 The signal oil program The whistler 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 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 the 11th hour The clock on the black panel wall ready 11 when Lord Hempley presiding chief justice Straightened the folds of his robe adjusted his powdered wig and nodded curtly to the prosecuting attorney to open the case for the crown To the accused in the prisoner's dock the time was significant It was the 11th hour in more ways than one Everyone in the courtroom knew already that the trial was strictly a British formality that a verdict of guilty was only a matter of time The prosecution will make it amply clear in terms of evidence that not only is this a crime of murder That murder of the basis sought willful cruel and premeditated There is a story behind this crime gentlemen the story that had its beginning some weeks ago in Torquay Yes, it began in Torquay Had one of the lovely resort hotels there looking down on the white beach and blue water In a way, it was the 11th hour even then for the man who stepped up to register at the desk Leslie Garthwaite Alberta Canada right. Yes, sir now about your room. I want the best there is Clark I've been told that this place has the finest accommodation on the south coast. Oh, please don't disappoint. Oh, of course, Mr Garthwaite a boy Showns the Garthwaite to the and that of earth's weakness If you come a little earlier, sir, but all the tables overlooking the water occupy. Oh, that's too bad waiter I'd look forward to watching the sunset. However, sometimes our guests will consent to sharing tables Perhaps that young lady dining alone in the far corner the young lady Oh, that would be most agreeable if the lady doesn't mind. I should be delighted. Excellent. If you'll excuse me, sir I will consult her wishes. You don't care for tea, Mr. Garthwaite. Oh, I have it on occasion, but not up Does that shock you? Well, it seems disloyal somehow. You're Canadian. I just can't understand I mean when you were so kind as to share your table with me I didn't realize that we'd be discussing such weighty matter Yet can't we leave the international problems to the United Nations? You're an unusual person. Is that a compliment? I'm not sure Perhaps you'd better tell me more about your launch in Canada. Oh, I warn you, Miss Townsend I could be a crashing bore on the subject of cattle. The head waiters handy in case of emergency. I'll risk it. Proceed, Mr. Garthwaite You were saying there's more to the care and feeding of a steer than meets the eye. Oh, I could go on for hours. Perhaps days Oh, please do, Mr. Garthwaite. Very well, Miss Townsend. You're a very skillful conversationalist Or have I said that before? Why so? You prey on feminine curiosity Do you realize that it's five days now since you came to talk to each other and it's five days to the hour And in spite of my recognized skill at the art of cross examination, you still remain a man of mystery. Oh, now see here That's not fair. Now, I've turned you over. Yes, I know We've gone into your Canada ranch at great length. Touched for a moment on a ridder's of a two-and-a-half Well, I think that's rather good for five days. But still you elude me. Like a bug I can't quite impale on a pin. Oh, frightening metaphor to say the very least. No matter Leslie, you see before you a frustrated woman. Thank you, Cynthia Tell me Leslie. Are you married? Oh, yes, indeed. And who is they? Oh, seven wives in fact three in Canada two in South Africa One in Australia and the other the youngest one if I remember rattling around somewhere in the Malay Archipelago. Will you be serious? Are you? Why, I... I... Are you serious, Cynthia? Or is this... I don't know Leslie I don't know. Can pass quickly in a place like Torquay with a girl like Cynthia Townsend Cynthia crossed the table three times a day Cynthia in his arms in the magic gloom of the dance floor Cynthia by moonlight in the terrace gardens behind the hotel And it was bearing down on him now with a two-week slipping by with the last day rushing toward him like an express train When it came as he knew it must Cynthia was there too in the compartment of the train that was to take him away As he looked down at her the final quality of the moment hit home Was almost gone now the 11th hour was ticking itself out Well, here we are Leslie. Yes, we cut it rather close 25 past we we have a couple of minutes. It seems only a moment ago that we had two weeks Yes, it did sort of slip by didn't it? How long are you going to stay in London? I can't tell I I have a few things to clear up and then then what? Canada I suppose it must be lovely and Canada this time of year. Oh, it is very lovely I'll be going back to London in another week Leslie you have our address if by any chance you can manage it Yes, Cynthia. Yes, I'll look you up. I Perhaps you better run along. Yes Well, what do I say? It's been nice knowing you Leslie. It was a delightful holiday. I hope we'll meet again somewhere and Cynthia darling, I can't bring it up there. I can't be clever anymore And I please I've told her that I can't see you again I can't let you go off like this Leslie. You've got to understand Sticky space. Oh, oh, I'm sorry. That's quite all