Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boys the Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
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going to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. Well, now it is time
for this week's episode of Dangerous Assignment. The original aired eight December thirty first,
nineteen fifty two, and the title is Streetcar seventeen Dangerous Assignment Transcribe starring
Brandna This Steve Mitchell. Yeah, danger is my assignment. I get sent
to a lot of places I can't even pronounce. They all spell the same
thing though, trouble. But when I walk into the Commissioners office. I
don't realize that this assignment's going to show me that sometimes the only way to
let a little like in on a deal is through a bullet hole. Morning,
Commissioner, you said for me, Steve, you have a rendezvous and
tries tomorrow night at eight o'clock. You'll be waiting on the southeast corner of
the Piazza Damu, waiting for what, Commissioner, A street car exactly?
Huh. The number of the car a seventeen when you bought that street car.
You'll be carrying the addition of the London Times in your left hand.
You'll be contacted by a man named Suetoc. What's this all about? A
report on stolen US atomic secret Steve describing how much is known about them behind
the Iron Curtain, A report smuggled out by the underground and Suittoc has the
report, No, but he can probably tell us where it is. What
do you mean The man carrying the report was murdered in trees last night.
Short time later, sue Tac called our embassy in Belgrade and said he was
certain the courier had managed to hide the paper before he was killed. Okay,
so I checked with Sutac. But why on a street car. I
don't know, but those were the instructions he gave. Get over that,
Stephen, talk to Sutac. It's vitally important we recover that report. Well,
I's say it. You've got your assignment. Good luck. The National
Broadcasting Company is presenting Dangerous Assignment, starring Brian don Levy in the role of
Steve Mitchell, colorful, two fisted government agent. At all those places of
the world where danger and intrigue walk hand in hand, there you will find
Steve Mitchell on another dangerous assignment. A new year is almost upon us,
and tonight across the nation, NBC will present an all star parade of bands
to welcome in Young nineteen fifty three in all of our country's time zones,
Yes, from New York City's Times Square to San Francisco's Golden Gate, ring
out the old and ring in the new, with such famous orchestras as Guy
Lombardo, Freddie Martin, Charlie Speedback, Harry James Stam, Captain Duke Ellington,
and Woody Herman, all playing for you tonight on the NBC Radio Network.
So wherever you are across this great land. This NBC station will broadcast
music and merriment to welcome in the new year at your home. So let
the familiar three charms be your invitation to New Year's Eve entertainment. Sure,
I've got my assignment. Get over to trees, check with a gent named
Soutac, and hope he can help us recover a report that will tell us
which of our atonic secrets it's so secret. It's late Friday afternoon when my
plane lands, I check in at a hotel, and at h sharp that
night, I'm standing on the southeast corner of the Piazza Dharmo. A't exactly
two minutes past eight, the street car number seventeen pulls up. I hop
aboard, grab a seat, settle down. The wait car rolls on block
after block, and I start giving the passengers the once over. There are
an even dozen the board, and I'm trying to pick out my man when
a small, beady eyed gent sitting next to me leans in bous in me,
May I travel you for a match? Will a lighter do Papa car?
Thank you? I am Zagres. We will get off at the next
corner. Will we you have jack? I'd feel better about it if you
took your hand out of your coat pocket. Sorry no. I get up
walk to the rear of the car slowly. When the street shart grinds to
a stop at the corner, I step down and we're suddenly and grabbed.
Eat ducks under and the gun bar. The slugs whistle passed my ear and
I fall back against the car. By the time I've regained my balance,
the little gender sprinting across the street. I took after him, guy with
short legs. He covers a lot of ground, and two blocks later I've
lost him. I head to the nearest telephone and in a call to our
embassy and Steve Mitchell, Sam, Steve, where are you Trieste? Oh?
Sure you make up with I didn't. He didn't contact no, but
somebody else did. Some character named Zagrev bums me for a cigarette and then
tries to blow my brains out. Are you okay? Yeah? Look Sam,
about that phone call suetoc made to the embassy. Took it and he
had the call traced. If that's what you're impested, I am. The
call was made from a shop six oh three via Maggiori there and tries I'm
on the way number six oh three via Maggiori is a small tobacco shop at
the end of a narrow, crooked street near the waterfront. The shades are
drawn and the shop is dark. But I pound on the door. Yes,
what is it to see you? I'm looking for Joseph Sutoc. Who
are you? What do you want with him? My name is Mitchell.
