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The Whistler - "Stranger in the House" (Old Time Radio, 1948) · The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Helen Van Norton has waited nearly seven years for word
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: of her foster brother Ted missing after a pre-war government
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: mission to the Far East. A cablegram announces Ted's arrival
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: in Seattle, but when Helen meets the man aboard the
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: incoming ship, she believes he is an imposter. From CBS,
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: with Signal Oil as sponsor, this is The Whistler, Stranger
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: in the House, episode 314, originally broadcast June 2nd, 1948.
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: Virginia Gregg and Gerald Moore are featured, with Marvin Miller
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: as announcer. And now, we return to the original broadcast.
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: The Signal Oil program, The Whistler. That whistle is your
• 1:00
  Speaker 2: signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:24
  Speaker 3: I am the whistler, and I know many things, for
• 1:27
  Speaker 3: I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden
• 1:31
  Speaker 3: in the hearts of men and women who have stepped
• 1:33
  Speaker 3: into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of
• 1:38
  Speaker 3: which they dare not speak.
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: Yes, friends, it's time for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler,
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: than any other West Coast program in radio history. And
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: Signal Gasoline is tops, too, tops in quality. It takes
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: extra quality, you know, to give you extra mileage. And
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. So look for the
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: dealer-owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now the
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: Whistler's strange story. Stranger in the House.
• 2:22
  Speaker 3: Helen decided she might as well be honest with herself.
• 2:26
  Speaker 3: The suspense was getting her down. But if she didn't
• 2:29
  Speaker 3: find out one way or the other pretty soon, something
• 2:31
  Speaker 3: was going to snap. It had been over six years
• 2:35
  Speaker 3: since her foster brother Ted had left for the Orient
• 2:37
  Speaker 3: on that government mission. And he was still out there,
• 2:40
  Speaker 3: somewhere between Manila and Shanghai, alive or dead. It was
• 2:46
  Speaker 3: a terrible thing to admit even to herself. But she
• 2:49
  Speaker 3: was even wishing now for any kind of message. Even
• 2:52
  Speaker 3: one stating Ted was dead. At least it would end
• 2:56
  Speaker 3: the waiting. At least it would be better than not
• 2:58
  Speaker 3: knowing at all.
• 2:59
  Speaker 4: George, please. I don't want to talk about it anymore.
• 3:03
  Speaker 4: Ted's been on my mind for so long now that
• 3:05
  Speaker 4: I wish I could forget about him for a while.
• 3:07
  Speaker 5: I'm rather surprised to hear you say that, Helen.
• 3:09
  Speaker 4: Oh, I know it sounds terrible, but... George, it's been six,
• 3:12
  Speaker 4: almost seven years of waiting and not knowing.
• 3:15
  Speaker 5: Yes, I know, Helen.
• 3:16
  Speaker 4: I can't stand it much longer, George. After all, he's
• 3:18
  Speaker 4: my foster brother. Don't you understand? All these years of silence.
• 3:22
  Speaker 4: If they'd only tell us something.
• 3:25
  Speaker 6: You must realize there are a lot of women like you, dear.
• 3:28
  Speaker 6: It's just one of the terrible things about the aftermath of.
• 3:30
  Speaker 5: War, that's all.
• 3:32
  Speaker 4: Let's just wait, then. Let's not talk about him anymore.
• 3:36
  Speaker 5: I'm your lawyer, Helen. There are some things we've got
• 3:39
  Speaker 5: to talk about.
• 3:40
  Speaker 4: All right.
• 3:42
  Speaker 7: Go on, George.
• 3:43
  Speaker 6: Well, it's been almost seven years now. If we haven't
• 3:46
  Speaker 6: heard from Ted in another four months, he'll be declared
• 3:49
  Speaker 6: legally dead.
• 3:50
  Speaker 4: What does that mean?
• 3:51
  Speaker 6: There's a clause in your foster father's will, Helen. When
• 3:54
  Speaker 6: Ted dies, the entire estate goes over to you.
• 3:56
  Speaker 4: Why must you always throw that will in my face, George?
• 3:59
  Speaker 4: Why must it always come around to money, money, money?
• 4:01
  Speaker 4: Every time we talk about Ted, it's the same thing.
• 4:03
  Speaker 4: I don't care about the money. All I care about
• 4:06
  Speaker 4: is having him back alive and well. Now, please go, George.
• 4:10
  Speaker 4: If it doesn't have to be settled till September, let's
• 4:13
  Speaker 4: not talk about it till then.
• 4:16
  Speaker 5: All right, Helen. George.
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: Yes?
• 4:21
  Speaker 4: I'm sorry I blew up. I... I guess I'm just
• 4:25
  Speaker 4: not myself.
• 4:27
  Speaker 5: Sure, Helen. I understand.
• 4:36
  Speaker 3: Yes, Helen, the suspense is beginning to tell on you,
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: isn't it? Almost seven years of it. Just a few
• 4:43
  Speaker 3: letters from Ted early in 1941 telling you of his
• 4:46
  Speaker 3: arrival in Manila. Then silence. No way you could get
• 4:50
  Speaker 3: in touch with him. Nothing you could do but wait.
