The Horn Blows at Midnight Page #2

You see,

all these angels

went out

on missions,

But not all of them

came back.

No!

Yes. These two,

for instance.

They were sent

to the planet earth

on some mission or other

some time ago.

Too bad. Just couldn't

resist temptation, I guess.

Weaklings, huh? Where are they now?

They're still on earth, and they'll

stay down there in human form

until the hour

of destruction.

Which won't be long now.

And then what

happens to them?

Fallen angels can never

come back here,

and there's only

one other place to go.

You mean-

Yes.

Here are your instructions, Athanael.

First you take

the elevator down

to the wardrobe

department.

Then you change

to elevator number 3.

What for?

It's all in here.

Remember,

when you're on earth,

you'll be strictly

on your own.

there'll be no help

from up here,

so please follow

your instructions.

Remember.

I'll remember. You know I

never forget those things.

Good-Bye.

"You will then proceed

to cloud 46-B,

"where you will change

to an earthly elevator

"which we have borrowed from the

Hotel Universe in New York City.

"That elevator

will transport you

"to the hotel,

where at midnight,

"you will proceed

to the roof and-"

Shucks!

This is outrageous!

It's unheard-of!

"Special express elevator

to tower suites and roof. "

What's special about it?

That it doesn't run?

I demand

to see the manager! I-

Ah! There you are!

Please, lady Stover,

don't lose your temper.

If I did, you could

never find it.

You can't even find

your own elevator.

Patience, madam.

I'm sure it's only

some minor

mechanical defect.

It'll be repaired

immediately.

It had better be. What am I supposed

to do at $50 a day? Climb ropes?

Sloan, what did you

find out?

Nothing. It's gone

. Disappeared.

And you call yourself

a house detective.

Listen here, you. In the 15 years

I've been running this hotel,

many things have disappeared

- Linens, silver.

Once someone even stole a

boiler from the basement.

But an elevator? Never.

Don't you suspect anyone?

Nobody.

Have you questioned

that Dexter fellow?

You mean,

Archie Dexter?

Why, that's

ridiculous, sir.

I want you to question

every crook in this hotel,

including Dexter.

I want my elevator back!

All right,

all right, sir.

Hello there, Sloan.

How's the old bloodhound?

Tonight I feel

lower than a dachshund.

I hate to bother you,

mr. Dexter,

but did you steal

our roof elevator?

No, I didn't.

Is it missing?

Yes, but, of course, I knew that

you had nothing to do with it.

"Why," I said to myself, "would

the man who stole whistler's mother

waste his time on an old

broken-down elevator?"

You could never be

that crude, mr. Dexter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Sloan,

But this elevator affair-

After all, one cannot very well

tuck an elevator in one's

vest pocket, now, can one?

No, sir, but it's gone just the same,

and is lady Stover

furious!

Is she there?

Let's have a look

At the scene of the crime.

I may be of some help.

Ah, my dear lady Stover.

Archie, maybe

you can do something

about the service

in the wretched hovel.

20 minutes I've been

waiting for the lift.

But surely a gay

meadowlark like you

isn't thinking

of retiring to your nest at this hour.

Not if you've anything

more interesting to suggest.

How about a turn

on the floor?

The music

is rather good.

An excellent idea.

Mr. Dexter, what about the elevator?

If I stumble across it,

I'll let you know.

What is this,

a private elevator?

Of all the nerve!

What's the big idea?

Just a minute. That elevator.

Who do you think you are?

Athanael, sir. Third

phalanx, 15th cohort.

Oh. Well, of course,

that explains everything.

Excuse me.

Is that time correct?

Yes, sir.

Are you quite certain?

Positively, sir.

The sun rises and sets by that clock.

Oh, you've been

misinformed, my man.

Solar movements are completely

independent of terrestrial influences.

However, I will accept

the time as 11:
15.

Thank you, sir.

I'm sure western union

will be deeply grateful.

Are you, um, staying overnight, sir?

No, and neither

are you.

Calling mr. Caesar!

Mr. Caesar!

Mr. Caesar!

Calling mr. Caesar!

Oh, boy! I'll deliver that

for you. It's for Julius?

Uh, no, sir.

Daniel Caesar.

Oh. Him I don't know.

Have you a light,

my dear young lady?

Yes, mr. Dexter.

Thank you.

You're-You're sure

you understand our plan?

Yes, Archie...

darling.

The timing must be

absolutely perfect.

Oh, I know.

You dance with

lady Stover.

When I see your hand at her shoulder,

I ease over

near you.

You drop the pearls

in my cigarette tray,

and I just walk away.

Right, and remember

something else, Fran.

What, Archie?

I'm mad about you.

Darling.

Archie, my

dear, dear boy, was I long?

Every moment seemed

an hour. Shall we?

Pardon me. You have a clock

on the roof, I believe.

That's right, sir.

In the tower.

Well, girls,

are we all here?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Doremus.

What? What is it?

Look.

It's Athanael.

What do you suppose

he's down here for?

I don't know,

but we'd certainly better find out.

Uh, go ahead up,

girls.

We'll join you

in a minute.

Hello, Tony. Who was that chap

you were just

talking to?

His face

looks familiar.

You got me, mr. Osidro. Sure

talks like a screwball, though.

He does?

Wanted to know if our tower

clock keeps correct time

because he has to blow a horn on

the roof precisely at midnight.

Musicians

are all wacky, I guess.

Excuse me, sir.

This is bad,

very bad.

There's only one thing

to do-Stop him.

Yes,

but not now.

This has to be handled very delicately

because if we don't stop him...

come on,

Doremus.

Posed uh, what are they sup to be doing?

I wouldn't know, sir.

They call it dancing.

I must tell Saint Vitus about this.

Lady Stover, when you dance

like that, you're no lady.

Archie!

Excuse me, madam.

Are these your beads?

You. No, than I never-

Beads? What?

Oh! My pearls!

Where did you

find them?

Right here

on the floor.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

Archie! I almost lost my pearls.

Yes, you almost did.

I'll go and put them

straight in the hotel safe.

Yes. You may

as well.

You run along, my pet.

I'll make a phone call

and meet you later

in the bar.

Oh, pardon me.

What's the correct time?

It's exactly 11:
45, sir.

You're sure

of that?

Do you mind, sir? I am working

on tomorrow's reservations.

Tomorrow's

reservations?

Yes, sir.

Please, Archie. I-

Run along now, little one,

and weep in your consomme.

You've given a brilliant performance.

If I hadn't been

bumped into, I...

Now, now, forget

all about it.

After all, I should have

realized that asking you

to stand quite still

with the cigarette tray

Would have been

too much for you.

Archie, please, won't you listen?

There's nothing more

to be said, my dear.

Oh, Archie!

Cigarettes, please.

Just a minute.

I wouldn't blow

that horn.

No?

I wouldn't if I were you.

Well, you're not me,

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