 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Buster favor like my hobby resort over on the Colorado River. Oh a buster. How are things? No, but so help me. I'm going to one of these days And is that what you call me about for old Mike Kirby Kirby? Oh sure the sweet old fellow I met down at your boat dock guide or something. That's the one. Oh, sure. I remember him. How is he? What and Johnny, I think it was Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of a 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 tri-state life and casualty insurance company home office Hartford, Connecticut Following is the account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Kirby will matter As soon as I hung up on buster I lost no time in making the necessary plane reservation to Las Vegas and picking up a handful of American Express Travelers checks That's item one on the expense account a total of three hundred twenty dollars Then I packed a bag was about to take off on the phone ring again Johnny dollar Tri-state life and casualty. Oh, hi, Danny Johnny. I need you badly and I $5,000 policy I'm sorry, Dan, but I can't handle it. I'm about to get your plane out of here No, no, you listen there may be a killing involved in what I'm going on what's more the death of our client occurred at one of your old stamping Sorry, Dan make Mojave resort Danny. I told you I what Mike Kirby Okay, Danny. I'm on my way. It was 7 30 a.m. When the plane dropped me off in Las Vegas, Nevada smack in the middle of the Mojave desert Even at that hour the morning the otherwise clear clean air was filled with the cacophony of the city of chance The stuttering clicks of the ball on the roulette wheels the rattling gallop of the ivy's on the dice table The endless drone of the croupier The flat clank of the chuck-a-luck cages the snap of cards by the blackjack dealers the never-ending click of poker chips and silver dollar And over and all the interminable chunk and were the slap machine day and night from one end of the town of the other Fabulous I grabbed breakfast that's item two then rented a car and headed south and east on route 93 toward Kingman, Arizona Then just five miles short of that town. I swung right on 68 down toward Davis Dam down to Lake Mojave resort Mile after mile of nothing, but sunbaked rock and sand sagebrush and Joshua trees tumbleweed and cactus And right in the middle of it the clear blue waters of Lake Mojave Buster favor whose general fact totem of the resort was waiting for me after a hearty greeting He led me into the office and we sat down and got to work Yeah, it was murder. All right, Johnny. Yeah, sure. Yeah And by the way, I don't know how much you knew about my Kirby Well, only that he seemed to be one of the fixtures around here was obviously well liked They'd been a businessman back east owned a string of restaurants to make a fortune. Uh-huh In about 10 years ago. He retired did a lot of traveling all over the world again. Oh lucky man Did he have any relatives buster only some nephews and nieces I see Anyhow a little over three years ago. He settled down here to spend the rest of his life just fishing taking it easy Can't think of a better place or way to retire How old was he buster 61 didn't look at them. No, I remember right. He was pretty fit. He was Well, I had the impression when I was here before that he was just the hired fishing guy something like that Oh, he used that as an excuse to meet folks Half the time he clean forgot to charge for the guide services accidentally on purpose. No doubt When I you said don't rush me Johnny, I got to give you the background. Okay, sure He kept saying over and over and over again. I'm glad he was to be out from under a lot of responsibilities And one day about six seven months ago He suddenly transferred title to his boat his motor is fishing tackled and his old beat-up ford to us. Oh I know I asked him at the time He wanted to get him off his personal inventory. Why not give him to his relatives or what he said of that? Said he didn't like him Well, they were just waiting around from to die so they could get their hands on his money Oh, he just wanted to make sure that if anything happened to him the stuff would end up with us on a kind of We'd use it and appreciate it Also, Johnny He plunked down ten thousand dollars in cash and insisted that we take that too What for his rent on this cabin for as long as he lived Buster did he leave a will of any kind? Well, I'm getting to that Anyhow last Friday afternoon he went out fishing alone like he often did And just before dark one of the rental boats came in with two young kids It's seen old Mike's boat up on the beach in that