August 19, 2025 • 30 mins
The Whistler was a suspenseful mystery anthology that ran from 1942-1955. A character known only as the Whistler was the host and narrator of the tales, which focused on crime and fate and had a suspenseful and eerie tone, always ending with a twist. The Whistler was later adapted to television.
Hope you enjoy this episode of The Whistler! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
Hope you enjoy this episode of The Whistler! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
And now stay tuned for the program that has rated
tops in popularity for a longer period of time than
any other West Coast program in radio history, The Signal
Oil Program, the Whistler Signal, the famous Go Farther Gasoline.
(00:30):
Invite you to sit back and enjoy another strange story
by the Whistler.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
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 at
which they dare not speak.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
And now for the Signal Oil Company, the Whistler's Strange
story undercurrent.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The sea was calm on the ship, the s S
Java Queen, out of Vancouver for San Francisco, was moving
calmly through it, smoothly and in the vernacular, all was well.
But not so with a certain member of the cargo
ship's half dozen passengers. No, Chris Horton was anything but calm.
(01:49):
He was obviously concerned and confused, for as he hurried
along the deck, he knew that something was wrong, very wrong,
and he intended to find out about it. He was
deep in thought when he bumped against the deck steward.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Oh oh, sorry's my fault, sir, I will if you
never mind. Were you taking that tray.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
To mister Ashcroft's cabin?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Sad? You ought to be one person on board the
ship and knows what.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
He looks like, what he looks who was? Certainly?
Speaker 3 (02:15):
But I just came from Ashcroft's cabin. There's a man
in there who claims he's Ashcroft. I know he isn't.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
What do you mean, I've been bringing him these meals
ever since we sail, Sir.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
He's not a very good sailor. You know he won't
come on dick. But okay, take.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
A look right now, find out what that guy in
there is trying to pull.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
WHOA of course, of course, sir, excuse me.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You watch the steward walk away, Chris and knock on
the door of Ashcroft's cabin. Presently it opens, The man
inside takes the tray, and a moment later the steward
is back at your side. He shoves his cap back
and stares at you as he scratches the side of
his head. You feel he's ready to agree with you, and.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Then I I don't get you, mister Rutton.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I don't get you at all? What whoa?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Unless you're trying to pull my leg? Woll you're all
mixed up, sir. That's mister Ashcroft, all right, I know
it is.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, Chris. You thought the steward was going to agree,
didn't you, But he's confused you even further. You're positive
the man in cabin sea isn't Ashcroft. That's the steward's
wrong or lying?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Is that it?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Chris? And why you paced the deck for a long while,
thinking things out and finding decide there's only one thing
to do, and you hurried toward the captain's quarters. Yes,
you've got to convey your suspicions, surprise him of the situation.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
I oh, really, mister Horton, cap'n.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I'd like to talk to you.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
It's very important.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
Shake hands with my friend, mister Ashcroft, just to get.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Drink mister ash crw how do you do, mister Hodon?
Speaker 7 (04:07):
Now?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Well, what was it you wanted to see me about,
mister Horton?
Speaker 7 (04:10):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Nothing, that is I guess it can wait. I'll talk
to you later.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
It's a shock, isn't it, Chris? A terrible puzzle A
ship moving through a calm, smooth sea, but with a
weird undercurrent criss crossing in your mind because you know
that the ship's captain and the deck steward are making
a horrible mistake or they're deliberately lying. You stop, suddenly
(04:44):
realize you're passing a radio shack and there's someone inside
you can trust. Reg Mackenzie, a nice youngster, clean fresh,
He couldn't be mixed up in anything undercover. He could
send a message for you, Chris, to whom And then
your gaze falls on the ship's bulletin board, a tight
(05:04):
written sheet of paper, the news from shore. There's a
brief paragraph the sensational developments in the selected murder case
in San Francisco, And instantly a name comes to your mind.
Started John Stodded, a well known police detective, a man
known to you only by reputation. You hurry into the
(05:26):
radio shack.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Freg uh oh.
Speaker 7 (05:29):
Hi, mister Jordan, be with you in a minute. Just
getting the weather.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Okay, what can I do for you?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I want you to send a message for me. Here, Hey,
you can earn it. Got a message, blank, Thanks, Lieutenant
John Stoddard, Hall of Justice, San Francisco, ss JAVA, Queen
Docking tomorrow tenay, And that's right, isn't it. Meet me
(05:57):
Chris Horton.
Speaker 7 (05:58):
S s Jaba Queen Doarking tomorrow ten am.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Meet me Chris Hortonsheck sure, I'll get it off right away,
good boy Rench.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Thanks.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
You feel better now, don't you, Chris? Relieve and you
start down the companionway towards your own cabin, and then
a thought strikes you, makes you hesitate and turn slowly.
You make your way back to a position where you
can observe the radio shack. Yes, sure enough, Chris, a
radio man yellow message blank in hand, leaves the radio
(06:37):
shack and goes straight to the captain's quarters. Now you're certain, Chris,
know that they're all against you, and your message to
police Lieutenant John Stoddard has been turned over to the captain.
In your cabin, you pace the floor, wonder and worry
for hours into the night, and then as you decide
(06:59):
to step out on deck again, what what.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
The devil locked I'm locked in?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
It's a terrible night you spent, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Chris?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
A virtual prisoner in your own cabin, unable to get out,
get help from the other passengers, and on this kind
of a ship, there are no phones. You stretch out
in your bunk and it seems you've only dozed off,
and then it's morning. You hurry toward the porthole look
out see that the ship is docked, the cargo is
(07:36):
being lowered away. You turn and start pounding on the
door and shouting frantically.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Let me out here, open up, open up door. Something wrong,
mister Rule, something wrong? Why was I locked in like this?
Speaker 4 (07:53):
What's going on? Locked in? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Why this door wasn't locked, sir? Uh just gamed a
little jammed? Yeah, sure, maybe it.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Was just jammed.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
Well, if you're old packed, mister Orton, I'll carry your
bag the shows.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
You hurry ashore, hope frantically that the man who calls
himself Ashcroft hasn't disappeared for if you lose him now, Chris. Oh.
But suddenly you spot him just a few feet away,
about to enter a taxi. You hear him give the
driver a hotel address on Fulton Street and ride hurriedly away.
You carefully note the address he gave, and then rush
to a drug store near the docks. Your hand trembles faces,
(08:42):
drop a coin into the payphone, dial a number and
wait nervously.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Yes, Linda, Chris just got in Oh.
Speaker 8 (08:55):
Chris, what's happened? Why didn't you get in touch with me?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I've been scared of this.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Listen, baby, something's gone wrong. We better not talk now.
Come to my apartment tonight, all right, Chris, tonight, eight o'clock. Hello, Linda, Chris,
(09:21):
take it easy. You know I've already fixed your drink.
Speaker 8 (09:23):
Oh I can use it.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Maybe you can use another. When you hear what I've
got to say?
Speaker 4 (09:26):
What you better sit down?
Speaker 8 (09:28):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I did it, baby, just like we planned. I bumped
him off and set it up to look like suicide.
Speaker 9 (09:34):
Frank, he's dead, yeah, But.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
When I went back to his cabin a few hours
later to discover the tragedy, his body was gone.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Gone.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yeah. Somebody else was in the cabin, A stranger, Linda,
guy I never saw before. He was posing as your
husband said. His name was Ashcroft.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
Chris.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
How could he? I don't know? But the steward packed
him up, the captain everybody.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
But why, Chris?
Speaker 8 (09:56):
What does it mean?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I don't know yet, Linda, but we've got to find
out quick.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
A twenty page booklet which signal service stations are now
offering free can make your labor day trip next weekend
a lot more pleasant. It's called Lane's Guide, and it
answers the two questions travelers ask most often, what's a
good place to eat? Where's a good place to stay?
In addition, this handy, pocket sized booklet, which was prepared
(10:32):
by a professional travel organization, contains other useful information such
as whether prices are low, medium, or high, whether the
lodging place has facilities for swimming, and, in the case
of motels, whether kitchens are available. Since Lane's Guide includes
three hundred and fifty cities in towns throughout sixteen Western states,
(10:53):
you'll want a copy in your car for all your trips.
So I'd suggest that you stop at the very next
signal station you see to get your free copy of
Lane's Guide while the supply lads you find. This is
just one of many friendly services that independent signal dealers
offer to put more pleasure into your driving while you
(11:13):
go farther with signal.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
It's a terrible puzzling thing, isn't it, Chris? The events
on shipboard, the calm, the undercurrent of something very wrong,
the discovery that someone a stranger was posing as Frank Ashcroft,
The man you murdered. It's a horrible twist of circumstances
and the aftermath of your perfectly planned murder, a plan
that had its beginning some three months ago, when you
(12:00):
first met Linda, newly arrived from Canada to find a
home in San Francisco for herself and her wealthy husband.
She fell in love with you, agreed to the murder
of her husband. Then finally word came that he was
sailing for the States from Vancouver. You hurried there, book
passage aboard the Java Queen, and the night before the
(12:21):
ship arrived in San Francisco, you killed him. Now you
and Linda both caught in the undercurrent of a deadly mystery.
Ashcroft is dead. You know that, Chris. You killed him
with your own hands. But there's another man, a stranger,
in his place. And now, back in San Francisco, sitting
(12:41):
in your apartment with the victim's wife, lovely Linda Ashcroft,
the two of you share the shock and stare at
one another with eyes filled with question, why are we
going to do?
Speaker 8 (12:53):
Chris?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
We'll find out what he's up to, Linda. Before I
called you this morning, I heard him tell the taxi
driver to take him to a hotel on Fulton.
Speaker 8 (13:00):
What you you don't think we should go?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I do, yes? And right now, come on, there's the hotel.
Let's wait a minute, eleven.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
What's the matter there?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
He is the guy getting into the cabin.
Speaker 8 (13:20):
What he doesn't even look like Frank.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
We'll just tag along find out where he's going.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
He went into the park.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Yeah, I know, what are you going to do?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
I'm going in after him. Relax, I'll be all right.
You wait here for me.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You're hurrying into the park, down the darkened path after him,
and then up ahead a street land and under it
sitting on a park bench. Another man. There's something familiar
about him, isn't there, Chris, Yes, it's the ship's steward.
Just then you see the man that you've been following
walk toward the steward. You move quickly through the trees,
(14:15):
circle behind the park bench and listener, evening, mister ashcro.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
You can forget the Ashcroft. My name is Mercer. You
know that.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
What's wrong wrong?
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Nothing's wrong, mister Mercer, nothing at all?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
And what did jazz Mercy? We've got a little talking
to do, all right, all right, now?
Speaker 7 (14:40):
What is it?
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Well?
Speaker 5 (14:42):
The Captain's been thinking it over. You know, smuggling aliens
into the States is risky business.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Well.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
The captain thinks that job we did for you is
worth a little more money.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
Look, a bargain's a bargain.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I paid with your asst the regular fee, but you
got special treatment.
Speaker 8 (15:01):
Now.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
For one thing, we set you up in a nice
cabin instead of letting you sweat it out in the
old of the ship, first class accommodation.
Speaker 7 (15:10):
All right, so you're did I didn't ask for it.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
And on top of that, we furnished you with a
set of identification papers, all neat and proper. Life that
that wasn't included in the bargain, Mercer, you know we
took a big chance dumping that suicide overboard.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
How much do you want?
