July 28, 2025 • 29 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
No one mother word from the world, through the world
and the world, and no one the world though the world.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
The words speak.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
When the signal man heard MY voice thus calling to him,
he was standing at the door of his box with
a flag in his hand full round its short pole.
One would have thought he could not have doubted from
what quarter the voice came. But instead of looking up
to where I stood on the top of the steep
cutting over the railway line, he turned himself about and
(01:33):
looked down the line. There was something remarkable about the man,
but the way he stood something strange, perhaps uncanny, but
certainly I would have termed such a fort mere imagination.
Then I know now what was remarkable about that man,
(01:57):
And even though years have passed, I still see his
figure foreshortened and shadowed down in the deep trench, my
figure high above him, so steeped in the glow of
an angry sunset, that I shaded my eyes with my
hand before I saw him at.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
All hollow below. Is there any passed by which I
gave pomp down and speak widow.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
Biotechts The New Soak and pre Wash Powder presents Beyond
Midnight by Michael McCay now ladies, we're speaking about biotechs
in a series of programs, and a Missus C. B.
Granger of Gordon Roade, Heathfield in the Cape wrote to
say that she decided to try our biotechs just to
see if it lived up to our claims. Since she said,
(02:58):
I bought a packet and lo and behold, it actually
did just what the advert said. I am so proud
of the children's white shirts, the Hankees and the underwear
that I want to say it will be biotechs for.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Me every washing day from now on.
Speaker 6 (03:11):
Some of my family's accessories were left with slight stains,
but now thanks to biotechs soaking, they come out white
and the stains do go away.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
As you say.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
Now, that is the statement from Missus Granger of Heathfield
of the Cape, and it bears up what we have
been saying to you, ladies ever since biotechs first came
on the market. We said to you it is different
to any washing product that you've ever used before.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
We claim that the stubborn stains.
Speaker 6 (03:38):
Will vanish, and people like Missus Granger bear out our claims.
Remember biotechts.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I climbed down and approached the man. He stood now
with his left hand at his chin, his right hand
across his breast. His post was in as solitary and
dismal place as ever I saw. There was an earthy,
deadly smell, and little sunlight penetrated down to the line
and signal box. The gloomy entrance of the Black Tunnel yawned.
(04:35):
I stopped a few feet in front of the man,
and suddenly he stepped back and raised his right hand.
There was something in the man that daunted me. This
is a lonesome post to occupy a visitor, I should
think must be a rarity et.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I uh, I looked.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Down from up yonder and felt a need to come down.
Signal boxes have always related my attention. He directed a
most curious look towards the red light near the tunnel's mouth.
The light is in your charges or not? Don't you
don't you know? It is a monstrous thought came into
my mind. This was a spirit, not a man.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I stepped back.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
But then I detected in his eyes some latent fear
of me. You look at me as if you hadn't
dread of me. I was doubtful whether I'd seen you before.
Where there by the light there my good fellow, What
should I do there?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well?
Speaker 4 (05:36):
However, be that as it may, I I never was there.
You may be sure of that. I I have always
had a fascination for railways and their workings. If it
would not disturb you, and may I prevail upon you
to show me over your box, of course? Then and
come this way, sir, Come this way, thank you, Come
this way, sir. Please, manual labor I had next to none.
(06:08):
I have to trim those lights, turn out iron handle
now and then many long dreary hours I have to
spend here, so I occupy my time working at fractions
and equations, uh problems.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
You know?
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Is it necessary if you always to remain in this
damp air down here, even in the signal box where
a fire glow at it? It is somehow oppressive? Can
you never rise into the sunshine? But that depends upon
times and circumstances. I see under some conditions there will
be less upon the line than under others. In bright weather,
(06:42):
I go up for a change certain hours of the
day and night, I'm freer than others. But at all
times I'm liable to be called by my electric bell.
Uh oh, forgive me. But if you appear better educated
than your station, and life calls for I mean no offense.
And when I was younger, I was a student of
natural philosophy. I attended lectures, but it all came to nothing.
(07:07):
I ran wild and was sent down. Had never risen again.
But I have made my bedserned. Now I mislye on it.
It is too late to make another uh, acceptance of
things for what they are. There is something to that.
You almost make me believe that I have met a
contented man. I used to be. But I'm trouble, sir,
(07:29):
I am troubled.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Oh with what.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
What is your trouble? It is very difficult to impart,
very very difficult to speak of I if you, if
you ever make another visitor, I will try to tell you.
