This episode from the life of Sherlock Holmes will be transmitted to our men and women overseas by short wave and through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service.

Petree Wine brings you.

Nasil Rockbone and Nigel Bruce and the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

The Petrie family, the family that took time to bring you good wine.

Invite you to listen to doctor Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, got Master.

Detective Shrlock Holmes.

Well, right about now you are probably taking a little breather in your last minute rush to get everything ready for the day tomorrow.

Children have to be put to bed to wait for Santa Claus, and is the tree waiting.

To be decorated?

And four million and one things which must be done before morning.

I sure hope you got all your Christmas shopping done.

It's pretty hectic rushing off at the last minute to take care of Uncle Charlie or Aunt Bertha, cousin Sam.

But if you must get something, just remember that you can always dash over to your wine merchant and get a bottle or two of Petry wine.

Oh Betty, you had a whole case of petry wine.

Petry wine is a swell gift, and I just thought a little left minute suggestion might be of some help.

And now I'm sure I have good friend doctor Watson's waiting for us, So let's go in and enjoy it.

There you are, say doctor, I can see you're gonna have yourself quite a Christmas big tree in the corner with colored lights on it.

Where did you get those table covered with presents?

You must be mighty popular for me, my boy.

You see, I'm heaving a Christmas body tomorrow for my housekeeper's little nieces.

Oh, I'm going to this up?

Was sent it clause for him?

Well, I'm sure you look very convincing in the part.

Oh, by the way, doctor, I brought you a little present.

Here it is, and I hope you'll like it.

It was, but I got one for you too.

You must or you mustn't open it until tomorrow.

Here, I'm the boy.

Thanks a lot, doctor, And now has about the night's story.

Last week you told us you had chosen an adventure with a lot of Christmasy apples.

Yes, mister Bartell, my story begins on another Christmas Eve, many many years ago.

The exact in eighteen hundred and eighty six, the time the adventure occurred.

I must confess I didn't quite understand what was going on myself.

In fact, I never did quite make head of tails of it kills till Homes took pity on me later and explain the whole thing.

But I shan't try to confuse you, mister Bartell.

I'll tell the story exactly as it happened, right you, wire, doctor.

Let's go on that Christmas Eve in eighty six.

I was standing in our Baker Street rooms.

That's the costume of Santa Claus Holmes is long, thin fingers pressed together, lay back in an arm chair and daze let me quizically while our housekeeper, Missus Hudson stood by the door.

And you make a grand Santa Clause.

Uncomfortable on the glove.

Oh, you look just like the old man on the Christmas cards, Doctor.

Trinkle, the eyes, the ready complexion, and the the appropriate girl.

A shame we can't obtain some snow and a sleigh and reindeer for you.

However, I'm showing Missu Hudson's nieces will be very much impressed.

There will that shirt and it's very captive, you doctor to offer to come over to that house with me father in the hospital and my sister.

It's his dead side.

It would have been a very miserable Christmas.

Without your enjoy my I think I'll take this theodre of before we get there?

That's it?

Are you ready to leave with his husband?

I unders, will I get a cab?

How far do we have to go?

Oh, Lexington Gardens, number twenty eight.

It's just off the edge.

We have wood far.

But bearing in mind my costume, I suppose we'd better take a cab, HI said, I'll get one.

Holmes.

What are you going to do with yourself?

I hate leaving you alone on Christmas?

Oh no, Boddy old.

Chap and I shall spend a profitable evening writing on my new monograph.

What just went about?

An analysis of teeth marks on pipe stems with a particular regard to indicated character.

WHI is very how exciting?

Well?

I was begotting.

Don't forget your sack of presents over on.

When you come to distribute them, you will find the die of the liberty of adding a few trinkets on my own behalf.

That's very thoughtful of your.

Home excuse me, mister Holmes, but there's a gentleman to see.

You say she's an old friend of yours.

Here's this cab chest.

Oh thank you, h it's all widdy, come splendid.

Ask him to come up.

Business Hudson, and I hope your party is a great success.

Missus Hudson.

Thank you.

Are you sure you don't want him to see now that you have a visitor?

Oh no, no, no, no, indeed no, Missus Hudson, and I can show the gentleman out myself if you go off.

At a good time.

Thank you.

