In this thrilling episode of Masters of Mystery, we delve into a suspenseful melodrama titled "Success Story," written by Robert E. Foster. The story revolves around Charles, a man with a cunning plan to secure his future, even if it involves murder. As the plot unfolds, Charles manipulates those around him, including Amelia, the woman he marries for her wealth. However, Amelia is not as naive as she seems, and the story takes a dark turn as secrets are revealed and plans unravel. The tension builds as Charles's carefully laid plans are put to the test, leading to a dramatic and unexpected conclusion.
Join host Don Dowd as he introduces this gripping tale of deception, greed, and betrayal. With a cast of intriguing characters and a plot full of twists and turns, "Success Story" keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. As the mystery unfolds, listeners are drawn into a world where trust is shattered, and the consequences of ambition and deceit come to light. Tune in to experience the suspense and drama of this classic mystery brought to life on ABC Radio's Masters of Mystery.
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Unknown:
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
[00:00:45] Unknown:
It's mystery time. Time now for the best in mystery. Tonight on masters of mystery, a suspenseful melodrama titled Success Story.
[00:01:03] Unknown:
Charles, why is it that I'm always meeting people who pretend to be friendly when all they want is my money? Money, Amelia, has a fascination for some people, a deadly fascination.
[00:01:25] Unknown:
Good evening. This is Don Dowd, your host for mystery time, back again to introduce another in ABC Radio's great Monday through Friday lineup of mystery dramas. Every night at this time, a new and different story. Our drama tonight on Masters of Mystery, produced by Clark Andrews and written by Robert E. Foster is titled success story. The central character of our story is a man who believes in making plans for his future. Plans that include even murder. So here live on masters of mystery success story.
[00:02:13] Unknown:
What's the use of being clever if no one knows how clever you are? Any psychologist will tell you that the urge to boast is a fundamental one, and I'll never have a better opportunity. All right. I'll start with the moment when I sat in my room cleaning red clay off my handmade shoes. It was twenty years since I cleaned my own shoes, but I couldn't risk letting anyone else else do it. That red clay was a dead giveaway if anyone had seen it, but, no one did. Yes? Charles?
[00:02:54] Unknown:
Yes, Amelia. What is that? Charles, I hate to bother you, but could you come over? I'm terribly upset. The police are here. Oh, please.
[00:03:02] Unknown:
Well, tell me what's wrong. I don't know exactly,
[00:03:05] Unknown:
but someone
[00:03:10] Unknown:
police don't know for sure yet that they suspect him. Amelia, I know Henry was a favorite of your father's, but I tell you the man is dangerous. You've got to get rid of him.
[00:03:21] Unknown:
I can't discuss it now. Can you come over? Of course. I'll be right over.
[00:03:35] Unknown:
Amelia was 40, and everyone said that she had a beautiful nature, which means, of course, that she was as plain as a board fence. But I was vitally interested in Amelia. You see, she owned a controlling interest in enterprises, the firm in which I had been working myself upward for years until I was now the general manager. Amelia was also chairman of the board of directors. She'd inherited the business from her her father along with $3,000,000 She'd been on her own for six months now, and I felt she needed a man to assist and guide her, and I was working on it.
I started by insisting to her that Henry, her caretaker, was old, half senile and untrustworthy. I was all tender concerned when Amelia let me into the house. Amelia, what happened? Just just a minute, Mr. Cotter. If you don't mind I'd like to continue questioning, the caretaker here. Oh. Why of course. Now, Henry, two hours ago someone stood outside on the grounds and put a bullet through miss Rankin's bedroom window. Don't look at me. I've been with the family ever since this place was built. He trusted me. He did. He trusted me me even more than he did her. Tell me. It's true, ain't it? That's why he said it was to stay here, called me alone into his room just before he died.
Who did? Mister Terrence, her father. Oh, Oh, I see. Now, miss Rankin, you say you'd been reading until about 09:00.
[00:05:34] Unknown:
Yes. I got up when I finished and walked past the window. There was a crash of glass. That's all I can tell you. I
[00:05:42] Unknown:
see. Henry, what were you doing with this gun? I've always had it. Mister Terrace told me to always keep it handy. And how do you explain the fact that one of the shells is discharged? Someone must have took it while I was asleep. And then walked out on the ground, shot at miss Rankin, returned to your house and left. Why not? Miss Rankin, and do you know of any reason why Henry would do a thing like this?
