 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar so far so good Yeah, sure. She's in the other room. Do you think she's all right mentally? I mean I think she's all right enough to get by I think she's scared to death of something or somebody that business of the curse. Yeah, you know, there isn't anything to that There's something to it for her She thinks she's somehow responsible for her husband's death for her father's death and for her brother's death on the way Here she mentioned just like that that someone else was going to die Awards to that effect. Oh, I don't know 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 yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the Universal Adjustment Bureau Hartford, Connecticut The following is an accounting of expended jurors during my investigation of the tears of night matter It had started as a routine investigation a claim filed for $50,000 on the death of Noah Wendover Miami Beach, Florida the question why the two-year delay in making claim The answer turned out to be interesting Briefly it involved a distraught woman who had neglected not only in the insurance But everything else in her life for two years a woman obsessed with the idea. She was a curse Do you like soda or water a soda please? Thanks Cheers good luck. What's your name again? Johnny dollar. Oh, yes, that's right. Mr. Fuchs introduced us to me Do you think he'll be able to straighten out all my business affairs for me? Yes, I think so Mrs. Wendover including the insurance Including the insurance. Yes You're worried about the claim aren't you? Well, I'm paid to worry about it. I'm not so worried now as when I first came to Miami Beach. I Think I understand why it took all this time for the claim to be filed. You mean you've met me and you think I'm kind of You know not all there or something Well, I suppose mr. Fuchs explained how badly I've managed things for the last two years He showed me how you've let your affairs go to the devil if that's what you mean I'm glad you finally turned it all over to him. I think he'll take care of it for you I behaved rather badly in mr. Fuchs office. Didn't I why wouldn't say that? Poor mr. Fuchs. He was frightened. I think I Don't know what it is really. I mean He mentioned that you were in town investigating my claim on Noah's death. I thought I should talk to you That's why I had him call you. I Wanted to tell you about the curse There's no such thing. You know Mrs. Wendover. I know I know I Couldn't have been responsible for dad's death. It was a heart attack many years ago It was a way at school in New York and Jim My brother being killed in Korea. I couldn't have had anything to do with that and Noah Oh, I loved him very much I'm not cursed am I no no you certainly aren't All of these deaths around you have been tragic Doubly so because you seem to have been very fond of the people But you aren't responsible in any way I like you You're very nice If you have any questions you want to ask me about Noah, I'd be glad to answer them I really would I'm all right now really I am Well, when we left mr. Fuchs office you talked a lot about that curse business Yes, I'm ashamed. Were you still thinking of that when you spoke to me in the car? Did I speak to you in the car? Yes You know I can't remember writing in the car at all I've been standing here talking to you and I've been wondering all this time how we got here Do you mind if I help myself? No We drove over together from Hilary Fuchs office I drove you here Oh Some things I just blank out I've talked to a psychiatrist, you know, I mean I've been under treatment for several months He says I established a strong pattern when Noah died of Shutting things out of just forcing my mind to become blank. He's trying to help me get over it What did I say in the car? You said you were cursed and you wondered if he would die Oh dear. Who's he? Teddy Teddy uh Teddy Davis I'm going to marry him when he asks me and I know he will I love him very much. Well, how do you think teddy might die? Because of people dying around me that I love. He doesn't believe in the curse, does he? Oh, no He's something like you in a way nice He makes me laugh at it. He says it's ridiculous because it is Somehow I feel comforted now look You marry this fellow the minute he asks you and forget about being cursed and everything else He'll take care of you All right, better go now mr. Dollar. Yes Thank you I need sometimes very much to talk to someone like you Jay dollar oracle go out and marry so-and-so and live happily ever after I like the little kiss she gave me I like the way she squeezed my hand I like the perfume she was wearing I liked the way the intense heart brightness had gone out of her black eyes And she was just a nice woman being a woman. I liked all that What I didn't like was the idea that she could be the other way believing in the curse and believing She was somehow responsible for people dying When I left her I knew that part wasn't ended. I knew it would come back Come on in dollar I sort of stuck around wondering if you'd come back here. How is she? She's okay now Fuchs, I'm sending in my report on this policy tonight. I'm recommending they honor it. I've got enough verification Okay, that's fine. I sure appreciate your help on this dollar. Let me buy you dinner No, no, thanks. I'm getting the first plane back to Hartford. Why not wait until tomorrow? You've got a reason haven't you Yeah, I guess so. Mrs. Wendover. Oh, I've met people like her before don't ask me where or when but I've seen them And there isn't anything to a curse, but Trouble seems to follow them big trouble My business here is practically finished. I just want to get out and get away Can I use your office for about an hour? Yeah, it's all yours Dollar I feel the same way I spent a half an hour typing up my report on the Wendover claim and another 10 minutes on the phone asking for an airplane back to Hartford They said they'd call me right back and I poured myself some of fuchs whiskey and sat down to stare out at the night Lights burned up and down the white beach People strolled up and down looking at the water holding hands And I was sitting alone in Hilary Fuchs office waiting for a phone call and thinking about a curse Hi Who are you anybody else here? No, why? You are kind of late. So do you What's in your mind? You Castigan wants to see you right away. I'm supposed to take you over However casting and is tell him he doesn't want me You don't tell Sam things like that You know, it's been a long time since I shook in my boots when a skinny hood like you stood around acting tough If you've got some business with Hilary Fuchs, look him up at his home This is Fuchs office. You're behind his desk. You'll do Now come on, mister. Don't show me how loud a certified public accountant can growl. I just might swing this thing on your head That's better You gotta have no I know castigan wants to talk to you, but I'd sure like to belt you on just for the practice I'm not Hilary Fuchs. Come on. Let's go. Hey, you You're gonna break my arm. I'd like to just for the practice Now then That's castigan. Is he the one from chicago? Sam's been there answer the sam castigan kicked out of chicago a few years ago What does he want to see fuchs about the window of a dame? What something about the window of a dame? I don't know what it is. He just wants to see you Okay, what's your name? Frank Scanlon Here you put this thing in your pocket pull it out again in front of me and I'll brain you Now let's go. Huh? Now. I want to see sam Sure sure anything you say I followed frank scanlon out of the building to a waiting car a black packet with side curtains It was a nice touch for this day and age, but it didn't make much sense. None of it did It was illogical in the beginning middle and end Most of all, I didn't make much sense. I should have been in my room packing Instead I was on my way to see an old-time grifter in hoodlum named sam castigan Because someone had mentioned the name wendover You want a smoke? I use my own suit yourself, fella Scanlon was a thin one with sharp narrowed eyes too much padding in the shoulders too much snap to the brim of his hat Too much point to the toe of his shoes The 38 had taken away from him and handed back made a considerable bulge in the front of his coat About six miles out of miami beach. He turned off the main highway onto a dirt road About a mile of that and up ahead we saw lights the lights became a fine old colonial mansion every room a glow Two or three guards were watching the entrance to the front and all needed shaves No one said anything It's me feely. Oh, this here is hillary fulks. Uh sam wants to see him. Good morning How are you feeling mr. Feely? All kinds of punks are on nowadays. I wouldn't get frisky with him if I was you He's a pretty touchy fella itself. Yeah. Oh this way come on He led me into the main foyer where a hatchet girl with a lot of red hair Stood ready for the evening's business which hadn't begun yet On the right what had been the dining room of the old house was now a circular bar that could seat 25 or 30 To the left in what had been the parlor and library I counted two crap tables two red tables and two blackjack stands Beyond all this on a screen porch a five-piece combo made music A few tables and head waiters stood around looking forward Scan the led me upstairs and we stopped in front of a wide white door marked private I thought he was going to knock and steady world around very quickly and stuck the same old 38 About two inches into my ribs now. Let's stand steady Feely any giving you trouble Frankie? No I uh, I will bust her. I'll give you plenty of trouble if you want it Here are. He talks to me. I'll crank him up a little for you if you like Frankie No, he got business with sam right now. We'll take care of our business with him later on However, you say it Frankie I just wanted you to remember that I will The same way I remember a dirty newspaper story You know something I'm looking forward to you Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow There is a curse that goes with the wind over name Goes wherever it is Join us won't you yours truly Johnny dollar Four is truly Johnny dollars starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood written by John Dawson It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Be sure and join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking