 Welcome, Weirdos! I'm Darren Marlar and this is Retro Radio, old-time radio in the dark, presented by Weird Darkness. Each week I bring you a show from the golden age of radio, but still in the genre of Weird Darkness. I'll have stories of the macabre and horror, mysteries and crime, and even some dark science fiction. If you're new here, welcome to the show and be sure to subscribe or follow the podcast so you don't miss future episodes. And if you're already a member of the Spiridoh family, please take a moment and invite someone else to listen in with you. Spreading the word about the show helps it to grow. If you're here because you're already a fan of nostalgic audio and print, you'll want to email WeirdDarkness at RadioArchives.com. When you do that, you'll get an instant reply with links to download full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp e-books and old-time radio shows for free. That's WeirdDarkness at RadioArchives.com. Coming up, it's an episode from Creeps by Night. Creeps by Night is a rare horror series hosted by the spooky great man of horror himself, Boris Karloff in Los Angeles, and the anonymous and equally spooky Dr. X on the East Coast. Opening with the dark and ominous organ music, the show occasionally starred horror darling Peter Laurie along with Bella Legosi, Raymond Massey and Basil Rathbone. But it was Karloff who regular listeners expected to hear as hosts to the proceedings. It was about the only part of the show that was predictable. Some episodes featured typical horror gimmicks but with a twist ending that provided a new dimension to an otherwise common theme. As Karloff himself said, there is no greater mystery than the mystery of the mind. True to his word, many of the shows dealt with psychological rather than literal horror. The print ads for this series certainly go all out on the hyperbole. One reads, "...Warning. Persons suffering from heart trouble and those whose blood as a tendency to curdle and hair to uncurl under the stress of great excitement are urged not to listen. The station disclaims all responsibility for the health of those who insist on hearing this thriller." Well, at least you can't say you weren't warned. Creeps by Night promised all this and more. They told listeners to expect Karloff each week along with other well-known Hollywood stars. They also promised new, original stories that were going to be written by the leading writers in the industry. However, the Blue Network didn't advertise properly and started failing to deliver on its goals. Neither the upcoming stories nor the upcoming stars were advertised in advance. To make matters worse, the writers didn't receive any on-air credit either. Karloff stopped hosting after the twelfth episode and the unknown Dr. X hosted the final four episodes, voiced by at least two different people. It all unraveled from there. Yet the surviving episodes are quite solid and make fans regret the loss of such a promising series. It's a sober reminder that success in the entertainment business takes more than good scripts and good actors. It also takes good promotion and a good deal of luck. Tonight, it's the story The Hunt. What kind of creature rips out the throat of its prey? Could it be a werewolf? Now, bolt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights and come with me into the Weird Darkness as we listen to Creeps by Night, originally broadcast May 9th, 1944 with The Hunt. How do you do? This is Boris Karloff joining with you once again for another exploration into the unknown darkness of the human life. Tonight are story illustrates in terrifying terms the oft-repeated theme of this program. There is no mystery greater than the mystery of the minds. It is for you to decide whether these weird and ghastly happenings were a figment of man's imagination or a tragic reality beyond man's understanding. Creeps by Night presents Boris Karloff as Loomis Horton in The Hunt. As seen as the Horton farm, 50 acres of rich grazing pasture almost on the edge of a lutean of bayous, a legendary swamp land that for centuries was the spawning grounds of black magic and voodoo. The night is warm and dark, with heavy silence broken only by the hum of insects, the chirping of crickets, and the occasional deep-throated croak of a bullfrog off in the swamp. Suddenly, the shadowed outline of a human figure appeared at the edge of a scientist's grove behind the weather-decent Horton house, and a soft, chiseled stick low rites the still night air, moment there is no response. Then a door up a little of the house opens quietly, and a girl crosses to the scientist's grove, her eyes stretching the darkness. Yeah? Right here to it. If you shouldn't have come, you didn't want a bit of black news tonight. I'll gotta go right back in. You'll kill me if you find me here. Hey, you won't kill nobody. I'm getting fed up with him ruining your life, Julie. Got a mind to tell him a thing or two. It won't do any good to you. What rights you got? Keeping it from getting some fun out of him. That's what I want to know. He's my brother. Dad don't give him no right to pin you up. You only want to be stinking sheep. Yeah, please, not so loud. You'll hear ya. I don't much care if he does. Please, sir. I'll be the one to suffer. Oh, I'm sorry, Julie. It's gonna make me mad clean through when I think of him treating me the way he does. I want to marry you, Julie, and take you away from here. There's stories going around the village. What do you mean, Dad? I don't much say it, Julie, but... we're both here talking about your brother, Loomis. Talking? I don't understand. Well, but deeply, and Bill Mason comes over here night for a nice hunt and coons. I saw Loomis out in the east pasture taking a grave. A grave? Yeah. She's burying something. You know what it was, Julie? Got any idea? No. I didn't care. But... But what? Oh, I shouldn't be telling you this. Yes. It won't go no further, Julie. Comment. Hope to die. Well, I... I heard Loomis talking with a higher man. I didn't say something comes out of the swamp at night. Out of the swamp? Yes. But I don't know what it is. But coming out Loomis hardly never goes without a shotgun. Sound like voodoo to me, Julie. I've got to take you away from here. It ain't healthy. Well, you can't, dear. Not till I'm 18. Not for two months yet. How am I going to sit around for two months thinking about you shut up in a house with that crazy man? You've got no right to say that, yes. I've got every right. I was raised at night. There in Lord knows what. I'm talking about things coming out of the swamp. So to say something to him about all this... You can say it right now. Oh. There he is, Mr. Horton. Get back into the house, Julie. Hold on a minute, Mr. Horton. Get into the house. I'm going, Loomis. Bye. Julie, wait. Let her go. You've got no right to treat her like you do. I've got a right to do as I please. She's my sister and she's underage. Now get off my land and don't come back. If I catch you here again, I'll horse with you. I don't scare easy, Mr. Horton. No. Perhaps I got something in the house that may change your mind. I'll give you five minutes to get off my land. I'll leave one of good and ready and not the fourth. I'm going back indoors for a shotgun. And if you're still here when I come out again, you'll get a load of buckshot. Remember that. Dirty lowdown skunk. Just let me catch him once off his own land. Just once. I'll beat his ugly head off. You know, Michael, whoa, come on. Come closer. I'm thinking through the tanker's door. I wonder what it is. I'm afraid there's not much I can tell you, Professor Taylor, except that it happened five weeks ago. State police moved in on the case right after the boy's body was found. Frankly, we didn't get very far until an unsolved mystery. I see. You don't know, of course, why I'm here, Sergeant. Well, I know. We had a letter from the State University saying you were coming down to do some research on the case. Yes, yes, exactly. Now, as I understand it, Sergeant, the boy's throat was considerably lacerated. It wasn't that. It wasn't any throat left. You were convinced it was an animal. What else could it be? No human could let the throat open like that. Were there any cracks? No, the ground was pretty hard. And what's thought this cold was, our blood hadn't couldn't pick up a trace of scent. No animal scent, anyhow. How about human? Well, I mean, the Hortons and the hired man Andrew, they don't count. They can have them on Horton lamps and match them that you'd expect. Yes, yes, yes, of course. Tell me, this Horton you mentioned, a room in Horton's name, does he keep a dog, a savage dog? No, there's not one on the place. He investigated the dog game, there's no one like that in the whole parish. Curious? Very curious. Where is the Horton farm located, Sergeant? About seven miles at a time, County Road. Did the boy live or work there? No, no, according to Horton's story, Jeff Tuttle was crawling on young Julie. She's Horton's sister. Jeff left about 9.30, and a few minutes later, Horton heard him screaming for help. Horton ran out the back of the house and found Jeff at the edge of a surface grove. Down there. I'd like a little talk with this Horton, Sergeant. I don't know, he's a queer duck, doesn't take much of strangers, and doesn't take much to anybody, as a matter of fact. Really? Well, he puts in most of his time looking after his farm and his sheep. He keeps one hired man, between two of them, he managed pretty well. Then there's his young sister, the girl Jeff Tuttle was crawling on. He doesn't let her out of his sight. He's pretty much cooped up in the house. Nice looking girl, too. Would it be possible to drive out to the Horton farm tonight, Sergeant? I don't see... 10 minutes to 8. He's dark by the time we get there. You're not afraid of the dark, are you? I'm not afraid of anything I can see. Let's go. Is it much farther, Sergeant? Well, by the mile. Look at that. Look at what? There, head across the road. Is that a dog? It's a griff. Speed up, Sergeant. Hurry up before it's gone. Look how nice, gleaming out headlights. A yellow fire. That's the dog it's the biggest one I ever saw. I'm afraid it's no dog, Sergeant. Quick, swing to the left. Keep your lights on it. Ah, you notice anything? Nothing around. Heading for the Sabbath Grove. Yes, but notice the color. That peculiar gray. Gone. And the flag pointed is the way it moved. Doesn't it remind you of a wolf? Let's go after this. No, no, no. Wait, Sergeant. No use. Not in this darkness. We never find it in that thick grove. Ah, just right. You really think it was a wolf? I said it reminded me of one. Ah, we don't. We don't have wolves in this section, perv. No, in a sense. I know. Sergeant, I think it's time I told you the kind of research I intend doing. Do you know what lycanthropy is? No, I can't say I do. Well, it's a form of madness, a disease of the mind. Those who are afflicted with it can imagine they've turned into wild animals. They develop a taste for blood and often commit violence when the spasm ceases them. Once the seizure is over, they return to normalcy with no knowledge of what occurred. It's pretty horrible. Yes, it is horrible. You understand there's no physical change except the deepening of the voice. As far as we know, well, it is as far as you know. Some authorities believe that disease may be so deeply rooted in certain human beings that when the spasm ceases them, their actual physical appearance is altered. They take on the form as well as the habits of wild beasts. They are called werewolves, men who turn into wolves. Well, what's the matter, Sergeant? Why did you jump? It just kind of hit me. Bloodhound's not finding any animal scent, and that great thing. We just saw one across the room. We mustn't beat the conclusions, Sergeant. No true werewolf has ever been found, although there are many alleged eye-witness accounts claiming that such creatures have been seen, particularly in the Balkan countries of Europe. That's why, though, we have no positive scientific proof that werewolves really exist. Uh-huh. Hope they don't. Sure do I, Sergeant. Mind about me, I hope so. That's the case of this young man whose throat was torn out who presents some aspects I'd like to investigate. And, again, to see what you're thinking about, I suggest we drive on to the Horton farm, Sergeant. It doesn't seem to be anyone home. The light upstairs has been apparent. Something goes out at night. How old a man would you say he is? Well, 45, 6. Somebody's coming. Yes. Who is it? Sergeant Moran. I believe. Dr. Robert. Sergeant Robert. Don't be scared when you see him, Professor. He's not too pretty to look at. That is certainly, Mr. Horton, but... What do you want? This is Professor Taylor, the State University. Uh, please, to meet you, Mr. Horton. Yes. What is it? May we come in? I'll just go into bed. We'll be just a few minutes after you, sir. Thank you. But Taylor came down from the university to do a little investigating on Jeff Settlecase, Mr. Horton. Like to ask you a few questions. Sick and tired of answering questions. I'll tell you all I know. What more do you want? You can explain it better than I can, Professor. Go ahead. Yes, of course. Well, you see, Mr. Horton, my investigation is purely scientific. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the police now. I'm nearly trying to determine whether the brutal attack on a young man was made by a human or an animal. Or perhaps the combination of both. I don't know what you're talking about. Have you heard of werewolves, haven't you, Mr. Horton? No, and I'm not interested. I told you I've had enough of questions. Hasn't a man a right to a little privacy? Well, there's no need to get so about it, Horton. I don't like being questioned. I don't like to have people barging in on me at all hours of the night. This is my house, and I go to live in it the way I see fit, which means without uninvited visitors. Of course, Mr. Horton. Isn't my intention... And another thing. I own the property from the county road to the bayou and north to church till to his pasture. If you took the time to notice, the land's posted. Now, this is a warning. The next person, man, woman, or child who set foot on my land, is going to get a load of buckshot. Is that clear? You're in bad humor tonight, Horton. Never mind my bad humor. Get out, both of you. Get out and stay out. Lois, what's the matter? Why are you shouting? Julie! What are you doing in the kitchen? Didn't I tell you to stay up in your room? Lois, listen. Don't tell you dare come down that weird stairway when my back's turned. I just wanted to find out if you'd asked Andrew about my land. How many were killed? Yes, you're wrong. Lois, oh, and Lois, don't be angry. I, uh... Brazil, that was your sister, Mr. Horton. Lovely girl. Good night, gentlemen. Get off my property and don't come back unless you're invited. I'm sorry, Professor. Looks like we're being asked to leave. It's quite all right, sir. Thank you anyway, Mr. Horton. Perhaps some other evening you'll grant me a few minutes of your time. Now, you know what sort of a job we had with him. I must say he isn't very sociable. Yeah, lots of steps. They're not too solid, Julie. His sister doesn't resemble him in the meet. Well, he's a lot of pretty. Do you hear how he screamed at us? Yes. Poor coyote. Might as well head back to town, I guess. Horton didn't rise to your bait when you mentioned werewolves. Looks like a hunt will be the next best thing. A hunt, Sergeant? Yes. You'd have bunch of men together and beat the sappers grows for that animal we saw crossing the road. Might even risk going into the swamp. Wolves or whatever it is, I won't be satisfied unless killed. I'm afraid I feel the same way, Sergeant. But before you organize a hunt, I wonder if it's safe to do a little snooping around here first. What do you mean? Something the girls had disturbed me. Something about lambs being killed. That's all right. She did say she wanted to know if Horton hired men and told them how many of them handled her. Yes, and that may be significant. Where will they supposedly found the slaughtering sheep? Do you think we might talk with a hired man? Can't his eyes open the barn. He's got a room there built out of a horse stork. You can take a look. It might be a good idea. It's over this way. You can eye out for Horton. We make some gunning for it. I don't trust him. And it wouldn't be too concerned. Men who rant and roar rarely days away in a pet. Hold up. Somebody's hiding behind that bush on your left. All right. Come up with your hands up or I'll shoot. Want your sergeant? I'll find a flashlight on the pet. Yes, sir. Man. Hired man. I ain't doing nothing. Oh, this guy ain't. Why were you hiding behind that bush? I got scared. I heard voices in the gravel. What were you doing out here? Bidding the sheep in the lambs. What was that? It's one of your buried sheep in the lambs. Well, these got to be. Mr. Horton said so. They run afoul of the critter. What critter? Only the Lord knows. We've got strange goons on round here. Modest strange. Always said put too close to the bayou. Can't help it. Them swamps is full of things. Where are your buried sheep, Andrew? Right over there. Put them in the drug garden, Mr. Horton said. Good. Let's have a look at them, sergeant. All right. See, there they are. Four Jews and two of them are Julie's baby lambs. All with their throats torn out. Yeah. It's the critter from the swamps. Same one got Jeff Teller. When did this happen, Andrew? The lambs got towed the night before last. We lost three Jews on Sunday and one last night. Has this ever happened before? It didn't go on in most two years. It's not regularly though. One month ago by and the critter don't show up. It took a shot at him once it did. When was this? Last spring. Seen him behind the pump house. Right, that scared me half to death. The way his eyes glowed like a swamp fire. Wasn't time to draw no beads. Missed him again. What did he look like, Andrew? Quick tales. Too dark. All I've seen was his eyes glowing yellow. Might have been a sheep killin' collar though. One of them wild ones. Very much doubted. You're thinking of what we saw on the road tonight, a professor? That animal or whatever it was. Yes. If