 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 highway of escape and the whistler and I know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales hidden in the heart of men and women who have stepped into the shadows yes I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Francis Block was never meant for the desert but fate put her there set her down solidly in the center of an expanse of creosote brush and Joshua trees cactus and hot dry sand it a scrubby little group of nondescript shacks huddled in the shade of a few scraggly umbrellas known to the truck drivers passing through on highway 441 as the Duncan Wells tourist camp just Francis and Pete Crawford her stepfather for her it was a prison for him it was a living and the only one he knew it was on a particularly hot day in July that she decided she couldn't stand it any longer on a Sunday morning when the temperature stood at 90 degrees at eight o'clock Francis knew there was always more money than usual in the cash register on Sunday morning 1150 1225 85 1285 oh you open for business not yet kind of early not even gasoline the lock how far the next time 17 miles the world okay I can make it I guess thanks a lot better get going just second yeah you are going through to I mean it's English yeah do that by noon can you take me huh I've got to get out of here this morning right now oh come on you could take me if you wanted to couldn't you know I like to please look I'll give you five dollars sorry sister there's company rules no writers I'd lose my job they'll never know look mister you don't know what it means it's life and death yeah yeah it's life and death death if I stay here in this this prison I can't take it any longer you see you've got to take me away you've got to hey what's the matter you sick or something yeah yeah I'm sick look look I'll make it $10 $10 to Los Angeles that leaves me only 285 my bag's right there it's all packed I won't tell the company they'll never know see just you and me I'll know and I'll get off in Los Angeles put 10 bucks you can take the train no there's no trains here just trucks guys like you need to train from the next time I think yeah yeah how about that you can take me to the next town that's all just in the next town well I don't know I didn't want in Francis there's a little lady here what's the ride into town with me sorry mister she's made a mistake I have not I'm going here no Francis you're not going you can't stop me Pete you can't stop me I'm gonna stay here maybe maybe you two better talk this over I just thought I'd run it is so wow but she gets this away ever so often she'll get over it yeah well see on my way back maybe yeah so long you did it again you filthy Francis I know how you feel gal this ain't no place for a young filly like you can't just see there ain't nothing else I can do ever since your mom died I killed her that's what you did Francis that's an awful thing to say just the same as if you shot her with a gun bringing her up to this God forsaken hole making her work when she couldn't breathe well you're not doing it to me do you hear wait a minute you ain't talking to me like that oh no well listen you dirty desert rat I've had all of you I'm gonna take and I'm getting out of here today this morning in five minutes of a car comes you're still my stepdaughter Francis until you're 21 I'm a feared I'm doing the decided oh now come on you just trot on back to the cabin and lay down for a while you'll feel better in no time get away from me I'll understand about your more someday I know this place ain't much of a spread but it was ours and we built it together come on I said get away from me these Francis just this once for me wait a minute now put that knife down Francis you ain't in no condition have you picked up your free federal use stamp protector yet that your signal gasoline dealers the deadline has already passed you know for getting your new use stamp on your windshield and since that little stamp has to hang on your windshield for a whole year you will naturally want to protect it from moisture or scuffing so it won't peel off that's why signal oil company had these little use stamp protectors made up for you they're smart looking transparent and water resistant so you can wash right over them without affecting your use stamp and of course they're free one of the little extra services your signal dealer offers to keep your car looking its best unfortunately like all things in wartime the supply is limited this year since every car will be needing one I'd suggest that you get yours without delay tomorrow if possible just drive into any of the friendly stations displaying signals yellow and black circle sign and say I'd like one of the use stamp protectors that was offered free on the whistler and now back to the whistler it's over in your free now you stare at him for a moment as he lies there on the floor in the middle of the small lunch room very still for the first time in your life you notice he has a kind face a peaceful face no look of fear on it just peace deep enduring peace yes you're free now you can leave anytime you want to today this morning the next five minutes if a car comes you jump as a car pulls up out in front quickly Francis move the body behind the counter before the driver comes in now take it easy just relax he mustn't know hi beautiful I'm gonna cup of java what's the matter nothing coffee is made yet cigarette a scarcity stays no you're gonna make it or shall I make what a coffee say you sure nothing's a matter okay something's a matter I'm scared of my stepfather huh he's horrible I live here I can't stand it anymore it's too bad oh please please take me with you this tomorrow anyway I won't be any trouble not wait a minute hold everything not not not take it easy where is your stepfather he's asleep in his cabin he's drunk he'll wake up I see you you got any money well dollars but I can work once I get to a big town I don't know oh please please I've been driving all night I was gonna grab a little shut I hear for a few hours now he might wake up and he might yeah yeah