Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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no additional cost to you. Now let's get into the conclusion of this week's
Yours truly, Johnny Dollar Cereal. The original air dates on this are August
eighth, ninth, and tenth of nineteen fifty six. It's The Alder Matter,
episode three, four and five from Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny
Dollar. This is Constance Older. Mister Dollar. Are you all right?
Sure, missus Older? What made you think I might not be well?
Just you having left the living room being in your own room like this?
Nothing wrong, Missus Alder. I'm fine. I'm sorry Montanti took so long
with his k handling demonstration. I hope you weren't bored, not in the
least. He's very good. But you did leave. That isn't necessarily a
sign of boredom, is it, missus Alder? You left before I did?
Yes? Of course the hostess has to keep busy, you know.
Sure. And like I said, I wasn't bored. I only left because
I wanted a little air. I went out on the patio for it.
Wonderful spot, Missus Alder. You can see everything, the harbor, the
slope down from the house, even anyone who might be on it. I
want to see you, mister Dollar, talk to you. That figure is
where your car half an hour tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey,
in the transcribed Adventures of the Man with the Action Packed Expense accout America's Fabulous
freelance insurance Investigator, Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, from Special Investigator Johnny Dollar,
location in Caracas, Venezuela to the home office Worldwide Mutual Insurance Company,
Hartford, Connecticut, assignment. The older matter expense account continued, Sometimes it
takes only a few well chosen words to start the mountain coming to Muhammad.
And it looked like I had picked the right ones with Constance Alder. Whatever
she had to say, I wanted to hear it because it was a sinch.
Nobody else in this rat race was giving away any information. Yeah,
I wanted very much to hear what missus Alder had to say. I had
it downstairs right away because I have a fetish about being early, but my
timing was bad. Ey Dollar, you got a minute? Well, I
can hardly say no to my host. Mister Alder, Come on in the
den. Anything the matter? There's cuts on your face. What happened your
daughter's boyfriend a kink? Yeah, he's got the idea. You hired me
to bust up their little romance. He didn't like it, that idiot?
Is that all you've got to say, mister Older? Because of it is
let me tell you how I feel about it. Where I stand? What
do you look? I know you're the insured, but I just about had
it with you. I don't have to take that kind of talk. I
think you do. You asked me to keep you alive, but you won't
lift a finger to help. Every time I ask you a question, you
look the other way. Do an imitation of clam? What am I supposed
to be a mind reader. All I want you to do is protect Oh
come on, come on, Alder, you're smarter than that. Protect you
from what you've almost been tagged out once. You must have an idea?
Who made that try? And why? I have no idea? Just like
that? Huh, mister dollar, Mister Alder, don't you see that by
not opening up, you're making a clay pigeon out of yourself. I can
tell you nothing. You know that I'd be justified in suggesting my company cancel
the policy. Now you'll have to suit yourself about that. Excuse me just
a minute. What did you tell your family and guests about me? Who
am I supposed to be? An old friend from up in the States.
Uh? Huh, you realize something, old friend. That's the first question
I ever asked that you had an answer for. It's the first one I
considered. You had to write this, mister Alder, Yes, whose side
are you on? Yours are the person who's trying to kid you oil rich
Billy Alder business mind par excellence, super salesman deluxe, the man who could
sell or talk you into anything, or could he say one word that might
keep another bullet from coming his way? It shouldn't look like it. I
left the den, was just starting out to my car to meet missus Alder.
I must have been relying Wis for our chat, because I suddenly realized
I'd forgotten my car keys. I hurried back upstairs and at the top almost
bowled over a woman who was about to come down. Oh, I'm so
sorry, my fault. No, no, I should have looked where I
was going. Here. Are you hurts sectly? All right? Excuse me?
Please? Sure was a hard house to make acquaintances, even when they
were old and drab and stern looking well. I went to my room,
got my car keys and my wallet, which lay alongside them. The position
of the wallet was interesting. I shut the door, headed once more for
my car. The lady of the house was waiting. We took off.
I know who you are, mister Donner, while you're here, I'm sure
you do. I was just back in my room. What I'll give you
a tip. Never search a pros room. He always puts an article down
in a certain position and memorizes it automatically. A search you can never replace
it, exactly the same way with me. It's wallets. I did not
go into your room. Oh, the name A guess for me? What
are you have? Fifty sh kind of lady, kind of faded, severe
looking. Why, I'm just curious. Doris Cole, a very old friend
from the States, mind telling me where her room is right next to yours?
