 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny Deller Lieutenant Steve Howard homicide I found word to call you there at your hotel. Right. I'm an insurance investigator lieutenant Yeah, I've heard of you. Can I help you? Well, I understand you're the man who handled a murder case at the Balakinwood dog show last year That's right. Oh fine Like to look over the setup for an attempted murder me Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey and 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 the Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company Following is an accounting of expenditures incurred during my investigation of the layered Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote matter and at this point That name is no joke Expense account item three seventy cents cab fare from the office of Harry Branson to my hotel It was at Harry's office that I got the craziest assignment. I'd ever taken Bodyguard to layer Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote who turned out to be a dog and I mean that literally a Purebred Scottish Terrier who rated high enough and dogged him for somebody to make a couple of attempts on his life Right now it looked like somebody wanted me to be next What's all this talk about an attempt on your life here lieutenant? Take a look at this handbag of mine. Oh wait. Don't touch it. Huh? I left it here on this little luggage stand about an hour ago right after I checked in Only before I left it. I opened it and took out my gun So so when I got back just before I called you I found the bag as you see it now locked again Well, I look here, mr. Yeah, I know I know But if a chambermaid had been in here there would have been other signs You know bed turned down fresh towels in the bath things like that boy. You're a suspicious man You sure you didn't lock it yourself after taking your gun. I'm sure Anyhow instead of opening it I started to pick it up to put it on the bed to unpack And now you lift it why because it weighs close to 25 pounds And that's too much for nothing but an extra suit a few shirts and shorts some handkerchiefs and the like you check with the desk No collars that they know about Yeah, it is pretty heavy and it doesn't tick What here yeah You see where somebody on the fire escape used a pry bar to shove this window open Oh, yeah And those marks are fresh very fresh Operator get me central police Expense account item for check for 2950 to the nearest bond clothing store for one pair of trousers to replace those torn by Laird Douglas Douglas of what's his name? When I first met him in Harry's office item five phone call to mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van python Well, don't you worry mr. Dollar if you're delayed you're delayed It will just expect you here at the maples when you get here. Your sweet is already in waiting for you I'll be there as soon as I can. Oh, I do hope you've had a suit made to replace those trousers little Laird Douglas Tor Why don't you have a couple of suits made and just charge them to me? Thanks? Maybe I'll get around to that. Goodbye, Mrs. van python First of all, I had to know what lieutenant Howard found out about the suitcase. He'd had his lab crew pick up I took a taxi to headquarters, that's item eight sixty-five cents Like let us see you dollar sit down. Well, what'd you find out dollar that bag of yours had enough soup in it to blow out Half the side of your hotel and I was right Yeah, professional job to straight wire rig that would have gone off when you open the bag brother I guess my lucky star is in the Ascended What made you suspect a booby trap dollar last year and a few days ago somebody tried to poison a dog Well, do I know they're Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote Blue Ribbon Scotty belonging to Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van Python right Apparently all reason for it was to keep the pooch from winning the best of show at the annual dog festival or whatever you want to call It out at Bella Kenwood, so I've heard I think it was more than that Oh, wait a minute now Don't tell me you subscribed to the idea that if the dog were to die Mrs. Kelly van python would probably kick off to no question about it Okay Well, you don't know her yet He wouldn't be so skeptical her whole life revolves about that dog and our money of course now from what I've seen She just throws that away of course. She does at least in small quantities You know a thousand or two here there even a hundred thousand to some school or library or something where it'll show But even that's only a drop in the bucket to her well tenant I don't quite see what you're driving at. Well, she is one of the remnants of a class in this country fast dying out Thank goodness as for generations has been cultured and conditioned into thinking that money is everything that their whole destiny is to control vast Industries lands railroads oil shipping and people people dollar by means of their sheer financial prowess But I thought our present taxes were their day is almost done But the fewer still around like Mrs. Kelly van python are hanging on for dear life trying to add to their power Hey Steve, you make a sweet Gabby eccentric old ladies on like an ogre. She is no question I'm sure she doesn't realize it simply because this whole attitude has been so thoroughly ingrained into her all her life That's right. Oh, well, we'll see. Yeah, you'll see Well, look, let's get to the point. Who do you think might be trying to get rid of the old lady? I haven't the least idea. Well, uh, no family relatives only living relatives or nephew Warren staley Ah, nothing. You sure haven't been able to pin