yeah well okay come on what you told me about that stepfather yours I got half a minute go back and punch him in his nose he's got no hold on you was he think he is hey listen that's who is thing right go back there and tell him right off no we can't I'd like to anyway I suppose it wouldn't do any good only make trouble for you beats me though how any man can treat a girl as nice as you like that you were you are pretty you know thanks how my name's how hi what's yours Francis Francis nice name here then what motor Betsy doesn't like this he didn't even want to we do how far you going Francis Los Angeles nice town and they have a lot of fun there we yeah you and me I you wasn't going at five you might change your mind I don't know maybe Los Angeles is a nice town and come on over yeah Los Angeles is a great place you know I can get a couple of days off and oh that's he means it this time what was it 17 miles of Suarez from that camp yeah but we've come five shorter to go back I gotta get to a phone no no Francis don't worry about him I'll be ready for him but I can't go back I'll walk you do nothing that a kind look baby all you need is someone to take care of you from now on I'm the guy you can't I can't I told you to let me I don't want you to handle it stop it hold yourself baby don't you trust me no I mean yes but what about Los Angeles John forget not you I said it's not you just don't ask me any more all I want to know just sit tight and let me handle every where's the phone on the wall about the door what you're gonna do sit there yeah I'll wait I'll be sure you do what do you mean and nothing I guess I got the jumps too and don't worry about him if he comes out just let out a yell I'll be here in a second you know baby I kind of like you keep that chin up Francis keep your chin up you could use a little courage now couldn't you there's a chance he won't look behind the counter just a bear chance but if he does there you are in the stall automobile 20 miles from nowhere and not a car in sight wait a minute around a car very Francis you've got to stop it yeah yeah he's hurt quick I've got to get a doctor well you're a mighty lucky young lady I happen to be a doctor myself where is he oh no no no it's bad it's horrible I don't want you just let me decide that oh here I got my case you take me to him he's in the lunchroom I better wait here yes yes I understand you just relax now and I'll take a look that might not be as bad as you think just wait there in my car they're like that Francis do something the car his car stay 70 keep your eye on the centerline wavering like a snake between the wheels between you and the cam 75 80 almost lost it on that turn the accelerators down to the floor faster okay let it get off the road take off cross country I'll be watching watching the road cross country and hear himself think around here oh sorry Matty I don't know why in the world you keep that thing banging away night and day that's the dad blasted tubes gets louder and softer all of a sudden fella from Sarawak coming up to fix it ain't seen him there should be here this afternoon think I'll go out and take a look around Jake Watson you stay right in that chair you've been a mighty sick man hey Matty Matty look what they're coming up the walk well here come from hey she's sick he's he almost fell well dad blasted do something you stay right there hold on my arm my you look all tuckered out come in now don't talk we'll just get you out of this hot sun wouldn't surprise me none to find you was in my son's truck no hats and all whatever you do and walking around out here how's yourself Jake can't you see the poor thing can't hardly walk let alone listening to you Jabber there now you sit down there and I'll get you a nice cool drink of milk they've been walking far miss yeah any particular reason yeah I got my car any more questions no no I just thought of Mike peculiar you picked this time of day to go walking sorry now Jake suppose you quit jabber and let the poor girl rest as well she's about done in yes she's been in an accident car went off the road well I declare ain't hurt none are you no well here you just lean back and take a good drink of milk you're better in a jetty attention please the armor look out for a young woman in blue slacks and a yellow jacket probably driving a Buick sedan license number 8x43 h7 about 5 feet 4 inches tall blonde hair named Francis Block wanted in connection with the murder of Peter Crawford this morning at Duncan Wells repeat that's you wait a minute young lady here let me help you out her no that's what we get for being good Christian hey turn the radio off a murderous I knew there was something slick about that girl that's all right she won't get fair in his heat not in the desert unbearably hot 110 in the shade you can't keep going much longer Francis feet swollen and blistered bruises that ache with every step you take three in the afternoon you've been walking two hours since you left the farmhouse 120 blazing minutes the head is full of sun the flat horizon waivers dust in your nose and throat you've got to have water water from the clear sparkling fountain in the square of Wilkins corners the little town ahead you've got to take a chance maybe they haven't heard about you here in Wilkins corners Francis maybe they don't listen to their radios look at that sign down the street coffee hamburgers take a chance you may not get another one for a long time morning miss like something to eat man come to the right place hamburgers hot dogs barbecues whole wheat white rye apple peach poison very cherry lemon meringue coffee milk and coke hamburger and white coffee hamburger mustard ketchup or tomato sauce you're right up pre-war service now we've really converted hi Billy what's doing down in Swarov mighty busy today barbecuing whole wheat and coffee special special what's mean busy why I don't mean to tell me you ain't heard about the killing huh what killin for sure a found a man stabbed to death at Duncan well Stewart skin yeah a guy who runs his name Pete Crawford no yeah get on a mackerel and a killer got away this a sheriff's got pussy out hey late you hear that I kill it over to Duncan's Wells this morning Pete Crawford yeah killer nope and better watch out might be serving him a meal long about now stab bloody yeah with a bread knife dog looking was coming down from cactus garden he claims he talked with a killer why do you need him oh you know doc but scared of his own shadow that's too bad yeah it is they say old Pete Crawford didn't have an enemy in the world I mean it's too bad doc didn't do something so you know the best time an apple murderer is right after he's done his job surprised me none see this thing end up as well as another one of Sheriff Bradshaw's famous unsolved mysteries oh I don't know no murders a funny thing ain't like going down the feed store for a sack of barley takes plan and thinking there's a thousand ways a killer can trip himself up just one full step along the way and it's all over maybe so you know I'd like to see that killer right now probably pacing the floor somewhere wondering if there was a slip up now I wouldn't want to be an old Dr. Lawton shoes being the only witness but you're the old boys looking six ways before he leaves his house there you are miss amber grown white and I'll go get your cup hey well what's the matter what are you supposed she went you forgot your hunger in a hurry didn't you Francis a half minute more in that restaurant and it would have been all over you're tired worn out but you can still think a thousand ways you can trip up make a full step that's what he said but you'll show them won't you Francis first get out of town and keep off the highways remember the Sheriff's posse the railroad that's it all the freight trains have to stop at that water tower a half mile out of town cross country again through the brush under that blazing sun keep away from the road and finally the cool shade of the water tower with the drops splashing into a puddle there in the shade you sit down and rest let your eyes close then I am piping in the corner remember where it is beautiful hell thought you'd be here almost gave me the slip back there what do you want gave you quite a run didn't I well mine if I sit down I got some talking to do yeah it's better nice and cool in you know maybe I'm a sucker but I still think it pretty nice beautiful but dumb do you think you could get away with it I don't know I'm so tired I know you're tired baby probably a little loony with a hate to no one in his right mind would have done you don't have to rub it in listen to me I can help you see I'm the only one looking out for get out of this and we got a chance to let you play ball understand help me you sorry baby maybe you'll listen to me all right how I'll listen to you there's a way out of this it's a short chance but you'll have to take it wait a minute here comes a train get back there the fate of life to stop let me take a look I can't tell yet wait a minute yep yep it's afraid off so you were going to help me you didn't fool me that's one mistake I didn't make you were careful you could see through his offer to help couldn't show no slips Francis no false steps the train has stopped for water you hide trembling behind the shack at the water tower then as the train starts up you grab the rung of the ladder on a passing car up the side now across the top and down the side before anyone sees you wait as a guard on top moving toward you down the tops of the cars don't look back much where you're going no false steps Francis no false steps now the whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story meantime a word about today's pre-war bargain in gasoline mileage that's helping more and more wise Western drivers stretch their ration gas stamps I'm talking about the good pre-war mileage you still get in signal go farther gasoline yes it's true you still go as far as before the war with signal and I'll tell you why you see the gasoline ingredients which you've heard are reserved for war or the very volatile highest octane components such as isopentane that's why signal oil company frankly admits no gasoline today can give you all the pep and anti-knock performance you found in pre-war signal gasoline and which you'll enjoy again and even further improved signal post-war gasoline but when it comes to mileage that's where signal gasoline still shines for today's signal formula still contains not only all the high energy components that gave pre-war signal gasoline its superior mileage but also new high mileage hydrocarbons have been added you can prove this for yourself by keeping track of your mileage you'll find it's as true today as before the war you do go farther with signal gasoline and now back to the whistler steps frances that's what the man said and you are going to be so careful but then how could you tell what kind of a false step it might be and now it's all over and everyone knows the answer to the killing of your stepfather well it's all cleaned up now found the murderer dead right there between the railroad tracks terrible thing terrible of course without the doctor's testimony and they might never have known how it happened the doctor sure sure according to radio doctor says he went into the lunchroom found that fellow leaning over Pete Crawford with a knife in his hand well the doc practically witnessed a murder and the girl didn't do it oh I knew she was innocent the poor little thing yep she was innocent all right they figured the murder was going to try to shut her up too that's why she had to defend herself with that piece of light lead pipe there all gone it he was already wanted in New Orleans for killing ten days ago terrible thing terrible only one thing I can't figure what's that well after she got the murder like she did what do you suppose she was running away from so we'll bring you another strange tale broadcast for your entertainment by the marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer this program directed by George W. Allen with tonight's story by Eleanor Beeson 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 to CBS the Columbia broadcasting system