 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar, this is Harry Branson at Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company. Oh, hi Harry. What's on your mind? I have a case for you a very important one good. Tell me about it John Did you ever hear of layer Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote Lord who say that slowly will you layer Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote? Sorry, I left my kilts and bagpipes on the other side of the drink Yeah, I'm feeling real sharp this morning, but what about this layered Douglas Douglas something or other? I hate to be so blunt about it old boy, but what's in it for me a nice retainer fee in any event well good And of course expenses and your regular commission if anything happens to layer Douglas Douglas. I've had this go Okay, Harry. I'm on my way. Oh John. Yeah come down by plane. Well, you're the first one you can get urgent Ah, yes John very tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey and the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed Expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to Harry Branson at the Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Following is an accounting of expenditure is incurred during my investigation of the layered Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote matter Whoever layered Douglas Douglas is and whether Investigation is the proper term at this point. Who knows in any event well Expense account item one twenty two fifty air transportation and miscellaneous Hartford to New York to Philadelphia For a change I decided to stay at the Benjamin Franklin Not only because it was convenient to Harry Branson's office on Walnut Street That is the office of Philly Mutual Liability and Casualty But because I'd heard it was a nice hotel it was and it was convenient to everything else in the center of town theaters good restaurants nice stores even a nightclub Well, anyhow when I got to my room I found a half-dozen urgent messages that Harry had called pretty good indication that his lordship Douglas Douglas of or at least This case was pretty important So instead of bothering to unpack I had the bell boy dump my luggage tipped him and was standing there debating whether I'd better Forgo a quick shower and change of clothes when the phone rang Johnny dollar John didn't you get my messages? Why haven't you called? I've been waiting to hear from you. What's wrong? Hey, take it easy Harry. I just this minute got in What's the matter something happened to this client of yours? No not yet, but being you you're expecting the worst, huh? And look you still haven't told me a thing about this emergency or whatever you want to call it John It is an emergency because of the time element. You see why do we waste time on the phone? Well, this was your call not wine. All right. All right. I'm sorry. I'll be waiting for you and Harry I'll be there Still knowing nothing whatsoever about what was going on. I decided I'd better be prepared for anything So I slipped the 38 cold out of my bag and took it along Expense account item to 65 cents cab fare I've said it before when I handle the Amarillo case for him Harry Branson is a good insurance man, but a worry ward So I kind of hoped he was making the usual mountain out of the usual molehill this time However, when my cab pulled up in front of his office building, he was standing waiting on the sidewalk out front Hey, I keep the change John John what took you so long? Thank goodness. You're here Harry. What are you doing out here lose your office? Or just forget the key. I almost wish I had John. We have a problem a serious one Yeah, with Larry Douglas Douglas of Heather's coat Heather's coat. He's up in my office now It sounds like international intrigue has Scotland declared war on us or something This is no time for levity. He's up in the office now and you must take over immediately It's a very serious situation What's it all about as Larry Douglas died and oh, no, no, you said he was up in your office And I'm sure you don't mean just his body. Yes, he's there with Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van Pyton. Kelly van Are you kidding? I certainly am not you see she insists that you act as his bodyguard. Oh now wait a minute, Harry Unfortunately, or rather fortunately for you 13th floor, please. Yes, sir. Unfortunately. I said 13th floor operator Please quickly. Yes, sir. So Harry and for young man. Will you please start this elevator immediately? Gotta wait for the signal sir signal. This is an emergency take off immediately Emergency yes, it involves lad Douglas Douglas of Heather's coat. Oh, well, sure if it's who good man good man Okay, now you were saying Harry was I Unfortunately something oh, oh, yes, of course Fortunately for you. She was quite cognizant of the fact was cognizant Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van Pyton She knew about the excellent work you did for us in connection with the Ricardo Amarillo case not long ago Excellent detective work. She called it 13th floor you remember the case Ricardo the concert violinist who disappeared presumably Yeah, I remember and you're almost intuitive deduction that he wasn't dead at all But had merely staged the whole thing to make it look as the Harry. Oh, yes, of course 13th floor You mean a Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van Pyton. Excuse me, Mr. But I'm getting signals from the other floors quite right you should as I started to say John She is one of our biggest personal policy. Oh, good, but hadn't we better get into your office and meet her? Oh, yes, yes, but I want you to know about the personal premiums a loan They run to something over $20,000 a year. Mr. Please. Oh, she is an important client. Yes. Yes, and that's why I Mr. William I didn't hesitate to exceed to her request that you be called in on this case I called you and here you are. Mr. Please. Oh, well get us up to the third. Oh Oh, we're here. Why didn't you tell us come John? Mr. If I was to tell you what I'd like to I My office is right this way John come please. Hey, look you better calm down Harry and give me the dope on this case right from the beginning. Yes. Yes, I'd better All right Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van Pyton is a very important client has been for years So you said but there are a lot of things you haven't said like What has she got to do with this layered Douglas character? And why is he so important? It's this way John the policy on him runs to five thousand dollars no double indemnity which is good As a matter of fact the policy on him was purely a favor to Mrs. Kelly van Pyton You know considering some short life expectancy and all no, I don't know is he has doted you something well hardly Or are you being facetious again? But you said hey, how old is he his birthday is next month May 7th to be exact You'll be four years old it for that's right Short life expectancy. Of course you see John a minute wait a minute. Oh Some horrible disease or something. Yeah, what's the matter with him John? You wanted this from the beginning, so I'll give it to you from the beginning Okay, but Harry It hadn't been for Mrs. van Pyton's own policies totaling something in the neighborhood of half a million More and Harry why we'd never have written the one on Lord Douglas Douglas have had this code So now we've cleared that Harry we passed your office three or four doors ago. Hmm. Oh Yes, but as I'm sure you understand I wanted to give you some of the background before you talk with Mrs. Van Pyton after all you ask for Yes, yes, I guess I did but what you've given me so far has landed me smack dab in the department of utter confusion And I'm beginning to think maybe I have company. Oh, well, who right here you Harry now look Why don't we quietly stroll into your office and let me get the whole thing from Mrs. Kelly van Pyton herself Or better still from layered Douglas Douglas, but you couldn't of course not what at least not from him Why not John will you please stop joking who's joking? This is serious business very Look Harry There's there is one thing I'd like to talk over before we go in to see him them somebody. Yeah Well, apparently the life and or welfare of this layered Douglas Douglas isn't dangerous. Oh, no doubt about it No doubt about it. I thought I'd made that very clear to you. Yeah Well, you said you've written only a five thousand dollar policy on that's right five thousand dollars and purely yeah Yeah, yeah, I know all about that now look I don't want to seem crass about it Harry But my commission if anything would have happened to him wouldn't amount to a hill of beans Which is precisely why I told you you will be paid a retainer while you're on the case a most generous one Generous one by you by Mrs. Kelly van Pyton how much? Well John Now mind you this may not require your services for more than a week or so as bodyguard that is how much and of course She has authorized an expense account. Ah, but mind you John Not the usual kind that you seem to have the knack of piling up beyond all reason Clearly a completely honest legitimate accounting Harry how much? But as a matter of co-fact I have assured her that it will total no more than the amount of the retainer She is prepared to pay you any more than that and Well, you'll have a lot of explaining to do Harry how much is this retainer to be if I take the case I might even go so far $750 per week or a fraction thereof and I am sure you will agree that that what's the matter John? 750 a week plus expenses when there's only a five thousand dollar policy involved. That's right But if this four-year-old aired Douglas Douglas have had the scope. Yeah, if he's only worth a five thousand dollar policy What was that crack about short life expectancy John? I told you he is already four years old Oh look start all over again. Would you Harry? Yes? No on second thought perhaps you were right Perhaps you'd better get the details directly from mrs. Peter welcome Kelly man Python. I know and I look Harry I think I'd better I'd better get her from somebody you're not incidentally John You understand of course that your services will be required only during the affair at Balakinwood and not one minute No, I don't understand. What's Balakinwood out around Westchester outside the city one of the suburbs very nice suburb, too That is where lair Douglas Douglas. I've had this go. Yes, John That is where he will appear and you or mrs. Kelly van python or both if you think his life will be in danger Exactly. Oh John. I knew you were just joking me all the time. I wish I knew here. We are and everything will be Mr. Branson. I was afraid something had happened to you. You were gone so long. You really had me quite worried I'm so sorry, but I had hoped to tell mr. Dollar something of this affair and I'm afraid we loitered on the way up Mrs. Kelly van python. This is mr. John dollar. Oh, you wonderful wonderful man I'm so glad that you've agreed to take on this assignment You see lair Douglas Douglas means everything to me and I have the utmost confidence in you I'm sure lair Douglas will too. Well, uh, thank you very much, but where is he? Yes, mrs. van python. What's happened to him? Oh, don't worry. Don't worry my dear. He's all right, but after all he is so Temporal I fear he got a bit impatient waiting for you, and I know you'll forgive him You will weren't you? Yes. Yes, of course, but where is he? He's asleep, mr. Branson in your inner office He sat down in your chair and fell fast asleep. Oh I could only relax that way, but you must meet him mr. Dollar. Yes, I'd certainly like to of course you would And I know he'll want to meet you gently now Good, he's awake. Oh No, that's lair. They're Douglas Douglas of heather's coat. This is mr. Johnny Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's Intriguing well tomorrow's episode of this week's story tomorrow Well, I've handled some pretty doggie cases in my time, but never as a pooch's bodyguard But suddenly this one begins to smell much too strongly of murder Join us won't you yours truly Johnny dollar yours truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote tonight's story Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking