 Johnny dollar Jarvis yes, oh yes that fabulous town of the fast book I think of all the money I have won and lost over the gaming tables in that town of yours I know what you mean. Tell me how's the weather there in Connecticut the weather. Yes Well cold is a Why do you want to know about the weather? Well, of course it would I hate this cold weather But unless you have some insurance matter that you want me to investigate sure why not good on One condition what's that that you'll guarantee me the time and a chance to drop a fishing line in Lake Mead or Over Lake Mojave. Oh, that's exactly you want me out there to go fishing Yeah, I like what other things mainly just to go fishing. Oh sure Is that so? Oh Jarvis you make this sound more attractive every now wait a minute. Is this some kind of a gag? I'm handsome on expense account That does it Jarvis. I'm on my way CBS radio brings you Bob Reddick in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar expense accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the greater Southwest Insurance Company Las Vegas office Following is it a count of expenses incurred during my investigation of The very fishy matter now there was something very fishy about this being called all the way out there just to go fishing There had to be But after all it would give me a chance to get away from the freezing weather here in Hartford and Who knows? Maybe I would have a chance to wet a line in Lake Mead or Mojave So item one on the expense account is a hundred and seventy dollars and forty cents for a nighttime flight to Los Angeles Item two is twenty one ten for the plane that dropped me off in Vegas shortly after breakfast the next morning Item three four dollars even for a cab into the office of Theodore Jarvis on Fremont Street Ted was in his mid-30s But a might too serious about his job. You want to talk about it right here in the office dollar or why not? Let's face it Ted It's one of a few places in town that doesn't have a slot machine or a craps table or a letter blackjack I guess the business offices and the churches are just about the only places where one can't gamble Fortunes are one and lost every day here in Las Vegas dollars. I can believe that which is one of the reasons you're here. I Thought it was to go fishing it is Because of the Birdwell fortune, I should say because of Miss Lisa Birdwell's fortune Is that the young attractive charm? Yes, that's the girl I told you about over the phone You will love her dollar Better than fishing I beg your pardon Well first you drag me out here on the promise of some good fishing exactly now It sounds as though you want to throw me into the arms of some doll both. I Don't get you I said both. She is a doll and I want you to go fishing with her Where on Lake Mojave about 90 miles south of him great. Oh, you're familiar with it Oh, I know it like the back of my hand Ted I can take you to more good spots to pull in lunker bass on that lake excellent only Stop being surveyed Tell me what this is all about Lisa Birdwell Lisa Birdwell Until a few months ago. She was a school teacher up in Salt Lake City a school teacher. That's right and Living and working among the good people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints That's the Mormon church. Yes, I know go on Ted. Well, she was very much interested Seriously considered joining that church devoting her life to the kind of service they stand for That is until her father died and left her some money How much you see Lisa was his only blood relation how much oh 10 or $12,000 10 or 12 But I thought you said she was rich. I thought All right, go ahead being free from family ties for the first time in her life Being young and beautiful. She decided to take some time off and have herself a little fling on $10,000 yes Until Until what until in the course of her travels she happened to land here in Vegas where suddenly one night She discovered what a roulette wheel is for oh Knowing nothing whatsoever about the game She calmly proceeded to run up one of the biggest scores on record. She what she walked out of that casino with something over $400,000 no kidding and Incidentally that is the last time she ever gambled Smart girl Instead she bought us up a little ranch out near the edge of town and took her foster brother That's her only living relative. His name is Tony bird. Well. Yeah took him along to sort of manage the place and now Well, she's just making the most of life Enjoying it to the fullest who wouldn't when she isn't taking in the winter sports at the Charleston Mountain some 35 miles north-west of here She's fishing lake meter Mojave in her yacht yacht on one of those lakes pretty as 52 footer you ever saw Right now. She has it down on Lake Mojave Beautiful yachts beautiful girl lots of money Let's go fishing Exactly, but why I mean from your standpoint Because of that foster brother Because of anything happens to her He'll get everything she has her money the ranch and some 120,000 of insurance Are you trying to say you think he'd kill her for it he himself never he's not man enough well then what have somebody else do it for him Yes Okay Who that's what I hope you can find out for us Johnny Before it's too late That's why you've got to get down to Lake Mojave right away. Why because Tony is already arranged for Lisa to be murdered Free Europe is still on the job broadcasting the truth about world events through the iron curtain What keeps the truth going through the iron curtain not communist altruism? Know your truth dollars to keep men's minds free no matter where they are as The communist pressure around the world increases telling the truth about what they are up to is more vital than ever Support the radio free Europe fund box 1961 Mount Vernon 10, New York That's radio free Europe fund box 1961 Mount Vernon 10, New York Tell me what makes you think that this brother this foster brother Tony has arranged to have Lisa murdered think I'm sure of it Why