 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 by independent research the most popular 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 service stations From Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story hasty conclusion Professor Wagner sat in his office in the old brick chemistry building a late issue of the chemistry journal open on the desk before it The drowsy afternoon sounds of the campus and the reassuring tick of his secretary's typewriter made him sleepy Unable to concentrate on his reading The article was in fine print and the professor found himself tempted to drop it into the wastebasket But he was forced to continue reading when the dean published the rest of the department was expected to read it Suddenly he turned back the pages and reread the article more carefully his mind shuttling between memory and suspicion Why was all this so familiar? Could it be what he suspected his secretary with her spinster's efficiency would know Very interesting very Oh miss Rose. Yes, Professor Wagner. Did you type this latest article of Dean Emerson's? Why yes good, isn't it? He's had much favorable comment. Hmm the subject interests me. Didn't it seem familiar to you? Yes, it did. I remember thinking so when I typed it Any idea where you might have read it before why some thesis notes one of the students. That's it, of course Nielsen's notes Nielsen. Oh, oh, yes, the graduate student. Where are they miss Rose in the files? I remember for you particularly wanted them saved get them Oh, this is too good to be true Let me see Lloyd Nielson Poor man such a tragedy so young to be taken like that. Yes. Yes. Very unfortunate. Are they there? Yes Here they are. Oh All that research and never to finish it. It doesn't seem right. I'll take them, please Mm-hmm Now let's see the Dean's article here Yes, yes identical. I thought this was better than his usual dribble Get on the phone miss Rose, but he's launching at the faculty club. Call him there Tell him I want to see him at three o'clock, but but he's he if there's any question. Tell him It's about the late mr. Nielsen Please that you like my paper Wagner an important contribution Dean Emerson you have every reason to be proud I'm glad of any prestige. I may bring to the college and rightly so The next Dean will have quite a position to maintain and that's not immediate. I have many more good years Still there's always the unforeseen The little mistakes that can end the career so untimely Wagner. What's on your mind? A student named Nielsen Lloyd Nielsen Nielsen the name means something to you. No, no, surely you remember him the one who died We've had so many students not like him He did a brilliant piece of research Something about the valence of burial. Oh, I I recall it vaguely too bad. He didn't finish. He did His findings have been published, but that's impossible. How could he come come, Emerson? I just told you I read your paper. What are you suggesting? You stole Nielsen's material and published it as your own you can't mean that you have no proof in my files There's another version of those notes enough to prove you're a plagiarist a thief. You're lying There are no other notes. Oh, yes, there are you forget Nielsen was my student too It must have been a mistake a coincidence if the papers had been in your own field toxicology. Yes, but they weren't Emerson You've never liked me Wagner This is nothing but malice Call it ethics and you want to expose me for the sake of your ethics. Oh, then you admit there's something to expose. Well, I Mean Wagner isn't there some way we can settle this quietly? That's better May I smoke? Oh, yes, sir. Oh certainly I want to buy me. Thank you Yes, Emerson There is a way quiet But honorable of course anything naturally for the good of the college I'll have to ask you to withdraw withdraw, but I'll be fair I keep the reason to myself generous of you. I think so but to give up my whole career You don't know what you're asking better than having the truth come out Wagner for heaven's sake must It be this way just what you would do in my place, isn't it? I see And I have no choice but to resign Very wise. I suppose I should thank you Well, there's a way to show your gratitude as chairman of the appointments board You can name your successor my successor. Do you mean that you? I'll expect to replace you as dean. So that's your ethics for you I won't do it. Oh, you're suddenly very scrupulous. You can tip Get out of my office very well, then the truth will have to be known. I'll deny it. I'll discredit you All right a scandal if you like get out of here you'll hear from me later Emerson No way pregnant. I'll come back I'll do as you say Anything to I thought you'd see it my way. I want your resignation right away right away Can't you give me some time? How much time well a day or two anyway, so you can squirm out of it No, I can't wait that long for a few hours at least this evening come to dinner at my house tonight Mrs. Emerson retires early and we can talk about it afterwards. What time 6 30 all right 6 30 I'll have an answer for you then. There's only one possible answer. Good afternoon You're sure you won't have some coffee professor. Thank you, Mrs. Emerson nothing more Marion don't insist on coffee when I've told you I'm selling pork, but everyone doesn't like pork Charles You mean you don't that isn't what I meant at