Episode Transcript
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham.
In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Danger with Granger.
But first, I do want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite podcast software.
And I also remind you that today's programs brought you part by the financial support of our listeners.
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But now it's time for this week's episode of Danger with Granger out of jail for Christmas.
Speaker 2Danger Well, Granger, mister Smith, you have helped us miserably.
The city is extremely grateful.
I just don't go for hudlams, that's all.
Nevertheless, without your testimony to help the district attorney, the kingpin of this gambling group would never be brought to trial.
Anytime you need me, I'll be around or that brings up another meta.
Smith, the district attorney and I you should have a bodyguard.
Listen, I've been driving a hack around this town for years.
I can take care of myself, see very well if you insist.
But be careful.
There are powerful figures in the underworld who will stop at muffing to discredit your Yeah, discredit me, says the old boy me, Frankie Smith, get him a hoodlum.
That's for laughs.
Hey, my hack eye lift the punk right here, raggy.
Yeah, but what do you want?
Well, you have to move your hackets around the corner.
What gives here a bullet?
Well you won't like it.
Come on, move, why you move your heart?
All right?
Yes, hit in the back seat.
You're not gonna get away with you know that's what you're thinking.
No, we get plans for you, little man.
Steve Granger, private detective with a story that Glenn's Christmas and a cunning frame up and had me playing a kind of private eyed Santa Claus for New York Hacke's kid.
In just a moment, I'll take you back to one of my most interesting cases.
This is Granger was pretty near Christmas, a time which is usually quiet for guys in my line of business.
I was sitting in my office sending out a few belated cards when the door opened and the boy walked in.
Speaker 3Are you Steve Granger?
Speaker 2Yeah?
What can I do for you, Sonny?
Some big important job?
Maybe?
Speaker 3My name is Frankie Smith.
Speaker 2Wow.
The only Frankie Smith I know was a cab driver, being a friend of mine for years.
That's my pop.
Speaker 3I was named after him.
That's why I came to see you.
He's in bad trouble.
Speaker 2What he's in jail?
Frankie in jail.
I can't believe that.
What do you do?
Speaker 3He didn't do anything he said he didn't and now he's in jail.
It doesn't look like he can get out for Christmas.
So I thought maybe you could help.
Speaker 2I'll do anything I can, freank even but once your dad accused.
Speaker 3Of bugre in the first degree is what the cops say, freak, didn't I tell you?
And you gotta get him out for Christmas.
Pop's the only one I've got in the world.
Speaker 2This was the first I ever knew of Fraggie Smith having any sort of family, much less the sun.
The boy told me when the cab driver was being held, I went down.
I had a lot of trouble getting in to see him, but finally made the grave.
Granger.
You a psach for sore esed.
I know I got sewer eyed.
I'll come here in the by steel, Frank, I'll come.
You knew I was here, son came down to see me once you out for Christmas.
Yeah, I might have known it.
Chip off the old block, dead kid green Geer.
I am the recipient of a frame.
I've been carefully mad at, framed in birch and now about to be hung on the wall.
There's a lot of words, but no sense.
I'm just say something.
Yesterday I walked out of city hurl right smack into a smack over the head.
I go out cold.
When I come to, I am in some dolls apartments.
She is yelling thief at me.
The cop shows up and I wind up here sounds like the old FRAMERU all right?
They play it even safer.
On the floor is the Dame's fur coat in a paper sacks the doll's jewelry.
Downstairs, in my hack, the cop finds some stuff that's been stolen from other spots around town.
I wonder why they didn't just knock you off.
I wonder too.
In a sort of grateful way.
Of course, this will completely discredit any testimony who gave against the gambling syndigate.
And when it's sober and they're free, I wind up on the East River wearing concrete overshoes.
I know what you mean.
In any city there are bail bond brokers.
In big cities like New York, there are hundreds.
Always there is one main guy.
This one was named Ralph Hendon.
I went to see him.
What's on your mind, Granger?
One of your clients get in the clink because of a mistake, No Ralph, nothing like that.
There's a Hacke locked up on a burglary rapper.
He's innocent, like the springing for Christmas.
His kid wants him.
You're talking about Frankie Smith.
His kid's been here already.
What's that mean?
No dit, why not?
Granger.
I'm a bail brown broker.
I take risks.
It's some I don't take.
