 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Oh I'm representing the insurance company Wells carried a $50,000 policy payable to his widow What about the autopsy any results? Yes on the advice of her family doctor I talked to him only his version, but it's a different slant on things. What do you mean? He thought she was suffering from temporary hysteria He was only trying to calm her. He didn't think she'd really fly back to Hartford and stir up a mess like this I see her father's sudden death must have been quite a shock to her. It may have caused her to Imagine things things like murder. Maybe it's possible anyway. I think I'll wait for the results of that autopsy Mr. Lancer, I'll keep in touch Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yes, truly Johnny dollar From special investigator Johnny dollar to the home office Northwestern surety company Hartford, Connecticut Assignment the lonely hearts matter location Chicago, Illinois Expense account continued items six two dollars and ten cents for a late lunch at my hotel I finished it went up to my Roman started trying to fit the few facts. I had into some kind of a pattern that made sense Max Lancer at the DA's office might be right. Maybe it was nothing more than just hysterical suspicion And she'd admitted herself that she was furred and jealous when he married Mabel Burke Sudden death could still be natural death And yet all I could do at the moment was wait for the results of that autopsy Yeah Was it me normal well, oh, all right just a minute come in What's wrong I'm scared of what I don't know exactly. Oh Well here here run over here and sit down. Oh, thank you Yeah No, what do you mean? You don't know exactly Could I be be losing my mind mr. Dollar if you worry you'd be the last one to think so Now tell me what's happened? Well, I I went to the coroner's office to sign the authorization for the autopsy and then went back to my apartment a little while later the phone rang and When I answered it, there was nobody on the line wrong number. Maybe no, I Mean, I mean there was somebody on the line, but they didn't say anything. I kept saying hello And then there was a click and the line went dead and that's all that happened. No Short time afterward. I heard footsteps out in the hall They stopped at my door And I kept waiting for someone to ring the bell When they didn't I I finally got up enough courage to open the door There's nobody there. I see Few minutes after that the phone rang again the same thing as before I Couldn't stay there any longer. I ran out and got a taxi and came here Oh, who do you think might be doing a thing like that miss? Well, I don't know but somebody is I'm not just imagining things Max Lancer the DA's investigator seems to think you might be I know he talked to me at the coroner's office That's why I came to you mr. Dollar. You've got to help me, please be glad to but how? There must be something you can do. Yeah, I can wait for that autopsy report and at the moment That's about all I can do without some definite evidence of a crime something stronger than mere suspicion We don't have a leg to stand on But suppose the report doesn't show anything then I wiped the egg off my face and go back to Hartford Look Maybe she was she was clever enough to kill my father in some way that wouldn't show up in an autopsy such as I Don't know But I do know as sure as I'm sitting here that she married him and got him to take out that insurance policy With the full intention of murdering him well Such things have been known all right somebody using a correspondence club to contact wealthy pigeons Did you know that your stepmother owns that lonely hearts club? Oh, that's what the girl in charge told me a fanny Tetler. Do you know her? No, I've never heard of her Neither Mabel nor my father ever mentioned that she owned the place She apparently has somebody running it for her a man I think any idea who he might be no he slipped out before I got a chance to see him Smoke cigars. He left one burning in the ashtray wait Maybe it's Burton Burton Burton Creeley her nephew. He smoked cigars. Oh, it's the first I've heard of him He moved in on us right after Mabel and my father were married He's the main reason why I left the house. I couldn't stand him. He was always after me bothering was he still living there Was he in the house the night your father died? Yes At least he was when I got there that was an hour afterward as I told you does he have a job work anywhere I don't think he's ever worked He lives off of her He and your father get along all right My father could get along with anyone. He always managed to see the best in people And then Burton was careful to to act different around him. I see I Suppose you think that's some more of my imagination Frankly miss Wells, I don't know what to think there was only some way to prove what I'm sure of well Let's wait for that autopsy report. Meantime. I think I'll go out and talk to you stepmother What about me stay right where you are? Don't go out of this room when I get back We'll pick up some things from your apartment and you can check in here at this hotel for a few days Expense account item seven taxi to Lakeshore Drive in the beachfront residence of the late Jonathan Wells. I Was beginning to feel more and more like a fool It looked as though Max Lancer might be right Apparently a jealous hysterical girl had lost her head and stirred up a nasty mess all without one single fact to back up her suspicions I had a hunch the autopsy report was going to show death from natural causes For two cents I'd have thrown the case over. In fact, I didn't even see where I had a case Good afternoon young man. How are you? How do you do are you miss as well? Yes, that's right Is there something I can do for you? My name is dollar Johnny dollar I'm representing the company that holds the insurance policy on your late husband's life Oh, well, you must be mistaken. Mr. Morningby represents that company young man. Mr. Matthew are morning Mr. Morningby is the local agent. I'm from the home office in Hartford, Connecticut. Oh Yes, I have my credentials right here if you'd like to Know that is necessary. I always judge people by their faces and you have an honest face, Mr. Thank you. I wonder if I could ask you a few questions, Mrs. Wells Well, I Suppose so. I know this must be painful for you and I'll try to be as brief as possible. Don't you worry about me? I'm all right, of course I miss Jonathan and all that he was a terribly nice man terribly But I think death is just being a doorway to a greater and more glorious life Well, that's one way of looking at it You just come right in young man and ask all the questions. You're a mine too. You come right in here and we'll sit down and have a nice chat Oh, this is a very attractive house, Mrs. Wells. Oh, yes. Yes. I think so too Jonathan built it years ago He and his first wife lived here, you know, of course I've changed the drapes and things just some of the little things sit right down there now Thank you and his daughter too as she lived here the first month We were married and then she moved into town. Oh strange little thing really sort of Nervous and here. I've met her miss as well. Oh, well, then you know what she's like. Oh, it's too bad, too Would you like some teen cookies? No, thanks one thing Jonathan wouldn't miss for the world He's teen cookies at four o'clock every afternoon every afternoon House just doesn't seem the same without him. No, I imagine it That's how I won his heart, you know with my cookies and cakes Oh, he really did adore them and it was such a pleasure Baking things for a person who appreciated them so much. Yes, it makes you feel lonesome and lost not having anybody to cook for Do you ever feel lonesome, Mr. Dollar? Well, I guess everybody does it time. I met Jonathan I was feeling so lonesome. I could just cry. Mr. Burke had died two years before Mr. Burke Yes, he was my husband before Jonathan that was in St. Louis, of course. I see was a fine man, too Walter Mabaley Burke tall and handsome and impressive looking just like his name sounds and a perfect picture Of health right up to the day he died. His death was sudden unexpected. Oh, yes Or complete surprise acute indigestion the doctor called him. Of course I don't think he was quite as thoughtful as Jonathan Jonathan was always so Considered and he was oh my gracious here. I go just rambling on and on you didn't come here to listen to my silly little affairs No, no, no, they're very interesting. Well, I've always tried to keep busy and keep my mind occupied That's why I started in business the Lonely Hearts Club. Oh, well, you've heard about it Well, I admit I felt kind of foolish at first about starting it I mean, you know how people josh about those kinds of clubs. It was Burton's idea really he's my nephew, you know Oh, dear, I wish he were here this afternoon so you could meet him. It's such a nice boy He thought I'd do real well at that kind of business and he was right to absolutely right old enough money You understand, but it was loads of fun meeting all those nice people, especially men. Yes That's how I met Jonathan. So I was told the way it happened He wrote into the club and I sent him my picture and that's what started it I remember when Burton showed me the letter. He said Aunt Mabel, this one sounds like your kind of man And he certainly was too does Burton help you with the club. Well, he runs it really It's such a sweet boy and he works so hard. I just don't know what I do without Burton I don't know what I do. Yes. I imagine he's a great comfort to you. I have no idea, mr. I suppose not. Well, I guess I'd better run along mrs. Wells It's been such a pleasure talking with you. It seems like young folks nowadays don't often have the gift for conversation the way they did in my time Well, things move faster today. Well, I certainly hope that company of yours moves fast young man Well, I have to start house hunting, you know the estate and everything goes to Jonathan's daughter And all I have is the insurance. Oh, it's such a bother. Mr. Dollar the funeral and moving and all the details Seems like I just have the worst luck with my husband I Walked out of there groggy my head spinning I wondered normal wells was nervous and hysterical I felt that way myself after only a few minutes of it And I still had no case not one piece of evidence I'd had a pleasant chat with a sweet old lady a little on the duddy side maybe but that was all dead end Max lancer from the da's office was waiting for me in the hotel lobby You'll notice I'm holding my hat in my hand mr. Dollar. How come it's a symbol of humility You were right all along According to the coroner's report Jonathan Wells died from a dose of ground glass So it's murder after all Then in that case do something for me. Will you from now on? I'm your man contact the authorities in st. Louis and have them check into a death that happened there about two and a half years Ago a man named walter mayberley berks who's he mr. Wells was married to him at the time Another murder no just a matter of bad luck. She told me so herself Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow a strange attack a scared girl A hunt in the dark And 13 knots make a noose Join us. Won't you yours truly johnny dollar Yours truly johnny dollar starring bob bailey is transcribed in hollywood written by less crutchfield It is produced and directed by jack john stone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of Yours truly johnny dollar roi roan speaking