Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Sudden Wealth Matter 12/13/1959

Summary

Podcast Summary: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - "The Sudden Wealth Matter" (12/13/1959)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode Title: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Sudden Wealth Matter
Release Date: March 16, 2026
Main Cast: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar

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Episode Overview

This episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar—titled "The Sudden Wealth Matter"—dives into a suspenseful insurance investigation just before Christmas. Johnny Dollar, the “fabulous freelance insurance investigator,” is drawn into a case involving a small town swept up by a get-rich-quick scheme and a slick conman promising to double anyone’s investment. As Johnny unravels the con, he faces small-town trust, widespread desperation, and the timeless lure of easy money.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Summary

1. Setting the Stage: The Scam Unfolds

• [02:40] Johnny submits his expense account and visits Pat McCracken at the Universal Adjustment Bureau.
• Pat describes an alarming pattern: people from various farming towns across the country are suddenly cashing out insurance policies and selling their assets to invest in the stock market through a mysterious stranger.
  • Quote:
    Pat McCracken [04:14]: “They were handing [money] over to some guy who moved into town and promised to double any money they gave him inside of three weeks.”
• The scam is a classic Ponzi scheme: early investors are paid back double, but only using funds from later investors.

2. Arriving in Enterprise, New Jersey

• [07:24] Johnny travels to Enterprise, a small farming town now caught in the conman’s web.
• He meets Chief Walters, the town’s chief of police, who himself has invested and is a true believer in the scheme.
  • Memorable Exchange [08:14-09:00]:
    • Chief Walters: “Well, a few more weeks from now, the folks in this town will be buying up more insurance than ever. They’ll be buying more of everything.”
    • Johnny Dollar (skeptically): “You mind telling me why?”
• The man behind the scheme is John D. Morgan, supposedly a descendant of the Morgans and Rockefellers, selling himself as a “good Samaritan” returning to his ancestral home to repay the town’s kindness.
  • Chief Walters [10:14]: “It was right here that one of his ancestors got his start... So he’s come here to show his gratitude...”

3. Local Opposition and Desperation

• Johnny visits Mr. Lowry, editor of the local paper, and the only prominent skeptic in town.
  • Quotable Despair [13:27]:
    • Mr. Lowry: “If I print something about that shyster... they won't buy it. It's unbelievable. All they do is keep handing over more of their hard earned money to him.”
• Mr. Lowry agrees to cooperate with Johnny’s plan to expose Morgan by pretending to support him in the press and personally investing more money.
  • [15:05] Johnny Dollar: “Our job right now is to convince him that we’re on his side... The only thing that'll make this John D. Morgan pack up and leave is more money.”

4. Springing the Trap

• With the help of the local bank, Pat in Hartford, and many respected townsfolk, Johnny arranges for a large infusion of investments into Morgan’s scheme:
  • [17:04] Chief Walters: “...when I said your name, well, he made me repeat it for him. But I didn't tell him who you really are.”
  • [17:47] Johnny Dollar: "Now, Mr. Peterson, my own wife has just gone to see Morgan with $5,000 for him. Oh, and if that doesn’t...well, I guess flush him out."
• Johnny strategically disables Morgan’s getaway limousine by removing a part from the distributor, anticipating a hasty escape.

5. The Climax: Exposing the Swindle

• [19:31-20:38] Johnny arrives at the hotel to a mob of townsfolk realizing they’ve been duped; Morgan has skipped out, the "safe" just packed with wads of blank paper.
  • Chief Walters [19:31]: “He’s already skipped out on us... Must have got wise to you.”
• While the angry mob threatens to turn on Johnny and Lowry, Johnny heads to the garage where he confronts Morgan trying to escape.
  • [20:38] Memorable Stand-off:
    • Morgan: “I’ll have to kill you and take it away.”
    • Johnny Dollar: “Wait a minute, Morgan. Look. Out there on the street. Oh, those people. Yeah, that’s right. And I don’t think they like you anymore.”
  • Morgan, terrified of the crowd, surrenders, tosses out the stolen money, and confesses.

6. Resolution and Reflections

• The case ends with Morgan caught and townsfolk recovering their money.
• Johnny reflects on the mob mentality and the heartbreak of desperate hope.
• Expense Account Totals close out Johnny’s report.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Pat McCracken [04:14]:
  "They were handing that over to some guy who moved into town and promised to double any money they gave him inside of three weeks."

