 Johnny Dollar, Jonathan Doe. The man who never really existed. That's right. That was a pretty rough one. Well, which is it? Loomis, so what happened? I told you he disappeared. I mean, what have you got to go on? Leads, clues, whatever you want to call him. That's a funny part of it. Yeah. What do you call that funny? So, so maybe you're right. One of yours truly, Johnny Dollar, by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar, and the Worldwide Mutual Insurance Company, Home Office, Hartford, Connecticut. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Loomis matter. Spelled, L-E-U-M-A-S. Well, at least it gives me a clean, unplated start. So, expense account item one, a dollar ten for a taxi to the Office of Worldwide Mutual and the Spurling Building down on the square. I suppose I could have saved time by telling over the phone just to pack your bags and head on down to Vineland, but sit down. Nice. On the New Jersey? That's right. About halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Yeah, unless I know the place. I handle a couple of... Wait a minute. You said Loomis? That's right. Elmer Loomis, the man who disappeared. Isn't there a Loomis glass company in Vineland? One of the biggest. Up to a few years ago when he retired, Elmer Loomis was the sole owner of it. Hmm. And he must be plenty wealthy, huh? Millions. Which offers a lot of possible reasons for his disappearance. That's right. Okay, then let's just tell me all. I thought I made myself clear, Johnny, when I said I should have sent you right on down there to Vineland, because all I know about him is that he's wealthy, retired, sportsman, yachtsman, that sort of thing, and he suddenly vanished. How old a man is he? Well, according to his copy of the policy, he's, uh, fifty-nine. Straight life? Straight life. And who stands to benefit if his body just happens to turn up somewhere dead? His wife, Lena. How old is she? Let's see, she was, uh, thirty last June. Aw. That's right. And incidentally, I understand she's quite a beauty. At least according to Harry Ware, who sold the policy. Incidentally, huh? What do you mean by that? Aw, use your head less. Young, attractive woman, wealthy husband, nearly twice a rage. Here we go again. Now, dog god jumping to conclusions, Johnny. Oh, no, of course not. Of course not. But, uh, just how soon do you suppose I can make connections to Vineland, New Jersey? Four dollars even for a couple of taxi fares. One back to my apartment where I packed a bag, the other out to Bradley Field. Item three, twelve fifty-five for a plane to Philadelphia. Item four, there in the city of Brotherly Love, fifty bucks deposited on a rental car. After a late and hasty lunch, that's item five, two and a quarter. I drove across the Delaware River Bridge and picked up Route forty-seven. South Jersey is flat as a pancake, but full of beautiful homes and rich farmland, occasional cranberry bogs and lots of big poultry farms and pea charters. So the drive was a pleasant one. Then, in Vineland, the so-called heart of sunny southern Jersey, I went straight to police headquarters, a block off Landis Avenue, the main drag. I contacted Sergeant Louis Tommaso with whom I'd worked before. As usual, he was right on the ball. Kind of, huh? You might be dragged in on this. How are you, Johnny? Well, pretty good, Louis. Harder, rather, I'm not so sure. You have any real leads on this case? Johnny? Yeah. Let me hand you a thought for the day. Oh, please, sure. Don't be surprised when you find that Lena Loomis isn't at all broken up over this loss of her husband, because she isn't. If you ask me, she's downright tickled to death about it. Isn't that your snide way of telling me that she's interested in somebody else, somebody closer to her own age? Johnny, if I could find out who that somebody else is, but who knows, maybe there isn't any. Or maybe there's a dozen of them, I don't know. This gal is the social type. One big party after another, night after night, month after month, ever since they got married. Loomis, couldn't stay far enough away from it all. Spend most of his time off on hunting or fishing trips or out on his yacht. Funny that he ever married her in the first place. Wow, and a gorgeous young charmer starts going at a poor, lonely widower, nearly 60. Well, what do you expect? Apparently all she cared about was getting her hooks on his money. What else? When did he go? Ten days ago. Got up, had breakfast, announced he was going to spend the day in Philadelphia, walked out the front door, and that was the last anybody ever saw. And what about enemies, Loomis? Now, the one that anybody know? I mean, anything, any reason to think he might have been hauled off and murdered? The only reason to think he wasn't is the fact he took some luggage, some clothing with him, and that doesn't prove anything. You've questioned his wife, of course. Yeah, yeah, when you get through talking to her, you'll know just as much or as little as I do. Well, how about his favorite hunting and fishing spots? Check them all, favorite, and otherwise, nothing. You say that he owns a yacht? Owned. Huh? A sailboat, a big one. Kept it down in the little town of Tuckahoe on the Tuckahoe River. So? He just happened to have sold that yacht two days before he disappeared. Oh. Johnny, we