 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Good I want to talk to you. Are you at your home? I am Okay, then stay right there, and I'll be able to see you. Why don't you send the police instead? What's that supposed to mean a few minutes ago in Mrs. Van Pytons library before you kicked me out You practically accused me of the murderer for a nephew. Did I well didn't show didn't show all right Ronnie Just calm down and stay put until I can get over there You mean you want afraid I might try to take a powder as you high-handed detectives like to put it you mean you want worried that Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the Philadelphia mutual liability and casualty company Following is the final report in my investigation of the lair Douglas Douglas of Heather's scope matters The whole case started out almost as a lark when I discovered that I'd come to Philadelphia to act as bodyguard to lair Douglas Douglas and For a fat fee and virtually unlimited expense accounts me bodyguard to a dog But it seems to be funny when I learned that the dogs two previous caretakers have been murdered and When only a few hours ago an attempt was made on my life that ended with the death of young Warren Staley Yes, mr. Dollar. I see I guess I was so upset by the death of my nephew that I I didn't realize the attempt was really made on your life The second attempt mrs. Van python what shortly after I arrived in Philadelphia Somebody planted a booby trap in my suitcase in my hotel room good heavens. No, and you think that Ronald Kenworthy did that too Well, what do you think? Yes Now that poor dear Warren is gone There's nothing to prevent the Kenworthy estate from achieving control of the van python holdings that is if I were to die Go on upon the death of Harrison Kenworthy the whole financial Empire would be inherited by his son Ronald So I understand Ronald and he would be the wealthiest the most powerful man financially in the United States Ronald who pretended to be Warren's best friend Who pretended to love me? It's a terrible thought isn't it apparently adds up though doesn't it? There is no question of it, but what evidence have you none yet Then I'll help you get it and I can do it. Mr. Dollar I may appear to be only a wealthy foolish old woman who doubts on her pet layer Douglas But I'm not I must shoot shrewd and clever Since Peter my husband died I alone have managed this estate this financial Empire I use the word again with my money with my oh Yes, I can do it mr. Dollar and Ronald will be made to pay for these terrible things that he's done. I Admire your confidence nothing no one can stand in my way you'll see I'm only sorry that a few minutes ago. You didn't keep him here make him face it I'm going to see him now. Oh where at his home. I understand the estate. It joins this one. Yes But please look out for him shoot first mr. Dollar What? Because now he may act like the cornered rat that he is I Decided to walk across to the Kenworthy estate and the hope to fresh air would help clear my thoughts Logical is it all seemed I didn't like what I just heard Then luck pure unadulterated luck As I walked across the broad lawn between the main house and the gate house I passed the garage building with its Rolls Royce two Cadillacs in a station wagon and then I saw him Andy Laforte alias Andrew Fortune alias Andrew Ford one of the cleverest second-story men in the country with a record on the West Coast as long as your arm a man who would do anything for money He was happy going through the motion of dusting off a car. I walked past quickly not sure whether he'd notice me or not I hope not For it was one of his ilk who'd had to plant the booby trap in my hotel room Who could have slipped the poison into the liquor that killed Warren staley? I turned in at the gatekeepers house Dollar I saw you at the question. I want to tell a long quick Thanks operator. Get me central police emergency Man there in the garage polishing cars. How long has he been here? What does he do oh the driving for Mrs. Van Peyton, but there's something go. Oh, give me lieutenant Howard homicide After warning the old gatekeeper that I'd have his head if he said anything to anyone above my phone call I left by the back door and went over to the Kenworthy mansion where young Ronald was waiting for me I must say before we go any further that I resent the way you ordered me out of the van Peyton house a few minutes ago. Yeah, well, I'm sorry whether you suspect me or expect me to help you in this case It was Lonnie you knew Warren staley very well. We were the closest of friends confidence. All right Just how much did he really care about the van Peyton estate fortune? Whatever you want to call it to put it bluntly. He wanted none of it And I'm afraid his aunt rather resented it. Why do you say that because her whole life? She's been obsessed by an almost overwhelming lust for power When Warren finally rebelled against this she tried not to show it, but she hated him for it Unlike my father. Oh, I feel as Warren felt and my father and I together have been laying the groundwork board Disappating the Kenworthy estate into corporate setups that will benefit many instead of just us Does that sound strange to you? It sounds like true philanthropy if you mean it you must believe me it is and I do mean it Oh, I won't suffer. Of course. I'll still retain some control here and there But I'll have to work at it instead of just carrying on the tradition of the idle rich I'll be a man. I Hope you're telling me the truth Ronnie. I believe you are and I'd like to meet your father. You will Needless to say it was much harder for him to break from this tradition of financial power than for me So perhaps you can see why I admire him above all other men Anything else? I'll see you later. I Was worried about you mr. Dollar going over there to see Ronald Kenworthy alone after all that has happened Yes, you should have been mrs. Van Pyton Especially if you notice that I passed by the garage on the way What I happen to notice someone there and I think it answered a lot of questions for me It was Andy Laforte Andrew my private chauffeur is that all he is or do you know him mr. Dollar? Look, I took on this case mrs. Van Pyton because you offered me a fee too good to be turned down and an almost Unlimited expense account you haven't answered. I should have got wise then and there But I thought your great passion for your dog was just an amusing foible of an immensely wealthy kind of foolish old lady Oh layer Douglas is a dear one. Isn't he? Why mr. Dollar? Let me add things up a Few minutes ago. You told me that thanks to your wealth and a very sharp clever mind You'd let nothing stand on the way of anything you chose to do please mr. Dollar. I don't think I understand all right You made a contract with Harrison Kenworthy that you'd marry him when and if layer Douglas beat that pup of his at the dog show And apparently silly sort of thing yet everybody believed it But the real reason for marriage to him was solely to acquire control of his holdings increased this financial empire of yours very subtle Kept you looking like a cute whimsical old lady. Why this is the most absurd thing. I ever heard so I thought at first But let me go on oh, please do when you realize that layered Douglas wasn't ready to beat that dog of his Rather than admit defeat rather than lose the chance to make this marriage you ordered the murder of the dogs handlers Then the contract was still enforced just delayed I won't listen to such terrible things you'll listen whether you like it or not You learned that Kenworthy and his son were planning to dissipate their fortune and thereby put it beyond your reach Mr. Dollar on top of this your own nephew Warren wanted to do the same with your estate This was too much what you have said is too much then by the time I arrived you learned from an expert Ray Rollin That your dog would never stand a chance against Kenworthy's So you wouldn't dare let him compete at least until you'd hooked Kenworthy some other way and part of your whole scheme was to build up Evidence of attempts against you through the dog, of course, though. I'll bet you actually hate the mutt no That's not true anyhow from the moment I talked to Ray Rollin I was only in the way so you tried to get rid of me had somebody booby-trapped my luggage You have no proof Andy Lafort this so-called chauffeur of yours would do anything for money And I fully intend to break him down and make him admit you hired him as a killer listen Listen to me on the second try the poison liquor your nephew Warren got it instead of me fine fine another obstacle out of your way After all he had opposed you mr. Dollar How much do you want I can make you financially independent then you set your sights on Ronald Kenworthy He was trying to break up the other Empire you wanted to get your hands on you even hope that somehow I might help you shoot First you said you don't understand I was just what plans you had for his old man and that walk twisted brain of yours I don't know but I'm sure you had plans Well lady now it's too late. No Mr. Dollar No, it isn't too late. Stay away from that drawer You'd even shoot somebody down with your own hand if you thought it necessary wouldn't you but it isn't necessary mr. Dollar Huh? Are you sure it wouldn't be easier if I were just to give you say a hundred thousand dollars and Two hundred thousand All right Andrew right here, Mrs. Vanpite. Wow. Wow. Hello, Andy Got a license for that thing shut up Want me to do it now, Mrs. Van. Yes, Andrew What if the servants hit a shot hold it Donna? Don't worry Andrew. I'll take care of things Haven't I always for you? Yeah, yeah sure sure she'll take care of things while you're pulling that trigger she'll blast you down so fast You won't know what hit you make it look like we killed each other and leave her in the clear Why she's got a gun in that draw beside her and she'll use it. You hear me? I say quiet What you don't know is that she can't do without me But we can do without you all right Andy wait now listen with you Mrs. Van All right, Andrew Now Thanks, lieutenant. Oh Lieutenant Then you saw he was going to shoot down mr. Dollar. Yes. I heard to Mrs. Vanpite and bloody Oh, no, you don't understand mr. Dollar had come up here to talk to me I wanted to offer him a great deal of more money for his work for me I guess I almost didn't make it I keep talking to him so long got a cough drop is this buddy they have a little fortune. Oh shut up You heard him I Big your pardon clever shrewd astute You're just off your rocker You'd have to be I guess to start a thing like this in the first place Well, I guess by the time the estate and inheritance laws get properly applied the van python Empire will be spread around the way Warren wanted it Expense account item 10 2890 fair and incidentals back to Hartford total including fees 1113 dollars 40 cents remarks I'm glad I'm poor Yours truly Johnny dollar Now here's our star to tell you about next week's intriguing story next week an insurance swindle that really backfired The only trouble was it caught me right in the line of fire join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar Yours truly Johnny dollars starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote this week's story Heard in our cast were Jeanette Nolan Harry Bartel Byron Kane Jack Krushen Bill James James McCallion Ken Christie Dick Ryan Bert Holland Jack Edwards and high ever back musical supervision by a marigo marino Be sure to join us on Monday night same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking