The Prepper Broadcasting Network - The Shadow - The Laughing Corpse

Episode Date: October 15, 2026

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What is... The shadow, mysterious character who wades the forces of law and order, is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town. The shadow uses its hypnotic power to cloud men's mind so that they cannot see him. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Morgulane, is the only person who knows to whom the voice of the shadow belongs. Today's story, The Laughing Court.

I see you come into the bar, I say to myself, There's a nice guy, I says. I'm a very keen judge of character. Yes, sir. So when you offer to buy me a drink, I accept. Say, by the way, mister, you ain't told me your name. What kind of a place is this? You took me to.

Looks like a lab or something. What I enjoyed? Only got into the taxi cab. Yeah, I sure enjoyed that. Driver, take us to 31 Blackwell Place. 31 Blackwell Place. Gee, been a long time since I... have a taxi ride.

31 Brackville Place, just like that. Yeah, so was nice of you to bring me here. I've been sleeping in the park for, gosh. Say, what did you mean when you said we was going to conduct a little experiment? What did you mean, huh? Why aren't you talking to me? You ain't sore, are you? Well, don't talk if you don't want to, I don't care.

What are you making in those test tubes? What kind of stuff you're making? Why are you looking at me like that? What have I done? Don't look at me like that. Hey, don't come any closer. I'm getting out of here. I'll get out of here.

Locked. Please, let me out of here. Let me out. This lovely cab drive with you, but... Would you tell me where I'm going at this hour of the night? Well, Lamont, if you knew you'd get angry. And not knowing makes me angrier. Shrevee.

Yes, sir? You know where you're driving us to? Oh, let me see now. Now, what was the number of that place again, Miss Lane? What was it? 31 Brackwell Place, Shrevee. Oh, yeah, yeah, 31 Blackwell Place. Oh, I'm such a stupid.

We've been there twice today, and all the time I keep forgetting the number. I've got to get a new memory system I've got to get. What was the old memory system, Shrevee? Oh, the old one's easy. You see, like take, for instance... What's where you're going, Shrivy? Oh. Excuse me.

You take, for instance, digits three and one, which is the place we're gone to now. I hooks the three up with my kid, which is three years old, and the one I remember is by thinking how in one year he's going to be four. Simple, ain't it? Elementary. How could you possibly have forgotten the address of that system, Shreve? You know how? I got myself all mixed up with my other kid, which is six.

Oh, I'm such a stupid. Shrivy, I feel just as stupid as you do. I still don't know where we're going, why we're going to this place at 11.30 at night. Well, if you wait till till you're... Tomorrow, the apartment may be rented. Shrivy, now you've given it all away. Margo, are you taking the apartment hunting at this hour?

You know I hate that. Oh, but Lamont, don't you see, I wouldn't take it unless you thought it was all right. I know, but... You know how I value your opinion. Well, why didn't you tell me sooner? I wanted to surprise you. Okay, I'm hooked. What are you laughing about, Shrevee?

Well, I was that snickered, Mr. Crans. I was thinking how dames could twist guys Right around their little fingers they could twist them That'll be about all from you, Shrevee. Don't talk so much. Yes, sir. All right for you, Mr. Cranston. You're pretty jumpy tonight, Lamont.

What's the matter? Oh, nothing, Margot. I'm just bored, that's all. I know. You haven't had any to keep you busy. No criminal's tracked on. Mr. Shrevee, why'd you stop? Shreedy.

Shrevee, why don't you answer? Mr. Cranston said I shouldn't talk. I shouldn't. So why you ain't. Now, you see what you've done in the mark? You've heard Shrevee's feelings. I'm sorry, Shrevee. I'm in a bad humor tonight.

No, I know you ain't, Mr. Crimm. Oh, yes, I am. Oh, here we are. This is the building. 31 Brackville Place. Yeah, yeah, it's 31 Blackwell Place. That's why I stopped. 31 Blackwell Place.

