 The signal oil program The whistler whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler I am the whistler and I know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Yes friends, it's time for the signal oil program the whistler Rated tops and popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history and Signal gasoline is tops to tops in quality. It takes extra quality, you know to give you extra mileage and Signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly dealer owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story Money is the root of all evil Some people spend more time scheming how to get money dishonestly than it would take to earn it honorably Frank Davidson was one of these for years He'd been building an alibi to cover his many dishonorable activities by telling everyone who'd listened that money was the root of all evil At the same time he was scheming to get as much money as he could from his uncle George Davidson Would not only build a fortune, but had also accumulated the love and respect of his fellow citizens Yes in bettering himself George Davidson had likewise helped thousands of others comfortably employed in various Davidson enterprises As purchasing agent for the Davidson manufacturing company Frank Davidson was in a favorable position to add through shady and illegitimate means Substantial sums to the liberal salary his uncle paid him He'd been getting away with this grafting for years until he clashed with Jim Durand the city's most ruthless racketeer and gangster You know Davidson you're a pretty smart boy. Oh a lot smarter than people around town. Thank you You must net yourself a pretty neat little sum every month. You're crazy Durand the commissions. I get missions It's pretty cute. I love the way you keep calling that dough. You steal commissions. Well, they are commissions Those buyer for the Davidson manufacturing company. I consider every beard that comes in a quick kid and Davidson For the last two years you've been buying second and third rate cement plaster and steel Your uncle's been billed for great a prices. You've been pocketing the difference as a kickback from the fellas you've been dealing with. I Don't think your uncle would like it at all if he knew what you were doing Well, I can't figure where it concerns you Durand everything that happens in this town concerns me Sides I don't like guys that give all that business to my competitors competitors sure Couple of months ago. I formed the new company the mid-city service corporation We're a sort of a buying and selling agency We buy and sell steel cement plaster practically everything that Davidson manufacturing company uses look um Durand I don't make enough to split. I think you do And I'll tell you why First of all your salaries 6,000 a year and for a guy making six grand a year you cover a lot of territory In October you drop 700 bucks in one week at Eddie's and Sony's during November You drop the cheese Eddie said he keep his mouth shut Eddie works for me For Christmas you gave your girlfriend Helene Franklin an $1,800 convertible last week. You gave her a thousand dollar engagement ring Yeah, you sure do okay for a guy making 6,000 a year. All right, Durand, so I do okay. Where do you come in now? That's simple We'll handle your deals for you. We'll take care of everything for oh say a hundred and fifty a week, but Retroactive for six months You're out of your mind. You've been buying for my competitors a lot longer than that, but but I don't you thirty nine hundred dollars and back Money sure but look how safe you'll be anything goes wrong. You won't appear at all You can just say you had reason to believe the mid-city service corporation was okay. I can't raise that kind of door What's the matter with the old man? My uncle yeah, he's a nice old guy Takes pretty good care of you from what I hear Yeah, but he'd never give me in a mouth that big without a reason give him a reason Tell him you lost it at Eddie since Sony's Tell him Eddie's got your IOU's and he's gonna give him to the newspapers or something the old man will hate to have a scandal Besides it'll be a Good investment for him. We furnished protection to Protection yeah We'll make sure no accidents happen to his employees Especially his purchasing agent Oh one more thing See that your uncle don't find out about this deal You might take a notion to talk to the police or somebody that it'd be pretty unhealthy For you Well Frank when you began your double-dealing you didn't dream you'd be interfering with the activities of Jim Doran, did you? Doran knows everything about you doesn't he and from now on he wants in and you know He's going to expect that thirty nine hundred dollars a week from Friday You'll have to talk to your uncle about this. Won't you Frank? All right Frank let's have it. What's wrong now, but you're not gonna like it uncle George, but it's the same old thing I need money thirty nine hundred dollars, and there's no use beating around the bush. I owe it to Eddie San sony and sony But gambler that's right And now you expect me to get you out of this difficulty as I have a dozen others You know Frank you have an idea that because I happened to have earned a good deal of money It's your job to spend it. Why not? What else is money for? Oh, but you're wrong Frank you're terribly wrong Money is a trust a very serious trust Wisely used it makes for a better community And I'm certainly not going to give you thirty nine hundred dollars to hand over to a crooked gambler But uncle George listen, you don't get it the man. I owe is Eddie San sony. He's a killer I've only got till next Friday to pay up nonsense. Just tell the police You mean you won't let me have the money for San sony naturally not Well, it would be the worst thing I could do for you Frank Another thing and this is for your own good Beginning Monday, you're going to work in the factory. This job is purchasing agent hasn't done you any good now wait a minute uncle George If you're going to leave me the business anyway, I'm not going to leave you the business If I did there wouldn't be any business in five years, but you always said it would all be mine someday Or even in your will I'm changing my will Frank just as soon as my lawyer returns from Washington next week You mean you're cutting me out of your will permanently well Well, that depends Maybe I'll change my mind in the year or two if if you'll really settle down and I hope you will Meantime I owe it to the employees and the people who put their savings into this business to protect their interests An unpleasant morning, isn't it Frank so unpleasant you quickly leave the office and go to see your girlfriend Helene After all Helene understands you and like you she believes that money is the root of all evil. That is other people's money You tell her about Durand about uncle George cutting you out of his will all your difficulties Helene is not only sympathetic. She's very practical too Your uncle can't do a thing like that cutting you out of his will of all the deeds do on it Just as soon as his lawyer gets back from Washington When will that be some time next week? He hasn't cut you out yet, Angel. Oh, what difference does that make he won't change his mind? Oh a lot of things can happen in a week, honey such as Take a look at that headline in tonight's paper Wealthy playboy slain and love nest I don't get you Suppose your uncle had a little love Baby The closest thing uncle George has to a love nest is his little cabin out of Clear Lake where he goes to rest up occasionally And as far as girls are concerned. He doesn't even know they're alive. We've got a secretary has me of course Oh from what you say he pays her a lot of dough naturally. She's been with him a long time Besides Bill Lawton her husband was very badly hurt in an accident a while back and has been able to work since and what you've told me Bill is not very happy about it Mary says he's miserable Well, suppose Bill Lawton were to think your uncle's interest in Mary was You know something more than In the mood easy and you'd probably see headlines bigger than the lane I Think you've hit on a wonderful idea a wonderful idea Except it takes time a week's a long time Frank When it's all you got And this is one time I'm gonna move fast With the prologue of money is the root of all evil the signal oil company is bringing you another strange story By the whistler You've heard me tell about the more thorough more conscientious attention cars get at signal service stations Because each signal dealer owns his own business and has a personal interest in keeping your goodwill Well, typical of this is the fan belt and radiator hose checkup now being offered free by signal dealers throughout the West from Canada to Mexico Being made of rubber your fan belt and radiator hose not only wear out but deteriorate from age Yet few persons ever think to check them until they fail completely and cause serious trouble That's why this free signal checkup is not only unique but a real service that every driver will be wise to take advantage of What's more if you should discover that your fan belt or radiator hose are in such worn condition that you feel it's wise to replace them Then your signal dealer can in most cases do this while you wait So drop by your nearest signal dealer soon and ask him for this free checkup of your fan belt and radiator hose It's one of a complete line of safety services offered by signal dealers to help your car run better and last longer And now back to the whistler well Frank Elaine gave you quite an idea didn't you? It would certainly make things easy for both of you if Bill Lawton got the wrong idea about his wife Mary Being involved with your wealthy uncle George and killed him in a fit of jealous rage No one could pin anything on you either After your years of hypocritical preaching that money is the root of all evil You're sure nobody would ever connect you with your uncle's sudden death But you know you'll have to act fast plant the seed of suspicion in Bill Lawton's mind So a few moments after leaving Helene's apartment. You're in Bill Lawton's living room Well, Bill, how are things going? Okay? I guess it gets pretty lonesome sitting around the house all day, huh? Oh, I manage yeah, I know how it is trouble is I can't keep living on Mary's dough I didn't marry her to get myself a meal ticket Well if Mary doesn't object why should you it's up to me to be working not her Well, I wouldn't worry too much about it Bill after all my uncle's pretty generous to her. Yeah, no, it's a nice old guy But I'll feel a whole lot better when I'm paying the bills And I'll worry uncle George always gets his money's worth. I know Mary's a pretty terrific secretary And a pretty neat addition to the office too. I don't blame uncle George for keeping her to himself But awfully busy down there lately, isn't it busy? Nothing. It's practically dead Other than things always slow up this time of year dead, but Mary's been working overtime two nights last week Yeah, I Didn't know that wait a second Besides being purchasing agents you're sort of an all-around assistant to your uncle aren't you? Yeah, that's right. Well if you work Slake How come you don't know about it? Oh? Well, I'm out calling on clients most of the time deal about Mary working nights when things are so slow Well as far as that's concerned. I don't either But then uncle George does a lot of things he doesn't tell me about don't worry about it Bill Listen, why don't you come into town