 the signal oil program guess the signal oil program the whistler is your signal for the signal oil program the whistler I 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 top two 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 independently operated signal stations from Canada to Mexico and now the whistler strange story let her to Melanie the tiny beannery on the main street was called the heart of gold but the title bore little if any reference to the people who ate there the miners tranches local merchants and people like Cal Benton perhaps the heart of gold held something more for Cal Benton he was there regularly enough every time he came into town from the mine in the back country of Sonora howl's partner Walter Reese was interested only in the mail and supply but for howl tall young and good-looking there just might have been another attraction well what would be for dessert howl honey anything your little heart desires oh you're military you know I do oh a piece of pie oh the pie I'll bet you baked it with your own two little hands sometimes I don't think you'd notice if I had three what about your partner how about Walter Walt huh oh sorry sorry nothing for me sorry okay I'll get your pie howl oh another letter for melody huh I don't get you at all joining a pen club writing just someday you never met I don't get it no I I guess you would now now you take a good-looking guy like me I know I know a good-looking guy like you have to beat them off of the club I was just kidding Walt you just like a blueberry honey oh thank you gorgeous hunk of stuff oh eat your pie you two-timer howl we should be getting back to camp soon oh now Walter don't rush love a boy out of town he wants to play post office yeah sure relax Walter relax what's your hurry well it's just that I you're anxious to get back to your typewriter hey why don't you take in a movie water do you cut well I don't know how much do I owe you terry doll free here here you are okay look what time do you get off tonight Terry couple hours you know something what this pie is lousy oh well hey you leaving to yes sir I'm the impatient type honey two hours is a long time wall is right gotta get back to camp oh fine so I'll see around sugar come on Walt come on it's back to camp for you isn't it howl yes with all your other interests the mind you and Walter are working in the back country is the most important thing in your life it's most important to Walter too although he makes you wonder sometimes like right now back at your camp in the hills sitting across from you by the lantern pecking away at the old battered typewriter another letter to Melanie Melanie Lawton Walter's correspondence club sweetheart what's the good of all this letter writing to your bashful widow and to call me if you never plan to meet today well perhaps I do intend to meet Melanie sure sure you don't believe me howl do you just because it doesn't mean anything to you you can have any woman you want anytime sure your handsome howl well maybe you'll be surprised Melanie's driving to San Francisco next week no really that's right and she intends to stop by Sonora in the days that follow you wonder about your partner he's acting nervously and your certain it has to do with a visit from his pen partner Melanie Lawton and then one evening on your next trip into town as you approach the hotel Walter stop suddenly what's the matter well howl yeah howl I'd well I'd like to go in alone could could you perhaps go on down a meet Terry maybe I'm a well I'm I'm a little nervous about what about meeting her Melanie you really mean it she's here inside yes that's her car front she wrote me about it well well okay well sure go ahead go meet your girlfriend wait are you going to tell her you're really Walter Reese instead of using that phony pen name that you've been using William Blades yeah yeah I I think I should now it surprises you doesn't howl even more as you walk past the huge convertible car parked in at the curve and then a thought hits you very suddenly doesn't have the big car what it must have cost the money that Melanie Lawton must have to own it and then another thought something Walter said something that suddenly has a new meaning you know maybe you're right Walt I wonder just how lonesome your rich girlfriend is I wonder with the prologue of letter to Melanie the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler if you'll be needing new tires soon you're naturally interested in getting the biggest allowance for your old tires and biggest allowance is just exactly what signal dealers are offering right now yes that sign outside signal service stations means what it says biggest allowance for your old tires on new top quality Lee tires not cut rate secondary tires mind you but nationally advertised tires by Lee of concha Hawkins for 47 years of finest of first-line tires because of their exclusive double life rayon cord construction Lee tires have long been outstanding for mileage and safety but today's leaves are so much finer so vastly improved they're actually giving 30 to 40 percent more miles the secret Lee uses long wearing cold rubber and toughens it still more with patented high abrasive fill black O for trouble free service and safety you just can't buy a finer tire than the handsome new