right conductor Cynthia you've got to go now. The train's about to leave Goodbye Cynthia. Goodbye Leslie. Goodbye Guys have your ticket sir. Yes. Thank you, sir Wow, I'm afraid you're in the wrong compartment my man. This year's a third class ticket. Yes, I'm aware of that My baggage is back there now. Oh Why are you here? I'll never mind conductor. I'm afraid You wouldn't understand It's over now back to the third class compartment And more than that back to a third class life in an upstairs flattened over Leslie Garthwaite has gone along with those two stolen weeks in Torquay and you're back to what you were before Alfred G. Treadle traveler and men shoes married to a dumpy middle-class woman named flora You sit across the table from her now Watching her sip her tea the tea that has become a symbol of your life with flora You wait for the questions, you know are bound to come Your tea's getting cold Alfred. I said I've had enough flora. Why do you keep insisting? Why Alfred? I just think it's nice to sit down at the table once in a while with my husband I see so little of you dear. Oh, let's not go into that again. I'm sorry Did you have a nice trip? Oh quite nice. Thank you. Yeah, you haven't told me about the investment I was waiting for you to ask. Well, it's only natural that I'm concerned Alfred after all it It's your money and there isn't very much of it as I know flora Well, please rest assured that it's soundly invested, but I don't understand why you've nothing to show for it Shouldn't there be stock certificates or receipts or something? I told you there will be eventually now, please Let's leave it at that. Will you but 200 pounds is it 200 pounds is nothing to the syndicate? Well, it's a lot of money to me. Well, you'll have your pretty green certificates when the time comes very well Alfred What's the matter Alfred? Why you're looking at me? Clearly I'm trying to estimate the number of cups of tea you consume in a year That's not very kind. No, I suppose not. I have very little else to do home alone weeks on end while you're away on trips Sometimes I wonder what you're doing while you're away. It's very simple. I sell shoes and it's all very exciting. Oh, you needn't be sarcastic It seems on the few days you are home. You could at least be civil That 200 pounds is a good part of my life saving must you keep hammering away at a 200 pound Well, I think it's very odd. I've explained it a dozen times if I did it once for I'm not going through it again Don't have to raise your voice Alfred. You know is he stoned downstairs? She's probably listening to every word. Well, that's a landlady's prerogative, and I hope she enjoys it Good night, Laura. I'm going to bed Yes, Alfred you're home for a week now between business trips But as the days pass you find that only part of you is here in the house with Flora She's on your mind constantly and you're thankful you had the nerve to ask Flora for the money the investment money To finance those two last stolen weeks The 11th hour Well, there was still a little charm left still the possibility of romance and excitement and the love of a girl like But you were wrong when you thought you could put it all behind you Sinsi is there in your mind to stay Alfred and by the end of the week, you know you have to go back to her somehow Have you got the money Flora? Yes, Alfred 200 pounds. Let's see Oh good Well, I'm all back now. I'd better be this will be the last of the money. Won't it Alfred? Well, I hope so the representative wasn't entirely clear over the phone I wish you'd let me talk to him, but I please try to understand Flora There's no talking to anyone until the land is ours. Is that clear? All right, Alfred. I suppose it will have to be this way for the present With the prologue of the 11th hour the signal oil company is bringing you another strange story by the whistler But now I'd like to have a word with you folks who are new to the West You've no doubt already discovered that wherever you drive throughout the Pacific Coast states Signal gasoline is known as the go farther gasoline And you've heard me tell how the signal organization has grown from a mere handful of stations in Southern California To almost 2,000 dealer-owned signal service stations serving six Western states from Canada to Mexico Now isn't it only logical that there must be good reasons for this increasing preference for signal and there are I Could tell you about the extra efficiency signal gets from your motor that makes possible not only signal famous mileage But also more thrilling performance for your car extra driving pleasure for you But after all there's only one way you'll ever really know how good signal gasoline is That's by trying a tank full in your own car Will you do that? My bet is that when you step down on your accelerator and feel that swift signal pick up that smooth knock-free signal power From now on you too will join the switch to signal And now back to the whistler Yes, Alfred it was desperation that made you decide to lie to flora to take her money and run away to Torquee for the most Exciting to which you've ever known But there were things you hadn't counted on Things you find you can't forget now as the train takes you to London and the dark haired girl Who knows you only by the name you had engraved on expensive cars Leslie Garthwaite Leslie Garthwaite world traveler wealthy rancher adventurer Somehow you don't care about the consequences now as you dial since he is number from the phone booth in Victoria station They'll be away some way to take care of Alfred Fredl in the other life in Dover the life You forget at the sound of Cynthia's voice Cynthia. Yes, Cynthia. It's me. You've got to come over some friends are here. We're having cocktail Why I really wanted to see you alone Nonsense they'll love you to be here right away. All right Cynthia. I'll be there right away I'll make it quick there. They all practically know you anyway Clyde Winters Leslie Garthwaite Mr. And Mrs. Wedding Mr. Whitley Oh, there he is come in here father. I want you to meet Leslie. Oh How do you do Garthwaite? Well, how do you do sir? Certainly been hearing about you. Yeah, let me introduce you to a gin and bitter. Oh, thank you And we'll have a little chat about on the terrace away from the excitement. I'd enjoy it very much, sir Yes, Alfred, you'll enjoy it because you're enjoying everything about this party of Cynthia You fit in because everything you say to them is just right Even the things you say to Cynthia's father out on the terrace overlooking London. I suppose you know my boy That since is quite in love with you or your daughter is a very frank person She gets it from me Leslie Tell you quite bluntly, but I was worried when she came back from talkie I thought she'd run into another fortune hunter. Oh, I understand a man in your position has to be careful Yeah, indeed, of course when you delayed so longing looking you're up I felt relieved. Well, the reason was a simple one mr. Tons And I delayed seeing Cynthia because I too must be aware of fortune hunters Oh You're all right, Leslie. I hope we pass muster with you. Oh, you have sir decided no fine Now tell me where you staying while you're here. Oh, why? Well, I really wasn't able to get anything decent as a matter of fact. I thought so now say no more my boy I've got something for you something fitting Now Jeff we know is vacating the finest sweet Barclay Towers. I can get it for you Barclay Towers. Yeah, most excuse is part of them all, you know, I'll call them about a lease. Oh, but I now now No, thanks. No, thanks. That's the necessary my boy. I'm happy to do it After all you may be one of the families someday You've got to send the money I tell you we'll lose every penny if we back out now You're being very foolish for them very but I won't argue with you on the telephone I'm coming back to Dover directly. It won't do any good. Oh, never mind. We'll talk about it when I get there Drink your tea. I don't want any more tea flora. I can't sit here idly sipping tea when you refuse to see the loss We face Mrs. Stone Alfred, you know, she listens to every word we say. Oh hang this is stone I'm talking about us flora. You and me. We can't afford to lose our investment All right, Alfred But this is the last time the very last you You'll give me the money. It's in that envelope on the mantel You intended to give it to me all the time. Yes, I suppose I did But only because I'm going to London with you this time. I said I'm going with you Alfred We'll talk to this man together. What man the one who's making the investments for you. Oh, oh, yes, of course This Leslie Garthwaite. I want to meet him Leslie Garthwaite What are you saying? What do you know about? About him. Oh only that he's the one you're dealing with Alfred. Oh, there's no use denying it The last time you are here you left a card of his in the pocket of your tweed a card a very fancy card indeed Engraved with nothing but that name Leslie Garthwaite except of course for for the pencil of notation Yes, you've written the name of a hotel in Torquay Oh, yes Yes, well Garthwaite was going there. I thought I might have to look him up Torquay indeed Is he that rich Alfred that he can go there? Well, I I don't know mr. Garthwaite habits flora Yet you'd give my money to a man. You know so little about you needn't worry about him flora. I know that much How do you know who is he? What's his background? Where's he from Alfred? Leslie Garthwaite is a Very fine man flora. You must take my word for it. I'll have to until I get to London and meet him myself Where are you going Alfred? Don't walk off when I'm talking to you're getting so you don't even care how you treat me Alfred But you don't stop do you Alfred? No Because if you're with flora another minute, you're not sure what might happen So you leave the flat and hurry downstairs anxious to be outside to get a breath of air It's just as you're passing mrs. Stone's door that you hear the words that send your mind spinning wildly How he talked to that poor wife of his no idea at all. I think with the wonder there hasn't been a murder up there Yes, Alfred. It's a wonder even to the neighbor And somehow that puts a new light on the situation Offers an escape that hadn't occurred to you before Part of it is clear now Alfred treddle is going to murder his wife and flee the country You walk on the rest of the plan forming slowly with each step By the time you reach the pied pipers haven't you know exactly what you plan to do There will be no covering up on the contrary you draw attention to your plan That's the way I feel ollie. I can't help it. I'm sick of it child of the whole thing Yeah, no elf. That's no way to be talking about your mrs You don't know who will hear you or what they'll think. Well, it's the truth ollie. I don't care who hears me I'm going away. I'm going to leave her and go to the continent I've got my ticket already the best thing you can do elf Is get on home. You've had too much. You don't know what you're saying. All right ollie All right, I'll go home But just to pack my thing that's all Here I think that's the right amount. I want a ticket to cali one way sir one way She'll be selling probably at 10 o'clock sir. It's just about half an hour. Now. Uh, what's the name, please? treddle Alfred treddle You move away from the ticket window, but not to board the boat No outfit you haven't any intention of getting on that boat have you All you want is to have that clerk remember you So that what he has to say later will match your friend ollie's testimony You are going to the continent you said so in a careless moment And that's where they'll search for you somewhere on the continent Only before they discover florida's body the boat will have docked cali and all the passengers will have disembarked It'll be a long search wounded alfred and while they're searching Leslie garthwaite will be honeymooning in canada and it should be a simple matter alfred to make the honeymoon a long Yes, the way is clear now In knowing it you're not your usual self as you return to florida Somehow you find yourself calm actually polite and when she offers you the usual cup of tea You accept it for once without a theme even her sniveling self pity leaves you unruffled But please florida don't get too excited. How can I help it? Well, you walk out when i'm speaking to you alfred and don't come back till you're ready I'm missus stone florida. I don't care. It's got to stop alfred. There's got to be an end to it There will be now sit down my dear and finish your tea now I've told you how happy I am that we're going to london together You you haven't been kind to me Things are going to be different florida. I promise you that Yeah, now you finish your tea and we'll be on our way I don't want any more alfred If you've finished we'll leave now. I doubt it. You say florida You turn out the lights and i'll carry the bags downstairs. All right You're coming florida be right there. I didn't want to forget anything being so nervous and all Oh now we must forget that florida. You're going to have a pleasant trip your Yes, mrs. Stone well, it's you Anything wrong in a man and his wife going on a little holiday Going out together for a change, eh? Please mrs. Stone. Oh, I think it's nice mrs. Treadle Nice to see you being civil to each other for a change Oh, now this is stone. We uh, we realize that some of our Domesticate difficulties might have caused a strain on you and some of the others but It isn't going to be that way anymore alfred's right. There's to be no more quarrelling Not ever that's right. Mrs. Stone No more quarrelling ever The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime I have some surprising facts for you drivers who wonder whether the kind of oil you choose for your motor Really makes any difference in the way your car runs In an actual road test two identical cars were run over 70 000 miles One using today's finest straight motor oil The other using signal premium motor oil the new type signal lubricant that combines 100 pure paraffin base with five scientific compounds When these motors were torn down for inspection The one using signal premium oil had only one sixth as much carbon deposit and one third less cylinder wear Now what does this mean to you? Well less carbon means that your motor runs quieter smoother and less cylinder wear means more power Good reason I'd say for making your next oil change a change to this new type signal oil That's your guarantee of a sweeter running motor signal premium motor oil Now back to the whistler Yes, the verdict in the murder trial taking place in the courtroom of the old baylee was a foregone conclusion The judge the jury the spectators and most important of all the prisoner Shifting restlessly in the dark knew it from the moment the trial began But there was a moment of real excitement when the accused finally took the stand When the council for the crown finally asked the one all important question. Will you answer that question? Yes or no Yes He took all my money and he was going to run off to calais leave me I did it I put the poison in opera tea So be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each wednesday at the 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 at sensible speed Be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life Possibly your own good in tonight's story were ben right and estimation The whistler was produced by george w allen with story by joel malone and harrell swanton music by wilbur hatch And was transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio circle This is marvin miller speaking. This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system