 Johnny dollar this is Henry Foreman down here for Jarvis, New York for Jarvis. That's right. Lucky man I beg your pardon Well the Delaware River on one side and the never sink on the other and that never sink just happens to be one of my favorite Trout streams. Oh, I see many is the time I've wet a line in that piece of water foreman Did you say yes? I'm the local representative for the inter-allied life insurance company. What can I do for you? Mr. Foreman not for me mr. Dollar, but for one of my clients I should say the husband of one of our clients one of my rather important plans Yes, and his name is Techler who's off Techler and he lives a few miles north here the other side of Monticello I see lovely place to a 300 acres of beautiful woodland to private lake and so on Sounds very nice usually though at this time here. They're back in New York They're big apartment one of those luxurious duplex bears on East River also sounds like they're really loaded loading Did you come and see him if that is you have some free time and by that? He meant anything from a few days to a few weeks funny Must have something to do with his insurance. I don't know sir. Well, look mr. Foreman He did make it very plain that it's most important important to me Yes, he implied that if there were any so on why he'd be more than glad to pay your expense account himself dollar in other words Maybe I can be a little free with the old expense account for a change Well, now that isn't quite what I was thinking. Well, let's pretend it was though Now just relax mr. Foreman. I'll grab a plane or a train to something and be down there to see you I'll see you Yes radio network brings you Mandel Kramer in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-tact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar That's a count submitted by a special investigator Johnny dollar to the inter-allied life insurance company office in Port Jarvis, New York Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Monticello mystery matters expense count item one nine dollars and ten cents planed between New York item to 50 bucks deposit on a rental car I Picked up route 46 then 23 and some 70 odd miles later pulled into Port Jarvis at the point where Pennsylvania New Jersey and New York all come together It's a nice little city there on the Delaware quite a railroad center and even better known for its glass companies Henry Foreman's office was on Main Street and after the usual how to do I again ask the question believe me mr. Dollar I don't know anything more about it than I told you on the phone But in view of this company's policy of service to its clients service of any kind Well, I felt we must succeed to his quest that you'll be brought down here I see and after all when you consider the size of mrs. Teckler's life policy alone the annual premiums we collect on it and Remember this too sir. She was a client of the company's long before she married Teckler She's the widow of the late Horace Rathbun Melinger. Well, you know the big steel and oil fortune. Yeah Well, it's no wonder then that Teckler's are loaded. Yeah, precisely. Well, just give me their address And I'll see what I can do about inaugurating a share the wealth program. I drove north on 42 for some 25 miles to Monticello Especially at this time of the year this foot of the Catskills country is mighty beautiful Then west for a few miles to the little town of Bethel then north on a narrow Twisting little road to a spot somewhere between Canoza Lake and Swan Lake There was a tall steel wire fence about the place, but the heavy gate was unlocked. So I went on through and there it was About as isolated and beautiful a place as I've ever seen It might as well have been a hundred miles away from the dozens of resorts and vacation spots that dot that area The main building the large I guess you'd call it There's a kind of a large two-story log cabin affair with a high peak roof that would shed the winter snow But surrounded on three sides by tremendous trees and they framed the large perfectly It was a pictures part of the thought you you've seen a movie and on the fourth side Out in front of the large and not more than a hundred yards away One look at that blue Placid Lake and they must have been at least 20 acres of it made me wish that I brought along every bit of fishing tackle out of her own As I stood there by the side of my car taking it all in a pair of lunkers smallmouth bath jump clear of the wall scattering it like the proverbial pearls in the sunshine. Oh, you like it, huh? Like it Rubber what a fisherman's heaven this is. Yes, it really is and you must be Johnny dollar and I'm Rudy tackler And how are you spellbound if you want the truth, I didn't think a place like this ever really Look at that. Did you see him? I saw him. I have a gun, Mr. Tecler that bass just broke water out there must be over three pounds your a fisherman, too Mm-hmm, that's certainly a what are we doing just standing here? I thought you might just possibly feel that way about why sure why aren't we out there and oh It is slightly out of season isn't it? Well, what's the difference private lake on private property if the game warden comes around I just chew him away I also forgot that I'm supposed to be up here on business. Oh Are you well, aren't I? Not so far as I know. You're kidding. Not a fit for you sent for me, didn't you? Yes, that's right My wife and I sent for you, but