 The signal oil program the whistler Whistle is your signal for the signal oil program 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 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 friendly dealer owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story the silent city For 15 years George Malcolm had been a reader for the Latimer publishing company 15 years plowing through the tangled syntax the dull metaphors the silly little scribblings of people who think they can write Without learning how and he was sick of it. Why George Malcolm knew more about writing than they ever would However, he hadn't been able to sell that idea to his boss mr. Latimer though. He'd tried time and time again without success Yes, George Malcolm knew the meaning of the word Frustration too well But on that morning early in April as he walked into mr. Latimer's office to try again George didn't realize that he would also soon learn the meaning of the word Murder mr. Latimer. Oh, yes George. You want to see me? Yes, sir I've written a few chapters of a new novel. Oh now George really you haven't been writing again Oh, this time mr. Latimer. I think I've hit our look. We've been all through this before you write Well, yes, if you'll only let me tell you about it, sir. All right. All right. Tell me about it Well, it's about a sea captain a young man from Boston the year 185 He sails for the South Seas ever been to see George of all of what sir you ever been to see? No, sir What do you know about sailing ships the South Seas? Well, I suppose I know as much as the next fellow enough to get by enough to get by George listen to me You're a good reader you can spot talent at ten paragraphs in someone else's manuscript, but when it comes to writing Your stuff just doesn't have the heart You just won't write about things, you know, won't you even read what I've written, sir? Oh very well Leave it on the table on your way out It's the same old runaround isn't it George you're burning with rage as you leave Latimer's office Walk between the stacks of new novels bright in their gaudy jackets and seeing them You know that more than anything else in the world you want your name on books such as these and You don't care how it gets there When you reach your desk you find it piled high with manuscripts you begin to leaf through them Thinking more of how your one hundred dollars a week look stacked beside the royalties of a best-seller and what you're reading and Then deep at the bottom of the stack you find a manuscript typed on cheap bond You're about to toss it aside when the title catches your eye the silent city a novel by Mary Jordan You lean back in your chair and begin to read There is a city we see in the city we hear and the silent city of terror There is the crying gargoyle that lies behind the laughing face of the silent city There is frustration here for the big and small Well, not bad not bad at all It interests you doesn't it George Pasteily you glance through the first few chapters. There are some mistakes and construction in approach But the talent the heart is there the mistakes can be corrected And how you wish you had written this novel you turn back to the top sheet The matter George you've hardly said a word all evening. Hmm. Haven't you been listening to me? Oh? I'm sorry. Oh The mind rejoined the body Yes, yes, sure, baby can't waste our date just daydreaming, huh? Oh some date bringing you to a cheap joint like this I'm sick of these places Ilka what but it won't always be like this darling Some day we'll be sitting on top of the world the two of us. I know honey. I haven't been complaining No, no you've been swell, but I mean it it won't always be like this. Oh, you've been thinking I've been thinking about writing another book. I thought so mention it to your boss What's his name? Latimer? Latimer he would know a good novel if you hit him over the head with it Why that old goat can't see any farther than the tip of his cigar your stuff just doesn't have the heart George You just won't write about the things you know George why I could bash his ugly Take it easy darling take it easy. You'll have everybody in the place gawking at us Let him gawk your new book. What's it about? Well, I I'd rather not tell you about it now Ilka surprise, huh? Yes. Yes, that's it Well darling whether you ever write the great American novel or not it It wouldn't make any difference to me. It would to me Just one book Elka. That's all I need to break the ice one good novel perhaps the novel you're going to work on George Perhaps that'll be it. Yeah I've got a hunch it will be After you take Elka home you walk the streets for a long time thinking thinking about the silent city Mary Jordan and Beachmont It's a desperate chance to take isn't it George and you're afraid to think of the consequences It's almost two in the morning when you return to the downtown district and suddenly up ahead You see the red neon sign flashing on and off over the wide doors It's like an answer and you know what you're going to do you hurry inside the depot then to the ticket window Yes, sir. When is the next bus pulling out north on the main line and not till 3 30 It's up to Goldfield by noon. I'm not going that far Give me a ticket to Beachmont with the prologue of the silent city The signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler Friends you've heard me tell about the more thorough more conscientious attention cars get at signal service stations Because each signal dealer owns his own business and has a personal interest in pleasing you Well, typical of this is the free inspection of your radiator and cooling system now being offered by signal dealers throughout the west from Canada to Mexico You see as a car grows older its radiator may become clogged with rust and sludge or develop small leaks To correct such conditions signal dealers offer a complete radiator service They have special rust and sludge dissolving compound that restores your radiators cooling efficiency, but can't harm the metal If your radiator has any small leaks your signal dealer has radiator sealer that stops them in a jiffy and In any case even with new cars It's wise to add rust preventive that protects both radiator and motor from future corrosion So the next time you stop at a signal station be sure to ask for your free radiator inspection This is just another in our complete line of signal safety services Each design to help your car run better look better and last longer And now back to the Whistler and so early Saturday morning a few hours before dawn You're aboard the bus rolling north toward Beachmont and Mary Jordan author of the Silent City Quite a novel isn't it George? It's literature something you would have been proud to have written and you're certain of something else too Aren't you you're certain that when the book is published it will carry your name It's a few minutes after 10 in the morning when your bus arrives at Beachmont a quiet sleepy little town just off the main highway In a quarter of an hour later. You're walking down Miller Avenue a quaint little side street shaded by huge pepper trees In the middle of the block you find the address you're looking for 375 flight of wooden steps and a flat upstairs Miss Jordan miss Mary Jordan. Yes. I don't think I know you But I know you miss Jordan. That is I should say I know your work my work. I'm George Malcolm I represent the Latimer publishing company Oh Yes, won't you come in? Thank you. I hope I'm not disturbing you miss Jordan. I know it's a little heavy. Oh, no not at all Oh, I'm sorry the apartment is I didn't expect you may I sit down? Oh, yes. Yes, please do. Oh here I'll get these things out of the way So you're Mary Jordan Yes Well, we've read your novel miss Jordan. Oh, oh, yes, and frankly we like it. We like it a lot You like it. Oh I've worked on it so long put in a good many hours on it, huh? Oh, yes, most of it during the evening Fortunately, I have a flat to myself. It's so much easier to write. Oh, you live alone. Yes, that's right I've only been here in Beachmont a short time. I'm from Illinois. I see when mother died Well, there was nothing to keep me back home. Well, I just thought it would be better if I went out of my own Of course, of course, I understand Tell me miss Jordan. What do the good citizens of Beachmont think of your writing? Oh, they don't well, what do you mean? I mean, they don't know anything about it. Oh Oh, they don't know in a small town like this. They'd laugh at me Besides what does a waitress know about writing novel? So that's where you got your material for the silent city Yes, I met so many interesting people so I wrote about them Oh, I've always wanted to write and it was easy writing about people. I was told always to write about the things I know Yes, yes Now about your novel miss Jordan as I said before it's far better than the average However, we feel it will need considerable rewriting. Oh, I wouldn't mind rewriting. I wouldn't mind it all You'll need help of course. That's why I came up here to Beachmont miss Jordan. It's a part of my job You know, oh, then then you're really gonna publish my novel just as soon as we make all the necessary changes Oh about the rewrite. Well, well, I have to go into town. Oh, no, no. No, no, that won't be necessary I think we can work better right here. Nice quiet. No one to disturb us and the sooner we start the better Well, I don't have to go to the cafe until five this afternoon Then I suppose I could get Margie to work tonight for me. Yes. Why don't you do that? And Do you think you could arrange to have every Saturday off from now on that would fit into my schedule perfectly I'll try I think Margie will be willing to trade days with me. I'll call her right now She doesn't have to know why good and you know, Mary if I were you I wouldn't let anyone know you're working on this novel Until it's ready for publication. Oh, I won't tell a soul if you think it's faster. Oh You don't know what it means to me to have my book published It means a lot to me too Mary It couldn't have worked out any better. Could it George all day Saturday and into the black hours You sit by Mary Jordan and her typewriter and guide the writing of the silent city It's almost three o'clock in the morning when you decide it's time to return to town You leave Mary with a handful of notes Suggestions for her to work on during the week while you're gone When you return to your apartment in town You tumble into bed without bothering to take your clothes off. It's almost noon when the phone wakes you Hello, good morning George. Oh Helper George. I I Thought we had a date last night. Oh I'm sorry, okay. I couldn't make it. I was busy. Well, you could have called me George Yeah, sure sure, but I was writing and I just didn't want to be bothered Oh, baby, baby, listen, okay, give me a break. Will you I've got a lot on my mind Another girl. Oh, sweetheart. What kind of talk is that I couldn't make it any clearer. Elkabee. You've got to believe me I was busy writing. All right George. All right. I look honey. Look, I'm dead tired be a good girl And let me finish my Napa. I'll see you tomorrow. Okay, and George yes If there is anyone else Don't let me know I Wouldn't like it Your secretary said you want yes. Yes. I want to have a talk with you my boy. Sit down sit down Thank you, mr. Latimer, you know that stuff about the sea captain George terrible terrible, but this This my boy the story about the waitress in the small town cafe wonderful Frustrated people best seller stuff if I ever saw it the the silent city wonderful title and these first three chapters are beautifully written Well, I'm glad you like them sir. One. Can you give me more a week to well? I can have three more chapters next Monday. That's pretty fast writing. Oh, I can handle it. Mr. Latimer. Oh, fine You know something George this this work shows great improvement over your past performances Oh, I think I've touched on the answer to my writing problems. Mr. Latimer. Good. Stay with it my boy Stay with I will mr. Latimer. I will Frustration Mary you've got to show it here. We want the reader to understand what frustration will drive a man or a woman to do Yes, I see what you mean. Of course you do and you're doing fine, Mary Many chapters have you turned in now George 12 mr. Latimer and all quite good too. Don't you think yeah, just excellent You think we can finish the silent city by say around the 1st of June? Well now I don't know I tell you what suppose you take the rest of the month off I'm anxious for you to finish the novel. I'd like to start at rolling as a serial in one of the national magazines a drum-up interest You know all right, mr. Latimer. I'll see what I can do. I don't want inferior work, but I want speed And I'm willing to pay for it There's a does this check convince you 5,000 doubt not token of our faith they call it in advance. What do you say George first of June? First of June mr. Latimer first of June you'll have my novel You leave Latimer's office Keeping your hand in your pocket feeling the crisp authority of the check between your fingers and you know that this is only the beginning But Mary Jordan you haven't been wanting to think about that. Have you George? But now you've got to think about it. What's to become of Mary Jordan? $500 why George it's all yours Mary a token of our faith call it in advance You think that will take you away from the cafe. Oh, I'm as good as through now Then what do you say we get right to work? We have a lot to do if you're going to get the novel finished by the first of June the first of June Oh, I'm sure I'll have it finished by then Days flow into weeks and as you sit there making notes for Mary to follow with the typewriter You're a little surprised with yourself. You're actually beginning to feel a little sorry for Too bad that things have to turn out this way But you can't think about that now. Can you the book is more important that it must be finished Then a week before a deadline you drop in and see Latimer again. Well, George. We're almost finished aren't we? Yes, I'm just about ready to wind up my first novel at a well just about ready to wind good You know something my boy. I've mentioned your novel to a friend of mine He's with one of the big motion picture studios just sketched the idea briefly to him And he's crazy about the silent city. Oh, he is a naturally I told him I'd have to talk to you before we went ahead with anything Well, naturally, you know what it means of course why they'll pay a fortune for your novel and what publicity My boy take my word for it in another few months. You'll be sitting on top of the world Hello, Mary. Oh George come on in. I've been waiting for you. Well, I'm sorry. I'm so late, Mary I had a lot of things to do in town, you know, and I missed the bus too Say say isn't that a new dress? Uh-huh. You like it? Well, turn it out. Turn it around Very pretty And say what's this the tables all set candles that you you're not expecting someone are you? Just a little celebration for the two of us. I I thought it would be nice if we had dinner. Oh, oh, yes Yes, we should celebrate shouldn't we what? What do you mean? Well, you'd already made your final note. So I thought I'd surprise you I I worked all last night after you left and most of the day and I finished the last chapter You finished it. Yeah. Oh, I knew you'd be surprised. I made up my mind last night Oh, you've been so wonderful about everything. So I decided well, I decided I'd finish up that last chapter if it killed me You glance over the completed chapters on the desk next to the typewriter And then you look at Mary standing there in the middle of the room in her bright new dress glowing with pride You hadn't expected the end to come so soon now that you're faced with it You've got to do it now now before you change your mind You remove the silk scar from your neck tie a knot in it Mary has her back to you. She's fussing around the dinner table Slowly you