 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 time for the signal oil program the Whistler Rated by independent research the most popular West Coast program In gasoline, you know it takes extra quality to go farther and signal is the famous go farther gasoline So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies signal service stations from Canada to Mexico And now the Whistler strange story The choice When the door of his office opened Mark Fallon didn't have to turn away from the window to know that it was Harry Chang coming in for more of the voucher It had happened so often during the past five weeks that the sound of Chang's shuffling walk was sandpaper on Mark's nerve So instead of turning he sat for a moment looking out through the gold lettering that fell Fang importing company on the window looking down on the Grant Avenue Where they were putting up the first decorations for the Chinese New Year celebration Then when he was sure he had enough control to make his approach seem casual He idly swung in his chair and face the little bookkeeper. Oh Hello, Chang you back again. Yes Mr. Wu said I could check some items on one of the files if it's all right with you sure Mr. Wu's orders and only the office manager here, but I'm afraid Sam is locked up for the night Then perhaps you'd rather I waited till morning. Oh makes no difference to me. I'll get Sammy Sammy bring in the keys will you Harry Chang wants to get something out of the files. Yeah Have you right in thank you forget it by the way, how's your research coming? Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said anything But everybody knows you're going through the files systematically and Everybody knows why my brother didn't steal that money from the company, Mr. Fallon If I can find the evidence that will get him out. Yeah, sure. I know only the jury said he was guilty Chang. Oh Come on in Saniel Hello, Chang more files if you please sure Let me see now. You want the carter file. How did you know that mr. Samuels? I oh Samuels just happened to notice that the last file you had out was a Carson C. A. R. S. C. A. R. T. Carter'd be next yeah, yeah, that's it unless you're taking the skipping around the alphabet. I didn't think of skipping around But perhaps it is a good idea if you don't mind, huh? Well, uh, no No, we don't mind What file do you want? I think I will start on Randall Randall Well, sure sure Samuels get them Randall right away. Here we are Well, I do it. Yes Thank you Thank you both Good night. What did you have to do that for? What what did I do? Why did you have to suggest that he starts skipping around? Oh, what took Randall, didn't he? Law of averages will take care of it sure sure in the same laws I will make him put his hands in that phony McAllister file any day You may want to change places with Harry Chang's brother in prison, but I don't mark you making something out of nothing Tell you I fix those books so they'll never spot anything They got by the trial investigation didn't they ever they won't get by Harry Chang I'll give you odds on that I get the odds This deal nothing will do but a sure thing Okay, okay, but there's no place to talk about it somebody's level to walk in maybe tonight. Yeah tonight We talked tonight If we don't want to wind up with a number for a name we better talk fast Yes mark the time for fast talking has come sooner than you expected But then you should have known you were in for trouble the day Harry Chang started going through those records When it was ABC You had time before he'd reach Samuel's forgeries in the McAllister account But now it's almost as if you could feel his fingers around your throat already and Something else you've noted Samuel's is calm about it Almost too calm and when he comes across the hall to your apartment later that evening He brings his girlfriend Lena with him Well mark darling, what is this no drink no bright same Don't mind in Lena. He just knows his own scotch better than we do. I had a couple of drinks before you came I didn't know this was gonna be a social evening and that takes care of little Lena Excess baggage again forget it. We didn't have anything important to talk about anyhow. No, not a thing Well, how about it? Do I get thrown out or do I get another drink you got another drink same mm-hmm? I am excuse me. I come to talk to Samuel's Samuel's you got the wrong place. He lives across the hall. I run across the hall. He ain't there I knew you was his pal. I want to talk to him. Well, he might drop by later. What was it about? I'll talk to him. You know Radegin ain't gonna like being stalled Radegin. Who's he? I'm afraid Sammy's gambling debts are showing. I've been gambling again. Has he so that's it I'll just come in and wait for him. You're not invited. I'm coming in Listen you two a bit bull gone if you like your teeth where they are get your foot out of that door. I'm coming in Okay, you Mark darling The things I didn't know about you don't forget it Don't you know I don't want to forget it mark. What is this? What happened? This is it Sam? This is too much now. We got petty mobsters hanging around Okay, how much did you lose this time? 6,000 but I don't have to answer to you for everything I do look We got enough trouble with Cheng without Radegin snooping around too. You're gonna pay off that debt if it takes every cent You got but suppose he hasn't got any more then he'll get it and get it quick This is all very funny standing around listening to you. Tell me what I'm gonna do more. Yeah, but there's something I've been meaning to tell you and now it's as good a time as any If Harry Chang happens to get lucky with those books Do you think I was sappy enough to leave him so they'd point at me wait a minute What are you getting that Samuel? I Mean while I was doing the pen work. It was easy enough to put your okay on every one of the vouchers And until I decide otherwise, I think you and I better go right on being the very best friend With the prologue of tonight's story the choice the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the whistler Now in place of a message about signal gasoline usually heard at this time on the whistler Signal oil company has asked me to devote this time tonight to something mighty close to your heart and your home Have you ever asked yourself what you would do if infantile paralysis should strike someone in your home? Treatment is expensive and long and iron lung cost $1,300 Fortunately, however, you wouldn't have to worry about cost for today the National Foundation for infantile paralysis Guarantees every victim of this dread disease regardless of age race creed or color the immediate scientific care which alone can prevent tragic crippling and Where does the foundation get the millions of dollars needed for this great mission of mercy? Why from the dimes that you contribute during the annual March of dimes which starts day after tomorrow? When you consider there were over 24,000 victims of infantile paralysis last year you can realize how much every dime counts So don't just say yes, I'll have to do something about that get out an envelope tonight Address it to March of dimes headquarters in your city drop in a few dimes or a few dollars Whatever you can spare then mail it tomorrow morning Infantile paralysis strikes suddenly Let us be as quick in our cooperation to stamp it out And now back to the whistler Mark There it is the phony McAllister account the trial Harry Chang's game of ABC's Your friend Samuel happy-go-lucky ways and your name on every one of the Forge vouchers Yes, you can add it all up, but it's one account. You'll have trouble balancing But at least you're sure of one thing you've got to see that Harry Chang never gets to the M file And you've got to watch Samuels at the same time That means you'll need help and an hour after Lena and Samuels have gone. You've made a date for yourself Well, here's looking at you Lena and do you like what you see I'm not throwing any rocks, am I? You've been known to By the way, Lena, you made a remark tonight about Samuel's not being able to pay off that debt to Radigan. Oh So we're not gonna talk business me. I'm sorry. It's Kevin if you want to I was just curious well Of course, I wouldn't know Sammy's personal affairs, but oh there was the cutest little bracelet I wanted and then we we haven't been going many places lately. Well, we Had to do something about that you probably could go places with the right guy and You're the kind of a girl who should have cute little bracelets. Well Tell me more. Oh, it's Just that if we were real nice and helpful to each other Lena This might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship You know something Mark I'll drink to that You were right Mark You've always felt you could count on Lena's the need ever came So for the next few days you're thoughtful and attentive and you begin to see her part in a plan that's taking shape in your mind But then something happened suddenly that makes you glad you were prepared It's New Year Chinese New Year's of course and you're alone in the office when Inspector Morrison of the Chinatown squad drop scene Sit down. Weren't you Inspector? What can I do for you? Nothing serious wondered how well you knew Harry Cheng. Oh well As well as you get to know anybody who works in the same company with you Don't know anything about his personal business and finances and so forth. No, I wouldn't know about that What is it seems Harry Cheng's been going around Chinatown trying to borrow money? $6,000 Yeah Mean anything to you? No, no inspector. It doesn't mean a thing But it does mean something doesn't it Mark yeah 6,000 it couldn't be coincidence, but it's exactly the same amount Samuels owes radicals He's going to sell you down the river for the 6,000 that Cheng is canvassing Chinatown to borrow The minute the inspector leaves he'll rush to the filing cabinet Locked you break into Samuel's desk and a few seconds later Sling lions a berry McAfee That's what I thought We're down to the office. Come in. All right. What are you talking about and what a file? Do you say what? It's gone. Stop stalling hand it over Mark. So it helped me You look at Samuels. Come on. Come on for the love of them. I haven't got it believe me. I haven't got it You've already turned it over to Cheng. I Had to kill you for this Samuels If I don't get that file back, maybe I will Stick around Samuels. We'll have a little talk when I get back. Where you going? Never mind But you're not here when I get back out. Oh Hello inspector. Hello Fallon you again Samuels around Yeah, yeah, he's here inspector thought he might know something about our friend Cheng Yeah, he might have thought inspector. Why don't you ask him? I am sure Sammy will know how to answer your questions Even if I'm not around This is a surprise mr. Fallon. I hope you will excuse the state of my room. Oh sure It's okay, Cheng matter of fact. I really thought you'd be out celebrating New Year's. I have work to do Oh, I see you're still working on the Randall vouchers. You need them at the office. No, not these Cheng But I I was looking for a few of our other old accounts. I thought you might possibly have them here the The McAllister file for one No, I don't have it mr. Fallon. So I see well What's that? Yeah Almost forgot the children have been dropping them off the roof of the building across the way you can see them up there now Yeah Say that's a kind of a dangerous place for kids They try to keep them off, but they get up at a fire escape in the rear Children have no fear of danger No, I guess they don't oh well happy new year to you Cheng. See you at the office in the morning Will you see Cheng at the office in the morning mark? You didn't find the McAllister vouchers, but you found something else as you stood staring at the roof across the way The sharp noise of the firecrackers popping in your ear The plan isn't hazy in your mind anymore You'll phone Lena from the cigar store on the corner and 10 minutes later You drive into the basement garage of your apartment house. You carefully loosen the valve in one of your tire That's the first step The second comes at exactly 925 when you're back in the basement knocking on the janitor's door Hello Charlie say I hate to disturb you at this hour, but how'd you like to make a couple of bucks? Oh, it's me never turned on a chance to pick up an honest buck or is it not well relatively Charlie relevant I just want you to change a tire for me sure sure thing mr. I'm going back up to my apartment here the keys if the lock gives you some trouble just to work it around a bit I'll bring them up to you in about half an hour. Okay, no rush at all Charlie. Take your time. Take your time Yes by all means Take your time You're counting on that aren't you mark about 20 minutes of Charlie's time 20 minutes in the garage and the way from his apartment You watch him as he disappears down the corridor and then you slip through his apartment and out into the court behind the building You glance at your watch exactly 930 and Lena picks you up right on schedule Good girl Lena. She bring the gun. Yes. All right. This light over me in the driver's seat Yes mark you're in the driver's seat now and you're going to make sure you stay there You head up California Street over the hill and down toward Chinatown Then while Lena waits in the car you thread your way through the crowds on Grant Avenue More conscious of the cold steel in your pocket than you are of the dancing dragon and the firecrackers and the confetti You have no trouble locating the fire escape leading to the roof across from Chang Then you're looking across the gun sight Across the 30 yards that separates you from the figure bent over the book at the desk Your grip is steady and you squeeze the trigger slowly slow But your keys mr. Fallon or said are you finished already? Huh? Well, you made it fast Charlie I would have been faster, but I had trouble with the lock like you said. Yeah. Well, thanks a lot. Here you are Charlie Hey, this is five bucks mr. Fallon. I know keep it. You did me a big favor. Oh, that's darn nice of you. Good night Good night, Charlie. You just brought back the keys. I didn't go out through the lobby I didn't go out through the garage. In fact, I didn't go out at all We're completely in the clear In the clear and it was so simple just an extra loud firecracker in the New Year's celebration Just a slug of lead screaming across 30 yards and a figure slumped over a desk What the next morning when you step into the hall, you know something is wrong The hall seems to be swarming with policemen and standing before the open door of Samuel's apartment You'll recognize Inspector Morrison. Oh, good morning Inspector. What's going on? Good morning, Fallon Just coming over to see you see me. Oh, why about a friend of yours? Oh Are you still checking up on Harry Chang? No, this time. It's about Samuel's Samuel's what about him? He was murdered last night. What did you say? He's dead Fallon I thought you might want to come down to headquarters and talk about it a little while. Well, look I Don't know anything about it. You're a pal of his Fallon. You could give us some idea who might have reason to get him. Wait a minute Rattigan who? Sure, Inspector. I might be able to tell you I had reason to get him. Shall we get down to headquarters now? Though Samuel's is dead mark and suddenly you realize that this has worked out better than you'd hoped With Samuel's out of the way. You've got that sure thing you've wanted so long So naturally you're more than willing to tell the inspector the whole story of Samuel gambling debt And the baby faced hoodlum who was out looking for him in fact, you're so busy giving the inspector the information He wants that you're entirely unprepared for the question. He asks you when you reach the hall of justice Well, that's all very interesting. Now that reminds me I came to Samuel's door yesterday, too What were you two arguing about? arguing oh Oh, I guess we were a little sore at each other. I don't even remember what it was about now I thought you two might have been arguing about this guy Harry Chang Chang What's he got to do with this? Suppose we ask him Send in Harry Chang Yes, I forgot to tell you Fallon That's another interesting angle of this case Seems that somebody tried to bump Chang off last night, too Yeah, oh Come in mr. Chang be within a minute. Have a seat. Thank you inspector Good morning, mr. Fallon. Hello, Chang. I Just heard about your accident last night your head Bad no It's nothing Anyhow as I was saying Fallon Seems that last night between 9 30 and 10 o'clock, but the same time Samuel's was murdered Somebody tried to kill mr. Chang Now Did I remember to ask you where you were at that time last night Fallon? I Well go on Fallon We're listening. That's right mark. We're listening Where were you last night between 9 30 and 10? It's not an easy choice to make mark Your fine alibi with a janitor plants you in your apartment right across the hall from Samuel and right at the time He was murdered But there's only one way to prove you were not there and that's to confess to the attempt on the life of Harry Chang That's attempted murder One to five years in prison, but isn't that a lot better than murder in the gas chamber. It's up to you mark Name your own poison Well, how about it Fallon? I haven't heard you say anything yet. I Was out last night I see out That's not an awfully good start Fallon We already checked your apartment house You didn't leave it all night use your head inspectors Samuels was my friend You're not gonna sew me up for his murder. I was outside that door for a long time yesterday afternoon Fallon. I Couldn't catch it all but it seems Somebody was going to kill somebody all right so maybe I did threaten him But I tell you I was out of the apartment when he was killed and I can prove it I can show you how I I sneaked out of the building without being seen and I can produce a witness to testify That I was out of the building sneaked out Fallon why? Well, I Go on You don't leave me much choice inspector, but you might as well have it straight I was the guy who took the shot at Harry Chang last night and if you got the slug I can produce the gun to match it Will that convince you? I'd say it was a step in the right direction Where do we start looking for the gun? You can get it from Lena Merrick 384 Palmer apartment three, but you better break it to her gently inspector I don't think she's gonna like the way our beautiful friendship went sour The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Has your car been acting different lately? Well, it has if you're a signal customer because signal gasoline is now better much better Than even a few weeks ago you see the ingredient necessary for higher octane in gasoline has become more plentiful So the octane rating of signal gasoline has been raised not just a little mind you but a lot Which means you'll now enjoy even smoother knock-free power as you take those steep hills in high Yes, you're going to like the new driving pleasure in today's improved signal gasoline and you're going to like the mileage too After all, you know a gasoline that gets more efficiency from your motor naturally gets more mileage from each gallon That's why we say in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther and Signal is the famous go farther gasoline and now back to the whistler Well mark the books are in balance at last there was really only one choice you could make wasn't there? Too bad to tear down that beautiful alibi of yours, but it's going to keep you out of the gas chamber Of course, you wonder if it might have been better just to let Harry Chang go on with this game of ABC But it's too late to worry about it All you can do is dictate your confession to the police Tannographer and wait for the inspector to get back from Lena's with the evidence Yeah, come on in Chang. We'll need you too. Oh, well inspector. Was I right did you get the gun? Yeah, we got it and we stopped by Chang's place to pick up some files ahead. I think they're going to help clear up a lot of things Get it Should have expected that I suppose you You're gonna pin that on me too. That's right. Not that it's going to make any difference Well, at least I convinced you I wasn't at the apartment. So I couldn't have killed Samuels Who said Samuels was killed in his apartment Fallon? What? You see he went over to Chang's last night to deliver some important files Samuels was the one sitting in Chang's desk when you fired that shot and you didn't miss Okay, Chang you can take off that phony bandage now Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each Monday at 9 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 its sensible speeds be courteous and obey traffic regulations It may save a life possibly your own Featured in tonight's story were Howard Duff and Jack Petruzzi Whistler was produced by George W. Allen with story by Adrian John Doe music by Wilbur hatch and was transmitted to our Troops overseas by the Armed Forces radio service. This is Marvin Miller speaking for the signal oil company This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system