AustLit

'“THIS is Miss Van Smeeton speaking” are the words that usher in one of Larry Kent’s strangest cases. Kent is the private detective with a weakness for pretty girls who comes from the United States to Australia to fight crime.

'Mrs. Van Smeeton is a wealthy Sydney resident who owns the fabulous Eastern Star —a diamond neck lace worth £150,000. Larry is engaged to protect it when Mrs. Van Smeeton wears it to a ball she is giving in her North Shore home. His devotion to duty is somewhat strained by the presence of his employer’s lovely niece. Nevertheless, he recognises among the guests a confidence man well known to the police.

'He is consequently not surprised when the lights of the house go out and the necklace is stolen, although it is not found in the possession of the crook or any of the other guests. He is profoundly shocked, however, when on arriving home he finds the necklace in his pocket.'

Source: 'Commercial Radio Plays of the Week', ABC Weekly, 15 April 1950, p.27.