September 18, 2025 • 29 mins
Suspense was one of the most popular and successful radio series during it's run of over 900 episodes, spanning 1940-1962. Guest stars included Orson Welles, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Agnes Moorehead, Marlene Dietrich and Humphrey Bogart. The plots were mostly engaging crime dramas, science fiction and some horror - usually with a surprise ending.
Hope you enjoy this episode of Suspense! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
Hope you enjoy this episode of Suspense! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Auto lights, and it's ninety eight thousand dealers. Bring you,
mister Herbert Marshall in Tonight's presentation of suspense. Tonight Auto
Light presents a story based on fact and written by
a master of suspense, an adaptation of the nineteenth century
(00:27):
born murder case called The Dead Alive. The author Wilkie Collins,
our star, mister Herbert Marshall.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Hey, Wilcox, how are you hitting them? Kid? O?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Hello? Stan? How's our bouncing bantam and brainy baseball manager.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Feeling like a home run?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I'llo pearl along?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Like I said, of those auto light spark plugs are yours?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah? I couldn't understand you better stand. Those Ignition engineered
auto light spark plugs are designed for the smoothest most
economical performance money can buy.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
When use any other hollow they're real majorly.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Thank you, Stan.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Friends. If your car isn't giving you the performance it should,
why not have your spark plugs checked by your nearest
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(01:25):
To quickly locate your auto light spark plug dealer, phone
Western Union by number and ask for operator twenty five.
And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
with auto light. And now auto Light presents the Dead Alive,
starring mister Herbert Marshall, hoping once again to keep you
(01:46):
in suspense.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
How did the doctor put it to be back there
in London. Your disease, mister, is overwork. Your cure is rest.
Your alternative is death. Nice choice of words there, but
not to be ignored for any excitement, stirred sudden, unbearable
pains in my head. The trip was RESTful, though the
(02:16):
prospect of visiting a country just five years beyond the
Civil War was a little disturbing. The long standing invitation
of my mother's distant relative appeared to hold a promise
of friendship and hospitality, the very thing for a nerve
ridden English barrister. I'd bought in a railroad car at Boston,
which deposited me at Marwick Station. The countryside viewed from
(02:39):
the station was as flat, as monotonous as any that
the earth can show. If to be cured bent in
my case, to be dull, and I picked the very
place for the purpose.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Mister Philip the frank.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Well, yes, of course you must be cousin.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Silas, that's right, and didn't mean to startle you.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I was fascinated by this very interesting countryside of yours.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Let's start off on an honest footing. This view is uninspired, Philip,
but it is good farm land. That's most important.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Is this your luggage? No, just these bags here. I'll
take the big one.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
That's all right. You carry the two small bags, not.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Your your hand. That bandage, it must be painful.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
It's just a scratch. He couldn't hurt me. The carriages
this way.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Our ride to Middlecroft Farm passed for the most part
in silence, and silence seemed most appropriate. As we drove
through a grove of stunted, twisted trees. On the road ahead,
a short, wid little man walked towards the house. He
glanced over his shoulder, then casually angled. Let us pass.
But something went wrong with our horse. But he sweve
towards the man. What kill nearly killed that man?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Next time, he'll move out it the way faster.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But you led The horn was still recleared him.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
No matter that man was John Jago, my overseer. Not
a very nice man, Philip, not nice at all, and
why do.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
You keep him?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Unfortunately father left the controlling interest in this estate to
my system, and Letty feels that Jago can run things
better than I can not.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Still no reason. You might have killed the man, in
which case I would.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Have given him a sort of burial. I'd give my dog,
not my favorite dog, mind.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You a gray house like a huge toad squatted massively
at the end of the road. Three barking hounds chased
our carriage up to the front porch. My cousin sent
them scampering as we dismounted. A melancoly middle aged woman
(04:49):
without visible attraction of any thought, waited for us to
the hallway.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Cousin Philip, I trust the Lord sent you an easy.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Voyage, a delightful voyage. Cousin Letty, it's very good good.
Speaker 6 (05:02):
Of you to have me thank my father rest his soul.
We shall do our best to honor the invitation he
extended to your branch of the family. Silas, did you
pass mister Jago on.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Your way up?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yes, I passed him.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
You might have been good enough to offer him a lift.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I did after a fashion. It's right, Philip, I'll showed
you to your room.
Speaker 6 (05:28):
Supper is at eight, Cousin, Philip, we start exactly on
the hour.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Cyrus left me in a clean, almost terror room. To
pass the time, I made a game of searching for
some dust. Was depressing not to Finally I paced, I worried, red,
and generally tried to keep the bloom of the house
and sinking to my bones. Was useless. By eight o'clock,
I was morosely trying to decide whether to go down
(05:58):
to dinner or repack and leave. My stomach made the
decision for me. I walked out of my room and
into the loveliest creature I've ever seen.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Oh I'm sorry, Oh no, my fault. I shouldn't run
down hallways.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Of course you're a Philip, of course, But they told
me nothing about you.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
But I don't think they're quite sure of how to
classify me. I'm Naomi Colebrook. We'd better go downstairs. We'll
miss dinner.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Are you visiting to miss Colebrook?
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Oh no, I've been here over six months now. I'm
a vague sort of relative. Letty and Silas took me
and after my parents passed away.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Oh that was very good of them, Yes it was.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
But I I am glad to have someone else here.
Speaker 8 (06:44):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Is anything wrong?
Speaker 7 (06:46):
Well, there are tentions in this house. You may feel them.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I already have something most unpleasant about it all.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
Oh, please don't let it drive you away. I have
to talk to somebody.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
You see, Naomi, where are you?
Speaker 7 (07:02):
We're coming, Silas, we'll talk later.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Dinner started off as a choet affair. Naomi, Silas, Letty
and myself were there, of course. The fifth person was
John Jago, the fellow who'd almost run down if he
acknowledged the introduction to me, then lapsed into silence. The
only time I saw any animation on his face was
when he glanced at Naomi. Silas noticed it too.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
You find miss Naomi's face interesting, mister Jego, I beg
your pardon, Silas.
Speaker 7 (07:37):
Please don't start in again.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
It's offensive for the help to be staring at you
like that.
Speaker 6 (07:41):
Your imagination is being overworked again, Silas.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Dear Letty so fond of mister Jego. Isn't there one
small pang of jealousy at his interest in Naomi.
Speaker 9 (07:51):
Silas, I'm sorry, miss Letty. When your brother is in
one of these moods, it's best that I retire.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Good Night, good riddance.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
There was no need for that, Silas.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
You're too even tempered, Naomi. Let's put it to our
guest here, Philip. What did you think of that surly
fellow's behavior?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Why? I don't know as to looking at this name
his face, it constantly attracts my own gaze.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Ah, does it?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yes? Does that make it necessary for me to leave
the table?
Speaker 7 (08:26):
Let's both go for a walk, Philip, I've had enough
of this for one evening.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
But Naomi let her be go.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
Cousin, Philip, I wish to talk to my brother alone.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
The danger signal in my head and those flashes of
pain did not slack them until we name. Me and
I were deep within the grove of trees that's arounded
the house. The moon was full. It's raised, filtering through
the dense overhead growth of twisted branches. We walked slowly
towards the pale green glow that diffused the gray night
ahead of us.
Speaker 7 (09:05):
What's wrong, Philip, your faith.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Party, it's pain. The doctor warned me to avoid.
Speaker 7 (09:11):
Excitement, silence, starts up with everyone.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
And he turns his angle upon poor mister Jago.
Speaker 7 (09:18):
As they had a terrible fight the other day. Mister
Jego had to use a knife to defend himself.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
He won't bother me.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
I'm not too sure he was furious with you at dinner.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
I refuse to allow anybody to interfere with the pleasure
I take from your company. But what's causing that green
mister head?
Speaker 7 (09:37):
Oh that's a natural line kill. They say it's been
burning for centuries.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
There's a hypnotic quality about this green pit. I can't
take my eyes from it.
Speaker 7 (09:48):
Terrifies me. I keep imagining what had happened if someone
were to fall in there.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Or they should put a fence about it.
Speaker 7 (09:58):
There for the trees. Someone's watching us?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Huh, who's that?
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I hope I'm not intruding.
Speaker 7 (10:08):
What do you want, mister Jago?
Speaker 9 (10:09):
I don't wish to disturb you all these gentlemen, but
I must speak to you, miss Naomi in private.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
This is hardly the manner to approach Eves dropping from
behind a tree.
Speaker 9 (10:19):
Oh no, sir, I've just been walking through this grove
and came upon you.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
But I must talk to.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
This lady, you won't it hold until tomorrow?
Speaker 9 (10:27):
Be a great kindness on your part, of very great kindness,
if you'll let me speak before I rest.
Speaker 7 (10:32):
To night, very well, we'll go back to the house,
not the house, miss, why not?
Speaker 9 (10:38):
There are eyes and ears in the house, and footsteps
so soft that no person can hear them.
Speaker 7 (10:44):
Then we'll speak here where we can see all about us, Sir,
if you.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Don't mind, I don't want to leave you here, Neami.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
Oh, I'll be quite all right, Philip, mister jay girls
see me back to the house.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
You know best.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Good night, good night, and thank you.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I slept but little that night. I wanted to leave,
get away from that wretched house, but the idea of
leaving Naomi there all alone was unthinkable. With the dawn,
I dressed and went down to the front porch, an
angry sight met my eyes, Silence, holding his walking stick
like a blood gem and waving the jago, while the
(11:24):
little oversere crouched before him like a snarling game cock,
the wicked blade of his knife fashion in the light.
Speaker 9 (11:30):
I stay back.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I warn you, you warn me.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I told you to stay away from her.
Speaker 9 (11:36):
She's not my style. Mister Silas whimp can bring back.
I've set my mark on you once, I may do
it a second time.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
I christ you start of that here, Silas, give me
the cane, they go give it to me, you meddling fool.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
He's gotten away just as well.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
He handled that knife with some knowledge. You wouldn't have
faired well in that fight.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
You think not, you, cousin Philip. I have my stick.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Now, if you must have it here, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
And I'd like to walk through the grove unless you
have some objection, so we will insist on following him.
We will finish this now, Jago and I. And this
is a warning to you, cousin Philip, leave Naomi alone,
or you may have some of the same.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Neither of them had returned to the house by late afternoon.
Near Miss stayed in her room all day. Cousin Letty
sat in her rocking chair and knitted her eyes, never
leaving the front door as she waited fearfully. The ugly
premonition of violent deaths hung about the rooms. Finally approaching footsteps,
(12:56):
and we watched to see who would enter.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Silas. Where is mister jegu.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
I believe we've seen the last of that one.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Did you you haven't brought your walking stick.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Now, I don't fear, cousin Philip, I have another, should
you want to take a stroll through the grove.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Much greater? That night, I sat in my room, fully dressed,
trying to read. The wildest thoughts were skipping frantic through
my mind. Was my cousin silas a murderer? He had
all but admitted it. And yet someone was walking through
the hall a light, almost stealthy footstep. I opened my
(13:53):
door as a wide robe ghostlike figure descended the stairway.
It was let, her body rigid, staring blinder before her.
It is dangerous to rouse a sleepwalker, So I followed
out of the house through the glove of trees to
the mouth of the lime kill. She stood there, trembling
(14:16):
in the green light, and she took one further step
towards the kill. I reached out and grabbed her shoulders.
But it's me. Did you understand.
Speaker 8 (14:29):
He's there, mister Jacob is there in you know?
Speaker 7 (14:37):
He called me his voice, He came from there.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
That was a dream, little you walked in your sleep dream.
Speaker 7 (14:46):
He's in there.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I tell you there's nothing we can do. Nobody could
climb down into that pit to see.
Speaker 8 (14:51):
Over there by the tree, a long pole with a
mesh hi her net.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
You'll see mister Jacob is in there.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
He told me so. And in the black of that
night I set about the macab task of fishing to kill.
Within the hour I had brought up a partially burned
walking stick, Jago's knife, and a small heap of charred bones.
Speaker 10 (15:24):
All the light is bringing you, mister Herbert Marshall in
Wilkie Collins The Dead Alive Tonight's presentation in Radio's Outstanding
Theater of Thrills Suspense.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Hey, Harlow, you know I signed a whole new team.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yeah, Stan, who are they?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
By a set of those auto light resisted type spark plugs?
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Of course, then you're set for a winning season.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Stan.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Those auto light resistor spark plugs are the greatest advance
in spark plugs for automotive use in the past two
and a half decades.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Is that all? I thought they were the best in twenty.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Five years your right stand and that built in autolite
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Speaker 2 (16:36):
That's the straight pitch, folks.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
So see you're nearest autolite spark plug dealer for a
spark plug check.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Soon.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
He services all makes of cars, and he has Ignition
engineered auto light spark plugs, either standard or resistor type.
To quickly learn his location, phone Western Union by number
and ask for operator twenty five. And remember, from bumper
to tail light, you're all always right with the auto light.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
And now auto.
Speaker 10 (17:03):
Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage mister Herbert Marshall
in Elliot Lewis's production of The Dead Alive, a tale
well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
On the parlor table, belying the walking stick, the knife,
and the charred bones of John Jago. I'd roused near
me in silas. And now the four of us set
around the room, our eyes sturiously avoiding the grizzly pile
before us. The night from the oil lamps failed to
clear shadows from the dark corners of the parlor, and
(17:46):
so be set and waited for the silence to accuse
I didn't do him.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
You have murder on your soul. Mister Jago told me
that too, Oh.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
In your dream.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I suppose he never cared for you, Letty, Why do
you carry on.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
So about him?
Speaker 5 (18:04):
He was too shy to tell me, and now he
never will. For you killed him.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
That is your stick, Silas.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I stumbled near the kill it fell in, and the
knife and the bone, Silas.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
You killed him, Silas, and make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I'm going to bed.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
There's nothing more to be done to night. We may
as well all get some sleep.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
I don't think I'll have a sleep again, or at least.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Try near me Tomorrow. We'll have to call in the magistrate.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
Aren't you coming, Letty, I'll stay here with mister Jago.
Speaker 7 (18:42):
Letty, please no.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Leave her near me. Come?
Speaker 7 (18:49):
Oh, Philip, why did it happen?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
You probably know best of all.
Speaker 7 (18:54):
I know nothing.
Speaker 9 (18:55):
No.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
What did Jago say to the all night in the garden.
The police will want to.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Know we'd been talking. I don't recall about what suddenly
he seemed to go.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Mad, mad in what way?
Speaker 7 (19:12):
He fell on his knees. He kissed my guard, my hand.
He cried that he.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Was in love with me, poor fellow, I imagine you
told him it was impossible.
Speaker 7 (19:23):
He wanted me to marry him. Of course it was impossible.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Silas must have found it out. That could explain the
why of this murder.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
Well, I can't stay here any more.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Nor can I to morrow. We'll move into town until
the police clear us. And then what then? Phellow, good all?
What's that?
Speaker 7 (19:43):
Oh, don't leave me.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
It's too late to catch whoever that was?
Speaker 7 (19:46):
Some one overheard us.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Yes, someone here. Get into your room. Bote your door
and don't open it for any one. You hear, Philip.
I'm so afraid, truthfully, darling, so am I. If ever
a house was a cursed this was it, With madness
(20:09):
or worse, mocking from every crevison corner in my room.
I locked the door and went to bed. Sleep did
not come easily, but it came. I must have just
dropped off when some inner sense warned me of a
presence in the room. Something was gliding quietly towards the bed.
(20:29):
I half opened my eyes and caught the dark shadow
of movement and the momentary flash of metal. I rolled
out of bed as a knife slashed into the mattress.
I've been lying my A savant followed me, slashing hecking
in the pillow the chair that I held before me.
I tried it out of the door. We'll still bolt it,
and I set the boat, and the shadow rushed, driving
(20:51):
me back in terror.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
I threw a lamp and.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Hit someone sudden me over the knife wielder her gone.
I fired a lamp, then stood staring at the butcher
knife that lay on the floor, My being revolted in
(21:17):
fear and anger. I was sick, sick of this house,
of my cousins, sick of waiting to be stuck down
in the dock. Get upside us? Who's there? Stop attending
of you? Asleep? Philip?
Speaker 4 (21:31):
The Devil's the matter with you?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Naomi, wouldn't have had you under any circumstances. What did
you hope to gain by killing me?
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Killing you?
Speaker 1 (21:40):
If I wanted to kill you, cousin, I would face
up to you like a man not striking the dock.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Who else in this house? But was a thing like that?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
What of Letty?
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Letty? It couldn't have been a woman?
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Don't underestimate on e England the women, Philip, as strong
as occidental.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
You better come along with me while I question her.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
You don't trust me exactly.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Letty was still in the parlor, staring at the bones
of her dead lover, sitting stoically in her chair. Something
had changed her though. There was an ecstatic look about her,
and for the moment her face was almost pretty Letty.
Someone just tried to kill me. I know, how do
(22:32):
you know?
Speaker 8 (22:34):
Mister Jaco told me you're going to die.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
She won't grasp the fact that John is dead.
Speaker 8 (22:39):
Oh, yes, I know he's dead. But now he's closer
to me than ever. He comes to see me and
talk to me.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Did you go upstairs, Letty to my room with a knife?
Speaker 8 (22:53):
That Jaco told me I was pretty? I asked him
if I was, and he told me he's dead now,
but he's with me all the time.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Well, Philip, are you still quite positive.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
It was near me? I ran up the stairs, silas
at my heels and nagging insane thought kept tugging at
my brain, letting Syrus and my son we'd been together
in the parlor. Then, who was it? What was it?
What horror was attacking them in her room? Tell me
(23:35):
open this door, it's me, NAILI are you all right?
Stand back, I'm going to break it open. She's not here,
the window has been smashed. There's nobody in the yard.
Looked over through the grove, the branches sway. Something moving
(23:55):
through there. That one again, But who ah, what can
your dogs track?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Have cast their hunting guarding them around.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Put them on the scent. Whatever that thing is it
has Naomi Ah. The dogs picked up the scent and
ran bay into the tree grove. Silas and I lanterns
praying yellow light through the darkness, followed. Somewhere ahead there
was something man or monster without a mind. Suddenly the
(24:28):
lime killed. The dogs stopped howling. We saw Naomi lying
by the edge of the pit. I knelt beside her,
feeling the life beat feebly through her pulse, and then
another feeling. The air parted behind me as something crept
towards my back, something poised to push me into the kill.
(24:50):
I turned sharply, and a shadow flowed backwards, crossing to
the opposite side of the pit. The green glow stippled
around the form of a man.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
John Jago alive very much so.
Speaker 9 (25:04):
It would have been nice to have mister Silas hang
for my murder.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Your plans for me were very much more direct.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
I will careful, miss Naomi I'll just talk like mister Silas.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
You think she'd have a luck to you.
Speaker 9 (25:16):
Nay, mister Silas, with you and your cousin dead, Oh
my yes, I would return, aiming loss of memory.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Don't work out now, John, you best come along with us,
take me, sirs, come over here. I'd be glad to wait.
Silas he's too close to the pit. A slip and
we'd all be in try. Please, I'm a match for
you both.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
Mister Jacob, I hear you. I'm coming, mister.
Speaker 9 (25:39):
Jagon, I'll stay back, lady, I had no use for
you anymore.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
You said I was pretty, mister Jaco. You said that
to me.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Ready, don't go on me. I am aware you to
be ugly woman.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
No, you didn't say things like that in the lime tub,
in the.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Keep back, keep back, letty lett me. We're both gone,
poor devils. It was the next day in the carriage,
(26:19):
riding back to town near me beside me, the sight
of her lovely face driving away, U great thoughts of
the night before.
Speaker 7 (26:28):
Is it all behind us now, Philip, all that hatred.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Let's finish, my Donnie. There's just you and I and
our future together.
Speaker 7 (26:37):
A peaceful future. We'll have to watch your nerves.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Nerves, Oh, my lord, in the excitement. I forgot all
about it.
Speaker 7 (26:47):
But the excitement might have killed you killed.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
It cured me that doctor was wrong. My life was
too dull.
Speaker 7 (26:56):
Then excitement is what you need.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Yes, I've been thinking about our honeymoon. There's a wonderful
old castle on the Rhine DC. It's haunted.
Speaker 10 (27:31):
Suspense presented by Autolite to Light star mister Herbert Marshall.
This is Harlow Wilcox again speaking for Autolite, world's largest
independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment. Auto Light is proud
to serve the greatest names in the industry. That's why,
during these early months of nineteen fifty three, the Autolite
(27:52):
family is again saluting the leading manufacturers who install auto
Light products as original equipment. As a climate to this
salute series, auto Light will present on both radio and
television the Eastern Parade of Stars Auto Show from New
York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Just four weeks from tonight, we
(28:12):
will bring you the exciting dramatization of the only round
the World automobile.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
Race ever run.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
The program will star Van Johnson and will originate from
the Grand ballroom of the Waldorf where the Auto Show
will be in progress. That's Monday, April sixth, And of
course you're invited to join us next week for our
regular suspense program.
Speaker 10 (28:40):
Next week a story about heroism as we document the
attempt of three brave men to conquer the mountain our
star mister John Hodiac.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
That's next week on Suspense.
Speaker 10 (28:55):
Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music
composed by Lucian Moore and conducted by lud Gluskin. The
Dead Alive was adapted for suspense by Sam Roll from
the story by Wilkie Collins. In tonight's story, Mary Jane
Croft has heard as Naomi Lamont, Johnson as Silas, Jeanette
Nolan as Letty, and Joseph Kerns as mister Jago.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Herbert Marshall can currently be seen in the RKAO production
Angel Face. This is the CBS Radio Network.
Auto lights, and it's ninety eight thousand dealers. Bring you,
mister Herbert Marshall in Tonight's presentation of suspense. Tonight Auto
Light presents a story based on fact and written by
a master of suspense, an adaptation of the nineteenth century
(00:27):
born murder case called The Dead Alive. The author Wilkie Collins,
our star, mister Herbert Marshall.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Hey, Wilcox, how are you hitting them? Kid? O?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Hello? Stan? How's our bouncing bantam and brainy baseball manager.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Feeling like a home run?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I'llo pearl along?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Like I said, of those auto light spark plugs are yours?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah? I couldn't understand you better stand. Those Ignition engineered
auto light spark plugs are designed for the smoothest most
economical performance money can buy.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
When use any other hollow they're real majorly.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Thank you, Stan.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Friends. If your car isn't giving you the performance it should,
why not have your spark plugs checked by your nearest
auto light spark plug dealer. He's equipped to give you
expert cleaning and adjustment, and if those spark plugs are
worn or need replacing, he'll install a set of famous
Signition engineered autolite spark plugs, either standard or resistor type.
(01:25):
To quickly locate your auto light spark plug dealer, phone
Western Union by number and ask for operator twenty five.
And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
with auto light. And now auto Light presents the Dead Alive,
starring mister Herbert Marshall, hoping once again to keep you
(01:46):
in suspense.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
How did the doctor put it to be back there
in London. Your disease, mister, is overwork. Your cure is rest.
Your alternative is death. Nice choice of words there, but
not to be ignored for any excitement, stirred sudden, unbearable
pains in my head. The trip was RESTful, though the
(02:16):
prospect of visiting a country just five years beyond the
Civil War was a little disturbing. The long standing invitation
of my mother's distant relative appeared to hold a promise
of friendship and hospitality, the very thing for a nerve
ridden English barrister. I'd bought in a railroad car at Boston,
which deposited me at Marwick Station. The countryside viewed from
(02:39):
the station was as flat, as monotonous as any that
the earth can show. If to be cured bent in
my case, to be dull, and I picked the very
place for the purpose.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Mister Philip the frank.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Well, yes, of course you must be cousin.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Silas, that's right, and didn't mean to startle you.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I was fascinated by this very interesting countryside of yours.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Let's start off on an honest footing. This view is uninspired, Philip,
but it is good farm land. That's most important.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Is this your luggage? No, just these bags here. I'll
take the big one.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
That's all right. You carry the two small bags, not.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Your your hand. That bandage, it must be painful.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
It's just a scratch. He couldn't hurt me. The carriages
this way.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Our ride to Middlecroft Farm passed for the most part
in silence, and silence seemed most appropriate. As we drove
through a grove of stunted, twisted trees. On the road ahead,
a short, wid little man walked towards the house. He
glanced over his shoulder, then casually angled. Let us pass.
But something went wrong with our horse. But he sweve
towards the man. What kill nearly killed that man?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Next time, he'll move out it the way faster.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But you led The horn was still recleared him.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
No matter that man was John Jago, my overseer. Not
a very nice man, Philip, not nice at all, and
why do.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
You keep him?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Unfortunately father left the controlling interest in this estate to
my system, and Letty feels that Jago can run things
better than I can not.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Still no reason. You might have killed the man, in
which case I would.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Have given him a sort of burial. I'd give my dog,
not my favorite dog, mind.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You a gray house like a huge toad squatted massively
at the end of the road. Three barking hounds chased
our carriage up to the front porch. My cousin sent
them scampering as we dismounted. A melancoly middle aged woman
(04:49):
without visible attraction of any thought, waited for us to
the hallway.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Cousin Philip, I trust the Lord sent you an easy.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Voyage, a delightful voyage. Cousin Letty, it's very good good.
Speaker 6 (05:02):
Of you to have me thank my father rest his soul.
We shall do our best to honor the invitation he
extended to your branch of the family. Silas, did you
pass mister Jago on.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Your way up?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yes, I passed him.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
You might have been good enough to offer him a lift.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I did after a fashion. It's right, Philip, I'll showed
you to your room.
Speaker 6 (05:28):
Supper is at eight, Cousin, Philip, we start exactly on
the hour.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Cyrus left me in a clean, almost terror room. To
pass the time, I made a game of searching for
some dust. Was depressing not to Finally I paced, I worried, red,
and generally tried to keep the bloom of the house
and sinking to my bones. Was useless. By eight o'clock,
I was morosely trying to decide whether to go down
(05:58):
to dinner or repack and leave. My stomach made the
decision for me. I walked out of my room and
into the loveliest creature I've ever seen.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Oh I'm sorry, Oh no, my fault. I shouldn't run
down hallways.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Of course you're a Philip, of course, But they told
me nothing about you.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
But I don't think they're quite sure of how to
classify me. I'm Naomi Colebrook. We'd better go downstairs. We'll
miss dinner.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Are you visiting to miss Colebrook?
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Oh no, I've been here over six months now. I'm
a vague sort of relative. Letty and Silas took me
and after my parents passed away.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Oh that was very good of them, Yes it was.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
But I I am glad to have someone else here.
Speaker 8 (06:44):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Is anything wrong?
Speaker 7 (06:46):
Well, there are tentions in this house. You may feel them.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I already have something most unpleasant about it all.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
Oh, please don't let it drive you away. I have
to talk to somebody.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
You see, Naomi, where are you?
Speaker 7 (07:02):
We're coming, Silas, we'll talk later.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Dinner started off as a choet affair. Naomi, Silas, Letty
and myself were there, of course. The fifth person was
John Jago, the fellow who'd almost run down if he
acknowledged the introduction to me, then lapsed into silence. The
only time I saw any animation on his face was
when he glanced at Naomi. Silas noticed it too.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
You find miss Naomi's face interesting, mister Jego, I beg
your pardon, Silas.
Speaker 7 (07:37):
Please don't start in again.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
It's offensive for the help to be staring at you
like that.
Speaker 6 (07:41):
Your imagination is being overworked again, Silas.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Dear Letty so fond of mister Jego. Isn't there one
small pang of jealousy at his interest in Naomi.
Speaker 9 (07:51):
Silas, I'm sorry, miss Letty. When your brother is in
one of these moods, it's best that I retire.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Good Night, good riddance.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
There was no need for that, Silas.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
You're too even tempered, Naomi. Let's put it to our
guest here, Philip. What did you think of that surly
fellow's behavior?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Why? I don't know as to looking at this name
his face, it constantly attracts my own gaze.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Ah, does it?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yes? Does that make it necessary for me to leave
the table?
Speaker 7 (08:26):
Let's both go for a walk, Philip, I've had enough
of this for one evening.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
But Naomi let her be go.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
Cousin, Philip, I wish to talk to my brother alone.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
The danger signal in my head and those flashes of
pain did not slack them until we name. Me and
I were deep within the grove of trees that's arounded
the house. The moon was full. It's raised, filtering through
the dense overhead growth of twisted branches. We walked slowly
towards the pale green glow that diffused the gray night
ahead of us.
Speaker 7 (09:05):
What's wrong, Philip, your faith.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Party, it's pain. The doctor warned me to avoid.
Speaker 7 (09:11):
Excitement, silence, starts up with everyone.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
And he turns his angle upon poor mister Jago.
Speaker 7 (09:18):
As they had a terrible fight the other day. Mister
Jego had to use a knife to defend himself.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
He won't bother me.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
I'm not too sure he was furious with you at dinner.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
I refuse to allow anybody to interfere with the pleasure
I take from your company. But what's causing that green
mister head?
Speaker 7 (09:37):
Oh that's a natural line kill. They say it's been
burning for centuries.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
There's a hypnotic quality about this green pit. I can't
take my eyes from it.
Speaker 7 (09:48):
Terrifies me. I keep imagining what had happened if someone
were to fall in there.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Or they should put a fence about it.
Speaker 7 (09:58):
There for the trees. Someone's watching us?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Huh, who's that?
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I hope I'm not intruding.
Speaker 7 (10:08):
What do you want, mister Jago?
Speaker 9 (10:09):
I don't wish to disturb you all these gentlemen, but
I must speak to you, miss Naomi in private.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
This is hardly the manner to approach Eves dropping from
behind a tree.
Speaker 9 (10:19):
Oh no, sir, I've just been walking through this grove
and came upon you.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
But I must talk to.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
This lady, you won't it hold until tomorrow?
Speaker 9 (10:27):
Be a great kindness on your part, of very great kindness,
if you'll let me speak before I rest.
Speaker 7 (10:32):
To night, very well, we'll go back to the house,
not the house, miss, why not?
Speaker 9 (10:38):
There are eyes and ears in the house, and footsteps
so soft that no person can hear them.
Speaker 7 (10:44):
Then we'll speak here where we can see all about us, Sir,
if you.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Don't mind, I don't want to leave you here, Neami.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
Oh, I'll be quite all right, Philip, mister jay girls
see me back to the house.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
You know best.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Good night, good night, and thank you.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I slept but little that night. I wanted to leave,
get away from that wretched house, but the idea of
leaving Naomi there all alone was unthinkable. With the dawn,
I dressed and went down to the front porch, an
angry sight met my eyes, Silence, holding his walking stick
like a blood gem and waving the jago, while the
(11:24):
little oversere crouched before him like a snarling game cock,
the wicked blade of his knife fashion in the light.
Speaker 9 (11:30):
I stay back.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I warn you, you warn me.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I told you to stay away from her.
Speaker 9 (11:36):
She's not my style. Mister Silas whimp can bring back.
I've set my mark on you once, I may do
it a second time.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
I christ you start of that here, Silas, give me
the cane, they go give it to me, you meddling fool.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
He's gotten away just as well.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
He handled that knife with some knowledge. You wouldn't have
faired well in that fight.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
You think not, you, cousin Philip. I have my stick.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Now, if you must have it here, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
And I'd like to walk through the grove unless you
have some objection, so we will insist on following him.
We will finish this now, Jago and I. And this
is a warning to you, cousin Philip, leave Naomi alone,
or you may have some of the same.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Neither of them had returned to the house by late afternoon.
Near Miss stayed in her room all day. Cousin Letty
sat in her rocking chair and knitted her eyes, never
leaving the front door as she waited fearfully. The ugly
premonition of violent deaths hung about the rooms. Finally approaching footsteps,
(12:56):
and we watched to see who would enter.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Silas. Where is mister jegu.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
I believe we've seen the last of that one.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Did you you haven't brought your walking stick.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Now, I don't fear, cousin Philip, I have another, should
you want to take a stroll through the grove.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Much greater? That night, I sat in my room, fully dressed,
trying to read. The wildest thoughts were skipping frantic through
my mind. Was my cousin silas a murderer? He had
all but admitted it. And yet someone was walking through
the hall a light, almost stealthy footstep. I opened my
(13:53):
door as a wide robe ghostlike figure descended the stairway.
It was let, her body rigid, staring blinder before her.
It is dangerous to rouse a sleepwalker, So I followed
out of the house through the glove of trees to
the mouth of the lime kill. She stood there, trembling
(14:16):
in the green light, and she took one further step
towards the kill. I reached out and grabbed her shoulders.
But it's me. Did you understand.
Speaker 8 (14:29):
He's there, mister Jacob is there in you know?
Speaker 7 (14:37):
He called me his voice, He came from there.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
That was a dream, little you walked in your sleep dream.
Speaker 7 (14:46):
He's in there.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I tell you there's nothing we can do. Nobody could
climb down into that pit to see.
Speaker 8 (14:51):
Over there by the tree, a long pole with a
mesh hi her net.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
You'll see mister Jacob is in there.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
He told me so. And in the black of that
night I set about the macab task of fishing to kill.
Within the hour I had brought up a partially burned
walking stick, Jago's knife, and a small heap of charred bones.
Speaker 10 (15:24):
All the light is bringing you, mister Herbert Marshall in
Wilkie Collins The Dead Alive Tonight's presentation in Radio's Outstanding
Theater of Thrills Suspense.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Hey, Harlow, you know I signed a whole new team.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yeah, Stan, who are they?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
By a set of those auto light resisted type spark plugs?
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Of course, then you're set for a winning season.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Stan.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Those auto light resistor spark plugs are the greatest advance
in spark plugs for automotive use in the past two
and a half decades.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Is that all? I thought they were the best in twenty.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Five years your right stand and that built in autolite
resistor makes possible such advantages as double spark plug life,
smoother engine performance, and quick starts. And the resistor spark
plug is only one of a complete line of world
famous autolite spark plugs, Ignition engineered for every automotive use.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
That's the straight pitch, folks.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
So see you're nearest autolite spark plug dealer for a
spark plug check.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Soon.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
He services all makes of cars, and he has Ignition
engineered auto light spark plugs, either standard or resistor type.
To quickly learn his location, phone Western Union by number
and ask for operator twenty five. And remember, from bumper
to tail light, you're all always right with the auto light.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
And now auto.
Speaker 10 (17:03):
Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage mister Herbert Marshall
in Elliot Lewis's production of The Dead Alive, a tale
well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
On the parlor table, belying the walking stick, the knife,
and the charred bones of John Jago. I'd roused near
me in silas. And now the four of us set
around the room, our eyes sturiously avoiding the grizzly pile
before us. The night from the oil lamps failed to
clear shadows from the dark corners of the parlor, and
(17:46):
so be set and waited for the silence to accuse
I didn't do him.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
You have murder on your soul. Mister Jago told me
that too, Oh.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
In your dream.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I suppose he never cared for you, Letty, Why do
you carry on.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
So about him?
Speaker 5 (18:04):
He was too shy to tell me, and now he
never will. For you killed him.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
That is your stick, Silas.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I stumbled near the kill it fell in, and the
knife and the bone, Silas.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
You killed him, Silas, and make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I'm going to bed.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
There's nothing more to be done to night. We may
as well all get some sleep.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
I don't think I'll have a sleep again, or at least.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Try near me Tomorrow. We'll have to call in the magistrate.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
Aren't you coming, Letty, I'll stay here with mister Jago.
Speaker 7 (18:42):
Letty, please no.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Leave her near me. Come?
Speaker 7 (18:49):
Oh, Philip, why did it happen?
Speaker 3 (18:51):
You probably know best of all.
Speaker 7 (18:54):
I know nothing.
Speaker 9 (18:55):
No.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
What did Jago say to the all night in the garden.
The police will want to.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Know we'd been talking. I don't recall about what suddenly
he seemed to go.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Mad, mad in what way?
Speaker 7 (19:12):
He fell on his knees. He kissed my guard, my hand.
He cried that he.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Was in love with me, poor fellow, I imagine you
told him it was impossible.
Speaker 7 (19:23):
He wanted me to marry him. Of course it was impossible.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Silas must have found it out. That could explain the
why of this murder.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
Well, I can't stay here any more.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Nor can I to morrow. We'll move into town until
the police clear us. And then what then? Phellow, good all?
What's that?
Speaker 7 (19:43):
Oh, don't leave me.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
It's too late to catch whoever that was?
Speaker 7 (19:46):
Some one overheard us.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Yes, someone here. Get into your room. Bote your door
and don't open it for any one. You hear, Philip.
I'm so afraid, truthfully, darling, so am I. If ever
a house was a cursed this was it, With madness
(20:09):
or worse, mocking from every crevison corner in my room.
I locked the door and went to bed. Sleep did
not come easily, but it came. I must have just
dropped off when some inner sense warned me of a
presence in the room. Something was gliding quietly towards the bed.
(20:29):
I half opened my eyes and caught the dark shadow
of movement and the momentary flash of metal. I rolled
out of bed as a knife slashed into the mattress.
I've been lying my A savant followed me, slashing hecking
in the pillow the chair that I held before me.
I tried it out of the door. We'll still bolt it,
and I set the boat, and the shadow rushed, driving
(20:51):
me back in terror.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
I threw a lamp and.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Hit someone sudden me over the knife wielder her gone.
I fired a lamp, then stood staring at the butcher
knife that lay on the floor, My being revolted in
(21:17):
fear and anger. I was sick, sick of this house,
of my cousins, sick of waiting to be stuck down
in the dock. Get upside us? Who's there? Stop attending
of you? Asleep? Philip?
Speaker 4 (21:31):
The Devil's the matter with you?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Naomi, wouldn't have had you under any circumstances. What did
you hope to gain by killing me?
