Dangerous Assignment: Kroner Cutlass (Eastern Europe) 02/10/1951
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Steve Mitchell, a government agent, is sent to investigate a mysterious jewel linked to the legendary Kroner Cutlass—a symbolic sword crucia
Key takeaways
- The Kroner Cutlass symbolizes national unity but has been lost since WWII.
Main topics
- Cold War-era espionage
Notable quotes
Danger is my assignment. I get sent to a lot of places I can't even pronounce.
Conclusion
Steve Mitchell uncovers the truth behind the stolen sword, exposes the
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:00) Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. Speaker 2 (0:22) Dangerous Assignments, starring Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell. Speaker 6 (0:45) Yeah, danger is my assignment. I get sent to a lot of places I can't even pronounce. They all spell the same thing, though. Trouble. But when I walk into the commissioner's office, I don't realize this assignment's going to involve my trying to hold an Eastern European country together with my finger ring. Speaker 6 (1:08) Morning, Commissioner. Ruth said you had an assignment for me. I do, Steve. Well, where do I go this time? To jail. Let's have that again. You heard me. I'm sending you to jail. Now, look, Speaker 3 (1:17) so maybe I did pad my expense account a little last month, but that isn't enough reason. Seriously, Steve, there's someone in jail I want you to talk to, a woman. Speaker 6 (1:25) Oh, well, Speaker 3 (1:25) you're sounding better by the moment. I'm afraid you don't get the point. Okay, what is the point? The point is on the end of the chronocutlass, and it's a sharp one. Look. Jail, sword points. I think you'd better start at the beginning, Commissioner. Take a look at this map, Steve. See this little country in Eastern Europe? What about it? Politically, it's on the fence right now. And as you know, that country has had a history of violence stretching back hundreds of years. Wait a minute. The Kroner Cutlass, isn't that regarded as a sort of symbol of unity in that country? Whoever has had it in his possession has always been able to rally the country behind him, yes. The Kroner Cutlass has been a symbol of unity, or rather was. What do you mean, was? Just before the end of the war, the Krona Cutlass was given to a U.S. Army lieutenant for safekeeping by one of their national leaders. Shortly after that, the lieutenant was reported missing in action. And neither he nor the sword has ever been located. I still don't see what all of this has to do with my talking to a lady in jail, Commissioner. That lady is the missing Army lieutenant's wife. This morning, the police got an anonymous tip that she had in her possession a jewel from the handle of the Krona Cutlass. What? That's right, Steve. They picked her up and brought her in. Speaker 6 (2:29) The Speaker 3 (2:30) jewel is in her purse. You trying to Speaker 6 (2:32) tell me that the army lieutenant's really alive and has been sending jewels from his sword back home one at a time for his wife to sell? I'm only giving Speaker 3 (2:40) you what facts we have at this time, Steve. But I think there's a lot more to it than appears on the surface. Speaker 6 (2:44) Oh, for instance, maybe this whole thing's a frame, huh? Speaker 3 (2:47) I think it is. But thinking it and proving it are two different things. Naturally, that country is clamoring for the return of that sword. Well, we've got to find it before Speaker 6 (2:54) we can Speaker 3 (2:55) return it. Right. And I think you know there are interests in that country who would prefer that the sword not be returned, or if it is, that they're the ones who return it. Yeah, that figures all right. The most important newspaper over there is hooked up with the same interest, Steve. The story of this woman's arrest is already leaked out, and they're making capital of it. That's why we've got to act fast. Now, Steve, get down to the jail. Talk to the lieutenant's wife and get her story. Then go Speaker 5 (3:19) anywhere and do anything Speaker 3 (3:21) you have to to find that sword and deliver it to the proper officials. Well, that's it. You've got your assignment. Good luck. Speaker 2 (3:43) The