 And now for the radio program that has rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program. The mystery program that is unique among all mystery programs. And I'll tell you why. It's because you know who's guilty. You see his every move, you know his complete plans, even his innermost thoughts. Yet the final curtain always brings a startling surprise. In the signal oil program, the whistler and whistle is your signal for the signal oil program, the whistler. 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. Yes, friends, it's the whistler for the tops in entertainment. And for the tops in gasoline quality, it's signal. 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 independent signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now the whistler's strange story. Farewell party. The gay laughing crowd at the steamer dock hardly noticed the young woman in the smartly tailored grey suit that she half ran up the gang plank under the glare of the floodlights. Outwardly she appeared calm in spite of the fact that the cold hand of panic was tightening around her heart. Julia Chandler shuddered slightly as she stepped on the deck. Julia had made up her mind. In a few minutes she was going to kill a man. There was nothing else she could do and it would be very simple. On the final blast of the ship's all ashore whistle, she would pull the trigger. Then she would melt into the crowd and go ashore. The body wouldn't be discovered until the ship was at sea. As she hurried down the deck, the events that had brought her here raced through her mind. It had all begun that night a week ago at the club Lost Flores, where she was dancing with her husband's business partner Ralph Ellis. No, of course, Ralph. This is our last evening together. Why, Judy, are you surprised me? Oh, no, I don't. Why do you think I've avoided seeing you the past few weeks? The sort of thing has to end somewhere. Oh, I suppose. Let's just say that we danced a viney together and made beautiful music and all that. But, um, my husband is coming home. Oh, he didn't let me know. Oh, inconsiderate. Once in a while, Bruce does put me before business. Yes. And I'm still only a junior partner, huh? Oh, yeah. I'll try to do something about that for you. Always good to have an in with a boss. Ha-ha. Naturally, you'll bear in mind that the boss wouldn't be at all cooperative if he thought for you. I'm not a child, Julia. However, I don't think that even you can help me with a firm. I'm not sure I'm cut out for the work. I'm sure you're not cut out for any work. Always the sweet gentle answer, huh? Handle anything, couldn't you, Julia? Perhaps. I, uh, I wonder... Are you really tired of me? Or is it that restlessness of yours again? I wasn't aware that I was restless. Oh, come on, Julia. I know you're better than that. You were bored with having no money and then Bruce came along and so you married him. But then you found out that married life could be boring, too. Unfortunately, I came along. Who's taking my place, Julia? Is it that singing teacher of yours, Gregory Blaine? You're being very difficult tonight, Ralph. Oh-ho-ho. And it is the singing teacher. What does he have to offer? A career, fame, or a more exciting romance? If you don't mind, I want to leave now, Ralph. You didn't answer my question. I didn't have to. I told you. My husband is coming home. That's all there is to it. All right, Julia, have it your way. But wouldn't it be simpler if I just dropped you at Gregory's studio? Come in, my dear. I'm sorry to make it so late, Gregory. But it was Ralph. I couldn't be cruel. My darling, you couldn't be cruel to anyone. Come here. Have you heard from your husband? Yes, he wired me from Chicago. It's coming tomorrow. If I wanted to see you. Julia, you're sure there's no other way. Now, we've been all through that. What about the records we made? They're right over here. Oh, I see you've been saying them over. They all right? Yes. Your voice, Julia, it is so improved. You sing with such confidence, full rounded tones. I don't mean the music, Gregory. The little record of our voices. Are they... Oh. It will sound as if we're right in the room. Here, I'll show you. It's at the end of the song. Beautiful. Beautiful, my dear. Oh, thank you, Gregory. You've helped me so. Now, we will try it again. Perfect, Gregory. Perfect. Now, turn it off. And you... you still want to go through with it? There's nothing else to do, Gregory. No. Not unless you felt differently about the money. I know what I'm doing. You'll need that money, you know. Julia, I have enough for our boat fare to London, at least. I have my reservation already, and once there, I could give singing lessons... You're going to give all your lessons to me. Help me study in London, Paris. Wherever you think necessary. We'll be able to afford it, Gregory. We can even afford the fare. That couldn't happen, not with that voice in the proper train. When it's all settled, when it's over, you can go on to London, just as we planned. And I'll meet you there in a month. Perhaps, like... Julia, you... you don't think that anything might... Nothing will go wrong, Gregory. Nothing. You must believe that. We're going to kill him together, to be together. I'll be waiting to hear from you, Julia. You don't have to come back again. Just call. Gregory. Yes? Kiss me