 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 shadow Yeah, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak Yes friends, it's time for the signal oil program the whistler Rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other 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 stations from Canada to Mexico Now the whistler strange story Decision it would have been far more logical had it happened in the springtime in April Perhaps with the road of dendrons blooming in Golden Gate Park The kids playing ball and the green lawns and the maple trees coming to life again Yes, spring in San Francisco would have helped explain part of it But the rest would always be beyond logic and common sense It wasn't springtime It was November with Christmas just around the corner a cold gray day with the steam Sizzling in the radiators as he sat near the window of his office on the 20th floor of the Hamilton building Looking at an uninspiring assortment of x-rays of Mrs. Harrison's chest cavity Excuse me, Dr. Evans. Hmm. Oh, yes, Miss Carlton. Mrs. Harrison called again about the x-rays There's nothing wrong with her heart. All she needed some fresh air Shall I tell her that? No, I suppose I'll have to find her a disease with 20 letters I'll call her and there was another call from a Mrs. John Cameron Cameron. Can you see her today? Is it important? Well, she says so yes, they all do all right make it 12 30. What about lunch? I'll have to skip it. Mrs. Cameron's heart is undoubtedly more important than my lunch And you noted it down in the book simply 12 30 Mrs. John Cameron Later when you had a chance to think you decided if it hadn't happened so suddenly it might not have happened at all Perhaps that was part of it all the suddenness the way it threw you off balance But more than that it was a black haired girl with blue eyes Standing by the window when you looked up from your x-rays a half hour later You remember exactly how she looked the turquoise dress with a gold belt and clip the smart little felt hat Accenting her dark hair Making you realize in a split second. What was wrong with all the girls you ever knew You must have come in while you sat at the film illuminator looking at negatives and making notes evident Insufficiency minor valvular Dr. Evans. Oh, right. I'll be with you in a moment request to tail There we are just get rid of this stuff, please sit down now. What can I do for? Hello, doctor Carol Cameron Carol Cameron the My nurse said you were rather concerned about yourself. Oh, no, no It's not about myself It's about my husband. Oh, I see John Cameron perhaps you've heard of him stocks and bonds isn't yes Yes, a few too many for his own good. I'm afraid. Oh, he's uh, he's been Under a terrible strain recently and night before last he had a rather severe attack. He's hot. Yes. Yes Dr. Miles our family physician suggested that I see you about it. I see Well, tell me where is your husband now at home in bed? Didn't Dr. Miles recommend a hospital. Well, John's awfully unreasonable. He wouldn't hear of it Insisted that he'd be up and around in a day or two. Well, that is unreasonable Well, you'll see him Yes, yes, of course, I'll be glad to do what I can Just like that Paul a minute or so and she's gone You look up to you see her in 30 seconds later He could ask if you'd mind going to the North Pole for her and you'd tell her you'd be glad to All afternoon you try to shrug it off. Tell yourself. It's fantastic That this is the sort of thing that keeps you away from second-rate movies But that evening when you call on John Cameron, it's still there Lucinda withers the housekeeper is waiting outside the door after you finish your examination. Oh Where is Mrs. Cameron Lucinda? She went out for a moment, sir. Tell me is it serious? Yes I'm afraid it is. I knew it. I could see it coming on He's like a son to me doctor. I've been with the family for 20 years now Since way before she came I see he was never like this before. Oh, what do you mean by that? She's not good for him. She worries him makes him nervous Keeps him thinking about the 15 years between them. Oh, yes. Well, I'll have a prescription send over in the morning I better be going now. My tax is waiting outside You just keep him as quiet as you can and I'll check him again tomorrow Oh Just a minute. I I wondered what happened to you. I was just about to go. I left instructions with the housekeeper. How is he? And Jaina Pectress. It's it's quite serious. I'm afraid. Oh He hasn't been taking very good care of himself. He's got to now. I see Well, must you go right away? Yes, I'm afraid I'd better my tax is waiting Well, I thought it was waiting doesn't seem to be there now. That's odd. I told him to wait I didn't even pay him. I'd be glad to take you and understand the cars right down at the curb Oh, no, no, no, I couldn't there only take a minute to call another cab. No, it's really no trouble