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- 5 hours ago
Hereditary equestrian passion notwithstanding, a woman has to put up her horses for sale after her father's death. All except one that is fabled to be the best to the dismay of her dad's rivals.
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00:00Come in.
00:19Welcome.
00:22I'm E.G. Marshall.
00:24Welcome to the sound of suspense.
00:28Welcome to the fear you can hear,
00:31but mostly to the world of terrifying imagination.
00:37The story you're about to hear concerns one of the most unusual killers in the annals of crime.
00:44A brutal murderer who carries not one but four deadly weapons wherever he goes.
00:51A huge monster of a creature weighing hundreds of pounds.
00:55But this isn't a horror story.
00:58In a way, it's a love story.
01:01It's called The Horse That Wasn't For Sale.
01:05And now that you've heard the title,
01:07you've already guessed the identity of our killer.
01:10But that doesn't mean you know what Stargazer is really like.
01:15No! No, you keep with me here!
01:18Get back, Stargazer!
01:20Get back! Get away!
01:21Stop it!
01:25Please, somebody! Somebody stop him!
01:28Save me!
01:29Ah!
01:30Our mystery drama,
01:42The Horse That Wasn't For Sale,
01:45was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Henry Slusser
01:48and stars Mercedes McCambridge.
01:52It is sponsored in part by Anheuser-Busch Incorporated,
01:55brewers of Budweiser.
01:57I'll be back shortly with Act One.
02:11Our tale begins in an idyllic setting.
02:15Just picture the gently rolling hills of a horse farm
02:19in the early days of autumn.
02:21The colors of the trees all red and rust
02:24and differing shades of amber.
02:27See the ranch house nestled comfortably in the valley.
02:31The long row of white stables.
02:34But now you may notice something unusual about this farm.
02:38The stables are empty.
02:41No horses, May and Winnie, in the paddock.
02:44The only sound is the tapping of a typewriter.
02:49And at a desk in the front room sits a very handsome
02:52and very sad-looking young lady
02:54whose name is Chrissy Runyon.
02:57Judge Simmons,
03:00I thought it was only fair that I tell you
03:03the whole story about Stargate is
03:05so that at least you'll know the animal
03:08isn't entirely to blame for what happened.
03:11It began on the day my father was buried.
03:16And of course it began with our trainer,
03:19Clem Burnett.
03:21He was all alone at Runyon Farms that day.
03:25And he took advantage of the fact
03:27to sample some of Daddy's best verbiage.
03:32Ah, shut up, you.
03:33Stand still if you want to get brushed.
03:36Ah, what's the matter with you?
03:38Stand still, you mangy beast.
03:39Ah, for the lover, there goes the blasted bone now.
03:45They've got one job to do, it's another.
03:47All right, all right.
03:48All right, all right, I'm coming.
03:52Hello.
03:52Mr. Burnett, it's Chrissy Runyon.
03:55Oh, hello, Miss Runyon.
03:57How is everything out there?
03:59Everything's fine, just fine.
04:01What about Bobbling?
04:02Is she still off her feet?
04:04Ah, Bobbling's fine, just fine.
04:06Are you all right, Mr. Burnett?
04:09Sure, sure, I am.
04:11Everything out here is just the way it should be.
04:13Ah, tell me, how was the funeral?
04:16I'm calling to ask about the horses, Mr. Burnett.
04:19Is Stargazer still restless?
04:22Well, that horse ain't been nothing but restless
04:24since the day he was foaled.
04:26Well, then don't trouble him, Mr. Burnett.
04:28Do you understand?
04:29Just let him be,
04:30and I'll take care of him when I get out there.
04:32Huh?
04:33You mean you're coming out?
04:35Of course I'm coming out.
04:36Why shouldn't I?
04:37Oh, no reason, no reason.
04:38I just thought, well,
04:39he ain't been here in a long time, Miss Runyon.
04:42Well, I have to arrange things for the auction.
04:45Huh?
04:45Auction?
04:47What are you talking about?
04:48I'm sorry, Mr. Burnett,
04:49but the horses have to be sold,
04:52and the farm, too.
04:54My father's debts were too, uh...
04:57Well, never mind.
04:59I'll be there sometime this weekend.
05:01Oh, wait a minute.
05:03You're telling me that I'm out of a job?
05:04I'm sorry.
05:06There's nothing I can do about it.
05:07Well, look here.
05:08Oh, six years on this place.
05:10Six years, and your old man never gave me more than a person.
05:12I'll see you on the weekend, Mr. Burnett,
05:15and we'll settle then about your wages.
05:16Yes, and remember what I said about Stargazer.
05:20Just let him alone.
05:23Goodbye.
05:25Ah.
05:27Just like that, huh?
05:29Just like that, huh, Miss Snooty?
05:32I'll let him alone, all right.
05:35He can starve as far as I'm concerned.
05:46What's the matter, Stargazer?
05:49You don't look so happy today.
05:52Hungry, maybe, huh?
05:54Thirsty?
