 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 before 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 radio history In gasoline, you know it takes extra quality to go farther and signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies signal service stations from Canada to Mexico And now the Whistler strange story made of honor It was mid-morning when Elaine left Nancy's apartment in the suburbs and began the unbearable Taxi ride across the city to Elmwood The traffic was slowed down by a late February drizzle and the clamoring horns grinding gears and climbing signal bells played along the raw edges of her nerve Driver, can't you take another route? Can't you get out of this some way? Sorry, ma'am. He said you were in a hurry in the fastest way to Elmwood's right through the center of town She leaned back against the seat heavily Trying to relax so she could go over the whole scheme once more in her mind the message the phone called an auntie Each incident had to fall into place like a scene from one of the thousands of radio scripts She'd read before the microphone For Elaine Brand was a radio actress and a great one and she knew that each reaction every word She said from now on had to be convincing Because above all no one must ever guess the truth No one must ever know that Nancy Whitney Was already dead when Elaine left Nancy's apartment that morning It seemed a year before the taxi pulled up in front of the quiet house in Elmwood But when Nancy's sister Margaret answered the bell and Elaine stepped into the hallway She was ready for the greatest role of her career And she was almost relieved when Margaret began it just as she had expected Please don't take off your coat Elaine. I just can't talk today. Margaret you've got to be reasonable about this I came all the way across town. I'm sorry Elaine. I'm not up to it today Don't mind I'd rather not discuss it. You're going to discuss it I'm not going to stand idly by and watch you ruin your sister's wedding. I told you I'm not feeling well That convenient heart trouble of yours isn't going to get you out of it this time Do you realize what you're doing Margaret? Can you understand what this is doing to your sister? I understand everything. I'd rather see Nancy disappointed now than later disappointed. She's despondant If you refuse to stand up with her tomorrow, I I don't know what you do She loves you Margaret. You've been almost like a mother to her. Oh, I go through all that again. I Disapprove a bill pencil. I don't want any part of that wedding. That's all there is to it That has nothing to do with it. It doesn't matter whether or not you disapprove of Bill Nancy loves him. That's all that matters They're going to be married tomorrow and you're going to be a maid of honor if I have to drag No, I should think you'd have the common decent. Oh, please. Please. I don't want to hear any more And don't tell me I don't love my sister You mean more to me than anything in the world. I hope you can convince Nancy of that What do you mean sure to be here in a few minutes? I told it to come. Oh, why did you do that? Do I have to be tortured with it? Oh stop being sorry for yourself Talking to a professional darling. I know an act when I see one There's Nancy now Answer the door. I don't want to see her tell her I won't tell her anything Just said you love her now. You can prove it Margaret Go ahead answer the door. I have a message here from Miss Elaine brand. You know is she here? Yeah, thank you. I'll give it to us. All right You name yes Wasn't Nancy was a message for you How did anyone know that? Yeah Nancy Nancy why is she what is it? Dear Elaine I'm addressing this to you all because I'm sure now you're the only friend I have left I See now that marriage like everything else. I've ever wanted would be wrong and I've decided there's only one answer No, oh no selfish way. I know but I hope you try to understand and explain tomorrow. No the telephone quick She can't be doing this Nancy would never do anything like this. She's doing it now Maybe you see what I was talking about. Let me see the no go get your coat. We're going over there right now Nancy's Heaven I just got your note Listen darling. You're all wrong Believe me dear. You're making a terrible mistake Margaret understands. No, I've had a talk with her You can't do it nasty. It's not fair to Bill or Margaret or any of us You've got to promise me now. Don't make a move until we get there We're leaving right now promise me that Yes, of course. Let me talk to her. No, she hung up. Oh Elaine if anything We better call the police. No, it would get into the papers. She said she wouldn't do anything until we got there Come on Margaret. We've got to hurry And So the first scene has reached its climax Elaine and you were just as convincing as you planned Another taxi takes you and Margaret back through the maddening snarl of traffic toward Nancy's and When the taxi pulls up to the apartment entrance and you see the manager talking to a man with a press badge You take a firm grip on Margaret's arm and walk up to him knowing what he's going to say She's dead miss friend. They found her a half hour ago. Oh, no Oh, you're wrong Nancy wouldn't kill herself. She'd never do it. I know please. That's not going to do any good. Oh, I told you we should have telephoned the police I told you we should be my name's Bertrand reporter on star news. Maybe