But I expressly intend to make you another visit. Say
when shall it be? I go off early in the morning,
and I should be on guard at ten tomorrow night.
(07:55):
I'll uh, I'll come at eleven. I'll show you why
the white light that is, til you found the way.
When you have found it, don't call out. And when
you're at at the top, don't call out very well.
I let me ask you a a parting question, what
(08:16):
made you cry?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Below there tonight? Seven notes? I I tried something to
that if they know not to that effect, sir, those
were the very words. I know them well well. I
spoke thus because I I saw you belowd wished to
attract your attention, or for no other reason, What other
reason could I possibly have? You had no feeling that
(08:41):
they were conveyed you in any supernatural way? No, Oh,
good night, sir. Oh may I inquire your name? Mine
is William Bendy. Mine is Charles Dickens. There was something
(09:10):
singularly peculiar about the man of this, I was sure,
and I could hardly wait the time before I could
speak with him again. That he was well educated. There
was no doubt that he feared something was some one
very greatly. There was no doubt either, there was something
tortured about him. While we talked that first night, he
(09:33):
was several times interrupted by the little bell, and had
to read off messages and send replies. Once, he had
to stand and display a flag as a train passed.
Once or twice while he was speaking, he turned and
watched the bell, and his face drained of all color
when it did not ring. I was punctual to my appointment.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
The next night.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Ah, good night, sir, in my hand, good night for you, sir,
And here's mine. And I have made up my mind, sir,
that you shall not have to ask me twice what
troubles me? Oh, please be seated. I took you for
(10:17):
someone else yesterday night. That troubles me.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
That mistake.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
No, that's someone else. Who is it? I don't know,
like me, I don't know. I I never saw the face.
The left arm is across the face, and the left
arm is waved violently, waved this way, for pity's sake,
clear the way. One moonlight night, I was sitting here
(10:46):
when I heard a voice cry, hello, hello there.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Look out.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
I started up, looked from that door and saw this
someone else standing by the red light near the tunnel,
waving as I shoulder. The voice seemed hoarse with shouting,
and he cried, look out, look out, and then again,
hallo below there, look out. I caught up my lamp,
turned it on red, and ran towards the figure.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Hello, Hello there, hoo gome what was heaven?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Ha?
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Hallo below?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
The figure just stood in the blackness outside the tunnel.
I had gone too close upon it that I wondered
that they keeping the sleeve before the eyes. I ran
up to it and had my hands stretched out to
pull the sleeve away when it was gone into the tunnel.
Now I ran into the tunnel five hundred yards. I
(11:55):
stopped and held my lamp above my head, and saw
the figures of the measure distance, and saw the wet
stains stealing down the walls and trickling through the arch.
I ran out again faster than I run in, for
I had a mortal abhorrence of the place upon me.
And I looked all around the red light with my
own red light, and I went up the iron ladder
(12:16):
on top of it, and then I came down again
and ran back Here. I telegraphed both ways. An alarm
has been given? Is anything wrong? An alarm has been given?
Is anything wrong?
Speaker 6 (12:33):
All?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
An alarm has been given?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Is anything wrong? All?
Speaker 4 (12:41):
All?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
An alarm has given?
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Is anything wrong? This?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
This a figure must have been a deception of your senses.
It's a deception of your sense of sight. Figures such
as you describe sometimes originate in the delicate nerves the
minister to the functions of the eye, as to the
imaginary voice. Well, the wind is a the wind which
sometimes sounds well in this unnatural valley. Think that is
(13:20):
all very well. I know about the wind and telegraph wires.
I passed many long nights here alone and watching. But
but I beg to remark, sir, that I have not
finished my story.
Speaker 8 (13:33):
I I ask your pardon.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Within six hours after the appearance, a memorable accident on
this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and
wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot
where the figure had stood.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
A now an effective spray on furniture polish that gives
a wax shine instantly Johnson's pledge.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Just spray on.
Speaker 8 (14:18):
And your duster becomes a magnet picks up every speck
of dust in seconds.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Pledge dust cleans.
Speaker 8 (14:28):
Deep waxes quickly easily, and new deeper wax formula pledge
will protect your furniture longer by Johnson's pledge. Aerosol today.
