Suspense: The Cave of Ali Baba

The Columbia Network takes pleasure in bringing you... Suspense! Columbia's play theater of outstanding thrillers, produced and directed by William Speer, and scored by Bernard Herman.

The notable melodramas from fiction and stage and screen, from the world's great literature of entertaining excitement, resented each week to bring you to the edge of your chair, to keep you in... S-S-Spence! Tonight's adventure in suspense is from the pen of Dorothy Sayers.

She called it the Cave of Alibaba. Like the tale told by Sheherazade, a distinguished ancestor in the storytelling art, Miss Sayers thrill her deals with forty thieves and with two magic words. For your uneasy listening then, suspense presents the Cave of Alibaba.

On a Saturday afternoon in January in the grim and narrow house in Lambeth, a man sat eating kippers and reading the daily paper. He was smallish and spare with brown hair rather too regularly waved and a strong brown pointed beard.

His double-breasted navy blue suit, his socks, tie and handkerchief, were all scrupulously matched, and his brown boots just took trifle too highly polished. He did not look a gentleman, not even a gentleman's gentleman, yet there was something about his appearance which suggested that he was accustomed to the manner of life in good families.

A superior butler, perhaps. Yet not old enough to be retired. A footman who had come into a legacy, yes. He had just finished eating, and he was sipping his coffee when a slight noise at the front door caught his ear.

Swiftly, too swiftly for a quiet little man sitting, eating kippers and reading his paper on a Saturday afternoon. He sprang up, he touched through the small hallway, and he flung the door open. Of course, no one in sight.

The society is at least dramatic in its delivery of its correspondence. And if you knew what it would find, he shut the door and turned to the hat, standing the hall. An envelope had been placed there.

It was addressed to Joseph, who are objects? So Mr. Rogers opened the note. Number 21, an extraordinary general meeting will be held tonight at the House of Number 1 at 1130. You will be absent at your peril.

The word is finality. Hm. Finality. Yes, I think so. The man called Joseph Rogers stood for a moment studying the note. Then he strode to the rear of the house to a tall, safe, built in the wall.

He manipulated a dial. He swung the safe door open, stepped inside into a small strong room. He opened a drawer marked correspondence, placed the note inside, and then came out again. A moment to reset the lock for a new combination, and then he went back into the living room.

He reached for the telephone, he lifted it from the cradle, and then reconsidered two dangerous Too dangerous. He hurried upstairs and clambered into an attic. In the furthest corner, he searched for and found a knuckle in the woodwork.

He pressed it. A concealed trapdoor swung open and he was on the loft of the adjoining house. He paused before three cages in each of the McCarry-Up pigeon. Carefully, he wrote a note, slipped it under a pigeon's wing.

There you are, my pretty. There, take it easy now. Here you go. High street, 13. I'll send another pigeon at five and the third at six. I should have my arms, sir, by nine, 30th, and lead it.

Oh, I forgot one thing, most important. Mr. Rogers moved through the trap door, back into the attic of his own house, and once again he stood before the tall, safe, built in the wall. He opened the door, stepped into the strong room, Moved for a moment quietly in the dark, and then spoke gently.

Now, be good, my sweetheart. I'm depending on you. Open sesame. Come on, now, old thing. Open sesame. Open sesame. That's better. That's very much better. By 9.30, his answer was back. All the little piece of paper said was a hasty okay.

At the quarter of the poor 11 he took his revolver from a locked drawer, inspected it carefully. Yes, loaded it with cartridges from an unbroken packet, and left the house. He walked quickly, keeping well away from the wall.

And when he climbed on a bus he sat next to the conductor, where he could watch all who got on and off. By twenty-five minutes after 11 he was out on lonely hamstead heat, pausing in the shadow of a large tree to adjust a black velvet mask on which in white thread was stitched the

number 21. Then he stepped briskly to the door of the villa that lay before him and... What is it? Finality. Come in. Go right on through. Number one will check you in. Right. Twenty one, sir.

Lift your mask. May go on to the meeting room. Thank you, sir. The room of the villain, which Mr. Rogers now stood, was a large one, a brilliantly lighted room. There's a gramophone in one corner blaring out a jazz tune.

To its rhythm, couples, masked men and women were dancing. Some were in evening dress, some in tweets and jumpers. In another corner of the room was the bar. Mr. Rogers went up to it and asked the masked man in charge for a double whiskey.

He consumed it slowly, leaning on the bar, and boom fill. There's not this, someone moved across to the gramophone and stopped it. Mr. Rogers looked around. Number one, the massive gentleman in the evening dress who had checked him in appeared on the threshold.

