 Have you heard the strange tales of the Whistler? Explode my marriage I'll tell about yours to explain to be seen that you and I will have to work together Friday night and again CBS presents the Whistler and the Whistler 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 And so I tell you tonight the odd story of the tangled web Hester Mayberry in elderly widow has inherited the largest state of her late husband and having no children she adopted to Claude Mayberry her husband's orphaned nephew and Lita Davis the daughter of her dead sister Lita has finished school in his returning home Claude still has another year in college But aunt Hester has plans for Claude and Lita Plans for keeping the estate in one family This is upsetting to Claude for he has already selected the girl of his choice pearl Wallace Pearl I had to seal something's happened. I've never seen you so upset. It's aunt Hester her heart again Oh, no, no, she's still hanging on. What is it then? It's leader leaders finish school a year ahead of schedule She's coming home today. So what? Well, at Hester is determined that I marry leader According to the doctors that Hester won't last more than six months. I know well I never dreamed leader would come home this year And Hester will insist upon an immediate marriage, but you can't marry leader I know but if aunt finds out the truth about you and me she'll cut me off. Oh, I'm in a terrible jam Can't we? Can't you hit lead off? No, it's too late. She's probably at the house now. I just found out she was arriving today Why can't I see your aunt just one she may change your mind. You don't know at Hester Nothing can change your mind. She's the most determined stubborn old woman you've ever seen Since you can't marry me certainly not that would be bigger me Half of the estate is will to me and half to leader, but if she finds out that I'm already married Well, the pros leader refused to marry you. She won't because she knows that Hester would throw her off No leaders too smart for that. Well, something's got to be done. You've got to stall things off until Until aunt Hester is dead You'd better run along Claude. I I've got to get back to work Yes Claude can think of several ways out of his terrible predicament as a matter of fact He's studying over an idea at this very moment. He has a plan in mind a very dangerous plan But then old aunt Hester is going to leave this world anyway, so Well, he'll wait and see at the moment Lita is in aunt Hester's sitting room on the second floor of the old mansion Well, aunt Hester, you look wonderful. No such thing. Why lie about it. I look terrible Oh, really you've improved. I haven't improved the doctor say I may last six months, but I don't believe them If I'm here six weeks, I'd be surprised. That's why I wanted you to come home immediately I did want to go to Canada this summer. I know but I have important plans for you later plans. Oh What plans I'm announcing your come in Lisa How are you very well Claude And you come in here Claude and quit gaping like a fool. Yes, sir Well, I didn't expect you to graduate this summer. You must have crammed I expected you to be in the army. Oh, I will be when I finish college. Well now that you're both here I'll finish what I started to say. Yes, that I don't expect to be on this earth many more weeks I've made a will leaving half of my property to each of you. That's good of you Yes, of course and tomorrow I'm announcing your engagement And Engagement and a week from tomorrow. I want you to be married married. You want Claude and me to that is my greatest desire And my final request I've looked forward to that for a number of years and I want to be present at the ceremony And Hester as it ever occurred to you that we may not love each other enough nonsense Besides, I want the estate to remain intact in the family. Oh, but I don't you think it might be a great mistake I'm not in the habit of making mistakes and if one of you refuses to carry out my wish I'll cut that one off without a cent. How do you understand? Yes We understand and leave me alone. I must rest Claude is frantic on the way to the library horrible thought run through his mind What shall he do? How can he marry later if he did it would be prison for bigger me What are we going to do about this? I don't know leader. Did you know she had any such plan for well Yes, but I didn't take it seriously and why didn't you let me know about it? Well, because I didn't expect you to finish till next year and by then I thought That's what? But that has to would be gone Should have let me know what difference would it have made she's determined and if we refuse Never one refuses will get nothing And if we both refuse we'll both be caught. Oh, yes, but you don't love me and you don't want to marry me Do you know but I haven't refused What about that girl who works in town that pearl Wallace pearl? Why what about it? What will she say if you marry me? Oh, what can she say ever hear a breach of promise? You're trying to bluff me into refusing. You mean you're willing to marry me. You can't block me Pearl wouldn't like it. It's none of our business. She wouldn't do a thing. That's what you think I'm not going to lose my inheritance pearl and oh pearl I'll keep her quiet. How well I'll pay her. She'll be satisfied. I know she will I I talked to her this afternoon. Did you? Well, you might be able to get rid of a sweetheart that way, but a wife would be more difficult. What? How did you know how how did I know you and Pearl were mad? Yes. How did you know you just admitted it? I'm only guessing Well, that does it Claude couldn't get married if we want to please please leader. We don't hate each other We're good friends. I don't want to lose my share. Please don't tell Aunt Hester What on earth can we do about it? You aren't free to marry me. So she's got to find out the truth But if she does well, then you'll get all of it after aunt Hester is gone. I can give you your half of the estate. I Don't believe you. You just have to trust I don't trust you. You wouldn't give me a cent I haven't refused to marry you but you're already married But how can we tell her there's no other way? No But maybe there is Nothing, I was just There you are Telling us I got our baggage. It was on the second section by mistake. Come in. Mr. Brant. Mr. Brant Where do you get that Mr. Brant? This is my my cousin Claude Mayberry. Oh, I know you thought how do you do? What was the name Brant Alan Brant? You know what I think happened leader when they took our baggage out of our stateroom in Boston We forgot to have a change from oh, I want you to meet my aunt what? Well, of course, I expected yes, she's been ill for some time This way. I'll see you later. Oh, by the way, mr. Brant Congratulations on your marriage. I hope you and leader will be very happy. Oh sure. Thanks. Oh man married yesterday Were you a day before in New York? Wonderful. Will you wait outside a second Alan? I'd like to talk to Claude alone Well, yes, yes, of course So I'm a fool am I leader You slept up on that one you should have warned him doesn't he know how things stand Well, that sort of makes us even doesn't we're both in the same boat Well, what happens now and has to will have to be told the truth Oh, we've got to stall a while. Well, how are you going to explain his presence here? Well, I'll tell her he's a friend Down for a few days visit. In the meantime, we'll decide what to do. Yes You know Claude if you tell about my marriage, I'll tell her about yours So it's plain to be seen that you and I will have to work this thing out together Well, do you have any ideas here? Do you? Well, no. Oh, yes, you do Claude you have I know what they are. I can read you like a book leader. There are three ways of solution if our chapter were to Pass away before she learned the truth and everything would be all right or If something should happen to me then the whole state would go to you That's two ways and the third I must run along now I'll see you later. Yeah Three ways Claude three ways First your ancestor second leader and the third Well, you know what leader meant Think fast Claude and be careful Leeta doesn't trust you any more than you trust her Of course, I know another way to solve your problem, but I'm not the one to decide So as it stands that's either your aunt or leader or you Claude At Hester, I'd like to talk to you. Yes, come in come in. What do you want? Well? Well, I don't know how to say this and but they've got well Actually afraid to tell you but I've got to even at the expense of my life. What are you talking about your life? If I tell you what I know they'll kill me. Have you been drinking? Oh, no Well, who'll kill you meet and that fella Alan Brent. She brought here yesterday You're out of your mind. Oh, I know it sounds fantastic, but it's true kill you leader. Oh Go take some soda and sober up. Please that has to not so loud I never heard of such nonsense leader. Why should she want to kill you'll understand when I tell the woman You're going to marry wants to kill you. Yes leader and Alan Brent. What does Brent to do with it? They both want me out of the way Claude you sit down in that chair. I'm going to call dr. Gregory. No, no, please. I can explain Well, then you'd better do it and quickly well You must promise me that you won't tell leader or anyone that I told you why should I promise that because it's they knew that I told you well, that's why they tell me I'm getting dizzy Go on Well that fella Alan Brent isn't just a friend visiting here. He's He's leader's husband. What? What did you say? They're married. Look at this license. I found it in leader's room. Good. I can't believe it They know that I know about it, but leader said that if I told you that something would happen to me She's afraid you'll change the will and cut her off and that's exactly what will happen. She must be crazy How could she marry you next Friday? She might know I'd find out well, maybe Maybe she thought you wouldn't What are you trying to say? Well, maybe she thought she could postpone everything until until what oh Until after I was gone. Yes, I hate to say it, but that's her plan I'm great. Please don't let her know that I told you I'll just have a talk with those two and don't believe anything. She says about me. What do you mean? Well, she's all set to tell you some cock and bull story about me and some girls I did go around with the girl for a while But leader's going to tell you that we're married, but don't believe her because I can get the girl over here And she'll tell you the truth very well Claude run along. I'll send for leader and mr. Brent later. I must rest a bit This has been a terrible shock. Yes Yes, I'd have to do you want to see me. Yes leader. I wanted to see you and mr. Brent Oh Come in Ellen. She wants to see us. Oh, how are you mrs. Mayberry? Very well so far. I hope you feel better Do you do you really? Well, if I say I do feel better, I suppose you'd be disappointed leader. What do you expect to stay here long mr. Brent? Well, I know that is I understand you to say mr. Brent was a friend of yours leader just here for the week Yes, of course. That's what I said We've been good friends for two years friends and is that all What on earth is that right mr. Brent friends? Yes, yes, of course Well, I'm glad to hear that. I was quite worried You had no reason to be upset and you fully intend to marry Claude next week Well, I Matter of fact, it is a little sudden. I Wasn't prepared I Was going to ask you ask me what well if we couldn't postpone it for a few weeks And why should you postpone it? You know that I wanted your marriage to take place while I'm here Yes, and I know but everything is arranged but a few days wouldn't matter would it? There's so many things I'd like to attend to would another week give you enough time leader time to attend to those important things Well, I suppose so But I really prefer months, but I want to be sure that I'm able to attend the wedding leader. I may not last that long However, I'll consent to one week from next Friday. Oh, thank you Did you Well, there's just one thing that I don't understand Just how you'll be able to get a divorce in two weeks and get married a week from Friday divorce a divorce from this man Alan Brent, I don't understand what you mean I wasn't born yesterday You've been lying from the moment you stepped into this house and yesterday must be some is there is no mistake My maid found this marriage license in your room No, you've been stalling for time hoping I'd die before the truth came out I never thought that you can't deny that you two are married. No No That's all I should have a right to choose my husband You're a non-grateful girl either You disappointed me and you could expect not one cent from me. No now get out of this room But I had got out of this house by Monday morning Later knows how aunt has found out She knows it wasn't the maid who found the license It was Claude But she'll take care of Claude and very nicely if she is out in the cold And she'll see to it that Claude is out in the same way So she phones pearl Claude's wife to come to the house I'm pearl Wallace. Oh, yeah Won't you come in I've got a call from mrs. Mayberry's maid. She said mrs. Mayberry wanted to see me. Oh I see Yes, she does want to see you Are you leader? Yes, I'm How did you know? Oh, I've seen your pictures and I've heard Claude talk about you Do you know Claude? Well, what? Yes, is he here? No, not the moment What does mrs. Mayberry want with me? Well, aunt Hester has found out about you and Claude. What I don't get excited pearl everything's all right, but but I thought yes Yes, I know that she wanted Claude and me to be mad Yes Well, you can't always keep a thing like this a secret somebody's bound to know Someone in town accidentally told her about it. At first she was terribly angry But after I talked to her for a while Well, she seemed to see things differently Then you think everything's all right Why don't you go upstairs and tell her all about it? I'm sure she'll like it. All right Thanks for telling me leader In the city room. I come in mrs. Mayberry and who are you pearl? Pearl Wallace What do you want? I'm Claude's wife Claude's wife? Yes, I am really look here's a marriage license see What are you doing here? Well? What