- 7/6/2025
Mysterious Intruder is a 1946 American mystery film noir based on the radio drama The Whistler. Directed by William Castle, the production features Richard Dix, Barton MacLane and Nina Vale. It is the fifth of Columbia Pictures' eight "Whistler" films produced in the 1940s, the first seven starring Dix.
Plot: Edward Stillwell, the aged proprietor of a music store, hires private detective Don Gale (Dix) to find Elora Lund, who, after her mother died seven years before, vanished at the age of fourteen. Stillwell can only pay $100, but hints mysteriously that finding Lund could make Gale a rich man.
Plot: Edward Stillwell, the aged proprietor of a music store, hires private detective Don Gale (Dix) to find Elora Lund, who, after her mother died seven years before, vanished at the age of fourteen. Stillwell can only pay $100, but hints mysteriously that finding Lund could make Gale a rich man.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:00:30The End
00:01:00I am the whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night.
00:01:07I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows.
00:01:13Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.
00:01:19It is Edward Stilwell who walks alone.
00:01:22He is a kindly, unimportant little man, the type you pass on the street without noticing.
00:01:28Tonight, however, something will happen to him that changes everything.
00:01:32Something to make his life important and exciting and dangerous.
00:01:36Mr. Stilwell?
00:01:50Yes, ma'am.
00:01:52I have an appointment to see Mr. Gale.
00:01:54Yes, I know.
00:01:56Mr. Stilwell's here.
00:01:57Thank you, ma'am.
00:01:57Mr. Stilwell?
00:02:09Yes, sir.
00:02:12Come in, sir.
00:02:14Come in.
00:02:14I want to thank you for staying in so late to see me.
00:02:20Don't mention.
00:02:21Sit up.
00:02:24Well, what can I do for you?
00:02:29I want to know how much it would cost to have a young lady traced.
00:02:34Well, that I can't say offhand.
00:02:39When she disappeared, who is she?
00:02:42Her name is Allura Lund.
00:02:44It's seven years now since I saw her.
00:02:47That was when her mother died.
00:02:50Allura was 14 then.
00:02:52Seven years is a long time.
00:02:55Might cost a lot of money to find her.
00:02:57Are you a professional or businessman, Mrs. Stilwell?
00:03:00I have a store at 2319 McCall Street.
00:03:04A music store.
00:03:06Phonographs new and secondhand.
00:03:08Where do you live?
00:03:10I beg your pardon?
00:03:11I say, where do you live?
00:03:12At 2319 McCall Street.
00:03:15Same address as a store.
00:03:17Yes, I have an apartment in the back.
00:03:20Allura and her mother live somewhere in the neighborhood, too.
00:03:23I know that because I'd see Allura playing along the block
00:03:27and see her mother coming home from work.
00:03:30The husband had been dead a good many years.
00:03:33He was a violinist.
00:03:34You can't even give me an address to start from?
00:03:36Just the neighborhood.
00:03:40Uh-huh.
00:03:43What is a girl like at 14?
00:03:46Oh, she was just a little girl.
00:03:49I would see lots of them playing along the block
00:03:52and Allura and Lund was no different than the others
00:03:55except she was thin
00:03:58and had long blonde curls
00:04:01and big blue eyes.
00:04:07Was she tall or short, 14, or just average?
00:04:10She was going to be tall, I think.
00:04:14What happened to her after her mother died?
00:04:16Relatives take her?
00:04:17Was she put into an institution or what?
00:04:19I don't know.
00:04:20Well, if she's alive, she can be found.
00:04:25But it'll take money.
00:04:27I got a hundred dollars.
00:04:30A hundred dollars.
00:04:34Can't you dig deeper?
00:04:36Is there any way you can raise money?
00:04:39Maybe you're not very interested in locating her.
00:04:42I can mortgage my business for a few hundred.
00:04:45Oh.
00:04:46I wouldn't do that to you.
00:04:48Why a hundred bucks would go like that
00:04:50and we'd be no nearer to her?
00:04:52Would it make any difference if I tell you
00:04:54if you find Allura Lund,
00:04:58she would pay you any sum?
00:05:00Thousands.
00:05:02Yes, tens of thousands for bringing us together.
00:05:05What makes you think so?
00:05:06Nothing I am at liberty to discuss.
00:05:08Let me tell you one thing.
00:05:09The success of this office depends upon the mutual trust
00:05:11between my clients and myself.
00:05:12Oh, I'm sorry.
00:05:13I may not be the greatest detective in the world,
00:05:15but I am the most unusual.
00:05:19Now, if you want to put your confidence in me,
00:05:21I'll find Allura.
00:05:24All I can tell you is this.
00:05:27If you find Allura Lund,
00:05:29it's possible she will make you a wealthy man.
00:05:37Well, suppose I see what I can do with this.
00:05:42In the meantime, have you tried to locate her?
00:05:44Oh, yes.
00:05:45I put an ad in the newspapers,
00:05:47in the personal column.
00:05:49Uh-huh.
00:05:49And if anyone tries to answer that ad,
00:05:51I want you to get in touch with me night or day, will you?
00:05:53Oh, yes, sure.
00:05:54And I'll let you know when I have anything to report.
00:06:01And good evening.
00:06:14You want me to save this?
00:06:15Yes, certainly.
00:06:16Open a file for Mr. Stilwell.
00:06:17Are you really going to look for that girl?
00:06:19Of course I am.
00:06:20And tomorrow I'm going to find her.
00:06:21Three days have passed,
00:06:26and Stilwell has had no word
00:06:28from the private detective he engaged.
00:06:31He has almost given up hope
00:06:33that he will ever find Allura Lund.
00:06:36But tonight his long search is coming to an end.
00:06:39So let's go, let's go, let's go.
00:06:57Str lucid.
00:06:58Shh.
00:06:59Shh.
00:07:06Shh.
00:07:08Mr. Stilwell.
00:07:38Mr. Stilwell.
00:07:53Mr. Stilwell.
00:08:03Daddy Stilwell.
00:08:05How are you?
00:08:08What can I do for you?
00:08:09Oh, it's a miracle that I ever knew you were looking for me.
00:08:12I've been away.
00:08:13But a girl I went to school with sent me a clipping.
00:08:18Allora?
00:08:22Allora Lund.
00:08:25My, how you've grown.
00:08:29But you're just like I pictured you.
00:08:32And you're just like I remembered you.
00:08:35You haven't changed a bit.
00:08:36Oh, seven years don't make much difference at my age.
00:08:41Oh, but come, Allora, here.
00:08:44Sit down.
00:08:47There.
00:08:51Now come, tell me.
00:08:54What have you been doing?
00:08:56And why didn't you come to see me?
00:08:58I was afraid they'd put me in an orphanage, so I took what little money there was in the house and ran away.
00:09:04I suppose you are wondering why I advertised for you.
00:09:07Well, of course I am.
00:09:09But even if you only wanted to talk to me, I'm glad you did.
00:09:12I guess I was too young to appreciate everything, but I'll never forget what a friend you were to mother and me.
00:09:19Do you remember those odds and ends your mother used to bring to me to sell for her?
00:09:25I brought some myself when she was ill.
00:09:27Well, I never sold them.
00:09:30I thought perhaps if your mother got well, she would like to buy them back.
00:09:34They were heirlooms, things she brought from Sweden.
00:09:38Would you like me to buy them back now?
00:09:40Is that why you wanted to find me?
00:09:42Oh, no, no, no, my dear, I wanted to tell you, you are a rich young woman.
00:09:55Among those odds and ends, I found a treasure that's worth a fortune.
00:10:01What is it?
00:10:02All in good time, Allora, all in good time.
00:10:06But I must go out for a minute or two, but you can wait right here.
00:10:12I engaged a detective to try and find you, my dear, and I told him I'd let him know the minute you answered my advertisement.
00:10:22I'll be back in a minute or two.
00:10:42I'll be back in a minute or two.
00:10:44And Africa started coming again.
00:10:44Instead spot because you wanted to find me, I was very happy.
00:10:46I'm STEAD!
00:10:47Heh, heh!
00:10:48Aprofile film called...
00:10:49...
00:10:53...
00:10:54...
00:10:54...
00:10:55...
00:10:56...
00:11:00...
00:11:01Let's go.
00:11:31Mr. Gale?
00:11:41This is Mr. Stilwell.
00:11:44Oh, hello, Mr. Stilwell.
00:11:46Oh, she is.
00:11:48And I'm sure she's a Laura Lund.
00:12:01Oh, hello, Mr. Stilwell.
00:12:31Oh, hello, Mr. Stilwell.
00:13:01Oh, hello, Mr. Stilwell.
00:13:03Oh, hello, Mr. Stilwell.
00:13:07Oh, Mr. Stilwell, I was frightened.
00:13:11I thought I heard somebody in the store.
00:13:12Oh, nobody would come at this hour.
00:13:15Oh, I got something to show you while we're waiting for Mr. Gale.
00:13:33Well, see, it's a newspaper clipping.
00:13:36I thought of you the minute I read it.
00:13:38Oh, here it is.
00:13:40Read it, Laura, and you will understand why I said you're a rich young woman.
00:13:46Yes, that can I do for you.
00:13:59Oh, hi, Mr. Stilwell.
00:14:07What happened, Mr. Gale?
00:14:24The owner of this store, Edward Stilwell, was murdered.
00:14:28Who discovered the body?
00:14:29I did.
00:14:29What, again?
00:14:30Now, this Stilwell's been running ads in the newspaper trying to locate a Miss Alora Lund.
00:14:34Yeah?
00:14:34Tonight he phoned me and said she was in the store.
00:14:36When I got here, he was dead and she'd gone.
00:14:38No.
00:14:39Give us a break.
00:14:39Well, wait a break.
00:14:40Now, wait a minute.
00:14:40The most significant feature of the whole thing is that this girl is not Alora Lund.
00:14:44Well, who is she?
00:14:45She's an imposter.
00:14:46You can print that if you want or put it on the air.
00:14:47Where's the nearest phone?
00:14:48Right up the head of the stairs.
00:14:49First landing.
00:14:50Thanks, Mr. Gale.
00:14:50Thank you very much.
00:14:51I'll wait a minute.
00:14:52I'll wait a minute.
00:15:06Oh, Dr. Gale for Miss Hanson?
00:15:12Oh.
00:15:13You dirty rat.
00:15:34You've got your nerve to come here.
00:15:36Why, what have I done?
00:15:38You said it would be easy.
00:15:40There was no danger.
00:15:42You put me on a swell spot.
00:15:44I got you off that spot, too, didn't I?
00:15:46Oh, you did.
00:15:47How?
00:15:48Open the door, Freda.
00:15:49Let me in.
00:15:54Now, Freda.
00:15:56Look, Freda.
00:15:57I knew that someone was holding you because they thought you were a Laura Lund.
00:16:01I told the reporters that you weren't, and they broadcast it.
00:16:04Who killed the old man?