I can help yes, of course This is miss Whitney's sister. I miss Brad. What have they done with her? Where is she? You better not go up there now the apartment's full of police police. What are they doing there? I wondered myself miss brand until I heard the lady say miss Whitney wouldn't have done it That's what they seem to think upstairs to be right Nancy couldn't do a thing like that. Why Margaret's not herself, mr. Berkel we better wait a minute wait a minute Tell me mr. Berkel what happened upstairs? Well the maid discovered her when she went into clean seems to have been some kind of fast-acting poison Well, the things don't make sense though only last night She called up and confirmed the order for the wedding flowers You hardly have done that if you were going to what ends Well, I don't know whether I should mention it. They've got a suspect Suspect yeah made so I'm walking away from the apartment just before she went in to find the body told the police He couldn't get in but who was it? Who is it? Well, that's pretty obvious the intended bride room of course bill Penville Well Elaine there it is not quite the way you planned it, but there it is They've got a convenient suspect bill Penville or could it be that bill Penville was the motive for the murder? The reason for all your careful scheming Margaret is standing there staring at you with a queer expression coming across her face. So you'd better think fast Elaine Bill Bill Penville You mean he found a suspicion that's right seems he talked himself into quite a hole Who said the reason he came to see her was the fight they had last night. He wanted to apologize. This is all ridiculous We we know Nancy killed herself I talked to her on the phone just a little while ago pleaded with it to reconsider Yes, and and there was a note a suicide note. It came to me at Margaret's by messenger She said she was despondent that Margaret didn't approve of Bill and Isn't that so Margaret? So Mr. Pendle is accused of murdering my sister He's in the DA's office right now being questioned. You know anything about it. You better get right over there Isn't it the groom killing the bride Margaret? What are you talking about? He did kill her Margaret Margaret the telephone call that the note you can't deny the minute you have this note with you. Well the note I Must have thrown it away. I was so excited and oh I see but Margaret will tell you Tell him it's true I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about What are you trying to do? It's basic I'm going to see that a murderer is brought to justice With the prologue of maid of honor the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler But now a word to you drivers If you want to keep performance up and wear down during the months of hard summer driving ahead It's time to see your signal dealer now for a spring changeover from winter weary lubricant Costly transmission and differential gears need the protection of fresh summer weight signal gear lube For limbering up the chassis. There's no spring tonic like a signal double-check lube job And of course your motor should be drained and refilled with fresh motor oil Wait a minute. Did I say motor oil? Well, don't you say motor oil be sure you say signal premium motor oil For signal premium is the amazing new type lubricant that far outperforms the finest straight motor oils money can buy You see because signal premium combines five scientific new compounds with 100% pure paraffin base It does more than just lubricate in fact tests prove signal premium actually keeps motor six times cleaner and Reduces cylinder where one third your guarantee of a sweeter running motor But remember this only signal service stations have this amazing new signal premium motor oil Mighty good reason I'd say why there's just one place to take your car for this spring's changeover Your neighborhood signal service station and now back to the whistler Well Elaine that queer tense expression on Margaret's face with the answer your whole plan is gone now All your careful scheming is wasted if it didn't have such tragic implications. You could almost laugh You were willing to kill to keep Bill Pendle from going to the altar with someone else And now he's being accused of the murder you so carefully committed But you know that Margaret holds the key You know that somehow you've got to make her admit the truth about the note in the phone call We're going to the district attorney's office Margaret. Are you going to tell them the truth or aren't you? My heart you're going to tell them Margaret. Do you understand that? No, no, I'm not going to tell them anything He killed you Elaine. He's going to suffer for it and you let him do You go on deliberately lying to see Bill Pendle brought to trial Simply because you've always hated him Nancy was my sister. I love him. She'd be alive right now. It went for him You're not going to get away with this Margaret Driver Yes, ma'am. I changed my mind. We're not going to the courthouse Lane. What are you going to do? I'm taking miss Whitney back to her home driver. She's ill that's one five two milford Lane Elmwood Elaine you can't oh Yes, I can No, you see you can't change my mind bill Pendle is responsible for Nancy's death He's over to it. You know, that's a lie. You heard that call to Nancy. You saw the no I tell you I don't want to talk anymore about it. All right Have it your way When we get