 The signal oil program the whistler that whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler am 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 whistler Rated by independent research the most popular West Coast program in radio history And remember that every traffic signal remind you with new signal gasoline you do go farther than ever Look for the familiar big yellow and black circle sign that identifies those popular signal service stations in Seven Western states from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story The trigger man He was young brilliant confident. He had everything it takes to make a successful lawyer But no matter how you looked at it law school graduates were a dime a dozen Regardless of how brilliant and confident they were and Stella and the baby had to eat So that's why Martin Lane took his first case from Branch Malone the gambler and got an acquittal for him The first of a long line of acquittals Yes His old classmates threw up their hands said he was selling his soul to the devil But there was good money in it and he kept telling himself he had to get a start somewhere So he kept right on getting acquittals for Branch and the money kept rolling in But it had to end sometime Martin. There had to be a payoff eventually Gentlemen of the jury have you agreed upon a verdict? We have your honor. How do you find we find the defendant not guilty? Very well the clerk will record the verdict of the jury the defendant is discharged from custody Jury dismissed for the day court stands adjourned till tomorrow. Oh, Mr. Lane You wanted me your honor Yes, Mr. Lane, I wanted to compliment you on the way you handled the case. Well, I did my best your honor It was more than enough Is that also Mr. Lane, I Know it isn't any business of mine. What's that? There's something I'd like to caution you about. Oh, I don't like to see a clean-cut young fellow like you Getting mixed up regularly with an out-and-out criminal like Branch Malone. I Appreciate your interest in me your honor, but I'm afraid you're not impressed Is that it? You've got what it takes mr. Lane But I've seen it happen time and again The boy gets a start wants to go places gets mixed up with a criminal crowd And it's all over Is that all your honor? Yes, Lane, that's all very well. Good day. Good day. Oh, Lane. Oh, hello lieutenant. Congratulations. Thanks You know sometimes I'm sorry. I'm on the force. Yeah Yeah, fussing around with a small stuff like homicides when I could be doing some great work like you are uphold in the right Rushing to defend poor innocent little guys like Branch Malone. Well, it seems to be lecture day at the Hall of Justice Justice You can buy and sell it like a sack of potatoes. You better run along Radigan. I've got an appointment. Yeah Yeah, I saw him Malone the mighty he's waiting outside. We pay off. Okay, Radigan. I just a minute Martin I got a tip for you about cops Don't give us the brush off because one of these days you're gonna need us guys who play bang bang with the big boys usually do Suppose we make that our little thought for the day. All right Martin. It's all right Yes, Martin, you're on your way aren't you another acquittal another five hundred dollars in your pocket It doesn't matter much where it comes from does it his money's as good as anybody's And that night as you sit in the living room reading the paper you try and reason it through and file it away But it keeps coming back Stella Yes, Martin. There's anything wrong. No I thought something might be bothering you. No, there's nothing Martin. I Thought you'd be happy about the case and everything we can buy that dining room set now Yes, we can it was an easy case $500 for an afternoon's work. It's not bad No, not bad nothing to it states evidence was insufficient one of their witnesses didn't show up same as the time before Yeah, and they found the witness at the bottom of the river three days later I can't help that. No, I suppose you can't Stella you're not suggesting I drop him or you for years. I've sweated and struggled trying to make enough for you and Susan It's my business to defend him a lawyer isn't a criminal just because he defends a criminal That's right, isn't it? You're defending yourself now, aren't you now? Wait a minute. I'm not going through that again I've told you a hundred times. I'll get it. Hello. Oh, yes, French. What's up? Oh, gee, that's tough They're sure I'll be glad to Uh-huh They're sure I'll do it right away What does he want now? He wants me to meet a friend of his and rush him home. His boy was just run over Terrible. French isn't so good at this sort of thing. He wants me to tell the fella and take him home. That's funny Don't worry darling. You've just got the jitters. I'll be right back Just a little favor for branch Martin. It's the least you can do isn't it? The tavern's only a few blocks away and you arrive a few minutes later to find mr. Williams in a boot at the rear Are you mr. Williams, what do you want? I'm sorry. I'm afraid I had some bad news You are mr. Williams, aren't you? What's on your mind your son Lenny? Yeah, what's happened quick? Tell me I'll try to be calm mr. Williams He's had an accident, but what are you Lenny he was run over my Lenny How how did it happen? That's all I know about it. I'm terribly sorry. Where is he where is he? I've got to go to him. He's home. Oh Lord my poor Lenny if I can help you my car's right outside. Thanks. Come on. I Branch what are you doing here a little business deal Martin? All right, Williams get in no no branch. I'll get I'll give you every cent. I've got please branch I heard that before Get in I'll do anything you want honest, but put that away Don't make me. I'm all French. I won't get in search yourself Williams. Oh Get in Martin Hear what I said get in You're shot at my set get in I'll take the wheel You're sitting kind of quiet for a lawyer. I I can't understand it branch. It ain't that complicated for a man with your talent. I Put the finger on it Was he I thought I told you Martin he's the Witness who didn't show up this afternoon with the prologue of the trigger man the signal oil company brings you another strange tale by the Whistler You hear people say there's a reason for everything Well, there's certainly a reason why in just 14 years the signal oil Organization has grown from a mere handful of stations in Southern, California to almost 2,000 dealers serving seven western states from Canada to Mexico Briefly that reason is quality of product 14 years ago It was signal oil company that introduced the first guaranteed anti-knock gasoline at no extra price and since then Signal gasoline has been constantly improved to give you the benefit of every latest development in the automotive and petroleum industry In today's new signal gasoline for instance the atoms in gasoline molecules have actually been rearranged to create amazing new power Power that not only helps you enjoy quicker starting faster pickup and quiet her anti-knock performance from your car But also helps you go farther than ever on each gallon of signal So you see there's good reason for the swing to signal good reason for you to get acquainted soon with the friendly station in your Neighborhood displaying signals familiar yellow and black circle sign And now Back to the Whistler. Oh Martin. You've discovered something. Haven't you the judge and radical even Stella tried to tell you But you couldn't understand until now It happened so suddenly that it stunned you Williams is dead and you put the finger on him didn't you acted as messenger boy for branch Malone Stood by him like one of his gunman while he pulled the trigger and There's nothing you can do to make it right again Nothing you can say to the murdered man's wife or her son or Stella Martin where have you been past midnight? I've been worried sick Just a little business Stella You better go back to bed matter Martin your white as a sheet nothing What was it? Tell me nothing. I said I just had a talk with Brian. That's all Oh Go to bed There's only one thing to do now. Isn't there Martin you're walking down a one-way street and there's no way to turn back You're part of the organization now one of branches boys his counselor and the only witness living Who could put a rope around his neck and you know exactly how branch feels about that kind of a witness So there's nothing to do but keep your mouth shut and hope for the best you can't face Stella the next morning at the breakfast table So you leave the house before she wakes and go down to the office No one's there you try and concentrate on your work, but it's no use Go down to the coffee shop and try to eat, but you're not hungry Walk in the park for a while over to the library. You can't get your mind off of it. Can you? Finally at 11 o'clock you returned and find your secretary waiting I've been trying to get you all morning. Mr. Lane. There was a call from mr. Malone. What? When about an hour ago? He wants you to see him. All right Where at his club at the Hall of Justice? He was booked this morning on suspicion of murder What happened branch? I thought you might know counselor. What do you mean? It was a tip-off last night. What yeah? Know anything about it. Oh, wait a minute branch. Don't look at me. Well, you don't think I didn't say nothing Well, that's the night be crazy to do anything like that branch. Sure you would That's what I told spike Spike my trigger man Martin Don't believe you ever met spike. Did you know? Nice guy to have on your side when you're in a spot We were trying to figure out if any witnesses might have been around last night any besides you. I mean What's the matter counselor? Nothing. It's Just been a little tough on me branch. Sure Yeah You know how I feel about witnesses Martin listen believe me. I'm not gonna talk. I won't say anything That's what I told spike What do you mean and spike? He said to me don't worry if they pick you up boys Where there's no witnesses There's no case You can figure that one out for yourself counselor, but Brad won't be any prosecution witnesses Martin because you're the only one And you ain't gonna be on the witness stand You're gonna defend me just like before Only this time spikes gonna be real interested in how you're doing Get it Lane oh It's you reticent didn't mean to scare you like that Martin a little jumpy aren't you what do you want? Get it all settled with a big boy. I heard you just had a chat with him down his cell He put the heat on I'm sorry reticent. I haven't got time to say yeah Yeah, I know you're a busy man You haven't got time to think about little things like a guy suddenly not showing up at home and his wife trying to explain it It was kid What does your wife think of that Martin? What does she think when she looked at your kid? Okay Speak my little piece I just want to tell you you're playing with dynamite this time, sonny Your friend knows all his blue chips are on the table and whoever put the finger on Williams in that bar is the guy who's gonna hang him And this time so help me the witness won't disappear What are you getting at retigan I think you know enough about this case to hang Malone And I think you'll come through for us when you do It's gonna be dangerous Why are you telling me all this I want you to know why I'm putting a tail on you what one of my men Is gonna watch you day and night and if you know what's good for you you won't try and give him a slip Is this for my protection right? Like I said Martin this time the witness isn't gonna disappear That puts it up to you doesn't it Martin you can take your choice Go along with branch and toss the rest of your life into the ash can Or tell what you know and face spike later in a dog alley somewhere Spike will be there too woody Martin And you won't have a chance Because you don't know him from Adam all you know is that he's never miss yet That when branch gives him the order the witness disappears you can't eat you can't sleep Worst of all you can't explain to Stella Martin yes What are you going to do? Oh, will you forget it Stella? He's my client. I've got to defend him. Do you course I do Hi Martin, you know he's guilty. Why must you involve yourself in it further? You've got a right to turn him down. He doesn't all please will you let me alone a compass if you defend him You're as guilty as he is Where are you going out? Come on Joe. We may as well be sociable. I'm sorry. Mr. Radigan told me One away doesn't tell me these things By the way, my name isn't Joe. What is it Ed Morris? Okay, Ed. I saw you following me all afternoon. I thought you did I Thought I'd walk around the block that is if you don't mind why not Your boss would get a bang out of this I suppose walking around together this way He just said to keep an eye on you. He didn't care how Is that all he said? That's all Radigan thinks you're a pretty good kid so what I Supposed to toss away the biggest case of my life just because he thinks I'm a good kid the guy's guilty and you know it What do you mean? I know it if you didn't know it. I wouldn't be here You better stick to your gum showing it. Okay. Hey, there's a bar down the street. I don't want to go on any bars Maybe it's just this bar Maybe because it's the one where we did you hear what I said. I don't want to go on any bars All right Martin, I've changed my mind about taking a walk. I think I'll go home Yes, Martin, you're on a one-way street a blind alley There's no way to turn now and there's a blank wall at the end. You've got to take the case It's more than a matter of right and wrong Yes, Martin at this point its life or death So you go to work on it visit branch every day in his cell spend nights at the office preparing the case plugging loopholes Anticipating points the prosecution is sure to bring out Making it another sure thing for branch. You have two weeks until the arrangement and branch wants bail Two weeks without sleep for getting to eat until you're almost ready to crack And worst of all you can't tell Stella There's no way to make her understand and then suddenly on the night before the arrangement You can't hold out on her any longer Martin Martin darling, you've got to tell me you can't go on this way. Please Stella There's nothing Are you afraid to tell me? No, I why did you lie to me Martin? Why did you tell me you had nothing to do with the murder? Williams was the man you met that night wasn't listen Stella. You've got to forget it. Please don't even you're afraid. All right All right, I'll tell you I'm the witness. I'm the only one who can hang branch Radigan knows it. They all do but they have no proof That's why that guy's always waiting for me across the street. He's a guard All I have to do is open my mouth, and I'm dead But if that's all there was to it, I wouldn't worry see it's you too and Susan Don't you see he won't stop at anything Spike Robertson's waiting for me somewhere waiting for me to open my mouth And if I do the guard won't make any difference bike won't stop until he gets us all Martin I well now you know it You were right all of you But it's too late now so you're going to defend him and let it happen again and again Martin I want you to stand up the arraignment tomorrow and tell them everything Don't be ridiculous take our chances Martin Susan and you and I it has to be that way dear if we don't there's nothing left Don't you see? No, I'm afraid I don't know you'd better go into bed dear You're gonna do big things together Martin You're a smart boy branch. Yeah Branch what if I told you that when I get you out of this arraignment and this jam It was gonna be the last time But if I get you out of this one, we're all washed up What do you mean if Martin all right when I get you out of this one? How long you've been thinking this over? Oh, I don't know is I don't like it Martin You just don't run out on this kind of a partnership Not when a guy knows as much as you do. I'm not gonna talk if that's what's worrying you. Oh, you're wrong Martin I ain't worried Okay, it's the last time if you want it that way Course you won't be taking cases from anyone else either, but You say it's the last time there's nothing I can do but What do you mean branch I Ain't in charge of ending partnerships Martin I Leave that up to spike So you go into the courtroom Martin and half Lossicution as you think about the one-way street with spike waiting at the end Stella as they are watching you her face white and tense branch Confident half smiling the rest of them radical the judge the jury are looking at you waiting Wondering what you'll say when the time comes Then finally it comes and you find yourself on your feet going into your act remind the court that the so-called evidence Presented by the prosecution is neither Circumstantial evidence nor is it direct evidence? It's nothing gentlemen, but suspicion based simply on the fact that It is alleged that my client had ample and sufficient motive to To She's not looking at you now Martin. She's bent over her face in her hands Radigan is turning away that judge is looking down at the bench Williams connection has yet to be demonstrated to the satisfaction of either the state or Or I Can't go on your honor I ask that the court disqualify me as counsel for the defense and Offer myself as principal witness for the prosecution Martin darling, I knew you'd do it kid. I knew it. Thanks, Radigan Thanks. It's a new world, isn't it Martin? There's a different feel to the sidewalk under your feet as you start home late that night after filing your statement with the district attorney's office The streets are bare and deserted Just you and Ed Morris Radigan's guard Well, I missed you when I left the courthouse Ed. I was there. Don't worry It looks like you've got a job on your hands now. I'm ready That was quite a thing you pulled. I thought my loan was gonna pass out in his chair. Oh You know, it's funny Ed and now that it's over. I'm not scared at all. They sent two men along with your wife Stay guard at your house, you know. Yeah This the car yeah up in That's right Spike the whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending of tonight's story Meantime a question How much longer will your car last? Well, the answer to that question depends pretty much on the care your car gets That's why the extra care of signal double-check lubrication is really more important to you now than ever before You see when your signal dealer lubricates your car in order to make doubly sure that not a single part can be missed He uses the famous signal check chart on which the maker of your car shows every lubrication point and Your signal dealer checks each point against this chart not just once but twice to make double-sure What's more he uses nine special types of signal lubricants so each part on your car gets the exact type of protection it needs Yes, there is a difference in a signal double-check lubrication a difference that can spell longer trouble-free miles for your car If it's been a thousand miles or two months since last lubrication There's no better life assurance You can give your car that to drive into one of the friendly stations displaying signals yellow and black circle sign For a signal double-check lubrication And now back to the whistler Well Martin branch didn't waste any time did he two shots and your guard lies dead at your feet You look at the killer standing in front of you the gun still smoking in his hand. There's nothing you can do no way to turn 10 maybe 15 minutes left to live long enough for him to take you to a lonely spot on the highway and Make another witness disappear Then strangely you'll find yourself thinking of the deposition safe in the district attorney's office and Stranger still you discover you still aren't afraid No use checking him. He's dead. Yeah, I don't miss very often. Oh What do we do now? Maybe we better get in the car and hustle him over to the morgue What are you talking about? That's what we usually do with his diffs But I don't get it spike spike Yeah You know radigan was putting a tail on you didn't you? Well sure I did but that's me Stanley DA's office The guy in the gutter you've been palling around with for two weeks is spike Next Monday at 9 o'clock the whistler will bring you another strange tale The whistler is broadcast for your entertainment by the marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality Automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer This program produced by George W. Allen Written by Harold Swanton from an idea by Robert and Beatrice Gruskin Music by Wilbur hatch is transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program the whistler This is Marvin Miller speaking reminding you to look for those familiar yellow and black circle signs That identify those popular signal oil stations in seven western states from Canada to Mexico This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System