 the Columbia broadcasting system presents yours truly Johnny dollar the next half hour has its baggage packed to take a trip with America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator Johnny dollar at insurance investigation he's just an expert at making out his expense account he is an absolute genius expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to home office honesty life insurance underwriters terminal building Hartford Connecticut attention Austin Farnsworth general manager the following is an accounting of my expenditures in the investigation of policyholder Milford Brooks the third for your company expense account item one seventy five cents cab fare to your office in answer to your original hurry call tip to driver one dollar expense account item to twenty five cents shoe shine you remember I got my shoes scuffed when I unsuspectingly walked to the private door to your office dollar he's trying to jump out that window let's go I'll show you don't let go you fool get away and a nice try sonny boy now pay attention to teacher class dismissed well mr. Farnsworth why didn't you tell me what you had waiting for me I don't want my boxing gloves dollar this was all a complete surprise to me well just in case you're a little chum on the floor there wakes up in a hurry I got close the window now my goodness dollar what are you doing I'm sitting on his head okay this guy tries killing himself again I just don't want him to try and kill me after all we haven't even been introduced dollar that happens to be one of our largest policyholders his life is insured with this company in the amount of two million dollars oh now I can see why you're so anxious to keep him from putting a dent in the sidewalk precisely he'd also put quite a dent in your company's bank account by the way dollar aren't you in danger of smothering the boys sitting on his head that way maybe now tell me what's this guy's name and what's his story that sir is Milford Brooks the third as I said we have him insured for two million his mother and father left him with a paid a policy for the sole purpose of enabling his ears to pay the inheritance taxes on his estate when he dies unfortunately due to the kind of life he's been leading Brooks not only hasn't any he hasn't any money he blew all his cash that's right now he's trying to get some out of us by threatening to kill himself and that policy pays off on suicide in a mortuary he'd be a millionaire please dollar sorry go on one half hour ago Milford walked into this office and changed the beneficiary in his policy when that was done he proceeded to demand not request mind you five hundred thousand dollars in cash I'll say that's quite a touch when I explained to him that there was no loan provision in his insurance policy he threatened suicide he said I could either give him the half million cash or pay off the two million on his policy so all you have to do is to keep him alive and he's managed to make that no small problem the man he named as his new beneficiary just before he made his demand for the cash is well it's downright frightening why who is it one of the most notorious gamblers in the east his name is Hatcher Harold Hatcher you know him yeah say that kid's been a post office pinup boy for a lot of years well there's the situation dollar I'm engaging you to protect Milford Brooks future you know what there is of it the way this lad operates you think he had but two lives to give for his country he's not only set himself up to get knocked off by somebody else he's just dying to do the job himself it just means that you'll have to work twice as hard it also means something else what's that that you'll have to pay me twice as much money you'll get your money the situation demands sacrifice I'm afraid but protect the boy dollar give him something to live for an interest in life an interest in life huh let's see I know here this should help what that you've got there it's what's commonly referred to in the more successful bachelor's circles as my little black book now let's see Ruby now her favorite expression is drop dead Bernadine now she'd be the new beneficiary by midnight oh here's one here but her hey Farnsworth would you mind passing me that phone the one with a long cord no no not at all my little friend here is showing signs of life here you are maybe you should let him breathe a bit more don't worry he'll be all right hello hello I want to call New York person to person miss Theodora Butts yeah that's right and you'll get her at Hudson to 4292 dollar you're not thinking of taking this boy to New York are you well I'm going there myself and you want me to keep an eye on him don't you don't fret Farnsworth all is not lost you do worry me sitting on his head that way hello hello butter butter this is Johnny dollar I'll be in town and I don't want to see you look here's what I want you to do yes yes this is all right to say over the telephone I want you to reserve a table at the hatchery in my name for 10 o'clock tonight will you do that okay I'll see you in a few hours but I can't make it any earlier I'm sitting up on a sick friend okay goodbye I'm not sure that I agree with your methods oh what's the matter dollar did he hit you hit me no he bit me expense account item three liquor $18 keeping Milford Brooks the third peaceful seemed to be the immediate problem and a bottle of rare old brandy seemed to be the immediate answer I poured most of it into him loaded him into my car and we headed for New York as we passed through New Haven he opened one eye looked up saw the old bowl and gave three years for old Eli old Yale would sure be proud of you why anybody would want to ensure you for two million dollars is more than I can figure well my daddy loved me very much my mother loved me very much not only that but I love somebody very much and not only that but I hate somebody very much tell you want to know something like someone other guy hate you most of anybody else here love a boy it's cocktail hour again time for your bottle rolling along the Merritt Parkway I felt very much alone with my own thoughts and believe me they weren't very pleasant company the way it stacked up for me Brooks had built up a fat gambling debt to Harold Hatcher and have been forced to make him his beneficiary the suicide threat that he was holding over honesty insurance company was a little tougher to figure unless he was trying to finance a trip for himself to get away from the man with a custom tailored murder motive Hatcher my hungry little mind nibbled away on those unsavory morsels of food for thought all the way to butter's apartment where you taking me I want to go to New York you don't behave Buster I'll punch your ticket Johnny darling welcome to New York fastest trip I ever made quiet where did you find this in a box of cracker jacks come on let me in I don't know about you Johnny some men bring me flowers and some bring me candy what do you bring me a boiled owl in a Brooks Brothers suit oh I'm pleased to meet you my name is Brooks but I haven't got any brothers lucky them fix the fellas on the couch with you look more at home in the bathtub come on Buster lie down on this kid's liquor sure can hold him he's passed out how long have you been playing nurse made to this bottle baby leave me into the bar sweet let's get away from this buzz saw and I'll tell you all about it sure come along horrible examples don't seem to bother you do they if you knew how that guy's been bothering me what do you do to me oh let's just say he put the bite on me the river sure does look pretty tonight like a brandy anything but I've been slipping that second hand all the way from Hartford oh make it a bow root beer butter see that big boat out there mm-hmm sure wouldn't like to be on it with you sailing off to faraway romantic places get with it darling that's the 125th Street fair is your root beer come on now tell butter all about it first things first now that I've got a dad's old-fashioned root beer how about giving me one of mom's new fashion kisses and then I'll tell you all about a few seconds later I proceeded to tell her all about it it wasn't easy everything about it kept playing down my train of thought she was a sympathetic listening to my story until I gave it the answer to her first and only question where do I fit into all this baby I thought you want to start my job is to give the poor misguided boys something to live for that's you well he should live so long now butter with him well don't bother me don't don't don't get excited now you misunderstand I really mean it I thought if he just got a look at you realize that things like you exist you'd make any man glad to be alive you can't stand it I'll take him away but I sure need you butter come on baby mouth a little I wouldn't let you get hurt you know that did I hurt you well I'm getting used to it people have been taking pokes at me all day I'm sorry that's better I want some more root beer I want some more of you how about another kiss well help yourself Don I'll get it John okay enough a man man answers hang up with him don't worry hello yes this is Hudson 24292 well that depends who's crawling oh just a moment it's you Johnny of Mr. Farnsworth oh okay I'll take it thanks say one I'm talking be a good girl will you and take a look at Milford in the other room and while you're at it get me in the root beer huh hello Farnsworth yes dollar I'm glad I got you how'd you get this number the one you called from my office I remembered it I have a photographic mind I hope you haven't got a picture of what I'm thinking what do you want I want to know how Milford is I mean he's still alive of course he's alive good good you suppose I could talk to him I mean do you think he'll talk to me well the last time I saw him he was sound asleep I'll take a look hold the phone butter oh butter hey butter hello Farnsworth yes yes do you have any aspirin there at your house I have coarse dollar why well you better take a handful Milford Brooks the third just took a powder I'll call you back you let anything happen to him and you'll need the aspirin I've already got a headache when Milford left he took my girl with him in just a moment we'll return to the second act of yours truly Johnny dollar but first we want to remind you that it was 437 years ago next Sunday the famed Spanish