 Johnny dollar dollar the investigator. That's right insurance investigator Well, it just happens I'm late for an appointment mr.. Mr.. What did you say your name is I didn't And you must come out here right away, mr.. Dollar protect me protect you Manchester, Connecticut My address is 13 421 13 421 Well, I told you I have an appointment to keep You'll come here as soon as you're through with it. Well, that depends mr.. Lynch what seems to be the trouble Well, isn't that something for the police to handle After all unless there's insurance involved Oh what company mr. Lynch Yeah, that's right. Well Okay, okay, who made this threat against your life and why Well, unless I know what this is all about and look you didn't answer my question mr.. Lynch Have you told the police about this do you think I'd call on you if I had but if your life has been threatened the thing All right then calling the police Find any legitimate reason why I should make an investigation And I tell you the people Mr. Lynch, okay, mr.. Go ahead and wait All the crack parts Wonder though Yeah, Johnny. Yeah, that's right At McCracken Johnny universal adjust. Oh say Pat Will you find out for me what company if any holds a policy on a Walter E Lynch over in Manchester? Sure sure Johnny But listen, I thought you were going to be here in my office at 10 o'clock sharp I'm sorry, but this whole signature on a deposition for that arson money you covered last I know I know I've got to have it right away. I see it is Pat. I'll be there in three minutes flat Okay, meantime look up that water Lynch for me. Would you okay? Just get over here, right the exciting adventures of the man with the Action-packed expensive car America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yes, truly Johnny Dallock best-selling records. Here's a familiar tune about America's best-selling filter cigarette Winston Has filter blend up front Choice flavorful tobaccos Specially selected and specially processed for filter smoking. No wonder Winston tastes good like I Know act one of yours accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to Easton trust and insurance company home office Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the hapless ham matter Expense account item one a dollar twenty plus another dollar for the cab driver who got me from my apartment a universal adjustment bureau in record time I Barged in on Pat McCracken without being announced put my John Hancock on the deposition after which he witnessed my signature All right, there we are Now here you are miss. Delcey give these to mr. Peterson and tell him happy plane trip Yes, sir. Oh and see if Bartell has found any of that lynch information. I asked him about He's been a lynching mr. McCracken No, no judge. I just do as I say now go ahead, but I thought I heard you Yes, sir. Hey, what is the worry on this man lynched Johnny? Well patty sounded like a crack party call me on the phone just before you did said his life is being threatened Oh another one of those things, huh? Yeah, who is threatening him? Oh, I don't know He was well, he was a bit evasive about it same as he was about naming his insurance company I know I never heard of him. What did you tell him? I told him to call the police then unless there was some insurance angle a requirement investigation, you know, right exactly, right? Although of course if Bartell does find something on him if he is a client of one of the companies That's still a police matter. Why call on me to play body. Yeah, you know Johnny If you would have your telephone number unlisted, you'd save yourself a lot of these nuisance calls. Oh, yes Here's a photo set of the lynch policy. Mr. Martell said you asked him for oh, then there is one Thank you, and I thought you were talking about some kind of a lynching some words. Mr. McCracken isn't that funny? Yes, yes, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chelsea That'll be all Yes, sir. Oh, let's see Johnny Walter E. Lynch Policy issued 1954 Eastern trust and insurance face value Hmm. Yeah, I see 50,000 smackers a lot of money. Let's see the name of the beneficiary. Oh, well a nephew Fred Lynch New York City address I Wonder Johnny so do I how well Freddie and his uncle get along named him as beneficiary five or six years ago Things can change but there's one way to find out and with $50,000 to be paid out if anything does happen. Yes. Yes, go ahead Johnny go ahead and pay Mr. Walter Lynch a little visit at Company expense well now Well, oh sure. Why not? I'll notify eastern that we've assigned you to this but that you'll send your expense account directly to them Okay, okay There's only about 13 miles from my place to Manchester and I use my own car But I saw no reason for now using the old expense account so item two was 