Latest / The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows | Old Time Radio / The Whistler - "The Killers" (Old Time Radio, 1943)

Transcript

The Whistler - "The Killers" (Old Time Radio, 1943) · The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows | Old Time Radio

0:00
Speaker 1: After a sensational murder trial in a southwestern state, a
0:03
Speaker 1: young man is committed to an asylum for the ax-slaying
0:07
Speaker 1: of his employer, Atkins, and the Atkins family. He escapes
0:11
Speaker 1: custody and makes his way to an isolated farm where
0:15
Speaker 1: three women and $ 1, 000 in cash are gathered. From the
0:19
Speaker 1: CBS Pacific Network, this is The Whistler, The Killers, Episode 50,
0:24
Speaker 1: first broadcast May 1st, 1943. J. Donald Wilson wrote and directed.
0:30
Speaker 1: Marvin Miller is heard in the cast with Wilbur Hatch
0:33
Speaker 1: composing and conducting the series music. The whistler's voice is
0:38
Speaker 1: waiting in the shadows, so settle back for a half
0:41
Speaker 1: hour from radio's suspense dial. And now, the original broadcast.
0:52
Speaker 2: Have you heard the strange tales of the whistler?
1:13
Speaker 3: I'm the whistler.
1:14
Speaker 4: I know who you are.
1:19
Speaker 5: I know all about you and what you've done. You're
1:21
Speaker 5: trying to run away, but I'm going with you.
1:27
Speaker 6: Saturday night, and CBS presents The Whistler. I.
1:40
Speaker 7: The whistler... Know many things, for I walk by night.
1:45
Speaker 3: I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the
1:49
Speaker 3: hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows.
1:53
Speaker 8: And so I tell you tonight the story of The Killers.
1:56
Speaker 9: The rain beats down in torrent.
2:09
Speaker 8: And during the brief flashes of lightning, a certain stone
2:11
Speaker 8: building stands out.
2:12
Speaker 7: In the darkness of the night.
2:14
Speaker 8: The courthouse of a county in a southwestern state. A
2:17
Speaker 8: murder trial has come to a conclusion. A sensational trial
2:21
Speaker 8: in which the young killer has been tried and convicted
2:24
Speaker 8: of the brutal slaying.
2:25
Speaker 7: Of five people.
2:26
Speaker 8: His employer, Farmer Atkins, and Atkins' entire family. The defense,
2:30
Speaker 8: appointed by the state, contended that the slayer was insane.
2:34
Speaker 8: Now the killer stands before the judge.
2:38
Speaker 10: The jury has found that on the night of September 13th,
2:41
Speaker 10: the entire Atkins family was brutally slain with a meat
2:44
Speaker 10: cleaver wielded by the defendant, Joe Nichols. In the absence
2:48
Speaker 10: of sufficient motive other than the $ 20 found on the defendant,
2:52
Speaker 10: the defendant was placed under observation by the state psychiatrist.
2:56
Speaker 10: And the said state psychiatrist found the defendant suffering from
2:59
Speaker 10: dementia precox. Therefore, it is the duty of this court
3:02
Speaker 10: to commit the defendant to the state institution for the insane.
3:13
Speaker 7: And so, Joe Nichols.
3:15
Speaker 8: Was taken to the state asylum, there.
3:17
Speaker 7: To be placed under observation and treatment.
3:21
Speaker 8: Now let us travel south in the same state to
3:23
Speaker 8: a certain farm, a farm belonging to the widow Agatha Mayberry.
3:28
Speaker 8: There's no connection whatever between Agatha Mayberry and the insane
3:32
Speaker 8: killer Joe.
3:32
Speaker 7: Nichols, but let us go to the farm anyway.
3:36
Speaker 8: Agatha's husband died three years ago and left her with
3:39
Speaker 8: a rather large farm. At first, she managed things very well,
3:43
Speaker 8: But then came the war, and hands became scarcer and scarcer.
3:47
Speaker 8: Then Agatha's sister Ellen came to live with her, and
3:50
Speaker 8: Ellen's daughter, a lazy girl named Della.
3:59
Speaker 11: Storm is coming up stronger now. Did you get those
4:02
Speaker 11: calves in like.
4:03
Speaker 2: I told you, Della?
4:04
Speaker 5: What did you say, Aunt Agatha?
4:05
Speaker 11: Get your nose out of that magazine and you can
4:07
Speaker 11: hear me. Aunt Agatha wanted to know if you looked
4:09
Speaker 11: after the.
4:10
Speaker 5: Calves, darling.
4:11
Speaker 11: No.
4:12
Speaker 5: No, I forgot. You'll have to excuse Della.
4:15
Speaker 11: She just can't get used to this sort of life
4:17
Speaker 11: in so short a time. We've both been here almost
4:19
Speaker 11: a year.
4:20
Speaker 5: Give her time, Agatha.
4:22
Speaker 11: Give her time. I'll give her time. Get out there, Della,
4:24
Speaker 11: and see if those calves are under shelter.
4:26
Speaker 12: I might catch my death of cold in this storm.
4:28
Speaker 11: Those calves are worth more than you are. Go on.
4:32
Speaker 12: She's frightened to death of lightning, Agatha.
4:39
Speaker 11: I don't think she's frightened of anything.
4:40
Speaker 5: Why don't you hire a man to do these things?
4:42
Speaker 11: Huh.
4:43
Speaker 2: Wish I could.
4:44
Speaker 11: Men are scarce these days, all in the arms.
4:46
Speaker 2: Oh, poor baby.
4:47
Speaker 5: Poor baby.
4:48
Speaker 11: You stay here. I'll go and see to the cab.
4:51
Speaker 11: You'll do no such thing, Ellen. Stay here and take
4:53
Speaker 11: care of your baby. And I'll attend to the cab. Well,
4:57
Speaker 11: she'll be all right just as soon as the storm's over.
4:59
Speaker 8: Yeah?
5:01
Speaker 11: Well, you've got to do something around here, Della. At
5:03
Speaker 11: least you can wash the dishes.
5:04
Speaker 5: But I dried them yesterday.
5:05
Speaker 11: Don't hurt your beautiful hands. Anyway, I've got to do
5:09
Speaker 11: something around here under these conditions.
5:11
Speaker 12: You need a man.
5:12
Speaker 5: You need a farmhand.
5:13
Speaker 11: Yes, but I can't get one. So the only thing
5:16
Speaker 11: I can do is to get rid of some of
5:18
Speaker 11: this land. Sell it to someone who can handle it.
5:21
Speaker 5: Well, Mr. Dalton made you an offer for part of Patagaster.
5:25
Speaker 5: He offered to buy some.
5:26
Speaker 11: Yes, I know. And he can handle it. He has
5:28
Speaker 11: a couple of sons. And a daughter who isn't afraid
5:31
Speaker 11: to get her hands dirty. How much do you think
5:34
Speaker 11: he'd pay for it? Oh, I don't know. But I'm
5:37
Speaker 11: going to find out.
5:38
Speaker 5: Agatha, where are you going?
5:39
Speaker 11: I'm going to see Mr. Dalton, my neighbor. If I
5:42
Speaker 11: can make a deal, I'll make it tonight.
5:43
Speaker 5: But it's storming, Aunt Agatha.
5:45
Speaker 11: I've been in storms before. I'll drive over there and
5:47
Speaker 11: be back in an hour. I'm not a sissy. Go
5:50
Speaker 11: on to bed, Della, and pull the covers over your head.
5:54
Speaker 13: Aunt Agatha is selfish.
5:58
Speaker 2: She's mean.
5:59
Speaker 12: All she thinks about is this farm and work, work.
6:03
Speaker 5: I don't know anything about a farm. I can't learn.
6:05
Speaker 2: I won't.
6:06
Speaker 5: You don't belong on a farm, Della.
6:08
Speaker 11: It doesn't suit you.
6:09
Speaker 2: I won't herd animals.
6:10
Speaker 1: I won't milk cows.
6:12
Speaker 11: Oh, there, there, darling.
6:13
Speaker 7: Don't cry.
6:15
Speaker 2: Mother understands. No one understands me.
6:18
Speaker 12: I won't be a slave. And I guess they're trying
6:21
Speaker 12: to make a slave of me.
6:22
Speaker 13: There are people.
6:23
Speaker 5: For such work. There are men for such things.
6:25
Speaker 11: But men are scared, darling.
6:27
Speaker 2: Men are scared.
6:28
Speaker 11: Then we'll leave.
6:29
Speaker 5: We won't put up with this.
6:31
Speaker 2: How can we.
6:32
Speaker 7: Leave, baby?
6:32
Speaker 3: We have no money. No money.
6:35
Speaker 13: Well, I won't take care of animals.
6:37
Speaker 12: I'm going to be a model.
6:39
Speaker 5: I should be a New Yorker or in Hollywood. No, no, darling,
6:42
Speaker 5: don't let yourself get excited. You're mean and selfish, and
6:45
Speaker 5: I hate her. Oh, please, Della, darling, calm yourself. Who
6:48
Speaker 5: does she think she is ordering me around like a slave?
6:50
Speaker 5: I won't stand for it. Mind you, the old fool,
6:54
Speaker 5: I hate her. I don't mean a word you say, darling.
6:57
Speaker 5: You're just upset now. Please try and relax.
7:00
Speaker 2: Please.
7:13
Speaker 8: While Della, poor little Della, sobs and sobs in a
7:16
Speaker 8: fit of hysteria, Aunt Agatha drives on through the raging
7:20
Speaker 8: storm and.
7:21
Speaker 7: Ten minutes later falls to a stop in.
7:23
Speaker 8: Front of her nearest neighbor's house, the house of Farmer Dalton.
7:32
Speaker 5: Anybody home?
7:34
Speaker 11: Dalton.
7:37
Speaker 2: Well, land of mercy, Agatha Mayberry. Come on in, come in,
7:41
Speaker 2: come in, come in.
7:43
Speaker 11: You must think I'm kind of crazy running around on
7:45
Speaker 11: a night like.
7:45
Speaker 7: This, Mr.
7:45
Speaker 11: Dalton.
7:46
Speaker 2: Well, there must be a reason for it, Agatha.
7:48
Speaker 11: Yes, there is. I want to talk business.
7:50
Speaker 2: Business? All right, what's on your mind all of a sudden?
7:54
Speaker 11: You want to buy the east half of the farm?
7:56
Speaker 2: Why, sure, I told you I did.
7:59
Speaker 11: What was your offer?
8:00
Speaker 8: $ 2, 000.
8:00
Speaker 2: Well....
8:02
Speaker 11: That's a little low, don't you think?
8:03
Speaker 2: Well, perhaps, but what are you going to be able
8:07
Speaker 2: to do with it? You ain't got no menfolk around.
8:09
Speaker 2: You'll have to let it go to grass.
8:10
Speaker 11: Yes, I know that. But if we could only get
8:13
Speaker 11: a few women to give up their fancy manicures and
8:15
Speaker 11: long fingernails, it wouldn't hurt them any, I know. I've
8:19
Speaker 11: tried it.
8:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're right about that, Agatha.
8:22
Speaker 11: Well, let's get down to business. You'll give me $ 2, 000
8:25
Speaker 11: for the east half of my land?
8:27
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right.
8:28
Speaker 11: Well, it's a deal.
8:29
Speaker 7: Good.
8:30
Speaker 2: Shake. Now, how do you want it?
8:34
Speaker 11: Well, how are you prepared to handle it?
8:37
Speaker 2: Well, I'll tell you. I collected $ 1, 000 cash from Henry
8:41
Speaker 2: Jacobs late this afternoon. It was too late to put
8:43
Speaker 2: in the bank. So I'll just give you that cash
8:46
Speaker 2: and a note for 12 months on the balance.
8:48
Speaker 11: All right, fair enough. Make out the note.
8:50
Speaker 2: All right. I, John Dalton, in consideration, in the sum
8:59
Speaker 2: of $ 7, 000. Well, there you are, Raggedup.
9:06
Speaker 7: I see.
9:08
Speaker 11: Well, shouldn't we have a witness to this transaction?
9:11
Speaker 2: If you want it that way, sure.
9:15
Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to thank you, Mr.
9:17
Speaker 2: Dalton. That was a swell supper. Oh, come in here
9:21
Speaker 2: a minute. I want you to do something. Sure.
9:23
Speaker 14: Sure.
9:24
Speaker 2: Anything to say, Mr.
9:24
Speaker 11: Dalton?
9:26
Speaker 3: What can I do?
9:26
Speaker 2: Joe, this is Mrs. Agatha Mayberry, my neighbor of the West.
9:29
Speaker 2: She just told me the east half of her land
9:31
Speaker 2: I'm paying her half cash and the other half on
9:33
Speaker 2: a 12-month note. I'd like you to witness that note,
9:37
Speaker 2: would you?
9:38
Speaker 3: Is that necessary?
9:39
Speaker 2: Oh, I don't know, but that's the way Agatha wants it.
9:42
Speaker 3: Very well, I'll witness it.
9:45
Speaker 7: There you are.
9:46
Speaker 2: Oh, thanks, Joe.
9:48
Speaker 11: And who is this man?
9:49
Speaker 2: Well, Joe came here today, early this morning, and he's
9:53
Speaker 2: Worked like a dog all day. Done ten men's work.
9:57
Speaker 2: and that's something I can't understand.
9:59
Speaker 11: What do you mean?
9:59
Speaker 2: Well, he's been discharged from the Army because of a
10:02
Speaker 2: physical reason. He's a 4F, but certainly didn't show any
10:05
Speaker 2: bad signs today.
10:06
Speaker 8: I can still do a lot of useful things.
10:08
Speaker 11: I thought you had enough men around here to handle things.
10:11
Speaker 2: Oh, I have, but he was broke and hungry.
10:13
Speaker 11: Well, if you don't really need him, how about lending
10:16
Speaker 11: him to me? I could use him.
10:18
Speaker 2: Yes, that's right. You could. She's got a farm and
10:21
Speaker 2: not a man on the place, Joe. How about it, huh? Sure.
10:25
Speaker 3: Sure, I'd be glad to help her.
10:26
Speaker 2: Fine. Well, you go on with Mrs. Mayberry. She really
10:28
Speaker 2: needs help, Joe. She lives alone with her sister and
10:31
Speaker 2: her young niece, and they can't help her much, but
10:33
Speaker 2: you can.
10:33
Speaker 11: It's a deal.
10:34
Speaker 14: Right.
10:35
Speaker 2: Well, here's your $ 1, 000 cash, Agatha, and the note. Next
10:38
Speaker 2: payment's due in 30 days.
10:40
Speaker 7: I'll have it there.
10:41
Speaker 11: I'm not worried about you, John. See you later.
10:43
Speaker 2: Well, now, you better keep an eye on me. I'm
10:45
Speaker 2: a strange sort of critter. I forget sometimes, you know.
10:47
Speaker 11: Well, come along, young man. It's getting late and the
10:49
Speaker 11: storm's getting worse.
10:51
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, I know. Are you alone?
10:53
Speaker 2: Yes. Good night, Mr.
10:56
Speaker 3: Dalton.
10:57
Speaker 2: And thanks for everything.
10:58
Speaker 4: Now, Joe.
11:14
Speaker 11: Did you say your name was?
11:15
Speaker 3: I didn't say. but my name's Joe.
11:18
Speaker 2: Oh, I see.
11:19
Speaker 11: Ever do any farm work, Joe?
11:21
Speaker 3: Yes, I've done a little, here and there.
11:23
Speaker 11: You're sure welcome.
11:25
Speaker 3: Why did you sell half of your farm?
11:26
Speaker 11: Because I couldn't take care of it.
11:28
Speaker 3: You sold it short, didn't you?
11:30
Speaker 11: Yep, $ 2, 000, and it's really worth $ 4, 000. He gave me $ 1, 000
11:34
Speaker 11: cash and this note for the balance.
11:38
Speaker 3: Aren't you worried about carrying $ 1, 000 in cash?
11:41
Speaker 11: No, why should I be worried?
11:43
Speaker 3: Oh, I don't know, but it's kind of risky.
11:46
Speaker 8: Is it?
11:48
Speaker 3: Aren't you afraid of me? No.
11:50
Speaker 11: I'm not afraid of anyone.
11:52
Speaker 2: No? Well, that's good.
11:53
Speaker 11: How long have you been out of the Army?
11:56
Speaker 3: Three days over four months. I was wounded in Bataan.
11:59
Speaker 14: But I can do lots of things even if I
12:00
Speaker 14: am discharged.
12:01
Speaker 11: Well, I'm glad to have you. Glad to have anyone
12:04
Speaker 11: who can do anything.
12:06
Speaker 3: Dark road, isn't it?
12:07
Speaker 2: Yep.