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Well, the captain figures Ashcroft's papers are worth at least
five hundred it's crazy. Alright, then hand them over.
Speaker 9 (15:36):
We can always use them.
Speaker 7 (15:37):
No, wait a minute, I don't like to wait, Mercer.
If you'll meet me here tomorrow night, i'll have the
money for you.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
I'm sorry, I'll have to have it now, but I
don't have it with me.
Speaker 7 (15:45):
Why can't you wait? Till tomorrow night.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
You might not show up, Mercer, you might be off
way across the country. Let's have the money now, eh.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
All right, all right, it's all quite clear to you now,
is that, Chris? The conversation you've just overheard explains a
lot of things. You know exactly what happened to board
ship last night and why? Now as you hurry back
(16:16):
to Linda, you know you've nothing to worry about, and
a plan is already beginning to take shape in your mind.
Speaker 8 (16:25):
What happened, Chris?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Relaxed, Baby, We're in great shape, great shape. What do
you mean our friend just met the ship's steward?
Speaker 8 (16:33):
You mean the same one?
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah. Seems like the captain of the ss Java Queen
and his boys are running a nice little racket smuggling
aliens into the States, and the manner was posing as
your husband is one of their clients, a guy named Mercer.
Speaker 8 (16:45):
Well, Chris, I don't understand.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
It's simple, Linda. The steward went down to your husband's
cabin and found him dead. Right away, he gets a
bright idea, removes all identification from the body, dumps it overboard,
and sets up Mercer. This alien he was smuggling in
as Ashcraft.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
Oh but that seems like such a risky thing to do.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
No, not particularly the steward must have known your husband
had no friends aboard he besides, he stayed in his
cabin all the time. It's a perfect setup, of course, Yeah,
perfect jail. I started asking questions.
Speaker 8 (17:12):
That's why they locked you in your cash Sure.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Just long enough to get this guy Mercer ashore. It
all adds up, Linda, It adds up beautifully.
Speaker 8 (17:18):
Well, what are we going to do now?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I think I got that figure out too. Now, this
guy Mercer doesn't know anyone here in town.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
How about your husband?
Speaker 8 (17:26):
Oh no, not a soul, I'm sure of it. He's
been living in Canada for the past fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Came from Detroit, rich good. Suppose something happened to Mercer,
an accident. He's carrying your husband's identification papers. An accident,
a fatal accident. The police find him, You identify him
as your loving husband, Frank Ashcroft telling me arrived this
morning aboard the Java Queen.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Oh no, Chris, the captain will know.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
So what if they do call him to identify the
body he left to string along? We know too much
about his little sideline.
Speaker 8 (17:59):
No, let's forget, forget the whole thing.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
We're in the clear, baby, How are we going to
get our hands in your husband to state? If we
can't turn them up dead, there's got to be a body.
Speaker 8 (18:07):
Oh, Chris, listen to me. There's still the bank account
Frank had me open here, thirty thousand dollars. It's in
my name. Let's be satisfied with this first thing. In
the morning, I'll call the police and report my husband missing.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Then in a few years, seven years, he'll be declared
legally dead. Sure, but I don't want to wait that long,
don't you see, Linda? This setup is perfect. You're the
only one in town can identify your husband. He didn't
carry any insurance, so there won't be any investigations.
Speaker 8 (18:32):
Oh, Chris, I'm afraid.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Well, don't be.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
There's nothing to worry about, not a thing. Leave everything
to me.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
A perfect setup, isn't it, Chris? An opportunity you can't
afford to miss. You start the car, turn into the park,
(19:00):
drive down the road toward the park bench. It's empty now,
but up ahead you see Mercer walking along the side
of the road. Your foot presses down on the accelerator hard, Chris,
what are you.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
Going to do?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Make it easy, Linda, I said, I'd handle it. No, oh, Chris,
Now we don't have to do this, or we do, baby,
shure we don't.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
It's all over very quickly, isn't it. Chris Mercer is
dead and you drive away, leave him sprawled out on
the road, the victim of a hit and run accident.
That's what they'll call it, and he'll be identified as
Frank Ashcroft. As you drive back to Linda's house, you
tell her what you expected to do. You're a little
worried about her, aren't you, Chris? Afraid she'll go to
(19:50):
pieces at the wrong time. After you drop her off,
you drive down the street, park your car in the
shadows half a block away and wait. It's all almost
nine thirty When you see the police car pull up
in front of the house. Two policemen hurry up the steps.
A few moments later they disappear inside. You slip out
of your.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Car walk towards the house. Yeah, oh uh, good evening.
Is this mister Ashcroft's residence.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Are you a friend of his?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Well, in a way, a ship board acquaintance, you might say.
We met in the Joba Queen out of Vancouver. She
docked this morning. He gave me this address. I see,
h something wrong, officer. Mister Ashcroft is dead. Dead yeah,
hit and run accident happened a couple hours ago.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Hit and run.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Oh horrible.
Speaker 5 (20:51):
We came back to pick up Missus Ashcroft, take her
downtown to make the formal identification.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
See oh, I you know, I just can't believe it.
Ashcroft dead. Only last night we sat aroundy had a
few drinks. A sergeant. Yeah, if I can be of
any help now, maybe you can.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
You probably saw him last you can help with the identification.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Of the morgue.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
I'm sure Missus Ashcroft won't mind in here, Missus Ashcroft,
mister Hoyton, thank you, sergeant. Hello, Charlie, Holy sergeant, what
(21:36):
do you got eh? This is Missus Ashcroft.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Oh yeah, yeah, you see.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Here we are Section B forty three.