• 4:53
  Speaker 3: And you're still waiting, rushing out to meet the postman,
• 4:57
  Speaker 3: hoping each day will be the big one. George is
• 5:00
  Speaker 3: more tactful now about the will. He doesn't mention it anymore,
• 5:04
  Speaker 3: and you're very grateful. And then at long last, the
• 5:07
  Speaker 3: suspense has ended. It's not the postman. It's Rhoda, your maid.
• 5:11
  Speaker 3: walking into your bedroom one morning with a cable grand.
• 5:15
  Speaker 4: When did it come, Rhoda? Just this minute, Miss. A
• 5:18
  Speaker 4: messenger brought it to the door. Arriving June 4th, Seattle, Steamer,
• 5:23
  Speaker 4: President Jefferson.
• 5:24
  Speaker 7: Love, Ted.
• 5:26
  Speaker 4: Oh, at last. Oh, Miss Helen, Mr. Ted, coming home
• 5:31
  Speaker 4: at last. Yes. Yes, Rhoda. At last.
• 5:43
  Speaker 5: Pardon me.
• 5:46
  Speaker 4: Oh, I beg your pardon.
• 5:48
  Speaker 5: Stuart?
• 5:49
  Speaker 4: Oh, Stuart!
• 5:50
  Speaker 5: Yes, miss?
• 5:50
  Speaker 4: I'm looking for Mr. Ted Van Norton. Where is his cabin, please?
• 5:54
  Speaker 7: Just a minute, please. Van Norton. State room 3C, third deck.
• 5:58
  Speaker 4: Thank you.
• 6:05
  Speaker 5: Come in.
• 6:07
  Speaker 4: Ted, darling! Hello! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I must
• 6:12
  Speaker 4: have the wrong stateroom. I'm looking for my brother, Ted
• 6:15
  Speaker 4: Van Norton.
• 6:16
  Speaker 5: What's the matter, Helen? Don't you recognize me?
• 6:18
  Speaker 3: What?
• 6:19
  Speaker 4: Who are you?
• 6:20
  Speaker 6: Well, this isn't much of a homecoming after six years.
• 6:24
  Speaker 6: Maybe I'd better introduce myself. The name is Theodore Van Norton.
• 6:27
  Speaker 4: Oh, there must be some mistake.
• 6:30
  Speaker 5: Helen, darling, you're joking.
• 6:32
  Speaker 4: Who are you?
• 6:34
  Speaker 5: I've already told you. I'm your foster brother, Ted Van Norton.
• 6:38
  Speaker 4: You're not Ted. You're Ted. You're an imposter.
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: With the prologue of Stranger in the House, the Signal
• 6:55
  Speaker 2: Oil Company is bringing you another strange story by the Whistler.
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: But now, important news for drivers. The amazing new type
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: tire by Lee of Conshohocken, which is being announced this
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: month in the Saturday Evening Post, is already at your
• 7:12
  Speaker 2: signal dealers. I'm referring to the new 8-rib Super Deluxe
• 7:16
  Speaker 2: Lee tire. Not just a new model, mind you, but
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: a completely new tire. You can see that the handsome
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: 8-rib tread is wider and flatter, and there's more rubber
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: in it. But not until you drive on these new
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: type tires can you appreciate their easier turning and steering.
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: and the way they absorb road shocks, sparing you fatigue
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: and sparing your car unnecessary wear. In addition, quicker stopping
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: and greater protection against skidding are assured by the 16
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: cleaning edges on Lee's broad flat tread. And when it
• 7:48
  Speaker 2: comes to wear, these new Lee Super Deluxe tires are
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: setting records so amazing they're almost unbelievable. Yet all this
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: extra quality is yours at no extra cost. In fact,
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: right now, as their summer driving special, signal dealers are
• 8:04
  Speaker 2: offering extra generous trade-ins on old tires plus liberal credit terms.
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: So before you buy any tire, see your signal dealer.
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: Find out how little it will cost you to enjoy
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: real safety and comfort this summer with new 8-rib Lee
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: Super Deluxe tires.
• 8:22
  Speaker 5: And now, back to the whistler.
• 8:41
  Speaker 3: Well, Helen, all you can do is stand there in
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: the stateroom and stare at him. The effrontery of this
• 8:47
  Speaker 3: stranger trying to pass himself off as your foster brother
• 8:50
  Speaker 3: leaves you at a loss for something to say. true,
• 8:53
  Speaker 3: he does resemble Ted. He's tall, the same build, the
• 8:57
  Speaker 3: same athletic poise, the same general features, but the expression,
• 9:02
  Speaker 3: it's not quite Ted's, is it? That's funny, isn't it, Helen?
• 9:07
  Speaker 3: Perhaps he thinks it's funny in a different sort of way.
• 9:10
  Speaker 3: Perhaps he's one of those people with a perverted sense
• 9:12
  Speaker 3: of humor, a practical joker. Yes, it's hilarious, isn't it,
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: to pull a trick like this after all those years
• 9:20
  Speaker 3: of almost unbearable suspense.
• 9:22
  Speaker 5: Well, darling, hadn't we better get a move on?
• 9:24
  Speaker 4: Are you stupid enough to think you can get away
• 9:26
  Speaker 4: with this?
• 9:27
  Speaker 5: Get away with what?
• 9:29
  Speaker 4: If this is some crude attempt at humor, I don't think.
• 9:31
  Speaker 5: It's all. I'm quite serious.
• 9:33
  Speaker 4: Where's Ted?
• 9:34
  Speaker 5: Oh, dear. I have to be that way. I explained once.
• 9:36
  Speaker 4: Don't lie to me. Where is he?
• 9:38
  Speaker 5: Excuse me a moment. Oh, Stuart.
• 9:42
  Speaker 3: Yes, Mr.
• 9:43
  Speaker 7: Van Orton.
• 9:43
  Speaker 5: Would you take care of my hand baggage, please? Yes, sir.
• 9:45
  Speaker 5: Right away. Thanks. Come on, Helen. Let's go down to
• 9:49
  Speaker 5: the dock.
• 9:49
  Speaker 4: I'll call the purser.
• 9:50
  Speaker 5: Wait a minute. Now look. See?
• 9:53
  Speaker 6: Passport with fingerprints and photograph. Birth certificate. State department credentials.
• 9:57
  Speaker 6: Letters from you.
• 9:58
  Speaker 4: They're forgery.
• 9:59
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry. They're genuine.
• 10:00
  Speaker 4: You... You're not going home with me. I won't stand
• 10:03
  Speaker 4: for it.
• 10:04
  Speaker 5: Very well, darling.
• 10:06
  Speaker 6: I'll check in at a hotel for the time being.
• 10:09
  Speaker 6: But after all, you can't keep a guy out of
• 10:11
  Speaker 6: his own home.
• 10:12
  Speaker 5: Can you?
• 10:13
  Speaker 4: Oh, George, George, I've never been so stunned in my life.
• 10:26
  Speaker 4: He just stood there smiling at me, saying over and
• 10:29
  Speaker 4: over that he was Ted.
• 10:29
  Speaker 5: Wait a minute. You say he had identification?
• 10:32
  Speaker 4: Everything, even letters from me. I wrote them when Ted
• 10:34
  Speaker 4: first arrived in Manila.
• 10:36
  Speaker 5: Were they genuine?
• 10:36
  Speaker 4: Oh, I think so. You're my lawyer. Do something.
• 10:40
  Speaker 5: He'd know better than try to get by with forgeries. Helen,
• 10:45
  Speaker 5: you're sure you're right?
• 10:46
  Speaker 4: George, you don't think I know my own brother?
• 10:49
  Speaker 6: Oh, but it's been close to seven years. He's probably
• 10:51
  Speaker 6: been in prison camp. That can make a lot of
• 10:54
  Speaker 6: difference in a man's appearance.
• 10:55
  Speaker 4: But it's not entirely a matter of appearance. It's the
• 10:58
  Speaker 4: way he walks, his voice, his mannerisms. Besides, Ted's dead.
• 11:03
  Speaker 5: What?
• 11:03
  Speaker 4: Something terrible's happened. I'm sure of it. This man might
• 11:06
  Speaker 4: have killed him. Yes, that's it. So he could get
• 11:09
  Speaker 4: his hands on Ted's money.
• 11:10
  Speaker 6: That's a pretty serious charge, Helen. You've got to be
• 11:12
  Speaker 6: sure of yourself. You're the only one in Seattle who
• 11:15
  Speaker 6: can recognize him. Remember, he's been gone for seven years.
• 11:19
  Speaker 6: Do you have any pictures?
• 11:20
  Speaker 4: No, I thought of that.
• 11:21
  Speaker 7: No.
• 11:22
  Speaker 3: Hmm.
• 11:22
  Speaker 4: No, there weren't any, not since he was a little boy.
• 11:25
  Speaker 4: Spent most of his time in the East with Aunt Ida.
• 11:27
  Speaker 5: And where is she?
• 11:28
  Speaker 4: She died some time ago.
• 11:31
  Speaker 6: Well, there are a lot of ways we can check
• 11:32
  Speaker 6: on him. The State Department ought to know about him.
• 11:34
  Speaker 6: He's been with them for over ten years. You say
• 11:38
  Speaker 6: he's stopping at a hotel?
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: Yes.
• 11:40
  Speaker 6: You know, of course, that if he can prove his identity,
• 11:42
  Speaker 6: he has a legal right to live here in this house.
• 11:44
  Speaker 4: I tell you, he's a flagrant imposter. He's not coming
• 11:47
  Speaker 4: here if I have to hire somebody to throw him out.
• 12:00
  Speaker 7: Oh, who is it?
• 12:02
  Speaker 4: It's Rhoda, miss. Oh, what time is it? After eight. Oh,
• 12:07
  Speaker 4: go away. I'm sleepy. I must see you, Miss. All right, Rhoda,
• 12:14
  Speaker 4: come in. Now, what is it? It's... It's that man, Mr.
• 12:20
  Speaker 4: Van Nolten.
• 12:21
  Speaker 5: What?
• 12:22
  Speaker 4: Where is he? He's in the guest bathroom, Miss. Shaving.
