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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. It was created by producer Himan Brown and was based on the imprint given to the mystery novels of Simon & Schuster.
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00:08Lipton Tea and Lipton Soups present Inner Sanctum Mysteries.
00:30Good evening, friends of the Inner Sanctum.
00:32This is your host waiting to act as your guide through the squeaking door on a specially prepared travelogue.
00:41First, we'll take a little jaunt with Jeopardy along the path of peril,
00:47where we'll prowl with panic until we take the left turn into Horror Highway
00:52and thence fire Terror Turnpike straight into the road to ruin.
00:59I don't think I like your itinerary, Mr. Host.
01:02If you don't mind, I'd much rather take a shortcut to the Highway of Happiness via the kitchen.
01:07And, pray tell us, by what signpost shall we recognize your blithesome Highway of Happiness, Mary?
01:15Well, you'll just know you're headed for pleasure when you take your first taste of Swell Lipton Tea.
01:21Because, oh, what a world of contentment there is in every cupful.
01:25What flavor? What wide-awake flavor?
01:28No wonder the tea experts say there's only one word to describe Lipton's, and that's brisk.
01:33No wonder more folks enjoy Lipton's than any other brand of tea in the world.
01:38It's because Lipton Tea never tastes dull, flat, or dreary.
01:42It's always lively and cheery.
01:44Yes, Lipton's is the world's favorite tea.
01:47And it will be your favorite, too, once you taste that brisk Lipton flavor.
01:52So be sure you try Lipton Tea.
02:04Listen now to the strange tale of a boy and his twin sister, and their dog, and the wreckers of
02:11Hurricane Cole.
02:12It's called Detour to Terror.
02:15An original radio play written especially for Inner Sanctum by Emil Tepperman.
02:20And here is Mason Adams as Jerry Watson to tell you the story himself.
02:27I had a strange, uneasy feeling all evening after Linda left to drive to Hurricane Cole.
02:33Somehow I had a presentiment of danger.
02:37Linda and I were twins, and always, in some uncanny way, each of us had been able to sense when
02:43the other was in trouble.
02:45Tonight, the feeling was very strong.
02:48Butch sensed it, too.
02:50He was only a mongrel pup, but he was smart.
02:53I shouldn't have let Linda go alone, but she had insisted.
02:56She was a feature writer for the Manhattan Magazine, and she'd run across the trail of a story about an
03:01old family of wreckers who lived down by the shore near Hurricane Cole.
03:06The tale went that this family had made a living in the old days by placing false signals on the
03:11shore in order to lure ships onto the rocks and then loot them.
03:16It was this story that she'd gone to investigate.
03:21Unwilling to go to bed with that uneasy feeling lying heavy upon me, I dozed in the chair by the
03:27fire with Butch's wine in my ears.
03:31It must have been a dream, because I saw Linda's white face floating in a sort of haze, and then
03:37I saw the fear in her eyes as she called to me.
03:40Jerry! Jerry, help me! Help me!
03:47I came awake suddenly with a cold sweat in my face.
03:51Butch was on his haunches by the fireplace, nose in the air, and howling as if for the dead.
03:55I felt myself trembling. Linda. Linda in danger.
03:59Somewhere, somewhere out in that storm, Linda was calling to me for help. She needed me terribly.
04:04Come on, Butch, we're going after her!
04:16Within 20 minutes, I was speeding through the storm out along Highway 9.
04:20I remembered Linda's telling me just what route she'd take.
04:23See, Jerry, I'll go out on 9 to here, and then turn off on the old shore road.
04:28It isn't used much anymore, but it's the shortest route to Hurricane Cove.
04:32And if I leave now, I should be there by midnight.
04:40The mist lay heavy on the old shore road, and the rain drove against the windshield, and the swirling fog
04:45played strange tricks with my eyes.
04:47But I knew I was almost an hour behind Linda, and I had to make time.
04:51Now, don't worry, Butch. We'll catch up to her. We'll find her.
04:56I could only go faster.
04:58It's fog. I can't see 20 feet ahead of...
05:00Hey!
05:03It's a red lantern on the road.
05:05It's a detour sign.
05:08Bridge ahead, washed out.
05:11Detour.
05:13What do I do, Butch?
05:15How do I know what Linda did?
05:16Did she drive straight ahead, or did she take the detour?
05:19I've got to know. I can't sit here waiting.
05:22We'll take the detour, Butch.
05:23And pray it's the right choice.
05:37This detour isn't taking us anywhere, Butch.
05:41I don't think Linda came this way.
05:44Maybe she didn't see the detour sign back there.
05:48Drove into the washed-out bridge.
05:50Maybe that's what the danger was.
05:53No, she couldn't have missed that red lantern, even in the fog.
05:57She must have turned off.
05:58She must have come this way.
06:00Hey!
06:02There's the car, Butch.
06:03Storting the ditch and blocking the road.
06:05It's Linda's car.
06:06Come on, let's get to her quick.
06:09Gosh, it's coming down and...
06:12Never mind, the lightning.
06:14Let's go.
06:19She's not in the car, Butch.
06:21I don't see her in the car.
06:23Oh, no, she's not in here.
06:28Linda!
06:30Linda!
06:32Where could she have gone, Butch?
06:34She was always scared of thunder and lightning.
06:38Linda!
06:41How can we look for her in the dark and the fog?
06:45What is it, Butch?
06:46What have you found over there?
06:48I'm coming, Butch!
06:49I'm coming!
06:52Where, Butch?
06:53Where, behind the tree?
06:54All right.
06:55Linda!
06:56Linda!
06:57She's not...
06:58She's...
06:59Linda!
07:00Open your eyes.
07:01It's Jerry, Linda.
07:03Linda, don't...
07:04Don't be scared, Linda.
07:05Everything's all right.
07:06It's me.
07:06It's Jerry.
07:08Oh, Linda.
07:09Jerry.
07:09Yeah?
07:11Oh, thank heaven.
07:13Jerry, take me away from here.
07:14Sure, kid.
07:15Come on.
07:16Here, I'll help you out.
07:18Come on.
07:19My car is over this way.
07:21I must have faded.
07:23I knew you'd come, Jerry.
07:24I had a feeling you would.
07:26I was afraid it might be too late.
07:28Here, get in the car.
07:29Yeah.
07:31Come on in, Butch.
07:35Gosh, you're soaked to the skin, kid.
07:38What happened here?
07:40Well, there...
07:40There was a man.
07:42He was hiding up there behind a tree.
07:44The headlights caught him when I got stalled in the ditch.
07:47How'd you come to land in the ditch?
07:48Well, there's a tree lying across the road.
07:51See, look over there.
07:51You can just see it in the headlights.
07:53Oh, yeah.
07:53Oh, I see.
07:54Gosh, it's a big one.
07:56Must have been struck by the lightning.
07:57That's what I thought at first.
07:59But when I got out to look at it, I saw that it wasn't struck by lightning.
08:03What?
08:04Jerry, that tree has been deliberately cut.
08:06Linda, are you sure?
08:07Sure I am.
08:08It's been cut by a saw.
08:10The minute I looked at it, I realized it wasn't any accident.
08:13Somebody meant to block this road.
08:15Great sky.
08:16Well, I hurried back into the car and I tried to turn around.
08:18I wanted to go back.
08:19You couldn't have turned around anyway.
08:20This road is too narrow.
08:21Yeah, well, I was too scared to realize that.
08:24I started backing up and the rear wheels landed in the ditch.
08:27And it was just then that I saw the man.
08:29He was coming out from behind the tree and he was all hunched up so I couldn't see his face.
08:34Then when the headlights struck him, he ducked back and he disappeared.
08:38Well, I was afraid to stay in the car, so I jumped out and I started to run.
08:42Then I could hear him coming after me.
08:44And I must have tripped and my head struck something.
08:47And that's all I knew till you found me.
08:49Jerry, are you sure it was a man you saw again?
08:52Yeah, positive, Jerry.
08:53I don't get it.
08:55What was the idea of blocking the road?
08:59What's the matter, Bush?
09:01He hears something.
09:03Look over there.
09:04Someone running through the woods, carrying something.
09:06I'm going after him.
09:08Careful, Jerry.
09:10Look.
09:11Bush has that man by the trousers.
09:13Oh, he kicked Bush.
09:14Hey, you don't have to kick my door.
09:15Jerry, be careful.
09:16Come on back here, you.
09:18I'm coming with you.
09:19Oh, it's no use.
09:21He ran away in the night.
09:23Are you all right, Bush?
09:25Look, Jerry.
09:26Whoever he was, he dropped what he was carrying.
09:29What is it?
09:29It looks like a big board of some kind.
09:31Here, I'll turn the flashlight on.
09:34It's a sign.
09:35It has lettering on it.
09:36What's it say?
09:37Well, it says...
09:38Great sky.
09:39What is it, Jerry?
09:40It says,
09:42Bridge ahead, washed out.
09:44Detour.
09:45Jerry.
09:46This is the detour sign from the highway.
09:49Yeah.
09:50They only put it up there to lure you on to this back road.
09:54Then they blocked the road with a tree.
09:57Kid, it looks like we're in some kind of a trap.
10:18Now, what kind of a mess have we got these poor people into?
10:22Imagine finding that poor twin sister unconscious behind the tree.
10:27And it took Butch to find her, too.
10:30I wonder what kind of a tree it was.
10:33Oh, probably a dogwood tree.
10:36As you can always tell, a dogwood tree by its bark.
10:42There's poor Linda in all that trouble and here you go making puns.
10:45I can't help it, Mary.
10:47That's my nature.
10:48I ought to know it's your nature by now.
10:50And I ought to know, too, you can't change people.
10:55Take those of us who like to start each day off with piping hot Lipton tea.
10:59Why, nothing in the world could change us.
11:01In fact, breakfast just wouldn't be breakfast without Lipton's.
11:04Lipton tea just seems to go with a bright bowl of gay yellow jonquils, a sunny checked gingham tablecloth, and,
11:11of course, the morning paper.
11:13Part of the reason is Lipton's deep amber color and tempting aroma.
11:17But the big reason breakfast wouldn't be right without Lipton's is Lipton's grand, brisk flavor.
11:23It's so lively and tingling with zip.
11:26Just a cup or two of Lipton's and your spirits catch on and your day's off to a bright start.
11:30Yes, breakfast time or any time is the right time to enjoy Lipton tea.
11:35So for real tea-drinking pleasure, ask your grocer tomorrow for brisk Lipton tea.
11:53Well, let's get back to our story now and see what happens along that deadly detour.
12:00I have a hunch that Jerry and Linda are in for a lot of trouble.
12:04Trouble and twins, you know, never come singly.
12:10We got back in my car, wet and shivering, Linda, Butch, and I.
12:15We tried to figure out what to do.
12:17Don't you see, Jerry?
12:19This is the way those old-time wreckers used to work.
12:22They'd place false signals on the shore so that the ships would be lured onto the rocks.
12:27You think that phony detour sign back there...
12:30It was just like a false signal to a seaman.
12:32It lured us onto this back road.
12:35When they get good and ready, they'll come for us.
12:37Maybe you're right, kid.
12:39Well, Jerry, we can't just sit here and wait to be murdered.
12:41Look, Linda, up there in the hill through the trees.
12:43See those lights?
12:45Looks like a big house.
12:46Hey, maybe they've got a phone.
12:47We could call the police.
12:48Uh-huh.
12:50And maybe...
12:51Maybe what, Jerry?
12:53Nothing.
12:54You think maybe they're the ones who lured us here?
12:57We'll have to take the chance, Linda.
13:11The ground here is so soft.
13:14Isn't there a path through these woods?
13:16There is.
13:16We could never find it now.
13:19Anyway, this is the quickest.
13:22There are the lights of the house up ahead through the trees.
13:25They're such big trees.
13:26So old and bare.
13:28They look like evil things.
13:30Like they're waiting to twine their arms around us and crush us.
13:33Quit it, kid.
13:34You'll work yourself up for nothing.
13:37We'll be at the house in a minute.
13:39What?
13:40What is it?
13:41The lights.
13:42They went out.
13:43The house.
13:43It's all dark.
13:45Quiet, much quiet.
13:46Why did they put the lights out, Jerry?
13:48Maybe they went to sleep.
13:50What do we do?
13:52We'll go up and ring the bell.
13:54That's what we'll do.
14:00Jerry.
14:00What?
14:01Do you hear that?
14:04Yeah.
14:05Yeah, someone playing the piano in there.
14:08In the dark.
14:10Oh, it sounds uncanny.
14:12Come on, I'm going to ring the bell.
14:19The piano stopped.
14:20Yeah.
14:22I think I hear someone coming.
14:25Still no lights.
14:26It gives me the creeps.
14:29Someone's opening the door.
14:31Evening.
14:33Caught in the storm, eh?
14:36Won't you come in?
14:37Uh, your lights, aren't they working?
14:41How stupid of me.
14:42I'd forgotten.
14:45Here.
14:46That better?
14:47Yeah.
14:48Yes, thank you.
14:49Uh, I'm Jerry Watson.
14:52This is my sister, Linda.
14:54This is Butch.
14:56How do you do?
14:57My name is Considine.
14:59Gregory Considine.
15:01And you're quite welcome, I assure you.
15:07Mr. Considine, there's been a tree cut across the road down there.
15:13Tree cut?
15:15You mean struck by lightning?
15:18I don't think so, sir.
15:20I think it was done deliberately.
15:22I'd like to use your phone to call the police.
15:28I'm so sorry.
15:29The phone is out of order.
15:32The storm, you know.
15:34I'm sure you must be mistaken.
15:36About the tree.
15:38You must be soaked through and through.
15:41Please, follow me into the library.
15:43I'll get you some dry clothes.
15:45Jerry, did you see his eyes?
15:48He's blind.
15:49That's why I was playing the piano.
15:51In the dark.
15:52Right in here, please.
15:54It's a nice crackling fire.
15:56You can warm up while I ring for my handyman.
16:00Matt will be here in a moment.
16:03I heard what you said to your brother, Miss Watson.
16:07Oh, I'm sorry.
16:08Not at all.
16:10I manage quite well.
16:13You live alone here, Mr. Considine?
16:15Just my brother Vincent and I.
16:18Matt, of course.
16:19We seldom see strangers here.
16:22No one uses this old back road.
16:25Mr. Considine.
16:27Someone put a phony detour sign out on the main road.
16:31Really?
16:32Sounds almost incredible.
16:35Ah.
16:36Here's Matt.
16:39Do you ring for me, Mr. Gregg?
16:41Matt, this is Miss Watson and her brother and...
16:45and Butch.
16:47They've been caught in the storm.
16:49I think there's some dry clothing in the west room.
16:52Yes, Mr. Gregg.
16:53Yeah, this way, please.
16:55Are you in there, Gregg?
16:56What have you done with those people?
16:58Oh, dear.
16:59That's my brother Vincent.
17:00Vincent, I'm afraid I'll have to ask a favor of you.
17:04Please overlook anything Vincent may say.
17:07He's, shall I say, a bit strange.
17:12Oh, here you are.
17:14Well, introduce me to your friends, Gregg.
17:17Go upstairs, Vincent.
17:19Go upstairs, Vincent.
17:21Is that all you have to say to your brother?
17:23What are you going to do to these people?
17:25What are you planning for them?
17:28Vincent.
17:28You can't shut me up.
17:30Look here, Mr. and young lady.
17:32Take a bit of advice from me.
17:34Don't stay in this house overnight.
17:37Or you'll never live to see the morning.
17:39Get out, quick.
17:42Matt, you know what to do.
17:43No.
17:43Yes, Mr. Gregg.
17:44No, please.
17:45Keep away from me, Matt.
17:46Keep away.
17:47I warn you, Mr. Get your sister out of me.
17:48No, let go of me, Matt.
17:51Hey, he knocked him out.
17:53I regret that it was necessary, Mr. Watson.
17:57Vincent is difficult at times.
18:01Please pay no attention to what he said.
18:03I'm very sorry that you had to witness this painful scene.
18:08Uh, Matt, please carry Mr. Vincent upstairs and lock him in his room.
18:22I hope you like these rooms.
18:25Yes, thank you.
18:27Yes, I'm sure we'll be comfortable, Mr. Considant.
18:30They're adjoining rooms, as you see.
18:33And these doors bolt on the inside.
18:36I advise you to keep them locked all night.
18:39We surely will.
18:40Thank you for these dry clothes.
18:42And for the tea.
18:43You're quite welcome, I assure you.
18:46Now just try to get a good night's sleep.
18:49Everything will be all right in the morning.
18:52Oh, Jerry, I'm scared.
18:55So is Butch.
18:58And so am I.
18:59What'll we do?
19:00First thing to do is bolt the door.
19:04He's blind.
19:06Yet he frightens me, Jerry.
19:08The way he ordered his brother knocked down.
19:13Jerry, there's something I've got to tell you.
19:16What is it, kid?
19:18The name of that family of old-time wreckers.
19:22It's Considine.
19:23You mean these are the people?
19:25Their ancestors used to loot ships.
19:27And now they're working on motorists.
19:29Poor Vincent tried to warn us.
19:30Jerry, what are we going to do?
19:31We've got to get out of here before they come up to finish us off.
19:34Let's take a look out the window.
19:36Oh, it's pitch black out there.
19:38Blocked by the streak of lightning, did you see?
19:39Yes, I did.
19:40That man, that mat, standing under the tree with a rifle.
19:44We're stuck.
19:46No escape.
19:49What's that?
19:50Someone tapping against the wall.
19:53In there.
19:53Can you hear me?
19:55Who is it?
19:56It's Vincent.
19:57I'm in the room next door to you.
20:00It's locked on the outside.
20:02Can you get me out?
20:03We'll be right there.
20:05Quiet, Butch.
20:06Well, Jerry, maybe there's a chance.
20:08If Vincent will help us...
20:09Come on, kid.
20:10Yeah.
20:10No noise.
20:16Come on.
20:18Here, this is the door.
20:20Look, it's bolted on the outside.
20:22They must keep them locked up all the time.
20:25Well, here goes.
20:32Vincent.
20:34Here I am.
20:35Don't make any noise.
20:37My brother has ears like a cat.
20:39And don't let him fool you.
20:41He may be blind, but he's more dangerous than any man who can see.
20:46How are we going to get out of here?
20:48Matt's watching outside with a rifle.
20:50Listen.
20:52The piano.
20:53My brother is amusing himself in the dark.
20:57He always plays the piano when he has something on his mind.
21:00Do you know any way for us to get out of here?
21:02Well, there's only a slim chance.
21:05Now listen to me carefully.
21:07The only chance is to get out the back way.
21:11But you have to pass the open living room door downstairs.
21:14And Greg is in there at the piano.
21:17Then what do we do?
21:18Well, you wait here.
21:19I'll go down first.
21:21See if they've left the cellar door unlocked.
21:24I'll come back for you.
21:26Please, don't move until I return.
21:29Be careful.
21:30Don't worry.
21:31I will.
21:33Jerry.
21:34What'll happen if Greg hears him?
21:37Greg will probably call Matt and lock him up again.
21:40And what'll become of us?
21:41We'll worry about that later.
21:44Jerry.
21:45He stopped playing.
21:46Yeah.
21:47Do you think he heard Vincent coming down?
21:54Jerry, Greg caught him.
21:56What'll we do?
21:57Come on.
21:58We're going down.
22:03The lights are all out down here.
22:05I don't hear anything.
22:06Where do you think Greg is?
22:08Maybe waiting to jump us in the dark.
22:12Come on.
22:12I don't care.
22:13Stick behind me.
22:15We're going in the living room.
22:17Where's Butch?
22:18I don't know.
22:19What is it?
22:21My foot touched on me.
22:23A body.
22:26Linda, I'm going to take a chance on the flashlight.
22:29Stand by.
22:30All right.
22:31Great Scott.
22:33What is it?
22:34Look.
22:35What is it?
22:36That isn't Vincent.
22:38It's Greg.
22:39He's been stabbed.
22:41Watch out.
22:43Vincent.
22:44Somewhere around.
22:46He'll kill you.
22:47What do you mean?
22:48My brother Vincent.
22:50The one who's been doing.
22:52The wrecking.
22:53We always keep him locked up.
22:56But tonight, he got away.
22:59Planted the detour sign.
23:01Cut the trees.
23:02Vincent did all that.
23:04Matt and I.
23:05We tried to stop him.
23:06Matt went out to the road.
23:08Took down the detour sign.
23:09But it was too late.
23:13But it was too late.
23:14Watch out.
23:15He'll be back.
23:16He'll kill you.
23:22He's dead.
23:24Oh, Jerry.
23:25Poor Greg.
23:27And we thought of...
23:29Oh, the lights!
23:30Thank you for waiting for me.
23:32Vincent!
23:33Where'd you get that rifle?
23:34From Matt.
23:35He won't need it anymore.
23:37What are you gonna do?
23:41What do you think?
23:42You're crazy.
23:43Well, aren't we all?
23:44Now, my good friends, if you'll just say a prayer.
23:47Any little prayer will do.
23:49Don't point that gun at my sister.
23:50It won't do you any good to stand in front of her.
23:53This rifle is a 30-30.
23:57Now, if you're ready...
23:58Jerry, he's mad.
24:00Witch!
24:01Out of the way!
24:03Let go of the gun!
24:09The gun went off in his face.
24:11Oh, Jerry.
24:13Take it easy.
24:15He's dead.
24:17Don't look at him.
24:19He isn't pretty to look at.
24:22Butch, you did all right.
24:26Well, kid,
24:28it can write your feature story now.
24:30The story of the wreckers of Hurricane Cove.
24:33And it'll be under your own byline, too.
24:36Oh, I'm going to write it under a double byline, Jerry.
24:40The wreckers of Hurricane Cove by Linda Watson and Butch.
25:00Well, Butch, how does it feel to have a byline?
25:04You like it.
25:05You like collaborating, don't you?
25:08Especially with a pretty girl like Linda, huh?
25:11Oh!
25:16Which just goes to prove that there's a little bit of wolf in the best of dogs.
25:20But do you know the difference between a wolf call and a wolf whistle, Mr. Host?
25:25Uh, let me think.
25:27When a fella gives a wolf whistle, he's starved for love.
25:32And when he gives a wolf call, he's just plain starved.
25:35In which case, there's just one thing to do.
25:38Feed him.
25:39But if you really want to appeal to his better nature,
25:42see that he winds up every meal with a good big cup of satisfying Lipton tea.
25:47Men certainly go for that brisk Lipton flavor.
25:50It's so lively and full of zip.
25:52So make a note right now to ask your grocer for Lipton tea tomorrow morning.
25:56Once you taste full-bodied Lipton tea,
25:58you'll know why you find Lipton tea in more teacups than any other brand of tea in the world.
26:03For Lipton is tea at its delicious best.
26:06Just start enjoying it real soon.
26:09Get the tea with brisk flavor.
26:11Get Lipton tea.
26:23A parting word of advice, friends.
26:26If you should ever awake from a hideous nightmare
26:29and find yourself driving in a mental fog along a lane that has no turning,
26:34with mad men lurking behind trees waiting to strike you down
26:38and strange beasts with red tongues lapping at your ankles
26:41and the bare and ugly trees stretching forth their gnarled arms to crush you
26:45and there is no escape.
26:47No escape at all.
26:49Why worry about it?
26:51You won't come out alive anyway.
26:56Oh, by the way, this month's Inner Sanctum mystery novel is Benefit Performance by Richard Sayle.
27:02And next week, the makers of Lipton tea and Lipton soups
27:05will bring you another Inner Sanctum story
27:07directed by Hyman Brown
27:09and called Murder in the Night.
27:13Correction.
27:14There'll be three murders.
27:17You know, it's going to take a lot of nerve to hear this tale out,
27:20so I don't suppose you'll be listening.
27:22That is, unless you've just got to find out
27:26how a brass button in a dead man's hand traps the murderer.
27:30If so, tune in to Inner Sanctum next week at this same time.
27:35Until then, good night.
27:40Pleasant dreams.
27:41For a tenanne.
27:43For a tenanne.
27:51For a tenanne.
27:54I'll see you next time.
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