 Johnny dollar, yes, this is Christian all back at international life and casualty in Boston Well, mr. All back. I haven't heard from you in three or four years. No, how are you fine? Fine, mr. Dollar, but I'm afraid I have a bit of a problem. Well, who hasn't I wonder if you could What was that nothing you were going to say? I Wonder if you're free to come up here and see me right away I don't know why not as long as you're willing to pay my expense account and commission and Maybe a little extra fee in addition That remains to be seen Because there is a quarter million dollar policy involved say no more. I'm on my way The CBS radio network brings you Mandel Kramer in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by a special investigator Johnny dollar to the international life and casualty insurance company home office Boston, Massachusetts Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the three for one matter Expense account item one 775 plain fare to Boston item to tune a quarter for a cab to international office in the little building at the corner of Tremont and Boylston across in the terrain hotel Come to think of it. It's not too far from station W. E. I that carries the broadcast reports on these cases Christian all-beck is in his late 40s tall blonde lantern job His casual manner and rather bland expression be liars sharp keenly analytical mind I've always had the feeling that he might always be just one jump ahead of me Mr. Dollar only uh, why the mister well after all you are in Boston, you know cigarette, thank you Yes, barely known. I take it you come up here by plane mm-hmm with an ulterior motive I figured if I got here in time for lunch I might persuade you to foot the bill over at the old Union oyster house Well, why not afterwards we can pick up a rental car for you. Oh, yes See it'll be necessary for you to run up the center harbor in New Hampshire up there at Lake Winniper Saki again Yes, where you handled a case for us once before great. Well, it's pickerel perch smallmouth bass Only why didn't you tell me that on the phone Chris so I could have brought along some fishing tackle this time of year Oh, it's right. I kind of lost my head Now why don't we go on over to the oyster house and while you're gorging yourself on seafood? I can tell you what this is all about fine Another dozen on the half-shell mr. Dollar. Oh, are you kidding? I've had it. Oh I just hope I can make it up to Lake Winniper Saki. I come to think of it To what Chris see if you can find out what's happened to a mr. John Stuart Kirkman Kirkman. Yes He and his wife live on Redhill Road up there at Center Harbor. He's a man about 60 retired Worked quite a lot of money. I see his wife Telephoned me just before called you this morning She gave me no details, but it seems that mr. Kirkman left the house sometime after dinner last evening Presumably to see a man on business of some kind or other and Well, she simply hadn't seen or heard anything of him since a quarter million dollar policy Yes with a double indemnity clause She's checked with this man that he went to see if she doesn't know who it was What about the police up there? Chief Mike sharp, isn't it? Yeah I talked to him this morning too. He'll give you all the details and he's happy you're on the case Thanks a lot of you Johnny. I'm mr. Dollar and he promises complete cooperation. Oh good. Incidentally now Yeah No Nothing, I Well, you see what you think when you get up there what I think about what Chris Forget it. No, no, no, wait a minute. You've got an idea maybe about someone who might have helped mr. Kirkman disappear. I didn't say that Now don't start that again That other case up there went up to Salki if you told me your suspicions right at the beginning You were to save me a lot of trouble in your company a lot of expense But if I'd been wrong, but you were absolutely right quite possible that I'm wrong this time Who do you suspect chris? Of wanting to get him out of the way Well, then who was the beneficiary this policy that he holds his wife monum Quarter of a million. Yeah, or maybe double that But I'm thinking of well Three people daughter who might and I use the word might now mind him going. Who are they? Well, it's charles b. Hakaway Hakaway sort of the Junior partner for a while and mr. Kirkman's investment business here in Boston before kirkman retired Went up there to live in center harbor. What about him? The Hakaway borrowed a lot of money from him on a handshake no contract never paid it back The simple reason that he's a completely impractical incompetent wasteful How much nearly a hundred thousand dollars? I understand Anyhow last time I talked to mr. Kirkman. He said he was going to take legal action Even if it meant complete ruin for Hakaway, did he I don't know Do know that Hakaway was not only worried But bitterly resentful He was he said he'd really earned the money which isn't true That kirkman didn't need it and that he'd see him in hades before paying the scent of it and a couple of months ago Hakaway quietly took a little cottage up there in center harbor You think that in order to avoid paying off his debt. He would go so far as to I didn't say that Uh Then there's mildred milled who I'm strong She was kirkman's first wife when he divorced her he made what was then a very generous settlement, but Um Later when he began to get really wealthy and wouldn't add to what he'd given her well I just happen to know that she's been threatening him for years threatening to kill him now. Mr. Dollar. I didn't all right All right, you didn't say that no But she too has recently moved to center harbor for now chris and finally There's tony benson who's turned up in wolf's burrow on the other side of the leg And who's he it's fairly bright young fella basically Just a bomb just an irresponsible young Mr. Dollar tony has been in more scrapes And our wager he's had at least a dozen different jobs in the last 10 years. They've been absolutely no good in any of Right now. He's a sort of um Dental assistant for dr. Portie. And what's his beef? Mona mr. Kirkman's wife Tony was in love with her once or with a fortune really but the kirkman beating to it I thought kirkman himself had the money but was hers that enabled him to build up his business Therefore his own fortune To the point where he could retire in four years. Oh anyhow I don't think tony would stop at anything to get even Oh, wait a minute Get even with kirkman or his wife frankly Now in the way that love can turn to hatred in such a case. I would have thought with mona Now of course now they're pretty thin motives. It seems to me chris all of them But you think that one of those three might possibly have decided to put kirkman out of the way No, I didn't say that I only okay chris Let's get out of here. Get me a car and I'll be on my way Item three 50 bucks deposit on a rental car by the time I'd covered the 125 miles or so to center harbour It was late afternoon police chief mike sharp was out of his little office So I left a note on the door went over and checked into the garnet in I wondered which are the people that chris had mentioned I should contact first If that is anything actually had happened to mr. Kirkman Yes, come in Well, howdy mr. Dollar chief sharp nice to see you. I thought maybe it was you moved in here And I saw that rental car out front here. I am About that mr. John stewart kirkman the man you come up here to look for yes You might have saved yourself trouble mr. Dollar Just found him myself. Oh good found his body rather Mr. Kirkman's dead stone dead Your car outside at night And hoping the morning it'll be all right If your car's in the garage that has no heat you want antifreeze protection. That's real complete Don't ask for trouble ask for to find dinner x antifreeze For dependable protection against sudden drops in temperature all winter long use dupont x antifreeze Even during a warm spell x x won't boil away It outlasts winter and to guard against damaging rust and corrosion Xerex has mr. Eight rust inhibitor an exclusive dupont development that protects all engine metals including aluminum So for safe dependable protection do as millions of motorists have done for over 20 years Ask for xerex antifreeze. It's made by dupont Remember for cars left out at night or in unheated garages Don't ask for trouble ask for dupont xerex antifreeze Just take it easy mr. Dollar coming to that curve up ahead there And that is unless you want the same thing to happen as happened mr. Kirkman Uh Maybe you better stop long about here. Yes I see those tire tracks on over the edge of the curve and on through the broken fence there beyond That's what happened to him. All right last control mr. Curve went on over the edge There now see how it hit the bottom down there 60 or 70 feet Come along mr. Dollar That's what she said to you. Puttons not so good on this side of the hill. I see that Who is that down there old doc? He'd be he's the coroner I want him just to be sure that body's all right. How do you mean all right? Well, it looks pretty obvious like an accident But you didn't have a chance to look at those tire tracks as careful as I did I think I know what you mean about him. She do you. Yeah, there were no skin marks They show that he tried to put on the brakes before going over. That's right Those tracks are so clear so plain mr. Dollar You wonder if Kirkman wasn't dead before he hit the curve. It's a possibility Maybe somebody killed him and propped him up behind the wheel and helped that car over the edge. Yes, sir So if that kid be found any sign on him any sign at all Well, how about it doc? Not a mark chief shot not the single mark on to him Except for the blow to his head that killed him in the car all over you're sure of that dr. Higby Hey, I mean, there's no other mark that might possibly have accounted for his death. You're absolutely certain of that Now just a minute young man Who is this young man It's talking to me like this. No, no, no doc. This is mr. Johnny dollar. He's kind of a special investor The insurance investigator, that's right. Well, howdy, mr. Dollar. I might be pleased to meet you. Well, thank you, doctor But um, you'll have to pardon his sparking up that way mr. Dollar I guess we folks around here haven't spoiled. He's just not used to having someone question his professional Opinion. Yes. Oh, that's perfectly all right. And I'm glad to know you doctor But uh Now knowing how it's very always are mr. Dollar. You see I listened to all those reports on your cases over the radio Mostly on wg an and over to portland and on w e e i down to boston. Well, I'm glad to hear that sir So I suppose in spite of my opinion in spite of the way this looks like an accident Maybe I better do an autopsy. I think it might be a good idea, doctor Because if he was killed before the car ruled on down, I'll do it Right away If you two will help me get the body down to my car that's down below sure Um, in the meantime chief shock in the meantime, mr. Dollar just in case Yeah There are three people I like to make certain they're still about in these parts by charles p. Hockaway for instance Well, yes But how'd you know and uh, perhaps mildewed armstrong and tony benson? Yes, sir Especially that tony benson over to wolf's bar. Okay While you're rounding them up I want a mechanic to look over the brake system on this car to find out if possible. Why it went over the edge That's a good idea Why you the dark take in the body I'll get ahold of frank marshal over the gas station to look at the brakes And then I'll round up those people you mentioned fine I didn't stick around to watch the autopsy thank you but uh went back to the garnet in It was dinner time and in spite of the hefty lunch in boston. I was hungry again, but as I went to my room to wash up It's funny. I guess I forgot to lock it. Oh, you marked it all right. What? Who are you? Johnny dollar, aren't you? That's right Well, i'm tony benson Well I saw the note you left on the door of chief sharp's office I came over here to wait for you got tired of standing around so I came up here and slipped the lock with a business card Any objection and um If I decided that uh, you should be held for breaking and entering Well, it's a lot better than being held for murder, isn't it murder? Well, that's what that crazy old police chief would do in a minute if uh He could cook up something wrong about the way old kirkman's car went over that cliff. Oh, you know about it Doesn't everybody But I don't want anybody accusing me of murder Why should they because they all think I had a grudge against kirkman. That's why didn't you No wasn't him that did me dirt it was that Well, it was mona that left me flat if I had a grudge against anybody it was against her not him Well, if you don't believe me ask her maybe I will Anyhow when I found out you were here At least I knew I'd get a fair shake for a change. Tony you said murder Hmm, what makes you think kirkman was murdered when all the signs point to an accident out there? Hmm Oh Well, uh Now listen all all I said was that old chief sharp at trying Well, you know cook up something or something just because he Well, he doesn't like me. Maybe he has good reason Yeah Wait a minute Johnny dollar My name is milder darmstrong. Mr. Dollar. Yes, I must see you right away. Oh, what about you know very well What about about john kirkman, and I'm not the one who murdered I mean had him murdered what makes you think he's been murdered miss armstrong Well, he's dead, isn't he? Yes, he's dead. All right, but it looked like an accident. Oh, I didn't know Then there won't be any silly suspicion of me. What should they be? I beg your pardon. Are you here in center harbour? Yes. Why? Well, then I think you'd better come on over here and see me now Would you rather I had chief sharp bring you over Very well, just not out I'll be over to see you. All right. Now tony So Maybe now you got a better suspect, huh? What do you mean by that? Well, I mean if old kirkman was murdered I mean what you said to that armstrong dame is now look if you want my opinion. No, thank you Oh now what? Mr. Um, johnny dollar. That's right. Well, I'm glad to see you here. My name is Hi, charlie boy. Come on in join the party. Mr. Hock away, isn't oh, yes At this point, I guess I can only say I've been expecting you I'm afraid I I don't understand. Well, you came to tell me perhaps that uh, I didn't murder john kirkman That word seems to be getting pretty common around here. Oh, what's that? How do you know he's been murdered? Oh, I see A little slip of the tongue and you've immediately become suspicious Well, don't old man because there's no reason to what I meant was Uh, well, you know now, what did you mean, mr. Hock away? Well, just that if there should turn out to be anything suspicious about the uh Well, let's face it dollar kirkman and I were not on very good terms. Yes, so I understand Poor charlie is sticking your neck out But if there should be any question of murder, old man Well needless to say I didn't do it. That's right. I'm glad you understand Sit down. I'll go in. Oh, uh, surely Chief Yeah, this is miss armstrong. Mr. Dollar met her on the way over after I checked with frank marshall about the car Oh, uh, won't you go on in miss armstrong? Yes, so where the other two are that I Uh, yeah Where'd you find them mr. Dollar? Let's say they found me chief. Uh, have you checked with dr. Hibben? Yeah, let's