Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Laird Douglas-Douglas of Heatherscote Matter, Part Three and Four (EP1073)

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Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Laird Douglas-Douglas of Heatherscote Matter, Part Three and Four (EP1073) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

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Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
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to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at
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slash Radio Detectives. Well, before we do get started, I want to
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let you know today's programs brought to you by the financial support of our listeners,
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and you can support the show at Support not Great Detectives dot and act.
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But let's go ahead and get into today's episode of Yours Truly Johnny Doller,
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the Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscope Mander Parts three and four from Hollywood.
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It's time now for Johnny Dellar. Lieutenant Steve Howard homicide. I found word
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to call you there at your hotel, right, I'm an insurance investigator,
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Lieutenant. Yeah, I've heard of you. Can I help you? Well?
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I understand you're the man who handled a murder case at the Black Kin
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Withood Dog Show last year. That's right, it was still working on it.
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Oh fine, like to look over the setup for an attempted murder?
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Ah me stay right there, mister dollars Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey
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and the transcribed adventures of the Man with the Action Impact Expense account America's fabulous
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freelance Insurance Investigator, Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense account submitted by Special
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Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Philadelphia Vitual Liability and Casualty Company. Following is an
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accounting of expenditures incurred during my investigation of the Laired Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote matter,
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and at this point that name is no joke. Expense account item three
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seventy cents cab fare from the office of Harry Branson to my hotel. It
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was in Harry's office that I got the craziest assignment I'd ever taken bodyguard to
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laired Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote, who turned out to be a dog and I
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mean that literally, a pure bred Scottish terrier who rated high enough and dogged
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him for somebody to make a couple of attempts on his life. Right now,
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it looked like somebody wanted me to be next. Oh what's all this
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to time? Talk about an attempt on your life. Hey, lieutenant,
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take a look at this handbag of mines. Huh. Wait, don't touch
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it. Huh. I left it here on this little luggage stand about an
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hour ago, right after I checked in. Only before I left it,
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I opened it and took out my gun. So so when I got back,
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just before I called you, I found the bank as you see it
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now locked again. I want to look here, mister. Yeah, I
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know, I know, but if a chamber mate had been in here,
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there would have been other signs, you know, bed turned down, fresh
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towels in the bath, things like that. Boy, ye're a suspicious man.
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You sure you didn't lock it yourself after taking your gun, I'm sure.
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Anyhow, instead of opening it, I started to pick it up to
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put it on the bed to one pack And now you lift it? Why
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because it weighs close to twenty five pounds and that's too much for nothing but
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an extra suit, a few shirts and shorts, some handkerchiefs and the like.
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You check with the desk, no collars that they know about it.
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Let me see. Yeah, that is pretty heavy and it doesn't tick.
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Ah. Look here, yeah, you see where somebody on the fire escape
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used the pride bar to shove this window open. Well, yeah, and
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those marks are fresh, very fresh. Oprit get me several police expencer con
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Item four check for twenty nine fifty to the nearest Bond clothing store for one
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pair of trousers to replace those torn by Douglas. Douglas what's his name?
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When i'd first met him in Harry's office had them five phone called him missus
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Peter Malcolm Kelly van Pithon. Well, don't you worry, mister Dalla.
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If you're delayed, you're delayed. We'll just expect you here at the Maples.
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When you get here, your sweet is already in waiting for you.
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I'll be there as soon as I can. Oh, I do hope you've
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had a suit made to replace those trousers, little Laird Douglas Tor, why
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don't you have a couple of suits made and just charge them to me?
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Thanks? Maybe I'll get around to that. Goodbye, Missus van Pithon.
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First of all, I had to know what Lieutenant Howard found out about the
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suitcase he'd had his lab crew pick up. I took a taxi to headquarters.
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That's item eight sixty five cents. I glad to see you dollar?
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Sit down? Well, why'd you find out the all of that bag of
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years had enough super in nitt to blow out half the side of your hotel?
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And I was right, Yeah, professional job, too straight wire rig
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that would have gone off when you opened the bag were there? I guess
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my lucky star is in the ascendant. What made you suspect a booby trap?
