 And now, stay tuned for the mystery program that is unique among all mystery programs. Because even when you know who is guilty, you always receive a startling surprise at the final curtain. In the Signal Oil program, the Whistler. Signal, the famous Go Farther gasoline. Invite you to sit back and enjoy another strange story by the Whistler. I'm the Whistler, and I know many things before 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. And now for the Signal Oil company, the Whistler's strange story. Shakedown. Riding up in the elevator, the attractive young woman, Jackie Mills, appeared deep in thought. She seemed hesitant, undecided. As she stepped into the corridor on the ninth floor, walked down to Suite 906. She paused outside the door. It's quite a decision, isn't it, Jackie? With your dangerous past seemingly behind you, you know the kind of activity Paul Jessen, the man inside, is about to suggest. But you're tired, aren't you? Tired of trying to make a living playing the piano in the club Chanticleer. Tired of being without the things one more transaction could bring you. You open the door. Step inside. Well, Jackie, so you decided to come. You said you wanted to talk. And you want to listen. I thought so. The minute I recognized you at the club Chanticleer, I'll sit down. Let me finish my pinhead. Your why? Oh, you wouldn't understand. It's my hobby. Precision craftsmanship and all that. I'm always engraving poems with this stylus, quotations from the Bible, odd sayings on the heads of pins. Oh, oh, sure. Oh, really? There. Take a look through this jeweler's glass. What? It is and very clear. Judge not the men whose souls are on fire, for they are beyond good and evil. Yeah, I like that. The philosophy of criminals and poets. Yes, isn't it? Can I show you any more? Well, how many do you have? Oh, five or six hundred. You see, I keep this little engraving out there in my pocket, and every time I have a spare moment out, it comes. Takes a steady hand. And no. Easy. Once you get onto it, I can engrave a sentence at one five hundredth of an inch in just a few minutes. Fascinating. But wasn't there something else you wanted to talk to me about? Yes, there was. However, I thought we might go out for a drink. I'm busy. You have a reputation for being cold and unapproachable. I find it pays. Sometimes. Ever hear of the Victoria Watch? No. One of the most famous watches ever made, perhaps the finest. Rose diamonds, platinum hands. Never mind the details. What's it worth? A hundred thousand dollars. Is it registered? Yes. No doubt. Too risky. What do you take me for, a fool? I have no intention of stealing the Victoria. The owner's going to give it to us. His name is Linquist, Benjamin J. Linquist. I'm listening. Linquist is respectability itself in the social register, multi-millionaire, about my age. Sixty? Not quite. Go on. Benjamin J. is definitely afraid of the slightest breath of scandal about his good name, and yet he can't keep away from a beautiful woman. He's not the only one I hear. No. He isn't. All right. Now where do we go from here? We'll rig a little trap for Benjamin J. With me is the cheese. Something like that. And the bite? We play him along carefully. And of course the proceeds from the watch, we divide equally. 50-50. Sure. Okay. But I won't settle for less. You won't have to. Now all you have to do is to drop into the Blue Angel Cafe this Friday by accident. Benjamin and I will be having cocktails. The Blue Angel. Right. But let me handle everything. Everything, Pa? I thought you needed me. I'm sure you'll know where to take over. You know, I think we practically have that watch now. It's an interesting situation, isn't it, Jackie? The kind you've never been able to resist. And on Friday at the Blue Angel, under the high-sounding name of Jacqueline Caraway, the accidental meeting goes very well, though you do have difficulty keeping from laughing at Paul's introduction. Miss Jacqueline Caraway, Benjamin Lindquist. How do you do, Mr. Lindquist? Jacqueline's almost like my own daughter, Ben. Yes, since our father died. I've kept a sharp eye on her. She was my dearest friend. Where's she been all these years? How come I've never seen her before? Well, until a few years ago she was in school. Then she wanted to study art. So I let her go to Paris for a while. She just got back. She stays at your place, I suppose, where you can keep your eye on her. No, she has her own apartment. But