diff options
Diffstat (limited to '40484-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 40484-0.txt | 8161 |
1 files changed, 8161 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/40484-0.txt b/40484-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6231fd1 --- /dev/null +++ b/40484-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8161 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40484 *** + + Black Star's Campaign + + A DETECTIVE STORY + + By JOHNSTON McCULLEY + + Author of "John Standon of Texas," "Black Star." + + + CHELSEA HOUSE + 79 SEVENTH AVENUE + NEW YORK CITY + + Black Star's Campaign + + Copyright, 1919 by STREET & SMITH + + (Printed in the United States of America) + + All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign + languages, including the Scandinavian. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. NEWS FOR THE SHERIFF 11 + + II. A SHOCK FOR THE CITY 17 + + III. THE NEW HEADQUARTERS 26 + + IV. OVER THE TELEPHONE 36 + + V. TRAILED 47 + + VI. WHAT KOWEN FOUND 56 + + VII. VERBECK INVESTIGATES 63 + + VIII. MYSTERY AND AN ALARM 71 + + IX. ORDERS AND LETTERS 78 + + X. A DOUBLE CRIME 85 + + XI. MORE MYSTERY 94 + + XII. ANOTHER TELEPHONE CALL 101 + + XIII. INSIDE THE MUSEUM 107 + + XIV. MISSING MASTERPIECES 116 + + XV. SOME FISHERMEN 124 + + XVI. HOT BREAD 132 + + XVII. MUGGS SEES HIS MAN 141 + + XVIII. MUGGS MEETS DISASTER 147 + + XIX. IMPORTANT INFORMATION 155 + + XX. ON THE TRAIL 163 + + XXI. A TENSE MOMENT 172 + + XXII. ON THE ROOF 183 + + XXIII. MUGGS GIVES A TIP 192 + + XXIV. ON THE TRAIL 202 + + XXV. END OF THE TRAIL 209 + + XXVI. THE BIG BLOW 218 + + XXVII. MUGGS TAKES A CHANCE 227 + + XXVIII. THE ALARM 235 + + XXIX. CAUGHT IN THE NET 244 + + XXX. MUGGS ARRIVES 249 + + XXXI. AN EMPTY NET 250 + + XXXII. THE LETTER 254 + + + + +BLACK STAR'S CAMPAIGN + + + + +CHAPTER I + +NEWS FOR THE SHERIFF + + +Sheriff Kowen looked up from his desk in amazement as the stenographer +ushered in the woman. The name on her card had told him nothing, and he +had expected to be confronted by some middle-aged, washed-out, tired +wife and mother who would make a request to visit the jail and talk with +an erring relative. + +What he did see when he raised his eyes and cleared his throat +preparatory to indulging in his professional attitude, was a handsomely +gowned, beautiful woman of perhaps thirty years, a woman who appeared to +be exceedingly cultured and refined. + +Sheriff Kowen got out of his chair quickly, and placed one at the end of +the desk for his visitor. Then he seated himself again, and looked +across to her. + +She appeared to be nervous, almost distraught, on the verge of tears. + +"My dear Miss Blanchard," Sheriff Kowen said, glancing at the card the +stenographer had handed to him, and for once forgetting his usual gruff +manner, "is there any way in which I may be of service to you?" + +"I scarcely know how to approach the subject," she replied. The sheriff +noticed that her voice was all that he had expected it would be--a voice +that was modulated to the correct society pitch. "Such a thing as--as +this is--well, I am not used to it." + +"Just take your time, and tell me in your own way," said the sheriff. +"You have--er--some sort of a complaint to make?" + +"Yes, that is it. In the first place, we do not reside in this city +regularly. We have a suite at a private hotel--my mother, my brother and +myself. It is about my brother that I wish to see you." + +"He is--er--in trouble?" + +"Not exactly that, but--please tell me, first, Mr. Kowen, it is against +the law to operate a gambling house, is it not?" + +"It most certainly is!" Kowen exclaimed. "When I was first elected, I +fought gambling houses--got quite a reputation for working along that +line. I fought the cheap ones, and I fought the pretentious dress-suit +establishments--cleaned them out!" + +"Pardon me, Mr. Kowen, but one remains--else it is a new one that has +opened recently." + +"What's that?" the sheriff cried, sitting up straighter in his chair. +"If there is a gambling house running in my section of the country, +it'll not run long!" + +"I--I feel almost like a spy," Miss Blanchard said. "I hate to be an +informer----" + +"That is your duty in such a case, my dear young lady." + +"I feel it so, under the circumstances," she said. "I do not want to +cause my brother trouble--but I have talked it over with mother, and we +decided that I should come and tell you the whole thing." + +"I shall be glad to listen, Miss Blanchard." + +"My brother is twenty-one, just a boy, you might say. When we came to +the city, he happened to make the acquaintance of some other young men +who belonged to a very fast set. He began remaining away from home until +the early morning hours, and drinking too much, and all that." + +"I understand, my dear young lady. Nine young men out of ten sow their +wild oats." + +"And he began spending more money than he could afford to spend. Mother +and I began to fear he would dissipate his share of my father's estate, +for he controls it since he has come of age. We wondered where the money +was going--and finally we found out." + +"Gambling joint?" + +"Yes, sir. A gambling den in a large house in the most exclusive section +of the city." + +"Those are the places I like to smash!" Sheriff Kowen told her. + +"I can give you the address, Mr. Kowen. I understand that a man cannot +get into the place unless he is properly introduced." + +"Naturally, they would be very careful," the sheriff said. + +"It is what you called a dress-suit sort of place. Perhaps I am doing +wrong telling you this----" + +"Not at all. It is your duty," the sheriff assured her. "Nobody ever +will know where I got my information." + +"I'd like to have the place closed up," Miss Blanchard continued, "so +that my brother and other young men will not be robbed of their money +and ruined. I suppose you would have to make a raid--I believe that is +the term? I'd hate to cause my brother trouble, but a little scare +might----" + +"I understand, Miss Blanchard. It is probable that he would be caught in +a raid, placed under arrest for frequenting a gambling resort, and +brought to jail. He would immediately put up bail for his appearance in +court. He would give an assumed name, and not show up in the morning, +forfeiting his bail. So there would be little publicity, but he would +get a scare." + +"Oh, thank you! If it could be done that way----" + +"It can, my dear Miss Blanchard. We are determined to exterminate +gambling houses. The court is in accord with me in this matter. Since +you give me the information, you may be sure I'll protect your brother's +interests to a certain extent. We'll frighten him a bit, but you need +have no fear he will serve a term in jail, or anything like that." + +"I understand," said Miss