"Leave it open, Mr. Shayne." "It gives that careless look— so important to good dressing." "With me, things are too tough to look careless." "Well, well, well." "If it isn't my old friend, the private dick." "Private investigator to you." "Mike, you're looking fine." "If you looked any better, you'd have to be twins." " Glad to see you, boy." "Getting everything you want?" " I was just—" "It's a beautiful thing— a beautiful thing." "You're sure dressed to kill." "Uh, say, isn't this the suit I told you to put away for another customer?" "You can't sell that suit." "Well, all right." "So I'll lose another customer." "You're worth it, Mike." "You're worth it." "Mmm, does it fit?" "Like a glove." " Should fit like a suit." " Like a—" "You panic me, Mike, from head to foot." "Now, look, Smiley, this has got to be right, because I'm buying it to please a dame." "Any dame that's got the taste to go out with you will be crazy about that suit." "I'm not goin' out with her." "I'm gonna marry her." "Marry her?" "Well, that's marvelous." "Wonderful!" "Congratulations, Mike." "Congratulations." "This is the suit, my boy." "The preacher won't be able to look at anything else." "Did you, uh, quote him a price on this?" " No, sir." " Then I'll even do better." "Complete outfit with a pair of shoes— $37.50, and we'll throw in the wedding ring." "If you buy an overcoat, you get a hat and a membership in our Christmas club... which entitles you to a credit for five dollars... good on any purchase over $50, if made before Christmas." " On Track 7!" " All I want down from you is a measly 10 spot." "I'll give you two bucks and my old suit." "What, that thing?" "The moths'd be ashamed to build a nest in that." " Uh, make it five." " Two bucks." "And I won't bother to take the police whistle and the Gene Autry gun." "Here, hold on just a minute." "What about your security?" "What do you mean security?" "I've always paid ya." "I got an important case coming up any day now." "Well, all right." "I'll take a chance." "Good-bye, Mike." "Good luck, and I hope your marriage works out." " What do you mean, works out?" " Oh, so few of them do." "Mike.!" "Hey, Mike!" "This case you got coming up—" " Is it dangerous?" " Why?" "Well, you gotta go through such red tape to get a suit back from the morgue." " Hello, Sam." " Hello, Mr. Shayne." " Man, that suit's a killer." " Yeah, thanks." "Thanks." " Hiya, Mike." " Oh, hello, Jack." "Hey, take it easy with that." "That's gonna be personal property in a couple hours." " Well, today's the big day, eh?" " Yes, sir." "Yeah, I told Joanne it'd be okay if she was a little late." "Oh, that's fine, Jack." "That helps a lot." " Oh, Mike?" " Yeah?" " Have ya thought it over?" " Well, sure I thought it over." "Why?" "I'm a married man." "I talk from experience." "I'd rather put two bucks on a horse than on a marriage license." "Ya get a better run for your dough." "Well—Well, thanks for the advice." " Hiya, Mike." " Hello." "Say, uh, I'm sorry about that tip I gave you yesterday." "Yeah." "He ran a bang-up eighth charging' in the stretch." " Hello, Mike." " Hi, boys." " Hey!" "Hear you're gettin' married." " Yes." "You got any objections?" "No." "Two can live as cheap as one... but if you ask me, it's worth the difference to stay single." "That is very funny." " Hey, Brennon." "Is Joanne in?" " Yes, Mike." " Good." " Now, say, I hear you're getting married." "Yes." "I'm gettin' married." "Now, just one crack out of you— Come on." "Just one crack, and I'll—" "Gee." "It could happen to anybody." "Oh, here comes Max Allaron." "Better duck." "Oh, Mike?" "Can I put the lug on you for a couple of bucks?" "I'm a little short on my rent." "The last time you clipped me, you went out and got loaded." "You're crazy." "Some guy bought me a couple of beers, but I wasn't loaded." "No, you weren't loaded." "You were just to that state where the sober guys looked awfully silly." " Okay, Shayne, if that's the way you feel about it." " It's the way I feel about it." " Hello, Mike." " Get in that contraption and get goin'." "Say, I hear you're getting married." "Come in." "Hey, Joanne, look." "Nifty?" "Everything but the neon sign, huh?" " Well, now you look like something." " Yeah." "You know, Gus had a suit like that once." "Now, look." "Let's get this thing understood." "Will you please stop throwin' that two-bit hoofer up to me?" " I just want you to look nice." "You don't get married every day." " Hmm." "Not to me, you don't." "The bridesmaids are tossing off a little brawl for us after the show." " What bridesmaids?" " The girls in the "Daddy, let me light your cigar" number." "Oh, that's swell." "Say, how about a cup of coffee?" "Can't get married on an empty stomach." " I saved you a cup." " Good." "Got the ring?" "Yeah?" "Let's see it." "I got it." "A Shayne never forgets." "What'd you do with the crackerjack?" "Hey!" "Hey, don't try it on." "That's bad luck." "Couldn't be any worse." "The wedding license is so old now, it's out of print." "Oh, quit crabbing, Joannie." "I've had my coffee." "We're set." " How about a couple of bucks for flowers?" " Couple of bucks?" "Sure." "Here." "Here's one buck." "I don't want George Washington to get lonesome." " Did you hear that?" " I didn't hear anything." "That's funny." "I could've sworn I heard somebody scream." "Somebody's always screaming around this flophouse." "I'll be right back, honey." "Mike!" "Hey, Mike!" "Hey, Emily, what's all the—" "Lou Lathrop." "Well, whoever staged this little melodrama certainly had cracked chimes in their belfry." "Come on, Emily." "Pull yourself together." " Oh." " That's a good girl." "Say now, who is this dame?" " Miss Vance." " Miss Vance?" "Desiree Vance." "Look, you mop up your tears." " Run downstairs and tell Brennon to come right up here, will ya?" " Yes." "He's gonna love this." "Hello." "Oh, hello, Mike." "Now, listen." "I'm busy." "You're gonna be busier." "Look." "How much dough will you pay for an exclusive on a double murder?" "I'll give ya five minutes' head start over the cops." " I'll tell you what it's worth after you give me the dope." " Lou Lathrop... the broken-down producer, and Desiree Vance were knocked off last night." "Mmm." "Well, that's worth a hundred bucks." "Who did it?" " Well, what do you know?" " All I know is that the joint looks like... the second-act curtain from Macbeth." "They must've been giving some kind of a banquet." "They were both in costume." "No, I don't know what it was for or anything about it yet." "Listen, Mike." "If you dig up the murderer for me exclusive, I'll give ya 400 more." "Oh, you got yourself a deal, sweetheart." "As soon as I get any hot copy, you'll get it." "But you send over that hundred bucks right away, will ya?" "Good." "Oh, ho!" "100 simoleons." "Oh, I was just—" "So was I. Did you tell Brennon?" " Uh, no." "I-I was just going to." " Well, go on." "Go on." "Hurry up." "Go." "Mike.!" "Mike.!" "Right here, baby." "If you think you can keep me waiting around while you go chasing screams, you're cr—" "Isn't it terrific?" "I made a hundred bucks already, and there's 400 more... coming up as soon as I put my finger on the killer." "Why, it's Niagara Falls and all the trimmings for us, baby." " They're dead." " Why, sure." "It's no wax museum." "Now, you get out of here before the police come." "I don't want you mixed up in this." "Come on." " Ooh." "Gives me the creeps." " Oh, a cherry Coke'll fix you up." "Now, I'll have this taken care of in a couple of hours." "You keep the preacher awake." "Go on." " Oh, it's you." " What happened, Mike?" "You're in luck, Brennon." "Couple of murders." "In luck?" "Do you know what that means to this hotel?" "Sure." "You'll be all over the front pages tomorrow morning." "The public'll forget about that gambling raid you had last month." "Tsk, tsk, tsk." "What a mess." "Funny." "Lathrop's been in this suite since 1915... and there's never been anything like this before." "Now we'll have to get that chair reupholstered." " You can't take bloodstains out of that material." " I gotta call the police." "Well, tell 'em not to take the bodies through the lobby this time." "Keep your eye open for this bird." "I got a tip he's in town." "Inspector Pierson speaking." "Oh, hello, Mike." "You don't say." "Well, glad to hear you haven't lost your sense of public responsibility." "We'll be right over." "Oh, Mike." "Don't pick up the murderer before we get there." "Come on, Al." "A double murder at the Hotel du Nord." "Business is picking up, chief." "They're coming in pairs now." " Yeah, what're ya doin'?" " I always said this chair belonged here." "Hey, Brennon, you got any idea what this costume ball was all about?" "Must have something to do with that hit show he produced years ago." " What makes you think that?" " They're wearing the same costumes." "There's the program." "Oh, yeah." "Let's see." "Desiree Vance— Oh, she's dead." "Julian Davis." "Say, you know anything about him?" "He was in that show." "You should've been a detective." "Oh, David Earle." "Say, that name sounds familiar." " He's the real estate operator." " Oh, yeah, yeah." "I remember him." "You know anything about Angus Duncan and Faye Dalrymple?" "Never heard of'em." "Oh, Max Allaron." "Say, I never knew that he worked for Lathrop." "Martin Larkin..." "Helen Hollis and Carlo Ralph." " Do you know them?" " Nope." "Did you see any of the people who came up here last night?" "No, I had a light day yesterday." "Only worked from 10:00 to 10:00." "Lathrop's parties never started till 11:00." "I guess just four of them showed up." "How do you know that?" "Only four of the places have been used." " Smart, huh?" " Wow." "That's right.!" "You know, Mike, the Vance woman used to come here a lot." "Last week, when I was walking down the hall and happened to glance through the transom..." "I saw Lathrop giving her some money." "She was mad about something." "If you want my opinion, it's a murder and a suicide." "She killed him and then shot herself." "Yeah, I guess you're right." "Then she hung the rifle back up on the wall, huh?" "Rifle?" "What's that got to do with it?" "Well, just for the files..." "Lathrop was killed with a rifle, and the sweetie with a revolver." " How do you know that?" " Well, the way Lathrop's head is mussed up." "Couldn't have been done by anything but a dumdum bullet from a rifle... and that baby has been fired recently." "Whereas a revolver, on the other hand, makes a small, neat hole..." " like the one in the Vance dame's head." " That complicates things." " You know any sleight of hand?" " I used to know a match trick." " Everybody liked it." " Well, you'll have to show it to me sometime." "I've got to go downstairs and make up Lathrop's closing bill." "Don't forget about telling them not to bring the bodies through the lobby." "I'll have them shipped out parcel post." "This is it, all right." "Stay in the hall and don't let anybody in... especially the reporters." "Welcome to our chamber of horrors, Inspector." " Hello, Mike." "Appreciate your calling us right away." " That's okay." " Sure you haven't touched anything?" " Nope, only the coronas." " Here." "Have one." " Thanks." " Shot." " In the head." "What are all these places?" "What're they advertising anyway?" "Well, it isn't vitamin B1." " What's this?" " Oh, I found that on Lathrop's head." "The murderer must've put it there after he shot him." " What'd he do that for?" " Mmm, maybe he liked Airedales." "I don't know." "I had a dog like that once." "It'd eat anything." "It was very fond of children." "Say, did you notice that only four of these places were used?" " No, I didn't." " Gotta keep your eyes open, Shayne." " Maybe the killers were so nervous they couldn't eat, huh?" " That's right." "There's your cast of characters, Inspector." "The murderer is usually the one near the bottom." "The last one here— Oh, a wise guy." "Hey, that's funny." "Carlo Ralph, who played the dog, is the last one on the program..." " and that ties up with the dog head." " You catch on quick." "Inspector?" "Inspector.!" "Inspector.!" " What is it, Al?" " Look at that bed." " What about it?" " Well, it hasn't been slept in." "Go on." "Well, it— it seems that Lathrop didn't go to bed last night." "Yeah." "I guess after bein' murdered, he was too tired to come into bed." "How did you get in here?" "I told my men—" " Who are you?" " I'm David Earle." " Oh, you were in that show, Sweethearts of Paris." " Yes." " What are you doin' here?" " Well, I had an appointment with Lathrop at 11:00 this morning." "I walked into the living room and saw— Then I heard voices in here." "But how did you get in here, Mr. Earle?" "I came through the special entrance from the theater next door." "Special entrance?" "What kind of a—" " Why, uh, where is it?" " Over here." "Lathrop built this to get to the theater without going through the street." "You see, he owned it before it was turned into a burlesque house." "Yeah." "Say, why did you come up through the theater?" "My office is on 45th Street." "It's shorter to come this way." "I've been doing it for 20 years." " Is this door kept locked?" " Lathrop never locked it, to my knowledge." "That's fine." "Anybody from the theater could've walked in here last night!" "Now that you're here, Mr. Earle... maybe you can explain a few things to us regarding this setup." "This is pretty sad business for me, Inspector." "I worked for Lathrop a long time." "We were very close pals." " Were you at the party last night?" " Yes." " Who else was here?" " Well, there was Julian Davis, Desiree Vance..." "Lathrop and myself." "Why was the table set for eight?" "Lathrop set places for all the cast... whether they were dead or alive, for sentimental reasons." "Say, what's Davis doing now?" "He's a stockbroker." " Were you the last to leave?" " No." "Davis was here when I left." "Somebody else." "When does the balloon go up?" "Hey!" "What do you think you're doin', bud?" "I said, what are you doin' here?" "Oh, uh, Mr. Lathrop pays me extra to clean up for him." " Hello, Otto." " Hello, Mr. Shayne." " He's the doorman at the theater." " How do you know?" "My girl's in the show." "Get this." "I don't want anything touched around here— nothing, until I'm through with the investigation." " Investigation?" " Yeah, investigation." "Lathrop and Desiree Vance were murdered here last night." " Murdered?" " Yeah." "Say, how did you get in here anyway?" "Through the theater entrance." "Now, wait a minute." "We've been standing in front of that door." "But I came through this door directly into the kitchen." "You mean, there's another—" "He's right." "This leads to the passageway too." "Say, what is this, an apartment or a fun house?" "You know anything about the party here last night?" "Well, after my 11:00 round..." "I came up here and fixed the food like Mr. Lathrop told me." "Did you serve at the party?" "No." "I had to get back to the theater." "Was that the last time you saw Lathrop?" "No, I came up here again to bring some ice... after everybody left the theater." "Was there anyone here besides Lathrop and Desiree Vance?" "There was a woman here." "She was talking to Mr. Lathrop." " Did you hear anything she said?" " No, I couldn't see." "Her back was to the service window." "See?" "Couldn't s— Do you have to see to hear anything?" "Well, he's almost deaf." "He reads your lips." "Oh." "Who was the woman?" "I said, who was the woman?" "I don't know." "I never saw her before." "Otto, could you describe her or tell us anything about her?" " Uh, well, she had on a hat—" " What kind of a hat?" "With what they're wearin' nowadays, just you try and describe a hat." "Was she tall or short?" " What?" " Was she tall—" "Never mind." "I'll get around to you later." "Just keep your mouth shut about this murder." "Go on." "I'll get it." " Never mind." "I'll get it." " No, I'll get it." "I'll—" " Why don't ya watch where you're goin'?" " Where's the phone?" "I don't know." "Wait a minute." "I'll answer the phone." "I'm runnin' this case." "Well, all right." "I was only tryin' to help." "No use gettin' sore." "Hello?" " Yes?" " Lou?" "This is Connie Earle." "Father hasn't come home all night." "I thought perhaps he'd found out about us." "I've been terribly worried." "Yeah, I know all about that, honey." "Look, don't bother me now, will ya?" "I'm busy." "I'll be down in a couple of minutes." "Who was it?" "It was that screwball dame of mine." "She's gettin' impatient." " We're supposed to get hitched this morning." " Well, congratu—" " Stop using that phone!" " I'm not using—" "Oh, uh, sit down, Mr. Earle." "Sorry I got sidetracked." " That's quite all right." " I want to ask you a few more questions." "Did Lynne Evans ever attend these parties?" " She came to the first one, but I haven't seen her since." " Who's Lynne Evans?" "She was a chorus girl in Lathrop's show." "Lathrop was sweet on her till Desiree Vance came into the picture." "Do you think the murderer might have been a member of the cast?" "I haven't even started thinking." " That's right, Inspector." " Quiet!" "Say, how did you happen to find this massacre in the first place?" "Well, you see, my girl lives on the floor below." "I heard Emily, the maid, screaming, so I came up." " Then the maid was the first one to see them." " That's right." " Get her up here, Al." " No, that's all right, Al." "I'm going now." "I'll tell her." "Oh, Mr. Earle." "Your daughter's name is Connie, isn't it?" "Why, yes, but, uh, what has that got to do with this?" "Oh, nothing." "Just that she's very pretty." "I've seen her picture in the roto section." "Hey, what are you drivin' at?" "Take a look at those guns on the wall inside, Inspector." "I think one of them killed Lathrop." " Oh, hello, Mike." " Hello, Joe." "It's all yours." " They said there were two of them dead." " That's right." "You're right in the middle of a boomtown." "Oh, Emily!" "Wait a minute." "The police want to talk to you." "There's nothing to be nervous about." " All you have to do is answer their questions." " Mr. Shayne, I" "Stop worrying, will ya, Emily?" "They don't know that you're Lynne Evans." " Thank you." " Hey, Brennon." "Anybody ask for me?" "Over there." "Have they found out anything yet?" "No." "They're waiting for Professor Quiz." " You from the Observer?" " Yeah." " Well, I'm Mike Shayne." " Oh." "Here's a valentine from the editor." "Mm-hmm." "With love and kisses, eh?" " I thank you." " Hey, wait a minute." "Where's the rest of the dope?" "As soon as I get anything to peddle, I'm playing along with you guys... just as long as you keep me dizzy seeing' 10 spots in front of my eyes." "Thanks very much, Mr. Earle." "We can reach you at your office anytime?" " Yes, of course." " Well." " Well?" " They've been dead about 10 hours." "Lathrop was shot with a rifle." "It could've been that one on the wall." " Have that rifle checked out." " Right." "And the Vance woman with a revolver." "Looks like you got a tough case on your hands, Inspector." " The tougher they come, the better—" " The better we like 'em." "Say, if you see any reporters downstairs, keep quiet." "I don't want the papers to get ahold of this before I'm ready." "Sure." " Hey, Jasper, you're supposed to be on duty." " Yes, sir." " You Miss Earle?" " Yes." "I thought you'd show up when you couldn't call back." " What do you mean?" " Hey, driver." "Once around the block." " Look here." "What's the meaning of all this?" " Ah, take it easy, Miss Earle." " I only want to talk to you." " Who are you?" " I'm Michael Shayne, private investigator." " Go on." "I just talked to you over the phone from Lathrop's apartment." "What happened?" "I— I was disconnected." "Nothing much, except that Lathrop and Desiree Vance were knocked off last night." " You mean—" " Yeah." "And right now, Inspector Pierson is pouring a lot of heat on your father." "My father wouldn't do a thing like that." "I don't know." "He seems to be a pretty good liar." "He's up there tellin' the police what great pals he and Lathrop were." " That's right." "They were good friends." " Ah, now, wait a minute." "That doesn't tally with the story you just gave me over the phone." "Father was a little upset about Lou's interest in my career, but—" "If anybody should get down off a hack and ask you... your old man had plenty of motive for killing Lathrop." "Well, if a motive is the only thing you're looking for..." "I happen to know that Julian Davis had plenty." " He embezzled Lathrop out of—" " Out of 28,000 slugs." "Yes." " How did you know?" " A private investigator has to keep a jump ahead of the cops." "Then the police don't know about our telephone conversation?" "You don't have to worry about your father yet." "Say, do you know where this Julian Davis lives?" " Yes." "The Central Park Manor." " Hey, bud—" "Well, here's where I get out." "Oh, uh, by the way..." "I advise ya not to go back to the hotel." "Your father'll be home by the time you get there." " Good-bye, Mr. Shayne." " Uh— Uh, one more thing." "You and your father better get your stories straight... before the police start asking any more questions." "Bye-bye." " Hello." " Ah, so." " How are you today?" " Fine." "Thanks." "Mr. Davis in?" "Mr. Davis?" "He got company on the inside." " Would you coming in, please?" " Yeah, thanks." " What name I am giving, please?" " Mr. Shayne." "Ah, so." "Just one moment please, "Mr. Slayne. "" "Okay, "Also. "" " No, not "Also. " Fugumoto." " Fugumoto." "If this gets out, you know what'll happen." "What is it?" "Pleasing to telling you, a "Mr. Slayne" to see you, sir." "I don't know any Mr. Slayne." "It might be well worth your while... to know a Mr. Slayne— Shayne, I mean." "Without too much ado, to what do we owe this rude intrusion?" "I'm a private investigator." "Reasonable rate, service guaranteed." "And what prompts you to feel that we need such a service?" "It's all very simple." "You were a principal in the cast of Sweethearts in Paris." "You chiseled Lou Lathrop out of 28 grand." "Lou Lathrop is dead, as you already know... and you had plenty of reason to put him away." "My dear fellow, your brash manner is only exceeded... by the liberties you take with the English language." "What makes you think I've chiseled anybody?" "Just save the oratory, Mr. Davis." "You're gonna need it." " I'm turning you over to Inspector Pierson!" " Just a moment." " Who are you?" " I am Mrs. Lathrop." "Well, this is better than I expected." "I didn't know that Lathrop had a wife." "When did you see your husband last?" "I don't know what your game is, but Lou and I have been separated for three years." " Mr. Davis happens to be a friend of mine." " Never mind the embroidery." "When did you see your husband last?" "I haven't seen him for six months." "The police'll be glad to know that you were in your husband's apartment last night." "What makes you think so?" "This is your cigarette, isn't it?" "Kama?" "It was found in Lathrop's apartment." "Incredible deduction, Mr. Shayne... except Mrs. Lathrop happens to be only one of thousands... who prefer a better class of cigarette... so I can't see what that proves." "It doesn't prove anything to me, but the police might think differently." "What they think doesn't interest me." "It's what they can prove." "Well, if they ever saw this, they could prove plenty." "No, no." "Now, I'm in a position to help you—" " Perhaps you are." " But only if you tell the truth." " Now, what about this?" " An unfortunate circumstance." "Mr. Lathrop gave me $28,000 in securities to trade for some steel." "However, I saw a chance to make a handsomer profit in the Hercules Rubber Company." "Oh, yes." "That's the company that folded... when they pulled the president off the boat to South America." "As Shakespeare said, "Who knows on whom their fortune would have smiled?"" "You better learn a fast tap routine to that before you try it on a jury." "Believe me, Mr. Shayne, Julian had nothing to do with the murder." "No, I guess you got something there." "It was too clever a job." "But it wouldn't look so hot for the gentleman on my right if they were to find this receipt." "Maybe you'd like to sell that, Mr. Shayne." "Oh, no." "That would be unethical." "Perhaps you could help us in some other way." "Well, now we're gettin' somewhere." "Do I understand that you want to hire me?" " Put it any way you like." " All right." "We'll put it this way." "You are retaining me on behalf of Mr. Davis to pick up the murderer." "That's satisfactory." "I'll give you, uh, a hundred dollars on account." "Well, if you think I'm gonna say, "On account of what," you're crazy." "There'll be 400 more when the case is cleaned up." "Oh, no, no." "I turned in my Boy Scout badge 15 years ago." "This is the way I make my living." " I gotta pay for this suit." "Make it 900." " That's a lot of money." "You can afford it, baby." "Nine hundred, or I don't take the case." "Oh, very well." "And one thing more." "I'm turning up the murderer no matter who." "All right." "Well, now that we're gettin' so clubby... suppose you tell me what you were doing up there last night." "When Julian told me it was necessary... to reimburse my husband for the money he'd lost or go to jail..." " I decided to see Lou in order to verify the fact." " Mmm." "Checkin'up, huh?" "Well, Julian's often a little careless about business details." "Mmm." "I can understand that." "What happened?" "I offered to buy the receipt." "Lou refused to listen to reason, so I" " I left." " That's everything you know, hmm?" " Everything." "Mm-hmm." "Oh, Mrs. Lathrop... do you always use this kind of lipstick?" "Why, yes." "They make some now that don't come off on glasses." "Well, you'll be hearing from me." " Hello, Otto." " Hello, Mr. Shayne." "Say, Otto, maybe you can be of some help to me." "You know, I haven't had a case in a long while, and I'm gonna get married." "Sure, Mr. Shayne." "What is it?" "There was a wine glass in front of one of those unused places up on Lathrop's table." "Now, if I could be sure that a woman used that glass, it would be a swell clue." "Well, how could—" "Yes!" "I remember now." "That woman I saw alone with Mr. Lathrop might have been drinking." " What makes you say that?" " I saw Mr. Lathrop pouring wine for her." "Oh, that's fine, Otto." "That's a lot of help." " Anytime for you, Mr. Shayne." " Have a cigar." "Don't bother to smell it." "It's good." "I know." "I didn't buy it." "Thank you." " Hello, Bill." " Hello, Mike." "You're a little off your beat, aren't you?" "What are you doin' here?" "I'm watching the theater entrance to Lathrop's apartment." " Hey, why don't you look where— Oh, hello, Mike." " Hello, kid." " When's the wedding?" " We got the party wrapped up in cellophane." "You're gettin' an old shoe, and my foot's gonna be in it." "Just keep your shirts off, girls." "By the time that curtain rings down tonight..." "Joanne and I'll be tied tighter than a snare drum." " See you tonight." " Yes." " Better grab him before he gets away." " Oh, hello, honey." " Well, what happened?" "And make it good." " Now, take it easy, baby." " This Lathrop case'll set us up pretty." " When are we gonna get hitched?" " We're collecting' coupons." " When are we gonna get married?" "That's all I want to know." "Look, I'll meet you at your room at 6:00." "Go down and choke yourself with a silver fox. 6:00." "Come on." "What's the matter?" "They've played three introductions." "I'll see you after the matinee, and be there." "I don't want any more ribbing from the girls." " Stop worrying." "I'll be there." " Come on, Joanne." "Get on there." "Please, Mike, don't fight on my time." "Yeah, yeah." "Yeah." "Yeah." "You boys can sure lay it down." "Say, tell me, do you act too?" " Yes, sir, we sure does." " All right then." "I'm gonna give you an audition, and if I like your performance, I'll give ya five bucks apiece." "Five bucks?" " Mister, lead us to it." " Okay." "Come on." "Right this way." "Come on." "Hey, this leads to Mr. Lathrop's apartment, don't it?" " Yeah, why?" " Mm-mmm." "Not me." "He and this dizzy Vance was murdered here last night." "No kidding." "Is that so?" "Go on." " But, boss, listen—" " Shh." "Take it easy." "Couple of cops out in front of the apartment." "Hey, Rusty, I want you to get me one of those rifles off the wall." "Uh, the bodies ain't in there, is they?" "No, they've been sent down to the morgue." "Go on." " You aren't nervous, are you?" " No, sir." "But every time I take a step, one knee says to the other..." ""Get out of my way and let me pass. "" "Mr. Shayne, is this thing loaded?" "No, Lathrop only used 'em for decorations." "Well, I don't want to be decorated." "Hey, Rusty, give it here." "Now, pull the curtains on the windows... and light the candles on that table." " What for, boss?" " That's to get you in the mood for acting." " Well, what we gonna act, boss?" " A little murder scene." "What murder scene?" "The murder that was committed here last night." "You wanted to act, didn't ya?" "I would have to open my big mouth." "I just thought of something I have to do down the stairs." "Wait a minute." "Come here." "You're not scared too, are you?" "I ain't exactly scared, but my underwear's creepin' up on me." "Come on." "Sit down there, Sam." "Hey, Rusty, see that wand over in that case?" "Bring it here, will ya?" "Oh, that's a good boy." "Now, Rusty, you sit down there and rest your eyes, hmm?" "Relax, will ya?" "You ought to feel happy." "This is the easiest five bucks you ever picked up." "Elucidate me, will ya, boss?" "What am I sitting' here for?" "Lathrop was shot in that chair." "Now, Lathrop's dead." "He can't hurt ya." "I can feel it." "His ghost is still in here." " You don't believe in ghosts, do you?" " Yes, sir, I do." "Oh, you're crazy." "Science has proven there's no such thing." "The regeneration oflife in this world has been entirely discredited." "I still do." " Look at that candle." "You see anything?" " Yes, sir." " What?" " A candle." "No, no, no." "I mean, do you see anything odd about it?" " No, sir." " Okay." "Now, lean forward a little." "Just a little bit more." " Now do you see anything?" " No, sir." "Oh, that's swell." " I just want to make sure you couldn't see the gun." " Gun?" "What gun?" " The gun that's pointing' at your head." " Wow!" "Aw, take it easy." "Now, I'm gonna show you boys... how one person can kill two birds simultaneously." " You ain't gonna kill me for five bucks, is ya?" " No." "Look." "Now, the murderer stood here with a revolver in his right hand... and with his left, he fired the rifle by pulling this wand." "It's very simple, isn't it?" "Now, are there any more questions you boys would like to ask?" "When can I get out of here?" "That's all for the matinee." "You can go right now." "Hey, hey!" "Wait a minute." "You forgot your five bucks." "You'll never get rich that way." "Boss, right now I could make myself a fortune... hiring myself out as a vibrator." "There you are." " Hello, Max." " Oh, it's you, Shayne." "Say, that's the hit tune from Lathrop's show you were playing, isn't it?" "Yeah, I wrote it." "In four-four time, it would make a nice dirge for his funeral." " What's on your mind, Shayne?" " Oh, nothing." "I just thought I'd drop in, toss the gab with ya." "What's this?" "You doin' your own housework now?" "Oh, I use that to dust off guys like you." "Hey, that's pretty good." "I didn't know you were a magician too." "A guy's gotta eat." "I pick up a few extra bucks with these gadgets at benefits and smokers." "You don't need these gadgets to pick up a couple of bucks." "Meaning the murder, Shayne?" "Sure." "I'll talk if there's anything in it." "Last night, about 1:00, I heard a shot in Lathrop's apartment." "A shot?" "Two people were killed up there." "These ears haven't gone back on me yet." "My room's right under Lathrop's kitchen." "What you really heard were two shots fired simultaneously." "Might've been at that." "You're smart, Shayne." "Now, now." "Don't spread it around." "Uh, you knew Lathrop quite well, didn't you?" "Sure." "I directed music for a couple of his shows years ago." " Did you ever visit his apartment?" " Certainly not." "He never asked me." "Then how did you know your room was right under his kitchen?" "Oh, that." "My nose hasn't gone back on me either." "Yeah." "You know anything about Carlo Ralph?" "Say, there's a guy with a real motive for a double murder." "What makes you say that?" "He was once married to Desiree Vance." "They were a popular vaudeville team before the war." " Yeah, go on." "Go on." " Well, bighearted Lathrop went sweet on Desiree... and signed them up for Sweethearts of Paris." "He broke up the team, made Desiree a leading lady... and gave Carlo a walk-on as Beppo the dog." "It wound up in Desiree leaving Carlo." "When we got in