 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar Sure sure you run that lunch room across the street from the warehouse that was robbed last night Yeah, that's right. Nothing as long as you weren't mixed up in it yourself. No. No, I mean that I talked to you I won't last 24 hours. I think I can take care of that. What do you know about it, Red? I see I'll have to sell out get away from this section. So I'll need some dough you follow me. All right I'll see you taking care of it. Now. Just what is it? No, I ain't safe. I'm talking from a booth You stay right there at your hotel. I'll see you in a half hour, right? Just you know cops Yeah Yeah, that's right. Mr. Beck. Mr. Big and six quarts of milk and two pounds of butter sure right away. Thanks, mr. Beck Hello Hello Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar From special investigated Johnny dollar location Los Angeles, California to the home office mono guarantee insurance company Hartford, Connecticut Assignment the silver blue matter Expense account continued Item for 20 cents a phone call to my friend Lieutenant Garcia of the LA police and a call to Queen of the Angels Hospital Albert Crisman the night watchman who was slugged by the gang of teenage hoodlums during the warehouse robbery was still unconscious and Crisman unless Red Weller was ready to talk now was the only lead I had toward finding a hundred thousand dollars worth of silver blooming coats I Waited two hours and a half for Red Weller, but he didn't show Item five two dollars and eighty five cents taxi to the warehouse district at the south end of the railroad yards It was night by now and the area was almost deserted a lost lonely district shabby and worn even in the softening darkness and Haunted now by fear The only lights in the block with O'shining from the windows of the warehouse office and from Weller's lunch room across the street Good evening. What would you like sir cup of coffee? I guess? Just made some fresh good Would you like some cream? No, thanks? Is it foggy out? Yeah, a little not bad though Hey, this coffee is all right. You're a good cook. Thanks. The boss always has me make it when I'm here He says I do it better than he does. I'll bet you do Is the boss around by the way? No He called me and said he had to go out. That's why I'm working. I'm on in the daytime mostly You have any idea where he might be? No, no, he had to go somewhere. I guess What'd you want to see him about? He wanted to see me You know what he lives? Well, he's got an apartment over on Marina. It's about eight blocks from here. I think he'd be there No, he wasn't going home. He was going out somewhere. He acted kind of strange I Don't know what he was gonna do May I may I ask just what business you're in insurance? Oh? I'm a special investigator What do you mean? I'm working for the company that insured those furs The furs that were stolen the night before last from the warehouse across the street Something wrong. Oh, no, no, of course not. I I don't know what you mean. Oh Can I help you gather up that silver? Oh, no, no, that's all right Yeah, I don't know what happened. Just careless. I guess Do you Do you live around here somewhere? Well, yes. Yes, I'm Dalton three blocks up. What's your name? Carla? Alamante Why are you asking how long have you worked here Carla about a year? Do many teenagers hang out here? What do you mean kids 17 18 19 do many of them come in here for coffee hamburgers? Sometimes yeah I've never noticed much know any of them. No, no, no, I don't know any of their names. Are you sure I don't ask them their names Did I ask you your name dollar Johnny dollar? Well, I still didn't ask you if you want to tell me you What are you scared of Carla nothing I'm not scared you're not of course not Why would I be scared for the same reason your boss is red weller? He was scared when he talked to me this afternoon. I want to phone me later I don't know what you're talking about. Oh, yes, you do That's why he didn't come to my hotel. He was afraid to And why did you drop that silverware when I told you who I am because you're scared half to death? Oh, what's the matter with you people down here? What are you doing crawling into a hole because a half-grown gang of hoodlums starts throwing their weight around? You don't understand and suppose you tell me about it Do you think that's any kind of an answer in the long run? The puller covers up over your eyes and let them do as they please and just keep hoping they'll leave you alone All you're doing is making things worse. You don't know how it is You don't have to live here. No, no, I don't have to live here, but I know how it is Because I've seen it in other places where the mobs managed to take over and If you let it happen here, then you'll really have something to be scared of maybe Maybe they've already taken over. Oh a bunch of kids with a gripe on running and packs so they feel safe Is that the kind of mob you mean Carla? No, they're not a mob yet, but they will be if they're not stopped It seems