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Inner Sanctum Mystery, also known as Inner Sanctum, is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952.
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00:00O, O, O, N, stop, triple, O.
00:16Inner Sanctum Mysteries, brought to you transcribed by High Potency N's,
00:23America's most popular, truly effective chlorophyll tablets.
00:30Good evening, friends of the Creaking Door.
00:43This is your host inviting you into the Inner Sanctum once again.
00:47Come in, you're early tonight.
00:50The coroner hasn't arrived yet.
00:52But it's all right, the corpse is here.
00:56Yes, that's him over there in the corner.
00:58The slightly decapitated gentleman sitting with his head in his hands.
01:10All right, friends.
01:19Let's gather round and meet that grim reaper, Mr. Macabre.
01:24No, no, no, no, no.
01:25Don't try to run away.
01:26Lie perfectly still.
01:28If you race with Mr. Macabre, you're liable to end up in a dead heat.
01:36From the living room of a small house that has seen better days,
01:40a single light shines in the early evening.
01:43Inside, Grace Denning waits alone for her father to come home.
01:46Anxiously lighting one cigarette from the other, she paces the floor until at last she hears his footsteps on the porch stairs.
01:55Father?
01:58Is that you, father?
02:00Yes, dear.
02:02Were you worried about me?
02:04Well, you're never this late for dinner.
02:06I thought something might have happened to you.
02:08You weren't down at the river again, were you, father?
02:11No, no.
02:13Well, where were you?
02:14Just downtown.
02:16I stopped off for a minute.
02:19Grace, why are you staring at me?
02:21Well, you look so strange, so frightened.
02:24Well, I should be frightened.
02:27You know what it's like to live without money week after week, waiting, hoping for a break that never comes.
02:33Well, don't worry, darling.
02:35Your luck will change.
02:36I'm not worried anymore.
02:39You got the loan?
02:40Yes.
02:40From the bank?
02:41No.
02:42From Dr. Tarleton.
02:44Dr. Tarleton?
02:46He wouldn't lend you any money.
02:47He wouldn't lift a finger to help you.
02:49Why not?
02:49He's an old friend of mine, isn't he?
02:51Well, I wouldn't call him a friend.
02:53Not after the way he's treated you all these years.
02:55He still hasn't forgiven you for taking mother away from him.
02:58Don't be a fool.
02:59Well, he hasn't.
03:00He's still in love with her.
03:01He told me so.
03:03At the funeral.
03:03Well, what difference does it make?
03:05I've got the money, haven't I?
03:07But how did you get it?
03:08I told you he lent it to me.
03:09Why did he lend you that money?
03:11Because I gave him something in return.
03:14What?
03:14I sold him my brain.
03:19What do you mean, Father?
03:21I willed it to him in return for the loan.
03:25Your brain?
03:26Yes.
03:27He said it would be of value to him in his experiments.
03:31He said the medical school was making a study of men with artistic talents.
03:36But you haven't painted for years.
03:38Well, Dr. Tarleton didn't really want my brain, Grace.
03:43Can't you see?
03:44It was just an excuse to torment me.
03:48Well, you're not going through with it.
03:49I won't let you.
03:50You'll have to, Grace.
03:51I've gotten the money.
03:52Then you'll give it back.
03:53I won't let you take it.
03:54Here, here.
03:54What are you doing?
03:55Calling him up to return that money.
03:58Put that phone down.
03:59Father, let go.
04:00Drive you out of your mind if you accept this loan.
04:03Let me speak to him.
04:04Dr. Tarleton's office.
04:06Miss Henry speaking.
04:08Hello.
04:08Oh, Miss Henry.
04:09Is Dr. Tarleton there?
04:11Why, who's calling, please?
04:13This is Miss Denning, George Denning's daughter.
04:17Would you ask the doctor to come to the phone, please?
04:19I'm afraid I can't, Miss Denning.
04:22Dr. Tarleton is dead.
04:24Miss Henry, I hope you don't mind my coming over here, asking you all these questions,
04:34but you see, Dr. Tarleton was an old friend of the family's, and I'm rather anxious to
04:40know the circumstances.
