 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar that McCracken Johnny Universal Adjustment Bureau. Hi Pat. What's in your mind ever heard of a B&C? Well, yeah back in the first grade. Oh look, I'm not talking about the alphabet. I'm talking about an advertising agency Oh, what about it? Well the a stands for Appleton Alfred Appleton 55 years old eastern trust has his life insured for a hundred thousand dollars So it's in your it starts paying off at the age of 65 and we'd like to see him collect it Looks like somebody else has different ideas. What do you mean? He thinks somebody's trying to kill him I see you want me to run down to New York and talk to him He's up at his weekend place now, but a hundred miles up the coast Overlooking the sea at the skeleton point. You can talk to him there skeleton point now. That's a cheerful name I know Johnny. Mm-hmm. Make sure it stays just a name Exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yes, truly Johnny dollar And now act one of yours truly Johnny dollar Spence account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the eastern trust and insurance company Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the 11 o'clock matter Expense account item one eight dollars forty cents gas and mileage on my car to skeleton point through a drenching rainstorm The apple in home perched high on a cliff at the edge of the sea was an old weather beaten affair But right now it looked mighty good to me Yes, is this mr. Appleton's house? This is the Gregory house. Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Appleton only leases this house Oh, I see. Well, is he at home? I believe he's expecting me. You're Mr. Dollar. Yes I'm mrs. Gregory the housekeeper Come in mrs. Gregory had a strong determined face and dark metallic piercing eyes She took my coat and pointed to a door across the entry hall I was conscious of her eyes following me as I entered the library to find two men seated in front of an open fire Johnny dollar. Yes, sir I'm Al Appleton. This is my attorney Grant Hillman. How are you mr. Donald? I'll a little damp mr. Hillman. Oh, I hear sit down to the fire dry out. Oh, thanks Feels good and slightly warmer than the welcome the housekeeper gave you a man. This is Gregory Well, she did seem a little reserved. She's a widow Owns his house, but I love the place. Oh Anyway, I'm glad you came I understand there's been some sort of attempt on your life, mr. Appleton Well, mr. Appleton has received several Crank notes lately. We thought it wise to take what precautions we could have you notified the police mr. Hillman. No, no, I vetoed the idea Johnny. Oh Why mr. Appleton? I didn't want that kind of publicity right now My advertising agency is right in the middle of landing a fat new account your agency is a bnc. That's right Who are bnc? The C is nobody hmm Tom Baker and I like the idea of ABC But we didn't have any other partners. So C just stands for company. Well, this Tom Baker is your only partner He was there's some question as to whether he still is I don't follow you Al I don't think there's any need to go into that now. I guess you're right Grant Anyway, I don't want to accuse Tom of anything until I've had a chance to go over the books this weekend Did I use someone at the door a moment? This is Johnny dollar Laura mr. Dollar my wife. Oh I see How do you do mr. Dollar? Mrs. Appleton dollar the cranklet as Al has been getting up in my room. I'll bring him down. Okay, mr. Allen You'll stay overnight with this won't you Johnny now haven't you imposed on mr. Dollar enough dear perhaps He has business back in the city nonsense. Let's storm out there. Oh, I'll have this is Gregory make a room for Well, would you like a drink mr. Dollar? No, no, thanks Mrs. Appleton you seem rather surprised when you saw me here. Who did I almost as though you were expecting someone else Someone else. Well, I know I I wasn't expecting anyone in particular. Well, perhaps I just Wait hold it What's the matter that flange of lightning that someone outside that window? Oh, no, you must be wrong. They're right here I Grabbed my coat and went on into the storm because of the prowler sure but also because of Laura Appleton Because she'd been staring at that same window shaking her head quickly as though warning someone But outside in the downpour in the mud I could see no one no footprints Finally I went back inside to the phone in the entry hall to call the local police But the phone was dead Maybe the storm had knocked down the lines Yeah Well, maybe someone just wanted to make sure we'd have a nice cozy weekend Undisturbed and my hunch was It might be too cozy for comfort Or is truly Johnny dollar in a moment and now for another episode in the life of sergeant Donald Bellweather My husband close your eyes and take another nap. We'll be home soon. Are you it? Nothing very bad. It's all right. I Just a little sleepy. It's on Who is up a while take a little nap What if we do get home later than we planned at least we'll arrive in good health. Yeah, you're so right About 1,800 American drivers lose their lives each year because they fall asleep at the wheel Well, I'm just not gonna make it 1,801 Highway Just take a nap for about an hour. I'll be refreshed and we'll be on our way again All right I'm sorry. I'm not gonna make it 1,801 And you're not gonna make it 1810 to either That's my Donald that's my doll Johnny dollar and the 11 o'clock matter In that rain mr. Hill when I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me can you describe the face you saw at the window? Well, it was more of a silhouette I couldn't even tell if it was a man or a woman. You sure you did see some in Johnny Yes, reasonably sure mr. Appleton come in Your partner is here mr. Appleton Tom Baker Hello, I thought I'd surprise you. I tried to call you earlier, but your phone was out Well, this is a surprise. Well, I'd like you to meet Johnny dollar dollar. Hi, Tom. You're soaking wet My car hit a big puddle about half a mile down the road and quit on me I had to walk the rest of the way. Did you just now get here mr. Baker? Yes, why mr. Dollar thought he saw someone outside the window a few minutes ago. Oh No, I just now got here. I got some extra clothes up in my room that should fit you down Let's get you changed before you catch cold. Thank you. Oh, look, this rain is getting all of us down Why why don't we live a little huh? How about going down to the beach house building a fire playing some records having some drinks, huh? Yeah, it might be a good idea Where's the beach house down near the bottom of the cliff with a beach it's real nice But in this weather. Oh, there's a stairway leading down. Yes. Why don't we go down there? I'm I'm getting the creeps just sitting around here like this. We went down to the beach house The rain had let up a little but nobody seemed to feel much like a party We just sat there in front of the fire not saying much Once or twice I thought I'd detected Laura Appleton and Tom Baker exchanging quick glances But I couldn't be sure that's the intercom from the house. Oh, yeah, I'll get it Yes, Mr. Gregory, you can go on to bed. We won't be needing you anymore tonight. You know bed sounds like a good idea It's almost 11. I'm beat so if you'll excuse me. Oh sure sure. Well, why don't we all? Could we have our talk now? Oh Okay, Tom if you insist Laura, why don't you fix us another drink all right now? How about you mr. Dollar? Hey, yeah, I'm with you helman. Let's go on up to the house Mr. Hillman, I didn't come with you because I was tired. I wanted to talk to you I thought as much early this evening Appleton said something about not wanting to accuse Baker of anything until he'd gone over the books this weekend What did he mean? Well, I'm not really sure mr. Dollar All I know is that Al seems to think he may have found some irregularities in the books of his advertising agency Oh, well, if there was anything wrong, I'd blame myself partially my son Well, I manage most of Al's affairs, but the agency's been running so smoothly at least so I thought that Well, I see that that's going to change as of right now. I didn't come up to go to bed either I'm going to work on those books ought to take me about an hour Just about 11 now. Will you be up by midnight? Yeah, I'd like to know what you find out Where's that light switch? I never could remember it Dollar what is it that somebody else in here look out once I guess I was out only a few seconds because the clock was still striking when Hillman brought me to dollar. Are you all right? Yeah Yeah, I guess so I grabbed at him whoever he was, but he knocked me loose by the time they got the lights on he was gone Oh lucky for you. We only stunned you momentarily. Oh brother Human did you see where he went? Well, he didn't leave by this front door here. I'm sure that then he must be still in the house We worked our way through the house room by room finally ten minutes later. We stood by an open window in a back room There's our answer You got out this window. Yeah, what is it? What's the matter? Oh? Mrs. Gregory. Yeah, mr. Dollar was attacked by a problem problem. What? That's terrible. Where's the intercom to the beach house? We'd better tell mr. Apple. I right there on the wall This button here. Yeah, no answer Come on. Hellman. Let's get down there Pounded out of the house and along the path to the edge of the cliff Laura standing at the top of the wooden stairway One section of the railing was broken away We looked over the cliff. There was a party lying in the rocks down below It was Al Appleton Johnny dollar in a moment. Do you know who said? Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people Those words came from the American religious leader Harry Emerson Fosdick From the earliest days of the United States of America There has been the sentiment that the average person can achieve an important goal if he is given an environment in which he can develop his capabilities to the fullest extent an Environment in which the individual is given the rights and privileges that he needs for development It is the duty of every American to protect and stimulate this environment Remember the words of Harry Emerson Fosdick They are part of your American heritage The extraordinary possibilities of ordinary people Are inherent in American democracy And now act three of yours truly Johnny dollar and the 11 o'clock matter We stood on the stairway at the top of the cliff looking down at Evelyn's body in the rocks below That is Hillman and I did Laura Appleton was in the state of shock and we couldn't get much sense out of it We had Mrs. Gregory take her back to the house then Hillman and I got a flashlight and climbed down the rocks to Appleton's body Dead Mr. Darling. We better not move that body until the police get here. Yeah Let's see His wristwatch stopped at 10 after 11. It's 11 30 now right And because the clock was just striking 11 when I got hit over the head in the empty hole Yeah, because then we must have spent 10 or 15 minutes searching the house for that prowler Meantime he or somebody else was shoving Appleton over the cliff somebody else There were a couple of people with Appleton down at the beach house Laura and Tom Baker, I'd forgotten about Tom. Where is he right now? Hillman? That's a very good question We went back to the house the phone was working now So I put in a call to the local sheriff's office But all the units were out on call. They'd send somebody as soon as they could I started for Laura Appleton's room grand Hillman overtook me in the hall Dollar I made a preliminary check of the agency records Appleton brought up here with him this weekend. Did you find a shortage? Yes, possibly as much as $50,000 I see Thanks, Hillman. Yeah, I'll see you later Come in Mr. Dollar I I'm feeling better now. I'm sorry to bother you with questions, Mrs. Appleton, but I'm afraid I have no choice Yes, I understand. I want you to tell me exactly what happened. Well, I'll try After you and grand Hillman left the beach house My husband and Tom Baker and I sat there a few minutes And then Tom left. I see Then a couple of minutes later somebody from the house called my husband on the intercom. So he left me What time was that? A few minutes after 11, I guess What happened then? I uh, I sat there a few minutes longer than I Well, I I just didn't feel like sitting there alone. So I started up the stairway When I got to the top I I saw that the rail had been broken away I I looked over the edge. Okay Mrs. Appleton, why did Tom Baker come here this evening? I don't know. I think you do What? You tried to warn him when I saw his face at the window earlier His face? And the two of you kept exchanging glances all evening I know you're wrong Listen grand Hillman's in a position to know something about your husband's business affairs, isn't he? Of course, why? Your husband suspected a shortage. Hillman confirmed it a few minutes ago after going over the records But surely you don't think that Tom Baker had- Baker was your husband's partner Maybe he came up here to try to square things with him. Was that it? No All right Tom did come up here to talk to my husband. What about? I was going to ask for a divorce To marry Tom Baker? Oh, I- I know it sounds Sorted now after what's happened, but it wasn't that way at all Tom and I wanted everything in the open. We wanted to tell Al But I- Well, I didn't realize that you and Grant were going to be here this weekend That's why I tried to signal Tom not to come in Go on Down at the beach house. He wanted to talk to Al, but Well, I guess he couldn't bring himself to it That's why he went for a walk And you haven't seen him since No Oh, Mr. Dollar, I- I know my story doesn't sound very convincing, but But if you're trying to suggest that either Tom or I killed my husband Yeah Dollar, could I see you a minute? Oh, sure I'll talk with you later, Mrs. Appleton What is it, Helman? Tom Baker just walked in Baker? Yes, I thought you'd want to talk to him I sure do Look, Mrs. Appleton claims somebody called her husband at the beach house on the intercom a few minutes after 11 If so, that's what lured him up to the top of the stairway A few minutes after 11? Well, that's when you and I were searching the house We ended up at the intercom last, though Somebody could have had time to make that call Come on, wait a minute Mrs. Gregory was near that room when we got to it Yeah, I know Why don't you question her, Helman, while I see what I can get out of Baker? I didn't have anything to do with it I went for a walk on the beach I didn't even know Appleton was dead until Grant Helman told me a few minutes ago I'm telling you the truth Yeah, well, I'm afraid we'll have to let the police decide that Hello, Johnny Dollar at the Appleton place I'm still waiting for one of your units Oh, yeah, I was sorry, Mr. Dollar We've had a lot of calls in the call of the storm Well, you're not the man I talked to when I called before No, no, that was happening He left me a message about your call And we'll have somebody up there within 15 minutes Okay, thanks That's funny Mrs. Gregory tonight is making that call on the intercom, darling Oh, yeah, okay, Helman Well, what's the matter? Something that sergeant said over the phone Hey, wait a minute What time have you got? By 10 minutes at one Yeah, that's what my watch says too But according to the sergeant, it was after one I checked the big clock in the entry hall and the one in the living room They both agreed with my watch 10 minutes at one I slipped outside and unlocked my car door and looked at the clock on the dashboard It read 10 after one When I felt a gun in my back I realized I'd come up with the answer a little too late It's a pity, darling I thought I had a foolproof idea But I hadn't figured on your locking the car So it was you hit me over the head when the clock was striking 11 Who called Appleton at the beach house, lured him up the stairway and shoved him over Then came back and reset my watch and the clock So I'd hear it still chiming 11 when you brought me to I thought I'd only been out a few seconds Actually, it was 15 minutes Yes, but you're the only one who knows Now get in the car, we're leaving He started to get in then kicked at the car door behind me It swung and knocked Hillman off balance Before he could recover, I nailed it By the time he came to the sheriff's patrol, it arrived And Hillman, you know, he wasn't one bit happy to see them Expense account item two, $13 even Transportation back home, total expenses $21.40 And a real bargain if I do say so myself Remarks Hillman's motive was money, of course It was he who'd taken a $50,000 from Appleton's agency Yours truly, Johnny Dollar And directed by Jack Johnstone Today's story was written by Robert Wright Heard in our cast were Eleanor Oddly, Paula Winslow, Larry Dobkin, Will Wright, Ben Wright and Harry Bartell Be sure to join us next week, same time and station For another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar This is Dan Coverley speaking All right, facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service