I wonder what Lord will want?

Perhaps I should stay, please, my dear fellow, certainly not you.

Are you far more important?

What to do?

Where he can probably.

Wants his revenge of chess or something equally innocuous.

Half where he will write, my dear fellone, and enjoy yourself for the girl just the same.

I wish you were coming with me.

I'll see you later there.

Come on up when you come.

Hello, Watson, you make a very convincing sense of clause.

Are you leaving?

Good night?

Then?

How are you home all alone?

On Christmas Eve?

He?

Yes, ready, I'm glad you came over to see me.

What's it to be an eathing of chess?

Or have you on earth some recent preasure of medieval pottery that we can discuss neither homes.

I've come to you in your professional capacity.

I need help.

Come, How will it come?

Don't telling me that, after all these years of quiet friendship, you're going to become a clientist.

I'm afraid their homes, though, I doubt if my problem will The problem will interest you very much.

It's hardly up to your rather colorful standards.

They'll carefuls a girl.

Thanks now, my dear Willigham, what's your trouble?

Well?

When I decided this year to have a little Christmas party at my townhouse, I'm quite comfortably officely known.

It occurred to me that I have several relatives and friends who are not as well off.

I'm having a party for them tonight, homes, and I hope you'd attend it disguised as Santa Clause.

My dear fellow, I've adopted many of these guys as my time, but Father Christmas has never.

Been one of them.

Why do you want me to pretend your party in disguise?

In any case, you are shamed of your friendship a private detective?

Or do you consider my features more except when buried beneath the depths of a snowy beer.

Oh, my dear homes, you take me seriously.

I'm not joking.

I assure your course and or a course right?

You won't you want me to attend your party in disguise?

Why I'm giving you some very valuable presents.

A diamond and Onyx cathlinks in platnum and ruby earrings and then such like.

And I've wrapped each of the presents in banknotes.

Jure me, Well, have these presents now in a sack in charge of my butler.

I am going to dress up a Santa Clause and give him out myself.

Until I got the warning letter.

That's why I have come to you.

Warning letter.

Eh, yes, I received by this evening's post.

This is this, my dear lord, whiddingcomb your generosity with Christmas presents borders on ostentation.

We do not approve neither.

We receive five thousand pounds in sultants at Post Restaurant Box three seventy nine by six o'clock on Christmas Eve, or I am afraid a Christmas party.

Will be conspicuous by its absence of presents.

I see that will him?

Yes here thanks, mm hmm, plain paper one from a penny notebook.

Writing is obviously disguised.

It why George, Yes, whitty com I accept the case.

I'll come with you to your party at once.

And furthermore, I shall follow your suggestion regarding your disguise.

Dressed as Santa clause, I shall be less likely to attract suspicion and delighted homes.

But what made you decide to send me this writing, my dear fellow, this writing, it's in a false hand.

I'd know their characteristic m in my dear Whittigum, I've seen it too often at the beginning of the signature Mariotti Mariotti.

You see, oh, one of the cleverest and most unscrupulous criminals in England.

Weddigan.

There's no time to go last.

It's slit me see now six thirty.

I've not found the deadline.

Given you in this letter.

We muscod your house once.

This is as far as the cab can take us, Doctor ken It it's five very Christmas pleasure tell.

Me the very Christmas you too.

You said you wanted to get into the house through the back way, so that you could surprise the children.

Come down the kitchen.

Children.

Oh, you can get to the back of the house.

They're going up the alley.

Here, I'll go in the.

Front, spend and spending missus.

Which is the house.

Number twenty eight.

It's the third one down the alley.

Doctor, I'll have the back window open a no time and you can slip in without any of the beer and see very.

Well, gloomy little street.

Well, where's the music coming from.

Oh it's from that temple across the seat, doctor, The Disciples of the Octagonal Square.

They call themselves.

What on earth suppose that means?

Oh, some new fangled colt heathens most likely?

Oh hell no, I'm not the onlyess that to cause abroad tonight.

Look at that across the speed of the Oh, that's.

Just like yourself, doctor, And Cardie in a sack too.

Oh he's running up the steps to the temple.

It's Coddie.

He slipped on the ice.

He was here.

Doctor, don't suit for yourself, here.

Yourself, give me your hand, Thank you, sir.

