The Avenger. Rode to crime ends in a trap that justice sets, crime does not pay. The Avenger, sworn enemy of evil, is actually Jim Brandon, a famous biochemist. Through his numerous scientific experiments, Brandon has perfected several inventions to aid him in his crusade against crime as the Avenger. Most remarkable of these inventions is the highly spred diffusion capsule, which quotes him in the black light of invisibility. Brandon's assistant to peple Ferne Cardier, is the only one who shares his secret and knows that he is the man the underworld fears as the Avenger. And now the Avenger, and death meets the Boat. I love meeting boats, Jim. I'm glad you decided to come down to welcome your old friend doctor Ludlow home. Oh. He's been in Australia doing research for three years. Bern, I'm eager to have a talk with them. Oh, there's something thrilling about a boat that's just landed from far places. Look at all these people, Jim, every single one of them looks excited and happy. You're an incurable Romanta, says. Oh, there's doctor Ludlow with a crowd of reporters around him. I suppose we ought to wait until the interviews are over before we bar jenn Well. Doctor Ludlow is nearly celebrity. Aboard, there's a camera man taking pictures of a pretty girl. Let's walk over and watch them, all right, Bern, do you think she's a movie stardian? I have the faintest idea that big hat she's wearing hides part of her face. Okay, Miss Austin, that's fine. Now just one more shot. I suppose you hold onto the rail with one hand and pretend you're waving to someone with the other. You mean, like this, swell, swell, hold it, Miss Austin. Oh, thank you. Now a few questions if you don't mind. Well, is this your first trip for the States? Oh? I know I was born here, but I've lived in Australia since I was six. I see how long you'd planned to stay indefinitely? I intend to settle down here. Pardon me, but yeah, you're miss Claire Hoshtin, aren't you. Yes, I'm Copley. Miss oh, yes, miss I was with your late father for more than two years. Well, I'm glad you've come, Copley. I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to meet me. What about your luggage, Miss, it's all through the customs. You can put it in the car. I'll show you where it is. Oh, Miss Austin, thanks a lot for those pictures. I'd like the interview for a future story later. Will you be in town for a while? I think so. Goodbye, goodbye, and look for your picture in the morning. Parls Well. Jim asked that reporter who she is? You do hate to miss a celebrity, don't you. Oh, we ask him. He's getting ready to leave, says cool. Yeah, who is that young lady? Oh that was Claire Austin. Uh, Claire Austin, Yeah, the guy who's going to hurt the Austin millions when she comes of age in two days. Uh swell, look conditions cool pleia, I understood that. Mister Hayden, my father's lawyer. We've been waiting for me in my townhouse. No, he's spending the weekend and he's lodge in the country in Miss Claire. He asked me to drive it directly out there. Well, we could have unloaded some of his luggage in town. Frankly, Miss, that never occurred to me. I thought you'd rnn come out here direct from the boat. Well, how much further is this lodge? We'll be there in half an arm? Is that the lord just ahead there? Compleat Yes, mission, I'll signal them we're coming. This certainly is a secluded spot. Yes, mission. It's a sort of hideaway. What I mean is that it's quiet and RESTful. Mission. Right here we are. We'll have to get out on that side. Miss, there's a high fench over here. All right now this way, I'll get someone to help me with a luggage. Hello, miss Austin, welcome to the States. Well, thank you. I suppose that you're mister Hayden, my lawyer. No, uh, but come in then I'll explain myself. Tell me did you have a good trip? Yes? Thank you? Where is mister Hayden? Please? All in good time? As Austin, to be quite frank, there's been a slight changing plan. Well, I should think so. I expect you to meet mister Hayden in town. I don't tell me you know the way out here? And why don't you put wise? Gus? We're wasting time? Yes, I guess we are at that copy? What is all this? Who is this man. Never mind that. All you need to know, miss Austin is that you've been kidnapped. Now, if you'll just do what we say, wold, I'm getting out of it. Take it easy. What do you do? Take her in the next room complaining and put these bracelets on her hands and feet? No, in there, Yes, everything's set. Get the stame in there, say gush, mad Austin dames a wildcat. Did you get those bracelets on her? Yeah? But it wasn't easy. As soon as Thelma gets a line on her voice and speech, we'll get going. Yes, those two dames looking enough to like to be twins. Where'd you find that? Thelma? She worked me once before on a job in Canada. When you showed me those pictures of Claire Austin, I was struck by the resemblance. And all we had to do with Thelma was bleach your hair or what about the accent? And she handled that. Oh that's easy. She's passed herself off as an English blue blood more than