Unknown Broadcast | What the Darkness Saw: Classic OTR Mystery

Ah, my dear, come in, Come in, make yourself at home, Have a seat, put your feet up. The fire is warm, because even in the warmer months it gets so chilling at night. I've got the tea steeping away as we prepare something fun and frightening. When you think about it, we are so afraid of so many things in our day to day life, but we never get the opportunity to be afraid of that which we never see, but is most assuredly there. That may be a good thing, unless, of course us you find yourself lost in the dark, a blind witness.

Come in, Welcome, I MEE G. Marshall. Today nostalgia is king, or should we say queen? What is lacking in these times that we constantly seek solace in the past, especially when the truth is the past. Was a harder, slower, hungrier place. Yet many of us try to recapture the past by seizing upon. Its outward trappings. You who do so should be careful, unconscious. You may break through the glitter and capture the essence, and then what will become of you. Your clothes and hairstyle may come back into fashion, but your sense of values our mystery drama blind Witness was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Sam Dan and stars Patricia Elliot.

And Common Matthews. It is sponsored in part by Bwick. Motor Division. And Truth, as we all would agree, is stranger than fiction. And that is because, as the scientists tell us, matter can neither be created nor destroyed. The things we have to work with are the things that already exist, and only they can serve as the building blocks for our castles, real or imagined. We call the ones that we have seen before cooth and the new or strange ones. The difference lies in perception. Is everything clear? Well, then forward with our story. I should know the place, jelic it?

Okay, First walk past, See if he's alone, expect. That going there. If there was somebody in a joint. What do you think I started his rifer yesterday? He ought to be by itself this hour of the night. If not, Yeah, our way, our way. You walk in and you don't say a word. You just let him have it. You understand why he is so nervous. Chat I was born nervous as dog as. He asually spades rains coming down. Cats and dogs are in a soul on the street. This job has to be right, exactly right.

Oh that's why I'm here, right, all right, all right, go get him? You got my dough. I don't do this for kicksie, you know I got your dough. Twenty five seconds to walk to the giant, ten seconds to nogamore, twenty five seconds to walk back to the car. That's what they call portal a portal pay. It adds up to exactly one minute. Ten grand for one minute, Yes, sad, go ahead, ten grand a minute. I'm the highest paid wagering on a world. When you go already, what are you waiting for? A right? In three minutes, it's gonna be midnight, so what it's still Friday the thirteen.

You, when you're scared of that stuff in this line of work, you take every edge you can get. When I knock a guy off on Friday. To thirteen, when you can wait two minutes and cool them on Saturday the fourteen. Good evening, mister Asknas Now. What are you doing now this time of night? Mister Humet, you should be scared to walk the streets. Thank you for your concern to Askalon. You're a true friend. Well, well, which is almost midnight, and there's a very low element out on the streets. I have come to obtain my sister's medicine.

Yes, yes, yes, I I've got some right here. Thank you. How much is it the usual price? The five dollars? Mister ascalon, haven't you ever. Heard of inflation? In inflation? You have been charging me five. Dollars till the past twenty five years. Shouldn't the price have gone up? All not to you, mister Hume. Now I tell you what you better do. I'm about to close up, so if you wait a few minutes, I will walk you to your door. That's very kind of you. Oh there was hard candies my sister is so fond. Of Did they come in?

Oh yes, yes, Noah? Where did I put them? Oh? Yes? You go down to the first drawer shows near the door, and it's oh listen to me. I keep forgetting. You can't see the fast row of shelves. You say, how do you do it, mister Hugh. It's a battle of mastering your environment, of visualizing every shape, of memorizing every distance down here. You said, yes, yes, say that's uncanny. I mean how do you just put your finger on it? Oh? Yes, sir, what can I do for you. No, no, don't, don't difficult, mister, mister you where did you come from?

It's too bad, sister, get out of here. It sounded like a border julyon or what happened? What do you mean? There was a dame in the store. I looked in the window. He saw by himself by walk in. I hit him, and all of my sudden. I hear his peake's boice. What dame's boy? He must have been behind the shelf. She just shakes up at it. No way did yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, she's finished. Listen. Are you sure nobody could live with all the letter? Give her a localan. You don't have to worry about Ascalot no more with that day, and all better be clean, cleanliness guaranteed.

That's why I get the price. Hand it over, okay, okay, ten big woods. But it took me a little more than a minute, and my overhead also went up. Must be this inflation, huh, Captain Sterlings, Oh yes. Sir, Yes. The man's name was Armand. Ascaloon, fifty years old. As he owned her drug store. I assigned it to Jedward Julia Jedwicks. Well, she's attached to homicide. Yeah, so she's a detective first grade. No, I don't think she can do any harm. I'll supervise her closely. Yes, sir, none of this I need it, Captain Starring Hell tummying Julia.

And you know, now what we got here is one of these neighborhood knockoffs. Now you know how to go about this, we'll say, I'm the best. Way is to keep your eyes and your ears open and work close with the. Patrolman on the beat. Yes, captain, Now what we got here has to be a stick up. You're almost likely a junkie or rouse some hood and well, dad, don't be afraid to lean on me. For help, thank you, Captain Starring. Any questions, Well, it's just about the gun. What about the gun? I have a report from ballistics.

The two bullets that were found in his body were followed by three fifty seven magnum revolver. So what's your question, Well, it would seem to. Me say that your ordinary junkie or hoodlum who holds up a store wouldn't have an expensive magnum. That type would usually employ a cheap Saturday night special. Well, a junkie could steal a magnum couldn't he Well. Yes, captain, but if it was a junkie and he needed money for a fix, he would have sold a magnum. That's not bad thinking, Julia. So it doesn't have to be a junkie. It could be just some punk out to raise cash.

Yes, thirsty, It's just that no money was taken. Miss Chason had a five dollar bill in his hand, and there was one hundred dollars in the cash drawer, and I don't know how to account for that. Well, here's how you learn with experience. Now, there's a certain type of punk who nerves himself up to pull a job. You know, it goes wrong, He shoots, he kills, he sees the dead victim, and he gets terrified, and all he wants to do is get out fast. You understands, Yes, sa I do it. It's just that a. Magnum isn't quite the kind of revolver for the type of killer you have in mind.

A magnum makes you think of a professional killer. Enough, Well, why would a professional risk everything on a one hundred? Hold up? I like what you're trying to do, Julia. You love the stuff to become a good detective. This is out you're looking for a punk hou panic, So you go out there and do. The routine things. It looks for people who might have seen or heard something. Yes, well, I already have good in any results. Well, it introduced a problem. First of all, the number of shots that were fired. Why is that a problem.

Well, I found exactly eight people who told me that they heard the shooting, and some say they heard five shots, some that they had six, but all agreed. That they heard more than two. Well, but only two bullet. Hit, mister Oscar, Oh, doesn't that only go to prove what I told you was a nervous punk who empties the gun at Ascalon and only hooks him twice. Yes, captain, but that still leaves us with the problem five or six shots for. Five two hit the Trascalon. That leaves three or four slugs unaccounted for. Well, what do you mean unaccounted for?

We can't find them. They should be in the wall behind above or either side of where Mitraskalon was standing, but there's no trace of them. But they go to be there. We went over the place very carefully, and well that raises another problem. Yeah, the glass. Doors of the street, it was smashed probably by a bullet. Or a bullet what should get well? As she entered the store, the counter is directly to the rear. We found mitrascal On's body behind that counter. What's the problem? The cash registers on that counter. The hood comes in guns him down.

With two shots. But there did the others go? You tell me there were two groups of shots? What do you mean? Two groups? All the accounts of the people who heard the shooting agree. First they heard two shots, then there was a pause a few seconds. Then three or four more shots. Therefore, the first two shots were fired at mister Ascalon, the next three or four will fired at someone else. How do you know the killer. Enters the store, he shoots mister Ascalon. That To do that, the killer has to be facing the real wall now, since here's or he sees something that makes him turn around to face the front of the store.

Who fires again at whom? No, at someone who must have witnessed the klan. That's why we can't find the slugs. They were fired in the direction of the street, one or. More even both the gas in the front door. Well, what happened to the witness? If they there was a witness. The witness could have stopped one, two, three, or. Up to four, they thoughts. But he didn't stop any of them as fire as we know. If he's dead, we would have found the body. Maybe the killer could have missed him clean. But the fact is, Captain Stilling, there is a witness.

The killer did fire at somebody. Well maybe maybe not. If it's a dark night, it's raining hard, the killer is nervous. He thinks he. Hears a sound of something just outside. He turns around, the fires wild blind. Well that could account for all assurance. Yes, Captain, you were going real good there for a while, julieah, and I like the way you think. But like I said, in the end, it'll turn out to be you're a junkie or a hood you don't think so. He could be right, Okay, Okayna get off, William coming? Okay? Who's there?

Me? Bobby? You? You? Hey? Hey, what's the matter with you? Let me INQUI. I was first to sleep, good thing you woke me up, and then I got a plain reason. And now you see in the morning paper, Oh I never read the page. Well you better read this. It says drug is murdered and you got to expect the papers to print this type of thing. It's news and read it. Why should I read it? Ain't going to be news to me? Drug that's murdered. At midnight last night, mister Armand Ascalon, fifty year old proprietor of Ascalon's Pharmacy on the corner of Bridge and High Streets, was shot to death by a band.