Felly of men who he said, to close it up and help you tell you know, up you come.

That's it, doctor, I told you to be careful.

Now you fall into it's just confounded red coat of mine.

It it put me up, did you I think?

How about use it?

Well, I'm all right, thanks felly of me to run watching it.

Here's your sex, well, thank you, good night, and Mary Kristman, who knows how to you.

To the temple.

Let's be the side from tagonal square.

You're sure you know how to do?

Oh no, of course, Miss Hudson, me my sex.

Please, thank you.

Your sister's house is the third run down the alleyway.

Sir.

I'll harry you know, in the back window, so I'll be.

Waiting for him, missus Hudson rather fun the shame homes isn't with us?

Well?

Probably happier I think a good game of chess with odd will Comb.

This is my house, Homes number thirty nine an' fouson square, and dear old Watson is just around the corner in Lexington Gardens and hasn't any idea that I've left Baker Smith here you are, Caddy, Thank you sir.

Have merry Christmas there, uh huh there is no man carol singers.

Yes, we'll probably have our feel of them before this evening's over, good evening, mild, have the have the guests arrived?

Hag read most of them, Sir, they're in the library.

You brought another Santa Claus.

With you, I see, Mild, another Santa Claus.

What do you mean?

The gentleman arrived.

Three quarters of an hour ago, sir, dressed to Santa Claus.

I took him to your study in the Lord and showed him the sack of presence.

Unfounded he's got here?

Of course?

Where's this study?

In this way?

I hope I didn't do long?

Milord who told me that a gentleman dressed to Santa Claus would be coming here?

Dear me, the gentleman.

Appears to have gone this from the sack containing the presence with him, But he can't have left the house, MILORDA.

I've been watching the front door, yes, and why you were doing that?

You slipped down through the window here the catches, and I'm grave describe this man.

I can't tell you much about his appearance, I'm afraid, sir.

He was dressed to Santa Claus, just like yourself.

But I did notice one thing about him, sir, Oh what was there?

He lists was quite pronounced of course, lou A Lisper is lose A Lisper, one of Mariahi's most trusted the compasses.

Fortunately, though I've had news of him later for my Underworld Grapevine.

You you know where he lives.

He's reputed to have some connections with the New.

Cut that calls themselves the Disciples of the Octagonal Square.

The headquarters are just around the corner from here.

Let's go there and get a message to Scotland Yard as fast as you can.

Ask for Inspectulus child until him to join me at the Temple of the Octagonal Square in Lextant Gardens as soon as possible.

The children are awfully excited.

Doctors.

I told him he's can and then I'll go into him.

Will I announce you.

A racis.

No children, client, Santa Claus is coming to see you, and she's brought your own pleasure.

Hello, my name Jesse, did you bring me a present?

Look a minute, they call me.

Did you come down at chilly?

Yes, that you had a time doing it.

You're so fast.

Santa Claus will give you your present.

And what's your name?

Little man?

My though.

I've got a cold, you have well?

Children get around.

Then I'll see what present I got for you?

The first present?

I'll be right.

It says for her grace, the doll duchess.

Of Do you suppose mister Holmes has been playing a practical joke?

Can you do you suppose?

I can't see the pos but he said that he'd added a few trinkets of his own.

I want my pleasure.

Then, supposing you take this thank you?

And this one is mark for the reverence off the carter.

He holds it up to here your baddy true same and this is for you, rold, because you've been a good little Boy's very big?

Is it?

I wanted the dog, the dog because Bob bring you a dog next year?

Laud doctor watching, Yes, look at the rapping on these presents.

Dr Brother twenty.

Five months cut?

Oh look what I can Let me see why Catlins and timon and I'm very much was taken.

I got he having let me gracious, I swear that these areament rub is what in thunder's going on?

I want give me that mind you well here you are here watching you.

I don't know, missus upson paps.

My toys are still the bottom of the sack.

I can't understand it.

I was home to here instead of closing in front of our farm in Baker Street.

Where are you homes here with the bed?

This is the only room in the temple that gives in his signs.

I've been been lifting.

Our bird has been here, but I'm afraid flown inspectors strip get here.

It's like a match, will you William right?

Here's a candle on the table, just as I feared, got on the bed, a red coat and a beard.

