The Shadow 021 - The Firebug

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Shadows, ladies and gentlemen. The shadow is exciting. Adventures starts in the moment. But right now, motorists, I have the biggest, the most exciting years you've heard since the days of the first Who tire. It's all about the tire sensation of nineteen thirty eight, the new Gundrich Safety Silvertown with the amazing Lightsaber treads. This new kind of tire is utterly different in appearance, design and action than anything you've ever seen or felt. At the first sign of a skid, it. Turns the wet road under your car into a dry track and stops you quicker, safer than you've ever stopped before. Hard to believe, just listen to this startling proof. An exhaustive road test made by the largest independent testing laboratory in the country against regular and premium price tires of America's sixth largest tire manufacturers. No tire tested, regardless of. Price, came up to this new tire in non skid action. These severe tests, made over a three month period, also proved that the Silver Town gave more non skid mileage than any of the other tires tested in its own price reign average nineteen point one percent more miles before the tire's war smooth. You'll never know what the word stop really means. Un him, you felt the grip of the new silver Town on a wet, slippery road. For Safety's sake, make your next set of tires. Gudrich Feld g O O d ri D eight Gudrech Safety Silver Town. The Shadow la Mont Cranston, a man of wealth, a student of time, and a master of other people's minds, devote his life to righting wrongs, protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty using advanced methods that they ultimately become available to all law enforcement agencies. Cranston is known to the underworld as the Shadows, never seen only her, as haunting, to superstitious minds, as a goat, as inevitable, as a guilty conscience. The identity of the Shadow. Is known only to his friend and aids, Margot Lane. Today's story the Fire bove Wire reported it Forth and Chestnut Street plays and forth and Shut Nuts. Fire reported it Forth and Chestnut Street, plaise and Fourth and Chestnuts say back Leap taking a sorry man. We can't let him there. You can find it death that all right. I gotta get through that, sy I. Tell you my brother and sister and the fire get back. Hey, you'll get. Back to that guy. Follow. Oh gee, how is the fire above? Just this time? Oh hello to misson. I had a notion that to bring you out. Here's we can check it. Preetad and sick, badly burned. That's fad the idea. Howse started? It's the same story as the last six tenement fires, Commissioner. It started in the hallway with an oil soap. Baby carriage, come ahead. There's no doubt about it. We're dealing with a piromniac. The sixth tentiment houses fires all. Started in hallways and in an oil coat. Baby girl, I know that's what my department's been trying. The hammer in your head for the past ten days. What's the matter with your folly force? Can't you pick up this crazy power? Bud. It's done her best, rounded up every possible such back. To the city question, hundreds of them. Well, the Commissioner, I'm here to tell you if something isn't done and done quickly, the city council will have your job and mine too. Yes, I know, cares what you take of come the couple reporters, Well, lesson, it looks like that crazy fire bugs put another one over on you. What's the matter of Commissioner. Can't you find this nott who's running around with a box of matches and can of kerosene. We're doing everything possible. Yeah, and meanwhile a couple of dozen poor devils get burned to death. The whole town can. Siff wondering what this maniac going to burn neck? Maybe it's time you called him. A Thesians friend of yours called it Shadow Weston. Yeah, why don't you get the shadow to help you. We'll catch to the maniac without the shadow's health. Look out, you. Know, Lamont, I feel sorry for Commissioner Western. The newspapers are writing the life out of it right, listen to this editorial, enter the Shadow. Due to the inability of our police force secured the way of intendorism, dozens of innocent persons in the tenement of our city have died. Weeks have passed, and yet the fiendish criminal responsible for these fires has not been apprehended. It would appear that again the people are in need of help from that mysterious figure known only as the Shadow. Yes, Margaret, and you said there's a treating Western and his police force, but they roughly there are many actually, one of the most difficult type of criminals to deal with the world. And for what end of the Shadow? Yes, Margot, but this time is humanly comparable. I'm going to see that Western gets the credit of breaking this case if it's Candida broken. Is that why we're driving from the tenement section now? Yes, Michael, I've been checking a serial of mine for several days now, Yes, but only as. The mont Cranston, the amateur criminologist. Well, here we are just another tenement house as far as I can see. Shifford has a third dealer's shop on the ground floor. And wait here for me, Mogol. I'm going in. There won't be long. You see a meat coat lying around somewhere, you might bring it out with you. It might make up for the agony of court fee. And I can tell you this month before I go in, Margo, in the last four buildings fired by this pyromaniac. It's in a third dealer's shop on the ground floor. The man who runs the shop here had his establishment was the last place that went up and flamed. Hm. Well he certainly moved into another. Fire, Margo, And I'm curious to know why. Good right for your. Hat over your eyes, roll. Up your coat collar like that. It's just that in case the shadow has to visit this third dealer later, there won't be any connection with the mont Crimpston. Wait here, Margot, don't, under any circumstance come in match shop? All right? What can I do for you? Minute? I'm trying to match a piece of sur You seem to have quite a collection here. I don't still retail. We'll send you. Didn't you just have your. Shop over it for some chestnuts? I moved? Oh yes, yes, that's right here. Building you were in burnt down. I hear several people burned to de Yeah. So the paper said you lost all your stock? I so were you covered by insurance? Okay, I gotta not time to talk to you. I say you better go match you for some place out So wait a minute now, I'm so far. That's be interested in some sers in wholes a lot of the prices, right, you'll come back some other time. I ain't got time to talk to you. You don't seem very anxious to do business. Could it be that you don't care very much about you carry him stuck? What do you mean? Oh? Are you anyway? What are you coming around here asking a lot of questions for trying to make me talk? What do you want? Well? At the moment, I'd like to know why you're the anxious to get rid of him? You're expecting someone what if I am none of your business? To get out of here? If you don't mind, I think I'll just have a little look around. You haven't got what I want to wear? A third, I won't come back. Nobody asks you to come here in the first place. I see you're all set up, and you know, Joe, I got a customer over here and it's behind the right, Uh, I think got I don't know. He said he come in here some match for he looks funny to me, Sisten. Welly rolled out the front door and pull down the black we'll we'll find out what he says. Okay, we better take him in the or over clip at the brat. Snapper will do the dress if he works up a lot of him. He's right back to there. Yeah, I don't see anybody all right? Right in it. Hey, he ain't here, but he was just a couple of minutes ago. I see him go in between those two rags. Maybe he heard it talking and give it that the back way. Now he can do that. The door's locked. I got the key in my pocket, and he's gotta be here somewhere. He couldn't have got loud. What amout? You hear that? Yeah, you heard it from back there in the corner. Come on, look, maybe he's a coner. Got a gun? No for l a. I am not from the police. I carry no gun but that boy's waist. He came from the corner. But there's nobody there. Nothing shut up. There must be somebody there, no matter that. You won't come up with your hands up for I'll pretty fuller letter things in the shadows are that's left in the shadows? Heman, Oh, what are you doing here? What do you want? I'm looking for a man, two men, perhaps more, will burned scores of innocent people to death, cause thousands of dollars damage to property, and terrorize the whole city. I think I have yes, I know you portrayed yourself. So why you're coming on the right far out? Shoot? I am the shadow. Hegman. It loose papers. For days now, they've been saying the shadow I could find out who's set the fire, And now he's here here in the shop. Yes, Hegman. A bullet with silence for Relli. There's nothing you can do can keep me from reading the thoughts that are racing through your mind. You're caught and you know. It, reading our thought. You're crazy. It can't be done, Yes, it can. I can read your mind. It's making pictures like the writing on a sleep. You've given me the motive for these crimes. You're a broker, so that's right Hegman's book. Yes, Hegman. You write heavy insurance on the stock of men, like Forrelli, on stock that doesn't exist. You're not reading my mind, Shadow, you're just yesing. You're smart, but you're not smart enough. And you wouldn't have. Walked into this place. And I'm telling you here and now you'll never walk out. The door's locked. I don't care how much you know, because you'll never live. The telephone bullets from that gun won't save you. You've set your last fire. Everything. What are we gonna do? I tell you what we're gonna do? A rally, get me that can of Kerothene. But it's in the back room. Boys, I'm afraid before, as I tell you, your yellow livered fools. So I've set my last fire. I have my shadow. Yes, your last fire. I really don't say to it. I tell you, get that Kerothine. Go on about the shadow. I can't see you. I don't know where he is, you fool. I've heard him at that shadow. He has some trick of being able to appear in the room without being seen. But he's here, all right. And if he lays a hand on, if he tries, says, got your grab hold of him, and I'll do the rest home. On, I tell you. So, you don't work alone. Shadow, you've set that trap for who You've caught your own trap? Quick? Really get that terra? All right? All right, why don't your answer shadow, I'll deal with you alone. Hegman for the police can break and here you'll be burning it on the floor. Throw someone else, right, hurry up. That girl's gone for the cop. We go out the back way and locked the door. Huh, and then this shadowy died quick? All right, shadow, Now you just try to come through this back door and I'll finish off with a bullet before the fire can get you. Come on, bro, get back, get ready to slam