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The Whistler - "Terror Stricken" (Old Time Radio, 1946) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: After ten years in prison, Andrew Miller is released with
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: an old score still unsettled. Benjamin Reynolds, the accountant whose
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: testimony helped send him away. From April 8, 1946, comes
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: The Whistler, Terror-Stricken, Episode 202, a half-hour CBS Pacific Network
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: broadcast sponsored by Signal Oil. As Reynolds' career has prospered
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: since the trial, he faces an escalating campaign of fear.
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: The story follows the pressure placed on a former witness
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: rather than a conventional detective investigation. William Johnstone, Gail Gordon,
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: and Ruth Perrett are featured in the cast, with Marvin
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: Miller at the announcer's microphone. Ladies and gentlemen, the house
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: lights are down, and now we return to the original broadcast.
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: Follow The Whistler for more classic broadcasts.
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: The Signal Oil Program, The Whistler. That whistle is your
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: signal for the signal oil program.
• 1:15
  Speaker 3: The Whistler. I am the Whistler.
• 1:36
  Speaker 4: And I know many things, for I walk by night.
• 1:40
  Speaker 3: I know many strange.
• 1:41
  Speaker 5: Tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who
• 1:44
  Speaker 5: have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless
• 1:49
  Speaker 5: terrors of which they dare not speak.
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: Yes, friends, it's time for The Whistler. Rated by Independent Research,
• 2:03
  Speaker 2: the most popular West Coast program in radio history.
• 2:07
  Speaker 3: And remember.
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: Let every traffic signal remind you, with new signal gasoline,
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: you do go farther than ever. Look for the familiar
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: big yellow and black circle sign that identifies those popular
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: signal service stations in seven western states from Canada to Mexico.
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: And now the whistler's strange story, Terror Stricken.
• 2:30
  Speaker 6: Terror Stricken.
• 2:39
  Speaker 3: Fear can become a terrible thing.
• 2:42
  Speaker 5: Gangrenous, disintegrating, warping, twisting, gnawing at a man's mind until
• 2:48
  Speaker 5: he's conscious of nothing else but its presence.
• 2:51
  Speaker 3: That was the kind of fear that took hold of
• 2:53
  Speaker 3: Benjamin Reynolds.
• 2:55
  Speaker 5: And oddly enough, it was the natural outgrowth of the
• 2:58
  Speaker 5: very thing that started him on the road to success.
• 3:01
  Speaker 5: There was a trial, an important trial. There were big
• 3:05
  Speaker 5: names involved, particularly the name of Andrew Miller, the accused.
• 3:11
  Speaker 5: And at that trial, ten years ago, young Benny Reynolds,
• 3:15
  Speaker 5: investment clerk, just out of college, became Benjamin Reynolds, star witness.
• 3:20
  Speaker 3: For the prosecution. And he was a good witness.
• 3:24
  Speaker 5: Investment bankers in San Francisco and Wall Street in London
• 3:27
  Speaker 5: glanced at the headlines and commented.
• 3:29
  Speaker 3: That this time, because.
• 3:32
  Speaker 5: Of Benjamin Reynolds, Andrew Miller and his crowd were washed
• 3:35
  Speaker 5: up for good.
• 3:36
  Speaker 3: They were right.
• 3:40
  Speaker 7: Order, please.
• 3:41
  Speaker 3: Order in the court.
• 3:43
  Speaker 8: Will the prisoner face the bench? Andrew Miller, you have
• 3:47
  Speaker 8: been found guilty of the charge of grand larceny. I
• 3:50
  Speaker 8: therefore sentence you to be confined within the state prison
• 3:53
  Speaker 8: for a term of ten years. Bailiff, remove the prisoner.
• 3:56
  Speaker 3: You dirty rat, Reynolds! I'll get you for this!
• 4:10
  Speaker 5: Yes, Benjamin, that was the big break. Overnight, you became
• 4:14
  Speaker 5: the banker's champion. The man who almost single-handedly broke.
• 4:18
  Speaker 3: Up the Miller crowd. Today, just ten years later.
• 4:23
  Speaker 5: Your head of the Reynolds Investment Company, a pillar of
• 4:26
  Speaker 5: the community. It's a nice morning as you sit at
• 4:29
  Speaker 5: the desk in your private office, looking at reports.
• 4:33
  Speaker 6: Yes, Mr.
• 4:33
  Speaker 3: Reynolds. Joan, will you send Mr. Barton in, please? Yes, sir.
• 4:38
  Speaker 6: 46,000.
• 4:38
  Speaker 9: Allen account. Now, that can't be right. Gross commissions, chargeable... Oh,
• 4:44
  Speaker 9: wait a minute now. I know that's wrong.
• 4:49
  Speaker 3: You wanted to see me, Ben? Yes, Ralph. These figures,
• 4:52
  Speaker 3: are you sure they're correct? Of course. I prepared the
• 4:54
  Speaker 3: statement myself.
• 4:55
  Speaker 5: Oh.
• 4:56
  Speaker 3: Things like this don't do my heart any good, Ralph.
• 4:58
  Speaker 3: Sit down, will you? Sure. I'm sure there must be
• 5:00
  Speaker 3: a mistake somewhere. I don't think so. But of course
• 5:03
  Speaker 3: it's possible. Well, suppose you recheck them, eh? Just to
• 5:05
  Speaker 3: be sure.
• 5:05
  Speaker 9: Well, that's a big job. I'd have to go through
• 5:08
  Speaker 9: all the records for the whole year again. I wouldn't
• 5:10
  Speaker 9: ask you if I didn't think it was important. Well,
• 5:14
  Speaker 9: perhaps I ought to call in the Monroe Auditing Company.
• 5:16
  Speaker 7: No, I'll do it, Ben.
• 5:17
  Speaker 4: No.
• 5:18
  Speaker 9: No use taking on that expense. Well, all right, if
• 5:20
  Speaker 9: you can have it by next Monday. Otherwise, I'll have
• 5:22
  Speaker 9: to call Monroe. I've got to have those figures for
• 5:25
  Speaker 9: the director's meeting.
• 5:25
  Speaker 3: I'll have them for you. By the way, Ben, have
• 5:30
  Speaker 3: you seen the papers?
• 5:32
  Speaker 9: Yes, I glanced through them at breakfast. Did you by
• 5:34
  Speaker 9: any chance see this? I guess I missed that. Among
• 5:42
  Speaker 9: those released from state prison today is Andrew Miller... Convicted
• 5:47
  Speaker 9: 10 years ago of grand larceny in a trial that
• 5:49
  Speaker 9: caused worldwide comment in financial circles.
• 5:52
  Speaker 7: Remember him?
• 5:54
  Speaker 3: What do you think? I remember what he said when
• 5:57
  Speaker 3: the judge sentenced him.
• 5:58
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 5:59
  Speaker 3: Does it make you a little nervous, Ben? I mean,
• 6:02
  Speaker 3: just knowing the man is on the loose again?
• 6:05
  Speaker 9: I doubt very much if Andy Miller will do anything
• 6:07
  Speaker 9: that'll send him up again. Still, you never know, do you? No, Benjamin,
• 6:22
  Speaker 9: you never know, do you? Andy Miller wouldn't think of
• 6:26
  Speaker 9: making good on his promise.
• 6:28
  Speaker 3: Or would he?
• 6:30
  Speaker 5: Somehow you can't concentrate. Find yourself thinking about it, wondering,
• 6:34
  Speaker 5: walking to the water cooler in the corner of your
• 6:37
  Speaker 5: office every five minutes, wiping perspiration from your forehead until
• 6:41
  Speaker 5: your handkerchief is soggy. And the next morning, it's worse,
• 6:45
  Speaker 5: as you answer your morning mail.
• 6:47
  Speaker 9: Your order for 100 shares of consolidated power and light
• 6:50
  Speaker 9: at the market, thereby acknowledged, and... Say, that was consolidated.
• 6:55
  Speaker 3: Wasn't it?
• 6:56
  Speaker 6: I think it was Southern California Edison.
• 6:58
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes.
• 7:00
  Speaker 3: Make it Edison, then. And will be executed immediately, virtually yours.
• 7:06
  Speaker 7: Let's see.
• 7:07
  Speaker 3: We took care of McDonald.
• 7:09
  Speaker 6: And, uh.
• 7:11
  Speaker 7: What's this?
• 7:14
  Speaker 3: You rat.
• 7:16
  Speaker 4: I'll get you, and don't forget it. But she had
• 7:20
  Speaker 4: the nerve to sign it.
• 7:21
  Speaker 6: What's the matter?
• 7:22
  Speaker 3: Where's the envelope to this thing?
• 7:23
  Speaker 6: Why, Vera takes them off and.
• 7:25
  Speaker 3: Get Vera in here right away.
• 7:26
  Speaker 6: She's out on an errand for Mr.
• 7:28
  Speaker 7: Barton.
• 7:28
  Speaker 3: All right, then. Get Barton.
• 7:29
  Speaker 6: Yes, sir.
• 7:33
  Speaker 3: And don't forget it.
• 7:36
  Speaker 6: Andrew Miller.
• 7:38
  Speaker 4: Of all the cross.
• 7:39
  Speaker 3: Is.
• 7:42
  Speaker 7: That for me, Ben?
• 7:43
  Speaker 3: Yes. Take a look at this. Same words he used
• 7:48
  Speaker 3: at the trial. That guy must be crazy. He signed
• 7:51
  Speaker 3: it himself.
• 7:52
  Speaker 7: What did he make of it?
• 7:53
  Speaker 3: I don't know. Didn't lose any time, did he? I
• 7:55
  Speaker 3: think he's trying to bluff you. Or maybe he didn't
• 7:59
  Speaker 3: write it. Oh, he wrote it all right.
• 8:01
  Speaker 7: I don't know.
• 8:02
  Speaker 9: It's pretty fantastic after ten years. But in view of
• 8:05
  Speaker 9: the threatening tone, I'd certainly check to see if it's genuine.
• 8:09
  Speaker 7: Yes? Vera's here, Mr.
• 8:10
  Speaker 10: Reynolds.
• 8:11
  Speaker 3: Send her in, please. Well, we'll see what she knows
• 8:14
  Speaker 3: about it. Do you want to see me, Mr.
• 8:17
  Speaker 6: Reynolds?
• 8:18
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 8:19
  Speaker 3: Vera, did you notice this letter in the morning mail?
• 8:21
  Speaker 6: Well, I don't read the mail, Mr. Reynolds. I just
• 8:23
  Speaker 6: open it and put it on your desk.
• 8:24
  Speaker 3: I've instructed them not to read company mail, Ben.
• 8:26
  Speaker 7: Oh, of course.
• 8:27
  Speaker 6: Well, I might remember it if I saw the envelope.
• 8:30
  Speaker 7: Yes, Mr.
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: Reynolds.
• 8:31
  Speaker 9: Have the wastebasket containing the envelopes from today's mail brought
• 8:34
  Speaker 9: into my office.
• 8:34
  Speaker 3: Will you?
• 8:35
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Mr. Reynolds. The janitor emptied all the wastebaskets
• 8:38
  Speaker 7: an hour ago.
• 8:39
  Speaker 3: Oh, very well.
• 8:42
  Speaker 8: What are you going to do now?
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: Well, I.
• 8:46
  Speaker 9: I guess there's nothing I can do but call the police.
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: With the prologue of Terror Stricken, the Signal Oil Company
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: brings you another strange story by the Whistler. If you've
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: been reading the new car ads, and who hasn't, You've
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: no doubt noticed the emphasis that's being put on increased mileage.
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: 25 to 30 miles per gallon from some of the
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: new models. Now, why do you suppose this is? Is
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: it because folks today are interested in making dollars go farther?
• 9:26
  Speaker 3: Well, partly.
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: But even more so, they're interested in the increased engineering
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: efficiency which makes that greater mileage possible. Yes, and right
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: there you have the reason why Signal Oil Company is
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: so proud of the fact that you now go farther
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: than ever with new signal gasoline. You see, signal's improved
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: mileage is the result of increased power, amazing new power.
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: The same power that gives new signal gasoline quicker starting,
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: faster pickup, and quieter, higher anti-knock. That's why we say,
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: look to your speedometer for the final measure of gasoline quickness.
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: You will find that the super-powered new gasoline that gives
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: you peak performance is also the gasoline that now helps
• 10:07
  Speaker 2: you go farther than ever. New signal gasoline. And now,
• 10:13
  Speaker 2: back to the whistler.
• 10:36
  Speaker 5: Well, Benjamin There was a price tag on that testimony
• 10:40
  Speaker 5: you delivered so efficiently At the trial of Andrew Miller
• 10:43
  Speaker 5: ten years ago And you're beginning to pay for it
• 10:46
  Speaker 5: now The police don't help much All you can do
• 10:50
  Speaker 5: is swear out a warrant for Miller's arrest And leave
• 10:53
  Speaker 5: the rest up to them They can't do a thing
• 10:55
  Speaker 5: about that weak heart of yours. Stop it from pounding
• 10:59
  Speaker 5: every time someone comes to the door.
• 11:01
  Speaker 3: And they can't bring.
• 11:02
  Speaker 5: Your appetite back or help you to sleep at night.
• 11:07
  Speaker 5: It's later than usual when you arrive at the office
• 11:09
  Speaker 5: next day. Ralph Barton's busy on the books as you
• 11:12
  Speaker 5: go into your office. Hang up your hat and go
• 11:15
  Speaker 5: over to the water cooler for a drink.
• 11:22
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 11:24
  Speaker 3: I guess I.
• 11:24
  Speaker 7: Help! Help!
• 11:25
  Speaker 6: Yes, Mr. Reynolds?
• 11:27
  Speaker 5: Help!
• 11:28
  Speaker 6: Help!
• 11:38
  Speaker 3: Mr.
• 11:38
  Speaker 6: Reynolds, find the... Oh, it's Mr.
• 11:39
  Speaker 3: Reynolds.
• 11:40
  Speaker 9: Vera, Dr.
• 11:40
  Speaker 6: Crane's in the next office. Get him, hurry. Oh, yes, sure,
• 11:42
  Speaker 6: right away.
• 11:43
  Speaker 3: What's going on in here?
• 11:44
  Speaker 6: Mr.
• 11:44
  Speaker 3: Reynolds, what's happened?
• 11:45
  Speaker 6: He came in when he called for help.
• 11:46
  Speaker 3: Get a doctor. Vera's already gone for once. What's keeping her?
• 11:48
  Speaker 3: There's a doctor right down the hall.
• 11:49
  Speaker 6: She'll be back in a minute.
• 11:50
  Speaker 3: That isn't soon enough.
• 11:51
  Speaker 6: Oh, but it takes some time.
• 11:52
  Speaker 3: Don't you realize every second counts? Oh, here she comes now.
• 11:54
  Speaker 6: Right in here, Dr.
• 11:55
  Speaker 7: Crane. Stand back.
• 11:56
  Speaker 3: Stand back, please. Yes, yes, give him room. Doctor, is
• 11:59
  Speaker 3: it serious?
• 12:00
  Speaker 7: Hmm.
• 12:02
  Speaker 11: Can't tell yet. Looks very much like some form of poisoning. Well,
• 12:19
  Speaker 11: that was a close call, wasn't it, Benjamin? When you
• 12:22
  Speaker 11: leave the hospital that night, you're still weak. Positive now
• 12:26
  Speaker 11: that Miller means business. The police report that afternoon... Poison
• 12:31
  Speaker 11: in the water cooler. Just enough to knock a man out.
• 12:35
  Speaker 3: No fingerprints.
• 12:36
  Speaker 5: No way of knowing how Miller could have entered the
• 12:38
  Speaker 5: office without being seen. Nothing they can tell you except
• 12:42
  Speaker 5: to carry.
• 12:43
  Speaker 3: On as usual. For the next two days you find
• 12:46
  Speaker 3: yourself waiting for it. Tense.
• 12:49
  Speaker 7: Expectant.
• 12:50
  Speaker 3: But nothing happens. And you begin to relax a little.
• 12:53
  Speaker 5: To believe what the police lieutenant said about Miller being
• 12:57
  Speaker 5: too smart to try it again. Perhaps they're right, Benjamin.
• 13:01
  Speaker 5: Perhaps what you need is a change. A dinner out
• 13:04
  Speaker 5: with your wife, Sally, at a restaurant on 6th Street. Ben, dear.
• 13:11
  Speaker 6: Ben.
• 13:12
  Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry, Sally. I was thinking.
• 13:16
  Speaker 6: Oh, please try and forget it, darling. The whole thing's ridiculous.
• 13:20
  Speaker 6: The man wouldn't have to take a chance like that. Oh,
• 13:23
  Speaker 6: there must have been a mistake at the bottling company
• 13:25
  Speaker 6: or something.
• 13:26
  Speaker 2: Of course, dear.
• 13:27
  Speaker 3: Now, let's forget it, huh?
• 13:28
  Speaker 6: But you're as fidgety as a cat.
• 13:30
  Speaker 3: No, I'm not. But I am hungry.
• 13:32
  Speaker 6: Ben, do you mean it?
• 13:34
  Speaker 3: Of course I do.
• 13:35
  Speaker 7: Why?
• 13:35
  Speaker 6: Because you've hardly touched your meals the last few days.
• 13:39
  Speaker 3: Well, let's order, huh? I'm starved. Well, what do we
• 13:42
  Speaker 3: start with?
• 13:43
  Speaker 6: Well, what about a shrimp cocktail, hmm?
• 13:45
  Speaker 7: Wonderful.
• 13:46
  Speaker 3: Then a mixed green salad?
• 13:48
  Speaker 6: And a sirloin for two.
• 13:49
  Speaker 3: Medium rare.
• 13:50
  Speaker 6: Oh, Ben, darling. Oh, darling, are you all right?
• 13:53
  Speaker 3: I'm the manager. Are you hurt? No, no, I'm all right.
• 13:56
  Speaker 3: It missed me. See there in the wall? Oh, good Lord. Oh,
• 13:59
  Speaker 3: I don't know how. Who did it?
• 14:00
  Speaker 6: Oh, I don't know, sir.
• 14:01
  Speaker 3: It came from over there somewhere.
• 14:03
  Speaker 9: Well, don't stand there with your mouth open.
• 14:05
  Speaker 3: Call the police. Of course, right away. Come on. Come on, Sally.
• 14:08
  Speaker 3: Let's get out of here.
• 14:09
  Speaker 6: Yes, darling.
• 14:17
  Speaker 5: Well, whoever fired that shot meant business, didn't he, Benjamin?
• 14:22
  Speaker 5: Your heart's pounding like a trip hammer again as you
• 14:24
  Speaker 5: walk out of the nightclub. The hole in the wall
• 14:27
  Speaker 5: was six inches from your head, and that's awfully close.
• 14:31
  Speaker 3: Your heart almost stopped, didn't it?
• 14:34
  Speaker 5: You're terror-stricken. You jump at every sound. And then you
• 14:38
  Speaker 5: wonder why Miller doesn't come right out and kill you.
• 14:41
  Speaker 5: But you remember he's had ten long years to plan
• 14:45
  Speaker 5: his revenge.
• 14:46
  Speaker 6: No.
• 14:47
  Speaker 5: Sudden death would be too easy. He wants to make
• 14:50
  Speaker 5: you suffer. Of course, sleep is out of the question.
• 14:54
  Speaker 5: Even the powders the doctor gave you have little effect
• 14:57
  Speaker 5: on your frenzied nerves. You imagine all kinds of things
• 15:01
  Speaker 5: as you lie there in bed.
