 The Mysterious Traveller, written, produced and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Colvin. And starring two of Radio's foremost personalities, Bryna Rayburn and Lyle Sugeau in Stranger in the House. This is The Mysterious Traveller inviting you to join me on another journey into the realm of the strange and the terrifying. I hope you will enjoy the trip and it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back, get a good whip on your nerves and be comfortable, if you can, as we follow the nerve-wracking adventures of a young couple in search of a home. It's the story I call Stranger in the House. The scene, the small village of Woodford in Vermont. It's nine o'clock in the evening and the main street of the village is deserted. A car comes speeding through the village and with a squeal of its brakes comes to a stop before the home of Dr. Samuel Stewart. A young woman, obviously distraught, gets out from behind the wheel of the car and hurries up the walk to the doctor's home. Yes, yes, won't you come in? Thank you. You've got to help me. Of course I'll help you. Here, let me have your coat. All right. Now, what appears to be wrong? I don't know how to tell you about it. You'll think I'm insane, but I'm not. I'm not. I'm sure you're not. Now, why not start from the beginning and tell me what's troubling you? Well, I suppose it all began the day my husband and I left this village to look at a house in the country that was for sale. Yes, I can recall how happy we were as we drove through the countryside. Oh, Roger, darling, I do hope this will be the house we're searching for. Oh, look, we're coming to the old colonial graveyard the agent told us about it. He said the house was a quarter of a mile beyond. Yeah, that's right. At the end of this curve, there should be a small bridge over stream. Small bridge over stream? Mm-hmm. Look, there it is. Now, the house should be just a little beyond. Roger, I don't recall the agent having mentioned the bridge. Why must have, darling? How else would I have known it was there? Now, look, there's the house. Oh, oh, Roger, isn't it beautiful? Oh, what a view it came in. Now, look, Jane, you mustn't get too excited about the place. It's probably all fallen to ruins inside. Oh, not, darling. You can see it's one of those early colonial houses built to endure for centuries. Oh, it's just what we've been dreaming of. Yes. The place certainly looks wild and desolate, doesn't it? Well, naturally. The agent said it's been empty for years. But come on. What do I do with that key now? Roger, look at this old engraved place set in the wall. Hmm? You can barely make it out. Woodford Manor. Oh, that's a lovely name. Yeah, here we are. Here's the key. Woodford Manor. I know I'm going to love this place. There you are. After you, Mrs. Barton. Yes, yes, but look at that staircase, that beautiful staircase and those ceiling beams. Jane, honey, you were right. This place was built to endure. This house is in wonderful condition. Yes, so it seems. And it's just the size house we need with four rooms upstairs. Four rooms upstairs? Well, how do you know, Roger, that the agent hasn't mentioned how many rooms the house has? He didn't. Well, there's only one way to find out then. Let's go upstairs and look. Come on, Janey. These stairs are as sound as the day they were built. This house would require very little in the way of repairs. Yes, but it hasn't any electricity, Roger. Oh, so what? We could use lamps so a line could be run to the house. There. And you see what I tell you? There are four rooms upstairs. Yes, so there are. Then this house before. Well, as a matter of fact, I almost have a feeling I have been. Maybe that's the reason I like it. Tell me, what's the matter? You've been ever so quiet since we entered the house. Don't you care for it? It's lovely, Roger. Only... Only what? I don't know. It's so friendly. Unfriendly? Who ever heard of a house being unfriendly and you were crazy about the place when we drove up to it? Yes, yes, I know, but... That was before we entered. Well, honey, it's even nicer inside than it is outside. Yes, I suppose so. And think of what a bargain it is. It's $5,000, Jane. We've looked at houses that cost twice as much and weren't as nice. It... It is a bargain. But you still don't like it, do you? All right. Now we'll keep looking that we find a house we both like. Oh, nonsense, darling. We'll never find anything nicer. Now, now that room with the southern exposure will be our bedroom, and that will... Jane, hey, Jane, you're wonderful. And we will be happy here, honey. I know we will. In the weeks that followed, I was too busy with the repairs and furnishings of the house to give any thought to my misgiving. But they all returned in overwhelming