 Autolight and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Jack Benny in tonight's presentation of Suspense Tonight, Autolight presents a story about a man who worked for 30 years to prepare a most unique Personal retirement plan. The story is called a good and faithful servant our star, Mr. Jack Benny Well the legislative luminary how are you senator my car is giving me trouble Harlow your car What's wrong with it senator? Well, it gets going slower than a loser leaving office It rides rougher than a tax debate and uses more gas than a three-day filibuster Well, it may be spark plug trouble senator spark plug should be checked every three to four thousand miles So see your nearest auto light spark plug dealer his exclusive auto light plug check indicator will quickly show the exact Condition of your spark plugs if they're worn out or wrong for your style of driving He'll recommend resistor or standard type ignition engineered Auto light spark plugs for smoother performance click starts and gas savings sounds like a propitious proposal Harlow How do I find this auto light spark plug dealer? Why just phone Western Union by number and ask for operator 25 She'll quickly tell you the name of your nearest auto light spark plug dealer Where you can get the finest spark plug service money can buy and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light And now with the performance of mr. Jack Benny auto light presents transcribed a good and faithful servant hoping once again to keep you in so spend I Know you've been through a lot mr. Fenton But if you could just try to recall anything else about the appearance of the tool a lieutenant couldn't this wait Fenton has spent 14 horrible hours locked in a vault and while I admire his spirit and pluck and bearing up as well as he has I'm just trying to get something to go on mr. Waterman. Do you want your money back or don't you well fair of my employees comes first lieutenant first last and Always and you're insured I'm miss Fenton. Don't answer if you don't feel up to it Fenton. I don't mind mr. Waterman I'm anxious to cooperate Now as near as I can remember sure you get this point as Near as I can remember of course. I had only a flash before they forced me into the ball Yeah, we understand mr. Fenton I had the impression of one being tall but not too tall and the other one was shorter But not too short exactly and they were wearing masks rubber masks One had a Lionel Barrymore mask, and I think the other was Dick Tracy. It was quite a shock to see him Ha ha the Brinks gang lieutenant the Brinks gang to a tee Maybe mr. Cartwright, would you come over here, please? Mr. Cartwright is of the practice to keep large sums of cash on hand overnight at the store Well, yes, the store does a tremendous cash business lieutenant tremendous and yesterday was dollar day Thank you, mr. Cartwright How does it happen that Fenton was alone in the cash room when the bandits entered did he customarily close the vault for the night? Not customarily no when I'm unavoidably called away from the store happen often. Well, the very seldom lieutenant Very seldom, but it happened yesterday Two men walked in put you in the vault and walked out with a big hunk of money at precisely 556 Mr. Cartwright opened the vault this morning at 802 correct lieutenant We won't know how much they got until I can make an audit and if there's any question lieutenant of corroborating Fenton's story I need only to say that he's been with Waterman's for 30 years a good and faithful servant The more exactly mr. Waterman 29 years 11 months and 29 days I Was due to retire tomorrow before this unfortunate Circumstance arose and not since Fenton you retire tomorrow And if there's any question lieutenant of Fenton's character his honesty is the yeah sure sure sure You can go home. Mr. Fenton better get some rest. You want to duck the reporters go out this back way Well, what do you think mr. Waterman entirely up to you my boy entirely? But in these days of doubt of confusion and dishonesty in high places I believe your simple story of courage and devotion to duty will be an inspiration everywhere mr. Waterman I am ready to face the press They were all very nice to me the reporters the police mr. Cartwright and especially mr. Waterman All that money missing 50,000 yet his only concern was for me. I Thought that if I could afford it, I'd like to buy him some little token of gratitude Then I thought again In my desk at the office. There was a secret compartment and that compartment was 50,000 dollars I Guess I could afford it Mother I'm home. Good morning Harold. I hope you haven't had breakfast. I've kept it hot for you You're not going to ask me how it went mother. Oh, I heard over the radio But I wish there'd been some way of doing it that it wouldn't have kept you out all night Oh, I wasn't out all night mother. I wasn't a vault I know you were Harold and if you keep on you're going to end up with that same sign a strip your father used to have Oh, mother. It was a perfectly dry warm. Oh, never mind eat your cereal Harold. You'll feel better And mr. Waterman told me to take the day off mother. I'm not going in until tomorrow That's a certainly big of him after all you've done for them How much did you get? 50,000 It's in my desk at the office in the drawer with the false bottom in your day Will it be safe there Harold? Well, no one will be looking for it Harold you don't think you'll have any trouble getting the money out of your desk. I think things will work out. All right See according to my plan that Harold you see I told you from the beginning you weren't strong enough for this type of thing Morning at 843. I punched in at the store figuring 308 working days a year that made 9,240 punches It was a little strange to think of this being my last I