Blanchard. + +"Simply give me the address--and then forget that you have seen and +spoken to me. I'll do the rest. You must be very careful, of course, not +to let your brother suspect that you have been here. He would inform his +friends, and our raid would fail. Every time a raid fails, it hurts us. +A certain part of the public, antagonistic politicians and newspapers, +you see----" + +"I understand, Mr. Kowen. Here is the address--I have written it on a +card." + +She placed the card before him on the desk. Sheriff Kowen glanced at it. + +"Ah!" he exclaimed. "So! I should say it was in the most exclusive +section of the city. This is very valuable information, Miss Blanchard, +if our investigation bears out your statements. I cannot thank you +enough. There will be more to this than a gambling-house raid; the +owners of the property must give the court a little explanation, I +fear." + +"You are sure that I did not do wrong coming here like this?" + +"I am sure that you did quite right, my dear young lady. You perhaps +have aided us in rounding up sharpers who fleece young men of their +fortunes, and perhaps you have saved your brother. He is at the stage, I +take it, where a little scare will do him a lot of good. You have done +quite right!" + +"Then I must hurry away," she said, rising. "And I shall do as you +said--forget that I have been here. My brother----" + +"I'll watch out for him, Miss Blanchard--a little scare and nothing +more! It is the proprietor of the place and his partners we are after, +more than the victims." + +Sheriff Kowen went as far as the corridor with Miss Blanchard, and then +hurried back to his private office and began pushing buttons. He called +before him certain of his deputies, gave them the information he had +acquired, and certain orders, and sent them away. Then he touched match +to cigar, leaned back in his chair, blew a cloud of fragrant smoke +toward the ceiling, and chuckled softly. Sheriff Kowen had not had a +chance to raid a gambling house of any importance for more than a year; +and raiding a gambling house was his pet sport. He promised himself that +this raid should be sensational in the extreme. Gambling houses were not +going to flourish while Kowen was holding office as sheriff. + +As for Miss Blanchard, she drove in a taxicab to an exclusive private +hotel, ascended in the elevator to the eighth floor, and entered a suite +there. + +A woman of forty was sitting before a window looking down at the busy +street. She was talking to a man of about the same age, a man who +appeared to be a prosperous merchant, or something of the sort, and who +looked up quickly when Miss Blanchard entered. + +"Well, Mamie, how about it?" he growled. + +"It was easy!" Miss Mamie Blanchard replied. "He fell for it so hard +that I could almost see him bounce. He swallowed the bait, hook, sinker +and line. We've played the game just right--that man would rather raid a +gambling joint than eat!" + +"Think he'll get busy right away?" the man asked. + +"Busy? The instant he left me he ran back to his desk. I think that we +can look for action to-night." + +"Well, we'll give him a chance. He'll want to make sure of the evidence +first, of course, and we'll see that he gathers plenty of that without +too much trouble. All the other details have been arranged. I'll issue +orders this afternoon, and have everything in readiness. We can't go +wrong on this." + +"And afterward?" the girl asked. + +"You'll get your reward, all right. If this man's town isn't crazy +within forty-eight hours, it'll be something peculiar. You know your +part, I suppose?" + +"Certainly." + +"Get ready, then. I'll go, now, and get word to all the boys. I'm glad +that the long wait is over, that we are ready to strike!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A SHOCK FOR THE CITY + + +The deputies sent forth by Sheriff Kowen did their work well, and +without experiencing much difficulty. Their investigations were +concluded before nightfall, and the sheriff rubbed his hands together in +glee when he received their reports. + +At eleven o'clock that night, he sat at his desk and answered telephone +calls. At a certain place near the gambling house his men had gathered. +Kowen knew from experience that it did not do to have them meet at his +office or the county jail. There always was somebody watching, and any +unusual activity would cause a warning to be flashed to every resort +that had reason to expect a raid. + +"It's all right, boss," one of his deputies telephoned. "We've been on +the watch since eight o'clock. There are about thirty men in the place +now, and more coming all the time. They're pretty bold about it--feel +safe, I reckon." + +"That's because they've been getting away with it for a few months," the +sheriff replied. "We'll make 'em sick before morning." + +He finished smoking his cigar; then left the office and walked down the +street to the corner, as he always did at that hour of the night. That +was to make things appear natural, if anybody happened to be watching. +He waited for a surface car, got aboard, and started home. At a certain +corner, he alighted in order to transfer to another line. + +But Sheriff Kowen did not use his transfer to-night. He made sure that +nobody was watching him, and then darted down a side street. He pulled +his hat over his eyes, bent his shoulders forward, and walked rapidly +down the broad avenue toward the exclusive residential section of the +city. + +He had a mile to walk. He covered three fourths of it at a good pace, +and then slowed down and became more alert. He passed another man on a +corner. + +"All right, boss," the man whispered. + +"All right!" Sheriff Kowen answered. + +Kowen went on up the street. He stopped in a dark spot beneath an +overhanging tree, and looked at a house in the middle of the block. He +knew the property; it belonged to an old estate, and was handled by a +well-known real estate firm. For years it had been without a tenant. The +investigation made by the deputies during the afternoon had resulted in +the information that it had been repaired and leased some three months +before to strangers in the city, but people who had exhibited good +references. + +It was some distance away from the other residences, and the lot was +bordered by a high hedge, except in front. It was an ideal location for +a fashionable gambling resort. + +As Kowen watched, he saw a young man saunter down the street, hesitate a +moment, then enter the gate and hurry toward the house. + +"Another victim!" Kowen told himself. + +Now one of his deputies approached him, keeping in the shadows as much +as possible. + +"Well?" Kowen snapped. + +"Almost forty men in there, boss," the deputy reported. + +"All our crowd ready?" + +"Yes." + +"What time is it?" + +"Quarter