Here are my credentials? Oh yes, yes, I see. I'm his
friend. Ghiddo. You the man he wasn't to meet. That's right,
only we missed connections. Do you know where he is, ghiddo? But
of course he's walking where the street car he runs it? He runs the
Oh great, no wonder that's where we were to meet. How is it
that you did not to meet somebody with that gun? He's me off the
street car before we could a guy named Zagreb. Ever hear of him.
No where did this happen? I don't remember the street, but it was
near a large cathedral. Oh yes, yes, I know from there.
It is at least an hour right to the end of the line. Joseph
always has a coffee at the depot. If you hurry, you can probably
catch me there. I grab a cab and follow the car tracks to the
end of the line on the outskirts of the city. I checked with a
gent behind the coffee counter, but he hasn't seen Joseph Suetoc or a streetcar
number seventeen. All evening, as I leave the depot, I noticed half
a dozen would be passengers stomping up and down on the platform, and a
couple of them are muttering a sort of dire threats about suing the company.
I double back in. Half an hour later I arrived at the other end
of the Lion the car barn. Joseph sutok. No, he's not here.
Where is he? Who? Well, two hours ago he took his
car out number seventeen. He is somewhere along the line. You sure that
unless he has decided to take his seatcar across the Adriata. It could be
buster. Eh, I've just come from the depot at the other end of
town. He didn't show up. Why that's right, No sign of Suetoc
or the street car. What foolishness is this? He must be on the
route somewhere he isn't either is a streetcar. You're positive he hasn't come back
into the barn. If I've been sitting here for uh wait, this is
some kind of a joke. It's no joke, believe me. Why don't
you check it? They excuse me? He grabbed the telephone, and then
as Adam's apple, starts bobbing up and down like a yo yo, and
then makes a frantic call. Finally, he hangs up, leans weakly against
the desk for support. A second or two later, the door of the
office hangs open and a short ball added man comes pouncing into the room.
He looks a little tale too. What is this all about? You yet?
How are you drunk? I warned you about the Merslad fantastic nonsense about
losing a street car. It's your Merslade? And who are you? Dave
Metchel here? Mi credentials? Could oh? An American agents? I see?
I am the supervisor here? Watch is it jewish? I'm looking for
Joseph Sutok. Seems he has disappeared, So this injured dispatch armango was telling
me impossible, But mister Merslag, I've called the repair shop, the watchmen,
the people knowing a thing. There must have been a breakdown, then,
exident, but I've had an a report. Who then? What do
you think a sap. What do you want me to believe suetok has managed
to do to their street car to when I come quiet, Come along,
mister Mitchell. We'll get to the bottles disc Merslag and I head out in
his auto. We follow the car tracks through town. We meet half a
dozen street cars along the route, but there's no sign of SUTAC or number
seventeen. Finally, we pull up at the end of the line. Mercelock
stairs down the length of the deserted track. His mouth opens and shuts a
few times, but nothing comes out. He looks like a man who's about
to slid his throat. We turn around and head back toward town. It
isn't until we roll into the warehouse district that he manages to say something fantastic.
It is absolutely fantastic. Wait, this is all a dream the nights,
Yes, that's what it is. A night man, vent yourself,
Merslog and learn the horrible truth. You've just lost yourself a streetcar. And
if you don't mind, my sake, so it's a pretty sickening way to
run a business. One years I have been his supervisors. Never wants have
I ever lost the car? Never wants have I ever I thought you said
there were no other branching track off the main line. That is right?
What do you call that? Up ahead? Oh? Hey, for stop
the car. This this teck is no longer used, you see. It
belonged once to the railroad company. Where does it lead to? It runs
along the building here, Yes you see? Yeah, come on, mister
Mitchell. Do you think it is possible we'll find it here? Could be?
Looks like the tracks run right into the warehouse. Yes, I take
you're right, of course, we can roll up this door that's locks.
Well, there must be another door, perhaps along the side of the warehouse.
We're on the back. Yeah, you take the side of the building
and I'll door around the other way. I'll meet you round back. Merch
Lock disappears into the shadows and I slip around the side of the warehouse.
Halfway down the length of the building, I find the door. This one's
locked too. I try my shoulder to it, it doesn't budge. I
move along, hugging the side of the building, and then I spot something
up ahead, someone moving in the shadows. I start to ease around a
huge scrap pile, a stack of junk automobiles broken down, bat doad sinks
and boilers, and I hear something rattle close by. I look up in
time to see the top of the stack start to topple my duck. But
I do Steve Mitchell will continue his dangerous assignment. In just a moment.
Once again, we celebrate the coming up a new year. Millions of cars
will crowd the streets and highways of the mission, and in every car there
will look an unwelcome stranger, a grim menace, who will turn pleasure into
tragedy if he can. That menace is death or injury in a traffic accident.
This menace has no conscience and recognizes your authority except complete control at the
steering wheel. Control, of course, means obeying all traffic regulations, staying
within lawful and common sense speed limits, and refraining from drinking if you drive.
Now, when you drive, keep in mind the traffic accidents have been
piling up totals of more than thirty thousand deaths and over a million injuries each
year, and holidays always take an appalling toll of fatalities and injuries. So
keep on the alert every instant, not only for yourself, but for the
other fellow. Be extra careful won't you drive as if your life depended on
it? Because it does. Now back to dangerous assignment and Brian don Levys,
Steve Mitchell, mister Mitchell, mercy lag. What happened? I heard
the clutter and Kim Nannie, somebody shoved the pilot jump down at me?
Hey, how about getting this thing off my chest? Oh? Of course?
Oh brother, Now I've seen everything. Who during my time, I've
been hit by everything but the kitchen sink. So so now I've been hit
by the kitchen sink. Oh yes, and a good sized one. Fortunate
it did not strike a direct glow. Come on, I still want to
take a look in that warehouse. You see a small window up there?
Yeah, I can climb up. Please, Crates, be careful, careful
Mitchell. Now, well great, the warehouse is empty. What Yeah,
we drew a bline, Mitchell. This whole thing is utterly fantastic, you're
telling me, STEETI Number seventeen starts on it's regular run today, just as
it had been doing for weeks, months, years. You are right down
it. You are forced off at gunpoint. Then it disappears. We searched
the tracks from one to the other. No streetcar no streetcard. Indeed,
then we find this abandoned spur line which leads into the warehouse, but again
no streetcard. Minute. Maybe the streetcar was in the warehouse, but you
just so for yourself it was not. I know. But maybe whoever hit
me on the head did it to knock me out so he could move the
street car out of here. But that is impossible. You forget. I
was in the vicinity on the other side of the warehouse. Surely I would
have heard the street car being moved. Yeah, I'm sure you would.
Merzlag, mister Merla. What Oh, oh, Armando, I'm so glad
you're back. Any signed the streetcar? Amando? No, none at all.
Oh, you'll fool to waste your time. I have been upcoming every
frank, mister morslat. Have all the other cars checked in? Yes?
Everyone, but number seventeen? Is it for yourself? Number one? Number
two? All right? All right, all right, all right enough?
In all my years, is this that or such a thing? Yet,
what have you got to complain about? If you are only the dispatcher,
I am the supervisor. Such a team could ruin my entire career, which
reminds me, mister mur Sluggi, one of directors is waiting in the office
to see gious flud. Oh jen yeah, yes, said broken man.
Okay, Amando. Is there any chance that that car number seventeen could have
gotten back here without being checked in? Impossibly? Huh remember me, you
know, at the tobacco shop. Oh sure, Suoktok's friend? Did you
find me? No? Not only I did not find him. We can't
even find a streetcar. What you are joking? Some joke? But how
could such a thing be? It couldn't, but it is. Look,
you know, you better get back to your tobacco shop. Supac may try
to contact you there, and if he does, let me know right away.
Very well, come on, Amando, I want to take a look
around this car barn. Very well, but it's a waste of time.
You won't find number seventy. Hey see the cars I lined up according to
number? Yeah, I gather that big gap over there is where seventeen should
be. Yes, yes, this line is complete except for that. See
that the monument is just back number twenty five into place here at the end,
and the other lines of cars are what's the matter, mister Mitchell?
Oh nothing, Armando, I guess you're right, this is a waste of
time. You might as well go back into the office. What stopped me
in my tracks as a little hole in the side of our car twenty five,
and it looks very much like a bullet hole. I remember Zagreb throwing
a shot at me after he eased off the street car, and the shot
had plunked into the side of the car. I wait until Armando leaves and
I eezed casually around to the front. Number twenty five is painted right on
the wood like all the other cars, but when I look closer, I
see a few small nail holes. A plaque with another number could have been
put over it, number seventeen, for instance. Part of the deal starts
adding up now, but I still need a lot of answers. One thing
is sure. If a switch was made and of this car is involved,
I keep an eye on him. He signs in and goes out the back
of the car bar and I tail him. He heads into the big junkyard
where they keep the broken down cars another equipment. He goes in a small
shack in one corner. I use up and peek through a crack. She's
standing over a guy who's tied up on the floor a guy who figures to
be Sue Tac. I start toward the door, but stumble over a piece
of strap metal. The motorm comes sharking out the door. I'm ready for
him. They go inside and pull a gag. Also talksmiles mature. Yeah,
I'll get you untied, Sue Tack. What happened there? Kid me?