04:41I understand, Miss Denning.
04:42Dr. Tarleton often spoke of you and your mother.
04:45When did he die, Miss Henry?
04:48This afternoon, about five o'clock.
04:50We can't be sure of the exact time.
04:53Nobody was with him when he died.
04:55Nobody?
04:56As far as we know.
04:58I was out of the office on an errand when it happened, and when I got back, he was dead.
05:03But what happened to him?
05:05I mean, it was all so sudden.
05:07Did he have a heart attack or something?
05:09Well, he was subject to dizzy spells, Miss Denning.
05:11He probably had one this afternoon.
05:14Oh, I see.
05:15But I'm not sure that's what caused the accident.
05:19Accident?
05:20Yes, he fell against the instrument cabinet in his office and broke the glass.
05:24The edge of it cut an artery in his neck, and he died before anyone could reach him.
05:29How awful.
05:31Well, what makes you think it wasn't an accident?
05:33I don't know.
05:34I just have a feeling it might have been murder.
05:38Why?
05:41Was anybody with Dr. Tarleton when you left this afternoon?
05:44Yes.
05:45A man by the name of McCobb.
05:47Who?
05:48Mr. McCobb.
05:48I don't know his first name or anything about him, but the police are investigating him right now.
05:53And there wasn't anybody else this afternoon?
05:57Not that I know of.
05:58Are you sure?
05:59Didn't Dr. Tarleton have an appointment with a man who was interested in some sort of brain experiment?
06:07What's that?
06:08An elderly gentleman, tall, with gray hair and a long, thin face.
06:13Why, Miss Denning, that was Mr. McCobb.
06:17Where have you been, Grace?
06:22Oh, just out for a walk.
06:24Now, don't lie to me.
06:25Where have you been?
06:26Over to Dr. Tarleton's office.
06:29Yes?
06:29Yeah, well, what for?
06:30I told you not to meddle in my business.
06:33Tarleton's dead, and my bargain with him is automatically canceled.
06:36Is that the agreement you made with him, Father?
06:38My agreement with Dr. Tarleton doesn't matter anymore.
06:40It doesn't to me, Father, but it might to the police if they find a copy of that agreement.
06:45What are you driving at?
06:47Don't you think they'll find out Tarleton's death wasn't an accident?
06:50Good heavens, Grace, you don't think I killed him, do you?
06:53You don't think I murdered a man for the sake of a few hundred dollars?
06:56What did you do?
06:58You were in his office at five o'clock this afternoon, weren't you?
07:00Well, who told you that?
07:02What difference does it make?
07:04Miss Henry knows you were there.
07:05She told me all about it.
07:07I didn't speak to Miss Henry.
07:09Mr. McCobb did.
07:12Oh, for heaven's sakes, Father, don't you think the police will see through a trick like that?
07:15They're out looking for you right now.
07:17Confound it, Grace.
07:18I didn't kill Dr. Tarleton.
07:20And I never heard of Mr. McCobb.
07:23Now, let's not talk about him.
07:25All right, Father.
07:26Do you want to bluff it through?
07:27I can't stop you.
07:28Only I wish that you...
07:29Just a minute.
07:30I'll get that.
07:31No, no, let me.
07:32It may be the police.
07:35Hello?
07:36Hello, Miss Denning?
07:38Yes.
07:39I've got to see you right away.
07:41I have something to tell you about the murder of Dr. Tarleton.
07:45What do you mean?
07:46I can't talk to you over the phone, but if you'll come down to 54 Palmer Street right away,
07:52I'll tell you all about it.
07:54Come alone, Miss Denning.
07:56And come quickly.
07:57Just a moment.
07:59You haven't told me who you are.
08:00Oh, I'm sorry.
08:02The name is Mr. McCobb.
08:13All right, all right.
08:15I'm coming.
08:19Yes?
08:19What do you want?
08:20What?
08:21I'm Miss Denning.
08:23Weren't you expecting me?
08:24I never expect anybody around here, especially at this time of night.
08:28What did you ring the bell for?
08:30Well, I was supposed to meet somebody here.
08:33Are you sure you got the right address?
08:35This is the University Medical School.
08:38The autopsy lab.
08:39We're closed up for the night.
08:41That's strange.
08:43I was sure he said 54 Palmer Street.
08:45Who was this?
08:46One of the students?
08:47No.
08:48Um, a friend of mine.
08:50Well, it's a funny place to be meeting a friend of yours,
08:53but if he said he'd be here, well, maybe you'd better come in.
08:57Well, I...
08:57Come on, I don't mind you waiting on the inside.
09:00Sure.
09:02Yeah, I'm always glad to have a little company around.
09:05A place like this kind of gets under your skin.
09:08What do you mean?
09:09Ain't you never been to a medical school before?
09:12No, I...
09:13Well, there ain't nothing to be afraid of, lady,
09:15but it's just like being in a morgue with them dead ones around,
09:20especially tonight.
09:22Why tonight?
09:24And didn't you read in the papers what happened?
09:26Didn't you see where that doctor got killed under mysterious circumstances?
09:31Dr. Tarleton?
09:32Yeah, that's the one.
09:34You...
09:34You knew Dr. Tarleton?
09:36Oh, sure I knew him.
09:38He used to teach down here.
09:40Anatomy.
09:40Oh, I didn't know that.
09:44Maybe that's why I was told to come here.
09:46Because of Dr. Tarleton?
09:48You know something about his death?
09:50No.
09:51But the man I'm supposed to meet here does.
09:55Have you ever heard of a Mr. McCobb?
10:00McCobb?
10:01Are you waiting for Mr. McCobb?
10:04Yes.
10:05Do you know him?
10:06Who sent you here?
10:08He did.
10:08He called me up on the phone and told me he wanted to speak to me about Dr. Tarleton's death.
10:13Mr. McCobb said that?
10:14Yes.
10:15You better come with me, lady.
10:17What's wrong?
10:18I didn't say there was anything wrong.
10:19I just want you to come with me.
10:22I gotta know if you're telling me the truth.
10:24Where are you taking me?
10:25Don't worry.
10:26It ain't far.
10:28Right in here.
10:29Come on.
10:29But stop pulling me, will you?
10:33Where are we?
10:34Where do you think?
10:36In the lab.
10:38But why did you bring me here?
10:40Didn't you say you had to see Mr. McCobb?
10:43Yes, but...
10:44Well, this is where he is.
10:47Right in that canvas bag.
10:50It's a body.
10:52Of course it's a body.
10:53And they give him all names.
10:55The students, I mean.
10:56Oh, no.
10:57This one is Mr. McCobb.
10:59That's what I want to know.
11:01Who put you up to this?
11:02Who told you to come over here and tell me he was alive?
11:05Nobody.
11:06Don't lie to me.
11:08Every one of them students know I'm scared of Mr. McCobb.
11:10They've been playing tricks on me ever since I got here.
11:13Let me go.
11:13Not until I make sure he's in that bag.
11:16What are you doing?
11:17Opening it up.
11:18No.
11:20Look.
11:22It's not Mr. McCobb.
11:25What?
11:26It's Dr. Talton.
11:40Well, now that you've had a few moments to let your hair down, let's get back to our
11:50story and make it stand up again.
11:53Mm-hmm.
11:55Let's see now.
11:55Where were we?
11:56Oh, yes.
11:57In that lovely little dissecting room where the university goes to meet the student body.
12:04As I remember it, Grace Denning went there, too, with a night watchman to see a man about
12:10a corpse.
12:12But the corpse didn't keep his appointment.
12:15At the last moment, Mr. McCobb got cold feet and left Dr. Talton holding the bag.
12:23Are you sure it's Dr. Talton?
12:26Can't you see it is?
12:28I'm going to call the police.
12:29Now, wait a minute.
12:30You're not going to call anybody till you tell me why you came here.
12:32I told you.
12:33You told me a lie.
12:35You knew Dr. Talton was in this bag.
12:37You brought him here.
12:38Don't be a fool.
12:39Well, then who did?
12:41Who put you up to this?
12:42One of them students?
