 signal gasoline let every traffic signal remind you you do go farther with signal gasoline yes you do go farther with signal the signal oil company and your neighborhood signal dealer bring you another curious story by the whistler tonight to rent danger I'm the whistler and I know many things for I walked 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 when in the editorial offices of the Cincinnati Gazette the news was received that killer Carter the gang murderer had escaped from the penitentiary in Columbus and that he had been at large for 24 hours it was decided that Danny Pearson star reporter was to be sent up to the capital to cover the manhunt it was sure to follow Danny borrowed a car from Clem Tracy the rewrite man and headed north late on Friday afternoon car trouble held him up and at one o'clock he was still far from his destination he was getting too sleepy to drive so when he saw the tourist sign in front of the lonely farmhouse he made his decision he'd stop get a few hours of sleep and continue into Columbus in the early hours of morning he pulled in the lane parked the car and went up onto the porch it took a few moments to rouse anyone but finally the door opened and there stood a woman good evening I was driving along the road looking for a place to stay for the night and I saw you a tourist sign out front so I thought I'd stop and see if you had any room why don't you drive on to the city well I'm too tired to drive that distance tonight I'm afraid I'd fall asleep at the wheel you do have a room don't you I guess so cost you two dollars in advance that's all right and I don't serve any meals here well I'm not hungry and I'll be leaving in the morning before breakfast all right come in is it okay leave my car in the driveway here it'll be safe there nobody else stealing come in he certainly isn't very friendly Danny is she but a room is a room and it'll be nice and quiet here for the night the house is large and dingy and eerily quiet almost too quiet you'll find everything neat and clean it's a bathroom to the right of the bed and plenty of towels and soap oh thank you looks fine did you leave your luggage in the car no I don't have any luggage with me I'm traveling light well I guess anyone who drives an expensive car like yours can do anything you like I'm going to bed myself right away so if there's anything else you wanted better think of it now well thanks but there's nothing else I need good night mrs. tonight your hostess is hospitable isn't she but don't worry about it people are sometimes like that on the farm not used to talking much they prefer action because action speak louder and longer than words the bed is soft and comfortable that's the main thing just made for your night rest who's there I said who's there who are you my name is Claremann Roe well Claire do you make a habit of walking into strange men's rooms in the middle of the night I want to talk to you huh raise our nervous about I'm afraid you'll find me in here she the lady who showed you the room and why don't you leave because I have to talk with you okay go ahead talk I don't know where to start just tell me that you're lonesome you don't have any excitement on the farm you're looking for something to do it's an old routine it's nothing like that I know you've anything I'm crazy but I've got to ask you will you take me away with you when you go me why should I because I have to get away from here I never want to see this house again as long as I live why don't you just run away you don't need me because I don't have a car and I don't have any money my mother would have me picked up by the police she'd tell them I wasn't of age well are you I'm 23 years old but I can't prove it why not because I'm an adopted child and I don't know where I was born and my mother call that lady my mother she'd lie about my age just to keep me from going away well how do I know you're of age look at me do I look 17 no I'll have to admit you don't I know I'm 23 years old but she won't let me go why do you want to run away because because that lady my foster mother last night she murdered my foster father whistler fans we members of the cast certainly owe you a great big thanks tonight in fact two of them two weeks ago you'll recall we asked a favor of you asked if you'd be kind enough to drop in on the folks who are bringing you the whistler your signal gasoline dealer and tell him how you like this program well since then signal gasoline dealers all the way from Canada to Mexico have been telling us how many of you stopped at their station and expressed enthusiasm for the whistler so naturally we of the cast are mighty happy and mighty grateful to you oh but that's only the half of it you see during the past month the popularity of the whistler has continued to increase so much that now according to the latest radio popularity survey more people listen to the whistler than to any other West Coast program yes the whistler is now way out in front so for your loyalty thanks again to all of you from all of us and now back to the whistler Danny Pearson had driven up from Cincinnati looking for a murderer but he hadn't expected to find one so soon nor to find another one than the one he was looking for but you never know what you'll find when you stop at a lonely farmhouse where they take in tourists Danny you lie there in your bed there's a good-looking young girl asks your protection from her murdering foster mother if this is a gag it's a pretty rugged one let's break this up I don't feel like playing games I gotta get some sleep you don't believe me but I'm telling you the truth ever since they adopted