big cove just for the power line crossing They found Mike laying on the sand beside it is still his death Well, he came tearing in to report it scared half out of their wits. Well, I sure hope you're sure sure I grabbed ham brat and a big flashlight. You remember ham. Oh, yeah the manager of the resort. Yeah, well Well, we We found him there and he He was gone poor old fella Go on Buster Well ham took one look at him and Rattlesnake you said it rattlesnake did it you tell by the way Mike looked laying there Fang marks Yeah, on his right leg just above the ankle and a big bruise on his head like he'd hit a rock when he fell But on the phone you said you thought it was murder and a minute ago. You said you're sure of it Well, we put him in our boat hitched his on behind and brought him back here We phone tad Harding of the King and police department. I remember him good man Yeah, well chief Harding took one look and he greeted ham poisoned from a rattler No, they took him into Kingman and I telegraph relatives But Buster now look you then I got to thinking there was something wrong. What do you mean? Very few rappers in this part of the country because the heat they can't take it If anybody'd know better than to fool we wanted be old Mike and they always sound a warning before they strike anyhow Don't they sure so early next morning. I went back to the code and Number one there was no sign of any rock that Mike might have hit his head on when he fell There was no trail from any kind of a snake anywhere around I was saying could have drifted over No, sir the footprint Sam and I and the kids made were clear crystal, but no tracks of a snake All right, go on. Well, then I noticed it Another boat had been beached strange one not from our landing was right next to where Mike's had been right alongside any footprints from it Well, if the world we and the kids have matched them all out And I remember the way Mike had been laying there so he could have been rolled out of his boat or thrown out right on the sand Then it looks as though somebody met him out on the lake banged him over the head made the fang marks Which isn't hard then lashed the two boats together dumped him off at the coven left. It sure does Johnny I want to see that place. Yeah, I'm only excited. I might overlook a lot of things. Oh that I doubt Now Buster if there's no sign of rattlesnake poison an old Mike's body right after I called you I phone chief Harding Corner's making his autopsy today. He'll call me. Well, now look these nephews and nieces of Mike's How much do you know about them? Oh, I never met him But according to their answering telegrams are gonna descend on us like a squam of locusts. There are a lot of them Well, no, I was thinking of the way that they Well one there's a woman named of Martha Woodbury. Excuse me. Mr. Faber. I'm Buster Faber I am Miss Martha Woodbury. Oh We were just This is mr. Johnny dollar. How do you do? Mr. Faber, I'm an east of Michael Jonathan Kirby and probably the major beneficiary of his estate I wired you that I would be here and I am got here kind of fast, too, didn't you? I also wired Uncle Michael's attorney in Kingman that I saw no reason why I should delay the reading about Michael's will Lawyer Guilford told me about that. I guess you weren't the only one you should be here late this afternoon I also wish to make funeral arrangements be fitting one of his financial status won't you sit down? Now please tell me the circumstances of his death and of course I wish to see the old the poor darling body Miss Woodbury, yes, what do you do for a living? Why if it's of any concern to you I teach at Armand College toxicology Very interesting is it? Why Who are you mr. Dollar? Well, I'm a special investigator for your uncle's insurance company Yes, you see we have good reason to believe your uncle was murdered murdered Hello Martha Well, you said murdered are you talking about Uncle Michael? That's right. Who are you? I am Chester Kirby and as far as I know the heir to my uncle's fortune Who are you sir a chester mr. Dollar is an insurance investigator? Oh Investigator dollar. I'm Hank Kirby family black sheep also uncle Mike snap you what's his talk about murder? I're uh, are you three his only relatives? That's right dollar except for leader leader low leader Laverne So we sometimes try to forget that oh come off of that. Why mr. Woodbury my sister is a cheap nightclub dancer We prefer to forget it and the silly stage name. She uses now take it easy teacher Of course Martha. This is hardly the time or place. What do you do for a living mr. Kirby Chester? Play the stock market a bit that sort of thing He's a playboy mr. Dollar and a gambler and I suspect not a very honest one Martha my dear girl I resent you've never done a lick of honest work in your life And if you think uncle Michael didn't know it would let his money ever get into those soft pickpocket fingers of yours You don't think you're the one to tell you Both of you pair of money grab and you had to work for a living like what Hank? What do you do? Yes? Tell him Henry. Oh, I told you I was a black sheep of the family, but I work, you know odd job I'll tell you mr. Dollar He's a roust about Securities carnival that disgusting sort of thing for you working now Hank. Well, there's a sort of a scientific exhibit I'd show us more like it all right all right along the highway over near Victorville a lot of rare animals Reptiles and things on display and Henry dear boy when he's off the bottle is appropriately enough in charge of the snake pit Well, we do scientific work to you, you know like Well like like what Henry like milking the venom from the snakes to sell the laboratories. Yeah Well, that is would Yeah, I want you to hear this. It's chief Harding go ahead chief There was evidence of rattlesnake venom in the body all right, but it didn't enter at the fine marks on the leg What do you mean chief? The corner says those marks were fakes the venom was injected with a needle up near the armpit Where it wouldn't be noticed chief. This is Johnny dollar. Oh Listen was the venom injected into his body before or after all Mike received the blow on the head Was the corner able to check that I don't think he's trying mr. Dollar. We'll have him do it Would you please if he can also do me a favor and check with lawyer Guilford? I'd like to know when he's coming out here with a will Buster sometime this afternoon if you can get away good. Thanks. I'll talk to you later Mr. Dollar I would bury there is nothing that you or any of us can do until we get the complete report from the corner Well, you can at least tell us what you meant and what about dear uncle Michael's will mr. Dollar That will have to wait for the attorney. He expects to be here sometime later today. Oh, wait a minute. You said murdered Incidentally, I suppose the will shouldn't be read until Lolita or whatever her name is gets here according to her telegrams. She ought to get here today Well, she better what I want you to do is arrange for quarters here and All of you stay here If you won't do it of your own free will I'll have chief hiding of the Kingman police department take whatever no No Such a humiliation is entirely unnecessary Nothing to keep me from sticking around. I want to hear that world too. Of course. Don't we all okay, then? Sit tight For my money any one of them could have done it a Taxicologist a man whose business was handling poisonous reptiles and a cheap tin horn gambler and the nightclub dancer who hadn't appeared yet Yeah, any one of them the latch on to the old man's fortune. I Avoided telling the three present about the circumstances of their uncle's death and the hope one of them would slip would give himself away by He's saying something to show that he or she already knew As soon as they were in scouts in their rungs Buster and I hopped into his outboard and headed up the lake Remember the last time we rode up here looking for evidence Johnny. Yeah, I sure do that was the mightest touch mine. Yeah The pretty little lady owned a high-power rifle with a scope sight Just about here. She started taking pot shots. That is from the shore. Wow That's one thing. We won't have to worry about this trip Now right around this point is where I found Mike's boat on the beach and like I told you I may have overlooked some food that you'll spot in a second Buster. Yeah, tell me you know Mike earn enough as a fishing guy to make a living Well, I just bought enough to buy food and few hours and ends and Well, like I told you most of the time he deliberately forgot to George not needing the money at all Hey Johnny There in the cold quiet for both right where Mike's was Who's is it? You know Isn't out of our landing by Hey, that's not the smoke from behind the bush way up on the sand dune Swing us around that's somebody with a gun And look we're taking in water those holes in the bottom where that can start bailing There that guy can shoot pull us around Buster. We're like a pair of sitting ducks out here, right? Act two of yours truly Johnny dollar in just a moment Democracy it takes an awareness of life and a respect for mankind to make democracy work But when this happens Democracy works in mysterious ways to better the lives of everyone Why? Because democracy is concerned with everyone one could say that democracy is people For the people rule