• 15:05
  Speaker 6: Ben.
• 15:05
  Speaker 7: Yes?
• 15:08
  Speaker 6: Ben, why is he trying to kill you?
• 15:11
  Speaker 3: Please, Sally, let's not talk about it.
• 15:12
  Speaker 6: First the poison water and the trip to the hospital.
• 15:14
  Speaker 6: Then that shot tonight.
• 15:16
  Speaker 7: Yeah.
• 15:17
  Speaker 6: Oh, but Ben, the police will catch him. Soon he can't... I.
• 15:21
  Speaker 3: I just hope it's soon enough.
• 15:22
  Speaker 6: Oh, that's the door. I wonder who in the world... No,
• 15:26
  Speaker 6: lie still, darling. I'll get it.
• 15:27
  Speaker 7: No, no, no.
• 15:28
  Speaker 3: I'll get it.
• 15:33
  Speaker 7: Hold your horses.
• 15:34
  Speaker 3: I'm coming.
• 15:34
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 15:40
  Speaker 3: What do you want?
• 15:41
  Speaker 4: What do I want?
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: Yes, that's what I said. What do you want?
• 15:44
  Speaker 4: I'm calling for the remains of the dear departed.
• 15:47
  Speaker 3: Are you drunk?
• 15:49
  Speaker 4: No, I don't think so. Now, look, it's cold here
• 15:52
  Speaker 4: at the door. Hurry and state your business, please.
• 15:54
  Speaker 3: I did.
• 15:55
  Speaker 4: I was sent to call for the mortal remains of.
• 15:57
  Speaker 3: Man alive, will you talk sense? I haven't time for foolishness.
• 16:00
  Speaker 4: This is 1620 Runyon Avenue, isn't it?
• 16:03
  Speaker 7: Yes, it is.
• 16:04
  Speaker 4: Then it's the right place. Who sent you, anyway? The
• 16:08
  Speaker 4: Gold Hills Mortuary. Now, do you understand?
• 16:11
  Speaker 3: No, I don't. There must be some mistake.
• 16:13
  Speaker 4: The party on the phone was very explicit. He said
• 16:17
  Speaker 4: 1620 Runyon Avenue. The remains of the late Benjamin Reynolds.
• 16:21
  Speaker 3: That's not funny, mister. I... I'm Benjamin Reynolds.
• 16:25
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 16:25
  Speaker 3: Now, get out. Get out or the body of Benjamin
• 16:28
  Speaker 3: Reynolds will give you a very black eye. I... Oh.
• 16:33
  Speaker 3: What's gonna happen next?
• 16:47
  Speaker 5: How much more can you stand, Benjamin, before your heart
• 16:50
  Speaker 5: gives out completely?
• 16:52
  Speaker 3: You can't eat. You can't sleep. You almost jump out
• 16:56
  Speaker 3: of your skin at the slightest sound. Miller is getting
• 16:59
  Speaker 3: his revenge. He must be enjoying it immensely. Sally makes
• 17:04
  Speaker 3: you rest all day Sunday, but you're still befuddled. You
• 17:08
  Speaker 3: can't even talk straight anymore.
• 17:09
  Speaker 7: You stutter.
• 17:09
  Speaker 5: You can't even talk straight anymore. Monday morning, you decide
• 17:12
  Speaker 5: to walk to the office. You want to try to think.
• 17:16
  Speaker 3: Yes, that's it. Walk and try to think. Look out!
• 17:25
  Speaker 6: Officer!
• 17:26
  Speaker 7: Officer!
• 17:26
  Speaker 3: That blue sedan tried to run this man down!
• 17:28
  Speaker 7: Hey, hey!
• 17:29
  Speaker 3: What's going on?
• 17:30
  Speaker 5: The guy in the blue sedan tried to run over
• 17:32
  Speaker 5: this man!
• 17:33
  Speaker 8: Are you hurt, mister?
• 17:35
  Speaker 3: No, no, no. I'm all right. The devil, you say.
• 17:39
  Speaker 8: You're shaking like a leaf.
• 17:40
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 17:41
  Speaker 9: Soon as my nerves quiet down, I.
• 17:45
  Speaker 8: Them that saw it seemed to think it was a
• 17:46
  Speaker 8: deliberate attempt to kill you.
• 17:48
  Speaker 3: Yes, I think so, too.
• 17:51
  Speaker 8: Any idea who might be trying to kill you?
• 17:54
  Speaker 3: Sure. Andy Miller.
• 17:57
  Speaker 7: Okay.
• 17:57
  Speaker 8: Now, I got to make a report of this. What's
• 17:59
  Speaker 8: your name?
• 18:01
  Speaker 3: Ben... Benjamin Reynolds.
• 18:03
  Speaker 8: Benjamin Reynolds. You better see a doctor, Mr.
• 18:06
  Speaker 7: Reynolds.
• 18:06
  Speaker 8: You're in bad shape. I.
• 18:08
  Speaker 3: I'll be all right.
• 18:09
  Speaker 8: I'd better send you home in a cab. You're in
• 18:11
  Speaker 8: no condition to walk.
• 18:19
  Speaker 5: Another close call and you're scared almost to death, aren't you?
• 18:23
  Speaker 5: You wonder how much longer your heart will be able
• 18:25
  Speaker 5: to stand it. Not much longer now. You tremble so
• 18:30
  Speaker 5: violently you can't even light a cigarette. Even at home
• 18:33
  Speaker 5: you can't sit still. You pace the floor back and forth.
• 18:37
  Speaker 5: All day long, until finally night comes. You can't sleep.
• 18:42
  Speaker 5: You toss and turn. Yes, the days are bad, but
• 18:47
  Speaker 5: the nights are filled with terror.
• 18:51
  Speaker 3: Who's there?
• 18:53
  Speaker 6: Bendy.
• 18:53
  Speaker 3: I said, who's there?
• 18:54
  Speaker 6: Oh, it was nothing, honey.
• 18:58
  Speaker 7: What's that?
• 18:58
  Speaker 3: What's that?
• 18:59
  Speaker 6: Oh, stop it.
• 18:59
  Speaker 7: Who are you?
• 19:00
  Speaker 3: Why don't you answer?
• 19:01
  Speaker 6: Oh, it's only the shutter. Oh, Bendy, don't be so jumpy.
• 19:03
  Speaker 7: Oh, Bendy. Yes, of course.
• 19:10
  Speaker 3: Only the shutter.
• 19:17
  Speaker 5: It was only the shutter, wasn't it, Ben? But all
• 19:20
  Speaker 5: the noises in the night have a sinister meaning, haven't they?
• 19:24
  Speaker 5: After what seems like hours, exhaustion finally takes over.
• 19:29
  Speaker 3: You've just fallen asleep when... Who is it? Who's at
• 19:37
  Speaker 3: the door at this hour?
• 19:38
  Speaker 6: Ben, dear, don't be frightened, darling. It's not the door.
• 19:40
  Speaker 7: It's the phone. Oh.
• 19:43
  Speaker 3: Oh, the phone.
• 19:44
  Speaker 6: Yes.
• 19:45
  Speaker 3: Who the devil can that be? I'll give them a
• 19:48
  Speaker 3: piece of my mind.
• 19:49
  Speaker 7: Hello. Is this Benjamin Reynolds?
• 19:52
  Speaker 3: Yes, it is. What's the big idea of calling me
• 19:54
  Speaker 3: at this hour of the night?
• 19:56
  Speaker 7: Don't you know?
• 19:57
  Speaker 3: No, and I don't care.
• 19:58
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes, you do. You got a letter the other day, remember?
• 20:03
  Speaker 4: Andrew Miller.
• 20:06
  Speaker 7: Why, how'd you guess? I'm going to get you. Remember?
• 20:14
  Speaker 3: Say, say, say, wait a minute.
• 20:16
  Speaker 7: You haven't much time left to live, Reynolds. It's coming tomorrow. But, but.
• 20:22
  Speaker 3: Hello? Hello? Hello?
• 20:25
  Speaker 6: Hello? Hung up.
• 20:28
  Speaker 7: Hello? Hello?
• 20:36
  Speaker 6: Operator.
• 20:37
  Speaker 3: Trace that call quick, please.
• 20:39
  Speaker 6: What is your number?
• 20:40
  Speaker 3: Morningside, 1024. And hurry, please.
• 20:42
  Speaker 7: One moment, please.
• 20:44
  Speaker 3: Hurry, hurry.
• 20:45
  Speaker 7: What number did you call?
• 20:46
  Speaker 3: I didn't call any number. They called me.
• 20:49
  Speaker 7: Do you know the other party's number? No, I don't.
• 20:51
  Speaker 3: That's why I asked you to trace the call. Please hurry.
• 20:53
  Speaker 7: There is no one connected with your number now.
• 20:56
  Speaker 6: I know, I know.
• 20:57
  Speaker 3: They hung up. Can't you hurry? I want to trace
• 20:59
  Speaker 3: the call that was connected with his phone.
• 21:00
  Speaker 7: Please. I'm sorry, but after the other party has hung up,
• 21:03
  Speaker 7: it is impossible to trace the call. Don't.
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: Very well.
• 21:10
  Speaker 7: Sir.
• 21:12
  Speaker 3: I wonder... I wonder if my hunch.
• 21:17
  Speaker 4: Let's see here.
• 21:29
  Speaker 7: Hello?
• 21:31
  Speaker 3: Hello, Barton. This is Reynolds.
• 21:33
  Speaker 7: What the deuce makes you call me at this time
• 21:35
  Speaker 7: of the night?
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: Barton... Andrew Miller called. He said I haven't much time
• 21:41
  Speaker 3: to live.
• 21:41
  Speaker 7: Is that so?
• 21:42
  Speaker 3: Yes, and I'm at my wits' end. What can I do?
• 21:45
  Speaker 3: He's coming here, Ralph. Lord knows what he'll do to me.
• 21:47
  Speaker 7: What do you mean he's coming there?
• 21:49
  Speaker 3: Well, he just told me.
• 21:52
  Speaker 7: You can't take this much longer, Ben. Why don't you
• 21:54
  Speaker 7: call the police?
• 21:55
  Speaker 3: Well, I've called the police a dozen times. I tell you,
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: Miller's too clever for them, Ralph.
• 21:58
  Speaker 7: Then there's only one thing to do. Get out.
• 22:01
  Speaker 3: Yes, but he'd follow me. He knows where I.
• 22:03
  Speaker 7: He hasn't checked me. Now, look, it's out of the
• 22:05
  Speaker 7: question for you to stay there under the circumstances. I'll
• 22:08
  Speaker 7: be over in the morning, and we'll go up to
• 22:09
  Speaker 7: my cabin for a few days. You've got to get
• 22:11
  Speaker 7: a complete rest.
• 22:12
  Speaker 3: Yes, you're absolutely right, Ralph. I've simply got to.
• 22:16
  Speaker 7: And listen. There's someone tipping that guy off on your movements.
• 22:20
  Speaker 7: This time, make sure. Don't tell anyone where you're going.
• 22:24
  Speaker 3: Yes, yes, but what about Sally?
• 22:26
  Speaker 7: Tell her you're off on a business trip or something. Yeah,
• 22:28
  Speaker 7: that's it. The convention starts tomorrow in Cedar City. If necessary,
• 22:32
  Speaker 7: you can call her later from the cabin.
• 22:33
  Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah. All right, Ralph.
• 22:35
  Speaker 7: I'll pick you up in front of the signal station
• 22:37
  Speaker 7: at Runyon and Broadmoor tomorrow morning at 8, right?
• 22:39
  Speaker 3: Right, right. How much farther, Ralph?
• 22:51
  Speaker 7: About 14 miles. Hey, the old.
• 22:53
  Speaker 3: Heart's banging away again. Doctor said 6,000 feet was my limit,
• 22:58
  Speaker 3: you know. Well, we'll stay pretty well under that board.
• 23:00
  Speaker 7: Oh, good.
• 23:01
  Speaker 3: Boy, look at that view. You can see all the
• 23:04
  Speaker 3: way back to... What's the matter? That's strange.
• 23:09
  Speaker 9: There's that car again. You don't suppose he's following us,
• 23:12
  Speaker 9: do you? Probably one of the natives.
• 23:15
  Speaker 7: I don't know. Wait a minute.
• 23:19
  Speaker 3: You don't think Miller... You're sure you didn't tell anyone
• 23:21
  Speaker 3: where you were going? Positive. I will have to call
• 23:24
  Speaker 3: Sally later, though.
• 23:25
  Speaker 7: Yeah, sure.
• 23:27
  Speaker 3: Hey, here's the spot where I always stop. You can
• 23:29
  Speaker 3: get a good view clear back to the valley.
• 23:32
  Speaker 7: How about it?
• 23:32
  Speaker 3: Great.
• 23:38
  Speaker 7: This way.
• 23:42
  Speaker 3: Yes, kind of steep. Better take it easy. There's a
• 23:46
  Speaker 3: level spot up here at the top. Well, you go ahead, Ralph.
• 23:49
  Speaker 3: I got to watch myself at this altitude. Get that air.
• 23:55
  Speaker 3: You know, this is what I needed. Mountain air, sunshine, quiet. Hey,
• 24:01
  Speaker 3: where are you?
• 24:02
  Speaker 7: Up here.
• 24:03
  Speaker 8: Come on.
• 24:05
  Speaker 3: This is a real inspiration, Ralph. How'd you think of it?
• 24:08
  Speaker 3: You mean this?
• 24:11
  Speaker 9: I mean getting away from everything like this. One sniff
• 24:14
  Speaker 9: of that air, and the fella forgets.
• 24:16
  Speaker 3: He ever had any worries. Hey, look over here. Hey, now,
• 24:19
  Speaker 3: take it easy. Kind of close to that edge, you know. Look, Ben.
• 24:24
  Speaker 8: 1,500 feet, straight down.
• 24:26
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd just as soon stay back here, if you
• 24:28
  Speaker 3: don't mind. What's the matter, Ben? Afraid?
• 24:31
  Speaker 9: No, just sensible, that's all. You know, the funny thing
• 24:34
  Speaker 9: about me in high places is... You ought to be afraid, Ben.
• 24:38
  Speaker 9: That's where you're going. 1,500 feet straight down.
• 24:44
  Speaker 3: Well, that's good. You're serious, aren't you? I'd hate to
• 24:53
  Speaker 3: have you call in the.
• 24:54
  Speaker 7: Auditors, Ben.
• 24:56
  Speaker 9: I was afraid that was it. There was something wrong
• 25:00
  Speaker 9: with those figures.
• 25:01
  Speaker 7: Yes, there was.
• 25:03
  Speaker 10: But I learned something from Andy Miller. You're not going
• 25:07
  Speaker 10: to be around to testify. You're going to have a
• 25:10
  Speaker 10: dizzy spell. And they're going to find you 1,500 feet
• 25:17
  Speaker 10: down there on those rocks.
