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Inner Sanctum Mystery, also known as Inner Sanctum, is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952.
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00:00Inner Sanctum Mysteries
00:14Good evening, friends of the creaking door.
00:30This is your host to welcome you again into the Inner Sanctum.
00:34Come in.
00:35Come on in.
00:37No, no, please don't stand on ceremony.
00:39We're all informal here.
00:40No ties, no callers.
00:42In some cases, no heads.
00:47That doesn't mean we're complete boors, though.
00:49We study our Emily ghosts faithfully.
00:53You wouldn't catch one of us eating his peas with a knife.
00:56Oh, no.
00:57We've been caught with knives before.
01:00Sewing, you might say, our wild throats.
01:12Well, the preliminaries are over, beginning right now.
01:18Things are going to happen.
01:20So sit up, draw a deep breath, and lend us an ear.
01:25We've got to get our teeth into something.
01:26Listen now to the voice of Donald Buker as Danny Williams, as he tells the weird story of the dead walk at night.
01:42Danny.
01:44Where are you?
01:47Danny.
01:48Danny.
01:49Danny.
01:51There it is again.
01:52Danny.
01:53My uncle calling to me, just as he used to when I was a boy.
01:59Where are you, Danny?
02:00My blind uncle tapping his cane and calling.
02:04Danny, where are you?
02:06He's dead.
02:08I wish I could join him.
02:10Answer me.
02:10I've tried to a thousand times, but they've always prevented me.
02:15Danny.
02:16Tap him.
02:18Tap him.
02:19Tap him.
02:20It goes on incessantly.
02:24It never stops.
02:25Even when I sleep, I hear it every minute, every second.
02:28Sometimes soft.
02:31I sing thunder.
02:32Danny.
02:34Danny.
02:34Can't you stop it?
02:36Can't you give me one minute's peace?
02:37Danny.
02:38Why don't you stop it, you blind old fool?
02:41Leave me alone.
02:43Haven't you done enough?
02:45Leave me alone.
02:46Leave me alone.
02:46He tapped that way with his cane.
02:58On the night, I decided to kill him.
03:02We were in his room in the big house where we lived together.
03:06I'd been living with him since I was 14 years old.
03:09For 10 years, I'd been his companion, his nurse, his servant, his slave.
03:17On the night I was going to kill him, I slipped a length of strong cord into my dinner jacket.
03:24He was totally blind.
03:27Had been for 30 years.
03:30Yet, strangely enough, he could see.
03:33He could see with his uncanny, highly developed sense of hearing.
03:40And with that cane of his, that cane that was everlastingly tapping.
03:46The wind's blowing up tonight.
03:49It'll be getting cold soon.
03:51Yes.
03:52And then, all the servants go on.
03:55This is their night off.
03:57You going out again tonight?
03:58Yes.
04:00With Martha?
04:01Yes, with Martha.
04:02Will you pour me some brandy?
04:07Yes, Morgan.
04:13I poured out the drink.
04:16In my pocket, I felt the cord.
04:18And as I handed the drink to him, I took it out and walked behind me.
04:23Now, this was the time.
04:27I slipped the cord around his neck.
04:29Twisted him.
04:31It would be over soon.
04:33He sat there, holding the glass in one hand.
04:39Very good friend, Edith.
04:41I raised the cord over his head.
04:44All I had to do was drop it over his neck.
04:47Why are you standing behind me?
04:50Well, how did you know?
04:52I heard you walk there.
04:55Why, Danny?
04:56I just wanted to look out of the window.
04:59One quick move.
05:00It would be over.
05:01But I didn't want to kill him, so I suddenly missed him.
05:06I'd make a clean breast of it and give him a chance.
05:09Well, Dan.
05:11How long are you going to stand there?
05:14Morgan, there's something I want to speak to you about.
05:17Well, what is it, my boy?
05:18I want to marry Martha.
05:22I, uh...
05:23I thought that was on your mind.
05:26But I need $10,000, Morgan.
05:29Will you give it to me?
05:30What are you laughing at?
05:32You.
05:33I was just waiting to see how much you'd asked for.
05:38You lied your way in pretty deeply this time, didn't you, Danny?
05:42What are you talking about?
05:44I saw what was coming.
05:45I, uh...
05:46While you were in town,
05:48we had a very interesting little talk.
05:52Did you?
05:52Hmm.
05:53She told me that her father's worried about her marrying a fortunate heir.
