 Let every go signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline The signal oil program The signal oil company and your neighborhood signal dealer bring you another curious story by the whistler tonight to for the money and I know many things or I walk by night I know many strange Many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows Presently, I'll tell you of nameless terrors of which they dare not speak As New Year's Day 1945 draws to a close the signal oil company joins 1800 signal gasoline dealers in hoping that the coming year will be a good one for you and for your car too during 1944 you know 150,000 cars wore out each month one out of every 12 on the road So yours has been a pretty lucky car so far But it'll take more than luck alone to make today's cars last out the duration It'll take thorough conscientious servicing of every part and no one gives more conscientious service than your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer Being in business for himself. He naturally has more incentive to do a better job the kind of job that will keep you his satisfied customer Later in the program I want to tell you about several outstanding signal services for each one is designed to do for your car The thing you want most today to help it go farther But now the whistler Strange isn't it how a man can live his life through several decades? simply quietly in peaceful obscurity and Suddenly through one small incident find his world turned in the chaos For instance, there was Tom Barlow who lived with his wife Ellen in a small seacoast village of Marblehead and Whose whole life had been spent as a lowly driver of the town carry on Combination taxi delivery truck and tow car To everyone in Marblehead. He was just old Tom until that night a few months ago Raining stormy night. It was with a feeling in the air of port boating Particularly and the man who came to Tom just as he was getting ready to go home to dinner with Ellen and Judy His daughter wanted to be driven out to Guilford Inlet It was no pleasant trip on a night like that lonely miserable But a fair was a fair and Tom started out Halfway there they had to cross the inlet and Tom was just beginning to worry about whether or not the bridge might be washed out neither Yes, sir Yes, that's it lucky for us. It's still there You sure picked a night to come out to this gut for sake and neck of the woods and you get to the bridge stop Stop what I said Mr.. There's no need to stop at eight miles yet to the inlet stop when you get to the bridge Okay, mister, whatever you say Well, you're not getting out here. How much do I owe you a dollar and a half, but look mister Change you're crazy. Mr. There isn't a house within eight miles here I like walking but mister. I'm not gonna leave you out on this bridge alone at night Well Tom that's a queer thing Strange fellow never did get a good look at his face He kept it muffled up in his scarf his hat pulled down low You have half a mind to run after him, but in 10 seconds He's disappeared into the blackness and you drive back to town wondering Trying to make up your mind whether you should tell somebody about him or not Then when you're putting up the cab for the night and you happen to glance in the back your mind is made up for you I'm not going to leave you out on this bridge alone. What time was that Tom? Oh about two hours ago at nine o'clock I tried to argue with him sheriff, but he just wouldn't listen. Okay. What happened then well And I came on back to the garage and when I was cleaning out the back of my cab I found this package package what package whose package right here what I came to see you about Yeah, look for yourself Okay, $25,000. I thought I'd better turn it in quick Hey Tom listen, huh? You left this man on joker bridge two hours ago. Yeah, that's right nine o'clock Sure was a queer bird sheriff had a muffler over half of his face could hardly hear him talk I said Get out the car got five men. We're going to gilford bridge Anything down there? Well, it's not where I left him here right here I found this coat and hat on the bridge. Hey Eddie put the place right over here That's the coat the man was wearing and that's his hat to your time. I'm positive Okay, so this muffler out of the water about 20 yards downstream. That is to get that's what he had over his mouth Mating talks a protruding hat coat muffler looks like he drowned himself all right you aiming to drag the inlet sheriff not tonight I'm not the morning anyhow with that undertow a body would be two miles out to see by now. That's right What do you suppose he done it for poor guy poor guy Tom? He left $25,000 in your cab, didn't he? Oh, well money don't mean much if you're so low You want to jump in the river? Money don't mean much, huh? Listen Tom if we don't find that man's body if nobody claims that money in six months You know who it belongs to it belongs to you Tom. Yes, sir. You that's the law If nobody claims it in six months, and if we don't find the body that fits this hat and coat Well Tom that's quite a stroke of luck, isn't it? Imagine $25,000 more than you've ever dreamed of and it's yours Almost You stand on the bridge and gaze into the dark water below and wonder about your strange Passenger, but perhaps you wouldn't wonder if you could see something happening in a lonely house eight miles away at Guilford inlet So you don't recognize me and after I've paid your salary kept you living here all these years Mr. Ben Me and don't stand there gawking. Let me in and close the door make some hot coffee. I'm frozen to the bone Mr. Ben, where's your hat and coat? You're soaking wet, Mr. Ben. Where's your hat and coat you're soaking wet, Mr. Ben Heaven woman can't you say anything better than that? 20 years 20 years and I come home to where's your hat and coat, Mr. Ben Well me you're still a fool. Yes, sir. I'll get the coffee. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Yes, sir You still go down to the village every day and got up like a fish wife. Well, sir, I Well, I'm here you keep away from a bit of do you understand or do your groceries by phone if this morgue still has a phone Oh, no, sir. Not since you left Barlow man has all boarded up except in my room all the better You have the delivery sent once a month then nobody's to know that I've come back to Guilford. Is that clear? No one yes, sir. If you want coffee, this is well me a little love of heaven Nothing change you're still afraid of me, aren't you? Yes, sir. Oh, please don't get the coffee. Yes. No, no, no wait wait wait My brother Tom Still drives that taxi is I suppose. Oh, yes, they say down in the village never mind your full gossips Still driving a taxi after 20 years Mr. Happy good luck Everybody loves good old Tom. Don't say Oh, yes, he's such a cheerful man and his wife Go get the coffee. Don't you babble about Ellen Barlow? You understand don't you ever babble to me about Ellen Barlow? Yes, Tom Barlow if you could see that scene and your brother Ben sitting in the old family house in Guilford Inlet Perhaps you wouldn't wonder so about the stranger's disappearance But you don't see that and so to you and your wife Ellen It's like a dream Why we're gonna be We are Ellen we are even the sheriff thinks so we ought to go out and do the town We'll have plenty of time for that Tom Barlow after six months Oh never mind the key thing where's my tonic? Like a trip camera right here, sir on the train Where's the afternoon favorite here you are sir, but there's nothing new about mr. Tom and the money Who asked you that? Mrs. Will me your nosy aren't you? Oh, oh, please mr. Ben No, they miss a little me, but you are a good house Quiet I feel like talking yes for the tea No, no, no, don't stand up sit down here by me Chats Business friend of mine today at five sharp mr. Peter Going to do something You and I will chat until you Yes, lemon and two sugars So you remember after all Well me I'm a very rich man. I made a good deal of money in the city. Yes, sir. I remembered you in my will You'll be well off when I die Very well off That's why I think you'll keep your mouth closed about Oh, I feel like talking Did you read that they haven't found the body yet of the man who left the money in my brother's text? Oh, yes, they've been dragging me in it for weeks I can drag for years. They won't ever find the body. You know why Because I am the body Mr. Ben I left that 25,000 in Tom's cab. I wanted him to find it. I put it there But mr. Ben I'm going to break Tom Barlow. You watch please don't tell me I don't want to know Every day more certain Won't wait for six months Holds around here lending money on speculation to get in deep you what I'm happy girl I've always said you could get along without money Married Ellen on the shoestring shoestring and I could have given her everything I could have given up clothes a house in the city. You mustn't tell me, please They're happy girl lucky. I can just hear him now. Money isn't everything Money only causes trouble Very delin or a shoestring Well, this time he'll find out what money can do You are listening to the whistler brought to you by your friends the signal oil company marketers of famous signal gasoline your best buy today Remember to let every ghost signal remind you. You do go farther with signal gasoline Now the pattern is clear then Barlow after 20 years is planning to extract his revenge for his brother Tom Marrying the woman he loves. He's planning to ruin his brother with the promise of the money found and then snatch it away at the last moment and Tom good old Tom seems to be falling into the trap slowly reluctantly happily Oh, now fellas money isn't everything If you say that when you get to 25,000, I will He's got poor must go yet. No, you sense In the bank in eight weeks now nobody's claimant I'll go Hey Tom, I hear you and Ellen and the kid are planning a trip to New York see all the shows. Well, maybe Well, I can see if anybody deserves that money Person the village