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The Whistler - "What Makes a Murderer" (1948) · Old Time Mystery Radio | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: A quiet investment clerk, weary of routine, wins a substantial
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: sum at the races and sees Florida as a path
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: to romance and a different life. That situation opens The
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: Whistler in What Makes a Murderer, episode 306, first heard
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: on CBS on April 7th, 1948. Frank Lovejoy, Joan Banks,
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: and Marvin Miller are featured in a radio adaptation by
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: Harold Swanton from an original story by Everett T.
• 0:29
  Speaker 2: Tomlinson.
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: The promise of a fresh start brings this ordinary man
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: into circumstances he had not expected. Now, back to the
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: golden age of radio.
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: The signal oil program, the whistler.
• 0:59
  Speaker 3: That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program,
• 1:04
  Speaker 3: the whistler.
• 1:25
  Speaker 4: I am the whistler, and I know many things, for
• 1:29
  Speaker 4: I walk by night. I know many strange tales, hidden
• 1:33
  Speaker 4: in the hearts of men and women who have stepped
• 1:35
  Speaker 4: into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of
• 1:39
  Speaker 4: which they dare not speak.
• 1:45
  Speaker 3: Yes, friends, it's time for the signal oil program, the Whistler,
• 1:48
  Speaker 3: rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time
• 1:51
  Speaker 3: than any other West Coast program in radio history. And
• 1:55
  Speaker 3: signal gasoline is tops, too, tops in quality. It takes
• 1:59
  Speaker 3: extra quality, you know, to give you extra mileage. And
• 2:01
  Speaker 3: signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. So look for the
• 2:05
  Speaker 3: signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly
• 2:09
  Speaker 3: dealer-owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now, the
• 2:15
  Speaker 3: Whistler's strange story.
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: What makes a murderer?
• 2:23
  Speaker 4: Murder is a peculiar affair. It's the darkest, most despicable
• 2:27
  Speaker 4: of all crimes. Yet it strikes most frequently among the
• 2:31
  Speaker 4: ranks of people who have never transgressed before.
• 2:34
  Speaker 2: Yes, all it needs in many cases.
• 2:37
  Speaker 4: Is the right pressure, the right set of circumstances, the
• 2:40
  Speaker 4: right opportunity, and an otherwise respectable member of the community...
• 2:45
  Speaker 4: becomes a killer. If you'd tried to explain that to
• 2:49
  Speaker 4: Arthur Winslow, he wouldn't have understood. For Arthur was respectable, solid,
• 2:53
  Speaker 4: exactly like a hundred other respectable, solid Jersey commuters. His
• 2:58
  Speaker 4: life was a pretty drab affair. Yes, including the dull
• 3:02
  Speaker 4: days at the office, J.C. Wells and Company, investment brokers.
• 3:06
  Speaker 5: United wire, seven and an eighth, no change.
• 3:08
  Speaker 2: Seven and an eighth, no change.
• 3:10
  Speaker 5: Universal automatic, 39 and an eighth, off one eighth.
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: Universal automatic, 39 and an eighth, off one eighth.
• 3:15
  Speaker 5: Vulcan steel, 77, up one.
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: 77, up one. Oh, we'd better leave it there, Arthur.
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: Five o'clock. Got to make that 519. Why? Why? Yeah, yeah.
• 3:27
  Speaker 5: Why do we have to make the 519, Stanley?
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: Well, why, because we always do.
• 3:33
  Speaker 5: You think that's a good reason?
• 3:35
  Speaker 4: What?
• 3:36
  Speaker 5: I mean, do you think because we've always made the 519,
• 3:39
  Speaker 5: we ought to keep on making it the rest of
• 3:40
  Speaker 5: our lives?
• 3:41
  Speaker 2: Is, uh, is something wrong, Arthur?
• 3:44
  Speaker 5: Oh, maybe. I don't know. I've been thinking, Stanley. For
• 3:48
  Speaker 5: ten years now, you and I have been analyzing investment
• 3:51
  Speaker 5: securities eight hours a day, catching the 519 every night,
• 3:55
  Speaker 5: arriving home in East Orange promptly at 6.22, kissing our
• 3:59
  Speaker 5: wives at approximately 6.50, eating dinner at exactly 7, reading
• 4:03
  Speaker 5: the evening paper and going to bed. Oh, it's a
• 4:07
  Speaker 5: little like death, isn't it, Stanley? What in the world
• 4:09
  Speaker 5: has gotten into you, Arthur? I've got a book here.
• 4:12
  Speaker 5: Take a look.
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: A novel?
• 4:14
  Speaker 5: It got me thinking.
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: Moon and Sixpence.
• 4:17
  Speaker 5: Yes, it's about a man like us, Stanley. A man
• 4:19
  Speaker 5: who got fed up with the 519 and dished the
• 4:22
  Speaker 5: whole works.
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: What did he do?
• 4:24
  Speaker 5: Took a chance, walked out, just picked up his hat
• 4:26
  Speaker 5: and went off to the South Seas.
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: He just up and left his family?
