Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Deadly Doubt Matter (EP4920)

Summary

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Podcast Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Deadly Doubt Matter (EP4920)
Date: February 27, 2026
Host: Adam Graham

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Episode Overview

This episode features an action-packed mystery from the Golden Age radio series, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, titled "The Deadly Doubt Matter." Freelance insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is drawn into a late-night homicide call involving a troubled woman, a dead gambler, and mounting doubt over her guilt. The plot weaves suspicion, convenient alibis, and the classic search for the truth, culminating in a surprising resolution. Adam Graham provides post-episode insights, pondering the originality of the script and the fate of Johnny Dollar's romantic interests.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Inciting Call (02:42–03:37)

• Carol Carson contacts Johnny Dollar in the middle of the night, distressed and unsure if she’s committed murder.

• She explains:

  "I think I've just killed him, Mr. Dollar." (03:23, Carol Carson)

• Johnny promises to come right over.

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2. At the Scene: Initial Investigation (04:08–08:16)

• Johnny arrives at Everett Reed's apartment, finding Carol dazed and Reed dead.

• Carol recounts her fuzzy memory:

  • She visited Reed, but after drinks felt dizzy and left for air.
  • Wandered the streets in a daze, possibly after being drugged, and may have stopped for coffee.
  • She returned to the apartment but blacked out.

• Carol’s uncertainty:

  "That's all I remembered. I must have passed out. When I came to, I was lying on the floor. And that gun was near my hand." (06:27, Carol Carson)

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3. The Alibi Question & First Leads (08:16–14:19)

• Johnny calls in Lieutenant Tovich from Homicide.

• Carol mentions someone named "Tom" with curly hair and dark eyes was following her.

• Johnny checks local bars and diners for evidence of Carol’s time away from the crime scene.

  • At Eddie’s Bar and Grill, the bartender vaguely recalls Carol around midnight, possibly with someone in the doorway. Her alibi covers only a fleeting minute.

  "So she's covered for one minute out of two hours." (10:47, Lt. Tovich)

• Medical examiner pegs time of death between 11:30 and 12:30; Carol’s movements remain unaccounted for.

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4. Motives and Contradictions (12:10–15:29)

• Reed, the victim, is revealed as a gambler who’d won large amounts lately.
• Larry Bowman, Carol’s fiancé, tries to invent an alibi for Carol but fails under questioning.

  "You're fighting a losing battle, Bowman. Carol says she had a cup of coffee on 3rd Avenue and that a guy named Tom was following her." (13:34, Johnny Dollar)

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5. Chasing Down the Real Alibi (16:30–17:33)

• While Johnny is frustrated at a dead end, the mysterious "Tom" finally appears.
  • Tom corroborates Carol’s account, explaining he followed her for about an hour as she wandered, confirming she was away from Reed’s apartment during the murder window.

  "I'm her alibi." (16:44, Tom)
  "At least from around 11:30 to after 12:30." (17:13, Tom)

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6. The Twist: Blackmail and Revelation (18:08–21:36)

• After Carol is released, Johnny observes Tom trying to extort money from her for his testimony.

• During the confrontation, Larry Bowman arrives, and when threatened with exposure, he tries to shoot Johnny, but is disarmed.

  • It’s revealed:
    • Larry Bowman killed Reed, unable to pay gambling debts.
    • He tried to frame Carol by attacking her and staging evidence while she was incapacitated.

• Carol's anguish:

  "I just couldn't believe that Larry would. How do you figure a thing like that, Johnny? How do you figure it?" (20:42, Carol Carson)

• Johnny reflects on gambling and mistakes:

  "That's the trouble with gambling. You push your luck too far and sooner or later you're bound to lose." (21:27, Johnny Dollar)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carol's Confession:

  "I think I've just killed him, Mr. Dollar." (03:23, Carol Carson)

• Johnny's Reluctant Involvement:

  "Of all the guys in New York, why did she have to pick on me?" (08:34, Johnny Dollar)

• On Crafting an Alibi:

  "You're fighting a losing battle, Bowman. Carol says she had a cup of coffee on 3rd Avenue and that a guy named Tom was following her." (13:34, Johnny Dollar)

• The Real Alibi Appears:

  "I'm her alibi." (16:44, Tom)

• The Price of Gambling:

  "That's the trouble with gambling. You push your luck too far and sooner or later you're bound to lose." (21:27, Johnny Dollar)