this door. A minute, I touched match to this newspaper signing your death, No shadow yours. Don't think it can break through the front window and get out because it's covered with steel wire. All right, come on, book, you go up quick? Hey both, what's that noise? Just a car on the street. Come on, we're getting out. Closed the door locked, Ladies and gentlemen, there's the shadow on the right track. The next few minutes will give the answer right now. Motorists, remember this when you're attempted to try squeezing the last thousand miles out of a warm tire, watch out. You may say fifty cents a. Present tire prices, but who knows the shadow knows of souse. You had a skid a blowout while hitting it up along some fast, crowded highway, think what it might cost you in repair bills, doctor bills, hospital bills. Take the shadows advice. Play safe, yes, motorists, and the way to play doubly safe is to ride on the new gun rich safey silver Town. Because this new safety sensation is really two great tires combined in one. Outside every new silver Town has the light fab tread that reduces the danger of skidding as never before, give you and your family a new feeling of security, no matter how wet the weather. Inside the Silvertown. Tire there's the famous golden fly protection against tie seed blowout that has already saved thousands of lives. Why should you risk your neck through skid or blowout when today you can get life saving protection against both of these common driving hazards without paying a extra. We'll place unsafe tread born tires with a set of a new good brick taste the silver towel, the tires that give you the skin protection of the sensational life saber treads plus gold them fly blow out protection at no extra car, My goir, that'll be the police checking up on how my car happened to crash into that first or it's the exact moment the fire started. What are you going to tell them? The month I got away in the crowd before anybody had a chance to see me, a soul that. My car was being driven by a young woman. Don't think so longo I told him the car was chilling. And that makes a criminal out of me, doesn't it. Matters? Yes? So one time grad you disobeyed my orders, mango, but no, you better go in my study and wait, I don't want the police to find your head. All right, and I hope they don't get decisions? Is what really happened? And discover. Where the do? I? Ah, good evening, Sargean come then, sorry to kept you waiting. That's all right, that's uh Crampston. I've just got a few routine questions to ask you, in addition to the information you gave us over the phone. Got you for really? Yeah quick, let me get bossed. What you find out where that girl go? I got around to the front like you told me. Boss, I see a stip out of the car and I follow. She get in a TEXTI but she don't get away from me? Where is she now? I follow? What the way she lives? We get her tonight. If you take the boss, perhaps you'll lead it to the shadow. But how do you know for sure the shadow got away? Send the papers. They put the fire up before it spread upstairs, and now the cops looking for you as the owner of the first Hey look, Boss, you say you take care of me. If the priest good after me, you poor, don't worry about the cop. I'll get out of town in a day or two. First, we gotta get the shadow. As long as he's alive, we're both as good as in the deathouse. Sure, but how are we gonna get her? That girl? You're dope. We'll get her. Leave a note for this guy the month he was calling to before she drove that car to the store, and I'll get you to the one. He's the shadow. When he comes together, we'll walk into word trap he will get out of and that's it for We get him here in your place and make a big fire down here in the tell him we get rid of both of them. Man, Yeah, come on, show me where this girl is. We gotta get a hold of her the night of it. Maybe too late right here, this is the house I sell the girls woo the window in the bedroom there, she's got a mate, but I think she's gone. Now, okay, you've had plenty of time to get the sleek since that light went out. I don't want to win. They went to her room and get up her rally, but of course she wake up. Maybe she's screaming after this gag you're putting the mouth quickly enough. It's so with chloroforms. You wait here and help me carry her down to the party case. I'm boss. Yeah, wait right here by the window while you're getting her out, Pennis. Note on the curtains. I don't want to get that windo. What get in there? Okay, I don't bump in anything. Just grab her and clap a gag in them out and hold until the chloroform doesn't stuff. All right, I'll get her. You what hell? When I came in a minute, I got your message? What's wrong is this? Margin? We're all this Margaret. She's gone, She's been taken my daughter. Looka she's considered the way. Do you know? Did you see it happen? I know I was in my room and I heard a scream and I run in here and there in the bedroom. They have been to the cot. Heaven's Ellen and this happened. Now to go and since because it just drop to you. Notify the police. I didn't care because I read that note first and he said not to call the police. You did right. I'm not calling the police, Allen Margo here in the tracks. She could lead them to me. Hold No, I can't explain now, but listen, Ellen, if you want to help your mistress, you must do exactly as I said. I know you would. I just wanted to say, here, don't talk to anyone. Don't tell