Suspense Radio Shows - The Cave of Ali Baba

0:00My name is Mary Ann Spitz and I'm 14 years old. My mother has a defense job so I do the marketing for our family. Every morning mother says to me, Mary Ann, be sure you buy the most for the least money. So lately I've been buying all the victory food specials. These are marked with a red, white, and blue basket sign with a big red V. The reason I always look for this sign is, well, you've heard the old saying, an army travels on its stomach, I know Uncle Sam needs lots of food to feed our fighting men. An army that's going places has to have good things to eat. Now steak fried rare with french fried potatoes is my favorite meal. But I'd rather have a soldier eat this dinner than eat it myself if it will get this war over soon. So if you have friends or relatives in the armed forces, think twice before you buy the food they need.

1:03Look for the victory specials and help when the war fasteth. The Columbia Network takes pleasure in bringing you suspense. Columbia's play theater of outstanding thrillers produced and directed by William Spear and scored by Bernard Herman. The notable melodramas from fiction and stage and screen from the world's great literature of entertaining excitement presented each week to bring you to the interviewer chair to keep you in suspense.

2:05Tonight's adventure in suspense is from the pen of Dorothy Sears. She called it the Cave of Alibaba, like the tale told by she had as other, a distinguished ancestry in the storytelling art, Miss Sears driller deals with forty thieves and with two magic words. For your uneasy listening men, suspense presents. The Cave of Alibaba. On a Saturday afternoon in January and a grim and narrow house in Lambert, a man sat eating kippers and reading the daily paper. He was smallish and spare but brown hair rather too regularly waived and a strong brown pointed beard.

3:12His double-breasted navy blue suit, his socks, tie and handkerchief were all scrupulously matched and his brown boots just didn't trifle too highly polished. He did not look a gentleman, not even a gentleman's gentleman. Yet there was something about his appearance which suggested that he was accustomed to the manner of life in good families. Superior butler perhaps. Yet not old enough to be retired, a footman who would come into a legacy, yes. It just finished eating and he was sipping his coffee when a slight noise at the front door quarries here. Swiftly, too swiftly for a quiet little man sitting eating kippers and reading his paper on a Saturday afternoon, he sprang up, he dashed through the small hallway and he fung the door. Of course, no one in sight. The society is at least dramatic in its delivery of its colors bundled. And the city knew what again find, he shut the door and turned to the headstand in the hall.

4:13An envelope had been placed there. It was addressed to Joseph Rogers. So Mr. Rogers opened the note. Number 21, an extraordinary general meeting will be held tonight at the house of number one at 1130. You will be absent at your peril. The word is finality. Hmm. Finality. Yes, thanks a lot. The man called Joseph Rogers stood for a moment studying the note and he strode to the rear of the house to a tall, safe built in the wall. Carefully manipulated a dial. He swung the safe door open, stepped inside into a small sprung wall. He opened a drawer marked car respondents, placed the note inside and then came out again. A moment to reset the lock for a new combination and then he went back into the living room.

5:15He reached for the telephone, he lifted it from the cradle and then we considered two dangerous. He hurried upstairs and clambered into an attic. In the furthest corner, he searched for and found a knuckle in the woodwork. He pressed it. A concealed track door swung open and he was on the loft of the adjoining house. He paused before three cages in each of them a carrier pigeon. Carefully he wrote a note, slipped it under a pigeon's wing. There you are my pretty. There they hit it easy now. There you go. Fly straight. 4.30. I'll send another pigeon at five and the third at six. I should have my arms served by 9.30 at the lady. Oh, I forgot one thing. Most important. Mr. Rogers moved through the track door back into the attic of his own house and once again he

6:16stood before the tall, safe built in the wall. He opened the door, stepped into the strong room. moved for a moment quietly in the dark and then spoke gently. Now be good my sweetheart. I'm depending on you. Open sesame. Come on now, old thing. Open sesame. Open sesame. That's better. That's very much better. I'm sorry. By 9.30, his answer was back. All the little piece of paper said was a hasty old K. At a quarter before 11, he took his revolver from a locked drawer. Inspected it carefully. Yes, loaded it with cartridges from an unbroken packet and left the house.

