It's time now for Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons. We now present Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons, at this new time, every week, in a complete 30-minute mystery, in which the kindly old investigator brings us one of his most celebrated cases. Tonight, the case of murder and the revengeful ghost. Our scene opens in a well-to-do home in the suburbs of New York. It is late in the evening as a tall, good-looking man opens the door to one of the rooms. He crosses to his desk in the semi-darkness. Suddenly he sees a sinister figure, a figure that instills horror in his heart. What are you? A phantom or a human being? Lift your head and show your face. You? You've come to carry out your threat. No, I don't believe you'd murder me. You can't. Don't come near me. No. You must be Lorna Wade, the young woman who telephoned for an appointment here in my office. Yes, Mr. Keen, I am. This is my partner, Mike Clancy. Pleased to meet you, Miss Wade. Say, boss, the lady's as pale as a ghost. Ghost? Ghost? Mr. Keen, I've come to you for help. My fiancee, Iva Stacy, has been murdered. He was murdered by the ghost of his dead wife. She said she'd come back from the grave to murder him if he married again. And she has. She has. Saints preserve us. What's all this? Miss Wade, you don't look like a girl who believes seriously in ghosts. I never did, Mr. Keen. But now I do. I know that people can come back from the grave and commit murder. I've seen it with my own eyes. Just what did you see? I'll tell you the entire story, Mr. Keen. I met Iva Stacy eight months ago. He was a millionaire and the most wonderful person I ever knew. He and I were to be married this week. Well, then he was killed practically on the eve of your wedding, miss? Murdered by a ghost, Mr. Glancy, under the weirdest circumstances. Iva had been married once before to a woman named Teresa. She died two years ago. Go on, Miss Wade. She had an incurable illness, Mr. Keen, and she was sick for years. During those years, she developed a burning jealousy. She imagined Iva was seeing other women behind her back. Iva Stacy, the murdered man, told you all this, I presume? Yes, Mr. Keen. His wife, Teresa, became a shrew. She wouldn't let him out of her sight. She complained that he did nothing to help her overcome her illness. That he actually didn't care if she died. And was any of this true, Miss Wade? Oh, no. Iva was faithful to Teresa until the end. But she didn't believe it. Then on her deathbed, she made a horrible threat. She said that if Iva ever tried to marry again, she'd come back. From the dead? Yes, from the dead. She'd come back and stop him. She'd kill him. And I think she did, Mr. Keen. Try to calm yourself, Miss Wade. People don't return from the grave. But I saw her. I saw a ghostly figure in gray that slipped out of Iva's house just before I found his dead body. You really think you saw a ghost, Miss? I saw something, Mr. Glancy. I was bringing Iva a book he wanted to read. It was almost dark when I got near his house. And from the sidewalk, I saw his door open. And this gray woman walked out. Then she seemed to vanish in the darkness. You didn't see her face? No. But when I hurried inside the house, I found Iva lying on the floor near his desk. She'd been stabbed to death. Miss Wade, did you tell the story of this so-called ghost to the police? No. I was afraid they wouldn't believe me. It... It sounds so fantastic. That's why I came here, to ask you to help me, Mr. Keen. I owe it to the memory of the man I love to get to the bottom of all this. Suppose you take us to Iva Stacey's home. I want to see just what the circumstances were. Oh, Mr. Keen, don't you believe my story? Yes, Miss Wade, I do. It's your interpretation of it that I questioned. But we'll soon find out a little more about your fiancée's murderer and the revengeful ghost. This is Ivault's house, Mr. Keen. Miss Wade, just where were you standing when the front door opened and the woman in gray walked out? Um, right about here. Boss, look, the door's opening again. Yes, Mike, very slowly. But no one's supposed to be inside that house right now. I'm frightened. No one's coming out, sir. But the door just opened and stayed open. Oh, Mr. Keen. And please wait in our car, Miss Wade. Come with me, Mike. Well, I'm no expert on ghosts, boss, but from what I hear, they don't have to open doors to get out of a house. They can walk right through them. I doubt if we're dealing with a ghost just yet, Mike. There's no one here in the hall, Mr. Keen. Come into this room on the right, Mike. This must be the murder room. There's a desk over there. What's this on top of the desk? Looks like a pad of paper and a pencil, Mr. Keen, sir. The pad's been scribbled on. Sure, and someone's drawn a lot of odd-looking little diagrams on it. Now keep this pad of paper for future reference. There's a door over there, Mike, and let's see where it leads. Boss, there's a man tied to that chair with a gag in his mouth. Here, here, I'll take off that gag. There. Thank you. There's a killer loose in this house. He tied me to this chair after holding me up with a gun. I was afraid he was going to kill me. I'll untie this man, Mike, while you search this house, quickly. Right, sir. My name is Keen. I'll have you free in just a moment. You're Mr. Keen, the famous investigator? Oh, I'm Alec Barnes. I didn't recognize the man who tied me to the chair. What were you doing in Ivers Stacy's home in the first place, Mr. Barnes? He was my business associate. His murder came as a terrible shock to me. About an hour ago, someone phoned my home. She said if I wanted to find Ivers Stacy's killer, I should come here. A woman phoned you? Yes, it was a woman's voice, Mr. Keen, but a very strange one. Why did you come here alone, Mr. Barnes? Alone? How do you mean? If you thought you were going to meet Ivers Stacy's murderer, why didn't you bring the police with you? Well, Mr. Keen, I wasn't sure if it was a hoax or not. I didn't want to make a fool of myself by taking the police on a wild goose chase. Was that the real reason? No, look, what reason would I have to... Mr. Keen, Mr. Keen, he's standing right behind you. The man who attacked me. He's holding a gun. Don't move, either of you. Who are you? The name is Charles Harper. If it'll do you any good. Charles Harper? I know who this man is, Mr. Keen. His sister, Teresa, was Ivers Stacy's wife. She died two years ago. Yes, my sister died of neglect and cruel treatment. Even while she was on her deathbed, Ivers Stacy was seeing other women. And Teresa swore he'd never marry again. Well he won't. You're right, Mr. Harper. Where is he? I'm having this out with him right now. If you're referring to Ivers Stacy, you'll find him murdered. What? Yes, he's been murdered. I don't believe it. You're trying to hide him, to shield him from me. Do you feel this gun barrel against your head? Tell me where Ivers Stacy is hiding or I'll finish you off. Mr. Keen, he means it. Whether he does or not, Mr. Barnes, I've given him all the information I can. Don't move, mister, or I'll put a bullet through you. Drop the gun. Drop it, do you hear? Here, I'll take that gun, Mr. Keen. You had a close call with this fellow. You came back just in time, Mike. Another second or two and he may have carried out his threat. Who is he, boss? He's Charles Harper, the murdered man's brother-in-law. Oh, Mr. Keen, it was just a bluff when I threatened you with that gun. I had no intention of harming you. I don't know what came over me. You behaved like a man who was thirsting for revenge, Mr. Harper. And it may have been revenge that drove Ivers Stacy's killer to this crime. Then Ivers is really dead? You mean this is the first you heard about it, mister? He's trying to give us that impression, Mike. But I'm not so sure that I believe him. Oh, would I have come back here to look for a dead man, Mr. Keen? You may have returned to look for something the murdered man possessed. That could have been the reason you tied up his business associate, Alec Barnes, here so you could search the house. No! Mr. Keen? Yes, Mr. Barnes? Ivers Stacy once told me he had a brother-in-law who hated him. Did he? It was this man, Charles Harper. He thought Iver was mistreating his sister, Theresa. He did mistreat her. He ruined her whole life. Mr. Keen, it looks like this fellow might have carried out his sister's deathbed threat, but she'd stopped the husband from marrying again. That's what I was thinking, Mike. It was a foolish thing for Theresa to say. She knew well enough she couldn't return from the dead. But someone seems to believe that she did return, Mr. Harper. What do you mean? I mean... Mr. Keen, wait. What is it, Mike? Woman in grey. She's staring in that window. Don't turn around, boss. She thinks we haven't seen her. What does she look like, Mike? Well, I can't tell. She's wearing a grey veil over her face. But sure Lana Wade, who brought us this case, is right. She does look like a ghost. She's gone, boss. Was she at this window, Mike? Yes, sir. Now, there she is, walking away from the house. You remain here with the others, Mike. I'm going to follow that ghostly figure in grey and identify it once and for all. In just a moment, we'll return to Mr. Keen and the case of murder and the revengeful ghost. Tomorrow and every Wednesday night, CBS Radio brings you thrilling adventure on the FBI in peace and war and the human side of police work on the 21st precinct. Be listening tomorrow night on most of these same stations when the FBI in peace and war exposes the Specialty Act racket and when Captain Cannelli's hardworking police of the 21st precinct tackle their latest unusual case at the Star's address where America listens most for mystery too. Now, back to Mr. Keen and the case of murder and the revengeful ghost. Mr. Keen, the famous investigator and his partner Mike Clancy, are investigating the strange murder of Ivor Stacey, a widower who is about to marry for the second time. Stacey's first wife, Teresa, had sworn just before her own death that if he remarried, she would return from the grave for revenge. And his fiancee Lorna Wade now fears that the murder could have been the work of a revengeful ghost. But Mr. Keen has other more logical suspects in mind as he follows the eerie figure of a woman completely dressed in a ghostly grey color. And the end of the trail leads the famous investigator to a small midtown apartment. Yes? Are you Miss Amy Fairchild? Yes I am. How do you know my name? It's right here under your doorbell. Oh. My name is Keen. May I come in? What do you want Mr. Keen? I'm investigating the murder of Ivor Stacey. I'm afraid I don't know who he is. I think you do Miss Fairchild. You see I followed you here from his home. A short while ago you were peering through his window. You must have the wrong woman. No. Lorna Wade, the victim's fiance identified you just before I started to follow you. She said you were the so-called ghost she saw coming out of the house right after Ivor Stacey was stabbed to death. Mr. Keen what do you mean? She saw a ghost. Lorna Wade mistook you for the ghost of Ivor Stacey's dead wife, Teresa, who swore she'd come back from the grave and stop him from ever marrying again. I don't know anything about Ivor's murder. Please leave me alone. You seem to be reluctant to answer that telephone Miss Fairchild. Are you expecting a call you don't want me to overhear? No. I... If you won't answer it I will. Hello? Doctor who? I see. No my name is Keen. Yes the investigator. Miss Fairchild is involved in a murder case doctor. I see. Has she ever been violent? Well let me get back to you later on doctor and thank you for your information. It may have an important bearing on this case. Goodbye. Mr. Keen what did the doctor tell you? Evidently Miss Fairchild you've been under his care ever since you left a private sanitarium for the mentally ill. They said I was cured and I am. You've got to believe me Mr. Keen. Please. Please. Miss Fairchild a man has been murdered and you were seen leaving the scene of the crime. Now as a mental patient you'd be under strong suspicion. All right. I'll tell you everything. Ivor Stacey was my cousin. It was he who had me committed to the mental institution. Did you resent his doing that? Well maybe I did in the beginning but I'm cured now and I hold no grudge against him. What were you doing in his home at the time he was murdered? I went to thank him for having spent the money to have me cured but he was dead when I got there and I left the house quickly to avoid being implicated. That's when you were seen by Lona Wade who mistook you for a ghost. But Mr. Keen there is a ghost. I've seen her myself. You have? Ivor Stacey saw her too several times and she terrified him. I'm sure it was the ghost of his dead wife Teresa. Did you see her face? No. But I recognized a certain dress she was wearing. You don't believe me do you? You had a motive for murder yourself Miss Fairchild. Revenge. That alone would make one a bit skeptical. Mr. Keen when you saw me looking in the window of Ivor's home there was a man with you. He also had a motive for revenge. Which man do you mean? Alec Barnes my cousin Ivor's business associate. Did Alec tell you that he was forced out of their business by Ivor? No he didn't. Alec Barnes and my cousin Ivor were both fighting for control of their corporation. Ivor won the fight and forced Alec Barnes out entirely. That's very interesting. Alec swore he'd get even. And perhaps he did by killing Ivor Stacey. Do you know why Alec Barnes was there in Ivor's house today? He said he got a telephone call saying he'd find Ivor Stacey's killer on the scene of the crime. I made that telephone call Mr. Keen. You made the call? Why Miss Fairchild? I was hoping to trap him. I thought Alec Barnes would give himself away in some manner. Fairchild do you know a man named Charles Harper? Yes. His sister was Ivor Stacey's wife who died after a long illness. Charles Harper is also under suspicion. He hated Ivor Stacey because he said Mr. Stacey was seeing other women while his wife was dying. I don't think that's true Mr. Keen. Now tell me this. Did your cousin Ivor Stacey meet his fiancee Lorna Wade after his wife was dead? Yes. His business associate Alec Barnes introduced them to each other. He can tell you anything you want to know about my cousin Ivor's affairs unless he wants to deliberately hide something from you. You're very bitter about this Alec Barnes. Why Miss Fairchild? He was the first to suggest that there was something wrong with my mind. Is that why you're so willing to accuse him of murder? Why do you say things like that? Are you against me like all the rest? Because if you are... So you can become violent as the doctor said. Fairchild I want you to stay here in your apartment until you hear from me. Don't leave unless you want to be arrested on a murder charge. You can't do that to me. I'm not a prisoner. I'm sorry Mr. Keen. I'll do what you say. The murdered man's fiance Lorna Wade believes that a revengeful ghost caused Ivor Stacey's death and you say you've seen that ghost. But I have another theory which I hope to put to a test very shortly after I return to the murder house. Well how'd you make out Mr. Keen? Mike I followed our ghost to her apartment and she turned out to be very much alive. Where are the others? Inside Mr. Keen. I put them in separate rooms to avoid trouble and I locked Charles Harper the brother-in-law in to be sure. What's this sheet of paper here on this table? Anything important on it boss? Maybe a clue to this murder. Mike how long were you and the other two men in this room? Oh about a half hour before I sent them inside. And where were they sitting? Well Harper was over there and Alec Barnes was in this chair. I see. Mike I'm going out again for a short time. Let me have your skeleton key and keep a sharp eye on our suspects. When I return we may have all the evidence we need to convict a killer. Oh you're back already Mr. Keen. What's in that package you carry? You'll see in just a moment Mike. Please call the two men in here. Okay sirs. Step inside Mr. Barnes. Mr. Keen wants to see you. Yes Mr. Keen. In just a moment Mr. Barnes. I want Charles Harper the murdered man's brother-in-law to hear this too. Come into this room Mr. Harper. You locked me in. Pancy you're treating me like a criminal. I'm afraid you're acting like a criminal Charles Harper. For one thing you were carrying a gun. Mr. Keen. You admitted he hated Ivers Stacy and he had a motive to kill his brother-in-law. So did you Mr. Barnes. What? You and Stacy were partners in a very successful business. And as I understand it he forced you out of the firm and ruined you financially. Are you going to accuse me of murder because of a business transaction? No Mr. Barnes. Because it isn't true. I know it isn't true. Well thank you for that much. Don't thank me too quickly. You may regret it. Or immediately. Mike, you know what doodling is. Doodling Mr. Keen? Sure boss. Those are little pictures and diagrams that some people draw on paper to while away the time or when they're talking on the telephone. Yes. It's usually done absentmindedly. Do you remember that when we first came into this house we found a small pad of paper on the desk where the murder took place? Sure Mr. Keen. It was scrawled with a lot of doodads and crooked lines. This paper I just discovered here on this table is covered with the same kind of scrawl. The little diagrams and pictures on both the pad and this paper are alike. Then the same fellow made them both Mr. Keen. Exactly Mike. The murderer apparently idled away his time while waiting for his victim by drawing on the pad of paper. Just a few minutes ago that same murderer passed the time again in the same fashion. The man who was sitting in that chair near the table. Yes. And that man is Alec Barnes. What? Barnes, you murdered your business partner Ivo Stacey. Do you think you can hold me on that kind of evidence Mr. Keen? I have further evidence in this package. Please open it Mike. Why, there's two dresses in here. Yes. Dresses that belonged to the murdered victim's dead wife, Theresa Stacey. I found them in Alec Barnes' apartment. He stole those dresses after Mrs. Stacey died so he could impersonate her as a ghost and frighten her husband. Alec Barnes was the revengeful ghost. I think I'd better search this clock over us. Why? He's carrying a switchblade knife. Look, you snap this button on the end and the knife pops out. Look at the size of it, Bob. It looks like there's blood on the blade near the handle. It's undoubtedly the murder weapon. You'll have to prove that, Keen. There's no use putting up a front Barnes because I also know your real motive for murdering Ivo Stacey. Oh, do you? I found out that it was you who introduced Stacey to Lorna Wade, the girl he later was going to marry. Lorna? Yes, the girl who asked me to investigate her fiance's murder. And Mike, I talked to Miss Wade again just before I came in here. She's waiting just outside the door. I'll ask her to come in, boss. Come in, please, Miss Wade. Lorna. Alec, has Mr. Keen... What have you told him? What did you say about me? Miss Wade, please repeat what you told me on the way over to this house. I told you, Mr. Keen, that several times in the past, Alec Barnes tried to force his attentions on me. He was infatuated with me. Lorna, you're putting me in the electric chair. Lorna Wade didn't connect you with the murder, Alec Barnes. Oh, she would have told me this before. Her mind was only on the fact that a ghost may have been responsible for Ivo Stacey's death. All right. I'll admit it. I killed Stacey. He forced me out of the firm, but that wasn't the thing that nearly drove me crazy. It was losing you, Lorna. Alec, I told you I didn't love you. I only loved Ivo. If it hadn't been for him... Mr. Keen, I thought I could make Lorna love me with Stacey out of the way. Anyway, when I thought I was losing out to him, I couldn't stand it. So you broke into Ivo Stacey's house and waited for him to return with a nine-inch knife in your hand after masquerading as his wife's ghost. You evidently knew about the threat she had made, that she had returned from the dead and killed him if he ever tried to remarry. Yes, I knew. At first I tried to frighten Stacey away from Lorna by appearing as his wife's ghost. When that didn't work, I used another method. Yes, murder. Planned in a cruel, remorseless fashion. But you gave yourself away when you scribbled idly on that pad of paper while waiting for your victim to arrive. Make, turn Alec Barnes, our revengeful ghost, over to the police for the murder of Ivo Stacey. And so Mr. Keen finds the solution to the case of murder and the revengeful ghost. Don't forget, mystery fans, the man who walks by night, the whistler, will be heard coast to coast beginning this Thursday night on CBS radio. Long a familiar figure in eerie mysteries heard by West Coast fans, the whistler will be yours to listen to Thursday nights on most of the same stations beginning this week. A shady private investigator is double-crossed by his attractive but just as shady Girl Friday, leading to a story the whistler believes you will find packed with intriguing angles. Thursday night at the Star's Address. Stay tuned now for the Rosemary Clooney Show, which follows immediately over most of these same stations. Mr. Keen Tracer of Lost Persons is based on the novel Mr. Keen. The radio sequel is originated and produced by Frank and Ann Hummert. Dialogue by Lawrence Klee. Directed by Richard Lennard. Philip Clark plays Mr. Keen. Mr. Keen will be on the air at the same time next week, solving a full 30-minute mystery. So make this new time every week Mr. Keen time on your radio. Next week, here Mr. Keen, in the case of murder and the omen of death. Your announcer is Harry Kramer. Find a real squad car with Nightwatch Thursdays on the CBS Radio Network.
