 The signal oil program the whistler is your signal for the signal oil program the whistler and 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 by independent research the most popular program on the west coast Remember let every traffic signal remind you with new signal gasoline you do go farther than ever Look for the familiar big yellow and black circle sign that identifies those popular signal service stations in seven western states from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story The thin line It's a thin line that separates infatuation from hate So thin and fragile that one can change into the other in a split second Mark Naylor would agree now that the line is a thin one If Mark were alive But he didn't discover it until too late. That was the trouble with Mark He always discovered things too late when he discovered that marrying an old woman for her money doesn't lead to happiness It was too late when he discovered he was in love with artist male her pretty companion. It was too late Too late mark. There's nothing you can do of all the places people go for asthma She has to pick this dried up jerk water town in the desert I'm going to put my foot down artist. I said it's too late She's taken a lease on this place for six months and she's going to stay here Why did you agree in the first place? Did I know it was going to be like this? You really fell for the travel folders, didn't you hear a romantic mining town the essence of the old west? That's a laugh. Why didn't you say something? Well, you're the head of the family darling. I only work here Sand everywhere you look sand sand in your eyes and your ears in your teeth. Oh, what a trap Well, there's no use fretting about it Emma won't leave no Emma won't leave her asthma always day in day out Her asthma the climate's good for her. Ah, but you love her. Ah, but I don't Don't needle me. I've had all I can take I'm sorry. You're sorry There's one consolation. She can't last forever and neither can you I'll bet she hits 90 Is that par for the course with women like Emma it is I? Thought I was being smart when I married her. Well, you met me darling. Doesn't that mean anything? I know what that does mean a lot. Well Well, what what are you going to do about it? What can I do? Sometimes you disappoint me why oh skip it. Oh now look artist. Why do you keep complaining about it mark? That's all you've done for the past six months, and it won't do you any good I'm open to suggestions. Well, it's time you started thinking for yourself. Maybe I'm not so bright All I know is she wants to live here And when I think of her bank account, I Don't feel like arguing. Do you want me to draw you a diagram you better You'd better think about it for a while. I've got to go into town and get a prescription. Oh, I'll go with you No, why not? It doesn't look right. I don't see why such a thing is being discreet. I'll go alone Oh great the old brush don't be stupid now just relax and think It'll be a new experience Artists has given you something to think about hasn't she Mark That's the way artists is always suggesting never coming right out with a flat statement And there's something about it that makes you listen Maybe it's the way she handles those foreign-looking eyes Maybe it's the way she walks the graceful capable way. She does everything Maybe it's just because she's artists may oh and she can twist you around a little finger She is beautiful isn't she? Maybe that's it. She's such a complete opposite of Emma your wife That you mark yeah, that's me. Where have you been? Not writing alone. Well, who would I be with? Oh, you've been writing a lot lately mark What else can you do in this blasted country? Oh? Why do you talk like that? You know what upsets me and my I thought this place was supposed to fix your asthma We haven't been here long enough you talk about me being unreasonable You want me to stay here and rot just because you can't catch your breath once in a while We've been over all this before I'm going to stay until I've given the place a fair trial. Well, that could be years You know what it's doing to me. Don't you mark? I'd give in to you if I could But I can't stand living along the coast. You know that I wonder you wonder why I wonder if your asthma is the real reason we left, California There's no community property law in this How can you be so unfair? I'm I am too. I'm sick of this place and Sick of me. Oh, I didn't say that but you think it Don't you mark. Oh, what are you trying to do put words in my mouth mark? Well, we were married. I Realized that it wasn't a normal thing to do You really seem sincere when you told me that you weren't the type to be happy with a woman your own age So I went through with it, but now everything's changed You're disagreeable and I'm kind of irritable because of this filthy country Look at this place nothing but sand and heat and nights with no sound of that wind You suffer because I got the handle once in a while. There's more to it than that. Oh now what? You said you were out riding alone this afternoon You weren't telling me the truth mark You were riding with artists. You've been riding her with her quite often you Fallen in love with it Now in a way, I suppose it was my fault I should have known better than to hire such an attractive girl as a companion. Look, I don't want to talk you've got to talk about it Our marriage was a bargain mark You owe me something too dear in return for a promise of security a promise that when I go You'll