explorer Paul Stelion began his search for the fountain of youth by sheer coincidence the man who's still looking for a Jack Benny will be heard on CBS next Sunday at seven o'clock Eastern time now back to yours truly Johnny dollar well nobody could say I wasn't working fast I'd only been in town for an hour and I had already succeeded not only losing your two million dollar baby Milford Brooks the third Mr. Farnsworth but in losing my million dollar baby Theodora butts I tried to put myself in Milford Brooks 40 dollar shoes but they wouldn't fit you can't outthink a maniac the best I could do was figure either that he was on his way to commit suicide or that Harold Hatcher the man who now stood to collect two million bucks in the event of Milford's death had snatched him out of Butters apartment with birds of that type flocking together but I stood a good chance of being a dead duck I spent an hour unsuccessfully shaking down the neighborhood for them I questioned cab drivers harness bulls bar tenders then I decided to ask for help from higher up and I don't mean that I said a prayer expense account four five cents phone call police of course give me missing persons any particular one don't be a wise guy Lieutenant Fisher hello dollar what did you lose practically everybody let's start with a girl Theodora butts you mean you lost your girl once you call Dorothy Dix don't waste time being clever just check your reports will you hold on that's an honor dollar okay well try this one Brooks no for the third bullseye Brooks no for the third he hasn't been reported missing and we haven't found him yet but we think we know where he is this kind of a question I always hate to ask where the Hudson River at 1115 tonight his top coat complete with identification was found taking a ride on the 125th Street ferry anything else nothing much package of matches was found under the coat monogram you don't happen to know anybody whose initials are HH do you HH well as always Horace height thanks for sure I'll check back with you later I'll be here expense account item five night clubs $28 Harold Hatcher's hatchery was in a cellar under a hotel but the prices were high enough to rate a penthouse club was draped in too much satin it's lady customers and too little the decor was French provincial music Brazilian and the food was nowhere a drinks look weak and the waiters look strong all in all the joint was a sight for sore eyes for making them sore the only pretty thing in the place was a blonde came strolling up to my table her hips unconsciously sending subtle little messages back to the rumba band she opened her mouth slitter tongue over a lower lip and let a few warm soft words slide out looking for someone well do until the real thing comes along sit down thanks no I won't have a drink my name is Janelle I understand you're asking about Mr. Hatcher yeah you know him more than somewhat are you Mrs. Hatcher by any chance I might be does that mean you might admit it or that you might talk him into it someday I'll ignore that what do you want to see him about mutual friends Milford Brooks I know most of the quiet clothes boys around here so you want to cop you don't look like the typhoon to be a society friend of the Brooks family so what are you I'll ignore that is Hatcher around he might be come on where is this office at the top of the stairs in the back and I expect any trouble getting in you act like you just saw a big picture Harold is doing his best to act like an honest businessman these nights you won't have any trouble how do you know because Harold sent me down here to look you over I think you're all right so I've won myself the good house keeping seal of approval huh keeping house with you would meet with my approval I ran for my life at a slow walk across the dance floor edge my way through a cluster of tables and went up the back stairs when I located the door to Hatcher's office I knocked once and went in come on in thanks I'm Johnny Della I've been hired by honesty life insurance underwriters to protect the interest of a guy named Milford Brooks the third what that's supposed to mean to me you know I don't you well he isn't exactly one of my booze in buddies how much money does he owe you we've got him on the books for a few grand why they picked up his topcoat tonight on the 125th Street ferry he wasn't in it it might have been a suicide or it might have been a knockover made to look like a suicide what's your choice where do you get off asking me to make a choice where were you around 1130 tonight what's it to you I don't know I thought you might like to rehearse a few answers the law will be asking you some questions real soon now I don't know why I should tell you but I was driving around in my car getting some air you better do better than that they found a match holder under Brooks's coat it had your initials on it you're right of your mind the guy owed me a couple hundred thousand you think I'm going around knocking off my own assets I don't know whether you're stupid or bright Hatcher don't worry about it I know what about that insurance policy what insurance policy now look Hatcher we're big boys now we both know that changing the beneficiary of an insurance policy is a legal transaction that means witnesses that means it isn't secret you might tell me what you're trying to say that you and the honesty insurance company and I all know that Brooks made you the beneficiary in his policy and that you stand to come in a two million bucks when they fish out his body I don't know anything about it motives don't come much bigger I'm telling you this is all news to me you or nobody else is going to move me off that story I feel the same about mine it doesn't take a genius to know that Brooks didn't love you two million dollars worth there's only one logical reason for his making you the beneficiary that I can see you forced him into it who'd believe anything else who cares that after prove it and brother that can't be done now how would you like yeah yeah oh okay right thanks for the news dollar that you turned me in here huh yeah no I didn't turn you in what's the matter you got a good story Hatcher you're not worried are you yeah have a cigarette thanks I'm gonna like work the first time yeah nope I'm not worried I'll be out in 48 hours you'll be lucky if you're out in 48 years okay boys come on in the homicide boys invited Hatcher down to headquarters he accepted and invited them down to the bar for a no hard feelings drink they accepted I walked back down the stairs into the club place hadn't changed same stale customers same stale music same stale air and the same lovely Chanel sitting at the same one lovely table hello how'd you make out oh I left before they started playing 20 questions but I wouldn't worry you've got a smart boy in the bar there in some ways maybe what do you hand you a big round zero wouldn't talk about what oh just a little do that a two million dollar life insurance policy wait a minute that young Brooks kid yeah that's right oh I knew it I tried to tell him but he wouldn't listen to me try to tell who want Hatcher but he get into trouble about that policy it just looks funny him being made to benefit fishery you knew about it now I suppose you also know what was behind it sure Melford owed him some money a lot of money it's in writing what kind of writing it's a personal note that Brooks was going to get back if he made Harold beneficiary up in his office hey you must be awful close to Hatcher I'm the close friendly tight I'll have that drink you've earned it beautiful she had earned it and I had a hunch as to why if ever I saw a gal busy putting the skids under her boyfriend she was even if she helped send him up on a murder rap I would have been a quick 50 that she tipped him to the police it's happened before if the boyfriend is the murdering type and it's a nice neat legal method of disposal Jenelle had me back up the stairs and into Hatcher's office I sent her back down to watch the bar to divert Hatcher in case he decided he'd forgotten something Brooks's personal note made out to the gambler was easy to find lying neatly in the middle of the top desk drawer but I found something even more interesting when I went through his wardrobe closet I began to see a glimmer of light and then encouraged by not too much thinking on my part it turned into a veritable bonfire which I hope wouldn't be too hot for me to handle find everything honey if I were a judge I'd be ready to sentence a ghillie party good waiter the check where you going to the police bright girl I'll see you later expense account item six cab fare $1 tip the driver $1 once out of the hatchery I walked to the corner got into a taxi and waited in just a few minutes my favorite suspect came out of the club jumped into a taxi and the chase was on we nuzzled our way through the traffic over to 2nd Avenue and headed downtown then he took a right turn on 45th Street over to Lexington and headed uptown but they didn't lose us at 72nd the cab ahead turned right and pulled to a stop my driver was on his toes and his toes were on his break we stopped to have a block behind you want I should wait no here you are keep a change it was a garage that belonged to a residence on the parallel street a block away I made out of for sale sign on one of the big doors the living quarters upstairs were dark enough to look interesting so I indulge in a bit of gentile breaking and entering entering that old barn didn't take much breaking I trep up the stairs sounded like they were left over from an old ghost story and so to the first voice I heard when I stopped halfway up so we've got to be careful especially about that Johnny dollar are you sure he didn't follow you that voice sounded awful dry to be coming from a guy who supposedly had spent most of the night snoozing on the bottom of the Hudson River it was Milford Brooks the third get up on your feet Brooks now wait a minute I started this thing slugging you I might as well finish it the same way leave him alone he's mine pull in the claws angel and sit on his lap oh you you can never get a hit I'll kill you look I'm the last guy in the world who enjoys physical violence give or take but believe me you two are coming money close to changing my whole character now settle down before I really lose my head get off of me I should have