The Avenger - The Cradle of Doom

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1:00At the UPS store, re-insure your small business out with a variety of high-quality paper stock options, banners, posters for stores, and more. Most locations are independently owned. Product services pricing and hours of operation may vary. See center for details. The UPS store. Be unstoppable. Come into your local store today and get your print on. Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees that I don't really need it. Inflation is killing me. But who cares? Big retailers and making record profits. That's why we support the German Marshall credit card bill. See, banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll. This bill would cut the vital resources they need. While increasing Megastore profits. They deserve it. Don't they? Tell Congress stop the German Marshall money grab for corporate megastores. Paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition. The Avenger. The road to crime ends in a trap that just as sets. Crime does not pay.

3:21The Avenger, sworn enemy of evil, is actually Jim Brandon a famous biochemist. Through his numerous scientific experiments, Brandon has perfected several inventions to aid him his crusade against crime as the Avenger. Most remarkable of these inventions is the highly secret diffusion capsule, which cloaks him in a black light of invisibility. Brandon's assistant, the beautiful fern collier, is the only one who shares his secrets and knows that he is the man the underworld fears as the Avenger. And now the Avenger and the cradle of doom. Jim, there's a mosquito swalley here to see you. Oh, you didn't make any appointments for me this morning, did you fern? No, but this girl. Sorry, we've got to finish these chemical tests today. If it's important, ask it to come back tomorrow at 11. Mr. Brandon, excuse me for intruding like this, but you've got to say no. It's really very important. Miss Wally written it into me for five minutes, Mr. Brandon,

4:23and then I'll go if you want me to. All right, Miss Wally, sit down and tell me what's on your mind. Thank you. I've come about my fiancé, John Martin. He's been framed by his brother Tobias, and is being held in communicato at White Ridge. White Ridge? Where's that? It's a small private sanatorium about three miles from here. On Locksboro Road. Oh, I see. You'd better take this down in your book, then. The right here. Now, Miss Wally, you're telling me your fiancé has been committed to White Ridge by his brother. Yes. John's perfectly sane, Mr. Brandon. But Tobias wants to collect his share of the Martin estate, and this is the method he's using to do it. That's a very serious charge. Anyone found guilty of such a crime faces a penalty for kidnapping and extortion. I know. Believe me, I wouldn't be making these accusations if I weren't sure. Exactly what does Tobias Martin stand to gain by this? Several million dollars worth of John's holdings. You see, when John's father died about a year ago, he willed an equal share of stock in the Martin steel mills to each of his two sons. This stock cannot be sold, but if either of the sons dies, R is declared incompetent.

5:25The entire holdings pass into the hands of the other brother. Mm-hmm. How long has John been at White Ridge? Almost two weeks. Why didn't you report it to the police immediately? Because I hope the whole thing would be settled quietly. I thought I could get John out of White Ridge and face to my custody. And when that fails, I tried to reach Tobias, reason with him. You haven't seen Tobias, then? No, I went to his home several times, but his secretary told me he was ill. He wouldn't even let me in the house. Who's in charge of White Ridge Sanitarium? A man of the name of Dr. Marcus Falco and his wife. Are they many patients? Only a few, I think. From what I can gather, the Dr. Limits is serviced to the very rich. Mr. Ben, then can you help me? Can you get John out of White Ridge? Well, I'll certainly look into the nut in this whaling. Where can I get in touch with you? I've taken little cottage just west of White Ridge to be near John. 1215 Locksbury Road. The telephone is Locksbury 9,000. Thank you. I'll call you the moment I have anything to report. I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Ben.

6:26Never mind that, Ms. Wiley, and don't worry. If John Martin is sane, he released. And the law will take care of everything else. Well, that must be White Ridge just ahead there, friend. That big house on the hill surrounded by poppers. Oh, gosh, it's lovely. Certainly doesn't look like a sanitarium, does it? Oh, not from John, anyway. Oh, here's the driveway. Jim, consider me close-watched, the medical study keeps on private sanitariums. How could it be possible for a safe person to be committed to one of them? Well, an unscrupulous person might manage it somehow, but his chances of getting away with it would be mighty slim. Of course, there is a possibility that John Martin isn't sane. It is Wiley could be prejudiced about that. Well, that's the reason I want to see and talk with John before I get involved in this. Oh, here we are. You'd better wait here in the car, friend. All right. What is it, please? My name is Brandon. I've come to see John Martin.