will be counting the days Oh 107 days we'll be rich duty. I told you not to talk about that money Oh, I'll leave her be Ellen. They don't hurt thinking about it. Oh Tom. Can't you see what I mean? Can't you understand? We've always been happy Tom the three of us without too much money and now of course we have of course we happen That's why I want you and Judy to have everything in the world You don't think I want the money for myself Tom listen. Let's withdraw our claim. Let's forget all about the money What are you saying tell the sheriff to give it to charity or something? Will you Tom will you oh? She's teasing you Judy. I'm not teasing I've got a funny feeling about that money. What Ellen dear. I'm kind of counting on it We've already run up a few bills and all and what with this little deal. I'm working deal What deal? Oh nothing Ellen Judy. What deal Tom? Just a little surprise. Hey, you know what? I've been thinking we all need a little vacation Yes, sir get away from town for a while Jerry Mason says it I could get six hundred dollars for the cab You're not going to sell the cab Well, oh that's wonderful. We could go to New York and see Radio City goes all the big shows and everything Oh, I love you. You're so wonderful. Is any wonderful more Tom? You're not gonna sell the cab please now Ellen. Don't you worry everything's gonna be all right? Yes, everything's going to be all right now isn't it Tom you're getting more certain of it every day It's been four months now, and you've almost forgotten about the stranger, but he hasn't forgotten about fuel Tom Yes Now what about this man Peterson? Well, sir. Mr. Peterson said that everything was going the way you want it Fine good man Peterson real good man. What else? What's up? What else? Well, sir, come on out with it. Well, sir, there's talk around that mr. Tom and and I don't love a heaven woman. Will you go on? You told me never to mention Mrs. Barlow's name, sir. What about Mrs. Barlow? She and mr. Tom aren't getting along so well So they're not getting along now isn't that too bad? Money isn't everything. You watch Mrs. Wilney. He'll probably mortgage the house next money isn't everything You watch I know Tom he'll mortgage the house when you find that suicide note You're going to discover a suicide note Bring it straight to Sheriff Tomkins. Well, Ben you have it all figured out And it's working out just as you expected Because when the sheriff tells Tom Barlow about the suicide note that was found at the bridge you react just as your brother With that suicide note found the money's practically in our hand. I told you it was just as good as ours But Tom, why did you have to go put a mortgage on this house? You don't understand dear. I needed the money now for that deal that I was working on So why wait till the six months is up and lose out on a great opportunity Tom How can you spend money like this before you get it? But I'm not spending it Ellen I'm investing it for our future in duties. Why why mr. Peterson told me we'd be set up for life and it's for the mortgage Well, that's just a trifle. I can pay that back ten times over the day. I get the 25,000 The day you get the 25,000 Tom the day you get it Will that day ever come Then wait in the lonely house at Guilford in that enjoying reports of your spending spending spending money you haven't got Set up ten beers for the boys Joe you bet it won't be long now And one a ill for Jerry. Yes, sir. Oh, hi sheriff. What did you have a town? No, I've got to talk to you for a second. Oh sure sheriff. What's on your mind? Do you know a man named Peterson Peterson? Well, I sure do come on have a beer share have any dealings with him. Well, this is important Tom. Well, yes Yes, I did he came to see me with a mighty attractive proposition and I well I place some money in his hand very much money all I could get my hands on Mighty attractive proposition and that's not good It's not good. No Tom this Peterson as he calls himself is a well-known New York crook real name is Clark pinky Clark Deals in pony stocks and bonds. No, he's skipped town and your money is gone with him Tom you've been swindled Though Tom now, you know the first blow has fallen all your great dreams of wealth and affluence gone in an instant You were smart weren't you Tom? Very smart So smart Ellen is gonna be rich and to be a big businessman And you imagine me I Wanted to make you proud to be Mrs. Tom Barlow. Oh, yes I want you to walk down the street and have people punch you out and say look there goes Ellen Barlow Oh, Tom Guess I've never meant to be anything but Tom the taxi driver You're right Ellen all along you were right. We should have withdrawn our claim like you said Money's brought us nothing but trouble Tom How much do you owe the bank? 18 Tom we've just got to get that 25,000 now. We've just got to Yes, Tom your situation is desperate now. You have to get that $25,000 now It will just about pay off your debt lift the mortgage on your house and buy back the taxi And