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00:00:00The End
00:00:30The End
00:01:00The End
00:01:05Oh, she's hiding out of us. Come on.
00:01:17Have you seen Gene in the cliff?
00:01:18No, not lately.
00:01:20Well, look under the beds and in the closet.
00:01:21And if they're not there, we'll go to the basement in the garage.
00:01:24You'd think the horses would be in the middle of things when we are masked instead of playing hide in those things.
00:01:29Yeah, look under here.
00:01:30Oh, you'd better hurry or they'll find out we're going to come after us.
00:01:33What's the matter?
00:01:49Oh, it's Mr. Castor.
00:01:51Yes, just let me in.
00:01:53What is it? What's happened?
00:01:55I'm afraid he's dead.
00:02:12Oh, how awful.
00:02:14Well, I'll be doggone.
00:02:15Do you think they'll follow us?
00:02:22They can't. I cut the ignition wires on all the cars.
00:02:24Well, what if they should telephone ahead?
00:02:26I cut the phone wires, too.
00:02:28Oh, I'm beginning to get scared.
00:02:29Now, don't worry.
00:02:31Plain murdered. Three knife wounds in his back.
00:02:34Better call the police, Leonard.
00:02:35Yes, sir.
00:02:36Come on, you all better get out of here.
00:02:37You can't do any good.
00:02:38You might as well.
00:02:51Hello?
00:02:52Hello, is that your chief?
00:02:54Get this.
00:02:54Stephen Chester's been murdered.
00:02:57What?
00:02:59Take that piece of cabbage out of your mouth and talk so I can understand you.
00:03:05I said Stephen Chester's been murdered.
00:03:08I don't know.
00:03:09The phone wires were cut.
00:03:11Servants went over to the neighbor's house to phone.
00:03:14Yeah.
00:03:15His granddaughter beat us away with a guest right after it happened.
00:03:19Yes, yes, we did.
00:03:21Send out a broadcast.
00:03:22It'll be picked up any minute now.
00:03:24This might be them coming out.
00:03:26Get your gun ready in case they get caught.
00:03:38It'll be picked up any minute now.
00:03:39знаком as a picture.
00:03:40It'll be picked up any minute now.
00:03:41I'll do it.
00:03:42Stay tuned.
00:03:59Come on, move over, buddy. I'll drive.
00:04:17What's the idea? I was only doing 50.
00:04:19Oh, please, Mr. Let us go. We'll pay the fine. We're in a terrible hurry.
00:04:23Now, cut the comedy, sister. You're Jean Kester, aren't you?
00:04:26Oh, yes.
00:04:26Just as I thought. But you're going right back home. Come on, move over.
00:04:30What are you taking us there for?
00:04:32You know as well as I do. You don't want it for the murder of Stephen Kester?
00:04:46The list of the people who are at the party, they've all gone home now.
00:04:50I figured we'd have our hands full with the house guests and servants tonight.
00:04:53Say, if it wasn't that granddaughter of his or a sweetie on the pellet.
00:04:57There are times when you resemble that noble bird more than you do a detective.
00:05:03Oh, so you got him, huh? Thanks a lot.
00:05:07Oh, Chance.
00:05:08Yes, sir.
00:05:09Take the two of them in there and see if they don't make another getaway.
00:05:12I'm going upstairs to the doctor to see if he's finished.
00:05:14Come on.
00:05:15Come on.
00:05:15Come on.
00:05:15Come on.
00:05:16Come on.
00:05:17Come on.
00:05:19Come on.
00:05:20Come on.
00:05:21Come on.
00:05:22Come on.
00:05:23Oh, Cliff, I'm afraid.
00:05:35Poor grandfather.
00:05:37After all, death isn't so terrible to the one it strikes.
00:05:41It's those who live on, safe and protected in body, but troubled in spirit who suffer.
00:05:49Don't you think?
00:05:50Uh, he was wearing this thing when we found him.
00:05:56He lives to be about 70 and then decides he wants to be a Chinaman.
00:05:59Who are you?
00:06:01Well, I paid $10 this morning to be a yodeler.
00:06:03What's your name?
00:06:05Tracy.
00:06:06Which Tracy?
00:06:07Michael Tracy.
00:06:08A novelist?
00:06:09Well, I'm not exactly a novelist.
00:06:10I write detective stories.
00:06:14Got a police record, haven't you?
00:06:15Yes, I've been arrested, uh, seven or eight times.
00:06:20Four times for creating a disturbance while under the influence of alcohol.
00:06:24Three times for stalking a cop on the nose and once, once for murder.
00:06:28I was exonerated from that, though.
00:06:30You see, I only commit murder with pen and ink.
00:06:32What are you doing here?
00:06:33Well, I'm a friend of Miss Kester's.
00:06:35I'm spending the weekend here.
00:06:36I've been doing a little sleuthing on the side since the murder, I suppose.
00:06:39Well, I've been keeping my eyes open.
00:06:41Well, we don't want anybody gumming things up, so don't figure to help us out.
00:06:45Well, I know a few things you might like to hear, but I'll try to keep him quiet.
00:06:49You'll get a chance to spill it when the time comes.
00:06:58He's been dead about three or four hours.
00:07:00Three wounds in the back from a double-edged knife.
00:07:03We've looked everywhere for that knife, but it just ain't here.
00:07:06Well, maybe the guy that did it's the sword swallow.
00:07:08I'm going to start throwing some questions.
00:07:12You stay here and let me know what the fingerprint men find.
00:07:19What's your connection here?
00:07:20Well, I'm, or rather, I was, Mr. Kester's private secretary.
00:07:26Say, a guy would think that mystery stories could have thought up this one, too.
00:07:31Probably.
00:07:33However, the victim was suffering from angina pectoris.
00:07:35He would have died anyway before long if he hadn't been killed.
00:07:39Sure.
00:07:40I guess somebody got tired of waiting.
00:07:42Well, maybe he was mixed up with a...
00:07:45Nah, he's too old for that.
00:07:51Where's the girl?
00:07:52Miss Kester was very upset.
00:07:54What was hearing about her grandfather and being hauled around like a common murderess,
00:07:57she went to her room with her maid.
00:07:58Maya's watching her.
00:08:00All right.
00:08:00Sit down, everybody.
00:08:02Take it easy.
00:08:05Supposing you tell me about the last time you saw Mr. Kester alive.
00:08:09I know all about how he was found.
00:08:10Well, Mr. Kester was having difficulty putting on the papier-mâché head, so I helped him.
00:08:15Then I came downstairs.
00:08:16Miss Kester had asked me to have the orchestra give her all of the drums at the end of the third dance
00:08:20as a signal for everyone to unmatch.
00:08:22Did he come down and join the guests?
00:08:24Yes, sir.
00:08:25Where were you during the third dance?
00:08:26Well, I was standing at the foot of the stairs talking to Mr. Hall.
00:08:32Did you see Mr. Kester?
00:08:34Yes, I did.
00:08:36He went up the stairs about the beginning of the third dance.
00:08:39Was this gentleman with you?
00:08:42No, no.
00:08:42He joined me a minute or so later.
00:08:45And you were there all during the last dance?
00:08:48No.
00:08:49No, we watched the dancers for a few minutes, and then I went upstairs.
00:08:52You followed Kester?
00:08:54No.
00:08:54I just went upstairs.
00:08:56And then what?
00:08:58I went to my room.
00:08:59What were you doing there?
00:09:01I, uh...
00:09:03I was smoking.
00:09:04Couldn't you smoke downstairs?
00:09:07Yes, I could, but it was noisy and I preferred to quiet.
00:09:11How long did you remain in your room?
00:09:13Until I heard the scream.
00:09:16That was a funny remark you made when you walked into the bedroom and saw Mr. Kester's been murdered.
00:09:20What did he say?
00:09:21Well, I'll be doggone.
00:09:24I don't know what Emily Post would have said, but it didn't sound like the proper remark to make on seeing a body.
00:09:31What did you mean by that?
00:09:32I don't exactly know.