05:55No, there's no use clawing the ground.
05:57You just got to wait until she gets here.
06:00Miss Chrissy Runyon is the only one you ever cared for, right?
06:03Well, you can wait until she gets here and takes care of you,
06:06because I won't.
06:08Hey, now get down.
06:09Get down, Stargazer.
06:10Now you stop that.
06:12Ah.
06:12What are you trying to do?
06:14Knock down the whole vine?
06:15Now stop that, you.
06:16Stop it.
06:17All right.
06:18All right.
06:19If you want a taste of the whip.
06:21Ah.
06:21Now stop it.
06:23Stop it, you crazy beast.
06:24Get back there.
06:26Get back.
06:28You kicked me.
06:30No.
06:31No.
06:31Oh, my.
06:32Ah.
06:33Ah.
06:33Ah.
06:34Ah.
06:34Ah.
06:34Ah.
06:35Ah.
06:35Ah.
06:35Ah.
06:36Ah.
06:36Ah.
06:37Ah.
06:38Ah.
06:38Ah.
06:38Ah.
06:39Ah.
06:40Ah.
06:41Ah.
06:43Well, you know what happened to Clem Brunette better than I do, Judge Simmons.
06:48You viewed the remains of his body for the inquest.
06:51That was something I couldn't bring myself to do.
06:55I'm sure you remember the day after the hearing, when you asked me to dinner.
07:00No, I thought I'd be asking you.
07:02Well, I don't know.
07:03Please, Judge, why don't you tell me what's really on your mind?
07:07It's about Stargazer.
07:10Well, I appreciate your accepting this date.
07:13Now, I know you're anxious to get back to the city.
07:15No, I'm anxious to get back to my home, Judge.
07:18Yes.
07:19It's hard to think that Runyon Farms isn't your home anymore.
07:23Well, it hasn't been for years.
07:25Do you know that Daddy and I didn't get along?
07:29Yes.
07:29Yes, I know that only too well.
07:32Your father used to say, the only thing that keeps Chrissy coming back is that horse, Stargazer.
07:39Who?
07:40And you were right the first time.
07:42It's that horse.
07:44Yeah?
07:45What about it?
07:46Well, I think you know, Chrissy.
07:48Even though I handed down the verdict I did about poor Clem...
07:52Do you know what that man was doing to Stargazer?
07:55As I heard testimony, remember?
07:58Well, it's the truth, Judge.
07:59He was deliberately starving the poor animal.
08:02He was depriving it of feeding water.
08:04And that's why Stargazer did what he did.
08:07Chrissy...
08:08Chrissy, stop thinking that animals are so aware of human motives.
08:12Well, I love horses too, but I don't give them that much credit.
08:17Well, they know cruelty from kindness.
08:19And you think it was merely Burnett's cruelty that made Stargazer stomp him to death?
08:25Yes, I do.
08:27Then what about Clayton?
08:30Oh, what about him?
08:32Clayton wasn't killed.
08:34Are you telling me that he wouldn't have been killed if your father hadn't reached the stable in time?
08:39I didn't know that you knew about Clayton.
08:44Your father told me himself.
08:46I didn't realize you...
08:47He swore me to secrecy because...
08:51Well, because he knew how much you loved Stargazer.
08:54He's my horse, Judge.
08:57Daddy gave him to me.
08:59Yes, but he didn't know that he was giving you a killer.
09:03Oh, don't say that.
09:04You can be glad I didn't say it at the inquest, Chrissy.
09:07Now, I was tempted to, let me tell you.
09:10It was only the fact of you sitting there with those big blue eyes of yours filled with tears.
09:16Oh, I was crying for my father.
09:18Yes, yes, yes, of course.
09:20But you were crying for your Stargazer too.
09:23You're afraid the verdict would be against the animal and that somebody would have to put a bullet in that proud head.
09:29Oh, Judge, please don't say such thing.
09:32Chrissy, you're not going to allow Stargazer to be sold, are you?
09:37Is that why you wanted this lunch, to ask me that?
09:41The horse cannot be ridden.
09:44Not even you dare ride him again.
09:46A horse doesn't have to be ridden.
09:49Chrissy, your beautiful stallion is mad.
09:54Mad?
09:55Killer mad.
09:55The way some animals get when they're treated just a little too coolly.
10:01But Stargazer wasn't ever treated that badly.
10:04Between Clayton and Burnett and you, you're...
10:07Me?
10:08Yes, Chrissy.
10:10Yours was the greatest cruelty of all.
10:12What do you mean?
10:14Your horse loved you, child.
10:16When you left him, you went out of his life and you stayed out of it.
10:21Well, I was in college.
10:22And afterwards, well, Judge, I did have a life to live.
10:26I didn't want to live it under the thumb of my father.
10:28Yes, yes.
10:29And Stargazer forgot kindness and learned indifference and cruelty, and he went mad.
10:35Now, you have to do something for him.
10:38Judge, please listen to me.
10:40I know he's valuable, Chrissy.
10:42And I know your father left you with too many creditors.
10:44And Stargazer will probably bring you a higher price than any other horse on the list.
10:50Eight, maybe ten thousand from the stud farm.
10:53Judge Simmons, you needn't have worried.
10:56I made up my mind about that even before Stargazer...
10:59Even before Burnett was killed.
11:04He's not for sale.
11:06You mean that, Chrissy?
11:07I'm putting every single horse up for auction.
11:11But not Stargazer.
11:34Just a moment.
11:38Good morning.
11:39Oh.
11:39Hello.
11:42You remember me, don't you?
11:43Alan Carlin from Wildbrook Farm?
11:46Yes, of course I remember you, Mr. Carlin.
11:49Well, I thought you might have forgotten me.
11:51It's been a couple of years since we've seen each other, Miss Runyon.
11:54I remember you.
11:55In fact, I saw you at the auction.
11:57Well.
11:58Well, I'm flattered that you noticed me.
12:00You bought three of my father's horses.
12:03Yes, yes, I bought three.
12:04I meant to buy four.
12:06Well, uh, listen, do you mind if I, if I come in?
12:10Oh, please do.
12:12I, uh, yeah, I was really shocked when I heard he died.
12:17He wasn't a youngster, of course, but just the same.
12:20Well, my father was 71.
12:22Well, I always figured he was younger, seeing as how he had such a young daughter.
12:26But I know it took Will a long time to get around to marrying.
12:29He was practically 40 by then, wasn't he?
12:32Well, but then, that's how your father was, always putting things off.
12:36Including paying his bills.
12:39Now, is that why you're here, perhaps?
12:42I beg your pardon?
12:44No, I know that you are on my father's list of creditors.
12:46Oh, but that's, that's not the reason I came to see you.
12:51You see, I bought three horses at your auction, but I meant to buy four.
12:55The only reason I didn't was because the horse I really wanted wasn't for sale.
13:00How?
13:02You mean, stargazer?
13:04Well, I, I suppose you think I believe those rumors about the animal?
13:10Well, I don't.
13:12I've been around horses all my life.
13:14A good thoroughbred doesn't go crazy overnight.
13:19So, any compunction you might have about selling me...
13:22You're mistaken.
13:25Stargazer was kept out of the auction at my request.
13:28He's my horse, and I don't want him sold.
13:33Well, I attended the inquest, you know.
13:36I, I listened to every word, and I know Burnett mistreated the animal.
13:41That's why he got stopped.
13:42Mr. Burnett was a fine trainer.
13:44Oh, yes, yes, yes, indeed.
13:47The point is that I'm willing to take my chances, Miss Runyon.
13:51I won't ask you to cut the price because of a horse's reputation.
13:55There's no price tag on him.
13:57I'm sorry.
13:58Miss Runyon, you're still a sporting woman, aren't you?
14:02Would you be willing to make a, a little wager?
14:05What?
14:07Well, I've ridden horses with reputations five times worse than stargazers.
14:13And I can prove it.
14:15Now, if I do, will you talk about a sale?
14:18Well, no.
14:23Oh, you're your father's daughter, all right.
14:27Everybody said we ought to raise mules that would have been more in character.
14:31Now, look, you don't have to worry about me.
14:34I was born in a saddle.
14:36If anything happens, the responsibility will be all mine.
14:40Your responsibility?
14:41Do you really think I care what happens to you?
14:44Yeah, but nothing will.
14:45If you are at that inquest, you know what it means if Stargazer hurts anybody again.
14:52They'll destroy him.
14:53And they'll have the legal right to put him away.
14:56And I won't let that happen.
14:57But it won't be that way.
14:59It will.
15:00There is something wrong with Stargazer.
15:04I've known that for a long time.
15:07And I think Daddy knew it too.
15:08But he gave him to me, thinking that I might win him over with kindness.
15:14Well, I failed, you see.
15:16And now when he feels that hateful weight on his back, he...
15:22Oh, please.
15:24Please.
15:25Go, Mr. Collins, please.
15:29All right, Miss Runyon.
15:30I'm just so terribly sorry you won't let me prove you wrong.
15:37Oh, dear.
15:43I should start my packing.
15:46Feels like the whole morning is gone.
15:49Oh, no.
15:51I hope that man isn't bothering Stargazer.
15:54He must be out at the stable.
15:57Mr. Collins, don't.
15:59Please don't.
15:59Mr. Collins, don't.
16:03Mr. Collins, stop.
16:05Bring him back here.
16:08Don't ride him.
16:15And so Mr. Alan Collins, horse fancier, has taken a fancy to a killer horse.
16:22But Mr. Collins won't admit he can't win Stargazer's heart
16:26and perhaps win Stargazer himself.
16:30We'll find out what becomes of both of them when I return shortly with Act Two.
16:36And now here's Act Two of the horse that wasn't for sale.
16:52Alan Collins knows horses, knows the feel of them, the moods of them, knows when they respond
17:01to a rider's touch, and knows when they resent it.
17:04But there are times when even the best horse, and Alan Collins is about to learn that his time is now.
17:17Okay, boy.
17:18Okay, boy.
17:19Take it easy now.
17:23Slow it down, boy.
17:25Come on.
17:27Those branches.
17:29Oh, good Lord, Stargazer.
17:32Slow it down, boy.
17:33That tree.
17:37No.
17:39Oh, God.
17:40My back.
17:41My spine.
17:44Crazy horse.
17:45He was right.
17:46You are crazy.
17:48No, no, no, no.
17:49You keep away from me.
17:51Get back.
17:52You get back there, Stargazer.
17:54You get away.
17:55Get away.
17:56No, stop it.
17:58Somebody, please.
17:59Somebody stop him.
18:01Save me.
18:17Police Department.
18:18Hello.
18:19I want to report a...
18:20I want to report a missing animal.
18:24A horse.
18:25Uh, who is this, please?
18:26My name is Runyon, Christine Runyon.
18:28Oh, yes, Miss Runyon.
18:29This is Sergeant Pegg.
18:31Oh, Sergeant.
18:32One of my horses was removed from...
18:34I mean, uh...
18:35He ran away.
18:37Oh.
18:37I thought all your animals were auctioned off, Miss Runyon.
18:40No.
18:41No, there's one that wasn't sold.
18:43His name is...
18:45Listen, maybe he's still around the farm somewhere.
18:48Maybe I better just go out and look for him.
18:50Well, if you want to give me a description of the animal...
18:53No, no, no.
18:53It's all right.
18:55I just lost my head for a minute.
18:57I'm sure he's around the property somewhere, and I'll find him.
19:00Don't worry.
19:01Um, whatever you say, Miss.
19:04I'm sorry to have troubled you.
19:06Goodbye.
19:07Goodbye.
19:07Of course, I knew that Stargazer wasn't around the farm.
19:23I knew where Stargazer was.
19:25Somewhere near the woods.
19:27With Alan Carlin on his back.
19:29If he was.
19:30Still safely in the saddle.
19:32And I knew that I had to find him.
19:36I saw Carlin's automobile park outside.
19:39And I decided to take it instead of my own.
19:42So that I could send Mr. Carlin back where he belonged.
19:46I just hoped and prayed that I wasn't too late.
19:59I hated driving.
20:00All my life, I preferred a saddle to a driver's seat.
20:04But I drove Alan Carlin's car like a reckless idiot.
20:08Taking every curve.
20:10As if it was a race course.
20:14Stargazer must have been traveling swiftly.
20:16Because there was still no sign of them.
20:18When the road ended and became a forest trail.
20:21Only a horse could travel that pathway.
20:24So I stopped the car.
20:28I wasn't afraid of the forest.
20:30I'd spent half my life on a trail that led into the deepest parts of it.
20:35But now for the first time I felt afraid of it.
20:38Afraid of what it might conceal.
20:41And then I heard a sound that froze me in my tracks.
20:46Stargazer.
20:47Stargazer, where are you?
20:50Stargazer!
20:52Mr. Carlin!
20:54Oh, thank heavens you're all right, Stargazer.
20:57You are.
20:59Oh, dear God.
21:01No!
21:03Mr. Carlin!
21:05He's been thrown.
21:07Oh, I warned you not to do this.
21:10He just won't be ridden.
21:11Nobody can ride Stargazer.
21:12Not even me.
21:14I think you're lucky to win.
21:16Oh, no.
21:18Oh, no.
21:19His head.
21:20Oh, no.
21:24You killed him.
21:26He's dead.
21:26He trampled to death.
21:29Oh, dear God.
21:31How could you let this happen?
21:32It isn't right.
21:34It isn't right.
21:35No, no, no, no, Stargazer.
21:39I'm not angry.
21:40I'm not with you.
21:42My poor animal.
21:45No, it's his fault.
21:46It's all his fault.
21:49Oh, damn you, Carlin.
21:51Why did you make this happen?
21:54Why?
21:56No, don't.
21:57Don't worry.
21:58Don't worry, Stargazer.
22:01I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
22:03That wouldn't be fair.
22:05It just wouldn't be.
22:06Oh, what can I do?
22:09They'll find out.
22:12Somebody will find out.
22:14I looked at Carlin's dead body.
22:20And I thought, what if I simply left it there?
22:24Just left it to yesterday's dead leaves and this year's snow.
22:28By the time they found him, Stargazer would be safe with me in Washington.
22:33But then I realized that would never work.
22:38They'd see the hoof marks on his face.
22:40They'd know.
22:42That policeman I called would remember him.
22:44They'd come for Stargazer and they'd put a bullet in his head.
22:50No.
22:52No, I couldn't leave Alan Carlin there.
22:55Not with the story of his death so clearly marked on his face and his body.
23:01Maybe there was something else I could do.
23:04What if I obscured the story of that death?
23:09What if I just obliterated it?
23:15Yes.
23:17That was my answer.
23:19Alan Carlin's automobile was only a hundred yards away.
23:22If I could get him there, I bent down and put my hands under his arm.
23:28And I tried to lift him.
23:30He was so heavy.
23:32Dead weight.
23:34How?
23:35How could I drag him to the car?
23:39No, it was impossible.
23:42I could only move him a few inches along the ground.
23:46The slippery leaves beneath his body helped a little bit.
23:48I just didn't have the strength.
23:55And then Stargazer gave me the answer.
23:57If I could manage to secure the body to his harness, if I could attach it somehow to the ring, or even to the stirrup, it was horrible.
24:09I knew that.
24:09But the thought of what may happen to Stargazer was even more horrible and more unbearable.
24:16And finally, finally, I managed it.
24:21I dragged that man's body out of the woods, using Stargazer as my strength.
24:28And then I put Alan Carlin into his own automobile.
24:34And I started the engine.
24:39There was only one logical place to take him.
24:43It was the canyon road, of course.
24:47I knew how steep that drive was.
24:49How dangerous it was.
24:51That's why so few cars traveled.
24:52And it was lucky for me, the fact that the road was empty, because it made what I had to do so much easier.
25:00It almost seemed like a sign from heaven that what I was doing was right.
25:05And then, at the beginning of the steep grave, I stopped the car.
25:13And I looked at the edge of the precipice.
25:18And then I looked at Alan Carlin's body.
25:20And for a moment, my nerve deserted me.
25:25But then I put down the parking brake.
25:30I shifted the car into drive.
25:33And I got out.
25:35And I reached below the dashboard and released the handbrake.
25:39And for a moment, I thought I'd have to push the car to start sliding down the grave toward the edge.
25:44But then gravity became my confederate.
25:47And the car began to move of its own accord.
25:50The door slammed shut as the wind caught it.
25:54And with gathering momentum, it headed straight for the guardrail.
25:57Straight for the canyon below.
25:59And the guardrail gave way.
26:01And the car and the man and the whole horrible problem went over the edge.
26:06And when it struck the bottom, the impact was so shattering,
26:15I knew that Stargazer could never possibly be implicated in that man's death.
26:21Then I made the long walk back to the woods, back to my horse, to my old friend,
26:33who stood patiently tethered, waiting for me, trusting in me.
26:41Oh, Miss Runyon, this is Sergeant Beggs.
27:01Oh, yes, Sergeant.
27:02Well, I just thought I'd call and see if you had any luck about finding your horse, I mean.
27:07Oh, yes, I found him.
27:10I was foolish to have panicked.
27:13He hadn't gone very far after all.
27:16Oh, good, good.
27:16Still on the property, you mean.
27:18Yes, yes, yes, yes.
27:19He was.
27:20That was silly of me.
27:21He was.
27:21Just a short distance away.
27:23Well, that's fine.
27:24That's just fine.
27:24I'm glad to hear it.
27:25Better make sure you keep that stable door locked.
27:29Oh, yes, I will.
27:32Thank you very much, Sergeant.
27:34You're welcome, Miss Runyon.
27:35Goodbye.
27:37Goodbye.
27:39Oh, I think I could use a drink.
27:44Oh, no.
27:45No, what?
27:47Hello.
27:48Hello.
27:49Is this Miss, um, is it Bunyan?
27:51No, the name is Runyon.
27:53Who is this?
27:54Well, you wouldn't know me, Miss Bunyan.
27:56I mean, Miss Runyon.
27:57The name is Sam Fratt.
28:00I work over at Wild Book Farm for, uh, Mr. Carlin, you know.
28:03Yes.
28:05Well, what do you want?
28:07Well, I was wondering if you were going to be home this afternoon, Miss Runyon.
28:11A little something I wanted to talk to you about.
28:15No, I'm sorry.
28:15I have a great number of things to do today.
28:18I can't receive visitors.
28:20Well, I figured you'd want to talk to me, Miss Runyon,
28:23on account of, uh, what happened this morning.
28:27Oh?
28:29What do you mean?
28:31Oh, I think you know.
28:33What happened out there?
28:35On that canyon road?
28:37I haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about.
28:41I sure you do, Miss Runyon.
28:44You see, I saw you kill Mr. Carlin out there.
28:49I saw you murder him.
28:51Now, can I come and talk to you?
29:02There's a famous old saying that we've all become familiar with lately.
29:06Oh, what a tangled web we weave
29:10when first we practice to deceive.
29:14At the moment, it looks as if Chrissy Runyon has woven herself a tangled web
29:18and one in which she herself seems to be caught.
29:22But we'll learn exactly how tangled her affairs are
29:26when we return shortly with Act Three.
29:29And now, here's the final act of the horse that wasn't for sale.
29:46And it begins with a sound that strikes terror
29:49into the heart of young Chrissy Runyon.
29:50She hesitates before she answers it,
29:55afraid of the man who might be on her doorstep.
30:00Miss Runyon?
30:02Yes.
30:03I'm, uh, Sam Friatt.
30:06Yes.
30:07Oh.
30:09Come in.
30:11Well, it's, uh, nice of you to see me, Miss Runyon.
30:14Who are you, Mr. Friatt?
30:17I've never seen you around here before.
30:19Well, I'm new, Miss Runyon.
30:21I come from out of state.
30:23Yeah, I used to work in West Virginia at Algonquin Farms.
30:26You know it?
30:27I've heard of it.
30:28Yeah, well, I used to be a trainer there a long, long time ago.
30:31Then they had me doing grooming work and junk like that.
30:35I said, no more of that, I said.
30:36Mr. Friatt, will you please come to the point?
30:39What did you mean about Mr. Carlin?
30:43I don't know what you saw or think you saw.
30:47I've seen you, Miss Runyon.
30:49I've seen what you did.
30:51Well, whatever you think you saw, you were mistaken.
30:56I didn't even know your boss, Mr. Carlin.
30:59And to accuse me of killing him...
31:01Oh, but that's what you did, all right.
31:04Now, you pushed that car over the cliff and poor Mr. Carlin was in it.
31:10My, my, you, you must have really hated that man.
31:13Well, what'd they ever do to you?
31:15Get fresh or something?
31:16Well, Mr. Friatt, you're completely wrong.
31:18I swear you're mistaken.
31:20Well, all righty then, I'm wrong.
31:23So you don't mind if I tell the police what I saw?
31:26Now, I figure they're not so dumb.
31:28They can go looking for footprints or something up there,
31:30like tire tracks and stuff like that.
31:32It, it, it was an accident.
31:34Of course, uh, I don't have to tell them what I saw.
31:37What do you mean by that?
31:40Well, what I said.
31:42Ain't no law saying a man has to tell everything he knows.
31:45And what would stop you?
31:49Oh, if I liked the person.
31:52No, that's not what you really mean, is it?
31:54Now, you take Mr. Carlin.
31:56Well, I only worked for the man a week,
31:58and I could tell already that he wasn't such a nice fella.
32:02Now, he...
32:03I did not kill Mr. Carlin.
32:05Oh, sure, Miss Runyon.
32:07But you see, there I was in that canyon,
32:10taking a ride on the old mag they let me use,
32:13and I seen that car stop there.
32:15And now, just for the heck of it,
32:17I put my field glasses on it.
32:19That's how I come to see it all.
32:22But you don't understand
32:24why I did it.
32:26Oh, heck, I don't care why.
32:29Now, I told you I didn't like the man.
32:31He sure could sit a horse, though.
32:33Now, I'll give him that.
32:35I swear to you, he was already dead.
32:37You know, people around here know
32:38that he treated your pa pretty bad.
32:41I can't blame you for what you did.
32:43No, you must believe me.
32:44Mr. Carlin was already dead
32:47when his car went over into the canyon.
32:49He'd been killed by...
32:51by an accident.
32:55I had my reasons for doing what I did.
32:58Sure, Miss Shore, you did.
33:00And you can just tell the police all about it.
33:03No, no, they may not understand.
33:06And, you know, yeah, that's true enough.
33:09Yeah, they may not understand.
33:10I mean, not the way I do.
33:12But just the same.
33:14If they asked me questions about it,
33:16now, I'd have to tell them what I know.
33:19Well, unless, of course,
33:20I wasn't around to tell them anything.
33:23Not around?
33:25Well, with Mr. Carlin dead,
33:26there's not much point
33:27in me hanging around Wildbrook much longer.
33:31Maybe I ought to move on.
33:32He'll find me another job.
33:34Well, if I did that, well,
33:36I wouldn't be here
33:37when the police came around.
33:39Understand?
33:40No, I'm not sure I do.
33:42If I could get me a steak,
33:44now, I'd leave right away tomorrow, maybe.
33:47No, it wouldn't take much.
33:48Four, five thousand, maybe, huh?
33:51That ought to be enough,
33:52don't you think?
33:53Oh, now, wait a minute.
33:55You better round it out to five.
33:57Yeah, five thousand would do her, Miss Runyon.
34:00Do you expect me to give you that money?
34:02Well, it would sure help if you did.
34:05But that's impossible.
34:06I don't have a penny.
34:07You know, auction must have given you plenty, Miss Runyon.
34:10Why, Mr. Carlin bought some of your stock himself.
34:12But every cent goes to my father's creditors,
34:15and even that won't be enough.
34:17Well, I don't know about that.
34:19All I know is five thousand would do me just fine.
34:23Now, you think it over, Miss Runyon.
34:26I'll come back tomorrow afternoon.
34:27It won't do any good.
34:28We'll see.
34:29There's just no way I can raise that money, Mr. Fry.
34:32Oh, you'll find some way.
34:34Women these days, they can do just about everything.
34:36You know, fly airplanes, run companies, kill people.
34:40Well, you figure something out, Miss Runyon.
34:43Well, so long now.
34:45Oh, Mr. Fry, please.
34:47I'll see you in the morning.
34:50Oh, dear God.
34:53What am I going to do?
34:55And now, here's news on the local scene.
35:04The body of horseman Alan Winslow Carlin
35:06has been found in the ravine below Canyon Road.
35:10Carlin, the victim of an auto crash
35:12that completely demolished his vehicle,
35:14had to be identified positively
35:16through examination of his dental records
35:19due to the condition of the body.
35:21An investigation by the State Highway Patrol
35:23is underway.
35:29Yes?
35:29Miss Runyon, my name is Sergeant Beggs.
35:32We spoke on the phone earlier today.
35:34Oh, yes, Sergeant.
35:36Could I please come in?
35:38Well, if you're still worried about my horse,
35:40I told you that I did find him again.
35:42Oh, yes.
35:43Yes, Miss, I know.
35:44Well, then, what's the trouble?
35:46Oh, nothing about the horse.
35:49It's about your neighbor, as a matter of fact.
35:51If I could just come in for a minute, please.
35:54Yes.
35:55Of course.
35:58I don't know if you know the gentleman.
36:02Name of Carlin?
36:03Oh, yes, I know who he is.
36:05Wildbrook Farn.
36:06Yes, that's him.
36:07Matter of fact, I understand he bought
36:09some of your horses at the auction last week.
36:11Yes, he did, but I didn't handle the transaction myself.
36:16The auctioneer did all of that.
36:17Yes, yes, I understand.
36:20Well, then, what was it you wanted to ask me?
36:24Uh, you haven't been back home for some time, have you?
36:28It's close to two years.
36:30I came here when my father died suddenly.
36:32Yes, I know, and so I guess you didn't see
36:35Alan Carlin in all that time?
36:37No.
36:39Why in the world should I?
36:40Oh, I was just asking.
36:45Oh, Sergeant, I think you'd better tell me
36:48what this is all about.
36:49Well, I've got something to tell you about Mr. Carlin.
36:53He's, uh, he's dead.
36:56He died in an auto crash this morning.
36:59Yes.
37:00I just heard that on the news.
37:02Oh, I see, I see.
37:03Well, it was pretty bad.
37:04He was halfway up the canyon road,
37:07heading for the leap.
37:07You know where the leap is?
37:08Sergeant, I was born and raised in this part of the country.
37:10Oh, yes, of course.
37:11Excuse me.
37:12Anyway, he went out driving that way,
37:15and he must have skidded or something.
37:17Car went over the edge,
37:20plowed right through the guardrail.
37:21Oh, that's terrible.
37:23It's such a dangerous road.
37:25Oh, yes, yes.
37:26It is a dangerous place.
37:27I would have thought Mr. Carlin would have had more sense
37:30than to take it at high speed or whatever it was he did.
37:34Anyway, the car went over,
37:36and it was totally demolished, of course,
37:38and that's, uh,
37:40a long way down.
37:42Oh, that poor man.
37:44I'm terribly sorry about Mr. Carlin.
37:49But I really can't take his loss very personally.
37:52I hardly knew the man.
37:54Uh-huh.
37:55Well, your father knew him well, though, didn't he?
37:58Yes.
37:59They were neighbors for many years.
38:01And friends.
38:03Oh, I suppose so.
38:05Only they had some kind of falling out about money,
38:07I understand.
38:09Well, what does that have to do with all this?
38:11Just curious, Miss Runyon.
38:14Are you trying to imply something?
38:18No, no, miss, of course not.
38:20Why should I do that?
38:22Oh, uh, there is just one more thing, though,
38:25one more thing.
38:25When Mr. Carlin left his place this morning,
38:28he told one of his servants that he was coming here
38:30to see you.
38:33Oh.
38:35That's right.
38:37He was here.
38:38Mm-hmm.
38:39What time would that have been?
38:42Oh, I don't remember exactly.
38:45Around 11, I think.
38:46Did he stay very long?
38:49No, no.
38:51No more than 10 minutes.
38:53I don't see the point of all these questions.
38:55Well, you see, we're just trying to understand
38:57what happened, Miss Runyon.
38:58Mr. Carlin, he was a pretty careful driver.
39:01He knew that mountain road as good as anyone else
39:03was in this part of the country,
39:05and we were just wondering if he might have been, well,
39:08oh, let's say, overtired or drinking too much or depressed,
39:13you know, anything like that.
39:16Um, how do you seem to you?
39:18Hmm, I, I, I just don't recall.
39:23I see.
39:24Well, then I guess that's all for now.
39:27What do you mean, for now?
39:29Oh, the highway patrol is investigating the accident too,
39:32and since you were the last person to see Mr. Carlin,
39:35they might be talking to you too, Miss Runyon.
39:38Oh, is that the horse out there?
39:43One that got away?
39:45Yes.
39:46That's my horse.
39:48My, my, my.
39:50That's a fine-looking animal.
39:52Oh.
39:53I guess he's the only one.
39:55You didn't sell off, huh?
39:57That's right, the only one, Sergeant.
40:00But, uh, I, I might not keep him after all.
40:05Well, hello, Miss Runyon.
40:18Hello, Mr. Friar.
40:20Come in.
40:21Well, thank you, thank you.
40:24Well, I sure wouldn't mind.
40:26How do you take it?
40:27Black.
40:27Just fine.
40:29Oh, thank you, Miss.
40:31That's real nice of you.
40:32Ah, that's good.
40:36Well, now, I understand the police were around yesterday.
40:41You don't, Miss.
40:43Oh.
40:44Would you like a cup?
40:46Well, I sure wouldn't mind.
40:47How do you take it?
40:48Black.
40:49Just fine.
40:51Oh, thank you, Miss.
40:52That's real nice of you.
40:56Ah, that's good.
40:58Well, now,
40:59I understand the police were around yesterday.
41:03You don't miss very much, do you, Mr. Friar?
41:06Pays to keep your eyes open, I say.
41:08Oh, yes.
41:09I'm sure it does.
41:10Now, the question is,
41:11how much does it pay?
41:13Mr. Friar,
41:15I don't have the money you want.
41:18Well,
41:19now that's a real bad piece of news, Miss Runyon.
41:22I told you yesterday,
41:23there's simply no way for me to get my hands on it.
41:26The money that came to the estate through the sale of the ranch and its stock went directly into escrow.
41:31Now, I wouldn't know about fancy words like that, Miss.
41:34All I know is that...
41:35The estate has no money.
41:37And I have no money of my own.
41:40Well, that's really too bad.
41:42Because that means I can't leave.
41:44And if I can't leave,
41:47I might just as well tell the police what I saw.
41:50I'm hoping that you don't do that, Mr. Friar.
41:55Oh, I don't want to do it.
41:57Believe me, Miss Runyon.
41:59But if there was just...
42:00Just something you could give me.
42:03I mean,
42:04there must be something your pa left you, huh?
42:07A man like your daddy wouldn't die and leave his only child nothing at all.
42:13Well...
42:14There is...
42:16One thing.
42:18Hey, what's that?
42:19It's the only legacy I have.
42:22The most valuable thing he owned.
42:26Look.
42:27Out the window.
42:31That horse, you mean?
42:33Yes.
42:35His name is Stargazer.
42:37A thoroughbred.
42:39A champion.
42:41Yeah.
42:42Oh, that's some stallion horse.
42:44You said you were a good judge of horse flesh.
42:46How much do you think he's worth?
42:48Well, I wouldn't know for sure.
42:50I've been told he's worth
42:51between eight and ten thousand dollars.
42:56Yeah.
42:56Hey, a man would be mighty proud to own a horse like that, right?
43:02Well...
43:02He's all yours, Mr. Fryer.
43:07What?
43:09I'll transfer my ownership to you right this minute.
43:15Oh, you...
43:15You really mean that?
43:18Oh, why, that would be real fine, Miss Runyon.
43:21That would be real kind of you to do that.
43:24It won't take more than a few minutes for me to prepare the papers.
43:27Oh, I'd really appreciate that, Miss Runyon.
43:31You know, I'd sure like to take him out for one last ride before the sun goes down.
43:36Well, and, of course, that's just what happened, Judge Simmons.
43:43Sam Fryett took Stargazer out for his very last ride.
43:52Remember all the old cowboy movies that showed the Lone Rider heading into the setting, son?
44:05Well, you can picture old Sam Fryett doing exactly that
44:09only when the words that say the end appear on the screen.
44:15You can also be sure they mean the end of old Sam Fryett.
44:20I'll be back shortly.
44:33We hope you enjoyed this radio mystery story.
44:37We hope you're enjoying the magic of radio itself.
44:41Magic which produces the most gigantic stage of all.
44:46A stage large enough for one galloping horse.
44:50Or an entire herd of galloping horses.
44:55This is E.G. Marshall asking you to tune in right...
44:58Will someone please head those horses off at the pass?
45:03Our cast included Mercedes McCambridge, Arnold Moss, William Redfield, and Earl Hammond.
45:10The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
45:12The mystery theater was sponsored in part by the Kellogg Company, makers of Kellogg's Special K Cereal.
45:20This is E.G. Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre.
45:27Until next time...
45:29Pleasant dreams?
45:31Pleasant dreams?
45:32Pleasant dreams?
45:32Pleasant dreams?
45:32Pleasant dreams?
45:33Pleasant dreams?
45:34Pleasant dreams?
45:36Pleasant dreams?
45:37Pleasant dreams?
45:37Pleasant dreams?
45:38Pleasant dreams?
45:39Pleasant dreams?
45:40Pleasant dreams?
45:41Pleasant dreams?
45:42Pleasant dreams?
45:43Pleasant dreams?
45:44Pleasant dreams?
45:45Pleasant dreams?
45:47Pleasant dreams?
45:48Pleasant dreams?
45:49Pleasant dreams?
45:50Pleasant dreams?
45:51Pleasant dreams?
45:52Pleasant dreams?
45:53Pleasant dreams?
45:54Pleasant dreams?
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