Jeff Regan, Investigator: The Diamond Quartet

My name is Jeff Regan. I get ten a day and expenses from a detective bureau run by a guy named Ryan Anthony J. Lyon I'm the lion's eye With Jack Webb as Jeff Regan investigators stand by for hard-boiled action and mystery and thrilling adventure in tonight's story of the diamond quartet Well, this is the way it started

Melody called about six o'clock that night. She gave me the name of a restaurant out on the strip and said that the lion was waiting for me. I drove out there and found him squatting at one of the corner tables, and had a big white napkin tucked under all of his chins, and he was working on a plate of crab lui and a bottle of beer.

A tall, peroxide blonde and slacks and dark glasses were sitting across from him, watching a meet. And a couple of bald-headed waiters were just sort of standing around, looking at the ceiling. Well, well, Reagan, I see you got my message.

I don't know. I want you to meet Miss. What did you say your name was young lady? Mad, what do you do? Just plain mad, Batter. Hm, uh, Regan, this is Madge. I hate gum shoes.

They all think. Okay, where'd you find her? Madge? Oh, um, Madge works for Mr. Daily. Mr. Pete Daily. He's a new client of ours. Isn't that right, Madge? to the mad. Oh, come shoot the nosy.

That's why I don't like them. Madge is going to drive you out to Mr. Daly's resident, Triggin. Who's Daly? Very nice chap. Very nice chap. I spoke with him on the phone. What's the job?

Well, it's rather a delicate matter. And I think Mr. Daly himself can explain it better than I. Come on, oh, it's Jasmine getting us nowhere to blossom. Wait, come shoot. Talk too much. Yes, Triggin.

Yes. I told Mr. Daly it'd be there by seven o'clock. You just run along with Madge here and see what it's all about. That's it. Nice to meet you, man. That dry up, Sato. Yeah, go, go.

Um, call me, Regan. Call me if you're running in the trouble. Just clean match, who was carrying a 25-automatic in her purse. When we got into a Cadillac, we went out the past, turned off a hill and bag of Burbank.

Daily's residence was at the end of a private road, a nice old southern-style place, Two or three private patrolmen guarding the entrance. They all needed shade. They kind of nodded when we got out of the car and went up to the front door.

Naturally, there was a peep shutter there. It was real sudden. Yeah? Me, Felix. This is the private peeper. The boss wants to see. Okay, me. Come on this way. Mads, I got your peeper. That's sad.

Here he is. Peep. Flat feet and all. His name's Regan. I can't imagine that song. We didn't. Um, sit on, Reagan, sit on. Don't mind, Matt. She's kind of anti-social. Nice place you got. How's the gross?

No, I do all right. Who crapped tables, who ferro games, a little roulette in the living room, but I have to be careful. I noticed that driving up. Has lots of money thrown around here every night.

Somebody might get some ideas. You know how it is. What about the law? Law? No trouble with him. I just don't let them know I'm in operation. Mm-hmm in my business. I haven't much use for private detectives I don't generally like them neither does man, but I happen to eat one right now

I want you to do a little job for me you seem to have plenty of help around here Wasn't that Felix Frazier at the door there last time I saw him he was shadowing a banker up in Sacramento Hey, that was Felix. All right, but it's a little different I Say this before now

Well, that's a little bit of necklace called the Diamond Quartet. They're worth quite a chunk of cash. These four diamonds are good stuff. So Dame named Annabella Callender left it here a week ago. She was in kind of deep at the roulette table and was wearing this.

She left it for security. How much did she lose? About five geez, I guess. Kind of screwy little Dame. She's a widow with a lot of money and a boyfriend named Teddy Soko. He paints or something.

They come here. And she loses steady. Every time. Well, she sent me a check today for the full amount of what she lost. And I want you to take this thing back to her tonight.

That it? That's it. I got my dough, she gets a little diamond neck with back. Just business. Sounds simple. It's simple. You're licensed investigator, bonded and insured. Don't want to make fuss about this, you just take it back very simple.

Okay. You told me how simple it all is. Suppose you give me the hook. Did her check back? You, um, want a drink? It wasn't done a check. I thought it'd be something like that.

Yeah. She called me a couple of hours ago, said if I didn't have this thing back by tonight, she'd call a load of cops and come out and get it. That's such a dumb game of that.

As you're telling me. If she comes here with cops, I'm close for the season and this dump cost me a pile of dough. Felix was running the roulette table at night. I didn't know he'd taken this as a security until we counted up.

I should have pushed his mushroom or something. I think a game like that makes it set up. Maybe you'll do better next time. How gonna be next time, Reagan? Here's your address. Here's the eyes.

The second door and I'll chalk it up to experience. You better get yourself a new boy at that table. Yes, you're telling me. You're telling me. I took a taxi over to the restaurant in Hollywood.

Picked up my view. It can go to an apartment house near Pico and Beverly Drive. Couple of men and a little gray coupe were sitting in front of the building, smoking cigarettes and pulling on their hat-brims.

I figured daily was making sure I got the right address. Upstairs on the fifth floor, I leaned into the buzzer and waited to see what Mrs. Annabella Kellender looked like. Oh, Teddy, I thought you'd never get here.

The performance begins at 8.15 and you know the track. Oh, you want it? You Annabella Kellender? Who of course. Who are you? My name's Regan. Oh, Miss Regan. Well, I'm only waiting for Teddy to get here so we can make Chris Kriton to the Billkmore.

We're seeing Carol tell him we're going to be late if he doesn't get here. You can understand that. Yeah, that figures. And I'm all ready and he hasn't shown up. Her white-earmon cape and the black straplet thing needed a touch.

But she had it. That necklace I had in my pocket or a very good copy was hanging around her neck and it looked like four cleaglytes at Hollywood premiere. Off your bus to dole y'all!

What's the idea? You want to bust down the door? You drunk or something? I've been pounding on this door for five minutes. Let's do it babe! Can't you read the signs? It's still as close as grand prix.

Push it off low! Alright, you got a jewel in this building named Tarteglia. Yeah, we got a jewel named Tarteglia. Well you don't want to see nobody because it's nine o'clock at night the joints closing in here.

All right slow down. He lives someplace don't he? Sure. There's a lot of houses that way. Why don't you try knocking at doors? There wasn't any residents listed in the phone book. I thought maybe if I came down here to his office she could tell me where I might see him.

I ain't gonna tell you nothing. Look, I'm a private investigator. I gotta see him tonight. Oh, uh... How is little little expense account program? It'll do. Let me see, pal. The name's Frity Leech. Your boys are fed all pile of blood with a lot of talk in this look.

White hotel, 208, V-blocks, fit head. Thanks, Fanny. Anytime, Fail. Father Sorebuck, I'll tell you where's Fanny! I come in, Mr. Egan, said it was a matter of jewelry. Therefore, a bit, Tautalia, is at your service.

How does that happen? What is so urgent? I came to see you about a diamond necklace. I found your name stamped on the inside. I also have Tautalia, most respected name in diamonds as in all the nebradaria, most respected. I'm the master of all sons, all...

...continuous to regain. Second look at this. And how do you come into possession of the diamond quartet, sir? A man named Daley, who runs a gambling club, hired me to take it back to a lady named Callender.

Gambling house? And how did Mr. Daley acquire it? And she lost at a roulette table. She left it so she could raise the cash. If Laura will have a de-plorable conduct on her part, Annabella Canada, a very indiscreet young lady to be sure to be sure.

Lovely body, propelled by a ridiculous man. I tried to take it back to her tonight. Beautiful. Isn't it, Mr. Egan? I wanna know if it's real or not. Real? Of course it's real. You sure?

Mr. Egan, do you doubt my abilities as a gemologist? Once in a lifetime, sir, only once in a lifetime, is an artisan had the opportunity to create the traffic necklace. How much will it pull?

Priceless! In the amount of work, roughly $65,000. See here, in the light. See how carefully each stone is mounted. Without reservation I pronounced the diamond quartet in incomparable masterpiece. Well, I saw one just like it tonight.

