 Let every ghost signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline The signal oil program Bringing you another strange tale by the whistler tonight the story of a fabulous fortune with no one to claim it and the search that ended with finders weepers I am the whistler and I know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows Yes, I know and presently I'll tell you the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak But now a tip I think you'll appreciate about the expected battery shorties this winter One out of every four motorists who needed a new battery last winter couldn't get one and this winter shortage is likely to be even more Serious for these two reasons first all cars are a year older So more of them will need new batteries and secondly fewer new batteries will be available to civilians Because of increased demand of the army that means if you want to play safe now is the time to find out what condition your batteries in The easy way to do that is to drive into your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer for a free battery inspection If tests show you need a new battery be wise get a good one One that will last Most signal gasoline dealer still have a limited number of the famous deluxe quality signal batteries These big rugged batteries are built to signals own specifications for longer trouble-free service In fact the signal oil company backs each one with a guarantee up to two years With such a battery in your car You won't have to worry about shortage because you will be set for quick starts for a long time to come And now the whistler Inside a darkened room and a great old mansion in Los Angeles an elderly man lies unconscious He's the well-known industrialist a r. Peter and a doctor bends over is still formed Outside the closed door stand two men Alan fear month Peter's business partner and John Blackburn his secretary They speak in low hushed tones In there almost an hour now has he told you anything nothing I call him as soon as mr. Peters became ill He hasn't left his side seems very strange to me Arthur never complained of his heart What do you mean strange heart attacks are not uncommon? No, no, but in all the years of our business partnership I've never known him to have even a flutter. What are you driving at? Mr. Fairmont? You're not suggesting. I'm not suggesting anything I only said it was strange. What's the matter with you young man? You're not suffering from a guilty conscience. Are you certainly not? No, no, of course not These last five years as Arthur's secretary have been profitable for you. Have a day. I'll look out for myself. Oh doctor How is he? Frankly, Mr. Fairmont. I'm puzzled. He's running a high fever and I'm sure he's fighting but but what? Well, it seems to be his heart But mr. Peters condition before his illness gave no indication of any weakness his health has been exceptionally good for his age and What are his chances now? Not good. In fact, I'd advise you to notify any family right away. Ask them to come. It's that bad I'll be back later. Good day. Goodbye doctor Well, that means silly What do you know about Celia? I know that she's the only family he has His daughter will ran away from home just before I came here and hasn't been heard from for five years Yeah, she just seemed to disappear but now she might be coming back In fact, it would be very profitable if she did come back You know about that too, of course is mr. Peters secretary naturally. I know what his containers will I know about the change he made If Celia Peters returned here before her 21st birthday all would be forgiven. She'd inherit a cool quarter of a million Yes, that's right. I know something else too. I looked up Celia's birthday. She'll be 21 the 17th of this month in just eight days That's all the time that's left. You're mighty interested in Celia Blackburn Why Business I don't understand. Well, Celia doesn't know about her inheritance unless someone tells her about it She's not coming back here to claim it. But don't you suppose that information should be worth We'll say 50,000 to you chiseling scoundrel. I've always had my doubts about you Blackburn Don't you have one ounce of common decency a girl's father is dying and you have the gall to plan coldly to blackmail her for part of her estate Okay, forget it. I'll do it my own way. Oh, no, you won't blackburn because I'm going to find Celia myself and bring her back As the closest friend of the family, it's my place to anyway, but now Well, you can just forget it blackburn because I'll see to it that Celia gets what's coming to her You'll have to find her first for months and I doubt if you can do that before I do we'll see about that I'm leaving for New York tonight. All right for a month. Maybe I'll see you there Nice fellow this blackburn you'll have to work fast here month Two days have passed already and you've just arrived in New York only six days left in six days You must find Celia Peters and convince her she must return