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Yeah, that's done this way.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Oh well, Missus Ashcron, Yeah, yes, that's my husband, mister Wharton.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
That's mister Ashcroft.
Speaker 9 (22:13):
All right, Hell I am sorry, Missus Ashcront thank you.
Speaker 8 (22:22):
That's all set.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Yeah, that's sir, that's all sergeant, Yeah, Johnny, that.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
A fellow from a job at Queen's here, Captain Jensen.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Captain Jensen, okay, send him in.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
It's a tense moment, isn't it, Chris, You and Linda
stand back. Watch Captain Jensen as he enters, walks forward
with a sergeant identifies Mercer's body as Ashcroft. Then, without
even a glance in your direction, he's gone, Oh, I guess.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
That does it. I'll have one of the boys drive
you back home, Missus ashcront.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Oh another mind, sergeant.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I'll see to it. Oh, thank you, mister Horton.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Chris Horton, I wouldn't want to put you to any No,
no trouble at all, Missus.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Ashcroyl Or goes seither two go to your car.
Speaker 8 (23:11):
Then you're very kind.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
No, I uh, I became very well acquainted with your
husband just those few days aboard ship. He's a fine man,
wonderful person. I'm sure we would have become great friends.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
I'm sure you wo happened to her.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
No, it's strange, Sergeant. I feel as though i'd known
mister Ashcroft for many years.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
I've seen it happen.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
I can understand how keenly you feel, Missus Ashcroft. True,
he's he's gone now, but he's left something, something for
both of.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Us next weekend when you start off on your Labor
Day trip.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
Wouldn't it add a lot to.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Your peace of mind to know that, no matter how
high the thermometer may soar, your motor is protected by
an oil that won't break down under heat and form
destructive varnish, sticky gummy varnish that fogs up piston rings,
causing your car to lose pep and power and eat
up gasoline and oil. Well, you can be sure such
(24:26):
damage won't happen to your car if you stop by
a signal dealer this week, have him drain out your tired,
old motor oil and refill with fresh, clean, signal Premium
compounded motor oil. This extra duty signal oil is scientifically
engineered not only to keep from breaking down and forming
(24:47):
harmful varnish, but also to cleanse your motor of accumulated
varnish which other motor oils may have deposited naturally. This
means sweeter performance for your motor, more driving pleasure for you.
Two good reasons to stop at a signal station before
your Labor Day trip and change to signal Premium The
(25:08):
extra duty oil that does so much more than just lubricate.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
You're certain you're in the clear now, you and Linda,
aren't you, Chris, Yes, she's just identified Mercy's body. The
hip and run victim is Frank Ashcroft, her husband. It'll
all be over in a few days. There'll be a
quiet funeral, a private funeral. You're sure now that Linda
will inherit the Ashcroft estate and the two of you
will share it together. And now, as you follow the
(25:49):
police sergeant out of the morgue, Linda holding onto your
arm tightly, a man suddenly appears in the doorway, blocking
your path.
Speaker 6 (25:58):
Leamy sergeant, Oh, good evening, sir. I understand you brought
in Missus Ashcroft and a man named Horton.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Why, yes, this is Missus Ashcroft.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
Wa well, well, so you're missus Ashcroft. This is a surprise.
Nice to see you again, both of you.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
What what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (26:15):
Last time I saw you and Horton here, the two
of you were in a big hurry.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Missus Ashcroft.
Speaker 6 (26:20):
A minute, what is this talking about that hit and
run accident?
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Houghton?
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Only now it doesn't look like it was an accident
at all. Oh wait, a minute dropped the act Horton,
it won't work. I saw the two of you in
the car that ran down Frank ashk you you what
you know? You're a hard guy to trail Houghton. I've
been trying to catch up to you since this morning.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
I don't understand.
Speaker 6 (26:43):
When I went down to the boat, they told me
you'd already gone ashore. You went down to the boat,
got your address there, but you haven't been home all day.
When I came back tonight, you were gone, but the
doorman was very helpful pointed you out about a half
a block away, driving a yellow name convertible license number
one two four eighth.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
All right, but I still don't get the connection.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
They almost caught up with you then, but I lost
you in the traffic on footon near the main entrance
to the park. I picked you up again in the
park just when you ran down Ashcroft. By the time
I found out he was already dead. You'd beat it
out of there. Finally I find you here.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
You've been trailing me?
Speaker 6 (27:23):
Why I'm John started? He sent me a radiogram from
the ss Java Queen asked me to meet you when
she died.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Remember let that whistle be your signal for the Signal
(27:59):
Oil program. The Whistler each Sunday night at this same time,
brought to you by the Signal Oil Company marketers of
Signal Gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories.
Signal Oil Company has asked me to remind you that
starting next Friday, heavy holiday bound Labor Day traffic will
make it even more important to drive at sensible speeds,
(28:22):
be courteous, and obey traffic regulations. It may save a life,
possibly your own. Featured in Tonight's story were Bill Foreman,
Larry Dobkin, and Francis Robinson. The Whistler was produced and
(28:43):
directed 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.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
The Whistler is.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Entirely fictional, and all characters portrayed on the Whistler are
also fictional. Any similarity of names or resemblance two persons
living or dead is purely coincidental.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
There's a miracle.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Going on right in front of our eyes every moment
of the day. It's the miracle of America today. Power
driven machines have taken over nearly ninety five percent of
the burden. Our country has been built on this kind
of progress. Just look around you, at the radio in
your living room, at the car in your garage, at
the food in your refrigerator. These are the miracles which
(29:27):
have made our American standard of living the envy of
the world. And you can learn much more about the
wonderful system of freedom which has made them possible in
a booklet called The Miracle of America, which will be
sent to you free of charge if you send a
postcard with your name and address to your local CBS station.