a thing on him Where can I find this Warren staley at the maples? He lives there with her. Yeah And you're sure he would be her only beneficiary. Yeah Good luck dollar Lieutenant Howard seemed to know what he was talking about Nonetheless, I decided that the nephew Warren staley would at least be a start and the sooner I could move into the maples the better I had a nine seven eighty cab fares back to my hotel and out to the maples in the suburb of Germantown When I first saw the place I could hardly believe my eyes It looked like a regular castle perched atop a small hill Even the gate house nearly half a mile from the mansion was big enough to house several families But the mansion itself wow a Rather stuffy-looking butler after practically climbing up my family tree escorted me to the reading room This is Kelly van python and guess who? Mr. Dollar, I'm so glad you're here and look he remembers you Please call him Douglas. Huh after all the name Doug is sound so common doesn't it? Oh, you really think he cares Mrs. Van python. Oh, you're joking, aren't you? Mr. Branson said you had quite a sense of humor now did Hastings show you to your sweet the butler nobody took my things Then I'll show you I'm sure you'll love it and be quite comfortable this way, please. Yes You coming Doug Douglas Yeah Do you see how happy he is having you here? I am too, mr. Dollar now we just oh Warren darling, huh? Hello Santa mr. Dollar. This is my little nevy Warren staley Warren was 25 or so bright good-looking and well, but comfortably dressed And a mrs. Van python's orders he took me up to my suite Living room study breakfast room bath and bedroom, and it's still occupied only a small part of the second floor Now here next to you a doggie's room sleeping and one for reading can you tie that dining room for a dog and Through that door is met was a quarrel his Governors she feeds and bathes them and that's a full-time job. Oh sure most pampered dog in the country brother I'll go with you on that No doubt time to will ask you to keep this connecting door open at night. They sit down. I'm in a war and I'd like to talk to you Sure, I hope you're impressed by all this are you kidding and time to will love you dearly Say would you like a drink? There's a cellar right here for your convenience. Oh, sure scotch and soda good How the foolish though isn't it all of it? What do you mean? Oh, it's such nonsense to keep up in a state like this just to keep face so to speak. Well, she can afford it Can she are you kidding? You sound as though you don't enjoy this life of luxury And force luxury to keep up the honor of the family and I resent it Without ever having to lift a finger do an honest day's work when she's gone I'll be one of the wealthiest men in the country. That's bad, huh? Do you think it's strange that a fellow would like to stand on his own feet for change make something of himself buy himself Why not just pack up and leave? You don't know Tata. No, I guess I don't know it's really more than that I'm the only member of this family left aside from Tata So I understand I'm the only one left to carry on the van python Empire a drink up. Wait a minute Branson use that term to Yes Empire not only not security to sink a battleship, but controlling rights and steel utilities and most important of all East Moreland oil I see and what's most important about that is that I'll survive to keep control of East Moreland from Kenworthy Harrison our Kenworthy. Yeah, there's been a battle of a East more land oil for for generations between the van Pytons and the Kenworthy. They tell me this Kenworthy have any ears one his son Ronald. I see What sort of a fellow was he good friend of mine? We waste a lot of our time together Drink up, Mr. Dower. I'm ready for another and you haven't even touched yours. Yeah, well listen I'm gonna lay some cards on the table Somebody's been trying to get at Laird Douglas the dog presumably is a way of getting at your aunt It's true. If anything would have happened a little dog. Okay. Okay. I'll take your word for it Now because of the intense rivalry between your aunt and Kenworthy a rather between Laird Douglas and his pup Lady Oditti's Mimmy or whatever her name is Anyway Kenworthy should be number one suspect when you know him you'll cross him off your list So Lieutenant Howard has told me But All right. All right As sole beneficiary of the van Pyton Empire as you call it you come in as fast number two on the list I can understand that but unless everything you've told me is a fancy fairy tale to throw me off then every Everything I've told you It's true, Mr. Dower. What's the matter with you? Nothing Okay, and mind you Warren I'm not forgetting for a minute that there's been a couple of murders involved in this whole screwy business Plus an attempt on my own life attempt on on you Dollar hey, what gives ya are you plastered on a little over one drink? Listen to me. I know Now I know and I can tell you dollar. Tell me what? the answer that the whole thing Oh Warren, what's the matter with you? Can't breathe you Warren drink meant for you Don't touch he died without another sound I carefully sniffed the drink that had been poured for me gingerly tasted nothing Nothing that I could spot Yeah, poor Warren had probably been right Whatever it was had no doubt been meant for me Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow things and people finally begin to line up on the case Just well enough for it to blow sky-high Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar or is truly Johnny dollars starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote tonight's story Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking