 you finding life rather dull dreaming again of exotic places wishing you were somewhere else we offer you escape escape with us now to England and the story of a hard rock miner trapped in a deserted mine beneath the icy waters off the Cornish coast as Hammond Innis tells it in his gripping tale the killer mine rain had stopped when I reached Penzance just before dark at the waterfront there were men dressed much the same as myself in semen's jerseys jacket nobody took any notice of me and I suddenly felt at ease for the first time since I landed in England I lit a cigarette fished out of my pocket the worn and dirty bit of note paper which bore Dave Tanner's address to Harbour Terrace pensance Cornwall I read the note again dear Jim I hear things aren't what they were in Italy if you're getting tired of it and want to change of air I can fix you up with a job in England no questions asked it's a mining job and right up your street your old chum day well up to now I'd been lucky no questions had been asked so I went to meet my old chum at number two Harbour Terrace mr. Tanner in who Tanner mr. Dave Tanner oh nobody that name lives here oh well he's no friend of mine I've come a long way to see him look here's the letter he sent me I'm sorry you know to be afraid I'm not a cop he's a Welshman dark hair and eyes a bit of a limp oh it's maybe it's mr. Jones you're wanting but he's not here now either you know when he'll be back no I you're hurt oh no I that's blood on your hands oh one of the lodges he cut himself on glass Dave he's here isn't he's here in his heart no you can't come in move over where is he I tell you you're mistaken the devil you're doing girl come and fix this arm before I lose any more blood who was it anyway it's all right Dave it's me Jim Price Jim Price fine time for visiting you've chosen but come on up man I'm bleeding to death we went upstairs and inside his room Dave was sitting white-faced on the edge of a bed he winced as the girl door dire dine into what was obviously a bullet wound then the bandage went on hey I'm too tight girl what happened Dave nothing it's all right tell you later I'm glad to see you back still yes Davey wrap up some food find another raincoat but you can't go out don't argue girl it's time to go now all right it's better now we can talk you've come over for that job yes got a show with no questions asked I managed it cost me my last farthing though I've got no papers you got a shore that's what matters well Jim it's a mining job as I told you here help me on with my coat easy easy there I want to be shot of this place your way is the same as mine I'll tell you about the job as we go where where we go crippled Z is tin mine there's more to it than that oh come on we'll meet the girl downstairs I've got to get out come along baby your sandwiches in an old raincoat of fathers give it to her now listen sir those clothes upstairs burn clean up everything anybody comes round asking questions tell me haven't seen me not for three days where can I get in touch with you you can't you'll come back indeed I will remember you haven't seen me and you don't know where I've gone I don't know that's true you'll hear from me open the door see if anyone's about the street was deserted and the rain had started again as we slipped out we kept to mean badly lit streets as we made our way out of town then at the top of the hill we left the lights of Van Zant behind us we hadn't said a word until then we'll separate at Lanyon how far is that oh eight nine miles oh where are you going a farm be hiding up for a bit police baby no matter of speaking at a fishing boat I love more we were carrying goods liquor of course picked it up from an Italian boat a revenue cutter borders insisted on taking the ashes off warned them not to there's their own fault they jump for the other boat that's when I got this bullet through the heart how did you get away with booby trap the hatches when they open them she went up sank just like that how many were killed what does it matter they're after me though what about me oh the job I told you if you wanted it's yours or do I go do I see crippled Z's just down the road from bottle up ask for captain Manik tell him I sent you show him my letter that's all that's all it tell you what it's about come on I'll step out I'll need to rest soon enough with his closet I must have been nearly midnight when the little Welshman and I parted he pointed the way to crippled Z's a mile further along then turned away disappeared in the driving rain half an hour later I found the huddle of abandoned mine buildings and then against a crackle of lightning I saw a house I had reached crippled Z's and the job that was waiting for me what do you want I want to see captain Manik I be captain Manik what do you want Dave Tanner sent me Dave Tanner they told me to show you this letter come in my name is Jim Price Dave he said yet a mining job for me I'm a miner I was working in Italy come in here if I get warm how long have you known Dave you're in the army together where Italy mostly casino sit down you're the deserter chap aren't you oh it's all right you're Dave he told me about it we don't ask questions here does anyone know you're in England no only Dave this job you've got how long let's take not being a miner I wouldn't know might take a week I'll give you a flat rate of 50 pounds and another hundred if you can do it in two days a big tin strike no I don't see where just a minute have a look at this chart these mines are finished there's nothing worth working in them anymore I've got another to use for it you see that long gallery running down under the sea yeah it's called the mermaid nearly half a mile long now then what I want you to do is to blow a hole in the seabed at the end of it blow a hole in the seabed yes you see the slope of the gallery it starts about a hundred feet below the sea level then at the end rises to one of my figures 20 feet under the bed of the sea my job is to drill through that 20 feet and let the sea in here I could tell you it's getting risky running liquor into England through the usual channels I see this will be safer our boat spots a boy which marks the entrance of the underwater mine lowers the cargo and we haul it through the mine up to the shore how a carriage drawn by a horse or to work even underwater it'll work I've had two men working on the shaft for a year now we're straightening it out all we need is a miner to finish the job that's you it's nasty suppose the entrance gets jammed with rock after she blows no I'll go down in a day diving suit and clear it nasty I haven't done undersea stuff it's a no explosives and rock yeah and nothing to it I don't know what about Davey was he doing a job for you suppose the police get him and tie you up with it what happens to me don't worry I don't like it man be sensible you're a deserted from the British Army you return to England without papers if not here where would you work I'd be offering you 150 pounds I should have stayed in Italy but you didn't know I wanted to see Cornwall again it was a mistake not do what I ask and I'll see that you get a passage back to Italy no that's too dangerous I'm sorry I'll take my chances somewhere else in another job and you leave me no alternative what do you mean I shall have to telephone the police in Penzance and inform that the deserter has shown up looking for a job after what you tell me now make me laugh I'm quite a respectable man in these parts I doubt that the authorities would take your word against mine you're bluffing nobody can force me to do anything you think not no stay where you are mr. Price I wouldn't hesitate to shoot you you see I'm in rather a desperate position it's taken me a long time to find a minor to do this job I couldn't bear to see you refuse you still have a moment to change your mind hello would you ring the police station for me please he wasn't bluffing I knew that I owned only a few seconds to decide it was a choice of arrest conviction as a deserter doing a job which might mean my life I had run away from death once before I suddenly realized that I'd been running ever since I had to stop I look back at manic smiling sure with his pistol pointed at me well all right hang up hang up I'll do it I'll blow up your bloody mind escape under the direction of Norman McDonnell returns in just a moment boy Scott week is now being celebrated across the nation the scouting program is well known to almost every American it includes character building physical fitness and citizenship training that enriches the lives of boys and young men in all walks of life get your son or your neighbor's boy to join this worthy organization and now back to escape manic put down the phone opened a desk drawer and took out some pound notes handed me ten and he suggested I get some sleep to start work at five in the morning I was pocketing the money when the door behind us open looked around and saw an elderly man I didn't know you'd anybody here Henry it's all right father this is Jim Price he's going to work here a bit he's a minor a minor is a well my boy just good to know there be a minor working here at last I knew you'd say it my way sooner later at least we can make a start now price is working for me father working for you nonsense he must work for me I'll prove to a world that the Cornish mining industry isn't dead you may as well understand I'm letting the sea into the mermaid gallery you're mad you can't do it I won't allow it that's what I'm going to do I won't allow it I tell you I will have no alternative Mr. Price perhaps you better leave us now go to the kitchen across the hall one of the men will show you your quarters all right went to the kitchen could hear the argument raging through the hall there were two men sitting by a fire with mugs in their hands one like a diminutive monk with a potbelly and rosy cheeks and the other a long cadaverous faced man who looked at me solid me as I entered blow me another one sit down charm sit down what are you staying or passing through when a work here of a minor law lover duck is a slim now we don't have to worry about the ruddy roof falling in on this one named fryer fryer all gray did you call me fryer and this year's slim Matthews Jim price and an excited you to blow through the sea bed yes as the old man know yes I just left thought I had argue bogging it's gonna be trouble I don't understand the old man's been working these mines all his life now he says he's found the richest 10 strike and call kept in right though kept in right running liquor tax-free if you follow me too expensive to operate tomorrow these days I shouldn't want your job mr. price we've been sweating for a year down here funny feeling with all that see over your head oh well every man to his trade I say come on mate I'll say it here dig imagine you'll want to be upright and thanks see in the morning mr. price a little cockney showed me to my room it was about half hour later that I had a tap on my door yes mr. manic I was afraid you might be asleep look I want to show you my son tells me an experienced dinner have a look at this rock maybe you'll believe me hey that's tin all right this fabulous the richest seam into history of carnage mining look at it and my son curse him doesn't see it he's going to let the sea into the mine and he's brought you here to do it you're the man who's going to write my life I'm sorry it is a job that's all you can't you mustn't I'd give you 50 pounds more than he's offered if you don't do it what difference would it make if you don't me get another minor but that would take time don't you see we would be rich I'm afraid it is all right it's all right think about it I know we hold something over your head it does with everyone think about it and give me your answer tomorrow all right I will good night what's the pit for captain yeah underneath the scaffolding there to catch the rock when you make the final blast well it might work as I told you if it doesn't I'll come down in a diving suit to clear it away you say there's 20 feet to get through yes it's quite a bit of water seeping in now it'll be touchy all right granite basalt from the feel of it now that's what I thought if it cracks anything might happen yes by the way my father spoke to you last night the knee yes showed you the tin probably offered you more not to blow the mind I hope you refuse because if you didn't I can still notify the police I didn't tell him anything good then you can start to work immediately I'll send fire and slim down to help you and by the way don't go wandering around too much some of these old tunnels run for miles that you can get lost and stay out of the shaft a parallel this one she's the old come lucky mine they've been a lot of falls recently if she caves in she'll take in the sea and break through here I'll be careful I've worked mines most of my life but it gives you a funny feeling to be standing under the sea a half mile from shore and protected by 20 feet of rock rock that you're going to be drilling and blasting till there's only maybe 10 feet then you pray that it doesn't cave in until you're out of the way fryer and slim came down when I started to drill holes for explosives as the rock fell away little streams of water fell soaking us it was nasty work all right that's enough for the first blow three maybe four depends now give me the charges yeah price boy oh no water there there's nothing to worry about yet oh you wouldn't slim better get up the tunnel when she goes I was hoping you'd say that I'm off the two men disappeared up the gallery and I was left alone to explode the charge I connected the wires move the exploder as far as it would stretch into the tunnel and then I I pressed the handle the roof still held bit more water trickled in with you still held I went back to the entrance for a cup of coffee before starting again as I approached the cage which served as an elevator to the surface I saw Captain Manning talking with another man this Dave Tanner bloody fool why have all places to come here I told you the guard talked I heard it on the wireless I knew they wouldn't be thinking of looking for me here to be safer safer in broad daylight somebody must have seen you the police will be all over us nobody saw me how do you know price you've got to be through that sea bed by tonight was impossible I can't do it nothing's impossible I can get you out of the country as soon as you've finished the job you don't finish tonight in the police come well what do you know what does that mean well it can't be done as too much work for one man I put friar on the drill with you he knows something about it Tanner and myself will be clear the rock blow I'll try good you Dave stay out of sight down here and keep my father out of here shoot him if you have to you understand all right all right we work like madmen all day drilling blasting we blew the rock three four five times still it wasn't enough the water was coming in fast filling the pit mannequin slim went back for new drills and charges friar and I stayed on the scaffolding I don't like the looks of that rock weaker up here dangerous maybe fetch me a pic I sat on that scaffolding smoke the cigarette water stream down the slimy walls and I waited for friar five minutes past then mr. price mr. manic you've got to stop you've got to make it if you float the gallery and never get it I'm sorry I won't let you there's nothing I can do you better go to the surface mr. manic is not safe here he was gone and I knew he was up to something I wanted to follow but I remembered Captain Manix warning about the tunnels the old man knew them every twist turn if he wanted to get rid of me he could lead me to a maze from which I would never find my way out so I stayed there until the captain and slim came back we're getting ready to go price your father was here what he's up to something how did he get by day I don't know you'll let him go come on hurry we've got to stop in what we do he's going to make sure that we can't let the sea in here he's mad come lucky that's what I'm afraid of he knows that mine like a book come the old man was somewhere in the mine which parallel ours if he knew of a fault in the wall he could allow tons of seawater to rush in breaking down the walls and flooding our tunnel we had to stop him try our join us as we made our way into the adjoining galleries he's got dynamite don't say it captain I should have locked him up long ago what's that down there let's say it looks like a light it is that's him he's working on something the wall father father stop it stay where you are stay there do as he said don't come any closer listen to me don't do it you'll be killed he'll drown us all let's get out say you let me have met him let him have it let him look it's more your match no you're not getting me to you captain lay on the wet tunnel floor blood streaming from a wound where friar had struck him with a big we ran the three of us and the behind was the mad old man to discharge of dynamite we reached the mermaid gallery when it went off we could hear the water pouring down as though from a great height and then the more terrifying sound as the tons of seas swept through the maze of tunnels we ran ran for the elevator which could take us to safety and the surface a hundred feet above and the water followed you could you could hear the roar until it's death wait give me a hand I've twisted my ankle sorry Tom can't suck now I could see that pleasant elevator so close slim and friar were almost there and the gate and it started up no no no wait wait don't leave me use the ladder use the ladder somehow I reached the ladder painfully started up the runs it was a nightmare and the water was the monster that you couldn't escape halfway up I heard them in the cage stop it don't go any further I'm drawing but it won't it won't I kept climbing and the voices faded faded until I heard a gurgling scream and in silence and the water stopped its terrible sound it had found sea level when I got to the surface I saw Dave Tanner he was standing looking down at me with frightened eyes and with him were three men in uniform they were the police I fell into their arms crying I tell you I cried I was so happy I got away from that killer that killer mine under the direction of Norman McDonnell escape has brought you the killer mine by Hammond Innis especially adapted for escape by Anthony Ellis John Danier was starred as Jim featured in the cast were Eileen Erskine Tony Barrett Ray Lawrence Wilms Herbert Jane Avello and Lou Krugman the special music for escape was composed and conducted by Del Castillo next week escape with us to Mexico City and the story of a woman caught up in a terrifying web of murderous intrigue as Patrick Quenton tells it in his exciting story the follower if you'll stick around you'll find a lot of laughs and some deep human interest Bill Goodwin is about to pay his regular Sunday afternoon visit with his dollar a minute program bill will be selling CBS airtime at this modest rate to more people with things in their mind dollar a minute starring Bill Goodwin follows the many on most of these same CBS stations this is Roy Rowan speaking this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system