The Whistler
For self-contained mysteries shaped by deception and consequences, with a framing narrator rather than Dan's investigations.
Box 13
Last Will and Nursery Rhyme.
A missing fortune. A clue in a children's book.
A visit to an old college friend becomes a search for a vanished inheritance. Dan Holiday arrives at Fair Oaks, where Ted Kenworth faces the loss of a property whose missing fortune might still be within reach.
OFFICIAL HERITAGE RADIO VAULT RECORDING
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Two recordings are available for this episode. Choose either below; the recording notes explain what is known about their sources.
- Recording 1
26:33 · Published 18 October 2026
Listen on Spreaker ↗ - Recording 2
26:33 · Published 18 October 2026
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THE STORY, WITHOUT THE ENDING
A fortune that did not arrive.
Dan expects a visit with Ted Kenworth, a friend from his college days. Ted's vacation lodge, Fair Oaks, is a burden he may no longer be able to afford. His uncle Thaddeus left behind the property, but the money that should have secured its future has disappeared.
The problem draws Dan into an inheritance puzzle rather than an ordinary request from a Box 13 correspondent. A book of nursery rhymes becomes part of the search for what the uncle left behind. Follow the clues with Dan; the location of the fortune and the ending remain for you to discover.
Historical context.
The RadioGold Index identifies this story as programme 25 and credits Russell Hughes as writer, Richard Sanville as director, Alan Ladd and Sylvia Picker as performers, Rudy Schrager for music and Vern Carstensen as production supervisor.
Its entry gives 6 February 1949 but explicitly calls the date approximate. The Old Time Radio Researchers log also uses that date. Because Box 13 was syndicated, this is a qualified historical catalogue reference, not a proven universal premiere date for the selected audio files.
Episode credits.
- Programme number
- 25
- Writer
- Russell Hughes
- Director
- Richard Sanville
- Music
- Rudy Schrager
- Production supervisor
- Vern Carstensen
- Story characters
- Dan Holiday, Ted Kenworth
- Setting
- Fair Oaks vacation lodge
More from Box 13.
Browse another episode from this collection.
If you enjoy Box 13.
The Adventures of Frank Race
For a recurring adventurer whose investigations move into insurance intrigue and international danger.
The Adventures of Rocky Jordan
For another resourceful civilian drawn into trouble, this time around a Cairo cafe.
Another letter. Another mystery.
Before you listen.
What is the mystery in Last Will and Nursery Rhyme?
Dan visits a college friend whose inherited property is in financial trouble. A missing fortune and a nursery-rhyme book turn the visit into a search for clues. [2]
Is 6 February 1949 a confirmed premiere date?
No. UMKC lists that date as approximate. It is retained as a qualified historical reference, while the modern Spreaker publication dates are shown separately. [1]
Who wrote and directed the episode?
The historical archive entry credits Russell Hughes as writer and Richard Sanville as director. These credits describe the catalogued programme; the files have not been authenticated against an original transmission master. [1]
Why can I choose between two recordings?
Heritage Radio Vault has two existing uploads associated with this title and differently labelled source files. Their shared title and listed duration do not establish that the complete audio is identical. Both remain available on this one episode page.
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Sources and recording notes.
Programme and historical references
Heritage Radio Vault recordings
Recording 1 on Spreaker ↗ · Recording 2 on Spreaker ↗. Each runs 26:33 in the catalogue and was published on 18 October 2026. Dynamic advertising can change the running time heard in a Spreaker delivery.
The two Spreaker entries identify differently labelled source files:4 x-xx-xx(25) and 1948-xx-xx(025). Neither label establishes an exact broadcast date. Their catalogue lengths are both 26:33, while UMKC describes a 26:54 reference copy. Differences in transfer, encoding, edits or advertising cannot be resolved from those durations alone. The historical information here describes the documented story, not an authenticated original master for either upload. A comparison of sampled audio found a strong match between the two Spreaker deliveries. That supports shared performance material in the sampled portions, but the complete files have not been verified as identical.
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: Last Will and Nursery Rhyme | Old Time Radio Mysteries · Spreaker reference 72276404
- Heritage Radio Vault publication
- · 26:33
- Recording 2
- Box 13: Last Will and Nursery Rhyme | Old Time Radio Mysteries · Spreaker reference 72276405
- Heritage Radio Vault publication
- · 26:33