 The signal oil program The whistler that 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 shadow 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 radial 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 Man of distinction Before he was halfway through the discussion Tony Gardner knew he held the woman in the palm of his hand that the red Sold tag was as good as on the twenty thousand dollar antique dining room set. She'd come to inquire about But he didn't press he didn't appear eager he carefully kept it on a plane far above that of course Antiques were his first and only love and Mrs. Fletcher's one extravagance was antique furniture. That was enough. They were sold me and I hope you realize Mrs. Fletcher What a delight this is to me really Tony why don't you talk to someone at long last who really appreciates a genuine antique There's so many of the other kinds You know I talk to them all day people who don't care whether it's original Duncan Fife or Grand Rapids so long as they can tell their friends how much it cost them. I'm flattered As a matter of fact Mrs. Fletcher I I really shouldn't be in the business of selling things like this set here I love it so much. I I can hardly bear to part with it. Well, it'll be in good hands. Tony me There aren't many people I'd give it up to I guess I am rather lucky indeed you are Well, suppose you come into my office. I have to work out the delivery arrangements and so forth You're quite sure now you've made up your mind to take this You don't think for a moment. I pass up an opportunity like this to you And that's all there was to it Tony you give her a cordial handshake and watch her leave holding her check for $20,000 in your hand. It's an important moment Isn't it Tony the end of one thing the beginning of another the end of the long years of struggle which laid the Foundation for this moment the Madison Avenue shop the wealthy clientele which follow Mrs. Fletcher's lead The end of the years of struggle which made you an expert in the style and finish of fine furniture and The style and finish of the fine women who bought it But there's an anxious way to head Tony after that fabulous dining room ensemble is delivered Yes, if it passes the inspection of the people you know will examine it if it stands up under Inspections as rigid as those you put it through the way will be clear the possibilities limitless But only time days of anxious waiting and tell you that Meanwhile, there are other customers like the fresh looking young woman who drops in a few days later Well, good morning miss. How do you do? Are you mr. Tony Gardner? That's right. What can I do for you? Oh, mr. Gardner, I wonder if you can help me. It's the entry hall in my country house You see it's so large and kind of awkward that I'm having trouble with this. I see well as it happens I couldn't do much today, but I have to come back to that makes any difference. Did you say mrs. Fletcher? Yeah Oh, oh, well, let's see An entry hall you say big it's immense with four doors Hard to tell without seeing it of course How about something large dramatic this Charles the second chair perhaps Maybe What about that big piece in the window the bookcase? It's beautiful. Oh the the break front Yes, very striking Italian Renaissance, you know, but it'd be perfect just exactly right. Oh, I'm sorry It just isn't for sale. It belongs to my refinisher mr. Fennig. Oh Oh, I'm so disappointed mr. Gardner I have to admit now that I really came for the break front Mrs. Fletcher said today. Oh, you were out there today She had a regular open house to show off that perfectly gorgeous dining room set you sold her. She uh, she she liked it then She loved it. Oh, we were all so impressed You know, she wouldn't even let the servants dust it until the insurance people had been there really Did she get her policy? Oh, why not? She told me the underwriter said it was undervalued at 20,000 Oh, it was really quite a bargain Yes, yes, that's what I told her at 20,000. It was really Really a steal With a wonderful feeling of relief you slumped down on the love seat The insurance man have come and gone Tony The risk is over and you can step off the razor's edge under solid ground In the hours of work the nights you slaved away in the private shop at the rear of your apartment were well spent The dining room set has passed the microscopic examination of the experts The first set of faked antiques you ever attempted to pass is genuine in the big money class Has come through with flying colors. Don't you think you might be able to mr. Gardner? Oh, I'm sorry. I I wasn't listening. Well, I said I wondered if you could persuade your recinicere to sell the brake front Oh, well, miss uh, a stafford claire stafford and the stafford I've been thinking I have a better idea. Yes Fennig won't sell I know that but uh, I think I can obtain the matching piece to this one You mean there's another one just like it. Oh, yes. Yes. You see the renaissance crassland sometimes made their best pieces in pairs I think I might get my agent to locate the other one Uh, I must warn you it will be rather expensive. Well, I was afraid of that When can you get it? Uh, well, let me look into that. Excuse me a moment You hurry out the back entrance down the alley to the shop Hoping Otto fennec will be as easy to persuade this time As he was before with mrs. Fletcher's genuine 18th century dining room set I told you before boss that piece is not I know. I know it's