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Host’s Commentary & Listener Feedback (23:09–25:30)

Adam Graham's Insights

• Suspects the plot may have been reused from another series due to stylistic peculiarities and the insurance angle feeling “tangential.”
• Notes that Johnny Dollar stories often recycle from other detective shows, hinting this script may have an earlier, lost iteration.
• Observes:

  "The story has a very non standard way that Johnny gets involved in the case, as well as an insurance angle that feels somewhat tangential and added to justify his presence." (23:22, Adam Graham)

Listener Comment Highlight

• Dr. Whodunit writes:

  "I think the real twist here is that the woman Johnny was interested in wasn't guilty and she didn't wind up dead. Guilty, dead, or both are the popular outcomes for Johnny Dollar love interests."

Acknowledgement

• Thanks long-time Patreon supporter Zant and encourages listeners to follow, subscribe, and leave feedback.

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------|---------------| | Distress Call & Scene Setting | 02:42–04:08 | | Initial Statement & Carol’s Memory | 04:08–08:16 | | Search for an Alibi | 08:16–10:35 | | Interrogation, Motives, and Alibis | 10:35–14:19 | | Pushing on Motives + Bowman's Failure | 14:19–16:05 | | Tom Appears & Confirms Alibi | 16:30–17:33 | | Blackmail Twist & Final Showdown | 18:08–21:36 | | Host Commentary & Listener Feedback | 23:09–25:30 |

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Tone & Style Notes

• The episode is brisk and suspenseful, staying true to the hardboiled detective genre. Dialogue is clipped and direct, peppered with period slang and world-weary quips, especially from Johnny Dollar.
• Adam Graham’s commentary is knowledgeable and approachable, mixing detective fandom, research notes, and a touch of humor.

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Final Thoughts

"The Deadly Doubt Matter" is a fast-moving whodunit with the hallmarks of classic radio crime fiction: mistaken guilt, unreliable memory, shady alibis, and a final twist. Both die-hard Johnny Dollar fans and newcomers will enjoy the puzzle-box plot and the period detail. As always, Adam Graham's wrap-up adds contemporary context and a community feel to the old-time radio listening experience.

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Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. But first, if you are enjoying this podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And remember, when making your travel plans, check johnnydoller air.com johnnydoller air.com is a Priceline affiliate, so part of your purchase price supports the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio at no additional cost to you. So remember, when making your travel plans, check johnnydoller air.com first. But now from January 11, 1959, here is the deadly doubt matter.

[Carol Carson]

Johnny Dollar, this is Carol Carson, Mr. Dollar. Oh, you don't know me and I'm sorry to be calling so late.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What time is it anyway?

[Carol Carson]

About 1am A friend of yours, Mr. Ralston, mentioned your name to me yesterday.

[Johnny Dollar]

What?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Ralston?

[Carol Carson]

He said you were here in New York for the weekend and mentioned your hotel.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Look, Ms. Carson is in.

[Carol Carson]

Yes, Carol Carson.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Yeah, it's nice talking to you and all that, but it is rather late.

[Carol Carson]

I realized what had happened a few moments ago. You were the first person I thought of. Maybe you can help me, Mr. Dollar. I need help badly.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What's the trouble?

[Carol Carson]

I'm at the apartment of Everett reed on East 67th. Could you come over?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Any particular reason?

[Carol Carson]

Yes. I think I've just killed him. Mr. Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I'll be right over.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Yours truly.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And now, act one of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

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 deadly doubt. Expense account, item one, a $80 cab from my hotel to the apartment of Everett reed on East 67. Carol Carson was waiting for me at the door. She looked sort of dazed as she pointed to a body on the floor.

[Carol Carson]

He's dead, Mr. Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Everett Reed? Let's see.

[Carol Carson]

Yes, this is his apartment.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

You said over the phone you thought you'd kill him. Well, he's dead all right.

[Carol Carson]

That's not what I meant. I meant I thought I was the one who killed him. I'm not sure. Oh, I had.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, I don't know.

[Carol Carson]

Doesn't seem to matter. He's dead. I guess that's all that matters. He's dead.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Come on now. Get a hold of yourself. Carol.

[Carol Carson]

I'm sorry. I guess I'm not making much sense. I feel sort of funny. Lightheaded all right?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Yeah. Better sit down.

[Carol Carson]

Thanks.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Now, why don't you start at the beginning?

