 And now, stay tuned for the program that has rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history. The Signal Oil Program. The Whistler. Signal, the famous Go Farther Gasoline. Invite you to sit back and enjoy another strange story by the Whistler. I'm 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 shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. And now for the Signal Oil Company, the Whistler's strange story. That Hemsley Affair. A blanket of fog caressed the English coast. The village of Hemsley wore it like an ominous shroud. And Sarah Bolton, standing at the window of her home on the crest of the cliff, pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders as she listened to the distant baying of dogs. Minutes later, the sound grew closer, closer, and then she heard the footsteps along the field stone path. Hurrying again to the open window, she could see the outlines of a burly, heavily dressed man approaching the house. And the crook of his arm rested a rifle. Sarah trembled at his knock on the door, hesitated, then opened it slightly and peered out. Why, good evening, Constable Harwood. You're so far from the village, what brings you out this way? Well, there's no cause for alarm now, Miss Sarah, but there's been a robbery in London this very afternoon. Oh, indeed? The bandit was wounded. We know that. A Bobby's bullet caught him. Well, he's been traced to this neighborhood. No. Just wondered now if you'd heard any noises. Seen anyone strange, prowling about? No, no, Constable, goodness. No cause for alarm, you see. I'm a disgrace. You alone? Yes. Yes, he needs to go under the cinema with our border, Mr. Pembroke. Oh, well, you no doubt see your sister back safely, Miss Sarah. Could you know your best lock up the place? Keep all the doors in the window shut. I will, I will. And stay indoors until your sister and Mr. Pembroke return. Oh, believe me, Constable, I won't stir out of this house. Mercy, no. You watch as the Constable walks off down the path, rejoins his men near the front gate. The dogs begin an impatient, annoying baying as they're let off into the night. The shiver runs through you, doesn't it, Sarah? And you tell yourself that you must fix some hot tea at once. In the kitchen, your hand trembles nervously as you go about it. Then as you sit down to drink it, there's a sound at the front of the house. You stiffen, wait nervously, until your sister, Enid, appears, accompanied by Mr. Pembroke. Sarah, Sarah, have you heard the news? Abandoned. He took ten thousand pounds from a bank in London today, and now he's wounded and they're searching for him out here on the cliff. Now, now, Enid, don't upset your sister. It's not pleasant news that a criminal's about. I should say no, not pleasant, but it's exciting. Oh, you, you've fixed the tea, Sarah. Mr. Pembroke, you were saying you were chilly. Yes, that I was, but that was thoughtful of you, Miss Sarah. Help yourself. Did you enjoy the cinema? Yes, very much. Very much. Um, will hear any sounds about the place, Miss Sarah, anything unusual? Nothing, nothing at all. Oh, dear, now, who could that be? I'll get Enid. Yes? Oh, Mrs. McMurtry, how are you? Have you heard, dear, about the bandit? I mean, right now. It's only one of the villagers, Mrs. McMurtry, excited, eager to chat about the bandit. You're hardly listening to a word she's saying, Sarah. You let her talk on and on. Finally, you managed to break away from her. And as you return to the kitchen... Oh, Mrs. McMurtry, all excited. She'd have talked to a... Enid. Where's Mr. Pembroke? Oh, I sent him down to the basement to fetch a jar of your marmalade. What? Anything wrong, Sarah? No. No, but he might have trouble finding it. I'll just get down there myself. Oh, Mrs. Sarah, where you didn't have to come now? No, Mr. Pembroke. Well, I was just about to... Here, not the closet. I'll find the jars for your home. Well, now you're very kind, looking after our welfare and appetite to... It's discovered. Yes. Yes, here we are. Oh, yes. Fine. Well, back we go, huh? To the hot tea. After you. Mind the stairs. Ah, well, Mrs. Sarah's marmalade, crumpets and tea. Now, what could be more perfect? Ah, I say. Now, suppose... Supposing we found that bandit. Just we three. Ten thousand pounds would be nice now, wouldn't it? Oh, you'd have to turn it in, Mr. Pembroke. It's stolen. Oh, I'm just