not for sale. I know I like it so much. I want one for myself. I simply want you to make a replica of it. That's all Oh, like I did the dining room section. That's right When could you have it? Oh, 10 days. Oh, no. Make it a week. No finish or anything. Okay, boss. One week That's wonderful, mr. Gardner It's in Milan according to my agent's last report. We can get it aboard the countleguria sales tomorrow I'll cable my man right away. You you have quite an organization, mr. Gardner And it takes money to operate it, mr. Stafford. So I told you this will be a little expensive No, Nate's big price is more than I do. Oh, how much? $25,000 In round figures that is That's a lot of money, but I can guarantee you'll be satisfied. All I need is a few hours to make sure Well, all right. Oh good. I'll call back for my apartment. No, no better yet. I'll come back and say it for a clock four o'clock You're back in stride again now, tony the salesman again and loving it There's nothing to fear now You've passed the highest test and the big stakes are there waiting for you to pick them off In a matter of minutes after claire stafford leaves The genuine breakfront is back in otto's shop and he's at work on the copy An hour later you dash down to 8th avenue and 27th street to consult with your italian representative A radiogram understand. I want it filed in rom tonight and delivered through the usual channels Well, I don't usually do this kind of work. Well, there's $50 in it for you. How's that? It's not bad. It's not good I'll do it. Go ahead. All right. I'll take this down shoot from the anthony gardener campania 24 via porto roma Have breakfront stop personally supervising loading naples count laguria forwarding documents to cover The Well, you really work fast, mr. Gardner. Well, you see there's no question about delivery none at all here. Take a look at this radiogram Supervising loading naples count laguria. Well, I haven't your hands in 12 days I wish I knew more about furniture You're sure it'll be as nice as the one you had in the window The exact companion my agent always checks those things matter of routine Course misstaffed if you don't want the piece. I wouldn't dream of pressing you. No, no, no, I'll take it Well, then What about the deposit will a thousand be all right? Oh, it's good good with the balance you want arrival Now, let's see. I have some blank checks around somewhere $1,000 You watch her write it on the check smile and thank her as she hands it to you and walks back out the door As you pick up the checkbook from the counter you realize she's absentmindedly put the radiogram in her purse Here start toward the door and then decide she'd think it odd if you followed her out onto the street And it won't matter now anyway As a matter of form, of course, you must call mrs. Fletcher Tony, I know it was horrid of me not to call you about the dining room, sir Just the same. I want to thank you mrs. Fletcher. I do really appreciate Nonsense Tony What did you sell something nice? Well rather a break front $25,000 worth Marvelous Tony Who is it friend of yours Claire Stafford? Business girl a customer for you, Tony works for an insurance company. That's how I met her, you know She's an antique expert and all that sort of thing of distinction The signal oil company is bringing you another strange story by the whistler But now in place of the message about signal gasoline usually heard at this point Signal oil company has asked me to use this time to deliver some important information to men between the ages of 17 and 35 If you can spare one evening per week You can now turn it into welcome extra cash and extra pleasure By training with your local national guard unit The cash is the excellent pay you receive based on the new army pay scale Plus the training you receive in subjects that will help you advance in your present civilian job And a pleasure that comes into many sports and social activities you'll enjoy with former service buddies and friends and neighbors Plus the honor of being a member of one of america's most respected organizations Incidentally, there are still many opportunities for ex-servicemen to enlist in grade which means even higher pay But the best opportunities are naturally going fast during the national guard's current campaign To recruit a man a minute So don't delay get full information now by contacting your local headquarters of the national guard And now back to the whistler Well, Tony you've been so sure of yourself So certain you are completely safe, but you can add it all up now. It makes sense very good sense Claire Stafford came into your shop this morning for one reason To trick you into selling her a fake piece of antique furniture as the real thing to reveal you to the world as a fraud That's why she seems so gullible so wealthy And that's why she was careful to put that false radiogram in her purse You thank your lucky stars It's not too late that there's still one way out one way to preserve the reputation you've built up so carefully With 10 years of hard work one way to save you from ruin You take your cab across down to her apartment to gardener. I was just leaving miss stafford. I I must speak to you It's most important. I'm sorry. I'm awfully rush. Oh, please. It's about the break front Well, wait a minute. I have an idea. Why don't we have dinner together? I'm due at the leader at eight, but there's good Well, let's go I'm so glad we came here mr. Gardner wonderful atmosphere. Yes nice music Now about the break front miss stafford. I'm terribly upset. So I noticed now. What is it? I'm afraid I can't get it here in time for you, but it's on the ship the radiogram I know I know it seems the ship isn't sailing. There's been a delay of some time. Oh, that's where you're wrong I checked You what? Yes. I call the marine exchange. She sailed today on schedule. Oh, I was so thrilled I want to make sure I'm terribly sorry, but I just can't deliver that piece That's all I I brought your check along and I'll be very happy to give it back to now That's no way to ask mr. Gardner. We've made a deal I have your assurance and your radiogram that the piece is on the ship You have my deposit and that's bad. Yes, but I tell you it'd be much There's nothing wrong with our transaction. Is there wrong? I Know who there isn't You have such a fine reputation. You know, I'd I'd hate to think that Well, yes, yes, of course Very well miss stafford You'll get your renaissance break from She changes the subject and you make no effort to bring it back during the rest of the meal You know now that you can't back out without making some damaging explanation That the only way is straight ahead The next morning early you walk into Otto's work room Morning boss Otto. How's it coming that what by the break front, of course But good lord. Is that all you've done? What's the matter boss something wrong wrong? You haven't even got the front panels finished But I I only start this morning boss. What is your dawdling Otto? That's what's the matter You're dawdling. I want that break front and I want it fast. Do you understand now get to it get to it There's no other way is there Tony with the count de la guria having sailed from Italy yesterday You have just 12 days less than two weeks to create an imitation so perfect It will fool an expert. It doesn't seem possible. Does it Tony what you've got to try And while Otto is working on the replica. There's something else to take care of The shipping papers that's right Why on something coming from abroad they'd consist of a shipper's receipt in duplicate clearance papers the captain's receipts bill of lading duty certificate I see. Well, look, I want to know that things are being done right in my company Could you give me a complete set of sample blanks, please? Oh, sure. Mr. Glad to thank you A telly yellow boxes you say yes, you know one of your old packing cases with the labels and all still on it See, I'm going to build a little bar in my home Something different. Oh, see see I think I find there's something see Then there she is boss all finished That's bad. Hey, yes. Yes. It's fine. Otto. It's It's fine. I'll call the moving man to deliver it to your apartment. Yeah, no, no, no I'll attend to that. Otto now you you run along home get some rest You long for rest yourself, don't you, Tony? But for you the work is just beginning the real work It starts when you transfer the imitation brake front to your own apartment lock the doors and leave word that you're not to be disturbed You have five days left, Tony Before the count de la Gloria docks in new york harbor you pray that it's enough You Spend the first few hours steaming out the dowels that hold the piece together Most of the day is gone before you finish Then you put each section of wood to soak in oil Waiting for it. You stretch out for an hour or so of fitful rest It's early morning as you start the painstaking process of warping the lintel Evening of the second day as you treat the dowels with caustic prepare to crack the panels You're on your nerve now no sleep no rest just waiting working black coffee and cigarettes You've forgotten there are such things as sunlight and fresh air when you finally reassemble the entire piece Paint it with acid and wrap it in a winding sheet of cotton batting so the acid will bite in Then more waiting worrying hoping before you can even start the laborious grind of final rubbing You work over the wood pressing down until your hands are swollen with blisters Your back strained to the breaking point and at last it's finished You step back almost sobbing with weariness, but it's there, Tony complete Right down to the last artificial wormhole You try to compare it with the original and decide that no matter how tired you are You've got to have one more look at the original in otto's shop My boss, Tony My otto you're drunk. Yeah drunk Why not My boss such a good man So good everybody trusts my daughter. What are you doing here at this hour anyway? No We have italian representative now. Yeah Radiograms. He says about brake front in milan. Oh, what are you raving about? Yeah Miss claire stafford says she is buying brake front like buying stafford She was here. Yeah this afternoon. What did she ask you? What did you tell her? What did you tell her nothing? Let go let go. I'll tell you nothing. I figured out myself. Oh, you poor fucking fool You think the police say i'm fool. Yeah police Well otto you're in this just as deeply as i know No, I only take orders. I never make fake antique snappy in my life Tell the police. You're not telling anyone anything. You're not telling anyone anything Tony boss. I I I never tell them. I only tell you Please boss It's over very quickly, isn't it, Tony? Your eyes move from otto's body sprawled on the floor to the brake front You stand for a moment undecided It's yours now for the taking if only Open up But there isn't time Someone's at the front of the shop and otto