 Well, you're listening, enjoyment. John Lund as Johnny Donnelly. Tom Leslie Donnelly, I'm sending you a check for $25,000 by a special messenger. Well, thanks. I can use it. You're going to buy a painting with it in Detroit. A 17th century masterpiece called The River, painted by John Gruberl. Why? It was stolen 11 years ago from a Lauren Jeffers. We paid the claim on it. A cool $120,000. We just got a tip we can buy back for $25,000. Well, you know how I feel about paying off for the return of stolen property? And you know how we feel about taking $120,000 off? Yeah. Well? Well, okay, but I won't like it. Right now, I'd like to take a few minutes of your time to pass on a thought which incidentally concerns time. According to the Bible, to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. We all agree on that, I'm sure. And we'll also agree that the regulation of time also depends on the season. For example, did it ever occur to you who decided where our four time zones in America should be exactly? Well, back maybe 75 years ago, there were about 150 different time zones which were set up according to the whim of the local inhabitants. Most of the time was called summertime, and there could be 15 minutes difference between the clocks of two towns only 10 miles apart. So to get rid of the confusion, the Interstate Commerce Commission was established. It divided the United States into four standard time zones so that railroads, planes, buses, and the mail could run on schedule. Of course, if a city wants to go on daylight saving time during the summer, that's a decision which is made locally. The standard time remains the same everywhere else. But setting the nation's clock isn't the only job of the Interstate Commerce Commission, however. It also makes rules and regulations for the various means of transportation which go from one state to another. It sees that railroads, truck lines, barges, and boats operate safely, charge reasonable rates, and give good dependable service. It also protects trucks and bus drivers from working such long hours that they might fall asleep while they're driving. The Commission also demands that trains, engines, and machines have safety and stop devices. It is, in itself, a safety device to assure everyone of us freedom from danger as we travel about our country. The press accounts submitted by a special investigator, Johnny Dollar, to Home Office, Eastern Indemnity and Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Jan Brugo matter. Expense account item 143 dollars and 10 cents. Airfare and incidentals between Hartford and Detroit, Michigan. Expense account item two, one dollar. Cab fare from the Stadler Hotel where I checked in to the Masters and Art Galvarez on Woodward Avenue. A rather nervous little man came scurrying out from behind some valour draperies to greet me. Good afternoon, sir. It's rare. Good afternoon. Is there something we could do for you today? Are you Mr. Masterson? Oh, no, no, no, Mr. Masterson. No, I'm Hacker. No, I'm Hacker. You might say I'm Mr. Masterson's general fact totem around here. I'd be more than pleased to be of service to you, if I may, though. No, no, thanks. I'd like to talk to Mr. Masterson personally. Yes, of course, of course, of course. This way. This way, if you please, please. We're having a wonderful exhibit of modernistic expressionism in the West Gallery this afternoon, because you're a little bit early for that. If that's your reason for being here. It's not. Oh, was that so? Well, then perhaps you heard of the new Van Gogh we just get in? Have you heard of it? The stunning painting. Oh, I think you're stunning. Perhaps you've come to see that then. Well, thanks for your trouble, Mr. Hacker. I beg your pardon? Oh, this is Mr. Masterson's office, isn't it? Mr. Masterson? Oh, yes, of course. Oh, Mr. Matthews, of course. Well, I'm glad you've been in service to you, sir. I'm very glad. I'm Johnny Dahler, Mr. Masterson, from Eastern Indemnity. Oh, yes, the insurance van is coming, Mr. Dahler. Thanks. You know, it's quite a novelty to me, Mr. Dahler, acting as a go-between in the return of stolen property. Yeah, I imagine it is. Would you mind telling me how you got involved? Well, of course. Sit down, would you? Thank you. Well, as I informed your home office, a man came in here a few days ago. He wanted me to appraise the painting for him. Did he have the painting with him? He did. At the moment he showed it to me, I recognized it for what it was, the river by yarn roogle. You knew it was stolen property? A famous masterpiece, like that. Of course. Oh, what happened then? It was my intention to detain