Transcribed by a robot.
the ghostbreaker a novel based upon the play by charles goddard and paul dickey this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org chapter 11 when the ship comes in back in his stateroom warren was pouring with renewed interest over the timetables between liverpool london paris and madrid seguro was on the main line from the french capital to the principal one of spain as he made various penciled memoranda upon a page in his leather notebook the telephone bell tinkled he answered and heard the voice of the princess can you see me at once on the promenade deck by my door yes goodbye in a few moments he was talking to her in the dark all the lights of her suite were out the girl was very nervous i have a paper which nita found upon the floor it was crumpled it must have fallen from the pocket of my cousin when he fell i want to give you back that belt mr jarvis for i have heard before of some of the wager debts of carlos it is safer with you let me know what you think about this paper and tell me tomorrow morning we are due in port late in the evening you know i will there may be something in which i wish your help as well your highness i have made up my mind to reach saguro before the duke for many reasons the girl caught his hand impetuously you don't fear for your life before you get there do you she asked softly i want you to help me in my castle that is our bargain but i know you better than i did when we met in new york i don't want you to run too big a risk for me until the great trial comes do be careful now a thrill sent the kentuckian's head reeling for an instant at the unexpected touch of those warm electric fingers then he caught himself your vassal is still ambitious for promotion but he will not fight the windmills of spain on an old mule like don quixote he prefers modern methods such as dynamite and other pleasant little novelties he pressed her hand with a returning warmth slipped the belt about him and started down the promenade deck again something prompted him to step into the black shadow of a companion way as a figure crossed beneath an electric overhead lamp far forward on the deck he waited the figure approached noiselessly it was the duke he was wearing slippers with felt souls apparently for his steps caused no sound jarvis watched him with a strange misgiving a fear not for himself yet he deemed it wiser to wait for developments up and down the deck paced the nervous noiseless figure at last the duke returned and disappeared from view through the door by which he had entered the kentuckian's view i wonder what that means thought jarvis perhaps he is having a fight with his conscience just as i have been doing as he watched the speeding waves racing past the great vassal as it seemed for so steady was the swift advance of the ship that it seemed they were on dry land rather than the boundless expanse of the depths here i am after all my education all the work of years to advance myself running away from my own country an escaped gunman just like an east side thug in the comfortable calm of the shipboard life with unfamiliar scenes away from the reminders of his tragedy at meadowgreen it did not now seem a fine thing that he had done man was not normally a destroyer of his own kind and his fine instincts were asserting themselves yet after all despite his vow to his father this had been actual self-defense the other had fired the first shot he had planned to trap him with a decoy and in the end it was survival of the fittest these thoughts had been frequently in his mind but he had resolutely driven them from him now they were nearing another port a great commercial crossways of the travel world here again he was coming within the grasp of the law he was not too certain that all had been given up in that questioning pursuit of the princess and her party that broken door lock might...

Chapter ten from our Sunday horror book.

the ghostbreaker a novel based upon the play by charles goddard and paul dickey this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org chapter 10 a wager with the duke what a curious sea voyage the duke's attempt to warn the captain of the nature of this one particular passenger never eventualized when the moritania had finally left behind all side of america jarvis relaxed his severity you may enjoy yourself excellency he said as he put away the revolver but i would like to speak to you alone as the representative of the princess on a most important mission i am compelled to look after her interests in a definite manner he faced the girl meaningly will you excuse us for a moment's interchange of pleasantries she nodded and retired to her bedroom with nita what do you want you scoundrel i know that you are an imposter a make-believe and worse take it easy duke i'm really not too enthusiastic over you but this cult revolver is not a make-believe i am only going to bother your aristocratic memory with this one little idea that if there is any reporting to the captain or ships officers to interfere with my services as ghost breaker for the royal house of aragon there is going to be a nice band concert in the public square of your native town and the special number on the program will be the dead march from saul with pretty black crepe on the dukel doorknob do you catch my meaning you yankee pig i'm not a yankee i'm a johnny reb by birth and education but both yankees and rebels acquired a reputation for marksmanship about 50 years ago the just died out of his voice one whimper from you damn you and i'll shoot you as i would a mad dog there was such a savage rasp in that mellow southern voice that the duke instinctively dodged backward as though expecting the first volley we shall see what we shall see were his final words and if i see you about the cabin of my cousin again well perhaps the officers of this ship may take a hand warren pursed his lips into an ironical grin you know a member of my profession doesn't take a solemn oath to wait until the remains are resting in pieces it might not be a difficult task to take up an avocation as well as a vocation i wonder if i couldn't be a pretty good ghost maker think it over jarvis with a simple word of goodbye to the princess returned to his own cabin where he lost himself in slumber the tortures of his trunk trip were still with him in aching muscles and strained ligaments the girl wondered what had become of him for it was not until late in the evening that he telephoned to her at the suite she was on the deck listening to the orchestra concert nita responded at the phone jarvis surprised the girl by a volleyball discourse in spanish he had mastered it in his tropical travels it was to come in as a life-saving accomplishment before the end of the adventure tell me nita have you good eyes he curiously inquired ah senor so i am told was the ingenuous reply well in that sense i have my doubts about their goodness but what i want you to do for the sake of your princess and her brother is to keep those black eyes eternally watchful i'm expecting some curious tricks from one we know let her know what you see and she will tell me remember keep looking listening all the time nida promised and worn repaired to the lounge where he observed the duke nursing his ill humor over a lonesome absinthe frappe warren did not seek companionship either upon this journey he knew too many men in the ranks of the international traders to dare risk recognition the great roadway between new york and the european ports has now become a veritable promenade thronged with travelers it is no longer a lonely passage the great steamship was crowded on this trip rusty being in good luck to obtain a stateroom relinquished just before sailing time with nearly 2 000 people on...

You may want to take a break and look at fluffy teddy wear, eat some gummy bears, listen to nursery rhymes, forget the terrorising stories for a bit. But wait, those gummy bears are not what they seem....

Transcribed below
the ghost breaker a novel based upon the play by charles goddard and paul dickey this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org chapter 9 checkmate the first the detective glared at the noblemen with fingers obviously itching for action he sucked his teeth contemptiously and then turned his back squarely upon the noble countenance over his face spread the beatific smile which strong rough men deemed overpowering with a member of the weaker sex as he was saying lady before we were so impolitely interrupted you was in the hotel when this gun play went on did you hear it yes sir i heard two shots did you hear anything else yes indeed i heard a great many people running up and down the corridor outside my door the detective scribbled away in his notebook jarvis winked again at the princess over the dowdy shoulders which were backed toward him the duke caught the wink and pondered over it did anyone come in your room miss yes my maid was frightened poor child she came in and begged me to protect her uh hum and how did your luck get broken it was broken when we came to the room i was foolish not to complain to the management at once for i might have been robbed by some sneak thief i explained all that at the hotel um all right what about the colored man who came to your room afterwards and carried away a large bundle the duke's eyes were sparkling now he was biting his chance to intervene jarvis watched him without the flicker of an eyelash that was my servant explain the princess easily i send for him because i had made a number of purchases too late to get them into my trunk they are here unopened you may examine them if you wish the detective waved aside the offer he was nothing if not galliant if the questioned one were fair enough oh that's all right but what do you know about this miss he produced a pocket knife and walked toward her slowly examining it with care the duke of alva leaned over his shoulder with absorbed interest this knife has the initial w how about it the girl reached forward with a graceful hand oh i am so glad you found it thank you for bringing it to me then it's yours who is this party w your name is aragon i believe the princess laughed i am maria theresa of aragon you see i don't see where does the w come in i know how to spell you know even if i'm only a bull and he glared pugnaciously at the duke why it isn't w can't you understand you're holding it upside down it is m standing for my first name maria theresa the detective grudgingly handed her the trinket he looked into his memorandum book again chewing the end of his pencil now there's just one more thing miss carlos could control himself no longer he caught the officer's arm in a feverish grip which was as promptly thrown off you will pardon me but i wish to inform you that this man's name is warren he began the detective spun about and protruded his heavy chin at the duke say who's running this third degree you or me the duke tried to temporize but my dear man say cal i ain't your dear man cut that guff don't dary me i'm a big rough fellow but i've got some gumption you get out of here he gave him a thoroughly plebeian push toward the door yes carlos do go leave us to attend to this matter these gentlemen are so kind and so sympathetic i'm sure we can finish this better without you i merely wish to point out you point him out jim ordered the first detective to his assistant you hear what the lady says this is her cabin the second official caught the aristocrat with a rude grasp of the velvet coat collar and shook him as one would a child the duke's teeth chattered out your goals and if your butt's in again i'll fan...

A fast-moving plot to keep us on our toes. I will be sharing the entire book today at book club and preparing for a chilling live performance later dressed in the black garb of a witch with my cauldron.

the ghostbreaker a novel based upon the play by charles goddard and paul dickey this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org chapter eight the new profession a knock on the door brought them both back to the deck of the maritania with tara firma not so far distant below there he is now she whispered nervously who shall i say you are and what oh any whole thing warren mr warren leave the classification to me self-identification is an american trait she crossed the cabin and after a timid pause opened the door come in she murmured ah i'm intruding exclaimed carlos duke of alva with an intonation which expressed an invitation for warren jarvis to make a graceful exit not at all blankly observed jarvis i've just been discussing my professional task at the castle as a member of the family you can give me some good working material i don't understand spluttered carlos taken aback pardon me cousin this is mr warren of america who has consented to help me my cousin the duke of alva she walked behind the two men comparing them keenly the deadly parallel column was not at all unfavorable to the insouciant kentuckian glad to know you volunteer jarvis have a cigarette i never smoke in the presence of ladies retorted the duke then with a patronizing heir he added i am honored to meet you sir if you are in my royal cousin's employee so you are interested in the castle oh not so much in the castle as in the ghost i'll attend to him and is that your regular profession you're a good guesser my dear duke that is my business solving mysteries locking up family skeletons chasing spooks and putting salt on their tails we have a professional name for it in the united states and what is that sir asked carlos uncertain whether to be affronted or to draw out the strange bird to a confidence a quick glance at his cousin's immobile face gave him no hint jarvis continued amiably we are living in an age of specialists you have dallas heard of farley the strikebreaker of roosevelt the trust breaker i forgot to bring my business cards with me but if i may be so immodest as to tell the truth i am known from bowling green to the golden gate as warren the ghost breaker this astounding news fairly took the duke off his feet he mentally clawed the air for his equilibrium

ejaculated the duke dropping his sword cane as he recovered from his astonishment the princess interceded i am so glad you came i promised the ghost breaker that you would join us shortly you will be able to tell him so much better than i of all the strange circumstances i have only given him a rough outline of what happened up to the time i left my brother on his way to the castle carlos sank into a chair irritated at the americans disinterested lack of courtesy jarvis had not even risen from his seat on the trunk somehow or other carlos despised that trunk i will be delighted to throw any possible light on the mystery of the castle but first let us leave your brother in peace to let me know why you came to america maria theresa drew the locket from her reticule this is what brought me may i see it and the duke held out his hand ingratiatingly what a charming old antique no carlos rather you may see the lockhead but not the memorandum in the back the duke registered an expression of polite surprise memorandum yes and the princess removed a small bit of paper from the ivory back swinging it forward to her cousin's hand on the long silver chain the nobleman's dark face assumed a ruddier hue as he caught the trinket in fingers which jarvis noticed were trembling in tail-tail manner jarvis watched the two of them in silence it's a curious old piece of work and you came all the...

A wonderful book for a Sunday, take a drive or puff up some cushions and enjoy a scary drive to Hell and back!
the ghostbreaker a novel based upon the play by charles goddard and paul dickey this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org chapter 7 the romance of the castle

warren hobbled painfully to the telephone on the wall this connected with a central switchboard from which he knew he could reach his own stateroom provided rusty had not failed in his trust great scott suppose it is impossible to get accommodations i have to write as a story in the hold after all he thought at any rate he knew that the 10 minutes were rapidly dissipating and from what he had learned by eavesdropping through the trunk the duke was not the kindliest person in the world for a man in such predicament hello he called hello there yes i want the stateroom of mr jarvis yes warren jarvis no i don't know the number of the room all right there was a pause and he improved the opportunity to unlimber his arms and legs while waiting by the instrument at last came the welcome voice with the african accents hello who do you want hello rusty good boy listen come up to this stateroom and bring me an overcoat and a scarf yes and bring me a damp towel with some soap on it yes and stick a comb into the coke pocket la boss i don't know where you all is that's right wait a minute he opened the door to the cabin passageway and squinted at the number plate back again to the telephone he continued stateroom a promenade deck and bring up that big bundle in the steamer rug quick now jarvis hung up the receiver and walked stiffly to the window peering out at the disappearing shores well goodbye uncle sam i don't know when i'll see you again and as for you miss liberty i don't believe there will be any of your sisters or cousins around this precious castle where fate is taking me i don't know which of the two of us is craziest this duke or myself then after a pause he added well his taste is not to be sneered at that's certain there was a knock at the door warren was uncertain as to the wisest thing to do he called go away we're all very ill then he darted for one of the side staterooms but the door opened slowly and the plump physiognomy of rusty snow appeared rusty stumbled awkwardly over the elevated threshold dropping the large bundle landing prone on the deck before they would have built a dirt and food door like that complained rusty scrabbling up with a bruised shin the tinderous spot of a negro his master worked feverishly untying the trays and fitting them into the trunk from which he had totally removed his dress coat and the revolver then he smiled at rusty how in the name of moses did you all get on the steamboat my sword was his servant's next remark as he helped on with the coat over the painful shoulders i came in the trunk and it was almost as good traveling as some of those mountain railroads back in kentucky quick hand me that towel my face is bleeding a few quick moments the use of the comb and he looked more presentable resembling jarvis the club man once again did you see any signs of the police rusty noser nary a are you sure dear satan my sword did you look no so i can't say as i did i wasn't anxious to look the door opened with a suddenness which caused both men to jump it was the princess she smiled with relief as she saw the rehabilitation how to do mrs princess was rusty's plate greeting with a bow his formality was growing more impressive as the acquaintance extended here was quality indeed rusty was a judge of breed how do you do rusty and she laughed girlishly then she turned toward her vassal he wore a quizzical friendly and amusingly pathetic look the bruises of his trip were evident upon the clear-cut features i am so glad that you made it all right but how they must have bumped and banged and wobbled and whirled you i...

