The Shadow 047 - Prelude to Terror

What evil in the hearts of men's. The Shadow Lord. The Shadow, the serious character, furthers the forces of law and order is in reality in the Monk Cranston, wealthy young man about town. The Shadow uses his hypnotic power. To cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him. Cranston's friend and companions, the lovely Marble Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the unseen voice of the Shadow belongs. Today's story tell you to terror. Oh it's you. Cooper, Yeah, Professor Baker. I thought you'd like this cup of hot teeth. Yeah. Thanks, help to keep me awake, and I have a lot of work to do tonight. Shall I pour it? Yes? Please? Isn't this your night off, Cooper? Yes, sir, I passed the house on my way home. Until your light's on. I I know how you enjoy a late cup of teeth. Very considerate of you, Cooper. Then it, but it's late and you must get your rest on the door down hmm. I wonder who that could be? Is this art of many? Shall I enter it? S yeah, Cooper years, I'll take care of the tee. Alright, alright, Aenie, what are you doing? Here, cut the gap, close the door. I know Braden sent you. Whos oh man think upstairs in his study. Okay, wait, I want you doing this. I wanted you. They would kick your mouth shut unless you want to go back. And finish out that prison time you ran out, they Professor bakon Alan Please. I'm looking up, you know, and next I'm getting out. Well, who was the lake? Oh? All right, I said it was Cooper. What do you hear? You're short jumping the night Brighton? What you what are you talking up and down like that for something on your mind? Yeah? Big things, the things you would never understand. I wonder what's keeping He should have been here half an hour ago. Think he might have muffed things. Boss, I hope not there he is now hoping up. Okay, Boss, he was just talking about you. Yeah, well he need what happened? You have any trouble? Ah, not much. I just put two slugs into the old guy, Professor Baker. He's dead. The rest was easy. What about Cooper? He was scared, stip he let out. He let him get away. Yeah, you don't have to worry about that guy. He's too scared to talk. He should have put this silent around him anyway, and he had a bost Brayden, what do you want me to do? Take no chances by cooper up and close his trap for keep? Okay, Boss, I'll take care of him to get the stuff I sent you after he should did, let me have it, and let's see they get him right to sign here? Yemp? Hey, yeah, Boss, you hope professor had a right way? He said, Yeah, this is it? All right? What is it? Braden? Looks like an empty bottle to me. It's the colorless, orderless gas, the most powerful explosive in existence, enough to blow up this whole city. This is all that is in the world. Yeah, what are you gonna do it? If you'll find out? I ain't in stall? Here's for what's thunder of Manes. You used to be a chemist, right, you'll bres outside of wall? All right? I want you to take this gash out of this little bottle and seal it in that create of light bulbs I got last night. You think you can do it? Very good? So how much gas to the boat? Wait? I'll help you, Morgan Ray all of your career. Plenty when we get these explosive light bulbs fixed up. I want you to go out and plant them in. Light sockets everywhere and stalls, houses, public buildings all over the city. What's the bigure idea? For reason, I'm gonna plunge the city into total darkness for one night, total darkness. How are you gonna make them dust their light? Look, we get these bulbs planted before noon tomorrow. When it gets dark, turn on lights in some of these places will be blown the bitch the next night they want dead. Turn on a light where weach me in? What is that that? What does it get us? Your sap? Once? You see, when the city blacks out, we move in and take over. I've gone up a chart showing exactly where the explosive bulbs gott. To be planted. You wait, that's a trick. This is a big job. Now. We'll need plenty of help for the cleanup. Round up every dip, rod man, gangsterning crook. You know I've been hearing the mill tomorrow eyes okay, turn as everything set. We'll move in on the cover of darkness. The four cut. They will be help. Yeah, well, Rob Stale, pourage to our hearts contents. We'll take everything that's not nailed down. It with a stun. Wow, that's a crooked paradise. Wait a sight. Yeah, it's the greatest idea in the history of crime. I'm going to create a rain of turn like this country has never known. Want something for a young Tuesday? Mat'm yes, I don't exactly know what I want? A uh boy or a girl? A girl? I'm her grandmother? Who is that? All? Well? I have a little girl too. How old is your granddaughter? He's just four months old? Oh? Well, and you must see our modern nursey. The infant things