WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:17.520 Now, Auto Light and its 60,000 dealers and service stations present Suspense. 00:17.520 --> 00:29.880 Tonight, Auto Light brings you Mr. Joseph Cotton in The Day I Died, a suspense play 00:29.880 --> 00:37.160 produced and directed by Anton M. Leader. 00:37.160 --> 00:42.240 Friends, the 4th of July weekend is coming up with a lot of reckless weekend driving. 00:42.240 --> 00:45.960 So remember, take care, don't take chances. 00:45.960 --> 00:48.880 Reckless driving can put you in a spot you can't pull out of. 00:48.880 --> 00:53.240 Yes, even a dandy dependable Auto Light stay full battery that needs water only three times 00:53.240 --> 00:56.320 a year in normal car use can't help you then. 00:56.320 --> 00:59.980 Your life depends on normal safe car driving. 00:59.980 --> 01:01.800 Be extra safe. 01:01.800 --> 01:06.120 And an Auto Light stay full battery is protected by fiberglass insulation for stronger life 01:06.120 --> 01:07.560 and longer life. 01:07.560 --> 01:11.840 Why in recent tests conducted according to the Society of Automotive Engineers life cycle 01:11.840 --> 01:17.760 standards Auto Light stay full batteries gave 70% longer average life than batteries without 01:17.760 --> 01:19.320 stay full features. 01:19.320 --> 01:22.820 So ask your dealer for an Auto Light stay full battery. 01:22.820 --> 01:25.880 And this weekend and all the time, take care. 01:25.880 --> 01:27.640 Don't take chances. 01:27.640 --> 01:31.240 Be battery right with Auto Light. 01:31.240 --> 01:38.000 And now Auto Light presents Mr. Joseph Cotton in the tale well calculated to keep you in 01:38.000 --> 01:46.800 suspense. 01:46.800 --> 01:47.800 Good morning, Leslie. 01:47.800 --> 01:48.800 Good morning. 01:48.800 --> 01:50.160 Why is that window open? 01:50.160 --> 01:51.160 It's getting stuff in here. 01:51.160 --> 01:52.520 I told you to keep it closed. 01:52.520 --> 01:53.840 You might be seen from the street. 01:53.840 --> 01:55.520 I haven't gone anywhere near it. 01:55.520 --> 01:56.520 No one can... 01:56.520 --> 01:57.520 Don't argue with me, Wells. 01:57.520 --> 01:59.240 Keep that window closed and the shade down. 01:59.240 --> 02:00.240 Now, just a minute. 02:00.240 --> 02:01.840 I'll give the orders around here. 02:01.840 --> 02:04.720 You're still my wife, Leslie, and this is still my house. 02:04.720 --> 02:07.400 You're forgetting something, aren't you, Wells? 02:07.400 --> 02:09.040 I'm not your wife. 02:09.040 --> 02:10.040 I'm your widow. 02:10.040 --> 02:18.520 And it's been my house ever since the day you died. 02:18.520 --> 02:19.520 I had no comeback. 02:19.520 --> 02:23.720 I did what Leslie told me because, well, she was right. 02:23.720 --> 02:25.880 A dead man can't put up much of an argument. 02:25.880 --> 02:29.520 He has no authority, not even with his wife. 02:29.520 --> 02:30.600 Things had been different once. 02:30.600 --> 02:34.760 I had money, power, and there was nobody in the world who would have presumed to tell 02:34.760 --> 02:36.880 Wells Galloway what to do. 02:36.880 --> 02:42.080 But that was before a certain evening in July up at Lake Latimer. 02:42.080 --> 02:46.160 That was before Rad Tuttle, my law partner, paid me a visit at my cabin up there. 02:46.160 --> 02:50.120 In other words, that was before the day I died. 02:50.120 --> 02:55.720 I was alone. 02:55.720 --> 02:58.800 I'd gone to the cabin to be alone, to try to figure things out. 02:58.800 --> 03:00.440 The money was gone by that time. 03:00.440 --> 03:03.960 I'd thrown it away, hundreds of thousands of dollars in good living and gambling. 03:03.960 --> 03:07.080 And in a sense, Leslie was gone too. 03:07.080 --> 03:11.880 Oh, she was still my wife, but the man she loved was Norman Vale. 03:11.880 --> 03:15.200 And I knew it, and she knew I knew it, and she didn't much care. 03:15.200 --> 03:19.960 So this time I'd come up to the cabin without my rifle because I wasn't planning to do 03:19.960 --> 03:21.600 any hunting. 03:21.600 --> 03:26.480 But I brought along a revolver for reasons I didn't admit to myself. 03:26.480 --> 03:30.480 And I left it lying on the table in the living room. 03:30.480 --> 03:34.480 I was staring at it that evening when I heard the cab from the village stopped down on the 03:34.480 --> 03:35.480 highway. 03:35.480 --> 03:40.720 It was still a little light, and I saw a shock of flaming red hair on the path between the 03:40.720 --> 03:41.720 trees. 03:41.720 --> 03:44.760 And I knew my partner was going to honor me with his presence. 03:44.760 --> 03:47.280 I thought I knew why too, and I wasn't wrong. 03:47.280 --> 03:49.000 I couldn't believe my eyes, Wells. 03:49.000 --> 03:50.240 I still can't believe it. 03:50.240 --> 03:52.600 I came all the way up here just to hear you say it isn't true. 03:52.600 --> 03:54.080 You wasted your time, Rad. 03:54.080 --> 03:55.080 It is true. 03:55.080 --> 03:57.920 But good Lord, man, we were appointed trustees of that estate. 03:57.920 --> 03:59.440 Taking those bonds was a criminal act. 03:59.440 --> 04:00.440 Why did you do such a thing? 04:00.440 --> 04:01.440 I needed the money. 