Radio and television mirror (Jan-June 1941)

PAGE HAZELTYNE craved adventure. At twenty-seven, beautiful, single, she felt that life held more than her drab existence in a San Francisco boarding house. That was why she jumped at an offer to nurse Mrs. Prendergast at her strange home down on the fogshrouded California coast. The> woman at the employment agency admitted that Mrs. Prendergast had been — well — "queer" — since her husband's death. Her home, called "Mystery House" by the people in the vicinity, was a huge place, always partially under construction, with not a single room that was completely finished. Though Page's nominal duty was to nurse Mrs. Prendergast, who was a cripple, an extra salary was being paid to her by the old woman's niece in San Francisco, who feared that her aunt was being influenced to leave her fortune, including the famous Ked Anna diamond, to others. It was thus part of Page's duty to watch Mrs. Prendergast's two companions, Flora Mockbee and Dr. Randall Harwood. Within a few days after her arrival at Mystery House Page learned that Flora was the daughter of Mrs. Prendergast's old housekeeper, who had died a few days before Dr. Harwood arrived at Mystery House. He was a young physician, charming and likable but frankly an adventurer, who had recently returned from China. Flora was obviously in love with him, but Page did not believe he could be attracted by her pale, homely face and spinsterish ways. Later, Dr. Harwood asked Page to pay special attention to the fourth member of the household — a young, handsome man named Lynn whose precise identity was a mystery, and who suffered from a strange mental trouble. Lynn was so greatly attracted to Page that one day he revealed he was in possession of the famous diamond, which he claimed Mrs. Prendergast had given to him. Nevertheless, in his vague way, he insisted that she wanted it back, and that if she succeeded in getting it she might send him to an institution. In spite of the oddly sinister atmosphere about the house, Page was happy in her new job, until Flora revealed that she was engaged to Dr. Harwood. Harwood later admitted a half-engagement, but told Page that he loved her instead. Hardly had she adjusted herself to this proposal when, on a trip to San Francisco, she conferred with Barnes Bishop, the lawyer representing Mrs. Prendergast's niece, who hinted that there was something strange about the death of Trudy Mockbee, Flora's mother — that she might have been poisoned. Upon Page's return to Mystery House she had another talk with Lynn, and this time he unexpectedly asked her to marry him. A LITTLE later, Page was walking up the path to the house. ^ A Chinese was bowing and scraping on the terrace, his ivory face a broad smile. "Oneddy come," he announced. "Old lady come? What old lady?" Page asked. For answer Ma Foy gestured with a linen-clad arm, and Page saw standing in the shade of the great banana tree a frail elderly woman in a furred coat, a plumed hat, and long white gloves. "I'm Fanny Watts Roy," the strange woman said, in a weak, faintly autocratic, pleasant voice that matched her appearance in some strange indefinable way. "I'm Mrs. Prendergast's sister." "I've heard her speak of you," Page assured her politely. But her thoughts were in a jumble. What to do? Mrs. Prendergast had left none of her associates in ignorance of her feeling toward her sister. She hated her and despised her. How on earth had this refined, faded little person passed the Japanese guard at the highway gate? Rand was away; Flora was probably asleep. And upstairs sat enthroned the despotic old woman who would go into a rage at the mere idea of her sister's nearness. "I'm Mrs. Prendergast's nurse, Page Hazel tyne," she said pleasantly. "Suppose that you come up to my room? I'm not sure that Mrs. Prendergast will see you. She's been nervous, lately. That is, she doesn't see anyone — much." "Extraordinary!" Mrs. Roy said in her faintly autocratic, weary, lovely voice. "Of course she'll see me! We haven't seen each other for fourteen years." "Imagine. . . ." Page murmured sympathetically, her heart beating fast with a terror she could not understand, as she opened the door of her room; snapped up lights, "You know she is angry at Mrs. Hibbs," she said cautiously. "Yes; my daughter told me that yesterday. The quarrel was nonsense of some sort!" "She's old, and it was just at the time of Mrs. Mockbee's death," Page offered gently. "I never did like Trudy Mockbee, never could stand her!" Mrs. Roy said, with a sort of elegant peevishness. "There's no question she was after my sister's money." Page left her and went off to Mrs. Prendergast's room to break the news. Flora was there; had evidently just escorted the old lady to her fireside chair in the sittingroom. "Well, you look comfortable! Are you ready for a visitor?" Page said. "Mrs. Prendergast, Mrs. Roy is here." For a minute there was a complete transfixed silence. Page was almost frightened by the look she saw on the full old wrinkled face. Her employer, when angry, was a dreadful sight. "What did you say?" Mrs. Prendergast asked measuredly. "Your sister from India. She's in my room." "Ha! I'll not see her," the old lady said. "Ah, but she's your sister!" Page said gently. "You and Flora go right back and see her now," Mrs. Prendergast said fiercely, ignoring Page's remark. "Tell her a man'll come over from the farm, to get her in to Belmont, and that when I want to see her I'll let her know. You can give her a cup of tea or something, if you want to," she added more quietly. She was shaken badly; Page could see that. Her fat old hands were trembling, and her face, livid with anger and fear a few seconds earlier, had turned an unhealthy tallow color. This was her only sister, after all, the girl reflected; perhaps she found it harder than she would admit to refuse this interview, that for both of them might be the last in this life. Flora and Page went through the hall together. Mrs. Roy, her coat removed now, and her ashy graying hair uncovered, was "relaxed in a chair beside the stove. The room was warm; the faded beautiful eyes that the visitor raised expectantly to Page America's famous author now brings to radio the stories every woman wants to hear. On these pages Radio Mirror publishes in its original novel form, "Mystery House," recently heard on the air. Tune in "By Kathleen Norris" daily over the NBC-Red, and CBS network (see page 39 for broadcast time) sponsored by Wheaties. Illustrations by Seymour Thompson 23