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The Shadow - "Dead Men Tell" (Old Time Radio) · The Shadow | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: John Matley is deep in debt, and when his wealthy
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: father is murdered, suspicion falls squarely on the son. From
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: the Mutual Broadcasting System, this is The Shadow, episode 247,
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: Dead Men Tell, first heard March.
• 0:13
  Speaker 2: 1st, 1942.
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: Brett Morrison stars as Lamont Cranston, with Marjorie Anderson as
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Margot Lane, as their investigation leads into a troubled family
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: affair and the reported use of a lethal device operating
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: from a distance.
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: It is a case of.
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: Financial pressure, accusation, and a crime that calls for the
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: shadow's particular methods. We now take you back to the
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: original broadcast.
• 0:49
  Speaker 3: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: The shadow knows.
• 1:14
  Speaker 4: The thrilling adventures of The Shadow are on the air,
• 1:17
  Speaker 4: brought to you each week at this time by your
• 1:18
  Speaker 4: neighborhood blue coal dealer. These dramatizations are designed to demonstrate
• 1:23
  Speaker 4: forcibly to old and young alike that crime does not pay.
• 1:33
  Speaker 4: Have you ever used blue coal? Well, you've heard the saying,
• 1:37
  Speaker 4: it's cheaper to buy the best. Good fuel and the
• 1:40
  Speaker 4: correct size to fit your furnace is real economy. If
• 1:44
  Speaker 4: you've never used blue coal, plan to give it a
• 1:46
  Speaker 4: trial now. You'll notice the difference in more even, healthful heat.
• 1:51
  Speaker 4: And you'll be pleasantly surprised at how economical it is
• 1:54
  Speaker 4: to use. So finish the winter with blue coal. Prove
• 1:58
  Speaker 4: to yourself that you get more for your money. Get
• 2:01
  Speaker 4: in touch with your neighborhood blue coal dealer right away.
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: Tomorrow.
• 2:15
  Speaker 4: The shadow, mysterious character who aids the forces of law
• 2:18
  Speaker 4: and order, is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man
• 2:21
  Speaker 4: about town. Several years ago in the Orient, Cranston learned
• 2:26
  Speaker 4: a strange and mysterious secret. The secret of hypnotic power
• 2:30
  Speaker 4: to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him.
• 2:34
  Speaker 4: Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margot Lane, is the
• 2:38
  Speaker 4: only person who knows to whom the voice of the
• 2:40
  Speaker 4: invisible shadow belongs. Today's drama.
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: Dead men tell. That everlasting sleep. That born from which
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: no traveler ever returns. That eternal rest called death. How
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: often men have attempted to close the mouth of the accuser,
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: seal their lips forever. And how often have they failed.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: For dead men, in spite of the legend, do tell. Yes,
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: they speak and point with a bony, fleshless finger at
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: their murderers.
• 3:33
  Speaker 4: Sign right here, Matley, right on the dotted line.
• 3:41
  Speaker 2: No. No, I won't do it. You like living, Johnny.
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: Kind of nice, ain't it? You wouldn't do anything to me, Max. No.
• 3:48
  Speaker 5: Max Merkle likes to collect his money. You don't like Welch's.
• 3:52
  Speaker 5: Either you pay up or it's spring summit flowers for you.
• 3:55
  Speaker 6: Okay.
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: Okay, let go of me. I'll sign. That's better. But
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: this notice of $ 50, 000. Yeah. I only owe you $ 10, 000.
• 4:04
  Speaker 5: Just a little interest, Johnny boy. Just a little interest
• 4:07
  Speaker 5: to keep me happy till your old man dies and
• 4:08
  Speaker 5: leaves his door to you. Got to have something extra
• 4:11
  Speaker 5: for waiting, don't I? Go ahead, sign.
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: All right.
• 4:17
  Speaker 5: Now, remember, this is a little business between you and me.
• 4:20
  Speaker 5: One word from you to your old man about this, and, well,
• 4:23
  Speaker 5: I collect my money that much sooner.
• 4:25
  Speaker 2: You get it?
• 4:26
  Speaker 5: I collect my money sooner than you expect.
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: Now, get out. Okay. Okay, I'll go. All right, he's gone.
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: You can come out. You get it, Max?
• 4:40
  Speaker 6: Sure he got it, Julie.
• 4:41
  Speaker 7: The old master never fails.
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: Thank you, Gloria, for the vote of confidence. Where is it? Here. Hey,
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: what is this?
• 4:49
  Speaker 7: Certified check for ten grand, Julie. Stop me if I'm wrong.
• 4:53
  Speaker 2: You can stop. You're wrong.
• 4:54
  Speaker 6: What? Max, you let him get away without getting.
• 4:57
  Speaker 2: Not without, baby. Read what the paper says, Julie. I
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: promise to pay Max Merkel a sum of $ 50, 000. Fifty? When, Max?
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: When he's got the money. When his old man dies
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: and leaves it to him. And you let him get
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: away with this? His old man is good for 20
• 5:15
  Speaker 2: years yet. Yeah, but will he live that long? That's
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: the question. Now listen, Michael. My cut of that 10
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: grand was 2,500. I want it now. And I say
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: you can't get it. I'll get it or I'll... You'll what, Julie?
