Mystery House. Mystery House, that strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn, where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff before it is accepted for publication. Mystery House. Ah, greetings. Good evening, Mrs. Glenn. Hi, Bobby. I think this story is going to make a good book, and I'll be anxious to know if it fools you, people. Oh, a fool, eh? Right. I think it'll keep you guessing right up to the last scene. Mrs. Glenn, I wonder if it's a good idea to keep people guessing. I don't see why not. Well, I'll bet the listeners right now, for instance, wondering what news the sponsor has for them, and really, I don't think we should keep them guessing any longer. Okay, places, everybody. It's at the scene, Tom. Well, well, another body. Tonight's story opens in the comfortable office of Lieutenant Morse, a police officer of the modern school. A rather timid man is standing before the lieutenant's desk, and Morse isn't paying much attention to him. Lee Shover's the name, Lieutenant. R-I-C-H-A-U-V-E-R. Lee Shover. I live at 612 North Tennant Lane. 612 North Tennant Lane. Yeah, I got it. A complaint signed against somebody? Well, no. Not a complaint against anybody. I know, I guess. At least, I hope not. You see, I found a body in the front yard. A body in the front yard? You what? Did you say a body? Yes. And I'm pretty sure, at least, I'd be strongly inclined to believe that the girl had been murdered. Murdered? What's the girl's name? I really couldn't say.  When did you find a body? Not over a half an hour ago. As soon as I found it, I came right down to the police station as fast as I could. Why didn't you phone me? I thought about that, but Elsa, she's my wife. She said, Harlan, my first name's Harlan. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  See that they come right back here with you. If you phone them, they may be ours getting out here. So, uh, I came. Yeah. Your wife's watching the body. See that nobody touches it or moves anything. Oh, yes, she's very efficient. Elsa wouldn't let anybody disturb anything. You can depend on that. Oh, hello, Gretchen. Yeah, it looks like we got a story for you. Hi, Morse. Hey, wait a minute. Not a story about Mr. Reeshover, R-I-C-H-A-U-V-E-R. Reeshover? You mean you know this man, Gretchen? I don't believe I've ever met the young lady. Oh, sure, Richie. Gretchen Talley, feature writer on The Chronicle. You remember me, Richie. Sure you do. Hey, wait a minute. What's this all about, anyway? Why, Richie's a genius, Morse. A genius for finding bodies. He finds more darn bodies. Not please, Miss Talley. The last one was nearly two years ago. He didn't know from nothing, Richie. He didn't just found the body. It was a very distressing thing. I came home from work and stumbled across the body across the doorstep. Yes, I remember. And the prosecuting attorney tried his best to hook you up with the case, but it was no dice. You don't tell me. Well, just how many bodies have you found, Mr. Reeshover? Reeshover, R-I-C-H-A-U-V-E-R. Reeshover. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Reeshover. Now, don't you worry about how I pronounce your name. But it's rather an important thing to me, Lieutenant. Morse. Now, there's a simple name. Nobody could mispronounce that. But Reeshover. You've no idea the fantastic ways people can twist it around. Forget it, forget it. I ask you a question. Uh, yes? How many bodies have you found altogether? Up to this one or including it? Including it. Why, uh, three up to this girl. Four altogether. You've no idea what an irritating thing it is to be forever stumbling into corpses, especially when they've been victims of violence. Yes, I'll bet I haven't at that. Now, you don't know anything about this girl. It's on your font lawn now, hmm? I can answer that one for you, Morse. He never saw her before in his life. Well, how did you know? Oh, I'm psychic, Richie. And I'm not fussy like the judge was on that last case. You know, I think you people actually suspect me of murder, you don't say. It's rather distressing when a citizen does what he should, makes a report promptly, does his duty, and then... Then the nasty old police say to him, I bet you did it. That is irritating, I bet, Richie. How was this dame killed when you just found? Well, I really don't know, Lieutenant. I've understood it was best not to move the body and so I didn't examine anything. Well, you know whether she was killed with a bullet or a meat cleaver, don't you? You could tell me that, couldn't you? I'll bet it wasn't a bullet. Well, no. No, I don't believe it was. Those people you find, Richie, they never are killed by gunfire, are they? Huh? You should have been around when Richie discovered the other body, Morse. The pattern was always the same. You found it when you were coming home from work, Richie? Why, yes. And he'll be able to prove that he was at the office all day, Morse, and the coroner will testify that the victim was murdered at least two or three hours before Richie found the body. See here. I don't have to stand for these insinuations. I'm a respectable citizen.  