 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 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 now time for the signal oil program the whistler Rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history And here's an important announcement for whistler fans in California only Beginning next Sunday January 2nd you to California's going off daylight saving time The whistler will be heard in California only one hour earlier from 8 30 until 9 Remember the change in time in California only the whistler will be heard at a new time from 8 30 till 9 In other states the whistler will be heard at the same time as always And now the whistler strange story delayed Christmas present Christmas was really over or it was 1 o'clock in the morning at Pete's Cantina a tough little night spot on the outskirts of Panama City But the melody lingered on you could hear the chimes of the big church a block away playing a desk day for Dailies There was practically no business Four hostesses all Americans were sitting drearily at the far end of the ballroom near the bar One of the Mary Winslow builders candy porter just sat gazing drearily into space Thinking bitterly of a past from which for a while or it seemed no escape But for five months now she'd been relatively safe No one had been around asking any question as Candy porter blue singer Mary Winslow had found a kind of security not a happy security Or she was far away from home And as the chimes became silent Mary wondered if it was worthwhile Her reverie was broken up as she looked up and saw Spanish Pete a fat greedy owner of the Cantina approaching her table Candy candy look there's an American gentleman just came in he wants to buy you some champagne Champagne you hear that please Pete not tonight. It's Christmas. I'd rather be alone if you don't mind. I do mind look all right All right, let him spend his money on champagne. Now you smart, baby You turn see the tall heavy-set American approach suddenly you become tense you recognize the type don't you? After a year of running away, you've learned to spot his kind in a moment you fight to remain calm as he reaches your table Sit down mr. Fontaine sit down sure you don't mind miss Porter. Of course not. Thanks in that case. I guess it will I'll go get the champagne. I keep him on ice 11 years old Cigarette mr. Fontaine. Oh, thanks. You don't mind if I do of course not Light thanks Strange spending Christmas a far away from home How come business Important business couldn't it wait no This business means a lot to the people I work for Well, here's what you say bubble water From our safe 13 years old you said 11 that was from la Havre This is even better now. I put him back in the ice you want some more you just call peep. I got another one on ice just like Well, I guess it's kind of late to wish you a merry Christmas miss Porter So I guess I'd better just say seasons greetings Anyway, there's luck He's hoping you find whatever you came here after I've already found what I came after I'm glad I hope you will be Shouldn't I be because I came after you marry Winslow With the prologue of delayed Christmas present the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the Whistler But now since this is Christmas weekend I want to thank you for inviting us of the Whistler cast into your home on this special occasion During the six consecutive years that the Whistler has been broadcast by signal oil company Many of us have had the pleasure of celebrating Christmas with many of you a number of times and Believe me, we feel it a real honor that you consider us a part of your entertainment family Tonight on behalf of signal oil company and the independent signal dealers who serve the states of California Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona. I want to say We hope that your Christmas has been a merry one May your new year be filled with peace Prosperity and the good health with which to enjoy these blessings And now back to the Whistler After a year, it doesn't seem fair. Does it marry Winslow after a year of hiding using one name and then another After five bitter months of singing at Pete's Cantina's candy porter blues singer This man Fontaine has come to take you back to the States To face the consequences of one horrible night You're sure he's a detective. It couldn't be anything else. You can't run again. There's no place. You could go You've only one card left and as you face the man across the table and listen to his even level voice You decide to play it if you play it carefully it might be an ace I think you know why I'm here We're leaving in the morning for Los Angeles Ms. Winslow like the billing says my name is candy porter I know what the billing says. I know what it said in Brooklyn when you were billed as Doris Trent in Denver when you were billed as Gladys James, but when you first took a powder out of Los Angeles you were Mary Winslow You know It's almost funny. You should call me Mary Winslow We used to work together her and me in the same floor show We could have been billed as twin sisters the customers used to mistake us for each other to look miss Winslow Let's quit kidding. I'm not kidding a Lot of other people have made the same mistake you had And like I said, I I