 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Oh, hi, Tom. How are you doing lousy write $1,000 headache? Try an ice bag and go back to bed bag of ice it cure me All right, but not the kind of ice you're thinking of hmm a hundred thousand bucks worth of uncut diamonds Johnny They've been stolen and we wrote the policy on hundred thousand That's a fat lot of rocks Tom and a fat fee if you can recover them for us you interested. Oh, that's the understatement of the week Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the home office global casualty Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenditure is during my investigation of the picture postcard matter Expense account item one a dollar and a quarter taxi to the office of global casualty where Tom Wilkins was waiting for me Looks like we're bucking a pretty well organized outfit in this deal Johnny the way they pulled the job shows They'd plant it out pretty well. How did that happen Tom and where the diamonds were being taken by a special courier from Zurich, Switzerland To Amsterdam they got lifted at the Zurich Airport How the airport was crowded the courier was carrying the diamonds in a leather briefcase strapped to his wrist a fight broke out Suddenly in the confusion the courier was slugged in the case cut loose from it after which the fight suddenly stopped huh? Yeah It was obviously a rigged brawl by the time the police arrived the people involved had disappeared with the uncut diamonds Sounds like their timing was pretty good too good. How about the courier? You got a look at the guy who slugged him. No it happened from behind Anybody in the airport crowd able to describe the guys who'd rigged the brawl Well, no clear description somebody mentioned that one of the men involved was stocky sort of a bull neck. Oh great Probably only a couple of million people answering that description true Zurich police turn up anything not a thing Well look Tom. I'm an insurance investigator not a magician. You better get yourself another boy Well Johnny we got one lead and it could be enough if it's on the level. Oh, well, let's have it The robbery was day before yesterday this morning. I got an airmail special delivery letter from Zurich. You take a look Regarding the recent diamond matter I have information which may enable you to recover them for a reward. So I see And he wants to talk to somebody about it. Yeah, and I nominate you. It's signed Sebastian Any idea who he is none at all as you see I was to reply to general delivery in Zurich I did told him you were the one how do I find him read on you're to register at the Polo Hotel in Zurich He or she will contact you there You think it's on the level. I don't know Could be a phony somebody trying to ace in and promote a fast buckets happened before sure and this could be another one But right now it's the only lead. We've got we got to take a chance and go along with it I can't say I care for the post script here extreme caution Necessary leads me to think there's one thing you'd better be real sure about Johnny. What's that? That you don't get contacted by the wrong guy And so with the Sun sinking slowly in the West and my morale slowly following suit I said goodbye to my cheerful friend and set sail for distant shores Item two six hundred and twenty two dollars plane fare and incidentals to Zurich, Switzerland It was a quiet uneventful flight and I had a lot of time to think but I didn't much like what I was thinking Whoever had lifted the uncut stones wouldn't exactly like the idea of an informant spilling the beans to me And I had a slight hunch I'd be lucky if beans were the only thing that got spilled My plane landed at Zurich in the late afternoon I hired a cab that's item three one dollar to take me to the Polo Hotel The city looked bright fresh and clean it gave me a lift and Decide of a very pretty girl walking quickly to my cab as we were ready to pull away from the airport didn't hurt either I'm so sorry. I made a mistake turn it. I thought you were somebody else Yeah, that's the trouble with having an ordinary looking face Well, I wouldn't call it ordinary but but please well, please I wonder could I share your cab into the city? Oh by all means I guess my friend was not on that plane after all that's rough. Okay, driver Very good of you. Well, I'm a real prince when you get to know me miss Schaefer Ilsa Schaefer Johnny dollar and speaking of getting to know me driver. Please pull up Hey, how come? Oh, I am so sorry. Mr. Dollar. I just remembered something I have to do We were just beginning to get acquainted Look, wait, perhaps this will make up for it All-fant I can't think of a better start now if you'll only goodbye hey Ilsa wait Well, if this is the customary Swiss hospitality driver sign me up Then I realized that Ilsa had forgotten her purse I had the driver cruise around a few minutes, but we didn't see her anywhere So I dropped her purse off at the lost and found office of the taxi cab company then went on to the Polo Hotel It was in the newer quarter of Zurich on the lower slopes of the Zurich bird I went inside and started for the desk in the lobby, but I didn't quite make it Turn here, please. Sorry. I'm heading for the desk. I said turn here, please You know, I can't say I care for the way you keep nudging me in the ribs. That wouldn't be a gun What it? Yes, it would now if you will please come with me. Okay, mr Where to do the side entrance? I'll say one thing I sure didn't expect all the reception committees the first one. I like much better. Huh? Outside That car over there. Hey, look, isn't it about time you tell me what this is all about? There's no use pretending you do not know the diamonds oh You think I've got them maybe I do not think I'm sure of it Well, this may come as a nasty surprise to you, mr But I have no time to waste she entered your cab with a purse see and Ilsa and left without it And she was sure we say very friendly to you. Oh that I remember and I have no complaints believe me But she didn't give me any diamonds. I want you they weren't in a purse either They check the contents had lost and found get into the car. Hey, look this routine won't get you anywhere into the car Take it easy friend. They're trying to poke a hole in my ribs. No, okay, okay? I jerked the door open suddenly and knock him off balance I saw him but he ducked and lunged at me. I went sprawling into the street in front of an oncoming Defenders hit me a glance and blow and I bounced against the curb By the time I could get to my feet again my friend with a gun and disappeared and so at his car I wasn't hurt, but it took several minutes to convince the very scared cab driver who'd accidentally hit me He should be scared Expense the count item for twelve dollars and seventy five cents telephone call to Tom Wilkins a global casually back in the States I'm glad you called Johnny any luck so far no luck, but sure a lot of action Well, what do you mean? Well first off an attractive little doll shares my cab for a few blocks plants a kiss on me and Scrambles out leaving her purse behind what then a strong arm collars me and tells me the girl must have passed the diamonds to me in the Cab but that doesn't make sense. Well, anyway, that's what happened so far plus my almost getting run over in the process Look Johnny, I knew this wouldn't be an easy assignment, but yeah, I know yeah, don't worry Tom I'm still all in one piece But I'm beginning to realize what Sebastian Minton is letter about extreme caution being necessary Has anyone contacted you yet? No only the aforementioned pair no sign of this Sebastian whoever he or she is Neither do I Either the boys who stole the diamonds have lost them or there's another outfit trying to get their hands on them in which case I'm right in the middle Johnny Sebastian still our only lead you've got to give him plenty of chance to contact Yeah, I know we'll do but be careful look. I'm with you. Believe me. I Went up to my Roman stretched out on the bed to wait To always went by nothing happened Finally I went down to the lobby expense account item five thirty cents to English language newspapers Settle down on the most conspicuous chair. I could find and waited some more still nothing I Worked my way through the newspapers slowly Then finally somebody came over to the chair that was back to back with mine. I took a quick look He was well dressed dark wavy hair medium height But he paid no attention to me and started reading his newspaper Looked like a wrong guess Maybe I'd have to wait until tomorrow So I started to get out mr. Dollar, huh, please put your newspaper in front of your face and do not turn around Okay, why Sebastian who wrote the letter to your company in the United States? Oh, it must not appear. We are talking to each other Somebody watching I would not doubt it So you want to talk about the robbery of those uncut diamonds? How do I know you have any real information? I will give you proof presently, but first let us talk about the reward. What is the amount? Depends on how good the information is Sebastian. I am talking about the diamonds Suppose I were to tell you that I was in a position to guarantee their return come on for 25 thousand dollars and no further investigation. I will arrange for the return of the diamonds I'd have their proof that you know what you're talking about, of course Let me see My back is to you. Is it your right hand which is closest to the wall and shielded from the lobby? Yeah Put it down beside your chair Do not take the newspaper away from your face Okay Yeah Picture postcard. Yes Addressed to me as you see the writings in German. What does it mean? It is the equivalent of your American expression Having wonderful time wish you were here signed by F. Gruner. Who's he or she a friend? Look at the picture on the other side The Clibach in yes and in in the town of Clibach in the Alps several hours from here Wait a minute are the diamonds at the Clibach in no But this postcard is part of the key to their location part of the car now look Sebastian this just isn't good enough I can't someone is coming. I cannot talk further with you here. It is not safe Oh, look, don't worry. I will furnish all the proof you need one tonight. Now listen carefully. I am going I Will leave my newspaper on the floor beside my chair wait a few minutes then get up Drop your paper and when you pick it up pick up mine also then what on an inner page of my paper I have written my address Come there in two hours if I am not there wait for me. Just a minute. How can I please? There is no time for further questions two hours, mr. Donner in my room Two hours later. I went to the address you give me a small apartment in another part of the city Now answer he hadn't arrived yet. I Went inside and waited 15 minutes went by no sign of Sebastian And then something started picking away at my brain a faint sound I Finally pegged it a dripping faucet. It came from the bathroom the bathtub was full In it floating face down Was Sebastian now here's our start to tell you about tomorrow's episode of this week's story tomorrow a perfect stranger Wants to get acquainted and a beautiful girl asked me to go skiing Trouble is either or both of them could be trying to kill me Join us won't you yours truly Johnny dollar or is truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is Transcribed in Hollywood written by Robert Reich. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking