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The Whistler - "Grave Secret" (1949) · Old Time Mystery Radio | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: At the Eldridge home, Harriet Eldridge maintains the appearance of
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: an absence through a steady flow of letters. That arrangement
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: is put under pressure when the niece of Harriet's employer
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: arrives unexpectedly from Australia, bringing family questions and growing suspicion.
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: From February 27th, 1949, CBS Pacific Network's Signal Oil presentation
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: of The Whistler brings us Grave Secret, episode 351, written
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: by Steve Hampton and featuring Bill Foreman as The Whistler
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: with Sarah Selby, Howard McNear, and Betty Lou Gerson. And now,
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: the original broadcast.
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: The Signal Oil Program. Yes, the signal oil program, the whistler.
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program,
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: the whistler.
• 1:27
  Speaker 3: I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for
• 1:30
  Speaker 3: I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden
• 1:34
  Speaker 3: in the hearts of men and women who have stepped
• 1:36
  Speaker 3: into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of
• 1:41
  Speaker 3: which they dare not speak.
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: Yes, friends, it's time for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: Rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: than any other West Coast program in radio history. And
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: Signal Gasoline is tops, too. Tops in quality. It takes
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: extra quality, you know, to give you extra mileage. And
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: Signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. So look for the
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies independently
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: operated signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now the
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: Whistler's strange story.
• 2:22
  Speaker 4: Brave Secret.
• 2:31
  Speaker 3: From the parlor window, Harriet Eldridge watched the postman wheel
• 2:34
  Speaker 3: his bicycle down the tree-shaded street. saw him turn into
• 2:38
  Speaker 3: the driveway and approach the house. She stepped out into
• 2:41
  Speaker 3: the hallway and stopped for a moment to rearrange a
• 2:44
  Speaker 3: bowl of dahlias on the table, then hurried to the door,
• 2:48
  Speaker 3: a faint smile on her lips. The letters had become
• 2:51
  Speaker 3: very important to Harriet Eldridge. Yes, very important. And she
• 2:55
  Speaker 3: was pleased that they were arriving with such regularity.
• 2:59
  Speaker 5: Morning, Miss Harriet.
• 3:01
  Speaker 6: Good morning, Henry.
• 3:02
  Speaker 5: Here's another one from Australia.
• 3:04
  Speaker 7: Oh, from Mr.
• 3:05
  Speaker 3: Pettis.
• 3:05
  Speaker 7: How nice.
• 3:07
  Speaker 8: Sure is having a big vacation for himself, ain't he?
• 3:11
  Speaker 8: I wish I could retire, go gallivanting.
• 3:14
  Speaker 5: All over the world. Only I wouldn't go off visiting relatives.
• 3:18
  Speaker 7: Mr. Pettis has no living relatives, Henry. He's just visiting friends.
• 3:23
  Speaker 8: I've got relatives back in Sioux City.
• 3:25
  Speaker 5: If I never see them again, it's okay with me.
• 3:29
  Speaker 7: But, oh, I'm sorry, Henry. What did you say? I
• 3:33
  Speaker 7: was reading Mr. Pettis' letter.
• 3:34
  Speaker 5: Oh, nothing. Are those photographs?
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes.
• 3:39
  Speaker 7: You know Mr. Pettis and his camera. Here, let's see.
• 3:43
  Speaker 7: Something written on the back of this one. View of
• 3:46
  Speaker 7: Queen Street, main thoroughfare of Brisbane.
• 3:49
  Speaker 6: Isn't that nice, Henry?
• 3:51
  Speaker 8: The old boy sure is getting around, ain't he? Must
• 3:54
  Speaker 8: be having a great time.
• 3:55
  Speaker 3: Here.
• 3:57
  Speaker 5: They say them Australian women are real pretty.
• 4:00
  Speaker 7: Now, Henry.
• 4:01
  Speaker 9: Don't see why Mr.
• 4:02
  Speaker 8: Pettis has to go chasing off to Australia when he's
• 4:05
  Speaker 8: got the best-looking housekeeper right here in Santa Rosa, USA.
• 4:09
  Speaker 7: Thank you, Henry, but.
• 4:12
  Speaker 5: Looks like you got company. And a taxi, too. Say,
• 4:16
  Speaker 5: that's your brother Melvin, ain't it?
• 4:19
  Speaker 6: Yes.
• 4:19
  Speaker 4: Yes, it is.
• 4:21
  Speaker 5: Well, I'll be going along now, Miss Harriet. Bye.
• 4:25
  Speaker 7: But, oh, oh, yeah, yes. Goodbye, Henry.
• 4:33
  Speaker 3: You smile at Henry, watch him for a moment as
• 4:35
  Speaker 3: he turns and walks away. Then your eyes swing back
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: to the man who has just stepped out of the taxi,
• 4:42
  Speaker 3: and a frown crosses your face. Moments later, he steps
• 4:45
  Speaker 3: into the hallway, closes the door, and sets his suitcase
• 4:49
  Speaker 3: on the floor.
• 4:49
  Speaker 9: Well, hello, Harriet. I.
• 4:54
  Speaker 7: I wasn't expecting you back so soon, Melvin.
• 4:57
  Speaker 9: Oh, I know.
• 4:59
  Speaker 7: Did everything go well?
• 5:00
  Speaker 9: Yes, yes, everything went well. I did exactly as you said.
• 5:04
  Speaker 7: How did you like Australia?
• 5:06
  Speaker 9: Well, it was all right, Harriet.
• 5:09
  Speaker 7: Have you had your lunch? There's some cold ham, potato
• 5:12
  Speaker 7: salad from last night. Would you like that, Melvin?
• 5:15
  Speaker 9: Yes, yes, I suppose so.
• 5:16
  Speaker 7: Did you get seasick at all?
• 5:19
  Speaker 4: Oh, no, no, no, I didn't. Harriet?
• 5:23
  Speaker 7: Yes?
• 5:25
  Speaker 9: Harris, did everything go all right here?
• 5:29
  Speaker 4: I mean... Oh, yes.
• 5:31
  Speaker 7: Yes. When.
• 5:33
  Speaker 9: when did you do it?
• 5:35
  Speaker 6: The day you left.
• 5:37
  Speaker 7: He was dead before you stepped on the boat in
• 5:39
  Speaker 7: San Francisco.
• 5:41
  Speaker 9: Harris.
• 5:42
  Speaker 3: Yes?
• 5:44
  Speaker 9: What did you do with Mr.
• 5:45
  Speaker 3: Pettis?
• 5:46
  Speaker 9: I mean, where did you.
• 5:49
  Speaker 7: Do you want tea or coffee, Melvin?
• 5:51
  Speaker 9: Tea. Tea?
• 5:55
  Speaker 3: For a moment, he stares at you, then turns and
• 5:58
  Speaker 3: looks out the window. His eyes blink nervously. His fingers
• 6:02
  Speaker 3: fumble at his tie. You know what he's thinking about,
• 6:05
  Speaker 3: don't you, Harriet? He wants to know what you've done
• 6:08
  Speaker 3: with the body of Mr. Pettis. Exactly what happened on
• 6:12
  Speaker 3: the night he left for San Francisco. Yes, he wants
• 6:16
  Speaker 3: all the details. But you decided long ago, the less
• 6:19
  Speaker 3: Melvin knows about the affair, the better it will be.
• 6:23
  Speaker 3: He stays in his room the greater part of the
• 6:25
  Speaker 3: day and evening. And then shortly after 8 o'clock that night,
• 6:29
  Speaker 3: the front doorbell rings.
• 6:33
  Speaker 6: Good evening. You must be Miss Eldridge.
• 6:36
  Speaker 7: Why, yes.
• 6:37
  Speaker 6: I'm Valerie Hinton, a friend of Mr.
• 6:40
  Speaker 4: Pettis.
• 6:41
  Speaker 3: Is he in?
• 6:42
  Speaker 7: No. No, Mr. Pettis is away. In Australia.
• 6:46
  Speaker 6: Oh, I see he hasn't notified you. He's back. He's back? Why, yes.
• 6:51
  Speaker 6: His boat docked in San Francisco a week ago. Why, no,
• 6:54
  Speaker 6: I was on it, too. Strange he didn't let you know.
• 6:59
  Speaker 6: Is he usually that way about things?
• 7:01
  Speaker 4: No.
• 7:02
  Speaker 7: No, he isn't.
• 7:04
  Speaker 10: Well, I'll be in town for several days. I'm staying
• 7:06
  Speaker 10: at the inn. Would you tell him when he arrives?
• 7:08
  Speaker 7: Of course, Miss Hinton. I'll tell him.
• 7:11
  Speaker 6: Good night.
• 7:18
  Speaker 9: Melvin.
• 7:19
  Speaker 6: Melvin.
• 7:20
  Speaker 9: Oh, yes, Camilla, I.
• 7:22
  Speaker 7: Melvin, why didn't you tell me you'd arrived in San
• 7:24
  Speaker 7: Francisco a week ago?
• 7:25
  Speaker 6: Oh, well, I.
• 7:26
  Speaker 7: And who is this Valerie Hinton?
• 7:28
  Speaker 3: Valerie?
• 7:29
  Speaker 9: How did you know?
• 7:30
  Speaker 7: She was here a moment ago asking for you.
• 7:32
  Speaker 9: Here?
• 7:33
  Speaker 7: Why did you have to tell her you were Albert Pettis?
• 7:35
  Speaker 9: Harriet, I was only doing what you said. You told
• 7:38
  Speaker 9: me to use the name to establish his presence in Australia.
• 7:42
  Speaker 7: You met this woman in Australia?
• 7:44
  Speaker 9: Yes, yes, I did.
• 7:45
  Speaker 3: I see.
• 7:47
  Speaker 7: And this This week you spent in San Francisco. Was
• 7:50
  Speaker 7: that devoted to Miss Hinton?
• 7:51
  Speaker 9: Well, at first I saw no harm in it, Harriet. Oh,
• 7:54
  Speaker 9: she's a wonderful person.
• 7:55
  Speaker 7: Did you have to tell her you lived in Santa Rosa?
• 7:57
  Speaker 3: I didn't.
• 7:59
  Speaker 9: Oh, she must have seen the Santa Rosa postmark on
• 8:00
  Speaker 9: the letters you sent me in Australia. Oh, believe me, Harriet,
• 8:04
  Speaker 9: when I ran out on her in San Francisco, I
• 8:06
  Speaker 9: never thought I'd see her again.
• 8:07
  Speaker 7: You ran out on her?
• 8:09
  Speaker 9: Yes, I realized it would be dangerous. What with everything
• 8:11
  Speaker 9: that's happened here.
• 8:13
  Speaker 7: So she followed you. Melvin, don't tell me she's in
• 8:19
  Speaker 7: love with you.
• 8:19
  Speaker 3: Oh, I don't know.
• 8:20
  Speaker 7: Are you in love with her?
• 8:21
  Speaker 8: Yes.
• 8:24
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Melvin.
• 8:26
  Speaker 6: You'll have to get rid of her.
• 8:27
  Speaker 4: Get rid of her?
• 8:29
  Speaker 7: First thing in the morning, you're going down to the
• 8:31
  Speaker 7: inn to see her. Tell her this great love of
• 8:35
  Speaker 7: yours is no more. Tell her you're already married or
• 8:38
  Speaker 7: tell her anything, but I want her to leave town.
• 8:42
  Speaker 7: Do you understand?
• 8:42
  Speaker 9: Oh, I heard there must be some way... Get rid
• 8:44
  Speaker 9: of her.
• 8:45
  Speaker 6: She's dangerous.
• 8:46
  Speaker 7: She can upset our entire plan.
• 8:48
  Speaker 9: Oh, but Harriet, it's... What was that? Did you hear that?
• 8:52
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes, it's the shutters downstairs. A wind's come up.
• 8:55
  Speaker 3: Are you sure?
• 8:55
  Speaker 6: Well, what else could it be?
• 8:56
  Speaker 9: Well, I don't know.
• 8:57
  Speaker 7: Did you think it was Mr. Pettis back from the dead? Oh,
• 9:00
  Speaker 7: really now, Melvin.
• 9:01
  Speaker 9: Harriet?
• 9:03
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 9:06
  Speaker 9: Where is Mr.
• 9:07
  Speaker 3: Pettis?
• 9:09
  Speaker 9: What did you do with this body? Why won't you
• 9:12
  Speaker 9: tell me something?
• 9:12
  Speaker 7: You needn't concern yourself about that, Melvin. I've taken care
• 9:17
  Speaker 7: of everything. Now, good night. And don't forget what I said.
• 9:23
  Speaker 7: I don't want the Hinton woman hanging around town.
• 9:35
  Speaker 3: The following morning, you're alone in the big house. Melvin
• 9:39
  Speaker 3: has gone down to the inn. He's promised to send
• 9:41
  Speaker 3: Valerie Hinton away. But you wonder if he really has
• 9:45
  Speaker 3: the courage to face her, to go through with it.
• 9:48
  Speaker 3: The hours go by and Melvin doesn't return.
• 9:52
  Speaker 6: And finally... Good morning, Miss Eldridge.
• 9:57
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 9:57
  Speaker 7: Oh, good morning.
• 9:59
  Speaker 6: Has Mr. Pettis arrived yet?
• 10:01
  Speaker 7: Why, yes. Yes, I gave him your message. He left
• 10:04
  Speaker 7: hours ago on his way to see you.
• 10:06
  Speaker 10: Well, that's strange. I just came from the inn. Well,
• 10:09
  Speaker 10: I suppose he stopped somewhere on the way.
• 10:12
  Speaker 6: May I come in?
• 10:13
  Speaker 3: Yes. Yes, of course.
• 10:16
  Speaker 6: Why? You've kept the place so attractive. It's charming. I
• 10:21
  Speaker 6: suppose you've grown to care for this house as though
• 10:23
  Speaker 6: it were your own.
• 10:24
  Speaker 7: Yes, Mr. Pettis has always made me feel at home here.
• 10:29
  Speaker 7: Won't you sit down with him?
• 10:31
  Speaker 6: Thank you. You know, Miss Eldridge, I feel as though
• 10:35
  Speaker 6: I'd known you for a long time.
• 10:37
  Speaker 10: Mr.
• 10:37
  Speaker 6: Pettis has spoken so much of you.
• 10:40
  Speaker 8: Oh?
• 10:41
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 10:42
  Speaker 6: I don't suppose he's told you about the way we met?
• 10:44
  Speaker 8: No.
• 10:45
  Speaker 7: No, he hasn't.
• 10:46
  Speaker 10: It was in Melbourne. I happened to be glancing through
• 10:48
  Speaker 10: the newspaper. I noticed a list in the shipping news,
• 10:51
  Speaker 10: a list of new arrivals, and.
• 10:52
  Speaker 3: There it was.
• 10:54
  Speaker 6: Mr. Albert Pettis.
• 10:55
  Speaker 8: Oh?
• 10:56
  Speaker 10: Well, of course, I dashed right over to his hotel.
• 10:59
  Speaker 10: Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Mr. Albert Pettis
• 11:03
  Speaker 10: wasn't Mr.
• 11:04
  Speaker 6: Pettis at all.
• 11:06
  Speaker 7: What do you mean?
• 11:08
  Speaker 6: Not my Mr.
• 11:09
  Speaker 10: Pettis, that is.
