 Johnny dollar Earl poor man Johnny down here in Sarasota. Oh, you're a dog What a couple of weeks ago when you drag me down there to Florida I thought you were gonna take me out of the Gulf of some of those King fish We ended up fishing a body out of the bayou. What are you don't think I planned that? Oh, no, I was only kidding But if you're calling me about going down there for some fishing this time Wow, are you well? Maybe we can get out the Gulf while you're down here while I'm down there for what to find out What's happened to a policy holder of ours? Uh-oh another one of those mysterious disappearance things. No, no I want you to find out if you can whether it was suicide or murder. Oh I'll grab the first plane. I can't Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yes, truly Johnny dollar A modern filter sure Winston has it, but that's only the beginning of a Winston Upfront up where it really counts Winston packs exclusive filter blend light flavorful tobaccos specially selected and specially processed for filter smoking Filter blend that's why it's fun to smoke Winston America's best-selling filter cigarette Act one of yours truly Johnny dollar Committed by special investigated Johnny dollar to the Sarasota Florida office of tri-state life and casualty insurance company Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the fancy bridge work matter Expense account item one seventy nine dollars even plain fare and incidentals Hartford to the International Airport at Tampa Then a ferry plane to Sarasota where I was met by Earl poorman as usual in a brand new air conditioned car You know something Johnny If I'd had any sense, I'd have met you in Tampa. Oh, why do you say that? Oh? Well because this murder if it really was a murder occurred on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge About 28 or 29 miles north of town. Yeah, I wondered why we were heading north on the Tammy Emmie trail But you say if it was murder well if it was suicide Johnny if you can prove it That little take the company off the hook for some 40,000 bucks Who is the victim the insured a worthless tin horn gambler with the name of Alfie Garbert tin horn, huh? What well he must have had something to pay the premium on 40,000 worth of insurance He'd paid exactly one of those premiums John. Oh, what happened? You remember the dog racing track south of town My pocketbook still carries a couple of scars from it. Well Alfie's been losing his shirt out there night after night He's not only borrowed everything he can get his hands on moved into a third-rate motel, but he's sold most of his wife's jewelry They've been practically living on handouts Police think maybe he's responsible for a couple of robberies around town, but they haven't been able to prove anything In other words Alfie's been in pretty bad shape mentally as well as financially His wife told a doctor. She was afraid he might commit suicide So you got the picture. Yeah, yeah Well last night he and another punk by the name of Luke Thrasher got into a big fight there at the track Luke is a pretty bad actor by the way. And how do you mean that Earl? Oh, there've been a couple of unexplained murders of people who tried to cross him up back in the past by Unexplained you mean they couldn't pin them on him exactly. Oh, here now. We're on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Yeah, well, what'd they fight about? Oh Seems Alfie had welched on a bet big one Luke told him if he didn't get out of town he'd kill him so Three or four o'clock this morning Alfie's wife was at police headquarters Asking him to please find her missing husband. He hadn't come home from the track. No message from him. Nothing Is she the beneficiary of this policy? Yeah. Yeah, she is and Johnny She's just about as worthless a character as her husband Todd swam down at the Chamber of Commerce has been trying to figure some legitimate way to get them both out of Sarasota Well, is there any reason to think Alfie didn't take the hit and just leave town? He was pretty scared of Luke Thrasher made no bones about it. He asked me yet reason to be So when she reported him missing the police hold Luke off to the clinic figured he'd carried out his threat Huh until this morning just before I called you. Oh, what happened? Oh now here we are coming to the center span of this bridge. Yeah, I see yeah Well, okay, what made the police change the highest span of any bridge in the state Johnny So I've heard but look you didn't answer my question bridges 15 miles long and over a hundred feet high Yeah, I see that several suicides off this thing. Well, what does that got to do with Alfie Garber? You see the police car parked just ahead. Wow Reason they're looking things over is because that car in front of theirs is Alfie Garber's right where he left it And they figure he took the jump fishing boat down below found his hat and his jacket floating around in the bay Oh, well, that doesn't prove suicider. Oh Doesn't prove murder either Hi, lieutenant Lieutenant Dodge, this is Johnny dollar. He's a special I'm glad to see you again. Yeah. Hi lieutenant. Well, it looks like now. We got something to work on around here You will work with us. Won't you why not? Well, wait a minute What did you mean lieutenant? Mr. Prowman, we haven't found a body yet But the evidence mostly a torn piece of shirt and some blood we found here on one of the girders blood Yeah, a lot of scuff marks and things. Oh, there's no question There was a struggle before Garber was tossed off into the bay in big one murder, huh? No question about it, mr. Dollar well in early looks like your company's gonna have to pay off the beneficiary and My expense account of course now why bring that up what as long as I'm here You mind if I look at that evidence you mentioned lieutenant help yourself, darling The marks of a struggle the patches of blood on the girder even the hat and the coat that have been recovered from the body And I was inclined to agree with lieutenant Dodge. That is until Huh, what is it see this jacket again? Just an ordinary old tweed jacket darling. That's his all right. I checked it out with his wife She all broken up about him. Oh, not particularly Luke thrash it died she might have been I see Hmm no bullet holes or tears in this thing. Well, so we must taking it off before the struggle But what about this what oh? Well, that's just feather from one of those seagulls are flying around here all the time is it Well, isn't it or is it a clue that Alfie Garber wasn't murdered after all, huh? Yeah Give a thought to that lieutenant not just a minute darling How can this little feather prove that Alfie Garber wasn't murdered? I didn't say a thing about proof lieutenant. Okay? You said clue from a seagull, huh? What else? What's the difference? Yes, what are you getting at Johnny? This old dr. Crutcher still live up the street from you still does why now wait a minute darling. Yes, lieutenant You're gonna work with me on this, huh? Absolutely Then you mind telling me why this feathers got you all excited. Well, I'm not exactly sure yet Mind if I scrape a little of the blood off this girder I sure do that blood will be wanted for identification You mean if you find Garber's body we'll find it all right. We have to drag the whole place Good luck. Not that I'm gonna swing us around Earl and head us back to Sarasota. Come on swing us around a U-turn in the middle of this bridge. Mr. Pullman's right. All right. I heard Earl I'm sure the lieutenant will be glad to hold back the traffic for us Whatever you say, John But I had a boy he was gonna hold up traffic for yeah Well, if he isn't any better at solving murders. He is gonna need help on this case. I Thought you didn't think it was murder, of course It's only a hot show because of that silly little feather you found but if that came from a seagull. I'll eat my shirt Look, will you please tell me what you're up to after dr. Crutcher looks over this sample of blood the lieutenant so kindly provided drive on Earl Let's crutcher there on st. Omen's key is one of the most able men with a microscope of eminol He poured us a couple of drinks took the blood sample and retired at the tiny laboratory there at the back of his house Then after about 15 minutes now Johnny Listen relax. Oh relax and enjoy your drink We may have to do some traveling around when the doc gets through with that specimen like where if my hunch is right that is Well doc, what'd you find out? Honey putting that under lens took me back to the old days before I got my MD when I thought I was going to spend the rest Of my life as a veterinarian chicken blood, huh? Why that's right Though whatever made you think it was well and that feather was a chicken feather. I kind of thought maybe it was oh now I'm sure well then Alfie Garber wasn't murdered at all Those marks of a struggle and the blood up there on that bridge his hat and his coat They were just planted there Alfie planted them there Which means the police can forget their earliest suicide theory too doesn't it right? Alfie staged the whole thing to make it look like murder so his wife could collect his insurance Kind of looks their way doesn't it? So all his wife has to do is collect the insurance and meet him somewhere and they'll be $40,000 richer At least that's what she thinks only she's wrong. They're both wrong Right Johnny once your way to prove it out Earl. Yes, how sure? Find Alfie Garber Easy lieutenant just find Alfie Garber. Oh, we're right back where we started from yep Only trouble is that by now it could be a thousand miles away Well, at least it takes that insurance company years off the hook. Yeah, I guess so and let's look thrash her off the hook too Means his alibi really was there. Yes Alibi yeah, look at witnesses to prove he was here in town at the time Alfie's car was left up on that bridge Oh, I see so I'd better arrange for Luke's release. I guess Only hope he doesn't make trouble over being locked up one of those current seldom do lieutenant They're usually smart enough to try to keep peace with you boys. He's smart when all right Maybe if I butter him up a bit. Hey look, I borrowed one of Earl Pullman's cars When you let Luke thrash her out tell him there's a car and chauffeur waiting to take him anywhere He wants to go. Okay Johnny