Frankie Smith is won, so he's dead.
Also, you're wrong about him.
He's guilty.
Big boys, telephone you and hand you the word?
Is that why you want to go bail for Frankie.
I'm very busy, Granger, right now, you're very busy, being a rat that isn't going to help you.
Thanks for nothing or one more thing, Granger.
Yeah, none of the other boys will go bail either.
I went from office to office and got the same answer.
Sorry, no bail for Frankie Smith.
I wanted the police version of Frankie's supposed robbery and managed to worm it out of an embarrassed robbery detail man.
Then I headed for my pal col hendrickx cal and you and like Frankie Smith also as a newspaper man, he had sources.
I hoped he had one.
Now, Hi, Stev whys on none?
Plus Frankie Smith is in jail on a frame burglar you're wrapping.
Oh, that doesn't make him worth much of that investigation group, does it?
No?
I think that's why the frame was made.
Frankie didn't have an enemy in the world.
I want him out for the kids Christmas.
Speaker 4What about bail?
Speaker 2No soap cow?
You see the police have him dead.
The rights.
This woman says she walked into her apartment she saw Frankie rifling the joint.
She went downstairs, got a coppo made the pinch.
Oh is a woman like that?
The name here is Leila Rand lives on fiftieth Street.
Have you talked to him?
No, well, why don't you and let me make a few calls to find out if there is in some way we can spring Frankie for Christmas.
I watched the holiday crowd, most of them loaded down with packages and smiles, and thought of two people who might not smile at twenty fifth A small boy in a lonesome apartment, the cab driver a prisoner in a solitary cell downtown.
This was the address on fiftieth Street where Leela Rand lived.
The apartment was on the third floor.
I walked up.
I reached the third floor and moved towards the Rand a woman's apartment.
I saw a slight figure at the door and moved a little faster.
Ranky, What are you trying to do to that lock, mister Green?
I was trying to get in.
Don't you know that's against the law.
You want to join your father in jail?
Gosh?
Speaker 3I just wanted to get in along the road.
Speaker 2Okay, okay, I'll beat it.
Don't get any more ideas like that.
Suppose Lela Rand caught you, I wouldn't care.
Your father would.
Speaker 3Yeah, yeah, you're right, mister Granger.
Speaker 2Somebody's coming.
Come on, I'll stay out of side it and don't say anything.
Okay.
Stopping at the apartment, she must be Lila Rand.
Are you going to talk door in a few minutes.
Now you walk downstairs and go home and stay there.
I waited a few minutes, then moved to the door of Lila Wren's apartment.
Speaker 1Yes, what is it?
Speaker 2I'm Steve Granger.
Are you Lila Rand?
I am.
I'd like to talk to you about that robbery that took place up here, Miss Randy arrested.
Man is an old friend of mine.
Oh, come here, I thank you.
I wonder if you'd mind telling me what happened up here.
Speaker 5It was yesterday I'd been shopping for Christmasing, we see.
I came home.
I unlocked the door and fell the present.
You know how women are?
Speaker 2You saw him distinctly.
Speaker 5He was going to get desk.
There in the middle of this room.
He piled my mink coat and a paper sack containing some jewelry.
I closed the door very softly, went down the hall and rang for the elevator.
I rode downstairs and had the doorman get a police officer.
Speaker 2Uh, tell me one thing.
That Smith seemed to be dazed, you know, sort of not quite in the South.
I know, I don't think so I see.
Well, sorry I bothered, Jims ran Oh not at all.
Speaker 5Oh, and I've not been a very good hostess.
Speaker 2Would you like a drink before you go?
I have the next time, Scotch who.
Speaker 5Holiday spirits, you know, won't take a minute.
Speaker 2I watched Leila Wren move towards a typical apartment bar stuck in one corner.
She stood with her back to me.
She got out the ingredients plus and ice, mixed the highballs and came back.
Speaker 4Here you are, mister Granger.
I hope you like soda.
Speaker 2I do, yes, six, I toast junior success.
I'll drink to it.
But I'm afraid I'm at a that end.
Cheers, just to say cheers.
Speaker 5How was it, mister Granger?
Speaker 2Very delicious, kind of strong?
But mister Grange, what's wrong?
You look like you don't feel so good?
No, all right, it's gonna get some air.
Oh why don't you lie down for my I gotta.
Speaker 5Go got it here, mister g You can't go now, you're too tired, you're sleepy.
Speaker 2Why don't you let me get a pillow?
Speaker 4For you and rest.
Speaker 2You gotta get out of here.
Speaker 5Lie down, mister Granger, Lie down like a good little boy.
Speaker 2Sleep, mister Granger.
Sleep.
I'll continue with this interesting story in a minute.
I don't remember anything after Nila ran telling me to sleep.
When I came back alive, there was a taste like bear fur in my mouth, and my head was aching from every ankle.
I tried to sit up and find I couldn't move my hands.
I'd been tied firmly behind my back, and my feet were laced together two and I had the noise at the door scratch, as though someone was trying to break in.
I hopped towards it.
Who's there?
Speaker 4Open the door, mister Greene.
Speaker 2Let me see if I can do it.
I just turn my back and see if I can reach the knob with my fingers.
I nearly got it fine, hard on, mister, I got it now, only I my lexing kid.
There wasn't lucked.
Speaker 3Oh, mister Gray, did you let a warrant tie you up?
Speaker 2I certainly did undo me with your kid there?
Speaker 3Yeah, I got your hands free.
Speaker 2Thanks, son of this, I owe you something well.
Speaker 3You know I didn't like that, missus Brandon.
Speaker 2I'll go along with that.
Frankie there, I got the feet free.
Let's get out of here.
Don't just go and look around.
Speaker 3Isn't that why you wanted to get in here too.
Speaker 2Frank you went up against a very smart bunch of crooks that don't let things lay around for private eyes to find.
I escorted Frankie Son to his apartment, told him to stay there for the second time, and called Cal Hendricks.
I told him what had been happening to me, and I asked if he'd got anywhere with his investigations.
Speaker 4There's one person might help here, form a chandler.
They could broke him.
Speaker 2Yeah, where do I find him?
Speaker 4Oh, you're a card.
He lives in Rochelle.
I'll give you his address.
Thanks, Andy cambl of him.
He was double truss once.
It almost cost of his life.
Speaker 2So what the double trust was set up by a private detective.
Cal gave me the character's name, Michael Fless.
The address was an apartment has a new Rochelle.
I grabbed a train and went there.
It took under an now to get to the suburban city.
Michael Fless lived in a building as circumspect as a Bible class Hello you're Michael Fless.
I'm Steve Grainger, the private eye.
Hack driver has been framed in New York.
Is fixed without bail.
Not interested, Greene, you will be when I tell you that the syndicate did the job ill straight.
It could be that he's the head, like the law thinks.
Here there's a day mixed up in a name Leela Rand.
She mickeyed me.
She's a snake.
She helped get me.
I want that cab driver around for Christmas.
Tomorrow's the last day.
Can you help me?
Yeah?
There's a character hangs around a nice spot on twenty third Street.
His name is Louis Brill.
He's my eye.
He's been getting things together.
Maybe this might be a good time to get even.
It would the law would be on your side, thrank you what if I help?
The law is out until it's over.
I understand, okay, And you play it straight or play it dead.
Mister Plash was not fooling.
There was about as much Christmas spirit in his pale blue eyes as there is and a esque.
I've always been locked out of his igloo.
I wasn't kidding myself that this was a friendly character, but at least he looked like providing me with a little ammunition, even if it might back fire on me.
In just a moment, I'll bring you the climax of the case.
I left Michael Flets and made my way back to Manhattan, with him helping me along.
I felt a bit more helpful in my fight for Frankie Smith.
Even the trees placed in the windows along the Great White Way looked a little greener as they moved down towards the twenty third Street spot occupied by the mysterious Louis Brille.
When I found him, mister Brille wasn't too pleasant enough.
Fluss is playing it right or not?
Mister forgotten about that other private eye?
What do you want?
What if you got on?
Tell Straighter?
In this crowd, I found out where the records of the Syndice are hidden.
Old off building downtown on Water Street, half blocked from Pier seven.
Any name on it for Easton Warehouse Company.
The dummy hot fits it up by Straighter.
You know what Dame named Leela rand As an apartment on fiftieth Street.
Sure she's straight as a girl.
She's been in on a million frames.
Here's that apartment for just that purpose, where she really lived in three four seven eighties thirty fourth Street on her own name.
Yeah, one more thing.
A cabby named Frankie Smith was framed for her burglary job the rand woman's fiftieth Street address.
He described a mug that slugged him.
Who would some as straight as men be.
We'll go over there her table on the inside.
See that guy wearing a tan top cock.
He might be the guy.
He's not.
He's the real slugger's boss.
I started back uptown when I left the twenty third Street joint, but changed my mind and went down at police headquarters.
In the identification bureau, I came across the picture of the man Brill had pointed out to me he had a record longer than an eight's arm.
Five minutes later I was shown it a Frankie Smith's cell.
Well, well, welcome to my humble abode, green shape, Frankie.
I think we've come up with something, but I want you to look at his picture first.
Recognize him.
Yeah, he's a character WHI slugged me the other day.
He's positive, Well is square to that identification and a witness stand with much emphasis and complete confidence.
I took the picture back to the Identification Bureau got a report on the Hudlam's present address and whether it received a shock.
He lived in the same building on fiftieth Street.
Does Leila Rand saying out, I headed straight for cal Hendrix's home base, told him what I'd found out.
Maybe we could get to that whole um and sweit him a little.
If he confess, frank he smith it go free, then we could stick the DA's office into perils straight a syndicate records and make it up to flus You Rochelle, good idea, But I think we ought to get to the record first.
Would that be playing at square with Frankie He still wouldn't get out of that burglary charge.
Yeah, that's right.
Let's pay this hoodlum a visit first.
His apartment is right next to the one Leila Rand uses smart set up for that gang any time that a framed pull.
Ah, Hey the doors opening, quick back around the corner.
Speaker 5Okay, now we're leaving, But don't forget these things.
Speaker 2You will get you if you don't get him, Oh worry, he'll be lost by morning.
You have a plan you too.
Speaker 4Want, right, Les Joys.
Speaker 2Recognize the man with the ram down hell straighter.
Yeah, I know.
Listen, call you follow them, find out where they go.
I don't here to list myself.
Okay, meet you your place out in front right.
I woke down a who's there, Straighter?
I forgot something?
Hey, you eat up?
Get in there.
You can get up those hands and keep him up.
What are you trying to pull on Steve Granger?
Does that mean anything to you?
No, that doesn't mean anything that I had a little ran today to get rid of me either.
She was only fooled like you were pulling when he slug Frankie Smith and then framed him for baguary.
I don't know anything.
Frankie can identify you, Buster.
I'm gonna take you downtown and you can tell the cops your story if they believe it.
Now wait, America Hat, we're paying a call on police headquarters.
As I spoke, the door behind me was push open and two shots, saying in the room, hold them through to the floor, mortally wounded and pulling me with him.
When I got back to my feet, enough time had passed for the assailant to get to the bronx.
I found one thing, the key in the door I wrapped in my handkerchief, hoping for fingerprints.
It's a check.
I went down into the main hallway of the building and found cal HENDRICKX just sitting up on the floor.
Oh my head, what happened to you?
Cal On?
They must have got wise to me.
I came down the steps round at a corner and blam, I caught it and it mustter smelled something when I saw you.
They got you out of the way and they went back upstairs, unlocked the door and shut the handy man.
Oh it's great.
Did you get anything out of it?
Yeah?
I won't do any good now he's dead.
I don't think any statement I'd make would stand up.
That's that.
Yeah, it comes a homicide crew with a handful of questions.
After that, I want to go down to the I got a key with fingerprints.
I hope.
We told the homicide men our story.
They promised to get out of pickup on pell Straighter and Leela Wren, a pickup that wouldn't do much good because they'd obviously out of by themselves.
Then we went to the police lab.
We got an interesting report.
Well, Steve, what the lab boys tell you if the key had the print of a thumb and forefinger, cow oh good, better than you think.
The prince are those of a woman's Leela Ren.
Who else's now we need as a paraffin test down on Straighter and Leela Wren and we'll know which one shot their mug pal and maybe Frankie Smith will be out for Christmas if the police pick up that path.
You and I won't wait for that old boy.
You know, We're going down to that warehouse and get the syndicate records.
That way we can force their hand.
God Jackie, nice night pro murder.
He cut that out places right ahead to the sign bar easton Gumps.
How are you gonna get it?
Here's the doors.
We can't wait for somebody to unlock it for us one.
But hey, you are mister Hendricks, was it?
Why do we start?
