The Thirty-Nine Steps

Originally Aired: March 3, 1952 Suspense #463, "The Thirty-Nine Steps," Richard Henai returns to London in the spring of 1914 after ten years in Africa, bored with civilian life and longing for adventure. His mundane existence takes a dramatic turn when his American neighbor, Frank P. Scudder, appears at his door in a state of terror. Scudder claims to be a spy who has uncovered a German conspiracy involving the Black Stone, a sinister organization planning to assassinate Greek Prime Minister Carolides during his visit to England. The murder, Scudder insists, will be merely a spark to ignite a greater catastrophe that could plunge Britain into war. Despite his skepticism, Henai agrees to shelter the frightened American. The next morning, Henai discovers Scudder dead in his guest room, murdered with a knife in his back. With his dying breath, Scudder gasps cryptic clues about "the thirty-nine steps" and "low tide on the fifth." Now in possession of dangerous information and with a dead body in his flat, Henai finds himself thrust into a deadly game of international espionage, hunted by the very assassins who killed his guest.