Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
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or more per month. Thank you so much for your support. Well,
now it is time for this week's episode of Dangerous Assignment. The original air
day November twelfth, nineteen fifty two, and the title is Mister Alexander's File
Dangerous Assignment Transcribe, starring Brian Das Steve Mitchell. Yeah, danger is my
assignment. I can send to a lot of places I can't even pronounce.
They all spell the same thing, thought of trouble. But when I walk
into the Commissioner's office, I don't realize that this assignment's going to wind up
with my life depending on a handful of ashes winding. Commissioner, you sent
for me, Steve, I've just made an appointment for you to meet someone
under the big clock at the railway station in Istanbul. A charming young lady.
I should be so lucky. His name is Tavan Drobo, a member
of the Hungarian underground. He's going to point out someone to Steve. Someone
you're follow, Oh, the charming young lady, A foreign agent, a
man known as mister Alexander. Okay, Commissioner, No charming young ladies?
What's it all about? Two days ago a diplomatic file was stolen from our
embassy in Rome. The file contained a secret survey on Europe's defense potential.
Any idea who might have taken it? None? But we know where the
file is. Oh. The person who has that file is waiting at a
small resort town on the Black Sea, some fifty miles from Eastanbul waiting for
the agent, mister Alexander to show up and pick up the file. We
got the tip from the Hungarian underground that Alexander's on his way there now,
and they put Drobo on his trail to keep him inside until I arrived.
Right, you want to meet him at the railroad station in Istanbul. He
put the finger in Alexander and it's vitally important we recover that file. Steve,
Well, that's it, You've got your assignment. Good luck. The
Lastional Broadcast 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 Tomorrow and every weekday Monday through Friday, over
most NBC stations. Bob Hope brings you a new series of daytime radio programs.
Yes, the same Bob Hope you've grown to know and love during the
past fifteen years now invades the field of daytime radio and ladies. Bob's new
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every weekday Monday through Friday on NBC. And with Bob is his sidekick Bill
Goodwin, and gracing the program is a special Lady guest editor. This week's
guest editor is Jean Jah Gabor. So remember it's the new Daytime Bob Hope
Show, every day, Monday through Friday on NBCO. Sure I've got my
assignment. Get over to Istambul and contact a man named Tevin Drobol who's going
to put the finger on a foreign agent for me. Then I'm supposed to
follow that agent, and he leads me to the person who stole a diplomatic
file from our embassy in Rome. It's as simple as that, only I've
got a hunch it won't be. It never is. It's early Tuesday evening
when my plane lands in Istambul. I hustle ride over to the railroad station,
park myself under the big clock and wait for Drobo and I spoil a
little gent in the crowd eyeing me. He's wearing a gray Fodora long black
coat with a velvet collar. He's carrying a small suitcase and an odd looking
umbrella. He throws a quick glance around the waiting room, and then he
comes over. He could be drobo. Pardon me? May I trouble you
for a life? Sure? I care for your Ok, there are thank
you? Thank your h heay, strong little rascal, isn't it no excuse
me? And you are waiting for someone. I'm expecting a friend, a
charming young lady perhaps, no a gentleman. Oh hey, if you can
spare a moment as something to show your great interest my friend, we don't
do. Not tell me? Now, wait until I have left the station.
I watch him as he glides through the crowd and eases out the front
entrance. I stroll out after him into the street and spot him, and
he turns into a darkened doorway. When I reach him, he opens up
the umbrella, only it turns out to be a tripod. He sets the
suitcase on top of it, opens it, and he's ready for business.
No, I allow me to introduce myself. I'm called crazy Julius, the
mad Macedonian Reese watches jewelry, lighters, cameras, and at such low price
is no wonder they call me crazy? Oh brother, take for instance,
this exquisite watch. For example, when I tell you the price, it's
sorry, declouse, you're going to lessen my face. Oh look, Julius,
crazy Julius, call me now here this beautiful camera. I promise you
do not get hysterical when I tell you the price. It's a promise,
and good night away. You close off my lapel. You're pending my good
conduct ribbon. Perhaps you're in the market for a set of automobile tire how
about a set of false teeth. Of course I got them. You try
them on. You'll need them if you don't. Let go on me as
of right now. Oh please, don't be so unfriendly. I excuse me.
My least has just expired. Mitchell. Yeah, I am paying trouble.
I happened to see you just as you were leaving the station. Who
was that man? Just the peddler trying to make a fast sale. He
gave me the command back there at the station, I thought it was you.
He seemed to be in a hurry. He expotted you coming toward us.
Might have taken you for a plane clothes cop came mister Mitchell. We
had better get to the station. Oh here, a drobo. Huh,
yeah, these peppers will identify me. Yeah, okay, drobo, where's
our boy Alexander at the station coffee company? Two of you just get in,
Yes, a few minutes ago. A good thing. I saw you
when I did. Yeah, we might have missed connections on account of that
teddler of it. This way, you said Alexander was at uh coffee counter?
Drobo? Huh, yes, he was standing. No one there now
he scrounging. Come on, let's get back outside. Any sign of him
drouble, No, no, I don't sit. Wait, yes, dad,
he is getting into that taxi. Okay, let's stay with him.
We trail Alexander to a fashionable hotel. He gets room three oh five.
I get room three twelve at the end of the corridor. I leave my
door open a crack and keep my eye on three h five. But he
soon Alexander steps out into the hall, and then I hear a phone ringing.
He steps back into his room, closes the door. I hurried down
the carter stopped just outside his room. Yes, yes, what did that
you say? I see very well. I will take care of this matter
myself. I hear him slam down the receiver, and then his footsteps hurry
toward the door. I can't get to my room in time, so I
take three fast steps and ring for the elevator. Good evening, Oh well
I just rang for it. Oh good, beautiful evening out her shamed to
stay cooped up in one's room. Yeah, same idea occurred to me.
Thought I'd take a little walk before hitting the sack. Hitting the sack American,
aren't you? That's right? You sound like USA or so? Not
really, although I spent many many years in the States, I was raised
there. Really. Yeah, New York City, sixtieth three, just off
Broadway, are sure not far from Columbus Circles? Yeah, in Central Park.
Had a lot of on there as a kid. Later we moved out
to California, Los Angeles correction Los Angeles. Uh yeah, soft g it's
official now. So I heard Chamber of Commerce that they're voting or something.
Well, let's have a drink sometime, huh. Sure be good to talk
over the good old USA. Ah, good night night. I see that
I've met my friend. Yeah, he almost caught me listening at his door.
Robo. He just got a phone call. Oh did you hear what?
He no, I couldn't get any of the conversation that might have been
the tip off. So hey, he just eased out the side door.
Come on. We trail Alexander for several blocks. Then as we ease around
the corner into a narrow, crooked street, he suddenly nowhere in sight.
Brobo and I turn on the gas. He must have turned into one of
those houses along here. Yeah, which one couldn't have gone very far.
We're only Hey, what was that over there? Mister Michell? The gate
has just no shot? Yeah, he probably that in here looks like a
courtyard. Careful, mister Michell, you stay park right here. I'm going
in the courtyard. Then up the steps to the first floor. I slip
along the balcony overlooking the courtyard below. The dog howl is the only sign
of life around. I move up the stairs again, and then when I
reached the second floor balcony, Alexander is waiting for me. I dive at
his knee, slug whips past me. The gun goes off again, close
to my ear. I think a right into his middle. He bounces away,
but comes right back, this time swinging a chair. I duck under
these staggers past me and slams into the rail. It doesn't hold. Are
you all right, MITCHA yeah? What about Alexander yead? Well? That
does it? Drobo? There goes our one lead, one man who could
have led us to the personally the missing file. Maybe there's something in his
pocket. I'll have a look what I thought? Are we going to do
now, mister Mitchell? Here is identification papers, train ticket to the village
reservation at the inn PT. He will not be able to keep his rendezvous.
Wait a minute, why not? Why shouldn't he keep his rendezvous?
Huh? Mister Alexander is going to show up at the end after all,
Drobo, But I don't understand. Mit the new mister Alexander me Steve Machobo
continue as dangerous asignment in just a moment. Having a tough time saving money
these days, Well comes the day before pay day and you just can't figure
out where the money's gone. Well, then listen, there's a good cure
for that trouble. Save before you got a chance to spend. Yes,
save automatically by purchasing the United States Defense Bonds through the payroll savings plan where
you work, or the bond a month's plan where you bank. Now,
on the payroll savings plan, you can save as little or as much as
you like. Yes, your employer automatically saves it for you each week,
and then as soon as there's enough, you receive your bond. It's as
simple and painless as that. The bond. A month's plan at the bank
works the same way. Each month, you automatically buy a bond whatever denomination
you choose. Now one of these plans will fit your budget. And remember
to day, defense bonds offer you more interest, a quicker return on your
money. Yes, they're now even better, so invest more them. Defense
bombs. Now back to Dangerous Assignment and Brian don Lavel, Steve Mitchell.
We're going to take the dead man's place, Mitchell? Why not? Alexander
God passes an American anytime. I've got his papers, and this looks like
my best chance of getting that stolen file back. How far is it to
the village where the inn is? It is up the course of the Black
Sea. It train leaves here in the morning and passes through the village around
noon. I can't wait for that. I've got to get to the inn
as soon as possible before anyone has a chance to find out that the real
Alexander is dead. I'll have to see about a car. Speaking of a
car, yeah, it looks like the local law. I guess somebody reported
the shots. Good, we'll need their cooperation. I show my credentials to
the police officer and ask him to keep Alexander's death. I sched up for
the present. He arranges for a car and robo and I head for the
end. We arrive about eight a m. The morning is Chillian Gray.
Nobody seems to be up but the host, and as he leads us up
the stairs, we get the idea that he wishes he wasn't here. You
are, gentlemen, your room the best in the house, the only one
with a fireplace, she magnificent view of the coast. Are we're heaping you
up? No, not for long. Business must be alaf huh. So
five guests just enough? Perhaps you could tell us who they are so that
we could become acquainted soon. Of course, of course, nice English couple
who is named he is Pemberton, Signor Alfredo Montique from Rome, oh.
A man named Katrine and a young lady Neva Brattos. All very nice people,
all very good sleepers. Except one which one young lady. Yeah,
you see out the window down there on the beach in the bedding. So
well, well, will there be anything else? No? Night night that
thank you well, Mitchell. This montic from Rome sounds kind of interesting.
The file was stolen from our embassy. There will be a first step.
I'll just circulate around among the guests and introduce myself as mister Alexander. See
what happened, And as long as a girl seems to be the only one
up there, I think ankle down to the beach and start with her.
Hell, oh, good morning, pretty cold morning for a swimming. Oh,
yes, thank you, Yes, I find this morning swims very delightful.
A good conditioner gives me an excellent shape. Well, it's an excellent
shape to keep. Oh thank you. You say. I'm a dancer and
condition is most important to me. Are you staying here ten or so?
Yeah? I just arrived this morning. Oh I'm Neva Brato. My name
is Alexander. Oh, oh, mister Katrine, I'm mister Alexander. And
you arrival? Why, yeah, this is mister Katrine. Another guest to
be in. Oh yeah, there's plenty. It' splenys and delighted to make
your acquentancel. You're up earlier than usual this morning, mister Katrine. Of
course, I see that you have forgotten my dear cat. You are to
help breakfast with me. Oh yeah, and that is what I came down
to tell you. They are serving now very well. Glad, I shall
see you later, mister Alexander. Yeah sure, Miss Bratov, Dragape and
Robo is still waiting for me in the room. We go downstair to the
dining room and look over the lot. The English couple are sitting at the
table near the window, watching the birds and the tree outside. The girl
and Katrine or at the corner table. But the other guest, Montague,
is nowhere inside. You say, Katrina addressed you as mister Alexander even before
you were introduced. That's right. Rouble, of course, our sleepy innkeeper
could have mentioned the name to him else. He is the one with the
file and was expecting mister Alexander's arrival. Yeah, could be. As soon
as he heard I was here, he hustled down to the beach, only
to find the girl there. Naturally, he could not say anything to you
in her presence. Of course, it could be just the other way around
too. The girl, yeah, after I told her my name was Alexander.
I think she started to say something, but Kathrine interrupted with his arrival.
So either of them could be the one. But the question is which.
And there's still Montakes. I wonder where he is. Perhaps he's a
let sleeper. What now? Only one thing we can do. Go back
to the room and wait for somebody to make a move. Quarter after eleven.
I don't like it, Drobo. We've been sitting up here ever since
breakfast and nobody's made a move to contact me. Nietschell. Look out the
window. Hey, Neva walking along the road that leads to the beach.
