 signal signal gasoline yes signal gasoline is the new gasoline you can prove is superior the signal oil company and your neighborhood signal dealer bring you another curious story by the whistler tonight harvest of death and 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 wasn't a large farm but it wasn't small either it kept two strong men busy from sun up to sun down taking care of it and they did a nice job because the farm prospered Mort Grant owned the farm and lived in an awkward looking unpainted farmhouse with his wife Nellie Jim Hayward was the hire man and lived in a spare bedroom but actually he'd been there so long that he was more like one of the family than a hired hand and that's what worried Mort Sanders that's popping in the kitchen door like that did I certainly did I'm nervous enough without you acting like a cat chasing a mouse I've gone and broke one of my best dishes hello Jim hello Mort I'm ambitious aren't you well I surely wish that you were a little more ambitious around the house I could use a little help now and then a woman's work is left to the women men have enough to do with their own work that right Jim well I guess it is more but Nellie looked a little tired and I thought it wouldn't hurt anything if I stepped out in the kitchen and helped her amite with the dishes you should rest quiet a while after eating supper I'd like to see the day when I get any rest after supper I'm not really tired Mort I don't mind helping out a little extra bit well if you don't mind it'd be as foolish as you want I guess nobody's being foolish I think it's downright generous to Jim to want to help you ought to help each other more around here instead of living like three hermits I don't see you out plowing come on Jim leave the old lady to her work hey if you don't mind more I just soon finish what I started no I don't mind Jim not at all yourself yourself I was saying Mr. Holly the postman calls Jim and Jim comes striding down from the chicken coop and Mr. Holly tells him the good news he'd think he'd had the baby instead of his wife well then he gives Jim a cigar and you know what Jim says I couldn't guess well he says seen as how you're the mailman I suppose your baby comes special delivery can you tie that well don't you get it special delivery well that Jim doesn't sound very funny to me if you said it first you would have thought it was funny maybe so but if I said it you wouldn't have thought it was so funny more Sanders if I hadn't been married to you all these years I think you was jealous I'm not jealous but you do seem to enjoy Jim's company to mine I'm only your husband all I hear from you is Jim did this or Jim said that or Jim says and does the funniest things why don't you pay attention to me once in a while I'm running this farm and I'm tired of hearing what Jim does would you do me a favor and talk about something else you shouldn't get so angry more because anger leads to all kinds of human excesses you might even do something you'd be sorry for later and regret isn't worth the time you take to indulge in it because it's always too late of course if you try to get along with Nellie a little better you wouldn't have to worry about Jim but you can't see that can you more so at supper time you're the same old more suspicious and foolish supper ready not for a few minutes yet Jim won't be in for a while he's working on the tractor if he can't make supper on time that's his tough luck just the same it isn't ready so you'll have to wait well don't you notice anything different no look around still don't see anything what's it all about well if it had teeth it advised you over there in the corner bookcase where'd you pick up that thing kind of small and it doesn't have any books in it yet but it is pretty isn't it I don't know where'd you get it nice red color I ask you where you got it well for goodness sake stop shouting I can hear you Jim made it what do you do that for how do I know what he did it for I guess maybe he heard me say once that I wished I had a bookcase and thought it would be a nice thing for him to make one for me oh you did did he how much further is he gonna go with this sort of thing he acts as if he was your husband instead of me well Lord knows you never buy anything for me pinching every penny what I do with my money is my business now more don't get your blood oh why shouldn't I get my blood up you seem to be interested in Jim more than anything else around here even me every time I turn around you're chatting with them over in a corner where he's helping you with the dishes or you're taking the fancy ride together into town if that ain't enough every time you open your mouth Jim pops out now more don't now more to me I've had enough of it now that bookcase only a little gift and it is pretty well it won't be pretty when I get through with it more what are you going to do just watch me don't even own a book to put in this I don't like useless furniture cluttering up my house more for heaven's sake stop it are you going crazy no I'm just getting some sense so much as a finger on that bookcase I'll never speak to you as long as I live stop talking then because here it goes take a look at your fine gift from Jim