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About this Episode
A collection of gripping detective stories featuring sharp-witted investigators, puzzling crimes, and clever resolutions. Each episode showcases the art of deduction and the thrill of the chase.
Hosts & Guests
Transcript
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Who's ready for the trust ball?
Hi, this is Alex Cantrowitt.
I'm the host of Big Technology podcast, a longtime reporter and an on-air contributor to CMBC.
And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence
is changing the business world and our lives.
So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech
and outsiders trying to influence it.
Asking where this is all going, to come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft,
Amazon and plenty more.
So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices,
and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties,
listen to Big Technology podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?
The shadow knows.
In just a moment, the shadow starts his thrilling adventure.
But first, a word about this invisible enemy of the underworld.
The shadow, mysterious character who reads the forces of law and order,
isn't reality.
La Marc Cranston, wealthy young man about town.
As the shadow, he is the mortal enemy of all those who would work evil upon their fellow men.
Cranston is gifted with the hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him.
This hypnotic power is the result of years of research in the mystical orange.
The shadow does not bear a charmed life, yet he defies death in all its forms to aid mankind.
Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane,
is the only person who knows to whom the voice of the shadow belongs.
Today's story, Ghost Town.
Well, there it is, Miss Lane, Cranston.
I say, I've lowered, and the famous old coal mine in town are fast ricks.
I said, he looks so fast, guys.
See, Le Monde, just like the movie.
Yes, Le Monde.
That Hulling Tio, he's probably wrecked the wonder dog.
We better be traveling down the hill if you want to visit the town before dark.
Give your boy, come on, come on.
A guide, I understand that there's quite a story to be told about that, please.
Yes, sir, yes indeed.
So at the end of the last century, past the week was a rip-roaringest mine in town west of the
Mississippi. Man and boy, there ain't never been another place like it, easy boy.
Face the past, is now all we down the cliff?
Yeah, pretty near.
Quite a sheer drop.
But if you just keep your horse, close up to the side, man.
They know danger of falling much.
That's pretty encouraging.
Yeah, I reckon the thing Bad Cricks best known for is the time El Varras, the Mexican bandage shot
as Dan Paul sweetheart, Carmen Cedar.
They read a song about that?
Well, yes, I know the song.
Don't miss his famous and Frankie and Johnny in American Folk Love.
Yeah.
Well, we better be getting down faster, it'll be dark soon.
Oh, boy.
Look out, boy.
Oh, he's he's he.
Sorry, partner.
It didn't mean to bump you, my horse.
Just whore of there.
Well, Martin, you almost went over the side of the cliff.
Oh, don't be alarmed, man.
Man and boy, I ain't never seen no one go off here yet.
Well, man and boy, there's always a first time.
Yeah, come on, come on.
Is anyone living in Bad Creek now?
No, sir.
Bad Creek's a ghost town.
It's been a toll to live there for over 45 years.
Certain cars hold pop evidence.
Who's pop evidence?
He's no track partner, run a hotel when Bad Creek was really operating.
Then when the gold give out and the miners deserted the town,
Bob just hung on.
Man and boy's been there ever since.
Waiting for the town to be revived?
Yeah, something like that.
He's a bit test now.
Think this hotel is still thriving like a useless.
Well, here we are in the town.
Oh, boy.
So this is ghost town?
Gosh, look at those buildings, Lamont.
I almost falling to pieces.
Yeah, the deserted streets.
So quiet.
We'll just take a quick run down the main street, folks,
and get up to the hills again.
Oh, no, let's really stay and explore the plain.
Of course, give us a chance to look around.
Oh, no, no, you can't stay here.
No, sir.
Oh, why not?
Partner, when I told you Bad Creek was a ghost town,
I didn't just mean it was a deserted village.
It's really a town of ghosts.
What?
Well, what do you mean?
I mean that the ghosts, the them who lived in Bad Creek
when it was the goldmine and camp,
have been seen here at nights reliving their days of glory.
There's been shootings and even dead bodies
that weren't so pretty to look at.
That have been found in these lonely streets.
Well, that's all I got.
You can't scare us.
I think of nothing more enjoyable than sending an evening
with the bandit Elvarez and his sweetheart Carmen Cedar.
Yeah, there's been others who said the same things
you're saying, ma'am.
They spent a night here, too.
The next day they was found raven mad or dead.
Why, if you'd seen them folks like I'd seen them,
their eyes popping their faces all twisted like with fear,
and then that we found alive wasn't like humans at all.
You wouldn't believe it unless you'd seen it.
