 From Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny dollar where you've been for the past 20 minutes in the shower Okay, so I'm a shiny dollar Who's that? Max Max green at a short equity. Oh hi max. What's on your mind? Our father's brought forth, but that doesn't answer my question Johnny you ever hear of the Meeks New England family stood away on the Mayflower speak only to their money. That's the meat What about him Mariah meek and Lincoln's get his burger dress. He's lost her copy. Well, it shouldn't be hard to find her another one That's where you're wrong Johnny, huh? Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. It's truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the assured equity and trust company 325 Scott Avenue Hartford, Connecticut The following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Meek Memorial matter Expense account item one one dollar and ninety cents cab from my apartment of Max Green's office He was standing in a haze of cigar smoke ashes on his vest and a worried look on his face. Oh, you want a cigar? Oh, no no sit up. Listen Johnny What do you know about that speech that Lincoln made it get his bird? Well, I had to memorize it in school like every other kid. All right, you know how many words are in it? Maybe a couple of hundred why women's in this book Yeah, page 143 Speech is printed here exactly as mr. Lincoln released it to the newspapers after the get his burger dress You find it. Yeah, but I want a total number of words 268 But the first two drafts of that speech including the one he read that day Contained only 266 words. So he patted this part. That's right two more words. How come? According to the historians Lincoln had lived the two additional words at the time you read it later on when he made three new copies of the speech He included those two words you with me so far keep going. All right Right down at the end of it just before of the people by the people where he said that this nation under God She'll have a new birth of freedom. Hmm the words under God Do not appear in the first two drafts you wrote. Yeah, well, this is all very interesting Max But I still don't see what it is or what it has to do with me Well, Mariah Meeks copy has disappeared. Oh and Johnny That copy happens to contain just 266 words You mean She owns one of the first two original drafts handwritten by mr. Lincoln himself while he was on the train riding to get his bird Yeah, which is of course why we insured it for the full amount of cost, which is $100,000 even of course you made sure it was authentic before you wish it all naturally Well, who'd she buy it from an antique dealer down in Richmond, Virginia fellow named Jason Penrod, huh? Where's she been keeping it under glass in the Meek Memorial? What's that? Oh, she collects Americana, so she had a museum built to keep it in and she calls it the Meek Memorial follows follows Also follows the most expensive item in the collection the Gettysburg address would be the one to disappear Oh, you're just an old pessimist max. You think somebody lifted it What do you think it walked out by itself? Okay, okay, so what are you gonna do about it? Oh gonna run newspaper ads are gonna offer $10,000 reward for information leading to its return If anyone answers it, you let me know where you'll be and I'll refer them to you Go ahead. When was it taken the night before last? Is there any kind of market for something that rare? Hard to say Johnny a hot camera would be easy at the pedal sure But a good many wealthy people like mrs. Meek they make a hobby of collecting things You know antiques objects of art etching but whoever took this or buys it from the thief Couldn't just let everybody see it wouldn't matter to some people they take it and put it in a vault and keep it there Then what's the point in having it around pride of possession? You've got something no other collector could own And of course it might not have really disappeared at all You're thinking of fraud a hundred grand. There's a lot of cash Expense account item to one dollar and ninety cents cab fare back to my apartment. I Wasn't particularly intrigued by this assignment Rare documents like anything else antique have always seemed to be just one step from decay And that sometimes goes for the people who collect such things Item three sixteen dollars and ten cents transportation including a round-trip ticket Hartford to New Bedford and cab fare to the waiters hotel There was a convention in town, so I was lucky to get a room after checking in I called the meek residence Mrs. Meek was expecting me and said she'd have her car pick me up. I Had just put down the phone when someone knocked on the door Depends on what you're looking for Mr. J. J. Did you say? Nobody by that name here. Oh, yeah, I see I guess I got the wrong room. Yeah Why don't you ask down at the desk? Huh? Yeah, yeah, oh sure sure. Yeah. I cranked the door open again Watched him walk to the stairs And I took the elevator down the eight flights to the lobby Half an hour later. I was in the back seat of the meek limousine heading toward the home out on Buzzard's Bay It was a big sprawling frame building facing on the beach about 50 yards behind it closer to the road was the Meek Memorial Museum I was starting up the front steps when the door opens That's right Understand you have an appointment with my grandmother right again come in please He's waiting for you upstairs in the sitting room. Okay. Thanks Uh Before you go up, I wonder if I could have a few words with you. Why not stay in here You've never met my grandmother. Have you know I haven't had that pleasure Some people consider it dubious one mr. Dollar. Oh, Mr. Dollar. This is my wife Janice. This is me. Hi How about a drink? Thanks, not just now. How about you oh stick in the mud you want another one after a bit Janice And if I were you I wouldn't have any more, but you're not me. Are you? You will have to excuse my wife, Mr. Dollar Well, we've both been under a severe strain since moving here grandmother is blind you know no I didn't know the site began failing about four years ago. I'm surprised the insurance agent didn't tell you well Mr. Green was so concerned over the theft of the Lincoln manuscript. I I imagine it slipped his mind Mm-hmm, and just how do you intend to locate that manuscript? I'm not so sure that I can be a pity if you could It's grandmother's prized possession hasn't been herself since it was stolen And being quite elderly well, we're all very much concerned. Oh my yes We're afraid she might die and leave us all that lovely money Janice. It's the truth You see Pa, and I don't have any money of our own mr. Dollar. We'll never have any until she does I Start giving it to us now while we're young. You know what she does with it? Spends it buying junk for that soil museum. I'll look that's gratitude, isn't it? I bathe her feet or rubber feet and do all her dirty work Janice You've said quite enough mr. Dollar isn't interested in our personal problems. Oh second the mud all right I'll be in the den if you want me and that's the funniest thing. I've said all day if you want me I'm sorry. She doesn't mean half of what she says. Oh, that's grandmother's signal. Then hadn't we better go up? Yes We went up the broad staircase through a hall and into a bright sunny room We're after an old come on and show all Martha meek sat in the nimbler chair facing the ocean Paul introduced us then sat down quietly near the door. I know you're there Now answer me. Yes, you go on downstairs. I Want to talk of mr. Dollar in private and close that door of mine my back mr. Dollar Couldn't see if I looked into your face now then When are you going to arrest that crook and bring my Lincoln speech back to me? Well, I I'm going to need a lot of help and information mrs. Meek What kind of information? Mostly about the museum like what? Well, do you know who was in there the night the manuscript disappeared? Certainly that dirty robber was Anyone else? Oh Pete's always there Was to be guarding the place but he didn't do a very good job the other night got himself slugged does he live on the grounds? Yes, I brought him over from Naples ten years ago. He was my guide in Italy Showed me around so nice. I decided to bring him back. Tell me is the memorial open to the public It was going to be I intended it to be once But when my eyes No, mr. Dollar, I keep it locked most of the time and who discovered the manuscript was missing Pete did I guess At least when he recovered he ran yelling bloody murder up here to the house Everybody went down to see what had happened everybody, but me they left me all in myself Whether any strangers here in the house that night mrs. Meek anyone beside the servants and your grandson and his wife One person, but he is no stranger. Who's that Jason Penrod from Richmond. He's an odd dealer We were discussing some business May I ask what kind of business has nothing to do with you or the people you work for sorry Where can I find mr. Penrod? He's staying here now. He isn't in his room. Then he's most likely out in the memorial. Now. That's enough questions You give me a cigarette Ma'am That's the man of your death. Give me a cigarette for Paul with that snoopy wife of his comes prowling around All right, sure Like me You want any more information Pete's the one to talk to all right. Thanks But what about your son and daughter-in-law? Were they inside the house at the time of the robbery you don't suspect them Right now I suspect everybody mrs. Meek Even me yes, ma'am Even you Bless you boy. I found Pete Vesuvio trimming the shrubbery just outside the memorial building He seemed quite willing to talk to me How do you say what happened to me mister? I'm Hit out knocked out. Ah, see senior and because of this I do not see anything nothing at all Please mr. Do not use the insert. I am American citizens first papers Because of the kindness of my patron I will soon to be second papers I know by heart the Constitution United States to get his back address pledge allegiance to my flag You know how I know that these things which helped me be citizen Because of my lady. She's letting me work in a place where great papers are for me to read Because of her I would not hide anything mister. Okay, Pato King. I'm convinced I'm sorry. I cannot help you mister. Well, it's not your fault. Hey, you like to hear me say get his perk address Do it very good learn it right from president's own writing some other time Pete right now I have to find mr. Penrod easy inside mister counting the treasures all of the beautiful things of my lady can no longer see You'll find him in a section L senior I Found the small need-appearing art dealer just where Pete had said he'd be Hearing into a glass case crowded with Derringer pistols. He had a notebook under his arm and seem to him making some sort of inventory Oh, yeah, you gave me quite a fright. Oh, I'm