 Johnny dollar John Your mutual liability and casually insurance company what well Well, I don't know maybe we better give that a little thought on yes All right, Harry. Don't let it throw you but every time I call you up on some serious to say nothing of the money for this long-distance call Okay, goodbye. Goodbye. No. Well, which is it? Oh, please it is Harry. You must come down here and see me right away. Oh, what's the trouble? Pennybank Yeah, wait a minute. Isn't he that bug chaser that butterfly collect to hit all the picture magazines a few years ago? Butterfly chasing I'm sure he is Well, what happened one of his bugs get loose and take a nip out of him Threatened by whom I just keep your shirt on I'll be there BS radio network brings you Bob Reddick in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense accounts submitted by a special investigator Johnny dollar to the Philadelphia mutual liability and casually insurance company in Philadelphia where else following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Lattro Dectis matter expense account item one 2525 taxi to Bradley field a plane to Philadelphia and then a cab into Harry's office on Walnut Street There he introduced me to a tall gaunt gray-haired man in his 60s Who's almost green eyes were as sharp and piercing as any I'd ever seen In his own way, he made no bones about being quite an authority in his field Understand this mr. Dollar the results of my research always have been always will be of an Estimable value to the scientific world no question of it John Mr. Branson Dr. Pennybank is without question one of the finest the most famous for his work among the low Branson please Yes, sir. Yeah, Harry. Let the doctor tell it his own way. Yes, mr. Dollar I insist upon it and without further interruption mr. Branson. Well, I was only trying to make clear that I I was I Yes, yes in my safe at my home are literally priceless records Resulting from my researches in toxicology. That is to say poisons John. You see the back Sorry go on doctor You see I and I alone was able to determine that the South Jersey cattle killing some years ago We're accomplished with the venom of a gestured in Moccasin With the Watson, of course, I must pardon your ignorance of such matters Please do I prove that the killers of that unfortunate dairy herd Used the deadly venom of the snake known as a copperhead cover believe me, sir No one else would have been capable of differentiating it from the poison of say a gestured and perserverus The water Moccasin as any trial should know Fascinating dr. Pennybank That's mr. Dollar was before I decided to devote my unique talents solely to entomology particularly to study and classification of the various arachnid Ragnar a rather profuse class of the order Aranea well, I'm afraid you're still over my head dr. I don't doubt it The Aranea there comprises small part of the insect world. Oh, I see I doubt it Well, I try suffice you to say however I have produced findings and maintained the necessary records that are of international Importance in these troubled times, of course and someone has been after them Although I've seen no visible sign I'm certain that attempts have been made to enter my home my laboratory several times and always at night Well, if the findings on these insects or poisons or whatever of international importance Why not turn them over to some government agent? Of course? I shall after I have completed my research checked and double-checked everything Meanwhile, I must have all these records these papers Immediately accessible. What about having copies made that can be kept and say a bank vault? Well, that would incur the risk of having the information they contain leak out through whoever made the copies. Yeah, I suppose so Meanwhile by way of protection. I have isolated a select group of the genus Latrudectis lateral what? Latrudectis. Latrudectis. Good heavens man. Don't you know anything? All right. All right. Latrudectis However, if my watch is correct, I must go now. Tell me this doctor Aren't you taking a chance leaving your place to come here and talk to me? I left my place It's in Kinwood, you know that Kinwood's one of our suburbs John. Yes, I know please please I left not to come here and see you You will come and see me this evening. Mr. Branson will give you the address I left only because I must make a luncheon speech before a group at the Academy of Science Whether they like it or not I'm late for it now. Mr. Dollar. I will see you this evening. Oh now wait, please But I got the idea from Harry that you yourself might be in danger. That's right They would stop at nothing to get at my records That's why I must see you this evening, Mr. Dollar. Now wait just a minute, please dr. Penny Are you sure this famous man of yours hasn't become just an old crackpot John? How can you know perhaps he was a great brain once but now Well, they wrote him up in all those picture magazines some years ago, but of course my concern is over the $50,000 policy we've written on his life. No Who's the beneficiary several scientific organizations and Nice by the name of Clara Clara Benson. Well, if somebody is trying to get at him, which I doubt Maybe I better check up on her Meantime give me his address Item to a buck for a cab to the Bellevue Stratford where I parked my bag Item 3 285 for lunch item for 50 bucks deposit on a rental car. I Did a little sightseeing my way of killing time and then about 3 p.m Figuring dr. Penny bank and had plenty of time to finish his lecture on the birds and bees and get back to his home I drove out of the address in Kinwood The house was a small affair of weathered stones surrounded by popular in maple trees a garage at the rear They walk up