Loading...
About this Episode
https://www.solgoodmedia.com Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free! 'Old Time Science Fiction' brings back the thrill of early sci-fi adventures, exploring futuristic worlds and speculative technologies. Dive into tales of imagination that shaped the genre and inspired generations.
Hosts & Guests
Transcript
This podcast is sponsored by IQBAR.
I've got good news and bad news.
Here's the bad news.
Most protein bars are packed with sugar and unpronounceable ingredients.
The good news?
There's a better option.
I'm Will and I created IQBAR plant protein bars
to empower doers like you with clean,
delicious, low sugar brain and body fuel.
IQBars are packed with 12 grams of protein,
brain nutrients like magnesium,
and lion's mane, and zero weird stuff.
And right now you can get 20% off all IQBAR products plus reshipping.
Try our delicious IQBAR sampler pack with seven plant protein bars for hydration mixes
and for enhanced coffee sticks.
Clean ingredients, amazing taste, and you'll love how you feel.
Refuel smarter, hydrate harder,
caffeinate larger with IQBAR.
Go to eaticubar.com and enter code bar20 to get 20% off all IQBAR products
plus free shipping.
Again, go to eaticubar.com and enter code bar20.
I'm caught up in the game.
My attention is on every play and every whistle.
But what I'm missing is a signal coming from my kidneys.
That signal isn't like a ref's whistle.
It's more of a silent SOS which could be warning the
of an increased risk for events like heart attack or stroke.
And a way I can catch that signal?
A simple urine test called UACR.
If you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure,
talk to your doctor about the UACR test.
Detect the SOS.
Visit detectbsos.com to learn more.
This podcast is sponsored by IQBAR.
I've got good news and bad news.
Here's the bad news.
Most protein bars are packed with sugar and unpronounceable ingredients.
The good news?
There's a better option.
I'm Will and I created IQBAR plant protein bars
to empower doers like you with clean,
delicious low sugar brain and body fuel.
IQBars are packed with 12 grams of protein,
brain nutrients like magnesium and lion's main
and zero weird stuff.
And right now you can get 20% off all IQBAR products
plus reshipping.
Try our delicious IQBAR sampler pack
with seven plant protein bars for hydration mixes
and for enhanced coffee sticks.
Clean ingredients, amazing taste and you'll love how you feel.
Refuel smarter, hydrate harder,
caffeinate larger with IQBAR.
Go to eaticubar.com and enter code bar20
to get 20% off all IQBAR products plus free shipping.
Again, go to eaticubar.com and enter code bar20.
The Avenger, the road to crime ends in a trap
that justice sets.
Crime does not pay.
Go to eaticubar.com and enter code bar20.
Go to eaticubar.com and enter code bar20.
The Avenger's 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 collier,
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 rendezvous with murder.
There's a train coming, Bates.
We'd better hide over there behind the bushes until it goes past.
Oh, nobody on notice us, Tapper. It's nearly done.
I'm not taking any chances. Come on.
You're okay.
Yeah.
Yeah, we're out of sight here.
Yeah, well, who's going to see us out here in this lonely road?
I'd like to know.
A break minute engineer, maybe.
How many years do you have to spend in the pen before you learn
how to take any chances on witnesses?
A layoff at Tapper.
Well, yeah, we're out now, ain't we?
Yeah, but I'm not forgetting them five years, Bates.
I know, because you bungle a small time stick up.
Why we could have pulled his clenher's bang job long ago
if we hadn't landed in the jug?
No, five hours for the train goes past.
Yeah.
Okay, it's gone.
Let's get out of here, Tapper.
This place gives me the creeps.
Yeah.
I just assumed forget what happened to this crossing myself.
Say, is this the spot where we planted that contract
about tracks six years ago?
Sure it is.
Yeah, right down the road.
There's a place where you and me jumped out of the car
and sent it headlong into the 815.
Yeah, that's right.
Yeah, I recognize it now.
Hey, would you come this way for a Tapper?
I don't like to think of that guy we bumped off.
You know, murders won't wrap your kids.
Shut up.
Nobody said it was murdered, did they?
The police said it was an accident just like we planned.
There's a pretty slick job all around.
Well, maybe, but I still don't see why we had to park our car
and come this way.
I suppose you'd soon have to go down Main Street
so everybody could get a gander at us, huh?
Oh, we're here.
Turn this way through these gates.
Hey, Tapper, what's the idea?
That's a graveyard, sure.
And there ain't a better place for two guys to lay low for a couple hours.
Come on.
Oh, I don't like this, Tapper.
It's like...
Well, like the coffers are all shooting off about.
Return into the scene of the crime.
It's like we was trying to put a jinx on ourselves.
Oh, I can't, that kind of gap.
That's a matter, dates.
Are you turning yellow?
No.
Only I'm using it.
Come on, then.
We'll go over there under them trees and stretch out in the smoke.
Well, how long we got to wait in this place?
Well, it won't be safe to start working on the bank until close to midnight.
I figured it shouldn't take us more on an hour to pull out that little section of wall,
grab the swag, cover on tracks, and hit the road.
Oh, here.
Yeah, let's, let's sit down here.
Oh, Kerry.
Hey, uh, give me a light for you, Bix.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, uh, look at that, will you?
What now?
Hey, Tom Stone.
Look what it says.
Put your flashlight on it and stop blubbering.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Hold it steady, will you?
In memory of Peter Multree.
It's that contractor, Gabby Bumptoff.
There was his name, Multree.
Peter Multree.
Yeah, that's him, all right?
Well, I'm getting at it.
Stay where you are, Bates.
This guy, Multree, has been dead and buried for almost six years.
He can't hurt us.
Yeah, but Tapper, I tell you, this place is a jinx.
Let's pull out, huh?
Are you nuts?
Sit down.
We've got some plans to make.
Yeah, but this job's got to finger on it, Tapper.
I can feel it up and listen to me.
There's a couple of hundred grand just waiting for us down there on the Glenhurst bank.
All we got to do is go in and take it.
I know what it is.
I guess the blueprint of the bank, I snitched when we was helping build a place.
Yeah, hold on a little lower.
All right, okay.
Now, here's the section of the back wall we rigged.
Plenty of room to crawl through.
Yeah, but what if somebody hears it's not going to wall out?
Not a chance.
We fix that section, so it's as weak as putty.
Now, this muffled hammer will loosen the bricks.
Well, you're sure about the alarm, Tapper?
Sure.
Hey, remember how we loop the wires?
That'll keep the alarm dead within the limits I've monted here.
Now, how about the vault?
You got all that dope straight base?
Yeah, yeah, I can open that.
Now, we've got to be careful about fingerprints.
Don't forget, we've got to wreck it now.
No, no, never's pronto if we leave any calling cards.
I got all that.
Okay.
Now, after we put the dough in the car,
we go back and patch up that hole in the wall.
That's the part I don't like.
I don't see why you want to do that.
Because that'll give us a whole extra day to get away.
That's why.
Now, this is Saturday night.
And nobody notices anything wrong with the wall.
Let's stick up, won't be discussed until Monday morning.
I guess you're right at that.
Now, let's grab a couple hours rest.
We'll need it when we start driving.
Yeah?
Sure.
This is the best place in the world, though, sleep.
Sweet dreams, pal.
What's that?
Hey, dammer.
Hey, dammer.
Take it easy, babe.
Why would you?
Wait a minute.
It's only a dog running down toward the freight yard.
What time is it, Tapper?
Uh, 10.30.
It's time for us to start moving, huh?
Bates, I've been thinking.
There's just one thing that could trip us up on this job.
What's it?
It's a long shot, but it's the kind of long shot I don't like.
Well, listen, Tapper.
You can count me out if it ain't foolproof.
I ain't gonna do anything.
We can make it foolproof, Bates.
Oh, I don't get you.
Well, when we was helping Bill that bank,
we went on to phony names and kept to ourselves.
Yeah, we was careful, all right?
You wouldn't let me go in a place.
Remember Maltry's little girl coming around one day
and taking pictures of all the men on the job?
No, no, I don't remember that.
Well, she did.
Later, I got negatives from her, but now I'm wondering
if she could get them pictures.
Well, what if she did?
What's the difference?
Plenty.
A minute this stick ups discovered, and they get a gander
at that pulled out wall.
The coppers will know who was framed by somebody
who helped Bill in the place.
And they'll start investigating all of them, guys, huh?
Yeah.
But they'll be up a blind alley about us
because of the phony name.
That's where the pictures figure in.
That girl would turn them in and the police would match them up
with two guys in the rogue's gallery
by the name of Tapper and Bates.
Oh, that sells it.
Count me out.
Nothing doing.
You and me, you're going to pay a little visit
to Miss Janice Maltry.
We've got to get them pictures.
Oh, not me.