now you'll get over it when Jim finds out if he's half the man I think he is he'll beat you to a where is he I told you he was working on the tractor for your information fine lady I'm going out and farm I don't want any wife stealer working for me almost ready almost I won't be able to finish this tractor tonight I'm afraid turned out to be more work on that thought the wrist pins never mind give me the rents Jim you want to take a hand at it no but you won't be needing this wrench anymore what do you mean hand it over all right more anything you say here it is thanks and what's it all about you look like you've got something serious in your mind I just come out to tell you I won't be needing your services around here anymore you can leave as soon as you get your things together I'll pay it at the end of the week or you can't mean that you're firing me more that's exactly what I mean but I don't get it I've always worked hard why I always thought of this place is sort of like home that's a trouble Jim you've been acting as if you owned a farm instead of me when I look more if I said anything to make you mad I'm sorry I don't mind you taking a big interest in the farm when you start moving in on my wife that's where I draw the line your wife yeah I haven't done anything to your wife when Nelly and I well we get along that's the trouble you get along too well every time I look around your widow telling her stories or taking her someplace or making something for her and I don't like it I don't want to be seeing any more of it to get your clothes to get and get out I look more you're talking kind of rough I'll talk any way I want to it's my land my farm and my wife were discussing I'm sick and tired of having a dishonest wife stealing backstabbing farmhand around here so get out before I throw you out those are big words you want some bigger ones if you think you're big enough to say them the matter of fact is a few things I can say myself I never worked for such a miserly selfish old coot like you before won't even trust a bank with your money that's enough out of you Jim there's one more thing I always wanted to give you before I left a punch in the nose stay away from me Jim put him up more I'll give you a chance to back up them big words of yours all right you asked for it more to put down that ranch and make it got the wrench all right Jim Jim you'll be okay in a minute Jim wake up he's dead we have the whistler cast sound a bit on the excited side tonight is a good reason this is the 100th consecutive performance of signal oil companies program the whistler because of your enthusiastic letters signal oil company has continued the whistler without interruption even through the summer when so many programs go off the air and month after month the whistler's popularity has grown until for the past eight months it has ranked tops in popularity among all West Coast programs we have the cast want to thank you for your loyalty which has made this record possible it's our richest incentive to keep every performance a top performance so you'll continue to tune in on the signal oil program each Monday night for more broadcasts of the whistler and incidentally next time you're out driving we have the cast also hope you'll stop at one of the friendly service stations displaying signals familiar yellow and black circle sign and try that other great signal success the new signal gasoline there's no better way to tune in top performance for your car and with today's power-packed new super fuel new signal gasoline and now back to the whistler it seems you've reaped a bigger harvest than you ever imagined from the little hatred you sowed but it's not a crop to be proud of because it's a harvest of death after you killed Jim Hayward you didn't know what to do with his body you had to think but thinking takes time so after finding a temporary hiding place in the barn deep in the soft fragrant haymow you turn back to the house for supper supper ready already down coffee or milk coffee that's still I'll get it here what's the matter I'm here startled me I guess where's the sugar where's the sugar land-safe it's right in front of you what's the matter can't you see I didn't notice it well isn't Jim coming in hmm I said isn't Jim coming in not right away they can't work much longer it'll be dark in a few minutes potatoes will be cold if he doesn't come in soon I knew you wouldn't fire them you couldn't fire Jim not after he's been with us all cut it will you all right mark I took care of the bookcase I finished breaking it up and I put it in the stove and Jim comes in I'll say Jim I'll say I got some bad news for you I expect you can take it seems I fell up against the bookcase it wasn't very big anyhow you know and I broke it March you're not eating a thing I was listening to you it's about the first time you ever were Jim should be in here by now maybe I'll look out the window and wait for him to come in and eat a supper more what it's getting dark and I can just barely see the tractor but I can't see hide your hair a gym can't see anything moving out there sit down and eat your supper Jim's old enough to take care of himself I suppose he's putting the tools away Jim's always the