• 12:25
  Speaker 3: Shaving.
• 12:34
  Speaker 5: Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam, where
• 12:38
  Speaker 5: the deer... Well, good morning.
• 12:41
  Speaker 4: What do you think you're doing?
• 12:42
  Speaker 5: Shaving.
• 12:43
  Speaker 6: Morning ablutions. Can't say I'm used to having ladies barge
• 12:46
  Speaker 6: into the bathroom.
• 12:47
  Speaker 5: Get out of here. Temper.
• 12:49
  Speaker 4: How did you get in?
• 12:50
  Speaker 6: Well, I couldn't get a room at a hotel, so
• 12:52
  Speaker 6: I took a taxi up last night. Walked in the
• 12:54
  Speaker 6: back door.
• 12:54
  Speaker 5: It was open, you see.
• 12:55
  Speaker 4: You can leave the same way you came in.
• 12:58
  Speaker 5: Oh, no, I'm here to stay, sister dear. I've got
• 13:02
  Speaker 5: the proof in my pocket.
• 13:04
  Speaker 6: And if you want to get me out, you can
• 13:05
  Speaker 6: trot right down to the Hall of Justice and get
• 13:07
  Speaker 6: yourself a court order.
• 13:16
  Speaker 5: Have some more coffee, Helen.
• 13:17
  Speaker 4: No, thanks.
• 13:18
  Speaker 5: Hotcakes?
• 13:20
  Speaker 4: Mr. Whoever you are.
• 13:22
  Speaker 5: Van Norton. Name's Theodore Van Norton.
• 13:25
  Speaker 4: I must say, I've never seen such colossal nerve in
• 13:29
  Speaker 4: my life.
• 13:30
  Speaker 5: Oh, you flatter me.
• 13:32
  Speaker 4: You're not at all concerned about the servants?
• 13:35
  Speaker 5: Hmm? Should I be?
• 13:36
  Speaker 4: Aren't you afraid they'll fail to recognize you?
• 13:38
  Speaker 5: Don't be silly.
• 13:39
  Speaker 6: None of them were here when I left. Edward the
• 13:42
  Speaker 6: butler was last to go, I think. Oh, by the way, Helen,
• 13:44
  Speaker 6: whatever became of old Edward?
• 13:46
  Speaker 4: There are other people in town, of course. What about
• 13:48
  Speaker 4: your teachers at Washington Heights School?
• 13:52
  Speaker 6: Why, Helen, I believe you're trying to trick me. You
• 13:56
  Speaker 6: know Father sent me to Fox Hall Academy when I
• 13:59
  Speaker 6: was 14. I never went to Washington Heights.
• 14:01
  Speaker 5: No? Where are you going?
• 14:03
  Speaker 4: You seem to know everything. Why don't you tell me that?
• 14:05
  Speaker 5: Uh, Helen. We have some talking to do, darling. About
• 14:10
  Speaker 5: the will.
• 14:12
  Speaker 6: Father's estate left all of it to me, you know.
• 14:15
  Speaker 6: Seems to me the executor owes me close to a
• 14:18
  Speaker 6: million dollars.
• 14:30
  Speaker 3: You knew it was coming, didn't you, Helen? That's the
• 14:33
  Speaker 3: purpose behind this whole crazy business. It's still inconceivable to
• 14:37
  Speaker 3: you that the man can actually expect to get away
• 14:40
  Speaker 3: with it. George was right. There are a thousand ways
• 14:43
  Speaker 3: you can check up on him. And the imposter himself
• 14:46
  Speaker 3: just gave you an excellent one. You make a long-distance
• 14:50
  Speaker 3: call to the Fox Hall Academy and talk to Mr. Rigby,
• 14:53
  Speaker 3: the headmaster.
• 14:54
  Speaker 8: Why, yes, of course, Miss Van Norton. I'd be delighted
• 14:57
  Speaker 8: to come down tomorrow afternoon... Ted was always one of
• 15:00
  Speaker 8: my favorites, you know. Any special time?
• 15:02
  Speaker 4: What about 2 o'clock?
• 15:04
  Speaker 8: Fine, fine. It'll be quite a reunion.
• 15:06
  Speaker 3: Won't it?
• 15:07
  Speaker 4: Yes, indeed, Mr.
• 15:08
  Speaker 5: Rigby.
• 15:09
  Speaker 4: Quite a reunion.
• 15:17
  Speaker 6: Mr.
• 15:17
  Speaker 4: Rigby, this is George Chadwick, my lawyer.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: Mr.
• 15:20
  Speaker 5: Chadwick? How do you do, sir?
• 15:20
  Speaker 4: Would you like to wait in the living room, Mr.
• 15:22
  Speaker 5: Rigby?
• 15:22
  Speaker 4: I think Ted's out on the tennis court, we'll call him.
• 15:25
  Speaker 5: Thanks.
• 15:26
  Speaker 4: Come on, George. Excuse us, Mr.
• 15:28
  Speaker 5: Rigby. Of course.
• 15:32
  Speaker 4: You still think I don't know my brother?
• 15:33
  Speaker 6: Now, I never said that, Helen. I only said seven
• 15:36
  Speaker 6: years can make a lot of difference. You yourself said
• 15:38
  Speaker 6: his general features.
