 Johnny dollar Well good for you Toby Just that I always have liked a nice big fees at that company of yours hands out on cases just happens that I can use one of them Right now I've been running a little short and I don't get excited. Now. What is it this time murder arson embezzlement? Come on. Come on Toby. What is it? Well, it's a matter of fact. It's a robbery. Well fine fine if I'm lucky if I latch onto the loot whatever it is I'll collect my usual commission and be loaded again So tell me all now. What's the amount of the loss, huh? Five thousand what was only Are you kidding me? I hope no, sorry Oh, and I looked Toby that doesn't make sense Robbery never makes sense. Well, how much of a commission can I possibly pick up on a loss of only five G's? Now I don't mean to sound money hungry Oh, of course, I really am but look at it this way if I time myself up with this piddling little case I might have to pass up something really lucrative Listen Johnny, it happened right here in Hartford. I'll let five cents for you. Oh sure. They all are okay, Toby Just to keep you happy CBS radio network brings you Bob Reddick in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar the Northeast Indendity Associates Home Office Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the earned income matter I only a five thousand dollar loss. I wouldn't even dare to put in too big an expense account However, I wasn't kidding. I could use an extra dough But as long as I didn't have anything else to do All right, take it on Item one the dollar 20 for a cab into Toby Tetrick's office at Northeast Indendity Now I guess it was kind of thoughtless of me to have you come right over here Johnny I should have sent you straight to Mercy Hospital. Oh, I can't imagine why Toby. I'm feeling fine now. Come on Johnny I'm serious. I want you to go over there and see this client of ours. His name is Philip Standish. Now What's happened to him? I thought this was a robbery matter. Well, it's this way Johnny Standish lives at the Ashley Arms apartment alone. You know the place Yeah, I know the place well early this morning while he was still in bed Somebody broke in bashed him over the head and walked off with his five thousand five thousand dollars in cash lying around his apartment That's kind of silly, isn't it? Well, he thought he'd had it pretty well concealed Johnny where on the wardrobe in his bedroom Now, don't you mean in the wardrobe? No right on top of it right out in plain sight Now look, I've heard about the most obvious place being the least likely place to find something But isn't that a little ridiculous five thousand bucks? No, no what I mean to say was the earn was in plain sight The earn yeah, you know one of those heavy bronze cremation That is funeral earns the kind they use to keep somebody's ashes in after that somebody's been cremated kept the money in that I see. Well, that's not such a bad idea as a matter of fact If it had a good tight lid on it and it did with a tricky kind of lock on it Who'd ever expect a man to keep money in one of those things? I mean instead of the ashes of a dear departed relative or something Elividedly somebody did but the question still remains what question why under the sun keep that much cash lying around What sort of business is the end? Well, this you say his name is yeah, that's right Well, it's been the way I understand it He has an interest in some sort of an import business down in New York art goods novelties furniture from the Orient and he Commutes all the way to New York only goes down there once or twice a week I think anyhow Johnny the man's been beaten and robbed by somebody who got in through the open window of his apartment He has one of those policies covering cash loss at the five thousand He's over there in a private room at Mercy Hospital, and he wants you on the job So if you have nothing else to do I do the police have any ideas about who may have done this to him or a z Why don't you run over there and ask him yourself? All right, we're putting the bill up now go easy on the expense account of yours William for once after all It's a pretty small amount. Oh, but who knows Toby pursuit of the missing five grand may lead me to the furthest corners of the earth Why strange exotic lands were never before as the white man's set foot. Well, I'm told dangers lie lurking in the job Oh, go on you bum get out of here before you break my heart. All right, so be I'll see you later I Don't do 75 cents for a cab to Mercy Hospital Philip's standish a rather good-looking man of about 50 had taken a beating. All right The back of his head was taped up with a heavy bandage There was a splint on one of his arms, but he was still very much alive the police No, mr. Dollar. I want you to handle this, but why if you were beaten and robbed it's a police matter But what can they do that