after twelve. I looked at my watch as I walked under the light +at the corner." + +"Let's get in action then," Kowen said. "I don't want any slips, now. I +want to gather in the whole lot. Got the autos ready?" + +"They're ready, boss, waiting down the street a couple of blocks." + +"Signal them up, and we'll begin." + +The deputy hurried away. Sheriff Kowen crossed the street, turned in +through the gate, and blew a whistle. + +On every side, deputies rushed toward the house, surrounding it +immediately. Kowen ran up the steps and knocked at the door. An aperture +was opened, a face peered out, there was an exclamation, and the +aperture was closed again. + +"Into it!" Kowen cried. + +Deputies ran forward with axes and attacked the heavy door. The door at +the rear was attacked in the same manner. Some of the men guarded the +entrance to the basement, others watched the windows closely. + +The front door crashed down, and the officers poured into the house. +From the second floor came a chorus of cries and shrieks. The lights had +been extinguished, and electric torches flashed. + +"Watch those stairs!" Kowen cried. "Some of you clean out the +basement--I want the entire crowd! I'll go above!" + +They made their way to the head of the stairs, smashed through another +door, flashed their torches, found the light switch and turned it. The +big room was bathed in light. + +Sheriff Kowen smiled grimly as he surveyed the scene. He saw faro and +roulette layouts, poker tables, almost every gambling device known. Some +two score of men in evening dress were crouching against the walls. A +glance was enough to tell the sheriff the customers and the dealers. He +slapped his hands together. + +"Round 'em up!" he ordered. + +His deputies sprang to obey. One by one, the men in the room were +manacled, despite their protests. When Sheriff Kowen raided a gambling +house, he did not do things by halves. + +A crowd had collected in the street by now. The automobiles Kowen had +ordered were before the house, ready to receive their loads of +prisoners. Kowen received reports from deputies who had searched the +place from cellar to garret. He detailed men to guard the house and the +gambling apparatus it contained, and then the parade began. + +The parade was always a big moment with Kowen. He stood at the curb and +watched the prisoners pass him and go to the automobiles. He enjoyed the +looks of wrath, of fear in the faces of these callow youths. Some of +them he knew, but a very few. For the most part, the prisoners seemed to +be strangers to him, but that did not bother Kowen. The city was a large +one; a new crop of victims appeared every week, the sheriff knew. + +The prisoners were driven to the county jail and taken into the office. +Kowen informed them as to the charges, and announced that bail would be +one hundred dollars in each case, except that of the proprietor of the +place. The jailer and bookkeeper got ready. + +It was then that Sheriff Kowen got his first surprise. With the +exception of the proprietor, none of his prisoners would furnish bail. +The arrest was an outrage, they declared. They had been informed that +the ordinance against gambling was unconstitutional. They were going to +jail, going to fight the case, and then sue for damages. They'd show +Sheriff Kowen and his men that citizens had rights that should be +respected. + +"Are you a bunch of lunatics?" Kowen cried. "Don't you worry about that +gambling law--we've convicted many a man on it, men who had coin to +fight their cases, too. And let me tell you men something--if you go +into cells, your right names go down on the blotter. They'll go into the +newspapers, too; and the people of this city will know just who the men +are who smash laws and waste money!" + +"We're not worrying any about that stuff!" one of the prisoners told +him. + +"Then you'll be searched and slammed into cells, believe me! And you'll +be treated like ordinary prisoners. I have a faint idea that you'll be +dead willing to put up bail by noon. These cells of mine are not +comfortable suites. And you'll miss your baths and grapefruit in the +morning, and your thin toast! Well?" + +None made reply. Kowen glanced around the room at them, and then an +angry flush came into his face. He had half a dozen deputies there, and +the night jailer and the bookkeeper. He had let the other deputies go, +thinking this would be like other raids, that the prisoners would put up +bail immediately or telephone for it, and hurry to their homes. + +"Line up against that wall!" he commanded. "If you are so eager to go to +jail, we can accommodate you, all right. The jailer will search you." + +The jailer appeared before the first man, who started taking things from +his pockets. Sheriff Kowen turned his back and started for his private +office in disgust. Newspapermen were waiting there for him, and the +sheriff did not dislike publicity. + +Then something strange happened! + +With the exceptions of the few men known to the sheriff, every prisoner +drew something from his pocket. Something seemed to crash against the +floor. There was a series of sharp explosions, and the office and rooms +adjoining were filled with clouds of white, pungent smoke. + +The jailer opened his mouth to shout a warning, and toppled over on the +floor without having spoken. Here and there the deputies were dropping, +none of them having time to get out a revolver and fire a shot. Sheriff +Kowen rushed in from his private office to have a cloud of the pungent +vapor strike him full in the face. The newspaper reporters suffered a +like fate. + +The prisoners were holding tiny sponges to their nostrils, and now they +sprang into action. Some rushed to the street door and locked and barred +it. Others drew the shades at the windows. One searched the jailer and +got his keys, and hurried toward the door leading into the corridor. + +This door was opened. Four of the prisoners rushed down the aisle and +came to a certain cell. Inside it a man was sitting on a bunk. + +"Good work!" he exclaimed. + +The door of the cell was unlocked, and the man stepped out. He led the +way back to the office, glanced around it quickly. + +"Everything done?" he asked. + +"Everything done, sir," one of the men replied. + +"Let's go, then!" + +The street door was unlocked. Around the corner came half a dozen +automobiles. They were filled, and darted away, scattering as they came +to the first street corner. + + * * * * * + +Sheriff Kowen groaned and opened his eyes. One of his deputies was just +regaining consciousness. The sheriff tried to get to his feet. + +"What--what----" he began. + +"They're all gone--jail door's open," the deputy gasped. + +"It----I know! Vapor bombs!" Kowen cried. "More Black Star work! +Quick--look----" + +Kowen had managed to get to his feet now, and was rushing into the +corridor of the jail. More deputies were regaining consciousness. The +sheriff pushed past them and ran down the corridor. They heard him cry +out. + +"Gone--gone!" he shrieked. "The Black Star has escaped! It was all a +trick--that woman, the gambling joint--a trick to get all those men in +here so they could do their work----" + +"Here's a note in the cell!" a deputy cried. + +The sheriff took it and ran back to the office. One of the deputies +already was telephoning police headquarters and relating the story. The +Black Star had been rescued! The supercriminal who had been tried and +convicted, who was to start for the State prison on the following day, +had made his escape! + +On the brow of each unconscious man left behind by the band there had +been pasted a tiny black star--the criminal's mark. There was a row of +them on the blotter-sheet. They were on the walls, on the casements. + +The reporters rushed for telephones. Here was news that would startle +the city in the morning. Was the town in for another reign of crime? +Would the notorious Black Star merely make good his escape, or did he +have plans perfected? Was his band reorganized? Would he take vengeance +for his arrest and incarceration? + +The note found in the cell supplied the answer. Sheriff Kowen read it +quickly: + + TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: + + Did you think for an instant that the Black Star would go to prison + to serve twenty years? It was a very clever rescue, was it not? And + for the months I have been held in jail, for the strain and worry + of my trial, I am going to make the city pay. My organization is + more perfect than before. My plans have been well made. The city + shall pay--pay--pay! And tell that fool of a Roger Verbeck, who + was instrumental in catching me before, that he will be helpless + this time. I defy him even to find the location of my headquarters. + + * * * * * + +All the telephones were busy now. The pungent odor that had come from +the vapor bombs had blown out of the room. Word was being flashed over +the city that the Black Star had been rescued by his band, and that he +had promised a wave of crime to pay for his incarceration. + +Nobody doubted that such would be the case. The city knew well that the +Black Star always made good his boasts. Nobody doubted that his +organization was greater than it had been before, and that clever plans +had been made. + +The Black Star, they had reason to suppose, would not wait very long +before striking, for that was not his nature. The city faced the great +question: + +Where would the Black Star strike first? + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE NEW HEADQUARTERS + + +Roger Verbeck was the last of his family, a man who moved in the best +social circles, who had wealth and good looks and friends, and an +athletic body. + +It had been Roger Verbeck who had put the Black Star behind prison bars. +When the supercriminal first began his work in the city, the police +seemed to be unable to do anything against him. Verbeck had made a boast +at a reception one night that he could capture the Black Star himself. +That boast had led to many adventures. + +One of the Black Star's band happened to overhear the boast, for the men +and women working for the Black Star were to be found in all walks of +life, and there was nothing strange in the fact that one of them +happened to be a guest at an exclusive social affair. At one stage of +the game even Verbeck himself had been suspected of being a lieutenant +of the master criminal. + +The Black Star had challenged Verbeck to make good his boast, and there +had ensued a duel of wits. Whereas the master rogue had an organization +at his command, Verbeck had nobody except Muggs. + +Muggs was a peculiar individual. Years before, Muggs had stood on a +bridge over the Seine, in Paris, ready to fling himself into the water +and end an existence that, in a fit of despondency, he had decided was +not worth carrying out to its logical conclusion. + +Roger Verbeck had grasped him by the arm in time to save him, and had +convinced Muggs that life was worth the living. So Muggs became attached +to Roger Verbeck. He was known as Verbeck's valet, but he was a +comrade-in-arms in reality. He shared Verbeck's adventures, and often +turned failure into success. He was ready to fight for Verbeck at any +moment. + +Muggs had worked with Verbeck against the Black Star, and when the +master criminal finally was captured and incarcerated, Muggs had turned +valet again. But Muggs was a man who demanded action, and time hung +heavy on his hands. For Roger Verbeck was thinking of getting married, +and he had small time for adventuring. + +Muggs was a small man, but one of great strength. There was nothing +handsome about him. Some called him repulsive, but not in Roger +Verbeck's hearing. + +Muggs had been a criminal and knew the ways of criminals. He had been of +great value to Verbeck on numerous occasions, and once had saved his +life. Between them they possessed nearly all human qualifications, and +they made an excellent team. + +On the night of the rescue of the Black Star, Roger Verbeck had called +upon his fiancée. He returned to his rooms shortly after the hour of +twelve, and immediately went to bed, Muggs retiring a few minutes later. +There was to be a golf tournament the following day, and Verbeck was a +contestant. + +Both men were asleep almost immediately. Most of the tenants in the big +apartment house had retired. In the office on the ground floor a sleepy +clerk was attempting to keep his eyes open and read a magazine. The +night telephone operator had gone to a restaurant a couple of blocks +away for a midnight cup of coffee, and the sleepy clerk was watching the +switchboard. + +There entered a gentleman from the street--a man whose face was muffled +in his coat collar. He was well-dressed, very much the gentleman, and +the clerk got up and hurried to the desk. Somebody with an important +business message for one of the tenants, the clerk supposed. + +"Something I can do for you, sir?" the clerk asked. + +"Yes--go to sleep!" came the reply. + +The visitor drew a vapor gun and discharged it in the clerk's face. The +latter gasped, and sank to the floor. The one who had used the gun +stepped to the door and gave a signal. Three more men sprang from a +closed car standing at the curb, and hurried into the lobby of the +house. + +"Telephone operator be back in a few minutes," the first man said. "One +of you remain here and get him. Answer any calls on the switchboard, so +things will look natural." + +One remained; the other three ran quickly up the stairs, ignoring the +elevator, which was in the basement, with a sleepy operator hoping that +nobody would call him. + +The three made their way to the floor where Roger Verbeck had his suite. +They listened outside Verbeck's door; then one of them inserted a +skeleton key, pushed out the key on the inside, turned the lock and +opened the door half a dozen inches. + +Again they listened, then opened the door wider and slipped inside. It +was evident that they were well acquainted with the place. While one of +them remained in the big living room, another went to the door of +Verbeck's bedchamber, and a third to the door of the room used by Muggs. + +There came a sharp hiss. The doors were opened. Figures darted across +rooms. Two vapor guns were discharged, and Roger Verbeck and Muggs were +instantly rendered unconscious as they slept. + +"Easy work!" one of the men commented. "Get busy, now!" + +Muggs was gagged and bound and lashed to the bed. Roger Verbeck was +dressed quickly by two of the men, while the third remained in the +living room, listening. When Verbeck had been made ready, the man in the +living room slipped into the hall, saw that nobody was there and that +the elevator was still in the basement. He returned and gave a signal, +and the other two picked up Verbeck and carried him into the hall. + +They went down the stairs, flight by flight, meeting nobody, and finally +came to the office again, where the fourth man was waiting. The +telephone operator had returned and had been rendered unconscious by +means of a vapor gun. + +They carried Verbeck to the automobile, put him in it, got in +themselves, and the machine darted away. Verbeck groaned, and once more +a vapor gun was discharged in his face. He relaxed. + +"That'll do him until we get to headquarters," one of the men said. "We +don't want him sick, and that stuff is pretty strong. What do you +suppose the boss is going to do with him?" + +"It is an excellent plan not to go supposing what the boss is going to +do with anybody," another growled. "I was in the other gang, and I +happen to know that it's a good thing to let the boss attend to his own +affairs." + +"Well, I didn't mean anything," snarled the other. + +The automobile traveled across the city, and after a time reached a +large house that sat far back on a quiet lane. Here the car left the +main thoroughfare, turned into the lane, and presently stopped before +the veranda of the house. Roger Verbeck was carried inside. The +automobile was driven around to the rear, and all its lights +extinguished immediately. + +When Verbeck regained consciousness he was bewildered. He was in a room +that was brilliantly lighted. He was stretched upon a couch, fully +dressed. He could not comprehend it at all. + +He sat up and looked around the room. It was lavishly furnished, and in +excellent taste. In the middle of the room was a long table, and there +were a score of heavy chairs scattered about. There were two doors, one +at either end of the room, but there did not seem to be any windows. +Here and there tapestries hung on the walls. + +He heard a bell tinkle, and one of the doors opened. There entered two +men, both wearing long black robes, and black masks. + +Verbeck knew, then. He had seen the costume of the members of the Black +Star's band often before. He had even worn one once, while gathering +evidence for use against the master criminal. + +So he had been abducted by the Black Star's men, and he had supposed +that they were so scattered that they could make no move. Was he to be +held as hostage, or something like that? Verbeck knew that the Black +Star was to be taken to prison within twenty-four hours. Were these men +going to avenge themselves upon him because he had been instrumental in +sending their leader to prison? + +"Well?" Verbeck growled. + +Neither man answered him, but he really had not expected that. The +members of the Black Star's band did not talk much. One of the men went +to the side of the room, and threw back one of the tapestries, revealing +a small blackboard. + +Why, this was exactly like the old headquarters of the Black Star, for +they had conversed there by means of blackboards! Could it be possible +that the band had gathered again, and were going to continue their +nefarious work without their leader, the master mind that had guided and +controlled them before? + +Verbeck watched as the man wrote: + +"Mr. Verbeck will remain quietly on the couch for the time being. If he +does not, he shall be made unconscious again." + +"What is the idea?" Verbeck asked. + +"One is coming who wishes to hold a conversation with you," the man +wrote on the blackboard. + +"How long shall I have to wait?" Verbeck demanded. + +"Until he comes!" the other wrote, and then dropped the tapestry and +went to stand beside his companion before the door. + +Verbeck sat down on the couch again and regarded them. He felt in his +pocket, found cigarettes and matches, and started smoking. His brain +was not entirely clear yet. + +He wondered what the man had meant. Who was the person for whom he was +waiting? Of course, it couldn't be the Black Star, Verbeck told himself. +The Black Star was to go to prison the following day, to begin serving +his sentence of twenty years. He had lost his last appeal. He had been a +broken man, evidently, for the past two or three months had acted like +one who had given up all hope of escape. + +Verbeck smoked the cigarette and lighted another. Again a bell tinkled +in the distance. Again the door was opened. Roger Verbeck gasped. + +The robed and masked figure that entered was larger than the other men; +and on the front of the hood that enveloped his head was a big, flaming +black star of jet. + +The Black Star! + +Then Verbeck chuckled. He saw it now, of course. The band had elected +another leader, and he had assumed the garb of the Black Star. Probably +they expected to punish Roger Verbeck for what he had done. + +The man who wore the star advanced to the middle of the room. One hand +came from beneath his robe, and Verbeck saw that he held a vapor gun in +it. He made a motion, and the other two men left the room and closed the +door. + +"So we have a new Black Star, have we?" Verbeck said. + +The man before him laughed, then took off his mask and tossed it aside. + +"Not a new one! The same one!" he said. + +Verbeck gave a cry and sprang from the couch. There could be no mistake. +The notorious master rogue stood before him. Verbeck knew his face well +enough. + +"But----" he began. + +"My friends rescued me during the night," the Black Star said. "It was a +very pretty little plot, indeed. I may as well let you know that I am +heading my organization again. My people have been collected by a +lieutenant of mine who never ceased working while I was in your county +jail. My band is stronger than it was before, and we are going to make +the city pay." + +"Well, what about me?" Verbeck asked. + +"I have had you brought here to show you in what contempt I hold you," +the master criminal said. "You caught me before, but you'll not catch me +again! Here is my new headquarters--take a good look. I suppose you'll +be on my trail again?" + +"And I'll catch you again!" Verbeck cried. + +"It will be a pleasure to have you try, Mr. Verbeck. It adds spice to +the game to have a good foe--and I'll admit that you are a good foe. It +will be entertaining to outwit you continually, to make you the +laughingstock of the city." + +"You tried that once before, and I had the last laugh!" + +"Pardon me! It is not time for the last laugh yet--but when the time +does come, I shall have it!" + +"Well, what are you going to do with me?" Verbeck demanded. + +"My dear Mr. Verbeck! Did you imagine you were to be treated with +violence? You know that I abhor violence of all kinds. I merely had you +brought here so that we could have this little conversation. I shall +send a letter to the newspapers telling them how I had you here and let +you see my new headquarters. That will give the city its first laugh at +you." + +"If I get the chance, I'll catch you!" Verbeck declared. + +"I intend you shall have the chance, my dear Mr. Verbeck. I shall render +you unconscious again, and have you taken to a certain place in the city +and left there. When you regain consciousness, start on my trail, if you +can find it. You were unconscious when you came here, and will be when +you depart. You understand? And I don't mind telling you, Roger Verbeck, +that anything done by me and my band before my arrest was insignificant +compared to what we intend doing now. I shall strike within twenty-four +hours, Mr. Verbeck. You need not trouble to warn the city. I already +have sent letters to the papers telling them of my intention." + +"And you can't get away with it!" Verbeck exclaimed. "I'll hunt you +down----" + +"That is your privilege, Mr. Verbeck," the Black Star interrupted. "I +flatter myself that I am a sportsman. I have you in my power at the +present moment, and could keep you where you could cause me no trouble +or annoyance. But I'd rather have you free to use your wits against +mine. As I remarked before, it will add spice to the game. Heaven knows +that the police couldn't even make it interesting for me!" + +"So you are going to stagger the city, are you?" Verbeck asked. + +"I am, Mr. Verbeck. We are going to loot the city more thoroughly than +we did before. We have perfected certain plans, and shall strike soon." + +"Going to play your old game--going to let us know in advance what you +are going to do?" + +"Possibly--at times," said the Black Star, smiling. "And I feel sure +that this time there will be no little accident that will make it +possible for you to take me into custody. By the way, how is your man, +Muggs?" + +"In excellent condition," Verbeck said. + +"My compliments to him, when you see him again, and tell him for me that +it will be a pleasure to clash with him. In a way, I admire Muggs. He is +such a perfect type of a thug." + +"He is not the man to have for an enemy." + +"Bah! I could outwit a score of men like Muggs without calling any of my +organization to my aid. Well, Mr. Verbeck, I am afraid that we shall +have to terminate this interesting conversation. I must get a little +rest, and confer with some of my people." + +He stepped back to the wall and pressed a button. Immediately the door +opened, and the two robed and masked men entered the room. One of them +held a vapor gun in his hand. + +Roger Verbeck was well aware that it would be a losing fight, yet he +fought to his utmost. But the fumes were discharged, the pungent odor +struck into his nostrils and filled his lungs, he was forced to gasp for +breath--and unconsciousness claimed him. + +The last thing he heard was the sarcastic laughter of the Black Star! + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +OVER THE TELEPHONE + + +The chief of police, notified by Sheriff Kowen that the Black Star had +been rescued cleverly by members of his band, dressed quickly and +hurried to police headquarters, there to go into his private office and +rave and fume, and relate to the world that Sheriff Kowen was an +official who knew not the meaning of precaution and efficiency. + +"That's what he gets for being a bug on raiding gambling joints!" the +chief cried. "Anybody would have known it was a plant--anybody with +brains. We fight that fiend of a Black Star for more than a year, Roger +Verbeck finally lands him, we convict the brute and have him handed a +stiff sentence--and then an idiotic sheriff allows him to escape! Now I +suppose we are in for another reign of terror, with every newspaper in +town telling the dear public that the police are fit candidates for some +old lady's home!" + +There was a lot more of this, while captains and lieutenants, sergeants +and roundsmen held their peace and hoped that their superior would not +make this an occasion for reprimanding them for some fancied mistake. +The chief had worked his way up from the ranks; he was endowed with more +brute force than intelligence, and he was a bad man when aroused. + +"Call Roger Verbeck's apartment, and get him on the wire!" the chief +commanded. + +The desk sergeant tried it immediately. He reported that the apartment +house did not answer. The chief made a few remarks about sleeping +telephone operators, and ordered the desk sergeant to try again. Not +getting a reply immediately, the chief called two detectives, ordered +them to hurry to Verbeck's place and acquaint him with the news, and to +have Verbeck get in communication with the chief at once. + +"The first thing the Black Star will do, will be to get hold of +Verbeck!" the chief declared. "He'll probably put Verbeck out of the way +if we don't prevent it. Verbeck caught him before, and he'll have to do +it again. I've got a police force composed of idiots, imbeciles and +blockheads! They couldn't catch a turtle walking across the street!" + + * * * * * + +At about the same moment the chief of police was indulging in this +tirade, Muggs groaned, tried to turn over and found that he could not, +experienced nausea, wondered whether he was being taken down with some +disease--and then made the discovery that he was bound and gagged and +lashed to the bed. + +Having made that discovery, Muggs forced himself to breathe normally, +composed himself, and tried to think. The last he remembered, he had +retired, started to fall asleep, and had dropped into the middle of a +not unpleasant dream. Now it appeared that there had been violence, and +he had known nothing of it. + +"Burglars!" Muggs thought at first. "Doped while I slept, and tied up +like this! I wonder if the boss----" + +The mere thought that something disastrous might have happened to Roger +Verbeck moved Muggs to instant action. He struggled with his bonds, and +at first believed that they could not be slipped; but finally he found a +knot that gave a trifle, and he redoubled his efforts, working in a +frenzy, his imagination picturing Roger Verbeck robbed and slain. + +After a time the knot gave, and Muggs managed to get his hands free. He +removed the gag and started working at the cords about his ankles. + +"Boss! Boss!" he called. + +There came no answer from Verbeck's room. Muggs managed to get off the +last rope, and sprang from the bed. Immediately he reeled and fell back +again. + +"I'm--sick!" Muggs gasped weakly. "That was--some dope! I wonder what +it----" + +And then it came to him. + +"I know that feelin' in my head and that taste in my mouth!" he told +himself. "Vapor gun! I've had enough doses of it before to know! +The--the Black Star----" + +But the Black Star was safe in a cell in the county jail, and due to be +taken to the penitentiary in a few hours, Muggs tried to tell himself. +However, Muggs did not have a lot of faith in jails, having escaped from +them twice himself before Roger Verbeck saved his life and made a man of +him. + +Once more he started to get up from the bed, this time slowly and +cautiously. He did not experience the nausea now, and though he still +felt weak, yet he managed to stagger across the room toward the door. + +He went into Verbeck's bedchamber and snapped on the lights. Verbeck was +not there. The room was in confusion. Verbeck's clothes, that Muggs had +put out for use in the morning, were gone, and his pajamas were on the +floor in a corner. + +Muggs hurried to the bed. It was there, pasted on the headpiece--a tiny +black star! + +"If he hurt my boss----" Muggs began, almost sobbing. + +And then he felt moved to sudden action again. He rushed into the living +room and to the telephone. He rattled the hook frantically, and +presently heard the operator's reply. + +"I want the police!" Muggs cried into the transmitter. "Mr. Verbeck is +gone--been taken away!" + +"Say! There are a couple of detectives here now to see Mr. Verbeck," the +operator replied. "They're coming right up!" + +Muggs darted back into his own room and began dressing with such speed +that he was almost fully clothed when the officers knocked at the door. +Muggs hurried to let them in. + +"What's this about Mr. Verbeck?" one of them asked. + +"The Black Star's got him!" Muggs cried. "They doped us while we slept, +and----" + +"I guess I can tell you all about that," the detective interrupted. +"They put out the night clerk and the telephone operator with those +cursed vapor guns." + +"And Mr. Verbeck is gone! They must have taken him! We've got to find +him! There's a black star--pasted on his bed----" + +"The chief just sent us up to see Verbeck about this business. The Black +Star's gang rescued their leader to-night--turned him loose. He left a +note saying that he was going to raid the town." + +"Well, why stand here and gas about it?" Muggs demanded. "Don't you +understand that the Black Star's got my boss? He put the big crook in +jail before, and you can probably guess what he'll get handed to him for +it now, if the Black Star is loose!" + +"Well, what can we do?" one of the detectives asked. "All we found out +was that there was a closed auto out in front, and three or four men +with it. If they carried Verbeck away, it's a wild guess where they took +him. This town has some size, remember, and the Black Star and his gang +are smooth customers." + +"You're a fine lot of detectives!" Muggs sneered. "You don't know what +to do, huh? Expect to find him by standin' around here smokin' cheap +cigars? Why don't you talk to headquarters and tell what you know? Get +busy!" + +One of the detectives called the station and made his report to the +chief. The police reporters were electrified by the statement that Roger +Verbeck had been abducted by members of the master crook's organization. +At the time the Black Star was arrested, he had sworn to have vengeance +on Verbeck, and though he claimed that he abhorred violence, and seldom +resorted to it, there were fears and misgivings lest Verbeck's body be +found in some lonely spot, a black star pasted on the forehead. + +The chief had not been idle. Every officer in the city was alert. The +police knew that the master criminal must have a headquarters somewhere, +and that it was their duty to locate it. Until he was under arrest +again, and his band broken up, he was a constant menace. He was liable +to strike at any part of the city, at any moment of day or night. The +blow might fall upon one of the big banks, or upon some social gathering +where a fortune in jewels could be obtained. + +News of Verbeck's abduction was flashed to all officers as soon as +possible. Roads leading from the city were under guard, and all vehicles +were being stopped and their occupants questioned. Arrangements had been +made to quiz real estate and rental firms in the morning, ascertain +every recent lease, and investigate it. The chief had given out word +that the headquarters of the master criminal had to be found, and +without delay. + +Muggs journeyed to headquarters with the two detectives, and told all +that he knew. And then he paced the chief's private office, raging, +begging them to do something, to give him only as much as a clew +regarding where Roger Verbeck had been taken, and he, Muggs, would +rescue him alone. + +In vain the chief attempted to quiet Muggs. + +"He's my boss--he ain't yours!" Muggs shrieked. "He saved my life and he +showed me how to make a man of myself! Maybe you don't care what becomes +of him, but I do. And if that big crook harms him, I'll get Mr. Black +Star if it takes me the rest of my life, and I'll choke the life out of +him with my bare hands!" + +"Muggs, we're doing all that we can!" the chief protested. + +"What are you doin'? Yellin' over the telephone to a bunch of cops and +havin' them run around in circles?" + +"But we can't do anything else!" the chief cried. "All we can do is----" + +The bell of his telephone rang. The chief whirled around and took down +the receiver. + +"Hello!" he cried. + +"Hello!" a man's voice answered. "Well, well, it is some time since I +had the pleasure of speaking to you over a telephone wire, chief." + +"Who is this?" the chief cried. "We're pretty busy here to-night, +and----" + +"I suppose that is all my fault. Don't you recognize my voice? I am the +Black Star!" + +"Oh, are you?" the chief shouted. "Well, you put one over on Sheriff +Kowen, but we'll pick you up before long!" + +"You think so?" the Black Star asked, laughing. + +"I know it, you crook! We'll get you, and we'll get the men and women of +that gang of yours!" + +"Well, well! You