 From Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny dollar you smell smoke Johnny. What do you think? Who is that? This is Henry Willoughby at Four State Mutual Insurance. Oh, hi Hank. I asked if you smell smoke. Should I what kind? The guy in $5,000 makes when it goes up in flames. Where? Over in Cranford the palace junkyard junkyard. That's right But if there's only the $5,000 laws, how can you afford me because what I smell is arson In the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator is truly Johnny dollar And now act one of yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the four state mutual insurance company Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the peerless fire matter Expense account item one a dollar even cab to Hank Willoughby's office in the security national building Or he lost no time and getting to the point policy was taken up by one Oscar H. Lehman about four years ago He's the owner of the junkyard address of the yard his corner of Howard and Kingsway Boulevard And why do you suspect arson? I'll try it in start until about four o'clock this morning when I got hit of the office a few minutes after nine The claim was already on my desk almost as though he'd had it filled out and waiting even before the fire occurred Precisely, how much do you know about this man like nothing really outside of the data on the policy his home address is 232 East 4th Street also in Cranford. Yeah, okay, Hank. I'll see what I can see Item to 40 cents phone call to make sure the suspect or at this point I guess I better call him the client to make sure he be around for question Oscar Lehman, Mr. Lehman, this is Johnny dollar representing your insurance company Well, you see there are a couple of things that's all right I'm free 120 for a train ticket to Cranford item for $2 for an old rattletrap taxi when I got there Cranford is a new town or rather a new one built on what was left of the old When the big clock company folded up at the end of World War two Cranford kind of fell to pieces What situated as it was just a few miles above the busy city of new Haven A bunch of smart new york operators that stepped in and were busy making a nice modern residential community out of it New stores new homes and all the fixtures. You see then uh block up there ahead Had a big fire there this a big junkyard. Yeah, I see man. It was really hot I thought it was going to take the three houses there on Howard street along with it You know flying embers and they heat and all but the wind swung around they didn't even get touched Yeah, well, uh pull up with you. I want to look it over. Okay. Let's see you the boss Hey, you want me to keep the meter running? No, I'll leave you here But it would have been a buck and a half to where you first wanted to go. Okay. There you are I hate to see that junkyard gone. Oh, why? Oh, that's why I've been buying my parts to keep us all great tied together You know something it looks Now that palace is gone. I'll probably either have to get a new cab or either try and fix this one upright You know and that's what's dope. Yeah. Well happy fixing now like I say though out of something bad always comes something good Sure, and I not only mean my taxing mister, but them houses there too Well, what about that? They're on Howard street They've been beeping their heads off ever since the yard got its license So now no more junkyard now the whole place could be residential like it ought to like I always say out of something bad Always something good. Yeah. Yeah, I gotta get going. You know something Maybe that fire gives me a good idea like uh, maybe I should burn up this whole wreck of mine and the insurance company It'll have to show me a no and hey, how about that? Maybe you'd better be careful who you say that to Oh, sure, especially not to an insurance investigator. Now, don't you worry, but I'm too smart You you that's right He Saw a happy day In spite of the valiant efforts of fire chief Dale Marley and his crew the peerless junkyard was just that junk And he agreed with the cam driver the other property owners were probably glad to see the eyes are go up and playing Well, if you wouldn't like it either dollar having a place like that in your front yard And just take a look at those folks standing around you see what I mean. Yeah, I must admit they don't look very unhappy about it So the fire started in the shed that stood right here. That's right. Yeah The big shed that peerless used to store a lot of old furniture and stuff like that Hey, peter hit that car over there with some more foam Yeah, I'm probably runs a grocery store on the catty corner and sleeps upstairs over That is all came up went off with a boom like a like a small explosion Have you considered the possibility of arson chief? Yeah, I have that's why I called new haven I asked him to send up a couple of men from their spatial squad, but you found no trace Nothing I could put my finger on you got any ideas Yeah Yeah, I think maybe I have I learned a long time ago that a lumberyard or furniture factory were about the worst places in the world to look for signs of arson The wood goes up so hot and so fast And the remains of the shed wouldn't be much better So I walked over to the little grocery store and spent item five 21 cents for a loaf of white bread And I rejoined cheap marley at the wrong The next person come up Hey, hey, what's the matter dollar to get the eat breakfast? Oh something like that Hey, you want a chunk? Not without strawberry jam and a cup of coffee Hey herb take it easy over there Stopping around like that. You wipe out all the clues Like I told you dollar the fire started somewhere right around the cheer And the quick shift in the wind moved it over that way Oh, jeez. Yeah Here chew a piece of this fresh bread. Why that's right. Chew it get the taste of it in your