 signal gasoline let every traffic signal remind you you do go farther with signal gasoline yes you do go farther with signal the signal oil company and your neighborhood signal dealer bring you another curious story by the whistler tonight meet mr. death I'm 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 1915 was a big year for a lot of people in New York City Herman Arnold for instance Herman Arnold the gambler was murdered because of that it was a big year for Jerry Mason drugstore clerk yes 1915 was the year Jerry Mason met mr. death you see just before he died Herman Arnold persuaded Jerry Mason to embezzle $1800 from the safe at that your drugstore where he worked he was going to double it overnight that's what Jerry told Laurie Crane his girlfriend only then the news came Arnold was murdered the money was gone and all Laurie could say was Jerry maybe we better run leave town are you crazy they'd catch us sooner or later I'll think of something now let me alone yes if it hadn't been for Herman Arnold and his foolproof scheme for doubling that embezzled money Jerry Mason might never have met mr. death but the meeting was in the cards that night in April 1915 everything that happened was in preparation for the meeting Herman Arnold death mr. Thatcher is coming back from his vacation and after Laurie's phone call oh sorry I kept awaiting the phone yeah got some aspirin yeah sure I'm hoping kind of late tonight aren't you here yeah I was about to close up 25 out hey what's the matter will you you gave me a thousand dollar bill yeah I know there's something else I want to buy besides that's why I can't make change for this you can keep the chain huh and there are four more just like that one for you when you deliver I don't get it mr. we alone wait a minute yeah we're pretty hard up for dough ain't you small matter of 1800 bucks who told you have a mind I know there's something we want to buy mr. Mason you're the only guy in town who sells it yeah this ain't ordinary merchandise mr. Mason I understand you have a regular customer by the name of Ted Townley yeah the newspaper column what they buy here has his prescriptions filled what kind of prescription chlorohydrate he can't sleep at night without it pretty powerful drug in it on small doses I put it up for him in capsule I see what about large doses what do you mean I mean if he was accidentally to take a capsule well it was loaded with it maybe three times as much as you all I wouldn't have it I'm very careful eight grains I'll pose you accidentally loaded one of them capsules mr. Mason oh get it I see you want to buy a murder it's only murder when you get caught now if mr. Townley was to be found the next morning dead with an overdose of chlorohydrate in him what would you say that is if you was holding the post mortem or I'd check the rest of the capsules in the box and suppose you found them all kosher then I'd say he took more than one on purpose it's a worth five grain I don't know five grand just to load one capsule and slip it in his next prescription all right I'll do it you're smart mr. Mason I'll have the other four grand for you within an hour after mr. Townley wakes up dead I'm okay I'm gonna close up now pardon me had you get in here I came in through the side door I've been looking at the magazines over there behind the rack I'd I'd like to purchase how long you've been here oh half an hour or more I hope you don't mind that man who just left yes I saw him I didn't want to interrupt you both seem to be so interested you heard what we were saying why didn't pay much attention you see I'm quite excited I'm going on a trip to Europe I take this issue of travel if you don't mind it has a remarkable article on Syria have you ever been to Europe mr. Mason had you known my name why happened to hear that gentleman call you mr. Mason is that all you heard what's the matter mr. Mason I'm dreadfully sorry if I used up but it was entirely unintentional I see magazines 25 cents yes there you are I'm I'm so excited about my trip I can hardly close my eyes at night it's a good thing I don't do this very often they say a large proportion of American business men die prematurely because they can't sleep at night what made you say that why it's true you know mr. Mason this will be the first time in my life I've left New York State except for a trip or two to Jersey City of course no wonder I'm excited a one of you leaving me first say I wonder if you do me a favor why well the next issue of travel has an article on English in I wonder if you'd be kind enough to put one aside for me okay I'll say I'll come in for it it should be a week or so shouldn't it or just before the first of my thank you thank you so much I'll I'll be going I'm sorry about being so touchy you know that that other customer he kind of had me on edge kept talking in riddles you hear what he was telling me just a word now and then enough to what to know it was none of my business good night mr. Mason I'll be back on April 30th for the magazine as you said listening to the whistler you hear only sounds you hear a certain creaking and in your mind you picture a slowly opening door or the sound of a motor accelerating and you visualize a car driving off all right here's a test for you see if you can picture in your mind that trademark of the sponsor of this program your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer I'll give you two seconds well you were right if you visualize the black circle with yellow letters spelling out the words signal gasoline and of course a traffic signal in the center which is why we say let every traffic signal remind you you do go farther with signal gasoline what's more that's a mighty good sign to look for these days because there you'll find not only signals famous go farther gasoline but the full line of signal specialized lubricants really conscientious service to buy experienced signal dealers more eager to please you because they're in business for themselves so let the black and yellow signal circle be your insurance of the protection your car needs to last out the duration and now back to the whistler so Jerry Mason didn't close the store that night after the little man had left with his travel magazine he just stood there at the counter thinking for a long time then he went back to the pharmacy department and took down a jar of chloral hydrate and a few gelatin capsules yes it could be done easily simple as ABC the easiest five grand he'd ever make in his life or perhaps the hardest that little man with a travel book how much had