supposing, Miss Enid. He's talking, Enid. That's all. And supposing. Certainly, that's all. Oh, but how nice. Ten thousand pounds. That's almost worth the chant the poor chap took. It wasn't. It was wicked. I hope they catch him. Don't listen to him, Enid. He's saying it all for your benefit. Well, I'm saying it for all our benefits. I've got it all figured out. Yes. A shallow grave, Miss Sarah? Plenty of quicklime and whoosh! No trace of the blighter. Quicklime? Does it do that? Oh, beautifully, my dears. Ah, so I've been told. Miss Sarah, make him stop. Wouldn't it take a great deal? Oh, no more than I suggested you ordered to fix that garden bed, Miss Sarah. But then we haven't found the carcass now, have we? Or the ten thousand pounds. I'm going to bed. You two are talking dreadfully. Mr. Pembroke's just in a talkative mood. Quiet. But only talking, Miss Enid. Please forgive me. Oh, speaking of quicklime and the garden, Mr. Pembroke, you did promise me that you'd... Yes, I did. That I'd fix it beautifully, but not without the material, Miss Sarah. You'd better get it tomorrow, right? Yes. I'm going into the village in the morning. I'll speak to the storekeeper about it. Perfect. Perfect. And your garden will be even more so. In spite of all dreadful warnings, I simply got to have my evening stole. I'll not go far, ladies. Not far at all. Good night. Well, well, good morning, Miss Sarah. What brings you to the store today? We slip up on your order. No, Mr. Hardie was quite correct. Thank you. I've come for some quicklime. Our boarder, Mr. Pembroke, suggested it. He's going to be kind enough to renovate the garden, so... Oh, yes. It's excellent for that purpose. Would you like a full bag? I think that would do it nicely, Mr. Hardie. Well, deliver it out this afternoon, Miss Sarah. Fine. Good day. Good day to you, Miss Sarah. You've other things to do in the village, haven't you, Sarah? And you spend about an hour shopping and browsing. And then upon your return to the house, you startle at the distinct sound of someone moving about. Downstairs. You hurry quickly to the basement door and stare down in surprise at Mr. Pembroke. What are you doing, Mr. Pembroke? Isn't this rather an odd hour for you to be home? Yes. Yes, Miss Sarah. Come down, won't you? I think you will agree to an odd circumstance. Yes. My curiosity has simply had the best of me all day. Here, you see? What are they? A cufflinks. I saw them all last night near the basement door when I returned from my walk. Cufflinks. I don't understand. Oh, don't you? Don't you really, Miss Sarah? From here now. Look at the initials. CL. I'm sure they mean nothing to you. CL. Chester Loomis, Miss Sarah. The name of the bandit. Our London bank robber. He of the missing ten thousand pound. What? Oh, now please, please, Miss Sarah. You're not the actress who fancy herself. Come over here, my dear. The closet. No. Yes. The one you kept me from opening last night. Now let's see what we shall see. Hmm? Eh, not marmalade. Not even the ten thousand pounds, but quite unmistakably a strange guest. Yes, Miss Sarah. It's Chester Loomis, and he is quite dead. I don't know a thing about it. Oh, come now, Miss Sarah. Chester Loomis wounded, hiding, crawled into the house and locked himself in your closet. Hardly. Now do tell me, in what neat spot did you hide his loot, the ten thousand pounds? Shall we discuss it over tea, Sarah? Now that vacations are over and school days are here again, most of us are settling down to some serious thinking about economy. And economy, that's where Signal, the famous go farther gasoline, shines. Yes, if you've lived out west any length of time, you already know that throughout the Pacific co-states from Canada to Mexico, Signal Gasoline has an enviable reputation for mileage. But mileage, mind you, is only half of Signal's story, and it's easy to see why. After all, in order to give you good mileage, today's Signal Gasoline has to help your motor run more efficiently. And when your motor runs efficiently, naturally you also enjoy quick starting, heavy pickup, and smooth, quiet power, more of the things that make driving more pleasure. That's why we say mileage and performance are like birds of a feather, they go together. You're sure of both. When you power your car with Signal, the famous go farther gasoline. Well, Sarah, your secret is out in the open, isn't it? At least as far as Mr. Pembroke's knowing. And upstairs in the kitchen, you face him across the table. Watch as he sips the tea you made at his insistence. Wonder what he's going to do. Puzzle at the strange smile that moves across his face as he seems to enjoy both the tea and your discomfort. It's all right, Sarah. It's perfectly all right. Clever argue, you know. What do you intend to do about the matter, Mr. Pembroke? Oh, now, now, don't lose your warmth, my dear girl, your friendly consideration of me. Oh, no, no, indeed. Oh, it's a simple matter. We're partners now, I thought. Partners? We share the secret. The secret of Chastoloumi's demise. And, of course, the £10,000. You will tell me where you put it now, won't you? I can scarcely do otherwise. That's correct. Now tell me, how did it come about? Did he just wander in or did you go out and corral him, Sarah? Last night early. I heard a sound at the basement door. I investigated. It was rumours almost done in. You? You finished him off? No, it wasn't necessary. He'd scarcely made it down the basement stairs when he collapsed. I saw the money in a small black bag. I took it and shoved his body into the closet. Shortly afterwards, before I had time to think, the constable happened by. A start girl and you didn't give him a sign? No, I did not. A noble partner. Well, now I let you into a little secret, Sarah. Why do you suppose poor Chastoloumi's picked this particular house? I'm sure I don't know that. No, but I do, my dear. He was no doubt looking for me. It's me, his old partner. What? Yes, it's your day for surprises, isn't it, Sarah? Oh, yes. Loomis and I used to cook up many a delightful doings together. I've often wondered about you, Mr. Pimp. But as long as I paid my keep... Yes, I'm afraid that was as far as my concern went. That's a good thing for both of us, my dear. We'll do nobler together. Beautifully. But there's work to be done. Some digging. I haven't the quick line. It'll be along this afternoon. That's fine. Fine. I'll go down to the basement and start the preparations, my dear. First, the shallow grave. Odd, hmm? I wasn't just supposing last night after all. Upstairs, you paced the floor of your room. It's unfortunate, isn't it, Sarah, that Mr. Pembroke made this discovery. But you must share the £10,000. Of course, he will be a help. You can hear him hard at work all afternoon. You wonder when the quick climb will arrive. You're startled when you receive a phone call from the storekeeper that they're out of quick climb. And it won't be along until tomorrow. You hurry down to the basement and tell Mr. Pembroke. Well, no matter. We'll do without, that's all. Well, Johnny will do without. Well, you're certain it'll be all right? Of course. It'll have to be all right. Oh, it's a devilish hard work, this. I could do with a bracer, Miguel. I don't suppose you'd have a drop about the house, hmm? No. No, I didn't think so. How long before you're finished? Oh, I'd say about another hour. Oh, this stops as solid as concrete nearly. I never ran into anything quite like that before. Wait. Listen. Yeah, someone's moving about upstairs. It's Enid. She's back from work. Well, that time already? Well, we can't go on with this now, that's certain. She's bound to here. You can finish tonight after she's gone to bed. Better she were out of the house, don't you think? Yes. Yes, all right. I'll see what I can do. It's a simple matter, isn't it, Sarah, to arrange for Enid to be out of the house that night. Dinner over, you ask her to take some sewing work you've been doing for Mrs. McMurtry to her house at the other end of the village. Then when Enid's gone, you hurry upstairs to Mr. Pembroke's room. Cousin, clear, is it? Yes. You'd better get to work. Yes, in a minute. Come in, Sarah. Well? You know, I've been thinking about that money. The £10,000. You'll get your share as soon as the job's done. Half. That's what we agreed on, hmm? Yes, half. Good. Are they wanting it tonight? Oh. Yes, that's right. Not that I don't trust you, you understand. It's just that I've been thinking about it, as I said. Rather turning it over in my mind. I've been thinking it'd be rather a smart move for your Mr. Pembroke to do a bit of travelling and the sooner, the better. Why? Oh, well, I'm the restless type, you might say. And besides, the police are still looking for old