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The Whistler - "What Makes a Murderer" (Old Time Radio, 1945) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: A weary stockbroker, worn down by commuter trains, office routine,
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: and a predictable life, makes an impulsive wager at the racetrack.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: The winnings send him south to Florida, where romance and
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: a different future seem within reach, until that new life
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: brings consequences of its own. From August 13th, 1945... This
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: is The Whistler, episode 168, What Makes a Murderer, with
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: Marvin Miller as the whistler, and featuring Joseph Kearns, Jay Novello,
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: and Earl Ross. And now, our story begins.
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: Signal gasoline. Let every traffic signal remind you, you do
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: go farther with signal gasoline. Yes, you do go farther
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: with signal gasoline. The Signal Oil Company and your neighborhood
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: signal dealer bring you another curious story by the Whistler.
• 1:02
  Speaker 3: Tonight, what makes a murderer? I am the Whistler. And
• 1:26
  Speaker 3: I know many things, for I walk by night.
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: men and women who have stepped into the shadows.
• 1:35
  Speaker 3: Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare
• 1:39
  Speaker 3: not speak.
• 1:44
  Speaker 2: Murder is a peculiar affair. All it needs in many
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: cases is the right pressure, the right set of circumstances,
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: the right opportunity, and an otherwise respectable member of the
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: community becomes a killer.
• 1:57
  Speaker 3: If you tried to explain that to Arthur Winslow, he
• 2:00
  Speaker 3: wouldn't have understood. If you told him he was in
• 2:03
  Speaker 3: a fair way to become a murderer in a few months,
• 2:06
  Speaker 3: he would have looked at you strangely. For Arthur was respectable, solid,
• 2:11
  Speaker 3: exactly like a hundred thousand other.
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: Respectable, solid Jersey commuters. His life was a pretty drab affair.
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: Part of it was the office. Jay Simmons and Company,
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: investment broker.
• 2:23
  Speaker 3: American Car and Light, seven and an eighth, no change.
• 2:25
  Speaker 3: Seven and an eighth, no change. American Tell and Tell,
• 2:27
  Speaker 3: 179 and an eighth, off an eighth. AT & T,
• 2:30
  Speaker 3: 179 and an eighth, off an eighth. American Tobacco, 77,
• 2:33
  Speaker 3: up one. 77, up one. Better leave it there, Arthur.
• 2:38
  Speaker 3: Five o'clock. Got to make that 519. Why? Why do
• 2:42
  Speaker 3: we have to make the 519, Stanley?
• 2:43
  Speaker 4: Why?
• 2:46
  Speaker 3: Why, Arthur, because we always do. Why is that a
• 2:49
  Speaker 3: good reason? What?
• 2:51
  Speaker 4: I mean, do you think because we've always made the
• 2:53
  Speaker 4: 519 that we ought to keep on making it the
• 2:56
  Speaker 4: rest of our lives?
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: Is something wrong, Arthur? Maybe. I don't know. I've been thinking, Stanley.
• 3:04
  Speaker 4: For 10 years now, you and I have been analyzing
• 3:06
  Speaker 4: investment securities eight hours a day. Catching the 519 every night,
• 3:10
  Speaker 4: arriving home in East Orange promptly at 6.22, kissing our
• 3:14
  Speaker 4: wives at approximately 6.50, eating dinner at exactly 7, reading
• 3:18
  Speaker 4: the evening paper, and then going to bed.
• 3:20
  Speaker 3: Well? Well, it's a little like... like death, isn't it, Stanley?
• 3:26
  Speaker 3: What in the world's gotten into you, Arthur? I've got
• 3:29
  Speaker 3: a book here. Take a look. Book? It's a novel.
• 3:34
  Speaker 3: Got me to thinking. Moon and Sixpence. Hmm. It's about
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: a man like us, Stanley.
• 3:40
  Speaker 4: A man who got fed up with the 519 and
• 3:43
  Speaker 4: dished the whole works.
• 3:44
  Speaker 3: Well, what did he do? Took a chance. He walked out,
• 3:47
  Speaker 3: just picked up his hat and went off to the
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: South Sea.
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: You mean he just left his family? They preferred the 519.
• 3:56
  Speaker 3: Well, I can't say that I approve. No, I didn't
• 4:00
  Speaker 3: think you would. Well, you better hurry along, Stanley. You'll
• 4:04
  Speaker 3: miss your train. Yes, but what about you? Well, tonight,
• 4:07
  Speaker 3: just for a change, I believe I'll catch the 555.
• 4:11
  Speaker 3: Just for a change, Arthur, after ten years.
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: You walk slowly down Broad Street, deliberately casual, noticing the swarms.
• 4:28
  Speaker 3: Of hurrying commuters objectively, as if for the first time.
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: It's pleasant strolling along like this, taking your time. Stopping
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: to look in a window now and then. Finally, you
• 4:40
  Speaker 2: stop at a cigar stand.
• 4:41
  Speaker 3: Have you got a pack of cigarettes? Well, if you
• 4:44
  Speaker 3: can smoke them. Here. Eighteen cents. Twenty-five and fifty. Thanks. Yeah. Say,
• 4:56
  Speaker 3: what's that back there? Oh, you interested in bang tails?
• 4:59
  Speaker 5: What?
• 5:00
  Speaker 3: Bang tails. Horses. Opening up Pimlico tomorrow.
• 5:03
  Speaker 6: Hey, come here.
• 5:04
  Speaker 3: Sure. Now, there's the board. Take your pick. Turn it
• 5:10
  Speaker 3: out in this color. Huh. Pink Lady. Mike the Third.
• 5:15
  Speaker 3: Big Bonandra. Moon and Sixpence. Hey, what's that? Moon and Sixpence.
• 5:20
  Speaker 3: Top horse in a parley. Don't know nothing about them, though. Parley?
• 5:24
  Speaker 3: What's that? You don't know what a parley is? No,
• 5:27
  Speaker 3: I don't. Well, okay.
• 5:29
  Speaker 6: Well, in that parlor there, you got three horses, see? Now,
• 5:32
  Speaker 6: you put your doe on Blue Bonnet in the first.
• 5:34
  Speaker 6: If he comes in, the doe goes on Blue Worm
• 5:37
  Speaker 6: in the second. If he comes in, the works rides
• 5:40
  Speaker 6: on Moon and Sixpence in the third.
• 5:42
  Speaker 3: Get it? We interrupt this program. The B-29s are back
• 6:10
  Speaker 3: in the war.
• 6:11
  Speaker 7: The superfortresses, which have been the major factor in bringing
• 6:14
  Speaker 7: Japan to her knees these past few weeks, have dropped
• 6:17
  Speaker 7: high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the Marifu Railroad Yard, the
• 6:21
  Speaker 7: first purely rail target to be hit in Japan. There
• 6:24
  Speaker 7: was no Jap fighter or flak opposition. It was the
• 6:27
  Speaker 7: first heavy bombing Japan has received since last Saturday, the 11th.
• 6:32
  Speaker 3: And during the three days that the.
• 6:33
  Speaker 7: Very heavy bombers have rested at their bases... the diplomats
• 6:36
  Speaker 7: have taken over to consider Japan's reluctant offer to surrender. However,
• 6:41
  Speaker 7: the diplomats haven't done so well. If the tension here
• 6:44
  Speaker 7: in the Pacific is any standard of judgment, the Japs
• 6:46
  Speaker 7: have succeeded in conducting a fairly effective war of nerves
• 6:50
  Speaker 7: against us by their failure to reply to the Allies.
• 6:53
  Speaker 7: So now, General Spock's strategic bombers are back over Japan,
• 6:57
  Speaker 7: dropping explosive reminders to the Nipponese people they had better
• 7:01
  Speaker 7: surrender or else.
• 7:03
  Speaker 3: It is a feeling here.
• 7:04
  Speaker 7: That the superforts were sent to Japan as an air
• 7:07
  Speaker 7: ride prod for Hirohito and his ministers to make up
• 7:10
  Speaker 7: their minds. If they don't, Japan can expect more of
• 7:14
  Speaker 7: the same treatment. As a matter of fact, today's bombing
• 7:17
  Speaker 7: is continuing right now. More and more bombers are over
• 7:20
  Speaker 7: the Jap homeland, and the bombs away signal will come
• 7:23
  Speaker 7: back to Guam many more times today. The Marifu rail
• 7:27
  Speaker 7: yards and shops were hit by the 313th wing of
• 7:31
  Speaker 7: the 20th Air Force based in Tinian. Three B-29 groups
• 7:35
  Speaker 7: crafted the area with high-explosive bombs. The rail yards form
• 7:39
  Speaker 7: one of the most critical bottlenecks in the Japanese railroad system,
• 7:42
  Speaker 7: serving the double-track rail line that runs from Tokyo to
• 7:45
  Speaker 7: Kobe and along the inland sea of Japan. Interruption of
• 7:49
  Speaker 7: traffic on this line will first of all affect the
• 7:51
  Speaker 7: Jap oil supply, and more important, it will affect the
• 7:55
  Speaker 7: critical Jap food shortage already.
• 7:57
  Speaker 3: Desperate in Japan's big city.
• 8:00
  Speaker 7: The strategic air forces are not playing tag in this operation.
• 8:04
  Speaker 7: Japan right now is being hit and being hit hard.
• 8:07
  Speaker 7: The process will continue until we receive that notification of
• 8:11
  Speaker 7: unconditional surrender or wrest it from the hands of the
• 8:14
  Speaker 7: emperor himself when we take his imperial castle in Japan itself.
• 8:19
  Speaker 7: If they want it that way, that's the way they're
• 8:21
  Speaker 7: going to get it. And this is Bill Downs and
• 8:23
  Speaker 7: Guam returning.
• 8:24
  Speaker 3: You to CBS.
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: But that's almost a year's salary, and you're holding it
• 8:36
  Speaker 2: right in your hand. You just walk the streets for
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: an hour or two, thinking, gradually realizing what happened. It
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: can mean a new car, new dresses for Ethel, and
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: more of the same. Or it can mean... Yes, Arthur,
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: if you took a chance. It's crazy, it's wild, but
• 8:55
  Speaker 2: if you act before you think... You walk into a
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: phone booth in the financial center lobby.
• 9:05
  Speaker 3: The South Seas. No more figures. No more 519s. Hello?
• 9:11
  Speaker 3: Brighton Travel Agency?
• 9:13
  Speaker 4: I'd like to inquire about a reservation to, let's see,
• 9:20
  Speaker 4: to Florida.
• 9:21
  Speaker 3: Yeah. The name? Oh, yes, the name is Charles White.
• 9:26
  Speaker 3: Charles White.
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: There's good news for drivers in recent announcements that new
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: cars are already in production. But there's bad news in
• 9:42
  Speaker 2: the statement of Defense Transportation Director J. Monroe Johnson that
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: it will be at least three years before all the
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: people who want new cars can get them. Three more years.
• 9:52
  Speaker 2: That's a long time to make today's cars last, especially
• 9:56
  Speaker 2: when the average car is already seven years old.
• 9:59
  Speaker 3: It means that.
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: now more than ever, your car needs the more thorough,
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: more conscientious kind of service you will find at Signal
• 10:06
  Speaker 2: Gasoline Dealers. Yes, there's a very real difference in signal service,
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: and for two good reasons. You see, being in business
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: for themselves, Signal Dealers have made car.
• 10:16
  Speaker 3: Care their speciality. They're experienced. They know cars.
• 10:21
  Speaker 2: And two, because independent signal dealers are in that business
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: not just for today, but permanently. They're eager to please
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: you so well, you'll come back regularly and be their
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: steady customer. Added up, that assures you the kind of
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: service that will keep your car happy and you satisfied.
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: The kind of service that makes it well worth your while,
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: getting acquainted with your neighborhood signal gasoline dealer.
• 10:45
  Speaker 3: And now, back to the whistler.
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: Yes, murder can strike anywhere, even among quiet, drab little
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: people like Arthur Winslow. He has no way of knowing it,
• 11:11
  Speaker 2: of course, as he buys a first-class reservation on the
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: train to Florida... His only thought now is that this
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: will be escape at last. New clothes, new luggage, a
• 11:20
  Speaker 2: new name, and a new life. No 519 tonight, Arthur.
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: It's the 730 to Florida and way point.
• 11:34
  Speaker 3: Last call for dinner. Last call for dinner. Oh, which
• 11:37
  Speaker 3: way is the dining car, waiter? Yeah, the three cars
• 11:40
  Speaker 3: back there. Oh, thank you. Better hurry along.
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 11:42
  Speaker 3: Last call for dinner. Okay.
• 11:44
  Speaker 4: Oh!
• 11:44
  Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, that's quite all right.
• 11:47
  Speaker 8: It isn't either. I wasn't looking.
• 11:48
  Speaker 3: Well, neither was I.
• 11:49
  Speaker 8: Where is it?
• 11:51
  Speaker 3: What?
• 11:51
  Speaker 8: The book.
• 11:52
  Speaker 3: Book. Book. Oh, yes, the book.
• 11:53
  Speaker 8: I knocked it out of your hand. It must be
• 11:55
  Speaker 8: down here on the floor.
• 11:56
  Speaker 3: Oh, here, let me. It's probably down under the seat.
• 11:58
  Speaker 8: No, let me see.
• 11:58
  Speaker 4: I can.
• 11:58
  Speaker 8: Oh, I bumped my head.
• 12:00
  Speaker 3: Oh.
• 12:00
  Speaker 8: Look at the gum under here.
• 12:02
  Speaker 4: Ah!
• 12:03
  Speaker 3: Ah! But you get it?
• 12:04
  Speaker 8: Last year's timetable. I've wanted one for ages.
• 12:07
  Speaker 3: Oh, wait a minute. There it is. Where? To the right,
• 12:09
  Speaker 3: just a little under the seat. Here, let me.
• 12:10
  Speaker 8: No, let me get it. Here we are.
• 12:13
  Speaker 3: It's a fine thing getting yourself all dusty that way.
• 12:17
  Speaker 3: Turn around.
• 12:17
  Speaker 8: Oh, thanks. Moon and Sixth Sense.
• 12:20
  Speaker 3: There we are. That's a little better anyway.
• 12:22
  Speaker 8: Wonderful, isn't it?
• 12:22
  Speaker 3: Hmm?
• 12:23
  Speaker 8: Moon and Sixth Sense.
• 12:24
  Speaker 3: I loved it. Oh, yes. I haven't quite finished it,
• 12:27
  Speaker 3: of course.
• 12:27
  Speaker 8: Do you believe it? I mean... Do you think it's right?
• 12:30
  Speaker 3: You mean to toss everything over and take off for
• 12:33
  Speaker 3: the South Seas? If you don't mind, pal, while you're
• 12:36
  Speaker 3: going to the South Seas, I'll go to dinner. Oh,
• 12:38
  Speaker 3: I'm sorry, sir. Excuse me.
• 12:39
  Speaker 8: We seem to be holding up traffic.
• 12:41
  Speaker 3: We do, don't we? Matter of fact, I was just
• 12:43
  Speaker 3: going in to dinner myself.
• 12:44
  Speaker 8: So was I.
• 12:47
  Speaker 3: Well, would you consider.
• 12:48
  Speaker 8: Why not?
• 12:49
  Speaker 3: Yes, why not?
• 13:04
  Speaker 8: You know, I think Moon and Sixpence was a wonderful story.
• 13:06
  Speaker 8: Of course, I can't say it was very realistic.
• 13:09
  Speaker 3: What do you mean?
• 13:10
  Speaker 8: Well, I admit it was convincing, but when you stop
• 13:12
  Speaker 8: to think about it, this running away business.
• 13:15
  Speaker 3: Oh, you don't believe in it, huh?
• 13:17
  Speaker 8: Well, after all, running away is no solution.
• 13:21
  Speaker 3: Sometimes there's nothing else to do.
• 13:23
  Speaker 8: He could have stuck it out.
• 13:24
  Speaker 3: You mean licked it if it took the rest of
• 13:26
  Speaker 3: his life?
• 13:26
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 13:26
  Speaker 3: Well, all right. All right, he licks it. He found
• 13:30
  Speaker 3: happiness at last. And he's 70. Is that all there
• 13:34
  Speaker 3: is to life?
• 13:35
  Speaker 8: Well, I haven't seen too much of it yet.
• 13:37
  Speaker 4: I know it sounds cowardly, but I think there are
• 13:40
  Speaker 4: times when sticking it out for 20 years is wrong.
• 13:42
  Speaker 3: Time doesn't wait, you know.
• 13:46
  Speaker 4: We beat our heads against a wall day in, day out.
• 13:49
  Speaker 4: We're tied down to a deadly routine. And then the
• 13:53
  Speaker 4: first thing you know, it's too late. Oh, I think
• 13:57
  Speaker 4: running away is better than that, don't you?
• 14:00
  Speaker 8: I did once.
• 14:02
  Speaker 3: Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to.
• 14:04
  Speaker 8: Oh, that's all right. That's quite all right. You see,
• 14:06
  Speaker 8: I did run away. It was just as you said.
• 14:08
  Speaker 8: It was routine, a deadly routine. And when I couldn't
• 14:11
  Speaker 8: stand it any longer, I ran away.
• 14:13
  Speaker 3: Well, what kind of routine was it?
• 14:15
  Speaker 8: Well, perhaps you've heard of my father, Edgar Brewster.
• 14:18
  Speaker 3: Edgar Brewster? Uh-huh.
• 14:20
  Speaker 8: He's in Miami Beach now, waiting for me.
• 14:22
  Speaker 3: Oh, I see.
• 14:23
  Speaker 8: I'd finally decided to go back and face it, but, uh, Oh, dear.
• 14:27
  Speaker 8: Now you've got me confused again.
• 14:28
  Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry. If I'd known, I would.
• 14:30
  Speaker 8: Oh, don't misunderstand. You've really helped me a lot.
• 14:33
  Speaker 3: How do you mean?
• 14:34
  Speaker 8: Well, you seem to know why I did it. It's
• 14:37
  Speaker 8: a kind of moral support.
• 14:40
  Speaker 3: Oh.
• 14:40
  Speaker 8: You're going to Miami?
• 14:42
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 14:42
  Speaker 3: Oh, by the way, I'm Charles White.
• 14:45
  Speaker 8: I'm Vivian Brewster.
• 14:47
  Speaker 3: Well, perhaps I'll see you in Miami.
• 14:50
  Speaker 8: I hope so.
• 14:52
  Speaker 3: So do I.
