WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.160 demons 00:11.160 --> 00:15.720 Suspense. 00:15.720 --> 00:36.080 For you men and women in the armed forces of the United Nations, we present one of America's 00:36.080 --> 00:45.280 top spine tinglers, a radio rebroadcast of a program dedicated to the mysterious, the 00:45.280 --> 00:50.240 unusual and sometimes the supernatural. 00:50.240 --> 00:54.880 A program of suspense. 00:54.880 --> 01:01.840 The producer of Suspense asks you to almost believe that the following is true. 01:01.840 --> 01:03.960 Very well. 01:03.960 --> 01:08.040 Standing beside me surrounded by two guards is a man who in a few short hours is to be 01:08.040 --> 01:10.040 put to death in the electric chair. 01:10.040 --> 01:14.720 His last request to the warden was that he be allowed to speak on this program and reveal 01:14.720 --> 01:17.600 what he calls some startling information. 01:17.600 --> 01:23.200 The warden naturally turned to us and we at once complied, anxious at all times to do 01:23.200 --> 01:39.960 anything, however strange, that will hold our listeners in suspense. 01:39.960 --> 01:47.280 Ladies and gentlemen, this broadcast will never be completed. 01:47.280 --> 01:49.280 I'm going to tell you a story. 01:49.280 --> 01:54.640 The story involves a number of famous and influential people here as well as abroad. 01:54.640 --> 01:57.960 These people have received warning from me and I am sure all of them are making it a 01:57.960 --> 02:00.200 point to listen to me now. 02:00.200 --> 02:04.880 I shall not name these great, these rich, these influential gentlemen until my story 02:04.880 --> 02:06.320 is over. 02:06.320 --> 02:11.200 They will recognize the story, they will remember me, they will take the necessary steps for 02:11.200 --> 02:12.840 my reprieve. 02:12.840 --> 02:16.680 I shall expect a full pardon and safe conduct to a neutral country. 02:16.680 --> 02:17.680 These are my terms. 02:17.680 --> 02:22.880 I shall expect word of this to be brought to this studio during this broadcast. 02:22.880 --> 02:26.920 But as I have warned you, this broadcast will never be finished. 02:26.920 --> 02:29.080 You will never hear those names. 02:29.080 --> 02:32.280 It is certain my price will be paid. 02:32.280 --> 02:37.120 I am presently under sentence of death for my activities in the matter of refueling German 02:37.120 --> 02:39.080 submarines in the Caribbean. 02:39.080 --> 02:41.920 My full confession has been reproduced in the popular press. 02:41.920 --> 02:44.000 You have read it and you know the details. 02:44.000 --> 02:48.200 It is the least ingenious of my exploits and my first failure. 02:48.200 --> 02:49.360 So much for it. 02:49.360 --> 02:54.200 The story I shall tell you tonight occurred many years ago but concerns, as I have said, 02:54.200 --> 02:55.600 many now living. 02:55.600 --> 02:58.320 It will interest you, I hope. 02:58.320 --> 03:00.560 I know it will interest them. 03:00.560 --> 03:04.120 Very well then. 03:04.120 --> 03:09.200 On the 3rd of June 1925 in Liverpool, a man who gave his name as Mr. Louis Caratel asked 03:09.200 --> 03:12.320 to see Mr. James Bland, the superintendent of the London and West Coast Railway. 03:12.320 --> 03:16.280 He was a small man, this Caratel, middle-aged, darkened with a stoop so pronounced that it 03:16.280 --> 03:18.280 suggested some deformity of the spine. 03:18.280 --> 03:21.760 He was accompanied by a friend, a man of imposing physique from his war. 03:21.760 --> 03:25.600 The complexion was probably either a Spaniard or a South American. 03:25.600 --> 03:27.600 Turned out later that his name was Gomez. 03:27.600 --> 03:31.120 On peculiarity was observed in him, he carried in his left hand fastened to his wrist by 03:31.120 --> 03:34.000 a strap, a small leather dispatch case. 03:34.000 --> 03:38.360 No importance was attached to this fact at the time but later events endowed it with 03:38.360 --> 03:39.360 much significance. 03:39.360 --> 03:44.120 Mr. Caratel was shown to Mr. Bland's office while his companion remained outside. 03:44.120 --> 03:55.880 How do you do, Monsieur? 03:55.880 --> 03:56.880 My name is Louis Caratel. 03:56.880 --> 03:57.880 Yes, sir. 03:57.880 --> 03:58.880 What can I do for you? 03:58.880 --> 04:01.800 I have just arrived from Central America this afternoon. 04:01.800 --> 04:04.840 It is extremely urgent that I reach Paris without a moment's delay. 04:04.840 --> 04:05.840 Paris, eh? 04:05.840 --> 04:06.840 That's too bad. 04:06.840 --> 04:08.480 You just missed the London Express. 04:08.480 --> 04:10.880 I am not interested in the London Express. 04:10.880 --> 04:12.640 Could you provide me with a special train? 04:12.640 --> 04:15.480 Yes, I think that could be arranged. 04:15.480 --> 04:18.320 It's quite an expensive proposition. 04:18.320 --> 04:20.520 Money is of a small importance, Monsieur. 04:20.520 --> 04:21.600 Time is everything. 04:21.600 --> 04:24.480 If you can arrange a special for me in a hurry, you may make your own terms. 04:24.480 --> 04:25.480 There you go. 04:25.480 --> 04:28.120 Mr. Hood, will you step over here a moment, please? 04:28.120 --> 04:29.120 Yes, Mr. Bland. 04:29.120 --> 04:34.240 Mr. Hood here's our traffic manager, Mr. Caratel. 04:34.240 --> 04:35.240 Mr. Caratel. 04:35.240 --> 04:38.040 Hood, I want you to arrange a special for him. 04:38.040 --> 04:39.040 He's going to Paris. 04:39.040 --> 04:40.040 How's the line? 04:40.040 --> 04:41.680 Can you fix him up in a hurry? 04:41.680 --> 04:43.720 Yes, I believe so, Mr. Bland. 04:43.720 --> 04:49.800 The line is clear through Manchester and engine 247 at the Rochdale is on the tracks now. 04:49.800 --> 04:51.720 It could be ready, say, in 15 minutes. 04:51.720 --> 04:52.720 Good. 04:52.720 --> 04:54.480 Who's available for the trip? 04:54.480 --> 04:55.480 Engineer Smith, sir. 04:55.480 --> 04:58.120 And I can put James MacPherson on as conductor. 04:58.120 --> 05:00.280 Well, there you are, Mr. Caratel. 05:00.280 --> 05:01.280 Simple as that. 05:01.280 --> 05:03.800 Tender everything right away, will you, Hood? 05:03.800 --> 05:05.840 Yes, sir. 05:05.840 --> 05:08.640 This man, Mr. Smith and... 05:08.640 --> 05:09.640 MacPherson? 05:09.640 --> 05:10.640 MacPherson. 05:10.640 --> 05:11.640 Are they trustworthy? 05:11.640 --> 05:12.640 Oh, yes. 05:12.640 --> 05:13.640 Of course. 05:13.640 --> 05:14.640 MacPherson has been with the company for years. 05:14.640 --> 05:19.640 I'm sure Smith, although new, is an expert engineer. 05:19.640 --> 05:20.640 Me? 05:20.640 --> 05:21.640 Thank you, monsieur. 05:21.640 --> 05:23.120 I am deeply indebted. 05:23.120 --> 05:33.120 You have been most considerate. 05:33.120 --> 05:37.440 At 431 exactly by the station clock, the special train with Caratel and Gomez steamed out of 05:37.440 --> 05:38.440 the Liverpool station. 05:38.440 --> 05:41.680 The line at that time was clear and there should have been no stoppage between Manchester. 05:41.680 --> 05:45.640 At a quarter after six, considerable surprise and some consternation was caused among the 05:45.640 --> 05:49.720 officials at Liverpool by the receipt of a wire from Manchester to say that the special 05:49.720 --> 05:51.200 had not yet arrived. 05:51.200 --> 05:55.720 An inquiry directed at once to St. Helens, which is a third of the way between the two 05:55.720 --> 05:58.800 cities, elicited the following reply. 05:58.800 --> 06:05.920 To James Bland, Superintendent Liverpool, special passed here at 452, well up to time, 06:05.920 --> 06:07.960 dows of St. Helens. 06:07.960 --> 06:10.000 The wire was received at 640. 06:10.000 --> 06:13.240 At 650, a second message was received from Manchester. 06:13.240 --> 06:17.080 No sign of special was advised by you. 06:17.080 --> 06:21.520 And then 10 minutes later, a third, more bewildering. 06:21.520 --> 06:24.800 Presume some mistake is the proposed running of special. 06:24.800 --> 06:28.800 Local train from St. Helens, time to follow it, has just arrived and has seen nothing 06:28.800 --> 06:29.800 of it. 06:29.800 --> 06:31.360 Kindly wire advice it. 06:31.360 --> 06:32.360 Manchester. 06:32.360 --> 06:35.840 The matter was assuming a most amazing aspect. 06:35.840 --> 06:39.280 Although in some respects, the last telegram was a relief to the authorities at Liverpool. 06:39.280 --> 06:42.880 If an accident had occurred to the special, it seemed hardly possible that the local train 06:42.880 --> 06:45.680 could have passed down the same line without observing it. 06:45.680 --> 06:48.800 And yet, what was the alternative? 06:48.800 --> 06:50.080 Where could the train be? 06:50.080 --> 06:54.440 A telegram was dispatched to each of the stations between St. Helens and Manchester, and the 06:54.440 --> 06:58.480 superintendent and his traffic manager waited in the utmost suspense at the instrument for 06:58.480 --> 07:00.120 the series of replies. 07:00.120 --> 07:04.280 The answers came back in the order of questions, which was the order of the stations beginning 07:04.280 --> 07:07.280 at St. Helens. 07:07.280 --> 07:09.400 Special past here, 5 o'clock. 07:09.400 --> 07:12.400 Collins Green. 07:12.400 --> 07:15.640 Special past here, 6 past 5. 07:15.640 --> 07:17.480 Earlstown. 07:17.480 --> 07:20.480 Special past here, 510. 07:20.480 --> 07:21.480 Newton. 07:21.480 --> 07:24.800 Special past here, 520. 07:24.800 --> 07:28.040 Kenyon Junction. 07:28.040 --> 07:30.320 No special train has passed here. 07:30.320 --> 07:33.320 Barton Moss. 07:33.320 --> 07:43.640 Hood, this is unique in my 30 years of experience. 07:43.640 --> 07:45.800 I can't understand it, Mr. Bland. 07:45.800 --> 07:49.120 The special has gone wrong between Kenyon Junction and Barton Moss. 07:49.120 --> 07:52.120 And yet, there's no siding between the two stations. 07:52.120 --> 07:54.320 Special must have run off the rails, jumped the track. 07:54.320 --> 07:58.200 But how could the 450 Parliamentary pass over the same line without seeing it? 07:58.200 --> 07:59.760 There's no alternative, Hood. 07:59.760 --> 08:01.440 Absolutely must be so. 08:01.440 --> 08:06.200 Possibly the local may have preserved something which may throw sunlight on the matter. 08:06.200 --> 08:10.320 We'll wire to Manchester for more information, and to Kenyon Junction with instructions that 08:10.320 --> 08:19.520 line be examined intently as far as Barton Moss. 08:19.520 --> 08:23.280 The answer from Manchester came within a few minutes. 08:23.280 --> 08:25.160 No news of missing specials. 08:25.160 --> 08:27.480 Driver and guard of local train positive. 08:27.480 --> 08:30.680 No accident between Kenyon Junction and Barton Moss. 08:30.680 --> 08:33.680 Line quite clear, and no sign of anything unusual. 08:33.680 --> 08:34.680 Manchester. 08:34.680 --> 08:45.160 This is lunacy, Hood. 08:45.160 --> 08:48.440 Does a train vanish into thin air in England in broad daylight? 08:48.440 --> 08:49.440 The thing's preposterous. 08:49.440 --> 08:55.720 An engine, a tender, car, five human beings, and all lost on a straight line of railway. 08:55.720 --> 08:56.720 It's impossible. 08:56.720 --> 09:10.280 A month elapsed, during which both the police and the company prosecuted their inquiries 09:10.280 --> 09:11.840 without the slightest excess. 09:11.840 --> 09:14.640 Mr. Bland, at the end of this period, offered his resignation. 09:14.640 --> 09:15.640 It was accepted. 09:15.640 --> 09:17.240 The affair remained unsolved. 09:17.240 --> 09:21.800 A reward was offered, and a pardon promised in case of crime, but they were both unclaimed. 09:21.800 --> 09:25.160 Every day the public opened their papers with the conviction that so grotesque a mystery 09:25.160 --> 09:30.880 would at last be solved, but week after week passed by, and the solution remained as far 09:30.880 --> 09:31.880 off as ever. 09:31.880 --> 09:35.840 Then a new and most unexpected incident occurred. 09:35.840 --> 09:40.080 This was nothing less than the receipt by Mrs. McPherson of a letter from her husband 09:40.080 --> 09:43.200 James McPherson, who had been conductor of the missing train. 09:43.200 --> 09:48.200 The letter, which was dated July 5, 1925, was posted from Mozambique, Portuguese East 09:48.200 --> 09:51.040 Africa, and came to hand up on the July 14th. 09:51.040 --> 09:57.640 My dear wife, I've been thinking a great deal, and I find it very hard to give you up. 09:57.640 --> 10:01.760 I try to fight against it, but it will always come back to me. 10:01.760 --> 10:06.080 I send you some money, which will change into 20 English poems. 10:06.080 --> 10:08.320 This should be enough to bring you here. 10:08.320 --> 10:12.680 Things are very difficult with me at present, and I'm not very happy, finding it so hard 10:12.680 --> 10:14.120 to give you up. 10:14.120 --> 10:15.960 So no more at present. 10:15.960 --> 10:28.160 From your loving husband, James McPherson. 10:28.160 --> 10:32.040 For a time it was confidently anticipated that the letter would lead to the clearing 10:32.040 --> 10:33.040 up of the whole incident. 10:33.040 --> 10:36.680 As directed, Mrs. McPherson sailed to Portuguese East Africa. 10:36.680 --> 10:40.200 She stayed in Mozambique for some time, but heard nothing from the missing man. 10:40.200 --> 10:45.320 Finally she returned to Liverpool, and so the matter stood, and has continued to stand 10:45.320 --> 10:47.080 right up to the present moment. 10:47.080 --> 10:52.280 Incredible, as it may seem, nothing has transpired during those 18 years which has shed the least 10:52.280 --> 10:56.560 light upon the extraordinary disappearance of the special plane which contained Mr. Carl 10:56.560 --> 11:01.760 Attil and his companion Mr. Gomez, and McPherson, the conductor, Smith, the engineer, the fireman 11:01.760 --> 11:02.760 named Slater. 11:02.760 --> 11:11.600 But now, after all this time, I shall clear up the entire affair, and unless I hear from 11:11.600 --> 11:18.360 those so highly respectable gentlemen who were my employers, and who are completely 11:18.360 --> 11:25.880 implicated in the crime, unless I hear from them before I'm finished, their names will 11:25.880 --> 11:27.920 be revealed on this broadcast. 11:27.920 --> 11:30.000 Take final warning, gentlemen. 