cross the room toward oh gosh. I should have bought some rolls, too. I guess we can get along with our Yes, it's all very sad isn't it George, but it had to be done You pick up the final chapters of the silent city stuff them into your briefcase Along with all the other papers on the desk You can't leave a single trace of the silent city here, can you? Then one last thing before you leave you step to the dinner table Blow out the candles You hurry down the stairs and out into the dark deserted street a few yards up the block a car has parked at the curb But you pay a little attention to it and then as you walk past it you stop in your tracks The voice is familiar isn't it yes very familiar you turn and walk slowly to the car Hello George Elker What are you doing here? You mind if I ask you the same thing so you've been following me. You've been I Know all about your little trips to see Mary Jordan at least that's the name on a mailbox. I Wish you hadn't done it Elka get in George I'll drive you back to town We have a lot to talk about Don't we? Yes We have a lot to talk about Hello, Mr. Malcolm. Hello friend. How's everything? Ah, you know how it is after no one's kind of quiet just the regular customers Bourbon like always mr. Malcolm Yeah, yeah, okay. Oh, mr. Malcolm. I I've seen something the papers a little while ago that day Lady used to come in here with you a lot miss Robinson. I heard you call her Elka. Yes Funny, I mean kind unusual name. That's why I remember well in the afternoon paper. There's a story about that's That's right Fred. Oh Gee, that's tough. What do you suppose happened? Well just as the papers say I guess Evidently drove her car off the road lost control, huh went into the river and drowned. Oh gee, that's Well, that's the way it goes. Uh-huh. That's the way it goes Fred The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime for the benefit of you who missed last week's whistler I want to repeat what we honestly believe is today's greatest tire value I'm referring to signal dealer's new price on Lee deluxe four-ply tires just reduced from 1525 to only 1295 plus tax Imagine only 1295 for a nationally advertised top quality tire in the popular 616 size other sizes proportionately low price if you've been comparing prices You know that 1295 is actually less than the second line price of some tires But this is not a second line tire In fact, Lee of Conshaw Hocken has never in 45 years made anything less than top quality and Today's Lee deluxe four-ply tire which signal dealers are now featuring at 1295 Is the same quality has the same patented double life cord construction? Which made Lee tires outstanding among leading brands? So if you're going to be needing tires saved by taking advantage of signal special for your summer driving safety Get your signal dealers trade-in offer for your old tires now See for yourself that for value plus quality your best buy today is the top quality Lee deluxe tire Which signal dealers are now featuring at only 1295? And now back to the whistler Yes, George you can rest easily now. It's all over There isn't a soul alive who can trace you to 375 Miller Avenue Beach Monty And to the murder of Mary Jordan There's a small news item about it in the afternoon paper the same edition that carries the story of Elka's accidental death That was unfortunate too, but then Elka was the link the only link connecting you with Mary Jordan And that link had to be broken Now the novel is finished Your novel George and soon you'll be seeing your name on that stack of gaudy jacket Yes, that's what you've wanted all along isn't Early Monday morning you walk into Latimer's office with the final chapters of the silent city Good morning, Mr. Latimer. How's the old? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were busy. Come in George Come in George this is Lieutenant Bates of homicide Hello, Mr. Malcolm. Well, how are you lieutenant? Look if you gentlemen are discussing something I'll come back another this concerns you mr. Malcolm. Oh It's uh, it's about the silent city George Your novel isn't it? Why? Yes, yes, it is a girl was just found murdered up at Beachmont Mary Jordan ever hear of her? Jordan Mary Jordan No, I'm afraid not lieutenant never heard of her. No Okay, mr. Latimer read him the letter better. Well, what letter I? Received it Saturday morning George It's from Mary Jordan. Well, what? Says something about putting it in the book Wanting it to be a surprise repaying you Read in the last part of mr. Jordan's letter mr. Latimer To the man who spent so many unselfish hours aiding me in writing my first novel the silent city in gratitude This book is dedicated To George Malcolm Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Wednesday night at the 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 speeds be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life Possibly your own Featured in tonight's story were walley mayor and Sarah Selby The whistler was produced by George W. Allen with story by Gilbert Thomas and music by Wilbur Hatch and Was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service Next Wednesday for a full hour of mystery over most of these stations Tune in a half hour earlier Enjoy the same as well as the whistler This is Marvin Miller speaking. 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