it was an animal. Why'd you say that? Let's look at these dead sheep. See what I'm placing my lights in their back legs there? An ordinary animal would have nipped their legs on if they're rumps. There's not a mark on them except that they're throats. Somebody's come and grab his crunching. Must be Horton. That ground-the-bush professor who's one of the catchers here. Not anything, Andrew. Passed right on by the bush. How long is it going to take you to get those carcasses, Betty? All night? It's too easy in the dark. So you bet it was a lantern. I told you. No lights. Hand me the other space. I'll help you. Start shoveling. I've got machines to be put into these undergrounds. How many times must I tell you it isn't good to meet foists? Don't look, boys. I say it is. I'm warning you. Shut your mouth about it. You hear that, Sergeant? Yes. I'm going to try to speak back at the house and talk to the girls. You better come with me. All right. Keep down in front of the path. But stay off the gravel. I've got a hunch you're going to uncover something tonight. Yes. Perhaps more than we realize. No. No, I'm afraid. If I say anything, you'll kill me. You'd better go. Don't let him find you here. Now, don't worry about us, Julie. We want to help you. Why does your brother keep you locked in the house? He said it's for my own good. But that's not true. I know why he does it. Why? There's something going on. Something he doesn't want me to see. Something that doesn't feel right. What do you mean, Miss Harden? I can't explain it, but I'm sure he murdered Jeff. I'm sure of it. Yeah, there, there. What makes you so sure, Julie? That night, the night Jeff was killed. Yes. Go on. He sent me into the house. He was out there alone with Jeff. It was dark. It's dark. Go ahead, Julie. I heard that voice. My brother was shot in the chest. He'd tell him if he didn't get off the property. I think we'd better get her out of there, Sergeant. No, no. No, I can't go. I can't. Why not, Julie? He'll follow me. He'll do to me what he did to Jeff. Sergeant, someone's coming. I can't get her out of the back way. Take her to the car and wait for me there. You know where it's back. The county road right at the entrance to the farm. Come right here. No. No, please. There's nothing to be afraid of. Everything's going to be all right. She's gone, Harden. What are you doing here? I want to talk to you. Where's my sister? What have you done with her? I told you she's gone. Where is she? Answer me. Where is she? You don't have to worry. She's safe. Safe? Help me where she is. She's with Professor Taylor. We're going to take her away from here. We're all going to take her away. We're all going to take her away. Over my dead body. Put the things down. You've got to wake up. There are good things that happen. Sergeant. Please. Please wake up. I hate it. I hate it, I tell you. I hate the creeper. It's come from the swamp again. What happened? Sergeant, it's me, Andrew. We've got to go after it. After what? The creeper. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. The howl them but burp. Where? Where did you hear? Out near the county road. Good job. Open up. Hurry. Sure, Gordon came this way, Andrew. Yep. I've seen him running crazy like. Then I hear the howl them like a wolf howl it was. Holy worst. Never hit. Nothing scared me so. And then I hear the howl them like a wolf howl it was. Holy worst. Never hit. Nothing scared me so. It's frozen my burp. worry there's the gate open bring your life yeah that's a killer line in the road what we're spending over covered with blood what you don't ever so bleeding that's high that's your doctor no no wait wait across the road in the bushes near this cypress grove shoot into the brush don't let it get away come on Andrew we'll take a look come it can't do the haze yes come on back all he thought it off he had nothing to do with it no but he knew all the time it known for years what did you know thanks for listening to this week's retro radio old-time radio in the dark if you haven't done so yet be sure to subscribe or follow the podcast so you don't miss future episodes and if you like the show please share it with someone you know who also loves old-time radio and pulp audio if you want to hear even more drop an email to weird darkness at radio archives dot com and get an instant reply with links to download full-length pulp audio books pulp e-books and old-time radio shows absolutely free that's weird darkness at radio archives dot com I'm Darren Marlar I'll see you next time for retro radio old-time radio in the dark