 On Hollywood, it's time now for Edmund O'Brien as Johnny Donald Philip Martin, Johnny, I've got a job for you. Fine, what is it? Mr. Carl Baskerville is insured with us. I've heard the name. Retired, wealthy. That's the best way. His brother is the beneficiary. Baskerville called us a little while ago and said he wanted the money to go to a charity in case of his death. What made him change his mind? He thinks his brother is out to kill him. That's Johnny. What do you want me to do? He's insured for a half a million, Johnny. You just made me a bodyguard. At least until we found out how true Baskerville's story is. We did some checking. Six years ago, he sent his brother William to prison for absconding with company funds. William was released from state prison a week ago. Ah, that's where I've heard the name. I remember the case. Oh, it's a strange setup. Sends his brother to jail, names him as beneficiary, wants a change because he says his brother's going to kill him. Cain and Abel really started something, didn't they? Edmund O'Brien in the transcribed adventure of the man with the action-fact expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to a home office, Columbia All-Risk Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Baskerville matter. Expense account item 13887, frame fare and incidentals between Hartford and New York after receiving from you the necessary information concerning Mr. Carl Baskerville. Expense account item 2750, cab fare between Grand Central and Baskerville's home on Long Island. The house was set back from the road hidden by tall trees and surrounded by several acres of well-kept lawns and gardens. I walked up the long gravel path to the front door and knocked. I lit a cigarette and waited. The afternoon sun was warm on the back of my neck and the air smelled of wet grass and bright flowers. Yes? I turned around to see the biggest man since Goliath. He was close to seven feet and must have weighed in at about 280. He was nice-looking and wearing a well-cut blue suit, probably made from the best part of a tent. Can I do something for you? Bend over. I'm getting a stiff neck. I'm Johnny Dollar. I'm here representing... Oh, yes, Columbia All Risk. They called and said you were on your way. I'm Mr. Baskerville's personal secretary. Mr. Baskerville is expecting you. The big man led the way through the big house through the big French door that opened on the big garden. Carl Baskerville was sitting in a chair feeding the birds. He was reaching his late fifties with the sour look of a man that didn't want to. As he tossed the breadcrumbs out on the gravel walk, a big diamond on his little finger flashed in the sun. Um, Mr. Baskerville. Uh-huh. Oh, Collins. Who's that with you? The man from the insurance company. Pull up a chair and sit down, you man. Thanks. What's your name? Dollar and Johnny Dollar, Mr. Baskerville. Ah, it's your company called, you know. I'm just feeding you little birds. Yeah, birdie. Birdie! I've been doing it for some time now. Well... Well, do you stand around for Collins? I want to talk to Mr. Dollar in private. Oh, yes, yes. If you need me, I'll be in the study. I won't, Mr. Baskerville. Yes. Not tall as he. Six feet nine inches. He's been with me for some time. I've been retired for five years, Mr. Dollar. I always wanted to spend my afternoons in the garden feeding the birds. I used to get up at six and go to work and have breakfast and look out of that window right over there. I used to see the little birds. I always said that someday I'd spend my afternoons out here feeding the little fellow. Glad you made it. Well, thank you. Mr. Baskerville, I was sent here. I know where you were sent. Sit down! Mr. Dollar, I'm fifty-seven. I spend most of my life making money, making a successful living. Making a success of myself. Success in terms of what you consider successful. That's an interesting statement. No, is it? Why do you say that? How do you know what I consider the norm of success? Isn't money important to you? Sure, it has to be. How important? Very, but not all important. What else is important to you, Mr. Dollar? A lot of things. Don't be basic. Tell me something. A philosophy. Oh, I see. What kind of a philosophy? Not taking people for granted. Oh, I see. Here, you feed the birds for long. Go on, go on, go on. Makes you feel real good. Good. Here, birdie. Birdie. Oh, that's fine. Get all over that one. He thinks he's a presence. Ah, yes, he's agree when he always does that. A lot like people, aren't they? Hmm. I suppose you know about my brother, Mr. Dollar? William Baskerville, worked for you six years ago. Supposedly, he took some company funds. Definitely took some. One hundred thousand dollars. Sent to state prison for ten years. Was paroled last week after serving six. You're insured with Columbia oil risk for a half million, and your brother is the beneficiary. That is correct. Now you want to change. That is again correct. Want to tell me some more about your brother? No, your