Hey, yeah, I ain't no there that. It has not yet been determined what has been taken from the store. The police are. Following an active line of. Investigation, according to Captain of Homicide Detective James L. Sterling. Oh why do you mean so? Ain't there's something missing from that story? Her own thing? So things for playing out loud? Oh okay, watch the be My boss calls me into the office this morning, right after he read the paper, and he lays this question on me, And so I'm laying it on you. What about the dame? What dame?

You said? There was a dame in the store, That's right, there was. I didn't spot he at first, but since she's seen the whole thing, I had to take care of her too. And you did. I told you she's dead. Well, that's what I told the boss last night. So this morning he wants to know why don't it say nothing about her in the paper? What do you mean it's got to say hey mere? And go ahead? Pal? Where does it say one word about the game? But I got her? I know I got her?

And why wasn't it reported? They can't keep a thing like this out of the place. Your miss, that's what you did. You missed the clean. No, I wasn't ten feet away from him, and I don't miss, I could even hear and go when I first bullish, if she's dead, you're chappy. She's dead. Okay, you just answer me one question. Where's the body and. Where? Indeed, is it possible that mister Mule is obviously a highly skilled professional assassin. Could have fired all those shots at her and missed. Mister Mule is convinced it could be a trick on the part of the police, But we know the police are completely.

Unaware of mister Holman themselves. Well, what did happen? Is she dead or alive? I'll be back shortly with that too. Edgar Allan Poe, who invented the type of story or listening to now, set down the basic rules. These were later refined and polished by one of Poe's greatest disciples, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the most important rule states, when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever explanation remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth, which brings us now to a consideration of the elderly blind lady we had met earlier, Miss Agatha Cahoune. Aggie, Aggie, Dear, who michaelness?

What a dream I had? Dream about? What pith? Dear sister, don't press me for details. Should you have such a frightened look on your face? Maggie, you're up and you're in your wheel chair. You were able to get out of bed and into your chair by yourself. Yes, every dear, thanks to you, because. You left the medicine right by my bed and. It is the pain sufficient legicine. Oh no, but then it wasn't a dream, Baggie, it wasn't a dream. Please, I don't understand. Mister Ascalon is. Dead, Aggie, what are you talking about? You had finally fallen asleep.

It was close to midnight. Your medicine bottle was empty. I knew you would need some in the morning, and so I went downstairing you went down into the jungle at night. Leggie, dear, could you face the morning without your medicine? That you could have been murdered in the streets at night? You know what looks behind every dog, or so, I falsified myself. I put on the best. At least I would be safe for knives and bullish. You should have waited till morning and wheeled me. The rule is you must never go along by morning. You would have been in too much pain.

I would have put up with it somehow, and beneath my bunket I could have the coat forty. Five in one hand and the can of mace in the other. I have no children, Maggie. You know you can't see. I know how to get every single place in this neighborhood, and that just because I'm blind, there's no reason to treat me as an invalid. Oh my poor darling, Maggie. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that word. It's true. I am an invalid. I can't walk. I'm also a drug added cloth say that will not change anything.

We were both in the same accidents, still really listed. I lost the use of my legs. You lost the use of your eyes for forty years now, I've clung to you, had been so. Parted by your strength because I have none of my arms. Look at us. We've become too crazy, old lady, because of me, I. Won't listen to any more of this hill. Live your life for me, mister ascalon dead. Yes he was killed by a jungle animal. How awful. But how do you know? I was in the store when it happened. Hecky did?

Did the tiller for you? Not? At first? He walked into the store and began shooting. Then he noticed me, oh, and he said, hey, who are you? Where did you come from? Did you say anything? I was? I was petrified. And then he said it's true, God, sister. And I heard him shoot, and the noise of the shots were deafening, and I felt the bullet crashed into my burst with with with such force that I would almost knock. Off my feet. And I could feel that little bit stinging, but sensations as each bullet struck the first Let me look at the vest.

If it's on the chair beside my bed, The color is torn. What have these feats of metal? The slugs? They must have been caught in the padding or poor mister Ascalon. Why would anyone wish to shoot him? That he was good to poor people like us? That? Do you know that if it weren't for mister Ascalon, I would have to go elsewhere for that that medicine. Do you realize how much we would have to pay the killer? I saw you skip up to. Your skins, which means he knows what you look like. Yes, that he probably does.

He shot at you, so you couldn't describe him that. I couldn't describe him anyway. He doesn't know that. So I come looking for you? Oh no, no he won't. Why not say up? Because he seeks he kills me, but your body won't be found in a store along with miss last. Oh I didn't think of that. I know he had a good look at me. Scale not please? Please still be counting to Now it's my turn to be strong, and neither of us will leave the house. You must not be seen on the streets. But we can telephone mister Burnstein to send up a grocery and I will have to leave the house.

Now I won't allow it. I'll have to find another person to show me your medicine. I'll do without. You can't the pains are real. If they were, then doctor Morrison would have prescribed the medicine for me. Whether or not the pains are real, that they are real enough to you, I'll have to stop humoring myself and you'll have to stop humoring me. Your life depends on it. Yeah, I know that's for me. Yeah, there's Jeffie. He says, not there off, that's. What I told him. Okay, boss, let me lay it on him. Right, what's going on, Jeffie?

It's as simple as one, two three. You didn't hit the old lady, but nothing, so we gotta find it and you got to get rid of her. Suppose he describes it as a cops I got an horabi. You think I have a leave home without one? Del or some cops may recognize you from the description. Well, I told you in all mul it's our headache because if you come into the picture, Alibia, not the cops will Noah wasn't a stick up, which is what my boss wants them to think it. Well, okay, okay, what do you want me to do?

Describe her? How do you describe an old day man? Jimmy dressed in black, maybe seventy years old. You know what I mean? White hair, Yeah, yeah, I think so, and it was something else they glasses. Okay is that yeah? That ship except except boots. Yeah nothing. I guess if I see her. Again, I know it. O came here. Okay, we're going to make sure you see her again. A good evening, Missus cavill. Oh you're the cop, the lady cop. Yes, may I come in? Thank you? Yeah, got more questions on asking just one, Missus cavill.

You know they ought to have more lady cops. Kind of makes everything easier. Now. The other night when Miss Fascon was killed, Yeah, you heard the say of the shop. Yeah. Did you hear any other sounds in the street? I noticed that your window open her. I didn't see anything losing birds? How about an animobile? Oh yeah yeah? After the shot come, I'm sure I heard something time, like a guy was running, and then I heard a car taking off theirs and that's all. Yeah. My husband, he slept through it all. They could drop the Adam bomb in here and he I run to the window and looked.

The street was deserted. And you're sure you heard nothing more? Well, later on I had one of my tenants mis Aggie tear hearing coming up the stairs? Well, how did you know that it was her coming upstairs? Huh? I could hear that kna. House go some something. Oh, I see. Then she came upstairs right after the murder. Yeah, around that time, and she's. Been outside in that weather that are where do you. Suppose she'd been, Well, I figured the drug store. So she got this twin sister in the wheelchair that always needs her medicine. Then she had to be there at the time of the murder.

Are you sure that you heard her coming up the stairs. Well, she couldn't have been there while mister Escaloma was being. Murdered, or she'd have been killed two. I don't know man. Maybe I didn't hear her coming up the stairs, But you just said you were positive such a scary night. Maybe maybe I dreamed it. Maggie, it's the door, Yes, who could it be? I don't know the killer. It's for home. It's a woman's voice. The killer wasn't a woman. He could have brought one along to. Throw us off. Goard lived for a whole Even so you have to answer, you.

Have the cut head, yes, so is it it's a police officer? What do you want, I'll have to office and cross jout. Can we cut her? Put alone? How care you going to find our fall proverbs? I am about to open the door. Have your bodge with it. So she's all right. That's the police edge and she's alone. Please don't point that automatic at me. I have a license to own it, and I know how to use this a pistol. We find it necessary in this jungle. And hanging on the wall. Is that a bullet proof?

There? It is? Please? Clority must have cost a fortune. We don't even have anything that's good in the police department. How can we help you? Officer? Well? Which of you is missus agnes Terhune? I am? Did you know mister armand Ascalon? Yes, we brought our medicine there. When it's the last time you saw him? I never saw him. I beg you pardon. My sister is blind, oh guys, and so I'm looking for someone who might have been in the store before or during the time of the murder. Neither my sister nor I would venture into the streets at.

That hour, I see. I'm sure. Well, ladies, I'm so sorry I bothered you. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Goodbye, goodbye, bye, Aggie. Aggie. You could have told her the truth that you were. In the drum store. No, my dear, we must keep out of this at all costs. Which she was a police officer. How don't we trust all? We can't trust anyone who lives out there in that. Jungle, the jungle. Who says the jungle must be a damp, steamy mass of crazy vegetation. It can be a steer and. Stone canyon of tall buildings and busy traffic.