7:16He walked quickly, keeping well away from the wall and when he climbed on a bus, he sat next to the conductor for a good watch all who got on and off. By 25 minutes after 11, he was out on lonely hamstered heat, pausing in the shadow of a large tree to adjust a black velvet mask, on which in white thread was stitched the number 21, then he stepped briskly into the door of the villa that lay before him and the end. What is it? Finality. Come in. Go right on through. Number one will check you in. Right. 21, sir. Lift your mask. Now, I will 21. You may go on to the meeting room.

8:17Thank you, sir. The room of the villa in which Mr. Raj's now stood was a large one, brilliantly lighted room. There's a gramophone in one corner blurring out a jazz tube. To its rhythm, couples, masked men and women were dancing. Some were in evening dress, some in tweeds and jumpers. In another corner of the room was the bar. Mr. Raj's went up to it and asked the masked man in charge for a double whiskey. He consumed it slowly, leaning on the bar. The room filled. There's a day someone moved across to the gramophone and stopped it. Mr. Raj's looked around. Number one. The masked gentleman in evening dress who would check him in appeared on the threshold. A tall woman in black stood beside him.

9:18Her mask, embroidered with a white number two, covered her hair and her face completely. Only her fine bearing, her white arms and her dark eyes shining through the ice knits, proclaimed there is a woman of power, a physical attraction. The masked dancers were silent now. This number one spoke. Ladies and gentlemen, we are short two members tonight. I need not inform you of the disastrous failure of our plan for obtaining the plans of the court windowed Samheli's Copa. Our courageous and devoted friends, number 15 at number 38, we have a trade and taken by the police. Some of you might fear that under examination these two would write down and give away our society. There is no need for such a fear. I gave the usual orders and our tongues have been silent.

10:18Their dependence will be discreetly compensated in the usual manner. I call upon number 12 and 34 to undertake this agreeable task. They pretend me at my office for the instructions after the meeting. With the numbers I have named kindly signify by raising their hands that are able and willing to perform the duty. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your partners for the next dance. The gramophone struck up again. Mr. Rajas turned to a girl near him in a red dress. She nodded and they slipped into the movement of a fox truck. The couples tri-rated solemnly and in silence. Their shadows were flung against the blinds as they turned and stepped to unfroze. The girl in red spoke to Mr. Rajas. What happened? I'm frightened aren't you? I think there's something also was about to happen. It does take one a bit short. Number one's way of doing things.

11:19But it's safer like that. Oh, there's two men talking. Raise you know the rules. Sorry. In silence the dance continued. And then it came to an end. And then when it had finished the dancers came again to a number one set and waited with ten seagulles for him to speak. Ladies and gentlemen, you may wonder why this extraordinary meeting has been called. The reason is a serious one. The failure of our recent attempt was no accident. The police were not on the premises that night by accident. We have a traitor amongst us. This last failure was not the first. You'll remember the unfortunate way in which the affair of the Dingoord birds turned out. And there were others. However, I am happy to say that our minds can now be easy. All these travers have been traced through their origin.

12:20The offender has been discovered and will be removed. The misguided member who introduced the traitor to our ranks will be placed in a position where his lack of caution will have no further ill effects. There's no chorus for alarm. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your partners for the next dance. Again the gramophone took up its bizarre monotony. The masked dancers glided and turned. And the movements were sharper, more staccato. The girl in red was claimed by a tall mask in evening bursts. A hen laid on Mr. Rodgers arm made him start. A small clump woman in a green jumper slipped a cold hand in her ears. The dance went on.