Well, how do you feel about staying now, ma'am?
The ma'am, are you afraid to face the ghosts?
Well, I was thinking of you.
Well, if you're thinking of me, you'll agree to stay.
Then it settle.
We stay.
And you're staying alone, partner.
I've got to the hills.
Well, where is this pop-ev'n's hotel?
That's down the street away, ma'am.
You'll see a sign.
But look here, ma'am.
Won't you change your mind?
Ma'am and boy, I...
Ma'am and boy, I've never met a ghost,
and I'm not passing up the opportunity.
Well, there's your answer, guys.
All right.
I'll be back here in the morning.
I must say that I'm expecting to find that both of you
will have met up with the same fate as them others,
who dared to face the ghosts of bad grief.
Well, this must be the place, Margot.
Oh, hello.
Can you read that sign?
What there is left of it.
Evans, Imperial, Waldorf, Grand Hotel.
I wonder why I left out the roof.
Inside the horses of the kitchen post.
Yeah, all right.
Down you come.
Thanks.
Come on.
Isn't it got any dark Christmas?
Not changing your mind about staying here, Margot.
Oh, of course not.
Well, then, shall we enter the Imperial, Waldorf,
Grand Hotel?
Definitely.
My Lord, yes, if you please.
We are fresh out of Lord yet,
but I can give you my extra flashlight.
It might pay more useful.
I wish one of the ghosts would fight in that coyote.
My Lord, as well, get used to it.
Oh, what's the step?
Oh, sir.
Banger won't pay then.
I'm just imagining now it's a room for life.
Yeah.
Well, here's the door.
You first, Madame.
Thank you.
Oh, the mom.
Oh, sorry, Margot.
I neglected to notice that there were no hinges.
Well, I don't see how any self-reflecting ghosts could live in a place like this.
Well, you know how those are.
Come on, let's go inside.
Well, I guess this is it.
I mean, I guess this is a lobby.
Yeah.
From the looks of things,
will the first guest to arrive since the goldmine is left?
Look at the pictures on the wall.
There's a cupboard with just the kind of seats.
The ones.
Oh, those shadows.
Those shadows moving on the wall.
So that's my dear.
Nice, playful bats.
Or attracted by our flashlight.
You said coyote would howl again.
You sounded so friendly compared to this.
Not frightened, are you, Margot?
Brightened?
No.
Of course not, where I...
Le Manson.
I don't know, but there's standing in the corner.
Where?
Right there, but the desk.
Margot, do you know what that is?
No.
That is one of the last survivors of a vanishing race.
A cigar store Indian.
A cigar store Indian?
Yeah.
Tomahawk and all.
Well, I...
Well, you can't blame me for being...
You know, I've never met a cigar store Indian before.
Well, I'll see if I can arrange a formal introduction.
Well, a big chief snaggle, too.
Come on.
Come on.
If that's another cigar store Indian coming down those stairs,
it's the first one I've ever seen of you.
Well, it's an old man.
But that must be Bob Evans.
Such an old man.
That's all right.
Yeah, little wrinkles.
Believe me, partners.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Welcome to the hotel.
Thank you.
You wish warm, sir, presumed?
Yes.
Yes, we do.
Let's step over the desk, please.
Thank you.
Watch out for that hole there in the floor.
I've been telling the part of the fix it up, but he's just forgetful, I guess.
Just forgetful.
I want you step more.
All right.
And here we are.
Well, he dusts on the register.
I don't have to speak to that clerk.
He's getting careless, too.
That's the way it is in the hotel business, you know.
You've got to watch him all the time.
Blow this dust off.
Excuse me.
More dust in the thought.
I'll spin the register around that you sign in.
You need oil.
Sign right below that last name, please.
Look, Lamar.
That last registration was in 1895.
45 years ago.
I mean, it's where you see, man,
business has been kind of slacking off lately.
Yes, I would say you've been experiencing a lot.
There seems to be a slight difficulty here, miss Evans.
No ink in the well.
And thank, there's no point in the pen here.
No.
That was funny.
And I told that billboard always keep them pens in shape.
Careless, careless, or raw, careless.
He's my pen, Lamar.
Thank you.
We'd like our rooms to be on the same floor, please.
Same floor.
Oh, let me see.
Yes, yes.
I think I can accommodate you.
You just come this way, please.
Oh, Mr. Evans, I understand that there are ghosts to be seen here in Bad Creek.
Oh, yes, yes.
Elbrés, Carmen, Sita.
All the old timers.
They're very good friends, man.
Up these stairs, please.
You seriously believe that there's spirit to still around the driven?
I believe.
I'm, ma'am, I've been seeing them for years.
But I wouldn't be too curious about them if I was you.
They informed the strangers.
No, sir, not one bit.
Now, this year room can be for you, ma'am.
In your room, sir.
It's just down the hall.
Oh, well, is it all right to go in?
I mean, has the room got a floor?
Yeah.
Yes, indeed.
Yeah, go right in.
We can open our packs and have our supper in your room, ma'am.
If you don't mind.
Mind if you think I'm going to think.
Hey, I'm Josh Speagle, host of the podcast,
Lunatic in the newsroom.
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wild overthinking, and a guaranteed nervous breakdown,
Lunatic in the newsroom is for you.
It's news like you've never heard before.
The only newsroom with a panic button.
You're left, you'll cry, and gasp and horror
as the show spirals completely out of control.
It's not just news, it's emotionally unstable.
Lunatic in the newsroom.
Listen today.
Well, it's a piano.
And a woman singing.
Yeah, sounds like they started their evening's business
at the Crystal Saloon.
Oh, who are you talking about?
The spirits.
That's come and see the singing now.
Hey, if it disturbs you, send word to sheriff
to heaven and tone it down.
It's very fun.
He obviously believes that those spirits that we're hearing
ghost of people have been dead for 40 or more years.
Oh, she's got a sweet voice, ain't she?
No wonder Elbridge is so local about it.
The trevon.
Where's the Crystal Saloon?
Just down the street.
Come on, Marco.
Where are you going?
To the Crystal Saloon.
This is our chance to learn something of Mr. Evans' ghost.
Yeah.
Yeah, singing and playing of stuff.
Come on, Marco.
We may still be in time to see them.
Well, I guess they're gone.
Yes.
Cue your behavior for ghosts.
Well, there's the piano over there.
Let's have a look at it.
Oh, man, this place is just at the moment of them all to go.
Well, they're still glasses on the bar, and the chairs are still set around tables.
The wind for the heavy dust you'd almost believe it,
since they were open for business tonight.
Well, that's odd.
What?
The same heavy dust that you speak of is covering the keys of the piano.
And yet we heard it play.
Was there another piano?
No, not here in this room.
What was that?
Let's find out.
Stop! Stop!
He's riding outside the hill!
Did you see him as he went past?
Not to think they know.
He was dressed in a costume of old Mexico.
That ghost of Alvarez.
Or someone pretending to be the ghost of Alvarez?
Come on.
We better see what happened at the hotel.
All right.
Look, come on.
On the hotel, yes.
There's a man lying there.
Yes.
That's hurry.
Come on, he's riding in pain.
So shocked to see.
Yes.
This man was a victim.
I'd rather you didn't look at him, Ogo.
He's been shot to the head.
But he's still alive.
Yes.
We better go in and find Pop Evans.
Get some water and some bandages.
Come on, Ogo.
He certainly isn't one of the ghosts.
No. Ghosts never fled.
Mr. Evans.
Mr. Evans.
Yes.
Oh.
Well, you're right here.
Seven.
There's been a man furiously wounded right outside your door.
We must have some water and dandy just quickly.
See you here, me, ma'am?
Yes, yes, I hear you.
But don't get excited.
Then just my friends, the spirit, have a little fun.
Listen, Mr. Evans.
If you'll just step outside and look,
you'll see that this is not a spirit this time.
Sure.
Sure, I come out and look.
I've seen the same show a hundred times.
But I look again.
Sure.
Anything to please the customer.
Now, where is this mortner wounded individual?
Right.
What is going on?
A month.
Well, are you satisfied?
No.
No, I'm not a bit satisfied.
And suppose you'll be wanting to check out after this little scare.
Quite the contrary, Mr. Evans.
We're more determined and ever to spend the night here.
And before morning, I personally guarantee you
that we will have exploded for all time,
the legend of bad grief.
What?
What do you make of this whole thing, Le Mans?
Well, my God.
One thing is certain.
We're not dealing with ghosts.
But who these Halloween artists are?
And what the purpose of the exhibition is?
I still can't figure out.
Our friend again, you suppose he's part of her thing too?
No, it's a voluntary help.
They have a woman working with him.
The one we heard singing in the crystal balloon.
Yes.
I presume she's supposed to be the spirit of a lovely common seeker.
And the man on horseback was dressed as El Veren.
Yes.
Say.
Common seeker.
So great.
I don't know why I didn't think of this before.
What?
The events so far this evening had coincided with the verses of the song El Veren and Common Seeker.
Remember it?
Yes.
Yes.
In the first verse of the song, Common Seeker is singing to the gold miners in the crystal balloon.
That's right.
And in the second verse, El Veren rides through the town and shoots his rival on the steps of the hotel.
Now we have something to work on.
All we have to do is wait for them to begin to enact the next verse.
Well, let me see them on.
What is that next verse?
El Veren, Common Seeker, Daddy.
Wait a minute.
That's it, that's it.
Later on, that very evening down the main street, he did ride, remember?
That's it.
Well, that's it.
And in the third verse, El Veren rides back to the crystal balloon and shoots the girl.
Yes, yes.
And in the fourth verse, the...
Fourth verse, the...
Oh.
I can't remember it.
Well, is that where the sheriff's posse hangs in?
No, no, no, no.
That's much later in the song, yeah.
Here, then I don't remember it.
Well, at least we know what's going to happen next.
You mean, happen now?
Shall we go to the crystal balloon?
No, no, it's too late for that.
They can stop before we get there.
I'd rather investigate this thing.
You wait right here in this room, Arthur.
Here?
Oh, my mind.
I'm sure there's nothing will happen to you.
So please stay.
I must do this alone.
Well, where are you going?
The pop Evans room.
He's going to receive a visit from the shadow.
Mr. Evans.
Pop Evans.
Hey, what?
Wake up, Mr. Evans.
Who's there?
You have company, Mr. Evans.
Wake up.
No, wait a minute.
Like this lamp.
Find time for college.
There we are now.
Say, where are you?
Didn't someone speak to me?
Yes.
I spoke to you, Mr. Evans.
But I don't see you.
I'm standing right beside you, Mr. Evans.
But you can't see me because I've crowded your brain.
I'm standing right beside you, Mr. Evans.
But you can't see me because I've crowded your brain.
You mean you're invisible?
Indiciable.
How ghost?
A real ghost has come at last, eh?
I told him.
I told him that.
I told him that someday a real ghost had come along and spoiled their little game.
Well, I'm madly glad you come, Mr. Evans.
Men call me.
The shadow.
Yes, yes, Mr. Shadow.
I'm madly glad you come.
They're going to be sorry now, aren't they?
You real ghost is going to keep him a turtle, right?
Who are they, Mr. Evans?
They?
Why are they the ones who've been scaring folks with their pretendin' to be Elfarez and
Carmen Cedar?
Murderers?
That's what they've been?
Playing murderers?
But who are these people?
What are their names?
Their names?
Yes, yes.
Well, you should be.
What are their names?
Their names?
Yes.
Well, you should know that.
Wonderful, isn't it?
Evans.
Oh.
Mr. Evans.
That's it.
It shocked me.
Cool.
Who was it?
Mr. Evans.
Mr. Evans.
He's dead.
Thank you, Lamont.
Lamont.
Why didn't you answer me?
You little fool.
You little fool.
This is useless to struggle, Senator.
You're coming with me.
We are living here.
You little fool.
Come on.
Stop biting me.
You little spitfire.
Now I shall take you for a little horseback ride, Senator.
And make the most of it.
You should be the last ride you will ever take.
How about we go?
There you are.
Shut up.
You.
Come on, Senator.
Hey.
Come on.
Where are you taking me?
Well, right now, Senator Issa, we are in one of the tunnels
at the Singlese Corne.
And I don't think that you should hope anyone will find you here.
This mine has been abandoned for almost 50 years.
To this door, please.
Step in the room.
Hello, Albert Ed.
You brought that company.
Yes.
I've brought up one of the guests from the Evans Hotel.
Oh.
Mr. Dana's been nosing around all night.
He's the one.
That's a guy he had with us.
We'll return for him later.
Where's Eddie?
I'm right here.
That man.
That's the one who was shot in front of a hotel.
That's right, Mr. Seth.
That was a little trick we learned from some movies folks that was there once.
Pretty good, huh?
That's not too good.
And I suppose this woman was the one who was saying it's common seated.
Yeah.
I do know.
I'd recognize that off-key boy saying it's funny.
Say, another crack about that.
No.
So I'm finally meeting the ghost, a bad creep.
I guess you could call us that, Senator Issa.
Well, why don't you take off your mask, Elvarez, so I can fool you too.
I never take off the mask.
Well, why did you bring me here?
What do you want of me?
We have decided, Senator Issa, that you should become one of us.
That's what part would I play on this ghost, didn't we?
Well, we have always felt that our performance would be more effective.
We only had a course.
A real course.
You mean that I would...
Yes, Senator Issa.
