 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 am the whistler and I know many things for I walked 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 strange story fateful reminder Phil Alexander slammed the phone receiver down angrily ignored the puzzled look on Elaine Clyde's face and slowly studied the room in which the two of them sat it was Phil's own office his reward for 15 years of service in the interest of Minnick's distinguished jewelers and now he was proprietary James Minnick's right-hand man he was also the favorite of wealthy women women like Elaine Clyde seated across the desk from him but that wasn't all about Phil Alexander no the phone call he just completed was a far more accurate yard stick of what he was really like down inside that call from Alferino reminding Phil of a $10,000 gambling debt oh nothing Elaine really another client as demanding as iron no no nothing like about the ring mounting do you like it I do very much your designer does such distinguished work aren't you going to talk me into buying it you know and I never want you to buy anything that doesn't please you of course you don't hear I'm afraid you're not in a joking mood tonight that phone call really distressed you didn't now please don't you worry about it I shat and I'm going to get your mind off it too I'm having a little party tomorrow night suppose you come and make it a success tomorrow night sounds fine I'll be there at eight Phil dear until tomorrow night then tomorrow night Mr. Alexander what that's a nice doll she looked expansive who are you relax Mr. Alexander for we know something over look you can't come in here my place of business but I did come in you see for we know don't like phones banged up in his ears and he wants his dog what does he think I'm going to get it well that's not his problem tell you what though I'll give you a lady why don't you bring the dollar just left down to the tables tonight we can fix it so she'll drop at least 10 G's and you'll be square you get out of here okay it's all right buster till Friday night anyway Friday night yeah 11 sharp Farino's place number three I'm telling you what Farino said Friday night at 11 you pay up the pay off Mr. Alexander you stand there watching saunter off and yet this anonymous little man has served you with what might be a death warrant you try to imagine what Elaine Clyde's reaction would be if you suddenly asked her for a loan of ten thousand dollars and your employer James Minnick you know what he'd do if he had any idea that his trusted assistant even knew anyone involved with gambling oh Phil will you come into the office a minute oh yes mr. Minnick right away odd chap you were just talking with a possible new client oh no I don't think so I'm afraid our prices are too high for him frankly I hope they are well come on in a moment all right sir Elizabeth hold the phone calls will you sit down Phil sit down thank you sir I wanted to talk with you before the annual employees dinner tonight something rather startling has come up Phil startling sir yes that's a small word for it I suppose there's no easy way to say this you know what a sticker I am for personal honesty integrity I yes of course I do mr. Minnick I can't afford to have people working for me whose integrity I no longer respect what are you trying to say mr. Minnick what you say Phil if you thought one of your most trusted employees was no longer worthy of your trust I I don't know I guess there isn't much to say if you don't have a new car then like most of us you no doubt wish you did well here's a tip the next best thing to a spank a new car is a car of any age powered with signal ethyl gasoline yes the premium grade of signals famous go farther gasoline is a true super fuel scientifically engineered to bring out the best in any car of any age and when I say best I mean the kind of performance many drivers never thought their cars capable of I mean pick up the thrilling kind that makes the back of the seat come up and nudge you forward and I mean power the kind that hoists you smoothly easily overhills that used to call for shifting and don't get the idea of course that signal ethyl is going to let you step away from all new cars after all smart new car drivers use signal ethyl to bring out all the exciting performance that's built into today's power packed high compression motors but of this you can be sure the next best thing to a new car is your car powered with signal ethyl gasoline it's difficult to believe isn't it Phil but apparently James Minnick has discovered your association with Al Farino you stand there stunned unable to speak your mind spinning wondering if your employer also knows of the $10,000 you must pay Farino and soon and as he speaks you realize mr. Minnick is looking at you and watching your face I don't blame you for looking so surprised Phil I found the knowledge that one of my trusted employees was stealing almost incredible myself what are you going to do nothing immediately in matters of this kind it's important to be absolutely certain of the facts I want to be very sure excuse me mr. Minnick yes a little bit sorry to disturb you sir but there's a man outside about the employees banquet tonight he said you wanted to go over the final arrangement oh that's right I do all right in just a moment yes sir I appreciate it if you wait for me Phil I think it might be a good idea if you and I went to the employees