00:09:36Just surprised, I guess.
00:09:38Were you a friend of Mr. Kester's?
00:09:40I knew him years ago in Mexico.
00:09:43He owned some mines and came to see them.
00:09:45How did you happen to be here tonight?
00:09:47I came to see him on business a few days ago, and he asked me to stay over the weekend.
00:09:52Where were you during the third dance?
00:09:57Sorry, I don't remember a thing.
00:09:58Oh, you don't, huh?
00:10:00No, I'm practically unconscious all the time.
00:10:02Drunk?
00:10:03But not the way you think.
00:10:05I was intoxicated with a beautiful gypsy girl.
00:10:08Held the slightest idea who she was, but we were getting along swell through some French marquee cut in on us.
00:10:14Then I wandered around looking for another partner.
00:10:16Young man, I suppose you know that your actions tonight have been mighty suspicious.
00:10:30Are you accusing me of murder?
00:10:31I'm not accusing anybody.
00:10:33I'm simply trying to find out who had the motive and the opportunity to do it.
00:10:36Now, you come right down off your high horse and answer my question civilly.
00:10:40Now, where were you when it happened?
00:10:42I can't very well say because I don't know when it happened.
00:10:44Where were you during the third dance?
00:10:45I was out on the ground smoking.
00:10:47By yourself?
00:10:48Yes, until I grew tired of smoking.
00:10:50Then I walked back to the veranda and met Miss Kester.
00:10:53She told me she had a headache and asked me to take her for a ride.
00:10:56Then we both got in her car.
00:10:57Did you have any trouble starting it?
00:10:59Yes.
00:11:00Someone had cut the distributor wires.
00:11:02I put them together again and we left just as they were unmasking.
00:11:05You and the young lady you're engaged to don't seem to care much for dancing, do you?
00:11:10I don't know what you're talking about.
00:11:11I'm not engaged.
00:11:12I'm talking about Miss Kester and you know it.
00:11:14Oh, I know.
00:11:16Everyone seems to think we're engaged.
00:11:17But as a matter of fact, we're just good friends.
00:11:22Well, that's all I'm going to ask you tonight.
00:11:24I want to see all of you in the morning.
00:11:26Oh, Mr. Crawford, I don't think you'll find Miss Kester and Mr. Miller are murderers.
00:11:41There's something much worse.
00:11:43What do you mean, worse than murderers?
00:11:44They're neckers.
00:11:45Really, young people nowadays, there's something terrible.
00:11:48Young man, if you have anything valuable to offer to this investigation, I should be glad to get it.
00:11:52Otherwise, don't put in.
00:11:54Oh, but it is valuable.
00:11:56I suspect them of being in love.
00:11:59According to my own private computation, I've discovered them together 14 times lately.
00:12:03Seven times embracing, seven times fighting like cats and dogs.
00:12:07Therefore, they must be in love.
00:12:10Maybe they were trying to elope.
00:12:13I'll bet that's just what they were doing.
00:12:15Now, how did you happen to figure that out?
00:12:17Well, I got an inkling yesterday when I asked Jean to marry me.
00:12:20And she said she couldn't because she already had a date to elope with Mr. Miller this evening.
00:12:24Well, he'd better not ask me because I won't tell him anything.
00:12:35Oh, this is Mrs. Pitchard, Mr. Cawson.
00:12:37How do you do?
00:12:38How do you do?
00:12:39Just what is it that you're not going to tell?
00:12:41Nothing that would interest you.
00:12:43Everything interests me.
00:12:44Mr. Kester was seen going up the stairs at the beginning of the third dance.
00:12:47After it was over, he was found murdered.
00:12:49Now, just what were you doing during that time?
00:12:52I was dancing.
00:12:53All the time?
00:12:54Come on.
00:12:55You might as well tell me.
00:12:56I'll find out sooner or later.
00:12:57Well, no, I wasn't.
00:12:59I mean...
00:13:00Well, what do you mean?
00:13:01I mean that once during the dance, I did go upstairs for a minute.
00:13:04What for?
00:13:08It's too bad a lady can't go to her own room for...
00:13:10Mrs. Pitchard, how long were you in your room?
00:13:17Only two or three minutes.
00:13:19Anyone upstairs at that time?
00:13:21I didn't see anyone.
00:13:23Notice anyone in Kester's room.
00:13:25No, the door was closed, I think.
00:13:27You're sure?
00:13:28You didn't see anyone.
00:13:29I tell you, I didn't see anyone upstairs.
00:13:31I don't believe you.
00:13:31Excuse me to tell me I'm lying.
00:13:33Yes.
00:13:33You saw someone upstairs and you're going to tell me who it was.
00:13:36But I tell you, I didn't.
00:13:37I didn't.
00:13:37Don't lie.
00:13:38Because it'll only be all the harder for you.
00:13:40But I tell you...
00:13:40Who was it?
00:13:43All right.
00:13:44I'll tell.
00:13:45And you did see someone upstairs.
00:13:47What were they doing?
00:13:49Well, I...
00:13:50I opened the door to our room and started out.
00:13:52Then I remembered I'd forgotten to turn out the light in the bathroom, so I went back.
00:13:56And just as I stepped into the hall,
00:13:59I saw someone coming out of Mr. Kester's room.
00:14:01Who was it?
00:14:02Come on.
00:14:03Mom, it was Gene Kester.
00:14:16During the last dance, before the unmasking, where were you?
00:14:21In my room.
00:14:22Why?
00:14:24I was tired and wanted to rest.
00:14:27How long did you remain in your room?
00:14:28Oh, during that dance, I had a little headache.
00:14:35I felt some fresh air would do me some good.
00:14:37So I went downstairs and asked one of the guests to take me for a ride.
00:14:40Mr. Miller's a pretty good friend of yours, isn't he?
00:14:43Oh, good enough.
00:14:45I understand you were engaged.
00:14:49Oh, yes.
00:14:50That's what everyone thinks.
00:14:51But there's not any truth in it.
00:14:53How come you took a notion to take a ride when you did?
00:14:55I should think, being hostess, that you would have stayed.
00:14:58It's just out of politeness.
00:14:59Should you?
00:15:00That's not answering my question.
00:15:01Well, then don't ask if it's a third one.
00:15:03If I felt like going for a ride instead of being polite, that's my affair.
00:15:06Maybe it was your affair, but it's mine now.
00:15:10Your grandfather was murdered, and it's my business to find out who did it.
00:15:13What were you doing in his room before you took the ride?
00:15:16I wasn't in his room tonight.
00:15:18You would swear to that?
00:15:19Of course I'd swear to it.
00:15:22You don't think that I killed him?
00:15:23No.
00:15:23Well, I think you know who did.
00:15:26Well, I don't.
00:15:28Can I go to her now?
00:15:49I want to ask you a few questions first.
00:15:51Where were you during most of the evening?
00:15:52I went upstairs when the dancing began, having gotten things started satisfactorily in the kitchen,
00:15:59and having told Lennox, he's the butler, to look after the guests.
00:16:04That was my privilege to tell him.
00:16:06You know, I haven't been with the testers for 27 years, and him only 20.
00:16:12I went straight to Gene's room, started picking up, and I've been there ever since.
00:16:17Were you alone all that time?
00:16:18No, sir.
00:16:19Who was with you?
00:16:20Gene, for a short time.
00:16:22How long?
00:16:24Well, there'd been two dancers.
00:16:26I could tell by the music.
00:16:29Gene came upstairs and said she was tired and wanted to rest a while.
00:16:32I said maybe a little fresh air would do her good.
00:16:35She said she'd hunt up Mr. Miller and ask him to take a fur rind.
00:16:38She went downstairs, and I went on with my sword.
00:16:41When did Miss Kester leave her room?
00:16:43A few minutes before all the screaming and running around out there when they found the body.
00:16:48And then she went directly downstairs?
00:16:50Yes, sir.
00:16:50How do you know?
00:16:51I watched her.
00:16:52You mean your door was open?
00:16:54No, sir.