• 4:30
  Speaker 5: They preferred the 519. Well, I certainly can't say that
• 4:35
  Speaker 5: I approve. Oh, I didn't think you would. Well, you'd
• 4:39
  Speaker 5: better hurry along. Stanley, you'll miss your train.
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: What about you?
• 4:43
  Speaker 5: Tonight, just for a change, I believe I'll catch the 555.
• 4:56
  Speaker 4: Just for a change, Arthur, after ten years, you walk
• 5:00
  Speaker 4: slowly down Broad Street, deliberately casual, noticing the swarms of
• 5:05
  Speaker 4: hurrying commuters.
• 5:05
  Speaker 2: Objectively as if for the first time.
• 5:08
  Speaker 4: It's pleasant strolling along like this, taking your time, stopping
• 5:12
  Speaker 4: to look in a window now and then.
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: And finally you find yourself in front of Max Barr.
• 5:17
  Speaker 4: It isn't often you have the time to drop in
• 5:19
  Speaker 4: for a short one, is it, Arthur?
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: Why not? Why not? Indeed. Well, hello, Mr. Winslow. Oh, hello, Benny. Oh,
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: of course.
• 5:30
  Speaker 5: You were on the elevator in the... That's right.
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: Here, Mr. Winslow. Sit yourself down right here. Buy your drink. Well, I... Ah,
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: come on, come on. Little Benny's in the chips. I'm fat, fat.
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: I finally knocked over Gus in the back room there.
• 5:44
  Speaker 5: I beg your pardon.
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: Oh, sure. Sure, I guess you ain't interested in bangtails
• 5:49
  Speaker 2: or you'd know Gus. Bangtails? Oh! Oh, horses.
• 5:52
  Speaker 6: Yeah.
• 5:53
  Speaker 5: Well, I don't really pay much attention. You mean that
• 5:57
  Speaker 5: Gus is a bookie?
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: You ain't never seen a spread back there, huh? No.
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: Come on, I'll show you.
• 6:03
  Speaker 5: Sure it's all right?
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: Sure. It's okay, Harry. Friend of mine. Come on, Mr. Winslow. Well,
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: there it is, pal. There's the board. Tomorrow morning's line.
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: Take your pick. The current odds in that column there.
• 6:19
  Speaker 5: Oh, Pink Lady, Mike II, Big Bonanza, Moon and Six.
• 6:27
  Speaker 5: Moon and Sixpence.
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a horse. I've been watching him. Been thinking
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: about playing him in a parlay. Parlay? What's a parlay?
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: You don't know what a parlor is?
• 6:35
  Speaker 7: No.
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: Ah, easy.
• 6:37
  Speaker 8: You pick three horses, see? For instance, maybe you put
• 6:39
  Speaker 8: your doe on Blue Bonnet in the first. If he
• 6:42
  Speaker 8: comes in, the doe goes on Glow Worm in a second.
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: If he comes in.
• 6:46
  Speaker 5: Oh, yes, yes, I see. Then all the money goes
• 6:48
  Speaker 5: on Moon and Sixpence in the third.
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I get it.
• 6:52
  Speaker 8: Plenty of long shot, of course, but there's a big
• 6:53
  Speaker 8: payoff for the gent who's willing to take a chance.
• 6:56
  Speaker 5: Take a chance, huh?
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: Believe me, you never get nowhere if you don't take
• 6:59
  Speaker 2: a chance once in a while. I'll, uh.
• 7:02
  Speaker 5: I'll take $ 10 worth.
• 7:04
  Speaker 2: Look, I ain't the bookie, pal.
• 7:06
  Speaker 5: He's over there.
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: You got to... Wait a minute. Give me your dough.
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: I'll lay it on for you. Ten bucks in the parlay, huh?
• 7:12
  Speaker 5: Yeah, lay it on for me, pal. Ten bucks on
• 7:16
  Speaker 5: blue bonnet, glow worm, and moon and sixpence. Well, Arthur,
• 7:29
  Speaker 5: that was quite a decision for you, wasn't it?
• 7:32
  Speaker 4: You're more than a little pleased with yourself as you
• 7:34
  Speaker 4: saunter on to the 555. A complete change of scenery
• 7:38
  Speaker 4: from the 519. You're 26 minutes behind all that. And
• 7:43
  Speaker 4: 26 minutes later than usual when you open the door
• 7:46
  Speaker 4: and say.
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: Hello, dear.
• 7:47
  Speaker 9: Arthur, where in the world have you been? I've been
• 7:50
  Speaker 9: worried sick. Here, wipe your feet.
• 7:52
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry, Ethel.
• 7:54
  Speaker 9: Where have you been?
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: I was tied up.
• 7:56
  Speaker 9: What do you mean, tied up? You've never been late
• 7:57
  Speaker 9: to dinner in your life. I don't know why in
• 8:00
  Speaker 9: the world you couldn't have phoned. You know, it's Monday night,
• 8:03
  Speaker 9: and Mr. Dinwiddie expects me at the agency at 7.30 sharp.
• 8:06
  Speaker 9: Did you get your check?
• 8:07
  Speaker 5: What?
• 8:08
  Speaker 9: Your paycheck, dear. It's payday.
• 8:10
  Speaker 5: Oh, yes, yes.
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: I cashed it. Here.
• 8:12
  Speaker 9: Twenty-five, thirty, fifty. Well, you're ten dollars short.
• 8:18
  Speaker 5: Yes, Employees Association annual dues.
• 8:20
  Speaker 9: Is that something new?
• 8:22
  Speaker 5: Yes, Ethel, that's something new.
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: Ten dollars?
• 8:25
  Speaker 9: I don't know how in the world they expect you
• 8:27
  Speaker 9: to exist on the salary they pay you. If you
• 8:29
  Speaker 9: had enough gumption, you'd do as I say.
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: You forgot Mr. Dinwiddie, Arthur.
• 8:40
  Speaker 4: That's an important part of the weekly schedule. Ethel hasn't
• 8:43
  Speaker 4: missed a Monday evening at the Children's Agency for years.
• 8:47
  Speaker 4: You should have picked another night to miss the 519.
• 8:49
  Speaker 4: You're used to Ethel now. You've become an artist at
• 8:53
  Speaker 4: appearing attentive while she prattles on and on, nodding at
• 8:57
  Speaker 4: the proper.
• 8:57
  Speaker 2: Moments, never hearing a word.
• 9:00
  Speaker 4: You're relieved when the door finally closes and she's safely
• 9:03
  Speaker 4: off to Mr.
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie.
• 9:05
  Speaker 4: You can return to Moon and Sixpence. The South sees
• 9:09
  Speaker 4: an escape. The next day at the office, Stanley wonders
• 9:13
  Speaker 4: why you're nervous, impatient. Why you dodge him at five o'clock.
• 9:16
  Speaker 4: It only takes a minute to hurry over to Mac's bar.
• 9:21
  Speaker 5: Oh, hello, Benny.
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: Huh?
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: Oh, it's you. Hey, guys, here he is.
• 9:25
  Speaker 5: What do you mean?
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: Nah, don't tell me you ain't heard. What is it?
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: The parlay, pal. It came in. Blue bonnet, glow worm,
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: moon and sixpence.
• 9:35
  Speaker 8: You got yourself 1,800 bucks.
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: 1,800 dollars, Arthur. You can't quite grasp it.
• 9:48
  Speaker 4: That's almost a year's salary and you're... You're holding it
• 9:51
  Speaker 4: right in your hand. You know what's going to happen,
• 9:55
  Speaker 4: don't you? You walk the streets for an hour or
• 9:57
  Speaker 4: two thinking. But you can't help it. yourself, so you
• 10:01
  Speaker 4: make a beeline for the nearest phone booth.
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: The South Seas. No more figures. No more 519.
• 10:09
  Speaker 9: Brighton Travel Agency.
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: Oh, hello.
• 10:11
  Speaker 5: I'd like to inquire about a reservation.
• 10:13
  Speaker 9: Yes, sir. Where to?
• 10:15
  Speaker 2: Let's see.
• 10:15
  Speaker 9: Florida.
• 10:18
  Speaker 2: Florida.
• 10:18
  Speaker 9: Very well. And the name, sir?
• 10:21
  Speaker 5: Oh, yes, the name. The name is Charles White.
• 10:35
  Speaker 3: With the prologue of What Makes a Murderer, the Signal
• 10:38
  Speaker 3: Oil Company brings you another strange story by the Whistler.
• 10:44
  Speaker 3: But now may I have a word with you about
• 10:46
  Speaker 3: the prevention of cruelty? Back in the horse and buggy days,
• 10:49
  Speaker 3: you know, there were laws to keep drivers from beating
• 10:51
  Speaker 3: their horses. Too bad there isn't a law today to
• 10:54
  Speaker 3: keep drivers from beating their motors with old-fashioned motor oils
• 10:58
  Speaker 3: that cause excessive carbon wear and corrosion. After all, it's
• 11:02
  Speaker 3: unnecessary today to put up with those old bugaboos that
• 11:05
  Speaker 3: up repair bills and cut down performance thanks to the
• 11:08
  Speaker 3: improved signal oil, which combines pure paraffin base with protective compounds,
• 11:14
  Speaker 3: signal premium compounded motor oils. In comparative tests with today's
• 11:19
  Speaker 3: finest regular oils, Signal Premium actually keeps motors six times cleaner,
• 11:25
  Speaker 3: reduces cylinder wear one-third. And what does this mean to you? Well,
• 11:30
  Speaker 3: less carbon means that your motor runs quieter, smoother. And
• 11:34
  Speaker 3: less cylinder wear means more power. So to keep your
• 11:37
  Speaker 3: car's performance young, make your next oil change a change
• 11:41
  Speaker 3: for the better. Switch to Signal Premium Compounded Motor Oil.
• 11:45
  Speaker 3: Your guarantee of a sweeter running motor. And now, back
• 11:51
  Speaker 3: to the whistler.
• 11:55
  Speaker 2: Yes, Merchant. Arthur Winslow.
• 12:17
  Speaker 4: He has no way of knowing it, of course, as
• 12:20
  Speaker 4: he buys a first-class reservation on the train to Florida.
• 12:23
  Speaker 2: His only thought now is that.
• 12:25
  Speaker 4: This will be escape at last. New clothes, new luggage,
• 12:28
  Speaker 4: a new name. You're Charles White now, and a new life.
• 12:33
  Speaker 4: No more trading your chance at happiness for a stack
• 12:35
  Speaker 4: of security reports and a bungalow in East Orange. You
• 12:39
  Speaker 4: can see her now, poor, frustrated, stupid Ethel, confiding to Mr.
• 12:44
  Speaker 4: Dinwiddie that you've walked out No 519 tonight, Arthur. It's
• 12:49
  Speaker 4: the 622 to Florida.
• 12:54
  Speaker 2: Last call for dinner. Last call for dinner.
• 12:57
  Speaker 5: Which way is the dining car, waiter? Three cars back, sir.
• 13:00
  Speaker 5: You better hurry along. Oh, thank you.
• 13:01
  Speaker 2: Last call for dinner.
• 13:04
  Speaker 9: Oh, I'm sorry.
• 13:05
  Speaker 5: Oh, that's quite all right.
• 13:06
  Speaker 9: Oh, it isn't either. I wasn't looking.
• 13:07
  Speaker 5: Oh, neither was I.
• 13:08
  Speaker 9: Where is it?
• 13:09
  Speaker 5: The what?
• 13:10
  Speaker 9: The book.
• 13:10
  Speaker 5: Oh, the book. Yes, where?
• 13:11
  Speaker 9: I knocked it out of your hand. It must be
• 13:13
  Speaker 9: down here.
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: On the floor.
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: Oh, no.
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: Here, let me.
• 13:15
  Speaker 5: It's probably under the seat. Now, let me see.
• 13:17
  Speaker 2: Oh. Have you got it?
• 13:19
  Speaker 9: Last year's timetable. Wanted one for ages. Oh, here it is.
• 13:23
  Speaker 5: Oh, let me help you. Oh, it's a fine thing
• 13:26
  Speaker 5: getting yourself all dusty that way. Turn around.
• 13:28
  Speaker 7: Thanks.
• 13:30
  Speaker 2: Hmm.
• 13:31
  Speaker 9: Moon and sixpence, huh?
• 13:32
  Speaker 5: Yeah, that's a little better anyway.
• 13:34
  Speaker 9: It's wonderful, isn't it?
• 13:34
  Speaker 2: What?
• 13:35
  Speaker 9: Moon and sixpence.
• 13:36
  Speaker 2: I loved it.
• 13:37
  Speaker 5: Oh, yes. I haven't quite finished it, of course.
• 13:39
  Speaker 9: Do you believe it? I mean, do you think it's right?
• 13:42
  Speaker 5: Oh, you mean to toss everything over and take off
• 13:44
  Speaker 5: at the South Sea?
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: Uh-huh. If you don't mind, pal, while you're going to
• 13:47
  Speaker 2: the South Seas, I'll go to dinner. Oh, I'm very sorry.
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: Excuse me. Come on, Louise.
• 13:51
  Speaker 9: We seem to be holding up traffic.
• 13:53
  Speaker 7: Yeah.
• 13:54
  Speaker 5: As a matter of fact, I was just going into
• 13:56
  Speaker 5: dinner myself.
• 13:57
  Speaker 9: So was I.
• 13:58
  Speaker 5: Oh, would you, uh... Would you consider.
• 14:01
  Speaker 9: Why not?
• 14:03
  Speaker 5: Yes, why not? You know, I'm glad that you liked
• 14:15
  Speaker 5: Moon and Sixpence.
• 14:15
  Speaker 9: Oh, it was a wonderful story. Of course, I can't
• 14:18
  Speaker 9: say it was very realistic.
• 14:20
  Speaker 5: What do you mean?
• 14:20
  Speaker 9: Well, I admit it was convincing, but when you start
• 14:23
  Speaker 9: to think about it, this running away business.
• 14:25
  Speaker 5: You don't believe in it?
• 14:26
  Speaker 9: Well, after all, running away is no solution.
• 14:30
  Speaker 5: But sometimes there's nothing else to do.
• 14:33
  Speaker 9: He could have stuck it out.
• 14:34
  Speaker 2: Uh-huh.
• 14:35
  Speaker 5: Licked it if it took the rest of his life, hmm?
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Well, all right.
• 14:38
  Speaker 5: He licks it. He's found happiness at last, and he's 70.
• 14:43
  Speaker 5: I think running away is better than that, don't you?
• 14:47
  Speaker 9: I did once.
• 14:48
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'm very sorry.
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: I didn't mean to.
• 14:49
  Speaker 9: Oh, that's all right. You see, I did run away.
• 14:52
  Speaker 9: It was just, as you said, a routine, a deadly routine,
• 14:55
  Speaker 9: and when I couldn't stand it any longer, I ran away.
• 14:57
  Speaker 5: What kind of a routine.
• 15:00
  Speaker 9: Keeping up with my father. Perhaps you've heard of him.
• 15:04
  Speaker 9: Edgar Brewster.
• 15:06
  Speaker 5: The Edgar Brewster?
• 15:07
  Speaker 9: Yes, the Wall Street Edgar Brewster. He's in Miami now,
• 15:11
  Speaker 9: waiting for me.
• 15:12
  Speaker 5: Oh, I see.
• 15:13
  Speaker 9: I'd finally decided to go back and face it, but
• 15:16
  Speaker 9: now you've got me confused.
• 15:17
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'm sorry.
• 15:18
  Speaker 9: Oh, no, don't misunderstand. You've really helped a lot. How
• 15:21
  Speaker 9: do you mean? You seem to know why I did it.
• 15:25
  Speaker 9: It's kind of moral support.
• 15:27
  Speaker 5: Oh.
• 15:28
  Speaker 9: You're, um... You're going to Miami?
• 15:31
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 15:34
  Speaker 5: By the way, I'm Charles White.
• 15:37
  Speaker 9: I'm Vivian Brewster.
• 15:39
  Speaker 5: Perhaps I'll see you in Miami.
• 15:41
  Speaker 9: I hope so.
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: So do I.
• 15:43
  Speaker 7: The daughter of Edgar Brewster.
• 15:57
  Speaker 4: Edgar Brewster the Millionaire. A big name on Wall Street,
• 16:00
  Speaker 4: isn't it, Arthur?
• 16:02
  Speaker 2: And you talked with his daughter, had dinner with her.
• 16:04
  Speaker 4: She even said she'd hoped you'd meet in Miami. You
• 16:08
  Speaker 4: wait for her call. And then finally it comes, Arthur.
• 16:12
  Speaker 4: You're invited to the Brewster home. You can hardly believe it,
• 16:15
  Speaker 4: can you? A few days ago, an obscure clerk. Tonight,
• 16:18
  Speaker 4: you're sitting with Edgar Brewster drinking his bourbon.
• 16:22
  Speaker 2: That about right, Mr. White?
• 16:24
  Speaker 9: Father's a tightwad with his soda.
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: That's an outrageous way to treat good bourbon. What about it, White?
• 16:29
  Speaker 5: That looks about right, Mr.
• 16:30
  Speaker 2: Brewster. There you are.
• 16:32
  Speaker 5: Oh, thank you.
• 16:33
  Speaker 2: What are you doing in Miami, White?
• 16:35
  Speaker 5: Oh, I got a little tired of New York.
• 16:38
  Speaker 3: Oh, you've got the right idea. I did the same
• 16:39
  Speaker 3: thing myself 20 years ago, and I never went back.
• 16:42
  Speaker 3: What's your line?
• 16:43
  Speaker 5: Oh, I was in the market, more or less.
• 16:47
  Speaker 2: The less, the better these days. Nobody knows where it's going.
• 16:51
  Speaker 3: A broker and I were talking today about consolidated plastics.
• 16:55
  Speaker 2: You know anything about it? Oh, a little.
• 16:56
  Speaker 5: What do you think of it? Well, I don't know
• 16:59
  Speaker 5: whether I should say... What's the matter with it? Well,
• 17:02
  Speaker 5: after all, it's your business, Mr.
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: Brewster.
• 17:05
  Speaker 5: I wouldn't want to offer an opinion.
• 17:07
  Speaker 3: All right, I'll put it this way. What would you
• 17:09
  Speaker 3: do if you were into it pretty heavily right now?
• 17:12
  Speaker 5: Well, I'd sell out. When? Right now.
• 17:15
  Speaker 2: Any particular reason?
• 17:17
  Speaker 5: Well, only that I happen to know it's a bad investment. I...
• 17:20
  Speaker 5: I can't tell you why.
• 17:21
  Speaker 2: Why, that's unbelievable. My broker told me.
• 17:24
  Speaker 5: Yes, I know. It's only my opinion, Mr. Brewster, but
• 17:27
  Speaker 5: I happen to know that company's financial position. You asked
• 17:31
  Speaker 5: me what I'd do, and I told you. You seem
• 17:34
  Speaker 5: to know what you're talking about. Well, investments are my hobby,
• 17:37
  Speaker 5: you might say.
• 17:38
  Speaker 2: I see. Go on, my boy. You interest me.
• 17:48
  Speaker 4: And so, for the next half hour or so, you
• 17:51
  Speaker 4: go on chatting with Edgar Brewster.
• 17:53
  Speaker 2: And he's impressed with what you have to say.
• 17:56
  Speaker 4: You can see that clearly enough, can't you, Arthur?
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: Hints, tiny scraps of information, tips. You know the market
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: so well, Arthur. And Mr.
• 18:04
  Speaker 4: Brewster listens eagerly. Yes, and that was the beginning, wasn't it, Arthur?
• 18:11
  Speaker 4: That $ 1, 800 was a magic door opening up a thrilling
• 18:14
  Speaker 4: new life for you.
