The Shadow - The Sandhog Murders

0:00Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The shadow knows. The shadow, mysterious character who wage the forces of law and order, is in reality Le Mans Crenston, wealthy young man of outtown. The shadow uses his hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him. Crenston's friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the unseen voice of the shadow belongs. Today's story, Sandhog Mertiffs.

1:01Peak wonder the river, need deep and glacial muck and slime you'll find them. The Sandhogs, working under terrible pressure, pressure beating against their ear, pressure forcing little nitrogen bubbles into their bloodstreams, pressure that causes death, pressure that keeps the river out of the tunnel that men are building under the river, 100 feet under the river. How far did we go on their last shot? 27 inches, boss. Magnus Jack, next to the shoes. Here, Rutsky speaking. Time? Okay. Alright, man, that's all for today. Let's go. Hey, hey Mr. Pank, want to get left down here? You better come along and get in a deep compression chain. I say I hate to admit this, but I feel sick, I can hardly move my hands. It's the same complaint from all of you, there's two little rabbit holes. Just give them your arms. Thank you. Here we are. Come on, come on into this deep compression chain, but get them move on all of you.

2:04I'll put them in the back. Quick, you get your pay regular, don't you? Okay, decompress. decompress? Mr. Pank, you know what could happen to you if you got left behind? No. It would have been in a pressure tunnel before? No, I haven't. Well, it ain't no picnic, sir. Every here of the bends. But some kind of sickness, sir. I hate no retouching exercise. I'll tell the world its sickness. You see, working in these pressure tunnels pump your full of nitrogen bubbles. And if you were to come out of the pressure too fast, those bubbles would stop your heart quicker than a dollar watch. Yeah, you can't have the right kind of stomach to stand it. You know what would happen if we open that door now? No, what? With all pop, like punctured balloons, the pressure got to go down slowly. Just now we are working on the 39 pounds of pressure for storage. Hey, hey, trying to scare me? Ah, really often, Jack. We had enough of a leaving.

3:05Hey, hey, hey, stop saying what happened. The pressure tunnel is a fast. Oh, you killed him. Turn to increase pressure. Two light. Two light. Three, two, one. What the hell? Stop. Shit. Come on. Did you read the comic strips this morning? Uh-huh. They were very humorous. When he winkles in the hospital, the Lord Phan Annie's house burned down, and Andy Gump was hit by a truck. Hmm. Come on. I wonder why they call them funny papers. Hey, are you listening to me? Hmm? Listen, Mr. Krants, and you haven't paid the slightest bit of attention to anything I've said to you for the last hour. I'm sorry, Mark. Over. That horrible business in the new into city tunnel has been on my mind. What business? Eight. Men were killed in the decompression chamber yesterday. The decompression chamber?

4:05Something evidently went wrong. The pressure was lower to sudden. And you all died terrible deaths. Well, how did it happen along? They don't know. It looks pretty funny. According to the newspaper reports, the men working at the tunnel had been expecting something to happen. They've been several near accidents, and the men were pretty jittery. Hmm. Well, you don't suppose that. All am I? I know that look in your eye. That old crime detector look. You think that someone had something to do with that accident. I didn't know anything about that, Marvel. The reason I'm upset is that Pete Stockton is an old friend of mine, I. I know just how he must feel to have eight of his men killed working on his tunnel. Pete Stockton. Yes, the contractor. We went to school together. This into city tunnel is the first big job he's handled alone since his father died about a year ago. Oh, I see. And you'd like to see him, wouldn't you? I know, Marvel. Not today. We have a date, I. I wouldn't think of it. Oh, it's just the trouble you do think of it. So I guess we might just as well see this old school made of yours.

5:06Margot, you're wonderful. But, uh, brought those men who died in the decompression, James. How do you explain that? I, I can't explain it, Lamont. There's been so much trouble around here on this job and then to have this terrible thing happen. Well, it'll never happen to me again. What do you mean? I'm quitting. I never wanted this tunnel work, I was just doing it the bad sake. Well, he's dead now. Joe Brandy, another contractor, agreed to take the whole thing off my hands. Quitting? Yes. I couldn't stand another experience like this one. All those men left wise, sweet hearts and mothers. How can I ever repay them? Make up to them for their loss. Hey, me, you then want to talk to you. You want to go back to work. What did you tell him that Brandy was taking over Monday? I told him, but they want to work for you, not Brandy. Well, I guess I'll have to tell him myself.