him on some pretext until I could phone the police, but it became suspicious and left. All was his next move. Yesterday morning he called me on the telephone and offered me a commission if I would act as intermediary. I was getting in touch with the insurance company and have one of their men here this afternoon at 4 o'clock. He's going to call back then? Yes. It's 2.30 now. Yes. That gives you an hour and a half in which you can make plans for capturing him and recovering the painting. I'm afraid it's not going to work out that way. There's a little thing called the statute of limitations working in his favor. In this particular case, it expired some years ago. You mean that even if you can prove this man stole the painting, he can't be prosecuted for it? That's right. Incredible. But then I suppose it's worth it. At least a masterpiece will be returned to the world again. I guess that's one way of looking at it. Expensive con item three, one dollar and ninety-five cents. Cab fare to police headquarters at thirteen hundred bulbion. Up on the fourth floor, I introduced myself to Lieutenant Griswold of the robbery division who brought out the original file on the case. It wasn't too informative. Yeah, I can't say the department's very proud of this particular file, darling. Oh, why not? We worked on the case for over a year. Here's the result. Pages of reports, everyone negative. We do a complete point. Oh, is your personal reaction? Do you have any particular hunches or ideas? Yeah, one. Only it didn't say off. Oh, was it? I figured it was an inside job. Maybe involving Selina Jeffers. Selina Jeffers? Lauren Jeffers' daughter. Oh. Only surviving member of the family now. She was about eighteen at that time studying art. Well, what sets you off on her? One of the maids said Selina's fallen in love with the picture. Had a real fixation on it. Wanted old man Jeffers to hang it in her room, not let anybody else see it. Thought it was the greatest thing that had ever been put on campus. Couldn't tie her up with it, though. I see. That's about it, darling. No sense in your digging into it again at this stage of the game. I'd say you better make your deal. That's what you want to do. It's not. Looks like I'll have to. Expense account item four, two dollars and five cents. Cab fare back to the Masterson galleries. The phone at Masterson's desk rang promptly at four o'clock. Hello? You're not Masterson. Oh, you insurance boy? That's right. Who are you? Get the questions, Mac, and put this down. Pay a twenty-one-thirty-five north diversity at ten-thirty tomorrow morning, apartment 3D. Have the twenty-five ran in cash with you. Small bills, nothing bigger than a fifty. That'll make quite a load to carry around. You want the paint back? Do as I say. Okay. But I'm bringing someone along to identify that painting for me. Sure. Bring the whole police department if you want. You can't better rap on me. I'm just doing you guys a favor. Yeah, I know. And you're getting well paid for it, too. Expense the count on five, three dollars and ninety-five cents. Cab fare out to seventeen-thirty-five Cannon Road in Gross Point. Selena Jeffers was standing near the edge of a bluff overlooking Lake St. Clair, miserably painting the view. My arrival didn't disturb her concentration in the least. So you think we're going to recover the non-bubble landscape, Mr. Dollar? Well, it looks like it, Ms. Jeffers. I suppose that has some connection with you. You did it out here? Yes, it has. I thought you might be interested in buying it back. Why? Well, it belonged to your family. I understand you used to think a good deal of it. Yes, I did. That was years ago. I'm not interested in buying it now. It's pretty modern these days. I see. Well, just thought I'd ask. I'm sure. Anything else, Mr. Dollar? Yeah. Maybe you'd like to do me a favor tomorrow. What's up? Come along with me when I buy the picture back. All right. I need someone to identify it. And one of a half dozen art dealers to do that for you? They couldn't identify the man who's sending it to me. If he's somebody out of your family's past. And what if I can't identify this person? Isn't it some time limitation or something on prosecution to this sort? Well, don't worry. You won't send him to jail. And I failed to see the purpose. Maybe it's just because I'm curious. Well, Mr. Jeffers? I'll go with you. It's about to count out on six, four dollars and ten cents. Cab fare back to the statler where I remained until the following morning. At 10 a.m. I went to the bank where I cast your check. At 10.15, Selena Jeffers picked me up in a nice blue El Dorado. At 10.30, we stood in the dingy corridor of a cheap apartment hotel at 2135 North Diversity. The name on the door of apartment 3D was Eddie Travers. I'm Johnny Dollar. I'm Johnny Dollar. Oh, insurance boy. Come in, Dollar. Thank you. Dollar, going to check the painting for you? That's right. You got the dough? Oh, I'm not carrying laundry in this money bag. Very cute. Let's count it. Let's see the painting. Okay, but don't try any funny stuff. I got friends in the next room. This way, baby, it's in the closet. All right. It is. How about it, Mr. Jeffers? That's the painting, Mr. Dollar. You sure? Positive. Okay. Here's the money, Travers. Don't mind if I count it now, do you, Dollar? No, go right ahead. Is there any reason why I should wait around, Mr. Dollar? What about this fellow, Travers? I've never seen him before. You sure about that? Just as sure as I am about the painting. Sounds like you hoped the doll might have put a finger on me, Dollar. Well, I just like to play all the angles, Travers. Sorry, this one doesn't work out for you, Mr. Dollar. You ever happen to recover any good, modern impression as you look me up again? I might be interested in buying those for you. I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Jeffers. And thanks. You know something? I don't figure you insurance guys. What's it to you? How I may got them this deal? Don't go out of your pocket. A guy like you always looks at it that way. Oh, it's so bad about that. Oh, nothing. If you like your view obstructed by bars. Expensive, Count Item 7, $3.45. Cab fare. First to Masterson's galleries where I left the painting to be held until you decided what to do with it. Then back to the Saffler Hotel. In spite of my brave remarks to Eddie Travers, I still had no more idea of how to change the course of events than I'd had when I arrived. Expensive, Count Item 8, $15.75. Hotel bill, miscellaneous, and transportation to the airport. Hello, Mr. Dollar. You remember when we were happy at Mr. Masterson's resistance? Oh, yeah, yeah, I remember, Mr.... When they told me you checked out of your hotel, I... Oh, I was turned down a surfeit. I wouldn't get here in time. In time for what? Well, tell me, Mr. Dollar, is it true that you brought that Bruegel landscape to the gallery? Yeah, yeah, that's right. Oh, my, my, my. And is it true you paid $25,000 for it? I did. Oh, oh, dear, dear, dear, dear. What a pity, what a pity. I really don't know how to tell you this. Tell me what? Well, that picture, the Bruegel landscape, I think it's important. This is in our land, the presidency of the United States. Can you guess the name of this man? He was only 28 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, and the youngest member of the Senate to which he was elected in 1837. During his administration, the Kansas-Nebraska bill, leaving slavery to popular vote, was passed. The Gadsden Purchase from Mexico added some 45,000 square miles of territory in what is now Arizona and New Mexico. And Japan opened its doors for the first time to trade with the United States. If you don't have his name by now, here's one more important clue. During his administration, the Republican Party, as we know it today, was born. Who are they? Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States. His life is part of your American heritage. And now, with our star, John Lund, we bring you the second act of your truly Johnny Dollar. John Hacker drove me back to the Massachusetts Galleries from the airport, babbling all the way. Everything he told me en route, he said all over again as we entered the storeroom at the rear of the Galleries. Uh-huh, now nothing to scare us. There it is. You see, Mr. Lund? Now just look at that. Uh-huh. Now just look at that. Oh, it's a superb piece of wood. Oh, it's a curb. And a forgery. Well, suppose you show me how you were tipped off, Mr. Hacker. Well, as I told you, Mr. Dollar, it was mere happenstance. Mr. Masterson had left, and I was preparing the painting for storage. I, I just suppose it was out of sheer nervousness. You know, I've never really worked with as valuable a masterpiece as this before. And you know what? My hand slipped. And right here, right down here in the very lowest corner, right there, you can hardly notice it. You see what happened? Where? Right there. Looks like you flicked off a little bit of paint. That's exactly what happened, Mr. Dollar. And there was the proof, you see. No, no, I'm afraid I don't. You don't? Well, look, no, look. No, look closely, Mr. Dollar. You see, you see, but the little specks of paint was flicked off. Now what do you see? More paint underneath. Yes. I mean, that seems to be clear and shiny. No cracks in it. Oh, here you are. It's exactly Mr. Dollar. Comparatively fresh paint. If that canvas had been centuries old, the paint would have been dried and cracked all the way through. Yeah. Who's the biggest expert in town on these things, Mr. Hacker? It's the biggest expert. Oh, you mean on art forgeries. Yeah, yeah, art forgeries. Yes, I've only seen our art. Oh, yes. Oh, of course. Stephen Derwood. Yes, he's your name, Stephen Derwood. He has a studio just a few blocks down in Woodward. Oh, but what a piece. It's such a magnificent piece of work and completely worthless. Oh, I don't know. I just paid 25,000 for it. Well, Hacker prepared the canvas for me to take over to Derwood. I went into Masterston's office and put in a call to the tenant Griswold. You sure it's a portrait, honor? Well, I'm taking it to Stephen Derwood for an opinion. But I don't think there's any doubts. If it's the same painting that was stolen from Lauren Jeffers, we still haven't got anything. No, but what if it's not? I'll get out of pickup on any travels. Expense account item nine, four dollars and fifty cents, cab fare. First to the studios of Stephen Derwood. Why not drop back in an hour and a half or so, Mr. Donald? That should give me time for a preliminary examination. But I can tell you right now that if this painting is a portrait, it's the most magnificently created prod I have ever seen. The next stop was Gross Point in the Jefferson. Selena was in the library, curled up comfortably in a big easy chair, sipping a drink. This visit is a little unexpected, isn't it, Mr. Dollar? I hadn't thought I'd see you so soon again. Are you disturbed about it, Mr. Jefferson? Why should I be? Well, maybe because that brugel you identified might be a forgery. Did you care for a drink, Mr. Dollar? No, thanks. It was a rather astounding statement you just made. Why? It's not the first so-called masterpiece that turned out to be a fraud. This is a little more than that involved. Like what? A child's dream of perfection. That's what the brugel meant to me. I worshipped that painting, Mr. Dollar. To me, it was a symbol of the beauty that man can create in an ugly, hateful world. And now you tell me that I've been worshipping fraud. Oh, maybe not. Maybe this one is another painting entirely. But you don't think so. Was the brugel that was stolen 11 years ago a forgery, Ms. Jeffers? I thought I'd already answered that. Well, I'm not satisfied with the answer. Then think about this. If you can prove that the brugel forgery or not is the same painting that was stolen from this library, give it back to me and I'll make out a check to your insurance company for $120,000. Do you think that will satisfy you, Mr. Dollar? Well, it'll satisfy Eastern indemnity. Ten, three dollars and ninety-five cents. Cab fare back to Stephen Derwood Studios. He finished his examination of the painting and had his report ready for me. Frankly, Mr. Dollar, I'm almost at a loss as to what to tell you. I examined the brugel minutely and I would be willing to swear that the canvas, the pigments, the brushes used are all genuine 17th century. And the painting appears to have been aging for not less than three centuries. But you don't think it has been? I might have if it weren't for the little flecks of paint that was scraped off one of the flowers down in the corner. There is something pretty strange about that, Mr. Dollar. What? Well, I have taken samples of paint from other spots on the canvas. The apparent age of the oils goes all the way through. Only in that one spot on that flower does a fresher, more modern looking paint show through. What's your explanation for that, Mr. Derwood? Well, you see, some forges get their aging effect by baking the completed canvas in an electric oven. Now, in this case, it is possible the forges slipped up by failing to remove the plan for the pincers he used to paste the canvas in the oven. Oh, so for you, excuse me. Of course. Yes, Stephen Derwood speaking. Right, yes, he is. Just one moment, please. It's for you, Mr. Dollar. Oh, thanks. Hello? Good, well, Dollar. Had a hunch you might be there. Can you come down to headquarters? Well, what's up, Lieutenant? We just got Eddie Travers. Expensive car, Adam 11, one dollar and 25 cents. Cab fare to police headquarters. Eddie Travers wasn't very anxious to give us any answers. Oh, look, I'm giving it to you straight, fellas. I don't know anything about this job. You turned the painting over to me for 25,000, Travers. Sure, sure, I did. But I didn't have anything to do with icing it. Even if I did, the time has run out on that rap. Hey, he's right on both counts, Dollar. Sure. He was serving time in Jackson when the original robbery took place. But what are you picking me up for? You got nothing to hold me in? How about operating a confidence game? Or conspiracy to defraud? What are you giving me? You wanted to paint and I sold it to you. There's no punk-o-rap on that. Huh? There is when you pass out a forgery for the real thing. Forgery? The painting's a phony, Travers. That'll spell fraud and confidence game to any jury. And with a previous record, you should get 10 to 20 without any trouble at all. I don't know how to hold it. You're giving it to me straight? That's right. You're hooked but good, Travers. Why is that low? Now, crummy. Should have known it was something wrong. He laid it out for me too easy. The times run out, he says. And they can't catch on a thing, he says. All they gotta do is turn over the paint and collect a 10% split, he says. Look what happens. What's his name, Travers? Real big shot, dropping a load week after week in a floating crap game. And he gets me hooked for 25 Cs. What's his name? Hacker Merwin Hacker. While Travers dictated an official statement, we put in a call to the Masterson Gallery. Masterson is returned by then and told us that Hacker had left for his home near Farmingdale about an hour before. It turned out to be a five-acre farm well off the main road. We checked the house and came up with nothing. We had better luck at the barn. It's a pretty nice setup, dollar. Yeah, it sure is. Electric oven, plenty of old canvases. Looks like he was set up to turn out arc forgeries and a production line basis. Yeah. I guess we've got plenty of physical evidence here. With the exception of Merwin Hacker himself. That's no problem. What? He's over here behind his partition. He won't do any talking. He doesn't have to. That gun in his hand did it for him. After the homicide men took over, Grinswold drove me back downtown. I picked up the painting at Stephen Derwood and took at the Masterson's gallery for the last time. Merwin Hacker? An artful, yeah? And you must be joking, Mr. Dollar. I'm afraid not, Mr. Masterson. But the man has been working for me for over 15 years. How could he possibly have been conducting such an underhanded business without my knowing of it? Frankly, I don't think he was. But you said he'd been forging these masterpieces. Forging them, yes. Without your knowledge. No. Well, I'm confused, Mr. Dollar. Now it's one thing to create these forgeries. It's another to dispose of them. That takes a good legitimate front. Like the Masterson art galleries, for instance. Very, Mr. Dollar. Now you're the one who seems to be confused. Well, I was confused for a while, trying to figure why Hacker disclosed the forgery to me himself. But you're not now? No. I think Hacker suddenly found out you were paying him only nominal sums for the forgeries and selling him at a tremendous profit to yourself. And when he learned about this latest double-cross, he decided two could play at that game. A very interesting theory, Mr. Dollar. You took that, you can't prove it. Would you mind telling me why you stole the painting from Lauren Jeffers? Not at all. It was the floor in it. The blue glue was the first word that Hacker attempted I sold it to Jeffers. After it had been hanging for a while, the paint began to flick off in that one corner. I was afraid Jeffers would get suspicious and call in some x-words. So you beat him to the punch by stealing the painting back? Exactly. Too bad you had all that brilliant detective work for nothing, Mr. Dollar. But as you once admitted yourself, there's always the statute of limitations. Yeah. And there's always Merwin Hacker. What about him, Mr. Dollar? He's dead. And there's no statute of limitations on murder. Expensive on item 12, one dollar and sixty cents. Cab fare down to police headquarters with Masterson and Toe. Pair up and test showed that he'd recently fired a gun while Merwin Hacker's hand was clean. Eddie Travers identified Masterson as the man who'd been passing himself off as Merwin Hacker. Lieutenant Griswold says he can make the murder wrap stick. Expensive on item 13, 49 dollars and 25 cents. Airfare and incidentals back to Hartford. Expensive on total 135 dollars and 85 cents. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Dars John Lund in the title role and was written by Sidney Marshall with music by Eddie Dunsteader. Featured in tonight's cast were Parley Bear, Howard McNeer, William John Stone, Jack Moyle's Hal March and Virginia Gray. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, is produced and directed by Jaime Delvalle.