National Broadcasting Company is presenting Dangerous Assignments, starring Brian Donlevy in the role of Steve Mitchell, colorful two-fisted government agent. At all those places in the world where danger and intrigue walk hand in hand, there you'll find Steve Mitchell on another dangerous assignment. Speaker 6 (4:06) Sure, I've got my assignment. Just a simple matter of trying to locate an old beat-up sword. But the difference is that this particular sword could determine the fate of an entire nation. And I know that somewhere along the line, I'm sure to tangle with an outfit who'll be trying their best to give me that sword. Right in the neck. So, I mosey down to the jail and talk to the Army Lieutenant's wife, Mrs. Rogers. Speaker 7 (4:26) I'm glad you came, Mr. Mitchell. Maybe you'll believe me. Nobody else around here seems to. Well, Speaker 6 (4:32) suppose you start from the beginning, Mrs. Rogers. All Speaker 7 (4:34) right. Five years ago, my husband was reported missing in action. I was convinced that he'd been killed. I still am. Speaker 6 (4:42) Go on. Speaker 7 (4:42) In the last letter I received from him, he mentioned something about having a valuable sword in his possession. The Kroner something or other. Speaker 6 (4:51) Kroner Cutlass. Speaker 7 (4:52) Yes. He said that it had been entrusted to him so that it wouldn't be captured by the enemy. That was the only thing he said about it. And I never heard from my husband again. Speaker 6 (5:02) Then how do you account for having one of the jewels from that sword in your possession? Speaker 7 (5:06) This morning a man came to my door. He handed me a small box and said it was for my husband. Before I could recover from the shock, he'd gone. In that box was a jewel. Speaker 6 (5:16) I see. Speaker 7 (5:17) I didn't know what to do. Finally, I decided to go to the police. But on the way here, I was arrested. I guess they didn't believe I was coming here to give it to them. Later they told me that that jewel had come from the handle of the sword. Speaker 6 (5:31) Yeah. Speaker 7 (5:32) You believe me, don't you? Speaker 6 (5:34) I'd like to. Look, you say a man came to your door and handed you that jewel this morning. Had you ever seen him before? Speaker 7 (5:40) No, never. Speaker 6 (5:41) Can you describe him? Speaker 7 (5:42) Well, he was short and dark. That's about all I remember. Speaker 6 (5:47) That's not much to go on. Can't you remember anything else about him? Speaker 7 (5:51) I'm afraid not. Wait. His clothing. Speaker 6 (5:55) What about it? Speaker 7 (5:56) He was wearing a pea coat and dungarees. Speaker 6 (5:58) Could have been a sailor. Well, that's still not very much to go on, but I guess I'll have to do with it. Thanks for the information, Mrs. Rogers. I'll see what I can find out. Speaker 6 (6:14) Well, at this point, I don't know whether Mrs. Rogers is telling me the truth or not, but there's only one way to find out, so I start checking. Then, 23 cab drivers later, I find one who remembers picking up a sailor from Mrs. Rogers' address and taking him to the waterfront just in time to catch a freighter that was pulling out the Golden Star. I check further and find that the Golden Star is now en route to Liverpool, England, so I fly to England. And I'm waiting on the dock in Liverpool when the Golden Star pulls in. Speaker 5 (6:41) Pity some people can't learn to stay at home and mind their own Speaker 6 (6:45) business. What? Speaker 5 (6:45) Look, Speaker 6 (6:46) I... Oh, hell! My old friend, Inspector Barrett. Hello, Mitchell. How's Scotland Yard these days? Still doing business at the same address, thank Speaker 5 (6:55) you. What are you doing here in Liverpool? Oh, just dropped down to see what you were doing here. Last time you came over, as I remember, you were looking for a microfilm. Yeah, this time it's a sword. My, my. You should have quite a collection of trophies when you finally round out your illustrious career. Speaker 6 (7:11) Anything I can do to give you a hand, old boy? Thanks, but I doubt it, unless you want to stand here and watch every seaman who comes off that freighter that's just docking. All I know is that the one I'm after is short and dark, which is going to make it pretty