he heard you watched him carefully Jerry wasn't a sign he knew anything go home and get some sleep forget about Laurie waiting for you at her apartment forget about the little man just go home and get some sleep two o'clock forget about the little man Jerry just an innocent old funny dirty you happen to stroll in that side door at the wrong time go on get some sleep he knows he must know he knew your name didn't he if he could hear that he could hear the rest that is if he was listening wait a minute get hold of yourself are you going to toss over five grand because of a crazy hunch and go to prison for embezzlement when that year starts looking for that 1800 are you yellow don't be stupid get some sleep yes get some sleep couldn't sleep all night I got to decide right now tell me you'll be in here for his prescription any minute we made a wrong guess Jerry about the 1800 I know I know I love you Jerry don't let them drag you down any father but what about Thatcher's money Jerry it's murder if I get caught it's murder I just can't get that guy with a magazine out of my mind town Lee's a big man Jerry they won't pass it off without a question he knows too much about too many people well there can only be one answer I tell you the guy's an addict and everybody knows that people like that die from overdoses every day I'm a cinch if that little guy with the glasses is as dumb as he looks morning Jerry oh Mr. Townley house newspaper business rotten thanks oh this is my fiance Miss Crane Miss Crane how do you do a word of advice Miss Crane keep them away from the newspaper business fate worse than death how about my chemicals Jerry yes sir if you can wait I'll have it for you in just a minute okay I really mean it maybe she's right Jerry maybe you'd better forget the whole mess and yes throw away $5,000 more money than you'll ever have if you live to be a hundred Townley's a nice guy be ashamed to bump him off maybe Thatcher will listen to reason about the discrepancy let you off easy yes take that capsule out and look at it for a minute five thousand bucks right in the palm of my hand to Townley there's one for good measure it's done Jerry no way of changing it now and even you're surprised when it pays off only two nights later two more nights without sleep by the way it's about midnight when you hear someone at the door yes you Jeremiah T Mason that's right sorry to get you out of bed this time of night Mr. Mason I'm Hodges homicide Bureau homicide don't be alarmed just making a routine investigation it hasn't come out in the papers yet but Ted Townley the columnist was found dead in his apartment this afternoon overdose of sleeping powder I see come in please thanks understand you're employed with a Thatcher drug company where Tommy got his prescriptions well yes as a matter of fact I usually put him up myself what was the drug chloral hydrate how long had he been taking it oh I think about five years I see excuse me for sure sure go ahead hello don't apologize Laurie you didn't get me out of bed and inspector Hodges of the homicide squad is it you it seems Townley the columnist was found dead in his apartment I'll leave my child and show got it yes that's it he got the drug from us that's why the inspectors here good night dear I'll see you tomorrow that's okay nothing irregular about the case of course stomach content sanitized this chloral hydrate doctor tells me you'd have trouble with Townley so the guy was turning into a regular addict well if there's anything I can do forget it and she'll probably close it up don't think you'll even have to testify thanks a lot Mason sorry I had to disturb you all that's quite all right good night Mason hey better get back to bed and get some sleep you look like you've had a hard day yes try and sleep Jerry you're exhausted your arms and legs ache with fatigue and your brain keeps spinning like a top it's there every time you close your eyes black and white circles like a whirling rifle target with a little man in glasses grinning at the center sleep Jerry sleep sleep this Jerry could you be dreaming that you're walking in Central Park alone there's not a breath of air the leaves of the trees hang limp and motionless it's too quiet to be real Mr. Townley you can't oh yes I can here I want you to meet a friend of mine why you're no no oh yes yes we met before Mr. Townley I happened in the drugstore on the night Mr. Mason made arrangements for your departure Mason I want you to meet Mr. Death Mr. Death right our name isn't it death the E.A.T.H. you see I've retained Mr. Death to handle my case he specializes in cases of this kind you know double crosses cold-blooded murders that sort of thing he's a man of exceptional ability I was lucky to get him what do you mean Mr. Death is what you might call a retribution precisely a retribution as the deal in retribution evening of all scores rather uncommon practice yet you see Mr. Mason we operate on the premise that it's still murder even if you don't get caught no no no no no relax Mr. Mason you have nothing to worry about everything is taken care of all the details can be worked out before I leave on my trip you've seen this issue of travel Mr. Mason remarkable article on Syria we're not angry at you Mason for that matter you did me a favor I much prefer this to the newspaper business there's no reason why we can't handle this matter of retribution of the nice friendly little deal of course of course we will now now let's talk about your trip my trip my one passion is travel Mr. Mason and I suspect you have hidden leaning toward it yourself so I've arranged for you to take a trip to be a much more interesting trip than mine I assure you I don't have the itinerary is yet no go away the dream talked about retribution and a long trip well what I shouldn't say I told you so I guess there was no other way out I know I suppose I'm as guilty as you are you you just aren't a murderer Jerry you haven't got the right kind of a month this was so real you've got to get hold of yourself it's done and there's nothing we can do to change it now where's the money here I picked it up at the post office this morning all built good I'll return it to the safe Mr. Thatcher might get in early you'll have it all ready for it and I'll be back later this afternoon now you've got to get some I know but every time I close my eyes I see him getting will you I told you it's only your imagination I'll go to sleep oh before you go fix me another bromide way a few things we should discuss go away you're not real you're just like all the others the others yes I suppose I suppose it's just one of the problems every retributionist has to put up with nobody believes he's real purely a philosophical problem of course what depends on what you mean by real but that isn't getting us anywhere is it now let's see mr. Townley left me several instructions if oh by the way by the way he sends his apologies it wasn't able to come this afternoon what do you mean instructions oh of course I haven't had a chance to explain how a retributionist operate have I know where we we're like Mr. Mason I get that precisely you see we get a general picture of the client's needs then we present a plan plan for what a blueprint for a retribution of course you see I have yours right here mr. Townley has approved of it by the way I see suppose I don't approve his hat for defected what were the other you see Mr. Mason once the plan is prepared and approved the subject has nothing to do but wait I've taken such an interest in your case I prepared a rather original plan if I do say so myself you're pretty sure of yourself aren't you oh nothing is more certain than retribution mr. Mason now let's see oh yes I yeah I wanted to discuss the time element with you it's been rather important in your case we usually work over a period of years but it happens I want to take advantage of an unusual opportunity your date has been set at April 30th that's tomorrow yeah the blueprint let me see it I'm very sorry that's out of the question oh it's not a plan at all it's a travel magazine give it to me I said you can't touch it mr. Mason no you see you can't touch the plan mr. Mason all you can do is wait just wait Mr. Patrick about an hour after I put the money in the safe I told him you were sick April 30th he said tomorrow well what's the matter nothing to do but wait tomorrow he's coming back to that travel magazine the one I saved for him you're out of your mind I'm okay listen go back and tell that you're I'm gonna work all day tomorrow tell him to stay home and unpack anything what are you gonna do I got a date Lori a date with mr. death a date with mr. death but remember you were dreaming Jerry but now the dreams getting all mixed up with reality that's the way your mind gets all mixed up you're going on your nerves now five days without sleep five days on double bromides your muscles aches and there's a throbbing pain at the base of your skull and though you don't sleep the rest of the night mr. death still there grinning at you from the center of the black and white rifle target waiting for tomorrow he doesn't know you're not going to take it lying down but there's something you can do besides wait something he might not expect when he comes in as he promised he would pick up the new travel magazine you stagger through the next day and finally just as before the door opens at about closing time what you I hope you remembered about the travel magazine yes I remembered there you are thank you thank you so much mr. mason 25 yes say where do you live up on the 78th street near the river I live up that way I'm about to close up now I'll take you home fine stopping here but the river mr. mason all right mr. death it's April 30th what do you mean you heard what we were talking about that night didn't you got the whole works lean back and wait just sit around and wait for you to spring the works on the cops tell him I killed Ted Townley did you have that in mind for April 30th huh tonight maybe I didn't know yes you did mr. death retribution huh well maybe this is something you forgot to put in your blueprint there will return in just a moment with the strange ending of tonight's tale meantime a question if you could have your gasoline tailored to order just what characteristic which you consider most important well today under gasoline rationing the chances are you'd say mileage which explains why so many drivers have been changing to the West's most longer most famous longer mileage motor fuel signal go farther gasoline you see for years drivers who have kept a careful record of gasoline mileage have found they do go farther with signal gasoline now naturally with certain gasoline ingredients reserved for war no gasoline today can give you all the zip and anti-knock quality you found in pre-war signal gasoline and which you'll be enjoying again in even further improved signal post-war gasoline but this much you can be sure of just as they've been doing for the past 14 years signal oil company is still producing the finest gasoline that can be made today and the famous signal formula still places the emphasis on mileage so to make sure you're getting the most miles from every ration coupon stop at the station wearing the black and yellow signal circle and get your best buy today signal go farther gasoline and now back to the whistler there's nothing to worry about now Jerry mr. death is out of your life for good deep in the river with a hundred pound chain around his neck and there are no prying friends or relatives to inquire for him you can sleep now and it's wonderful isn't it no more leering faces no more blueprints just a good solid black velvet of sleep 24 hours of it just like a baby the old bounces back the next night and you can smile again Jerry you're sure it was don't worry baby they'll never find him oh man I feel like a million bucks oh by the way I'm going on a trip mr. Thatcher told me I needed a vacation trip where well like when I found it mr. death's pocket complete grand tour first cabin all the way but you can't use that ticket the name oh you don't know me baby but what about passport took care of that too oh you're taking a chance I wouldn't miss this for the world after all Lori it isn't every day a guy picks up a free ride on a boat like the Lusitania yes you really got yourself a free ride Jerry but perhaps that was part of the blueprint to the luxury liner Lusitania and that German torpedo off the coast of Ireland Monday at nine o'clock the Whistler will bring you another strange tale the Whistler is broadcast for your entertainment by the marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and find quality automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer this program directed by George W. Allen with tonight's story by Harold Swanson music by Wilbur hatch is transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service this is Marvin Miller speaking and suggesting that you let every traffic signal remind you that you do go farther with signal gasoline yes you do go farther with signal this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system