The House of Mystery 45-05-08 (082) Monster in the Lake (Ch 2)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The House of Mystery 45-05-08 (082) "Monster in the Lake" - Chapter 2

---

Introduction

In the gripping second chapter of "Monster in the Lake," part of Harold's Old Time Radio series "The House of Mystery," host Roger Elliott delves deeper into the eerie events unfolding at Macklin Lake. As the suspense thickens, listeners are drawn into a tale of mystery, fear, and the unknown, set against the backdrop of a serene yet ominous mountain lake.

Characters

• Roger Elliott (The Mystery Man): The charismatic host and narrator guiding listeners through the unfolding mystery.
• Steve Harris: The caretaker or handyman at Macklin Lake, initially skeptical but becomes instrumental in the investigation.
• Martin Dobbs: Roger's old college acquaintance, host of Macklin Lake, and husband to Evelyn Dobbs.
• Evelyn Dobbs (Mrs. Dobbs): Martin's wife, whose sudden and unexplained terror becomes the central mystery.
• Bertha: Martin's wife, who manages the household and is concerned about Evelyn's mental state.
• Dr. Newcombe: The local physician called upon to assist with Evelyn's condition.
• Old Fisherman (Pop): A reclusive fisherman at the north end of the lake, rumored to hear strange noises at night.

Plot Summary

Recap of Previous Events

The story picks up with Roger Elliott responding to a distressing letter from Martin Dobbs, an old college friend, who urgently requests Roger's presence at Macklin Lake. Upon arrival, Roger finds the atmosphere tense and mysterious, with Steve Harris, the caretaker, providing minimal information about the situation.

The Night of the Scream

As Roger and Steve accompany Martin to the lakefront, they are suddenly interrupted by a piercing scream emanating from one of the cottages.

Roger Elliott [00:13]: "This is the House of Mystery. Good evening. This is Roger Elliott, otherwise known as the Mystery man, welcoming you to another storytelling session here at the House of Mystery."

Steve immediately recognizes the source of the scream.

Steve Harris [02:18]: "It's Mrs. Dobbs. She's seen it again."

Concerned, they rush to the cottage to find Martin looking visibly shaken.

Martin Dobbs [02:44]: "It's all right. Everything's all right."

Martin insists that everything is under control, but the tension remains palpable. The group retreats to the kitchen, where Martin attempts to calm Roger by offering coffee and recalling the serene beginnings of their stay at Macklin Lake.

Recounting the Incident

Martin begins to unfold the troubling events that have transpired since their arrival.

Martin Dobbs [05:09]: "Well, here's the story. It may sound ridiculous to you, but you might as well know it."

Evelyn Dobbs, once healthy and vibrant, began experiencing a series of terrifying hallucinations. One night, while sitting on the dock, she believes she encounters a monstrous creature emerging from the lake. The vision leaves her physically harmed and mentally distressed.

Evelyn's Account [05:00]: "She described seeing the head and shoulders of what she perceived as a huge monster rising from the lake and approaching her."

Despite medical assurances regarding Evelyn's family history of mental illness, Martin is unsettled by the possibility that there might be truth to her terrifying experiences.

Martin Dobbs [08:24]: "It isn't that I want to think. ... Is she seeing things, or is this monster real?"

Investigating the Monster

Determined to uncover the truth, Roger and Steve decide to take action. They contemplate venturing out onto the lake to face the alleged monster directly.

Roger Elliott [09:02]: "I think we'll go back to the lakefront, Steve."

As they prepare their small rowboat, the tension between skepticism and belief becomes evident. Steve expresses doubts about the existence of the creature, attributing the disturbances to large fish rather than a supernatural entity.

Steve Harris [10:20]: "You can't believe anything he says. He's crazy as a bedbug."

However, their investigation takes a perilous turn when the boat is inexplicably rocked and capsizes, plunging both men into the icy waters of Macklin Lake.

Roger Elliott [12:18]: "We weren't quite sure at that point, Johnny. All we knew was that the rowboat suddenly began to rock violently and then turned over, spilling us into the lake."

Notable Quotes

• Roger Elliott [00:13]: "This is Roger Elliott, otherwise known as the Mystery man, welcoming you to another storytelling session here at the House of Mystery."

• Martin Dobbs [05:09]: "Well, here's the story. It may sound ridiculous to you, but you might as well know it."

• Steve Harris [10:20]: "You can't believe anything he says. He's crazy as a bedbug."

• Roger Elliott [12:18]: "We weren't quite sure at that point, Johnny. All we knew was that the rowboat suddenly began to rock violently and then turned over, spilling us into the lake."

Cliffhanger Conclusion

As the chapter concludes, listeners are left in suspense with Roger hinting at the dire consequences of their encounter in the lake. The fate of Steve Harris hangs in the balance, promising a riveting continuation in the next episode.

Roger Elliott [12:48]: "But I'll better save that for tomorrow. Because if I tell it to you now, you'll be staying up all night. Trying to figure out the solution."

Conclusion

Chapter two of "Monster in the Lake" masterfully blends elements of suspense, mystery, and psychological tension. Through engaging narration and evocative dialogue, Roger Elliott captivates the audience, setting the stage for an enthralling continuation. As the story progresses, listeners are left eagerly anticipating the resolution of the mysterious events at Macklin Lake.

---

Next Episode Preview: Tune in next week to discover the aftermath of Roger and Steve's perilous encounter in the lake and unravel the deeper mysteries lurking beneath the surface of Macklin Lake.

Transcript

[Roger Elliott]

This is the House of Mystery. Good evening. This is Roger Elliott, otherwise known as the Mystery man, welcoming you to another storytelling session here at the House of Mystery. Today we continue with chapter two of our current story, the Monster in the Lake. And since we have a lot of ground to cover, I suggest we get right into it. That all right with you?

[Steve Harris]

Yeah.

[Johnny]

Yes.

[Roger Elliott]

All right, Johnny, if you'll turn down the lights, we'll let you give us a brief synopsis of what's happened in the story so far. That's fine. Go ahead, Johnny.

[Johnny]

Well, it all started when you got a letter from a man named Martin Dobbs. You used to know him at college, but you hadn't seen him for 15 years. In the letter, he said he was in some kind of trouble and he asked you to come and visit him at Macklin Lake, his place in the mountains. When you got there, everything was kind of mysterious. Steve Harris, the caretaker or handyman who met you at the station, just kind of hinted at certain things, only he wouldn't tell you what. But he did tell you that his wife, Bertha, did the cooking and that she also took care of Mrs. Dobbs, who was sick. You didn't have much chance to talk to Mr. Dobbs himself because he had to go in and see his wife. So you and Steve Harris walked down to the lakefront and you were on your way back when all of a sudden you heard a woman scream from one of the cottages.

[Roger Elliott]

Yes, and it was a shrill, high pitched scream born of fright and terror. Steve Harris started up the path toward the cottage.

[Steve Harris]

It's Mrs. Dobbs. She's seen it again.

[Roger Elliott]

Seen what?

[Steve Harris]

You'll find out soon enough. Too soon.

[Roger Elliott]

We hurried up the path. When we reached the cottage, Martin Dobbs was waiting for us on the porch. His face was ashen gray and there were beads of perspiration on his forehead. He looked like a man who thought he'd seen a ghost. But he hastened to reassure us.

[Martin Dobbs]

It's all right. Everything's all right.

[Roger Elliott]

Well, if I can be of any help, Martin.

[Martin Dobbs]

Thanks, Roger. Thanks just the same. But everything's all right. Bertha's with her now. Steve.

[Steve Harris]

Yes, Mr. Dobbs?

[Martin Dobbs]

Would you drive into town and tell Dr. Newcombe I'd like him to come up here as soon as possible.

[Steve Harris]

Yes, sir.

[Roger Elliott]

Don't you have a phone here, Martin?

[Martin Dobbs]

Yes, but it's been out of order since Sunday. Bad electrical storm. I'm sorry that had to happen just when you arrived, Roger, but.

[Roger Elliott]

Oh, forget it, Martin. The only thing is, I feel a little Helpless. Perhaps if I knew what this was all about, I might be able to do more than just stand by.

[Martin Dobbs]

I'm going to tell you, Roger. I'm going to tell you everything just as soon as I can pull myself together. No. Good Lord.

[Roger Elliott]

What's the matter?

[Martin Dobbs]

I promised you buckwheat cakes for breakfast.

[Roger Elliott]

A cup of coffee is all we really, really all I want. We can get that ourselves, can't we?

[Martin Dobbs]

You don't mind?

[Roger Elliott]

Of course not.

[Martin Dobbs]

Well, let's go into the kitchen. Bertha should have some coffee on the stove. After you.

[Roger Elliott]

Thanks.

[Martin Dobbs]

This way.

[Roger Elliott]

How long have you had this place?

[Martin Dobbs]

Martin bought it three years ago. A Wall street man owned that. Fellow named Macklin. That's why it's called Macklin Lake. I hope I wasn't wrong about Bertha having a coffee on the stove.

[Roger Elliott]

You weren't. I can smell it. Matter of fact, she's even got the buckwheat batter mixed in a skillet warming.

[Martin Dobbs]

I'd better close this door.

[Roger Elliott]

If you like, Martin, I can fry up a batch of buckwheat cakes. They may not be as good as Bertha's, but they'll be edible.

[Martin Dobbs]

Go ahead if you want to, but don't make any for me. I couldn't eat a thing. Now, I'll pour the coffee.

[Roger Elliott]

We'll hold the buckwheat cakes until tomorrow. I'm sure the batter will keep.

[Martin Dobbs]

Do you take sugar and cream?

[Roger Elliott]

Just sugar.

[Martin Dobbs]

It's on the shelf right above you.

[Roger Elliott]

Mm. Now, Martin, suppose you tell me what this is all about.

[Martin Dobbs]

Well, frankly, I don't know where to begin.

[Roger Elliott]

Well, suppose we sit down and you begin wherever you want to tell me. As much or as little as you think you'd like to tell me. Here, take this chair.

[Martin Dobbs]

It isn't that I want to keep anything back, but now that you're up here, there doesn't seem very much that I can tell you.

[Roger Elliott]

Well, it's quite evident, Martin, that something unusual is going on. Might have to be blind not to see it. And it's just as evident it has something to do with the lake.

[Martin Dobbs]

Who told you that?

[Roger Elliott]

No one actually told me. Neither was I told that it has some connection with Mrs. Dobbs illness. But that's true, isn't it? Yes.

[Martin Dobbs]

Well, here's the story. It may sound ridiculous to you, but you might as well know it. As I told you, I bought the Macklin Lake property three years ago. I bought it particularly for Evelyn and Mrs. Dobbs because the doctors said that the mountain air would do her a lot of good. And they were right. She gained weight, slept well, and the hacking cough she developed disappeared almost immediately. Each spring she looked forward to opening the cottages and getting back up here again this year. We came up a month earlier because she hadn't had a very good winter. You won't believe it, but 48 hours after we arrived, she was herself again.

[Roger Elliott]

Why shouldn't I believe it? You have a wonderful spot here.

[Martin Dobbs]

It used to be wonderful. Isn't anymore. The trouble started about a month ago when the weather was nice. Evelyn liked to take a beach chair down to the dock and sit in the sun. There was something about the calmness of.

[Roger Elliott]

The lake that relaxed her.

