 tired of the every day grind ever dream of a life of romantic adventure want to get away from it all we offer you escape escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure you are in the suffocating depths of a jungle listening to the words of your companion while the native people seemingly friendly and quiet are awaiting the moment to strike which when they do will mean a fate from which there is no escape so listen now as escape brings you Somerset mom's exciting story the outstation the new assistant Alan Cooper arrived in the afternoon mr. Warburton the resident of the government control station went down to the river landing stage to meet him the guard eight little Borneo Dyak soldiers put to attention as he passed and he noted with satisfaction that their bearing was martial their uniforms neat and clean and their guns shining mr. Warburton was a rather small and precise man he wore a topi spotless shirt and ducks and white shoes and held under his arm a gold-headed Malacca cane which had been given to him by the Sultan of Parac as a pro who appeared around the bend in the river he felt a slight misgiving cause no doubt by the arrival of another white man he was accustomed to loneliness and his own way of life still he smiled affably as the boat landed and held out his hand how do you do mr. Cooper I presume that's right were you expecting anyone else my name is Warburton I'll show you to your quarters the buys will bring your kit along feels good to walk again I must cramp to the devil from that little scout so sorry oh by the way I bought your mail lots of newspapers in it can't be worth much I shouldn't imagine they must be at least six months old old news is very fresh to me here mr. Cooper it's the only news I get from London those my digs over there those are your quarters mr. Cooper I've had it made as habitable as I could but of course no one has lived in it for a good many years it'll do me all right I hope so I dare say you'll want to have a bath and a change I should be very pleased if you'll dine with me tonight we'll eight o'clock suit you any old time will do for me yes one of my boys is inside he'll take care of you until you get your own boy right mr. Warburton left the new man in his house and returned to his own residence the impression which Alan Cooper had given him was not very favorable Cooper seemed to be about 30 he was fairly tall and rather heavy and billed and was dressed in khaki shorts and shirt but they were shabby and soiled and his battered topi hadn't been clean for weeks these things mr. Warburton noticed but then being a fair man he reflected well after all he has spent the last 48 hours coming up river in the prahu we'll see what he looks like when he comes into dinner a little later mr. Warburton went down to the barhouse and sluiced himself with cold water and after that he carefully dressed and he dressed as he did every night boil shirt high-collar silk socks and patent leather shoes the only concession he made to the climate was to wear a white dinner jacket then mr. Warburton went into the sitting room to await his guest come on Cooper oh you're all dressed up I didn't know you're gonna do that I very nearly put on a sarong oh it doesn't matter at all I dare say your boys hadn't finished unpacking you needn't have bothered to dress on my account you know I didn't mr. Cooper I always dress for dinner even when you're alone especially when I'm alone well mr. Warburton saw a twinkle of amusement in Cooper's eyes and he flushed an angry red he resented the man's attitude and he resented the same dirty khaki shorts and shirt augmented by a ragged jacket still he knew that he was going to have to get on with the fellow and as I sat at dinner he amplified his theories on dinner dress when I lived in London mr. Cooper I moved in circles in which it was as much unix centricity not to dress for dinner every night as not to have a bath every morning when I came to Borneo I saw no reason to discontinue so good a habit well all the way you look at it I suppose but if you expect me to put on fancy dressing the seat I'm afraid you'll be disappointed fine champagne you got here you do yourself like this every day I haven't noticed that the dinner is any different from usual oh by the way while you were in Kuala Selor did you meet a lad called Hennelly he's come out recently I believe Hennelly oh yes in the police I remember nasty little swine oh I should hardly have expected him to be that his uncle is my friend Lord Baraklu I had a letter some time ago from him asking me to look out for Hennelly I heard he was related to somebody or other it passed a chutney will you that's how he got the job then he's been to eat the Knox but he doesn't let you forget it all his family have been to those schools for generations I should have expected him to take it as a matter of course I found him a bloody boring a snob to what school did you go mr. Cooper I was born in Barbados and educated there too oh I see that's right and in the war I didn't get a commission either because I didn't have influence and I hadn't gone to public school