I'm afraid to steal a few snapshots from a kid, are you?
No, only.
Well, look, Tapper, she won't be a kid now.
She'd be grown up.
So what?
Nothing, I guess.
Well, when do we get started?
In another 10 minutes.
Jane Tapper?
What if that Maltry girl gets in our way?
And it's just going to be too bad for her.
Because I'm not going to let any damn stand between me and that money.
We'll get them pictures, babe.
If we have to plant that girl right down there beside her old man.
Jim, it was sweet of you to drive all the way down here to Glenhurst
to take Janice and me to the charity rally.
Pure selfie, son of five firm.
I miss you when you go away for weekends.
Oh, that's nice.
For a while, it looked as though both Janice and I were going to be stood up.
Why?
I thought Bill Cummings was going along.
Well, he called Janice half an hour ago.
He has to work, something about drawing up a will for a sick client.
Oh, that's too bad.
I was looking forward to seeing Bill again.
Well, maybe after the rally.
No, I can't.
Inspector White's going to call me at my hotel at 11.30.
I'll have to be there to get his call.
We'll have to leave the rally early then.
Then we'll be ready in a few minutes.
I bet you both don't.
Oh, Fern is always starving, Janice.
Tell me, did she have an appetite like that when she went to school?
Always.
But as he managed to keep slim on, it was what's time at the rest of us.
I see where I'm in trouble.
Jim, I'm awfully glad you could come.
I want to talk to you about that.
Your father?
Yes, Janice still isn't convinced that it was an accident, Jim.
No, I'm not, Jim.
Oh, I know it was a long time ago.
And everyone seems to have forgotten all about it, except me.
Well, it's natural for you to feel like that, Janice.
But the police investigated the case thoroughly at the time.
And there was no hint of foul play.
I know all that, Jim.
But I knew my father.
He was the most careful driver.
And it was never established what he was doing out there
on that lonely road that night.
Well, I'll recheck all the evidence tomorrow.
If it'll make you feel any better, Janice.
Thanks, Jim.
Oh, hello, Bosco.
Boy, come here, boy.
Why have we all Bosco's dread to see me?
No, Bosco, get down.
No, no, it's all right, Janice.
Come on, boy.
Hi, boy.
We better go into dinner now so we can get started for the rally.
Don't bother getting out of the car, Jim.
You better drive straight to the hotel to get them inspectors call.
Yeah, it's 11 o'clock now.
After your call comes, Jim, why don't you pick up Bill at his office
and both of you come back for a snack?
Yes, too.
Oh, that'll be fine.
Now, let's see, Bill's office is on the second floor
of the bank building, is it?
That's right.
We'll expect you in about an hour, then.
Yeah, maybe less.
So long.
Bye, Jim.
I wonder where Bosco is.
Usually meets us at the gate.
Oh, he's probably down at the freight yard.
The men down there on the meet cars are always feeding them all.
They boil him terribly.
Now, where's my key?
Oh, here it is.
Oh, I'm glad you're here, Fern.
I always dread coming into this house alone
when Aunt Martha's away.
What was that?
Oh, Bosco must be here.
Turn on the living room light, Fern.
Bosco?
Bosco, where are you?
Stay right where you are, both of you.
What do you want?
What have you been doing in my house?
We just dropped in to have a look at your picture album, Ms. Motri.
I'd picture album.
Yeah, where is it?
I won't tell you.
No.
Well, maybe this gun will make you change your mind.
Now, if I remember you, I remember both of you.
You worked for my father on the bank instruction job six years ago.
You've got a good memory, Ms. Motri,
and that's just too bad for you.
Now, talk.
Where's the picture?
I won't give them to you.
I will see.
Give it the arm treatment, Bates.
I'll keep this other name coming.
All right, sister.
Start singing to make it fast.
We're in a hurry.
Let me go.
No.
What are you doing?
No, I won't tell.
Oh, let her alone.
Oh, tell me.
Shut up, you.
Oh.
Well, Ms. Motri, are you going to talk?
Or does Bates have to break your arm?
Oh, tell them, Janice.
Don't let them hurt you like that.
All right.
Let go of my arm.
I'll tell you.
Be quick about it, then.
The album's in a chest in that closet.
Get it, Bates.
OK.
I know what you're after now.
You want those pictures, I took of you.
Ms. Motri, girl.
Too smart.
Hey, do you find a Bates?
Yeah, the album's here, all right.
Well, hurry up.
See the pictures are in it.
Ah, well.
Here they are.
See you in a good two.
Now, would you take them and get out of here?
We'd be pretty dumb to do that, wouldn't we?
No, you two dames are coming with us.
Coming with you.
Why?
Security reasons.
I've learned that the only good witness is a dead witness.
You can't get away with a thing like this, you know?
Don't bring the car up in front of the house.
We're all going for a little ride.
And now, back to the Avenger and the rendezvous with Murder.
Why, this is the freight yard.
What have you brought us here?
We're going to let you off easy.
We're sending you two dames off on a little trip.
What are you talking about?
You'll see.
I'm going to pull up here, tamper.
Get out and open up one of them refrigerator-caused baits.
Sure.
No.
No, please.
Come on.
This is the end of the line.
Get out.
What can we do?
Nothing.
Get out, I said.
And one peep out of either of you and it'll be your last.
How you doing, thanks?
Over here, tamper.
These guys are packed and ready to go.
I got pulling the doors open, no?
OK.
Throw the dames in.
OK, come on.
No, not this.
Get out of this.
Throw inside, baby.
Right, tamper.
How do you want to go?
No.
Get in there.
There we are.
Now close the door and fix the lock.
OK.
There.
That's that.
Come on, date.
Keep pounding, Janice.
Maybe someone will hear us before the freight pulls out.
Yes, Fern.
My hands are getting numb.
I'll pound hot.
She'll keep the circulation going.
What's the use?
We're doomed, Fern.
We might as well face this.
Janice, don't give up, please.
It's Fosco.
Oh, yes.
Call to one, Janice.
Fosco.
Fosco, Janice.
Get help, Fosco.
We're doing this.
Help.
Fosco.
Help.
Help.
Fosco, Janice.
I can count it as long as we can.
Help.
Help.
Fosco.
Fosco.
Fosco.
Fosco.
Oh, I can't.
I can count.
We're in with freezing.
Now, room 205.
Is Bill's office?
Bill!
It's Jim Brown and Bill.
I must have gone, I guess.
Well, that's strange.
Bill wouldn't leave his office on the lot.
Let's take a look.
What's that hammering, I wonder?
Coming from below that back window.
Something very interesting going on down there.
I wonder if Bill could have seen that.
Better place my light around here before I go.
Bill!
Somebody knocked him out cold.
Well, it says, oh, this is another job for the adventure.
Hold it a minute, mate.
What's up?
Yeah.
There's a copper pounding his beat on the other side of the street.
Flatfoot's better.
Keep moving if he knows what's good.
Shut up.
Is he gone?
Yeah.
He's just turning the corner now.
Okay.
We can get back to work.
Right.
I'm finished with this end.
How about you, Bates?
Well, just a little more.
Okay.
Did you check the wires, Tapper?
Yeah.
Just like we left them six years ago.
Okay.
I'm ready.
Good.
Crawpin.
The vault's right inside on the left.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
Come on.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh, boy.
Boy, what a setup.
This plan was foolproof.
There's the vault, Bates.
Get busy.
Hey, give me some light here, will you?
Yeah.
Got a handle to your, Tapper.
It was a pretty sweet idea you dreamed of six years ago.
And now you're willing to admit it was worth bumping off Moe Tree for, huh?
Sure was.
You know, that door is as good as ours right now.
What was that?
It was a funny noise.
Yeah.
So did I.
But that can't be anybody in here.
Panther, Tapper.
Who's there?
It's the Avenger, Tapper.
He's here to settle an old score for Peter Moe Tree.
Is somebody framed as Tapper?
Let's borrow.
No.
He's one against the two of us.
We can take care of him.
Grab that crowbar, Bates.
I'll flash the light around.
We'll find him.
Yeah.
There's nobody here, Tapper.
He's gone.
No, I'm still here, Bates.
But you can't see me.
The boys came from that corner.
Start swinging, Bates.
Hey.
Hey.
Somebody here.
Swinging your fool.
We've got him cornered.
I think I hit something, Tapper.
Hey, give me the light.
Yeah.
I don't see nothing.
There's money.
Funny.
I hit somebody.
But there's nobody here.
You're nuts.
He got away.
That's what.
Yeah.
Come on, Bates.
We've got to take him on the land.
The cops will be here in a minute.
They won't get far.
As soon as I set off his burglar alarm, I'll start after them.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
Bates.
That's what I thought he was talking about.
But I think he worked so hard.
He wasn't in the field back here.
He's a crap machine.