with you Six days to comb a city of seven million people for a girl whose face would be only vaguely familiar after five years The girl who may have changed her name moved away or even have died Yes, fear month. It's a hard task. You've cut out for yourself hard task in such a short time Can I help you sir? Yes, I'd like a room please Certainly There you are Mister fear month of Los Angeles. Have you just arrived? Yes. Yes. Oh, I'd I'd like to ask you something You may be able to help me glad this postcard here. Is it familiar to you? Oh, yes, sir Those are our cards. Yes, we put them in the room. This card was mailed from here about a year ago by a miss Celia Peters Is she registered here? Celia Peters. Oh, I'm sorry, sir She was registered here for quite a while, but she checked out about three months ago. Oh You'll have her forwarding address. I'm sorry, but she didn't leave one You see I know because there have been others asking about others Blackburn You'll find your room quite pleasant. I'm sure it has a one who were these other people who have been inquiring from the speeders I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not at liberty to disclose the private affairs of our guests An ironclad rule of the hotel boy. Take this gentleman to 729 In the elevator you go fear month one strike against you blackburns here and ahead of you It's going to be more difficult than you imagine to find Celia Peters You better get busy call that number you heard about This is Alan fear month speaking. Yes, sir. I'd like to employ the services of your agency I'm at the Urquois. Will you come over immediately? Impossible I'm an actual client mr. Marook Ian I've heard quite a lot about you and I want a job done. I'd like you to do it Would a $500 retainer help your decision? 1000 room 729 a Private detective to trace Celia. Yes, but I'm a rookie and isn't the only one in town There's Pat Sheffield and he too has received a call named Celia Peters age about 21 Look, how do I know these things on the level? I told you all about myself that should be sufficient to convince you I'm serious If it isn't you'll have my check in tomorrow's mail to help you make up your mind Okay, let's get on with the description. What does this girl do? What are our habits as Peters left home five years ago? After an argument with her father. She's pretty rather small and blonde. She working here in New York Probably she has no other means of support and one more thing. Yeah, no publicity not at all The search must be kept quiet. You were don't want the police interested. I guess no But not for the reasons you may think you have my address now expect to report right away. We have no time to lose Come on. Yes, we're looking oh come in come in that annoy him here Sit down First of all, here's a here's your retainer. Well, thanks. I'll pay you an additional thousand when you find the person I want he's in New York. She is That is I think she is old girl, huh? What can you tell me about her? Not very much? I'm afraid but it's absolutely necessary that I find her and without publicity Discretion is the motto of my agency. I dare say But there must be no slip-ups publicity would spoil everything. I understand her name Celia Peters here Here's a picture that was taken about five years ago. I don't know if it'll help you Ronnie. She's a child She was 16 at the time Still have freckles. I don't know Very pretty that was snapped just a few days before she left home in Los Angeles I've no doubt that she's even prettier today lots of jobs for a pretty girl like that here in New York You know what she's doing. I'm not sure The only word we've had from her in the last five years was this postcard sent from this hotel about a year ago On it. She said she was working as a model a model Yeah, that's the most logical for a pretty girl of her breeding then you've seen her pictures in the magazine Oh, no, no, we haven't never what's the matter? Don't you read magazines out there? Models are always photographed and get their pictures in the magazine Yes, yes, but I've never seen Celia's picture in anything and she's not a model probably Maybe she's going in a show business. That's the next best place to find a pretty girl. Well, it's possible I suppose although Celia wasn't trained for anything She'd never worked a day in her life when she left home. Okay, if that's all the information you can give me I'll get started fine fine only marooke. I can't impress upon you too much There's no time to lose miss Peters must be in Los Angeles within six days and there may be others trying to reach her It's imperative that I find her first There's a quarter of a million dollars involved. I see then you're right. There is no time to lose Yes, there's no time to lose the search for Celia's arm. I'm a rookie and detective extraordinary Pat Sheffield manhunter deluxe and who else each follows his own path Sheffield calls on the rooming houses the model agencies Marooke and tracks down the theatrical offices and