 Johnny Dollar. This is Harrison Hadley in Buffalo, New York. Hadley. That's right. I'm the local agent for Master's Insurance and Trust. Oh, of course, Mr. Hadley. It's been some time since I've had to call on you. Well, what seems to be your problem, sir? Fire. Fire. Well, actually, fires, Mr. Dollar. Two of them. Go on. One of them is still fighting it. And you suspect Arson. I sure do. I certainly can. Go ahead. Mr. Hadley. Yes? How much insurance have you written on those fires? Okay. So for both of them, it means about $400,000. Fine. Then you can afford it. All right. My expense account. Oh, well, of course we can. I mean, for two. You will when I see you. The radio brings you Bob Reddick in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense accounts submitted by a special investigator, Johnny Dollar, to the Master's Insurance and Trust Company, Buffalo Office. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the wayward fireman matter. A lot of people have the mistaken idea that a lot of the crimes that are solved are solved by a lot of clever, mysterious Sherlock Holmes type of deduction, or by the equally mysterious and super scientific razzmatazz that goes on within the confines of some of our fabulous modern crime laboratories. All right, some of them are. But most of the crimes I deal with are solved by nothing more than a lot of work and a lot of sweat, and above all, information. Now that means stoolies, informers, other criminals. Well, listen, and you'll see what I mean. Expense account item one, $14.25 for telephone calls to locate and contact my old friend Smokey Sullivan, who's now playing it straight after a long career in the underworld, who is best known by the police throughout this country for his work as, yeah, you guessed it, for his work as an arsonist. Oh, that's fine, Smokey, because you're close to the police. Well, I'm glad I caught you, Smokey. You know what my new job is now, Johnny? The important thing is you're only a stone's throw from Buffalo. I'm, uh, I'm working for the city. And if you have a couple of days off, What are you going to follow? Well, what I'd like you to do, Smokey. Oh, what did you say? Uh... But a good one. I'm glad you're staying on our side of the law. And you know something, Smokey. No, what? With you on the job against them, I don't blame them. But now you say you have a couple of days off. Oh, yeah. Well, then take a plane or a train or whatever you can get over to Buffalo. Buffalo? That's right. There'll be a room in my name at the Stadler Hotel for the two of us. Go there and wait for me, and I'll be along as soon as I can. This, huh? Yeah, among other things. Uh-huh. So will you meet me there at the Stadler? Oh, yeah. Good. A plane to New York and a plane to Buffalo. It was late in the afternoon by the time we circled the big bustling city with its huge steel plants and glass furnaces, its flower mills and chemical plants, grain elevators, railroad yards and rubber factories, and its busy harbor at the northeast end of Lake Erie. As soon as we sat down at the Greater Buffalo International Airport, I picked up my luggage and started a look for a taxi. You're on, Mr. Hadley? Yes. Harrison Hadley. Don't tell me it's been that long since you've been here. Or is it this slight punch I've developed and a few prematurely gray hairs? How are you? I'm fine. Fine, Mr. Hadley. Seven states call me Harrison, or better still, Harry. Right, right. Well, now come on. I got my car idling away into no parking zone. Unless I'm mistaken that policeman doesn't like it. You're right. But here we are. All right, slide in. Throw your bag in the back. Right. Sure. Come on. That's all right, officer. Pulling out right now. But you better, Mr., if you don't want a ticket. Hey, what about these fires? Well, Johnny, first concerning the loss of a small department store yesterday, the police are absolutely sure it was ours. And the owner of the store has been having a hard time paying his bills lately. So one-in-one makes two? It makes nearly $200,000 we'll have to pay off unless the police can prove he had the fire set. Or we can catch the fire bug and get it out of him. Now, tell me about the other. A warehouse for strapped rubber. And again, the owner, a man by the name of Morley, has been having financial troubles. So two-in-two makes four? Hundred thousand. Right. And in the case of the warehouse, the police are sure the same incendiary method was used. Well, now don't they keep a list of torchmen and their methods? Of course. But Johnny, these two fires have them stopped. Now, apparently, it's some method they've never known