Speaker 1: The Avenger, The road to crime ends in a trap that,
just as 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 two inventions
to aid him in his crusade against crime as the Avenger,
the telepathic indicator by which he is able to pick
up thought flashes, and the secret diffusion capsule, which cloaks
him in the black light of invisibility. Brandon's assistant, the
beautiful Fern Cordier, is the only one who's shares his
secrets and knows that he is the man the underworld
fears as the Avenger, and now the Avenger and the
Tunnel of Disaster.
Speaker 2: Burne.
Speaker 1: We'll finish this experiment later. It's time to listen to
the broadcast now.
Speaker 3: Oh yes, Jim, I've forgotten about that.
Speaker 1: Why burn Inspector White's talked of nothing else for a week.
Speaker 4: You helped him write his dedication speaks for the opening
of the new tunnel.
Speaker 3: Didn't you, Jim.
Speaker 1: Yes, And I'll never forgive us if we don't listen
to them delivery.
Speaker 3: I'll it in you know.
Speaker 1: They ran into so much trouble building that river for
a tunnel. I often thought they'd never finish it.
Speaker 5: Well, folks, several thousand people are gathered here for the
dedication of the new river Ford Tunnel. It cuts through
South Mountain. In another moment, the ceremonies will begin.
Speaker 4: The final cost of the tunnel amount to more than
twice the amount originally.
Speaker 1: That's right, for the engineers ran into all sorts of difficulties.
In fact, they advised the city council more than once
to abandon the whole idea. It's pretty well known that
the engineers wanted to resign, but the city held them
to their contract.
Speaker 4: Well, I suppose now that the tunnel is finished, it's
worth all the money that was spent on.
Speaker 1: Yes, we'll relieve the traffic jams and the other tunnels
and make it easier to get in and out of
the city. On the south side.
Speaker 3: They're ready to begin the sounder.
Speaker 1: Right and the work was carried forward.
Speaker 5: We are broadcasting to you from a helicopter from which
we can see both ends of the tunnel. Now, in
just a moment, our tunnel Commissioner Jonas Anderson will drive
the first car through the tunnel. Right now, the tapes
are being cut, the municipal band is striking up, and
the Commissioner's car is entering the tunnel. As soon as
the car emerges at the other end, the signal will
be given for the first ticket to be sold. The
Commissioner is making this trip to establish a time record.
And now I'm going to lower the mic over the side.
Let you listen to the band for a moment. This
record ron seems to be taking them in the fun
I'm an expectant and must this car should have come
through by now. Inspector White of the police department has
just ordered the band to stop playing. Something has gone wrong, stand.
Speaker 3: By, Jim. What could have happened?
Speaker 1: Oh? If that's I almost likely it couldn't be anything else.
Speaker 5: Yes, something is wrong here, folks. We're going to land
our helicopter on the roadway so that we can give
you a first hand report.
Speaker 1: Say with the radio, friend, I'm going to see if
I can pick up anything on the telepathic indicator.
Speaker 5: Yes, Jim, nobody can understand what's happened here.
Speaker 1: Inspector White is.
Speaker 5: Going through the tunnel and the police squad car now,
and we should know something in a minute.
Speaker 3: Jim did you pick up anything on the indicator?
Speaker 1: Not Jet Brian.
Speaker 5: Here comes the inspector squad car. Now we'll have new
spoil you in just a moment. Ladies, Jim for the
very strange things happened here. Inspector White reports there's absolutely
no sign I mean to the Commissioner's car in the
tunnel lake.
Speaker 1: They've just disappeared. Well, Jim, pick up anything, yes, Burn
I did wat him amid impressions of great excitement. The
indicator picked up a strong telepathic impression of violence and disaster.
What shall we do, Jim, We better get out there
to the tunnel right away, fur Inspector White will lead us.
Speaker 2: Well, Hey, Jo, it's Jim Branch.
Speaker 1: Please connected with my armice.
Speaker 2: Let him throw the ropes.
Speaker 1: Thanks, Inspector good.
Speaker 2: This is some yes term.
Speaker 6: We tried to get them to go home, but they
won't budge over this way. Jim, I want to talk
to you.
Speaker 1: Say how many guards were stationed in the tunnel when
this crazy thing happened, Inspector for Jim, One.
Speaker 6: On each end and two in the center. The center
ones were knocked out, but they're in the hospital under guard.
Speaker 1: There's not a chance that they know anything. If they did,
they'd have been killed.
