The Shadow 053 - Appointment With Death

Who knows what evil work in the hearts of men. The shadow knows. The shadow, my sterious character who weighs those in distress and helps the forces of law and order, is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margot Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the unseen voice belongs, the only one who knows the true identity of that master of other people's minds, the shadows. Today's story Appointment with Death. Number two, two, one, four wardens. Oh yeah, come in Blackie, all right, Joe, isn't girls like he? How does your. New suit fit? Okay, that is what I've been wearing. Here's your railroad payer and the money of vern. Since you've been here. In prison, not a bad little sun ought to help you over the first dumps. Like you've been in this institution for five years. That in itself should prove to you that crime doesn't pay. Now you've paid your debt to society. The slates clean now du for you to go out, get yourself a job, to live within the law. I'm free now, what right? Yes? Like here no longer a number and I can say what I want. Yes, that's right. Well, and can that liner gave your handed me? I saved my five Yes, yeah. Well, now I'm going out in the world, and I ain't going out to live within the law. You're a fool if you don't like he that's what you say. I've seen men with your attitude go out of here before, and i've seen them come back, some of them to sit in the electric chair. Well maybe I'll be back to sit in a chair and maybe nothing. But I'm gonna get the guy that put me in here. Nobody put you here but yourself. I can that one sounds all right from your side of the fence, But you ain't talking my language. All the years I've been here, night and day, in my cell and the workshop in the recreation yard, I thought of one thing, Get the guy that put me in here. Well, who is this fellow you think you're going to get. He's a guy they call the shadow. And I don't just think I'm gonna get him one and I know it. I'm gonna crush him, just as I crushed this half a dollar with my fist. By George. Then almost stuff. All right, all right, There no two ways about it. You guys a gotta go along with me. You're the big shots of every rocket in this town. This shadow is as much an enemy of yours as he is of mine. If you don't get him, sooner or later, he'll get you. Well, what do you say? Well, how are you thinking you're gonna get this shadow? Blackie? I'll tell you that later. First, I want to know if you're going along with me. We do anything to get this guy, But how do we know you can do it? I spent five years figuring that one out. I got it all set up perfect. Can't you give us some idea how you gonna do it? All? Right, First, I'm gonna get the guy on my trail. Yeah, how I'm gonna lay a trail of robbery and murder across the city that'll shake the whole country. I'm gonna lead it right to my door. But this time I'm gonna be all set for him. But you can't see this guy like, Yeah, I know. He hypnotizes here, but he's no further away than his voice. He can be gotten, and I figured out just the way to do it. Well, okay, Blackie, I don't know how you gonna work this out. But well, your. Friend for life. If you do, what do you want us to do? Nothing more than layout some dough. I want you to buy me an island, and I do. There's a little patch of land, no bigger than half a city block. It sits right in the middle of White Lake, right outside of town. There's a shack unner. That's gonna be my hideout. That's where I'm gonna leave the Shadow, and that's where I'm gonna knock him off. And if you're sure you can do this, I want to be in on the kettle. All right, Frank, I'll need company. You're in, okay, blank? Any island's yours. Thanks. You're getting a swell bargain the shadow for a piece of tape. Hey right there by Galls ninety five ninety five? All right, hey, yeah, good, hight there right here here, little man, You. Toddle back to the car and sip his butter till I lock up the gas station. Oh you want daddy to carry you back? Huh? Want you down? All right? Then? Go on? Now, up you go? Are you not ready to go? John? Yes? Man, won't take me more than a few minutes. Now, it would be late to have this little man out. It's so lonesome down the house. I thought we'd come out and drive you home. Oh that is nice of you, Mary, and I'd be appreciated. It has done in the car with you. Here you are. Oh that's this another customer. Gosh, business is bigging up. I'll take care of this one in a hurry. Mary R. Say yes, sar, what can. I do for you? Bill a rough? Make it slamping? Yes? It would you cut your motor? Please cut my motor? What for? Well, it's pretty. Dangerous putting gas leaving the car with the motor running. All right, never mind the gas. Let's take a walk into that shandy yours. Hey, what is this? Let's stick up your dopes right by? They get going this gun talk flow I found lady, if you know what's good for you. Wait a minute, buddy, you've come to the wrong place. I've got