• 11:11
  Speaker 6: My Uncle Albert.
• 11:12
  Speaker 10: It was quite a shock. I suppose I should have
• 11:16
  Speaker 10: realized there'd probably be more than one Albert Pettis in
• 11:20
  Speaker 10: the whole world.
• 11:21
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes.
• 11:23
  Speaker 7: Yes, of course.
• 11:25
  Speaker 10: So you see, it was just an accident. My meeting
• 11:28
  Speaker 10: your Mr.
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: Pettis.
• 11:30
  Speaker 6: A lucky accident, wouldn't you say, Miss Eldridge?
• 11:35
  Speaker 10: THE END.
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: With the prologue of Grave Secret, the Signal Oil Company
• 11:48
  Speaker 2: brings you another strange story by the Whistler. If you
• 11:53
  Speaker 2: like avocados, you'll probably be as surprised as I was
• 11:57
  Speaker 2: to learn that in parts of Mexico, avocados were once
• 12:00
  Speaker 2: used to lubricate the axles of wagons. Does that sound
• 12:04
  Speaker 2: primitive and old-fashioned to you? Well, then just remember this.
• 12:08
  Speaker 2: It's almost as old-fashioned today to lubricate automobile motors with
• 12:12
  Speaker 2: plain motor oils. What I mean is, now scientific compounds
• 12:17
  Speaker 2: have been developed which protect motors in many ways that
• 12:20
  Speaker 2: oil alone cannot do. That's why Signal brought out Signal
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: Premium compounded motor oil, which combines 100% pure paraffin base
• 12:30
  Speaker 2: with these scientific new compounds. And just what do these
• 12:33
  Speaker 2: compounds do? Well, one compound in Signal Premium actually cleans
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: your motor of harmful carbon, gum, and varnish. A second
• 12:42
  Speaker 2: compound protects costly bearings from corrosion. Still other compounds in
• 12:47
  Speaker 2: Signal Premium help in additional ways to keep wear down
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: and performance up. So if you want a sweeter running motor,
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: make your next oil change a change from old-fashioned regular
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: motor oil. Stop at a Signal station for the improved
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: type motor oil that does so much more than just lubricate.
• 13:08
  Speaker 2: Signal Premium Compounded Motor Oil.
• 13:32
  Speaker 3: It frightens you, doesn't it, Harriet? The knowledge that Valerie Hinton,
• 13:36
  Speaker 3: the woman your brother Melvin met in Australia while he
• 13:39
  Speaker 3: was posing as Albert Pettus, is actually the niece of
• 13:43
  Speaker 3: the man you murdered. You wonder if their meeting was
• 13:46
  Speaker 3: really accidental. Wonder if she suspects the truth. A thousand
• 13:50
  Speaker 3: confused thoughts race through your mind. You were so sure
• 13:54
  Speaker 3: Albert Pettis had no living relatives that there would be
• 13:57
  Speaker 3: no one to spoil your little plan. Yet, here she is,
• 14:01
  Speaker 3: sitting in the parlor of the big house, chatting gaily
• 14:04
  Speaker 3: about her meeting with your Mr. Pettis. And then suddenly
• 14:08
  Speaker 3: something she says stirs a flicker of hope within you.
• 14:10
  Speaker 10: Oh, no, I haven't seen Uncle Albert in years. Lost
• 14:13
  Speaker 10: track of him completely. Not his fault, of course. After all,
• 14:17
  Speaker 10: I'm supposed to be dead.
• 14:19
  Speaker 4: Dead?
• 14:19
  Speaker 7: I don't understand.
• 14:22
  Speaker 10: During the war, I was a writer living in Java.
• 14:25
  Speaker 10: There were several bombing raids and the confusion. I was
• 14:27
  Speaker 10: reported missing and.
• 14:29
  Speaker 6: Given up as dead. I suppose Uncle Albert was notified.
• 14:33
  Speaker 7: I see.
• 14:35
  Speaker 10: When I got out of the hospital a year ago,
• 14:36
  Speaker 10: I tried to find some trace of Uncle Albert, but
• 14:39
  Speaker 10: I wasn't successful. Well, I'd earned a living, you know,
• 14:42
  Speaker 10: so I went on to Australia.
• 14:45
  Speaker 6: Then one day I ran across his name in the
• 14:47
  Speaker 6: shipping list. Well, you know the rest. I met your Mr.
• 14:51
  Speaker 6: Pettis instead.
• 14:53
  Speaker 7: And you have no idea where your uncle is?
• 14:56
  Speaker 6: None at all.
• 14:58
  Speaker 10: Maybe dead, for all I know. I've about given up
• 15:03
  Speaker 10: finding him. I'm devoting all my time to writing now.
• 15:07
  Speaker 10: That's why I've come back to the States. To try
• 15:10
  Speaker 10: my luck here.
• 15:11
  Speaker 9: Oh, Harriet, how are you?
• 15:12
  Speaker 8: Hello, Albert!
• 15:13
  Speaker 6: Oh, Albert, Albert. Oh, Albert.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: You watch Valerie rush across the room, throw her arms
• 15:22
  Speaker 3: around Melvin. He stares back at you over her shoulder,
• 15:25
  Speaker 3: a bewildered, hopeless look in his eyes. You turn, hurry away.
