 The signal oil program the whistler whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler am the whistler and I know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Yes friends it's time for the signal oil program the whistler rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history and signal gasoline is tops too tops in quality It takes extra quality you know to give you extra mileage and signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly dealer owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story what makes a murderer? Murder is a peculiar affair it's the darkest most despicable of all crimes Yet it strikes most frequently among the ranks of people who have never transgressed before Yes, all it needs in many cases is the right pressure the right set of circumstances the right opportunity And an otherwise respectable member of the community becomes a killer If you tried to explain that to Arthur Winslow we wouldn't have understood For Arthur was respectable solid exactly like a hundred other respectable solid Jersey commuters His life was a pretty drab affair yes including the dull days at the office J. C. Wells and company investment brokers United wire seven and a eighth no change seven and a eighth no change Universal automatic thirty nine and an eighth off one eight universal automatic thirty nine and an eighth off one eight Vulcan steel seventy seven up one seventy seven up one Oh better leave it there Arthur five o'clock got to make that five nineteen Why why yeah yeah why do we have to make the five nineteen Stanley Well why because we always do you think that's a good reason What I mean do you think because we've always made the five nineteen we ought to keep on making it the rest of our lives Is uh is something wrong Arthur Oh maybe I don't know I I've been thinking Stanley For ten years now you and I've been analyzing investment securities eight hours a day catching the five nineteen every night Arriving home in East Orange promptly at six twenty two kissing our wives at approximately six fifty eating dinner at exactly seven Reading the evening paper and going to bed It's a little like death isn't it Stanley What in the world has gotten into you Arthur I've got a book here take a look And novel You got me thinking Moon and six pence Yes it's about a man like us Stanley a man who got fed up with the five nineteen and dished the whole works What did he do Took a chance walked out just picked up his hat and went off to the south seas He just up and left his family They preferred the five nineteen Well I certainly can't say that I approve Oh I didn't think you would Well you'd better hurry along Stanley you'll miss your train What about you Tonight just for a change I believe I'll catch the five fifty five Just for a change Arthur after ten years You walk slowly down Broad Street Deliberately casual You're missing the swarms of hurrying commuters objectively Is it for the first time It's pleasant strolling along like this taking your time Stopping to look in a window now and then And finally you find yourself in front of Max Barr It isn't often you have the time to drop in for a short one is it Arthur Why not Why not Indeed Well hello Mr. Winslow Oh hello uh Benny Oh of course you run the elevator in the midget That's right Yeah Mr. Winslow set yourself down right here by your drink Well I Ah come on come on little Benny's in the chips I'm fat fat I finally knocked over Gus in the back room there I beg your pardon Oh sure sure I guess you ain't interested in banged tails or you'd know Gus Banged tails oh oh horses Yeah well I don't really pay much attention You mean that the the the Gus is a bookie Yeah you ain't never seen a spread back there huh No Come on I'll show you sure it's alright Sure It's okay Harry A friend of mine Come on Mr. Winslow Well there it is pal There's the board tomorrow morning's line Take your pick The corridors in that column there Oh pink lady Mike the second Big bonanza Moon and six Moon and sixpence Yeah that's a horse I've been watching him Been thinking about playing him in a parley Parley what's a parley You don't know what a parley is Easy You pick three horses see For instance maybe you put your dough on Blue bonnet in the first If he comes in The dough goes on glow warm in a second If he comes in Oh yes yes I see Then all the money goes on Moon and sixpence in the third Yeah I get it Plenty long shot of course But there's a big payoff for the janitor's willing to take a chance Take a chance huh Believe me you never get nowhere If you don't take a chance once in a while I'll uh I'll take ten dollars worth Look I ain't the boogie pal He's over there you got it Ah wait a minute Give me your dough I'll lay it on for you Ten bucks in the parley Lay it on for me pal Ten bucks on blue bonnet Glow warm And moon and sixpence Well Arthur that was quite a decision for you wasn't it You're more than a little pleased with yourself As you saunter on to the five fifty five A complete change of scenery from the five nineteen You're twenty six minutes behind all that And twenty six minutes later than usual When you open the door and save Oh dear Arthur where in the world have you been I've been worried sick Here wipe your feet Oh I'm sorry Ethel Where have you been I was tied up What do you mean tied up You've never been late to dinner in your life I don't know why in the world you couldn't have phoned You know it's Monday night And Mr. Din Whitty expects me at the agency At seven thirty sharp Did you get your check What Your paycheck dear It's pay day Oh yeah I cashed it Here Twenty five Thirty fifty Well you're ten dollars short Yes Employee's association annual dues Is that something new Yes Ethel that's something new Ten dollars I don't know how in the world They expect you to exist on the salary they pay you If you had enough gumption you'd do as I say You forgot Mr. Din Whitty Arthur That's an important part of the weekly schedule Ethel hasn't missed a Monday evening At the children's agency for years You should have picked another night to miss the five nineteen You're used to Ethel now You've become an artist at appearing attentive While she prattles on and on Nodding at the proper moments Never hearing a word You're relieved when the door finally closes And she's safely off to Mr. Din Whitty You can return to moon in six pence The south seas an escape The next day at the office Stanley wonders why you're nervous and patient Why you dodge him at five o'clock It only takes a minute to hurry over to Max Barr Oh hello Benny Huh Oh it's you Hey guys here he is What do you mean Don't tell me you ain't heard What is it The Palais Palais came in Blue bonnet glow warm moon in six pence You got yourself eighteen hundred bucks Eighteen hundred dollars Arthur You can't quite grasp it That's almost a year's salary and you're You're holding it right in your hand You know what's going to happen don't you You walk the streets for an hour or two thinking But you can't help yourself So you make a B line for the nearest phone booth The south seas No more figures No more five nineteen Brighten travel agency Oh hello I'd like to inquire about a reservation Yes sir where to Let's see A Florida Oh yes the name The name is Charles White With the prologue of what makes a murderer The signal oil company brings you another strange story By the Whistler But now may I have a word with you About the prevention of cruelty Back in the horse and buggy days you know There were laws to keep drivers from beating their horses Too bad there isn't a law today to keep drivers From beating their motors with old fashioned motor oils That cause excessive carbon wear and corrosion After all it's unnecessary today to put up With those old bugaboos that up repair bills And cut down performance Thanks to the improved signal oil Which combines pure paraffin base With protective compounds Signaled premium compounded motor oil In comparative tests with today's finest regular oils Signal premium actually keeps motor six times cleaner Reduce a cylinder wear one third And what does this mean to you? Well less carbon means that your motor runs quieter smoother And less cylinder wear means more power So to keep your car's performance young Make your next oil change a change for the better Switch to signal premium compounded motor oil Your guarantee of a sweeter running motor And now back to the Whistler This murder can strike anywhere Even among quiet drab little people like Arthur Winslow He has no way of knowing it of course As he buys a first class reservation on the train to Florida His only thought now is that this will be escape at last New clothes, new luggage, a new name You're Charles White now and a new life No more trading your chance at happiness For a stack of security reports And a bungalow in his storage You can see her now poor, frustrated, stupid Ethel Confiding to Mr. Dinwiddy that you've walked out No 519 tonight Arthur It's the 622 to Florida Dinner Which way is the dining car with her? Three cars back sir, you better hurry along Oh thank you Oh I'm sorry That's quite all right It isn't either, I wasn't looking Oh neither was I Where is it? The one The book Oh the book, yes where? I knocked it out of your hand It must be down here on the floor Oh no here let me, it's probably under the seat Now let me see Oh Have you got it? Last year's timetable, wanted one for ages Oh here it is Oh let me help you Oh it's a fine thing getting yourself all dusty that way Turn around Thanks Moon and six pence Yeah that's a little better anyway It's wonderful isn't it What? Moon and six pence, I loved it Oh yes I haven't quite finished it of course Do you believe it? I mean do you think it's right? Oh you mean to toss everything over and take off at the south sea? Uh huh If you don't mind pal while you're going to the south seas I'll go to dinner Oh I'm very sorry Excuse me come on Louise We seem to be holding up traffic Yeah As a matter of fact I was just going into dinner myself So was I Oh would you uh Would you consider Why not Yes why not You know I'm glad that you like moon and six pence Oh it was a wonderful story Of course I can't say it was very realistic What do you mean? Well I admit it was convincing but When you start to think about it This running away business You don't believe in it? Well after all Running away is no solution Well sometimes there's nothing else to do He could have stuck it out Well licked it if it took the rest of his life Uh huh Well all right he licks it He's found happiness at last and he's seven I think running away is better than that don't you? I did once Oh I'm very sorry I didn't mean to That's all right You see I did run away It was just as you said a routine A deadly routine And when I couldn't stand it any longer I ran away What kind of a routine Keeping up with my father Perhaps you've heard of him Edgar Brewster The Edgar Brewster? Yes