 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar. Hello. Hello. This is Johnny dollar I'm phoning from a patrol phone for his service summit road. Okay, you're coming through now. Is that lieutenant Mervin, right? Relax lieutenant before you use some words you'll have to eat Call in your APB. I found that stolen car the Knitzen gang was using Up here in the Santa Rita mountains about a mile from Primrose camp pop Bardell They ran it off a cliff and started a rock slide to bury it one of them still in the car dead two bullet wounds You must have hit him when they crashed your roadblock You will not What there's something wrong at Bardell's place you bring 50 state troopers in here you may bust it wide open That's what I'm trying to find out Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed Expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar From special investigator Johnny dollar location Santa Rita National Forest Southern Arizona To the home office mid-states industrial insurance company Hartford, Connecticut Assignment the Primrose matter Expense account continued it took a lot of arguing to get lieutenant Mervin of the state highway police to hold his Men off for 24 hours, but he finally gave in A hundred thousand dollars That was the amount of the insured payroll the Knitzen gang had got away with in Kansas City killing two guards in the process Later they shot their way through a roadblock in Southern Arizona left a state trooper and one of the gang dead in the road behind them And then disappear. I was certain the answer was at Primrose camp evening mr. Bardell No, I told you I'd stop on the way back down got a vacancy yet on one of those cameras already That's too bad. I I noticed they're dark by the way, and there are still no cars parked in front of it Don't signify. What do you suppose all your guests are lost back in the hills somewhere? Couldn't say now if you maybe some of them went down to the highway for the night I I could turn the cabin back over to them if they happen to show up when the rented Rented makes no difference if the folks ain't here to use them. Well, that's true I suppose technically but when a traveler is badly in need of a place for the night and you've got cabin standing empty Told you before it's better you go on down to the highway plenty of motels within a few miles of the junction That's exactly my trouble mr. Bardell. I can't why not because it's almost dark now, and I haven't got any lights Yeah, this is a rented car. I should have tried the headlights before I took it out, but I didn't now when I need them They won't work see It's probably just a fuse bloat might be Turn the flashlight up under the dance here won't take but a second to tell Now what it is No, you should seem to be all right Rope and wire maybe I'd say oh think you might be able to fix it No, no, it's a job for an electrician. I ain't got the equipment to trace it Hey, is that your station wagon there at the side of the lunchroom? Why yeah, look, I'd be glad to pay if you drive me down to where I can go No, no, I can't I can't leave here Well, maybe your nephew could take me huh the young fellow who is here this afternoon when I came by no no No, he's not familiar with the road. I drove down and picked up the mail this morning, didn't he? How'd you know Jake down at the barn grill have to mention it? Just who are you anyway? Oh, I guess I did forget to introduce myself this afternoon. My name's Johnny Donovan. I'm not not your name I mean, what are you up here for? Looking around prospecting a little see in the country Your nephew did go down for the mail, didn't he? But I was in the daylight. Look you said you had a sleeping bag with you. It ain't cold tonight. Why don't you? That's a good idea. I can spread it out right there in the porch in front of your souvenir show No, no, I don't mean here down the road someplace I don't quite understand your attitude mr. Bartell. I I've always understood you Westerners were noted for your hospitality It's just that it It makes the missus nervous to have strangers around outside And how am I supposed to get down the road someplace? I don't know one foot maybe in the dark in strange country. Oh when I tell Jake this he won't believe it Oh, no, what don't don't say anything to Jake. He wouldn't understand. Well, neither do I Can't do anything for you mr. Dollar. Just take my word for it now and and go on before your cause more trouble Uncle what trouble you're talking about? Well, it's not trouble exactly The lights is out on his car. He was just wanting me to put him up for the night. You have hard luck. Don't you mr. And call us away. I told him just like I did this afternoon. We ain't got no place for him He'll he'll have to find we can take care of them uncle as long as he's that anxious to stay. I said what? The cabin sale they're all ranging and it's not likely the people the number two will be back He can use that one for the night, but you better go see if it's in shape uncle. Go on. All right I'm Much obliged to you for changing his mind. That's okay We wouldn't want you to go away and tell bad stories about us. Would we might cause trouble? Expense account item seven five dollars payment in advance for one night's rent on cabin number two from rose tourist camp The room in the bed were far from inviting, but it didn't matter much I didn't look for any easy night's rest under the best of circumstances Not with a feeling of tension and danger that hung