Loomis, you know. So? So they've traced him to the village here, and that's where the trail ends. Now, they'll have to start wondering about that. Start checking up on some of his old pals. So I planned on driving up to London tonight as soon as we split the swag. Any objections? No, none at all. As I said, you'll get your share as soon as the work's finished. Yes, I will. Right. Well, I'd better hop to it now, hmm? He's right, isn't he, Sarah? He wouldn't do it all to have the police coming around. Asking questions of Mr. Pembroke. Downstairs again in the kitchen, you paste the floor. Occasionally stopping to glance out the side window. You can hear him down in the basement. The dull thud of the pickaxe. The minutes dragged by, and finally you stepped to the cupboard. Take down a bottle and pour a drink. Your hand is trembling as you take it downstairs. The Mr. Pembroke. Well, well, well. What have we here? I thought you might need it. I forgot we headed. Ah, all right. You could do with a spot. When's the Indian expected? Not for another hour, I'd say. Mrs. McBurt, you're a bit of a talker. Good. I will be under care by then. Friend Loomis safely tucked away neat and proper like. Everything back in its place. Well, I'll have a go at it again. You move slowly. Circle around Mr. Pembroke. Never taking your eyes off him for a moment as he bends to his work. Finally your hand comes to rest on the hammer lying on top of an old trunk. Then you're standing directly behind him as he straightens up and stops to mop his brow. You lift the hammer high and then bring it down. This is Sarah, Mrs. McMurtry. May I speak with Enid, please? Of course. Dearly, just a moment. It's for you, Enid. Enid, Mr. Pembroke's just received a phone call. He's leaving in a few moments for London on business. Well, I was just thinking I'd drive up with him. I haven't been to London in some time. Yes, of course, Jared. It would be nice for you. I might do a bit of shopping tomorrow and then come back on the evening train. Do go, Sarah. All right, I just wanted to be sure you wouldn't mind. I know. Well, Mr. Pembroke's bringing your car out now. We'll be leaving in a few moments. Have a nice time, dear. I will, Enid. See you tomorrow night. You hurry back down to the cellar. Make certain everything is in order. The old trunks moved back over the spot where Mr. Pembroke was digging the grave. The gravy now shares with his old partner in crime, Chester Loomis. Then you slip into your happy coat, hurry outside, slide in behind the wheel of Mr. Pembroke's car, and drive off into the night toward London. It's almost midnight when you arrive in London. Abandon Mr. Pembroke's car on a quiet side street. Take a cab and drive across town to a fashionable hotel where you spend a comfortable night. The next day in London is just as you dreamed it would be. The smart shops, the expensive restaurants, the matinee at the Regent Theatre. You plan to do it all again, Sarah, many times. And that night, after an exciting day, you board the evening train for Hemsley. It's almost 10.30 when you arrive. And as you approach the house, you're rather startled to see that all the lights are on. Sensing that something is wrong, you hurry up the front steps. I eat it. What is all this? Oh, Sarah, you don't know what we've been through. We thought you were dead. Dead? Good evening, Miss Sarah. Why, Constable, what in the world are you doing here? Well, it's about your border, Mr. Pembroke. Only he isn't Mr. Pembroke at all. Mr. Pembroke isn't, Miss... Oh, now what are you talking about, dear? Perhaps I'd better explain. I wish someone would. You see, we got word from the police in London about Mr. Pembroke. Seems he's really a chap named Brooks. Harry Brooks. Gentle, Harry, they call him. Gentle, Harry? A murderer, Sarah. They say he's killed three women already. What? That's right, Miss Sarah. You see, we got wind of this Harry Brooks several months ago. Scotland Yard asked us to be on the lookout for him. Told us to warn all shopkeepers. Asked them to report all purchases of quick lives made by women. What's that? Usually operates in the same manner. So now he gets to be quite chummy with the ladies. Then gets it a buy quick climb for the garden, he always says. Next thing you know, the lady disappears. Quick climb. Now wait a moment. He asked me to... That's right. And when you ordered