Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers bring you Mr. Richard Widmark in tonight's presentation
of Suspense.
Tonight Auto Light presents a dramatization of Walter Van Tilbert Clark's study in panic,
The Track of the Cat, starring Mr. Richard Widmark.
Hello, Mr. Wilcox.
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And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light.
And now, with the track of the cat and the performance of Mr. Richard Widmark, Auto Light
hopes once again to keep you in suspense.
Gotta get this fire going.
I got it.
It's my last chance.
I'm freezed to death out here tonight if I don't.
That or be cat meat.
Snow.
Nothing but snow.
And that black murdering devil waiting out there in the dark for me.
That big black cat waiting for his chance.
There she goes.
That'll hold Mr. Cat for a while.
Cats are afraid of fire.
Even big black ones.
Even a big black panther big as a horse won't fool around a fire.
No, Sam.
What am I talking about?
Where are you gonna find a black panther on a range in Nevada?
Some lion, that's all he is.
Big maybe, but just a plain mountain cat and that's all.
Nothing but superstition all that other talk.
Crazy Indian superstition.
Fire sure makes a man feel good.
Good and kind of drowsy.
No sleep though.
He mustn't go to sleep.
That's all that cat's waiting for out there in the trees.
Me to go to sleep and the fire go out.
Gotta keep awake.
Gotta take a nap.
Gotta do something to keep awake.
Think about tracking the cat.
How I got started.
Two days, two nights.
Almost three nights ago.
Five o'clock in the morning.
Asleep in a bunkhouse with a storm beginning outside with me not hearing it.
Not hearing anything because I was asleep.
So sound asleep.
Kurt.
Wake up.
Wake up Kurt.
Arthur.
What's the matter?
What's the matter with you?
Cows are balling up in the canyon.
Something's happening.
Oh for Pete's sake.
You have to wake me up every time you have one of your crazy dreams.
Go back to bed.
It's no dream Kurt.
Oh you too Hal.
You only hear it when the wind's right.
Listen.
Well how long's that been going on?
Why didn't you let me know sooner?
We've just been awake a few minutes.
We wanted to be sure.
A few minutes.
And that going on all the time?
Fine couple of brothers I got to help me run a ranch.
One good for nothing but dreaming and the other good for nothing but thinking about
that galley.
Let's leave her out of it huh?
How can I leave her out of it?
You practically moved her into the house didn't you?
Quit ragging the kid Kurt.
She's just here for a visit.
You know that.
Yeah.
Well get your clothes on.
What are you standing there for?
You think that cat's going to wait for us?
You figure it is a cat?
What else could it be running cattle like that?
Or maybe you think it's that black panther Joe Sam talks about huh?
I swear Arthur sometimes I think you're as crazy as that crazy old Indian.
Could be.
Could be that me and Joe Sam are just the ones that ain't crazy.
Indian lover and cat lover.
But don't think you ain't going to go out there with me because you are.
Any way you want it Kurt.
I'll go with you Kurt.
Oh no.
No you got to stick around and take care of that gal.
Yeah listen to that.
I woke the old lady up.
She's come down to the kitchen.
I suppose now she's going to give me some kind of argument.
Why you always got to pick on everybody Kurt?
First Gwen now Molly.
What's the matter Hal?
You worried about me and that gal Gwen of yours?
Come on let's go.
Up kind of early ain't you Ma?
Hi Ma.
I figured you'd be wanting breakfast.
Just coffee.
Some cat's running the cattle up in the canyon.
I heard.
You going up there?
Well you don't think I'm going to sit around here in my hands while some thieving mountain
cat kills off our best steers do you?
Well sit down all of you.
Here's your coffee.
Thank you Ma.
Kurt.
What?
I don't want for you to go.
I suppose what I got to say don't carry much weight around here but I don't want for you
to go.
Well I'm going and so's your dreamer boy Arthur.
Been starting a blizzard out Kurt and a bad one.
I've been out in a little snow before ain't I?
Well it ain't the same.
It's the first snow of the year.
No I thought so.
You've been talking to that crazy old Indian too haven't you?
I ain't either.
But nobody hardly talked to him today the shape he's in.
All spooked up again huh?
Black panthers first snow.
And you believe in it.
Where is he Ma?
Oh I told him to fetch some wood to get him inside.
Wonder he ain't froze to death out there half the night and nothing but his shirt and jeans
and them little thin moccasins.
Maybe I better go get him.
Will you sit down and drink your coffee?
We got to be leaving here in a co...
Well if it ain't our little lady visitor.
Good morning.
Hello honey.
Morning Gwen.
Come sit down have some hot coffee child.
Thank you.
No need for you to got up this early you know.
Maybe she got up special just to see us off.
See who off?
Where?
Oh mountain cats after the cattle.
Kurt's bound there going up there to get him.
Oh Hal in this storm?
Don't worry about your precious Hal.
I'm leaving him here to take care of you.
I said I'd go didn't I?
Besides if it is that spook panther of Joe Sam's I'll need Arthur here to make big medicine.
He's almost as good at that Indian medicine as Joe Sam himself ain't you Art?
You never will learn not to write a good thing too hard will you Kurt?
I guess I'm a little confused.
Spook panthers?
Indian medicine?
It's nothing honey.
It's just Kurt's little joke.
Yeah.
Here's Joe Sam.
Close the door after him Hal.
That's right.
Now go on just dump it in the wood box Joe Sam.
That's right.
Now drink this hot coffee.
For land's sake you're shaking like a leaf.
Joe Sam here coffee.
Yeah he don't want no coffee.
He don't even hear you.
He just wants to sit there and go off into one of them prances of his.
Hey Joe Sam you seeing that spook panther now Joe Sam?
Leave him alone Kurt.
I do wish somebody would tell me what this is all about unless it's a family secret.
Well there you hear that Joe Sam?
Go ahead tell the little lady about that big old black spook.
It looks like I'll have to do the honors myself.
You see it's this way little lady.
According to Joe Sam there's a black panther roams this part of the country.
Comes with the first snow every year and he's big.
Big as a horse and eyes like coals of fire.
And you can see right through him.
And you can shoot right through him too.
And still he'll keep coming until he gets you because he can't never die he's a spook.
Kind of frightening.
For old women and for dreamers maybe.
Now come on dreamer boy let's go.
I suppose you're going to wear that old cow hide parka too.
Maybe you should look even more like a medicine man.
Keeps me warm.
Oh be careful please and don't stay out there beyond nightfall.
Yeah sure sure.
Way well Ma.
Arthur.
Well come to life did he?
Arthur no go.
It's all right Joe Sam.
No Arthur not please no go.
I got to Joe Sam we both do.
Will you come on and stop pylavering with that old fool.
All right Kurt all right.
You go Arthur.
Got to.
But don't you worry.
Then you go.
But you'll not come back.
You'll not ever ever come back.
Auto light is bringing you Mr. Richard Widmark in the track of the cat.
Tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Sam my auto light spark plug man why do you recommend ignition engineered auto light spark
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That's right.
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And remember from bumper to tail light you're always right with auto light.
And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage Mr. Richard Widmark in Elliot
Lewis' production of The Track of the Cat.
A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Even after we was saddled up and heading out across a range I was still laughing to myself
at what the old man had said to Arthur about not coming back and how solemn he said it.
I tried to get a look at Arthur to see how he was taking it but you never could tell
with that one.
Well we hit the draw that leads into the canyon about daylight.
It's a real box canyon with a steep slope to the north and a sheer drop off the east
face.
We couldn't hear the cattle now but we could see their tracks in the snow where they was
heading up the canyon.
And then I saw what I'd been looking for.
Hey look look at that you see them tracks?
Cat all right big one.
Yeah pretty near as big as a horse at that.
But you won't see through the cat that made them tracks he's real enough.
Come on most like he's still up there.
Not what he was them fool horses.
Look up ahead.
To steer.
He dead with his neck broke by the looks.
That's what ails the horses.
They don't like the blood.
Look up there you're right.
Two more that's three of my best steers.
Oh he's been up here killing for fun.
Don't look like he's up here now though.
There goes the track up in North Slope.
Yeah he's gone all right but he ain't been gone long.
Tracks as fresh and clear as print on a page.
I'm going after him.
You'll need snowshoes.
You'll need grub.
I'll go back after it if you like.
I'll go myself if it's all the same.
You stay here and hold the trail.
Either way.
No not either way that way.
Unless you're worrying about what Joe Sam said.
I'm not worrying.
And don't go dreaming off because I want you to be here when I get back.
I'll be here.
All right then keep your eyes open.
Sure.
And Kurt.
Yeah.
If I were you I'd leave Hal's girl alone.
A smart one.
A real smart one.
He was reading my mind.
He knew I wanted to get that gal off by herself.
And with Ma taking care of her housework and Hal out doing the chores he knew I'd have
my chance.
And that's just how it happened too.
Because a little while later I was sitting in the kitchen at the ranch.
Nobody there but old Joe Sam.
Of course he didn't marry.
And little Gwen sitting right across the table from me.
But how did such a story ever get started?
With the panther.
Joe Sam says he's seen it.
Joe Sam says this old spooked panther up and killed his wife and all his kids about 80
years ago.
80 years?
Sure.
Joe Sam's well over a hundred or so he claims.
Ain't that right you crazy old fool?
Kurt.
You shouldn't talk to him like that.
