 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar George Reed speaking. Oh, good morning George. Is it for sure the birds you're singing the bees are buzzing And there are whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Oh, there are what you know anything about whales Johnny can't say that I do I don't need to do on there. Well, yeah, sure. Well, what's this all about? I told you a whale. Oh, come on You people didn't insure it now. It's your oh Johnny course. We didn't but we did run a floater policy covering 80 pounds of amber Ever who? Chris comes from a whale very valuable used in the making of perfume. Oh, yeah How much did you cover it for? 20,000 C. Oh, got it. Oh, and huh. Yes. No, why not cause the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar And now act one of yours truly Johnny dollars Spence accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar To Floyd's of England American branch office 443 north 15th Street Hartford, Connecticut The following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Michael Meany Mirage matter Expense account item one one hundred sixty eight dollars transportation from Hartford to the Markham Hotel in Gulfport, Mississippi I call WCO on the agent who had sold the policy covering the amber gris Half an hour later. I open the door of my room to a middle-aged man wearing a brown seersucker suit Mr. Dollar that right sure is come on in the strong. Come on. Yeah, thanks Well, I'm not gonna fool around about this. I'm in a mess You're my only chance getting out of it. Well, I'll do whatever I can mr. On you just find that amber gris and man Please find it within the next 48 hours. Why the rush two reasons when the amber gris was stolen off the freight platform The train depot day before yesterday was packed for shipping had enough drives around the last 72 hours, but no more What's the second reason that might mean who's he owner of the amber gris a real good client of mine? I promised him you'd locate stuff for sure. Well, I appreciate your confidence, mr. On name WC Mr. Around here sounds too high for rooting for an insurance salesman. Okay, WC But what's this fellow mean? He's so worried about the amber gris is covered for 20,000 He told me learners worth a lot more than that since the floater was issued Something up near 60,000 pretty rare stuff, which is matter of fact this first time I've ever heard of anybody finding amber gris in the Gulf Oh fishing out of the water meanie no young fellow workforce for him named Billy Fisher Did meanie buy it from Fisher didn't have to belong to mr. Meanie right off. Oh, why's that? Well, of course Fisher was for him. Mr. Meanie lets out his fishing boats to fellas which ain't got no border their own or even a chance to get more He rents them out to me. No, you don't read him. He lets them out on share But to me he puts up the boat gas and that's everything and whoever runs a boat Well, he whatever he catches he blows to miss me Because Fisher happened to be a meanie's boat when he found the amber gris it automatically became meanie's property now You've got a boy. Uh-huh Did Fisher know what it was or the value of it when he turned it over to meanie? Well, you have to ask him about that. Yeah, I plan to But first I'd like to have a talk with this like me. I'm way ahead of you dollar I call me here right after called me. He's waiting for how far as we live So about three or four miles down the beach road toward the block place called Mississippi City Mississippi City, uh-huh, but don't let the name fool you ain't nothing there That couple stores fishing boat land and the train depot sounds like a real quiet place It is it's also where this whole thing started and where I hope it finishes and the sooner the better A few minutes later we were driving east along the coast ahead of us We could see Mississippi City's one and only landmark a long wooden pier extending far out into the gulf Anchored near the end of it with several small fishing boats We passed the meanie general store and the meanie fish market then turned into a narrow driveway I'm not sure what kind of a house I'd expected Mike meanie to live in but this certainly wasn't it It was too small and then needed a coat of paint We got out and no one led the way to the side porch This means you know Look like it No, no, he's here. Listen, what in the name of sure heavy any yes, sir Hey another man here size the whole unit says good night. I believe WC boy, you sure took your sweet time getting here Me just fast we could mr. Meanie This fellow I would turn your boat mr. Johnny dollar Both of you come inside You may sit