12:08
Speaker 11: No one could drive on it if they didn't know it.
12:11
Speaker 3: Any crossroads?
12:12
Speaker 11: No, none.
12:14
Speaker 3: How much farther is your place?
12:16
Speaker 11: Hmm, about two miles.
12:17
Speaker 2: Oh, that far, huh? Big farm.
12:23
Speaker 11: What do you think of that? Must have got wet
12:25
Speaker 11: after all.
12:26
Speaker 2: That's what it sounds like.
12:28
Speaker 11: Oh, I hope it keeps going. I'd hate to have
12:29
Speaker 11: to walk the rest of the way in this storm.
12:31
Speaker 11: That mud?
12:32
Speaker 2: Yeah, that wouldn't be good, would it?
12:33
Speaker 14: Maybe you'd better stop and let me have a look
12:35
Speaker 14: under the hood.
12:36
Speaker 2: All right.
12:38
Speaker 11: Shall I turn off the motor?
12:39
Speaker 2: No, no, no, not yet.
12:47
Speaker 14: Oh, your fan isn't working. The belt's slipping and your
12:50
Speaker 14: motor's too hot.
12:51
Speaker 11: Well, can you fix it? Yeah.
12:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, I can fix it.
12:54
Speaker 10: Have you got a wrench?
12:56
Speaker 11: Yes, in that door pocket.
12:58
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah.
13:00
Speaker 3: Here we are. This will do it. Turn it on.
13:06
Speaker 2: Well?
13:06
Speaker 11: What are you staring at?
13:08
Speaker 8: Oh, I was just thinking what a brave woman you
13:11
Speaker 8: are to be riding around alone on a night like this.
13:15
Speaker 7: With $ 1, 000 in cash.
13:16
Speaker 3: Seems to me.
13:26
Speaker 5: Agatha's been gone quite a while, Della. Yes, been almost
13:29
Speaker 5: an hour. Maybe she got stuck or something happened to
13:33
Speaker 5: the car. She'd be right if it did.
13:35
Speaker 12: I don't care if she never comes back.
13:37
Speaker 5: Della, what are you saying? You don't mean that. Well,
13:42
Speaker 5: maybe not. But I was just thinking. So will you,
13:46
Speaker 5: but you won't admit it.
13:47
Speaker 2: Admit what?
13:48
Speaker 13: If she didn't come back, why? Then we could leave here.
13:52
Speaker 13: We could go to New York or Hollywood and I
13:54
Speaker 13: could follow my career.
13:55
Speaker 3: Follow?
13:55
Speaker 13: Well, we could sell the farm and everything. I had
13:58
Speaker 13: plenty of money to live on until.
13:59
Speaker 5: I got started.
14:00
Speaker 11: We sell the farm?
14:01
Speaker 5: Don't be so dumb, Mother. Wouldn't you inherit all her property?
14:05
Speaker 5: Don't talk like that, Della.
14:06
Speaker 3: It frightens me.
14:08
Speaker 13: I can imagine how frightened you are. You're not afraid
14:11
Speaker 13: something has happened to her. You're afraid something won't.
14:13
Speaker 11: Be still.
14:15
Speaker 3: All right.
14:16
Speaker 11: It's getting worse.
14:20
Speaker 8: Yes.
14:20
Speaker 5: I'm going to hit the road slicker.
14:22
Speaker 3: Muddier.
14:23
Speaker 5: Be hard to keep from skidding.
14:24
Speaker 2: Stella.
14:26
Speaker 11: Stella, don't open it.
14:29
Speaker 5: Who's there?
14:30
Speaker 3: It's all right. Open the door.
14:31
Speaker 5: Good news, maybe, Martha.
14:36
Speaker 7: What is it?
14:36
Speaker 3: Oh, it's mighty wet out here. Are you Mrs.
14:39
Speaker 7: Mayberry's niece?
14:40
Speaker 11: Yes.
14:41
Speaker 5: What happened?
14:42
Speaker 7: Well, she had a little trouble and... Where is she?
14:44
Speaker 11: Is she all right?
14:45
Speaker 2: I'm her sister. No, don't close the door.
14:47
Speaker 7: She'll be along in a moment.
14:48
Speaker 11: Is she?
14:48
Speaker 5: How did it happen?
14:49
Speaker 14: Well, the fan belt slipped and the motor got hot,
14:51
Speaker 14: and then when she started down that steep hill, the
14:54
Speaker 14: car started to slide, and she went into a tree
14:56
Speaker 14: at the bottom.
14:57
Speaker 5: I see. Where is she now?
15:00
Speaker 11: Well, I got to the garage on the right, and
15:01
Speaker 11: I've heard much from Agatha a little.
15:04
Speaker 1: Agatha!
15:04
Speaker 11: What?
15:05
Speaker 5: She's all right.
15:06
Speaker 11: Yeah, but I shouldn't have.
15:07
Speaker 5: Had the time with that car.
15:09
Speaker 2: What do you mean, all right? Of course I'm all right.
15:11
Speaker 2: But we've talked.
15:11
Speaker 5: Make some tea, Ellen. I'm frozen stiff.
15:13
Speaker 11: Who's this man? Oh, this is Joe. Joe, this is
15:16
Speaker 11: my niece, Ella, and this is her mother, my sister, Ellen.
15:18
Speaker 3: We've met.
15:19
Speaker 11: We're going to have a man around here. Joe's a
15:22
Speaker 11: new can. Maybe we'll get something done around here for
15:25
Speaker 11: a change.
15:26
Speaker 5: Did you make the deal with Mr. Dawson?
15:28
Speaker 11: Sure. He paid me $ 1, 000 down. In cash. Balance monthly.
15:32
Speaker 11: Joe here was witness to the deal.
15:34
Speaker 5: Witness?
15:35
Speaker 3: Yes, I happened to be at the Dawson's place.
15:36
Speaker 2: I worked there today.
15:38
Speaker 3: Your aunt said she needed a hand, so here I am.
15:41
Speaker 2: You're going to stay here? Of course.
15:43
Speaker 5: Well, how nice.
15:45
Speaker 14: Your aunt's a very brave woman to take a chance
15:47
Speaker 14: riding with a stranger in a thousand dollars cash around
15:50
Speaker 14: her neck.
15:50
Speaker 11: Oh, I'm not afraid. I'm a pretty good judge of people. Well,
15:54
Speaker 11: since you aren't going to make that tea, Ellen, I'll
15:56
Speaker 11: do it myself. Sit down, Ellen, before you fall down.
15:59
Speaker 5: Turn on the radio, Della.
16:00
Speaker 11: I want to hear the news in a little bit. Oh.
16:08
Speaker 5: Are you married, Mr.
16:11
Speaker 3: Joe?
16:12
Speaker 2: No.
16:13
Speaker 5: You're not in the army?
16:14
Speaker 7: I was.
16:16
Speaker 3: Medical discharge.
16:17
Speaker 5: You look tired, sir.
16:18
Speaker 2: Yes, I am.
16:21
Speaker 3: I wonder if you'd mind if I'd turn in.
16:23
Speaker 5: Not at all.
16:24
Speaker 3: Well, is there a separate building for the hands?
16:27
Speaker 5: No, I suppose I know that they intend for you
16:29
Speaker 5: to have a spare room up here. The end of
16:31
Speaker 5: the hall.
16:32
Speaker 7: I see.
16:34
Speaker 3: Well, good night, Mr... My name is Dara. Good night, Stella.
16:40
Speaker 5: Good night, Cheryl.
16:42
Speaker 11: Good night.
16:43
Speaker 3: Night, ma'am.
16:54
Speaker 5: He's a bit odd, isn't he? I like him. He's
16:57
Speaker 5: not bad looking, either.
17:01
Speaker 7: A family with a meat cleaver.
17:02
Speaker 8: He was later found to be insane and sentenced to
17:04
Speaker 8: the insane asylum.
17:05
Speaker 10: He escaped last night and is believed to be heading south.
17:08
Speaker 8: This man is dangerous, regardless of his seeming sanity, and
17:10
Speaker 8: authorities are to be notified of any man.
17:12
Speaker 7: Answering his description. He is five feet nine, dark brown hair,
17:15
Speaker 7: blue eyes, and his name is Joe Nichols.
17:17
Speaker 6: He was last seen.
17:18
Speaker 11: Stella! Stella!
17:20
Speaker 2: It's him!
17:21
Speaker 5: And his name is Joe Nichols!
17:27
Speaker 2: Yes, Stella. His name is Joe.
17:30
Speaker 8: Upstairs in that spare room is Joe, a mad killer.
17:35
Speaker 7: That frightens you, doesn't it? You and your mother and
17:38
Speaker 7: your aunt. Three women alone in a house with a madman.
17:42
Speaker 8: And the man knows about the thousand dollars.
17:45
Speaker 7: What are you going to do, Della?
17:47
Speaker 5: What are we going to do, Della? What will we do? Quiet, Mother.
17:50
Speaker 5: I'll tell Agatha. Agatha should know. Come back here and
17:52
Speaker 5: be quiet. Agatha should be warned. Maybe she'll know what
17:55
Speaker 5: to do. Not a word to Aunt Agatha. It would
17:57
Speaker 5: only frighten us. We better call the police.
17:59
Speaker 11: Call somebody.
17:59
Speaker 5: We can't. The phone isn't working. It's gone dead. Gone dead? Della,
18:03
Speaker 5: what do you mean? What I said. I tried it
18:05
Speaker 5: earlier this evening. Well, when?
18:07
Speaker 11: I don't remember.
18:08
Speaker 5: You'll be still. Now go upstairs and go to bed.
18:12
Speaker 5: Go upstairs?
18:12
Speaker 2: But.
18:13
Speaker 3: No, Della, I can't.
18:15
Speaker 11: We.
18:16
Speaker 5: We've got to tell Agatha. Go to bed.
18:17
Speaker 3: But.
18:18
Speaker 5: But what if he should tell us? He knows about
18:21
Speaker 5: that money. I'd kill us all. There's a gun in
18:25
Speaker 5: this table drawer. I can see both you, Roman, and
18:27
Speaker 5: Agatha from this chair by the door. I'll stay here
18:30
Speaker 5: in the dark until morning. Don't stand.
18:32
Speaker 11: Yes.
18:33
Speaker 13: Go on upstairs before Agatha sees you.
18:35
Speaker 3: Go on.
18:44
Speaker 5: Well, where's everybody?
18:45
Speaker 2: Where's Joe?
18:46
Speaker 5: Said he was tired, so he went to bed. Mother
18:49
Speaker 5: just went up. After all, it is late, Aunt Agatha.
18:52
Speaker 2: Yeah, right, it is.
18:54
Speaker 5: You look tired, Aunt.
18:55
Speaker 12: Yeah, she'd better.
18:56
Speaker 11: What's the matter with you? What are you trembling about?
18:59
Speaker 5: Trembling? I... Well, I think I've taken cold.
19:02
Speaker 2: A little chill.
19:04
Speaker 3: I'll be off.
19:05
Speaker 11: Better take some quinine and go to bed yourself.
19:07
Speaker 5: Yes, but I haven't been sleeping well lately. I'll read
19:10
Speaker 5: for a little while.
19:12
Speaker 3: And I'll be back.
19:12
Speaker 11: I missed the news. What did it say?
19:14
Speaker 5: It said that, uh, nothing's important.
19:18
Speaker 2: Oh, I see.
19:19
Speaker 11: Well, better drink some warm milk and go to bed.
19:22
Speaker 14: Bye.
19:25
Speaker 5: Good night.
19:34
Speaker 7: Why didn't you tell her, Della?
19:36
Speaker 8: Do you really think you can handle the situation? You
19:40
Speaker 8: think you can cope with a madman? Your face grows
19:43
Speaker 8: more pale. Your hands tremble. Stella steps to the table,
19:49
Speaker 8: studies the phone, then opens the drawer, takes the revolver,
19:54
Speaker 8: turns out the lights, and slips into the chair by
19:57
Speaker 8: the door. As the hours pass, the storm increases to
20:03
Speaker 8: a fury. It is three in the morning now. and
20:09
Speaker 8: Agatha sleeps soundly in her four-poster bed. Then her door
20:13
Speaker 8: opens softly, and a tall figure steps into the room,
20:17
Speaker 8: slips to the side of Agatha's bed. A few moments pass,
20:21
Speaker 8: then a hand reaches toward Agatha's throat, removes the money bag.
20:26
Speaker 2: Agatha opens her eyes. What.
20:28
Speaker 11: what do you want?
20:29
Speaker 1: What is it you.
20:39
Speaker 7: The storm has reached its peak.
20:40
Speaker 8: A few minutes later, it has passed over, leaving only
20:43
Speaker 8: the fall of a light rain.
20:45
Speaker 7: Suddenly, Della stirs in the chair beside the door.
20:48
Speaker 8: A figure is slowly, stealthily coming down the stairs. Reaches
20:54
Speaker 8: the bottom and starts to cross the room toward Della.
20:57
Speaker 8: She wakes breathlessly, then snaps on the light.
21:03
Speaker 5: Where were you going?
21:05
Speaker 2: Why, I was, uh.
21:06
Speaker 3: What are you doing down here?
21:08
Speaker 5: Where were you going?
21:08
Speaker 3: Well, the storm woke me up and I got a
21:10
Speaker 3: little hungry. I thought I'd have a look in the kitchen.
21:12
Speaker 5: You were headed the wrong way, Joe.
21:14
Speaker 11: Huh?
21:14
Speaker 5: The kitchen is over there.
21:16
Speaker 3: Oh, yes. Yes, sure. I guess I got turned around
21:19
Speaker 3: in the dark.
21:20
Speaker 5: I don't think you were confused, Joe.
21:22
Speaker 3: What do you mean?
21:22
Speaker 5: You had no intention of spending the night here.
21:25
Speaker 13: And you weren't planning to start work in the morning.
21:27
Speaker 2: Of course I was.
21:27
Speaker 5: I know who you are, Joe. I know all about you.
21:30
Speaker 11: What?
21:32
Speaker 7: How do you know?
21:32
Speaker 5: The radio. There was a warning on the description. They
21:36
Speaker 5: said you were in there.
21:38
Speaker 7: And what are you going to do? Phone the police?
21:41
Speaker 10: No.
21:42
Speaker 3: Phone the dead.
21:43
Speaker 2: Yes?
21:43
Speaker 5: I'm not afraid. I understand your kind.
21:48
Speaker 3: What do you mean by that?
21:50
Speaker 5: I don't condemn you. I sympathize with you.
21:53
Speaker 3: You do?
21:54
Speaker 2: Yes.
21:55
Speaker 3: If they know I'm in the vicinity, then I've got
21:56
Speaker 3: to get out of here.
21:58
Speaker 5: You've got a little money, haven't you, Joe?
22:01
Speaker 8: Yes.
22:02
Speaker 5: Then I'm going with you.
22:04
Speaker 2: You're going.
22:04
Speaker 3: What do you mean? I can't do that? Yes, you can.
22:06
Speaker 11: You've got to.
22:07
Speaker 5: Once we get across the state line, everything will be
22:09
Speaker 5: all right.
22:10
Speaker 3: State line? I don't get it.
22:11
Speaker 11: I've got to get away from here.
22:12
Speaker 14: I've got to.
22:13
Speaker 12: I'm being held here against my wishes.
22:14
Speaker 3: Held here?
22:15
Speaker 11: Yes.
22:15
Speaker 12: They think I'm crazy, unbalanced.
22:17
Speaker 8: Crazy?
22:18
Speaker 3: You don't act crazy to me.
22:19
Speaker 5: Neither do you.
22:20
Speaker 12: But they've got some reason for keeping me here, and
22:21
Speaker 12: I can't stand it any longer. I've left before, but
22:24
Speaker 12: I haven't got a cent, and they watch me like
22:25
Speaker 12: a hawk. Here are the keys to the car.
22:28
Speaker 3: I don't need a car. I can hide out better
22:30
Speaker 3: on foot.
22:31
Speaker 14: I don't want anybody with me, especially a girl. And besides,
22:33
Speaker 14: I don't intend to cross the state line.
22:34
Speaker 5: But you're taking me with you.
22:35
Speaker 3: Nothing doing.
22:36
Speaker 14: I'm getting out now while it's dark.
22:37
Speaker 2: Wait a minute.
22:39
Speaker 11: What?
22:39
Speaker 5: Shoot if I have. Open that door and go to
22:41
Speaker 5: the garage. Now go on. Remember, you're a thief. If
22:48
Speaker 5: I shoot you, they'll say nothing of it.
22:51
Speaker 11: Straight ahead to the garage.
22:52
Speaker 4: Come on.
23:01
Speaker 3: Now, turn here.
23:02
Speaker 12: This is the main highway.
23:03
Speaker 14: Well, why the main highway? I'd rather keep you beside me.
23:06
Speaker 2: I wouldn't.
23:07
Speaker 5: Straight ahead.
23:11
Speaker 3: Maybe they're right. Maybe you are not.
23:13
Speaker 12: Are you crazy, Joe?
23:14
Speaker 2: Let me not.
23:15
Speaker 4: Of course not.
23:15
Speaker 5: Neither am I.
23:19
Speaker 14: Where did this highway go?
23:20
Speaker 5: To the state line.
23:22
Speaker 3: Look, I'm in a tough enough spot as it is.
23:23
Speaker 14: I'm not going to try and cross the state line
23:25
Speaker 14: with a girl at this time of the morning.
23:26
Speaker 5: I'll take care of it.
23:27
Speaker 11: I know it. Straight ahead.
23:30
Speaker 3: Oh, look at that line. I could wring your neck
23:32
Speaker 3: for this.
23:34
Speaker 5: You're just the one who could do it.
23:36
Speaker 14: I've got one chance in a thousand of getting over
23:37
Speaker 14: that line.
23:38
Speaker 5: We'll make it all right. We'll make it. And keep
23:41
Speaker 5: both hands on that wheel. I know what you're thinking.
23:44
Speaker 3: I could send this car over, you know.
23:47
Speaker 11: But you won't.
23:49
Speaker 3: Will you?
23:50
Speaker 11: You.
23:53
Speaker 2: Hey, look.
23:54
Speaker 3: Red lights ahead.
23:55
Speaker 5: State line.
23:56
Speaker 14: One of the lights is swinging.
23:58
Speaker 3: They're signaling to stop police officers.
23:59
Speaker 11: Yes. Faster, Joe, faster.
24:01
Speaker 5: Go right on through them.
24:03
Speaker 11: They'll never catch.
24:07
Speaker 8: Me.
24:07
Speaker 7: I said faster.
24:08
Speaker 11: Hey, stop.
24:08
Speaker 4: Stay back.
24:09
Speaker 3: Stop.
24:09
Speaker 4: We've made it.
24:10
Speaker 11: Keep going.
24:11
Speaker 2: Hey.
24:11
Speaker 7: What's wrong? I don't know.
24:12
Speaker 4: I don't know.
24:15
Speaker 12: I think there's broken a.
24:19
Speaker 7: Fishing rod.
24:22
Speaker 14: This old place can't take that to be done.
24:29
Speaker 7: Oh.
24:31
Speaker 2: Look back.
24:32
Speaker 6: Here they come.
24:33
Speaker 14: Now I am stuck.
24:34
Speaker 11: Don't move, Joe.
24:36
Speaker 2: Right where you are. You little chap.
24:38
Speaker 11: Don't you move or.
24:39
Speaker 2: I'll shoot you. Put up your hands, buddy.
24:47
Speaker 3: All right, all right, all right.
24:48
Speaker 10: What's the idea of running over the state line like that?
24:50
Speaker 7: Didn't you see the lights?
24:51
Speaker 3: Well, you see, I.
24:52
Speaker 2: Maybe he's colorblind, Tom. Thought they were green.
24:55
Speaker 10: He seems to be sober, all right. Let's see your
24:57
Speaker 10: driver's license.
24:58
Speaker 3: I haven't got one.
24:59
Speaker 10: Let's see your draft card.
25:01
Speaker 3: I haven't got one that is with me.
25:03
Speaker 10: Well, you hear that, Frank?
25:05
Speaker 6: Who are you?
25:05
Speaker 2: Hey, hey, Tom. Look, slumped down in the seat.
25:08
Speaker 7: The girl. Throw your light on her.
25:10
Speaker 6: Look at her face, all bloody.
25:13
Speaker 7: Open the door.
25:14
Speaker 10: She's been bashed in the mouth.
25:17
Speaker 6: Wait a minute.
25:18
Speaker 7: Is this your gun, buddy?
25:19
Speaker 11: No, no.
25:20
Speaker 2: What's this little pouch on the seat?
25:22
Speaker 14: I don't know.
25:22
Speaker 2: Look, Tom. Look at the bills. Look at the wad
25:24
Speaker 2: of money. Hey.
25:27
Speaker 9: Hey.
25:27
Speaker 7: Hey, sister.
25:28
Speaker 2: Are you all right?
25:28
Speaker 3: Huh?
25:30
Speaker 2: It's all right, sister. We're state police.
25:32
Speaker 7: Police?
25:33
Speaker 10: What happened to you?
25:34
Speaker 1: It's him.
25:35
Speaker 11: Who?
25:35
Speaker 6: Who is this man?
25:36
Speaker 12: He came to our farm last night.
25:38
Speaker 3: He robbed my hat and made me come with him.
25:41
Speaker 5: He kidnapped me.
25:42
Speaker 2: She's crazy.
25:43
Speaker 6: She's a nut.
25:43
Speaker 12: When we crossed the line, I tried to scream and
25:45
Speaker 12: he hit me.
25:46
Speaker 6: You don't know who he is?
25:47
Speaker 14: No.
25:48
Speaker 12: No, his name is Joe. I think he's the lunatic
25:51
Speaker 12: who escaped from the asylum yesterday.
25:53
Speaker 14: She's crazy, I tell you.
25:54
Speaker 10: Get out of that car, buddy. You're coming to headquarters.
25:57
Speaker 7: Oh, no! Go on, miss. What happened then?
26:06
Speaker 12: Well, after Mother and I heard the announcement on the radio,
26:09
Speaker 12: I knew it was him. I couldn't call the police
26:11
Speaker 12: because the phone was dead.