Wait for you, Shrevee. Okay. Come on up to slide a step tomorrow. All right. It certainly is a weird-looking place. Well, that's just because it's dark. Looks all right in the daylight. Yeah.

Ring the superintendent's bill. Will you, Lamar? Yes, all right. Uh, Margo, uh, won't he be angry at our disturbing with this hour? Oh, no. He told me I could come back tonight to look at the apartment. Oh, well, what's so exceptional about this apartment, Margot? Oh, Lamont.

It has these high, old-fashioned ceilings, and the most glorious view of the river. Well, uh... Well, what do you want? Oh, you remember me. I'm Margo Lane. I put a deposit down on one of the apartments here. So what? No, he won't be angry.

Well, you said I could come back tonight to look at it. I said you could come back this evening. It's 11.30 now, young lady, you got me out of bed. Well, what did I tell you, Michael? Oh, please, Mr.... My name is Laskam. Please, Mr. Laskam. I know it's very inconsiderate to bother you at this hour,

but couldn't we please see the apartment? Oh, well, come here. Thank you. Down the end of this hall. Aren't there any lights? The bulb just burned out. out this evening. Oh, I see. Here we are. Just a minute now until I find the light switch. Nice, bright place.

There. How do you like it, Lamont? Like it? I think it looks terrible. Well, of course, the place needs redecorating. Yes, and badly. Look at the holes in the wall. What caused that? Well, the previous tenant was Dr. Destrup. He's a chemist. He used this apartment as a kind of a laboratory. The holes are from some of his apparatus. Oh, I see. Well, what do you think, Lamont? Well, if you want it quiet, you certainly got it here.

Yes, and it's always like this. Always nice and quiet. What's that? I don't know. Someone thinks something is funny, all right? Well, listen to him. Lamont, that doesn't sound like... I'm going to see what this is all about.

There, Lamont, across that door cell. Dr. Loretta. Here, give me a hand. His body's so tense. If he had a convulsion or something, let's turn him over. Oh, he's face. His face, Lamont! Mom, you'll get hold of yourself.

Oh, but his face, Lamont, it's all twisted up as though we were laughing. Well, don't look at him, Marble. What are we going to do? There's nothing we can do now. This man is dead. Friends was murdered, Cranston. I don't know, Commissioner Weston. Just a hunch.

Well, there's not a mark of violence on the body. Well, if you'd heard that terrible laugh, Commissioner, you'd think something was wrong too. Miss Lane, I'm sorry. I didn't hear the laugh. But even if I had, there's still not a bit of evidence here. Not a single clue to indicate murder. Well, Commissioner.

All right, all right. Now, you, you were... Laskin is my name. Oh, Laskum. Now, what do you know about this? I told you nothing. I was showing Mr. Krensen of Miss Lane that apartment when it happened. Did the dead man, Dr. Lurin, have any enemies, Luskham? No, not that I know of. Who was the man who occupied that apartment?

Miss Lane was thinking of renting. Dr. Destroff, but I told you that, Commissioner Weston. Ah, Destroff and Lorenz. Yeah, now I remember those names. They're partners. They own a big chemical laboratory. Didn't you know that?

You didn't ask me? I didn't ask you. Why did Destrof move out of his apartment? He had a big argument with his partner, Dr. Lorenz, about two weeks ago, and he moved out the next day. Then he's the one who must have done it. Done what, Miss Lane? Murdered Dr. Lorenz.

Miss Lane, as yet I'm not convinced that Lorenz has been murdered. In the second place, from what your cab driver, Shrevee says, No one has come in or out of this house. Well, maybe you're still here, then. Miss Lane, my men have searched this house from top to bottom. Well, I still think... Clanced and please. I understand, Commissioner.

Come on, Mago. You're going home. Oh, yes, Doc. What is it? How long ago was this man supposed to have died? Well, we heard the laugh and then the sound of a buddy falling about an hour ago. For my examination, you couldn't have. What? Are you trying to tell us that we're hearing things?

