Crooked Circle, The (1932)

[bunniefuu]

The Circle will rise.

To do for each other,

to avenge any brother,

the fight to the knife

and the knife to the hilts.

A brother now languishes in prison

through the instrumentality...

...of one Colonel Theodore Wolters.

The guiding spirit of the Sphinx Club,

that band of amateur criminologists...

...who have made the mistake

of tampering with the Circle.

I submit to you the name of

Theodore Wolters.

What is your verdict?

Death!

So be it.

The drawing will proceed.

It is fitting that the honor should go

to the only woman member of the Circle.

I congratulate you.

Tonight, by a means already devised,

you will execute the sentence

of death on Theodore Wolters.

And may the luck of the Circle

be with you.

To do for each other,

to avenge any brother,

the fight to the knife

and the knife to the hilts.

I say, what a charming creature!

And what gorgeous eyes she has.

But better to keep track

of Brand with, my dear.

I say, Brand, it strikes me you're

being a bit selfish with her.

How about it, fellow members of

the Sphinx Club?

All in favor of forcing Brand to introduce

us to his fianc?e, say aye!

Aye!

Say, are you fellows trying to rip me?

You forget it's only two weeks

since I met Miss Parker.

Well, marry in haste

and repent at leisure, no?

Two weeks ago he was

perfectly normal.

He couldn't be torn away from us.

Then suddenly he meets this

charmer and blooey,

he announces he's going to resign

from the Sphinx Club...

...and do the middle-aisle stuff.

Really, old chap, I don't know

how we shall carry on without you.

Well, maybe this does put our little

Sphinx Club on the map.

It certainly does.

Everybody's talking about it.

You know, the Secret Service has been

on this case for months.

Well, look who they are,

look who we are.

Hey, by the way,

did you know Col. Wolters was going

to propose Brand's successor tonight?

Well, that's interesting. Did he tell

you anything about him?

No, nothing except that he's a Hindu.

A Hindu?

My word, I hope it's not Gandhi.

Well, I see the club has

its heads together.

- Hello, Colonel.

- Have any problem?

We were just talking about

my successor in the club.

Well, he may succeed you, Brand,

but he will never supplant you.

Thanks, Colonel.

But I'm sure you'll find this gentleman

from India well qualified for membership.

- I asked him to meet us here.

- Good.

Um, Ranking, we're expecting

a mister...

Yoganda.

A Mr. Yoganda. Show him in here

as soon as he arrives.

- Yes, sir.

- Say, by the way, Colonel,

when do you expect to occupy

your new home?

Tonight for the first time.

But Melody Manor's not new.

In fact, it's one of the oldest

houses on Long Island.

You know, I love those old mansions.

They always have such

interesting legends.

Ain't scared, are you?

Oh, no!

Don't be afraid, everybody

around here knows me.

I'm Old Dan.

Well, I'm Nora Rafferty, please

go away, won't you?

Why, I just come around here

to cheer you up.

Better save all of that shivering

for when the real thing happens.

- The real thing?

- Sure.

Sit right down.

We might as well be neighborly.

Ever hear about Richard

Grayson's ghost?

Oh, no!

Well, it's been fooling around

this house for years.

Ever hear how this place

got the name of Melody Manor?

- No.

- Then I'll tell you.

Some fifty years ago...

...this house was owned by

Dr. Travers Grayson.

He was m*rder*d.

Oh!

Sitting right where you are.

He had a wife and a son.

Richard Grayson.

This boy was in love with

a little girl down the road.

And every night...

he'd go up the attic window...

...and play a certain melody

on his violin.

It was his way of saying

good night to her.

And now comes Grayson's ghost.

- And now goes Nora Rafferty.

- Hush, hush!

One night when young Grayson

was playing his violin,

the girl didn't appear.

She had run away with a fellow

from the city.

Some say Grayson went crazy.

Some say that he wandered away.

Anyhow, he was never seen again.

Mr. Yoganda.

How are you, Yoganda?

This is Brand Osborne.

- I'm pleased indeed.

- I'm glad to know you, sir.

May I present Mr. Carter.

How do you do?

- Mr. Graham.

- How are you?