Yes, lu the lippers discourage this discussn't gone and with him I'm afraid you are valuable pressure to.

Wait a minute.

Here's a sack lying on the floor.

Oh no, this isn't mine.

Look what's in it?

A toy dog, large box of chocolates.

Look at girls, don worry thunder, but this is watson sack.

But how on earth could lose the lisper have got hold of it somewhere some how he works and must have made an accidental change and Lula list but there's no doubt trying to track bats them down at this very moment.

You must work fast, Wigham on my friend's wife and those are missu Hudson and our relatives won't be what I thinker's damn, doctor.

You can't break off your story.

But before I go on, I put the freshman's up.

Oh well, that's that's something different.

Of course, instead of talking about port as I sometimes do, it'll be nice to.

Drink some change a merry Christmas tree.

The same to you.

And now what happened next?

Doctor?

We left you at the children's Christmas party and Sherlock Holmes and Lord Weddick around the corner at the Temple of the Octagonal Square.

Yes, it's about at the time, of course, I had no idea what was going on there.

I was cheerfully handing out gifts worth will.

It's not a king's at least to battle.

It's ransom outside the Temple of the Octagonal Square, homes Lord Wiigm, we're talking to inspectless squad.

Yes, yes, it seems to me, Lord Whittigan, you'd have been wiser to get in touch with Scotland Yard when you first got the warning loot if we could have nabbed him when he came to your house and finished the sack of presence artists.

No time for person botins.

We've got to reach lou the list before he finds Doctor Watson.

Suppose he can do that at homes.

It wouldn't be difficult.

Lu the Lisper is nearly as clever as his master, Professor Briatty.

The chance is now that you were followed when you came to bag the street to night Wittingham deeply likely that Watson and missus Hudson were followed as they left it.

Myriati is seldom leave to anything.

To once, well, where did Doc Watson go to night Lexington Gardens?

It's still around the corner from here.

Work in this coo then at once might not quite away?

No, no, no, no, the strive You must use a little subtlety.

Now, Lu the Lisper wishes to recover that stack of presence from Watson.

How would he invade the party with the least possible.

Trouble by dressing up a cent of close again?

No, no, I think he's overplayed that for one evening.

Then I would he try to get in Miss Thrones?

Oh?

Come now, as drive.

A group of people can enter any house on Christmas Eve without invitation, without creating suspicion.

I shouldn't be all surprised if at this moment Rubless burned some of his gang are singing carols outside twenty eight Lexington Gardens.

Well then what are we going to do?

Former rival Cardls Society.

How many of the men to bring with you?

Three sergeant and two constable wearing great coats?

Yes, miss throws the boy.

They can hide their helmets and pretend to be singers.

Come on, let's go over there, and while we're walking we'll rehearse on carols.

We must appear reasonably convincing.

Snare last sandre.

No, no, you must be done to close childline, hurtsus Sudson.

Home on, come in, signing of course they can awesome to come in, missus Hudson.

Come on and let me hearing you back to you.

Oh no, no, take it your reindeer say to see my reindeer brother.

Stop on the roof.

I'll climb up to see you.

No, no, no, you must do that.

There sleep Here are the carol singers.

If you get children, there we go.

That's it now, Good evening, gentlemen, Good evening, and marry Christmas.

Would you like to sing some carols for the children after then?

I'm sure you'd like to drop some of the women.

Thank you, sir.

We you're like that.

You before somewhere my men.

No there, I'm sure you have it.

Come on, man, let's sing.

Good King went for it.

On, well he'll We are outside the ousemist room, now wash listen, Luba whisper, and these.

Men are already there are we going in?

Now?

Amen?

You will have your puncheons handy, yes, Miss Robes, We're ready.

Spend it now.

Remember when we're inside and I yelled Christmas at the top of my voice.

Oo, bring out your truncheons and get lubal lispur in this game out of there as quick as possible.

Don't arrest them.

And did you get them outside?

Again?

Astrade?

I don't want to fight mature, watch your armist rones.

We're ready.

Just give us the word and we'll go in.

And oh that was very nice thing.

And now how about something to warm you all?

That won't be necessary, Doctor Watson sat in the door.

Sammy, all of you stay right where you are.

You what did it you're up to?

Please don't be difficult doctor.

All I want is the jewel out of my fact that you sold from me.

Tonight you try and stop me, I shall have to hurt you.

Why do you talk so funny?

You got a cold like me.

Shut up now, doctor, where are the jewels?

Christ?

There are some more carol fingers outside.

Don't you got a way?

No?

Better let them come in.

If we don't, they might get the faces.

Question what you're up to?

I don't know, pricks, doctor, if you try and give an alarm myself I has to get rough with you or anyone about that.

But just remember that there are children present.

You are here before you.

Right, what you say, you will join an old Carol for then?

All right, what what do you want to say?

Better?

Up the old angels?

Sing?

A right?

All right?

All right, come on man, let's sing.

Mary watching what's happenings.

We're all going away in front of the thing I explained to you later Chapterstrid.

I take them to Scotland Yard and prefer charges.

I'll be over in a little wound give evidence.

Right.

Too bad we didn't catch Professor Moriarty too well.

At least we have some of his cohorts.

Sound see you later.

List.

I'm telling you what was going on here?

Is my artom mixed up in this business?

Yes, Watson, Now, I'll tell you all about it as soon as I've straightened this thing out.

Now Wickham.

Yes, the twenty pound notes that you used as wrapping for your gifts seems to have been scattered all over the house.

You want me to recover them too.

Now, from what you've told me of the children, I think their parents produce the money much more profitable than my relatives.

In any case, I can replace it a.

Very generous Christmas gift.

Well, children, did you enjoy the little game we staged for you?

It was enough?

Yes, actually died laughing when they started hitting each other.

I'm glad you enjoyed the children, and now I want you to show me the presence you received is pretty Oh, they were a part of the game too.

A nice little girl like you just want silly earrings?

Elsie, here's a beautiful doll for you.

And what did you get my little man me?

Oh?

Tough flinks?

Good gracious?

Who wants tough links?

And you can have a clock work train?

Do you want to exchange lord of a year?

I wanted the door, there's one for you.

Nice Julie has a nice big box of chocolates too.

Can all shove one life?

Sorry that as much one Since Granny got her fingers stuck in.

I still don't understand what's going on home, But I must say, he says, all your mar to be a happy Christmas.

This is.

The Turkey coming home, little Brady in a few minutes at the gold Branded.

And while we're waiting, perhaps the children will oblige me that we haven't heard so much.

I know what you mean.

Christmas carols really sounds convincing.

How about it?

Children?

Oh like this can tomoro?

God?

God?

Well, doctor, that was really a twelve a swell story on a Christmas Eve like this?

Do you have a wish you were back in Baker Street celebrating Christmas Eve times?

Yes?

But actually, mister Boutle, I'm very happy right here in my little home there on the tables of your little Christmas tree.

There's a fine power in my fireplace, my two dogs mounting Willie, a sleeping peace at my feet, and best of it all, I've got the love of every child in the neighborhood.

Yes, I got a great deal this Christmas Eve.

That's to be thankful for.

And what were the troubles of the world on their way to being settled?

It looks as if this is the brightest Christmas that I've ever had.

Well, that's how I feel about it too, Doctor.

I hope that all our friends listening in are just as happy as Christmas Eve as we are.

And speaking not only for myself, but I know for all of us and for the Petrick family too, we wish every one of you a happy Christmas from the bottom of our hearts.

God rest you merry, gentlemen, Well, doctor Watson.

Next Monday's New Year's Eve, what story do you plan to tell us?

Extremely appropriate, mister Bartow.

It takes place in the Scottish castle near Edinburgh on a New Year's Eve in nineteen hundred and concerns a pair of lovers, an elderly Barnett and a strange iron box that proved to be more than worth its weight in gold Tonight.

Sherlock Holm's adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher and was suggested by an incident and the Sir Arthur Connan Doyle story.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.

Music is by Dean Fossler.

Mister Rathbourne appears through the courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayor and mister Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series.

The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to two, and then again next week, same time, same station.

Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studios.

This is Harry Bartel saying good night for the Petrie family.

For a solid hour of exciting mystery AMAS listen every Monday on most of these same stations at eight o'clock to Michael Shane, followed immediately by Sherlock Holmes.

This is the mutual broadcasting system.