The Whistler
For self-contained mysteries shaped by deception and consequences, with a framing narrator rather than Dan's investigations.
Box 13
Book of Poems.
A book arrives from a man said to be dead.
A volume of Sir Walter Scott’s poetry reaches Dan Holiday from Robert N. Chase. There is a difficulty: Chase is believed to have been dead for ten years. The book becomes the beginning of a Box 13 mystery.
OFFICIAL HERITAGE RADIO VAULT RECORDING
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- Recording 1
26:55 · Published 18 October 2026
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26:55 · Published 18 October 2026
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THE STORY, WITHOUT THE ENDING
The sender who should not be writing.
Dan Holiday receives a book of poetry attributed to Sir Walter Scott. The sender is identified as Robert N. Chase, a man said to have died ten years earlier.
That contradiction supplies the mystery. Before Dan can make sense of the gift, he must consider what the sender’s name means and why the book has reached him now. The answer is kept for the story.
Historical context.
Russell Hughes is credited as director in this episode’s archive entry. That specific role matters: a programme-level writing credit should not be transferred automatically to this story. The entry identifies Book of Poems as programme 9.
The archive lists 17 October 1948. Box 13’s opening archive entry explains that its dated sequence follows East Coast broadcasts, with other stations carrying the transcribed stories on different dates. This is a named historical schedule reference, not authentication of a premiere date for either modern audio file.
Episode credits.
- Programme number
- 9
- Director
- Russell Hughes
- Music
- Rudy Schrager
- Production supervisor
- Vern Carstensen
- Story characters
- Dan Holiday, Robert N. Chase
More from Box 13.
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If you enjoy Box 13.
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The Adventures of Rocky Jordan
For another resourceful civilian drawn into trouble, this time around a Cairo cafe.
More letters, more mysteries.
Before you listen.
Whose poetry appears in Book of Poems?
The UMKC synopsis identifies the volume as poetry by Sir Walter Scott. [1]
What makes the book mysterious?
It reaches Dan from Robert N. Chase, who is said in the archived synopsis to have been dead for ten years. [1]
Is Russell Hughes credited as the writer here?
The specific UMKC entry credits Russell Hughes as director. The guide keeps that role separate from his writing work elsewhere in Box 13. [1]
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Sources and recording notes.
Programme and historical references
Heritage Radio Vault recordings
Recording 1 on Spreaker ↗ · Recording 2 on Spreaker ↗. Recording 1 was published 18 October 2026 and is listed at 26:55. Recording 2 was published 18 October 2026 and is listed at 26:55. Dynamic advertising can change the running time heard in the player.
Both existing Spreaker uploads remain available under this episode’s canonical URL. Matching titles and catalogue durations do not establish identical complete audio or alternate performances. The historical reference describes the documented story; neither modern file has been authenticated against an original transmission master. The archive reference copy runs 27:39, which is not substituted for the selected Spreaker recording’s running time. The archive’s writer-name spelling has not been independently resolved, so the writer field is omitted.
Historical references and modern publication dates describe different events. Sources checked 4 November 2026. Original scripts, recordings, performances and music may carry rights belonging to their respective owners. For corrections or rights enquiries: markwilliams@heritageradiovault.com.
Recording references
- Spreaker programme reference
- 7075394
- Recording 1
- Box 13: Book of Poems | Old Time Radio Mysteries · Spreaker reference 72276323
- Heritage Radio Vault publication
- · 26:55
- Recording 2
- Box 13: Book of Poems | Old Time Radio Mysteries · Spreaker reference 72276342
- Heritage Radio Vault publication
- · 26:55