The Prepper Broadcasting Network - The Shadow 054 - Can The Dead Talk

Episode Date: July 31, 2026

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What evil lurks in the hearts of men. The shadow knows. Your local blue coal dealer present The Shadow. These half-hour dramatizations are designed to forcibly demonstrate to old and young alike that crime does not pay. Before the final broadcast of this Shadow series begins, keep this fact in mind, homeowners. One way to be sure of maintaining steady, even temperatures throughout your home during these changeable days and nights of March and April weather is by burning blue coal. Blue coal is America's finest anthracite. It gives perfect, dependable warmth, and stop overheating or quick chilling of room.

Remember the name Blue Cold for better heat with less furnace attention in all kinds of weather. And be sure to hold on at the close of today's shadow story, for we have an unusual treat in store for you. The shadow, mysterious character who wage 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 Margo Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the unseemed voice belongs. Today's story, Can the Dead Talk?

Well, good afternoon, Miss Lane. Hello, Anne. Mr. Cranston is? Yes, Miss Lane. I want you... Hello, Marco. Hurry up, LeMont. We'll be late for Adeliza's big charity benefit. He's been working on her for the last six months.

Now, come on. No, all right. Get my co-dames green. Yes. Honestly, in the mark, you're acting like a little boy who doesn't want to go to dancing school. Let's probably enjoy it. This man, ball tennis, supposed to be very good.

Margot, I don't like mind-readers. He isn't a mind-reader. He calls himself a mentalist. Now, it means the same thing to me. Well, I understand. He's fascinating. When he's not performing on the stage, he goes around exploding the mist of haunted houses and things like that.

He doesn't believe in ghosts. Oh, my... Your coat, sir. My coat? Oh, yes. Thank you. Listen, Muggle, I've got to be back at six o'clock. There's a polo match at the Army tonight.

Yes, yes, I know. I've got a front row seat. And you needn't act like such a martyr. If I can spend the evening watching you trying to break your silly neck playing croquet on horseback, it won't hurt you to go with me this afternoon and have your mind improved. Deliver me from a logical woman. Very well, lead on McDuff. And now I will proceed with my next experiment.

It's seen, the mud, I told you, would be late. It started already. I sit back here and make this as much as much. In this is possible. Certain of you in the audience have written on the slips of paper that my assistant distributed questions you would like me to answer. Now, if you will concentrate on what you have written, I will try to get these questions by thought transfer. But remember, you must concentrate. I must be in complete accord with your thoughts.

I get the initials E.K. Someone with the initials E.K. wants to know the date of a marriage. I think it was. Yes, I'm sure it was. March 24th, 19003. Is that right? Yes, that's right. Did you hear that, Lamarkey's marvelous, don't you think?

That's an understatement, Mark. Oh, don't be so superior. Everybody, please concentrate. I cannot conduct this experiment in thought transparency without sympathetic cooperation from my audience. Now, now I get the initials BDM. BDM wants to know the street, number, and city where he was formed.

The street is Walnut. The number 20. 1, 24 of City of Philadelphia. Am I right? Gee, he got it! He's mad. How do you suppose he does it? Elementary, my dear Watson. Wait, please. Before I proceed further, I feel that in this room there is someone who is not only an unbeliever,

but one who is distinctly hostile to me in what I am trying to do. The Elamottie, might mean you. Nonsense. Probably probably probably. I would like that person to attempt a little experiment with me. If he or she will think of something, some question the answer to which is known to no one else, I will attempt to answer it correctly without the person having written the question down at all. If I can answer it correctly,

it should prove to the skeptic that the transference of thought from one mind to another is completely possible. Nice trick if he can do it. You don't think it's possible, Lamarthe? I won't say it's impossible, but it's certainly highly unlikely. Well, think of something and concentrate on it. I see if he can get it.

I will not. In the first place, you don't know that I was the one he was referring to. Second place, even if I were, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. You'll think of something. that no one could possibly know but yourself. I'll bet you 100 to 1 he can't get it.

Well, perhaps you're right. Quiet, please. Quiet, quiet. Someone in the audience is concentrating on the question. Who is the shadow? Rago, did you think of that just then? Yes, but I don't know why. It just seemed to come into my head.

I will answer that question. No. No, on second thought, I believe I will not give the answer after all. Unless I am very much mistaken, the shadow himself. He's present. And I don't believe this is just the time to remove his veil of secrecy. However, in case the shadow thinks this is merely a sham,

I would like to inform him that within an hour, he will receive a cablegram from someone he never heard of. What do you suppose that is? I haven't the fixed idea. I will now proceed with the questions that have been written on the papers. Someone who's initials are L-T-Z wants to know the number of a license plate on his car. Oh, Lamar. Let's get out of him. You can go if you like, my dear Margo.

but I'm going to stay to the end For heaven's sake why After the performance I think the shadow Will pay a little call on Mr. Voltaun I'm consumed with a burning desire To find out just what he knows Close the door, Emil, I wish to dress Yes, master

Remove my boots Yes, master I'm careful you clumsy pool What's the matter with you? I'm sorry Embecile go, leave me alone Yes, Master I will Well, what's the matter?

Master, The door The doorknob The door is opening But the hall Is empty Ah, good afternoon Won't you come in?

Have you gone mad, master? There is no one here You are wrong, Emil, there is someone here But I see No one. Of course not. You may leave us alone, Emil.

Yes, Master. Well, Shaddle. Well, Walter. Sit down, won't you? Unfortunately, I can't stay. I have an engagement. Really? Perhaps your engagement is with that well-known club man,

Mr. Lamont Cranston. Is Lamont Cranston a friend of yours? No. Matter of fact, we've just now met. Interesting. True. Why beat about the Bush, Shadow? I know perfectly well that you are Lamont Cranston.

Are you sure you haven't got me confused with someone else? Quite. Of course, at the moment, I admit I am unable to see you, owing to a trick of visual hypnotics, which it is hardly worth my while to come back. However, your charming companion this afternoon, Miss Lane, wasn't it? Let her mind dwell on the subject quite intensely. Her thought waves were unmistakable. And second thought I find I can spare you a few minutes, Volta. Good. My respect for your powers is increasing momentarily. Well, now that you know, what are you going to do about you?

I haven't decided yet. Remember, I and I alone know that Lamont cransden in the shadow are one and the same, with the exception of your friend Margo Lane. Of course, you realize how much your life would be worth if the underworld should ever learn that you are the shadow? I have a rough idea. And yet that would be a pity. To terminate so unceremoniously the brilliant capabilities of one who is the shadow is known and feared throughout the world. Just what are you getting at? Let me tell you a little story, my friend.

Did you ever hear of Anton Proscovye? Anton Proscovye. The famous anarchist who at one time or another was kicked out of every country in Europe? That's the man. Well, the last I heard of him was some ten years ago. When he was sent into exile. He's supposed to have died there. Anton Proscovai didn't die in exile.

He escaped. But he dropped out of sight for ten years because he was making a study of that leith-understood attribute of mankind, the human mind. You mean you? Yes. I am Anton Proscovai. You Anton Proskovi, the man without a country?

I do not need a country. What do you mean? Shadow, when I started my studies of the brain, I quickly found that people mentally are like sheep. They can be influenced, swayed in any direction, by a mentality is stronger and superior than their own. Of course. That's nothing particularly new.

Wait, wait. After I had made my escape for years, I wondered, living in ditches, eating in pigsties, hounded from country to country by government agents. But all the time, I was collecting subjects. Subjects?

Yes, shadow. Among the submerged, ill-used, half-starved rabble of every nation, there are potential leaders. Leaders who given the opportunity could be the dictators of tomorrow. Go on? These men, I know. I know them so intimately that from wherever I am I can control their mind. You saw Emil, my servant. He is completely subjugated to my will.

But that's hypnotism. Relatively simple. Not at all. It is not hypnotism. Although I dominate Emil's mind Whenever I wish to all appearances He is a normal human being He can be released

Only if I feel fear And I am never afraid Only if you feel fear I put the idea of the shadow's identity In Miss Lane's mind this afternoon After which she unknowingly Yet obligingly answered it mentally Come in

Excuse me, Master I have a cablegram here It is addressed to someone called the shadow in your care. Yes, I will take it to see that it's delivered. Go now. Yes, master. You see, Shadow?

You mean... On the platform this afternoon I willed one of my subjects in Europe to cable you, saying, the downprodden shall arise. Here, I will open your cablegrams. I'll put it on the table where you can see it. Well, what does it say? The downclotten shall arise. What, that's amazing.

Now do you believe me, Shadow. Through my subjects who are leaders themselves, I can control the vast mass mind of the rabble, the bulk of the population of the world. I suppose it's possible at that. Possible? Listen, Shadow, I have decided that in exactly one week,

a vast uprising which I have so carefully planned for years, will take place. Government will be overthrown. will exist no more. Chaos will reign. Yes, it could be done. It will be done. Why are you telling me this? Because on the threshold of releasing this world-shattering force,

I hesitate. Why, Voltan? Because I and I alone can bring this chaos about. But after it's accomplished, then what? How can I control what I have created? Somewhat of a problem, I should think. Yes, I need another mind to share the responsibility, a mind which already has superhuman powers that I can.

could train to assist me in the great work of reorganizing the world. And you want me to join you. Is that it? Why not? Shadow between us we could rule the world. Suppose I refuse. Then? I shall be forced to divulge the secret of your identity for those who would be most interested,

after which I shall proceed with my plans alone. I see. But you won't refuse. Join forces with me, Shadow. Next week we will plunge the world into chaos such that has not known since the dawn of creation, a chaos over which you and I will reign supreme. Well, your answer? Give me 24 hours. And you're not answer me now? Twenty-four hours. I will give you seven hours. That is time enough. Come to me at midnight tonight. Where will I find you? You know the old Murray Mansion in the slums over by the river?

Of course. It's been bought it up for years. Supposed to be haunted, I believe. Haunted. Yes. That's why I use it for my headquarters. A reputation for ghosts is very convenient for keeping. away prying eyes. I will be waiting there for you tonight at midnight. And I advise you to come alone. Well, Margot. The Monter said me, just seeing him to himself tonight. I never thought it right.

I wish he wouldn't take such chance. He's not taking any more chance than we are, sitting down here in the front row. He's pretty close at these indoor polo matches. Close. Honestly, Marl. Any minute I see that doesn't find a horse sitting in my lap. There goes LeMont again. He's got the ball.

No, the back man is running him off. What happened? Oh, Evelyn, what happened? I don't know. I think the month's falling off. The pony's running news. Lamont's get on the ground. He'll help me over this barrier.

I'm going too. Hey, stand back. Come there. Get a doctor. He made he badly injured. Here you go. Oh, Evelyn. Oh, Evelyn, he's surety lying here so still in why.

Le Mansfield's big to me. No, don't, take it easy. Here comes Dr. Carlson. Oh, thank goodness. He's Lamont's doctor. All right, stand aside, please. I'm a doctor. Oh, Dr. Carlson, thank God you've come.

Do you think Lamont's hurt badly? And I can't tell you, I don't have to examine him. Well, what is it? Tell me, can't you? Miss Lane, I'd rather do anything in the world than tell you this. Oh. Lamont Cranston is dead. Oh!

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all for the price of one. It's worth $12.5. It only costs approximately $5 for the average-sized home. So next month, or whenever you decide to let your furnace fire go out, get in touch with your nearest blue-cold dealer. Let him give your home heating plants, whether it's steam, warm air, or hot water, a thorough summer condition.

You'll save time, trouble, and money in the long run. And remember, too, if you want steady more dependable heat in your home throughout the changeable weather of early spring, order blue cold. You'll get better heat with less furnace attention. Let's know, read all about it. Vermont, France, have killed in a polar accident. The Moncrans can kill them read all about the heat. Now that everybody's gone,

don't you think you better go home yourself and rest? Yes, how can I rest? Orbel, I can't believe it. I can't believe it, Lamont, is really gone. No, I'm not again. Now, come on, Margo, I'll take you home. Oh, but... When there's somebody in the hall, Evelyn, don't let them come in here.

I can't face any more people. It'll probably ain't. Can he, Margo and this alcohol? Nobody will notice you. I'm afraid I can't stand, much me. Didn't wait, sir. Mr. Franceton's death was a terrible shock to me. Have you an old friend with Mr. Bransonton, sir?

I don't seem to do. remember well not exactly an old friend considering the length of our 20s fairly intimate one yes sir If you will just step in here sir you may view that Everland that man who was it no one I ever saw before His name's Roltaan he's a mind reader You get a performance this afternoon around to Lise's charity benefit That's strange of him But you know Lamont did have some weird friends if he wasn't a friend of Lamont

I don't think he was Very sad to see a man cut down his Prime. I beg your pardon. Miss Lane, isn't it? Why, yes? I thought so. May I tend to my sympathy, Miss Lane?

Thank you. I know how you must feel. Great pity. Anton had a future. Possibly a greater future than even you suspect. Well, what's done is done. I must be going now. I beg pardon, sir?

I can find my way out. Please. Oh, no, Morgle, darling. Don't you please let me take you home? Angel take care of everything here, won't you, Anne? Yes. miss. I'll get your thing. All right, Evelyn, I suppose there's nothing more I can do tonight.

I'll go good. And I'm going with you. Just to be sure you get there. It's almost midnight, Emil, he may leave me now. Master, are you sure you would rather not have me to stay here? Stay? No, are you fool? Why should you stay? I do not know. I do not see how you can remain here alone, master. Night after night, there is something about this old ruined houses. It is evil.

Nonsense. What's evil about it? In the neighborhood, they say it is haunted. They say the ghost. Talk, that is all. There's no such thing as a ghost. To the trained mind, a ghost is an impossibility. Therefore, it does not exist.

You understand? Yes, master. I should be quite all right. What's that? Just a loose shutter in the wind. Master is worried? I have never seen you so before. I've had rather an upsetting occurrence tonight.

I must think things out. Go, Emil. Yes, Master. The usual time in the morning? Of course, now go. Yes, Master. Yes, I go. Cool?

The meal is an idiot, trying to frighten me with this old woman's tale about ghosts. Ghosts do not frighten me. Nothing frightens me. If I knew fear, I couldn't hope to control the world. Ah, so now Le Manson Crensen is dead. I must proceed alone, but I must hurry before anything else goes wrong. I will not wait a week.

Tomorrow I shall call upon my subjects to arise and kill tomorrow. To pity the shadow is gone, he would have enjoyed it. I could have taught him so many things. What a magnificent conception. The shadow. That was that? I could have sworn I heard someone laugh. No, no one is here, no one could be here. Must have been in my mind.

That's right, Volta. In your mind. Who's that? Who speaks? Is it possible you don't know me, Volta? When just this evening you claim to be one of my most intimate friends? Shadow. Or his ghost? No.

No, it's not possible. Really? With my own eyes, I saw you lying. dead. I know. So thoughtful of you to call. Stop! It can't be you, it can't! You hear me, don't you? I'm imagining things. My mind is overstrained, that's all. The shadow is dead. You see, it's midnight, Volta. I have returned

from the spirit world to keep our appointment. Spirit world. There is no such thing. There can't be. I won't allow myself to believe it. You're afraid, Volta. No, no. I'm not afraid. You are afraid for the first time in your life. You're afraid. At last, the thousands of subjects you've held under your spell. are liberated, are free. Who is there? It is Emil.

You must remember me, Master. Your loyal servant, Emil, the one whom you're subjected to your indignities for so long? You've gone mad. Now, Volta, it is you who have gone mad. There is but one way to deal with a mad dog. Keep away from me, Amil.

Don't come any closer. It's gone. I will shoot. Drop that gun. Amil. I didn't mean it. Stop emil. Stop following me!

You wounded me, Volta. But before I die, I am going to kill you. I am not afraid of you anymore. You are afraid of me. No, don't touch me. Don't you. There. He's dead.

I... I am free. That's love! It's four o'clock. It'll be dawned soon, Margot. I'm... I'm all right now, Evelyn. Why don't you go home yourself? You don't need to stay with me anymore.

Well, if you're sure, you're all right? Oh, of course, I'm all right. I'll take a sedative and go to bed and go to bed and get some rest. I could use some rest myself. How you could. Well, if you want anything, don't hesitate to call me, Margot. If I don't hear from you, I'll drop over in the afternoon. All right, and thanks, Evelyn, for sticking by me.

You've been a great help. Oh, nonsense. Get some sleep, dear. I thought she'd never go. Oh. Amonko. Don't you know me? Well, Amon...

Amon, I must be dreaming. No, you're not dreaming. I'm here. But... Well, you were killed. No, I wasn't killed, Margot. Oh, Lamont. But I...

I don't understand. I saw you lying there so cold and still. It was a trick, dearest. A matter of suspended animation. I wasn't even heard. Well, then how... It's quite a common trick in India, and it's been done in this country on several occasions.

I've never had... need to use it before. Voltaen forced me to. Well, how did it work? Well, I can best explain it by saying I threw myself into a cataleptic trance. My heart stopped. Everything stopped for a short time. I had even fooled Dr. Carlson.

It'll be an awful shock to him when he sees me alive and well. You mean you did it on purpose? Of course, I had to. And you didn't tell me? I could tell no one, Margot. Oh, Lamont, how could you? I know what a shock it must have been for you, darling, but believe me, there was no other way. It was vitally necessary that Lamont Cranston should be thought dead

So that Voltaan would keep his knowledge of the shadow's identity to himself Until I had time to figure a way out But Lamont, why didn't you tell me and spare me the suffering? I wouldn't have given you away I didn't there take the chance Voltaire might have read your thoughts A sinister man, Marco With some rather extraordinary mental capabilities

Would it surprise you to know that he had perfected plans for a world revolt? He had? You mean he... Yes is dead. As the ghost of the shadow, I faced him tonight in a haunted house. When he thought his mental powers were going back on him, he shot his servant, who very conveniently strangled Voltaan before he died too. How terrible. I don't think so, Margo. There's quite enough unrest among nations today without the machinations of an insane mental genius. Yes, I think the world will be

a great deal better off without, Mr. Voltaan. It's a pity that others with a like capacity for stirring up trouble, can't meet the same fate. And now, friends, we have a real treat in store for you. I want you to meet two grand actors. Our stars, Margot Lane, who in reality is the charming Agnes Moorhead, and Lamont Cranston, who is known in real life as Bill Johnstone. Thanks, Ken. Well, Margo, I should say, Agnes.

I know you'll agree with me that it's been a great privilege for you and me to have played the roles of Margot Lane and the Shadow for the past six months. Yes, it has, Bill, and it's been a lot of fun, besides. I can't begin to tell you how much I've appreciated being with the shadow during his exciting adventures. And I know that we appreciate the generous cooperation we have received from our sponsors, the Blue Cold Dealers, in teaching young and old alike that crime doesn't pay. If we succeeded in driving home that moral, then we'll have accomplished our poikers.

As Ken Roberts has told you, ladies and gentlemen, this is our final broadcast of the winter season. but we sincerely hope to be back with another series in the fall. Whether or not the shadow program returns is up to you, our listeners. In the theater, you know, we actors can tell by the applause if the audience enjoys our efforts to entertain them, but in radio, the only way to know whether or not the audience enjoys the entertainment

is by their purchases of the product that makes the program possible or by their personal approval to the sponsors. So, friends, if you've liked this shadow series and want to hear the show again next fall, won't you phone or write your nearest blue coal dealer and let him know? Your purchases of blue coal and your phone calls to the blue coal dealers

will indicate to them whether or not they should bring you the shadow program again in September. And now, on behalf of our entire cast, I'll be thanks to you again for your loyalty to our show and your support of blue coal. Goodbye, Bill and Agnes, and we hope you'll be back again in the fall. And friends, remember,

that you can continue to thrill to the adventures of the shadow during the summer month by getting the shadow magazine at your local newsstand. This is Ken Roberts saying goodbye for Blue Coal.