Speaker 6: That's what I think. But here's something else, Jim's. This
note was found pinned to the coat of one of
those guys.
Speaker 3: What does it say, Jim?
Speaker 1: It's a warning to the mayor. It says river Ford
Tunnel is a death trap. The public will never use it.
Close it at once, or a disaster will strike again.
Speaker 4: Well, anyway, it's a relief to know we're dealing with
a flesh and blood criminal. For a while, it looked
as though the commissioner had just disappeared into Finnish.
Speaker 2: Well, he has burned.
Speaker 6: We know that he went into the tunnel, and we
know he didn't come out.
Speaker 1: He's not in there now, So where is he, Inspector.
I'd like to take a walk through the tunnel.
Speaker 2: Oh, you won't find a thing, Jim.
Speaker 3: But come on, do you think this will cause the
tunnel to be closed for good? Inspector?
Speaker 1: I don't know, Fern. That's up to the city council.
This tunnel cost the city fifteen million dollars. I'm betting
they won't close it.
Speaker 6: Well, whether they do or not, I've still got to
crack this case, and in short order.
Speaker 1: To wait where's that hammering coming from, Inspector.
Speaker 2: That's my men testing every inch of these walls. Jim.
If there's a hollow spot, they'll find it.
Speaker 1: Good work, Inspector, Jim.
Speaker 2: Have you got any ideas at all on this thing?
Speaker 1: Not yet, Inspector. But there's got to be a joker
in this deal somewhere. We'll just play the hand out
and we'll find it.
Speaker 5: Yes, yes, huh. I'm Michael Evans.
Speaker 1: What's your business?
Speaker 5: Brandon?
Speaker 1: It's called you and I came to make a few inquiries.
Mister Evans, I'll get to the point, and Brandon, what
do you want? You were the construction engineer on the
Riverfood Tunnel, weren't you?
Speaker 5: Yes? I wish I had never heard of a blasted thing.
I told them from the beginning that tunnel shouldn't be built.
If they wouldn't listen to.
Speaker 1: Me, well, what were your objections to the tunnel? Objections?
Speaker 5: And there was a waste of that taxpayers money for
one thing. I could have built a road around both
sides of that moting for a fraction of what the
tunnel costs. But if it does take up motorists a
few minutes longer to reach the bridge safety is more important.
Speaker 1: Inspector White says, you received a number of threatening letters
during the time the tunnel was under construction.
Speaker 5: Yes, I turned them all over the city council, but
they didn't pay any attention those politician Evans.
Speaker 1: How sound are the walls of the tunnel.
Speaker 5: Young man? I'll put my work up against any construction
job in the country. Well, I'm not questioning. You'll hear
the plans. The mayor told me to hand them over
to here. I'll take them and get out. Your questions
are an insult.
Speaker 1: Rands for Evans. You want to take that attitude, You're
of no help to us.
Speaker 4: Come on, Vern, I've met some grumpy old men before,
but mister Evans.
Speaker 3: Takes the prize.
Speaker 1: Sometimes grumpiness is imployed to hide on easiness. Fern, you
mean you suspecting Jim's I haven't made up my mind
about that yet so far. I'm too busy wondering about
something else I saw in that office.
Speaker 5: What was that, Jim?
Speaker 1: There was a tiny model of a gold smelter on
the work table in there.
Speaker 3: A gold smelter.
Speaker 1: Yes, and I'm wondering what interest a construction engineer in
this city could have been a gold smelter. This is
the Hartley Steel Mill Fern. That must be the office
over there.
Speaker 3: What do you expect to find out here, Jim.
Speaker 1: Well, this visit is more or less of a shot
on the dark fern. You'll notice that this land adjoins
the city property on which the tunnel is located.
Speaker 4: Oh.
Speaker 3: Yes.
Speaker 1: In going through the city records, I discovered that before
the tunnel was built, the Hartley Steel Company tried to
buy up all that adjoining city property. They didn't succeed,
but I'd like to find out why they were at
that land.
Speaker 3: It sounds like an interesting angle.
Speaker 4: Jim.
Speaker 1: Oh, here's the office building. Ah, yes, we just walk
right in you, Joe, I know it's It's Jim Brandon.
I've got business with mister Hatley.
Speaker 2: Oh, there must be some mistake. Mister Hartley's been dead
for three years.
Speaker 1: I want to see the man in charge.
Speaker 2: Then. Do you have an appointment?
