1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Mind Over Murder podcast. 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,679 Speaker 2: My name is Bill Thomas. I'm a writer, consulting, producer, 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,839 and now podcaster. I am now trying to use my 4 00:00:12,919 --> 00:00:15,800 experience as the brother of a murder victim to help 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,600 other victims of violent crime. I'm working on a book 6 00:00:18,679 --> 00:00:21,440 on the unsolved Colonial Parkway murders, and I'm the co 7 00:00:21,519 --> 00:00:24,760 administrator of the Colonial Parkway Murders Facebook group together with 8 00:00:24,839 --> 00:00:25,519 Kristin Dilly. 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 3: My name is Kristin Dilly. I'm a writer, a researcher, 10 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,079 a teacher, and a victim's advocate, as well as the 11 00:00:32,119 --> 00:00:35,840 social media manager and co administrator for the Colonial Parkway 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,079 Murders Facebook page with my partner in crime, Bill Thomas. 13 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,439 Speaker 4: Welcome to mind Over Murder. I'm Kristin Dilly. 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: And I'm Bill Thomas. 15 00:00:51,359 --> 00:00:54,079 Speaker 4: We are in the thick of spooky season. It is 16 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:59,640 October the eighteenth. The leaves are falling rapidly over here. 17 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:03,280 Things are starting to look a little spooky out there. Bill, 18 00:01:03,439 --> 00:01:05,079 how's it looking up there in Connecticut? 19 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,239 Speaker 2: Well, you know, up here in Chili, New England, leaves 20 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,920 are falling. Every time I look out the window, I 21 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,959 see more leaves coming down and It makes me think 22 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,280 of a falls, past, present, and future. I like autumn. 23 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 4: I like autumn too. I like autumn because Halloween is 24 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,040 my favorite season. And I like it now that it's 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,439 getting colder. And I like it because now there are 26 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,400 no more bugs. Bugs have gone back to the hell 27 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:33,120 where they belong. 28 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:36,439 Speaker 2: Not a big fan of bugs, are you? 29 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 4: Yep? 30 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,239 Speaker 2: Well, I know you can get out there in the 31 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,319 hot and sweaty and mow your on lawn as do I. 32 00:01:44,519 --> 00:01:47,560 Your lawn is bigger than mine. We've probably got one 33 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:52,480 more lawn mowing project, which is also one mowing slash 34 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:53,480 leaf mulching. 35 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,359 Speaker 4: I would imagine maybe once more here. And another reason 36 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,439 I don't like bugs is because I got stung by 37 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,280 a bee the other day when I was out mowing 38 00:02:01,319 --> 00:02:04,719 my lawn. And so forget that bug, man. That was terrible. 39 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,560 I like getting stung by things, and that was a 40 00:02:08,599 --> 00:02:11,000 bug and it stung me, So forget it. I'm not 41 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:11,520 happy with. 42 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: Bugs, completely understood. I'm looking forward to Halloween, which is 43 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,919 two weeks away. And up here in our little town 44 00:02:19,319 --> 00:02:23,280 they block off our street. Our street is the one 45 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,639 with all of the cool old houses on it, and 46 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,919 ours is one of those cool old houses eighteen eighty 47 00:02:30,039 --> 00:02:32,599 Queen Anne Victorian and people have said, oh, this would 48 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,520 make a great haunted house, but we never really wanted 49 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,680 to scare the little kids or anything like that. 50 00:02:39,719 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 4: So like from eighteen eighty, are you sure you don't 51 00:02:42,719 --> 00:02:44,879 have a ghost in that house? Bill? I mean, are 52 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,719 you sure you don't have a ghost in that house? 53 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,599 Speaker 2: Our previous house, we did have a ghostly type event 54 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,719 that took place. I don't think I've ever told you 55 00:02:53,759 --> 00:02:59,080 that story. So this is twenty five years ago. My 56 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,319 ex wife and I I bought another old eighteen fifty 57 00:03:04,199 --> 00:03:07,479 little farmhouse on the way on the outskirts of town. 58 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,039 It's actually like ten miles from here. It's still within 59 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,599 the same town, but that house was way out all 60 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,960 kind of by. It's lonesome on a country road. Early 61 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,280 on when we bought that house, we did have a 62 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:25,360 very strange thing occur. Valerie, my ex wife, and I 63 00:03:25,479 --> 00:03:28,439 were up there. This is before our son Christopher was born. 64 00:03:30,599 --> 00:03:33,680 So it's the two of us and our cat, Pumpkin, 65 00:03:34,759 --> 00:03:38,080 very seasonally appropriate cat, I might add, and a really 66 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,400 is an all great cat that was in the fall 67 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,919 that first year that we bought the house. It's a 68 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,639 little country farmhouse, and we're up on the second floor, 69 00:03:48,719 --> 00:03:50,560 kind of under the eaves. There were two bedrooms and 70 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:56,360 a bathroom upstairs. We're in bed and it's dark, you 71 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:01,520 could still see because there was moonlight Outsideuddenly, from downstairs 72 00:04:01,759 --> 00:04:06,960 there was the loudest crash you've ever heard in your life. 73 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,280 The entire little house shook. 74 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 4: Wow. 75 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 2: And we both sat bolt up in bed and said 76 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:22,240 something to the effect of what was that. Our cat 77 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,680 came running up the stairs and jumped in bed with us, like, ooh, 78 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:28,920 I don't know what that was, but it was spooky. 79 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,639 So Pumpkins there trying to borrow under the covers, like 80 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,040 trying to hide from whatever it is. Of course, me 81 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,720 being the husband, I get sent downstairs to check it out. 82 00:04:41,959 --> 00:04:47,040 So I make my way downstairs, fully expecting to see 83 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,920 a massive bookcase has fallen over, or a piece of 84 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,600 furniture has somehow crashed to the floor, or a car 85 00:04:55,639 --> 00:04:59,360 has hit the house or whatever. Because it was so 86 00:05:00,639 --> 00:05:04,160 and we couldn't figure out what might have made this noise, 87 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,160 I figured I'm gonna come downstairs and there's going to 88 00:05:06,199 --> 00:05:09,920 be some sort of pretty serious destruction that would have 89 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,399 made a sound that loud, that would have shaken us 90 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,279 and the house. I get down stairs. I get downstairs. 91 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,279 Down at the bottom of the stairs is the dining room. 92 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,000 And I walked through the dining room, the living room. 93 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,639 There's a sitting room and a kitchen, and everything kind 94 00:05:28,639 --> 00:05:30,839 of goes around in a little bit of a square. 95 00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:34,959 I make my way from room to room, four rooms. 96 00:05:36,079 --> 00:05:37,879 I get to the end of the circle, and now 97 00:05:37,879 --> 00:05:41,600 I'm back in the dining room where I started. Nothing 98 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:47,920 is out of the ordinary, nothing whatsoever. I went outside 99 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:54,079 to see what created this phenomenal, crashing, thunderous sound. Nothing. 100 00:05:54,399 --> 00:05:58,800 I go downstairs in the basement. Nothing. I make my 101 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,199 way back upstairs, and valeriees like, what was it? And 102 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:07,959 I said, I don't know. So we read about how 103 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,600 sometimes these old houses, and this house had been there 104 00:06:11,639 --> 00:06:13,720 for a couple hundred years and it was part of 105 00:06:13,759 --> 00:06:17,439 a larger complex of an estate called Seven Brooks. In 106 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,879 our house would have been one of the caretaker's houses. 107 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:25,839 We read that sometimes when new people acquire a property, 108 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:33,839 they will disturb the spirits who live there in that home. Wow, 109 00:06:34,639 --> 00:06:39,480 since we could not find any physical manifestation of what 110 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,720 had happened, I mean, this just incredible noise. I really 111 00:06:43,759 --> 00:06:47,959 thought something gigantic had fallen over or something, and there 112 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:53,399 was nothing. So Valerie was the more spiritual of the two, 113 00:06:53,519 --> 00:06:56,879 and Pamela, my partner now, is much more spiritual than 114 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,839 I am. She did some research about this and that 115 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,040 was one of the things that she came up with, 116 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:08,560 was this kind of disturbance. So we talked about it, 117 00:07:08,639 --> 00:07:12,199 and then she read about what they recommended that you do, 118 00:07:12,319 --> 00:07:16,120 which is that someone should walk quietly around the house 119 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,680 and talk to the house, and you're basically talking to 120 00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:23,560 the spirit. So whin habit this old house and explain 121 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,879 to them who you are and that you mean no 122 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,360 harm and that you intend to take good care of 123 00:07:29,399 --> 00:07:33,199 the house. And I was a bit skeptical, but I 124 00:07:33,319 --> 00:07:36,839 have to say that Valerie took this step and she 125 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,920 went around and very earnestly explained our good intentions towards 126 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,279 the house. All I can say is it must have worked, 127 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:52,759 because we never had another strange occurrence like that. Wow, 128 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,959 I don't know, Okay, maybe there's something to it. 129 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:04,079 Speaker 4: Maybe that's really cool, so you're not quite haunted house 130 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,839 that you still had a brush with the supernatural. 131 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,079 Speaker 2: And it was around this time of year we closed 132 00:08:10,079 --> 00:08:13,759 in September, so it was probably October when this all 133 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:14,360 took place. 134 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 4: Wow, Okay, that's pretty cool. 135 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, So what sort of the spooky story have you 136 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:23,639 chosen for us? 137 00:08:24,199 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 4: We are reading the American literature classic tale of terror, 138 00:08:29,959 --> 00:08:37,000 The Monkeys Paw by W. W. Jacobs, and the best 139 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:40,440 admonition that I can give as we go into this 140 00:08:40,639 --> 00:08:43,159 is be careful what you wish for. 141 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: I remember this story well, and I look forward to 142 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,279 reading it, and I hope everybody enjoys it with us. 143 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 4: Yes, without further ado, The Monkeys Paw, Part one. Outside, 144 00:09:00,279 --> 00:09:03,360 the night was cold and wet, but in the small 145 00:09:03,399 --> 00:09:07,279 living room, the curtains were closed and the fire burned brightly. 146 00:09:08,519 --> 00:09:12,799 Father and son were plain chest the father, whose ideas 147 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,840 about the game involved some very unusual moves, putting his 148 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,720 king into such sharp and unnecessary danger that it even 149 00:09:20,759 --> 00:09:23,720 brought comment from the white haired old lady knitting quietly 150 00:09:23,799 --> 00:09:28,240 by the fire. Listen to the wind, said mister white, who, 151 00:09:28,519 --> 00:09:30,840 having seen a mistake that could cost him the game 152 00:09:30,879 --> 00:09:33,080 after it was too late, was trying to stop his 153 00:09:33,159 --> 00:09:37,840 son from seeing it. I'm listening, said the sun, seriously 154 00:09:37,879 --> 00:09:41,240 studying the board as he stretched out his hand check 155 00:09:42,639 --> 00:09:45,399 I should hardly think that he'll come tonight, said his father, 156 00:09:45,879 --> 00:09:47,799 with his hand held in the air over the board. 157 00:09:48,919 --> 00:09:52,639 Mate replied the son. That's the worst of living so 158 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:56,360 far out, cried mister White, with sudden and unexpected violence. 159 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,440 Of all the awful, out of the way places to 160 00:09:59,519 --> 00:10:02,360 live in, this is the worst. Can't walk on the 161 00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:05,960 footpath without getting stuck in the mud. The road's a river. 162 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,039 I don't know what the people are thinking about. I 163 00:10:09,039 --> 00:10:11,879 suppose they think it doesn't matter because only two houses 164 00:10:11,879 --> 00:10:15,279 in the road have people on them. Never mind, dear, 165 00:10:15,519 --> 00:10:18,320 said his wife calmly. Perhaps she'll win the next one. 166 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,440 Mister White looked up sharply, just in time to see 167 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,159 a knowing look between mother and son. The words died 168 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,919 away on his lips, and he hid a guilty smile 169 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:33,720 in his thin gray beard. There he is, said Herbert White. 170 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,519 As the gate banged shut loudly and heavy footsteps came 171 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,840 toward the door. The old man rose quickly, and opening 172 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,120 the door, was heard telling the new arrival how sorry 173 00:10:45,159 --> 00:10:48,960 he was for his recent loss. The new arrival talked 174 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:53,799 about his sadness, so that missus White said and coughed 175 00:10:53,799 --> 00:10:57,360 gently as her husband entered the room, followed by a tall, 176 00:10:57,799 --> 00:11:01,559 heavy built, strong looking man whose skin had the healthy 177 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,600 reddish color associated with outdoor life, and whose eyes showed 178 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,879 that he could be a dangerous enemy. Sergeant Major Morris, 179 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,679 he said, introducing him to his wife and his son, Herbert. 180 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,000 The sergeant major shook hands and taking the offered seat 181 00:11:18,039 --> 00:11:21,720 by the fire, watched with satisfaction as mister White got 182 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,159 out whiskey and glasses. After the third glass, his eyes 183 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,000 got brighter and he began to talk. The little family 184 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,360 circle listened with growing interest to this visitor from distant 185 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,679 parts as he squared his broad shoulders in the chair 186 00:11:37,159 --> 00:11:41,360 and spoke of wild scenes and brave acts of wars 187 00:11:41,399 --> 00:11:45,759 and strange peoples, twenty one years of it, said mister White, 188 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,879 looking at his wife and son. When he went away, 189 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,840 he was a thin young man. Now look at. 190 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:56,799 Speaker 2: Him, he doesn't look to have taken much harm, said 191 00:11:56,799 --> 00:12:00,440 missus White politely. I'd like to go to India, Mia myself, 192 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,919 said the old man, just to look around a bit. 193 00:12:03,039 --> 00:12:06,360 You know better where you are, said the sergeant Major, 194 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,279 shaking his head. He put down the empty glass and, 195 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:13,759 sighing softly, shook it again. I would like to see 196 00:12:13,759 --> 00:12:16,879 those old temples and fakers and the street entertainers, said 197 00:12:16,879 --> 00:12:19,440 the old man. What was it that you started telling 198 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,919 me the other day about a monkey's paw or something, Morris, Nothing, 199 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,440 said the soldier quickly, at least nothing worth hearing monkey's paw, 200 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:33,159 said missus White curiously. Well it's just a bit of 201 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,240 what you might call magic, perhaps, said the sergeant major, 202 00:12:36,399 --> 00:12:41,960 without first stopping to think. His three listeners leaned forward excitedly. 203 00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:45,240 Deep in thought. The visitor put his empty glass to 204 00:12:45,279 --> 00:12:48,519 his lips and then set it down again. Mister White 205 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,840 filled it up for him again to look at it, 206 00:12:51,879 --> 00:12:55,000 said the sergeant Major, feeling about in his pocket. It's 207 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:59,200 just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy. He 208 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:01,240 took something out of his pocket and he held it 209 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,399 out for them. Missus White drew back with a look 210 00:13:04,399 --> 00:13:08,519 of disgust, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously. 