mouth What for what do you please here? Well, you got an idea, sir. You bet I have here you You ain't chewing on a huck of bread is going he's going to what that's what what is this a gag or Something no not by a long shot Now watch Well, don't throw it away Now you got my appetite up. I'll have some more Here now chew on this piece. Well, I'm after you dropped it in the ashes. That's right. Chew on it. Oh, no, go ahead. Do it. I'm serious Holy Kerosene that's right. Well, I'll be dog gone. Yeah, fresh bread will pick up even the slightest trace even after the fire even after a fire That means kerosene was brought in and poured over the floor of this furniture shed to set it off And dollar I'm going to get into police and have them lock up old Oscar layman So none I'll wait what for until I can talk to him. Well now look you look This isn't any absolute proof of arson. Oh, it's good enough for me. It's good enough for a suspicion chart I'll tell the police what I found out to who found out Well, what I found out. I don't forget that But if it puts us on the trail of an arsonist, if you like you can take the credit for it only if you'll cooperate Yeah, but otherwise you'll lose any cooperation for me Okay Item 680 cents carved to the address on east 4th street where oscar layman lived Like the hollard street address. This was a has been section Layman's home reminded me of some of those on the other side of the town next to the junkyard When the old character let me in I wasted no time in getting to the point You ask why I should be staying here in my home instead of at the yard And I'm asking you why not what good can I do over there? My lovely junkyard is gone Nothing I can do. So I'm waiting here to collect the money your company owes me. So are you going to pay me or not? Well, now that depends As I started to say I tell you I didn't even know about the fire till I went down there to open up the gate and start the day What time did you go down there, mr. Layman? There were no clock like always Well, you shouldn't waste any time getting your claim into the office in harford, did you? Of course not so soon as I see what happened I sign up the claim and take it to harford and the office is closed. So I leave it under the door Yeah, well what else could I do sit around and wait to think about it while the money is coming to me It's my money. So I should have it. You know how much merchandise I have in that yard 20 25 000 dollars Retail, yeah, then why'd you burn it up? You think I'm crazy. I should do something don't you understand now. I'm out of business for god What do you mean my my license for the yard on condition, you know a conditional license Yeah, that's right. If I'm not in business every day. I lose the license I lose the lease on the land and then they they make houses little stores a big development company So, yeah, crazy to come and talk to me. Tell me I should say it's fine Maybe I've suddenly changed my mind. Mr. Layman Maybe I've already met the arsonist. Huh, and I was just too blind to see it Johnny dollar in a moment Our flag now numbers 50 stars And behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one of the 50 states Missouri state flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, white and blue In the center is a circular device bearing the state coat of arms An eagle symbolizing the superior authority of the nation A grizzly bear representing Missouri chosen for his size strength and valor And a crescent moon symbolic of a shield carried by the second sun Missouri being the second state carved out of the louisiana territory A belt encircles the coat of arms with a motto inscribed United we stand divided we fall Atop the flag is a cluster of stars representing the union With a larger star for Missouri as she surmounts her difficulties and assumes her rank among the states The state motto is also inscribed on the flag Salos populi suprema lex esto The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law Surrounding the device is a group of 24 stars Missouri state flag a flag of the 24th state to enter the union was adopted on march 22nd 1913 And now act two of yours truly johnny dollar and the peerless fire matters Something the camp driver had said while taking me to the scene of the junkyard fire had suddenly come back to me He'd been talking about the nearby property owners homeowners They've been beefing their head off ever since the yard got its license. So now no more junkyard now the whole place can be Residential like a daughter. Yeah, like I always say out of something bad always Item 785 cents another taxi back to the scene of the fire The men from the department were still busy cleaning up the chief deal molly had been busy with some detective work Had some answers that seemed to make good sense. Okay, dolly. You see this hardware See this groove in the foundation wall. Yeah Big sliding door, huh? That's right. And here The lock was still in the half Yeah, I see it's hardly likely somebody tried to pull a big sliding door closed and lock it after starting a fire with kerosene Too dangerous unless you use the wick of some kind. Yeah, yeah But look here on the side that face towered street street. I just call this an alley. Yeah, I'm pretty narrow from the old days Now look here Well, it's window glass right Yeah, there was a window here. You see Here's there's the two parts of the catch from the catch was open And what the question is was it open from the inside or outside and I think I've got the answer Look across the street So those homes and the little lawns and gardens in front of them So what you see the rocks they all used to border their flower beds Uh, go on chief. Yeah, look here just inside the shed where the window was I found this rock under the ashes And dolly it looks to me like somebody threw that rock through the glass opened the catch climbed in Spread the kerosene climbed out tossed in a light of some kind and left in a hurry Yeah, but who that's just it. You got a better idea than old man layman. You talk to him Yeah, I think I have like who I'll let you know when I find out the name. Well now wait a minute dolly I hope that last crack would keep chief marley from sending the police after oscar layman Maybe he was guilty of firing his own junkyard But with only 5 000 insurance, it didn't make sense And I had a couple of better ideas at least about people who might have had reason to do it Three is a matter of fact Four there were three residences on howard street facing what remained of the junkyard Thanks to the sudden shift of wind. They'd receive little damage I walked down the short length of howard street to the first old house The name howard mcneill was on the little metal mailbox Yes, well, what is it mr. McNeil? I'm johnny dollar insurance investigator looking into this junkyard fire This is a fine time to come around selling insurance after the fire is out. You should know better young No, you misunderstood me. I'm telling you know what would have happened if that wind hadn't changed It would have set this whole block on fire. That's what it would have done would have burned us all out We'd have been helpless. Yes, mr. McNeil that poor widow lady is coming down there in the third house right across from the shed Where the whole thing started mr. McNeil Yes, I'm not here to sell insurance. I'm investigating the fire understand Well, don't What's that? You can stop right now. Just leave things as they be Don't you know that fire was a blessing? I'm not quite sure I said blessing that fire was the finest thing that's happened around here in years Oh, you like it's having happened, huh? I mean just bet I do The only way we get ever get rid of that awful pile of junk right in our front yards Now maybe they'll give us back our nice little park that used to sit there or build a lot of track houses Yeah, all right. What do they do anything is better than that richy junkyard? I've hated it Everybody's hated it. I hated it Enough to set it on fire. Yes, sir. He absolutely Oh Well A quiet peace loving person like me. Oh, no, why I wouldn't even think of such a thing Especially since that fire might have got out of control and earned me out. Well, you carry insurance, of course I do not I don't believe in it. No, so don't you try to tell me I told you I'm an investigator Well, why don't you ask that? Not say if he had insurance not say that Oscar layman that owned that dirty junkyard Why do you call him that? Well, he's a german, isn't he? Well, it doesn't make him a nazi Well, it does to me Anybody who'd whangle a license to put up a filthy place like that on our beautiful street, especially if he's a german Well, to me he's a nazi of the worst kind the worst kind the very worst time Think she's a ladies man too. All right now. Have you any idea who besides you would have liked to see that place burned up? I certainly have Why don't you ask the police? They were here at dawn asking us all questions You said asking us all of course I mentioned the widow of Cummings that lived in the third house and Then there's mr. Virtue mariana satia Conroy and the nice spinster lady who lives next door in the tail Very charming lady in this Conroy. Yeah. Well, now what you want what spirit she has not that's the way I like them Ladies with spirit and do you know something one of these days? I'm going to ask her for a date in Inside of the competition You never have no no, sir. No, no, I'm I'm not the bold type like some people I know that I I've been working up to it And how long have you been a neighbor is 16 years and you mark my word one of these days I'm going to mark her right up on her front porch and miss Conroy. I'm going to say yeah Well, thank you very much. Yes, but I was going to tell you That's something you know Miss Conroy, that's right. And don't you see this sign beside the door no peddlers no Felicitations, so be gone with you. I'm busy cleaning this small cut of your house for that half of the fire this morning Well, that's what I'm calling about man that fire. I'm an insurance investigator Investigator Well now just If you're an investigator young man, let me see your badge. That's right If you're an investigator, you're a detective and if you're one of them You're with the police. No, no, no, no, you are you can go right back and tell your chief I've had me feel right up to here with answering food questions about that fire as if I miss out did it, huh? What did you for years now? It's connived and connipted. How to get that terrible dirty Junction out of this neighborhood And now poor soul. He's lost it. Oh, I could cry me eyes out You what? Oh, such a lovely old man. He is when I finally met him that dear mr. Lehman Oh, the horrible things that Hitler done to him before he escaped him not sees that took over his final country And when he got here, he put all his savings in that lovely second hand lot so he could earn an honest living I'm afraid I don't understand. Such a fine man. Such a gentleman The way he'd click his heels and bow when he come and call in on sunday after no Wait a minute, Miss Conroy. I don't get it a couple of minutes ago. You sounded as though you hated that junkyard second hand lot And so I did until I got to know that nice mr. Lehman And I'll tell you this in spite and despite the fact they won't ever let him set up on the same kind of business again If it takes every single day, I'll see that he gets started in something else. Well, I'll be Investigators are insurance And I suppose I can tell you confidential that I've sent me cap for dear asker You mean you hope to marry him? I and that I waited before him through But I got the impression that your neighbor mr. McNeese. Oh, that's crazy old stick