After all, it's not what the place looks like that makes it a jungle. It's the law that its inhabitants obey or choose to disregard. Our safari continues in Act three, which I shall bring to you in just a few moments. What's your favorite time of the year? Fall? Okay? But can whither be far behind? Whether? Yeah, but in order to get the skiing, you have to wait through all that snow, ice, lush and rain. Summer. Got to think again, ninety six in the shade and there isn't any shade, Well, forget it. Springtime now, that's the favorite time of the year.

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Cal collects that's two one two eight nine four six eight three seven. Like no other bear. Consicency makes a great deal. And shape is consistently grape tasting every single time. Because Shaffer's grew the old worldwide poisoning we call it in thineteen forty two poisoning. The extra step of brewing twice has kept Shapeer consistently press interests, consistently great tasting beer. Acker, Shapeer Beer. Shah Taste. The epadem Shafer Brewing Company, New York. New York. The thing starts simply enough. What appears to be a routine hold up suddenly assumes larger and wittier proportions. Both the law and the criminals are.

Searching for a supposed witness. A diligent young policewoman has succeeded in her quest. How does the underworld plan to go about it? Listen, Chabbie, I can't afford to hang around here. I got a business to it. Then, Oh no, you're going to hang around here and did your business here is finished? I've been proud of the neighborhood. I could spot the whole day in your horne. What does that mean? Your boss just figured. Out how we can get this whole day to come to watch? Yeah, what was she doing in a drug store at midnight and a howl and rain?

Reach me? Come on usual head? Would she go out if it wasn't something important? Why did the boss want Askalon knocked off. In the first place? I never asked him kind of questions to let all the smallies know that he's. Running a drug recket in this town. Nobody can go into business for himself. It's got to be organized, all right. This ascalon klown was running, but I'm out to do a charity clinic. The fact that he got knocked off made the message loud and clear. So what did you have to do with my old name?

An old dame. She has to be a junkie. She needed a fix. Yeah, what else? You shot at her and missed? How could I scat her? Now? You know what she looks like. She knows she's in trouble. So what she's doing. She's laying low, but sooner or. Later she's got to come to the surface. Why because she's a junkie. She'll need the stuff again. She can't go to Ascalon no more. She'll have to find a supplier. And the only supplier operating in that neighborhood right now, he's one of our own people. Captain, I found the witness for what wasn.

But you remember I told you the killer followed that someone else after his shot his arklove. Now, Julia, that's pure speculator. The person who followed at was the witness, and I found her heart. But we had a problem. She refuses to admit she was there, and even if she. Did, she couldn't help us to identify the killer. She's blind for a little old blind lady. Oh whoa, wha, wha, wha, what are you handing me? The killer spotted her and fired at her and would have killed her. But you'll never believe that she was wearing a bullet proof vest.

You are saying to me that standing in the store when the killing happened was a blind old lady wearing a bulletproof vest. That's it, Captain, That's what I'm saying, and I can prove it. I saw the vest and one of the floods was still stuck inside it. I managed to think it out and have it tested the ballistics that was fired from the same gun that kills mister Ascalon. You mean you got all this already. Well, you see, I had to ask myself why this blind old lady would go dan to Ascalon's joy so late at night in a bad neighborhood.

She wore a bulletproof Thats hit you. You see, she and the sister are somewhat eccentric, but it must have been for something very important. I said to myself, Well, I searched through mister Ascalon's files and I couldn't find a prescription for miss Chaerhoo. So what was he giving her drug? Backsight, and when you. Look closely at the sister, you see the classic signs of addiction and those that she had a nervous ticko. Her eyes can't seem to focus, she smissed drugs. Sure, that's why Ascalon was knocked off. He was freelancing, So Cinda must have wanted to teach an object list.

Yes, sir, see how you put these things together after you've had as much experience as I have? No, No, Julia, it's all yours. You deserve all the credit for what We don't have the killer? We will. But how they are going to come after you're a little old lady. But but how can they find her? You found her? Never let yourself get trapped into thinking that you're the only smart one. But if well, but they don't. Have to find her. She can't identify the they kill her. She's blind. They don't know that. But they're going to try to kill this woman.

I know. Is he something we can do? Yes, we can protect her, but soill we're not infallible? Well, what do you want us to do? She'spt a story in the press that yes, there is. A witness, but she's blind. Oh that might got something that wouldn't help. They wouldn't believe it. They smell a rap, But Julia, they know there's a witness. They won't rest lage unless we get them first. Eddie, Hi, I neede my medicine. I know, Maggie, dear, I know it's hard. I have to have my medicine. I have to. But I can't go to ascaland anymore.

Go somewhere. I can't be seen on the street. Sits cry to understand it. Just come a little longer, Maggie, hold on, try it. Your fault. The accident was your fault. You were driving the car. You were jealous of me, jealous of my beautiful leg. Try to calm your sad. I was a pretty one. You smashed up the corsi of it. Smash me. Then you are punished for you are grinding. I want my medicine. I want my medicine a little bit. Please make it last as long as you can, but wait till tonight. We have to make what's lost last at least someone.

I want it now. Please please, my dear sister, Please all right, be careful, spool, thank you, just. Whatever, some loyal so long, just true, lady. I can close my eyes well, thank you, thank you, ah, come tell you thank you. Then it's a miracle how you can walk like that being blind and all, and you just wait to turn. And remember from last time the sa carabill. I must come to the point. I need to buy some drugs. Drugs, missus calladall. You have a tenement house in this neighborhood. It's a respectable price. I didn't say no, your husband is again.

Now that's a minute. That's pressure, not finding fault, only establishing the credentials. Now, surely there's your knowledge of things. You could find someone who will sell me some drugs. Yeah, I should have figured the no resk along. Good. Well, I could ask a few questions, get a few answers, and maybe put you in with somebody who knows somebody. That's all I ask. They won't get the price or a high quality, My sister, we can't afford to be particular. You know, I'd rather not do a thing like that. My Christopher is desperate. Yeah, I know, I and hear it screaming.

Sometimes you're healthy. Yeah, if you want to call. It help, Okay, we can settle and ride. Once you got chubbie, I got your little old lady who her name is chris hwne agnes tak youwn oh. I told you she'd have to come up for air? How long could she stay under? She found Lester? Lester, Yeah, big Lester, the neighborhood pusher. He was told to make a note of new customers, especially old ladies. He pegged it. How does he describe her thin white hair? How many of them gonna be? It's gotta be yours? And I something is missing once.

I don't know something about that old game. I can't put my finger on it. Whatever it is, you're still have to finish it off. How you doing, Julia? All right? How long you have been on Julie twelve? Boring? I'm sorry, It's not all brain works. Yeah, sometimes you gotta pull things like steak out. I don't mind, sir. Anybody who looks suspicious going into the house not yet. Trouble is, we don't know who to look for. Tell that truck going up in front of the house. Powers see the electric company? Power trucks? Oh you see two guys getting up.

You're gonna read the meters? How do you know, sir? Well, I'm not carrying those clipboards. Oh, I wouldn't be too sure. Who who is it? What? What do you want? You get a short circuit? Reported? We've got a fiction. I don't know, Maggie. It sounds the reason the booking. It's just something about his voice. It's his voice sounds to do all day you came. I really not your voice? The killer. Door out? What's the matter with you? Isn't real? You're reading a one man job, Captains. It seems to me I did not have twice. And I don't think you get.

To the basement in the front. You have to go around to the back to get to the service, Entine. Can't you keep buying me? Pa? Don't kill her the one you yeah, old the dark glasses, I know her anywhere. Kill me. Don't kill the Sorry lady. I could never identify you, but I'm blind. I'm blind. No attention, do what you have to do? Pay work plays? Why com it? Welcome? That's it? And still your lady's okay? Oh no, no, I know, always bothering me all along. She's blind? Are we are we step now? Yes, lady, Y're safe now?

And so I'm Mule and Chappy safe for many years at the state penitentiary. Well both of them are serving long terms without pearl. And so what did we give you? Life among some very ordinary people? What appeared to be a routine hold up that you should know by now. Nothing is ever routine on our show, as I shall demonstrate when I return in just a few seconds. Someone once said everything can happen to anyone provided he lives long enough. And so everything did. Happen on our story tonight, everything and even a happy ending because Maggie Tloune was turned over to the proper people, who managed to cure her of her addition for all kinds of endings.

Remember we are here seven times each week. Our cast included Patricia Elliot and Matthews, Leon Jenny, Briana Raeburn and Earl Hammond. The entire production was under the direction of Hymond. Brown, missus E. G. Marshall, inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater for another adventure in the macabre until next time. Pleasant, my dear, how's the tea? It seems like you're enjoying it. I find it both soothing and aromatic. The senses are fun, like that something can taste sweet or sour, but smell in many ways very different. But often when you smell something you have a good idea of what it tastes like.

But those are rudimentary senses. You would never count on your sense of taste to save your life, would you? Perhaps, when you're in the Country of the Blind? Are you burned up at the high price of turkeys? Can't get eggs for your pumpkin pie? Want to get away from it all? We offer you escape. You're trapped in a remote valley of the Andes, walled in by sheer rock precipices, and surrounding you, closing in on you is a band of blind men who want your eyes. Produced and directed by William N. Robeson and carefully plotted to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure.