Walked through the store to the elevator past lingerie ladies gloves and perfume the way I always went But this morning was different people looked up when I passed they spoke to me They knew who I was Even the brunette in perfume smile at me Almost stopped, but I couldn't think of anything to say In the elevator one of the girls asked me how I felt still scared I said and they laughed They wouldn't have laughed any harder for mr. Waterman I got out at 8 my floor and as I went into my office miss Prentice mr. Cartwright secretary looked at me 23 months and two days you've been looking at the top of my head, but this morning she looked at me And she smiled. I guess I smiled back. Good morning, mr. Fenton. Good morning, miss Prentice Wasn't much, but I felt it could have been a start. I was almost sorry. This was my last day Fenton Fenton, did you hear me? Yes, mr. Cartwright? I heard you mr. Cartwright. All right a big workload piled up yesterday when you took off And we haven't anyone new coming in till tomorrow Not that I want to overload you on your last day honest days work for an honest days pay mr. Cartwright Oh good. I'm still trying to find out how much was taken in the hold up so you're on your own I think I can tell you almost to the penny mr. Cartwright. I'll make my own check now about the worker. Oh, good morning, mr. Waterman. I was just Didn't feel right away from it mr. Waterman I got a surprise for you this afternoon Fenton going to make a little ceremony out of your retirement a Ceremony good for store morale right Cartwright. Oh, absolutely mr. Waterman absolutely About that request of yours you made last week Fenton. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we can swing it Oh, you're too kind mr. Waterman. Oh my boy when you work for Waterman's 30 years, you've got something coming to you No Really? I ate my usual lunch that day the Thursday blue plate special at Elmo's grotto 70 cents plus the usual 10% tip 7 cents With the usual 20 minutes left in my lunch hour I headed for the part with a nickel bag of peanuts the squirrel for going to miss me No, no, mr. Waterman, you've had three already give mr. Cartwright a chance Sit up as a cartwright sit. That's it. That's it Excuse me. Would you mind if I join you mr. Fenton? Why miss Prentice? I mean of course not Sit down sit down Move over mr. Waterman. He does look a little pompous doesn't he which one is mr. Cartwright there with the small mustache he bites and Is there a miss Prentice? Well, there is but I believe she is Well, nothing well How long have you been feeding them mr. Fenton they seem so friendly 30 years miss Prentice my favorite animal You give a squirrel a nut and has eat it now. He runs away and stores it in a hole We could all benefit from their example and now that you've stored your little nest egg you're retiring mr. Fenton Well, you might say that yes You're quite a fascinating character, mr. Fenton me I'm I'm sorry. I didn't know you sooner. You know the whole store is talking about your ordeal in that vault Oh, it wasn't so bad. In fact, I've always rather liked the ball What an odd thing to say Well Chaconne a so gooo miss Prentice. That's French for each to his own taste Oh, you've been abroad mr. Fenton me. Oh my goodness now Oh, but you will now that you're retiring No, no, I've got my eye on a little cottage by a lake and woods lots of squirrels there and no time clocks You and your wife mother. Oh, I hope you get it. Mr. Fenton. Thank you, mr. Prentice. I Wonder what the robbers are going to do with all that money. I wonder Five-to-one should we go back and punch in miss Prentice? She let me walk all the way back to the store with her and in the elevator mr. Bixler Sporting goods wink at me Funny for ten years that had the feeling mr. Bixler didn't like me There was quite a gathering in the cashier's office when we arrived all the executives for mr Waterman's down and the editor of the store paper wandering through Waterman's I'd sent an item to him last summer mr. Fenton of cashier's department spending his two-week vacation at home But he never printed it come in come in and we've been waiting for our shall we say a guest of honor? Me mr. Waterman you Fenton we have a little ceremony which I hope to conclude before the lunch hour was over Oh, I'm sorry mr. Waterman nothing of it. This is your day Fenton in your day. Oh Going to get a shot of the two of us wool. Yes, sir, mr. Waterman over by the door Oh, if you don't mind I'd like it sitting at my desk. I feel more Well secure there by your desk How's this? Got it good good And now Fenton We all say farewell to a good and faithful servant one who has given 30 years of his life as a contribution However small to making Waterman's the great institution it is today Well done Harold Fenton. Thank you a modest man But conscientious his regular comings and goings past almost unknown to many until his ordeal of two days ago Locked all night in the vault by brutal and Repetious thieves a night in which in his own words. He relived each and every day of his 30 year services to Waterman's Greater devotion hath no man. There was nothing really and now his labor's done his burden born Fenton will live up the rest of his days and ease in cupboard because he has arrived at the retirement age of the Waterman pension plan by which he will receive $31 and 68 cents a month $31 and 68 cents a month for as long as he lives Thank you. And now a little surprise for Harold Fenton A week ago and a letter to me our good and faithful servant asked that on his retirement He'd be given permission to purchase for his home his old desk Actually, mr. Waterman, I I don't know what I do without it. Oh, frankly, I put in a lot of thought on this simple request Hmm, I wait the factors in my mind on the one hand was Fenton's 30 year service on the other Mr. Waterman on the other he was already receiving his pension of Well his pension, however, please mr. Waterman, however Fenton my boy. I decided to go you were better one better Not a new desk nothing so unsentimental Fenton instead of allowing you to purchase the desk. I'm giving it to you Yeah, all right boys right in here take the desk wherever Fenton here wants it Now back to work everybody month-end clearance today whoops easy man don't drop it easy And in my boy in the years ahead when you're seated at your old desk think of us, won't you? I certainly will mr. Waterman. I Certainly will Auto light is bringing you mr. Jack Benny in a good and faithful servant tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills Suspense Senator did you take my advice play a scarlo my auto light spark plug dealer turned my worn spark plugs out of office and elected a Certificate of Ignition engineered auto light spark plug now wise move senator those auto light spark plugs are designed by the same Auto light engineers who designed the coil distributor generator and all the other important parts of the complete ignition system Used as original equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars trucks and tractors They're world famous for quality and performance and my auto light spark plug dealer nominated Auto light resistor spark plugs for my car. Hello. You're on top now senator Because auto light resistor spark plugs represent one of the greatest Advancements in spark plugs for automotive use in the past 20 years They offer proven advantages such as double life gas savings and smoother performance and they're specified as original Equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars What's more the auto light resistor spark plug is just one of a complete line of ignition engineered Auto light spark plugs for every use so fellow citizens be sure vote for auto light Right senator friends take a tip from me and see your dearest auto light spark plug dealer this week and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Jack Benny in the Elliott Louis's production of a good and faithful servant a tail well calculated to keep you in suspense Retirement agreed with me a walk to the park to see my friends when I felt like it leisurely lunch at Elmo's grotto when I felt like it and when the needle rose a little gardening Mother and I were very happy All through mother just cleaning off the spade Mother If anything should happen to me knock wood knock wood Right in between the beets and the radishes. There's a very rich patch of dirt Not we're going to get our little cottage by the lake. I have to go in town today mother I might just inquire around. Oh good You know, mr. Waterman is really a very sweet man the Waterman pension plan. I Just wish I could tell him how happy it's made me. I hadn't told mother, but Miss Prentice had called that morning Mr. Cartwright wanted to see me that afternoon at the office. She said and she asked how I was What would have happened if I'd asked her to lunch? Almost did to in the cashier's office at the store. Miss Prentice smiled when she saw me and I smiled back In fact, we struck up quite a conversation. Oh, mr. Fenton. How are you fine? Just fine miss Prentice retirement agree with you. Yes. Yes, indeed fine You notice we haven't filled your old job. No. Oh, yes. Yes indeed haven't been able to find another man of your type Well, well That you come on in here coming coming mr. Cartwright Sit down Fenton sit down. Thank you. Just trying to clean up accounts on the robbery Fenton, what was your final telly again? 50,000 almost exactly mr. Cartwright your way off That doesn't check with my orders at all. I'm quite sure of my figures. Well, and you're wrong. That's all my check shows They got away with 82,000 82,000 right If you'll just sign the necessary statements corroborating my order. I can't do that mr. Cartwright And just why can't you don't you take my word for it frankly? No Fenton look You're a tired. It's nothing to you one way or the other He's just made a little mistake in your figures. That's all mr. Cartwright Are you asking me to help cover up a shortage in your accounts all right Fenton are laid on the line Temporarily, I'm a bit short involvement with a woman and You wouldn't understand. I most certainly wouldn't look I'll make it worth your while Shortages I found out sooner or later mr. Cartwright. All right, if that's your attitude Let me tell you something Fenton. I don't like the smell of this robbery of yours. I don't like it at all What do you think of that? You're implying that I made off with fifty thousand dollars belonging to watermen. I think it's highly possible and How are you so sure it was fifty thousand? Supposing me for one instant capable of such a thing mr. Cartwright Wouldn't I be much too clever to put my head in a noose by covering up for you? Fenton if I was talking to an honest man wouldn't he have taken my story right to mr. Waterman? Hmm. I'll give you five minutes I've assigned my auditor I go to the police and accuse you of stealing eighty two thousand dollars They get over Fenton No question about it. Mr. Cartwright's dishonesty might be a bit awkward for me My instinct about the man had been thoroughly sound. I had to slight him for sixteen years Well, there was only one safe way out of it. Well Mr. Cartwright if you need money, yes Why don't you rob the vault? Actual hit isn't hard at all. Well, how did you how do I get away with the money? I'm sorry. I never reveal professional secrets. Well, then you'll have to help me friend Lock me in the vault and you get away with the money Me sure then we're both in the clear for good. Help me out friend You mean I'm gonna clear out the vault a second time. You'll never regret it Regret it Well, the