6:08Oh, by the way, this is Pop Burke. Miss Lane. How'd you do? Mr. Cranston. How'd you know? Pop's no time, I. He and my dad broke into the business together. Well, I ask him anything he want to know about Sandhogging. I'll be back in a few minutes. He's taking the whole thing pretty hard, isn't he? Yes. I'd like to help him, although he's a swell guy. First time you two have been around the tunnel in the making? What? Oh, yes. It's very interesting, isn't it? But is it necessary to keep everything so greasy? Mr. Burke, what caused the accident and the decompression chamber? Are you asking me what? Or who? So you think that the accident wasn't exactly an accident? I got my own ideas, but I'm not saying. If you know anything, Mr. Burke, you've got to tell me. Well, supposing you were in the contracting business, and another contractor will beat you out on a big job, an important job. When you try a couple of little things to get the job back,

7:09you call the murder of eight men little things? Maybe you didn't want to kill the men in the decompression chamber? Maybe you just wanted to scare them so they'd be afraid to work for your life. But to take a chance with men's lives? Lady, you don't know Joe Brandley. Joe Brandley? The man who's taking over the contract from Stockton? Yeah. The dirt their man would be impossible to find. He wouldn't stop at energy. It's like he won't have to put it easy, don't it? It's turning the contract offered to him Monday. Well, he hasn't won yet. Pop, Burke. If you see anything suspicious happening around here, I want you to call me immediately. You understand? Right. Come along, Muggle. Will stop that fellow Brandley. Muggle, I think the shadow is going to pay a call on a certain Mr. Brandley. No. Why should I be afraid? What?

8:09Stockton is turning the job over to me. What? At the tunnel. When? Tonight. Well, I'll let him try it. I'll be at that tunnel and settle this thing once and for all. Yeah. Thanks for the information, am I? Thank you for the information, Mr. Brandley. What? Who spoke? I did, Mr. Brandley. Who are you? I am called the shadow. Where are you? I can't see it. I have world that you won't see me, Brandley. I have cast a mist over your mind that makes me invisible to your eyes. What do you want of me? I would like to know more about that phone conversation you just had. I believe it was concerned with the murders in the new intercity tunnel. Murderous? Those men were supposed to die by accident. Did you have anything to do with that accident, Mr. Brandley? What are you talking about? I'm asking you, did you have anything to do with those murders? No, nothing. Then who are you speaking to on the telephone? Why should I tell you?

9:09You'd better talk, Mr. Brandley. You haven't got anything on me. That's true. I can't find anything on you just now. But let me warn you, Mr. Brandley. The shadow intends to prevent anyone from destroying the intercity tunnel. Oh! Hold that! Oh, it's you, Mr. Creston. I couldn't see you in the dark. Where's Barbara? Oh, mom, thank heavens you've come. I'll go. What are you doing here at the tunnel? Well, I was waiting for you at your apartment, a model, Mr. Berkey call. You'll ask me to call you if anything suspicious was going on here. And something suspicious is going on here. There's someone down in the tunnel, Mr. Creston. Yes, I know. I expected the killer would make his move tonight with the tunnel deserted.

10:10But what are you doing here, Mago? Well, I don't know, but I didn't know how to get in touch with you, so I thought I'd see what I could do in your absence. I left a note for you at your apartment, Lamont. Oh, my glad you've come. The very idea of going down into that empty tunnel gives me the cold chill. Now, wait a minute, Mago. What were you expecting to do down on the tunnel? What was I expecting to do? Why I was... Well, now that you mention it, what was I expecting to do? Mago, we're dealing with a desperate man. Do you realize what might be waiting for you down there? Mr. Creston is done in the tunnel. All right, the elevator was at the bottom of the shaft when I came back from dinner. Berkey, what can I do to the tunnel? He could set the time bomb at... No, it's a piece. Where, let's go. Where? We're going down into the tunnel, Mago. And a man, hunt. You better wait here. All along? We won't be going along. Oh, not me. I'd rather go down the tunnel. All right, then, let's go. Where's the elevator, Berkey? Over this way. I have some food for you to wear. A little muddy down below, all right? Yeah, step in, Mago. It's not going down into a coal mine, isn't it? Mago, have you ever been down on a coal mine?