13:21When it stopped everyone stood detached and stiffened in expectation. The endless interval was over. Number one raised his voice. Ladies and gentlemen, you will not outwish to be relieved of the questions on your mind. I will name the person involved. Number 37, no, no, I have had all of us. You have failed in discretion. You will be redoubted with. If you have anything to say in defense of your party, I'll hear it later. Sit down. Number 37 sank down a palliard chair. He pushed his hemcochets under the mask to wipe his face. Two tall men closed in upon him. The rest fell back. Ladies and gentlemen, I will now name the traitor. Stand forward. Number 21. Take off your mask. Number 37. This man was introduced to our society by you under the name of Joseph Roderus,

14:21formerly second footman in the service of the Duke of Denver, dismissed for petty theory. Did you take steps to verify the statement? I did. I did as God's might witness. It was all straight. I had him identified by two of the servants. I also remember about him. The story was through all 12. Number 21. Your name has been given as Joseph Roderus. Is that your real name? Answer me. Is that your real name? No. What is your name? Peter, death, bread and whimsy. I know everything. Silence! I compliment your law, shit. We thought Lord Wemzi was dead. He was killed so the people said to Wendell's ago I should be big game in Africa. He even left a will to prove the 500,000 pounds. To his mother, I believe, the dowager that is of Denver. Lord Peter Wemzi, indeed. Well-known book collector. Man about town, distinguished criminologist, took an active part in the solution of several famous mysteries. Taking an active part if you don't mind.

15:23So you deliberately let us think you were dead and became Joseph Roderus to gain entrance to our society. What has become of the real Joseph Roderus? He died abroad. I took his place. And the end of your impersonation to uncover our society. Precisely. I see. The robbery of your own fate upon which we congratulated ourselves and which you had to execute was a ring. Obviously. The robbery of the Duchess, your mother, was arranged by you. It was. It was a very ugly piaola. No real loss to anybody with decent taste. The burglary of the winds of mansion. The theft of the necklace that covered gown. The others as well. You arranged them all. All. The mere spook by the way. Droom aint not. Number 15. 22. 39. You have watched the prisoner. Has he made any attempt to communicate with anybody? And none. His deades and puzzles have been opened. His telephone chat and his movements followed. Even the water pipes in his house have been under observation for more code signals.

16:23Yourself? Absolutely. Then we may be sure that he has been alone in this adventure. Well, ladies and gentlemen, please take your phone. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Very well. Take the prisoner away. And be sure you explain carefully to him first. The manner of his death. I am sure he'll enjoy it. Wait. At least you can let me die. The decency. Take him away. It's off. I have something to say. Something to sell. We made no bargains with traitor. No, but listen. Do you think I haven't thought of this? I'm not a fool. I've left a letter for him to the police. If I don't return tomorrow, it'll be open. It's a bluff. The prisoner's in, no letter. He's been strictly watched for months. I left the letter before I came to Lambert. Then it came to contain no information of any better. Oh, but it does. The combination of my safe. It did? The man's safe been searched? Yes. What did it contain? No information of importance. So an outlaw of our organization, the name of the house, nothing but country order and covered before morning. And did you investigate the inner compartment of the safe? Here what he says. Did you? He's trying to bluff.

17:24There is no inner compartment. I hate to contradict you, but I'm really afraid you must have overlooked it. And what did you say was under compartment, if it does exist? The names of every member of the society with their addresses, photographs, and fingerprints. What did you say, your contrast information? By doing a little detective work on my own. I just been watched. Through the fingerprints of my watch as a door and the first piece of the collection. That statement can be provoked? Certainly. The name of number 40, for example, is... Stop! Stop! If you mention names here, you will certainly have no hope of mercy. Bring the present of my office. Ladies and gentlemen, take your partners for the next task. Yes. I know you're ganged from number one, from number 25. Do you want me to prove that I know the others as well? My lord, your story first may be that regret that you are not in fact a member of our society. What courage and industry are valuable in an association like ours? I fear I cannot persuade you. No. I suppose not. Yes. Ask the members kindly to proceed to the sub-arrow.

18:28Ladies and gentlemen, I am the leader of the assembly. I am the leader of the assembly. I am the leader of the assembly. I am the leader of the assembly. I am the leader of the assembly. Ladies and gentlemen, I will not conceal from you the seriousness of the situation. The prisoner has recited to me 25 names and addresses which we have thought to be unknown except to their owners and to me. There has been great carelessness. Fingerprints have been obtained. He showed me some photographs of them. He tells me that the book of names and addresses is to be found in the inner compartment of his safe. Together with several letters and papers stolen from the houses of members and several objects with fingerprints. I believe he tells the truth. He offers the combination of the safe in exchange for a quick death. I think he is of us should be accepted.

