 The signal oil program The whistler that whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler I'm 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 shadows Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Yes friends, it's time for the whistler and Remember let every traffic signal remind you with new signal gasoline You do go farther than ever look for the familiar big yellow and black circle sign That identifies those popular signal service stations in seven western states from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story treasure hunt If it were possible somehow to stand at some point in the distant future and look back at the life of Robert Bolton We'd find it neatly divided into two halves Divided by a matchstick the first half was successful Robert was an egotist whose egomania led him to believe that because he'd given the world the ecstatic Pleasure of his company for 32 years it owed him a living in return He lived by his wits and because they were extraordinary wits He managed to dodge double in his tracks like a smart half-back avoiding tacklers and keep one jump ahead of the law And then one day shortly after the train he was riding on pulled into the little country town of Redmond Robert standing on the station platform put a cigarette in his mouth and reached in his pocket for a match The pocket was empty. He shrugged and strolled across the street to the general merchandise store to buy a box But it's two hundred thousand dollars at least that's what you've been saying ever since old Colonel Randolph died They've been living on credits for five years Oh every soul in town and I'm telling you break remark. We ain't gonna see one red cent you mark my words How do you know we ain't well just you go back and look at them bills the Randolph sisters Got run up here flower and eggs and milk and everything. It's nigh on to five hundred dollars Martha and Eddie's bound to find that money any day now can't never tell if I hear that again I'll scream out loud When we find grandfather Randolph's two hundred thousand dollars will pay our bills Well, they ain't found a jet and they ain't gonna if you ask me Wrecking the old Colonel hit it good and that's another thing Why had any man hide that much money around and leave a crazy poem to tell where it was hid is that reasonable? Oh, I know Lou. It's just that Martha and every Randolph are such nice I know their ladies wearing them lace things like they was rich I noticed Martha's too much a lady to marry Sheriff Conway and get her bills paid. Maybe he ain't asked her Everything she's too good for him. And that's why ain't no excuse for that mayer bills run Why they could take in border they're willing to take in borders, but who stops over in Redmond well talking about it Won't get us our money. I'm just getting tired of this. I beg your pardon. Oh, hello there mister been here long No, I just came in for a box of matches. Sure. Here you are. Thanks You just passing through on the train. Yeah, yeah You have a nice town here, mr. Mott. I was on my way to Florida, but Redmond is such a charming little place Might stay over for a while. Could be mr. Mott. Could be oh Conductor, yeah, my name is Robert Bolton. I'm in car 63 bedroom G Would you have the poor to get my baggage, please? I'm getting off here With the prologue of tonight's story treasure hunt the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the Whistler But now I think you'll be interested in a letter I received after a recent Whistler broadcast in which I had told how the atoms in gasoline molecules are actually Rearranged to put exciting new power into new signal gasoline The letter read mr. Miller you say they rearrange atoms in making signal gasoline I thought atoms are the things scientists split to make atomic bombs Well, it occurred to me that other listeners may have wondered about this too. So I'd like to make this point clear Splitting atoms to release atomic power is one thing But rearranging atoms is a completely different branch of science through which some of today's most remarkable new products are being created Take nylon hosiery for instance. Do you know how nylon was created? Why by rearranging atoms and that fine new synthetic rubber for tires it too was made by rearranging atoms So you see in rearranging gasoline atoms signal is just using the latest scientific method To put tremendously increased power into new signal gasoline Just another example of the alert progressive policy of signal oil company Which for 14 years has been quick to bring you every latest scientific advancement in the fine quality petroleum products Wearing the name signal And now Back to the whistler. Yes, Robert that matchstick made a difference, didn't it? They laid it on the line for you while you were waiting at the counter in the store And you're thinking it over carefully now as you sit in the parlor of the huge old randolph home in redmond Making your first impression on the randolph sisters It took you only a minute to analyze them Every ailing suspicious jealous of the family traditions Martha 45 hungry for sympathy color laughter She's made to order for you. Isn't she robert? Your opening move is a triple play You talk to evie your remarks are aimed at martha and your mind is on the 200 thousand dollars Hidden by grandfather randolph. And so you see miss evie. I just had to stop in here and inquire about a room It's it's such a perfect place to uh, uh finish my book. Oh You're an author. Yes I write poetry poetry. Oh how beautiful I have always considered poetry a frivolous