 Wait a minute. Have you heard the strange tales of the whistler? The whistler you promised me that you wouldn't gamble again You've broken that promise and I won't give you another cent this time John. You can work it out for yourself Another Sunday night and again CBS presents the whistler the whistler know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows And so I tell you tonight the amazing story on avarice John Abbott lives in a vast house on the outskirts of town But it isn't John's house. It belongs to his wife John has never had a penny. He could honestly call his own Then John has always been lucky John Abbott is somewhat of a gambler who was fortunate enough to marry a wealthy young widow Marsha Howard wife of the late motor magnate Burton Howard But John has pulled a few tricks bordering on the shady side of late and Marsha has come to distrust him She has paid off a number of his gambling debts, but this time he's really in a spot John got into a poker game with Mike Flynn lost and paid off with a worthless check Hello, Mike. How are you? I haven't seen you since that big night last week Where have you been keeping yourself? Where have you been keeping yourself? Well, my wife's been rather ill, you know I've intended to get in to see you and the boys for some time. Did you try real hard John? Try why? Uh What do you mean? I kind of got an idea. You were trying to avoid me Why should I would you are dropped in today if mugsy hadn't tipped you off that I wanted to see you Of course I would You know pigs I I resent that Mike you do when I resent this what this rubber check You got a lot of nerve running in on a game when you can't pay off Why was it returned insufficient funds according to the slip? Yeah, I can't understand that Must be some mistake. There's no mistake John. You didn't have 4 000 in that bank and you knew you didn't I checked on it Well, uh, I'll take care of it. You've got nothing to worry about and fork over I don't carry that much money on me Then you'd better dig it up John Oh, I uh can't walk out and take it off a tree and hope you know where to get it in a minute. Do I sure Your wife is rolling in money That's not as easy as you think See Marsha doesn't approve of gambling neither do I When you can't back your bid Well, uh, I I can get it You've got to give me a little time Uh, take a few days John. I'll give you a little Saturday at noon to get me that money Saturday That's almost impossible. This is Wednesday. How much time do you need? Well, I don't know, but I'll get it as soon as possible Do you have to have cash not necessarily? I see What do you have in mind, John? Nothing nothing at the moment better think of something. Yes, I will oh, I'll get it any good security or do I quite understand, but whatever it is. I'll expect it by noon Saturday Otherwise Well, I could turn it over to the district attorney or I could have a pal of mine take you for a little drive in the country some afternoon Oh, I I'll get it. Micah. I'll get it. I'll have something for you Saturday at noon. I I don't know what it'll be, but I'll have it. That's fine. John. It's fine. I'll be expecting you Thanks, Mike Thanks for the extension. Uh always glad to help out a friend. Yes Well, so long so long John So John Abbott walks out of Mike's office and home in a deep fog Goes to his wife's room on the floor above slips easily to the side of her bed Marsha, huh? Marsha That you need it. Were you asleep Marsha? John I'm sorry if I awakened you What time is it a little afternoon? Where's neither? I haven't seen your sister this morning. She's around someplace. I imagine What did you want John? I wanted to ask you something That is Well, I have a favor to ask what's troubling you now John I hate to bother you and you don't feel well, but I need a little money money What is it this time your brother again? No, no, it doesn't concern Alan. That's a wonder How much longer is he going to stay here? I don't know Is he so obnoxious? I can't understand why a young fellow like Alan should be content to do nothing Oh, he'll get into something soon dear. I hope so What do you need money for John? A uh note I had came due What kind of a note just a note I gave it some time ago How much four thousand dollars four thousand yes Do you mean to say that you owe someone four thousand dollars? I'm sorry Marsha, but I do when did this happen just a week or so ago You've been gambling again Do you realize how many thousands of dollars I've given you to pay off such ridiculous debts? Yes, Marsha, but you don't have to shout at only a month ago. You promised you'd never gamble again And now four thousand dollars. I didn't mean to get in so deeply Marsha I Well, I just dropped in to say hello to a few of the boys and I had a few drinks and Before I realized it. I was in the hole don't blame it on a few drinks All you need is a deck of cards. Oh, don't rub it in Marsha I feel badly enough about it. You do You sit in on any game you like regardless of the stakes and expect me to always pay off What do you think I am the mint? Well, you're not broke Marsha. It's no fault of yours If I let you handle my money, I wouldn't have a dime What did you give an io you? No, dear. I wrote a check a check Why did you do that you have no account of that size and never did well, they wouldn't take my io you Who wouldn't take it? Were you playing with Mike Flynn again? Yes There are fool john an impossible fool, but that isn't the point my dear. Will you help me? No john You promised me that you wouldn't gamble again. You broke that promise and I won't give you a dime You can work it out for yourself. Where would I get four thousand dollars? Why don't you try working for a change? Well, I don't expect you to give it to me I'll pay it back. You'll pay it back. Do you think I believe that you act as though you were down to your last penny What good does all that money do you anyway? What good will it ever do? It's more good than whatever do you I might be able to get into some kind of business if I had enough capital This You well, what's wrong with that? You talk as though I were good for nothing below you are you and your brother I'm sorry. I didn't know that before I married you and now your brother's hanging around here And what for? Pretending to be in love with my sister I don't like him and you can tell him to leave. That's right get yourself excited over have a good reason to be excited You're not happy sick as you think You have all the symptoms of a hypochondriac. Get out of here. Get out of this room. I'm going. I'm going and tell your brother that I Marsha. Oh Marsha. What's going on in here? What was Marsha yelling about? I don't know. She's fainted She certainly can get worked up easily. You'd better call dr. Manning. Very well. I'll call him from downstairs Dr. Manning. Oh, yes, this is John Abbott. I uh wonder if you could come over here Marsha has had another spell Yes Very well. Goodbye What happened John? I don't know Ellen. She gets excited over the least little thing. Yeah What was she yelling about? Oh, I went in to ask her about something and she blew up What did you say to her? Why was it something about me? No, I needed a little money to cover a note And I happened to ask her at the wrong moment No Give me the check, don't you check? What do you mean? That $4,000 check you gave Mike Flynn. What do you know about that? I've heard about it. So you think she'll let you have the money? I don't know Ellen I Rather think she will Eventually, what do you mean eventually? You've got to have it by Saturday Yes, it's that's right. Sure a tough spot John Maybe to be in your shoes. Why Mike Flynn is a bad egg to fool around with I know how to take care of Mike. I hope so I'm going out for a few moments I'll be back by the time dr. Manning gets here. Okay John goes out and walks around for a while pondering over his predicament Allen sprawls on the sofa and studies his own personal problem In a few moments. Neeta marsha's young sister comes down the stairs How is she Neeta? She's a little better. I gave her some of her medicine and she pulled out of it What upset her? Oh, it doesn't take much to upset marsha. She's such an unreasonable woman I wonder what John said to her probably some trivial little thing. Maybe Sometimes I feel I can't stay here another day. Why do you stay Neeta? Well, I Feel it's my duty to stay. It wouldn't be right to leave marsha in this condition. Is that the only reason for staying? No Suppose she's angry because of my being here. I don't know. I don't think she likes me very much I don't know why she should feel that way. I've tried to be nice to her She doesn't seem to like anyone very well. She makes herself miserable No one seems to be able to do anything for her. Suppose she resents your being here Neeta Why should she? I don't know. She might invent some crazy idea and Well, I wouldn't want to see her get angry with you Neeta. What reason would she have to do that? Oh, I don't know. I I was just talking thinking out loud. What are you trying to say? Do you think that marsha loves John? I know she doesn't. Do you believe that John loves marsha? I don't know. I don't see how he could considering the way she treats me poor John is miserable My heart aches for him Neeta You know that I love you very much. Don't you darling? Yes Please Please marry me Neeta. I just can't Alan. I know you love me, but I I know I know that I have nothing But that'll change. I got a swell job coming up and I'll make you very happy Neeta I believe you Alan. I know you love me, but I I just can't say yes because because of John John is a swell fellow Neeta, but he's a lot older than you besides he's married to marsha So what good does it do to you? I can't help it Alan. I just can't help. Do you think that John cares for you? I think he does. Has he told you so? No, but No, it doesn't matter. I worship him. You'll never divorce marsha. He can't afford to. I know And what do you expect to happen? Are you waiting for marsha to die? Is that it? How can you say such a thing? Oh, why not be frank marsha may live for years and the longer you stay around here the worse it'll be for you If you married me and got away from here for a while you'd forget all about John I don't think so. The longer you stay the more miserable you'll become perhaps, but I can't leave. I can't I've tried Very well, Neeta. I think you're foolish. I'll leave you mine. Please Alan let me alone. Don't say another word about it. Please Okay, I won't say another word Not another word Dr. Manning visits marsha John returns to the house And now the doctor has come downstairs and asks John Alan and Neeta to join him in the library I want to have a little talk with the three of you Yes, about about marsha. That's right. I wish you doctor She's much worse than when I saw her last worse. Yes She suffered some emotional upset. She can't afford to do that Her condition is very very serious I've warned you before about the result of the slightest argument I don't know what occurred this morning, but I warn you that another such occurrence will cost her life Is she that bad? I'm gonna be frank with you john For her own good. I had to tell her the truth I think I should tell you the truth I doubt that marsha will live more than a year. What? Yes On the other hand if she suffers no further emotional stress She may live two or three years poor marsha. I didn't realize it was that serious I'm sorry to have to tell you this but I feel that you should know all the truth It is quite a shock doctor, but I appreciate you're letting me know. Yes, we all do of course Well, I must run along now. I want to have a few words with your housekeeper mrs. Simmons about marsha's diet. Good day doctor and Thanks for coming over Oh, it's really serious. I thought marsha was more or less of a hypochondriac. I really did Yes, so did I Well, this puts a new light on the situation What situation? Well, I I'm sorry. I caused marsha to become upset Yes, we must be very careful from now on about what we say to her. Yeah, that's right Very careful all of us Early next morning john goes into town to have a talk with mike flin the gambler Mike isn't in his office. So john drops over to the drug store to purchase a few articles Well, how are you john? I haven't seen you for a week or so. Have you been keeping yourself? Oh, I've been rather busy the past few days. Yes, what can I do for you? Well, I have a list of things here quite a few items. I'll let you fix them up and I'll call for them later Very well. That's a nice special dawn today. No, no just what you see there on the list. Oh, yes. Yes, of course. Now, let me see Yes Yeah, yes. I have everything here. I'll be back Oh, uh, hello mike. I was just up to your office. So I hear Got some good news for me john Why yes, that is Well, I Think things are going to be all right. That's all I'm glad to hear it For your sake I I wanted to ask a little favor of you mike favor. Yes Well, that all depends on what it is What you got in your mind john Well, I uh, suppose we go over to your office. Okay Whatever you say, uh, just wrap those things up mr. Smith. I'll call for them in half hour. So come on mike Then john returns home at noon Now it is after one lunch is over and john sits at the desk in the library lost in deep meditation The library door opens and neither slips quietly to john's side john Oh, yes, neither I didn't hear you commit. I open the door very quietly I thought you might be taking a nap. No. No. No. I was just thinking things over I know how you must feel john I've developed a bit of a headache And it didn't sleep a wink last night. I'm so sorry for you john Me may I rub your head? It might help a little Thanks nita I'm all tied up in knots Does that help? Oh, yes. Yes helps a lot Sweet of you nita You're a lovely nice girl Thanks john If the man who gets you for a wife is certainly going to be lucky. I think so. I know so Are you really in love nita? Yes john I'm sure I am and I hope it lasts But with a girl like you sweet and kind and gentle it's bound to last Yes You know Ellen is a very good boy, but he's got to be handled carefully It's quite a bit like me I know my shortcomings and ellen has the same We were both raised with the silver spoon in our mouths Then we were suddenly thrown out into the world on our own and we just couldn't take it I had nothing to offer anyone so I just followed the line of least resistance. Have you john Ellen is just like me, but fortunately he's young enough to be changed He can learn new tricks The right girl could help And you are the right girl