• 15:38
  Speaker 4: Were the same. I'm afraid Mr. What's-His-Name is going to
• 15:43
  Speaker 4: suffer a little embarrassment.
• 15:44
  Speaker 5: You think Rigby will recognize him?
• 15:45
  Speaker 4: He'll recognize him as an imposter, if that's what you mean.
• 15:48
  Speaker 4: He knows Ted as well as I do. What's the matter?
• 15:51
  Speaker 5: I don't know.
• 15:53
  Speaker 6: I had those documents checked, the hospital records in Manila.
• 15:57
  Speaker 6: He was a patient there for.
• 15:59
  Speaker 4: Heaven knows what's happened to Ted or how this crook
• 16:01
  Speaker 4: got hold of his.
• 16:02
  Speaker 5: Papers, but... All right, all right, Helen. You'd better go
• 16:04
  Speaker 5: and call him. Hello, sis. What's up?
• 16:13
  Speaker 4: I was sorry to interrupt your tennis game, Ted.
• 16:17
  Speaker 1: Oh.
• 16:18
  Speaker 5: Oh, it's Ted now, huh?
• 16:19
  Speaker 4: Why, of course. I could have been mistaken, you know.
• 16:23
  Speaker 5: Well... Can't say I expected this.
• 16:25
  Speaker 4: I'd be a little foolish not to admit it when
• 16:28
  Speaker 4: I'm wrong, wouldn't I? Come on, dear.
• 16:31
  Speaker 5: Where to?
• 16:32
  Speaker 4: Just to the living room. You can go back to
• 16:34
  Speaker 4: your tennis in a moment. Oh, there you are, George.
• 16:36
  Speaker 5: Hello, Ted. Hello, George. What's going on around here?
• 16:39
  Speaker 4: We're going into the living room, George. Perhaps you'd like
• 16:41
  Speaker 4: to join us.
• 16:42
  Speaker 5: Yes, of course.
• 16:45
  Speaker 4: Well, open the door, George.
• 16:48
  Speaker 5: Oh, sorry. Say, what's this all about?
• 16:51
  Speaker 4: Rigby!
• 16:52
  Speaker 3: Ted!
• 16:52
  Speaker 7: Teddy, old boy, how have you been?
• 16:55
  Speaker 5: Oh, you old son of a... Hey, what is this, Helen?
• 16:57
  Speaker 5: A surprise? Why don't they tip a guy off when
• 16:59
  Speaker 5: his old headmaster comes to see him? Oh, you're looking fine, Teddy.
• 17:01
  Speaker 5: Good Lord, it's been a long time. Last time I
• 17:04
  Speaker 5: saw you was after the Washburn game, remember? Yeah, at Spokane.
• 17:08
  Speaker 5: Stinky was there, too. Say, do you remember the bus
• 17:09
  Speaker 5: broke down that night outside of Wenatchee? You and I
• 17:12
  Speaker 5: had a history.
• 17:17
  Speaker 3: You stand there, stunned, speechless, just staring at them as
• 17:21
  Speaker 3: they slap each other in the back, forgetting all about you.
• 17:25
  Speaker 3: And George avoids looking at you. He's on their side now,
• 17:28
  Speaker 3: you're sure of it. And worst of all, it's beginning
• 17:31
  Speaker 3: to get you, too. He's not Ted, your foster brother.
• 17:35
  Speaker 3: You know it, you're positive. It's ridiculous to go through
• 17:38
  Speaker 3: all this rigmarole, but it seems to be your word
• 17:42
  Speaker 3: against his proof, doesn't it? But there are still other ways,
• 17:46
  Speaker 3: aren't there? like another long-distance call, this time to the
• 17:50
  Speaker 3: State Department in Washington, D.C. After being transferred to four
• 17:54
  Speaker 3: or five different offices, you finally get through to the
• 17:57
  Speaker 3: right man.
• 17:57
  Speaker 4: It's most important that you check this matter thoroughly. I'm
• 18:01
  Speaker 4: positive that the man representing himself as my foster brother
• 18:03
  Speaker 4: is an imposter.
• 18:04
  Speaker 5: You say you were with Mr.
• 18:06
  Speaker 8: Van Norton when he filed his original application here in 1938?
• 18:09
  Speaker 4: Yes. I saw him attach his photograph and fix his fingerprints.
• 18:13
  Speaker 4: I simply want to see that application.
• 18:15
  Speaker 8: I'll forward the file to our Seattle representative. You can
• 18:18
  Speaker 8: check it there. Will that be satisfactory?
• 18:21
  Speaker 4: Quite satisfactory, thank you.
• 18:22
  Speaker 5: Ah, I see. You say the file was forwarded here
• 18:33
  Speaker 5: from Washington.
• 18:33
  Speaker 4: That's right. I simply want to examine it, particularly the photograph.
• 18:36
  Speaker 5: Uh-huh. Excuse me a moment, Miss Van Norton.
• 18:39
  Speaker 3: I'll have to look it up.
• 18:41
  Speaker 4: Well, George.
• 18:42
  Speaker 5: Well, what?