Tonight we escaped to the high mountains of Ecuador and to a remarkable world where sight is unknown, as H. G. Wells imagined it in his curious story The Country of the Blind. My name is Ibarra. I am a mining engineer in Quito, Ecuador, high in the towering Andes, and up until a year ago, my chief sport was mountain climbing. My last climb was an attempt to scale the remote and forbidding peak of Periscota Petal, the twenty thousand foot crag unconquered by man. It is unconquered still three thousand feet from the icy summit, our party turned back and fled for their lives.

All of us escaped except one, a guide named Nunes, who slipped and fell over the precipice, disappearing into the vast chasm that yarned ten thousand feet beneath us. The horror of that man's fall has haunted my dreams for a year. Because of it, I have forsaken mountain climbing for the rest of my life, and that decision still stands, even though today I have seen Nunes. He was sitting on the steps of my shack when I arrived at the mine this morning. At first I didn't reckonognize him. He was so much changed. I thought he was a ragged beggar, asking alms.

Is. Is it you, sennory Bara? My name is Ibarra. Yes, what do you want? You do not know me, Senor? I know I. You look like a man I knew once. But he is dead, dead on the slopes of Paris, got the pedal. Nuns. No, it couldn't be you, nunas that is my name, Senor. At least that is the name. I remember, But you fell. I saw you fall. It's impossible that you could have lived. Perhaps the gods of the montin had some reason to spare. Me, known as if we'd had any idea that you were alive.

But you went down down thousands of feet. We couldn't even attempt to find your body. I know I do not blame you. You could not have reached me, and if you had, I should not have welcome you at first, but then later? What do you mean, ones, senor? You will not believe what I have to tell. I can hardly believe that I'm seeing you talking to you. But what has happened to you? You remember that night, the night I fell. Yes, we had been toiling all day, inching our way up a steep ice wall. In this darkness came We found a narrow ledge, fairly three feet wide.

It's not very wide, but we can get our shoulder wall up cut off some of this wind. How that'll be. Welcome, Yes, but first we'll rest a moment. Look at that icy devil up there, glistening in the moonlight. There's another three thousand feet of sheer ice wall to the top. And I can see why no one's ever made it. I think we should go on. I don't know, nice, I think it is not my place to say, Senor. I was hired to guide you to the top. I agreed. What do you really thinking? If I believed in the gods of the mountain as the Indians do, I should be frightened?

Now? Why? Because we have invaded the forbidden circle. This part of the Andes is unmapping, unknown, Senor. And therefore shrouded in superstition. Eh, it is an easy thing to believe strange things in this white loneliness. Some of the legends are really fascinating. I've heard of once something about a hidden valley called the Country of the Blind. Yes, it is supposed to be somewhere down there below us, a fertile valley which was settled many centuries ago and then cut off by the great landslide. Of a Rocca. But why are the Country of the Blind? Well, even before it was isolated, the people developed a strange illness.

All of them slowly went blind afterildren were born blind. And the legend is that the valley was the home of the mountain gods. It was too beautiful for human eyes. So it's all nonsense. Yes, of course would. Be pleased to fighter. Though you know the old proverb. In the country of the blind, the one eyed. Man is king. I doubt that we could ever find it. I even doubt if it exists, of course not. I was only joking. Yes, but now, if you're arrested, we'll make the shelter wall. Right, I'll give you a hand in a minute.

Believe me, abar for two pays hos, I give up this clime. I never realized that I'm slipping. Hang on, no, Ned no ned. In one horrible instant, my foot had slipped on the treacherous ledge and I'd gone over, falling far out into the icy black knight, falling down down, I fell perhaps a thousand feet. Then I felt a heavy stinging impact of snow. I'd fallen on an almost perpendicular snow slope, and now I was sliding down, down, tumbling over and over. And then suddenly I realized that my own motion had almost stopped, and it was the snow that was moving.

I was riding an avalanche. At almost the same moment, I went over the second precipice. It was higher than the first, much higher, perhaps four thousand feet I fell with the snow for what seemed minutes every second, expecting the terrible final impact. But the impact never came. Miracle of miracles, that sheerwall blended almost imperceptibly into another steep snow slope, and again I was sliding gradually. As the ark of the slope curved away. I felt myself slow down, and finally I rolled to a stop and lay still. When I awoke, it was morning and I was covered with snow.

I shook off the cold white blanket on my chin yest and rested a moment, and then I rolled over on my. Back and looked up. My heart almost stopped as I saw from where I'd fallen why the mountain towered ten thousand feet above me, and carefully I felt it myself. My clothes were torn, I was bruised and bleeding. I ached in every muscle, but I had not a single broken bone. I lay there and offered up a prayer to the gods of the mountain. Far below me lay a lush valley sparkling in the morning sunlight.

I could see the stately trees and the green meadows fresh with dew. I started down the mountain, but it was still an arduous descent. The farther down I got, the more I realized the beauty of the scene. Why this was a hidden paradise. I had fallen, and I was the first man ever to see it, so I thought. But I was wrong. I realized that. First when I saw the cultivation in the meadows, and then the walks, well kept stone walks laid in a symmetrical pattern all over the valley. And then I saw them. There were men and women lying under the trees and resting in the fields.

Nearby, a collection of windowless huts marked a village, and the plastering of the houses was done in a wild variety of colors. I thought to myself, the plaster who did that must have been blind as a bat. Then I saw two of the men quite close to me. They were standing on a bridge over the little stream. They were dressed in odd, loose clothing, and there was a strange look about their faces. They failed to notice me as I approached, until I shouted. Suddenly they looked up tenderly in my direction. I waved wildly at them, but they took no notice.

Why the fools must be blind? Blind? Could it be that I have fallen into the country of the blind. Hum. In the country of the blind, a one eyed man can be king. Ah, Hello there, you needn't be afraid. I won't hurt you. I come in peace. It is a man for a spirit come down from the rocks. Oh, I'm a man all right, just like you. But I've had a miraculous escape, and now I find myself here in your valley, valley, valley, Come hither, Let me fail of you. Yes, certainly, hear my arm is my face, you see.

I am a man, I like yourself. Here. Feel my lips they move with speech. Oh, carefully, gently, those are my eyes, eyes, eyes. That is strange. Feel this career, Yes, I feel careful. Feel the eyelids flutter. He is but imperfectly formed. Some strange bulgs there unseemly. No, No, you see your eyes are shrunken in but minor hole. I can see see Pedro. He is a strange wild one. Where does he come from? He must have come down out of the rock. No, from over the mountains, out of the country beyond there where men can see from Bogota, where there are a hundred thousand people and a city stretches out of sight sight.

What strange words he uses without meaning? And feel the costness of his hair like a llamas. Our fathers have told us men may be made by forces of nature. It is the warmth of things and moisture and rottenness. Let us lead him to the elders. But no one need lead me. I can see see. Oh, yes, of course I can. Hit I I didn't see your water bucket. His senses are still imperfect. He stumbles and talks on meaning words. Lead him by the hand, pedro. But look, I h oh, well, all right. These people had been blind for centuries.

They had forgotten even the words associated with seeing. And they thought I was an idiot, only half formed, especially when they let me into the pitch blackness of one of their windowless huts and I stumbled for someone. Hey, thousand pardons, madona, si rotta. He is a clumsy one. I am sorry. I fell down. I I couldn't see in the darkness. Who is this and what is he saying? He is but newly formed, good father. He has come down from the rocks. He stumbles as he walks, and mingles words that mean nothing with his speech. He is a wild man out of the rocks.

No, I come from Bogota over the mountains. You hear Bogota. He uses wild words. His mind is hardly formed. He has only the beginnings of speech. Yes, I come from the great world where men have eyes and see. That must be his name, Bogota. He stumbled twice as we came through them. He must be tar. No, you don't understand. I can see, but not in the dark. To you, darkness or light is all the same. But to me, to us who can see, to us outside in the world, beyond the mountains. Mountains, what are mountains?

Very well, then beyond the rocks. There is nothing beyond the rocks. That is the end of the world. But surely you must realize thee The sky above covers more than just this valley. Sky above there is nothing above but the roof of rock. He is very raw, my children, he shall have to be taught from the beginnings. Er. I'll take him away, feed him. It shall be done with the father. But guide him, see that he does not stumble over My daughter, Agale. Do not fear father. I shall guide him myself and feed him very well.

Come pick my hand, thank you it. It will be a pleasure to get outside again, out of this darkness. Come this way. Yes, what is your name? Maydana sair Rothe mine is one one noons, Oh, oh sunlight. Oh this is better. And now I may look at you. Why you are beautiful? I cannot tell you what a wonderful thing you are to see? Please, you must be careful. Why you do not learn quickly and see speaking such strange words, they may not be so kind to you. They might be angry. They might even destroy you.

This thought had not occurred to me, and suddenly I had a twinge of fear. Still, the proverb kept running through my mind. In the country of the blind, a one eyed man is king. But try as I would, I cannot make them understand my wonderful gift of sight. They thought me stupid and untaught, almost an idiot. Day by day I learned their peaceful ways. But they could not learn mine. I was beginning to get on my nerves. There's two perhaps, Bogota Bogo ta come hither bogot tae. You moved not no, and I won't. You will beat.

I'll show you. I'll leave the. Path, trample not on the grass. It is not allowed. How did you know I stepped on the grass. I heard, of course heard, but I didn't make a sound. Why do you not come when I call you? Can you not hear the path as you walk? I can see it. There is no such word as sea. Seise this folly and follow the sound of my feet. Oh, my time will come. You will learn. There is much to learn in the world. Has no one ever told you? In the country the blind the one eyed man is king blind?

What is blind? Oh? Never mind, Bogota, I must warn you. Just keep quiet and learn, and stop this nonsense about seeing. Nonsense is it. I'll show you I've taken enough of your insults. Informed mind, got no sense yet, I'll be king here. I can see it. I'll be king, bogo Tar, stop it. No, I'm through with your orders. I'll show you what an advantage site can be. I can hit you and hurt you, and you can't see me to strike back. Boguta. Put down that spade, you devil. Your ears are sharp, aren't they. Bogutta, there must be no file I heaven.

I'll hit you if you come any closer, I swear I. Will put down that spade and come off the grass. You don't understand you are blind, and I can see, I can see I'll hurt you. I swear I. Will put down that spade. Leave me alone. I hit him with a spade and ran over the wall outside the valley, back to the rocks, back to the cliff i'd come from. When I reached that sheer rock wall, I knew there was no place to go. For two days and nights I stayed outside the valley. I grew hungry and cold, and I realized the hopelessness of my position.

I was trapped. I must spend the rest of my life here. There was no way out. So I went back. I confess, so, chief of the elders, I was mad. I admit I was only newly made. That is better. And do you still think you can see? No? No, no, that was folly. The words mean nothing, less than nothing. And what is overhead rock? There's a roof above the world, a roof of rock, and very smooth, Very well, And please, before you ask me anymore, give me food or I shall die. Very well. Give him food, dinosaur, And after that we must put him to the most menial tasks in the village.

Got him well, Perhaps perhaps he shall learn yet. Thank you, thank you, oh that is better. You are kind, Ma. Dinosaur, very kind. I am glad you came back. You are. If they were all like you, I should never have run away. What was that word you said? I was beautiful? You are, but even your eyes they're not shrunken depressions like the others. It means something nice, beautiful. Something very nice. My Dinosa Rotti, tell me why is it you have no husband? Hi? I have a disfigure man. These long hairs, Oh, your eyelashes, Oh, but they're beautiful.

They are considered a disfigurement. You're the most lovely girl in the valley. But they wouldn't know, would they wod you have no lover? No, Dinocerotti, what do you think of me? Do you think of me as an idiot like all the rest of them? No? No, you have much to learn, but you will learn it, I'm sure. And you are kind and gentle, and your voice is soft. You speak words that are soft and warm. No one has ever spoken such words to me, and. I shall speak them often. Madame Soroti, you are the only one in this valley, in this whole world I care for.

And so it began. I the village idiot, the slave boy who dreamed to be king. I, with my eyes still whole, fell in love with Madona Sirotte, the daughter of the elder of the village. Only to her could I open my heart without fear. Only to her could I speak of the beauty I could see around me. Oh, it is a beautiful valley, my dinosaurrote, green with grass and yellow with sunlight and flowers, bright flowers dotting the hills, And in the cool of the night, the stars gleam like diamonds in the sky. The words sound lovely, But what are stars?

Stars? Why? No, you wouldn't understand, And. What do you mean in the cool of the night? You still get that confused one. The night is warm, the day is cool. Oh no, it is you here who have them backwards, because the darkness means nothing to you. You work in the cool of the night and sleep in the heat of the day. But you are teasing me. No, Oh, what does it matter? All that matters is you, you, you here beside me, Madona Sorote. I love you, I love you. I I know they still think me an idiot, But you listen to what I say, and you don't think me an idiot?

Do you. No, I like to hear you speak. Then will you would you marry me? Yes? Yes, one, I will marry you. No, I will not have it. But father, he is. An idiot, he has delusions. He cannot do anything right. But he is getting better. He's better than he was. And he is strong and kind, stronger and kinder than any one in the world. And he loves me, and I love him. Now I will not have it, as great sire, if you please, what is it, good doctor, I have examined Bogatta, and the case is clear to me.

I think very probably he might be cured her. And how might that be done? His brain is affected. By something, I believe I know what it is, those queer things he calls eyes where we have but an agreeable depression. He has great lumps with flaps over them that move in long hairs. Consequently, his brain is in a constant state of irritation. But what can be done to cure him? Have very simple surgical operation remove the cause of the irritation. We will merely cut out his eyes. But one they say, it will make you well, it will make you look like us.

But you don't understand my dinoceroty My world is sight. You would not want me to lose my most precious possession. I don't know. There are so many beautiful things to see, the flowers, the far sky with its drifting clouds, the sunsets, the stars, and you, if only just to see you. It is good to have sight, and I would never see you again. Huh. I love to hear you say these things, even though I know it is just your imagination. But my dear, these things are real. No, they are fancies. This is real. If you will let them cut out your eyes, we can be together always.

And. You want me to if you would, if only you would, What else can I do, my dearest one. My dear, with a tender voice, I will repay you. Oh, Madonna, will be breathed. And carry my voice in your thoughts. Now I must go, and tomorrow, yes, tomorrow will be forever. Goodbye, goodbye, Madonna. I suppose I knew it then when I said there, I only meant to go up on the rocks and look out over the valley, to spend my last days feasting my eyes, my precious eyes, and the wonderful, beautiful world of light and color.

But when I got there, it was too beautiful, too lovely, This valley, this home of the mountain gods, beautiful and forbid. I drank it in the green of the fields, the blue of. The gently curving stream, the orange of the like, and in the rocky crevices. I climbed higher to see the great snow capped peaks towering above and away to the distant sky, and still higher, as the shadows turned the snow to purple and crimson and deep blue. The valley now was far below, and as beautiful as a painting. But like a painting, it seemed unreal.

Medina Serote was small and far away, a distant dream, and the world of sight was here all around, overpowering, wonderful. I turned and began to climb up that sheer rock wall. How many months it took me to make my way out over those mountains, over glare and snowfields and sheer precipices. I cannot guess how I lived through the cold and hunger of it. I cannot tell you, But I'm here at last, back from the country of the blind. Good heavens Man. What an experience, yes, terrible and wonderful, But you aren't sorry. You came back sorry.

I see her face clearly now it is the only thing I see. No nurs come, you need food? Here, take my hand, thank you? Where is it senory barat. Noness. Yes, the yards of the mountain have had their revenge, those months of crawling over the snow and ice with the sun glaring down. Yes, I am blind. Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robeson and tonight presented the Country of the Blind by H. G. Wells, adapted for radio by John Duncle, with Paul Freezers Nunez Haggey Weber as Madinasaurote, Bill Conrad as Ibarra and Harry Bartella's Corea.

The special musical score was conceived and conducted by Cy Fewer. Next week, when you're tired from a hard day at the office, or your back aches from bending over a hot stove. Next week at the same time, and you want to get away from it all, we offer you Escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. My dear, my dear, you seem a bit peaked good. That's the kind of thing you're hoping for, right, A little chill to go with your spine. Or what's that? Well, I suppose you could accute who are evening of having a lack of vision.

And while the darkness can be eerie, can be scary and lonely, the fact is oftentimes seeing is not only believing, but is danger in and of itself. And in those cases, you don't want to find yourself an eye. Witness suspense, and the producer of CBS Radio is outstanding theater of thrills, the master of mystery and adventure, William and Robeson. What you're about to hear is more than the lurid figments of this writer's imagination. It has happened in the presence of Michigan and New Jersey, of Massachusetts and Colorado, and most recently in the prisons of Montana and Tennessee, when desperate men, oppressed beyond endurance, turn on their tormentors.

Not a prison break, not a prison riot, but a prison mutiny. Listen, listen then, as John Lunn stars in Eyewitness, which begins in just a moment, and. Now Eyewitness starring mister John Lund, a tale well calculated. To keep you in suspense. You got the assignment because you've never been in jail, a fresh point of view, and the state prison. The editor said, not an ext per se, nothing sensational, just a Sunday feature story of the average citizens' reaction to the stone walls and bars of a big penitentiary. Oh, it's a depressing tour and you've had enough, But the captain of the guard has one more point of interest for you.

Is something you are to see before you go, mister Kelly, Yeah, what's that? The old block, built more than a hundred years ago, is where we keep the bad ones. The bad one. Yeah, in solitary, tough guys. The deviates softens them up fast, most of them. You're stop in front of the heavy steel door, but no guard peers through the bulletproof glass. People, the door is not instantly unlocked, as the others have been. Funny, should be a man on the door at all times. Oh, here, go ahead on in, missus Kelly. You walk in, the door clangs behind you, and then you feel something sharp.

All right, your gosh, stay where you are? Hey, what is this? Make one more wolf? I'll drive this ship spray through your let's them go. Yeah, here's a sapislode. Here's his gun hold. We can use him. This one's clean. He's an outside you can't get away with this we can we have. I'm happy to report Captain Wolf, but the old cell block is completely in control of us. Thirty two innings. Listen, you're asking for trouble, mister Kelly. Here is from the Capitol News Telegram. Oh a journalist or the name, mister Kelly is Jake Conrad Allen.