exactly nine dollars in my tail. That's my receipts for the whole day. And it's bread and butter for that woman and child in the car over there, And I'm not giving her away. Never mind the long winded story. I'm here for business. I step on it. Yeah, I'll step on it all right? Kay? Yeah, oh, now your wife and kid can use that nine bucks step by your Funeralryle. White witness furder express for what give a loose in. Every hell commissioned Western speaking who a deadly express? Oh oh they no new developments that killing in? Well, give us a chance. We just got and started. I know it was a horrible crime, and I'm all. Anxious, and you want to clear it up? Okay, you know what human is a break? This phone driving me crazy. It hasn't stopped ringing at that gas station man was murdered. Go ahead, got on a financial report. What did he find? And I found a man who was driving along just as the kid pulled out of the gas station. He trailed the minor car for a while, but he lost it near White Lake? Did he get a license number? And I couldn't get close enough. And we'll set me up against the tough one this time. The towns up on arms. We gotta crack this case somehow. It goes that pone again said something it god of hello. Goos it? Oh you well, what do you want? I suppose you're calling him about. That gas station? Mother, drank commissioner, are you making any progress. Very little. The case is worse than a jigsaw puzzle. Was nearly all a parts missed. It was a particularly vicious crime. Commissioner and I one assistant any way possible to bring about the capture of the murderer. Cases got me. I'm willing to accept help from anybody. Got any drop It all shadows. First, let bske, I, do you have any theory? Simple enough? Robbery was the motive? Are you sure about that? Commission Positive the man resisted and was shot, that's simple enough. I'm afraid it's not as simple as that, Commissioner. It's strange that the killer passed many a prosperous large gas station, yet he picked up this obviously poverty stricken one. I've got any answer for that, except most crooks are dumb. No, Commissioner, I feel certain the killer deliberately planned his crime so that it would shock and outreach the community. That's why he picked on that poor gastian man. That sounds a little bit involved to me. Maybe you're right, but just a minute shadow as a tour right message coming in. They has some bearing on this case? Has the order his guide owner? Commissioner Hey, Commissioner get did what is the gout owner? Listen, mystery gunman robbed and killed the restaurant owner at host point. Near midnight to night. Crime of the same character. I'm undoubtedly committed by men who killed gas station. Owner, good lord commissioner. Another killing at hawst point. I expected something like this, Shatto. We're dealing with a map man. We've got to get him at once. Excuse me not, Commion's working again, quick, Joey, tell me what you're gonna do. I don't know. Exactly, but one thing is hudding. I won't rest until the men responsible for these crimes that's brooked the. Justice A couple of rocks on morning go next Regarnment, Rice Sunny all the lot. He made the home of Judge farm Bachealist. The judge is home to blens It. As far as. All about it, this rediment Lamport of the justice. Bachel expa that Ploment. The most gunman things have an insatiable first the crime. He's held up over ten places in the last twenty four hours. He's a shrewd and dangerous man. Muggle. It will not be easy to capture him. He seemed so utterly hopeless. The chance of even finding out who he. Is, Margo. Criminals all make mistakes, and this killer has already made one the one that made trip him. Have you an idea who he is? Do you remember the description of the killer that young woman gave us you. Mean the right of the murder gas station man? Yes, yes, I remember that. The description made no particular impression on me. I think I know the man she described. You do. Who do you remember Blackie Carmichael? Oh, I'll never forget him. He is the one sworn in court that he would get the Shadow when he got out of prison. Y's right, Well, Blackie Carmichael is out of prison. Do you think he's the man responsible for all these killing I'm not certain, Margo, but there's one significant fact. The murders have all been committed since Blackie got out. This is the Benny dangerous case, Lemon dangerous for you? I mean, don't forget the Carmichael's more to get the Shadow. Forget Utly, I'm well aware of this state, and I know he's not likely to forget it either. This case would mean the end of Blacky Carmichael or the end of the Shadow. Well, Blackie, did you. See anything, No, Frank, nothing, I don't expect to see the guy I'm after, and you sure got me stuff. I can't figure how you're gonna get a guy you can't see. I just wait, he'll be in there. That's when that happens. They didn't tell your grandchildren you saw a Blackie Carmichael strangle the shadow with his own two hand. Out that it'd be something to talk about. Alright, But listen, Blackie, if you wanna leave the shadow here to this island, why do you cover up every time you knock somebody off? Because I don't want the cuffs to get wires first. I'm making it tough for them, and maybe making it tough for the shadow too. Now and down now, he's a smart egg. He got me the last time, and I was well out to see and the cleaner's get away. A guy of a plant, and he had thrown out enough date he had a bit sooner he's have a gunner. Frankie, the biggest fish is a sucker for the right kind of bait. She'll raised an awful rubbers, all right, ten stick ups in twenty four hours. Boy, that's knocking them off. I think that's something I am just stopping. I'm gonna keep pegging them until I wear callouses on my trigger finger. O. Drive a little further down the lake, show moonga. We'll be able to see the island just around this next thing. What do you expect to find the on amount? I don't know, but I've noticed that nearly every one of them robberies, the whole up car was seen in this vicinity. Here we are, margot'll right here all right? Yeah, Look, there's the island I've been telling you about it out there in the middle of the lake. If I understand that island's deserted, nobody's lived there for years. I'm not so sure about that, Margo. That's one of the points I must be satisfied about. You mean you're going out there to investigate. Yes, marggle at least the shadow is How are you going to do it? I'm going to swim. Out, swim way out there. Why not see if when you have to find a boat or somewhere. No, that wouldn't do, Margo. The shadow can make. Himself invisible, but if there's anybody out there, it'd certainly be suspicious if they saw a boat approach rowed by unseen hands. Oh oh, yes, of course, Well, I must be going. Don't forget my instruction's bugle, Yes, I got them well in mind. I'm to wait here for an hour. If you're not back in that time, it'll be a signal you found somebody or something on the island, and that takes I'm the phone comissioned to western and heading surround the island. Correct, muggo and what time is it? Exactly eleven fifty Good, I'll be on my way. But don't forget mugg at twelve fifteen you have a date with the shadow. This is getting me, I tell you, Blacky, I I can't stand it anymore. I go on in the shack and take a sleep. No, I'm getting off this island. Who said there? Words? I say so, I'm going nuts waiting while you keep staring at that water. He'll close that trap of yours, so you'll be carried off this island. Hot. I'm Blacky, very reasonable with you. This is a screwy idea. We can't wait around here. Blood Guida may never show up. I got things to right. You're in on this see oh, and you're staying until the finish. You can get me a sake, Blacky, Let go you'll break my eye? Are you doing it? I say, yeah, yeah, okay, no, I don't wanna hear no more squawking. You've got a grip like nothing human. My arm felt like it was in a steel vise, like down. Oh, what's up? It's not a the right along round pointing at the moon. It's the water. H you see anything? Just a ripple in the water, that's all. I see. Some ripple, so one I've been looking for every night some time. Yeah, well do you think it is? And say, man, swimming your nuts? I don't see no, man, Maybe it's just a fish. The fish is good. The fish I've been putting my bait out for water, Say Blackie, you don't think of that's the shadows. See that's my dough. That was little layer bet of it. I get it now. This is the way you've been planting it all the time. That guy can hide himself, but he can't hide the ripple in the water. That's what I've been figuring for five years. I know this shadow can hypnotize you, so you can't see him, but he's a body just the same. So I doped out this idea. If I could get him into the water, I still wouldn't be able to see him. That I could see where he rippled the water. Then I could grab like he. That's a smart idea and simple, so simple, I would scare some other guy beat me to it and. Ripples moving this way. What he gonna do now? Like he, I'm going out to meet him, just as soon as he gets far enough in for me to fetch on the water, and I'm gonna grab him and strangle him with these two hands. And he ought to be as sinch for a guy as strong as you at any time. But now after he swim that distance. He DUTs. It's time to go. Frankie, Yeah, wrap, my dad says, take him, okay, bl like him. He better make it slappy. He's comest out of deep water. He's taddling in his own grave right now he goes he dry on the water. Frank watch the okay, Blackie, not those on you don't disappoint me. I can't see you, and I can feel my hands on you, so. I waited too. Many years to get my hands on you. Follow you. I can't see you, but I know you can see me, So. Take a good look. You recognize me, Blacky Comichael that's right, Blackie Carmichael, the guy you sent to prison for five years? Who can tell what you got got? Fine? Now let me go, let's go. Yes, after I crack a lot of life from you, right joking, you finish shatter. It's the end of it. Now I'm gonna before cat had nothing the water growl. He yeah, hat's done. Thank thank I done it. I killed him, I killed the settle. Hm. Oh uh, I'm found out, ok, in that fad this hour of the night. How is this commissioner? Western? Yes? What was it? There's no time the deduction commissioner, I got the information on the city. Wanna hurry, but all the minimums there go out of the Romney Island and White Lake. See Island and White Lake, all that place has been deserted for years. Once out there, what time did you? Dot? Commissioner? But I urged you rap it once and you was extreme pair there. Maybe great. I can't be going out the middle of the night on crazy cause like this. You gotta give me some definite information, all right? Do you want to stop this epidemic murder robbery? Don't you? Of course? But what does that on gotta do with it? What you'll find out when you get born. Oh hello, hello, hey Blackie, you'll be the biggest guy in the rackets. Half of it. You've done something that every guy in the underworld wanted to do. You kill the. Shadows at the gap and let's get going. All right, I'm all shut. You better bind this shack down. We don't want to leave any fingerprints, any evidence a cut. No, you used to take any chances. Now if that care of caresy right like you? Okay, I gotta all right, pour it all over the jetty. Boy. Wait the gang here's about this? It'll knock him. Off for a twist. I'll cares and get over here by the door. Okay, Now checks some messris at it and let it go. Right Likely. It would cover us completely. A last she goes who come out and scram out of here. Their shackles up like paper boy looking it fine? Huh? Never mind that loads the two machine mess in the boat. That ain't already all right? Then? Come on, I thought we'd never get. Off the silence. The voice an't doing a stretching jail. What are you gonna do when you get back to towns? Like you ever getting chicken feed? So far and now I'm going out after the real big dog. I ain't gonna be too particular about how I get it. Kay, here we are alright. Now, get ahold of the other end of the boat and slide him into the water. Okay, here we go, they blacking white Fort Tomeria. But there's a boat out there. Well, there's another one, two more than the best, which around us. Like, you must be the cops. What are we gonna do to me? A hand with this machinery, and you gonna make a break for it. Yeah, afore I knock off enough cops and open up and make enough space first to get through. Get that gun up here, leave the other one in the boat. We'll need it going across. We better make a break for Blackie. That fire is getting awful hot, I tell you, and shut. Up all right, all right, yea, it's the cops, all right. I can see him now in the light of the fire. You got to get a loaded and she's all set alright. I'm gonna be that one of them two boats right in front. Take the one of your right face, Let go when I tell you, and we'll knock off. The other one. I like, there're a perfect target. Now let them get closer. I let's go, Blacky to be on top of us. In another minute, he'll let go. And I tell you not before alright, getting ready? Tell you not a gun over? I don knock it over? How you're trying to hand me? I Flucky, and I tell you, oh else? Cut her down a file? No? I good, Blacky, I did for Blackie. Who's that? Who's talking? The shadow? Flucky the hitter? It's the shadow. I thought you'd kill that guy. I did. I'm sure I did. Oh no, you didn't, Blucky. I'm very much Alie. You can't be I have chander. I don't chick it down. I simply played good water poolo, Blucky. Taking punishment under water and holding the breath of sustained periods is a requiement of the game. I let you believe you had an easy victim. You know better. Now come on rock for Flucky, into the water, you yellow and find it out. Your little playmate is gone. Bluckie. The police have shut him. There's no chance for you to escape. Ah, that's what you think. He went railroading me that easy. You'd better give up, Blacky. I guess this round, George. But the game ain't over here. Okay, okay, take it eat the office. Are what a way that taper? What are you doing here? It is back a comic com commissioner. Oh, Shadow, you're here too. This is the man you've been looking for, Commissioner, the killer of the gas station man and the others. Oh he's a prize package. Nice be the work. Shadow came on you. I'll right all right, You got me now, but I'll get out again, just as I did before, and the next time. Shadow, I'm gonna get you. Remember that. I'm gonna get you here. Joe. Yes, mister ward get Blackie Carmichael's record card out of the big file. Yes, sir, let's. See he's piland. Yes, here we are Carmichael Albert Carmichael alias Blackie. He ar, mister Warden, I stamp it and put it in a small file. Yes, he answers, just a matter, let me look at it. That's right, Joe, Albert Blackie Carmichael. Discharge by execution, louied of crime. There's bitter fruit. Crime does not pay Heado lord