[00:06:12] Unknown:
No, I don't.
[00:06:14] Unknown:
Is this the, house phone here on the desk? Why yes. That connects with Henry's house? That's right. The button on the left is for Henry. I I have a man searching there now. Is that you Jacob? Yeah. Mhmm. Search the grounds too. Found where he stood the father Shada. Where? I see. Did you check the footprints against Henry's shoes and the, the shoes did not match the prints? What did I tell you, officer? It was somebody else.
[00:06:58] Unknown:
Well,
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they're gone at last. Amelia, will you believe me now? I tell you that man is not safe. But we don't know, Charles. You must think this over carefully. It could happen again. But I can't let Henry go. After all, father's last request. You don't have to let him go. Well, then
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what do you think I should do, Charles?
[00:07:21] Unknown:
Amelia, perhaps what you need is someone here to protect him.
[00:07:29] Unknown:
Yes. Perhaps you're right,
[00:07:44] Unknown:
John. I'd worked for that moment for months and that that shot I'd fired through Amelia's window earlier in the evening, it clinched it. Of course, I made certain not to hit her. I was clever enough not to move too fast. Presently, I bared her a tender good night, but the next day, I returned to take her for a walk. Is full of beautiful things when one's in love but, maybe I'm being presumptuous, Amelia.
[00:08:26] Unknown:
Not you Charles ever.
[00:08:29] Unknown:
Oh, I'm glad of that.
[00:08:31] Unknown:
I want you to have faith in me. Oh, I do. But it's just that since mother and dad died, I've had everything. Of course, I haven't really. I've had to be cautious. System. You see, when you have money, you're always meeting people who pretend to be friendly when all they want is to get their hands on the money. What makes people that way, Charles? Charles? Is money that important? It has a terrible fascination for some people. If I saw the lot of someone and I found his motive was that, it would hurt me terribly.
[00:09:09] Unknown:
Of course, it would, Amelia. And Charles, you've been so sweet and tiny. I've never been so happy
[00:09:15] Unknown:
even though I am so alone.
[00:09:19] Unknown:
Amelia, you do need someone. With Henry there, things the way they are, you ought to have someone to take care of you and and, well, to look out for everything.
[00:09:31] Unknown:
What are you trying to say, Charles?
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I'm asking you to marry
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me. Do you really need?
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Of course. I do.
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I'm so happy. Yes.
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We were married. A big wedding, fashionable guests, everything. And I spent three months making sure that Amelia had no doubt. After all, it's only good salesmanship to keep the customer happy. Isn't it? Then one day, I made the next move in my little plan. Charles? Yes? Come over here and sit beside me. Well, I was going into the library, Amelia. I have a reference to look up. I'll only be a moment. Alright. What's on your mind?
[00:10:35] Unknown:
These few months we've been married. Have they been happy for you?
[00:10:40] Unknown:
They've been the happiest I
[00:10:59] Unknown:
mean, yes? I know what it must be like married to my mummy. What do you mean? It puts you outside in a way, doesn't it?
[00:11:08] Unknown:
You mustn't think like that to me. It's ridiculous. It's absurd. Just the same, from now on everything I have is yours
[00:11:17] Unknown:
and everything you have is mine. That's the way marriage should be, don't you think? Please don't. Money isn't so important, Charles. Happiness means much more. I found that out. I called my lawyer this afternoon. Your lawyer? There'll be some papers to sign to put everything in your name as well as mine. Oh, really? Nothing is going to come between us, Charles. Everything we have will be shared always forever.
[00:12:04] Unknown:
Everything with Amelia, including $3,000,000 But you have no idea how tiresome a woman like Amelia can be, particularly when she insists on being with you every minute of the time because she loves you. So there was one more set in my plan. One afternoon, I walked into the Hotel in North City, a hundred long miles from Green Acres in Amelia. My name is Charles Carter. I have a reservation. Let's see. Room 241. I asked for something at the back of the building and they have some reports to write and I'll be quiet. You'll find this satisfactory, I'm sure. Soundproofing in the rear. Well, I'll be typing all afternoon and possibly late into the night. I don't want to be disturbed under any circumstances. Yes, sir. I'll tell the operator.