to me you'd have some sense of responsibility to them if nobody else maybe if other people had a sense of responsibility Kids wouldn't have to grow up in a place like this Have you ever thought of that mr. Dollar? Yeah, yeah, I've thought of it, but it doesn't hold water when you think so if you lived here All right, so it's a slum district and sure these kids start out with a strike on them But that's a pretty weak excuse for joining up at criminal bans and terrorizing a whole neighborhood for slugging people and looting warehouses Yes, I know most of them find other answers. It's only a small minority that turns to crime But if you let them get away with it others will join them and they'll grow until finally it's too late well, Carla Still nothing to tell me I Can't I Just can't I See There's a quarter for the coffee keep the change good night Carla Yeah Mr. Dollar suppose Suppose I I knew someone who might be able to help you I mean I mean who might know something about the robbery innocently of course if you talk to this person and They agreed to help you could you Well Could you keep them out of it depends on the circumstances? I do all I could that much. I promise Don't know. I'm not sure you're not sure of what of you Why I know better when I stop and think but I've lived in this neighborhood too long lived with these people and I'm bound by the law like any other citizen and I won't break it to help somebody cover up a criminal act But I figure it's up to me sometimes to decide whether a thing is a criminal act and if a person seems to deserve it Well, I could be pretty lenient You promise what you just said. Yes, I promise I've got to trust you. I've got to trust someone. Do you know such a person Carla? Yes, do you know where to find them? I think so Well, I'm sure they'll be at one of two or three places Not very far from here. And who is this person? someone who grew up around here a boy 19 what boy? my brother Expense account item seven two dollars and seventy cents taxi We went first to Carla's apartment where she lived with her brother But there was no one there then we checked out a drive in a few blocks away a teenage hangout. No luck Finally, we tried a pool hall down south of the yards just off Alameda Street. It was our last hope I know he comes here It's not a good place for him, but a lot of the other kids do too and he wants to belong Sure everybody does in one way or another gosh, it'd have been different if our folks had lived, but a Boy just won't take orders from his sister. Yeah, I know Thanks, he's not here then I just don't know where he There he is down near the corner the one with the dark curly hair all right Take it easy just tell him I'm a friend of yours. You want to talk to him or get him off to one side Whatever you say Eddie Well for the what are you doing here Carla? Eddie. Eddie. This is mr. Dollar a friend of mine We were I Wonder if we could talk to you for a moment. What about? Well, you know better than to come in a joint like this, but I want to talk to you Eddie I ain't talked to me at home man. Go on get her out of here with you mister It might be a good idea if you listen to her first. I thought it was her that wanted to talk to me Come on get her out of here. All right if you'll go with us For I like it here. It's a nice place Yeah, at least it's better than saying quit What are you talking about a warehouse robbery a hundred thousand dollars worth of furs? I understand you may know something about it innocently, of course, and I just had this guy was a friend of yours Well, that's right Eddie. He's just who is he he's an insurance investigator So that's the pitch. She's promised to help Eddie if you'll tell him whatever you know, he'll protect you Now look mister, I don't know nothing about nothing I never even heard an old fur robbery, so take her with you and get out of here This may be your last chance to get off before the boat sinks Eddie. You're not leaving, huh? All right, then I'll leave let him go. We can't force him to talk I don't understand Right I make ten cents phone call from the pool hall to Lieutenant Garcia at police headquarters He said there was no change in Albert Christman's condition yet. He was still holding on and he still hadn't talked But there had been another new development a big one and when I joined Kyle in the taxi outside. She knew it by the look on my face What's wrong mr. Dollar look How sure are you that your brother wasn't mixed up in that robbery? Well, I I want the truth I'm afraid he was mixed up in it then brace yourself Carla Your boss red-weller who was going to tell me what he knew about it Was found murdered in an alley an hour ago Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow I'll only broken-hearted girl a bloodstained shirt and a fight with a cornered rat Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar or is truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is Transcribed in Hollywood written by Les Crutchfield. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking