Two Hauntings on Suspense

Summary

The Horror! (Old Time Radio)

Episode: Two Hauntings on Suspense
Date: December 13, 2025
Host: RelicRadio.com

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Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode of The Horror!, listeners are taken on a spine-tingling journey with two classic episodes from the legendary radio drama series Suspense—"Ghost Hunt" (June 23, 1949) and "Bells" (August 6, 1960). Both radio plays explore different facets of supernatural hauntings, ghostly phenomena, and psychological terror. The host invites listeners to experience the golden age of radio horror with these dramatizations of the inexplicable and the eerie.

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Story 1: "Ghost Hunt" (Starts at 02:10)

Overview

A radio disc jockey, Smiley Smith, undertakes a night in a notorious haunted house as a publicity stunt, accompanied by Dr. Clarence Reed, a psychic investigator, and his faithful dog, Jeff. The story unfolds through recordings Smith makes during their vigil, blending atmospheric storytelling with mounting tension and terror—both real and imagined.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Smiley Smith's Radio Announcement (03:17)

• Smiley Smith (DJ) announces his intention to spend the night in a haunted house, recording everything for his show.
• Four suicides have been connected to the house, earning it the nickname "the death trap."
• Smith jokes about the stunt but expresses increasing nervousness.

Quote:

"Your friend Smiley is going to spend the night in a haunted house on a spook hunt. You heard me. A spook hunt in a haunted house. I'm bringing my little old wire recorder along with me." — Smiley Smith (03:22)

Introduction to the House & Its History (11:09 – 12:28)

• On arrival, Smiley and Dr. Reed are joined by Charles McDonald, the real estate agent.
• McDonald recounts the tragic history: the original owner and his wife both committed suicide, along with two others.
• The most recent suicide was witnessed, with the victim appearing to "run and laugh" as if being chased by unseen presences.

Quote:

"He was shouting and laughing and yelling as though there was people at his side running right along with him." — Charles McDonald (12:28)

Investigating the House (13:47 – 17:14)

• Dr. Reed takes a serious approach to the investigation; Smiley remains light-hearted but clearly uneasy.
• The house immediately frightens Smiley’s dog, Jeff.
• Reed claims to sense strong evil "emanations," while Smith is skeptical but increasingly unsettled.
• The tension builds with strange noises and animals (notably a recurring bat).

Quote:

"If you're dead set on looking for them, this is a dandy place to do it." — Smiley Smith (13:47)

The Supernatural Escalates (19:40 – 23:49)

• Dr. Reed reports powerful psychic sensations upstairs and focuses on a closet which proves to be a larger dressing room.
• Below, Smiley becomes fixated on a stain growing on the ceiling, accompanied by more strange animal activity and mounting dread.
• Communication between the two is sporadic; a sense of isolation grows.

Quote:

"The vibrations have become stronger, more and more pronounced as I approach it. I think I am on the verge of an important discovery." — Dr. Reed (20:56)

Climax and Aftermath (25:12 – 28:49)

• Smiley, distressed by the unexplained occurrences and the stain—now dripping onto him—ascends to find Dr. Reed but instead encounters "four gentlemen" and a red-bearded body (not Reed).
• Voices urge Smiley toward the cliffs; in a trance-like state, he obeys and jumps.
• In the epilogue, it's revealed that Dr. Reed survived a medical incident (a hemorrhage) and claims not to have seen any ghosts, suggesting Smiley was fatally overwhelmed by fear and/or madness.

Memorable Moment:

"Speak up, gentlemen. To the cliffs. Down to the cliffs... You will come with me?...To the cliffs. To the cliffs." — Smiley Smith (26:35–26:53)

Quote:

"If he went over the cliff, it was fear that drove him over. Gentlemen, I didn't see any ghosts. As for that unfortunate young man, who can say now what he saw or thought he saw?" — Dr. Reed (28:12)

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Notable Quotes

• "If you are dead set on looking for them, this is a dandy place..." — Smiley Smith (13:47)
• "I have spent my entire life seeking reliable proof of the appearances of apparitions." — Dr. Reed (15:28)
• "I feel very... what shall I say? Profoundly depressed." — Dr. Reed (19:40)
• "That stain started to drip... Drip drops, drip drops..." — Smiley Smith (25:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:17: Smiley’s show announcement and set-up
• 11:09: Character introductions at the house, history recap
• 13:47: Entering the house, beginning the investigation
• 19:40: Dr. Reed’s psychic disturbance
• 25:12: Smiley alone, experiencing supernatural events
• 26:35: Climax—Smiley’s hallucination and jump from the cliff
• 28:03: Dr. Reed’s hospital explanation

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Story 2: "Bells" (Starts at 31:27)

Overview

A young couple, Henry and Lucy Fielding, desperately need a new place to live. Lucy, convinced of her own psychic abilities, finds a miraculously affordable country house through what she believes is supernatural guidance. The couple encounters a series of inexplicable, increasingly sinister events—phantom phone calls, mysterious voices, and bell ringing—leading to a chilling conclusion that blurs the line between fate, coincidence, and ghostly intervention.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

The "Guardian Angel" & The New Home (33:02 – 36:30)

• Lucy insists a psychic influence guided her to the right newspaper and the perfect house listing.
• Henry is skeptical but plays along.
• The rent is unusually low, causing suspicion.

Quote:

"Oh, Henry, it's a dream come true. And all because of my guardian angel and that strange, unexplainable feeling." — Lucy Fielding (35:46)

Visiting and Moving Into the House (37:57 – 41:22)

• The agent, Strickler, is nervous when Lucy mentions being psychic.
• Movers behave oddly, eager to leave the property quickly.
• The couple is initially charmed, but a storm adds to the ominous atmosphere.

Quote:

"Those men were certainly anxious to get away... I wonder why." — Lucy Fielding (40:35)

The Hauntings Begin: Phones & Bells (42:43 – 44:52)

• The telephone repeatedly rings with nobody on the other end—only the operator, who claims she didn’t place a call.
• The voices soon intensify, telling the couple to "Get out."
• Henry disconnects the phone, but the phenomena persist.

Quote:

"Get out. Get out. Get out." — Multiple voices (45:15–45:26)

Denial and Realization (46:13 – 51:01)

• Henry clings to logical explanations (storm, wires crossed, imagination).
• Lucy becomes convinced they’re in supernatural danger and insists they must flee.
• The doorbell rings mysteriously, and Henry finds no one at the door—no footprints, wet or dry.

Quote:

"Henry, don't you see what this means? Then it's this house." — Lucy Fielding (48:24)

Escape and Resolution (51:30 – End)

• The couple flees to a hotel, visibly shaken.
• As they settle, the radio news reports that their house was destroyed by lightning shortly after they left, with authorities searching for them—unsure if they survived.

Quote:

"If they did leave, whatever their reason, we can only say it was indeed providential they weren't in that house when this catastrophe occurred." — News report (53:05)

• Lucy's faith in her "guardian angel" is reaffirmed; Henry tacitly concedes something uncanny may have saved them.

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Notable Quotes

• "Oh, Henry, it's a dream come true. And all because of my guardian angel..." — Lucy (35:46)
• "It's a warning. We've got to leave. We got to get out of here." — Lucy (48:52)
• "No, no, Lucy, I'm afraid, no." — Henry (46:59)
• "Your guardian angel." — Henry (53:32)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 33:02: Lucy's psychic claim and house discovery
• 37:57: Viewing the house and odd agent/movers’ behavior
• 42:43: Unexplained phone calls and voices begin
• 45:15: Supernatural voices urge them to "Get out"
• 48:24: Climax—doorbell with no one present; Lucy's insistence
• 51:30: At the hotel, news of the house's destruction
• 53:32: Final emotional exchange

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Memorable Moments

• The repeated refrain of "Get out!" from multiple, increasingly forceful voices (45:15–45:26).
• Henry's growing desperation as logical explanations fail, contrasted with Lucy’s psychically-charged certainty.

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Tone & Atmosphere

Both stories perfectly showcase the era’s mastery of psychological and supernatural horror:

• The use of real-time narration and audio "playback" in "Ghost Hunt" immerses the listener in mounting terror.
• "Bells" pivots from domestic comedy to existential dread, blurring the line between the supernatural and the psychological.

The performances highlight skepticism versus belief—a hallmark of golden-age radio horror—and leave listeners questioning the boundaries between perception, fate, and the unknown.

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Summary Table of Key Characters (Recurring in Both Stories)

| Character | Role | |---------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Smiley Smith | DJ/Protagonist (Ghost Hunt)/Narrator | | Dr. Clarence Reed | Psychic Investigator (Ghost Hunt) | | Charles McDonald | Real Estate Agent (Ghost Hunt/Bells) | | Lucy Fielding | Lucy, Psychic Wife (Bells) | | Henry Fielding | Henry, Skeptical Husband (Bells) |

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Final Thoughts

This episode of The Horror! delivers two of Suspense’s most memorable supernatural tales. "Ghost Hunt" is a chilling descent into madness and haunting, while "Bells" taps into marital dynamics and modern anxieties to conjure a ghostly warning. Both stories invite listeners to leave the lights on, as their blend of psychological and paranormal terror lingers well beyond the broadcast.

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Listeners’ Note: For more episodes and classic radio chills, visit RelicRadio.com and dip further into the golden age of radio horror.

Transcript

[Smiley Smith]

Oh, stories.

[Henry Fielding]

Real stories.

[Smiley Smith]

And murder too.

[Lucy Fielding]

Turn out your legs.

[Henry Fielding]

Turn them out.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Good evening.

[Charles McDonald]

Come in, won't you?

[Henry Fielding]

What's the matter?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Surely you're not nervous.

[Smiley Smith]

For example, I tell you a story.

[Henry Fielding]

We are meant to call from out of the past.

[Smiley Smith]

Stories.

[Announcer]

Strange weird tales of mystery and terror by radio's masters of the macabre.

[Smiley Smith]

Story of the supernatural. The supernova dramatized by fantasy.

[Narrator]

The mystery of the unknown.

[Smiley Smith]

We tell you this Franklin.

[Henry Fielding]

So if you wish to avoid the.

[Smiley Smith]

Excitement tension of these magnet play, we urge you our latest theory to turn off your.

[Relic Radio Host]

Welcome back to the horror spooky stories from the golden Age of Radio every [e-mail] if you'd like to help support this and all of the relic radio shows, visit donate. Relicradio.com or click on the support link in the show notes. Got some downloadable sets for certain donation amounts though any amount is always appreciated and helpful. Thanks to those who have helped out over the years. Thanks for joining me. This week we're gonna hear two stories from suspense this time series that aired from 1942 to 1962. Its end is considered the end of the golden age of radio. Our first story is theirs from June 23, 1949 titled Ghost Hunt. After that it's Bells from August 6, 1960.

[Announcer]

Now Autolite and its 60,000 dealers and service stations present suspense.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Tonight Autolyte brings you Mr. Ralph Edwards in Ghost Hunt, a suspense play produced and directed by Anton M. Leiter.

[Announcer]

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[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And also remember the Autolite suspense show.

[Announcer]

Is now on television every Tuesday night in many parts of the country.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And now Autolyte presents Ralph Edwards in a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Yeah, didn't that leave you high, huh? Left me feeling treetop tall. That Was Louis Armstrong's. I can't give you anything but love. And that's all we have time for on the Hot and Mellow Hour tonight. Yes, yes, yes. This is Smiley Smith, your favorite disc jockey, I hope, I hope Boot and the Hot and Mellow Hour home for this evening. I'll be back again tomorrow night, minus the music, but with a little surprise for you tomorrow night. Friday night, as you know, is stunt night here at station wxp. And have I got a stunt for you. Last week, if you remember, I planted my wire recorder in the steam room at a ladies Turkish bath and let you listen in on the the playback, remember? Well, tonight, as soon as I leave the studio, do you know where I'm going? Your friend Smiley is going to spend the night in a haunted house on a spook hunt. You heard me. A spook hunt in a haunted house. I'm bringing my little old wire recorder along with me. And if you tune in tomorrow evening at this time, you'll learn what it's like to spend a night in a haunted house. Ain't that something? A real haunted house. No kidding. Four people are known to have committed suicide there. So tune in tomorrow night and share a real thrill with your old pal Smiley. I must be crazy, Smith. Good night.

[Charles McDonald]

Care for a cigar, Mr. Thorpe? I got some cigars in the dash there. No. Well, no reason for you to carry a chip on your shoulder, Mr. Thorpe. Oh, really? Well, I don't like this fool stunt. Well, I don't see it as a fool stunt at all. I really don't. I think it's the only way you're gonna unload this house. Ordinary selling methods won't work in a case like this. I don't forget the reputation, saddling this house. Four suicides since 1939. You know what people call it? The death trap. Yes, it's a lot of nonsense, sure, but try to convince people of that. Anyway, when this disc jockey offered me this chance to kill all the rumors about the death trap about the property, I just naturally jumped and took him up at it. Especially since it don't cost a cent. You sure about that? I'm not liable for a penny, Not a cent. We're doing him a favor, letting him use the place, he said. Thanked me for the chance last night when I drove him out here. So one end washes the other, as the feller says. He got a chance to pull off a stunt. The wire recording will prove the people the property is a number one. And we increase the chance of selling the Place. Well, as long as it doesn't cost me anything. Not a thing. He's using his own recorder and I'm paying for the rental of a couple of walkie talkies he hooked up to. Well, what about this Reed?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Does he charge anything?

[Charles McDonald]

He comes gratis, too. Dr. Reed is whatchamacallit. A psychic investigator. Belongs to a couple of societies that do nothing but hunt ghosts. He showed me articles. He's written about it in their magazine. Well, here's the house. Yeah, looks real nice in the sunshine, don't it?

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah.

[Charles McDonald]

Man, smell that sea breeze. You don't have to sell me. Well, let them know we're here. Probably asleep up all night and everything. Why don't they come out? You think they've gone? Well, I told them last night I'd pick them up around 11. Smith.

[Henry Fielding]

Smith.

[Charles McDonald]

Hey, Smiley. Dr. Reed? Yeah, fast asleep. I guess we better go in and wake him up. Of course, they may have taken the bus back to town. No, no, no. It's a two mile hike to the main highway.

[Announcer]

That's Smith.

[Charles McDonald]

Hey, Molly, where are you? Wake up. You don't suppose.

[Smiley Smith]

Do you? Oh, no, no.

[Charles McDonald]

Smith. Dr. Reed. What's that clicking noise from in there? Well, it's his wire recorder. He left it running. These machines cost a lot of money. Doesn't he care if he uses up his batteries? Well, where is he?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And where's this Reed?

[Charles McDonald]

Maybe they're upstairs. Smith. Hey, anybody home? They must have walked to the highway and taken the bus. Well, he wouldn't have left these machines.

[Announcer]

Well, where are they then? Where are they?

[Charles McDonald]

Well, now, now, don't get excited, Mr. Thorpe. Don't tell me not to get excited. If something's happened to them in my house, I'm liable. You try this side. I'll try that.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

All right.

[Charles McDonald]

Smith. Hey, Smiley.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Smith.

[Smiley Smith]

Smith. Paul McDonald, come here.

[Announcer]

No.

[Henry Fielding]

What?

[Charles McDonald]

What?

[Smiley Smith]

It. Oh, no.

[Charles McDonald]

Re. Doctor.

[Smiley Smith]

Re. No, no, don't touch him, Mr. Thorpe.

[Charles McDonald]

You'll get your hands off.

[Smiley Smith]

Look. Blocked. Is he dead? I can still feel his pulse.