not on business. I don't get it Not on business not a bit of it. Well, why then Johnny suppose you point into the house Yeah, I'll help you with your back. Well now wait, Mr. Mr. Tecler a fine fishing powder you're going to make to you. It's Rudy. Okay, okay Rudy fine Now what was that crack about a fishing power come along into the house meet Nancy my wife come on all right But if you're implying that you set for me just to fish this beautiful lake of yours Well, why not? I'm afraid it's a little hard to believe I don't see why well. Let's just say I've been around Mr. Rudy Well, then maybe if Nancy tells you the same thing well much as I'd like to I still won't believe it Come along and we'll see Maybe Maybe because of long years in this job of mine. I'm overly suspicious But it all seemed just a little too good to be true Now I ask you what would you think of a couple of complete strangers? Casually handed you the sort of chance and situation you've only dared dream about all your life Yes, and when I met Mrs. Tecler there in the lodge That silly little bell in the back of my head that saved my job and even my life on occasion that warning if you like Suddenly began to ring out loud and clear Have you ever stopped to realize how lucky we are when people behind the iron curtain turn on their radios They hear only what their leaders want them to hear in this country You can flick a switch day or night and get a true complete report of what's happening everywhere You get the news first fastest most accurately and most completely when your dial is set to this CBS radio network station Because the network is serviced by the far-flung fact-gathering facilities of expanded CBS news Experienced CBS newsmen stationed in strategic places of the world over are on top of the story the moment it breaks for news about local state national and international affairs even the news from out of this world Count on the frequent broadcasts of expanded CBS news Here's CBS news every hour on the hour every weekday Wherever you are keep in touch with the world through world-spanning CBS news In this land where the news is free and reliable let CBS news satisfy your need to know Rudolph Tecler beneficiary of the vast Horace Rathbone manager fortune The short sweet pert and pretty About 52 or 3 with a trim almost wiry figure She had a pale flawless complexion sparkling dark blue eyes that contrasted with her light colored hair And she gave the impression of being very active very alert in spite of the fact that she must have been Almost 60 years of age Didn't you do like our little country place, mr. Dollar like it. I love it. Mrs. I knew you would We do too. Don't we darling you know the answer to that as well as I do and Johnny you must call me Nancy Even if only to flatter me and make me feel young again. Well, you are young Nancy. Oh, well, thank you In spite of the fact I had to ask for it You see Johnny this was Horace's he was my first husband Horace's hunting lodge We used to come up here during the deities and then we'd have all sorts of people around shooting off guns and playing Poker all night and eating their heads off and making a general nuisance of themselves But Horace liked it so I put up with it In spite of all the work it meant for me It certainly did and it still does and I think we ought to be a couple of the servants up. Yeah, dog What you work much too hard all the time we're here But I like getting away from the servants for a change and all their problems Well, I know and it's no hardship for me does be good keeps me healthy Well, just the same Nancy next year when we come up here Next year. Well, we'll see but if I'm feeling as well as I do now Well, anyway, Johnny. Yes after Horace died. Well, Rudy's never liked hunting. Have you dear? Well, Johnny? I'm no sissy, but I just don't like killing that's all. I mean poor dumb animals fishing though That's something else again. I'm with you. So after Rudy and I got married that was in 58 Well, that's when he put in the lake Stopped it with nice big bass and some pickerel and some fish and bluegills. No, you have me fairly drooling. You know that Well, I'm glad because that's the reason I thought of having you up here and when I suggested it to Rudy No, honey. Well at first he thought I was silly But then when he had a chance to think it over he was just as enthusiastic about having you here as I was Just to go fishing Well Johnny, I'll make a true confession. I'm an old fan of yours Oh, I never miss those weekly radio reports you make on the cases you solve. Oh, maybe I'm lucky You don't know about the ones I don't sell. I think the work you do is wonderful and I've wanted to meet you for years Well, I thank you ma'am. Well, but never having any insurance problems Well, I just couldn't think of a logical excuse and I knew you'd only be bored to death at any of the constant round of big Dull parties we have to give all winter long down in New York and believe me Johnny. They are dull But they're expected in this circle that we're obliged to travel in. You know Johnny old friends of horuses. So what can we do? Anyway, one Sunday night listening to one of your radio reports. I suddenly realized you constantly talk about things So here you are and please stay as long as you like. Nancy, I love you dearly And by way of celebration darling, why don't you pour us all a drink? Good idea And then while I'm fixing dinner, they'll still be about an hour of daylight. Why don't you two go out on the lake? A very good idea and Johnny dollar if you don't bring back at least a couple of five pounders I promise Nancy, honest engine Sweet, pert and pretty I said I should have added one more adjective Smart And that's why in spite of her excuse for having me around I wondered what her real reason was But they didn't give me much time for wondering or anything else Within half an hour Rudy and I were out on the lake that beautiful hunk of water So loaded with fighting bass that who could miss coming in with a limit But we did For no sooner had we got started across toward the far side Or there was plenty of reeds and lily pads that big ones like to hide under Ah Johnny it looks to me. Yeah, I see the place Rudy and if there aren't some lunkers over there I'll eat my shirt. No, no, no what I was thinking I still think we could have got a sack full right off the dock But not the big ones no what I was thinking of is that massive black clouds moving in on us there Ah, you're right Look there's a little chop building up in the water Yes, I'm afraid we're in for a sudden blow and a lot of rain You know what that does to the fishing oh down it especially in a shallow lake like this one But I tell you it's not as shallow as it looks This was a kind of canyon up here in these mountains before we dammed it up and some of the spots are nearly 20 feet deep I'll be we better figure Yeah, here it comes. Oh, I don't you mean here it is. Wow regular clouds Certainly can't fish in this can't even see where we are. I'm afraid you're right Rudy Well, don't you worry Well, I've plenty of time in the days ahead for all the fishing you can take Well, that may be a bigger order than you think of course if this blows off we can come out tonight again Sometimes the night fishing is great. I'll try anything but as long as it keeps up like this Oh, well, I'm sorry So we're going back to the dock if I can find it and back to the house build a big fire We can sit in front of it and drown our sorrows. I mean if we don't get ourselves drowned first right After cocktails and plenty of them during the delicious dinner Nancy had cooked for us Although we talked about nothing but fishing I began to wonder again Because I suddenly became aware of something between these two that hadn't shown before but I couldn't quite put my finger on a sort of Tension that they both very obviously tried to hide This very young man and the older wealthy woman he married Later in the living room as we sat in front of a roaring fire and Rudy became a bit too generous with the high balls Especially his own I wanted some more because several times when he glanced over at her once he was talking to me There was a very strange look in his eyes Fear Could it have been fear? But of what? I decided I'd better get him alone and talk to him But by the time Nancy went up to a room to bed the drinks had had their effect on him and he didn't make very much sense I just one more little one on Johnny. I mean for a smaller night. No, thank you. We have had enough You always drink this much. Oh Oh, remember why I said this afternoon drown your sorrows. I said drown your sorrows Yeah, he's Johnny. It's a very good idea Okay Rudy uh Are you worried about something? By me The last of money I never have to look at work Nice little wife couple of nice places to live Not me Johnny Not a thing in the world Not as long as I can drown my sorrows. Hey Let's have just one more now. Look if the weather stays clear the way it is right now And we're going to do any fishing tomorrow morning. Maybe we better hit the sack, huh? Yeah, sure. Okay. You find your way up to your room. All right. I think I can the point is can you? Me? Oh sure. Right next to Nancy's room. You're on the other side. Shall we? I think we better I helped him up to his room put him to bed and he promptly went out like a life What he'd said about the clean cool mountain air was certainly true. I slept like a log Almost as though I've been drugged and not because of the after-dinner drinks. I'd watch that pretty carefully Then shortly after sunup came the rude awakening Yeah, yes What's the matter Rudy? What is it? It's Nancy. Something's happened to her. Come on quickly quickly Can you find such entertainers as Buster Davenport and his talking minor bird? Where can you find Lucille in her magic ocarina or little Billy and his 14 piece jug band? Frankly, we don't know where you can find them But what sure thing here on the cbs video network you find the top names in show business Author godfrey art link letter gary moore being Crosby and rosemary cluny and you find them here every weekday morning Guaranteed entertainment monday through friday right here at the stars address Rudy what's happened? She's gone. Nancy's gone. Something's happened to her Look look at this her bed's been slept in but she isn't here. All right. I'll just take it easy Maybe she just got up early to fix breakfast for us before we go out on the lake No, no, Johnny. She isn't anywhere. I mean not anywhere in the house. I've looked all over Out for an early walk. Maybe what without getting dressed. How do you know that? Look the only things that are missing are the nightgown she wore and her robe and a pair of slippers Oh, wait a minute. You mean you've checked every other article of clothing. She on no no, no, of course not But those things are missing. Did you look around the