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Dollar? Last year and a few days ago, somebody tried to poison
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a dog. Well do I know? They had? Douglas Douglas of heather
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scot blue Ribbon Scottie belonging to missus Peter Moulthlcom Kelly Vanite Right. Apparently the
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whole reason for it was to keep the booch from winning the best of Show
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at the annual Dog Festival or whatever you want to call it, out at
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Bella Kinwood, so I've heard. I think it was more than that.
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Oh wait a minute, now, don't tell me you subscribed to the idea
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that if the dog were to die, missus Kelly van Python would probably kick
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off too, no question about it. Okay, Well you don't know her
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yet, he wouldn't be so skeptical. Her whole life revolves about that dog
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and her money. Of course, from what I've seen, she just throws
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that away. Of course she does, at least in small quantities. You
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know, a thousand or two here, they are even a one hundred thousand
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of some school or library or something where it'll show. But even that's only
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a dropping a bucket to her. Well, Tenant, I don't quite see
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what you're driving at. Well, she is one of the remnants of a
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class in this country fast dying out thank goodness, and for generations, has
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been cultured and conditioned into thinking that money is everything, that their whole destiny
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is to control vast industries, lands, railroads, oil shipping, and people
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people dollar by means of their sheer financial prowess. But I thought our present
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text, y' sure their day is almost done, but the viewer is still
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around, Like missus Kelly Van Python are hanging on for dear life, trying
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to add to their power. Steve, you make a sweet, gabby eccentric
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ol. Lady's sound like an ogre. She is, no question, I'm
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sure she doesn't realize it, simply because this whole attitude has been so thorly
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ingrained into her older life. That's right, Oh well, we'll see,
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yeah, you'll see. Well, look, let's get to the point.
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Who do you think might be trying to get rid of the old lady?
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I haven't the least idea well, no family relatives. Only living relative is
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her nephew, Warren Staley. Ah nothing, You sure I haven't been able
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to pin a thing on him. Where can I find this Warren Staley at
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the Maples? He lives there with her? Huh yep. And you're sure
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he would be her only beneficiary? Yep? Ah hah uh uh, good
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luck dollar. Lieutenant Howard seemed to know what he was talking about. Nonetheless,
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I decided that the nephew Warren stay would at least be a start,
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and the sooner I could move in at the Maples, the better. I
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am nine seven eighty care fairs back to my hotel and out to the Maples
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in the suburb of Germantown. When I first saw the place, I can
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hardly believe my eyes. It looked like a regular castle perched atop a small
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hill. Even the gatehouse, nearly half a mile from the mansion, was
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big enough to house several families, but the mansion itself wow. A rather
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stuffy looking butler after practically climbing up my family tree, escorted me to the
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reading role Missus Kelly van Python and I guess. Oh, mister Dollar,
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I'm so glad you're here. And look he remembers you a boy, Doug.
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Oh and please call him Douglas. After all, the name Doug sounds
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so common, doesn't it. Oh you really think he cares, Missus Van
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Pidon. Oh you're joking, aren't you. Mister Branson said you had quite
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a sense of humor. Now did Hastings show you to your sweet the butler
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nobody took my things. Then I'll show you. I'm sure you love it
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and be quite comfortable this way. Please, Yes, you're coming, dog
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Douglas. Do you see how happy he is having you here? I am
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too, mister Dollar. Now we just oh Warren Dolly, Hello Tanta,
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mister Dollar. This is my little Nevy Warren Stay. Warren was twenty five
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or so bright. You're looking and well but comfortably dressed, and of missus
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vn Piiton's orders. He took me up to my suite, living room,
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study, breakfast room, bath, and bedroom. And it's still occupied only
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a small part of the second floor. Oh. Here next to you are
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doggie's rooms well sleeping and one for reading. Can you tie that dining room
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for a dog? And through that door is Mademoiselle Poirot, his governess.
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She feeds and bathes them. And that's a full time giant. Oh,
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sure, most pampa dog in the country. Brother, I'll go with you
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on that town will ask you to keep this connecting door open at night.
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Hey, sit down, I'm in a warren. I'd like to talk to
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you. Sure, I hope you're impressed by all this? Are you kidding?
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And Towna will love you daily? Say would you like a drink?
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There's a Clarett here if you're convenient, Sure, scotch. And so the
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good not the foolish, isn't it all of it? What do you mean?