(29:49):
Remember at this same time next Sunday, another strange tale
by the whistler Marvin Miller, speaking for the Signal Oil Company,
the CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System
And now stay tuned for the program that has rated
tops in popularity for a longer period of time than
any other West Coast program in radio history, The Signal
Oil Program, the Whistler Signal, the famous Go Farther Gasoline.
(00:30):
Invite you to sit back and enjoy another strange story
by the Whistler.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
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 at
which they dare not speak.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
And now for the Signal Oil Company, the Whistler's Strange
story undercurrent.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The sea was calm on the ship, the s S
Java Queen, out of Vancouver for San Francisco, was moving
calmly through it, smoothly and in the vernacular, all was well.
But not so with a certain member of the cargo
ship's half dozen passengers. No, Chris Horton was anything but calm.
(01:49):
He was obviously concerned and confused, for as he hurried
along the deck, he knew that something was wrong, very wrong,
and he intended to find out about it. He was
deep in thought when he bumped against the deck steward.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Oh oh, sorry's my fault, sir, I will if you
never mind. Were you taking that tray.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
To mister Ashcroft's cabin?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Sad? You ought to be one person on board the
ship and knows what.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
He looks like, what he looks who was? Certainly?
Speaker 3 (02:15):
But I just came from Ashcroft's cabin. There's a man
in there who claims he's Ashcroft. I know he isn't.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
What do you mean, I've been bringing him these meals
ever since we sail, Sir.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
He's not a very good sailor. You know he won't
come on dick. But okay, take.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
A look right now, find out what that guy in
there is trying to pull.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
WHOA of course, of course, sir, excuse me.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You watch the steward walk away, Chris and knock on
the door of Ashcroft's cabin. Presently it opens, The man
inside takes the tray, and a moment later the steward
is back at your side. He shoves his cap back
and stares at you as he scratches the side of
his head. You feel he's ready to agree with you, and.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Then I I don't get you, mister Rutton.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I don't get you at all? What whoa?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Unless you're trying to pull my leg? Woll you're all
mixed up, sir. That's mister Ashcroft, all right, I know
it is.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, Chris. You thought the steward was going to agree,
didn't you, But he's confused you even further. You're positive
the man in cabin sea isn't Ashcroft. That's the steward's
wrong or lying?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Is that it?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Chris? And why you paced the deck for a long while,
thinking things out and finding decide there's only one thing
to do, and you hurried toward the captain's quarters. Yes,
you've got to convey your suspicions, surprise him of the situation.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
I oh, really, mister Horton, cap'n.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I'd like to talk to you.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
It's very important.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
Shake hands with my friend, mister Ashcroft, just to get.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Drink mister ash crw how do you do, mister Hodon?
Speaker 7 (04:07):
Now?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Well, what was it you wanted to see me about,
mister Horton?
Speaker 7 (04:10):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Nothing, that is I guess it can wait. I'll talk
to you later.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
It's a shock, isn't it, Chris? A terrible puzzle A
ship moving through a calm, smooth sea, but with a
weird undercurrent criss crossing in your mind because you know
that the ship's captain and the deck steward are making
a horrible mistake or they're deliberately lying. You stop, suddenly
(04:44):
realize you're passing a radio shack and there's someone inside
you can trust. Reg Mackenzie, a nice youngster, clean fresh,
He couldn't be mixed up in anything undercover. He could
send a message for you, Chris, to whom And then
your gaze falls on the ship's bulletin board, a tight
(05:04):
written sheet of paper, the news from shore. There's a
brief paragraph the sensational developments in the selected murder case
in San Francisco, And instantly a name comes to your mind.
Started John Stodded, a well known police detective, a man
known to you only by reputation. You hurry into the
(05:26):
radio shack.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Freg uh oh.
Speaker 7 (05:29):
Hi, mister Jordan, be with you in a minute. Just
getting the weather.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Okay, what can I do for you?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I want you to send a message for me. Here, Hey,
you can earn it. Got a message, blank, Thanks, Lieutenant
John Stoddard, Hall of Justice, San Francisco, ss JAVA, Queen
Docking tomorrow tenay, And that's right, isn't it. Meet me
(05:57):
Chris Horton.
Speaker 7 (05:58):
S s Jaba Queen Doarking tomorrow ten am.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Meet me Chris Hortonsheck sure, I'll get it off right away,
good boy Rench.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Thanks.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
You feel better now, don't you, Chris? Relieve and you
start down the companionway towards your own cabin, and then
a thought strikes you, makes you hesitate and turn slowly.
You make your way back to a position where you
can observe the radio shack. Yes, sure enough, Chris, a
radio man yellow message blank in hand, leaves the radio
(06:37):
shack and goes straight to the captain's quarters. Now you're certain, Chris,
know that they're all against you, and your message to
police Lieutenant John Stoddard has been turned over to the captain.
In your cabin, you pace the floor, wonder and worry
for hours into the night, and then as you decide
(06:59):
to step out on deck again, what what.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
The devil locked I'm locked in?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
It's a terrible night you spent, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Chris?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
A virtual prisoner in your own cabin, unable to get out,
get help from the other passengers, and on this kind
of a ship, there are no phones. You stretch out
in your bunk and it seems you've only dozed off,
and then it's morning. You hurry toward the porthole look
out see that the ship is docked, the cargo is
(07:36):
being lowered away. You turn and start pounding on the
door and shouting frantically.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Let me out here, open up, open up door. Something wrong,
mister Rule, something wrong? Why was I locked in like this?