and I'm at that old boot But if you're from the insurance company, how can I help you lad with your Investigation thing. Well, you can't tell me this Was your friend mr. Lehman in need of money particularly? Well, no His business has been good. He drives a nice car and keeps a nice home But like I said, if he needs more than he's got to get started again, I'd be the first to help him Besides it will sort of help to bring us closer together if I'm worrying about him a bit. No, won't I? Yes, I guess it will I just want to know wait a minute wait a minute. Yeah, it's so blind. I was thinking of me darlin asker So that's what you were up to with your nasty questions Implication that he might have burned up his place by his own self to get the insurance money Is that what your evil filthy mind was thinking of I didn't say that that's what you meant now, isn't it? No, no after all somebody set that fire And if he was in need of money just because I told the poor soul to get his claim in real quick this march You told him of course I did Give him something to do besides standing around the ruins crying his poor old eyes out keeping his sorrows to himself But I'll soon put a stop to that I'll cook him up a real nice mess of cornmeat and cabbage a german style that is and take it over for his supper to comfort and keep him company And what will you be doing for the poor soul? Well, that depends. Oh it depends does it? Well, you and that insurance company better pay up what you owe them instead of making snide talk about maybe he himself set that fire in his Oh, get out go on get out. Why should I be wasting my time talking to the likes of you when I've got cooking to do for me? Oh brother This was turning out to be the most offbeat insurance matter I ever handled Well, there was only one suspect left the woman living in the third house opposite the shed where the fire had started The widow Cummings mcneill had called her I went up on the porch rang the doorbell And again After the third time I was about to decide no one was home when the door slowly opened And just inside the door in a wheelchair Said a little old lady pale gray haired Her face reflected years of pain of worry I've been waiting for you to come mr. Darla So you know who I am I overheard you at my window when you talked to mr. McNeil and miss comroy Listening to the neighborhood is the only thing I have left these days tied down as I am to this wheelchair Yes, I see I'm sorry Come in and sit down, please Thanks There's a No one to take care of you here Only Rudolph Who does as little as he dares? And you must take him away mr. Darla Rudolph My stepson Who keeps me here waits for me to die What? Not even a rest home where I'd have care and friends but here to die He'd help me die too if he dared because of the money What money mrs. Cummings At my husband left me A lot mr. Darla and this Rudolph wants to get his hands on it That's all he wants That's why he wants me dead But he hasn't they had killed me because everybody knows that we're alone here together And if I should die from his neglect they'd know he didn't But he's smart That's why he thought of the fire She what? He thought that it would burn down this house too and trap me here. Mrs. Cummings. Do you know what you're saying? Divine Providence The changing wind kept the fire away. He set that fire to burn this house and you? He's clever He made it known that he'd be away all night that he wouldn't be back here until he finished his work at the plant in New Haven But he came back mr. Darla This morning before dawn I heard him here in this house And from this window I could see him in the moonlight Mrs. Cummings. No, I must tell you Quickly because he'll be coming back from work His work to keep up appearances to keep them from suspecting and gambling The terrible people he goes out with at night Gangsters that's all And I must tell you Because if I don't Listen to me almost I saw him Take a camp the kerosene we keep in the cellar when the electricity goes out He took it across the street. He broke the window of the shed and went in Then he came out. He threw a piece of burning waste back in Then ran Mrs. Cummings. Are you sure? I lied to the police I couldn't make myself tell them After all these years of knowing what he's been and saying nothing Well, I thought I'd wait for him Maybe when he saw his evil plan to fail that I was still here Maybe I could make him give himself up, but in my heart I knew he wouldn't Because he's bad All bad, this is Cummings. I'm glad you told me God forgive me But I knew I knew that if I didn't he'd find some other way He must take him away, mr. Dollar Before he does murder Expense account out of eight ten dollars board and roll I've stayed an extra day in cranford to clear things up Well, while I waited for Rudolph to return I found the kerosene dam he'd used down in the cellar Chief Marley found the top from it in the ashes The police have since found only his prints on it Rudolph was in the city jail And I'm sure mrs. Cummings will testify against him after all her life is at stake Oscar layman His claim will be paid in full Well, I hope he and miss conroy live happily ever after Expense account total including incidentals on the way back to heartford 14 dollars 46 cents yours truly Johnny dollar Now here's our star to tell you about next week's story next week Exploration in the highest sierra country of california And at the end of the trail lies death Join us won't you yours truly Johnny dollar originates in hollywood It is produced and directed by jack johnstone who also wrote tonight's story Heard in our cast were virginia greg peggie weber john stevensson Herb by grin hunts conrayed forest louis and parley bear Musical supervision is by americo marino Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly johnny dollar Is dan coverley speaking?