[Carol Carson]

All right. I came to see everett tonight, about 11 o'. Clock.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I guess he was a friend of yours.

[Carol Carson]

No. He sent for me and I had to come.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Mind telling me why?

[Carol Carson]

He insisted that I have a drink with him. Then I started to feel funny.

[Johnny Dollar]

How so?

[Carol Carson]

Dizzy. I had to get some air.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

You think there was something in the drink?

[Carol Carson]

There must have been. He didn't want me to leave, but I had to.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What time was that?

[Carol Carson]

11:30, I think. A little before, maybe.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Go on.

[Carol Carson]

I wandered around the street. I was in kind of a daze.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

How long were you wandering around?

[Carol Carson]

It seemed like a long time.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Then why?

[Carol Carson]

I came back here to the apartment. I had a terrible headache. I remember walking in the door and. That's all.

[Johnny Dollar]

That's all?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What do you mean, that's all?

[Carol Carson]

That's all I remembered. I must have passed out. When I came to, I was lying on the floor. And that gun was near my hand. In front of me was. And I called you.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

That's all you can tell me?

[Carol Carson]

I'm afraid so. It isn't much, is it? Sure isn't, Mr. Dollar. I can't believe I killed him. I couldn't have.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

All right. Now, look, Carol. You say you left this apartment a little before 11:30. The Police Medical examiner will be able to tell the approximate time of death. If you weren't here at that time.

[Carol Carson]

That's just it, Mr. Dollar. I don't know how long I was on the street. It seemed like a long time, but. Oh, my head was spinning and everything was pretty hazy.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Well, you gotta remember where you went. Try to think.

[Carol Carson]

It's no good. Wait. Coffee. A cup of coffee.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

You stopped somewhere for a cup of coffee?

[Carol Carson]

I think so.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Where?

[Carol Carson]

I remember a neon sign on. On 3rd Avenue.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Oh, you gotta do better than that.

[Carol Carson]

That's all I remember.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Did you talk to anyone while you were walking around?

[Carol Carson]

I don't. Yes. Yes, somebody was following me. I think a man. He was following me for quite a while. He told me his name. Ted? No. Tom. Yes, it was Tom.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What do you look like?

[Carol Carson]

Curly hair. I remember that. Dark eyes.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Oh, look. That description fits thousands of guys in New York.

[Carol Carson]

I know, Mr. Dallas. The whole story. Well, it doesn't sound very convincing, does it?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I called Detective Lieutenant Mike Tovich of Homicide, and he was there 10 minutes later. He was still questioning her when I left. Item 2. $1 drinks for me while I thought about the whole deal. Of all the guys in New York, why did she have to pick on me? But, yeah, I'd do what I could to help her. That story of hers, it sounded so phony, it just might be true.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Act two of yours, Truly, Johnny Dollar, in a moment. Truly Johnny Dollar. And the deadly doubt matter.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Item three, two dollars and twenty cents. A telephone call to Pat McCracken at Universal Adjustment Bureau. Yeah? Everett Reed had been insured by one of Universal's member companies. So I got myself officially assigned to the case. Then I went to work picking out Carol Carson's story, what there was of it, and it wasn't much. All she remembered was wandering around the streets getting a cup of coffee somewhere on 3rd Avenue and being followed by a guy named Tom. I started checking every joint on 3rd Avenue from 60th to 70th Streets. An hour and a half later, I hit pay dirt at Eddie's Bar and Grill.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, Yeah, I think I remember all right.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Carson. Carol Carson.

[Johnny Dollar]

Her name don't mean nothing, but from the description you give me, yeah, sure, I remember now. I remember thinking she looked kind of funny when she walked in. Like she was in daze or something.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

All right, all right. Now, what Time was it when she came in here?

[Johnny Dollar]

I don't know. Two, three hours ago.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

That's not good enough. Was it 11, 11:30, midnight? Well, what?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, maybe around midnight.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Maybe. Was she wrong?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

You sure about that?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, as far as I can remember, I kind of remember somebody in the doorway after she come in, but I didn't know if it was somebody with her or not.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What happened then?

[Johnny Dollar]

So she asked for a cup of coffees or poor and set it down in front of her. So she left.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

She what?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, got up and left. Still acting sort of funny, I see.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

How much of a time can you account for then, huh? I mean, how long was she here in your place?

[Johnny Dollar]

No more than about one minute, Mac.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Oh, great. A$80 campfire to police headquarters and Lt. Mike Tobich in Homicide.

[Johnny Dollar]

Look, Johnny, you're not trying to tell me I should buy an alibi like Carol Carsons, are you?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

So it is pretty vague, Mike. Vague enough to be true. At least she was telling the truth about going into that yard on Third Avenue for a cup of coffee.

[Johnny Dollar]

So she's covered for one minute out of two hours.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Two hours?

[Johnny Dollar]

She said she went to Reed's apartment about 11:00'.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Clock, right.

[Johnny Dollar]

The medical examiner says time of Reed's Death was between 11:30 and 12:30. She called you at 1 o'.

[Carol Carson]

Clock.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

But if she can prove she was out of that apartment for that hour,

[Johnny Dollar]

she's only proved she was out of it for a minute.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Plus the time it took to get

[Johnny Dollar]

to 3rd Avenue and back, say, five minutes each way. That'd still give her plenty of time to kill him.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

But if we could find this guy named Tom, she said that was following her around, maybe he could prove she was out of the apartment during the time of the murder. Oh, sure.

[Johnny Dollar]

That was a real helpful description. She gave us curly hair and dark eyes. Look, Johnny, So you're taking a liking to her. That's too bad. But don't let it make a fool, Mike.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Did Carol tell you why she went to Reed's apartment?

[Johnny Dollar]

No, no, she wouldn't talk about it. She also wouldn't explain a lump she has on the side of her head.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Lump she has?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, we think she got it fighting with Reed.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What do you know about him?

[Johnny Dollar]

Bad boy, a big gambler. And the way we heard, he'd been winning pretty big lately.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Maybe somebody he won from couldn't pay off. Except with a bullet, maybe.

[Johnny Dollar]

Anything, Johnny. Prove it and I'll listen. Who did Reed run around with?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

You know, usual crowd. Johnny.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Jack Vissel.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

That outfit Thistle, huh? Now, if Reed won a lot of money from him.

[Johnny Dollar]

Like I say, Johnny, anything you can prove? Yeah, yeah. Come. Inovich? That's right. I'm Larry Bowman.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I want to know what's going on with Carol Carson.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, what's it to you, Mr. Bowman?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

She's my fiance. And you better locked up.

[Johnny Dollar]

That's right.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Suspicion of murder. Oh, that's ridiculous. She didn't kill anybody and you know it. Look, Mr.

[Johnny Dollar]

Bowman, if I knew it, she wouldn't be locked up, would she? Now, maybe you can tell us why she went to this Everett Reed's apartment last night.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I don't know why she went, and I don't propose to ask her either. I trust the lieutenant. And if she went to see him, she had good reason. But Carol's not the kind who could kill anybody. You must have realized that just talking to her.

[Johnny Dollar]

The main thing that I realize is that my personal opinion is beside the point.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Look, the thing we need to know is if Carol was away from Reed's apartment for almost an hour and a half, like she seems to think she was walking around the streets. Why didn't you say that sooner? I. I can prove she was. Oh, I was with her, huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

She didn't mention it.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

She was probably confused.

[Johnny Dollar]

You sure you're not the one who was confused?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Now, look, I tell you I was with her, okay? Where were you? On the street. What street? I don't remember. 60 68th Street, I think.

[Johnny Dollar]

That's not the street Carol says she was on.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

As I say, she was probably confused. Where'd you go to? To a bar. What'd you have to drink?

[Johnny Dollar]

Carol too? Sure, why not?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Oh, you're fighting a losing battle, Bowen. Carol says she had a cup of Coffee on 3rd Avenue and that a guy named Tom was following her.

[Johnny Dollar]

Now, listen, you told us enough, Bowman. I can't blame you too much for trying, I guess. But it won't work. You weren't with Carol and you know it.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I know she didn't kill him.