themselves in a democracy no tyrant stands a chance. No dictator can get a foothold The systems of laws and justice in a democratic government is made and operated by the people for the people and People like to be free That's why democracy gives mankind its finest legacy of freedom now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the Kirby will matter Whoever have been shooting at us from the shore there in Lake Mojave had a good eye But a 30 mile an hour outboard at over 200 yards and swerving like mad can be a pretty tough target But a half full of holes. We had no choice, but to go back to the land there I made a quick check of the three I suspected of having killed old Mike Kirby First is nephew Chester right here in my room Mr. Dollar reading then a brief walk in the hills Why and when is that lawyer coming to read Uncle Michael's will then the niece Martha Woodbury? Hardly racing about on the lake armed with a gun as you seem to suspect If anyone should know how to handle a gun he should so I question Hank Kirby That's what I saw no reason to just sit around waiting for that lawyer to arrive I was patient and that first big coal one to write on the Arizona side That's right, and I saw you and Buster tearing back here. That's when I come back to see what was up Now what is up Kirby? Yeah, Buster on payphone phone booth next to cafe. Yeah Kingman operator just called. Yeah She still hadn't been able to reach your party on whatever that call was you made Oh, yeah, thanks What call Hank? I've been trying to locate leader find out why she hasn't got down here. Maybe she doesn't care about the will Where is she Hank? It was to a dive up in Las Vegas. I sent the telegram Johnny. Yeah. Yeah, yeah That's where she's been working. Is that where you called earlier Hank earlier? Yeah, didn't I see you in that phone booth when Buster and I pulled out? Yeah, sure trying to get leader then to Yeah, yeah, it reminds me Johnny all your guilt for just told me from Kingman I'll be over here in about an hour then the will gets read huh perhaps. We ought to wait for leader What do you think Hank if you you be what did you talk to her? Is she on her way? Yes? She's on her way. All right If Buster is willing we'll use the office when you'll forget sir So Hank you tell the others to be ready and waiting. Yeah, sure thing. Come on, right Johnny It's on your mind. Well, maybe it's just a hunch nothing more, but I want to get on that phone in the office. I Called arm on college first. Yes, Miss Martha Woodbury had left there only last night So she couldn't have been here when Mike Kirby was killed a Called a Chester's hangout a private gambling club in Reno indicated the same thing Call number three was to the so-called museum where Hank Kirby worked with the snakes a place within easy driving distance of Lake But the record showed he hadn't left the place in two weeks until this present trip to be here Lolita Well the manager of the club in Las Vegas said she hadn't missed a show Daytimes Well, who knew but she was there every night Then I suddenly remembered something about the geography of Lake Mojave Yeah Johnny cottonwood landing is only about 25 miles an hour on the west the Nevada side of the lake Could that boat we saw in the cold Sure, that's where it came from. I knew there was something familiar about it What are you gonna do Johnny? Operator get me cottonwood landing, please One of their rattle boats Johnny. Yes, sir. I'm sure of it any number any identification on it all that I didn't see anyhow. They rent so many to fishermen every day Hey, here comes lawyer Gilford driving up good Hello, this is Johnny dollar special investigator. Yes, sir I want to know if you rented a boat today to a girl named Lolita Laverne I'll meet him Johnny and I'll bring him all in here No, sir, nobody but that name rented today. Well, what about Friday Friday afternoon, right? Yeah, that's right on Friday was old lady. Newberry down from Canada for a couple of days. No, this is a young girl Well, the other was a miss Hancock Hancock Lucy Hancock Okay, thanks very much Pleasure mr. Dollar. Oh, yes, sir. No if you'll all please sit down I'm a little Pressed with time so I'll waste none in getting to the reading of Michael Kirby's will well You don't think we ought to wait for Lita to get here. It won't be necessary No Hey, I possess a full accounting of the net value of mr. Kirby's estate excellent It may surprise you by the way fine fine this will Confirm that valuation it is dated by the way just five months ago made it out right out. Oh look, let's get to the world I'll let's raise. Yes. Yes. Come on. Please In Israel property consisted only of his clothes then