 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar This is Joe McNab Johnny try eastern indefinity. Oh, hi Joe. What's up? The Star of Cape Town Star of Cape Town Constellation Celebrity or ship wrong three times the star of Cape Town is a diamond about the size of a jumbo olive Oh sounds like it to make a nice ornament for a martini except I'm strictly a limit peel man Oh, this is serious Johnny. I'd like you to take a look at it. Now. What's so interesting about it except It's probably worth a hundred thousand dollars make it a hundred years this stone. I'd like to see where is it? Star of Cape Hey, wait a minute in Cape Town, South Africa. That's right. I'll be right over Tonight in 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 try eastern indemnity associates home office Following is an accounting of expenses incurred during my investigation of the star of Cape Town matter Expense account item one a dollar fifty cab fare from my apartment of the office of tri-eastern indemnity associates Joe McNab was waiting for me Sit down Johnny. Thanks So what about the star of Cape Town sounds interesting you're interested. We're worried. What about ever here of Andrew Lening Forbes the third Orbs Forbes seems to me have seen his picture in the papers a couple of times International playboy type isn't he that's the one he owns the star of Cape Town now inherited the stone after the recent death of his aunt Oh Johnny like I told you we've got that diamond insured for a hundred and fifty thousand bucks But Forbes treats it like it was a ten cent store hunk of costume jewelry What do you mean? He cuts it from place to place wherever he goes Paris Rome the Riviera you name it He's been there and so is the star of Cape Town. Oh, you mean all he keeps it in hotels safe stuff like that But that isn't good enough We want him to put it in permanent custody somewhere See your point, but he won't seem to listen to reason and right now. It's a particularly bad period for us I'll come Forbes seems to be in one of his party-giving moods He has him every once in a while about three weeks at a time a big party every night wherever he happens to be Then he quiets down for a month or two probably resting up But how how come he's in Cape Town now who knows who knows why he goes anywhere He does brother sounds like a real character Yeah But what we want you to do is to talk him out of being a character long enough to put that diamond in a safe place And to keep an eye on it until he does We got a plane reservation for you tonight at midnight tonight not just a minute. Look if it's the money You're worried about don't be this means a lot to us. We're willing to pay accordingly So you may not believe this but I wasn't thinking about the money then what those three men who got killed over that diamond You told me about them over the phone. Oh that look the diamonds 50 years old those three killings were 20 30 years ago Just the same three is always a crowd and I wouldn't like to see it increased by one Expense account item two three sixty camp fair to my apartment a pack and then to the airport Where Joe McNabb met me and told me three tired jokes in two minutes in a very subtle attempt to keep my mind off the three dead men as He gently steered me to the plane Item three plane fair to Cape Town, South Africa The plane came in over Cape Town in the early afternoon Off to one side toward the famous Devil's Peak and down below the bay glittered like yeah It looked like everything was trying to remind me of that diamond As if I could forget a stone worthy of a hundred and fifty thousand in the lives of three people Item five care fair to the residents of Andrew lining Forbes the third. He'd rented a mansion on the side of a hill I was ushered onto a terrace overlooking the city in the bay For us was waiting for me with a drink in his hand He was a thin-faced elegant tired-looking character whose deep tan didn't hide the lines on his face He could have been anywhere from 35 to 50 Yeah, how have you a drink dollar? Well, a little early in the afternoon isn't oh is it I might cool you off. Okay, thanks Say it's a quite a place you have it here. It's adequate You seem amused. Well, there must be 15 16 runs at least roughly Adequate seems kind of like another statement quite possibly Yeah, why thanks Look dollar was very thoughtful of the insurance company to send you all the way down here, but also it was Wouldn't unnecessary be the word That depends mr. Forbes. What do you mean? The company I represent is pretty chittery over that diameter yours the star of Cape Town. Mm-hmm. Would you like to see it? Well, yes, but I think we ought to here it is You carry it around in your pocket. Why not? I have no holes in my pockets. Oh now look for Oh, no, no, no, I'm really not as bad as that dollar. I was expecting you so I thought I'd play a little joke on you Mr. Forbes that kind of humor shortens my life. Yeah Well, I suppose it was a bit cruel Well, there it is. What do you think of it? McNab said it was the size of a jumbo olive Looks more like a golf ball to me quite vulgar, isn't it? Oh What a cutting job they did on it beautiful And there must be a thousand facets. Yeah, all of them glittering all of them cold all of them surface Rather like life. Don't you think? Look Mr. Forbes if you don't mind let's skip the philosophy for a minute and talk about the diamond. Oh, of course You're still concerned about his safety Well, perhaps this will reassure you. Will you come with me? Sure this way I have a very efficient wall safe my bedroom in here So you see I do take precautions Here we are Yeah Are you reassured now? No, your bedroom opens off the terrace It'll be too easy for somebody to get at that safe very well, Mr. Dollar and after tonight I should place the diamond in a bank vault. That's the best news. I've had all day. Yes Tonight's party will be my last for a while party for Agatha. Who's Agatha? Oh, she's my older sister She's on a world tour arriving here in Cape Town later this afternoon. I'm gonna surprise her Hey, wait a minute. You came all the way here to Cape Town to throw a surprise party for your sister Well, it wasn't doing anything else at the moment. Why not? Well, I could think of a couple of reasons, but they probably wouldn't sound convincing to you probably not Although they probably would sound convincing to Agatha. Oh She and I are quite different half the time she worries about me and the other half the time she disapproves of me She consists of quite beneath the dignity of the Forbes name for me to go popping around from place to place like this I see She's quite devoted to the cause of the Forbes name To make sure it keeps standing for well, whatever it's supposed to stand for I was never quite sure of myself So you're giving her a surprise party tonight. Was she like the idea? Probably not. That's what makes it fun. Oh, by the way, would you like to come? Well under the circumstances, I think I'd better I I wonder if I could have a guest list. A guest list? Oh, good heavens You mean you don't have one? Of course not. I just invite people here and there wait to see who turns up Then you don't have any idea who all's coming Absolutely not. That's the only thing that makes these parties worthwhile. Oh great a Character with a coin habit of carrying his diamond in his pocket throwing a party where he didn't know who was coming This was a situation not calculated to help my peace of mind. Believe me Form said his driver take me back to town I stopped along the way at police headquarters and talked to lieutenant van tile who agreed to furnish a man to help me Keep an eye on the party Expensive con item six cab fare bank out to Forbes house that evening for the party. I Thought I was getting there early, but there were already quite a few people about a stocky bartender shoved a drink in my hand as I walked in and I took a look around quite a brawl Then I spotted the girl with honey-colored hair and a green dress that matched her eyes Well, it was as good a place to start as any Hi, my name is Johnny. I know I'm Sheila your friend of Forbes My you are new around here, aren't you? What do you mean? You'll find me at most of Andy's parties He ranges my transportation See do you What's your excuse for being here in this gay mad throng? You know a friend too matter of fact No, I just met him this afternoon and he invited me to come that's par for the course Now force I'm glad you two have gotten acquainted enjoying yourself Sheila delirious She wonderful Johnny. She's always so gracefully bored. You see Johnny. I perform quite a useful function around here I'm always good for laughs Yeah, well Is your sister enjoying the party for Agatha? I of course not haven't you met her yet John? No, no She's over by the window the thin aristocratic tired looking lady. Oh, yeah Yeah, I see what you mean. Well, that's her look at the stain She thoroughly disapproves of this whole party and of me of course and of me Come along Johnny. I'd like you to meet Agatha. Oh, you're taking a chance. She probably disapprove of me, too Oh, no, no, you look like the respectable type. Thanks. I guess she thoroughly approved I I seem to have another guest arriving. Would you two excuse me? I'll introduce you to Agatha later Johnny Sure the perfect host when he wants to be Who's the new arrival her name is Helen and he met her a day or two ago Well, I'll say this for her. Yes, isn't she? Sorry, don't be I'm used to it. You know something Sheila. I don't get you No, I'm not so hard to figure out Johnny. I think you are you don't like these parties any more than Agatha Watch it Johnny you start comparing me to her and she's going to disapprove of you, okay? But I still don't get it. You don't like the parties or forms of the friends that you keep tagging along Yeah, I've got a perfect attendance record. Why well, I guess there's one obvious reason but that would sound real corny Maybe not so let's just say that After you've been riding the merry-go-round long enough standing on solid ground doesn't seem normal Oh Well, maybe if you keep riding that merry-go-round you'll grab the brass rink someday don't bet on it Sheila drifted over to the bar where she sat quietly drinking the rest of the evening I Somehow felt sorry for her but I knew she'd bought her own ticket to the merry-go-round at least for the first ride I Looked over at Forbes and started sweating. He was showing the diamond off to the party But before I could get to him Agatha did she must have told him indignified with firm tones to put the ice on ice He laughed and took it back to his room. So I relaxed The party dragged on Agatha managed to look frigidly pain the rest of the evening But Forbes was obviously enjoying himself with Helen. They danced and went out on the terrace Sheila turned her back and concentrated on her drink Finally I went over to the bar Sorry Johnny looks like the bartender has gone home And it's probably a good idea Good night. She headed carefully for the door and went out Then I realized I hadn't seen Forbes for 10 or 15 minutes. I went out on the terrace How would he insight I? Walked to Forbes bedroom door. It's a Forbes Forbes No answer one lamp was lit Forbes was on the floor The knife had gone in low under his ribs. He probably hadn't made a sound Nearby was the case in which he kept a star of Cape Town. It was open and empty Oh, here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow a girl who was exciting beautiful and deadly Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar first truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood Written by Robert Reif. 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 Roy Rowan speaking