company's worried. Is that it? Half million dollars worth. I suppose you consider it strange I'd send my brother to prison, then make him my beneficiary. I guess strange is a good word. I don't particularly care if you believe this or not, but I hated to prosecute my brother. But he was guilty, and it became more than just a family matter. There were stockholders to be considered, and his guilt was discovered before I could do anything. You're not feeling very... I'm out of crumb. Oh, well, here, here, take some. Thank you. Now, feed that little fella. He's a timid one. He doesn't get as much as you are. You know you're right about them being like people, but timid ones never get enough, and generally fall, by the way, sir. You made your brother your beneficiary, and now you want to change it. Well, only as a precaution. With my money out of the way, perhaps William will think twice before he attempts anything foolish. I'm having my will change, too. You see, I originally left my entire estate to him. What makes you think he might try? This must have... I spent five years hitting you when I learned to trade. I used to drawing blueprints for your shroud. And William always did go for the idramatic. When did you get this? I got it yesterday. It's the first I've heard from William since he left prison. Well, he'll never get a pull-out or a wand. And William always did go in for the idramatic. Since boyhood, he's been with my get-up-and-go. He never got along. And there's really too much for my poor mother. She died very young. Probably overworked from knitting straight jackets. Don't be flippant, young man. That was uncalled for. Yeah, I guess it was. I have a strange habit of getting flippant when I get confused. I'm confused, Mr. Baskerville. Well, William is the last of the Baskervilles. Hothead, childish, weak, and insecure. But he's a Baskerville. If he kills me, he'll be caught. If he doesn't gain by my untimely death, he may reconsider. I still have hopes of a reconversion, Mr. Baskerville. The regeneration of a Baskerville? If you will. Perhaps when he calms down and forgets his last six years, we'll talk. And then I plan on renaming him as my swole. Are you still confused, Mr. Donner? You haven't contacted him? I told you didn't know I was. Somebody out looking for him? Of course not. Why? Because I think somebody should be. If you're going to remove the temptation, it might be a good idea to inform William. How's he going to know he's been momentarily disinherited? Me? Yes, Mr. Baskerville? Well, I must admit. If you don't want to call the police, I'd suggest a private detective. Yes, but I'm telling how much time. It's better than feeding the birds. Can you think of anyone who might know where your brother is? Well, that's him. Is he a girl before William went to prison? I'm not even sure she's still in the yard. What's her name? Carter. Virginia Carter. Live someplace he lives. I only met her once, six years ago. And hire yourself a good private detective in a hurry and tell him about this Virginia Carter. She might know where William is. Well, all right. In the meantime, I'd recommend that the change of beneficiary be hurried up. Oh, I'm getting tired. I'm tired. I'm tired. I'm finished feeding my birds. Good day, Mr. Goddard. Oh, here. I had a few crumbs left over. Oh. Oh, OK. How about it? Sitting with his friends. He'd have one good deed to take along with him. I went back through the French doors and started back through the house. I got as far as the hallway. It's a basketball. Oh, swell. He was sitting in the chair with a bullet hole just over his heart. His head was resting on his chest. He felt the breadcrumbs in his hand. He seemed to be smiling like he knew he was going to be able to feed the birds for a long time. Mr. Baskerville. Mr. Baskerville. Good Lord. Where were you? What? Where were you? In the library. I heard the shot. I saw William where? Over there at the far end of the garden. He had a gun. He turned and ran. That's poor homicide. Lieutenant, this is Johnny Donald. I've got a killing for you. Oh. I'm out at the Baskerville estate. Baskerville? He used to be Carl Baskerville. He was shot a few minutes ago in his garden. No, William did it. I saw William with a gun. What? Baskerville's secretary says he saw William Baskerville with a gun. Brother, why don't you just get out of the estate? That's right. I'm here because Carl thought William was going to kill him. He showed me a letter. Holy... A letter? Get out here. I think I just made the mistake of my career. I shut Collins aside and ran back out in the garden. Baskerville was still smiling and things looked about the same. I took my pockets and found what I was looking for. Nothing. The threatening letter from William was gone. I went back in the library faster than I'd come out. I remembered what Baskerville had said about a girl named Carter. I grabbed the phone book on a wild hunch and started looking up the Carter's and Greenwich. Only one Virginia in that part of town, so I said a quiet prayer to the guards that be. I visioned my employer's reaction when they found out their investigator had been on hand when they lost a cool half million and called a cab in the hopes that I might at least save half the face. I told Collins not to touch anything and await Lieutenant Brennitz. I messed down item three, $8.75 cab fare to Greenwich Village. It was a long shot, but it could be the same girl that had known Martin. I went up the stairs of an old brown stone and knocked on the door. When it finally opened, I got the quickest scalding in history. She was wearing something thin enough to make a silkworm hang himself. I bet you had a hard time finding something to wear in July. I'm not cold-blooded. That's on your mind. I'd like to know about William Baskerville. Oh, that one. I haven't seen him in years. Maybe you've got a picture of him? I've got lots of pictures. They might be one of them somewhere. Let's look through the whole flock. I've got lots of time. Before I let you in, you'd better tell me your name. I don't want you to steal anything from me. Honey, if anybody stole anything from you, they'd get their fingers burned off at the elbows. She opened the door and let me into the living room, sat down with shades withdrawn, and I had a hard time finding the couch. Pardon me. I'm flying blind here. Must have studied braille. How do we look at the pictures with a magic lantern? I thought maybe you wanted to relax a minute. Put something in a glass. I'll cool it down. I don't drink. Never keep the stuff around. It doesn't leave you much of a field. What do you major in? Cigarettes. Have one? Yeah. I haven't got a match. Just hold on to it. It'll light up. I think I'd better get the pictures. I'll be right back. I got a lonesome and a dark. I'll just be a second. Turn on the radio. Where is it? By your elbow. Oh. Pick it out myself. We can start with these. William isn't in this file. I've got lots more. They're not in a hurry, are you? Not a bit. Good. We'll smite run into overtime. We will return you to yours truly, Johnny Dollar and Dustin Moment. This is open right off to adventure with CBS Radio every Saturday night. That's when most of these same stations bring you the Gene Autry show and Bill Boyd as Hop along Cassidy. Wrestlers don't stand a chance. Crooks of the range go down under fire when those two riders for justice, Gene Autry and Hop along Cassidy empty their holsters. Enjoy their latest adventures tonight on CBS Radio. Now with our star Edmund O'Brien we bring you the second act of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Virginia Carter wasn't worried about working late. There was only one trouble with the job. It was tough keeping my mind on two things at once. It was like trying to read a mail or a catalog in front of a blast furnace. She sat close to me and handed me one picture at a time describing each guy in the photographs. I'd seen draft boards with smaller clientele. Several times she stopped and looked at one of the pictures, smiled and passed the guy to me. I was going to mention no snapshot I had of myself when she tapped one of the collection with a polished fingernail. William Basterden. Here he is. Figured to be sooner or later. How long ago is this taken? I couldn't say exactly, but... I guess about six years. You should keep a file. William was a nice guy. He had money. Showed me a good time. What else do you know about him? He had a brother with a checking account for rocks. William have any unusual habits? A few. They wouldn't help you find him. Well... I remember something. He used to play the saxophone. Hobby? No, not exactly. He played around town. He'd sell us small bands. He used to pick me up after work and we'd go to a dive someplace and he'd sit in. He loved it. He was a nut on jazz. You make money at it? I guess so. Before he went to work for his brother. I don't think his brother liked him playing. Okay, honey. Thanks. I'll stop around again sometime. Take a look at your pollen. Must have been a nice soft web. Why don't I take William with me? Not if you bring a picture back to yourself. Maybe I'll just bring a camera. You can take it yourself. Good. That's why I keep the room so dark. I hated to leave when my hair was already curly enough. She had given me one lead. William was a musician of sorts and sometimes he made money at it. I started across the street to catch another cab and I was halfway there when I heard the car. It was an old trick. You drive by fast, open your door, and if anyone is in the way, he winds up with a face full of automobile. I ducked in a hurry. We thought about chasing him but he was so far down the street I couldn't even get the license. Spent a car out of four, three dollars and thirty-five cents. Another cab to local 802 of the musician's unit. I went in and a little short guy with a twitch looked up at me from behind a big desk. Yeah, something I could do for your props. That twitch? Yeah. Too much pop. You know William