fact is I I'd rather enjoy it. We settled on the following Friday Friday nights the store stayed open till nine and they were having a big white sale that day The money was already stacked on mr. Cartwright's desk when I got there the juicy haul. I Didn't see mr. Cartwright around but hello, mr. Phantom miss Prentice but The money I I was listening when you and mr. Cartwright made your plans mr. Phantom and and and he caught me and forced me to help him You understand Harold. I mean mr. Fenton Harold Times like these draw people together quickly. Don't you think oh, I do I really do Miss Prentice Thank you Helen Miss Prentice Mr. Cartwright mentioned a woman in his life you're Not the one Harold of course not excuse me. I just thought You remember the office party last Christmas. Oh that well that was just because he was under the mistletoe and if you'd been under it Instead of mr. Cartwright really? well You're here good. Anybody see you come up. It doesn't matter really mr. Cartwright might even be better that way Then you and miss Prentice can say that I left minutes before the bandits arrived. You're right, of course Thank you. Are you ready mr. Cartwright? I brought some wrapping paper for the money Brought along a handle with care sticker. That's the Fenton touch, you know get on with it. Will you no need to be nervous? There need I Spent eight years in wrapping and mailing. All right, you know what to do with it Helen. I know just a minute mr. Cartwright I'm to take the money remember there's been a change Fenton We rewrote the script you think that's wise To fly in the face of my experience. I look fatten when our children you lock us in the vault and take off with the money You think we'd ever see you again? You're questioning my honesty I'm sure miss Prentice will vouch for me We're rather good friends that miss Prentice Helen Unfortunately for you Fenton Helen's on my side now if you wouldn't mind getting into the vault Me me in the vault, but this is a loaded gun Fenton get in the vault But you came back for a second helping that's all the confederate got away with the money But I courageously slammed the vault door on you and went for help, but will they believe me? Imagine they'll find 50,000 somewhere around your house. They'll believe me Helen. I See I'm sorry Harold. It's a nasty trick, but we're nasty people you should have stuck to squirrels just one thing Fenton How did you ever get that 50,000 out of here the first time? how Well, I Didn't mr. Cartwright. You didn't then where is it? It's still in the ball. I don't believe it. Oh, it's quite cleverly hidden It took me most of that night. I was locked in get in there and show me. I'm sorry, mr. Cartwright Get in there now. I went through a lot for that money, mr. Cartwright 30 years I just assumed you're shocked me Helen hold the gun on him. I'm going in and look well Don't be long. What if somebody should walk in I'll be able to see if he's lying just watch it You see anything not yet. I don't think it's possible. It's open the door so I can get some more lights Must be true Crime changes people. I had never lied yet. I lied to Cartwright. I Never used violence yet. I got behind Helen and I Guess I'll go home Mother will be wondering what's happened to me Serial Harold, I don't think so mother. Thanks. What time is it eight ten, son? Well, they would have opened the vault at eight this morning. The police should be here any minute Are you sure those two will implicate you Harold? It seems likely mother the gun would be hard to explain And I think miss Prentice will turn on mr. Cartwright after a night in the vault. Yes. She's just the type I'm sorry mother. I guess I just don't know much about women. It's all right, son You think they'll be hard on you not very I haven't spent any of the money the insurance companies always look kindly on such cases There they are Harold How long in two years mother maybe less maybe even one it's still a long time a long time After 30 years and waterman's hardly I'll get the door suspense Presented by auto light tonight star mr. Jack Benny This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for auto light world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment Auto light is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry They are members of the auto light family as are the 98,000 auto light distributors and dealers in the United States and Thousands more in Canada and throughout the world our family also includes the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great auto light plants from coast to coast and Instill other auto light plants in many foreign countries as well as the 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in auto light Every auto light product is backed by constant research and Precision built to the highest standards of quality and performance. So remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light Next week a story of revenge The desperate effort of a murderer to destroy the man who had committed him to prison The story is called Concerto for killer and eyewitnesses our star the director of suspense mr. Elliot Lewis That's next week on South Spence Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Ludd Bluskin A good and faithful servant was written for suspense by Richard M. Powell portions of this program were transcribed In tonight's cast Norma Barden was heard as mrs. Fenton Doris singleton as Helen Gerald Moore as mr. Cartwright Joseph Kearns as mr. Waterman I ever back as Lieutenant Miller and Charles Calvert as mr. Wolf For the location of your nearest auto light spark plug or auto light battery dealer or your nearest authorized auto light service station From Western Union by number and ask for operator 25 switch to auto light. Good night. This is the CVS radio network