May 6, 2025 • 29 mins
A high-adventure anthology series that transports listeners to exotic locales and thrilling situations. Each episode offers an escape into suspenseful and action-packed narratives.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Had a hard day at the office, back ache from
bending over a hot stove all day.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I want to get away from it all. We offer
you escape.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
It is midnight and you are alone. Suddenly the room
is plunged into darkness. You sit frozen with terror because
something is there behind you, something you feared would come,
something from which you must escape.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Escape, produced and directed by William N. Robson, and carefully
plotted to free you from the four walls of today
for a half hour of high adventure.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
To night we escaped to London and a world made
strange and terrifying by the workings of an ancient barbary curse,
as Montague R. James tells it in his weird story
Casting the Ruins.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
My name is Edward Duddy. I'm a scientist. I'm used
to dealing with facts, not fairy tales. I'm regarded as
Britain's leading authority on medieval life, and as such I've
studied much of the ancient fears and barbaric superstitions of
those times. I should have been the first to scoff
at any suggestion of the ancient powers of evil. The
(01:59):
black Men j Teutonic days could be believed and practiced
in the twentieth century. A few weeks ago, I should
have laughed had you told me that a curse a
hex could kill a man. Today I cannot laugh. It
has happened to a man I know of, and now
(02:21):
it's happening to me. Oh. My first presentment of danger
came on that day a few weeks ago, when I
dropped in to see Alfred's smile secretary of the National
Science Association, and found him in a state of irritation,
lasted all darning.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
I almost wish you hadn't been so brutally honest in
your report on that Carswell paper.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Why what's the trouble?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
He's such a frightful fellow. He's raising a terrible row.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You mean Carswell himself.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yes, it's bad enough of vicious charlatan like that calling
himself a scientist. But now he's taking all his vindictiveness
out on me.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Sorry, old Jack, it's really me. He'd liked to get at.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
As a matter of fact, that's just what his last
letter was about. He wants to know what supposed authority
wrote the report rejecting his paper.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You didn't give him my name, hiddns No.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
As a matter of fact donning. I haven't and I won't,
and for a very special reason. Call it silly, call
it crazy, call it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
What you will.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I have an uncanny feeling about that man Castle.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And why do you know anything about him? Nothing. I've
never seen him. I only know that he wrote a
paper called The Truth of Alchemy. It was hopeless, precisely,
and why was it hopeless? Well, besides being abominably written,
was supposed to prove that alchemy, black magic and such
rat actually exists. I think the man really believes it.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Undoubtedly he does, And that's what I mean. He lives
in an isolated old house in Warwickshire. He's rarely seen elsewhere,
and in his whole career he's written only two things,
this paper and The History of Witchcraft, published ten years.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Ago, of course I remember now, So that's the man, Yes,
and the book.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Was even worse than this paper. The man has a
warped mind. I'm sure he's tried every unhealthy experiment in alchemy,
witchcraft and black magic. There's no telling to what lengths
of vindictiveness a man.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Like that might go. Well, does sound a bit queer,
it's not queer, dunning evil, Come man, has a right
to believe what he likes. He is right to be
angry with me here I've glibly scoffed at the man's
life's work.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Well, perhaps I'm being overly suspicious and imaginative, but I
think there's more than anger involved here, Edward, this may
sound fantastic to you, but well, John Harrington wrote the
report condemning that witchcraft book of Carswell's ten years ago.
Three months later Harrington was dead.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
But Alfred, what's the connection?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Harrington died under very peculiar circumstances. He was walking home
alone late one night, and suddenly he screamed, broke into
a run, lost his hat and stick, and climbed up
a tree. The dead branch gave way, he fell and
broke his neck. No one's ever I've been able to explain, right, Heaven.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Come now out with Jolie. Are not suggesting?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I don't know what I'm suggesting. I only know that
after he reviewed Caswell's book, John Harrington didn't have a
moment's piece. Now you've written an unfavorable review of this paper.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Why were you? I should keep that fact? Will hidden? Alpha, Well,
that's ridiculous. Yes, I laughed at out its my spheares.
How could I have known then that I was to
(05:36):
feel the same kary, the same agonized fear which gripped
the heart of John Harrington as he crouched panting on
the branch of a tree. But another moment or two
of life, while beneath him, the thing came closer and closer.
I'd almost forgotten the incident when a few nights later
(05:59):
I was riding home on the late train. I was
half drowsing in my seat, barely keeping awake by looking
idly at the car card investments. Men directly opposite me
must have been doing the same, because suddenly I had
been safe. Hey, what can that won't be advertising? I
followed his eyes to the window beside my head. What
I saw brought me bolt upright in my seat.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
In memory of John Edrington Dodd September eighteenth, nineteen thirty seven,
by falling from a tree.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Three months were allowed. Man, who do you say that means? Sir?
I don't know, but I didn't know. Smipe had been right.
The affair with carswell was not over, but only begun.
I asked the conductor about the card, but he was
(06:50):
as possitive as I was he had never seen it before.
The card must have been put there expressly for me.