goodnight. With the prologue of Farewell Party, the Signal Oil Company brings you another strange story... by The Whistler. But now, a prediction about a site you're going to see oftener and ofteners. The days grow warmer. Overheated cars parked at the side of the road to let their steaming radiators cool off. To make sure this annoying occurrence doesn't mar your summer driving fun, Signal service stations have three little items that will make your cooling system young again. The first is radiator cleaner to remove clogging sludge and rust. The second is rust preventive, to protect radiators of old cars or new ones from further corrosion. And the third is radiator sealer that stops any small leaks in the jiffy. These, incidentally, are just a few of your Signal dealer's fine quality upkeep items that include purilator oil filters, fan belts, radiator hoses, spark plugs, and of course, Lee of Konchehaken tires, famous for 45 years as the finest of first line tires. You see, Signal service stations are much more than places to buy Signal's famous go farther gasoline and Signal premium motor oil. Wherever you see Signal's circle sign in yellow and black, there you'll also find complete conscientious Signal service to help your car run better, look better, and last longer. And now back to the Whistler. It was a long search, wasn't it, Julia? Trying to discover what you really wanted out of life. But at last you've decided, and it's quite simple, a career of singing. Your devoted teacher, Gregory, is your husband. And the security of wealth that will automatically be yours with the death of Bruce Champler, your present husband. It's all running through your mind as you drive home, winding up the steep grade of Canyon Road, maneuvering its sharp turns. You've always hated the big house on the hill, tolerated it just as you've tolerated Bruce. But it's important now, isn't it? Desirable. The sharp turns over the canyon hundreds of feet below. The entire isolated setting. Yes, it's important, because it's a setting for murder, Julia. Your husband, Bruce's murder. You sleep well that night, relaxing completely, and then spend a long time before your dressing table in the morning. You want to look well for Bruce's return, as beautiful and disarming as possible. But on the way downstairs, you receive a shock. Voices, Julia. Angry voices coming from Bruce's study across the hall. What do you think I'm doing here? You knew I'd find out, that's why. I did not know. It doesn't make any difference. I'm true with you, Ralph, for good. Have you spoken to Julia about it? Not yet. Well, perhaps if the three of us talk it over. There's no explaining away this sort of thing, Ralph, not to my satisfaction. After all, I don't... I wish you'd leave, right now. What do you plan to do? I have very little choice. I see. Well, if you won't listen, Bruce. I've heard quite enough. Now, get out of here. Julia. Oh, I'm sorry, Bruce. I couldn't help hearing. Look, Julia, tell him we've got to discuss this. I said get out, Ralph. No. All right. I'm going. I don't suppose there's anything I can say, Bruce. No. I... I've been a fool. Won't make it any easier discussing it with you. It's a... a mess. Well, does it occur to you that you might be at least partly to blame? Away on business more than half the time, leaving the way clear for Ralph? Almost inviting him... I said I'd rather not discuss it now, Julia. Are you terribly hurt, Bruce? Not so hurt that I don't know what to do about it? Well, I wouldn't be too hasty. You... you might regret it. I'll decide that, Julia. I... I'm going into town to the club. I want to think this out alone. I'll have dinner there. Talk to you when I get back tonight. I'll be waiting. About nine o'clock. Nine o'clock, Bruce. We'll talk it all out then. Something's happened. I can't tell you now. My singing lesson has to be tonight. Tonight? Yes. It's the only way, Gregory, to keep him from changing things. Will you be here? He's coming home at nine. You better be here by eight-thirty. But, uh... Bring the records. Gregory, it's going to be all right. You'll see. Everything is going to be all right. You had to reassure Gregory, didn't you? Because he seemed nervous and worried from the first. You're not exactly at ease yourself, whether a man for action thrust upon you so suddenly. You can't help wishing that Bruce hadn't learned about you and Ralph, that you could have arranged your own schedule. But life doesn't always go according to plan, does it, Julia? No. And as Bruce will soon learn, neither does death. You wait anxiously all afternoon. Promptly at eight-thirty, Gregory's car swings into the drive. A few moments later, you hear the maid answering the door, admitting him into the front hall. Thank you, sir. If you have a chair. Thank you. I'll tell Mrs. Candley you're here. Who is it, Edith? Mr. Gregory Blaine, ma'am. Who? Oh, oh, yes. Back here, Gregory. The piano's in the study. Oh, yes, of course. Edith, I really want to try and get something accomplished tonight. But you'll see that Mr. Blaine and I aren't disturbed. Certainly, ma'am. Thank you. Hello, Gregory. Hello. So nice to see you again. So nice to see you, Mrs. Candler. I've been practicing, I hope, in voice. Well, not as much as I should. No, no. We'll see. We'll see. I'm going to be strict tonight to make you work hard. Oh. I, uh, trust