- And Mr. Wattle.

- It's a pleasure, I'm sure.

All members of the Sphinx Club.

I'm honored indeed.

Your recent achievements will be a brilliant

addition to the annals of criminology.

Handles a bull like a toreador.

- Yes, Rankin?

- For you, Col. Wolters.

For me? Thank you, Rankin.

Pardon me.

- Rankin.

- Sir?

- Who gave you this?

- A gentleman, sir.

I asked him if there would be an answer

and he said that you would know the answer.

Hm.

Take a look at that, Brand.

What do you suppose this means?

It means that I've been marked

for death by the Crooked Circle.

Pardon me, may I see that message?

Evil is on the way.

I get the impression of a knot.

Is it a rope?

A rope?

Can it be a noose?

No, it's not a noose.

I have it.

It's... it's a string.

Yes, it is a string.

Gentlemen, evil is on the way.

And it's tied with a string.

A string? Can't you be

a little more definite?

No, I'm sorry, but not at the moment.

Mr. Yoganda has an uncanny faculty

for seeing into the future.

Tonight of all nights, Col. Wolters,

you will require protection.

I appreciate your interest,

but I'm sure it's all just a bluff.

Well, nevertheless, we're going with you

to Melody Manor with you tonight.

- Mr. Osborne, please.

- Pardon.

- Yes, Rankin?

- Miss Parker is here, sir.

Miss Parker? Here?

Yes, sir. I've shown her

into the library.

She says it's urgent.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

- Brand.

- Thelma, dear.

What is it? Has anything happened?

Not so loud.

Brand...

Where are you going tonight?

Why, to Col. Wolters' place,

Melody Manor.

- You mustn't.

- Why not?

For your sake and mine, promise me

that you won't go there tonight?

Thelma, I don't understand,

what do you mean?

I mean that if you love me, you...

you'll do as I say.

Well, of course I love you.

But surely you must have some reason.

I have. You promised to resign from

the Sphinx Club, didn't you?

Well, I want you to do it now.

That's impossible.

I've got to stand by Col. Wolters tonight.

His life's been threatened.

Yes, I know...

I trust you will pardon this intrusion.

I was seeking the telephone.

Oh, that's quite all right.

Miss Parker, may I present

Mr. Yoganda.

I'm honored indeed.

How do you do?

Mr. Yoganda's going to be

my successor in the Sphinx Club.

Mr. Truesdale on the phone, sir.

Oh, pardon me, my attorney.

What is it, Truesdale?

Pardon the deception,

but this is not Truesdale.

Then who the devil is it?

One who would suggest that a woman's

advice is sometimes good.

Say, what the deuce?

Now, you assure me that you carried

out your instructions?

- Yes.

- Are you positive?

Yes.

Now, Wolters is in there.

Yes, I know.

What is to be done must

be done tonight.

The slightest mistake would prove

most dangerous, remember that.

Oh, yes, India is poetic,

beautiful, exquisite.

I was just telling Miss Parker about some

of the charms of my own country.

Oh, Brand, it must be wonderful.

I'm afraid most Americans picture

India as overrun...

...by squatting gentlemen rendering

flute concerts for snakes.

- Well, again I must apologize.

- Not at all.

- Oh, you wanted the telephone.

- Yes.

Well, you'll find it in the hallway

just to the left.

Thank you.

- I must run along now.

- All right, darling.

- Don't forget, 10 o'clock.

- I won't.

I wonder what's keeping

the great lover.

- We got to get started.

- I'm sorry I had to leave.

What are the plans, Colonel?

Well, Kinny and Arthur are going

to my apartment.

They think the Circle may strike there.

The rest of us will go

to Melody Manor now.

I'm afraid I can't get out there

before eleven.

That's all right, my execution

is set for midnight.

We'd wait for you, Brand,

if it weren't for Nora's nerves.

My housekeeper.

Being alone in an old mansion after

nightfall isn't one of her recreations.

Good night, Brand.

Many a times when I pass

this old house...

...I've seen a light in that

attic window here.

And heard that strange melody...

...played on his violin.

And every time that melody is heard,

something always happens

to somebody.

Something always happens

to somebody?

Oh!

Oh!

That's him. Young Grayson is

with you tonight.

Poor fellow, still hoping to find her.

Something always happens

to somebody. Oh...

Sounds like he's in here.

Let's go in. We can hear it better.

Put up your hands.

Who are you?

The gentleman who gave you

some good advice.

Then perhaps you'll be good enough

to explain this unannounced visit.

Certainly. Col. Wolters paid us

a visit the other day...

...and we are returning that call.

Oh, the Crooked Circle, eh?

Exactly.

Listen, Brand Osborne.

You think you're going to see

Thelma Parker tonight.

Well, you're not!

Sounds like we're going

to have company.

Hey, was you blowing a whistle?

- No, I was tuning it.

- Well, what's going on?

I seen a guy crawl up there

and go through that window.

Come on, we'll get him.

- Take that off.

- What's the idea?

Take it off, hurry up!

But look, if I'm busted for neglect

of duty, it's all your fault.

Well?

Well, come on.

Put that hat on, give me that pipe.

Now put those hands up.

Put them up!

Well, what kind of a party is this?

It's all right, officers, he didn't get

very far burglarizing my apartment.

- Your apartment?

- I seen him crawling through that window.

So I runs up and crawls in after him.

- Yeah, and I come too.

- Yeah, Mike come too.

I tell you this is my apartment.

This man forced me at the point of a g*n

to change clothes with him.

Take him away, boys,

I think he's crazy.

If you alow this criminal to escape,

I'll have you both dismissed.

Nonsense, officers, take him away.

Psst! Come here.

Suppose this guy's on the level.

We'll be in an awful jam.

Yeah, well what about it?

What do you think we ought to do?

Let's take them both in.

Just what I was gonna say.

Come on.

After carefully thinking the matter over,

I've decided there's some doubt

as to the identities...

...and so I'm gonna run yous both in.

- Why, nonsense.

- Just a moment.

If there's any doubt in your minds,

I can settle it quickly.

Rankin, I want... Rankin!

Did you ring, sir?

Will you tell these officers

who is master here?

Why, you are, sir.

Why, Rankin, what are you...

Hey, you know who this bird is?

- Never saw him before in my life.

- Why you rattlebrained...

Just what I thought.

Come on you, come with me.

- Wait a minute...

- You're coming with me too.

Yeah, come with Mike too.

Anything you say can be used

against you now.

Hey, Sergeant, here's a high-class mug

I picked up on a second-story job.

- Yeah, and I picked him too.

- Yeah, Mike picked him too.

Now listen, Sergeant, I demand

to be heard.

My name is Brand Osborne.

And my name is Sergeant Murphy.

And I can't tell you how glad

I am to meet you.

Never mind the comedy. Take me to

Captain Drake, I'm a personal friend of his.

Another friend of the captain, eh?

Every guy that gets pinched

is a friend of the captain.

Captain Drake, here's another

friend of yours, sir.

- Well hello, Captain.

- Why, Brand Osborne.

These officers brought me in.

What does this mean?

Crimmer brought him in, sir.

Mike brought him in too, sir.

- Why, I tried...

- Yeah, Mike brought him in too.

- I've never heard of such stupidity!

- Yeah, and that's not the half of it.

But I'm late for an appointment

now, Captain.

If you walk out with me I'll give you

the lowdown on the whole story.

Certainly, and I'm very sorry

this happened, my boy.

Why did you have to come here?

At midnight you'll look at the clock

and listen.

Fifty years ago it struck thirteen...

and old Mr. Grayson was found dead.

Again it struck thirteen and old

Mrs. Grayson was found dead.

Again it struck thirteen...

...and young Grayson ain't never

been seen again.

Tonight, if that clock should

strike thirteen,

Beware!

- Be where?

- Beware!

Oh, if that clock strikes thirteen,

I'll be more than beware.

I'll be gone.

Thirteen! Beware!

Oh!

The clock!

It's all right, Nora, open the door.

Oh, Mr. Wolters.

- Well, gentlemen, here we are.

- Hello, Nora.

Well, you certainly got

what you wanted.

As old as the hills and as isolated

as an igloo.

No doubt filled with fragrant memories

and traditions of a dead past.

Come along, I'm anxious to show

you the place.

Oh, I'm sorry you got a headache, sir.

Shall I get you a bromo-seltzer?

What do you think of it, Mr. Yoganda?

Oh, please keep away from

that clock, mister.

And please, Col. Wolters,

get out of that chair.

Nora, what's the matter with you?

Well, there's a ghost in the house

and he plays the violin.

And when he does something

always happens to somebody.

Where did you get all this rot?

Oh, a q*eer old man dropped in

to cheer me up...

Miss Parker's apartment?

Oh, hello, Margaret.

Call Miss Parker, please.

Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Parker

isn't here, sir.

But I had an appointment with her

at 10 o'clock.

Where did she go?

Well, I really shouldn't say,

sir, but...

she did mention something about a...

a Melody Manor.

What's that?

You heard her say Melody Manor?

And every time the ghost plays that violin

something always happens to somebody.

Don't be silly, Nora, ghosts

are a myth.

I know, sir, but maybe this one

doesn't know it's one.

Nora, do you know what a myth is?

Yes, sir... a female moth.

- Run along, Nora, open the door.

- Oh!

I'm afraid Nora doesn't share your

enthusiasm for Melody Manor.

What do you make of her

story, Yoganda?

Evil is on the way.

There's a man at the door

to see you, sir.

Says he's a neighbor

but he looks like a myth.

Send him in, Nora.

- How do you do, sir?

- How do you do?

I live in the little house

at the foot of the hill.

- I brought you these.

- Oh, thanks, I'm very fond of tomatoes.

Are you, sir?

- I'm so glad.

- My name is Wolters.

To whom am I indebted for this gift?

They call me... Harmon the Hermit.

But no one ever sees me.

I'm too slick for them.

Yes, sir.

And why honor us with a visit?

I always visit the folks

in this house the first night.

No telling how long they'll be here.

Hey, what's he mean by that?

It ain't often folks live

in this house...

...since the Graysons died.

And I believe there's good reason.

q*eer things about this house.

But I ain't afraid of q*eer things.

I ain't afraid of nothing.

I hear Grayson's music.

Yes, often.

Sometimes I think he plays to me.

He likes me.

And I like him.

Of course he ain't people.

He's a ghost.

Yes, sir, he's a ghost.

Yeah, drop in again some time.

Evil is on the way.

I guess that's Brand.

Harry, if you don't mind.

Certainly.

- Oh, here you are. We were just...

- Where's Thelma?

What?

Say, what's eating you?

Where's Thelma?

I'm sure I don't know.

- She's not here?

- Wait a minute, Brand.

- What's the matter with you?

- Plenty.

Half an hour after you left my

apartment I was stuck up...

...by one of the members of the

Crooked Circle.

And that isn't all, For some or no reason,

Thelma begged me not to come here.

And then I found that she had suddenly

left for Melody Manor.

Now I've got to find her.

There's no need to worry,

she will be here.

Listen, if you know anything

about this...

Where's that fireman,

where's that fireman?

- What do you mean, what fireman?

- Never mind that stuff.

Where's the guy I was following

up that road?

Come on now, which one of you guys

done a dash for it?

I did.

Oh, it was you.

Oh, well...

Oh, well, uh... that's different

again, uh...

I never knew it was you.

I didn't know it was him.

( defective audio )

Thelma!

What is this?

- Say, what is this, a nuthouse?

- Come on, Nora, what is it?

- There's a violin, I heard it again.

- But did you see anything?

- No, sir.

- Did anything move?

- Yes, sir, I did.

- Harry, go look.

Perhaps Crimmer will be good enough

to stay here with Nora.

I'd rather stay here.

Harry, you and I will try the attic.

- Mr. Yoganda, do you happen to be armed?

- Always.

Then I'll depend on you

to watch this hallway.

Egyptian.

Probably valuable.

Yes, I understand old Dr. Grayson had

quite a collection at one time.

Hey, look, is everybody crazy around

here or just a couple of yous?

Don't talk, don't talk,

I heard the violin.

You heard a violin?

Well, what would you do if you

heard a full orchestra?