460 for a tank full of gas The address Mr. Lynch had given me turned out to be in a rather nice residential section The house was a small but attractive Cape Cod affairs surrounded by stinging the elm trees And then I saw them the shade of the alms at the front of the place a couple of police cars Oh, my name is dolly sergeant Johnny dollar insurance investigator. I came here to see Mr. Lynch Investigator, huh any credentials, but let me see him sure here. Okay. Yeah Hey, what's happening around here? Okay, dollar You boys act pretty fast. Don't you what do you mean? Is mr. Lynch in some kind of trouble? I'd call it worse than trouble dollar. He's dead He's what that's right murdered Well, I'd better get inside there and see what's what yeah, no sure. Maybe you better Inside the Lynch hall the police medical and my own eyes confirm what sergeant beakley. It told me outside Watering Lynch was dead. All right, and there was no question about his having been murdered As you as you can see mr. Dollar the the knife obviously a long very sharp one Plunged into his body here directly back of the heart Yeah, doctor. I see no doubt penetrated that organ death must have been virtually instantaneous Yes, any sign of the murder weapon? We haven't found any sign of it here in the house dollar Conroy is out back looking for it And for any footprints that might give us a clue my little rain. We had last night on a help in the footprints department only it doesn't However did this must have come right in the front door? Hi dollar hi Conroy sergeant. You want me to see what's holding up the boys in the lab? Yeah, I'll give them a call Right sure meantime dollar if you have any eyes. Oh, wait a minute Too late I guess What are any fingerprints on that telephone Conroy's probably covered them up probably covered up anyway, huh? Well, it wasn't the killer who called us about this was the old character lives next door a man named Halsey Right now he's back home in his rocking chair at the corner window muttering to himself trying to recover from the shock Maybe when he does recover he'll be able to give us some help How did he find out about this seems he came over here to talk to mr. Lynch about his nephew Fred Lynch Nobody answered his knock and the front door was wide open so he walked in here and found this so he picked up the phone and You know about Fred Lynch, I know he's been a fishery of his uncle's insurance Another good motor gone to waste. What do you mean? You don't know about a couple three years ago when Freddy's mother died left him a pile of money Only made the mistake of leaving it in charge of this one this stiff. We've got lying here. What happened Well, this old crook finagle that young kid out of every center of it so that by the time Fred was 25 Entitled to it. That was about six months ago My dollar Freddy ended up with nothing his own nephew. That surprised you dollar It's because you don't live here in Manchester. Don't know anything about the Lynch family What's left of them which is only Freddy now? What's that supposed to mean not one of the Lynch tribe was any good? Ask me the town will be glad to see this one out of the way Oh, I get it. Oh what they say Conroy somebody on the way over Harker will be over as soon as he clears up a hit and run over on the east side. Okay Well, I guess there's nothing more we Go see what it. Yes, sir You about finish doc Sergeant history this knife wound puzzles me puzzles me greatly. Yes. What do you mean, doc? Very unusual instrument very long thin with a two-edged blade. Yeah, both edges very sharp. That's so yeah Very unusual sergeant. You said a neighbor a man. Mr. Halsey found him here. Did somebody speak my name? Here's the man who was knocking on the door. Oh, Mr. Halsey come in. I don't know that I want a sergeant with that poor man in there dead. Mr. Halsey. This is Johnny dollar insurance investigator Yeah, insurance investigator. Yeah, I understand you came over here to talk with mr. Lynch about his nephew, mr. Halsey Freddy was that that worthless young whistler that why do you say that well because he Never did a day of honest work in his life the theater. That's all he cares about theater in New York City That bit of a liquid it spends all his time with sinful people Actors of course girls and the like. I take it. You don't have much use for people in show business That's what they are that's all there. Yeah Mr. Halsey if you saw him here this morning, what? He was here. No doubt come to beg some money from his uncle. Why didn't you tell me that mr. Halsey, of course his uncle cut him off from the money his mother left him wouldn't you have done the same mr. Halsey listen. Yes. Well, wouldn't you look here now? He is in that that that sinful city down there. Wait a minute. You say that