Speaker 4 (07:53):
What's going on? Locked in? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Why this door wasn't locked, sir? Uh just gamed a
little jammed? Yeah, sure, maybe it.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Was just jammed.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
Well, if you're old packed, mister Orton, I'll carry your
bag the shows.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
You hurry ashore, hope frantically that the man who calls
himself Ashcroft hasn't disappeared for if you lose him now, Chris. Oh.
But suddenly you spot him just a few feet away,
about to enter a taxi. You hear him give the
driver a hotel address on Fulton Street and ride hurriedly away.
You carefully note the address he gave, and then rush
to a drug store near the docks. Your hand trembles faces,
(08:42):
drop a coin into the payphone, dial a number and
wait nervously.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Yes, Linda, Chris just got in Oh.
Speaker 8 (08:55):
Chris, what's happened? Why didn't you get in touch with me?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I've been scared of this.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Listen, baby, something's gone wrong. We better not talk now.
Come to my apartment tonight, all right, Chris, tonight, eight o'clock. Hello, Linda, Chris,
(09:21):
take it easy. You know I've already fixed your drink.
Speaker 8 (09:23):
Oh I can use it.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Maybe you can use another. When you hear what I've
got to say?
Speaker 4 (09:26):
What you better sit down?
Speaker 8 (09:28):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I did it, baby, just like we planned. I bumped
him off and set it up to look like suicide.
Speaker 9 (09:34):
Frank, he's dead, yeah, But.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
When I went back to his cabin a few hours
later to discover the tragedy, his body was gone.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Gone.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yeah. Somebody else was in the cabin, A stranger, Linda,
guy I never saw before. He was posing as your
husband said. His name was Ashcroft.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
Chris.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
How could he? I don't know? But the steward packed
him up, the captain everybody.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
But why, Chris?
Speaker 8 (09:56):
What does it mean?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I don't know yet, Linda, but we've got to find
out quick.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
A twenty page booklet which signal service stations are now
offering free can make your labor day trip next weekend
a lot more pleasant. It's called Lane's Guide, and it
answers the two questions travelers ask most often, what's a
good place to eat? Where's a good place to stay?
In addition, this handy, pocket sized booklet, which was prepared
(10:32):
by a professional travel organization, contains other useful information such
as whether prices are low, medium, or high, whether the
lodging place has facilities for swimming, and, in the case
of motels, whether kitchens are available. Since Lane's Guide includes
three hundred and fifty cities in towns throughout sixteen Western states,
(10:53):
you'll want a copy in your car for all your trips.
So I'd suggest that you stop at the very next
signal station you see to get your free copy of
Lane's Guide while the supply lads you find. This is
just one of many friendly services that independent signal dealers
offer to put more pleasure into your driving while you
(11:13):
go farther with signal.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
It's a terrible puzzling thing, isn't it, Chris? The events
on shipboard, the calm, the undercurrent of something very wrong,
the discovery that someone a stranger was posing as Frank Ashcroft,
The man you murdered. It's a horrible twist of circumstances
and the aftermath of your perfectly planned murder, a plan
that had its beginning some three months ago, when you
(12:00):
first met Linda, newly arrived from Canada to find a
home in San Francisco for herself and her wealthy husband.
She fell in love with you, agreed to the murder
of her husband. Then finally word came that he was
sailing for the States from Vancouver. You hurried there, book
passage aboard the Java Queen, and the night before the
(12:21):
ship arrived in San Francisco, you killed him. Now you
and Linda both caught in the undercurrent of a deadly mystery.
Ashcroft is dead. You know that, Chris. You killed him
with your own hands. But there's another man, a stranger,
in his place. And now, back in San Francisco, sitting
(12:41):
in your apartment with the victim's wife, lovely Linda Ashcroft,
the two of you share the shock and stare at
one another with eyes filled with question, why are we
going to do?
Speaker 8 (12:53):
Chris?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
We'll find out what he's up to, Linda. Before I
called you this morning, I heard him tell the taxi
driver to take him to a hotel on Fulton.
Speaker 8 (13:00):
What you you don't think we should go?
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I do, yes? And right now, come on, there's the hotel.
Let's wait a minute, eleven.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
What's the matter there?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
He is the guy getting into the cabin.
Speaker 8 (13:20):
What he doesn't even look like Frank.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
We'll just tag along find out where he's going.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
He went into the park.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Yeah, I know, what are you going to do?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
I'm going in after him. Relax, I'll be all right.
You wait here for me.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You're hurrying into the park, down the darkened path after him,
and then up ahead a street land and under it
sitting on a park bench. Another man. There's something familiar
about him, isn't there, Chris, Yes, it's the ship's steward.
Just then you see the man that you've been following
walk toward the steward. You move quickly through the trees,
(14:15):
circle behind the park bench and listener, evening, mister ashcro.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
You can forget the Ashcroft. My name is Mercer. You
know that.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
What's wrong wrong?
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Nothing's wrong, mister Mercer, nothing at all?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
And what did jazz Mercy? We've got a little talking
to do, all right, all right, now?
Speaker 7 (14:40):
What is it?
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Well?
Speaker 5 (14:42):
The Captain's been thinking it over. You know, smuggling aliens
into the States is risky business.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Well.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
The captain thinks that job we did for you is
worth a little more money.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
Look, a bargain's a bargain.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I paid with your asst the regular fee, but you
got special treatment.
Speaker 8 (15:01):
Now.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
For one thing, we set you up in a nice
cabin instead of letting you sweat it out in the
old of the ship, first class accommodation.
Speaker 7 (15:10):
All right, so you're did I didn't ask for it.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
And on top of that, we furnished you with a
set of identification papers, all neat and proper. Life that
that wasn't included in the bargain, Mercer, you know we
took a big chance dumping that suicide overboard.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
How much do you want?
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Well, the captain figures Ashcroft's papers are worth at least
five hundred it's crazy. Alright, then hand them over.
