The Avenger - Murder Hits the Jackpot

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The Avenger.

The rotor crime mends at a trap.

That justice sets.

Crime does not pay.

The Avenger's sworn enemy of evil is actually Jim Brannon, a famous biochemist.

Through his numerous scientific experiments,

Brannon has perfected several inventions to aid him

and his crusade against crime as the Avenger.

Most remarkable of these inventions is the highly secret diffusion capsule,

which cloaks him in the black light of invisibility.

Brannon's assistant, the beautiful fern codger,

is the only one who shares his secrets

and knows that he is the man the underworld fears as the Avenger.

And now...

The Avenger and murder hits the jackpot.

The Avenger and the Avenger

The Avenger and the Avenger

Operator, please don't cut me off.

The Avenger and the Avenger

But I'm still waiting for my party.

It was busy on another wire.

The Avenger and the Avenger

I can't leave this booth to get any change.

Two men are trailing me.

This is a matter of life and death.

Operator.

Operator.

I think I'm a crime.

I just have to take a chance and get some change.

All right, Judson.

Outside.

Marcher, and let you have it in the back right now.

Hey, guy, I have big guys waiting outside in this car.

Go ahead.

Hey, what is this?

Head up.

Get in the car, Judson.

In the back.

Hello, Judson.

Griff, tell this gorilla you sit here in the back with us, Hank.

Samuel, drive.

Okay.

Step on it, Sammy.

Cut across that back row, the Keystone Meadows.

Now, uh, what are you saying, Judson?

So you're taking me to Keystone Meadows?

Yeah, that's a nice dessert.

It's a spot.

I gotta keep you away from telephone, Judson.

I didn't talk to anybody.

Griff, honestly, I didn't.

That sacred service man was busy on another line.

I know you didn't get to him, Judson.

Hank would have blasted you right through the door if you had.

But you can't blame us if we don't take any more chances with you.

Well, I'm not going to beg for mercy, Griff.

I won't give you the satisfaction.

You admit you were all set to double crosses.

Yes.

It's the only way out that I can see.

This latest racket of yours forced my hand.

I hadn't bargained for that.

Now, who picked you off, Judson?

Nobody.

I stumbled onto your set up in the factory today.

Uh, it's too bad.

It doesn't give me any choice.

It's you or me.

Here's a place, Sammy. Turn in here.

Stop over there near that clump of trees.

Well, Judson, this is the end of the line for you.

Okay.

Get out, Judson.

You might as well go through his clothes, Hank.

If we can make this look like robbery, he's so much better.

All right.

Turn out the headlights, Sammy.

I'll keep my flash on them.

He's well healed, all right?

Just swallow it.

Hurry it up, Hank. We haven't got all night.

Okay, please clean.

Well, what are you waiting for then?

Give it to him.

Yes, Inspector, that's Max Judson, the real estate man, all right?

All right. Did you know him, Jim?

Oh, you might say we had a nodding acquaintance.

He used to play tennis at my club.

Well, what makes you think this was a gang killing inspector?

As far as I know, Judson was always on the level.

Oh, people who live right don't often come to such a bad end, Jim.

Four bullets in the chest out in Keystone Metters.

Yes, but he was robbed, too. Don't forget that.

There's no doubt about it, Jim.

This was a gang.

Murder.

Ah, here. Take a look at this. We found it in his left hand.

Nickel.

Yeah. Well, according to the best tradition of the underworld,

a nickel symbolizes the fate of a double crosser.

That's it, Jim.

You mind if I keep this nickel, Inspector?

I suppose you wanted for your coin collection.

Well, that's right.

It's a buffalo, 1922. I haven't got any of those.

Okay, take it.

I don't suppose Judson's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

I don't suppose he's there.

Thanks, Inspector.

Well, where do you think we should start on this, Jim?

A lot of routine checking will have to be done first.

Why don't you go to work on that?

Ah, what about you?

I've got a hunch that may lead us to the motive for Judson's murder.

I suppose you let me in on it.

I'll need a little time to work on it.

Come around to my lab before I clock this afternoon, Inspector.

Maybe I'll have something more definite by then.

Oh, good. Put them down on the table here, Fern. You didn't get the mixed-up, did you?

No. This pocket told us from the gocer. And this is from the news dealer. And all these are from the drug industry. And all these world ones from the back.

That brings our total up to 500. Now we can go to work.

Jim, at least we can go to work.

Jim, I wish you'd tell me what we're going to do with all these nickels.

We're going to give each one of them a chemical test, Fern.

A chemical test?

Yes. I think we'll find that a percentage of these nickels are counterfeit.

Hello, Inspector. You're right on time.

Well, I hope you had better luck than I have, Jim. I haven't been able to get anywhere on Judson's death.

Jim thinks you sound motor-forward, Inspector.

Yes. What is it, Jim? Counterfeit money. I think Judson's murder can be tied up with a racket that specializes in counterfeit nickels.

However, if it nickels, well, that couldn't be much of a racket, Jim wouldn't be worth it.

To the contrary, Inspector, it would be a very smart racket and a very profitable one.

Well, according to a little preliminary test we made this afternoon, about one tenth of the nickels in circulation in this neighborhood, at least, are counterfeit.

Well, that's so I haven't the bank's discovery.

Because these fake nickels are so well turned out, it's impossible to tell them from the real ones.

Well, here, Inspector, take a look at these two nickels.

One is counterfeit and one is good. Can you detect any difference?

Well, they look exactly the same to me. They not only look the same, but they weigh the same.

77.16 grains. And how can you be sure of their fakes?

I've given them a chemical test.

A nickel struck at a government min contain 75% copper and 25% nickel.

These concerts contain lead for weight, zinc for color, and powdered glass to give them a ring.

Well, that's the reason they've been able to fool everybody.

But where's the profit in it, Jim?

About four and a half cents on each nickel?

These fakes could be stamped out at a cost of about half a cent.

They were put out in large enough quantities that would add up to a sizable raggedy.

I should say so when you realize there are 295 million dollars worth of nickels in circulation.

For instance, if a countertheta could supply just 1% of them, just 1% for each short period,

he would stand to clean up several million dollars.

Of course, I think this racket is still localized.

But unless we nip it in the butt, it won't take too long for it to expand.

Well, any idea who might be behind it?

Yes.

Oh, that is, I think I know who made these coins.

I want you to check on it for me.

With pleasure, who is it?

An old fellow by the name of Pop Walters.

He's a chronic countertheta.

The kind that just can't leave the business alone.

And he's by far the best artist in the line.

But the last hour heard of Pop, he was safely tucked away in a federal detentionry.

Well, if Walters made these nickels, Jim will find him.

Give me a couple of hours on this.

Hello?

Jim, Inspector White.

Oh, yes, Inspector.

I got a line on Pop Walters, Jim.

Good.

Ah, it isn't so good.

He was released from the federal pen eight months ago.

He figured he was too old and feeble to do anymore harm,

so they sent him to a rest home.

Well, where?

Upstate.

But he disappeared from the home three weeks after he arrived.

I guess that means he's back in operation, alright?

Yes.

And this time, I don't think he's working alone.

He's probably hitched up with some local gang that has the proper setup to unload the nickels.

Anyway, Pop Walters wasn't a killer.

Well, I'll put some of my best men on the job right away, Jim.

We'll be able to locate him.

Okay.

I'll go to work on the other angle.

What other angle?

The gang that's unloading the nickels.

All right.

Well, keep in touch with me, Jim.

So long.

So long, Inspector.

You're winning anything, Griff?

No.

And the suckers won't take much away from this new flat machine, Hank.

How much does it pay off?

Only about 20%.

Just enough to keep them coming.

I...

I think you're going to run into some trouble installing them new machines, Griff.

What are you giving me?

Customers will take them and like them.

Now, we're into some headaches, Griff.

Now that Judson's gone, some of the customers don't occupy store space.

He owned a stepping out of line.

Oh.

How?

Tritum had out of order signs on their slut machines today.

Oh, what did you do about it?

I tore down the signs and told them to lay off.

But it didn't scare them, then.

Judson's dead and they figured he can't be dispossessed now.

Two of them had to know if to tell me to get the machines out of the place.

Oh, we better go to work on this right away.

Those guys are dealing with Griff Ketler now.

And I guess it's about time I let him know who's boss.

Tell Sammy to get the car out, Hank.

Right.

That little job for you two boys.

Okay, Sammy, it's that store on the corner.

Close to the sidewalk and slow down.

Right here.

He's a present for you, Mr. Ballot.

Okay, stop on it.

Now let us teach him.

Next stop is the 10th in Maple, Sammy.

We got another package to deliver.

Well, there isn't much left of this store inspector.

Were there any customers inside when the bomb was thrown?

No, Ballot, the proprietor was the only casual to Jim.

Looks like we're right in the middle of an old time gang war.

We haven't been up against anything like this in years.

Gang idea, Jim.

Yes.

I think there's a definite connection between this bombing and Max Judson's murder.

How do you figure that?

Judson owns several dozen corner stores in the city.

And this was one of them.

Protection ragged, maybe?

Oh, I wouldn't be surprised.

But I still can't figure out where they account if it nickel fits into all this.

Ah, we're up a blind alley on pop-warers.

They all follow seem to have vanished in thin air.

Keep your men working on it inspector.

Meantime, Fred and I will get busy on a little field work.

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And murder hits the jackpot.

Oh, gosh, Jim. We tossed again.

Put another nickel in, friends. I'll get some more chain.

All right.

Oh, I don't think it's possible to win on these slot machines.

How'd you do, friends?

Yeah, just wasting money on these things.

So far, we've put in over $10 worth of nickels and various machines.

And only got $2 back.

Mm-hmm. That's about the average pay-off, friend.

Only the suckers expect to win.

Put one more nickel in it.

And then we'll move on to the next drawer.

Okay.

Oh, Jim, look, I won.

Not the jackpot, though.

Help me gather up the nickels, Jim.

Oh, that was a 20 nickel win, Fred.

Here, put them in this pocket.

I'm keeping those we won, separated from the ones we got in change from the storekeepers.

I'm tired of these, James, Jim. Can't we go home now?

Not yet. We have three more stores to cover.

Then we'll go back to the lab and find out how many counterfeit nickels we've collected.

Come on.

Have you finished with the test, Jim?

Yes, Fern.

80 out of 10 of those nickels we collected in the slot machine stores were counterfeit.

They're sleeping at the circulation through those stores, then.

Right.

Jim, it doesn't seem possible that all those storekeepers could be crooked.

It doesn't necessarily follow that they are, Fern.

But if they're handing out fake nickels for change, they must be.

No, there's another angle to it.

Low slot machines are serviced by a fellow by the name of Griff Catlin.

How did you find that out?

One of the storekeepers admitted it.

First men deliver the nickels each morning.

And the storekeeper pays for them in bills.

Well, now we're getting something.

Old-pop waters is probably working for Griff Catlin,

who has a perfect setup for unloading the nickels.

I'm pretty sure that's how it works.

Well, how did Max Jutson fit into it?

Jutson evidently forced his tenants to install the machines.

He probably made a deal with Griff Catlin to share on the profits.

But why should they kill him then?

Maybe Jutson didn't know anything about the counterfeiting angle at first.

Thought it was a straight business proposition.

Then somebody made a slip and Jutson got wise.

He threatened to have the law on Griff,

or maybe have the machines taken out of his stores, so Griff had a murder.

Well, the case is solved, then.

Should I call the inspector?

Not yet.

There's one piece missing in this puzzle.

What's in?

I still have to find out how Griff Catlin manages to get the lead and zinc

for those phony nickels.

Well, how can we do that?

Well, he must have a business front of some kind,

so that he can buy those metals without incurring suspicion.

We'll have to make a survey of the big factories,

and check the metal situation in each one of them.

The Wells Manufacturing Company is on the level, Pern.

Production and purchases check here at the Halen Mills.

Progress Company has a clean bill of health.

You can check Western plateware, off the list, Pern.

Everything's in order at the Garfield Plant.

That novelty toy factory is the place we're looking for, Pern.

Oh, good.

I was beginning to give up.

How can we be sure, Jim?

All their toys are made of plastic, but according to the trucking report I have on them,

they receive a weekly shipment of lead and zinc.

Well, did you see anything in there that looks suspicious?

Yes.

They manufacture toys, all right?

But their output is very small in comparison to the size of the factory.

It's just possible that the counterfeit is operate in the basement,

because it's only one door leading down there from the factory.

And it was voted from the inside.

Well, there's a big double door there on the back.

Yes.

That's big enough to allow a good size truck through.

Well, what do you think we ought to do, Jim?

It's my guess that the actual counterfeiting goes on at night when the factory's closed.

We'll have to come back later this evening to verify that.

In the meantime, how about some dinner, Jim?

I didn't say anything about skipping lunch, but I'm clever.

Okay, Pern.

How about a nice big steak with all the trainings?

Well, it looks as if your hunt was right, Jim.

Yes.

There are some lights in that basement, all right?

The shutter of that one window isn't tightly closed.

Can you see anything, Jim?

No, it isn't open far enough.

How do you plan on getting in?

Oh, I can, Jimmy, open that window easily enough.

What do you want me to do, Jim?

Go up to the drugstore on the corner and wait for me.

If I don't join you there in an hour, call the inspector.

All right.

Jim, do you think this is a job for the Avenger?

I don't know yet, Pern.

I'll go in there and get the lay of the land first.

Now, run along.

It's time I went to work.

Hello, Pop.

Hey.

Oh, hello.

Say, I didn't hear you come in, young fella.

Who are you?

A friend of Gritz.

Oh.

Hey.

Do I know you, son?

No.

But I've heard a lot about you, Pop.

You have.

Who from?

Oh, Gritz and the boys.

Judson like you, too.

Judson?

Don't think I know him.

He was in business with Gritz.

Hey.

Come closer, son.

So I can get a gander at you.

My eyes ain't what they used to be.

Your eyes are okay, Pop.

Those nickels you're making are better than ever.

Yeah, yeah, they are, aren't they?

I sure fooled them.

Treasure guys, didn't I?

Oh, so you did.

Oh, Pop.

Well, this is true.

They said, two old and two people to do any harm.

Here I am.

Turning out better nickels than the mint.

Nope.

Oh, Pop, in through yet.

Not by a long shot.

Why, you'll be engraving bills one of these days, Pop.

Not me.

Nickels is safer.

People in banks examine bills close.

But nobody's the species in nickels.

Oh, that's right.

You make them, Pop, and Griffel unload them.

That's the ticket, son.

We branching out already.

Do you know that?

Oh, I know, I didn't.

Hey, sure.

Look.

Look.

This $5,000 with nickels over there.

Right over there.

We need to be tracked out to E1 City tomorrow.

Well, at that rate, you'll be a millionaire one of these days.

Oh, not me.

When you get to be my age, many don't mean anything to you.

All I want is to stay out of jail and be left alone to do my work.

Oh.

With you, it's hard for a hot sake, huh?

Hey.

What's that, son?

Uh, nothing, Pop.

Say, it wouldn't be easier to stamp out all the nickels from one plate.

Oh, no, no, no.

That'd give them all the same date.

And the bags would get wise to that.

No time.

Well, what dates do you cover?

Well, my specialty is the buffalo, nickels, son.

So I ran most of them from 1913 to 1936.

How did you manage to get all those plates made so soon?

You've only been out of the Apparatentiary eight months.

Look, look.

I'll tell you something.

Yeah?

This is me close now.

I had nearly all these plates buried, son.

All I had to do was dig them up and go to work.

Pretty smart.

Say, Pop, got a 22-leckle on you?

No.

On the head, a few of those.

Well.

What was that noise?

I guess that's grief.

You generally come around this time.

This is a job for the Avenger.

Oh, Pop.

How's everything going?

Oh, fine, grief, fine.

Well, we're going to move you over to Avon City tomorrow, Pop.

Hmm.

Avon City?

What for?

Things are getting hotter, that's all.

Well, that's too bad.

Well.

Say, I'm treasuring men ain't on to us already.

How they?

No, not yet.

Yeah, that's good.

Oh, I say, Gwip.

Uh-huh.

This young fella has been here.

He's waiting to see you.

What young fella?

Very easy.

That's mighty funny.

He was here a minute ago, sitting right on that stool,

talking to me.

Now, you're a loony, Pop.

There's nobody here.

It's lucky for you, there isn't.

Hmm.

Can't make it out.

You know I wouldn't have anybody meet me here.

Nobody but you and me and some of the boys know what's going on in this place.

And the Avenger, Grip.

He's in on this little secret tool.

The Avenger.

I told you somebody was in here, Grip.

You double crossed me, Pop.

Oh, no, Grip.

I didn't let him in.

No, I didn't let him in, honest.

You double crossed yourself, Grip.

When you murdered Jutson.

Grip.

You didn't murder anybody, did you?

Where is he?

I'll find the Avenger and plug him full of lead.

If it's the last thing I do.

You're good at that, but this isn't the night for it.

Oh, my gun.

The Avenger knocked it out of your hand, Grip.

Pick it up, Pop, and cover him.

Grip, Catlin, is wanted for at least three murders.

All right.

I don't hold with them the kills.

Stick up your hands, Grip.

And if you make one move, Todd Pop.

The Avenger will knock you out cold.

Don't you worry.

We give him, he tries to get away, Avenger.

Good.

We won't have long to wait.

Inspector White will be here soon.

He'll be good to take Grip off your hands, Pop.

White boys will get you for this, Pop.

And you two, Avenger.

Save your breath, Grip.

When the judge gets through with you and your gang.

The whole lot of you won't be worth one of Pop's fake nickel.

The Avenger will be here soon.

And you two, Avenger.

The Avenger will be here soon.

Well, Jim, tell me.

Has Griff Catlin confessed?

No, if Ernie hasn't, but as a matter of fact, he doesn't have to.

We got the whole story out of Hank and Pop.

Did Griff murder Judson, just as you suspected?

Well, he ordered Hank to do it, which is practically the same thing.

And he was behind those burnings, too, I suppose.

Yes.

That was his method of keeping his customers in line.

Well, Jim, I know you tell them to be a slot machine angle.

Because it was a possible way of unloading the fake nickels.

But what led you to suspect that the nickel and Judson's hand was the counterfeit?

Fern, that nickel and Judson's hand was a 1922 nickel.

Well?

Well, it just happens that the mint didn't make any nickels that year.

They didn't.

Why not?

Ordered plenty of nickels in circulation at that time.

So the mint took a holiday and didn't coin a single nickel.

I guess Topwater was older and fever than he thought.

Oh, no.

As a matter of fact, he'd only printed a few of them when he discovered his mistake.

But somehow Judson got hold of one of them.

And that's what put him wise to the counterfeiting racket Griff was operating through his slot machines.

Oh my, it's almost 3 o'clock now.

I'll have to run.

Well, say.

What's in that petty suitcase you've been hardly lifted off the floor?

Oh, look, full of nickels, Jim.

All the good ones you're kinlated in our field work.

I'm going to unload them at the nearest bank.

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.

A thought.

Remember.

Listen for another adventure.

The Avenger.

The Avenger.