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: He's dead.
• 5:33
  Speaker 6: He killed him.
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: Yeah. Let that be a lesson to you, Gloria.
• 5:37
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: Max Murko does things his own way. You're a fool, John.
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: A weak, blind fool. How much longer will I have
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: to watch over you? How much longer will I have
• 5:52
  Speaker 2: to fight your battles for you? Last year it was
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: that singer, Gloria Kingsley, and now... Well, you said it'd
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: kill me, Dad, if I didn't sign that note. $ 50, 000.
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: How much did you actually lose at Murko's crooked gambling house? $ 10, 000.
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: And you signed for five times that amount? Why? Why? Well,
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: I told him that you wouldn't give me that much money,
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: and he said, well, you get your father's dough when
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: he dies, don't you? And I said, yes. He said, well,
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: I can wait, but I want interest. So you'd even
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: gamble on your father's life? But, Dad... Get out, I'm
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: through with you. Dad, I... I'm calling Arnold Fantas right
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: now and cutting you out of my will. Look, Dad...
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: Get out, I said! All right. All right, Dad, but
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: you're not changing your will. There are ways to stop that.
• 6:35
  Speaker 2: More ways than one. So my son would even threaten me, huh?
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: Threaten me. Well, we'll see about that. Hello? Oh, hello, Arnold.
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: Is that you? Yes, Gustav. What is it? You sound upset. Oh,
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: it's that son of mine again, Arnold. I've decided to
• 6:55
  Speaker 2: disinherit him. Now, now, now. This time I'm serious. I've
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: never been... Look, how soon can you get here? I'm
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: right next door.
• 7:01
  Speaker 4: I can get there in five minutes.
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: But can't this wait till tomorrow? No, I'm changing my
• 7:04
  Speaker 2: will tonight. I want you to bring... To bring... Oh...
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: What's that? My head. My head. It feels like fire.
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: What is.
• 7:16
  Speaker 3: It?
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: What's the matter? Gus! Gus! Gus!
• 7:26
  Speaker 5: Well, you know how it is, Cranston. Here today, gone
• 7:29
  Speaker 5: tomorrow was just one of those things.
• 7:31
  Speaker 2: Who is he, Commissioner? Who is he? Well, Cranston, I
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: told you. Why don't you listen?
• 7:34
  Speaker 6: Commissioner Weston, you've been talking steadily for 16 minutes and
• 7:37
  Speaker 6: you haven't once mentioned the name of that man.
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: 16 minutes.
• 7:42
  Speaker 5: Miss Lane, I am known to my associates as Tight
• 7:45
  Speaker 5: Lips Weston. I never speak more than two or three
• 7:47
  Speaker 5: words at a time. In fact, when I... Why?
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: Who was the man? What man? Oh, the man. Oh, uh,
• 7:54
  Speaker 2: Gustav Mantley. The broker? Yeah. Well, isn't he the man
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: whose son got so mixed up in that scandal last year,
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: breach of promise and all that?
• 8:01
  Speaker 6: Yes, that's right, Lamont. Nightclub singer, wasn't she? Gloria.
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: Uh, Gloria Kingsley.
• 8:07
  Speaker 6: That's right, Gloria Kingsley.
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: Yes. And if I remember correctly, that wasn't the first
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: time that John Matley has been in trouble. Always had
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: his father to buy his way out of scrapes. All
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: of which means... That the father's death looks very suspicious.
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: Hold on to your hats, boys. Here we go again.
• 8:22
  Speaker 5: Now, look, Cranston, there were no marks of violence on
• 8:24
  Speaker 5: Gust of Matley's body. Medical examiner says there was no
• 8:27
  Speaker 5: evidence of poison. No foul play, and you're making a
• 8:30
  Speaker 5: murder out of it.
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: Commissioner Weston? Yes? I'm John Matley. Oh, yes. You told
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: me on the phone that you wanted to see me. Yes, Matley.
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: Sit down, boy. Thank you. Now, this is going to
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: be something of a shock to you, but you... My father.
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: It is about my father, isn't it? Yes. He's dead.
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: I knew it. I knew it would happen. You did?
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: You knew it would happen? Well, my father was a
• 8:57
  Speaker 2: very violent man. He flew into such terrible tempers. The
• 9:01
  Speaker 2: doctor warned him that he would die of heart failure someday.
• 9:03
  Speaker 6: Heart failure?
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: Well, it might interest you to know that the medical
• 9:06
  Speaker 2: examiner found no indication of heart failure... No evidence of
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: anything that might have caused your father's death. Well, what
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: did he die of? That, Mr. Matley, is a mystery.
• 9:15
  Speaker 2: I was just wondering... Say, what is my office? Grand
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: Central Station? Arnold Fantas. Yes, John.
• 9:21
  Speaker 4: I heard that the police had sent for you and
• 9:22
  Speaker 4: I came here to help you.
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: I don't want your help. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
• 9:26
  Speaker 2: Where do you two think you are? I'll have no
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: more of this.