[Charles McDonald]

We better get him to hospital fast. Care for a cigar, Mr. Thorpe?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

No, no, thanks.

[Charles McDonald]

Why not? Try to relax. Nurse said Reid would be all right as soon as he's had a blood transfusion. You told the radio station to be sure and call us as soon as they had any word about Smith. Yes, I told him. Why don't you sit down? No, I'm all at sixes and sevens. What do you suppose happened out there last night? We're gonna know in just a second. Just as soon as I can get this recorder set up. You don't suppose Smith and Reed got.

[Smiley Smith]

Into a fight, do you? Yeah. There. Huh?

[Charles McDonald]

A fight?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I don't know.

[Charles McDonald]

Well, what's wrong?

[Announcer]

Won't it work?

[Hotel Clerk]

It works.

[Charles McDonald]

Take it easy.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

1, 2, 3. Testing. 1, 2, 3.

[Charles McDonald]

There.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Testing. 1, 2, three. All set, Dr. Reed. Mr. McDonald. Hey. Okay, here we go. This is Smiley Smith speaking. Smiley Smith, the ghost hunter. I don't know whether to hope this will turn out to be a success for the sake of the program or a failure for my own sake. Anyway, all the preparations have been made now, and it's up to the spooks. I better tell you where we are right now. We're standing on the lawn of a house about 12 miles above Malibu Beach. The ocean is a hundred feet away, straight down. The house is perched on a cliff and there's a sheer drop of about a hundred feet right into the old Pacific. Maybe you can hear the surf pounding. I'll turn up the volume. Hear it now. I'm going to have you meet two gentlemen who are here with me. Incidentally, we're the only people around for miles and miles. First, I'd like you to meet Dr. Clarence Reed of the British and American psychical research guild. Dr. Reed is a famous investigator of psychic phenomena and I'm very honored to be associated with him on this ghost hunt. He's smiling in an embarrassed sort of way.

[Smiley Smith]

You're much too kind, Mr. Smith.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Dr. Reed has conducted experiments in this field with such great believers in spiritualism as Oliver Lodge and Arthur Conan Doyle. He looks a bit like Santa Claus. He's short, stocky. You don't object, do you, Dr. Reed?

[Smiley Smith]

No. No, indeed.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And he has a magnificent white beard. A truly great beaver. Dr. Reid is so enthusiastic about ghost hunting that he got out of a sick bed this evening to be with.

[Smiley Smith]

Excuse me, my lungs. I was gassed in the First World War.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Yeah. Anyway, Dr. Reed and I are here on the lawn, looking at the house. Can't see much. It's around, oh, 11pm Now. Seems to be a rambling sort of house, two stories high. Since it was built, there have been four suicides here. Is that right? That's right. Into the mic, please.

[Charles McDonald]

Four suicides since 1939.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I better tell them who you are so they won't think you're a ghost. Standing with the doc and me is a real estate agent, Mr. Charles McDonald. He handles his property and he can tell you a lot more about it than I can.

[Charles McDonald]

Well, the house was built by a man named Marcus. Toby Marcus, an orange grower, built the house as a wedding present for his wife. Month after they moved in, she took her own life. On the day of her funeral, he committed suicide the same way. There have been two other cases since then.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And did they all jump into the ocean?

[Charles McDonald]

Yeah, all four of them right over there. The last one was actually seen doing.

[Smiley Smith]

It about three years ago.

[Charles McDonald]

He was seen running like all get out the edge of the cliff. And he was shouting and laughing and yelling as though there was people at his side running right along with him.

[Smiley Smith]

You kidding?

[Charles McDonald]

He was laughing and yelling and running. And when he got to the edge right over there, he jumped and never came above water.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

As good an argument against cold bass as ever.

[Charles McDonald]

I've heard since then people just refuse.

[Smiley Smith]

To live in this house. Silly I call it.

[Charles McDonald]

Anyway, if you and Dr. Reed find any sign of a spook, I'll advise the owner to pull the house down and rebuild. But if you don't find anything, I'm hoping this will convince folks that here's a real buy. Okay, Mr. Smith, you and the doctor on your own. I'll be by in the morning to pick you up around 11.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Goodbye, Ms. McDonald. I hope there's something left for you to pick up in the morning. Well, it's almost pitch black, folks, And I guess Dr. Reid and I ought to begin. I don't believe in ghosts, never have. But what I say is this, if you're dead set on looking for them, this is a dandy place to to do it. So long, Mr. McDonald. Just checked out. Then there were two. Well, three. Oh, my dog. Yeah, folks, I have my dog Jeff with me. He's a wire haired terrier. 3 years of age and he can talk. Yeah, Say hello, Jeff. Come on, Jeff, say hello.

[Smiley Smith]

Come on.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Well, anyway, he's a wire haired terrier and he's three years old. Should we go inside now, Dr. Reed?

[Smiley Smith]

I was about to suggest it.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Now how do we hunt ghosts, Doctor? How do we do it, huh?

[Smiley Smith]

Well, we don't really hunt them. If there should be any in the house, they will come to us.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

How cozy.

[Smiley Smith]

And please, not ghosts. Do not refer to them as ghosts. We know them as apparitions.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Now remember, I have no desire to hurt their feelings where ghosts are concerned. I say live and let live. Well, we've opened the front door now maybe you heard the hinge squeak a little. Now we're standing here looking in. Can't see much. Smells sort of musty and damp.

[Smiley Smith]

What's the matter, Jeff? What's the Matter boy. Jeff. Oh, come on now. Come on.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

My dog seems to object to entering this house. He has all four feet braced and he's straining against the leash.

[Smiley Smith]

Perhaps he senses something.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

We don't like apparitions. Maybe.

[Smiley Smith]

Perhaps it's not unusual. Animals lack the veneer of sophistication we humans possess and are more sensitive to such ammunition.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Yeah, come on, Jeff. Now stop this nonsense. He probably smells a mouse or rat or something.

[Charles McDonald]

Come on, Jeff.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

We're going in whether you like it or not. There's a short entrance hall, and over there at the end of it is a flight of stairs leading to the second floor.

[Announcer]

Jeff.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And over here at the left is what seems to be a large reception room. We're entering this large room now. There are windows over there, French windows. And through them I can see the ocean. The electricity hasn't been turned on, so all I have to see by is a flashlight. Not a very powerful one at that. Dr. Reed is now adjusting his walkie talkie. It's hooked up to my recorder so that he can cut in while he's hunting and tell us what he's found. Here's a few words from Doc before he sets forth on his investigation through the house.

[Smiley Smith]

Ladies and gentlemen. Excuse me. Mr. Smith has introduced me as a ghost hunter. He spoke, I think, in a spirit of skepticism and levity. I'd like to assure you all that my purposes here are serious. I have spent my entire life seeking reliable proof of the appearances of apparitions.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Have you ever seen any? Ever?

[Smiley Smith]

I have seen phenomena which lead me to believe in the possibility of their existence. Although I have never seen any, I account myself sensitive to the evidence of their existence. This house, for example, affects me profoundly. It doesn't seem to affect you in the same way.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I'm not too happy about all this, if that's what you mean.

[Smiley Smith]

You are not psychic and therefore not sensitive to these matters as I am. I imagine the question in the minds of those of you listening to us is, shall we find apparitions? I don't know. But I feel they are here. And that they are evil. I sense danger. I shall soon know.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Dr. Reed's leaving the room now to make a tour of the house. First thing I'm gonna do is open the windows and let some fresh air in. Feels better already. Cooler anyway. I know that.

[Narrator]

What was.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

A bat. A bat just flew. Flew into the room. I think it's a bat, not a bird. I didn't actually see it. Just. It's its shadow as it fanned my face. There it is again. It touched me as it passed.

[Smiley Smith]

Jeff. Jeff.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Jeff, come back here.

[Smiley Smith]

Yes, you fool dog.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Come back here.

[Smiley Smith]

Dr. Reed. Dr. Reed. Dr. Reed.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

For suspense, Autolite is bringing you Mr. Ralph Edwards in radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Suspend.

[Smiley Smith]

Snap out of it.

[Announcer]

Oh.

[Smiley Smith]

Oh.

[Announcer]

I'm reading a letter about the new wide gap auto light resistor spark plugs have. It's for Mrs. Clark Perry right here in Hollywood. She says our 1948 station wagon has given constant trouble. Finally, the garage man said all the difficulty was spark plugs. And he installed a set of auto light resistor spark plugs. Now the car runs beautifully the very first time. My husband has been really pleased.

[Smiley Smith]

Well, smart garage man.

[Announcer]

Smart people to take his advice. Half. You know, as more and more people learn about wide gap auto light resistor spark plugs and how they make an engine idle smoother, give better performance on leaner gas mixtures, actually save on gas. Why, then more people will replace old worn out narrow gap spark plugs with sensational new wide gap auto light resistor spark plug.

[Smiley Smith]

Any more letters like that, Harlow?

[Announcer]

Plenty, Hap. Plenty. Why, here's another one from New York City.

[Smiley Smith]

Oh, read it to me later. Harlow, we haven't time because here's suspense. And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Ralph Edwards as Smiley Smith in Ghost.

[Smiley Smith]

Hunt, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

[Charles McDonald]

Jeff.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Jeff, come back here.

[Smiley Smith]

Jeff, you fool dog.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Come back here. Dr. Reed.

[Smiley Smith]

Dr. Reed. Dr. Reed. Reed speaking. What is it, Smith?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Jeff has run off. My dog. He jumped through the window and ran off.

[Smiley Smith]

Oh. So? I told you he said something about this house, didn't I? Yeah.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

You want to come and see if you can determine what it was exactly? It set him off.

[Smiley Smith]

Soon I am making my way slowly up the stairs toward the second floor. Now I'm halfway up. I'll be down with you soon, folks.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

My dog's run away. You probably heard him howling. He jumped through the window and took off. Never did anything like that before. Frightened by the bat, I guess. Personally, alone here in this big room, I can understand how he must have felt. This isn't a cheerful spot by any means. I may not be psychic, but I sure have a feeling this house doesn't want us here.

[Smiley Smith]

Excuse me. I have something of great interest to report. I'm now standing in an alcove on the second floor, trying to recover my breath. As I reached the head of the stairs, I felt what I think is a definite psychic manifestation. I felt suddenly as though I had been punched in the solar plexus. That's the only way I can describe it. At the same time, I began to perspire. My head is still swimming slightly, and I have difficulty in swallowing. My pulse rate is around 110th minute. The sense of evil is very strong. I feel very. What shall I say? Profoundly depressed.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

You want me up there?

[Smiley Smith]

No, I prefer to remain up here alone. The presence of a disbeliever such as you might interfere with my investigation.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Folks, I'd like you to get a.

[Smiley Smith]

Picture of what it's like here.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Very quiet, for one thing. I've never been in such a quiet place.

[Smiley Smith]

And it's pretty dark.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

No light except my flashlight. Tell you what. You go now and douse all the.

[Smiley Smith]

Lights you have on. Go ahead, put out the lights, and.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

That'Ll give you a clearer feeling of.

[Smiley Smith]

How it is here with me. Go ahead. Put out the lights.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Hey, did you hear that? Real estate agent told me I'd probably hear rats and mice in the walls. I can certainly hear them now. Even you can hear them. I think it's as though.

[Smiley Smith]

Dr. Reid speaking. I've been working my way toward the front room, the one directly above, the one in which Mr. Smith is now. The vibrations have become stronger, more and more pronounced as I approach it. I think I am on the verge of an important discovery.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Important discovery.

[Smiley Smith]

Did you get that?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Now I can hear Dr. Reed moving about in the room above. I don't suppose you can have a try anyway, huh? Hear him? I hope he finishes his investigation soon. Because, quite frankly, I'd like to get out of here. I can well imagine people becoming unhinged in this place. Right now, I find myself pretty jumpy. Not being very brave, am I? It's being alone in this room down here. The desert, this darned old house.

[Smiley Smith]

It's.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I mean, you know, the atmosphere, it's so very.

[Smiley Smith]

I wish only to make this hurried report before continuing with the investigation in this room. I have carefully sounded out all the parts in this room, and the emanations are most strong from what appears to be a closet before which I am now standing. As soon as I open the door to this closet, I will have, I think, a thing of great interest to communicate. I find no key to the lock, and so I will attempt to remove the hinges with my penknife. And I will tell you what I find when I open it.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I'll tell you what it would cost to get me to open that door in the basement at Fort. There's that bat again. It seems to like me. The way it. Each time it passes, it touches my face or my neck with its wings.

[Smiley Smith]

Smelly things, bats.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I don't suppose they bathe very often, if at all, I wonder.

[Smiley Smith]

Get the way you bat.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

That bat'll be the death of me. It's like a jingle, isn't it? Battle be the death of me.

[Smiley Smith]

The death of me.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

The death of me. Battle be the death of me. It isn't far from London. No, that isn't the way it goes. It's come down to Q in lilac time. In lilac time in lilac time Come down to Q in lilac time. It isn't far. I haven't thought of that since I was a kid in grammar school. See, I had a lonely childhood. When you come right down to it. I mean, that's my affair, isn't it?

[Smiley Smith]

Yes, it is.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

It certainly is.

[Smiley Smith]

I have succeeded in removing the hinges to the door. And I find inside it is not a closet, but much larger. It is, I think, a dressing room. I have not yet been inside, but I am about to enter.

[Announcer]

What was I talking about?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Oh, yeah, bats. Well, the bat flying back and forth in this room. Did you hear that?

[Smiley Smith]

Did you hear it?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Dr. Reed must have knocked something over in the dressing room. A chair. A chair? Yeah. Heavy chair by the sound of it. The chair, or whatever it was, must have fallen right. Right over my head, the way it sounded. I can see a small stain forming right on the ceiling. Right over my head. Something ran across my foot. Just a rat, I think it was. I've always hated rats.

[Smiley Smith]

Most people do. Of course, that stain up there bothers me. It's gotten so big so soon.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I think I'll take a chance and bother Reed and asking what it is.

[Smiley Smith]

Dr. Reed?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Reed, can you hear me? Are you all right? Hello? He didn't answer.

[Smiley Smith]

I think he's just a little bit deaf, I think.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

So what do you suppose he's found, huh? I'm afraid this is rather dull for you listeners. I'm not finding so. Of course.

[Announcer]

There.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I heard him cough. Did you hear that cough? Hope he's all right. He got out of a sick bed to come here this evening. You know, he was gassed in the First World War.

[Smiley Smith]

And this place is beginning to get on my nerves a wee bit. Just a teensy weensy bit. Reed speaking.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Hello?

[Smiley Smith]

He switched off. That's the bad coffee. Scott. I feel so lonely.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Been alone so much in my life.

[Smiley Smith]

Not so much now, of course, but.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

When I was younger, I was Alone.

[Smiley Smith]

So much of the time, you know.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Struggling to get ahead. Living in a hall bedroom, wondering where my next meal is coming from. I get the blues just remembering it. Seem sad, young people having to spend so much time alone. Sad for old people too, of course. I'm saying of course a lot. Of course I am. That stain on the ceiling, it's grown amazingly. It's actually beginning to drip. I mean form bubbles. They'll start dropping soon. Colored bubbles.

[Smiley Smith]

They seem to be odd shaped stain.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Like a body lying on its back.

[Smiley Smith]

With its arms stretched out.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

It's cheerful. I'll certainly advise Mr. McDonald to have this place pulled down. I'll go upstairs in a minute or two to see how Dr. Reed's making out. You know, listeners, I really believe I go completely crazy if I had to stay here much longer. Wears you down. That's exactly what it does. It wears you down. It so close and musty in here. I feel sort of trapped. Don't know why I said that. That's what they call this place, you.

[Smiley Smith]

Know, the death trap.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

There, what did I tell you?

[Smiley Smith]

That stain started to drip drops. Drip drops, drip drops, drip drops.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I'll catch the next move in my hand. Reed. Dr. Reed. I'm going upstairs now, listeners. I'm afraid something has happened to Dr. Reed. I'm not kidding. I mean, this is on the level. Which room could it be now? Right. No, right, right. This is it, I think. Evening, gentlemen and madam. I'm so glad to see you. I was just aching to see somebody, anybody. I've been so lonely down there. What have you done with the doctor?

[Smiley Smith]

I know, I know he's been hurt.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

See the color of the bubble on my hand.

[Smiley Smith]

What have you done with him? Make way please, gentlemen, make way.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Well, if this isn't the funniest darn thing. This can't be Dr. Reed lying here. He didn't have a red beard.

[Smiley Smith]

Don't crowd me, gentlemen. Don't. Don't crowd me, please.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Huh? You want me to go where with you? You want me to do what?

[Smiley Smith]

Speak up, gentlemen. To the cliffs. Down to the cliffs.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

You mean right now? Well, all right, if you'll come with me. I don't want to be alone anymore. You will come with me?

[Smiley Smith]

All of you. All four of you. You too, man. Oh, good.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Come on, man. To the cliffs.

[Smiley Smith]

To the cliffs. To the cliffs.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

To the cliffs.

[Smiley Smith]

He jumped over the cliff. He jumped over the cliff. McDonald, he jumped over.

[Lucy Fielding]

Mr. McDonald. Mr. Thorpe, you may come in to see Dr. Reed now.

[Smiley Smith]

What? Huh?

[Lucy Fielding]

Dr. Reed is conscious you may see him now.

[Smiley Smith]

Is.

[Charles McDonald]

Is he able to talk?

[Lucy Fielding]

Just for a few minutes. In here.

[Smiley Smith]

Come in. Come in, gentlemen. How are you?

[Charles McDonald]

Dr. Reid, we've been waiting to see.

[Smiley Smith]

Yes, and I must apologize, gentlemen. I had a most unfortunate accident. Hemorrhage.

[Charles McDonald]

Hemorrhage?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Yes.

[Smiley Smith]

My lungs, you know.

[Charles McDonald]

Now, gentlemen, hemorrhage. Dr. Reid, what happened in that house? What happened to Smith? We've just been listening to a playback of the recordings you made out there.

[Smiley Smith]

Smith? Isn't he with you?

[Charles McDonald]

We've just heard the recording, Dr. Reed.

[Smiley Smith]

Smith jumped over the cliff into the ocean. Oh, that poor boy. Dr. Reed, will you please tell us what happened?

[Charles McDonald]

We heard on the recording there were ghosts in that house.

[Smiley Smith]

Ghosts? I didn't see any ghosts like Smith.

[Charles McDonald]

What about him?

[Smiley Smith]

If he went over the cliff, it was fear that drove him over. Gentlemen, I didn't see any ghosts. As for that unfortunate young man, who can say now what he saw or thought he saw?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Thank you, Ralph Edwards, for displaying your versatility by appearing as guest star on Suspense.

[Smiley Smith]

See, Harlow, that Edwards does everything.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Uh, half.

[Announcer]

No, does. Don't use that word on our Autolight show.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Oh, come now, Harlow. I can make you use that word, as you call it.

[Announcer]

How?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Now, don't you say that auto light resistor spark plugs make your car engine idle smoother.

[Announcer]

Yes, but.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And your car gives better performance on leaner gas mixtures. Saves gas.

[Announcer]

Sure does. I mean, do. I mean does.

[Smiley Smith]

Aren't we devils?

[Announcer]

Ralph, you tricked me. Well, anyhow, it does my heart good to tell people that Autolite resistor spark plugs are ignition engineered by Autolyte, which makes more than 400 products for cars, trucks, airplanes and boats in 28 plants from coast to coast. Autolite also makes complete electrical systems for many makes of America's finest cars. Batteries, spark plugs, generators, starting motors, spark plug wire, battery, cable, coils, distributors, all ignition engineered to fit together perfectly. Work together perfectly because they're a perfect team. The lifeline of your car. So, folks, don't accept electrical parts that are supposed to be as good as. Remember, you're right with Autolight.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

And now here again is Ralph Edwards. I want to thank Tony Leiter and his great cast of actors. For helping to make my appearance on Suspense a very pleasant consequence. Like all of you, I'm a great suspense fan. And I'm looking forward to next week when radio's outstanding theater of thrills brings you Joseph Cotton in the Day I Died. Another gripping study in suspense.

[Announcer]

Tonight's suspense play was adapted for radio by Walter Newman. From an Original story by H.R. wakefield with music composed by Lucian Morowek and conducted by Lud Gluskin. The entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Leiter. Make it a point to listen next Thursday to suspense radio's outstanding theater of Thrills. Remember, next Thursday, same time, hear Joseph Cotton in the Day I Died.

[Smiley Smith]

It you can buy Autolite resistor spark plugs, Autolite Staal batteries, Autolite electrical parts at your neighborhood Autolite dealers. Switch to Autolite. Good night.

[Announcer]

This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Narrator]

And now another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Do you believe in ghosts?

[Henry Fielding]

No.

[Narrator]

Well, then, how about poltergeists? You know, those noisy, mischievous spirits that rap on the walls, move the furniture, rattle the windows. Generally make a scary nuisance of themselves. Do you believe in them?

[Charles McDonald]

I mean?

[Narrator]

Of course not.

[Smiley Smith]

Neither do I.

[Narrator]

And yet now and then we hear reports. Reports from people of honesty, integrity about strange, unexplainable manifestations that have sent them screaming with terror into the night. In a moment, Act 1 of Bells, starring Rosemary Rice and Bill Lipton. And written especially for suspense by Jack Bundy.

[Lucy Fielding]

The lively crowd today agrees those who think young say Pepsi, please. They picked the right one, the modern light one now it's Pepsi for those who think young. So go ahead and pick the drink that lets you drink Young as you think.

[Smiley Smith]

Think.

[Lucy Fielding]

Yes, get the right one the modern light one. Now it's Pepsi for those who think young. Bye. Honey, I'm home.

[Henry Fielding]

Call this home?

[Lucy Fielding]

Well, it won't be for long because listen. Listen, Henry.

[Henry Fielding]

Listen to what? That blasted elevated practical tearing through our living room every couple of minutes. All day, all night, all week, all year. Henry, listen to it. Right on cue too. So help me, Lucy, what's the use? Honey, seriously, if we have to live in this place much longer, I swear I'll go completely off my nuts.

[Lucy Fielding]

I know exactly what you mean. I felt that way myself. But from now on. Mr. Fielding. My dear. My darling. Mr. Fielding. It won't be necessary.

[Henry Fielding]

Are you kidding? I never talked to so many real estate agents, plowed through so many classified ads in my life. And what's it got me, darling, it's got you, me.

[Lucy Fielding]

And listen to me. I've told you more than once that I'm psychic. And now I know that I am.

[Henry Fielding]

Please, honey, not that again. How about some dinner?

[Lucy Fielding]

But it's true. And now I know it is. Now I can prove it.

[Henry Fielding]

You mean that so called guardian angel of yours has found us a nice quiet little home in the country? That we can afford.

[Lucy Fielding]

That's exactly what I mean. Because. Listen, Henry, listen very carefully.

[Henry Fielding]

Now really, Lucy, I've told you a thousand times, you can't seriously believe all that psychic stuff.

[Announcer]

Stuff?

[Henry Fielding]

And all that junk about a guardian angel.

[Lucy Fielding]

It's not junk. My guardian angel looks after me and I'm sure of it now.

[Announcer]

You are?

[Lucy Fielding]

Yes, I am. Look. Look at this newspaper. You see, it isn't the Herald examiner at all. It's the Sentinel.

[Henry Fielding]

You mean because you picked up the wrong newspaper by mistake, that makes you psychic?

[Lucy Fielding]

It wasn't any mistake. A few minutes ago, as I was leaving the supermarket, for some strange reason I can't explain, there was something. Something. Some strange feeling, some influence or something that just made me reach out and grab this particular paper. Made me, Henry, I couldn't help myself.

[Henry Fielding]

So you're psychic. How about some dinner?

[Lucy Fielding]

Well, I am. I must be. Because look. Look here on the real estate page.

[Henry Fielding]

Honey, I've read them all.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry. Not this one. Will you listen? Small six wounds Colonial cottage within easy driving distance of Bell Manor Development.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, now you know darn well we can never afford a section like that Bell Manor yet.

[Lucy Fielding]

Will you please listen? Excellent condition. Bank inspected, fully insured. Two bedrooms, one bath.

[Henry Fielding]

And have they dared to put in the price?

[Lucy Fielding]

Wait. Large living room with stone fireplace built on garage. Full half acre plot. Ideal for young couple anxious to get away from the noise and dirt of the city. And if this isn't just exactly what we've been looking for.

[Henry Fielding]

Sure, sure it is. But the rental on a place like that would be about, I'd say 300.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, that's just it. The rental is $115 a month.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, now you are kidding.

[Lucy Fielding]

Look for yourself. See? $115 a month.

[Henry Fielding]

I can't believe it. But that's what it says in black and white.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, Henry, it's a dream come true. And all because of my guardian angel and that strange, unexplainable feeling.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, there's something wrong with it. Let's face it, Lucy, there must be a rental like that for a place like that in this day and age.

[Lucy Fielding]

Well, at least we're going to look into it, aren't we, honey? But we have to. I mean, because of the way we found out about it. The way that. That something I can't explain forced me to buy this paper to find this particular ad.

[Henry Fielding]

Your good old guardian angel.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, please, dear, don't kid me about it.

[Henry Fielding]

Okay, okay, we'll look into it. We've got to lose.

[Lucy Fielding]

Who's the agent oh, let's see. His name is. Oh, here is Strickler. Orville Strickler.

[Henry Fielding]

I'll call him first thing in the morning.

[Lucy Fielding]

Thank you, darling.

[Henry Fielding]

If there isn't something wrong with it. Well, honey, maybe I'll give in and admit that you are psychic.

[Narrator]

In just a moment. The second act of suspense. When Napoleon met his Waterloo. The news was slow in coming across the Atlantic. However, at that time, Americans, though interested, were little affected by what was taking place an entire ocean away. Today, that ocean has shrunk proportionately. To about the size of Walden Pond. With little of the serenity about it.

[Smiley Smith]

So admired by Thoreau.

[Narrator]

Today. We want to know immediately what is going on all around the world. Our concern is vital to the free world. The worldwide network of veteran CBS News correspondents. Meets this need to know and know immediately. Every hour on the hour, every day, Monday through Friday. This station of the CBS Radio Network. Brings you expanded CBS news coverage. The most complete network news coverage. And broadcasting today, throughout the weekend, too. Timely news reports at frequent intervals. Keep up with the news as it happens. By keeping tuned to this CBS Radio Network station.

[Lucy Fielding]

And these pictures. Henry. Oh, isn't it beautiful?

[Henry Fielding]

Gorgeous, huh? Yeah, Lucy, it looks real nice, but when were these pictures taken, Mr. Strickler? Only a couple of days ago.

[Announcer]

Mr.

[Henry Fielding]

Fielding took them myself as soon as we got the place for a listing. It's no wonder we've had so many calls on it already.

[Lucy Fielding]

And we certainly can't argue with this bank report on it.

[Henry Fielding]

That's right, Ms.

[Announcer]

Fielding.

[Henry Fielding]

The bank wouldn't dare to lie about the place. I still don't understand this low rental. Can you explain it? Well, of course, it isn't in Bell Manor. It's two or three miles out. Real country. Farm country.

[Lucy Fielding]

Mmm. That's what I like about it.

[Henry Fielding]

But it has gas and water and electricity all ready to use. And, well, of course, the telephone's the old fashioned kind. I mean, you have to call the operator.

[Lucy Fielding]

Who cares? Darling, this is it.

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess it is.

[Lucy Fielding]

Thanks, darling. And now do you believe?

[Smiley Smith]

Sure, sure.

[Henry Fielding]

Anything you say. Believe what, Miss Feeling, Mr. Strickler? You pay no attention, Mr. Strickler. My wife's a bit superstitious. Thinks she's psychic is all.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Think nothing of it.

[Henry Fielding]

Psychic, did you say?

[Lucy Fielding]

What's the matter, Mr. Strickler?

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, nothing. Like your husband says, nothing at all. It's just that the last folks in the house. Well, you know how it is. The noises some folks aren't quite used to out there in the country. Like the Tree branches hitting on the roof when the wind blows and. Well, now, let me tell you young ones something. Yes? I just want you to know that I stand back of every deal I make. So you take along both copies of this lease. And when you've seen the house, make sure it's right for you. Then you can mail my copy back to me.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, I'm sure that isn't one bit necessary.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, that's just about as fair a proposition as we could ask for, Mr. Strickler. Now, if you let me have the keys. Yes, sir. Here you are. Thanks. And good luck.

[Lucy Fielding]

Phew. Honey, I never realized we'd add so many things in that stuffy little apartment.

[Henry Fielding]

Unless we'll have to buy to fill up this place. Now, where do you want this chair? This side or over there near the fireplace?

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, anywhere.

[Henry Fielding]

Okay, then I'll put it right here and put it to use.

[Lucy Fielding]

Ah, well, we'll still have to buy things for one whole bedroom, though, for guests.

[Henry Fielding]

Then bring their sleeping bags. By the time we get all this stuff set, we'll be glad it's all we have.

[Lucy Fielding]

You lazy bum. There's still an awful lot of unpacking to do.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, hum. Just let me relax for a minute, huh? Some of this furniture was pretty hefty to push around.

[Lucy Fielding]

Well, I still think the movers should have stayed to help. Say, did you hear one of them say they moved the last family in and out of here? Those men were certainly anxious to get away once they'd unloaded that truck. I wonder why.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, they said they want to get back before the storm broke. Afraid of our back country roads, I guess.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, how do you think these drapes will look here on. Henry? Come on, help me.

[Henry Fielding]

Huh?

[Announcer]

Huh?

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, I'll be right with you as soon as I finish this cigarette.

[Lucy Fielding]

You'd better.

[Henry Fielding]

Ah, listen to that rain out there. Isn't that soothing?

[Lucy Fielding]

You know, I just knew this was going to be it for us, Henry. After buying that other newspaper that way for no reason at all. Except that weird, strange feeling that I had.

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah, yeah, Regular miracle.

[Lucy Fielding]

You know, I didn't tell you this, but I was out in this section with an agent just last week. And do you know the lowest rental we could find?

[Henry Fielding]

200 and a quarter. I was out here, too.

[Lucy Fielding]

250, and not nearly as nice as this.

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah, that sweet old guardian angel you're always talking about must be working overtime.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, don't joke about it.

[Henry Fielding]

Okay, then prove it. Now, here's your chance to prove it. Lucy, call in some Friendly poltergeist to help me move the rest of this furniture, huh?

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, now stop it, you lazy bum. But you are a nice lazy bum.

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah, Best there is. Ah, listen. That lovely rain out there. And the thunder. Nothing ominous, menacing or.

[Lucy Fielding]

Well, I should hope not.

[Henry Fielding]

Just nice and peaceful. No, I guess the land up this way can stand a bit of rain too. The crop's a lot of good.

[Lucy Fielding]

Crops, did you say? Oh, now, look, little city boy, don't try to sound like a farmer just because there's a little plot of land around us. And will you please get up out of that chair and help Henry?

[Henry Fielding]

Whoa. Sure. Sure, sweetie. You don't have to hit me over the head with a thunderbolt.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, that was a close one. Out here in the country all alone this way. It's so scary.

[Henry Fielding]

All alone, did you say, huh?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

How about that?

[Henry Fielding]

We barely move in here, somebody calls us up on the phone. Come to think of it, he did tell us the phone was all hooked up. Where is it?

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, I'm glad it is hooked up. Now we can call up some of our friends and have them come out and see us. I wonder who it is.

[Henry Fielding]

Here it is, under this crate here.

[Charles McDonald]

Now.

[Henry Fielding]

Hello.

[Lucy Fielding]

But don't invite anybody up here just yet. Not till we're settled.

[Henry Fielding]

Okay, don't worry. Hello?

[Charles McDonald]

Hello?

[Henry Fielding]

What's going on here?

[Lucy Fielding]

Who is it?

[Henry Fielding]

Henry, I only wish I. Hello? Hello.

[Lucy Fielding]

Number, please.

[Henry Fielding]

What?

[Lucy Fielding]

I said, number, please.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, yeah, yeah, I. I know you did, but listen, didn't you just ring here?

[Lucy Fielding]

No, I did not, sir. Are you sure about that? Of course I am, sir.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, okay. I'm sorry. It's funny.

[Lucy Fielding]

Who was it, Henry?

[Henry Fielding]

Nobody. Nothing. I guess she must have rung us by mistake.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, now, will you give me a hand with these drapes, please?

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah, sure. Be glad to hold everything this time. I hope there's somebody on the line. Hello? Just a minute. What is this? Hello? Hello.

[Lucy Fielding]

Number, please.

[Narrator]

Number, please.

[Henry Fielding]

Listen, this phone just rang again.

[Lucy Fielding]

You must be mistaken, sir. I didn't ring you.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, somebody did, operator.

[Announcer]

My wife and I both heard it.

[Lucy Fielding]

Well, there's no call for you on the switchboard, sir.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, then why'd you ring?

[Lucy Fielding]

I did not ring, sir.

[Henry Fielding]

Now, don't tell me. Okay, okay.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, there was nobody there again, was there?

[Henry Fielding]

Nobody but the operator in those funny little. She claims she didn't ring.

[Lucy Fielding]

That's very funny.

[Henry Fielding]

Yeah, funny. Only it isn't this time.

[Hotel Clerk]

Hello?

[Henry Fielding]

All right, all right, let's have it. Watch the gag.

[Hotel Clerk]

Hello.

[Charles McDonald]

Hello.

[Lucy Fielding]

Number, please.

[Henry Fielding]

Now, look, operator, don't Tell me you didn't ring the phone this time, Henry.

[Lucy Fielding]

I'm sorry, but I did not, sir.

[Henry Fielding]

Well, I'm sorry too, but you must have. I tell you, this phone rang. It rang before, too, in spite of what you say. Now, let's cut out this foolishness.

[Lucy Fielding]

I am very sorry, sir, but you must be mistaken. What do you mean?

[Henry Fielding]

What are you talking about?

[Lucy Fielding]

It could only have been rung through this switchboard. I'm on duty alone here, and I did not ring it.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, no.

[Lucy Fielding]

And now, if you will excuse me, I have another call to handle.

[Henry Fielding]

All I have to say is that somebody around here, and it isn't me, is a cockeyed.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Hello?

[Henry Fielding]

Son of a gun. She can't hang up on me. Just what does she think she's up to?

[Lucy Fielding]

No, wait, Henry. Losing your temper won't help.

[Henry Fielding]

Now, wait a minute.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Hello, operator.

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out. Get out.

[Smiley Smith]

What?

[Narrator]

What?

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out.

[Hotel Clerk]

Get out.

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out.

[Henry Fielding]

Wait.

[Hotel Clerk]

Now, wait, will you?

[Henry Fielding]

What is this?

[Hotel Clerk]

Get out.

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out. Get out.

[Hotel Clerk]

Operator.

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out.

[Charles McDonald]

Operator.

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out.

[Smiley Smith]

Get out.

[Lucy Fielding]

Get out. Get out. Get out.

[Henry Fielding]

No, this is crazy.

[Lucy Fielding]

What is? Henry, what is it? Tell me.

[Henry Fielding]

Sure, I'll tell you. It's a crazy gag or something.

[Lucy Fielding]

Gag?

[Henry Fielding]

Well, I've had enough of it. I'm tearing out this phone. Henry, we'll have no more of that nonsense.

[Lucy Fielding]

Darling, I've never seen you this way. What's the matter?

[Smiley Smith]

Nothing.

[Henry Fielding]

Not now.

[Smiley Smith]

A cord broken off.

[Henry Fielding]

It won't happen again because it can't happen again.

[Smiley Smith]

No.

[Henry Fielding]

No is right.

[Charles McDonald]

Henry.

[Lucy Fielding]

Tell me what is. And what happened. And the telephone. How could it ring after?

[Smiley Smith]

You couldn't.

[Henry Fielding]

It's impossible. So it didn't.

[Smiley Smith]

We.

[Henry Fielding]

We were hearing things.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, no, Henry, you know that isn't so.

[Henry Fielding]

Yes. Yes, it has to be.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

You know it, I know it.

[Henry Fielding]

No, we just.

[Narrator]

We only.

[Henry Fielding]

Now, Lucy, we only thought we heard it ring again.

[Lucy Fielding]

That isn't true.

[Henry Fielding]

It has to be. Anything else simply doesn't make sense.

[Lucy Fielding]

And you were hearing something on that phone before, weren't you? Weren't you, Henry?

[Smiley Smith]

All right.

[Henry Fielding]

Yes. Yes, I was hearing something. A lot of laughing, chattering, screwy. A lot of little, tiny. And a woman's voice only. Oh, don't you see? It was only some practical joker. It had to be.

[Lucy Fielding]

No, no, Henry, I'm afraid, no.

[Henry Fielding]

What else could it be? Some of your supernatural spirit friends, I suppose.

[Lucy Fielding]

Yes.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, Lucy. Lucy, don't be ridiculous.

[Lucy Fielding]

Please, Henry, you must listen to me.

[Henry Fielding]

No, no, the whole thing's ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

[Lucy Fielding]

No, Henry, you said a woman's voice.

[Henry Fielding]

All this work, the excitement of getting here. That's all it is.

[Lucy Fielding]

You said a woman's voice.

[Hotel Clerk]

Henry, forget it.

[Henry Fielding]

Just forget it. Lucy, it's just that we're excited.

[Smiley Smith]

We're.

[Henry Fielding]

Now, listen, you go out, make a pot of coffee. We'll sit down and relax and be real calm about this. We'll sit down. We'll calmly. Well, don't you see?

[Hotel Clerk]

We're overwrought.

[Announcer]

We're overworked.

[Henry Fielding]

With all this moving. Lucy, and all the excitement, that's all it is.

[Lucy Fielding]

I wish to heaven I could believe.

[Hotel Clerk]

Oh, it has to be.

[Lucy Fielding]

I tell you.

[Henry Fielding]

No, it's the only possible explanation there can be for a. Henry, no, Lucy, just. Oh, it's all right. It's a doorbell. Okay?

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, please don't answer it.

[Henry Fielding]

There's a bell. It makes some sense for a change.

[Lucy Fielding]

What if it. If it's.

[Henry Fielding]

Just take it easy now.

[Charles McDonald]

Yeah.

[Lucy Fielding]

Huh?

[Smiley Smith]

Henry.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, please, dear.