• 18:42
  Speaker 4: I can't say that I'm pleased with your lack of
• 18:44
  Speaker 4: faith in me.
• 18:45
  Speaker 5: No, who said anything about that?
• 18:46
  Speaker 4: Oh, it's clear enough.
• 18:47
  Speaker 5: Look, I'm a lawyer. I'll believe black is white if
• 18:49
  Speaker 5: they throw enough evidence at me. Mr. Rigby was a
• 18:52
  Speaker 5: very convincing witness.
• 18:53
  Speaker 4: He's a decrepit old fool, and it had been 15 years.
• 18:56
  Speaker 5: I thought he was an intelligent man.
• 18:57
  Speaker 4: I could have passed you off as my brother. He'd
• 19:00
  Speaker 4: forgotten what Ted looks like.
• 19:01
  Speaker 5: I don't know. You might be arguing against yourself.
• 19:03
  Speaker 4: What do you mean?
• 19:04
  Speaker 5: You haven't seen Ted in almost seven years.
• 19:06
  Speaker 4: Oh, don't be ridiculous.
• 19:07
  Speaker 5: Here we are. Theodore H. Van Norton.
• 19:11
  Speaker 7: Now, what did you wish to see?
• 19:12
  Speaker 4: Here, let me see it. Medical examination, education record, application.
• 19:18
  Speaker 4: Where's the picture?
• 19:19
  Speaker 5: On the other side. Oh, here. Satisfied, Helen?
• 19:24
  Speaker 4: It can't be. I saw Ted paste the picture on himself.
• 19:28
  Speaker 5: Is something wrong?
• 19:28
  Speaker 4: Of course there's something wrong. This isn't Ted's picture. It's
• 19:32
  Speaker 4: that man.
• 19:32
  Speaker 5: Helen, Helen, get hold of yourself.
• 19:34
  Speaker 4: Here, let me see. Yes, here they are, fingerprints. Now, listen. Listen, Turk.
• 19:38
  Speaker 4: I want this whole record sent to the office of
• 19:40
  Speaker 4: the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• 19:42
  Speaker 5: Helen, you've got to have a rest. This thing is
• 19:44
  Speaker 5: getting you.
• 19:44
  Speaker 4: That's one thing that can't be forged, don't you see?
• 19:46
  Speaker 4: They can't forge a fingerprint.
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry, Miss Van Norton, but I have no authority to.
• 19:49
  Speaker 5: say.
• 19:49
  Speaker 3: You've got to.
• 19:50
  Speaker 4: I tell you, there's a stranger in my house. He's
• 19:52
  Speaker 4: posing as my foster brother. There's a million dollars involved.
• 19:55
  Speaker 6: Just a minute, Helen, please. It's most important, Mr. Robbins,
• 20:00
  Speaker 6: not only because of the money involved... Mrs.
• 20:02
  Speaker 5: Van Norton is extremely upset. Of course, Mr.
• 20:05
  Speaker 2: Chadwick, but you see, I can't simply turn over material
• 20:07
  Speaker 2: like this.
• 20:08
  Speaker 6: I'll make the necessary arrangements with the FBI, Mr.
• 20:10
  Speaker 5: Robbins, and get your authority from Washington. Will that be satisfactory? Quite, Mr. Chadwick, quite.
• 20:24
  Speaker 4: Hello, Ted.
• 20:25
  Speaker 5: Well, Helen. I began to wonder where you were all afternoon.
• 20:29
  Speaker 4: Oh, downtown shopping. Stores are frightful these days.
• 20:34
  Speaker 5: Indeed they are.
• 20:34
  Speaker 4: You reading?
• 20:38
  Speaker 5: Yeah.
• 20:39
  Speaker 4: How's Dick Tracy?
• 20:41
  Speaker 5: Oh, haven't checked him today.
• 20:43
  Speaker 4: It's funny. You used to read Dick Tracy before you
• 20:46
  Speaker 4: even looked at the headlines.
• 20:49
  Speaker 5: I guess a guy gets a little serious after all
• 20:51
  Speaker 5: those years overseas. Prison camp, hospital.
• 20:54
  Speaker 4: Yes, I suppose so.
• 20:57
  Speaker 6: You're looking calmer today. Finally decide on the real thing? I.
• 21:02
  Speaker 4: I want you to forgive me, Ted. It's so unbelievable
• 21:06
  Speaker 4: that I... I don't quite trust my senses anymore.
• 21:10
  Speaker 5: Sure. You're a good kid, Helen. I don't blame you.
• 21:13
  Speaker 4: Will you drink on it?
• 21:14
  Speaker 5: Why not?
• 21:16
  Speaker 4: What'll it be?
• 21:17
  Speaker 5: Bourbon and soda.
• 21:18
  Speaker 4: Oh, you're a man after my own heart.
• 21:21
  Speaker 5: You know, I'm kind of surprised. I thought you'd be
• 21:24
  Speaker 5: a tougher nut to crack. Oh?
• 21:27
  Speaker 4: You expected me to be suspicious?
• 21:29
  Speaker 5: Well, after that episode on the boat, I expected anything.
• 21:32
  Speaker 8: Oh.