the war, he went overseas." "Yeah." "Yeah, you know, that's— that's just about the way that I figured it out." "Well, I guess Carlo Ralph is our man, huh?" " You never miss." " Well, it's a gift." "There's only one hitch, smart guy." "What's that?" "Carlo Ralph was killed in Château-Thierry, 1918." "I was in his company." "That's gonna cost you just two bucks!" "It was worth it." " Yes?" " Hello." "I'd like to take a look at Desiree Vance's room." " Who are you?" " I'm a police officer." " Well, how am I" " Inspector Pierson sent me down." "It's all right." "I declare." "You can't tell nowadays when a policeman is and when he ain't a policeman." " When I was a girl, they weren't ashamed to wear uniforms." " That's what the chief says." " Mr. Pierson's the chief, ain't he?" " Yeah." "Of course, we guys do all the work." "He's strictly a deskman." "Of course, if you have his brains, you can do it that way." " Hello, Inspector." "How ya—" " Hello." " Where you been all day, Shayne?" " On a West Indian cruise." " What've you been doin'?" " Oh, I was talking to—Who wants to know?" " Hey, what's that?" " I don't know." "I found it in that trunk." "It's locked." " Say, Inspector." " What?" "Did anybody know you were coming here?" " Yeah." "Why?" " A guy that would kill two people would stop at nothing." "Listen." " A time bomb!" " That's what I thought!" "Throw it out the window!" "No, put it in the bathtub!" " Here." "I'll put it in the street!" " Hey, come here, will ya?" " Hey!" "Do you want to make a buck?" " Sure." " Know where the Hotel du Nord is?" " Yeah, right over—" "All right." "Get this to Miss Joanne La Marr." " Got that?" "Joanne La Marr." "There's your buck." "Beat it!" " Okay." " What'd you do with it?" " I doused it in the sewer there." "Good." "Mike, you saved my life." "Oh, think nothing of it, Inspector." "I guess somebody thought you knew too much, huh?" " Yeah, Davis." " Davis?" "Sure." "Mike, I'm gonna let you in on something." "We checked and found out he embezzled Lathrop out of 28 grand." " There's our motive." " That so?" " Yeah." " Well, I guess I won't be needing this anymore." "Hey!" "Central Park Manor, and step on it." " What's the matter?" " Never mind what's the matter." "You've got to get out of here." " Go on." "Put your coat on." " Just a minute." "What is all this?" "Now, look." "The police found out about your little deal with Lathrop." "I'm lucky they haven't picked you up already." "I'd be out my 900 bucks." "Go on." "Hurry it up." "Good heavens!" "What have you done?" "That hurt me much more than it did the inspector." "Do you realize this porcelain vase dates back to the Ming dynasty?" "You'll date back to the county jail unless you get out of here fast." " Haven't you any aesthetic value at all?" " Never mind about this." "Did I get ya here quick enough?" "Someday you're gonna get a ticket for flying' too low over Broadway." " Hey, Sam, you got the keys to the prop room?" " Yes, sir." " Well, come on." " Just a minute!" " I doesn't have to understudy no more corpses, does I?" " No, come on." "Yes, this ought to do very nicely." "Sam, I want to hide this guy here." "Now, you keep your trap closed and your eyes open..." " and take care of his chow." " Yes, sir." "Sit down." "Make yourself away from home." "There's a comfortable seat." "Well, what is that strange contraption?" "That, Hamlet, is an electric chair." "Might as well get used to it." "Be seeing you." "Sam, let's put that key where I can get it quick, hmm?" " I'll put it right here, boss." " Yeah." "Phew." "That was a narrow escape, boss." "Yeah, it wasn't termites either." "Come on." "Let's get out of here." " Hello, baby!" " 7:00." "Where's the preacher?" "Oh, never mind about that now." "Where's that box I sent you?" " If that's your idea of a gag—" " Now, what did you do with it?" "There wasn't anything in it but some pictures and a silly old love letter." " A love letter?" "How'd you get that box open?" " With a hairpin." " Well, where's the letter?" " I tore it up." " You—You what?" " Well, I don't know any Carlo Ralph." "Ooh!" "The stork that brought you should've been arrested for peddling dope." "Will you tell me what's so important?" "This might be the key to everything!" "Sure, sure." "Everything's important to you but our marriage." "What'll the girls think?" "At least Gus never humiliated me!" "Gus." "Gus." "I thought you promised never to remind me of that palooka again." " Well, Gus was dependable." " Here." "Here." "Listen to this." ""Desiree darling, I know you'll be surprised to hear from me." ""The terrible ordeal of 10 months in a German prison camp is finally over... but it has left its mark. "" "You have worked on five murder cases, and how many have you solved?" "None!" ""I am trying to get an act together..." ""as I have the promise of a booking in Berlin." ""I live only in the hope..." ""that you'll join me here, that we may forget the past..." ""and start life together anew." ""Your loving husband..." "Carlo. "" " Hey." "Can ya tie that?" " What?" "This letter is postmarked Munich, Germany, 1920." "Then Carlo Ralph wasn't killed at Château-Thierry." "I'm through." "I've had enough!" "I've waited and waited and waited, and what happens?" "Nothing." "I wouldn't even expect you to show up at your own funeral.!" "Honey, I gotta run downstairs for a minute." " But, Mike!" " I'll— I'll be right back." "That's what you think!" "Hey, Joannie." "Joanne!" "Aw, come on." "Be sensible." "I'm doing this for the both of us." " Hello, Inspector." " Oh, hello." "Say!" "Don't tell me they're makin' keyholes big enough to get your fist through." "I got this from Davis, but he'll pay plenty." "I caught up with him in his apartment, and he let me have it when my back was turned." " Tsk, tsk, tsk." " He and his gang!" " You don't mean he got away?" " I should say not." "I just got an anonymous phone call that he's hiding in the theater here." "Al and the boys will be along in a minute, and we'll pick him up." "Here they are now." "Hey!" " What's the matter?" "You goin' blind?" " Well, Inspector, I" "Shut up!" "Sergeant, take a couple of men." "Go around the back." "Al and I'll go in the front." "Keep your big eyes open, will ya?" "Hey, Davis." "Davis!" "Holy smoke!" "Oh, don't—" " What?" " Scare me like that, will ya?" " Come on." "Get out of here." "The police are after you." " Police?" "Get back." "Get back in there." "Frank, you look around in here, and we'll search the dressing rooms." "Yes, sir." "Stop.!" "Sergeant!" "Open this door.!" " What happened?" " Two men just ran out of here and locked me in." "They must've gone that way." "Inspector.!" "Inspector!" "There he is." "Stop, or I'll shoot!" "Hey, chief, are you all right?" "Are you all right, chief?" "Come on." "Come on." "Hurry it up." "Hamlet, we're in a jam, and it may be raspberries." "I gotta keep you away from the law if I want to collect from your girlfriend." "Really, Mr. Shayne, this whole thing's getting on my nerves." "Look, after I catch the murderer, you can have a nervous breakdown if you like." " Hmm." " Now, keep quiet." "Might as well sit down, ease your mind." "Looks like we're stuck for a while until I figure some way of getting you out of here." "Do you play honeymoon bridge?" "Do I play honeymoon bridge?" "I shall never forget the time we were stranded in Chillicothe." "We were playing Romeo and Juliet at the time... and the scenery went to Cleveland by mistake." "It looks like the police checked this room already." "By the way, if you want to leave here, I have a suggestion to make." " Yeah?" " There's another way out." "You mean to say there's another entrance to this homicide parlor?" "If you knew Lou as well as I did, you wouldn't question it." "Lou always insisted on taking a fatherly interest in his leading lady." "So, to facilitate matters, he arranged to occupy the suite immediately below." "Well, for the love of Michael Shayne." "Come on." " Why, she— she looks like, um—" " Lynne Evans?" " Yes." " That's who it is." "But how could she—" "Is she dead?" "Yep." ""To whoever finds me, I killed Lou Lathrop and Desiree Vance." ""Lou was my first sweetheart, and she came between us." ""I have never forgotten or forgiven either of them." ""Last night was too much for me." "I couldn't stand it." "I killed 'em." "Lynne Evans. "" "Why, this ends our case, Mr. Shayne." "I can go home now." "Oh, no, no." "You're gonna stay right here with me." " Why?" " She didn't commit suicide." " What do you mean?" " Come on." "I'll explain it to you later." "Hey, Joanne." "Joannie?" "She's gone again." "You can never trust these dames." "Hello." "Hello." "Give me the backstage of the Athena Theatre." "Life is full of strange adventures." "Here I find myself in a girl's room— a beautiful girl whom I've never even met." "Just take it easy, Hamlet." "She'll be a blustering bride before midnight." " Is that so?" " When she comes back, tell her to wait here for me, will you?" " Oh, hello, Otto?" "This is Mike Shayne." " Hello, Mr. Shayne." "There's one more thing I want you to do for me." "Can you meet me in Lathrop's apartment?" "Why, yes, Mr. Shayne." "But I can't get away from here until 9:00, when the relief man comes on." "That's all right." "That's fine." "Just a little more help, and I think we got this solved." " I'll meet you there at 9:00." " I'll be there." "You wait here until I pick up the murderer." "You've got plenty of time for that nervous breakdown now." "Come in." " Hello, Max." " Oh, it's you again." "Have you turned up the Lathrop killer yet, Shayne?" "Max, you lied to me about Carlo Ralph being killed in the war." "Why, Mike, I wouldn't lie to a smart guy like you." "Listen, you know plenty." "Well, I'm crackin' this case pretty quick... and I'm gettin' the last bit of evidence in Lathrop's apartment at 9:00 tonight." "Well, have a good night's sleep." "Hello, Shayne." "We got a little date downtown." " Wait." "I got this whole thing sewed up." " Let's go." " The inspector gave me his personal okay." " Yeah, yeah." "He's gonna be awfully sore when he hears that you—" "Thought you were pretty smart, eh, Shayne?" "You knew I wanted Davis for murder, and you helped him get away." "I'm gonna send you up for a nice, long stretch." "You almost sent me up for good when you took that potshot at me in the theater." "What potshot?" "I didn't fire my gun." "Somebody did." "The bullet almost parted my hair." " Did you fire at him, Al?" " Not me." "I heard a shot, but I thought it was you." "Wait a minute." "If neither one of you fired... doesn't that prove that the murderer was in the theater?" "It couldn't have been Davis." "He was right by my side the whole time." " Oh, wait a minute." " It's simple arithmetic, Inspector." "Whoever the real murderer is, he's trying to pin it onto Davis." "That half-burned receipt was a plant, and a clumsy one at that." "And who do you think called you up and told you Davis was down at the theater?" " Search me." " It was the killer, of course." "Here's another one for your scrapbook." "You can pick up the body of the third victim at Room 516." " What?" " Emily, the maid at the hotel, was murdered." "This is the screwiest case I've ever had." "Lock him up, Al, before I'm murdered." "Wait a minute." "Inspector, I'll make you a proposition." " Nothing doing." "No." " Listen to me." "I think that I've made a date with the killer... at Lathrop's apartment at 9:00 p. m." "Shayne, you've played your last trick on me." "I got nothin' up my sleeve." "If I'm wrong, I'll turn Davis over to you in a pair of ruby-studded handcuffs." " Is that fair enough?" " I don't know." "Why, you'll hog all the front pages." ""Inspector Pierson of the Homicide picks up triple killer in 24 hours. "" "Now, you wouldn't object to that, would ya?" "Frankly, no." "That'd suit me fine." " But you never deliver." " I will this time!" "Here's all you gotta do." "You get up to Lathrop's apartment before 9:00... plant yourself in the study, behind those glass doors—" " And where are you goin'?" " Oh, stop worryin'." " I'll be there." " Oh, no, you don't." "All right." "Then have Al stick with me, okay?" "And when you get up there, keep your gun ready." "When you hear me mention the time 12:00, that's your signal." "What do you mean, 12:00?" "When I say "12:00," you step out and nail him." " Okay." " Attaboy." "But you better be right!" "Al, call the coroner and have him meet me at the du Nord." "Oh, one more thing." "Uh—" "You'd better take the cop off the theater entrance." "I got a hunch the murderer may be comin' up that way." "All right." "But if I get conked in the eye again, look out!" "516." "Say, ain't this the room the maid was murdered in?" "That's right." " Where you goin'?" " Up to Lathrop's apartment to meet the killer." "It's open house if you want to come along." "No, I better stay down here and watch." "Get back, Inspector." "I can see your shadow." " Hello, Mr. Shayne." " Hello, Otto." "Not too loud, huh?" "Come on." "Sit down." "I am sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Mr. Shayne." "Oh, that's all right." " It's nice of you to help me out." " Oh—" "You know, Otto, I think I've almost got this figured out." "Just one link in the chain missing." "If I could get that—" "How can I help you?" "You must've read in the papers that Lathrop was killed with a rifle... and the Vance dame with a revolver." "Now, I can understand why they didn't see the rifle." "But what beats me is why they didn't scream... or jump up or do something when the killer pulled a revolver on them." "Well, why wouldn't they see the rifle, Mr. Shayne?" "Because the murderer had clamped it to that sill over there." "The end of the barrel was hidden under that candlestick." "Whew!" "How do you know that?" "When the rifle went off, it left a burn." "The murderer tried to make believe it was done by a cigarette." "What?" "The killer tried to make it appear it was from a cigarette." "But no cigarette ever made a burn like that." "Huh!" "That's wonderful, Mr. Shayne." "Well, that's what I get paid for." "Now, the murderer stood here, and he fired the rifle... by rigging the trigger to this wand... with magician's thread." " That's very clever." " Isn't it?" " Yeah." "Let me see it." " Sure." "Do you know any magic tricks, Otto?" " Do you know any magic tricks?" " No, I don't... but I've seen them do it in theaters." "Maybe it was done like that." "Say, that's pretty good." "I think maybe you've hit it." "I'm going to kill you, Mr. Shayne." "Why, Otto?" "Why should you kill me?" "You know too many things." "I know that you're Carlo Ralph—" "Yeah." "Beppo the dog." "And that you killed Lathrop, Desiree Vance and Lynne Evans." "You are the only one who'll ever know that, Mr. Shayne." "Now, don't get excited, Otto." "After all, you probably thought you had plenty of reasons for doing what you did." "I don't get excited." "I had the feeling you were too smart... when you asked me about that wine glass." "Yes, that's right, Otto." "You were a big help there." "That's the first time I got suspicious of you— when you lied to me." "Mrs. Lathrop didn't drink out of that glass." "There wasn't any lipstick on it." "It was you who drank from it." "Yes." "I came up here last night for sentimental reasons." "I put on the dog head... and waited until Lathrop and Desiree were the only ones left." "Lathrop was panicky when he recognized me." "But after I convinced him I meant no harm... he poured me a glass of wine... and asked me to sit down." "I showed him some of the tricks..." "I did in the show." "Well, how come that Lathrop didn't recognize you before?" "He knew me as I was in 1916." "But a year of war and a German prison camp can change any man." "I passed him in the street one day..." " but he didn't recognize me." " Oh, so that's it." "I decided..." "Lathrop should die in the same place... he closed my life 26 years back... when he stole my wife." "So, about six months ago..." "I got this job." "Yeah, but why did you kill Lynne Evans?" "I came back... to destroy the wine glass you asked me about." "There were police all over... so I had to sneak through the room downstairs." "Emily saw me, so I caught her... and— and choked her." "After her head fell back... and her glassy eyes stared at me..." "I realized what I had done." "I lit some candles and— and said a prayer." "I don't think I got to say any prayers over you." "Now, take it easy, Otto." "You've been awfully smart about this up till now." "Why do you wanna spoil it all?" "Look, I can promise to have it fixed so you can be on a boat to South America." "It's nice down there." "The boat leaves at 12:00." "I'm not going to take any trip." "Only you." "The boat leaves at 12:00." "You can start life all over again." " I've got the money here with me." " Keep your hands on the table!" "Now, don't be a fool, Otto." "I promise you, I'll have you on that boat before 12:00." "No." "No." "I don't trust nobody." "I used to trust everybody." "I'm going to kill you, Mr. Shayne... and then there's only one more to put out of the way." "Who's that?" " Grab that guy!" " Just a minute." "Hey, chief!" "Chief!" "Hey, what's goin' on here?" " Allaron!" " This lug knocked me out!" "Do you mean to say that he's the guy that was standing behind those doors?" " Yeah!" " Oh, so that's why—" "Well, is my face a nasty color of pink." "And is my head sore." "All right, now." "Take it easy, pop." "Look... is that the one more guy you wanted to put away?" "Yes." "He heard the shot last night... and rushed up here as I was putting the rifle back on the wall." " He's crazy." "You can't believe anything he says." " Shut up!" "He made me pay all the money I had to keep quiet." "I knew if I didn't get him, he'd— he'd make me pay him for the rest of my life." "Well, what a dummy I was." "I practically gave you an invitation to come up here and kill me." "You knew you'd get 20 years if Otto ever talked." " Suppression of evidence." " That's right!" "And you saw a chance to do away with the both of us." "Why, Inspector, you saved my life." "Think nothing of it." "I don't." "Put the cuffs on this guy and take 'em both to headquarters." "Holy smoke!" "Say, Inspector, what time is it?" " Ten after 9:00." "Why?" " Come on!" "We gotta get goin'!" "What's the matter?" "Is there more work on this case?" "You don't know it, but you're gonna be best man at my wedding." "More murder." " Tryin' to sneak up on me again, huh?" " Hey, wait." "Calm down, will you, Inspector?" "I just cleared Davis." "What are you doing here?" "Your girlfriend came back and threw me out." "I've been waiting for you." "You can just run home to that sweet patootie of yours and tell her to get 900 bucks ready." "I'll be up for it in an hour." "Come on, chief." " Mr. Shayne, wait a minute." " Yeah?" "Who killed Lathrop?" "Santa Claus ran over him with his sleigh." "That's funny." "It's four months to Christmas." " Hey, Mike?" " Yeah." "Are you sure you wanna get married?" "Of course I am." "Oh, now, Inspector, be frank." "Haven't you ever felt the urge to hold some sweet little sugar... that belongs to you close in your arms?" "Yeah, lots of times." "When I feel that way, I just run around the block." "Oh, you'd find rust on the pearly gates." "Here we are— the gate to heaven." "Looks like you ain't got the only key to this gate." "And what are you doin' here?" " Are you Mr. Shayne?" " Yes." "Why?" "I got a singing telegram for you from Miss Joanne La Marr." "Oh, what does she—" "# I'm tired of all this fight and fuss, so I took it on the lam with Gus #" " # Good-bye, forever #" " Gus." " # Good-bye, forever, good-bye # - # Bye #" " # Good-bye # - # Bye #" "# Good-bye #"