all. You're so irritable this evening dear nothing of the sort Well, it's always a sign when you're worried is something wrong. I've told you nothing's wrong Marion drop it here. You are professor Rather good color, don't you think thank you. You're not having any oh Not supposed to trouble with my eyes go ahead Hmm Very good Very good indeed Pleasant here in the summer house if the Dean enjoys dining out here Although I feel it's still early in the season and there's a chill in the air your cold Marion perhaps you wouldn't mind Of course you two have business to talk over your asleep when I leave. I'll see you Monday leave. Oh Yes, the ski club. I'd forgotten. I'd be going as soon as the professor and I finish. Well, I hope the snow is Still good Charles Good night, professor. Sorry to hurry you off. Mrs. Emerson. Oh, you're not. I want to get back to my detective story So interesting I tell the Dean he ought to write one with his knowledge of toxicology He must know many clever poisons that leave no trace Marion for heaven's sake Well, after all their only stories No one behaves as they do in books. Do they professor? Oh, I I don't know I mean the victims is so stupid if a man's your enemy you don't blindly allow him to poison you go marry and you Rattled on and on Rose. I Hate to have you drive to the ski club in this state. You are worried. I'm not worried Marion Besides, I'm driving up with dr. Phillips. All right, dear Good night, professor. Good night Well Wagner I've considered your demand have you there's nothing else for me to do but to agree Nothing else I'll resign at once and you'll be appointed Dean nothing else Emerson no other way What do you mean very clever of you getting me to dinner and then I know what you've done done I see it all now. You've poisoned me. There was poison in that way I'm poison when you're mad. Your wife gave you away. Didn't she? Wagner why are you doubled over like that? The pain My stomach. Oh, you won't get away with it. Is you listen to me Wagner dr. Phillips. I'll get him cross the street Can't tell him a story like that. I won't let you go away. Oh, let me go. Listen to me I didn't let me go. Let me go. I say Wagner don't put down at the case away For a stunned moment you stand there and then suddenly find yourself running pill mill down the gravel path toward the Garden gate doubled over clutching at the burning pain in your stomach Knowing it's your life now unless you can get across the street to the doctor's office Before the poison strikes you down a minute later. You stumble up the steps and burst into the doctor's office Phillips acts quickly efficiently Pulse the shade fast blood pressure up a bit. That's probably due to excitement. You say the pain's gone now, huh? Yeah, yes, yes Seem to vanish the minute I got here. You've been nervous lately working on why yes Putting in a lot of nights at the lamb. Well, there's the usual rush around exam time. Tell me What did you have for dinner over at Emerson's? Let's see? Shrimp Creole avocado salad That's enough for me Wagner old boy, you can forget about poisoning. You've got yourself a case of gastritis. That's all. Oh Oh, I see Well, I've got to get back to Emerson. Emerson will wonder what'll happen to me. He doesn't know No, I I didn't want to worry him said I was going into the house to phone Well, I'll I'll say good night, doctor. Thank you. Oh, I'm going to walk over with you To Emerson's yes, do you mind? No, no, no, no, I was just on my way over when you came come on Oh, but but well the Dean's rather busy. That's all right. He's expecting me at nine o'clock Expecting you yes After you, Wagner With the prologue of hasty conclusion the signal oil company presents another strange story by the Whistler But now two points it'll pay every driver to remember if you want to be sure you're getting the tops in quality when you buy gasoline one in gasoline it takes extra quality to give you extra mileage to go farther and Two signal is the famous go farther gasoline After all the only way any gasoline can put more thrilling performance into your car is by helping your motor run more efficiently and When your motor runs more efficiently naturally you get better mileage So mileage is really the best yardstick of gasoline quality That's why we're so proud of signals good mileage and it's why signal says When you buy gasoline for your car to be sure you're getting the tops in quality there are just two things to remember one in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther and Two throughout the West from Canada to Mexico Signal is the famous go farther gasoline And now back to the Whistler Well, Professor Wagner, it's all changed isn't it your discovery of Dean Emerson's plagiarism Almost provided the means of settling yourself into a very comfortable spot But it's anything but comfortable at the moment as you stand at the Dean's front door with dr. Phillips Your mind is racing wildly You were foolish to believe immediately that the Dean had poisoned you foolish to run the Phillips so quickly Now you're wondering what they're going to find out there in the summer house Whether Dean Emerson is alive or dead and what you will tell them Charles ought to be through with my professor. I thought you were with Joe Well, come in. I Had a slight pain. I went to Phillips to get something for it. Oh, I'm sorry. Are you and the Dean almost through? No, as a matter of fact, there were a few more points. We had oh, well, that's all right We won't push you so kind of you to take Charles with you to the ski club doctor You're driving Emerson to the ski club. Yes. Can't come along. No. No. No, I couldn't I have I have a busy weekend. I couldn't Nervous as Charles did what's got into you too. We're nothing nothing at all. Excuse me. I must get back to the Dean You go out the rear door Wagner into the quiet night your heart pound Choking you in a surge of anxiety as you reach the green lattice building at the far edge of the lawn At first you see nothing in the dim lights of the summer house And you're almost convinced that Emerson has recovered and walked away Then your eyes focus on the sprawling shape at your feet right where you left him Emerson Emerson for heaven's sake Emerson, please Yes, Wagner dead. You knew he might be yet you kneel there stunned Numbly shaking him totally unprepared and then They're coming out here Wagner out to the summer house in half a minute They'll find you with the body and the whole college will cry murder Then you see the square protecting shape of the nearby garage You gather a strength you'd forgotten in 20 years of desk work and quickly drag the body around into the shrubbery behind it My future doctor. Yes, Mary. I'm glad you thought of it. Oh Isn't Charles out here? He went to the chemistry building to to get a to get a copy of his article how strange There's a dozen copies in the house. It isn't like him to miss his engagements this way. That's all right, Mary I'll tell you I'll get a ride with Mason and leave my car here for the Dean. He can drive up when he's ready Well, I I'd rather Charles didn't drive over those mountain roads. He's been so nervous lately. Oh Well, I guess I've got to wait for him Too bad. Uh, wait a minute doctor. There's no use in you doing that doing what delaying your trip this way See here. Why don't I drive the Dean up in your car? Well, I thought of that, but you said you'd be busy Oh nonsense nonsense. It's nothing very urgent I don't like to leave them as in a spot like this besides in view of what you said about my being overworked You're perfectly right to change it. Do you good? Well, that's it then my car's in the garage here the Dean is kind enough to rent me his garage Here are the keys. Very nice of you professor. Oh, not at all. Well, I'll see you to the door doctor. Thanks, man It's a wild chance Wagner But you've got to take it a possible way to dispose of that burden in the shrubbery behind the garage There've been accidents before on that steep snow-covered road that winds up to the ski lodge Quickly you drag the body around into the garage and force the awkward shape into the turtle back of the doctor's car Then you hastily get behind the wheel and step on the starter Come back. No, I thought I'd pick him up at his office. Well here. I brought this bag. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you I forgot that and his glasses to he left them on the dining table. I'll take them to him I don't understand. He's forgetting them, but he can't read without them and Perhaps I'd better drive over with you. Oh, there's no need for that. I'll take care of everything You don't object to driving me to the office professor. Oh, I'm sorry. No, of course not Thank you Or he hasn't been here this role. I'm sure he rarely comes to the office at night But couldn't he have come in without you annoying it? Oh, no I have these reports that finish by morning and he gave me his key Then he didn't mean to come here at all. I don't understand it. Why don't you let me take you home, Mrs. Emerson? He's probably there by now. Well, I suppose there's nothing else to do, but I'll wait up for him I I want to be sure he's all right Quite a spot, isn't it Wagner? Mrs. Emerson determined to see her husband and his body in the turtleback of the very car you're riding in You've got to think of something Some way to get rid of her Convincer that the Dean's all right Then as you pull up to a stop sign, you notice the lights of a drugstore at the corner And you begin to see your way out. You pull over to the curb. Are you stopping here professor? Just had a thought. He may be at the faculty club. I'll go into this drugstore and phone. Oh, I'll go. Oh, no, no trouble I'll only be a minute Professor Wagner there. Why, he didn't miss you a minute ago. I see. I'm calling from the faculty club The Dean's just leaving here and he wants professor Wagner to meet him in front of his office as soon as he can Thank you. You drive Mrs. Emerson home Wagner and there the maid delivers the message you so cleverly planted over the phone Mrs. Emerson's convinced now and she retires relieved that her husband is all right Ten minutes after you leave her you're on the highway heading the doctor's car toward the mountains The 60 mile trip is unchallenged until you near the ranger station at the foot of the dangerous two mile grade And then suddenly you remember the ranger will make a check and he's got to see two men in the car You put on the brake and pull up at the side of the road get out and open the turtle back And you drag the body up to the front seat Then you get back in and prop him up beside you pull your hat down over his face Nervous and trying to keep from trembling you drive on until you're stopped by the ranger Can't let you go on folks. We're in for a blizzard, but they're expecting us at the ski lodge I guess you can make it as far as the lodge all right, but you're taking a chance of being snowed in We get a storm this late in the spring. It's usually a good one. We'll we'll take that chance. Okay Sign the passenger check. Yeah, right here Other fellow will have to sign to but but he's asleep. Oh, sorry Regulations. Yes, but he's had a hard day. I I hate to disturb him. Well Okay, you sign for him. Yes. Yes. Yes Thanks. Thanks All right, drive on take it easy You drive another mile and a half through a trough of snow looking for a break in the high white walls Some place where you can send the car over the edge And then as you reach the narrowest part of the road you see it no barrier on the outside and a sheer drop to the bottom of The ravine far below You maneuver the car close to the edge and then open the door on your side And jump clear as the car with its grizzly load plunges over the side You stumble the rest of the way to the lodge clawing at your face and tearing your clothes to create the final evidence for your accident story The distance is farther than you remembered and you drop with exhaustion as you reach the door and Phillips and Mason hear your faint knock Drag you into the lodge and as they chafe your hands trying to thaw you out you gasp your accident story You watch their faces for a sign of suspicion, but there's nothing but sympathy. You're getting it across Wagner They're believing you couldn't say through the windshield. That's suddenly. I knew we were going over. I called to Emerson to jump Anyway, it'll lie down, but he didn't jump. He was too late. Come on now. Don't try to talk anymore I think we better try to get Emerson from that ravine with snowden already. It'll take days It was all my fault. I shouldn't get that light back and rest All right There you are now relax and don't worry. It was an accident Nobody's going to blame you of course not it was bound to happen on that road might have been any of you You really think so? Of course now for Pete's sake relax. You need sleep. It's gonna be all right. Wagner. You can count on us The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime a word about the something extra you get when you have your car lubricated at a dealer owned signal service station Instead of taking chances on memory your signal dealer checks against signals factory recommended chart Which shows every lubrication point on your car and the exact type of oil or grease? It should have for long trouble-free life and Then just to make doubly sure not a single part has been overlooked your signal dealer checks each point again Which explains why we call it signal double-check lubrication This is typical of the many little differences in signal service that can make such a big difference in the way your car runs And the reason? Well being in business for themselves signal dealers naturally have more incentive to serve you better And now back to the whistler Well professor Wagner you're safe now safe in bed where Mason and the doctor put you after hearing your story They've assured you that no one will blame you for the accident. It was a dangerous road The snow was blinding you lost control of the doctor's car and jump clear as it plunged into the steep ravine with Dean Emerson in it No way they could know that he was already dead when he took that final plunge You sink into the warm bed exhausted from your strenuous night Limp with relief you drop off immediately and sleep heavily and under stirred for several hours Then suddenly you're wide awake trying to recognize this room this strange bed You're fighting to clear your mind when it strikes again a shattering stab of pain in your stomach You find yourself doubled up in agony the same knife-like pain you felt hours before in the summer house Doctor Doctor Phillips. What's the trouble my stomach? I paid again like before pain hold on. I'll take a look Take it easy now Hurt when I press here. Oh, stop stop Yes, yes, yes there good lord man your appendix appendix you threw me off with that poison idea I made a hazy conclusion hospital get me to a hospital time too much slow That's going to break in one minute. I've got to operate right now. We're there right here. You game. Yes. Yes, hurry What is it fellas is appendix gotta work fast bad not to kill him if I don't get to it right now Stay with the Mason. I'll get my instruments right good thing. He drove up in my car. There's not a thing to work with here Good Lord Mason What's the matter? What is it? My instruments I mean the car. I'll go get them. Oh, you can't my car is at the bottom of that ravine He hasn't got a chance mason We can hasn't got a chance Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Monday at 8 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 This is Naval Reserve week veterans of any branch of the service may keep their wartime rates by joining the peacetime Naval Reserve Ask about it at your nearest Naval Reserve headquarters Children tonight story were Charles Halton and Norman Field Whistler was produced by George W. Allen with music by Wilbur hatched story by William Engvig And was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces radio service This is Marvin Miller speaking with a signal oil company. This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system