The Case of the Puzzling Pinup

0:00The craft foods company bring you the adventures of the Balkan starring less demon. Hello. Yes, this is the Falcon speaking. Oh, Phyllis. I'm glad you call. You have to give me a rain check, Angel, and more tied up. But that's only temporary. Some efficiency expert is dropping around to demonstrate that if I plan my work properly, I'll have time to kill. This is Ed Hurley. He plans inviting you on behalf of the craft foods company to listen to the adventures of the Balkan. You met the Balkan first in his best selling novels. Then you saw him in his thrilling motion picture series. Now join him on the air when the Balkan solves the case of the puzzling pinup. There's a flavor so pleasing.

1:06Miracle web. Tastes so lively, so teasing. Miracle web. Only one of its kind. Miracle web. Best salad dressing you will find. Miracle web is the only one of its kind because it's a different type of salad dressing made from a secret craft recipe. Miracle web combines the best qualities of all-fashioned boiled dressing and fine mayonnaise. So it's truly distinctive and delicious. With a flavor millions of folks call just exactly right. Try it, won't you? One taste will tell you why it's America's favorite salad dressing. The one and only Miracle web. Now the case of the puzzling pinup. It's Sunday afternoon in New York and a young man named Charles Silvesta Brayton, a second, breaks all records, stashing up the steps of a small rooming house in New York's

2:07west side. And when he gets to the top floor, he begins hammering on the door room for 13. Come on, man. Open up. Who is it? You know who it is. Now, open up. Go away, Charles. You can't send me away like this. I've got to talk to you. All right, just a second. Lock it. Don't, I don't feel the stirris. I said lock it. Look, Charles, you're not well. Don't you believe it for a second? Don't you see, Pat, it was just a scheme to keep us apart. But I fooled them. Charles, please don't lock that door. What's the matter, Pat? Don't you trust me, I will. Of course I do. It's just I don't like to see you so upset. Look, I've got an idea. What are you doing with that phone? I was just going to call your father. Put it down. Put Charles. Put it down. So, so you're working with him too? No, I'm not. Then prove it. Marry me. You're insane. What did you say?

3:08Nothing, Charles. You're lying. You were going to say I was insane. I wasn't. I swear. I'll give you one last chance. I've got a car downstairs. Will you come with me? Look, Charles. Answer me. But darling. All right, Pat. You had your opportunity. What are you doing with that gun? I gave you your chance, Pat. You'll have to admit that. Darling, now listen to me. I've changed my mind. How do I know that you won't change it again? Charles, you can't do this. The hang you. No. No, they won't. You see, I'll be dead. No. Yes, you don't think I'd let you go without Charles. Please. Don't be afraid, Pat. I'll be right by your side. Goodbye, darling. No. Ow. Oh. Oh. Well, I was down in the basement fixing the border

4:08when I heard the shots, Mr. Shelley. So right away, I got on the phone and called your newspaper. Anybody else here in Driscoll? Oh, no. Nobody else home. What about the cops? Why not fight them yet, you know? That was smart, Driscoll. I'll take care of you. All right, where are we going now? It's this room here. OK, open the door. Well, what are you waiting for? Your editor, Mr. Wingate, said you'd have a little present for me. Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, I'll give you 50 when we get inside. But Mr. Wingate promised me 100. OK, here it is. Oh, thanks. Now, where's your pass key? Where's your shot that, do I? What's a girl's name? Patricia Brooks. You know the guy? No. I pulled up the shater when I get a good look at his place. Oh, please smoke. What's the matter, Mr. Shelley? Well, you know who this is? Charles Silvesta, Braden II. Who? The Skippet. Hand me some flash bulbs.

5:09They're in that case by your feet. OK. And I'll take care of it. I'll take care of it. I'll take care of it. I'll take care of it. OK. Here, no. Something tells me these shots are going to be every bit as sensational as Mr. Braden's. Done? I am, Mr. Wingate. Oh, hello, Shelley. I'm sorry that Tipton pay off the way the janitor spoke in the phone. I thought we had something. What are you talking about, boys? Yarn, I sent you out on. Whole story just came over the takeer. Cops were just there. Too bad there was nothing to it. Nothing to it. Do you realize? Oh, look, Shelley, maybe in the Hicktown you come from a pretty girl committing suicide as big news. For a New York, it happens every day in a week. Yeah, but what about? Well, what about what? Well, what are the cops find? Same thing you did.