Speaker 7 (14:40):
That's all you have to do, just for an hour
to you fine, when you'll use you biotics, amazing new
biotech silk stubborn stains away keen keen.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Everything soon will be keen keen for all the well to.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
See them stainder way easily when you use new.
Speaker 9 (15:03):
Biots, get amazing new biotext to day and let soak
into the washing.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Within ten hours, the dead and wounded were brought along
through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.
This was just a year ago. Six or seven months passed,
and I had recovered from the surprising shock. When one morning,
as day was breaking, I standing at that door, looked
(15:33):
towards the red light and saw the specter again. Did
it cry out?
Speaker 10 (15:43):
No?
Speaker 4 (15:44):
It was silent, or did it wave its arm. No,
it leaned against the shaft of the light with both
hands before the face like this, like an action of
morning I have seen in stone figures on tombs. Did
you go up to it? I came in and sat down,
partly to collect my thoughts, partly because it had turned
(16:05):
me faint. When I went to the door again, daylight
was all around me, and and the ghosts had gone goes.
That very day, as the train came out of the tunnel,
I noticed at a carriage window on my side a
confusion of hands and heads. I saw it just in
(16:27):
time to signal the driver stop. He shut off and
put his brakes on, but the train drifted past here
a hundred or fifty yards or there. A beautiful young
lady had died instantly in one of the compartments, and
she was brought in here to the box and laid
there on the floor between us, trucer. True, precisely as
(16:52):
it happened.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
So I tell it you.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Now, sir, mark this and judge which how my mind
is troubled. The specter came back a week ago. Ever
since it has been there now and again by fits
and starts at the light, at the danger light. What
does it seem to do like this? For pretty's sake?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Clear the way.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Your way.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
I have no peace or rest from it.
Speaker 10 (17:28):
It calls to me, lowe, It calls for many minutes
together in an agonized way.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
It rings my little bell. I remember, did it ring
your bell yesterday evening when I was here and you
went to the door twice? Of why I see, I
imagination misleads you. My eyes were on the bell, and
my well open to the bell. And if I am
a living man who did not ring at those times, no,
nor at any other time except in the course of
(18:07):
natural physical things, when it was rung by the station
communicating to you, Hm I have never made a mistake
as to that yet, sir, I have never confused the
specter's ring with the man's. The ghost's ring is a
strange vibration in the bell that it derives from nothing else.
And I am not asserted that the bell stirs to
(18:29):
the eye. I don't wonder that you fail to hear it.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
But I heard it?
Speaker 4 (18:36):
And did the specter seem to be there? When you
looked out? It was there both times. Both times.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Will you come to the door and look with me?
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Now?
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Oh, I saw the danger light, looked a smoo mouth
of the tunnel, the high wet stone walls of the cutting.
There were stars in the sky. Do you see it? No,
(19:12):
it is not there. Agreed? By this time, sir, you
will fully understand that what troubles me greatly is what
does the specter mean? I I do not know what
(19:33):
is it walling against? What is the danger? Where is
the danger?
Speaker 8 (19:37):
There is danger.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Overhanging somewhere under Lyne. Some dreadful calamity will happen. It
is not to be doubted this third time, after what
has gone before. But surely this is a cruel haunting
of me. What can I do at this the poor
man pulled out his handkerchief and white the drops from
his heated forehead. I I couldn't think of nothing to say,
(20:00):
nothing to put courage into him. If I telegraphed danger
on either side of me, or on both, I can
give no reason for it. I should get into trouble
and do no good. They would think I was mad?
Can you imagine this is the way it would work?
Speaker 10 (20:20):
Danger?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Take care? What's danger where?
Speaker 7 (20:26):
I don't know, But for pity's sake, take care.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
They would say I'd gone mad, and they would displace me.
What else could they do? His pain of mind was
most pitiable to see. It was the mental torture of
a conscientious man oppressed beyond endurance by our responsibility involving
life when it first stood under the danger? Like, why
(20:53):
not tell me how it might be averted? Why not
tell me where the accident was to happen, if it
had to happen, when on the second coming it hid
his head? Why not tell me instead, she is going
to die? Tell them to keep her at home if
it came on those two occasions, only show me that
its warnings were true, and so to prepare me for
the third. Why not warn me plainly now, and I
(21:15):
a poor signal man on this solitary station. Why not
go to somebody with credit to be believed in power
to act? Then they william you. You cannot blame yourself
for anything. You must not become so agitated. Whoever so
thoroughly discharges his duty as you do, must do well.