You would be a course.
No.
No.
I think that you will give your first performance this very evening.
You will exhibit you for your companions back in bad grief.
Now, have you any preference?
What do you mean?
Well, would you rather have a bullet hole perhaps in your head?
A real bullet hole this time, of course?
Or would you prefer a knife?
No, let me out of here.
You can't do this to me.
Since you won't make your own choice, then your iteration will make one for you.
A knife would be much more effective.
No.
No.
Eddie, you will use your knife, please.
You do those things so artistically.
Okay.
No, let me go.
Let me go.
Now, it'll be all over in a second.
Very now.
Drop that knife, Eddie.
What?
Let go of that girl and drop the knife.
What?
Who was that?
Since you won't drop the knife, I'll have to knock it out of your hand.
For the knife was knocked out of my hand, I didn't see no one do it.
What is it?
What's going on?
That voice is right here in this room.
The voice is still here in the room.
You need to look around for me.
I've used my hypnotic power so that you cannot see me.
Who are you?
I am called the Shadow.
The Shadow?
I've heard of him.
Now, Mr. Elvarez, we shall remove your mask.
No, no, take your hands off me.
Now, we'll see what you'll look like.
How do you like it?
Why?
Why, you are the God who led Mr. Kransen meet a bad creep.
Well, what of it?
Why have you tried to frighten people away from bad creep?
What secret have you here that you've been willing to resort to murder to protect?
We like to be alone, that's all.
It wouldn't be gold, would it?
Sonsamine, is it gold?
Why don't you find out?
But my way in here, I saw that there have been some recent diggs in this mine.
When I examined it, I saw that you struck a vein of pure gold.
That's why you've tried to frighten people away.
You're stealing this gold from a mine that does not belong to you.
Yeah, what can you do about it?
I can turn you over to the authorities, all of you, on charges of loss and aid and murder.
Listen, Shadow, you've gone far enough, see?
You ain't telling us what to do, nobody is.
We've been prepared just as you're happening, is this?
Well prepared.
There's enough dynamite for this mine to blow the whole world apart in the skyrocket.
No, don't use the dynamite.
Shut up, Eddie.
Maybe we can't see you, Shadow, but when I pull the switch, you'll die just like the rest of us.
Hey, he don't know what he's saying, Shadow, huh?
Well, let's pull the switch and see.
No, stop him.
Don't touch that switch.
Let me go.
You hear me, Shadow?
Let's go.
Look out, you're knocking over the left.
Well, you can't see me now easy, Shadow.
The fight is on even terms.
Come on, where are you?
Shadow, come with me quickly.
Can you hear me?
We're going to try to get out of here.
Where where are you, Shadow?
Are you afraid of me?
Are you?
Cut it out, will you?
If you pull that switch and kill all of us, Shadow.
Why don't you try to stop me pulling the switch now, Shadow, huh?
Wait a minute.
Where's that girl?
It must have made a break.
I'm going to do the test.
Me too.
Oh, no, you don't.
No one is getting out of here alive.
Le Mans.
I'm right here, Margot.
Well, I made it just in time.
Are you all right?
Yes, but those people.
Those people we left in the mine.
They're buried in there.
There's nothing we can do.
Oh, awful.
Le Mans, how did you know where to look for them?
Very simple, Margot.
You remember how we left them?
Yes.
But those people.
Those people we left in the mine.
They're buried in there.
There's nothing we can do.
You remember how we followed the movements of the ghost
by recalling the verses of the Elvarez and Carmen Tito songs?
Yes.
Well, I finally remember the fourth verse.
It tells of how Elvarez fled to the single ace mine on the hillside.
I played the hunch that they were sticking to the song and came here.
Le Mans from now on.
Man and boy, that's my favorite melody.
Friends, you ought to hear next week's unusually thrilling shadow story.
When Le Mans and Margot ventured into voodoo land,
to solve the weird mystery of the trouble.
I wonder if you can help us if we're looking for the Nezbit plantation.
Nezbit?
Yes.
Nezbit plantation.
I wonder if you can help us if we're looking for the Nezbit plantation.
Nezbit?
Yes.
Nezbit plantation.
Yes.
Keep away.
Keep away from there.
Keep away from there.
Come back here.
Come back.
Le Mans.
Did you see his face?
Do you suppose he was a zombie?
Today's program is based on a story.
Today's program is based on a story copyrighted by the Shadow magazine.
The plot or fiction.
And the similarity to the person's living or dead is purely coincidental.
The lead of crime.
There's bitter fruit.
Crime does not pay.
The shadow knows.