Don't go away.

Sturdy-looking chap, isn't he?

I wonder who he was.

Oh, Harry, perhaps you'd better

go downstairs and join Brand.

Also assure Nora that her phantom

fiddler's gone on tour.

Rather a disappointment too.

I should like to make his acquaintance.

Just a can of glue.

I'll be down presently. I'm going

to rummage around awhile.

Well, have you bumped into

any fiddling ghost?

I'm not looking for any fiddling ghost,

I'm looking for Thelma.

Now take it easy, old man, be calm.

How can you expect me to be calm

under circumstances like these?

By the way, didn't you say that Miss Parker

was an accomplished violinist?

- Why, yes, she is.

- Aha, that's interesting.

- What do you mean?

- Oh, nothing, nothing at all.

A very charming accomplishment

playing the violin.

Oh, it's you again.

I thought it best that I come.

It is not well that you be alone too much.

Did you hear that violin?

It was right here in this room.

It was indeed in this room.

Yoganda, I think perhaps

we'd better join the others.

- Mr. Crimmer...

- Crimmer to you.

Oh, please don't leave me here,

not until after 12 o'clock anyway.

Oh, did you hear anything, sir?

Not a sound, and I'm very

fond of music too.

Well, if you ask me, I think

this ghost stuff is a lot of hooey.

Not at all. Our ghostly friend has just

entertained me in the attic.

Oh, and something always

happens to somebody.

- You heard that melody?

- What was it?

Did you see anything?

Count them strokes!

Six, seven, eight, nine...

...eleven, twelve, thirteen.

- Brand! Brand!

- I heard a voice.

- Thelma! Thelma!

- Easy, Brand.

What's going on here?

Oh, what did I tell you? Something

always happens to...

And that guy with a rag

in his head.

Oh!

Oh, what kind of a house is this?

It's the kind of a house

I ain't gonna stay in.

- Come on, let's go in here.

- I'll go with you.

Oh, I'm scared stiff!

Don't call me a stiff.

You go through there and see

what you can find,

I'll meet you here in

a few minutes.

Okay.

Quiet.

You're going to do exactly

as I tell you.

Hands up!

Oh, I beg your pardon, Mr. Osborne,

I did not recognize you.

Yoganda! What are you doing here?

Merely pursuing evil.

Talk sense.

Have you seen anything of Miss Parker?

I'm sorry to report that I have not.

We've got to concentrate

on finding Miss Parker.

Let's go up and have a talk

with Col. Wolters.

That would be impossible.

Impossible? What do you mean?

Col. Wolters has disappeared.

- Disappeared? When?

- When the lights went out.

Come on, Yoganda.

- Oh!

- There ain't nobody in any of them rooms.

There ain't nobody anyplace,

as far as I can see.

That's not very far.

Yeah, well if you ask me, we're all

going around in a circle.

A circle's right.

The Crooked Circle.

They promised Col. Wolters

they'd get him.

I guess they did.

Well, why didn't you tell me

they threatened him?

You know, them Circle guys

is tough babies.

They wasn't born, they was quarried.

We know all about that, Crimmer.

What we don't know is what

happened to Col. Wolters.

Just what I...

Hey.

What's that?

Col. Wolters' revolver.

- That proves he was in this room.

- Yeah?

I wonder if there are any fake doors

or secret passages here.

Just what I was gonna say.

Oh, there ain't no panels in this...

Hey, look!

It's Col. Wolters.

He's dead.

Strangled with a violin string.

Yoganda said evil was on its way

with a string.

What's happened?

Poor old chap, they got him

after all.

It was written that evil was

on the way.

Didn't I say it would be tied

with a string?

Crimmer, get the coroner.

- No, no, don't do that!

- Why not?

Well, it would be better to continue the

search for Miss Parker without interference.

Now wait a minute. I'm an officer

of the law, don't overlook that fact.

Say, by the way, Brand,

before you got here tonight a q*eer-acting

hunchback brought in a basket of tomatoes.

That's strange.

Yoganda, have Nora bring in

those tomatoes.

Certainly, Mr. Osborne.

Oh, we're gonna eat?