into a courtroom, it'll be your word against mine. I'm not an actress for nothing, you know, I Can be pretty convincing I doubt that Under the circumstances What do you mean the quarrel between Bill and Nancy? What's that got to do with me everything? It was about you You're lying Margaret Felly rifle back me up. She was there, you know It was pretty ugly with Bill telling Nancy he wanted to walk out But he was only going through with the wedding because he didn't want to hurt Margaret I mean, what are you saying? In love with you Nothing never he hardly looked that doesn't matter now. He told Nancy that's enough Believe me. I didn't know you'd have to be pretty convincing to make them believe that When it gets to the courtroom, you'll be the other woman fighting for the man you're in love with Who do you think they'll believe you or me you couldn't be low enough to use the thing I do anything to see that Nancy's murder is punished If you don't mind I'm going to lie down. Wait a minute. Margaret said I didn't want to talk about it. You're going to talk about it Margaret get away from that telephone. I'm going to call not calling anyone. Give me that phone Just to make sure you don't try to use it again I'll have to take care of it. You've broken the card Elaine Why are you doing this to me? You're a sick woman Margaret Very sick. I'm going to stay here with you every minute and take care of you It's the only way isn't it Elaine a man's life is at stake and unless you can break Margaret down Make her admit to the note in your frantic called a Nancy bill Pendle will be indicted for murder But you're still stunned aren't you Elaine? Horrified that this quarrel on the eve of the wedding Placed you squarely between Nancy and Bill made you a prejudice witness in the eyes of the law Put Margaret in a position to hang him with a simple denial And you haven't longed to work on her the moment that reporter's story comes out in the morning papers They'll be calling on both of you to testify. It has to be fast Elaine An hour later you walk into Margaret's room find her in bed where you left her Feeling better dear? You're being very cruel Elaine. It isn't fair. You mustn't talk with you so tired Yeah, let me prop you up. I brought you some tea. Oh Well you decided to leave me alone. What have you decided dear about Bill if you came in here to start on me again No, no, no, no come on. Drink your tea Careful it's hot. I Didn't eat that did I make it just right? Did you put What's in this tea? What have you done? What's wrong Margaret? You're thinking that someone else might be taking the law into his own hands. You poisoned it You're trying to kill me Margaret. How can you say such a thing away? Oh Margaret your favorite China to Nothing's happened to you Margaret just a dash of harmless bitters This is Is that all that's all for now? The excitement seems to have tired you dear why don't you go back to sleep? Leave I wait I'm sorry dear. It was a vase. I knocked it off the mantle. Oh, it was a shame to interrupt your rest Never get back to sleep Shall I fix you a sleeping powder? No, no, I don't I don't want anything. Have you changed your mind much? No, really no Haven't changed my mind. It's going very slowly. Isn't it Elaine? Margaret is exhausted mentally and physically, but she isn't changing her mind about anything only becoming more determined and Half an hour after the incident with a vase. She even manages to doze off again You wait a long time before disturbing her again until just the right moment Then you walk over Open the door to a room leave it a jar and walk back through the living room to the front door Then I understand doctor. Yes. Yes. I'll do everything you said. Oh, no, you needn't send a special nurse I'd much rather tend to her myself All right, doctor. Goodbye and thanks again for coming out. I know it's a long way Oh What are you doing out of bed? Who are you talking to please now dear? We must get you back in bed. He'd be furious. Who are you talking about? Well, I yes, she won't rest until I tell you all right it Was the doctor Margaret I had to send Doctor why you were breathing so heavily dear. I couldn't wake I was worn out Elaine You know that over to sleep that sound live right through the examination Without even disturbing you dear your condition is quite serious. Oh, I if it were true, you wouldn't tell me I have to tell you Margaret You know, there isn't much time left for you. You might stop and think what did the doctor say please Margaret get back in bed If something did go wrong, they They might think I was killer, but I I don't know what to think. Oh, Elaine. You couldn't be this cruel If this is another one if you're trying whether you believe me or not Margaret you must get back in bed I refuse to be responsible and I can't stand any more. It is I can't I can't I'll tell the truth good Better not change your mind Margaret you do you won't have a minute's rest. There'll be other nights Long sleepless night. No, no no Elaine. Oh, you're right. I see it now Nancy really wouldn't have wanted you to put the blame on Bill I know I'll tell him Elena I'll tell them in from the district attorney. They're becoming here this morning as soon as that reporter prints his story. You can trust me I promise Thank you, Margaret Thank heaven you've come to your senses Well Elaine you've won you can rest now Relax in a chair in the living room and wait