we won't be disturbed. No, I've just been telling Edith here that we... Don't worry, ma'am. I'll take care of it. Call me when Mr. Candler gets in, of course. Yes, ma'am. So far, anyway. Don't worry. I'll wear the records. Right here. It's the little one that has our... I know. I know. You'll have to hurry. Remember the path I showed you? Yes, yes. And it's directed to the road. You can intercept rules there. Oh, what did you bring? It's just in case, Julia. That's all I would use. No! Oh, this has to look like an accident, like you missed a curve and drove off the road. I understand. You can go out through the window there. Yeah. And leave down to the terrace. And afterwards, get back as fast as you can. The maid. You're sure she won't come? See that I'm not here? She wouldn't dare. The records will be on. I sure think you're playing for me and talking to me. She wouldn't interrupt after what I said. All right. Right now. Be careful. Julia. Julia, you do love me. You wouldn't let me... Go on, Gregory. Go on. We haven't much time. You'll be at that curve in a minute. All right. All right. Oh, and Julia... Yes, yes. I... Well, after you phoned me this morning, I called the steamship line. I had my reservation changed. I'm leaving on the midnight boat tonight. All right. Under these circumstances, I think it's best this way. You understand? All right. All right, Gregory. We can talk about it later. Now, hurry! It's underway, Julia. Your plan to eliminate your husband, the answer to everything. You watch Gregory climb out the open window and move off into the darkness. You stand there for several seconds, visualizing all that's going to happen. In your mind, you see Bruce's open convertible winding slowly up the treacherous road, stopping as Gregory steps out into the glare of the headlights. You picture the sudden movement as he strikes, and then you see Bruce slump over the steering wheel, getting the car, and then letting it roll over the embankment. Yes, in your mind, you see it all, Julia, but you have your own part to do. So you move across to the phonograph, set the record in place, records of a few songs, and a few remarks from Gregory as he accompanies you on the piano. It's going to be easy, isn't it, Julia? With no chance of you or Gregory becoming involved. You start over to the window as Gregory begins the introduction of the song and the record. You wonder how things are going for Gregory as you hear his voice and the record prompting you to begin. Now a few bars more, and you will begin. Hello, Julia. I'll shut this off a minute if you don't mind. What happened, Bruce? I thought you weren't coming back until... Nine. I know. It just didn't take me that long to make up my mind, Julia. Oh. That's funny. What? The maid. She said there was someone in here with you. Oh. Must have been the record that followed her. Oh, Bruce. What is it, Julia? What's the matter with you? Was there someone here? What's the big window doing open? Is there someone out there, Julia? Please, wait! Stay away from that window door! For more than a minute, you stand there frozen in the middle of the room as your husband sinks to the floor. Without even going to him, you know that he's dead, that somehow Gregory has ruined everything, completely destroyed your pat little plan of an accidental death on Canyon Road. Worse, Julia, is the realization that you, too, will have to pay for the stupidity. Already, you can hear Edith hurrying down the stairs. You turn toward the door and stop at the sound of Gregory coming back in through the window gun in hand. There's still a chance for you, isn't there, Julia, and you're going to take it. Bruce! Julia! Mrs. Chandler. What happened? I heard... Oh, it's... it's Mr. Chandler. Shut him, window! Stop it, Julia! Stop it! You don't know what you're saying. Edith! Edith called the police! He killed him! He... he killed Bruce! By you little double-crossing! Get out of my way! He's getting away! Stop him, Edith! Stop him! I'll call the police! I'll call the police! That's all you can tell us, eh, Mrs. Chandler? There isn't anything else, Lieutenant. It all happened so fast. Edith, can you think... No, ma'am. It was just like you told it. Uh-huh. You shot him from the window, you say. Odd. Yes, he had left through the French doors there. He said he wanted to look at the garden. And you and your husband stayed inside? That's right. And then Bruce went over to the window just to class talk. Gregory Blaine shot him? Yes. He fired through without any warning. Well, have you any idea why he did this, Mrs. Chandler? Well, my husband, Bruce, he never approved of my studying voice. Oh. He didn't say anything at first. But after Mr. Blaine stepped outside, Bruce admitted that he'd seen him in town. Told him never to come out here. Oh, but to kill someone over a thing like that. No, it could... I don't know, Mrs. Chandler. Some of these musical guys are pretty strange. Well, I'll try to run him down. And you'll start looking for him right away. Sure. Start a full-scale manhunt if we have any trouble. Don't worry, Mrs. Chandler. We'll get him sooner or later. Then we'll have all the reasons. I'll kill the time. It's when your shoulder... Oh, never mind, Mrs. Chandler. I can find my way. My man and the coroner will take care of everything. Now, you'd better get some rest. You don't look so good. But there's no rest for you, is there, Julia? Because, as the lieutenant said, when they find Gregory Blaine, they'll have all the reasons why. And suddenly you know that you've got to find Gregory first, Julia. Find him and kill him tonight. You glance at your watch. It's only 10 o'clock, two hours before Gregory's boat sails. There's still a chance you'll be at the studio apartment, isn't there, Julia? Is that who you want? Yes. Someone else been looking for him? Mm-hmm, the police. They was looking for him. Oh, fine. I'll sleep. I'll get tonight. The police might as well move in here. Oh, but they won't get this one because he won't be back. Did he tell you that? Oh, he didn't have to. You see, he moved out, paid his rent, took his trunk and everything. Did he say where he was going? No. That's what the police wanted to know, too. Oh, they have many ideas. Say, oh, no. No, of course not. No. Thank you. Thank you very much. But you do know, don't you, Julia, and there's still time to reach Gregory before the boat sails. At the steamer docks, you check the sailing. Drive down the Pier 29. There's a gay crowd of passengers at the gang plank surrounded by friends who have come to see them off. You move through them unnoticed and go aboard, timing your movement so you can reach Greg and kill him during the last blast of the ship's whistle. Oh! Excuse me. Are you looking for a state of too late? Oh, no, no. I came down to see a friend. Excuse me. Me, too. I'd be looking for my friends for the last time and I can't find them. Old Charlie Bemis. You wouldn't be looking for Old Charlie Bemis, too, would you? No, no. I can't understand it. Charlie promised he'd come down to see me off. Good old Charlie. Gotta have a strong old Charlie before we say anything. And say, you're a very pretty girl. Oh, please, please. Perhaps he's waiting in your cabin. Yeah, I thought of that. You know something. I can't find my cabin either. Well, the steward, I'm sure he'll help. Yeah, that's a good idea. I've got to find Old Charlie. Say, he would like that little drink with us, too, would you? No, no, I wouldn't, please. Always nice to have someone to come down and say goodbye. Yes, yes, yes. Well, I hope you'll find your friend, will you? I will. I will. To find him. The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, since you're going to be passing a lot of signal service stations during your summer driving, I thought you'd like to know a little more about the organization that brings you the whistler and the policies it stands for. First of all, signal products have always been sold only through independently operated stations. The reason? Signal believes that a man who has his own money invested in his own business naturally has more incentive to serve you better. Secondly, because you want top quality products for your car, every signal service station is backed by an organization that serves almost 2,000 signal dealers with facilities to bring you every latest advance in petroleum science. Do drivers like this combination of signals personalized service plus fine quality signal products? Well, just consider the facts. From a mere handful of dealers in Southern California, signal has grown and grown. Until today, signal stations serve six Pacific Coast States from Canada to Mexico. For extra driving pleasure, extra performance from your car, why don't you two join the switch to signal? The famous Go Farther gasoline. And now back to the whistler. The gay crowd at the steamer dock was shocked at the news of the killing on board. They hung around the gang plank in little groups whispering, trying to edge over and talk to the three passengers who had witnessed it. And then fell back to make way to for the police as they led the suspect to shore and into the office of the dockmaster. Hello, Lieutenant Skelly. Yes, what is it, Sergeant? We picked up that singing teacher, Gregory Blaine. He was going to take the boat, too. Had a gun and a blackjack with him. Good. Take him down to headquarters. We'll get to him later. Meanwhile, I'm busy with our friend yet. Yes, sir. Okay. So you're Ralph Ellis. Yeah, sit down, Ralph. And don't try to hold out on us. Three people saw you kill Julia Chandler. Ah, what was it all about? All right, what's the use? I had an argument with her husband. We're business partners. I don't know. Over her? No, no, nothing like that. It was, it was about some funds, company funds I'd mishandled. He, he was going to turn the matter over to the police. Now you see. I, I was trying to get out of the country and this was the first boat leaving. And I saw her coming along the deck. Well, I figured she was after me. That's all. And why should Mrs. Chandler be after you? Because she must have seen me at the window a couple of hours ago when, when what, Ralph? When I killed her husband. Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program, the Whistler. Each Wednesday night at the 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 were Lorraine Tuttle and Gerald Moore. The Whistler was written by Bob Gray with music by Wilbur Hatch and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces Radio Service. Remember, at the same time next Wednesday, another strange tale by the Whistler. Marvin Miller speaking. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.