 The signal oil program The whistler at 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 by independent research the most popular West Coast program in radio history and Signal gasoline is tops to 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 The big prison to John Emerson It was more than a nightmare The sounds the images flashing across the black background of his mind were too real too terrifying At first nothing was clear to him, but gradually seemed to be back in Ketchikan, Alaska His mind going over and over that first chance meeting with Willard Crofton Pompous jovial boring Willard You know that chance meeting with Willard Crofton was the beginning of it, but as the liquor boils up again in your brain You're sure there's more something much more important far more terrifying You grow back over it all again Forcing yourself to remember There was the long tiresome trip to Crofton's Lodge the days the weeks wasted looking for game that just wasn't there And always Crofton with his foolish jokes and his guns shoving another highball into your hand And another Then suddenly in a rush it all comes back to you like acid in nitroglycerin The memory of those last wild moments at the large explodes in your mind On in a red flash the nightmare the vision the spinning dizzy sick feeling you open your eyes and you know It's all real you discover yourself lying fully clothed on a bed in a hotel room with morning sun Streaming in the window But before complete panic can overtake you you're stopped with a sound of voices Real words from real people coming in over the open transom. I tell you Joe the telegrams address to Willard Crofton And I'm telling you he's still asleep, and I'm not gonna wake him up until it's almost time for his train What's going on? Yeah, but Joe the wires mark deliver personal and we're supposed to deliver it to God Look I'll deliver it personally when he wakes up now. What difference does it make? Don't ask me Joe. I don't make the rules You're sure it's mr. Crofton. I'm sure it is. I've never seen the guy, but he come in drunk lately Wait a minute, Joe. Let's look at the register, huh? Won't do any good He was too stiff to hold a pen in his hand Something really had the guy going, huh? Well, maybe to be sure I ought to go out to that hunting lodge of his because if this is the wrong guy Why I make the trip for nuts and they brought his car go out and check the registration Then if it's Crofton leave the wire with me, and I'll deliver it for you soon as he wakes up You're on your feet now John piecing it all together Weaving dizzily over to the dresser whimpsing at what you see in the mirror Then your eyes drop down and you grow tense at what you see green backs all over the place Crofton's wallet his papers his railroad and steamer tickets. Well, it's Crofton's car. All right, Joe Didn't I tell you just leave the rest of me? Oh son of a gun. I don't know This telegram still says deliver personal the willard crop. Okay. Be yourself if you want to go on make the trip All the way out to the lodge You cling to the edge of the dresser as for the first time the full realization hits you if that messenger goes out to the lodge You know what? You'll find John Crofton dead on the floor and a dozen wide-open clues pointing straight at you You begin to think clearly rapidly what you need is time Time to get out of Alaska before the body is discovered and there's one way to do it One way that Crofton's large might go undisturbed until spring you tense yourself and take the plunge Someone out there looking for Crofton. Well, I'm Crofton. What is it? Telegram for you. Mr. Crofton mark deliver personal. Oh, okay Just a minute. Oh, yeah, here's your telegram sir. Well, here's here's something for your trouble Sorry to disturb you sir. We weren't sure you were Crofton. Who else would that be? Well, I don't know sir It's 815. Mr. Crofton your train leaves at nine sharp, you know. Yeah. Yeah, don't worry. Don't worry. I'll be on that train With the prologue of the big prison the signal oil company is bringing you another strange story By the whistler You know out here in Hollywood where the whistler is produced an actor or actress often becomes so famous for Some one feature such as the legs or the body or the voice Folks often overlook the fact that they're also very great at acting Well, it occurred to me that it's much the same with signal gasoline Signal has become so famous as the go farther gasoline Many folks forget what makes that good mileage possible the quality in signal gasoline In fact, the best yardstick of gasoline quality is mileage You see the only way any gasoline can give you better mileage is by helping your motor run more efficiently and when your motor runs more Efficiently naturally you enjoy quicker starting faster pickup smoother knock-free power the kind of performance you expect from a quality gasoline That's why we say to be sure of the tops in gasoline quality. Just remember two things one in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther and Two signal is the famous go farther gasoline And now back to the whistler Only now that the full force of it hits you the thing so many men have felt about the north in years gone by For the guilty Alaska is a gigantic prison with the only real avenue of escape to the south the railroad to Skagway the sea lanes beyond all carefully policed by watchful eyes You have only one hope now to escape this Alaskan prison before Willard Crofton's body With all the evidence pointing to you is discovered Going back to cover up would be too dangerous and that means five terrible days traveling on Crofton's tickets One day by train to Skagway four days by boat to Vancouver five days in a trap that may be sprung in any moment The telegram delivered to you in Crofton's name says only leave today is planned sign Williams and Crofton's papers aren't much more helpful You're still studying them a few minutes later when hey, yes Mr. Crofton the garage man's outside about the car. Oh Well Is it ready? Ready to be put up for the winter. Oh, oh, yes Tell me go ahead. Good. They are baggages in a lobby. Oh, yes I have it taken to the station. Will you please here you are? Thanks. How long till train time? Let's see you 30 minutes. Well, I'm a little tired. I guess I'll wait here till just before the train leaves Well, how about breakfast? No, no, I'm I'm afraid there's not that much time. I'll I'll have lunch at Bennett anyway I'll I'll wait till then. Well, it's up to you But no in a white pass in Yukon Railroad like I do I'd never leave white horse with an empty stomach And somehow by a miracle it works John the last minute dash to the train The creaky ride the car cross then lunch at Bennett in the dizzy winding descent to the little village of Skagway Nestled under a glacier at the water's edge You tell yourself the worst is over that there's no reason for anyone to go to Crofton's cabin No reason why the body won't lie. They are undisturbed until spring six long months away You begin to relax in Skagway as you walk into the steamship office to check your reservations Now let's see your ticket. When does the boat leave tonight at seven? Oh Crofton you remember me Pat Carroll. I talked to you on the way up came in about Three weeks ago didn't show. Oh, yes, sir. Sure. Sure. You were with another fella Or uh, let's say wait a minute. Guess it was your pal. I talked to you. Yes. Yes. It must have been by the way Where is he? Oh, he uh, he decided to stay up there for a while. Oh, it's funny Told me he was due back in the States in a few weeks. I can change his mind. Can't be sure fix up the tickets Will you please say I know why staying up there? Sure What do you mean? Well your partner mr. Crofton didn't he let you know my Partner Williams. I got a reservation wire here He's he's due next Monday on the Nora going up to the Lodge for a fling at the hunting racket himself Oh, yeah, yes. Well, he sent me a while about that. Oh, when does he get here Monday? We upped your lodge by Tuesday night You uh, you think you might change your plans mr. Crofton now. I could could cancel this too No, no, no of one of us has to be on the job Well, what what time do I get down to Vancouver leaving tonight? You'll be there Monday around five in the afternoon. Oh, that's okay. Fix up the ticket It's a funny one, isn't it you and your partner will pass each other on the way Ships that pass in the night fix up the ticket. Will you oh, I'm sorry. I'm in a hurry and sure mr. Crofton I'll fix it for you Well John it's going to be a race now, isn't it a grim kind of a race as you move southward on the Louise to Vancouver and freedom as Crofton's partner comes north on the Princess Nora over the same route Bound for that cabin and the awful discovery that awaits him there And if that happens before you reach Vancouver John if he arrives while you're still impersonating the dead man One quick radiogram, and it'll be all over and you John The murderer of Willard Crofton will be apprehended in a manner of minutes on a ship at sea with no escape You stand on the after deck in the shadow try to keep out of sight as you look at the twinkling lights of the little town The ugly docks the rock cliff plastered with tourist signs It seems an age before the deck hands get busy with the lines and passengers begin to drift forward to their cabins Another part of it over John the vessel moves out into Lynn canal the lights of Skagway recede into the night Excuse me, sir. Oh, yes steward your name, please a crofton Oh, yes, yes Willard Crofton, would you follow me, please mr. Crofton? I'll show you to your cabin You manage to have dinner alone Then slip back out to the deck find a chair and lean back to rest for the first time in more than a day You're tired now terribly tired and you're thankful for the darkness the soothing slap of the water against the sides of the ship Then well mr. Crofton. Oh, yes Mind if I sit down. Oh, I know sir not at all That's the uh crofton of crofton williams, isn't it? I saw your name on the passenger list Quite a surprise. Oh Yes I've dealt with you people for some time now nearly 15 years. Well, that's i'm a dr. Princess Alaska medical mission. It's a pleasure doctor My I could tell you some stories about the things your medical supplies have done for us up here Saved a lot of lives crofton. Well, that's that's fine Well, better hurry if you want dinner last call. I don't believe I'll eat anything. Thanks I haven't been feeling too well. Oh, see sick. No touch of cold. I think it's like temperature I took my own advice. I'd be in my stateroom. You uh going to Vancouver Yes, I have to get back if my partner a chance for a vacation world Vacation that's what I need You know, I I really better turn in will you excuse well, of course, dr. Nice to have talked to you. Thanks. It was a pleasure meeting you at last after doing business all these years I'll try to make dinner with you crofton perhaps tomorrow. Fine doctor fine. Good night A sense of relief sweeps over you as the little doctor walks away And you turn thankful there were no slips There can't be any slips john because you're on a very delicate schedule Only 12 hours stand between you and disaster The narrow margin that will separate your arrival in Vancouver From the arrival of crofton's partner williams at the cabin in whitehorse You know, you must be off this boat and out of vancouver when it happens The doctor mercifully keeps to his cabin for the next few days And you're alone now at the rail of the princess louise as she slides into the dock at ketchikan Oh stewart. Yes, sir. How long do we tie up here about an hour, sir? Well, I think I'll go sure stroll around a bit. Yes, everybody does both boat loads Both yes, sir. And that's the princess nora there at the dock the nora. That's right, sir She's headed right back where we came from. Oh, uh, anybody on board, you know, you'll have plenty of time to see No, no, no there isn't any way. I've changed my mind. I'm going to stay aboard The hour in ketchikan seems like 10 years john It's ironic, isn't it you and williams in the same town Williams on his way north where he'll find his partner murdered You on your way south to find freedom with a slim slice of time Only a few hours still tipping the balance in your favor And then finally the tension eases a little and you stand at the stern rail of the princess louise Watch the nora back slowly out of the harbor and steam away toward the north Her lights are all but out of sight when you're aware someone is standing beside you in the darkness Strange isn't it? Watching a boat move away like that Gives you a lost Empty feeling it's too dark to see your face But something tells you to be careful on guard You turn away slightly but the girl is in a mood to talk It's like being separated from someone in a crowd You wonder You'll ever see them again It is something like that in that boat Going where this one came from What's it like there in scagway? I mean oh, did you just come aboard? Yes. This is the farthest north I've been Oh, it's much the same not as many people. Are you live there? No, no vancouver. Seattle's my hometown Be nice to get back You know someone there. No. No, I don't I have relatives in vancouver, too You know anybody named lockwood. I came from a lot of them You're going inside. Yes. Yes, excuse me. Please. It's the wind my my throat. It's dangerous for me to be out here You're trembling inside as you hurry away, aren't you john? Yes Because it suddenly came home to you this girl from seattle. She's someone you know Someone who knows you You can't reach your stateroom soon enough as the realization sweeps over you Lockwood of course Helen lockwood you met her not three weeks ago in ketchikan But you mustn't meet her again and give her a chance to remember your real name and expose you as a masquerader It's two days john, but on some pretense You've got to remain in your stateroom until the boat reaches vancouver Sure. Yes, sir. If you don't mind I'd like my breakfast served in here in my stateroom this morning. Oh, certainly sir. Oh, you feeling all right, sir Oh, it's nothing serious. If you'd like the ship's doctor. No, I tell you it's not serious. I'm I'm just playing safe. Yes, sir. I'll bring your breakfast right away, sir Right there on the Oh, this is the ship's doctor, sir. I thought I told you it wasn't necessary. That was my idea. Mr. Croft Well, I see here doctor. I'm not seriously healed. There's no need for you to croft and that's what i'm here for But I just like all the rest of now here. Let me take your pulse and need any help, doctor No, thanks. You can go in Hmm. Uh, let's see Might as well get you a temperature too A sense of anger mixes with fear as the doctor stands over you Above all you can't have him meddling telling you to get out on deck As he turns away for a moment you remember the words of little dr. Prentice something about a touch of cold a slight temperature Your eye strikes the pot of hot coffee on the tray right next to your bed And an idea comes to you that almost makes you laugh out loud It's so simple isn't it john to take the thermometer from your mouth Dip it for an instant in the coffee Put it back before the doctor turns and you know in