The Prepper Broadcasting Network - The Shadow 026 - The Creeper

Episode Date: April 24, 2026

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Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The shadow knows. Ladies and gentlemen, the shadow's latest adventure starts in just a moment. Right now I want to tell you about a new kind of tire that will stop you quicker, safer on wet, slippery roads than you've ever stopped before. It's the new Goodrich, safety Silver Town with the amazing lifesaver tread but actually dries wet roads. Impartial tests made by the independent Pittsburgh testing laboratory proved this fact beyond dispute. Not one of the regular or premium price tires of America's six largest tire manufacturers came up to the new Goodrich Silver Town in resistance to skits. These exhaustive tests also prove that the new Silver Town averaged 19.1% more non-skid mileage than any other tire tested in its own price rate,

which means you get every six mile free. Equip your car with Goodrich Safety Silver Town. Then you'll know what it means to be saved by a Silver Town stop. The Shadow Lamont Cranston, a man of wealth, a student of science, and a master of other people. minds devotes his life to writing wrong, protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty. Using advanced methods that may ultimately become available to all law enforcement agencies, Cranston is known to the underworld as the shadow. Never seen, only heard, as haunting to superstitious minds as a ghost, as inevitable, as a guilty conscience. The shadow's true

identity is known only to his constant friend and aide Margo Lane. Today's story, the creeper. Is that you? Is the dawn frightening you? Mother! Quiet, I won't hurt you. I'm just going to take you away. Away where nobody will ever find you.

Nobody will ever find you. And you won't be lonely. There are other fine young ladies like yourself. And when I'm taking you, they were rich and beautiful, too. One, take one. One. Lamont, forgive me to making you rush over here to my apartment at this time of the morning. I've just learned that something's happened to one of my dearest friends.

Edith Day. Eat of Day. I remember her, Margot. Came out two seasons ago. Isn't you that beautiful little dark-haired girl I know as the Allender? Yes, that's the one. Le Mans, her mother just called me. She's frantic, terrible.

Now, Margot, suppose you can close yourself. That I'm exactly what's wrong. This is Margot Lane. My assistant in criminal investigation would do if it was someone who meant nothing to you. This is such a shock, Lamont. It is missing. Missing.

Yes, she disappeared from her bedroom last night. There was signs of a struggle. Where's the house located? In the Mayfair district. Five-block section of all those recent robberies have occurred? Yes, and two murders and five other disappear. That's right, but the paper said every block is a private guard and the finest burglar alarms have been stolen all the houses.

But Lamont, it's terrible people just disappearing. It is thin air without a trace, without any clue as to what. happened to them. Something awful must have happened to Edith. No ransom notes? No, nothing. Police are there, of course. Oh, yes, swarming all over the house. Commissioner Weston himself is conducting the inquiry. Mrs. Day asked me to come over here and stay with her, but I want to talk to you first. Oh, poor Edith. Police must have searched the house, I suppose.

Yes, we've hopped about him. She might have been carried across the rooftop. No, the door to the roof was bolted and locked on the inside. It's equipped of the burglar alarm, too. You go ahead and console Mrs. Day, Margo. I was hoping you'd come with. Not at the moment, Margot. But it's a case for you as the shadow. Yes, Margot, the shadow will take a hand in this game of violence. Death.

Are you absolutely certain your daughter did not leave the house after midnight? Yes. Yes, Commissioner Weston. You asked me that before. Yes, I know. I'm sorry. Come in. Callahan, the watchman here, Commissioner.

Have him come in. Morning, Commissioner. Callahan. Your report shows you tried all the doors of this house every house. hour on the hour last night. That's right. They were okay. They were all locked. And nobody could have opened the door or a window in this house without setting off the burglar alarm in your agency's central office?

Yeah, yes, that's right, sir. And Miss Day must still be in this house. Sergeant. Yes, sir? Have your men made a complete search all through the house? Oh, yes, Commissioner, from top to bottom. But ain't the place we haven't looked at a button. I mean, well, Miss Dave, my... My poor, baby. Oh, he does... Eat us. Hello?

Hello! Century Moving Company! This is Mrs. Claremont. I'm moving out of the Mayfair District. Yes, I want a band today. Yes, I'm moving to a hotel. I won't spend another night in this section. I'm calling at the sense that I'm giving notice. I've been your buttless for ten years, but also the things that have happened with the Mayfair.

Jake, about that Mayfair crime story, make it hot! Pour it into Commissioner Weston. Missing the unsouth crime. Two known dead, six-first missing without a child crime. six persons missing without a trace. Demand action. Results, clear it all of the front page. Go to town on it. Lamont, what on earth you doing here in the public library? I'm discovering things about this fair city of ours that I've never knew before, Margot.

I don't understand, Lamont. I'm trying to find Edith's Day, Margot. It may seem a very roundabout way, but the police and the private detectiveations is approved of a futility of direct methods. Can you have discovered something? Oh, Lamont, what is it? Why did you come here to the public library? Because I wanted to look up some old maps and records for the city. But why? What could that possibly have to do with Edis disappear? I'm not sure, Margo, but it may have every...

anything to do with it. I'll show you something that may surprise you. Lamont, what are you driving at? That's just an old map. Exactly, Margot. An engineering map. A plan of the proposed water conduct surveyed and laid out in the year 1896. But Lamont... Wait, Margot. I'll explain. This plan calls for a 12-foot water name from the West Park Reservoir to the central district, a distance of a mile and a half. Margo, one mile of that water contract was built. Then the Spanish-American War came along, and the project was abandoned. It was sealed up. It's all here in the old city records.

in some way the whole project became lost in the tangles of official red tape and forgotten. What are you driving at? I still can't see what this has to do with... I'll show you in just a minute. Here. Here's a rough sketch of the Mayfair district, Margot on tissue paper. I've marked the location of every house in that district where a murder, robbery, or abduction has taken place in the last two months. Here, placed over this old map. Now look. See what happens? Why, no, ma'am! Every one of those houses is located directly over that old abandoned water.

Yes, Margot, and unless I'm badly mistaken, that is the answer to the disappearance of Edith Day, and it'll lead us to the solution of this crime wave in the Mayfair District. To Mont, that water mayn't be way down underground. The police searched the basement of those houses. There'd have to be an entrance big enough for a man to get through. I believe there is, Margot. It's the only possible answer. In every one of these crimes, the storage is in the same.

No one was seen going into the houses, no one was seen going out. The burglar alarms were intact, yet people vanished. Oh, Lamont. Only you're right. If there's still some chance, Edith and those other poor people are still alive, down there in that abandoned hole in the earth. But who could do a thing like that, and why would they do it? Must be the work of a monster, Margo.

I've checked up on the things that were stolen the other crimes, richly upholstered, furniture, tapestries, paintings, never any money or jewelry. Things you would ordinarily expect a seat to take. Heaven's the month! You think someone has taken those things down into that black hole? Yes, and he's taken something else that is doubly significant. Food.

Store rooms have been stripped. Case after case of canned goods has been carried away, Margot. Food enough for a dozen people. But more than anything else convinces me that the people who vanish are still alive somewhere down there in a labyrinth of tunnel carved out of solid rock. Oh, ma'am, if only you're right. There's only some way we can get down there.

I believe there is. I believe there is a way. A way the shadow can get down there with your help. I'll do anything. Anything, you know that. Margo, I want you to go straight from here to Mrs. Days. I want you to stay there tonight. But what about you?

Where will you be? Can't I do something to help? Later, Marga, but don't worry. You walk through the door of the day mansion, the shadow will be with you. I'm sure that somewhere, the wall, the floor, the basement of that house will yield the answer to this ghastly riddle.

Anyway, there's something down there in the cellar. It's all of a tapping cell. Oh, don't go down there, Henry. Don't do it, I tell you. Henry, this house has given me the case. I walk here another day, and give a notice to Mr. Day and the moon. and he'll have to get another maid.

