 From Hollywood, it's time now for... Johnny Deller. Get one moment, please. Oh, thank you, operator. Hello. Johnny? Yeah, that's right. Bill Ferguson at Continental Insurance and Trust. I'm glad I caught you before you left Los Angeles. Oh, I was just about to check out of my hotel here in Beverly Hills and grab the morning flight back east. Well, don't. Yeah, what's up? Part right. Part right? That wild old character who lives up in Lakewood a few miles north of Hartford. That's the one. Bad news, they come at worth a lot of money. Yeah, you can say that again. Oh? That robbery I cleared up for him last winter? Bill, he insisted on giving me a small bonus for it. 3,000 smackers. Wow. Yeah. So, Mr. Alvin Peabody Cardright is calling for my services. I am ready, willing, and able. Well, you contact him at once. All right, then I'll finish my banking and grab the plane. No. What? He's out there on the coast. He calls it, little. He has a place right there in Beverly Hills at 10-321 North Roxbury Drive. 10-321 North Roxbury. Did he tell you what it's all about? All these attempts have been made on his life over the years. Yeah, I know. And, Johnny... Yeah? Don't forget that Cardright has happened to us. I see what you mean. Okay, Bill, I'll be in touch. In the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Garst truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Continental Insurance & Trust Company Home Office, Hartford, Connecticut. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the life at stake matter. I notified the Beverly Hilton that I'd be staying over for a while and grabbed a Beverly Hills telephone directory. Expense account item 1, a call to Crescue 3-2-1-2-1. Mr. Cardright? Cardright? Yes, sir. Cardright, huh? I beg your pardon? What? You see, my name is Cardright, too. Oh, no, no. You, Miss... So, what can I do for you, Mr. Cardright? No, listen with you. This is Johnny Dollar. Remember? Yes, sir. And, Johnny... Yeah? How did you do it? To what? I put in that call to Hartford about an hour ago, and here you are, managing it. Oh, well, you see, Mr. Card... I know, but... Now, Johnny, rocket ships have happened. No, no, no. I'm afraid not. I just happened to be here already, you see? I was working on a case of it, Marl Bay. Oh, and did you solve it? Yeah, it came out all right. We have some kind of a reward for it. So, maybe I'll think of something. Oh, well, thanks, but that won't be necessary. Oh, whatever you say. I know that I'm deeply indebted to you for the things you've done for me, so, Johnny... Well, don't worry about it. All right. Yeah. Now, wait a minute. You see... What you sent for me. I did. Yeah, you called Hartford, said you wanted to see me right away. Oh, away. Who is Jonathan Peeples? He's an old friend of mine. He lives out here. I telephoned him to come running, too. Oh, well, what's it all about, Mr. Cartwright? Well, just you get yourself on over here to my house, and I'll tell you. I don't you waste any time. You just hurry. Pretty important, huh? Important? It's vital. Well, is somebody threatening you, something like that? Okay, Mr. Cartwright, I'll be right over. Hurry, Johnny. Please. Yes, sir. Yeah, old man Cartwright was as wacky as a bedbug. But what Bill Ferguson had told me was true. A lot of people had tried over the years to get to him and get to his money. So I phoned the desk for a Navus rent-a-car and started down from my room. I say, started. The young strew came barreling down the hallway, chasing a hula hoop, was probably a very nice kid, a great joy to his parents. They even grow up to be president of the United States. But as I started out the door, that hoop caught me between the knees... Oh! I came to a couple of hours later on the table at the dispensary, I guess you'd call it, there at the hotel. I was conscious of a good-looking blonde and starched white uniform standing beside me, holding a wad of cotton, he went just from my face. That's better now. That's better. Where's our hula hoop? Now, once more, take a good deep breath. Inhale, Mr. Dog. Yeah, I'll... Oh! What the fuck? Just smelling salts. You had quite a bang on the head. Yeah. You should see what you did to that metal door panel. When the child's parents said that if there's anything they can do, they can... No. No. Nurse, where's my coat? Oh, here. But you want a rest or what? No, sorry. I gotta get out of here. And thanks. I dashed out to where my rental car was waiting for me and drove to the address of North Roxbury Drive and a wealthy section of Everly Hills. A beat-up touring car that must have dated back to the early 30s was parked in the driveway. The front door of the house stood wide open. The kind rights. The kind rights. Oh, hello. Is that you? He isn't here. What? Are you Mr. Dollar? I mean, are you Mr. Dollar? Yeah, that's right. I'm Jonathan Peebles, Alvin's friend. And, oh, Mr. Dollar... Yeah, yeah, what's the matter? He's gone. Something's happened to him. And, oh, Mr. Dollar... Well, yeah? Well, from what I saw, from what I've found around here... Oh, Mr. Dollar, he's been murdered. He what? I'm sure of it. He's been murdered. The crack right has been murdered? Oh, Mr. Dollar, what can we do? Well, what happened? How long have you been here? He telephoned me. He told me to come over here that it was very urgent. Yeah, he told me the same thing. But he often does that. You know how he is. Always has to see me right away, immediately. And often it's just for some little thing like shelling