Please tell the maids too. If they hear me typing inside, they're not to come in. Certainly, mister Cartier. Oh, clerk. Excuse me. Oh, sorry. Sorry. It was clumsy of me to bump into you. Quite all right. Clerk, my name is Lane. You're holding a reservation for me? That's right, mister Lane. I'll be right with you. The boy has your back, mister Carty. You can go up now. Part three of my plan was well underway, but I was a little jumpy. I fell a lane. For a moment, I thought it was more than just coincidence. I'd seen him at the station when I'd arrived. Thought that was being foolish. A lot of people arrive in North City every day.
Ten minutes later, alone in Room 241, I opened my bag, put out a small portable phonograph with a repeating attachment on it. I put on a special record and listened. I made sure the whole thing was working perfectly. Then I sneaked out of the room, down the back stairs and out the trade entrance of the hotel. In a bar around the corner, I found a telephone put in the long distance call to Johnson, my assistant at the factory. I told him I was in North City and be there overnight. Then I phoned the hotel. Good afternoon. The Cubs hotel. Will you ring mister Charles Carter's room, please? I'm sorry, mister Carter. I'm receiving any calls. This is important. I'm the superintendent of one of his plans. I'm sorry, sir. Do you care to leave a message? He is there, isn't he? Yes, sir. But he said that he was not to be disturbed. If you'll leave a message No. Thank you. I'll call back later.
As I hung up, I knew that all my orders would be obeyed. Nothing would go wrong with my plan. On my way to get my car, I stopped and bought a bottle of liquor. That was to make Henry the caretaker's feet better because Henry was an important part of my plan. Two hours later, I was driving up the road to Greenacre. But before I got to the house, I turned off the road and left the car in a wooded section. Then I walked up to the house, let myself in quietly, and found the medium in the living room.
[00:15:51] Unknown:
Oh, Charles. It's you.
[00:15:55] Unknown:
I didn't hear you coming. I didn't mean to startle you, Amelia.
[00:15:58] Unknown:
Where's the car, Charles?
[00:16:00] Unknown:
I didn't hear you drive up. I, I had a little trouble with it. I, left it down the road. I'll have Henry look at it. No, not tonight. Too late. Alright.
[00:16:12] Unknown:
I thought for a while you might not be coming home. I'm having a glass of wine. Won't you have one with me? Thanks. I will. Hi. That tastes good. You've been very teed up, Saul.
[00:16:30] Unknown:
Is anything worrying you? No. No. No. Nothing. Just a,
[00:16:35] Unknown:
big business deal I'm thinking about. Is it anything I should know about? No.
[00:16:40] Unknown:
Not yet, anyway.
[00:16:42] Unknown:
Johnston called this afternoon. He was looking for some report. Yes. I know.
[00:16:47] Unknown:
I called him from North City. North City? Yes. I, made a trip there to, look over the, new assembly line. But, that's not all business tonight, Amelia. Not up to it. I'm sorry.
[00:17:03] Unknown:
More wine. Thanks.
[00:17:11] Unknown:
That's fine. Now why don't you run up to bed, Amelia? I, I want to take a bottle of bourbon over to Henry, that,
[00:17:19] Unknown:
friend of the jet jet. Poor Henry. He has been acting more oddly than ever as if he'd resented something.
[00:17:26] Unknown:
I'll try to fix things up. Get him back in a good frame of mind. Don't sit up all hours now, will you? Oh, no, Milian. I'll be back soon. Don't wait up for me. Let me pour you another drink, Henry. Ain't you drinking on mister Carter? We've been drinking some wine, Mrs. Carter and I. Oh, they don't mix so well. How come you're over here pouring me drinks this time of night? Oh, I don't know. I, I just thought that we should get to know each other better. Well, it's a pity missus Carter don't trust me like she used to. Well, let's not ask for all.
Here. Have another drink. Well, don't mind if I I do. That seems to empty the bottle. I guess I better be getting back but I'm glad we we had this talk Henry. Very glad. Yes. We'd had a very successful talk, Henry and I. He was nodding when I left. The liquor would put him to sleep fast. I hurried back to the house, stopping only long enough to pick up Henry's work gloves and his hatches in the wood pile. I entered the house carefully. It was dark. I felt my way toward the stairs. Just as I reached the bottom step, I bumped against the standing lamp.
[00:19:13] Unknown:
Jo? Is that you, Jo?
[00:19:18] Unknown:
Yes. Yes it's me. What happened? I just bumped you into a lamp. Oh,
[00:19:24] Unknown:
lock the door before you come up with your dear.
[00:19:27] Unknown:
Yes, yes of course. Go back to sleep now. I stood there with a hatchet in my hand. I felt the sweat breaking out on my forehead. At the last moment, I was wailing. I waited, telling myself I was waiting for Amelia to go back to sleep. I was really trying to get off my nerve again. Everything was perfect so far. There wasn't a reason in the world for not going through with it.
[00:20:02] Unknown:
What's the matter John? What? Why don't you come up?
[00:20:08] Unknown:
I think I'll read for a while. I'll be up pretty soon. Go to sleep, dear. I spent a moment running over in my mind what I must do. First Amelia, then back to Henry's cottage. Leave his gloves and hatchet hidden, but not so well hidden. Henry would be asleep, lift him, carry him out to the garage, drape him over the wheel of his car, start the motor, and leave him there. Everyone knew of his temper, his continual bickering with Amelia over little things. The picture will be perfectly clear, too much with me, a drunken resolve to kill Amelia, an attempted flight collapse over the wheel just by carbon monoxide. And I would be a hundred miles away in the hotel to come to, absolved from any suspicion.
There was no reason for hesitating I started up the stairs again There was Amelia A thin shape huddled beneath the covers I tiptoeed to the bed Oh, I hated her I knew myself and stuck. Goodbye, Amelia. Goodbye. No.
[00:21:45] Unknown:
Permission. You can stop striking that rolled up blanket Tom. I'm over here by the window. Yes. I've been standing here looking out at the moonlight. It's beautiful isn't it? I can see everything so clearly,
[00:22:01] Unknown:
so clearly tonight Charles. Was there any good to yell? No one will hear you. I'm not going to yell.
[00:22:06] Unknown:
You see, Charles, I know everything you did today.
[00:22:10] Unknown:
I hired a detective to follow you a week ago. A detective?
[00:22:15] Unknown:
I thought you were in some kind of trouble. I hired the detective to see what it was so I could help you. So you could help me? He learned of your reservation in North City. He was waiting for you at the hotel when you got there. Lane. That's his name, isn't it? That's the name he used. Yes.
[00:22:36] Unknown:
Well,
[00:22:37] Unknown:
go on. He phoned me and told me you were in your room typing. I told him you couldn't type.
[00:22:45] Unknown:
So he got into my room. It was a clever way to establish an alibi.
[00:22:49] Unknown:
I knew you wouldn't go to so much trouble except for something very, very big and I guess
[00:22:56] Unknown:
the only thing it could be Given the point of media. Pretty ridiculous, Watkin,
[00:23:01] Unknown:
believing that out of all the people, there was one whom I could trust, whom I could share everything with.
[00:23:09] Unknown:
Where, where's your detective now? Outside I thought. No.
[00:23:17] Unknown:
He did his work. He's gone.
[00:23:19] Unknown:
We're alone? Yes.
[00:23:21] Unknown:
Quite alone. Remember our agreement that we should share everything? Well, When I became convinced you were planning to kill me, I I couldn't bear it. I don't mean about dying, but to have my trust shattered so life didn't seem worth living anymore.
[00:23:44] Unknown:
Where you getting at?
[00:23:46] Unknown:
I took certain precautions,
[00:23:48] Unknown:
Charles. Percussion?
[00:23:50] Unknown:
That wine we both drank when you came in. It was poisoned. Poisoned?
[00:23:59] Unknown:
I don't believe you.
[00:24:01] Unknown:
You're lying. No, I'm not. It's slow acting, quite pain and half an hour or so we'll fall asleep and not wake up.
[00:24:15] Unknown:
You are lying. You're trying to trick me. Why should
[00:24:19] Unknown:
I? Oh, Charles. I hope till I was wrong. I hope so hard. I'm even prepared for that. I have a bottle of the antidote here. If you had come upstairs and simply gone to bed, I was prepared to give you the antidote on some screen. Antidote. Give me, give it to me. No. No. We We agreed to share everything remember? And we must share this, what, this bottle of chandelier. There. It's gone now, Charles. It's all gone.
[00:25:11] Unknown:
This is Don Doud again, your host for Mystery Time. You have just heard Masters of Mystery live from New York.
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
[00:00:45] Unknown:
It's mystery time. Time now for the best in mystery. Tonight on masters of mystery, a suspenseful melodrama titled Success Story.
[00:01:03] Unknown:
Charles, why is it that I'm always meeting people who pretend to be friendly when all they want is my money? Money, Amelia, has a fascination for some people, a deadly fascination.
[00:01:25] Unknown:
Good evening. This is Don Dowd, your host for mystery time, back again to introduce another in ABC Radio's great Monday through Friday lineup of mystery dramas. Every night at this time, a new and different story. Our drama tonight on Masters of Mystery, produced by Clark Andrews and written by Robert E. Foster is titled success story. The central character of our story is a man who believes in making plans for his future. Plans that include even murder. So here live on masters of mystery success story.
[00:02:13] Unknown:
What's the use of being clever if no one knows how clever you are? Any psychologist will tell you that the urge to boast is a fundamental one, and I'll never have a better opportunity. All right. I'll start with the moment when I sat in my room cleaning red clay off my handmade shoes. It was twenty years since I cleaned my own shoes, but I couldn't risk letting anyone else else do it. That red clay was a dead giveaway if anyone had seen it, but, no one did. Yes? Charles?
[00:02:54] Unknown:
Yes, Amelia. What is that? Charles, I hate to bother you, but could you come over? I'm terribly upset. The police are here. Oh, please.
[00:03:02] Unknown:
Well, tell me what's wrong. I don't know exactly,
[00:03:05] Unknown:
but someone
[00:03:10] Unknown:
police don't know for sure yet that they suspect him. Amelia, I know Henry was a favorite of your father's, but I tell you the man is dangerous. You've got to get rid of him.
[00:03:21] Unknown:
I can't discuss it now. Can you come over? Of course. I'll be right over.
[00:03:35] Unknown:
Amelia was 40, and everyone said that she had a beautiful nature, which means, of course, that she was as plain as a board fence. But I was vitally interested in Amelia. You see, she owned a controlling interest in enterprises, the firm in which I had been working myself upward for years until I was now the general manager. Amelia was also chairman of the board of directors. She'd inherited the business from her her father along with $3,000,000 She'd been on her own for six months now, and I felt she needed a man to assist and guide her, and I was working on it.
I started by insisting to her that Henry, her caretaker, was old, half senile and untrustworthy. I was all tender concerned when Amelia let me into the house. Amelia, what happened? Just just a minute, Mr. Cotter. If you don't mind I'd like to continue questioning, the caretaker here. Oh. Why of course. Now, Henry, two hours ago someone stood outside on the grounds and put a bullet through miss Rankin's bedroom window. Don't look at me. I've been with the family ever since this place was built. He trusted me. He did. He trusted me me even more than he did her. Tell me. It's true, ain't it? That's why he said it was to stay here, called me alone into his room just before he died.
Who did? Mister Terrence, her father. Oh, Oh, I see. Now, miss Rankin, you say you'd been reading until about 09:00.
[00:05:34] Unknown:
Yes. I got up when I finished and walked past the window. There was a crash of glass. That's all I can tell you. I
[00:05:42] Unknown:
see. Henry, what were you doing with this gun? I've always had it. Mister Terrace told me to always keep it handy. And how do you explain the fact that one of the shells is discharged? Someone must have took it while I was asleep. And then walked out on the ground, shot at miss Rankin, returned to your house and left. Why not? Miss Rankin, and do you know of any reason why Henry would do a thing like this?
[00:06:12] Unknown:
No, I don't.
[00:06:14] Unknown:
Is this the, house phone here on the desk? Why yes. That connects with Henry's house? That's right. The button on the left is for Henry. I I have a man searching there now. Is that you Jacob? Yeah. Mhmm. Search the grounds too. Found where he stood the father Shada. Where? I see. Did you check the footprints against Henry's shoes and the, the shoes did not match the prints? What did I tell you, officer? It was somebody else.
[00:06:58] Unknown:
Well,
[00:06:59] Unknown:
they're gone at last. Amelia, will you believe me now? I tell you that man is not safe. But we don't know, Charles. You must think this over carefully. It could happen again. But I can't let Henry go. After all, father's last request. You don't have to let him go. Well, then
[00:07:18] Unknown:
what do you think I should do, Charles?
[00:07:21] Unknown:
Amelia, perhaps what you need is someone here to protect him.
[00:07:29] Unknown:
Yes. Perhaps you're right,
[00:07:44] Unknown:
John. I'd worked for that moment for months and that that shot I'd fired through Amelia's window earlier in the evening, it clinched it. Of course, I made certain not to hit her. I was clever enough not to move too fast. Presently, I bared her a tender good night, but the next day, I returned to take her for a walk. Is full of beautiful things when one's in love but, maybe I'm being presumptuous, Amelia.
[00:08:26] Unknown:
Not you Charles ever.
[00:08:29] Unknown:
Oh, I'm glad of that.
[00:08:31] Unknown:
I want you to have faith in me. Oh, I do. But it's just that since mother and dad died, I've had everything. Of course, I haven't really. I've had to be cautious. System. You see, when you have money, you're always meeting people who pretend to be friendly when all they want is to get their hands on the money. What makes people that way, Charles? Charles? Is money that important? It has a terrible fascination for some people. If I saw the lot of someone and I found his motive was that, it would hurt me terribly.
[00:09:09] Unknown:
Of course, it would, Amelia. And Charles, you've been so sweet and tiny. I've never been so happy
[00:09:15] Unknown:
even though I am so alone.
[00:09:19] Unknown:
Amelia, you do need someone. With Henry there, things the way they are, you ought to have someone to take care of you and and, well, to look out for everything.
[00:09:31] Unknown:
What are you trying to say, Charles?
[00:09:35] Unknown:
I'm asking you to marry
[00:09:37] Unknown:
me. Do you really need?
[00:09:39] Unknown:
Of course. I do.
[00:09:44] Unknown:
I'm so happy. Yes.
[00:09:59] Unknown:
We were married. A big wedding, fashionable guests, everything. And I spent three months making sure that Amelia had no doubt. After all, it's only good salesmanship to keep the customer happy. Isn't it? Then one day, I made the next move in my little plan. Charles? Yes? Come over here and sit beside me. Well, I was going into the library, Amelia. I have a reference to look up. I'll only be a moment. Alright. What's on your mind?
[00:10:35] Unknown:
These few months we've been married. Have they been happy for you?
[00:10:40] Unknown:
They've been the happiest I
[00:10:59] Unknown:
mean, yes? I know what it must be like married to my mummy. What do you mean? It puts you outside in a way, doesn't it?
[00:11:08] Unknown:
You mustn't think like that to me. It's ridiculous. It's absurd. Just the same, from now on everything I have is yours
[00:11:17] Unknown:
and everything you have is mine. That's the way marriage should be, don't you think? Please don't. Money isn't so important, Charles. Happiness means much more. I found that out. I called my lawyer this afternoon. Your lawyer? There'll be some papers to sign to put everything in your name as well as mine. Oh, really? Nothing is going to come between us, Charles. Everything we have will be shared always forever.
[00:12:04] Unknown:
Everything with Amelia, including $3,000,000 But you have no idea how tiresome a woman like Amelia can be, particularly when she insists on being with you every minute of the time because she loves you. So there was one more set in my plan. One afternoon, I walked into the Hotel in North City, a hundred long miles from Green Acres in Amelia. My name is Charles Carter. I have a reservation. Let's see. Room 241. I asked for something at the back of the building and they have some reports to write and I'll be quiet. You'll find this satisfactory, I'm sure. Soundproofing in the rear. Well, I'll be typing all afternoon and possibly late into the night. I don't want to be disturbed under any circumstances. Yes, sir. I'll tell the operator.
Please tell the maids too. If they hear me typing inside, they're not to come in. Certainly, mister Cartier. Oh, clerk. Excuse me. Oh, sorry. Sorry. It was clumsy of me to bump into you. Quite all right. Clerk, my name is Lane. You're holding a reservation for me? That's right, mister Lane. I'll be right with you. The boy has your back, mister Carty. You can go up now. Part three of my plan was well underway, but I was a little jumpy. I fell a lane. For a moment, I thought it was more than just coincidence. I'd seen him at the station when I'd arrived. Thought that was being foolish. A lot of people arrive in North City every day.
Ten minutes later, alone in Room 241, I opened my bag, put out a small portable phonograph with a repeating attachment on it. I put on a special record and listened. I made sure the whole thing was working perfectly. Then I sneaked out of the room, down the back stairs and out the trade entrance of the hotel. In a bar around the corner, I found a telephone put in the long distance call to Johnson, my assistant at the factory. I told him I was in North City and be there overnight. Then I phoned the hotel. Good afternoon. The Cubs hotel. Will you ring mister Charles Carter's room, please? I'm sorry, mister Carter. I'm receiving any calls. This is important. I'm the superintendent of one of his plans. I'm sorry, sir. Do you care to leave a message? He is there, isn't he? Yes, sir. But he said that he was not to be disturbed. If you'll leave a message No. Thank you. I'll call back later.
As I hung up, I knew that all my orders would be obeyed. Nothing would go wrong with my plan. On my way to get my car, I stopped and bought a bottle of liquor. That was to make Henry the caretaker's feet better because Henry was an important part of my plan. Two hours later, I was driving up the road to Greenacre. But before I got to the house, I turned off the road and left the car in a wooded section. Then I walked up to the house, let myself in quietly, and found the medium in the living room.
[00:15:51] Unknown:
Oh, Charles. It's you.
[00:15:55] Unknown:
I didn't hear you coming. I didn't mean to startle you, Amelia.
[00:15:58] Unknown:
Where's the car, Charles?
[00:16:00] Unknown:
I didn't hear you drive up. I, I had a little trouble with it. I, left it down the road. I'll have Henry look at it. No, not tonight. Too late. Alright.
[00:16:12] Unknown:
I thought for a while you might not be coming home. I'm having a glass of wine. Won't you have one with me? Thanks. I will. Hi. That tastes good. You've been very teed up, Saul.
[00:16:30] Unknown:
Is anything worrying you? No. No. No. Nothing. Just a,
[00:16:35] Unknown:
big business deal I'm thinking about. Is it anything I should know about? No.
[00:16:40] Unknown:
Not yet, anyway.
[00:16:42] Unknown:
Johnston called this afternoon. He was looking for some report. Yes. I know.
[00:16:47] Unknown:
I called him from North City. North City? Yes. I, made a trip there to, look over the, new assembly line. But, that's not all business tonight, Amelia. Not up to it. I'm sorry.
[00:17:03] Unknown:
More wine. Thanks.
[00:17:11] Unknown:
That's fine. Now why don't you run up to bed, Amelia? I, I want to take a bottle of bourbon over to Henry, that,
[00:17:19] Unknown:
friend of the jet jet. Poor Henry. He has been acting more oddly than ever as if he'd resented something.
[00:17:26] Unknown:
I'll try to fix things up. Get him back in a good frame of mind. Don't sit up all hours now, will you? Oh, no, Milian. I'll be back soon. Don't wait up for me. Let me pour you another drink, Henry. Ain't you drinking on mister Carter? We've been drinking some wine, Mrs. Carter and I. Oh, they don't mix so well. How come you're over here pouring me drinks this time of night? Oh, I don't know. I, I just thought that we should get to know each other better. Well, it's a pity missus Carter don't trust me like she used to. Well, let's not ask for all.
Here. Have another drink. Well, don't mind if I I do. That seems to empty the bottle. I guess I better be getting back but I'm glad we we had this talk Henry. Very glad. Yes. We'd had a very successful talk, Henry and I. He was nodding when I left. The liquor would put him to sleep fast. I hurried back to the house, stopping only long enough to pick up Henry's work gloves and his hatches in the wood pile. I entered the house carefully. It was dark. I felt my way toward the stairs. Just as I reached the bottom step, I bumped against the standing lamp.
[00:19:13] Unknown:
Jo? Is that you, Jo?
[00:19:18] Unknown:
Yes. Yes it's me. What happened? I just bumped you into a lamp. Oh,
[00:19:24] Unknown:
lock the door before you come up with your dear.
[00:19:27] Unknown:
Yes, yes of course. Go back to sleep now. I stood there with a hatchet in my hand. I felt the sweat breaking out on my forehead. At the last moment, I was wailing. I waited, telling myself I was waiting for Amelia to go back to sleep. I was really trying to get off my nerve again. Everything was perfect so far. There wasn't a reason in the world for not going through with it.
[00:20:02] Unknown:
What's the matter John? What? Why don't you come up?
[00:20:08] Unknown:
I think I'll read for a while. I'll be up pretty soon. Go to sleep, dear. I spent a moment running over in my mind what I must do. First Amelia, then back to Henry's cottage. Leave his gloves and hatchet hidden, but not so well hidden. Henry would be asleep, lift him, carry him out to the garage, drape him over the wheel of his car, start the motor, and leave him there. Everyone knew of his temper, his continual bickering with Amelia over little things. The picture will be perfectly clear, too much with me, a drunken resolve to kill Amelia, an attempted flight collapse over the wheel just by carbon monoxide. And I would be a hundred miles away in the hotel to come to, absolved from any suspicion.
There was no reason for hesitating I started up the stairs again There was Amelia A thin shape huddled beneath the covers I tiptoeed to the bed Oh, I hated her I knew myself and stuck. Goodbye, Amelia. Goodbye. No.
[00:21:45] Unknown:
Permission. You can stop striking that rolled up blanket Tom. I'm over here by the window. Yes. I've been standing here looking out at the moonlight. It's beautiful isn't it? I can see everything so clearly,
[00:22:01] Unknown:
so clearly tonight Charles. Was there any good to yell? No one will hear you. I'm not going to yell.
[00:22:06] Unknown:
You see, Charles, I know everything you did today.
[00:22:10] Unknown:
I hired a detective to follow you a week ago. A detective?
[00:22:15] Unknown:
I thought you were in some kind of trouble. I hired the detective to see what it was so I could help you. So you could help me? He learned of your reservation in North City. He was waiting for you at the hotel when you got there. Lane. That's his name, isn't it? That's the name he used. Yes.
[00:22:36] Unknown:
Well,
[00:22:37] Unknown:
go on. He phoned me and told me you were in your room typing. I told him you couldn't type.
[00:22:45] Unknown:
So he got into my room. It was a clever way to establish an alibi.
[00:22:49] Unknown:
I knew you wouldn't go to so much trouble except for something very, very big and I guess
[00:22:56] Unknown:
the only thing it could be Given the point of media. Pretty ridiculous, Watkin,
[00:23:01] Unknown:
believing that out of all the people, there was one whom I could trust, whom I could share everything with.
[00:23:09] Unknown:
Where, where's your detective now? Outside I thought. No.
[00:23:17] Unknown:
He did his work. He's gone.
[00:23:19] Unknown:
We're alone? Yes.
[00:23:21] Unknown:
Quite alone. Remember our agreement that we should share everything? Well, When I became convinced you were planning to kill me, I I couldn't bear it. I don't mean about dying, but to have my trust shattered so life didn't seem worth living anymore.
[00:23:44] Unknown:
Where you getting at?
[00:23:46] Unknown:
I took certain precautions,
[00:23:48] Unknown:
Charles. Percussion?
[00:23:50] Unknown:
That wine we both drank when you came in. It was poisoned. Poisoned?
[00:23:59] Unknown:
I don't believe you.
[00:24:01] Unknown:
You're lying. No, I'm not. It's slow acting, quite pain and half an hour or so we'll fall asleep and not wake up.
[00:24:15] Unknown:
You are lying. You're trying to trick me. Why should
[00:24:19] Unknown:
I? Oh, Charles. I hope till I was wrong. I hope so hard. I'm even prepared for that. I have a bottle of the antidote here. If you had come upstairs and simply gone to bed, I was prepared to give you the antidote on some screen. Antidote. Give me, give it to me. No. No. We We agreed to share everything remember? And we must share this, what, this bottle of chandelier. There. It's gone now, Charles. It's all gone.
[00:25:11] Unknown:
This is Don Doud again, your host for Mystery Time. You have just heard Masters of Mystery live from New York.