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Oh? What's such nonsense to keep up in a state like this?
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Just to keep faith? So to speak? Well, she can afford it,
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can't she? Are you kidding? You sound as though you don't enjoy
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this life of luxury as you drink and forced luxury to keep up the honor
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of the family. And I resent it, oh, without ever having to
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lift the finger doing honest day's work. When she's gone, I'll be one
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of the wealthiest men in the country. That's bad. Huh. You think
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it's strange that the fellow would like to stand in his own feet for change,
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make something of himself by himself. Why not just pack up and leave?
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You don't know, Tata, No, I guess I don't. Oh,
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it's really more than that. I'm the only member of this family left
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aside from Tata, So I understand I'm the only one left to carry on
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the Van Python Empire the drinker. Wait a minute, Branson used that term
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too, Yes, empire not only enough security to sink a battleship, but
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controlling rights and steel utilities and most important of all, east Moreland oil.
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I see, And what's most important about that is that I'll survive to keep
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control of east Moreland from Kenworthy Harris and R. Kenworthy. Yeah, there's
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been a battle of for east Moreland oil for for generations between the Van Pythen's
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and the Kenworthy. Say tell me this is Kenworthy? Have any airs one
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his son, Ronald? I see what sort of a fellow is he?
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Good friend of mine? We waste a lot of our time together. I
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will drink up, mister Dowler. I'm ready for another and you haven't even
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touched your Yeah, well, listen, I'm gonna lay some cards on the
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table. Somebody's been trying to get at Laird Douglas. The dog presumably is
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a way of getting at your aunt. It's true, if anything would happen
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a little do okay, okay, I'll take your word for it. Because
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of the intense rivalry between your aunt and Kenworthy, or rather between laired Douglas
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and his pop Lady Oddy's Mimy or whatever her name is. Anyway, Kenworthy
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should be number one suspect. When you know him, you'll cross them off
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your list. So, Lieutenant Howard has told me. But all right,
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all right, as sole beneficiary of the Van Python Empire, as you call
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it, you come in as fast number two on the list. I can
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understand that. But unless everything you've told me is a fancy fairy tale to
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throw me off, then every everything I've told you is it's true. Mister
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Dollar, what's the matter with you? Nothing? Okay? And mind you,
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Warren, I'm not forgetting for a minute that there's been a couple of
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murders involved in this whole screwy business, plus an attempt in my own life
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tempt one on you. Dollar, Hey, what gives you? Are you
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plastering on a little over one drink? Listen to me? I know,
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now, I know, and I can tell you. Dollar, Tell me
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what the answer the whole thing? Dollar, Quarren, what's the matter with
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you? I can't breathe your Quarren drink meant for you? Don't duck?
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He died without another sound. I carefully sniffed the drink that had been poured
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for me. He gingerly tasted nothing, nothing that I could spot. Yeah,
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poor Warren had probably been right. Whatever it was, had no doubt
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been meant for me. Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Howard Homicide. Oh hi,
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Steve, did you know I've given orders for you to be confined you sweet
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out there at the Maples until I can get some of the lap crew out
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there. You don't think I murdered Warren Staley? Apparently you were the only
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one who was with him when he died. I look here, I'm the
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one who's kept even the family out of here. What's more important, You're
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the only one in the whole estate who might trusted to keep things intact,
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any possible evidence. So please don't leave your room, Okay, diplomat.
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I'll sit tight expense account or rather report submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to
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the Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in connection with
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my investigation of the Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote matter. No need to itemize expenses
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at this point, because there are none. The magnificent suite in which I'm
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parked out at the sumptuous mansion of Missus Peter Malcolm Kelly van Python is fine,
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except for the body of young Warren Staley, Missus van Pikeen's nephew,
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draped over the arm of the easy chair in which he died a few minutes
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ago. I'd call Lieutenant Howard at Homicide on the phone in my room immediately,
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and within minutes the nearest patrol man was stationed outside my door, refusing
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admittance even to the lady of the house. After all, this was the
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third murder that tied up with the Scottish terrier who started all this, Douglas
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Douglas of Headscoat. While waiting for Lieutenant Howard and his crew, I shaved,
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showered and changed my clothes. Then about ten minutes later, well lieutenant,
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see what you mean. Yeah, he seemed like a nice kid too,
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his elders. Doctor. Go right ahead, okay for pictures? Yeah,
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yeah, go right ahead. Okay, darling, let's have it.
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What happened? Well, Warren brought me up here himself, and I said
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him down to ask him some questions. He suspected him, didn't you in
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spite of what I told? Sure? That so beneficiary of the Van Pike
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and State Empire, as he called it. Yeah, well what do you
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think now? But you were right thought he was clean. Anyhow, My
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poor darling, where is he? No, take your hands off. No,
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you can't keep me out. This is my own house, and this
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is my own I'm sorry. I have to wait until we can get he
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was terribly terrible. Wait until we and it's just a minute. Hey,
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whoa young fellow, Hold on a minute, How are you Johnny Dollar?
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Who are you? Ronald Kenworthy? His best friend? What happened to him?
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He was poisoned? Poisoned? And where were you? How could a
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thing like this happen? If you were going just calmed down a minute?
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How long have you been here in the house? Why half three quarters of
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an hour or something like that. But I don't see where were you.
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I was down in the reading room with Missus van Python all the time,
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Len out in the garden alone, yes, except for a few minutes while
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I talked to Hastings, the butler out there. What were you doing in
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the guard I was on my way up here by the back way to see
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Warren. I've always used the back staircase from the guarden ever since we were
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kids together. This suite of rooms used to be our play rude ever since
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I can remember. All right, all right, go on with what you
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were saying. Well, then about that time, or a few minutes later,
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I don't know exactly, I heard the police car come screaming up the
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driveway. That was the first that any of us, Missus van Python or
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Hastings or right, that any of us knew that something was wrong, that
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something had happened to Warren. But now look here, mister Donner, you
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too what you'll have to leave with Missus van Piyton until we're throwing here.
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Oh please, Ronald help me. But go ahead, Ronn, and go
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ahead, all right, poor old dame. Sorry for finding anything, Doc,
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Yes, I think so, I certainly think so. Be with you
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in a minute. No, better go on with what you were saying,
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Dollar, Well, not much more to say. Lieutenant Warren felt the same
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way you do that Branson at the insurance company does. If anything happened to
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the dog Lard Douglas, it'd be the end of missus van Python. That
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the murders of the dogs handlers caretakers were purely incidental to attempts on the dog's
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life. But but what And he apparently was as concerned over this whole thing
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as we've been said. He had a very strong theory about who might be
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back of all this. Oh did he tell you he was about to and
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this whatever it was, hit him. I'll tell you what to work,
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lieutenant. Yeah, doc, Oh, this is mister doll norvic acid,
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same thing that killed the two dog handlers and was used don dog itself,
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I can tell without further examinations. Wait a minute, dog, Wait a
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minute. If the dog got the same thing that killed a couple of grown
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men, that dog, with a much more sensitive stomach I'm used to all
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the strong food and drinks the human stomach is constantly abused with the dog would
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immediately regurgitate and retain only a minute amount of the penorfic acid I see in
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the case of Warren Staley here it was added to the scotch whiskey. He
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drank traces of it in his glass and in the full glass beside your chair.
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We'll dog if you check those bottles on the cellarrette. Just about to
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ill wit you a bottle? Did he pour that out of dollar one?
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Right next to that bottle of veo? There? Wait a minute, this
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isn't the same bottle. What the one he poured from was half empty?
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This is nearly full. And now what's the matter with you boys? You
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let somebody switch bottles a minute ago? Wait a minute, Wait a minute.
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Nobody else came in here besides missus Van Payton and young Kenworthy Hastings the
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butler, but he just stood in the doorway. Yet somehow between the time
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Warren Stalley poured those drinks and now somebody switched bottles. Unless you're wrong about
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this dollar it's the only Scotch broel you've been here in the room all this
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time, do yeah? Sure? And in the bath I shaved and showered
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and dress while waiting for you to get here, But only after one of
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your men came and parked outside the door. Where does this door lead to?
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It's the dog's quarters, two rooms, I see. Come on,
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uh, you're my wait for us? What about that door? Yon?
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Oh? That Madamiselle Poirot, the dog's governess. Oh was she? How
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should I know? I didn't even meet her. Ah, I guess I
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should have act. Who are you? Why are you coming dressed? I
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said, sorry, ma'amselle, we're the police before. Well nothing, ma'am,
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nothing, but but how long have you been there in your room?
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Only two minutes? Came in the back way to change my clothes. Yeah,
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that was obvious. My day off, I have big date. Well
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not now you haven't get dressed. Now send an officer into a scorch of
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downstairs. Come on, nothing wrong here, say Pete. Send somebody around
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the back way to cover the governess and take it downstairs questioning and Johnny looks
20:22
like you goofed hm. While you were showering, somebody came in through her
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room, through the dogs quarters and did the bottle switch on it? Oh
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well then we're even Yeah, what you have very carefully mussed up any fingerprints
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it might have been on those doorknobs. Oh uh, Jerry, see if
20:45
you got any prints off those doorknobs back there, I haven't wrecked them.
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But Johnny, if I didn't know about you and your reputation, I'm taking
20:55
this on you so fast. You you haven't been holding out on me,
20:59
have you. I assured him that I hadn't, then went downstairs to the
21:04
monstrous living room and sat in while we went through a routine questioning of everyone
21:08
in the household. I even went through the motions of bodyguarding the dog that
21:12
had started all us, and tried to console missus van Piiten. Results of
21:17
the questioning nothing dollar, nothing, no lead. Yes, so I noticed
21:22
the two previous murders are the dogs caretakers or bodyguards, whatever you want to
21:26
call them. The same poison was used then in their food as well as
21:30
the dog. But why why, Steve? Why why they to keep them
21:34
from helping laired Douglass when it hit him. More likely because those handlers had
21:38
got wind of the attempt to poison the dog and suspected who was trying to
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do it. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, So there's one thing
21:45
you're overlooking, Dolly. What's that The intended victim of this last poisoning was
21:51
not Warren Staley. But you, oh brother, I'm not overlooking that for
21:53
one second. Yeah, that's why I asked you if you were holding out
21:56
anything on me, because it would indicate that you have a lead, or
22:00
at least suspicion about someone. Sure. Sure, I got a lot of
22:03
suspicions. Ronald Kenworthy, his old man, the Butler, Heaven help us,
22:10
even missus Van Pyiton, maybe even you, Steve. But when it
22:15
comes to evidence, yeah, I know what you mean. Well, I've
22:22
got work to do. Looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack was nothing
22:30
compared to hunting for the poison bottle of scotch. There was no doubt stashed
22:33
away somewhere, far, far into the night. A regular army of policemen
22:37
probed and dugged and poked around the elven drawers and closets and cabinets. Pounded
22:42
on walls looking for sliding panels and secret compartments, went through the trash,
22:47
sifted a trash heap, dug up any freshly turned earth they could find on
22:49
the grounds, even climbed trees. Yeah. They prowled through attics and basements,
22:55
looked everywhere results nothing. Meanwhile, I stayed close to missus Van pythen,
23:00
and I'll say this for her. In spite of her almost silly infatuation
23:04
with that dog, she showed real strength of character. We sat alone together
23:07
in the reading room. I know, mister Dollar, there's nothing I can
23:11
do to bring Warren back. Therefore, there's no point in simpla sitting here
23:18
weeping over it. Yeah, yeah, that's true, but it isn't easy
23:22
because it meant more. I'm sorry. I I want to ask you some
23:29
things, Miss van Piden. I suppose this is the wrong time, but
23:33
I know ask me, mister Dollar. I think I know what you want
23:37
to ask. And now now that this last terrible thing has happened, hope
23:41
I pray that I can help you. Well. I had quite a talk
23:47
with Warren before he died. Oh oh, I'm glad. Warren would have
23:51
been the sole heir to the Van Piiton estate. Yes, he alone would
23:55
have carried the honor the prestige of the family after my passing. Oh no,
24:03
surely, who didn't think that he could have been behind those other terrible
24:06
murders. Quite frankly, at first I did, But he told me something
24:08
else, and it's bothered me about mister Kenworthy and his son Ronald. No,
24:15
mister Dona, he was supposed to be Warren's best friend. You said
24:22
supposed to be well. Warren made it very clear that if the Kenworthys could
24:27
somehow acquire the Van Python holdings, either by mister Kenworthy marrying you. I
24:32
have told Harrison Arkin, Yes, I know if Laird Douglas wins the show
24:36
from his Carrie Blue Terrier, you'll marry him. Yes, And I still
24:37
think it's a screw idea, but the fact remains it's fairly true, quite
24:42
true. Neither you nor mister Kenworthy has too many years ahead, if you
24:47
will forgive me, mister Dolla. Was so there's now only one person left
24:51
to benefit by the death of Laird Douglas, of Warren, of you,
24:53
and ultimately of mister Kenworthy. Good heavens, mister doll that's right, Old
25:00
Kenworthy. Well, I knew, I knew it. I think you said
25:07
enough, mister Dollar. Yes, I heard it all, mister Dollar.
