 obsession the same from the insane a line over which many stumble while groping from the every lucid shadows of a mad obsession fears hates jealousies loves these are all kindred things of human emotion as we are about to prove in this story starring Philip Terry the story of a man who crossed the line from whence there is no returning in his mad flight to escape the horrors of his own obsession lucid moments in the tortured life of when the brilliant Claire of reality stabs through the haze of his missed enveloped mind and during these times he has but one desire to repeat over and over again with a terrible urgency the ironic story of a retribution that destroyed him and everything he possessed the story of a nameless terror from which there was no escape for no one can escape the swift clinging tendrils of a mad obsession yes I wanted to hear my story I've told it several times now I I believe I can repeat it and without leaving out any details I know I want to admit Claire she meant so much to me so very much all right seems only yesterday that she came walking down the corridor the investment company and into my office Claire hope you don't mind my walking in on you you know I don't busy the president of an investment firm is never busy with a big company behind him he can well afford to hire good assistance to do all the work you've certainly hired all the experts on Wall Street then what do you mean first that I've read the semi-annual report of Worthington and company there seems to be no end of the amount of money you or rather your hired assistants are earning for the firm that's our job it's not your job to kill yourself working so hard it's not that bad clear yes it is Norton and you know it this job kills my father and I don't want the same thing to happen to you what would you suggest why don't you retire you mean you want someone else in this position it's not that I have anybody in mind Norton just that I think you've worked too hard all your life and you're entitled to arrest at my age Claire I'm only 35 of course to a 26 year old girl that must sound quite elderly that's not what I meant then what are you driving at I'd like to sell out sell out that's right my father's been dead exactly one year you've already increased the seven million dollars he left to me to more than 10 is that bad that's just it it's good I've got more money than I'll ever need and you you're a millionaire in your own right it isn't the money Claire a man has to have something to do and you insist on working call it that all right then sign these papers what's this new incorporation papers you know I thought you'd be stubborn and not want to retire so I had these drawn up let's put your name on the dotted line and then the firm of Worthington and company becomes Worthington and Robert but Claire no but about it Norton as long as you're going to run this business and buy everything that's right you should be a full fledged partner here I was not just a figurehead of one of the oldest investment houses in America but an active partner that meant I had prestige power everything that is nearly everything I wanted that night celebrating the merger of Worthington and Robert's Claire joined me at my penthouse after dinner we stood on the terrace looking out over the city I never knew that New York could be so well finished so empty oh Norton you're teasing look at the city the lights the people the traffic anything but empty you're wrong Claire look at me you call your life empty yes dear without anyone to share it without you to share it but not clear you must have known yes I've known for a very long time but but what I feel so differently toward you like like a brother is that why you were so interested in my welfare what's more than that Norton I wish I could explain my feelings is there someone else I see I should have known oh I'm sorry I didn't want to hurt you not for the world but for the longest time I didn't know which one I loved most then that makes our merger purely a business one yes Norton I'm afraid so when it comes to the heart you are second choice second choice Norton Roberts the most eligible bachelor New York second choice with one girl he wanted suddenly the thought struck me who was first choice I I couldn't help thinking what if such a person had never come into Claire's life what if such a person didn't exist hello Claire oh hello Norton I called you to say goodbye goodbye I'm going on a vacation that was your idea you said I was working too hard well where are you going hunting in Montana for one whole month when you're right I'm not a chance I'm going off with a guide away from civilization but how can I get in touch with you if anything important comes up oh don't worry nothing will come up I've attended to everything change will do me good but I'm afraid not clear I'm leaving tonight but not for mountain lines of bears and coyotes I was going hunting for a man murder was my game just as I'd hired men to do my other work I plan to hire someone to commit that murder for me three days later in San Francisco I learned that the man I wanted to see was Victor Corrin are you Victor Corrin are you my name is Walter Bradshaw that's not your name but never mind about that what do you want I want you to murder a man look this is a legitimate business deal my assets happen to be cash yours happen to be shall we say Braun who sent you here nobody I've been around I know you're a front man to break up strike start riots to do anything for whichever side pays you most you know a lot for a stranger I know the stakes are high and I'm willing to pay $15,000 for a man's life who's the man I don't know now wait a minute miss I don't know what your game I'll wait a minute let me explain somebody is going to marry Claire Worthington and you mean the end of the late King of Wall Street that's the girl I want you to kill the man who marries her and you don't know who he is no but no matter who he is kill him why do you want to murder you'll be well paid for