6:09Dead girl named Pat Brooks holding a gun in her hand. Nothing else? What are you getting at? Should there have been anything else? No, no, of course not. Where are your pictures? Pictures? That's what I sent you, therefore. Remember? Where are they? They, uh, they ain't. You see, I forgot to take a long film. You what? I'm sorry, boss. I feel like an awful chair. Oh, okay. Forget it. At least there was no harm done. But it'll teach you to be more careful in the future. Oh, yeah. I learned my lessons to Wingate. I pet out, pick up plenty from an experience like this. Oh, yeah. We're in the money. We're in the money. Yes? I'd like to see Mr. Charles Braden, senior, please. I'm afraid that's impossible. Mr. Braden's only son died yesterday in an automobile accident. Yes, I know. I read all about it. But I still think he'll see me. Tell him it's Walter Shelley of the Gazette. Where's the Laura? It's me, Braden.

7:10I'm the guy you spoke to on the phone this morning. Yes, yes, won't you? Come in, sir. Thanks. This is the young man I've been telling you about, Laura. Yes, so I gather. Basilem is my secretary, Mr. Shelley. Good enough. Well, now suppose we get down to business. You told me I had some pictures I might be interested in. That's right. May I see them, please? Sure. Here they are. Very interesting. Like a drink, Mr. Shelley? Well, thanks. Star face. Well, here's to what we all want. I'll join you in that, too. Tsk. Tsk. I had time to look at those pictures yet, Mr. Braden. Yes, indeed. Notice anything peculiar about them? I presume you mean that one of the bodies is that of my son, Charles. Yeah. And he's holding a gun. So? So when I heard that the cops only found one stiff, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that you must have taken care of the other by bribing the janitor of the building.

8:12But why should I do that? And look, let's stop kidding each other, Braden. The guy with your name couldn't stand the disgrace. You wouldn't want to go through life known as the father of a murderer. There's something in what you say, Mr. Shelley. How much do you want? Ah, eh. Ten grand for the set of pictures you've got in your hand. And how much for the negatives? Negatives? Oh, come, come, come. You mustn't take me for a child, Mr. Shelley. I'm aware of the elementals of photography. Now where are those negatives? Cut it up, frame your chalk and get it on me. Give me a chance. All right. Yeah, you could have killed me then. Negatives, please. Yeah, sure. Got him right here in my pocket. In the rain. I'd advise you to put away that gun, sir. And that as smart as you think. Apparently not. Wouldn't I be a chump to keep those negatives on me? Oh, no. You're going to pay for him, Mr. and pay through the nose. Oh, no.

9:13Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Hello? I'd like to speak to Mike Waring, please. Who's calling? Walter Shelley. Who? Walter Shelley. I'm a reporter on the Gazette. What can I do for you? You mean what can I do for you? I understand you're one of the best private dicks in New York. Why do you understand that from? All the usual reliable sources. Don't they call you the Falcon? Only when they can't think of anything worse. Look, will you be home for the next half hour? Why? Well, I'd like to come around and drop a fortune in your lap. Why? Well, let's just say it's only a few weeks before a Christmas and I like to play Santa Claus nice and early. I'll be seeing you, Waring. This is Anne Hurley here again, friends. I have a little suggestion for you, ladies, who wonder what you're going to do for some interesting menu ideas.

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11:18Get a two pound loaf tomorrow, won't you? It's America's favorite cheese food, the one and only velvita made by craft. Now back to the adventures of the Polkan. Fifteen minutes have passed since Walter Shelley called Mike Wearing with a promise to drop a portion in his lamp. Now we find Mr. Shelley as good as his word. Yes, you're wearing? That's right, I'm wearing a Shelley. Oh, you're ahead of schedule, come on in. Thanks. You said something on the phone about dropping a fortune in my laptop. And I never lied. Catch. What's this? Guess what I promised. In that envelope a picture is worth half a million. What makes them so valuable? The pose? Oh, you interested? Go on.

12:18This party will pay off plenty wearing, I know I've already seen them. We've got all the angles covered. We? We've got a partner. Of course that means we'll have to split three ways, but it's worth it. Now this partner mine has a swell in, see? What we need is someone to handle a detail work. We tried not a guy, but he couldn't see it. Or it made you come to me with a swindle like this. Look, you don't have to take that tone with me, were he? Oh, I don't. All right, now get up. Hey, what's going on here, Mr. Waring? I was cleaning the hall and I heard a fuss. Oh, it was nothing serious, George. Will you get rid of this for me? Huh? It's a character on the floor, throw him out. Oh. Come on, buddy, get up. Come on, pal, I have. Mr. Waring. Yeah? I think there's something matter with him. I know, you ran into my fist. I don't know. I mean, I can't feel his heartbeat. You what? Yeah. I think you killed him.

13:27All right, Waring, let's have the truth now. You don't give me any more stuff about pick-chees, because we didn't find any. You didn't? No. Why'd you kill Shelley? I'd tell you I didn't kill him, Lieutenant. You admit you slugged him. Look, Webster, I may brag now and then, but I'm still no Joe Lewis. What do the autopsy reports say? He hasn't come in yet. But what are they waiting for? Hey, Lieutenant, open up with him. Buddy, you want, Sergeant? As a Mr. Waringate. See, Waring? Waringate. I'm telling to beat it. Waring isn't having any visitors. I've got a corridor to hear, Lieutenant. Maybe you'd like to look at it. Yeah. Let's see there. There you are. Seems to be all right. Open it up, Sergeant. You're going to have five minutes no more. It's fair enough. Hello, Waring. Who are you? At the Wendate. It's still means nothing. I hold down the slot on the evening Gazette. Shelley worked for me until he came to me this morning with an idea how he could make some easy dome. Wait a minute. You must be the guy who told me he'd talk to before he came to see me.

14:29That's right. That's throwing him out. What are you doing here? Well, when the story came over the ticker, I thought there might be something I could do for you. Why should you? I want this story for my paper exclusively. And I'm willing to pay for it. Okay, when Gazette got you's offer to you. Do you know what was on those pictures of Shelley? No. Did he mention any names? Not a one. Well, it doesn't matter. Here are my keys. The superintendent of my building is a character named George Kennedy. Check with him and see what he did with the envelope. And bring it back to me. Haven't the police got it? No, Lieutenant told me they didn't find a thing. They may have been brushed aside and all the excitement. Well, it doesn't sound like much to go on, but keep your fingers crossed, kiddo. I'll do what I can. Okay, wearing on your faith. Are you back again, Lieutenant? Yeah, get your things and get out. I'll come up being released. The autopsy on Shelley clears you.

15:30What was it, heart attack? No. Poison. You got it in the drink. About six hours before it came to your place. Well, tough luck, Lieutenant. I know how you must feel. Can I use your phone? Sure. There's a pay phone right over there. Thanks, Webster. Maybe I can do as much for you sometime. On wearing? Yeah. Don't use any slugs. Hello? At your George. Oh, hi, Mr. Wearing. Say, is Mr. Wingate there? Oh, sure he won't talk to him. No, I'll see him later. What did you do with the pictures? We didn't find him. Well, I can't have disappeared. They were on my desk before I slug Shelley. We ate there now. We've probably taken a place apart. All right, stop wrecking the joints. I'll be right over. Let's know you, Mike. We've looked in the desk already. Yeah, he's right, Mr. Wearing. We went over everything with a fine tooth comb.

16:30I don't get it. Now, George, you're sure when the police removed Shelley's body, they didn't take anything? I'm positive. I was here every minute of the time. Yeah, we might as well give up, Mike. No, wait a second, Wingate. Shelley was standing right where you are when he tossed I'd envelop my lap. When I get up to throw him out, I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. I'll be right back. When I get up to throw him out, it must have fallen to the floor. I don't see where difference that makes. I don't like. Could he kick it over there and then that kick? Wait a minute. What's that under the radiator? No, we don't know. Whatever you are, George, you're certainly not objective. Is that the envelope? Must be. Well, let's get a glimpse of a half million bucks worth of pictures. Huh. We was robbed, but it's a trouble. Oh, look. It's a picture of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Brooklyn Dodgers. Yeah, now you tell me who would pay a half million bucks for a still shot of that group when you could go see them in action for a buck in a quarter.

17:39Here, Mike. 3 a.m. I don't care. I'm not leaving until I make head a tale of these pictures. What makes them worth all that money when gay? Ah, Shelley must have been crazy. Well, then why was he murdered? Come in. I hate to disturb you, gentlemen, but I'm looking for Mike Wearing. And you've come to the right place. Are you Mr. Wearing? Uh-huh. What's your name? My friends call me Laura Allen. I bet you've got a million of them in your room, so I can't understand why you should be looking for new ones at this hour. I'm looking for something else, Mr. Wearing. What do you want for them? What do I want for what? The pictures. What pictures? Don't give me that. Shelley had them before he died. He hasn't got them now, so who does that leave? Me? Yes. What's your prize? I suppose I said I didn't get it to a business. It won't do you any good. If you see what I mean. Mike, don't worry when gay I saw it. Take a blind man to miss a cannon that size. Look, would you mind pointing it elsewhere, Laura? What's the madam, Mr. Wearing? Does it make you nervous? Yeah, I don't know what's come over me these past few days, but I can't see to keep a thing on my stomach, particularly guns.

18:41You let go. Come on, Akel Dropett. Oh, nuts. You got it when gay. Okay, it's gone. Well, now what are you going to do with me? Nothing. You can leave whenever you like, Angel. You mean you're letting me go? Sure, I'm a sport. I always throw the little ones back. Just what are you fishing for, Mr. Wearing? A big one. Well, I wouldn't if I were you. You know some big fish are dangerous. And take it from me. This one's a man, killer. Good night, Angel. You shouldn't let her get away, Mike. Why not? I'm not going to let her go. I'm going to let her go. I'm going to let her go. You shouldn't let her get away, Mike. Why not? That little lady wasn't going to tell us anything. Except what she wanted to do. Yeah, but remember what Shelley said about a partner. You think that good? Well, don't you? You know something when gay, she'll write. Well, she's already gone down the elevator.

19:42Hello, Laura. Mr. Britain. Mr. Rife. What are you doing in my apartment? I did a girl. I think the answer's fairly obvious. I was waiting for you. I told you that if I had anything to report, I'd let you know. Well, you can hardly blame me for being anxious, Laura. I wear other pictures. I didn't get them. You know my idea. I find that very difficult to believe. You're such a very determined young lady. Well, I ran into a very determined young man. And yet Mr. Wearing let you get away, mm? Yes, and don't ask me why, because I don't know. You must be tired, my dear. You're quite right, Mr. Braden. I am tired. I'm tired of trying to protect your precious name. Why don't you pay off and let it go at that? I don't like to hear you talk that way, Laura. But knowing you as I do, I'm sure you'll never let this little conversation go any farther.

20:42Hello? I said you were wearing this Laura. Do? Laura, Alan, you remember? Oh, sure. Listen, Wearing, there's something I've got to tell you. Already alive? At the Rainy apartment. But before you come, I want you to know the high-code water, shall we? Oh, you admit it? Well, if you want to be convinced. Oh. Hello, Laura. Laura. Right. Yeah, that's all I know, Winged. Right after I heard the shot, I grabbed the cab and started over here. Then I remembered my promise to you, so I'll detour it over to your office to pick you up. I appreciate it, Wearing. Hey, what port do we get, Arpan? Right here, the twig. Okay. It must be down this way. Oh, here it is. Oh, Laura, Alan. Oh, oh. Unlocked. Yeah. So, she did commit suicide after all. And seem some.

21:43Hey, what do you make of this? Silver cigarette case. Silver nothing. This is platinum. Who? They don't hand these island push carts. And here, look at the engraving. Can you make it out? Yeah, it's a Laura, Alan, from the Tyron Charles Braiden scene. Charles Braiden scene. Hey, this girl moved in the big leagues. That's so right. If she was in Braiden's employ, then he's the boy who's interested in the pictures and she was working hand in glove with Shelley. Yeah, but why would Braiden want a picture of the Brooklyn Dodgers? He didn't. The pictures we found must have been phony. Say, wait a minute. Wasn't his son in some sort of a mess recently? Well, he'd got killed in an automobile accident. No, that's too pat. Braiden's hiding something. Who are you calling? The police. Well, may it snap here. I want to pull my paper. Hey, wait a minute. What's trouble? I just thought of something. I heard the shot that killed Laura over the phones, Al. Well, if she died instantly, who hung this receiver back on the hook? Yeah, but that means... Yeah, go on, say it, when Gage was murdered. But you said she talked to suicide. Someone could have forced her to by holding a gun in her back. Oh, that's what I intend to find out. Now, look, I want you to get a fingerprint expert up here.

22:44What for? A killer made one blunder when he put the receiver back on the hook. Isn't it possibly made another? I don't follow you. Maybe he left his prints on the instrument. Could be an idea where we can find an expert at this time of night. Oh, you got one down the paper. Swirl, get him, Wingate. Where will I meet you later? Uh, make it Mr. Braithens. Something tells me he'll probably be very interested in the results. Mr. Braithens? Yes. My name is Wearing. Oh, come in, Walter. Thank you. You were a friend of Walter Shelley, I believe. Well, I wouldn't say that. Strings that he entrusted his most precious possessions to you. I don't think I understand you, Mr. Braithens. I'm referring to the pictures, Mr. Wearing. Oh, that. Yes, that. May I trouble you for them? And the negatives, of course. What's in it for me? Well, I could promise you any number of things. Yes, but they'd be just that, promises.

