 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Bert major Masters insurance and truck. Oh, hi Bert. What's up? Poor little rich girl in California? Wants to take out a $200,000 straight life policy on her husband with herself as beneficiary a lot of dough But not too unusual if you can afford it effective in two weeks and hush-hush a surprise But who'd want us why exactly nice piece of change for the company and commissions are for her in payoff If she's playing that kind of a game you talk like you don't know her name only deal was arranged pending through her lawyer in Los Angeles Hmm, you could be out there in the morning Johnny. All right, Bert. Who gives me the fill-in our agent out there Roger hacky He'll meet you at international airport Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar And now act one of yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the home office Masters insurance and trust company Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the poor little rich girl matter Expense account item one two hundred and eighty dollars round trip plane ticket and incidentals including sunglasses Hartford to Los Angeles I arrived rested ready and right on schedule also on schedule was Roger hacky Masters Los Angeles agent Who turned out to be a repressed comedian become insurance sales if I said to myself that's Johnny dollar I said you are Johnny dollar aren't you in person you're Roger hacky in person You got the old field haven't you? Sympathical we call it out here Have a nice trip. Yeah, good. Good airplane scare me. Don't like being up there in the wild blue yonder terraverma is my dish of tea Slow, but sure they call me. Yeah. Well, now if you just follow me We'll jump in my jalopy and I'll have you at the Beverly Hilton before you can say happy hooligan. You said huh? Oh, yeah Here we go cloud of dust and all that The ride from the air terminal to the hotel was hot silent on my part and unproductive so far as the case was concerned Roger hacky kept up a running commentary on everything from bad actors to the zodiac It wasn't until I was settled in my room with drinking hand and shula's feet propped up that I could get him to switch to the $200,000 surprise her name is Cynthia Durbin. Now. How much do you know about her nothing Burt major said you'd give me the background Oh, she's a strange one. You know what a chameleon is sure a lizard that changes colors So what so that's the kind of a girl Cynthia Durbin is at least she is now you're losing me Roger begin at the beginning Now you're the doctor as the Siamese twins set after the operation. What's missing? How did you meet Cynthia Durbin? Well, she came into the office yesterday. No call. No appointment there She was oh what she like it trim real trim and expensive just casually announced She wanted to buy two hundred thousand dollars worth of insurance, huh? Well, not exactly She started asking about various policies, you know endowment straight life, etc And how and when they paid off and she kept giving me the big eye and cross leg routine She tells you anything about herself. Oh didn't have to I already knew she's practically a fixture in the society section of the Sunday papers Garden parties opening nights and all that it but only lately her husband Peter Durbin He's been a public figure ever since they get married about three years ago, but she has no no just the last couple of months or so How old is she all around 25 blonde blooming and gorgeous figuratively speaking I Take it she has the money. Yeah, right. He was a well torsoed movie bit player with a champagne appetite. I see Now what about this surprise angle now? She came right to the point said her husband had just had a complete physical asked if his doctor's report would be acceptable If so, okay, but you didn't sign her up. Why we shouldn't give me the chance What do you mean all of a sudden she reached in her purse and pulled out a piece of paper with a name and address on it Announced this was her attorney see him. She said smile big and walked out Did you go and see the attorney right away a guy by the name of Crane Collins has big plush offices downtown old senior Partner type. What did he have to say? Oh, nothing except routine questions about filling out the forms Expediting the procedure importance of secrecy for the surprise. Oh, why didn't you ask a few questions? Couldn't what do you mean couldn't she was there doing what? Sitting back in a corner all huddled up like a mouse waiting to be pounced on didn't say a word While Collins and I filled out the papers Hmm. Yeah, she signed them as if they were a death warrant went back to the corner and stared at the wall Now I see what you meant by that comedian remark. Yeah, she's too much for me. Yeah, a leopard can change its spots, too Expense account item two three dollars and twenty five cents taxi fare to the offices of Crane Collins So far all I knew was that the wealthy young woman wanted a pot full of insurance on her husband If it hadn't been for the surprise request, it would have been routine now It wasn't and the people involved one of them at least were not routine. I Was ushered into an oak panel office high above the streets of Los Angeles Good afternoon, mr. Dollar. Mr. Collins your card identifies you as an insurance investigator, mr. Dollar I don't believe I understand Cynthia Durbin is your client Yes, you represented this client yesterday in the signing of an application for a $200,000 straight life insurance policy on a husband Yes, I represent the company Everything is in order. Is it not? Insurance is a lot of things mr. Collins a surprise to the insured is one of the things it isn't My client is adamant in this respect call it a quirk if you will you expect a company to wish you a $200,000 policy on a quirk Well, how long have you known Mrs. Durbin since she was born then you know her father knew him I am his executor. Uh-huh Mother also deceased Both parents died when Cynthia was 17 I was her guardian and have been her legal advisor since she came of age was she well provided for very What kind of a man is her husband? Young about 30 tall good-looking. No, no, mr. Collins not statistics your impressions I plays an excellent game of golf gets along well with people when he wants to But you don't like him. Do you? In this profession mr. Dollar, I neither like nor dislike people I represent them and that Representation is based on fact Well in my profession we go by feel as well as fact Well, tell me candidly mr. Collins Do you think there's anything strange about this request for insurance on a husband as I said ideal in fact not feelings As a client she sought professional assistance ergo. I supplied it Where did the Durbin's live I'd rather now look I can get it from any society editor in town My secretary will give you the information. All right. Thank you By the way, don't tell Mrs. Durbin or anyone else that we've had this discussion If you do there will be no insurance issued interference with investigative procedure Fact mr. Collins I understand Expense account item three two dollars and sixty cents phone call and taxi to Roger Hackey's office a neat one story building in the miracle Mile on Wilshire Boulevard purpose to borrow Roger's company car The Durbin's lived in one of those colonial mansions out in Beverly Hills surrounded by curving driveways Spacious long swimming pool and cabanas all of it enclosed by thick high walls and electronically controlled gates The mention of insurance on the intercom got me in Cynthia Durbin was everything Roger said she was The first time he met her that is Please excuse my parents with $2.00. I've been swimming. Oh I I don't mind at all Really you shouldn't have come here to deliver the policy What if my husband has been home? No surprise, you know that would have spoiled everything Well, may I have it, please? The paperwork has not been completed yet. What are you doing here? What do you want get to the point? Well, just a few questions, Mrs. Durbin My colleague, Mr. Hackey should have handled these details yesterday, but he was somewhat rushed. Oh, and there's nothing wrong with Would you care for a drink? Thanks The bar's out by the pool Shall we? She was wearing a bikini and high-heeled beach sandals and she led the way I Was hoping it was two miles to the pool instead of the 75 yards that turned out to be I mixed the drinks and we settled down in a couple of sun lounges Oh those Details, Mr. Dollar. Just formalities actually you ought to be the beneficiary. Yes That was discussed yesterday. Oh, yeah, so was What does your husband do, Mrs. Durbin? He doesn't work if that's what you mean. He doesn't have to. I have enough for both of us Johnny, fresh in my drink, please. Oh sure So tell me did you ever contemplate divorce? Divorce. What if I make you ask a question like that? Well, of course not We've had our differences, minor one, but couple happens. Yeah, I suppose you got a point there Here you are Thank you Johnny Why did you pick two weeks from today to be the effective date of the policy? Isn't that my business? Is birthday, Mrs. Durbin? What? Your husband the surprise? Yes, yes it is, but all these questions are a big party for him. Yes. No, I don't know Johnny your husband would be worth a lot more to you dead than alive. Wouldn't he, Mrs. Durbin? Hand me that robe, please. Sure, sure There you are But you haven't answered my question. I'm sorry you you'll have to excuse me. I have a headache terrible headache Something was definitely wrong here a girl of her age should have flared at my questions Should have snapped back at me instead of blindly running away Yes, something was wrong. All right But I'd seen what I'd come to see both facets of Cynthia Durbin's personality and Was one of them actually thinking in terms of murder? My job find out yours truly Johnny dollar in a moment an interesting parallel hit me the other day When a baby takes its first three steps, everybody is happy and gives a cheer for its progress The same thing happens when a country takes important steps toward lasting world peace and freedom That great American patriot Benjamin Franklin outlined three important steps in the drive toward a lasting world peace and freedom of mankind The last and most important of these steps was and is to get the people of the world to talk to each other and to help each other This is the essence of the people-to-people program that Americans have put into operation all over the world It has been such a great success that it is beginning to work both ways Not too long ago in Korea Tom Lawrence a yeoman in the United States Navy lost his wallet on a street in Seoul The wallet was found by a 15-year-old Korean boy who gave it to his father The father promptly returned it to Lawrence with nothing missing Tom Lawrence decided that this kind of honesty should pay off He visited the seven members of the Korean family and gave them 80 pounds of rice He then promised to bring the family 50 pounds of rice each month. He remained in Korea The Korean father said I think this is much more than I deserve Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't But who can put a price on better understanding among the peoples of the world? For through better understanding of each other comes an understanding of freedom the right of all men Everywhere and now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the poor little rich girl matter I sat beside one of the plushest swimming pools in Beverly Hills alone. I finished my drink slowly Cynthia Durbin was a strange one. All right, but her actions seemed compulsory rather than natural If she really was thinking about murder for $200,000 in one chunk She was pretty crude about it If she was trying to impress her husband for some unknown reason she'd selected a mighty off-beat way to do it If she was going off her rocker Well The extension phone hung on a post beside the bar. I don't ordinarily listen in on other people's conversations But this one I got got to talk to you Something has happened. I think no Cynthia not on the phone Make me here in half an hour there is an hour here. Goodbye Cynthia Hello Eric as I stroll to my car. Nobody asked me to come back again sometime Not that I expected it. I parked a block down the street adjusted the rear-view mirror and got comfortable a Cigarette later. She came zooming out in a CAD convertible and headed my way. I Tailed a few cars of my time but this kid was either scared silly or she'd learned her evasive tactics from bull house He I lost her in the first ten blocks So I drove Roger hacky's car back to his office and prepared for the horse laugh. I had coming it came Hey Tommy do you always laugh when you're about to lose the commission on a $200,000 policy? Yeah Oh Well, what are you gonna do now Johnny? Who is Eric? Well, he's not a brother. That's for sure Oh, I Don't know you know for two cents. I turn in a negative report and go on back to Hartford. Oh wait now You can't do that. This is a big deal for you for me It's a pain in the neck, but you can't turn in a negative report just because she's got an extra curricular boyfriend You don't even know who he is and what about her husband? Yeah, what about him here? Yeah, I got the dope right here today's paper and it's a good picture of it read what it says Peter Durbin one of Los Angeles better amateur golfers plays out of Silver Oak Country Club where the state open is being held this week He's expected to finish in the top Roger, what time is it? Yeah, 430. Thanks. Oh, hey, where you going? I'm gonna try my hand at being a reporter What are you talking about Roger? I'm going to interview mr. Peter Durbin for the the interstate publicity press Association Expense account item for two dollars and forty cents camphor to the Silver Oak Country Club Which nestled in a big ravine north of Sunset Boulevard some 15 minutes from Roger's office The last players were coming in from the afternoon round when I got there and Peter Durbin was among them I waited until after the radio and TV boys had got through and then caught him in a corner of the locker Johnny dollar interstate publicity press. I'd like to ask you a few questions Well, I've already given my interviews. Well, sure. I know but this is a feature stuff This part of the day does the gallery body is stuff like that. Oh All right, but make it quick. Yes, sir. Is your wife here? No, she never watches me play. Oh, where's she now? Well at home. Where else but now see you don't you're playing a great game, mr. Durbin You'll figure you're gonna win this tournament, huh? Oh, yes I think so. McMahon has turned into 69 of us, but I'm still three strokes up on him I am I play a much steadier game than he did. Oh, yeah, sure. This is your home club, isn't it? Yes, it's one of the best in the country. Yeah mighty fine course. You must be pretty well healed. Well, I it That's none of your readers concerned. Oh, I'm sorry say you have a birthday coming up soon, haven't you? How did you know? Oh, well, you're a prominent personality, mr. Durbin We keep a file on this sort of thing on important people like you. Oh Oh, I see. I suppose you're gonna have a big affair and no as a matter of fact the annual Western Road races Fall on my birthday each year. As a reporter you should recall that I won both last year and the year before. Oh Yes, sure Well, happy birthday, mr. Durbin and good luck. Well, is that all you want? That's all I need to know. Thanks Act three of yours truly Johnny dollar in a moment No folklore could be all boastful and dynamic some of it is about the man at the bottom of the pile Like the one they tell of the traveler who just had to get across a river He argued with the boatman, but that boatman wasn't about to move Nope, not with the spring thaw making it a mighty ugly river. The traveler was insistent Finally the boatman agreed, but it was going to cost a whole quarter to get across But I ain't got but 15 cents you gotta take me for that your regular fairs only 10 cents The boatman stood firm. I ain't going that's all Anybody the link got but 15 cents. It just don't make no difference which side of the river. He's on anyhow Folklore belongs to every nation's legendary past and I guess we Americans have our share of some good ones like the one about But we'll have to save that one for the next time we travel your way See you then and now act three of yours truly Johnny dollar and the poor little rich girl matters Expensive on item five six dollars even taxi fare to the office of Attorney Crane Collins with whom I could now agree on one point I didn't like Peter Durban either It was 615 after hours when I entered the office of Collins Douglas Walsh, Hannie and James The senior partner was still there. His door was slightly a jar and I heard voices Which stopped abruptly when I Mr. Dollar Rather late in the day, isn't it? I don't keep office hours. Mr. Collins. I'm very busy, then I'll wait Very well as you wish I Wished so I waited But not for long Because about three minutes later Collins came out carefully closed the door of his office behind him and strode easily toward me Oosing his most charming professional smile No, mr. Dollar What can I do for you? Why didn't you tell me the first time I was here that Peter Durban in addition to being a first-class golfer Was also a racing enthusiast Why did you just didn't occur to me? Do you know any insurance company in the world that would issue a $200,000 policy on a man who risks his life in a racing car? Then your company will not issue the policy. What do you think? Now tell me something who is Eric? Eric, that's right well The name is not familiar to me now look mr. Collins I have a feeling that even you will admit that withholding information in connection with a possible murder is punishable by law Fact I am fully aware of that but I failed to see what that what are you doing? You didn't invite me into your office. I just wonder why is all have you no ethics man sent the ad Durban was in there a Few minutes ago wasn't she? Mr. Dollar wasn't she if it is the intention of your company not to issue the insurance to my client I will so inform her and that will end the matter so far as you are concerned Now please be good enough to leave You really don't know or care what's going on. Do you? You're so wrapped up in the letter of the law that preventing a possible murder doesn't even occur to you another one of your feelings Well, I don't have the remotest idea what you're talking about Good night, mr. Dollar. Good night, mr. Collins Expensive count item six nine dollars and fifty cents cocktails and dinner. I Should have written my report negative and high-tail it back to Hartford But when you see in your mind's eye the possibility of a racing car careening off the road at 125 miles an hour exactly two weeks from now You don't just stick to business and call it quits Eric wherever he tended bar was the key But how to find it I? Was on dessert in the evening paper giving my subconscious wine a chance to work it out when all of a sudden I was looking at it on the society page Expensive count item seven nineteen dollars including Taxi fair to Los Angeles police headquarters Where I had a pleasant chat with the captain on duty Then a tuxedo rental in the same taxi to the Statler hotel a special pass Let me and his guests at a crowded and be dual society benefit and during the party mr. Collins dollar What are you doing here enjoying the party to a mr. Mrs. Durbin arrived? You are the most annoyingly persistent individual I have ever please no compliments See you later After a few minutes I spotted it dressed to the teeth she turned suddenly and saw me I Expected surprise chagrin fear most anything but what I got Johnny I am glad to see you. I was such a boy this afternoon forgive me what your exit was rather sudden My headache's all gone. Isn't that wonderful? Why? Will you dance with me pleasure dollar? It's such an exciting name Is your husband with you tonight? No He's playing in a golf tournament and has to get his rest you came along. Yes, don't you find it warm in here all these people? Let's go out on the terrace. Hmm. Sure. Why not? Once more I was following her and it was just as interesting as the first time But my mind and eyes were elsewhere Somewhere in this crowd was the Eric I was looking for he had to be Then I spotted him 35 big and broad hawk nose circling toward the terrace from the left She threaded her way to a potted palm in a far corner of the terrace turned and looked at me Her eyes were feverishly bright in the moonlight. She was beautiful You're a very charming man, Johnny. I Wish You wish What don't find me Interesting, you haven't answered my question. Oh, I find you interesting Cynthia Who is Eric? The man you went to see this afternoon after you left me You know who I'm talking about Because you and Eric I don't know how We're planning to kill your husband two weeks from now and collect two hundred thousand dollars insurance Two weeks from now in the road race make it look like an accident. No doubt No, I ducked and whirled around as a fist graze past my ear and brought up one from the floor with all I had Oh Cynthia stood there a moment then quietly folded up and lay on the floor in a heap. Sorry What have you done to this poor girl and that man very simple comments I've been combining feel and fact The house dig and I got them out of there hawk nose to police headquarters Cynthia to a hospital Eric turned out to be a quack psychiatrists who prayed on unstable rich women and who was wanted in both New York and Florida He had a perfect setup in Cynthia Durbin until he went for murder in the big money Mrs. Durbin Well, the doctors tell me she ought to be normal mentally in a couple of years with proper psychiatric treatment Expensive count total three hundred seventeen dollars and seventy five cents yours truly Johnny dollar turn in just a moment Our flag now numbers 50 stars and behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one of the 50 states North Carolina state flag bears the initial of her name on either side of a white star Above on a yellow scroll is the date May 20th 1775 Below on a similar scroll is the date April 12th 1776 The 1775 date stands for an early declaration of independence known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence April 12th 1776 was the date of the first constitutional convention held in Halifax The Halifax Resolve was a document that placed the old north state in the front rank Both in point of time and spirit among those colonies which demanded unconditional freedom and absolute independence from any foreign power North Carolina state flag the flag of the 12th state and to the Union was adopted on March 9th 1885 Now here's our star to tell you about next week story next week a beautiful yacht a beautiful charming girl and A man who wished he'd never heard of either of them Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny doll? Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood written by Alan Botzer It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone heard in our cast were Virginia grade her bellis Frank Nelson Marvin Miller and Peter Leeds Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is Bud Sewell speaking the United States armed forces radio and television service