All right, I'll get my coat. There you are doctor right to the door. It was awfully nice of you Mrs. Cameron Well, I guess the next thing to do is Get out just just a minute. I want to tell you I lied about the taxi. I told him to go Why? Because I I wanted to take you home I'm very flattered. That's all I Just wanted to tell you it's happened to you too, hasn't it? Oh, yes Look, uh There's a friend of mine a dr. Andrews. He's an awfully good hard man. I'm sure he'll take the case Please please don't do that. What else can I do? It's only going to make it worse. I know but You you just can't throw away what's happened to us. Can you it'd be wrong? It'd be wrong to do anything else Carol is that what we're here for to spend our lives looking for something that isn't there and then to Suddenly find it Throw it away. Please Carol Well, shall we forget it? I uh, I'll be around tomorrow with the prescription. So that's how it started Paul Yes, it was easy to analyze it to list a million reasons why it was wrong What the trouble was that when you were all through analyzing it was still there stronger than ever You visit John Cameron the next day in the day after that and before you know what the days have grown into weeks In the damp November night you arrange to meet her secretly at a little French cafe on Washington Street Leads to a lot more of them The two of you at the little corner table Henry reserves especially not saying much Hardly realizing how the time has flown that tomorrow is the day before Christmas You know that's one of my favorite Christmas hymns beautiful, yes Christmas day after tomorrow. It's hard to realize it You're happy Carol happy and miserable Well, did you expect anything else? No, no, no, I knew it was going to be this way Paul It's just that I feel so helpless and I'm glad you came tonight Carol because Because I'm afraid this is going to be the last time Oh, don't you see how impossible it all is we're both beating our heads against the stone wall You're absolutely right Carol. We are helpless As I see it the only thing we can do is try to be square with ourselves Honestly, it just won't work any other way No, I suppose not John will probably hang on like this for years. Yes, he might if he's careful You know Paul. It's terrible to feel this way. What way I I just can't help it Paul I I almost wish he'd know it's true. It's true. I never loved him Paul my family thought he'd be good for me I didn't want any part of it. I know I know my dear You don't have to tell me he's unhappy and he's sick and he's miserable and it'll always be that way. Why should he please Carol? Now this is going to be the last time I mean it. I Can get dr. Anders on the case next week? Oh, no Look at Carol Oh, it's going to work out somehow the right way will you believe that? All right, Paul If you say so Yes, Paul, it was the only thing to do the honorable thing approved 100% by the Medical Association But it doesn't help you sleep that night And it doesn't help the next day when you make your regular call on John Cameron examine him find him the same Leave his prescription bottle with Carol and go Yes, it had to end Paul Because you were both beginning to think the thing that Carol almost said at the restaurant that you both wished John would die And then at 10 o'clock that night Yes, you must come at once doctor. Mr. Cameron's I'll be right over Lucinda now listen carefully There's a bottle of amyl nitrate in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom break up a tablet in a handkerchief and make him inhale it Is that clear with the prologue of decision the signal oil company is bringing you another strange story By the Whistler Just remember these two points if you want to be sure of the tops in gasoline quality one in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther and To Signal is the famous go farther gasoline Now back to the Whistler John Cameron is dead But it hasn't affected you as you thought it would there was something so sudden about it It happened so soon after you and Carol had decided to call it off after she'd almost said what you'd both been thinking There's something wrong with it. It just feels wrong That's why after you've examined him you turn to Lucinda Lucinda yes, doctor You were here when it happened. Yes Mrs. Cameron had given him with medicine and gone to bed. I heard him call What happened then he'd been violently sick said his throat was burning don't respect or you must be mistaken No, sir, and he was all doubled up with cramps wrong. You must be the truth Did you give him anything? No, it was my night out, and I'd only just come in when Excuse me a minute. Well, Paul don't go in there There's nothing you can do now. I Know Well, it's over. Oh Carol don't say anything Paul. I don't want to talk about it to think about it any more ever We've got to think about I know I know you don't have to tell me He was all