00:16:06I was tied up and gagged, and I thought I was going to get the knife like Stilwell.
00:16:10You were going to protect me, remember?
00:16:11How was I to know that he was going to be murdered?
00:16:15Did you kill him, Freda?
00:16:22Well, unless you've got a pretty good story, the police will believe that you killed him.
00:16:25You'll have to keep me clear of the police.
00:16:28You got me into this.
00:16:29I know I did, my dear, but I wasn't present when he was murdered, and you were.
00:16:33I paid you a hundred bucks to try and find out why he was so anxious to locate Laura Lund.
00:16:38Now, Stilwell was alive for some time after you got there.
00:16:41What did he talk about?
00:16:42About the girl's mother.
00:16:43She sold him a lot of junk she'd brought from the old country.
00:16:46And among that junk, there was something very valuable.
00:16:50Mm-hmm.
00:16:53What was it?
00:16:55He wouldn't say.
00:16:57Oh, come on now, Freda.
00:16:58I coached you well for the part of Laura.
00:16:59He was absolutely convinced that you were on the level.
00:17:01Maybe, but he wouldn't tell me anything until you got there.
00:17:03What did you do when he went out to phone me?
00:17:05Nothing.
00:17:05What did you talk about when he came back?
00:17:06I was telling him I thought I'd heard somebody in the store,
00:17:09and all of a sudden, a door behind him opened, and a guy walked into the room.
00:17:12Had you ever seen that guy before?
00:17:13No.
00:17:13Was he carrying anything?
00:17:15No.
00:17:17I'll answer it.
00:17:18Oh, good evening, Mr. Summers.
00:17:27I've had complaints about noise in this apartment.
00:17:30Mr. Gale, this is Mr. Summers, the manager.
00:17:34You'll have to leave immediately.
00:17:36We can't have loud talking at this time of night.
00:17:38People have to sleep.
00:17:39I can explain, Mr. Summers.
00:17:41I'm sorry.
00:17:42You'll have to leave.
00:17:44Good night.
00:17:48You'd better go, Don.
00:17:49Just a minute.
00:17:50Just a minute.
00:17:52Are you sure that tough guy didn't take anything with him?
00:17:54Yes, he took me.
00:17:55And it was Laura Lund that he wanted.
00:17:57He let you go when the broadcast announced that the girl in the store was a phony.
00:18:02Where'd he take you?
00:18:03I don't know.
00:18:03I was blindfolded.
00:18:04When he stopped the car, he untied me and walked me into a building.
00:18:07Anybody else there?
00:18:09I didn't hear anybody.
00:18:09But I heard a radio.
00:18:11Sometime in the night, I heard a news broadcast.
00:18:14Get yourself fixed up.
00:18:15We're going places.
00:18:16Where are we going?
00:18:17We'll find this tough guy and toss him to the police.
00:18:19And we're just going to drive round and round until we run into him.
00:18:22No, you're going to show me where he took you.
00:18:24All right.
00:18:26Go down and wait for me in your car.
00:18:39This is the maddest thing I ever heard of, even coming from you.
00:18:49I haven't the faintest idea where he took me.
00:18:51I know your eyes recovered, but you still had other senses.
00:18:53You could smell and hear and feel.
00:18:55Did you hear anything in that building besides the radio?
00:19:00I heard a railroad engine.
00:19:02Oh, that's something.
00:19:04Did you smell any industrial fumes around there?
00:19:07When we got out of the car, I smelled chocolate.
00:19:09Well, the Milton Candy Company's at the foot of Dow Street.
00:19:15What is the street like, smooth or bumpy?
00:19:17It's bumpy, like cobbles.
00:19:21Well, that could put us on Macy Street behind the Milton Candy Company.
00:19:26What happened after that?
00:19:28We drove a little way along an unpaved road.
00:19:39Don, I'm frightened.
00:19:42Let's get out of here.
00:19:44When you got out of that car,
00:19:46did you step on cement or grass?
00:19:49Felt like gravel.
00:19:51Then I went out onto a boardwalk.
00:19:55Finally, three steps up into the house.
00:19:59Don, look.
00:20:06This must be the place.
00:20:07Let's get out of here.
00:20:10You go back and wait.
00:20:12Don't do it, Don.
00:20:13There's a killer in there.
00:20:14I don't see any car around.
00:20:16I don't think anybody's in there.
00:20:17I'm going to find out.
00:20:19You crazy fool.
00:20:20Go back and wait.
00:20:37Let's get out of here.
00:20:46You crazy fool.
00:20:48You crazy fool.
00:20:48You crazy fool.
00:20:48You crazy fool.
00:20:49You crazy kid.
00:20:57Shoot.
00:20:58Oh, my God.
00:21:28Oh, my God.
00:21:58Oh, my God.
00:22:28Oh, my God.
00:22:58Oh, my God.
00:23:28Oh, my God.
00:23:58Oh, my God.
00:24:28Oh, my God.
00:24:58Oh, my God.
00:25:28Did you lose the shoe?
00:25:37I'm afraid so.
00:25:38Where did they find it?
00:25:40Maybe we'd better go back and look for it.
00:25:42Let's keep on going.
00:25:55Yeah?
00:25:56It's Taggart.
00:25:56I want to see you.
00:25:57Oh, come on up.
00:26:27Oh, hello, Gail.
00:26:30Hiya.
00:26:32Oh, forgive us for keeping you up.
00:26:34Well, it's all right.
00:26:35How you getting on with the Stilwell case?
00:26:37We got his murderer.
00:26:38It was Harry Pontus.