00:16:55You don't catch me sitting around in no room with the door open.
00:16:59It's bad luck.
00:17:00But when she left, I went to the door with her and watched her go downstairs.
00:17:04Just one more question.
00:17:06Is Miss Kester engaged to Mr. Miller?
00:17:09For land sakes, no.
00:17:10A lot of people think so.
00:17:12But there's nothing to it.
00:17:13They're just good friends.
00:17:16That'll be all for now.
00:17:23I wonder if you were stuck with the same thing I was.
00:17:26What was that?
00:17:27The similarity of Miss Kester's, Miller's, and Dora's story.
00:17:30Yes, I got that.
00:17:31They seem to check all right.
00:17:32Well, just a bit too all right, don't you think?
00:17:34What do you mean?
00:17:36Well, they answered that engagement question the same way.
00:17:39Statistics prove that you can't get three honest observers to tell the same story.
00:17:44It's psychology proving that psychology can go wrong.
00:17:48No proving prearranged agreement.
00:17:49I don't think Miss Kester was in that old guy's bedroom at all.
00:17:52Neither do I.
00:17:53Do you think Mrs. Pritchett was lying?
00:17:59Sure.
00:18:00She pretended she didn't want to tell, but she overdid it.
00:18:03That happened.
00:18:04Captain, Mrs. Pritchett wasn't lying.
00:18:07But Gene was.
00:18:08How did you get smart enough to figure that out?
00:18:09Well, I saw myself.
00:18:10Were you upstairs doing that, Don?
00:18:12Yes, I happened to go up to my room.
00:18:14Well, you see, I needed a safety center to retain my decency.
00:18:17And while I was there, I saw Gene come out of her grandfather's room.
00:18:19What else?
00:18:20Well, she seemed upset and in a hurry.
00:18:23I didn't see Dora, but that proves they're lying, doesn't it?
00:18:26Did you see Mrs. Pritchett?
00:18:27No, but I don't see how she missed seeing me.
00:18:30If she did, I'll have to thank her for keeping her mouth shut.
00:18:33Why are you so interested in pinning the murder on her all of a sudden?
00:18:37Well, I'm the disappointed lover.
00:18:40In any good old Victorian novel, that's more than enough for committing a murder, isn't it?
00:18:44No, not in this case.
00:18:46That's no reason for croaking the old gent.
00:18:47Could be.
00:18:48He might have favored Miller and disapproved of me.
00:18:50Well, did he?
00:18:51Yes.
00:18:53You're the biggest fool I have ever seen.
00:18:57Well, when it comes to a choice between my neck and the lady's, it's just too bad for the lady.
00:19:04You couldn't be mixing up in this case just to get material for a novel, could you?
00:19:08I might be.
00:19:10Well, watch out if you don't get into trouble.
00:19:12You're not above suspicion, you know.
00:19:15I'd like to talk to you.
00:19:25Where were you this evening during the dancing?
00:19:35After the music started, I went upstairs to pick up Mr. Kester's things and turn down the bed.
00:19:40Then I went down the back stairs and was busy in the kitchen until I heard the scream.
00:19:44Did you see anyone in the hall?
00:19:46No, sir.
00:19:46What kind of a man was Mr. Kester's work for?
00:19:49He was a Simon Legree, sir.
00:19:52It's been most difficult to put up with him these past 20 years.
00:19:56Pardon my saying it, sir, but there's no one who won't be glad that he's gone.
00:20:01Did you have any quarrel with him lately?
00:20:03No, sir.
00:20:04I never argued.
00:20:05I just kept my feelings to myself, sir.
00:20:07Do you know of anyone that did have a quarrel with Mr. Kester?
00:20:11Yes, sir.
00:20:12Who?
00:20:13Mr. Hall, sir.
00:20:15What kind of a quarrel?
00:20:16Well, Mr. Tracy was there at the time.
00:20:18Perhaps he could tell you more about it than I could.
00:20:22All right.
00:20:24Now is the chance for you to say something important.
00:20:28Time to be downstairs the day he arrived.
00:20:31He refused to give his name to Lennox, who had stayed his business.
00:20:35Kester asked him to come in.
00:20:37His hall started toward the study.
00:20:38Jean came downstairs.
00:20:40When they both saw each other, they stopped cold.
00:20:43That right, Lennox?
00:20:44They did, sir.
00:20:45He stepped closer to her as though he intended speaking to her.
00:20:49But she just stared.
00:20:51Then he turned away and I let him in the study.
00:20:54As I closed the door after him,
00:20:56I heard them almost immediately doing of an argument.
00:20:59What about?
00:21:00I don't know, sir.
00:21:02I never eavesdropped.
00:21:04Did you happen to hear what they were arguing about?
00:21:07No, but they were both part of the recaller.
00:21:09I asked Jean if she knew him.
00:21:10She said she'd never seen him before in her life.
00:21:12Then Kester came out with Hall and introduced him.
00:21:15Said he was an old friend and was going to stay here a few days.
00:21:21Any other quarrels that you know about?
00:21:22Yes, sir.
00:21:24The one he had with his granddaughter, sir.
00:21:26What was that about?
00:21:27I wasn't there, sir.
00:21:28But Mr. Pritchard was.
00:21:30You tell Pritchard I want to see him.
00:21:32Yes, sir.
00:21:32Say, did you notice that he never dropped them?
00:21:40Did you ring, sir?
00:21:41Attitude all through the hubbub?
00:21:43Well, what other?
00:21:44Well, I'm never satisfied with the murder
00:21:45unless it involves an old family retainer.
00:21:48They always know about the household skeleton.
00:21:50Well, I'm not interested in your theory.
00:21:52This is no book murder.
00:21:54Well, what did your men find out?
00:21:59The ignition wires and the distributor wires
00:22:01were cut on all the cars except the one Miller drove away in.
00:22:03And the ignition wires were cut on that.
00:22:05And the telephone wires were cut twice.
00:22:07Meaning what?
00:22:08Well, I'm trying to figure it out.
00:22:10In the meantime, we're looking for shoes.
00:22:11Shoes?
00:22:12Yeah, where the wires were cut on the Kester's bedroom
00:22:14is an impression of a heel.
00:22:15We've made a cast of that.
00:22:17You want to see me?
00:22:19Oh, yes.
00:22:20I understand that Miss Kester and her grandfather
00:22:23had a quarrel yesterday.
00:22:25What do you know about it?
00:22:26Well, Mr. Kester rang for me.
00:22:28As I was going down the hall,
00:22:29I heard the sound of their voices.
00:22:41Come in.
00:22:42You gave Lennox orders to prepare the room
00:22:46so they could stay, didn't you?
00:22:48Certainly I didn't.
00:22:49I'd do it again.
00:22:50I'm the one to give orders in this house.
00:22:52Well, they're my friends.
00:22:53And if they want to stay, they'll stay
00:22:55or I leave with them.
00:22:57All right.
00:22:59As long as they're here, they can stay.
00:23:01But they'll not come here again.
00:23:04And why not?
00:23:05Because I won't have trash
00:23:06like they are mollycoddling around you.
00:23:09They play up to you.
00:23:10Make love to you.
00:23:11And you let them.
00:23:13Of course I do.
00:23:14I'm human.
00:23:15They've asked you to marry them.
00:23:17Both of them, haven't they?
00:23:17And why?
00:23:18Because they want to get their fingers on your money.
00:23:21Well, they'll not get one cent.
00:23:24Do not marry either one of them.
00:23:25I'll marry whom I please.
00:23:29When the time comes for you to marry,
00:23:31I have a list of eligible men that will call on you.
00:23:35I suppose you think you can tell me when and whom I should marry
00:23:37and that I could have a boy and he could be named after you.
00:23:40Rock.
00:23:40Do you think you can arrange my life for me?
00:23:43Have you forgotten what you did to my mother?
00:23:45You leave her name out of this.
00:23:47Oh, you're ashamed to talk about that.
00:23:49You ruined her married life
00:23:51and you killed her just as sure as if you stuck a knife in her heart.
00:23:54But you can't do that to me.
00:23:57We'll talk no more about that now.
00:23:59I'll see these men, both of them, after the party.
00:24:02And I'll buy them off.
00:24:04That's all they're after.
00:24:06Richard?
00:24:07Yes, sir?
00:24:09You were to pay up all charge accounts of Miss Kester's
00:24:12and close them up.
00:24:14I'll not be responsible for any more of her debts.
00:24:16Yes, sir.
00:24:19Do you think you can bully me by stopping my money?
00:24:21You forget I have some jewels left.
00:24:23You've pawned some of them already, haven't you?
00:24:26Why, of course I have.
00:24:27You stopped my allowance about six weeks ago.
00:24:30How do you think I got my spending money?
00:24:32When you come to your senses,
00:24:34your allowance will be waiting for you.
00:24:42$200.
00:24:44$400.
00:24:46$600.
00:24:47$800.
00:24:49$100.
00:24:50$1,200.
00:24:57You will ask Mr. Renner to bring my will out tomorrow.
00:25:20I want to make some changes.
00:25:21Yes, sir.
00:25:21Also, take all the Arco mining stocks I have and sell them.
00:25:26I might have known you'd want to cut me out of your will.
00:25:29Well, go ahead and try it.
00:25:31Then I left.
00:25:43I sent the checks to close the charge account
00:25:45and delivered his message to Mr. Renner.
00:25:47You know what the reference to her mother was about?
00:25:49Well, not exactly.
00:25:50Miss Jean's mother died when she was two or three.
00:25:53Her father also.
00:25:54I think they lived in Mexico.
00:25:56Then Mr. Kester brought her here.
00:25:58Since then, she's been at one school and another.
00:26:00The last few years have been in Europe.
00:26:03Well, I guess we all better get a little sleep.
00:26:06Oh, uh, you get hold of that lawyer and the will
00:26:09the first thing in the morning.
00:26:10Yes, sir.
00:26:12Say, do you suppose Hall being from Mexico
00:26:15fits into that story about Jean's mother?
00:26:17Oh, any fool could figure that out.
00:26:19Put that in your book.
00:26:20Mr. Renner?
00:26:26Have you a copy of the new will?
00:26:28Yes, sir.
00:26:28But it was never signed.
00:26:30In just what way does it differ from the old one?
00:26:32The residue of the estate,
00:26:34instead of going directly to his granddaughter,
00:26:36was to be held in trust by Mr. Hall
00:26:38and then go to Miss Kester or her heirs on his death.
00:26:42Do you think the new will would hold up in court?
00:26:51I think it would,
00:26:52if I were to swear that it was his wish and intention
00:26:54to sign it as soon as it was made up.
00:26:57Do you know why he wanted to sell those mining stocks?
00:27:00I didn't bother about those things much.
00:27:03Mr. Kester dabbled in stocks,
00:27:04but, uh, Pritchard took care of the details.
00:27:06Mr. Kester disinherited his granddaughter
00:27:13and was murdered before he had a chance to sign the new will.
00:27:20Do you know anything about the Arco mining stocks
00:27:22that he wanted to sell?
00:27:23Not much.
00:27:24The mine is somewhere in Mexico.
00:27:26Do you have a list of those stocks?
00:27:27Yes, sir.
00:27:28Where did he keep them?
00:27:29In the little black book.
00:27:30He generally kept that in the wall safe in his bedroom.
00:27:33Do you know the combination of that safe?
00:27:34No, sir.
00:27:34Who did?
00:27:36And Mr. Rayner.
00:27:37And Miss Kester.
00:27:39And she sometimes kept her jewels there.
00:27:42I'd like to have a look at the contents of that safe, Mr. Rayner.
00:27:45Yes, sir.
00:27:53Caught this bird sneaking down the back stairs
00:27:55with these shoes under his arm.
00:27:57Where were you going?
00:27:58I was going to ask one of the servants
00:28:00to have the heels straightened.
00:28:01Looks like the same round hose
00:28:04that were in the mold.
00:28:06Yes, chief.
00:28:06Same round hose.
00:28:07I'm not the only one that wears rubber heels.
00:28:15You sit down over there and keep cool.
00:28:17I'll attend to you later.
00:28:18Have you got a key to this box?
00:28:34No, sir.
00:28:35Mr. Tester usually kept it in his pocket.
00:28:37I'll take a look among his stains.
00:28:38Never mind.
00:28:40The lid's been jimmy.
00:28:41I suppose this goes to Hall
00:28:51according to that will.
00:28:52You'd better take care of it.
00:28:53What I've got to do
00:28:54is to find the $1,200.
00:28:56Say, Regan,
00:28:57you go and search Miss Kester's room
00:28:58and while you're about it,
00:28:59look for that double-edged knife.
00:29:00Yes, sir.
00:29:09This what you're looking for?
00:29:10What are you doing with that?
00:29:12Cutting open some of the pages in this book.
00:29:14May I have it?
00:29:15Sure, I detest knives.
00:29:17Ever since my uncle,
00:29:18he was a banker,
00:29:19stabbed himself in the vestibule.
00:29:20We can do without your comedy.
00:29:22Okay.
00:29:23Where did you get this?
00:29:27On the roof outside Mr. Kester's bedroom.
00:29:29I found it this morning.
00:29:34Did either of you ever see this knife before?
00:29:40Did you ever see it before?
00:29:44Yes, sir.
00:29:45Where?
00:29:45In the scapidon,
00:29:46Mr. Hall's dresser.
00:29:51Miss Kester,
00:29:52there are still some things
00:29:53that puzzled me about last night.
00:29:55You're sure that you were at no time
00:29:56during the evening
00:29:57in your grandfather's room?
00:30:00Oh, excuse me,
00:30:01but for some unknown reason
00:30:02I wasn't able to sleep very well last night.
00:30:03You and your grandfather
00:30:04had an argument the day
00:30:05before yesterday, didn't you?
00:30:06Well, I didn't keep
00:30:07a carbon copy of my actions.
00:30:09But you don't have to strain your memory
00:30:10to know that he cut off
00:30:11your allowance for the last six weeks
00:30:12and that he put the whole $1,200 in the safe.
00:30:15Yes, I remember that.
00:30:16Grandfather was very much annoyed
00:30:17at my extravagance.
00:30:18He was trying to cure me.
00:30:20Any other arguments
00:30:20between you lately?
00:30:22No.
00:30:23And why did you deliberately
00:30:24go to that safe
00:30:25and take out the $1,200?
00:30:26Well, how dare you accuse me of that?
00:30:28Your fingerprints were found on the now.
00:30:29Now.
00:30:33Why did you take that money?
00:30:36But I didn't.
00:30:37I tell you, I didn't touch the safe.
00:30:38Lying won't get you anywhere.
00:30:40What were you doing
00:30:40in your grandfather's room last night,
00:30:42during that last night?
00:30:42I won't have you bad ringer like this.
00:30:44No, you won't.
00:30:45Well, who's asking you
00:30:45what you'll have or what you want?
00:30:46You have no business
00:30:47torturing a defenseless girl
00:30:48who can't strike back.
00:30:49Poor young girl.
00:30:50She wasn't so defenseless last night
00:30:52that she could go to her grandfather's room
00:30:53and come back.
00:30:53Don't wear it.
00:30:54Take your shirt on, youngster.
00:30:56That won't get you anywhere.
00:30:57Go on.
00:30:59Sit down.
00:31:00Now listen, both of you,
00:31:02cut out the melisome.
00:31:03Can't get away with it
00:31:06in the murder investigation.
00:31:07Now suppose you both come clean
00:31:08and tell me what you were doing
00:31:09in your grandfather's room last night.
00:31:11Gene, remember what I said.
00:31:14Mr. Crofton?
00:31:15I apologize for what I did just now.
00:31:17You have every right
00:31:18to ask whatever you see fit.
00:31:20On the other hand,
00:31:20Miss Kester has an equal right
00:31:21to refuse to answer
00:31:22until she's before a grand jury.