211 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,639 And what is there special about it? Asked mister White, 212 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,360 as he took it from his son, and having examined it, 213 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,679 placed it upon the table. It had a spell put 214 00:13:19,759 --> 00:13:22,240 on it by an old faker, said the sergeant Major, 215 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,600 a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate 216 00:13:25,799 --> 00:13:28,919 ruled people's lives, and that those who tried to change 217 00:13:28,919 --> 00:13:31,639 it would be sorry. He put a spell on it 218 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,879 so that three different men could each have three wishes 219 00:13:34,919 --> 00:13:38,600 from it. The way he told the story showed that 220 00:13:38,639 --> 00:13:41,600 he truly believed it, and his listeners became aware that 221 00:13:41,639 --> 00:13:44,240 their light laughter was out of place and had hurt 222 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,360 him a little. Well, why don't you have three, sir, 223 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,960 said Herbert cleverly. The soldier looked at him the way 224 00:13:51,039 --> 00:13:55,159 the middle aged usually look at disrespectful youth. I have, 225 00:13:55,399 --> 00:13:59,080 he said quietly, and his face whitened. And did you 226 00:13:59,159 --> 00:14:02,960 really have the three wishes granted? Asked missus White. I did, 227 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,600 said the sergeant major, and his glass tapped against his 228 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:11,320 strong teeth. And has anyone else wished? Continued the old lady. 229 00:14:12,279 --> 00:14:15,720 The first man had his three wishes? Yes, was the reply. 230 00:14:16,759 --> 00:14:18,879 I don't know who the first two were, but the 231 00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:22,200 third was for death. That's how I got the paw. 232 00:14:23,159 --> 00:14:26,120 His voice was so serious that the group fell quiet. 233 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,799 Speaker 4: If you've had your three wishes, it's no good to 234 00:14:30,879 --> 00:14:33,519 you now, then, Morris, said the old man. At last, 235 00:14:33,799 --> 00:14:38,279 what do you keep it for? The soldier shook his head. Fancy, 236 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,960 I suppose, he said slowly. I did have some idea 237 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,639 of selling it, but I don't think I will. It 238 00:14:44,679 --> 00:14:48,799 has caused me enough trouble already. Besides, people won't buy. 239 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,759 They think it's just a story. Some of them, and 240 00:14:51,799 --> 00:14:54,360 those who do think anything of it want to try 241 00:14:54,399 --> 00:14:58,399 it first and pay me afterward. If you could have 242 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,679 another three wishes, said the old man, watching him carefully, 243 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,840 would you have them? I don't know, said the other. 244 00:15:06,399 --> 00:15:09,759 I don't know. He took the paw, and, holding it 245 00:15:09,799 --> 00:15:13,080 between his front finger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon 246 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,480 the fire. Mister White, with a slight cry, quickly bent 247 00:15:16,559 --> 00:15:19,639 down and took it off. Better let it burn, said 248 00:15:19,679 --> 00:15:22,919 the soldier, sadly, but in a way that let them 249 00:15:23,159 --> 00:15:25,919 know he believed it to be true. If you don't 250 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:27,759 want it, Morris, said the other, give it to me. 251 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,200 I won't, said his friend, with stubborn determination. I threw 252 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,960 it on the fire. If you keep it, don't hold 253 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,720 me responsible for what happens. Throw it on the fire 254 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,519 like a sensible man. The other shook his head and 255 00:15:40,559 --> 00:15:44,440 examined his possession closely. How do you do it, he asked, 256 00:15:45,799 --> 00:15:47,799 Hold it up in your right hand and state your 257 00:15:47,799 --> 00:15:50,080 wish out loud so that you can be heard, said 258 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:53,720 the Sergeant Major. But I warn you of what might happen. 259 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,720 Sounds like the Arabian nights, said Missus White, as she 260 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,559 rose and began to set the dinner. Don't you think 261 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,840 you might wish for four pairs of hands for me? 262 00:16:03,799 --> 00:16:07,000 Her husband drew the talisman from his pocket, and all 263 00:16:07,039 --> 00:16:10,399 three laughed loudly as the Sergeant Major, with a look 264 00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:12,480 of alarm on his face, caught him by the arm. 265 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:17,399 If you must wish, he demanded, wish for something sensible. 266 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,960 Mister White dropped it back in his pocket, and, placing chairs, 267 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,720 motioned his friend to the table. In the business of dinner, 268 00:16:25,759 --> 00:16:29,840 the talisman was partly forgotten, and afterward the three sat 269 00:16:29,919 --> 00:16:33,480 fascinated as they listened to more of the soldier's adventures 270 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:37,120 in India. If the tale about the monkey's paw is 271 00:16:37,279 --> 00:16:40,480 not more truthful than those he's been telling us, said Herbert, 272 00:16:40,519 --> 00:16:43,080 as the door closed behind their guest, just in time 273 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,840 to catch the last train. We shan't make much of it. 274 00:16:47,399 --> 00:16:50,360 Did you give him anything for it? Father asked Missus White, 275 00:16:50,399 --> 00:16:54,440 watching her husband closely. A little, said he, coloring slightly. 276 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,879 He didn't want it, but I made him take it, 277 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,440 and he pressed me again to throw it away. No, likely, 278 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,120 said Herbert, with pretended horror. Why we're going to be 279 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,160 rich and famous and happy? Smiling, he said, wish to 280 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,000 be a king father to begin with. Then mother can't 281 00:17:10,039 --> 00:17:11,000 complain all the time. 282 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,039 Speaker 2: He ran quickly around the table, chased by the laughing 283 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,440 missus White, armed with a piece of cloth. Mister White 284 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,200 took the paw from his pocket and eyed it doubtfully. 285 00:17:21,799 --> 00:17:24,039 I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact, 286 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:26,680 he said slowly. It seems to me that I've got 287 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,640 all I want. If you only paid off the house, 288 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,799 you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you, said Herbert, with his 289 00:17:32,799 --> 00:17:36,000 hand on his shoulder. Well for two hundred pounds, that'll 290 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,799 just do it. His father, smiling with an embarrassed look 291 00:17:39,839 --> 00:17:43,480 for his foolishness in believing the soldier's story, held up 292 00:17:43,519 --> 00:17:47,400 the talisman. Herbert, with a serious face, spoiled only by 293 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,480 a quick smile to his mother, sat down and struck 294 00:17:50,559 --> 00:17:55,039 a few grand cords. I wish for two hundred pounds, 295 00:17:55,039 --> 00:17:58,599 said the old man. Clearly, a fine crash from the 296 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,880 piano greeted these words broken by a frightened cry from 297 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,839 the old man. His wife and son ran toward him. 298 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,680 It moved, He cried with a look of horror at 299 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,319 the object as it lay on the floor. As I 300 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,119 wished it twisted in my hand like a snake. Well, 301 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,079 I don't see the money, said his son, as he 302 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,119 picked it up and placed it on the table. And 303 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,160 I bet I never shall. It must have been your imagination, father, 304 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,240 said his wife, regarding him worriedly. He shook his hand, 305 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,240 never mind, though there's no harm done, and gave me 306 00:18:29,279 --> 00:18:32,400 a shock. All the same, they sat down by the 307 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,799 fire again while the two men finished their pipes. Outside, 308 00:18:35,839 --> 00:18:38,440 the wind was higher than ever, and the old man 309 00:18:38,559 --> 00:18:41,400 jumped nervously at the sound of the door banging upstairs. 310 00:18:41,839 --> 00:18:45,640 An unusual and depressing silence settled on all three, which 311 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,039 lasted until the old couple got up to go to bed. 312 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,039 I expect you'll find the cash tied up in a 313 00:18:51,079 --> 00:18:53,400 big bag in the middle of your bed, said Herbert 314 00:18:53,599 --> 00:18:56,319 as he wished them good night. And something horrible sitting 315 00:18:56,319 --> 00:18:58,920 on top of your wardrobe, watching you as you pocket 316 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,880 your ill gotten money. Herbert, who normally had a playful 317 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,440 nature and didn't like to take things too seriously. Sat 318 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,000 alone in the darkness, looking into the dying fire. He 319 00:19:10,039 --> 00:19:14,160 saw faces in it, the last so horrible and so monkeylike, 320 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:17,960 that he stared at it in amazement. It became so 321 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,680 clear that, with a nervous laugh, he felt on the 322 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,640 table for a glass containing some water to throw over it. 323 00:19:24,599 --> 00:19:27,200 His hand found the monkey's paw, and with a little 324 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,279 shake of his body, he wiped his hand on his 325 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,039 coat and went up to bed. 326 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:38,519 Speaker 4: Art two. In the brightness of the wintry sun next morning, 327 00:19:38,599 --> 00:19:41,440 as it streamed over the breakfast table, he laughed at 328 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,720 his fears. The room felt as it always had, and 329 00:19:44,759 --> 00:19:47,119 there was an air of health and happiness which was 330 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,599 not there the previous night. The dirty, dried up little 331 00:19:50,599 --> 00:19:53,440 paw was thrown on the cabinet with a carelessness which 332 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,279 indicated no great belief in what good it could do. 333 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,319 I suppose all old soldiers are same, said missus White. 334 00:20:01,759 --> 00:20:04,799 The idea of our listening to such nonsense? How could 335 00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:07,599 wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, 336 00:20:07,799 --> 00:20:11,359 how could two hundred pounds hurt you? Father might drop 337 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,839 on his head from the sky, said Herbert Morris, said 338 00:20:14,839 --> 00:20:17,680 that things happened so naturally, said his father, that you might, 339 00:20:17,759 --> 00:20:21,160 if you so wish, not see the relationship. Well, don't 340 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,599 break into the money before I come back, said Herbert, 341 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,359 as he rose from the table to go to work. 342 00:20:26,039 --> 00:20:28,640 I'm afraid it'll turn you into a mean, greedy old man, 343 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,519 and we shall have to tell everyone that we don't 344 00:20:30,559 --> 00:20:34,400 know you. His mother laughed, and, following him to the door, 345 00:20:34,799 --> 00:20:37,160 watched him go down the road, and returning to the 346 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,119 breakfast table, she felt very happy the expense of her 347 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,319 husband's readiness to believe such stories, all of which did 348 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,319 not prevent her from hurrying to the door of the 349 00:20:46,319 --> 00:20:49,519 postman's knock, nor when she found that the post brought 350 00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:52,559 only a bill talking about how sergeant majors can develop 351 00:20:52,599 --> 00:20:56,599 bad drinking habits after they leave the army. Herbert will 352 00:20:56,599 --> 00:20:58,640 have some more of his funny remarks, I expect when 353 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,920 he comes home, she said, as sat at dinner. I know, 354 00:21:02,039 --> 00:21:04,759 said mister White, pouring himself out some beer. But for 355 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,319 all that the thing did move in my hand that 356 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:11,119 I'll swear to you thought it did, said the old lady, 357 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,640 trying to calm him. I say it did, replied the other. 358 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,160 There was no thought about it. I had just what's 359 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:23,079 the matter? His wife made no reply. She was watching 360 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,880 the mysterious movements of a man outside, who, looking in 361 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,039 an undecided fashion at the house, appeared to be trying 362 00:21:30,079 --> 00:21:33,680 to make up his mind to enter in mental connection 363 00:21:33,839 --> 00:21:36,680 with the two hundred pounds. She noticed that the stranger 364 00:21:36,799 --> 00:21:40,160 was well dressed and wore a silk hat of shiny newness. 365 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,720 Three times he stopped briefly at the gate and then 366 00:21:43,759 --> 00:21:47,000 walked on again. The fourth time he stood with his 367 00:21:47,079 --> 00:21:50,640 hand upon it, and then, with sudden firmness of mind, 368 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,440 pushed it open and walked up the path. Missus White, 369 00:21:54,519 --> 00:21:57,640 at the same moment, placed her hands behind her, hurriedly 370 00:21:57,759 --> 00:22:00,240 untied the strings of her apron and put it under 371 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:03,680 the cushion of her chair. She brought the stranger, who 372 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:07,599 seemed a little uncomfortable into the room. He looked at 373 00:22:07,599 --> 00:22:09,680 her in a way that said there was something about 374 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,480 his purpose that he wanted to keep secret, and seemed 375 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,039 to be thinking of something else. As the old lady said, 376 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:17,559 she was very sorry for the appearance of the room 377 00:22:17,759 --> 00:22:20,599 and her husband's coat, which he usually wore in the garden. 378 00:22:21,599 --> 00:22:24,039 She then waited as patiently as her sex would permit 379 00:22:24,079 --> 00:22:26,640 for him to state his business, but he was at 380 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:32,519 first strangely silent. I was asked to call, he said 381 00:22:32,599 --> 00:22:35,039 at last, and bent down and picked a piece of 382 00:22:35,039 --> 00:22:38,759 cotton from his trousers. I come from maw and Meghan's. 383 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,799 The old lady jumped suddenly as an alarm. Is anything 384 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,519 the matter? She asked, breathlessly. Has anything happened to Herbert? 385 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,799 What is it? Her husband spoke before he could answer. 386 00:22:52,039 --> 00:22:54,359 There there, mother, he said, hurriedly, Sit down, and don't 387 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:58,240 jump to a conclusion. You've not brought bad news. I'm sure, sir, 388 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,680 and eyed the other, expecting that it was bad news, 389 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:02,720 but hoping he was wrong. 390 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, began the visitor. Is he hurt? Demanded the 391 00:23:08,799 --> 00:23:13,240 mother wildly. The visitor lowered and raised his head once 392 00:23:13,279 --> 00:23:17,000 in agreement. Badly hurt, he said quietly. But he is 393 00:23:17,079 --> 00:23:20,880 not in any pain. Oh, thank God, said the old woman, 394 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:25,279 pressing her hands together tightly. Thank God for that. Thank 395 00:23:26,599 --> 00:23:28,839 She broke off as the tragic meaning of the part 396 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,480 about him not being in pain came to her. The 397 00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:34,599 man had turned his head slightly so as not to 398 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,279 look directly at her, but she saw the awful truth 399 00:23:37,279 --> 00:23:40,319 in his face. She caught her breath, and, turning to 400 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,000 her husband, who did not yet understand the man's meaning, 401 00:23:43,839 --> 00:23:48,119 laid her shaking hand on his. There was a long silence. 402 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,200 He was caught in the machinery, said the visitor at length, 403 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,680 in a low voice. Caught in the machinery, repeated mister White, 404 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:02,519 too shocked to think clearly. Yes, He sat, staring out 405 00:24:02,519 --> 00:24:04,920 the window, and taking his wife's hand between his own, 406 00:24:05,039 --> 00:24:07,079 pressed it, as he used to do when he was 407 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,240 trying to win her love in the time before they 408 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:13,559 were married, nearly forty years before. He was the only 409 00:24:13,599 --> 00:24:16,279 one left to us, he said, turning gently to the visitor, 410 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:21,359 It is hard. The other coughed, and rising, walked slowly 411 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,640 to the window. The firm wishes me to pass on 412 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,960 their great sadness about your loss, he said, without looking around. 413 00:24:29,079 --> 00:24:31,319 I ask that you please understand that I am only 414 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,839 their servant and simply doing what they told me to do. 415 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,839 There was no reply. The old woman's face was white, 416 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,400 her eyes staring, and her breath unheard. On her husband's 417 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,960 face was a look such as his friend the Sergeant Major, 418 00:24:46,039 --> 00:24:50,319 might have carried into his first battle. I was to 419 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:54,559 say that Maw and Meghan's accept no responsibility, continued the other. 420 00:24:55,039 --> 00:24:57,519 But although they don't believe they have a legal requirement 421 00:24:57,599 --> 00:25:00,480 to make a payment to you for your loss, in 422 00:25:00,559 --> 00:25:02,759 view of your son's services, they wished to present you 423 00:25:02,839 --> 00:25:07,319 with a certain sum. Mister White dropped his wife's hand, and, 424 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,559 rising to his feet, stared with a look of horror 425 00:25:10,559 --> 00:25:15,279 at his visitor. His dry lips shaped the words how much? 426 00:25:17,759 --> 00:25:22,720 Two hundred pounds was the answer? Without hearing his wife's scream, 427 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,039 the old man smiled weakly, put out his hands like 428 00:25:26,079 --> 00:25:30,440 a blind man, and fell a senseless mass to the floor. 429 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:40,559 Speaker 4: Part three. In the huge new cemetery some two miles away, 430 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,119 the old people buried their dead and came back to 431 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,519 the house, which was now full of shadows and silence. 432 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,000 It was all over so quickly that at first they 433 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,000 could hardly realize it, and remained in a state of 434 00:25:55,039 --> 00:25:58,799 waiting for something else to happen, something else which was 435 00:25:58,799 --> 00:26:02,279 to lighten this load too heavy for old hearts to bear. 436 00:26:04,519 --> 00:26:07,119 But the days passed and they realized that they had 437 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,279 to accept the situation, the hopeless acceptance of the old 438 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,279 Sometimes they hardly said a word to each other, for 439 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,000 now they had nothing to talk about, and their days 440 00:26:18,039 --> 00:26:21,880 were long to tiredness. It was about a week after 441 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,680 that the old man, waking suddenly in the night, stretched 442 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,400 out his hand and found himself alone. The room was 443 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,880 in darkness, and he could hear the sound of his 444 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,559 wife crying quietly at the window. He raised himself in 445 00:26:34,599 --> 00:26:39,079 bed and listened. Come back, he said, tenderly, you'll be cold. 446 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,079 It's colder for my son, said the old woman, who 447 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:47,319 began crying again. The sounds of crying died away on 448 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,160 his ears. The bed was warm, his eyes heavy with sleep. 449 00:26:51,759 --> 00:26:55,200 He slept lightly at first, and then was fully asleep 450 00:26:55,559 --> 00:26:59,519 until a sudden wild cry from his wife woke him up. 451 00:26:59,559 --> 00:27:04,160 With a stone, the paw, she cried wildly, the monkey's paw. 452 00:27:05,559 --> 00:27:09,240 He stared up in alarm. Where where is it? What's 453 00:27:09,279 --> 00:27:12,759 the matter? She almost fell as she hurried across the 454 00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:16,279 room toward him. I want it, she said, quietly. You've 455 00:27:16,319 --> 00:27:19,279 not destroyed it. It's in the living room, on the 456 00:27:19,279 --> 00:27:23,559 shelf above the fireplace. He replied, why. She cried and 457 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:27,680 laughed together, and bending over, kissed his cheek. I only 458 00:27:27,759 --> 00:27:30,400 just thought of it, she said. Why didn't I think 459 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:34,440 of it before? Why didn't you think of it, Think 460 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:38,680 of what, he questioned, The other two wishes, she replied quickly. 461 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:44,319 We've only had one. Was not that enough, he demanded angrily, No, 462 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:48,359 she cried excitedly. We'll have one more. Go down and 463 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,839 get it quickly, and wish our boy alive again. The 464 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,079 man sat up in bed and threw the blankets from 465 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:58,079 his shaking legs. Good God, you are mad, he cried, 466 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:02,279 Struck with horror. It she said, breathing quickly, Get it quickly, 467 00:28:02,319 --> 00:28:07,039 and wish, Oh, my boy, my boy. Her husband struck 468 00:28:07,039 --> 00:28:09,759 a match and lit the candle. Get back to bed, 469 00:28:10,319 --> 00:28:13,039 he said, his voice shaking. You don't know what you're saying. 470 00:28:14,079 --> 00:28:17,480 We had the first wish granted, said the old woman desperately. 471 00:28:17,559 --> 00:28:22,039 Why not the second? A coincidence, said the old man. 472 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,200 Go get it and wish, cried his wife, shaking with excitement. 473 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 2: The old man turned and looked at her, and his 474 00:28:32,039 --> 00:28:35,839 voice shook. He has been dead ten days. And besides, 475 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,920 he I could not tell you before, but I could 476 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,400 only recognize him by his clothing. If he was too 477 00:28:42,519 --> 00:28:46,680 terrible for you to see, then how now bring him back, 478 00:28:46,799 --> 00:28:48,960 cried the old woman, and pulled him towards the door. 479 00:28:49,319 --> 00:28:51,720 Do you think I fear the child I have nursed? 480 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,240 He went down in the darkness and felt his way 481 00:28:55,279 --> 00:28:58,680 to the living room, and then to the fireplace. The 482 00:28:58,759 --> 00:29:01,839 talisman was in its place on the shelf, and then 483 00:29:02,079 --> 00:29:05,519 a horrible fear came over him that the unspoken wish 484 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,920 might bring the broken body of his son before him 485 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,400 before he could escape from the room. He caught his 486 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:15,799 breath as he found that he had lost direction of 487 00:29:15,799 --> 00:29:19,680 the door. His forehead cold with sweat, he felt his 488 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,000 way round the table and along the walls, until he 489 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,079 found himself at the bottom of the stairs with the 490 00:29:24,119 --> 00:29:28,359 evil thing in his hand. Even his wife's face seemed 491 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:32,160 changed as he entered the room. It was white and expectant, 492 00:29:32,559 --> 00:29:36,000 and to his fears, seemed to have an almost unnatural 493 00:29:36,039 --> 00:29:40,000 look upon it. He was afraid of her wish, she 494 00:29:40,119 --> 00:29:43,559 cried in a strong voice. It is foolish and wicked, 495 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:50,279 he said weakly. Wish, repeated his wife. He raised his hand, 496 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:56,079 I wish my son alive again. The talisman fell to 497 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,359 the floor, and he looked at it fearfully. Then he 498 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,359 sank into a chair, and the old woman with burning eyes, 499 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:07,440 walked to the window and opened the curtains. He sat 500 00:30:07,519 --> 00:30:10,400 until he could no longer bear the cold, looking up 501 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,519 from time to time at the figure of his wife 502 00:30:12,559 --> 00:30:15,839 staring through the window. The candle, which had almost burned 503 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,640 to the bottom, was throwing moving shadows around the room. 504 00:30:19,519 --> 00:30:22,160 When the candle finally went out, the old man, with 505 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,119 an unspeakable sense of relief at the failure of the talisman, 506 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,079 went slowly back to his bed, and a minute afterward, 507 00:30:29,559 --> 00:30:33,000 the old woman came silently and lay without movement beside him. 508 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,640 Neither spoke, but lay silently listening to the ticking of 509 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:42,000 the clock. They heard nothing else other than the normal 510 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,359 night sounds. The darkness was depressing, and after lying for 511 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:49,680 some time building up his courage, the husband took the 512 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,960 box of matches and, lighting one, went downstairs for another candle. 