 The weird circle, in this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out the past stories, strange and weird. Bellkeeper, hold the bell so all may know we are gathered again in the weird circle. Speak again the immortal tale, the ghost's touch. Is it true that when you are very close to death the dead are really able to reach out to protect you? I don't know but Ralph Zandt and I had been married only a few months when he died. We had been so completely and deeply in love that the memory of the happiness we had found is a thing which will always dominate my life. Well, John Stevens, one of Ralph's best friends had invited me to spend some time with him on the coast where he had a large house. He was in the town where I had first met Ralph. Mrs. Stewart, my housekeeper and companion went with me and Paul Weston, another of Ralph's closest friends was also there. But he lived in his own house nearby. I had been enjoying my stay there immensely. John had not been with us much but Mrs. Stewart and I enjoyed the park and the beach. John had been particularly careful about my food, a fact which greatly pleased me. One morning Mrs. Stewart and I had just returned from the beach. We were standing in the great front hall of the house when she brought up something I know had been on both our minds ever since we'd arrived. Mine's quiet in this big old house. Hasn't it been quiet Mrs. Stewart? You know, I can remember when this was one of the liveliest houses in St. Anne's and John was one of the jolliest men alive. Sort of gives me the willies Mrs. Zant. There's something kind of brood in here. No one ever around this part of the house. The servants are all way off in the back there. Has that seemed strange to you? You know, I thought that maybe I was just disappointed, comparing it with the way I remembered it when Ralph and I were here together. Oh no, ma'am. There's something funny here. You mark my words. I didn't want to say nothing, hoping not to worry you. But Mr. John has acted so strange too. He's a lot more thoughtful than he ever was before. And then there's that funny smell. Yes, I've smelled that too. But I thought it was just my imagination. And the strange way Mr. John looks at you after breakfast when he gets up so solemn light and goes up into that room at the head of the stairs. He never comes out again till dinner. So what's in that room anyway Mrs. Zant? Well, I don't know. It's a study of some sort. I guess where John's doing some work. You know, yesterday I got hunting for that smell and I traced it right to that door. I snipped all around there and tried to decide what it was. I heard something in there too. What? Mr. John was in there. I could hear him muttering to himself. No words mind you, just muttering. And every once in a while it sounded as though he was stirring something in the glass. Finally, guess what he says? Oh Mrs. Stewart, I think you've been imagining things. We're letting ourselves get nervous over something that's probably nothing at all. Well, he said... Ah, at last. Now I'm certain this will work. Just then he came toward the door so I ran back to my room and shut the door. Well, I don't think he'd mind if we went and paid him a visit. Then we can see what he's doing. I wonder if he's up there now. Oh, my goodness. That startled me. He's just the front door. Why, it's Mr. Paul. I can see him through the glass and the door. I'll just let him in. Takes these servants here so long to get from way back where they are. Oh, hello Mrs. Stewart. Is Mrs. Zant here? Hello Paul. Come on in. Oh, my Dorothy, what are you standing there like that for? You look worried and as though you're just about to do something about it. Well Paul, as a matter of fact, we were just going up to pay John a visit in his study. There at the head of the stairs. Study? My Dorothy, didn't he tell you what that is? No. That's a laboratory. And he's forbidden everyone to come in there practically on pain of death. Well he hasn't forbidden me in. I'm going to find out what goes on in there. I think there was a little mean of him. Oh Mrs. Zant, do you think he'd better? Certainly I do. And I'm going up now. Well, I might as well get hung for a sheep as a lamb. I'll come along too. Look, come on Mrs. Stewart. Well, you aren't frightened are you Mrs. Stewart? There's no telling what we may find. Well, it can't be too awful. John's no demon anyway. No answer. Maybe he's gone out. I'm going to look and see. Be careful Mrs. Zant. Get out. I told you. Oh Dorothy, come in. I didn't realize it was you. Well, we're all here John. We