knew Mary Winslow intimately I Think I could help you solve your case if you let me tell you about her sure sure go ahead It'll make you feel any better. Thanks You see Mary Winslow was Really just a good kid that got a bad break in love with a swell guy and Scared to death of a hoodlum. She told me all about it. It's quite a story. I'll bet it is Yes, it was quite a story wasn't it Mary and it all began a year ago Christmas Eve at the Christmas party given by your employers in the pink room of the Swank Wilchester Hotel You really enjoyed yourself that night, didn't you and you were quite the hit of the evening You sang three numbers and went over big your fellow workers didn't know your many talents Everyone told you what a fine singer you were and when you left you were feeling good So good you decided to drop into the cocktail lounge make a phone call and have a nightcap before going home Scotch and soda mix it make mine the same bill gotcha I Have I heard you sing tonight? You were terrific Thanks What's the matter did he stand you? Who the guy are we just talking to on the phone? No, I guess he didn't stand you didn't he and he's on his way here right now Yep, that's the answer lucky guy. Oh, take it out of here, Bill. Now. Look here. Take it easy It's practically Christmas. What's the harm of my buying you one drink? Like I said, I like your voice Miss Winslow. Did you change? Oh, thanks, though You must be a detective, you know my name and everything Well, no not everything But it wasn't any trick to find out your name. I just asked one of the boys. That's all you're dancing with My name is Joe Clark. Oh I see you've never heard of me should I have a lot of people have Most of the boys and girls around the night spots know me well and that accounts for my ignorance You see I seldom hold the night Well, you should with a voice like yours you could be packing them in on a good night club Now I get it. You're a professional talent scout and you want to get me into the movies. No I'm a gambler Shocking why should it live and let live is my motto and That's exactly what I'm gonna do right now live my life and let you live yours. Good night, Mr. Clark My my my just think tomorrow. I can tell all the girls at the office I met a real live gambler you could tell them all a lot more than that if you believed in your voice as much as I do Really You've heard of Dominguez on Sunset out near the ocean it's an undercover gambling club It's more than a gambling club This world floor show a lot of big people go out there people that count and they're all intimate friends of yours I'm sure not all but I know quite a few Could push you right to the top with that voice. Oh, that's the oldest line. I've ever heard not a line Go on home listen to the radio eat candy you can have a terrific time Go to Dominguez with me. You can't tell what might happen. You might have to meet a couple of show producers So play it safe and go home. It may be dull, but you'll always get to work on that That all you have to say. That's all 99 wait a minute. Could we get Could we be back fairly early leave anytime you say Well, what are we waiting for? Well now you're making sense. I'll call the cat never mind I have a car it's parked right around the corner Clark used just the right approach didn't he Mary you realize you're being a fool But as the hours pass you tell yourself your fears are groundless Joe treats you with perfect courtesy You watch the gambling for a while then proceed to the silver room and enjoy the floor show Afterwards you have a little food and watch the dancers had enough Joe Do you mind if we leave now? I said we'd leave anytime you said What ate you the music? Yeah, I guess that's it another guy another guy My yeah, my fiancé what happened to him isn't the Philippines research Temmest doctor Dr. Frank Wilson MD. That was his car. We drove out here He told me to keep it warm for Well too bad we could have had a lot of fun Well, how we go? Was it just the song Mary or was it that uneasy feeling you have about Joe that made you want to leave so suddenly It must have been the song or as you're ready to leave the club grounds Joe is still a considerate escort and hop in oh Unless you want me to drive. Oh, I'll drive unless you mind too much. No, I don't mind Probably be safer too For several miles Joe says little seems preoccupied and you feel relieved when he breaks his rather strange silence Oh, uh, say Mary, would you mind stopping for a minute that drive in? Maybe I can get some aspirin I doubt it, but we'll give it a try You can keep the motor running while I'm going out. I'll be gone a few seconds. Okay. Oh, get going You shot him I said get going past there's a gun in your ribs, baby. You just saw what happened to one guy that crossed me Is he dead? I don't know Oh, why was I such a fool right at the next corner cars been tailing us for the last time I'm glad. I hope it's a prowl card. It saved me the trouble of phone in the police. He didn't turn baby You shouldn't have said what you did about phone on the cops. You better pull over in park You got a couple of things to talk over I Said pull over please Joe. Don't kill me. I I know you can do it easy, but I'll never talk about tonight That's the way you feel now an hour from now. You know, I won't I'm a word of honor I'm making a deal with you Joe. I'm treating you my silence for my life. I swear. I won't talk about it ever Take a chance You drove the getaway car so we're partners now anyway. They have a lot of fun together you and me Now I'll about drop me over my tell me where to go I love about After you drop Joe and you reach your apartment you're so weak you can hardly stand Your senses are reeling your brain is spinning you practically fall into bed You try to snatch a little sleep, but sleep is impossible Finally at six o'clock in the morning the newspaper is shoved under your apartment door the headline sickening Driving operators shot and hold up dies The subheadings are even worse Unidentified man and woman seen fleeing from senior crime in dark green 47 model Chevrolet Pedestrian believes you can identify both car and woman There it is Mary Hopeless isn't it even if you call the police your story would sound phony now It's closing in on you, isn't it Mary yet frightened as you are you're certain of two things That you're not going to become further involved with Joe Clark and you won't allow any unfavorable publicity to fall on your absent fiancee dr. Frank Wilson You are foolish to risk a life of happiness with immortals For a few moments of excitement with a gambler a murderer like Joe Clark But you decide there's only one thing you can do Mary leave town disappear and never see Clark again You dress hurriedly packing only a few belongings and then spend Christmas day and night at the home of a girlfriend The next morning you're on an eastbound plane Three months later you're singing in the Golden Lion a prosperous little nightclub in Brooklyn, New York Where you become a featured performer under the name of Doris Trent You're a great success under your new name And then one night you have a visitor you're sure it's mr. Verne Shields London musical comedy producer come in I'm Well, well, what do you know long time no see miss Trent Doris tranted says on the program All right Joe now that you've found me what's on your mind you double-cross me baby. You're crazy That's why I left town so I wouldn't have to talk to anybody but you could still write couldn't you I don't get you Anonymous note to the police written just after you left telling all about that driving job Give the exact time my name where I live what I hit on everything But not a word about the girl with me Funny, huh? You're the only one that knew all of that baby. Oh, no, Joe. You're wrong. Believe me. I didn't write any note Couldn't have been anyone else Two days after you left they picked me up a question anybody could have written a note like that One of your enemies might have wanted you out of circulation and tried to frame you. Yeah, maybe but I don't show I didn't write it. I've kept my bargain with you a hundred percent There's one way you can convince. Oh Marry me tonight Are you yeah that way? I'll be sure of you wives don't testify against their husbands Besides, I'll know what you're doing all the time Oh Joe, I gotta go to my show. Let's talk this over tonight or else You can run up to Connecticut, but go ahead do your show If you've got any ideas about calling in the cops Don't forget you drove the getaway car And in case anything serious should happen to me as a written confession in my pocket telling exactly how you helped me pull the job How we use your boyfriend's car how you kept the motor running waiting for me Your doctor would love reading about that wouldn't he? No, no, he wouldn't and don't get funny. Go ahead and onto your show. I'll wait for you here You start down the hallway toward the powder room offstage Suddenly you realize what a fool you've been But you're not going to keep on being a fool. Are you married not with that walled telephone just five steps ahead of you? Operator Operator Operator get me police headquarters quick, but I hang up quick babe. And I mean quick You should have looked around before you called They had a hunt you tried to double cross me Now I know for sure who wrote that note to the car. Oh, I didn't Joe. I just tried to call him, didn't you? All of a sudden I've lost interest in getting married We're just going for a little ride Come on, babe start walking. No, Joe I'm not moving a foot not an inch if I have to be shot. I'll take it right here. Let go of my arm What's going on here? Something wrong Doris This guy bothering you. Yes, he is he he wants to date me. Tell him to leave. Will you Eddie? Maybe I'd better take him into the office and call the cops. No No, thanks Eddie. There's no need for that. He's just another wolf Tell him to leave. That's good enough You heard what the lady said bud Start traveling Okay, chum Anything you say I'll see the lady later We parked right across the street You should have let me call the cops. I would have if he hadn't had you covered with his gun. Oh Thanks, kid. Eddie, I got to get out of town fast after what you just did for me. That's a cinch Grab some clothes while I phone my wife. I'm bringing you home We'll go out the rear entrance my car's on the lot next door Tomorrow I'll call a friend of mine in Denver. It'll put you to work right away Uh, you better change