[Henry Fielding]

There was. There was no one there.

[Lucy Fielding]

Darling, are you sure?

[Henry Fielding]

Yes. Yes, I'm sure. I'm absolutely sure. There was no one there.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry, don't you see what this means? Then it's this house.

[Henry Fielding]

Oh, no, Lucy.

[Smiley Smith]

No, no.

[Henry Fielding]

What you're thinking is just a lot of crazy superstition.

[Lucy Fielding]

Please listen to me. You know what it means to us, this house.

[Hotel Clerk]

Okay.

[Henry Fielding]

I'm going to find out what it means.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry. Yes?

[Charles McDonald]

Hello?

[Hotel Clerk]

Who are you?

[Henry Fielding]

Who rang this bell? Where are you? Who are you?

[Lucy Fielding]

Now. Now do you believe?

[Henry Fielding]

No.

[Lucy Fielding]

Were there any wet footprints on the porch?

[Henry Fielding]

No, there wasn't any wet footprints. There weren't any dry footprints. There wasn't anything.

[Lucy Fielding]

Proves it, Henry. It's a warning. We've got to leave. We got to get out of here.

[Charles McDonald]

Get out of here?

[Lucy Fielding]

Yes, now, before it's too late.

[Announcer]

Why?

[Henry Fielding]

Why, Lucy, just because of that telephone, we got some crazy voice on it, said we should.

[Lucy Fielding]

That was it. Said then we've got to because this house is haunted. It's full of evil spirits. Oh, no, no, that's nonsense.

[Henry Fielding]

You know it is. And you've got to get over this crazy idea that anything that happens, anything you can explain is supernatural.

[Lucy Fielding]

It's haunted. That's why the phone rang and the doorbell rang and there was nobody there. There's some evil, evil spirit.

[Henry Fielding]

No, no, Lucy, no, no. It's some practical joke. That soul. Now, stop this nonsense. Get hold of yourself.

[Hotel Clerk]

Come on.

[Lucy Fielding]

The Ren Is solo. Nobody will stay here. It's why that agent was so. So startled when you told him that I'm psychic.

[Henry Fielding]

Loose.

[Lucy Fielding]

I am, Henry. And there Is something wrong with this place? We've got to get out of here. No, you've got to believe it. We've got to leave or something terrible will happen.

[Henry Fielding]

And I say you've let your crazy ideas go through.

[Lucy Fielding]

What else can it be?

[Narrator]

I don't know.

[Lucy Fielding]

I don't know.

[Henry Fielding]

But there has to be some logical explanation. And I'm not gonna let a lot of superstitious hogwash.

[Lucy Fielding]

Okay.

[Henry Fielding]

Now we turn up that thing off the wall. Right off the wall.

[Lucy Fielding]

Okay.

[Henry Fielding]

All right. Here, look at it now. It stopped. And now you listen. Lucy, please.

[Lucy Fielding]

Please. You listen. You're only losing your temper, refusing to see what this really means.

[Charles McDonald]

It's a storm.

[Henry Fielding]

The air's full of electricity. The long wires that were hooked up to these things.

[Smiley Smith]

Oh, no.

[Henry Fielding]

The long telephone lines out there and the lightning, that's what did it. Now, be sensible. We got to keep our heads about this.

[Lucy Fielding]

Voices you heard, can you explain them? Yes.

[Henry Fielding]

Yes, I can. The wires got crossed up in the wind, and that's all.

[Lucy Fielding]

And when it rang again, after our.

[Henry Fielding]

Fatigue, our excitement, I tell you, we were excited. We only thought we heard it.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

No. No, you're wrong.

[Lucy Fielding]

Please, Henry, I'm begging you. Let's leave. Let's get out of here.

[Smiley Smith]

Go.

[Lucy Fielding]

Go back into town to some. Some hotel. Some hotel in town that's far away from the terrible things in this.

[Henry Fielding]

And I say, why is this thing rung again? Has this doorbell rung again since I ripped it off the wall?

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry.

[Henry Fielding]

No, of course it hasn't.

[Lucy Fielding]

Oh, Henry, let's get out of here.

[Henry Fielding]

Don't you see, honey, what all that guardian angel stuff, all that psychic talk has done to you.

[Smiley Smith]

No.

[Henry Fielding]

It's made you believe in all this impossible stuff and how it's frightened you because of it.

[Smiley Smith]

No.

[Henry Fielding]

Thank you. I can't be. It's impossible.

[Hotel Clerk]

Here you are. Mr. And Mrs. Fielding, room 314. I just have these bags here in the rack. There you are, sir.

[Henry Fielding]

Fine, fine. Here you are, son.

[Hotel Clerk]

Thank you, sir. Anything else you'd like, maybe from room service or something?

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

No, no, that'll be all.

[Hotel Clerk]

Yes, sir. Oh, the telephone is right there in the night table if you want it.

[Henry Fielding]

Telephone. No, thanks.

[Hotel Clerk]

Yes, sir. Oh, if you'd like a little news and music, I'll put on this radio for you.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Fine.

[Hotel Clerk]

Take a few seconds to warm up.

[Henry Fielding]

Okay. Thank you.

[Charles McDonald]

I don't know how good it will.

[Hotel Clerk]

Be, though, after that big storm we had. Well, night, sir. Good.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

Feel better, honey?

[Lucy Fielding]

Thanks, darling. I feel a lot safer now.

[Henry Fielding]

Lucy. Lucy, I still can't help wondering if we weren't a little foolish letting our imagination run because we were tired.

[Hotel Clerk]

At this moment, both local and Dorchester county police are making every effort to locate a Mr. And Mrs. Henry Fielding.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry Let.

[Hotel Clerk]

According to our report, they were the new tenants of a small home on the outskirts of the Bell Manor development that was struck by lightning during the heavy rain and thunderstorm that ended a short while ago.

[Henry Fielding]

Lucy.

[Hotel Clerk]

Fortunately, there was no fire, nor were any other homes in the area affected. But that single bolt of lightning struck the Fielding home with such force as to completely demolish the living room. A neighbor had reported seeing lights on people moving about only a few minutes before. However, no sign of either them or their car has been found at the scene. And it's barely possible that they left before the lightning struck.

[Henry Fielding]

Good Lord.

[Hotel Clerk]

This has not been confirmed. If they did leave, whatever their reason, we can only say it was indeed providential. They weren't in that house when this catastrophe occurred. If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of a Mr. And Mrs. Henry Fielding, please notify this station or the Dorchester county police.

[Lucy Fielding]

Henry.

[Dr. Clarence Reed]

I know, darling.

[Henry Fielding]

Your guardian angel.

[Narrator]

Suspense. You've Been Listening to Bells, starring Rosemary Rice and Bill Lipton and written especially for suspense by Jack Bundy. In a moment, a word about next week's story of suspense. The roots of athlete's foot grow down here, down under the skin surface. But NP27 treatment penetrates down where other remedies can't reach. Roots out athlete's foot, even penetrates into toenails. NP27 stops itch, relieves pain, promotes growth of healthy skin, guards against new infection. NP27 treatment roots out athlete's foot. Or your druggist will refund your money. Get NP27 treatment. Suspense is produced and directed by Bruno Zarato Jr. Musical supervision by Ethel Huber. Heard in tonight's story were Tony Darnay, Lawson Zerby and Larry Robinson. Babe Ruth was a great. But these days, with other factors, other techniques, can there be a greater than the greatest? CBS Radio Network's Battle of the Batters will be heard instead of suspense this following weekend. Only suspense will come to you here the following weekend. This is the CBS Radio Network.

[Relic Radio Host]

You can find more from suspense@ Relicradio.com More from the horror and all of the Relic Radio podcasts and our shoutcast stream streaming towards 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lots to listen to there. Thanks to your support. That's gonna do it for this week. I'll be back tomorrow with strange tales next Saturday with our next episode of the Horror.