[Johnny Dollar]

You mean you hope she didn't. When it comes to knowing right now, every bit of evidence we got says she did. And we've got nothing that says she didn't.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. And the deadly doubt matter.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Item 5, $0.30. Coffee for Larry Bowman and me at a little joint around the corner. Lieutenant Tovich can talk about evidence until he's blue in the face. $. Carol's not a killer. You prove that until. But you'll Be the first to listen. But cooking up phony alibis for Carol is not going to help any. Okay, okay, so it was a stupid thing to do. But I can't just stand by and do nothing. Don't you have any other leads you can follow up? One, maybe. Why? What is it? Reed was a gambler. Could be somebody was losing big. Joan, Carol's my fiance. I know. She doesn't have that kind of money. Anyway, she doesn't gamble. I wasn't thinking about Carol. Who then? Jack Vissell, for instance. We found out Reed's been seen with thissel several times lately. Well, you gotta question him about it. I may as well. After all, at this point, we got nothing to lose.

[Johnny Dollar]

You're barking up a wrong tree. $. What reason would I have to kill Rich?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Could be a real good reason. Bissell. Maybe you lost money to him gambling.

[Johnny Dollar]

Some nights you win, some nights you lose.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

So maybe you lost more nights than you won. So maybe you owe Reed some money. Oh, that could be the motive.

[Johnny Dollar]

Look, $why don't you take your crazy theory someplace else? Yeah, I owed Reed money. I owed him all the two bits. Now, is that enough to bump him off?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

So I started making the rounds along 3rd Avenue again. But I got nowhere. Nobody remembered seeing her. And nobody remembered the guy named Tom. The one she told me had been following her. Two hours later, I gave up. I was beat. I went back to my room and flopped on the bed. Yeah?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Okay. Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny darling? That's right.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Who are you?

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm that guy you've been looking for.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What? My name's Tom.

[Johnny Dollar]

That ring a bell?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

It sure does. Are you the one who was walking around the streets with Carol Carson? That's right.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm her alibi.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

So I bust my neck trying to find you, and it ends up with you finding me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I've read in the papers it looked bad for Carol. Unless they found the guy who was with her.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

You didn't show up any too soon. Believe me, brother. How long were you with her?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, I figure at least an hour. I kept following her, and once in

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

a while she'd stop and talk. But she seemed kind of dazed. Apparently, re put something in her drink.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Anyway, I finally gave up.

[Johnny Dollar]

I figured if it was that tough to get acquainted, what's the use?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

But you're willing to swear you were with her for an hour?

[Johnny Dollar]

Why, at least from around 11:30 to after 12:30.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

That flare, sir? Come on. Item six, $1.80. Camp here to headquarters. Tom repeated a statement, and Carol identified Tom as the man who'd been following her so it looked like it was all over.

[Carol Carson]

I guess I'll never be able to thank you enough, Johnny. Well, if it hadn't been for you.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Well, let's just say I'm the stubborn type. Carol, once I believed your story, I had to follow through on it.

[Carol Carson]

It's hard to realize I'm free. It's been like a bad dream.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I'll bet Larry Bowman's glad it's over, too. Have you called him yet?

[Carol Carson]

No. I'll call him from my apartment. Johnny, all I can say is thanks again.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Carol took a cab to her apartment. I stared it back into the building. And then out of the corner of my eye, I spotted another cab pulling away from the curb, following Carol's. And it was Tom. I figured I'd better join that procession. I tagged along to Carol's apartment. Inside, I could hear voices. The door was unlocked. Carol was in the process of handing over some money. Tom.

[Carol Carson]

Johnny.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Yeah. Looks like I got here just in time to witness the payoff. So you bought yourself an alibi. Carol.

[Johnny Dollar]

No.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Look, dolly, you better stay out of it. Carol, I got to hand it to you. You really had me fooled.

[Carol Carson]

You don't understand.

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny, don't be a sucker. $Cut yourself in on the pie. I'm willing to have a partner.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

What are you talking about?

[Johnny Dollar]

Last night, when I followed Carol back

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

to Reed's apartment, just as I was

[Johnny Dollar]

leaving, I spotted somebody coming down the fire escape. I followed him, found who he was

[Narrator/Announcer]

and where he lived.

[Johnny Dollar]

And when the story came out in the papers, I realized I knew who the killer was.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I figured I'd make some dough out

[Johnny Dollar]

of it, but not as long as Carol was in jail.

[Carol Carson]

Johnny, just now, when he wanted money to keep him from telling the police, I. Well, I didn't know what to do. I thought if I gave him what I had, it would keep him satisfied until I could figure out Larry.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

No, no, Just run around. But it was too late. The open door. It struck Larry's arm, deflected his shot. Before he could shoot again, I nailed him.

[Carol Carson]

Johnny, are you all right?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Yeah. Larry Bowman's the killer.

[Carol Carson]

I guess I was afraid of that right from the start. You see, Larry's been gambling with Reed and losing to him. I tried to make him stop, but he wouldn't. Finally lost more than he could pay.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

So you went to Reed's apartment to try and square it, huh?

[Carol Carson]

Reid told me maybe something could be worked out. When he put something in my drink, I realized what he meant. That's why I got out and Larry

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

entered the apartment when you were away, killed Reed, slugged you when you came back and planted a gun on you?

[Carol Carson]

I guess so. I wasn't sure until Tom told me he'd seen Larry climb down that fire escape first. I just. I just couldn't believe that Larry would. How do you figure a thing like that, Johnny? How do you figure it?

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

I didn't try to answer that one because I didn't have an answer. Yes, There just isn't any. Item 8, $13.40 Incidentals and Transportation back to Hartford. Expense account total and $41 even. Yeah, Larry Bowman's gambling was a big fat mistake. First with Everett Reed and in trying to frame Carol. I guess that's the trouble with gambling. You push your luck too far and sooner or later you're bound to lose. Yours truly, Johnny D.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Our star will return in just a moment. Now here is our star to tell you about next week's story.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Next week, a doting dowager who sets me out on the wildest case I ever handled. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Doll.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

Salute.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Station KRMG in Tulsa, Oklahoma. KRMG is our newest affiliate station and serves nearly a million families in the Southwest. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Daly, is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Today's story was written by Robert Stanley Heard. In the cast were Virginia Gregg, Julius Matthews, Paul Duboff, James McCallion, Alan Reed and Frank Gerstel. Join us next week for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dolly. This is Dan Coverley speaking.

[Jerry (Dog)]

A dog's love letter to his squeaky avocado.

Dearest Squeaky Avocado, my heart yearns to chew thee. Alas, I've devoured a small action figure and have taken ill, unable to partake in our jubilant squeakings. Worry not, as I am on the mend and Lemonade pet insurance covered 90% of the veterinarian's cost. I recommend all the cats and dogs of the land. Get a'@lemonade.com pet soon my tummy will be unburdened and we shall frolic once more. Yours, Jerry.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, a decent script overall, a good mystery and I think a surprising ending too. Now, of course, there are many, many documented cases of Johnny Dollar using scri from other programs. But this is one of those where even though there's not a documented duplicate, I am really, really suspicious that this was a reused story. First of all, the story has a very non standard way that Johnny gets involved in the case, as well as an insurance angle that feels somewhat tangential and added to justify his presence. And there are lines of dialogue like Johnny saying, of all the guys in New York, why did she call me that? Do make me think that this was originally written for some sort of New York private eye. Now the writer Robert Stanley. The only writing credits I could find for him were Johnny Dollar and Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. And obviously I don't think this was reused from Luke Slaughter of tombst. However, there are a lot of Old Time Radio detective programs with quite a few lost episodes, and so it's possible that Stanley wrote this script for another program that we just don't have access to. I'd actually be surprised if we ever definitively found proof that wasn't the case. I would not be at all surprised if an old time radio program came into circulation for some obscure detective series with the exact same storyline as this episode. Listener comments and feedback now and we go to Spotify where Dr. Whodunit wrote. I think the real twist here is that the woman Johnny was interested in wasn't guilty and she didn't wind up dead. Guilty, dead, or both are the popular outcomes for Johnny Dolor love interest. So I guess it's worth noting in the hair raising manner that it didn't work work out that way. Thanks so much. Appreciate the comment. Now it is time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day and I want to thank Zant patreon Supporter since February 2017, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support and that will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and mark the notification bell. All those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We'll be back next Friday with another episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. But join us back here tomorrow as we give way to the great adventurers of Old Time Radio and Counterspy, where

[Johnny Dollar]

this is going to be a tough nut to crack. Mr. Harding Half a million forged gasoline coupons, Bud. Counterfeiting or altering gasoline coupons is just as bad now as counterfeiting money. Perhaps worse. I have a hunch that this is even more serious than it appears on the surface.

[Johnny Dollar (Detective Voice)]

How do you mean?

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm afraid that this gas is being obtained by counterfeit coupons to be used to refuel enemy submarines. You think it goes that deep.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net Follow us on Twitter radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram, Instagram Instagram.com greatdetectives From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham signing off.

[Jerry (Dog)]

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