some ice cream with him or seeing a new flower that's come into bloom. Yeah, I know. Most anything. So that's why I didn't hurry coming over here. And anyhow, Betsy doesn't like to be pushed. Who is Betsy? Well, that's my nice old car that's parked out front. Didn't you see it? Oh, yeah, sure. I named it Betsy after an old white horse I used to have when I first came to California. I see. A wonderful horse. And would you believe how old she was when she finally died? No. No, and I don't care now about Mr. Carderite. Oh, dear Mr. Dollar, well, when I finally got here a few minutes ago, I was surprised to find the front door standing wide open. But then I wasn't surprised either if you know what I mean. I certainly do not know what you mean. Well, I mean that he often left it open that way and I told him a thousand times he shouldn't do it, that it was careless of him and that one of these days I'm ruffian knowing about all the money he had. Well, I told him, Mr. Dollar. Yes, I'm sure you did. But that doesn't do us any good right now. Look, before we go any further, Mr. Peoples, just who are you? One of the many of Alvin Carderite's eccentric old wealthy friends? No, I beg your pardon. I didn't quite mean that the way it sounded. Well, I should hope not. Well, believe me, I may be eccentric, but I am not wealthy. It wasn't for beneficial finance. I couldn't even keep up the payments on bets. You mean to say you're still making it? Oh, now wait a minute. Mr. Carderite. Oh, yes, of course. Well, anyway, I came into the house and I called to him. I looked around for him, but there was no one here. No servants? No. And anyway, he keeps changing them so often that, well, I just can't keep up with them. So I looked all through the house. Any sign of a struggle, anything like that? No, no, no, no, no. Then I looked out the window and I saw them. Who's them? Two men walking out the driveway from back where the garage is. What did they look like? They were, well, they were awfully rough looking, but they were well dressed. So I thought perhaps they were a couple of Alvin's new servants I hadn't met. But I'd only thought about that two-road they were carrying. And the way it was drifting... Wait a minute, what's a two-road? Oh, it's like a big heavy suitcase, like a small wardrobe trunk. It is more like a suitcase. It was heavy. They could hardly carry it. And oh, Mr. Dollar... Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Listen, you said it was dripping. Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Oh, all over the drive. Come on. I think we better take a look and close that front door. Oh, yes. Come on. These men were coming from the garage. That's right. Yes, but Alvin doesn't have a car, so what could they be doing there? Is that where he kept his old luggage? Yes, and the frozen food locker and some garden tools. Oh, oh, there. Now look. Yes. Oh. Good Lord. Oh, yes. It's blood, isn't it? Yeah. They killed him, dismembered him. Then... Oh, Mr. Dollar. It's the inspection of the garage. Nothing. I found no sign of a struggle anywhere in the house. I tried to get a description of the men he'd seen from Jonathan Peoples, but I'm afraid he wasn't much help. And yet, with that funny mind of his... Oh, dear Mr. Dollar, I'm afraid I'm so distraught that I just can't remember it all. All right. Poor Alvin. Now look, they must have had a car, Mr. Peoples. Did you notice a car out front? A car? Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes, I did. All right. Can you describe it to me? Yes, it was a touring car in 1931. Oh, no, no, no. That's my car, I'm thinking. Oh, great. But there was another at the end of the driveway. And Mr. Dollar, I've seen that car before. What time? Well, it was a four-door sedan. It was a big car. Yeah. It was silvery on the sides and a cream color on top, like vanilla ice cream. Do you know the make? And the license number was CFU160. Oh, God. You are sure of that? No, I never forget things like that. And you say you've seen it before? Many times. Where? At the dock. Where? At the Malibu dock. That's where he keeps the Alpi car. Where? Who keeps the what? Where Alvin keeps the Alpi car. Here's the yacht. Alpi car. Alvin Peacock. Okay, okay. It's a pretty slim lead, but come on. And it was a slim one, believe me. But I couldn't see calling in the police until I had something more definite to give them. Well, here, we can take Betsy, Mr. Dollar. Are you kidding? Well, make better time than mine. Oh, yes, of course. Oh. We cut out through Westwood, then Santa Monica, then hit the coast highway and headed north. Finally, we pulled up at the entrance of the Malibu dock. Look, that's the car I told you about. Park there at the side. Yeah. Then it looks like coming here may pay off for us. But the boat, the Alpi car, it isn't at the mooring. Whitey. Oh, Whitey. Oh. I miss people. Have you seen Mr. Cart right this morning? Whitey. Well, his boat went out, though. How long ago? Oh, I'd say 10, 15 minutes. Yeah? Yeah. See it out there, going up towards Point Dune? Yeah, I said. Yeah, but those two men. What? Yeah, they had the shoreboat take them out to the Alpi car. Yeah? Well, I ought to sue them. What do you mean? That little trunk that they was carrying. You see what I'm mopping up? The messy trailer left all over the pier for me to clean up. Oh. Yes, sir. I ought to sue them. Mr. Dollar, that means they're taking poor Alvin Cartwright's dismembered body out to sea to dispose of it, and on his own. Well, he's got to find something fast enough to catch up with it out there. Well, there's that Thompson cruiser of Larry Comstock's tied up there. Yeah, who's Comstock? Oh, he has a boat and motor shop in Los Angeles. Fast enough. Well, he has a couple of big Johnson's on it. Fastest one is out here now. And call him on the phone. Tell him we borrowed it. Tell him why it's an emergency and that we'll pay him plenty for the use of it. Well, now, I don't know if you really ought to. Listen, call the Coast Guard in Santa Monica. I haven't sent out a patrol boat. Come on, people. But, Mr. Dollar, those men on the other desparados, they're killer. Oh, okay. Then stay here in the dock. I'll go along. No. Alvin was my friend. I shall help to avenge his untimely death. Maybe I should have left him behind. Of course I had a gun with me, but that wouldn't keep him from stopping a bullet if the men aboard the Alpha Car decided to shoot it out. I over the throttle wide and the twin outboards and within 15 minutes, we opened up the big 75-foot yacht. Much to my surprise, it was simply cruising along. Of course. So is not your own suspicion. That's why, Mr. Dollar. Yeah, possibly. The other must be pretty clear to him that we're chasing them. Look, look, look, the man at the wheel. That's one of the Ruffians. I saw carrying the truck with Alvin and fleeting body in it. Ruffian, man. I'm not so sure about that. And there's the other, coiling up those ropes up on the board deck. Oh, it's killer. You better stay down low, Mr. People. They're stopping the boat again. There's going to be any share. Oh, look, look, look. There's Alvin. What? Yes, Alvin. He just came up on deck. Howling. You're right. Can't you see, Mr. Dollar? They've put him together again. Yes, those kids. Alvin! Alvin! We are here! We've come to your rest. Now, what are you doing out here? Are you kidding? What? I remember now. I wanted to take you out for a nice long ride in my lovely yacht. Huh? Of course. That's why I called you. Johnny, I think you deserve something nice like this for all the good work you've done. And you've done so many fine things for me over the years. I decided I should take you on a nice long cruise. And you could relax and eat and sleep and fish and... Yes. And that's why you call the insurance company to get in touch with me. That's right. Now, wasn't that a great idea? Well, I'll be there. And I invited Jonathan long to. But an awfully funny thing happened, Johnny. No. Yes, sir, Johnny. The minute we left the dock, I just knew there was something else that I'd forgotten about. And you know what it was? Don't tell me. Of course I will. I'd forgotten to wait for you and Jonathan. Open now. Isn't that the funniest thing? Yeah, Mr. Cartwright, it sure is. Now, just a minute, Alvin. Yes, yes, Jonathan. What about those two men, those terrible killers? What did you say? Right there beside you. They killed you. They murdered you. And they... Oh, what am I saying? Oh, wait a minute. Yeah, you think it over, Mr. People. Mr. Cartwright. Yes, Jonathan. You said something else you'd forgotten. That's right. You and Jonathan. I forgot to wait for you at the house. And then when we started off, I... Well, oh, wasn't it silly of me? I forgot all about you. What was the other thing? The other thing? Yeah. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, of course. Oh, the other thing that I'd forgotten was the trunk full of nice, thick, juicy, tenderloin steaks that I'd set aside in the garage for this trip. Trunk full. Well, it was not a real trunk, just a little two-road that I had out in the garage. True. But I remembered that the minute we came on board. And so I had to send Gerald and Harold back to the house in their car together. Gerald and Harold? Oh, they're my new butler and cookie. Oh, they are the nicest boys. Oh, Gerald and Harold, come over here to the rail so my friend can... No, wait, Elvin, wait. Yes, Jonathan. You need to see those men standing there beside you. Now, why don't you and Johnny come aboard? And I'll introduce them to you. Oh, wait, just a minute. Then all that blood. What, Johnny? All that blood that was dripping out of that trunk. Oh, oh, wasn't that awful? And it was all my fault because I let the steaks fall out too much. Oh, no. All over the place. I never saw so much blood. No. But now come aboard and we'll take the nice trip that I planned for you. Come on now. Hey, you know something? It's crazy. It's wild. But it does my heart good to get tangled up in something like this sometimes. Helps keep away the ulcers. As for the expense account, forget it. Alvin P. Buddy Cardright shoved a check into my hands before I left that would cover the expense account a dozen times over. As for Larry Comstock, the man whose boat I'd appropriated, well, when he heard the story of what had happened, he wouldn't accept a penny for it. So that's that. Yours truly, Johnny Deller. Here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Instead of telling you about next week's yarn, congratulations to station WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia. Five years on the air. Pretty good, huh? Yours truly, Johnny Deller. Johnny Deller starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood and is written, produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in our cast were Virginia Gregg, Jean Tatum, Howard McNeer, Forrest Lewis, Joseph Kearns, and Paul Dubal. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Deller. This is Dan Coverley speaking.