 Johnny dollar read here at Floyd's of England. Georgie. How are you having a pardon George Reed Floyd's of England? Oh, no, no, mr. Dollar. No, this is Jeffrey Reed. I'm George's younger brother. Oh, I didn't know he had one Oh, yes, yes indeed. What's more? I've taken over here in George's place. So to speak. What's happened to him? Well, he's been reassigned the home office back in London. Oh, I see. Yes. Well-deserved promotion for him He'll be in charge of all foreign business out of the home office. Yeah, that big bum. Yeah, I beg your pardon I mean for running off without telling me without giving me a chance to throw him a farewell party or something Oh, well, you see it. He was quite sudden. Well, it must have been George and I got to be pretty good friends You know over the years we worked a lot of cases. Yes. Yes, so he informed me He also informed me mr. Dollar. Some of them were pretty wild though I must say like the insurance on a pair of singing mice on stolen amber grease and with totally non-existent whale Pretty wild ones. I mean, you know policies. He never had any business issue. We says go back to old England Hmm. Yes. He also informed me. Yes. It's just a few days ago I'll miss the old boy. You know something Jeffrey, please He was the only insurance man I ever knew. Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I have interrupted you haven't I? He also George that is also informed me that if I were to run into any difficulties that Well of an unusual nature. Well, shall we say that? Shouldn't be called to the attention of the police. You know that I need never hesitate to call upon you What kind of crazy coverage is that company of yours given this time? It's a policy George wrote himself Oh, then I shudder and I dare say you can how they call this one crazy mr. Dollar That is when you consider it will require paying out some hundred thousand of your American dollars On what on the life? No, I should say the return of a little child Return of which you know wait a minute. Are you talking about a kidnapping? Yes? I have you called in the police the FBI and no definitely not why not because the Most explicit terms of the policy. What are you talking about? What's an insurance policy got to do with whether or not you bring in the proper authorities everything mr. Dollar Don't you understand read that kidnapping is a federal offense? Listen, give me the names involved. I'll notify the FBI No, no, no, that that is the one thing you must not do now listen to me Now please please mr. Dollar come over here and read the policy. Let me give you the facts of the case I shall try to have the father over here to see and talk with you And I think you will change your mind about calling in the FBI. Well that I doubt very much But okay, mr. Reed. I'll be there in a few minutes Yes, radio network brings you a Mandel Kramer and the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Special investigator Johnny dollar to Floyd's of England North American office Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the shifty looker Item one 430 for the inevitable tank full of gas. I Always seem to find it empty when I have to use my car I drove downtown to Reed's office in the spear building Jeffrey but very much like his brother George for whom I've handled so many investigations over the years But he sounded far more British Also, he seemed to have the knack of getting to the point by the longest possible way around He also informed me mr. Dollar that I should keep shall we say a rather weary eye on your expense account? Oh, yes, but that it might tend to get somewhat out of hand on occasion Well, let's not worry about that just now and I know now that I've taken over this office I fully appreciate how you may feel about some of the policies George issued during his tenure of office here and I'm afraid that this is one of them Suppose you tell me the fact remains that by virtue of having written some of these shall we say rather unusual policies He was able to build up the company's North American business to a hurry Unprecedented extent yes, we know that Jeffrey, but about this kid matter as matter of fact It was his outstanding record here that and him the privilege returning to the home office of Jeffrey, let's get to the business at hand. Shall we yes? Yes, of course Do you mind if I use the typical American familiarity and call you Johnny as I understand George? You don't call me anything you like if you'll only get to the point very well and First Johnny, I must insist that you read the terms of the policy covering the looker child Looker. Yes, just what it sounds like. Oh Okay, yeah, Cynthia looker and her father's name is Steven Steven looker Why do you say it that way? I'm not sure really that Somewhere in the back of my mind Forget it. Now what happened? Well, mr. Looker and his child have residence at the old Wakefield Towers He's retired understand at least