• 21:35
  Speaker 4: Here you are.
• 21:35
  Speaker 5: Thanks.
• 21:37
  Speaker 4: What do we drink to?
• 21:38
  Speaker 5: To us, of course.
• 21:40
  Speaker 8: All right.
• 21:41
  Speaker 4: To us.
• 21:55
  Speaker 5: Yes, ma'am?
• 21:56
  Speaker 4: You're in charge of the fingerprinting department here?
• 21:59
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 21:59
  Speaker 4: I'm Helen Van Norton. I brought in a highball glass
• 22:02
  Speaker 4: yesterday afternoon with some fingerprints on it.
• 22:04
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes, yes. That's the one you wanted us to
• 22:06
  Speaker 7: check against the prints on the State Department application file.
• 22:09
  Speaker 3: That's right.
• 22:10
  Speaker 7: Um, where did you get that glass?
• 22:13
  Speaker 4: A man is posing as my brother, staying at my
• 22:15
  Speaker 4: house for his fingerprints.
• 22:17
  Speaker 7: You're sure of the prints on the application?
• 22:20
  Speaker 4: What do you mean?
• 22:22
  Speaker 7: Are you sure they're the bona fide prints of your brother?
• 22:25
  Speaker 4: Of course. I was with him in Washington when he
• 22:27
  Speaker 4: completed the application in 1938. I saw him put the
• 22:30
  Speaker 4: prints on it.
• 22:31
  Speaker 5: I see.
• 22:33
  Speaker 7: Well, that ought to settle it once and for all.
• 22:35
  Speaker 4: What do you mean?
• 22:36
  Speaker 7: The man at your house is your brother, Miss Van Orton.
• 22:39
  Speaker 7: The prints are identical. I.
• 22:41
  Speaker 4: Why, I... It can't be. It can't.
• 22:45
  Speaker 7: We wouldn't commit ourselves if we weren't positive. I.
• 22:49
  Speaker 4: I see. Of course. Oh, thank you.
• 23:01
  Speaker 3: Well, Helen, that settles it, doesn't it? You're beaten and
• 23:04
  Speaker 3: you know it. And worst of all, you're not at
• 23:07
  Speaker 3: all sure of yourself anymore. Yes, that's the unbearable part.
• 23:12
  Speaker 3: Not knowing in your mind whether you're right or wrong.
• 23:15
  Speaker 3: But you still have one more out. Just one. It's
• 23:19
  Speaker 3: a long chance. But you've decided you have to take it.
• 23:22
  Speaker 3: To decide once and for all whether or not this
• 23:25
  Speaker 3: man Ted is your foster brother. Whether you can trust
• 23:29
  Speaker 3: your own mind. It's very late that night when you
• 23:32
  Speaker 3: get quietly out of bed and walk downstairs to the telephone.
• 23:36
  Speaker 3: The house is as quiet as a tomb. Everyone's asleep.
• 23:49
  Speaker 3: Long distance.
• 23:50
  Speaker 4: I want to call Shanghai, operator.
• 23:53
  Speaker 5: Mr.
• 23:54
  Speaker 4: C.S. Julian, 28 Perlang Drive, Shanghai.
• 24:00
  Speaker 8: Just a moment, please. Mr.
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: C.S. Julian, 28 Perlang Drive, Shanghai. There will be a delay.
• 24:10
  Speaker 4: Will you wait?
• 24:10
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 24:11
  Speaker 4: Yes, I'll wait.
• 24:14
  Speaker 9: Here's your party.
• 24:25
  Speaker 2: Go ahead, please.
• 24:26
  Speaker 4: Hello.
• 24:28
  Speaker 2: Hello.
• 24:29
  Speaker 4: Is this Mr.
• 24:30
  Speaker 3: Julian?
• 24:30
  Speaker 5: Who is calling, please?
• 24:33
  Speaker 4: I last talked to you in April 1941. The name
• 24:37
  Speaker 4: I gave you was Grayson. Do you remember that?
• 24:39
  Speaker 5: Why are you calling?
• 24:42
  Speaker 4: Do you remember me?
• 24:43
  Speaker 2: Course i remember you you called concerning a man a
• 24:48
  Speaker 2: mr van norton as i remember he was.
• 24:51
  Speaker 4: In manila do you know what became of him.
• 24:54
  Speaker 5: He was killed in an accident in may of 1941.
• 25:01
  Speaker 4: You're you're positive positive thank you mr julian thank you
• 25:09
  Speaker 4: very much.
• 25:19
  Speaker 2: The Whistler will return in just a moment with a
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, a word of wisdom
• 25:26
  Speaker 2: to Mr. Average Driver. You spend well over $ 100.
• 25:29
  Speaker 5: A year for gasoline. That's a lot of money.
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: You'd like to be sure it's buying the gasoline that's
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: tops in quality, the gasoline that gives you top performance
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: from your car. Well, you can be sure if you
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: just keep two points in mind when you buy gasoline. One,
• 25:45
  Speaker 2: it takes extra quality to go farther. And two, signal
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: is the famous go farther gasoline. After all, the only
• 25:54
  Speaker 2: way any gasoline can put more thrilling performance into your
• 25:57
  Speaker 2: car is by helping your motor run more efficiently. And
• 26:01
  Speaker 2: when your motor runs more efficiently, naturally you get better mileage.
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: So there you have it in a nutshell, the reason
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: why Signal's good mileage is so important to you. And
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: the reason Signal says to be sure of the tops
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: in gasoline quality. There are just two things to remember. One,
• 26:19
  Speaker 2: it takes extra quality to go farther. And two, Signal
• 26:25
  Speaker 2: is the famous go-farther gasoline. And now back to the whistler.
• 26:30
  Speaker 9: The Whistler.
• 26:37
  Speaker 3: It was a relief to know, wasn't it, Helen? You
• 26:40
  Speaker 3: can trust your own senses now. Ted is dead.
• 26:44
  Speaker 5: Mr.
• 26:44
  Speaker 3: Julian just told you so. And the stranger in the
• 26:47
  Speaker 3: house is an imposter. Somehow, some way, you can prove it.
• 26:52
  Speaker 3: But right now, you don't want to think about it anymore.
• 26:55
  Speaker 3: It's been too bewildering. All you want now is your
• 26:58
  Speaker 3: bed and the first good night's sleep in a week.
• 27:01
  Speaker 3: You put down the phone and start toward the stairs.
• 27:04
  Speaker 5: Sit down, Helen.
• 27:06
  Speaker 4: How long have you been here?
• 27:07
  Speaker 5: Long enough? I said sit down.
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: I'm going upstairs.
• 27:09
  Speaker 5: Sit down before you fall down. That's it.
• 27:14
  Speaker 6: You just hung yourself, baby. There's a record of that
• 27:16
  Speaker 6: phone conversation down at FBI headquarters.
• 27:19
  Speaker 4: What are you talking about?
• 27:20
  Speaker 6: You didn't have Shanghai, in case you're wondering. You were
• 27:22
  Speaker 6: talking to the boys down at the office.
• 27:24
  Speaker 5: Not Mr. Julian. We had everything, you see, except the
• 27:27
  Speaker 5: link you just gave us. We knew Mr.
• 27:30
  Speaker 6: Julian paid $ 10, 000, part of the money you sent him,
• 27:33
  Speaker 6: to one of his boys in Manila. The boy who
• 27:36
  Speaker 6: killed your foster brother, Ted.
• 27:37
  Speaker 5: But.
• 27:38
  Speaker 6: I was the only one who knew. I was detained
• 27:41
  Speaker 6: over there in a prison camp, like I said. It
• 27:44
  Speaker 6: was a long wait. I knew Ted had a foster sister,
• 27:47
  Speaker 6: and I knew there was close to a million bucks
• 27:49
  Speaker 6: in it somewhere.
• 27:50
  Speaker 5: But all I had was a suspicion.
• 27:53
  Speaker 4: What about Julian?
• 27:54
  Speaker 5: The authorities in Shanghai have him.
• 27:57
  Speaker 4: Well.
• 27:59
  Speaker 4: I guess there's nothing much I can do.
• 28:03
  Speaker 5: Tough, isn't it?
• 28:04
  Speaker 6: You could have been a nice kid. You weren't a
• 28:07
  Speaker 6: killer at heart. You shouldn't have picked out someone in
• 28:10
  Speaker 6: the State Department. It took us a long time to
• 28:13
  Speaker 6: work it out.
• 28:13
  Speaker 5: A lot of names. A lot of people. We even
• 28:16
  Speaker 5: drew on the services of Mr. Rigby. When we got going,
• 28:20
  Speaker 5: we knew you'd crack sooner or later. Who are you?
• 28:24
  Speaker 6: This time, baby, I'm telling you the truth. I was
• 28:27
  Speaker 6: your brother's best friend. My name is McKay. Oh, and incidentally,
• 28:33
  Speaker 6: I'm with the FBI.
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program,
• 28:59
  Speaker 2: The Whistler. Each Wednesday night at this same time, Brought
• 29:02
  Speaker 2: to you by the Signal Oil Company, marketers of Signal
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: gasoline and motor oil, and fine quality automotive accessories. Signal
• 29:10
  Speaker 2: has asked me to remind you to get the most
• 29:13
  Speaker 2: driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous, and obey
• 29:17
  Speaker 2: traffic regulations. It may save a life, possibly your own.
• 29:28
  Speaker 2: Featured in tonight's story were Virginia Gregg and Gerald Moore.
• 29:32
  Speaker 2: The Whistler was produced and directed by George W. Allen
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: with story by Harold Swanton and Mark Smith and music by...
• 29:40
  Speaker 2: Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted to our troops overseas by
• 29:43
  Speaker 2: the Armed Forces Radio Service. Next Wednesday, for a full
• 29:46
  Speaker 2: hour of mystery over most of these stations, tune in
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: a half hour earlier. Enjoy The Saint as well as
• 29:52
  Speaker 2: The Whistler. Marvin Miller speaking. This is CBS, where 99
• 29:56
  Speaker 2: million people gather every week the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: This has been The Whistler and Stranger in the House.
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: Good night, and thank you for joining us for Classic Radio.