is with no clue whatsoever is to the man who did this to me the man All I've been able to tell them is that somebody came into my bedroom through the open window Beat me up this way then left with the earn containing the money. Then you've told them Yes, of course you expect me to run this man down for you. Yes, I do. You're sure it was a man. Yes, of course. I am Because you recognized him maybe Yes, mr. Dollar you sure absolutely but that you didn't tell the police No Why not because it would only bring out Bring out of my past something I prefer not to have known It's something I wouldn't want to publicize keep talking mr. Standish Well now this must be absolutely confidential mr. Dollar. All right. That's that's the reason I asked to see you go on well 15 years ago I I Served a short prison term. Oh what oh it was a ridiculous thing. I did utterly stupid I signed another man's name to a check and well, I I paid for it I see now my cellmate while I was in prison was a man by the name of Thomas Slade a Tommy Slade Well, that kind of rings a bell now What was he in for illegal liquor narcotics something like that wasn't he in the headline sometime or other for shooting a man? Frankly mr. Dollar I don't remember he was a tough and dangerous sort though. I see and I remember that one day in our cell We talked among other things about About places to hide the the loot from a job you plan to resume the career and crime after you got out good heavens No, but that's all the people in the place like that talk about crime Past and possibly future go on well anyhow It was Slade who suggested this funeral earn a place even an experienced criminal would never think of or want to tamper with And so ever since I got out that's where I kept whatever money I've had Friends or people who've seen it have suspected nothing have sympathized over my loss of a dear one and I've encouraged that illusion Why not keep your money in a bank? Well, that's silly of me. I know but Ever since the foolish thing I did with that check well suppose you were to accumulate a real sizable sum Well to be honest about it there is considerably more than five thousand and I'd earn the insurance only covers it to five right Now I must have it back mr. Dollar and if you can get it for me, I'll pay you far more than your insurance company Well, that's an inducements Frankly, I thought it would be matter with him Well, my Head doesn't feel too great and you take it easy Now you figure that Tommy Slade is the only one likely to know but that's where you kept your money. Oh, I'm sure of it I'm also sure that although I've tried to avoid him over the years He's kept track of my verb. I know right now how to find him. Well, it shouldn't be too difficult Hmm. He lives in Los Angeles and West Los Angeles, California. Oh, his address is 1308 Pandora Avenue. I know that section of LA pretty well. Mr. Standish Do you think he'd simply haul that earned back out there? Well, why not? You know that if I were to pursue him or alert the police it would only give him opportunity to bring up that part of My past that I've tried so hard to live down. Wouldn't he be more likely to simply yank the dough out of the earn and then What's it away? No, no, no in the first place It will take him some time and skill to find the clever way in which I've locked in the threaded plug in the top of it Even so knowing Slade I'm certain he wouldn't risk giving away the secret of the earned by letting some mechanic or machinist open an up for him I don't forget Mr. Dollar That if the police have given this robbery to the papers Anyone seeing the money in that earned would spot him immediately as a thief and you know the point then What's more? Certainly no one would try to steal a thing like that from him So he has no worries about the safety of the money. I suppose you're right, but somehow Mr. Dollar You must find him get that earn away from him and bring it back to me As I said before I'll make it very much worth your while. Okay, Mr. Standish. I'll see what I can do wish me luck Expense the car item three and other six bits this time for a cab the police headquarters There I asked Sergeant Jimmy Wormser if he could somehow get me a flyer on one Tommy Slade Well, what's the matter with this one right here in the top of my desk? It'll do fine. How come sergeant? I'll let him in with a little note from the boys out on the west coast one day last week Well, he's on their wanted list up there. No, no, no the note. You said he was headed this way On a kind of his record the boys in LA thought we'd like to keep an eye on him while he's here in hot No, did he arrive? Yeah, and we kept an eye on him but all he did was fool around for a couple of days and I Didn't pay a visit to the Department of Health. Oh, I'm well something about a permit to carry somebody's remains back to California Now what do you know? And would you say this picture is a good likeness? Yeah, perfect good Sorry, I can't let you have a dollar, but I think we better keep it here in our files I can have a photo start made if you like no, no, no that won't be necessary But if you've been keeping tabs on him, where will I find him? Well, that's a good question. You like train rides train rides Yeah, that's right. Mr. Tommy Slade bought himself a reservation to New York and a birth on the starlighter Express The Los Angeles guest this morning and he's already left town Oh, not more than a couple of hours ago, but if you grab a plane down in a yard, all right Thank you very much. I'll wait a minute dollar. What's your interest in them? You know something sergeant, I'm not absolutely sure Not yet anyway The more I thought about that picture of Tommy Slade the more certain I was that somewhere some time our paths have crossed before Item four six fifty for a fast and I mean fast taxi out to Bradley Field. I was lucky So item five is eight dollars even for a plane to New York that took off almost immediately Item six five seventy for a cab into the railroad station and then item seven 20935 train fare I Bordered the starlight express only seconds before it began the long journey westward. I left the settling down in my room at I Suddenly realized that I had no proof at all the man. I was looking for was even aboard this train However, a two dollar tip to a porter. That's right. I'm eight took care of that Yes, there was a man by the name of Slade on board Also in a roomette just one car in front of mine All right Now all I had to do was to make sure it was Tommy Slade But he looked like the picture. I'd seen a police headquarters and more important that he had the bronze earned with him At cocktail time somewhere out in the middle of Ohio I joined the mob in the club and observation car But I saw no sign of anybody who even remotely resembled a man in the picture But then as I walked into the dining car If you don't mind sharing a table with another single gentlemen, sir, not a bit steward fine I can see to you immediately this way, please Take that table seven Waldo Amos your tables ready for the check Do you mind if this other gentleman sits with you, sir? Why should I sit down? Mr. Makes up comfortable. Thanks. Here's a menu. Thank you steward Now, let's see My my name is Slade Tom Slade. Well, how are you, Mr. Slade? My name is Harry Walker Walker, huh? That's right Going all the way to the coast Yeah, what about June? Well at the moment, I'm not sure Are you making a funny? No, not a bit. I just haven't planned that far ahead. Haven't I seen you somewhere before me? Not that I know I'm Why oh I just wondered Let's see what's on that menu Yeah, you do that and that Ended the conversation He didn't look up again from this food And he finished he got up without a word and returned to his sleeping car I'd rather hope that he'd go the other way to the club and observation car to give me a chance to look into his room Because this was the Tommy Slade all right. No question about it I'd simply have to bide my time and wait for an opportunity to get my hands on the air If he had it and then somehow get off the train with it Or of course if that opportunity didn't materialize I Could only pray for the best and follow him all the way into LA Well after my dinner I had a couple of brandies in the club car with a pretty little blonde Who spoiled everything by having to go back and look after three kids you haven't have on board and then I Wounded out the observation platform Tonight was beautiful Unseasonably warm with a full moon that bathed the countryside and its pale airy lights This was quiet peaceful farmland country The smell of a clean freshly turned earth and almost intoxicating effect on me and I dosed off for a while How long I slept I'll never know Because I was rather rudely awakened by a cloth or coat or something wrapped suddenly about my head and then a blow on top of it That knocked me out Too flat on my back in the room at a completely unfamiliar but kindly old-faced looking down on me. Well now that's better much better Who Who I'm dr. Spring I think you're gonna be all right now. You just relax and rest. There was no great damage done I'm afraid your head may hurt you for some time You have a rather nasty bump there What happened doc? I was hoping you'd be able to tell me that According to conductors. He was making his rounds. He stepped out on the observation platform And he saw a man leaning over you Man said something about you are apparently having fallen from your chair out there I hate to think of what might have happened to me if that conductor hadn't come along What'd you do faint to what? There is a trace of alcohol on your breath. I believe me that had nothing to do with that. Oh, wow No, no, no, why don't you