careful one March you're still not eaten I'm not very hungry I bet Jim's got a big appetite will you stop talking about Jim where are heaven's sake Mort what's got into you don't have to shout like that you're scared to live in daylight I ask you before to stop talking about Jim I was just trying to be sociable if you sit in there like a mummy a body could go crazy for something to do if you want to know Jim won't be having supper tonight so you can stop waiting for him why won't he have supper tonight because I did what I said I was gonna do you mean that you fired him yes I fired him I don't want to hear one word out of you about it it's done that's all and there's nothing you can do to change it but I don't shut up at least he can have one more meal before he goes candy Jim's gone gone already yes he's gone already how many times do I have to say it seems funny he didn't say goodbye to me he didn't even come after his clothes and things oh he can't be gone I told you he was gone gone for good he won't be back the ask you to send his clothes to him no oh didn't he tell you where he was going look he just left he didn't tell me anything was he angry a man he gets fired isn't exactly happy well aren't you gonna give him a character reference or something so he can get a job someplace else where he's going a reference for me isn't worth a thing oh then you do know where he's going you said before that you didn't I don't know all he said was that he thought he might go north and maybe to Canada that's all he said he left late in the day like this you think he'd wait until morning and get a fresh start and a man do what he wants with his own life without you analyzing the whole thing I thought I knew Jim I thought I could tell just what he'd do well you couldn't so forget it well it seems to me the whole thing's all very funny it's all very funny it's eleven o'clock mort two hours past your bedtime mort what don't you feel well more that old kidney trouble isn't starting up on you again is it because if it is we still have some of the medicine left the stuff that Dr. Kermit prescribed I told you I'm not sick to stop trying to give me a medicine all right I was just trying to be helpful that's all after all I am your wife sometimes I wonder well that's a nice thing to say forget it I know what's bothering you more you do yes you fired Jim over a petty little argument now you're sorry am I but don't you worry if I know Jim he'll be back bright and early in the morning just as if nothing had happened and you'll both be plowing up land together just as happy as you please got it all figured out haven't you couldn't stay away any more than you could have him stay away he's just like one of the family he probably just went into town had a few drinks to help him forget things for a while but he'll be back as happy and friendly as ever you wait and see how many times do I have to tell you Jim won't be back he's gone for good oh not Jim I tell you he's not coming back I wish it stopped talking about it all right more at all I can say is wait and see for yourself why don't you go to bed no not until you do I'm not gonna let you sit here all alone making yourself unhappy over a little mistake good heavens everyone makes a little mistake now and then it's nothing to fret over you know just the same I missed him already myself it used to be comforting to watch him sit in the rocking chair rocking back and forth just as comfortable as you please smoking away on his pipe Nelly Nelly look the rocking chair it's rocking back and forth just as if Jim were sitting there how could it how could it rock by itself don't get all excited more can't you see it's only the cat here I'll chase it away if it bothers you chair won't rock anymore never liked that darn cat anyway now don't go blaming anything on the poor little cat he probably misses Jim too I don't miss Jim not one bit what makes you think I do well you're sitting there like you'd lost your last friend what's that somebody's coming up the stairs somebody's the front door man tonight it was only the screen door banging I guess you forgot to hook it anyway I fixed it I'm going to bed well at last maybe you can relax a little bit you're so jumpy you act as if you'd killed somebody Nelly comes awfully close to the truth sometimes doesn't she moored uncomfortably close but never mind she doesn't really know what happened to Jim Hayward so you go upstairs to try to sleep and forget the whole affair if you can perhaps you'll even think of something to cover up your tracks forever you give me a start I just opened my eyes thought I saw somebody standing over me what do you sit nothing bad at this hour of the morning tour can't sleep just lay back on the pillow and relax you'll go to sleep can't try it's too hot or something to get up and get you some coffee or something no I don't want anything let me put the light on well no wonder you're so hot you're fully dressed when did you do that get up and dressed about an hour ago I think I was cold what in the world got into you more first you're as jumpy as a thoroughbred then you can't sleep then you turn cold and now you're too hot are you sure you're not sick I told you there's nothing wrong with me well you surely must be hot the sweat pouring right off you know there's no need to get so worried about Jim that you make a nervous wreck of yourself he'll be back to tell you if you mentioned Jim was more to me I'll strangle you to death all right more time I didn't mean to get you mad but you're beginning to worry me now go back to sleep mind your own business they got to be so nosy I'm going out to the barn look you just go back to sleep and keep your nose out of my business I won't mind my own business more standard tell me where you're going all right I'm going out to the barn I'm worried about something the one of the horses what's the matter with it I don't know but she's been kind of sick today I want to take a look at her you're up to something more than an isn't a horse what is it wouldn't you like to know well you're up well I couldn't lie out there in bed while you're gallivanting around the farm at three o'clock in the morning get back to bed I put some coffee on we might as well have a cup now that we're up I don't want any coffee where's the lantern you always have to ask them any questions I haven't got it with me have I left it in the barn all right horses in the barn they're all out in the pasture shut up pull a wool over my eyes I'm not so innocent as I look I know why you couldn't eat and couldn't sleep I know why you were cold one minute and then hot for me I told you to shut up looking out the window when you fired Jim I saw you hit him with a wrench you ever say that again I'll kill you you hit Jim's body in the barn and now you're burning it to get rid of him you're as much a blame as I am Jim had no right to be fooled around with my wife and you had no right to let him at least he was human I don't brush your man who wouldn't talk at the time one up the bed you want to know something I was in love with Jim and he was in love with me we're gonna run away together and here's something else I don't want to hear it you want to hear this yesterday I took all the stocks and bonds that you bought with the money that you've saved in 15 years the whole $20,000 worth you were too afraid to leave in a bank and I gave him to them are you telling me the truth if you're lying I'll kill you I'm not lying Jim had the oil skin pouch with the bonds in his inside pocket when you murdered him and now they're burning up I don't believe you don't believe me look in the steel box on the desk you did you did your thief you gave him all my funds I'll tell you when a good slap in me there's still time and then I'll get you I'll get him don't worry he lasts long enough I'll get him I can't see you shouldn't have poured that gasoline around the roof there will return in just a moment with a strange ending of tonight's story meantime because the gasoline you use has so much to do with the performance you get from your car I think you'd be interested in knowing how a new scientific development has put amazingly increased power into that great new super fuel new 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flames lighted the night sky and brought a crowd of neighbors but there wasn't much they could do they stand outside the house watching the last glowing embers talking in hushed tones but you can't hear them can you more awful awful both of them at once this way constable figures more must have gone in to try to save Jim Jim was almost like one family you know yes what about Nelly is she all right she's just sitting in there in the rock and chair by the window stunned I guess oh poor soul I'd best go in and see if I can comfort her thanks I come to see if there's anything I can do dear no it's all done now now try to be brave dear I know it's a shock but we've got to be practical the men folks will build you a new bond and we'll all see that you're took care of I mean it's somehow more course you will is there something I could get you some hot tea maybe no thank you miss Thompson I'd I'd just like to sit here while of course I understand we're all so sorry about Morton Jim too but everything will be all right you just keep telling yourself that everything will be all right yes more they're all so sorry about you and Jim too and Nelly poor Nelly just sits there sniffling and rocking through the night in Jim's favorite rocking chair through the night until dawn then when the last neighbor is gone she stands up stares out the window for a moment toward the blackened ashes walks to the pantry shelf takes down the coffee can and lifts the lid now what do you think more it inside wrapped in an old piece of oil skin or $20,000 in stocks and bonds here's a surprise for you Nelly those securities were not worth the paper they're written on more it wasn't a very smart investor will bring you another strange tale the Whistler is broadcast for your entertainment by the marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer this program directed by George W. Allen with tonight's story by John Hayes music by Wilbur hatch is transmitted to our troops overseas by the armed forces radio service this is Marvin Miller speaking and suggesting that you try new signal the new gasoline you can prove is superior this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system