The Whistler - Hired Alibi

The dry desert heat seemed to add to the pressure and anguish to the man in the swiftly moving automobile. Paul Burns' trip to Los Angeles had proved useless. He was forced to drive back and face his wife, Edith, tell her that he had failed. If only there was a way out, somehow. On the lonely highway, Paul sees a young man hitchhiking, and slows down. The young man says "Hey, how about a lift?"  Paul says "Huh? Oh, sure". Young man says "Thanks, friend. How far are you going? Paul says "I'm going through Flagstaff, then 50 miles north". Young man says "I'll get out at Flagstaff". Paul says "Okay". He was glad to have someone to talk to on the long trip. As Paul drove on, he begin to speculate about the young man, wondering if he haven't seen him somewhere before. A few more miles down the road, and Paul begins to remember him. Paul becomes tense with excitement. He says to himself "If it is true, it can change a lot of things. Yes, it can, but I've got to be sure". The young man asks "Is something wrong?" Paul says "No. I just noticed I'm out of cigarettes. I thought I'd pull in at that cafe up ahead. Would you mind running in for me?". The young man says "Hey, look, you sure you're not just tired of my company, maybe?" Paul says "Of course not. Here, and get a pack for yourself". Young man says "Thanks, I'll do that". Paul waits nervously until he disappears into the little roadside cafe. Paul then immediately turns around and picks up the newspaper on the back seat. The young man's picture stares up at him from a newspaper dated earlier in the week. Paul says "He is Joe Norbella. My hitchhiking friend is wanted by the Los Angeles Police for killing a theater manager during a holdup!"