Speaker 9 (15:36):
We can always use them.
Speaker 7 (15:37):
No, wait a minute, I don't like to wait, Mercer.
If you'll meet me here tomorrow night, i'll have the
money for you.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
I'm sorry, I'll have to have it now, but I
don't have it with me.
Speaker 7 (15:45):
Why can't you wait? Till tomorrow night.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
You might not show up, Mercer, you might be off
way across the country. Let's have the money now, eh.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
All right, all right, it's all quite clear to you now,
is that, Chris? The conversation you've just overheard explains a
lot of things. You know exactly what happened to board
ship last night and why? Now as you hurry back
(16:16):
to Linda, you know you've nothing to worry about, and
a plan is already beginning to take shape in your mind.
Speaker 8 (16:25):
What happened, Chris?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Relaxed, Baby, We're in great shape, great shape. What do
you mean our friend just met the ship's steward?
Speaker 8 (16:33):
You mean the same one?
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah. Seems like the captain of the ss Java Queen
and his boys are running a nice little racket smuggling
aliens into the States, and the manner was posing as
your husband is one of their clients, a guy named Mercer.
Speaker 8 (16:45):
Well, Chris, I don't understand.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
It's simple, Linda. The steward went down to your husband's
cabin and found him dead. Right away, he gets a
bright idea, removes all identification from the body, dumps it overboard,
and sets up Mercer. This alien he was smuggling in
as Ashcraft.
Speaker 8 (16:58):
Oh but that seems like such a risky thing to do.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
No, not particularly the steward must have known your husband
had no friends aboard he besides, he stayed in his
cabin all the time. It's a perfect setup, of course, Yeah,
perfect jail. I started asking questions.
Speaker 8 (17:12):
That's why they locked you in your cash Sure.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Just long enough to get this guy Mercer ashore. It
all adds up, Linda, It adds up beautifully.
Speaker 8 (17:18):
Well, what are we going to do now?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I think I got that figure out too. Now, this
guy Mercer doesn't know anyone here in town.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
How about your husband?
Speaker 8 (17:26):
Oh no, not a soul, I'm sure of it. He's
been living in Canada for the past fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Came from Detroit, rich good. Suppose something happened to Mercer,
an accident. He's carrying your husband's identification papers. An accident,
a fatal accident. The police find him, You identify him
as your loving husband, Frank Ashcroft telling me arrived this
morning aboard the Java Queen.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Oh no, Chris, the captain will know.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
So what if they do call him to identify the
body he left to string along? We know too much
about his little sideline.
Speaker 8 (17:59):
No, let's forget, forget the whole thing.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
We're in the clear, baby, How are we going to
get our hands in your husband to state? If we
can't turn them up dead, there's got to be a body.
Speaker 8 (18:07):
Oh, Chris, listen to me. There's still the bank account
Frank had me open here, thirty thousand dollars. It's in
my name. Let's be satisfied with this first thing. In
the morning, I'll call the police and report my husband missing.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Then in a few years, seven years, he'll be declared
legally dead. Sure, but I don't want to wait that long,
don't you see, Linda? This setup is perfect. You're the
only one in town can identify your husband. He didn't
carry any insurance, so there won't be any investigations.
Speaker 8 (18:32):
Oh, Chris, I'm afraid.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Well, don't be.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
There's nothing to worry about, not a thing. Leave everything
to me.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
A perfect setup, isn't it, Chris? An opportunity you can't
afford to miss. You start the car, turn into the park,
(19:00):
drive down the road toward the park bench. It's empty now,
but up ahead you see Mercer walking along the side
of the road. Your foot presses down on the accelerator hard, Chris,
what are you.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
Going to do?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Make it easy, Linda, I said, I'd handle it. No, oh, Chris,
Now we don't have to do this, or we do, baby,
shure we don't.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
It's all over very quickly, isn't it. Chris Mercer is
dead and you drive away, leave him sprawled out on
the road, the victim of a hit and run accident.
That's what they'll call it, and he'll be identified as
Frank Ashcroft. As you drive back to Linda's house, you
tell her what you expected to do. You're a little
worried about her, aren't you, Chris? Afraid she'll go to
(19:50):
pieces at the wrong time. After you drop her off,
you drive down the street, park your car in the
shadows half a block away and wait. It's all almost
nine thirty When you see the police car pull up
in front of the house. Two policemen hurry up the steps.
A few moments later they disappear inside. You slip out
of your.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Car walk towards the house. Yeah, oh uh, good evening.
Is this mister Ashcroft's residence.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Are you a friend of his?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Well, in a way, a ship board acquaintance, you might say.
We met in the Joba Queen out of Vancouver. She
docked this morning. He gave me this address. I see,
h something wrong, officer. Mister Ashcroft is dead. Dead yeah,
hit and run accident happened a couple hours ago.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Hit and run.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Oh horrible.
Speaker 5 (20:51):
We came back to pick up Missus Ashcroft, take her
downtown to make the formal identification.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
See oh, I you know, I just can't believe it.
Ashcroft dead. Only last night we sat aroundy had a
few drinks. A sergeant. Yeah, if I can be of
any help now, maybe you can.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
You probably saw him last you can help with the identification.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Of the morgue.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
I'm sure Missus Ashcroft won't mind in here, Missus Ashcroft,
mister Hoyton, thank you, sergeant. Hello, Charlie, Holy sergeant, what
(21:36):
do you got eh? This is Missus Ashcroft.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Oh yeah, yeah, you see.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Here we are Section B forty three.
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Yeah, that's done this way.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Oh well, Missus Ashcron, Yeah, yes, that's my husband, mister Wharton.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
That's mister Ashcroft.