(21:39):
It must needs be comfort to you to know full
well that you understand your duty perfectly. The fact remains,
I know that you do not understand these confounded appearances
that you must not take on. So I I will
not insult you by trying to reason you out of
your belief. Thanks Anne. I left him at two o'clock
(22:05):
that morning. I I'd offered to stay the night, but
he would not hear of it. As I climbed the
path up, I looked down to the red light.
Speaker 11 (22:15):
I I did not like it.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
I knew full well I should not sleep sound if
my bed were under it. Nor did I like the
two sequences of the accident of the dead girl. I
I wondered how I ought to act. I knew the
man to be painstaking, vigilant, and although in an inferior position,
he held a most important trust. How long with his
(22:39):
mind as it was. Would he remained to execute this
trust with precision, I wondered. I resolved to accompany him
to the wisest medical man in those parts, and to
take his opinion. Something told me that would be most
treacherous to communicate all of the signalmen, and told me
to his superiors it might well cost him his living.
(22:59):
A change his time of duty would come round next night.
He informed me. He would be off an hour or
two after sunrise, and on again soon after sunset. I
had appointed to return accordingly.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Everything, and the.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Next evening was a lovely evening, and I walked out
early to enjoy it. The sun was not yet quite
down when I traversed the field path near the top
of the deep cutting. I would extend my walk for
an hour, I said to myself, a half an hour
on and half an hour back, and it would then
be time to go to my signalman's box. Before pursuing
(23:55):
my stroll, I stepped to the brink and mechanically looked
down from the point from which I had first seen him.
I cannot describe the thrill that seized upon me when
close at the mouth of a tunnel I saw the
appearance of a man with his left sleeve across his eyes,
(24:15):
passionately waving his right arm. A nameless horror that oppressed
me quickly passed. When close at the mouth of a tunnel,
I saw that this appearance of a man was a man.
There was a little group of men standing further away,
and this first one seemed to be rehearsing the gesture
he made, the gesture the signalman had described so vividly.
(24:40):
The danger light was not yet lighted against its shaft.
A little low hut, entirely new to me, had been
made of some wooden supports and tarpauling. It looked no
bigger than a bed. I descended the path with all
the speed I could muster, Hello, Hello, What is the matter?
Speaker 2 (25:00):
What?
Speaker 3 (25:00):
What has happened?
Speaker 4 (25:01):
Signal man killed this morning? Sir? Not not the man
belonging to that box. Yes, sir, not the man I knew.
You will recognize him, sir, if you knew him. Here
he is the top hole, him covering from the small
structure I had observed from above. His face is quite composed.
(25:24):
How did this happen? He was cut down by an engine?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Sir?
Speaker 4 (25:29):
No man in England knew his work better, but somehow
he was not clear of the outer rail. It was
just a broad day. H struck the light and had
the lamp in his hand, and as the engine came
out of the tunnel his his back was towards her
and she cut him down. That man drove her and
(25:50):
was showing how it.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Happened a show.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
The gentleman Tom well Uh coming round the curve in
the tunnel, Sir, I saw him at the end, like
as if I saw him down at perspective class Well.
There was no time to check speed, and I knew
him to be very careful, but as he didn't seem
to take heed of the whistle, I shut it off.
And as we were running down upon him, I called
(26:14):
to him as loud as I could call. What what
did you say, say, sir?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Why?
Speaker 4 (26:20):
I said, below there, look out, for pity's sake, clear
the way.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
He loo there.
Speaker 9 (26:39):
Come dreadful time.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Dreadful Iver left off calling to him, Sir. I put
my arm before my eyes so as not to see,
and I waved this arm right to the last, but
it was no use.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Let's play some music.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I feel like dancing, But I thought you had a
splitting headache. That was five minutes ago. I've taken Grandpa
headache pattes since.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
Grandpi headache powdered, kiltaane, some strained nerves and lip depression.
Grandpa powders are extra effective because they have a triple action.
Grandpa headache powders work extra fast because they dissolve almost immediately.
Get fast effective.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Relief from any pain or pain.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Get Grandpa headache powders. Ah, Grandpapa, that's.
Speaker 8 (28:19):
All you have to do, dom just for an hour
to you fine, Thanks so as fard As Nowhere.
Speaker 9 (28:26):
Here are us new biotexts with amazing new biotechs. The
stubblist stains will vanish, yes, vanish clean away, just by
soaking your laundry over night in cold water, offer an
hour or two in warm water, or by pre washing
it quickly in your washing machine. Get amazing new biotechs today.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
Beyond Midnight is presented every Friday night at half past
nine by Biotechs, the New Soak and pre Washed Powder.
The program is adapted for broadcasting and produced by Michael
mccab
No one mother word from the world, through the world
and the world, and no one the world though the world.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
The words speak.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
When the signal man heard MY voice thus calling to him,
he was standing at the door of his box with
a flag in his hand full round its short pole.
One would have thought he could not have doubted from
what quarter the voice came. But instead of looking up
to where I stood on the top of the steep
cutting over the railway line, he turned himself about and
(01:33):
looked down the line. There was something remarkable about the man,
but the way he stood something strange, perhaps uncanny, but
certainly I would have termed such a fort mere imagination.
Then I know now what was remarkable about that man,
(01:57):
And even though years have passed, I still see his
figure foreshortened and shadowed down in the deep trench, my
figure high above him, so steeped in the glow of
an angry sunset, that I shaded my eyes with my
hand before I saw him at.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
All hollow below. Is there any passed by which I
gave pomp down and speak widow.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
Biotechts The New Soak and pre Wash Powder presents Beyond
Midnight by Michael McCay now ladies, we're speaking about biotechs
in a series of programs, and a Missus C. B.
Granger of Gordon Roade, Heathfield in the Cape wrote to
say that she decided to try our biotechs just to
see if it lived up to our claims. Since she said,
(02:58):
I bought a packet and lo and behold, it actually
did just what the advert said. I am so proud
of the children's white shirts, the Hankees and the underwear
that I want to say it will be biotechs for.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Me every washing day from now on.
Speaker 6 (03:11):
Some of my family's accessories were left with slight stains,
but now thanks to biotechs soaking, they come out white
and the stains do go away.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
As you say.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
Now, that is the statement from Missus Granger of Heathfield
of the Cape, and it bears up what we have
been saying to you, ladies ever since biotechs first came
on the market. We said to you it is different
to any washing product that you've ever used before.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
We claim that the stubborn stains.
Speaker 6 (03:38):
Will vanish, and people like Missus Granger bear out our claims.
Remember biotechts.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I climbed down and approached the man. He stood now
with his left hand at his chin, his right hand
across his breast. His post was in as solitary and
dismal place as ever I saw. There was an earthy,
deadly smell, and little sunlight penetrated down to the line
and signal box. The gloomy entrance of the Black Tunnel yawned.
(04:35):
I stopped a few feet in front of the man,
and suddenly he stepped back and raised his right hand.
There was something in the man that daunted me. This
is a lonesome post to occupy a visitor, I should
think must be a rarity et.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I uh, I looked.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Down from up yonder and felt a need to come down.
Signal boxes have always related my attention. He directed a
most curious look towards the red light near the tunnel's mouth.
The light is in your charges or not? Don't you
don't you know? It is a monstrous thought came into
my mind. This was a spirit, not a man.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I stepped back.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
But then I detected in his eyes some latent fear
of me. You look at me as if you hadn't
dread of me. I was doubtful whether I'd seen you before.
Where there by the light there my good fellow, What
should I do there?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Well?
Speaker 4 (05:36):
However, be that as it may, I I never was there.
You may be sure of that. I I have always
had a fascination for railways and their workings. If it
would not disturb you, and may I prevail upon you
to show me over your box, of course? Then and
come this way, sir, Come this way, thank you, Come
this way, sir. Please, manual labor I had next to none.
(06:08):
I have to trim those lights, turn out iron handle
now and then many long dreary hours I have to
spend here, so I occupy my time working at fractions
and equations, uh problems.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
You know?
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Is it necessary if you always to remain in this
damp air down here, even in the signal box where
a fire glow at it? It is somehow oppressive? Can
you never rise into the sunshine? But that depends upon
times and circumstances. I see under some conditions there will
be less upon the line than under others. In bright weather,
(06:42):
I go up for a change certain hours of the
day and night, I'm freer than others. But at all
times I'm liable to be called by my electric bell.
Uh oh, forgive me. But if you appear better educated
than your station, and life calls for I mean no offense.
And when I was younger, I was a student of
natural philosophy. I attended lectures, but it all came to nothing.