Well, all I can say is it's all pretty strange. What do you mean, Doctor? Well, the body was as stiff as a board when I examined him. Rigamortis is so far advanced, you couldn't possibly have heard him laugh tonight. What? According to my examination, Dr. Lorenz has been dead for 24 hours.

The way the medical examiner talked, you think we didn't know what we were doing, Lamont? How could the man be dead and laugh? The laughing corpse. It is pretty strange, Margot. I think Commissioner Weston ought to get a new medical examiner, that's what I think. Well, Margo, you remember when I went to turn Dr. Lawrence over, I remarked that the body was stiff.

And it does look as if he'd been dead for some time. But that terrible laugh, Lamont. What is that? I don't know, Margot. And Lorenza's face was contorted as though we'd been laughing. Margo, I believe it was. Lawrence that we've heard. Why do you say that, Lamont?

And look at this. Why, it's a little box. Looks like a jewel box. Yes. Read what's written inside the cover. You will laugh, but not from joy. You will laugh, and the laugh will be the laugh of death. Lamont.

I found this little box lying in the floor near Lorenz's body before Weston came. What do you suppose was in it, LeMont? I don't know, Margot. But I'm going to find out The shadow is going to pay a visit to Dr. Destros laboratory tonight. Perhaps there I shall find the solution to the mystery of the laughing corpse. Who is there?

I thought I heard the door open. It must be my imagination. Who is it? I can't see you. No. Oh, yes, I have heard of you. What do you want of me? Have you?

Where did you hear that? The shadow has ways of finding things out, Dr. Descartes. The laughing death? You tell me, Shadow, has it already happened? Is Lorenz dead? It won't do you any good to pretend innocence. Lorenz was murdered earlier this evening. How did he die?

Tell me, I must know. You know how he died? Yes, yes, I know. I know how he dies, just as the notes warned us. The notes? Not since last year. Ah, so he has made good he's threatened. Oh, Destrof?

I'd better tell you everything, Shadow. Seven years ago, there was another partner in this laboratory besides myself in Destroft. A man named Vitor. He was incompetent, a zonkod. When Lorenz and I protected a new formula, we refused to give him a share of the profits. True on. After he that was, we dissolved the partnership with Litorre. Then Warence and I opened a new laboratory by ourselves.

You threw him out? Oh, call it that of you will. He only hindered us. He was ruined. No money and no credit. And he was really a... Brilliant chemist, but undependable. It was impossible for him to get work.

What happened to him? That we do not know. He came to us and begged to be taken back, but we refused. Lorenz laughed at him, and I suppose I did too. He was so ridiculous. Vito threatened you? Yes, with the laughing death. Each year an oath has come with the same words.

He will laugh, but not from joy. He will laugh. And the laugh will be the laugh of death. I see. Why did you and Lawrence, did you move from your apartment? Oh, you know that, too. Yes, Destroff, I know. Well, you see, Lawrence took the threat seriously, and I did it first.

But after nothing happened for so many years, I thought it was just well a means of annoyance. And this year, no note came. And Lorenz was very much upset and worried. He believed it meant that Vidor would strike. And you? Well, I laughed at the whole idea. I told Lorenza that he wanted to go the rest of his life,

fearing a foolish threat he could, but I refuse to bother about it anymore. This led to words, and I left in anger. I see. Where does this other partner live? Why, I think that he... Oh, what is this? Oh, I did not notice it before.

A small package addressed to me. My assistant... must have put it on my desk earlier and I had not noticed it. Don't touch that box. Why? It looks like a little jewel box. A tiny box similar to that one was found next to Lorenz. Oh, yes?

What was in it, Shadow? Nothing, Desdorf. Except that threat written on the inside cover. Oh, now surely the words cannot hurt me. There may have been something in the box when Lawrence opened it. Oh, now, Shadow, my scientific curiosity will not permit me to allow this box to go on opened. I have rubber gloves on it. If it contains some strange type of poison, it cannot possibly hurt me. Yes, God, I'm warning you. Oh, now, shadow, I must open it. There, there seems

to be a little push button here. There, it's empty. Wait, there's a message written on the inside. The same knot that Lorenz received. Yes. All lives. Yes, yes. Before he can complete his revenge. I think that he leaves... I... I... I think... I think...