7:28And sorry, visitors are not allowed, except in Sunday. Oh, this is urgent. I'd like to speak to Dr. Falco, please. Dr. Speciek, I miss his Falco. As I said, you may visit Mr. Martin on Sunday. No, but... What is it, Joanna? Who's at the door? A Mr. Brandon to see John Martin, Marcus. Dr. Falco? Yes? Well, this is a matter of extreme importance, doctor. I must see John Martin at once. Are you a relative? Well, as a matter of fact, no. I'm not a visitor's out of the question. We observe rigid rules here in Brandon. Complete, rest, and quiet. There's been prescribed for Mr. Martin. I suppose to buy us Martin's permission is required in order to see John. No, that's correct. Except for the regular visiting hour on Sunday. I understand. Good day. Good day. Marcus, what is all this interesting John Martin?

8:30That must be, but now this man... He's John Martin and his visitor is to me, Joanna. I know what is best. Yes, that's what you said when you brought him here. But I'm not so sure, it's true. I wonder if his brother went so rich. John Martin is in my care. Now, let me deal with him in my own way. Go to the kitchen now. Our patients will be wanting their lunch. Not very hospitable, Agent. Well, that place is fortified with regulations, Fern. Well, what do we do now? Call under by us? Oh, not yet. Let's drive down the road to Miss Wiley's place. I want to ask her a few more questions. Jim, do you suppose that Dr. Falco could be a phony? Well, no, Fern, not in their usual sense, anyway. He's a licensed physician, took his degree in Vienna 30 years ago. Oh, you looked him up before he came out of here. Certainly. He's been specializing in psychiatric cases and unusual nerve disorders for the past 10 years.

9:32There's always the chance, though, that he may have turned on scrupulous. In John Martin's case, there's a lot of money at stake. Now, Fern, don't jump the hurdles before we come to them. There's Miss Wiley's cottage, Jim. 1215, that was the number. Oh, there she is in the garden. Hello, Miss Wiley. Oh, hello. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. What's your command? Well, I know. We haven't time. We've just come from White Ridge. Did you see John? How is he, Mr. Bear? I don't know. They wouldn't even let me inside the place. But you're connected with the police. You could have forced them to let you see him. Yes, but I understood you wanted this matter handled quietly. Oh, I do. Then I suppose I'll have to wait until someday to see him. You know, there is one way you could talk with John without they're knowing it. Oh, what's that? Well, the patient's rooms are all on the second floor in the back of the house. John's room is the one right next to the fire scape. After dark, you could climb up there and talk with him through the bars without anyone knowing it. That sounds like a good idea, Jim. Yes. I think I'll do that very thing tonight.

10:32Thanks, Miss Wiley. And that's the whole story, Mr. Brandon. When every other method to get control of my money failed, Tobias framed me into this place. You see, while I'm in here, he has complete control of the Martin steel mills and is able to collect the dividends on all my holdings. You think Tobias and Dr. Falco were in this thing together then? Well, what else can I think? Dr. Falco examined me and declared me mentally incompetent. You can judge for yourself whether that's true. Well, John, Maya is all in your favor, but I'm not a doctor, and a layman's judgment in a case of this kind doesn't amount to anything. Only a physician's verdict would stand up in court. Well, then go to Dr. Stanley Myers. He's been my doctor since childhood. Less than a month ago, he gave me a complete going over and told me I was in perfect condition. He has a complete case history on this and the time I was six. That's exactly what we need. I'll go to see Myers first thing in the morning. You think I'll be out of here by tomorrow then? No, it may take a few days to straighten out the technicalities.

11:35You see, I want to make certain your exit from here is strictly legal. Otherwise, we might run into trouble when we bring charges against your brother. All right. I'll try to be patient, but work as fast as you can, will you, Brandon? This place is worse than a prison man. Sometimes, sometimes I think this Dr. Falco is really trying to drive me mad. All right, Dr. Falco, now that you know the police are interested in John Martin's case, maybe you'll give us some straight answers. Oh, of course, Inspector. When Mr. Brandon came here, yes, he did not know. All right, Jim, let's get to the bottom of this. Not to Falco. When you examine John Martin two weeks ago, just what did you find wrong with him? Well, to put it as simply as I can. His symptoms indicate that he is suffering from acute menia and he has constant hallucinations that that's brought around delusional insanity. In other words, you pronounced him dangerously insane

12:36and recommended his commitment here at White Ridge for treatment. I am sure that any reputable psychiatrist would agree with me in regard to John Martin's symptoms. But then you won't mind if we take a look at your record, Dr. Hey, my records, Mr. Brandon. Yes. Also, the commitment papers bearing the signature of Tobias Martin. Oh, of course. Naturally, everything was handled in the proper manner. You will not find any irregularities here at White Ridge. The papers, please. They're safe in the adjoining room. I'll get them. Well, Inspector, what do you think? Uh, it's pretty hard to say off-hand, Jim. We know Dr. Myers is on the level, and he's willing to swear there's nothing wrong with John Martin, but this Dr. Falco is something else again. He's a smooth operator, all right? We're going to have our troubles pinning anything on him even if he is mixed up in it. If Tobias Martin brought him to Falco out, we'll find some way to prove it, Inspector. Uh, hey, this is some layout. He's got to accommodate three or four patients, right? He's here all the papers. Well, thank you.

13:38Oh, here's the one we're after, Inspector. All right. It's signed by Tobias Martin, all right? How many times have you seen Tobias Martin, Dr. Falco, who only plays? First, when he brought John here to be examined, I'm in again when he committed him. Take charge of these papers, Inspector. Tobias Martin has a little explaining to do. But I tell you, Mr. Martin is, though, he can't see anyone. I know. Where are you? Well, I'm Charles Burton, confidential secretary to Tobias Martin. Uh, Mr. Burton, where the police step aside will come in here. Police, though? Oh, quite interesting, though. Where is Martin? Well, at the room at the top of the stairs, I'll tell him you'll come. We'll be right behind you. Come on, Jim. It looks like Tobias intent to give us the run around Inspector. Second, bad. You think he'd cook a better dodge in that? Well, if you announce this, Burton, I'll miss Martin, see you. I'll say, will. In here, please. Ah, Tobias Martin.

14:39Yes? What is all this? I'm Inspector White. This is Jim Brand, and we're here about your brother, after John. Well, see you up to now. At the moment, he's rather anxious to be released from Dr. Falco sanitarium. Oh, so that's where he is. Look, Mr. Martin. Let's not waste time, though. You know where your brother is and how he got there. And you probably know what the penalty is for the police. And how he got there, and you probably know what the penalty is, for falsely committing a person to an institution of that kind. What are you talking about? There's John Martin's commitment papers signed by you. For a pastor, is I never signed this paper? You deny that, you're a signature? Well, no, I can't very well deny that. It's my writing, all right. But to the best of my knowledge, I never laid eyes on his documents before. I want about you, Burton. Do you deny all knowledge of this, too? I certainly do. That signature must have been forged. There's one way to prove whether you sign that paper or not, how the signature was witnessed by Dr. Falco. It's just a matter of bringing you to face-to-face. Mr. Martin is too ill to leave his bed. The doctor left him in my care, and I... Well, I can't take the... At the UPS store, reinsure your small biz stand out

15:41with a variety of high-quality paper stock options, banners, posters for stores, and more. Most locations are independently owned. Product services pricing and hours of operation may vary. See center for details. The UPS store. Be unstoppable. Come into your local store today and get your print on. Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees. But I don't really need it. Inflation is killing me. But who cares? Big retailers and making record profits. That's why we support the Durban Marshall credit card bill. See? Banks and credit unions help small businesses make pay roll. This bill would cut the vital resources they need. While increasing Megastore profits. They deserve it. Don't they? Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall Money Graph for corporate megastores. Paid for it by the Electronic Payments Coalition. They have been waiting because of a trendinggs, and they were hoping they'd be able to get married. Now that you know, we're doing what we've been doing. Let's problem it. Okay, okay. Right here, please. Let's continue with the business. Okay, let's see. Okay, okay, let's go on to business. Okay, go ahead.

16:41Why don't you ask me if one of these pots man? Are you opening it up? What are you talking about? Let's ask myself how these pots are going to make the most money. Okay, let's go ahead on and get them ready. Say it again, please. And let's go ahead. paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition. I will bring Dr. Falco here. We'll soon find out who's lying.

18:00We'll find out who's lying. We'll find out who's lying. Now back to the avengers and the cradle of doom. You and your secret experts, you steward have landed us under the civilians of the police. Please keep quiet, Joanna. My experiments have nothing to do with it. Your police are mailage checking on John Martin. That's what you say, Marcus. But how do I know? For years you've kept your experiments as secret from me.

19:00That room in the tower that is always locked. And back of that big motor in the basement. Father, you still have. I have told you just part of my experiment. A wonderful experiment that may be the salvation of all the mental and fortunate in the world. I do not believe you must. I think that you have bartered science for gain. Either that or you yourself are mad. Joanna. Hear me out, Marcus. All these years I've labored at your side. But I believe to be a great and humane cause. My faith in you was quite complete. But it was also blind and you have failed me in it. No, no, I haven't. I'm warning you. I will not stand beside you now. The face I do not know what it is. Joanna, stop. And listen to me for a moment. I have nothing to hide from you or anyone else. It is only that my experiment is in its impency. And I wish to keep it a secret until its worth was proved.

20:02Come to the tower of what I will show you. The mind is completely unbent. You can no longer cope with the problems and the complexities of life. Therefore, to heal it, one must work backward. Smooth away the burdens. Lighten all the pressures that experience has inflicted. Let the mind revert to the tranquility and to the peace if you invade the earth. Then it must be built up again from here. Stronger, firmer, more assured. But how can that be done, Marcus? But what does this tower room have in that experience? Look about you, Joanna. This would seem to be an ordinary room. It is furnished so that it would look that way. But it is not. This room is a large-sized grave where my tired patients were rocked into a state of cleat relaxation. A cradle? Yes. This entire room is suspended from that ridge pole in the roof. A huge belt line is hooked to that and runs down through that chimney to the motor in the basement.

21:08When the motor is turned on, the patient can be rocked without his being conscious of it. And that swaying movement of everything about him produces the same soothing effect as rocking and then put in the cradle. But, for the furniture, it is all clamped to the floor. Come, I will show you. Here, this heavy viewer. By Marcus, does clamps have been broken? What? Yes. Help me examine the other furniture, Joanna. Marcus, Simon has closed the door and knocked it. I cannot be. The patients have all locked in the rooms. It's locked or right. That's if you're going to do it. I don't know, I can understand this. Who would want to lock us up in here? From the fight, Marcus. But if someone turns the motor on, he's having furniture with my mirror less. Joanna, the cradle. The cradle is rocking. Someone has turned the motor on full force. Be careful with your own. Simon, this is it. Oh! Joanna! Help! Help!

22:15Jim, this place seems to be deserted. What do you suppose the Falcos are? I don't know, Fern. But one of them must be around somewhere. Dr. Falco? Dr. Falco? Come on, Fern. I don't like the looks of this. We'd better see if John Martin is all right. Maybe Tobias got word to Dr. Falco and Walden to leave. That way Tobias couldn't be identified as one of Simon's papers. Well, we've got Tobias where we want him anyway. You left the infected building his house, didn't you? Yes, he can't get away. Ah. This is John's room. John! John! Are you all right? Yes, I'm okay. What's the matter? This is Brandon. John, have you any idea where the doctor kept his keys? Oh, no. And his pocket was like this. Did Mrs. Falco have a set? Ah, I suppose so. She should've heard all our meals. Run down to the kitchen, Fern. She probably kept them there, if not look in the library. Right. John, the Falco has seemed to have fled. Where? Well, that's great. Falco has five years to go. I heard her turn 50 companies in a tower.

23:15The tower? I'll have a look up there as soon as I get you out of here. Here, Jim. I found a set of keys in the kitchen. Ah, good. Let's see. I tool one. This is the one for John's room. All right, John, come on out. Oh, what in the world's going on here, Mr. Brandon? We don't know yet, John. But I think the best thing for you to do is to get out of here. Go down to eat its place. What can you say, Mr. Brandon? I'll wait at eat its fork. Right. Now, Fern, our first stop is the tower. Up he stands. I can't stand how devise and doctor Falco ever expected to get away with a thing like this, Jim. Everything is beginning to add up a little tool neatly. Five. Here's a door. Let's try this. And the keys on the outside. But the door is unlocked. Jim, it's Dr. Falco and his wife. Don't come inside, Fern. I'll see what's happened here. The whole place is a shambles. Shall I call headquarters, Jim? No, not yet. I'd like to investigate this place first. Well, the doctor and his wife were dead, all right.

24:17It's better to death by this furniture. Jim, look. That whole room leads to one side. Yes, and there are clamps on the floor where the furniture belongs. While this whole room is suspended from that rich pole. Come on, Fern. Jim, now that you've discovered that motor and basement and you know how the Falco's were killed, why do you want to examine the rest of the house? To find out that any of the patients could have left their rooms. But they couldn't have. All their rooms have special locks. They can only be locked and unlocked from the outside. It must have been suicide, Jim. Well, as soon as we finished here in John's room, we'll report this. Does it seem to be anything unusual, Jim? No, it's exactly like all the others. Jim, it's time to reason that if the Falco's had been murdered, the tower room would have been locked from the outside. That door wasn't locked. They could have gotten out if they'd wanted to. Yes, unless the murderer unlocked the door after they were dead. Jim, what was that you just picked up? It was a small piece of cellulose tape. It was sticking to the floor here by the door.

25:17Oh, I thought it might be a clue. It is. Fern, drive into town and call the inspector. Tell him to bring a squad of men out to 1215, locks per road. What, Pogin? The Avenger will deliver a murderer to them there. I told you not to worry, Edith. Everything worked out exactly as we planned it. Tobias' goose is cooked. Now, let me get things straight, Jim. In order to make the Falco's death look like suicide, you went back after they were dead, unlocked the tower door and left the key on the outside. That's right. That motor in the basement could be set to stop automatically, couldn't it? Yes. When I turned it on, I set the automatic stop for 15 minutes. I knew it would take brand them longer than that to drive to White Ridge from Tobias' place. The police will go to work on. Is that when the Falco's realized their complicity with Tobias was known to the police, they took the easiest way out. That leads Tobias holding the bag with a signature to explain, and as suicide, the police will explain for him.

26:19And you and I in complete control of the Martin Millions. Wonderful, John. Except for one thing. You mean, Burton? Yes. He's strung along with us all the way so far. But when you're in control of the money, what's to prevent him from trying to blackmail us? How can he? We've got too much on him. He not only impersonated Tobias and making all the arrangements with Dr. Falco, but he managed to get Tobias' signature on the committee papers by placing him among a stack of form letters. Did he get a stiff sentence for that? I suppose you're right. John, did you hear a strange noise just now? Yeah. It seemed to come from that hall door. There's no one there. There is someone here, John Martin. This is John. I can't see anyone. You can't see the Avenger eat it while he... The Avenger? Yes. I came to inform you of a forgotten clue. But you were the bledge me with a complete confession. A clue? What clue? A little strip of cellulose tape. But I think a jury will find it quite big enough to hang you. He just quit. Get the car. We've got to get out of here.

27:20It's much too late for flight, John. But please have an appointment with you here. And those sirens should tell you that they have arrived to keep it.

28:40John, did you send those notes of Dr. Falco's through the medical society? Yes. Jim, do you think his theory is made prove valuable in the treatment of mental cases? I'm afraid not, Fern. About the greatest tribute we can pay the old gentlemen as to say that he was sincere and idealistic. And that his treatments didn't do his patients any harm. Jim, am I right in believing this case almost had you crying, Uncle? Well, now that John, Edith and Burton are safe in jail, I think I can risk admitting them. It was that cellulose tape that took you off of the whole thing, wasn't it? Yes. Up until then, the case against Tobias was practically airtight and ingeniously clever. Edith's coming here, pleading for help. John, obviously sane in the asylum. Tobias' signature on the papers is denial of writing it. And finally, what looked like the suicide of the doctor in his wife?

29:41Yes, but just what did that little piece of tape do? It meant that John Martin had figured out a way to keep the doctor from locking his door whenever it suited his purpose to do so. But how? Well, John was locked inside as we were only got there. Of course, it was part of his plan to be found locked inside then. But when he wanted the door to remain unlocked, he stretched the cellulose tape across the part of the door frame that the lock fitted into. It wasn't noticeable and it prevented the lock from catching. When the doctor tried the door, John stood tight against it and held it. And the doctor thought it was locked. Then all John had to do when he wanted the lock to catch was removed the tape. Right, Fern. But how did John know exactly when to kill Dr. Falco? Burton called Edith and told her I was on my way to bring the doctor to identify Tobias. She went to White Ridge and warned John from the fire escape. And John pretended he wasn't saying when Burton impersonating Tobias took him to Dr. Falco to be examined. Yes, even the best psychiatrist can sometimes be fooled by a clever patient. Well, that makes it all clear.

30:41Oh, Jim, before you go, will you snap back a fail? And you'd better form the habit of reading all your letters before you sign them. All characters, names, places, and plots used in the Avenger program are fictitious. Any similarity of persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is a thought. A thought. A thought. Remember, listen for another adventure of the Avenger. Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees that I don't really need it. Inflation is killing me. Who cares? Big retailers are making record profits. That's why we support the German Marshall credit card bill. See? Banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll.

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