Now listen, Crimmer. Before this happened,

Col. Wolters was in the attic.

Now you go up there and see

what you can find.

Ah, what could you find in an attic?

Oh, so you're afraid, huh?

I thought so.

Oh, you're taking me on, huh?

Alright, I'll show you.

I'll look up in that attic.

I'll look up in two attics.

I'm not yellow.

Yellow, huh?

Well I'll show you...

What's the idea of interfering with

an officer in discharge of his duty?

I was in a hurry.

It's alright to be in a hurry

but take your time about it.

Will you let go of that thing?

Don't... leave me alone.

Oh, mister...

Mr. Osborne, did you send

for these to...

Oh... oh... oh...

Oh, what happened?

Now, Nora, you must be calm.

- Col. Wolters is dead.

- Dead?

- Oh!

- Come on, Nora, sit down.

Ohh!

Ah!

I tell you Col. Wolters wasn't

strangled.

Oh...

- You can go, Nora.

- Where?

Go up to the attic and stay

with Crimmer.

But I don't like attics.

Run along, Nora, this is no

place for you.

Oh, I'll say it isn't.

If he'd been strangled, his lips

and nostrils would show it.

Then what do you suppose

k*lled him?

I don't know, but...

Maybe he was poisoned.

We'd better keep these

for the coroner.

Oh, Mr. Crimmer.

Aw.

Oh... Oh, Mr. Crimmer!

Ain't you afraid of that

awful thing?

Who me? I should say not.

I make no bones about a thing

like that.

Is that good or is that good?

Oh!

Hey, I guess... I guess maybe

we'd better be getting out of here.

Say, what's the matter with you, Sergeant?

Put that thing away!

Now what is it?

What do you mean...

Don't do that!

Come over here and talk to me,

will you? Come here.

Now come on, old man,

now take it easy, what is it?

What is it? Now wait a minute,

what is it?

I... I... I... I...

All right, now, now,

let's start it all over again.

- I... I... I...

- I got it! You heard that melody.

It wasn't that, I... I was...

I was chased by the ghost himself.

Here, sit down, old man, sit down.

What's... what's more...

he kicked me.

You've got the niftiest case of the

heebee-jeebies I've seen in a long time.

Nerves are tricky things.

But a slug of this makes

a person yearn for gho...

Brand! Brand!

- Brand! Bra...

- What's the matter?

Come here, quickly. The strangest

thing has just happened.

- Crimmer disappeared.

- What do you mean?

He was sitting in that chair.

I turned to pour him a drink

like this...

then I turned to give it to him and...

he was gone.

- And then what happened?

- I took the drink myself.

Oh, this is terrible.

Shouldn't we look for Mr. Crimmer?

We might as well, we're looking

for everybody else.

Oh, Harry... Harry, you run along.

I've got to think it over.

Now, keep hold of yourself, old man,

keep hold of yourself.

Come on, Nora, we'll try the rear

of the house.

Died of fright!

m*rder*d!

- Oh, you frightened me!

- Well, you didn't do me much good either.

What's the matter?

Some mug making you walk home?

No. I... I was taking a shortcut.

My car broke down.

Yeah? Well it sound phony to me.

I'd oughta put you under arrest,

only I got a m*rder on my hands.

A m*rder?

Who was k*lled?

A guy named Col. Wolters.

Oh... I see.

Yeah? Well, I wish I did.

Now come on, sister,

you better beat it.

All right, Captain, good night.

Good night.

Put up your hands!

Well, well, this is a pleasure.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Well, what do you intend to do?

First I'm going to call for

reinforcements.

Then you're going to lead me

to Thelma Parker.

Or else.

- Did you ring, sir?

- Rankin!

- Yes, sir.

- Rankin, what are you doing here?

You rang, sir.

- You know this man, Rankin.

- I never saw him before in my life.

Why, that's exactly what you said

about me this afternoon...

in my apartment when this man...

What infernal business is this!

The last time I saw Mr. Crimmer

he acted kinda funny.

Oh, do you think that his mind

might be wandering?

Don't worry, his mind couldn't

wander very far.

It's Mr. Crimmer!

Where did I hit him?