(07:07):
I ran wild and was sent down. Had never risen again.
But I have made my bedserned. Now I mislye on it.
It is too late to make another uh, acceptance of
things for what they are. There is something to that.
You almost make me believe that I have met a
contented man. I used to be. But I'm trouble, sir,
(07:29):
I am troubled.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Oh with what.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
What is your trouble? It is very difficult to impart,
very very difficult to speak of I if you, if
you ever make another visitor, I will try to tell you.
But I expressly intend to make you another visit. Say
when shall it be? I go off early in the morning,
and I should be on guard at ten tomorrow night.
(07:55):
I'll uh, I'll come at eleven. I'll show you why
the white light that is, til you found the way.
When you have found it, don't call out. And when
you're at at the top, don't call out very well.
I let me ask you a a parting question, what
(08:16):
made you cry?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Below there tonight? Seven notes? I I tried something to
that if they know not to that effect, sir, those
were the very words. I know them well well. I
spoke thus because I I saw you belowd wished to
attract your attention, or for no other reason, What other
reason could I possibly have? You had no feeling that
(08:41):
they were conveyed you in any supernatural way? No, Oh,
good night, sir. Oh may I inquire your name? Mine
is William Bendy. Mine is Charles Dickens. There was something
(09:10):
singularly peculiar about the man of this, I was sure,
and I could hardly wait the time before I could
speak with him again. That he was well educated. There
was no doubt that he feared something was some one
very greatly. There was no doubt either, there was something
tortured about him. While we talked that first night, he
(09:33):
was several times interrupted by the little bell, and had
to read off messages and send replies. Once, he had
to stand and display a flag as a train passed.
Once or twice while he was speaking, he turned and
watched the bell, and his face drained of all color
when it did not ring. I was punctual to my appointment.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
The next night.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Ah, good night, sir, in my hand, good night for you, sir,
And here's mine. And I have made up my mind, sir,
that you shall not have to ask me twice what
troubles me? Oh, please be seated. I took you for
(10:17):
someone else yesterday night. That troubles me.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
That mistake.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
No, that's someone else. Who is it? I don't know,
like me, I don't know. I I never saw the face.
The left arm is across the face, and the left
arm is waved violently, waved this way, for pity's sake,
clear the way. One moonlight night, I was sitting here
(10:46):
when I heard a voice cry, hello, hello there.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Look out.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
I started up, looked from that door and saw this
someone else standing by the red light near the tunnel,
waving as I shoulder. The voice seemed hoarse with shouting,
and he cried, look out, look out, and then again,
hallo below there, look out. I caught up my lamp,
turned it on red, and ran towards the figure.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Hello, Hello there, hoo gome what was heaven?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Ha?
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Hallo below?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
The figure just stood in the blackness outside the tunnel.
I had gone too close upon it that I wondered
that they keeping the sleeve before the eyes. I ran
up to it and had my hands stretched out to
pull the sleeve away when it was gone into the tunnel.
Now I ran into the tunnel five hundred yards. I
(11:55):
stopped and held my lamp above my head, and saw
the figures of the measure distance, and saw the wet
stains stealing down the walls and trickling through the arch.
I ran out again faster than I run in, for
I had a mortal abhorrence of the place upon me.
And I looked all around the red light with my
own red light, and I went up the iron ladder
(12:16):
on top of it, and then I came down again
and ran back Here. I telegraphed both ways. An alarm
has been given? Is anything wrong? An alarm has been given?
Is anything wrong?
Speaker 6 (12:33):
All?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
An alarm has been given?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Is anything wrong? All?
Speaker 4 (12:41):
All?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
An alarm has given?
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Is anything wrong? This?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
This a figure must have been a deception of your senses.
It's a deception of your sense of sight. Figures such
as you describe sometimes originate in the delicate nerves the
minister to the functions of the eye, as to the
imaginary voice. Well, the wind is a the wind which
sometimes sounds well in this unnatural valley. Think that is
(13:20):
all very well. I know about the wind and telegraph wires.
I passed many long nights here alone and watching. But
but I beg to remark, sir, that I have not
finished my story.
Speaker 8 (13:33):
I I ask your pardon.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Within six hours after the appearance, a memorable accident on
this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and
wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot
where the figure had stood.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
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Speaker 8 (14:18):
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Speaker 7 (14:40):
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Speaker 5 (14:55):
Everything soon will be keen keen for all the well to.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
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Speaker 9 (15:03):
Biots, get amazing new biotext to day and let soak
into the washing.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Within ten hours, the dead and wounded were brought along
through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.
This was just a year ago. Six or seven months passed,
and I had recovered from the surprising shock. When one morning,
as day was breaking, I standing at that door, looked
(15:33):
towards the red light and saw the specter again. Did
it cry out?
Speaker 10 (15:43):
No?
Speaker 4 (15:44):
It was silent, or did it wave its arm. No,
it leaned against the shaft of the light with both
hands before the face like this, like an action of
morning I have seen in stone figures on tombs. Did
you go up to it? I came in and sat down,
partly to collect my thoughts, partly because it had turned
(16:05):
me faint. When I went to the door again, daylight
was all around me, and and the ghosts had gone goes.
That very day, as the train came out of the tunnel,
I noticed at a carriage window on my side a
confusion of hands and heads. I saw it just in
(16:27):
time to signal the driver stop. He shut off and
put his brakes on, but the train drifted past here
a hundred or fifty yards or there. A beautiful young
lady had died instantly in one of the compartments, and
she was brought in here to the box and laid
there on the floor between us, trucer. True, precisely as
(16:52):
it happened.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
So I tell it you.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Now, sir, mark this and judge which how my mind
is troubled. The specter came back a week ago. Ever
since it has been there now and again by fits
and starts at the light, at the danger light. What
does it seem to do like this? For pretty's sake?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Clear the way.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Your way.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
I have no peace or rest from it.
Speaker 10 (17:28):
It calls to me, lowe, It calls for many minutes
together in an agonized way.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
It rings my little bell. I remember, did it ring
your bell yesterday evening when I was here and you
went to the door twice? Of why I see, I
imagination misleads you. My eyes were on the bell, and
my well open to the bell. And if I am
a living man who did not ring at those times, no,
nor at any other time except in the course of
(18:07):
natural physical things, when it was rung by the station
communicating to you, Hm I have never made a mistake
as to that yet, sir, I have never confused the
specter's ring with the man's. The ghost's ring is a
strange vibration in the bell that it derives from nothing else.
And I am not asserted that the bell stirs to
(18:29):
the eye. I don't wonder that you fail to hear it.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
But I heard it?
Speaker 4 (18:36):
And did the specter seem to be there? When you
looked out? It was there both times. Both times.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Will you come to the door and look with me?
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Now?
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Oh, I saw the danger light, looked a smoo mouth
of the tunnel, the high wet stone walls of the cutting.
There were stars in the sky. Do you see it? No,
(19:12):
it is not there. Agreed? By this time, sir, you
will fully understand that what troubles me greatly is what
does the specter mean? I I do not know what
(19:33):
is it walling against? What is the danger? Where is
the danger?
Speaker 8 (19:37):
There is danger.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Overhanging somewhere under Lyne. Some dreadful calamity will happen. It
is not to be doubted this third time, after what
has gone before. But surely this is a cruel haunting
of me. What can I do at this the poor
man pulled out his handkerchief and white the drops from
his heated forehead. I I couldn't think of nothing to say,
(20:00):
nothing to put courage into him. If I telegraphed danger
on either side of me, or on both, I can
give no reason for it. I should get into trouble
and do no good. They would think I was mad?
Can you imagine this is the way it would work?
Speaker 10 (20:20):
Danger?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Take care? What's danger where?
Speaker 7 (20:26):
I don't know, But for pity's sake, take care.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
They would say I'd gone mad, and they would displace me.
What else could they do? His pain of mind was
most pitiable to see. It was the mental torture of
a conscientious man oppressed beyond endurance by our responsibility involving
life when it first stood under the danger? Like, why
(20:53):
not tell me how it might be averted? Why not
tell me where the accident was to happen, if it
had to happen, when on the second coming it hid
his head? Why not tell me instead, she is going
to die? Tell them to keep her at home if
it came on those two occasions, only show me that
its warnings were true, and so to prepare me for
the third. Why not warn me plainly now, and I
(21:15):
a poor signal man on this solitary station. Why not
go to somebody with credit to be believed in power
to act? Then they william you. You cannot blame yourself
for anything. You must not become so agitated. Whoever so
thoroughly discharges his duty as you do, must do well.