because of one of those things that can happen only once in a million times Johnny go on last night I tried to call Lisa at the ranch The phone out there was in use but instead of getting a busy signal. I could hear this voice Tony's voice on that phone Shut up. Let me talk Lisa's on her way down to the lake now to Lake Mojave resort She plans to stay out on the boat several days with some friends. She told me So you'll be along you'll be one of them But you don't get the 10 grand until she's dead So just make sure you do it right See and you sure it was Tony's voice Ted. Yes Could you recognize the voice of whoever he was talking to that's where I goofed Johnny I'm afraid I kind of gasped or something and he must have heard me because he hung up fishing with some friends down there Including whoever he was talking to yes in other words One of the people aboard that boat with her is There to kill her that's right Well, have you any idea right after I called you in Hartford I called the lake Mojave resort and I talked to him you warned her not to go out Oh, she'd only have poo pooed that idea, but I did ask her who'd be going along with them today Yes, who well as usual a real mixed crowd and I've checked on all of them who Ted Jim for e a dealer at one of the casinos here in town for me. Yes. He's a drifter not too good a reputation and a girl named Sadie Reese. She's a Well, call her a big girl that's Putting it kindly for one of the questionable saloons in town and I miss Clara Hinckley a Visiting school teacher that Lisa picked up somewhere a school teacher on vacation at this time of year and here in Vegas I wondered about that too Then there's Charles Schroeder. He's an elder in the Mormon Church an old friend from Salt Lake City I think she met him here in town and Paul Holder Now who is he's the nice young kid who runs the boat for her the rest of the time He acts as a kind of a handyman at the ranch Paul Holder. Yes Pretty well mixed up crowd Then she always puts the parties together that way who else Ted, that's all But one of them is there to kill him So the sooner you get down there Johnny Ted I'm on my way item for the usual 50 bucks deposit on a rental car. I Burned up highway 95 through Henderson Boulder City and searchlight and then cut east on 77 to Davis Dam There I turned north the three miles to Lake Mojave resort My old friend Ham Pratt general manager of the resort was in his office down over the dock And as always when I told him what my job was Ham offered 1,000% cooperation Yeah, Johnny at least bird well in her party took off only a couple of hours ago And with enough groceries aboard that big cruiser to keep him for a week Now how I spot that boat out there on the lake ham Lisa you can't miss its beauty all 52 feet of it No other cruiser that big on the lake and she uses that for fishing and for living on when she's here. She and her friends Any idea where she might have headed? Probably up toward the big basin 10 12 miles up Okay, then and she always does a lot of fishing in the big coves on this side of the lake below the basin All right, then that's where I Know wait a minute Yeah, Johnny Those people with her yeah There's Jim Ferry and Sadie Reese you can have them both for my money a miss Clara Hinckley Oh, she's a school teacher like Lisa used to be yes I know and a Charles Schroeder Understand he's an elder in the Mormon church and they are all with her. Yeah When did they get here him all came last night shortly after she did and who of them got here last Well as far as I know they all came about the same time after dinner. Well, that's no help except for Paul of course Paul holder Yeah, he's the nice kid that works on our ranch comes down here to run the boat for yeah, so I understand I didn't see him arrive. So must have been well after midnight. I see Okay, Ham, I'll need a boat. Well, I got one tied up to the dog with a 40-horse motor on it You can use also a flock of fishing tackle at my outfit welcome to and I need a nice string of fish Oh, yes. Well, that's easy. Is it your pal Buster favor has a has a bunch of lunkers in the live box tied up under the dock Then let's go Getting aboard the Lisa the meat Lisa and her so-called fishing pals was a cinch And the outboard that Ham had provided plus tackle and this bringer full of nice big large-mouth bass I simply headed up the lake until I saw the cruiser anchored in telegraph coal And then making my outboard miss a few times by cutting the switch I hope to alongside Mr. Having trouble it sounds like I've run out of gas Hi Looks like he's run out of gas Lisa may I come aboard and borrow some from you? Thanks Don't you see Paul just look at that through a fish. Oh, oh, you're right If you can show us how to get fish like that you can stay with us just as long as you like Well, sure. Why not good just tie up a stern and part of board and I want you to meet all my friends, okay fine I'd like nothing better Stick again on Arthur Godfrey time tomorrow the they in question of the fabulous Kirby stone for Keeping the air full of songs beginning tomorrow on Arthur's show Dick Hyman's the man with the band and for ditties from the disc staff side. There's velvet voice miss King Ling Whenever the high-spirited Kirby stone for show up You can be sure a plenty of far-out funny business as well as a sparkling sprinkling of songs Join CBS radio's Arthur Godfrey time tomorrow. I spent the rest of the day there aboard Lisa's cruiser Telling Paul Holder where to anchor over some of my pet fishing spots Luckily, they all paid off and Lisa even prettier and more charming than I thought Insisted that I stick around as long as they stayed on the lake Good This gave me the chance. I wanted to see and talk to every one of her party If possible to pick out the person aboard Was there to kill her And what a motley crew Suppose I give you a rundown on them The first there was Paul Holder the Branch hand skipper a small thin fellow in his early 20s with a