way of expressing thoughts which might better be done in prose I love it. Your judgment is not to be considered martha, but uh Oh on mr. Bolton. Well, I graduated from harvard in 1931 that I wandered around a bit India china japan Even got as far as to bet. Oh, how wonderful. You've really been to those places mr. Bolton I am not interested in your wanderings. Oh, I'm sorry But I've got to have someplace in which to write a a place like this miss randolph with these lovely trees these Grand old rooms with their fine floors that mahogany staircase. Why that's a poem in itself miss randolph A sweeping curve ascending high to end its rapture in the sky. Oh, that's william brown Why yes miss martha, you know his poems either to the voices near breaking from your ivory pale Need not walk abroad to hear the delightful nightingale. I think it's so lovely and I think we have had enough of this grammar school recitation Yes, evie mr. Bolton You may have the room. However I am not a well woman therefore I must have it understood that should I change my mind at any time I shall expect you to understand Martha yes, evie you may show mr. Bolton to the room above the veranda. Thank you again, miss randolph. I'm sure that My stay here will prove mutually profitable Well, you're established in the randolph house robert bolton, but there's work to be done If there are 200 000 dollars hidden someplace You know evie randolph is shrewd almost as clever as you are But again, there's martha poor homely Pathetically eager martha who hangs on your words and you can be charming. Can't you rob it? It's not long before you've made a conquest such a simple one Martha never has had such wonderful times has she movies poetry a drive in a rented car Oh, please mr. Bolton. You mustn't go so fast. Why not it's like living in another world Just flashes of the earth. We know gone before you can see the ugliness the great drabness. Oh, yes It is like that Oh, it's wonderful to hear you laugh martha wonderful I I was laughing wasn't I her laughter like the bells of eden. Oh, it's it's also lovely robert also lovely You mean this is the first movie you've seen in three years. I never go out much robert You see evie you're wonderful martha so unselfish Yes robert it takes only three days Martha is hopelessly in love with you But you've been very careful not to make love to her haven't you That you've been saving for a very important moment A moment that comes one day as you walk with martha in the garden of the randolph place Robert is is there anything wrong wrong Is is something troubling you well the book isn't going so well Oh, is that all But you've got to expect times when when you think things are all wrong You told me that yourself robert. Yes, but this is different martha. I'm Maybe i'm a failure Maybe people are right when they say a poet is some odd kind of a freak, but I don't feel that way I know that martha And i'm grateful No, I'm the one who should be grateful and I am robert So grateful you But what for because you've made me laugh you you brought something here that I shouldn't talk like this robert. Why not martha? well Yes, I No, no, I won't say it say what robert look here. I I For the first time in my life, I find myself unable to choose the right words but Martha what what would you say if I told you I? I loved you Oh Oh, please robert. No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it, but you did You did i'm i'm a fool you said it But you can't mean it look at me Look at me robert I am martha There's nothing for you to fall in love with i'm ugly robert ugly. Don't say that It's true It's true robert. No, no, it's not Listen to me martha What is beauty if it has no soul? What is loveliness if there is no heart that's robert bolden martha? Oh robert No, no, I shouldn't have What have I to offer you nothing you and your sister have all this the house the garden money money Robert dear we have no more than you Oh, you're joking. No my darling. No, I'm not Evie and I have been living on credit everyone thinks we'll find grandfather randolph's money money. There is money I don't believe it, but evie does she's looked for it so many times. Oh treasure hunt that you're you're making fun of it Oh, no, no dearest, but well things like that just don't happen not in real life, but Suppose there there was money and we found it Then you wouldn't have to worry about staying here with evie She could have the money and we could have each other. Do you mean that robert? Don't you believe me martha? Oh, yes robert but Evie would never let us have the verse verse I don't understand Well grandfather randolph left the secret of the money hidden in the little verse he wrote evie keeps it in a room I've only seen it once Well That's that but I could make a copy of it when she's asleep She wouldn't have to know. Oh, you're clever sweetheart. You know, I never would have thought of that And if we find the money we we shall taste the sweets of arabi And live but for the ecstasy that life shall bring to us That was simple wasn't it robert having martha suggest a plan herself was clever She doesn't suspect a thing poor Homely martha who doesn't know you're going to leave the moment you find the money and the same night She brings you a piece of paper Here it is robert. Are you sure evie is evie is asleep. I left her medicine on the table by her bed So she doesn't have to call me. Oh, you are clever my darling now now. Let me see the verse Here it is When the bishops mighter points to three Then a shadow long you'll see Four steps left and two steps right Careful now. You'll need the light Oh, it it sounds crazy just just a minute bishops mighter bishops mighter I Look that the chest the the chest table in the corner. Has it ever been moved? Oh, no Evie wouldn't allow anything to be moved. Then where are the chestmen? But in the drawer of the chest table. Oh good. Why are you setting up the chest? You don't see now Which bishop there are four And one has to point to three to three All of them point up to the ceiling now, but if we Lay them on their sides, then Look This black queen's bishop it points to the grandfather's clock on the other side of the room And if you point it to three, that's it. The bishops mighter points to three It's evie. She woke up. You you you better go. We'll continue this tomorrow night. Go ahead She won't wake up tonight will she? I don't know robert, but did you figure out? I think so now The bishops mighter points to three Then a shadow long you'll see Shadow Let's let's look outside At three o'clock the shadow of that elm tree would be Come on. You're so wonderful. It's also simple now Four steps left Then two steps right to right in front of the old cooling shed and the next line reads Careful now. You'll need a light Martha that means we'll need a light to see inside the cooling shed. That's it. The money is in the cooling shed It is it is, but uh We just don't have a light now Do we We'll have to wait until tomorrow night. Well, I can get a lantern. No. No, Martha darling. We'll wait until tomorrow night But why can't we tell evie now? You're not going to tell evie until we get the money. Do you hear? I All right robert anything you say Of course robert wait until tomorrow night Then you'll plan to sneak outside Without martha and you needed time to pack didn't you get ready to leave suddenly with the money and without martha So the next day you sit in the garden smoking a cigarette smiling to yourself Thinking how easy it was Then suddenly Howdy, mr. Bolden. Oh Hello, sheriff Conway. You know me, huh? Of course You've been pointed out to me in addition the star glittering on your vest is in itself the monumental advertisement Yep, mind if I sit down a night. I certainly not sheriff make yourself at home Uh, did you come here just to sit in the sun or do you have something more important on your mind? Well, bolton. I ain't one to beat around the bush There's some talk going around About you and miss martha. Really? What harm is there in that? Well, you're a young man handsome Thank you, sheriff. I didn't know you cared. I don't think you're up to any good bolton Martha's good 15 20 years older new. Oh, so that's the way the wind blows is it torch bearing in the provinces You lover, don't you listen? I came here friendly like but i'm having a hard time now To keep from smashing that pretty face of yours You won't do it sheriff because you'd look a great deal sillier and more stupid than you do now You can't afford that sheriff. You're smart. Ain't you bolton smart enough to know you haven't got a thing to say in this matter Now you listen I intend to remain here as long as I like you're after that money. You can prove that of course He doesn't have to miss evie. You hadn't ought to come out here I was thoughtful of you sheriff conway to concern yourself with our affairs marthas and mine However, I am quite capable of handling this miss evie. Don't go getting riled up now your heart Sheriff conway Mr. Bolton. Yes, miss evie. I gave you to understand when you came here that any time I chose to ask you to leave He would do so so what consider this your last day here. You'd better reconsider that you heard miss evie bolton sheriff Yes, miss evie mr. Bolton I'm a sick woman But i'm not blind My sister martha is impressionable She is infatuated with you and you've done nothing to discourage her perhaps. I love that's ridiculous and you know it Mr. Bolton if you're not out of the house In in one hour I shall ask sheriff conway to evict you martha might have something to say about that. I've already told her You have one hour mr. Bolton Well robert that was a blow wasn't it if you leave the money stays in the cooling shed If you stay the sheriff will have a field day throwing you out Your only hope is martha, isn't it and you haven't much time You sit alone in the garden thinking and suddenly it comes to you There is a way isn't there You hurry over to the little pharmacy where you and martha bought the medicine for evie The clerk knows you and says nothing when you ask for a little bottle of poison to Kill rats you sign the poison book and hurry back to martha with a half hour to go She's in the parlor playing the piano Please martha go on playing I want to remember you like this Rather fits the mood. Please robert. I'll just stand here by the piano and oh poison robert What were you going to do with this you weren't supposed to see that give it to me you You're going to kill yourself all my life. I've had cherished and loved things taken away from me I'm tired martha tired and beaten Misunderstood by the people. I love the most Your sister you not me robert. I swear it not me you were going to stand by and let me leave, weren't you? But what can I do? You see I love you robert. I love you so much. And does that solve the problem? No, what can we do? What can I do? You could marry me and evie would see that I do love you robert Marry don't you want to my darling, but Evie give me that bottle No, no, I'll marry you robert now today. We can go to milltown right away. Yes. Yes. Yes anything you say robert anything you say You don't seem to like me as a brother-in-law evie. I despise and loathe you mr. Bolton ever you don't know robert You don't understand them poor blind fool. Don't you see what he's after but evie just a moment martha Very well mr. Bolton. I suppose I have no alternative. You're quite correct Martha, would you leave the room for a moment? What mr. Bolton and I have something to discuss in private Well, if you say so evie. We'll be in a minute dear. Yes robert Now mr. Bolton This is what you wanted. Isn't it mr. Bolton? $200,000 in securities. You've got it. Of course I've had it for 10 years The verse was simple for me too mr. Bolton. I thought it was cash Half of it is yours. Of course. Shall we divide it now? No, we'll have to have them analyzed. It'll take time. It's simpler than you think mr. Bolton as a matter of fact I just assume you had them all What are you talking about? There you are take them Well, I uh, can't say I expected this. I'm not being generous mr. Bolton. You see these securities have been worthless since 1929 what take them mr. Bolton and get out. What kind of a trick is this? I said get out. You know it now tell the whole town about it We defrauded them. We live for 10 years on credit because they believe the money was here You let me marry that ugly stupid sister of yours. She knew it all the time She did not know it because I never told her I found them now get out get out Take your securities mr. Bolton. You've got what you came for Martha, Martha come quickly Martha Abby, you're ill. Oh Robert, please You, you I hope you're tired Robert, Robert wait When times of train leave clerk little trouble up the line might be late today. Maybe five o'clock You can quick worry in mr. Bolton. You ain't taking no trains. What do you mean sheriff? You ain't leaving redmond. No Well, just try and stop me. Let her charge desertion. Let her charge. It ain't that bolton It's murder The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime I'd like to bring you the solution to a little mystery that's puzzling a lot of drivers these days Why are so many batteries going dead? Well, the answer is simple most batteries today have already seen a lot of use And cold weather starting puts even more strain on today's tired batteries That's why if you don't like the experience of going out to start your car and finding your battery dead It's just good insurance to make regular use of your signal dealer's complete battery service He has the instruments and the know-how to determine the exact condition of your battery If it's run down your signal dealer has the latest equipment for charging And if you do need a new battery his rugged signal batteries are built to signals own exacting specifications And guaranteed for long long life So stop in at your signal dealer soon You'll find he's much more than just a place to buy signals famous go farther gasoline and find lubricants Wherever you see signals yellow and black circle sign There you will also find complete signal service and accessories to help your car run better Look better and last longer And now Back to the whistler That one stopped you didn't it Robert For once you have nothing to say and though you don't know it the first half of your life The half you lived before you reached into your pocket on the station platform at redmond And found you were out of matches is over and the second half is about to begin The sheriff refuses to explain further as you go together back to the randolph house He waits until you go through the door into every randolph's bedroom until you stand there staring down at her Still figure on the bench. Sheriff. I swear to you. I didn't I tell you I had nothing to do with it You bought this bottle of poison at rigby's pharmacy for myself. I told you ask martha I got a feeling the jury is not going to believe anything martha says about you They'd think she was trying to cover up for you But I ain't telling you anything though, am I? You likely know jury's pretty well by now evie got that poisoned by mistake Sure when martha took it away from you and hid it in the medicine cabinet And that's where poor evie found it Sick day. That's it. I knew you didn't believe I did it sheriff. Who says I don't what? What are you getting at? Well, you can have your pick You can leave redmond. Yes, and face a murder charge There's the money the fight you had with evie the poison register at the store. Wait a minute. You can't do this No Or you can stay here and make martha a good husband Write poetry for her take her writing make her happy and I'll forget about the other Well, I I won't do it. Huh murderers hang in this state bolton All right, sheriff you win and I'll be around checking up And if you ever try to run out on her I'll reopen the case on new evidence And I swear before the lord bolton I'll hang you Next monday at nine o'clock the whistler will bring you another strange tale The whistler is broadcast for your entertainment by the marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil And fine quality automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer This program directed by george w allen with tonight's story by russell hughes music by wilber hatch Is transmitted to our troops overseas by the arm forces radio service That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program the whistler This is marvin miller speaking reminding you to look for those familiar yellow and black circle signs That identify those popular signal oil stations in seven western states from canada to mexico This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system