are on in they have you come right this way? Please? So why start coming? I least that right in the thanks you that? Oh it's rather dark, isn't it? And I'll put on more light and switches street. Later. I guess. Somebody clank in your hand? Said the child? Right on here? Why was the old brunck blown out as terrible? Off? Backy boy? I glad we beg we came down the wounded. Come on, God, there's a girl. Don't don't wait? As the street curver and least time ever, Concor, I'm going all the way to him. There is gonna be another carriage behind him. Dude, when he's aware you folks are sitting the waiting. Room over there. God, I'm pretty dark in this waiting room. How about the life. There's a quit right behind you. Oh yeah, I'll turn it on. Anything else, Commissioner Wist. Yes, detail as many men as you can spare to the Castle Street Carbines, and swear in every able bodied volunteer you can find as a special deputy. I'll broadcast an appeal to all doctors and nurses in this entire. Territory to repart there at once. They run on the job. Rophy, call me again in ten minutes. Okay, Commissioner West, goodbye. The mo. Conston to see if Cranston, well, you tell him from me? You commission a Western Why don't you tell me your so? I'm physic, Cranston. What do you want? I came to see if there's anything I can do to help in this horrible catastrophe. If you can swing a pick, drag a hold, or carry a stretcher, that's plenty for you to do. I've already done my business that direction for the moment. I'm interested in the reason for these awful crimes. Oh wait a. Minute, Criston, I've got more in my mind than just sitting here and satisfying your curiosity. This is not just curiosity, Commissioner. I've got a theory, so has everybody else. I've got no time for crackpot theory. You certainly are flattering, Commissioner. Well, I'm not running a school for amatur Detective. No, I'd never suspect you a pedagogic inclinations. Commissioner, But tell me. Do you know how the explosions are cut? Last night? No? I don't. All I know is that the two places went up when the light went on. Then I'm sure I can help you if you have any evidence, any fact. I'm willing to listen, but I don't pant. To here any more. Theory. All right, Commissioner, calm yourself and i'll explain. I am calm, of course you are. Now my theory is this? What? All right? Let's put it this way. My hunch is this. Go ahead, get it off, your chance to let me get back to work. You want to clear up the mystery of these explosions, don't you, commission In. That transfer would seem to be the general idea. Then you must first find out who killed Professor Baker. Are you trying to tell me that there's a connection between the death of Baker and these explosions. I'm not just trying. I'm telling you there is definitely What makes you so sure about it? I happen to know that Professor Baker was experimenting with an explosive such as might have been used in these two blasts. Where's your theory go from there? Professor Baker was killed for possession of that explosive. Find his killers, and you've found the men responsible for the other crime. But where's the motive? What reason could they have had for throwing. Up those places and killing all those people that I don't know? There you are in a blind alley. You have a theory and nothing to support it. Now run along, Cranston, Mine earth won't stand any more. That's not you must listen to me, Commissioner. You've got now, I've got. Hello, Hello, Commissioner Weston, here's who's this? Never mind that I got some doubt for you. What do you mean lost? Explosions last night were bad? Huh? Well that's only a little sample of what's coming tonight. What what did you say about me? I'm gonna have a worse lesson you hands if you don't carry out my orders. I want this city in total darkness tonight to darkness there's an electric light thorowhead lamb, or even a fresh light turned on. You're gonna get a fouquet of explosions worse than yesterday. You must be stark mad. You'll never get away with us. High me and see either the lights go out or the city goes up. Hello, Hello, Hello. Prinston. Did you hear that? Yes? I did, Commissioner, what are we gonna do? I'll be dark in a few hours, Commissioner. That man must be stopped. If he's not, this city will be the scene of indescribable horror tonight. We've got to stop him. Those of life boats threaten more blood. Mystery voice borns. Commission West Explosive Electrical, and I say, read all about it. It's terrible. We won't have any light now, we won't see in the dark and. Pay tonight. I want to. Stack them up, and. I couldn't do something. Please say, my little man, all I'll do all I can missus. Lady, your child is very sick. Oh my baby, But we don't do that. That child won't last now if we don't operate. At once, we can. You'll