the Wall Street Edgar Brewster He's in Miami now waiting for me Oh I see I'd finally decided to go back and face it But now you've got me confused Oh I'm sorry if I've known it Oh don't misunderstand You've really helped a lot How do you mean? You seem to know why I did it It's kind of moral support Oh You're uh You're going to Miami? Yes Uh By the way I'm Charles White I'm Vivian Brewster Perhaps I'll see you in Miami I hope so So do I The daughter of Edgar Brewster Edgar Brewster the millionaire A big name on Wall Street isn't it Arthur? And you talked with his daughter Had dinner with her She even said she'd hoped you'd meet in Miami You wait for her call And then finally it comes Arthur You're invited to the Brewster home You can hardly believe it can you A few days ago an obscure clerk Tonight you're sitting with Edgar Brewster Drinking his bourbon Is that about right Mr. White? Father's a tight wad with his soda That's an outrageous way to treat a good bourbon What about it White? Well that looks about right Mr. Brewster There you are Oh thank you What are you doing in Miami White? Oh I uh I got a little tired of New York You've got the right idea I did the same thing myself 20 years ago and I never went back What's your line? Oh I was uh I was in the market more or less The less the better these days Nobody knows where it's going A broker and I were talking today about Consolidated plastics You know anything about it? Oh a little What do you think of it? Well I don't know whether I should say What's the matter with it? Well after all it's your business Mr. Brewster I wouldn't want to offer an opinion All right I'll put it this way What would you do if you were into it Pretty heavily right now? Well I'd sell out When? Right now Any particular reason? Well only that I happen to know It's a bad investment I can't tell you why Why that's unbelievable My broker told me Yes I know it's It's only my opinion Mr. Brewster But I happen to know that company's Financial position You asked me what I'd do And I told you You seem to know what you're talking about Well investments are my hobby you might say I see Go on my boy you interest me And so for the next half hour or so You go on chatting with Edgar Brewster And he's impressed with what you have to say You can see that clearly enough Can't you Arthur? Hence, tiny scraps of information tips You know the market so well Arthur And Mr. Brewster listens eagerly Yes and that was the beginning wasn't it Arthur? That $1800 was a magic door Opening up a thrilling new life for you And incidentally bringing you closer to Murder The next three weeks pass like a dream Like the nights at the beach club Dancing in the open under the stars With Vivian in your arms Vivian? Yes Why is it you've never asked me about myself My background, where I came from I don't know Maybe because it doesn't matter I wasn't going to tell you But I think perhaps I'd better Will it make any difference? About us? Yes it will make a difference A lot of difference Then don't tell me I don't want to know But Vivian I Please Darling Did I ever tell you that I like you very much? I'm glad Charles I'm so glad You're in love Arthur And for the first time in your life You know what love really is Mr. Brewster begins to concern you He'll never approve in a million years Or you think so Until that evening he drops up to your hotel room With a copy of the financial journal in his hand Look at that Charles What is it? Don't ask silly questions look at it man Oh I thought so Consolidated plastic snowed under in selling rush I'm sorry Mr. Brewster Well I'm not What do you mean? I took your advice sold out three weeks ago Saved myself a hundred thousand dollars Well congratulations Well don't congratulate me You're the one who deserves it Do you mind if I sit down? Oh I'm sorry Here you are Oh thanks Would you be open to a proposition wife? What kind of a proposition? Oh I realize you probably have other interests But I could make this worth your while I think There are two considerations Yes The first is the plain fact that My affairs are getting a little beyond me As you know I'm retired Having time to look after them properly I think you're the man to take over But Mr. Brewster I don't wait till I'm finished I've watched you pretty closely during the past month or so I can tell you no investments you're sure of yourself And I'm not just being generous white I'm a businessman If it weren't a profitable deal for me I wouldn't think of it I'd say What is the other consideration? I believe you're aware of that already Vivian You uh You approve? I do Oh well Can I uh Can I think this over? Of course Just let me know in a day or so There it is Arthur Brief and to the point Everything you ever wanted Right in the palm of your hand Open sesame he said and there it was You go into the bar downstairs to think There's only one thing in your way now Your wife Ethel You can't run away from that You've got to make her see your side of it You've got to go back to New Jersey and face her Make her give you a divorce You walk out of the bar Through the door into the hotel lobby And just as you're rounding the corner by the desk Something stops you in your tracks Mrs. Ethel Winslow 5769 Laurel Road East Orange New Jersey Is that all you want? Yes, thank you madam Could I see the register please? Oh I'm sorry madam we don't I understand there's a Charles White register here I, yes madam room 132 Oh he's a friend? Yes Well in that case I could give you room 134 next door The windows open under the same balcony Very well, 134 It was too good to last Arthur Just a beautiful dream when you're just waking up It's all over You go back in the bar and think Ethel your wife here in Miami she's found you And she'll never let you go will she? You know her too well Arthur You're beginning to see now What makes a murderer? There's no other way out is there Arthur You sit in the friendly darkness of the bar all afternoon Late into the evening thinking, thinking It's almost 11 when you make up your mind There's a phone both near the door Vivian I have to talk to you it's important Charles what's the matter? Vivian I love you more than I dreamed I could have a learning Listen I'm a phony my name is not white I was running away when you met me I'm just an investment clerk no money I have a wife I've hated her for 10 years And I'd rather be dead than go back to her And I'm not going back to her And now I probably won't ever see you again Goodbye Vivian 11 o'clock Arthur You've got it all planned Ethel is asleep in a room Room 134 A balcony connects it with yours It's a hot night and the window is probably open Yes There she is and she's asleep As you slip into the room You take a firm hold on the heavy brass candlestick You picked up from the mantle in your room A blunt instrument the police will say You can hardly breathe Arthur Your stomach is full of ice water You feel your heart's going to burst Careful Arthur Careful I'm sorry Ethel I'm sorry but I've got it The whistler will return in just a moment With a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime I thought you drivers Might like to compare your buying habits With those of other automobile owners Surveys show that more and more motorists today Prefer to trade with service stations That are privately owned But also they want top quality products These two reasons no doubt Account for the amazing growth of signal oil company From a mere handful of stations in Southern California To a coast wide organization serving six western states You see since the very beginning over 16 years ago Signal oil products have been sold only Through dealer owned service stations But each independent signal dealer Is backed by the facilities of the entire Signal oil organization Which supplies almost 2,000 signal service stations From Canada to Mexico As a result you're assured always The very tops in gasoline, lubricants And automotive accessories at signal stations Plus more conscientious service By men who own their own business And have a personal interest in pleasing you Because this combination of finer products And personalized service Naturally means smoother performance And longer life for your car It's no wonder that year after year More and more drivers switch to signal And now back to the whistler So you stand there Arthur By your wife's bedside Holding the candlestick high over your head Ready to bring it down Now you know what makes a murder But you can't do it can you The wife you've hated for 10 years at your mercy You can't do it No No I can't I'm sorry Ethel I'm sorry I waited Turn the light on don't stand there Yes Ethel So you thought you could get by with it didn't you No Ethel I didn't Don't deny it I know what's been going on And I can prove it you Philanderer Ethel I tell you What did you say I have a complete report on your activities for the past month You weren't very clever Arthur The detectives say you left a trail a child could follow What are you getting at Ethel Charles Listen There's someone knocking on your door A woman Vivian Yes Vivian I've already had a talk with her Arthur Well she might as well come in This way Miss Brewster Charles Oh Charles Tommy Vivian A pretty picture indeed And you have the nerve to ask me what I'm getting at Well for your information Arthur I'm leaving for Reno in the morning View of what's happened I don't think you'll feel it wise To contest the case Contest? I waited five years for a chance like this We? Mr. Dinwiddy and I Dinwiddy? Oh no But he's a wonderful man Goodness I don't know how I could have put up with you all these years If it hadn't been for Mr. Dinwiddy He's so understanding Dinwiddy Arthur you look so ridiculous What are you doing holding that silly candle stick in your hand That whistle be your signal For the signal oil program the whistler Each Wednesday night at this same time Brought to you by the signal oil company Marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil And fine quality automotive accessories Signal has asked me to remind you To get the most driving pleasure Drive at sensible speeds Be courteous And obey traffic regulations It may save a life Possibly your own Featured in tonight's story Frank Lovejoy and Joan Banks The whistler was produced by George W. Allen With story by Harold Swanton And music by Wilbur Hatch And was transmitted to our troops overseas By the Armed Forces Radio Service Next Wednesday for a full hour of mystery Over most of these stations Tune in a half hour earlier Enjoy the saint as well as the whistler This is Marvin Miller speaking This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System This is KNX Los Angeles, the voice of Hollywood 25 seconds until 9 p.m. B-U-L-O-V-A Boulevard watch time For a truly lovely timepiece A truly great watch value See the 17-jewel Boulevard Elizabeth Only $24.75 federal tax included Next on KNX, Lowell Thomas and the News