Freddy was here this morning Yes, of course he was when that's why I finally made up my mind to come over here and talk to Walter about it What time was he here? From 9 30 to a few minutes of ten doc Have you been able to fix the time of death? Very close sergeant. Yes, sir by the body temperature. What time would you say doctor about? About 10 o'clock mr. Halsey. Are you sure it was a few minutes of ten when Freddy left here? Yeah, well, of course. I am how sure I was sitting by the window listening to my radio Like I always thought you didn't like anything about show business radio is different. Oh, thanks Freddy left his house just before the WDRC announcer gave the time as 10 a.m. And radio time is accurate time I see what you meant sergeant about a motive going to waste where Freddy was concerned What are you talking about dollar the doc says death was about 10 a I know so and mr. Halsey you're sure that Freddy didn't come back here after 10 What's the difference of course I am these eyes of mine may be pretty old, but they never miss anything Well, what's the difference Johnny Freddy's the one that killed him Lord knows he's the one logical No, no certain doc says approximately 10. So all right. It was a few minutes of before Freddy left here So Freddy killed him now look everything ties up. Yeah, and the kind of a knot that's gonna hang now Sergeant I wish it was that easy of course it is motive opportunity everything it all spells Freddy Lynch now Conroy put a tracer on him right sergeant. I'm afraid you're wrong. How can I be that is if mr. Halsey is sure of his time of course? I am on the radio Okay dollar why because Walter E Lynch was still alive after 10 o'clock What are you talking about? How do you know because he'd called me on the phone because I myself was talking to him What exactly eight minutes after 10? We'll continue with act two of yours truly Johnny dollar in exactly one minute Here's Hollywood star Mona Freeman who feels like acting with a miserable cold I relieve coldest rest the fast way with four-way cold tablets Yes tests of all the leading cold tablets proved four-way fastest acting Amazing four-way starts in minutes to relieve muscular pains and headache reduce fever calm upset stomach also Overcomes irregularity when a cold strikes do what I do take four-way cold tablets It's the fast way to relieve nasty cold distress and feel better quickly four-way only 29 cents Now here's a word about another fine product of Grove laboratories had dandruff for years now get rid of it in three minutes with Fitch dandruff remover shampoo three minutes with Fitch regularly is guaranteed to keep unsightly dandruff away forever Apply Fitch before wetting hair rub in one minute add water lather one minute then rinse one minute Every trace of dandruff goes down the drain three minutes with Fitch embarrassing dandruff gone Fitch can also leave hair up to 35 percent brighter get Fitch dandruff remover shampoo today And now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the hapless ham matter No question about it. I was the perfect alibi from Freddie Lynch Freddie had left his uncle's house a few minutes before 10. I had talked with his uncle at eight minutes after 10 Yeah, and when the police checked up they learned that Freddie had taken a bus to New York at 10 15 On foot and he was on foot. Oh man Halsey had seen that he had to leave the house before 10 to make that bus I Told you young man these eyes of mine may be old but they never miss a thing He was on foot all right But now wait wait a minute if someone else came in here to commit the murder after Freddie left Why hadn't old man Halsey seen that person? You're right dollar Nobody else came here. So it must have been Freddie killed his uncle. I know look sergeant only how could he Because if you talked to mr. Lynch at eight minutes after and Freddie was only his way to the bus station Wait, wait, then it's impossible Dollar this really bugs me. I listen the murder weapon very unusual. I know doc. You told me it must have been something I'd never seen before I wouldn't be too sure about that unless you feel the same way mr. Halsey does about show business Sinful iniquitous Yeah, maybe you're right on this one. What are you getting at dog? I'm getting out Was that an express that bus that Freddie took to New York? No, it was a local But I don't see what luck in my own car. I can beat him down there. Do you know where he lives, mr Also, I certainly do. All right, where at 12 31 wish 43rd Street. Good. I'll see you later Now all right sergeant. Maybe you can fix any tickets for speeding. I pick up along the way Somehow just lucky I guess I managed to reach the address of New York without getting pinched A $10 bill of the superintendent that's item three got me into