the steps. I heard a door close in the back. So I knew he'd returned Dr. Penny bank and tell me that he's left again. It's funny unlocked Well, hello anybody home Dr. Penny Dr. Penny bank doctor repeat after me, please What do you want when you need brand? What do you want when you need brand? Reliability Now what do you get in Kellogg's all-brand? Right hi, this is Dennis James to explain why Kellogg's way is the reliable way to get the effect in this you want from brand With just half a cup a day see Kellogg's all-brand is the real Battle Creek formula the one that millions of people depend on and They depend on it because Kellogg's all-brand contains more vital brand bulk to help you keep regular It's low in calories and it's mighty pleasant eating too Kellogg's all-brand comes in crisp toasted shreds that have a wholesome brand muffin taste I think you'll like it. So be sure you remember for the effectiveness you want from brand get reliable Kellogg's all-brand You get in Kellogg's all-brand reliability Dr. Penny bank was dead. All right two bullets through the chest and taking care of that That car the one that pulled away from the back One of the brand-new compact models in a dark green at least I'd seen that much But as for license number Whoever was in it Why hadn't I really taken a good look at it? What I did take a good look at though was penny banks laboratory in a wing at the far end of the whole laboratory was alive But more varieties of bugs and beetles butterflies and moths roaches spiders and scorpions that I never seen before They're in little clear plastic cages row after row of them all about the sides of the room piled up sometimes 10 12 15 high neatly in groups of each kind and All the insects were alive There were sacks and boxes even a small refrigerator full of a thousand different kinds of food for them And the sound as they scratch Will walk or fluttered or simply rubbed their wings together That I was a strange sound I felt strangely uncomfortable Some of them especially the more some of the spiders were very beautiful I'm one of the tiny cages. I saw the word the doctor used Lacto dectas and under it the words black widow That cage was empty Well, so much for spiders. I had a gunshot murder on my hands I started to have the telephone in the hall to put in a call of the police when I heard heavy footsteps outside the front door Which I'd closed but not locked The steps sounded cautious I drew my gun slipped to one side to be in back of the door if I was open Through the frosted glass I could see the shadow of a man Then As he gently pushed open the door I rushed him Just hold it there officer. Who are you? I'm sorry about the rust stuff officer I thought you were his killer coming back to make sure he done the job right killer What are you talking about? Who are you here? You better see my credentials I'm Johnny dollar a special investigator here Okay It looks okay, but don't you know better than to jump a cop? Well, I'll tell you that cracker about a killer look for yourself over there What and here I've got to have your gun Dr. Penny back that's right Dead dead. Well, I guess that means only one thing you think you know who might have done it. Yes, sir In other words now, it's my turn That's right dollar, whatever your name is now you and me are gonna take a little ride into headquarters. I Suppose I couldn't blame him officer fallen I mean but at headquarters where my prince and identification were thoroughly looked into he ended up apologizing to me Meanwhile a lab crew went out and took a look at dr. Penny banks body And then hold it in for the autopsy required by law The first report stated only that he'd been killed instantly at close range With a 25 caliber cold automatic No clues whatsoever to his killer and he kept very much to himself dollar well now such and we Have found that out when he asked us to have somebody check in on him now man If there was anything unusual around, you know like officer fallen so your car park up front. I see Only traces of anybody else Yeah Some things belonging to the cleaning woman who used to go in once a week and Some clothing and stuff that belongs to his knees Clara Benson. Yes, sir that pretty young widow She used to drop in on him cook him a good meal spend the night now then you have her address Yes, sir. We're trying to get in touch with them now and tell her the bad no only I'd taken a really good look at the car That pulled away when I got there Well, it's too bad you didn't because your description could fit at least a couple of thousand cars here in the Philadelphia area What I'd like to find is that little gun that was used But of course the mess we do and it has some prints on it But one of his belt loops was torn as though a key chain had been ripped off No sign of any key chain dollar The boys went over the place even that crazy laboratory with a fine tooth comb. Tell me sergeant Have you checked on that cleaning woman you mentioned as she's been laid up in the hospital for a couple weeks still is that lets her out Yeah No, she freely admitted she was fed up with that cantankerous old crackpot and all these bugs same as anybody else in his right-minded day But now she's in the clear Me those bugs millions of Latrodectis What sir? For protection. He'd said Latro, what did you say? Latrodectis and sergeant had suddenly given me a really wild hunch like one. Just give me an address and I'll see you later This is Arthur Godfrey Many people ask me questions about cancer Well knowing the correct answers to some of these questions could actually help you save your life. I Want you to get in touch with your unit of the American Cancer Society and get a free booklet of life-saving facts And I want you