have everything. I'm not kicking about our marriage. I'm it's just living here. That's driving me crazy. I doubt it You were conscious of her why we were living in California I've been hoping that it was one of those affairs that would die out But it hasn't and I've lost your companionship You've made me feel miserable and undignified You made me feel as though I don't want to go. Oh now don't go into hysterics Just take it easy It'll make you any happier. I'll stop riding with artists. It's going to take more than that mark There's only one way to straighten out this situation I'm going to let artists go can't do that It's the only way to settle it and nothing is going to change my mind think what you're doing artists is oh What's the matter? Don't you trust me? Can't you take my word? No mark? I don't trust you I'm doing this for my own peace of mind. Well, I won't hold still for them. It isn't fair to artists. Oh Why can't you be sensible? Why can't you? It's no use mark? I'm letting artists go And if you don't like it You can go to all right, I will mark don't mean I'm in love with artists. I may as well admit it if she goes I go How can you be such a stubborn old fool? I don't want you near me anymore That doesn't It's over now the two years of your life you gambled or wasted Emma and her fortune are out of the picture aren't they you keep telling yourself It's just as well that it was a mistake from the start that you were a fool to think you'd get something for nothing You can forget about your conversation with artists this morning. There's no need for that now At least you're free There'll be an efficient Nevada divorce then you and artists can forget it Yes mark. You're still on the same side of that thin line, aren't you? There's nothing in the world now Except artists That's all she said. Yeah, get out period. Well, what are you going to do? Get out. What do you think? Well, it seems rather foolish You think she'll give you a divorce course. Why not? You don't know her Listen mark. She'll hang around your neck until the day she dies. Wait a minute artist. Don't argue with me mark I know her like a book. Look if you're talking about the money. I don't care. Well, I do You know mark Emma's a very unhappy woman She suffers a lot and well in a way. It would be a blessing if Well, if if what? There is a way mark stop talking in riddles and I tell you she's through with me As a matter of fact, I'm glad of it She can take her pot of gold and find herself another husband She will if you're stupid enough to let her if you're suggesting I go back to her You're just wasting your time not suggesting you go back to her Huh? I said there's a way mark She's old in fern. You're her beneficiary artist you mean No, I Couldn't oh shut up. Listen Murders one thing. Oh, you listen now. You can take your choice Emma can have a nice respectable automobile accident on her way to town or I Leave tonight alone I was never more serious in my life We never get away with it. There'll be questions a thousand other than the whole town knows about you So what we'll throw in their teeth So we love each other so Emma gets despondent and commit suicide People don't commit suicide by running automobiles into ditches. You don't know what you're talking about There was one last year and I know the exact place All right, what is it mark that Emma or me? Well? artist I Give me time to think there's no time to think but killing her All right Goodbye mark. Wait a minute artist. I well with the prologue of tonight's story the thin line The signal oil company is bringing you another strange story by the whistler But now what's the latest information about that new car you've been waiting for? Well due to various reconversion problems instead of the 500,000 new cars manufacturers had expected to produce by now only 75,000 were actually made You know what that means that old car will no doubt be with us much longer than we counted on It's going to take much better care than cars ever needed before if parts that have already gone so far must stand up under still more mileage Just lubrication won't be enough It'll take expert lubrication by a man who knows cars and is conscientious about getting every part giving it its full share of the exact lubricant it needs and never missing a single one and Where can you find such a man? Why right at that friendly station in your neighborhood wearing signals yellow and black circle side You see because your signal dealer is in his own business He has naturally made car care his specialty and because he wants to stay in business permanently He does the kind of job. He's proud to stand back up the kind of job that will keep you his steady customer That's why your signal man is a mighty good man for you to know now when you really want your car to go farther Now back to the whistler the combination was too much for you the dull dry monotony of a desert town Complaining middle-aged wife an artist male That's the big reason why you agree to commit murder, isn't it? You forgot about the money in the desert nothing seemed important except Artists and you found yourself agreeing before you knew what was happening But you're beginning to waver now with the desert wind wailing outside the window as you stand over Emma's bed with artists It's over listen to her heart She's alive still beating let's get her out of here before she comes to wait a minute artist Now we're not going to get away with this. They'll catch up with us. I tell you shut up You are going