Suspense's "Footfalls" was based on the 1920 short story of the same name written by author and playwright Wilbur Daniel Steele, which can be found in the book O. Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1920. The complete text of "Footfalls" is also available online at Fullbooks.com.
As the episode opens, a blind cobbler named Boaz Negro is talking to a cop named Charlie. They talk about all of those years that Boaz was waiting....to kill a man.
Boaz had been a widower living with his son, Manuel. At his shop, he worked long hours and he knew all the locals by the sounds of their steps. Some people told him he was too lenient with his son, but Boaz trusted in him.
When Manuel was grown, they took in a border named Campbell Wood. He was new in town and starting a job at the bank. People soon noticed the contrast between the industrious Mr. Wood and the lazy Manuel.
That difference is what became the source of trouble one terrible night when Mr. Wood was found murdered. Manuel was blamed for his murder and the robbery and fire that followed. Boaz had heard the footsteps of the murderer, so he knew the truth.
So, he waited for the sound of those steps to return...
"Footfalls" was adapted for radio by Alvin George and Robert L. Richards. William Spier produced and directed. J. Carrol Naish starred. This episode aired on July 12, 1945.
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(Image of J. Carroll Naish from Wikipedia)
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