That meant that carswell knew it was I who would
reviewed his paper. How have you found out? I got
the answer the next day. I was in the select
(07:10):
Manuscript department of the British Museum during some research in
the quiet, almost deserted room. I had been working steadily
for an hour and oblivious to my surroundings, when suddenly
adjusted my shoulder, I heard a voice.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
It work, donning, you were allowed three months.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I swung around my seat. There was no one within
twenty feet of me. I sat for a moment, shaken,
and then I stooped to pick up the papers I
had brushed to the floor. I straightened up to find
a stout, elderly gentleman standing in front of me. Excuse me, sir, Yes,
may I give you this paper? I think it should
(07:49):
be yours. Oh, yes, so it is. I thought I
had the more. This one seemed to have slide across
the floor. Thank you very much, not at all, sir,
Good afternoon. He walked slowly away and out of the door.
A kindly, stout old gentleman. But there was something about
him that made me feel strange. I went over to
(08:13):
the attendant. Yes, mister Dunning, did you notice that gentleman
I was just speaking to Oh, yes, of course, but
can you tell me his name? Why?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
That's mister Carswell. As a matter of fact, he was
asking about you only.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
The other day, asking about me.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Well, he asked who were the great authorities on medieval science?
Of course I told him you were the only one
in the country.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Ah, I see, would you like to meet him, mister Dunning,
I'll see if I Daniel, No, thank you. It was
a simple essay. Now Carswell knew what would be his
(08:54):
next move. What was I to expect? I reached home
at dusk and trouble stood on my doorstep in the
long face and stooped form of my family.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Doctor had to upset your household arrangements. I'm sorry to say, Dunning,
I've had to send both your servants to hospital.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But what happened?
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Something like to main prisoning. I should think it's nothing serious.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
What could have caused it?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Well, that's the rather odd thing is they tell me
they bought some shellfish from a hawker and headed for lunch.
I've made inquiries, but I can't find that a hawker
called at any other house on this street?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Was this the next move? If so, it had succeeded.
I was alone in the house, and my nervousness increased
as darkness closed in and the hours advanced. Toward midnight.
I went to bed, but almost immediately I thought I
heard something my study door opening downstairs. I went out
(10:01):
and leaned over the banister. There was nothing moving, nothing visible.
There was only a sudden, surprising gust of warm air
playing about my legs. I went back into my room
and locked the door. Suddenly the lights went out. No
doubt it was only a blown fuse, but the chills
(10:23):
were playing up and down my spine. I went over
to the bed and reached for my watch under the pillow.
I suppose I want to find out the time. I
don't know why, But fumbling on the pillow, my hand
touched something far different from a watch. It was like
a mouth with sharp teeth and hair around it. Not
(10:45):
human at all. I fled from my bedroom and spent
a long and miserable night locked in the spare room,
my ear to the door, but nothing came. I was
not disturbed. Game In the morning, I searched the house
and found nothing unusual, but the mark of fear must
(11:05):
have been stamped on my face. Was my noticed it
next day?
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Because if you hadn't slept for weeks? Is anything wrong?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I don't know, Halfred, I yes, there is. Carswell knows
how they told him at the museum.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Of course we should have thought of that. Has anything
happened yet?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I don't know. It's too fantastic. It's probably my mind
hypnotic suggestion of something. But like that man Harrington, I
have three months left. Edward must have been hearing things.
I'm all on age. I don't know what to think.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
John Harrington had a brother, Henry. Perhaps i'd better get
you in touch with him. He might know more about
this man Carson.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yes, yes, do it and quickly. Three months there's not
a lot of time. It was arranged. That night I
found myself walking down a dark street that led from
the railway station to the Harrington home. It must have
(12:08):
been along this same street that John Herrington had walked
that last night where he had broke and run. It
must have been one of these trees bordering the lonely
road in which he had spent his last horrible moments.
The way was dark, and there was no living soul
in sight, and suddenly complete terror gripped me. Somehow, I
(12:34):
knew that I was being followed. At first I only
felt it, and then I heard it. I walked steadily
on for a moment, my stomach like ice. It was
getting louder, coming closer. Unconsciously my step quickened. I could
tearly control myself. I wanted to scream and run. The
thinking closer and closer, I broke and ran, ran madly
(13:02):
for my life. I was at a little side street
I turned down at doubling back to the railway station.
I thought I would never make it, But finally bright
lights loomed before my eyes, and I think that I
never have been so grateful for human companionship. There's no
need to run, Sir the I thought he won't be
along for another five minutes. I felt very foolish. I
(13:24):
couldn't bring myself to walk back down that street to Harrington's.
I could only take the train home furtively and call
Harrington next morning to beg his forgiveness. He seemed very
understanding and asked no questions, and out of his smile
had told him something about me. At any rate, he
agreed to visit me at a place two nights later,
(13:45):
and when he arrived and was made welcome, he began
to talk about his brother.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yes, mister Dunning, John was in a very bad state
for weeks before the accident. If that's what it was.
The principal thing seemed to be the notions he was
being followed became an a session.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yes, I know, I don't think his death was an accident.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Then perhaps you can explain it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
No, but I have one clue. Your brother reviewed a
book very severely not long before he died. Just lately,
I happened to cross the path of the man who
wrote that book.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
And his name, of course is Carswell. That's right, for
as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
That does it.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Before he died, John was beginning to feel, much against
his will, that Carswell was at the bottom of his trouble.