right this morning just as well as could be expected. All right, Carol. What happens now? I know I won't say any more, but you know what's ahead. I guess of course I'll be all right It's just you you better go to bed. You need some rest I'll take care of everything It's almost midnight when you get back to the office and take the prescription bottle out of your pocket the one you took from Carol's medicine cabinet You forget to take off your hat and overcoat as you throw a few pieces of laboratory equipment together Dissolve the powder in water and make a test a very simple test By a siren I Knew it poison Well Paul it's quite a decision, isn't it? You look down at the blank death certificate on your desk until the letters burn into your brain and you can see them when you close your eyes It's the most important decision. You'll ever have to make Paul Two o'clock three Four all you can do is sit and stare at the desk trying to think it through Your medical certificates on one wall the Hippocratic oath in a neat black frame on the other Six o'clock seven eight Then your nurse arrives You've been here all night. Yes It's Cameron. He's dead. Well, it was only a matter of time Yes, yes, I guess it was I'll make out the certificate death from natural causes and gina pecturus acute I Yes, doctor. Oh Nothing I've just filled out the death certificate Our disease. Yes, I think they'll investigate. You've got to be careful awfully careful I will poison isn't easy to cover up Carol. They'll find it in a second if they ever get suspicious now listen I'll send the certificate over this morning. If nobody gets curious during the next week. I I think we'll be safe All right, but we mustn't be seen together under any circumstances. I don't want you even to telephone me if you can possibly help it Okay, good luck darling. Hmm. Well, hello miles. How are you a little puzzled at the moment that I drop in for a minute I certainly have a chair. Thanks It's about Cameron. I've had a rather distressing experience. Oh I've been there family doctor for some time, of course Didn't know mrs. Cameron before she married John some years ago, but I've always thought her a rather charming person But she seems to be yes You know her pretty well Paul. Oh well naturally in attending her husband, of course Do you think she's a woman of character? Yes. Yes. I'd say so. So would I This Lucinda withers. However seems to think she's a murderous That's what does that mean? I don't know The woman was completely confusing a lot of rambling disconnected remarks that seem to imply that You and mrs. Cameron were in love. Well, as you said mrs. Withers seems to be confused. Yes Well, I just think Paul that you ought to do something about mrs. Withers You know as well as I that this sort of thing can ruin you Hello, hello Carol. Yes Listen darling, you've got to get with us out of town Yeah, I know it'll make it look worse, but it's the only thing we can do now. Where's the family? I Know well, that's good. Tell her she needs a rest anything. I Know it sounds crazy, but it's better than sitting around waiting for the axe to fall That's it. Good luck darling. You're walking on thin ice Paul You can almost hear it cracking under your feet and it seems to be getting thinner The funeral on Thursday then Friday Saturday and Lucinda still in town Carol was right It only made it worse to try and get her to leave They're just waiting now. It's only a matter of time and then bright and early Monday morning. Oh doctor I'm Willard Stevens. How do you do I'm afraid I'm John Cameron's cousin flew out from New York I see I have a rather delicate problem on my hands. I hope you'll understand. I'll try to But John's death I had a letter from him indicating he planned to make certain changes in his will Rive just a day or two before he died Does that suggest anything to you? No, I'm afraid it doesn't you naturally ascribed his death to his heart condition Yes, naturally. I realize it would be embarrassing for me to contest your diagnosis I'm hoping you'll work with me and in what I Had to talk with miss withers the night I arrived. She's a meddlesome old fool. Oh How did you know a dr. Miles told me that answer your question it answers that question I assume you have others indeed. I have and I'm afraid doctor There's only one way to answer them. What's that an exhumation and an autopsy Now that's it Paul. It's all over isn't it? The autopsy will undoubtedly be tomorrow and after that, of course, there'll be a trial The next decision is easy, isn't it? It would be useless to try and run away would never lead to anything You and Carol could never find happiness with an axe hanging over your head So the next day during the autopsy you sit at home quietly in the chair by the phone Waiting for it to ring Hello Hello darling Is the autopsy over yes? They're waiting downstairs to take me to the coroner's office for the report now Listen to me Paul. Would you do me a favor anything Carol? Will you leave now leave? What do you mean look if it's going to happen? There's no reason for it happening to both of us That's about the most ridiculous thing you ever said. Oh, please don't go with them Carol. I'll be down there in an hour Carol There's only one thing in the world right now when that's gone. I don't want to be here anymore Keep your chin up darling, I'll see you in an hour. I'm dr. Evans. Oh, yes this way Make him admit it he's in love with her it's been going on I said just a minute How about that doctor? It's written all over his face. He's in love with her all right all right I am in love with mrs. Cameron. So what? The whistler will return in just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story Meantime all of the people in the signal oil company as well as signal dealers and we of the whistler cast Wish you a very merry Christmas and a new year brim full of good health Good cheer Good luck And now back to the whistler So you stand there Paul shouting to the high heavens that you're in love with Carol with all of them clustered around you like vultures It doesn't seem to matter anymore. Does it in spite of your love for Carol? You know that sooner or later your sense of responsibility would have forced you to tell the whole story There's a long silence and then the police lieutenant slowly walks over to Lucinda with it. All right, miss withers now that we're all here Maybe you'll tell us why you tried to frame mrs. Cameron. Why? Oh, I don't know what you're talking about On April 5th, you bought a hundred grains of fire siren at the black and white pharmacy on a Farrell Street, right? Why I did no such thing you signed Evelyn Jones on the register. That's a lie That's the woman mr. Thawson. That's the woman I make a practice of remembering the faces of people who buy poison Excuse me. I think I'd like to sit down. Oh sure job Take a chair over there Now miss withers Why did you try to frame mrs. Cameron? Why did you put poison in the medicine? You knew she had to give him? I didn't I didn't do don't lie to me Now what did you do with the bottle? I didn't do anything with it. I left it in the oh You did have the bottle, huh? Why did you try to frame mrs. Cameron? Why did you try to frame her? She killed him just as surely as if she put the poison in the bottle instead of you that's it, isn't it? She didn't love him. She never did. He was as good as dead So you thought you'd finish the job and hang it around her neck lieutenant. I must see mrs. Cameron. Where is she in the next room lying down? Go ahead dr. Evans Now miss withers Karola you're looking for mrs. Cameron. Yes, the lieutenant said dr. Evans. Yes, I am Well mrs. Cameron's gone, but she asked me to give you a message and she said she was waiting for you at the French restaurant on Washington Street. She said you'd know the place. Oh, yes. Thank you. I know the place Carol oh Paul Oh, please sit down Paul Here it is the same table as before and we said it would never happen again Yes, the nerve of a saying what will and won't happen. We were fools. I was the fool Thinking all the time that you'd kill I know but you had every reason when I think how I acted after it happened But I thought it was you You gave me his prescription that morning in an hour after I gave it to him. He He was dead. We were both wrong. It was Lucinda who killed him. She thinks she did They say they'll have a better case against her if they let her confess it first before they tell her Tell her what? Paul when you brought the new prescription that morning the old bottle was still half full And that's the one she put the poison in that's the way it happened Paul You see you see darling. I used the new bottle the night he died That's why I was so sure you did the prescription was perfectly all right. There was nothing of course it was Of course it was and I was so sure he was poisoned those symptoms Lucinda was lying Paul about the burning in his throat and the cramps. Don't you see then the autopsy was okay There was no murder. No, there was no murder Paul You see darling your diagnosis was correct John died of natural causes just as you said on the certificate Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program the whistler each wednesday night 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 speeds be courteous And obey traffic regulations. It may save a life Possibly your own Featured in tonight's story were kathy lewis and joseph curbs The whistler was produced by george w allen with story by harrell m swanton music by wilbur hatch And was transmitted to our troops overseas by the arm forces radio service Next wednesday for a full hour of mystery over most of these stations tune in a half hour earlier Enjoy the saint as well as the whistler. This is marvin miller speaking This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system