• 18:16
  Speaker 2: And incidentally, bringing you closer to murder. The next three
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: weeks pass like a dream.
• 18:23
  Speaker 4: Like the nights at the beach club dancing in the
• 18:25
  Speaker 4: open under the stars with Vivian in your arms.
• 18:30
  Speaker 5: Vivian?
• 18:32
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 18:33
  Speaker 5: Why is it you've never asked me about myself, my background,
• 18:37
  Speaker 5: where I came from?
• 18:39
  Speaker 9: I don't know. Maybe because it doesn't matter.
• 18:44
  Speaker 5: I wasn't going to tell you, but I think perhaps
• 18:46
  Speaker 5: I'd better.
• 18:47
  Speaker 9: Will it make any difference?
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: About us? Mm-hmm.
• 18:51
  Speaker 5: Yes, it will make a difference.
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: A lot of difference.
• 18:54
  Speaker 9: Then don't tell me. I don't want to know.
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: But, Vivian, I... Please.
• 19:00
  Speaker 5: Darling, did I ever tell you that I like you
• 19:04
  Speaker 5: very much?
• 19:06
  Speaker 9: I'm glad, Charles. I'm so glad.
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: What? You're in love, Arthur. And for the first time
• 19:21
  Speaker 2: in your life, you know what love really is.
• 19:24
  Speaker 9: Mr.
• 19:24
  Speaker 4: Brewster begins to concern you. He'll never approve in a
• 19:27
  Speaker 4: million years. Or you think so, until that evening he
• 19:31
  Speaker 4: drops up to your hotel room with a copy of
• 19:33
  Speaker 4: the financial journal in his hand.
• 19:36
  Speaker 2: Look at that, Charles.
• 19:37
  Speaker 5: What is it?
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: Don't ask silly questions. Look at it, man.
• 19:41
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: I thought so. Consolidated plastic snowed under in selling rush.
• 19:46
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry, Mr.
• 19:46
  Speaker 2: Brewster. I'm not.
• 19:48
  Speaker 5: What do you mean?
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: I took your advice, so... out three weeks ago. Saved
• 19:51
  Speaker 2: myself $ 100, 000.
• 19:52
  Speaker 3: Well, congratulations. Well, don't congratulate me. You're the one who
• 19:57
  Speaker 3: deserves it. Do you mind if I sit down?
• 20:00
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'm sorry. Here you are.
• 20:02
  Speaker 2: Oh, thanks. Would you be open to a proposition, wife?
• 20:07
  Speaker 2: What kind of a proposition?
• 20:08
  Speaker 3: Oh, I realize you probably have other interests, but I
• 20:11
  Speaker 3: could make this worth your while, I think. There are
• 20:14
  Speaker 3: two considerations.
• 20:15
  Speaker 2: Yes? The first is the plain.
• 20:17
  Speaker 3: Fact that my affairs are getting a little beyond me.
• 20:20
  Speaker 3: As you know, I'm retired, having time to look after
• 20:23
  Speaker 3: them properly.
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: I think you're the man to take over. But, Mr. Brewster, I... Now,
• 20:28
  Speaker 2: don't wait till I'm finished.
• 20:30
  Speaker 3: I've watched you pretty closely during the past month or so.
• 20:33
  Speaker 3: I can tell you no investments. You're sure of yourself.
• 20:36
  Speaker 3: And I'm not just being generous, White.
• 20:38
  Speaker 2: I'm a businessman. If it weren't a profitable deal for me,
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: I wouldn't think of it. I see.
• 20:45
  Speaker 5: What is the other consideration?
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: I believe you're aware of that already. Vivian. You approve?
• 20:53
  Speaker 2: I do.
• 20:55
  Speaker 5: Oh, well, can I think this over?
• 20:59
  Speaker 2: Oh, of course. Just let me know in a day
• 21:01
  Speaker 2: or so. There it is, Arthur. Brief and to the point.
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: Everything you ever wanted right in the palm of your hand.
• 21:17
  Speaker 2: Open sesame, he said, and there it was.
• 21:20
  Speaker 4: You go into the bar downstairs to think. There's only
• 21:24
  Speaker 4: one thing in your way now.
• 21:26
  Speaker 2: Your wife, Ethel.
• 21:27
  Speaker 4: You can't run away from that. You've got to make
• 21:30
  Speaker 4: her see your side of it. You've got to go
• 21:33
  Speaker 4: back to New Jersey and face her. Make her give
• 21:35
  Speaker 4: you a divorce. You walk out of the bar, through
• 21:38
  Speaker 4: the door into the hotel lobby... And just as you're
• 21:41
  Speaker 4: rounding the corner by the desk, something stops you in
• 21:43
  Speaker 4: your tracks.
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: Mrs.
• 21:45
  Speaker 9: Ethel Winslow, 5769 Laurel Road, East Orange, New Jersey. Is
• 21:49
  Speaker 9: that all you want?
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: Yes, thank you, madam.
• 21:52
  Speaker 9: Could I see the register, please?
• 21:53
  Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sorry, madam.