Eek, more terrifying words from the crew at Librivox. God help us....no, he is nowhere to be seen today my friends, you are on your own.
the ghostbreaker a novel based upon the play by charles goddard and paul dickey this is a liberbox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org chapter six over the sea and far away that journey to the maritania was never to be forgotten by warren jarvis and yet so weird bruising jumbling and altogether horrible was it that he could never distinctly remember its details with hands stretched tensely against the corners of the trunk he warded off as best he could the shocks of the skilled baggage breakers along the route again and again an unexpected twist would bang his throbbing head against the adamantine sides and with a wince a sharp in-drawn breath he would hold himself together for one more bump the air was stifling yet the foresight of cutting the holes gave him enough oxygen to maintain his senses at last after eons of suffering which reminded him of nothing so much as his initiation into the college fraternity he felt himself being dragged up the side of the great ocean greyhound more jolts more rolls and bangs and at last with muscles wrenched a swollen forehead and nerves a quiver there was rest i'm in her cabin at last and now for a graceful exit he told himself with an enforced jocularity but this was no easy task he spent a full half hour working and prying with the shears against the lock which imprisoned him with indomitable force from the outside of the iron and letherin prison from the outer deck of the great turbiner the princess nervously fought her way through the great throng of voyagers and their friends nita was close by her side it seemed impossible to capture a steward who was not busy with the bearing of bouquets and wine baskets in other circumstances this young personage would have been furious at the lack of respect which she had been educated to expect from the throngs of her own country but today her only anxiety was to find her elusive quarters for the strange cruise to learn whether or not her new knight errant was alive or dead from the rigors of his escape at last with the aid of an extravagant largesse she was conducted to her staterooms as she entered the parlor of her luxurious suite the first sight which caught her eye was the trunk inverted the printed sign of direction this end up with care was upside down she gasped and looked nervously about to note the expression upon the face of nita that young woman was busy studying the handsome features of the ingratiating bedroom steward so engrossed was she that she stumbled over the elevated sill of the door from the promenade deck oh i'm sorry miss apologize the steward did you hurt yourself these doors are always troublesome until you get used to them but they are necessary to keep out the water in rough weather the princess was thinking only of the opportunity to open the fateful trunk you don't anticipate a bad passage steward rather uncertain ma'am at this time of the year and he busied himself adjusting the hand luggage and arranging the chairs but your location is good you'll find the martini as steady as a parish church here is the clothes press ma'am and the other rooms are off there it's quite the finest suite on the boat ma'am the steward looked about ingratiatingly then he turned toward the door if you want anything ma'am there is the telephone i'll place your trunk if you please ma'am he started to drag the trunk to the side of the cabin but the princess intervened that's alright you may place it later but you might fix it right side up the steward turned it as the girl breathed a sigh of relief i'm so sorry ma'am i hope the contents are not upset i hope not anything else ma'am no not now steward how soon do we sail very soon and as he spoke there came the centaurian warning all

the call was repeated...

Ah let's get scary as it is the weekend. Listen with a friend from under the duvet.

I can't listen unless the lights are on or I have a bedfellow!

Far too scary, petrifying words for the wee small hours.

Narrator: Linette Geisel
Warren; Ghost Breaker and Kentuckian hero: Bill Mosley
Maria Theresa, Princess of Aragon: Amanda Friday
Rusty Snow; Warren's servant man: Phil Chenevert
Carlos, Duke of Alva, cousin of Maria Theresa: Marty Kris
Colonel Jarvis of Meadow Green (older voice): Marty Kris
Mandy; Colonel Jarvis's servant woman: Jenny Lundak
Doctor: Chuck Williamson
Major Selby: Nathanial W.C. Higgins
Hotel Page: Marty Kris
Colonel Jim Marcum, wealthy and prominent Kentucky sportsman: Jerry James
Brazilian coffee merchant: Amy Gramour
Detective 1: David Olson
Detective 2 ToddHW
Nita; Chic young Spanish servant to Maria Theresa: Abigail Bartels
Ship's Porter: Lucy Perry
Ship's Steward: Chuck Williamson
Ship's Officer: Barry Eads
Ship's Captain: Kevin Soini
Scotland Yard Detective: Barry Eads
Senorita Deloris, daughter of Senor Vardos: Heather Hamtil
Senor Pedro, tavern keeper: ToddHW
Don Robledo: Nathanial W.C. Higgins
Human Battleship: Liberty Stump
Vardos, Prince's Retainer: ToddHW

Part 2 of this exciting book.