Yeah he don't hear it.
He don't hear nothing when he gets like this.
But don't you worry little lady.
I'm gonna bring you back a panther skin all the same.
May not be black and may not be big as a horse.
But it'll make a real nice present from your brother-in-law to the bride and the groom.
Providing of course that it works out that way.
Providing what works out that way?
Providing I am your brother-in-law and Hal is the groom.
I don't like that kind of talk Kurt.
Talk never did a gal no damage did it?
That time to go.
How about a little kiss to keep me warm out there huh?
Kurt.
Kurt no don't.
Ah come on honey.
What's the matter with him?
Shut up you.
I told you to shut up.
You you get an old man like that.
Ah he's crazy somebody had to snap him out of it.
Tell him off.
Maybe I get that kiss when I bring you back your panther huh?
I don't care if I never set eyes on you again the rest of my life.
Only it wasn't me she wasn't gonna see again for the rest of her life.
Because when I got back to the canyon I found my brother Arthur laying in the snow.
And three deep gashes in his back like the stabs of a knife and his neck was broke.
And all around him was the track of the cat.
I lashed him across the saddle as gentle as I could and I hit the horse in the rump to
send him back home.
Then I set out to track the cat.
It was easy at first with the bare paw snow shoes the trail good and clear and the weather
lifted.
Then in the late afternoon I saw him.
The other side of a ravine dark and bulky like a shadow against the snow.
I had him full in my sights.
I fired and I missed.
He was up the rocks in ten foot leaps and over the ridge before I could shoot again.
Then I remembered something.
I checked Arthur's gun.
It had an empty shell in it.
He'd fired it something too and missed.
Now we both had.
And then the storm come up again.
And after a while I couldn't see fifty yards ahead of me.
And that was the first time I heard that other voice.
Kurt.
Who?
Who's there?
Who is it?
Nobody Kurt.
Just you.
Well who are you?
I'm the caution in you Kurt.
Maybe you never knew you had it before.
I'm the coward in you.
I ain't afraid.
I ain't afraid of men or cat or spook.
Maybe.
But it's getting dark Kurt.
Night falls coming Kurt.
Yeah.
Yeah that's so it is.
You better find a place to hold up for the night Kurt.
A good safe place while you can still see.
Well yeah.
Yeah maybe I had that.
Because a man can't see in the dark Kurt.
Who said he could?
But there's something out here that can.
That can see in the dark real good.
That hunts in the dark.
The cat.
It was getting dark for sure.
Almost a darker night when I finally found what I was looking for.
A little cave halfway up the other side of the ravine.
I worked my way up to it when all at once I thought of something.
The cat had holed up from the storm just the same as me.
Suppose he'd holed up here.
For a long time I just stood there listening.
But there was nothing but the wind and the whistle of the snow.
And then real slow with my knees shaking a little I crept up to it.
My finger on the trigger of the gun.
And I lit a match.
The cave was empty.
And it was dry.
I crawled in.
I ate some of the bread and jerky beef I'd brought along.
Made a cigarette and smoked it.
Then lay back.
Let the tiredness go out of my bones.
It was warm.
Cozy.
I felt good.
Real good.
And warm.
And drowsy.
Kurt.
Hello Kurt.
You in there Kurt?
Art.
Art where are you?
Right here.
I'm in the cave.
You can look right through the wall and see me if you try.
Yeah but what's the matter with you?
Your eyes and the snow all on your face.
I'm dead.
Don't you remember Kurt?
Yes.
And I've come to help you Kurt.
Yeah Art.
Help me.
Listen.
The cat.
It's sniffing out there.
It's right outside the wall.
Look.
Look close and you can see him.
Can you see him now?
Yeah.
Yeah black.
It's black and big as a horse.
Eyes like coals of fire.
But he can't get through the wall Art.
You don't know how to get through that wall.
That's why Joe Sam's here.
Joe Sam?
See him?
See him out there on the slope?
You see him laughing?
Art you tell him.
You tell the cat about the wall.
Don't let him Art.
Don't let him.
See him Art.
Don't let him.
Too late Kurt.
Art help me.
Help me.
Too late now Kurt.
Too late.
Art.
I was lying there in the cave.
And it was dark.
So it was a dream.
Sure.
Sure it was a dream.
But was it all a dream?
I listened and then I heard something that could be.
All right suppose he was out there.
I couldn't stay holed up there forever by a stinking mountain cat.
I reached over for my rifle and then I bent my knees up and I kicked out with all my might
and the wall went flying out into the ravine and I was crouching there with the rifle.
And there was nothing.
No cat.
No tracks.
Nothing.
Better head for home boy.
You've got daylight now.
Head while the heading's good.
I can't do that.
I swore I'd get that cat.
You've got a long way to go Kurt.
I swore.
For Art.
And I swore.
For Art.
And I swore.
For Art.
And I promised Gwen.
What'll I tell Gwen?
You have enough on your hands just getting back before it's dark again.
Well I sure hate to give it up though.
What's the matter with you?
Don't you know yet?
Know what?
You're not hunting that cat anymore.
That cat's hunting you.
I laced on the bear paws and I started down the ravine.
It was still snowing but I could see pretty good now.
And I'd taken my directions the night before.
Down the ravine, up the other side, half a day north along the ridge.
Then down the other side.
And keep going until you see the ranch.
I was making pretty fair time.
I figured it was just about midday when I seen the sun break through a hole in the clouds
way off to my right.
And then I stopped.
Cause there was something wrong.
Awful wrong.
What's it doing up there Kurt?
What's the sun doing up there?
I don't know.
It can't be.
You're supposed to be going north.
Sure.
Sure I am.
Half a day north along the ridge then down the other side.
Sure.
The sun's on your left when you travel north Kurt.
And it's on my right.
A whole half a day.
I've been going the wrong direction a whole half a day.
You're going to be caught out after dark again Kurt.
You're going to be caught out after dark.
That's all he's waiting for Kurt.
Waiting for the dark.
I can't.
I can't get caught out.
I gotta make it.
Never.
You'll never make it.
What'll I do?
What am I gonna do?
Run.
Keep running.
I can't.
I can't run much more.
Think of something.
Think.
I can't think.
Think.
A fire.
You have only had a fire.
That's it.
A fire.
That's it.
A fire.
That'll hold Mr. Blackcatch.
Afraid of fire ain't you, you murdering devil.
That'll hold you.
A fire.
A great big roaring fire.
It's all right now.
It's gonna be all right.
I got branches cut enough to last all night.
Nothing to do now but take it easy and feed the fire.
He's out there in the tree somewhere but he won't come near this fire.
No sir, he won't.
I'll just keep smoking, keep yourself awake, keep your eye on that fire.
Just watch the fire.
Just keep watching that fire.
Too late, Kurt.
Too late.
What?
Oh sir.
The fire's gone out.
Gone out?
I gotta fix it quick.
Too late, Kurt.
He's here.
The cat.
The cat?
Crouching there to make you spring, you see him behind that tree, big as a horse and black
as night and eyes like gold.
Help me, Arthur.
Help me!
Shoot.
Shoot while you still got the chance right between those burning eyes.
Shoot.
I'll shoot.
Too late, Kurt.
You shot right through him but he's coming at you.
Throw the gun away.
It's no good now, Kurt.
Run.
Your only chance.
Run.
Faster.
Don't fall.
He's right behind you, Kurt.
Faster.
Look out.
You're falling.
You're falling, Kurt.
You're falling.
We buried my brother Arthur the night before.
And the next day we went to look for Kurt, Joe Sam and me.
We found him where he'd fallen over the cliff of the canyon, all stiff and twisted in the
snow.
Later, we went up to see what happened.
You could tell he'd been running when he fell, running away from something and afraid for
his life.
Only there was nothing there.
No tracks except just his.
Nothing.
Suspense presented by Auto Light.
Tonight's star, Mr. Richard Widmark.
This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Auto Light, 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 the early months of 1952, the Auto Light family joins in saluting the
leading car manufacturers who install Auto Light products as original equipment.
Our Auto Light family is made up of the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great Auto Light
plants from coast to coast and in still other Auto Light plants in many foreign countries.
Our family also includes more than 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their
savings in Auto Light, as well as 96,000 Auto Light distributors and dealers in the United
States and thousands more in Canada and throughout the world.
Our Auto Light family will salute the Studebaker Corporation on the next Auto Light Suspense
television program.
If you live in a television area, check the day and time of Suspense on Television so
you'll be sure to see this program.
And remember, be with us next week for another thrilling Auto Light Suspense program on radio.
Next week on Suspense, our star will be Miss Linda Darnell in a story about a woman who
knew her husband was trying to kill her and was powerless to stop it, a dramatic report
we call A Killing in Las Vegas.
In weeks to come, we shall also present Herbert Marshall and Frank Lovejoy all on Suspense.
Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morawick
and conducted by Lud Bluskin.
The track of the cat was adapted for Suspense by Sylvia Richards from the book by Walter
Van Tilburg Clark.
Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel, Lee Millar, Martha Wentworth, Sharon Douglas,
and Parley Bear.
Tonight's appearance of Richard Widmark was made possible through the courtesy of 20th
Century Fox Studios.
Mr. Widmark may currently be seen in the Technicolor production, Red Skies of Montana.
And remember, next week on Suspense, Miss Linda Darnell in A Killing in Las Vegas.
This is the CBS Radio Network.