 Wrigley's spearmint chewing gum the refreshing delicious treat that gives you chewing enjoyment presents for your listening enjoyment John Lund as Johnny dollar Nelson price Johnny. Oh, yes. How are you mr. Price fine got a job for you? You'll have to go to the West Indies the West Indies near here. He's seen ledger Mr. Claude Sheldon holds a big policy with us. We ensure him his wife and his farm They've had a lot of trouble. It's gonna cost us a lot of money, and we think an investigation is necessary Come on down to the office, and I'll give you as much as I've got Johnny The makers of Wrigley's spearmint chewing gum bring you John Lund and another adventure of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Here's truly Johnny dollar For refreshing taste plus chewing enjoyment treat yourself to delicious Wrigley's spearmint gum When your mouth and throat feel hot and dry the stick of Wrigley's spearmint gives you quick long-lasting refreshment The lively full-bodied spearmint flavor cools your mouth and freshens your taste the chewing itself helps keep your throat pleasantly moist Best of all you can chew and enjoy refreshing Wrigley's spearmint gum almost any time and any place Keep a package handy right in your purse or pocket so you can chew a stick whenever you want it for refreshing taste Plus chewing enjoyment treat yourself to delicious Wrigley's spearmint gum Millions enjoy it, and you will too Expense accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to home office international insurance and bonding company Hartford, Connecticut The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the voodoo matter Expense account item one two hundred and six dollars and forty cents plain fare and incidentals from New York to Port-au-Prince Haiti After receiving from you the necessary information concerning the insured Claude Sheldon After landing I checked into the hotel and waited for Claude Sheldon is pre-arranged. I waited for about an hour Come in That's right. Mr. Sheldon. Yes, I've been expecting it Claude Sheldon pushed himself away from the door Grabbed a chair and dropped into it took in long deep breaths and smiled a very slow weak smile I Would have been here sooner, but There's been more trouble More trouble they Well my company told me a little about it, but you better give me your own story served me As you know, I am a farmer. Yeah, my place is near San Leger Number of other farms in the vicinity all doing very well until several months ago First it was fires The cane fields burned One by one the cattle became sick And some of the farmers grew ill and died Can I get you something? Some water please Have you been to see a doctor I'm afraid a doctor can't help There you are Thank you Have you any idea what's wrong with you? Yes, and no My Christian religion fights it, but my life on Haiti has taught me deep respect for it Respect for what mr. Sheldon? voodoo mr. Dove I know just what you're thinking But a doctor in Haiti has examined me and my wife and the others He can find nothing wrong voodoo mr. Sheldon. I don't expect you to understand It's hard for me Perhaps there is something else. I hope you can find out. Well, I'm afraid I can't buy the voodoo theory mr. Sheldon There's one thing Immediately after my wife and I became ill I received an offer from my farm a Very low offer from a son Leger banker. I Investigated and found it had been made in the interests of one Arthur Cotswold Arthur Cotswold I eat his biggest planter Extremely wealthy even after the sick cattle and the fires and everything. Yes That's why I became suspicious The other farmers received similar offers Perhaps I I don't think I Mr. Sheldon I Called the hotel desk for a doctor, but by the time he'd gotten Sheldon to the hospital the patient was dead The authorities were called in and I was questioned a preliminary examination was made in the dead man But the cause of death remained a mystery so an autopsy was ordered I told the chief of police to forward the report to me a sandwich a and left for the Sheldon farm Expense account item two five dollars American for a beaten-up taxi to take me ten miles into the country The crowd of natives was standing in front of the Sheldon house as we drove up. I Didn't know what it was No one said a word But something was wrong. I could feel it. I walked through the crowd and up to the house And stop cold as the door opened Who are you? I've never seen anything like him a native who was a good seven feet tall and must have weighed at least 300 Me remember who are you me John? I mean, uh, I'm Johnny dollar. I'm an insurance investigator You from the United States? Yeah, I'm supposed to investigate the trouble here. Me. No master Sheldon tell me I uh saw master Sheldon about an hour ago He dead How did How do you know he died? You come in house All right What are all those people doing out there? They're friends madame. She died too Bimba led the way into the bedroom Where mrs. Sheldon lay on the bed covered with a fresh white sheet Her eyes closed in death her face drawn and tired Bimba told me that she died about an hour before And a cold chill ran up my back I remembered her husband lying on the floor of my hotel room About an hour before Bad voodoo Is that why the cattle are sick and the fields burned? We bad voodoo Mr. Sheldon thought a man named cutswald might have something to do with it Mr. Cutswald big man very powerful What are those drums for madame and master The voodoo Give blessing for spirit for madame and master I see I want to talk to the police in san lagea Who do I see me take you Right then I inherited bimba and if there was going to be any trouble the giant servant would certainly help to make up for any lack on my part The first thing I wanted to do was to contact the authorities in san lagea And bimba told me my man was inspector george Bimba saddled up two horses from the barn and together we rode back to san lagea Bimba pointed out the inspector's office and waited in front while I went in Uh, we monsieur dollar and the sheldons were a very fine family. I knew them very well How did everybody know they were dead? On it things of such nature never a secret the net is no voodoo Being a stranger to ity monsieur dollar. I expect you to be a skeptic, but you're not Let us say I've been in ity too long to be one Oh You know a man named cutswald I would suggest you forget monsieur cutswald Why monsieur cutswald is a very prominent man Yes, so I've heard he's the largest plantation owner in the west indies a self-made man with a considerable I'll mention it in my report to my office. Yeah, as you wish But monsieur cutswald is looked upon by the people of san lagea with a great deal of respect It is my opinion that you should avoid him First because I am certainly will not be in sympathy with your motives and second Because your position you will encounter will be far-reaching and much too difficult for you to handle What if I come up with something incriminating? Oh for your sake. I hope you do not What do you do here in san lagea inspector? I'm the law monsieur dollar But you wouldn't like it if this cuts wall were guilty of breaching that law If monsieur cutswald has broken the law it would certainly be my duty to arrest him But I am not considering the arrest nor the necessary steps that would have to be taken to prove the guilt Dangerous steps monsieur dollar one might trip on those steps and break his neck For 10 years. I've been the law if tomorrow cuts wall decided it was time for me to relinquish my position I should probably retire So you prefer the middle of the road, huh? It is much easier to see what is ahead. You can always get run down from behind I do as much as I can to prevent that possibility No, I again my suggestion that you forget monsieur cutswald I left the philosophical inspector and went back to bimba still sitting outside on his horse Every time I looked at him it was like a little kid spotting the empire state building for the first time He smiled a mouthful of white teeth and leaned over to give me a hand up He caught me by the wrist and lifted me into my saddle as though he was hoisting a small bundle of laundry The inspector he say forget monsieur cutswald what Bimba we miss it Oh forget it What do you think I should do Me think you do what you want and you know what I want. We You want to go see monsieur cutswald the inspector says I shouldn't you go anyway. You think it's a mistake If you afraid But you're not You're not strong like bimba, but you could fight it I don't like to fight bimba. Bimba know that we go see monsieur cutswald We swung our horses around and bimba led the way up a long narrow road Surrounded on both sides by sugarcane fields Somewhere from not too far away. I heard the drums start again Bimba straightened in his saddle and looked off to the north He began moving his shoulders Slowly keeping time to the steady rhythm of the drums Then he began to sing softly Say What does that mean then that mean in your language it is our papa who passes Papa papa damballa the great source voodoo I later must leave you today. Wednesday is the day of papa damballa He turned back to the north and continued his little chat until we reached the beginning of a long high fence Running along next to the narrow road Bimba leaned down and swung open a big gate. Then we rode up the path that led to the cotswold property until we reached the house Sitting back between two huge trees was the cotswold mansion Bimba stayed on his horse and I climbed down and walked to the front door Mr. Della Watch out for mr. Jocelyn. He guard mr. Cotswold. Thanks What do you want? I'd like to see mr. Cotswold. You do, huh? What are you doing here Bimba? I wait for mr Found himself a new governor, huh? You must be that dollar fella. I must be well come in mr. Cotswold's been expecting you Jocelyn wasn't a very small man himself Looked as though he was capable of handling just about any situation that might come up He led the way into a large panel study and I met arthur cotswold The drums had stopped. I know why you're here, mr. Della Well, then that should make it a lot easier for both of us for some reason the farmers are suspicious Their fear is divided between me and voodoo Sheldon convinced some that I might be responsible. And of course you're not Of course Sheldon thought you might want to get control of the other farms in san jay. I simply tried to help them With their cattle sick and their crops gone. I had my banker