through it. Do you hear me come on now? All right, is this the place wait a minute. Yes. Yes. It's a hundred foot drop over that bank. Come on get out I'll take her feet. No. No, but your arm under her shoulders under careful not to the front seat There Following the steering wheel you fool. Sorry now what fingerprints give me your handkerchief Takes care of the steering wheel Now clamp her hands on the wheel in the driving position So it'll be her fingerprints in case anyone should get snoopy and put it in gear start it rolling and jump look Are you sure everything's of course? I'm sure hurry up All right Okay, here goes that ought to do it. Come on What do you mean? We're going down to check up a very thorough girl Isn't she mark the car is deep in the couch the one light still burning shows that and you scramble down to it The wreckage is quite satisfying isn't it? And inside it is Emma nailer How about it? She's dead. All right it's Quiet down here, isn't it? Don't have that blasted wind whipping around. Let's go back Where to the house to phone into town and inquire about Emma. She's been gone a long time and we're worried about her Then we come back here and we find her we find her Why not let them find her with the ground full of our footprints up on the road and all around the car Oh, no mark we do the finding Never thought about that Guess I better let you run things that night. That's a good idea When mark, yeah, I'll be staying at the hotel for the sake of appearances. Well, but when can that's going to take time Mark, there'll be an autopsy an inquest and then Maybe in six months or so. Yeah Look artist. I'm sorry. I busted up on you. I guess you you're right after all What's tough at that? You're all set aren't you mark you've decided all your nervousness was imagination You can hardly wait now to get away from the desert and start your new life with artists Even the sheriff is cooperative He seems to feel genuinely sympathetic and he's very quick to explain that the questions are merely for the record You know how it is. Mr. Naylor just routine sure I know I'll tell you everything I possibly can how old was mrs. Naylor 57 I believe you said she came here for her health. That's right How long had you and mrs. Naylor been married? Oh 11 months Did you know her very long before that about a year year? How'd you happen to meet mrs. Naylor? Well, I was selling burial plots and she was one of my prospects You didn't continue with that line of business. Did you mr. Naylor? Well, no after we were married my wife wanted me to devote all my time to her. I see Now miss Mayo, how long were you in mrs. Naylor's employed? Must have been about five months You were working for her before she came here then. Yes Have you always done this line of work mrs. Naylor? I've done it for quite a while How many other people did you work for before you were employed by mrs. Naylor? Oh, there were several Are you married mrs. Mayo? No. No, I'm not have you ever been married. Yes. I'm a widow Well, I guess that'll do for now folks. Well, you'll probably think up something else for us later on Yeah, you'll probably be finding me quite a pest. You know how it is. Oh, sure. We know how it is Better be getting back town. I'll see you later. Bye. Oh, you've been married never occurred to me to tell you I thought I knew everything about you. This is a new slide. Oh, you're not going to pout about it Are you you never told me you were a tombstone salesman? I sold burial plots What an intriguing way for Emma to meet her future widower. Don't kid about it. I'm in no mood for jokes. Oh, stop fretting mark Everything is going beautifully She's right isn't she mark not a hitch so far except for an unexplained delay in the inquest You wait in the house you and Emma had shared on the edge of town kept indoors by the heat and the desert wind There are long hours to kill all by yourself with nothing to do but smoke cigarettes and think Artists is almost a stranger now. She won't see you because of appearances and on the rare occasions when you are together There's no feeling of relief at all Just a kind of nervousness that makes you jump at each other's throat mark. Will you shut up? I tell you everything's all right. Well, then why the delay this keeps up. I'm gonna start talking to myself Only been a few days. It's been a week They're holding it up on purpose. I tell you they got some all they haven't got a thing I don't care. I can't stand this much. You've got to look Why couldn't I tell them I've got to run back to the coast on business told the sheriff you've given up your business Well, you could explain don't be it out. It's it's out. Oh Listen mark. We're almost in now. Let's not start wrangling think about where we're going when we get the money Lorda Miami Beach, I don't like you'll get over you've never seen anything like Miami in the winter I said I don't like Florida may as well learn right now that you're not going to get anywhere taking that tone with me I don't care what you think I'm going back to the coast sure you are the Atlantic coast Miami Beach, you know You know someday you're not going to get by with that what that smug irritating attitude of yours You think you know all the answers, don't you depends on who's asking the question now What do you mean by that? You answer that one Yes mark the line that divides infatuation from hatred is a fine one And you don't realize you just crossed That the groundwork is all prepared for your discovery a few days later of an