I still keep my eye on her. He sure does. And I'm going to continue to. Now, for one thing, I'm going to take you away from Ben here. What, babe? Oh, sorry, old man. You're a friend, too. But I recognize that gleam in your eye. Oh, fine thing to say. I might have something to say about you. Maybe there's a gleam in my eye. Uh-huh. I thought so. See you here for a little bit. Good night, Ben. Pleasant chat. See you soon, eh? Coming, Jacqueline? Fine. I'm afraid there's nothing else I can do. What's the big idea? He's watching. I like to throw slowly the big fish, my dear. Don't worry. Your call will stop by tomorrow and ask to take you to dinner. Only you don't go. Not about that. Well, I hope you know what you're doing. But Paul does know, doesn't he, Jackie? You find that out the next day when Benjamin Lindquist contacts it. Ask to take you both to dinner exactly as Paul predicted. And all through dinner, you can see that he'd like to talk to you alone. Only Paul doesn't give him the opportunity. Not that night or the next. But a week later at dinner, a planned phone call takes Paul Jessen away to meet an important client at the airport. You're finally alone with Ben Lindquist. And in a few minutes, you should know where you stand. Well, I hope you'll forgive me saying I'm not going to miss Paul. Well, you know how fathers are, even adopted fathers. They never believe you're grown up. You seem grown up to me. I find you twice a week too early for me. Of course, you have a young man somewhere. No, never got used to young men, I guess. They're so, I hope you well say, well scrubbed and silly, like a boy on his first day at school. Very good. But it makes it lonely. Paul's friends are older than them. Well, they think they're robbing the cradle of witches. Look at them. They're probably afraid of them and themselves. Oh, it must be nice to be settled. Children, home, wifey love. Looks nice on paper. Oh. Understand, I don't want to say anything against my wifey style, but... But you were about grown up. You might say that, yes. Oh, it happens so often. I wonder if you... I mean, could a girl be all they... No, no, no, it is quite impossible. I'm afraid, isn't it? But why shouldn't you, Jackie, all these evenings have seen you at... Please, Mr. Enkis. Ben, I'd better go ahead. No, it's been so vivid of getting a chance to even talk and you do like me, I can tell. Please, so yes, I do, too much. You'd better quit while we both can. No, I'm going to see you again. But please... Paul, Friday. I'll send my car for you. For Clayton, a nob here. Good. Maybe you'd better not tell Paul. Paul understands perfectly later that evening at your apartment, doesn't he, Jackie? The two of you enjoy a good laugh at the romantically inclined Benjamin Lindquist. And then Paul explains the next move. You'll still take your time, Jackie. He wanted to leave his head, so you don't kiss him goodnight. You don't fall into his arms until he swears he loves you and promises to get rid of his dear wife, Estelle. Right, Ed. I do agree. Of course, I will admit, I'm trying to keep you out of his reach as long as I can. I didn't just happen to choose you for this move, and you know it. What else? I'm beginning to respect you, Paul. It isn't going to end with you, Jackie. You see, when all this is over, you and I are going to be much more than just good friends. Oh, I'm glad. But until we have the victory won, let's concentrate on the business of hands. Shall we, Paul? John? Friends, this is Marvin Miller. You folks who listen to the Whistler regularly have heard me get enthusiastic about Signal Ethel, a premium grade of Signal's famous go farther gasoline. You've heard me say that the next best thing to a new car is any car of any age powered with Signal Ethel. But tonight, friends, I just like to tell you why I personally use Signal Ethel in my car. When I touch the starter, I want my motor to spring to life quick, like turning on a light. And Signal Ethel gives me that kind of starting. When I step on the gas, I want a few pickups that makes the back of the seat come up and push me forward. And Signal Ethel gives me that kind of pickup. When I start up a hill, I want plenty of smooth power to take me over the top without shifting. And I can always count on Signal Ethel for that. Well, there you have it in a nutshell, friends, the reasons why I like Signal Ethel. And why I'm so sure you will be just as enthusiastic as I am about Signal Ethel