me they've done nothing but fight with one another you've seen my mother you can tell how cold and strong she is my father was just as weak as she is strong she bullied him for years mostly because he didn't make a lot of money well she cares about his money because we never had any she hates everything and everybody especially my father how do you know she killed him did you see no she threatened more than once to kill him though last night I was in bed and I heard a shot wasn't sure whether or not I dreamed it so I didn't get up to see but when I came down this morning she said that he had left and wasn't coming back that he'd gone out west somewhere that didn't sound like him because he was born and brought up in this part of the country and he wouldn't leave it for anything how in the world do you know he's dead you know in law you have to produce a body I haven't seen it but I think I know where it is oh where today I was working out on the farm and I noticed a patch of grounds up in the edge of the woods that was recently dug up when she saw me out there she got very angry ordered me into the house and positive she killed him and buried him there what are you doing in this man's room I was just talking to him I thought up to your father's six once or just like she was just talking stealing from the guests sneaking in to rob them or worse no I only wanted to talk he was just telling me about the shows and things in the city get back to your room and stay there get I catch you in here again you'll wish your head stayed there and that's for you young man you'd better watch your step or you'll be in trouble on our look wait justice well Danny cozy little situation you stepped into isn't it a girl pretty but strange who accuses her foster mother of being a murderer Mrs. Monroe in turn accuses the daughter of being like her father who evidently made a habit of robbing his tourist guests in their sleep and how about that Danny she did sneak into your room did she come to talk as she said or to rob you and what's it all about anyway who can you believe but there is one thing you know you're going to get up get dressed and get out of this place as fast as you can that drive into town doesn't look half as far now but just as you're about to leave you see something slip under your door a piece of paper a note go on Danny pick it up and read it please you've got to believe me I need your help my room is across the hall Claire that's right crumple it up and throw it away Danny but wait a minute suppose she is telling the truth suppose she is in danger you couldn't go off and leave her like this especially not as pretty a girl as Claire Danny Pearson don't put on a light get dressed and come on with me I'm gonna come on where we going you're going to show me where you think your father was buried so the two of you move cautiously out of the house into the darkness of the outside night you pick up a shovel at the barn and start up the path through a field of sharp tough hay you keep looking over your shoulder afraid that she might see you and come out of the house after you why should you be afraid of her well if she killed a man once she could do it again finally you reach the woods and Claire points out the patch of ground she thinks her mother made into a graveyard I wish we could see a little better we'll see too well I'm afraid ground isn't very hard shovel sinks right into it told you it would the boss could see me now why I'm doing it I'll never know maybe it's because you're like me what what makes you think that because you'd have run away you've gone back to sleep after she took me away back to sleep hey tell me is what she said about your foster father true you mean about him stealing from the guests yes she hounded him about money so that he finally took to that to satisfy her when tourists came you'd wait till they were asleep and then slip in and rob them yeah but didn't anybody ever catch him not that we ever knew of he only took part of their money not all of it so they didn't miss it until they left and then they had no proof sweet little racket maybe somebody caught on and that's why he went out west I don't think so because we didn't have any tourists here last night at least not that I know of it's possible oh it could have taken somebody in after you were asleep yes possible then he might have tried to rob them they caught him and he had to leave hurriedly I could account for his disappearance yes but hey I just had something oh Danny I got hold of it here to count his coat my father's coat yeah just when I had it figured out another way Danny don't dig anymore I'm getting scared I couldn't stand to look at it don't dig anymore just fill it in we we found out what we wanted to find out please fill it take it easy baby I don't like this any more than you do I'm just doing it because you wanted me to I couldn't bear to look at it don't dig anymore okay I'll fill it in I guess we've seen enough to know you were right so you put the coat back where you found it Danny and fill in the hole again you pat the dirt down again just as you found it and start back for the house on the way back to the house Claire hold your arm tightly and you notice for the first time how soft and warm she is of course she's trembling a little bit but who wouldn't Danny will you promise to take me away tomorrow I couldn't stand another night here where would I take you what would I do with you when I got you there I got enough to do without taking care of somebody else take me to some place far away some city I'll get a job and take care of myself don't worry about that just get me away from here your mother might accuse me of kidnapping once she knew I was never coming back I don't think she'd even care please Danny don't make me stay here I'm afraid she might even do something to me if she finds out I know what happened you've got to help me all right all right I'm a sucker but I'll do it but remember this once I get you out of here you're strictly on your own I got enough things to worry about without trying to take care of you thank you Danny thank you we'll leave the first thing in the morning no we'll leave tonight right now that's awfully sad you wanted to get out of here didn't you I'm leaving right now you can do what you want come or stay I'll go with you we're almost at the house don't even bother to go inside and get anything she might hear here's my car we'll just jump in and beat it game yes all right now be quiet we'll get in the car and let it roll backwards into the road just a minute surprise you didn't think I'd let you get away did you they put that shotgun down it might go off it might if you start anything now listen here mrs. Monroe thought I was asleep didn't you I had better sense I watched you leave the house together and I had a pretty good idea you weren't coming back so what what do you think you're doing with that gun maybe I'm protecting my daughter from a past talking stranger I can take care of myself that remains to be seen as for you young man I want you to get back in your car drive off and never come around here again that's a very good idea I'll buy that should have left here a long time ago I'm going with him stay where you are I'm old enough to do what I want to do I'm gonna leave and you can't stop me you don't think so you wouldn't dare pull that trigger put your foot on that running board and try and I'll look girl keep out of this maybe I'm doing this as much to protect you from her I don't need any protection wait somebody's coming the car yeah it looks like they're turning into your lane both you get in the car quick keep your lights out drive it in the barn I'm a police officer what can I do for you we're chasing a man we think he came up this way you've seen any strangers around lately what did he do he escaped from the state penitentiary is he dangerous he's a cold-blooded murderer he escaped yesterday and we've cracked him down to this vicinity he's been driving stolen cars last we heard he was driving a big rich looking convertible he picked up in Columbus have you seen him no nobody stopped here didn't even see anybody passing the road oh well he's in this neighborhood somewhere but say didn't you know about this before I mean I thought you did when I saw you with your shotgun here oh oh no I I just saw you coming up the lane and I like to be prepared for strangers this time of night yeah sure it is pretty late you want to be in bed I don't let this keep you up you needn't worry about Carter we'll get him I won't worry oh that's what say but all those tire tracks on the ground where there where my flashlights pointing they go towards the barn those are tractor tire mark oh well I'm sorry that I bothered you man but well we've got a job to do that's all right mister I could have helped you some we'll keep looking good night man okay I'll let's go too bad you couldn't hear what was being said Danny waiting in the barn but while the lady and the officer were talking you had some things to say to Claire I think just wait you see who that is out there a man got out of a car and he's talking to her you know who he is no but he's got a flashlight wait a minute something on his coat lapel flashes I think it's a bad it must be the police what are we going to do I told you nothing murder is a matter of proof so we can prove that your mother murdered your father we don't have a leg to stand on anyway I told you I don't want to get mixed up in it I got enough to worry about myself it's all right with me all I want to do is get out of here just figure some way to get that gun away from your mother Danny the men are leaving driving down to the road she's coming back to the ball I just sit tight wait gone also they're gone I suppose you're breathing easier now maybe I am maybe I'm not will you stop pointing that gun at us I will when I finished what I'm going to do you won't get away with shooting anybody you want to know I don't intend to stand here talking all night here's what I want you to do I want the both of you to get in that car and drive the kingdom come if you can never want to see either one of you again as long as I live changed your mind suit me come on Danny let's get out of here while we've got the chance heaven knows what she might do okay let's go just a minute before you go clear I think there's something you ought to know about your fine new friend I know all I want to know about him do you know what he really is he's a murderer escaped from the state prison yesterday and the police are looking for them they'll get him sooner or later they always do what do you think of that I don't believe it and even if it were true I I don't care where did you pick up this routine about me being a murderer don't listen to her Danny I believe you what if I was a murderer wouldn't make the slightest difference in the world to me because nanny I'm in love with you do you know what you're saying yes I know what I'm saying come on let's get out of here she gives me the jitters don't I know okay if that's the way everybody wants it we'll go I don't know what we'll do but figure out something you better think hard hurry up Danny yes hurry up you'll get caught quicker that way all right everybody stand where you are put that gun down lady Andy you will