You just have one bad habit. Finding body. This is preposterous. It's not nearly so preposterous as that one man should find four murder victims, Mrs. Richie, over. Oh, but surely you don't believe not actually that Harlan has anything to do with any of these murders? Well, it isn't reasonable that one man should find four bodies. Look how many people there are who've never found even one body. Why, Harlan's practically timid. You've no idea how it distresses you when anything like this happens. And if you keep him locked up in that cell, there's no telling what it might do to him. No. Well, I know what I hope it does to him. What? I hope it breaks him down to the point where I'll get a confession. Oh, that would be much simpler than going to work, actually going out and finding the real killer, wouldn't it? Look, Mrs. Richieover, I don't blame you for standing up for your husband, but the long arm of coincidence just doesn't reach as far as you want me to think it does. Then you absolutely refuse to let Harlan free? I sure do. In that case, I guess I'd better get him a lawyer. Yeah, I think that'd be an excellent idea, Mrs. Richieover. And if I were you, I'd get a good one, because Richie's gonna need a dandy to get him out of this. Oh, hello, Gretchen. Well, my own private sleuthing party didn't let me much more. No, I didn't think it would. This is Mrs. Richieover, Gretchen. Miss Morse, the conical. I remember Miss Morse. I hope nothing pleasant happened to her. Tell Thor about the write-up I gave you in Richie when you got married. Why wouldn't I be angry? What's this all about? Why, Richie found two bodies before he got married. The folks brought in a story about the wedding, and there wasn't any mention of the body business. I sort of fixed up the wedding story and gave it a little human interest. You were jealous. You were in love with Harlan yourself. You don't make me laugh, Mrs. Richieover. It's true. Harlan told me about how you fawned all over him after the second body was discovered, how you brought things to him, how he was in jail. And when he got out, you invited him up to your apartment for dinner. A girl has to eat, hasn't she? Richie was darn good copy, and I wasn't passing up any bets. Here's the picture, Morse. Why? Why, it's a picture of Harlan. None of it? What are you doing with it? You've no right to have a picture of him. I've been out showing that picture to everyone who knew Alice Woodson, Mrs. Richieover. That's the murdered girl's name in case you're confused. Harlan finds so many bodies. Really? I flashed that picture on everyone who ever had anything to do with Alice Woodson. I'm trying to find a link, so you'll detect none of the people who saw the picture showed the famous recognition. But this has gone on long enough. Sooner or later, I'll find something to connect him with the murdered girl. You must read a great many detective stories. Richie isn't going to get away with it this time. Three times is plenty. This time, he's out. Hello, Lieutenant. You ready to start talking yet, Mr. Richieover? Richieover. R-I-C-H-A-U-V-E-I. Richieover. Yeah, Richieover. Gretchen Pallet picked up a clue, Richie. A frail, slender clue that most cops wouldn't even bother to follow. And I think she's going to make something out of it, Richie.  What did she find? A girl had a ring in her purse, Richie. A cheap little ring with a rhinestone set in it. I-I don't know a thing about it. It's kind of a ring you can buy at any dime store. And it was one just like it on your key chain. I didn't have any cheap ring with a rhinestone in it. Not on my key chain or anywhere else. Eh? Who are you trying to bluff, Richie? I didn't, and that's the truth. You didn't give the girl that ring until it was an engagement ring? Of course not.  I know, I know. You sort of used to telling the police that, Richie. They've been kind of easy on you. But when they get tough, you'd be surprised how tough they can be. You know, they electrocute murderers in this state, Richie. If you... you get out of here. The actual electrocution isn't so bad, I guess, but it's the getting ready for it.  If you get out of here. You can keep me in this cell, but I don't have to listen to you. I don't have to listen to you. No, you don't have to listen to me, Richie. But I wish you'd think about it. If you don't get out of here, I'll... I'll find another body. Ah, now you're talking, Richie. So if I don't get out, you'll find another body.  So help me. You and that cynical layer on your face. That insulin grin when I tell you the truth, you're driving me crazy. You've been nuts for a long time, Richie. What was the idea of killing those babes, huh? Stepping out on Elsa in the fridge you'd get caught? You! I'd like to strangle you. And you might get away with it. You've got away with poor murders already. But then again, you might be stretching your luck just a little bit. You might... you... What have you done to me? Listen, Richie. You can't... you can't... Oh, dear. I wonder. No pulse beat. Yes. He's dead. Quite dead. I told him he'd get into trouble, but... Suicide. Yes. That's it. He has a gun. You have to be careful. Handkerchief. No fingerprints. Put it in his hand. Press the finger. So... Help! Somebody help! Hurry! Drop over dead. And was Mr. Reshover responsible? Did he murder the other four people whose bodies he found? And can he be convicted? We'll find out in the second act of tonight's story. Meanwhile, here's a brief message from our sponsor. And now, act two of... Well, well, another body. The scene is Harlan Reshover's jail cell. His wife and captain call it at the homicide squad are there. And Mr. Reshover seems to be somewhat bewildered. Lieutenant Morse was trying to force a confession from you, wasn't he, Harlan? I... yes, yes he was. Quite nasty. And he waved his gun at you and you got scared and grabbed it from him, and you shot him to protect yourself, didn't you? Just a minute, Mrs. Reshover. Reshover, captain. R-I-C-H-A-U-V-E-I. Reshover. That Mrs. Reshover. I don't give a hang how you pronounce your name, but why can't coach him on a defense? I want to hear what you have to say for yourself. But Harlan needs coaching, Captain Corlett. He's such a timid thing himself, and he'd get all involved. That's the idea, Mrs. Reshover. I want him to get involved. But I don't, Captain. I love Harlan enough. You keep quiet for a few minutes. I want you to tell me what happened, Reshover. Why, it was like, like Elsa said. He waved his gun at me and... Yes. Yes, I got frightened. I thought he was going to kill me, you see, and I... Yeah, I see. Listen, Reshover.  Sometimes we kind of lose our temper. And I think I'm about ready to lose mine right now. But really, Captain...  Not even a very good one. I don't know what you mean, Captain. I had the car and I gave Lieutenant Morse the works. That's complete and autopsy has ever went through this place. But really, Captain, you could see the bullet wound in his temple. I don't see why... I could see it, too. The police like to get convictions when they think a man's guilty, Reshover. But they don't frame a guy by bumping themselves off.  Look, lady. The guy was dead when that shot was fired. Dead? But... But that's silly, isn't it? If he was dead, then why should Holland... Morse died of poisoning. He had a fresh pack of cigarettes in his pocket with only one gone. That one was in his left hand, about two-thirds smoked.  For heaven's sakes. The way I figure it, Reshover gave Morse that package of cigarettes, not figuring he'd like one while he was still in his cell. But that's not right at all, Captain. Morse threw the cigarette and dropped dead right then and there. Reshover was panic-stricken because there was another body that chalked up against him. That's why he got out Morse's gun and fixed it up to look like suicide. But it was suicide, Captain. Corrupt, really. Look, everything about it was phony. The gun wasn't in the right position in Morse's hand. It wasn't held against his head at a natural angle. And part of the part of them was on this cement floor. You don't think a man lies down on the cement floor to put a bullet through his head, do you? No, I suppose not. Please, Captain, can he talk to me alone? Just a minute. Fine. Yeah, sure, sure he can. I'll leave right away. It was practically like the Captain said, Elsa.  But I have a microphone hidden somewhere in your cell. They're listening to every word you say. Whisper to me so nothing could pick up the sound. Then I'll figure out a story. Yes, I understand, Elsa. You're on business, Mrs. Reshover. Don't worry that it's a social call. I don't want to speak to you. I imagine you don't. But this has to be done, I guess. You've no right to come barging into my home like this, you know? I just wanted to check something, Mrs. Reshover. What? You smoke, don't you? Occasionally, yes, not regularly. I have a package of cigarettes around now. Why, I believe so. But what business is that? Don't bother. I see one in the ashtray that doesn't have the brand name burned off. Oh, very interesting. What are you driving at? The brand name, the same as the kind Lieutenant Morse was smoking and then he was killed. Interesting. See, you surely don't think you're implicated in any of Richie's murders? Oh, dear, no. But it is funny, isn't it? That you should smoke that same brand. By the way, there was something else I wanted to ask you about. Yes? When Richie found that first body, were you acquainted with him? No, I didn't know him at all. I remember when Harlan and I were introduced, they told me he'd found a gangster's body in front of his door I was asked me, but that second body, you knew him when that one was found, didn't you? Yes, it is upsetting terribly, and I was so sorry for him. You knew the second victim, didn't you? What? No. I'm afraid you're lying about that, Mrs. Richie over. I think you did know the second victim. I said I didn't mean you being outrageous. I think maybe you can't remember quite a bit. The way I figure it, Richie's finding the first victim was an accident. One of those things that could happen to anyone. But it gave you an idea. There was a certain party you wanted to get rid of.  Kill the second one and arrange things for Richie to find the body. I rather think he suspected, and that's why he married you. He was afraid to do anything different, afraid you'd kill him, too. You can't talk to me this way. You lie about my knowing the man who was murdered, I didn't. You married Harlan Richie over to keep him quiet about you and what you've done. And then you said about trying to get rid of him. Get rid of him? That's rather funny. There's more than one way to get rid of a person. Harlan Richie over had found two murder victims. You reasoned that if he found the third one, he'd be suspected. Which you are. I was trying to find it happened.  One with whom you couldn't possibly be connected. Your sole purpose and killing was to convict Richie of murder. That's not so. Well, it didn't work, you picked the fourth one. Another girl. You wanted to be sure this time, so you put a cheap ring in her purse and put a duplicate of it on Richie's key chain.  What do you mean about over, Mrs. Richie over? I found the ten-cent store clerk who sold you those rings. She's identified your picture. Her name's Ann Burkle and she lives in a rooming house over on Guide Street, 314 Guide Street. She'll swear that she sold you the ring. So instead of sending Richie to the chair, those rings are going to take care of you. But good. Goodbye, Mrs. Richie over. Just where do you think you're going? I'm going over to the police station to get Captain Corlitt. I'm going to take him up to Ann Burkle's room. I don't believe you are, Gretchen. Oh! Where did you get that gun? I've always had it around, Gretchen. I never knew when it might come in handy. What are you going to do to me? That all depends, Gretchen. There's the phone. What? I said, there's the phone. Go ahead and call Captain Corlitt. What? I said to phone Captain Corlitt. I'm telling the girls at 314 Guide Street the question, Ann Burkle. Hi. I don't get it. You mean you actually... I mean you'd better call him if you don't want to get a bullet to your pretty head. But you know the number. Go ahead.  That remains to be seen, Gretchen. Captain Corlitt, please. Hello, Captain. I'm at Elgarishovet, and she's holding a gun against my head, Captain. You're as fast as you can. Thanks. Thanks.  You don't dare. Who thought I'd be afraid to tell him I was here that you were threatening my life? But did I? I doubt that very much, Gretchen. All right, Mrs. Elgarishovet, drop that gun. No, thank you, Captain. I think I'll just go right on holding it if you don't mind. What? No, don't worry. I won't hurt anybody unless it's necessary. What's this all about, anyway? Gretchen Talley was in love with Hollywood. Helen was in love with him during the course of his trial as we found the fish body. She figured that finding a second body would be serious. You know... I don't talk, Gretchen. She arranged for Helen to find a second body, and then she furnished the alibi for him where it looked like he was in a tight spot. Was easy enough for her to do? Because she'd committed the murder. I can check the records on the alibi, I guess. I helped him a little in order to get a story. That's all. Gretchen thought he'd be so grateful to her that he'd marry her. But Helen was in love with me, and we were married. When Helen and I got married about a year, there was another body, this kind of girl. The police hounded him, but the alibi was so perfect they finally had to release him. And then this last one. I went to Lieutenant Morse and told him what I suspected. He began investigating, and he had an accident. Well, you lie! You never talked to Lieutenant Morse alone? She was in Lieutenant Morse's office when they checked Helen's personal effects. She found a finger ring on Helen's key ring. Nobody else had noticed it, and she said it was the clue she'd like to follow up. How about that, Gretchen? Why, yes! There'd been a ring in the girl's purse. Why, wouldn't I take a good story? I've never seen a girl she talks about this, and Gretchen was supposed to have sold me the ring. But I'll bet if you'll go to her room, you'll find she's been murdered.  Oh, gone, if I know what to believe. She never intended to convict Helen. All along, all the murders she committed were supposed to get me out of the picture and get Helen for her. Maybe we'd better let Mr. Rich over get into this conversation. He doesn't seem near as guilty as he did. What did you do with Gretchen, Captain? He's in a straight jacket with a Rich over. He's a dark man. Is this the stenographer, Captain? Yeah. All set to take it down, sonny? Sure. Just him go a little easy, though. I won't hurry. Ready? I, Harlan Rich over, R-I-C-H-A-U-V-E-R. Make this statement of my own free will without any promise of currency. I have never killed anyone. Miss Talley and I were business partners, and I was completely unaware that she had any romantic attachment for me until the episode of the ring. The first murder victim I found, I know nothing about. The other three whose bodies I found were killed by three different people, whose names I will give. Miss Talley, through her newspaper connections, had gained an acquaintance with numerous underworld characters. They paid us very handsomely to have me find the bodies. That threw suspicion completely away from the real murderers. Yet, there was never any real evidence against me except my being in the right place at the right time. Right place, right time. Until the ring business, I had no idea that Gretchen Talley was in love with me. Gretchen Talley had never killed anyone until the Lieutenant Morse and Ann Burkle murders. It was then I realized that she was trying to implicate my wife, trying to get her out of the way. The Lieutenant Morse murder made it apparent that Morse had been on the right track. With this finding of Ann Burkle's body, there remains no alternative but to clear my wife from all suspicion, which I gladly do. Harlan, reach over. R-I-C-H-A-U-V. Y-Y-U-V.