 Let every ghost signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline The signal oil program Bringing you another strange tale by the whistler Tonight the story of a weird game of murder of a threat which brought the deadly answer Not if I kill you first I'm the whistler and I know many things for I walked by night I know many strange tales many secrets 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 But first I'd like to take a moment to tell you about Joe Jagers signal gasoline station in Oakland, California It's busy as a beehive hours before most alarm clocks begin to jingle Joe opens this signal station at the cold gray hour of 445 to get ready for early morning defense workers because as Joe puts it Their jobs are helping win the war and I'm glad to serve them During the day Joe finds time for another unusual service Many service men's families don't have cameras So with his fine speed graphic Joe takes pictures of them for mailing to their men overseas Well, we can't expect all signal dealers to open at 445 and take pictures for service men as Joe Jagger does But every signal dealer has his own way of delivering extra services even these days That's because signal gasoline dealers don't operate just for today With them serving you is their permanent business and will be through years to come They know your car needs even better service today when it must last out the duration and parts are hard to get That's why friendly signal dealers give the thorough conscientious kind of service. You can depend on And that's why more and more drivers are finding out that to make your present car go farther a Mighty good man to know is your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer and now The whistler you probably didn't notice the item in your morning paper It wasn't very prominent just a squib on the sixth page about another jewel robbery $50,000 in sparklers missing from one of the homes out on the hill Not much of a story because there doesn't seem to be any mystery about it as the chief of detectives told the reporters Simple as ABC We knew it was in an inside job because there's no sign of forced entry Whoever did it got in the house with a ordinary house key And not only that but we found a screwdriver under a chair It matched up with the marks on the jewel drawer where he jimmied it open and that screwdriver came out of one of the family cars So we start looking around There's a maid cook chauffeur gardener. We look up their records found out this chauffeur is the next con Serve two terms for burglary And there you are. He wasn't very smart Yes, it was very simple wasn't it officer it makes no difference that the ex-con turn chauffeur Swore he had nothing to do with it Swore to you. He's been trying to go straight No, you're convinced only maybe if you knew what I do officer You might not be so certain if you could see the little room over on 1st Avenue Where young tough Sammy Copeland is waiting for a business partner Pacing the floor peeking out around a drawn blind getting nervous Maybe you'd be interested in the conversation when his business partner arrives Albert easily cheap dapper and proud of it Okay, Sammy relax. I took you along enough where you've been I said relax You're in the big time now you can't just come $50,000 and hot rocks like your point of watch takes a little time some diplomacy You have to sit down and chat with the fence or I'll be sociable here pull up a chair nuts The main thing is did you get it? It's all here right in the briefcase How do you like it? Yeah? Yeah, look at it 50,000 clams 50,000 shows you're an experienced son. There's only 30,000 here 30 What you said those rocks was worth 50 the paper this morning sure sure But you don't think offense will give you the full value on hot rocks. He's taking a risk, too He's got to have some profit we got 30 for him. Oh, yeah, how do I know that? What do you mean? I mean, how do I know you ain't got the other 20 catched out somewhere listen squirt you trust me see That's how you know now relax like I said and be a good boy. You got nothing to worry about as long as you stick with me Now I'll count up your 15,000. I want more than that. I Want 25 what and leave me only five. That's a fine way to treat a partner. I don't care about you I want what's coming to me. You'll get it and no more We split this 50 50. Why should we why should you get half? I did the job. I went in and got the stuff I took all the risk All you did was sit here and wait for me is that so all I did is sit here and wait for you Why are you running nose little brat? Who do you think does your thinking for you? How far do you think you'd get with that stupid brain of yours? I don't need you know How much of this 30,000 do you think you'd have now if it wasn't for me? I'll tell you not one cent who found out about the jewels in the first place me Who case they joined to find out about the chauffeur being an ex-con who swiped his screwdriver the plan on the scene Who figured out every angle to make this one of the neatest jobs ever pulled in this bird? You'd be so stinking hot with the police right now But hadn't meant for me you never even be able to cash rocks in and now don't give me no more this time listen easily I'm sick of you playing a big shot. Maybe you did do all the thinking up to now, but maybe now it's my turn I've taken 25 of that pile and you ain't got nothing to say about it. Why you When you're a little rat you pull a rod on me. Yeah, and I know how to use it big shot now get counting 25 for me Five for you. How do you like that? Is that a way to treat a pal family? I'm no pal yours big shot I can take care of myself. Okay. Okay. It's 25 for you and five for me only if you're so smart Why not take the whole thing? I might do that. Okay, then you That's better I just keep this little rod for suing you turn. Yes, I don't teach you not to play rough without but easily You see sonny you're not as smart as you thought. I'm always just a little bit smarter Now get up and beat it Go on. What about my money? Oh, you're so impulsive. I don't think you better have so much money around loose, honey Maybe I better keep it for you till you grow up a little come around some time when you've learned not to be a double-crossing baby Kill you easily. So help me. I'll kill you. Oh sure. I'm scared to death. You will be before I'm through I promise you okay, okay, we get going before I take you over my knees Yeah, better order your flowers now big shot because I'll get you if it's our last thing I do Okay, go ahead and try it Sammy But just remember who can play that game. I could plug you now if I felt like it But I'll outsmart you at that game too. We'll see about that Just remember easily. I'm gonna kill you not if I kill you first Sammy. Okay fair enough so long easily pleasant dreams Well now a pleasant pair don't you think the kind who make a game of murder and may the best man win Winner gets the 30 G's loser gets six feet of mud in his face But then Albert the big shot isn't worried yet. Maybe he didn't take Sammy seriously at first But then that afternoon something paper allies Read all about it paper Hi, Mr. Easley. Here you are. Thanks, honey. Well, keep it changed. Good night. Gee. Thanks, Mr. Easley Hey Jiminy mr. Easley that was a close one that guy looked like he was almost trying to hit you. Yeah, yes, he wasn't fooling Thanks, honey for yelling at me. Guess I'll have to be more careful crossing streets after this Now you realize this is a pretty deadly game. You're playing don't you Albert? You know, it's just possible this kid Sammy might outsmart you he might get you He may get sent up for it, but he'll stalk you through the streets like an animal until he gets his chance Yes, maybe you better figure something out Albert do a little thinking about it. Talk it over with somebody Dolores, maybe she can keep your secrets, okay? As long as you're spending the heavy sugar on her sure Talk it over I'm not worried. You understand. Yeah, I can see that I'm not a common gunman. I live by my brain Oh, but stop pacing up and down you're getting yourself all upset Besides, it's four in the morning and I have to go home upset. Well, who wouldn't be upset everywhere? I go the guys on my tail. I can't go out in the street. Yes, I've been waiting a doorway go to my favorite restaurant I see him sitting there through the window waiting for me. He's everywhere. You're afraid of him. Aren't you afraid? No, I'm not afraid of him. Okay, so you're not afraid of him Why not let me go get some tickets to Miami. You need the rest. No, I'm staying here And get this straight. I'm not afraid of him Maybe he's out to get me. So why he's not smart enough? Look at that car trick. That's stupid He's not gonna get me with tricks like that. I've got nothing to worry about. Okay. Now. How about taking me home? Too late. I need some sleep. You'll take my car keys are there on the table Okay, sir Lancelot, but don't forget you're no safer right here than you would be taking me home Okay Okay, sugar. I'm just kidding Don't suppose you can spare the time to see me to your penthouse door. You know the way. That's what I thought well My mother told me there'd be nights like this Anyway, wait a minute What is it now shut up? You hear anything here anything now? What? I don't know Just noise. No, he's hearing things shut up There Yeah, I did hear something What was it how should I know but there's somebody up here on the roof outside my apartment, maybe it's only the wind I'll win listen Yeah, there's somebody walking around out there turn out that light hurry Quiet don't move sugar. I see it a shadow on the window. He's at the door. He's trying to open it. I'll get him All right, put up your hands. Oh, please. Please don't shoot. Don't shoot. It's me O'Brien the night janitor O'Brien. Yes Turn on the lights to Laura's. Oh, yes, it's me mr. Easley. Oh for the love of heaven don't shoot Ryan What are you doing up here? Well, somebody left the skylight open and they come up to show today I saw a light here and then it went off and I just thought I'd better try your door to see nobody get in I I didn't mean to frighten you mister. It's all right. Oh Brian. It's all right. Go on forget about it It's a little something for your truck. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Oh Brian the janitor You see we've been worried about shadow. Well, maybe you can laugh, but I've got the jitters good Okay, you know where to find I'm going to bed. Oh, Brian Sammy's not smart enough to try to get me here in the apartment. Hey, don't you want to join me in a drink? No, no, I just bedroom is the last stop for me tonight. I Think I'm gonna get the best night sleep. I've had in a long time. You know the lorry's a bit down there for Well, the bed what is it a knife? big enough to spit a skull Hi What's it doing sticking in your bed? It was thrown there probably through that window somebody who thought I'd be there sleep That's why the skylight was open. He came up here. Yeah There's no imagining this Sammy wasn't kidding. He wasn't kidding. He's out to get me Yeah And you're not afraid Are you sugar? You are listening to the signal oil program Let every go signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline Now you know don't you out? There's no telling yourself. It might not have been Sammy You know now that he does mean to kill you unless you can kill him first And now you've got to think think hard to figure out a way to out with him You won't have much time Maybe his next attempt will be more successful and it might come any time Anytime Who's there? Okay, not this place closed up tighter in a jail Why not open a few windows it's stuffy. Never mind. I like it this way. Okay, but in broad day I said I like it this way. Okay. Don't snap at me Brought your paper figured you wouldn't want to walk down the corner for it. Thanks. I Was down at the station today price two tickets to Miami. We can get reservations Thursday I said I wasn't going anyway. Okay. No harm in just pricing tickets. Is there bring cigarettes? Yeah. Oh While I was down there in the district around the station a very funny thing happened I Thought I saw you very funny. You know I've been here all day. I know I know but that's why it's so funny This guy looked exactly like you. Huh? He fooled even me. I Walked right up to him and said well sugar. What are you doing down here? And then I see by the way he looks at me. It wasn't you at all some other guy You got a double running around town very funny think what a mistake a girl could make in a situation like that Hey, wait a minute. You're not exaggerating. Don't worry. You mean this guy really could have been me fooled you completely When right up to him and spoke to him. I Don't know what he could have thought of me, but I nearly slapped his face for the look he gave me Yeah, yeah, yeah, that gives me a night waste the idea. I've been waiting for it's made to order What do you mean? Well, don't you get it? I got a double. There's two Albert easily Well, that's what I've been telling you sugar only his name isn't Albert easily. It's Parker Okay, I heard the food man on the corner say good afternoon. Mr. Parker to him when he went by Oh darling, it's perfect a perfect alibi. I don't get it. Oh never mind now say where did you see him down on? 14th Street near the station and he seemed to be known around there. Well, the fruit man said Okay, okay, baby. Take it easy. I'll be back sometime this afternoon. Where are you going down to 14th Street to look up An alibi Now this is more like it Albert now you've got an idea That brain of yours is going full tilt and you've got a feeling you're just about to outsmart Sammy, but good You're down on 14th Street passing the fruit stand when Hello there, mr. Parker, can I sell you some nice fruit today? Thank you for we got some nice apples They're kind of you like I I thought you called me mr. Parker. Why should what else should I call you? Well, my name's not Parker Say wait a minute You are not the mr. Parker are you now you talk her like him a little older Maybe and you sure look like him a dead ring. Well, you suit is a different you mean I've got a double around. Well, you sure I have a mr. Bill Parker He lives right down the street there and Mrs. Humphrey's a boarding house You sure you enter his twin brother. I'm afraid now you see I haven't got a brother But you know, I'd certainly like to see this guy. You suppose he's home now. No, I'm a pretty sure he's a nut He always goes down to the theater district in the afternoon. He's an actor between the Engagements you might to say. Oh, I see. Well, thanks a lot. Maybe I look up this bill Parker I'd like to see a guy who looks just like me Yes, you look him up all right Albert you hang around the street all day watching for him Finally he comes home and you get a good look at him from across the street But it's not enough you're there the next day when he goes out and again when he comes back and the next day You notice everything about him. It's easy to find out how he talks Just questioned some of the people along the street people who are surprised that you're not Parker Then to make doubly sure you take the final step try it once Just for a minute as Humphrey's I forgot something run up to my room for a second. Well here you're forgetting your key What? Oh, yes, I forgot I left it with you. Mr. Parker. You always leave it with me. Oh, yeah, so I do Did you get to see mr. Silver the producer? No, not yet. Oh dear. I do hope you'll see you I know how much you're counting on that part, mr. Parker, and we're all pulling for you Sure, and I need a candle for you this morning. Thank you, Mrs. Humphrey So it's sure to happen today, and you won't forget dinner tonight. We're going to have potteros Mrs. Humphrey's I know but it's about it. You've got to get some meat on your bones one hot meal a week isn't too much We'll be expecting you at six now, Mr. Parker. All right It's a cinch a Sincere even his landlady who sees him every day didn't suspect you weren't Parker a few minutes in his room And now you're ready. You get to Laura's and give her the setup Bound to work. It's beautiful a perfect alibi Sammy's going to be a charlie's club tonight. I plug him on the data eight and at exactly the same time Albert easily walks into the hotel Commodore five miles away only it isn't Albert easily. That's right. It's Bill Parker. Well, no much. You'll know that Hey one thing How do you get Parker to show up at the hotel Commodore on the dot of eight? That's where you fit in baby See this park is an actor trying to get apart from a mr. Silver's his only chance He's been starving to death. Okay, you get on a phone call Mrs. Humphries Tell her to have Parker at the hotel Commodore on the dot of eight to see mr. Silver in his room about the part in his new Play your silver secretary, but don't worry about Parker. He'll show up. Okay, I'm trying to see silver for a week But what happens when he shows up there and there's no mr. Silver Well, he just figures somebody made a mistake maybe try some other hotels But the desk like will remember what he looks like and when he came in He'll identify me when the cops ask him and Parker will never with me Sounds pretty good. It's foolproof. I thought of every angle I even went through his closet and and bought suits that looks just like here I'll have him in my wardrobe. So one of them will check with Parker's description at the hotel Baby, I figured everything out. Nothing can go wrong. Yeah, maybe you're smarter than I thought Smarter than Sammy thought and all I got to do is call this guy on the phone That's all then tonight a few minutes before eight you take my car pocket in a red zone in front of the Commodore and get out quick without anybody Seeing a red zone, but you'll get a ticket Oh dear That's just the idea at eight o'clock the cop on the corner makes his last check up on parked cars I checked up on that after I plug Sammy I raced up on in a cab pick up the car have a traffic ticket in my pocket They did eight o'clock in front of the Commodore. Just another piece of my alibi. That's pretty clever Sure, that's what I've been telling you, but easily is a smart guy a very smart guy Yes, you're a smart guy all right, Albert. It's all figured out Dolores makes the call Parker will be there She drops you down near Charlie's Club and goes on to park the car you sneak in the back way up the hall The door is a jar there Sammy sitting there half-facing you he's grinning about something looking satisfied You'll soon fix that Yes, you wipe the grin off his face and nobody saw you you're out the back way before anybody has the sense to look for you Into a cab hurrying uptown to the Commodore Yes, there's your car and even before you get to it. You can see the traffic ticket fluttering from the windshield Everything's okay. It's perfect Yes, perfect You're home now you're dressing down the traffic ticket on the table the suits that look like Parkers Hanging in the closet. You're just waiting for the cops and you don't have long to wait You Albert easily. Yeah Now from headquarters. Oh, come in Like to ask you a few questions. Okay, go ahead Now where were you tonight around eight eight to why I don't know yet Yes, it must have been just about eight when I stopped in the Commodore to see a friend What was his name? Mr. Silver. Well, you know funny thing. He wasn't registered there. I've been missing farm You can prove that of course Yes, I thoughtlessly parked in a red zone outside the hotel and got a ticket. There it is on the table See This proves your car was there. What about you? Well, the desk will remember me I suppose Well, we'll see about that in the meantime you'd better come along with me easily Once you say checks, you'll probably be okay. If not, you might be held on suspicion of murder So far so good just what you expected wasn't it Albert the detective takes a look at your suits before you go Questions you as to what you had on you can't remember one of those in there So no matter what Parker was wearing it'll check Then down at headquarters you parry all the questions and insist that the desk clerk be brought in to identify you finally he is Okay Now this is mr. Arnold the clerk who was on duty at the Hotel Commodore at eight o'clock this evening Now do you recognize this man mr. Arnold? No, I I never saw him before well Don't you remember I came in and asked you for mr. Silver tonight at eight Nobody resembling you came in tonight and asked for mr. Silver. I'm sure I'd remember that but no one did No, you You must be mistaken. No, I'm sure I'm not I've never seen this man or anyone who looks like him In a moment the whistler will be back to tell you what really happened to the perfect alibi Meantime, I'd like to pass along some facts. I just found out on the battery situation Did you know that last winter so many batteries needed replacing the demand for new batteries actually exceeded the supply by 25%? Yes, and this year the demand is likely to be even greater All cars are a year older and ration driving is tough on batteries What's more with our motorized armies advancing at full speed the military's demand for batteries Will reach an all-time high Now I'm no crystal-gazer, so I can't predict whether this winter supply of batteries will be enough to go around But I do know that your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer has just received a fresh stock of top quality batteries Built to signals rigid specifications for a longer service Batteries so fine. They're fully guaranteed up to two years In my way of thinking that makes right now the time to have your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer inspect your battery Then if you need a new one, you can be sure of getting one of those guaranteed quality signal deluxe batteries and now back to the whistler and So Albert easily wasn't as smart as he thought he was The perfect alibi blew up somehow and now he's going to stand trial for the murder of Sammy Copeland Sitting in his cell going over every detail. He can't figure out what happened. What could have gone wrong? He has only one satisfaction now. At least he outsmarted Sammy. He got Sammy before the kid could get him or Did he? You see Albert, that's the part you don't know about That's why your alibi failed you because Sammy did get you first When you shot him at eight o'clock you interrupted his celebration of your death Yours Albert only it wasn't yours at all The police might have told you that they found the body of a man that night a man who looked enough like you to have been your twin brother His name was Parker Bill Parker and your mistake was in not realizing that if you accidentally ran across him Sammy might too Only Sammy didn't look too closely. He simply unloaded that rod of his and that's why your alibi didn't show up Yes, you were pretty smart Albert, but sometimes the smart ones have to pay off too and Sammy got you after all The signal oil program will bring you another strange tale by the whistler The signal oil program is broadcast for your entertainment by the signal oil company marketers of signals famous go farther gasoline and motor oil and By your neighborhood signal oil dealer who is at your service daily to keep your car running for the duration The signal oil program Directed by George W. Allen with story by John Everett Hudson and music by Wilbur Hatch Is transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service Bill Panel speaking for your friend the signal oil company and Suggesting once again that you let every gold signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system