Baskerville, play sax? How'd you get a card? He makes money. Well, if he ain't, he better have. See if he does. I'm an old friend and I'd like to get in touch with him. Between twitches, he found what I was looking for. William had just renewed his card. It didn't show a home address but his mail was being sent to one of the swing joints on 52nd Street. I said thanks and left the little man in the middle of a twitch. Spent a car out of five, three dollars and eighty-five cents, still another cab to the address on 52nd Street. Oh, terrible, huh? I'm looking for William Baskerville. Baskerville? He plays the sax. Yeah, he left there as one of the musicians. I don't pay no attention to the music. Told them that. Thanks. Can I bother you for a minute? No, but you can talk to me. Move and lean on the piano. No William Baskerville? Sure. He blows here. Where is he? He's off tonight. He got a phone call and took off. Why? I want to find him. He took off. He left rehearsal and just took off. Was he headed someplace? Sure. Everybody's headed someplace. You can't go nowhere without heading someplace. I never quite looked at it that way. What time did he leave? About 4.30. What do you want Willie for? I got a message for him. You cop? What makes you think so? I don't think so. I'm just asking. I just thought maybe, not for sure. What? What do you mean what? How do you feel? Oh, the end. Sometime when I got the patience, I'll tell you all about it, but don't bug me now. Here's five. Come down and tell me where William Baskerville is. I'll take the five, but I'm staying right where I am. I like you. I may cry. You're putting me on now. You've got my five. Five? Oh, yeah. What did it buy you? An address. Crazy. I want William Baskerville. Okay, I can't make this much longer anyway. 69 East 12th Street. Thanks. Solid. Expense account item 6, cab number 4, 75 cents to the home of Brother Baskerville. I climbed the stairs of a beat-up building, stopped at a door on the third floor. According to the landlord, Brother Baskerville's room is on the other side. I tried my knuckles again and put my ear to the door. I couldn't figure it out at first. It was a strange sound, the light scraping like a rope over the wood. I tried the door. I've been right on both counts. It was rope and it was rubbing on wood. Because Brother Baskerville was making the sound effects, but he was doing it the hard way. He was on one end of the rope, hanging by his neck. He was turning slowly like a weather vane in a soft breeze. The chair was tipped over at his feet and there was a phone on the table. There was an optical lieutenant-premise. When I looked at the dead man again, and my stomach jumped up and kicked my mind into high gear. I walked back to him and picked up the chair. What I saw through the suicide area right out of the window. If he had used the chair to stand on, he would have still needed a ladder just to tie the rope to the rafters. I've seen a couple of guys that hang themselves, but never won the jump four feet in the air to do it. I shoved the chair under him just to make sure. He cleared it by a good foot. He's tied up right now. Who is this? A guy would have to be congenitally deaf to Miss Virginia Carter's lovely voice. She'd been lying when she told me she didn't know where William lived, and I just have a natural aversion to lying women, especially when they're mixed up and are murdered. He spends a count of item seven, cab fare, one dollar and fifty-five cents back to Greenwich in Virginia Carter's dark room. Oh, Mr. Darley, could you bring me a camera? We'll play spin the bottle some other time. How'd you know my name? You gave it to me this afternoon. You're a bad liar. I'm coming in. Oh, now, wait a minute. I'm expecting someone. If it's who I think it is, you better hide all the rope in the house now. Move it. Oh. You heard from Collins yet? I don't know what you're talking about. Only two people have lied to me today. You and Collins. You told me you didn't know where William lived and you called him ten minutes ago. Collins said he saw William standing in the garden with a gun, and a musician told me William didn't leave rehearsal until 4.30. I didn't leave the basketball home until 4. Get out of here. I don't know anybody named Collins. Okay, but Collins just killed William Baskerville. He strangled him first and then stood on a chair and hung the body to a rafter. How do you know it was Collins? Because he forgot he's a foot taller than most guys. He gave William a boost, but he left him hanging too high. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. He just left William waiting for oxygen. He didn't say anything about killing, William. I want to get out of this man. And slow down and tell me everything you know. Well, I met him with William. William introduced me to him one night. After William went to prison, I started seeing Collins and he told me that he'd been in some kind of a deal with William. He'd stolen some money and that was why William went to prison. He went up and was supposed to split with Collins when he got out. So William came back and wanted to share and Collins killed him, right? I didn't know he was going to kill him. He poured some kind of a letter so that it would look like it came from Martin. That's where the letter came from. He was going to kill Carl Baskerville and blame it on William. He didn't say anything about killing anybody. He killed him and sold the letter. It looked like William had killed him and taken the letter to hide the motive. Listen, Mr. Dollar. Collins must have come in through the kitchen and started shooting. She went down like a dialer with a bend and died on her face. He was trying for me when I jumped to one side and knocked over the only light burning in the room. He came close, but the flash of his gun gave him away and I threw enough lead to fill a sink. Collins stumbled back into the kitchen, but he was dragging. I heard him drop and I moved in after him. The moonlight slanted down through one of the windows and splashed out on a hard floor. He was lying on his back, like he wanted to get that far anyway. You'd better give it up, Collins. Forget it, forget it. No reason to kill you now. Before you close your eyes, tell me something. All right. It won't take too long. Why didn't you go out and get William yourself? Why wait until I found him? Couldn't take the chance. I knew the old man would have somebody. Start looking sooner or later. I killed him in the garden because I knew you'd make a good whip. Probably go looking for Virginia after he told you about her. You called her and told her to tell me everything she knew. That's right. Wanted you to find him so. Like a suicide. You nearly got away with it. You just forgot how tall you were when you hanged William. You tried to run me down? No. I just wanted to scare you. Make you think it was William. I'll call an ambulance. It should be rain enough. It's a nice night to die. Not a cloud in the sky. It's a beautiful night. I can't use it. But I'll give it to you. I called Brenner's and he came over with his boys and cleaned it up. Virginia, the girl with the robes gallery, was dead. Collins wasn't long catching up. It was pretty simple. Collins and young Baskerville had taken 100,000 from the brother's company and William was caught. He did six years knowing that when he got out there would be 50,000 waiting. In the meantime, Collins had his girl and enough time to think that 100,000 was better if it wasn't split in the middle. Collins framed William with a letter and then started killing. He spent a count item 8, $23.45 dinner and incidentals covering the rest of the night up to the bar's clothes. He spent a count item 9, $10. A massage and steam bath. Item 10, another cab to Grand Central, 65 cents. Item 11, $38.35 train fare and incidentals back to Hartford. He spent a count total of $137.27. Collins, murder isn't so bad. A ride in any New York cab makes a killing look like a Sunday school taffy pool. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar stars Edmund O'Brien in the title role and was written by Blake Edwards with music by Wilbur Hatch. Edmund O'Brien can soon be seen starring in the Paramount Pictures Technicolor production, Silver City. Featured in tonight's cast were Stacey Harris, Bill Boucher, Howard McNeer, Sydney Miller and Virginia Gregg. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar is transcribed in Hollywood by Jaime Delvalle. This is Dan Covelly inviting you to join us next week at this time when Edmund O'Brien returns as yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Edmund O'Brien again. I'd like to speak to you for a moment about one of the most important duties of American citizens. Today every American has an opportunity to share in our common defense effort and right now this opportunity has become a duty for all of us. The armed forces of the United States need blood, our blood. The Korean campaign has gravely depleted the supply on hand and this must be replenished if we are to afford our servicemen the protection they are giving us. No matter what your age, sex or station in life, you can contribute to American defense by donating a pint of your blood to the men of your army, navy, air force or marines. Call your local blood donor center or Red Cross chapter today for an appointment. Remember, your donation of blood may save the life of a wounded serviceman. Give your blood today to save a life tomorrow. Grandmothers are due to arrive in force to add complications to the already busy existence of America's favorite teenager. This invasion of grandmothers is scheduled for tomorrow evening and you meet Coralus Archer on most of these same CBS radio stations. Listen for the family fun with Coralus and all her friends tomorrow night. Stay tuned now for the Vaughn Monroe show which follows immediately over most of these same stations. And remember, true actions fans never miss a case with gangbusters Saturday night on the CBS radio network.