The Adventures of Frank Race - The Adventure of the Green Doubloon

Old Time Radio Mysteries

Frank Race and Mark Donovan are on a plane heading toward Central America. They are a few minutes from the landing field at Kalan, gate to the eastern entrance of the Panama Canal. Frank says "We're losing altitude, we'll be on the ground shortly". Mark says "I hope the weather is nicer down there than it is up here. It's been a very bumpy ride. Why did we have to come to this place, anyhow?" Frank says "To see if we can persuade an embezzler to part with 300,000 dollars in exchange for his freedom". Mark says "300 G's? So why didn't they just get in touch with the cops down here and have them latch on to the guy?" Frank says "The company figures he might give up the money if I can convince him of the error of his ways, and promise that no charges will be pressed". Mark asks "Look, who is the guy? What makes them so sure he's down here?" Frank says "His name is David Bellamy, and he's a passenger on the S.S. Kermit bound for Peru. According to the timetable, the Kermit figures to be in port at Kalan, waiting to go through the locks to the Pacific". Mark asks "You know anything about this Bellamy character?" Frank says "Yes. He used to be a radio actor and a master of dialects. Then he got in trouble and spent some time in prison. While he was there, he learned accounting". Mark says "Brother, must have learned plenty to be able to juggle 300 grand. Hey look, if he learned accounting while he was locked up, what did they lock him up for in the first place?" Frank says "He served eight years for manslaughter, Mark. He killed a man with his bare hands".