 The signal oil program yes the signal oil program the whistler That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler I 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 shadow Yeah, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Yes friends, it's time for the signal oil program the whistler Rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other 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 independently operated signal stations From Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story Danger is a beautiful blonde Like anyone else Van Barkley gave little thought to the precarious nature of everyday living Had he had occasion to probe the fact he might have acknowledged that danger is always present and that it can strike quite suddenly Only Van Barkley wasn't thinking about such thing. Perhaps he was too restless to care a young engineer unmarried can get Working in a new strange city. He can get a lonesome tool Van Barkley was one or the other or both of these things on a Saturday night But he came out of a movie and went for a stroll along the Santa Monica Palisade in preference to going back to his hotel room On a corner he stopped to light a cigarette. That's when he first noticed The car was big and Nash convertible. It cruised by him came back around the block moving slow The third time around he was standing on the curve Staring openly at the girl behind the wheel Young blonde considerably more than attractive and she was looking at him just Hello, hello, open the door before no doc In other words, isn't it a beautiful night for a drive? Well, isn't it? Yeah That's what I said You weren't going somewhere important. No, no not at the moment In fact, I was faced with a rather gloomy prospect of an evening at a hotel alone And it is a beautiful night for a drive I suppose it was on the golf course at beer it's what where we met that's as good a place as any Yeah, only I've never been there, but I have a good imagination And then I remember so well those evenings at Monte Carlo when you'd say to me Van you must sit beside me at the casino tonight. You bring me luck You called me Van in those days remember never mr. Barkley and I used to call you What was it? I used to call you It might have been Darling minded Yes might have been at that or Maybe the mystery woman, huh? Beautiful fascinating and unpredictable especially unpredictable. Oh, that's not very flattering. Mr. Barkley. You might have said Especially beautiful. Yeah, I might have and meant it Okay, you win. You're not only beautiful and fascinating and unpredictable But you're too fast to work here for me How come how come what all this You're not happy about taking a drive with me, mr. Barkley. I'm delirious, but why me what I got Well, you're not unattractive, you know, but baby you never saw me before. How do you know what I'm like? Perhaps I like to take chances Didn't your mother ever warn you about picking up strange men on the street my mother was rather unusual mr. Barkley She taught me that when I wanted something there was only one thing to do Get out and find it Okay, who's kicking you'll pardon me if I pinch myself This is something I wouldn't have believed sort of like an angel from heaven dropping in your lap. Oh I'm no angel mr. Barkley Well, Van interesting girl, isn't she anything can happen on a quiet Saturday night As you look over at her the motion of the car moving her hair Excitingly you ask yourself if you might not be dreaming and the dream gets a little better Does she swings into a long curving driveway and stops before a big sprawling house on a cliff above the ocean? Miles over at you. Would you like a drink? You're driving then come on. We'll go in Well, the swankiest Roadhouse I ever saw. Oh, it's not a road house. I live here. Come on Inside it's even more unbelievable isn't it the big haul lush carpets and on the wall the treasure in fine art Not a bad little place to hang your hat hang it then We like it here Probably have two or three scattered around the country. Oh, no, no just a cabin at Lake Anderson I gather you're not worrying much about any wolves hauling at your door Not that kind anyway The guy that owns this place must be a movie producer. You're a father my father and he's not a movie producer Just an art collector. Perhaps you'd like to take a look around. We have some very nice paintings scattered all over the house I think we can find our way without a guide There's no one else here. Is that what you mean? We only have one servant now This is her night off Cozy in it the whole place to ourselves all 50 rooms. Oh, it's not that bad We'll take a look as soon as we have that drink. I promised you You feel like pinching yourself. Don't you? This is the kind of thing that just doesn't happen, but it's real She's real and she's even more attractive than she looked in the car And it isn't the cocktails you've had Finally, she leads you into the library like this room then very much Always wanted something like this. The right sort of library is good for a man. I Designed this myself Even no interior decorating, huh? your uh pretty complete Thank you Then Fix yourself another drink these decanderers over there. I'll be right back. Take your time. This is all very pleasant Yes, then time means nothing to you right now You fix another drink sink into a big leather chair and relax When you open your eyes a few minutes later, she's back smiling down at you. Hello Hello again. Oh I see your glasses empty. Well, that's easily remedied. I'll pour you another one Yeah, this is nice work if you can get it Here you are. Thank you nice perfume you're wearing Like it I Like everything about you Good Then you won't mind doing something for me. Will you anything short of murder? Walk over here to the closet. Yes. Yeah now Open the door. There's something I want you to see. Okay. I'll play games with you Hey, I thought you said we were alone. We are mr. Barclay Because you see the gentleman in the closet Is quite dead With the prologue of danger is a beautiful blonde the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler When you whistler fans are on a trip some distance from home Have you found yourself wondering at what other points on your car's radio dial? You can tune in the whistler and your other favorite network programs You'll know if you have one of the handy radio logs for travelers Which is included in signals brand new roadmaps just off the press Or on weekend drives. Have you tired of the same old scenery? Wish there were some different places to go Just consult the guide to interesting places to visit which is another extra feature of signals new maps Their large size makes these colorful new signal maps easier to read But because of their improved type accordion fold, they're also easier to handle Obviously signal went all out to make these free maps the very finest obtainable And I might add this insistence on top quality is typical of all the products and services You'll find at those friendly independent dealers throughout the Pacific Coast states who feature signal The famous go farther gasoline It's a great deal more than you bargained for isn't it man Yeah When you stepped into the car at the invitation of the beautiful blonde you didn't realize what kind of a ride was ahead It was like a dream wasn't going to her home having cocktails and relax And then in the library you looked into the closet Fantastic band your mind spins almost unable to cope with the situation But you'll stare down at the quiet figure of a dead man on the floor of the closet you scarcely hear the girl beside you You'll help me won't you? What'd you say all you have to do is help me hide impermanently No, wait a minute place out in the garden where some newly turned earth wouldn't be noticed, but I'm not much good at Digging graves, baby. You can count me out I don't know how this guy happens to have a hole in his head And I'm not asking any questions, but just count me out on any part of this you said you do anything for me Yeah, but I don't go off the deep end for anybody especially for a girl who's in the habit of keeping dead bodies lying around No lady pardon me. Well, I'll be seeing I think you'd better wait, mr. Barkley. Oh Yeah See what you mean. I see you're wearing a gun too. Uh-huh, and I assure you I know how to use it How can I doubt that with the evidence staring me in the face good? Then if you'll just pick up our Lake departed friend and come with me. I'll show you the place You know that business about you're being no angel. I'm just about convinced Well, then You're in deep and there's nothing you can do about it not with a gun in your back You carry the body downstairs as she demands and go out into the garden There's a shovel start digging like I said dig it big Sounds like a beach near here the back of the yard drops off to the beach, but never mind. You've got other things to do dig deep and wide Yeah, okay, you dig But with each shovel full you tell yourself over and over that you're next Did deep she said big And you know it so there'll be a grave for two unless you do something fast fast and sudden Sorry, baby Heavy shovel full of dirt in her face knocks her off her feet at the same time You're leaping clear racing for the drop off at the back of the property It's a wild frightening scramble down to the rock and brush until you hit the beach running hard There are no shots no footsteps You're away van free Far down the beach you work your way back up to the highway Catch the bus for town and the safety of your hotel room You're too upset to decide what to do that night. You want to call the police But the memory of that blonde hair and those pale blue eyes You want to be sure before doing anything that will send her to the gas chamber Eternium without deciding Next morning when you go downstairs the desk clerk hands you something Good morning, mr. Barclay morning. What's this a young lady left it late last night? Well, there's nothing written on the envelope. She just told me to put it in your box. Oh, well, thanks That looks awful green. Yeah a hundred dollar bill and no note. No, nothing. No, I wish I knew your secret, mr. Barclay You'd like to know that secret yourself, wouldn't you van now more than ever $100 to pay for your silence and probably a chance of more if you live up to the bargain But there's also a chance to play it smart If you can find out more about this girl her name what's behind it all You catch the bus again and as you approach the big house There seems to be quite a few people around at the gas station on the corner. You find out why Mr. Armstrong anything else What can I do for you mister run out of gas or something? No, no, I was just walking and I saw there was some kind of excitement around here Yeah, I'm one we've had in a long time. They found a body down on the beach this morning Oh, somebody drowned there be so but he got a bullet hole through his forehead first. Oh Murder huh. Yeah, looks that way guy named Alfred Hamilton lived right up the street over in that house Ridgely's. Oh, no, he used to be over there a lot, but he didn't live there Well, I noticed that there was a police car out in front And that's part of the excitement not only is this friend of the Ridgely's bumped off, but Doris is missing Doris yeah Doris Ridgely. Mr. Ridgely's daughter. Well, that's um Ridgely the art collector. Oh sure, you know He's about the richest person in the neighborhood nice man, too And Doris his daughter Remember I've seen her is a blonde isn't she good-looking. Mmm. That isn't the word for that girl She's a peach and she's beautiful. Yes, but the rather hard and spoiled Doris No, why there's been a nicer girl in town and I ought to know I've been taken care of her car ever since she started to drive I sure hate to see her mixed up in anything like this and missing too Why she might be in the ocean herself only her car is going to They think she murdered this guy Hamilton I don't know but you ask me she couldn't have she's too regular And if she did she had a good reason Hamilton was no good I never could understand why Doris an old man Ridgely put up with him There's just the two of them live there, huh? Yeah, Mrs. Ridgely died a while back Gosh, I hope they find the girl okay. He's just about kill the old man if anything happened to her When was this guy murdered last night and I can tell you exactly when ten minutes to eight on the nose Oh, how can you be sure because I heard the shot? I didn't think anything of it at the time But I didn't notice what time it was because I was just getting ready to close up Did you tell the police that sure sure? Where did the shot come from? How should I know it was just a noise maybe from the house over there Maybe from the beach where they found him Well, thanks. Thanks a lot. Yeah. Hey, say who are you anyway? Nobody important so long As you walk away you feel sure about one thing the Doris didn't murder Hamilton at all She was covering for somebody else wasn't she then and you've got to find her and bring her back But but where is she? Suddenly it hit you the cabin. She mentioned. Yes at Anderson Lake. You decide quickly van next stop Anderson Lake Young fella, what can I do for you? Got everything here body needs groceries notions drugs fishing tackle No, I was looking for somebody pop thought maybe you could give me directions I am the person to come to can tell you about anybody in Anderson Lake and who you're looking for Doris Ridgely She's got a cabin up here. Hadn't she yep Well, how do I get there and you don't huh? Why not wouldn't do you no good? Why not nobody there? But I'm sure Doris is up here, and I've got to find her well if you got eyes in your head You wouldn't have to go to no cabin, huh? If you look across the street over there, you'll see her car in front of Jake's cafe She's eating inside. Okay. Thanks pop Yes, she's in Jake's cafe and you wait outside until she comes out as she gets into the convertible You slip around the other side and open the door Oh, baby, it's a nice day for a drive isn't it mr. Barkley don't reach for your bag. I'll take it instead I'll take a look inside too Yeah, just as I thought the gun you still got it well I'll just keep it this time if you don't mind look mr. Barkley just a minute I'll do the talking this time first I'll give this back to you even if I had a price for this sort of thing It wouldn't be a hundred dollars. It's all I had last night. I said even if I had a price I don't I'll keep my mouth shut until I'm ready to talk or you are but Makes you think I have anything to talk about Look, I think I know a good kid when I see one if you're really in trouble. I'm sorry, but I don't think you are I don't think you kill this heel Hamilton. I think you're covering up for somebody. No, no, I'm not I killed him He was threatening me Threatening to tell something about me and I killed him. I don't believe you All you did was try to get me to help cover up somebody else's world. No, that's not true Okay, so you're not ready to talk yet Come on. Let's go for a drive Well You know, I'm sorry. I had to smother you with that shovel full of dirt last night But I didn't like the prospect of sharing that hole on the ground with Hamilton You mean you thought I'd oh No, I never intended to do that. Well, how'd you think you'd get away with it then? Just let me walk away to tell the cop. I don't know. I don't know Okay, baby. Keep your chin up. Of course. You don't know you were mixed up in something you knew nothing about Well, you couldn't have killed this guy Hamilton anymore than you could have killed me So come on come clean I No, I can't now look whoever this is you're covering up for they'll be found out eventually Probably they had a good reason for doing this from what I hear about Hamilton But now you've got to get yourself off the spot and me too. We're accessories to the murder. Yes, I know I Look, why are you doing this? Why did you come here? I'll show you why does that answer your question? I Know talking now. Come on start driving. We got to have a little talk with the police Well, Van you found her and she's great. You can see that The way she smiles that you weakly wonderingly and perhaps later when it's all over you can pick up the dream where it left off You think about it. You drive back to the city Then as she swings the big convertible into San Vicente Boulevard He suddenly slams on the brakes beside a police squad car. Hey, what's the idea, baby? We don't want a squad car We want to go to police headquarters officer arrest this man. He's wanted for murder and be careful. He's got a gun You can't believe it's happening. Can you van but it is and later at police headquarters? Your dream has turned into a nightmare as Doris pours out a wild story to the chief of the homicide bureau Yes, they were both at my house last night. They left together then I heard a shot When I went out looking I found mr. Barclay standing over Hamilton's body down on the beach He'd taken his wallet what you'll find it in his pocket right now the office here already has the murder gun Are you kidding? Why haven't any wallet? I don't have a easy now Well seems you do have a wallet mr. Barclay. You see sergeant. Yeah, but she put it there She slipped it in my pocket while we were driving this is Hamilton's wallet And this is the same caliber gun that killed him Barclay, but I tell you I didn't kill him. It's all a lie Oh, hello, mr. Ridley. Thanks for coming right over The lads right sergeant He didn't kill him dad. It's no use Doris I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you can't protect dad. Please. Don't say anything. I said it's no use deal You can release them sergeant this young man and my daughter. I killed Hamilton. He was no good. I Shot and killed him The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Some drivers prefer to learn things the hard way such as the condition of their fan belt or a radiator hose They never give these items of thought until one day and it usually happens when they're miles from nowhere Zowie a steaming radiator tells them their fan belt has broken or their radiator hose has sprung a leak Well really a much more convenient solution to this situation is to have your signal dealer inspect your fan belt and radiator hose periodically and Right now before the summer driving season is a mighty good time. The inspection is free And if your signal dealer finds that your fan belt or radiator hose are the worst for wear He has fine quality new ones that he can install while you wait These incidentally are just two items from your signal dealer's complete line of recognized quality accessories That include Lee tires champion spark plugs rain master windshield wiper blades and purlator oil filters Like signal gasoline you'll find that all signal products and services are designed to help your car run better and go farther The surprises are hitting you like punches from a fighter aren't they bad The attempted frame against you by Doris and now out of the blue her father facing the police admitting that he killed Hamilton You stare from one to the other wondering and waiting and then Doris breaks the silence But dad you couldn't have killed Hamilton why couldn't he just confessed that's good enough for me He confessed to protect me dad had no reason he could have had the best reason in the world blackmail That was Hamilton's racket blackmail and that's the answer Doris Hamilton had been bleeding me for a long time But a few days ago I got the evidence to clear myself and expose him So you sent for him and told him he got tough and I shot him I had to in self-defense look officer you found the gun and Hamilton's wallet on this man right here What more do you want? I tell you I never saw this girl in my life until last night. It's no use Doris It happened exactly as I said no dad. I know you didn't do it. There's only one way you could know miss Ridgley Yes sergeant There's only one way I could know I tell you my daughter is lying mr. Ridgley is right So hello lieutenant find anything plenty The daughter is lying to protect him We know from the gas station attendance testimony that the shot that killed Hamilton was fired last night at ten minutes To eight we've checked every move of mr. Ridgley's and at ten minutes of age She was seen buying a pack of cigarettes at the corner drugstore and it was mr. Ridgley Mr. Ridgley left Hamilton in his living room last night somewhere around seven o'clock Probably after telling him he was going to expose him to the police Ten minutes to eight mr. Ridgley was seen having a drink at the sea house So Barkley you did take Hamilton's wallet. It was your gun I tell you I never even heard of any of these people I wasn't young Romeo here either and who? Alfred Hamilton committed suicide That's right. There's no doubt about it powder burns on his face He was left-handed the angle of the bullet in the left temple shows the wound was self-inflicted And tests prove beyond a doubt that Hamilton fired a shot a few seconds before his death I guess when he realized mr. Ridgley was going to expose him to the police he Just couldn't take it And I'm Mr. Ridgley if you'll come into my office a minute. I'll show you the reports a dad We'll wait in the car. I'll be along in a minute door Well, baby They gave me a nice ride a Very nice ride. Oh Honestly, Vanna, I'm terribly sorry, but I was worried crazy about dad then Do you think we could have that drink again? sometime maybe a Look you're a nice kid. You're beautiful fascinating all those things especially beautiful But baby if you ever see me walking down the street again, just go on by please Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Sunday night at this 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 speed be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life Possibly your own Featured in tonight's story were Jack Webb and Joan Banks The whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen with story by Hazel Lytle and John Dunkel music by Wilbur hatch and Was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces radio service The whistler is entirely fictional and all characters portrayed on the whistler are also fictional any similarity of names or resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental Remember at this same time next Sunday another strange tale by the whistler Marvin Miller speaking CBS the Columbia broadcasting system