11:13No, but this is the way I imagine it would be. Oh. How deep is this? Why? This elevator shaft. About 100 feet or so. It isn't very deep. It's even up for me, thanks. This will take us down to the tunnel. What happened? We've arrived, Mago. That's all. I have enough. All right, step out. Look out for the modern water. They better walk on the flanks. Wait a minute. Flash your light around, Berkey. No one here. All right, lead on, Berkey. Hey, they're blowing me looking pleasant, isn't it? What a scary, too. You're just outside the tunnel now. All right, step in, Mago. Is this the tunnel? Not yet, lady. This is the decompression chamber. Oh, yes, the deep. The what? I'm not going in that thing. It was the only way we can get into the tunnel, Mago. Well, it's not the place where those men were... Say, I don't think I'm going to like this. Come on, Mago. It's too late to back out now.

12:13Well, I'll get in, but it's under protest. Okay, Berkey. Shut the door. What the heck is this, Mago? It's in sound. That means that the air is being pumped into this chamber. They're going under pressure. No, I don't like it. Your ears hurt, huh? It's a pressure. You'll get used to it. I don't intend to get used to it. It's necessary, Mago. You see, we've got to adjust the pressure in our bodies to the pressure in the tunnel before we can enter it. Well, pressure's even now. Ah, this is the tunnel. The river is right overhead, lady. Oh, it's so dark. Can you give us some light, Berkey? I wouldn't want someone sneaking up behind me in the dark. Yeah, that's better. Couldn't get the money down here. Now, Artus, Berkey. Now we'll take a look around. Knowing you, Mago, certainly gets me into the gondest places. You're not sorry, are you? No, but I do, Berkey. Hey, look. I'm going back to the decompression chamber to see that whoever it is don't try to slip out while you're looking toward the center of the tunnel.

13:15That's a good idea. We'll go on ahead. Come on, Mago. Come on. You think that was such a good idea? What? Then again, back to guard the exit. Suppose whoever it is down here, overpowers him and locks us in. Don't be silly, Mago. That couldn't happen. Berkey's not here. The lights ain't going out. Berkey! Berkey, what's wrong? Berkey! Come on, Mago. We've got to get out of here. I can't see anything. The Mago can't run in the door. Over this way, Mago. Give me a hand. All right. Here's the door. Turn us out of here. Berkey! Berkey! I don't think he can help us now. Well, what are we going to do? I guess we'll have to wait until someone comes and lets us out. That's a pleasant thought. Not really spending a night in this place. What's that? It sounds like a phone. Down here? Yeah, a phone man probably uses it to speak to his boss above ground. Where is it?

14:15Well, the sound came from... Oh, there it is. Hello? Well, Mr. Cransdon, I guess he's a teacher not to poke your nose into something that doesn't concern you. Who is this? Big snow difference now, Mr. Cransdon. You're going to die. Hear me? Die! Bradley, listen to me. I don't care about myself. But surely you won't do this to a woman. Sorry, I can't apply to you, but she's got to go, too. Now I'm going to step up the pressure and the tunnel till your eardrums crack. Up, up it'll go until the whole tunnel will explode, just like a bunch of the moon. The railroad rush in and you'll be drowned like rats in a trap. Oh? Hello? Oh, he's hung up. Where is it, Lamont? Over the light. The lights are on again. Margot, I've got something to say to you, and it's not going to be easy. Yes, Lamont? This is the end for us. We're going to die here in this whole Margot. Ramon, I'm not afraid to die.

15:16Ramon, go. All I can see is I know now that I have been right about you. Thanks, Lamont. Is it Bradley? I don't know, Margot. I think so. Come on, what's that? And the freighter is going to carry out his threat. He's going to increase the pressure till it blows this tunnel to bits. Well, this is the last few minutes I'm going to spend on this, Eric. I'm at least going to be gay about it. I'm not going to go out with a phone on my face. Man, they're very lovely faces. It's too much. Well, Lamont, you realize it's practically the first compliment you've ever paid me? Well, it just proves what a stuffy guy I've been. Oh, a pretty swell guy if anyone should ask. There's never been a dull moment on our merry-go-round. We have had a great times together, haven't we? I wouldn't trade them for anything, Lamont. All I'm going to do is hurt my head.

16:17Yeah. And, well, Margot, pressure's going up to the route to play. I guess he wants to finish himself, isn't he? Oh, if you want it, there, down here. Yeah. pressure must be a pretty high-die. We won't have long to wait. Here. Here, getting so misty. Margot. What, what is it, Lamont? Margot. A minute that we're part of the tunnel up there. The part that hasn't been reinforced. It's going to give way. The river's going to rush in. If we climb up this framework, here we are. We'll be able to hold out longer. What, what, what, different? I don't know, Margot, but come on. Let's climb. All right, Lamont. If it'll make any help. Here. Give me a hand. I'll help you.

17:17Come on. Come on, Ham. Come on, Ham. Come on, Ham. Well, Commissioner Western, we pumped all the water out of the tunnel. Found no trace of Margot or Lamont's bodies. Must have been washed into the river. Yeah. You know, they were both personal friends of mine, too. Yes, yes, I know. Well, that's the way it goes. Lamont was trying to help me. I was going to give up the whole job, Commissioner, but now I'm going ahead with it. If he thought that much of me, I... Well... Yeah, I understand. Well, I'll tell me about this pup, Burkey. Well, it's simple enough. I found pup myself. It was just outside the tunnel unconscious from the blow on his head. How long have you known him? Well, he and my dad broke into sand, hogging together. Later when a tunnel accident made Burkey unfit for work underground,

18:17my dad always found a job for him up above. And... Well, I sort of followed in dad's footsteps. Well, this whole business proves one thing. That so-called accident in the tunnel where the eight men were killed was no accident. I'll have my man stationed at the tunnel tomorrow when you go back to work. I'd appreciate it, Commissioner Winston. That's all right. You know... I'm going to miss that fellow, Cranston. Dr. Nd, you might as well stay here a while and look this room over. No, not at all, Commissioner Winston. I've got to get it down below and the tunnel and talk to them in. If anything happens this time... Nothing's going to happen, Mr. Stockton. Not while I'm here. Good luck, son. Good luck. Yeah, hey. Commissioner Western. Huh? What? It's the Shadow Commissioner. Shadow. Well, my friend, what are you doing here? I'm here to help you catch the murderer. That's what you're here for, isn't it? Yes, sure. Sure, but who is he? Salted in a commission. Salted in a commission. You wouldn't want to scare our murderer away, would you?

19:19Is he here? Very close now. In just a moment, he'll come into this room. This is what he's been waiting for. You see the lives of the men in the tunnel depend on the proper functioning of the pump machinery here. The murderer will attempt to destroy the pump and kill the men down in the tunnel. This is to be his final job. For today, for the first time, Rita Stockton is down below. Well, he won't get away with it. Quiet, Commissioner. I think this is our man now. Quick, hide behind the main area. All right. Here it is. The main induction valve. Now, Mr Stockton, you're going to be for what your father did to me. Listen, stop it! I can't hide it! Stop it! All right.

20:19Now, let's see who it is. Why it's... ...pup-burkey. I've killed old Pup-burkey. Hello, Commissioner. He lived to pay for his crimes. Hello, Commissioner. We've come to be waiting. Oh, wait, I... What? I thought you were... Yes, I know, Commissioner. But... Well, aren't you glad to see it? Of course, of course. But how did you get out? Where have you been? You were in the tunnel, weren't you? You weren't questioning the time, Commissioner. We were in the tunnel, all right. But we escaped. Escape? Yes. We climbed to the top of the tunnel just before the blow-off came. We were. There was an air pocket. A very wonderful air pocket. Don't forget the details, Muggle. Oh, yes. I ruined a perfectly good pair of stockings. Oh, that's... ...about how did you get out? Through the escape chamber. The Burkey had forgotten all about that. But Lamont hadn't. He found a binch of Lamont. Right at the top of the tunnel. Let me tell you something, Commissioner. If you ever get stuck in the tunnel, have Lamont along.

21:19Well, I still don't understand. What about Burkey? He confessed everything last night. It seems he hated Stockton because he caught Stockton's father who was responsible for his accident. Also, because Stockton's father married the woman he loved. Couldn't get even with his old man, so he was going to take it out on the sun. Then he tried to implicate Bradley to shield himself. Well, I guess you've got all the evidence you need, Commissioner. So, Muggle and I will be running along. Right a minute. Right a minute. I'm not through with you too yet. Why didn't you let people know that you were safe? Because, Commissioner, we couldn't resist satisfying a life-long ambition. Watch that. Reading our all-no-bituaries. Today's program is based on a story copyrighted by the Shadow magazine. The characters, names, places, and plot are fictitious. Any similarity to person's living or dead is purely coincidental. The Shadow magazine is on sale at your local newsstand.

22:25The weed of crime. There's bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. Shadow knows.