The Shadow 012 The Crime Cult

THE CRIME CULT was originally published in the July 1932 issue of The Shadow Magazine. As the title indicates, there's a cult. An ancient India cult has been transplanted to America and is cultivating crime. Terrible murders are its trademark. The victim is strangled. And on the forehead is a small white mark, the size of the dime - a ghastly symbol of the evil deed. But who's the grotesque figurehead of this cult - the one known as Charn? Only The Shadow can uncover the solution in this strange and mystifying tale. 

It all starts with the disappearance of Robert Buchanan. Young Buchanan was engaged to the beautiful young Margaret Glendenning, so naturally that's the first stop for private detective Don Hasbrouck. Hasbrouck has been hired by Robert Buchanan's relatives to find him. So Hasbrouck visits young Margaret's old uncle, the wealthy recluse Clinton Glendenning. Old Glendenning opposed the marriage and Hasbrouck suspects there may be something sinister going on in the old Glendenning mansion. 

 

Old Clinton Glendenning is no help at all. He claims to know nothing of young Robert Buchanan's disappearance. Young Margaret is called down from her room, but she also knows nothing of Robert's whereabouts. With no clues to guide him, Don Housbrouck leaves the old house. Alone, on his way out, he's murdered. Cruelly murdered by a tiny cord biting into the flesh of his neck. And the strange mark is burned into his forehead. 

 

Don Housbrouck isn't the only one to die by the hands of the crime cult. George Andrews, young society man, had died, supposedly a suicide by hanging. But there was that strange line across his throat from the Thugee cord, and the mysterious white mark on his forehead. And sportsman Dale Wharton was missing, his small motor boat found adrift in Long Island Sound. His body later washed ashore on Long Island. Another victim of the crime cult. And there will be more. 

 

Only The Shadow can thwart the mystery cult. Only The Shadow can overcome the tremendous odds of the underworld mobs hired by the cult. Only The Shadow can stop the sinister strangulation murders. Only The Shadow can unmask the leader known as Charn. 

 

Who is Charn? Could he be big city lawyer Charles Blefken? Or fellow lawyer Winthrop Morgan? Perhaps physican James Rossiter is the secret head. Or Felton Carew, wealthy clubman. Maybe thrill-seeker Jerry Middleton is behind it all. Or maybe mysterious Henri Zayata or his giant Burmese servant Chandra. One of these must certainly be the madman leader of the cult. But which one? Only The Shadow knows! 

 

Thrill to the beautifuly intricate throne of Charn in the Temple of Silence. See the home of Kali, that mummy case girded with bands of silver. Witness The Book of Death, the black leather-covered book that contains the names of those to die. Hear the sizzle as the mark of Charn is placed on the forehead of each victim. Feel the euphoria as cult members embibe the white drink of hashish. Yes, it's a Shadow story you won't want to put down. 

This is an early tale in the career of The Shadow. We learn many things in this story; some which were to become standard in other stories and some which were discarded and never mentioned again. We learn that Harry Vincent comes from Colon, Michigan. (Walter Gibson chose this birthplace for The Shadow's agent because it was also the birthplace of Gibson's friend and master magician Harry Blackstone, after whom Harry Vincent was named.) 

 

Some other special things of note. We see ace detective Joe Cardona in an impenetrable disguise, something rare for Joe. We are reminded that Cliff Marsland is married to the daughter of a theater owner. While his wife and father-in-law are traveling in Europe, he rejoins the service of The Shadow. For the very first time, we see The Shadow use those circular rubber discs to move along the outside walls of buildings. And we are told that Burbank changes his phone number frequently as a security precaution. 

 

In later stories of The Shadow, our black-cloaked master of the night is known to use a flashlight with colored lenses to signal to his agents. In this story, the same concept is used by the crime cult. A tiny green light is flashed three times to gain admittance to the cult headquarters. Is this, perhaps, where The Shadow got the idea? 

 

In this story, The Shadow is assisted by Harry Vincent and Cliff Marsland, with brief appearances by Rutledge Mann and Burbank. No other agents are mentioned. The law is represented by Joe Cardona, with cameo by Inspector Klein. No mention is made of the police commissioner.