your name though. That'll be easy I'm getting used to it So mr. Fountain That's where I met Mary Winslow in Denver at the hi-hat club Builders glad as chains She uh, she roomed with me about two months and then she She left just like that one night when when a waiter told us some guy wanted to interview her for a magazine that's That's the last day of it so ever That's the end of the story That's the end And Mary Winslow told you all this Oh, we We were very close friends I'll say you were You expect me to believe it's true every word of it You know something You ought to be writing stories for the movies The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Now that christmas shopping is out of the way for another year Most of us are figuring ways to get our badly stretched budgets back into shape Which makes now a mighty appropriate time to talk about signal the famous go farther gasoline Mileage of course is only one of the reasons that folks who insist on getting the most from each gasoline dollar choose signal In addition, they like the superior performance that goes hand in hand with mileage You see the only way today's signal gasoline can give you such good mileage is by helping your motor run more efficiently And when your motor runs more efficiently, you also enjoy quicker starting faster pick up smoother power The things that make driving more pleasure So among your resolutions for the new year, how about resolving to put signal gasoline to the test in your car? See for yourself why drivers who insist on quality As well as those with an eye for economy are both switching to signal the famous go farther gasoline And now back to the whistler Well, Mary, it looks as though you've lost doesn't let your one card wasn't enough The man across the table a man you're sure is a detective Who has come to take you back to los angeles to stand trial for a hold up and murder you had nothing to do with Doesn't believe you does it And the jury in los angeles won't believe you either Yes, mary It looks as though you've lost But you're going to play the game to the end anyway And as the piano player across the floor plays the tunis played a thousand times in the last two weeks You quietly watch fontane and await his next word How long did you say you've been here? I didn't say I got here about five months ago Like it here No What a figure Look miss cigarette Yeah, thanks All right Thanks again, miss porter Did you say Miss porter That's what you said your name was didn't you? That's what the billing says too, isn't it? Oh, thanks, mr. Fontaine. Thanks for believing me There's just one thing I'd like to ask you. Ask me anything Uh knowing miss winslow as well as you do Do you think she might come back to Los angeles sometime and sort of clear things up? I think she might someday You see a A girl like mary winslow gets to feel Quite a soiled have to work in a round and joints like this She'd probably want to spend a little time Maybe out in the desert in the sunshine Sort of Freshening up before anybody she cared about Yeah Well, this was a pretty long trip for nothing, you might say Just one more bum steer But I'm glad I came I always figured that confession we found on joe clark was a phony clark Is joe clark in jail. He's dead The brooklyn police got him one night about uh five months ago Funny how they got the tip A woman called the police one night from the little nightclub the golden lion club She hung up before they answered the phone, but the brooklyn boys decided to investigate anyway One of them spotted clark parked in the car across the street and he got trigger happy and How was that finished? Well, miss porter if you ever run into a mary wins I'll tell her all about the christmas present I got from a swell cop named fontaine I'm not a cop miss porter. You're not Then And who are you? I'm a private investigator working for a guy named Wilson Dr. Frank Wilson Frank Wilson, that's right He's in love with mary wins Doesn't care where she's been Just wants her to come back marry him Well, uh, it's along miss porter and happy new year. Mr. Fontaine yes You You think you could arrange for me to go back to the states with you? I guess I could now I was figuring on taking one lady back Are you going on frugal as angles? Not for a while. I Kind of like to spend a little time in the country somewhere But I think maybe Before next christmas Well, I think I'll find mary wins low again Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler Now let me repeat an important announcement for whistler fans in california Only beginning next sunday january 2nd due to california's going off daylight saving time The whistler will be heard in california only one hour earlier from 8 30 until 9 Remember the change in time in california only the whistler will be heard at a new time from 8 30 till 9 In other states the whistler will be heard at the same time as always Featured in tonight's story were jones banks and jack patruzzi The whistler was produced by george w allen and directed by gordon hues with story by edward bloodworth and music by wilbur hatch And was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service This is marvin miller speaking. This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system