 Johnny dollar Johnny, this is Phillies today. He's today. That's right out in San Diego, right with Mono guarantee insurance Well, sure. How are you Phil? It's been a long time. I'm fine. Yes. I know it has and How'd you like to take a little run out here Johnny sunny Southern, California? Why not? Okay, now according to this plane schedule. I'm looking at if you can get a move on You can just about make connections on one of the jets coming out this way good I'll pick you up at the airport. See you Johnny. Hey, wait a minute Phil. Yes, give me something to worry about along the way What's your problem? Burglary or rather a whole series of them. I see yep I'm all directed at the same man or other man and wife whole series of them. Mm-hmm, right What's been taken the same thing every time Johnny? That's so what hold your hat. I'm holding Just exactly nothing. All right, I'll grab What was that you heard me well, I asked you what had been stolen. Yes, you said exactly nothing, right? That doesn't make sense I know But now you'll have to hurry to make your plane goodbye Phil just a minute. I'll be here and waiting for you CBS radio network brings you a Mandel Kramer and the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar by a special investigator Johnny dollar to the Mono guarantee insurance company office in San Diego, California Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the double-barreled matter A couple of bags 550 for a cab out to Bradley Field item 2 $180 and 40 cents plane fare to New York to Los Angeles to San Diego Thanks to one of the newer jets on that swing across the country It was only a few minutes after noon Pacific time that is when the plane landed at San Diego's Lindberg Field Which incidentally is only about a mile south of the city's main business district San Diego, you know was California's oldest Spanish settlement the spot where California's modern history got its start Also, I've heard it's the town that has the ideal climate that Los Angeles talks about having Anyway, it's a nice town with nice people a Busy naval and fishing port and a popular year-round tourist resort The latter because of its miles of clean beaches fine motels and as I said wonderful climate. I like it Phillies today was waiting for me. We piled into his car drove to his office, and he told me what it was all about That's right burglary But Phil if nothing's been taken a look it up Johnny burglary means breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony Whether that felonious purpose is accomplished or not. All right, Mr. Webster. I'll take your word for it When you've had use those definitions correctly as often as I have in connections with insurance claims well The point is Johnny that mr. And mrs. Warner's apartments been broken into some seven times now Seven times in a row over a period of about two months Warner Yeah, Charles Hastings Warner and his wife Trudy he's a No, now to come to think of it. I don't know what he is what he does for a living But if the size of his insurance policies means anything he does all right his straight life alone has a face value nearly a million That could be I suppose that he simply retired out here. He came out originally from Chicago I think I see Phil what do the police think about these bug lorries? Well, that's just it Johnny. They were never reported to the police Why not? How did you find out about them? My wife plays bridge a couple of times a week One of the group is Trudy Warner But Trudy told her she told me so I called up mrs. Warner and got the story All right now answer the first part of my question. What about the police? Mm-hmm Well, she said that as long as nothing's been missing her husband Charlie said there was no point in bothering them But it kind of has truly worried never knowing whether it's gonna happen again or when they might clean out the place Have you asked me Johnny? I think it looks kind of peculiar That's the understatement of the week, right? And I think we ought to do something about it seven times in a row you said that's right and absolutely nothing take absolutely Nothing now that is peculiar Phil very well, that's why I called you up as soon as I heard about it You know one of these days they'll find whatever it is They're looking for and we'll find ourselves faced with a hefty claim. I wonder What do you mean by that? I just wonder it's on Want to give me their address who are and you might call and tell them I'm on my way out, right? Uh, no Well on second thought Just give me their address. Oh Yeah $50 deposit on a rental car The Warner's apartment was really a single detached cottage and back up one of the better hotels Very nice very exclusive very expensive Rather than going to all the details later, let me tell you right now that was expensively furnished to Take wall-to-wall carpeting fine furniture Everything very modern but in good taste obviously the work of a high-priced decorator as Permissus truly Warner Well she was 25 or 26 tall Statue-esque and blonde with just enough makeup to enhance her natural beauty She had a rather distinguished look a quiet sort of Dignity in her bearing She wore a house coat of fine oriental silk Long-jeweled earrings with enough diamonds to choke a horse, but also in good taste a Couple of bracelets in the gold man of a watch were set in gems And I'm sure that the huge stone