MUSIC:
Organ Sting
Announcer:
Another Five Minute Mystery!
MUSIC:
Organ Theme
Announcer:
Our story takes place in Green's Gap, a small town in the Southern cavern district.
FX:
phone rings
Melville:
Green's Gap Hospital, Doctor Melville speaking.
Man:
(on phone) Doctor, doctor, there's been an accident out at Echo Cavern.
Doctor Melville:
Accident, what kind of accident?
Man:
(on phone) Two men was exploring and they got lost last night. One's unconscious, you better come quick before he's dead!
MUSIC:
Organ Sting
FX:
Car and ambulance bells under
Melville:
I hope you know how to get out to Echo Cavern, Lem.
Lem:
With the job of being town constable and ambulance driver, I reckon I know all there is to know about this country.
Melville:
Ever been in the cavern Lem?
Lem:
One, Doc Melville, when I was boy. Nearly got my hide tanned off by my pa. Echo Cavern is a might treacherous place.
Melville:
You mean it's easy to get lost in it?
Lem:
Not only that Doc, it's that cavern gas carbine, mmmm, something.
Melville:
You mean carbon dioxide?
Lem:
Yes that's it. All of sudden you run into some of that stuff, and before you know it --- bing! you're out.
Melville:
Still people seem to go exploring there?
Lem:
More fools to be. I wouldn't go in them caverns, at least til I was not without a dog.
Melville:
A dog-- what for?
Lem:
Well if a dog keels over then you know the gas is collecting.
FX:
Car sounds out
Melville:
I'm afraid, Mr. Gatti, your friend is dead.
Gatti:
Poor Patsy, it was from the gas wasn't Doc?
Melville:
That's what it looks like to me.
Lem:
Why did you go in that cavern anyway?
Gatti:
Patsy asked me to. He never seen a cave before.
Melville:
How far did you go in?
Gatti:
Well it didn't seem very far but, all of a sudden we lost our way.
Lem:
Where was that?
Gatti:
Well how do I know whereabouts it was if we was lost? We tried to trace our way back, but it wasn't no use. Patsy started to get scared. It's kinda funny to see a big guy like that get scared.
Melville:
Yes he is rather big, isn't he?
Gatti:
Yes six foot four. The mob used to call us Mutt and Jeff.
Lem:
And then what happened?
Gatti:
Well, I was a little scared myself but we stuck together. You know, walking in the dark with only my flash from the car. All of a sudden Pats keeled over.
Melville:
From the gas?
Gatti:
Yeah, that's what I figured. His head hit on a rock and I guess that just about finished him off.
Lem:
I suppose you reckon your self pretty lucky mister.
Gatti:
Yah, sure, I figure it's cause I'm only five foot three that I got outta there alive. The gas must have been just about a foot over my head.
Lem:
Yeah, and what do you think about that, Doc Melville?
Melville:
I think you better arrest Mr. Gatti for the murder of his friend Patsy!
MUSIC:
Organ Sting
ANNCR:
What was the flaw in Gatti's story? Do you know it? In a moment we'll hear from Lem and Dr. Melville.
MUSIC:
Organ theme
Narrator:
And now let's see whether you're as observant as Lem and the Doctor.
FX:
CAR under
Gatti:
Hey Copper, let me put my hands down, they're tired!
Lem:
When you're in Green Gap's jail, not before!
Gatti:
Ahh, I don't get it. It was a good story. I still can't figure how you found out.
Melville:
Lem tells me they used to take dogs into the cavern because the gas is heavier than air. It collects on the floor. If you really met gas, you would have keeled over first, before your pal Patsy.
Gatti:
Well what do you know, I tell nowadays in this murder racket you need a college education!
MUSIC:
FINAL STING and THEME