Eh? I didn't quite follow you sir. No one could create another diamond quartet except Bert Tartaglia. Well, and somebody made up a pretty good imitation. The finest workman at best, which create only a crude resemblance.

This kind of work demands an artist, Mr. Regan, an artist! But it could get by. Oh, uh, do the unpractic side, yes, to the layman, perhaps, yes. Mm-hmm, that's all I wanted to know. Late in an anguice, hoba, eh?

What was that? Latin. I'll sneak in the graph, eh? Maybe. Your expression tells me you are concerned for the safety of this piece. I have a safe here in my room if you care. No, it'll be all right.

Well then, you leave satisfied, I trust. Yeah, thanks. Say nothing of it, Mr. Egan. Say nothing of it. Just remember the house of Tautalia when you won't find you. Good evening, sir. In the lobby, I got two 3 cent stamps from the clerk.

He watched me put the diamond quartet in an envelope, I'd dress it to myself and mail it right there. They blinked a couple of times, but I didn't tell them about my two pal, parked across the street in the little gray coupe.

And they were sitting there, still sucking on cigarettes and pulling on their antbrims. When I walked outside, they got out of the coupe, came over to where I was, lighting a cigarette. The tall one tapped me on the shoulder.

Here's the paper, Georgie. Want to ask him for a match? Georgie's nearsighted. That's too bad. That's him, Daddy. Got a match, people? Georgie asked if you got a match, people. He said, don't be Georgie, don't talk.

match people but I tell you it's a dummy you don't look like an atomic I don't me all right in your paper see he's a dummy Georgie I told him about to be a near side and he said it was too bad things you people it's still not talk go on people tell Georgie I'm sorry you're about to be a near-sided I told you

was a I told you was a dummy Georgie how private eyes like you Georgie asked your question he wants to know for all private ideas like you Danny boy says you're dummy you're dummy. George. You asked you another question. He wants to know if you're dummy See no answer. I don't like dummies. We asked three questions already and he said nothing that makes him a dummy

Maybe we find something if we went through the dummies pockets. Yeah, even the dummies got pockets. Ain't that right dummy? Hold up, Georgie Hey move just like a dummy What do you want? Hey, talk. Yeah, yeah, make him talk again, Georgie bigger Georgie Dr. Real nice, but he don't say much.

Maybe he's tough, Georgie. And my tank is tough. But then again? It's there. Yeah, it's there. Now it's my turn. Hey. They don't talk no more, Danny. This people ain't no pretty picture, Georgie. Why do you want to hold them up?

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advantage to her in her work. So don't wait. If you're a registered graduate nurse between the ages of 21 and 45 drop a card now for complete information to the adjutant general Washington DC and now back to the story of the Diamond Quartet and Jeff Regan, investigator.

You had tried to believe me, Mr. Lion, but he's coming along. Reagan, Reagan, Reagan. Reagan, if you hear me, Reagan, you hear me? I think he's with us now.

It's me, Reagan. What happened to you? I didn't you call. Reagan, do you understand me? What's this? That's your head. It isn't very pretty, let me tell you that. I'll be at my desk. No, all right.

Come on, give it to me, what happened? An hour ago, the receiving hospital telephone immediately picked you up and said, I'm gonna. I come down to see what's what. You lay there and ask me, what's this?

What's the wrong job, another punk client? As long as they've got the dough, we love them all. Who are you fighting with? Couple of boys named Danny and Georgie. Couple of boys named Danny and Georgie.

Mm, but would your mind tell me just where you've been, why you should have been doing what you were hired to do? I was out with Danny and Georgie. Sure, you're out with Danny and Georgie.

But what did you do before that? And what did you do with the necklace? That diamond quartet or whatever it is. I mailed it. You mailed it! You were hired to deliver that thing personally and you mailed it.

Where's my clothing? Regan, I'll never understand you. I'll never understand you or the way you do things. I send you out in a simple little job. All you have to do is take a necklace back and what do you do?

