 Johnny dollar Fred Larkin Johnny at New Jersey Fire and Casualy Fred. I hope I didn't get you out of bed Well, you certainly did but don't give it a second thought. How are you Freddy pretty good? I have things in the grand old historical city of Clinton here in Trenton fine little farther south though I'm not so sure like where for instance like just outside of a little town called Woodbine. Remember it woodbine Yeah, you handle a case for us down there three or four years ago. Oh sure sure I remember some crook with a mattress factory pulled the old standard billing his clients more than they actually paid for the stuff He sold them right not knowing about that little trick We'd give them insurance for the amount shown on those phony bills double what they pay and when something happened to the merchandise Sure, they collected twice as much from us as they were entitled to real nice people down there Well, what goes this time a couple of fires. Oh Arson, that's what I hope you can find out any reason for suspicion. Yes, I think so like what? Why don't you run on down here and let me tell you all and Johnny? Yeah If what I think is going on is going on if you can put a stop to it before we have to pay for any more losses Well, you can figure out not only your expense account, but a nice big fat commission the boot Freddy you speak the language I love to hear I'm on the way VBS radio network brings you Mandel Kramer in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yo, it's truly Johnny dollar That's a cow submitted by a special investigator Johnny dollar to the New Jersey fire and casually insurance company home office Trenton, New Jersey Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the terrible torch matter I don't want $20 and a half and that covers the taxi out to Bradley Field and plain-fed of Philadelphia PA Item two was 50 bucks deposit on a rental car I headed north on lucky 13 crossed the Delaware at Maritz been in George Washington did I might say and landed in Trenton The Jersey State capitals shortly after noon since Fred Larkin's office is right there on State Street I made like a starving Armenian. He took the cue and hauled me over to Hildebrecht's for lunch What makes me believe it was arson and there will be more of it well I'll tell you Johnny you think they'll be more than pretty unless you control monkey words in the words How well do you remember wood buying Johnny? Oh, I don't know Mostly farm country down there as I recall that's right Nakers and acres of sandy soils grub oak and pine trees But in the little town itself is a hat factory a couple of dress factories and the golden bedding corporation the plant you Investigated before and which one of them burns? I'd know no the two fires that we've had to pay for so far to to They occurred just outside of wood vine about half way between wood vine and Dennis do mm-hmm because those plants in town I mentioned seemed to have been pretty well some promoter came along What up a couple of hundred acres and promote a little industrial section big enough for nearly being the factory I see Sort of a funny place for that kind of thing. Oh, isn't pretty well That's just the point Johnny. It's a lousy place for such an operation Mm-hmm too far for many of the regular supply sources a long long way to ship their finished goods All their fuel and power have to be imported labor's hard to get and so on yeah In other words the big pitch for those companies to get out of a high rent high labor cost area didn't mean a thing They've been slowly, but surely going broke Mm-hmm, and there's nothing like a good fire to pay off the bills provided this plenty of insurance right Like I said, there have been two of them so far, and I'm afraid they're gonna be more Why Freddie well simply because an idea like that when it pays off so nicely and when it can be gotten away with Can be very catching you have a point there When you say gotten away with Does that mean the police were able to find no signs of arson right? But when you talk about the police don't forget how small that town is now When was the last time about a week ago a week and you wait till now to call me I know I know I know but I only found out about the second one yesterday For that means pretty cold trail, but I'll see what I can do good now How many factories are there in that little complex about a dozen did you say 11 Johnny and here's the point Yeah eight of them are owned by people who are one way or another related to each other No wonder you're afraid the idea might spread all right All right, I'm gonna do I'm gonna call in some help In the form of smoky Sullivan smoky Sullivan trying smoky. Yep That sounds like the name of somebody who'd commit arson He's one of the best freddings. What smoky probably has set more successful fires than you and I ever heard of He got away with it for years. But uh, I don't understand what's it's doing time He's going legit and is of more help to me over the past four years and anybody else I can think of was just the same judge knows more about firebugs their methods their eccentricities the little trade Marks that some of them leave behind and any man alive. Believe me. That's why he's been of such use to me Okay, Johnny if you say so, you know this job is right this minute What he's a kind of consultant for an arson squad up in Boston It's been made a matter of public knowledge as a result arson up there is pretty much a thing in the past No kidding. No kidding In that case, of course, he's on the payroll too. Oh, whatever you say good Uh, one more thing friend is Is there any kind of a bank there in wood vines? I don't know I imagine not but there's a loan office that I guess kind of serves as a bank I know that some of our checks have been cashed through it good Not much more than a one-man operation though. I understand all the better. Is it why well Could be a mighty good source of information for me. Oh, yeah How and for what kind of information that says Wait and see Item three is a total of 41 40 covers a long winded phone call to boston Then smoky sullivan's planes there and finally dinner and hotel accommodations for the two of us there in trenton Yeah, but uh, johnny working that racket down there in south josey in such a little one horse town like that Why not smoky? Without a smart metropolitan police force to contend with be a cinch for a good torch man I'm informed to get away with it That's certainly a whole string of factories no matter how small could promise enough loot to make it worthwhile for him Another thing. Oh, yeah, yeah, johnny a lot of those plans are owned by people Related to each other who got suckered into setting up and operating in that unlikely place by some smart promoter now If that family group all came from one place like well from one big city Maybe that'll give us a key as to where they dug up the fire button Who knows Maybe that gang has used a narcissist before or wherever they operated before Uh, maybe maybe so. Yeah. Yeah smoky the point is that if a couple of them have found out what they think is the answer to their financial troubles The rest of them are liable to try it Right Well, yeah, if it was arson johnny, that's what you've got to find out for me. Okay Yeah Early the next morning in my rental car. We headed south Through what's known as the piney country passing towns with such colorful names as mount holly Indian mills through hamilton maize landing in tucco Finally would mind After signing into the motel I gave smoky the car keys and told him he was on his own while I paid a visit to the loan office Smoky understood and took off As for the loan office. It was just with credit thought a one-man operation And as for the owner mr. Hanley m becker That's that what you you you want to know what mr. Mr. Dollar did you say this dollar? That's right, johnny dollar What's your business here? I'm a special investigator mr. Becker for the company that's ensured a lot of people in property down here in this section Investigators that's right And I want to know the financial condition of every one of the 11 factories at that little industrial complex outside of town Well, then uh, why come to me? Well, don't you function as a kind of a bank for some of these people? Well, of course I do but What's the matter with you young man? Don't you realize anything like that is is is is completely confidential is um Is there's nobody's business, but the banks and the uh, the the uh, the the the companies By what kind of a bank it you think I am right? I'm beginning to wonder Well, you can keep right on wondering Besides, they're under 11. I'm not there anymore There's only nine thanks to a couple of fires Yes blasted And if the insurance company doesn't pay off on those those those those those those fires Now don't you worry boy? I'll collect on those loans somehow then you have loaned those factory owners quite a bit of money Well, of course I have of course I I I I I I tell you your business. Well, I think it is Well, you just just tell that insurance company of yours to pay off pay off on those losses so so I can get back to back back Get back my money on the on the tool that burned down even if those fires were set. Yes, even if they What would you say? Oh, you know, well, I don't Well, how do you know that? Well that I said I don't know Not for sure that is but I intend to find out because if they were mr. Becker and if the owners can be tied into it or you or anybody else concerned me believe me There will be no payment of insurance. You can bank on that There's no insurance and uh, well, then what do I Well, I have to say they they don't they well what I mean is and Can you look using me? No, no just just calm down. Oh, yes. Yes, you're calm down Well, but these these these these things you're saying that the dollar takes things one at a time, shall we? I said you've loaned them a lot of money Haven't you? Well, yeah, well, they they They had to pay off on the property when that Promoter up north fighting to put them out of business And what about the workers the the the the the help? They had to build a lot of living accommodations for them, didn't they well did they From what I understand. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. You're right. There are no workers anymore. Well Maybe there's not enough workers to Speak up. You mean they're out of business? Oh, yes, practically practically Nothing much in use out there, but the warehouses where they keep their goods It's a lot of stuff. They'll probably never use now But if if they they they don't pay off on their loans, well I'll just have to take over and get what I can for those plants Here's the ones that are are are left that is not if they're burned down first That What'd you say? Huh? Use your head, mr. Becker If they're burned out the way the first two were and if we find out that there was arson involved You you really do think that there might be other fires? Oh, but but but but but good heavens, mr. Dara, don't you don't don't don't you see what what that would mean? I mean if they're arson like you say why You don't you real get that would Ruin me ruin me Possibility isn't it? Oh my oh my oh my oh Oh, please please. Now. Don't let it happen. They think muslim muslim muslim muslim happen, mr. Dara Listen, I'll tell you anything you want to know anything anything you you you want to know just just please Please ask me. Well, mr. Becker for the moment. I think I've learned enough. Oh, but I I I haven't told you anything Oh, you haven't I went back to the motel and waited for smoky to come in with a report on what he'd learned at the scene of the two fires The noon came and I went out for a bite of lunch That's item for a dollar ten At 2 p.m. He still hadn't returned Funny He could usually take one good look at the remains of a fire. No almost immediately if it had been sent So perhaps he had found something to really get to work on I hope so But to go ahead without telling me That wasn't like him When he hadn't appeared by file o'clock I left word where I'd been went back to the loan office. Mr. Becker was just about to lock up for today Oh, uh, hold everything, mr. Becker. Who's that? Oh, oh, mr. Uh, mr. Dollar. Oh, it's it's quite all right, mr. Dollar Here, come in. Come in. Come in here, please. Thanks Yes, I uh I've been thinking about What you told me this morning Mr. Mr. Mr. Dollar and and and if you're right if you're right like come in come in. Oh, oh, you uh, you are Uh, yes Just a couple of other things I need to know mr. Becker and then a favor that I want to ask Oh anything mr. Dollar I mean all right now these factory owners that you loaned the money to you for labor housing and uh Plant improvement for uh additional Flux and materials Thousands mr. Dollar thousands. Oh, I'm sure yes Yes, and they just didn't realize well, none of us realized that they wouldn't be able to to make a Go-go of things like the hat factory the the clothing factories here in town Yes, these are old established factories have have no labor problem or A housing problem because they use people people, you know from from right here The the people people here in town unlike these these new newcomers. All right now. Mr. Becker these newcomers Where did they come from? All right Oh come from oh well, uh from uh up in in north jersey from up around baddison You know when all the the mills the uh the silk business and all the others when they when they went into a Slump up there. All right now if I remember correctly, there were several big arson jobs up there That means torchmen were available That means these people would know about them and nowhere to contact them if they wanted to So if smoking is found out when I suspect he has smoking my co-worker on this case Apparently mr. Becker, he's found out something But where and what it is. I don't know yet because he has my car with him. Do you need a car? Here here, please you use mine There you see it's it's the one out there in front here take keys. Well, thank you And if you need me if I can be of any help to you just give me some directions I wondered But no it didn't make sense He was no actor in his worrying excitement looked genuine yet, of course, you can never be sure Following directions I headed south on 557 and after a couple of miles cut over toward the old denisville road And there it was the group of nine factories Obviously not in operation in a couple of storage buildings warehouses all with weeds growing up around them The same applied to a group of cottages Shacks would be a better word Scattered out among some pine trees nearby And then I saw my rental car Not beside one of the burned out buildings but next to a big windowless warehouse There was no sign of smoky solvent But a metal side door on that storage building was open Had he found another setup for a fire there inside of it Well, it was one way to find out smoky smoky. Are you inside there smoky? Smokey? You in here? Where's there's a light switch around here somewhere Smokey smoky Can you hear me? Are you still alive Smokey This year the ymca marks its 50th anniversary of its work wills and for foreign students in this country This is just one of the countless valuable services the y performs in your community Right now during national ymca week Your local Y invites everyone, boys and girls, young men and women, and family groups of all races and creeds to join in its activities. The Y also needs volunteer leaders. Get more out of life. Join and support your YNCA. There's still a license, won't you, Sullivan? I carried him gently to the car and drove him back to the motel. There, thanks to the ministrations of Dr. Rosenberg, a local medical, and while I still can't believe it, but by the time the doctor left, half an hour later... Johnny, you'll take it easy. Smoky, you were badly beaten. Well, you take some little bit towards men like him, could knock me off. Smoky, will you lie back now and relax? I'm too tough, John. I don't care how tough you are, you've got to take it easy for a while. It was Pete. What? Pete Larrison, Johnny. Larrison? Yeah, from up in the pattern. Oh? Yeah, yeah. They all tie together. Why did he do this to you? Smoky, did Pete Larrison know that you're working with me now? Well, I guess... I guess he thought I was trying to muscle in his territory. But if he saw you go, they had Johnny. And if he knows... If he knows who you are... Well, how could he? Well, you think he wouldn't? They all do. All right, Johnny. Now, listen. If you know him, if you know what he looks like, as soon as we'll get you back on your seat, look better yet, just give me a description of him. Now, listen to me. Yeah. Tonight, he's gonna fire that warehouse tonight. Tonight? Yeah, yeah. I'm listening. Well, it's after dark right now. I better get going. Got Johnny. Smoky, I want you to settle back and rest. About the others, Johnny. Forget it. If I stop him on this one, there won't be any others. No, no. What I mean by the others... Listen to the flashlight now. There wasn't a soul around the place. I thought that as I slowly opened that side door again, I was almost knocked over by the smell of gasoline fuels. Then as I quietly swung the door closed and flattened against the walls, healing around for a switch, suddenly all the lights went on. Don't reach for anything but the ceiling, Johnny, darling. That's right. I see. You're Larrison. That's right. Pete Larrison. And you pulled that trigger inside this gasoline-loaded place? It'd be a lot better than giving you a chance to draw and pull off a shot at me. Well, wouldn't it? Walter. Yeah, Pete? What? Right here in the back of your dollar, so don't try nothing. You feel this? Oh, yeah, I feel this. Take his gun away, Walter. I'm sure he has one. Sure. Okay, I got it. And you see, darling, the elaborate preparations I've made were the little fire that we're to have here tonight. And because of all the heavy upholstery material that's stored in here, it looked to the stupid police as though it all went up because of spontaneous combustion. The elaborate preparation was right. Long, narrow strips of heavy felt soaked with gasoline spread out from where he stood like the rays of a spider's web. And the strips led to various facts of upholstery material and piles of cardboard cartons. He'd also soaked with gasoline. Then moving toward me, he unroll another heavy strip of felt, the main fuse for his operation. And you see, darling, all I have to do now is set a short candle on the end of this fuse right here by the door. So then after planting you in here, I light the candle. And don't you see if they can identify what's left of you. And if they do, by any chance, suspect Arson, they'll think that you set this off. You, the great Johnny Dollar. Don't you know that Smokey Sullivan is still alive? They take his word against my perfect alibi. What alibi? By the time the candle burns down and starts to blaze, Walter and I'll be sitting at his home with poor, foolish, old, Hanley Becker playing pinocchio. Then he doesn't know about this. Becker? He doesn't know anything. He thinks we're just a couple of suckers from the city who might buy some of his overpriced farmland. No, Donald. The only ones who know are the plant owners who fired it. Well, thanks for that information. It's too late to do you any good. Walter. Yeah, Pete? While I take care of Dollar, you get those gasoline cans out to where we hid the car. Oh, yeah, sure. Just these two of them, ain't there? Yeah. Sure. Things have been much faster than I can tell you about it. As Walter hosted his gun and turned to pick up the gasoline cans, he waited a minute and passed them in front of me, and kicked open the door. I went around against him. He grabbed away one of the cans, threw it over at Pete, and rolled out the door tight against the ground. And that's where Pete made his big mistake. And that room full of gasoline fumes, he pulled off a couple of shovels, and went up. The blast rolled me a hundred yards or so across that sandy ground, and I came to only a couple of minutes later. Walter, who was blown against the side of my car, ended up with a concussion. Just repeat. Well, I don't think I need to tell you. And that's it, Freddie. The company can prosecute the factory owners any way it seems fit. Expense count total, including a chunk for smoky, damage to the rental car and the trip home. Call it $1,500 even. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now, here is our start to tell you about next week's story. Next week, the biggest blunder that I've ever made. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Your truly, Johnny Dollar is written by Jack Johnstone. Produced and directed by Bruno Zirato Jr. Music supervision by Ethel Huber. Johnny Dollar is played by Mandel Kramer. Also featured in our cast, we'll lay on Johnny as Hanley Becker, Sam Gray as Fred Larkin, Mason Adams as Pete Larison, Larry Haynes as Smoky Sullivan, and James Dimitri as Walter. Be sure to join us next week, same time, same station, for another exciting story of Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Art Hanna speaking. Get the news firsthand and in full, the extended CBS News on the CBS Radio Network.