according to the policy I beg your pardon. No, no nothing is going well. He called me just before I called you That is I called you after checking over this policy as he insists I do yes, well It seems that he spent last evening Up to the wee small hours with some friends leaving his daughter Cynthia alone in the apartment How old is Cynthia? Seven Go on when you returned early this morning. She was gone Well now That doesn't necessarily mean that she was kidnapped. Oh, but I'm afraid it does Johnny Was a ransom note a Rensome message rather on the tape recording device attached to his telephone demanding 100,000 dollars I see by some coincidence that is exactly the amount specified in the policy Now really Ensured her specifically Against kidnapping it provides for immediate payment in cash in unmarked bills of any amount up to and including $100,000 that may be demanded by the kidnappers But look here Jeff eight also states that under no circumstances are the press the police the FBI or Any other recognized law enforcement agency to be brought in until Mr. Looker has had ample opportunity to attempt payment of the ransom and if possible achieve return of the child. I Told you it was unusual Johnny unusual. It's highly illegal to be that as it may We are bound by its terms. Well, then why call me in? Fortunately, you are not one of the agencies of the law referred to Why under the Sun would George ever issue a policy like this? I told you Johnny. Yes, you told me When was it issued shortly after little Cynthia was born which happened to be shortly after the bealer kidnapping and the Abduction and subsequent murder of the hammerthwaite child as you may remember the hammerthwaite's Refused pay the ransom. Yes, I do remember them both. Well, can you blame Mr. Looker them for wanting such protection for Cynthia? When is the money supposed to be paid the total? Yes tonight where and how I don't know Where is Looker now on his way over here to pick up the money? Yes, I have it already for him But now if he should find you here Excuse me Yes Mr. Looker is here to see you Mr. Reed Well, uh-uh Just a moment, Sam. I Johnny I Work here. I'm the one who had to go out and pick up the cash. Oh, good Very well, Sam. I'll send him in please. Yes, sir Also, Jeff. Yes I'm the one who's going to try to keep that cash from ever being paid out The terms of that policy not worth standing Come in mr. Looker Jeffrey read introduce me as an associate he protested But of course it was too late to do anything about it He simply wanted me to buy or Jeff either for that matter If we made any attempt to contact the authorities he'd have our heads and I think he meant just exactly that Because I know about those dirty rotten kidnappings. I've read all about them. So have you And you know what happens if you don't do exactly what they say Well, uh, don't believe everything you read mr. Looker. It's easy for you to say mr. Dollar is it yes Because it isn't your kid But I don't follow on their orders exactly in every way they'll kill it right. I know they will now wait wait nothing Since it's all I got in my life She's the most wonderful kid alive the the sweetest the prettiest the most loveliest little She's all I got don't you understand? And neither you or anybody else It's going to let him take her away from me. Mr. Looker if you pay off once Don't you know that they'll try it again not on me. They won't Because I and Cynthia will be far away You think I'd stay in a place like this a country like this after that to look at no No Don't try argue with me. It won't do any good Just give me the money. Let me pay him off and get her back Well, um Of course, we are faced with the matter of proof Oh What are you talking about proof that she was actually kidnapped? What more kind of proof you want than this You said you've got a tape machine here in your office mr. Reed. Yes, I have Right over there and put this on and play it back for this This doubting thompson or whatever he calls himself play back this Tape recording and you'll see very well I shall Yeah Why Just take me a moment to get it warmed up and ready Mr. Looker Why do you have your phone conversations taped? Why not just the Habit from the business I was in before I retired. Oh, what kind of business? Look, can't you think of anything better to do than ask a lot of silly questions at a time like this Something you'd rather not talk about. Okay Okay, it was radio and electrical stuff and tape recorders that sort of thing I see one of my wife died the rest of soul right after Cynthia was born And we come here to live in peace I wasn't working anymore. Well, any reason why I shouldn't rig up our gadget to answer the phone while I was out And rig it so it could take down a message for me Does it also record conversations when you answer the phone? Sure if if I wanted to why not? I just wondered I mean outside of the business or it might be wise to have orders