 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 for 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 And signal gasoline as tops to tops in quality It takes extra quality, you know to give you extra mileage and signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly dealer owned signal service stations from Canada to Mexico Now the whistler's strange story whispered verdict She sat at the big shiny table nervous, fighting a closed in feeling that made it hard for her to breathe Sensing always the hundreds of eyes boring into the back of her head The low suspicious whispering from the townsfolk in the spectators gallery And she knew that this time she couldn't shrug it off that the chips were down and she Edith Glenby was on trial for her life The prosecution has established that not only did Edith Glenby have a motive for murdering her husband but also an opportunity Carl Glenby was killed with a knife probably the bone-handled knife missing from the Glenby carvings We are unable to produce that knife for the excellent reason that the murderer realized its importance and took a special pains to get rid of it But the fact remains that Carl Glenby was killed with a knife And you have all heard testimony stating Edith Glenby threatened to kill him in exactly that way No I didn't that's a lie This is Glenby, this sort of thing won't help you Well I don't care you can't say those things I didn't threaten him I didn't When the defendant has regained control of herself we will proceed with the summation But it isn't easy to control yourself Edith with the scales of justice teetering back and forth and your own life and the balance You try and settle down telling yourself your turn will come when Charlie Jackson your lawyer has his say The prosecution has established that Mrs. Glenby quarreled with her husband Yes this woman you see before you stunned with grief miserable at this cruel and unwarranted accusation Is on trial for the murder of her husband simply because she quarreled with him Let the one who can honestly say there has never been a marital squabble in his family cast the first stone or the first ballot for conviction You were smart to retain Charlie Jackson weren't you Edith his young honest face his candid eyes The sincere delivery that's so important now as he sums up to the jury And you were shrewd with Charlie Edith about that last quarrel He knows just what he ought to know nothing more The jury is retired now and you begin to feel confident Managed to appear casual as you glance around at the spectators The people Carl was so proud to introduce you to just a year ago When he brought you to the big white house on Manfred Street as his bride There's Andy the gardener sitting next to the cook a plump middle-aged Irish woman named Kate That Mr. Jackson's a fine lawyer Andy you'll get her off you wait and see Oh I do hope so Kate the poor woman look at her they're so pale and pitiful she is And on the other side of the courtroom John Felden the executor of Carl Glanby's estate muttering something to his wife Agnes I wish I knew what to make of that woman Agnes It's pretty simple to me she married Carl for his money when she found he wouldn't hold still for as she put a knife in him Well I suppose that's for the jury to decide Fortunately though I can make my own decision about the money It seems an age before the door to the jury room open And the 12 most important people in the world take their places in the box Ladies and gentlemen of the jury have you agreed upon a verdict? We have your honor Will you hand it to the clerk please We the jury find the defendant not guilty In the judge's chambers Mr. Glanby you collapsed when the verdict was announced They acquitted me you did it I'm safe I never had a moment's doubt you would be It's really over They can't try me again No No matter what they find out Is there something to find out? No I only meant if somebody should trump up a piece of evidence Like the murder knife I suppose Well maybe You know Mrs. Glanby there's another court higher than the one that just cleared you It's public opinion Sometimes it's where it carries heavier penalties than the one you've just escaped I don't care what people think of me in this town You don't intend to stay here? After the way these yokels have treated me the sooner I can sell the house and clear out the better I like it Under the circumstances I think you're wise What does that mean Jolly? Whatever you want it to mean Mrs. Glanby Good day Well Edith you can tell from the set look on Charlie Jackson's face That now for the first time since you came to him he suspects the truth That the woman he defended so ably was guilty But it doesn't bother you now does it? The things that really count are the real reasons you murdered your husband The big white house The fortune and guilt head securities The insurance policies And you know now that everything will depend on John Felden Carl's executive You're a widow now Edith A wealthy widow The next evening when you arrive at John Felden's home You're hoping he will understand that fact Good evening is your husband in? I'd like to talk to him about Carl's estate Sit down won't you? John Mrs. Glanby is here Be there in a minute Oh thank you Agnes I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to speak to you after the trial Don't apologize I'm rather glad you didn't Why Agnes what do you mean? I'm sorry you may as well know how I feel What do you mean? Well Edith I've lost a great deal of faith in the courts Hey