shut this door a little sure Looks like we were wrong Doc says it was the accident killed mr. Kirkman. No doubt about it So all this round up suspects Chief what did frank marshall say about the brakes on the car? He went over it with a fine tooth called mr. Dollar Nothing tampered with no loose connections. Nothing wrong at all I see Well me one thing There was no fluid in the brake lines You know that copper tubing that carries the fluid Oh But only because of a tiny little leak a little holes are small that even his smallest drill wouldn't fit in it That car is pretty new. Yeah So it must have been just a defective piece of that tubing that fluid leak out. Wait a minute. Hold everything Chief Yeah, go on in there and keep an eye on the suspect while I go over and take a look at that car Yeah, but I thought the suspect that's right But who which one judging by the way they all descended on me is to make sure I wouldn't suspect them It could be any one of them, but you just sit tight right here and we'll see Now uh, yes frank well like I told chief sharp mr. Dollar Must have been an accident He's brake lines on this cab and tampered with and I would have known it right away I'm sure you would prank sure any wrench or other tool been put on any connections any bleeder lines I didn't notice kind of it would have disturbed the mud from that last rain. We had would let the mark No saw marks anything like that anywhere on that copper tubing And I also checked the master cylinder and all four wheel cylinders too Well, then how do you account for no fluid in the lines? Well, I thought about that myself Count of I checked the fluid level last time I did a lube jar on this car last week The chief said that there is a small hole in one of the lines. Yes, that's a defect in the tubing At least wise, it's much too small for any drill point. Is it? Oh, yes, sir And I know because I got drill points in my kit all the way down to 128th of an inch the hole's a lot smaller than that Is it all right if I get under and take a look? Oh sure go ahead Yeah, you can use this crawl here just lay down roll under good You have a flashlight. Yeah, sure sure Yeah right here Is there any kind of a magnifying glass around here? Yeah, sure You can use this little pocket magnify if you want okay fine The hole in that copper tubing that carries the brake fluid was tiny But under the magnifying glass it was all too obvious that someone had drilled it there And remember this Where an ordinary metal drill leaves a burr a bit of metal shaving on the edge of a hole that it's cut Here there was none See it under there Too small for any kind of drill Much too small Any kind Sorry Frank. That's where you're wrong Oh, howdy mr. Dollar chief. Well, where you been dolly? I'm digging up another suspect for the murder that wasn't a murder after all Yes, the chief is just told us it was an accident due to faulty brakes. All right. It's uh, it's all over. It's all settled Yeah, so you see mr. Dollar. I told you there was no cause for suspicion right so come on. Let's get out of here Just one question first. Yeah Tony Yeah You're a dental assistant aren't you? Well, yeah, that's right then you ought to be more careful with the equipment Well, now, what do you mean by that? I don't you remember what you did with this dental drill that you borrowed from the office Well, this tiny drill that you used to drill a hole in that brake line No, you don't remember where you put this drill without bothering to clean it without bothering to clean off the chips of copper on it After you used it on the brake line Well, Tony You're pretty smart, you know No Just smart enough so Once again It's up to the courts And how about the switch on this one? I mean the logical suspect being the logical suspect for once Expense account total including board and room mileage on the rental car and the trip back to heartford plus incidentals, of course 81 50 yours truly johnny dollar Here is our star to tell you about next week's story Next week one of the cleverest ways to work a racket that ever tripped up a crook Join us, won't you? yours truly Johnny dollar Johnny dollar is written by jack johnstone Produced and directed by bruno zirato jr Musical supervision by ethyl huber Johnny dollar is played by mandel kramer Also featured in our cast where the orathatcher is mildred William mason as tony robert donnelly as chris robert dryden as the police chief friendled osborne as charles Arthur cole as the doctor And bill lipton as frank Be sure to join us next week same time same station for another exciting story of yours truly johnny dollar This is art hannah speaking Newport curby's favorite program the gary moore show on the cbs radio network at row 59 on your tri-cities dial This is w water w music in olden a new york Young man, are you gambling with your future? Going round and round in circles waiting for a break Has lady luck smiled on you lately? But your future is still ahead of you Why not kiss lady luck? Goodbye And put the odds in your favor Choose your own job training in today's army And then watch your future pay off you can choose job training before you