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: The daughter of Edgar Brewster. It's fantastic, isn't it, Arthur?
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: You talked with her, had dinner with her. She even
• 15:10
  Speaker 2: said she hoped you'd meet in Miami. But the first
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: week goes by and the hotel's set on the shore
• 15:15
  Speaker 2: looking across Biscayne Bay. It's beautiful. But you aren't conscious
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: of anything except Vivian. You wait for a call, but
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: it doesn't come. You begin to realize how ridiculous it is.
• 15:28
  Speaker 2: Of course, she's forgotten about you. You were just someone
• 15:31
  Speaker 2: to talk to, a traveling companion. You can't hide the
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: Jersey commuter under that Palm Beach suit.
• 15:39
  Speaker 3: And then... Hello?
• 15:45
  Speaker 7: Oh, hello.
• 15:46
  Speaker 3: I'd like to speak to Miss Vivian Brewster. Speaking.
• 15:49
  Speaker 4: Oh....
• 15:51
  Speaker 3: This is Charles White. Well, hello, Mr. White.
• 15:54
  Speaker 8: I thought you'd forgotten.
• 15:55
  Speaker 3: Me by this time. Oh, no, not at all. I
• 16:00
  Speaker 3: thought we might have a drink together or something.
• 16:04
  Speaker 8: Well, why don't you come out?
• 16:05
  Speaker 3: You mean to your house?
• 16:07
  Speaker 8: Of course. Father would love to meet you.
• 16:09
  Speaker 3: Your father? Yes.
• 16:10
  Speaker 8: What about it?
• 16:12
  Speaker 3: When?
• 16:13
  Speaker 8: Oh, tonight.
• 16:15
  Speaker 3: All right.
• 16:16
  Speaker 6: Tonight.
• 16:26
  Speaker 2: Well, Arthur, you can hardly believe it, can you?
• 16:29
  Speaker 3: A few days ago, an obscure clerk.
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: Today, sitting with Edgar Brewster, drinking his bourbon.
• 16:37
  Speaker 3: Is that about right, Mr.
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: White?
• 16:39
  Speaker 8: Father's a tightwad with his soda.
• 16:41
  Speaker 3: Outrageous way to treat good bourbon. What about it, White? Oh,
• 16:44
  Speaker 3: that looks about right, Mr. Brewster. There you are. Oh,
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: thank you. What are you doing in Miami, White? Why, I, uh...
• 16:51
  Speaker 3: I just got a little tired of New York.
• 16:53
  Speaker 5: You got the right idea. I did the same thing
• 16:55
  Speaker 5: myself 20 years ago and.
• 16:56
  Speaker 3: Never went back. What's your line? Well, I was in
• 17:01
  Speaker 3: the market, more or less.
• 17:03
  Speaker 5: Yeah, the less, the better these days. Nobody knows where
• 17:06
  Speaker 5: it's going. Hard to figure these war babies. My broker
• 17:09
  Speaker 5: and I were talking today about consolidated plastics.
• 17:12
  Speaker 3: Know anything about it? Yes, a little. What do you
• 17:15
  Speaker 3: think of it? Well, I don't know whether I should
• 17:17
  Speaker 3: say or not. What's the matter with it? After all,
• 17:20
  Speaker 3: it's your business, Mr. Brewster.
• 17:22
  Speaker 5: I don't think I'd kid off an opinion. Oh, all right,
• 17:25
  Speaker 5: I'll put it this way. What would you do if
• 17:28
  Speaker 5: you were into it pretty heavily right now?
• 17:32
  Speaker 3: Well, I'd sell out.
• 17:35
  Speaker 5: When?
• 17:35
  Speaker 3: Right now.
• 17:36
  Speaker 5: Any particular reason?
• 17:37
  Speaker 4: Only that I happen to know that stock is being
• 17:39
  Speaker 4: manipulated by an inside ring.
• 17:42
  Speaker 3: That it'll take the Securities and Exchange Commission about six
• 17:44
  Speaker 3: months to catch up with them. Boy, that's unbelievable. My
• 17:47
  Speaker 3: broker told me.
• 17:48
  Speaker 4: I know, it's only my opinion, Mr. Brewster, but I
• 17:51
  Speaker 4: happen to know that company's financial position. You asked me
• 17:55
  Speaker 4: what I do, and.
• 17:57
  Speaker 3: I just told you. You seem to know what you're
• 18:00
  Speaker 3: talking about. Investments are my hobby, you might say. I see.
• 18:05
  Speaker 8: May I say something now?
• 18:07
  Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I forgot you were still with us.
• 18:11
  Speaker 8: I thought so. Now that you've settled the stock market problem,
• 18:14
  Speaker 8: suppose we get down to the club. The water should
• 18:16
  Speaker 8: be beautiful tonight. What about it?
• 18:20
  Speaker 5: I'm afraid it's past my bedtime, dear. You two run along.
• 18:22
  Speaker 5: No place for an old duck like me anyhow.
• 18:26
  Speaker 3: Well, Mr.
• 18:26
  Speaker 8: White?
• 18:27
  Speaker 3: Well, Miss Brewster? What are you waiting for? Get out
• 18:31
  Speaker 3: of here. I'm going to bed.
• 18:33
  Speaker 8: Bye.
• 18:42
  Speaker 2: And that was the beginning, wasn't it, Arthur? That $ 1, 800
• 18:46
  Speaker 2: was a magic door opening up a thrilling new life
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: for you. And incidentally, bringing you closer to murder. The
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: next three weeks passed like a dream. More nights at
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: the beach club, dancing in the open under the stars.
• 19:01
  Speaker 3: With Vivian in your arms. Vivian? Yes? Vivian? Vivian?
• 19:09
  Speaker 4: Why is it you've never asked me about myself, my background,
• 19:13
  Speaker 4: where I came from?
• 19:14
  Speaker 8: Oh, I don't know. Maybe because it doesn't matter.
• 19:18
  Speaker 3: You know, I wasn't going to tell you, but I
• 19:22
  Speaker 3: think perhaps I'd better.
• 19:23
  Speaker 8: Will it make any difference?
• 19:25
  Speaker 3: About us? Yes. Uh-huh. Yes, it will make a difference.
• 19:30
  Speaker 3: It'll make a lot of difference. Well, then don't tell me.
• 19:33
  Speaker 8: I really don't want to know.
• 19:34
  Speaker 3: No, but Vivian, you... Please. Oh, darling. Darling, did I
• 19:40
  Speaker 3: ever tell you I... I like you very much. I'm glad, Charles.
• 19:45
  Speaker 8: I'm so glad.
• 19:56
  Speaker 3: You were in love, Arthur. And for the first time
• 19:59
  Speaker 3: in your life, you knew what it really was. Mr.
• 20:03
  Speaker 2: Brewster began to concern you. He'd never approved in a
• 20:05
  Speaker 2: million years. Or you thought so until that evening he
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: dropped up to your hotel room with a copy of
• 20:11
  Speaker 2: the financial journal in his hand.
• 20:13
  Speaker 3: Look at that, Charles. What is it? Don't ask silly questions.
• 20:17
  Speaker 3: Look at it, man. I thought so.
• 20:22
  Speaker 5: Consolidated plastic snowed under in selling rush.
• 20:26
  Speaker 3: I'm sorry, Mr. Brewster. I'm not. What do you mean?
• 20:30
  Speaker 5: I took your advice. Sold out three weeks ago. I
• 20:33
  Speaker 5: saved myself $ 100, 000. Well, congratulations. Don't congratulate me. You're the
• 20:39
  Speaker 5: one who deserves it. Do you mind if I sit down?
• 20:41
  Speaker 3: Oh, of course not. Here you are. Thank you. Would
• 20:46
  Speaker 3: you be open to a proposition, White? What kind of proposition?
• 20:50
  Speaker 5: I realize you probably have other interests, but I could
• 20:53
  Speaker 5: make it worth your while, I think.
• 20:56
  Speaker 3: There are two considerations.
• 20:57
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 20:58
  Speaker 5: The first is the plain fact that my affairs are
• 21:00
  Speaker 5: getting a little beyond me. As you know, I'm retired
• 21:02
  Speaker 5: and haven't time to look after them properly. I think
• 21:06
  Speaker 5: you're the man to take over.
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: But, Mr. Brewster.
• 21:08
  Speaker 5: I'm a businessman. If it weren't a profitable deal for me,
• 21:12
  Speaker 5: I wouldn't think of it.
• 21:15
  Speaker 3: I see. What's the other consideration? I believe you're aware
• 21:20
  Speaker 3: of that already. Vivian, you approve? I do. Huh. May
• 21:29
  Speaker 3: I have time to think this over? Of course.
• 21:32
  Speaker 5: Just let me know in a day or so.
• 21:43
  Speaker 3: There it is, Arthur. Brief and to the point. Everything
• 21:46
  Speaker 3: you ever wanted right in the palm of your hand.
• 21:49
  Speaker 2: Open sesame, he said, and there it was. You go
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: into the bar downstairs to think. There's only one thing
• 21:56
  Speaker 2: in your way now.
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: Ethel.
• 21:58
  Speaker 2: You can't run away from that. You've got to make
• 22:00
  Speaker 2: her see your side of it. You've got to go
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: back to her and face it. Make her give you
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: a divorce. You walk out of the bar, through the door,
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: into the hotel lobby. And just as you're rounding the
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: corner by the desk, something stops you in your tracks.
• 22:13
  Speaker 3: Mrs.
• 22:14
  Speaker 9: Ethel Winslow, 5769 Laurel Road, East Orange, New Jersey.
• 22:18
  Speaker 8: Is that all you want?
• 22:19
  Speaker 3: Thank you, madam.
• 22:20
  Speaker 8: Could I see the register, please?
• 22:22
  Speaker 3: I'm sorry, madam, but we don't.
• 22:23
  Speaker 9: Well, I understand there's a Charles White registered here.
• 22:27
  Speaker 3: Charles? Oh, yes, madam. Room 132. Is he a friend? Yes.
• 22:30
  Speaker 3: Will this help?
• 22:35
  Speaker 6: Well, in that case, I could give you room 131
• 22:39
  Speaker 6: next door.
• 22:40
  Speaker 3: The windows open onto the same balcony. Oh, very well.
• 22:45
  Speaker 4: 131.
• 22:45
  Speaker 8: It was too.
• 22:50
  Speaker 3: Good to last, Arthur. Just a beautiful dream, and you're
• 23:00
  Speaker 3: just waking up. It's all over.
• 23:04
  Speaker 2: Go back in the bar and think. Ethel, your wife, here.
• 23:07
  Speaker 2: She's found you. And she'll never let you go, will she?
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: You know her too well, Arthur. Cold, calculating, heartless. She'd
• 23:15
  Speaker 2: laugh at you, wouldn't she?
• 23:18
  Speaker 3: Yes, sir. Will it be? Bourbon, straight. Right. Just leave
• 23:23
  Speaker 3: the bottle.
• 23:30
  Speaker 2: You're beginning to see now, Arthur, what makes a murderer...
• 23:34
  Speaker 2: You couldn't get away from her. Just as Vivian said,
• 23:36
  Speaker 2: you can't solve anything by running away. All you get
• 23:39
  Speaker 2: is a build-up to nothing. Whatever made you think you
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: could talk.
• 23:43
  Speaker 3: Her into a divorce? There's no other way out, is there, Arthur?
• 23:49
  Speaker 2: You sit in the friendly darkness of the bar all afternoon,
• 23:51
  Speaker 2: late into the evening, thinking, thinking.
• 23:54
  Speaker 3: It's almost eleven when you make up your mind. There's
• 23:57
  Speaker 3: a phone booth near the door. Hello? Hello. Hello, Vivian. Vivian,
• 24:14
  Speaker 3: I have to talk to you. It's important. Why, Charles,
• 24:16
  Speaker 3: what's the matter? Never mind. Just listen to me, Vivian.
• 24:19
  Speaker 3: Just listen. I'm a phony.
• 24:22
  Speaker 4: My name is Arthur Winslow. I was running away when
• 24:24
  Speaker 4: you met me on the train. I'm just an investment clerk.
• 24:26
  Speaker 3: I have no money. I have nothing.
• 24:27
  Speaker 4: Just $ 1, 800 I won in a horse race. Listen, Vivian,
• 24:31
  Speaker 4: I got a wife in East Orange, New Jersey... I've
• 24:33
  Speaker 4: hated her for ten years. I'd rather be dead than go.
• 24:35
  Speaker 3: Back to her.
• 24:36
  Speaker 4: I'm not going back to her. I'm telling you this, Vivian,
• 24:40
  Speaker 4: because I love you more than I ever dreamed I
• 24:44
  Speaker 4: could love anyone. And I probably won't ever see you again.
• 24:49
  Speaker 3: Goodbye, Vivian. Eleven o'clock, Arthur. You've got it all planned.
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: Ethel is asleep in her room, room 131. A balcony
• 25:05
  Speaker 2: connected with yours. It's easy, isn't it, Arthur? Yes, there
• 25:11
  Speaker 2: she is.
• 25:13
  Speaker 3: And she's asleep.
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: You take a firm hold on the heavy brass candlestick
• 25:17
  Speaker 2: you picked up from the mantle in your room. A
• 25:19
  Speaker 2: blunt instrument, the police will say. You can hardly breathe, Arthur.
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: Your stomach is full of ice water. You feel your
• 25:25
  Speaker 2: heart's going to burst.
• 25:27
  Speaker 3: Careful, Arthur. Careful. Careful. I can't. I can't do it.
• 25:42
  Speaker 3: I can't do it.
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: The Whistler will return in just a moment with the
• 25:55
  Speaker 2: strange ending of tonight's story. Meantime, a word about teeth
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: and tires. They have a good deal in common, you know.
• 26:03
  Speaker 2: For the good of your teeth, you see your dentist
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: twice a year so he can catch small cavities before
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: they grow big and endanger the tooth. And for the
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: good of your tires, it's equally important to have your
• 26:14
  Speaker 2: signal gasoline dealer inspect them regularly so any small injuries
• 26:19
  Speaker 2: can be repaired before they spread and ruin the carcass.