You're right. I don't hear nothing now. Maybe we just imagine in things after what happened last night. I'm a butler, not as it, Tettecith. Mrs. Day insists on staying in this house. I'm leaving her service, too.

Oh, shut the door, Cindy. I can't stand to look to that door to tell. It's... Fargo, you don't know how much it means to me to have you stay here. All my friends want me to leave this house, but I can't. I can't.

And this servant, Sarah, I'm sure they leave tomorrow. I'm glad I could be with you, Mrs. Day. But now don't think any more about it, please. Try to get some rest. You're exhausted. Well, I'll try, Margo, but I'm afraid I can't rest. All I can do is think.

Think of what's happened and what may be happening to eat us. Oh, my poor darling. Oh, it's so awful, Margot. Not to know. What's happened today? Oh, it's a house phone in the hall, Margot. You run. Yes, yes, I'll answer it right away.

Try to get some rest. Mr. Jay, please. Hello? Hello. Marco? Yes, Lamar. You come down at the base in the immediate, hey? Try to get the servants.

Come on. It's Margo. Where are you? Right here, Marco. He's quiet as you can. I'll turn on my flashlight. What have you found? I'm over here a minute.

Look, that stone slab. Then you were right, Lamont. This is how Edith was carried away, down from that hole. But how in the world did you get the slab up? It was quite a while. I found an iron bar. Be careful Don't get too close that hole, Margot

There's no telling how deep it is Vermont, now Now what are we going to do Had we better notify the police No, Margot Calling the police now Might mean the death of every one of his victims If they're still alive

But suppose whoever's doing this Heard you tapping down here Heard you lifting the stone Suppose he's waiting for you Down there in the dark somewhere I've got to risk that Well, how will you get down There's no ladder

There's a heavy clothes line in the laundry room The other end of the cell I know I'm examining the walls in there I'll get it All right but I wish you had Ladies and gentlemen, before the Shadow's exciting adventure continues, I have a word about auto-treats, because there are so many motorists who risk life and blim without knowing it. Yes, the Shadow knows.

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The creeper is bringing you another victim to keep us company in this living tomb. There was only something we could do. We could only get these chains on. No, no use. We're helpless. Dr. Conradt. Do you think there's any chance? Any hope?

We mustn't give up hope this day. Sooner or later, the police will trap the creeper. Find the tunnel. With the police. Listen, all of you. Some of you have been here a day, a week, two weeks. I've been here too much. Nothing but that creeper and rat for confidence.

Changed like an animal half-star. I thought the police would find me. I had hoped, too, but now I know we'll die here. We'll never get out. Never. Never. Can't use that weapon again. I can't stand anymore.

I will. I will. What difference is a thing? Soon related, the creeper to kill us. all. We'll never see the light of day again. Never, never see them. Oh, why did you hit him? He didn't know what he was saying. I had to. He's unconscious now, and it's better that way. Can't stand much more. Heaven's help us if someone doesn't get us out of here soon. Now, so you'll find out how I catch all the fine, beautiful ladies, and bring them down here.

Wait, you don't have to put those chains on me. I won't try to come. get away. Nobody gets away. Nobody ever gets away. Nobody knows about this whole tunnel. I found it long ago. How long have you lived down here? Who are you? Why have you crawled up into people's homes and dragged them down here? What have you done with him? You haven't killed him, have you? No. Only one. Because he wouldn't talk to me. Always kept trying to get away. I killed him so he wouldn't run away. But then there was no one to talk to. I got lonely. That was long, long ago. But the others, and either day, the girl you carried away last night, where are they?

Oh, you'll see them real soon. It's not far from here down the tunnel. A great wide place in the tunnel. It's like a big room. You shall see. Wait, let me rest here a minute more, then I'll go with you. No, no, no, no, you don't. You come now quickly.

Let's go. Let me. Let me tell you something. How do you know someone else won't find your heart? Just as I did. And you better go up and the shark and glow of that. No, no, no, no, you come now. Try to trick me.

I'll come back and fix that when I change you up with the rest of them. Maybe too late. Someone knows I'm here. He was in the basement when you pull me down here. Well, let him come. I'm not afraid of any man. All men are afraid of me. I make them afraid.

I make them my slaves. They call me the creeper. Creeper. There's no one here. I see no one. Yes, someone is here, someone you can't see, someone who's not afraid of you, you're hearing the shadow. Shadow! But shadows do not laugh?

Do you not speak? No! For years I have lived among shadows in the darkness. Your crimes have found you out, creepers. Why can't I see him? There's no place he can hide, not here. I am here. Like a dream, like the dreams I used to have when I lived down here alone.

I used to pretend. I used to talk to people Pretend they talk to me No creeper Those others who spoke Yes, I killed him I killed him And I'll kill you

Why don't you No, that doesn't matter There's a better way I can see the girl You keep away or I'll shoot her Amma but not quite soon enough Did he shoot you? Nothing, no one, nothing

Well it hit my shoulder Only a flesh wound I'll be all right If I need to stay in the other, Lamont, get him out of here. No, Margot, that can wait. I've got to stop this flow of blood. I'm all right. Let me get up.

No, no, no. I'm trying to get up. No, still. Until I get this hang of you. Get in, Margot. Best we can do, and I get you to a doctor. There's a way of getting you back up that shaft. No, please, Lamar.

It's only a flesh wound, I tell you. The meeting's almost stopped up. I'll be all right. Just leave me here and go help me others. Lamont. What? You said good. Yes, I thought I'd knock him out.

You got to go. after him. Now as he knows someone's found his hiding place, you'll kill Edith. He'll kill all the people he's got down here. You're afraid, Margot. I hate to leave you here like this. Mark, go on, please. I'm all right. I'll try to find a way to get up the shop and notify the police. All right, Margo. You think you can? There's a lad of it. Be careful. It's old and rocked and some of the rungs are gone. I'll get out. I'll get help, but it may be too late unless you can find the creeper and stop him from murdering those poor people. He's dragged down into this awful thing. He might have only be sure which way he went. He's going to take me that way, down the tunnel.

Hurry, in the mouth. Hurry. Take the land. All right, Margo, but get out of here as you can. Notify the police. Tell them the creeper shot you. Tell them you saw him escape down here through the cellar, but don't come back down here, Marga.

There's no telling what may happen. What this fiend may do. There's something's happened to say. Maybe the police have found this horrible place at last. His face is bleeding. His eyes. Horrible. Being chained up like this.

Like animals. We're helping. If the police are coming, he'll kill us. I know he will. Wait, wait. Going to that chair, he calls his throne. I didn't he see something? Why is he standing here?

He's turning his way. So things happened all right. I'm afraid something worse is going to happen. No, nothing could be worse. You get over with. A couple in the earth. Someday someone would come. Well, it'll kill us all, and it'll kill you too, Shadow.

Mr. Conrad and the others told him, the shadow arrived just as the creeper was going to die to might the place and kill them all. They said the shadow tricked the creeper into following him down the tunnel. from the others, so they wouldn't be killed. And then there was an explosion. They said the creeper and the shadow were blown to pieces. Do I look blown to pieces, Margo? Oh, but Lamont, how did you escape?

The old, old trick of voice projection, Margo. Then philoquism. Easy in that tunnel. The creeper followed my voice, hurled a dynamite where he thought my voice was coming from, ahead of him. All the time I was behind him. Far enough behind him will be safe.

Oh, I'm glad. Oh, I'm so glad, Lamont. I was afraid that this time was true that the shadow was dead. No, Margot. As Mark Twain once said, the report of my death has been grossly exaggerated. The shadow is still alive. Very much alive as the criminal world has discovered to its sorrow.

You have been listening to a dramatized version of one of the many copyrighted stories which appear in the Shadow magazine. Speed of crime, bitter food is nothing. All the characters and all the places named are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.