ground? Oh, yes all over Except in the woods, of course Which just happens to cover most of this place of yours Johnny the point is she's gone without letting me know I say something's happened to her how many cars do you keep here? Well, uh, just the one but it's still in the garage besides Nancy doesn't drive Do you look for any footprints when you were outside? Yes in the mud from that rain we had yet? Yes, Johnny. There were none How about tracks down at the gate the road is paved down to the gate even out to the highway Is there any way off the property except through that gate? No, no, there's there's no other way out What could have happened to her just calm down rudy? Let me get some clothes on and we'll look around. I I I hope she's all right any reason why she shouldn't be well. No, of course not and yet. Yes Well, oh there was Something last night Johnny they are in in front of that place. Yeah, what didn't you get the feeling to? That she was worried about something Now that you mentioned it yes But what I wish I knew Then maybe I'd I'd know what's happened to all right you go downstairs and make some coffee while I get into my clothes Then we'll have a look around I still didn't understand all his alarm till we had to look around that place and I mean all of it There was no sign of her anywhere no clues to why or where she'd gone And to leave by that front gate and only a nightgown and a robe Now rudy must have been wrong about that, but even if she did change why aren't those things still here? And why did she leave and without letting me know Johnny? It isn't like her rudy any problems between you two Oh good heavens. No nothing serious in spite of all her money And let's face it your comparative you know wait now wait a minute now. I resent that Johnny I mean whatever implication you are trying to make what about your drinking What do you say that just because I happen to have a few too many last night? Oh no now that's ridiculous and she would have told me if she'd really objected to it speaking of which I think I could use one yes Yes, I'll get a couple no no no i'll get them the stuff is still on the bar from last night I'll get them rudy you just sit tight and keep an eye out this front window in case well, but I All right, uh bourbon you know yes, I know It had really hit me two things several things Like the complete lack of a hangover though. I'd had to help him up to bed only a few hours before Nancy and I've been drinking scotch. He'd taken all of his from a bottle of bourbon, so I checked that bottle bourbon Nothing but wheat tea So we've been putting on an act last night Why and why the insistence on keeping my glass filled? More things that crack about drowning his sorrow for instance was Nancy his sorrow Because she'd got wise to the fact that he'd married her only for money And was she the one who was really afraid Is that why she'd sent for me? Of course, he hadn't wanted me around at first until he realized what a wonderful cover-up I'd be for him But then where was the body? It was one place a very obvious place maybe so obvious. I wasn't expected to think of it It's the obvious we most often overlook Or was all this just wild speculation on my part. I had to find out You you say a hunch Johnny. Yes, really and by some miracle they usually pay off for me Well, what kind of a hunch? There's one place on this property. We didn't think of where you just sit tight and finish your drink Well, I have a look. Well, all right, Johnny you wait here. I'll be back in a few minutes The little dam there at one out of the lake was a simple affair Two concrete abutments with a wall of probing clanks between them one on top of the other To raise the water level you added a plank and to lower it of course It was a bit of a struggle prior way the top one, but I managed it and the water started pouring out into a sort of canyon below And then as I fully expected Johnny, Johnny, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind? Yes, I know Rudy. I hate to spoil the whole lake We'll go down and give me a hand and help me pull another one of these planks Until we get the water low enough to see where you left her body after you killed her last night Well, Rudy It won't be necessary. You see I'll show you the spot but listen listen to me I'm listening not only the insurance but all of her estate it'll mine And without her to dole it out to me like she would do a child and there's plenty you see there's plenty for both of us Rudy we'll both be rich Johnny you understand you see what I mean It'll be so easy Rudy. I hate to sound corny. Yes But why don't you try telling that to a judge? Any comments? Why bother? I hate this kind of case But it does happen Expense account total including mileage on the rental car and the trip back to Hartford 71 70 Yours truly Johnny dollar Are to tell you about next week's story next week the everglades of florida and believe me there are spots in there that can be pretty dangerous Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar Truly Johnny dollar is written by jack john stone produced and directed by bruno zirato jr. Music supervision by apple huber Johnny dollar is played by mandel kramer Also featured in our cast where william redfield is rudy Adele ronson as nancy and randall houseborn as henry forman He should have joined us next week same time same station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is art hannah speaking