00:31:24You know that I can hold her
00:31:25as a material witness
00:31:26and detain her in the county jail?
00:31:27Yes, and I'm also aware
00:31:28that she can be released
00:31:29under a writ of habeas corpus.
00:31:30Oh, so you know your law?
00:31:32Yes, I've been studying law.
00:31:33Yet your heart is the one
00:31:34to speak for her.
00:31:35Supposing we let Miss Kester
00:31:37speak for herself.
00:31:39I have nothing to say.
00:31:40Then there's only one thing
00:31:41left for me to do.
00:31:47Sam.
00:31:52Place Miss Kester under guard
00:31:53and I can take it down
00:31:54and I can take it down
00:31:54to Limeola.
00:31:57Come on.
00:32:01Not you.
00:32:02I want to ask you
00:32:03some questions.
00:32:04You'll find it, Ubus.
00:32:05I refuse to answer
00:32:06anything you may ask me.
00:32:07Even before you know
00:32:08what it is?
00:32:08Even before I know
00:32:09what it is.
00:32:12Found it, Chief.
00:32:13Did Miss Kester's room?
00:32:14No, I couldn't find
00:32:15a thing there.
00:32:16Her maid was that
00:32:17was suspicious,
00:32:17so I locked up
00:32:18and searched the room.
00:32:19Found it tucked in
00:32:19a knitting yarn.
00:32:20All right,
00:32:21keep your eyes on these two.
00:32:22They're under arrest.
00:32:23Murder?
00:32:24No, a suspect.
00:32:25Oh, come on, you two.
00:32:34Nervy, young fools.
00:32:35Oh, I think
00:32:36they're just scared.
00:32:37Do you think?
00:32:38Well, I think
00:32:40I've got this case
00:32:41about sewed up.
00:32:42But I've got to get him
00:32:43before the grand jury
00:32:43before I can get
00:32:44anything more out of him.
00:32:45Well, before you make
00:32:46the arrest sick,
00:32:46you better investigate that.
00:32:57Mr. Hall seems
00:32:58to be in a hurry.
00:33:04Regan!
00:33:04Chuck!
00:33:05That Hall guy's
00:33:06trying to make you
00:33:06get away over the fence.
00:33:07You get hold on
00:33:08and bring him right back.
00:33:12You understood my orders
00:33:13that no one was
00:33:13to leave this place,
00:33:14didn't you?
00:33:15Yes.
00:33:15Then when did you
00:33:16try to make a getaway?
00:33:17I can hardly approve
00:33:19your choice of words.
00:33:20Answer my question.
00:33:22I was merely trying
00:33:23to catch the 227
00:33:24for New York.
00:33:25What for?
00:33:27I had an engagement.
00:33:28Who with what for
00:33:29and where?
00:33:30I had an engagement
00:33:31with my lawyer,
00:33:32Mr. Bertram F. Hall.
00:33:34When?
00:33:35Tonight,
00:33:36at six,
00:33:37for dinner,
00:33:37at his apartment.
00:33:39What for?
00:33:40The nature of my business
00:33:42is purely personal.
00:33:44Oh, in other words,
00:33:45it's none of my business,
00:33:45I suppose.
00:33:46If you prefer
00:33:47to put it that way.
00:33:49Well, I've had enough
00:33:49of that kind of talk today,
00:33:50and I'm tired of it.
00:33:51this yours?
00:34:02Yes.
00:34:03Then you admit it.
00:34:04Perhaps you'll admit
00:34:05blowing it on the roof
00:34:06outside of Kester's room.
00:34:07No, I didn't.
00:34:09It's been missing
00:34:10from my dresser
00:34:11for two days.
00:34:12Did you report that
00:34:12to anybody?
00:34:13No.
00:34:15Well, that's all now.
00:34:16Well, I checked up
00:34:17with that lawyer of yours.
00:34:18Don't you try
00:34:19to make a getaway again.
00:34:26Look.
00:34:29Oh, Mr. Hall.
00:34:31Where did you get
00:34:32such an unusual knife
00:34:33as this?
00:34:34In Mexico.
00:34:35I want to speak
00:34:41to Mr. Bertram F.
00:34:41How?
00:34:43Never mind who it is,
00:34:44I want to talk to him.
00:34:47Oh, you know
00:34:48where he can be reached?
00:34:53Hall's lying, too.
00:34:54Husband up in Maine
00:34:55for a week.
00:34:56He's not expected
00:34:56back until tomorrow.
00:34:57Well, I think Hall
00:34:58took a long chance
00:34:59and missed.
00:34:59Oh, you thinking again?
00:35:00It's mighty smart of him.
00:35:02Well, I suppose
00:35:02you know who killed Kester.
00:35:04Certainly I do,
00:35:04but I've got to prove it.
00:35:05Where's that lawyer
00:35:06and the secretary?
00:35:07Up in Kester's room
00:35:07looking over his cell.
00:35:17Anything missing?
00:35:19Can't find any
00:35:20out of the way
00:35:20regarding his investments.
00:35:22Of course,
00:35:22I can't be sure
00:35:23he'd like to check
00:35:24his deposit box.
00:35:24You fellas
00:35:25were pretty close to Kester.
00:35:26Ever hear him mention Hall?
00:35:27I've never heard
00:35:28his name mentioned
00:35:28in the ten years
00:35:29I was associated
00:35:30with Mr. Kester.
00:35:31Just an idea
00:35:32of my own, of course,
00:35:33but on one or two occasions
00:35:34I heard Mr. Hall
00:35:34mention the Arco Mining Company
00:35:36and Mr. Kester
00:35:37seemed well uncomfortable.
00:35:39Kester owned
00:35:39some of that stock,
00:35:40didn't he?
00:35:41He didn't till day
00:35:41before yesterday.
00:35:42I sold the last of it
00:35:43for him.
00:35:43The $14,000 worth.
00:35:45It's ended here
00:35:46in this black book.
00:35:47Did Hall have any visitors
00:35:53since he's been here?
00:35:54No, sir.
00:35:55Did he phone call?
00:35:55Not that I know of.
00:35:56Did he write any letters?
00:35:58Yes, sir, he did.
00:35:59A few days ago
00:36:00he rang for me,
00:36:01handed me a letter
00:36:01and asked me
00:36:02to have it sent
00:36:03registered
00:36:04special delivery.
00:36:05Did you notice who to?
00:36:06I did, sir,
00:36:07seeing as how he wanted
00:36:07it registered
00:36:08to a Mr. Howell, sir.
00:36:11Did he say anything else?
00:36:12Well, he asked me
00:36:13if Miss Kester
00:36:13was up yet.
00:36:14I said no.
00:36:15Then he asked me
00:36:16to send off.
00:36:16And did you?
00:36:17Yes, sir.
00:36:19First she lies
00:36:19for the girl,
00:36:20then she hides the money
00:36:21and now she's in cahoots
00:36:22with this fellow Hall.
00:36:36When did Miss Kester
00:36:37give you that $1,200
00:36:37to hide for?
00:36:38What $1,200?
00:36:40The $1,200
00:36:40was found
00:36:41in your knitting ball.
00:36:42Come on.
00:36:42You know what I mean.
00:36:44I swear
00:36:44with the holy mother
00:36:45of...
00:36:45I haven't any idea
00:36:47how that $1,200
00:36:48got in my knitting ball.
00:36:50I must say
00:36:50it's risky business
00:36:51to be playing tricks
00:36:52and hiding $1,200
00:36:53in my knitting ball.
00:36:54Stop saying $1,200
00:36:55in your knitting ball.
00:36:57Yes, sir.
00:36:57Do you know anything
00:36:58about this fellow Hall?
00:36:59He's a very fine gentleman
00:37:00and very generous, too.
00:37:02Annie,
00:37:03the second maid
00:37:03was telling me
00:37:04he gave her a dollar.
00:37:06He said just because
00:37:07she was so pretty
00:37:08but never a bit familiar.
00:37:10Just kind and generous.
00:37:11You ever hear Kester
00:37:12talk about him?
00:37:13Never a word.
00:37:14You ever see him before?
00:37:16Never set eyes on him.
00:37:19Then what did he want
00:37:20with you in his room
00:37:20yesterday?
00:37:21Then it was allowing
00:37:22his room to be neglected.
00:37:23Only one washcloth
00:37:24and a broken curtain sash
00:37:26and a dust
00:37:27was three inches thick.
00:37:28You should have seen it.
00:37:30Why did you tell me
00:37:30Miss Kester
00:37:31went directly downstairs
00:37:32when you knew
00:37:32she went to her
00:37:33grandfather's room?
00:37:34She didn't.
00:37:35I saw her good downstairs.
00:37:37Mrs. Pritchard told me
00:37:38she saw her come out
00:37:38of that room.
00:37:39If you want to believe her,
00:37:40go ahead.
00:37:42Five years I've known
00:37:43her never a word of trust
00:37:45could I put in her.
00:37:49She's grand.
00:37:50Tremendous.
00:37:51I'd take my hat off,
00:37:52too,
00:37:52if I had a hat on.
00:37:53She's a marvelous liar,
00:37:54if that's what you mean.
00:37:55It looks to me
00:37:55like a murder syndicate.
00:37:57Miss Kester,
00:37:57Miller,
00:37:58Hall,
00:37:58and Dora.
00:37:59All of them know
00:38:00something they're not telling.
00:38:01And their lies
00:38:02don't hang together.
00:38:02There's something
00:38:07I should have told you
00:38:08about a while ago,
00:38:09but he was such
00:38:10a decent fellow
00:38:11that I hated of him.
00:38:12What is this?
00:38:13I saw it fall out
00:38:15of Hall's pocket
00:38:15right after lunch.
00:38:20Thank you very much.
00:38:22Blood?
00:38:23Of course it is.
00:38:24Or you'll find
00:38:25it's his own.
00:38:26I was walking around
00:38:27the house with Hall
00:38:27warning,
00:38:28and he got a nosebleed.
00:38:29That guy hasn't got
00:38:30blood enough
00:38:30to get a nosebleed.
00:38:31There's something
00:38:33we've got.
00:41:35I'm awfully sorry.
00:41:36Oh, you frighten me.
00:41:38I was on my way to the kitchen, saw the door open and thought it rather unusual.
00:41:41Yes, yes.
00:41:42Two minds with but a single thought.
00:41:45You know, I too was hunting the icebox and I lost my way.
00:41:48It can't be down here.
00:41:50Suppose we look together.
00:41:50It's right over here.
00:41:55Hello, glutton.
00:42:10Take some rice pudding for me.
00:42:12I was so famous I couldn't sleep.
00:42:24I was so famous I couldn't sleep.
00:42:26Cold nutton.
00:42:27I've been thinking of this all evening.
00:42:28That's one dish I couldn't relish in a house of murder.
00:42:36This is what I like.
00:42:38Informality.
00:42:40Wouldn't the papers like to get a picture of us sitting around in our sleepers?
00:42:43Goodness knows what my husband would think.
00:42:46Please don't mention our meeting tonight.
00:42:48Even though it was accidental.
00:42:50Don't worry on my account, madam.
00:42:53Well, you speak for yourself.
00:42:57Don't worry.
00:42:57I won't tell you.
00:43:00Human nature is a funny thing, isn't it?
00:43:03Here we are, all under suspicion for murder, sitting around eating.
00:43:08We must have clear consciences or none at all.
00:43:12Your insinuation is unjustified, Mr. Tracy.
00:43:15My conscience is clear enough to resent that remark.
00:43:20Just exactly what do you know about this murder, Mr. Hall?
00:43:31Just as much as you do, Mr. Tracy.
00:43:40How do we know you didn't do it?
00:43:41Well, for one thing, I wasn't mentioned in his will.
00:43:44Come on.
00:43:47He never did me any dirt.
00:43:50I didn't want his money, and he hasn't anything on me.
00:43:54The only reason I might have had for killing him was that I didn't like him.
00:43:57He was a snob.
00:44:00That's a swell reason.
00:44:01Certainly.
00:44:02It's always a good reason for making away with anyone.
00:44:05Then I'm six feet tall, weigh 185 pounds, and belong to the Bombay Bicycle Club.
00:44:11Say, you're not throwing me off with a lot of that fresh gab.
00:44:14I was just thinking.
00:44:17What?
00:44:18I was just thinking somebody's liable to be bumped off any time now.
00:44:22How do you think of that?
00:44:24Well, when anybody starts suspecting the real murder, they're generally quietly bumped off.
00:44:30Well, that gives me an idea.
00:44:33Maybe my life won't be so peaceful now.
00:44:35What do you know?
00:44:39Did it ever strike you that it was Mrs. Pritchard who opened the closet door and found Kester?
00:44:45Yet her fingerprints were not on that doorknob.
00:44:48Say, boy, you got something there.
00:44:50And another thing.
00:44:52Mrs. Pritchard was on that second floor during the last dance.
00:44:55Yeah, so were you.
00:44:57I've got another idea.
00:45:02Huh?
00:45:03Yep.
00:45:06Well, that little black book might tell a big story if it could only talk.
00:45:11Ah, you writers give me a pain.
00:45:13They're always going in for little black books.
00:45:19Well, I told you somebody's going to get bumped off.
00:45:27Don't know yet.
00:45:31Keep quiet.
00:45:32Where was it?
00:45:32Shut up, everybody.
00:45:33That was a shot.
00:45:34Something like it came from over there.
00:45:46Pritchard!
00:45:47Wake up!
00:45:48Wake up, Pritchard!
00:45:49Come on, wake up!
00:45:52What's the matter?
00:45:53Wake up, wake up!
00:45:58What's happened?
00:46:00We heard a shot.
00:46:00That sounded like it came from this room.
00:46:02Anyone been in here?
00:46:03Where's my wife?
00:46:05How do I know?
00:46:06Who sleeps back door?
00:46:08Mr. Hall.
00:46:23Oh!
00:46:23Oh!
00:46:32Oh!
00:46:41Chief!
00:46:44Hall's dead.
00:46:45What?
00:46:46Dead.
00:46:46Bullet through his heart.
00:46:48Well, I'll be doggone.
00:46:50That's exactly the way Hall felt about it.
00:46:52What do you mean?
00:46:53Well, that's what he said when he looked at Kester.
00:46:56See, I never did understand what he meant.
00:47:00Find the body in the bedroom.
00:47:02We left everything just as we found it last night.
00:47:04He probably knew we were closing in on him.
00:47:07And took the easiest way out.
00:47:08Why, he must have had a grudge against Kester for years.
00:47:11Oh, uh, pardon the interruption.
00:47:12But I don't think Hall killed Kester.
00:47:16And I don't think he committed suicide.
00:47:18All right, Smarty.
00:47:20Spend your theory.
00:47:21Well, I was just wondering.
00:47:23Why wasn't Pritchard awakened by that shot?
00:47:25And why wasn't his wife in the room with him?
00:47:27Maybe he was doped.
00:47:28Right.
00:47:29That's why I've been hanging on to these.
00:47:32And I think your chemist will find that someone's been hitting the junk.
00:47:35Tell the butler I want to see him and get Nate Pritchard.
00:47:41Right.
00:47:41All right.
00:48:05Go on.
00:48:11Funny, I don't seem to be able to keep awake.
00:48:13You had a glass of wine last night, didn't you?
00:48:15Two glasses.
00:48:17The wine doesn't usually affect me like this.
00:48:19Two glasses?
00:48:20Yes, my wife didn't want hers, so I drank them both.
00:48:23When Lennox brought the wine up to the room, who took it?
00:48:26Let me see.
00:48:27I think my wife did.
00:48:29What's that got to do with what happened last night?
00:48:32Oh, nothing, nothing.
00:48:32Just clearing up a few odds and ends.
00:48:35This suicide sort of settles things.
00:48:40That'll be all just now.
00:48:46Where was Mrs. Pritchard last night?
00:48:48Well, let me think.
00:48:50I don't know.
00:48:51I didn't take any nose hurt until after everything was over, pal.
00:48:59Odora.
00:49:00Yes, sir?
00:49:02You heard that shot after the deal?
00:49:04I did that.
00:49:05And I was never so scared in my whole life.
00:49:07Do you remember seeing Mrs. Pritchard come out into the hall?
00:49:10No, sir, I didn't.
00:49:11When I left my room, she was still there.
00:49:14I don't remember when she left.
00:49:15You?
00:49:16Yes, sir.
00:49:17What was she doing there?
00:49:19She was sleeping.
00:49:20She came in and walked me out of a sound sleep,
00:49:23saying as how nervous and scared she was and wanted to sleep on the day couch.
00:49:26Was she in the habit of doing that?
00:49:28Not in the five years that I've known her.
00:49:31Which, if you ask me, is five years too long.
00:49:48Oh, Captain.
00:49:49I realize you want me to stick around here till this business is over,
00:49:52but I'd like to go to town today, if you don't mind.
00:49:55Oh, I promise I'll be back this afternoon,
00:49:57and I couldn't get away if I wanted to.
00:49:59You all know me.
00:50:01You know where he was last night when the shot was fired?
00:50:03Yeah, he was with me.
00:50:05All right, then.
00:50:06You can go.
00:50:06Thanks.
00:50:07But listen.
00:50:08No funny business.
00:50:14Put a tail on that guy.
00:50:16I sure would like to pin something on him.
00:50:20Now, don't tell me you saved enough money to buy Arco mining stuff.
00:50:24No, no.
00:50:25Tell me what you know about this company.
00:50:27Well, the Arco mine is in Mexico.
00:50:28It was developed under a partnership between Stephen Kester
00:50:32and a fellow named Roger Hall.
00:50:34And back in 1914, Kester froze the other fellow out.
00:50:38Unloaded his stock, washed the prices down,
00:50:40and left Hall holding the sack.
00:50:42Since that time, he's bought a lot of that stock back,
00:50:46and now it's one of the most valuable stocks on the market.
00:50:49How much stock did Kester hold?
00:50:51Well, you'll have to see the bank he did business with to find that out.
00:50:54All right, all right.
00:50:55Suppose you use your influence with that banker and call him up
00:50:57and have him have all the information when I get there.
00:50:58I'm in a hurry.
00:51:06He had $111,000 worth two days before he was murdered.
00:51:12$111,000?
00:51:12Mm-hmm.
00:51:13Thanks.
00:51:13In my opinion, the original figure was $111,000.
00:51:31In my opinion, the original figure was $111,000.
00:51:36The first one has been incorporated into a dollar sign,
00:51:39and the cross on the floor has been added with an ink of a different chemical basis.
00:51:49Could have been very easy, couldn't it?
00:51:53Thanks.
00:51:53Well, here I am again.
00:52:05Where's everybody?
00:52:06In there.
00:52:07Thanks.
00:52:07Then, uh, Mr. Hall didn't have a dinner engagement with you last night?
00:52:15No, he did not.
00:52:17You've heard from him lately, though.
00:52:18I received the letter which you have there.
00:52:20Dear Bert,
00:52:23Enclosed, find a letter which you will keep with the rest of my stuff for delivery after I'm dead.
00:52:29It won't be long now, which isn't such a joke as you might think.
00:52:32I won't be seeing you again soon.
00:52:36Roger.
00:52:43You knew Hall pretty well, didn't you?
00:52:45Yes, I've been his friend for a number of years.
00:52:48I'm the executor of his estate, whatever it is.
00:52:52Go and get Miss Tester for me.
00:53:01You can tell by the way they're acting.
00:53:04They don't think it's a suicide.
00:53:06Cliff, it's no use.
00:53:06We can't go on.
00:53:07We've got to tell them.
00:53:08Jean, now do as I say.
00:53:09You've got to keep your mouth shut.
00:53:11It's our only chance.
00:53:12You don't know the police like I do.
00:53:13Come on, Romeo and Juliet.
00:53:15The chief wants to see you.
00:53:18Come on.
00:53:31Mr. Howe brought me a letter to you from Mr. Hall.
00:53:35Well, I don't understand.
00:53:37Why should he write me a letter?
00:53:38It was to be delivered to you after his death.
00:53:41I'd like you to read it.
00:53:50Do you mind if I read it aloud?
00:53:54No, go ahead.
00:54:01Dear Jean, once upon a time, many years ago, I amused you for hours by crawling on all
00:54:09fours with you on my back.
00:54:11Now you know the other afternoon was not our first meeting.
00:54:14Small wonder, then, I may have appeared to you like some strangely remembered ghost from
00:54:19the past.
00:54:20That past reaches back to when I was a mining engineer in a project with your grandfather.
00:54:24It was then I met your mother.
00:54:27I shall not try to tell you my feelings for her.
00:54:30I shall only tell you that I loved her more than all the world.
00:54:35Shall I go on?
00:54:37Yes.
00:54:38My case was quite hopeless from the start.
00:54:41She had already fallen in love with another man, your father, a charming, delightful man.
00:54:46Your grandfather forbade your mother to marry him.
00:54:49So straightway, she packed up her things, met Pete, married him, and went to live in the
00:54:55little college town where he was teaching.
00:54:57I was the only guest at their wedding in the city hall.
00:55:01Shortly after that, I went back to the mines, and for two years, I was up to my neck and
00:55:05worked.
00:55:06And then I got a letter from Sylvia announcing the birth of her daughter.
00:55:11Soon after that, a second letter came.
00:55:14Your father had died of incipient tuberculosis.
00:55:17What little money there was, was eaten up by doctor's bills.
00:55:21Was there any kind of a job she could do?
00:55:24I wired her the money, and immediately she arrived with her baby.
00:55:28You were very red and squalling, and the first time I tried to kiss you, you socked me in the
00:55:33eye for the fresh guy that I was.
00:55:35Sylvia took a job in the mine office, helping with the bookkeeping, doing clerical work, and
00:55:40writing some letters for me.
00:55:42What a come down from the luxury of your grandfather's home.
00:55:45She got up at six, prepared your bottles for the day, bathed you, and took you to your daily
00:55:50parking place.
00:55:52Then she worked in the office until six at night.
00:55:54I begged her to write her father.
00:55:56She refused.
00:55:57So I did, and told him how much she needed help.
00:56:01Soon after that, the arco mine steadily declined.
00:56:04We were shorthanded, and the strain on Sylvia was ghastly.
00:56:08You alone thrived, grew fat, and then one night, your mother died.
00:56:14She was murdered.
00:56:16Murdered by her own father, just as surely as if he had shot her with a gun.
00:56:20He murdered her, and so help me, I'm going to murder him.
00:56:26But I'm getting ahead of myself.
00:56:28You were left behind, and what a puzzle you were.
00:56:31I thought for a while I would keep you for my own, but I soon realized the folly of that.
00:56:37So again, I wrote your grandfather.
00:56:40Then Dora arrived.
00:56:42I didn't feel so badly parting with you when I knew she was to be your nurse.
00:56:46I've had my hands full the last few days to keep her from telling who I am.
00:56:53After all these years, I found myself back in New York.
00:56:56I couldn't resist the temptation to take one more look at you before I die.
00:57:00I blackmailed your grandfather into inviting me to stay here for a week.
00:57:05So here I am, and I've seen many things.
00:57:09Jean in love with a poor young man, and Kester making their love affair bitter and furtive.
00:57:15But you, my dear, are not the woman your mother was.
00:57:19You couldn't stand up under the poverty and worry and work as she did.
00:57:22And so for the snake of Sylvia, whom I love, and for charming Peter, and for the baby who socked me in the eye,
00:57:29I'm going to solve your problems for you.
00:57:32It's a very simple solution.
00:57:35Two bullets.
00:57:36One for Kester, and one for myself.