Why? Well, I just ran into her as she was coming downstairs.
She looked a little Call it worry. That's ridiculous. She'd have no
more reason to search your room than I would. Sure, let's forget it.
A little while ago I saw you searching out on the slope, and
you know I saw you. Now what were you looking for? An empty
cartridge? You think I fired that shot at my husband? Someone did?
And there are easier places to go for a stroll and on that slope.
I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. I just wanted to see
if I could find some trace of whoever had done it. A shell from
a gun. Oh, that's interesting to say the least. I don't like
your tone, mister Dalla. I don't blame you because you just made a
poopoo. Only an automatic ejecta's shell a revolver doesn't. In other words,
you knew what kind of gun was used. Uncomfortable, missus Alder, Why
don't you go home like to live dangerously? Missus Older slapping the driver of
a moving car. Pretty foolish, isn't it. Sorry, I'm very sorry,
all right? Tell me something? How did you know what I was
really here for? My husband? I made him tell me, well,
congratulations. I can't get him to tell me the time of day, and
he knows whose side I'm on. We rode back to the house without exchanging
another word, and one thing was obvious. The Sheik missus Alder had apologized
all right, but the anger I'd stirred up could have powered a fair sized
city for a week. When we reached the house, she simply got out,
headed forward, as though I were a process server she wanted to get
away from. I went to my room, trying not to look like a
process, to figure what my next step would be. I was suddenly very
grateful to whoever had chosen my room because of two things, the excellent view
of the Alder patio and what was happening on it. Missus Alder and Doris
Cole were having a discussion, with Missus Alder doing all the talking. Even
from this distance, I could see the anger on both their faces. Then
After a few minutes, both women went into the house. Five minutes later,
I was still wishing I could have heard the words, well, miss
Cole, won't you come in? Well I only stopped for a moment.
Glad you did. I just wanted to apologize for my behavior when we ran
into each other on the stairs a little while ago. Oh nonsense, it
was my phone. No, no, I meant well, I was so
brusque and well, I just don't know what I could have been thinking of.
Oh, you were nothing of the kind. Don't worry about it.
You're very nice about it, very nice. Well, excuse me, now,
won't you? Oh sure thing was Cole? Thanks for taking in trouble.
Yes, yes, I watched her as she hurried down the hall,
an awkward woman who left you with one strong impression that she had little feel
for the social graces. The impression was emphasized about two minutes later by a
second visitor, one who knew all about the social graces, Constance Alder all
smiles and charmed. I'll bet you thought we ran out of food, mister
dollar. I was kind of wondering, blame El Montante. Does he eat
everything in the house? Oh? Not quite. He just refuses to allow
dinner to be served, insists that tonight he's the host, that it's his
evening. Oh what does that mean? Dinner in town, the highlight matches,
and nightclubbing afterwards. He simply won't be refused, insists that everyone in
the house be his guest. Sound attractive, Well, it would be pretty
hard to say no to an offer like that. Good don't belong. Everyone's
dressing like mad should be quite an evening it was. Montante was acknowledged to
be a great He had just as much class outside the arena. He ordered
a dinner and it was gourmet time. He placed our bets. At the
highlight matches nothing but when it is, and at the nightclub, nothing but
champagne. For a group of people living in the house loaded with tension,
it was a ball and a lot of it was because of the Matador's quiet,
easy manner. He was a man who knew how things should be done
and did them. It was pretty tough not to like him. Constance Alder
seemed to feel the same way, her eyes always on him. But the
Matador himself was never once on a line, never said or did anything that
could possibly offend Billy alder and for a busy host. He was observant.
I found that out while the others were dancing. Perhaps I can answer the
question to your dollar. I haven't asked one, Signor Montante. I mean
words, no, but it's not difficult to interpret. You watch missus older
than me. Any question is in your lives. No, you're a pretty
sharp fellow, Sennor matadorm and a gentleman. Signor. I do not pursue
other men's wives. The question is answered partly what happens when you are at
the pursuit. I see Senor Dollar, women with money, but without great
beauty. They try to compensate each in her own way. Hers is not
unusual acquisition the company and attendance of a man who is presentable, admired.
I am not unknown in the arena, so for the moment it is my
company. Tomorrow a better known companion, if one should appear as simple as
that his sun No, Signeur and a little embarrassing. Thanks, And I'm
the one who's embarrassed. I thought your eye was on the all their fortune.
Senor, you know what I received for a Sunday afternoon in any Latin
American country ten thousand dollars sometimes more your question is answered se well, not
quite. Why does the fellow take bull fight lessons? Like I said,
the evening was pleasant, but it was still a job watching Doris Cole,
now awkwardly dancing with Billy Alder. I kept thinking of a argument with missus
Alder her furtiveness. I felt sure she'd been the one who'd searched my room,
and there would never be a better chance to return the compliment. So
I developed a sudden killing headache, and over the protests of the others,
had gonned and grabbed a cab for the older house in Aguiara. In missus
Cole's room, I did a hurried but thorist search and came up with two
things that proved real interesting. A passport with Doris Cole's picture but made out
to one Dora Jansen, and an unsigned letter postmarked New York. In a
quick scrawl, it said simply that the Caribbean Star would arrived in La Gierra
on the seventeenth. I'm sorry about your headache, mister Dollar, but there
is no aspirin in my room, Johnny Dollar, Dollar, there's older here.
I must be something the matter with the house phone, I thought I
rang a different room. Doris calls from mister Waller. Well, yes that's
what you got see here at Dollar, You're not questioning that woman batching her.
We were simply discussing two headaches and the value of aspiring. I want
to speak to her. I just wanted to be sure everything was all right,
both of you running out of the nightclub with headaches like that. Oh,
everything's fine. I'd like to speak to you, though. Sorry,
it's late. I have a long day tomorrow. I'm afraid it's important tonight.
Are you thinking of arresting me, mister Dollar, I'm not a police
romoll. You act black one. Entering my phone, sneaking into my room
while I'm gone, That even's the score. Then you had a quick look
through mine earlier in the day, mister dawk g Just what were you looking
for? Mis Coal from Special Investigator Johnny Dower location in Caracas, Venezuela to
the home office Worldwide Mutual Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut, assignment the older
matter expense account continued back in my own room. After saying good night to
a sullen doorus Coal. I didn't feel the slightest qualms about having invaded her
room and lying about the reason for it. Why should I? The people
in the older house didn't seem too concerned with the truth. In fact,
the whole case seemed to be a question of why or saying nothing. Consider
Billy Older had been shot at, indicating he had a good reason to change
beneficiaries five times in a month, and still he was the original say nothing.
Fella, keep me alive, was all I could get out of him.
His wife had lied, his daughter had lied, and Doris Cole,
an old friend of the family, had just proved to be a walking lie.
The passport I'd found in her room header photograph, all right, but
it said she was Dora Janssen. An unsigned letter in the same drawer had
stated simply that the Caribbean Star would doc tomorrow. I got into bed and
a nod thought hit me. If the Caribbean Star didn't doc, would the
steamship company have joined the liars club to expense a count out of seven ten
cents. One newspaper bought on the Lagiera docks early next morning. My Spanish
is pretty nothing, but I could read the important thing that the Caribbean Star
was due at noon? What time to kill? I drove into Billy Alder's
office in Caracas. He hit the scening when I told him about Doris Cole's
passport. I was certainly glad I'd mentioned nothing about the letter. Dollar.
How dare you search the room of a guest in my house? How dare
you just returning a courtesy? What mine was searched thoroughly? That still hasn't
any reason for your behavior? Oh one way I thinks, mister wrong.
I've told you repeatedly, Dollar, there's only one reason I want you here.
I know, keep you alive. But how what handcuffs on? I
suppose I told you to find some oil and refuse to let you dig any
holes in the ground, you'd begin to smell a rat? What are you
talking about? Just about everything in this set? Look, I have a
very busy Who is Dora Jensen? Mister Alder? And why does she call
herself Dora's call? You're making too much of nothing, Dollar. It isn't
a crime to use another name. That depends on the reason, doesn't he
She's no friend? Oh? Dollar? I want you tired of that tune?
For a man who's afraid for his life. You've got more old friends
than anyone I ever knew. Also, I haven't noticed anything particularly friendly between
you. She's not a well woman. Dollar. I don't want you bother
you don't want me bothering anyone exactly, not even the one who fired that
shot at you. So I can't help getting an impression that you have a
pretty good idea of who it might have been. I told you I was
busy, Dollar. Yeah, but it's what you haven't told me. I
keep thinking about Dollar. Did did you find anything else in that room beside
the passport? Why? Mister Roalder, what's happened to your sense of ethics?
There was still plenty of time before the Caribbean Star would be talking,
and Billy Alder's reaction had dictated my next move. The cable office and not
Yara suddenly seemed like a very important place to visit. There were too many
silent miles in Caracas, and I needed one that had something to say.
Hopefully, miss they can take this now, See Senor, how do you
like this to go? Don't spare the horses? Ok, cable rush see
Victor Kelly World. Yeah, No, my lousy hand rightning here? So
Victor Kelly Worldwide Mutual Hartford Connecticut, USA. Want all possible information, Dora
Janssen aka Doris cole Us, passport one nine B six seven nine four to
three dash one one signed dollar and your address for the answer. I'll pick
it up here as you wish, and lady, please don't spare the horses.
It was still early when I reached the waterfront where the Caribbean Star would
soon be docking. There wasn't much point in watching the incoming passengers. I
didn't even know who I was looking for, so I found a spot at
the pier entrance where I could concentrate on those meeting the passengers. Here I
made a grudging concession to all movie detectives Item seven, another ten cents,
another newspaper to hide behind, and you know something, It works fine,
Doris cole Or. According to that passport, Dora Jensen was nervous, excited,
and there was no trouble to stay close behind her. She met a
passenger, a short, nondescript man and a its late fifties. When they
jumped into a cab and hurried away from the pier, they were closely followed
by a man clutching an unread newspaper. Me The trip was a short one
about six or seven blocks away. The cab in front pulled up at a
cheap hotel on the waterfront. I circled the block once, got rid of
my cab, and wandered into the dismal lobby. The fan sleepy clerk made
a concession. He opened one eye. See you look for something? Yeah,
that gentleman who just came in, I had the ploma with him.
Oh Donald, I must have left the slip of paper with his name on
my hotel. I can't find it. You know, the gentleman who just
went up to room room. Yeah, you want me to say the number?
Now? Can you think I ever been to a movie? Oh?
No, really, you can save me a lot of embarrassments. You've got
it right there on the register. Gee, might if I have a lookie?
I mind? Well? Friendly, When was the last time you got
anything for free? Friend? Oh? Why didn't say? I was trying
not to a fender? Here? Let me see you play black jack senor
how you call it to anyone? Yeah? Why like they say? Hid
me again? Oh you're rubbing it in. See you want to do business
or more? And I'm nine ten bucks market schmeer schmooz or just playing drafts.
He pointed an oversize forefinger at a name on the lage. You're lost
interest in me. He went back to sleep. As a singer, it
said ro mates. I went up the stairway. A few seconds later,
I moved as quietly as I could down the Grammy second four hallways, stopped
at the door of number eight. At first I heard nothing, Then after
a long minute, the voices began angrily, as though resuming an old argument.
I don't know, let me handle it. No, what about does
you want me to go to go for nothing that you listen to me?
I know what I'm doing. Minutes later, I was back on the cable
office getting a second message off to Vic, Kelly and Hydrid. It was
a request for anything he could possibly dig up on Arthur's singer. I didn't
hope for too much because it would probably turn out to be in an alias,
but it was an angle I couldn't afford to overlook. You're not back
for answer so soon, Senor. Oh no, I just want you to
get this one off, same fella and same way. Not spare the horses.
That's it, and thanks, Senor. I want to ask you something
shure your business partner. Did I do something to displease him? He seemed
so angry. My who seems so what? Well? He was so nice
at first, but after he read the message. First of all, I
have no business partner. Ooh didn I make terrible mistakes? Oh just tell
me what happened. Well, this man he come in less than a minute
after you leave, was very nice, said he was your business partner.
That he just leave you. You were worried because you forgot whether you say
something in the message you just send. Then you ask him do check it
for you. He seemed to know what he was doing. Then that is
when he got so angry. He just put it down and leave. What
did he look like a little less told than you? And you have gray
hair, eyeglasses, see glass ud see senor ras you know him. I'm
beginning to wonder if anyone really does. I am so sorry for my mistake,
singer, Oh forget it wasn't your fault. Just send that second message
about the answers. Send her to me at William Alder's house as soon as
you get him. Maybe we'll read him together. Sure, billi Otto was
my new business point. There older the original close mouth fellow. But it
looked like there was nothing wrong with his brain or his eyesight. Then suddenly
I didn't mind that he'd read my message to Vic Calleen, because a frightened
man usually reacts at the extreme ends of the scale. He'd been at the
let's do nothing in Maybe he'd now go the other way. There was one
more step I could make in the waterfront, so I made it. My
credentials ended at the steamship officers got me a look at the passenger list at
the Caribbean Star. The name Author Singer wasn't on it. I started down
the small waterfront street to where my car was parked. My mind was full
of Billy Alder and the pieces of this crazy puzzle, tugging one way,
pulling another, trying to make sense out of it. Somehow us some sort
of slide rule where logic could be a solid base. And no matter how
I twisted it, and I knew one thing, it just wouldn't work.
I didn't have enough yet to make it work. I was just reaching for
the door handle when I saw his reflection in the car window. The man
who sneaked up behind me, blackjack raised high in the air. The blackjack
was just insurance. He was tough enough a ut I finally worked up to
the side of the car, managed a half nouse and let the car door
workers my black check. Five seconds later an officer came rushing up, and
five minutes later I sat in the office of hefe Velesquez, Chief of Police.
You fit in, Yeah, yeah, sure. What did you get
out of that blackjack artist? Just what I expected? Still won't say who
hired him. You have to understand this kind of fellow, amego, I
do what I mean. He's as a sin of peken, you know,
sheephood see see for extra two Boulevard maybe three. He would black jack his
mother. He claims he does not know who hired him, that he is
to get his money in a letter when I was patsy. I say he's
lying, of course, but he will stick to the story because he knows
he will get the same sentence whether he tells or he does not. Cheaphood
won't usually cover for somebody else. This gun does, amigo, Otherwise he
would never be hired again. I'd give a line for a few minutes alone
with him. Sorry, I need to, but I like my job.
Just wishful thinking, not hard to understand, well, a lady not getting
anywhere sitting here? You sure you haven't got business somewhere else. I got
an awful big end to talk to that thug. You know, I gotta
well get it. Amego is like I say, if you ask him and
Amanda what is the day, he must tell you Tuesday, you could be
him to Daisy will Still said today is the weather? Think a favor?
If I can suppose I don't prefer charges, would you put a tail on
him when he leaves? Johnny? Look, look, I know it's a
million to one against the hood doing a rough up without the money in hand,
But if he hasn't collected john mommy, he go, like you said,
a million to what? I know, I'm grabbing at straws. But
just in case, if hey come on, huh okay, thanks? Hey,
where do you go right to the cable office? Oh yeah, And
if a man in Hartford has nothing to say, I've got a permanent seat
behind the eight ball. Johnny Dollar, Good morning, Senor Dollar is lucky
Arab cable office calling. We have an answer to cables you sent to Hartford,
Connecticut. Good would you like me to read the message You're no I
want a telephone with extensions. Oh, I see, Perhaps you prefer I
haven't delivered that. No, no, I don't. Then you will come
in for yourself. Yeah, just as fast as I can get there.
From Special Investigator Johnny Dolla location in Caracas, Venezuela to the home office Worldwide
Mutual Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. Assignment the Alder matter expense account continued.
At the cable office, I ran into another dead end. Vic Kelly,
back in Hartford, had come up with absolutely nothing on either Dora Jansen,
who called herself Dora's cole or Arthur's singer the little Man. She'd hurried
off an incoming liner yesterday. Complete strikeout. I headed outside, caught a
glimpse of missus Billy Alder watching me from across the street. Social life changing,
Missus Older? Does being my hostess include tailing me? Does being on
Lagier Street constitute tailing? You preserve me from amateur detectors? Good morning,
mister ah. Come on, you rushed down to the house so fast you
couldn't possibly have eaten. I'll buy your breakfast. I knew it was curiosity
that made her take me up. She just couldn't resist the thought that maybe
i'd give something away, let something slip. She ate warily, tentatively.
We must have looked like two boxes in a close fight, sitting on the
edge of their stools, waiting for the last round, the one that would
decide the winner. You're staring thinking you love your husband, missus older,
you'd better be a reason for a question like that. Let's stop sparring.
Huh. You know why I'm down here, do I? You told me
you did the other day, so I don't be aloof lady. You're not
that much in the clear. You've been the beneficiary several times, and my
daughter is the present one, I believe. And what exactly is your point?
There's been no crime committed, no crime. Somebody's bullet misses your husband
by inches and you call it no crime. Thank you for breakfast. Don't
forget I saw you out on the grounds of the house, searching the place
that shot came from. I told you before you knew an automatic pistol was
used. Admitted looking for a show. Do you talk too much, mister
dollar? And you talk too little? Look why have you been tailing me?
It's certainly not to see that I'm protecting your husband's life. So it's
obviously to make sure that I don't find out something. Now what is it,
missus Alder, and why is it so terribly important? I don't find
out about it? If you won't leave, mister doc, I will.
There's this about getting someone angry enough, fearful enough, it makes them forget
about caution. Missus Older never once looked back, simply headed straight for the
cheap little waterfront hotel where Arthur's singer was staying. She stayed for over half
an hour, and once she left, she still looked frightened. Whatever the
was, it looked like everyone was a player but me. But missus Order's
move helped started an idea gnawing at me. So I headed for Caracas in
the office of a smart cop hefe Velsquez. I needed someone to talk to,
and the hefe was a good listener. Come, I may go sit
down, tell me where it feels wrong, eh, belly Order. He
does all that changing in his policy, so I assume he's scared of being
knocked off, probably by one of the people who has been named a beneficiary
of the policy. So now I'll take the other people concerned. Ald his
wife is as much a clam as her husband is. Also she knows what
kind of a gun was used to take that shot at him. Dora Jensen
a woman who uses an alas and is obviously afraid of me at the Singer
a little man. Dora has hidden in a waterfront hotel, and now I
find all his wife knows about the little man too. Conclusion, amigo,
that the three of them are in on something together, but not to kill
for that policy, his daughter gets it all yet Alder he's afraid, and
I think he's scared of something the others know. I suppose that shot wasn't
meant to kill him, just frighten him, a sign that somebody meant business.
That this is a nice piece of logic. Yeah, now, all
I gotta do is make it work. Look I hey, whatever this deal
is, nobody's going to make a move till I'm out of here. So
so good, bad or indifferent, I'm going to do a little acting.
I stayed with the Lesquez another half hour, setting things up as best I
caught. Then I drove to the airport and paid out of eleven three hundred
and nine dollars and eighty cents for a plane ticket marked Hartford, Connecticut.
Sure it was an expensive prop, but this was one act I had to
be convincing him. I drove back to Caracas, pasted a real angry look
on my face, marched into Billy Alder's sumptuous office and through the airline ticket
on his desk. He studied it for a long minute. What does this
mean? Tother? But I've had all of you. I can take older
you and you keep me up alive. You are going back to the States.
You can read the ticket says Hartford, Connecticut. It also says the
six o'clock plane, because there's nothing earlier. But why why dollars? So
I can get back and make my recommendations to the insurance company. You know
what I'm going to recommend a Please wait that they cancel your policy because of
your refusal to cooperate. Sorry dollar praise, No, don't do it.
I beg there's a clause in that policy. I don't care about that policy.
Now, don't you understand and stand? What? Listen to me?
All that changing of beneficiaries. I only did that to make them send someone
down here. I need protection against what I'm in a jam. All I
want is protection until it's peacefully settled. Do you understand, no planer,
I know someone wants to kill me over a business deal. I'm asking you
to see that I stay alive until I have time to reason with this man.
Who is he? I can't tell you, And let me tell you
something. He's just arrived in town. How did you? Don't you see
mister Dollar? You must stay. Sorry, goodbye, mister Alder. I
went back to the older house, packed my bag and set my goodbyes.
Neither missus Alden nor Dora Jensen wept. I drove to the airport, checked
my luggage, Jim. Then I slipped away. Drove back to Caracas the
long way. A half hour later. I checked into a little side street
hotel where hefe Velescaz had reserved a room for me. Then came the hardest
part, the waiting. That six o'clock plane must have been way out over
the Caribbean when the call finally came, Uh, yeah, Velaska's here.
You started a waiting, brother, you know it? Look have hey your
men check in? Maybe I should have taken part of the work. Be
passion, amygo. Your whole idea depends on it. Thinking you took that
plane. You must stay right where you are. But what about your men?
Have they get a call every couple of minutes A me ago Alder his
wife did Dora Johnson Art the Singer. I can tell you every moved them
back in the last three hours, but they haven't made the one. I'm
waiting for him. You will know it three minutes after they make if they
make it. Thanks eye. Five minutes later, Alaskaez called again. He
took only enough time to tell me he was on his way and to be
down on the street in two minutes. I was I only beat him by
seconds. Come on of me, go Well, it looked like your plan
worked one, he thought this. Dora Johnson, Yeah, as soon as
she learned your plane left, the one you did not take, she rushed
to the waterfront hotel pick up the Art the Singer. Then the two of
him rushed to the Alder house, and Alder must have seen him coming,
because he jumped in his car and race out in the direction of his oel
via the Carnero. They see him and follow him. That's where we headed
for. Now we better get things going, get there before seeing he kills
Alder. I don't know whether or not he deserves killing. But I know
one thing. It'll cause my company a quarter a million bucks. Well,
us guess men were plenty of going half way the car and narrow. One
of them fliged us down, told us both cars had definitely passed his way,
and when we reached the oil field, another one witted at the gate.
He told us Billy Alder, Dora Jansen, and Arthur Singer were in
a little workshack across the field. We left the car moved as quietly as
we could toward the shank. There was a weird feeling in every direction.
You could see the great oil rigs working, pumping, ignoring us. We
reached the shank, peered cautiously through the window, and even weird scene was
taking place, and almost hysterical. Dora Jansen pointed a lugur at a sweating
Billy Older. A terrified Arthur Singer pleaded with her, the words pushed easily
through the thin wooden sledgh Dora, don't please, don't do it. You
only make things worse. Your brother's right, Dora. Dora listened to me
like he listened to you four years ago. When did you get him,
mister pansy promoter, tell me that I'll make it right with him. A
quiet gentleman, a bookkeeper who never did anything wrong in his life until you
saw him. A bill of goods and listen to me, both of you.
So he read your books for you, made four centuries, made it
look like he was responsible for the bankruptcy, and he did the three years
in prison that you should have done. Four one hundred thousand dollars. That
was the deal. And believe me, I'm not trying to cheat him.
The money is tied up in my business. I need time, but I'll
pay him pay It's been a year since he came out of jail. You'll
never pay. You'll try to cheat him out of the money, one way
or another. I swear to you. It's a lot easier to kill him
than pay him, is more all You're crazy? Is that why you kept
the lugger in the house. Were you worried when he disappeared? When I
shot at you to let you know I meant business. It's what you're doing.
Dollar knows all about this. Oh yes, your bodyguard must have gotten
frightened after I had him beat up the other day. He's on his way
to the States and the plane Dora no I'm going to kill you. No,
come on, run it down, Tarah. You pull that trigger and
he'll still come out there one air. No you read that, Do not
make me fireplace. I don't care as long as he gets what he stand
back. You read that for a split second she waved, Then Hay took
over all this. Sank to the floor, disbelief on his face. Panic.
She raced down into the night, and I went after her. Holds
no place to go. What happened to her job? She panicked, turned
the scream at me and ran right into one of the protection fences around the
Derek. She just passed out. She'll come around. How's all there?
Conscious? But I do not know? We better get into the hospital.
Yeah, she didn't mean to shoot the mister. My sister wouldn't hurt any
Sure, sure, go take care of her. She was only doing it
for me. For me, mister only I I would have paid. I
wasn't going to cheat him a dollar, you know. Yeah, we heard
it all. I'm glad it's over worrying. I want to tell me one
thing older, your wife, where does she fit? She had nothing to
do with it, just knew about it. I wasn't too nice to her
for a long time. Other women her running around just the way of punishing
me, paying me back. She knew I couldn't afford complain. Yeah,
we should have told me a long time ago, Alder I couldn't. Case
could always be reopened. I couldn't face. That would have hurt too much.
Oh yeah, but it wouldn't have hurt as much as that bullet.
Expense account total eight hundred and thirty three dollars and fourteenth cents. Details Billy
Older was rushed at the Caracas hospital, underwent some excellent surgery and relaxed claims
department. He's going to make it as for shady business tactics, Well,
that's out of my Billy Wick. That's for the law boys. Yours truly,
Johnny Dollar. Now here's our star to tell you about next week's story.
Next week. A quiet cabin by a quiet lake, a place ideal
for romance, an ideal for murder. John has wants you, yours truly,
Johnny Dollar, Yours truly. Johnny Dollar is starring Bob Bailey, is
transcribed in Hollywood, written by Tony Barrett, It is produced and directed by
Jack Johnstone. Heard in this week's cast were Gil Stratton, Harry Bartel,
Barbara Fuller, John Dater, Virginia Gregg, Donn Diamond, Vivi Janis and
Tony Barrett. Musical supervision by Marigo Marino. Be sure to join us on
Monday night at same time and station for another exciting story of yours. It
is truly Johnny Dollar, Roy Roland speaking Welcome Back and no other solid cereal
written by Tony Barrett, who also acts in this one. In this one,
we're also treated to an exotic locale which I always felt Johnny Dollars should
have done more of. We also get a really solid cast of characters in
a noox mix of clues and red herrings on this case. Now, of
course, there's a big problem with the logic of Billy Alder's actions. His
method of seeking help was very roundabout, as the meeting of Johnny Dollar illustrated.
There are plenty of tops around Karak who would have guarded him without asking
any questions, or if they did ask any questions, they wouldn't have exposed
him to some sort of legal liability. However, while Alder's logic in decoining
for an insurance man was flawed, the story and its logic aren't flawed.
The problem with guys like Building alder Or who managed to succeed with either morally
gray or illegal actions is that they often get what they want by pulling a
fast one, and they get away with it, and that's addictive. If
you've ever encountered a billy older type in real life, you know what I
mean. A normal person trying to imagine what they would do if they had
no ethics would imagine simpler solutions to problems, But the billy older types come
up with some plan where they put something over on someone, and when they
get caught, you wonder, why the heck did you make it that complicated?
Why did you go for something petty like getting an insurance company to put
the bill for your protection when your life is in danger, But left to
their own devices, they can't help themselves, So I found this realistic.
My one complaint is the bit with door running into the wall. It feels
like there should have been an effect for that, rather than us having to
find out solely through narration. Her crashing into the wall should have made a
noise, or at least it should for the purpose of audio dramatization. Other
than that, again another really solid serial written by mister Barrett. Well,
now we go to listener comments and feedback and we have a couple of comments
from Spotify. James wrote regarding the Sea Legs Matter, great episode. Another
listener emailed in to say, oh, yes, Pegon used a different name,
but he couldn't fool us listeners. And then there was a comment regarding
the Tears of Not Matter, which I guess was a while back at this
point, but the commenter said on Spotify, I like this episode, Johnny
doesn't fall for many women. Well, Terry, I guess that depends on
how you would define many. But thank you so much for the comment.
Really appreciate it. And finally, from the listener survey, we have a
comment from Emmett, who writes, hearing Adam's cheery voice before and after each
episode is what makes this podcast stand out from all of the other old time
radio podcast Even if the content were available elsewhere, I'll keep listening to the
great Detectives. Well, thank you so much. Appreciate the comment, Emmitt.
Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and being
the first Friday in January, we're thanking the Patreon supporter who has been supporting
the program for five years today, and I want to go ahead and thank
David. David's been one of our Patreon supporters again since January twenty nineteen,
currently supporting the podcast at the detective Sergeant level of seven dollars and fourteen cents
or more. Thank you so much for your support, David, And that
will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us
using your favorite podcast software and be sure rate and review the podcast wherever you
download it from. We'll be back on Tuesday with another Yours truly Johnny doll
or Cereal, but join us back here tomorrow for Dragnetwere Hi, money kid,
hit, Got a Minute? Get cut? Our printing company was rob
last night. How much there's the crime report? Fourteen five hundred. I
mean it's a big haul. Yeah, most familiar climb to drain pipe,
to the roof, kicked in the skylight now on red Buckley's back in town.
I think it might add up, could be sounds like it. There's
one sure way to make it and put him in smaller words and big type.
I don't know how to make it anywhere positive than the last time I
don't know if that Greek was a lamp of a found an honest man,
but get the guy. I hope you'll be with us then. In the
meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram,
Instagram dot com, slash Great Detectives from Boise Idahold. This is your host,
Adam Graham signing off.