 The signal oil program The whistler that whistle is your signal for the signal oil program The whistler I am the whistler and I know many strange 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 signal oil program the whistler Rated by independent research the most popular West Coast program in radio history and Signal gasoline is tops to tops in quality It takes extra quality, you know to give you extra mileage and signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly dealer owned signal service stations from Canada to Mexico And now the whistler strange story Ambassador of death The majority of the guests in mrs. Helena Forsythe's elegant drawing room looked upon the party for what it was a highly important marker in the washington social season Her guest list was virtually a who's who of the government elite of foreign dignitaries and the syndicated columnists who recorded their comings and goings But to Gerald Sanders Consular officer in the diplomatic service. It was even more than this mrs. Forsythe was charming She was a widow and her influence extended well beyond social affair. I've been looking for you Oh, mrs. Forsythe I was about to pay my respects You'll forgive me mr. Sanders, but you know when you came in this evening. It started me reminiscing Oh, how so we're old friends as well as old-timers in a way You've been in the diplomatic service for 20 years now, haven't you 20 years two months and eight days positive? Positive I've held almost every job on the books, you know courier first secretary consul all except one yes All except one and that one's on its way. I Assume you're referring to mr. Johnson's resignation What else? Well, I'd hardly say don't be modest mrs. Sanders You know as well as I that his replacement will come from the ranks of the career diplomat Of course, but you see the career diplomat is a rather common bird in these parts You're not only modest mrs. Sanders. You're naive too. Oh, yes It's a narrower choice than that down to three men as a matter of fact you Eric Thomas and let's see that Outsider Donald Wilkins, of course Donald Wilkins. Oh, but he really doesn't have a chance. Uh, Mrs. Forsythe Still Mrs. Forsythe Why not Helena Helena then Your sources of information would do credit to the intelligence department. I shall take that as a compliment the way it was intended I assure you You're a clever woman Helena. I've always admired you have you Well, I've admired you too Gerald very much. Well, I I hadn't realized strange isn't it that men schooled in the subtleties of diplomatic Conversation seldom really understand what a woman has in mind Helena. I but I warn you Gerald I'm a conniving woman. How do you mean? Nothing is more important to me than seeing someone I I admire and respect Successful, oh You must get that appointment you think I have a chance it's between you and Eric Thomas I know it poor Wilkins is out of the running and I'd be sincerely grateful for anything you can do well I'll do what I can but Most of it's up to you Gerald Eric Thomas is the fair haired boy, but you have the seniority. He's clever. Of course. He is Look at him over there playing up to Stanton Edwards is the columnist. Yes Frankly though, I'm not too worried about Thomas. Perhaps later on I'll have a chat with him Good evening gentlemen. Well Gerald. How are you? Excellent. Thank you May I speak to you a moment Eric? Of course you know Stanton Edwards here. I believe we've met. Hello Edwards Won't you in on that Latin American confab? I'm sorry Edwards I can't talk to the press until the department issues its report Or to be more frank you won't be sure of what happened there until you read the papers. Good night Good night. Good night Eric. I despise that impertinent upstart. Well, I'm sure he's never mentioned you and his prayers are them What's on your mind Gerald? The new appointment of course foolish of me to have asked frankly. I want that post Eric I served the department faithfully for 20 years, and I think I deserve it. So Need I go on perhaps you'd better very well then I Gave you your start on the service Eric now the fair thing for you to do is step aside. Yes, exactly. I see I'm not ungrateful for the start who gave me Gerald But because you once wrote a letter of recommendation for me am I supposed to throw away my chance at a post like that? I don't think that's unreasonable Gerald there are few men in this world. I love above myself You are not one of them. It's not only that Eric You have a certain degree of brilliance, but you lack maturity stability, and I suppose that's what you can offer them I think I can no Gerald You don't mean maturity and stability What you mean is your fanatical devotion to little things the quorum detail the unimaginative man substitute for intelligence You have no right to say that why I've been in the diplomatic service all my life. What of it? My good man if human beings were rated as objectively as horses I would be in the Kentucky Derby, and you would be pulling a plow. We're wasting words Well, is that your final answer more than that? I not only won't step aside for you I intend to make every effort to get that appointment myself very well Suppose we step inside for a Scotch and soda. I believe we ought to make an appearance together You're really of the old school aren't you Gerald keep up appearances no matter what the cost I Don't like scotch. Let's make it or derv. Our good hostess is serving some delightful ones with Rookford cheese as you wish There's nothing I like quite as well as Rookford. Come on Eric and after you By the way, Gerald I have a bottle of good scotch in my room Now