over this place And the almost certain knowledge the two desperate killers were only yards away from me Mrs. Bardell pop's wife took my payment to the room and made change in the lunchroom next door to the service station I'll have to give you ones mr. Dollar got five dollar bill. That's all right Three four and five See no, but I could sure stand something to eat Could cook you up some ham and eggs, I guess some coffee if that'll do you sure sure fine Only time I fix any regular meals aside from short orders when we got the cabins full Then they're not full now. I take it out. No, not a soul I mean Well, they're rented of course, but the folks aren't eating here. Oh, I see you want your eggs sunny-side up. Yeah, yeah, that'll be fine Let's get kind of lonesome for you up here on the season slacks off. I got my man And my daughter How old is your daughter mrs. Bardell? Jenny was 20 month four last. Oh, well, I imagine she's a big help to you. Yes She takes care of the souvenir shop on her own helps me here in the lunchroom when I get real busy Yeah, I noticed a clothes sign on the door of the shop Is your daughter away at the present? No, she's She's not feeling well today. She's in a room. Oh, I hope it's nothing serious. No She'll be all right She's got to be then it is something serious. No, I I didn't mean it that way. It's nothing forget it. Well, look if there's anything I can do nothing Forget I said anything mr. Doll. You're gonna want toast and no bread will be fine And there you are Hope that's gonna be enough for you cream in your coffee. Bye, please This looks great You're a good cook mrs. Bardell and my legs don't prove nothing anybody can fix that. Oh, you'd be surprised You'll be leaving in the morning. I suppose Well, I'd like to stay several days But I don't know whether your husband will let me have a cabin any longer. He can't help his self He just can't help it. Why not? Well, he The cabins are rented. That's all when I put my stuff in number two There was no sign of any of the luggage. They took it all out. I was right there all the time. I mean earlier Mr. Dollar, we're in terrible danger all of us you too. What kind of danger? I can't tell you Please if I talk about it, I'll go all the pieces. You don't know what it's like. I might be able to help you Oh, the only way it can help is to forget it not ask any questions This place is a powder keg. Don't do anything to set it off. Please Item ain't a dollar and ten cents one order of ham and eggs Mrs. Bardell refused to say anything more and I didn't try to force her to She was shaking cold sweat on her forehead scared half to death. I Walked out under the porch and sat down and let a cigarette watch the stars come out one by one Sharp and bright against the black mountain sky The bondels living quarters were back at a souvenir shop and there were no lights showing in them If their daughter Jenny was in her room ill she was back there in the dark After a while I went to my cabin as I fumbled around for a light switch. I suddenly realized somebody was standing in the doorway Reckon you're gonna have to use an oil lamp tonight. Mr. Dollar Generator's got a drive belt busted and I ain't been able to get out to fetch one. Oh, I don't mind Mr. Bardell The lamps are on the table. I Light it for you now and you can blow it out when you go to bed. Sure. All right fine You Had not to pay no attention to the missus what she said a while ago. I didn't realize she'd said anything Well, she was telling me she spouted off some foolishness Might be took long if a man was to pay any mind to it If that gets to smoking you have to turn it down some okay Mrs. Bardell did seem a little upset, but that's all it is mr. Dollar just upset You know how women get sometimes it just forget it. It's the best thing to do I think you need now for I leave you no no nothing I could think of Thanks, anyway, then I reckon I'll say good night You can have your breakfast in the morning any time after about seven o'clock Jake meger was telling me you have a daughter mr. Bardell and That's right. I uh, I I didn't notice her around anywhere this evening Is she she's in the Tucson for a few days. Oh, yes, she's in there visiting friends. Oh, I see Well, then you're lucky to have your nephew here to help you while she's away, but Yeah Yeah, it works out real good. He's been here for some time. I suppose. Oh, yeah Yeah, several weeks now seems to be a lot of help to you really takes hold of things. All right, I Don't know what I'd do without him Well, I'll see you in the morning mr. Bardell Yeah, Jake meger told me your nephew just came yesterday Jake drinks too much. He's always getting things mixed up Mrs. Bardell told me a little while ago that your daughter's out back in her room ill Not in Tucson. Well, it's like I was saying the missus is all upset She she just don't rightly know what she's saying and one more thing I noticed the front end of my car has been jacked up and the right front wheels been taken off The tire went flat We'll fix it and put it back on in the morning Good night, mr. Dollar Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's episode of this week's story tomorrow a tightening noose People held fast in the grip of fear then violence Join us won't you yours truly Johnny dollar Yours truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood written by Les Crutchfield It is produced and directed by Jack John stone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking