Star of Midnight Page #3

That's where the body is.

Get a party to come along

for fingerprints

And also notify

the coroner's office.

Okay, inspector.

And, Lewis, you're to go

to 125 west 34th street

And get me a pair

of acme arch supporters.

Right.

Okay. I don't think the hip

will trouble you a bit.

Good. I'm very much

obliged to you, doctor.

You're welcome.

Just a few more questions,

Mr. dalzell.

So long, doc.

See you at the inquest.

Good night, doctor.

Good night.

Good night, gentlemen.

You're something of

a criminologist, ain't ya?

Well, I've read

all of Edgar Wallace.

Doesn't it strike you

kind of funny

That the murderer

left his gun behind?

Do murderers

usually do that?

This one did.

Sure that

ain't your gun?

Quite. My gun is

in the cabinet beside my bed,

Where it always is.

It had

your fingerprints on it.

Naturally.

I told you I picked it up.

You didn't like tennant,

did you?

Not particularly, no.

Ever have an argument

with him?

Frequently.

What about?

Things he wrote

in his column.

What was tennant gonna print in

his column about you tomorrow?

Nothing.

How do you know?

Because

he told me so.

No, he didn't. He didn't

do nothing of the kind.

I'll tell you why you know.

You killed him

before he had a chance to do it.

Ain't that it, dalzell?

Tennant came here

to get a story confirmed.

You denied it.

He didn't believe you, said

he was gonna publish it anyhow.

You had an argument.

He wouldn't give in.

And the only way

you could stop his printing it

Was to murder him.

Ain't that what happened?

You got too much water

in that one.

Hmm?

Oh.

Say, what is this...

A cross-examination

or a band rehearsal?

I beg your pardon,

sergeant.

Let's see.

Where were we?

Oh, yes.

I just shot Tommy tennant.

Well, sergeant,

to, uh, continue

Your interesting,

if somewhat amusing, theory,

I suppose I shot myself

in the hip.

Well, that ain't

impossible, either!

Sergeant, you're right.

That ain't impossible either.

I'll take it, swayne.

Hello?

Where are you?

I'm in the Bronx at a pay

station. Are you all right?

Sure.

How'd you get there?

I don't know.

I was in your den

when suddenly two men appeared.

Before I could cry out,

they knocked me cold.

When I woke up,

I was in van cortlandt park.

You've been reading

scenarios.

What?

Uh, listen, I'm, uh,

awfully busy right now, really.

I'd like to talk more,

but I can't.

Uh...

Oh, no, no, no.

I-I wouldn't come up

if I were you.

It might be embarrassing

for you.

Uh, just a minute.

Sergeant, don't you think

you could hear better

If you plugged that in?

Huh?

Give me a ring

sometime tomorrow.

Or better still,

I'll ring you.

Good night.

Who was that

you was talking to?

No one you know.

I'm afraid we'll have to know,

Mr. dalzell.

This is a murder case.

I beg your pardon.

Do you know Ms. Donna mantin?

Sure. I've seen her picture

in the rotary viewer.

You have nice taste.

Thanks.

You mean you was talking

to miss mantin?

Sergeant, I bow

to your powers of deduction.

Well, I guess that's all

for tonight.

Come on, cleary.

I'm sorry, dal.

I didn't know you had callers.

Gentlemen,

this is... Miss mantin.

Inspector doremus,

sergeant cleary.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Come on, cleary.

Wait a minute.

Did he say, "mantin"?

Nice-looking girl,

ain't she?

I ain't worrying

about her looks.

Dalzell lied.

Sure, he lied.

Let's go back

and drill him.

Look, cleary,

you're a good cop,

But you've got to be

a lot smarter

Before you'll make

a good detective.

What do you mean?

You can't break him

with words.

Words are his business.

He's a lawyer.

Now, just let him alone

and let him do the work for us.

Come on.

All of which makes me

a first-class murder suspect.

That's terrible.

Poor fellow.

And my walking in didn't help

you any, either, did it?

No. However,

I'll overlook that

If you'll whip me up

a little drink.

By the way,

there are your letters.

Oh, thank you, dal.

I'm really terribly grateful.

All right.

Don't let me catch you

getting mixed up

With such people again.

Who was really on the phone

when I was supposed to be?

Well, I suppose

I've got to mix my own drink.

Answer my question.

Hello? Hello, Anita?

You can quit worrying.

I've got your letters.

Oh, that's all right.

How?

Oh, it was very simple.

But you get mixed up with any of

that kind of foolishness again,

And I'm going to tell

your husband.

All right.

Goodbye, dear.

Well, I certainly went

for that one, all right.

Now, now, boy scout,

you did your good deed.

Somebody had to do something

for the poor girl. Oh.

Come on. Who was really

on the phone before?

You know I take

more whiskey than that.

Dal, I'm not asking

to be curious.

But don't you see the police

have caught you in a lie

And it may put you

in a spot?

I'm already in a spot.

Sergeant cleary insists

that I killed tennant.

Did you?

No, inspector,

I did not.

Well, who did?

I don't know.

I've got a hunch,

but I'm not sure.

Say, this is swell.

Home murder mysteries.

Why go out for thrills

When you can have them

in your own parlor?

Come on.

Who did it?

Do you wear

a long black mustache?

Have you a strawberry mark

on your left knee?

I refuse to testify.

Your hot-water bottle,

sir.

What's that for...

Rheumatism?

Oh, no, miss.

He was shot in the...

Hip.

Well, why didn't you

tell me?

Madam,

this is my wound.

Swayne, lay out Mr. dalzell's

pajamas and fix the bed. Yes, miss.

Oh, and he better have a

hot bath, too! Yes, miss.

This is probably

none of my business,

But just what do you think

you're doing?

Staying here

to nurse you back to health.

Donna...

Donna, this...

This touches me.

No, this is... this is

really as nice a gesture

As you could possibly make.

I-I-i scarcely know

how to thank you.

I'm almost, uh...

Nonplussed.

Where are we going?

We're not going anywhere.

You're going home!

Good night, mantin.

Dal! Dal, you big bully!

I'll get even with you

for this!

Eh!

Swayne!

Orange juice.

Coffee.

Don't spare the horses.

Good morning...

Or, rather, good afternoon.

What are you doing here?

I thought I kicked you out

last night.

Oh, that's all right.

We nurses are used

to our patients' eccentricities.

They often get violent.

Haven't you been home?

Were you here all night?

Certainly.

You know me...

The Florence nightingale

of park Avenue.

How's your,

uh, shoulder?

Splendid.

How's yours?

Well, I guess I brought that

on myself.

Which would you rather have

first... coffee or bandages?

Coffee.

What?

Two lumps of sugar and

a dash of bitters... oh, cream.

What a sap you were

to sit up all night.

Who sat up?

I slept in swayne's bed.

What?

Swayne tried the divan.

He reports

it's none too comfortable.

Your parents will be

utterly charmed by all this.

Oh, I told them

I was here.

Good girl.

Your father's probably

on his way over here now.

Don't be vulgar.

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