dinner together if I don't get a chance to see you before then we can finish our talk afterwards certainly mr. Minnick I'll wait for you you can't run can you feel you know if mr. Minnick has found you out no amount of running away can save you because if mr. Minnick doesn't find you Farina will mr. Minnick is unable to see you again before the annual employees dinner and as it progresses you toy with your food half listen as mr. Minnick delivers the familiar speech he makes every year about the rewards of honest endeavor the value of personal integrity but then something he says pulls you up short now this is more than just our annual dinner tonight it's a well it's an occasion I've been advised by my position to take a few months off Mrs. Minnick and I are saving to Hawaii and while I'm gone I'm placing the full responsibility of the store in the capable hands of Phil Alexander how about a word Phil why I don't know what to say I except well thanks mr. Minnick I never mind Phil just to know you'll be here while I'm gone is all I need to know and now everybody we're here for some fun enjoy yourselves there's music for dancing everything you want have a good thank you very much I call you mr. Alexander knows fine with me Elizabeth oh excuse me Elizabeth I'll send Phil back to the party in a moment I want to give him some fatherly advice right now we won't be long well Phil surprised I certainly was I I hope you enjoy your trip mr. Minnick you've earned a rest all right yeah that's what Mrs. Minnick says we'll see you this Saturday and now Phil that dishonesty matter I brought up late this afternoon oh yes my timing was none too good but I had to share it with someone I knew I could trust I hope I didn't concern you too much well I I found it hard to believe sir I know I know ordinarily I wouldn't burden you with it but since you'll be in charge I want you to keep a very close eye on Elizabeth Elizabeth yes it's shocking shocking isn't it she's been with me so long almost as long as you feel and yet she's the only one besides myself who has the combination to the vault oh you've missed some jewelry is that it yes small things nothing really expensive yet I somehow fight it impossible to confront her with it oh perhaps she isn't guilty at all but if she is I want her caught of course caught in the act you may yes now I hate to burden you with this Phil I probably won't be in the store before I leave and after all who else can I trust your mind spins again Phil because even as James Minnick hands you the combination to the jewelry store vault and tells you to keep a close watch on his secretary Elizabeth he's handing you a solution to your own problem isn't it yes if he suspects Elizabeth and trusts you it will be a simple matter of your word against hers James Minnick has played right into your hands hasn't he Phil and as you return to the company party you've already a half-formed plan in your mind concerning Elizabeth there you are Phil don't you think you should at least say the last words for your new secretary I was thinking about that too but oh you promised the dance to mr. minnick no not for it when swimming in the punch balls as I saw you last time I was going to but they tricked us the punch has no punch pure fruit juice oh I'm nourishing well I miss Elizabeth I believe they're playing our song I bribed the leaders shall we of course Elizabeth I know a place with a far more interesting punch you do they fill the punch ball with popcorn and serve you rare old native drinks like scotch and water sounds great oh it is and rare old native musicians play rare old native tunes like ragma Minnick's shadow with a sense of humor I don't believe let's go I'll prove it to you if you're native Phil very authentic you know you really had me fooled oh I didn't know you were human I don't believe I knew you could talk either except to say yes sir mr. Minnick and yes ma'am Mrs. Clark oh now look okay I've gone too far I'm sorry Mrs. Clark is a good client of Minnick's it's my job to keep her that way that's all she's just a client just a client Elizabeth I'd like to be able to count on that I'd like you to it's going well isn't it Phil you're certain now you'll have no trouble with Elizabeth her interest in you is obvious and for the first time in weeks you feel sure of yourself don't you late that night as you return to your apartment your confidence is soaring Farino fast I heard about mr. Minnick leaving you in charge of the store while he's away that's fine Phil fine look Farino now that you know you'll get the 10,000 can you give me till Monday mr. Minnick sailing Saturday I wouldn't want to do anything before he left town you wouldn't know I'll tell you something Phil the Friday night figure is 10 grand by Monday it's 20 oh look you can't do that no try me but it isn't going to be simple to get the 10 and it could get a lot more complicated if I saw mr. Minnick before he left couldn't it do you wouldn't do that I would have get you off the hook for parks like you who got no business playing the wheel I want my door Friday night Phil no later he means it doesn't be Phil Friday night is your absolute deadline and Farino isn't letting you forget it for a moment it's very little time the next morning is Thursday and after a sleepless night you arrive at the store early before anyone else in James Minnick's private office you go immediately to the vault quickly work the combination