the rooms of Freddie Lynch The walls were plastered with theatrical programs and play bills most of them from summer playhouses off Broadway shows In a closet. I found some costumes He'd used in various productions and one corner was a battered shield with a broken spear beside it Some heavy oriental belts and jewelry the long robe of an Arabian desert rider with a sort of turban to go with it Yeah, everything fitted in very nice. Yeah, white open Freddie white over just the way you left it Come in come in kid. I beg your pardon kind of careless, but it's all right. It's okay. Hey, who are you you kidding? Jerry Allen the agent you know Agent yeah, where you've been Freddie when you didn't answer the letter in the telegram I sent you where you've been hot kid. Oh, you're a theatrical agent. What else listen look hey kid get this I got a part for you great part a great one a good salary, too Of course, you got to let me represent you in the deal, but all I want is the usual 10% How about it I kid Jerry Allen you say yeah, sure, that's right Oh, we never been introduced, but I caught you in half a dozen things and you're good boy good real good Well, I like to think so sure sure you are I've been it's my business I got to keep adding to my stable of act is see what I mean, so if you want this part well, I I Don't think so. What what are you talking about? Well, I'm thinking of giving up the theater. Oh now wait a minute Wait a minute kid. You've fallen there to a fortune or something. Why do you say that? Hmm, of course if you don't want the part No, wait Perhaps I'd better do another player too. Good. You'll let me represent you. Well Freddie. Oh, why not? Well, if the part is good is the part good. It's great kid. It's great And if this thing doesn't hit Broadway the first time up hey listen listen, it's a new play written by John Stone You get that John Stone No, I'm afraid I don't recall. I'm sure you've heard of my man He's had more hits. Oh and listen Freddie listen listen to this part All right Okay, that's how the young man just about your age second act is 20 years later. Hey, you think you can do it Of course my good man good good in the third act well now that part may be a little tough You got to kind of make like you're about 60 Hey, there's no problem at all. I'm telling no problem at all only it's a shaky old man Like he's scared to death all the time. All right, listen All fear has crushed me by the throat the old power Willing oh hey, that's great. That's great. Come on. Keep it up Freddie boy. Keep it up Well see of course if I had a script I scared remember scared say something like a like a You must come here right away to protect me you You must come here right away to protect me. That's great great great great now say my life is in danger I've been threatened mr. Dollar My very life isn't What? What dollar that's right Johnny dollar why this was all a trick Yeah, you fell for it like a ton of bricks the same voice you faked over the telephone to sound like your uncle Killed him left his home knowing that nosy old neighbor would swear as to when you left Then ran to the bus deep one call me up with that phony voice to make an antidellabye to make me ready to swear Your uncle was still alive after you left him there dead dollar listen See, I'm his only kin. I'll be coming into a lot of money His insurance and whatever money or property there is why don't you drop dead? I See But do you see this? So that's what you did it with yeah, yeah, that's right Arabian isn't it I stand long thin blade with a double edge From one of your costume players stand back. I say sure sure I Don't need to be close to you to use this Funny I didn't think I was that good a shot I'll have to make another deposition for the sake of another trial And I'm sure that hamming it up in court won't keep Freddie from playing out the rest of his life In front of a captive audience Expense account total including a flock of incidentals. Well, let's call it a hundred bucks yours truly Johnny doll The word from our star about the case you'll investigate on next week's program Thanks, Daniel. It's called the unholy to matter and involves a pair of characters who fit that description perfectly one of my killer And if you're at all curious about what to do when you've got the situation well in hand and then suddenly a gun is shoved into the middle You're back Well, join us. Won't you right here on your favorite station at the usual time on Sunday yours truly? Johnny doll In our cast were Virginia Greg, Chuck Stratton, Florence Dobkin, Sam Edwards, Herb Ellis, Ralph Moody, and Junius Matthews Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny doll early speaking Next Ray Bradbury's science fiction classic zero hour as suspense follows on the CBS radio network