once. Now, Copley, let's get down the business. Did everything at the boat go without a hitch? Well not exactly, Gus. Some newspaper guy took Austin's picture before I could get to her. What, well, I couldn't help it. That can't hurt anything gone. These two games look exactly like don't be a fool, Kopy. It's little mistakes like that the ruined the best kind of setups. What paper was that reporter from her? The Morning Herald? Oh? Good, since it's the morning paper. That'll give us time to get that picture, you see. If Thelma's ready, we got to get into town at once. Okay, Pete, tell me everything you know about Stamford's death. Well, mister Brandon, he was alive here in the dark room when I went to lunch around noon. What was he doing when you left developing the pictures he took this morning for tomorrow's paper. Is there any way to find out if Stamford had a visit a heat? No, those backstairs are the only way in and out of this dark room. They laid right out to the street. Oh now, there's no connecting door into the newspaper office. Well, what do you think happened Tampord? Pete? I figure he broke that bottle of acid accidentally, and the fumes overcame him and he fell as he hid his head against the corner of that shelf. Huh, almost too simple, isn't it? Well that must have been the way it happened. The bottle of acid is broken and Stamford has a big lump on his head. Pete, would Stamford have a list of the pictures he was developing? Oh? Sure, he'd have a list of each series of plates? Where are they? Oh? Where that's you? Is no paper on that spike. He only took two cents of pictures so far today. Let me see it with you. Oh here, mm hmm. First six plates opening of new Market? Are all six of those plates here? Pete? Yeah? Here they are now. He must have been working on those when he passed out. Okay, Next four plates on board boat. No, can't find those, and make sure, Pete, Oh they're not here. Mister Brandon, who do you suppose you want to steal four perfectly beautiful shots of miss Claire Austin? What's that? Mister Brandon? Oh? Never mind, deep, give me a little more light over here, we're gonna I want to take another look at this bump on Stafford's head. Well, here I'll focus is desk lamp on him. Oh thanks, uh you new Stamford didn't you, mister Brandon, Oh, I saw him on the boat this morning. Say, the position of this bump is mighty odd. Well what do you mean. Well, if Stamford hit his head against that shell, the lump would have to be toward the back of his head. This lumps right on top. Yeah, well what do you make of it? Oh, I'd say it was from the rear by a black jack. Way. I'll call the doctrine on this right away, But I think you'll agree with me that Stamford was murdered. Oh, there's Claire Austin's townhouse friend. Now I'll wait here in the car while you play recorder and try to get an interview. But Jim, you say you don't suspect the Austin of murdering Stanford, So why should we waste time on her? Low? Stolen plates bearing Miss Austin's picture are the only clue we have for him. Maybe they tie up in some way with a motive for this murder. How many days, Grace did the hell give you three? I promised them a scoop if they'd call it an accident that long. Then, if you don't want me to mention anything to Miss lobster about Stamford's dead. No, keep the interview general. Try to find out if she has any friends or athemies in this country, what she plans to do when she inherits her money, and things like that. You know, it's just possible that someone is trying to blackmail her. All right, I'll do my best, but I still think we're blocking up the wrong Tredium. Here's your camera. Study her reactions when you ask to take some pictures. Okay, don't miss a thing. Turn a woman's touches. We need a miss turn. What happened? I wasn't expecting you back so soon? Stop driving quick? What is it you're you're shaking like a leave Jim. That girl in the opposing is Claire Austin. Isn't the same girl we saw on the boat. What I knew you wouldn't believe me, But she isn't. Well what makes you think so? Well? I admit she looks exactly like her, and she sounds exactly like her. But it's not the same girl. Now, first, it's not, Jim. I can tell by her fingernails. Her fingernails is that girl on the boat had very short nails. I remember thinking that she looked as though she chipped them. I got a good look at her left hand when Stanford had her wave in our direction. Well go ahead, Well, that girl inside there has nails as long as an oriental dead. I hate to dampen your enthusiasm over your great discovery, but Claire Austin has had five hours to put on artificial nails since that boat doct this morning. But they're not artificial, Jim, I asked her, Well, that's the case. We've got a motive that girl should be posing as Claire Austin to collect Claire's inheritance. But what happened to Claire I don't know, but I think we'd better get in touch with Neil Hayden at once. Oh. Yes, he's the little in charge of the Austin case, isn't he, Yes, Jim. All this adds up to the fact that the real Claire may have