The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse Page #9

You...

You understand,

I couldn't give up my professional...

...and scientific career

to help you become a thief.

You were gonna place me in a position...

...that my life's work,

my deepest interest, would suffer.

I'm sorry, but you created

an impossible situation.

Is he...? Is he still alive?

Yes, but only for a very short while.

You know what this means, don't you?

You know what you can get for this?

What they'll do to you?

- Of course.

- Professor, listen to me.

You can't just stand there.

We've gotta do something, get him

out of here. I'll get ahold of Butch.

No, we can do it alone.

Is your car outside?

Yeah, that's Rocks, all right.

Paradol chloride.

- What is paradol chloride?

- A sedative and a poison.

His stomach contents

are saturated with it.

Twenty grains is enough

to cause paralysis of the heart.

No water in the lungs?

He must have been dead some time

before they found him in the river.

Yeah. Machine gun bullets usually put

an end to the career of his kind.

It's funny.

Very funny.

- Listen, Jo, what about the...?

- Shut up, Butch.

Good afternoon.

I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

- And, uh, thanks for dropping in.

- A pleasure.

Sit down. You over there.

I was wondering if you could tell me...

...anything about

the Rocks Valentine killing.

- No.

- When did you see him last?

- Oh, a few weeks ago.

- He stayed at your hotel. You don't...

I saw him in the lobby a couple of times,

I don't know. Not to speak to.

- Who had it in for Rocks?

- The police.

Well, I guess the department

won't miss him much.

But we've got to follow up all clues.

- Are there any?

- One or two.

This number, for instance.

We found it in the vest pocket.

Who would Rocks be calling

on the Plaza-Four exchange?

How should I know?

I didn't think you would, but

I thought I'd inquire before proceeding.

It mightn't have any connection

with the crime.

Probably not, and then again it might.

Yes, inspector?

Get me Plaza-Four...

...six...

- No use calling that number, inspector.

- No use? How do you know?

- Because I know who killed Rocks.

Hold it.

Well, now we're getting some place.

Well?

- I did it.

- You did it?

- What about Butch? Is he in on it?

- Not Butch, or anybody.

I, all by myself, without any help.

You threw the body in the bay

without any help?

- I think Rocks weighs about 170 pounds.

- I did it.

- Will you sign a confession to that?

- Sure. Why not?

I'll get some witnesses. I'll be right back.

- Jo, you're off your nut?

- Shut up, Butch.

- Dictaphone, huh? The place is wired.

- Why don't...?

Shut up.

My confession won't hold water.

I'm gonna keep those coppers entertained

until you can get to the professor.

- The professor?

- Listen to me.

The professor is plenty hot.

Get up to his office right away.

I don't get a word. What's the matter?

Now, wait a minute.

"85 Park Avenue.

Dr. Clitterhouse."

Dr. Clitterhouse?

- Tell him to get out of the country.

- If they'll let me go.

They will, I'll manage it.

Watch they don't tail you.

- Miss Keller?

- Yeah.

The inspector will be delayed.

- Would you mind waiting for him outside?

- No, not at all.

- Not you, Butch. You wait here.

- Sit down, Butch. Take it easy.

- Oh, Inspector Lane.

- Hello, Miss Randolph. How are you?

- Is the doctor in?

- Yes, he is. I'll tell him you're here.

Dr. Clitterhouse,

Inspector Lane to see you.

Ask him in, please.

- Come right in, inspector.

- Thank you.

- Is everything under control?

- Yes.

That's good.

- Oh, inspector, delighted to see you.

- I'm glad to see you.

- I've got a headache.

- How long have you had it?

Since this morning.

A gangster murder case gave it to me.

Murder case? Any clues?

Plenty. We found

the telephone number...

...of a very distinguished gentleman

on the gangster's body.

- Seems rather incredible, doesn't it?

- Yes. I hope we're wrong.

Yes. Well, in any event, I can give you

something for your headache.

Fine. What's good for it?

It all depends

what kind of headache it is, the cause.

How's paradol?

Paradol chloride isn't effective

for headaches, if that's what you mean.

What's it used for?

Well, chiefly insomnia, in minute doses.

It's a sedative.

And a poison.

- Got any?

- Why, certainly. Every doctor has.

May I see it?

It's practically odorless and tasteless.

Yet an overdose causes death.

Yes, I suppose it does.

Excuse me. Police headquarters

is on the wire for you, Inspector Lane.

- Thank you. Might I use the telephone?

- Yes.

Thank you, doctor.

Yes? Yes.

Well, all you can do

is keep working on Butch.

Telephone me here when he spills,

if he spills, and I think he will.

No, let her alone.

You can't do anything with her.

Telephone me here. I'll be waiting.

Now, doctor, to get back to this case.

All we lack is the motive and we'll have

that as soon as this fellow spills.

- So there's a woman in the case too, eh?

- And a third party.

I think it's only a matter of a few

minutes before we arrest him.

I see.

- Yes?

Mr. Grant is here.

- Grant? Just a moment.

- I'll wait for my call outside.

But your headache?

Well, strangely enough,

that's almost gone.

- I'll tell Grant to come in. Shall I?

- Please.

Thank you. Hope I'm

not disturbing you, Clitterhouse.

Oh, no. Not at all, Grant.

To the contrary, you don't know

how happy I am to see you.

- How are you feeling?

- Great. But this is only a social call.

I dropped in to ask

if you'd like to have dinner this evening.

- I'm afraid this evening seems doubtful.

- Oh, sorry.

- Soon, then?

- I hope so.

Oh, by the way,

I want your opinion on a matter.

Oh, very well.

A friend of mine...

...a very close friend of mine,

has gotten himself into a jab.

You understand this is confidential.

You kept in touch with Dr. Clitterhouse

the whole time he was in Europe?

- Yes, inspector.

- Where did you cable him?

Well, I don't recall the addresses

but, well, all over Europe.

- Did you keep the cables?

- No, I... I destroyed them.

- Why do you ask, inspector?

- Only a matter of curiosity.

I was wondering how a doctor kept in

touch with his cases while he was away.

Hello?

- It's for you, inspector.

- Oh, thank you.

Yeah? Yeah?

That's what I couldn't figure out and I

hope Butch would tell us the connection.

What? I didn't wanna make the arrest

without that.

He hung around with Rocks' mob

for some time. Can you imagine that?

Put it on the teletype

and pick up every member of the gang.

What happened to the proceeds

of these robberies?

The crooks had their share.

My friend gave all of his away

to charity anonymously.

- His object was research, you see.

- No, I don't know that I do see, quite.

I suppose this has got

rather beyond him, is that it?

Yes. He kept his identity secret.

Then one of the crooks discovered it

and tried to blackmail him.

That was inevitable.

My friend's notes

were practically complete.

He didn't want to go on. Only this man

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