As I drove Luke to his little motel outside the town of the track I hope you might come up with some kind of a lead on Alfie Garber after all he followed the same route You're after year made the same contacts But I didn't get much help from him quite the contrary I'll have my new way to look for that punk. I might go after myself. Oh, why look I could kill that cheap little welshen Only what's your interest in his attempt to defraud an insurance company? Oh? Slow down sure What are you anyway? I'm a special investigator for the insurance stop the car down on what I said stop the car It's a matter look private investigator. Hey, that's right. That means you're a cop and me I don't like cops public private any kind so keep away from me dollar if you want to stay healthy. Oh, yeah Listen dollar I'm listening you ever hear that maybe I killed a couple of guys one time and got away with it. I heard What about it? Look just remember that dollar just remember that Act two of yours truly Johnny dollar in a moment meet star Stewart Irwin Nothing's worse for an actor than a nasty cold to feel better quickly I take wonderful four-way cold tablets the fast way to relieve cold distress Right tests of all the leading cold tablets proved four-way fastest acting Four-way starts in minutes to relieve muscular pains headache reduce fever calm upset stomach also overcomes Irregularity take my advice for your next cold take four-way cold tablets the fast way to relieve those cold miseries Four-way only 29 cents Now here's a word about another fine product of Grove laboratories to get rid of embarrassing dandruff in three minutes changed to fit Dandruff remover shampoo three minutes with fit regularly is guaranteed to keep on slightly dandruff away forever Apply fish before wetting hair rub in one minute add water lather one minute then rinse one minute Every trace of dandruff goes down the drain three minutes with fish and embarrassing dandruff gone at the same time Fitch can brighten hair up to 35% get fish dandruff remover shampoo today And now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the fancy bridge work matters Hunches sometimes my salvation sometimes the bane of my existence It was a hunch that led to the discovery that all the evidence Alfie Garber had been murdered and thrown off the bridge that all that Evidence was trumped up phony obviously to mislead anyone looking for Alfie And now I had a couple of hunches about Luke Thrasher One that is warning to stay out of his way was due to more than a simple hatred of cops to Well, this was a real wild one but in spite of what he said I had the distinct feeling he could somehow put me on Alfie Garber's trail It was late by the time I got to Earl Pullman's house on St. Ammon's key. He and his wife are going to bed I poured myself a nightcap and sat down in the Florida room to think things out Who's that? Oh Johnny? Yeah Listen there was something about that blood specimen you brought me that chicken blood. Yeah I wasn't sure at the time so I put it back under the microscope And I found traces in it of a troponiasis virus very seldom found here in the south So what about it doc? So I checked with some of the local vats to see if any of them knew whose poultry flock might have it around here I thought such information might be of help to you. You were so right and Johnny That chicken could only have come from the farm of Andrew Pallucci I don't be redrawed. Good for you doc. Mr. Pallucci is about to have a late visitor I'm sorry to get you out of bed. Oh sure. My name is Johnny Donner I want to know if a man named Alfie Garber bought a chicken from you yesterday. Ah You'll wake me up in the middle of the night and after me did he know it was his wife She bought the chicken. Oh his wife. That's all right. That's right. Oh and that a man That'll look that'll look that's all right Luke So what's your business you come around this away? Just don't worry about that. Don't worry, huh? You get me out of bed. You wake my dick. I look I said, I'm sorry. Oh sure. Why is that guy? Wait a minute. What do you get for? I'll report you to the cops. You come around this away Why don't you do just that? Good night, Mr. Pallucci. You think I wouldn't? You think I wouldn't? You why is that guy? I want this time of night. You Mrs. Garber? Huh? You mind if I come in? Not just a minute, Mr. I want you as an accessory to the murder of your husband. Me? What are you talking about? Real smart You and Luke Thrasher real palsy-wowsy with him, weren't you? How long had you and Luke been planning this? What do you mean, Mr? You crazy? Who are you? Racetrackbombs all three of you. Oh now wait a minute. Alfie was losing his shirt, but Luke was doing all right He was loaded. So what to do about Alfie who was giving you enough of a grief? Get rid of him. You're crazy. I asked you who are you? You may have known that Alfie was in bad shape that he talked about committing suicide And that's probably what gave you the idea for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. There've been several suicides from it That's what the cops said, isn't it? Alfie took the job wrong Because making