You'll wind up bleeding all over the city street. Here's your pants. At what time you got three o'clock in the morning. It's always three o'clock in the morning when somebody telephones me that you're in trouble somewhere.

Well, why don't you go home and go back to bed? I haven't been to bed. I haven't had one wink of sleep tonight. You know why? Because on top of all my other troubles, some day, it moves out like she has a fruitful oat.

Has been calling my place every half hour asking for you. My place. Why didn't you tell her to call my place? I did tell her to call you a place. I told her a couple of hundred times called your place.

Then I told her to shut up. Coach, here. You know, terrible. Terrible. She give you a name. Hannah Bella something of her other item. What I want to know is, hey, where are you going?

Who's going to pay this hospital bill? Nobody. Well, a cab driver circled twice before he picked me up, but he got me out to her place in 20 minutes. When I got upstairs, her door was halfway open.

And the light from the hallway kind of seeped in. She was sitting in a big chair right for the door. I don't know why, but she was holding the phone on her lap. Just sitting there, looking at nothing.

Oh, I'm sorry. It's you. Just came back. Yeah. I don't think you're going to need this. Oh, well then, Mr. Riggins. Well, I suppose you've met some people tonight and know a great deal about me.

Some? A gambler? A jeweler? And of course they told you how I carry on with money and all that. Everyone seems to know that. Yeah, Bailey told me. You know about Charles? Charles and I had so many things together.

It was so much fun being alive with him. You like F1, Mr. Vegan. I do think he enjoyed being alive with me. I cried when Charles was killed. I really did. I cried. I didn't know what to do.

I was a long ago was that. Charles was killed three years ago. But now I have Teddy. He's really a dear, you should meet him. We should all have a drink together or something. Teddy's a fine artist.

Very fine artist. I think you'll be very proud of him there. I do. I really do think Teddy will be very proud of him. Because it wouldn't make any difference now. I tell you what I...

I... Did they tell you who this is talking to Joseph in my mouth? Sometimes. Eddie asked me to marry him tonight. He did? Yes, I... I... I've been very lonely since Charles died. This is my money that Teddy thinks that's the thing.

I'm certain... Teddy has the money of his own, although many people don't know it. I guess money in the three... What would you say, my money? I'm going down to that business about my time.

You think I should see a correction? Why did you call me tonight? He was the only detective I know. And I really don't know you. It's just that the day they said you heard the detective.

Why did you want to see me? I really can't understand money. What's wrong? I'm really pleased. That's all I live for. Come on, tell me, what's wrong?

She was pointing to a black spot across the room. I found the light switch and turned it on. Oh, yeah, they looked funny, all right. It was daily in his dumb roulette table man's feelings, and both of them were as dead as you can get.

Your name's Silco. Oh, yes, how are we? My name's Regan. I'm a private investigator. I'm calling from her apartment. Now listen, there's been a couple of murders here. What? She's had quite a joke. She's going to need you and all the help she can get.

I called homicide and I might be kind of rough for her. I'll bring a doctor. And a lawyer. I've got a good one. I'll be there in 10 minutes. Thank you. Thank you. Well, he showed up about the same time when Derry and the homicide boys got there.

By that time, she couldn't even talk, and they had to put her to sleep. I told when Derry, what I knew about it, he said we'd get it straightened around as soon as she had something to say.

But about 8 o'clock in the morning when I got home, I didn't expect my boys to show up so soon. It was already there. Rigen, I've been expecting you. Come in, sir. Come in. I've been abusing myself with you.

we meet again sit down sit down if it rather a hectic night our way to your boys were pretty rough Georgia and Danny two men of another world Regan not our allow me to apologize for their actions and so unnecessary to I underestimated you Regan that an ingenious method of protecting the diamond cordate by sir

but a simple expedient of placing a three cent stamp on an envelope mailing it you yourself, you are hard as guardians, entire United States personal service. Not to mention the Army Navy and Marine Corps.

You want one of these? No, thank you, Regan. Much too early in the day. But go ahead. You can be close with my you again, sir. I am one of those faint-hearted persons who cannot abide, Nick, until five o'clock in the afternoon.