19:30What is your opinion, ladies and gentlemen? The combination is known already. True! This man is Lord Peter Wimsey, a scientist of crime. Do you think he will have forgotten to change the combination? No. I think he will have forgotten to change the combination. Oh, I see. Give him the time. I'm getting short. Yes, you are. You are agreed. Wimsey, what is the combination? The word of the combination is under liability and be an adore. Be an adore. Be an adore. In anticipation of the visit of the police, the adore is open. Good. Number 12 and 36. You will go to the person's house and why should anyone have an adore? That's right. I agree. Nobody ought to be trusted. And what, ladies and gentlemen, do you suggest? You go yourself. You're the only one that knows all the names. You go yourself. I second that most of you. Is there a wish of the meeting then that I should go? No. I say no. No, don't go. Number one is our president. The head and soul of our society. If anything should happen to him, where should we be?

20:31You've all blundered. We have your carelessness to thank for all this. Do you think we should be safe for five minutes if he will not here to repair your father? Well, there's something in that. If you will pardon my suggesting, it, the lady appears to be in a position peculiarly favorable for the reception of the president's confidence. The contents of my modest volume will be no news to her. Why should she not go herself? I think ours I say she must not. If it is the will of the meeting I'll go. Give me the key of the house. Here. Is your house watched? No. If I have not returned it to ours, act for the best to save yourself. And do what you like with the prisoner. The president has been going too hard. Straight up. What's happened to him? I should I know. Perhaps he's looked after himself and gone while the going was good.

21:33No, I know. I'd never do that. What have you done with him? Speak. Or I'll make you speak. I can only form a guest, madam. I'm afraid that your president may quite inadvertently have left the door of the inner compartment closed behind him. In which case? Yes. Let me explain the mechanism of my safe. The inner compartment has two doors. The outermost, most open, outward with an ordinary key. Who do you think the president is so stupid as to be caught in an obvious trap? Doutedly he will have wedged open that inner door. But the sole purpose of that inner door is to appear to be the only one hidden behind the hinge of that door is another. Sliding panel. Also let it open. Inside the compartment is the big heavy ledger containing all the information about this society. This ledger lies on a steel shelf. Do I make myself clear? Yes, yes, yes, go on. The steel shelf is balanced on a concealed spring. When the weight of the book, the ledger, is lifted. The shelf rises almost imperceptibly.

22:33And in rising it makes an electrical contact. Now let me draw a picture. Your president steps into the inner compartment. Seize the book, takes it up, anxiously to examine to see if it's the right one. The shelf rises, the electrical contact is made. And the steel panel behind him slides into place. You... What is the word that opens the inner door? Quick! The word... Do you remember the story of Ali Baba in the 40th? Well, when I had this safe constructed, my mind went back... Well, call me sentimental, if you will, to my childhood. The words that open the door are open, personal. How long can a man live in this devil's trap of yours? Oh, I should think he might hold out for a few hours. If he didn't use up all the oxygen by hammering and yelling. I imagine if you go there at once, we'd be able to get him on the wall, right? I'll go myself. I think you better take me with you. Why? Well, I'm the only person who can open the door. But you've given me the word. Yes, you have the word. But this door of mine... I'm rather proud of it. You know, it's my own invention. It's the latest thing.

23:33If we'll open to the word, open sesame, all right. But to my voice only... Your voice... Direship your voice to my hands... What do you mean, your voice only? Don't clutch my throat like that. You wrecked my voice and then the door might not recognize. Hey, thanks better. The door got stuck for a week once and then when I had a cold. This is what he says, too. Is it possible? Perfectly possible, madam. If you'll have a microphone arrangement, you can be done also with light vibrations. And we must let him go. Take the rope, Sophie. Let him go, nothing. If he doesn't go to the police, the president's done in, that's all. And we'd all better make trapped swabble can. It's all our boys. Right. Juck is falling down the cellar and personally mean. Our goal is to destroy the ledgers. 32, you know where the switch is. Give us a corner of an hour to clear. Then you can blow the place to glory. No, you can't leave once to die. It's your president, your leader. I won't let it happen.