eliminating the man not for knowing the reasons why is it a deal well how am I to know being all the newspapers when she gets married the method of murder in the time I'll leave to your discretion well it'll cost you another 15 grand 15,000 more that's what I said this 15 is my shepherd given the orders the others will be for the killer I see and who will that be that'll be my business yes yes of course suppose I pay you say after the murder has taken place in this line we always get paid in advance especially when we deal with guys like you who hide their identity but I don't have that kind of money with me well and get it very well here you are had it all along smart business I've been called that anyway there you are another 15,000 510s and 20s good enough okay mister it's a deal how will I know that I've carried out my part you'll read it in the papers after prayer worthings and gets hitched unless you want a written receipt or one murder paid in full that matter was on the train before we got to Chicago I knew that if Victor Corrin sent one of his thugs to trail me for a bit of blackmail I'd successfully eluded him not too long afterwards I was safely back in New York I went to Claire's apartment of all people Norton Robert Claire dear remember me a sight for lonesome eyes when did you get back this minute haven't even been home with three of you to come here first we'll come on in I was just going down some coffin not sit down tell me all about your trip I was very dull slept eight walked catch anything no set a few traps that was about all you're too chicken hearted to kill a rabbit you can't fool me it was a good change of scene anyway you know I'm glad you went away it was your suggestion you know I didn't mean that I'm glad you went away because made me realize how much I depend on you don't be silly Claire anybody could carry on the business I'm not talking about the business I'm talking about me it's the truth I knew after you left how much you meant to me how much I love you but this other fellow the one who was first choice there never was another fellow I just had to be sure that's all your first choice Norton if you still want me darling of course I want you more than anything or anyone in the world then let's not do we can't jump into this why not are you trying to stall don't talk that way clear you know I want to marry you only only right now what can possibly stand in our way I've I've got to go to San Francisco on business it's so important it can't wait until we get married yes yes it's very important it can't wait I've got to dash off to San Francisco I'll fly there tomorrow morning we go together not no no we can't do that I'm telling you can't put me off what do you say do we get married in the morning you go to San Francisco together or very well Claire we'll get married in the morning Norton Roberts the man Claire Marys is to be murdered remember murdered for a price the price you paid and tomorrow the headlines in San Francisco will put the finger on the man you wanted dead think fast Norton Roberts and outwit if you can the clever scheming of your own obsession in just a moment we return to our story the outcome of our story starring Philip Terry it is the rightful privilege of a woman to change her mind but in so doing she oft times causes the undoing of the best laid skeins of plans and schemes and sometimes the undoing of the schemer himself it was a grim bargain Norton Roberts made a bargain with death and in his mind the panic grows and builds becomes insurmountable he must live he must escape life his life must be bought back at any price living now this is only obsession bargain and murder had taken an ironic twist you see I'd arranged for the murder of the man who was going to marry Claire Worthington never dreaming that Claire would change her mind at the last minute and to marry me now combining a honeymoon with what Claire thought was business I had to hurry back to San Francisco to try to change the pattern of my design for murder it wasn't easy making explanations to Cleo and I dropped her at the hotel but I managed it and then I told the cab driver to take me to a waterfront address that's it over there driver on the other side of the street this the place mister across the street I said if you take my advice you'll stay away from that joint it's being watched by whom with the cops they're hot after the killer somebody murdered somebody murdered he asked me Victor Corrin was bumped off this morning Victor Corrin yeah and he got away with $15,000 that he was carrying do they know who did it and the cops don't but the grapevine has it that it was one of his own men pulling a double cross you better stay clear in that joint sir they may be fireworks back to the hotel yes so Victor Corrin was dead and since he had only $15,000 that meant he had already paid off a murderer the murderer who was after me somebody was going to kill me somebody it could be anybody like the taxi yes it could be the taxi driver why are you stopping here traffic light in San Francisco the red light means stop oh a boy give me a morning paper thanks you too much about corn and money he didn't want me to go up there how do I know Victor Corrin was murdered how do I know that the taxi driver wasn't plotting against me I watched him closely and then I noticed through the rear view mirror that he was looking at me but I was ready for him yes I was ready when he suddenly half turned and said hey you're not in Robert's aren't you no no look out taxi driver he tried to kill me and what am I doing in this hospital darling you were hit by an automobile I was not hard thank goodness the cars crashed to save you let's get out of here it'll be a day or two before you get over your shock then you'll be perfectly all right to attend to your business I've finished with my business let's go back to New York all right we'll go back to New York tomorrow or the day after take it easy darling it's probably the doctor or nurse I'll see a good morning ma'am oh hello driver won't won't you come in thanks how do you feel this morning mr. Roberts how did you know I was Norton Roberts where your picture in the front page of the morning paper oh I was afraid of that and then next time somebody recognizes you you don't have to jump yeah especially out of moving taxis it's bad business is your car wrecked yes ma'am the other driver really smacked it up trying to keep from running over mr. Roberts but we'll handle the expenses of course you don't have to worry oh gee thank you ma'am you can drive me to the hotel and I'll give you a check darling now you just rest comfortably and I'll be right back you can't leave me here alone the hospital is well staffed with doctors where are you going to arrange for a trip back to New York clear what is it will you will you charter a private plane for just the two of us yes Norton I'll charter a private plane didn't trust anyone before we left San Francisco I made him change the pilots for all I knew one of the pilots might have been my killer the only thing I was sure of was that somebody was going to murder me and I had to get to him before he got to me so what do you look at me like that I was just thinking what how much you've changed since you went hunting that nonsense it's excitement coming back getting married flying across the country man doesn't do that every day you know I just hope now don't you worry about me as soon as we get back to New York I'll be myself again Norton I want you to do me a favor anything I want you to see dr. Armstrong what for your nerves there's nothing wrong with my nerves nothing you're a jittery I'm not jittery yes you are besides you promised me you do whatever I asked by heaven's sake clear don't treat me like a child I'm only thinking of you dear it's up to a wife to make her husband happy you know that was a fine one she she only wanted to make her husband happy if I hadn't married I'd have been all right perfectly all right yes I'm Sperber the new butler man oh yes come in thank you ma'am come along with me yes madam can you cook by any chance yes and but I don't as a rule man I met just for tonight you see we're hiring an entire new household staff and the others won't be here until tomorrow I understand them there'll be just the two of us mr. Roberts and myself for dinner I think you can find everything oh yes ma'am just leave everything to me you're not eating very much Norton I'm not hungry there must be something troubling nothing's troubling me who's the new butler his name is yes I know but where does he come from Santa Barbara I think the west coast so what's so terrible about that how can you let a strange man in the house without even knowing one little thing about him darling he had references they checked on him at the agency where I always get my servant oh here he comes the soup was very good sir thank you ma'am what's that this sir the way it's meatloaf sir what's in it ground sirloin and bread crumbs onions do not dissolve what else was just salt and pepper sir poison Norton I I don't understand sir very simple I ask you a question is there any poison in that meatloaf no sir of course there isn't then eat some of it well begging your pardon sir I've already had my dinner you see you're afraid to taste it then it is poison oh Norton please answer me it is poison isn't it it was wrong but I couldn't take any chances not with him or any of the other servants it was the same way at the office and my secretary left me and I viewed a dozen girls before I hired one I could trust because my killer could be a woman that that's all it was with me for days weeks months I didn't know what to do until until I saw him a man trailing me in the morning when I got into my limousine he was lounging nonchalantly across the street if I looked out of my office window I could see him down by the main entrance the killer had found me at last someday very soon he would strike get away anywhere I took all the cash I could find in the safe walked out of the office in the middle of the day I went down the back stairs didn't use the elevator came out on the street at the rear of the building and there I yell for a cab taxi taxi look I want you to take me to a passenger it's okay I don't mind sharing the tab get in no no I know where you are get in I'll drop you off where do you want to go the the to wall street but you just came from there how do you know I know a lot about you Mr Roberts then then you know that I'm married to Claire Worthington I sure look I'll give you money 50,000 100,000 here I have a lot of cash there's more if you leave me alone but Mr Roberts I'm not trying to do leave me alone do you hear leave me alone Mr Roberts leave me alone don't kill me don't kill me don't kill me thank you very much for your services how have the check sent to your office thanks Mrs Roberts oh uh that's the coronet detective agency yes will you need any further reports no the doctors say there isn't any doubt that my husband's insane I I guess not does he still keep telling that ridiculous story oh to everyone who will listen he does finish telling it to his nurse again the poor devil yes it makes it doubly hard because Norton was such a good man such a good man Claire but the punishment fits the crime as it always must the escape was made but into a shadowy realm from which there is no further escape a realm created from his own device the tortured labyrinth of a mad obsession in just a moment I'll be back with a preview of next week's story we'll tell you the story of a man whose life meant less to him than his house a man with an obsession so overpowering that he was willing to murder his best friend drive the woman he professed to love insane rather than lose a monument he had built to himself you will live every moment of next week's story as you follow John Loder in the role of Norman Marshall through the twisting devious pathways of a homicidal maze what you listen to the session of Terry was produced and transcribed by C.P. McGregor in Hollywood