sorry. I Wish I could concentrate like that. Oh, well, there's nothing more interesting to me than this final pistol thing What history they must have dollar Johnny dollar oh Yes, the insurance investigator Paul told me you were wondering about the place Suppose you'd like to ask me some questions if you don't mind. Oh, no goodness. No, I understand You were with mrs. Meek the night of the robbery that is correct We heard the shouting we ran out here just as fast as we could I was the one who discovered the manuscript was missing You have any idea how the thief got in here. No, no, no unless someone forgot to lock the front door Unless he had a key Well, has mrs. Meek given out many of the keys in my opinion too many even I have one. What about Paul Meek and his wife? No, I don't think so. They really aren't interested in the museum at all. Mr. Dollar Mr. Penrod, I understand you're quite an authority on antique art and things like that Isn't taking inventory a little beneath your position Well, I suppose it is mr. Dulliver last week when I received dear Mariah's wire asking me to do it I simply couldn't refuse it. She's been such a good customer of mine. Yes You have any idea who might have wanted the Lincoln manuscript Well, I know several persons who'd love to have it you give most anything, but I don't know anyone with The nerve to break in here and take it by force you remember where Paul Meek and his wife were when you heard Pete shouting They were right in here, but I arrived here. I see Well, thanks for all just one more thing. Oh, yes If you'd stolen the manuscript mr. Dollar hypothetical question, mr. Penrod But if you had and you wanted to sell it at a good price with the least danger of being caught How would you go about it? Take it abroad, of course. I put it on the open market over there. Huh? You aren't planning on going abroad soon. Are you mr. Penrod? Oh gracious. No You know anyone who is anyone who Who didn't Paul and Janice tell you they're flying to Paris Wednesday night? I Left the memorial and walk back to the house The Meeks were in the study engaged in their favorite pastime When I told them what the art dealer had said Paul set down his glass long enough to confirm the fact that they did have Reservations and insisted that he had a logical explanation for not having told me of those plans earlier Let me handle this Janice, please sure Drank John now first I want to hear that explanation if you don't mind of course I don't mind Janice and me were fed up. Why didn't you tell me about the plane reservations? Well, why should I have I'm not even sure I'm going to use them Grandmother's upset enough over losing that manuscript something else might well Anyhow if the manuscript doesn't turn up within 48 hours. We're canceling our trip. Oh, no, please. Sorry Janice But that's the way it's got to be she did it. What do you mean? It's an act Don't you see he's been Penrod told her we were gonna leave so she had him hide the manuscript And now this thing about her being so upset and having such a weak heart It's an act to keep her precious darling boy tied to her apron string. I don't believe that well I'll just wait you will Anything else dollar what does a trip to Paris cost for well, it's not inexpensive your wife was complaining about being so broke Haven't you ever heard of flying now and paying later? We have friends in Paris dollar It won't cost as much to live once we get there. We'll worry about paying for our ticket when we get back Any other questions? Yeah later Was after seven when I finally got back to my hotel room I ordered a drink and tried to make some kind of sense out of the information I've gathered during the day But it all ended up to zero I called Hartford and asked Max Green to look into the meat finances and I dressed for dinner I was about to go downstairs when the phone rang Johnny dollar Mr. Dollar, I was told to call you. Yeah It's about the ad the ad Tonight's paper about something missing from a certain memorial Go on. Well, I call Hartford collect. They said to call you. Yeah, that's right Who is this? My name is not important dollar, but that ten grand reward is You think you can earn it? You meet me tonight. You'll see where in the alley behind a born whaling museum Be there at 9 30 and be alone Yeah, yeah, I got it Expense account item for 85 cents care fair for my hotel to the born wedding museum I don't like wandering around dark alleys at night alone in a strange town. It isn't the best way to stay alive But at 9 29 I passed the old whaling museum and started down the alley It was dark no moon and it was very quiet I was about 20 yards in from the street when I saw him curled up in a ball like he had a stomach ache only he didn't Because somebody had made him very dead. I Struck a match and turned him over I'd only seen him once before but I didn't have any trouble remembering where it had been Right after I checked in he'd knocked on my hotel room door by mistake. At least that's what he'd said After giving a statement of the local police who identified him. I went back to my hotel Yeah, say look, I know it's probably against all your rules, but who had my room just before I checked in Oh, I couldn't disclose that information, sir. Sorry. Oh, well so my It would mean a lot for me to know Maybe even five bucks worth. Well, I Well, sir, if it's that important Thank you Now let's see Yeah, yes here it is Can you read your signature mr. Dollar? Yeah, thanks Just fine The name I'd seen scroll on the hotel register wasn't important now At least not without something more to back it up There was no law against checking out of a hotel But there was a law against murder if it could be proven and that would be hard to do without finding a motive So I went back to the meek house to look for I paid off the taxi that's item five and started at the front steps might be you that's so I hope you aren't mad at me for the things I said today. No, no not at all I've been a very bad girl, but everything's going to be all right now. It is I haven't you heard what about dear old grandmother. She's had a real bad stroke expected to live You are a bit. Sorry. Are you would you be if you were me dollar? No, not a bit ball Trying to reach you at your hotel. Thank goodness. You've come here. Did Janice tell you? Yeah, how is she bad? Doctor's given up says it's only a matter of hours She told me to send for you mr. Dollar. Oh, I don't know why I've never been able to figure out a lot of things She did why where is she in there? Oh Pete's with her, but go on Oh, hey, she mr. Dollar my lady Hello, Mrs. Meek. Oh Thank you for coming mr. Doll. I go now. No, wait Mr. Dollar you have a moment, haven't you of course I promise Pete the last time I visited the museum I Promised I let him recite some of the things he's learned while working there Haven't been able to keep that promise till now Go on Pete, please Yes, my lady They here gave her the last full measure of devotion That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not ever died in vain That this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and Let the government over the people by the people for the people Shall not perish from here Thank you That was wonderful. Thank you my lady. No I go Well mr. Dollar, I have a confession to make to you. Yes, I Like to you. Oh, I'm sure it wasn't a very big lie. Mrs. Meek. Oh, but it was I Told you the business mr. Penrod and I were discussing the night of the burglar. Yes, I Told you it had nothing to do with you or the people you work for remember. Yes, it was a lie I'm broke I have left in the world is this house and the things in the memorial. I think That's why I sent for Jason Penrod He purchased most of my treasures for me He's evaluating them now So Paul and Janice will know what they're worth when they go to sell them Which they'll do immediately. Mrs. Meek. Don't you think you should try to rest now? Will you give me a cigarette? No, ma'am. Sorry, and you must rest I Isn't much else to do is there? Good night, mr. Dollar outside in the hall Paul and Janice Meek were talking quietly to Jason Penrod Often the corner standing with us back to the others was Pete Vesuvio Mr. Dora is she's resting quietly. Oh deal. God. Why did you lie to me Pete? What I never lie to nobody who say I did I say you did you're crazy, mr What lie I tell you said you learned the Gettysburg address right from mr. Lincoln's own writing in the museum That's a no lie. What's the matter? You don't believe that mr. I Believe you Pete, but I just had to be sure Come on. Let's join the other showy Well, good evening, mr. Dollar. Mr. Penrod Tell you any of the family secrets Johnny not too many you learn anything in there. You didn't know before yeah, I Know which one of you stole the Lincoln manuscript one of us why you're crazy doll We were all in the house at the time it happened. That's right But one of you hired a little man named Leo Jones to do your dirty work Jones called me earlier this evening. He was gonna tell me which one of you it was Evidently he didn't like the deal. He was getting what was he doing Penrod trying to blackmail you what are you talking about? I don't know any Leo John then why did he come around to my hotel room this morning the same room You just checked out of that doesn't mean a thing. I imagine several persons. They've been to that room today Sure, but they're still alive Now let's get to the phony Lincoln manuscript phony manuscript. It wasn't phony mr. Dollar wasn't it what you correct me if I'm wrong penrod After Mrs. Meek purchased one of the first two drafts of mr. Lincoln's Gettysburg address She started losing a sight When she closed the museum to the public you saw a chance to make yourself another hundred thousand dollar sale So you switch copies of the manuscript Replacing that graph with one containing the words under God Which isn't worth anything close to a hundred grand. What do you mean dollar? All right? Let me quote That this nation under God she'll have a new birth of freedom and so on what the phrase under God Was not in the manuscript. He sold your grandmother But it was in the copy old Pete has been studying in the museum Right, mr. Penrod all of you stay right where you are you get what Jones guy Mr. Dollar he won't go far Pete, but I am the guard the lady will want me to stop it. Hey, come back here Hey Better see senior Yes, Peter did the good You did fine Pete Vesuvio will live to apply for a second paper And in time probably open a spaghetti joint in New Bedford Penrod will be tried for murder as yet. He hasn't disclosed the name of the person who purchased the stolen manuscript But on time I am sure he will as for the Meeks Well, Mariah passed on later that night But as she said there was nothing left for her but to rest Expense account total including hotel and humor since the nettles $98 and 30 cents yours truly Johnny dollar