12:43No.
12:44They must have, or you wouldn't have told me that story about Mr. McCobb.
12:48Where is he?
12:49What have they done with him?
12:50Nothing.
12:51I...
12:51Please, I didn't have anything to do with it.
12:54You mean you're not playing a trick on me?
12:58Of course not.
13:00Then it's true.
13:01It was Mr. McCobb.
13:05What?
13:05He's the one who killed Dr. Talton.
13:08He's the one who put him in that bag.
13:10What are you talking about?
13:11You're insane.
13:12Insane, am I?
13:13You don't know about Mr. McCobb.
13:16You don't know where he came from.
13:18What do you mean?
13:19His body, Miss Denning.
13:22They brought it from the state penitentiary.
13:25He was a murderer.
13:26Stop it.
13:27Stop it.
13:28No, I can't stop it.
13:29Don't you understand?
13:30We've got to find him and bring him back before it happens again.
13:33I...
13:34Ah, right.
13:35There's the phone.
13:38Hello?
13:39Hello?
13:40Is Miss Denning there, please?
13:42Aye.
13:43Just a minute.
13:45It's for you, Miss Denning.
13:47That call?
13:48Yes, here.
13:48Answer it.
13:49Oh.
13:51Hello?
13:52Hello, Miss Denning.
13:54Yes?
13:55Tell your father not to worry about the murder.
13:59Dr. Talton was killed by a woman.
14:02A woman who lives at Nine River Road.
14:05How do you know?
14:06Who is this?
14:08Don't you recognize my voice?
14:10I'm Mr. McCobb.
14:12That's the house, father.
14:25Nine River Road.
14:26Grace, you're...
14:27You're not going in there.
14:28I've got to, father.
14:29I've got to know who this woman is.
14:31Well, then...
14:32Then I'm going with you.
14:33No, no.
14:34Please.
14:35You stay here.
14:35It may be some sort of a trap to find out where you are.
14:39I'm better off alone.
14:40Well, careful, Grace.
14:41Please be careful.
14:42If this woman is a murderer...
14:44Don't worry, father.
14:45Just stay in the car and I'll call you if I need you.
14:48Well, all right, dear.
14:49I'll be right here.
14:53Come in, Miss Denning.
14:54Miss Henry?
14:55Yes.
14:55Dr. Talton's nurse.
14:57Good heavens.
14:58How did you know I was at the door?
14:59I saw your car drive up.
15:01Come in, won't you?
15:01But, well, I...
15:02Quick, Miss Denning.
15:02Come in.
15:03I've got to talk to you.
15:04What's the matter?
15:05Shh.
15:05I'll tell you in a minute.
15:06Just let me close the door.
15:09There.
15:10That's better.
15:11Now I can speak freely.
15:12You act as though you were expecting me, Miss Henry.
15:14I was.
15:16That's strange.
15:17Nobody knew I was coming.
15:19Oh, but you're wrong.
15:20I had a message saying you were.
15:22A message?
15:24From whom?
15:25Well, he wouldn't give me his name over the phone, but...
15:28I had a feeling it was Mr. McCobbs.
15:31Remember?
15:32He's the man I told you about at the office.
15:34The one the police are looking for.
15:37He called you on the phone?
15:39About ten minutes ago.
15:41What did he say?
15:42Well, he didn't want to talk very much, but he said you were coming over to see me about
15:46Dr. Tarleton's death.
15:48He said you suspected me of committing the murder.
15:52What do you mean?
15:53Do you, Miss Denning?
15:55Why, no.
15:57I have no reason to suspect you.
15:59What made you think I did?
16:01Just the fact that he said so.
16:03And the way you're looking at me right now.
16:05How did you find out about the letter opener, Miss Denning?
16:11What letter opener?
16:12The one that's missing from Dr. Tarleton's desk.
16:15Who told you about it?
16:17Why, nobody.
16:19I didn't know it was missing until you just mentioned it.
16:22Then why did you come here?
16:23Because Mr. McCobbs...
16:24Don't blame it on him.
16:26He never saw that letter opener.
16:28Well, neither did I.
16:30I don't even understand what connection it has.
16:33Don't you, Miss Denning?
16:34Well, why would a letter opener be taken from Dr. Tarleton's desk
16:38unless it had been used to commit the murder?
16:43You mean Dr. Tarleton was stabbed to death?
16:47He might have been.
16:49The murderer could have stabbed him first
16:50and broken the instrument cabinet later
16:52to make it look like an accident.
16:55Only that isn't the way it happened.
16:57How do you know?
16:59I know because that letter opener isn't really missing.
17:02It's just been mislaid somewhere.
17:06And if I had a chance to search the office,
17:08I'd probably find it.
17:10Why don't you search the office now, Miss Henry?
17:13I will.
17:14If you'll come with me.
17:17All right.
17:18I'll come with you.
17:19Good.
17:20I felt rather peculiar about going down there alone,
17:24but if you're with me...
17:26Miss Denning, what's the matter?
17:27Behind you, look.
17:28At the back window.
17:29What?
17:29What?
17:29Well, I don't see anything.
17:32It was there, I tell you.
17:33It was there a moment ago.
17:34What?
17:34A face peering in through the window.
17:37It's macabre.
17:42That's funny.
17:44There doesn't seem to be anyone out back here.
17:45It must have been your imagination.
17:46No, I saw it.
17:47I tell you, there was something.
17:48Wait.
17:48What is it?
17:50I thought I heard something move behind the garage.
17:53Quick, let's go in there.
17:54We can look through the back window without being seen.
17:56Careful.
17:56Now we must make a sound.
17:57Here, hold on to my arm.
18:00I can't see a thing, Miss Henry.
18:05Who's there?
18:06Don't be afraid, Miss Denning.
18:08It's me.
18:09Who are you?
18:11Mr. Crane, don't you remember?
18:13The night watchman from the medical school.
18:15What are you doing here?
18:17I'm looking for Mr. McCobb.
18:19He's around here somewhere.
18:21I just saw him.
18:21Where?
18:22Out in the field, behind the garage.
18:25I don't see anyone out here.
18:26You're not looking in the right place.
18:29Come with me.
18:30I'll show him to you.
18:30No, don't.
18:32Don't go with him, Miss Henry.
18:33Why not?
18:34It may take two of us to bring him back.
18:37He might not want to come with me.
18:38Please.
18:39Will you leave us alone, Mr. Crane?
18:41Go back to your job.
18:42Let the police find Mr. McCobb.
18:44No, no, wait.
18:45He might know where Mr. McCobb really is.
18:47Of course I know.
18:48I just told you he was down there in the field.
18:51Then you go find him, Mr. Crane, and wait for me.
18:53I'll be there in a minute.
18:54All right.
18:54All right.
18:56But don't leave me out there alone with him too long.
18:59For heaven's sake, Miss Henry, don't you know that man's crazy?
19:02Crazy or not, I've got to know what he's up to.
19:05Here, take the key to Dr. Tarleton's office and go down there right away.
19:08Aren't you coming with me?
19:09Not until I find out about Mr. McCobb.
19:11Don't worry, Miss Denning.
19:12I'll meet you at the doctor's office in a few minutes.
19:14Are you sure you'll be all right?
19:16Of course, of course.
19:17Go ahead.
19:18All right.
19:19I'll see you later.
19:22Mr. McCobb!
19:24Mr. McCobb!
19:26Oh, Mr. Crane?
19:28Where are you?
19:30Why don't you answer me?
19:32Here.
19:33Who's on that path?
19:34Who?
19:35No, don't.
19:36Don't.
19:39The letter opener.
19:40The tape.
19:43Let her open.
19:49Father.
19:50Aren't you in the car, Father?
19:53Where are you?
19:54It's all right, Grace.
19:55I'm here.
19:56Oh, where?
19:56Right here in the doorway.
19:58Why, did you think I'd left you?
20:00I didn't know where you were.
20:01Why didn't you wait for me in the car?
20:03Oh, I don't know.
20:04I just got tired sitting there.
20:07Besides, I thought I heard some voices back in the house.
20:09Is anything wrong?
20:10No.
20:11At least I don't think so.
20:13I'll know better after we get to Dr. Tarleton's office.
20:16What are you going down there for?
20:17A letter opener, Father.
20:20I've got to find out if it's really missing.
20:22Oh, Grace, will you stop butting into other people's business?
20:24But this is our business.
20:26Don't you understand?
20:27Are you coming with me?
20:29Or shall I go alone?
20:30No, no, dear.
20:33I'll go with you.
20:42Wait right here, Father.
20:44Just outside the door.
20:46Let me know if anybody comes down the hall.
20:48Even Miss Henry.
20:49All right, but hurry.
20:50I'll be as quick as I can.
20:53Oh.
20:54I should have turned on the light before I closed that door.
20:56Now, where on earth is that light?
20:58Switch.
20:59Switch.
21:00Oh.
21:01What's the matter with this thing?
21:04That doesn't work.
21:06No.
21:08No, it doesn't, Grace.
21:10Who said that?
21:13I did.
21:14Don't you recognize my voice?
21:17No.
21:18Where are you?
21:19Over here.
21:21Sitting at my desk.
21:23Dr. Tarleton.
21:25Yes.
21:27You're alive.
21:28No, my dear.
21:30I'm just living on borrowed time for a while.
21:34Just long enough to tell the police who murdered me.
21:38The trick.
21:39You're not really dead.
21:40No.
21:41You shouldn't have come back here to return that letter opener.
21:45That was the trap we set for you.
21:47Only we never dreamed you'd kill Miss Henry.
21:50The fool.
21:52Who are you?
21:53Dr. Tarleton, dear.
21:55The man who was foolish enough to leave you half his estate because of your mother.
22:02You're a murderess, Miss Denning.
22:04Be quiet.
22:05Be quiet or I'll kill you.
22:07You can't kill me, Grace.
22:08You've done it already.
22:09I'll do it again.
22:11I'll do it right this time.
22:12The way I killed Miss Henry.
22:13Here, put that letter opener down.
22:16No.
22:16Let me go.
22:17Let me go.
22:18Grab her, Gus.
22:18I've got her hands.
22:19No.
22:19Don't touch her.
22:20It's all right, Miss Denning.
22:21We won't frighten you anymore.
22:22We've got all the evidence we need now.
22:25You're a detective.
22:26You guessed it.
22:28But the dead man, the one you had propped up in the chair, who was that?
22:35Don't you know?
22:37That was Mr. McCobb.
22:49Well, that was a corny stunt for McCobb to play.
22:54If I were a corpse, I wouldn't go around frightening confessions out of murderous young ladies.
22:59I'd rather be seen dead.
23:02And speaking of death scenes, have you ever heard the one about the ambitious ghoul who left no stone unturned?
23:10Hmm?
23:23Tonight's Inner Sanctum Mystery was written by Robert Sloan and starred Barbara Weeks in the role of Grace.
23:31Everett Sloan played Crane.
23:33Music was by Lou White.
23:35This month's Inner Sanctum Mystery novel is You Could Die Laughing by Alan Green.
23:40The entire production of Inner Sanctum is under the direction of Hyman Brown.
23:45Well, friends, it's time once again to close that creaking door until next week at the same time.
24:02Next week's happy little horror, entitled Strange Passenger,
24:10concerns itself with a bright lad who keeps on killing the same girl over and over again
24:15until he realizes that she's taking him for a sleigh ride.
24:22You'll be sure to listen, won't you?
24:24Until next week, then, good night, pleasant dreams.
24:38Be sure to join us at the same time next week for another Inner Sanctum Mystery.
24:43Brought to you transcribed by High Potency Enns,
24:46America's most popular, truly effective chlorophyll tablets.
24:49And don't forget Enns' two great television shows,
24:53Police Story on CBS TV and Lights Out on another TV network.
24:57Please check your local television listings for day and time.
25:00Carl Caruso speaking.
25:01And don't forget Enns' two great television shows,
25:31We'll see you in the next week.
25:36We'll see you in the next week.
25:37Bye for now.
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