00:26:40He was killed resisting arrest.
00:26:41Well, that's fast work.
00:26:42Did you understand, I said the murderer was Harry Pontus.
00:26:48Well, am I supposed to know him?
00:26:49Every dick in the country knows him.
00:26:51He's pulled murders, stick-ups, and burglaries.
00:26:53A very mean man with a knife.
00:26:55He grew up here, but he never pulled any jobs in town.
00:26:59Well, he probably didn't want to embarrass his folks.
00:27:01He found a trick knife in his bedroom.
00:27:04He hadn't even bothered to wash the blood off.
00:27:06The medical examiner says it just fits the wound in Stilwell's back.
00:27:17Lots of fingerprints on it, too.
00:27:19Well, you fellas can write finished to that one.
00:27:21Yeah, but it'd look better in the record if we had a motive.
00:27:24Maybe we'd get a motive from the woman in Stilwell's store.
00:27:27Or from the fellow that jumped out of Pontus' window.
00:27:29Yeah, there's a funny thing about that.
00:27:31I saw him when he was going over the fence.
00:27:33He looked just like you.
00:27:36Same size, same build.
00:27:40Even his feet looked about the same size as yours.
00:27:44How'd you happen to suspect Pontus?
00:27:46We got a phone tip.
00:27:48Any idea who gave it to us?
00:27:50A woman.
00:27:50A woman with a cultured voice who refused to reveal her identity.
00:27:54Yeah, as it usually is.
00:27:56But this time it was a man.
00:27:58You don't have any ideas about that guy who went through the window, do you?
00:28:01Certainly not.
00:28:05Don't bother to hide that.
00:28:07Here's a mate to it.
00:28:10Thanks.
00:28:14Thanks for bringing it back.
00:28:19All right.
00:28:19I got the same tip you did.
00:28:22And I thought I'd follow it through before bothering you.
00:28:25I found that trick knife in Pontus' pocket.
00:28:28Before I could do anything about it, you fellas started hammering on the doors.
00:28:31What else did you find in these pockets?
00:28:32Only the stuff you found there.
00:28:33What did you do with the diamonds that Pontus took out of the music box?
00:28:36Diamonds?
00:28:36Yes, diamonds, emeralds, whatever it was Pontus found in the music box.
00:28:39I don't know anything about a music box.
00:28:40For your private information, there was one in Pontus' bedroom closet.
00:28:43He'd taken it apart, apparently looking for something that was hidden there.
00:28:46How big was it?
00:28:47Oh, about six inches in height, seven or eight inches in diameter.
00:28:49Not big enough to hold much cash, but a lot of uncut stones could have been hidden in it.
00:28:52No, I doubt it.
00:28:53You mean Pontus made a mistake?
00:28:54Something like that.
00:28:55Case doesn't wash up that easy.
00:28:57You trip over loose ends wherever you turn.
00:29:00For instance, who was the girl in Stilwell's store?
00:29:02Where is she?
00:29:03That is confusing, isn't it?
00:29:04Well, you were quick enough to tell the reporters it wasn't the real Elora Lund.
00:29:07How'd you know that?
00:29:08I told you I talked to Stilwell over the phone about her.
00:29:10Who was Elora Lund and why did Stilwell want her?
00:29:12If I only knew the answer to that one.
00:29:13We're going to know it before we leave here.
00:29:15Are you implying that I know more than I'm telling you?
00:29:17We're also implying you're going over for housebreaking.
00:29:19Oh, you can't be serious.
00:29:20You think not?
00:29:21Maybe you did and maybe you didn't know about the music box.
00:29:24But you broke into Pontus' house.
00:29:25That's enough to send you over.
00:29:27Now, who is Elora Lund?
00:29:29Who is Elora Lund?
00:29:31Now, Taggart, take it easy.
00:29:32Even a murderer's got his rights.
00:29:34Remember, we knocked before we came in here.
00:29:36I've told you all I know.
00:29:37If you insist on making yourselves ridiculous by accusing me of housebreaking,
00:29:41then I'm your prisoner.
00:29:42Name the woman who was with Stilwell and will forget the housebreaking for the time being.
00:29:49Nullo.
00:29:51Yes, this is Don Gale.
00:29:53Well, come right over here.
00:29:54It's important.
00:29:56Nullo.
00:29:57Nullo!
00:29:58Who is she?
00:30:00Well, you took the call.
00:30:01Who is that woman?
00:30:02I don't know.
00:30:03You've been teetering on the edge of the law for years.
00:30:05Get dressed.
00:30:12Unaware of the search that is being made for her,
00:30:15the real Elora Lund is recovering from the effects of an accident
00:30:18in the quiet of a sanitarium.
00:30:21Elora?
00:30:34Elora?
00:30:34Elora?
00:30:34Oh, yes.
00:30:38Do you know a man named Stilwell?
00:30:40Well, yes, I knew him when I was a child.
00:30:42What about him?
00:30:43He was murdered last night,
00:30:45and somebody using your name was in his store at the time.
00:30:53Nurse!
00:30:54Nurse!
00:30:56She came to us a month ago
00:30:57to recuperate from injuries incurred in an auto accident.
00:31:00Is she able to walk?
00:31:02Yes.
00:31:02She plans to leave in a day or two.
00:31:03Then she was physically able to have gone into town last night.
00:31:06But she didn't.
00:31:07I saw her in the dining room between 7 and 8.
00:31:09Later, we ran a movie in the auditorium.
00:31:11She was there until 10 o'clock.
00:31:15Oh, hello, Miss Lund.
00:31:16Hello.