[Martin Dobbs]

She spent hours at a time down there. The day it happened, I was in town with Steve picking up some tulip bulbs and some fertilizer. I remember we had difficulty parking because of the county fair that was on and everybody and his cousin was in town. We got back here about 4:00. I found Evelyn in her room, crying hysterical. She said she'd been sitting on the dock when suddenly she heard something splash off to her left. She'd been asleep and the sound awakened her. When she looked around, all she saw was some ripples in the water which she imagined had been a jumping fish. She settled back in her chair and prepared to doze again when suddenly she heard another splash, even louder than the first. This time she saw the head and shoulders of what she described as a huge, huge monster rising from the lake and coming toward her. She learned nothing about what happened after that, but evidently she must have screamed because Bertha heard her and rushed down to the lake. She found Evelyn lying on the beach, half conscious. Her face and neck were bruised and her hands were lacerated.

[Roger Elliott]

How did that happen?

[Martin Dobbs]

I don't know, but she must have.

[Roger Elliott]

Put up a terrific struggle. I mean, if a monster actually attacked her.

[Martin Dobbs]

If there was a monster.

[Roger Elliott]

What do you mean by that?

[Martin Dobbs]

No, it's all very confused, Roger. She sees the thing in her sleep, but honestly, I don't know whether it's all in her imagination or not. Ever since this happened, she's refused to leave her room. She sits at the window all day long watching the lake. And five minutes ago, when you heard her scream, it was because she thought she saw the monster rising out of the water at the end of the dock.

[Roger Elliott]

Has anyone else seen the monster? You, Steve or Bertha?

[Martin Dobbs]

No. There's an old fisherman who lives in a shack at the north end of the lake. I asked him whether he'd seen anything. He said no. But at night he heard Strange noises, like someone groaning.

[Roger Elliott]

Is there anyone else who has access to the lake?

[Martin Dobbs]

A few people from town fish it every now and then. But I didn't want to ask too many questions and get this thing noised around because I wasn't sure.

[Roger Elliott]

You weren't sure of what?

[Martin Dobbs]

Frankly, I wasn't sure there was anything in Evelyn's story.

[Roger Elliott]

Anything real, I mean.

[Martin Dobbs]

You see, Roger, there's a history of insanity in her family. One of her brothers is in an institution now, and she had an aunt who lost her mind.

[Roger Elliott]

Ah, too many people believe that insanity runs in families. Good doctors will tell you it isn't so.

[Martin Dobbs]

A dozen good doctors have told me, but no, I don't know.

[Roger Elliott]

You mean you think your wife's out of her mind? She's having hallucinations?

[Martin Dobbs]

It isn't that I want to think.

[Roger Elliott]

It, but I understand. Tell me, Martin, has anything like this ever happened before? Has your wife ever, well, ever imagined she was seeing things?

[Martin Dobbs]

No, never. That's what frightens me. Is she seeing things, or is this monster real? That's why I wanted you to come up. I thought you could do more than any doctor to convince her that it's all her imagination.

[Roger Elliott]

But you're not sure that it is? No.

[Martin Dobbs]

I'm not sure of anything anymore. That must be Stephen, the doctor. I don't know why I keep calling him. He's been up here a dozen times and hasn't done any good.

[Steve Harris]

Dr. Newcombe's here, Mr. Dobbs.

[Martin Dobbs]

I'll be right out, Steve. You'll excuse me, Roger.

[Roger Elliott]

Of course. You mind if Steve and I do a little exploring?

[Martin Dobbs]

Not at all. Steve, you stick with Miss Elliot, will you?

[Steve Harris]

Yes, sir.

[Martin Dobbs]

I don't know how long I'll be, Roger, but go right ahead and do anything you wish.

[Roger Elliott]

Okay, I will. I think we'll go back to the lakefront, Steve.

[Steve Harris]

Back to the lakefront?

[Roger Elliott]

Yes. I think we'll take a boat out and see whether we can meet the monster face to face.

[Steve Harris]

How far out you ought to go, Mr. Elliot?

[Roger Elliott]

Where are we now? Now? About a quarter of a mile offshore. Is the lake deep at this point?

[Steve Harris]

20, 30ft. All right.

[Roger Elliott]

Suppose you ship your oars and we'll drift the wind's south. Just a breeze, but it should carry us to the north end of the lake where that fisherman has his shack, coincidentally. What's his name?

[Steve Harris]

I don't know. Everybody around here calls him pop. Mr. Dobbs told you about him, didn't he?

[Roger Elliott]

Well, just that he lives in a shack at the north end of the lake and says he hears peculiar noises at night, like someone moaning.

[Steve Harris]

You can't believe anything he says. He's crazy as a bedbug.

[Roger Elliott]

How does he live?

[Steve Harris]

Catches a few frogs and fish and sells them in town. You should see his shag. It's like a pig pen.

[Roger Elliott]

Tell me, Steve, what do you honestly think about this monster business?

[Steve Harris]

I don't know, Mr. Elliot. Bertha and me was talking about it last night. She says Mrs. Dobbs is going out of her mind. She thinks Mr. Dobbs ought to take her away from here before she really gets back.

[Roger Elliott]

Bad Bertha doesn't believe that Mrs. Dobbs saw a monster in the lake.

[Steve Harris]

No.

[Roger Elliott]

What about you?

[Steve Harris]

Well, I guess I don't believe it either. Except.

[Roger Elliott]

Except what?

[Steve Harris]

I don't see how a person could start seeing things just all of a sudden. I figure maybe it was a big bass or a pickerel.

[Roger Elliott]

You think Mrs. Dobbs might call a fish a monster just getting a glimpse.

[Steve Harris]

Of it coming out of the water? She might. A 1012 pound pickerel's a big fish.

[Roger Elliott]

What was that?

[Steve Harris]

Bass jumping. See him jumped again?

[Roger Elliott]

Yeah. Not a very big one.

[Steve Harris]

That's funny.

[Roger Elliott]

What?

[Steve Harris]

Bass don't jump like that over and over.

[Roger Elliott]

That's the fourth time.

[Steve Harris]

Yeah, I bet something's chasing him. Look at how the water's boiling where he went down last.

[Roger Elliott]

Can you paddle over there?

[Steve Harris]

Maybe we hadn't been. Why not?

[Roger Elliott]

You've got a rifle and I've got a pistol. We certainly don't need any more protection than that. Here, let me get up at the bow.

[Steve Harris]

Watch it. These round bottom boats ain't very steady. Watch it, Mr. Elliot.

[Roger Elliott]

I didn't do that. I was standing still.

[Steve Harris]

Well, there's something under the boat, rocking it.

[Roger Elliott]

Use your oars. Pull away.

[Steve Harris]

Too late.

[Roger Elliott]

All right, Johnny, turn up the lights.

[Johnny]

Well, then there was something in the lake. Then Mrs. Dobbs was right, huh?

[Roger Elliott]

We weren't quite sure at that point, Johnny. All we knew was that the rowboat suddenly began to rock violently and then turned over, spilling us into the lake.

[Johnny]

But weren't you afraid?

[Roger Elliott]

Well, I wasn't very happy about it. Monster or no monster. The water was pretty cold.

[Johnny]

I would have been scared stiff.

[Roger Elliott]

Well, don't make any mistake. I didn't feel like any hero. As a matter of fact, I made a beeline for the overturned boat. The only thing that stopped me was what happened to Steve.

[Johnny]

What happened to him?

[Roger Elliott]

I'd better save that for tomorrow. Because if I tell it to you now, you'll be staying up all night. Trying to figure out the solution. Anyway, there isn't time. But I can assure you Steve and I spent a few very exciting minutes in that ice cold lake water. And for Steve, they came close to being his last minutes. But you'll hear all about that tomorrow at the same time. And for our radio listeners, this same station, I'll be waiting for you at the House of Mystery. This is Roger Elliott, your mystery man, saying good night. Roger Elliott tells a new story every week at the House of Mystery. And you're all cordially invited to attend.

[Martin Dobbs]

The meetings of the Mystery Club Monday.

[Roger Elliott]

Through Friday at this same time over many of these stations. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.