04:01.440 --> 04:04.080 Well, I hope you're ready to pay it back before the ears get wind of it. 04:04.080 --> 04:05.080 I'm not. 04:05.080 --> 04:06.080 I haven't got a cent. 04:06.080 --> 04:07.080 Then what are you going to do? 04:07.080 --> 04:08.080 I don't know yet. 04:08.080 --> 04:10.080 You certainly don't expect me to... 04:10.080 --> 04:11.800 Is that what you're thinking, Wells? 04:11.800 --> 04:12.800 It is, isn't it? 04:12.800 --> 04:14.680 Well, I'll be hanged if I'll do it. 04:14.680 --> 04:16.880 I'm not going to take a beating to cover up for you. 04:16.880 --> 04:18.640 You cash those bonds and you'll make them good. 04:18.640 --> 04:20.240 Or go away, will you, Rad? 04:20.240 --> 04:21.240 What? 04:21.240 --> 04:22.240 I said go away. 04:22.240 --> 04:23.360 I don't care what you do about those bonds. 04:23.360 --> 04:25.960 I've got more important things to worry about. 04:25.960 --> 04:27.240 Like your wife, Wells? 04:27.240 --> 04:29.280 Well, don't expect any pity from me there either. 04:29.280 --> 04:31.160 I'm not asking you for anything. 04:31.160 --> 04:32.880 You're responsible for losing Leslie. 04:32.880 --> 04:35.880 No man could treat a woman the way you've treated Leslie and get away with it. 04:35.880 --> 04:36.880 You made a slave of her. 04:36.880 --> 04:38.200 You practically locked her up in your house. 04:38.200 --> 04:39.920 I think you'd better go away, Rad. 04:39.920 --> 04:42.080 I'll go when I get the money to buy back those bonds. 04:42.080 --> 04:43.080 Not before... 04:43.080 --> 04:44.080 Oh, for the love of... 04:44.080 --> 04:45.840 Here, here's my ring, here's my watch. 04:45.840 --> 04:46.840 Take them. 04:46.840 --> 04:47.840 They ought to be worth something. 04:47.840 --> 04:48.840 Take them and get out. 04:48.840 --> 04:50.360 I'll take them, Wells, but it's not enough. 04:50.360 --> 04:51.560 It's all I've got, I tell you. 04:51.560 --> 04:52.560 Now leave me alone. 04:52.560 --> 04:53.560 All right. 04:53.560 --> 04:55.920 But when I leave here, I'm going to the police. 04:55.920 --> 04:56.920 Police? 04:56.920 --> 04:57.920 Yes. 04:57.920 --> 04:59.520 If you think I'm going to suffer for your mistakes, you're wrong. 04:59.520 --> 05:03.120 I'm going to bring charges against you before the Prescott Heirs start prosecuting the firm. 05:03.120 --> 05:04.120 Why, you dirty... 05:04.120 --> 05:07.840 That was another mistake, Wells. 05:07.840 --> 05:09.320 I won't take that either. 05:09.320 --> 05:12.120 He was stronger than I. 05:12.120 --> 05:16.320 His blow caught me on the chin and I was staggering across the room. 05:16.320 --> 05:18.880 I was hushed against the mandrel of the fireplace. 05:18.880 --> 05:22.720 Kerosene lamp had been burning there, toppled off and fell on the floor, but I hardly noticed 05:22.720 --> 05:23.800 it. 05:23.800 --> 05:26.240 My eyes were on something else. 05:26.240 --> 05:28.760 On that revolver that lay on the table by the window. 05:28.760 --> 05:29.920 I don't remember picking it up. 05:29.920 --> 05:32.840 I only remember how it felt in my hand. 05:32.840 --> 05:33.840 Wells! 05:33.840 --> 05:34.840 No, Wells, put it down. 05:34.840 --> 05:35.840 Wells! 05:35.840 --> 05:44.120 The first shot dropped red to the floor. 05:44.120 --> 05:48.320 But I kept on firing because I couldn't stop. 05:48.320 --> 05:52.560 This was power again, the power to kill, and I loved it. 05:52.560 --> 05:56.280 But not for long. 05:56.280 --> 06:01.480 With the last bullet, the spell was broken and then was when the fear came. 06:01.480 --> 06:02.680 I'd never known fear before. 06:02.680 --> 06:04.080 I wasn't prepared to deal with it. 06:04.080 --> 06:07.440 It took hold of me and shook me until I was trembling from head to foot. 06:07.440 --> 06:10.080 It brought the sweat popping out of every pore. 06:10.080 --> 06:14.200 It wouldn't let me approach the body, not even to reclaim my ring and watch. 06:14.200 --> 06:17.920 It carried me out of the cabin and sent me stumbling into the darkening woods. 06:17.920 --> 06:24.360 I spent the night there, wandering blindly through the blackness. 06:24.360 --> 06:27.760 In my hand, I still carried the gun. 06:27.760 --> 06:32.080 Long before dawn, I began to wonder why I hadn't saved one shell, just one. 06:32.080 --> 06:37.000 For if my life had reached dead end a few hours ago, then what would you call this? 06:37.000 --> 06:38.160 Where did I go now? 06:38.160 --> 06:40.600 Now that I was wanted for murder. 06:40.600 --> 06:44.480 It was daylight when I came out of the woods. 06:44.480 --> 06:47.600 There was a truck rumbling toward me. 06:47.600 --> 06:49.560 Desperate men take desperate chances. 06:49.560 --> 06:54.280 Give me a lift to the city. 06:54.280 --> 06:56.280 Why, sure, mister. 06:56.280 --> 06:57.280 Hop in. 06:57.280 --> 07:01.080 He'd heard about me. 07:01.080 --> 07:02.800 Wells Galloway was wanted for murder. 07:02.800 --> 07:03.800 I knew that right away. 07:03.800 --> 07:06.560 I knew it from the way he looked me over, but it didn't matter. 07:06.560 --> 07:07.860 Nothing mattered. 07:07.860 --> 07:09.920 This really was dead end. 07:09.920 --> 07:12.160 I guess you're OK, mister. 