Speaker 1: No, but I think he'll see me. I'm from the police.
Speaker 6: Oh well, come in. I'm Theodore Ramsey, the general manager.
Speaker 2: Here.
Speaker 1: This is my assistant, Miss Collier. Sit down, won't you
thank you? I'm sorry to barge in on you this way.
Mister Ramsey. But there are a few questions I'd.
Speaker 2: Like to ask.
Speaker 6: Oh that's all right, mister Brandon. Only I'm a little
curious as to why the guard didn't call me from
the gate to say you were coming.
Speaker 1: I don't think he saw us. We came in the
side entrance just as some trucks were pulling out.
Speaker 2: I see. Well, go ahead, Brandon.
Speaker 1: Some years ago, the Hartley Steel interest try to buy
the city land adjoining us property. Why.
Speaker 6: Well, old mister Hartley was living then, and when he
heard the city was thinking of building a tunnel under
this mountain, he was afraid it might undermine part of
our property and and endanger our business.
Speaker 1: Oh I see any other reason?
Speaker 6: Well, frankly, yes, we had always hoped that the city
would build a road around this end of the mountain.
A great deal of our material is delivered in trucks,
and a good road would be to our advantage. Naturally,
a tunnel through the mountain would cancel out the road.
Speaker 1: And you weren't willing to build the road yourself. Well,
not unless we owned all the land. Mister Ramsey, do
you own the steel nooll.
Speaker 6: Now, oh no, no, i I'm just the general manager
Old Hartley's grandson b Burgess owns it.
Speaker 1: Does he take an active bought and running the mill?
Speaker 2: Well, yes and no. You know how these rich boys are.
Speaker 6: He has an office over there near the smelting plan,
but I I don't think he's in it very often.
Speaker 1: Well, thank you very much, mister Ramsey. This was just
a routine check.
Speaker 2: Oh that's all right.
Speaker 6: Even though we weren't very keen on the tunnel at first,
we're just as much upset as you are. Is the
way things have turned out. Hold on me again if
I can be of any help.
Speaker 1: One inspector. Has the council decided whether they're going to
open the tunnel or not? Well, they reached the decision
two hours ago, Jim. The tunnel has now opened the traffic.
I've just come from there, Specter.
Speaker 4: I just can't understand they're opening the tunnel, and could
you've had a chance to solve this.
Speaker 6: Case burn The council is inclined to believe that the
whole this is peering actuis stage of some kind of
a hoax, or even the publicity's done.
Speaker 2: Maybe they're right.
Speaker 3: I don't know, I'll get it, Jim.
Speaker 4: Hello, Yes, the inspectors here, sure, hold on a minute, please,
inspector for you?
Speaker 6: Hello, what holy smoke? If you call a tunnel and
tell him to stop all the traffic? Good, I'll get
out there right away.
Speaker 1: What's the matter, Inspector.
Speaker 6: They just received a telephone call at headquarters saying disaster
would strike the tunnel again at midnight.
Speaker 7: Come on, Jims.
Speaker 1: St now back to the Avenger and the tunnel of disaster.
What time is it, Jim so eleven fifteen? Inspector say,
look at that car ahead. Why it broke right through
the gate and went into the tunnel.
Speaker 6: All the fools, Jim Purne get out and stand god here,
see that no other cars get past the guard.
Speaker 1: Okay, come on, where are you going, Inspector.
Speaker 2: Into the tunnel?
Speaker 1: Inspector, Inspector, You're crazy, can never come out of there
a lot.
Speaker 4: Come back, Jim, Why do you think it's important to
go into the tunnel from the opposite side.
Speaker 3: We're losing time driving around this mountain Fern.
Speaker 1: Every car that has disappeared within that tunnel when in
at the north entrance. There's some reason for that, and
I've got to sign out.
Speaker 4: What it is, Oh, Jim, I'm afraid we're too late
to save the inspector. We lost minutes getting to the
place that God had his car parked.
Speaker 1: There's the entrance, friend, hold tight, I'm going to crash
right through the gate.
Speaker 3: Ok yes, Oh, the God is blowing brush to stuff.
Speaker 1: I'll explain to him later. We having a second to lose. Now,
keep your eyes peel fern. If there's a clue in here,
we've got to find it.
Speaker 3: Right Jim, Gosh, this place is frightening.
Speaker 1: When we reach the center of the chunnel, we'll stop
to see if we can pick up any sound.