it look like suicide would keep you from collecting as insurance. No, it had to be a clear case of murder That's why you spilled the chicken blood around when you left his car Mrs. Garber. Yeah, you after making sure that Luke Thrasher had an alibi could prove He was in town at the time you left the car in the bridge You're making a crazy guess, that's all. Oh pretty good guess, isn't it? Because what it means is that Alfie was killed sometime before you left that so-called evidence up there Evidence that would make it impossible to pin the murder on Luke. You think you can prove that? Why not? Or would you rather have me prove that you killed your husband? Me? Well No, no, no listen. They've told me Luke is mighty clever Maybe even clever enough to have made you commit the murder. No No, I didn't I swear it. You can't say you didn't have plenty of opportunity Listen to me. Yeah Well go on go on. Tell me how did you kill him? Where did you put his body? Oh, I didn't do it And if you don't want to burn for it, you got to prove that Can you? Well, yeah, because Luke killed him. Luke did it. Can you prove that? Now where's the body? I'm sure it wasn't dumped off the bridge because if they'd find the body They might be able to find the bullet holes or some other mark that would lead them to Luke's rasher So where'd he hide the body? Come on, baby. You better talk What? Alfie garbage, buddy. It's right where yours is going to be, darling I think it's gone away from them, Lena. Oh, yeah, sure Luke. I Got it. You know so much. It's got to be curtains for you, darling Yeah, in tight in the middle of your back so it don't make any noise. Go on, don't kill him. Yeah, right You better drop it, Lucas. Oh, help me. I'll pull this trigger. Go ahead, Johnny. Indeed, I do, Lieutenant. Okay, now you two up against the wall, hands up, lying against the wall. That's the stuff, Johnny. And just what brought you around here? A complaint by one of our citizens. Seems that one Andy Pellucci owns a poultry farm. Well, he was a little bit annoyed by the way you got him out of bed a while ago just to find out that these two Bought a chicken from him yesterday. So he called us up to report you. Just like you suggested to him. Bless Andy Pellucci. Now, if you just help me climb in this window, I'll take care of these two for you. Luke Thrasher, in spite of all the pressure they put on him, still refused to talk. So it was Lena Garver who finally broke down and told the police where they could dig up Alfie's body. Yeah, the bullets in him came from the gun that Luke had held on me. So it's up to the courts. Expensive on total, including the trip back to Hartford. Well, call it a couple of hundred bucks. And you know something? I finally managed to get in some of that real great fishing in the Gulf with Earl Pullman. Really great. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. The star will return in just a moment. Constipation is something people don't talk about much, but it can be a problem for anyone, even doctors. When constipation occurs, it's interesting to see just what doctors consider important about a laxative they might use or recommend. Well, a majority of the doctors we heard from had this to say. A laxative should be effective, gentle, as close to natural acting as possible, and the medicine that can be used with complete confidence. Now, X-Lax has been popular with many doctors and millions of people over the years because pleasant tasting chocolate at X-Lax is effective. Overnight, it helps you toward your normal regularity. X-Lax is gentle. Next morning, it gives you the closest thing to natural action. And that's why many doctors and millions of people use X-Lax with complete confidence. X-Lax, the laxative that helps you toward your normal regularity, gently. Overnight, is X-Lax in your medicine cabinet? Now, here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week, the wrong man matter, a case with a real twist at the end of it. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Used and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in our cast were Virginia Greg, Vic Perlin, Barney Phillips, Edgar Staley, Peter Leeds and Frank Gerstle. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Suspense follows on the CBS Radio Network. As you smoke at Duke, you get a sense of ease and comfort that grows with every thought. Because, new king-sized Duke is king-sized in the filter, where it matters most. Radio 59, W-R-W. You know, we're all not experts on suits or stores or automobiles. So, before spending any money, we find out what makes one good. Aren't schools much more important? Shouldn't we know what a good school is really like? A free, new booklet helps you to do this important job. It's called Yard Sticks for Public Schools, published by the National Citizens' Council for Better Schools. It suggests ways of sizing up a school and of ensuring a better education for your children. Send a card today for your free copy, right? Yard Sticks, and your name and address on a card, mail it to Better Schools, 9 East 40th Street, New York 16, New York. 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