Original subtitles

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

Heat

up here.

Heat

up

here.

The finest show we have ever held with

nearly twice as many dogs benched as

last year. Refreshments are being served

at the marquee at the west end of the

ground. Rapun's ready in ring number

two. Next event number 729. Hies bred by

exhibitors. Have your dogs ready. Quiet

please during the judging. Attention

please. Judging in ring one. Event

number 728. Scottish terriers American

bred dog. Great Danes in ring number

two. Great Scott in ring number one.

This is number 292. Captain McTavish

shown by the owner well-known fancier

Mr. Kylo Vance whose kennel comprises

some of the finest campaigners in

America.

That's fine. Smile, please. Cup to your

right.

That's great. Sorry, boys, but these are

not trophies.

Hold it. Hold it right there.

Thank Thank you so much. Mind if we go

now? I can stand one dog, but this

bedroom is getting on my nerves. Don't

be impatient, darling. We'll have plenty

of time for dinner.

You have video

[Music]

two and a half. So event number 728. The

blue ribbon won by Galispia of

Heatherstone. Dundee Deviler is runner

up and Midlotheian gentleman receives

the special. Better luck next time, Mr.

Vance.

Don't be down hard, Captain. You're

still champion with me. Maybe we'll have

better luck in Italy, huh? Tough luck,

Lance. I was hoping to have the pleasure

of meeting you from tomorrow. Oh, thank

you very much, Mr. Cole. Perhaps you'll

get stiff a competition from Sir Thomas

McDonald. Perhaps.

Want to borrow Misty Mour for a second?

But, Miss Mate, you know, Mr. Hart, you

don't want Aon to Bonnie's dog. Come

along and protect him if you like.

That's enough, sir Thomas. I wouldn't

take off another whisk. Mhm. I think

you're right, Sandy. Get ready. Hold it.

Thanks. There you are, Gilly. Laddy.

Hello, Hilda. Hello, Tom. Well, what's

the idea? Thought we do a little private

judging. I don't imagine your uncle

particularly approve of this. I'm sure

he wouldn't, hold him a minute, Sandy.

Let's take a good look at him.

Sure, I'll see. Let me get to you.

Mhm.

Well, what do you think? I think it's a

pretty close thing, but I'm not worried.

Hey, Sandy. I think you're pretty safe,

sir. Here we are, sir. What does you

think you're doing, Hilda? Well, how do

you do? How do you do, sir? I just

wanted to prove that you're going to

lose money to Tom when these two get

into the ring tomorrow. And have you

proved it to your satisfaction? So much

so that I want you to loan me $1,000 to

place on Gilly. Hilda, that's a cheek

for you. Wants to bet against me with

$1,000 of my own money. I wasn't asking

you for your money. I merely want you to

loan me some of mine. As long as I

control the purse strings, you're not

going to do any betting against me.

You'll be grateful that I've saved a few

thousands of your fortune someday. But

don't raise your hopes too high, Hilda.

Bring that dog out here.

I shouldn't let him worry you, my dear.

You knew how I hate him, Tom. Things

he's done to me. I despise him, darling.

Now, let's see. Where did I put that?

Ah, there it is. Unsolved murders. You

know, I almost forgot it. I wouldn't

have been able to sleep awake tonight

wondering who murdered who and why. How

any intelligent man can read that dril

is beyond me. Brisbane, what time that

Chicago train go? 5:00.

Well, it's 4:15. Oh, you've got plenty

of time. Yes, I know. But I want to get

out of here before uh Archer gets home.

Good afternoon, sir. Afternoon. Is my

brother at home? Yes, sir. He's

upstairs. Tell him I want to see him.

Yes, sir.

Your taxi is waiting, sir. All right.

There's the bag. Did you uh get those

reservations? Yes, sir. And uh Mr.

Archer told me to tell you he wants to

see you, sir. Oh, he did? Eh,

you tell him I don't want to see him.

Tell him I said so. In those words, sir.

Exactly. Unless you can think of

something stronger. Yes, sir.

Of course.

Of course. It's none of my business,

Brisbane. But I wouldn't talk that way

in front of Gamble. I don't trust him. I

just couldn't resist it. I'd like to see

the look on Archer's face when he tells

him. I wouldn't. How the deuce can you

stand it here? Why? There wouldn't be

enough money in the world to compensate

me for being Archer Cole's secretary.

Oh, he's not as bad as all that. So, you

better be getting along. There's such a

thing as carrying loyalty too far. Don't

forget, I overheard a few of his choice

remarks to you when you dare suggest

that you were in love with Hilder and

wanted to marry her.

I'm afraid you're taking Archer a little

too seriously, old man.

Did you deliver my message? I thought it

best to wait till you were safely away.

Sir,

do you mind dropping me off? I have an

engagement with Hilda for dinner. Come

ahead. Come ahead.

All aboard. Albert Express,

Stanford, Bridgeport,

New London, New Haven, West

Province, Boston.

Here is Sir Thomas McDonald.

What's the matter, Sandy? Something

terrible's happened, sir. Gilly's gone.

What? And I cannot find him. They have

taken him off the bench, sir. Well, he

couldn't have got loose.

He didn't break that lock himself

either. I haven't been away from that

dog for 10 minutes all day, sir. I just

went into the restaurant to get a we

sandwich, and when I come back, he was

gone. So, Thomas? Yes. I think we found

him, sir. Where? Out in the alley, sir.

This way, sir.

Really?

He's dead.

I'll kill the man who did this.

Listen, Tom, you mustn't do anything

until you're sure please. I've got my

own ideas.

Oh, I know Uncle Archer is mean and

cruel, but I can't believe he do a thing

like this.

Hello.

I'm sorry, but Mr. Archer Co isn't here.

Your dog did.

I'm terribly sorry.

I'll try to locate him at once.

Go away from me. You

get out of here.

Get out.

I suspected it when I saw you together

this afternoon. You're nothing but a two

timing. Get out of my apartment.

Get out. From now on, it is your

apartment. All yours. I'm getting out of

good.

Ah, Mr. Cole, my dear friend. Yes, I see

you are Paradoni. Yes. Oh, I am, how do

you say it? Pantogo. I came to see you.

I received a cable from Milan

authorizing me to complete the deal for

your Chinese collection and confirming

the price of $117,000.

Means decorations and all that sort of

thing from a very grateful government, I

suppose. Oh, momento. But it's no good

now. Of course, I've changed my mind.

Oh, but you have promised me you can't

go back on your word. What would I tell

my people? What would I say? P you

didn't think of this before. You might

have been a little more discreet. E

Grassy. But you have signed a contract

with me. Too bad for you. It's still at

my home in my safe. But you will most

certainly destroy it tonight. I'll tell

you what I'll do. I'll give you Miss

Delfield for nothing.

Hey, Leang. Out of the gang, eh? I was

led to believe that the cook's place is

in the kitchen. The next time I shall. I

have been expecting my dismissal, Mr.

Cole. We have served our purpose, these

priceless treasures. And I I overheard

Mr. Reed saying, "You were preparing to

sell this whole collection." You've been

listening at the keyhole, have you? You

cannot sell them, Mr. Cole. Do you think

I would have dishonored my ancestors,

purged my soul, cheated my own

countrymen to acquire these for you, had

I not believed that you would reverence

them as I do? That's the worst of your

race. A pack of moish sentimentalists

about your ancestors. I don't need you

tonight. Go on. Get out.

I would suggest you consider most

carefully before you sell.

[Music]

Mr. Cole.

Mr. Cole.

Breakfast. Mr. Cole. Breakfast.

Mr. Reed, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reed,

what is it, Gamble? Mr. Cole, Mr. Archo

has killed himself. Killed himself when?

How? He's sitting in there like when the

doors bolted. You're positive? Yes, sir.

In his bedroom. Following the police?

Yes, sir.

[Music]

Hello.

Give me police headquarters quick.

Homicide. Sergeant Miller speaking.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I don't

get you. Take it easy. All right.

Suicide. Suicide.

Wait a minute. But you're not going to

run out on this hand. Yep. Ooh. Archer

Cole, 98 East 71st Street. Okay, I got

you. Is that it, Sergeant? Yeah. Well,

goodbye, Ernest. Sergeant Heath, to you,

Cub. Kick in with that six bits. Oh,

relax, will you?

This is your case, Sergeant. You better

get the boys out. 9871st Street. That's

right. All right. Come on, Stick. Tell

Dr. Hurry, Mr. Hurry right out to 98

East to 71st Street.

Did you say east, Sergeant? East? Yes, I

got it. Daily mail, give me city desk.

Calling car 18, car 18. Oh, times

Charlie Adler, 98 East 71st Street. Last

night, Archer Cole committed suicide.

Proceed immediately and call your

station for instruction.

[Applause]

[Music]

Fire and warmer with light moderate

winds from New York vicinity today and

tomorrow. And now for the latest news

flashes. Archer Cove, the well-known

sportsman and collector, committed

suicide last night at his home, 98 East

71st Street. His body was discovered by

the butler at 8 this morning when he

took up a breakfast tray. No reason has

been advanced for this action as Mr.

Cole was in excellent health and had no

financial trouble.

No news has been received from the proof

of the accident.

Is the land phone still connected? Yes,

sir. But it will be disconnected in

about 2 minutes, sir. I see.

[Applause]

Hello. Hello, Mark. Hello, Vance. I

thought you were on your way to Italy.

Well, I am. I say, Markhamm, uh, I just

heard about Archer Co. Yes. It's too bad

he had to bump himself off like that.

Uh, that's why I called you. Are you

sure that he did bump himself off? Well,

his butler tells us he's sitting in a

locked room with a revolver in his hand

and a bullet in his head. I don't know

what else you'd call him. I don't want

to butt into your affairs, but uh,

aren't you a bit hasty and jumping to

that conclusion? Hasty? Why? Well, if

you knew Archer Co, you would know that

suicide is almost a psychological

impossibility for him. Psychological

Bosch. A two and two make four, don't

they? Well, how do you know you have two

and two? Just let me point out to you.

Oh, point out the Statue of Liberty. Say

Vance. Hello. Hello. The land phone has

been disconnected, sir. Oh.

Uh, will you have my luggage brought up?

Yes, sir. Stuart, just have them send it

ashore. I've decided not to sail. Sir

Vance, you've been right about a lot of

cases in the past, but I can't help

smiling at you getting off that boat and

giving up a swell trip. All because of a

hunch.

As a matter of fact, Mark, more than a

hunch. Huh?

It just so happens that I talked with

Archer Cole only yesterday. What? Where?

The Long Island Kennel Club. You know, I

can't conceive of a man on the verge of

suicide

being very deeply concerned over winning

a championship at a dog show. Can you?

No. What do you mean? Simply this. As

late as yesterday afternoon, Archer Co

was looking forward with the keenest

anticipation to winning a blue ribbon

from Sir Thomas McDonald today. Sir

Thomas McDonald? Say, wasn't it his dog

that was found dead last night? And

Archer Co found dead this morning. You

suppose there might be some connection

there? I don't know. But if someone were

to try to kill Captain McTavish, I'd

probably turn murderer myself, wouldn't

I, Kevin?

Hello, Mr. Markham. I got your message

to hold everything up. What's the idea?

Hello, Mr. Van. Good morning, Sergeant.

Well, it's been a long time. Several

years. I might have known it would be

you, the world's champion

troubleshooter. Now, come on, boys. Come

inside. Well, Chief, it's another just

open and shut case.

Mr. Reed, the secretary. This is Gamble,

the butler. Yes, sir. Mr. Mark, I'm the

district attorney. How do you do, sir?

And uh Mr. Vance, how do you do? How do

you do? Everything just it was. Well,

they said they haven't touched anything.

We thought it best to leave everything

intact, sir. Good. Where's the room?

Upstairs. This way, please.

You been in Mr. Co service long? About 3

months, sir? And before that? I

unfortunately I was unemployed, sir.

This is it, sir.

Yep, he's there. All right. Just like I

told the police on the phone. I tried

the door, found it, locked, looked

through the keyhole, and there he was,

dead.

I think this is a job for you, Sergeant.

Certainly, Mr. Van.

Well, Hennessy, what are you standing

there for? Your health. This takes beef.

All right.

Congratulations, Sergeant.

What is this? A bedroom or museum?

More junk here than in a Chinese Josh

house.