down the sofa. I'll just lower Lower myself into this and this here chair Yeah, now then you're a detective one dollar Well, well and me ain't giving me an answer You're a detective where you ain't a detective now, which is it? I'm an insurance investigator Right now I'm being paid to find 80 pounds of amber grist that you lost lost He didn't mean nothing to say in that you wash up you you rode agent mr. Meanie dollar that stuff was stolen. You hear see you right in the broad light of day You're sure I'm sure 80 pounds of amber grist didn't get up and walk off by itself. Yes, me too. Good job Exactly. Where was it when it was stolen? It's sitting in a box. I had built for it. There's special box Smell proof cost 25 dollars. Oh shut up. I Was sending it to New Orleans to a fella. I'd heard might be able to sell it for me The box was on the platform Right outside the American Express office of the depot here in the city Boy, you ever take a bad fall out of your crib. No, you ain't written Tuscaloosa Where you think that depot was? Well, it could have been in Gulfport. No, we couldn't never do business there Okay, okay, so I'm wrong. No, but that's the first time you ever admitted it Had the box been checked in at American Express. You mean had the freight been paid in New Orleans. Yes, that's what I mean That's crowns in ignorant. No good had it been paid. Mr. Meaning. Oh, it had why not because the rat I trusted with the amber grist and sent down to the station to see it got on the train Yeah, he'd promise he'd give his word He wouldn't take his eyes off that stuff for one second. Oh, that dirty that North Okay, miss me. No, but you sit down you make me nervous. Do we see yes? Every time I think of that teacher that stupid nephew of mine were you know what he done dollar He spotted something more interesting to look after than $20,000 worth of amber grist amber grist Okay, who was she? Oh Wc told no, I didn't know sir. Mr. Dollar. He's just clever. Yeah Well, anyway, according to TJ this young female pulled up in an open car Across the road from where he was at and it wasn't till he got up close that he could see that she was wearing a Scrapless bathing suit. You see mr. Dollar. He knows what TJ thought you You'll keep your mouth shut WC for whatever your same is doing. Well while TJ was investigating the Situation someone made off with the amber grist that right right What about the other people at the station? There weren't no other people there. How about the baggage clerk in the passenger duration? What were they hey? Sam Burrows is the only man that works down the depot and he was busy selling some woman a pullman ticket to Memphis How long did TJ talk to the girl just a couple of minutes according to him that is you want to ask them yourself He works at the online cafe and go for all right. Thanks Well, we sure haven't much to go on you got nothing to go on so you might as well give me my $20,000 and head back up north we belong long not yet, mr. Meaning you got 45 hours At the end of that time I want my insurance money money You don't see that I have it mr. W. C. Oh, and you're gonna be sorry. You know what I mean mean. Yes, I know I One didn't say another word until we pulled out of fat Mike mean he's driveway and it turned left going on down the beach Toward Biloxi. I suppose you think I should have stood up to a little more, huh? No, I I figured you had your reasons for not wanting to get into an argument with See those boats off the end of the pier the small fishing boats, huh? They belong to me He's also got money invested in half the business place along the beach. You know what that means dollar Yeah, well where I come from he'd pull a lot of weight. That's it Anybody he gets around that well one word from him and a good many my clients would be screaming for me to cancel their policies Like that, huh? Just like that Hey, what are we going really fishers these ways this year's the Wharton house he lives in come on Okay, boy, okay easy now easy easy Mr. Johnny darling Please to know you mr. Dollar. Wouldn't you like to come in sit down? No, thanks. We really don't have much time Oh, mr. Dollar's an insurance investigator right now. He wants to have a talk with Billy Fisher providing his home Why sure he is you find him around the side there. Oh, but yes, well, he's with Jane Higgy Jane Higgy. Oh, you know her father into that old Miller plays again The girl that got Billy into that trouble. Oh, oh, yeah, what what kind of trouble, Mrs. Well, it's happened when the Higgy's were down here two years ago Billy and Jane have always been sweet on each other But being as