now go along the other side to bond all three of you stand over there Dave see if they have any guns no guns on that one no gun sir no guns and good I don't misunderstand me there might not be anything wrong here but I had to come back and take a look it's pretty unusual for a woman to be walking around outside at two o'clock in the morning with a shotgun now out with it what's going on what are you hiding in the barn for who's this car belong to come on start talking somebody here's the murderer you're looking for there he is and there's the car why didn't you tell me that when I was here before because I thought there might be a reward for them and I wanted to collect it myself she didn't because she was gonna let him get away who are you my daughter Claire Monroe all right now who are you Danny Pearson do you have to use that light keep him covered Dave what are you doing here stopped here for the night they rent rooms to tourists I don't recommend where do you live Cincinnati what do you do for a living newspaper reporter I was on my way here to cover the car to break here's my press card let's see Daniel J Pearson Cincinnati Gazette how are you all right take it back where'd you get this car I borrowed it from another reporter in Cincinnati okay I told you he was the man you're looking for don't let him fool you with a good story he's not fooling us lady he's not the man we're looking for the guy we want is at least 45 years old this fellow isn't even 30 yet oh I guess I made a mistake all around it's a man Sheriff you're looking for a murderer I'm always looking for a murderer all right then go ahead Claire tell Danny go ahead has to come out sooner or later come on young lady if there's anything to tell let's have it well well that woman my foster mother murdered my father what are you crazy no no last night I heard a shot and then this morning when I came down she said he'd gone away out west he wouldn't do that he would but he did I found the note he left on the old typewriter in the hall when I came down this morning hmm did you hear the shot too I I don't know I thought I dreamed she heard it all right she killed him Danny and I just found the body buried up in the woods what oh no no all right keep her covered out wait a minute officer if this woman had murdered her husband why did she take the chance of giving me a room tonight knowing that I might learn something why wouldn't she have run away or killed the girl too to cover up but Danny on the other hand Claire here never once mentioned going to the police about the murder she was willing to run away with me a few minutes ago even though she thought I was a murderer and she knew exactly where the body was buried she could have written the note to her mother Danny Danny you mean you think I yes I do officer this is the woman you want she murdered her foster father the whistler will return in just a moment with the strange ending of tonight's tale meantime because yesterday marked the opening of a six weeks drive to check auto breaks sponsored by the international association of chiefs of police signal oil company believes you'll want full information on just what this drive means to you with today's cars averaging seven years old faulty breaks are threatening to increase america's already large number of traffic accidents which kill over 20 000 men women and children per year injure another 800 000 and cost a billion and a quarter dollars what's more when a car is damaged or wrecked in an accident today parts are often not available to repair it and there are no new cars to replace it so it means an even further strain on the transportation america must have to see us through the war that's why traffic officers in every state plan to check every car involved in a moving traffic violation or accident so the time to have the safety of your brakes checked by a competent brake expert is now your cooperation in this brake drive may prevent an accident that could cost you your car or your life and now back to the whistler well danny turned out to be quite a detective didn't he he saw through claire all the time and figured the whole thing out but wait did he well not exactly because you see when they dug up the grave at the edge of the wood they found mr. Monroe's clothes but the body was someone else's in fact when the police identified it it was the body of killer carter yes killer carter escaped convict and when they put out a dragnet and caught up with claire's very much alive foster father they got the whole story danny had figured exactly right once killer carter had stopped at the tourist home late that night neither claire nor her foster mother knew about it when the old man started to pull his usual robbery carter caught him in a struggle carter was shot and killed in self-defense but not knowing who his victim was mr. Monroe got scared buried him after changing clothes with him wrote the note to his wife and took off in carter's stolen car knowing nothing of carter's presence in the house claire had suspected her mother and mrs. Monroe had suspected claire of murdering a man who wasn't dead and was a fugitive from a crime that wasn't a crime in the police book the killing of an escaped convict in self-defense 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 be left this program directed by george w allen with story by john haze music by wilbur hatch is transmitted to our troops overseas by the arm forces radio service this is marvin miller speaking and suggesting you let every traffic signal remind you you do go farther with signal gasoline yes you do go farther with signal this is cbs the columbia broadcasting system