you wanted to see me Claude's wife, I just can't believe it, but I really love Claude really I do oh I don't know what I've done to deserve all this first leader and now Claude, but mrs. Mayberry I'm a perfectly normal girl. I've done nothing wrong. Why shouldn't I make Claude a good wife leave this room leave me alone? But I thought you sent for me that you wanted to talk to me. I What I sent for you who told you I thought it was your maid I don't want to see you Get out and leave me alone Yes, I'll go. Yes, girl. Why have you come here? I don't know. I wish I had you've seen that why what did you say? I told her we were married show to the life. What why did you do that? Why what she wanted to see me her maid? At least I thought it was her maid phoned me that she wanted to see me and what did I have to say? She told me to get out apparently. She knew nothing about me until I told her I can't understand it Claude Why would leader knew your aunt was expecting me? Yeah, she said later later. Are you sure? Yes? She met me first. She said your aunt had found out it I suppose she'd relented leader Well, that explains everything Now I'm out in the cold. Thanks to leader But believe me. I'll beat her yet. She's not so smart as she thinks Look pearl you're staying here tonight. No, I don't know you're staying here whether you want to or not Doing away with leader won't help so long as aunt Hester is alive. This is really a problem Why not talk it over with leader tonight leader has many clever ideas and since you're both in the same predicament well leader Claude, what are you doing in my room? What do you want? I want to talk to you. No, don't turn on the light Just what are we going to do about this situation leader? We've both played our last card. I told aunt Hester about you. You got wise and pulled a fast one by sending for pearls Now we're both even But where are we? Yes, Claude Just where are we? We're at the point where we've got to work together My working against you while you're working against me no longer means a thing and Hester knows about us both and Next Monday morning shall change that will I know well, haven't you any suggestions? Oh, I have several ideas But I'm not telling Monday isn't far away What's on your mind? Well, if anything happened either you or me well neither one of us would gain a thing so long as that Hester's able to change that will Now aunt Hester isn't well. No, she can't last much longer Oh, yes, you do you know exactly what I mean Not murder not in a way that we can be caught no convicted and why should we mess up our lives because of adhester's eccentricities? But suppose her heart failed her tonight, I think it will in fact, I'm sure it will You mean No, believe me. There'll be no trace. No one will find anything. Yes, I'm positive Why don't you do it without telling me because I don't trust you leader? I wanted you to be in on it, and I know you'll keep your mouth shut What do you mean isn't it worth a million dollars to get up out of that bed and come with me? This is your only chance of getting it Because you'll be the first one to implicate me, but if you're with me at the time I know you'll keep quiet Come on leader Don't be silly. Come on. Now what you're doing, but you're in accord with a general idea, aren't you? Well then come on and be as quiet as possible. No, no, leave your door open No water gets back here as soon as possible. Here. We are easy now. Are you awake yet? Well, who is it wake up that has to wake up? I can't see a thing. Why do I turn on the light? That's you leader it's leader and Claude What do you want? What do you want? Why don't you answer me? What are you two doing here? We've decided that you shouldn't linger on in your condition Your heart's causing you too much pain. What so we've decided to bring your suffering to an end Leader and I have decided to end your You We're going to kill you it's the only way get out of here get out get out in just five seconds and Hester Five seconds. You're crazy. You're both out of your mind. You know you'll be maybe I am crazy But in just two seconds. I'm going to shoot you right through the heart Of course here take this gun and get back to your room as fast as you can go on and remember You haven't heard a sound in another room on the same floor Alan Brent leaders husband sits on the edge of his bed rubbing his eyes Listening intently to the early morning silence Something startle him finally he steps to his door What's down the hall and moves along the passageway toward aunt Hester's room? Then as he turns Pearl's door opens and she steps into the hall the brand. What are you doing up? What are you doing at this hour? Well, I thought I heard a noise like a shot So did I open me up sounded like it might have come from this end of the hall it could have been a shot I'm not certain. Yes, it could have been Wonder look, this is Mayberry's door. Yes, let's have a look in there Turn on that little lamp on the table Is she all right feel a pulse No Come let's get out of here The leader leader leader your aunts been shot call a doctor I was just half asleep, but I know I heard and why did you wait so long to arouse the rest of us? I really don't know I heard it too, but I wasn't quite sure either. How's it happen that you didn't hear it lady? I Don't know, but I just didn't it's quite possible. She may have been sleeping too soundly You didn't hear it either Claude. Are you sure? Of course? I'm sure if I had heard a shot I'd have been the first one out of the room. I wouldn't have waited as long as you and Alan No, well a strange thing is that your room's closer to aunt Hester's room than mine are leaders I heard it so did Pearl yet you and leader didn't Does that seem strange to you mr. Brent? Yes, it does. Does it seem strange to you? Well if Alan heard it then what I can understand is why leader didn't hear it I can understand leader perhaps But I still can't see why Claude didn't hear the sound and furthermore whoever fired the shot must still be in the House the bedroom windows were closed from the inside. I heard nothing. I tell you maybe you didn't want to What are you doing? What are you insinuating? You know more about it than you say you had a moment Just a minute for a lot of that. No, not so fast pearl Claude didn't hear it So he says I think he knows more than he says he does and he had just as much of a motive as leader maybe more crazy Brent You don't even know what we're talking about. You're just jumping to conclude Oh, no, you're not gonna pull a thing like this and then place the blame on leader Claude had nothing to do with it was leader and she's trying to place the blame on Claude And how do you know you and Claude occupy separate rooms you and leader occupy separate rooms I think I'd better run upstairs and see what the doctor has to say. Oh, no, you don't you take one step up those stairs Now break your neck. Oh, please Ellen, please don't stop. It's already started. He's too smart to suit me anyway I know what he's had on his mind for days That's a lie. If anyone's had anything on his mind with leader she can place the blame on Claude She'll get everything she's got it all figured out. She's stirred up all the trouble in the first place Oh shut up. You got me out here wasn't the maid who phoned me it was you You said mrs. Maybury wanted to see me well, she knew nothing about it She practically threw me out, but you won't get away with your scheme. Believe me, sister. You're crazy. I'm wise that Claude I heard the shot and I know who fired it. He's got the gun somewhere and I'm calling the police They'll find out what happened and has to hold this fussing about Shots and police What's wrong with all of you? Why nothing dr. Gregory. No, no nothing at all. He's the one who did it Did what shot is that hester why he did not lead a kill there? Well, mrs. Mayberry is dead I'm sorry to say I'm amazed she lasted this long, but certainly she wasn't killed Where'd you get such an idea? But we heard a shot that is I thought well you can think what you like But hester mayberry died of natural causes just as I knew she would No That's ridiculous. Well, then we We must have imagined Well, I'd say you've all been having a night man. I I think you're right dr. Gregory and Thanks for coming over. Hmm. Well, I Formed a mortician. I'll just wait in the library till he comes Good night, of course there were shots They all know it but all but Claude are surprised no wound was found not even a bullet But Claude isn't surprised Because he fired blanks at the eyes knew the shock would be too much for her But when the doctor said death was from natural causes they shut up like clams Their troubles were at an end. They wouldn't get their shares of the share of the estate after all Of course, they would get their share However, they will be struck a horrible blow next week When the lawyer reads the will of aunt Hester and they learned that Lita and Claude must be man and wife prior to the aunt's death Or the entire estate goes to charity And that's just what will happen That was one thing they hadn't counted on so they all end up with nothing after all CBS has presented the whistler General music for this production was composed by Wilbur hatch and conducted by Ivan Dittmar The whistler is written and directed by J. Donald Wilson and originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood Next week same time by the whistler will return to tell you another unusual tale Good night. This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system