11:30.000 --> 11:32.360 You know I mean what I say. 11:32.360 --> 11:37.120 If you are smart, you are at this moment arranging my reprieve. 11:37.120 --> 11:43.320 Just to remind you, time is short, you have just six minutes. 11:43.320 --> 11:49.200 Now for the interest of my other listeners, I shall resume the story of the lost special. 11:49.200 --> 11:55.080 In a word, there was a famous trial in Paris in the year 1925, perhaps you recall it, in 11:55.080 --> 11:58.640 connection with a monstrous scandal, scandal in politics and finance. 11:58.640 --> 12:03.520 How monstrous that scandal was can never be known except by such confidential agents as 12:03.520 --> 12:04.520 myself. 12:04.520 --> 12:08.360 At stake were the honor and careers of many of the chief men of Europe and the United 12:08.360 --> 12:09.360 States. 12:09.360 --> 12:11.960 A secret committee was formed to manage the business. 12:11.960 --> 12:17.240 Some subscribed to the committee who hardly understood what were its objects, but others 12:17.240 --> 12:19.600 understood very well. 12:19.600 --> 12:23.560 They can rely upon it that I have not forgotten their names. 12:23.560 --> 12:26.560 You think I could forget your names, gentlemen? 12:26.560 --> 12:34.480 You pillars of the community, great, rich, respected, honorable men. 12:34.480 --> 12:40.080 You remember that day in May 1925, the fashionable country club, remember? 12:40.080 --> 12:45.080 And the golf game that was played there that spring morning. 12:45.080 --> 12:55.080 Ladies and gentlemen, that was the strangest golf game ever played in the history of this 12:55.080 --> 12:56.080 world. 12:56.080 --> 12:57.080 Oh, Grach, look at that drive. 12:57.080 --> 12:58.080 I've been playing badly all morning. 12:58.080 --> 12:59.080 You topped it, Senator. 12:59.080 --> 13:00.080 Perhaps you're a little nervous. 13:00.080 --> 13:01.080 I beg your pardon? 13:01.080 --> 13:02.080 May I join your game? 13:02.080 --> 13:03.080 Well, I'm not sure that we should... 13:03.080 --> 13:04.080 Not sure of what? 13:04.080 --> 13:05.080 Of me? 13:05.080 --> 13:08.680 I promise you, gentlemen, you can be very sure of me. 13:08.680 --> 13:10.440 I'm the man you're supposed to meet. 13:10.440 --> 13:12.800 The distinguished congressman here can vouch for me. 13:12.800 --> 13:13.800 Yeah, he's the one all right. 13:13.800 --> 13:14.800 This is the Lerniak. 13:14.800 --> 13:16.800 Mr. The Lerniak, may I present... 13:16.800 --> 13:21.760 My name is not really the Lerniak gentleman, but I am sure that bothers you no less than 13:21.760 --> 13:22.760 it does me. 13:22.760 --> 13:24.400 Besides, there is no need for introductions. 13:24.400 --> 13:29.680 I know everyone present by sight and by reputation. 13:29.680 --> 13:32.680 My drive, I believe. 13:32.680 --> 13:33.680 Thank you. 13:33.680 --> 13:36.680 Not so good. 13:36.680 --> 13:41.440 Two hundred and what, about 50 yards. 13:41.440 --> 13:44.160 I hope I'm not going to continue in this way. 13:44.160 --> 13:46.480 You're sure we can talk safely here, Frank? 13:46.480 --> 13:48.520 Please set your mind at ease. 13:48.520 --> 13:51.640 We shan't be over heard in the middle of a golf course. 13:51.640 --> 13:56.520 There is no convenient hiding place here for dictaphone, even in the rough, where I notice 13:56.520 --> 13:58.760 you're playing the greater part of your game, Senator. 13:58.760 --> 14:00.240 You must be nervous this morning. 14:00.240 --> 14:01.680 I know, but I don't like it. 14:01.680 --> 14:02.680 I don't like it at all. 14:02.680 --> 14:08.280 Well, it's not the superlative course you are accustomed to on your own enormous California 14:08.280 --> 14:12.480 estate, sir, but it's going to have to serve our particular purpose. 14:12.480 --> 14:17.200 Oh, by the way, let me compliment you on the way you've had your syndicate of newspapers 14:17.200 --> 14:21.800 handle the recent strike situation and the editorial which appeared under your own signature 14:21.800 --> 14:22.800 this morning. 14:22.800 --> 14:25.800 It's well calculated to stir up trouble with the labor. 14:25.800 --> 14:27.320 Please, please, let's get on with our business. 14:27.320 --> 14:28.320 Yes, I... 14:28.320 --> 14:29.320 Mr. The Lerniak... 14:29.320 --> 14:33.600 Thank you all service, sir, and may I suggest we continue our game? 14:33.600 --> 14:36.440 I know the absence of caddies is an inconvenience. 14:36.440 --> 14:37.440 Mr. The Lerniak... 14:37.440 --> 14:38.440 Certainly. 14:38.440 --> 14:42.360 In June, a month from now in Paris, there will be a most important trial... 14:42.360 --> 14:43.360 Ah, yes. 14:43.360 --> 14:44.360 ...during its progress. 14:44.360 --> 14:46.040 Pardon me, are you referring to the Sarinski trial? 14:46.040 --> 14:47.040 Yes. 14:47.040 --> 14:48.760 You know about it, then? 14:48.760 --> 14:50.360 Well, certain interesting details. 14:50.360 --> 14:54.840 I know something about my business after all, to keep myself informed about these matters. 14:54.840 --> 14:57.320 It is not for nothing that I am known as the most... 14:57.320 --> 14:58.880 Let me continue, please. 14:58.880 --> 15:02.720 This trial, I'm speaking in the utmost confidence you understand. 15:02.720 --> 15:07.080 This trial could, if certain evidence were introduced, could have a very serious effect 15:07.080 --> 15:10.160 upon the prestige and standing of some most important men. 15:10.160 --> 15:12.480 In fact, it could even... 15:12.480 --> 15:14.640 You're shivering, Senator. 15:14.640 --> 15:16.080 You find it cold out here? 15:16.080 --> 15:17.080 No, no, no. 15:17.080 --> 15:18.080 Get on with it, Frank. 15:18.080 --> 15:19.080 Get to the point. 15:19.080 --> 15:20.080 For heaven's sake, please. 15:20.080 --> 15:23.160 The evidence which one man could bring to the trial could ruin these men. 15:23.160 --> 15:25.800 Without it, the trial will collapse for want of facts. 15:25.800 --> 15:28.280 But if this one man arrives in Paris, I... 15:28.280 --> 15:31.080 But evidently, you do not wish him to arrive in Paris. 15:31.080 --> 15:32.080 No. 15:32.080 --> 15:33.720 Gentlemen, you have come to the man. 15:33.720 --> 15:37.080 This sounds indeed like the sort of thing which no one in the world can manage with 15:37.080 --> 15:38.800 such skill and success as myself. 15:38.800 --> 15:42.120 I must admit, however, that my services come rather high. 15:42.120 --> 15:43.120 Well... 15:43.120 --> 15:44.960 It's only natural since there is only one... 15:44.960 --> 15:46.480 The money makes no difference. 15:46.480 --> 15:50.200 We have formed a group, a committee, and we have the command of an unlimited amount of 15:50.200 --> 15:51.200 money. 15:51.200 --> 15:52.200 Absolutely unlimited, you hear? 15:52.200 --> 15:53.200 We will name people and places now. 15:53.200 --> 15:57.440 Who is the gentleman whose appearance in Paris would cause such regrettable embarrassment? 15:57.440 --> 15:59.520 His name is Caratel, Louis Caratel. 15:59.520 --> 16:00.520 He knows everything. 16:00.520 --> 16:02.120 He has papers, documents, all the evidence. 16:02.120 --> 16:03.120 Yes, yes, I understand. 16:03.120 --> 16:04.760 Where is this Monsieur Caratel at present? 16:04.760 --> 16:09.840 Well, he's sailing from somewhere in Central America within the next two days. 16:09.840 --> 16:10.840 That much we know. 16:10.840 --> 16:11.840 Good, good. 16:11.840 --> 16:12.840 Central America. 16:12.840 --> 16:13.840 I have an excellent man down there in Central America. 16:13.840 --> 16:18.160 This Caratel, you know anything about him personally, his personal habits? 16:18.160 --> 16:19.160 Well, very little. 16:19.160 --> 16:20.160 He's a small man, dark. 16:20.160 --> 16:23.880 He has a bodyguard, a great big bruiser named Lopez Gomez or something like that. 16:23.880 --> 16:27.760 Let me see, from Central America, that would be the Americano Tropicana. 16:27.760 --> 16:28.760 Those are my ships. 16:28.760 --> 16:29.760 You do. 16:29.760 --> 16:32.440 The trips all commence at Liverpool, I believe. 16:32.440 --> 16:36.720 That's where the ships dock and our famous trial is to begin in three weeks. 16:36.720 --> 16:40.480 That would mean that Monsieur Caratel would go directly to London, and I imagine that 16:40.480 --> 16:44.200 once there he would be heavily guarded, since it can be no surprise to him that you gentlemen 16:44.200 --> 16:49.200 are not without connections in the British capital. 16:49.200 --> 16:50.200 That's good, clean thinking. 16:50.200 --> 16:56.360 See, this is not so simple as some of my other exploits, a simple assassination. 16:56.360 --> 16:57.360 There's your ball, sir. 16:57.360 --> 17:00.800 You're playing a Don Lapp 38, aren't you? 17:00.800 --> 17:03.480 Yes, yes, to be sure, yes. 17:03.480 --> 17:04.480 Quite. 17:04.480 --> 17:08.440 As I said, a simple assassination, the usual clumsy job will not do here. 17:08.440 --> 17:13.720 The documents might, after all we found, the bodyguard might survive somehow, and then 17:13.720 --> 17:15.600 we have accomplished nothing, not so. 17:15.600 --> 17:17.160 Are you going to play? 17:17.160 --> 17:19.400 Yes, yes, of course, of course. 17:19.400 --> 17:20.800 Topped it again, I'm afraid. 17:20.800 --> 17:22.000 Shall we proceed? 17:22.000 --> 17:24.720 I already have three plans in my head, gentlemen. 17:24.720 --> 17:29.240 I have a plan for nailing him at the Central American port from which he embarks. 17:29.240 --> 17:32.600 I have a plan for his disposal aboard the ship. 17:32.600 --> 17:37.520 But in each of these cases, I, de Lerniaque, will be unable to be present, so there is 17:37.520 --> 17:39.320 the chance of failure. 17:39.320 --> 17:41.840 I will think of a third plan, gentlemen. 17:41.840 --> 17:46.120 I shall sail immediately to Liverpool on my way there, sitting on the deck in the May 17:46.120 --> 17:47.120 sunshine. 17:47.120 --> 17:53.400 I shall conceive my third plan, it must be something special, something very special. 17:53.400 --> 17:55.400 There I am. 17:55.400 --> 17:57.040 Is this your famous water hazard? 17:57.040 --> 18:11.400 Well, I think a number seven iron will do it. 18:11.400 --> 18:16.720 And thus I undertook to bring about the complete destruction, or Monsieur Caratelli's bodyguard 18:16.720 --> 18:19.680 companion Gomez and his documents. 18:19.680 --> 18:25.480 Plan one was already out the window as I found out the next day. 18:25.480 --> 18:28.960 De Lerniaque, White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. 18:28.960 --> 18:35.680 Baby Lou, unable sleep last few nights, have sent him to visit Aunt Henriette. 18:35.680 --> 18:38.880 Will rejoin him on 21st. 18:38.880 --> 18:42.200 Love, Jenny. 18:42.200 --> 18:47.400 This telegram from Matagalpa conveyed to me the information that Caratelli, possibly 18:47.400 --> 18:52.920 sensing danger, had moved from his hotel and gone to stay with friends until his ship sailed. 18:52.920 --> 18:56.040 So it was impossible to carry out the idea of the fire in the hotel. 18:56.040 --> 18:58.720 His ship leaving on the 21st was the Henriette. 18:58.720 --> 19:04.640 On my fourth day at sea, I heard from a... 19:04.640 --> 19:10.120 De Lerniaque, Baron Carrier, ship to ship communication from Henriette, proper canine 19:10.120 --> 19:11.120 line. 19:11.120 --> 19:13.720 And at Grace, your box of chocolates. 19:13.720 --> 19:16.800 Louise has given up candy for Lent. 19:16.800 --> 19:21.720 Grace still wants us all together for 29th birthday party. 19:21.720 --> 19:24.120 Will be really special. 19:24.120 --> 19:26.200 Ralph. 19:26.200 --> 19:31.200 This meant that poison had been given to Gomez, the bodyguard, in an effort to get him at 19:31.200 --> 19:32.200 least out of the way. 19:32.200 --> 19:35.520 He had been unable to succumb to it. 19:35.520 --> 19:36.520 He'd thrown off the effects. 19:36.520 --> 19:41.400 And it was evidenced by the report that we would all be together on the 29th. 19:41.400 --> 19:45.880 Now Caratelli had refused to eat the food containing the poison. 19:45.880 --> 19:50.640 So much for plan two, which was not worthy of me anyway since there was always the possibility 19:50.640 --> 19:53.480 of the bodies being found in the ocean. 19:53.480 --> 19:57.720 The man Gomez was carrying the documents in a dispatch case strapped to his wrist. 19:57.720 --> 20:01.160 And I must tell you something now. 20:01.160 --> 20:02.160 I was glad. 20:02.160 --> 20:05.840 Glad, mind you, that we had failed so far. 20:05.840 --> 20:11.720 For the plan I had conceived on the night I arrived in Liverpool was so magnificent. 20:11.720 --> 20:19.520 So absolutely unprecedented in the annals of crime that I owed it to myself, to my employers, 20:19.520 --> 20:22.280 and to history to carry through. 20:22.280 --> 20:26.040 The inspiration came from the words in the code telegram which indicated that Caratelli 20:26.040 --> 20:33.120 would arrive in London and hire a special trainer to convey him from Liverpool. 20:33.120 --> 20:39.280 My British agent Mr Moore and I contrived to buy over several officials of the railway. 20:39.280 --> 20:40.960 Now here begins the story. 20:40.960 --> 20:45.440 First the division head who helped us employ James McPherson, whom we contrived to be the 20:45.440 --> 20:48.440 conductor of any special train we designated. 20:48.440 --> 20:52.640 Then further at a sum that would make them independent for life we bought over an engine 20:52.640 --> 20:56.280 driver named Oswald Smith and the fireman John Slater. 20:56.280 --> 20:59.880 These men we arranged with the division head would be assigned to whatever special train 20:59.880 --> 21:02.120 was hired by Caratelli. 21:02.120 --> 21:08.960 On the afternoon of June 3rd as I was sitting in my room at the inn at Barton Moss, the 21:08.960 --> 21:11.240 call I had been awaiting came through. 21:11.240 --> 21:12.240 It was McPherson reporting. 21:12.240 --> 21:13.240 Hello Mr Delanyak, we shall be leaving in a few minutes. 21:13.240 --> 21:14.240 He's hired the special. 21:14.240 --> 21:15.240 Good. 21:15.240 --> 21:22.040 Smith will be engine driver and Slater fireman and of course I'll be in charge. 21:22.040 --> 21:23.040 What about Moore? 21:23.040 --> 21:24.040 Will he be aboard? 21:24.040 --> 21:25.040 Afraid not sir. 21:25.040 --> 21:28.040 He gave them quite a story about having to reach his sick wife and all, but Caratelli 21:28.040 --> 21:29.040 would have none of it. 21:29.040 --> 21:31.040 You said though sir that it didn't matter. 21:31.040 --> 21:32.720 It doesn't matter. 21:32.720 --> 21:34.720 What time will you pass Kenyon Junction? 21:34.720 --> 21:39.000 Let me see sir, if we leave the next few minutes we should be there at 5.10. 21:39.000 --> 21:40.000 5.10. 21:40.000 --> 21:41.000 It's a 49 minute run sir. 21:41.000 --> 21:42.000 45 minutes. 21:42.000 --> 21:45.000 I can make it, but delay all you can before you start. 21:45.000 --> 21:46.000 Yes sir. 21:46.000 --> 21:48.000 I guess it's all up to you from now on. 21:48.000 --> 21:49.000 Best of luck sir. 21:49.000 --> 21:50.000 Here they come sir. 21:50.000 --> 21:51.000 Goodbye. 21:51.000 --> 22:04.120 And now I went to work. 22:04.120 --> 22:09.480 Everything had been prepared for days before and only the finishing touches were needed. 22:09.480 --> 22:17.600 The side track just before Borton Moss leading to the abandoned Harty's mine had once joined 22:17.600 --> 22:22.400 the main line, but it had been disconnected when the mine had been worked out some years 22:22.400 --> 22:23.920 before. 22:23.920 --> 22:28.640 We had only to replace a few rails to connect it once more. 22:28.640 --> 22:32.840 With my small but competent band of workers we had everything ready well before the special 22:32.840 --> 22:34.380 arrived. 22:34.380 --> 22:39.520 When it did arrive it ran off upon the small sideline so easily that the jolting of the 22:39.520 --> 22:44.840 switch points appears to have been entirely unnoticed by the two travellers. 22:44.840 --> 22:50.640 So now I have our special train upon the small line which leads or rather used to lead to 22:50.640 --> 22:52.320 the abandoned mine. 22:52.320 --> 22:56.360 You will ask how it is that no one saw the train upon this unused line. 22:56.360 --> 23:02.020 I answer that along its entire length it runs through a deep cutting and that unless someone 23:02.020 --> 23:05.840 had been on the edge of that cutting he could not have seen it. 23:05.840 --> 23:08.760 There was someone on the edge of that cutting. 23:08.760 --> 23:13.920 I was there and now I will tell you what I saw. 23:13.920 --> 23:19.080 The moment the train was fairly on the sideline Smith slowed down the engine and then having 23:19.080 --> 23:24.040 turned it on full speed ahead he and McPherson was slated as the fireman sprang off before 23:24.040 --> 23:25.040 it was too late. 23:25.040 --> 23:30.660 It may be that it was this slowing down which first attracted the attention of the travellers 23:30.660 --> 23:34.920 but the train was running at top speed before their heads appeared at the open window. 23:34.920 --> 23:38.600 Makes me smile to think how bewildered they must have been. 23:38.600 --> 23:43.400 What a catch must have come to their breath as it flashed upon them that it was not Manchester 23:43.400 --> 23:47.440 that was awaiting them but death. 23:47.440 --> 23:52.960 The train was now running at frantic speed rolling and rocking over the rotten rusty 23:52.960 --> 23:58.840 line while the wheels made a frightful screaming sound on the corroded surface. 23:58.840 --> 24:01.120 I was close to them and could see their faces. 24:01.120 --> 24:03.360 Caratel was praying I think. 24:03.360 --> 24:07.480 There was something like a rosary dangling out of his hand. 24:07.480 --> 24:12.160 The other Gomez roared like a bull but was drowned out by the incredible noise of the 24:12.160 --> 24:13.160 train. 24:13.160 --> 24:17.840 He saw me standing on the bank when he realised he couldn't be heard. 24:17.840 --> 24:23.000 He beckoned to me like a madman tearing at his wrist and hurling the dispatch box out 24:23.000 --> 24:24.720 of the window in my direction. 24:24.720 --> 24:27.360 Of course his meaning was obvious. 24:27.360 --> 24:31.720 Here was the evidence that they would promise to be silent if their lives were spared. 24:31.720 --> 24:37.200 It would have been very agreeable if it could have been done so but business is business. 24:37.200 --> 24:44.520 Besides the train was now so much beyond our control as it was very much. 24:44.520 --> 24:49.240 He ceased his howling and gesturing when the train rattled around the curve and they saw 24:49.240 --> 24:53.240 the black mouth of the mine yawning before them. 24:53.240 --> 24:58.640 They were struck silent by what they saw and yet they could not withdraw their heads. 