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: The Whistler will return in just a moment with a
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, here's news about one
• 25:36
  Speaker 2: of the first of the new post-war developments to make
• 25:38
  Speaker 2: driving safer and more restful. You know how our bright
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: western sunshine glares off pavements and off the windshields and
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: polished chromium of other cars, causing eye strain that makes
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: you squint and get headaches? Well, during the war, the
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: Army and Navy used a new principle of glare control.
• 25:56
  Speaker 2: It's called Polaroid. And unlike old-fashioned colored filters that darkened
• 26:01
  Speaker 2: everything and changed the colors of flowers and scenery, Polaroid
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: is as clear and colorless as your own windshield. But
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: look through the Polaroid and presto, all glare is gone.
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: Now here's the good news. This same Polaroid principle has
• 26:16
  Speaker 2: been made into a visor for your car and therefore
• 26:19
  Speaker 2: sale for the first time on the Pacific coast at
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: your signal dealers. The Polaroid visor snaps onto your present
• 26:26
  Speaker 2: visor in a jiffy. It's smart looking and it flips
• 26:29
  Speaker 2: out of the way when you're not using it. If
• 26:31
  Speaker 2: it's sunny tomorrow, drive into your signal dealers for a demonstration.
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: When you see the wear and tear it saves on
• 26:37
  Speaker 2: your eyes, my bet is you'll want to buy one
• 26:39
  Speaker 2: of these Polaroid visors now to make your summer driving
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: more pleasant.
• 26:45
  Speaker 3: And now, back to the whistler.
• 26:48
  Speaker 6: The Whistler.
• 27:00
  Speaker 5: Well, Benjamin, you seem to be in a tight spot.
• 27:05
  Speaker 5: Just the two of you there alone at the top
• 27:07
  Speaker 5: of the cliff. Barton, staring at you, white-faced and tense,
• 27:12
  Speaker 5: his fists clenched.
• 27:13
  Speaker 3: At his sides.
• 27:15
  Speaker 5: And oddly, you find yourself struggling to keep the smile
• 27:19
  Speaker 5: inside you from showing on your face. It's probably only
• 27:23
  Speaker 5: a few seconds, but it seems like an hour that
• 27:25
  Speaker 5: the two of you stand there silent.
• 27:28
  Speaker 6: Then....
• 27:30
  Speaker 3: Listen, Ralph.
• 27:32
  Speaker 7: You hear that? The car? Yes.
• 27:35
  Speaker 3: They won't stop. Sure he will. That's what they came for.
• 27:38
  Speaker 3: What do you mean?
• 27:39
  Speaker 9: There's a detective and two patrolmen in the car, Ralph.
• 27:42
  Speaker 9: They followed us all the way from town.
• 27:43
  Speaker 3: You're lying.
• 27:44
  Speaker 9: You'd better restrain yourself for a minute and see. Of course,
• 27:47
  Speaker 9: you could pull it off now if you wanted to, Ralph.
• 27:51
  Speaker 9: But it'd be kind of foolish, wouldn't it? The embezzlement
• 27:54
  Speaker 9: charge will put you away for only four or five years,
• 27:57
  Speaker 9: with perhaps a few more for attempted murder, but.
• 28:00
  Speaker 3: If you go ahead and... How did you know? You
• 28:03
  Speaker 3: did it again. What?
• 28:06
  Speaker 6: That.
• 28:07
  Speaker 9: It's a habit of yours, Ralph. Every time you're about
• 28:10
  Speaker 9: to say something important, you clear your throat.
• 28:13
  Speaker 3: Like that. That's why it hit me between the eyes
• 28:16
  Speaker 3: last night when you called me and said.
• 28:20
  Speaker 3: I'm gonna get you. Remember? Come on, Ralph. Let's walk
• 28:25
  Speaker 3: down to the road. We'll save the policeman a few steps.
• 29:00
  Speaker 2: Next Monday at 9 o'clock, the Whistler will bring you
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: another strange tale. The Whistler is broadcast for your entertainment
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: by the marketers of Signal Gasoline and Motor Oil and
• 29:10
  Speaker 2: fine quality automotive accessories and by your neighborhood signal dealer.
• 29:16
  Speaker 2: This program produced by George W. Allen with tonight's story
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: by Walter Jensen, music by Wilbur Hatch, is transmitted to
• 29:24
  Speaker 2: our troops overseas by the Armed Forces Radio Service.
• 29:39
  Speaker 7: Thank you.
• 29:45
  Speaker 2: That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program,
• 29:49
  Speaker 2: The Whistler. This is Marvin Miller speaking, reminding you to
• 29:53
  Speaker 2: look for those familiar yellow and black circle signs that
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: identify those popular signal oil stations in seven western states
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: from Canada to Mexico. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us for The Whistler, Terror Stricken.
• 30:28
  Speaker 3: Follow The Whistler for more classic broadcasts.