the outboard motorboat and an old car Which he transferred to the Lake Mojave resort together with the sum of money to provide for his living here How much only ten thousand dollars? Well good some years ago. He turned all other of his real property including some rather important real estate and business holdings Into cash. Oh, where is all the cash deposited now? Yeah You aren't considering adding bank robbery to your rather questionable career Henry Martha that is quite uncalled for now Why don't we proceed with the will? Yeah? There is one asset specifically set aside that perhaps I should mention since it concerns mr. Dollar Referred to the insurance policy for five thousand dollars, but don't worry about a piddling amount like that Let's have the will man Insurance policy is to cover burial expenses and nothing else All of it is to be used. Okay. Okay. Let's have the rest of the world. Yes Very well I Michael Jonathan Kirby do make ordain Declare this instrument to be my last will interest. Oh, why don't you skip that stop please? Being of sound mind and body determined to enjoy the fruits of an industrious life to the fullest to be quest man life to the fullest and Rather than burden others with the responsibility that money demand what? For these and other reasons. I have carefully spent every dollar I ever And it's no less than we deserve I only wish that Lucy been The real name the proper name not Lolita Laverne, it's Lucy Hancock Woodbury, but as I told you now listen all of you get to stay right here Stay in your room. Oh, what's the point now? We know the contents of that stupid will yeah But what right you party tell him to stand by in case these people get itchy feet right? What little I've done so far in this case was based on nothing but hunches So when 10 then 11 p.m. Came and Lolita Lucy Hancock Woodbury hadn't arrived. I acted on another hunch Good Johnny my room right next door to the office. So if this leader arrives and signs in I'll let you know right away now Buster No, just sign her into a room after you've done a little tampering with the register What do you mean Chester is in number six, isn't he? That's right. All right change that on the register to number eight That's one year room. That's right and be sure that leader sees the register. I don't understand. You don't have to bust it Let's just hope she gets it Buster left and with my door a jar I turned off the light and lay on the bed and waited It must have been after midnight when I heard the car pulling Fred Buster admits someone to a room a couple of doors down the line and then go back to his own then Then the quiet click of feminine footsteps approaching my Quickly in the darkness. I'll let a cigarette held the glowing end away from the place about time Don't turn on the light. They have us asleep. Their rooms are dark Have you lost your mind? Shooting at that boat from over the ridge between the two colds. What were they please detectives? Hmm, you should have known you couldn't have hit them that far away check Should have waited till they got on shore looking for me Did they fall for the rattlesnake fight we made on the old man? Well, they'll never find the needle I used to the bottom of the lake and look Question you I hope you had sense enough to remind them what Martha and Hank do for a living no chance Would you be surprised what? Say that again Say anything You sound like somebody else. Yeah like Johnny dollar. Let's have some light doll. That's right special investigator Oh, no Yeah, all four of them had wanted to see all Mike dead But Hank the only honest working man of the lot didn't have the brains Martha wouldn't have used the means that tied in with their toxicology work and probably didn't have the nerve So Chet who lived by his wits and leader who was a real cheap no account? Well, the courts will take good care of them And I still have to chuckle over poor old Mike's will Being of sound mind I have spent all my money Which reminds me expense account total including transportation back to Hartford 331 25 yours truly Johnny Delta Well, here is our star to tell you about next week story next week Well next week the most complicated case in years comes up, but the simplest most obvious solution Join us. Won't you yours truly? Johnny dollar truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote tonight's story heard in our cast were Virginia Greg Barney Phillips Shirley Mitchell Stacey Harris Carlton young for us Lewis Frank Nelson and John Vayner Musical supervision is by a marigo marino Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Johnny dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces radio and television service