get him on the line. Oh, we've got to do something. Couldn't we operate? I can't like. Oh that's some tough for the operations to Telico. Please do my baby. I'm going to operate. But but the lights. I can't stand here and see this child die. We've got to take the chance. Turn on the lights. Twitter, very well done, I'll turn them on. Hello Mayor Hamilton, who's just speaking? This is the shadow shatto? Whore is this? And what can I do for you? Mister Mayor? The hospital has just been blown up. But the hospital good Heaven, that can't be possible. It's true, mister Mayor. I can hardly believe it. What he is. Team can be responsible for this, Mister Mayor. You've got to act it once. You must make any other explosions tonight impossible. But how can I do that? Out of the city park plan? To cut the main switch? The main switch, it's the only way. You can't depend on all the people keeping. Their lights out. What's cutting the main post which will tie up everything in the city. It's that, mister Mayor, at death destruction? Very well, I'll order. The poor cut at what. Sure is dark and I can't see where we're walking. Wonder what the street we're on now? Wonder doesn't matter. I'm lost, We're all lost. I'm orried, lady, I didn't see it. Hold out landing high up though. We don't wanna walk off the viaduct. Say okay. Ooh, I'm glad I found this old wagon lands. This is a swell idea. Yeah, it's a swell. Targets shot right out. Of my hands. When that gang said the city it has the black house, they meant black out. No, we can't keep flying around here all night. I can't spe it out. He gotta set it down somewhay, he sayn't understand it. I couldn't possibly admit the city. We've closed her up twenty minutes now, and I haven't seen a single light. We doesn't have to keep going all the gas hold up. Then one well we start crying, runner rain switches turned off, no lights, no power, nothing but bewilderment. I'm certain, Oh this is awful a month. What are people going to do? I'm afraid this is all leading to something worse. Muggle, I praise you to a greater terror the month. You must do something. I've wrecked my brain for a solution, something true, and I I'm stuck. I I don't know what to do. We just cast it and wait for some new terror to track a month. There must be some loose thread that you might unravel this fall vicious pattern, e Margo. Yet the month. I've got an idea. Yea Professor Baker's hired men Cooper. The police released him. They said he'd proved that he was not in the house to night the professor was killed. Yeah, it just stuck me. The killer's fingerprints were on the handle of the door to the old man's study, but there were none on the knob of the street door. Don't you see it, Margo. Somebody opened the door for the killer Cooper. Perhaps we've got to find Cooper. The shadow has got to talk to that man. He may be the friend I've hoped for. Sure. That's the last can I have in the house with the Cooper. So very scarce now, but it is to be able to take your pack, you know. Thanks missus. Kelly. Oh my no, I'm not sorry to see you go. But I don't blame anybody for getting out of this. Cursed city that I don't Yeah, sure now, and you don't mind. I got a lot of packing the door. I'm missus. Kelly's well, it's that the way you feel. Good bye and good. Ridden to you. The Cooper? What you hurry? Cooper? O that? What are you running away from? Leew Sere? I? I can't see you. I am the shadow, Cooper, the shadow? You know of me? Don't you that? List? And Cooper, I've got to talk fast, and so do you. I've got nothing to talk about. Cooper. You share responsibility for the death and destruction in this city. No, that's a lie. I had nothing to do with you know, the man who killed Professor Baker. You've got to tell me who he is? I jad I did you must you alone can release the city from the grip of terror that man has placed it in. I don't know anything about it. I tell you're lying, Cooper. I know you opened the door for the killer. I wouldn't hide the old man. You were with him just before he died. But I had nothing to do with his death, honest, I didn't. If you want to save yourself and clear your pensions, you've got to talk. But I all right, all right, I'm gonna get it off my mind. I'll talk. I'll talk to me. Heie, heinie. What do you want? Just delivering little message from the boss Cooper. Here it is. Copper speaking to Cooper. Cooper, take up a city rest with you. I can't understand you. I haven't say man, you tell me. I'll put my here coast to your lips. Whisp bye. Yes, I understood that. His name Cooper? His name. By again? Where where. Time? I thought my head it shout out here? Oh no, you know no, it's it's no use for a job to now. Cooper. Hey, hanging stars, bring me that shot. Here you are and there checked off every place where we planted about