Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Diamond Dilemma Matter (EP1597)

Transcript

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Diamond Dilemma Matter (EP1597) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:28
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:34
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
0:39
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at
0:45
Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com
0:51
slash Radio Detectives. Well, before we do get started, I don't want
0:55
to let you know this episode is brought to you by Jason zany I.
0:59
Thanks so much for your support, Jason. And now it's Tom for today's
1:03
episode of Yours Truly Johnny Doller. The original air date marks the second of
1:10
nineteen fifty eight and the title is The Domon Dilemma Matter from Hollywood. It's
1:18
time now for Johnny Dollar Major Johnny Master's Insurance and Trust. Oh I've heard
1:27
do you know anything about spacemen? Never saw any if that's what you mean,
1:32
neither of I. But I know somebody who thinks he's been contacted by
1:36
them. Oh sure, I have some whimsical friends too. Not Funny Johnny.
1:40
The company is betting two million dollars that this man is either a liar
1:44
or pulling one of the biggest hoaxes in history. Two million dollars. That's
1:48
right, Conrad Billings. Have you heard him? Billings, Texas Oil,
1:53
one of the richest men in the country right presently of California, where he's
1:57
holed up in an isolated mountain top louch minus a two million dollar collection of
2:01
times he took up there with him. And you insured them, yes,
2:05
but not against ordinary theft. What does that mean? Those stones were insured
2:09
against theft by persons or things unknown? And they said, what that's right?
2:16
Holy? You you're serious, aren't you? You bet? I'm serious?
2:23
Okay, Bird, I'll see at your office. Bob Bailey and the
2:34
Exciting Adventures of a Man with the action packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance
2:40
Investigators, Truly Johnny Dollar and now act one of yours, Truly Johnny Dollar.
3:01
Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Home Office Master's Insurance
3:07
and Trust Company, Hertford, Connecticut, following us an account of expenses incurred
3:10
during my investigation of the Diamond Dilemma matter. Expense account out of one three
3:20
dollars twenty cents for a taxi at the office of Bird Major. I've known
3:23
Burt a long time, and he's been in and out of too many deals,
3:27
big and little to get excited over nothing. But he was excited.
3:30
Now. This whole thing is incredible, Johnny, fantastic. It's utterly impossible
3:36
for two million dollars worth of diamonds to simply vanish into clean air. So
3:39
it's impossible, but it's happened. The police out there in California state positively
3:45
that no man on earth could possibly have gotten to those stones. Then Bertram,
3:49
tell me all all right. Two weeks ago, Conrad Billings called me
3:53
from his lodge up in northern California said he wanted to insure the diamonds immediately
3:58
over the phone. Over the phone, you're sure it was really he?
4:01
I'm not that naive. I had the call traced. How come he called
4:05
you? We've done some business with a wealthy friend of his in Dallas.
4:10
Recommend huh. And he had the stones with him there at the lodge.
4:13
Yes, And Johnny, it's one of the most isolated spots on earth.
4:17
You're sure he had them there. He loves diamonds, Johnny, almost to
4:23
the point of obsession. He plays with him like a kid plays with marbles.
4:27
Lord knows he can afford to, So you ensure two million worth of
4:30
diamond marbles over the phone. I did. And you say you weren't naive,
4:34
look remote lodge, an eccentric old man some expensive bobbles, rank amaturker,
4:41
Get at him. You haven't listened to me, Johnny, You've missed
4:45
the point entirely. I wouldn't care if he left the diamonds lying out on
4:49
his front doorstep. I ensured those diamonds solely against theft by persons or things
4:56
unknown on this earth. That's the exact word of the palace. And now
5:00
they're gone. Yes, Saul, someone took them. Prove it? What
5:04
someone and not some thing? Now? Why would anybody in his right mind
5:11
want to insure against that by other than people? I asked myself that question.
5:15
My answer was that a billionaire in active command of his business empire must
5:20
be of sound mind. And if he wants to satisfy a whim and is
5:25
willing to pay for it, why should my company refuse his money. You
5:29
think maybe he has an obsession about flying saucers and the people or things who
5:33
fly them. Who knows or what knows? Johnny, You've got to go
5:38
out there and make some sense out of all this. Who are the contacts
5:43
so far? The head of his San Francisco office, Norton Shields, the
5:46
chief of police in Lakeview, about thirty miles from Billings Lodge and the insurance
5:53
Okay, I'll call you bird, but not from mar expense account out of
6:00
two two hundred and eighty dollars deluxe flight with trimmings hard for the San Francisco.
6:04
A piece of fog was rolling up Market Street, and it was two
6:08
am when I finally got to the office of Billings Enterprises and met Norton Shields.
6:12
He was wide awake, sharp about thirty five. Yes, mister dollar,
6:15
I've been in charge of Billings West Coast operation for ten years with time
6:17
out for Korea. Pretty young for such a responsibility. Billings hired me because
6:23
I know the oil business. I learned the young. Ah. You like
6:27
him. You don't have to like a man just because you work for him.
6:29
He shrewd and knows how to make money. But he has foibles.
6:31
Yes, he has foibles, diamonds. Have you ever seen them? Sure?
6:36
We're oh here in the office at the lodge where he is now at
6:40
his home. You are certain he took them up to that lodge three weeks
6:44
ago. The night they were spread out right here on this desk. He
6:46
put him one by one in a chamois bag, put the bag in his
6:49
pocket. I walked into his car and he was driven straight to the lodge.
6:53
All right, What about the the flying saucers, the spacemen or whatever
7:00
it is. Now, that's a new one. I learned of it when
7:03
mister Major call disclosed the terms of the insurance and the fact that the diamonds
7:09
had been well, that they were gone. You haven't talked this over with
7:14
Billings himself? No, No, I haven't. Don't you think you should?
7:17
Why? If he wants me, he'll call me. How do I
7:20
get to this lotch I have a company plane and pillard ready to fly at
7:25
the Clear Lake in the morning. You'll be met there by a car and
7:28
driver. Anything else you want? Call me? Why all the cooperation when
7:32
you're not even supposed to know what's going on? A good lieutenant knows when
7:36
the follow orders before they're issued. You're registered at the Mark Hopkins. You
7:42
better get some sleep. Yeah, I may need it. Yeah, Act
8:01
two of yours, truly Johnny Dollar in a moment and now Act two of
8:05
yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the diamond dilemma matter. The company plane turned
8:16
out to be a plush two inchine Amphibian waiting for me at a private dock
8:20
ma at the Golden Gate Bridge. The pilot introduced himself and we headed due
8:22
north up San Pablo Bay and then northwest past the Valley of the Morning.
8:26
Then a few minutes later we glided in for a landing on Clear Lake,
8:30
the largest body of water in the state of California. The air I was
8:33
met by a car and a driver, as promised, How far is it
8:43
to mister Billings Lodge? Driver? About thirty miles? What do you do
8:46
when mister Billings isn't here? Wait for him? Do you live at the
8:54
lunch Nobody does, just mister Billings. No caretakers, housekeepers, anything like
9:01
that. Yes, mister Billing, Well, surely there must be someone to
9:05
look after mister. I'm hired to drive a car. I do it,
9:07
and that's all. The car twisted and turned through some lush country, then
9:15
left the highway and climbed a narrow mountain road with signs every couple of hundred
9:18
yards mark private and big letters. After several miles, of this, during
9:22
which we passed through a couple of gates that had to be opened manually.
9:26
We came to a high steel wire gate with equally high fencing stretching out in
9:28
either direction. A small redwood blockouse squatted inside. The driver made a U
9:35
turn, stopped in front of this gate, then reached around and opened the
9:37
door. This is it, mister, This is it? Yep, okay
9:45
if you say so. But if this is a millionaire's idea, hey,
9:48
hey, wait a minute. Well, if this really is the place,
9:56
I'm as well get and you read you touched that gate and you be electrocuted?
10:01
Why your name Dallah? That's right? Who are you? And what's
10:05
the idea? Cop? Where were you at exactly two o'clock yesterday afternoon?
10:11
Well, if it means anything to you, I was talking with a man
10:15
named Bert Major in Hertford, Connecticut. Come in. The big gate swung
10:20
open, and I gingerly walked through it as per instruction from the loudspeaker,
10:24
nestled in the wall of the redwood blockhouse. You drive, don't you,
10:28
yes, Then get in that car you see there and follow the road.
10:33
The car referred to by the voice was parked against the blockhouse on the fire
10:37
side. I did as I was told. After a while, the road
10:41
narrowed to a single track and continued on up the mountain. At one point
10:46
there was a solid granite overhang, a sheer drop of one thousand feet of
10:48
more, and another gate that opened as I approached and then closed behind me.
10:52
Finally, I rounded a turn where a fill had been made, and
10:56
a moment later it came out on top. A few hundred yards away,
11:00
across the terrace top of the mountain was a charming, rusty g lodge.
11:03
I drove over to it. Good morning, mister Dalla, mister Billings,
11:22
I mean, come in. Hearing about this man was strange enough. Seeing
11:28
him was even more of a shot about five two flashing gray eyes, bullet
11:33
ball. He was wearing a baggy old jacket that hung nearly to his knees.
11:37
His way. I want you to see my view of the lakes below.
11:43
Well, what was that, I said, I said, beautiful?
11:48
Yes, yes it is now. Mister Major has informed two of the insurance
11:56
on my diamonds, which disappeared two nights ago. Yes, sir, he
11:58
told me, speak up. He told me you ensured two million dollars worth
12:03
of diamonds against that by persons or things unknown on this earth exactly, and
12:09
I wish to collect from your company on that basis. Tell me where did
12:15
you keep them? Right here on this table in front of the window.
12:16
Right here. You mean to say you didn't lock up such valuable property,
12:22
mister dollar, Let me show you something. Look here on my control panel,
12:31
you recall the series of gates you passed through after leaving the main route.
12:35
Yeah, very well. Well, by means of my electronic devices,
12:39
I followed your progress. Everryon took away. Well, I'll be done.
12:43
I watched your arrival at the main gate on this video screen in Union.
12:48
Eh, that's putting it mil What did you say, I say, that's
12:50
putting it mildly. Yes, And I'm sure you notice. This mountaintop is
12:56
completely encircled by a twelve foot electrifiers. Between it and the inner fence is
13:01
a maze of photoelectric cells. This panel controls floodlights with which I can cover
13:07
every inch of ground between the two fences. These viewers are geared to the
13:11
floodlights. All of its equipment is automatically activated on contact. In short,
13:18
mister Dalla, I can detect and follow any person or thing which moves through
13:22
or between these two fences. Anyone who knows electricity could cut your fences and
13:26
come right on up the road. I did not say this mountain top was
13:31
impregnable. I said no one could reach it without my knowledge. Why did
13:35
you take out such limited insurance on your diamonds, mister Billings, I've made
13:39
my money by leaving nothing, absolutely nothing to chance. Now that man has
13:46
projected objects into outer space, it is reasonable to assume that other planets may
13:50
be ahead of us in technical endeavors. Diamonds would be of tremendous value to
13:54
an unknown civilization. Well, look, how do I know this is not
13:58
just an allbriate scheme to collect two million dollars? A fair question, mister
14:03
dollar. What would prevent you from hiding those diamonds somewhere on this mountain?
14:07
I should consider that question an affront to my integrity, But under the circumstances
14:11
I do not. I simply defy you to find them. Then what's your
14:16
explanation of their disappearance? I have none, and unless you find one,
14:20
I intend to collect from your company under the terms of the policy. Mister
14:26
Major mentioned the chief of police in Lakeview. Do you mind if I talk
14:30
to him and the print is not tall? I have a direct poond to
14:31
his office in his home. Would you care to talk to him? Now?
14:35
No, thanks, but I would like to use your car by all
14:39
means, I don't negage for you on your way down. Just one point,
14:43
there must be no publicity on this matter, understood, mister Billings.
14:50
If I can't prove that your diamonds were taken by a person, those space
14:54
cats are going to get a lot of publicity. Act three of yours,
15:01
truly Johnny Dollar. In a moment, and now Act three of yours,
15:05
truly Johnny Dollar, and the diamond dilemma matters. While I drove down the
15:11
mountain with gates electronically opening and closing behind me, I did some thinking Billings
15:16
had fought and paid for his privacy at tremendous costs. I couldn't see any
15:20
loopholes in the setup. Yet the diamonds had disappeared. Forty five minutes later,
15:26
I pulled up in front of the police station in Lakeview. Obviously I
15:31
was expected by the Chief of Police, Andy Prentiss. Well, mister Dollar,
15:35
my name's prenis. Might if I join him, No, no hop
15:37
in, just cruise down by the lake. I'm sure you want this to
15:41
be a private conversation. Too. Good idea, And what's your opinion on
15:48
the diamonds? Wow? I don't know who took them, but I'll tell
15:52
you one thing. I don't believe it was some thing or somebody from outer
15:56
space. How would you get through all those electrified fences, photo electric cells,
16:00
flood lights and closed circuit viewers? Yeah, well, what's your opinion.
16:06
I'm as practical and logical as an next fella. If a human being
16:10
couldn't get the mister Billings without his knowledge, and he'd call me the moment
16:12
somebody tried, Well, oh sure, spacemen. What else? I notice
16:19
one thing, Chief, he's a little hard at hearing. It doesn't wear
16:22
a hearing age. He doesn't need one. Just turns up the volume on
16:25
all that electronic stuff he has around him. I suppose someone parachuted under the
16:30
top of that mountain, how would he get out? Man could dig under
16:33
those fences. That would leave evidence. And I've been over every inch of
16:37
the ground. I've even thought of the expert pole Valler idea, no sign,
16:41
nothing makes any sense. See what you mean, I'm about a ride
16:45
and billings private plane. I'd like to take a look at that mountain from
16:48
the air. I don't know what good of the Loujah, but I'll go
16:51
along. Maybe there are spacemen, but I still don't believe it. We're
17:07
coming to it now. See the road winding up and there's a lot.
17:11
Yeah. I asked the pilot to circle around the top as close as the
17:15
air pockets will permit. Good, Chief, have the pilot drop down just
17:19
below the top and steer a course between the two fences all the way around.
17:23
Whatever you say, oh pilot. For the next few minutes, I
17:32
studied the top of that mountain from all possible angles, the road leading up
17:36
to it, the terrace is the lodge itself. Suddenly an idea hit me,
17:40
and a few minutes later I left a somewhat puzzle Chief of Police at
17:42
the landing dock unclearly. An hour later, I was explaining who I was
17:47
and what I wanted to do to a somewhat incredit as Captain of Police at
17:49
San Francisco's International Airport. I finally convinced him I wasn't out of my mind,
17:55
and he reluctantly agreed to cooperate. Then about dusk, myself exactly where
18:00
I want it to be, on top of billings Mouth, calmly walking toward
18:04
the lodge. Good evening, mister billings watch, I said, good evening,
18:23
sir, mister dollar way, I can't, I don't understand, say
18:29
no space suit. I can't believe it. How did you do it?
18:33
How did you get here the same way as the man who stole your diamond?
18:37
This is impossible, impossible. My electric system gave me a warning.
18:41
That's because you have it located in the wrong place. What it's in the
18:45
two fences and between them, halfway down the mountain, above them, there
18:49
is one level spot fifty yards across that isn't covered by your automatic whistles and
18:55
bell. Which isn't It isn't, It is not necessar it's wrong. It's
19:00
just big enough for a helicopter which is waiting for me out there right now,
19:06
a helicopter. You didn't see us because we came in and landed below
19:08
your line of sight. You didn't hear us because you don't wear a hearing
19:11
aid. I can't believe it, But you die, you must be right,
19:18
and you'll have to agree that your diamonds were not stolen by persons or
19:22
things unknown on this earth the terms of the polace. Of course, of
19:26
course I just allow all claim. But Gord good Now, it's none of
19:30
my business, mister Billings. But was your San Francisco manager, Norton Shield's
19:36
a pilot during the time he was in Korea? Well, yes, she
19:40
flew rescue missions in it helicopter. Yeah, the company that ensured your diamonds
19:48
against ordinary theft might be interested to learn that. Good night, mister Billings.
19:53
Yes, good night's miss Stella. You know, in some ways I
20:03
felt sorry for him. He'd spent millions of dollars to ensure his diamonds and
20:07
his privacy came a real showdown, and it turned out he had needed.
20:11
Oh he'll get his diamonds back, sure, and probably buy some more.
20:15
But privacy with or without money is a pretty hard thing to come by,
20:18
at least in this man's world. Expense accunt total, including incidentals and transportation
20:23
back to Harfrid two hundred eighty four dollars and thirty cents yours, truly,
20:29
Johnny Dollar, Our star will return in just a moment. Now here is
20:47
our star to tell you about next week story. Next week, a moth,
20:51
A tiny moth solves a case involving our national security. Join us,
20:56
won't you? Yours truly Johnny Dollar? Yours Truly Johnny Dollar is starring Bob
21:08
Bailey, originates in Hollywood, and is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone.
21:12
Today's story was written by Alan Botsey. Heard in our cast were Edwin,
21:18
Jerome, Paul Dubah, Frank Gristol, Junius Matthews, and Marvin Miller.
21:22
Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting
21:26
story of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan Cubberly speaking. This
21:52
is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. This is Andrew J.
22:21
Graham, author of the web surface series Oh and a Man and his
22:23
Wife. You're listening to the great Detectives of Old Time Radio. Welcome back.
22:34
It's a good thing for Johnny that the owner of the diamonds was a
22:41
reasonable man, because there are some people, and I know some of them,
22:45
and I think I'm probably related to some of them, and I have
22:48
days when I might be one of them who would be very stubborn and would
22:52
point out that Johnny didn't prove that the helicopter landing was what happened. He
23:00
only proved it was what could have happened. But in this case, the
23:03
policy had only been invoked because the owner couldn't figure out what had going on,
23:07
so it DIDs so you assumed I must have been aliens. Uh.
23:11
The entire policy, though, is a bit of a sad a sad thing
23:18
when you think about it, and a sign that this guy's probably just a
23:26
big time a miser. I mean, I understand, you know, taking
23:29
security. You've got something that's nice, begging out some insurance. Sure,
23:33
you want to make sure that you're reasonably protected. However, to be to
23:37
the point where I'm going to buy insurance in case aliens decide to steal my
23:44
jewel, ah, that's probably a bit much, you know. And you
23:48
can imagine people who believe in UFOs talking about what they think the aliens might
23:55
want if there were aliens in they come, and one says, I think
23:59
that feel common. They'll want to dwell in peace and teach us that to
24:03
and you know, bring harmony in brotherhood. And other will say no,
24:08
I think they're going to conquer us all. And this guy says, well,
24:11
I think they're gonna be if they come, they're going to be after
24:15
my duels. But don't worry. I've got an insurance policy for that.
24:18
I mean what he was saying, and I think maybe it was the actor.
24:22
It sounded so reasonable until you thought about it. But of course it
24:26
does turn out to have a natural explanation, because that's one of the things
24:30
you we do have kind of as a as an informal contract with us as
24:37
listeners is we can usually on almost every show except maybe Casey Come Photographer,
24:45
and they're almost always that whatever we're dealing with, the major mystery is going
24:52
to have a simple, natural solution. Occasionally you might have a little oh
25:00
there's something spoken, but that's not the big mystery, because yeah, you
25:07
can't start throwing in aliens and ghosts and what have you as solutions to a
25:18
case unless you've set some president that this is one of those mystery series,
25:23
and they do exist where the solutions could be strange or science fictiony or supernatural.
25:32
And the only programs that really had that consistently we're like X minus one.
25:38
We played one episode from there that was constructed as a detective story.
25:45
It was set on another world with a solution that involved a futuristic device that
25:52
worked wonderfully at any rate. We're rambling now, so we to turn to
25:57
listener comments and feedback, and we have just this from Michelle, who speaks
26:03
for the good comments we received from Andrea, Tim, Kathy and James.
26:11
Michelle says, I love Johnny Dollar. Thank you for all your hard work.
26:15
Well, thanks so much, Michelle. Let's truly appreciate it. We
26:19
will be back with you tomorrow with Dragnett, and then join us again next
26:25
Friday for another episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. In the meanwhile,
26:30
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on
26:33
Twitter at Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook,
26:38
dot com, slash Radiodetectives From Boise, Idaho. This is your host,
26:42
Adam Grahamson and off