known better than to get mixed up with a low class nobody like you got we've pushed the lady around enough Brooks tell me to be careful why didn't you think of that before you let him here wipe your nose big boy don't you get go getting fat headed gorgeous neither one of you is exactly what I'd call a mastermind when you plan that match folder underneath the top corner the ferry boat you both should have been more careful you think you bet I think so if I were planning a piece of evidence to incriminate Mr. Harold Hatcher I would have left a cigarette lighter I found one in the pocket of every suit he owns back there in his closet in the club it wasn't hard to figure out that that guy never carries a book of matches what do you want I'm only interested in one thing saving the insurance company two million dollars and Buster I think you've done it for me away look dollar this is insurance fraud it has been ever since you put on that fake suicide attempt trying to extort five hundred thousand bucks out of the company for you and Janelle wait a minute wait a minute dollar so much for the company now something a little more personal and a little more serious where is my girl well she's all right dollar I I couldn't help it I had to get out of that apartment she caught me leaving I had to take her with me where is she well I didn't mean to hurt her I was afraid she'd yell are you miserable tell you where she is dollar I put her in the cab and sent her to the emergency hospital yeah well no dollar please please I'll give you the BDL Harold Hatcher fun dollar now I want mine how did you get here New York City world's most efficient police force remember when they think maybe a guy's jumped off a ferry boat and nobody's seen him do it check the turnstile counters at each and the case of Brooks here as many people got off that boat has got on it makes sense they'd hardly hold a guy for murder just because somebody else lost a topcoat how'd you know we were here you know me to know you never go any place that I don't know about okay Brooks you felt like explaining now I feel like listening get it up I don't know what you mean I know what you mean Hatcher one he gave you a big fat two million dollar motive for murder until he did his best to make it look like you did murder him with that broken down match cover plan on the ferry boat why they wanted to get rid of you and live happily ever after the big mistake they may was in trying to shake the insurance company down for some ready cash and you baby you put him up to it didn't you your cheap little muscle no help calm down Hatcher you don't need a gun around here they're tame you don't know me very well dollar I'm gonna teach all of you amateur as a lesson how these things are really done come on Brooks no Hatcher you can have everything I've got for a second it looked like Hatcher was gonna take everything but I hadn't gone that far to see Brooks knocked off with me as a witness hey maybe I wasn't gonna be a witness maybe I was gonna be a victim too when that thought had me that's when I flew across the room and hit Hatcher on a do or die flying tackle from behind Hatcher went down shooting I went down kicking and a lucky boot knocked the gun out of his hand I beat him to it and swung it straight into his skull half the people in the room are lying they're bleeding Brooks from a gunshot Hatcher from the gun but Janelle and I both stood there panning but believe me not for each other we stood that way until the police arrived Johnny I hate being in the hospital but I look off butter honey you look lovely and white this patch on my head Johnny they had to cut a big hunger my hair off to put in the stitches that awful man well it'll make you feel any better baby that awful man got taken care of he's upstairs in the same hospital Johnny you didn't know butter I didn't have to Harold Hatcher saved me the trouble they don't know yet whether mr. Brooks is gonna live or die but it doesn't make much difference to me or to the insurance company he signed a statement admitting attempted fraud serves him right hitting a lady on the head Johnny what am I gonna do my hair look awful it'll take months for it to grow out now don't worry butter I'll buy you something to cover it up I know a guy over on Fifth Avenue who claims he makes something that looks prettier on a woman's head than her hair expense account item 7 $640 ladies hats to cover the lump on ladies head expense account I'm 8 $20 tip to nurse for reminding butter on the hour every hour that accidents will happen expense account I'm 9 $7 mileage driving back to Hartford expense account total 1182 dollars and 23 cents which you may say mr. Farnsworth is a lot of money for one man to spend in a day and a half but you must bear in mind that the amount at stake was two million dollars and you know the price of stake these days signed yours oh truly Johnny dollar listen in again next week when CBS brings you yours truly Johnny dollar with Charles Russell as Johnny yours truly Johnny dollar is written by Paul Dudley and killed out with music by Mark Warno and is produced and directed by Richard Sanville for CBS the Columbia broadcasting system