...I... ...should I... Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!... Should I put these bundles, Miss Lane? Oh, just set them down anywhere, Shrivy. I'll put them away when the rest of the French are come. Okay, Miss Lane. Well, don't drop them right in the middle of the room, Shrevee.

Well, you said just to put them down anywhere, you said. Well, you said. Well, well, I know... and then out of the way over there in the corner someplace. Okay. Hey, what do you got in these packages, samples? Just odds and ends, freebie. Yeah, how's that? That's fine.

Now, is there anything else in your cab? Yeah, Miss Lane, a few more odds in the evenings. Mr. Clancy's bringing them up. Hey, open this door a little wider, someone. I can't get through. All right. How's that? He's got in these bundles, Margo.

They ain't ampos. They hate one. Put them down them on before he dropped them. Not in the center of the room, Mr. Cramp. On the way in the corner there. Shrivy, will you stop giving orders and do some work around here? Certainly. What could I do? What could I? Well, there isn't anything else to do until the rest of stuff gets here.

I should have been here an hour ago. Hey, you want, I should go back to the old apartment and get them moving faster you want? That might be a very good idea, Shrivy. Okay, I'll do it. I'll tell everything or two. I'll teach some or less some else soon. Now, don't get too rough with us moving men, Shrivy. Remember the iron hand and the velvet glove? Well, I'll look... What? Oh, never mind, Shrivy.

Hurry them up. The iron hand and a velvet glove. I guess that's a puzzle. Well, Malga, you thought of everything except one thing. What? What are you going to sit on while you wait for the movies to get here? Oh, I'll be too busy to sit down, Lamont. But you know, now that I'm here in this apartment, I'm not very keen on it.

You're not? No. Well, isn't that just like a woman? What about the high ceilings and the glorious view of the river? Oh, that's all right, Lamont, but... Well, this place gives me the creep. I can still hear the sound of that horrible laugh. First you tell me you don't like the apartment,

and then you persuade me to move here. Well, Margot, the reason I wanted you to rent this apartment is I believe that the solution to the laughing corpse may still be here. Well, that isn't going to make me feel any better about living here. Have the police found anything new, Lamont? No, a report from the medical examiner on death droves death, the same as for Laurence. Death from causes unknown.

And there was nothing in the little box when death. Destrof opened it? Not a thing, except that note. Here, look for yourself. Oh, yes. It's exactly like the little box you found in Lorenza's apartment. How do you open it, Lamar? Here, give it to me.

See, you press this little button here in the center. Oh. What's the matter, Lamar? I break my finger on something sharp when I press the button. That's it, Margo. What? That must be the way the poison was administered. After Destroff pressed the button to open the box, he started to laugh.

Well, Lamont. Then you... Yes, the drug. Now I've got it, too. Oh, no, Lamont. Well, nothing's happened to me yet. Why did you break the box open, Lamar? See here, Margo.

A tiny hypodermic needle. Conceal in the cover. When the button is pressed, the person pushing the button is given a dose of poison in the finger-tip. Oh, Lamont, come on. I must get you to a doctor. Wait a minute, Margo.

That won't be necessary. I'm going to be all right. But you could... The needle must have been empty, Margo. Deathcroft got it all. Oh, thank heaven. You're all right. Margo, where's your phone?

I've got to call Commissioner Weston immediately. The phone? What, it hasn't been installed yet, Lamar? Oh, well, I'll go to the corner of the phone. Come in. I just came up to tell you, Miss Lane, that the decorators are coming in tomorrow. I'll see you later, Mongeau.

All right, Lamont. The decorators want to know if 8 o'clock will be all right with you. Oh, yes, that'll be fine, Mr. Laskam, thank you. Oh, there was something else I want to ask you about. The plumbing in the kitchen doesn't work very well, and do you think that... Well, Mr. Laskam? What's the matter?

Where did you get this little box? Well, I don't see that that's any business of yours. Perhaps it is more than you know. Tell me... Let go my arm. What do you know? I'll scream for help! Go ahead, scream.

No one will hear you. We're quite alone here. You... You're the killer. You kill Lorenzo. Well, suppose I did. You know now, but it won't do you any good to know. You're going to die.

Nomal! Oh, go ahead. You're frightened, aren't. In a moment, you'll think it's very funny, yes. Very humor. Please. You laugh. Yes.

You'll laugh. Oh, no. And you will die. Laughing. Mr. Lark, I've never done anything to you. No, you and your friend, Mr. Cranston, know too much, Miss Lane. You wanted to catch me, make me pay for my crime. I would never have suspected you if you hadn't given yourself away.

That's most unfortunate for you, Miss Lane. What do you mean? You see, I've brought you down here to my laboratory in the basement to kill you. Oh, no. Don't be unhappy. You laugh as you never laughed. Oh, you can't. I'm preparing my secret formula, the laughing death.

Oh, no, please. One for you and one hypodermic for your friend, Mr. Cranston. Please, I promise I'll never say anything. You bad, I can't believe that. It won't do you any good to try to get loose. I took the precaution of finding you very close. Now, now everything's ready. No, no, don't come any closer.

Prepare yourself, Miss Lane. It won't hurt very much. And you'll be so happy, so happy. You will laugh and laugh and laugh and then you will die. What? Something knocked The hypodermic needle From a hand

That voice Shadow, thank heaven So you were the third partner, Laskom? Yes, I was in partnership of Lorenz and Destra Now I'm the only one alive They ruined me, they took everything from me You're out of your mind

My downfall, so I killed them You vowed to revenge yourself You came here, got yourself a job As superintendent In the same building in which they lived Yes I disguised myself They never recognized me

We'll never get me Shuttle stop him He has another needle ready with a pole Stop, Liskam, stop my seat. Too late, Shadow. I've already administered the truck to myself. At least they have the last glass. Well, well executed.

Well, how did you know where I was, Lamont? When I came back to the apartment after calling Weston, you were gone. I figured you were with the superintendent. You remember he came in just before I went out? Yes, Laskam, or whatever his name was. His real name was Vitor. Vitor. Vitor disguised himself and took the job here.

Superintend of the building so he could watch his enemies, Death Droth and Lorenz. That's right, Margot. Then he sent him the little boxes with the hidden hypodermic needles filled with a laughing death. Uh-huh.

Oh, Lamont, just the memory of that terrible laughter makes my blood run cold. And the look on Lorenza's face when we found him. Mungo, we didn't really hear him laugh. What? Well, if that wasn't a laugh, what was it? Well, you see, the poison in the hypodermic needle

was very potent and worked very rapidly. It caught a sort of a sort of... convulsion that sounded like last. Well, if you're trying to tell me that the victims didn't enjoy themselves, you needn't go any farther. Is that why the medical examiner thought that Lorenz had been dead for some time when he examined him? Yes, the poison caused the sudden contraction of the muscles a sort of pseudo-rigomatous. What? Sudo-rigamortis.

Oh. If you think I understand what you're talking about, you're crazy. I'll answer it, Morgan. Chris? Hello. Hello, Shrevee. Oh, Shrevees? Everything all set?

In the back. Yeah. I mean, yes, Miss Lane. All set. Oh, come on, Lamar, let's go. Go where? We're going to look at a new apartment for me. New apartment?

Well, you don't suppose I'm going to live in this place after what's happened here? Yeah, we're moving. What again? That's the same thing I said, Mr. Crensen. Ain't women... Treeby? Well, Miss Lane, I was only about to comment, uh, ain't women wonderful? I got out of that one all right.