for morning sure that Bill Pendle will be in the clear It's going to be all right either way now, isn't it? Margaret will tell the truth about the note in the phone call or she'll be so hysterical in denying it They'll pass her off as an incompetent At nine o'clock the doorbell ring You stir sleepily and then realize that it must be someone from the district attorney's office Find yourself awake preparing for their questions as you hurry to the front door I thought you're sorry to disturb you, but the company got a complaint that your telephone's out of order the phone. Oh Yes, yes, come in We broke the cord last night broke it. Yes, it must have been badly worn or something. It just snapped right off the wall Well, yeah, well, I'll have a look at the phones in the bedroom. I'll show you Margaret I'm ready Elaine. It's just the phone man dear It's all right. You can go in now. Thank you You're glad the telephone man awakens you it gives you a little time to straighten up the living room Brush your hair and freshen up a bit before the man from the district attorney's office arrived Then just as you finish putting on your lipstick the doorbell rings again Yes, miss Whitney. She's inside. I miss brand. Oh good. I wanted to talk to both of you And my name is Frazier miss brand district attorney's office. Oh, he've been expecting someone come right in mr. Frazier Miss Whitney has been in bed since yesterday the shark and all yes, I understand would you wait here a moment sure Margaret is here You will tell the truth. Won't you I promised you last night Elaine? I know I realize more than ever now But it's important for me to tell them everything Ask him to come in The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime, I have something else. I think will surprise you as I mentioned last week this spring marks the 25th anniversary of signal oil So I've been digging through the records and I came across some data that really opened my eyes Of course, we all know that today's gasoline offers the highest octane and the finest performance in all history But do you have any idea how much today's gasoline costs you per pound not per gallon mind you but per pound Well here on the coast for instance not counting the taxes that have been added to gasoline Regular grade signal costs only two and one-third cents per pound Now I've given you the pound price purposely so you can compare it with your cheapest vegetable potatoes Costs four cents per pound compared with two and one-third cents for gasoline Salt costs five cents per pound bread costs eleven cents per pound Compared with two and one-third cents for gasoline That's why we say when you fill up with signals famous go farther gasoline. You're not only getting the tops in gasoline quality You're also getting one of today's most remarkable values And now back to the whistler Well Elaine it's almost over now Margaret has promised to tell the truth to admit the phone call and the vanished suicide note from her sister Nance Somehow you feel you can trust her something in the new earnestness the penitence in her face tells you that at last She realizes the horror of what she almost did and now that you've won Elaine You know the strain has had its effect on you too Yes, you're weary now as you sit on the bed Watching mr. Frazier of the district attorney's office making notes in his black book while he listens to Margaret Just a minute miss Whitney you say that a suicide note from your sister arrived here yesterday morning. That's right I see and miss brand here called her immediate I heard her talking on the telephone I tried to make a promise to do nothing until we arrived you should have called the police immediately. I know that now What about this note miss brand? Where is it? It's the stupid part of it all. I was so excited I guess I threw it away. You've no idea where it is. I'm afraid not That was careless on the country mr. Frazier. It was very wise Margaret What does that mean just this mr. Frazier? Elaine destroyed that note because it was for two She wrote it herself probably on the morning. She kills my sister. That's a lie Margaret She's an invalid mr. Frazier. She's trying to minute Go on miss Whitney. She sent it here by messenger time to arrive just after she did I I Almost did a terrible thing. I found out a few minutes ago. What an awful mistake. It would have been You see I I felt that mr. Pendle was responsible for Nancy's death. I Was wrong It was Elaine What about that miss brand? She's lying That terrible vicious mind I haven't finished Didn't ask me about that phone call mr. Frazier It was a very polished performance, you know quite convincing When you consider the fact that there was no one on the other end I was talking to man. No Elaine. No Repairman just told me my telephone has been out of order for two days The line was dead yesterday morning when you put on that act for me Well miss brand I Don't know what I Kiss the act is over Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Monday at 9 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 I Should in tonight's story were Mary Lansing and Lureen Tuttle The whistler was produced by George W. Allen with music by Wilbur hatch story by Brian thorn and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces radio service. This is Marvin Miller speaking for the signal oil company This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system