Harry Vincent

Many years ago, a melancholy young man stood on a bridge in New York City contemplating suicide. Harry Vincent had come from Colon, Michigan to make a living in the city and had failed. He was barely existing, but because of the girl back home he felt he should still keep trying. Then he got a letter saying she had just gotten married. Feeling it was all over, he was about to jump from the bridge when a strong arm stopped him. Taking Harry to the cab, the mysterious rescuer spoke to him.

He stunned Vincent by telling him facts about his life. After swearing to obey orders from the man, Harry was sent to a hotel where a room had been reserved for him. In his subsequent adventures he met Claude Fellows and learned about The Shadow.

Harry's introduction (THE LIVING SHADOW, Apr. 1931, Chapter One) set the mood for future entrances of agents in the magazine. He was a young person in trouble with seemingly insurmountable obstacles being given a new life by The Shadow. As with a few of the others, there was some mystery in his background.

Why did The Shadow pick him out to be his new agent? There seems to be no hint of any past achievements to quality Vincent. How did The Shadow first discover Harry and learn of his plight? Here we have two mysteries that were never solved.

Harry became an agent with his first appearance and was in more novels and was more important than any other agent. Starting as a young man with no future, he moved to becoming a mature, responsible man-about-town.

Vincent lived in the Hotel Metrolite, where he posed as a salesman. Receiving coded messages by phone or mail, or by visiting Claude Fellows or later Rutledge Mann, Harry would go about his tasks very religiously. Just how much so was shown in the novel CRIME CARAVAN (Apr. 1944, p. 73-74).

Here Vincent and a young man he was aiding were planning to fight some crooks who they believed have killed The Shadow. Vincent did not want it known that the crimefighter was dead and explained:

"You mean on account of The Shadow?"

"That's it," replied Harry. "I feel as if we let him down. But on his account, I've got to find an out, where you're concerned. He wouldn't have wanted me to let you down."

"He was around when I needed him," said Red. "I wouldn't be here if he hadn't been. I feel like you do, Harry. Pick up the telephone and call the Feds."

"They wouldn't understand," said Harry. "I don't mean about us; we might spare ourselves. I mean about The Shadow. They'd give him the credit all right, but the world would have to know that he'd lost out at last."

"I think I understand," nodded Red. "You'd like to carry on the old tradition." "I would and the Feds would like it too. That's why they wouldn't thank me, even if they did believe me. You've seen what the mere thought of The Shadow can do to a pack of human rats. We're all working for the same cause: to exterminate that breed. But we'd be going nine steps backward if we let them know that The Shadow wasn't with us any more."

Vincent had many tasks, but his chief duty was to make friends with people. Because of his strong persuasive personality and youth, he could easily gain the confidence of others involved in the case, especially if they were also young. Then he could gain all the information The Shadow needed and enlist a new ally. Many times Harry would be a scout, going to some area gathering facts before The Shadow arrived. He occasionally joined a gang with Marsland's help or simply did a stake-out on someone in the case. If the situation called for it, he could be used as a fighter.

During the course of his work, Vincent got quite friendly with a few of the young ladles he aided. This never got very serious but it is possible he saw them again as he was not at work all the time. One woman did fall deeply in love with Harry and he with her. She was named Arlette Deland (THE RED MENACE, Nov. 1931).

The girl had been forced to work for a Russian espionage ring but had aided Harry and The Shadow in destroying the spies. As a result, both fell in love. However, at the end of the story, she left for someplace out west. Telling Harry, in a message, she went a to begin a new life, she stated that if she could forget her past deeds she would know she was worthy of his love.

It hurt Harry greatly for he still loved her. Unfortunately, she never returned, either dying or never losing her guilt. However, Harry did remember he owed his loyalty to one person:

"I shall remember. I shall be loyal. Loyal to The Shadow." (p. 110).




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