25:14
I think you said too much for shall we say your health. Now here's
25:34
our star to tell you about the final intriguing episode of this week's story.
25:38
Tomorrow, All cards and laid on the table and believe me, the deck
25:41
proves to have been stacked right from the beginning. Tomorrow they'll wind up join
25:47
us, won't you. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar is
26:07
starring Bob Bailey, is transcribed in Hollywood. It is produced and directed by
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Jack Johnstone, who also wrote tonight's story. Be sure to join us tomorrow
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night at same time and station for the next exciting episode of Yours Truly Johnny
26:22
Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking m H, welcome back. Well, I love
27:51
the name of that of the governess, Miss Porrow. Miss Porrow wondering whether
28:00
the gardener's named mister Marple and the family minister is the good Reverend Brown.
28:07
But I guess it's okay to play to pay a little bit of homage to
28:11
the classics. Here. We've got a very interesting problem and a very obvious
28:17
solution, but we'll see if it's the right one. We do turn out
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listener comments and feedback regarding the last Jack Johnstone serial, The Lamar Matter,
28:30
and Tim rats in. I just finished listening to The Lamar Matter. I
28:37
sure hope that Jack Johnstone doesn't write any more episodes of Johnny Dollar. He
28:41
just doesn't have the knack. Good grief. He just spent an entire fifteen
28:45
minute episode doing a not too interesting dialogue between Johnny and the insurance agent.
28:52
Again, good grief. There were a couple of good things in the story
28:56
though. It was really nice to hear Howard mcneer as a regular, not
29:00
as a crazy homeless guy, an old coot, or peculiar neighbor or some
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such. It took me a few minutes to recognize him as the Chicago insurance
29:07
agents and good friend of the dead Man. The other is that it's always
29:11
enjoyable to hear Virginia Gregg doing her special brand of great as always. Thanks
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for all your hard work, the show is terrific. Well, thanks so
29:19
much, Tim. To be fair to Johnstone, I think that Tim is
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right in that most of the Johnstone serials have not been up to the standerds
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of the ones that were written originally by E. Jack Newman and expanded or
29:41
by Less crutch Field. He does continue to write episodes under a variety of
29:47
pseudonyms throughout the show's run. I do think he does get better. I
29:52
remember, if you remember about a year ago a little more now. We
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played the last episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the last episode of
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Suspense as a special commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of what is considered the end of
30:12
the Golden Age of radio. And he wrote both of those episodes, and
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I thought, as Johnny Dollar was actually pretty good, I think it's going
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to be something he'll develop over time. The serial is better than the last
30:26
two though, to be honest, really it feels like the first two episodes
30:30
and these two episodes are completely different shows. The first two were just so
30:37
light and comic, and this one just a lot more serious, so it
30:41
feels a little bit uneven. I won't talk too much about the case itself
30:47
because as I listen to these, I begin to remember the solution, and
30:52
I don't want to spoil it for any of our listeners who haven't heard it.
30:56
I will say that I remember this correctly. There was a key clue
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that nobody's paying attention to right now. But I don't know if I'm giving
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away. I don't think I'm giving away too much with that. All right,
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Well, that will do it for today. We'll be back tomorrow with
31:17
Nick Carter and then join us on Friday, when we will wrap up the
31:21
Laird Douglas. Douglas of Heatherscope matter in the maintime. Send your comments to
31:26
Box thirteen, Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives,
31:32
and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com. Slash
31:36
Radio Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and Off.