Mysterious Traveler: The Queen of the Cats

A mysterious traveler. This is the mysterious traveler, inviting you to join me on another journey into the realm of the strange and terrifying.

I hope you will enjoy this little trip, that it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back, get a good grip on your nerves. But where are we going? We're going to delve into the life of a frightened man.

In a tale titled, The Queen of the Cat, some years ago when I was practicing medicine, I was called upon by a young girl of 22 or so. As she was shown into my office, I could see that she was having a, difficult time suppressing her agitation her lips trembling she spoke dr. Smith my

name is Jane Elliott I have an appointment with you yes Miss Elliott won't you be seated please thank you now it seems to be the terminal Miss Elliott you trim ring you don't look well at all I'm not ill doctor it's Chris Chris Arnold my fiance oh doctor you've got to help him if you don't something terrible

will happen. I'll do everything I can with Elliot. Now, tell me what's wrong. I don't know what's wrong. All I know is that Chris is frightened. He's a deadly fear of something. As he told you what it is that frightens him? No. No, I've questioned him countless times, but he refuses to tell me. Nicely. Where's your fiance now? At his home, Brookfield

Oh, Doctor, I know it's late, but won't you come with me in secret? He needs help desperately. There, Mr. L. If you mustn't cry, of course I'll come with you. Now do what I can.

It's Jane. Just a minute. Jane, I've asked you before, not to... Who? Who's he? Dolly, this is Dr. Smith. Doctor, this is my fiancé, Chris Arnold. How do you do, Mr. Arnold? Why did everyone bring him?

I don't need a doctor. Please, Dolly. Darling, I just couldn't stand it. Forgive me, Mr. Ronald, but it's obvious to the most untrained eye you do need a doctor. Please, Chris, tell the doctor what you're afraid of.

I'm not afraid of anything. Oh, Darling, please, talent, please. You can't go on this way. Yes. Yes, you're right. I can't go on this way. If I don't tell someone, I'll go mad. Believe me, Mr. Ronald, you'll feel much better once you've talked your fears out.

Now, I'm supposed to stop from the beginning and tell me everything. Alright, Doctor. Come on in. Eh, I suppose it all began two years ago. At a party, Jane and I were invited to... This is a wonderful party.

The only thing wonderful about it is you. Ha ha ha ha! Oh, Chris, tell us. People are watching. Fine thing when a man can't kiss his best girl in public. What's his generation coming through anyway?

At Mepinlow School, we were taught a young lady never kisses a man public. Miss Tyndall is setting romance back 50 years. Who are you looking for anyway? Rana Farouk. My roommate is at Miss Tyndall. Oh yeah she's she's the Egyptian girl you were telling me about. Yes I want you to meet her. Only you

better not fall in love with her as every other man does. Sounds as though she's a second-care patra. Men just can't seem to be able to resist her. I'm curious to see this siren of the Nile. Oh there she is Chris come on. So that's Rona. No one may not resist her. Hello Jane. I've missed you. Rona this is Chris Arnold. Chris this is Rona

Peruk. Hello Chris. Hello Rona. Oh look there's Miss Timmy waiting to me. Excuse me won't you? Of course Jane. I'll be back in a minute. You know Chris that Miss Timmy was the first thing I'd see in the morning when I got up and the last thing before I went to bed was your

picture and I always knew that someday we should meet and now we have. Why are you staring at me like that? Aren't you going to say anything? I prefer just to look. The now, Doctor.

Two years after our first meeting I find it difficult to describe how beautiful Rana was. He had lustrous black hair that came down to his shoulders, and sparkling green eyes that were which due. No words can do her beauty justice.

I was captivated the moment I saw her. I see. What happened after that first meeting? Ron has seemed also attracted to me. Now, to that night, we saw each other constantly. Nothing seemed to matter to me when I was with her.

That made me indescribably happy to learn. She felt the same way. A month after we'd met, we were married. Please go on, Mr. Ron. After we were married, we took an apartment in town. In the months that followed, I began to see Ron not as the image I'd been infatuated with, but as she really was, vain, selfish and possessive.

It was a possessiveness merging on madness. She couldn't bear to have me out of a sight, and when I was upon my return, there would be questions, countless questions. I began to dread seeing her.

Then, then, there were the cats. The cats? Yes, she had an insane passion for them. Yes, when Ron and I were at school together, Doctor, she always had a few cats around. She said that she couldn't live without them.

The apartment was always full of cats. She'd sit for hours, stroking in them, whispering to them until I felt I go mad. Life became a nightmare for me, a nightmare full of cats. And Ron are asking questions, endless questions.

One day I realized I couldn't go on living with her any longer. But I'll marry to have been a mistake. I decided to tell her about it that very evening. Yeah, I came in, Runner.

Runner, there's something important I want to talk to you about. Please, Chris, there's a little time just now. We can talk later after the prize. Runner, this is important. I think that... No, whatever you have to say can wait. Now please hurry.

But... well, well, alright. Well, discuss what I have to say later. Chris, when I called you at the office this afternoon, why didn't you tell me that you had lunch with Mary Walker? What? How did you know I had lunch with her?

Oh, a friend told me. A friend? Who was it? What is it my beauty? What are you trying to say? A runner put that cat down and answer me. Who was the friend that told you I had lunch with Mary Walker?

You have never met her, darling. How is it that you always know what I've been doing? who am I been seeing, though you have people spying on me. Please, what a thing to say. Now, please, Hari, I will be safe.

There's something strange about the way you always know what I've been doing. Sometimes I should sit down. Please look out, you step on Chobin' a tail. I'm sorry, but I didn't see it. I thought you before to be more careful.

Where's Chobin' now? Are you all right now, my beauty? But when so many cats under what I wouldn't have stepped on it, why must you have five cats around? Because I love cats, they are beautiful, sacred.

Thousands of years ago, my ancestors worshipped cats, and the great cat got his second hit. On the river Nile, close by the ancient city, from Maddy where I was born, are the graves of a hundred thousand sacred cats.

They have been monitied and buried with reverence. Rana, I can't go on like this anymore. You like darl, I mean what you mean. I feel our marriage was a mistake. I wanted a divorce. Please, you can't be serious.

But I am. I love you, Chris, and I won't give you up. Your mind darling, you always will be. Nothing shall ever separate us. Would you care for a cocktail, sir? No, no, thank you.

Well, even if you won't have one, Mr. Arnold, I will. Jane, Jane, it's good to see you again. Just let me look at you. Chris, you're not looking well at all. Are you all right?

I am now. But Jane, Jane, can't we go someplace and talk? What about the terrace? All right, Chris. Yeah, this door opens under. Been quite some time since we've seen each other, hasn't it? Yes, the last time we saw each other was the night that...

The night that I met Rana? Yes. How was Rana, Chris? Oh, she's... She's fine with... Jane, I made such a mess out of everything. I was a fool of married her. Please, Chris, you mustn't talk like that.

But I was a fool, Jane. Sticking infatuation for love. Can you ever forgive me for the way I behaved toward you? There's...there's nothing to forgive, Chris. Well, Jane, this is a surprise. Vanna. Hello, Rana.

Really, Jane, the way you avoided crawling on us, I half-suspect you are still in love with Chris. Rana, you have no right to talk to her like that. Please, Chris, I... I'm afraid I'll have to be leaving. It's getting quite late. Good night.

Good night, Jane. I hope I didn't interrupt anything by coming out here so unexpectedly, Chris. Yes, Ronnie, you did. I was about to tell Jane that I love her, and that I always will. I suppose that's why you ask me for a divorce.

You've been secretly seeing her. Secretly seeing? Is it possible for me to see anyone to do anything secretly without your knowing about it? No, you are quite right. It is not possible. I know everything you do.

So I would forget Jane if I were you. Er, Rana, how can you possibly want me? Knowing how I feel about Jane. You've got to give me a divorce. I'll never give you a divorce.

You hear? Your mind, you always will be. Yes. Well, what's prevent me from leaving you? Wherever you go, Chris, I'll follow. If I can't have you, no one else ever will. Remember, Chris, your mind, you always will be.

I will still see her daughter. as she stood there, screaming at me. Remember, Chris, your mind and you always will be. It was a shock to suddenly realize that she looked like a cat, an angry cat.

Her green eyes, cold and murderous, her long nails digging into my arms, her body tints. For a moment, I thought she was going to scratch my eyes. Yes, Rana did look like that when she was in a rage.

Mm. What happened after that night, Mr. Rana? I stopped speaking to Rana. We lived in the same apartment with that was all. Weeks passed, and Rana waited for me to come around as she felt certain I would.

She had all the patience of a cat playing with a mouse. But when a month had passed and I still refused to talk to her, she made an attempt to win me back. It happened one night as we were driving to this house.

Why are you slowing down, Rana? I want to talk to you, Chris, and I can't talk to you while I'm driving. There's no point in your stopping. We have nothing to say to each other.

Oh, but we do darling. Chris, we could be so happy together, if you wanted to. You know how much I love you. It's a possessive love that smothers me to death. Chris, you know that isn't true. I could make you happy if you don't need me.

Oh, please don't turn away from me, Chris. I'll do anything to make you happy. Anything. Anything? And you can give me a divorce. So you're still thinking of her. Hoping I'll give you a divorce so you can marry her.

Well, I won't. You're here, I won't. I think we'd better be moving along. Chris, you haven't any right to treat me like this. And your wife. Only in the eyes of the law. Not in my eyes.

I hate you. I hate you! You can't! You almost took out my eyes with those claws of yours. I will scratch your eyes out before I let any other woman have you. Your mind! You always will be!

Perhaps this will bring you to your senses. Ah! Slide over. I'll drive. Very well, Chris. You think you'll beat me, Chris. The angel come crawling to me. They take a year, two years, five years.

I'll never come crawling to you. Never. But you will, Chris. Jane knows I'll never give you your freedom. In time, she'll marry. And when she does, all the heart will be gone out of you.

Then you'll be mine. That'll never happen. But it will, Chris. I'll never give you your freedom. In time, she'll marry. And when she does, all the heart will be gone out of you. But it will, Chris.

And be down in your heart, you know I'm right. Jane will never be yours. I'll see for that. You have everything planned perfectly, Rana, don't you? But I have one way of escape from you that you've never thought of.

Really? And what way is that? I can escape through death. Death? Yes, Rana. If I should fail to take the curve 100 yards ahead, we'd plunge off the side of this mountain. Chris, you would!

Why not, Rana? You've shown me there's nothing to live for. This at least would have cleaned me out. And I drove the car over the side of the mountain doctor. I thought Rana and I were going to our deaths.

But fate decreed otherwise. When I recovered consciousness 48 hours later in a hospital, I learned it was only Rana who died. Yes, I recall reading about it in the papers. It was a miracle that you survived.

Yes. For weeks they just bear to saving me. But at the end of eight months, I walked out of that hospital. The police believed my story that it was an accident. And I was free to begin a new life.

It was just a week after I was discharged from the hospital that I ran into Jane. Chris, it's me! Amy, you always seem to pop up just when I need you most. Chris, you, you look so much older.

Are you all right? My heart isn't any too good, but otherwise I'm fine. And seeing you again is just what I need to put me on my feet. These past months must have been so difficult for you.

I don't want to look back to the past, Jane. But only to the future. The future I once hoped we'd share and still do. Two months ago, Doctor. Jane and I became engaged. It was just about that time that I first began to notice that everywhere I went, there always seemed to be a cat following me.

Are you sure you weren't imagining it, Mr. Arnold? At first I thought it was my imagination. For the week after Jane and I became engaged, I was certain I was being followed. Hmm. Now tell me, Mr. Arnold, was it always the same cat that followed you?

No, no, no. One day to be one cat. And another... Another day I had a different one. Oh, I know you must think I'm mad, Doctor. And at the time I felt I was going mad...

That is... Until that night. What night, Mr. Arnold? The night I saw her. happened in this very room six weeks ago. I... I had great difficulty in falling asleep that night. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the faint crying of a cat.

The crying grew louder. Louder. Realizing that the cat crying was real living in my room. I could feel my heart pounding as I set up in bed. I looked about my darken room and then suddenly I saw her.

Two burning green eyes in the darkness. There was no mistaking those eyes. They were runners. I stared into those eyes for what seemed like ours. Then as though listening to a stranger's voice, I heard myself speak.

Ronda, this is you, Ronda, isn't it? Yes. I recognize those green eyes anywhere. So you've come back and in the form I've always thought of you as a cat. I know why you've come back. It's because of Jane.

You always said that if you couldn't have me, no one else could. But I was yours and always would be. Well you're wrong, you hear? Jane and I are going to be married. You came between us once, but you aren't going to this time.

I will marry it. And there's nothing you can do to stop me. I'm trying to scratch my eyes out. Well, we'll see about that. Perhaps that'll show you that nothing you can do will stop me from marrying her.

I know that all those cats that were following me spying on me were doing so on it. We're doing so under your orders. You, you're the queen of the cats! Yes, I should have known.

No wonder you always knew where I'd been, who I'd seen. You had your cats playing on me even then. Well, even if you are the queen of the cats, you can't prevent it from marrying Jane.

So bullet between those green eyes of yours is what's needed. I emptied the gun at her doctor and then turned on the lights. There was no sign of her. She'd vanished. All that I found for those six bullet holes in the wall.

Tell me, Mr. Arnold, isn't it possible that you only dreamed or that? But actually, you fired the gun in your sleep and the shots themselves wakened you. I tried to tell myself that doctor. But during the nights that followed, I knew it was not a dream.

For the night after night, she appeared in my room and I awake, waiting to hear her footsteps, a voice. And when she would appear, I plead with her to leave me alone But you'd only stare at me with those burning green eyes, waiting, waiting.

I knew she'd never leave me alone as long as I intended to marry Jane. Finally, I could stand it no longer than I would to see Jane. This is a surprise. Come in, darling. Thank you, Jane.

Well, where have you been keeping yourself this past week? I was beginning to believe I was being jailed as... Jane, there's something I want to ask you. Yes, Chris, of course. What is it? I know we said our wedding for next week.