to do something else to help conquer cancer and research can do that if all of us will help We have to dig down deep When an American Cancer Society volunteer Someone you know perhaps calls on you be sure you give Generously, thank you Arthur for that free booklet of life-saving facts write or phone your unit of the American Cancer Society And as Arthur Godfrey suggested to help conquer the disease give generously when an American Cancer Society volunteer Your neighbor calls on you The lovely young widow Clara Benson There at her modest little apartment was just exactly that lovely tall black haired with a complexion that other girls can only dream about a Very plain black sheath dress couldn't hide her beautiful figure and the kind you don't write home about Although obviously upset she controlled herself well But her dark eyes were red from weeping Policeman came and told me all about it Why oh why does a terrible thing like this have to happen to a nice fine old man like Uncle Eustace? I wish I knew and he wasn't seen I'll or any of those other things people said he was just trying to prove He was still a great scientist Do you have no idea who might have done it Clara? Oh, no, Johnny May I call you Johnny? I wish you would thank you No, I don't see how anyone could have murdered him What if it was a little peculiar that his whole life was wrapped up in all those Those bugs and things that he spent all his time and money on them Was he doing any harm to anyone? From what he told me Clara your uncle seemed to think he was on the track of something very important something worth a great deal of money What was it Johnny? You don't know oh I Understood that some of the men who came to see him now and then wanted to give him money for the reports He kept hidden away for what men do you know who they were? Just people who came to see him reports hidden away hidden where I don't know Johnny I don't care. Did any of the people that you mentioned ever approach you about these important papers? Me? Why should they? That is your car. I saw out front of them. Yes that poor dear old beat up. Oh What the policemen told me about the car you saw surely you didn't think it could have been mine that that I could pass No, do I look like the kind of good? That's a horrible thought. How did you think that? Oh, I'm sorry Johnny, but I'm so sad And I feel so alone first it was Ralph my husband and and now my uncle and I I'm sorry Now how does your husband die Clara? Some some awful hit-and-run driver. They never did find out And Johnny I'm So alone now If I knew where he'd hidden those papers I Wonder if they'd be any key to this whole thing. I don't know that how could they? Where could they be? Well, maybe if I can get out this way in tomorrow, maybe I'll kind of look around his house again tomorrow I Left my bag in at the Bellevue Stratford in town Um, I will See you again Won't I Johnny and now things were adding up item Cui bono who benefits? Apparently none, but this beautiful black haired young widow Item who did kill her husband? But we better let that one pass Yet the gun that killed the doctor was 25 caliber woman's gun Could be Item those valuable papers the doctor had mentioned a safe possibly a wall safe So what about the keys that were taken from his body? item Latrodectis black widow Tony bank had said for protection And then another hunt somehow I didn't feel that that shoddy beat-up old car went with Clara's personality It was getting late, but I started hunting up nearby use car lots and luck was with me at my third stop I found the dealer who'd sold her that old wreck and when That very afternoon Mr. Why she trade in this nice new green compact here for that old thing is beyond me I should complain Now that cinched it for me I drove on back to Clara's apartment as I fully expected. She wasn't there I tore on out to her uncle's home It was after dark now, but I parked well over a block away and approached the place quietly Under one of the drone shades I could see there was a light on somewhere inside The front door as I thought it might be was locked But I managed to gimme a window and the laboratory wing inside Nothing but the sounds of the insects carefully feeling my way Trying to remember the lay out of the house from prowling around in the afternoon. I Looked for the source of the lights. It was coming from the kitchen And as I approached it through the hallway At the far side I could see a door an open door leading down to a lighted basement And below I Could hear the ring of keys against metal The turning of a lock the wall safe. I could hear it clank open And then gun in hand as I was about to sneak on down the stairs I could reach her side and beat them away She'd fallen Unconscious she'd been struck by tens by scores of the modern hands on her arms Struck down by the beautiful deadly protectors of that safe Latra dectus Black widows Clara died within minutes before I could possibly get help And the papers she'd killed her uncle to obtain Nothing but the confused scribblings of a demented old man Expense account total including the trip back to Hartford 111 35 yours truly Johnny dollar Here is our star to tell you about next week's story next week one of the toughest gangs I ever had to deal with a gang of kids a rat pack Join us. Won't you yours truly? Johnny dollar King Bob Reddick is written by Jack Johnstone produced and directed by Bruno Zerato, Jr. Musical supervision by Ethel Huber heard an hour cast will awesome Zerby as dr. Penny bank Elaine Ross disclara Benson Robert Dryden is Harry Branson Ralph Bell is the police sergeant and Jack Grimes as officer followed Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Art Hanna speaking. This is the CBS radio network