been kidnapped, doesn't it. I'm afraid it does, Purns, And if we can't locate her before midnight tomorrow when she comes of age, she'll be in danger of a life. Now back to the Avenger and death meets the boat, and that's the story. Neil as a lawyer in charge of miss Austin's estate. I hope you can delay the transfer of the property until we can find the real Claire. Well, I can't hold back the clock gym. At midnight tomorrow, control of the Austin millions passes into Claire's hands automatically. But surely it is something we can do, mister Hayden. We can't just stand by and let's Claire be killed and this imposter inherit her money. Friend, I don't think Neil is much impressed with the story we've just told him. What about it, Neil, Well, frankly, Jim, it sounds utterly fantastic. The length of a girl's fingernails is pretty slim evidence upon which the basic case of this magnitude. Now, I'd need something more to go on than that. Well, if you can arrange for me to have a talk with this girl, I think I can find out whether she's the real Claire or not. All right, I've arranged a little birthday party for it tonight. I'll take you along. Fine. Oh, only remember don't let her know I'm a detective. I never think of you as a detective, Jim. To me, you're a scientist who sometimes dabbles a bit in criminally. You know, I don't think you intender bed as a compliment. Well what about me? Don't I get invited to the party. Oh, I'm afraid not. Fern. Miss Austin thinks you're a reporter. Remember, well, Jim, did you manage to talk of miss Austin yet? No? I haven't. That fellow Merkell over there is monopolizing her. Who is he? Neil Merkell? I don't know. Claire invited him, said he was an old friend, an importer. I think she said Merkell never heard of him. Suppose we wander over and break up their little tetott All right, But I sincerely hope your hunch is wrong, Jim, So do I? Oh, Merkele Caesar is coming. Oh he's moving away. Oh, here's your opportunity, Jim, Oh, Claire, mister Brandon is eager to have a chat with you about Australia. You know he spent some time there himself. Really, what part of Australia is to Brandon? New South Wales? Mostly you come from Sydney, don't you. Yes, that's right. Did you spend much time next? No? I didn't. My travels took me father Inland. I was doing a little exploring. Nice. You know, we Americans are always interested in the animals of Australia. The rose, great Auks and bombats are fat, yes they are. And don't forget the kangaroos. We're frightfully proud of those, yes, but as pets, the wombats and more a music. I suppose you own one, Oh, yes, a darling one. I'm ranging have it turned over here as soon as I get sent. Oh excuse me, Claire, but the websters are leaving. I thought you'd like to speak. Thank you, mister excuse me, mister Brandon, mister Hayden, of course, certainly, Claire. Well, Jim, as far as I could see him, seemed to pass that examination all right. On the contrary, Neil, that girl has been carefully coached, but she's never seen Australia. Some party. You mean, you tell me that's what the millionaires call having a good time. I'm afraid you'll have to get used to it. I will not as soon as I come into that money. Guess mirca, I'm going away on a long vacation. We'll talk about that later. That must be Copley, come in. Have all the servants gone to bed? Copley? Sure, I waited till the coach was clear. Okay, Now let's get down to business. First of all, what was that guy Brandon talking about tonight, Thelma Australia? He's traveled there? What I don't worry, Gus, I handled him all right? How about him do all the talking? I just fall suit with the general Elequi. Okay, okay, but stay clear of people like that until your coaching is over tomorrow, Thelma. You'll develop a headache and stay in your room all day. Suit me. Ah. That brings us to the real Claire Austin. If everything goes without a hitch, we've got to get rid of her right after midnight tomorrow. We should have done that first things. Why are you waiting until the last minute of bumper? Because there's no point in hanging her murder around our next until we're sure we pulled this job off. What's the difference? Am I just as well be hanged for two murders as one. Nobody calls Stamford's death murder. Even the paper he worked on called it an accident. I was plentyful to make it look that way. Wow, who's going to take care of this Austin day and how Copley, you know the plan. Get yourself up to the lodge tomorrow night and take care of it, not me, Gush, that's your job. I only agreed to finger this layout. You'll do what I say. Copley, I'll tell you I won't do it. I can't, Guys. I knew our old man for tangeous. This isn't the time to turn soft. Copley. From here on in, I'm the Boston You take orders from me, not that order. Oh then maybe a good messing up will change your mind. Gus. Not here here and now, either he does what I say or I'll lay him out flat. Huh. Take your choice. Copley, all right now let me alone. I'll do it. I guess that feels safe about that Austin girl a future care of