everyone. They're on my red are waiting for Britain. Yeah, let's go. Come on. I'm waiting for the boys to come back from the city and give me the loawdown on how things stand. Say Britain, how come we lights with the city power plant chained up? I've been planning this job for over a year. I put in my own power plant. Well that's smart, I'll say, yeah, But how did your manage the explosion? It is Bob, Well, it was one of these that drew up the Gullan's Department store oh all right, all right, don't worry. Oh oh dave this one go off unless it's putting the light socket and the switch is wrong. It's just the same, and I feel better if you didn't wave it around like that. Muggle. Pull right over here buf the road, every o the money. It's good. Now. You stay here in the car, take this gun and be perfectly safe. Just keep out of seconds where you're going in the month. There's an old mill someplace along here. If I understood Cooper correctly, I'll find the man I'm looking for there. You're not going in alone. I've got to morgo. I can't commission the Western it's the Shadow and ask him to send them in. Why not wait for them. I'm not sure they'll get here. We've got the hens full of the city. There is no moment to lose. The Shadow's got to work and work class. Fright all out here? Well, boys, as you find out in the city. Oh, you hit the bull tig. The city's as dark as the landlords rook. It's all separate boilards. All right, boys, we've got the green lights. Time to go. Take a Yeah, you take six men and go to the Maize Street bank you know what to do, Gray, right, take twenty men and clean out the Imperial Hotel. Go through the rooms. Don't leave anything you can carry. Hi, you install the post office. Five men can handle that. I am work the rest of you got your spots. Work fast. If anyone crosses you will use your guns. Let them have it, I'll ask them all right, all right, grab your flash lamps and let's go. Hey, what am I hearing things? Did anybody hear that? Laugh? Yeah? I did, so did I. It's quite a nice little thing you've cooked up, Breidon. But here's where there's another ingredient added to your unholy brew. What it hits the shadow? Right? You are, Braiden. Where you're not scaring me, you're not stopping me either. I wouldn't be too sure about that, Braidon. Hey, you don't seen nobody, man. This guy's right here in the room with us. He's got some tricks so we can't see him. But that don't mean we can't get him. Ray. Yeah, stand by that door, keep your back against it, and don't let anybody or anything open it. Now, Morgan, you take up that machine gun and spray the other end of the room. But the light all right, don't be afraid. Make it easy. Somebody twitch on that light. You don't dare turn on those lights? What do you mean? If you do, every man here will be blown to bits? What are you talking about? I took that explosive bulb you had on the table in front of you at when I turned out the light. I put it into one of the light sockets. Now, mister Braiden, do you want to turn on the light? Your bluff and shadow? All you have to do to prove that point as the thaw on the light switch. Hey, hey, what's that? There's a lot of charts driving upside. It's the police, gentlemen. Never take me alive, alive or dead. Braiden, You've got to be taken there. What are we gonna do? Come on, in ten seconds, I will pull it after you. You might as well do his Commissioner Western Commands. Walk out the door with your hands. In the air. There's nobody walking out of this place. I know I'm chair baits. I'll die anyway, but there's one thing I'm gonna go first. I'm gonna take you along with me, mister Shadow. Keep your head off the set, out of my way. To listen, mom, well, will. You want to live in there? Captain had a thing there was Commissioners. All right, Mongo, I'm saying, oh, thank Heaven. I thought you'd been killed in that explosion. It was close, Mongo, but I got out when they were trying to keep eating away from the light switch. You go back to the tar now, Mago. I'll be with you in a minute, Commissioner Western. Commissioner Western, Oh got you Shadow, Yes, Commissioner Else, we're. In a fine jam. Now they're all dead. How we're gonna find out what the other explosive bulbs are planned? It's all right, Commissioner. I got Brayton's chart showing the location of the explosives. Where is it? You'll find it in the front seat of your car. Then the city is safe, yes, Commissioner good, All right, Ben, get. In your cars. We've got to gather up those lamps right away. And my gratitude, Shadow were a job well done. Come Marco, We're going home. The Shadows work is done for tonight is the reign of terror ended? We found in this way muggle the paps and times of criminals, other devices of the roads coming. No way of crime. In a broad crime. Does not Shadow