advance. What are you saying? No, mr. Croft and if you let me take a look 102 Mr. Croft and I'd say you should stay right in bed for a while nothing serious. I don't think so However, I'm glad I checked. Well, I'm sorry. I was short with you doctor I'm used to you businessman. You never want to stop for anything I uh Do want you to rest for me though We're only a day and a half out of vancouver. Well, don't worry doctor I'll stay right here Yes, john you accept the doctor's orders graciously And when your stateroom door closes You slump back completely relaxed for the first time Since you awakened that morning in the white horse hotel Only a day and a half now to vancouver And by the time crofton's body is discovered you'll be on your way to one of a thousand places Where you can disappear completely And again, you almost have to laugh out loud It was a pot of coffee and a fever thermometer john that assured your escape From the big prison. Oh, come in Close the door with you. Yes, of course We'll be in vancouver in two hours, sir. Do you need any help getting your baggage? No, no, I'm I'm feeling much better There's no trouble at all, sir. As a matter of fact, if you wish they'll even have an ambulance down at the doctor Oh, no, no, no that won't be necessary Well, you know best mr. Crofton. Well, it won't be necessary at all No steward as soon as I reach vancouver. I'm going to be perfectly all right Just a moment. We will bring you the strange ending of tonight's story But meantime a word about a major purchase that many of you drivers will be making during the coming winter months a new battery Perhaps you've gotten the notion because of the many new or off brands of batteries now being offered that batteries are plentiful again The fact of the matter is good batteries are not plentiful now and the indication is that they will be even scarcer as the demand grows When I say good batteries I mean the quality kind that you can rely on such as those fine signal batteries Featured by signal service stations throughout the west from canada to mexico Every genuine signal battery is ruggedly constructed of highest grade materials Made to exacting specifications that signal oil company is proud to stand back of Every genuine signal battery is guaranteed for long trouble-free service by signal oil company Of course the best way to get the maximum life out of any battery is to have it checked and inspected regularly A service your signal dealer will be gladly performed for you Should he find that your present battery is not likely to stand the strain of cold weather starting It'll be wise to get your order in now for a quality battery A genuine guaranteed signal battery And now back to the quistler Well, john, it's almost over the nightmare from which you've never really awakened It's a real frightening thing this delicate schedule. You've been forced to follow Just 12 hours from now the body of willard crofton will be discovered at his hunting lodge near whitehorse And only moments later the wires will be crackling with orders for your arrest as the murderer But that's 12 hours from now john And long before that you'll be off the ship and miles out of Vancouver on your way to a safe hiding place Yes, john, alaska was a big prison, but you've escaped in just a few minutes You'll walk down the gang plank on schedule safe and free Yes, steward come in my baggage is all right Oh doctor Well, look, it was nice of you to come again, but I told the steward. I'm feeling much better He told me just the same. I thought I'd better take that temperature of yours, but really doctor It's oh come now. I'll only take a moment. But I under the tongues. Oh, that's it mouth shut Sometimes I think that's the best part of being a doctor telling people to keep their mouths shut and making them like it Oh, I better get that pulse too Not bad at all a little rapid, but that could be nerves All right, let's have a look at that thermometer I look doctor. Look, I was just I was trying to tell you this is all foolishness. I'm feeling fine. I Well, what's the matter? Nothing quite the contrary Your temperature is normal again, and I don't mind telling you I'm greatly relieved. Well, I told you I Relieved that's right Of course with no temperature. You're free to go anywhere you like aboard ship Abort ship Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute. What are you getting at? Well, you really did it with that 102 fever of yours Made me suspicious, and I went back and checked up on your friend. Dr. Prentice again What about dr. Prentice? It's too bad, but I'm afraid he picked up a case of smallpox somewhere in Alaska Small we'll all be held in quarantine, of course But then we shouldn't be delayed more than 48 hours That whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Wednesday night if his 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 was walley mayor The whistler was produced by george w. Allen with story by joel malone and harold swanton 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 tuned 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