force that first evening in our new home. I left Roger sitting in the study and made my way up the dark, winding staircase to our bedroom. After crossing for what seemed ours, I fell into a fitful sleep. I suddenly awakened to hear the clock in the hall striking the hour. It was four o'clock, and Roger's bed was empty. Quickly slipping on my robe, I left my room and started down the stairs to the study. As I reached the foot of the stairs, I stopped. To my astonishment, I heard Roger's voice in the study. I slowly approached until I was at the door. It's so difficult to miss the scourge of faith. Who are you? Well, why don't you say something? Roger! Roger, unlock the door! It's Jane! It's coming between us. I can hardly see you. Don't go. Come back. Please, come back! Darling, please unlock the door! Please! Roger! Oh, Roger! Well, what is it, Jane? I was so frightened. What were you talking to? Talking to...? Yes. Well, I don't know. I must have been dreaming. Yes, you must have been there. There isn't anyone... How did... There's no perfume in here. Perfume? Well, yes. Isn't it the perfume I gave you for your birthday? No, it isn't my perfume. It was like... no scissors. Yes. Darling, what were you dreaming about? Well, it was... night and... all around me was a mist. A mist so heavy I couldn't see more than a few feet. There was a woman. A woman? Yes, yes. I could barely make out her face and... swirling mists, but it was a beautiful face. Beautiful I've ever seen. How strange. Of course, it was a dream. Yes, of course. We both agreed it was a dream. But in our unspoken thoughts, it was more than a dream. The next day, I entered the study several times to find Roger sitting at his desk, staring into space. The scent of Narcissus was gone. That night, Roger tossed and turned in his bed, unable to fall asleep. Just before dawn, I awoke to find his bed empty. A cold terrace swept over me as I left my room and started down the stairs to the study. And then I... I heard that which I most dreaded the hear. Roger's voice. Who are you? This mist... If only you'd come closer. Ridge the distance between us. I've seen you before, haven't I? And yet... Where? Yes. Yes, I can see much better now. You are beautiful. Who are you? Roger! Roger, please open the door! Why are you leaving? No, no, please don't. Come back, please, come back! Darling, let me in! Please open the door! Roger, are you all right? Yes, of course I'm all right. Scent of Narcissus. The study is filled with it. Why did you wake me? You saw her again, didn't you? The Narcissus. It's her scent. You only had an awakening. Roger, what are you saying? If only she'd... She'd spoken to me. What are you saying? It is a dream, isn't it? It must be. I don't know. I don't know. When twilight comes, I... I feel a presence in the house in this room. It's your imagination. It must be. Yes, but the scent of Narcissus. Where does that come from? I don't know. I don't know, but it's evil. The house is evil. We must leave it. Leave it? No, no, we can't leave it. I've got to see her again. I've got to find out who she is. Roger, we must leave. I don't understand what's happening to us, but it's evil. No, no, I won't leave. I can't. I thought I told you I wasn't to be disturbed. I must talk to you. Make you realize that... Tonight, Jane, she was closer to me than ever before, so close I could almost touch her. I spoke, and she started to reply, and then you... Roger, what's happening to you? She's from another world of fans, and the evil one... No, no, she isn't evil. She couldn't be. She's too beautiful. Darling, look at me. You can't let her come between us. I'm your wife. I love you. I don't want your love. Roger, listen to me. You must come away from this house. You must leave at once. No. I insist... Will you get out of here? And don't come back. I'll never leave her. I'll leave from the house, doctor. I could still hear him shouting. I'll never leave her. You must help me, doctor. You must... I'll do what I can, Mrs. Barton. You... You don't think I'm losing my sanity, do you? No. That which you fear may well be. Look, there's a history to Wickford Manor, though few people are familiar with it. A history? Yes. The house was built in 1811 by Martin Wickford for his bride, Marie Duval. It was considered one of the finest houses in New England. A year later, Marie's sister Isabel came to live with the Wickfords. From some of the old records, letters, I gather she was a remarkably beautiful woman. So beautiful that Martin Wickford fell in love with her. And she with him. Then what happened? One day, while Martin was hunting in the mountains, he was killed in a fall. When his companions brought his body back to Wickford Manor, they found Marie, his wife, dead. She'd been poisoned. Poisoned? Yes. At the sight of Martin's body, Isabel went to pieces and confessed to the poisoning of her sister. But before she could be arrested, she did away with herself. In the study. Yes. There's a quotation in the Bible to the effect that a murderer shall find no peace in the hereafter. Isabel Duval was a murderer. Then you do believe her spirit is in the house? In the years that followed the tragedy, Wickford Manor had a succession of tenants, all of whom left after a brief residence. You mean, they saw her too? Well, the tenants made no claims of seeing anyone. But their fear of an unknown element in the house led to their leaving. If the other tenants never saw her, why should Roger see her? Mrs. Barton, have you ever visited someplace for the first time had the feeling you'd seen the place before? Oh, yes, but that was imagination. Can one be sure it is imagination? Perhaps you had seen that place in the long ago as another person. As another person? Yes. You mean, Roger? As another person had once known Wickford Manor? How else do you account for his remembrances of things he'd never seen in this life? I don't know. Doctor, you're trying to tell me something. What is it? All I know is we must return to the Manor at once. The spirit that's abroad in that house is one to be feared more than death itself. But please, please come closer. There's nothing to be afraid of. She's gone. Oh, please, there are only the two of us now. You're beautiful. You're so beautiful. We have met before, haven't we? Yes. We have met before. You spoke? I've waited so long for you, Martin. What? Why do you call me Martin? My name is Roger. It was Martin. Ben. Ben? What do you mean? Look at me, Martin. Look into my eyes. Don't you remember? Yes. Yes, but where? Where? Think, Martin. Think. Time is the barrier between us. But we shall overcome it. Think back into the dim past when you lived in this house and we loved each other. What? Isabel. Isabel! Yes, Martin. Isabel. Do you remember now? Yes, yes, yes. I remember everything up to the... Up to the day I... I went hunting in the mountains. And I fell. What happened to me, Isabel? What happened to us? To our love? Don't think about a cursed day, darling. Think of the future. Our happiness together. Yes. Isabel, our happiness together. Just the two of us. In this house, I have waited so long for you to come back, Martin. But at last, we are together. Yes. It's startling forever. Roger, please! I'm going to die! She's gone back. She's gone back. She's gone back. Don't go. Darling, don't leave me. I must, Martin. Don't go. Don't come back. Come back. Please, come back. Roger! I lost his job! What do you want? Who's he? Oh, this is Dr. Stuart, Roger. Dr....this is my husband. What the devil did you bring him here for? Roger, please. I thought perhaps he could help us. What do you mean, help us? I don't need anyone's help. Your wife has told me everything. My wife has quite an imagination, doctor. Roger. Lately, she's taking to imagining all sorts of things. I'm beginning to believe she's become unbalanced. I'm not. How can you say such a thing? I wish you'd trust me, Mr. Barton. Allow me to try to help you. I must warn you. The spirit of the woman you see in this study is an evil one. One that will lead you to disaster. I told you I don't need help from you or anyone. I'll get out of both of you. Roger! Come along, Mrs. Barton. All I ask is to be left alone. Oh, Roger. Roger. Please, please, don't cry, Mrs. Barton. You saw him. It's as though he were possessed. Yes, I know. We must do something. We shall, but not tonight. I must have time to think about it. But you'd better return to the village with me. No. No, I don't want to leave him in the house alone. Something might happen to him. Are you sure you want to stay? Yes. Very well. I'll return late tomorrow afternoon. When I do, we will take action. In her bed, asleep, so defenseless. If you want me, you must get rid of her. Her immortality is almost dawn and I must leave. There's no time to waste. Yes, yes, yes. Well, yes. We can't let her come between us. I'll do as you say. Who's there? Roger. For a moment, I was frightened. What time is it? It's just dawn. I have to do it. Jane, I have to... No, Roger, don't! I can't let you come between Isabel and myself. Not now. We've found each other again. Tighter, Martin, tighter. Until she's struggling to stay forever. Isabel. Isabel, don't leave me. Isabel, where are you? Isabel! Roger. Come back, Isabel. Come back. Roger, come to see what she's doing to you. Tonight she'll be back again and she won't let you fail. Isabel, don't leave me. Now please don't leave me, Isabel. Roger, Roger. And then he stopped choking. You ran out of your room and down to the study? Yes. Where is he now? He's still in this study. He's been there all day. I should have known better than to have let you remain in this house last night. She knows that if he murders you, he'll join her cursed spirit forever. Oh, look, it's growing dark out. Soon she'll appear before him again. Doctor, we must do something. Last night you said you'd help me. And I will. This woman, Isabel, has been denied the piece of the grave because her sister's blood is on her hands. She belongs neither to the living or the dead, only to this house. If we could get your husband to leave, it might break the spell she's cast over. Yes, but he absolutely refuses to leave. Then we must force him to. Force him to? Yes. I can very quickly give him a hypodermic, render him unconscious. Yes. Then we could carry him away. To make sure he never returns to this house, we must burn it to the ground before we leave. Burn the house? Yes. Yes. Unless, of course, you don't want him. Oh, yes. Yes, we will burn it. And the evil that's in it. Then if you leave the weight of the study. All right, doctor. Have you the hypodermic ready? Yes. And when your husband opens the door, just gain his attention for a moment. Long enough for me to give him a hypodermic. Very well. Shall I knock now? Yes, I'm ready. Roger, open the door. I want to talk to you. What do you want? Why has he come back to this house? Please come to take me away, Roger. Take you away? Well, good. I'm glad to see... What did you stick me with? What's that in your hand, doctor? A hypodermic, Mr. Button. A hypodermic? Well, why? Well, what are you up to? You're trying to take me away from this house. Well, her. Well, I won't go. I won't go. Do you hear? You'll never hear. Doctor, quick, he's falling. I've got him, Mr. Button. Yes. Now, I suggest you take that lamp and smash it on the floor. Yes, let's burn the place to the ground. That's it. Everybody help me carry your husband out of the house, Mr. Button. In a while, this house will be a... a massive flame. He's regaining consciousness now, Mrs. Button. Will he remember what happened? I don't know. Hello, Jamie. Darling. I had a terrible dream. It's all so confused, then. Jamie, darling, you're crying. It's nothing, darling. You've been very ill, but now you're going to be all right. Of course. Well, who are you? He's Dr. Stewart, Roger. He's been looking after you during your illness. Oh. Where am I? You're in my home, Mr. Button. Yes, darling. Our own house burned down last night. It burned down? That's too bad. Why, we only had one night in our new home. One night? Yes, of course, Roger. Well, Mrs. Button, in spite of the loss of your home, I think you were very fortunate. There are things far worse than fire. Yes, doctor. And I can never thank you enough for breaking the bridge between the past and the present. What are you two talking about? Oh, nothing, darling. Nothing at all. Oh, Ross. Oh, darling, you've been humming that all day. Well, I'm just glad to be out of a sick bed and on my way to California. Look, we just crossed the state line into Kentucky. Mm-hmm. Well, we've come almost 600 miles since, darling. Yeah, it's getting dark. What do you think we ought to stop now for the night? Anything you say, darling. Yeah, let's stop at the next motel. All right. I guess I better turn my headlights on. Oh, darling, I've never been so happy. Roger. What? Do you smell something? Yes, it's good country air. No, I don't mean that. Jenny, what's wrong with you? Don't you smell it? Smell what? Oh, you mean that perfume? It seems familiar. What is it? Narcissus. Narcissus? Wasn't that the said in the study? That first evening? Yes. She's in the car, isn't she, Roger? She's followed us. Answer me. What? Roger. Roger, you mustn't listen to her. She's trying to come between us. Look at me. Why are you going down? There are some ghosts you just said to stay from. Strangely enough, as Roger Barton was being hanged from six months later for his wife's murder, everyone noticed a strange scent of perfume about the gallows. Some people said afterwards it was the scent of Narcissus. I cussed that if you ever see a house for the first time and it looks familiar, you'll have the good sense to turn and flee. Perhaps a ghost out of your past awaits in that house. A ghost has been waiting for you a long time and he's... Oh, you'll have to get off here. I'm sorry. I'm sure we'll meet again. I take this same train every week at this same time. Now you can follow other tense and exciting adventures of the Mysterious Traveler and the current issue of the Mysterious Traveler magazine now available. In our cast were Blayna Raiburn and Lyle Sudo. Maurice Tarplin starred in the title role. Music under the direction of Emerson Buckley composed by Richard U. Page. This program came to you from New York.