Oh, where did I hit him?

On the head fortunately.

- Come on, Crimmer.

- Oh, did I hurt you, Mr. Crimmer?

Now, take it easy, old man,

take it easy, you're all right.

Bet your life I'm alright.

- Who is this woman?

- It's me.

A very charming person when you

come to know her well.

...don't you Crimmer?

Brand!

Oh, something always happens

to somebody.

Brand, Brand, come out of it.

Come on.

Now two of us are dead.

You've had a narrow escape.

I came face to face with a policeman.

- Did he suspect you?

- Oh, he suspects everybody.

No, I'll take care of him.

Did Rankin arrive?

Yes, about thirty minutes ago.

Well, good.

Now what are the plans?

The meeting is called for 1:15.

One-fifteen? Why, you just have

time enough to make it.

Now here. Here is the ring.

Are you sure you'll go

through with it?

Yes. I haven't forgotten my oath.

You can depend on me.

And you can depend on me.

So I rang for Nora and who do you

suppose answered the bell?

Well, in this house I wouldn't be surprised

if it was Christopher Columbus.

I rang the bell and in walked Rankin.

Rankin? Well, can you beat that

for service.

Well, my head feels like a bass drum.

- Yeah, flat and empty, huh?

By the way, Crimmer, what did

happen to you?

Well, I was swinging a rolling pin...

...and Mr. Crimmer's head happened

to come under it.

That's all right, Nora, we'll get you

another rolling pin.

Say, did anyone see that Hindu?

Yes, I saw him come out of the library

when the lights went out.

If you ask me, I think he k*lled

Col. Wolters.

I wouldn't say those things, Nora,

if I were you, unless I had a reason.

Come to think of it, Brand, Yoganda

did object to calling the coroner.

Just what I was gonna say!

Crimmer, would you mind sitting in that

chair for a moment?

Oh!

I wouldn't sit in that chair

for half a moment!

There's nothing wrong with it.

There's nothing wrong with the electric

chair till they press the button.

What's that?

Hey, what were you looking for?

You heard that shot, didn't you?

Hm... I've met this little g*n before.

Oh, look! They're graves!

Well, where'd do you think they put

dead people in, balloons?

Well, I don't like graves at night.

Aw, what do you care as long

as you ain't in one of them?

Hey, you know, this thing

is turning into a mystery.

It's worse than that, it's a nightmare.

Come on, I think we all had

better go back to the house.

- This is a dreary place, gentlemen.

- Yoganda,

I believe you know more about this case

than you pretend to know.

Mr. Osborne, surely you do not

question my integrity.

Frankly I do. In fact I question

it so strongly...

I'm inclined to instruct the police

officer to make your arrest.

Yeah, and he'd only have

to instruct me once.

There are no facts to warrant

this action, and I resent it.

Oh, you do, eh?

Well, you'll either lay your cards

on the table right now...

...or be taken into custody.

Suppose, um... Suppose I could

and would lead you to Miss Parker,

would that induce you to

forget my arrest?

Why, of course it would.

- Where is she?

- Hey, wait a minute, now!

The law is the law, and if this guy

needs arresting, he's gonna get it.

I'll be responsible.

Very well, I will promise to

reveal everything.

- Will you come with me?

- Alright, but look here!

Remember this, if you're tricking us,

it's gonna be tough sweating for you.

Now, gentlemen, be as quiet

as possible.

And they say Steve Brodie

took a chance.

- I can't go in that grave!

- Well, stay here then.

- I can't do that either.

- Well, then jump up in the air and cross.

Gentlemen, this is extremely dangerous.

You wish to proceed?

Put up your hands, all of you!

And don't anyone move!

Gentlemen, I want to introduce

to you...

the Crooked Circle.

Counterfeiters and thieves de luxe.

First I shall present the leader.

Your faithful servant Rankin.

I'm sorry you forced me to sh**t.

And here, Mr. Osborne,

is an old friend.

It seems inevitable that we should

meet every hour or so.

Yeah, and there's a mug you won't be

meeting again for at least ten years.

Make a sap out of me, will you?

And here are a pair of Kings.

Emmanuel and Louis King.

