 the signal oil program yes 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 signal oil program the whistler rated tops and popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history and signal gasoline is 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 independently operated signal stations from Canada to Mexico and now the whistler strange story search for Maxine for a long time it'd been standing in the dark and doorway across the street from the swank bachelor's club as Ted Pomeroy struggled to make up his mind he stared up at the second floor windows of the building and puffed nervously at a cigarette it was the last thing he wanted to do to go to cousin Walter for a favor but there was nothing else he could do Ted was a good newspaper man who'd suffered one bad break after the other through no fault of his own but he always felt that someday the big opportunity would present itself now that opportunity had arrived but he needed capital and Walter Pomeroy was the only man he knew who had the kind of money he needed suddenly Ted flipped the cigarette into the street then hurried into the bachelor's club unnoticed by the desk clerk he strolled across the lobby up the stairs to the second floor and stopped before the door of apartment 206 man come in I well cousin theater well come in come in you're just in time for dinner the boy will be up in a minute no thanks I haven't much time I only stopped in for you mean you won't forget by guns to the extent of having dinner with me look let's forget that stuff shall we were grown up now water sure sure sit down no I won't be too long okay sit yourself how are things on the West leading newspaper fine you're getting paid regularly sure well then what's this visit for well it's this way a friend of mine Dan Albee he's done in port town now look here here's a letter I got from him he's buying a paper their little country sheet eight pages twice a week so he wants me to go in with him it's just what I've been looking for what are the places growing we can double the circulation in six months and with some of the ideas I what's the matter what's so funny you how much dad the price is ten thousand I'll need half of it five thousand bucks Walter I'm asking you for a loan you can have the whole plan for security I'm not interested in newspapers you mean you're not interested in me I didn't say that you're not interested in letting bygones be bygones and I didn't say that either I thought we agreed to forget I didn't agree to anything okay that answers my question it's good for a laugh though I thought you one says you never come to me even if you were starving to death that's enough Walter you haven't had a couple of drinks too many five thousand bucks and you thought I just handed water I'd like to take her take your hands off me okay you asked for it I've owed you that for a long time sure you're right I was stupid to get up Walter Walter as you bend over him you see the ugly gash and his right tempo where his head struck the edge of the fireplace the cold wave of fear sweeps over you you stare at him unable to move to think and suddenly you remember the beachhead at Salerno where you saw a dead man off him you grasp Walter's pulse and feel nothing I've killed him the realization of what you've done overwhelms you doesn't it slowly you turn half stumble across the room to the door you're only thought now was escape yes escape there's still a chance you can slip away unnoticed isn't there Ted the desk clerk downstairs didn't see you come in now if you can get out of the building without being seen you'll be in the clear you place your handkerchief over the door and turn it before you step out of the hall you look back to give the room one last look and then you see it the telephone receiver is off the hook yeah this is Walter look when I want impersonations I'll go see a floor show now why didn't you call your dear cousin Walter and tell him I'm getting tired of holding this telephone oh who will I say is calling or you barged into his apartment what makes you think I've barged in from this end the dialogue sounded more like a brawl than a tea party come on friend put him on well he he's not here he just stepped on let me talk to Bill Bill last name Putnam Walter's business he hasn't arrived listen why don't you give me your name and number water won't be back call him later in the morning you tell yourself you haven't a chance the bell boy out there pounding on the door the girl on the phone who has heard everything who can send you to the chair with a word what's happened to Walter has changed your entire outlook hasn't it Ted and suddenly the idea occurs to you Walter must have her telephone number written down somewhere you know you must get that girl to protect yourself you search frankly for his telephone list you find a gun in the top drawer of the desk and put it in your pocket then as you hear the bell boy rattling his keys outside you find what you're looking for a small brown leather book with some names and numbers in just in time you jump for the door and slide behind it as it opens Mr. Pomeroy Mr. Pomeroy what's the man holy cow the moment he turns the corner you race for the back stairs two steps at a time and rush out into the alley the cold air feels good on your face and you hurry away still unseen and safe except for the girl yeah the news will be out in a matter of hours on the radio and the papers and when the girl learns about it the quarrel she overheard on the telephone will tip her off and you know she'll go to the police you can't have that can you Ted got to find that girl finder stop her with the prologue of search for Maxine the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler once a delay on spent his lifetime looking in vain for a spring whose waters would keep him young had he been looking for a prescription to keep cars young I could have told him where to go to a signal service station yeah signal dealers have just with the doctor ordered signal premium compounded motor oil for your engine and signal double-check lubrication for your car's chassis there are good reasons why signal premium compounded motor oil keeps that new car pep in your engine longer it's 100% pure paraffin base is fortified with scientific new compounds that do so much more than