05:59Seems he's a very wealthy man.
06:02Yes, that's right.
06:03And it seems that he won't give Martha any money when she marries
06:06unless her husband is a man of some means himself.
06:10It also seems that you lied to her.
06:14You told her you're wealthy.
06:17Why?
06:18Did you tell her the truth?
06:20No.
06:22You always were an incorrigible liar.
06:26Morgan, she got the impression that I had some money
06:28because I lived in this house.
06:29And now you have to live up to that impression
06:31so you can marry her.
06:32But you'll give me the money, won't you?
06:34Why'd you lie to her?
06:36And I did it without thinking.
06:37I wanted to tell her the truth, but I couldn't.
06:39I was afraid that if she found out that I'd lied, she'd hate me.
06:43Morgan, are you going to give me the money?
06:48Danny, I'm very fond of you.
06:50I took you.
06:51I took you in to live with me when you were a poor penniless gutter snipe.
06:55I educated and taught you to live like a gentleman.
06:59I even named you sole beneficiary of my estate.
07:02But that's why I'm asking you for the money now.
07:03If you're going to leave me all of it,
07:05why don't you give me a little of it now?
07:07Because I don't want you to marry Martha.
07:11Why not?
07:13I don't think she's the girl for you.
07:15You stupid, blind old fool.
07:17Dan.
07:18Martha's the finest girl I ever met.
07:19I won't have you talking about her like this.
07:21You won't have a penny of my money to marry her.
07:23You're doing this because you want me to stay with you.
07:25Now, what are you talking about?
07:27From the very first day I came here,
07:28it's been Danny do this, Danny do that.
07:31Danny, read to me.
07:32Danny, pour me some brandy.
07:33You've made me a servant of the slave.
07:35How can you talk this way after all I've done for you?
07:38Done for me?
07:39Did you ever teach me to work?
07:41Did you ever teach me to do anything except live in luxury
07:43when I didn't have a penny to my name?
07:46You made me someone who's of no earthly good
07:48to anything or anyone except you.
07:52Well, what are you going to do about it?
07:54Leave?
07:56No.
07:58I'm not going to leave, Morgan.
08:00You are.
08:02What do you mean?
08:04I'm going to kill you.
08:07Don't be ridiculous, my boy.
08:09You'd probably make a bungling mess on it.
08:11I don't think so.
08:14You see, I planned it very carefully.
08:17Danny, if you think you can frighten me
08:20into giving you that money,
08:21you're quite mistaken.
08:22I don't intend to frighten you.
08:25I intend to murder you.
08:28You?
08:30You're not serious?
08:32Yes.
08:33I am, Morgan.
08:34Danny, you...
08:35You got up, I heard you.
08:37Yes.
08:39Now, don't lose your head.
08:40Perhaps we can come to some agreement.
08:43It's too late for that.
08:43Don't think you can stall me
08:46and then turn me over to the police.
08:47Danny, where are you?
08:48You'll know in a minute, Morgan.
08:51When you feel something
08:53on your neck.
08:55Let go of me.
08:59It'll be over in a minute.
09:00Let go of me, you idiot.
09:02Let go.
09:02Not now, Morgan.
09:03All right, all right, Danny.
09:04I'll admit it.
09:06I wanted you to stay with me.
09:07I'm blind, old, alone,
09:10but I'll let you go.
09:13I'll give you the money you want.
09:15Only don't kill me.
09:16It's too late now.
09:18I know you and I don't trust your promises.
09:20I'll give you anything you want.
09:22You'll hear anything.
09:23Now, please, Danny.
09:24No, Morgan.
09:24Oh, if I could only see.
09:27If I could only...
09:28I'm going to be merciful, Morgan.
09:35It'll only take a few seconds
09:37and this Lord will crush the life out of you.
09:48Morgan?
09:50Morgan?
09:53He's dead.
09:54I heard the front door open and close.
10:00I had told Martha to come at nine o'clock.
10:02I ran out of the room and looked down the long stairway.
10:05Hello, darling.
10:06Martha!
10:07Shall I come up?
10:07No, no, wait there.
10:08I'll come right down.
10:09All right.
10:11I rushed back into the room.
10:13My uncle was lying on the floor.
10:14The rope twisted about his neck.
10:15His face streaked with purple.
10:16I picked up the cane and began tapping on the floor.
10:19And I placed the cane near to him.
10:25I went back to the door again and called.
10:27Good night, Morgan!
10:28My uncle.
10:34Oh, he's fine.
10:35I heard him tapping around up there.
10:36Yes, he likes to make a lot of noise with that cane of his.
10:39I think he gets a kick out of it.
10:41Do you think it's safe to leave him alone here?
10:43Safe?
10:44Well, of course.
10:45Look, shall we go dancing somewhere?
10:47Mm-hmm.
10:47That's a swell idea.
10:59Well, friends, do you think Uncle Morgan will stay dead?
11:04Oh, you do?
11:06Well, that shows how much you know.
11:08On this program, the dead never stay that way.
11:11So get ready for the worst, because in the next few minutes,
11:15you're going to find corpses that walk.
11:18In the dead of the night.
11:20Oh, yes.
11:22They do, all right.
11:24They do.
11:25Don't you worry.
11:29All right.
11:31Let's listen now to Donald Buker as Danny,
11:33as he finishes his story.
11:36It was easy to lie to the police.
11:39When Martha told them that she heard my uncle tapping in his room,
11:43I was cleared of all suspicion.
11:45I suggested that the murder was committed by some thief
11:48who broke into the house to rob it after we had left.
11:51The police agreed.
11:52I received the inheritance.
11:55And Martha and I planned to go to California to be married.
11:58I had lied my way out and fooled everyone.
12:02Everyone.
12:04Except myself.
12:07I knew what I had done.
12:09I couldn't forget it.
12:11I became nervous and morose.
12:14And then came that last night,
12:16before Martha and I were to go away.
12:19I was alone in the house,
12:21preparing to close it.
12:22Hello, Dan.
12:30Martha.
12:32But it's so late, I didn't expect you.
12:34I know, darling,
12:35but I was afraid to leave you alone in this huge old house.
12:38I decided to come over.
12:39Well, that's very sweet of you, darling,
12:40but there's nothing to worry about.
12:42You can't fool me.
12:43I've noticed how you were behaving these last few days.
12:46Have you?
12:46Ever since your poor uncle was killed,
12:48you haven't been quite yourself.
12:50Well, I suppose I have been a little upset.
12:53I'm glad you came, darling.
12:55Look, I can put you in the guest room
12:57next to my uncle's old room.
12:58That's the only one beside my own
13:00that hasn't been dismantled yet.
13:01Come on.
13:02I'll show you the way.
13:03All right.
13:04When we get to California and we're married,
13:06you'll forget all this.
13:07I hope so.
13:09What was that?
13:11I didn't hear anything.
13:12I...
13:13I thought I heard a noise.
13:15I was right.
13:16This old house is affecting you.
13:18Maybe.
13:20Maybe.
13:21You know, Martha,
13:22last night I...
13:24I thought I heard him tapping with his cane.
13:27Did you?
13:27Well, it was just my imagination, I guess.
13:30I wonder.
13:32You know, darling,
13:33I had a rather strange dream about him.
13:35You did?
13:36I...
13:36I dreamed he came to me
13:38and told me he wasn't dead.
13:40Well, that's a crazy idea.
13:42Isn't it?
13:42But just suppose he wasn't dead.
13:45Well, that's impossible.
13:46I saw him dead with the rope around his neck.
13:48Did you?
13:49That's funny.
13:50I went with you to the morgue
13:51and I didn't see the rope.
13:53The police had removed it.
13:54Oh, yes.
13:55Yes, of course they had.
13:57But I...
13:58Well, I saw those welts.
14:01It didn't take much imagination to see the rope.
14:04Oh, my poor Danny.
14:06I'm afraid this has affected you more than you realized.
14:08Here's your room, Martha.
14:09Danny,
14:10you've been kind of cold and distant lately.
14:14You do love me, don't you, darling?
14:17Of course, Martha.
14:20There.
14:22Good night, Dan.
14:24Good night.
14:24Good night.
14:24I was awakened that night
14:35from a tortured sleep
14:36by a familiar sound.
14:38The sound of my uncle's cane
14:40tapping on the floor above me.
14:43At first I thought I was dreaming.
14:45But then I heard it again.
14:48It seemed to be coming closer.
14:51To be taking a familiar cause.
14:53Yes.
14:54I had heard it a thousand times
14:56when he was alive.
14:58That same nervous rhythm
14:59of tapping him.
15:01It was coming down the stairs.
15:04Tap.
15:05Tap.
15:06Tap.
15:07Down the stairs.
15:09Cautiously.
15:10Carefully.
15:12It was on a landing now.
15:15Would it go down further
15:16or would it turn
15:16as it had done so often
15:17to my room?
15:20It came closer.
15:21Closer.
15:23It was coming to my room.
15:25There could be no doubt about that.
15:27It couldn't be alive
15:28and yet...
15:29It was knocking at the door.
15:35It took every bit of courage I had
15:38but I went to the door
15:38and opened it.
15:41There on the floor
15:42outside my door
15:43was my uncle's cane.
15:45A throb of cold, icy terror shook me.
15:47I ran back into the room
15:48and half insane with panic
15:49I shouted,
15:50Martha!
15:50Martha!
15:51Martha!
15:52Danny, what's the matter?
15:53Martha, Martha, darling.
15:55I...
15:55I...
15:56I must be going out of my mind.
15:59I saw...
16:00What did you see?
16:01That cane.
16:03That cane that you have
16:03in your hand.
16:04Put it down.
16:05I found it outside your door.
16:06I thought you'd misplaced it.
16:07No.
16:08No, that's my uncle's cane.
16:09That's the one he always used.
16:11But, Danny,
16:11there's no need
16:12to be so frightened of it.
16:14Why, you'd think
16:14it was going to hurt you
16:15the way you act.
16:16Martha!
16:17Here, you hold it.
16:17No!
16:18Danny, you're terrified.
16:19What's wrong?
16:20What's happening?
16:21Martha, Martha,
16:21don't make me tell you.
16:23Don't.
16:23But what are you afraid of?
16:24The cane!
16:25Put it down!
16:25Throw it away!
16:26The cane?
16:26Throw it away!
16:27You don't know what you're saying.
16:28Oh, Martha,
16:29why do you keep
16:30pointing it at me?
16:31Why?
16:31Danny, you've got to tell me
16:33what's troubling you.
16:34I won't put it down
16:35until you tell me
16:36why you're afraid of it.
16:37Martha, for heaven's sake!
16:38You can trust me, Danny.
16:39I love you.
16:40Tell me what it is.
16:41Martha!
16:42What is it?
16:43No matter what it is,
16:43I'll always love you.
16:44Don't be afraid to tell me.
16:47I killed him.
16:49Your uncle?
16:51Yes.
16:51Why?
16:52For the inheritance.
16:53I didn't want you to know
16:54that I didn't have a cent.
16:55I asked him for the money,
16:56begged him for it.
16:57He sat there in his chair
16:58telling me I couldn't have a cent.
17:00He wanted to keep me here with him.
17:02I wanted to marry you.
17:03That's why I murdered him, Martha,
17:04because I love you.
17:05Do you understand?
17:06Yes.
17:07Oh, Martha.
17:10Martha, I knew you would.
17:11You'll stand by me, won't you?
17:13Why are you smiling that way?
17:16How much money did you inherit?
17:17$200,000 in this house.
17:19You'll transfer that money
17:20to me in the morning.
17:22When the house is sold,
17:22you'll turn over that money to me, too.
17:24If you don't,
17:25I'll tell the police
17:26what you just told me.
17:28Martha,
17:28I...
17:29I don't understand.
17:30I thought I was pretty clear.
17:33Oh, I...
17:34I see now.
17:35You...
17:36You think I'm too upset
17:37to manage the estate
17:38and you want to take care of it
17:39for me until we're married?
17:40There isn't going to be
17:41any marriage.
17:43No marriage?
17:44No.
17:45Now that I can get the money
17:46without marrying you,
17:47there's no reason for me
17:48to tie myself down.
17:49Why should you want the money?
17:51Your father's...
17:51He's been dead
17:52for 17 years.
17:53Martha, you told...
17:55You were lying to me.
17:58Yes, Dan.
18:00But you were lying to me
18:01and so it comes out even.
18:03You stop cowering at this cane.
18:05There's nothing queer about it.
18:06I made that tapping noise tonight.
18:08I thought it would make you confess
18:09that it did.
18:11Oh, this is a joke.
18:13It's a monstrous joke.
18:15I wouldn't think it was so funny
18:17if I were in your position.
18:18You know,
18:19the money isn't quite all.
18:21I can use you, Danny.
18:24I might need certain things
18:25done sometimes.
18:27And if you'll remember
18:28that I can send you
18:28to the electric chair
18:29whenever I choose to,
18:31you'll do them.
18:32I see.
18:33The slave merely changes masters.
18:36Where are you going?
18:37Back to my room.
18:38Oh, no, you're not.
18:39Dan, let's go of me.
18:40I want to show you something, Martha.
18:41Something about this cane.
18:43You said there was nothing
18:44queer about it.
18:44Well, there is.
18:45Let me show you.
18:47You didn't know, did you,
18:49that if you press a button
18:50in the handle,
18:51the outer covering slips off
18:52and you have a sword
18:53in your hand.
18:54A sword?
18:55Yes.
18:57Look.
18:58There.
18:59See?
19:00It's a sharp sword
19:02forged in Italy
19:03during the Renaissance
19:04to be used by men
19:05with less conscience
19:06than I about murder.
19:08Dan, what are you going to do?
19:09I think you know.
19:11No, Danny.
19:11You can't.
19:12Did you think I would
19:13give you that money
19:14after I murdered a man
19:15to get it?
19:15I'll let you keep the money.
19:16Do you think I believe you?
19:17I know liars.
19:18I won't kill the police.
19:19I swear I won't.
19:20I'll do anything you say.
19:21I'll marry you.
19:22Do you think I'd marry you
19:23after I found out
19:24that your love was a lie?
19:25Do you think I'd let you live
19:27when I know you have
19:27a secret that can enslave me?
19:29No, Dan.
19:30Take that sword away.
19:31Don't do it.
19:32I love you.
19:33Liar.
19:33Dan, don't.
19:34Please.
19:35I beg you,
19:35I'll do anything,
19:36anything you say.
19:37Don't.
19:37Don't.
19:43Mother.
19:46Mother.
19:47Mother.
19:47It, it was then
19:53that I first began
19:54hearing it.
19:55It did my mind.
19:57That tapping,
19:59tapping, tapping.
20:01That incessant
20:02tapping of the cane.
20:10When the police came,
20:12I told them everything.
20:13They asked only one question.
20:15When did you hear this
20:17tapping in your mind?
20:19After I killed him.
20:21Hmm.
20:22Well, you'll be all right
20:23after a good doctor treats you.
20:25Perhaps.
20:26Meanwhile,
20:27we'll do everything we can
20:27to find the person
20:28who killed your uncle
20:29and your sweetheart.
20:30I think it's the same man.
20:32He's probably some thief
20:33who thought he'd try
20:34a second time.
20:35But I just told you
20:36I'm the person you want.
20:39Now, Danny,
20:39you don't think I believe
20:40that story for a minute,
20:41do you?
20:42You,
20:42you don't believe it?
20:44After the way
20:45I saw you cry
20:46when your uncle died.
20:48And you can't make me believe
20:49that sweet girl
20:50did the things you said.
20:51I know something
20:52about human nature,
20:53my boy.
20:54No, Danny,
20:55the shock of finding
20:56your sweetheart murdered
20:57so soon after your uncle's murder
20:58was too much for you.
21:01This whole confession
21:02was a lie.
21:02for 20 years now
21:11I've been in this cell
21:13at the state asylum
21:14waiting to die.
21:17I who told the truth
21:19because I wanted to die.
21:23For 20 years
21:24I've been hearing that
21:26tapping day and night
21:27every second.
21:30For 20 years
21:31I've been hearing
21:33my blind uncle
21:34call me
21:35as he used to
21:35when I was born.
21:37Dan.
21:38Dan,
21:39where are you?
21:41Why don't you
21:41come to me,
21:42Dan?
21:43Dan!
21:52All right, friends,
21:53you can relax now.
21:55No.
21:56No, this isn't Danny.
21:58This is your home.
22:00Our story's over
22:01and the porters
22:02are now mopping up.
22:04Well,
22:05I guess tonight's
22:06little story
22:07should teach you
22:07never to tell a lie.
22:09Lying leads to cheating
22:11and cheating
22:12leads to murder.
22:14And murder leads
22:15to insanity,
22:16all of which
22:16are very bad habits
22:18to get into indeed.
22:25Well, friends,
22:26it's time once again
22:27to close that creaking door.
22:30Until next week
22:30at this same time
22:31when we'll be back
22:32with a little hunk
22:33of horror.
22:36You'll be sure
22:37to listen,
22:37aren't you?
22:39Until next week,
22:40then.
22:41Good night.
22:42Pleasant dreams.
22:46The End
22:48The End
22:50THE END
23:20The Inner Sanctum has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
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