nightclubs the beauty parlors. Do you recognize the girl in this picture? No, never saw before call after call the trail is hard to pick up But there's something else to pick up another hunter crossing the trail time and time again, but I didn't call here before Well, I gave the same information to another man yesterday another man Is it marooke and you suppose or is it blackburn? No, my name is not blackburn Yes, mr. Blackburn seems to be getting ahead of you marooke and or is it sheffield? Maybe you better get together and compare notes You'll find Sheffield down in Benny's bar sipping a scotch and you might find his Conversation interesting even if you can't find out who he's working for you might get a tip This case is very interesting a quarter of a million bucks. I Wouldn't mind being in this Peter's girl shoes Yeah Thanks Sheffield Like for or an idea you've just given me see you later an idea and what an idea marooke in Like to be in see you Peter shoes Sheffield shoes certainly Why didn't you think of that? Celia Peters might be a model after all all models aren't pictured full face some model shoes hand gloves Maybe Celia has especially pretty hands or feet the meetries photographing salon You specialize in advertising photographs of shoes and footwear, don't you? Well, do you have a model by the name of Celia Peters? No, oh Celia Arthur would you give me her address? No, I didn't call you before this is a fashion magazine. We wanted interviewer uh-huh 235 West 58th Street. Thanks It was an idea now marooke in is on the track. He picks up fear month and they go to West 58th Street Celia Arthur a friend Yes, she might use that name. It's her father's first name Are you sure this is the right address? Yeah, come on Apartment B back this way all right There's one thing I wanted to ask you mr. Fairmont about Sheffield. Did you hire him to yes, but he hasn't had much luck Sheffield's not so dumb. I Wonder maybe he just hasn't passed his information on to you You don't mean you think that he would I don't know I just wanted to know if you were sure who Sheffield was working for Let's see. Oh, this should be it apartment B Hi With the doors a jar. Yes, we might just as well go on in wait wait There's someone sitting at a desk going through papers, but That's not Celia It's a man It's blackburn You are listening to the signal oil program Let every ghost signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline Just as Marooke and and fear month seem on the point of finding Celia Peters They arrive at her apartment only to discover that blackburn has beaten them and it seems that you've done a good job of it Haven't you blackburn You finally arrived we're seeing her. She's not here. What have you done with her? She's perfectly safe, but you won't be able to find her not before we get on that plane for Los Angeles You mean she'll let you talk her into giving you a cut of her fortune Let's say we've just reached a little agreement the game's over fear month, and I've won you may as well call off your detective and go home Why are you talking to me like this? I know I've got a problem with that I'm not sure I don't know what to do with it. I don't know what to do with it I don't know what to do with it I don't know what to do with it Why are you cheap, little cheat? I'll have you thrown in jail for this outrage. I'll thrice you myself. Now, now, Mr. Fairmont, calm down. There's no need for violence. You shut up. Who's side are you on anyway? You're supposed to be working for me, and you'll let this chiseler get in ahead of us. Maybe you even helped him for all I know. Maybe I did for all you know. But I'm telling you, now there's only one thing to do. Bow out gracefully. Come on, Mr. Fairmont, let's go. All right, all right. Bet you haven't worn yet, Blackburn. We'll see about that. Come on, Mr. Fairmont. Let's get out of here fast. I don't understand you, Marookian. Who are you working for? Me, here, Blackburn. Keep your shirt on and don't talk so loud. Now listen, go back to your hotel and wait a few minutes. I'll have senior Peters there inside of three hours. What? But Blackburn... Blackburn doesn't know any more about her than you do. He hasn't even seen her yet. How do you know that? I don't know for sure. But otherwise, why should he be waiting here in her apartment, rifling through the papers in her desk as he was when we came in? He's still looking for her himself. But then if he waits here, he'll get her when she comes home. Right. But we'll get her before she comes home. You leave it to me. I'm not sure I trust you, Marookian. All right, then. Don't. Only I don't charge for goods not delivered, so you can depend on me bringing in senior Peters and soon. Yes, Mr. Fairmont. That's all you can do. Go back to your hotel and wait trusting Marookian. But your first caller isn't Marookian. It's Sheffield. Hello, Mr. Fairmont. Come in, Sheffield. You're just in time. Thanks. Well, I guess we haven't had much luck, huh? You've exhausted your possibilities? Looks that way. It's pretty easy for a girl like that to be swallowed up in this big city. You're giving up, then? That's up to you, of course. I'll give you your fee. No, I didn't find it. I'm not entitled to anything. Could it be you've already gotten your fee from somebody else? What do you mean? I mean that... Yes? Who? Oh, all right. Thank you. Well, that was a desk clerk. He said, Seele Peters and I'm Marookian are on their way up. Seele Peters? So he found her after all. Well, that lets me out and I might as well be going. I'd rather you waited. I'd like for you to be here. You were just telling me that you didn't trust me, sir. And I don't trust Marookian either. So I want you both here. Well, here they are now. Come in. Well, Mr. Fairmont, here she is, Seele Peters. Hello, Mr. Fairmont. You're Seele Peters? Yes. Well, don't you recognize me? I know I've changed in these five years, but... I thought you'd still remember me. Yes, of course I'd remember Seele Peters. Mr. Marookian, would you say there was much resemblance between the photograph I showed you and this girl? Well, that wasn't a very good picture and it's been a long time. What would you say, Sheffield? Take a look. Hmm. Well... Oh, that! I remember that picture. Hattie took it one summer afternoon out on the lawn. Hattie? Yes, he has our housekeeper. Well, of course you remember her, Mr. Fairmont. What was her, uh, full name? Why, it was Mrs... Isn't that funny? I can't seem to remember that. We called her Hattie all... You just weren't coached quite well enough, were you, young lady? What do you mean? This girl is not Celia Peters at all. I don't know who she is, but she's not Celia. But, Mr. Fairmont, of course I'm Celia. Surely you would know me after only five years. Yes, yes, I would, and you are not Celia. You're games up, young lady, whoever you are. I have a good idea that Blackburn has put you up to this. Slick way for him to get his hands on some money. But, Mr. Fairmont... And that goes for you too, Marookian. I'm not so sure you both aren't mixed up in a tube. Now look, Mr. Fairmont, I don't know what this is all about and I didn't ask to come here. This man came and got me away from my work, telling me you wanted to see me. Because you were an old family friend, I came. But I don't intend to stay and be accused of some kind of conspiracy. You'll excuse me. Yes, you'd better get out, young lady, before I call the police. Police? I never cared much for you, Mr. Fairmont. And now I'm sure I was right. Goodbye. Well, after all that frantic search, it turned out to be the wrong girl. And Fairmont suspects a fraud plot. You were lucky to get out of this without an explanation to the police. Weren't you, Sheffield? And I'm glad this one is over, Marookian. I'm not so sure that it is over. No? How do you figure? It's possible that Fairmont made a mistake. But that was Celia Peters. After all, she's probably changed a lot since she was a kid of 16. Yeah. It's more possible that he made a mistake than that we did. After all, you and I were crossing each other's trails all along. And this other guy, Blackburn, he followed a different trail and arrived at the same girl. It doesn't seem reasonable that we'd all make the same mistake. You're right. And another thing. When I brought her into the hotel to see Fairmont, the desk clerk recognized her and called her Miss Peters. Yeah. He announced her that way over the phone. Well, Celia Peters lived in that hotel a year ago, and the clerk wouldn't know her. Sure. Then that was Celia Peters. Yeah. Yeah, but what good does it do? We were hired by Fairmont. If he doesn't accept her, our job is done. I wonder. There's still Blackburn, and there's something fishy about the whole thing. I'm going to get to the bottom of it. Maybe we can both save our fees. OK. What do we do? You tell Celia Peters. I've got some calls to make. I'll meet you later. Probably at the airport. Now, what is Moroccan thinking of? The airport? Yes, of course. Because Blackburn had two tickets for the Los Angeles plane, and right now Blackburn is waiting for Celia in her apartment. Oh. Hello. Oh, who are you? You don't remember me, Miss Peters, but I'm Blackburn, your father's secretary. I've been with him ever since you left. Oh, I see. How did... How did I find you here? It was quite a job, but now that I have, there's no time to waste. Close the door and I'll start talking. I'd prefer to have the door open. Then I'll be brief. How would you like a quart of a million dollars? Don't joke. I'm not joking. You can have it in two days. Is it worth 50,000 of it to know how you can get it? I don't understand what you're talking about. I have in 50,000 dollars. No, but you will have if you play ball with me. And you'll have the other 200,000 left for yourself. I don't think I like the sound of this. You better go. Go? I don't know. I spent too much time looking for you. I'm not going to give up now. You're going to the airport with me and we're flying to Los Angeles. I'm most certainly not. Maybe this will help you decide. A gun. Drop that gun, Blackburn. Fairmont. Fairmont, what do you want here? Well, it seems I was just in time. Celia, I was hasty. I see that now. I got the thinking after you left and I thought I'd better investigate further. Now I see you're not in league with this Blackburn. And if you have some letters or identification, I'll be convinced that you are indeed Celia Peters. But what difference does it make? What is this all about? Celia, you must come with me to Los Angeles. I've chartered a plane. We'll leave immediately. I'm not going anywhere with you. Why should I? Your father. He's desperately ill. He needs you. What? Whatever arguments you had in the past are forgotten. Surely, they won't stop you from going to his bedside. To his bedside? Is he dying? Yes. Oh no. Poor father. Of course I'll go. Listen Celia, let me handle this. You keep out of this, you chiseler. Celia, your father's will gives you a quarter of a million dollars if you return before your 21st birthday. That's Friday. So that's what Mr. Blackburn was talking about? Yes, and thank goodness I got here when I did. Oh, it's not the money, Mr. Fairmont. It's father. He needs me. I'll go. Okay, so I lose. You might as well have my two plane ticket. No, thank you, Blackburn. I've chartered a plane. It won't have to hurry, Celia. There's still not too much time to get to California. Well, Celia's going to show up at the airport after all. But not with Blackburn. I wonder if that will upset Mr. Marookian's plan. Mr. Marookian, what are you doing here? I just thought I'd see you off. Oh, yes, Marookian. Yes, he's the right girl after all. I'll drop a check for you and Mr. Sheffield in the mail tomorrow. Thanks. So you're off to collect your fortune out in Los Angeles for speeders, huh? Yes, I guess so. Sure you've got the right plane? What do you mean? Have you asked the pilot if he's going to Los Angeles? No. Well, I have. He isn't. This plane was chartered for a trip to Florida. Well, I don't understand. There must be some mistake. There is. And you made it, Fiermont. Hey, what's going on here? Oh, hello, Sheffield. Glad you're here. You can help me hold Fiermont for the police. Police? Why, what do you mean? I mean, the police will be glad to get a hold of you, Fiermont. You're wanted for murder. The whistler will give you the strange answer to the night story in just a moment. Meantime, I want to tell you about the game that's now top-favored among men in the armed forces. It's Salvo, S-A-L-V-O, the exciting game of military strategy in which two persons match wits trying to sink each other's battleships. Signal Oil Company has been supplying thousands of Salvo games to men in uniform. And these letters will give you an idea of how Wetley Ringer, a Naval Recreation Officer, writes, Salvo games are especially popular among troops aboard transports bound for overseas. And those men sincerely appreciate Signal's generosity and thoughtfulness. And from major wolf of the Army Special Services comes this letter. The Salvo game that Signal Oil Company has distributed to Army, Navy, and Marine personnel overseas have turned many dull hours into fun. Well, friends, since boys in the service have gotten such a kick out of playing Salvo, the Signal Oil Company thought that you too would enjoy this game. So, in addition to the thousands that will continue to be sent overseas, Signal has been able to get a limited number for distribution here at home. To get yours, simply stop at your neighborhood Signal gasoline dealer soon, while his supply lasts, and ask for a Salvo game, S-A-L-V-O. Remember, it's free. And it's the same exciting game for which fighting men around the world are writing Signal Oil Companies these enthusiastic letters. And now, back to the Whistler. Well, I, Maruchian, was right. The police were very glad to get a hold of Mr. Alan Fiermont, that fine, upstanding friend of the Peters family. He wasn't such a friend, after all, as it turned out. Maruchian said murder, and that's what it was. The murder by poisoning of old Mr. Peters. Yes, it wasn't heart failure at all, but Fiermont didn't think that that would ever be found out. His anxiety to get to Celia before Blackburn did was explained when the details of Peters' will came out. If Celia didn't get back to claim her fortune, the money went into the business, Fiermont's business now. So when Blackburn found Celia, Fiermont had to intervene. He tried to take her on the airplane trip to Florida to keep her away from Los Angeles until after her birthday. But Maruchian suspected Fiermont when he refused to identify Celia, and found out that the airplane trip and then contacted Los Angeles to learn about Mr. Peters' mysterious death. A smart detective, wasn't he? Yes, even Sheffield found that out. Because Maruchian deduced the fact that Sheffield was working for both Blackburn and Fiermont. And as he put it, I'll just take half the fees for keeping my mouth shut about it.