then the real blow falls the six months is up It's the night before you to claim the money and it's dark and stormy Another foreboding night like that one six months ago. And as you sit by your fireside You're startled by a knock on the door Yeah Hello Tom Well, I'm afraid I don't Glad to see your old brother Tom Guess I'll have to invite myself in nasty night Hmm nice little place you have here then. What are you doing here now? That's a fine way to greet your brother after 20 years then what do you want? Still haven't changed have you Tom? Still hate your devoted brother Ben Well Tom, it's taken 20 years 20 years But I've just about done it done what driver Driver is that guilty bridge up ahead? Huh? Stop when you get to the bridge driver. I Like walking Ben. Don't you remember your old lucky passenger town, huh? Then you were the man in the cab. No, no the man in the cab was drowned. They found a suicide It was you 20 years Tom 20 years and I've come back So money isn't everything mr. Happy-go-lucky you will find out you and Ellen both Right now that 25,000 is the most important thing in your life, and you're not going to get one red cent of it I put it in your cab. I'm going to be at the sheriff's office with serial numbers and identification Money isn't everything You married Ellen on a shoestring you married the only woman I ever loved You will find out how important money is tomorrow morning Now you know the whole plot Tom now you know how you stand the money you so desperately need is not yours and never will be No need even to go down to the sheriff's office tomorrow morning because then we'll be there ahead of you unless Unless Ben didn't show up what if Ben couldn't show up who would know but you But that's murder you're thinking of Tom murder You've never done anything or thought anything like that But tonight you're desperate and you think the whole thing out It's simple really been staying out at Guilford inlet alone in that big house You can borrow the taxi back for a few hours and get out there drop his body in the inlet and Yes, he's brought you to this time. He's driven you to murder And I just like the last time you drove out this way in the town Dorm a dismal dangerous and you're driving faster than you should you're almost to the bridge Tom watch out Darn that when she wiper a cat Good Lord the bridge. It's out They will bring you the ending to our story in just a moment Meantime here are just a few of the signal services that are helping today's cars go farther When your signal gasoline dealer lubricates your car He uses the famous signal safety chart on which the maker of your car shows every lubrication point and the exact lubricant It should have and your signal dealer checks every point against the safety chart not just once but twice So not a single part can be missed The signal four star oil he puts in your motor is solvent refined to give you a pure paraffin base oil That reduces carbon and sludge and protects every motor part with a tough long lasting film that resists heat and wear His regular battery and tire checking service help you get extra months of wear Should you need a new battery his heavy-duty signal deluxe batteries are guaranteed up to two years And his retread jobs using only the finest material help you get more miles out of every tire In those and a dozen other ways Signal dealers are helping today's cars go farther You couldn't close new year's day with a better resolution Than to get acquainted with your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer soon Now back to the whistler The next morning a man staggered into the sheriff's office at marblehead to claim the $25,000 He was battered and bleeding and drenched to the skin But he was alive and able to take the money and go home to his wife ellen's Yes, tom barlow was able to jump clear of his car that crashed through the demolished bridge He came back to the sheriff's office just because he wanted to make sure and he was considerably surprised When ben didn't show up he found out later why Because when they pulled his wreck taxi out of the inlet under gilford bridge They found a body close by in the debris choked water Ben Barlow Ben Barlow driving the other way in the early dawn to claim the money and complete his revenge Hadn't seen that the bridge was down either Until it was too late Oil program will bring you another strange tale by the whistler The whistler is brought to you by the signal oil company Marketers of signals famous go farther gasoline and motor oil And by your neighborhood signal oil dealer who is at your service daily to keep your car running for the duration The signal oil program produced by george w allen with story by lewis pelleteer and jock ensign sink and music by wilbur hatch Is transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service bob anderson speaking for your friend the signal oil company And suggesting once again that you let every go signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system