00:57:40Just when I shall do it, I haven't decided yet.
00:57:42I can see too plainly the smoldering, maddening frustration that your Cliff is trying so hard to keep in check.
00:57:50I don't want him to beat me to the pleasure of murdering Stephen Kester.
00:57:57Lovingly, Roger Hall.
00:57:58That isn't true, that part about Cliff.
00:58:00The rest of it is every word of it.
00:58:02He killed my mother, and I hate him.
00:58:03But that isn't true about Cliff.
00:58:05No, I know what he meant when he looked at Kester and said, well, I'll be doggone.
00:58:08It was just pure surprise.
00:58:10No wonder he was surprised.
00:58:12Someone did beat him to it.
00:58:13Oh, why don't you let us alone?
00:58:15Why don't you stop digging into this?
00:58:16Hall admitted that he killed my grandfather and then committed suicide.
00:58:19Yes, he did.
00:58:21And that's just what we're going to do.
00:58:22Let it stand as it is.
00:58:35Oh, yes, the captain's been assuring the newspapers every day that they can expect an arrest at any moment.
00:58:44But, you know, the captain, he has to have his little joke.
00:58:48I can't understand all the movements of the detectives.
00:58:51Well, just at present, they're more concerned with certain aspects of his life than the actual manner of his death.
00:58:57Well, I'm sure they could find nothing but good in his life.
00:59:00Well, thanks.
00:59:05You know, we've been going through his notebook.
00:59:11And we found some items that are rather puzzling.
00:59:15But I thought he kept everything in his private book quite clear.
00:59:29What are those?
00:59:30Marbles.
00:59:32Or maybe glass eyes.
00:59:33I got them from Mr. Hall.
00:59:36He told me rather an interesting story about them.
00:59:39Did you ever see them before?
00:59:41I know.
00:59:43Frickin, just why was it necessary for you to change certain figures in Mr. Kessler's notebook?
00:59:48I don't know what you're talking about.
00:59:49That's too bad, but the advantage is mine.
00:59:51I happen to know what I'm talking about, and I know you know what I'm talking about.
00:59:55Why, you sit down.
00:59:55It was a difference of $97,000 worth of stock.
01:00:00I suppose you know nothing about that.
01:00:03Certainly not.
01:00:03Just how does it happen that you're able to afford an expensive apartment on the salary you receive here?
01:00:09And how were you able to buy a $3,000 car and store it in a garage?
01:00:12And how did you manage to send your wife on an expensive trip to Europe last year?
01:00:16And what about those losses in stock speculation?
01:00:18What I'm getting at is this.
01:00:21You took Kessler's stock to cover yourself.
01:00:24You can't deny it, can you?
01:00:26No.
01:00:29I guess you've caught me.
01:00:31It's a lucky thing for you Kessler was killed before he found out what you were doing.
01:00:35But I didn't do that.
01:00:36I mean the murder.
01:00:36Oh, no?
01:00:37Of course not.
01:00:38How could I?
01:00:39I wasn't upstairs during that last dance.
01:00:41But your wife was.
01:00:42But she wasn't in that room.
01:00:44She told you that.
01:00:45It was Miss Kessler.
01:00:46My wife saw Miss Kessler come out of that room.
01:00:48Yes, but your wife didn't tell us what she did when Miss Kessler came downstairs.
01:00:52It's just possible she might have gone in there and...
01:00:54You're lying.
01:00:55You're lying and you know it.
01:00:56You know I didn't go into that room.
01:00:58How should I now?
01:00:59Because I saw you up there in the hall.
01:01:01I saw you come out of your room and follow Miss Kessler over to the top of the stairs.
01:01:05You were up there at the time he was murdered.
01:01:07Why didn't you tell the detective that?
01:01:09You got me there, sister.
01:01:11Maybe you won't be so ready to accuse other people now.
01:01:16I don't know.
01:01:34Carson.
01:01:37Listen.
01:01:38You guys haven't discovered anything yet.
01:01:40You've been running around in circles.
01:01:42Do you want to hear some news?
01:01:43Do you think you can tell us anything we don't know already?
01:01:45Yes.
01:01:47There's going to be another murder around here pretty soon.
01:01:50And I have a sneaking suspicion I'm slated to be the victim.
01:01:53Oh, and I suppose you want me to detail about 20 men to guard that pretty body of yours, huh?
01:01:56That's just what I don't want.
01:01:58But I want you to take all your men outside tonight.
01:02:02That's a good one.
01:02:03Do you know any more?
01:02:05Or you can throw a cordon at the whole department on the outside, but keep these halls clear.
01:02:09And I'll promise to be responsible.
01:02:11For your own murder?
01:02:12Sure. I won't close my eyes all night.
01:02:14Go on, let him get bumped off.
01:02:16Give me one less guy to suspect.
01:02:18Well, it isn't going to do any harm to watch things from the outside, is it?
01:02:21I don't know.
01:02:23What are you going to do?
01:02:26Well, I'm going to play marbles.
01:02:40There's one time when you won't be able to wipe those fingerprints off.
01:03:00What finger prints?
01:03:02The ones on the gun that Hall was supposed to have used.
01:03:05It's just funny, but he couldn't wipe those fingerprints off after shooting himself.
01:03:08You can't pin that on me.
01:03:09Well, I'm not trying to.
01:03:10It's strange, Pridget, but there was no odor of white on your breath after you were so hard to wake up.
01:03:15Well, I'll take a look over there.
01:03:17You made your first mistake when you bought two Chinese outfits from the same place.
01:03:27You made your second mistake when you threw one in the incinerator and tried to burn it.
01:03:31You forgot the eyes wouldn't burn, didn't you?
01:03:35Yes.
01:03:37All I want to hear from your own lips.
01:03:39Just when you slipped that disguise off and showed up downstairs among the dancers.
01:03:43Come on, spill it.
01:03:45It was you down there among the guests, wasn't it?
01:03:47Yes.
01:03:49I thought so.
01:03:50I asked him a question and he rushed off without answering it.
01:03:53I thought it was funny at the time.
01:03:55Well, come on, spill it.
01:03:56Jeff, how did you do it?
01:03:57I went upstairs, just like Hall testified.
01:04:00Only it was me instead of Kester.
01:04:01Then I slipped out of the outfit and threw it down the chute of the incinerator.
01:04:05I threw in a lighted match of the papers.
01:04:07Then I went down the servant's stairs and showed up at all.
01:04:12You killed Kester earlier in the evening and threw his body in the closet, didn't you?
01:04:18Yes.
01:04:19Yes, I did.
01:04:20Why?
01:04:21Do you know why?
01:04:22You told me why yourself this afternoon.
01:04:24You know what you'll get for it, don't you?
01:04:26Yes, I know.
01:04:27But I don't get it.
01:04:29You're better than this suspense.
01:04:30My wife made me do it.
01:04:34She ain't nagged and nagged and nagged me.
01:04:36Until I got myself in the hole, I couldn't get out of it any other way.
01:04:39I'm not to blame.
01:04:40She is.
01:04:46What are you going to do with me now?
01:04:48Nothing.
01:04:51Crofton and Regan will be here the first thing in the morning.
01:04:54You can go now.
01:04:55I said you could go now.
01:05:09I said you could go now.
01:05:23I said you could go now.
01:05:27I said you could go now.
01:05:28Do you think what it's going to do with me now?
01:05:29I said you could go.
01:05:30I said you could go.
01:05:31anything happen not a sound all night I might have known with a lot of hot air
01:05:41oh good morning captain nice morning you look as though you were drawn through a
01:06:05knot hole what happened nothing at that it sounded as though it came from mr.
01:06:19mrs. Pritchard's room well I'll be dog gone yeah that's what a hall said
01:06:35listen there's just one thing I want to know you took that $1,200 out of the safe
01:06:45to get married on didn't you yeah would you get married without it sure we'll go
01:06:51ahead preachers get up early and I'll fix everything with Crofton go on go on quick
01:07:05go on
01:07:21Oh
01:07:51Oh
01:08:21Oh
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