Why well, it doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
None of this does. But tell me.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
My brother liked music. He went to all the concerts
in town, and he made a hobby of collecting the programs.
One night, about three months before his death, he brought
one home and showed it to me. I nearly missed
this one, he said, it seems he'd lost his and
was hunting for it under his seat, and a neighbor,
a rather stout, elderly gentleman, off to give John his.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
The kind gentleman was mister Caswell. Doubtedly.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I started to lead through the program and noticed on
the second page some rather curious letters, carefully written there
and black and red ink rather of U skunak much
of it except that the letters seemed to be runic
runs ruins.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Of course, for.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
John thought it might be important, and debated whether we
shouldn't try to return the program to the stout gentleman.
But just then the door blew open, and a gust
of air, of strangely warm air, blew into the room.
In a flash. It took the proge and blew it
straight into the fire.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Yes, your brother was right, he should have returned it.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
There was nothing to be done then, perhaps none.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
But do you know what runic letters mean?
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Well, they're all pre druid script. I believe the kind
of writing the Barbaric tribes used long before the Romans
invaded Britain.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
He says, right, casting the ruins. They used to call
it in the old days, casting the ruins.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
But it was a curse a x in Primoityve England.
People thought by casting the runes, that is, handing a
person a piece of paper with certain runic letters on it,
that you could put that person out of the way,
destroy him. It's an old superstition. The only way to
lift the curse was to return the paper to the
one who gave it to you, to give it back
without his knowing it.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
I don't believe that kind of nonsense, neither do I.
Then what was it to kill John?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I don't know. Perhaps his fear of the runs, perhaps
brooding about it, becoming neurotic, thinking he saw things and
heard things and touched things that weren't there. Perhaps his
own mind drove him to death.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
And what's the difference on your dead?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
No difference at all? Casting the ruins rubbish, yes, of course,
But good heavens, what is it? I just remembered that
day at the British Museum he cast the runs on me. Well, well,
(17:06):
I went swiftly to the writing table Harrington closed behind me.
My portfolio was there, full of the scribbled notes I'd
been working on that day in the museum, and as
I took it from my shaking hands, and began leaping
desperately through them. One strip of thin light paper slipped
and fluttered toward the open window with uncanny quickness. But
Harrington was even quicker and slammed the window shut just
in the time. Got it well, Thank Heaven. If it
(17:28):
were lost and destroyed like your brothers.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Then you wouldn't be able to return it to mister carsw. Yes,
look at it. It's identical with the one jart gout.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I looked at the glimsy paper. The characters carefully traced
in red and black were runs, all right, that ancient
language used by the Aborigines of prehistoric Britain. I couldn't
decipher them. But as Harrington and I stood looking into
each other's eyes, each of us could read the other's thoughts.
Science or not, twentieth century or not. This sheet of
(18:02):
foolscap spells death for its possessor.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
It spells death for yous.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Be returned, Yes, I know, let's go back in such
a way that it doesn't. But he doesn't know he's
received it. That means we can stantly mail it.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
No we can't.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
We must do it personally. That'll take doing.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
He knows you by sight doesn't take this, you must
shave your beard, re alter your appearance. He might strike
any time.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I had three months as with the warning said, we've.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Got to make good on miss Dunning. I have searched
ten years for my brother's murderer, and now he must
not escape.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I dare not go near carswell, so Harry volunteered to
keep a watch on him, to let me know when
our chance came to return the rules, if it was
ever to come. It was only a night or two
after Harrington was there that I arrived home and found
the calendar had come in the mail. When I examined it,
(19:09):
I found everything after November nineteenth had been torn out.
The next night I had another envelope of the man.
This time it was a woodcut an illustration torn out
of a book showing a dark, moonlit road and a
man walking on it, and right behind him came a
(19:29):
huge dark shape some awful demon creature. Under it were
written some lines from the ancient Mariner, and as I
sat alone and read them aloud, I felt that now
familiar gust of warm air playing about my legs. The
(19:50):
man walks on and turns no more his head because
he knows a frightful fiend duck close behind him tread.
Now I knew the face of my terror, and it
(20:13):
was with me always walking down the dark street at night.
I heard its footsteps behind me in my lonely house
at midnight at rome the halls, like the ancient Mariner
and John Harrington, I never turned to look. I couldn't.
My nerves were going, and I could do nothing but
wait the days. The weeks slipped by, and still Harrington
(20:37):
had no plan. I checked off the days on the
calendar Carswell had sent. Now the eight days remaining, then six,
then three, two one. It was the evening of the eighteenth.
My last day on earth was to begin. At midnight.
(20:58):
I was sitting alone in my room, daved in perspiration,
fighting to keep my nerves and check. Suddenly I felt
that warm gust of air. I listened. There were soft footsteps,
A shadow seemed to cross the hall door, and then
(21:19):
the footsteps landed into a loud banging. Now, now, knock yet,
I stilled up. One day more knock yet, don't.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
And it's me, oh, oh h them, Hey, what's the
metal man?
Speaker 2 (21:36):
What is it?
Speaker 4 (21:37):
It's you?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
You? Your footsteps is of course thank him.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
I thought, I look, man, you've got to pull yourself together.
