Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Embarcadero Matter 08/23/1959

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – The Embarcadero Matter (Airdate: 08/23/1959)
Host: Choice Classic Radio

The Embarcadero Matter transports listeners to Paris and foggy San Francisco as Johnny Dollar, insurance investigator extraordinaire, races against time and the criminal underworld to recover a priceless Cellini medallion stolen from the Louvre. Using his network of contacts and a healthy expense account, Johnny weaves through intrigue, smuggling rings, and gunfights in this action-packed adventure from the Golden Age of Radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

1. A Job in Paris Turns into a New Case (01:19–03:12)

• Johnny Dollar is ready to return home after solving a jewel case in Paris but is contacted by George Reed of his insurance company.
• Johnny is asked to stay in Paris to help recover a stolen Cellini medallion—a priceless artifact missing from the Louvre.
• “I’m flying on back tonight. See you in Hartford in the morning. What?” — Johnny Dollar (02:19)

2. Underworld Informant Louis de Marsac (03:21–08:23)

• Johnny chooses not to contact the company man, Rigaud, but goes straight to Louis de Marsac, his flamboyant underworld informant, aka "The Great Cat."
• Louis is broke (after spending Johnny’s previous payoff on a “bad investment” involving a “lovely vision”).
• Johnny offers him $150 (negotiated from $500) to dig up info on the medallion.
• In a short time, Louis returns with detailed intel:
  • The medallion is being smuggled to America hidden in a wine case on the ship Klemper Hall bound for San Francisco.
  • The case is marked with a tiny circle and a Maltese cross — a detail Louis knows because, as he sheepishly admits, “I put it there myself.” (08:18)
• Memorable quote:
  • “You dug up an awful lot of information in a very short time, Dermasac, even about that mark on the case of wine?” — Johnny Dollar (08:10)
  • “But of course, monsieur. You see, I put it there myself.” — Louis de Marsac (08:23)

3. Across the World: Arrival in San Francisco (08:44–10:09)

• Johnny jets to fog-shrouded San Francisco and checks into his favorite hotel, then heads out for dinner.
• He’s tailed in the fog — fortunately, it’s only Smokey Sullivan, a reformed underworld acquaintance.
• Smokey offers to help, admitting he’s been “going straight” and working the Embarcadero docks.

4. Smuggling on the Docks and Frankie Gerstel (10:09–12:23)

• Smokey tells Johnny there’s been a lot of smuggling (mostly narcotics) through the Embarcadero.
• Most crucially, Smokey says notorious fence Frankie Gerstel (the same man Johnny suspects) has been seen at the docks, likely to intercept the wine shipment.
• “I've been hanging around the docks the last couple of days, down to the Embarcadero… Smuggling, Johnny. There's a lot of smuggling all the time…” — Smokey Sullivan (10:23–10:45)
• Smokey reveals he actually helped unload the Klemper Hall; it arrived earlier that day.

5. The Warehouse Showdown (12:53–20:39)

12:53–15:14

• Johnny and Smokey head to Pier 93.
• They find the night watchman dead — shot in the back of the head, likely by Gerstel.

15:14–17:02

• Smokey fears being found at the scene; Johnny decides to canvass the warehouse for the wine case.
• Johnny instructs Smokey on how to cover if the police arrive.
• Armed with a flashlight, Johnny navigates the dark warehouse, locating the wine cases by their special mark (tiny circle with a Maltese cross).

17:02–20:39

• As Johnny searches, someone else is in the darkness: it’s Frankie Gerstel, lying in wait and armed.
• A tense, shadowy shootout commences:
  • Frankie: “I've been here over an hour. I can see in here, but you can't now.” (18:32)
  • Johnny tries to draw Frankie out with conversation, but shots are fired.
  • Johnny tricks Frankie by using a cinch bar and the momentary flash of Frankie's gun to locate him.
  • Smokey rushes in, grabs a pistol from the dead watchman, and fatally shoots Frankie, saving Johnny’s life.