Yeses this morning, trying to make me tell them where the document is
put out of here before any of this pals show up. A lot of
junk stack all over. We are to be able to keep under cover.
Yes, look about the document? Where is it? I'm not sure what?
Wait a minute, you're the guy who telephoned our embassy in Belgrade,
aren't you. Of course, you see the member of the underground to smuggle
the document out. He's a friend of mine. He came to me for
help. They were to him. He said they would do anything to get
the document back. That it had to do which stolen atomic secrets? Right,
there's a list of information stolen from us. Go on. He wanted
me to hide him. My car number seventeen was in the repair shop at
the time. I hid him there and telephoned your embassy when I came to
get number seventeen this morning, I found my friend in the alley wounded.
He mumbled something about the street car, and then he died. Before I
could do anything, Zagreb and the other motorman ran up. They knocked me
unconcious and brought me here. Come or two over there in the other corner
of the yard. It must be over there somewhere car number seventeen. Yes,
they brought it back here and then searching it for the document, which
they believe is hidden somewhere inside. But how did they pull the switch?
I heard them discuss their plan. You see, each car is checked out
of the barn at the beginning of the shift and back in at the end
of the shift. So the first thing this morning they moved Car seventeen back
here. Carl twenty five departs before Carl seventeen, so this morning it went
out as usual. When if they turned in the middle of the shift,
they put on a plate with number seventeen. Sure it gets checked out now
seventeen, And after I get eased off it, they ripped the flat off.
It gets checked back in under its right number twenty five. So according
to the cards to one day, if I've checked out, and in seventeen
checked out but did not check in, And all the time seventeen was roosting
back here in the junkyard, a pretty neat way to stall for time while
they searched it. Quit that car over there, Yeah, by slight moving
around and a command, we lease up to it the front. Then it's
smashed in boards pride loose. Sure that figures they'd want to get that number
off it and make it look like a junk car. This stall of the
light went out inside. Somebody is coming. Get down now, drop the
gun, Zagreb, No get back, I shaid, drop it nights,
I'll take it, Mitchell. Well, well, what's the piece of paper
in your hand? Zagrev. I'll take that too, Come on hand it
over anyway. Thanks glad you finally found it in that street car. I
came a long way to get this paper, Zagrev. And it looks like
I got here just in time. Not quite, Mitchell, drop the gun.
It is g Yeah, your friend from the tobacco shop. Ghiddo,
what does this mean? You offered me a place to hide so I could
stay close to you, hoping you'd lead him to the document. It did
not work out. Quite that way, of course, But there is of
no matter. Now hand over the document, Mitchell, I know as soon
as I do. Soutac and I are cooked, and I spot something on
the ground with the other junkets and length of pipe about ten feet long.
I hold out the document as if to hand it over. Then I drop
it to the ground. Mitchell, He did it deliberately. Sorry, I'll
pick it up. Oh no, I won't fall for that drink you Bendo,
will pick it up and then grudy, you've gun on the ground.
Uh, step back, I would pick it up. He says, just
what I want him to say. I take a step back. Gito bends
over to pick up the document. Suddenly I kick it one end to the
pipe. The other end swings around and clips him on the ankle. If
you throws him that belt, he shot goes wild. Before I can try
again, I nail him. He crumples up and his gun flies out of
his hands. I grab Dieves for it. Don't flatten him. Oh well,
the most effective meto. Maybe I should have said one of them for
you, so talk after the beating they gave you. I'm glad to happy
this way, Believe me, that was very quick thinking on your part.
Well, it's lucky I spotted that length of pipe. After that it was
a breeze, or I guess I should say a lead pipe cinch. Our
star Brian don Levue will return in just a moment Tomorrow, New Year's Day.
This station of the NBC Radio Network will broadcast two classic football Bowl games
from Dallas, Texas, home of the famed Cotton Bowl. NBC will broadcast
the game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
Mike's Side for NBC at Dallas will be Lindsay Nelson and Bob Murphy to bring
you every exciting play as Texas Southwest Conference champions and Tennessee, one of the
fine teams of the Southeast, clash in this traditional New Year's Day Bowl game.
Then, following the Cotton Bowl game, NBC will switch controls to Pasadena,
California for the Granddaddy of all bowl games, the Rose Bowl. Al
Helfer and Braven Dyer will handle the Rose Bowl play by play broadcast between the
Trojans of Southern California and the Badgers of Wisconsin. So here's our invitation to
you to be set side tomorrow when NBC broadcasts both the Cotton Bowl and the
Rose Bowl football games. Remember NBC brings you the top sporting events the year
round. Next week, South Pacific, I add a new tune Some Enchanted
Clay Pigeon Me, and that will be Steve Mitchell's Dangerous Assignment next week.
Included in tonight's cast were Paul Freeze, Dan Riss, Tony Barrett, Paul
Duboff, and Herb Bellas. This is John Storm Speaking. Dangerous Assignment starring
Brian don Levy as Steve Mitchell with Herb Bellis as the Commissioner, is written
by Bob Bryce and Adrian John Doele and is directed by Bill carn b Wills
again next week at this time when Brian don Levy, starring in the role
of Steve Mitchell, will embark on another transcribed dangerous assignment tomorrow. They're both
Truth or Consequences and Father Knows Best On NBC. Welcome back, a good
mystery that really did a solid job holding my attention. I think that this
twenty five minute format causes the stories to move really fast, and I love
the whole missing Train mystery personally. I think that Steve ought to be given
some award for finally being hit with the kitchen sink. But I don't think
the commissioner goes in for that touchy feely recognition stuff. Speaking of which,
the announcer misspoke when he stated that herb Ellis played the commissioner. Well,
herb Ellis was in the story. I went back to the start and confirmed
that the commissioner was indeed played by her Butterfield. With the announcer, it
was a case lock with the cook who meant to grab cayenne but instead put
bay into the recipe. He reachs for the wrong herd. Already in twenty
twenty four, I'm working on my dad quota. What can I tell you
well? Listener comments and feedback. Now, regarding the episode, Italian actress
over on YouTube Betchy said that that episode was a good one. And then
we have some feedback from our listener survey, and we start with this comment
from Turk, who writes, I listen to a lot of podcasts, streaming
stations, web pages, whatever you call them. I always finding myself landing
on this host. I'm over seventy and I have trouble sleeping. So I
hear a lot of them. Like I already said, the host is very
knowledgeable with a lot to give. Once you get over his accent, keep
on pumping out sounds. Thanks well, Thank you so much. Turk in
San Diego, and then Phil Right. I found this podcast when I went
searching for more Johnny Dollar episodes after hearing one on a different old time radio
podcast yesterday today. Now, Johnny and Adam are a regular part of my
warning routine, especially when I'm walking my dogs at a local park. I
appreciate the commentary and enthusiasm for the comment. And that's from filling Akron,
Ohio. And then from Mendes in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Mendez Rights,
I found these following strokes and cannot read well. Aphasia TV is hard to
focus on, so audio is good. Well, thank you so much,
Mendez. I appreciate the comment and I'm glad that we've been able to be
of help. I would not even have thought about this as something that could
help with Aphasia, but I'm so glad that it's working for you. All
Right. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day.
Thank you to Ronda, Patreon supporter since October of twenty twenty, currently
supporting the podcast at the shameless level of four dollars or more per month.
Thank you so much for your support, RHNDA, and that will do it
for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
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great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We'll be back next Wednesday with
another episode of Dangerous Assignment, but join us back here tomorrow for mister chameleon
ware go off me, I didn't do anything, and come along quiet and
to take a side to none. Dave, what's up? I caught her
trying to sneak out of the house, mister commnion. She says her name
is Gertrude Matthews and that she works here as a maid for the islands.
Did work for them? You mean you don't think I'd go on working for
a murderers? Be quiet, No, I won't. You're a nice woman,
Missus Hayward, and you love your daughter just like I did mine.
But Missus Allen is a murderous Well then she must have had a reason for
me and her husband? What was that reason? In your opinion, Grude,
it wouldn't give her a divorce. She wanted to marry Philip Wilkes,
and mister Allen wouldn't let her go. How did you know that? Well,
how do you know it? Gotrud? I heard him quarreling last night,
mister cameleion. It was a terrible fight. He said he'd never set
her free. He said she'd have to go on living under the same roof
with him and put up with his ways for the rest of her life.
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do send your
comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot nat, follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash
Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.