda Crayo?

16:29Well, of course I'm Magda Crayo. What? May have tried to make the story sound a little more convincing than I should have. But I'm Magda Crayo just the same. How could I be anybody else? And so far I can't see why you shouldn't be anybody else. Miss Crayo will now bring up the matter of the diary. Won't you, Miss Crayo? The diary? Oh, you don't know. Then Mr. Wolf has told you nothing at all about this case, Hazy. You probably told me all I needed to know. What about a diary? Well, you see, Mr. Goodwin, Miss Crayo's memory begins at about the happy age of seven, a black-haired green-eyed, pig-tail-brat named Maggie Lomax, only child of Walt and Mabel Lomax of Rogers, Arkansas. Am I correct, Miss Lomax? Oh, Miss Crayo, I mean. He's a sarcastic character, isn't he, Archie? That is, that is. What about this diary? To cut a long, soft story short, Walt and Mabel Lomax died in an automobile accident a few weeks ago leaving only Maggie. Take it from there, Maggie. Well, there was no money. I looked through the house to find anything I could sell and I came across a hidden box.

17:30The diary was in the box. Along with some clothes that might fit a six-year-old girl. The clothes looked like what the girl was last seen wearing. How do you know? Well, there's a photograph of one of Mr. Crayo's albums taken in the St. Louis the day before the flight. But for a ten million, those clothes could be reproduced. Stitch, a stitch. Archie dear. Take him out in the alley. It would be a pleasure. Oh, now wait a second, Archie. With one arm tied behind you, I think you could probably beat me into a pulp. Is it all right if we don't prove it? We were talking about the diary, Archie. Okay, what about it? Archie, I don't even claim the handwriting is mine. What handwriting when you're six years old? Still, the first page is one of those things that has name, name of parents, home address, and like that. Color of hair, eyes, you know. Sure, I had one myself. Certainly. Every child had one. One or a dozen. Maybe they still do. You feel in the first page and then you never write another word. Honey. They were cheap. I doubt if they cost a quarter. And there was a place that said,

18:30my first date, favorite past of us, baby. Oh, he calls me, baby, Mr. Gaines. Yes, I noticed that. I think he'd believe your story no matter what you told him. Get lost, William, Mr. Gaines. Hey, what's that? Get lost. Drop dead. Turn blue. Yeah, I can take a hint. Good night, Archie. Add Ms. Lohman. Chrissy, isn't he? Chrissy is the word. He doesn't seem to believe your story. He believes what he's told to believe. His job. Sure. You believe me? Don't you, Archie? Honey, you're beautiful. Just the way you are. Now, let's talk about the diary. I hate you. I hate you, too. Shall we dance? The diary. Huh, dear. Where is it? Do you call this romance? No, I call it working overtime. Where is it? Here in my handbag. Here. Push over. We look at it together. I'm not crowding you, am I? What's a little crowding? Chrissy, isn't it? No. Look at the cover first. My diary.

19:301934. I suppose somebody gave it to me for my sixth birthday. Let's just not suppose anything, shall we? All right, Archie. Page one. Name. Magda Crale. Date of birth. October 11, 1928. But you'll read it. Or can you read it? Anything. Anything you can write, honey. Date of birth and so on. Father, heart is Crale. Mother, Mabel Crale. Black guy is green. My favorite pastime. Playing with Doth. Playing has a wire. You know what I think, Archie. You wouldn't call that writing, would you? Not real writing. It's more like printing. I think my mother guided my hand when I wrote that. Yeah, that's the way it looks, all right. Well. Dance now? Dance now. While we danced, while I held that disturbing girl in my arms, I tried to believe the case was just as simple as it seemed. Somehow, she'd survived a plane crash, a head injury, and then a normal life with a couple, and naturally wouldn't tell her that she wasn't really theirs.

20:30I tried to believe it. I was trying hard when... Archie, don't look. There's Anthony George. Well, yeah, alone in the corner. You've had a lot of experience, Archie. Do you think he's a killer? A what? Do you think he'd commit murder? Well, I don't think anything about him, but why should he? For ten million dollars? See what you mean? Are you worried? Not with you, around Archie. Not with you, around. It was like that, maybe even more like that, until the waiter told me I was wanted on the telephone. I asked her to keep the table warm, that I'd be right back. Hello? Hello? Hello? This is Archie Goodwin. Archie? Oh, hello, Mr. Wolf. I'll be enjoying the Mr. Grail. Wonderful. Little less humor, perhaps? Okay, what about Mr. Grail? He showed me some pictures of his daughter.

21:30Baby pictures? Unfortunately. Some of the pictures were missing from the album. Those are the ones I've been looking at. Archie, I'm interested in that breath, am I? So am I. Do you think you could persuade the young lady to have a picture taken of her back undriped? Wait a minute. Just one moment please. Well? You mean that? Clear picture in a bright light. How would you like her posed, Mr. Wolf? I am not amused, Archie. Okay, I'm sorry. All I want is a clear, sharp, focused picture of that birthmark, and I expect you to get it for me. Good night, Archie. Hello again. Dan? No. Talk. More talk? Lots more. What now? That birthmark. So I've got a birthmark. What about it? I wish I had one. It was worth ten million. So do I. This one is worth nothing to me. Since my father doesn't believe I'm his daughter, he's blind. That kind of identification doesn't mean anything to him.