23:44You seem my point. Oh, yeah. You don't have to draw me a diagram. No, I had only to draw a gun. All right, put that thing away, Braithens. You're forgetting something. I can't imagine what. What's going to happen when the police discover you killed Shelley and Laura? Shelley and Laura? Well, how do you think there's any danger of that? Well, maybe I can prove you're wrong. I think you're pardoned? I think that call is for me, may I? I think you're out of here, thank you. Hello? Hello? Is that you, Mike? Yeah, I'd make out, Wingade. Did they finish checking those fingerprints? Yes, but there wasn't a single print on it. Oh, that's wonderful. What's the matter with you, Mike? Can't you hear me? Didn't miss a word. Now come up here and bring that report with you. Oh, you look pleased. Yes, I am. Whose fingerprints do you suppose they found on Laura's telephone? Nobody's. What? You'll forgive me, sir, but I'm afraid I've been guilty of eavesdropping. Oh, you'll never hear anything nice about yourself that way. Perhaps not. But then, Mr. Wearing, I'm not a very nice person.

24:44I think you're going to find that out. Remember, tomorrow, at your grocers, you can get a wonderful new salad oil for your homemade salad dressings. You're cooking, you're baking. It's craft salad oil. The first salad oil for home use ever offered by the makers of all those wonderful craft dressings. Craft salad oil is a lighter-bodied oil, super-fined to blend perfectly with other ingredients. Get a pint or quart bottle tomorrow at your grocers. Ask for craft salad oil. Now back to the adventures of the polka. Two minutes ago, Charles, Braden, senior told Mike that he wasn't,

25:44quote, a very nice person, unquote. And judging by the gun, he keeps trained on Mike, Mr. Braden believes in telling the truth. Are really Mr. Wearing, you don't know how this pains me. Well, I'd never guess it, Braden. You certainly hired your grief well. And you, sir, you're fierce. Oh, that's where you're wrong. I don't believe you're going to shoot. Tell me, Mr. Wearing, what is your purpose in glancing at that window every five seconds? I find it very distracting. That was my purpose. All right, Winggate, grab a nice, worth Winggate. Now give me the gun. Okay, here I... Now, phone, please, headquarter. No, no. My paper comes first. Well, anyway, you like, but don't forget the cups. I don't suppose there'd be much point in appealing to your better nature. Oh, I don't know. What do you think Winggate? I'm just an innocent bystander wearing. You better leave me out of this. Well, it's impossible, friend. You would like to say. You mean because I saved your life? No. Because you killed Shelley and Laura. What are you babbling about, murder, Winggate? I'm just wondering who's going to cover your execution for the Gazette.

26:55Gee, I don't get it, Mr. Wearing. You mean Mr. Winggate actually killed Shelley and the girl? Yes, actually, George. Yeah, but why? Those pictures. The ones we found in your apartment. No, no, no. The ones that please found in Winggate's apartment. He got them from my place before he even called you. Then he planted those phony shots and waited for me to make my great discovery. No, but why did he do that? Because he knew I wouldn't stop looking until I found a set of pictures. So he made things easy for me. Well, I still don't understand why he killed Shelley. He was Shelley's partner. Winggate? Mm-hmm. He was in from page one, but he got greedy and wanted the whole pie. So he poisoned Shelley and waited for the pictures to drop in his lap. Instead, they dropped in yours. Well, that he couldn't figure on. But he did okay as it was. Well, why did he kill Laura? Oh, he had good reason for that. First, he forced her to confess to Shelley's murder. Oh, he thought that would leave him in the clear. Mm-hmm. If she committed suicide, then the case was closed, and he could go ahead and blackmail Braden safely. Well, how did you know he was the killer? Remember I told you I sent him to check the fingerprints on Laura Allen's phone? Yeah, and he said there weren't any.

27:55Mm-hmm. Well, that's what gave him away. Well, I don't see why in a possible killer wiped off his own prints. Yeah, sure. But what happened to mine? I handled the phone after the murder when I was going to call the police. Oh. And was that answer all your questions? Well, all but one. What's that? Look, Mr. Wearing. What was on those pictures anyway? Ah, you'll never know, George. Come on, come on, come on. Break down, Mr. Wearing. Yeah. It must have been pretty hard stuff, huh? Oh, yes, indeed, they were. Some of the harder shots I'd ever seen. Why, just to handle them would blister your hands? Yeah. Uh, what were they, huh? Well, they were eight by ten blow-ups. Wow. Of the Chicago Fire. Good night, George. There comes a time in the life of every homemaker when she has to fix a dinner fast. And that's when craft dinner is such a help. You see, in just seven minutes cooking time, craft dinner makes delicious macaroni and cheese.

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