• 15:31
  Speaker 3: Moments later, you're upstairs in Mr. Pettis' room, searching through
• 15:34
  Speaker 3: the closet. Then you find what you want. You take
• 15:38
  Speaker 3: the photo album, sit on the window seat, and start
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: turning the pages. A half hour later, you hear the
• 15:51
  Speaker 3: front door close. And then Melvin's footsteps approaching your door.
• 15:57
  Speaker 2: Harriet?
• 15:58
  Speaker 3: Yes?
• 16:00
  Speaker 7: Is she gone?
• 16:01
  Speaker 8: Yes.
• 16:03
  Speaker 4: She won't be back.
• 16:04
  Speaker 7: What'd you tell her?
• 16:05
  Speaker 9: What difference does it make what I told her? She
• 16:07
  Speaker 9: won't be back. What are you doing?
• 16:10
  Speaker 7: Just looking through the old album. I found what I wanted.
• 16:14
  Speaker 3: What?
• 16:16
  Speaker 7: Never mind. Come along, Melvin. It's almost time for your lunch.
• 16:25
  Speaker 3: Yes. You found what you were looking for, haven't you, Harry?
• 16:29
  Speaker 3: A faded photograph. A young girl. And you're certain it's
• 16:32
  Speaker 3: Valerie Hinton. She's really his niece, isn't she? At least
• 16:36
  Speaker 3: that much of her story is the truth. But you're
• 16:39
  Speaker 3: still a little afraid. And you know that you'll be
• 16:42
  Speaker 3: afraid until the girl herself has left town. Late that afternoon,
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: you step out on the front porch... and wait while
• 16:49
  Speaker 3: Melvin drives the car out of the garage... Then a
• 16:53
  Speaker 3: taxi pulls into the driveway. And then despite the recent
• 16:57
  Speaker 3: assurances of your weakling brother Melvin that she wouldn't be back,
• 17:00
  Speaker 3: Valerie Hinton steps out. The shopping list drops from your
• 17:04
  Speaker 3: hand and your eyes are fixed on the suitcase she carries.
• 17:11
  Speaker 6: Hello, Miss Eldridge.
• 17:12
  Speaker 7: Oh, Miss Hinton, you're leaving. You've come to say goodbye.
• 17:16
  Speaker 6: On the contrary, Harriet. I'm moving in.
• 17:20
  Speaker 7: Moving in?
• 17:21
  Speaker 8: Here?
• 17:23
  Speaker 6: Why not?
• 17:23
  Speaker 10: I have a perfect right to, you know. After all,
• 17:27
  Speaker 10: it's my uncle's house.
• 17:29
  Speaker 3: Isn't it?
• 17:40
  Speaker 9: Harriet?
• 17:41
  Speaker 6: Yes, Melvin?
• 17:42
  Speaker 9: What are we going to do about Valerie?
• 17:44
  Speaker 7: There's only one thing to do. We're not going to
• 17:47
  Speaker 7: stand by and let her ruin everything.
• 17:50
  Speaker 3: Are we?
• 17:50
  Speaker 9: Send her away. She'll go to the police.
• 17:52
  Speaker 7: We're not going to send her away.
• 17:54
  Speaker 9: But, Harriet, we've... We... Harriet, no. You can't do that again.
• 18:01
  Speaker 7: Have you another solution?
• 18:02
  Speaker 9: Well, I'll have to think about it, but... You must
• 18:05
  Speaker 9: forget what you're thinking, Harriet. I won't have it that way.
• 18:07
  Speaker 3: Do you understand?
• 18:08
  Speaker 4: I won't have it.
• 18:08
  Speaker 7: Watch the road, Melvin.
• 18:09
  Speaker 9: You hear me, Harriet?
• 18:10
  Speaker 3: One murder is enough.
• 18:11
  Speaker 7: Still in love with her, aren't you? Well, perhaps you're right, Melvin.
• 18:17
  Speaker 7: Perhaps the whole matter can be solved some other way.
• 18:20
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes.
• 18:21
  Speaker 9: Yes, Harriet, we... We'll find a way.
• 18:24
  Speaker 7: I'm sure we will.
• 18:32
  Speaker 3: The whole plan is in danger, isn't it, Harry? Melvin
• 18:35
  Speaker 3: is still in love with her, and you know that
• 18:37
  Speaker 3: he can be very weak. That you alone must provide
• 18:40
  Speaker 3: the strength to carry things through. Late that evening, after
• 18:45
  Speaker 3: Melvin has gone to bed, you and Valerie are left
• 18:48
  Speaker 3: alone in the library.
• 18:50
  Speaker 7: I was looking through some things, Valerie. Papers and newspaper
• 18:54
  Speaker 7: clippings that belonged to Mr.
• 18:55
  Speaker 6: Pettis.
• 18:56
  Speaker 8: Oh?
• 18:57
  Speaker 7: I found this.
• 19:00
  Speaker 6: How interesting.
• 19:01
  Speaker 7: A full account of your death in Java during the war.
• 19:05
  Speaker 7: Your name was Valerie Pettis then?
• 19:07
  Speaker 6: Yes, it was.
• 19:09
  Speaker 7: I was wondering if you'd taken any steps to rectify
• 19:13
  Speaker 7: this impression that you're no longer among the living.
• 19:16
  Speaker 6: Of course not. You've read this article, haven't you?
• 19:20
  Speaker 5: Yes.
• 19:22
  Speaker 7: Before her death, Valerie Pettis was wanted by the police.
• 19:26
  Speaker 6: That's right.
• 19:28
  Speaker 10: So you see we're in very much the same position,
• 19:31
  Speaker 10: aren't we? Neither of us can go to the police.
• 19:35
  Speaker 6: Or anyone. About the little secrets we've both discovered?
• 19:39
  Speaker 7: You're quite confident?
• 19:41
  Speaker 5: No.
• 19:43
  Speaker 10: Just very observant, Harriet. I know exactly what's going on here.
• 19:48
  Speaker 8: So? So.
• 19:51
  Speaker 6: That's sufficient reason why.
• 19:53
  Speaker 10: You'll keep your secret as long as I keep mine.
• 19:56
  Speaker 3: I see.
• 19:57
  Speaker 6: Now, there's something else, Harriet. Uncle Albert's money. Money?
• 20:01
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 20:01
  Speaker 6: I know about that, too.
• 20:03
  Speaker 10: Uncle Albert received a lot of money and jewels several
• 20:05
  Speaker 10: years ago in inheritance. And if I know dear Uncle Albert,
• 20:08
  Speaker 10: he's kept it right here in this house. I'm one
• 20:11
  Speaker 10: who believes in sharing the wealth, Harriet. The money, the jewels,
• 20:16
  Speaker 10: and this house.
• 20:18
  Speaker 7: You intend to remain here?
• 20:20
  Speaker 10: Yes, because I like Santa Rosa. It's charming and quiet
• 20:25
  Speaker 10: and safe. Besides, I've grown very fond of Melvin. I
• 20:29
  Speaker 10: know he's quite fond of me. So I wouldn't try anything, Harriet, dear.
• 20:36
  Speaker 10: Melvin might not like it.
• 20:39
  Speaker 6: Good night.
• 20:46
  Speaker 3: Well, Harriet, it's out in the open, isn't it? The
• 20:49
  Speaker 3: contest between you and Valerie. And it's a contest you
• 20:53
  Speaker 3: can't afford to lose. You must get Valerie out of
• 20:56
  Speaker 3: your way. And you know how to begin, don't you?
• 20:59
  Speaker 3: With Melvin. You must turn him against her. And the
• 21:03
  Speaker 3: very next day, you start working on him systematically, using
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: his love for Valerie as a wedge. Each day, you
• 21:10
  Speaker 3: have something to drop in his ear. If Valerie goes
• 21:13
  Speaker 3: for a long walk or to the public library, you
• 21:17
  Speaker 3: manage to suggest to Melvin that she's keeping a rendezvous
• 21:20
  Speaker 3: somewhere with another man. Slowly but surely, he begins to
• 21:24
  Speaker 3: break down, to draw away from the girl, sometimes even
• 21:28
  Speaker 3: getting up from the dinner table and leaving her in
• 21:30
  Speaker 3: the middle of a conversation.
• 21:32
  Speaker 6: What's the matter with him? Melvin? Yes, why did he
• 21:35
  Speaker 6: walk out of the room like that?
• 21:36
  Speaker 7: Well, I'm sure I don't know. Perhaps he's tired.
• 21:39
  Speaker 6: Tired of me, you hope?
• 21:41
  Speaker 7: I didn't say that. As a matter of fact, Valerie,
• 21:43
  Speaker 7: I've come to grow quite fond of you.
• 21:45
  Speaker 6: I'm not foolish enough to believe that.
• 21:47
  Speaker 7: On the contrary, you're foolish not to. Now, where are
• 21:50
  Speaker 7: you going?
• 21:51
  Speaker 8: Out.
• 21:52
  Speaker 7: Isn't it rather late?
• 21:53
  Speaker 6: I don't care. I've got to get outside, walk somewhere, anyplace.
• 21:56
  Speaker 6: Somewhere I can think.
• 21:57
  Speaker 7: I understand. I'll... Tell Melvin that you went.
• 22:01
  Speaker 3: For a walk. And you do tell Melvin, don't you, Harriet?
• 22:12
  Speaker 3: Only in your own way. The way you've told him
• 22:15
  Speaker 3: many times before.
• 22:17
  Speaker 9: I don't believe you, Harriet. I don't believe you at all.
• 22:19
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Melvin. I know what it must do to
• 22:21
  Speaker 7: your pride, but there isn't any doubt. She's admitted the
• 22:25
  Speaker 7: whole thing to me.
• 22:27
  Speaker 9: She told you there's someone else? Yes.
• 22:30
  Speaker 7: There's been another man all along. You know I wouldn't
• 22:33
  Speaker 7: lie to you, dear.
• 22:34
  Speaker 9: She's made a fool of me.
• 22:36
  Speaker 3: A fool.
• 22:37
  Speaker 7: Forget it, Melvin.
• 22:37
  Speaker 3: You've got to.
• 22:38
  Speaker 9: Stop telling me to forget it. That's all you do.
• 22:41
  Speaker 9: You don't want me to know anything. Or think about anything.
• 22:44
  Speaker 7: Oh, Melvin.
• 22:45
  Speaker 6: Where are you going?
• 22:46
  Speaker 3: Out. You smile. Congratulate yourself, don't you, Harriet? Because you
• 22:53
  Speaker 3: know you've won. That Melvin will do anything you want
• 22:55
  Speaker 3: him to like a man who's been hypnotized. You're certain
• 22:59
  Speaker 3: now he wounded a fear with your little plan to
• 23:00
  Speaker 3: get rid of Valerie. Yes, you're quite pleased with the
• 23:04
  Speaker 3: way you've handled things, aren't you? Moments later, you turn
• 23:07
  Speaker 3: out the lights in the library and go up to
• 23:09
  Speaker 3: your room to bed. You lie awake for a long time,
• 23:13
  Speaker 3: waiting for Melvin to come home. Finally, you hear the
• 23:16
  Speaker 3: front door close. You hear his footsteps on the stairs.
• 23:20
  Speaker 3: And then, just before you drop off to sleep, you
• 23:23
  Speaker 3: wonder why Valerie hasn't returned home. Yes?
• 23:39
  Speaker 4: Good morning, Miss Eldridge. This is Sheriff McQuaid. Sorry to
• 23:42
  Speaker 4: be calling at this early hour.
• 23:44
  Speaker 7: Something wrong?
• 23:44
  Speaker 4: There's been a young woman staying at your house.
• 23:47
  Speaker 7: Miss Hinton, yes. Yes, what about her?
• 23:49
  Speaker 4: We found her in the woods beyond your place half
• 23:51
  Speaker 4: hour ago.
• 23:52
  Speaker 6: You found her?
• 23:54
  Speaker 4: She was dead. Strangled to death. Apparently with a rope.
• 23:57
  Speaker 7: Oh, no, the poor child. She'd gone out for a
• 24:01
  Speaker 7: walk last night, Sheriff. You haven't any idea who.
• 24:04
  Speaker 4: Oh, sorry, we haven't. Could you come down to make
• 24:08
  Speaker 4: the identification? Oh, yes.
• 24:10
  Speaker 7: Yes, of course.
• 24:10
  Speaker 4: There isn't any doubt, actually. It will only be routine.
• 24:14
  Speaker 4: Just routine.
• 24:15
  Speaker 7: I understand.
• 24:16
  Speaker 6: We'll be right down, Sheriff.
• 24:18
  Speaker 7: Oh, my flippers. Now, where did I... Oh.
• 24:23
  Speaker 3: Melvin. Hello.
• 24:25
  Speaker 5: Hello.
• 24:26
  Speaker 9: Who was it, Harriet?
• 24:27
  Speaker 6: The sheriff.
• 24:28
  Speaker 7: They found her. Valerie.
• 24:30
  Speaker 9: You won't be bothering us anymore. You're not angry with me,
• 24:35
  Speaker 9: are you, Harriet?
• 24:36
  Speaker 7: Did anyone see you?
• 24:38
  Speaker 4: No.
• 24:38
  Speaker 3: Are you certain?
• 24:39
  Speaker 7: There was a bright moon last night.
• 24:40
  Speaker 4: No one saw me.
• 24:42
  Speaker 7: What about the rope or whatever you used?
• 24:45
  Speaker 9: No one will ever find it.
• 24:47
  Speaker 4: I hid it.
• 24:48
  Speaker 3: All right. Harriet, are you.
• 24:51
  Speaker 7: No, no, no. I'm not angry with you. Now I...
• 24:55
  Speaker 7: Better get dressed and go downtown with me. And don't worry, Melvin.
• 25:00
  Speaker 7: Everything will be all right.
• 25:13
  Speaker 2: The Whistler will return in just a moment with a
• 25:15
  Speaker 2: strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, a question. Have you
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: ever had the experience of coming upon a lot of
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: people who were all staring in the same direction? Well,
• 25:26
  Speaker 2: let's face it, it's only human nature to want to
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: stop and see what's attracting them. Well, by the same token,
• 25:32
  Speaker 2: I should think that most anyone with a car would
• 25:34
  Speaker 2: want to see what it is that has attracted so
• 25:37
  Speaker 2: many drivers to Signal Gasoline. In the beginning, you know,
• 25:41
  Speaker 2: Signal Gasoline was sold by only a handful of stations
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: in Southern California. Today, however, you'll find signal dealers throughout
• 25:48
  Speaker 2: six western states. from Canada to Mexico. Such growth must
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: mean that more and more drivers are finding they prefer
• 25:57
  Speaker 2: signal gasoline. And what is it they prefer about signal? Well,
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: for one thing, mileage that has made signal famous as
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: the go-farther gasoline. And for another thing, performance, which puts
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: more pleasure into driving. But for the complete story, you've
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: got to let a full tankfuls of.
• 26:15
  Speaker 4: Signal speak for itself.
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: I promise you the performance of your own car will
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: tell you much better than any words of mine why
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: more and more drivers are switching to Signal, the famous
• 26:27
  Speaker 2: go-farther gasoline.
• 26:34
  Speaker 3: At the coroner's office is just as the sheriff said.
• 26:37
  Speaker 3: It's simply a matter of routine, isn't it, Harriet? The
• 26:40
  Speaker 3: two of you. Melvin's stony-eyed silence easily mistaken for the
• 26:44
  Speaker 3: shock grief that he appears to feel. And your own
• 26:47
  Speaker 3: nervousness in answering the question. It's something the sheriff seems
• 26:51
  Speaker 3: to have witnessed many times before. Finally, the identification is
• 26:56
  Speaker 3: over and they lead you out to another room.
• 26:58
  Speaker 7: Sheriff, it's almost too much to believe.
• 27:01
  Speaker 4: I know, I know. Best thing is try to forget it,
• 27:04
  Speaker 4: Miss Eldridge.
• 27:04
  Speaker 9: Yes, just forget it. That's what we have to do, Harry.
• 27:08
  Speaker 9: Forget it.
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: Come along. I'll drive the two of you back to
• 27:10
  Speaker 4: the house.
• 27:11
  Speaker 7: Thank you, Sheriff. That won't be necessary.
• 27:13
  Speaker 4: I insist. Bring my car around front.
• 27:17
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 27:18
  Speaker 4: Hey, tell me, Miss Elbridge. Have you heard from Mr.
• 27:21
  Speaker 4: Pettis lately? Still in Australia?
• 27:23
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes. Yes, he is. I get an occasional letter.
• 27:28
  Speaker 4: Fine man, that Mr. Pettis. We all miss him, you know.
• 27:31
  Speaker 7: Sheriff, you needn't bother driving us home. It's not far.
• 27:33
  Speaker 4: Oh, no, no. No trouble at all. I've got to
• 27:36
  Speaker 4: go out there anyway. Something I have to check on.
• 27:38
  Speaker 4: I've already sent some of my boys on ahead.
• 27:41
  Speaker 9: What?
• 27:42
  Speaker 4: We got a call from one of your neighbors. Might
• 27:44
  Speaker 4: give us a lead.
• 27:45
  Speaker 7: I don't understand.
• 27:46
  Speaker 4: Your neighbor, Mrs. Enfield, tried to call you this morning,
• 27:49
  Speaker 4: but it was while you were on your way down here.
• 27:52
  Speaker 4: When she couldn't get any answers, she thought we'd better investigate.
• 27:55
  Speaker 7: Investigate what?
• 27:56
  Speaker 4: It, uh, it seems late last night she saw someone
• 27:59
  Speaker 4: doing some digging out in back of your house.
• 28:02
  Speaker 6: Digging?
• 28:03
  Speaker 5: Yeah.
• 28:04
  Speaker 4: It might not be anything, but then again, it might
• 28:07
  Speaker 4: have been the killer burying the rope on his way
• 28:09
  Speaker 4: back to the highway. Valerie Hinton was strangled, you know.
• 28:13
  Speaker 7: Burying, burying the rope, but Where, Sheriff?
• 28:17
  Speaker 4: Your neighbor says he was digging in the dahlia bed.
• 28:20
  Speaker 4: We thought we might do a little digging there ourselves,
• 28:23
  Speaker 4: if you don't mind.
• 28:25
  Speaker 7: The dahlia bed?
• 28:27
  Speaker 9: Oh, no.
• 28:29
  Speaker 4: What is it, Miss Eldridge?
• 28:30
  Speaker 8: Harriet.
• 28:31
  Speaker 3: Harriet.
• 28:32
  Speaker 9: You never told me. Is that where you.
• 28:35
  Speaker 6: Yes, Melvin.
• 28:37
  Speaker 7: Now you know.
• 28:40
  Speaker 9: Mr.
• 28:40
  Speaker 7: Pettis was always so fond of dahlias, I.
• 28:43
  Speaker 3: I thought it would be appropriate....
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal Oil program,
• 29:09
  Speaker 2: The Whistler, each Sunday night at this same time. Brought
• 29:13
  Speaker 2: to you by the Signal Oil Company, marketers of Signal
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: gasoline and motor oil, and fine quality automotive accessories. Signal
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: has asked me to remind you To get the most
• 29:23
  Speaker 2: driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous, and obey
• 29:27
  Speaker 2: traffic regulations. It may save a life, possibly your own.
• 29:41
  Speaker 2: Featured in tonight's story were Sarah Selby, Howard McNair, and
• 29:44
  Speaker 2: Betty Lou Gerson. The Whistler was produced and directed by
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: George W. Allen, with story by Steve Hampton, and music
• 29:51
  Speaker 2: by Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted to our troops overseas
• 29:54
  Speaker 2: by the Armed Forces Radio Service. All characters portrayed in
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: the Whistler program are fictional. Any similarity in names or
• 30:00
  Speaker 2: resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Remember
• 30:04
  Speaker 2: at this same time next Sunday, another strange tale.
• 30:09
  Speaker 4: By the Whistler.
• 30:10
  Speaker 2: This is Marvin Miller speaking. This is CBS, the Columbia
• 30:17
  Speaker 2: Broadcasting System.
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: You have heard the whistler in grave secret. Until another
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: visit to Radio's Mystery Theater, we bid you good night.
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: Follow Old Time Mystery Radio for more classic mystery and
• 30:45
  Speaker 1: detective broadcasts.