And now to redeem my promise.

Miss Thelma Parker.

Thelma.

I can't believe it.

Look out, Brand!

I got the woman! I got the woman!

Hey!

Oh, it's me!

Oh, Crimmer, you idiot.

I could break your confounded neck.

Come on, Harry.

That would be you!

Come on, Crimmer, they must

have gone this way.

Who, what, what way?

Oh, Mr. Crimmer!

Over there and line up.

Come on.

Hurry up.

Thelma!

What's the meaning of all this?

- Tell me.

- Not now, Brand, please.

I could give you an earfull.

So your automobile breaks down, huh?

Well, so does your alibi.

And this is Miss Yvonne Ren?e.

The only woman member of the

Crooked Circle.

The lady's ring.

Oh, yes, I'd almost forgotten.

Many thanks. Your ring was most

necessary to our little deception.

What a splendid help you

turned out to be.

I've been tied up for hours.

My, I'm glad this is over.

Mr. Yoganda, don't you think you...

Oh, yes. Mr. Osborne, I think it's time

that I introduce myself.

- The Secret Service?

- Yes, and Miss Parker's my valued assistant.

Thelma, you and the Secret Service?

Yes, Brand, I'm sorry I couldn't

tell you before.

For the love of Pete, Brand,

where have you been?

Oh... Oh... Something always happens

to somebody.

I... oh...

Come on now, which one of you guys is trying

to start this thing all over again?

I'm certain it's here in this room.

Get out of here! Get out!

What do you want here?

I see that raising tomatoes isn't

your only hobby, Mr. Harmon.

Get him! Get him!

Get back there all of now!

Get back there!

Get those handcuffs, put them on!

Harry, you'd better stay here

and help Crimmer.

- I don't need no help.

- Just what I was gonna say.

That was Yoganda's voice

and it came out of this chair.

This is the source of your

ghostly music.

Here's the old master himself.

There's one of them things

in every room.

This is my house!

And they took it away from me.

And I swore if I couldn't have it,

no one could.

And I kept them out.

For years I just played my violin.

And Rankin came around

and installed these things.

And made it very easy for

Richard Grayson's ghost.

Come on, Professor.

Come on, enjoy the orchestra.

- Come on.

- Officer!

Not too rough.

Harmon's not one of the Circle.

He's just an eccentric old musician.

Oh, well then will you please

step over here?

Over there, do you mind?

Well, sounds like the police

are coming at last.

Ye...

What?

It's all right, officer. I phoned for the

patrol wagon. You may take them out.

Okay, chief.

Alright, you mugs, on your way.

Keep going.

Start with you, hurry up.

Outside, get going.

Come on, keep going, keep on.

Hello, Riley, haven't seen you in years.

- I came too.

- Oh, you did, huh?

Well, get down out of there and let me

shove these birds in the cage.

Get in there, get in there.

And then the guy that likes ghosts

came in with a basket of tomatoes...

and started telling us that...

Go away! You're dead, you're dead!

Tell him he's dead, somebody.

He don't know!

What's the matter with you?

- He... he's real.

- Have you all gone crazy?

Now, let me explain, Col. Wolters.

Since midnight I've held you in a state

of suspended animation.

We of India frequently practice it.

Why practice it on Col. Wolters?

Because I knew that the criminals

would not attempt to k*ll a man...

...who apparently was dead.

Well, you better come along

and report to the Lieutenant.

No, the Lieutenant's gonna wait.

- I got a m*rder on my hands.

- A m*rder?

- Where, in there?

- Yeah.

( defective audio )

But I ain't afraid of no ghosts.

I'm afraid of nothing.

Okay, Riley.

Now, about this m*rder.

Take it away, take it away!

Col. Wolters isn't dead, Crimmer.

He is too dead, he is too dead,

isn't he dead?

I've seen them deader.

It's all right, officer,

the mystery is solved.

That may be to you.

But it goes down in my book

as m*rder.

Hey, where are you going?

I'm going to marry the first

man I meet.

Look, my name is Crimmer.

Oh, Mr. Crimmer.

Well, something always happens

to somebody.

- Just what I was gonna say.

- Oh, my.