once you try a tank full. Well, Jackie, it's going well, isn't it? Ben Lindquist, infatuated as a schoolboy. And surprisingly, the slick, smooth Paul Jessen actually in love with you. When the time comes, you'll know how to turn both situations to your advantage, won't you? But for now, you know that you must concentrate on Benjamin J. Lindquist. You play it very warm and friendly during the next few weeks, but still manage to make Ben keep his distance. Then you and Paul decide that it's time to move in for the kill. And so one night after a quiet dinner at an outlying supper club, as you and Ben Lindquist are sitting in his car in front of your apartment. Ben, Ben, where are we going? You and me? I don't understand. You don't know what I want to hear, what any woman wants to hear? That I love you, is that what you mean? Is it what you mean? Of course. Oh, I'm glad. Ben, what do you intend to do about Estelle, your wife? That's a big problem, Jackie. Yes, it is. But you'll have to solve it. Or do you love me enough to want to marry me? You know I do. Naturally, I expect to get a divorce, but you've got to give me some time, darling. How much time? I intend to see my lawyers about it, though. Well, next week. Divorce is serious business. So is love, Ben. You know, Ben, this way it isn't fair to any others. Not to me, your wife, or even you. Jackie, please. I'm here. You want to kiss me, don't you? Yes. It's all right, darling. It's all right. Because I'm going to say goodbye to you, Ben. Now. Well, Jackie. Goodbye, Ben. I'm not going to see you anymore. I'm not going to see you again. Well, Jackie. Jackie, it was a perfect performance, wasn't it, Jackie? Just right to tell yourself. And you avoid answering the telephone, which rings incessantly for the next few days. You and Paul want Benjamin Lindquist to put it down in black and white. Finally, he moves into the trap. Special delivery letter from Miss Jacqueline Caraway. Sign here, please. I'm looking for a Jacqueline Caraway at Western Union. Yes. I've got some flowers for you in a telegram. A registered special man. Sign here, please. Thank you. You've played your part well, haven't you, Jackie? And now it's time for the last scene before the final curtain, the shakedown. Paul is to handle this part. While you remain in your bedroom, supposedly suffering from a nervous breakdown. A few days later, Paul comes over and phones Benjamin Lindquist. Ben hurries over to your apartment. Paul, I've seen the rooms I caught. How is she? Not very well. Come inside. Is there anything I can do? Yes, there is. Go in to see her, take her in your arms and tell her you're going to marry her. I hope you know I can very well do that. I was just carried away. Do you understand these things, Paul? Understand. Then this is despicable. You deliberately led her on, told her that you loved her, that you'd get a divorce and marry her. Yes, yes, I was wrong, but it hasn't been making too much of it. Are we? Go in and look at her and then tell me that. Oh, she'd get over it. Find a nice young fellow. I'm well much too old for her. You weren't too old a month ago. Nor are you now too old to be taught a lesson. I'm going to let your friends see those letters you wrote. You're business associate. The public is necessary. I'll make you a laughing stock. No, you can't do that. There's my wife and my sons to consider. This candle, Paul, you know I have positions of trust. Look, I'm a wealthy man, perhaps. Jacqueline has never wanted for money. She was well provided for by her father. You don't seem to understand, Ben. A girl's in love. She only wants you. Paul, I... Well, I can't go to the stale about this. There was... Well, another incident last year, you know. I do indeed, because I know you. Oh, I won't check you. I've warned you. Well, perhaps some gift, a substantial token of my affection for her. Well, I don't know. What could you possibly give her to make up for what you've done? I am prepared to be generous, Paul. Very generous. She doesn't need money. I know, but there must be something... something special she wants that money can't buy. You've known her for years, Paul. Can't you think of anything? Well, I don't know how much it would help, but ever since you showed her your jewelry collection, she's talked constantly about the Victoria watch. That's the only thing I've ever heard her say she really wanted. The Victoria, I know. I just can't give that up, Paul. Well, Ben, you'll