the things are changing mr. Warburton in England things are changing the old-school ties going down the drain perhaps you haven't heard things are changing mr. Warburton mr. Warburton was a snob he'd endured financial ruin in England found a haven for his memories in Borneo and now he was faced with a reminder of the outside world a common world that he rather despised the breach between the two men was not long in coming it started a week after Cooper had arrived I see Cooper what's up I've talked to my head boy about finding you servants and he recommends his nephew as head boy for you he's waiting outside would you like to see him I don't mind Abbas to Han this is a to an Cooper Abbas you will work for him to an Cooper it is my honor you'll have to look sharp with me Milette no stealing mind your peas and queues and we'll get along right will he do I dare say he's no more of a scoundrel than any of the rest of them cut along Abbas you're hired take care of finding a cook and the others you're lucky to get a boy like that he belongs to a very good family doesn't matter a blast to me if he's got blue blood in his veins or not just as long as he brings me a drink when I want it you have a lot to learn about the mille natives mr. Cooper you do well to study and understand them I was born in Barbados and I was in Africa during the war to me and natives and native and don't worry I can handle them we were talking of me ladies well what's the odds you're very ignorant mr. Cooper there was another day not long after that two men had been up the river they were on their way back in the problem Cooper was becoming increasingly aware of Warbiton's disapproval and because he was a colonial and had lived little in England had a peculiar dislike of the English he resented especially the public school boy since he feared to be patronized and he felt that offensiveness was the best defense against it well at any rate the war has done one good thing it smashed up the power of the aristocracy this war really put the lid on it it's a pity an era of greatness lost here a bloody good job too in my opinion my poor Cooper what can you know of the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome that's a lot of rot I don't give a row of pins for a Lord I tell you what's wrong with England is snobbishness and if there's anything gets my goat it's a snob particularly a snob who's gone broke and still likes to kick his weight about lots of them like that out here in Malaya have you noticed Warburton Warburton knew that Cooper was referring to him a man's life in open history in the colonial service and Cooper must have heard about his failure before he'd come up river the residents hands trembled and from that moment on he saw to it that they lived apart and except for work spoke little to each other it was not until Cooper had been on the station for a couple of months at an incident happened which turned Mr. Warburton's dislike into bitter hatred it was a small petty thing but it was the beginning of the end an ending that was to mean a terrible and a lonely death we will return to escape in just a moment but first last year the smoke of great forest fires blotted out the sun over vast regions such tragedy of human loss and property loss must not be repeated in 1953 by working together we can eliminate nine forest fires out of ten and now back to escape mr. Warburton was obliged to go up country on a tour of inspection and he left the station in Cooper's charge in spite of the tension which existed between them he knew that the assistant was a capable man although he had no sympathy for the natives it was hard and a bully and the may lays disliked and feared him anyway mr. Warburton was gone for three weeks and when he returned Cooper came to his house to make a report the resident was in his sitting room and the head boys stood quietly at his side mr. Warburton was white with anger my boy tells me that you were the one who opened my newspapers Cooper newspapers oh well while you were gone the mail came and I wanted to read about the war for Hampton murder so I borrowed your time I knew you wouldn't mind but I do mind I mind very much sorry I couldn't wait until you came back I wonder you didn't open my mail as well that's not the same thing there's nothing private in a newspaper I very much object to anyone reading my paper before me I think it's extremely impertinent of you they're all mixed up I read them every morning at breakfast in the order of their issue we can easily put them in order only take a sec don't touch them look here aren't you being a bit childish making such a fuss about a little thing like that how dare you speak to me like that oh laser yes oh what is it while you have been away there has been trouble oh Tom Cooper servants they have left him all but my nephew Abbas and he too wishes to go he says it is not a good house and wants to do as the others have done no he must stay with one Cooper the one must have servants have those who went replaced no to one no one will go then find the boys who ran away and tell them that I expect them to be back in one Cooper's house at dawn tomorrow they say they will not go to on my order I will find them to one the next morning in the office the two men met again there was no word at the newspaper incident and after Cooper had given his complete report war button dismissed him I I don't think there's anything else thank you all right oh Cooper I understand you've been having trouble with your boys no trouble they had the cheek to run off probably trying to blackmail me for more money but they've all come back to you again what do you mean by that this morning they were all back on their jobs I suppose they decided I wasn't as big a by no means they came back on my express order I should be obliged if you wouldn't interfere with my private concerns they are not your private concerns when your servants run away it makes you ridiculous you are perfectly free to make a fool of yourself but I cannot allow you to be made a fool of that'll do you may go may I now shall I tell you what I did as soon as I saw them back I called the old bloody Lord in and gave them the sack I gave them 10 minutes to get out of the compound I think you behave very foolishly good masters make good servants anything else you want to teach me I should like to teach you manners but I haven't the time I shall have to see that you get new servants don't trouble I'll get them myself allow me to say Cooper that no one will come except at my order would you like me to give it no good that's the way the matter stood only our bus remained with Cooper and he opposing his master with sullen resistance not doing more than he chose the days the weeks went on and the heat became terrible Mr. Warburton from time to time heard vague complaints from the natives concerning Cooper's harsh treatment but when he looked into what he thought were specific cases all he could say was that Cooper had shown severity where my illness would not be misplaced he had done nothing for which he could be taken to task and Mr. Warburton found himself waiting for an opportunity to do that one day it came a half a dozen civil prisoners were engaged in repairing a road on the station until their sentence was up their hours of labor were from seven in the morning until four Mr. Warburton was taking a stroll at dusk he saw the prisoners still at work to call the order over why are these men still at work it's past six o'clock water I know one but it was a twang Cooper who gave the order when did he do that yesterday one they are now to work until seven that is contrary to regulations twang Cooper gave the order one mr. Cooper is under my orders water the prisoners are to finish their work at four o'clock and are then to be returned to the jail there will be no more work for them after that time do you understand and the next afternoon Cooper was astounded to see the prisoners strolling back to the jail it was five o'clock he learned that the residents new instructions from the warden with a terrible fury is strode quickly to mr. Warburton's house I want to know what the devil you mean by countermeining my orders that the prisoners would have worked until dusk out of your mind you can't be so ignorant that you don't know how to address your official superior that's a lot of muck you've no right to interfere the prisoners are my job I want to know what the devil you did it everyone in the place will know and you made a bloody fool of me you had no power to give the order you did I haven't made half the fool of you as you have yourself I know your kind you disliked me for the minute I got here you've tried to make the job impossible for me because I wouldn't lick your boots for you because I wouldn't flatter you are wrong Cooper I thought you were a cad but I was perfectly satisfied with the way you did your work a carry fine old English word cad I'd rather be that than a snob you you're a ragdy little snob anyone who hasn't been to eat nor Oxford is a cad down in Kuala Selur they laugh at you you're a laughing stock of old country with your fine ways and your silly rock talk of Lord this and lady that they told me all about you and I tell you this I'd rather be the cad you think I am to the dirty snob I know you are if you don't get out of my house this minute I'm going to knock you down go on I'd like to see you hit me I'd like it you want me to say it again snob snob rotten don't be a fool I'm not a gentleman I know how to use my hands I could knock you through the wall if I wanted but you're smaller than me and it wouldn't be sporting besides you get your pretty white suit or wrinkled it was a few days later when war buttons head boy came to him and spoke of his nephew Abbas is one Cooper leaving one no he's staying there will be a misfortune what do you mean by that one Cooper is not behaving rightly with Abbas he holds back his wages so that he may not run away he has paid him nothing for two months I tell Abbas to be patient but he is angry he he will not listen to me if he don't continues to use him ill there will be a misfortune you did the right thing to tell me this I shall attend to it did you wish to see me I understand that you have held back Abbas's wages I consider that a most arbitrary proceeding a lad wishes to leave you and I don't blame him I must insist that you pay him what is due no well I don't choose that he should leave me I'm holding back his wages as a pledge of his good behavior it is my duty to warn you that if you drive this boy beyond a certain point you run a great risk what do you think he'll do I think he'll kill you you think I'm afraid of a male native it's a matter of complete indifference to me whether you are or not I only feel the official obligation to give you proper warning I'll tell you this that Abbas is a dirty thieving rascal and if he tries any monkey tricks on me I'll ring his bloody neck that was all I wish to say to you good evening Cooper flushed and walked from the room Mr. Warburton watched him go with an icy smile on his lips he had done his duty that he might have been surprised had he seen what happened when Cooper got back to his bungalow silent and cheerless when Cooper again control he got very drunk it was his only means now of salvaging his self-respect and with the whiskey he managed to finally lose it all it came about as he searched for a clean shirt in his chest drawers where's that bloody Abbas Abbas come in here you called me to on I called you where's my clean shirts they're being washed on you're a liar my clean ones in here yesterday not on they are being washed you sneaky and little pig you've been stealing them haven't you haven't show not one I do not steal I get you stealing again you're gonna jailed you hear me one I will not come back give me my wages blast you and blast your wages I'm keeping your wages for the money you stole now get out of my sight when Cooper sobered later that evening he knew he had gone too far with the native boy he was worried and he felt ill he saw the lights of mr. Warburton's house across the clearing and for a moment he considered going over to tell him what he had done but he knew with what I see score on the residents would listen to his story he could see the patronizing smile so he didn't go on his veranda mr. Warburton was strangely restless of course he had heard what it happened and it had been his immediate impulse to send for Cooper but each time he had tried to reason with the man he had been insulted was no business of his anymore and if anything happened it was not his fault but when the residents boy came out to fill his whiskey glass Warburton asked where is Abbas do you know where he went not one I think maybe he has gone to the village of his mother's brother after a time Warburton sighed and went into his house he read late into the night and at last slept the night was very sultry and still it was a little before dawn when a slim young figure moved across the clearing it was the boy Abbas and in his hand he carried a crease when Warburton was called to the bungalow by his boy the next morning Cooper was lying in bed with his mouth open and the crease sticking in his heart where is Abbas Abbas is at the village of his mother's brother he will be arrested there then one Abbas my nephew was in the village all night it can be proved his uncle everyone will swear that he did not leave the place Twan Cooper was killed by Abbas you know it as well as I do justice must be done Twan you would not hang him the provocation was very great Abbas will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment when he has served part of his sentence I will take him into my house as a boy you can train him in his duties I have no doubt that under Twan Cooper he's gotten to bad habits shall Abbas give himself up before the police are sent to on it would be wise of him the boy withdrew and mr. Warburton stood a moment looking at the cold body of his assistant Cooper suddenly he felt a glow of exaltation a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders he thought of the freshness of the morning outside and the newspaper which would be waiting unopened on his breakfast table Abbas would make a good house boy escape has brought you Somerset mom's the outstation direction and adaptation of the story were by Anthony Ellis starring Ben ride is the narrator Alistair Duncan as Warburton and Richard P. Eliz Cooper featured in the cast were Dave Young and Terry Kilburn the special music for escape was composed and conducted by Leith Stevens next week you are in an open boat with three desperate men 200 yards from land and safety but while you scream frantically for someone to rescue you you realize that from the mountainous breakers between you and safety there is no escape so listen next week when escape brings you Stephen Crane's unusual story the open boat by all odds the Wizard of odd should be an odds on favorite at your house every Monday through Friday in the daytime on most of the same CVS radio stations be sure to hear Walter O'Keefe in the Wizard of Odds a colorful quiz show that makes winners out of people just like you next session tomorrow in the daytime at the stars address this is Roy Rowan speaking and remember you are invited to art link letters house party every weekday on the CVS radio network