 Johnny tell her George Reed here Floyd's of England hi at George Johnny I just received a frantic call for mr. Alvin Peabody Cartwright. Isn't he always what isn't he always frantic? I guess you have a point now. How is that eccentric absent-minded sweet old character? Well frantic you said that but as you know He's one of our most valuable clients. Yeah, because of those nice fat insurance premiums He pays every year exactly so it's important that we never hesitate to serve him when he calls on it So what goes he wants you out on the west coast immediately. Oh, why? Didn't say as usual. You know how he is about these things. Oh, yeah I know the last time he called it was about somebody who was trying to murder him exactly But the time before that it was just to give me a Christmas present. I know okay, George is placing Beverly Hills No, he's up in Santa Barbara at the home of mr. Rockland Rockwell Rockwell also a client of ours Also extremely wealthy. Well, good. Maybe I can drag down a nice big fee on this one also Johnny Yeah, if this thing involves mr. Rockwell rather than Cartwright, I'll believe me. It may be plenty serious. Oh Okay, George. I'll be in touch Yes radio brings you Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Australia Lee Johnny dollar Expense accounts of one of my special investigated Johnny dollar the Floyd's of England North American office Hartford, Connecticut Following is the kind of expenses incurred during my investigation of the too much money matter Expense account item one one seventy one forty for a plane that got me to Los Angeles early the next morning I don't do fifty dollars deposit on a rental car and the driver of the coast of Santa Barbara took me a little under two hours a Gas station attendant who gave me directions to the Rockwell place seemed quite impressed that I was going there I found out why about 20 minutes later after driving up to the top of a high densely wooded hill Yeah, there must have been ten acres all of it beautifully landscaped Broad sweeping lawns and on a wide winding road up to the main house I must have passed at least a dozen gardeners and Tending not only the best lawns with the well-ordered shrubbery and the magnificent trees the myriad flowerbeds as for the house itself Well to call it a castle would almost be an understatement all of it build of native stone with towers turrets and carpets and Purely incidentally, there must have been seven or eight expensive cars parked in the driveway Yeah, I felt almost timid about raising the heavy-r knocker Yeah, real impressive I Knew you wouldn't let me down. Yeah, I got right. You're a good boy Johnny only I expected nothing less than three or four uniform butler's to let me into a joint like this Isn't it a lovely little place you call this little well if rocky rock will ever gives in to me and serves me this house Yeah, or if if anything happens to him. Oh, you think something may Oh, that's a silly question. Why don't you think I'd send all the way to Hartford for you? Oh, this is a terrible situation Johnny. Well, you better tell me all about it Then don't just stand here at the door letting in the flies. Come on inside. No, well. Yeah, sure Johnny I've thought that I've had reason to think that maybe my life might have been in danger down there Oh, I know always. Thanks to you that danger has been removed. But in the case of Rocky here And he's an old friend. Well, Johnny, I honestly don't know what you can do about this This is this whole terrible thing But you will want you I mean you'll do everything you can. Oh worries, Mr. Rock. Oh Oh Brave brave man that he is Rocky is going right ahead with his parties. He's entertaining. Just as nothing was wrong entertaining of home mr. God right Anybody everything Don't you understand Johnny? That's all he does. He gives hunts and balls and parties and entertains people What would you do if you had all his money in this beautiful place and all the time in the world to do it? Well, I don't know. Well, of course you would so right now Rocky and his guests are out riding on a fox hunt You know yikes and tally ho and All the rest of it, you know, oh, yeah. Yeah Just as though everything was all right. Uh-huh. What it is. Oh, no, no, no, it certainly isn't and if this thing is This terrible look at this tragic this This what mr. Cadre? Well, well, you still haven't told me just what you're so worried about What's the matter with you boy? I'm worried about my friend Rocky Rocky Rock. Well, why? Well, oh Well, yeah, oh, yes for the cause but because because he's He's going to be murdered You're You sure that yes, Johnny murdered Two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the too much money matter Mr. Cartwright you'd better tell me exactly what reason you have for thinking mr. Rock. Well, maybe murder. Maybe he will be it Unless you can do something about it. Why? Well, Johnny, I Well, I'd rather he told you about it after he and the rest come back from the fox hunt. Well, look if this is such an emergency Of course it is. Okay, then first first. I want to show you around this lovely little house Ah, you know to see what you think of it in case Rocky does decide to sell it on our way heaven forbid In case something happens to the poor