24:58.640 --> 25:01.920 The sight seemed to have paralysed them. 25:01.920 --> 25:07.760 I had wondered how the train running at a great speed would take the pit and I was much 25:07.760 --> 25:09.580 interested in watching it. 25:09.580 --> 25:14.280 One of my colleagues who had joined me there thought it actually would jump it and indeed 25:14.280 --> 25:18.680 it was not very far from doing so. 25:18.680 --> 25:23.680 It leaped into the air and seemed to hang suspended for a moment. 25:23.680 --> 25:27.720 The funnel flew off into the air and then the van, the car and the engine were all smashed 25:27.720 --> 25:31.360 up into one jumble which choked the mouth of the great Brit and something gave way in 25:31.360 --> 25:36.320 the middle and the whole mass of iron, coal fittings, wheels, woodwork and cushions crumbled 25:36.320 --> 25:45.680 together and crashed into the mine. 25:45.680 --> 25:59.400 It was perfect. 25:59.400 --> 26:04.280 The deep muddy water standing in the bottom of the pit 200 feet below responded to the 26:04.280 --> 26:06.520 intense heat of the engine boilers. 26:06.520 --> 26:10.200 It hissed loudly and blew great bubbles of black mire into the air. 26:10.200 --> 26:14.160 At the same time the walls of the pit loosened by the impact of the train as it struck the 26:14.160 --> 26:18.840 opposite side, gave way and a mighty avalanche of rock and dirt thundered down upon the rapid 26:18.840 --> 26:25.480 of the train as it settled to the low, pissing side and was covered forever by the mud and 26:25.480 --> 26:31.560 mire, the vapor hanging in the air shredded off into thin small wisps and all was quiet 26:31.560 --> 26:36.560 again in the hearty mine. 26:36.560 --> 26:41.560 And now having carried out our plan so successfully it remained only to leave no trace behind 26:41.560 --> 26:42.560 us. 26:42.560 --> 26:46.320 A little band of workers at the other end had already ripped up the rails and disconnected 26:46.320 --> 26:49.440 the sideline replacing everything as it had been before. 26:49.440 --> 26:51.520 We were equally busy at the mine. 26:51.520 --> 26:55.520 The lines which led to it were torn up and taken away then without flurry but without 26:55.520 --> 26:56.520 delay. 26:56.520 --> 27:01.280 We all made our way out of the country, most of us to Paris, my English agent to Manchester 27:01.280 --> 27:05.920 and MacPherson to East Africa, a word in passing about MacPherson who was foolish enough to 27:05.920 --> 27:09.520 write to his wife and tell her to meet him in Mozambique. 27:09.520 --> 27:14.600 And naturally we took steps to ensure that this meeting would never come about. 27:14.600 --> 27:19.000 I have sometimes thought it would be a kindness to write to Mrs. MacPherson and to assure 27:19.000 --> 27:23.840 her that there is no impediment to her marrying again. 27:23.840 --> 27:27.880 But of the loss special let the English papers of that date tell how thoroughly we had done 27:27.880 --> 27:32.320 our work and how completely we had thrown the cleverest of their detectives off our 27:32.320 --> 27:34.040 track. 27:34.040 --> 27:39.880 You will remember that Gomez threw his bag of papers out of the window and I need not 27:39.880 --> 27:44.920 say that I secured that bag and brought them to my employers. 27:44.920 --> 27:54.280 It may interest my employers now however to learn that out of that bag I took one or two 27:54.280 --> 28:00.120 little papers as a souvenir of that occasion. 28:00.120 --> 28:09.440 I had no wish to read the information obtained by these papers but it is now, oh it's less 28:09.440 --> 28:17.520 than a minute before my broadcast is over and I have received no word. 28:17.520 --> 28:22.680 It is the final hour. 28:22.680 --> 28:28.840 I see at the other end of the studio the engineer waving his hands at me that my time is almost 28:28.840 --> 28:30.520 up. 28:30.520 --> 28:40.360 Well I gave you warning you had your chance gentlemen. 28:40.360 --> 28:50.440 Very well now I reveal your names and the first name I reveal is that of Charles Potter. 28:50.440 --> 28:55.280 Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen they're trying murder. 28:55.280 --> 28:57.760 I want you to hear these names quickly. 28:57.760 --> 28:59.480 I know you will avenge me. 28:59.480 --> 29:00.480 The names are. 29:00.480 --> 29:01.480 Beams. 29:01.480 --> 29:02.480 After him, there he goes. 29:02.480 --> 29:07.480 Delania, Delania can you hear me are you all right? 29:07.480 --> 29:08.880 Hey Bill play something quick will you? 29:08.880 --> 29:24.320 Theme curtain music anything. 29:24.320 --> 29:28.720 And so closes the last special by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle starring Orson Welles. 29:28.720 --> 29:36.040 Tonight's tale of suspense. 29:36.040 --> 29:49.600 This rebroadcast of suspense was produced in the United States of America. 29:49.600 --> 30:01.880 Thank you.