• 9:29
  Speaker 4: I'm sorry, Commissioner. You see, I'm Arnold Fantas, the deceased
• 9:32
  Speaker 4: Gustav Matley's attorney.
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: Why did you come here, Mr. Fantas? I thought it
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: was my duty to help John defend himself against this
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: murder charge. Murder? What are you talking about? The murder
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: of your father, of course. It's strange that you say that, Mr. Fantas.
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: Because as yet the police are not even sure that
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: it was murder.
• 9:48
  Speaker 8: It's obvious.
• 9:59
  Speaker 6: That Matley killed his father, Lamont.
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: Obvious, Margo. After all, the only evidence the police have
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: is Fant's statement that John and his father quarreled. And
• 10:08
  Speaker 2: his father was about to cut him out of his will.
• 10:10
  Speaker 6: Yes, well, that's certainly motive enough for a young good-for-nothing
• 10:13
  Speaker 6: like John Matley. If I were Commissioner Weston, I wouldn't
• 10:16
  Speaker 6: have let.
• 10:16
  Speaker 2: Him go scot-free. Well, you're not the Commissioner, Margo. Anyway...
• 10:21
  Speaker 2: Weston's assigned a man to trail young Matley. He can't
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: get away. Pardon me, Mr. Cranston, Miss Lane. What is it, Shrevie? Well,
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: it seems my bosom friend.
• 10:29
  Speaker 9: And companion, Big Charlie and me, is discussing this now
• 10:31
  Speaker 9: Matley case in full detail, we are discussing.
• 10:34
  Speaker 2: And what conclusion did you reach?
• 10:36
  Speaker 9: Well, we reached that if we had been the father
• 10:38
  Speaker 9: of this now guy, John Matley.
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: We would have been different.
• 10:42
  Speaker 6: You mean you wouldn't have threatened to disinherit your son?
• 10:45
  Speaker 2: No, no, that, Miss Lane, is bad. Psychology, Shrevie? My
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: very words, Mr.
• 10:50
  Speaker 4: Cranston.
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: Ha, ha, ha.
• 10:52
  Speaker 6: Well, what would you have done in Mr. Matley's place, Shrevie?
• 10:55
  Speaker 2: Well, I in Mr.
• 10:55
  Speaker 9: Matley's place would have taken the boy gently but firmly
• 10:59
  Speaker 9: by the head and kicked him the heck down the stairs.
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: Oh, here it is, Mr. Matley's house. Well, I'll see
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: you later, Margo.
• 11:08
  Speaker 6: Oh, Lamont, can't I come along too?
• 11:10
  Speaker 2: No, Margo. Gustav Matley's will is to be read here
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: today and the shadow is going to be present. Arnold
• 11:23
  Speaker 2: Fantis will be here any minute now to read the will.
• 11:25
  Speaker 2: You both better go. Oh, no. Don't forget I got
• 11:27
  Speaker 2: a 50 grand interest in that will, Johnny boy. I stay. Me?
• 11:32
  Speaker 6: What about me, Johnny?
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: You were paid off, Gloria. My father gave you $ 5, 000
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: for those letters I wrote you.
• 11:37
  Speaker 6: That's right. Now that I think of it, they were
• 11:40
  Speaker 6: worth much more than that, Johnny.
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: You get out of here right now. Both of you.
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: Listen to him. He ain't very polite, is he? After
• 11:47
  Speaker 2: all I've done for him. What have you done for me?
• 11:50
  Speaker 2: Much more than you know, kid. More than you know. I...
• 11:54
  Speaker 2: I don't understand you.
• 11:55
  Speaker 7: Maybe he bumped off your old man for you so
• 11:58
  Speaker 7: you could get his money.
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: Shut up, you! Shut up!
• 12:00
  Speaker 7: Ooh, look what little.
• 12:01
  Speaker 6: Gloria turned up. So it was you, Max.
• 12:05
  Speaker 5: What?
• 12:06
  Speaker 7: Well, now I'm really going to be paid off from
• 12:08
  Speaker 7: both sides, and good.
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: Well, now, that throws a different light on things. How'd
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: you do it, Max?
• 12:15
  Speaker 5: Oh, are you kidding, Johnny boy? I talked you into
• 12:18
  Speaker 5: it the other night so you could get his money.
• 12:20
  Speaker 2: Even if I had, you can't prove it. You can't
• 12:22
  Speaker 2: prove it. Now get out of here.
• 12:23
  Speaker 6: Get out of here.
• 12:25
  Speaker 2: I'm staying. Well, we'll see about that. We'll see.
• 12:30
  Speaker 5: Nice little act of yours, Miss Kingsley, but I'm not buying.
• 12:34
  Speaker 7: You're going to cut me in, Max. I know too much.
• 12:38
  Speaker 5: Look, you're a nice girl, but I don't like partners.
• 12:40
  Speaker 5: It's unhealthy for any partner of mine.
• 12:42
  Speaker 7: Like it or not, Maxie, I'm in. Whether you killed
• 12:46
  Speaker 7: old Mattley or not, I saw you get Gigli.
• 12:48
  Speaker 2: Suit yourself, Miss Kingsley, but don't say I didn't warn you.
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: the vultures gather. Who said that?
• 12:55
  Speaker 6: I heard something, too.
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: You heard the shadow, Miss Kingsley. Shadow? I can't see anyone.
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: A shadow cannot be seen. No, no, no. Don't look
• 13:02
  Speaker 2: for me.
• 13:04
  Speaker 6: What do you want?
• 13:05
  Speaker 2: I want to know how Gustav Mattly died. And you, Mr. Mirko,
• 13:08
  Speaker 2: can shed some light on that subject. No. I don't
• 13:10
  Speaker 2: know anything about it. You murdered Gustav Mattly. That's a lie. Sure.
• 13:15
  Speaker 6: That's it. That's how it happens, Shadow.
• 13:17
  Speaker 2: As for you, Miss Kingsley, the law concerning blackmail is
• 13:19
  Speaker 2: very severe.
• 13:20
  Speaker 7: You got nothing on me.
• 13:21
  Speaker 2: Nor me, Shadow. We shall see, Mr. Max Merco. We
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: shall see.
• 13:27
  Speaker 6: Phone on that desk there.
• 13:28
  Speaker 2: It's ringing. So what?
• 13:33
  Speaker 6: Well, answer it.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: Why? It ain't for me. I heard the phone ringing.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: Answer it for me, will you, Merco? Answer it yourself. Oh,
• 13:41
  Speaker 2: it's the reporters again. I don't want to talk to them.
• 13:44
  Speaker 7: I can't stand to hear a phone ring without answering.
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: Why don't you then? Sure.
• 13:48
  Speaker 6: Why not?
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: No. No, Gloria.
• 13:50
  Speaker 9: Hello?
• 13:52
  Speaker 6: Hello?
• 13:53
  Speaker 7: No one on the wire. Hello?
• 13:58
  Speaker 6: Someone probably got the wrong.
• 14:00
  Speaker 2: Wrong. Oh.
• 14:03
  Speaker 6: My head.
• 14:03
  Speaker 2: Gloria. Fire. Burn.
• 14:07
  Speaker 4: My head.
• 14:08
  Speaker 2: Drop that receiver, Miss Kingsley. What's wrong?
• 14:11
  Speaker 3: My head.
• 14:12
  Speaker 2: Gloria. Gloria. What's the matter with her? She's dead, Max. What? Dead, huh?
• 14:21
  Speaker 2: I told her I didn't like partners.
• 14:32
  Speaker 4: If you haven't tried blue coal, you're really missing something
• 14:35
  Speaker 4: of vital importance in your home heating. Hundreds of thousands
• 14:38
  Speaker 4: of families use blue coal exclusively. They know their heating
• 14:42
  Speaker 4: comfort is secure when their bin is full of blue coal. Yes,
• 14:47
  Speaker 4: your blue coal dealer is glad to serve you. He'll
• 14:49
  Speaker 4: come to your home and recommend the proper size of
• 14:52
  Speaker 4: coal to use. Yes, and size of coal is extremely
• 14:55
  Speaker 4: important in economical, efficient home heating. And blue coal is
• 14:59
  Speaker 4: properly graded and actually tailored for your individual heating plant.
• 15:03
  Speaker 4: Remember also to plan this year to install a blue
• 15:06
  Speaker 4: coal heat regulator. This modern device saves countless steps. It
• 15:11
  Speaker 4: saves money, and it saves fuel. The blue coal heat
• 15:15
  Speaker 4: regulator is a must in every home that wants the
• 15:18
  Speaker 4: luxury of continual, healthy, even, and balanced temperature, especially during
• 15:23
  Speaker 4: these changeable winter days when it's such a problem to
• 15:26
  Speaker 4: control heating. Furthermore, it's easy to install, and if you're
• 15:31
  Speaker 4: renting a house, it's just a matter of minutes to
• 15:33
  Speaker 4: disconnect and take with you when you move. So remember,
• 15:37
  Speaker 4: for healthier, more economical heat, just call your neighborhood blue
• 15:41
  Speaker 4: coal dealer tomorrow. He is listed in the classified section
• 15:45
  Speaker 4: of your phone directory under the words blue coal. Now,
• 15:52
  Speaker 4: back to the shadow.
• 15:59
  Speaker 5: And there it is, Cranston. The telephone people say definitely
• 16:01
  Speaker 5: that the phone had not been tampered with.
• 16:03
  Speaker 6: Well, then why did this Gloria Kingsley die when she
• 16:05
  Speaker 6: picked up the receiver?
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: Margo, my dear, she didn't die as a result of
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: picking up the receiver. Something else caused her death. Well, what? I, uh... Yeah,
• 16:13
  Speaker 2: that's a good question. Good question.
• 16:15
  Speaker 5: Cranston, will you take Miss Lane out of here? She's
• 16:17
  Speaker 5: slowly but surely driving me out of my mind.
• 16:19
  Speaker 2: Margo, stop asking so many questions. Not the questions that
• 16:22
  Speaker 2: bother me. It's the answers. Commissioner... What sort of an
• 16:26
  Speaker 2: autopsy was performed on the body of Gustav Matley? I
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: don't get you. Well, was it thorough? Look for yourself.
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: Here's a report on my desk here. Thank you. No
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: marks of violence, no poison. Commissioner, can you get an
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: order to exhume the body of Gustav Matley? Yes, but
• 16:41
  Speaker 2: why do you want it? No mention is made in
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: this report of a brain examination, and I would.
• 16:45
  Speaker 4: Pardon me, Commissioner Weston. Mind if I come in?
• 16:47
  Speaker 2: Not at all, Mr. Fantas. What can I do for you? Oh, hello,
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: Miss Lane, Mr.
• 16:50
  Speaker 4: Cranston.
• 16:51
  Speaker 6: How do you do?
• 16:51
  Speaker 4: How do you do? As you probably know by now, Commissioner,
• 16:54
  Speaker 4: the D.A. has secured an indictment against John Matley for
• 16:56
  Speaker 4: the murder of his father.
• 16:57
  Speaker 2: I just heard about it an hour ago, Mr. Fantas.
• 16:59
  Speaker 4: I've decided to represent John Matley.
• 17:01
  Speaker 2: Decided? But I thought that you and young Matley didn't
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: get along. He didn't want your help. Mr.
• 17:06
  Speaker 4: Cranston, I assure you that I have no respect and
• 17:08
  Speaker 4: very little affection for the boy, but... After all, he's
• 17:11
  Speaker 4: still the son of.
• 17:12
  Speaker 2: My best friend. Mr.
• 17:13
  Speaker 6: Fannis, do you believe him innocent?
• 17:14
  Speaker 4: Now, is that a fair question to ask the boy's
• 17:16
  Speaker 4: legal representative, Miss Lane?
• 17:18
  Speaker 2: He's right. Well, then here's something that you can do.
• 17:21
  Speaker 2: Sign an exhumation order for the body of Gustav Matley.
• 17:24
  Speaker 4: That's impossible, Mr. Cranston.
• 17:26
  Speaker 2: Impossible, huh?
• 17:27
  Speaker 5: Well, let me tell you, Mr. Fannis, we can have
• 17:29
  Speaker 5: the body exhumed with or without your approval. You don't understand.
• 17:32
  Speaker 5: Gustav Matley's body was cremated.
• 17:34
  Speaker 6: Cremated?
• 17:35
  Speaker 2: Who ordered that?
• 17:36
  Speaker 4: I did. It was Gustav Matley's wish.
• 17:47
  Speaker 6: All right, Lamont, be mysterious if you want to.
• 17:49
  Speaker 2: I'm not being mysterious, Margo. You wanted to come along
• 17:52
  Speaker 2: and you said you didn't care where I was going.
• 17:54
  Speaker 2: 746 3rd Street. Yes, sir. Well, this can't be it.
• 17:59
  Speaker 2: It can't be. But it is. What are you talking about, Shrevie? Well,
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: you said that we was going to call on a
• 18:05
  Speaker 2: young lady, Mr. Cranston.
• 18:06
  Speaker 6: Young lady? At this time of night? Lamont, who is she?
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: Not a very live number, if you should ask me.
• 18:12
  Speaker 2: This is our undertaking parlor. A what? An undertaking parlor, Margot.
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: The young lady happens to be Gloria Kingsley.
• 18:19
  Speaker 6: But, Lamont, she's dead.
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's what I've been saying. She's dead. What am
• 18:26
  Speaker 2: I laughing at? Worry-trieving? In a word, yes. Coming, Margot?
• 18:30
  Speaker 6: Well, yes, well... What can you find out here, Lamont?
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: Margo, Gloria Kingsley has something that she can tell the police.
• 18:37
  Speaker 2: Something that they've overlooked.
• 18:38
  Speaker 6: Tell the police?
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: I don't even like to hear you talk like this.
• 18:41
  Speaker 2: I don't even like it. Yes, Margo, the dead have
• 18:43
  Speaker 2: a way of speaking.
• 18:44
  Speaker 6: I don't get it.
• 18:45
  Speaker 2: I don't like it. Coming, Margo?
• 18:47
  Speaker 6: Yes, I'll come.
• 18:48
  Speaker 9: If it's all the same to you, Mr. Cranston, I'll
• 18:51
  Speaker 9: wait right here. I'll wait with my engine running.
• 18:54
  Speaker 2: See you in a few minutes, Ruby. Make it a
• 18:56
  Speaker 2: very few.
• 18:58
  Speaker 6: Doesn't look like there's anyone inside the undertaking parlor.
• 19:01
  Speaker 2: That's why we came at this hour, Margo. We're going
• 19:03
  Speaker 2: to bring Miss Kingsley's body back with us. Oh, Lamont.
• 19:06
  Speaker 6: Is that necessary?
• 19:07
  Speaker 2: Yes. Here. Let's try the door. It shouldn't be locked.
• 19:12
  Speaker 6: I guess undertakers are one group of people who aren't
• 19:15
  Speaker 6: afraid of burglars.
• 19:17
  Speaker 2: Come on. Let's go in.
• 19:20
  Speaker 6: Lamont. I can see a light burning there in the
• 19:23
  Speaker 6: back room.
• 19:24
  Speaker 2: That's strange. Hardly expected to run into anyone at this hour.