22:32You're afraid? No. I'm afraid. I'm afraid. I'm afraid. I'm afraid. What's theesty? Stork and Batteries! You are for 34 years! I've got Eenегодin. What do you mean by? I'm afraid. I didn't get a number. I don't think so. You don't think nobody authors. Justгу, you know why? You talk nicely. What if you're afraid? You don't believe it? You talk left- agradection. No. I just want to eat, so go out. Ever know you can endure my day through your life. When I was three years after you were born, like, a student I was born to a mother old age. found out she had a strawberry birthmark on her back, and I had one too. So I decided to say that I was maged to Crayle. That's absurd. Of course it is. You can see how it's going to work out, can't you, Archie? Frankly, no. How? My father went to Mr. Woolse simply to have him prove that I am his daughter, whatever he'll gain since. The only thing I'm afraid of though. What are you afraid of, maybe? I'm afraid my darling half-brother might

23:32kill him before he has a chance to change his will. Isn't that a somewhat mercenary view to take of the matter? Maybe it is, Archie. Maybe I'd feel differently about it if my father had found me instead of waiting for me to find him. He tried, didn't he? I wonder. Let's get back to that birthmark. Are you allergic to flood lights? I know a photographer who has a studio. Can't find it, Archie. I didn't know it was going to be me. Because nobody else would dare to call me this late. What do you want? I got the pictures they're drying now. If you come home, bring them with you. They may be important tomorrow. Have you heard that Harry Square was murdered? No. How? Well, where? Tomorrow we'll talk about it, Archie. Good night. At 4 p.m. the next day, there was quite a lot of confusion

24:36in Nero Wolf's office. At his direction, I'd set up a picture screen at one end of the room and on his desk at the other end, or rather strangely constructed projector. At all 30, the guests arrived. Magda, Anthony George, Hugh Gaines, and of course Inspector Kramer, ready to make an arrest if he could figure out whom to arrest. Hello, Inspector. Hi, good morning. Magda, Anthony George. What's going on, Archie? Got me, Inspector. I think Mr. Wolf wants to show slides of his trip to Yellowstone Park. But here he is, I escaped. Say, Wolf, you want to know what I think? I'll in the leash, Inspector. Sit down somewhere, won't you? Archie, will you turn out the light? Thank you. Now, this is the picture of Magda Krayel lying on a stomach at the age of six months. I changed the focus so, and we have a close-up of a birthmark, a smooth discoloration that looks as if it might have been painted on. Now, look, Wolf, you said if I came here, you'd give me the guy who killed Horace Krayel, and you'd show me your

25:38picture of a baby's back. Inspector, you open your mouth again. I may not keep my promise. Go ahead. While we look at this enlargement of a birthmark on baby's back, let us remember that the late Mr. Horace Krayel was blind and never saw it. So what? What's he getting that good one? Inspector, if I knew, I'd tell you. Listen. Mr. Krayel had a trusted secretary, Hugh Gaines. I'm here. Of course, Mr. Gaines had a brilliant idea. He knew the tragedy of Mrs. Krayel and her daughter, and he decided to bring Krayel's daughter back to life. What makes you think so, Mr. Wolf? You had access to the photograph album and only you. Hardly enough, Mr. Krayel didn't even know his daughter had a birthmark until you told him. That may be true. But what of it? It's unimportant. Now, I want to show you another picture. Archie, explain this picture. We know. Looking from left to right, this is a picture of Mrs. Krayel's back. Very pretty, too. As you can see, there is what appears to be a small birthmark, somewhat

26:41under the lip churnably. I change focus. And as it becomes larger. That's not a birthmark. That's tattooing, you can see it. Tattooing, of course. And Mr. Gaines had a brilliant idea how to make use of a tattooed birthmark and Miss Magna to help him out. The blind as he was, hardest Krayel saw through it. That's why you Gaines had to kill him. No, you don't, Gaines. Mr. Wolf. Mr. Wolfie, all right. Cause I'm all right. Well, Inspector Kramer, Mr. Gaines is your man. Another bottle of beer, please, Archie. That's right there in front of you. You know, I was thinking, a girl can get herself tattooed, can't she? Is that a crime? What does it prove? Archie. Archie. Have I ever told you I love you? I'm

27:49going to bed. Good night, Archie. You have been listening to the new adventures of Nero Wolf, starring Sydney Green Street. The night's transcribed story by Mindred Lloyd was based on the characters created by Rex Stomp. This is an Edwin Fatton production produced and directed by Jay Donald Wilson. In the cast were Harry Bartel as Archie Goodwin and Martha Shaw, Vic Rodman, Peter Leeds, Grace Stafford and Bill Johnstone. Next week at this same time, Nero Wolf and Archie will bring

28:50you the case in Room 304. Don Stanley speaking. Three chimes mean good times on NBC. This Sunday the glamorous and unpredictable Talula brings you another hour and a half broadcast of the Big Show, starring Fred Allen, Judy Holiday, Joan Davis, Fran Warren and many more. And this Sunday's theater guild on the air production is the Broadway comedy The First Year, starring in this theater guild presentation, Richard Widmark and Catherine Grayson. Remember, Talula Bankhead stars in her wonderful Big Show Sunday on NBC.