haven't a single solitary thing to go on. You sure about that, Lou? What do you mean? Not even his wife. Two of yours truly Johnny Dollar in a moment. And now act two of yours truly Johnny Dollar and the Loomis Matter. Expense account item 6580, dinner for Sergeant Louis Tomasso and myself at the East Landis Hotel there in Violin, New Jersey. Then he gave me some directions and I left him and drove east on Landis Avenue. In case you're interested, I found out that a guy by the name of Landis founded this fair city. The Loomis Home was a massive red brick affair set in the middle of, well, it must have been nearly an acre of huge lawns and trees and flower beds. 25 or 30 rooms, I'd guess, really a mansion. And the long broad driveway was lined with maple trees. In other words, there was money here, plenty. As for Lena Loomis, wowie. If she was, believe me, she didn't look it. And brother, she had everything. She was tall, live, and brunette with just enough makeup to enhance her soft and gently tanned complexion. She wore a pair of sleek blue velvet capris and a light silk blouse, a subtle touch of arpeggio that violent the risk of sounding repetitious. Wowie. Well, come in, Johnny. Yeah, how an old car, a wealthy or not, could ever rate something like this. And framed there in the doorway in a trace of moonlight filling through the trees, believe me. Johnny? Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Loomis. Mrs. Loomis? And with that look in your eye, it's Lena, and you know it, and come in. Uh-huh, sure, thanks. Oh, Darin, you would come the one night when I'm not having a party. In here, Johnny. Yeah. The place is dead as a doornail. Then I suppose I have to give the servant some time off. Sit down, huh? A life of drink? Yeah, I think I could use it. No, no, no, thanks. Not even to keep me company? Scotch and soda? Uh, a light one. I just knew that was you I saw down on Landis. What? What did you say? I say, I just knew you'd be coming down here to investigate Elmer's disappearance. So when you rang the doorbell just now, I wasn't the least bit surprised. Oh, that's so. Elmer was always a great fan of yours. Your radio program, I mean. Well, you tell about all those cases you saw. That's why I knew you the second I saw you. I see. Well, now, Lena. Johnny, I'm so fed up with answering questions about him. That Louis Tomaso from the police department assessed about driven me crazy with him. He is kind of a cute guy, though, isn't he? Do you know him? Well, as a matter of fact, I talk with him. Oh, here's your drink. Oh, thanks. Slot him's up. Huh? These glasses must hold about a quart. Oh, well, you know what I mean. Skull. Yeah, Skull. Now, Johnny, I don't know how much Louis told you about Elmer vanishing this way. But whatever it was, there's nothing more I can tell you. He's gone. That's all. And you know something? I don't mind a bit. Yeah, well, I kind of had a notion that. He'll find his body lying around somewhere. Well, just look at all it gets me. This home and property and all the stock in the glass company he sold and money. More money, Johnny, than you could even imagine. Yeah. And I believe that his insurance is a monthly final line. Oh, the insurance. So that's nothing compared to all the money he has lying around in banks all over the place. It'll all be lying. And if you don't think I know how to use it. You know, there are a couple of things that might put a crimp in your plans, Lena. Uh-uh. What Lena wants, Lena gets. Why do you think I ever married Elmer in the first place? Ooh, Elmer, isn't that a terrible name? Suppose I find out that he's been murdered. Who would ever want to murder poor, weed old Elmer, and why? Oh, maybe to get hold of all this money you've been talking about. Of course not. I told you, I get everything. That's exactly what I was. If he just doesn't show up after seven years, well, you know, the statute of limitations. Oh, yeah, I know. But if he does come back, you know, suffering from amnesia or maybe he was in an accident somewhere, you know. Wow. So I'll do what I can to keep him happy, as long as he lives, and then I'll have it all. I don't love him, Johnny, not a bit. But I do try to keep him happy, at least I can do. Lena. Then when he dies, well, like I said. Lena, listen to me. He's a handsome old dog. I'll say that for him. You see, they're in that picture on the table beside you. Yeah, I see, but now listen. Tom, wiry with that big shock of hair. Yes, I see it. But why he kept that mustache and van dyke? Well, they made him look even older than he was. I mean, than he is. What did you mean was? What? Now, Lena, listen. There are some things I want to know. How about another drink? For instance, your husband had a yacht. Oh, didn't you know? He sold it just before he was, I mean, just before he disappeared. To home. Does it matter? Yes. Well, it was some man by the name of, well, here. Here's the bill of sales. His name is Samuel Rimley. Rimley. I hear. R-E-M-L-E Samuel Rimley. That's Toccahono jersey. Well, now you've asked a question. You've got an answer. So let's have another drink, huh? And you help me? I simply couldn't finish down to answering my questions. After some of our trying, all I ended up with was an invitation to stick around for a big party. She was going the following night. Young, charming, attractive. Yes. But trying to make sense with her was a lost cause. Finally, standing out at the front door, ready to leave, I decided to switch my tactics. You can't mean that. That is exactly what I mean because from what you've told me, what little you've told me, there's only one conclusion I can draw. somehow contrived to have your husband done away with to get your hands on all that money you've been yapping about don't you see I get it all anyway sooner or later I wait huh even if I have to wait up to seven years for that statute of limitations now listen John yeah I don't like this I don't like the way you're accusing me you you're threatening that's right I gave you all the chance I could to cooperate but you wouldn't take that you just get out you get out of sure for the time being no you stay away from me don't you ever come back you better play it my way to lean on buddy oh for you me I just happened to be looking out for Mrs. Loomis yeah yeah I don't like what I was hearing just now all that's too bad now if you get out of my way oh no you don't bother oh no hard case was gone it was a lump on my head that must have been made by a black check and inside my head was the solid conviction that Lena Loomis was without question responsible for the disappearance possibly the murder of her husband I climbed painfully back into my car drove to the hotel and after a dirty look from the night I got a rum and hit the sack early the next morning I was down at police headquarters well not having had a good look at him you don't give as much to go on well look if you pick them up a little let me take care of Johnny just say I want a question did you get anywhere with Mrs. Loomis the only question I got straight at answers forward wait a minute the yacht did you check out that yacht I told you Loomis sold it just before he disappeared I saw the bill of sale on it myself yeah so did I but Louis I got a hunch how far is Tucker Hall 30 35 miles he kept the boat at Wilson's land good now listen I'm gonna play this hunch for all its worth to do with a rather strange and interesting combination of names and the more I thought about it well I made tracks to the little town of Tuckahole a Wilson's landing on the Tuckahole River but the owner of this Mr. Remley you took it out last night yes did you know the previous owner no I'm kind of new here but the boss most of most where is he then down to Atlantic City to pass me all right what is this Samuel Remley look like well Remley's an old man about the 16th yeah all slim and a wiry little head of hair a mustache a little Van Dyke beard oh no no no sir Mr. Remley's clean shave and wears a butch well I'm listening yes sir you know where he headed for when he took off last night no I don't then show me the nearest telephone 7 3 bucks for telephone calls I hit pay dirt on the fourth one to the Coast Guard station of Cape May then captain I'll be right down there police must have all been looking the other way for I'm sure I deserved a handful of tickets for speeding on the trip down to Cape May I found the Lena tied up and taking on supplies the owner well when I told him who I was he spread his hands quietly smiled led me down into the cabin and poured a couple of drinks. Salute Mr. Donner. Salute Mr. Well is it Loomis or Remley? Neither. Names dip you off. It took a while to get through this thick skull of mine but well the rather unusual spelling of your right name L-E-U-M-A-S is and spelled backward it comes out Samuel. Elmer spelled backward comes out Remley. Elmer Loomis? Samuel Remley. So obvious I hope it might be overlooked, right? Oh incidentally I'm sorry about Pete and Jerry. Pete and Jerry? The bodyguards I left for Lena, not known to her of course. Oh yeah I can't wait to meet those boys again. But I wanted to be sure she'd be watched over while I was away taking time to really figure out what to do about her about our rather pitiful relationship. That's the reason for the disappearing act? Yes. I knew that if I suggested just going away alone she wouldn't hear of it. So you were staying right here in Tuckall? Oh Cap Wilson at the landing knew who I was of course but nobody else did after I cut my hair and beard. Nobody else had really known me there anyway. Well then last night you took off. Well the boys came down and told me oh by the way you'd better have your credentials back. Oh thanks. Where were you going? I don't know. Most anywhere. I might have realized I wouldn't get away from you though. I'm a great admirer of yours Donald. Well thanks. So what now? You've had time to make of your mind about your wife I mean? No. Yes I suppose so. Well I don't know of any formal charges I ought to make against you. Of course the violent police. I'll somehow try to make up to them for all the trouble I've caused them. Would you like to sail back to Tuckall? No thanks I've got my car. And who knows? Maybe in like a little more time I just think. Alone. How much of a case after all? The two thugs? Sergeant Louie locked them up for assault and I guess that'll have to do for them. As for Lomas and his wife? Well I'm glad it isn't my problem. Expense account total including the trip back to Hartford 8950. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.