can't be found like this You whirl around kick out at a can of inflammable varnish It spills across the floor as you back away Your last act before slipping out into the alley is to strike a match Toss it gently into the varnish The workshop bursts into flame as you hurry away from it running down the alley You're thankful for a heavy fog that has settled down over the city hiding your flight back to the apartment Morning, mr. Gardner. Oh, hello, son. The manager sent me up, sir He thought you'd want the morning papers, uh about the fire at your refinisher shop fire. What fire? Oh, we thought you knew mr. Gardner. The story's here on page two. Yeah, let me see That poor old guy autofenic dying in a fire like that. It's in the far column. Yes Man killed in accidental blaze Why this is terrible. We're sorry about the fire too, mr. Gardner I guess that'll be quite a lot. Yes, but otto line. Oh, I'm thinking about poor faithful old otto Well, thank you son for letting me know Here you are Thanks, mr. Gardner and if there's anything we can do. Yes. Yes, sir. I'll let you know Poor faithful old otto indeed Ha ha ha ha Good morning. This is tony gardener. Yes, mr. Gardner I want you to send a truck over to my apartment right away to pick up a piece of furniture Delivery to miss claire stafford gotham arm The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime a question What gasoline is known as the go farther gasoline? Well, if you've lived out west any length of time You know that signal is known from canada to mexico as the go farther gasoline Now naturally we're mighty proud of signals famous mileage But even more so we're proud of the extra efficiency signal gasoline gets from your motor Which makes such mileage possible For when your motor runs more efficiently You also enjoy quicker starting faster pickup and smoother knock free power the things which make driving more fun That's why folks who want superior performance as well as those who insist on mileage are both switching to signal They've discovered that to get the tops in gasoline quality. There are just two things to remember One in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther And two signal is the famous go farther gasoline And now back to the whistler Well, Tony you can relax now for the first time since you learned the truth about claire stafford It doesn't matter that it was necessary to destroy the finishing shop after killing otto There'll be a bigger shop now won't there, Tony? No more teetering on a razor's edge of worry suspicion Just solid ground now, Tony and solid customers Later in the morning you go down to the shop poke this constantly around in the alley Your face set in an expression of appropriate bewilderment As you stand on the swirling fog watch the fireman hose down the last steaming embers of what had been otto's work room An unfortunate situation mr. Gardner. Very unfortunate. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, it's too bad too bad I don't care about the shop, but but poor faithful old otto. Is that it? Why? Oh, yes You know as far as i'm concerned you're pretty convincing mr. Gardner But uh Then I just do what the lieutenant tells me the lieutenant I'm a detective names Tyson gotta want to pick you up to pick me up What this is insane Maybe but the lieutenant doesn't think so Seems this otto fanny going to valuable antique and uh This morning a bell boy saw the same piece of furniture in your apartment Do you have to kill him to get it gardener? It's a terrible shock isn't it, Tony the sudden panic that surges through you And you know that an awful choice is facing you. Yes, Tony You can confess your whole clever fraud or go to the electric chair for murder Of course, there's only one answer. Oh, wait, I there's another explanation to all this very simple one She'll just get in touch with miss stafford. No, the dame you had the thing delivered to We've been talking to her all morning. You have then she must have told you why that piece of furniture is a forgery I faked it myself. Uh-huh. We took a short run up that alley too. What? The piece is the real mccoy. All right, but uh post miss stafford and some other expert She brought around said they'd stake their reputations on it, but they're wrong I antique that counterfeit myself. Well, they're ready to swear It's the one from the shop here and their judgment's good enough for us Wait a minute. Wait a minute. If you're so positive. It's genuine. They the the counter guru of the boat You see oh, no, I wouldn't try to handle that mr. Gardner Ah because that's what started the whole investigation. What do you mean? We couldn't understand how miss stafford received the brake front when uh, the ship It was coming over on has been fog bound off sandy hook for the last 24 hours Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each wednesday at the same time 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 to get the most driving pleasure Drive at sensible speeds be courteous and obey traffic regulations. It may save a life possibly your own Featured in tonight's story where joseph kerns and sarah selby The whistler was produced by george w allen with story by jackson gillis and robert eisenbach Music by wilbur hatch and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service Next wednesday for a full hour of mystery. Tune in a half hour earlier. Enjoy the saint as well as the whistler This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system