07:12.160 --> 07:14.360 Shut the door. 07:14.360 --> 07:15.360 What do you mean OK? 07:15.360 --> 07:19.240 Well, I thought maybe you're the guy I heard about back at Lake Latimer. 07:19.240 --> 07:20.240 What guy? 07:20.240 --> 07:22.860 Well, there was a murder back there last night. 07:22.860 --> 07:26.240 One fellow shot another one in the cabin, then burned the cabin down. 07:26.240 --> 07:28.760 Burned it down? 07:28.760 --> 07:29.760 Sure. 07:29.760 --> 07:30.760 Right to the ground. 07:30.760 --> 07:33.680 Couldn't even have identified the body. 07:33.680 --> 07:37.000 Only they found a ring and a watch on it. 07:37.000 --> 07:41.120 I figured you might be the killer, but he's a redhead. 07:41.120 --> 07:43.160 Poor name Tuttle. 07:43.160 --> 07:45.280 Guy Kill was his law partner. 07:45.280 --> 07:47.640 Big shot with a fancy moniker. 07:47.640 --> 08:04.880 Something like, uh, oh, Wells Galloway. 08:04.880 --> 08:11.440 For suspense, Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Joseph Cotton in Radio's outstanding Theater 08:11.440 --> 08:14.440 of Thrills Suspense. 08:14.440 --> 08:19.720 Hello there, Harlow. 08:19.720 --> 08:24.400 I hear you're going to speak at the Fourth of July picnic. 08:24.400 --> 08:28.640 I sure am, Hap, and by happy coincidence, I just happen to have a copy of my speech 08:28.640 --> 08:29.640 right here. 08:29.640 --> 08:30.640 Uh-oh. 08:30.640 --> 08:36.040 Anyway, on this glorious occasion, it behooves us all to think about that dandy, dynamic, 08:36.040 --> 08:39.960 dependable Auto Light stay full battery that needs water only three times a year, normal 08:39.960 --> 08:40.960 car use. 08:40.960 --> 08:44.720 On this historic occasion, my friends, let's look at facts. 08:44.720 --> 08:48.560 An Auto Light stay full battery practically eliminates one of the major causes of battery 08:48.560 --> 08:49.560 failure. 08:49.560 --> 08:54.200 And in addition, it's protected by fiberglass insulation for stronger life and longer life. 08:54.200 --> 08:55.200 My, my. 08:55.200 --> 08:56.880 Think, my friends, longer life. 08:56.880 --> 09:00.880 In recent tests conducted according to the Society of Automotive Engineers life cycle 09:00.880 --> 09:07.040 standards, Auto Light stay full batteries gave 70%, yes, 70% longer average life than 09:07.040 --> 09:09.160 batteries without stay full features. 09:09.160 --> 09:10.480 It's inspired, Harlow. 09:10.480 --> 09:14.760 So remember these words that will go ringing down the corridors of time. 09:14.760 --> 09:19.880 An Auto Light stay full battery needs water only three times a year in normal car use. 09:19.880 --> 09:22.880 And at this point, Hap, I take a long cold drink of water. 09:22.880 --> 09:23.880 Why? 09:23.880 --> 09:24.880 Because I'm thirsty. 09:24.880 --> 09:27.000 Why not an Auto Light stay full battery? 09:27.000 --> 09:30.560 And at this point, suspense. 09:30.560 --> 09:37.880 And now, Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage, Joseph Cotton as Wells Galloway 09:37.880 --> 09:40.560 in The Day I Died. 09:40.560 --> 09:49.280 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 09:49.280 --> 09:53.880 So the day I killed my partner turned out as far as the law was concerned to be the 09:53.880 --> 09:55.280 day I died. 09:55.280 --> 10:00.240 It was my body the police had decided that was lying back there in the charred ruins 10:00.240 --> 10:01.760 of my cabin on Lake Latimer. 10:01.760 --> 10:11.400 It was Red Tuttle, not Wells Galloway who was wanted for murder. 10:11.400 --> 10:14.240 The truck driver dropped me on the outskirts of the next city. 10:14.240 --> 10:19.480 I went into a barbecue joint, sat down at the counter and pieced the story together. 10:19.480 --> 10:21.780 The kerosene lamp I'd knocked off the mantle. 10:21.780 --> 10:23.920 That was what had started the fire. 10:23.920 --> 10:29.200 It was the ring and the watch I'd given Red that enabled the police to identify the body 10:29.200 --> 10:34.460 that had been burned beyond recognition to identify it as me, Wells Galloway. 10:34.460 --> 10:36.260 That much was clear. 10:36.260 --> 10:40.280 But what wasn't clear was what to do about it. 10:40.280 --> 10:43.640 What's the next step after you've been pronounced dead? 10:43.640 --> 10:45.880 Well, here's the eggs, fella. 10:45.880 --> 10:46.880 Nice day, eh? 10:46.880 --> 10:47.880 Yeah. 10:47.880 --> 10:48.880 Yes, sir. 10:48.880 --> 10:49.880 Beautiful day. 10:49.880 --> 10:55.640 And today it's great to be alive. 10:55.640 --> 10:59.440 He made me see the point, the man by an account of the point I'd been missing. 10:59.440 --> 11:05.560 It was great to be alive, especially if everybody thought you were dead, especially if the life 11:05.560 --> 11:09.480 you'd been living had reached an impasse and you were broke and your wife was in love with 11:09.480 --> 11:13.600 another man and you were wanted by the police and you're only hopefully in a chance to start 11:13.600 --> 11:16.840 over, to start from scratch. 11:16.840 --> 11:21.880 That's what they were giving me, handing it to me on a silver platter, a fresh start, 11:21.880 --> 11:23.360 a clean slate. 11:23.360 --> 11:25.360 I was dead. 11:25.360 --> 11:27.360 Now I could begin living again. 11:27.360 --> 11:28.640 Well, now let's see. 11:28.640 --> 11:30.680 Oranges, two eggs, bacon, coffee. 11:30.680 --> 11:32.760 That'll be 80 cents, please. 11:32.760 --> 11:37.480 82 with tax. 11:37.480 --> 11:40.280 But that was another point the counter man made me see. 11:40.280 --> 11:44.800 Subtract 82 cents from $50 and you get $49.18. 11:44.800 --> 11:48.800 Not much to start a new life on, not when you're used to big money. 11:48.800 --> 11:52.520 And big money was the only thing that would make a new life worth living. 11:52.520 --> 11:57.120 Little capital was all I needed, but where do you borrow capital when you can't show 11:57.120 --> 11:58.120 your face? 11:58.120 --> 12:00.880 Who'll then money to a corpse? 12:00.880 --> 12:05.600 In the circles where Wells Galloway had moved, friends were not to be trusted. 12:05.600 --> 12:07.800 And as for my wife, as for Leslie... 12:07.800 --> 12:08.800 Leslie. 12:08.800 --> 12:09.800 Yes, Leslie. 12:09.800 --> 12:10.800 Yes, that was it. 12:10.800 --> 12:14.960 The Wells Galloway brain was beginning to click again. 12:14.960 --> 12:20.000 It kept on clicking, keeping pace with the click of the train wheels that carried me 12:20.000 --> 12:23.800 back to the city where the late Wells Galloway had lived. 12:23.800 --> 12:25.800 It was night when I got there. 12:25.800 --> 12:29.120 I was halfway up the walk when the front door opened. 12:29.120 --> 12:34.480 I hardly had time to slip behind a lilac bush before Leslie stepped out on the porch. 12:34.480 --> 12:37.960 He was with her, the man she loved, Norman Vale. 12:37.960 --> 12:40.840 You think I'm callous, don't you, Norman? 12:40.840 --> 12:41.840 You think I'm too hard. 12:41.840 --> 12:42.840 No, of course not, darling. 12:42.840 --> 12:47.240 If you weren't happy with him, naturally you can't be too broken up over his death. 12:47.240 --> 12:48.240 Happy? 12:48.240 --> 12:50.240 I was miserable with him. 12:50.240 --> 12:52.240 You know how he treated me? 12:52.240 --> 12:55.240 I wasn't his wife, I was his prisoner. 12:55.240 --> 12:59.240 I hated him, Norman, and I'm not broken up. 12:59.240 --> 13:02.240 I'm glad he's dead. 13:02.240 --> 13:11.960 I shut her hand out my spine when I hurt her, but that must have been because the night was 13:11.960 --> 13:16.480 getting cool, for after all, this was just what I was counting on. 13:16.480 --> 13:19.800 My plan wouldn't work if she weren't glad I was dead. 13:19.800 --> 13:24.840 I waited till Norman Vale's car pulled away, then I waited five minutes longer. 13:24.840 --> 13:30.160 And finally, I climbed the front steps, put my key in the lock and let myself in. 13:30.160 --> 13:31.160 Who is that? 13:31.160 --> 13:32.160 Who's out there? 13:32.160 --> 13:33.160 Who is... 13:33.160 --> 13:34.160 Hello, Leslie. 13:34.160 --> 13:35.160 Wells! 13:35.160 --> 13:43.120 There had been a time when she would have fainted. 13:43.120 --> 13:46.460 She didn't faint now, but she turned very white, and I noticed when she poured herself 13:46.460 --> 13:49.640 a half tumble of bourbon that her hand was trembling. 13:49.640 --> 13:54.880 Still she managed after one long swallow to say rather evenly, almost casually. 13:54.880 --> 13:55.880 Let's have it, Wells. 13:55.880 --> 13:58.760 I'm sure it's a fascinating story. 13:58.760 --> 14:04.400 So I told her, as I talked, I had a queer feeling that she was a stranger. 14:04.400 --> 14:08.520 Something had happened to her since I saw her last, whether it was Norman Vale or whether 14:08.520 --> 14:11.640 it was the fact that she thought I was dead. 14:11.640 --> 14:17.680 Whatever it was, she was a different person, a stronger one and braver and harder. 14:17.680 --> 14:19.640 What do you want, Wells? 14:19.640 --> 14:21.600 Accept my condolences, Leslie. 14:21.600 --> 14:22.960 It's a tough break. 14:22.960 --> 14:23.960 Not at all. 14:23.960 --> 14:24.960 I'm tickled pink. 14:24.960 --> 14:25.960 I'm sure. 14:25.960 --> 14:27.520 Did you think I would be? 14:27.520 --> 14:28.520 No. 14:28.520 --> 14:31.440 Did you have any illusions I'd be heartbroken when they called and told me that you were 14:31.440 --> 14:32.440 dead? 14:32.440 --> 14:33.440 None. 14:33.440 --> 14:34.440 You know what I did? 14:34.440 --> 14:35.440 A jig. 14:35.440 --> 14:38.360 It's the first time I ever danced in this house. 14:38.360 --> 14:39.920 You should have done that often. 14:39.920 --> 14:41.560 Things might have been better between us. 14:41.560 --> 14:43.040 I couldn't find anything to dance about. 14:43.040 --> 14:44.440 Well, why did you come back? 14:44.440 --> 14:45.440 What are you after? 14:45.440 --> 14:46.440 Three guesses. 14:46.440 --> 14:48.440 Knowing you, I only need one. 14:48.440 --> 14:49.440 How much? 14:49.440 --> 14:50.440 Twenty-five thousand. 14:50.440 --> 14:52.640 What makes you think you'll get it? 14:52.640 --> 14:56.480 I think you could use twenty-five thousand yourself. 14:56.480 --> 14:57.760 Maybe you'd better explain. 14:57.760 --> 14:58.760 Simple enough. 14:58.760 --> 15:00.880 I'm worth fifty thousand dollars, Dad. 15:00.880 --> 15:03.280 The insurance is payable in one lump sum to you. 15:03.280 --> 15:05.120 It should be coming through in another week or so. 15:05.120 --> 15:06.880 And you're suggesting an even split? 15:06.880 --> 15:07.880 Exactly. 15:07.880 --> 15:09.240 I take my house and disappear. 15:09.240 --> 15:12.360 As far as you and the rest of the world are concerned, I'm dead and I stay dead. 15:12.360 --> 15:16.960 You have twenty-five thousand and you're free to marry Norman Vale. 15:16.960 --> 15:17.960 I see. 15:17.960 --> 15:18.960 Well. 15:18.960 --> 15:22.480 Must have occurred to you I'd prefer to keep the whole fifty. 15:22.480 --> 15:23.480 If you could. 15:23.480 --> 15:24.480 And why couldn't I? 15:24.480 --> 15:26.360 Suppose I turn you in. 15:26.360 --> 15:28.120 And you're electrocuted for killing Red Tuttle. 15:28.120 --> 15:30.720 I still collect, but there's no split. 15:30.720 --> 15:34.400 And if I'm not electrocuted, if I get life imprisonment? 15:34.400 --> 15:36.200 There would be that risk. 15:36.200 --> 15:37.880 Too big a risk, Leslie. 15:37.880 --> 15:39.280 I didn't plan Red's death. 15:39.280 --> 15:41.000 There was nothing premeditated about it. 15:41.000 --> 15:42.680 I killed him in anger. 15:42.680 --> 15:44.840 The state doesn't give the death penalty for that. 15:44.840 --> 15:45.840 If you can prove it. 15:45.840 --> 15:48.480 I think I could. 15:48.480 --> 15:51.280 I'd live a long time in prison, Leslie. 15:51.280 --> 15:53.280 I wouldn't like that. 15:53.280 --> 15:54.560 So? 15:54.560 --> 15:56.560 I'm thinking. 15:56.560 --> 15:58.720 You'd stay here in the house till the insurance company pays off. 15:58.720 --> 15:59.720 Is it safer? 15:59.720 --> 16:00.720 Is there any place? 16:00.720 --> 16:01.720 Safer? 16:01.720 --> 16:02.720 You'd have to stay hidden. 16:02.720 --> 16:03.720 Of course. 16:03.720 --> 16:04.720 You couldn't step out the door. 16:04.720 --> 16:05.720 Not very often. 16:05.720 --> 16:06.720 Not at all. 16:06.720 --> 16:08.680 You'd be practically a prisoner in your own home. 16:08.680 --> 16:10.200 If we could do it, it'd be worth it. 16:10.200 --> 16:11.200 Would it? 16:11.200 --> 16:12.200 Yes. 16:12.200 --> 16:13.200 I guess it would. 16:13.200 --> 16:14.200 All right, Wells. 16:14.200 --> 16:15.200 I mean. 16:15.200 --> 16:16.200 I mean all right. 16:16.200 --> 16:17.200 It's a deal. 16:17.200 --> 16:24.200 She was smiling when she said it, but after all, why should she be? 16:24.200 --> 16:25.640 Oh, why shouldn't she smile? 16:25.640 --> 16:29.320 Things had turned out well enough for her, considering the fact that I wasn't actually 16:29.320 --> 16:30.320 dead. 16:30.320 --> 16:31.840 This was the next best thing. 16:31.840 --> 16:33.080 Naturally, she smiled. 16:33.080 --> 16:36.520 Her reasons for smiling were perfectly obvious, weren't they? 16:36.520 --> 16:40.720 She went upstairs afterward, and when she came down, she was still smiling. 16:40.720 --> 16:42.920 I thought you must be tired after all you've been through, Wells. 16:42.920 --> 16:43.920 I made your bed. 16:43.920 --> 16:44.920 Thanks, Leslie. 16:44.920 --> 16:45.920 Guest room? 16:45.920 --> 16:46.920 No, not the guest room. 16:46.920 --> 16:49.720 Well, if I'm going to stay hidden, that's the most isolated room in the house. 16:49.720 --> 16:50.720 Not quite the most. 16:50.720 --> 16:51.720 You're forgetting the attic. 16:51.720 --> 16:52.720 The attic? 16:52.720 --> 16:54.400 The whole army caught up there, you'll use that. 16:54.400 --> 16:55.760 It's hotter than blazes in the attic. 16:55.760 --> 16:57.200 It's only for a week or so. 16:57.200 --> 16:58.200 You said yourself it was worth it. 16:58.200 --> 16:59.200 Oh, I didn't mean... 16:59.200 --> 17:01.200 No, but I did. 17:01.200 --> 17:08.280 Don't you want to go up now, Wells? 17:08.280 --> 17:10.600 That was when I started to catch on. 17:10.600 --> 17:15.800 Hadn't occurred to me that she would relish the idea of keeping me as confined as possible. 17:15.800 --> 17:18.720 I was abused as I climbed the stairs. 17:18.720 --> 17:19.720 Let her have a fun, I thought. 17:19.720 --> 17:21.840 It wouldn't be so bad. 17:21.840 --> 17:27.840 Two days in the attic, well, that wouldn't kill me. 17:27.840 --> 17:32.080 The light up there was dim and she must have walked very quietly because I didn't know 17:32.080 --> 17:34.080 she had followed me up the stairs. 17:34.080 --> 17:39.080 I didn't know it until I opened the door to the attic room. 17:39.080 --> 17:41.040 And then just behind me, she said... 17:41.040 --> 17:42.280 Go on in, Wells. 17:42.280 --> 17:43.280 I have the key. 17:43.280 --> 17:44.280 I'll lock the door. 17:44.280 --> 17:45.280 Lock it? 17:45.280 --> 17:48.560 Well, there's no need to lock it. 17:48.560 --> 17:49.560 I don't agree with you. 17:49.560 --> 17:50.560 The cleaning woman comes tomorrow. 17:50.560 --> 17:51.560 Well, she won't come up here. 17:51.560 --> 17:53.360 But you might be tempted to go down. 17:53.360 --> 17:54.360 Why should I? 17:54.360 --> 17:56.320 You'll get lonely, Wells. 17:56.320 --> 17:59.760 You'll get bored and restless and terribly unhappy. 17:59.760 --> 18:02.080 You'll begin to think you'll go crazy if you don't get out. 18:02.080 --> 18:05.040 You'll be desperate for the sound of a human voice. 18:05.040 --> 18:06.040 Believe me, I know. 18:06.040 --> 18:07.040 Now, look here, Lesley. 18:07.040 --> 18:08.040 Please go in, Wells. 18:08.040 --> 18:12.160 All right, but there's no reason to take advantage of the spot I'm in. 18:12.160 --> 18:13.160 What do you mean, dear? 18:13.160 --> 18:14.720 I'm protecting you. 18:14.720 --> 18:18.320 I'm carrying out our bog in the one you suggested. 18:18.320 --> 18:22.560 Now go in and let me lock the door. 18:22.560 --> 18:24.000 I wasn't amused anymore. 18:24.000 --> 18:25.000 This wasn't funny. 18:25.000 --> 18:27.840 This was a new experience, taking orders from my own wife. 18:27.840 --> 18:29.800 And I couldn't say I liked it. 18:29.800 --> 18:31.000 But what could I do? 18:31.000 --> 18:34.560 One quick telephone call, one shout, even to the neighbors in the next house, and my 18:34.560 --> 18:35.560 game was up. 18:35.560 --> 18:37.760 I knew that, and she knew I knew it. 18:37.760 --> 18:41.000 So the trump card was in her hand, and she was playing it. 18:41.000 --> 18:44.400 She was playing it slowly and with pleasure. 18:44.400 --> 18:48.880 She was playing it for all it was worth. 18:48.880 --> 18:53.920 Good morning, darling. 18:53.920 --> 18:57.560 Morning, morning. 18:57.560 --> 18:58.560 It must be almost noon. 18:58.560 --> 18:59.560 I'm starving. 18:59.560 --> 19:00.720 Why didn't you come up? 19:00.720 --> 19:01.720 I was busy. 19:01.720 --> 19:02.720 Norman dropped over to see me. 19:02.720 --> 19:03.720 You didn't tell him? 19:03.720 --> 19:04.720 Of course not. 19:04.720 --> 19:06.120 This is our little secret here. 19:06.120 --> 19:07.120 Did you sleep well? 19:07.120 --> 19:08.120 I didn't sleep at all. 19:08.120 --> 19:09.120 Worried about something? 19:09.120 --> 19:10.120 Sadly not. 19:10.120 --> 19:11.120 It was hot up here, that's all. 19:11.120 --> 19:14.120 What have I got to worry about? 19:14.120 --> 19:15.400 Nothing that I know of. 19:15.400 --> 19:16.600 Well, go and get me something to eat. 19:16.600 --> 19:17.600 I'm dying of hunger. 19:17.600 --> 19:20.000 Oh, I hope not, Wells. 19:20.000 --> 19:23.800 I wouldn't want you to die of hunger. 19:23.800 --> 19:27.440 And then I saw it. 19:27.440 --> 19:31.240 I saw it all, the whole thing, the thing I should have seen before. 19:31.240 --> 19:33.480 How could I have missed it? 19:33.480 --> 19:36.120 She was going to kill me, and why not? 19:36.120 --> 19:37.120 What was there to stop her? 19:37.120 --> 19:38.940 Wasn't I dead already? 19:38.940 --> 19:39.940 Who would ever miss me? 19:39.940 --> 19:41.960 Who would know what she had done? 19:41.960 --> 19:43.960 She could bury me in the back orchard. 19:43.960 --> 19:46.480 She could burn me in the furnace. 19:46.480 --> 19:50.720 She'd have the whole 50,000, and who would be the wiser? 19:50.720 --> 19:57.840 Can't accuse a woman of killing a corpse. 19:57.840 --> 19:59.640 Then on I paced. 19:59.640 --> 20:04.640 The room was only eight feet square, but I walked for miles, and the sweat rolled down 20:04.640 --> 20:12.520 my face and down my body, and the walls closed in, and I waited for her to return. 20:12.520 --> 20:14.560 What do you want, Leslie? 20:14.560 --> 20:16.240 Well, I thought you'd like to know. 20:16.240 --> 20:18.240 I just came from your funeral. 20:18.240 --> 20:20.520 Oh, they buried Red. 20:20.520 --> 20:21.520 Mm-hmm. 20:21.520 --> 20:23.640 It was a beautiful service. 20:23.640 --> 20:26.760 I'm sorry you weren't there. 20:26.760 --> 20:29.240 That was the evening of the second day. 20:29.240 --> 20:33.000 She left my dinner on the table and didn't come back that night. 20:33.000 --> 20:37.280 At least I didn't think she had come back, but when I awoke the next morning, I wasn't 20:37.280 --> 20:39.080 sure. 20:39.080 --> 20:43.720 Sometime toward dawn, a shadow had moved across my dream. 20:43.720 --> 20:47.880 A lock had snapped, a door had opened. 20:47.880 --> 20:52.160 Had it been a part of the dream itself, or had Leslie... 20:52.160 --> 20:54.240 But why should she have come and gone like that? 20:54.240 --> 20:55.240 What could she have wanted? 20:55.240 --> 21:00.720 There was nothing of interest to her, nothing, nothing. 21:00.720 --> 21:06.420 Except the revolver, the gun I'd emptied into Red Puddle's body. 21:06.420 --> 21:11.080 It was in the pocket of my coat, and my coat was hung over the back of a chair. 21:11.080 --> 21:13.480 I leaped from the bed and went for my coat, the right-hand pocket. 21:13.480 --> 21:14.480 No, it was empty. 21:14.480 --> 21:15.480 It must have been the left. 21:15.480 --> 21:16.960 The left, the left was empty too. 21:16.960 --> 21:17.960 The gun was gone. 21:17.960 --> 21:18.960 Leslie had taken it. 21:18.960 --> 21:23.960 And now, and now for the second time in my life, I knew fear. 21:23.960 --> 21:24.960 I stumbled toward the door. 21:24.960 --> 21:27.960 I began to pound frantically. 21:27.960 --> 21:31.960 Leslie, Leslie, Leslie! 21:31.960 --> 21:38.960 I heard her footsteps when she was just outside hissing at me. 21:38.960 --> 21:41.120 Quiet, you fool! 21:41.120 --> 21:42.120 Let me out of here. 21:42.120 --> 21:43.120 I said be quiet. 21:43.120 --> 21:44.120 Norman's downstairs. 21:44.120 --> 21:45.120 He'll hear you. 21:45.120 --> 21:46.120 I don't care who hears me. 21:46.120 --> 21:47.120 Let me out! 21:47.120 --> 21:48.120 Leslie, who is that? 21:48.120 --> 21:49.120 Here he comes. 21:49.120 --> 21:50.120 Will you be quiet? 21:50.120 --> 21:51.120 Who's up there, Leslie? 21:51.120 --> 21:52.120 It's no one, Norman. 21:52.120 --> 21:53.120 It's nothing. 21:53.120 --> 21:54.120 Really? 21:54.120 --> 21:55.120 Don't lie to me. 21:55.120 --> 21:56.120 I heard someone shouting. 21:56.120 --> 21:57.120 There's somebody in that room. 21:57.120 --> 21:58.120 Who is it, Leslie? 21:58.120 --> 21:59.120 Leslie, answer me. 21:59.120 --> 22:00.120 Who's in there? 22:00.120 --> 22:01.120 It's... 22:01.120 --> 22:02.120 My husband. 22:02.120 --> 22:03.120 It's Wells. 22:03.120 --> 22:04.120 So now he knew, too. 22:04.120 --> 22:21.340 There was silence after she told him, and the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. 22:21.340 --> 22:22.340 She was leading him away. 22:22.340 --> 22:26.880 She was going to talk it over with him, tell him her plan, ask his help. 22:26.880 --> 22:31.200 They were discussing it now, just how they would do it, just how they would dispose of 22:31.200 --> 22:32.200 me afterward. 22:32.200 --> 22:33.560 I staggered to the window. 22:33.560 --> 22:38.040 She put a lock on it after the first time she'd found it open, and even if she hadn't, 22:38.040 --> 22:39.040 what good would it do me? 22:39.040 --> 22:41.680 Suppose I could climb down somehow. 22:41.680 --> 22:42.680 Where was I to go? 22:42.680 --> 22:47.960 The face of a dead man attracts attention on a public street. 22:47.960 --> 22:55.240 An hour passed before I heard footsteps again. 22:55.240 --> 22:59.400 Now I thought, now they would do it. 22:59.400 --> 23:05.680 The key turned in the lock, but the door didn't open. 23:05.680 --> 23:07.440 They were getting ready, checking the gun. 23:07.440 --> 23:09.140 It was loaded now. 23:09.140 --> 23:12.880 They would empty it into me as I had emptied it into Red Tuttle. 23:12.880 --> 23:16.240 Now they were turning the knob. 23:16.240 --> 23:17.240 They were coming in. 23:17.240 --> 23:24.480 But it was only Leslie, and she had no gun, and Norman wasn't with her. 23:24.480 --> 23:25.480 It's all right now, Wells. 23:25.480 --> 23:26.480 What? 23:26.480 --> 23:27.480 Everything is all right. 23:27.480 --> 23:28.480 He won't tell. 23:28.480 --> 23:29.480 How do you know? 23:29.480 --> 23:30.480 He wanted to. 23:30.480 --> 23:31.480 He wanted to go to the police. 23:31.480 --> 23:34.080 I persuaded him not to, so don't worry. 23:34.080 --> 23:36.760 Everything's quite all right. 23:36.760 --> 23:37.760 Was it? 23:37.760 --> 23:40.720 Then why did she say it like that, and why was she trembling? 23:40.720 --> 23:45.160 Because she was afraid, afraid of what she and Norman Vale were planning to do, afraid 23:45.160 --> 23:49.760 because the next time she came, he would be with her, and they'd kill me. 23:49.760 --> 23:51.920 And I was alone again now. 23:51.920 --> 23:53.720 Oh, what were they waiting for? 23:53.720 --> 23:54.720 Let them come. 23:54.720 --> 23:55.720 Let them come and get it over with. 23:55.720 --> 23:56.720 I was tired of this room. 23:56.720 --> 23:59.120 It was getting smaller every minute, smaller and hotter. 23:59.120 --> 24:00.120 The heat was unbearable. 24:00.120 --> 24:02.160 I could scarcely breathe. 24:02.160 --> 24:05.560 Why, it was hotter than it had been 10 minutes ago. 24:05.560 --> 24:12.520 It was like a furnace, just like a furnace. 24:12.520 --> 24:15.840 I didn't know what it was at first, that sound. 24:15.840 --> 24:18.440 I didn't know until I heard it again. 24:18.440 --> 24:23.560 And then I knew there was no need even to look at the steam radiator in the corner. 24:23.560 --> 24:26.760 They had built a fire, Leslie and Norman Vale, in the middle of the summer. 24:26.760 --> 24:31.600 They had built a fire, and they had built it for me. 24:31.600 --> 24:33.840 Now the sweat really poured. 24:33.840 --> 24:36.640 Now the breath came hard. 24:36.640 --> 24:39.560 No, not alive, I thought. 24:39.560 --> 24:40.560 They wouldn't put me in alive. 24:40.560 --> 24:42.560 Of course they would. 24:42.560 --> 24:44.200 That's the safest way. 24:44.200 --> 24:48.640 Gunshots could be heard, but you can't hear a man being stuffed into a furnace. 24:48.640 --> 24:50.640 Of course they would. 24:50.640 --> 24:51.640 No. 24:51.640 --> 24:55.000 No, no, they wouldn't, because I wouldn't let them. 24:55.000 --> 24:57.000 Maybe I had to die, but not that way. 24:57.000 --> 24:58.760 No, no, no, not that way. 24:58.760 --> 25:00.680 There was still the window. 25:00.680 --> 25:03.680 There were still people on the street. 25:03.680 --> 25:04.680 Help! 25:04.680 --> 25:13.680 Help me, they're going to break me alive! 25:13.680 --> 25:15.680 Help! 25:15.680 --> 25:17.800 Help! 25:17.800 --> 25:18.800 Something happened. 25:18.800 --> 25:20.880 I blacked out. 25:20.880 --> 25:26.640 And when I came to, I was lying on the army cot, the policeman, towered above. 25:26.640 --> 25:32.240 He waited until my eyes could focus, and when he said it, he said it very quietly. 25:32.240 --> 25:37.680 You're under arrest, Mr. Galloway, for the murder of your partner, Mr. Tuttle. 25:37.680 --> 25:38.680 You fool! 25:38.680 --> 25:43.680 You stupid fool! 25:43.680 --> 25:48.960 She was standing in the doorway, and there was another policeman with her. 25:48.960 --> 25:51.000 His arm was linked to hers. 25:51.000 --> 25:56.040 I could almost smile at that, but Norman Vale, where was Norman Vale? 25:56.040 --> 25:57.040 He wanted to kill me too. 25:57.040 --> 25:59.600 He was as guilty as she. 25:59.600 --> 26:02.600 The policeman must have seen the question in my eyes. 26:02.600 --> 26:07.880 Your wife is under arrest too, Mr. Galloway, for the murder of Norman Vale. 26:07.880 --> 26:09.880 The murder of... 26:09.880 --> 26:13.240 Leslie, you killed him? 26:13.240 --> 26:14.960 Of course I killed him. 26:14.960 --> 26:16.960 Didn't I tell you he wanted to turn you in? 26:16.960 --> 26:19.960 You think I'd let him rob me of all that money? 26:19.960 --> 26:20.960 Oh, you fool! 26:20.960 --> 26:21.960 You fool! 26:21.960 --> 26:22.960 You! 26:22.960 --> 26:46.480 If you'd only waited ten minutes, there wouldn't have been a trace of him left. 26:46.480 --> 26:49.520 Thank you, Joseph Cotton, for a splendid performance. 26:49.520 --> 26:50.520 Well, hello. 26:50.520 --> 26:53.960 I guess that winds up suspense for this season. 26:53.960 --> 26:57.320 It sure does, Hap, but we'll be back in the fall on September 1st. 26:57.320 --> 26:59.200 In fact, same time, same stations. 26:59.200 --> 27:00.960 And gosh, does that make me happy. 27:00.960 --> 27:01.960 Oh, it does? 27:01.960 --> 27:06.040 Yes, because then I'll have more opportunities to tell people about those dandy dependable 27:06.040 --> 27:11.160 auto light stay full batteries that need water only three times a year in normal car use. 27:11.160 --> 27:12.960 Well, folks, I think he likes you. 27:12.960 --> 27:15.960 Yeah, just the way folks like auto light stay full batteries. 27:15.960 --> 27:18.160 So friends, this is Harlow Wilcox. 27:18.160 --> 27:19.160 And his pal Hap. 27:19.160 --> 27:23.720 Saying so long for now and best wishes for a happy, trouble-free summer from auto light, 27:23.720 --> 27:27.560 makers of more than 400 products for cars, trucks, airplanes, and boats. 27:27.560 --> 27:28.560 Keep happy, folks. 27:28.560 --> 27:29.740 And keep your car happy. 27:29.740 --> 27:33.720 Have it checked regularly at your auto light dealers or by the dealer who services your 27:33.720 --> 27:34.760 make of car. 27:34.760 --> 27:37.800 There's one near you no matter where you're vacationing. 27:37.800 --> 27:43.140 And be sure to ask for auto light original factory parts because they're engineered perfectly 27:43.140 --> 27:48.240 to fit together perfectly and work together perfectly because they're a perfect team. 27:48.240 --> 27:49.520 So so long for now. 27:49.520 --> 27:52.600 And remember, you're always right with auto light. 27:52.600 --> 28:06.320 And for this fourth of July weekend, remember this slogan, take care, don't take chances. 28:06.320 --> 28:09.080 And now here again is Mr. Joseph Cotton. 28:09.080 --> 28:13.760 I've always enjoyed appearing on Suspense and particularly so in tonight's unusual play. 28:13.760 --> 28:18.840 As you know, this is the last Suspense broadcast for this season, but I'm looking forward, 28:18.840 --> 28:23.740 and I'm sure you are, to its return to the air on September 1st when radio's outstanding 28:23.740 --> 28:28.680 theater thrills will again bring you Hollywood's most famous stars in these gripping studies 28:28.680 --> 28:34.120 in Suspense. 28:34.120 --> 28:39.120 And Joseph Cotton appeared by arrangement with David O. Selznick, producer of Portrait 28:39.120 --> 28:40.120 of Jenny. 28:40.120 --> 28:43.460 Tonight's Suspense play was written by Ken Pettis and Lou Schofield with music composed 28:43.460 --> 28:46.920 by Lucian Morrowek and conducted by Lud Bluskin. 28:46.920 --> 28:50.920 The entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Leder. 28:50.920 --> 28:55.120 In the coming weeks at this same time, be sure to hear Escape, a series of great stories 28:55.120 --> 28:59.000 of high adventure by the world's outstanding authors. 28:59.000 --> 29:03.260 Suspense brought to you by auto light on Thursday nights at this hour is taking its customary 29:03.260 --> 29:09.840 summer holiday and returns to the air on Thursday, September 1st. 29:09.840 --> 29:21.200 You can buy auto light staple batteries, auto light resistor spark plugs, auto light electrical 29:21.200 --> 29:23.600 parts at your neighborhood auto light dealers. 29:23.600 --> 29:25.600 Switch to auto light. 29:25.600 --> 29:26.600 Good night. 29:26.600 --> 29:38.080 This is CBS where 99 million people gather every week. 29:38.080 --> 30:00.240 The Columbia Broadcasting System.