for lunch someday soon? It'll do you good Frank? Yeah Is there anything between your uncle and my wife? Why? What on earth made you think of a thing like that? I've been thinking about it for quite a while Well, you've planted the seed Frank you've set Bill to wondering and earnest about your uncle George and his wife Mary and Now you must nurture that scene so it will sprout and grow quickly the next day bill himself makes it easy for you Frank Davidson speaking. This is Bill Lawton Frank. You're busy. I'm not too busy to talk to you boy What's on your mind? You run out of my place for a few minutes. I guess so if it's important. It's important to me Okay, fella. I'll be right out You know what he wants. Don't you Frank and you're sure you've got all the answers the right answer You're sure of yourself. Please too as you reach for your hat and then your phone rings once more Hello Frank Davidson speaking Yes, it's Jim Your uncle I didn't Jim honestly. I told him exactly what you told me to tell him I just came over this morning and asked to see the books of the mid-city service company Well, I didn't have anything to do with it. I hope not following Durran's phone call. You know, you have to move fast You're sure if your plans go through you'll have no trouble stalling off Durran until you come into control of your uncle's fortune And as you enter Bill Lawton's apartment and note the grim expression on his face You're equally sure your plans for the death of your uncle through Bill Lawton will work You handle bill to perfection Tell me the truth about your uncle and my wife. Oh now wait a minute bill if you think that the truth Frank I'm telling you the truth As a matter of fact, we were crazy when we even gave a thought to the two nights Mary worked over time last week Do you know what I found out uncle George wasn't even at the office those nights. He was Now what was married uncle George took out his work to the cabin at Clear Lake? Yeah, he often does that when he snowed under and Mary worked in town. Yeah, truly At least I thought oh, where else nice try Frank, but it doesn't show Mary told me she took 40 pages of dictation If he was at the cabin at Clear Lake, she was too Well now Bill, maybe you're just jumping at conclusion Wait a minute Bill. What are you gonna do with that gun? Nothing right now Just wanted to be sure it was here unloaded Next time Mary tells me she's working at night I'm gonna go out to your uncle's cabin at Clear Lake and if I find what I think I'll find This gun's gonna get quite a workout Oh Frank What on earth are you doing with that pistol? Oh, he was just showing it to me Mary Oh guns make me nervous for goodness sakes put it back in the desk bill Bill okay, Mary Since when have you become interested in firearms Frank? Well, I got myself into a jam with Jim Durant. I mean Eddie Sansone. Jim Durant at gangster. I said Eddie Sansone he's pushing me pretty hard and A bill thought that I might need some protection. So he offered me his revolver. That's ridiculous Frank Why don't you go to the police? You don't know what you're saying. Well, at least tell your uncle Please let you have money before money money money. That's all I ever hear Sansone's got plenty, but he wants more my uncle's loaded with it and he keeps working everybody talks about money everybody wants money It's like I've always said money is the root of all evil Where you take right now? It wouldn't hurt uncle George to just help me out one more time. I don't think you're being very fair Your uncle's been wonderful to you You've been wonderful to you too, hasn't he baby? He's been wonderful to us bill Well now wait a minute kiddies. Don't don't let my troubles upset you Thanks for offering me your gun bill, but I guess Mary's right carrying a gun would be silly I'll see you at the office tomorrow Mary So long bill You realize that your big problem now is to get your uncle and Mary together at your uncle's cabin at Clear Lake and This should be easy But a day passes then another and another Finally on the fourth day half your problem is solved as uncle George summons you to his office Frank You wouldn't mind dining out this evening would you know why well? I I thought I'd spend the night at the cabin Well, that's a good idea uncle George. You go ahead. I'll probably do a little work at the office Now Frank solving the other half of your problem should be very simple You can play on Mary's loyalty to your uncle in the company and she'll agree to anything you suggest So a few minutes after your uncle leaves you stop at Mary's desk Mary would you mind working with me tonight so we can have that Carson estimate ready in the morning? Oh Frank? You know how bill hates to have me out at night. Oh, I don't think you'll mind he understands You have to work overtime occasionally No, I'd hate to see us lose that Carson account Okay Okay, I'll phone him right away. Oh, that's well. Thanks a lot Mary. I'll see you at the office about half past seven That was easy wasn't it Frank you can see the expression on Bill Lawton's face when Mary phones about working late You can even see him hang up the phone Cross the room to his desk open the drawer and remove his revolver go out to his car and start for Clear Lake So you go out for a quick snack smoke impatiently until 730 Then go to the office where Mary is waiting for you I sure do get bad breaks. You won't be able to help me after all now Frank Don't tell me don't George want you to go out to the cabinet Clear Lake right away Why he didn't say anything about me all I know is he got a telegram before he left Then he told me to get in touch with you and tell you to come out right away with your notebook He says it's very important Guess there's nothing else to do Uncle George said