came up to pay you a little visit. Fine, fine. Come on in but shut the door. Hello Paul. When did you arrive? Just came in. Dorothy said she wanted to come up here. I told her we'd all been forbidden but she insisted. So my curiosity got the better of me too. Well that's fine. I'm really glad you did. This is a good day for me. This is really magnificent. Yes Dorothy. What do you think of my private domain? Well, it's big enough. I'll say that for it. It's a little frightening. Don't smell so good to me either. Mrs. Stewart doesn't understand experiments the way we do, does she Dorothy? No I don't Mr. John. After seeing Mrs. Zant fooling with them dangerous chemicals I don't know as I want to either. What's that Dorothy? You? Well yes Paul. I've been doing some experiments. Just for fun mostly but it does take up my time since I'm alone so much. That's why I think it was so unfair of John not to tell me he had such a wonderful laboratory here. Well Dorothy I've been saving that for later until this experiment is well underway. I've been hoping we might work together very soon. John what are those tables over there? They look like... The dissecting tables? Yes that's what they are. Well of course if you're going in for anatomy on the side I'm... I'm afraid you'll leave me way behind. Well I know my dear quite the contrary. I had hoped you'd follow right along. I'm sure you will with this new experiment. Well you've got to tell us now what this experiment is. You've certainly got our curiosity aroused. Now I'll tell you of course. I have finally developed a new formula. This is the chemical part which will eventually make a subject absolutely impervious to pain. That is I will be able to operate without the use of anesthetics. Perform any sort of operation I wish. How does it work? I feed small doses of a certain formula. A very dangerous one by the way. To the patient in his food. Dangerous because while he's taking them the patient occasionally falls into semi-conscious states in which he is very close to death. Then when a certain stage is reached there is one more dose which the patient must drink straight without any other food. Then the subject becomes unconscious of any pain whatever. But what's the purpose of that? Surely the development of anesthetics. This you see leaves the scientists free to operate unconscious living animals without the stopping of some functions brought on by anesthetics. And this never weighs off. Have you ever tried it? Several times my dear and with success. I am just waiting now to try my greatest experiment of the lot. To use my formula in the most complicated of living organisms. The human. But John you're not going to go on with this are you? Well certainly why should I stop now? Especially when I'm so near the final experiment. Do you mind John if Mrs. Stewart and I go down to the beach? I'm afraid the air in here has made me a little dizzy. That's a good idea Dorothy. We'll come right along to walk with you. By all means go ahead. Do get plenty of fresh air my dear. I hope you'll see more of the laboratory later. Much more. I wondered then what it was in John's look that started me. Or was it something in his voice? A chill of apprehension made me turn and hurry ahead of Mrs. Stewart out into the cool seashore air. I was sure that John was telling me something. Saying something to me alone. And I was afraid even then to let myself believe what I thought it was. Mrs. Stewart and I walked through the little park that lay between the house and the beach. It was a place of many wonderful memories to me. A place where Ralph had first kissed me. We passed the tree where Ralph and I had stood that day Mrs. Stewart bless her. Knew what I felt as we came to the spot. She looked at me. These memories aren't good to spoil your visit now are they Mrs. Zant? You know there's a lot of things a person has to live with all her life. Oh no Mrs. Stewart. My memories of him wouldn't spoil anything. They're too beautiful. Well I just thought in the way you were looking over at that tree the one... You know I'm going over and touch that tree. Just for luck. I feel as though I need some luck right now. Mrs. Zant. Mrs. Zant. Mrs. Zant. What's wrong? What are you looking like that for as though you'd seen a ghost? Oh Mrs. Stewart I... Where are you? Mrs. Zant. Can't you see me here? What are you looking at me as though you've gone blind? Mrs. Zant. Mrs. Zant. Mrs. Zant. No. I'm not blind. I can see everything. The tree, the grass, the whole park. But you've gone. I can't hear you anymore. I can't see you. Mrs. Stewart. Mrs. Stewart. You remember didn't you Dorothy? You're not afraid. Yoy. It seems as though I can feel your hand on mine. But I can't see you. I'm right here beside you darling. Always beside you. You've been gone so long Ralph. I'm always beside you. But I haven't seen you. I haven't been with you before. Dorothy. Dorothy darling. It can't be for long this time either. They're coming soon. They're on their way now. Who my dearest? All of them. Don't forget the others. They'll be here. Don't forget the others. Why can't I see you Ralph? When I want to so much. I can still feel you. It seems though you have your arm around me. Oh Ralph. Oh Ralph. I'm here though. Right here with you my darling. Why didn't you let me know before that we were so near to each other? Because you had to come a long way to me first. And now it's time for you to know it certainly. You already know why. Are you here to protect me? You are. You are. I know it. But from what Ralph? From what? Dorothy. Dorothy. Mrs. Sands. Oh thank heavens Mrs. Sands. You are aren't you Ralph? You will protect me. I'll come back to see you here Ralph. I'll come back. Ralph! Dorothy it's alright. Dorothy can't you hear me? Can't you see me? Oh it's you. Yes Dorothy. Do you feel alright? Mrs. Stewart. Oh Mrs. Sands. I ran in front of Mr. Paul as fast as I could. You stood there looking straight at me and you wouldn't answer me. You didn't even see me when I put my hand up in front of your face. Oh you gave me an awful fright. Mrs. Stewart came running for us. She said you seem to have gone into a trance. I came as soon as I could. She's alright now isn't she? Yes now she is. But it certainly is strange. Not strange at all. In fact rather to be expected. Why Mr. John? Mrs. Zandt hasn't ever had anything like that before. You didn't even see how she was. Mr. Paul here can tell you. Why expected John? Oh perhaps the air in the laboratory upset her. Perhaps something she ate. Who knows. The shock of Ralph's passing away hasn't really left her yet has it my dear. I think we're imagining things. I'm afraid that perhaps the food my cook has been serving has been a bit rich these past few days. I spoke to her about it this morning. You alright now Mrs. Zandt? Oh quite alright thank you. I think we'd better go down to the beach. I'll come along with you Dorothy. If you'll excuse me I must get back to the laboratory. My dog has been acting rather strangely in the last few minutes. Something very interesting may develop. Will you excuse me? Certainly John. We'll be back shortly. Don't worry dinner won't be ready for a while and that's all you need to be back for. I'll see you later. Dorothy I don't like this at all. Are you afraid of something Paul? Mr. Paul means this funny spell you just had and I agreed with him. It was very strange but it was very wonderful. Tell me Dorothy you know something about chemistry. Would it be possible for John actually to do what he says he has done? Well there are a great many strange things that can be done with chemistry Paul. And I believe yes that a mind bent on such an insane purpose could probably develop such a combination. But wouldn't it be very dangerous? You're thinking of that spell I just had in connection with it aren't you? Well he did say some strange things there in the laboratory. And you may be very right too Paul in suspecting him. I may already have been... Dorothy! Oh Mrs. Zandt no please let's go home today. But Dorothy if you think... No Paul. Something happened when I was standing under that tree. I talked to Ralph and I promised to go back to talk to him again tomorrow. You see I have to stay here now because I must talk to him again. It isn't possible. I may be in great danger Paul. Even this minute here with you on this sunny beach I may be very near to death. But I want to see whether what I believe is true. Because perhaps I am so close to death that the spirit of the man who loves me can reach across the narrow space that divides us and protect me. If that is so I will have discovered more than a thousand insane experiments can prove. You see I have to stay now. But Dorothy hasn't he protected you already? Hasn't he warned you? No Paul. He's waiting for something. Something else. I think I know what. Didn't he say? No but there will be more. He told me to come back. He wouldn't have done that if there weren't more would he? Shall I have the main dish brought in? Are you both ready? I think you'll find the dinner very good tonight. Since I spoke to the cook this morning she... Oh here it is now. Are you sure you feel well enough to eat Dorothy? Yes thank you Paul. I feel very well now. The afternoon must... Oh Rogers. I believe you've mixed the plates. That one is for Mrs. Zant. That's all right John. I don't believe I'll have much dinner anyway. I'm not very hungry. Give Dorothy mine. But I insist. Dorothy's is really quite special. I... Is something wrong my dear? Oh I... No no it was nothing. But John does it really matter that much? Perhaps John has had something special prepared for me Paul. That's very nice of him. And it will be quite all right. Thank you Dorothy. We scientists seem to understand each other don't we? Dorothy. Dorothy. It's all right Paul. This dinner and going to bed early tonight will fix Dorothy up splendidly Paul. Wait and see. Suddenly I had felt Ralph close to me again. He gave me a new confidence. A knowledge that whatever happened now I was protected. I tasted nothing strange about the food. But I hadn't noticed anything in the meals before either. Ralph was waiting I was sure now until John became bold enough to spell his own destruction. The next afternoon nothing could have kept me in the house. John had been in the laboratory all morning. And when I looked in I noticed through the shutter that one of the operating tables was covered with clean white sheets. I went quickly out to the tree where I had been with Ralph the day before. It seemed a long time before I again felt that strange numb feeling as though my life had almost left my body. What? Dorothy my darling you are here under our tree. How could I help coming Ralph when you promised that we'd be together again today. I didn't promise my dear I couldn't promise that much but remember my darling I am always near you. Ralph. Ralph where are you? Look. The grass is all beginning to burn turn brown. Our tree is withering. Ralph. What was that? That great black mass coming toward me. John where did you come from? I can only see your face staring at me out of that awful darkness. It's all right isn't it? Who said so last night? That's true. I don't know anything now. Where's Ralph? Oh John why are you frightening me this way? Ralph! Ralph! Now aren't you Dorothy? It's one of those spells again Mrs. Zand I'm frightened. Mrs. Stewart and I came out to walk with you Dorothy. We found you here again just standing here not seeing anything. I'm gonna call Mr. Paul. I don't like this. It frightens me. Mr. Paul I don't know what to do. Shall we go back to the house Dorothy? You'll feel better in a minute. No John let's just wait here a minute. Mrs. Stewart will be back with Paul. But everything is ready at the house. I have some work waiting. But John I I let darkness all around you. I can't see anything but your face again. You will follow me back to the house. Yes John of course I'll come with you. Everything hears Brown and burnt Park has grown so well it's horrible here now. Look at those birds over there. They're such big black birds and they're falling dropping right into the sea. What's the matter with them John? Why don't they come up again? Don't be afraid of them Dorothy. Just come with me one step. And look those awful things. Snakes huge one and they're not moving. John they're dead. Nothing here ever stays alive anymore. It's open and it's all dark in there. So dark I can't even see your face anymore. John can't find anything. It isn't real. I've lost something I can't remember. Even John has gone away now and there isn't any light Brown. Near me. I can feel you here now. I'm not alone. It's near now. It's almost time my darling. Dear, let me hold your hand. I can feel your hands are mine Ralph. But I still can't see you. It's so dark in here. Your hand is helping me along. Hold me tight. It's the laboratory Ralph. This horrible evil smelling laboratory. Ralph I'm afraid. We're all right together won't we? I'm so terribly thirsty. That heat. The park is so hot. It's all burned up. I'm thirsty. Not afraid now Ralph. I'm thirsty. Why can't I have a drink? It'll be all right. Lord what's got him? He's choking to death. Something strangling him. John. He's dead. He was just holding that glass to your lips Dorothy when we came in and suddenly it shook out of his hand as though someone had grabbed hold of his wrist. A powerful hand. It was like if a ghost had reached out and knocked that glass out of his hand. Someone did Paul. Ralph. But no one was here. It couldn't have been. Oh Mrs. Sand. I was protected. I knew I would be. Ralph was able to reach across and save me. I know it. One made it of the past. We have brought you The Ghost's Touch. Bell Keeper. Pull the bell.