00:31:16Come in.
00:31:17This is Detective Taggart and Detective Burns.
00:31:20How do you do?
00:31:21Sit down, Miss Lund.
00:31:23Why was Stilwell advertising for you?
00:31:25Well, I don't know.
00:31:26I must have had some reason to want you to get in touch with him.
00:31:29Do you think he wanted to make you his heir?
00:31:31As I remember him, he was just a kindly old man.
00:31:34He wasn't the type to accumulate a lot of money.
00:31:37Do you think the young woman who impersonated you last night
00:31:39could have been one of those children you used to play with?
00:31:42No, he would have recognized her.
00:31:44Perhaps some adventurers came across the ad
00:31:46and thought she saw an opportunity.
00:31:48No, that kind of a person wouldn't have fooled Stilwell for a moment.
00:31:50She'd have had to resemble Miss Lund
00:31:52and answer the questions that Stilwell would naturally ask.
00:31:54That imposter is the key to the whole case.
00:31:56It must be someone who knows a lot about you.
00:31:59I don't know who it could be.
00:32:01I'd only be too glad to help if I could.
00:32:03If you really want to cooperate with us, Miss Lund, you can.
00:32:07You probably read in the newspapers
00:32:08that we're holding the private detective that Stilwell engaged.
00:32:11Yes, I did.
00:32:12We think he sent that imposter to Stilwell.
00:32:14Stilwell would have described you to Gail as well as he could.
00:32:17He'd also have given him a lot of information about you.
00:32:19We haven't got any proof that Gail sent the girl to Stilwell.
00:32:22We don't want to be unfair to him.
00:32:24He may be absolutely honest.
00:32:25That's what you can find out for us, if you will.
00:32:28But I don't know what I can do.
00:32:29We'd like you to come back to town with us and see Gail.
00:32:31Well, is it all right for me to leave, Dr. Connell?
00:32:34Well, yes, if you wish.
00:32:35Good.
00:32:36We'll have Gail released.
00:32:37Then we want you to call at his office.
00:32:39Take some identification and tell him you want to know
00:32:40who I Stilwell was advertising for you.
00:32:43I'll be ready in a minute.
00:32:44Well, now you know what the inside of the jail looks like.
00:32:56We're going to be nice to you.
00:32:57We're going to let you play around in the free, fresh air.
00:32:59But only for a few hours.
00:33:00Then we're going to bring you back in
00:33:01and put the formal charge against you.
00:33:03Not unless you bring in the girl.
00:33:05What girl?
00:33:05The one you sent up to Stilwell.
00:33:08If I'd sent one up, wouldn't I be a sucker to tell you?
00:33:10Maybe that's where you made your slip.
00:33:12So long, Gail.
00:33:16We'll be seeing you.
00:33:42I thought you were...
00:33:52In jail?
00:33:54I was, but they let me out to get you.
00:33:59You're kidding, Don.
00:34:01You didn't tell him about me.
00:34:03Then why not?
00:34:03You tried to murder me last night.
00:34:04You're crazy.
00:34:06I warned you not to go in that house.
00:34:08I told you he was dangerous.
00:34:10You did everything but tell me he was Pontus.
00:34:12And then to make doubly sure that I'd be burned down,
00:34:14you phoned the police.
00:34:15I waited for you outside in the car.
00:34:18I was there when you ran out, wasn't I?
00:34:20And I drove you away.
00:34:21You didn't wait outside Pontus' house.
00:34:23You drove four-tenths of a mile to a phone
00:34:26and four-tenths of a mile back.
00:34:27Don, you better...
00:34:28I looked at the speedometer.
00:34:30Poor Frieda.
00:34:31You never thought you'd have to face me
00:34:32after pulling that one.
00:34:38Did the police say a woman phoned?
00:34:40No, it was a man.
00:34:42Your boyfriend.
00:34:43You phoned him and he phoned the police.
00:34:47You're right, Don.
00:34:48But I only did it to help you.
00:34:51I knew he was a killer.
00:34:54You must believe me.
00:34:57I was scared you'd get killed in there.
00:34:59That's why I phoned.
00:35:00Oh, no, Frieda.
00:35:02Your boyfriend phoned the police that Pontus was in there
00:35:04so they'd go in shooting and burn down anyone they saw.
00:35:07It was a neat little plot to get rid of me.
00:35:09You don't believe anything I say,
00:35:10so go ahead and tell the police about me.
00:35:13They won't do much to me
00:35:14and it will cost you your license.
00:35:16It's not as simple as that.
00:35:17You and I have a lot to settle first.
00:35:19You're right.
00:35:20We have something to settle.
00:35:21You lied to me, pitched me into a murder.
00:35:24Now, talk.
00:35:25You're hurting me, Don.
00:35:31You thought there was money waiting for Laura Lund
00:35:33and you thought you could put yourself over as a Laura
00:35:34long enough to get that money.
00:35:36But you had to find some way to get me out of the picture.
00:35:39No.
00:35:40You're all wrong.
00:35:41You're only guessing.
00:35:43Why would I double-cross you?
00:35:45There'd be no point in having Stilwell killed
00:35:47unless you knew what it was all about.
00:35:49So we can start from there.
00:35:52And remember, you're talking for your life.
00:35:56All right.
00:35:59There is money in it.
00:36:03$200,000.
00:36:07Think of it.
00:36:07$100,000 each.
00:36:12So now we're partners.
00:36:15Why didn't you offer to cut me in last night?
00:36:17I figured I was entitled to anything I could get
00:36:19for what I went through last night.
00:36:20What you went through.
00:36:21All right.
00:36:21I'm greedy.
00:36:23Pontos was working with me.
00:36:24But what about you?
00:36:26You're only sore because you wanted to grab it all for yourself.
00:36:28What was it, Stilwell had, that was worth $200,000, and where is it?
00:36:34The police.
00:36:35They followed you here.
00:36:37Answer it.
00:36:37They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:38They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:39They followed you, Stilwell.
00:36:40They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:41They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:42They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:43They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:44They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:45They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:46They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:47They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:48They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:49They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:50They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:36:51They followed you, Stilwell, and where is it?
00:38:52Good afternoon, Miss Lund.
00:38:59I am Mr. Gale.
00:39:00Oh, please don't stand out.
00:39:07I suppose you read in the newspapers that Mr. Stilbold engaged me to try and locate you?
00:39:11Well, I've been in a sanitarium recovering from an accident.
00:39:15Oh, I'm so sorry.
00:39:16Well, now that you're here, it should be comparatively simple to get whatever it was Mr. Stilwell wanted you to have.
00:39:24I don't think I understand.
00:39:26Well, we go to the police and prove your identity, make a formal claim for your property.
00:39:31But I haven't any idea why Mr. Stilwell was advertising for me.
00:39:35You haven't?
00:39:36No.
00:39:37Was your family related in any way to Jenny Lind?
00:39:42No, not that I ever heard of.
00:39:43I want you to think very carefully before you answer this.
00:39:47Did your mother ever sell Mr. Stilwell any old wax records?
00:39:52Yes.
00:39:52What were they?
00:39:53Vorvisa and En Somerton.
00:39:54Jenny Lind sang them.
00:39:55What condition were they in the last time you saw them?
00:39:57Well, I don't know.
00:39:58I never saw them, but Mother told me about them.
00:40:00They were in a little square trunk with some old music boxes.
00:40:03Jenny Lind died in 1887.
00:40:05How did they come in your mother's possession?
00:40:07Jenny Lind made them for my great-grandfather, but he never went into commercial production.
00:40:11Stilwell wanted you to have them.
00:40:13He told me as much.
00:40:14And I feel confident that the records are somewhere in that store.
00:40:17Well, then the police can find them.
00:40:22Well, you and I know the records are rightfully yours.
00:40:24We can't prove it.
00:40:26And no matter how much the police might want to help you,
00:40:28they can't turn over to you anything if they can find in the store.
00:40:32The records do really belong to me, don't they?
00:40:34Well, of course they do.
00:40:36And I'm going to get them for you.
00:40:37And what's more, I'm going to turn Stilwell's murderer over to justice.
00:40:41Is what you're going to do legal?
00:40:43Well, turning a murderer over to justice is certainly legal.
00:40:46Won't it be dangerous?
00:40:47Well, not for you it won't.
00:40:49Of course I expect to be paid for any risks that I take.
00:40:54Uh, shall we say that I am to receive one-fourth of whatever the records bring?
00:41:02Really, Miss Lund, I...
00:41:04That's only fair.
00:41:06Fine.
00:41:07Where are you stopping?
00:41:08At the Gordon Hotel.
00:41:10I don't want the police to see you until this is all over.
00:41:12I'm going to take you to the home of a woman I know.
00:41:16A very nice woman.
00:41:17And, uh, you'll be out of sight there.
00:41:20Now, uh...
00:41:22Uh...
00:41:23Some of my clients like to leave this way, unnoticed.
00:41:28If you don't mind, I prefer to go out the way I came in.
00:41:32Well, uh, when we're playing for big stakes, we can't afford to be squeamish, can we?
00:41:35Look, if you haven't any confidence in me, maybe we'd better turn the whole thing over to the police.
00:41:42Well, it isn't exactly that.
00:41:43It's just that the confidence seems to be all on one side.
00:41:47For instance, you haven't yet told me about the girl you sent to Mr. Stilwell to impersonate me.
00:41:52Oh, that.
00:41:54Well, Stilwell wanted me to undertake the job of locating you without pay.
00:41:58I had to find out what it was all about, didn't I?
00:42:00I see.
00:42:01What was her name?
00:42:02Well, it's just the girl that works for me occasionally.
00:42:05I'll tell you all about it later.
00:42:07Come on.
00:42:32Wait.
00:42:37Wait.
00:42:58Miss Denning, I'd like to have you meet Miss Lund.
00:43:00I'm always pleased to meet any friend of Don's.
00:43:05Miss Lund is a client of mine.
00:43:08She'd like to keep out of sight for the rest of the day.
00:43:11Come along.
00:43:13Just make yourself perfectly at home.
00:43:17No one will bother you here, dearie.
00:43:22Rose.
00:43:23I don't want her to use the phone, and I don't want her to leave.
00:43:29She expect me to use force if she tries to get away?
00:43:32I expect you to use your head.
00:43:42Doc.
00:43:43If I'm not back by 2 a.m., let her do whatever she wants to.
00:43:46Get me, please.
00:44:14Operator? Hello? Operator?
00:44:22So sorry, dearie. The phone's out of order.
00:44:29They're supposed to fix it today.
00:44:31It sounded all right when I dialed, and then it went dead.
00:44:34Sit down, dearie. Sit down. Take your weight off your feet.
00:44:39I don't know anything about telephones.
00:44:44I never was one for anything mechanical.
00:44:47I don't like the nasty things.
00:44:52They got on my nerves, ringing all night.
00:44:57Do you have any other lodgers?
00:44:59Not for the moment.
00:45:01It's easier and more profitable to have only occasional guests, like yourself.
00:45:09Then the others only stay a couple of hours like I'm doing.
00:45:13Oh, my, no. They stay for days, even weeks sometimes.
00:45:19Have a little drink?
00:45:20No, thank you.
00:45:24Don't like to waste it, you know.
00:45:26How don't you get thinking there's anything wrong?
00:45:39I have connections with private detectives and lawyers.
00:45:43Sometimes it's witnesses they have to keep undercover.
00:45:48Sometimes it's clients who want to avoid process service.
00:45:52Sometimes it's a gentleman who's behind in his alimony.
00:45:56They're all perfectly nice people.
00:45:58Good afternoon, sir.
00:46:13Mr. Brown?
00:46:14Yes?
00:46:15I'm Don Gale, Mr. Stilwell's friend.
00:46:17You knew him well, didn't you?
00:46:19Indeed, yes.
00:46:20I was perhaps his closest friend.
00:46:22Well, that's what he led me to believe.
00:46:24And he told me that if anything should ever happen to him before I was able to locate Elora,
00:46:28that I was to get in touch with you, that you'd help me in any way that you can.
00:46:31Naturally.
00:46:32You see, I knew Elora, too.
00:46:34Well, then you want to see Elora get what's rightfully hers,
00:46:36and you want to see his murderers brought to justice.
00:46:38Of course.
00:46:39You see, the police seem to be absolutely at a loss.
00:46:43In fact, I don't think anything will ever be done if it's left to them.
00:46:46I know who the murderers are.
00:46:49Could we talk privately in your office?
00:46:51Oh, certainly, Mr. Gale.
00:46:52Right this way.
00:46:57Hello, Charlie.
00:46:58Her name is Freda Hanson.
00:47:00She didn't leave her apartment all day,
00:47:01and the manager came up to see if she was all right.
00:47:04He found her body in a closet.
00:47:06She was strangled with a piece of strong cord.
00:47:34Who put the body on the couch?
00:47:35Well, the manager.
00:47:36When he found her in the closet,
00:47:37he untied this rope from around her throat
00:47:39and carried her in here to revive her.
00:47:41I figured he was about six hours too late.
00:47:44The medical examiner will tell us when she died.
00:47:47Where's the manager now?
00:47:48One downstairs.
00:47:49Go get him.
00:48:06Pardon me, Erie.
00:48:10Say, can't we get out of here for a while?
00:48:12Mr. Gale doesn't want you to leave the house.
00:48:15You mean I'm a prisoner?
00:48:17Don't be absurd.
00:48:18You wanted to come here, didn't you?
00:48:23Aren't you going to answer the door?
00:48:25Nope.
00:48:27We're not receiving tonight.
00:48:28But it might be Mr. Gale.
00:48:29Oh, no.
00:48:30He won't be here until after midnight.
00:48:32Well, I don't know when he'll be here,
00:48:34but if you don't answer the door, I will.
00:48:37Very well.
00:48:38But I know it's not Mr. Gale.
00:49:04Hello, Roland.
00:49:05Born August 18th, 1924.
00:49:07General Hospital.
00:49:08Parents of Mr. and Mrs.
00:49:10Get the idea?
00:49:11That's the kind of information you'd pass out
00:49:12to anyone going out to do a little job of impersonation.
00:49:15Here's the manager now.
00:49:16Send him in.
00:49:21I'm James Summers, gentlemen.
00:49:23I hope I didn't do wrong in moving the body.
00:49:25That Miss Gordon from next door was with me.
00:49:27We thought Miss Hanson might be still alive.
00:49:29That was a natural thing to do.
00:49:30Where was Freda Hanson employed?
00:49:32I don't know.
00:49:33She was a photographic model, I've heard.
00:49:36I guess Miss Gordon would know more about her than anybody.
00:49:39Will you ask Miss Gordon to see us in the lobby in a few minutes?
00:49:42I'd be glad to.
00:49:44Henry?
00:49:45Yes, sir?
00:49:46Go over to my office and get a photograph of Don Gale.
00:49:48You'll find a couple on my desk.
00:49:50Yes, sir.
00:50:00I want to see Mr. Taggart or Mr. Burns.
00:50:02I'm a Laura Lund.
00:50:04Did you just leave Don Gale, Miss Lund?
00:50:06No, I didn't.
00:50:07Henry.
00:50:08Yes, sir.
00:50:09This is Miss Lund.
00:50:10This officer will take you to them.
00:50:11They'll want to see you right away.
00:50:13This way, Miss.
00:50:16Did you see the man I just described come in here?
00:50:18Yes.
00:50:19He walked right on past the desk without announcing himself.
00:50:21Mr. Summers saw him, too.
00:50:22How long before he came down again?
00:50:23Well, about 20 minutes.
00:50:24Miss Lund came to headquarters looking for you.
00:50:25Mr. Taggart, I...
00:50:26One moment, Miss Lund.
00:50:27Yes, that's him.
00:50:28Now, look carefully and take your time.
00:50:29Your identification will hang that man.
00:50:30So what?
00:50:31He killed Freda, didn't he?
00:50:32And so Gale is charged with the cowardly murder of a woman.
00:50:36The police have a strong motive.
00:50:38They have proof of his opportunity.
00:50:40They have incontrovertible evidence that he was in Freda's apartment at the time she was killed.
00:50:45In fact, they have everything.
00:50:47They have a strong motive.
00:50:49They have proof of his opportunity.
00:50:50They have incontrovertible evidence that he was in Freda's apartment at the time she was killed.
00:50:54In fact, they have everything except Don Gale.
00:51:24The Jewellery from the school is involved...
00:51:25The Jewellery from the school is linked to the school.
00:51:26The Jewellery from the school is called the Beulet.
00:51:27But the way he's in Freda is still being dragged away from the school.
00:51:28All right.
00:51:34Jimmy, pour Joan a drink.
00:51:54Right away, sir.
00:51:55I don't want anything, Jimmy.
00:51:58Are you out of your mind or just drunk?
00:52:00I've been looking everywhere for you.
00:52:02I hardly expected to find you in a bar.
00:52:03Why not?
00:52:05They found Frieda's body.
00:52:08I said they found Frieda's body.
00:52:10What are you talking about?
00:52:12The police know that you're at her place, and they're looking for you.
00:52:15I came to warn you that's all I can do for you.
00:52:18It's more than I should.
00:52:20Before you go, tell me.
00:52:22Am I supposed to have murdered Frieda?
00:52:24Please, Don, don't touch me.
00:52:26Don't even talk to me.
00:52:29People are watching us.
00:52:30You can set your little mind at rest.
00:52:32I disliked Frieda, but not enough to kill her.
00:52:36They have proof that you were her partner at the time she was murdered.
00:52:39If you didn't kill her, who did?
00:52:41I don't know.
00:52:43Someone came to the door, but I didn't see who it was.
00:52:47Good night, Jimmy.
00:52:48Come back soon.
00:52:51Don.
00:52:52Don.
00:52:52You're going to give yourself up?
00:52:55Not right away.
00:52:56You won't last five minutes on the street.
00:52:58Every police car in town is looking for you.
00:53:00I'll be looking for every police car in town.
00:53:02That'll make us even.
00:53:03Why don't you go to them and tell them everything you know?
00:53:06That's what any innocent man would do.
00:53:08Well, I'm not any innocent man.
00:53:11Have a look around outside.
00:53:12Don, what are you going to do?
00:53:33I'm going to Stilwell's, and I'm going to get a couple of Jenny Lind records that are worth $200,000.
00:53:38The man who killed Frieda knows about him, too.
00:53:41I hope to meet him there.
00:53:42And then you're going to give Laura Lund the records and hand the murderer over to the police.
00:53:46Is that it?
00:53:47That's the plot.
00:53:48I don't believe it.
00:53:49If that were true, you'd go to the police right now.
00:53:52Well, have it your way.
00:53:53I'm going to get those records and head for the border.
00:53:56If I thought you really meant that, I'd go straight to headquarters and tell Taggart and Burns.
00:54:00Do what you like.
00:54:30Are you all right?
00:54:39Yeah.
00:54:42You make it up those stairs?
00:54:44Yeah.
00:54:44Yeah.
00:55:00That's Gail's secretary.
00:55:17She's going back to tell him the coast is clear.
00:55:30She's going back to her.
00:56:00Look out.
00:56:01Brown has been murdered.
00:56:03And if the police catch you here, they'll pin this one on you, too.
00:56:07And if the police don't pull.
00:56:08Yeah.
00:56:10That's all right.
00:56:10Cool.
00:56:11I don't know.
00:56:13That's fine.
00:56:14Who Lund.
00:56:14I do.
00:56:20Oh, lund.
00:56:23What now?
00:56:24Turn back to Dan school.
00:56:24I'll do it again.
00:56:25Where you are, have no bones anymore.
00:56:28All right.
00:56:33Hey.
00:56:34Hello.
00:56:34We'll take your home to Mal, but...
00:56:35Your home!
00:56:36Hello?
00:56:36I'm calling it quits.
00:56:58Perhaps you're right.
00:57:00They've had all I want of this.
00:57:02The cops are liable to be here any minute.
00:57:04Maybe it's all a pipe dream.
00:57:06We've looked every place.
00:57:11Well, haven't we?
00:57:36They're worth a hundred thousand apiece.
00:58:01I can't read the rest of it, but I can read Jenny Lind.
00:58:13And I said it was all a pipe dream.
00:58:15We'd better get out of here.
00:58:19Come on.
00:58:26You kindly put those records on the floor, Mr. Summers.
00:58:29I guess it's time for us all to be reasonable.
00:58:35We'll declare you in, Mr. Gale.
00:58:38I'm not interested.
00:58:39Pontus was one of your partners, and Frida the other.
00:58:42Frida can thank you for what she got.
00:58:45You were going to turn her over to the police.
00:58:47I'm going to turn you over.
00:58:49Your friend here and the records.
00:58:53You're kidding.
00:58:55You wouldn't throw a fortune like this away.
00:58:58Oh, but I would.
00:59:00Somebody's going to hang for Frida and Stilwell.
00:59:03If it isn't you, I'm very much afraid it might be me.
00:59:06Stop!
00:59:36Police headquarters.
00:59:59Now, this is Don Gale.
01:00:01Get in touch with Taggart and Burns and tell him I'm at Brown's Brass Shop.
01:00:04I've got Frida Hanson's murderer and the Jenny Lind records that cause all the trouble.
01:00:34Don Gale's murder.
01:00:35Don Gale's murder.
01:00:36Too bad.
01:00:38One of the bullets went right through the box before it hit him.
01:00:41And so, after long years of balancing precariously on the borderline of the law, Don Gale was
01:00:57trying at the end to do the right thing, but he made one fatal mistake. Thinking that one
01:01:04of the killers had come back to attack him, he fired blindly. Taggart and Bergs will never
01:01:12know that Gale's shots were not meant for them.
01:01:34.
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