Speaker 9 (22:13):
All right, Hell I am sorry, Missus Ashcront thank you.
Speaker 8 (22:22):
That's all set.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Yeah, that's sir, that's all sergeant, Yeah, Johnny, that.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
A fellow from a job at Queen's here, Captain Jensen.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Captain Jensen, okay, send him in.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
It's a tense moment, isn't it, Chris, You and Linda
stand back. Watch Captain Jensen as he enters, walks forward
with a sergeant identifies Mercer's body as Ashcroft. Then, without
even a glance in your direction, he's gone, Oh, I guess.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
That does it. I'll have one of the boys drive
you back home, Missus ashcront.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Oh another mind, sergeant.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I'll see to it. Oh, thank you, mister Horton.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Chris Horton, I wouldn't want to put you to any No,
no trouble at all, Missus.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Ashcroyl Or goes seither two go to your car.
Speaker 8 (23:11):
Then you're very kind.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
No, I uh, I became very well acquainted with your
husband just those few days aboard ship. He's a fine man,
wonderful person. I'm sure we would have become great friends.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
I'm sure you wo happened to her.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
No, it's strange, Sergeant. I feel as though i'd known
mister Ashcroft for many years.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
I've seen it happen.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
I can understand how keenly you feel, Missus Ashcroft. True,
he's he's gone now, but he's left something, something for
both of.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Us next weekend when you start off on your Labor
Day trip.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
Wouldn't it add a lot to.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Your peace of mind to know that, no matter how
high the thermometer may soar, your motor is protected by
an oil that won't break down under heat and form
destructive varnish, sticky gummy varnish that fogs up piston rings,
causing your car to lose pep and power and eat
up gasoline and oil. Well, you can be sure such
(24:26):
damage won't happen to your car if you stop by
a signal dealer this week, have him drain out your tired,
old motor oil and refill with fresh, clean, signal Premium
compounded motor oil. This extra duty signal oil is scientifically
engineered not only to keep from breaking down and forming
(24:47):
harmful varnish, but also to cleanse your motor of accumulated
varnish which other motor oils may have deposited naturally. This
means sweeter performance for your motor, more driving pleasure for you.
Two good reasons to stop at a signal station before
your Labor Day trip and change to signal Premium The
(25:08):
extra duty oil that does so much more than just lubricate.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
You're certain you're in the clear now, you and Linda,
aren't you, Chris, Yes, she's just identified Mercy's body. The
hip and run victim is Frank Ashcroft, her husband. It'll
all be over in a few days. There'll be a
quiet funeral, a private funeral. You're sure now that Linda
will inherit the Ashcroft estate and the two of you
will share it together. And now, as you follow the
(25:49):
police sergeant out of the morgue, Linda holding onto your
arm tightly, a man suddenly appears in the doorway, blocking
your path.
Speaker 6 (25:58):
Leamy sergeant, Oh, good evening, sir. I understand you brought
in Missus Ashcroft and a man named Horton.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Why, yes, this is Missus Ashcroft.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
Wa well, well, so you're missus Ashcroft. This is a surprise.
Nice to see you again, both of you.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
What what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (26:15):
Last time I saw you and Horton here, the two
of you were in a big hurry.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Missus Ashcroft.
Speaker 6 (26:20):
A minute, what is this talking about that hit and
run accident?
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Houghton?
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Only now it doesn't look like it was an accident
at all. Oh wait, a minute dropped the act Horton,
it won't work. I saw the two of you in
the car that ran down Frank ashk you you what
you know? You're a hard guy to trail Houghton. I've
been trying to catch up to you since this morning.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
I don't understand.
Speaker 6 (26:43):
When I went down to the boat, they told me
you'd already gone ashore. You went down to the boat,
got your address there, but you haven't been home all day.
When I came back tonight, you were gone, but the
doorman was very helpful pointed you out about a half
a block away, driving a yellow name convertible license number
one two four eighth.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
All right, but I still don't get the connection.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
They almost caught up with you then, but I lost
you in the traffic on footon near the main entrance
to the park. I picked you up again in the
park just when you ran down Ashcroft. By the time
I found out he was already dead. You'd beat it
out of there. Finally I find you here.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
You've been trailing me?
Speaker 6 (27:23):
Why I'm John started? He sent me a radiogram from
the ss Java Queen asked me to meet you when
she died.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Remember let that whistle be your signal for the Signal
(27:59):
Oil program. The Whistler each Sunday night at this same time,
brought to you by the Signal Oil Company marketers of
Signal Gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories.
Signal Oil Company has asked me to remind you that
starting next Friday, heavy holiday bound Labor Day traffic will
make it even more important to drive at sensible speeds,
(28:22):
be courteous, and obey traffic regulations. It may save a life,
possibly your own. Featured in Tonight's story were Bill Foreman,
Larry Dobkin, and Francis Robinson. The Whistler was produced and
(28:43):
directed 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.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
The Whistler is.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Entirely fictional, and all characters portrayed on the Whistler are
also fictional. Any similarity of names or resemblance two persons
living or dead is purely coincidental.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
There's a miracle.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Going on right in front of our eyes every moment
of the day. It's the miracle of America today. Power
driven machines have taken over nearly ninety five percent of
the burden. Our country has been built on this kind
of progress. Just look around you, at the radio in
your living room, at the car in your garage, at
the food in your refrigerator. These are the miracles which
(29:27):
have made our American standard of living the envy of
the world. And you can learn much more about the
wonderful system of freedom which has made them possible in
a booklet called The Miracle of America, which will be
sent to you free of charge if you send a
postcard with your name and address to your local CBS station.
(29:49):
Remember at this same time next Sunday, another strange tale
by the whistler Marvin Miller, speaking for the Signal Oil Company,
the CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System
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