513 00:30:54,839 --> 00:30:56,799 At the foot of the stairs, the match went out, 514 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:00,000 and he stopped to light another. At the same moment, 515 00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:05,279 a knock sounded on the front door. It was so 516 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:08,400 quiet that it could only be heard downstairs, as if 517 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:12,359 the one knocking wanted to keep their coming a secret. 518 00:31:13,799 --> 00:31:17,400 The matches fell from his hand. He stood motionless, not 519 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:22,400 even breathing, until the knock was repeated. Then he turned 520 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:24,799 and ran quickly back up to his room and closed 521 00:31:24,799 --> 00:31:28,559 the door behind him. A third knock sounded through the house. 522 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,160 What's that, cried the old woman, sitting up quickly. A rat, 523 00:31:35,599 --> 00:31:38,960 said the man, shakily. A rat. It passed me on 524 00:31:39,079 --> 00:31:39,720 the stairs. 525 00:31:42,319 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 4: His wife sat up in bed, listening. A loud knock 526 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:49,440 echoed through the house. It's a Herbert, she screamed, it's 527 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:53,079 a Herbert. She ran to the door, but her husband 528 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,880 was there before her, and, catching her by the arm, 529 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,920 held her tightly. What are you going to do, he 530 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:02,880 asked in a low, scary voice. It's my boy, it's Herbert, 531 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:07,599 she cried, struggling automatically. I forgot it was two miles away. 532 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:11,359 What are you holding me for? Let go? I must 533 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,559 open the door for God's sake. Don't let it in, 534 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,680 cried the old man, shaking with fear. You're afraid of 535 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,960 your own son, she cried, struggling. Let me go. I'm coming, Herbert, 536 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:27,440 I'm coming. There was another knock, and another. The old woman, 537 00:32:27,519 --> 00:32:30,799 with a sudden pull, broke free and ran from the room. 538 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,960 Her husband followed to the top of the stairs and 539 00:32:34,079 --> 00:32:37,200 called after her. As she hurried down, he heard the 540 00:32:37,279 --> 00:32:40,920 chain pulled back and the bottom lock open. Then the 541 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:45,400 woman's voice, desperate and breathing heavily the top lock. She 542 00:32:45,519 --> 00:32:50,599 cried loudly, come down, I can't reach it. But her 543 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,640 husband was on his hands and knees, feeling around wildly 544 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,480 on the floor in search of Pa, Pa, if only 545 00:32:56,519 --> 00:32:59,400 he could find it before the thing outside got in. 546 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:05,319 The knocks came very quickly, now echoing through the house, 547 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:08,039 and he heard the noise of his wife moving a 548 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:11,759 chair and putting it down against the door. He heard 549 00:33:11,759 --> 00:33:14,039 the movement of the lock as she began to open it, 550 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,000 and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw 551 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:22,799 and frantically breathed his third and last wish. The knocking 552 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,920 stopped suddenly, although the echoes of it were still in 553 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:30,799 the house. He heard the chair pulled back and the 554 00:33:30,839 --> 00:33:35,319 door opened. A cold wind blew up the staircase, and 555 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:38,680 a long loud cry of disappointment and pain from his 556 00:33:38,759 --> 00:33:41,559 wife gave him the courage to run down to her 557 00:33:41,599 --> 00:33:46,599 side and then to the gate. The street light opposite 558 00:33:47,319 --> 00:33:52,920 shone on a quiet and deserted road. 559 00:33:53,720 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 2: The end, Wow, I forgot how spooky bad kids at 560 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,400 the end. It's a good story, It really is a 561 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:08,400 wonderful story. 562 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 4: That is a great story. We hope that you've enjoyed 563 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:17,760 this telling of the monkeys paw by W. W. Jacobs. 564 00:34:20,119 --> 00:34:22,159 Thank you so much for listening to this episode of 565 00:34:22,199 --> 00:34:26,400 mind Over Murder. We'll see you next time. 566 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:41,719 Speaker 1: Mind Over Murder is a production of Absolute Zero and 567 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:43,199 Another Dog Productions. 568 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:47,119 Speaker 2: Our executive producers are Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley. 569 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 1: Our logo art is by Pamela Arnois. 570 00:34:50,519 --> 00:34:52,559 Speaker 2: Our theme music is by Kevin McLoud. 571 00:34:53,119 --> 00:34:57,119 Speaker 1: Mind Over Murder is distributed in partnership with Coral Space Media. 572 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 2: You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 573 00:35:01,159 --> 00:35:03,760 Speaker 1: You can also follow our page on the Colonial Parkway 574 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:05,639 Murders on Facebook. 575 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 2: And finally, you can follow Bill Thomas on Twitter at 576 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:10,119 Bill Thomas five six. 577 00:35:10,599 --> 00:35:13,519 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to mind Over Murder.