Agnes You can't possibly think I was guilty Not after the jury It isn't only what I think It's what everybody thinks It's all over town Edith If your innocence had been clearly established So many people wouldn't feel that Good evening I only dropped in for a moment John do See how soon you could arrange for the sale of the house You're very prompt Apparently you've lost confidence in the jury system too Perhaps However as executor of Carl's estate I'm forced to treat your late husband's affairs As a matter of sound business Mrs. Glanby I'm aware of that Good Then you're also aware that all of his property All of it including the house Has been left in trust for you A trust not likely to be dissipated That's for me to decide As he's been a pretty area I haven't finished As you know Carl and I had been friends For a great many years At the time of your marriage he drew up a trust agreement Which leaves the administration of his estate Entirely up to my discretion I intend to carry out his instructions to the letter Where does that leave me? I've simply got to have a look There will be a stated amount coming to you On the first of every month Ample for your needs here You still think I killed him I didn't say that The man who killed my husband Is still at large somewhere John He'll be caught sooner or later And you'll be very sorry for what you've said When that happens you'll find me Very ready to apologize Mrs. Glanby To put it bluntly then I don't get the money until you're absolutely... Until I'm completely convinced of your innocence Exactly Very well John I guess the next move is up to me With the prologue of Whispered Verdict The signal oil company brings you Another strange story by The Whistler You regular Whistler fans Have all heard me speak Of the more thorough, more conscientious service Cars get at dealer-owned signal service stations But the really important thing Is what customers say about it That's why we're so happy to receive letters Such as this one I have with me tonight It's from J. Edward Keating of Los Angeles Who writes, the first tank full of signal gasoline I ever tried was at the station Owned by Jerry Holspaster Well it took just that one experience To convince me that signal gasoline Not only deserves its growing popularity But also, that signal dealers are quite different From the usual station managers Mr. Holspaster showed a genuine eagerness to please By giving many little unasked poor services That makes such a big difference in driving pleasure And I found I could place complete confidence In his recommendations Since then, although a change in location Has placed me out of Jerry Holspaster's neighborhood I gladly drive out of my way To get his kind of service Which means I'm a steady signal customer And I like it Well Mr. Keating If Jerry was listening to your very kind words In the Whistler just now I'm sure he was as happy and appreciative As we at Signal Oil Company were When we received your letter It's such commendations from customers That we're constantly receiving Which make signal dealers strive to do An ever better job Of making today's cars run better And last longer Now, back to the Whistler Wait if it's taken a strange turn, hasn't it? You were so sure that the one thing That stood between you And the thing you killed for Was the verdict of the jury But there's another verdict A whispered one voiced in the stores In the churches Wherever the townspeople congregate And you know until you're acquitted In the mind of your husband's executor John Felden Your legacy is out of reach So it's up to you, Edith The next move is yours It's several days later When you finally arrive at the answer And call Kate in one evening Before dinner as you sit At your dressing table Kate! Yes, Mrs. Glenby? Have you seen anything of that gold necklace of mine? The one with the little round locket? Your necklace? I know, Mrs. Glenby. It's gone? Yes. Oh, I'm sure it's been mislaid But there hasn't been anyone in the house Except me and Andy, Mrs. Glenby Not since... Since Mr. Glenby was killed Or perhaps not But there was someone here that night I didn't know anything was missing Since the trouble That is except Mr. Glenby's wallet If that... That man broke into the house to rob He just might have taken along a piece of jewelry As well as the wallet Of course, just possible Too bad you couldn't give the police A better description of the robber You said killed your husband Well, if the light had been on, I might have Oh, goodness I hope I didn't brush it off into a wastebasket or something I think I'd have seen it if you had Unless it was mixed in with some papers or something Tell me, Kate Do you always burn the rubbish out in the incinerator? No Andy usually does that, but I can... Kate, if you don't mind Would you rummage around in the ashes Out there sometime? You know, Justin King It started, isn't it, Edith? Your move to divert their suspicion Yes You know the missing necklace Won't be in with that burned rubbish But Kate might run across something else Something it will turn the pointing fingers In another direction Reverse the whispered verdict Which stands against you You wait patiently until later that afternoon And then... Mrs. Glenby Mrs. Glenby What is it, Kate? Mrs. Glenby I looked out in the incinerator for your necklace You found it! No, I didn't But I did find this What? Oh Little bits of gold and leather Yes Like they put on the corners of gentlemen's wallets Sometimes I don't understand, Kate How could you find them out there unless... I know exactly what you're thinking, ma'am Mr. Glenby's wallet was the same kind of a gold bindin But if it was in our incinerator and... And if Andy usually does the burning I know, ma'am I could scarcely believe it myself I've known Andy for seven years He wouldn't steal anything Why? Why, it's sooner believed he stuck that carbon knife Into poor Mr. Glenby's bag Oh, it's simply unsinkable Kate We mustn't say anything about it I know how unreasonable people can be How unfair I'd hate myself if they started to suspect Andy You're trembling with excitement now Because your plan is working You said just enough to Kate Showed the right amount of surprise Then left her alone with her thoughts You've something else to attend to now, Edith The carving knife buried in the garden The knife you use to kill your husband You slip outside to make certain that it's exactly where you left it So that it'll be ready when you decide the time is right To plant it in Andy's room You move down the gravel path toward the rose hedge And then you stop and stare and disbelieve Here at the very spot where you buried the knife Someone has been digging Oh, Mrs. Glenby Oh, Andy, oh, you gave me such a start I guess you surprised me too, ma'am Not used to seeing you here out in the garden Oh, Mr. Glenby thought so much of these tea roses Goodness, who's been digging around them so? Oh, Goldie, I expect that Collie sometimes forgets Where he's buried some old chunk of bone So he goes hunting for it Oh, but Andy, he shouldn't be rooting up Carl's favorite roses I simply won't permit it Well, I do the best I can to keep them out of them, ma'am Well, you'll have to do more than that, I'm afraid Why, it's a sacrilege Andy, I'm afraid you'll just have to get rid of Goldie Oh, now, ma'am, Mr. Glenby was fond of the dog Well, I don't care, Andy But I don't expect you to put the animal out of the way yourself You can take him to the veterinary Have it done I wish you wouldn't ask that, ma'am I'm almighty fond of that Collie myself And I know Mr. Glenby wouldn't like it You'll do as I say, Andy My mind's made up Here, here's some money for the vet Ma'am, I...a fifty? Ma'am, it won't cost fifty dollars Well, you can have it changed at the bank It's all I have with me now And I want this done right away, Andy This instant I won't have any more digging up of these roses Understand? You leave Andy staring after you and hurt bewilderment And as you walk down the path You're thinking that the carving knife couldn't be in a better place It was only the dog that did the digging And he didn't dig deep The knife will be there when you want it, won't it, Edith? Right now, there's something else to attend to So you hurry across town to the Felden's home Mrs. Glenby Agnes, I must talk to you I need advice I believe my husband has paid a salary to give you But look at this, Agnes Gold and bits of burnt leather I don't understand Where are the corners of Carl's wallet? The one he had when that robber killed him Kate just found it in the ashes of our incinerator Your incinerator? Who could have burned it there? Kate blurted out that it must have been Andy Of course, he's the only one on the place besides Kate and me But I simply cannot believe that... The burnt wallet? Yes If it had been Andy That would account for nobody seeing any strangers near your house that night Do it would, yes But Andy said he wasn't around either Well, we haven't any proof Except these burnt bits of leather Still, I'm so distressed about it, Agnes I wish I knew what to do Kate thinks we ought to notify the police I know she does But until there's something more definite I'd hate to mix poor Andy up in this He's been so faithful and all I know, look, why don't you let me call John at the bank He won't be there now, but I can reach him later Oh, would you ask John? I'm sure he'll know what to do After all, it's to all our interests Yes, yes it is Oh, Edith, I don't quite know how to say it But perhaps John and I have been rather hasty in our judgment But you see... Of course, dear, it doesn't matter All that's important now is that we straighten this thing out I'll be waiting for your call, Agnes At home Yes, Edith You'll be waiting for Agnes to call To tell you John has decided That the only thing to do is notify the police You're certain he'll do that John Felden is such a cautious, practical man And when he does give the word You'll know that it's safe to hide the knife somewhere in Andy's room That Andy won't have time to stumble across it himself Before the police arrive It's late when you return home But Kate tells you no one has telephoned She also tells you something else Faith, and I'm glad you're home, ma'am Seems like things are always coming up when folks are away What is it, Kate? The plumbers, ma'am They were here while you was over to the Felden Plumbers? What for, Kate? I didn't send... Andy sent for them Pipes in the garage are all clogged up Oh, he didn't say anything to me about it I suspect he had something else on his mind Anyway, I didn't want to let them go ahead Digging up the garden where the pipes go Until they'd given you some idea what it would cost Well, I should say not I don't want people all over the place digging everything up Well, that's just what I just said to them, ma'am But you see they... Oh, we'll talk about it later, Kate Yes, ma'am I think that's Mrs. Felden calling Hello? Edith, I just talked to John He's working late at the bank tonight Oh, what does he think we should do? Well, he insists on calling the police right away He wants them to make a search of Andy's things Oh, Agnes, I hate to let them do that They mustn't I'd feel simply terrible if you... But you won't have a single thing to do with it, Edith John is sending the officers entirely on his own responsibility Because... Yeah? Well, Andy came to the bank this afternoon with a very hangdog expression and asked to have a $50 bill changed A $50 bill? That's a lot of money for Andy to be carrying And John wondered if Carl had any 50s in his wallet that night, Agnes, would you remember? No, I wouldn't I carried large amounts of cash from time to time Well, don't you fret about it The police will find out Oh, Agnes, can't we at least wait until Andy comes home It doesn't seem right going into his room Well, if they don't find anything he may not even have to know Edith Now, you leave it all up to John He knows the district attorney personnel I feel terrible about it, Agnes I... I don't want to be here if they arrest him If you don't mind, I'd like to come over and be with you Come right ahead, Edith I understand But I'll leave right away Yes, Edith, you'll leave right away That is, after you take care of one more detail The trap is all set for Andy But now it must be baited That part will be simple, won't it, Edith? All you have to do is get the knife from the spot where you buried it near the rose hedge and hide it in Andy's room John Felden and the district attorney will do the rest They'll fit the parts together You know there won't be any doubt of Andy's guilt as you think of the district attorney's words in the courtroom The murder, because of that fact took his special pains to get rid of it That's all they need, isn't it, Edith? All they need to find the murderer is to find the person with the knife Going out again, ma'am Well, I have to run back to the Felden for a few minutes, Kate Oh Well, let's see Did I drive the car into the garage? I think you did, ma'am Oh, yes. Well, I'll have to get it Oh, and when Andy gets back, Kate Would you ask him to wait here in the house for me? I want to talk to him Well, beg in your pardon, ma'am I don't think Andy'll be back You don't? No But why, Kate? Why don't you think so? Something he said when he went away with Goldie, ma'am The collie dog Something about if there wasn't a place here for the master's dog There wasn't room for his gardener either Oh He said nobody should be too surprised He didn't show up around here again I'd have told you before Only there were other things on my mind Kate, I wish Andy hadn't done that People are so likely to misunderstand his running away We'll know more about it before long Good night, Kate The whistler will return in just a moment with the strange ending to tonight's story Meantime, a word to you drivers who want to be sure you're getting the tops in quality when you buy gasoline Just consider the facts The only way any gasoline can put superior performance into your car is by helping your motor run more efficiently and when your motor runs more efficiently naturally you get better mileage So better quality in gasoline not only means better performance but also better mileage That's why we're so proud of Signal's good mileage and it's why we say to be sure of tops in gasoline quality there are just two things to remember One, it takes extra quality to go farther and two, Signal is the famous go farther gasoline Now, back to the whistler So there were two verdicts in the case of the state versus Edith Glenby weren't there Edith the juries and the public and you're sure now that in a matter of hours the suspicious whisperings around town will become apologies with John Felden the most humble of all Yes Edith, once the all important knife is found in Andy's room over the garage it'll be all over You leave Kate in the house start back for the garage by way of the rose hedge of course and you're wondering Edith if your timing is right hoping John Felden is on his way In ODA, if the gardener killed Glenby we're going to look like a couple of fools still only a theory Felden We might have to do a lot of apologizing to Mrs. Glenby Yes, I admit I could have been more careful with that gardener but if it develops that an apology is in order I certainly be the first one to do it and in public Well, here we are I can't help feeling I've been unjust to her Somehow I don't think Is that you? Come quickly What's the matter? I called you right away, no one answered Then I called a doctor What are you talking about, Katie? Here, here we are, only watch where you step I can't see Well, I have a match What? It's Edith Yes, this is Glenby I told her the plumber's dug a trench out here I guess she didn't pay much attention Well, she's hurt, badly She's dead But what was she doing out here in the garden? Oh look, they are at the V of her dress This is a missing knife The knife from our carving set She must have been holding it when she fell A missing carving knife Then she had it all along No, wait, don't touch it I'd better get in touch with my office And offhand, Felden I'd say we won't have to apologize to anybody Let that whistle be your signal For the Signal Oil Program The Whistler, each Wendy at the same time 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 Featured in tonight's story Was Miss Irene Tedron The Whistler was produced by George W. Allen With story by Stuart Sterling Music by Wilbur Hatch And was transmitted to our troops overseas By the Armed Forces Radio Service This is CBS The Columbia Broadcasting System