 Will you give a few seconds of your time to help win this war? Then listen at Stalingrad the other day a Nazi tank unit attacked a corps of Russian soldiers The Russians tried to stop the tanks and fought until their guns were silenced Then did they surrender? Did they retreat? No, 18 of them rushed forward with bombs in their hands got under the tanks and blew them up They gave their lives for their country You and I are not asked to give our lives for ours. All we're asked to do is buy war bonds and stamps Our American soldiers are giving their lives for us each day more and more of them every day Can we do less than loan our money to them? It's such a simple easy thing to do out of every dollar you earn lend one dime to your country Do it regularly by joining the 10% club where you work and do it now Our soldiers need your help. The Columbia network takes pleasure in bringing you Suspense Columbia's parade of outstanding thrillers Produced by William Spear and scored by Bernard Herman with notable melodramas from stage and screen Fiction and radio presented each week to bring you to the edge of your chair to keep you in Suspect Tonight's story deals with the remote and dangerous house And a terrifying thing that happened there because the rain went on for days and days It deals with a surgeon and a girl a giant and a young man who took a long chance and Over them all the moon of the night wind and the ceaseless roar of the storm For your suspenseful listening. We invite you to learn about Kepler method Rain they've been Ceaseless teaming pouring with a steady relentless rhythm for solid days The fields around Colston had been turned into huge puddles that reflected the heavy swollen sky and Dr. Morrissey was stirred by a deep anxiety He stood beside a window in his sanitarium which rose high on a lonely hill a few miles from the little town of Colston And stared into the jagged spraying screen of rain It's just three o'clock Three o'clock of an afternoon. He would long remember He was on the point of sending for calf. We the ward attendant when the door opened And a calf. We came in pale Dr. Morrissey, is there anything wrong calf? I don't know. There's a feeling down on the ward feeling This rain is going on too long the patients getting uneasy. They're bound to ain't they? The guy with good nerves. He gets jumpy Can imagine what it does to theirs seem to be affecting anyone in particular number five has been carrying on Kettler Yeah, I brought him up nurse Carter's waiting with him out in the hall. That is that he's upsetting the others Keeps asking for some guy named Benham That's the man he killed I didn't know he was homicidal. Oh, it was an accident He was performing a brain surgery on Benham and him Kettler was a very important surgeon capri. Didn't you know that he keeps saying so, but it's perfectly true Very successful dr. Kettler was until he perfected an operative procedure that he called the Kettler method a new process of brain operation Spent most of his life on it and Well when he tried it for the first time on this young lead Benham and Benham died on the table it It unbalanced his mind I've got to go back down there now. I think you'd better wait while I talk with Kettler Okay, I'll bring him in but don't make it long. I don't like the feel of things around here nurse miss Carter Yes, we're coming you can bring him in now come along. Dr. Morris. He wants to see you Does he know? Does he come in Kettler? I'd like to ask dr. Morris a question. I'd like to ask him a question. Yes, doctor Kettler I should like to ask him where lead Benham is. I Know he'll never tell me but I will Kettler Lead Benham is buried somewhere out there under the rain. He is at peace Kettler Can't you forget about him just forget you'd all like me to forget about him, wouldn't you? Then you could keep him hidden away forever. Couldn't you Benham is dead Kettler? You know that Benham died. He did not He's alive He was alive when you in the rest of the envious medical profession stole him from the operating table Kidnapped him with my bandages still around his head You were determined to make the Kettler method seem a failure. Weren't you why don't you easy easy now? Believe me Kettler. I'm glad Benham died is now dr. Morris. He's in the cellar under the wall downstairs, isn't he? isn't he? Let me see it There's been him. You'd better take him down cat free. All right come along now, sir. I'll take him nice You won't show him to me Even though it would make me well again my cellars are empty Kettler. Believe me Benham isn't fair You sit there and power and order me away. Come on Kettler. There's something I have to say I've always been up by violence dr. Morris But the time comes when there's no other course This is a warning doctor a warning and the joke is that you won't eat it You won't eat it now, but you'll remember it and soon you'll remember it Tables turn dr. Morris tables turn I'm afraid I'm failing with him failing completely, but you're not it takes time to put a man back together Let's take me too long with Kettler I'm beginning to be afraid if you'll pardon me doctor. Yes. I do think you're making a mistake with him No with yourself. You haven't had a real vacation in three years dr. Morris. Oh You think I'm wearing a bit thin just now, don't you? And you're right But I really can't leave my patience and anyone else's hands not now at any rate No, I'll have to make the best of it, but you need relaxation. I know I know Well, I hope to soothe my ragged nerves so much over this weekend Oh, I've some friends coming down from the city Friday night Leslie and Claire Wynton Young married couple newlyweds and I'm just going to relax with them and forget everything until Monday morning You must doctor you do need it so badly. Oh by the way, doctor Yes, I slipped some of those new sample bandages into your cold pocket. Thanks. Thanks. I'll have a look at them I think they're quite good. The salesman said that Yes, nurse. What is it? Did you hear something thunder? Wasn't it? Something else besides thunder. I thought it I didn't hear it My nose must be getting the best of me. Perhaps it's a case of nurse heal thyself I'm not the only one who needs a rest. You know, it might be a very good idea if we both Dr. Morrissey, I heard that what is it? It's coming from the ward sounds like that was a shot nurse You get on the phone call the police at Colston Keep at it. Keep at it Someone's trying to get in from the hall Kefrey just a moment Every every what is it? All of them coming up the stairs Steady nurse Yes Remember it doctor tables turn dr. Morrissey tables turn Three more days Friday night came black wet glistening The 815 express groaned into Colston station bringing Leslie and Claire went out from the city with their weekend luggage Isn't dr. Morrissey sending his car for us Leslie? Yes, Claire The chauffeur was supposed to drive us over to the sanitarium to pick up the dock and then we're all going over to his house Don't be any car to you. I don't see anything but water Maybe we're rowing over in a skiff. I hate that sound Like somebody's in agony. I think you're a little depressed there. Well, I shouldn't be surprised My head still aching dreadfully poor lover. How long has that been going on now almost a week? It frightens me. I don't think it's anything serious waiting in the rain like this doesn't do it any good I'm sure I don't understand ducks usually so punctual right on the dot You don't suppose we ought to call the sanitarium you people for dr. Morrissey. Yes, well Yes, yes, we're the Wyntons. Doc sent you to pick us up. Hi, Kate. Oh Dr. Morrissey's chauffeur You got luggage Yes Here it is. I take You follow me to car We're coming Leslie yes, he's tremendous, isn't he? He must be six and a half feet tall. I'm over six myself darling He's nearer eight. That's a giant Get those shoulders. He could snap me in two like a matchstick. Well, I I hope he likes us So do I light of my life are waiting you come please, but I really don't think he does coming Heavy car lurched and hurtled over the rain soap roads Carrying wildly through the dark and greening up the hillside door the stark walls of the sanitarium It's skidded to a standstill in front of the main entrance and cold black Kato led them inside The brightly lit corridors were deserted silent like Hallways in a nightmare Claire was aware of her headache growing steadily worse this Kato opened the double doors and ushered them into the waiting room You'll tell dr. Morrissey we're here, huh doctor be with you soon You do not go away. Yes Thanks, I hope we're not staying in here very long. It isn't very cheery is it? I don't like places like this. I suppose it's very foolish of me, but I Always feel as if I'm in some sort of danger. That's the headache again Everything seems worse than it really is when you're not feeling well. Don't you always find me? Yeah, listen somebody snarky Just a moment Good ass your sunny horse. Who is it Leslie? I I don't know what you do not know me I am Arturo Alvarez the South American pianist you have heard of me. Well, sure I've heard of Arturo Alvarez, but I'd hardly expect to find him Oh Of course for a moment. I forgot where I was I've heard of you mr. Alvarez. Is there anything I can do for you? Will you help me? I must get out of this place. Oh sure I came here several days ago to be treated for a mild nervous trouble And now now they won't let me go. I am being held a prisoner and tonight I am scheduled to give a concert at Carnegie Hall and I must get out of here Please will you help me number 10 out of the ward again? I see How many times must I tell you that is strictly against the rules? I was doing nothing wrong I was only telling this gentleman that I must be at Carnegie Hall for my conscience Yes, yes, yes, I'm sure the gentleman was very interested. Hey, Kato. Yes, doctor Kato, you will escort number 10 back to the ward and see to it that he doesn't wander back into the waiting room No, no, I will not be taken back to the ward. Help me No Strongly believes in his delusion strange fantasy of a diseased mind Seriously believes that he's Arturo Alvarez. He was telling me. Well, I'm very sorry. I'm afraid. I haven't been very cordial Won't you sit down? Is there anything I can do for you? Well, you see dr. Morris he invited us up for the weekend Oh, yes, of course. He told me he was expecting you. Does he know we're here. I am afraid not Dr. Morris he was unexpected they called away on an emergency case and I'm in charge of the sanitarium until he returned Well, do you have any idea about when that'll be? It's very hard to say However, he asked me to ask you to wait and see to it that you're made comfortable And let me see now your name is Winton Leslie Winton and this is my wife Claire. Yes, let me be to introduce myself I'm dr. Kettler Dr. Morris is assistant What can I do for you a bite of food or a drink perhaps I don't think so there's nothing in the world I want so much as an aspirin aspirin. Yes, doctor. She's had a headache that's been troubling her for days. It's terribly annoying I can well imagine annoying and Interesting that is to a man of my profession, of course But if you will step into the inner office, I think I can offer you something a good deal more effective Oh, I hate to travel you know trouble at all. I find these things most intriguing should I Leslie? I think you might as well Morris. He won't be back for a long time by the looks of things. You're quite right Mr. Winton dr. Morris. He won't be back for a long long time Well, then which way do I go right this way the large door on your left? You won't mind waiting alone. Will you darling? Oh, mr. Winton? She'll make himself comfortable There are cigarettes in the box whiskey in the liquor cabinet and no radio behind the ferns there I'm sure you'll be quite happy after you Mrs. Winton if dr. Morris he comes in let me know I hope you'll find everything you want sir. Thanks. Oh by the way doctor Yes, you said you add something better than aspirin. I didn't know there was anything better than aspirin for a headache I have something mr. Winton really it is a process which I invented myself One that never fails a little treatment very effective and highly complicated called the Kettler method Please Make yourself at home mr. Winton Leslie sat there alone in the big waiting room for a while Then creeps began setting in and he thought to himself. Maybe I'll have that drink after all He rose went over to the liquor cabinet that Kettler had pointed out to him and opened it Well, there's nothing in here but books. Yes books Books that were so thick with dust that it was clear they'd been there for months No drink for Leslie Maybe a cigarette Kettler said the box was full He picked it up and started open it why it isn't even a cigarette box that's doing things a book and yes That's just what it was Leslie began to think it was a tough job making himself at home in that waiting room And then the idea occurred to him. Maybe the radio works. He went over to the radio then turned it on and We are sorry to announce that the program schedule for this time from Carnegie Hall has been canceled due to the mysterious Disappearance of Arturo Alvarez the noted South American pianist Mr. Alvarez was known to be suffering from a minor nervous disorder and was last seen departing on a short trip to Colston in Upstate New Alvarez that guy is Alvarez. What's going on here Claire Claire What Dr. Kessler open this door open it. Do you hear me? You tell him to open up tell him tell him doctors send me Tell you young lady headache bad very bad. What do you mean? He? Operate operate he say take long time He say you not wait you come back tomorrow Operate no no Can you hear me can you hear me of course she can hear you mr. Wynton the operating table is just inside the door bring her out here let her go I tell you killer But I find that an operation is indicated mr. Wynton. I forbid you to touch her you forbid you I'm in charge here. No one forbids me. Do you understand you're insane your if you lay your hands on her I'll kill you so help me. I'll kill you very well Mr. Wynton you do not wish me to operate that's all there is to it I would scarcely force my service upon you however the girls condition is quite serious, and I Good work good work. Hey, oh my boy a master stroke Do you still forbid me mr. Wynton do you do you oh? You don't answer good good take him to the cell a key to imagine there with his friend dr. Morris they should have a good deal to talk over in the still hours of the night while I Cure the young lady's headache Unmolested You've got to pull yourself together Leslie. I'll try try to think Kato brought you down a few moments ago. You've been hit in the head. Can you remember? Yes, I was talking to Kettler trying to make him let Claire go Claire. Oh Good lord Morris. Where is she? He's got her Kettler. She's on that operating table up there We've got to do something. We've got to do something. Well, I'm afraid there's not much we can do I've been here for three days and nights. What happened? Oh, it was a nightmare come to life I'd had Kettler in my office for treatment here He was often a wild tangent insisting that I had a man who he had killed Hidden down here on the cellar that I am the rest of the medical profession had kidnapped him off the operating table with His head still suede He thinks I've been keeping this venom from him all along even though I've known that just one side of him would cure his mental Assault us. He hates me with every fiber of his twisted brain He's a dangerous case Leslie. He'll He'll kill Claire. He may let a slim chance. He won't what's that? Well all the surgical instruments are locked away. It's possible. They may not be able to find isn't there any way We can get out of here. Well, wouldn't I abused it? Where does that corridor lead to for the staircase that goes to the first floor? Well, not a chance comes out in the operating room and they keep that door locked as tight as a drum Besides Kettler still has the pistol he took from my nurse. I've got to think I've got to my head hurt So I can't make good sense. Let's see that. I think they gave you a nasty cut. Oh, it doesn't matter. Say doc Yes, what was his name? The guy Kettler thought you were keeping from him the one he killed been him lead been him. Why was he a young fellow? Yes, rather tall slender chance a doc Do you have any bandages down here? What bandages? Why is I think so there they're stored down enough to bandage my whole head face and everything Why I might have a chance of getting through that door up there Let me go now. Oh, let me go Leslie You will be better soon Much better. I will take the pain away Mrs. Wynton Tato have you found the surgical case not found yet. I look Kato look find it We must not keep Mrs. Wynton in an agony Find it. I say You'll have to create some order in this place What my instruments at hand on a moment's notice? Let me go. Oh, let me go. You shall be well again my dear. I promise you you shall Doctor here tall white cabinet behind cutter. That's it. Open it open it Kato locked Dr. Smash it open it. I do You'll find scalp goes on the top tray bring them to me. Yes, doctor is here doctor see knives Good sharp knives Kato find he find them excellent How they glitter? It is good to feel the knife in my hand again Put the others right beside my pistol here on the table There my girl I shall explain all my genius on you you should be well again Who is it I found my way back to you open the door doctor Ketler I Come back again. Who are you? You remember? You remember lads venom Kato Kato. Yes, doctor the door the door let him in he's come back Let him in I say doctor. Oh, let me out of here. He's come back. He's come back Kato Venom I knew it. I knew it all along. You're alive. You're living Yes, dr. Ketter you Just as they took you from the table. Yes, they took me away before the operation was complete Finish it now. Hurry. I can't live much longer I'm about to go no no Kato get Venom out of the table girl girl Take her off take her out of here put her in the cellar. Let Venom take a place at once. You're here. Yes, Dr. Keto No, I won't be put in the cellar. I won't it might be well if you went down into the cellar, you know It's nice down there. You'll see all friends perhaps old friends who need help Hurry hurry. I say. Yes, doctor come. I'm coming Are you all right? Kato Kato closed off. No stop wasting time leave the door alone. Help me help me get Venom on the table. Yes, dr. Kato do That's right. I look them carefully Good now lie back Lie back Gently gently All right. Yeah, well now there we are Kato give me the knife. Yes, doctor They got the bandages From the top Kato That's correct. That's proper procedure Yeah Yeah, now that's Hmm. I thought he's here was blonde not black Well Ripes I've forgotten. I've forgotten so many things that there was a scar on his forehead. I I Clearly remember a scar on his forehead Maybe Maybe I imagine that too Perhaps it was someone else who round eyes Venom Venom didn't you have blue eyes? I Know they were blue and your nose your nose was thinner and longer Yes Yes, and your lips You had thick lips that I know Bandages off doctor dr. Kattler. There's a trick here. You you're not venom You're not venom. You're that young mr. Winton dr. Kattler. Listen to me cheat Cheat so you wanted me to finish you. Did you yes, mr. Winton? I will I will Hold him Kato hold him See the knife mr. Winton Watch it glisten as it comes down Down down in it You don't doubt that he's out too long for his when you hear him play the piano deal That's a marvelous old instrument you have doc. It was my mother's This old house has been in the family for generations Who'd ever thought we'd be alive to sit in your house and listen to somebody play a concerto We wouldn't have been at least I wouldn't have been if you hadn't snatched that revolver off the table right out from under Kettler's nose before they threw you into the cellar. That was the lifesaver Made the weekend perfect I'm afraid it wasn't very restful hereafter. I'm spending all weekends in a cozy little corner under the L I Was worse for Claire than anybody She had a dreadful time. It was ghastly. All right horrible But you know something what my headache? It's completely gone The Kettler method the tale of a memorable weekend and a long-awaited dead man who didn't return after all This was tonight's story out Suspense suspense is produced by William Spear John Deets was our director this evening Tonight's radio drama was written by Peter Barry and scored by Bernard Herman Roger DeCoven was dr. Kettler John Gibson Leslie Winton and Gloria Stewart played Claire Winton Others in the cast were guy rep Martha Faulkner Winfield Honey and Ralph Smiley Next week at this time Columbia will bring you another selected story from the world's great literature of thrills another study in Suspense This is Barry Kroger and this is the Columbia broadcasting system