That's spelled with one L, mister Kelly. Whether I end up a live life or dead hero, be sure, mister Kelly, do spell. It with one L. I'll try to remember. Hey, Conrad, what do you want to do with these two? Walk him up with a guard. That's yet, I'll need Captain Wolf's cooperation. You won't get it. Would you like to bet on that? How about you, mister Kelly? Are you going to cooperate? Oh? I don't know. I'll see all right, man. Listen to me. Now here's where we stand. We got let me to thank for this.

They pretended to be sick and got that green heart. God open the st he conquer God locked him in the cell and let Big Joe with me out. We took care of the rest of the God. They're all locked up and tell them a three. Wait a minute, that's. Not all. Just after we got him locked up. Who should walk in but our old friend, the captain of the yard lock top Wolf. Wait a minute, we also have another guest with the Kelly of the Capitol News Telegram. I'mping, you're sure about that? I gotta get plenty out of this stick with me.

I show you first. They don't know anything's happened yet. Lets tell him. Get on a telephone, Captain Wolf and call the warden. I will say the shop, isn't it lot? I get on the phone, tell the warden where you are and what's happened. I under send over our supper just the same, and to wait for further instructions. Air out silent and I talk. Speaking. This is Captain Wolf. Warden's Wolf Warden. I'm talking from the old cell block. The cons are taking it over. They got me and McGuire and that new kidd and Peenie. Oh yeah, and mister Kelly Warden, if I is you were, I'm giving you advice around here.

Give me that phone only stuck you a little bit. I go up at Sell three. Joe, Okay, Conrad, come on you, hello Warden. I don't worry Warden. We just throw a little blood now get this, hey, Conrad Allen, Allen, No Warden, Hey, Conrad Allen is the name you want, plenty. We don't want any funny business from you. No, you're look here, Warden. Just sit tight until the air me again. Don't forget to send supper over as usual. I will not. Okay, okay, don't send the supper then, but you'd better send a stretcher because we're just about to beat up a guy.

And now, sorry, mister John Lunn back too well, eye witness. You'll have to do it. But beat up that god. Of course, why force the only thing they understand, the gods the warden. That's the way they treat us. You don't have to do anything. You just have to have a God down on you. It can mean three days in a straight jack. Get in the real Rube, Bob, and you can go to the dungeon for anywhere from a week to a month for dungeon. Yeah, down to the cellar of this block. That's a five foot long, five feet high and three foot wide.

You can't lie down, and you can't stand up, and there's no light. Not a pretty place, mister Kelly. You know what I mean. I'm beginning to Okay, mister Kelly, it's your story. What do you mean, mister Kelly for a newspaper man, you amaze me. It's your story, hie witness, you're gonna you're gonna let me out? Oh no, indeed we need you? And how can I phone it? In Wednesday morning edition? Go to press. The bulldog has put the bet at eight fifteen. Right, you got a little more than an hour. Can you make it sure?

If I can get a call through you know, get a call through outsideline place what. You heard me? Warden? Tell the operator to give us an outside line. Mister Kelly wants to file a story. Oh no, no, no story goes out of here without my old kay. No, I bet you're holding a press conference in your office right now, aren't you? Well? So am I? Mister Kelly wants to file a story now, Saty Warden resting easy? What do you want next? Maguire or the green kid who opened the first cell? Name him? We'll deliver to you in pieces.

Don't you realize if you don't give up, you'll spend the rest of your lives right where you are in the old block. Okay, Big Joe, go to work out. The next schoon. No, wait a minute, wait a minute, you can it's in human. I suppose that dodge it doesn't. No, but you can't get me that outsideline warden. You give me your word you won't harm that man. I give you my word for now, get me the line. What number do you want? Get me the Capitol News telegram, the managing person, the person to the manager of the mister Wiley Brooks, how did you know?

And then make a snappy how did you know the Emmy's name? I've been around some mister Kelly. No, I needn't warn you. I suppose not to double crosses. How could I? I don't know. I just don't. You saw what happened to Poenie. Yeah, I saw. I have to include that in my story. I want you to it happened. We're not ashamed of it. And here you'll want to include this a list of demands. I want to get that in. I want the warden to see that in print on the prison board and the governor two telegram, Brooks speaking, Hello Wiley, this is Conrad Allen.

Alright, son't you in prison? I am. What's going on up there? We gonna flash? We got a man up there, but we haven't heard from him. Yeah, well, what are you talking about, Wiley? I've never forgotten what you did for me during my trial. I knew you were framed, and after all, you were the best city hall reporter. I ever had. Well, thank you. I told you i'd return the favor someday I got when I witness story for you on the mutant and the old cell block, I have it, you know me, Wiley, I never was very good phoning a story, and I think better the typewriter.

I'll tell you over to. You're mister Kelly up there. Yeah, he's one of our hostages. What do you what? Take it from here? Mister Kelly? Hello Wiley, what are you doing up? Bob? I'll put the end when I get out of here, if I get out right Now, here's the story. Are you ready? Ready? At three forty three this afternoon in the old cell block at State's Prison down you dictate the story as fast as you can, including the mutineer's list of demands. Well, it winds it up as of this minute. Wiley, Wait a minute, I got something to add.

Oh just a minute. Conrad Allen, that's spelled with one L I know he wants to add something. Hello, Wiley, here, Conrad, I got three guards left. YRP Bulldogs. Still hits the streets at ten pm, doesn't it? That's right. They don't meet out demands by midnight. We beat up a guard. The next one goes at four am, the last one at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. You can print that. Okay, Conrad, but listen, let mom Kelly out. Of there with you. I need him on this story. H Wiley. He's on the story and we need him. If they don't give in by eight am.

When I run out of gods, I'll lead you and mister Kelly very badly. Now starring mister John Lun Act three of Eyewitness. Eleven o'clock Attention months Slowly, Conrad's midnight deadline approaches. The hands creep to twelve. They meet point up with you ten seconds fast, fifteen Nothing happens. Then Conrad reaches for the phone. Okay, boys, whose next? How about McGuire, the black jack specialist. There's his own on him. Okay, Warden speaking set a stretch of Warden. Maguire will be ready for you in five minutes. Here's your answer. Hey, somebody turned on the night. That's the way he wants it.

What word do you want to use? Pandemonium, chaos, anarchy. They all fit while the screaming guard is beaten into one consciousness. The roaring men break apart the wooden furniture, dump. The cots over the balconies, rip open the mattresses, and build a fire in the middle of the cell box. And the last of the guard dumped into the yard and carry it away. Anger subsided into sullen silence. Four more hours dragged by, and at last Conrad's next deadline arrives, ready. To give it one. Thirsty Ellen, what do you mean you will be frum me? Hell it be?

Yeah? Hard on the water to tap it yourself? Turn it on? Just a trickle that stopped? Uh huh figures, Hey, Conrad, something's going on outside? What is it? Oh? I can't tell it sounds like digging out and back. I just say you can we hang on all lights I'm got the yard lights are out. Time to throw them another bone? How much one is time? How about the greenhorn kid? Hey, he's the one to. Let me out. He's a guard, isn't he Gotta work on him? So the greenhorn kid gets his and his dumped into the yard and they're sitting away from the back room until gray light spreads over the gray walls and through the tiny windows, turning the blackness of the block into a light of black and the last it's eight o'clock in the morning.

Okay, boys, this is our deadline. Wait on job, there we go? What that? Somebody come? Kid? They come off the phone. She's right. We got no lights, no water, no code. What are we gonna do? Boys? I got an exercise? They don't. Yeah, they a lot of get on to me boys with a lot of It's gonna be different. Everybody got that because everybody's got on finished business. But the dubbers that light. Good old uh I got the idea he might quit his job after he was able to walk again. Yeah, Conrad, I. Just thought of something.

What are we gonna do next? Nothing? Their move? Yeah, we ain't got any more guards to beat up, that's right, but we still got mister killing. Your heart stops beating for a long instant because the wild, bloodshot eyes of thirty two desperate men center on you. You don't know how long you sit there across the table from Conrad. Time has stopped. You wait, Conrad waits. The men wait in silent little groups. You wait for the next move. The wardens move, and at last it comes. What's that? They just pull a loud speaker truck into the yard where.

Oh yeah, I'll bring out the window. Yeah what? And I hear you talk. I'm doing the talking for the guys. All of you men. Remaining with the counter. We are in agreement. We will not be a party of estate the bully. I'm a man who have given the rights of foods, think a simple lord, and you're turning us down. I'm willing to discuss your agreements, and will you, but I will not. Be bought to give you your man. That's final, a man. I heard yousently, and we'll see what can be done by you. That's a lot for nothing on and we'll sit tight.

And don't listen to Alan. He must be crazy to keep you there. And he is keeping you there. You listen to me. I've got your life. Your water, your food. I ain't gonna let you lie in there. I don't want to know that man. Come on, fasally, I got blow it. All right, I will. I. I haven't eaten nine exactly nine three, I will blow the supper. You're bluffing. Hey, Conrad, do you remember I said I heard noises out there doing a night. Yeah, listen to me. You've got. For your mind. You're forgetting something, warn't.

I still got the newspaper reporter in here, mister Kelly. I'll be responsible for him. I got out of my guards out. I won't find any further. It's just a little more than twelve minutes. Well, Kelly, looks like you aren't as valuable as I thought you would be. Yeah, I'm sorry about that reck. We gotta give in, give in and lose everything. You realize that in this state they can give us all life of what we've done. He had ready to get blown up and spend the rest of my life in this hole. No, please, you gotta get this.

That's all your fault, you a little you mean. My fault. If you hadn't count that greenhorn God yesterday, just because you wanted to make up the Conrad, we wouldn't be on this fake lay off the kid, you a little turk lay after kids. A lot of mistakes, Conrad, it's this one too many. They had a ball under us around Farmers, and I said nasal, mind us out of here? Where your cut us? Five minutes from Kingdom? Connor Wharden's only bluff and he wouldn't there blow us up. I'll get this all out of it all time.

I'm not waiting five minutes and find out of his bluff. I said you made a lot of mistakes and the biggest one was passed off. The god cons remember no, no, and where you are around taking over? Now? I am o god you was thinking. Five minutes boys, I'm going on. Anybody joining me. Now? Mister Kelly, I feel that I must apologize to you for the inconvenience and the discomfort you've suffered. That Warden is the understatement. Of the year. Of course you clear any stories you write about this situation through me. I doubt it. We can't admit what he had.

I'm going to report it just as it happened when I get through. I don't think that J. Conrad Allen is spelled with one L, mixed up and twisted. Though his values may have been well, I don't think he'll have died in vain. Srus Spence, in which John Lunn starred in Eye Witness, written, produced and directed by William N. Robeson supporting John Lundon to Night's Story where Jodasantus, Barney Phillips, Normalden, Sam Pierce, Lou Krugman, and Lawrence Dobkin. Listen. Listen again next week when we return with Vincent Price starring in occurrence at owl Creek Bridge, another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

My dear, the evening is it's running its course. Unfortunately, there's very little you can do when it comes to the tyranny of the light. It always seems to win, no matter how fair a fight it's in. But I think we have time for one more, something to titillate the mind's eye. I have always enjoyed that phrase, mind's eye, although if I had a choice, I suppose I would prefer seeing with my own eyes. I am, and I know many things before I walk by night. I know many strange tapes hidden in the hearts of men and women we stepped into the shady.

I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak, and all whistler and a strange story with my own eye. Although it was asked. For, the Florida sun was hot and blood and Christine wished for the twentieth time. She hadn't left her dark glasses back at the hotel. She wished too, that she weren't so tired of hockey that the New York doctor who had prescribed a rest for her had had sense enough not to recommend Florida at the height of the winter season. And she wished fervently that somewhere in Crescent Bay she'd find a place to live something less than twenty dollars a day.

It was the fund see, more than anything else, that made her stop before the big house with the tall white wall around, looked down the walk to the door, decided to give it a try. It was a big house. It must be extra rooms. And they couldn't do more than say no. Yes, well, I'm sorry to bother you, but I was. Hoping you could help me. You see, my doctor's ordered to give my health. I arrived before. Yes, I what did you say? Come in? Oh? Thank you? This way of My name is Christine k I'm saying at the hotel now that I really can't afford to stay there anymore.

I didn't see that chairs, so right outside stop. Oh never mind that, Come over here and sit down. Thank you? Now, have you decided where you want to stay. Decided because this is an older house. But I think you'll be comforted. Book. I could let you have that room at the top of the stairs. It had its own private bag that I am an acre or so of garden inside the wall, in the summer house. I'm sure you'll be happy here. Wait a minute. You mean I can have the. Room, but I want you to take it.

I'm I'm a little lonely here. Well, i'd like to have someone around. What about the rent? Who would ten dollars be too much? Ten dollars a week. Book, Let's make it seven point fifty. Is that all right? It's wonderful. You'll take the room there. Of course, you don't know what this means to me. This is Drake, Miss is Henry Drake. Go here now. I wanted a movie and right away tonight. Here's the key, and I'll write. Down the address so you'll be sure to. Find the house again. Now let's see. Oh, oh, here's a piece of paper.

Twelve twenty Biscay roads. There there you are. Thank you, listen to thank you so much. Now now you run along and get your kings. When can you come back? Well, I've an. Authorized doing time. I maybe mean, well, you can let you out in with your. Key and go right up to your room on the left at the. Head of the stairs. But you will be here tonight. Of course, Missus Drake, I'll be here tonight. It is after eleven when you return fifteen, and you're dead tired. As you let yourself in the front door and walk up the stairs to your room, you're glad the family there is one of the sleep there.

There'll be no introductions and a light conversation to keep you from there. And it's a lovely ben a lovely room, much nicer than anything you need to say. As you undress, you make a mental note to remember Missus Drake and your prayers tomorrow night when you're not so tired. Ten minutes later, you're asleep, but at a peculiar sleep blackness at first complete rest, and then later something it seems to intrude, something annoying, almost frightening. And then suddenly you're find yourself sitting both upright in bed listening for some reason. You're trembling. As you get out of bed, walk to the door and opened the crack.

A man passes the door of your room post enough for you to see what he's carrying. It's the body of missus Drake, with a scarf she was wearing this afternoon, tightly knotted around her neck. You know now what she meant, don't you, Christine, When she told you she'd feel better with someone else in the house. She was afraid this man was going to kill it. You can hear his footsteps on the boardwalk outside in the garden. Rather they take a chance on facing him somewhere down there in the darkness, you decide to lock yourself in your room and wait until morning.

You turn the key in the lock. A few minutes later, you'll hear his steps on the boardwalk again, coming back to the house. There's no more sleep, of course, nothing but a kind of paralysis. Five e turned hours before it's light. You watch me eat seven o'clock. He doesn't know you're here, Christy, and he mustn't know until you've had a chance to see the police last. You brace yourself, open the door and walk softly to the stairway. What did I fight you? Well, I'm sorry, but you see you frightened me too. Why did know why I had a visitor?

Why would I to. Leave without disturbing with him. Missus Drake, I can figure morning walk down to the beach. Did you say, Missus Drake, why yes? Didn't she tell you? Tell me what she rendered me? The room at the head of the stairs yesterday up to me? No, no, he didn't tell me that. Wait. Why did you come here? Why? Right? I was late? What time? I don't know? Tell me what time? I think about eleven? Oh? I see, if you don't mind? And why did you come to this house? Well? I in the Florida for my hel what's wrong with you?

Did you? Did you sleep well last night? Fairly well? Good? Good? There's nothing like sleep. Pretty some nerves now, if you don't mind, I don't let these issues of breakfast? What about it? I think I had better go? Was going off without breakfast to pick up of coffee clean? I won't take no for an answer. I insist on. Why are you looking at me like that? You don't intend to let me go? Do you. Don't be silly? I don't want bluffing any longer. Why don't you have Missus Drake. Picks yes, yes, I suppose I shouldn't bluff any longer.

You're in a pretty bad way. Young lady. You see, that's why I asked you about your illness. Nerves do funny things. What do you mean my wife isn't here. She's been on fortlock the day for a week. I'm at a loss as to how you got them. Where you got the amazing idea that you right too? Room? Do you? I saw you last night walking down the hall carry nobody in your arms with the scarf. You do need to rest? Don't you? A black man like that? To tell me for the nightmare? I saw it in my own Let you go, I said, of course, I let you goes.

As a matter of fact, I want you to go. Well, how do you think it looks for a man to have a pretty girl in the house with his way out of town? I've got a reputation, you know. Now you run upstairs and get your things. If you insist on leaving with a breakfast, I'm afraid I can't drive you where your government to call a taxi. And the word of advice, my dear, take care of yourself, will you? You do need to rest? Oh on? And this man, this murderer at the coloquial, I'll tell you that you wouldn't.

He's got you down to the taxi. He helps the driver with your luggage. Then he waves to Gott He asked, ma'am, I want you to take me to police headquarters. It all takes, doesn't it. Chris isn't when she rented you the room yesterday was fear. He knew this man was going to kill her. But it's tragic that she didn't know how soon it would happen. You know exactly what you're going to say when you get the police headquarters. An hour later. You're talking to the desk. Side in the morning, did a noise awakened me? I went to the door, opened it just in time to see him or perhaps carrying the body of this woman, his wife.

I think she was straggling with a scar. Twelve twenty the sky road was there? Twelve twenty Biscay Road. Wait a minute, lady, you might have that wrong. What was the woman's name? This is Henry Drake. Do you know what you say? I made it clean enough. He's a murderer. I want you to arrect it. Wait a minute. I'm tired of waiting. I waited outside for I have an hour to get in here. Take me to the chief of Believer whoever your superior is. I'll do better than that, lady, will I'll take him to seek the commissioner.

Come on here, we all go ahead. Good morning, Commissioner, Good morning Joe. What's the matter of young lady? Still troubled with nerves? There's no point in my stay. At all, Joe. Yes, my name is Henry Craig, young lady, I'm a police commisionaire here at present day. Commissioner. She was telling me some yarn. Yes, yes, I know, Joe. He told it to me about an hour ago. It wasn't a yarn. It was the truth, and you know it. You'll excuse me. I'll find someone who will do something about it. As a minute now, I've tried to be lean it with you because I know you're not well.