I trust I did the right thing, sir, by

not breaking down the door. I realized I

could be of no help to him. Oh, he's

quite dead for hours. Bumped himself

off. That's plain enough. Certainly

looks that way, Vance. I'm afraid your

trip was spoiled for nothing. I think

not, Malcolm. This may prove far more

interesting than a trip to Europe.

You carry a gun? No, sir. You? Uh, yes

sir, but only at night for the

protection of the household. Is that it?

Why I Come on. No, that was Mr. Archers,

but he always kept it in a desk drawer

downstairs. I saw it yesterday morning

as I was putting away some papers. Oh,

you did? Eh, did uh Mr. Cole generally

keep his windows locked? Why, no, sir.

As a matter of fact, he was a great

believer in fresh air. Oh, indeed. I

wonder if these gentlemen would mind

waiting downstairs. Well, certainly not.

I am sorry we had to damage your door.

That's quite all right. It's easily

repaired. I'll have it attended to it

once, sir. And he see the no one leaves

the house without my permission. All

right.

It's as plain as a nose on your face.

This guy locked himself in here and blew

out his brains. I wish I could agree

with you, Sergeant. How the devil could

it be anything but suicide?

It was all very well for you to theorize

before we got here, Vance. But now that

you've seen this, and there no signs of

a struggle and the door bulleted on the

inside, and no means of entrance to the

room. Ah, no other means of entrance.

How right you are, Sergeant. But we can

hardly call a second story window a

means of entrance.

And nothing here that even a human fly

could crawl up. So why should Archo lock

his windows? Particularly if he was a

fresh air enthusiast. I'm afraid your

reasoning is not altogether convincing.

Well, perhaps so. But doesn't it strike

you as rather odd that a man should

suddenly decide to commit suicide while

changing from his street clothes to

pajamas? Well, why not? A man debating

suicide might get partially undressed

and walk up and down for hours trying to

make up his mind. Yes, he might walk up

and down for hours, but not with one

shoe half off. No, Mark. Something

stopped him as he was removing that

shoe. This was supposed to suggest

suicide, but someone miscalculated.

But you can't get away from that

bouldered door. I wish I could. The way

you figure it out, the man was murdered.

As soon as the killer is gone, he gets

up, goes and bolts the door, plants

himself in a comfortable chair with a

loaded gun in his hand to suggest

suicide.

That's a swell theory.

Hello, Gamble.

What is this? What's happened? Something

terrible has happened, Miss Lake.

What is it, Raymond? What is it? It's

your uncle Archer, Hilda. He killed

himself last night.

Where? They're upstairs.

[Music]

Hey, don't touch that body, miss.

Oh, Mr. Vance. Well, how do you do, Miss

Lake? This is Mr. Markhamm, the district

attorney. How do you do, Miss Lake? He's

Co's niece. I'm sorry, Miss Lake, but

you mustn't touch anything until the

medical examiner arrives. It's against

regulation. Is it also against

regulations to tell me what's happened?

We arrived only a few moments ago. We

found your uncle as you see him. It has

every appearance of suicide.

I doubt it.

Do you know of anyone who would have

reason to kill your uncle?

Yes, I had for one.

Why, Miss Lake? Because he stood in the

way of everything I wanted. He made my

life miserable. Because he held the

purse strings

and because because he was jealous of

every man who came near me.

I was afraid of him.

Oh, the horrible nights I've spent in

this house.

Are we to accept your comments as a

confession of murder, Miss Lake? Look

here, Malcolm. That's ridiculous.

Please, Raymond. I think I can handle

this situation myself. When we found

your uncle, Miss Lake, the door was

bolted from the inside.

Bolted inside.

Oh,

maybe he did shoot himself. Can't you

make up your mind? Do you know of anyone

else who felt as you do about your

uncle? Practically everyone he came in

contact with. He was ruthless. He wanted

his own way in everything. I imagine

there are plenty of Chinese who will be

glad to know that his collecting days

are over. Ask our cook.

I shall. Can you think of anyone else?

Well, Uncle Brisbane shared my feelings

toward him, I'm sure. Where is this

Brisbane guy? Maybe he decided to do

something about it. That's impossible.

He's on his way to Chicago. He left on

the 5:00 train yesterday afternoon. He'd

be just about getting there by now.

Well, you'd probably like to wire him,

wouldn't you? Why, yes, of course. Is

that all? Before the present, yes.

Suppose we check up enough of Brisbane

on that Chicago train. Won't take me but

a minute.

Hello. Come on, Shipkin. Get your feet

off the boss's desk and jump down to

Grand Central.

[Applause]

All right, I get you.

Yes, Mr. Heath Langgham Hotel, Chicago.

Yes, sir. I'll watch the call. Hold a

while, please.

Oh, yes, Mr. Heath. We're expecting Mr.

Brisbane cold this morning. Oh, yes. He

he wired for a reservation last night.

Thank you. Goodbye.

Yep. He took the 5:00 train. All right,

good.

You know, there's a few things I'd like

to find out about this girl, Hilda Lake.

Why are you always trying to check up on

me? I'm not trying to check up on you,

Hilda. I want to help you. Well, you

know how I feel about you. You know that

I love you. But lately, you seem to have

changed. Every time I want to speak to

you about marriage, you evade me.

What's on your mind? Oh, nothing.

Nothing.

Raymond, I never said I'd marry you. But

I thought that now we Well, that that I

could take you away from here. You might

as well know now is later. When all this

is cleared up, I'm going to marry Tom

McDonald.

Oh. Oh. Try to understand, Raymond. I'm

sorry.

Ah, don't tell me. Come on. Don't try to

kid us. Oh, suicide. My eye with the DA

himself and Vance on the job. It's

suicide and that's that. Oh, come on.

Have a cigar. It's still suicide.

Hey, wait a minute.

Are you a reporter? No. I'm Thomas

McDonald. I'd like to talk to the

officer in charge here. Oh, come on

inside.

Tom,

why didn't you stay away from here and

leave you to face this thing alone? But

you promised me last night you wouldn't

come here. Won't you go? Please, I can

bluff it through. I don't want the

police asking you questions. I know all

the answers. Oh, but please go for my

sake. Let's forget about it, shall we?

It's too late now. In any case, the

police are guarding every entrance. Wait

a moment. You can cross through that

yard and get to your apartment. No one

will see you. Take the first boat to

England. I'll join you as soon as I can.

Watch out for those newspaper men, Sir

Thomas. They're even deadlier than the

police. I had no intention of leaving.

Ah, good. Oh, by the way, I was sorry to

hear about the death of your dog last

night. Oh, thanks. You didn't by any

chance discuss it with Archer Co., did

you? No. If I had, I might have killed

him.

Well, did you? That's your problem.

No, man. I want to see you and How about

a statement? Give me a chance. No, wait

a minute. I'm a doctor, not a magician.

I'm almost full and funny. Come on now.

Get in here. Hello, D. Hello, Kelsey.

Where have you been? I haven't seen you

for a long time. Working hard. What

captures along? Did you walk all the

way? You always pick on me at meal time.

I was in the middle of cakes and

sausage. What have you got? Just plain

suicide. This guy locked himself in the

room, bumped himself off. Suicide? Then

why didn't you let me finish my

breakfast? Hello, Doc. Hello, Malcolm.

All you need is an order to remove the

body. You told me that over the phone. I

will have sent my assistant. Mr.

Markhamm told me to phone you

personally. Don't crab at me about it.

I'll give you the approximate hour of

the death if you want it. That's

big-hearted of you, Doc. And the routine

autopsy. We can do tomorrow as it's just

a case of suicide. Why do you jump to

that conclusion, doctor?

I know a dead man when I see one.

Besides, the door was bolted. I know the

door was bolted on the inside. But what

about the body? Hadn't you better have a

look at it? I was going to.

I'm a doctor, not a detective. This man

is dead with a bullet hole in his right

temple. He's holding a gun in his right

hand. Just the kind of wound that might

have been self-inflicted. The position

is natural, and the door was locked on

the inside.

Well, let me see. That's strange.

Did you find something to disturb you,

doctor? Plenty. There's blood in his

mouth and he's got a skull fracture from

some club-like instrument. Now, what

about the bullet wound in his temple?

There's no blood there.

That's so

gentlemen.

When that bullet entered this man's

head, he had been dead for hours.

Can you place the time of his death? I'd

say from 8 to 12 hours ago. Would you

say that the revolver was placed in his

hand before rigger mortar set in? Yes.

Did he die from the effects of the blow

on the head? No. Probably rendered him

unconscious for a while, but that

wouldn't have killed him. Not powerful

enough. The blow didn't kill him. The

bullet didn't kill him, and yet he's

dead. Suppose we try to find out just

what did kill him. Glad you thought of

that, Mr. Vance. It's not a bad idea.

Perhaps I'd better take another look.

[Music]

All

right, boys. Let's pick up these clues

before they get messed up here.

Just a minute, Doc. Please.

[Applause]

Ready?

Give me a hand, Sergeant. Help me look

the body over

[Music]

body on the

body.

All right. Lift him. Easy. Easy.

Now then, all that way. All right.

That's it. There couldn't have been much

of a struggle. His hair isn't even must.

Maybe somebody slugged him and then

combed his hair. By George. Now I've got

him stabbed below the left shoulder

blade near the spine. There's no

external bleeding. Internal hemorrhage.

That's it. What do you think of the

suicide theory now, Sergeant? Well, it's

slightly complicated for him to shot,

slugged, and stabbed himself,

particularly in the back. Yes, very

complicated. Oh, Markham. Yes.

You see, there's no hole in the back of

his pajama jacket. So, he couldn't have

been wearing that when he was stabbed.

And get this.

There's a hole in the back of his coat

and another in his wket. Blood stained.

He must have been fully dressed when he

was attacked. Alex me out. I finished. I

suppose you want a quick autopsy. Yes.

Get that body down to the morg as soon

as possible. Good day, gentlemen. Good

day. Hey, D. Yes.

Do you think there's any possible chance

of that being suicide? What? All right.

All right. Just a fair question, big

boy. Go on home and get your hot cakes

and sausage. You need the strength.

Yeah. Hurry up with that dead way.

Right. Any report on that wire? Not yet,

sir.

Send a wire to this guy, Mark Morham, 98

East 71st Street, New York City, and

tell him um Brisbane Cole, not aboard

this train. Wallace, conductor, train

number seven.

Sit down.

What time did Brisbane Cole leave for

Chicago?

In time to catch the 5:00 train, sir.

How do you know he caught the 5:00

train? I phoned for the reservation,

brought him his walking stick and

overcoat and and put his bag in the

taxi. Uh, did you remain in the house

all evening? Why, no, sir. I went out

about 6:30. It was a servant's night

off. Everyone was out to dinner.

Did you notice anything unusual in Mr.

Brisbane's manner when he left? Oh, now

that you mention it, he was distracted

and and very irritable. You say you gave

him his stick? Yes, sir. Uh, what kind

of stick? His favorite. An ivory handled

one. He never went anywhere without it,

sir. Are you quite sure he took that

particular stick with him? Positive. I

handed it to him myself, sir. Did you

see him when he returned here last

evening? Returned? Yes. I didn't know he

had returned, sir. That whose

ivoryheaded stick is that hanging over

that chair in the hall?

I swear I don't. Steady, gamble, steady.

Is this it?

Is it? Yes. I can't understand it. I

suppose you saw nothing of his bag. Why

no, sir. Well, if he brought his cane

back here, what did he do with his bag?

Ah, very good, Sergeant. That's just the

point. He undoubtedly left it somewhere.

But where? I should think the most

logical place would be the check room at

the Grand Central Station. What kind of

a bag was it? Just an ordinary pigkin

bag, sir, with his initials BC on it. Is

that it? Yeah, that looks like it.

There's your police department receipt.

What time was this check? Pull the 45.

Thanks, pal. Okay.

Well, here it is. Put it here. Did you

examine the contents? No. I brought it

right up here. Did you find out what

time this was checked? Yeah, there you

are. 4:45.

You must have gone direct from the house

to the station. Did the attendant

remember who left this? No, he said it

was so many that most of the time he

didn't even notice the people.

Well, there's shaving kit, shirts,

underwear, socks, collars, slippers.

Nothing in there that a man wouldn't

ordinarily take with him on a short

trip, except this perhaps.

Unsolved murders.

That's a swell book to take to Chicago.

That's rather odd, isn't it? Yes, more

than that. Gentlemen, the mist is

beginning to arise.

I think I know at least a part of what

happened here last night. How about

this?

Let's say that Brisbane Cove started for

Chicago on a night when he knew that no

one but Archer would be at home. He

missed his train purposely, checked his

bag at the station, and returned here to

kill his brother. To make a perfect

alibi, he planned to take a later train

to Chicago. But something stopped him.

And something stopped Archer Co before

he could remove his shoes last night.

You see what I mean? Those shoes of

Archers, that bag of Brisbane, his stick

hanging there in the hall. It shouldn't

have been there.

Take just a minute.

Oh. Uh, Gamble,

where did Mr. Brisbane usually put his

hat and overcoat when he came in? He

always hung them in the closet, sir. Uh,

which closet? This one.

[Music]

Oh,

Mr. Brisben.

Well, Mr. Vance, where are we now?

I should say somewhere in the middle of

the Gobi Desert.

Hello.

What? Again? I'm right in the middle of

my lunch. First, you interfere with my

breakfast, then you ruin my lunch. Don't

you boys ever eat? No, I'm on a diet.

Oh, all right.

Hello. All right, I'll attend to that

later. Get me the wagon and the

fingerprint gang.

Just a minute, fellas. One side, please.

Please.

Ready? That's all. All right. Go ahead.

Here. He's been dead for hours. And me

thinking all the time he was playing

possum.

Well, there too many people in the world

anyway. Mr. Vance, this is just ordinary

junk. I'm afraid so. And I'd rather hope

for something important. Which one of

the two victims died first? Doctor

Archo. I think this one a little later.

And the weapon say sharp and narrow.

Second tag and list these. I think I

better fingerprint everything inside and

outside here. Right, yes. Look for a

sharp narrow weapon. All right.

Found something. Boy, it looks like

fishing tackle. It's tackle. All right,

but not fishing.

Markhamm, we're dealing with a shrewd

brain. The technique of this crime was

very cleverly worked out. But something

went wrong. Sergeant,

here's your order for the removal of the

body. Thanks, Doc. So long. I want food.

Well, nobody's stopping you. And if you

got any more corpses, bring them out

now, will you? I can't be running up and

down here all day. What do you mean

running up and down all day with that

swell car the city gave you? Oh, nothing

upsets the doctor.

H, Captain, you want to take charge?

Well, if you hurry up and solve this

case, maybe I can go home. Come on.

[Laughter]

I can handle everything if I don't get

too much interference. Oh, Mark. Yeah,

you're just in time for a demonstration.

I think I can show you how Brisbane Cole

used this fishing tackle.

He started for Chicago and Billy to

provide an alibi. He had other plans in

this room. Watch this.

Notice the bent pin which is hooked on

the bolt handle.

This is attached to the string I am now

pulling through the keyhole. If you

follow the string, you will see that it

passes around a pin in the wall. This

acts as a pulley and is also attached to

a string passing through the keyhole.

You see the bolt is now being forced

into its socket. Upon my word, I now

pull the first string through the

keyhole and then the second string. And

with it comes the pin, leaving no

evidence. Now, let me in.

It worked. Yes, it worked. Well, that

explains that then. Very clever. It

could have been done that way. But if

Brisbane killed Archer Co, who killed

Brisbane and hung him in the closet? Why

did he do it? That's what we want to

find out, isn't it? Exactly. Yeah.

Gentlemen, two persons planned the

murder of Archer Co. two. What? But

their paths crossed. Brisbane was one of

them. The other. I've got it. The

Chinese cook. They're full of those

tricks. Forget this. Dr. Dus said that

Cole was struck over the head with a

blunt instrument.

This poker would answer that

description, wouldn't it? Yes. And that

certainly looks like dried blood. It

certainly does. But what about those

short coarse hairs? They don't look like

coals. No.

Well, Mr. Vance, why didn't you find

that when you looked in there this

morning?

It wasn't in there this morning.

Besides, it doesn't belong in this room.

It belongs downstairs in the library.

[Music]

That you, Captain?

What's the matter with you?

What is it, Captain?

What is it? Captain

down here.

Oh, good boy, Captain.

This dog's been struck a nasty blow.

That explains the coarse hairs on the

poker. Uh, whose dog is this? I don't

know. I mean, I've often seen it in the

vacant lot, sir. Just tell the truth,

Gamble.

Yes. Why don't you? It belongs to the

lady next door. Sir,

Hennessy, get that fellow to a vets as

fast as you can, would you? Yes.

Easy

boy. Easy. Easy boy. Easy.

Now, Gamble, let's have a name. The lady

next door. Doris Delerfield. Yes. I'm

Miss Delafield.

Won't you sit down, gentlemen? Thank

you. I'm sorry I didn't win you a trophy

at the dog show. You're quite a fancier,

aren't you? Yes, somewhat. I'm

interested in one of your dogs. The

Doberman. You mean Figaro. I wonder if I

can have a look at him. I'm terribly

sorry. You know, he slipped his leash

last night and ran away. I've notified

the police. My maid's been scouring the

neighborhood trying to find him. Well,

did she inquire at Mr. Co's house next

door?

Well, I I don't know. You and Mr. Co

have been good friends, haven't you?

I know him. Why?

Your dog was found in his house this

morning, badly wounded.

What? Have you any idea how he got

there? No. Do you suppose he would

follow someone into the house? Well, I

hardly think.

So, what are you driving at?

Mr. Archer Cole and his brother were

murdered last night.

Murdered?

I was afraid that

just a moment.

Hello. Is that Miss Doris Delfield's

apartment?

Would you please tell Miss Delfield that

we couldn't get the reservations for her

and Mr. Gracie on a deck and ask if B

deck would be satisfactory? Miss

Deloffield will not be sailing. You can

cancel reservation for them both. Both?

Do you mind telling me whom the other

reservation was for?

I refuse to answer that question. Would

it be Mr. Graci? But I am Mr. Gracias.

And if I didn't cancel those

reservations, who did? What? Miss

Deloffield. Oh, no, no, no. She didn't.

No, really. There's been a mistake. As

soon as I can find out about this, I'll

call you back.

I don't think you'll find Miss Delefield

at home, just follow. And as for the

consolation of your estam ship

reservations, we regret very much that

it was necessary. Who are you?

This is Mr. Markham, the district

attorney. Oh, I'm honored, but I'm

afraid I don't quite understand. It's

about this. As a matter of fact, Mr.

Cole didn't commit suicide. He was

murdered. Murdered? Would you mind

coming along with us? Just a little

matter of comparing fingerprints.

No, not in the least.

I think that's all.

Found anything yet? The one taken from

the doororknob is too blurred for

identification, but this one is very

clear. It appears to be that of Leang,

the Chinese cook.

[Music]

Any luck? No, not yet. It must be here

somewhere.

I'm positive that the dagger that killed

the coals belongs in that she

No. H.

[Applause]

Well,

that's strange. What is it? A tinga vase

is missing. It's the most valuable in

the whole collection. That's all that's

left of it.

If I'm not mistaken, that's blood.

Blood.

Malcolm, I'm coming more and more to the

belief that Archer Co was killed in this

room. That poker, this dagger sheath,

now these fragments, all here. But

Vance, do you mean to tell me that the

dead man walked upstairs? I'm not trying

to tell you anything but the facts. It's

the most remarkable case in my

experience.

Find anything, Cap?

Yes, sir. Plenty.

Oh, uh, Mr. Reed. Well, yes, Mr. V.

Would you, uh, step in for a moment,

please? I'm certainly

smoke. No thanks. Did you, uh, notice

that the tinga was missing?

Missing?

Why? It was here yesterday evening. At

what time? At about 6:30 or 7:00, I came

back to talk to Mr. Cole. About what?

As a matter of fact, I I wanted to quit

my job as his secretary. Oh, you'd been

having some difficulties with him. It

was rather a personal matter. I wanted

his permission to marry Miss Lake. What

did he say to that?

He ordered me out. You went? Yes. Where?

I went to find Miss Lake. I thought she

was at the Kennall Club, but I had a

puncture on the way, so it was rather

late when I got there. She'd already

left with Sir Thomas McDonald. Then I

came home and went directly to bed. Did

you hear anything or see anything when

you came into the house? No, but after

I'd been in bed for a while, I heard

some noises downstairs. I opened the

door and looked down, but it was only

Leang, the Chinese cook, coming in. Was

he uh customarily noisy in entering the

house? Oh.

As a matter of fact, it's the first time

I ever heard him come in. Indeed.

Well, I think that's all, Mr. Reed.

Thank you. Thank you. If there's

anything I can do to help, let me know.

Right. Good night. Good night.

I think I'd check up on that chemical

club, ali. I will. You might have those

fragments checked for fingerprints, if

you will. Yes. Meanwhile, I'll do a

little exploring in the kitchen.

Why? Mr. Mans, I thought get Markham.

Mr. Leang, I believe you're the cook. Me

cook?

You can drop the pigeon English. That

isn't necessary with me. Where did you

go to school? Columbia University. Ah,

that's considerable education for a

cook, isn't it? Mr. Co employed me

because I know a great deal about

Chinese porcelain. Ah, I see. Ah, that's

a very lovely piece of tinga, isn't it?

How did he get broken? I don't know,

sir. I found the pieces in the waste

basket in the library. You want me

Vance? Oh, yes.

See that, Marggo?

More blood spots on the inside.

Apparently, the murderer dropped the

dagger in here to hide it, but he

dropped it too hard and the vase broke.

Uh, when did you find these pieces? This

morning? This morning? You sure it

wasn't last night? About 8:00, let us

say? No, sir. I did not get in until

after midnight. I'm sure Mr. Reed or Mr.

Gamble will tell you that. What time did

you find the poker? The poker? Yes, the

poker. The one you hid in the Chinese

chest in Mr. Archer's room this

afternoon. But I don't know what you

mean. Oh, yes you do. I was behind the

door in that room when you hid it. Let

me handle this. Mr. Vance, are you going

to talk or do I have to make you? Wait,

I'll tell you the truth. Well, spit it

out.

When I returned to my room here about

8:00 last night. Ah, I thought so. I

heard angry muffled voices in the

library. Then a dull sound as of someone

falling.

I stood at my door here and listened.

Then I heard footsteps cross the kitchen

and go out the back door. And then I

walked up the corridor and everything

was very quiet. I opened the library

door and looked in. The furniture was

overturned. The poker was there, the

desk was disarranged, and the valuable

tenu vase was broken. I thought there

must be something wrong. So I went

upstairs and looked into Mr. Co's

bedroom. He was dead. Fearing that I

might be suspected, I went back to the

library and picked up the broken pieces

of the vase and together with the poker,

I took them to my room. And knowing that

you were alone in the house, you were

afraid you might be suspected. So, you

hid the weapons and left. Yes, sir. You

returned to the house about midnight and

purposely made a lot of noise so as to

establish your alibi. Is that right?

Yes, sir. All right, then. Where'd you

put the dagger? I did not find the

dagger. Don't give me that. What did you

do with it after you stuck it in Archo's

back? I've got it, Mr. Markhamm. Yes.

Fingerprint on this broken fragment

belongs to the Italian Eduardo Graci.

Well, Mr. Vance, looks like somebody

else miscalculated.

Yep, it fits. That doesn't prove

anything.

What about this?

Where did you get it? It was in Archer

Cole's pocket. What were you doing

outside the drawing room window last

night? Well, I I wanted to be sure that

he was alone. Why? For weeks, we had

been negotiating for the sale of his

collection to the museum at Milan. It

meant everything to me. He kept raising

the price, but on Monday, we came to an

understanding, and I cable the museum

that I had succeeded. And last night he

turned me down because he saw me with

Miss Delfield.

Let me explain. Archer was extremely

jealous of me. Well, you can't blame him

for that. You went there to threaten

him, didn't you? I had every right to

do. I told him I would use any means to

make him fulfill his contract. He

laughed at me. Said that he would smash

every piece in his collection before

he'd let me have it. So, you picked up

the poker and did a little smashing on

your own account, eh? I did not. Let me

add a fragment, will you? Thank you. You

know how that was broken? Tin yellow

bars with blood stains on the inside and

your fingerprint on the outside. I don't

know, Sergeant. I think you better book

him, right? Thank you.

Come on. Let's get out of that monkey

suit. Let's get going. Come on. Don't

worry. I'm not running away. You telling

me?

[Applause]

I suspected the Italian all along.

Exactly.

But why should Grassi also stab

Brisbane? And what about the Doberman?

You see, Marc, we have nearly all the

pieces of the puzzle, but none of them

seems to fit. Here we are.

This isn't it. This is the basement. I

know. Come on.

I just want to see where this goes.

[Music]

Well, good evening, sir. Gamble.

And by the way, uh, how long have you

been using that name? All my life, sir.

Dubar checked Gamble's fingerprints at

the identification bureau. And who do

you think he turns out to be? None

Gamble? No. Atlantic Eddie. He used to

work the boats on both sides of the

ocean. Honestly, Mr. Vance, I haven't

turned a trick in 5 years. Oh, that's

all right, Eddie. I just wanted to let

you know that we're old pals.

Sir, someone slipped in the back door

and went into one of the front rooms.

Well, Miss Dean, don't be surprised,

gentlemen. I'm used to coming in here

like this. You seem to know your way

around here pretty well. As a district

attorney, you're responsible for this

case, aren't you? That's right. Well,

I'm tired of detectives. I'm tired of

being spied on. All you want to know is

who killed Archer Co., isn't it?

Naturally. Well, I did. What? Yes. And

there isn't a jury on earth will convict

me when they hear my story. You don't

believe me, do you?

You were wondering this afternoon how my

dog Figaro could get into this house

where he was following me. He was

defending me when he was struck.

Where did you kill Mr. Cole? In his

bedroom.

What kind of lipstick do you use?

Lipstick? What's that got to do with it?

Is that yours?

Yes, that's mine. While I was struggling

with Archer, my bag dropped on the floor

and everything spilled out.

Won't do, Miss Delfield. It's an old

trick. It's not a trick. I didn't

realize that you were so fond of Mr.

Graci. Mr. Graci has nothing to do with

it. Take me down to the station. I'll

say nothing more until I get an

attorney. Help. Help. Help. Help.

Hey, you remember there?

This guy's been stabbed, Hennessy.

Is this it, Mr. Vance? Yes, that's it.

Thank you very much.

First, you spoil my breakfast. Then, you

break up my lunch. Now, you pull me out

of bed in the middle of the night. And

this fellow not even dead. Why don't you

put that in your report, Doc? Of course.

Fingerprints would never pick up on that

silk handle, but it fits perfectly.

Where'd you find it, Sergeant? Under the

bed. Congratulations. That's all right,

Mr. Vance.

Three crimes with the same weapon.

Malcolm

Tom, what is it? What's happened? I

don't know, dear. Somebody stabbed me.

Is it serious, doctor? Oh no. I gave him

three grains of sodium aml to quiet his

nerves. He'll be all right. I'd like to

rent a room here till they finish this

case.

Poor darling. I wish I hadn't got you

mixed up in all this. You shouldn't have

come here. Let me see this through

alone. Oh, I won't leave you. Can't we

get away from here? We leave tomorrow

together. Well, what do you think about

it, Doc?

Well, the thrust punctured the median

bacic vein and caused a hemorrhage.

Could the wound have been

self-inflicted? Doctor, I'm the city

butcher, not the detective.

Don't bother me with any murders. After

three tomorrow, I'm going to the World

Series. Hey, Doc, hold me the score

between innings, will you?

Get these people out of this. What are

they waiting for? We just want to ask

you a few questions, Thomas. You say

that when you were stabbed, you saw

nothing. Huh? That's right.

It was dark. I heard a noise and jumped

out of bed. Somebody threw a chair and

just missed my head and struck the

window. I shot it for help and ran

towards the door. Then I I felt a sharp

pain in my arm as I lost consciousness.

Knife by a ghost. That's a hot one. I

think he'd done it himself. Oh, Davis,

that's not fair. Do you know anything

about that?

Where'd you find it? Under your bed.

I I never saw it before. Yeah, like I

never saw a pair of handcuffs. You have

no right to question him now in this

condition.

Rather funny.

You see what I see in Archer Co's room?

I have a suspicion that whoever killed

the co came from this house.

probably from this room.

Gentlemen, I think I can fit the pieces

of this jigsaw puzzle together.

Now, here is East 71st Street. This is

the coal house, the yard, and the

apartment house next door. Now, let's

have a look inside.

This is a McDonald's apartment.

Directly opposite is the window of

Archer Co's bedroom.

Underneath McDonald's apartment is the

cozy little nest of Miss Delerfield and

her temporary guest, Mr. Graci. This is

the elevator. And here are the stairs

that lead directly to the back entrance.

From there, it's easy to reach the back

entrance to the co house across the

yard. Now,

that's the front hall. And here's the

library.

On Wednesday evening between 7:30 and

8:00, Archer Co was sitting alone in

that room.

Now remember, it was the servant's night

off.

The killer must have known this when he

came in the back door. He was so intent

upon what he was planning to do that he

must have left the back door open

because from somewhere in that vacant

lot came a dog, a Doberman Pincher

belonging to Doris Delifffield.

He saw the back door standing open and

went in.

Meanwhile, the killer was moving along

the hall toward the library, making

absolutely sure that Archer Cole was

alone.

He knew exactly where he was going and

exactly what he was going to do.

He came so silently that it must have

startled Archer Cole when he looked up

and saw him carefully closing the doors.

It is my conjecture, gentlemen, that a

terrific argument took place. Archer

Cole must have struck and as he fell

back, he picked up the poker as the

first weapon that came into his hand. He

struck Archo in the head. Cole collapsed

across the desk, his hands groping in

the drawer of the desk for his gun.

Then, in a blind rage of the moment, the

killer saw a Chinese dagger. He seized

it and stabbed Archer Cole in the back.

Cole probably fell to the floor.

Meantime, our Doberman Pincher was

coming closer and closer, probably

attracted by the sound of the struggle

in the library. As the killer opened the

door to escape, he saw the Doberman

Pincher in the hall coming toward him.

He again picked up the poker as the dog

entered the room. True to the instinct

of his breed, the dog sensed an enemy.

He leaped. Killer struck and the dog

fell badly wounded. Now he tried to hide

the dagger in the tinga velo too hard

and the porcelain broke into bits. He

picked up the dagger again and went out

the same way he came in.

Meanwhile, Cole slowly regained

consciousness and pulled himself to his

feet. You remember, gentlemen, that Dr.

Darus said Co died of an internal

hemorrhage.

That is the key to the whole situation.

Archer Co, already a dying man, walked

upstairs. And what is even more

terrible, he did not know that he had

been stabbed.

He went to his room and feeling a little

faint probably, he removed his coat and

vest and hung them in the closet where

we found them.

He put on his pajama top and went to the

window and raised the shade.

Can you imagine the killer's emotions

when from someplace in the apartment

house across the vacant lot, he looked

over and saw the man he thought he had

killed standing there at the window.

He knew then that he had to go back and

complete his job to save himself.

Feeling very faint by now, Archo went

from the window to the chair beside his

desk where he sat down. There he started

to remove his shoes. You remember just

how we found him. In the very act of

removing them, before he could get one

of them entirely off, he died.

I don't think he ever knew what killed

him.

Now we come to the most awful part of

the tragedy.

Brisbane Cole came back to the house

with a cleverly worked out plan for

killing his brother. He also knew that

it was the servant's night out and that

he would not be disturbed.

He went down the hall to the library and

from the drawer of the desk he took

Archer Co's own revolver and put it into

his pocket.

Then turning out the light on the desk

he went out of the room. He hung his

stick over the chair in the hall and

tiptoed up the stairs and into Archer

Co's room.

He saw his brother sitting in his easy

chair, apparently asleep.

I can see him tiptoe across the room.

And from somewhere, just across the

desk, he took out the revolver and with

careful aim, he pulled the trigger.

Meanwhile, the killer, believing that he

had only wounded Archer Cole, came back

by the same route to finish his job.

Then, Brisbane closed the window and

lowered the shade,

and returning to the body, he carefully

placed the gun in Archer's hand as

though it had been suicide.

Then he went to the door and with the

two pieces of string, the pins and the

darning needle, he was able to bolt the

door on the inside just as I showed you.

A very clever device, gentlemen, which

he had discovered in the book of

unsolved murders, which we found in his

suitcase.

Then, gentlemen, Brisbane went on down

the stairs, little knowing what awaited

him there.

The killer mistook Brisbane for Archer

Co. and drove the dagger into Brisbane's

back.

Then, to hide the body,

he dragged it into the closet.

I doubt if he even discovered his

mistake until the next day. That's

great. But who did all that? Well, you

can search me. I'm going destroy now.

You can include me in that, Sergeant.

Haven't you got any ideas at all, Vance?

Morgan, it's a maze of conflicting

clues. Anyone of seven people might have

done it. But we couldn't convict seven

people, Mr. Vance. You couldn't convict

one with the evidence you've got.

Gentlemen, I'm afraid we're completely

stopped.

Late? I hate to admit it, but it looks

that way. Vance, in all the years we've

worked together, I never heard you say

that before. I know. I'm sorry, Min.

Well, what are we going to do about it?

I don't know. Are you sure you checked

up on all the alibis? Every one of them.

And you've gone over the fingerprint

situation with your boy? Yes, sir. Well,

we've slipped up somewhere, Sergeant.

But there must be something that we can

get our teeth into.

Mock,

I suggest that you dismiss this case.

What? Dismiss it. Yes. Turn all the

suspects loose. I can just see all the

newspapers in this town screaming for a

new district attorney. Well, we can

probably cover you up. All right, Mr.

Markham. I've said it with suicide all

along. Yes, I know. We could put that

solution on it, but I hate to do it. All

right, Sergeant. Go ahead. Turn him

loose. Turn him loose. Yes.

Well, Mr. Vance, this is once we're both

stuck.

When you give up, Vance, I'm sunk.

Oh, I haven't given up. I have another

idea. What? If it works, I'll have your

killer for you in half an hour. I'm

going to arrange a little meeting with

him now. What? But you let me dismiss

all the suspects. That's just what I

wanted you to do.

Hello. Uh, this is Mr. Vance.

I hope I haven't disturbed you.

See, I wonder if you do me a little

favor, Mr. Barkham. Yes. Can I see you a

minute?

That suicide story might work all right

for Archer Co., but I forgot all about

Brisbane.

Well, never mind about that now. Just

release the suspects as I told you. All

right,

that's it. Yes, that's right. At 4:30.

and just get him into an argument.

Oh, I'll have him with me. I'm depending

on his instinct.

That's right. Thanks.

If we can catch him off his guard, I

think he'll give himself away. Come on,

Mark. We've got to get there before

4:25.

Mr. Vance,

they're in the library now.

Oh, darling, let me help you. All right,

Dorothy.

[Music]

[Applause]

Well, it's the first time we've used

blood hounds in police work since I wore

high button shoes. And red flannel

underwear. Oh, I always wear red flannel

underwear. So do I. I want your bridal

suite on the on the Corona sailing at

midnight. That's right. Thank you.

Sailing at midnight.

Lady McDonald, is it the title that

dazzles you so much? Or is it the

fortune she'll inherit that makes her so

attractive, Sir Thomas? Raymond, are you

crazy? It isn't the first time a fortune

has bought a title. It so happens I'm

not in need of a fortune. Possibly you

are. Raymond, you have no right to

interfere this way. All right. Well,

I'll take that right. You think you're

both sailing at midnight. Well, it won't

work. You're going all right, sir.

Thomas, but you're going alone. Really?

Yes. And you're going now, right?

Ah, the poker again, huh?

Take him off. Take him off.

Take him off. Will you take him home?

Hold him. Why did you kill Cole? Why did

you kill him? I didn't mean to kill him.

But you did, eh? I told you I didn't

mean to kill him. He struck me when I

told him I wanted to marry Hilda, but I

lost my head. I hit him with a poker. I

don't remember anything after that. What

about Brisbane? It was a terrible

mistake. And McDonald, I still would

kill him if I could.

There's your man, Sergeant.

You made a fatal mistake, Reed, when you

reached for that poker. Somebody swiped

my bracelets. You dropped them in the

pantry. Oh, all right. Hennessy, down,

booking. I want to thank you very much

for your cooperation. Not at all. It was

Sir Thomas I telephoned from your

office, Markhamm. He very cleverly

helped to stage this little scene. We

have to thank the dog for the rest.

Well, we did it again, Mr. Vance.

Congratulations, Sergeant. Thank you.

I'll certainly mention you in my story

to the papers. Thank you. Oh, that's all

right, Mr. Vance.

[Laughter]

[Music]

[Applause]