and one of her well-chosen rings was a genuine Ruby At first glance this all meant wealth social status a blue blood But when in response to my knock she opened the door and then opened her mouth Yeah Mrs. Warner. Yeah, that's me. Who are you, huh? My name is dollar Johnny dollar. Yeah, I've ever seen you around any ways before I doubt it Is mr. Warner at home? No, he ain't he's gone away for a couple of days But no falling around buster, so you better get back in your bicycle and Just just just a minute and I'll get your foot out of this door. You are I should scream for help or something Oh, that won't be necessary. Believe me. I'm here because I represent your husband's insurance company You do huh? Well, can you prove it? We're here? Let me show you my credentials. Oh, okay. Okay. I'll take your word for it Well, what do you want to see him about huh? Well about those burglaries you've been having all about those people busting in here going through our Stuff all the time. That's right Boy am I glad to see you Johnny. How'd you find out about it? Well? I just happened to be here in town and talking with mr. Easterday Oh, yeah, I just know I shouldn't have told that insurance guy's wife at that bridge the other day And when he called me up and made me tell him more about it But there wasn't ever anything stolen so there wasn't anything he could do about it He said only why Charlie wouldn't call a cops in I'll never know May I come in mrs. Warner, huh? Oh, yes But if Charlie finds out I mean he's not even wanting to bother the cops. Well, maybe he won't like this I don't know why not I'm glad you're gonna do something about it cuz I asked you Johnny What if I was to come in from shopping or something? I mean like in broad daylight Like like when Charlie was away like this and maybe find somebody's busted in and was still here for the gun on me or something Sit down, huh? Oh, thanks These At least burglaries have all occurred while your husband was away huh No, it's always Right after he's come home again. We've been out somewhere's at night together We do a lot of night clubbing and stuff and even sometimes go up to LA And then they always go through everything with a fine juice comb even pulling up the rugs and taking the beds apart They never steal nothing. I don't get it. I also don't like it neither. I can't say I blame you Andrew husband Well, all he says is it probably just some crazy hotbed or something like Psycho Yeah, yeah, that's it and as long as you don't take anything we should worry only I don't like it But that's his only explanation though for nothing being taken. Well, that's his only one she I don't know how he can take it. So So cool and casual, but that's the way he is Johnny just real cool and casual about everything He could fire a gun under me wouldn't even blink his eyelash anybody ever tried that firing a gun under him a Nice sweet guy like Charlie Of course now you want to drink Charlie? Johnny, that's all right. No, no, thank you. Tell me What's your husband do for a living Mrs. Warner? Only it's Trudy Johnny. No, he's being formal, huh? All right, Trudy only that's no invitation like you should get fresh or anything. You remember that You sure you don't want a little drink really don't thanks for it. Well, if you don't mind, I'm gonna have another one If you're proud of me, please just help yourself You try to tell me about your husband's business Oh, he hasn't got any business Johnny at least not since I met him out here and they go and married him. I see Do you know what he did before? Well, why should I care as long as he keeps the money coming in and treats me good like he does He is you sure Johnny just to keep me company. No, I'm sure Um, if he has money coming in, uh Where's it come from Trudy? So I'll give you the same answer. He always gives me when I asked him. Well Didn't you never hear the stock market? That's what he says Oh, I see Um, where did you say he is now? I didn't But he's gone hunting like he always does Always well almost every week lately. Oh Where do you know? Oh, sure. I know it's down near Elf country. You know where that is Somewhere down near the border. I believe yeah down there in all that farm country and the imperial Something imperial valley. Oh, yes. I uh, I understand. There's a lot of dove shooting down there in the imperial valley Yeah, doves or pigeons or whatever they are only he always calls them pigeons. Oh, yeah Little tiny things a lot of feathers only you only get a mouthful out of them. I always get Stuck I have to cook them for him, but he's always so nice to me. So why not? I'm a good cook too, Johnny You wouldn't believe it, but I am I'll bet you are Uh, tell me do you know where he stays down there? We're sure I always call him up on the phone every night while he's gone It's the bluebird motor court. It's a real Swell place. I've seen him myself a couple of times when him and me was on a honey moon Oh, when did he leave? Oh Early this morning that means he won't be back until the day after tomorrow Only what are you gonna do about this burglar and bit Johnny? Gee, I'm not sure you're true. Well, whatever it is. I sure hope you do Only don't mean I'm the charlie. I said anything about it. Were you honey? Well, if you won't I won't Oh, well, don't you worry about that It's not even a short one Johnny Just to keep me company Well No, I'm