But couldn't we put it off for a while? Just a little while. Darling, what is it? There's something wrong. I know there is. Please tell me. No, I wish I could, but I can't. But please, Jane, just have faith in me.

You know, I wouldn't postpone my marriage if I could possibly help it. Alright, Chris, I do have faith in you. We'll consider our marriage postponed for the time being. The night I put off my marriage to Jane, Doctor, was the first night that Rana didn't appear, and the first night in a week that I'd been able to sleep.

You think, Mr. Rana, that she didn't appear again because you would postpone your marriage to Jane? I know it. Weeks went by, weeks in which I was able to sleep soundly without being awakened by her.

I came to think that perhaps it had all been part of a horrible nightmare, and that I was over at last. A week ago I asked Jane to set the date for her wedding. She did so.

And that same day we took out a marriage license. But at night she appeared again. She knew about the license. That's why she returned. And you've seen her again? Yes, yes, every night. She just keeps staring at people, those green eyes, waiting, waiting.

She's determined not to give me any rest. I tell myself that I mustn't be afraid, but I keep hearing her voice over and over. If I can't have you, no one else will. Your mind and you always will be.

Oh, Chris, darling, I wish I had known all this before. You feel, Mr. Arnold, that somehow she'll prevent you from marrying Jane. I know, I sound mad, but I do. I have a feeling something hard of them will happen if I attempt to marry her.

Do you still have the marriage license? Yes. Why do you ask? Mr. Arnold, you've reached a crisis in your life. You're faced with fears that are threatening to overgear me of sanity. You know if you, to challenge your fears, is to go through with your marriage to Jane now, tonight.

Tonight? Yes. It's quite late, but I'm sure a friend of mine was a judge who will marry you. I forget. Married to tonight. If you hesitate, you lost. Your only chance is to face your fears.

All right, Doctor. All right. Jane, will you marry me tonight? Oh, yes, Crit. Yes. Sorry to get you up in the middle of the night, judge, but for reasons I can't explain, it's important that these two be married tonight.

That's quite all right, Doc. Always glad to oblige your friend. Have you got the license on the ringing, ma'am? Yes, sir. Here's the license in the ring. Mariam, man, if you'll take a right hand, I answer.

Now shall I give you a long ceremony on the short one? The short one, please. Just as you're saying, letting... This is the shortest one I've got. You genuinely take this one to be a lawful wedding.

It has been the love that you both shall live. I do. You? Christopher Arnold. Take this woman to be your lawful wedding wife. To love, honor and cherish, as long as you both shall live.

It's she it's run. I told you she was trying to prevent my marrying Jane. I'll get rid of her once and for all. She got away. Well whatever she's gone I'll find her to kill her.

Where can it be? Jane you can't be far off. Listen. Doctor that must be crisp firing that gun. No shots came from close by. It better take it easy now Doc. That's pretty dark out here. Wait a moment now. I'll fight my cigarette later.

Doc! Look, a dead cat! Yes. We shot through the head. Sir, look! There's another one that's been shot to death. Neither one of them is the black cat. So dark. Isn't that a body over there?

No, Chris! No, Jen, you stay with the judge while I look. All right, doctor. There, there, miss you. You mustn't cry. This never would have happened if I hadn't agreed to bury him. He was afraid. So afraid.

Doc? Is it Arnold? Yes? Yes, it's he. He's dead, isn't he? I can see it in your face. Yes, Jen. He's dead. But dark is been clawed to bits, as if by hundreds of cats, the most horrible of all.

His eyes have been scratched out. This is the mysterious traveler again. Have you enjoyed our little trip into the light, or should I say, death of frightened man? Strangely enough the two days later at Chris Arnold's funeral just as the coffin was being lowered into the grave The mourners suddenly noticed a black cat with green eyes

Sitting on the edge of the grave quietly licking its paws By the way, I trust you having a cat in your home particularly a black one I I once knew a woman. She's dead now.

Who had I? You're getting off to the next stop. I'm sorry. Graff, you'll join me again soon. I take this same train every week at the same time. You have just heard chapter 31 of The Mysterious Traveler, a series of dramas of the strange and terrifying.

In today's Tory, Queen of the Cats, Stutt's Cutsworth played Chris, Sarah Burton played Rana, and Sandra Gould played Jane. The Mysterious Traveler is written by Bob Arthur and David Cogan, and original music was played by Doc Whipple.

The entire production was under the direction of Doc McGregor. Listen next week to the tale titled, Broad May Here I Come, Another Tale of the Mysterious Traveler. The Mysterious Traveler is presented by WOR Mutual from the WOR studios in New York.

It is presented over most of these stations every Sunday afternoon at half past three. This...