All right. What happens now? Ah, you're direct, Mr. Regan. When I met you last night, I promised myself, you'd give me trouble and you have. Who is in on it? That's directly. In answer, sir, that is a matter to be explained.

Double cross. If you can bear my vanity, I have invented a new word. Triple cross. It does have a ring to it, doesn't it? Sounds familiar. My gads, I like you. Daily in on this?

Daily? No, no, no. Cross up. I'm an instigator. But when marriage explained to me that he was returning the diamond quartet, I first conceived the plan. just plain mange. She and her friends have been very valuable to me.

They knocked off daily and Felix and planted them in the girl's apartment. Right. With two cadavers in her living room, with this calendar, was very unlikely to discuss missing jewelry with the police. When it was a phony, she was wearing and she didn't even know it.

Then it caught all of this. If you had merely returned it, it would have been liberal to remove it from her. But then... And you'd just sit here and wait for the mail. We wait for the mail, Mr. Egan.

What about your playmates? You do act your role, don't you? And I like you for it, Mr. Egan. I wish you and I could have worked out something together. An unbeatable team. In answer, sir, I'm afraid I should be sought for murder, but do this night.

Danny and Georgie. And, uh, Madge. Does that name bother you as much as it bothers me? Give me a woman with a name like Celeste or Josephine or Roxanne. Those are our proper names for the creature.

But man! Where are the police going to find all these bodies? In my hotel room which I departed hastily. I know a man down at central homicide named Windetty. He's the best cop I've ever seen. You'll never get away with it.

Allow me to correct you, sir. I don't intend to get away with it. me well. You see, before you a man advanced in years, attached to a destitute and bankrupt Joel Riffer with nothing more to look forward to than a grim few years, and finally the end.

Now an opportunity to live like a king and by God, sir, I've taken it. They'll pick you up before you can pack a bag. I'd risk that. I shall turn the diamond quartet into cash and with a well-laden purse. I shall be satisfied to elude the police over half the world. Oh, They'll get me in two years, three years perhaps.

By that time I shall suspend the money. And what more could a man ask? Then a perfect fulfillment of all is wishes. I ask you, sir, as one gentleman do another, what more could a man ask?

You have company and I have a gun. Answer it. Tell him to go away. I'll be right behind you. All right. Open it. Thought I'd find you here, proper quiet. Just get into the secret, see how I want me.

Of course, my dear, I have a gun too. I can't lie if I'm gonna flex you, Eric. Get out of my way, people. No. It's the re...the reaganza. I believe I...I've been shot. I'll...me it...

...a assistant. I can't ignore my feet. Don't hold my feet. The emergent...is... And then Missy boned him. Mr. Egan. Or is your second year leting? This gives you a speak with of the dead. It was an awkward plan at best.

Was a lousy idea. Well, there wasn't anybody left for Windetty to arrest. So we sat around and looked at each other. Windetty agreed that Mads double crossed daily. Tard Tagli had double crossed magic, her boys.

Yeah, triple crossed. Well, the lion had something on his mind. He wanted to know, was I satisfied with what I got out of this case? I didn't answer him. I need the job. The Army Nurse Corps Reserve still has commissions available.

If you were a graduate registered nurse between the ages of 21 and 45, you may be eligible for a commission in the Army Nurse Corps section of the regular officers' reserve. Graduate work is provided at the Army's most modern teaching centers, and the nurses obtain educational experiences that benefit them in both civilian and military nursing.

If you believe you qualify for a commission in the Army Nurse Corps Reserve, apply to the adjutant general, Washington, D.C. Jack Webb is featured as Jeff Regan with Wilms Herbert as Anthony J. Lyre. The role of Bert Tartaglia was played by Barry Kroger.

Marine Tuttle was Annabella Callender. It's CBS same time next week for Trouble, Suspense and Thrilling Adventure with Jeff Regan, investigator Written by E. Jack Newman produced by Gordon T. Hughes, directed tonight by Cliff Powell.

This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.