• Chief Walters [08:19]:
  “Now, what can I do for you, Chief Walters? I’m an insurance investigator.... Oh, sure, Johnny, sure. I know all about you. I hear all about Them cases you investigate on the radio!”

• Mr. Lowry [13:27]:
  "If I print something about that shyster in my paper, they won't buy it. It's unbelievable. All they do is keep handing over more of their hard earned money to him."

• Johnny Dollar [15:05]:
  "Our job right now is to convince him that we’re on his side... The only thing that'll make this John D. Morgan pack up and leave is more money."

• Johnny Dollar & Morgan Confrontation [20:38]:

  • Morgan: "I'll have to kill you and take it away."
  • Johnny: "Sorry, old man. It stays right here in my pocket."
  • Johnny: "...I don’t think they like you anymore. You see their faces? Not very pleasant looking, are they?"
  • Morgan (panicked): "Help me. Help me. They'll kill me.”

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Important Timestamps

• [02:40] - Start of Johnny's investigation, discussion of the insurance swindle.
• [07:24] - Johnny’s arrival in Enterprise and first encounter with Chief Walters.
• [13:27] - Meeting with Mr. Lowry, the town’s lone voice of skepticism.
• [15:05] - Johnny outlines his plan to flush out Morgan.
• [17:33] - Johnny secures additional funds for the sting operation.
• [19:31] - Discovery of Morgan’s escape and the fake "safe" with paper wads.
• [20:38] - Final confrontation with Morgan in the garage.
• [22:15] - Johnny Dollar’s final remarks and expense account summary.

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Episode Takeaways

• Theme: Old scams prey on new victims; the mixture of hope, greed, and community trust can be a lethal combination.
• Tone: Classic hard-boiled banter, with a blend of sardonic humor, suspense, and community pathos.
• Memorable Element: The episode ends with a vivid scene of mob justice averted by Johnny’s quick thinking, and serves as a cautionary tale about “too good to be true” investments.

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Yours truly,
Johnny Dollar

Transcript

[Pat McCracken]

Welcome to Choice 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 Dollar]

Johnny Dollar.

[Pat McCracken]

Pat McCracken Johnny Universal Adjustment Bureau.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, dear Santa Claus, huh. All I want for Christmas is a million bucks. A new convertible, a bevy of beautiful blondes, two redheads.

[Pat McCracken]

Glad you're talking to Santa Claus instead of of me.

[Johnny Dollar]

What's your problem, Pat?

[Pat McCracken]

Plain old fashioned greed. Greed plus a no good Samaritan. Want to go to work on it?

[Chief Walters]

I.

[Johnny Dollar]

What's the fee look like on this one? I can always use a few extra bucks this time of year.

[Pat McCracken]

As who can't? But you know something?

[Johnny Dollar]

What's that?

[Pat McCracken]

When you find out what this is all about, Johnny? Well, believe it or not, even you may suddenly decide to make like one of Santa's helpers.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, now wait a minute. If that means no fee, come on

[Pat McCracken]

over, let's talk about it, huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, I think I'd.

[Narrator/Announcer]

CBS Radio brings you Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, yours truly, Johnny Deller.

[Johnny Dollar]

Talk about best selling records.

[Chief Walters]

Here's a familiar tune about America's best selling filter cigarette, Winston. Winston gives you real flavor, full rich tobacco flavor. And you know that's because only Winston has filter blend up front Choice flavorful tobaccos specially selected and specially processed for filter smoking. No wonder Winston tastes good like a

[Johnny Dollar]

cigarette should

[Chief Walters]

smoke Winston.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And now act one of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar to the Universal Adjustment Bureau Home office, Hartford, Connecticut. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the sudden wealth matter. Pat McCracken trying to chisel me out of a fee? Well, there was one way to find out. Expense account item 1. A dollar even for a cab to his office. On second thought, just in case, let's call it a buck and a half. When I got there, Pat got straight

[Pat McCracken]

to the door, Johnny. As you know, we adjust insurance claims, do a lot of other services for a lot of small companies. So a good many of them cater to the farming communities. Not only home and property insurance, but they push endowment, the retirement type of policies. Companies like Amalgamated Life, Trinity Mutual, New Britain Mutual and so on. Uh huh.

[Johnny Dollar]

I think I've worked for all of them.

[Pat McCracken]

Well then you know the sort of clientele they cater to.

[Johnny Dollar]

So what's happened?