to use the company car so I put it out in front for you Okay, yeah, there's a keys. Thank you. Oh say did you hear about Jim Durand being? Arrested No, I didn't Is he in jail? No, he's out on bail Well see you tomorrow Frank. Hope you get that car's an estimate all right Don't worry. Everything will be taken care of tonight It has to be Well, there it is Frank the last detail fitted into place, but you have to make certain there are no mistakes You hurry out to your own car pick up a lean and head toward Clear Lake Your car roars past Mary's car within a few miles and you leave her behind Suddenly your heart almost stops beating other headlights following you along the highway Jim Durand It must be Jim out on bail your sure is out to get you But if tonight goes according to plan You'll have more than a million dollars and Jim Durand will be a problem no longer You park some 300 yards from the cabin. There's no sign of the other car You tell Haleen to keep the motor running and walk towards the cabin Halfway there you spot Bill Lawton's car parked behind a tree with a clear view of the cabin where Uncle George has already turned on the lights All you need to do now is wait for Mary to arrive and then her husband Bill Lawton will do the rest And you haven't long to wait Mary steps down from the company car and walked rapidly to the cabin and enters the open door Your heart beats quickly as you watch Bill open the door of his car slip out without a sound walk slowly to the cabin and Enter the open door For a moment. Everything is quiet Then you hear the sound you've been waiting for The whistler will return in just a moment with this strange ending to tonight's story Meantime a word about these chilly nights and mornings We've been having to be sure your car will start pronto the instant you touch the starter You naturally want to be sure you're choosing the gasoline that stops in quality But how can the average driver measure gasoline quality? Why by mileage of course Which explains why we're so proud of signals good mileage Which has made it known throughout the west from Canada to Mexico as the go farther gasoline You see there's only one way today's signal gasoline can give you such good mileage That's by helping your motor run more efficiently and when your motor runs more efficiently You just naturally enjoy quicker starting faster pick up smoother knock-free power In other words the superior performance you expect of a superior gasoline That's why signal says to be sure of the tops in gasoline quality. There are just two things to remember One it takes extra quality to go farther and Two signal is the famous go farther gasoline and now back to the whistler When you hear the shots from Bill's gun, you're sure your worries are behind you aren't you Frank tomorrow? You'll be head of Davidson Enterprises. You can marry Helene pay off Durand Your lies about your uncle George and his secretary Bill Lawton's wife work like a charm Assuring him and arousing him to the jealous fury culminating in the shooting you've just heard You're almost jubilant as you run to your car tell Helene the good news and step on the gas A moment later you feel differently that strange car is right behind you again now You're sure it's Durand the gangster who believes you're responsible for his arrest You want to stop explain things but you're afraid and you're sure that once he knows of your uncle's death You can handle him. You've got to get away. You press down on the gas Why so fast that's car behind us Helene it's Durand. Oh, how do you know I just know that's all soon You're doing 50 then 60 then 70 then 75 In the Davidson Memorial Hospital and you're going to be all right. Oh Helene the girl who was with me. She's pretty badly hurt, but she'll recover and We hope the plastic surgery may help her face Hello Davidson Who are you chief of police Roberts? Lucky for you. We were following you last night when you had that crash If we hadn't been you and your girlfriend would be dead pigeons. You mean it wasn't there. No, no, it was the police. All right You talked too much the day Mary Lawton came home and found you and her husband fooling with that gun She tipped us off We've been tailing you ever since for your own protection Incidentally Bill Lawton told us how you tried to get him to kill your uncle with your lies about him and Mary Oh, my uncle. That's it's insane Just because Bill Lawton might have gotten mixed up on something. I said doesn't mean a thing It's his word against mine In a few days, I'll be president of the Davidson manufacturing company. You'll be a minute. I've got a little surprise for you Yes, Frank Uncle George But I thought yeah, you thought they were dead, didn't you but Shot they were quite harmless Blanks Mary substituted if she hadn't we wouldn't be here. Yes, Davidson that Phony alibi you tried to build that line about money is the root of all evil Isn't going to get you out this time. It's too bad. You never understood the right use of money Frank You're like a lot of others Davidson belittling money success Miss quoting Uncle George. It's taught me to believe the Bible Bible says money is the root of all evil Frank. No The Bible says that love of money is the root of all evil not money itself There's a difference Frank a big difference Your signal for the signal oil program the Whistler each Wednesday night at this same time brought to you by the signal oil company marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories Signal has asked me to remind you to get the most driving pleasure drive at sensible speeds be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life possibly your own Marvin Miller speaking This is CBS where 99 million people gather every week The Columbia broadcasting system