entry in one of Emma's diaries January 18th Today, I finally decided to take artist's advice to go to the desert I know mark won't approve, but artists is right after all my health does come first Don't knock the door down just a minute What's the matter with you? I told you not to come close the door now wait a minute close the door I'm gonna sit down. I want to talk to you. Why are you looking at me like that? Go on sit down All right since you're an expert on questions and answers. How about this one? Whose idea was it coming to the desert yours or Emma's what's that got shut up? That's everything to do with it Means you had the whole works planned before we left California you figured me for a sucker, didn't you artist? Yeah, you had the whole picture Convincing Emma to come here knowing it'd make me willing to kill her after kicking around in the sand and heat for a few months Don't argue with me. It's all there in Emma's diary What do you mean it's in her diary? I mean there's enough foundation for some pretty solid guessing you even had the community property law figured out Didn't you yeah back there? I was legally entitled to half her income here I don't get a dime you knew that it worked on me too, didn't you especially with that sand grinding into my brain It was Emma's idea don't give me that you suggested it to her you kept prodding her until she gave in keep your voice down You want to marry me? Don't you why so you can take care of me like you did Emma that's it Isn't it you don't keep quiet nothing You're not running away from me any longer. Keep away. I'll show you who's doing the thinking from now on I said keep away from me. I just want to get my hands on that lily-white neck of yours. I'm warning you You put down that gun. Get away from me Let me hear you argue now Big baboon So it didn't work out did it mark the thing got a little too complicated for you You were never cut out for murder. You knew it from the first and now that it's over Even the sheriff is convinced that you'd be the last person in the world who'd ever think of killing anyone I'm telling you the truth. Sheriff. I shot him in self-defense. Yes He came into my room in a rage and he tried to kill now. Wait a minute miss Mayo You're not trying to tell me that a spineless little guy like Mark. Oh, you don't know him Don't tell me I don't know him why he'd pass out at the mention of murder And you're trying to tell me he walked right up to you and tried to kill you with his bare hands While you held a gun on him without any reason he had a reason what well I I don't know what it was. Oh, you don't know what it was, but you sure he had one. I Guess that'll be all miss Mayo, but yeah, that'll be all You can save the rest for your trial in court. I'm holding you for the murder of mark nailer The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending of tonight's story Meantime, let me ask you a question Why do you suppose it is that the new? 1946 cars are putting so much emphasis on more miles per gallon of gasoline Is it because folks today are interested in making dollars go farther? Yes, but even more they're interested in the reasons back of that mileage the improved engineering the higher compression and better Carburetion that make the new cars go farther on each gallon and There you also have the reason why signal oil company is so proud to announce that you now go farther than ever With new signal gasoline You see that increased mileage is the result of power amazing new power The same power that gives new signal gasoline quicker starting faster pickup and quieter higher anti knock That's why we say look to your speedometer for the final measure of gasoline quality You'll find that the super powered gasoline that gives you peak performance is also the gasoline that now helps you go farther than ever new signal gasoline and now Back to the whistler Yes mark you crossed the thin line and once across it everything fell to pieces We didn't realize until the last moment until the instant between the blinding flash of the gun in a plunge into blackness How much you hated artists? How far to the other side of the line the murder of Emma Nailer had thrust you and It was all so unnecessary mark if you'd only read further in Emma's diary Particularly the last entry Mr. Coroner, I don't understand how a woman and Mrs. Nailer's condition could go riding in an automobile Frankly sheriff. I think she was capable of almost anything There's no arguing with the results of the autopsy and of course the entry in her diary is conclusive Well, that's good enough for me into the verdict in the record clerk Death by suicide from a self-administered dose of Aminol Taken in a fit of despondency after being deserted by Mark Nailer her husband Yeah, that's all the case of the death of Emma Nailer is closed Next Monday at nine o'clock the whistler will bring you another strange tale The whistler is broadcast for your entertainment by the marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality Automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer This program directed by George W. Allen with tonight's story by Buckley Angel music by Wilbur Hatch is transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program the whistler This is Marvin Miller speaking Reminding you to look for those familiar yellow and black circle signs that identify those popular signal oil stations in Seven Western states from Canada to Mexico. This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System