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: Or so he can warn you before your tread is
• 26:24
  Speaker 2: worn too thin for proper retreading. You'll find your signal
• 26:28
  Speaker 2: gasoline dealer is completely equipped to give you the finest
• 26:31
  Speaker 2: in modern tire repair. whether it's a small patch or
• 26:34
  Speaker 2: a full recap. For those friendly dealers, displaying signals, yellow
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: and black circle signs, are much more than just a
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: place to get signal go-farther gasoline and fine signal double-check lubrication.
• 26:49
  Speaker 2: Each signal dealer offers a complete line of automotive services
• 26:53
  Speaker 2: and fine accessories to help your car run better, look better,
• 26:59
  Speaker 2: and last longer. And now, Back to the Whistler. No, Arthur,
• 27:14
  Speaker 2: when the cards were down, you couldn't do it. The
• 27:17
  Speaker 2: wife you hated for ten years at your mercy.
• 27:20
  Speaker 3: And you couldn't do it. But you came close enough
• 27:23
  Speaker 3: to see what makes a murderer.
• 27:26
  Speaker 2: And now you're standing over her.
• 27:28
  Speaker 3: I can't. I can't do it, Arthur. Oh, Arthur. I'm sorry, Ethel.
• 27:39
  Speaker 3: I'm sorry I woke you up.
• 27:40
  Speaker 8: Turn the light on. Don't stand there.
• 27:42
  Speaker 3: Yes, Ethel. Hand me my other slipper. Yes, Ethel.
• 27:48
  Speaker 8: Well, you thought you could get by with it, didn't you?
• 27:50
  Speaker 3: No, no, Ethel. I didn't. Don't deny it.
• 27:54
  Speaker 8: I know what's been going on, and I can prove it,
• 27:56
  Speaker 8: you philanderer.
• 27:57
  Speaker 3: Ethel, I tell you.
• 28:00
  Speaker 3: What did you say?
• 28:00
  Speaker 8: Well, I have a complete report on your activities for
• 28:02
  Speaker 8: the last month. You weren't very clever, Arthur. The detectives
• 28:06
  Speaker 8: say you left a trail a child could follow.
• 28:08
  Speaker 3: What are you getting at, Ethel? Charles? Charles?
• 28:12
  Speaker 8: Listen, there's someone knocking on your door.
• 28:14
  Speaker 3: A woman. Ethel, come back. Where are you going?
• 28:17
  Speaker 8: This door, Miss Brewster.
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: Oh, Vivian.
• 28:23
  Speaker 8: A pretty picture.
• 28:24
  Speaker 9: And you have the crust to ask me what I'm
• 28:25
  Speaker 9: getting at. I've known about Miss Brewster all along. In fact,
• 28:28
  Speaker 9: we've had a little talk. And for your information, Arthur,
• 28:32
  Speaker 9: I'm leaving for Reno in the morning. In view of
• 28:34
  Speaker 9: what's happening, I don't think you'll feel it's wise to
• 28:36
  Speaker 9: contest the case.
• 28:38
  Speaker 3: Contest it?
• 28:39
  Speaker 8: We've waited five years for a chance like this.
• 28:42
  Speaker 3: We?
• 28:42
  Speaker 2: Mr.
• 28:43
  Speaker 8: Dinwiddie and I.
• 28:44
  Speaker 3: Mr. Dinwiddie.
• 28:45
  Speaker 4: Mr.
• 28:45
  Speaker 3: Dinwiddie. Arthur.
• 28:46
  Speaker 8: Arthur. What in the world were you doing with that
• 28:56
  Speaker 8: brass candlestick?
• 29:19
  Speaker 2: Next Monday at 9 o'clock, the Whistler will bring you
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: another strange tale. The Whistler is broadcast for your entertainment
• 29:25
  Speaker 2: by the marketers of Signal Gasoline and Motor Oil and
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: fine quality automotive accessories and by your neighborhood Signal dealer.
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: This program directed by George W. Allen with tonight's story
• 29:37
  Speaker 2: by Everett Tomlinson and Harold Swanton Music. by Wilbur Hatch,
• 29:41
  Speaker 2: is transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces
• 29:44
  Speaker 2: Radio Service. This is Marvin Miller speaking and suggesting that
• 29:49
  Speaker 2: you let every traffic signal remind you that you do
• 29:52
  Speaker 2: go farther with signal gasoline. Yes, you do go farther
• 29:58
  Speaker 2: with signal gasoline. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: You have been listening to The Whistler, what makes a murderer.
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: Follow The Whistler for more classic broadcasts.