The Undying Monster Page #5

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or drugged.

Dr. Colbert tell you this?

No. I could tell by the look of her.

I know about such things.

But if you don't mind, sir, I'd

rather you didn't tell anyone.

I won't unless I have to, Mrs. Walton.

And thanks.

From all I can gather

about this wretched spook...

you're not going to

find it under that glass.

I'm not sure this wretched spook, as you

call it, was responsible for what happened.

Neither am I. What about that doctor?

He smeared up those footprints

deliberately, didn't he?

Don't tell me you had to rely on your

feminine instinct to arrive at that conclusion.

Mmm. He knows more about

all this than he's telling.

- That's the trouble. They all do.

- The girl too?

- All of them.

- Oh, dear. And here I thought you were...

casting sheep's eyes at a pretty girl.

Well, that doesn't prevent me from

knowing she's hiding something.

- Whatever can it be?

- I've got an idea, but I need proof.

Would this interest you?

I don't know. Looks

like a tuft of hair.

- The dog's?

- I don't think so. It's too coarse.

But what do you make of this?

It looks like a scrap

torn from a muffler.

- That's what I made of it.

- Whose, do you suppose?

That, my pet, is for you to find out.

Do you mean that I've got to steal

every woolen scarf in the neighborhood?

And without anyone catching you at it.

A fine detective you're making

me, turning me into a thief.

Good work, Walton.

- I wasn't aware- - That

you were being watched?

You did a very thorough job, Walton.

You needn't look so guilty, you know.

- You'd make a very poor accomplice.

- Accomplice?

Come now, out with it.

What were you burning?

Waste paper. We always burn it.

In this room? Uh-uh. That won't do.

You went out of your way to burn

something that you wanted to get rid of.

You chose this room because you

thought you wouldn't be seen.

- Yes.

- It wasn't waste paper at all, was it, Walton?

- No, sir.

- It was something you didn't want me to find...

because you thought it

might incriminate you.

That's not true, sir. It was-

I'm sorry, sir, but I can't say.

You realize this puts you

in a very serious position.

Walton...

I'm sure that you've given long

years of service to the Hammonds.

I know that you'd do anything

in the world to help them.

Why won't you let me help them?

Mr. Curtis, leave Hammond Hall.

Go back to London

before it's too late.

Too late? What are

you keeping from me?

There are some things that

are beyond the understanding...

of us who live on this Earth.

You're not safe here. Miss

Christopher's in danger too.

- Won't you go back?

- I'm sorry, Walton, but we've a job to do here...

and I mean to see it through.

Very good, sir. No one

can say I didn't warn you.

Strudwick! Don't tell me

you're doubling for the monster.

I don't know anything

about the monster.

You surely didn't come

here to say your prayers.

I don't see as it's

any of your business.

You and Walton happen to be the

only two members of the household...

besides Miss Hammond who were up

and about when the attack occurred.

Mr. Curtis, I don't know anything

about the monster. I swear I don't.

You better tell me what

you're up to, Strudwick.

Oh, so that's what those

ghost chains are all about.

It ain't got nothin'to

do with the monster.

But it does have something to do with

your being in the forest last night.

- Is she- -

Yes. She's gone.

Her body will have to remain here...

till the police complete

their investigation.

We'd better tell the others.

Helga, what is it?

Kate's dead.

I did everything I could for her.

She never regained consciousness.

We'll have to make a report to the

constable, Helga. There'll be an inquest.

Poor kid. Why did it

have to happen to her?

I tried to save her from it.

I battled with all my strength.

Should have put up a better fight.

You mustn't blame yourself, Oliver.

I have the most awful premonition.

I'm sure it will strike again.

Let me advise the witnesses

that they are under oath...

and it is their duty to

give the coroner's jury...

all facts pertaining to this case.

Gentlemen of the jury, your

verdict as to the cause...

of the death of the

deceased, Kate O'Malley...

is to decide the future course

of action in this case...

by His Majesty's government.

Yourjudgment will be guided by

the testimony of the witnesses.

And I wish to impress

upon all witnesses...

that perjury in connection with

an official coroner's inquest...

is punishable to the

full extent of the law.

In the event of the jury

rendering a verdict of murder...

any witness withholding

vital information...

or giving false testimony...

will be regarded as an

accessory to the crime.

Now, will you take the stand, please?

- Your name?

- Charlie Clagpool.

The constable's report states

that you and your brother Tom...

were unlawfully setting traps...

when the fight in which you

received a broken arm occurred.

We was in the woods all right...

but we didn't kill Kate O'Malley.

We was nowhere near

her and Mr. Hammond.

You've not been accused of that.

Is it true that on several previous

occasions you had words with Mr. Hammond?

That's right.

What about it?

That will be all.

Mr. Strudwick, take the stand.

Yes, sir.

Did you see the Clagpools

on the night of the crime?

- I suppose I did.

- Can't you be sure whether you did or not?

Yes, I'm sure.

What were you doing in

the woods at that time?

I was settin' traps.

Strudwick!

Oh, that's impossible.

I'm sorry, sir.

I needed the money, I did.

Why didn't you tell us?

I couldn't. I'd been gambling.

I had to cover me losses somehow.

I hid the chains in the chapel.

Oh, dear. There go my

lovely ghost chains.

As the attending physician then, you would say

the cause of death was due to precisely what?

Concussion of the brain

and severe hemorrhage.

May I ask the witness a question?

Of course, if the

witness has no objection.

None at all.

Dr. Colbert, were there any

contributing circumstances...

other than those you just mentioned?

I don't know exactly what you mean.

The deceased was in a comatose condition

all the time prior to her death?

Yes. She never regained consciousness.

Could this have been caused by anything

else besides a blow on the head?

From a medical viewpoint that's

possible, but hardly probable.

- My examination- - I'm not

questioning the competence...

of your examination, Doctor.

I want to know if Kate

O'Malley had been drugged.

Definitely not.

Thank you, Doctor. That's

all I wanted to know.

Have you reached a verdict, gentlemen?

Yes, sir. It is the opinion

of this coroner's jury...

"that Kate O'Malley

died of injuries...

"sustained during an attack...

"by a person or persons unknown...

or by a large, savage

animal, species unknown. "

There you are, Bob.

That's the verdict that's always

been given in these Hammond cases.

- What do you think?

- I think I'll be able to prove it's murder.

- Curtis, we can't touch the body.

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