A tall woman in black stood beside him. Her mask and broidered with a white number two covered her hair and her face completely. Only her, her fine bearing, her white arms and her dark eyes shining through the ice slits proclaimed there is a woman of power, of physical attraction.

The mask dances were silent now, as number one spoke. Ladies and gentlemen, we are short two members tonight. I need not inform you of the disastrous failure of our plan for obtaining the plans of the court, Wendell Sam Hellyskoper.

Our courageous and devoted friends, number 15 and number 38, We are betrayed and taken by the police. Some of you might fear that under examination these two would break down and give away our society.

There is no need for such a fear. I gave the usual orders and their tongues have been silenced. Their defense will be discreetly compensated in the usual manner. I call upon number 12 and 34 to undertake this agreeable task.

They retained me at my office for the instructions after the meeting. Were the numbers I have named kindly signify by raising their hands that are able and willing to perform the study? Thank you. Ladies and dremelmen, please take your partners for the next dance.

The gramophone struck up again. Mr. Rogers turned to a girl near him in a red dress. She nodded and they slipped into the movement of a fox trot. The couple's shyrated solemnly and in silence, their shadows were flung against the blinds as they turned and stepped to intro.

The girl in red spoke to Mr. Rogers. What's happened? I'm striking, don't you? I think there's something awful was about to happen. It does take one of its short. Number one's way of doing things, but it's safer like that.

No talking phrase, you know the rules, sorry. In silence the dance continued, and then it came to an end. And then when it had finished, the dancers came again to where number one sat, and waited with tense eagerness for him to speak.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you may wonder why this extraordinary meeting has been called. The reason is a serious one. The failure of our recent attempt was no accident. We are not on the premises that night by accident.

We have a traitor amongst us. This last failure was not the first. You'll remember the unfortunate way in which the affair of the Dinglewood Purrs turned out. And there were others. I'm happy to say that our minds can now be easy.

All these troubles have been traced to their origin. The offender has been discovered and will be removed. A misguided member who introduced the traitor to our angst will be placed in a position where his lack of caution will have no further ill effects.

There's no cause for alarm. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your partners for the next dance. Again, the Gramophone took up its bizarre monotony. The masked dancers glided and turned. And their movements were sharper, more staccato.

The girl in red was claimed by a tall mask and evening dress. A hand laid on Mr. Rogers' arm made him start. A small, plump woman in a green jumper slipped a cold hand into his.

The dance went on. When it stopped, everyone stood detached, stiffened in expectation. The endless interval was over. Number one raised his voice. Ladies and gentlemen, you will no doubt wish to be relieved of the questions on your mind.

I will name the persons involved. Number 37. No, no! Failed in discretion. You will be dealt with. If you have anything to say in defense of your folly, I'll hear it later. Sit down. Number 37 sank down upon a chair.

He pushed his handkerchief under the mask to wipe his face. Two tall men closed in upon him. The rest fell back. Ladies and gentlemen, I will now name the traitor. Stand forward. Number 21. Number 37. This man was introduced to our society by you under the name of Joseph Rogers.

Formerly second footman in the service of the Duke of Denver dismissed for petty theory. Did you take steps to verify the statement? I did. I did. It was God my witness. It was all straight.

I had him identified by two of the servants. I asked all over about him. The story was through how spread it was. Number 21. Your name has been given as Joseph Rogers. Is that your real name?

Answer me! Is that your real name? No. What is your name? Peter Death Braden Whimsy. Silence! I compliment your lordship. We thought Lord Whimsy was dead. He was killed so the paper said to went as ago I should have big game in Africa. He even left. He will prove to 500,000 pounds. To his mother I believe the dowager that is

Denver Lord Peter Wednesday indeed well-known book collector man about town distinguished criminologist took an active part in the solution of several famous mysteries taking an active part if you don't mind so you deliberately let us to think you were dead and became Joseph Rogers to gain entrance to our society what has become of the real Joseph Rogers he died abroad I took his place

and the end of your impersonation to uncover our society precisely I see the The robbery of your own set upon which we congratulate on ourselves and which you have to execute was arranged. Obviously, robbery of the Duchess, your mother, was arranged by you.

It was, it was a very ugly piano, no real loss to anybody with decent taste. The burglary of the Winthrop mentioned. The theft of the necklace, the coven gun, the other says, well, you arranged them all.

Oh, the mirror spoke by the way. You may not. Number 15, 22, 39. You have watched the prisoner. he made any attempt to communicate with anybody? And none. His debt is impossible to have been opened.

His telephone tapped and his movements followed. Even the water pipes in his house have been under observation for Morse code signals. You're certain? Absolutely. Then we may be sure that he has been alone in this adventure.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, please take your hand. Take your hand. Take the prisoner away. And be sure you explain carefully to him first the manner of his death. I'm sure he'll enjoy it. Wait, wait, at least you can let me die.