just lie here until you feel better? And I'll drop by again a little while to make sure you come look doctor does the conductor know who that man was the man who was Leaning over me Well, I'm afraid he just shouted at the conductor and walked on by him so quickly. Well, I think I know who it was Thank You doctor How much do I owe you not a thing not a thing my boy now you just rest And I'll drop in on you later, right? Rested for all of five minutes By the end of that time I was all fired up the subtle accounts with Tommy slayed immediately once and for all As I walked forward into the next car full of sleeping passengers. I realized I better take it easy use my head What there was left of it? And then I saw that the door of Slade's room that was wide open not even the curtains were drawn across it It was empty except There in the corner a heavy bronze and I Glanced around to make sure I was alone and then I slipped in and I looked it over The tiny crack between the lid and the body of it even tried that But it very obviously hadn't been opened. I Was about to pick it up and carry it back to my own roomette. I thought you'd try this Donald. Oh But I'd asked you in here Tommy if there was room for both of us As it is You'll just move aside. All right drop that iron unless you want a couple of slugs in you See you have a silencer on that John. That's right. That's good planning. Now. Let's see if I can hear it Came all the way through that door and I really miss me that one was too close to the lock The train was slowing down now listen if you think it's easy to break through two layers of a Pullman car Well, it isn't Climbing out to the jagged glass loaded with that hunk of bronze Somehow I made it Item nine is a hundred and eighty four dollars transportation That means a few miles by car a train to Pittsburgh PA a plane to New York another to Hartford and finally a cab to my apartment I left the cleaning up and changing my clothes. I got in my car. I drove to Mercy Hospital here and wrapped up in my top coat Item 10 there on the lobby a dime for a phone call to police headquarters And then I went up to Standish's room That it mr. Dollar wrapped up in that coat. That's it. Mr. Good. I told you I'd pay you well for his return and believe me. I will I think you'll pay all right You see this earn and I had a little accident on the way back here accident sort of a train accident I mean when we left that Pullman car one of the wheels almost cut the earning too, but it didn't uh But the year the money didn't fall out not the money or anything else So the cap flew off and a jar loose the top of the false bottom that you have on it's too bad, huh? I'm Afraid I don't understand you. I'm afraid you do stand this no no lie there quietly in that bed Now you said there was a lot more than just 5,000 in the air and didn't you now don't living in Oriental Imports, huh? Well, that is the understatement of the week You made a fortune as more like it in one of the foulest filthiest ragged in the world. Look just you stay there You're still a sick man remember Remember you said you couldn't remember what Tommy slayed went up for while I remembered and that's how I knew that you had Turned to his caper when you got out. What happened where you're holding out on him Is that why you had to come all the way in from the coast to get the earn away from you? Will you listen to me, please? It's no wonder that you didn't dare go after him yourself He knew you we would have spotted you would have killed you as who wouldn't for a kilo of the stuff in the False bottom of the year and two pounds of it pure uncut and wholesale maybe eight or ten thousand dollars worth But carefully cut to individual fixes. You'd probably get a million maybe even more than that for this much heroin Yes heroin your dirty rotten filthy son All right sergeant takeover interesting sidelight on the case I Saw in the afternoon papers at the railroad company didn't look too kindly on Tommy slayed of the lacked I mean when he was caught standing there blasting away at the lock on the door of his roomettes I'm gonna think of it. I'd better tip the federal boys to is having gone back to his old racket Expense account total four hundred eighteen dollars and fifteen cents and no padding on this one Yours truly Johnny dollar Johnny dollar starring Bob Reddick is written by Jack Johnstone Produced and directed by rumors of raffle jr. Musical supervision by Ethel Huber In an hour cast were Ralph Camargo as Philip Standish Ralph Zell as Tom Slade William Mason as Toby Tetris Jack Grimes as the police sergeant Bill Smith as the doctor and Sam Raskin was the fewer Be sure to join us next week same time same station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is art Hannah speaking Johnny dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces radio and television service