6. The Case Closed, Redemption for Smokey (20:16–21:47)

• With Frankie dead, Johnny finds the medallion on his body—confirming all the underworld tips were correct.
• The authorities arrive, but Smokey is exonerated and even hailed as a hero for saving Johnny and helping recover the medallion.
• “You saved my life, Smokey. Thanks.” — Johnny Dollar (20:26)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You will be amazed. You will be thrilled." — Night Clerk, Paris (01:19)
• “She was young. She was so beautiful... Marcel! How could such a lovely vision deceive me so? Oh, I'm crushed, a man without hope.” — Louis de Marsac (04:43)
• “But of course, monsieur. You see, I put it there myself.” — Louis de Marsac explaining his inside knowledge (08:23)
• “I’m real clean now, Johnny. I’ve been going straight, lots of stuff. But I know how to keep my eyes open.” — Smokey Sullivan (10:31)
• “If anybody was to find out that I was informed—” “Don't worry. The treasury boys will never talk.” — Smokey and Johnny, on going legit (11:35)
• “If the cops come around, they see this office dark…” — Smokey’s concern about being an ex-con at a murder scene (15:56)
• Showdown Bluff:
  Frankie: “Didn’t figure I had two guns, did you, Dollar? But you haven’t. Not now...” (19:37)
  Johnny: “By the time you can reload… yeah, Smokey, put on the lights. I can use him now.” (19:47)
• “The Cellini medallion and Frankie's pocket. It was pretty obvious that he'd killed the watchman taking the medallion out of the wine case. And was about to leave when we showed up. Smokey's shot had killed him. Had Smokey a bit worried too, when the police barged in on us. But now, now he's a public hero.” — Johnny Dollar, narrating the wrap-up (20:39)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:19 — Johnny Dollar gets the call about the new case.
• 03:21–08:23 — Paris underworld: deal with Louis de Marsac, discovery of the medallion's route.
• 08:44 — Johnny arrives in San Francisco.
• 10:09 — First encounter with Smokey Sullivan.
• 12:53 — Pier 93, discovery of the dead watchman.
• 17:02 — Tense warehouse search for the marked wine case.
• 18:32–20:39 — Shootout and confrontation with Frankie Gerstel.
• 20:31 — Johnny thanks Smokey for saving his life.
• 21:47 — Case wrap-up and expense account.

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Summary & Tone

The Embarcadero Matter packs clever banter, noir atmosphere, and classic radio action into a tightly plotted story. Johnny Dollar’s dry wit, Louis de Marsac’s melodramatic charm, and Smokey Sullivan’s earnest attempts to go straight ground the episode. The case closes with justice served and redemption secured—Golden Age radio at its most entertaining.

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For fans of sharp dialogue, shadowy docks, and solid mystery plotting, this episode delivers the goods.

Transcript

[Josh Whalen]

If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes. When you start TRT or enclomiphene, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan and right now all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and BL lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get [e-mail] and use a promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs. And for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1ed or hair loss add ons when you start TRT or enclomiphene. Not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more at joyandbloaks.com welcome to Choice.

[Johnny Dollar]

Classic Radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook. Subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for [e-mail]. Johnny. Danny.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

Monsieur Dolaire. You will be amazed. You will be thrilled.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, well, I think I've had all the thrills I need here in Paris. And who are you?

[Hotel Night Clerk]

I, monsieur. I'm the night clerk here in the hotel.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, what's all the excitement about?

[Hotel Night Clerk]

Monsieur Dolair, I have the telephone call for you. And monsieur. Yeah, it is wonderful. It is the long distance.

[Frankie Gerstel]

It is the transatlantic.

[Johnny Dollar]

A transatlantic hall from the.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

What you call the United States.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, bully for you.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

But across the ocean it must be the most important.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, well, put them on and we'll see.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

Oui, monsieur.

[Johnny Dollar]

Hello, Johnny? That's right, George Reed here. Well, George. All right, clerk, you can get off the line now. What?

[Louis de Marsac]

Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

You hear me? Clerk?

[Frankie Gerstel]

Monsieur.

[Johnny Dollar]

Come on, hang up.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

Very well, monsieur.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, George, you get my cable report on the only jewels? Yes.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

You did a great job in spite of all the money you threw around. I mean, what you gave that man to Marsac. But listen, I'm glad I caught you before you left.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm flying on back tonight. See you in Hartford in the morning. What?

[Hotel Night Clerk]

Contact Mr. Maurice Rigaud there at our Paris office.

[Johnny Dollar]

Ah. What about getting those jewels back to America?

[Hotel Night Clerk]

No, that's all taken care of. But in talking with him a minute ago I happened to mention that you're there. So he wants you to stay around and see if you help locate a Cellini medallion.

[Johnny Dollar]

Cellini? Famous Italian artist? Yes.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

The medallion was stolen from the galleries of the Lou two or three weeks ago. Priceless. So it has to be found and returned to them.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I'll do what I can, George.

[Louis de Marsac]

Good.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

Contact this man Rigaud at our office there immediately.

[Johnny Dollar]

Contact Rigaud, huh?

[Hotel Night Clerk]

That's right. But why do you say it that way?

[Johnny Dollar]

Because maybe I won't bother him.

[Hotel Night Clerk]

What?

[Johnny Dollar]

George? Maybe I've got a better idea.

[Announcer]

CBS radio brings you Bob Bailey in. The intriguing adventures of the man with the action packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yours truly, Johnny doll. Expense accounts of it by special investigator Johnny dollar. The Floyd's of England North American office. Or maybe it's the Paris office. We'll see. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the embarcadero matter. Expense account, item one, a few francs. Call it $0.10American for a telephone call. Not to Rigaud at Floyd's of England, but to my old underworld contact, Louis de Marsac. The strange little character who calls himself the great cat.

[Louis de Marsac]

Oui, oui, monsieur d', alais, c' est la cha gris. Your most loyal, most faithful friend.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. Are you living it up on that money I gave you for locating the only jewels for me?

[Louis de Marsac]

Alas, monsieur, I have been most unfortunate. Only one small what you call investment.

[Johnny Dollar]

And now, easy come, easy go, huh?

[Louis de Marsac]

The 5,000 is gone. And I was so sure of this one.

[Johnny Dollar]

What kind of an investment? Amar sack.

[Louis de Marsac]

What Even, even you would have been attracted. Oh, she was young. She was so beautiful.

[Johnny Dollar]

She. Oh no.

[Louis de Marsac]

Ah, that. Marcel. Marcel. How could, how could such a lovely vision deceive me so? Oh, I'm Christ, a man without hope. And monsieur.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah?

[Louis de Marsac]

I'm also very what you call broke.

[Johnny Dollar]

Uh huh. Think a hundred dollars might help to raise your spirits.

[Louis de Marsac]

$500. Oh, Marie. Monsieur. But for what?

[Johnny Dollar]

100. For some information about what happened to the Cellini medallion.

[Louis de Marsac]

Ah, we stole him from the Louvre.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, you know about it then? But of course you know where it is.

[Louis de Marsac]

No, no, but, but for you enemy, I will somehow find out.

[Johnny Dollar]

Good.

[Louis de Marsac]

But it, it may be dangerous, monsieur. The people. I will have to see the cutthroat. I will have to pay for the information. But for you and the $400 you have promised me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, okay. 150. Want to call Me? When you've got the dope?

[Hotel Night Clerk]

No.

[Louis de Marsac]

If I bring the information to you, I. I can then collect for it right away. Oh, 200.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'll wait to hear from you. Okay. Now, George, don't flip your lid over. Some more money for de Marsac. After all, he knows more about what goes on in the Paris underworld than any other man alive. And if in a day or two, he can come up with the information I need. Well, put it this way. He saved the company a lot of time and money in the past, and I'm sure he can do it again. Also, if his poking around is as dangerous as he seems to. Yeah, well, come in, come in.

[Louis de Marsac]

Demonstrate, Monsieur de Chatguy. Oh. The dangerous mission you send me on is a fait accompli.

[Johnny Dollar]

But I only talked to you on the phone about an hour ago.

[Louis de Marsac]

I've wasted no time. You. You have the $300 for me?

[Johnny Dollar]

150. You have the information?

[Louis de Marsac]

Great. The Cellini medallion.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well?

[Louis de Marsac]

Well, it's on the way to your own country.

[Johnny Dollar]

On the way?

[Louis de Marsac]

How? Hidden away in the case of wine. Aboard the ship. The Clamper hall. Out of La Hall.

[Johnny Dollar]

The Klemper hall, huh?

[Louis de Marsac]

Destination San Francisco.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, when's it due to arrive there?

[Louis de Marsac]

Late tomorrow night. The cargo is many cases of wine. Yes, bottles of wine. The medallion is hidden away in one of them.

[Johnny Dollar]

You're sure of all this, De Montsac?

[Louis de Marsac]

But of course. Wanna meet?

[Johnny Dollar]

Because if I fly all the way to San Francisco and find out you're giving me a wrong steer.

[Louis de Marsac]

Oh, no, no. How can you? My oldest, my dearest.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, sure. Now, this means that someone over there is going to have to pick it.

[Louis de Marsac]

Up at the warehouse at the pier. Monsieur Frank Gestel.

[Johnny Dollar]

Gestel. You know, if he's the one, I'm thinking of a fence who used to operate New York, or. They can never pin anything on him.

[Louis de Marsac]

He must be the same.

[Johnny Dollar]

But in the shipload of wine, how will he know which case has the Cellini medallion in it?

[Louis de Marsac]

By this. By this mark, mon ami.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah. A tiny circle. Yeah. Ah. With a Maltese cross in it.

[Louis de Marsac]

Quick. Like so.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay. To Marsac. You better pack up and catch a plane back to the States, mon ami. Oh, yeah, sure. Here you are. 50, 100. 150.

[Louis de Marsac]

Such a dangerous.

[Johnny Dollar]

Such a. 100. 70, 90, 200.

[Louis de Marsac]

Ah, merci. Merci beaucoup. Bon voyage.

[Johnny Dollar]

Wait a minute. You dug up an awful lot of information in a very short time, Dermasac, even about that mark on the case of wine?

[Louis de Marsac]

But of course, monsieur. You See, I. I put it there myself.

[Johnny Dollar]

You what?

[Louis de Marsac]

Oui. When I help my friends to smuggle the medallion aboard the sh.

[Announcer]

No problem.

[Johnny Dollar]

Expense account. Item two is a couple of hundred bucks to Dumarsac for the information about the stolen cellini medallion. Item $392American for my hotel there in Paris. Then a taxi out to Orly. Item four, five, nine, nine, even plane fare. Paris to New York, to San Francisco, and a taxi to my favorite hotel, the hunting in up on Nav Hill. A pea soup fog had settled over the city and the driver had to practically feel his way the last couple of blocks. By the time I cleaned up and changed my clothes, it was late and I was hungry. And after the long plane trip, I was glad for a chance to walk over to the Fleur de lis on Sutter Street. Cocktails and a rare good dinner. Ran up. Item 5, $11 even. Then I started back to the Huntington again on foot, I say I started. It was late, remember, and dark. Not many people on the streets. And suddenly I was conscious of someone behind me slowly catching up with me in the fog. He was only a shadow, but I was sure he was following me. I slipped out my gun under my coat and slowed my pace. All right, brother. What?

[Louis de Marsac]

Huh? Yeah?

[Smokey Sullivan]

Hi, Jai.

[Johnny Dollar]

Smokey Sullivan.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, what under the. How are you, Smokey?

[Smokey Sullivan]

I thought that was you coming out of that floor. Hadn't you better put that back in your coat?

[Louis de Marsac]

Huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, yeah, sure. Hey, listen, you're just the man I want to see.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah. And if you can dig up some information for me about somebody, I'll make it worth your while.

[Smokey Sullivan]

You're real good to me, Johnny. I'll do anything I can. Now, listen.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah.

[Smokey Sullivan]

I don't know why you're out here this time. And maybe this ain't got nothing to do with it.

[Johnny Dollar]

What's that? Smoking.

[Smokey Sullivan]

I've been hanging around the docks the last couple of days, down to the Embarcadero.

[Johnny Dollar]

Doing a little honest work for a change.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, I'm real clean now, Johnny. I've been going straight, lots of stuff. But I know how to keep my eyes open. You know what's going on down there?

[Johnny Dollar]

What?

[Smokey Sullivan]

Smuggling, Johnny. There's a lot of smuggling all the time, you know what I mean?

[Johnny Dollar]

Keep talking, Smokey.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, well, most of it comes in from Japan and China, places like that. It's the boys on the boats, but bringing stuff in.

[Johnny Dollar]

Ah, well, what?

[Smokey Sullivan]

I'm interested in narcotics, Johnny. Mostly heroin, stuff like that.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, well, now, Smokey, when you get any info about that kind of stuff coming in, you tip off the treasury boys, the Narcotics division.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Me, Johnny? Me go the cops.