(21:39):
It must needs be comfort to you to know full
well that you understand your duty perfectly. The fact remains,
I know that you do not understand these confounded appearances
that you must not take on. So I I will
not insult you by trying to reason you out of
your belief. Thanks Anne. I left him at two o'clock
(22:05):
that morning. I I'd offered to stay the night, but
he would not hear of it. As I climbed the
path up, I looked down to the red light.
Speaker 11 (22:15):
I I did not like it.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
I knew full well I should not sleep sound if
my bed were under it. Nor did I like the
two sequences of the accident of the dead girl. I
I wondered how I ought to act. I knew the
man to be painstaking, vigilant, and although in an inferior position,
he held a most important trust. How long with his
(22:39):
mind as it was. Would he remained to execute this
trust with precision, I wondered. I resolved to accompany him
to the wisest medical man in those parts, and to
take his opinion. Something told me that would be most
treacherous to communicate all of the signalmen, and told me
to his superiors it might well cost him his living.
(22:59):
A change his time of duty would come round next night.
He informed me. He would be off an hour or
two after sunrise, and on again soon after sunset. I
had appointed to return accordingly.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Everything, and the.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Next evening was a lovely evening, and I walked out
early to enjoy it. The sun was not yet quite
down when I traversed the field path near the top
of the deep cutting. I would extend my walk for
an hour, I said to myself, a half an hour
on and half an hour back, and it would then
be time to go to my signalman's box. Before pursuing
(23:55):
my stroll, I stepped to the brink and mechanically looked
down from the point from which I had first seen him.
I cannot describe the thrill that seized upon me when
close at the mouth of a tunnel I saw the
appearance of a man with his left sleeve across his eyes,
(24:15):
passionately waving his right arm. A nameless horror that oppressed
me quickly passed. When close at the mouth of a tunnel,
I saw that this appearance of a man was a man.
There was a little group of men standing further away,
and this first one seemed to be rehearsing the gesture
he made, the gesture the signalman had described so vividly.
(24:40):
The danger light was not yet lighted against its shaft.
A little low hut, entirely new to me, had been
made of some wooden supports and tarpauling. It looked no
bigger than a bed. I descended the path with all
the speed I could muster, Hello, Hello, What is the matter?
Speaker 2 (25:00):
What?
Speaker 3 (25:00):
What has happened?
Speaker 4 (25:01):
Signal man killed this morning? Sir? Not not the man
belonging to that box. Yes, sir, not the man I knew.
You will recognize him, sir, if you knew him. Here
he is the top hole, him covering from the small
structure I had observed from above. His face is quite composed.
(25:24):
How did this happen? He was cut down by an engine?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Sir?
Speaker 4 (25:29):
No man in England knew his work better, but somehow
he was not clear of the outer rail. It was
just a broad day. H struck the light and had
the lamp in his hand, and as the engine came
out of the tunnel his his back was towards her
and she cut him down. That man drove her and
(25:50):
was showing how it.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Happened a show.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
The gentleman Tom well Uh coming round the curve in
the tunnel, Sir, I saw him at the end, like
as if I saw him down at perspective class Well.
There was no time to check speed, and I knew
him to be very careful, but as he didn't seem
to take heed of the whistle, I shut it off.
And as we were running down upon him, I called
(26:14):
to him as loud as I could call. What what
did you say, say, sir?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Why?
Speaker 4 (26:20):
I said, below there, look out, for pity's sake, clear
the way.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
He loo there.
Speaker 9 (26:39):
Come dreadful time.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Dreadful Iver left off calling to him, Sir. I put
my arm before my eyes so as not to see,
and I waved this arm right to the last, but
it was no use.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Let's play some music.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I feel like dancing, But I thought you had a
splitting headache. That was five minutes ago. I've taken Grandpa
headache pattes since.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
Grandpi headache powdered, kiltaane, some strained nerves and lip depression.
Grandpa powders are extra effective because they have a triple action.
Grandpa headache powders work extra fast because they dissolve almost immediately.
Get fast effective.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Relief from any pain or pain.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Get Grandpa headache powders. Ah, Grandpapa, that's.
Speaker 8 (28:19):
All you have to do, dom just for an hour
to you fine, Thanks so as fard As Nowhere.
Speaker 9 (28:26):
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Speaker 5 (28:47):
Beyond Midnight is presented every Friday night at half past
nine by Biotechs, the New Soak and pre Washed Powder.
The program is adapted for broadcasting and produced by Michael
mccab
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