• 19:28
  Speaker 2: Seems to be two men back there.
• 19:30
  Speaker 6: Undertakers certainly keep strange hours.
• 19:33
  Speaker 2: I don't think they're the Undertakers, Margo.
• 19:35
  Speaker 6: Who are they?
• 19:36
  Speaker 2: I can't quite... Oh, wait. The light's just gone off.
• 19:40
  Speaker 6: They must have heard us.
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: They're gone. Come on, Margo. See if you can find
• 19:44
  Speaker 2: the light switch. All right.
• 19:45
  Speaker 6: Wait a minute. Here, I've got it.
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: Here. Oh, Lamont. Now, Margo, just the back room of
• 19:51
  Speaker 2: an undertaking, Paula. That's all.
• 19:53
  Speaker 3: Here.
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: Only one coffin here.
• 19:57
  Speaker 6: Gloria Kingsley?
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: Weston said her body was sent here. Let's open this
• 20:01
  Speaker 2: coffin lid and see what's to be seen. Lamont! It's empty. Uh-uh.
• 20:07
  Speaker 2: Our friends are leaving. Come on, Margo. Back to the cab.
• 20:10
  Speaker 2: We're following that car that just pulled away.
• 20:12
  Speaker 6: Quiet, Lamont.
• 20:13
  Speaker 2: Unless I miss my guest, Gloria Kingsley's body's in it.
• 20:22
  Speaker 2: Keep your foot down on the gas, Shrevie. I think
• 20:23
  Speaker 2: we're gaining on them. Yes, sir. Hang on. We're turning.
• 20:28
  Speaker 6: Oh, another corner on two wheels. If this keeps up,
• 20:30
  Speaker 6: we'll all be caught.
• 20:32
  Speaker 2: Down on the floor of the cab, Margo. They're shooting
• 20:33
  Speaker 2: at us.
• 20:33
  Speaker 6: Where do you think I am, Lalonde?
• 20:35
  Speaker 2: Me too, huh, Mr.
• 20:36
  Speaker 10: Cranston?
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: Make room for me. No, no, not you, Shrevie. You're driving. Yes,
• 20:40
  Speaker 2: but I'm not enjoying it. I'm not enjoying it. Oh,
• 20:43
  Speaker 2: there goes my machine. I'll buy you a new one, Shrevie.
• 20:45
  Speaker 2: Keep after them. Hey, they're slowing down. They're slowing. Look.
• 20:48
  Speaker 2: They've just tossed something out of the car. Stop. Stop, Shrevie.
• 20:50
  Speaker 2: It's a pleasure, Mr. Cranston. A pleasure. All right. Let's
• 20:53
  Speaker 2: see what it is. You stay here, Margo.
• 20:55
  Speaker 6: For the first time in my life, I have no curiosity.
• 20:57
  Speaker 2: Come on, Shrevie. Me? You want... I should come with you, Mr. Cranston?
• 21:01
  Speaker 2: You're not afraid, are you, Shrevie? No, no. I'm just
• 21:04
  Speaker 2: shivering because it's kind of chilly tonight. Let's go. You first.
• 21:09
  Speaker 2: This big bundle must be it. Wrapped in a sheet,
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: it's wrapped. I'm going to open it. Maybe I ought
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: to go back to the cabin, God bless. You stay here, Shrevie.
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: Good heavens. Gloria Kingsley's body... And the head is missing.
• 21:31
  Speaker 6: Coming. Oh, Lamont, come in. I've been trying to reach
• 21:35
  Speaker 6: you all over town for the last half hour.
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: You have, Margo? Yes.
• 21:39
  Speaker 6: Arnold Fantas called and says that he has a full
• 21:41
  Speaker 6: confession to the murders from Max Merkle, the gambler.
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: What? Max Merkle confessed? Yes.
• 21:46
  Speaker 6: Fantas has Merkle over to his home and he wants
• 21:49
  Speaker 6: us to come over there to witness the confession.
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: Hmm. It doesn't add up, Margo. Why? I'll tell you later. Look,
• 21:55
  Speaker 2: you go to Arnold Pantus' home. Tell him I'll be
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: a little late.
• 21:57
  Speaker 6: But, Lamont, why can't you go with me?
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: Margot, it just occurred to me that Gustav... Gustav Matley's
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: will has never been read. And I have a hunch
• 22:05
  Speaker 2: that the solution to this whole mystery can be found there.
• 22:14
  Speaker 4: Well, let's not wait any longer for Mr. Cranston, Miss Lane.
• 22:17
  Speaker 4: If you'll follow me, we'll have this over with in
• 22:19
  Speaker 4: a minute.
• 22:20
  Speaker 6: You know, Mr. Fenton, I didn't realize that your house
• 22:22
  Speaker 6: was right next door to the Matley home until I
• 22:24
  Speaker 6: came here tonight.
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: Oh, yes, yes.
• 22:25
  Speaker 4: We've been neighbors for years. Right this way, please.
• 22:27
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 22:29
  Speaker 4: Step in, Miss Lane.
• 22:30
  Speaker 6: Thank you. Well, there's nobody here.
• 22:33
  Speaker 4: I know. I merely wanted you to see the evidence
• 22:36
  Speaker 4: before you heard the confession to the murders.
• 22:40
  Speaker 2: Evidence?
• 22:41
  Speaker 4: Last night, Gloria Kingsley's body was stolen from the undertaking
• 22:44
  Speaker 4: parlor and decapitated. The head was stolen.
• 22:48
  Speaker 6: You know that?
• 22:49
  Speaker 4: Yes, Miss Lane. Here, look at this. In this box.
• 22:56
  Speaker 6: Oh, Gloria Kingsley's head.
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: Yes, Miss Lane. Not a very pretty thing to keep
• 23:02
  Speaker 4: in one's house, but you see, that head can convict
• 23:06
  Speaker 4: the murderer.
• 23:07
  Speaker 6: How do you happen to have it?
• 23:09
  Speaker 4: Because, Miss Lane, I am the murderer.
• 23:12
  Speaker 2: What? You?
• 23:14
  Speaker 4: Does that surprise you, Miss Lane? How stupid of me.
• 23:18
  Speaker 4: I wouldn't have had to kill you after all, would I?
• 23:20
  Speaker 4: But you see, I thought you and your friend Lamont
• 23:23
  Speaker 4: Cranston were onto me last night when you went searching
• 23:25
  Speaker 4: for Gloria Kingsley's body.
• 23:27
  Speaker 6: Then it was you who stole it, not Max Merkle.
• 23:30
  Speaker 4: No, Miss Lane. We both had a hand in the
• 23:33
  Speaker 4: theft of the body, but unfortunately, Max had a violent
• 23:36
  Speaker 4: dislike for partners. So there was nothing I could do
• 23:39
  Speaker 4: but cure him of that dislike permanently.
• 23:42
  Speaker 6: Why do you keep this head?
• 23:44
  Speaker 4: Because locked in it is the solution to the mystery
• 23:46
  Speaker 4: of the deaths of both Gustav Matley, my deceased client,
• 23:51
  Speaker 4: and Gloria Kingsley. You see, the brain is burnt to ashes.
• 23:57
  Speaker 6: Why are you telling me all this?
• 23:59
  Speaker 4: Because you're going to die too, Miss Lane.
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: No. Oh, yes.
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: This is quite painless.
• 24:03
  Speaker 2: No.
• 24:04
  Speaker 4: Just an unpleasant burning sensation in your brain.
• 24:07
  Speaker 2: No! No!
• 24:08
  Speaker 4: The door locks automatically, Miss Lane. You can't escape.
• 24:11
  Speaker 2: No.
• 24:12
  Speaker 4: Now for my machine and my little ray of death.
• 24:16
  Speaker 4: You see, you can't escape. My ray can penetrate brick
• 24:20
  Speaker 4: and steel. It can kill up to a distance of
• 24:22
  Speaker 4: 300 feet. That's how I was able to kill Gustav
• 24:25
  Speaker 4: Matley and Gloria Kingsley from my house. My ray was
• 24:28
  Speaker 4: trained on the desk chair in the study of Matley's home.
• 24:31
  Speaker 4: When the phone rang, I knew that whoever answered would
• 24:33
  Speaker 4: then be sitting in that chair. Simple.
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: Not simple enough for you to escape punishment for your crimes,
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: Arnold Pantus.
• 24:41
  Speaker 6: Shadow.
• 24:41
  Speaker 2: Who said that? Where is that voice? Right beside you,
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: Arnold Pantus. The voice you hear is the voice of
• 24:47
  Speaker 2: the Shadow. The Shadow? So, you murdered your good friend,
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: Gustav Maitley, to keep him from discovering that you had
• 24:52
  Speaker 2: falsified his will. So as to leave everything to you. Yes, Shadow.
• 24:56
  Speaker 2: And in attempting to murder his son, you killed Gloria Kingswood. Yes,
• 25:00
  Speaker 2: now you know. You couldn't have defended young Maitley in
• 25:02
  Speaker 2: a court of law, Pantus, and you know it. You
• 25:04
  Speaker 2: were disbarred for illegal practices years ago. Oh, you know
• 25:07
  Speaker 2: all my secret, Shadow. Did you believe that you could
• 25:09
  Speaker 2: escape paying for your crimes?
• 25:11
  Speaker 4: Yes, Shadow, because only you and Miss Lane here know
• 25:13
  Speaker 4: my secret. Then you're both going to die.
• 25:16
  Speaker 2: There. Now my death ray is ready.
• 25:19
  Speaker 4: I can't see you, Shadow, but my ray can find you.
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: It doesn't have to see.
• 25:23
  Speaker 4: I'm going to turn it slowly and spray the room
• 25:25
  Speaker 4: with it. Nothing can live in its path.
• 25:27
  Speaker 2: It burns internally. Shadow, stop it. Nothing, no power can
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: stop me now, Miss Lane. There. Now, slow, slow, every
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: part of the room.
• 25:36
  Speaker 6: Shadow, it's pointing toward me.
• 25:38
  Speaker 3: Shadow, I.
• 25:40
  Speaker 4: Fainted, fainted, Miss Lane.