anyone what happened to you here for me. Do you understand? I understand. Wherever you go, I'm going to do exactly if the note says Ellen, I'm going to find miss Margo and bring up back with me. If I'm not back in two hours you haven't heard from me, tell her note of commission Western or the police department. Remember that. Even if I'm not back in two hours, take that note to the Commissioner Western. Oh dear God, nothing happened to him. Nothing happened. M m h, sir, I have fine time a night to be calling hello, Hello. You? Why did you get my private number, Shuttle. I've had it for a long time. Oh no, Western, I. Wanted at this time, I thought you've caught the firebugs. I suppose you all set to make a monkey out of me and the all police for the newspapers have done you and your force a grave injustice. Commissioner, it is not my doing. So what what is you worth the lost for a few hours sleep if you can trap the firebus before morning. Commissioner, where are they? I have an appointment with him? With him the next hour. I'm finished with him. Are yours? You're ready to take them? With them? You can have the honor and credit of ending their reign of terror? Commissioner, what am I supposed to do? Wait here and tutto my tombe. Throw a cordon of police around the district founded by forced street of the River and from Fruit to Medley Square. Oh crazy, that'll take halfway forward? All right? What's then? You've in touch with headquarters? You've not heard from me? By force? Here note will be delivered to you telling you where to find the firebug, the body of the shadow. Less than you. I'm gonna give you one more chance to talk. Whatever you'll think different after I've burned your fingers with a few more matches. Won't tell you. I won't who's a shadow worth he talks? Or this is only a taste of what you'll get it, you know like that? Oh No, I won't tell you. I ain't gonna tay up there in the dock anymore. I'm scared. I don't work, No more for somebody. I can't get back up that really get up there? A well, I tell you you don't. I'll give you something to be scared of. But it's dark. I can't see you all the time. In the dark, I ke'pt hearing the noise. It sounds just now. I think I hear somebody. Least, of course somebody. Something flimmed it all. So we meet again the shadow here? Shut up? Sure he's here, and that's just what I want. Less and shadow, don't come near me. I'm warning you. I've got a gun pressed against this girl's head. One fourth movie of you, and I'll pull a trigger. Go on, you tell him I'm not bluffing. Why did you come? They use me to get you here, to make you walk into a death trap. They're going to kill you. They'll kill us both, all right, Margo, Maybe we kill stand by that door. If the Shadow tries to get out, lose your next Remember if he gets away, you'll go to the chair. All right, boss, I watch. I'm sorry, this. Is my form. Now that I'm here, Heigmund, what do you want? I just wanted to hear shadow, That's all I see. If you prepared another trap, another fire trap. You'll get it, and this time the girl won't get you out of it, because you'll be right down here in the cellar with you. Come on the boat to quick. We got out. Now lock the door in by the fire. Anyway over, Really, don't open that door. I say yes, listen to him. Do it. Hegman orders you, and you live a few minutes longer. Then you die with a bullet in the back. That your boss. No, No, the boss will not do that. Your lying is shadow. He plans to kill us because we know too much about him. But you youverrelly no more. Not until you're dead, will he be safe. It may be a few minutes, an hour. See what do you mean, Shadow to No, he's thinking about killing you. I'm not. I'm not gonna kill you. Can trust, leave you forget. I can read Hegmann's mind, believe just to get your boss. He can read the mind in the shop. He said it. No, No, I tell you you're my friend. You know too much about Hegman. For Shadow is right, I know too much. Only when I'm dead will you be saved? Both too can keep a secret only when one is dead, for really, when one is dead, for relly. Listen to me when one is dead, when one is dead, when one is dead, listen, that's sick. When one is dead. I really keep away way, don't listen to me. The tide your mind. That's another one of the shadows. John O Brother all right, yeah, yeah, I meant to Kiddy Brolly. I was gonna do it a minute. We got rid of the shadow and this girl. But I don't need you now. I got them, Crapp and. I'll give you yours now here you you'll come. But before I die, I've got you both. Get you, I said to you would before regressed further. Here, cut your and get out of this place. Go back to the apartment. Is that no from Ellen to destroy it? The secret of a shadow from Main a secret. More time with me? See, there's nothing more can be done here. Yes, the firebugs have said there last fire. One more thing to be done. What's there? And it's getting touched with Commissioner Western. I promised him I'd give him the credit for capturing the criminals. He and half the police force of the city of Waiting out there in the streets. The shadow always keeps his words. You have a listening to a dramatized version of one of the many copyrighted stories which appear in the Shadow magazine. So we don't cry, m there's bitters who crimed, not they the Shadow nose. All the characters and all the places named are Petician, and the similarity the person's living or dead is purely incident. Uh him at