just lubricate as a result signal premium cleanses your motor of carbon gum and varnish protects bearings against corrosion and does other important jobs that regular oil alone can't do and when it comes to chassis care signal double-check lubrication is justice superior signal dealers use nine specialized lubricants to give each part on your car the exact type of protection it needs for long trouble-free service and they check each part not just once but twice to make sure not a single part is overlooked so when it's time for an oil change or a lube job remember the place that has what it takes to keep your car young your signal service station she's the only thing standing between you and freedom isn't she Ted the girl who overheard your quarrel with Walter Pomeroy and when she finds out what's happened at Walter's apartment you know that she'll notify the police and you know too that you must prevent her from going to the police you have only little time to find her and silence it's going to be difficult locating this girl isn't it you don't know who she is all you have is a small brown leather book with some names and phone numbers in it Walter's memo book a dozen names in it belong to women and you wonder which one is hers as you step into a phone book you try to hold the sound of the girl's voice in your mind hoping you'll know it when you hear it again this is a Tom Sherman Catalina we met there last summer I'd like to speak with Louise may I speak with Janice no thanks was talking to you on the phone a little while ago off Angel knew we're so coy about giving me a phone number I couldn't call you back I just called up every girl in Walter's little book Ashby 86347 was yours maybe I wanted to see if the girl is as nice as her voice look why you why don't you save us both a lot of trouble honey why don't you just tell me where I can meet you I can be pretty persistent and I can be pretty stubborn I'm sorry wait a minute what's the music radio won't you at least give me your last name Maxine wait panic sweeps over you as you stand there in the telephone booth and something inside tells you to run to take the next plane for anywhere but you struggle against the urge and fight it down you've been a reporter a long time haven't you Ted certainly long enough to know what happens to a man who runs what you must do is coldly clear you've got to find that girl Ted it's the only way through the phone yeah go ahead thanks it to bother you but I got to get hold of the little woman or explain to her now the less I'll have to do when I get home or that you're going all out in that parade ain't they parade excuse me sure what's the matter what was that you said about a parade like I said a big parade coming up the street cross-town traffic site up for two hours coming by here yeah bands down the street now that's what I heard over the phone right nothing thanks thanks a lot yes Ted you notice them now the crowds lining the curbs outside and down the street coming towards you is the brass band at the head of a parade the same brass band that you heard over her telephone passing so close by that it almost covered her voice so you do know something about her don't you that she's someplace not far from the street and the band had passed her at exactly one minute to nine you remember looking at your watch it's a chance isn't a 10 a wild one perhaps but one that you must take excuse me will you mind looking me through goodness if you're going to walk along with a parade young man you weren't listening were you Ted you were threading your way along that sidewalk through the crowds for a very definite purpose and you kept it up for a full block and then looked at your watch it took the parade a minute and 20 seconds to cover one figuring it back that meant they'd covered 13 blocks since passing the girl's telephone Alvarado street Ted that's where she was probably in that big apartment house opposite the signal oil station on the corner 21 I was looking for Maxine Maxine who there's no Maxine living here I'd know I'm the manager it's it's all right thanks oh well there's a Maxine in the next apartment house what number kind of funny the way you're snooping around here trying to find names and apartment numbers what's this all about well you know how it is we just matter an awfully nice kid but I didn't get around to last name girl friend I like it to be in that case I wouldn't waste my time next door the Maxine I'm talking about is 72 your heart sinks Ted and you walk away and the name plates in the apartment on the rest of the block reveal no more Maxine you're left with only one more possibility a residence hotel in the middle of the block you enter the place and decide to try to call her again walk past the cigarette counter in the lobby toward a row of phone booths in the rear just a minute mister what's the matter there you going just want to use the phone oh go ahead but make it fast this hair's woman's hotel house rule against men in the building after 11 on weeknight I'll hurry it up thanks the janitor doesn't notice does he Ted but you're trembling as you fumble for a coin dial the girls number again Ashby 8 6 3 4 7 Maxine I'm still trying to wear you down right and another thing I think you live in the grace and arms wait no be honest with me Maxine I told you I like your voice yeah yeah I'll be here Ted you'll be there anxiously waiting and wondering too won't you Ted wondering if Maxine is lying playing with you knowing all the time what it was all about feeling of panic returns doesn't you look out of the glass doors of the telephone booth across the marble floor to the cigarette stand by the entrance notice a man buying cigarettes from the girl at the counter he leaves and another man comes in and you freeze your heart standing still it's the distributor were the early editions of the morning papers you know what must be in those papers but you can only stare as you wait for Maxine at the other end of the wire your mind is paralyzed isn't it nothing sinking in not even as you see the girl at the counter some 30 feet away across the lobby turn and pick up a telephone receiver you were stringing me along about living on the other side of town listen Maxine you've got it it hits you doesn't it so hard that you almost shake your hand grabbing the phone your head tight the girl you're talking to over the phone is a girl at the cigarette counter across the lobby Maxine hello a trembling surging relief sweeps over you all through you you found her haven't you Ted at last you found Maxine you slump back in the booth watch Maxine across the lobby but she keeps trying to talk into the phone rouse you then finally she hangs up you tell yourself that you'll wait there in the booth until she leaves and then follow her out and then she reaches for something that makes you change your mind you leave the booth and quickly cross the lobby wait a minute yes too late to sell me a pack of cigarettes afraid so just locked up not even for an old friend you're two laps ahead of me I've been calling you all evening no yeah so your cousin theater disappointed crushed I I thought you'd be more like water oh that's a compliment sorry now I was so stubborn how'd you find me crystal ball you ought to get yourself a booth at the county fair do you really live across town mm-hmm worst-looking house in the street good then I can walk you home my car is outside oh it'll hold to let me get my hat and coat be back in a minute okay as she moves off your hand goes to the gun in your pocket you take it out check the clip it's loaded ready real break isn't it it'll be much safer in the car hey yeah see the girl runs a cigarette counter here yeah she's gone home sure I saw her leave how long ago five minutes maybe that's funny okay sure a plane clothes detective he has that look hasn't it and you move after him quietly glance through the glass door to see him looking at a car parked out front and then stay right there that's right it's a gun don't open your mother never mind that now closet I get in there I'll kill you I wonder he's coming back you'll find out in two seconds all right all right I checked outside never go hey anybody here there's a girl who takes care of the cigarette counter she's still around there so much guy just told me she went home still outside oh she ain't gone home and give me the keys yet for the morning girl I take a look in the back room maybe she's getting her hat and that's Bill Potnam Walter's business manager I'll kill you right here I get going where across the street we're gonna take a walk nice quiet walk in the park we can be alone no one will see what's gonna happen the whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story since Thursday will be St. Patrick's Day you've no doubt been getting your share of Killarney on today's radio programs I had thought of describing how your friends would turn green with envy when you power your car with signal gasoline because today's signal drives the pings and sluggishness out of a motor like St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland or I thought of reminding you that your wallet would feel lucky as a four-leaf clover because of signals good mileage but sure and the corner when you buy gasoline there's really just one thing that matters you want to be sure that you're getting the tops in quality the gasoline that helps your motor operated top efficiency and that's something you can determine with your own speedometer after all when your motor runs more efficiently you not only enjoy quicker starting faster pickup and smoother knock free power but also more mileage good reason why we're so proud of signals famous mileage and why we say to be sure of the 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 you tell yourself that this is the way it's got to be don't you dead yes from the moment you realize that Maxine could send you to the chair because of the quarrel she heard over the telephone your quarrel with water you knew you had to find her in silence now as you follow her into the park your hand grips the gun in your pocket it'll be over quickly won't it simply coldly and you'll be away and free as you reach the protective shadowy darkness of the park Maxine stops turns calmly to face you there's a look on her face a look that could haunt you for the rest of your life and then suddenly you know you know that lover or hater you simply cannot kill her get away Maxine I'm not gonna do what I can't go and get away you know what I said get away now before I change my mind no that let's sit down here I think you'd better tell me everything it's all over isn't it you know that whatever it is that's in a murderer isn't in you and you can't bring yourself to kill Maxine now you sit with her on a park bench you've told her the whole story I didn't mean to do it Maxine I could never hate Walter that much or anyone I know I have to take my medicine turn myself in I'll just find an officer you won't have to Ted look at me down the path Bill Putnam with a policeman with Maxine Maxine where the devil have you been the officer on the beach knife and looking all over Bill this is Ted Palmeroy Walter's cousin well that's a break I've been trying to locate you to Ted about Walter they've got him down at City Hospital Hospital but me isn't there some luck busted into his apartment tonight and hit him over the head Walter says he never saw the guy before funny thing nothing stolen make seem did you hear I heard everything's all right now how about coming down to the hospital with me Ted Walter wants to see you keeps asking about you something about investing in a newspaper let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Sunday night at the same time brought to you by the signal oil company marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories during the current Red Cross Drive signal oil company has asked me to remind you it's the little contributions each one of us make which enable the Red Cross to be of such big help in time of need featured in tonight's story where Rye Billsbury Doris Singleton and Joseph Kearns the whistler was produced by George W. Allen and directed by Gordon T. Hughes with story by Harold Swanton and music by Wilbur Hatch and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service all characters portrayed on the whistler program or fictional any similarity of names or resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental remember at the same time next Sunday another strange tale by the whistler Marvin Miller speaking this is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System