It's tonight. We have our chance.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
What chance?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Cars will leaves Victoria station by boat train to night
at ten. I'll get on with him there. You take
the car I brought and drive to Croydon. Get on
the train there and be sure to bring the paper. Yes, yes,
I heard, you've shaved already.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Good.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Everything depends on his not recognizing you this Harrington.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Suppose he changes his mind, Suppose he doesn't take that trip.
My time runs out tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
He'll be there and you'll do it. You'll do it well,
you've got to.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
I stood on the platform across in my mind, in
the daze, I thought the train would never come, but
he did. I saw Herrington at the window. He stared
coolly at me. Of course, there was to be no
sign of recognition. I entered the coach and slowly made
my way down the aisle to the compartment where Herrington
sat opposite him, staring full into my face. Was car's way.
(22:46):
He looked up as I sat down, his eyes when
heavy did it, his face bland. It was impossible to
tell what he knew. The plane started. The next stop
was over at the end of the line, my last chance.
I was trying to cast the ruins. It is a
(23:10):
strange line. Caswell and I see to face to face,
staring into each other's eyes, Harington off to the side,
pulling in his face and twitching the fingers. If I
could have only had a few whispered and moments woulding
to plan our strategy, but that was impossible. Moments drank tortuously.
No one moved. Then suddenly Caslyn leaned forward. I beg
(23:30):
your pardon, sir. Haven't we met Matt Well. I don't
think there was that, not unless you're in the plumbing business. Plumbing.
No hard let it. I haven't planned it that way.
The words the accent just seemed to come by themselves,
and Caswell sat back, an enigmatic expression on his face.
(23:55):
I wished desperately to know what he was thinking. Then
suddenly he got up and went out into the corridor.
Is this my childs I was about to slip over
to his bags to see if there were a ways
to secrete the rules within them, when I caught Harrington's
eye and read a warning room. Caswell, from the corridor
was watching, waiting to see if we recognized each other.
I muttered a prayer of thanks. I hadn't moved. Caswell
(24:18):
came back and took his seat. As he did so,
whild with exultant hope surged up in my throat for
something slipped off his seat and dropped noiselessly to the floor.
It was his ticket case, and he didn't see it.
It was a no cardboard ticket case with a pocket
on the cupboard. If I could just get to it
(24:38):
and slip that tiny piece of paper into that pocket.
For fifteen agonizing minutes, I sat there and stared at it.
If on that Carswell would go out, but he sat stolidly,
staring straight ahead. We were coming into the outskirts of Dover,
the train slowing down. Suddenly, Harrington stood up reached up
to the rack above Coswell get his coat and bag.
(25:01):
I stared at him blankly for a moment, surprised by
his sudden conscience, and then I realized what he was
up to. The bag, the coat of briefcase hawk came
tumbling down upon coast.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
I'm sorry, I'm terribly.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Sorry, fool. You might have ventured me. What were you
trying to do? It is my only chance. I reached
down and got the ticket case, and my trembling finger
slipped the paper into the pocket. He turned shopping to me,
and I extended the case. Uh, excuse me, sir, is
this yours? Yes, it's my ticket case, but you find
it here on the floor. Marster dropped off when this,
(25:36):
I'm much obliged to yourself. Not at all, not all.
He looked at me fiercely, his rage at Harrington, still
twisting his face into a devil's mask. Then he glanced
briefly into the ticket case and put it into his pocket.
(26:00):
On the railway, peer of job, Harrington and I followed
a few steps behind Carswell. I felt like I might faint.
Carswell went straight to the gangway of the boat, and
there the purser stocking does have a ticket, My friend,
the devil.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
You mean I'm traveling alone?
Speaker 3 (26:16):
That's funny. I could have sworn there was another gentleman
right there beside you, walking just at your elbow.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Well, there isn't, And I suggest you see an oculist.
Oh I didn't see.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
I just felt sorry. So it must have been your rugs.
My mistake. I I done.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
I didn't sleep that night. I lay awake and listened,
But there were no footsteps, no warm gusts. Are there
nothing to disturb me? All day I felt remarkably free,
although this was to have been my last day on earth.
But me just now when Harrington came in, Could I
(27:01):
really relax?
Speaker 4 (27:03):
Have you seen the afternoon paper yet?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
I know not yet?