or contracts or legal commitments required I'm retired. The only reason I can think of for an individual would be if he expects to be threatened or something And wants a record of it for the police Expect I mean suppose he had contacts with people of questionable reputation What already when you are gentlemen And go ahead and start the tape You want it through a dollar Now you'll get it already right. This is a recording. Hello I'm not in right now But any message you want to leave will be kept on tape for me when I get back Go right ahead with your message. Well, that's real good So listen mr. Looker We got your baby your little synthia. She's okay. She's alive and comfortable the kid now for joining later You do exactly what we tell you to you get her back again tonight You don't you'll never see her alive Now all you got to do is this Get all of 100 g's unlocked You get that Unmarked And when you turn it over to us, we turn over the kid to you We'll even let you get a look at her a couple of seconds before you hand us the money So you'll know we're on the level and she's okay. Well, at least they but I want to warn you Deliver the dough alone and don't try anything funny If you call them the cops or anybody else All you ever see is a dead body All you got to do is this tonight mr. Looker tonight Tomorrow is going to be too late You put the dough in a regular paper bag see And exactly 11 o'clock I'm taking no chances that you or anybody else can interfere He does have a point there. Johnny if anyone interferes you bet. I got the point All right, but of course the tape will have to be left to his evidence mr. Looker After I get over the money After I got my synthia back then you can have Then if you want somebody to try and chase down these dirty crooks, that's up to you But not until I get my little girl back Well, now when you do get her back since we are paying out all this money Hey, you must let me know immediately. Don't you worry the second I get her back to the apartment. I'll call you I'll have her talk to you so you'll be sure that's the wakefield tower. That's right. Good. They have a switchboard then What's the difference well as long as you make the call from there from your own apartment There'll be a record of it splendid and that will suffice for the evidence we'll need before we call in the police Okay, I'll do it just like you say Now Give me the money And the both of you better Pray as soon as he left us I took off after him And what proved to be the most unsuccessful tailing job you ever heard of within less than five minutes. I'd lost him completely Why Because he must have known it He must have been afraid of what might happen to his daughter if somebody else tagged along with him Who was it because it was just about them A little bell in the back of my head suddenly rang out loud and clear Steve looker Shifty looker To make sure I passed up a couple of riddellites to get to the public library before it closed There in the old newspaper files. I found it a story from september of 1954 dateline chicago When they rounded up the old moroni mob and took him to trial Only one man got off without a prison term The one they called shifty looker Allege to be the man who kept his pals informed about the cops by means of a clever elaborate radio hookup Who joined the police radio frequency whenever the gang was pulling a job He got off the hook because he turned states evidence, but moroni Who drew a seven-year stretch? swore he'd get even And moroni had also been suspected of kidnapping By the time I walked out of that library the bell in the back of my brain was climbing like a fire alarm Item two were dined for a call the police headquarters Stinky moroni. That's right lieutenant Sure, you had a little organization out in chicago. Yes, I know drew a seven-year stretch Do you know if he's out? Well, I can check on it johnny Might take me a couple hours or lieutenant. I'll be sitting on your doorstep If you ever suffer a touch of arthritis or rheumatism and you've never tried mental item deep heating rub You can't know how good its deep heating action can make you feel As you massage it into painful areas, you feel its deep heating action. You know relief is on its way Mental item deep heating rub is an extra strong combination of active ingredients for safe temporary relief of minor arthritic rheumatic pain Use greaseless stainless mental item deep heating rub often Well, lieutenant, can I get that teletype machine out there until I can't see straight? Still no word Come on boy Sure, you don't want to tell me what this is all about. Sorry lieutenant. I'll wait wait a minute Are you thinking maybe moroni might have some reason for coming here to hartford? I didn't say that now listen, johnny. We've known each other too long If you think that maybe moroni has some reason for Oh, what's that supposed to mean? Do you by any chance just happen to know that one of his ex pals just happens to be living here now? No kidding. That didn't sound very convincing, johnny. I don't know why not but his name is steven looker. You know him? Looker Looker. Looker. Should I The one member of the marvels got off scot-free been here for years now behaving like an angel he and his little girl So we haven't bothered but Yeah, but what moroni had a grudge against him swore he'd get him so You know the worst thing moroni could possibly do to steve looker Should I? Well, if you really don't know him, I guess not but i'll tell you johnny the worst thing would be for him to harm that little girl Money no looker hasn't got much but if one hair of his little girl's head is tight listen He's been a mother and a father and everything else is that pretty little kid Like I say he's kept his nose clean here in harford So if moroni is out Okay, I know what i'm gonna do let luten put a 24 hour watch over steve looker and the kid beginning right now Wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute what for conroy conroy. Would you take it easy for a minute? Oh, you mean that's why you're so concerned about moroni. I didn't say that but i'm saying it of course it is But it's a police matter johnny. Listen lieutenant. So you just leave it up to me. Conroy What do you want me for lieutenant you conroy not a thing not yet that is not for a couple of weeks so relax The tell-it-all lieutenant johnny you can relax too. What do you mean? Your friend moroni doesn't get out of the pen until the first of next month Yeah, okay conroy that's all yes, sir Yes, johnny you can just relax for two solid weeks I guess that tell-it-all knocks a theory of mine it Smoke how blind can I be? I'll see you later. Tony's imminent release from prison that gave him the idea Or was it something that he planned all along? And now that moroni was getting out. He was afraid to wait Anyhow it all lighted up and much too well Steve looker had no money So how could a kidnapper expect him Expect anybody to come up with a hundred grand in less than 24 hours Unless he knew about that insurance policy But that policy was a deep dark secret yet by some coincidence that ransom message demanded just exactly A hundred g's his defensive attitude when he found me there in jeffrey's office Of course he must have known who and what I am As for his crack that after this was over he and the youngster would be far far away Oh, you bet they would with a hundred thousand bucks in his kick I didn't know where he'd hit in his child away from his apartment for the day. I didn't care I didn't know whose voice he'd use on the tape recording. I didn't care about that either But to carry it off without creating suspicion He would have to make that phone call to jeff after 11 o'clock from his own apartment so that it would be on record It also meant that he wouldn't dare pick up Cynthia and take her there until after 11 I tore on over to the wakefield towers took the elevator up to his floor and then Uh special delivery mr. Looker Okay You want don't just to look at those handbags. You're so busy packing. Wait a minute don't I told you I and the kid are gonna get away from here as soon as I get it back I'm sure you would too with a hundred thousand if you could Now just let's have a look at these bags and you're crazy don't have that hundred flowers to pay off the ransom. Is it shifty? Shifty and what's it doing so carefully stashed away? You see donna This thing has a silencer on it You think I didn't know who you are this afternoon? What you were doing there Think I wouldn't be ready and waiting for you and you still thought you could get away with the I'll do first. I give you one nice slug between the eyes All right, John drop it That's right cops Lots of them Gonna drop it shifty. Sure. Sure. I will Okay boys, take him out the car What brought you here lieutenant Oh, you didn't spot the tail I put on you when you left headquarters Oh, no, I uh, I guess I didn't oh, you were slipping Johnny. Yeah, but I'm glad you did. Thanks Well, let's see now expense account total is exactly, uh Four dollars and 40 cents Okay, Jeffrey. It's perfectly all right as long as you don't forget my commission on just exactly 100,000 plans Not bad. Hmm person of days work I'll take it anytime Yes, truly Johnny dollar Hard to tell you about next week's story next week one of the cleverest most diabolical weapons for murder I've ever seen Join us. Won't you? You're as truly Johnny dollar by Jack Johnstone Produced and directed by groomers or off of junior music supervision by Ethel Hubert Johnny dollar is played by Mandel Kramer Also featured in our cast were court Benson as Reed Roger de Coven as Steve looker Carl Frank as the police lieutenant Ellen Manson as the voice on the tape Guy rep as Conroy and Barbara Casar as Sarah Be sure to join us next week same time same station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is our panel speaking