ask me. I told you. What the Victoria, Paul? It's not it's worth it. I don't mind that. Well, neither does Jackie. Nor I. But it would mean so much for the girls. Can't you understand, Ben? Heaven knows why, but the girl is completely in love with you. Yes, yes, I know. Oh, I am sorry. Well, all right. I guess she deserves it. The Tory will be hers. I want her to have it. You tell her, Paul, a symbol of what she means to me. Yes? Well, perhaps that way, when you explain, I might see her again, huh? Well, I'll do my best to explain. Good. Good. Well, I'll run on now. And the arrangement? I'll send the watch over with the bill of sale, transfer papers, everything. The messenger will be here within an hour. Goodbye, Paul. You heard it all, but you've won, haven't you, Jackie? The Tory watch will soon be in your hands. And you and Paul enjoy your biggest laugh today as he recounts Benjamin's sly hopefulness toward seeing you again when you're over your nervousness. And Paul takes you to dinner by way of celebration. You agree to meet at his office the following afternoon. Well, Jackie, how do you feel? Not even a hangover. Wish I could say the same. Sit down. Well, anyway, the Tory is safe and sound on the walls. Good. How soon do we sell it? It'll take about two weeks to get top price. I guess I can spend it that long. Oh, well, it feels good to have the money. Do you still plan to split? What do you mean? Oh, I thought we might keep it in the family. We might. Eventually. What's the matter with the media thing? We could get married in Vegas. I'd like to have time to think it over. Well, a girl needs time to make up her mind. Stop it. You can't pull that act on me. I've watched you remember. You don't sit around daydreaming, batting your eyes in innocence. Paul, please, let's not... I'm not going to be another Benjamin Lindquist, Jackie. You're going to marry me, understand? Since you're getting nasty, you might as well wake up to the fact that if I wanted to marry a man your age, I could have done it a long time ago. Okay. Now we understand each other. I hope so. You've got two weeks to sell the watch. Don't take any longer. You're worried now, aren't you, Jackie? Because you're forced to watch, Paul. On Friday exactly two weeks later, you rush up to his office, determined to demand a settlement of your agreement. Night's long. You walk down the corridor to Suite 906. Paul's suite. Open the door. Enter. Inside, you see a man moving the furniture and listing each item. Is Mr. Jessen here? I'll shoot back any moment. May I ask why you're itemizing Mr. Jessen's office furniture? We're removing it, my. I'm early Monday morning. Jessen has put the story at this present. Say, if you're still here when Mr. Jessen gets back, something will make the pick-up system under control. I will. Paul. Hey, Jackie. Glad you're here. Hope you forgot, now, that episode. I have great news. A Swedish collector has offered us a hundred thousand for the victory. He'll table the money Monday. On Monday? Yes. Just drop over here at the office Monday afternoon. I'll take the watch, now. Why? For Jackie. I talked to the man from the moving time. Oh. I never argued with Mr. Jessen. All right. It's in the vault. Come on. We'll go and get it. Now, get in there and get the watch and the ownership paper. I'll wait out here. And don't forget, I'll be waiting with a gun. Who's that? I don't know. We'll stay in there. Don't stop the vault door. You don't know the combination. I might suffocate. I'll scribble the combination down. What is it? Three left, ten right, four left. Three left, ten right, four left. Now. Now, while I see who dropped in on us, just find the Victoria. Oh, hello. I'll just be a minute. What are you doing? Building engineers sent me out to check the thermostat. Seems to be all right, then. I hope so. We're expecting an important client. Don't worry. I'll be out of here in no time, then. Just a little bit of fixing here. I'll be soon, if you may. You're relieved as the building maintenance man finally leaves, aren't you, Jackie? And you hurry back. Open the heavy door to the vault again. Still covering Paul with your gun. Paul stands just inside the vault. The Victoria watch in his hands. Thank you, Paul. I'll take that. Jackie, you know you can't finish this job without me. Oh, stop it. I'm not trying to commit the perfect crime, Paul. Sooner or later, the police will trace me to this place, but it'll take a little time. And