that we've become enemies. Let me give it to you. Don't be ridiculous. I'm not at all not at all The old diplomatic tradition bear gifts only to your enemies Well, here we are about to make our entrance. Let's keep up the front. Oh boy Funny isn't it you think so? Of course Here we go arm and arm like a couple of devoted school girls When basically nothing would suit you better than to see me six feet under the sod Eric You're going a bit too far. I don't think so. I can see it in your face Now shall we go in? With the prologue of the ambassador of death the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler But now since vacation time is here I'd like to say a word about an item that will have a lot to do with your driving pleasure gasoline No matter where you travel throughout the west from Canada to Mexico, you'll find signal the famous go farther gasoline Almost 2,000 friendly dealer-owned signal stations stand ready to serve you and to honor your signal credit card and Remember when you power your car with signal the famous go farther gasoline you not only enjoy signals good mileage But also the thing which makes that mileage possible extra engine efficiency And of course extra engine efficiency means more thrilling performance for your car So on your vacation trip and always to be sure of the tops in gasoline quality. Just remember these two points one in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther and To signal is the famous go farther gasoline and now back to the whistler So the lines are drawn aren't they Gerald long after the party's over You're still raging over the things Eric Thomas said to you that you were dull unimaginative Fit to pull a plow and he was right wasn't it Gerald when he said you'd love to see him under six feet of sod Yes for the first time in your life. You feel quite capable of killing a man You're determined now to let nothing stand in the way of that appointment and during the next week You do everything possible within the limits of propriety and drop hints to people of influence in and out of the department Past subtle cutting remarks about Thomas where you know they'll be repeated Then on Thursday about ten days before the appointment is to be announced You discover that Thomas has been working too in a more effective way. I'm sorry Gerald It's right from the chief. I tell you it's out of the question Bailey I'm not running off to San Francisco at a time like this to speak at a trade convention You want me to tell that to the chief who's behind this don't ask me. I think I know Bailey Eric Thomas engineered this to get me out of town till that appointment. Oh, good Lord, and it's don't be ridiculous Sure, I tell you that man is capable of anything. All right. I think so if you want to it's no skin off Mine are contemptible underhanded. I'll cheer up. You'll have a wonderful time in San Francisco Nice room at the Grandview Hotel Probably a room full of samples from the trade representatives. No, that's tough. I'll give it to the bell boy I'd examine it first if I were you centers Knowing you as I do old boy. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone send you a time bomb My voyage Yes, Gerald Eric Thomas has been working too and he has the upper hand now, hasn't he? There's no way out You're under orders from the chief to spend the next few days the most crucial days in your career in San Francisco leaving Thomas a free hand in Washington You rack your brain all morning groping for an answer But there's simply isn't any and that afternoon when you go downtown to pick up a few things for the trip You're ready to admit that Thomas has you licked And then for some strange reason Something in the window of a fancy food shop strikes your eye a gift package of imported cheese You stop for a full minute thinking there's nothing I like quite as well as Rookford You turn walk across the street where you see a few shoe shine boys Competing for customers shine mister shine them up only a dime. All right son. Oh, uh before you start I wonder if you do me a favor. Oh sure here take this and Run over to that shop across the street for me. I want you to buy that small box of imported cheese in the window Yes, Gerald there is a way out But even here you can't be entirely original the solution came from Bailey's casual remark only a few hours ago Knowing you as I do old boy. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone send you a time bomb Late that night the eve of your departure for San Francisco You put the finishing touches on the package Address it not to Eric Thomas, but to yourself to Gerald Sanders Grand View Hotel San Francisco and in the upper left corner the return address of a friend of yours in San Francisco a man named Fred Oliver It's ready now Gerald with enough poison in each of those jars of cheese to kill a dozen men like Eric Thomas At the play in the next morning you're greeted by the usual annoying group How about answering a few questions I'll answer when I'm free to answer gentlemen. They're giving two-to-one at Eric Thomas will get the knot on the new diplomatic appointment What about that? No comment. I look this way. Mr. Sanders wave your arm smile That's it. Thank you very much Sorry gentlemen, I'm on my way English man, I said no comment. Okay, mr. Sanders Bump voyage The plane trip to San Francisco is on eventful You land at mills field and ride into the city to the Grand View Hotel That same afternoon you attend the trade convention even enjoy it when your speech receives a handsome ovation And then shortly before the session ends you slip away and enter a drugstore phone booth across the street Mr. Gerald Sanders, please I'll ring his room. I see I'll ring him once more never mind. I'll leave a message for it Yes, tell mr. Sanders that we didn't appreciate that speech. He made it the trade convention today Sir, if it's a personal message, I'm afraid you'll have to wait and talk to mr. Sanders. Just put it down lady Say that he'd better make a public retraction in time for the morning papers or else. Oh, but just a moment, please I'll connect you with her Now we'll see what happens And You don't have to wait long. Do you Gerald? No Soon after you arrive back at your hotel the manager comes up to your room He's a very worried man properly concerned for your state or else And that's exactly what he said mr. Sanders it alarmed the girl on the switchboard, of course And I naturally thought that I should be notified a well I appreciate that mr. Connors, but in this work of mine that sort of thing occurs quite regularly. Yes, I suppose it doesn't oh frankly though I must admit this fellow sounds serious if I weren't leaving tomorrow. I'd be more concerned I hope on your next trip out. You won't let the incident reflect on us, mr. Oh, no not at all Oh, and I'd like to leave my forwarding address with you There just might be some mail or something sent to me here, of course I'll be glad to attend to it myself fine. I generally get my mail at my club the Colton That's Gerald Sanders Curve the Colton Club Washington 12 DC That's all Gerald except for one more thing Before you leave San Francisco you drop the small white package the one that's addressed to yourself into a mailbox You know that it won't be picked up and delivered to the Grandview Hotel until after you've left and That it will have to be sent on to you in Washington. That's exactly what you want. Isn't it Gerald? All the way across the country you keep reviewing in your mind how it's going to work When you arrive in Washington, you call on Helena and you wish you could tell her everything, but you don't dare Indeed you try not to appear too sure of yourself as she greets you and introduces you to a few guests. Oh And Gerald have you met Donald Wilkins? Mr. Wilkins is just leaving but I do think you two should know one another of course How do you do Wilkins? Oh pleasure, Mr. Sanders? I've certainly heard a great deal about you Mrs. Forsythe said I I was just leaving and see you again, Mr. Sanders. Yes fine. Goodbye, Mrs. Forsythe. Goodbye, Mr. Wilkins Poor Wilkins They all come running to me don't they Gerald you can't help everyone Helena. You're so right Gerald Besides we have to make up for lost time Leaving town didn't help you at all. Oh, Eric Thomas been gaining ground. He's taken advantage of every moment. I've watched him I still think I'll beat him out. I know you will Gerald But we're going to have to change our tactics in what way he's been undermining you in every way possible I say your move is to bring the fight out into the open Take it to your superiors Make it a real fight. I don't think that's necessary Gerald you haven't been here. You don't know the power of the man He'll be stopped Helena In some way, he'll be stopped Now let's talk about something else. There's nothing else to talk about until your appointment is assured You are a conniving woman. I only know what I want and I know that you'll get it Don't worry, Helena. I know what I'm doing Yes, you know what you're doing and it's all working out On Wednesday when you arrive at the club You see Eric Thomas stretched out in front of the fire in the drawing room as usual Before joining him you approach the service desk Any mail for me? Oh, yes, mr. Sanders I have a few letters and a package forwarded air mail special delivery from San Francisco I'll get them for you. Oh, no, I have a page bring them to me in the drawing room, please Oh, yes Oh, how are you Darrell? Good evening. How are you? How was the trip Sanders? Very fine. Thank you. Thanks. Good evening Good evening. Glad to see you again. Well, mr. Gerald Sanders. How was my dear friend come friend draw up a chair? Yes, thank you Eric. I will sit down make yourself comfortable. I trust you have a good trip. Oh excellent and In my absence, I trust you've been working hard day and night and not without some little show of success I assure you I don't doubt that your mail mr. Sanders. Oh, yes. Thank you. Yes, sir Excuse me moment Eric any time this Package forwarded air mail from San Francisco must have missed me there Fred Oliver sent me a package of imported cheese cheese to you. Oh, yes Why couldn't have been cigars again or even a crate of oranges? Oh Well, I guess this is just something to give the page boy. Oh, wait a minute old man Any Rookford in there? Huh? Oh, that's right. You do like Rookford cheese, don't you? Yes, there is a jar of it here not a very big one any amount of imported Rookford will be gratefully received here you are After all you did give me some scotch Casted upon the waters and Yeah Gerald you are indeed a friend Now think of you when I try this with my tea later on. Oh, please do Eric I'd like you to be thinking of me Well Gerald it's complete now the contents of the little white package have been delivered to the proper party Only a matter of hours and the appointment will be yours The next morning you sit down for breakfast in the club restaurant The waiter brings a paper to your table spreads it out. It's all there Gerald just as you expected Too bad about mr. Thomas. He was a fine man. Oh, yes shocking things shocking We never know yet today gone tomorrow What would be this morning mr. Sanders? Oh the usual I guess orange juice bacon eggs coffee perhaps a little butter toast You aren't even thinking of what you're saying are you Gerald? No Your mind is busy now framing answers to the questions that you know will come You can see a police lieutenant fumbling a little at having to ask you a question And you say mr. Sanders that some unknown person won't draw hotel in San Francisco That's right lieutenant the hotel manager told me about the call. I didn't think too much about it, but now You'll figure he's the one who sent you that poison cheese, huh? Yes, some way he must have found out the name of a friend of mine and put it down on the return address That's why you didn't hesitate to hand the package over to mr. Thomas Why certainly neither of us had any way of knowing that it was prepared by some maniac, of course not You did a perfectly natural thing mr. Sanders a perfectly natural is your breakfast satisfactory mr. Sanders. Well, oh Yes, waiter everything is perfect The whistler will return in just a moment with the strange ending to tonight's story Meantime if you've been needing new tires here are two pieces of good news for you One now you can again be choosy about the tires you buy Which means you can insist on genuine Lee tires the brand your signal dealer is proud to stand back up Yes, that's Lee of concha Hawken for over 45 years the finest of first-line tires and Today's Lees are the greatest ever with new post war features for extra safety wear and riding comfort Including Lees patented double-life rayon cord and Now that second item of good news Prices have just been substantially reduced on Lee tires and your signal dealer can now offer you a generous trade-in allowance on your present tires So there's no longer any good reason to keep on taking chances on those smooth tired out old tires Prepare now for a carefree summer of safe driving Drive into your signal service station this week and find out how little it'll cost you to drive out on fine new Lee tires and Now back to the whistler Well Gerald the late Eric Thomas was right wasn't it bear gifts only to your enemies he said and that's exactly what you did Now with Thomas out of the way. There's no one standing between you and the appointment You'll receive it in a few days just as you promised to lay The questioning that takes place on the afternoon after Eric's death goes almost as you thought it would The wonder about the friend who sent you the poison rope for your natural reasons for pathing it on to Eric Everything the way you figured it except for one thing The man who was doing the questioning is not a police lieutenant But Stanton Edwards the columnist who knew you both so well now see here Edwards It's one thing to gather news, but I prefer to make my statements to the police That is if they decide it's necessary Don't worry. They will And I'd say that it'll be more than a casual questioning. What are you talking about? You're facing a murder indictment Sanders the police have everything they need Edwards you're going too far. I know what surprised me is the cleverness of it all I Wouldn't have credited you with that much imagination Yes, very neat Sanders Addressing that poison Rookford to yourself are you out of your mind? It was the work of some maniac someone who wanted to poison me. Yeah hardly a maniac then why I Never saw that package before last night and I won't stand for these accusations. I'll have you Love it Gerald it won't work You see I remembered your picture in the paper. I have an excellent memory for people. I Dislike my my picture at the airport last week when you left for San Francisco You were standing outside the plane waving your right hand and your left you were carrying an overnight bag and a Small white package. Now. I could see the package quite clearly. You got a finger hook through the string Yes, of course. It was a box of candy a gift for a friend. No I ran down the negative on that picture It was quite sharp Especially in the enlargement we made up for the police The printing on your gift box came out nice and large and clear you're lying No The picture showed that the printing read to mr. Gerald Sanders Grandview Hotel San Francisco, California That picture was taken here at the airport and that means you wrap that package and addressed it to yourself before you left Washington no, no, it's not true. Oh, yes, it is and The really horrible thing about it Sanders is that it was all so unnecessary You shouldn't have been so naive about mrs. Elena for sight leave her lane out of this Too bad you didn't old boy. You fell right into line for what do you mean? It's a shame to tell you this now But you weren't the only one she worked on she was driving Thomas too. That was her little plan plan for what Edwards What did she want? She wanted to split things up and create two warring camps in the department you on one side Thomas on the other why To make room for her boy, of course The man she really wanted to see appointed Donald Wilkins They announced his appointment this morning Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Monday at this same time Brought to you by the signal oil company marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories Signal has asked me to remind you to get the most driving pleasure drive its sensible speeds be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life possibly your own Featured in tonight's story were Joseph Kearns and Tom Collins The whistler was produced by George W. Allen with story by Meyer Dolinski music by Wilbur hatch and was transmitted to our Troops overseas by the armed forces radio service This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system