But she's not going for a swim. She's fully dressed. That road also
leads towards the village, doesn't it. I believe so great? There is
good three down down on the terrace and wandering off in the other direction.
Well, I'm not gonna wait any longer. What are you going to do?
Maybe I'm supposed to go to the one who's got the file instead of
waiting for him or her to come to me, I might as well start
with Montique. According to the register, he's got the room at the end
of the hall. What will you say to him? I'll introduce myself and
see if the name registers. If so, i'll tell him somebody's after me
that I couldn't wait for him to come to me. M either a pretty
sound sleeper or he's taking a powder. Hey, unlocked, they're on the
floor. Yeah, I'll turn him over, brother, a bullet over right
between the eyes. Funny, nobody heard the shot. Killer must have used
the silencer. Is that anything that the puck is to identify him? Yeah,
it's Montice, all right, there's a stub of a train ticket room.
Okay, I guess we can assume that Montique's the one who had the
file. Then who killed him? And why? A partner maybe somebody who
wanted to make a better deal for the file. It must be either Quatrine
or the girl. Yeah, and they both took off a couple of minutes
ago in opposite directions. But you take the girl, I'll take Kutraine.
Come on. Trobo goes in one direction, I go on the other.
I found along the road quot tree and took a few minutes before then I
round the bend and spot him in front of me. He's kneeling beside the
trees if hiding something. I use up behind him, but a twig cracks
under my foot. Hello, good train. Oh oh mister Alexander. Yeah,
mister Alexander, you start with me? What do you? Wait a
minute? A little bird? Yes, yes, apparently he fell out to
the nest. I noticed him as I was walking by. He's near a
cute little tallow r Oh great, he's hunting the magic? Skip it?
What are you grinning at like? I must say? You present quite a
picture and glading at me suspiciously, with a dark streak across your farthered dark
streak? Hey, would you get to bottle my handkerchief? Oh? Thanks,
I got one? I hum? Looks like soot? Where did I
you see? You see you have some on your hand. You must have
robbed it across your farty. Yeah, but how can I get sit on
my hand? You? Wait a minute? Oh? Everything? What was
the magic? I think this whole deal just slid into place. I head
back to the inn. In Montique's room, sure enough, to the streak
of soot on his sleeve. I go into my own room. The fireplace
arth is swept clean, too clean. I poke around in the ashes and
charcoal brush them aside. Then I spot what I'm looking for, A dark
stain on the bricks. Blood stain. Please don't move, Hello, Drobot.
From the look of that silence around your gun, i'd say it was
the one that you used to kill Montique. Sure, Montique came to our
room this morning to contact mister Alexander while I was down on the beach talking
to the girl. You shot him and took the file. He fell against
the fireplace here. You carried him back to his own room, but there
was a streak of soot on his sleeve, which rubbed off on me when
I turned him over. So that's how you know. Yeah, I remembered
the innkeeper saying that ours was the only room was a fireplace. I was
packing for the noon train when I saw you turn. Fortunate for me that
I did so. All this time, you've just been playing along until you
found out who had it. Huh exactly. I'll stand up and turn around
slowly, Okay, I was speech Sorry. Thanks for the gun. It'll
come in handy as evidence. Also, thanks for the file. Beach.
Sort of a dirty trick, throwing ashes in your eyes like that. You
see, I still had a handful from uncovering the bloodstain in the fireplace.
So I figured one good streak in the face deserves another matter of fact,
I guess you might say that all through the deal, my luck's been running
in streaks. Our star Brian Dono Lovey will return in just a moment.
Jus denied this comedy I on the NBC Radio Network. Yes, here you'll
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Jerry Lewis Show, and Fiber McGee and Molly, each with more than its
sheriff comedy material for you. Yes, Dean and Jerry, those mad cap
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the Mean Little Kid, Willie Lumplump and Cauliflarer mcclug Fiver, McGee and Molly
are another pair of top comedians on your Tuesday night entertainment calendar. So just
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NBC your comedy headquarters every Tuesday night with these three great shows Fiber McGee and
Molly, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and Red Skelton. Remember they're all yours
for the listening on the NBC Radio Network. Next week, Germany and I
arranged to get run over by a truck That will be Steve Mitchell's dangerous assignment
next week in Floriden. Tonight's cast where Paul Freeze, Harry Bartel, Her
bellas Ginny Bates, and Tony Barrett. This is John Storm speaking. Dangerous
Assignment starring Brian Don Leave as Steve Mitchell with her Butterfield as the Commissioner.