I want convince you, however, that you are making a very serious time. I'm quite aware of that very well, Joe Little calling Chief of Police Nord and the Captain Evan supomicide. If this lady is going to tell her story, I think you should tell it to the proper people. That's all I have to say, Miss McCain, that's all I know. You can understand my embarrassment gentlemen, where's she got that keep my house is a possible, of course. I think it's a lot of the fact that she admits so she came here for her health, and ners might account for her strange dream and the imaginary woman limited her the room.

I saw it with my own eyes just. A moment, Tishioner, Yes, Chief, where is your Fort Lauderdale? Of course you know I sent her there a week ago. It didn't part of what I talked to her yesterday. I tell you you what about that commission? All right with Send a wire please to the manager of the ken Warfarms Old Chill and Portbodale. Advise return wire whether missus Henry Drake is a registered guest as of today and if she is there now just amone will be satisfactory. Miss McCain, I think she'll right send it out, Miss Dixon.

We'll wait here for an answer. H I mean, here's the answer to that wire, mister Drake. Mm hmmm, here you are, Miss Maquet. I suppose you read it. Missus Henry Drake has been I'll get since it's sixteen sitting in lobby this moment, green Well, I guess that order to settle with doesn't settle anything. It only means some woman is saying at that hotel, pausing at. Missus Drake, what now, Chief, he's pretty resistant? How far its porting on a deal? A couple of hours? Do you know, mister Drake? If you matter? Of course I know it.

But let's go down there right now. I'll prove you that this woman at port alda Dale isn't the pact. Commissioner. I don't know how you feel about all. This the craziest situation I ever saw, but I think it's being embarrassing. Could turn this girl loosen too. We satisfied her she's wrong, Absolutely Rightchief, you get a car ready, I'll drive down there with you thefore she's in three fourteen down you're right, thank you. I hope this will satisfy you. Miss mcjay, Well, you'll admit it, all of that dream. If my wife is in this room, I'll tell you after I see you.

Hey, we are three fourteen. Yeah, it's Henry Darling, Henry, What isn't it? Oh, it's a long story. I'm afraid that could come in. Please you know she's Norton, my dear, And this is miss McKay Henry, is something wrong. I'm sorry, Henry, set me here for a rest. You know, I'm figure. I'm not being very We don't want to upset you, darling, but miss McKay seems to have two very persistent ideas. One that you rented the room at the top of the stairs to her yesterday after the noon, and two that the ice strangled you with a silk scarf at two o'clock this morning.

Oh no, why Harry, I don't have this. Don't look at me right here. I don't understand it either. Yes, sorry about the drake. We felt we had to clear it up in the lady's mind before we turned the loose. Of course, yeah, of course, where a young lady. I I don't quite don't want to see you, as you can see. I I am alive. She's a very unusual girl. She's got a will of iron. I was holed over this. Morning to find her in the downstairs hallway about to leave. She got the key from lord knows where the cold lightfully spent the night in our guest room, turned up at headquarters this morning with the story, are you just have to spy now, young lady?

Mister see is this one yes, it's it's missus Drake. She the one you you be branded you in the room right, No, mister dark couldn't see her face very well. It was too dark or in the afternoon, and to die. You were here yesterday afternoon, weren't you, Agnes. Of course I was. I was playing. I think I got enough. Come on, Chief, let's go back to the office. J Henry, Wait a minute, I'm kind of think you don't really know that. Girl, Henry, rightness, of course I don't know her. I see. I wondered if perhaps this could be the elections.

Is it coming up next month? Yes? But what that got to do with it? We couldn't be that well, the chief part of some sort of plot to discreditude make you lose that election. Believe me, please, I that. But you're up to a young lady. This whole fantastic story is a plot. Against my husband, Shenry. I'm coming back to gretin day. I'm not going to leave you alone up there another. News No, see here, I won't be necessary. I want to Henry, I want to come back. I want to help you with your rest, Agnes.

We decided you'd stay here at least from the sixteenth and the twenty eighth. Your rest is important. Remember I'm no la. All of you. I don't forget about it. I loved Please take me back at the hotel. You're bewildered, now, aren't you, Chris? Frustrated and helpless here as you pace the floor of your hotel room. In the past twenty four hours does seem like a dream, and you almost believe you did have a nightmare. That is until you reach into your purse for a cigarette, and then it crossed the scrap of yellow paper, the one the lady who rented the room gave you with her address on one side twelve.

Point this came room. That's not a nightmare, is it, Chris? The address she wrote and handed to Slowly, you turn the torn scrap of yellow paper order. It's the top part of a telegraph, the printed Western Union heading and part of the line of code letters a telegram, Chris, A long chance, but it's worth investigating. This telegram might shed some light on your bewildering situation. You rush to the Western Union office. I'm dying man. That's not our cove belongs to bomb Cove about twenty milf and over here here's the copy of the wire man is filed on the forward.

Thank you, missus, will let it straight. Five oh six April, RACEIAA. Washington, Happy to settle on your terms, provided you come here in person between sixteenth. And twenty eight. Is that what you wanted? Man? Yes, yes, it is just what I wanted. You're sure you're right now, aren't you? Chris? There were two mister Drake, Missus Wiletta Drake of Seattle and Missus Agnes Drake and Crest Bay. Now you know now that Walletta's body lies hidden somewhere inside the high wall that surrounds the Drake House. As you ride back to the hotel. In the text, so you try to think, suddenly remember something else about your nightmare?

And many footsteps on that boardwalk out to the pergola and back of the house. You know you're taking a chance, but you have to act now. Tomorrow might be too late. Gott I've changed my mind. Take me to twelve twenty this game road. Will you waiting? I don't think I'll be wrong, but be sure to wait. See the house is dark as you walk through the garden, passing him out to the boardwalk in the pergola, or the body is somewhere near the boardwalk. You're starting the pargo itself and begin lighting matches. Nothing under the windows, Eat those signs of fresh dirt and the shrubbery around it, in the tangle of who can be a climbing over the summer house, in the rose beds, fuel shed, the hothouse, the shallow water mettle well next to the boardwalk.

Ten minutes past. The matches are gone now and you've found nothing. Not a time. There's nothing to do but go back. I'm sorry. You've got miss Nicky. You you found her, didn't you? Under the boardwalk on? Oh it's too. Bad, yes, yes, too bad? A name would Roletta was? He was your faird wife. She whispered my present wife too. And you see, I I found myself in a very difficult position. Bigamy is an extraordinary problem, Bigoty, that's not the the most unfortunate part. Though, You are such a nice girl, so who determined pro clime? I am not going to enjoy killing you too.

Flip Ferd did it? Taxi? I've been waiting for me? No, no, you see I dismissed the taxi five minutes ago. Shall we walk into the house. They're now turning back. Now, if the grin you're sure Henley drink of going to kill you, and if clip on your arm so tight that your hand turned calls tells you he means what he said. Before you can even think to cry out, the heavy door had closed behind you. I wish there were some other way. I knew I'd have to kill you sooner or later when you told me you'd been in the household my live.

I knew then that you had seen it couldn't help you if there was a struggle let her cry out. I hope I could blush you out of the Don's headquarters. Not for my sake, believe me, it was for yours. I didn't want to kill you too, but now I. Have to God, you never got re up that way. Please don't. I'm not you get it. You should shouldn't have come. I told you I know, Henry, and how I be fined. You don't understand I under Mordy. You know, Henry. Do you think I'm blind? I know for a long kind that there was another woman of life.

When you insisted that I go to Port Lauderdale for a. While, I knew why. You wanted to be out of the way so that. You indeed, this woman is a trick. You're right, I want to hear anything you have less. You're so very wrong, You're upset, you don't care, Henry, I am a p I'm not wrong. I know what I'm doing. Don't begun. You've humiliated me long enough, Henry. I didn't wonder when theres us before cheat Norton, that Tory, that Trump up, Sidney. Fails Toy, the two of you brought with you the Fort lauderday. What have fool you might think I am just think if you'll only list.

To get her out, get her out right now, Henry, I'll tell you shyly, I want temperate any very long and the lead present day you heard them. I don't know what to do anything. I will assume it says, if I go, mister Drake, the way, where I'm going, what I'm going to do, don't you? Yes, mister Kase, I know exactly where you're going and just what you're going to do. And this time I think they'll believe you. But I don't seem to have very much choice in the matter. And so and another strange story, as told by the whistler.

This is the United States Armed Forces, ready your service, the voids of information and education. Well, my dear, the evening is at a close. The sun will be rising soon, and I need to return to well wherever it is I come from, and you to your beautiful home. But do come back. I so enjoy these visits of ours. I look forward to them greatly. I'll be right here, same time, same place, happy to share your company. But if I may ask one favor of you as you make your way home, as you see the darkness unwind into light, as you cross streets and sidewalks and your threshold, and you lay your head down to sleep, as you blink away the day and head off to the land of nod, Take just one moment and be thankful for what you have, and I'll be seeing you soon,