man, but if it's so urgent that I get to work on this case I told you it is did not now come along and I'll show you the house. Mr. Conrad another word Johnny I suppose the description of the Rockwell mansion seems out of place in a report of this kind But it's just too fabulous to pass up with only a word The reception hall where we started was floored with polished marble There was heavy oak furniture in huge gilded mirrors a wrought-iron chandelier on one side a broad oak and staircase led up to the second floor The ribbing the living room the main salon Well, it must have been 80 feet long with a 15 or 16 foot ceiling full length French windows and a tremendous Granite fireplace with a slab of finished oak for a metal piece But thick lush oriental carpet covered almost entire floor And then there was a music room with not only two concert grand pianos, but a full pipe organ The main dining room could have seated at least a hundred people and there was a morning room with walls of patterned silk Instead of wallpaper a couple of private little sitting rooms The library must have held literally thousands of leatherbound books on mahogany shelves that reach from floor to ceiling the den in Addition to a study was paneled in richly green walnut So was the billiard room and the huge basement as for the bedrooms. I mean the five and six room suites on the second floor Well, why go on? We ended up back in the den or maybe it was only one of the den Well Do you like it Johnny? Wow When I was that mean after all I may be able to buy it for only two three million Unless as I said Johnny but why mr. Conrad why do you think he's in danger? Should I know why why should I be bothered with trifles like that? When the when it oh Look look Here they come they're riding gaily over hill and they're returning from the hunt. Oh, Mr. Rockwell's with them Of course, he is so Johnny you stay right here When I look and I'll go out and fetch him to come in and tell you everything. Well, mr. Cartwright a Humanist lady when mr. Cartwright brought him into the den Well Rockland Rockwell was hardly the stately dignified sort of person you'd expect to be the Lord of such a manner and Steady was a gross almost disgustingly fat Florid sort of man who wheezed as though he was about to draw his last breath. I Wondered how he'd survive the rigors of a fox hunt or more to the point How he found a horse powerful enough to carry him over the jumps He clumped into a chair and got right to the point It's as simple as this dollar Years ago over in England. I pulled a real fast one on one of my competitors over there a fellow named Ashley Lord Jacob Hunter Ashley British He did it so clever. Yes, he never knew that I was behind it all you thought that I was still his friend especially when I gave him a Couple of thousand of those British pounds to keep him and his wife and kid from scarving I put him out of business Ruined him dollar it got me all of this you like my place. Oh, it's Impressive. Yeah, that's it is impressive Impress anybody Yes, sir. Yeah, but go on please. Well dollar. I figured I'd been smart enough that nobody would ever know that it was me Trick Ashley, especially when Ashley finally died not even knowing himself But now somehow Ashley's son Marvin been one of those worthless actors Play after all his life and somehow Marvin Ashley has found out How do you know? No, why John? Well, Mr. Conn right? I don't know A few months ago Marvin wrote me from England and said he was coming here and Take bloody revenge for the poverty poverty I Reflected upon his father and family and his exact words dollar exact words He must have been quite a ham Yes, and then a few days ago Telephone called that silly British accent just like his father and yes Marvin Ashley to say that he was here in the states I see and I told him that uh I'm a change man Well, I hope so yes. Yes. I told him that I'd make it up to him and give him anything he wants Told him it's been on my conscience and it has dollar. Yeah, sure But what he told me that he's coming here that he's going to kill me Rocky for what you did I don't blame him. I know Why if I don't know such a thing about you, I know I know But I'm sorry now. I'm sorry. Why because you're scared. I say I'm sorry. Isn't that enough all right? Don't you see don't you see dollar unless you can somehow find him he'll murder me? murder me Yours truly Johnny dollar If I'd known this about you and I thought you'd earned all your money Who are you to talk out? Did you earn yours honestly? Well, of course, I did I inherit on a look look all right dollar right dollar. Maybe I was wrong Maybe Ashley is right in wanting to kill me, but it's your duty Your duty to see that he doesn't whether you like it or not Okay, okay, maybe so at least until I can get the police here and the police and expose me for what I am I mean, I mean I mean for what I once was maybe you were right the first time at a boy Johnny I'm with you. Why Rocky you shut up Alvin Listen dollar Marvin Ashley could even be One of the people here in my home right now. You mean you don't even know all your house. Yes How can I there must be 20 of them 20 or more sure some of them are friends, but some are friends of friends or Friends of friends of friends or I I I entertain people all the time everybody knows it so Anybody comes who wants to all this so you can show if you want all right all right So what if it is how much do you know about young Ashley's looks as bill? Nothing. How does it well he? He could be 35 or 40 by now Well, if he hasn't shown his hand made any attempt to get at you He hasn't yet, then he will and if he's here now you've got to find him Well dollar I'll give it some thoughts. I Didn't like this because I didn't like the man Rockwell, but the job's a job and after all I was on assignment There were nearly 30 people at dinner that evening and Rockwell made a good host Even though he didn't know the names of half of them and he gave no sign that he suspected any of it or did I? No, did I see anyone who looked or sounded English much less like any actor I've ever known? After dinner Rockwell took me aside. Well Well dollar Dollar is he here? Have you spotted him? No, well, but you've got to boy Because the more I think about it the more sure I am that he must be here by now Maybe maybe not so you just got to stay with me all the time every minute. I'll look Mr. Rockwell Gibson Stratton Edwards and Peterson want to play some pool And pull down in the billiard room give some straddle you met them you met them at dinner So we'll play some pool and get better acquainted with them. Well, look, I'm afraid I'm a little Long dollar because don't forget if Ashley is here under some other name He's gonna stay close to me, too Billion room or the four he'd mentioned what we need to play after being Reintroduced to them. I was satisfied none of them was an English actor by the name of Marvin Ashley Needless to say none of them call himself by that name Good shot there Stratton isn't here. That's right. Thanks, Mr. Rockwell Go ahead now and sink that four ball Yeah, it looks like a bank shot. It's the only way Well here goes Too bad Stratton you might have made that with a massive shot and with a what mr. Gibson Massa Massa shot dollars when you you you'll hold the cue up vertical and oh, yes I'll I'll show you one dollar after this game is over Dollar he was yeah Name seems kind of familiar. Oh does it mr. Gibson. Oh, I come on now What are you waiting for see if you can get that poor boy? Mr. Rockwell sure I can Tell me you ever get up San Francisco way dollar well not often mr. Gibson Why are you in business up there? Yeah in a brokerage off Rockwell's one of my account. I thought of even knows it though I had introduced myself like a perfect stranger when I came down here for the weekend I can understand that okay, you know Peterson see how you can do I certainly missed that time. I got the four ball and nothing else Edwards isn't that's right Sam Edwards and your name again dollar you look familiar Edwards Do I haven't I seen your face or picture somewhere? Excuse me. What do you want to get myself another drink? Yeah Oh, but as I was about to say dollar when you come up to San Francisco again look me up I'll show you the town. You know give you the grand tour fine fine Good drive you down the coast to Cliff House perhaps for lunch to where the Cliff House. It's a place to Yes, I I've heard of the right. Come on now dollar. We're waiting for you. Oh, well Maybe I'd look I'd better skip this turn. Oh, no, you don't you you got to see if you can sink the eight Maybe mr. Gibson here would like to get that one out of the way, huh? What you know take your cue and show us how it's done Well, okay, mr. Rockwell You mean like this That's just fine dollar you rip the cover and that's the end of this game. Yeah Yeah, the game is over. It sure is and I I guess I could be corny and say the play is over too The play dollar for mr. Gibson here only that isn't his name Oh What was that dollar well a couple of minutes ago you talked about making a massive shot well Well, only a British your cause of that we call it mess a dollar I'm afraid I don't what I suppose even an actor here might make that slip Yeah, your real slip though Ashley was a naming that restaurant up the coast Hey, are you addressing me as cliff house didn't you are you talking about cliff house this side of Frisco now look Edward's cliff house But you said cliff house didn't you Ashley the way only an Englishman what did you say Ashley again? That's right Marvin Ashley the actor who came here to murder mr. Rockwell Gibson broker from San Francisco, huh? Well, not a bad egg Marvin, but I'm afraid your acting days are all I'm sorry old boy But that's where you are quite That's a gun because I assure you that I am not finished until I kill Have a pooled you Not as rusty as I thought You know something dear old Alvin Pete Kite right furnished a high-powered legal talent that got Ashley off with nothing more than deportation The needless to say copyright is really through with Rockwell as it would be Expense account total ah forget it Alvin Pete handed me a check big enough for three expense accounts yours truly Johnny dollar Jack Johnstone heard in our cast were G Stanley Jones Howard McNeer Chet Stratton Marvin Miller and Sam Edwards Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Johnny dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States armed forces radio and television service