Billy is Billy and doesn't have to find if he's old not even the job They're fishing want to miss the meaning both. Well, Jane's father put his foot down But didn't mean to think Billy no, sir. He's not till old man. He's got a share of I still didn't stop James And finally the Higgy's just packed up. They didn't come back until just three weeks ago Saturday How old is the Higgins girl now? 1819 and she hasn't changed one bit in those two years. No, sir. She's just over here all the time She will be some purpose when her father There they are now Hi Miss Higgins, Mr. Dollar and Mr. Owen Billy I wonder if I could speak to you alone for a moment, huh? Yes What do you want to talk to me about? Mr. Meany and the ambergris you found. Oh that where did you find it Billy? I'm near Cat Island floating the East Channel. Uh-huh. Did you know what it was as soon as you saw it? No, sir, not exactly But I read a story once about a fellow that found some ambergris and he sure made a lot of money off So you weren't going to take any chances and you hold it aboard. Is that right? Yes, something like that Billy you realized that anything you caught or salvaged with that boat Belonging to mr. Meany. It wasn't yours. You realize that didn't you well not right then I didn't know sir. He'd give me some kind of a contract to sign when I started working for him But I never read it. Well, what happened when you put in at the pier that night on that cliff still engine mr. Meany's check it he spied the ambergris right off and he made me turn it over to him Was that the last time you saw it? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That was it Okay, Billy That's all I had on my mind. Well, that's all. I mean no questions about whether I swapped it from the train station or not Would you tell me if you had you crazy something? Heck no After saying goodbye to Jane Higgins and taking a rain check on a dinner invitation for mrs. Harvey Oh and then I drove back to town I was tired and I was discouraged and I needed a good night's sleep So I had him drop me off at the hotel At the desk I found a message to call long-distance operator 19 a few minutes later the call was completed George Reed speaking. Hi, George. I thought it was you Johnny We're in blazes if you've been up and trying to get hold of you all afternoon. Oh something important No, I was just curious about the weather down there. Oh, well, it's great. Great warm, but not too warm. Johnny And okay, George. What's happened one of the boys risked all so well, believe for him. I think so If there's never been a sperm whale in the gulf then that stuff you people insured couldn't have been But George if it wasn't ambergris, what was it? I don't know Holy smokes Holy Johnny dollar in a moment Our flag now numbers 50 stars and behind each star there stands yet another flag for each of the 50 states New Mexico's flag is an ancient zia sun symbol a red circle on a field of yellow Radiating from four points, which we might indicate as north east south and west our four parallel lines Four was a sacred number of zia the number most often used by the giver of all good gifts The earth had four main directions each with its own gifts The year had four seasons each with a different offering for mankind The day had four phases sunrise noon time evening and night life at its four divisions childhood youth manhood and old age Everything in life and nature was bound together in a circle the circle of life and love Without beginning and without end and in this great brotherhood of all things Man had four obligations He must develop a strong body a clear mind and a pure spirit Fourth and most sacred you must hear it to the welfare of his people From this simple symbol the zia sun we read the legend of a wonderful philosophy The flag's colors of flaming red and golden orange Represent the banners of ferdinand and isabella which were carried by columbus across the Atlantic New mexico's state flag the flag of the 47th state to enter the union was adopted on march 19th 1925 Now act two of yours truly johnny dollar and the michael meany mirage matters After talking to george reed and learning that there was considerable doubt in his mind concerning the origin of the Ambergris mike meany had ensured with reed's company I called wc on the agent who had issued the policy to come down to the hotel He was as shocked and surprised as i've been Johnny, I I just can't believe it. Yeah, well, it's true At least according to a man who studied the habits of sperm whales for years Those kind of whales never come into the zone. No not according to him. What if ambergris isn't ambergris What is it? Wc, your guess is as good as mine, but whatever it is. It isn't worth 20 000 dollars. Oh, yes Johnny, yeah You don't think mr. Meany is trying to pull fast one. Do you trying to defraud the company? Yeah Oh, no, I doubt it. He has all the money. He'll need for a while. That's for sure Uh, tell me wc did meany have the ambergris analyzed before he asked you to insure it In fact, he did even showed me a letter which said that the stuff was ambergris You remember who made the analysis for him? The chemist over Biloxi Don't recall his name off hand, but he signed that letter. He gave mr. Meany Okay, first thing in the morning. We'll take another trip out to Meany's place in the meantime Don't mention any of this to anyone. Would you? No, no, I won't Johnny yeah I should have checked on that chemist shouldn't and and and I shouldn't have been so anxious to take mr. Meany's word Well, we all make mistakes not big ones not big ones like this Johnny, we just gotta find this stuff because we don't we'll never know if it was ambergris enough. Will we? No wc We won't I felt sorry for on I knew as well as he did that the company might recall his franchise unless we could prove it was ambergris that had been insured And at the moment, I was quite sure we couldn't do that The next morning the coffee shop was crowded So I started up toward the center town looking for another place to have breakfast I was about four or five blocks from the hotel when I heard someone calling me Hmm Oh, oh, yeah. Good morning, Jane. Good morning. Yes, sir. Oh, well. What are you doing in town so frightened early? I'm going on a shopping spree. Oh a girl can't get married and just any old thing. No Yes, you see Oh Well, who's the lucky guy? Well, who do you think bellyfisher? I certainly wouldn't marry anyone else Well, uh, Jane, it's none of my business, but uh, I heard you had my father's dad said against belly, didn't you? Yeah, something like that. Well, he is But there's much he can do about it. I'm over 18 Besides, he's gonna change his mind about Billy. I hope so He's gonna be real. Sorry. He ever treats Billy the way he has Uh, Jane, look, I haven't had breakfast yet. How about joining me for a cup of coffee? Oh, how about over there the all night cafe? All right. No, I mean, I I'm a dear Mr. Dollar. Hmm. Just 10 after nine. Why? Well, I just remembered something important I'll see you later here. I crossed the street and entered the all night cafe Behind the counter wearing a white t-shirt apron and a valentino type hairdo was a man about 23 years old Morning. What'll it be? Ham and egg and coffee. I want them eggs. Over easy. Okay? It's okay with me. I ain't eating them Two and a half nights with pigs You want your coffee now? Yeah, please Um, do you happen to know a man named Mike Meany? That should He's my uncle. Oh, well, then you must be tj. That's right Yeah, how come you'd know me? I was talking to your uncle yesterday. My name is dollar. Oh, yeah Yeah, I told me if you come around I should tell you anything you want to know Well, what happened at the depot that afternoon tj. Can you already tell you that? I'd like to hear your side You much to tell I'm sitting there waiting to put that box in the 303 and the second gal drove up What happened that Man, she gave me just about the biggest come on ever did get So you left the freight platform and crossed the road to talk to her Well, shoot, mr. Dollar. I didn't see nothing wrong in doing that. There wasn't nobody around. Oh, there must have been Yeah, yeah, I reckon so but I sure didn't see you tj Did that girl tell you her name? Yeah, what is it? Betty Lou miller. Betty Lou miller. Yeah. Now look mr. Hampton. No, no wait Have you seen her since then? Well, sure. When was that? Well just now out in the street She's a girl you're talking to I finished my ham and eggs and walked back to the hotel Olin was waiting for me, but before we drove to mike meany's house. We made a stop at the railroad depot The agent remembered everything that had happened that afternoon the afternoon the hamburgers have been stolen Including the name of the woman who had purchased the pulmon ticket to memphis at the time of the theft After thanking sam for his help. We went on to the meany place Morning, sit yourself down. Thank you, mr. Meany dollar Dollar, you find my hamburgers here. Oh, sir But I think I know who has it. What do you mean? You mean you know who stole it from the depot? I think so, mr. Meany. I'm not sure. Well, boy Boy, you just let me have their name Yes, sir, I'll get the sheriff out here and see their foot under the jail Now you come on. Tell me who did it. No, sir. I'm sorry. I'll tell you when I'm sure enough before What? Well, when's that going to be? Depends depends on what whether you'll help me or not Why You ignorant stupid yanky. You know good and well boy. I'll help you. Yes, sir Now I know what what do you want me to do? Give oh and here the letter you receive from the chemist and analyze the emigrants. Is that all? It's all for now But boy boy you dollar Where do you think you're going to see a lady mr. Meany? Oh, and I'll call you as soon as I'm sure Right. Good luck, girl All right drove down the beach to mrs. Harvey's boarding house Billy Fisher was out with the boat so I had plenty of time to tell her what I knew It's all my fault mr. Dollar. I planned the whole thing and put billy up to it And bought the full moon ticket. Yes, I still have it the meaning to turn it in for the money But don't have never chance to get down to the day for Tell me mrs. Harvey. How did you know that tj would leave the ambergris when he did? Everybody around here knows tj's weakness for girls. One of the me hasn't been locked up long ago Well, it was a beautiful job you turned it just like a profession I thank you for the compliment Where was billy in the woods on the other side of the railroad track He waited till jane got tj all mixed up Then he scooted across got the ambergris and ran back into the tree and jane picked him up after leaving the depot Yes, sir You care for a cup of coffee mr. Dollar. No, no, thanks for sorry. You look so downhearted Well, I I guess that's part of my job too What did billy do with the hamburgers? I sent it on to it land a man. They're gonna set it for him Oh, I see my you sure look like you lost your best friend Yeah, well, I um, I ran into jane this morning. She was going shopping for her too. So I know mrs. Harvey If it turns out that that isn't ambergris, oh, they still get married no matter what mr. Dollar if not now They don't You yet is keema Where are you at? Well, that sounds like mr. Owens and my friend mr. Mead Power just what you're trying to pull. I tried to keep coming over here mr. Dollar, but it just couldn't handle him at all All right, that's a long way from being all right Just what do you want here mr. Fat Mike Meadie? What do I want why woman? I want to arrest you and that duty At back fighting billy Fisher and his girl were stealing my amber amber ambergris. That's what I want Oh, I want to see you and jay. You don't be ridiculous. Ridiculous. Why? That's what our pretty but you woman you stole. How did you know I stole anything? I know because this here worm of an insurance agent wouldn't have a customer left on the beach Less he told me. Well, he told you wrong Billy took that ambergris, but it belonged to him all the time. All right. Well, a woman that's alive Ain't that right mr. Dollar? Yeah, it sure is At least it is if it was ambergris. It's ambergris right enough on Well, I I call that chemist, but he quit his job a couple days ago couldn't find no record. He made a don't need no record It's ambergris and it's mine It's Billy you think it yours your sear the mirage tell him mr. Dollar dollar if this is some kind of a low down yank He tricked it's no trick mr. Meany Mrs. Harvey showed me the contract you have with bill. Well, what's that got to do with him stealing the ambergris just this The contract states that all fish and fish products and byproducts caught or sane while using your boat belong to you That's right exactly right so so the ambergris doesn't What no, sir Ambergris comes from a whale and the whale is not a fish It's a mammal They say that young love can work miracles And I guess it must be true because later that day a huge sperm whale was sighted about three miles offshore near the cat island channel Proving as I've always said you can't figure whales any more than you can people Expense account total including hotel bill and transportation back to harvard $420 and 10 cents Yours truly Johnny dollar Here is our star to tell you about next week's story next week The wayward truck matter and I'll leave you to figure that one out for yourself But join us won't you yours truly? Johnny dollar starring bob bailey originates in hollywood written by charles b smith It is produced and directed by jack johnstone Ferdinand cast were virginia greg jenette nolan g stanley jones Junius matthew's gill stratton dickrunner and john vayner Musical supervision is by americo marino Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Is dan coverley speaking Come to you through the worldwide facilities of the united states armed forces radio and television service