We continue with "I Love a Mystery" "The Million Dollar Curse" as Jack, Doc & Reggie think they're getting closer to unraveling the mystery of the Richard Curse.
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Audio Groove Cast #7: I Love a Mystery(072824)
[MUSIC PLAYING] This episode is brought to you by Experian. Are you paying for subscriptions you don't use, but can't find the time or energy to cancel them? Experian could cancel unwanted subscriptions for you, saving you an average of $270 per year, and plenty of time. Download the Experian app. Results will vary. Not all subscriptions are eligible. Savings are not guaranteed. Paid membership with connected payment account required. Sunday Showcase, highlighting some of the best audio storytelling found anywhere, all right here on the Mutual Audio Network. [MUSIC PLAYING] The following audio drama is rated PG for Parental Guidance. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] Welcome back to Audio Groovecast, where we continue to listen to "I Love a Mystery the Million Dollar Curse" written by Carlton E. Morse. The plot thickens as Jack, Doc, and Reggie think they're getting closer to unraveling the mystery of the Richard curse. But before we play tonight's episodes, let's talk for a minute about the actor who plays Jack Packard in tonight's show, Russell Thorson. He had a radio and television career that spanned nearly 40 years. He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in journalism. He went on to act in many radio dramas, including "Midstream," "The Tom Mix," "Allston Straight Shooters," "Adventures By Morse," "One Man's Family," and, of course, "I Love a Mystery," among others. Thorson acted in films, but the bulk of his work was in television, including "Spots on the Detectives," "Perry Mason," "Mavric," "Galigan's Island," "Gunsmoke," and many more. Thorson died in 1982 at the age of 75. So sit back, grab a nice set of headphones, and enjoy episodes eight and nine of "I Love a Mystery-- The Million Dollar Curse." [MUSIC PLAYING] An actual broadcasting system presents "I Love a Mystery." [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] Take them up. Would you like a chunk of lead in your middle? Not me, fella. Then don't move a finger. Happy. That's me. I got them covered. Fan them. Sure, with pleasure. Don't waste no time. This is no picnic. What about the sky? No, don't you touch me. Leave the sky below. It's a nice skype. Leave the skirt alone. Well, ain't that what I'm doing? These guys ain't got no rots. I could have told you that. Hey, he could have told us that. I need a comedian. Hey, look. My arms is getting tall. Get them up. Uppy. Shall I bump them off? No, tie them up. Well, we want to tie them up, so we come out here to bump them off. We can't bump nobody off in the presence of the skirt. We could have if we bumped the skirt off, too. We ain't got no orders to bump no skirt off. Yeah, but she's a nice skype. Thank you, Barry. You keep your hands off me. Oh, it's great when it dampers. Oh, happy, tie them birds up. May I make a suggestion? No, you can't make no suggestion. Well, then, may I ask a question? No, you can't ask no question. Well, you're three pals. You're liable to die on your hands if you don't get them to a doctor. You mean a white pad? Yes. That's their hard luck. Yeah, but after a white pad. That's their hard luck. We got our orders to bump these three guys off and bury them. Three? That's orders. Everybody show me to them. Ah, that's right. Hey, where's the other mug? Well, I can tell you that, fella. Yes. Yes, we can tell you where he is. He's in that wrecked car, dead. Yeah? Yes, dead. And you can blame yourselves for it. Eh, ain't that too bad now? We think so? Well, don't feel too bad, mister. His troubles is all over. And you still got yours coming. Well, what are you standing there for, Hoppy? I told you to tie them up. That's right. I thought there was something you told me to do. I was trying to remember. We'll do it. Shall I tie up the skype first? Leave the skirt alone. Oh, and we're going to tie up the skirt at all? No. That's too bad. I sure would like to tie up that skirt. Put your hands behind you, bud. How about it, Jack? He's got a gun on us. Well, I sure don't like it. Why, you double-jointed city cat. Put your hands behind you. Better someday, I'm going to take you apart. That's better. Put your hands up. Both of you. Hey, this guy's got a gun. Sonny, you crazy little idiot. Drop that gun. I won't. I can shoot as good as he can. You're up, that gun, sister. Or I will make a sieve out of you. I won't. I'll shoot if you do. Hoppy. A gun potent skype. Take that gun away from her. You mean I can go for her? Get that gun with pleasure. No. No, don't come any closer. I ain't mixed with a skype. Never so long. Sonny, throw the gun away. You're here? Throw it away. I'll kill him. I'll kill him. Oh, no, you won't. Give me that right. I won't. I'll kill him. Yeah, you've got the gun. Yeah, and I also got the skype. Now hurry up and put the ropes on these two guys so we can get going. I told you not to try to use that gun. Somebody's