that's all I need. Just a little time to get out of the country. Jackie, you can't get away with this. Oh, can't I? Today's Friday. They won't open this vault until Monday. By that time, you won't be able to tell anybody anything. Jackie! And that'll give me two days to disappear from the face of the earth. You've been around me enough to know that I can do it. Goodbye, Paul. And thanks for everything. Auto accidents due to skidding always increased during rainy weather when pavements are wet. So if even one of your tires has worn smooth and slippery, the time of your life to trade it for a new tire may be now before any more rain. And the tire buy of your life is definitely today's new Leigh Super Deluxe Tire. You see, for added traction on slippery pavement, Leigh's new Super Deluxe Tire has a wide eight-ribb tread design that assures far quicker stopping plus extra protection against skidding. And for added wear, the rugged coal rubber in Leigh tires is toughened still further with patented fill-black O. The result is such long life, these Husky Leigh Super Deluxe Tires actually cost less per mile. What's more, the generous trade and allowance signal dealers are now offering for old tires reduces Leigh's cost even further. And liberal credit terms are available at signal stations, so play safe with your life and your wallet. Find out now how little it will cost to protect yourself and your passengers with new Leigh tires, whose double written guarantee is backed by 19,000 dealers throughout America, including all signal service stations. Well, Jackie, luck has been with you all the way, hasn't it? And now you're about to realize the big pay-off. The Vittori Watch is legally yours. You decide to forget the Swedish buyer, take Leigh's sell immediately to a famous local jewelry firm. You leave Paul's office and hurry over to the Terman Jewelry Company, one of San Francisco's largest firm. You grip your gloves nervously as you stand in front of the owner awaiting his decision. Outside, a cab is waiting to take you to the airport, where you can make connections to get out of the company. Well, your ownership papers seem in orderness and 80,000 dollars is their price. Good, then it's settled. I don't see why not. I will, of course, have to examine the watch a little more carefully. You understand we can't risk buying a paced copy. I understand. And it takes a few minutes. Sit down here. Put my tools in my piece. There we are. Are you all right? Now, quick look at the works. Very interesting. Is anything the matter? I'm not sure. Yes, I do. Mr. Hobart here is our store detective. I'm going to ask him to watch you while I call the police. The police? Yes. I'm going to send them over to the Hopkins building. Oh, what about the watch? Why should you? Well, this may merely be some practical jokeness kind of way, but I'm afraid we'll have to check. You see there's a new inscription inside here, signed by Paul Jessen. Oh, his engravings. It can't be read without this letter. But it says quite clearly, Hopkins building, suite 906. Woman locked me in bought. Name, Jackie Mills, alias, Jackie Caraway, signed by Paul Jessen. February 1st, 1952. Your signal for the signal oil program, the Whistler eats Sunday night at the same time. Meantime, signal oil company and the friendly independent dealers who help you go farther with signal gasoline. I hope you'll remember, regardless of what gasoline you use, you'll enjoy more miles of happy driving. If you drive at sensible speed, obey traffic regulations, and avoid taking chances, you may even save a life, possibly your own. Featured in tonight's story were Bill Foreman as the Whistler, Joe Gilbert, Edgar Barrier, Turb Butterfield, Britt Wood, and Pat McGeehan. The Whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen, with story by Myer Dolinsky, music by Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted overseas by the Armed Forces Radio Service. The Whistler was entirely fictional and all characters portrayed on the Whistler are also fictional. Any similarity of names or resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Remember to tune in at the same time next Sunday when the signal oil company will bring you another strange story by the Whistler. Marvin Miller speaking for the Signal Oil Company. Stay tuned now for our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden, which follows immediately over most of these stations. This is the CBS Radio Network.