Think so Yes You're as different from your sister as night from day, but I don't love ellen But you just said you did no john. I didn't I did say I was in love But not with ellen But he's mad about you nita. I know he's nice, but I don't love him and and never will Well, then if you're in love and it isn't ellen Then who is he? Don't you know No Oh john Nita Nita oh john forgive me, but I I can't help it What do you mean? Don't you know john Look at me nita. Yes john. I know it's despicable, but I I can't help it. I love you Well of all things Nita I've loved you from the day we first met But nita darling this what's ridiculous You can't mean it. I do. I do. I've tried to find it, but I can't I'm married to your sister Marsha doesn't love you not the way I do and you don't love marsha. How do you know that I can tell I know Oh, you're miserable john Am I yes marsha has treated you terribly how you've gone on this long. I'll never understand But I love you. I'll always love you Don't you care for me at all Yes, nita I'll have to confess I do oh john john It won't work In the first place. I married to marsha the second place. I'm older than you The third place. Yes, I'm in a spot very tickly spot I can't afford to Well break off with marsha. What do you mean? I owe a certain man four thousand dollars. I must pay him by this coming Saturday or I might go to jail. What? Oh, he couldn't do that. Yes. He could And he might even take me for a ride kill you. Yes. Oh john Did you tell marsha? That was the cause of her relapse. She refused absolutely that only proves she doesn't love you She's mean and hateful sometimes. I think she's insane. Do you? Maybe she is you mustn't give up hope john You will get the money. How? They'll be away john there must be a way we'll make a way Make a way What do you mean? I'm not sure But we'll find it In a short while later the housekeeper mrs. Simmons comes to marsha's room to take away the luncheon tray Did you enjoy your lunch mrs. Abbot? I thought I'd pick up the tray and dishes Where ice cream Where'd you get the ice cream? I didn't serve you any ice cream mrs. Abbot are you asleep? If you'd wanted ice cream you could have told me mrs. Abbot mrs. Abbot mercy on us. She's cold mrs. Abbot mrs. Abbot She's dead. She's dead Give me the police an ambulance a doctor The police arrived the ambulance arrived but marsha was dead quite dead Why the police were called only the housekeeper knew but once the police arrived they followed it through to an autopsy Now the officers have returned to the abbot residence Captain barns is speaking You uh, you're mrs. Simmons the housekeeper. Yes, that I am And you're nita mrs. Abbot sister. Yes And you I'm alan abbot john abbot's brother. You live here. I'm visiting here. Let's see mrs. Simmons you served lunch to mrs. Abbot. I did. What did you serve? I served chicken soup cream carrots toast and tea and uh ice cream No, you didn't serve ice cream. I did not. Are you positive mrs. Simmons? I'm positive. You don't have to shout I thought you didn't hear me. I urge you Will you two step out of the room for a moment? I want to talk to the housekeeper alone, of course captain certainly mrs. Simmons, uh How long have you been with mrs. Abbot? You mean how long have I worked here? That's right too long Didn't you like it here? I don't want to talk about it. Didn't you like mrs. Abbot? I certainly did. She was so good to me I worshiped her You uh You came here the day she married her first husband, didn't you? Yes, and they were so happy It was very pleasant here then. You mean there came a time when things ceased to be pleasant Yes, that's what I mean When did things take on a change after she married john abbot? How long after she married abbot did her health begin to fail It was about a year. Did they quarrel often? Yes quite a bit. What about well, my money Mr. Abbott didn't have a cent when they were married and he's never earned a cent nor done a day's work since There was always gambling always losing money her money Then she got disgusted and clamped down on and shortly after that she began to fail. Yes, and she changed completely She became morose and cranky You just can't realize what a change there was in her unless you knew her How long has allen abbot been visiting here visiting? As a way past the visiting stage the lazy loafer and living here over six months. How long has he been here? Um, she came to live here over a year ago Mrs. Abbott asked her to stay with her when she first took ill and that was a big mistake mistake to have her sister here What do you mean? I'm talking too much. I don't want to get mixed up in this. I'm leaving this house. I'm afraid you're going to stay right here Mrs. Simmons until I tell you to go you You mean i'm arrested we call it detained until this is cleared up What are you doing here anyway? Why are you snooping around asking so many questions? Why did you call the police when you found the body? I don't know. I was just excited. You didn't call the doctor. You called the police What was in your mind that caused you to call the police instantly? I I don't know. I I really don't know She's had bad attacks before and you always call dr. Manning, but this time you called us. Why I don't know Then I'll tell you because you knew she'd been murdered murdered I didn't I didn't then you must have suspected it Who just suspect her husband? No, no, neither. I don't know what you're talking about Then it must have been you who served the ice cream But it was served and there was arsenic in it arsenic rat poison Mrs. Abbott was murdered. I knew it. I knew it her husband did it. No, she did it Neither did it. Why because she was madly in love with John. She wanted marsh out of the way I knew she was a devil Bring him all in marvy Nina Your sister was served ice cream at lunch in this dish Mrs. Simmons says she didn't serve it. Well, what about it? I'll ask you that What do you know about it? Why I wait a minute. What's the ice cream got to do with it? I'll tell you in a moment. Do you serve that ice cream? You don't have to answer that needed. Did you? Yes, yes, I did serve it. What did I tell you? Where did you get the arsenic? What arsenic? Mrs. Abbott died of arsenic poisoning. This dish contains arsenic Where did you get it? Why should I do such a thing? You had a motive You were in love with John and wanted your sister out of the way. That isn't true You bought the ice cream and you served it. I did not buy it. Then where did you get it? I don't know You'd better tell You're in a tough spot. Wait a minute. Neeta did not do it. She couldn't have done such a thing I bought the ice cream. I gave it to Neeta to serve to marsha And you put the arsenic in it. Neeta would never do that She isn't the kind John did it and he had a motive one motive He gave mike planer rubber check for four thousand dollars Mike gave him till saturday or he turned it over to the da Marsha refused to help John out so he killed her. Is that true about the check? Yes, but I didn't kill marsha. That's ridiculous. Of course it is And if anybody had a motive to kill her it was Alan. What? Yes, Alan was in love with me asked me to marry him, but I knew what was back of it Neeta He wanted to marry the money. He knew marsha would leave to me. I did not I told him I loved John and turned him down. He was jealous of John If Alan poisoned marsha, he figured John would be blamed and that would put John out of the way He put the arsenic in the ice cream. He must have. He's crazy. Absolutely crazy. He's not the only one. The housekeeper accuses Neeta. Neeta accuses Alan. Alan accuses John And both men trying to protect Neeta But I've got a piece of evidence that definitely pins in on one of it How about it sergeant? What'd you find? I checked the box of rat poison we found in the pantry Purchased yesterday noon and the poison register was signed by John Abbott. The drug has confirmed it. All right, John Yes, yes, I bought it, but I swear I'm innocent The evidence is all against you John And as to Neeta's part in it Well, it'll all come out in the trial But wait it isn't over yet The door bursts open and dr. Manning rushes in waving a special delivery letter just received at his office Read it doctor Listen to this John doesn't love me. He cares for nothing but my money He's in the spot over a bad check the spot in which he deserves to be Alan is no good and pretends to be in love with Neeta, but he really wants to marry her for the money. He thinks I'll leave her My sister is in love with my husband Which disgusts me If I leave my property to her John will marry her at the first opportunity This house is filled with nothing but avarice and greed I can bear it no longer the thought of hanging on to life under these conditions for another year is intolerable A few minutes ago. I slipped down the back way and found some rat poison Removed a portion of it set back to my room and mixed it with the ice cream Enclosed as a short wheel witnessed by mrs. Simmons I leave all my property personal and real to the children's home at montabello This will end the disgusting situation created by my late husband's fortune Signed marsha howard-aver Well, there you are None of them killed marsha, but they certainly had the motives Now all of them are left to face the world penniless And there's still a four thousand dollar check standing between john and neeta too bad CBS has presented the whistler original music for this production was composed and conducted by wilbur hatch The whistler is written and directed by j donald wilson and originates from columbia square in hollywood Next week same time I the whistler will return to tell you another unusual tale Good night. This is the columbia broadcasting system