freckled face and a friendly smile Almost too friendly Maybe I was misjudging him Maybe There was Jim Ferry the gambler tall dark suave and good-looking And I had no doubt that he'd do exactly what he said he'd do I Sure Johnny I'd kill my own mother for a prize. Do you think I'm kidding? house for Sadie Reese Well, what a cheap dame like this was doing aboard a yacht My good-looking friend Jim here is the long Bit up my hook for me way a Jimmy old Clara Hinkley the retired school teacher who fished alone because nobody could stand her Shrill and dull and constant yakety. Yeah, I'll never forget the time. We had the second grade picnic It was May or maybe it was June. I guess anyway It rain and on and on and on about the dear darling second graders to whom she taught reading writing an arithmetic and Finally Charles Schroeder who didn't fish but spent most of his time with Lisa talking earnestly with her Occasionally reading a passage from the book of Mormon that he carried with him I set down my rod and join them read it study it believe in it my dear and I'm certain as Certain as I am of the great hereafter Johnny no more fishing for you I'm afraid I just about had my limit when I came aboard as I started to say no more now Charles, please as you wish my dear My I'm glad we found you stuck in that cove Johnny. So am I Lisa you've brought us wonderful fishing luck look at all That's I've caught you're an excellent guide my boy. Thanks Charles Anybody like a cigarette? Thank you Thank you and here Charles Thanks But now if you too will excuse me sure Johnny There's another reason why I'm glad you came aboard. Oh it's Well, it's the reason I put you in the cabin next to mine. Well now Lisa because Well because I've had the most uneasy feeling all day. Have you I don't really know how to describe it, but Well, yeah Johnny I'm afraid but I don't know what I'll Kind of look after me Sure Good Now I'm going down to the galley and cook us all the biggest fish dinner you ever saw all right Lisa Yes Johnny Nothing Go ahead. I'm starved by the time dinner was over. It was late. We were tired So we all went to our respective cabins and hit the sack except for me After waiting a while for things to quiet down I tapped on Lisa's door And without really telling her why I made her switch cabins with me In her bunk then I put a dummy and then quietly took a blanket up on deck Layed it out by the anchor hatch up forward and waited But I had overestimated my ability to stay awake and I slept like a log But not for long and by rolling over I'd caught the dawn blanket on a cleat by the time I get Tear it loose and then get on down below. They were all gathered in front of Lisa's cabin Well, that's a dummy in your bunk. That's right Lisa my dear. Thank heaven. You're all right Yes, but who did this who did it? That's a good question Paul. I tell you this will never get him him What he stole your boat Johnny took off in that boy yours. Well, how could he Jim? It was out of gas only it wasn't Paul What do you mean? I only use that as an excuse to get on board what I don't understand Paul make us a part of coffee And we'll all sit down and talk this over my real reason for coming on board this boat was to protect Lisa from what almost happened I see a private eye an insurance investigator Jim looking out for a client More coffee seating sure baby. I mean Johnny. Yeah, I can use some more of that too. Oh, maybe It's already on Lisa Charles Thank you. Yes Now this murder was attempted by one of us here in this cabin wait by the one Complete phony among us your boat was star. Oh, no, Jim It was cut loose by somebody in this cabin to throw the rest of us off the track Maybe did you hear the motor on it now Jim? It's obvious. I think that you're what you say you are a gambler with a fast eye for a buck And you probably have a record don't you so I had this murder been gotten away with you'd be the number one suspect Wouldn't you and I you look at me? Well, there's nothing phony about you. Now. What do you mean by that Johnny? Well, let's not go into that Miss Hinckley Well, certainly we can eliminate you really mr. Dollar as for you Paul and now you look here Johnny Just keep your shirt. Yeah, but if you're trying to say all I said was as a phony among us And there he is you looking at me young man Why not Charles after all your it's what you're talking about shall I prove it? You have proof all I need stand back there on me thinking it was Lisa. Yes There's a bullet for every one of you. I see coffee Charles An elder of the Mormon church, huh, and he accepted and smoked a cigarette out there on the deck this afternoon But Mormons don't smoke That's right, and they don't drink coffee. They don't take a stimulant of any kind So now if we can get him to talk rather than have us toss him overboard Shall we bring him to and try it when he talked all right? Plenty and of course he implicated Lisa's foster brother Tony So now it's all up to the courts Expense account total including a couple of days of good fishing with ham prats and then the trip home 245 50 Yours truly Johnny dollar how to tell you about next week story next week Well, believe it or not. I go to jail. I don't mean just to pay someone a little call No, I get thrown into the clink and for what I have to admit is plenty good reason and Then believe this or not. I engineer a highly unsuccessful jailbreak Which means in the end that luck was with me Because if the break had succeeded I Wouldn't be around to tell you about it Join us. Won't you yours truly? Johnny dollar written by Jack Johnstone Produced and directed by Bruno Zerato Jr Musical supervision by Ethel Huber heard in our cast were Mandel Kramer as Ted Terry Keen as Lisa Jim Bowles as Ham Danny Akko as Charles Bill Mason as Paul Joan Loring as Sadie and Robert Dryden as Jim Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is Art Hanna speaking Brants in focus David John Bruns your man in Paris weekdays on the CBS radio network