Cowhide

The mutual broadcasting system presents. Hello, I hope I haven't kept you waiting. Yes, this is a crime club. I'm the librarian. Cowhide. Yes, we have that story for you. Come right over. You're here. Good.

Take the easy chair by the window. Comfortable, the manuscript is on this shelf. Here it is, Carl Hyde, the very intriguing story of a suitcase that was packed with murder. Let's look at it under the reading lamp.

It was early afternoon, and the customers' room in the brokerage offices on the second floor of a midtown office building was crowded, as usual. Hevel Phillips, a middle-aged clerk, across the large room, nervously adjusting his tie, and stopped outside the office of Mark Baldwin, the manager.

Come in. Excuse me, Mr. Baldwin. Oh, Phillip. Come in, come in, please. Thank you, sir. Are you sent for me, Mr. Baldwin? Come here, Phillips. I hope nothing is wrong, sir. My books... So, um, I've always been very careful, sir.

I never let a page go without checking and rechecking. Phillips, you've been with this company for 30 years. Yes, sir. Have you ever thought of leaving us? Leaving. Why no, sir? Not once in 30 years?

Well, not. Please don't hold it against me, sir. There were times when I thought I might do better somewhere else. But yes. I realized that I couldn't and I stopped thinking about it. It's been 15 years since I...

Good for you, Phillips. I guess we can trust you. And what? Open that suitcase on my desk, please. Good heavens! Securities! The half a million dollars worth. And they're all negotiable. But I... Will look here, Mr. Baldwin, if you're accusing me...