Just a short one More conversation but no more information of any consequence After the second short one And just to keep the company believe me I left and drove to the nearest shopping section picked up a handful of change dove into a phone booth and spent item For 80 cents on calls to all the stock brokers in town Not one of them had ever heard of mr. Charles Hastings Warner Okay Item five three ninety for a call to an old friend of mine in Chicago Pete Fuller a feature writer for the chicago sometimes Charles Hastings Warner Are you kidding john? You don't know who chicky Warner is or rather was when he was operating here in charlie And you were in the private eye business Well brother leave me poor you and earful I hope you got plenty of dimes to feed that slot machine you're talking through I can only tell you this By the time Pete Fuller got through giving me a rundown on chick Warner It suddenly began to look at so I've got myself involved in one of the most important and possibly one of the most dangerous cases in my whole career If you ever suffer a touch of arthritis or rheumatism, and you've never tried mentholatum deep heating rub You can't know how good its deep heating action can make you feel As you massage it into painful areas you feel its deep heating action You know relief is on its way Mentholatum deep heating rub is an extra strong combination of active ingredients for safe temporary relief of minor arthritic rheumatic pain Use greaseless stainless Mentholatum deep heating rub often Chick Warner do back in san diego in less than two days. I decided that I'd better act fast Act on a hunch It's all it was but for once I felt there was plenty of reason for it and not because of the circumstances the burglaries But the character of the man I now knew I'd be dealing with I spent item six in one of the local sporting goods stores for a total of $314.61 I came out with some lightweight hunting clothes a pair of bird shooter boots a good quality double barrel 12-gate shotgun And three boxes of shells loaded with number nine bird shot I also bought a hunting license I piled the stuff into my rental car and headed east on highway 80 making time now because it was getting dark A little over 100 miles later near a place called coyote wells I pulled off the road and gave the hunting clothes a little age and character by the simple expedient of driving the car over them a couple of times When I got to el centro, I took a room at the bluebird motor court Quite a place not only 20 or 30 nice modern motel carriages But a big fancy dining room with a bar attached and it was in the bar that I met mr. Charles Hastings warner It was a cold looking man of about 50 Tall nose and almost prim sort of mouth with pin lips It was late and the bar was almost empty. So it wasn't too hard to make conversation with him Well, yes, matter of fact, I am here to do some pigeon shooting. How'd you know? Oh, I didn't the mr. Uh Warner is it? Yeah I just hope to find somebody around here who could tell me where to go with some birds That took a chance on talking to you looks as though I picked the right man Oh, I can tell you where to go. All right, find lots of pigeons Aren't they really doves though? Dollar the way you can knock them off so easy. I like to think of them as pigeons Another drink for every yeah, I'll buy You bought the last four. I'm sorry. Don't worry about it Waiter a couple more days. Yes, sir if You can lead me to some good shooting. It's certainly worth a couple of drinks lead you Well, do you mind if I Kind of tag along with you tomorrow? Well, I mostly like to go alone, but Sure, sure. Good I'll make two of you Two of us Well, my name is Al Melfitt. I mean right in the bottom to Somebody that I always bring in the pigeons. He lights down to me. I'm your couple of drinks like you did So it's maybe it's good to have a couple of witnesses alone Witnesses sure to what? You know to see I don't come back with over my limit. Oh What do you think? Well, I had no idea Oh, so I don't know how good he shot the sound off. It is just met him today So you you can be along to make sure you don't blow my head up. I missed it. You're not serious dollar A man has a gun on him You never know Remember that it was long before sunrise The three of us chick warner Al Milford and I set out in Warnish car We headed south across the flat desert and farmland to and through colexico Within spitting distance to the border we turned right and then hit a narrow dusty road that wound around so much I wanted a couple of times if we weren't getting a little too close to Mexico Al Milford by the way Put me on guard 35 or so there was a kind of shiftiness about him that I didn't like I began to wonder if I'd walked myself into a trap of some kind Finally chick stopped And deployed us around a vast heavy cover of what I believe they called deer brush Oh, there must have been several acres of it and mesquite and sage that was higher than my head Al went to the north end eye to the west and warner to the south and We waited as soon as the sun came up as warner promised the bird started rising For the next 10 or 15 minutes or so. I had more action than I'd ever dreamed possible in bird shooting But I noticed two things Chick warner shooting was only one blast at a time And more important after the first big flurry there wasn't a sound from al's gun