[Pat McCracken]

Two years ago out in South Dakota in a big agricultural area.

[Narrator/Announcer]

South Dakota.

[Johnny Dollar]

Just a few days Before Christmas.

[Pat McCracken]

Wow.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, listen, huh?

[Pat McCracken]

We suddenly got noticed that a lot of people in a town near Sioux Falls were cashing in their insurance. Well, then a little over a year ago, the same thing happened in a farming section near Fayetteville, Tennessee. And about six months ago at a small town near Macon, Georgia. And these people are not only cashing in their policies, but they were borrowing on their land, hawking their furniture, raising cash any way they possibly could.

[Johnny Dollar]

For what purpose?

[Pat McCracken]

To invest in the stock market.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, well, maybe you can't blame him, Johnny, on a few shares myself. Some AT&T. GE some Union Carbon.

[Pat McCracken]

Yeah, but you buy those blue chips and through a legitimate broker.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, doesn't everybody?

[Pat McCracken]

Not these people. They were handing that over to some guy who moved into town and promised to double any money they gave him inside of three weeks. Oh.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, no. That old racket. That old racket. They'd give him a hundred bucks to invest for them, and three weeks later, he'd return them 200. Yes, and when the word got around, everybody in town would start handing him his life savings.

[Pat McCracken]

Yes, and out of the money coming

[Johnny Dollar]

in, he'd pay off the early sons.

[Pat McCracken]

Pay them two for one.

[Narrator/Announcer]

So they and all the rest of

[Pat McCracken]

the pigeons would keep handing him more and more. And then, of course.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, sure, sure. As soon as he got a really big bundle in his hands, he'd disappear.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Exactly.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, brother. One of the oldest, dirtiest, meanest rackets in the world.

[Pat McCracken]

And the poor, greedy people are still falling for it and getting burned.

[Johnny Dollar]

And the authorities haven't been able to catch up with this guy.

[Pat McCracken]

By the time they have, he's been gone. Now, the latest series of policy cancellations started coming in only a few weeks ago from a town called Enterprise, New Jersey.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, then, Pat, there may be time to nab it.

[Pat McCracken]

I hope so.

[Johnny Dollar]

But why aren't the local authorities doing something about it?

[Pat McCracken]

Well, the man is still paying off, Johnny. You know, the early investors. You can't nab him for that.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, well, what he's really doing, though, is setting up the later suckers for a big killing. Of course. But isn't anybody wise to what he's up to?

[Pat McCracken]

Who knows? Maybe there are a few who are smart enough to get in at the beginning during the big buildup.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, but they'll get their money back.

[Pat McCracken]

Why, sure. Doubled. But then when he gets enough new money.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, aren't the police wise to him?

[Pat McCracken]

Suppose they are, Johnny? What can they do? So long as he keeps paying off as promised?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, brother, of all the dirty Rotten. Well, you want to go Look, I sure do, Pat. You can pay my expense account, but that's all. You know, on account of Christmas or something.

[Pat McCracken]

I kind of thought you'd feel that way about it.

[Chief Walters]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'll be in touch.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Johnny Dollar]

Expense account item 262. And it includes a plane to Philadelphia and there in the city of Brotherly Love, a $50 deposit on a rental car. I drove south on 47 into the farm country through Vineland, then Millville, and finally to the little town of Enterprise. It had a main street a few blocks long that looked a bit run down at the seams. There was a food, clothing and a variety store, a drugstore, a movie and a couple of gas stations. There was a railroad station for shipping out the farm produce, but the lot around it was overgrown with weeds. A block east of the station was the. Well. It was an old, somewhat nondescript sort of building, but over the front door was a weather wooden sign that told the world it was the city hall. Inside, at the end of a corridor, I found a door that bore the legend Police Headquarters. Police headquarters?

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's right, son.

[Chief Walters]

I'm the chief of police.

[Johnny Dollar]

Chief Walters.

[Chief Walters]

What'd you say your name is?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I didn't, but it's Johnny Dollar.

[Chief Walters]

Well, pull up a chair and sit, Mr. Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, thanks.

[Pat McCracken]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, what can I do for you, Chief Walters? I'm an insurance investigator. Huh?

[Chief Walters]

Oh, sure, Johnny, sure. I know all about you. I hear all about Them cases you investigate on the radio? Yeah, I catch it on WCAU in Philadelphia.

[Public Service Announcer]

Good.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, now, listen.

[Chief Walters]

Only say, I hope you didn't bother coming down here just on account of I took some cash out of my policy.

[Johnny Dollar]

You did?

[Chief Walters]

Well, tell me the truth, Johnny. A lot of people did. Oh, you know how it is. Something special comes along, you can use some extra cash. Oh, but now, don't you give it a second thought. Oh, how do you say that? Well, a few more weeks from now, the folks in this town will be buying up more insurance than ever. They'll be buying more of everything.

[Pat McCracken]

Huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

You mind telling me why?

[Chief Walters]

Well, because we'll all have a lot more money, that's why. In spite of what Mr. Lowry says.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, is Mr. Lowry?

[Chief Walters]

Oh, he runs that piddling paper, you know, the Gazette.

[Johnny Dollar]

What he says about what, Chief?

[Chief Walters]

Well, now, I'll tell you this, Johnny. He puts any of them things that he says about Mr. Morgan in his paper. The folks won't buy it anymore.

[Johnny Dollar]

Morgan?

[Chief Walters]

John D. Morgan?

[Public Service Announcer]

Yeah.

[Chief Walters]

He's the man that's putting this town on his feet again now that the farmer's dropped off.

[Johnny Dollar]

John D. Morgan.

[Chief Walters]

One of his grandpappy's relatives on his mother's side was a Rockefeller and another one was a Morgan. Big financiers, just like he is. See, he belongs to that New York Stock Exchange.

[Johnny Dollar]

He told you that?

[Chief Walters]

That he did, son.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, then I have a sneaking suspicion he's the man I came down here to see.

[Chief Walters]

I would, I would if I was you. Why, Johnny, when he come here, Jerry chisholm give him $20 to invest for him three weeks and he give Jerry back 40.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, I've heard about this.

[Chief Walters]

And then the Widder Pasquale gave him 25.

[Johnny Dollar]

So three weeks later, he gave her 50 back.

[Chief Walters]

Yes, sir. So now she's going to dig up some more to invest. Well, just like everybody else in town, including me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Has he told you why he's being so good to you folks? He sure has.

[Chief Walters]

And it's a mighty fine thing.

[Johnny Dollar]

Why?

[Chief Walters]

Well, because it was right here that one of his ancestors got his start. His name was Jodiah Morgan.

[Johnny Dollar]

Jodiah Morgan?

[Chief Walters]

Yes, sir. Back in 18. 1800 something.

[Johnny Dollar]

I see.

[Chief Walters]

So he's come here to show his gratitude for the town that give his family a start, that's what.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, yeah.

[Chief Walters]

So, Johnny, you just invest everything you can with him and you'll be glad you did.

[Johnny Dollar]

Where'll I find this John D. Morgan?

[Chief Walters]

Over at the Parker house, Johnny. He made old man Parker turn the Whole third floor into a suit for him. And keep the hotel safe up there to keep our money in. And you know what he spends with

[Johnny Dollar]

that suit of rooms?

[Chief Walters]

$100 every week.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Wow.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, chief. Thanks very much. Oh, of course.

[Chief Walters]

You being from out of town, though.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, are you on pretty good terms with.

[Chief Walters]

Oh, sure am. I probably sent him more folks with their money than anybody.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, well, then maybe you can do me a favor then.

[Chief Walters]

Well, sure, Johnny, sure. Anything you say.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, look, chief, call him up. Tell him you'll send me over. Tell him I'm, you know, one of the hometown boys who made good in. Well, in selling on the road. And that I've come back here for the holiday.

[Chief Walters]

All right, all right. I'm sure he'll let you in. Yeah, just like he tells us, Johnny. The more money he can get a hold of, the more he can make for all of us.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, sure, sure.

[Chief Walters]

Only why is it you. You don't want him to know what you really do?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, you know, personal reasons. And he might think I don't need the extra money.

[Chief Walters]

Okay, Johnny. Anything you say.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, good. Meantime, I'll call on Mr. Lowry at the Gazette.

[Pat McCracken]

Yes.

[Chief Walters]

Well, now, don't you believe him, Johnny. That suspicious old crackpot don't know what he's talking about. All he is trying to do is to make up a lot of scandal for that lousy paper.

[Pat McCracken]

Is.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes, sir.

[Pat McCracken]

We'll see.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. In a moment, meet star Stuart Irwin.

[Chief Walters]

Nothing's worse for an actor than a nasty cold. To feel better quickly, I take wonderful four way cold tablets. A fast way to relieve cold distress.

[Pat McCracken]

Right.

[Johnny Dollar]

Tests of all the leading cold tablets proved four way fastest acting four way

[Narrator/Announcer]

starts in minutes to relieve muscular pains,

[Johnny Dollar]

headache, reduce fever, calm upset stomach. Also overcomes irregularity.

[Chief Walters]

Take my advice. For your next cold, take four way cold tablets. The fast way to relieve those cold miseries.

[Johnny Dollar]

Four way only 29 cents.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Mr. Lowry]

Believe me, I've tried to pound some sense into their heads, Mr. Dollar, but they won't listen to me. If I print something about that shyster in my paper, they won't buy it. It's unbelievable. All they do is keep handing over more of their hard earned money to us.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, sure, but they're getting it back, aren't they, Mr. Lowry? Plus a handsome profit.

[Chief Walters]

Sure they are.

[Mr. Lowry]

Those who gave him money over three weeks ago. So what do they do then? They go out and beg and borrow some more. And give that to him.

[Johnny Dollar]

You can't.

[Mr. Lowry]

You just can't raise.

[Johnny Dollar]

So he keeps taking in more than he's paying out.

[Mr. Lowry]

10 times as much every day. But as soon as he's got hold of every cent these people can cough up for him, well, you know.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, yeah, I know.

[Mr. Lowry]

If only I could get some action around here. Get him locked up in jail.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, but how can you? As long as he's paying out on the original investments, you have no case against him. I know. Or he'd sue for false arrest and have you over a barrel. Of course, suckers would rally to his side. And you couldn't prove. You simply can't touch him, Mr. Lowry, until he makes a break for it.

[Mr. Lowry]

Yes, but who knows when he'll try it? If he's clever enough to do what he's doing. And with the stupid one man police force in this town.

[Pat McCracken]

Yes.

[Johnny Dollar]

There's one way of knowing when he'll try to duck out of here.

[Chief Walters]

How?

[Johnny Dollar]

By giving him the necessary encouragement.

[Mr. Lowry]

The only encouragement you could give to a man like him would be in

[Johnny Dollar]

the form of money. That's right. Now, look, I got a plan, Mr. Lowry. It'll take your complete cooperation and it may take the use of some of your money.

[Mr. Lowry]

My money?

[Johnny Dollar]

It's a chance. But the one chance we have.

[Mr. Lowry]

Now, now that's carrying things a little too far.

[Johnny Dollar]

Are you on my side or his?

[Mr. Lowry]

Well, you know the answer to that.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, then. Our job right now is to convince him that we're on his side.

[Chief Walters]

What?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, sure. The only thing that'll make this John D. Morgan pack up and leave is more money.

[Mr. Lowry]

Of course, when he gets all he can out of the people.

[Johnny Dollar]

So listen to me, please. I want you to do two things. Now, I hear the press running back there.

[Mr. Lowry]

Yes, I started the run of today's paper just before you came.

[Johnny Dollar]

Stop the press? Yeah, set up a new front page. An apology for Your previous attitude toward him. You know, now that you've seen with your own eyes what a good Samaritan he really is. What he's done for these people, what he'll continue to do for them.

[Mr. Lowry]

Mr. Dollar, I.

[Johnny Dollar]

Look, call in every kid in town if you have to, but get that paper in circulation. Then you call on Morgan.

[Mr. Lowry]

I call on.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, with every penny you can scrape up. Give it to him to invest for you. Is the local bank still open?

[Mr. Lowry]

It will be in a couple. For a couple of hours. But now, look here, Mr. Donald.

[Johnny Dollar]

And I'll try to get hold of some money myself to give to that crow.

[Public Service Announcer]

You.

[Mr. Lowry]

Don't you see?

[Johnny Dollar]

Do you think he'll hang around once he's got his hands on a real bundle? Don't you understand, Mr. Lowry?

[Chief Walters]

Well, why, yes.

[Mr. Lowry]

Yes, of course.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Sure.

[Johnny Dollar]

It's the only way to make him try to leave town with it.

[Mr. Lowry]

It's a chance, though.

[Chief Walters]

Mr. Dollar, have you got a better.

[Johnny Dollar]

While Mr. Lowry set up a new front page and got the paper back in the press, I went over to the City hall under protest. Chief Walters went through the old town records, and when he found no record of any Jodiah Morgan, he kind of changed his mind about John Dee. Then I spent item three, a buck and a half for a call to the securities and Exchange Commission in New York. They'd never even heard of our shyster friend Chief Holder's protest then was because I wouldn't let him go straight to the hotel and slap the cuffs on John D. Morgan.

[Chief Walters]

And he is a crook. Lowry over at the Gazette was right.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, sure, of course he was. But look, if you try to arrest Morgan now, you'll only make trouble for yourself until we get proof that we

[Chief Walters]

have banged that dirty crooked. What can I do, John?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I got a plan going, Chief. I'll tell you about it on the way to the bank.

[Chief Walters]

Oh, what kind of a plan?

[Johnny Dollar]

Did you phone Morgan I'd be over to invest with him? Yes, sir. Good.

[Chief Walters]

And when I said your name, well, he made me repeat it for him. But I didn't tell him who you really are. I mean, what you do.

[Johnny Dollar]

Good. Now you can help some more by taking everything you have out of the bank, huh?

[Pat McCracken]

Sure.

[Johnny Dollar]

To invest with John D. Morgan. Come on, I'll tell you what it's all about. At the bank, I laid the whole thing out to the president, a dignified old man by the name of Peterson. He too agreed to cooperate. Item four, then two and a quarter for a call to Pat McCracken back in Hartford.

[Pat McCracken]

$10,000?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah. Wire it to my account right here at this bank now, Pat. Immediately.

[Pat McCracken]

And you're going to hand it over to that crook?

[Johnny Dollar]

That's right.

[Pat McCracken]

Well, Johnny, if something goes wrong, if he gets.

[Johnny Dollar]

It's a chance we gotta take, Pat.

[Pat McCracken]

Well, okay, Johnny, Whatever you say.

[Johnny Dollar]

Attaboy. Now, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Dollar, my own wife has just gone to see Morgan with $5,000 for him. Oh, and if that doesn't. Well, I guess flush him out. Yeah, Good.

[Chief Walters]

And.

[Johnny Dollar]

And yet I wonder.

[Chief Walters]

Yes?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I. I just hope we aren't overdoing this thing now. Enough to make him smell a rat, I mean.

[Chief Walters]

No, of course not, Johnny. Ain't you seen the Afternoon Gazette?

[Johnny Dollar]

Precisely. With the paper now supporting instead of fighting him, more people than ever have gone there to give him money. But if he does get suspicious, I think I'd better go over there and see him. Whatever you say. But until Pat wires me that $10,000. Oh, here, Mr. Dollar. Here's a thousand in cash from my own personal account. And if you need more. No, no, no, thanks. But this ought to be enough to convince him I'm sold on him. Hope I'm not too late. Not unless he were to find out who you really are. Come on, Chief, let's.

[Chief Walters]

Hey.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes, Mr. Duller? How does Morgan get around, Johnny?

[Chief Walters]

You mean you ain't seen that beautiful limousine? That brand new? Where does he keep it? He rents the garage back of Ms.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Goodman's house on Wood Street, a couple

[Chief Walters]

of blocks west of the hotel.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, Chief. Then I'll meet you at Morgan's hotel room.

[Chief Walters]

Okay, Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar]

And don't, don't, for heaven's sake, tip him off about this. I'll go along with the Chief. Yeah, do that. I found the Goodwin house in Wood Street. I found the garage and back. But there were no keys in the limousine inside of it. And rather than lose time breaking open the trunk, possibly to find nothing, well, I remembered an old trick I'd used once before. Then over to the hotel and up to the third floor. But instead of John D. Morgan, I found half the population of Enterprise running around in it. I had to force my way through to where Chief Walters and the banker, Mr. Peterson, was standing in front of an old fashioned open safe. Too late, Mr. Dollar. We got here too late. What? Don't you see, Johnny?

[Chief Walters]

He skipped.

[Johnny Dollar]

He's already skipped out on us.

[Chief Walters]

Must have got wise to you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I had the chief order Mr. Parker to open the safe. And look.

[Johnny Dollar]

Look at what everybody who came in here thought Were bundles of money, their money in it, wads of paper with bills on the outside to make them

[Mr. Lowry]

look$ listen to me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah? Mr. Lawrence, these people feel that you

[Mr. Lowry]

are responsible for this.

[Pat McCracken]

Me?

[Mr. Lowry]

And after making me give my last penny to him a while ago, $I can't help wondering myself.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, now, look, use your head. Listen to me. Listen.