eight rib super deluxe Lee tire and for value you can't beat that whopping trade in allowance that signal stations are offering now so before you buy any tires be wise find out how much your old tires are worth now at your nearest signal service station your curiosity is aroused isn't it how as it always is when there's money in sight any kind of money and now you wonder if water hasn't found the real answer without knowing yes his letters to a wealthy lonely woman Melanie Lawton who drove all this way to see it and you decide that the situation is worth looking into yes and a few minutes after that decision you enter the hotel cocktail bar approach water and the woman who's sitting with him at the bar well hello oh oh Walter you old fox well aren't you going to introduce me well of course this must be Mr. Benton yes Melanie miss Melanie Lawton this is my partner Hal Benton how do you do hello Walter was just telling me about you Mr. Benton well that's just like him what he said oh that's a secret I promise and I wouldn't tell you and you're not a gal to break a secret huh well here look can I borrow a stool here and buy a drink how well no Melanie Mrs. Lawton's had quite a drive and she was just going to turn in and I thought that it's quite all right well really I don't mind well your things out of the car Mrs. Lawton I know they're no bad service in a town like this Mrs. Lawton but I'll take care of that is unless you'd rather water I don't want to interfere you know no of course I'll do it I'll be right back Melanie you watch him go realize that he isn't angry only embarrassed and confused and you concentrate on talking pleasantly with Melanie Lawton it's easy isn't it Hal easy and pleasant and in the next few moments you turn on the charm all the way you know Mrs. Lawton Melanie I'm going to make a little threat right here and now oh yep we're outspoken up here straight from the shoulder so I'm telling you that partner of mine isn't going to have all your time to himself oh really Mr. Benton how all right you say you got to turn in but I'm not gonna let you get away with that no sir not when there's a moon out and oh now don't be silly anyway here comes Walter I've got to say good night to you both right now okay you can try but I am a stubborn man very stubborn yes oh Mr. Benton how oh Mr. Benton really I know I know I know you just said good night to me and to Walter he believes it to went down to the depot a red hop game of checkers on tap you you don't believe it that I meant it when I said good night not with that moon like I said now please Melanie I'm like a little boy at heart really I just have to drive that convertible around the block at least I'll give you the keys you can oh I'm not that much of a little boy oh come on just around the block Melanie all right just around the block Mr. Benton how another block no Mr. Benton I don't how all right how another block like I said Walter I was on my way down here about a quarter of an hour ago and I bumped into Melanie as she stepped out of the house don't you think it's strange I mean for it just to go to San Francisco without a word well she told me to say goodbye to you all women are funny Walter come on come on let's get back to camp yeah yeah let's do how I know this must seem silly you but Melanie's leaving like that without saying goodbye well well it's kind of knocked me out do well do you think you could handle the mine alone for a couple of weeks what why what do you got in my well it's just like I said this thing with Melanie ending like it did it kind of knock me out and if you don't mind I'd like to run up the sacrament I wouldn't spend a couple of weeks with my sister and her husband I'm well I'm just nuts about the kids I think it's a good idea water a great idea you didn't expect a lucky break like this did you have the one thing that worried you how to keep Walter in camp every evening while you gave your attention to the attractive and wealthy Melanie has been solved by Walter's decision to visit his sister in Sacramento the next evening dining with Melanie you're very sure of yourself and your child how come Walter didn't come in with you tonight well he's gone gone but I don't understand neither do I he just up and left for Sacramento told me to tell you goodbye for him but he wrote so many nice letters to me look let's forget it they weren't wasted the letters after all they brought us together yes that's how they did do that but oh I still can't see why Walter left like that it's all so strange and yet so nice sure it is and it'll keep getting nicer if you decide to stick around look you don't really have to go down to San Francisco now do you know no it isn't important really I've been thinking about it how thinking that I'd sort of like to stay here in Sonora while oh it's such a lovely town and the people are so friendly so very friendly there are other evenings of Melanie evenings when she picked you up at the bridge a quarter of a mile from your camp and the two of you go for long drives through the countryside the mine has become unimportant to you now hasn't it how because you found another way an easier way to make money yes you've a definite plan in mind haven't you and one evening when you're out with Melanie you're very quiet tonight how huh oh sorry