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Well, here look at it. On the second page.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
There Abbeyville, France, an English traveler examining the front of
Saint Wiltram's Cathedral today, was struck on the head and
killed instantly by a stone falling from the scaffolding. A
note of mystery was added by the fact that, although
the cathedral was undergoing repairs, no workman was on the
(27:33):
scaffolding at the time of the accident. The traveler was
identified by papers found on him as a mister Carswell
of Warwickshire.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Of course it could have been an accident, yes, as
it could have been.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Escape is produced and directed by William M. Robson and
Tonight Brought You Casting the Ruins by Montague R. James,
Adapted for radio by Irving Rabbits and John Duncle, with
John McIntyre as Edward Dunning, Jon Wolfs Harrington and Bill
Conrad as Carswell. The special musical score was conceived and
conducted by Cyfure.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Next week.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
You are trapped in a hidden valley high in 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.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Next week we escape with HG. Wells gripping story of
the Country of the Blind.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Good Night.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Then until this same time next week, when we again
off of you escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
Had a hard day at the office, back ache from
bending over a hot stove all day.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I want to get away from it all. We offer
you escape.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
It is midnight and you are alone. Suddenly the room
is plunged into darkness. You sit frozen with terror because
something is there behind you, something you feared would come,
something from which you must escape.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Escape, produced and directed by William N. Robson, and carefully
plotted to free you from the four walls of today
for a half hour of high adventure.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
To night we escaped to London and a world made
strange and terrifying by the workings of an ancient barbary curse,
as Montague R. James tells it in his weird story
Casting the Ruins.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
My name is Edward Duddy. I'm a scientist. I'm used
to dealing with facts, not fairy tales. I'm regarded as
Britain's leading authority on medieval life, and as such I've
studied much of the ancient fears and barbaric superstitions of
those times. I should have been the first to scoff
at any suggestion of the ancient powers of evil. The
(01:59):
black Men j Teutonic days could be believed and practiced
in the twentieth century. A few weeks ago, I should
have laughed had you told me that a curse a
hex could kill a man. Today I cannot laugh. It
has happened to a man I know of, and now
(02:21):
it's happening to me. Oh. My first presentment of danger
came on that day a few weeks ago, when I
dropped in to see Alfred's smile secretary of the National
Science Association, and found him in a state of irritation,
lasted all darning.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
I almost wish you hadn't been so brutally honest in
your report on that Carswell paper.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Why what's the trouble?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
He's such a frightful fellow. He's raising a terrible row.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You mean Carswell himself.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yes, it's bad enough of vicious charlatan like that calling
himself a scientist. But now he's taking all his vindictiveness
out on me.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Sorry, old Jack, it's really me. He'd liked to get at.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
As a matter of fact, that's just what his last
letter was about. He wants to know what supposed authority
wrote the report rejecting his paper.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You didn't give him my name, hiddns No.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
As a matter of fact donning. I haven't and I won't,
and for a very special reason. Call it silly, call
it crazy, call it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
What you will.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I have an uncanny feeling about that man Castle.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And why do you know anything about him? Nothing. I've
never seen him. I only know that he wrote a
paper called The Truth of Alchemy. It was hopeless, precisely,
and why was it hopeless? Well, besides being abominably written,
was supposed to prove that alchemy, black magic and such
rat actually exists. I think the man really believes it.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Undoubtedly he does, And that's what I mean. He lives
in an isolated old house in Warwickshire. He's rarely seen elsewhere,
and in his whole career he's written only two things,
this paper and The History of Witchcraft, published ten years.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Ago, of course I remember now, So that's the man, Yes,
and the book.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Was even worse than this paper. The man has a
warped mind. I'm sure he's tried every unhealthy experiment in alchemy,
witchcraft and black magic. There's no telling to what lengths
of vindictiveness a man.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Like that might go. Well, does sound a bit queer,
it's not queer, dunning evil, Come man, has a right
to believe what he likes. He is right to be
angry with me here I've glibly scoffed at the man's
life's work.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Well, perhaps I'm being overly suspicious and imaginative, but I
think there's more than anger involved here, Edward, this may
sound fantastic to you, but well, John Harrington wrote the
report condemning that witchcraft book of Carswell's ten years ago.
Three months later Harrington was dead.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
But Alfred, what's the connection?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Harrington died under very peculiar circumstances. He was walking home
alone late one night, and suddenly he screamed, broke into
a run, lost his hat and stick, and climbed up
a tree. The dead branch gave way, he fell and
broke his neck. No one's ever I've been able to explain, right, Heaven.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Come now out with Jolie. Are not suggesting?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I don't know what I'm suggesting. I only know that
after he reviewed Caswell's book, John Harrington didn't have a
moment's piece. Now you've written an unfavorable review of this paper.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Why were you? I should keep that fact? Will hidden? Alpha, Well,
that's ridiculous. Yes, I laughed at out its my spheares.
How could I have known then that I was to
(05:36):
feel the same kary, the same agonized fear which gripped
the heart of John Harrington as he crouched panting on
the branch of a tree. But another moment or two
of life, while beneath him, the thing came closer and closer.
I'd almost forgotten the incident when a few nights later
(05:59):
I was riding home on the late train. I was
half drowsing in my seat, barely keeping awake by looking
idly at the car card investments. Men directly opposite me
must have been doing the same, because suddenly I had
been safe. Hey, what can that won't be advertising? I
followed his eyes to the window beside my head. What
I saw brought me bolt upright in my seat.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
In memory of John Edrington Dodd September eighteenth, nineteen thirty seven,
by falling from a tree.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Three months were allowed. Man, who do you say that means? Sir?
I don't know, but I didn't know. Smipe had been right.
The affair with carswell was not over, but only begun.
I asked the conductor about the card, but he was
(06:50):
as possitive as I was he had never seen it before.
The card must have been put there expressly for me.
That meant that carswell knew it was I who would
reviewed his paper. How have you found out? I got
the answer the next day. I was in the select
(07:10):
Manuscript department of the British Museum during some research in
the quiet, almost deserted room. I had been working steadily
for an hour and oblivious to my surroundings, when suddenly
adjusted my shoulder, I heard a voice.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
It work, donning, you were allowed three months.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I swung around my seat. There was no one within
twenty feet of me. I sat for a moment, shaken,
and then I stooped to pick up the papers I
had brushed to the floor. I straightened up to find
a stout, elderly gentleman standing in front of me. Excuse me, sir, Yes,
may I give you this paper? I think it should
(07:49):
be yours. Oh, yes, so it is. I thought I
had the more. This one seemed to have slide across
the floor. Thank you very much, not at all, sir,
Good afternoon. He walked slowly away and out of the door.
A kindly, stout old gentleman. But there was something about
him that made me feel strange. I went over to
(08:13):
the attendant. Yes, mister Dunning, did you notice that gentleman
I was just speaking to Oh, yes, of course, but
can you tell me his name? Why?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
That's mister Carswell. As a matter of fact, he was
asking about you only.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
The other day, asking about me.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Well, he asked who were the great authorities on medieval science?
Of course I told him you were the only one
in the country.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Ah, I see, would you like to meet him, mister Dunning,
I'll see if I Daniel, No, thank you. It was
a simple essay. Now Carswell knew what would be his
(08:54):
next move. What was I to expect? I reached home
at dusk and trouble stood on my doorstep in the
long face and stooped form of my family.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Doctor had to upset your household arrangements. I'm sorry to say, Dunning,
I've had to send both your servants to hospital.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But what happened?
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Something like to main prisoning. I should think it's nothing serious.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
What could have caused it?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Well, that's the rather odd thing is they tell me
they bought some shellfish from a hawker and headed for lunch.
I've made inquiries, but I can't find that a hawker
called at any other house on this street?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Was this the next move? If so, it had succeeded.
I was alone in the house, and my nervousness increased
as darkness closed in and the hours advanced. Toward midnight.
I went to bed, but almost immediately I thought I
heard something my study door opening downstairs. I went out
(10:01):
and leaned over the banister. There was nothing moving, nothing visible.
There was only a sudden, surprising gust of warm air
playing about my legs. I went back into my room
and locked the door. Suddenly the lights went out. No
doubt it was only a blown fuse, but the chills
(10:23):
were playing up and down my spine. I went over
to the bed and reached for my watch under the pillow.
I suppose I want to find out the time. I
don't know why, But fumbling on the pillow, my hand
touched something far different from a watch. It was like
a mouth with sharp teeth and hair around it. Not
(10:45):
human at all. I fled from my bedroom and spent
a long and miserable night locked in the spare room,
my ear to the door, but nothing came. I was
not disturbed. Game In the morning, I searched the house
and found nothing unusual, but the mark of fear must
(11:05):
have been stamped on my face. Was my noticed it
next day?
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Because if you hadn't slept for weeks? Is anything wrong?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I don't know, Halfred, I yes, there is. Carswell knows
how they told him at the museum.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Of course we should have thought of that. Has anything
happened yet?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I don't know. It's too fantastic. It's probably my mind
hypnotic suggestion of something. But like that man Harrington, I
have three months left. Edward must have been hearing things.
I'm all on age. I don't know what to think.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
John Harrington had a brother, Henry. Perhaps i'd better get
you in touch with him. He might know more about
this man Carson.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yes, yes, do it and quickly. Three months there's not
a lot of time. It was arranged. That night I
found myself walking down a dark street that led from
the railway station to the Harrington home. It must have
(12:08):
been along this same street that John Herrington had walked
that last night where he had broke and run. It
must have been one of these trees bordering the lonely
road in which he had spent his last horrible moments.
The way was dark, and there was no living soul
in sight, and suddenly complete terror gripped me. Somehow, I
(12:34):
knew that I was being followed. At first I only
felt it, and then I heard it. I walked steadily
on for a moment, my stomach like ice. It was
getting louder, coming closer. Unconsciously my step quickened. I could
tearly control myself. I wanted to scream and run. The
thinking closer and closer, I broke and ran, ran madly
(13:02):
for my life. I was at a little side street
I turned down at doubling back to the railway station.
I thought I would never make it, But finally bright
lights loomed before my eyes, and I think that I
never have been so grateful for human companionship. There's no
need to run, Sir the I thought he won't be
along for another five minutes. I felt very foolish. I
(13:24):
couldn't bring myself to walk back down that street to Harrington's.
I could only take the train home furtively and call
Harrington next morning to beg his forgiveness. He seemed very
understanding and asked no questions, and out of his smile
had told him something about me. At any rate, he
agreed to visit me at a place two nights later,
(13:45):
and when he arrived and was made welcome, he began
to talk about his brother.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yes, mister Dunning, John was in a very bad state
for weeks before the accident. If that's what it was.
The principal thing seemed to be the notions he was
being followed became an a session.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yes, I know, I don't think his death was an accident.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Then perhaps you can explain it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
No, but I have one clue. Your brother reviewed a
book very severely not long before he died. Just lately,
I happened to cross the path of the man who
wrote that book.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
And his name, of course is Carswell. That's right, for
as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
That does it.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Before he died, John was beginning to feel, much against
his will, that Carswell was at the bottom of his trouble.
Why well, it doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
None of this does. But tell me.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
My brother liked music. He went to all the concerts
in town, and he made a hobby of collecting the programs.
One night, about three months before his death, he brought
one home and showed it to me. I nearly missed
this one, he said, it seems he'd lost his and
was hunting for it under his seat, and a neighbor,
a rather stout, elderly gentleman, off to give John his.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
The kind gentleman was mister Caswell. Doubtedly.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I started to lead through the program and noticed on
the second page some rather curious letters, carefully written there
and black and red ink rather of U skunak much
of it except that the letters seemed to be runic
runs ruins.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Of course, for.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
John thought it might be important, and debated whether we
shouldn't try to return the program to the stout gentleman.
But just then the door blew open, and a gust
of air, of strangely warm air, blew into the room.
In a flash. It took the proge and blew it
straight into the fire.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Yes, your brother was right, he should have returned it.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
There was nothing to be done then, perhaps none.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
But do you know what runic letters mean?
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Well, they're all pre druid script. I believe the kind
of writing the Barbaric tribes used long before the Romans
invaded Britain.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
He says, right, casting the ruins. They used to call
it in the old days, casting the ruins.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
But it was a curse a x in Primoityve England.
People thought by casting the runes, that is, handing a
person a piece of paper with certain runic letters on it,
that you could put that person out of the way,
destroy him. It's an old superstition. The only way to
lift the curse was to return the paper to the
one who gave it to you, to give it back
without his knowing it.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
I don't believe that kind of nonsense, neither do I.
Then what was it to kill John?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I don't know. Perhaps his fear of the runs, perhaps
brooding about it, becoming neurotic, thinking he saw things and
heard things and touched things that weren't there. Perhaps his
own mind drove him to death.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
And what's the difference on your dead?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
No difference at all? Casting the ruins rubbish, yes, of course,
But good heavens, what is it? I just remembered that
day at the British Museum he cast the runs on me. Well, well,
(17:06):
I went swiftly to the writing table Harrington closed behind me.
My portfolio was there, full of the scribbled notes I'd
been working on that day in the museum, and as
I took it from my shaking hands, and began leaping
desperately through them. One strip of thin light paper slipped
and fluttered toward the open window with uncanny quickness. But
Harrington was even quicker and slammed the window shut just
in the time. Got it well, Thank Heaven. If it
(17:28):
were lost and destroyed like your brothers.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Then you wouldn't be able to return it to mister carsw. Yes,
look at it. It's identical with the one jart gout.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I looked at the glimsy paper. The characters carefully traced
in red and black were runs, all right, that ancient
language used by the Aborigines of prehistoric Britain. I couldn't
decipher them. But as Harrington and I stood looking into
each other's eyes, each of us could read the other's thoughts.
Science or not, twentieth century or not. This sheet of
(18:02):
foolscap spells death for its possessor.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
It spells death for yous.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Be returned, Yes, I know, let's go back in such
a way that it doesn't. But he doesn't know he's
received it. That means we can stantly mail it.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
No we can't.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
We must do it personally. That'll take doing.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
He knows you by sight doesn't take this, you must
shave your beard, re alter your appearance. He might strike
any time.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I had three months as with the warning said, we've.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Got to make good on miss Dunning. I have searched
ten years for my brother's murderer, and now he must
not escape.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I dare not go near carswell, so Harry volunteered to
keep a watch on him, to let me know when
our chance came to return the rules, if it was
ever to come. It was only a night or two
after Harrington was there that I arrived home and found
the calendar had come in the mail. When I examined it,
(19:09):
I found everything after November nineteenth had been torn out.
The next night I had another envelope of the man.
This time it was a woodcut an illustration torn out
of a book showing a dark, moonlit road and a
man walking on it, and right behind him came a
(19:29):
huge dark shape some awful demon creature. Under it were
written some lines from the ancient Mariner, and as I
sat alone and read them aloud, I felt that now
familiar gust of warm air playing about my legs. The
(19:50):
man walks on and turns no more his head because
he knows a frightful fiend duck close behind him tread.
Now I knew the face of my terror, and it
(20:13):
was with me always walking down the dark street at night.
I heard its footsteps behind me in my lonely house
at midnight at rome the halls, like the ancient Mariner
and John Harrington, I never turned to look. I couldn't.
My nerves were going, and I could do nothing but
wait the days. The weeks slipped by, and still Harrington
(20:37):
had no plan. I checked off the days on the
calendar Carswell had sent. Now the eight days remaining, then six,
then three, two one. It was the evening of the eighteenth.
My last day on earth was to begin. At midnight.
(20:58):
I was sitting alone in my room, daved in perspiration,
fighting to keep my nerves and check. Suddenly I felt
that warm gust of air. I listened. There were soft footsteps,
A shadow seemed to cross the hall door, and then
(21:19):
the footsteps landed into a loud banging. Now, now, knock yet,
I stilled up. One day more knock yet, don't.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
And it's me, oh, oh h them, Hey, what's the
metal man?
Speaker 2 (21:36):
What is it?
Speaker 4 (21:37):
It's you?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
You? Your footsteps is of course thank him.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
I thought, I look, man, you've got to pull yourself together.