26:13
Speaker 6: Why didn't you go for help?
26:14
Speaker 5: Because he knew that Aunt Agatha had the money. I
26:16
Speaker 5: was afraid to go because of what he might do.
26:19
Speaker 5: I got Aunt's gun and sat by the door where
26:20
Speaker 5: I could see him as he went into his room.
26:22
Speaker 7: Yes?
26:23
Speaker 12: But I must have fallen asleep because I waked up just.
26:27
Speaker 5: In time to see him coming down the stairs and
26:28
Speaker 5: start to be out of doors.
26:30
Speaker 12: I turned on the light and He said he was
26:32
Speaker 12: looking for the kitchen.
26:33
Speaker 10: It was then you realized that while you'd been asleep
26:35
Speaker 10: that he'd gone into your aunt's room, killed her, and
26:37
Speaker 10: taken the money?
26:38
Speaker 11: Yes.
26:39
Speaker 5: If I hadn't fallen asleep, I might have presented it.
26:41
Speaker 5: I would have shot him.
26:42
Speaker 3: Officer, you know this woman's crazy, don't you?
26:45
Speaker 7: Crazy?
26:45
Speaker 14: Yes.
26:46
Speaker 2: Yes, she told me so herself.
26:47
Speaker 14: She said she was being kept a prisoner by her
26:49
Speaker 14: aunt and her mother because they knew she was unbalanced.
26:51
Speaker 7: Yeah. Well, maybe you're right, Joe. Maybe she is crazy. What?
26:56
Speaker 5: What do you mean by that?
26:57
Speaker 7: She's crazy.
26:58
Speaker 6: Yes.
26:59
Speaker 10: Crazy like a fox.
27:00
Speaker 5: He's lying.
27:01
Speaker 12: I never said I was crazy.
27:02
Speaker 10: When Joe came to the farm and you realized he
27:04
Speaker 10: was the escaped killer from the asylum, you decided to
27:07
Speaker 10: take advantage of his being there and kill your aunt.
27:09
Speaker 6: So your mother would inherit the estate.
27:11
Speaker 12: How can you say such a thing?
27:12
Speaker 11: That's horrible.
27:13
Speaker 10: You knew Joe would try to make a getaway when
27:14
Speaker 10: you told him about the broadcast. You had the money
27:17
Speaker 10: and the gun. You forced him to take you across
27:19
Speaker 10: the state line. You knew we'd chase you and catch you.
27:22
Speaker 10: You dropped the money bag in the seat and when
27:23
Speaker 10: we caught up to you, you hit yourself in the
27:25
Speaker 10: mouth with the gun button.
27:26
Speaker 5: I didn't.
27:27
Speaker 11: I didn't.
27:28
Speaker 7: Ah, yes, you did. We know all about it.
27:30
Speaker 10: It was you who went into your aunt's room, took
27:31
Speaker 10: the money, and hit her on the head.
27:32
Speaker 2: How can you say that?
27:33
Speaker 10: Because your aunt saw you standing over her bed.
27:35
Speaker 7: She called headquarters an hour ago.
27:40
Speaker 5: She what?
27:41
Speaker 11: Yeah.
27:42
Speaker 10: You didn't hit her hard enough, Della. And you lied
27:45
Speaker 10: about that phone. It was never out of order.
27:48
Speaker 5: She isn't dead.
27:52
Speaker 14: Oh.
27:53
Speaker 2: But... But this is ridiculous.
27:57
Speaker 5: Why would I do such a thing?
27:59
Speaker 11: Oh.
28:00
Speaker 12: He is an escaped lunatic! A mad killer!
28:06
Speaker 11: Why should I be accused of such a thing?
28:08
Speaker 10: Bella, Joe Nichols was captured a half hour after the broadcast.
28:12
Speaker 10: This man isn't Joe Nichols. He's Joe Davis, a deserter
28:15
Speaker 10: from Camp Higbee. But I think he's ready to go
28:18
Speaker 10: back and face the music.
28:20
Speaker 3: Believe me, Lieutenant. I thought I couldn't stand it there
28:22
Speaker 3: any longer. So I ran away.
28:25
Speaker 14: But after all this... Well, just take me back to camp. It'll...
28:30
Speaker 14: It'll be like paradise.
28:35
Speaker 7: Well, there you are.
28:37
Speaker 8: A strange story that might very well have ended disastrously
28:41
Speaker 8: for Joe if Della hadn't slipped up on two things.
28:45
Speaker 8: The telephone and the failure to learn if.
28:47
Speaker 7: Aunt Agatha was really dead.
28:49
Speaker 8: Even though Joe has not escaped his escaped lunatic, he
28:53
Speaker 8: might very easily have been charged with murder had it
28:55
Speaker 8: not been for the over-anxiety of the vicious-minded Della.
28:59
Speaker 7: Stella wasn't crazy.
29:00
Speaker 8: She was just a selfish little fool with no thought
29:02
Speaker 8: for anyone or anything except her.
29:04
Speaker 7: Own individual existence. There are a lot of you like that.
29:09
Speaker 3: Think it over.
29:10
Speaker 6: The End CBS has presented The Whistler. Original music for
29:40
Speaker 6: this production was.
29:41
Speaker 2: Composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
29:43
Speaker 6: The Whistler is written and directed by J. Donald Wilson
29:46
Speaker 6: and originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood. Next week, same.
29:52
Speaker 8: Time, I, The Whistler, will return to tell you another
29:56
Speaker 8: unusual tale.
29:58
Speaker 7: Good night.
30:02
Speaker 6: This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.
30:18
Speaker 1: The Whistler signs off after the killers follow the 50
30:22
Speaker 1: greatest old-time radio shows for more classic broadcasts.