The Harpooned Angler Matter

Originally Aired: February 9, 1954Johnny Dollar #201, "The Harpooned Angler Matter," finds America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator jetting to the French Riviera town of Cassis to examine a suspicious death claim. Policy holder Arnold Bernier has been found dead at the bottom of the Mediterranean with a fishing spear driven through his back while skin diving, and his $75,000 policy was written thirty-three years ago. Johnny encounters the flamboyant Count Laszlo Andescu, a self-described charge d'affaires who's handling the claim for a "slight consideration" and seems eager to collect the check without any questions asked.Meeting the widow, Marc de Bernier, Johnny finds a cold-blooded sun worshipper more interested in discussing her expensive pearls and luxurious lifestyle than her husband's violent death. She dismisses the murder as unimportant and directs Johnny to Inspector Lonnier. The inspector reveals that American scientist David North discovered Bernier's body in an underwater grotto at a depth of one hundred feet. With a greedy count, an icy widow with expensive tastes, and a mysterious American explorer all in the picture, Johnny must dive deep to uncover who harpooned the unlucky angler.