24:33I won't. I'll free this man myself. Yeah, no, no, no. Let me go. Get down, please. Let me go. It's belligerent hour at least. The police may be here in any moment. Police. Oh, yes. Yes, you're right. No, we mustn't impetral the safety of all for just one man. He himself would not wish it. Throw this man in the cellar and let's get out of here while last time. Here. There's this good enough. Leave him here. Right. Now, let's go. Two huge hats. Yeah, sure they're going to get him. I see. It's loomsom down here in the cellar. You might at least leave the light on. Don't worry about the dark. That's taking you here as the time to fill the foam. Yeah, I see. It's loomsom down here in the cellar. You might at least leave the light on. Don't worry about the dark. That's taking you here as the time to fill the foam. That's going to blow out this place. It's all set. You won't aim long to wait. I'll run along.

25:43Who is it? Who's there? Shh. Go and stand. So I can cut the ropes. Where is it? It isn't, too. My compliments, Madam, on your loyalty to your presence. Quick quick, they've set the time for you. The house is mine. Follow me as fast as you can. Number one must be saved. And only you can do it. But how did you manage to? Yeah, there's no time for questions. Get up and follow me. You will release him. You promise. I promise. But I warn you, Madam, that this house is surrounded. When my safe's third door closed, it gave a signal to Scott and Yard, all the members of the Society of the Peaks. Never mind them. Here. I'll slide. Quick. Let you inspect her. Get your fellows away. Quick. The house is going up in a minute. The house is going up in a minute.

26:43What? Wingy? It's Inspector Parker, O'Man. Are you all right? Yes, I'm a bit winded. What's happening, Inspector? Oh, that half a dozen of them got blown up. The rest we've had. Oh, hey, we, Miss Holly. Who's this? For one of the gangs, she's called number two. Wait, the save is what he wants. Oh, yeah, I came for the gentleman of the safe. Parker, wait your call. It's down the line. Thanks for what you're going to make them down to get his rights. Johnson, bring that car here. Yes, sir. I've got the number one of the whole company. Why aren't you fixing it at home? I promise we'd get back and save him. He's the bloke that we've been wanting. The man at the back of the Morrison case and the whole Weavington case and hundreds of others. Because we're at home. We're at home. OK. OK,產當然... Is that a second- I have to check the warrant? 아니! I don't know. This is about a dollar, or state of charge. Or should we have easily entrusted an amount of theiraikas are going to have a follow-up. You would be vous dissappear to the course of tomorrow. You would be beaten to death in a very good condition. Can you wish to have a good one, then? Yes, sir. Is that information reasonable? You cangrown something here like Captain campe? A flat place. Aum, water and 500 pounds. A river and water. about something like this. I hope you haven't heard my voice. You sound all right. I can only be conversational. Come on, O thing. Show us your faces. Open sesame.

27:48Open sesame. Open sesame. Open sesame. Open sesame. Oh, he's not. He lives to stand his file. And so, all's right with the world, as it always is when Lord Peter Winsy has involved. The cave of Alabama by Dorith Issares was a story which gave us tonight's suspense. Suspense is produced by William Spear. Our guest director for this

28:54evening was Robert Lewis Sheaam. Tonight's radio drama was written by Peter Lyam and scored by Bernard Herman. Romney Brent was Peter Winsy. William Moulton played number one and Ira Gerald the lady in the case. Others in the cast were Kathleen Cordell, Victor B. Croft, Roland Botterley, J. W. Austin, William Padlaw, Ian Martin, and William Moulton. Next Wednesday, suspense were not reheard because of a special old star Hollywood broadcast which paramount pictures were present. Two weeks from tonight at this time, Columbia will bring you another selected story from the world's great literature of thrills. Another study in suspense.

30:02This is Barry Croger and this is the Columbia Broadcasting System.