Fugitive's Trail: Tales of the Texas Rangers (October 21, 1951)

“Fugitive's Trail” is an episode of Tales of the Texas Rangers, the old-time radio show, first broadcast October 21, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

On the night of January 21, 1948, Ben and Mrs. Purvis return to their ranch near Newby, Texas to find Dave Fenton, a young man who has been dating their babysitter Arlene Rankin, dead from a shotgun wound. The Purvises' shotgun is missing, and Arlene has disappeared. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate whether Arlene killed Fenton in a jealous rage or if something more complex occurred.

A ranch on the outskirts of Newby, Texas, in January 1948

Characters: Ranger Jason Pearson, Ben Purvis, Mrs. Purvis, Arlene Rankin, Dave Fenton, Sheriff, Lenny Hayes, Miss Sutton

Listen for: The ranger's investigation into the missing babysitter and the murder weapon, and what Lenny Hayes reveals about Arlene's relationship with the deceased

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.