[Mr. Lowry]

All right, I'm listening.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, doesn't anybody know where he went?

[Chief Walters]

He must have went out the window in the back room when he seen me and Mr. Peterson coming.

[Johnny Dollar]

The back window, huh? Oh,

[Mr. Lowry]

yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

The very eagerness of that crowd to stop me was the only thing that let me get away and safely down the fire escape. For they jammed so tightly into that back room, into the window itself, that it was a long, precious second before the slow, clumsy old police chief could start down after me. I tore on over to the garage again. And there, sitting in the car was John D. Morgan, One hand on the starter key, the other with a Colt.38 level at my head.

[Chief Walters]

You.

[Johnny Dollar]

Huh? I might have known you'd done something to my car when I saw you leaving this garage for the hotel a few minutes ago. Donna. That's right, Morgan. I took the rotor off the distributor. Then put it back quickly or. Sir, help me. Sorry, old man. It stays right here in my pocket.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You give me no choice.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'll have to kill you and take it away. Wait a minute, Morgan. Look. Out there on the street. Oh, those people. Yeah, that's right. And I don't think they like you anymore. You see their faces? Not very pleasant looking, are they?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Pat McCracken]

Let me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, help me. Help me.

[Mr. Lowry]

They'll kill me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Maybe you had that money for them.

[Mr. Lowry]

Yes, yes, it sits in the trunk of this car.

[Johnny Dollar]

All of it. Then you'd better open it up and be ready to give it back. Yes, yes, tell him I will.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'll give it all back.

[Johnny Dollar]

All of it, after you let me have that gun. Come on. I'd hate to think of what they might do if they saw you waving that thing around. Here. Here, take it, please. Okay. Now get out and open up that trunk for them. That mob slowly, menacingly moving in on us was something I won't forget for a long, long time. Matter of fact, it was Morgan tossing out the money, shrieking out a confession, promising to pay them all back. That saved me from them. And now, of course, he'll be taken care of by the courts. Yeah, plenty. Expense account total, less the $50 deposit on my rental car. 3825. Yours truly, Johnny Do.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Our star will return in just a moment. How's your Christmas shopping coming? Not leaving everything for the last minute, we hope. Remember, as a practical gift hunting matter, the best selections usually go to the earliest shoppers. Another thing, last minute men compete with the biggest crowds in the stores and streets and face greater accident danger. CBS radio suggests shop early and safely for a healthy, happy holiday season. And here's a suggestion for Christmas buying that's really giving the best.

[Pat McCracken]

Almost Christmas. No time to lose.

[Mr. Lowry]

Lots and lots of gifts to choose. Give him.

[Johnny Dollar]

Give her a gift.

[Mr. Lowry]

Set my yard week for her.

[Narrator/Announcer]

An array of old new Yardley gifts. $150 to 1350 a Yardley red roses, spray mist and soap set. $3.50, all prices plus tax.

[Mr. Lowry]

Yardley, Give him.

[Johnny Dollar]

Give her a gift.

[Mr. Lowry]

Set my Yardley.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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

[Johnny Dollar]

Next week, the strangest disappearance I've ever been called on to investigate. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Narrator/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 Lawrence Dobkin, Boris Lewis, Junius Matthews, Edgar Barrier and Russell Thorson. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dolly. This is Dan Cover speaking. Time once again for another tale of suspense as this popular weekly drama follows

[Johnny Dollar]

on the CBS radio network.

[Pat McCracken]

As you smoke at Duke, you get a sense of ease and comfort that

[Narrator/Announcer]

grows with every puff.

[Pat McCracken]

Because new king sized Duke. Duke is king size in the filter, where it matters most.

[Public Service Announcer]

According to figures from the National Safety Council, 4400 youngsters under 15 were killed last year in traffic accidents. Your first reaction will probably be that these accidents were the driver's fault. In many cases, you would be absolutely right. But the drivers are not the only ones to blame for this needless toll. Parents still have a great responsibility to see that their children don't get into situations that could result in tragedy. Parents have perhaps the greatest responsibility and the greatest loss when they don't live up to those responsibilities. Do you, as a parent know precisely where your child is at this very moment? Is he fully aware of the dangers of playing near traffic? Is he of school age? And do you know the route he takes to school? Is it the safest route when you walk with him? Do you yourself use the same safety rules you hope he follows when you're not around? These are important questions. Ask yourself. Radio 59 WROW, first on the dial.