• 21:54
  Speaker 9: We don't... I understand there's a Charles White registered here.
• 21:58
  Speaker 2: Yes, madam. Room 132. Oh, he's a friend? Yes.
• 22:04
  Speaker 3: Well, in that case, I could give you room 134
• 22:07
  Speaker 3: next door.
• 22:08
  Speaker 2: The windows open under the same balcony.
• 22:10
  Speaker 9: Very well.
• 22:12
  Speaker 2: 134. It was too good to last, Arthur. Just a
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: beautiful dream, and you're just waking up. It's all over.
• 22:27
  Speaker 2: You go back in the bar and think. Ethel, your wife,
• 22:30
  Speaker 2: here in Miami, she's found you. And she'll never let
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: you go, will she?
• 22:35
  Speaker 4: You know her too well, Arthur. You're beginning to see
• 22:39
  Speaker 4: now what makes a murderer. There's no other way out,
• 22:43
  Speaker 4: is there, Arthur? You sit in the friendly darkness of
• 22:46
  Speaker 4: the bar all afternoon, late into the evening, thinking, thinking.
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: It's almost eleven when you make up your mind. There's
• 22:54
  Speaker 4: a phone booth near the door.
• 23:00
  Speaker 5: Vivian, I have to talk to you.
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: It's important.
• 23:03
  Speaker 9: Charles, what's the matter?
• 23:05
  Speaker 5: Vivian, I love you more than I dreamed I could
• 23:09
  Speaker 5: ever love anyone.
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: Now, listen.
• 23:11
  Speaker 5: I'm a phony. My name is not White. I was
• 23:14
  Speaker 5: running away when you met me. I'm just an investment clerk.
• 23:16
  Speaker 2: No money.
• 23:17
  Speaker 9: Darling, it doesn't make.
• 23:17
  Speaker 2: I have a wife.
• 23:18
  Speaker 5: I've hated her for ten years, and I'd rather be
• 23:20
  Speaker 5: dead than go back to her, and I'm not going
• 23:22
  Speaker 5: back to her. And now I... I probably won't ever
• 23:26
  Speaker 5: see you again.
• 23:26
  Speaker 2: Oh, wait. Please don't. Goodbye, Vivian. 11 o'clock, Arthur.
• 23:36
  Speaker 4: You've got it all planned. Ethel is asleep in a room.
• 23:40
  Speaker 4: Room 134. A balcony connects it with yours. It's a
• 23:44
  Speaker 4: hot night and the window is probably open.
• 23:47
  Speaker 5: Yes.
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: There she is. And she's asleep.
• 23:51
  Speaker 4: As you slip into the room, you take a firm
• 23:54
  Speaker 4: hold on the heavy brass candlestick you picked up from
• 23:56
  Speaker 4: the mantle in your room. A blunt instrument, the police
• 24:00
  Speaker 4: will say. You can hardly breathe, Arthur. Your stomach is
• 24:04
  Speaker 4: full of ice water. You feel your heart's going to burst.
• 24:07
  Speaker 2: Careful, Arthur. Careful. I'm sorry, Ethel.
• 24:19
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry, but I've got to kill you.
• 24:23
  Speaker 2: I've got to do it.
• 24:32
  Speaker 3: The Whistler will return in just a moment with the
• 24:34
  Speaker 3: strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, I thought you drivers
• 24:40
  Speaker 3: might like to compare your buying habits with those of
• 24:42
  Speaker 3: other automobile owners. Surveys show that more and more motorists
• 24:46
  Speaker 3: today prefer to trade with service stations that are privately owned.
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: But also, they want top quality products.
• 24:53
  Speaker 3: These two reasons, no doubt, account for the amazing growth
• 24:56
  Speaker 3: of Signal Oil Company, from a mere handful of stations
• 24:59
  Speaker 3: in Southern California into a coast-wide organization serving six western states.
• 25:05
  Speaker 3: You see, since the very beginning, over 16 years ago,
• 25:08
  Speaker 3: Signal Oil products have been sold only through dealer-owned service stations.
• 25:12
  Speaker 3: But each independent Signal dealer is backed by the facilities
• 25:15
  Speaker 3: of the entire Signal Oil organization, which supplies almost 2,000
• 25:20
  Speaker 3: Signal service stations from Canada to Mexico. As a result,
• 25:24
  Speaker 3: you're assured always the very tops in gasoline, lubricants, and
• 25:28
  Speaker 3: automotive accessories at signal stations. Plus, more conscientious service by
• 25:33
  Speaker 3: men who own their own business and have a personal
• 25:36
  Speaker 3: interest in pleasing you. Because this combination of finer products
• 25:41
  Speaker 3: and personalized service naturally means smoother performance and longer life
• 25:45
  Speaker 3: for your car, it's no wonder that year after year,
• 25:49
  Speaker 3: more and more drivers switch to signal.
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: And now, back to the whistler.
• 26:10
  Speaker 4: So you stand there, Arthur, by your wife's bedside, holding
• 26:14
  Speaker 4: the candlestick high over your head, ready to bring it down.
• 26:18
  Speaker 4: Now you know what makes a murderer. But you can't
• 26:21
  Speaker 4: do it, can you? A wife you've hated for ten
• 26:24
  Speaker 4: years at your mercy. You can't do it.
• 26:26
  Speaker 2: No. No, I can't.
• 26:29
  Speaker 5: What?
• 26:30
  Speaker 7: Arthur.
• 26:31
  Speaker 5: Arthur. I'm sorry, Ethel. I'm sorry I wake you.
• 26:35
  Speaker 9: Turn the light on. Don't stand there.
• 26:37
  Speaker 2: Yes, Ethel.
• 26:40
  Speaker 9: So you thought you could get by with it, didn't you?
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: No, Ethel, I didn't.
• 26:44
  Speaker 9: Don't deny it. I know what's been going on and
• 26:46
  Speaker 9: I can prove it, you philanderer.
• 26:48
  Speaker 5: Ethel, I tell you, What did you say?
• 26:51
  Speaker 9: I have a complete report on your activities for the
• 26:53
  Speaker 9: past month. You weren't very clever, Arthur. The detectives say
• 26:57
  Speaker 9: you left a trail a child could follow.
• 27:00
  Speaker 5: What are you getting at, Ethel?
• 27:01
  Speaker 9: Charles.
• 27:03
  Speaker 5: Charles.
• 27:04
  Speaker 2: Listen.
• 27:05
  Speaker 9: There's someone knocking on your door. A woman.
• 27:08
  Speaker 2: Vivian. Yes, Vivian.
• 27:10
  Speaker 9: I've already had a talk with her, Arthur. Well, she
• 27:13
  Speaker 9: might as well come in. This way, Miss Brewster.
• 27:18
  Speaker 5: Charles.
• 27:19
  Speaker 2: Oh, Charles, darling.
• 27:23
  Speaker 9: A pretty picture indeed. And you have the nerve to
• 27:26
  Speaker 9: ask me what I'm getting at. Well, for your information, Arthur,
• 27:30
  Speaker 9: I'm leaving for Reno in the morning. In view of
• 27:32
  Speaker 9: what's happened, I don't think you'll feel it wise to
• 27:34
  Speaker 9: contest the case.
• 27:36
  Speaker 2: Contest it?
• 27:37
  Speaker 9: We've waited five years for a chance like this.
• 27:40
  Speaker 5: We? Mr.
• 27:41
  Speaker 9: Dinwiddie and I.
• 27:43
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie?
• 27:44
  Speaker 5: Oh, no.
• 27:45
  Speaker 9: He's a wonderful man. Goodness, I don't know how I
• 27:48
  Speaker 9: could have put up with you all these years if
• 27:50
  Speaker 9: it hadn't been for Mr.
• 27:51
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie.
• 27:52
  Speaker 9: He's so understanding.
• 27:54
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie.
• 27:55
  Speaker 9: Artie, you look so ridiculous. What are you doing holding
• 27:58
  Speaker 9: that silly candlestick in your hand?
• 28:19
  Speaker 10: Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal Oil program,
• 28:28
  Speaker 10: The Whistler, each Wednesday night at this same time. Brought
• 28:32
  Speaker 10: to you by the Signal Oil Company, marketers of Signal
• 28:35
  Speaker 10: gasoline and motor oil, and fine quality automotive accessories. Signal
• 28:41
  Speaker 10: has asked me to remind you to get the most
• 28:43
  Speaker 10: driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous, and obey
• 28:48
  Speaker 10: traffic regulations.
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: It may save a life, possibly your own.
• 29:08
  Speaker 3: Featured in tonight's story were Frank Lovejoy and Joan Banks.
• 29:12
  Speaker 2: The Whistler was produced by George W.
• 29:14
  Speaker 3: Allen, with story by Harold Swanton, and music by Wilbur Hatch,
• 29:18
  Speaker 3: and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed
• 29:20
  Speaker 3: Forces Radio Service. Next Wednesday, for a full hour of
• 29:25
  Speaker 3: mystery over most of these stations, tune in a half
• 29:27
  Speaker 3: hour earlier. Enjoy The Saint, as well as The Whistler.
• 29:32
  Speaker 3: This is Marvin Miller speaking.
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: This is CBS.
• 29:39
  Speaker 3: the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 29:44
  Speaker 6: This is KNX, Los Angeles, the voice of Hollywood.
• 29:47
  Speaker 4: 25 seconds until 9 p.m., B-U-L-O-V-A, Boulevard Watch Time.
• 29:53
  Speaker 6: For a truly lovely timepiece, a truly great watch value.
• 29:58
  Speaker 6: See the 17-jewel Boulevard Elizabeth. Only $ 24. 75 federal tax included.
• 30:05
  Speaker 6: Next on KNX, Lowell Thomas and the news.
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: The Whistler has concluded with What Makes a Murderer? Until
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: our next mystery from the radio dial, good night.
• 30:20
  Speaker 2: Follow Old Time
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: Mystery Radio for more classic mystery and detective broadcasts.