got to do something. Sonny, it's just like I told Arthur the other night. When you pull out a gun, you've got to shoot right off. On the count of folks, they just don't muck you around and shoot nine. Now put your arms back up here and this time do it. And don't waste no more time. We got to get out of here. Doc? Here? I think the British are coming. Huh? Oh, oh, yeah. No fooling. No fooling. What are they talking about, how big? When I'm just said the British are coming. Oh, what does that mean? Search me. I got one I'm tied. Well, hurry up with the other one. Yes, it won't be long now. And me all tied up like a sack of potatoes. It's all right. I'm still free. But not for long. Put your hands behind you. Get him, Reggie. I got him, Jack. Hey, Hoppy. I'll take you a hug. Hey, look off. You're the best. You're the best. And a boy, Jack. You got him first crack. Ah. How you coming, Reggie? I went down like a pulled-off. Nothing to it at all. Reggie, you were unconscious. I said I didn't have to stay that way, did I? Good work, Bella. You come to you, took in the situation, and you did just what was right and proper. Right. Ooh, still a bit dizzy, though. Well, after that bug you got in the wreck. It's not surprising. Sure. I did take a fly tonight. What about those other jumpies? Well, we've got to get them to a hospital. Only now we've got five bodies, instead of just three. And by the way, would somebody get these ropes off of it? Oh, right. I'll turn around. Yeah. Uh, where do you suppose those, uh, these last two guys come from anyway, Jack? Well, you heard what they said. Yeah, that they was out here to bury us. There you are. Yeah, thanks. Apparently they were two more of the same gang that had been waiting out here in the desert for the others to bring us along. Quiet. Then there was to be a firing squad, and we were to be thrown into a hole in the sand and covered up. No. Yawney, what you shivering to bear? Ooh, what is it? What's going on? Well, Sonny, it looks to me as though we were beginning to get under the surface of the Richard curse. But what's this to do with the curse? Maybe a lot. I don't understand. Well, supposing I'd been shot in the park the other night. All the three of us have disappeared, or our bodies have been found out here on the desert. What would you have thought? Oh. Oh, yes. Yes. If you hadn't known all that's happened, you'd have said the Richard curse had caused our deaths. You'd have believed we died because we were associated with you. But this is different. Someone's deliberately trying to kill you. All the others have been accidental. And made to look accidental, you mean? You mean? I mean that I think this same gang that tried to lay us away tonight are responsible for at least some of the deaths that took place before we came into the picture. But that's not a curse. Oddly. Hey, we're Doc and Reggie. They're taking the bodies over to my car on the highway, but Jack, why? What do you mean, why? If a gang of men are killing people close to me, there must be some reason for it. Yes. We're going to start looking for that reason. But the curse? There isn't any curse, and there never has been. Oh, but you're wrong. It's been in my family for generations. Who told you that? My father. I found something better to do. When did he tell you? Well, he didn't exactly tell me. He left it for me in a letter attached to his will. Your father's attorney, Leslie Marks, gave you that letter when the will was read. Yes. Leslie gave it to me. Was it in your father's handwriting? No, it was typewritten. But it was signed. I know my father's signature. And you didn't know anything about the curse until you read that letter? No. You still have it? Yes. Because I have it at home. I'd like to have a look at it when we get back. Well, if you wish. Do you know the condition of your estate? But that's absurd. Leslie. It's not absurd. Nothing's absurd when people are being killed like flies around you. And I don't trust that Mark's fellow any further than I could throw an elephant by the tail. But if he wanted my estate, it would be me he wanted dead, wouldn't it? Well, you're the last person in the world he'd want dead, especially if he's been eluding the estate. I don't understand. Because if you were dead, he'd have to make an accounting to the court. And if he's been using your money, go to jail for it. Who is? Well, that still doesn't explain why he'd want the men close to you out of the way. No. No, I think you're all wrong about Leslie. I'm sure of it. Unless you. Look, Sonny, did your father's will say anything about all property reporting to you immediately in case you got married? No. Merely that Leslie was to be my executor until I'd reached the age of 25. Why? Why did you say that? Well, if he had to turn the estate over to you when you married, then naturally he'd do everything in his power to drive off all eligible men. But my marrying doesn't change his thing. Oh, so you can forget that. Well, this is going to take some thinking over. Well, Jack, if you can really prove it isn't the curse, then I've already done that to my satisfaction. But proof, I want to be convinced I've got to... Well, you better stop worrying about the curse and start worrying about something really serious. Serious? Yes, and it's my guess that it's Leslie Marks. Jack, I know your mistake and I know you are. Well, somebody's surrounding you with gangsters and gunmen. Somebody's bound and determined you're going to live alone and like improve that delight. I don't understand it. Oh, but you're beginning to believe it, aren't you? I don't know. You're going to marry Phil Terry. Where's he? Cripple in the hospital. You're beginning to show an interest in Roger and in Freddie. Where are they? Married. You and I announced our engagement. With good luck, I'm still here, but that wasn't because someone didn't try to sue me. Yes. Yes, there's something. There's something. It's somebody. From now on, we don't let up until we run him down. Well, who are we going to run down now? What's you, Doc? Yeah. And why you two been a stand-in-air gabbin, me and Reggie done ourselves a job. Get all the bodies loaded in the car? Yeah, no thanks to you. Okay, let's get started back to town. I don't know what anyone's going to sit. The entire back is occupied by the unconscious. Well, that's okay. Sonny can drive. You're riding the front seat with her, Reggie. Doc, now hang on the running one. Hey, what's Reggie done to get a brake like that? He got thrown out of the wreck on his head, and a little thing like that gets in the front seat back to town. Oh, I say, Doc, you take it. I should say not. You're riding with me, Reggie. Get him. Thank you. Right. Oh. And that settles there. Oh. Are we ready to start? Yes, start the motor. Oh, here. Wait a minute. Hey, what's the matter now? Just a minute. I've got to get back to the wreck. So what's that for? Darned, if I know. Got some kind of a "B" in his bonnet. Hmm. Think we should go to? I don't wreck. A sonny. Yes? I heard some of the things Jack said to you. You convinced now that this here little old Richard Kursey yours is a lot of hogwash? Oh. I want to. Well, then just go ahead and believe it, because it's true. Right. It's so mixed up. But I will tell you this. Yeah. There's been a lot of fear twisted up in my stomach for almost a year now. And for the first time, it isn't there anymore. Now you're talking for-- Oh. Here he comes back. I didn't take him long. But what'd you go back for, fella? Sonny. Sonny, this may be important. What's the matter? Do you know a man named Donald Robert Lincoln? Donald Robert Lincoln? Yes. Think hard. I don't have no. Of course I know. Who is he? What is he? He's one of the richest men in San Diego. Yes, but what connection has he got with you? I don't know. He was a friend of my father's in the old days. He was? How close a friend? Why? Next to Leslie Marks, the closest friend he had, I think. Right. Now we're getting somewhere. But what does Donald Robert Lincoln have to do with this? It's his automobile that's wrecked over there. Oh, no, Jack. You mean he's head of the gang that tried to take us for a ride tonight? That's what we're going to ask him. Well, but it couldn't. It couldn't be Mr. Lincoln. I'll know more about that when we've had a little talk with you, old boy. I'll know more about that. [Music] The further transcribed adventures of Jack, Doc and Reggie will come to you tomorrow at this same hour. I love a mystery written and directed by Coughton E. Morse. Comes to you Monday through Friday, featuring Russell Porson as Jack, Jim Bowles as Doc Long and Tony Randall as Reggie York, trying to find the speaking. The natural broadcasting system presents, "I Love the Mystery." [Music] On E.U., calls him more "Sadventure Triller." Well, you should have seen that red car. It's a wonder anyone came out alive. That's mighty funny. I'm especially interested in how it happened that Jack, Doc and Reggie came through that wreck with hardly a scratch and the three gunmen ended up with busted heads and broken bones. Just a lucky chance, I guess. Yeah, hardly that. What do you mean, York? It's all very simple. You see, we were expecting the accident and we're ready for it and the other three men weren't. Are you kidding? Well, that's all Phil. That's where it was. Well, you tell me how you can get ready for an auto wreck? I don't mind. It's the principle you know of centrifugal force. I mean to say, when a speeding car spins and turns over, it's a bit like a whirling phonograph record. Anything near the outer edges flies off, but the nearer the center of the spin you are, the less violent the action. Reggie, how do you get to the center of a whirling, crashing automobile? Well, the chap in the front seat lies down the floor and wedges himself up under the dashboard as knees braced against the front seat. And the man in the back seat should drop to the floor and cling to the footrest. That really works. Well, you're still taking a belly lot of chances, of course, but Jack, Doc and I have come through at least three such wrecks that way. I wish someone had told me that a year ago before I went over the cliff. Quiet. I wish they had. I told you before not to use that tone of voice to me. I hate sympathy. I'm sorry. I haven't told me yet where Doc Long and Jack Packard are. Well, we'll have to tell you everything that's happened in the last two hours for you to understand. Never mind. Tell me that later. Where are they now? Doc is down at the police emergency hospital. Jack's gone to see Mr. Donald Robert Lincoln. Donald Robert Lincoln? Yes. You mean all money bags, Lincoln? Yes. Why? What's Packard got to do with him? Does he expect... Who's that? Shall I go to the door and see? Who is it? It's Leslie Marksville. Leslie. I didn't expect to find anyone else here if I'm intruding. Of course he's not intruding, is he, Phil? No, no. As long as you hear your might as well stay. Thanks, Phil. And cut the Phil stuff, Marks. My last name's Terry. Very well, Terry. Why the sudden visit? Your surprise? Well, why shouldn't I be? First time you've been to see me since I came to this hospital. Well, Terry, as a matter of fact, I came to see you about Sonny here. Sonny? What do you mean, Leslie? Why did you come to see Phil about me? And if you must know Sonny, I wanted to discuss your engagement to Jack Packard with Phil. Why should you do that? Yeah. Why should I discuss Sonny's engagement to another man with you, Marks? I certainly don't intend to say anything in front of the present group, especially York here. Would you like to leave? You'd say right where you are, Reggie. What about it, Phil? Yeah, yeah. Stick around. By the way, Marks, Reggie and Sonny were just telling me a little story when you came in. Maybe you'd like to hear it, too. Maybe I would. Go ahead. Leslie, did you know that three men and police uniforms came in here a couple of hours ago and they pretended to arrest Jack, Doc, and Reggie? What's that? Quite. For the murder of Fish Evans. No. I didn't know that. But then, of course, you didn't know that when those officers got the boys outside, they turned out to be three gunmen intent on taking them for a ride. Are you being serious? Bloody serious, Marks. Go ahead. Tell them what happened, Reggie. They loaded us into a car and took us out on the desert. They had our final resting place all picked out for us. And just before we were hired, Jack reached over and spun the steering wheel and wrecked the car. Deliberately wrecked a speeding car. Right. Well, what happened? Well, our three captors were knocked about a bit. Jack, Doc, and I escaped with minor bruises. It's remarkable. Not at all. We knew how to protect ourselves. But if you wrecked the car, how did you get back to town so quickly? How far out were you? No. 10 or 15 miles, I should judge. Fortunately, Sonny here had the good sense to trail our car. Sonny, you did that? Yes. I see. Now, what became of the gunman? Well, we were on the point of landing them into Sonny's car and returning to town when two more of the ballet brutes showed up. What, sir? You didn't tell me that. Not that part of the story yet. They threw guns on us and seemed intent on completing the execution. They were part of the same gang. Apparently. You were there at that time, Sonny? Yes. One of them was in favor of killing me, too. Killing you? Sonny and Heaven's name, child, are so supposing that they had killed you. Oh, supposing they had. No, no, Sonny, you've got to have a guard after this. I've got all the guard I need. You haven't any guard at all. Jack, Doc, and Reggie are doing pretty well. Never mind that. What happened? The boys went to work on them. That's what happened. But they were dangerous killers. No, they weren't so dangerous when Jack and Reggie finished with them. I see. A York? Yes, Mr. Marx. You men seem to know your business. If you're talking about fighting, I agree with you. Yes. But I suppose there was a certain element of luck in your favor. It takes more than luck. Just look at you. So you had five bodies to bring in instead of three. The whole back of my car was full of bodies. You should have seen the police sergeant's eyes bug out when we brought him hot to the car. That's the same. We told him we'd picked up the five and an auto accident out on the desert, and we thought he might be interested. I say, yes. He took one look at them, and we were his friends for life. What do you mean by that? Well, it seems that three of our bodies were very badly wanted for smuggling across the Mexican border. He said that? He said more than that. One of them is wanted on an old murder charge, and the other one is wanted by the federal men and the narcotic indictment. Quite a haul. After that, you boys should have a pretty fine standing with the police in this part of the state. You think they want? No, we'll know more about that when Doc gets back. He's still down there, giving them our story. They let you two go. Yes, we wanted to get back up here and relieve Phil's mind. See, it all started right here in the room, and I knew Phil would be worried. He was thoughtful of you. You said Doc Long was at the station now. Where's Jack Packard? Oh, we'd drop Jack off at Donald Robert Lincoln's. Donald Robert. You'd drop Packard off where? That's right. Mr. Lincoln's home. Why? Well, Jack made it very interesting discovery. I don't see any reason for keeping it to ourselves, do you, Sonny? No, he didn't say to keep it secret. Grant, we discovered the car used by the gangsters, and carting us out to the desert, was one belonging to Mr. Lincoln. What are you saying? A bit of a blow, huh? The gangsters car belonged to Donald Robert Lincoln, and Packard's gone to beard the man in his den. Oh, Jack, and take care of himself. Wasn't he a friend of your father's sonning? Yes. He'd better be able to take care of himself. That fellow Lincoln is no one to play around. I realize you're only the butler, and you have your orders, but I'll give you one more chance. Do I get in to see Donald Robert Lincoln? No. Well, you asked for it. I'm sorry, but there's no time to argue. I'm going to better roll you behind the curtain so as not to upset the household. There. There. Yeah, yeah, sleep sweet. Mm, it's seen her, he said the library. There shouldn't be it. Jenkins, I said I didn't want to be disturbed. Stop it! I was fiddling with that door. If you look up from your work, you might be surprised. What's that? Yes. Who are you? What are you doing in my library? No, don't get it. How did you get in here? Jenkins! No, he was calling for Jenkins. He was going to sleep on the floor behind the drapes in the hall. Is this a robbery? No. Then get out. That's it. We've got some talking to do. People don't enter my house at will. You'll be behind bars before you're 24 hours older. Maybe. Now will you let me talk for a minute? Oh, say it and get out. Mr. Lincoln, you're one of the most prominent men in this section of the state. What other? You have a good name, wife, two or three nearly grown children. What are you getting at? It'd be a pretty terrific thing to have that good name come tumbling down in ruins, wouldn't it? I'm beginning to see. You are? Blackmail. Wrong again. So you say. Lincoln, do you own a big black roadmaster car? I do. Where is it? In my garage, naturally? No, it isn't. I say it is. And I say it isn't. I was around looking in your garage before I came in to see you. Just a minute. We'll see about this. Hello, Higgins. Is the roadmaster in the garage? It's not. Well, where? Oh. All right. That's all. I was mistaken. The cars in the service garage down at the corner having new tires put on it. No, it isn't. I say it is. I'll lay you a bed of a hundred to one. It's not. Say, who are you? What do you care where my car is? A hundred to one. Take it. I should be dialing the police station instead of a garage. Well, I notice you're dialing your garage. Hello, service garage. This is Donald Robert Lincoln talking. You've got my roadmaster down there putting new tires on it. It's there now. You're sure about that. That's all I want to know. The car's down there just as I said it was. Now, get out of here. They told you that at the garage. They did. But either they lied like thieves or else you're putting up a mighty good front. If you've got anything to say, say it and get out. Very well, I will. That's a busy man. Tonight, three gunmen took three men for a ride out on the desert. The car was completely demolished. That car was your roadmaster. Are you from police headquarters? No. Are you from the insurance company? No. Are you one of the gunmen? No, I'm one of the men that was taken on that ride. What are you doing here? Well, first I want to know why gangsters are using your car. If what you say is true, then the car must have been stolen from the service garage. But they said the car was still there. And they must be in collusion with the gangsters. Maybe. Next I want to know what your relationship with Sonny Richards is. Sonny Richards? No, don't tell me you don't know her because I know you do. You're a close friend of her father, James Richards. You're talking about his daughter? I am. I haven't seen the girl since her father's death. You have no interest in the financial side of her estate? I believe that is handled in its entirety by Leslie Marks, her attorney. You know Marks? Yes. What kind of a man is he? He has a reputation beyond reproach. Lincoln, there's something that stinks the high heaven in this neighborhood. I wonder if it isn't you. You. You. Get out of my house. Well, reputation and wealth would go a long way toward covering up any dirty work he might be engaged in. Go on. Keep talking. You might very easily be... Get him Higgins! Eee! Eee! The further transcribed adventures of Jack, Doc and Reggie will be able to see the world's death. The further transcribed adventures of Jack, Doc and Reggie will come to you tomorrow at the same hour. I love a mystery written and directed by called an e-morphs. Come steal Monday through Friday, featuring Russell Thorson as Jack, Jim Bowles as Doc Long and Tony Randall as Reggie York, Frank McCarty speaking. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Audio Groovecast and I Love a Mystery, The Million Dollar Curse by Carlton E. Morse and our look at Russell Thorson. Come back next time when we continue our story. [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]