I worked my way slowly cautiously toward the spot where chick warner supposedly had his stand What I came on stopped me in my tracks Al milford lying prone he shot gun aim toward the spot where warner should have been and beside him in reach a 38 revolver As I sneaked up on him He suddenly quietly swung around and I found myself staring into the barrel of that gun Just take it easy Before you do anything silly just take a Take a look at these My credentials Catch credentials I know who you are, but you don't know who I am. So you better look You think I'll argue with you as long as Oh narcotics score, that's right. Now listen Put down your gun and listen before he gets back here. Sure. He's been quiet quite a while now. So I think he's made his haul What? Don't you see we know how he gets the stuff across the border stuff white stuff heroin pure uncut heroin I figured as much from his record in Chicago. Sure. Now. He picks it up on these so-called hunting trips Contact just across the border. Yeah, and he always has company a witness who would swear He just came out here shooting sometimes one of our men But none of them has ever found the stuff on him Then those raids in his apartment yours. I didn't say that Johnny But stripping down strip his apartment. There's never a sign of it Yet somehow he's not only getting it but storing it then spurting the round up north And somehow I've got to find out what he does with it after he picks it up here where he hides it You'll never know that one I'd want it. No reach for that gun you get this other barrel That wasn't any burk shot at him. That was a slug. I can see that Okay Pick up that handgun it is with your left hand Toss it over here But real careful. Come on do it Let's say toss me his gun or I give you this other barrel It's a matter of you're blind They only use one shot on them. This gun's a double Can't you see that Sure. I wanna do like I tell you You want this other mouth Yes, Warner. I think I do Stay back or you'll get it Stay back stay back clever Warner Clever hiding place when you took the stuff home Back not even the experts could find it there at your cottage back. I'll tell you and out here after birds Only one shot at a time. That's what gave you away. Do you hear me? I'll pull this trigger and let the hammer fall on the barrel full of the white stuff that it's loaded with Why bother Warner good. I'll listen I'll make a deal with you The stuff in this other barrel is worth a lot of dough You want to talk you want to make a deal sure Sorry Warner. I'm afraid the only deal I'll make with you is this All right, Ali you still with us sure Sure, Johnny, but I just caught my arm if you can Carry me back to the car. I take it easy. Take it easy. Yeah, my friend here Comes around as a reward for his cleverness. We'll let him carry you back That one shotgun barrel loaded with heroin Sure, it was only a guess but thank heaven it was the right one You know for a second there. I was afraid he might have a shell in it Expense count total including the trip on back to Hartford call it 760 even And cheap at half the price yours truly Johnny dollar How to tell you about next week's story next week one of the rottenest rackets in the world But a story with a real twist at the end Join us, won't you? You are truly Johnny dollar by Jack Johnstone Produced and directed by Bruno Zorato Jr musical supervision by ethyl huber Johnny dollar is played by mandel kramer Also featured in our cast for santos ortega as charles warner elizabeth laurence has crudy cork benson has filled east today carl frank as al melford and robert driden has beat 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 for a handful of talents newly come upon the show business scene who seem to be headed straight for the big time There's that ukulele player a redheaded fellow named Arthur godfrey Then there's this crew cut chap who calls himself gary moore In hollywood a youngster by the name of art link letter runs a show called house party Also on the coast there are two youthful hopefuls called bing crossby and rosemary cloney They're all here to entertain you on the cbs radio network each monday through friday Let's run down the line up again Arthur godfrey time art link letter's house party the gary moore radio show and the bing crossby rosemary cloney show Weekdays, you'll find them all right here Osby and cloney every weekday on the cbs radio network This is kelly maddox executive secretary of the citizens traffic commission with another safe driving tip As a motorist do you give the proper signals for turns and stops? Always before you slow down Turn change lanes or stop Make sure that other motorists know in advance what you plan to do Use either hand or mechanized turn signals As a precautionary measure use both Give signals distinctly by extending your arm well out of the car window Your hand pointing to the ground means slow or stop Your hand extended straight out means a left turn and your hand pointing upward means a right turn If you use mechanical signals check them often to make sure that they are functioning okay And check your brake or stop lights and if bulbs are burned out replace them immediately The citizens traffic commission reminds you That the best way to tell a good driver from a bad one is to watch if the proper signals are given Be safe signal your intentions at all times