there's cash on hand yes but not nearly 10,000 dollars and the jewelry is all marked for delivery to clients that day you don't dare disturb it by mid-morning immersed in store problems you find yourself trembling looking up nervously constantly fearful that Farino or another of his men will walk in on you it's while you're making a quick tour of the display rooms that you finally do notice a strange man loitering about and it takes all the nerve you can summon to approach him yes oh Mr. Alexander that's right I have a message for you can we talk in private see here I've had enough of these messages as you describe them oh yeah yeah and my private office is not provided for such negotiations now if you'll kind of minutes I don't think you understand I understand that I want you to get out of here look the boss I know what your boss tell him I'll have the money for him Friday somehow some way okay Mr. Alexander oh one other thing you sure you know what I'm certainly I know tomorrow night 11 sharp at Farino's place I'll have the 10,000 now get out of here you watch him go Phil curse Farino for hounding you as you start back towards your office go inside you're vaguely aware that Elizabeth is speaking to you Mrs. Clyde is on the phone oh okay if you take it on my phone I'll hear just your end of the conversation if you take it in minutes all this I'll I'll take it here hello Mrs. Clyde hello Mr. Alexander my way so formal today aren't we why no I'm kidding you tonight tonight oh my you have forgotten my party this evening 8 o'clock I asked you when I was in the store yesterday oh yes of course I'll send Charles around for you about a quarter off that all right with you yes yes fine wonderful dear I'll see you tonight I look forward to goodbye you know I think I like your other side better the one I saw last night oh sure we'll have to do it often Elizabeth you're not having any fun of course I am Elaine everyone enjoys your party just the same I'm afraid you're taking your new responsibilities at the store too seriously perhaps that's it I know something that'll put that old gleam back in your eye come on in the library all right sit down at the desk I want you to see these in a proper setting the lights better there you're being pretty mysterious I mean to be and I trust you not to watch the combination to my wall by yes I think so believe me I'm not worried now then what do you think of these good heavens nice aren't they they're unbelievable diamonds sapphires emerald not many of each of course but I did think they might make a nice bracelet oh I'm sure they were now I want you to take them take them to Jack at the store darling let him study them work out the bracelet design when it's ready I'll stop by and see it but about the gems can't you keep them in the vault at the store for me certainly I'll be glad to why not have Charles deliver them to Miss Patton in the morning Mr. Minnick secretary Elizabeth Patton checking things in and out of the vault is her job even if you sent them to me I'd have to turn them over to her all if that's the procedure I'll send them in tomorrow good now let's get back to your party shall we I promise you I'll be a model guest the rest of the evening it's a break isn't it Phil you know enough about gems to estimate the value of Elaine Clyde's collection you'll have no trouble fencing you're certain of that and the amount you can raise from one or two will more than cover your gambling debt to Al Farino you're pleased aren't you Phil because your plan is so simple so easy the Clyde gems will be delivered to Elizabeth in the morning she'll put them in the vault and once any of them are missing you're certain all the evidence of theft will point to her you're at the office Friday morning confident that you'll be able to keep your 11 p.m. appointment with Farino and keep on living in the bargain good morning Elizabeth morning Phil your party last night must have agreed with you feel fine so fine in fact I'd like to have dinner with you this evening you know that's nice because I'd like to have dinner with you too good I'm afraid I'll have to run out on your afterward have to have a business upon me see but at least we'll have fun at dinner I'm sure we will we can go from work if that's okay with you fine see how agreeable I am oh I almost forgot Mrs. Clyde chauffeur is bringing some stones in this morning it wants us to keep them in the vault for her until our designer makes them into a bracelet you'll check them into the vault won't you why yes of course have you any idea of their value no we'll have to have them appraised in the next day or so well I'll take care of them I've got to keep some appointments for mr. Minnick today so I probably won't be around until dinner time if anything comes up oh my goodness something did come up I guess it isn't too important but that man was around here when I came to work this morning man well you know the fellow you were talking with yesterday on a personal matter you said oh did you talk to him no if he should come back so I tell him anything for you yes tell him hello you spend a profitable day away from the store don't you feel yes you make contact with an established fence in the city describe the stones you'll deliver to him later that evening and get his assurance that if they are as you say you'll easily get the ten thousand dollars you require early that evening you have dinner with Elizabeth send her home