business on the brain oh the mine yeah yeah and looks like Walter picked another lemon I had a different spot all staked out Mexico but Walter couldn't see it even Muller couldn't talk him into it Muller who oh CJ Muller is a friend of ours in San Francisco pretty rude speculator oh but Walter wouldn't budge says Muller's percentage of the take is too high maybe he's right but who'd be willing to take a chance on a couple of eggs like Walter and me oh I see oh look look it's too nice tonight to talk about business how about driving over to Jimtown you've ever been there no no you'll love it you'll love it turn right at the next intersection it's done isn't it Hal you've made the first move of the campaign the subtle beginning of your plan to sell Melanie Lawton the idea of investing some capital in a Mexican gold hunt and in the evenings that follow you keep the subject alive casually mentioning it from time to time dropping a word now and then at just the right moment then you purposely avoid the subject for several days and finally at the end of the week it's Melanie who brings it up again it's just what you've been waiting for you know it's a funny thing Melanie you mentioning Muller I got a letter from him this morning oh still interested he's frothing at the mouth here he read it my dear Mr. Benton could persuade your business partner Mr. Reese to accept my terms I am certain that we oh he is interested in he wants to see you yeah I talked to him on the phone this afternoon I told him it's still no go how you're sold on this idea aren't you going to Mexico completely and all you need is is ten thousand dollars mm-hmm five thousand to start with at least what what are you thinking about baby or nothing nothing at all how come on come on help me squander some quarters in that slot machine again yes sir I have a hunch Melanie I'm going to hit the jackpot before long you're fully confident now aren't you how your little scheme won't fail the letter from Muller was all you needed it's an old letter and you change the date but Melanie doesn't know that does she have the next evening you're at the bridge waiting for Melanie as usual an hour goes by he's never been this late before has she howl and you're beginning to wonder if something is going wrong when well you had me worried oh really I just got back from San Francisco San Francisco and you won't know why here's this envelope open it go on go on wait a minute what's this oh it's five thousand dollars now and it's yours to get you started I'm your new partner oh no no look baby look I can't take this it's a business deal and I'm certainly old enough to know how to handle my money and and besides I I want to do it how well well let's call for champagne baby a lot of it and a very big evening you congratulate yourself don't you have everything has worked out as you knew it would you could slip out of town in the morning but you decide to wait a week or so for Melanie's other five thousand the future looks bright doesn't it in the next evening after you close the mineshaft you drive into town suddenly you almost freeze with shock at the wheel your partner Walter is standing at the entrance to a drugstore talking excitedly to Melanie you quickly turn a corner and stop the car where you can watch them on the screen and observe when Melanie leaves Walter motions and nearby taxing tosses in his traveling bag and starts off in the direction of camp you have to find out how much Walter and Melanie have told each other you walk half a block and slip down the alley leading to the backdoor of Melanie's hotel no one sees you as you hurry up the back stairs to room 204 hello Melanie you lied to me about the mine didn't you have I saw you talking to Walter what did he tell you he didn't have to tell me anything I knew something was wrong with the way he acted where'd he go back to camp listen he's putting on an act honey he's sorry he's trying to make trouble between us because you and I found Mr. Miller in San Francisco he's been in Europe the past year you you were very clever and I was very foolish well what now you want the money back what I don't care about the money that doesn't matter oh well look baby look we can straighten this out oh no we can't what are you doing I'm gonna see to it that you never get the chance to pull this cheap trick again on some some other foolish woman oh now wait a minute wait a minute you can have the dough back I'm calling the police now no you're not give me that give me that phone all the police will you it happens suddenly doesn't it have a moment of blind rage now as it leaves you Melanie slips from your grass drops to the floor it was an accident wasn't it you didn't really mean to kill her Melanie Melanie you drop into the chair of the death the clever little plan that was to put you on easy has now led you down the road to murder and it's all Walter's fault isn't it if he hadn't talked with Melanie this wouldn't have happened suddenly your eyes on a sheet of paper flying on the desk a letter a half finished letter Melanie pick it up I find it difficult to write this my dear Catherine difficult to admit I've been a fool he will write all along becoming involved in the pen club was a mistake and that mistake has cost me five thousand dollars I was stupid enough to let a