[Johnny Dollar]

You mean because of your password?

[Louis de Marsac]

Yeah.

[Smokey Sullivan]

They wouldn't believe me, Johnny, that's the trouble with going legit. I mean, the kind of guy I was.

[Johnny Dollar]

Don't ever kid yourself. I don't want to lecture you, Smokey, but believe me, it's the best way in the world for you to make up for some of the things you've done in the past. Look what you've done in helping me.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, I know it was you got me going straight. But don't you see. If anybody was to find out that I was informed.

[Johnny Dollar]

Don't worry. The treasury boys will never talk.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Okay, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, the man I'm interested in.

[Smokey Sullivan]

But now, like I was gonna tell you, Smokey, listen, like I said, most of this stuff is from the orientation. But down there to the docks a couple of nights running. Now, Johnny, you ever hear of Frankie Gerstel?

[Johnny Dollar]

Are you kidding? That's a man I was gonna. You mean the one who used to be a fence back in New York?

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, long time ago. I done a couple of jobs for him. That was before, you know.

[Johnny Dollar]

You've seen Gestel around here?

[Smokey Sullivan]

Down to the Embarcadero?

[Johnny Dollar]

Sure. Waiting for the Klimper hall to pull in from Europe.

[Smokey Sullivan]

The Klemper Hall, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah.

[Smokey Sullivan]

With a cargo of French wine.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, that's it. How do you know?

[Smokey Sullivan]

I helped unload it.

[Johnny Dollar]

You what?

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, come in ahead of time. Early this morning.

[Johnny Dollar]

And I got here too late, huh? Or maybe I haven't. Come on, let's get on down to the Embarcadero. Item 6, a buck and a half for a taxi. Pier 93, where the clamper hall was birthed, was dark, except that is, for a dim light in the office on the street side. Back in the huge warehouse extending out over the waters of the bay. There wasn't even a glow from a night light.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Sure funny, Johnny, they're not having some kind of a light in the warehouse.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, we'll find out about that from the watchman. They're in the office. If we can wake him up.

[Louis de Marsac]

Yeah.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Sleeping on a job like that, why, he was.

[Johnny Dollar]

Hey, watchman. Watchmen. Come on, open up.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, I see. Come on, Smokey. Give me up. Here we go now. All right. Wake up, mister. Come on. I said wake up.

[Josh Whalen]

If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes. When you start TRT or enclomiphene. You can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan. And right now all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and Blokes lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get [e-mail] and use a promo code. Podcast new customers get 50% off their labs. And for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1ed or hair loss add ons when you start. TRT or enclomophene. Not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn [e-mail] when it's time to scale.

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[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, Johnny. He's a sleep all right for good.

[Johnny Dollar]

Fog shrouded San Francisco or the Embarcadero at night. There in the little office on the shore end of Pier 93, we found the watchman. Found him dead with a bullet in the back of his head. Which meant that in all probability Frankie Gerstel had gotten there before us. Had already taken the Cellini medallion out of its hiding place. Or was it still there? One of the cases of wine stacked up in the warehouse in the long dark pier. There was only one way to find out.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Okay, we better get out of here. Johnny. If the cops come around to find this watchman laying here dead, even with Johnny Dollar Creek.

[Johnny Dollar]

Reach up and pull off that light, will you?

[Smokey Sullivan]

But Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

All right, here, I'll do it.

[Smokey Sullivan]

But look, don't you see? If the cops come around, they see this office dark.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, yeah, we gotta chance it. This watchman had a flashlight on him.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, in the side pocket of his coat.

[Johnny Dollar]

Side pocket? Yeah, here it is.

[Smokey Sullivan]

What are you gonna do, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm going back into that warehouse.

[Smokey Sullivan]

But Johnny, don't you see? If you put on the lights back there.

[Johnny Dollar]

That's why I've got this flashlight. I've got to locate a case of wine in there with a peculiar mark on it.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Something else in that case.

[Johnny Dollar]

A priceless medallion that was stolen from the Louvre. It was smuggled in so Gastel could pick it up.

[Smokey Sullivan]

But if he's already been in here and taken.

[Johnny Dollar]

I gotta make sure. You wait right here, Johnny.

[Smokey Sullivan]

If a prowl car comes down the street.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, Shove the watchman's body under the desk, turn the light on again and sit there in that chair with your hat pulled down over your face. If a prowl car comes a long way to it.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Whatever you say, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

If anybody else comes along, tries to get in here, yell bloody murder and get out the best way you can. Going back in the warehouse. And don't switch on the lights in there.

[Louis de Marsac]

Be.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Be careful, Johnny.

[Louis de Marsac]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

The light in the office, when Smokey turned it on again, made only a thin yellow line beneath the sliding door. It showed me nothing that seemed only to accentuate the gloomy darkness of the huge warehouse. Cautiously, I felt my way to a pile of crates, stuck my head around the corner of it and flicked on the flashlight for a moment to get the lay of the land. Bales, crates, packing boxes and barrels filled the place. The cargo of the clipper hall. And there at the far end were the cases of wine. I was looking for. Hundreds of them. After mentally plotting a course through the mass of shipping, I turned off the flashlight and worked my way back to them in the darkness. Finally reached him. And when I tilted one of them, it gurgled slightly. I was about to flick on the light again when I realized that if Frankie had come here, if he'd killed a guard but hadn't left, somehow I had to find the case with the identifying mark on it. I put on the light again, and there in front of me was a case that someone had pried open. The Cinch bar was lying beside it. On one corner was the mark. That someone. I heard someone else in there behind me, behind one of the packing cases. I'd felt my way around in the dock. I heard him again, so I picked up the Cinch bar. I waited then. Holy. At least. At least I'd seen the flash of the gun. But again I waited.

[Frankie Gerstel]

Give up, $I've been here over an hour. I can see in here, but you can't now.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I can see the flash of your gun.

[Frankie Gerstel]

You see what I mean, $just keep on talking, Frankie.

[Louis de Marsac]

What?

[Frankie Gerstel]

What'd you say?

[Johnny Dollar]

Cinch bar. All right.

[Frankie Gerstel]

Here, Frankie. Ah, that's a stupid trick.

[Johnny Dollar]

Too close. Too close. Now, wait. Hey, your last shot, wasn't it, Frankie? Yeah.

[Frankie Gerstel]

Hey, Smokey.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, Smokey, come out here in the warehouse, turn on the lights and we'll.

[Frankie Gerstel]

Didn't figure I had two guns, did you, darling? But you haven't. Not now. You're through. And by the time you can reload. Yeah, Smokey, put on the lights. I can use him now.

[Johnny Dollar]

No, no, Smoky, no.

[Frankie Gerstel]

That's right. And leave him on. And $, I'm gonna dig you out from behind those crates and kill you. You hear me? $, you can't get away. Yeah, because now I see you. So I p.

[Johnny Dollar]

Smokey. Johnny. Johnny. I took the gun off the dead. Watch for this.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Are you all right, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Are you all right?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, yeah, sure. Sure I am. You. You saved my life, Smokey. Thanks.

[Smokey Sullivan]

Yeah, yeah, you're welcome.

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny, listen, listen. The cops are coming. Yeah, I hear well. And Johnny. Stop worrying, Smoker.

[Smokey Sullivan]

But don't you see?

[Johnny Dollar]

You're on their side now, remember? But if the. Yeah. Yeah, I guess I am sure. The Cellini medallion and Frankie's pocket. It was pretty obvious that he'd killed the watchman taking the medallion out of the wine case. And was about to leave when Wheat showed up. Smokey's shot had killed him. Had Smokey a bit worried, too, when the police barged in on us. But now, now he's a public hero. Oh, sure, there'll have to be some kind of a hearing on the whole affair. My deposition's already in, but Smokey's really in the clear. As for the couple of hundred bucks I gave him, well, forget it, George. It came out of my own pocket. So, expense account total, including the trip home, $1174. Even yours truly, Sonny, do.

[Announcer]

Now, here is our star to tell you about next week's story.

[Johnny Dollar]

Instead, let me say hi to three new cbs affiliates. They're kaab in hot springs, arkansas, w r I g in wausau, wisconsin, and womi in owensburg, kentucky. Welcome to cbs radio. Yours truly, johnny dollar.

[Announcer]

Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is written, produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in our cast were Forest Lewis, Vic Parlin, G Stanley Jones, Tony Barrett and Frank Gerstel. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan Cubberley speaking. This is the CBS Radio Network.