make them an offer What would you want with sick cattle? I could use the land Do you think the cattle will get better and the crops won't fail if you control the land? I intend to do away with the sick cattle. I have no use for the crops Have any of your cattle been affected? None That's pretty strange AT is a strange land And on this point. I would most certainly give you advice Go home mr. Della Leave well enough alone Well enough is pretty bad the way I see it mr. Cotswold And I'll leave After I've gotten a few answers mr. Della I am not a patient man I've gone out of my way to give you some healthy advice Heat it For your sake. I won't forget it for a minute You persist in this investigation. I get paid to persist mr. Cotswold Friends you know wriggly spear mint gum is a delicious treat that millions enjoy all year round It's good to chew almost any time and any place In warm weather you'll enjoy especially the refreshment that wriggly spear mint gum gives you When your mouth feels hot and dry or when you're feeling warm and tired Chewing wriggly spear mint gives you a pleasant little lift It cools your mouth moistened your throat and refreshes your taste Besides chewing on a good smooth piece of wriggly spear mint gum seems to add enjoyment to whatever else you're doing So enjoy it at home at work wherever you are And remember wriggly spear mint gum is a swell treat to take along on picnics get plenty for everybody That's wriggly spear mint gum healthful refreshing delicious And now with our star john lund we bring you the second act of yours truly johnny dollar I left arthur cotswold picked up memba and he led me back to town On the way i got an idea When we arrived in town i sent memba back to the sheldon farm Then i went in to talk to inspector george The inspector had received a wire from the authorities in porto prince Concerning the autopsy on sheldon. I had no idea the authorities in porto prance were interested in this idea May i see that? Wow Here's something pretty interesting inspector Mr. Sheldon died of a disease known as brucellosi Commonly known in cattle is bangs disease. I read the account. Ever heard of brucellosi inspector? I'm not a medical man mr. Dolan undulent fever Sheldon and his wife probably caught it from their sick cattle Very young and you have solved the mystery. No no not quite I want to find out why all the cattle belonging to the small farmers got sick and not the ones belonging to mr. Cotswold What do you intend to do? I think those cattle were infected and the cane fields burned deliberately If the cattle were infected there might be some of the brucellosi still around and i'm gonna find it And uh, I think you'd better issue a search warrant and come with me I think you'd better start modifying your autopsy inspector Unless you want me to get in touch with porto prance and ask that you be held as a material witness in a murder case I will issue the warrant I kind of thought you would I will issue it, but you certainly don't think it will be able enough to get you into that house. No, but it'll make it legal I sent bimba back to collect some of his friends They're gonna help us get into that house inspector. Oh, I would take no part in violence. They won't even be with us It'll be easy to search the cotswold place if cotswold was out fighting a fire A fire or just a harmless fire But far enough away so that cotswold will think it's his cane fields Oh, I don't agree with such methods, mr. Dollar, but uh, as long as it's a harmless fire I will issue the warrant Well, welcome back to the gutter inspector The view isn't much but you can't miss where you're going When we reached the sheldon farm, we saw a crowd of natives standing out in front Again, something was wrong. We piled out pushed our way through the crowd and inside the house. We found what it was Lying in the middle of the room was bimba He was almost dead when I knelt beside him. I talked to friends They like fire for you Thanks Now I go to baron samtair Dambalo widow take me There's been stabbed here Got him from behind Never would have faced him You stay You see Wait till they not take your mark See what it's a ritual It means taking the spirit from the head of the dead. He wants you to see it You stay You believe voodoo All right, bimba. I'll stay You see believe Bimba, no, no, no He is dead The next few hours I'll never forget The natives came into the house and placed bimba on a bench Then the ceremony began They carried live pigeons olive oil 30 pieces of fat pine wood a pair of chickens and some coarse cornmeal They covered bimba's body with a saddle blanket killed the chickens Roasted the cornmeal and put in a large white plate The pine wood slivers were lighted and held like candles Then a man they called donae took the white plate in one hand and the pot with the chicken and the other And approached the fire chanting a strange dirge Then as donae finished the last line of the chant The body of bimba sat straight up with straining eyes Bowed its head And fell back The inspector and I drove over to cotswolds house And waited while the moon climbed up over the clouds and the drums in the distance tangled my nerves into knots After an hour of waiting a dull glow to the south started the