cheap swimlet take it from me I don't care about the money anymore I just want to forget the William blades incident there the letter ends abruptly you stare at the lifeless body on the floor and back at the letter William blade the name Walter use when he wrote to Melanie there's no mention of you in the letter anywhere suddenly the way out becomes clear to you minutes later you hurry back out to the alley behind the hotel on scene you reach your car and race back to camp Walter isn't around anywhere an hour goes by and still no sign of Walter then shortly after 10 the twig snaps behind you and Walter steps into the clearing so you're back yes I got in this afternoon where have you been hard for a walk how I saw Melanie earlier this evening you've got to give back that never mind about me you better start packing your leaving leaving unless you want to stick around to face a murder rap what it's Melanie she's dead dead you maybe you'd better sit down I'll explain the whole setup to you and I'll make it real real clear you tell Walter exactly what's happened don't you have and you mentioned the letter Melanie was right the letter that will implicate William blades that everything will point to him that you'll have to tell the police about his connection with Melanie Lawton reveal him as William blades Walter stares at you an expression of horror on his face why why didn't you destroy the letter they they would never have known about William blade I had to protect myself sorry it's you Walter but I had to have a clay pigeon you're it for you he would really do this to me I have to but I'll do the best I can to help you get away and I'll go on pack your stuff and beat it when the police get here I'll tell him you took the car and headed for San Francisco you can go in the opposite direction and get the jump on him now here here the car keys happy journey the whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story where shall we eat where shall we spend the night those are two questions you'll be asking again and again if you do any traveling this summer well to help you find happy answers to these questions signal oil dealers are offering free a 16 page booklet of selected eating and lodging places called Lane's guide this handy booklet is packed with useful information it tells for instance whether the lodging place is on a beach or has a swimming pool in the case of motels it states whether kitchens are available and so that you can keep within your budget it states whether the prices are low medium or high naturally no pocket-sized publication could possibly contain every good eating and lodging place but Lane's guide which is prepared by an independent travel organization includes a representative selection in 243 cities and towns throughout seven western states we hope you will enjoy this latest step in signal oil companies continuing efforts to make your motoring miles more pleasant remember a copy of Lane's guide is yours free while the supply last at any signal service station it's over isn't it how and you're in the clear Melanie is dead and the letter in her room implicating William blades will lead the police to your partner Walter Reese he knows that too doesn't and you're certain the panic that grips him at the moment will force him to run that's just what you want him to do it will help to convince the police that he's the man responsible for Melanie's death and now as you stand facing him across the campfire so you thought you'd frame me how you'd better start rolling chum I know thanks for the car keys thanks what's the idea you're crazy throwing the keys away now now you won't be able to get away how you confused water I'm not running you are look how down there on the road a car coming this way that red light must be the police you must have made more noise in Melanie's room than you thought and you fool get out of here the police can't prove I'm William blades I could tell them your William blades I I think I will have you're forgetting one little detail you and Melanie exchange photographs remember yes we exchange photographs and I wouldn't be surprised if she still has yours in that hotel room that would cinch it she had the photograph with her yes carried it in a first but it's not going to work out the way you figured no no you see I well I never thought I was much to look at you've always said you could get any girl any time you're a handsome Hal you never let me forget it so when Melanie wrote me as William blades and asked me to send her a photograph I made myself look good I sent a one I sent her yours that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the quistler each Sunday 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 where Wally mayor Eddie Marr and Sarah Selby the whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen with story by Joel Malone and Adrian John Doe music by Wilbur hatch and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service the whistler is entirely fictional and all characters portrayed on the whistler are also fictional any similarity of names or resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental remember at this same time next Sunday another strange tale by the whistler Marvin Miller speaking this is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System