Is written by Bob Bryf and Adrian John Doe and is directed by Bill carn
Be with us again next week at the same time when Brian don Leavis,
starring in the role of Steve Mitchell, will embark on another transcribed dangerous assignment.
Always listen for the familiar three NBC chimes. Your invitation to find radio
entertainment. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company. Welcome back. The
whole pronunciation of Los Angeles thing was an interesting point, given that we've heard
programs where it was pronounced as the man on the elevator did. But I'll
let it go. I think I've even heard Jack Webb use a hard o
sound, maybe even on an early episode of Dragon It, I can't be
sure. According to the website the Los Angeles Almanac, during the nineteen twenties
and thirties, the La Times vigorously defended the Spanish pronunciation and printed directly below
its editorial masthead the city name and then Los Angeles. When the the US
Board on Geographic Names recognized the anglicized version, the Times was outraged, declaring
that the pronunciation made the city like some brand of fruit preserve. The newspaper
further suggested that Easterners plotted to deprive the West Coast of its softer sounding Spanish
names, proposing that California would next have to tolerate such names as San Diego,
San Jays for San Jose, and San Jokin for San Joaquin. In
all fairness, however, the website LA Almanac notes the Times did not express
the same disdain for the prevalent pronunciation of San Pedro as San Pedro rather than
the Spanish san Pedro. And yes, the meeting that Steve described actually happened.
Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron assembled a panel to come up with the city's
own official pronunciation of its name, and the panel included language professors, radio
announcers, and journalists. They agreed to the anglicized version los Angeles. There
you go. That's the history of it and when Los Angeles became Los Angeles.
Also, as someone who lives in a city where we have pronunciation arguments
with those who want to call it Boise rather than Boise, putting the buck
pronunciation on the masstead of our local newspaper sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately,
the regular papers named the Idaho Statesman, so the pronunciation of Boise wouldn't
have quite the same impact at any right, We turned out a listener comments
and feedback and received an email from Ken, who writes, I enjoy listening
to your show when walking the dog, driving distances, and also at bedtime.
I can't speak for others who listen at bedtime, but for me,
listening to a Detective show on your podcast helps me clear my mind. I
stop thinking about the events of today or what's on the schedule for tomorrow,
and just relax and enjoy the show. The only downside is sometimes falling asleep
before finding out who done it, and I have to listen to the same
show again the next day. On an unrelated note, how do I get
to the site where your t shirts and sweaters are offered? I bought the
Great Detective sweaters for my wife and we've been very happy with them. They
really are good quality material with a very attractive design. I'd like to get
more as Christmas gifts for friends whom I've turned onto your podcast. Thank you
very much and keep up the good work. Well. Thank you so much,
Ken, I appreciate that, and I provided him the website, which
is t shirt Great Detectives dot net. We have all of our designs there.
Really appreciate the kind email. He also suggested that I might look into
getting it more integrated into my website because I've got a link to a store,
but it only has audiobooks and ebooks. I definitely do want to look
into that. It's just one of those admin tasks that's just tricky to get
to, but it's definitely on my list and I appreciate folks patients as I
work through those sort of things. All right, well, now it's time
to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Rachel, Patreon
supporter since June of twenty twenty two, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie
level of two dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your
support. And that will do it for today. We will be back next
Wednesday with another episode of Dangerous Assignment. But join us back here tomorrow for
mister million ware. Look here, mister Comeleion, Look look, this is
for you what Phonograph Records, Yes, sir, a record Louis had made
only last week. I'll play it for you. Listen. It's a very
bad machine. But listen. If I die, Logo Dominic might at mate.
It killed me. I don't know when, but if I die,
he killed me. Logo Dominic killed me. Maggie. This is wonderful.
This is just what I needed. Give that record to me. This is
the smartest thing that your husband club Foot Louis ever did. Mister Comellion,
you mean you can arrest Lugo Dominic for my Louis murder. No, no,
no, This record of Louis voice proves nothing except that he was afraid
of being murdered. 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.