It's tonight. We have our chance.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
What chance?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Cars will leaves Victoria station by boat train to night
at ten. I'll get on with him there. You take
the car I brought and drive to Croydon. Get on
the train there and be sure to bring the paper. Yes, yes,
I heard, you've shaved already.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Good.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Everything depends on his not recognizing you this Harrington.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Suppose he changes his mind, Suppose he doesn't take that trip.
My time runs out tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
He'll be there and you'll do it. You'll do it well,
you've got to.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
I stood on the platform across in my mind, in
the daze, I thought the train would never come, but
he did. I saw Herrington at the window. He stared
coolly at me. Of course, there was to be no
sign of recognition. I entered the coach and slowly made
my way down the aisle to the compartment where Herrington
sat opposite him, staring full into my face. Was car's way.
(22:46):
He looked up as I sat down, his eyes when
heavy did it, his face bland. It was impossible to
tell what he knew. The plane started. The next stop
was over at the end of the line, my last chance.
I was trying to cast the ruins. It is a
(23:10):
strange line. Caswell and I see to face to face,
staring into each other's eyes, Harington off to the side,
pulling in his face and twitching the fingers. If I
could have only had a few whispered and moments woulding
to plan our strategy, but that was impossible. Moments drank tortuously.
No one moved. Then suddenly Caslyn leaned forward. I beg
(23:30):
your pardon, sir. Haven't we met Matt Well. I don't
think there was that, not unless you're in the plumbing business. Plumbing.
No hard let it. I haven't planned it that way.
The words the accent just seemed to come by themselves,
and Caswell sat back, an enigmatic expression on his face.
(23:55):
I wished desperately to know what he was thinking. Then
suddenly he got up and went out into the corridor.
Is this my childs I was about to slip over
to his bags to see if there were a ways
to secrete the rules within them, when I caught Harrington's
eye and read a warning room. Caswell, from the corridor
was watching, waiting to see if we recognized each other.
I muttered a prayer of thanks. I hadn't moved. Caswell
(24:18):
came back and took his seat. As he did so,
whild with exultant hope surged up in my throat for
something slipped off his seat and dropped noiselessly to the floor.
It was his ticket case, and he didn't see it.
It was a no cardboard ticket case with a pocket
on the cupboard. If I could just get to it
(24:38):
and slip that tiny piece of paper into that pocket.
For fifteen agonizing minutes, I sat there and stared at it.
If on that Carswell would go out, but he sat stolidly,
staring straight ahead. We were coming into the outskirts of Dover,
the train slowing down. Suddenly, Harrington stood up reached up
to the rack above Coswell get his coat and bag.
(25:01):
I stared at him blankly for a moment, surprised by
his sudden conscience, and then I realized what he was
up to. The bag, the coat of briefcase hawk came
tumbling down upon coast.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
I'm sorry, I'm terribly.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Sorry, fool. You might have ventured me. What were you
trying to do? It is my only chance. I reached
down and got the ticket case, and my trembling finger
slipped the paper into the pocket. He turned shopping to me,
and I extended the case. Uh, excuse me, sir, is
this yours? Yes, it's my ticket case, but you find
it here on the floor. Marster dropped off when this,
(25:36):
I'm much obliged to yourself. Not at all, not all.
He looked at me fiercely, his rage at Harrington, still
twisting his face into a devil's mask. Then he glanced
briefly into the ticket case and put it into his pocket.
(26:00):
On the railway, peer of job, Harrington and I followed
a few steps behind Carswell. I felt like I might faint.
Carswell went straight to the gangway of the boat, and
there the purser stocking does have a ticket, My friend,
the devil.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
You mean I'm traveling alone?
Speaker 3 (26:16):
That's funny. I could have sworn there was another gentleman
right there beside you, walking just at your elbow.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Well, there isn't, And I suggest you see an oculist.
Oh I didn't see.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
I just felt sorry. So it must have been your rugs.
My mistake. I I done.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
I didn't sleep that night. I lay awake and listened,
But there were no footsteps, no warm gusts. Are there
nothing to disturb me? All day I felt remarkably free,
although this was to have been my last day on earth.
But me just now when Harrington came in, Could I
(27:01):
really relax?
Speaker 4 (27:03):
Have you seen the afternoon paper yet?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
I know not yet?
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Well, here look at it. On the second page.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
There Abbeyville, France, an English traveler examining the front of
Saint Wiltram's Cathedral today, was struck on the head and
killed instantly by a stone falling from the scaffolding. A
note of mystery was added by the fact that, although
the cathedral was undergoing repairs, no workman was on the
(27:33):
scaffolding at the time of the accident. The traveler was
identified by papers found on him as a mister Carswell
of Warwickshire.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Of course it could have been an accident, yes, as
it could have been.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Escape is produced and directed by William M. Robson and
Tonight Brought You Casting the Ruins by Montague R. James,
Adapted for radio by Irving Rabbits and John Duncle, with
John McIntyre as Edward Dunning, Jon Wolfs Harrington and Bill
Conrad as Carswell. The special musical score was conceived and
conducted by Cyfure.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Next week.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
You are trapped in a hidden valley high in 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.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Next week we escape with HG. Wells gripping story of
the Country of the Blind.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Good Night.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Then until this same time next week, when we again
off of you escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
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