to be used before. Well, I bet I know somebody who'll recognize it. Oh, really? Who? This friend of mine I mentioned over the phone. The one I've invited along to give me a hand. Who is he? Well, just get me into the statler and I'll introduce you. And you say this ex-crook is now working with the police? That's right. If I know Smokey, there'll be no arson there in Syracuse as long as he's around. Well, then they're probably wishing he hadn't come on over here to Buffalo to give you a hand for a couple of... Here we are. Now, let's just hope he's already here so that we can... Smokey? I guess not. What was that? Somebody banged down a window somewhere in the back of this. Wait a minute. Smokey? Smokey, you are... What is it, Johnny? What's wrong? Smokey. Now, Smokey, listen to me. Looks to me like we got here too late. Smokey? Can you hear me, Smokey? It looks to me like he's dead. An operation to correct mitral stenosis is an everyday experience in this day and age. Even more advanced surgery of the heart involving heart-lung machines and other modern equipment is no longer rare and highly successful in saving lives. Humanity owes a great deal for living at a time when many conditions involving the heart can be corrected through diet, through day-to-day care, through drugs and, where necessary, through surgery. But we are a long way from conquering many of the causes of heart and artery sickness. Impressive, as are the victories already won, the battles ahead for science and medicine are imposing. They can be won with massive support. This support can be given most effectively to your local Heart Association this month seeking funds to continue the job. Help your heart fund. Help your heart. Be generous. The work is vital and the diseases won't cure themselves. Expense account item 3, 10.50 in a dollar tip for a bottle of brandy provided by room service. With that and a couple of wet towels, I managed to bring Smokey Sullivan back to consciousness. Barely, because he was in pretty bad shape. And whoever had given him this beating was certain to think he'd left him dead. Whoever did it, Johnny, must have got out by that window we heard slam as we came in here. No doubt of it, Harry. He must have crawled along the ledge out there to another room or fire escape or something. Yeah, not Smokey. Yeah, Johnny. As soon as the doctor gets here, we'll know if you have any broken... No, no, no, no, no. Look, no doctor, Johnny. Do you think a little thing like that or a couple of slaps on the head? Think? I know it. I can see it. You're badly hurt. No, no, look, I'm going to be all right, Johnny. We'll see after the doc gets through it. Listen, Johnny. It was... it was... It was Bottles. Bottles? Bottles Burton. Bottles Burton did this to you? Bottles Burton. That's a man's name? Yeah, because of his chemicals. It's his trick. Trick with the bottles of chemicals to set a fire. Oh, I see. Look, give me a little more sip of that, huh? Yeah, sure. Here. He's a... He's a bad one, Johnny. Crazy to have plowed him to you like this. He's a... he's a... Pyromaniac. Pyromaniac? Yeah, it has been ever since a kid. Uh... They sent him up to the state hospital for it. I see. Now you just take it easy. Only... only way they could keep him from starting fires there, they let him shovel coal in the big furnace in the powerhouse. And that gave him all the fire he wanted, huh? Yeah, yeah, but... Then they thought they had him cured, so they let him go. And ever since... And ever since he's been a torchman for hire. Oh, no, Johnny. What do you mean, no? Of course he has. No, no. Because like I say, he's... he's like a maniac. I mean, he would never set a fire for money, only for himself. You're sure of that? Yeah, yeah. Well, and Harry, maybe your plan owners didn't hire him after all. No, not him. Nevertheless, Johnny, you've got to stop him now that you know who he is. Not only because it means a public service on the part of our company, but... Because if he isn't stopped, your company may have to pay off some more of these big claims. Exactly. Yeah, and listen... Now listen, are you sure that it isn't too much for you smoking into the dockets here? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Johnny, I'm sure. Because listen... Yeah? Part of his... part of this maniac... Yeah? He's three fires in a row. Three days in a row. Oh? That means he'll start another one tonight. So if you don't stop him, Johnny... Before he could get to you, Johnny... Not as long as he doesn't know I'm in town, let's not worry about that. Well... But he must know. What? Yeah, yeah. Why do you think that? He was... he was so surprised when he saw me open this door. Me thinking it was you that knocked. So he... He must have thought it was you here in this room. A kind of... A room is in your name. Well, how could he possibly... Harry, did you tell anyone I was coming here? Well, knowing you'd want to work with them, as you always do, I did phone the police. And if there was a radio newsman, a reporter standing around, and there probably was... Oh, great. And now to make matters worse, Burton must know that Smokey's here to work with me. I'm sorry, Johnny. I mean, now he thinks I'm dead. Hmm? Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Or if he doesn't, maybe we can... What is it, Johnny? You have some idea for... If he does for sure know that you're here, Johnny, he... Are you listening, Johnny? Hmm? Oh, yes. Yes, sure. Well, I... I don't think he'd start that third fire tonight, knowing you might tag him. I think he'd lay low. Well, that's fine. If nothing else, then, Johnny, that'll give you time. Maybe. Now, Smokey, tell me everything you can about him, about this bottle's Burton, his habits, the kind of friends he picks up, what sort of place he might find to live anything. Oh, well, he'd... He'd always get a job, Johnny. What kind? Like maybe a fireman. Fireman? Like in some powerhouse, or maybe around some blast furnace, or some place where there's fire. Oh, I see. Smokey, you've just given me a wild idea. Yeah? If I can get a mug shot of him, and there must be one around somewhere. Yeah. What is this idea, Johnny? It's worth a try. Now, Harry. Yes? Make whatever deal you have to with this hotel, to have them play along with me. Then, get it out to the radio and the press, that Smokey here is dead as a result of this beating, that his body has been taken to the morgue. Oh. Only, of course, he'll stay right here. Well, I'm afraid I don't... Now, you let that news out right away, okay? Whatever you say, Johnny. But why? Just wait and see. Try new king-size Philip Morris commanders. New because the tobacco in them is vacuum-cleaned, and the cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. Yes, the cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. Philip Morris commanders are made by a new kind of machine, the Mark 8, that takes rich, full-flavored tobacco. And first, gently vacuum-cleans it, then rolls the cigarette fully, evenly, cuts the ends clean and firm. The result is new Philip Morris commanders, with the cleanest tobacco ever rolled in a cigarette. Try a pack. You'll get a full, round king-size of solid smoking pleasure, because the cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. Noticeably better. Commander! Welcome aboard! Expense account item four, a dollar even, for a taxi to police headquarters. Yeah, they had a mug shot at Burton. They simply hadn't been able to connect his method with those fires. They gave me a copy, and of course they swore they'd do everything they could to flush him out if he was still around. And then, I played my hunch. And item five is 1870 in taxi fares, checking around a flock of fire department stations until, finally... Sure, Mr. Dollar. Only his name isn't Burton. He called himself Charlie Smith. Smith, huh? Yes, sir. This is his picture, all right. He's one of my boys, all right. Good, good. Now, just where can I... Or rather, he was. What do you mean by that, chief? He just didn't report for work, and we haven't seen him here at the firehouse since. Since when? Oh, a couple of days ago. He checked his rooming house where he lives off duty, and he's left there, too. And you have no idea where I might find him? Might start to look for him? Oh, I'm afraid not, sir. It was funny, too. What do you mean funny? Hey, he was a good man. He always seemed like he... almost like he enjoyed his work around the fire. That's the understatement of the week. I walked on back to the hotel, and there, over his stormy protest, moved Smokey into the room next to mine, but left the connecting door ajar. After all, I didn't want him in any further danger. But as soon as I feel good again, Johnny, you gotta let me help you find him. Only if he set that wacky mind to his to start another fire tonight... You just stay quiet and rest that broken head of yours. I find you trying to climb out of bed, I'll clout you one myself. Okay, Johnny. I'll be right here in the next room, so if you want anything, you holler, okay? Johnny... Yeah? Look, Burton may go nuts waiting for you to leave town. I mean, so he can set that third fire and be in a killer... Oh, wait, wait. Maybe you've given me the answer. Uh, yeah? Yeah, Smokey. Yeah. I tore on over to radio station W-B-E-N over on Elmwood Avenue. Bill Peters, the program manager, was still around. The better still, he was willing to cooperate with me 100%. Johnny, I'm sorry. If I'd known you wanted to keep it a secret, I'd have kept the word of your coming here off our newscast. Well, it's too late now, Bill. But not even the papers, not even the evening news had it, so I let it go on. And what that means is that he keeps a check on things through your news program. This Burton, the firebug? Yes. And that's good. Because if you'll let me write a piece of copy for your next couple of newscasts... Yeah, here. Here now. It'll air in about 20 minutes. The newscast will be Jack Ogleby. Good. I just have him read this as is. I got back to the statler just in time to hear Jack Ogleby's news on the little radio there in my room. I'll call again tomorrow throughout this whole area. Oh, and here's another item in connection with the Morley Warehouse fire. Johnny Dollar, the investigator called in by the insurance company, is leaving the case. No doubt because of the death of his colleague, a man with the unlikely name of Smokey Sullivan. Dollar, we are informed, checked out of his hotel just a few minutes ago, and is on his way back to Hartford. Could he have been afraid of this pyromaniac killer? Doesn't sound like him. Now, let me give you the local weather report again. Now, we'll just wait and see what we... Smokey. Hi, Johnny. Now, look, Bob, you have orders to stay in bed. That announce I heard on the radio. That news item was a plant. Now, go on back to bed. I'm all right. I'm... Just fine. So now I gotta carry you back to bed. Oh, my wonder. Smokey had said that Burton was clever in his own twisted way. Clever enough to fall for my trick. Well, there was only one thing to do, wait and see. I didn't have to wait long. Yeah? Yeah, who is it? Mr. Dollar. That's right. Uh, telegram, sir. Okay, coming. Hello, Burton. Oh. Look, I'm in here waving a... Now, sit up. Sit up. There in that chair. The other side of that door. Now, keep faced away. Faced away from me. You understand? See? Sure. But didn't you get the word that I'd left town? Oh, I knew that was a trick. That's why you came here, huh? Because I had to make sure. Had to make sure, see? And you mean that you, a smart punk like you, you were afraid to set another blaze with me around town? Well, you won't be around, not now, because... because I got to set another fire. I just got it, you understand, you see? So I'm... I'm gonna kill you, Dollar. Now, let's first... No! Don't, don't move. Keep your hands up! Now, here. Let me... Here. See? I knew you had a gun because I know everything. Like I know. I got to set that third fire. Like I know. I got to kill you. Yeah, Dollar. Now! Smokey! I'm sorry I had to bust this chair on him, Johnny. It's okay, Smokey. You did okay coming through that connecting door. One of a gun I told you to stay in bed. Yeah, I guess... I guess I wasn't as strong as I... You wanna help me, Johnny? You bet I do. Naturally. And this time, I'm betting there'll be no parole for Burton ever. Not only because of the fires, but the murder attempt on Smokey. And come to think of it on me. As for the insurance money that'll have to be paid out, well, you can't win them all. Expense account total, including room and board and Smokey's expenses, plus a little gratuity and to cover his doctor's bills, $227 even. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Here's our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week, another locked room mystery. It's called, The Too Tired Matter. Remember that title, and join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Starring Bob Reddick is written by Jack Johnstone, produced and directed by Bruno Zorato Jr., musical supervision by Ethel Huber. Here to now cast were Nat Pullen as Smokey Sullivan, Bill Smith as Harrison Hadley, Grant as Burton, George Petrie as Bill Peters, Robert Dryton as the Chief. Jack Ogilby of WBEN played himself. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Art Hanna speaking. Recently on CBS Radio Network's House Party, host Art Linkletter asked a six-year-old Moppet on the kids' panel what he planned to be when he grows up. A policeman, the youngster replied. Art probed further, and how will you know the ones to arrest? How do bad people look? The short would-be lawman had a fast answer. Crooks have black and white stripes all over them. Regular listeners hear such laughable logic all the time from the kids on House Party, a regular feature on the show. Be listening for Art and his guests weekdays right here.