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: No matter.
• 25:43
  Speaker 11: We will come back for you later. First, I must
• 25:45
  Speaker 11: deal with the Shadow. Why don't you speak to me, Shadow?
• 25:48
  Speaker 11: Is it possible that you're already dead? Ah, that's it.
• 25:52
  Speaker 11: I've killed the Shadow. Now to finish off my little job.
• 25:56
  Speaker 11: Miss Lane must feel the deadly ray.
• 25:58
  Speaker 2: And then.
• 25:59
  Speaker 11: Then I'm free!
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: The machine! The machine! It's... Yes, Fantas, your diabolical machine
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: is destroyed. You've reached the end of your road of crime.
• 26:24
  Speaker 2: That everlasting sleep. That born from which no traveler ever returns.
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: That eternal rest called death. How often men have attempted
• 26:36
  Speaker 2: to close the mouth of the accuser, seal their lips forever.
• 26:41
  Speaker 2: And how often they have failed. For dead men, in
• 26:46
  Speaker 2: spite of the legend, do tell. Yes. they speak and
• 26:52
  Speaker 2: point with a bony, fleshless finger at their murderers.
• 27:08
  Speaker 4: In just a moment, we'll bring you a special feature
• 27:10
  Speaker 4: of America at War. But first, we present John Barclay,
• 27:13
  Speaker 4: Blue Coal's home heating expert.
• 27:15
  Speaker 2: Mr. Barclay. Thank you, Ken Roberts, and good afternoon, ladies
• 27:19
  Speaker 2: and gentlemen. You know, I get around quite a bit.
• 27:22
  Speaker 10: and talk overheating questions with a lot of homeowners and
• 27:25
  Speaker 10: coal dealers, too. And strange to say, I find that
• 27:29
  Speaker 10: many people have the mistaken idea... that they can save
• 27:33
  Speaker 10: money by skimping on coal when refueling the fire. They
• 27:37
  Speaker 10: throw a few shovels of coal on and let it
• 27:39
  Speaker 10: go at that. Well, folks, this is just plain waste.
• 27:44
  Speaker 10: Besides that, a thin, shallow fire burns out faster, goes
• 27:48
  Speaker 10: out easily... and causes many unnecessary trips to the cellar. Now,
• 27:53
  Speaker 10: there's no great trick to refueling the fire, but for
• 27:57
  Speaker 10: the greatest economy, there's a right way to do it.
• 28:00
  Speaker 10: And it's the easy way, too. So if you're not sure,
• 28:04
  Speaker 10: call your neighborhood blue coal dealer. He'll gladly send his
• 28:08
  Speaker 10: John Barclay serviceman around to set you right. This man
• 28:12
  Speaker 10: can tell you how to get the most heating comfort
• 28:14
  Speaker 10: at the lowest fuel cost and with the least attention. Remember,
• 28:19
  Speaker 10: your friendly blue coal dealer offers this service free.
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: Use it. It'll save you plenty of time, trouble, and money.
• 28:28
  Speaker 2: Thank you.
• 28:35
  Speaker 4: The Shadow Program is based on a story copyrighted by
• 28:38
  Speaker 4: Street and Smith Publications. The characters' names, places, and plot
• 28:41
  Speaker 4: are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is
• 28:44
  Speaker 4: purely coincidental. In the South Pacific today, American soldiers are
• 28:51
  Speaker 4: fighting desperately against overwhelming odds. They're making every shot count.
• 28:56
  Speaker 4: Picture an American sniper at work.
• 28:58
  Speaker 2: There's one of them. Watch this now. Easy does it. Perfect.
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: Here comes another one.
• 29:06
  Speaker 4: You can do your bit right here at home. You
• 29:09
  Speaker 4: can help put bullets in that gun. You can help
• 29:11
  Speaker 4: build warships and planes and tanks and all the material
• 29:15
  Speaker 4: of war to help those soldiers who are out on
• 29:17
  Speaker 4: the battle line right this minute. Buy United States bonds
• 29:20
  Speaker 4: and stamps regularly, every week. Make a budget for bonds.
• 29:25
  Speaker 4: That's how you can help show the Axis gangsters that
• 29:27
  Speaker 4: for nations, justice for individuals... The weed of crime bears
• 29:33
  Speaker 4: bitter fruit.
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: Crime does not pay. The shadow knows....
• 29:45
  Speaker 4: Next week, same time, same station, your friendly blue coal
• 29:48
  Speaker 4: dealer brings you another strange and thrilling adventure in the
• 29:51
  Speaker 4: shadow's daring battle against the forces of evil. Be sure
• 29:55
  Speaker 4: to listen.
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: And be sure to phone.
• 29:57
  Speaker 4: Your neighborhood blue coal dealer for greater heating comfort at
• 30:02
  Speaker 4: less cost. Remember, keep the home fires burning with blue coal.
• 30:08
  Speaker 4: This story was produced by the DL & W Coal Company,
• 30:11
  Speaker 4: distributors of blue coal.
• 30:16
  Speaker 2: The Shadow has concluded. Dead men tell.
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: Follow The Shadow for more classic broadcasts.