I am the Whistler and I know many things for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yet I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. And now the Whistler's strange story, Impulse. The crowd in the waiting room of the New York airport hardly noticed the small slender man on the trench coat standing near the magazine counter. The few who gave him a passing grant certainly had no way of guessing what was going through his mind at the moment, for his face betrayed no sign of the struggle it raised with anyone. Christopher Daniels, professor of English, was striving to reach a decision, a very important decision. At this moment, he had reached the crossroads he had a choice to make. He could go on living his own dull life, or a new life, the life of another man. Mr. Neil Baldwin. A man whose name was now being called over the public address system. Mr. Neil Baldwin, please report to the reservation staff immediately. Mr. Baldwin, please. Suddenly Christopher Daniels shivered. This unbelievable unexpected chance had come so suddenly it almost seemed like a dream. Yes, a dream which had reached its climax that afternoon in his room at the hotel. Perhaps it had really started this morning at his home in New Haven. That unpleasant scene with his wife Blanche. He'd forgotten what had brought it all on. Money, his job, didn't matter really. The scenes with Blanche always ended the same way. Blanche, please. We've been over all this time and time again. Yes, yes we have Chris. What good has it done? You never think of me really, what I gave up to marry you. I know. I could have had a lot of things Chris, but no. No I had to marry an unambitious English professor. Blanche. A professor who writes second grade poetry on the side. That's enough. Is it? Every time I've suggested that you give up this dreary little job of- Blanche, leave me alone. Please. Yes Chris, perhaps it was then the bad dream had started. That unpleasant scene with Blanche. Like so many that had gone on before. Scenes that left you empty, miserable. Sitting in your study oblivious to everything except the vague wish you usually had at times like this. That things would somehow straighten themselves out. You hadn't heard the doorbell. Then you saw Blanche and your old friend Neil Baldwin standing in front of you. Hello Chris. Neil, this is a surprise. How are you? Fine, fine. Well it's good to see you again Neil. Sit down, come on sit down. Thank you, but just for a few minutes. Well let me see now. I haven't seen you since the class reunion have I? No, no I guess you haven't. What are you doing down here in New Haven Neil? What's wrong with New Haven? Nothing. Chris thinks it's the world's most fascinating metropolis. Oh Blanche. Actually we've practically been neighbors for quite a while. I've been working back and forth between here and Boston for an investment house. And in fact I had an apartment just a few blocks away. I forgot to tell you Chris, I ran into Neil about six months ago on the street. I told him we'd both love a visit with you. Well you should have known that anyway. Chris I did. It wasn't that I didn't want to see you. I've been busy. Now I'm just stopping in to say goodbye. Goodbye? Yeah. I haven't seen you in nearly a year and you're saying goodbye? Where are you going? I'm going to New York right now and then South America. South America? Oh that's wonderful Neil. Business trip? No Chris. No I guess my business days are over. I had a talk with my doctor last month and it's either take it easy or else. So I'm going to take what little money I've saved, go down to South America where I don't know a soul and loaf the rest of my life. Well I'm sorry to hear about your health Neil but the trip sounds wonderful. When are you leaving? The plane leaves late this afternoon. No problem. A sudden impulse wasn't it Chris? Perhaps you hoped that would straighten things out between you and Blanche. Just getting away from her overnight. Quickly you run upstairs to throw a few things in your bag. And later as you're driving Neil down the coast toward New York. Cigarette Chris? No. No thanks. Well how things been going for you Chris? Oh pretty well. Pretty well. Now look old man I know it's none of my business but you know you seem quite worried. Worried? No I'm not worried. Not really I guess. Not really. You can't very well tell Neil the truth can you Chris? Tell him that you and Blanche are unhappy. That you haven't done anything about it because you're sure she needs you. No you can't tell Neil you'd like to call it off. Because you hardly dare tell yourself. Later after you park your car in the garage and check in at the New York hotel. You leave Neil stretched out comfortably on your bed. Cigarette smoke curling from his nostrils. You go on to the quaint little restaurant in the village. That doesn't seem to help. You sit there hardly touching the food or the wine. Finally you leave drive back to the hotel. Park your car and start down the block with Neil's briefcase tucked under your arm. It isn't until you're almost at the hotel entrance you notice the white ambulance driving away. The excited crowd rally about. The policeman keeping them back. Here here here where are you going? Out of my room I...what's the matter officer? There's been a fire upstairs in the hotel. A fire? Where was it? Seventh floor. Seventh floor? That's right. Lieutenant said a man went to sleep while spoken in bed. He's dead. All right folks now let's clear the entrance. Come on. Come on please. Smoking in bed and he's dead? Officer. Huh? Who was it? Huh? Who was he? The man who... Oh well the clerk said it was a man named Daniels. Christopher Daniels. What? Just checked in a couple of hours ago. It's a terrible shock isn't it Chris? Your friend Neil Baldwin burned to death in your hotel room. And you stand in the street with Neil's briefcase under your arm staring emptily at the window on the seventh floor. They all think you were dead don't they Chris? Yes. Christopher Daniels no longer exists. Somehow you find your way back to your car. You remember opening the briefcase looking at the papers. The ticket is for Bermuda instead of South America. Bermuda, flight 11. And you have Neil's papers, his luggage. A reservation at the Crystal Beach Hotel. And there's something else too. An envelope with money in it. A lot of money. Mr. Neil Baldwin please report to the reservation desk immediately. Mr. Baldwin please. The next thing you know you're at the airport. Standing in the waiting room by the magazine counter. Flight 11, leaving for Bermuda. All aboard please. Mr. Neil Baldwin please report to the reservation desk immediately. Mr. Baldwin please. Name please. Your name sir? What? Your name please. Baldwin. Neil Baldwin. It's a long way from New Haven to Bermuda isn't it Chris? And it's too late to turn back. And now you don't want to turn back. No, you've managed to put your past out of your mind. With the help of Dorothy Gilbert. Yes, it was on the plane trip to Bermuda that you met her. And the two of you hit it off right from the start. You sensed instinctively that the two of you had a lot in common. You felt a pleasant glow and she smiled. Finally there's the arrival itself. The beautiful green island of Bermuda looming up in a turquoise sea. You check in at the Crystal Beach Hotel. Register as Neil Baldwin. And later in one of the quaint horse drawn surries you ride over to Belmont Manor where Dorothy is staying. You're excited aren't you Chris? Like a school boy on his first date. I didn't expect to see you so soon. I couldn't wait Dorothy. You ready? I'd love to. Then come along. My carriage awaits. Look out. Neil. Oh yes that's me. I was just thinking. I can see already I'd like to stay on here a lot longer than a three week vacation. I think I'd like to stay here for a long time Neil. So would I Dorothy. Long time. It was like a faint discord. A cloud passing over the sun when she called you Neil wasn't it Chris? It seemed so unnatural. It made you realize you were really Chris Daniels from New Haven. An English professor with a wife named Blanche. Yes for a moment Blanche is back in your mind but it's only for a moment. She fades out again and you're busy showing Dorothy Crystal Beach. The pink sands. Making plans for the future. That evening you're dancing at the ace of clubs. You have a wonderful idea. Come here Neil. You like it? Really? Love it. Why didn't you tell me you'd dance like this? I guess I didn't know I could. Neil. Do you know that man over there near the bar? Man? Which one? The short heavy set man. He seems to be looking at us. I don't know him. Neil do I? He's probably not looking at us. He's looking at you Dorothy. I don't blame him. You're talking mighty pretty Mr. Maybe that's because you are so pretty Miss. Oh Neil. You are Dorothy. In fact you're beautiful. No I'm not. But I'm glad you think I am. Well Chris there's no doubt in your mind about what's happening to you and Dorothy is there? It's all very simple. You're certain she's in love with you and you're in love with her. Yes for the first time in your life you're in love. But the clouds over the sun again. This time it won't go away. This whole thing is unfair isn't it? Unfair to Dorothy. Unfair to Blanche. Now you've got to make another decision. You're still thinking about it as you take Dorothy back to Belmont Manor and return to your hotel. Soon as you walk into the lobby the desk clerk gives you something else to think about. Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin. Yes. Yes what is it? A message for you sir. Came while you were out. A message? A telephone call from New York. I took it myself. It was from your wife Mrs. Baldwin. Said to expect her sometime within the next few days. You hadn't counted on anything like this had you Chris? Neil had never mentioned his wife to you. You had no idea he was married. But you're not too surprised. Neil was always close mouthed seldom talking about himself. Yet it does seem strange he didn't mention his wife doesn't it? But now it's past wondering about. Neil is dead and you're using his name. And Mrs. Baldwin will be arriving in a few days. You're trembling as you turn away from the desk clerk and start for the stairs and then. Oh Mr. Baldwin one more thing. Yes. I almost forgot to tell you. There was a man here early in the evening asking about you. Oh what did he want? Well he didn't say. I thought you'd gone over to the ace of clubs so I. What did he look like? Oh wore a blue suit rather short. Heavy set man as I remember. Yes Chris. It's the short man again. The man who was staring at you tonight when you were dancing with Dorothy at the ace of clubs. Your certainty is following you aren't you? Perhaps he's from the police. And you wonder if he knows the truth about you. Hurry up to your room. There's little sleep for you that night. The pressure is building isn't it Chris? And the strain on you begins to show the next evening at dinner. Neil. What's the matter? The matter? Nothing Dorothy. Yes there is. All evening you've been acting so. Oh so strangely. You're worried. What is it Neil? Dorothy I. I have to trust you. Although you have no reason to I must admit. I do trust you Neil and I've got a good reason to. Being in love with you is a good reason. Let's get out of here Dorothy. All right. Neil. There's that short man again. At the table near the wall. He seems to be. Don't look around Dorothy. Just keep walking. Yes Neil of course. But if you don't mind I think I'd better take you back to your hotel. Neil that man. Is he what's bothering you? Well he's part of it. He's been following you hasn't he? Are you in trouble Neil? Yes Dorothy. I'm in trouble. You take Dorothy back to the Belmont manor and leave her with that hurt puzzled look in her eyes. The look you give anything to smooth away. Then you go back to your hotel. And as you enter the lobby the desk clerk calls to you. Oh Mr. Baldwin. Yes. There was another telephone call for you an hour ago from New York. New York. Yes sir. From Mrs. Baldwin. What did she say? Well she was able to get plane reservations. She'll arrive at the airport tomorrow morning. Eight thirty. You'll run blindly out of the hotel into the night. Finally you find yourself on the road leading to the Belmont manor. Yes the Belmont manor in Dorothy. Because you finally made your decision. You've decided to tell Dorothy everything. And you do. Your life with Blanche. Your unhappiness. The madness that seized you when you discovered Neil was dead and that everyone thought it was you. How you struggled with your conscience and how your conscience finally worked. Yes. You pour out the whole agonizing story to Dorothy there on the beach. And the sun has come up before you finish. Chris. Ah I like the name much better than Neil. It suits you more darling. I'm going back to Blanche Dorothy. I should have known I couldn't leave her. I know. You're just not built that way. I guess that's why I feel as I do towards you. It isn't that I want to it's just that. But I know she needs me. Of course she does. And don't worry about it. Just remember how nice everything was for a little while. Things we want we just can't have. Why did I have to hurt you though? You didn't hurt me Chris I. When. When you leaving. Right away I can't wait. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. You're going to say I guess? I um... I don't know how I stand with the law. I'll find out when I get back I suppose. I don't think I've done anything criminal. I've just been a fool. What about Mrs. Baldwin? I don't know Dorothy. You know when I get back in my room I'll write her a letter telling her what's happened and leave Neil's money and papers with it for her. It's not exactly that brave thing to do I suppose but, I just can't face her. Well, Chris, I guess you better be going. Yes. Dorothy, I can't ask you to forget or forgive. Too much has happened, I know, but I hope that, well, time will... Time, yes. Time will help a lot, Chris. It always does with everyone. And someday, who knows? Perhaps things will be different. Dorothy, I... I do love you, Dorothy. I always will. I know you do. Goodbye, darling. It's all over now, isn't it, Chris? And there's nothing left to do but go back to your hotel, write the note to leave for Neil's wife, and then buy your ticket back to the United States, back to New Haven and Blanche. But it's not as easy as it sounds, is it? Writing the letter to Mrs. Baldwin is not easy. There's a lot of explaining to do. You're so engrossed in the letter that you don't hear the door behind you close softly. You don't see the short, heavy-set man walk silently across the room and stand looking over your shoulder. Hello. What? What are you writing, a confession? Who are you? What do you want? I'm Jim Mason, private detective, and I think you know what I want. You and I are going to have a nice long talk, brother, because right now you're looking an awful lot of trouble right in the eye. [♪music playing and sound of train whistle playing in background. [♪music playing and sound of train whistle playing in background. Well, Chris, they finally caught up with you. Your little adventure is at an end. Your first decision to use Neil's name, run away from home, was a bad one, wasn't it? And your second decision to go back. Looks like you made that one a little too late, because now no one will ever believe you really were going back. There's only one thing to do, one thing you know how to do, and that's to tell Mason the whole story just as you told it to Dorothy. And that's what you do. You give Mason the whole story. It's sort of a wild tale, ain't it, Mr.? I know, it must sound so, but... You, uh, you can prove you're not Neil Baldwin? Oh, yes, yes, of course I can. Well, then you're a lucky guy. Lucky? That dough Baldwin had, that $12,000 he told you he saved up to retire on? Yeah. He embezzled that from the company he worked for. They sent me down here after him. Hey, you still have the dough? Yes, it's over there in the briefcase. I haven't touched it except for what I've spent since I've been here, which I can replace. Ah, you are a lucky guy. Getting the dough back's all the company's interested in. So far as I'm concerned, you can go your way. Oh, thanks. Now, what are you going to do? Go back? Yes. It's the only decent thing I can do. Hey. Now, you're not quite out of the woods yet. No, I guess you are. If Mrs. Baldwin backs up your story that you're not Neil Baldwin. Wait a minute, she's right outside. All right, Mrs. Baldwin, you come on in now. Neil, darling, why didn't you meet me at the airport? Chris. Blanche. I thought you, I thought you were... I was what Blanche? I thought... You thought that I died in that hotel fire instead of Neil. You thought he'd be here waiting for you with the money he stole. Now, you had it all planned, didn't you? You knew he stole it, didn't you, Blanche? Yes, yes, but... You've been meeting him for a long time, haven't you? Well, I... And all the time I was torturing myself thinking that you needed me. Oh, Chris, we... Our life was so drab, I couldn't help it. I wanted to travel, enjoy living. Neil offered me these things. So you decided to run out on me and meet Neil down here on stolen money. It wouldn't have been running out on you. You would have been happier, too. You could have gotten a divorce, possibly found someone you would have been happier with later on. Yes, yes, that's true, isn't it? You know, your coming down here to meet Neil kept me from making an awful mistake. Losing something that means more to me than anything in the world. I... I don't understand. You don't have to, Blanche. It doesn't concern you anymore. Just me and someone over at Belmont Manor. I'm going over there right now. The Whistler The Whistler The Whistler The Whistler Listen next week when once again the United States Air Forces in Europe present The Whistler