He messed.
He's pulling the fire.
Oh, baby.
This day.
What?
When did the last hit start?
Back off.
I killed BB.
Bates.
In the cay?
He was in the field.
I already heard something.
Yes.
There is a smoke.
Gee.
Go on, man.
I'm scared.
Hey, we're gone too fast, tamper! I can't get a beat on him!
Hey, as the railroad's croaking up ahead, and the freight's coming.
Yeah, if we can beat that freight to the cross, we can lose this guy.
It'll be close, but it's our only chance. It's the tightest.
What's the matter with a car, tamper? I don't know, the engine!
It's not like that again! Can't make a tamper stop!
We gotta make it!
Hey, we're still under great!
Got tamper!
Right from here, bring your light.
Well, if I ever saw anybody ask for what they got those fellas did, don't know who they were.
Yeah, they just spoke into the bank in Glenhurst.
I saw them making it away and followed.
Yeah, well, they didn't get far.
Oh, no, they certainly didn't.
Say, that's Boston.
Come here, Boston!
Come here, boy! The freight all the way through the yard!
Yeah, yeah, Boston down.
What's the matter, boy?
Why is that a scratch from that refrigerator car?
I don't think so. I'm gonna have a look.
What is that, Boston?
What's the matter, boy?
What are you trying to tell me?
Somebody's in there!
What's up?
Somebody's inside. I had car break when I heard a pounding on the door.
I don't hear anything.
Open up that car. I'll tell you there's someone in there.
Listen, bud. There can't be anybody in there.
That's a sealed car.
Sealed? Take a look at that door. That railroad seal's been broken.
Yeah, you're right.
Okay, Mr. Hull, open her up.
There.
A little bit.
It's firm and just. Give me a hand, right from here.
Yeah, there it's all right, firm. You're safe now.
Here, quick. Help me get them out of here.
They're almost frozen.
There.
There.
Are you sure you feel well enough to drive home today, firm?
Yes, I'm all right now, Jim.
Of course, I don't feel on the mood for any winter sports yet.
Have another hot drink, firm. Thank you, Janice.
There's just one more thing I'm not quite clear on, Jim.
And what's that, Janice?
Why did those criminals try to get rid of Bill?
Well, I think Bill can get you straight on that.
What happened, Bill?
Well, I'm not sure.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure.
What happened, Bill?
Well, I was hard at work in my office when I heard a strange hammering sound below the back window.
I looked out and saw two men down below.
But when I called down to find Bill, it was going on.
They just disappeared around the side of the building.
I decided to go down and investigate.
But before I had time to get out of the office, the two men came in.
One of them turned off the light and covered me with a flashlight.
And the other one must have worked his way around behind me and hit me over the head.
I see.
And then when Jim came to call for you, he discovered what was going on.
That's right.
As soon as I saw what Tapper and Bates were up to, I went down and drained the gasoline out of their car.
And then followed them into the bank.
I wanted to get a line on them so I listened to them talking for a while before I did anything.
What did you find out, Jim?
Well, they were boasting about how they'd planned the robbery six years ago.
Evidently, Janice's father discovered what they were doing.
So they killed him and made it look like an accident.
But if you were in the bank with them, Jim, how did they make it get away in their car?
Well, that hole in the wall left the bank wide open.
I had to sound the alarm before I followed them.
Anyway, I knew they couldn't get far with a gas tank that was practically empty.
It really seems as though those two men had a rendezvous with justice at that crossing, doesn't it?
Yes, it was another so-called perfect crime that backfired.
Well, you just tried to put it out of your mind now, Janice.
Okay, Bill.
Come on, I'll put a fresh dressing on your head.
The doctor said to change our hour.
Yes, nurse.
We'll be back in a minute.
Take your time.
Jim, we don't have to be a detective to figure out that we'll be coming to Glenhurst for a wedding very soon.
It certainly looks that way, sir.
Jim, do you suppose that we could...
Could, uh, what kind?
Do you suppose that we could...
Could have picked up all this on a telepathic indicator if we had stayed at home?
No, sir.
I don't want to...
I don't want to.
I don't want to...
I don't want to.
It's a matter of course.
I don't want to...
I don't want to...
I don't want to...
I don't want to...
I don't want to...
I don't want to...
All characters, names, places, and plots used in the Avenger program are fictitious.
Any similarity to persons lit or dead is purely coincidental.
This is a fort, a fort, a fort. Remember, listen for another adventure.
The Avenger!