Speaker 3: There's absolutely no sign of another car in here.
Speaker 1: Jim, No, this is the center here. I'll pull up here. Okay,
now let's listen for a moment. No good, This place
is as silent as a tomb. Now, Jim, I'll drive
along slowly. Keep your eye on the road. Jim.
Speaker 3: Wait, I'll just caught sight of something on the side
of the road.
Speaker 1: What was it for an.
Speaker 3: No, something small that seems to be shining.
Speaker 7: There.
Speaker 1: It is, Jim, Huh, what's a pencil? It's the Inspector's
gold pencil. Turn good, heavens.
Speaker 3: That means he got as far as the spot, Jim.
Speaker 1: Yes, and according to my mileage gauge, this is exactly
a tens of a mile from the north entrance. Come on, Fern,
we've got to get back to the laboratory. This is
our first real clue.
Speaker 3: Here. Jim, I made some sandwiches for you. You haven't
eaten a thing all day. Oh thanks, burn How are
you making out, Jim?
Speaker 1: Well, according to these maps, that spot where we found
the inspector's pencil is directly parallel with the Hartley steel mill.
Speaker 4: But Jim, if the tunnel walls as solid as everyone claims,
what connection can the steel mill.
Speaker 3: Have with the tunnel.
Speaker 1: That's where my other discovery comes in.
Speaker 3: Your other discovery.
Speaker 1: Yes, According to this early geological history of that tunnel land,
small deposits of gold were once discovered there. Gold that
could be the motive Burne, Jim.
Speaker 4: If old mister Hartley knew about the gold, that could
have been as reason for wanting to.
Speaker 3: Buy the land.
Speaker 1: Right, But old Hartley is dead. Somebody's living must know
about that gold, Fern. That's the reason they want the
tunnel closed. Who, Jim, So far we have three possible suspects.
Three yes, merkle Evans the construction engineer, Hartley's grandson, Lee Burgess,
and Ramsey, the manager of the Hartley Mill.
Speaker 4: I know why you suspect Evans, Jim, but what reasons
have you for thinking Burgess and Ramsey may be guilty.
Speaker 1: Both of them have the facilities and are in a
position to mine the gold.
Speaker 3: Jim, none of this is what you call solid evidence.
Speaker 1: No, it isn't, Fern, But we haven't time to get that.
We've got to force the hand of the guilty party.
Speaker 3: How Jim.
Speaker 1: I want you to put in a telephone call to
all three suspects, tell each of them that Jim Brandon
has discovered a hollow section in the tunnel wall, and
that a crew of men is going to start digging
at once.
Speaker 2: Then hang up.
Speaker 3: Yes, and what are you going to do, Jim?
Speaker 1: If there's any connection between the tunnel and the mill,
the guilty party will show up at the mill. I'll
be waiting for him there as the avenger.
Speaker 5: Oh so you finally got here, Burchess. I've been waiting
here at the gate for ten minutes.
Speaker 1: I came as soon as I could. Evans I had
to call my men here at the middle and tell
him to get thinks that all right, then, come on,
you haven't any time to lose. What What was that noise?
I don't know, there's no one in sight. Say, who
do you suppose that girl was? Who called to warn us?
How should I know?
Speaker 5: You can't bother about that now, Burgess, you got enough
dynamite to fill in our mind that it.
Speaker 1: Joins the tunnel lenty, don't worry about that.
Speaker 5: The minute I set eyes on that Brandon, I knew
he was trouble.
Speaker 1: Oh, stop driping Evans. Who knew this was a dangerous
game when you came.
Speaker 7: In on it.
Speaker 1: Anyway, we're not licked yet. Yes, and you can talk
like that because you're young, burchess. But what about me?
Speaker 5: I was a respect to engineer all my life, and
until I let you tuck me into this gold mining business.
Speaker 1: I taught you into it. You're ridiculous, Evans, and you're
yellow the boot Listen here, shut up arguing isn't going
to get us anywhere. We're both in this thing up
to the eyes. Yes, you're right, I guess we have
to keep our heads.
Speaker 5: Now, we'll dynamite our mind for twenty yards right there
where it connects with the tunnel, and when the cops
break through the tunnel wall, I'll run unto nothing but.
Speaker 1: Dirt, right, and then I'll sue Brandon for everything he owns.
Speaker 5: All right, here's the shank.
Speaker 1: Open the door. Purchase, all right, get inside, lock that
door after us. Purchase?
Speaker 5: How many minute you got down on the mine?
Speaker 6: Eight?
Speaker 1: Where are the prisoners in the room near the smelter?
Speaker 6: Say?
Speaker 1: What are we going to do with those prisoners?
Speaker 7: Deal with them?
Speaker 1: Eliminate them? What else? I don't think I'd be in
such a hurry to do that, Evans.
Speaker 4: Who's that?
Speaker 7: Who's in here?
Speaker 1: It's the Avenger? And this is the end of the
line for both of you.
Speaker 7: Where is he?
Speaker 3: Get them?
Speaker 1: Purchase? How can I fight someone I can't even see?
You might as well give up.
Speaker 5: The police will be here in a minute, all right, Purchase. Now,
come on, let's get out of here while there's still time.
Speaker 1: No, we've got a dynamite of mine first. If we don't,
they've got the goods on it. It's too late, I
tell you, it's our only chance. Unlock the trap door
of him quick? Okay, help me move these filecases away
from it. No, you don't Purchase, You're not going down
in that mine. Oh you knocked them out. Stay where
you are, Evans, or you'll get the same. The police
are here now, Evans, and you'd better deliver those prisoners
and good health. All the charge will be murdered, as
well as kidnapping.
Speaker 2: Jim Burn over here, we're waiting.
Speaker 1: Are you? What are you planning to do down here?
Inspector deliver your dedication speech for these reporters.
Speaker 6: No, Jim, I brought Burgl Evins down here in the
tunnel to demonstrate exactly how this swinging wall works.
Speaker 3: How do you feel, Inspector?
Speaker 6: Fine, Fern fine, never better. Okay, Evans, stop talking.
Speaker 5: All right, and you'll notice there's a steel girder every
fifteen feet here through the center of the tunnel. Well,
this section of the wall right here between these two
girders opens just like a door. The huge hinges are
behind the steel girder there on the right.
Speaker 2: But where does the door end. There's no trace of
a break in the wall.
Speaker 1: It ends over there beneath that girder on the left
dozen it Evans.
Speaker 5: Yes, yes, that's right, and that girder is attached to
this moveable portion of the wall. When the wall swings
back in the place, and that girder covers up the
crack like a piece of weather stripping.
Speaker 2: Open it up. Evens we want to see for ourselves.
Speaker 5: Well, I'll have to signal a man on the other
side of the wall. You see, this whole section is
wired and controlled by a photo electric eye back there
in the mine. Whenever we wanted to open the wall,
all we had to do was break the beam and
it swung out automatically, gave the signal.
Speaker 3: For hidden. It's like a revolving stage.
Speaker 1: When the wall is swung open like that, it looks
like a curve in the tunnel.
Speaker 3: And people drove right into the mine before they realized.
Speaker 1: But not you, Inspector.
Speaker 6: Well, I threw my pencil out in time to leave
a clue for you, didn't I ride, Inspector Jim.
Speaker 3: Why didn't that section of walls sound hollow when they
tested it.
Speaker 1: It's too well reinforced for and look at the thickness
of it.
Speaker 6: Oh, yes, okay, Evan, that's all. Take him the headquarters
at Buckham Boy.
Speaker 1: Oh, Inspector, what is it?
Speaker 2: Jim?
Speaker 1: Smile? Those reporters are snapping your picture.
Speaker 3: And it's thrilling to see all this traffic going through
the tunnel.
Speaker 1: Yes, it proves how much the c that he needed it.
Speaker 3: Is there really a rich gold ain under the tunnel gym?
Speaker 1: No fern. As it turned out, Burgess and Evans had
already mined most of the gold in this mountain, not
that it will ever do them any good.
Speaker 3: There's just one other thing I don't understand.
Speaker 1: What's that?
Speaker 4: What happened to the two men who were in that
carp inspector filed into the tunnel that night.
Speaker 3: They weren't how prisoner with the Inspector.
Speaker 1: And Commissioner, Oh, because they were Burgess's own men. That
spectacular dash of theirs was aged to keep the disaster
stories going.
Speaker 3: Well, come on, Jim, we'd better get back to the laboratory.
Speaker 2: I have work to do, so have I.
Speaker 6: The Inspector wants me to write his dedication speech for
the new court house next week. All characters, names, places,
and plots used in the Avenger program are fictitious. Any
similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Speaker 3: This is a thought, a thought, a thought.
Speaker 1: Remember listen for another adventure of the Avenger