Star of Midnight Page #5

No, sir.

That's fine.

I want you to get Abe ohlman

on the phone

And ask him to meet me

at the king Charles bar at 4:00.

Then I want you to go

to the prince theater

And check up on how many men

left there last night

During the first act...

Who they were, where they went,

Any other information

you can get. Understand?

How do I find that out,

sir?

Swayne,

I haven't the faintest idea.

Abe... Where did

you first meet her?

Did she come to you

for a job?

She did not. I picked

her up at the club Rio.

Oh, she was singing there?

No.

No, she wasn't.

She was a guest...

Alone, mind you.

Out of a clear sky,

she jumps up and begins singing

While the orchestra's playing.

And was she terrific.

What do you mean?

Without being asked, she

just got up and started to sing?

Why?

I found that out later.

She was broke.

She blew her last 10 bucks

On a bottle of mums

for one good fling.

Well, that's not so bad.

This mask business...

Does she wear it all the time?

Oh, no.

No, only on the stage.

That was her idea.

When I offered her a job,

she insisted on that condition.

So, you signed her up

for buttons, huh?

Well, I thought I did.

I gave her the usual minimum

guarantee and a percentage.

We haven't had

an empty seat.

She's been drawing

1,500 bucks a week.

Which isn't a bad figure.

Pardon.

Pardon me.

Where does she bank?

Search me.

She was paid in cash.

She wouldn't take a check.

Well, that doesn't

get us anywhere.

Does she have any friends? I don't know.

Does she get any mail

at the theater?

Mnh-mnh.

Uh... Did she have

any visitors there?

No, not what you'd call "visitors. " Oh.

The only one who ever came

to see her was tennant.

Tennant?

Well, I guess that

was professional.

That's interesting.

Where'd she live?

That's one thing I do know.

At the warman.

Abe, you're improving.

That's something, anyway.

Well, I'm sure glad

You're interesting yourself

in this business.

If there's one man in the world

can find this girl, it's you.

Now, abie...

Now, on the levels.

Hey, didn't you find

that married girl

When the rest of the world

gave up? That was luck.

Well, call it

anything you like,

But please call me

when you find her, will you?

Mm.

Another drink,

Mr. dalzell?

Yes. Make it two...

One for miss mantin.

Quiet, you rat.

I'm in a disguise.

So I see.

You just wait

till tomorrow.

I'm having some beautiful

false whiskers made.

Yeah?

You're gonna be a lot of help

on this case.

I thought you were checking

taxis for me.

I did.

Oh.

Oh, the taxi business

is picking up.

It's, uh...

Wait a minute...

20% better this month than

it was this month last year.

Well,

isn't that splendid?

I've been getting my information

from Frankie Allen.

He's number y7229

And is an interesting addition

to any social group.

Writes poetry.

Listen to this.

"Life is what you make it.

"You can't duck life.

You've got to take it.

"It don't pay to frown.

You've got to grin.

"And no matter what happens,

just keep your chin... Up.

"And then you will find

in this world full of strife

You come out on the top

in this battle of life. "

Now, isn't that

a lovely little...

8 sidecars, 10...

There ain't nobody can come

in miss Smith's room now.

The police are here.

It's all right, belinda.

Mr. dalzell is a friend

of the management.

He wants to look around

a bit.

Yes, sir.

Thanks, Allen.

I'll see you later.

The man from headquarters...

Where is he?

Ain't no "he. "

It's a she.

In there,

looking at miss Smith's clothes.

All right, Watson,

come out.

Well, what detained you?

Any clues?

No, just clothes.

Were these all the clothes

that miss Smith had?

Yes, sir.

That's all.

Police.

Greetings, gentlemen.

Hello, miss mantin.

Hello, inspector.

Say, what are you

doing here?

Well, Abe ohlman asked me

to have a look around.

Oh.

I'm surprised

to find you here.

Oh, you're likely to run in

to me anywhere, Mr. dalzell.

Evidently, my theory about

this case did interest you.

No.

The commissioner's

got me running in circles.

I was going great

on the tennant case

When he asked me

to find an angle

On this publicity-stunt

disappearance.

If you don't mind,

Mr. dalzell,

We've got a couple of questions

we'd like to ask the maid.

Go right ahead.

We're, uh, just leaving.

Come, Donna.

Goodbye, inspector.

Goodbye.

What do you make

of all of this, Mr. Holmes?

Hey, I told you there

was something phony about this.

Why did she call him

"Mr. Holmes"?

Uh, king Charles hotel.

Well, how'd you do?

Say, inspector, you ain't taking

this case serious enough.

That guy dalzell...

He's doing all right,

cleary.

He's doing all right.

Now, look, you go back

and question that maid

And find out

what he asked her.

Hey, where are you going?

First I'm going to drop corbett

here at the king Charles bar

To shadow dalzell

24 hours a day,

And then I'm going

to 125 west 34th street

To sock the guy in the nose that

sold me these arch supporters.

They're killing me.

Go ahead.

I'll meet you at the

king Charles bar in 15 minutes.

Good afternoon,

colonel.

Good afternoon.

I'm interested

in Mary Smith.

You know anything

about her?

Yes, sir.

That's fine.

What?

She disappeared

from the show last night

After the first act.

No.

Yes.

Life is what you make it.

You can't duck life.

You've got to take it.

But that isn't

all I know, sir.

What else?

Oh.

I beg your pardon.

She used to leave

the hotel

Every morning

at 7:
45 exactly

And then walk over

towards 5th Avenue.

Yes?

Yes.

Well, what else?

That's all.

You practically solved

the disappearance.

Practically.

I beg your pardon?

Keep your trap shut

and keep moving.

Get in the car.

I got your invitation.

Sit down.

Look, friend,

I'm your pal.

And if you want me to see that

you get a big funeral, okay,

But give me

the check first.

What are you talking

about?

You're fooling around

with some mighty tough people.

You?

Me? No.

I'm one of the nicest fellas

you ever met in your life.

And these boys

are just taking care of you.

But there's a couple

of other guys on your trail

That are different kinds

of people.

How do you know that?

Look, dalzell, let's you and me

quit kidding each other.

Didn't you say

if anything happened to you

The law would get

that check?

And don't that mean

that I got to keep you healthy?

Well...

That's what me and my boys

have been trying to do.

But it ain't no cinch,

with you running all over town,

Sticking your nose

into a lot of things

That ain't

none of your business.

Such as?

Murders

and, uh... Kidnappings.

I see.

Who did you say these

gentlemen following me were?

I didn't say.

Mm. They mixed up

in the tennant murder?

Who do you figure will cop

the pennant this year?

Well, with the kind of team

we've got,

I don't think the other fellas

stand a chance.

Don't be too sure

of that.

Now, just keep

your nose clean, dalzell.

Leave the tennant murder

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