expected commotion in the cotswold household And we climbed out of the car Get the servants get everything out out there and take that fire Hey! He twelked yeah give him a few minutes and we'll go into the house Now now The inspector and I took the cotswold house apart like a well-trained wrecking crew and came up with Exactly nothing Well miss you're too loud isn't there a barn out back we then let's go The drums were louder now and the dull glow of the fire had nearly vanished The inspector took one end of the barn and I took the other we worked toward each other And just about the time I was ready to give the whole thing up. You find something this Huh a hypodermic for cattle. That's not enough and this I found it under that box A bottle Might not be anything but we could take it back to town and have it analyzed Oh, that's about all we can do. This is the only thing we've got Let's go. I'm afraid not Stand right where you are Hello, mr. Cotswold You know the inspector, don't you for a number of years I must say I didn't expect this of him. I have a search warrant. Mr. Cotswold are very interesting See if they have any weapons, right? I assure you we are well within our rights. This warrant is cut up and raise your ends better do as he says A commendable suggestion mr. Dollar But I'm afraid you've learned prudence a little too late. I never argue with a gun. They both got guns, mr. Cotswold. You're making a serious mistake. I'm afraid the mistake is yours and mr. dollars inspector Get the bottle and the hypodermic. Yes, sir. Is that the stuff you've been infecting the cattle with? It is You say you really should have taken my advice and returned to the states And I'm surprised at you inspector I really thought you were more sensible. Sometimes a man finds his pride and does the best thing And this is the best thing But I think it is You know, of course that I cannot allow either of you to live tell me something Who killed member? I think jocelyn can answer that But enough conversation. I leave the Details on your hands. Yes, sir. Good. Bye gentlemen. All right start walking jocelyn You won't shut up. Now do what I tell you and start walking The drums have stopped just keep moving right out the gate. What about the drums? What does it mean? I don't know We ran into the house with jocelyn right behind us He ordered us to go ahead of him and into the dark study And that's where we found cotswold Stretched out on the floor His dead eyes staring up at us his mouth open in a soundless scream His neck had been broken Who's here? Who is it? Who's in this room? No, no Get away get away from me. You're dead You won't believe it into this day. I'm still not sure But there in the darkness was a huge man And he looked exactly like memba Jocelyn shot him six times and he kept right on coming And he grabbed jocelyn and crushed him like an egg shot By the time we'd collected our wits the giant had disappeared through the door and into the night Mr. Donnell I think I'll sit down. Oh Was it Was it memba? I don't know I don't want to know anything I just want to get on the first plane back to the states and relax for a week in a tub of hot mud It certainly looked like memba if you're inclined to believe in voodoo Perhaps it was I talked to some of the natives before I left and didn't seem unusual to them Cotswold was a bad man and memba had come back from the dead to avenge his people I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling it to you just the way I saw it Or am I? Well, anyway, it's the inspector's problem Expense account items three and four two hundred and fifty dollars Hotel bill plain fare and incidentals back to hartford expense account total $461.40 If you want any more information, you can contact me at the green briar rest home I'll be the third mud pie from the left Yours truly Johnny dolly Remember friends for refreshing taste plus chewing enjoyment treat yourself to delicious wriggly spearmint chewing gum The taste of fresh spearmint is cooling and delightful and there's lots of it in every stick of wriggly spearmint gum It freshens your mouth helps keep your throat moist and sweetens your breath besides You'll enjoy the good chewing too because wriggly spearmint is so smooth and pleasant to chew on There's nothing else quite like it Next time you're at the store, stop at your friendly merchants display of chewing gum and get a few packages of good tasting wriggly spearmint gum Always keep some handy for refreshing taste plus chewing enjoyment. That's wriggly spearmint chewing gum healthful refreshing delicious Yours truly johnny dollar brought to you by wriggly spearmint chewing gum Stars john lond in the title role and was written by blake edwards with music by eddie dunstetter Featured in today's cast were tooter owen parley bear roi glenn benright bill conrad and jester herston Yours truly johnny dollar is produced and directed by haime del valle The makers of wriggly spearmint chewing gum hope you enjoyed tonight's story of johnny dollar and that you're enjoying delicious wriggly spearmint gum every day This is charles lyon inviting you to join us again next week at this same time when from hollywood john lond returns as yours truly johnny dollar This is the cbs radio network