He's decently. Take him away. Stop, I have something to say, something to sell. We make no barns with trighters. No, but listen. Do you think I haven't thought of this? I'm not a fool. I've left a letter.

Oh, to the police. If I don't return tomorrow, it'll be open. It's a bluff. The prisoners end no letter. He's been strictly watched for months. I left the letter before I came to Lambeth. Then he can't contain no information of any better.

Oh, but it does. The combination of my safe. It did? Has this man safe been soaked? Yes. What did it contain? No information of importance, sir. An outline of our organization, the name of the house, nothing that can't be ordered and covered before morning.

And did you investigate the inner compartment of the safe? Hear what he says, did you? He's trying to bluff. There is no inner compartment. I hate to contradict you, but I'm really afraid you must have overlooked it.

And what did you say was end the compartment if it does exist? The names of every member of this society with their addresses, photographs, and fingerprints. And what did you say you had come prior to Jefferson formation?

By doing a little detective work on my own. I'd have been watched. The finger prints of my watch as a dawn, the first page of the collection. That statement can be proved? Certainly. The name of number 40, for example, is...

Stop! If you mention names here, you will certainly have no hope of mercy. Bring the president to my office. Ladies and gentlemen, take your partners for the next dance. Yes, I am fine. I know you're gang from number one through number 25.

Do you want me to prove that I know the others as well? My lord, your story first, will you regret that you are not in fact a member of our society. society. What courage and industry are valuable in an association like ours? I fear I cannot persuade you. No, I suppose not. Ask the members kindly to proceed to the sub-room.

Ladies and gentlemen, I will not conceal from you the seriousness of the situation. The President has recited to me 25 names and addresses which were thought to be unknown except to their owners and to me. There has been great carelessness. Fingerprints have been obtained.

He showed me some photographs of them. He tells me that the book of names and aggressors is to be found in the inner compartment of his safe, together with certain letters and papers stolen from the houses of members and several objects with fingerprints.

I believe he tells the truth. He offers the combination of the safe in exchange for a quick death. I think he's offer should be accepted. What is your opinion, ladies and gentlemen? The combination is known already.

Fool! This man is Lord Peter Whimsey, a scientist of crime. Do you think he will have forgotten to change the combination? Oh, I see. Give him the pother's time getting short. You're agreed? It's about Whimsey.

What is the combination? The word of the combination is unreliability and the inner door, the inner compartment, in anticipation of the visit of the police, the inner door is open. Good. Number 12 and 36.

You will go to the President's house and why did you know anything? That's right. I agree. Nobody ought to be trusted. And what, ladies and gentlemen, do you suggest? You go yourself. You're the only one that knows all the names.

You go yourself. I said on that motion, is there a wish of the meetings, then, that I should go? No. I say no. Now don't go. Number one is our president, the hidden soul of our society.

If anything should happen to him, where should we be? You've all blundered. We have your carelessness to thank for all this. You think we should be safe for five minutes if he were not here to repair your father?

There's something in that. If you will pardon my suggesting it, the lady appears to be in a position peculiarly favorable for the reception of the President's Conferences. The contents of my modest volume will be known used to her. Why should she not go herself?

Because I say she must not. If it is the will of the meeting, I'll go. Give me the key of the house. Here, is your house watched? No. If I have not returned in two hours, act for the best to save yourselves.

And do what you like, with a prisoner. Yes, the president has been going two hours. Straight up, what's happened to him? How should I know? Perhaps he's looked after himself and gone while the going was good.

Nia. I'd never do that. What have you done with him? or I'll make her speak. I can only form a gas-madam. I'm afraid that your president may quite inadvertently have left the door of the inner compartment close behind him, in which case...

Yes. Well, let me explain the mechanism of my safe, huh? The inner compartment has two doors. The outermost most opens outward with an ordinary key. Who do you think that the president is so stupid as to be caught in an obvious trap?

Doubtly he will have wedged, opened that inner door. and doubted him Adam, but the sole purpose of that in a door is to appear to be the only one hidden behind the hinge of that door is another.

The sliding panel also left open. Inside the compartment is the big heavy ledger containing all the information about this society. This ledger lies on a steel shelf. Do I make myself clear? Yes, yes, yes, go on.

The steel shelf is balanced on a concealed spring. When the weight of the book, the ledger is lifted. The shelf rises almost and perceptibly. And in rising it makes an electrical contact. Now let me draw a picture.

Your president steps into the inner compartment, sees the book, takes it up anxiously to examine to see if it's the right one. The shelf rises, the electrical contact is made. And the steel panel behind him slides into place.

He steps. You're devil. What is the word that opens the inner door? Quick! Stop right. Do you remember the story of Alibaba and the Forty Thieves? Well, when I had this state constructed, my mind went back.

well call me sentimental if you will to my childhood. The words that open the door are open sesino. How long can a man live in this devil's trap of yours? Oh I should think he might hold out for a few hours if he didn't use up all the oxygen by hammering and yelling. I imagine if you go there at once we'd be able to get him

up all right. I'll go myself. I think you'd better take me with you. Why? Well I'm the only person who can open the door. But you've given me the word. Yes you have the But this door of mine, I'm rather proud of it.

You know, it's my own invention. It's the latest thing. It will open to the words, open sesame, all right. But to my voice only. Your voice? I'll chip your voice through my hands. What do you mean, your voice only?

Don't clutch my throat like that. You'll wreck my voice and then the door might not recognize it. Hey, that's better. The door got stuck for a week once, and when I had a cold, It's what he says true. Is it possible?

Perfectly possible, madam. It'll have a microphone arrangement. It could be done also with light vibrations. We must let him go. Take the ropes off him. Let him go nothing. He doesn't go to blab to the police.

The president's done in, that's all. And we'd all better make traps while we can. It's all our boys. Right. Chuck is falling down the cellar and firstly mean. I'll go and destroy the ledges. 32, you know where the switch is.

Give us a corner of an hour to clear. Then you can blow the place to glory. No, no, you can't leave one to die. He's your president, your leader. I won't let it happen. I won't.

I'll free this man myself. Yeah, none of that. Get out of here. Get out of here. Think. Let me think. It's because I'd say in an hour or two, the police may be here in any moment.

Please. Oh, yes. Yes, you're right. No, we mustn't imperil the safety of all for just one man. He himself would not wish it. Throw this man in the cellar and let's get out of here while that's time.

Here. This is good enough. Leave him here. Right. Now, let's go. Hey, you chaps. Yeah, I should have got him. I see. It's loom some down here in this cellar. You might at least leave the light on.

Don't worry about the dark. They're taking you here as the time shoots with a bomb. That's going to blow out this place. It's all set. You won't have long to wait. Not long. Who is it? Who's there?

If it isn't too, my compliments madam on your loyal, is it your present? Quick, quick, they've set the time to use. The house is mined, follow me as fast as you can. Number one must be saved, and only you can do it.

Well, how did you manage to? Yeah, there's no time for questions. Get up and follow me. You will release him. You promised. I promise. But I warn you madam that this house is surrounded. When my safe third door closed, it gave a signal to Scuffed and Yard.

All the members of the society are taken. Never mind them here. Is that you, Inspector? You have to tell us away. Quick, the house is going up in a minute. Spark, old man.

Are you all right? I'm a bit winded. What's happened, Inspector? Well, about half a dozen of them got blown up. Rest, we bagged. Hurry, we must hurry. Who's this? Well, one of the gang, she's called number two.

We must save it, we must. Dolly, I can't forget the gentleman to the safe. Buck, where's your car? It's down the lane. Sent for one of the men down to get his rights. Right, Johnson, bring that car here.

You're sorry. I've got the number one of the whole company quietly is fixating at home. I promise we get back and save him. He's the bloke that we've been wanting. The man at the back of the modest in case and the hope Wilmington case in hundreds of others.

Is this it? Quite a contraption. Yes, I only hope he hasn't upset the adjustment by something else. Oh, please, are we? I hope you haven't heard my voice. Sound all right. I can only be conversational.

Come on, old thing. Show us your paces. Open sesame. Open sesame, can't find you. Open sesame, open sesame. Ooooooooh! Did we see? No, he's not. He lived to stand his trial.

And so, all's right with the world, as it always is when Lord Peter Whimsie is involved. involved. The Cave of Alibaba by Dorothy Sears was the story which gave us tonight's suspense. Suspense is produced by William Speer. Our guest director for this evening was Robert Lewis Cheyenne. Tonight's radio drama was written by Peter Lyon and scored by Bernard

Herman. Romney Brent was Peter whimsy. William Molten played number one and Ira Gerald, the lady in the case. Others in the cast were Kathleen Caudel, Victor Beecraft, Roland Bartenly, J.W. Austin, William Padmore, Ian Martin, and William Molten. Next Wednesday, suspense will not be heard because of a special All-Star Hollywood broadcast which Paramount Pictures

will present. Two weeks from tonight at this time, Columbia will bring you another selected story from the world's great literature of thrills. Another study in suspense. The Columbia Broadcasting System.