it, the storekeeper told us about it right away. Stalled on the delivery. We immediately sent a description of Mr. Pembroke the Scotland Yard. And the answer came back this afternoon. The description of Mr. Pembroke fits. Gentle, Harry Brooks to a T. Oh, how horrible. Then when I came here to warn you, Miss Enid told me you'd gone motoring with Mr. Pembroke. Well, that fit the pattern, you see. All the other ladies went on trips with Mr. Pembroke, too. Only as it turned out, they hadn't gone at all. Oh, I see. When did you see Mr. Pembroke last? Well, when we arrived in London last night. I better put in a call to go to the yard right away. Tell him to keep an eye out for Pembroke up there. That'll be the end of it, as far as we're concerned. Unless he decides to come back. I don't think so, Enid. Oh? No, you're no constable. He acted rather strangely last evening. Seemed nervous, jittery. Do you suppose he suspected the police were closing in on him? That's possible. Yes, yes, I'm sure of it. I'm sure he did. No, Enid, under the circumstances, I don't think we'll ever see Gentle Harry Brooks Pembroke again. You probably think boiling water is hot. Actually, it's 212 degrees, practically cool as a cucumber, compared with the 2,700 degree temperatures that exist in certain parts of your car's engine. That's heat enough to make ordinary motor oils break down chemically and form harmful varnish that clogs up important engine parts, causing your car to lose pep and power and eat up gasoline and oil. That's why Signal Oil Company brought out Signal Premium Compounded Motor Oil, an extra-duty lubricant scientifically engineered to protect your car against varnish troubles. And Signal Premium does this important job in not just one way, but two ways. First, Signal Premium can't break down and form varnish, even under extreme heat. And secondly, Signal Premium actually dissolves out harmful varnish that other motor oils may already have deposited. That's why a change to Signal Premium Motor Oil is today's best way to keep your car's performance up and repair bills down. And, of course, the place to change to this extra-duty Signal Oil that does so much more than just lubricate is at a Signal service station. It's all over now, isn't it, Sarah? And you're certain you're in the clear. The police will be looking for Mr. Pembroke in London, where you told the constable you saw him last. Yes. And they'll never know he's buried in the cellar of your house here in Hemsley. Buried along with Bandit Loomis in the grave he dug. Now your secret is safe. And the money you took from Loomis, the £10,000 stolen from the bank. It's all yours. After the constable has completed his call to London, he joins you and your sister in it as you walk into the kitchen. And then suddenly a sound reaches your ears. You'll stop dead in your tracks. What's that? What's the matter, Sarah? That noise. It's coming from the cellar. Oh, almost forgot about the boys. The boys? What do you mean? Well, you see, Miss Sarah, this Pembroke chap, he always disposed of his victims in the same manner, and always in the cellar. When we thought he'd killed you... That's the first place the constable thought to look. I know, you... That's right. I've had some of my boys digging up your cellar. I hope you don't mind, Miss Sarah. I'll tell them to... Oh, uh, Stan was just coming downstairs to tell you to quit. We found Miss Bolton safe and sound. Oh, what's the matter? Oh, I'm thinking you'd better come down to the cellar, constable. We just found the body of that Loomis chap. Loomis? Yes, and Pembroke kill. Both of them? That's right, sir, in the same grave. What is it, Maynard? I'm afraid there's only one person who can answer that. How about it, Miss Sarah? Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program, the Whistler. Signal Oil Company has asked me to remind you. You get so much more pleasure out of driving when you drive at sensible speeds, obey traffic regulations, and don't take chances. That moment you try to save might be your last. Featured in tonight's story were Bill Foreman, Sarah Selby, and Ben Wright. The Whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen. The story by Adrian Jondo, 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. This is Marvin Miller speaking for the Signal Oil Company. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.