her. Copley might get cold feet the last Mont and gumb up everything. Yeah, yes, I'll have to go with him, I guess, and see that he carries out his assignment. Jim, don't think I'm not enjoying this lovely ride in the country. But but you're dying to know what we're doing out here right Urn yes, why did you stop that gasling station back there? You didn't buy any gas? No, but I got some information, Jim, Please, what's going on? Well, Fern, here's the way I have things figured out. Copley, the chauffeur, met the real Claire Austin at the boat. Three hours later, he delivered the phony Claire Austin at our house in town. Copley was one who kidnapped Austin there. Oh, he had to have a hand in it, probably set up up the job for a gang. A thing like this would take some morganizing. But what makes you so sure you brought away out here? Neil Hayden had Copley's gas credit card checked for me, and the records show that Copley gassed up at that station back there three times within the last few weeks. The station attendant remembers him, says, Copley's car always turned off on this side road. Where on now? Oh, we're looking for the hideaway. Yes, so keep your eyes peel furned because our time is running out. Jim, it's past midnight. Maybe this isn't the house at all. I'm sure it is. Vernon. There are two husky fellows guarding the front driveway. But how do you plan to get inside the house, Jim. When the criminals arrived, I'll go right in with them as the avenger. But what if the criminals should call up the guards here and tell them to kill Claire. They can't, Fern. There are no telephone wires leading into that house. I'll have to show up in person. I'm getting d this gymne Fern. We can get Miss Austin out of there in a matter of minutes if we follow our plan. Well, let's go over it again, Jim. I'd never forgive myself if I bungle my end of it. You won't, Fern. Here's the way we'll manage it. A moment I get inside the house, I'll unlock this back window. Miss Austin will come out and join you here. Then you too, make tracks through the woods to our car and head straight for town. What about you, Jim, I'll join you later. Inspector White and Neil Hayden will meet you in front of Miss Austin's house in town. Let us gout the real heiress inside to face the imposture. They've arrived. I'll go around and join them at the corner of the house as the Avenger. Good luck, Jim, Come on, goply, let's make short work of this. Wait a minute, what was that noise? Sounded like one of the tires went flat. I'll get out your flash and take a look. You've got a lot of traveling to do in this card night. Okay mm hm, rare tires are all right now. Will look in the front one here. Mm the front winds are all right too, Nothing wrong? You are sure? Sure? Come on? Then open the front door. Alright, Copley, go into the next room and get the Austin game. Take the bracelets offer and see that there are no marks where she was fastened to the bed. And don't use the black jack until we get her in the car. Why not it be easier. I want those two guards outside to see her alive when she leaves here. The less thing know, the safer We are. Go ahead and I bring her out. Alright? Oh come back, yes, missa we have decided to take you away from here. Who are you taking? Still? I'll take these handcuffs off your hands. Feet, Yes, the relief anyway, Miss Austin through that window quickly? Who's that? Who's in here? It's the Avenger Copley. And this is for you. I ring miss Austin through that window. Go with the young lady outside right? What's going on in there? Koble Copley? Can you what happened? Where's the girl Copley? He's out cold, mercle And here's something for you too from the Avenger which Claire Austin's birthday party is a great succession, even if it is a few days late. Well, she can thank you for being alive to celebrated friend. You know, if you hadn't noticed Helma's fingernails, we might never have discovered she was an impostor. Jem, you're just flattering me. No, the fingernails worth the only clue you had what really convinced you the Telma wasn't Claire she found on the examination I gave her about Australia. Well, aside from not knowing that the Dodo has been extinct since the seventeenth century, she said she had a wombat for a pet and was bringing it here. Well, a wombat's a small beer, isn't it. That's right, But even an Australian school child knows that the wombat can't exist outside the Australian continent. Oh, what is shame? It sounds like a nice bet. Wrong again, Miss Gottier. The wombat sleeps all day and wanders forth at night in search of food. How hardly the general conception of a pet, don't you think? All right? Teacher? Did the real Mayor Austin pet that test with flying colors? And I'm sure if you really want a wombat for a pet, shall order one stuffed and sent over by a special play. Come on, Jim, let's all characters, names, places, and plots used in the Avenger program are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is a thought, a thought, a thought. Remember listen for another adventure of the Avenger