see your home afterwards and then set your final plan into motion you go directly to the store let yourself into the darkened building and make straight for the vault in mr. Minnick's office really expected get away with that bill Elizabeth honest I followed that kid as they say only I know a short cut get away from that ball film you surely don't expect to use that gun if I have to and I may you made two mistakes Phil first in thinking I'd go for your sudden interest in me after all these years and second when you spent most of the day away from the office you see your mr. Ferrino called to remind you of your appointment tonight look Elizabeth I'll take that box of Mrs. Clyde's Phil I have use for what's inside Minnick Sunday you Elizabeth you're under me let's make a deal the box fell handed over Minnick will be no concern and you little use where I'm going okay I'll hand it over he only made one mistake Elizabeth but that one's gonna prove fatal Lieutenant sure adds up just as you tell it mr. Alexander funny you say the girl worked for Minnick's a long time too it's almost as long as I have it's terrible mr. Minnick was suspicious of her before he left I tried my best to watch her that's why I had the gun ready well you did your best you couldn't know she had an accomplice didn't get a good look at him no no he managed to leap out past me not the gun from my hand but not before I know those are jewels her partner made off with you said they were uncut Jim yes yes that's the trouble it'll be very difficult to trace that possible probably but don't feel badly mr. Minnick's insurance will cover the stones wouldn't have covered your life though yes you're right I could have been much worse off if it had happened differently much worse off how long will your car last well this much is certain if you could reduce engine wear 50% your car should last a lot longer shouldn't it and now you can do just that reduce engine wear due to lubrication 50% with wonderful new signal premium motor oil think what this can mean to you in extra savings extra driving pleasure thanks to new signal premium your car should now run twice as many miles before needing an overhaul due to engine wear if your car is not already an oil eater new signal premium should help you enjoy low oil consumption twice as long and speaking of price although most things have gone up up up this superior heavy-duty type oil that gives you all these extra benefits has not been increased in price at signal stations so if you want to keep expenses down and your car's performance up for a long time to come you know the oil to change to new signal premium you know where to get it at signal service stations it went very well didn't it fill with James Minnick having warned you of his suspicions of Elizabeth it seemed to the police as if you had caught her in the act of theft there is no suspicion that it was the other way around that Elizabeth interrupted you and that you killed her you've convinced the police Elizabeth had an accomplice and that he managed to escape with the uncut gems belonging to Elaine Clyde you feel certain of success now particularly after having disposed of the jewels to a local fence the money is nestled in your inside coat pocket ready for payment of your gambling debt and it's shortly before 11 p.m. you're right on schedule as you enter Al Farino's gambling establishment I like this time excuse me please right on time Farino yeah I see and here's your money now see you're lucky is unhand accounted for you you're so right Mr. Alexander I'll say something for this boy Farino he was more polite than that first one you sent yeah actually seem concerned about my being upset worried I was worried Mr. Alexander worried and very puzzled I got nose for you Phil this is not my boy what are you talking about he's a cop your boss was worried about you because of that Elizabeth they thought she might give you some trouble and Mr. Minnick called headquarters asked us to look in on you from time to time and you weren't sent by Ali I put you on the track myself you sure did have had you tailed since that day in the store I don't believe it you wouldn't have let me kill her we were too late to stop you that song didn't know she'd walk in on you too bad but now we've got all the answers and they add up to murder the signal oil program the Whistler each Sunday night at this same time before you start your vacation trip be sure to ask your signal dealer for a free copy of Lane's guide a booklet prepared by an independent travel organization to help you find good eating and lodging places while no pocket-sized booklet can include all the good hotels motels and dining places Lane's guide covers a representative selection in hundreds of cities and towns and a copy of this handy publication is yours free at signal stations featured in tonight's story where Bill Foreman John Stevenson Betty Lou Gerson Virginia Greg Ed McDonald Ted Von Els and Sydney Miller the Whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen with story by Margaret Solenston music by Wilbur Hatch it 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 to tune in at the same time next Sunday when the signal oil company will bring you another strange story by the Whistler this is Marvin Miller speaking for the signal oil company stay tuned now for the Horace height show which follows immediately over most of these stations this is the CBS radio network