Have you heard the strange tales of the Whistler? I'm the Whistler. I know who you are. I know all about you and what you've done. You're trying to run away. But I'm going with you. Saturday night and CBS presents The Whistler. I am the Whistler. I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. And so I tell you tonight the story of the killers. The rain beats down in Tarrant, and during the brief flashes of lightning, a certain stone building stands out in the darkness of the night, the courthouse of a county in a southwestern state. A murder trial has come to a conclusion, a sensational trial in which the young killer has been tried and convicted of the brutal slaying of five people, his employer, Farmer Atkins, and Atkins' entire family. The defense, appointed by the state, contended that the slayer was insane. Now the killer stands before the judge. The jury has found that on the night of September 13th, the entire Atkins family was brutally slain with a meat cleaver wielded by the defendant, Joe Nichols. In the absence of sufficient motive other than the $20 found on the defendant, the defendant was placed under observation by the state psychiatrist. And the said state psychiatrist fined the defendant suffering from dementia precox. Therefore, it is the duty of this court to commit the defendant to the state institution for the insane. And so, Joe Nichols was taken to the state asylum, there to be placed under observation and treatment. Now let us travel south in the same state to a certain farm, a farm belonging to the widow Agatha Mayberry. There's no connection whatever between Agatha Mayberry and the insane killer Joe Nichols, but let us go to the farm anyway. Agatha's husband died three years ago and left her with her at a large farm. At first she managed things very well, but then came the war and hands became scarcer and scarcer. Then Agatha's sister Ellen came to live with her and Ellen's daughter, a lazy girl named Della. Storm is coming up stronger now. Did you get those calves in like I told you, Della? What did you say, Aunt Agatha? Get your nose out of that magazine and you could hear me. Aunt Agatha wanted to know if you looked after the calves, darling. No, no, I forgot. You'll have to excuse, Della. You just can't get used to this sort of life in so short a time. You've both been here almost a year. Give her time, Agatha. Give her time, I'll give her time. Get out there, Della, and see if those calves are under shelter. I might catch my death of cold in this storm. Those calves are worth more than you are. She's frightened to death of lightning, Agatha. I don't think she's frightened of anything. Why don't you hire a man to do these things? Wish I could. Men of scarce these days all in the army. Poor baby, poor baby. You stay here. I'll go and see to the calves. You'll do no such thing, Ellen. Stay here and take care of your babies. I'll attend to the calves. Well, she'll be all right just as soon as the storm's over. Well, you've got to do something around here, Della. At least you can wash the dishes. But I dried them yesterday. Don't hurt your beautiful hands. Anyway, I've got to do something around here under these conditions. You need a man. You need a farmhand. Yes, but I can't get one. So the only thing I can do is to get rid of some of this land. Sell it to someone who can handle it. Well, Mr. Dalton made you an offer for part of it, Agatha. He offered to buy some. Yes, I know. And he can handle it. He has a couple of sons. And a daughter who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Well, how much do you think he'd pay for it? Oh, I don't know. But I'm going to find out. Thank you, sir. Where are you going? I'm going to see Mr. Dalton, my neighbor. If I can make a deal, I'll make it tonight. But it's storming out, Agatha. I've been in storms before. I'll drive over there and be back in an hour. I'm not a sissy. Go on to bed, Della, and pull the covers over your head. Hmph. And Agatha's selfish. She's mean. All she thinks about is this farm and work, work. I don't know anything about this farm. I can't learn. I won't. Well, you don't belong on a farm, Della. It doesn't suit you. I won't herd animals. I won't milk cows. There, there, darling, don't cry. Mother understands. No one understands me. I won't be a slave. And Agatha's trying to make a slave of me. There are people for such work. There are men for such things. But men are scared, darling. Men are scared. Then we'll leave. We won't put up with this. How can we leave, baby? We have no money. No? Well, I won't take care of animals. I'm going to be a model. I should be a New Yorker. Or a Hollywooder. No, no, darling, don't let yourself get excited. Mean selfish. I hate her. Oh, please, Della, darling. Calm yourself. Who does she think she is, ordering me around like a slave? I won't stand for it. My silly old fool, I hate her. Why do you ask? You don't mean a word you say, darling. You're just upset now. Please try and relax. Please. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Oh, why don't we leave here, and we go home to the house of Farmer Dalton. Anybody home, Dalton? Well, the land of mercy, Agatha Mayberry. Come on in, come, come, come in. Must think I'm kind of crazy running around on a night like this, Mr. Dalton. Well, there must be a reason for it Agatha. Yes, there is. I want to talk business. Business? mind all of a sudden you want to buy these paths of the farm sure I told you I did what was your offer $2,000 well that's a little low don't you think well perhaps but what are you gonna be able to do with it you ain't got no men folk around you have to let it go to grass yes I know that but if we could only get a few women to give up their fancy manicures and long fingernails it wouldn't fit the many I know I've tried it you're right about that I guess well let's get down to business you'll give me $2,000 for the east half of my land yeah that's right well the deal oh shake now how do you want it well how you prepared to handle it well I'll tell you I collected a thousand dollars cash from Henry Jacobs late this afternoon too late to put in the bank so I'll just give you that cash and a note for 12 months on balance all right fair enough make out the note well shouldn't we have a witness to this transaction if you want it that way sure oh I'm sorry I just wanted to thank you mr. Dalton that was 12 oh come in here a minute I want you to do something sure sure anything to say mr. Dalton what can I do Joe this is a mrs. Agatha Mayberry my neighbor of the West he just told me the east half of her land I'm paying her half cash and the other half on a 12 month note like you to witness that note would you is that necessary oh I don't know but that's the way Agatha wants it very well I witnessed there you are oh thanks and who is this man well Joe came here today early this morning he's worked like a dog all day done ten men's work and something I can't understand what do you mean well he's been discharged from the army because of a physical reason he's a 4f but certainly didn't show any bad signs today I can still do a lot of useful things I thought you had enough men around here to handle things but hungry well if you don't really need him how about lending him to me I could use him yeah that's right you could she's got a farm and not a man on the place Joe how about it him sure sure I'd be glad to help her fine will you go on with mrs. Mayberry she really needs help Joe she lives alone with her sister and her young niece and they can't help her much but you can the deal right well here's your thousand dollars cash Agatha and the note next payments due in 30 days I'll have it I'm not worried about you John see you later well no you better keep an eye on me I'm a strange sort of critter I forget sometimes well come along young man getting late and the storm is getting worse yes yes I know are you alone yeah good night mr. Dalton and thanks for everything now Joe would you say your name was I didn't say but my name is Joe I see ever do any farm work Joe yes I've done a little here in there you're sure welcome why did you sell half of your farm because they couldn't take care of you sold it short didn't you yeah two thousand dollars and it's really worth four thousand he gave me a thousand cash and this note for the balance aren't you worried about carrying a thousand cash no why should I be worried oh I don't know it's kind of risky is it aren't you afraid of me no I'm not afraid of anyone no that's good how long you been out of the army three days over four months I was wounded in the tank but I can do lots of things even if I am discharged I'm glad to have you glad to have anyone who can do anything dark road yeah no one could drive on it if they didn't know it any crossroads no none how much farther is your place about two miles what do you think of that not forgot to wear that girl that's what it sounds like I hope it keeps going I think you have to walk the rest of the way in this one that's mud yeah that wouldn't be good with it maybe you better stop and let me have a look under the hood all right so I turn off the motor no no no not yet oh your fan isn't working the belt's ripping and your motors too hot well can you fix it yeah yeah I can fix it have you got a wrench yes in that door pocket oh yeah here we are this will do it turn it on well what are you staring at all right I was just thinking what a brave woman you are to be riding around alone on a night like this with a thousand dollars in cash I guess it's been gone quite a while Debra yes then almost an hour maybe she got stuck or something happened to the car right if it did I don't care if she never comes back yeah you don't mean that well maybe not but I was just thinking so were you but you won't admit admit what if she didn't come back why then we could leave here we could go to New York or Hollywood and I could follow my career oh we could sell a farm and everything that plenty of money to live on till I got started we sell the farm don't be so dumb mother wouldn't you inherit all her property don't talk like that tell us right I can imagine how frightened you are you're not afraid something has happened to her you're afraid something won't be steel getting worse yeah I'll make the road slicker muddier I had to keep them skidding don't open it who's there it's all right open the door good news what is it oh it's mighty wet out here are you Mrs. Mayberry's niece yes what happened well she had a little trouble and is she all right I'm her sister no don't close the door she'll be along in a moment she how did it happen well the fan belt slipped and the motor got hot and then when she started down that steep hill the car started to slide and she went into a tree at the bottom where is she now right now pretty much from excellent a little bit she's all right yeah but I shouldn't have the time with that car what do you mean all right course I'm all right but we thought make some tea on I'm frozen stiff who's this man oh this is Joe Joe this is my niece Ella and this is her mother my sister Ellen we've met we're going to have a man around here Joe was a new hand maybe we'll get some something done around here for a change did you make the deal with mr. Dalton sure he paid me a thousand dollars down in cash balance monthly Joe here was witness to the deal witness yes I happened to be at the Dalton's place I worked there today your aunt said she needed a hand so here I am you're going to stay here of course well how nice your answer very brave woman to take a chance riding with a stranger and a thousand dollars cash around her neck oh I'm not afraid I'm pretty good judge of people well since you aren't going to make that feel and I'll do it myself sit down Ellen before you fall down then on the radio doll I want to hear the news a little bit are you married no no you're not in the army I was medical discharge yes I am I wonder if you'd mind if I turn in not at all well is there a separate building for the hand no I suppose I never can't for you to have a fair room at the end of the home I see well good night mr. my name is Ella good night Bella good night good night nice man he's a bit I like it not bad looking family with a meat cleaver was later found to be insane and sent to the end and asylum he escaped last night and is believed to be heading south this man is dangerous regardless of the seeming sanity and authorities that have been notified of any man answering his five feet nine dark brown hair blue eyes and his name is Joe Nichols he was last seen yes Ella his name is Joe upstairs in that spare room is Joe a mad killer that frightens you doesn't it you and your mother and your aunt three women alone in a house with a madman and the man knows about the thousand dollars what are you going to do that what do we do I'll tell Agatha I guess I should come back here be quiet I guess you'd be warned maybe she will know where do I next it only frighten us call somebody can't the phone isn't working gone dead what I said I tried it earlier this evening when I don't remember still go upstairs and go to bed no I can't go to bed would tell us knows about that money I'd tell us all the gun in this table go I can see both your room and I did it from this chair by the door I'll say you're not often for more than a stand before I guess I see you go on well everybody I go that he was tired so he went to bed mother just went up well it is late and I yeah right it is we look tired and that she better what's the matter with you what are you trembling about and I I think I've taken cold I'll be all better take some coin I can go to bed yourself yes but I haven't been sleeping well yeah I'll read for a little while and I miss the news what the tray I said it nothing well better drink some warm milk and go to bed why didn't you tell her Della do you really think you can handle the situation you think you can cope with a madman your face grows more pale your hands tremble Della steps to the table studies the phone and opens the drawer takes the revolver turns out the lights and slips into the chair by the door the hours passed storm increases to a fury it is three in the morning now and I got the sleep soundly in her four-poster bed then her door opens softly and a tall figure steps into the room slips to the side of Agatha's bed a few moments pass then a hand reaches for a cut this throat removes the money bag I guess I opened her eyes what do you want storm has reached its peak a few minutes later his test over leaving only the fall of the light rain suddenly Della stares in the chair beside the door figure is slowly stealthily coming down the stairs reaches the bottom and starts to cross the room toward Della she wakes breathlessly then snaps on the lights how are you going why I was there what are you doing down where were you going well the storm woke me up and I got a little hungry I thought I'd have a look in the kitchen you were headed the wrong way oh yeah yes sure I guess I got turned around the dark I don't think you were confused what do you mean you had no intention of spending the night here and you weren't planning to start work in the morning of course I was I know who you are I know all about you what how do you know radio the warning I just said you were in and what are you going to do phone the police no phone yes I understand your car what do you mean by that I don't condemn you do yes if they know I'm in the vicinity then I've got to get out of here you've got a little money haven't you Joe yes and I'm going with you you're good what do you mean I can't do that yes you can got to my everything will be all right hey my heart don't get it got to get away from here I've got I'm being held here against my wishes held here yes they think I'm crazy unbalanced crazy you don't act crazy to me either do you but they've got some reason for keeping me here and I can't stand any longer before but I haven't got a sense and they watch me like a hawk I don't need a car I can hide out better on foot I don't want anybody with me especially a girl besides I don't intend to cross the state line but you're taking me with you nothing doing I'm getting out now while it's dark wait a minute I open that door and go to the garage I go off remember your assistant if I shoot you they'll say nothing straight ahead of the garage I'm trying to do this is the main highway well why the main highway I'd rather keep to the side I wouldn't straight ahead maybe you are not are you crazy Joe let me not cross not neither am I where does this highway go to the state line look I'm in it's tough enough spot as it is I'm not going to try and cross the state line with a girl at this time of the morning I'll take care of it I know straight ahead I could ring your neck for this you're just the one who could do it I've got one chance in a thousand of getting over that line make it all right we'll make it keep both hands on that wheel I know what you're thinking I could send this car over you know but you won't know. Hey look red lights ahead they lie one of the lights a swinging they're signaling to stop police officers back to go back to go right on through they'll never catch. It's. A. We made it keep going. I don't know I don't know I think it's broken a piston rock this old place can't take that to be. Back here they come now I am stuck don't look at all. Little. All right all right all right what's the idea run over the state line like that and you see the light for you see I I guess maybe colorblind Tom thought they were green he seems to be sober all right let's see a driver's license I haven't got the draft card I haven't got that is with me well yeah that's right why hey Tom look slumped down in the seat the girl throw your light on her face all bloody. Open the door. She's been bashed in the mouth wait a minute this your gun buddy no no what's this little part on the seat I don't know what Tom look at the bill look at the water money hey hey hey sister you want right. Right there with a plea. What happened to. Who was this man. He robbed my head maybe come with. She's crazy she's a nut. Don't know who he is. Joe. I think he's a little bit. Crazy I tell you get out of that car buddy you're coming to headquarter. Come on miss what happened that. Mother and I heard the announcement on the radio I knew it was him I couldn't call the police because the phone was dead why didn't you go for help because he knew that I never had the money I was afraid to go because. I got out of the door when I. Went into the room. I must have fallen asleep because I I wake up just in time to see him coming down. I turned on the light and he said he was looking for the kitchen it was then you realized that while you've been asleep but he's gone into your ass room killer and taking the money if I hadn't fallen asleep I might have prevented it I. You know this woman's crazy don't you crazy yes yes she told me so herself she said she was being kept a prisoner by her aunt no matter because they knew she was unbalanced yeah. Well maybe you're right Joe maybe she is crazy. What do you mean by that. Crazy like a fox he's lying I never said I was crazy when Joe came to the farm and you realize he was the escaped killer from the asylum you decided to take advantage of his being there and kill your aunt so your mother would inherit the estate how can you say such a thing that's horrible you know Joe would try to make a getaway when you told him about the broadcast you had the money in the gun you're forced to take you across the state line you know we chase you and catch you drop the money bag in the seat when we caught up to you hit yourself in the mouth with the gun but I didn't die yes we know all about it was you who went into your aunt's room took the money and hit her on the head how can you say that because your aunt saw you standing over her bed. Head for an hour ago. You want yeah you didn't hit her hard enough Ella and you lied about that phone was never out of order. He isn't dead. But this is ridiculous. Why would I do such a thing. Why would I do such a thing. He is an escaped lunatic. A mad killer. Why should I be accused of such a thing. Ella, Joe Nichols was captured a half hour after the broadcast. This man isn't Joe Nichols. He's Joe Davis, a deserter from Camp Higsby. But I think he's ready to go back and face the music. Oh believe me Lieutenant, I thought I couldn't stand it there any longer. So I ran away. But after all this, well just take me back to camp it'll be like paradise. Well there you are. A strange story that might very well have ended disastrously for Joe if Della hadn't slipped up on two things. The telephone and the failure to learn if Aunt Agatha was really dead. Even though Joe has not escaped his escaped lunatic, he might very easily have been charged with murder. Had it not been for the over anxiety of the vicious mind of Della. Della wasn't crazy. She was just a selfish little fool with no thought for anyone or anything except her own individual existence. There are a lot of you like that. Think it over. CBS has presented The Whistler. Original music for this production was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. The Whistler is written and directed by J. Donald Wilson and originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood. Next week same time I, The Whistler, will return to tell you another unusual tale. Good night. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.