I can make out what looks like an office over there.
Yeah, and there's a light code.
Want me to put it?
Well, we got to lose two fighting cases.
Yeah, find anything, Take a look, records of gambling takes, operations of different places, straight the signature all over everything.
Yeah, I look, and I ran the signature.
We've got hurt too.
If we can only get cranky Smith out of the clink, what about that I don't know.
Answer went up, Yeah, what do you want?
Speaker 4I want you to leave those rickets alone.
If you do, frank will be free an hour.
Speaker 2You've got him.
Yeah, I'll do as you ask.
I told Cal what had happened.
We agreed that I would be in my office in an hour, But first he and I went uptown to the thirty fourth Street building where Leila Rand really lived.
I left Cal behind with instructions to wait five minutes and then come up.
Speaker 5Come in, Granger, put your hands in sight.
Speaker 2You were waiting for me?
Speaker 5Huh, certainly I've had a man on you ever since you got away from my little plan.
Speaker 2Howevery move you've made?
Now what you got to go?
Just like you shot your mug helper?
Why not?
Where's Trader in the kitchen?
Speaker 5The out a second, Frankie day, I'll tell you drop it?
Speaker 4You drop it straighter?
Speaker 2You well, friends, that's the story.
I'll be back to wrap up the case in just a minute.
Oh el Hendrix had crashed through the door when pelle Strader turned on in the newspaper man lifted in through the shoulder.
We took him both down a headquarters, told our story and saw Frankie Smith released from custody.
It was five in the morning.
The next time we met was in Frankie Smith's apartment.
Here you and cal certainly make a good team.
Greety, I had a lot of lucky breaks.
Oh, by the way, the police Parafan Strada and Lila Wren.
That charming lady is going up for murder.
She shot the guy who was saw the meal.
She's only dead.
It looked like she was even straight as Botts Straighter is in deep too.
Those syndicate records.
Plus the bail bond broker is yelling if got him but hot, plenty hot.
At least we did what Steve said out to We got you out for Christmas.
Eve.
Hi, hello little man?
What are you carrying that package?
Speaker 3My Christmas present to my pop?
I decided to give.
Speaker 2It him now, Holy smoke, what are you're giving him?
Twenty pounds a web?
Speaker 3No, he always forgets the Sea Freeze cab license, so this year I get it for There's fifty dollars worth of pennies in that package.
Speaker 2Well, how do you like that?
I'll tell you, Frankie that was my son.
I like it fine.
Steve Granger again, you've just heard one of the most interesting cases in my files.
I'll have another one for you, so be around next time.
Speaker 1Welcome back.
Overall, a decent episode.
It's not deep at all.
There's no search eating through the chronicles of ten cents Bohemian kings.
It's just a typical Granger case, but at Christmas, with Granger delivering a kid's best present his dad, a very simple, enjoyable tale.
I will say that it was a little weird that Leela wran bothered to drug Granger.
She wasn't trying to kill him and he was leaving anyway.
I mean, was she trying to fulfill something that's in the Femme fatale union contract?
Speaker 2Also for old.
Speaker 1Time radio fans, I think her name was way too close to the name of Leela Ransom, the on and again off again girlfriend of the great Yolder Sleeve.
But other than that, a decent Granger episode.
Well, now it is time to think our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go ahead and think Greg Patreon supporter since April of twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast at the Shawmus level of four dollars or more per month.
That will do it for today.
Our Christmas programming continues on other podcasts On the Old Time Radio snack Wagon.
Our Christmas episode is posted tomorrow we'll have our final Amazing World of Radio Christmas special.
We will be back in three weeks with another episode of Danger with Granger with encores the next two weeks, but join us back here tomorrow for a non holiday related episode of The Big Story where.
Speaker 2They identification on the dead man yet Hudge.
Speaker 6It's a garage mechanic named Carl Andrews.
Speaker 2Anything else?
What do you mean any more information I can use for a story?
Love question?
Speaker 6According to everything I read, newspaper reporters and private detectors are real bright guys.
They always kept to the criminals, single handed professional cops just to dope with no clovisor one.
So why don't you get your own information?
Speaker 2Frankly, I wouldn't know how.
I've never captured a criminal in my life, and you probably think you could.
I know very well I couldn't.
Speaker 1I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.
Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash, great detectives from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam graham Son and all