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Killing you?
Speaker 1 (21:40):
If I wanted to kill you, cousin, I would face
up to you like a man not striking the dock.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Who else in this house? But was a thing like that?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
What of Letty?
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Letty? It couldn't have been a woman?
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Don't underestimate on e England the women, Philip, as strong
as occidental.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
You better come along with me while I question her.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
You don't trust me exactly.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Letty was still in the parlor, staring at the bones
of her dead lover, sitting stoically in her chair. Something
had changed her though. There was an ecstatic look about her,
and for the moment her face was almost pretty Letty.
Someone just tried to kill me. I know, how do
(22:32):
you know?
Speaker 8 (22:34):
Mister Jaco told me you're going to die.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
She won't grasp the fact that John is dead.
Speaker 8 (22:39):
Oh, yes, I know he's dead. But now he's closer
to me than ever. He comes to see me and
talk to me.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Did you go upstairs, Letty to my room with a knife?
Speaker 8 (22:53):
That Jaco told me I was pretty? I asked him
if I was, and he told me he's dead now,
but he's with me all the time.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Well, Philip, are you still quite positive.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
It was near me? I ran up the stairs, silas
at my heels and nagging insane thought kept tugging at
my brain, letting Syrus and my son we'd been together
in the parlor. Then, who was it? What was it?
What horror was attacking them in her room? Tell me
(23:35):
open this door, it's me, NAILI are you all right?
Stand back, I'm going to break it open. She's not here,
the window has been smashed. There's nobody in the yard.
Looked over through the grove, the branches sway. Something moving
(23:55):
through there. That one again, But who ah, what can
your dogs track?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Have cast their hunting guarding them around.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Put them on the scent. Whatever that thing is it
has Naomi Ah. The dogs picked up the scent and
ran bay into the tree grove. Silas and I lanterns
praying yellow light through the darkness, followed. Somewhere ahead there
was something man or monster without a mind. Suddenly the
(24:28):
lime killed. The dogs stopped howling. We saw Naomi lying
by the edge of the pit. I knelt beside her,
feeling the life beat feebly through her pulse, and then
another feeling. The air parted behind me as something crept
towards my back, something poised to push me into the kill.
(24:50):
I turned sharply, and a shadow flowed backwards, crossing to
the opposite side of the pit. The green glow stippled
around the form of a man.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
John Jago alive very much so.
Speaker 9 (25:04):
It would have been nice to have mister Silas hang
for my murder.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Your plans for me were very much more direct.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
I will careful, miss Naomi I'll just talk like mister Silas.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
You think she'd have a luck to you.
Speaker 9 (25:16):
Nay, mister Silas, with you and your cousin dead, Oh
my yes, I would return, aiming loss of memory.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Don't work out now, John, you best come along with us,
take me, sirs, come over here. I'd be glad to wait.
Silas he's too close to the pit. A slip and
we'd all be in try. Please, I'm a match for
you both.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
Mister Jacob, I hear you. I'm coming, mister.
Speaker 9 (25:39):
Jagon, I'll stay back, lady, I had no use for
you anymore.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
You said I was pretty, mister Jaco. You said that
to me.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Ready, don't go on me. I am aware you to
be ugly woman.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
No, you didn't say things like that in the lime tub,
in the.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Keep back, keep back, letty lett me. We're both gone,
poor devils. It was the next day in the carriage,
(26:19):
riding back to town near me beside me, the sight
of her lovely face driving away, U great thoughts of
the night before.
Speaker 7 (26:28):
Is it all behind us now, Philip, all that hatred.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Let's finish, my Donnie. There's just you and I and
our future together.
Speaker 7 (26:37):
A peaceful future. We'll have to watch your nerves.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Nerves, Oh, my lord, in the excitement. I forgot all
about it.
Speaker 7 (26:47):
But the excitement might have killed you killed.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
It cured me that doctor was wrong. My life was
too dull.
Speaker 7 (26:56):
Then excitement is what you need.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Yes, I've been thinking about our honeymoon. There's a wonderful
old castle on the Rhine DC. It's haunted.
Speaker 10 (27:31):
Suspense presented by Autolite to Light star mister Herbert Marshall.
This is Harlow Wilcox again speaking for Autolite, world's largest
independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment. Auto Light is proud
to serve the greatest names in the industry. That's why,
during these early months of nineteen fifty three, the Autolite
(27:52):
family is again saluting the leading manufacturers who install auto
Light products as original equipment. As a climate to this
salute series, auto Light will present on both radio and
television the Eastern Parade of Stars Auto Show from New
York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Just four weeks from tonight, we
(28:12):
will bring you the exciting dramatization of the only round
the World automobile.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
Race ever run.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
The program will star Van Johnson and will originate from
the Grand ballroom of the Waldorf where the Auto Show
will be in progress. That's Monday, April sixth, And of
course you're invited to join us next week for our
regular suspense program.
Speaker 10 (28:40):
Next week a story about heroism as we document the
attempt of three brave men to conquer the mountain our
star mister John Hodiac.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
That's next week on Suspense.
Speaker 10 (28:55):
Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music
composed by Lucian Moore and conducted by lud Gluskin. The
Dead Alive was adapted for suspense by Sam Roll from
the story by Wilkie Collins. In tonight's story, Mary Jane
Croft has heard as Naomi Lamont, Johnson as Silas, Jeanette
Nolan as Letty, and Joseph Kerns as mister Jago.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Herbert Marshall can currently be seen in the RKAO production
Angel Face. This is the CBS Radio Network.
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