are talking violently, chief--but you always were +inclined to violence." + +"I'll be violent enough when I get my hands on you, all right!" + +"And I just called you up to give you some information. Are you +concerned about Roger Verbeck? One of my men reported a few minutes ago +that you were. You see, I am keeping in touch with you, chief. I know +every order you issue, every plan you make." + +"What about Verbeck?" + +"Don't worry about him. I had him taken to my headquarters so I could +have a little conversation with him. Half an hour ago he was dropped, +drugged, and unconscious, at the edge of one of the city parks. No doubt +he will be with you soon." + +"Your headquarters, huh?" the chief cried. "We'll locate that little +place within twenty-four hours, if it is in the city!" + +"You think so? I assure you that it is in the city--and perhaps in a +quarter where you'd least expect to find it. I scarcely think you can +find it inside twenty-four hours, chief. Besides, you are going to be +very busy before then." + +"I am, eh?" + +"You are," the Black Star said. "You will be wondering how we did it." + +"Did what?" + +"What it is that we are going to do--the first blow, chief!" + +"Lost your nerve, have you? You used to tell us what you were going to +do, and dare us to catch you at it." + +"Chief, your work is too coarse. Trying to anger me into telling you my +plans, are you? It cannot be done to-night, chief. But I'll tell you +this much--we intend making quite a haul! Expenses have been heavy +recently, you know, and I must have a sort of indemnity." + +"You'll get something worse than that when we get our hands on you!" the +exasperated chief cried. "You'll go up for life when we catch you!" + +"Catch me first!" the Black Star suggested. "By the way, some of my men +left Muggs bound and gagged when they carried Verbeck away. You should +see that he is released." + +"He has been--he's here." + +Muggs thrust the chief aside and grasped the receiver. + +"Yes, he's here, you big crook!" Muggs cried. "He'll be on hand when +you're caught, too, and then you want to look out for yourself! Kidnap +my boss, will you?" + +"Why, Muggs, how violent you are!" + +"You--you----" Muggs sputtered. "When I get hold of you, I'll make you +think you never saw or heard tell of that violence stuff before! I'll +show you some real violence, you crook!" + +"Tut, tut, Muggs! You'll be working yourself into a passion, my dear +boy. By the way, Muggs, tell the chief that he need not bother about +tracing this telephone call. I have tapped a private wire and am talking +over it--understand?" + +A click came over the wire, and it went dead. Muggs put up the receiver +and turned away from the desk, growling. + +The door of the office was thrown open--and Roger Verbeck hurried in. + +"Boss! Boss!" Muggs cried. + +"One minute, Muggs! We haven't time for a demonstration of affection at +present. Well, chief, he had me nabbed, and I've seen the inside of his +new headquarters." + +"Know where they are?" + +"I haven't the slightest idea. I was in an inside room--unconscious when +taken there, and unconscious when they brought me away. I came back to +life up in the park, where they had dropped me, got a taxi and hurried +here. I suppose we have it all to do over again. We've got to catch that +fiend, of course!" + +"Will you help, Verbeck?" the chief cried. "Will you take the time and +trouble?" + +"You know it! Why, the Black Star challenged me again--said I couldn't +catch him." + +"You're in command, Verbeck, as you were the other time. Any orders now? +Where shall we start in?" + +"You're having the roads watched?" + +"Of course." + +"Throw out the dragnet and pick up what you can. Can't tell--might get a +clew of some sort, you know. Get the rental agencies----" + +"I've planned to do that." + +"It probably will do no good, but it won't hurt any to try. The Black +Star is too smooth to be caught in that way. His headquarters probably +is in some house one of his band has owned and occupied for years." + +"He just called up," Muggs put in. "He said we'd be busy within +twenty-four hours." + +"And the Black Star, as we know well, always keeps his word!" Roger +Verbeck declared. "So his message probably means that he will strike his +first blow to-morrow night--or, rather, to-night. But where? And what? +Those are the questions." + +"And all we can do----" the chief began. + +"Is to wait until he strikes, and then take up the trail," Roger Verbeck +added. "I found out one thing--he has some new people in his +organization. He is using the blackboards again." + +"What's that?" the chief asked. + +"Each member of the band has a number and a countersign. Each enters the +headquarters room robed and masked, and carries on the conversation by +means of the blackboards. The Black Star issues his orders the same way. +He handles them by number, and in his other organization the numbers +were issued by one of his lieutenants." + +"What's the use of all that?" the chief asked. + +"It is very simple, chief. The Black Star may know what Number Eight or +Number Ten does, but he doesn't know the identities of the persons with +those numbers. He never could go on the witness stand and swear that a +certain member of his band did a certain share of the work. Understand? +It is a protection all around. On the other hand, the men could not +swear that the Black Star issued the orders--it might be somebody else +wearing the master crook's robe and mask. See?" + +"He's a clever devil!" the chief grunted. + +"He is!" Verbeck agreed. "We discovered that much before, remember. But +we know his methods now, and that is a help. We will not make the +mistake of underestimating him. It's all right to let him think so, and +to talk like it when he calls up by telephone, but in truth we know +we're up against a tough proposition, and we've got to act accordingly." + +"You mean to say you think it's going to be a hard job landing him?" the +chief asked. + +"I mean just that," said Roger Verbeck. "But we'll get him!" + +"You can bet we will!" added Mr. Muggs. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TRAILED + + +The morning newspapers had some very uncomplimentary things to say, both +in the news columns and on the editorial page, concerning Sheriff Kowen. + +The sheriff, who had had less than three hours' sleep, raged when he +read, and tore the papers into shreds. + +"That's right--blame me!" he shrieked. "Blame a man who was trying to do +his duty! If I don't raid gambling houses, I get blamed, and if I do +raid 'em, I get blamed again. How did I know that place was a plant? It +was a gambling house, wasn't it?" + +Since the sheriff was a bachelor, there was nobody in his apartment to +enjoy this tirade. He went to his favorite restaurant for breakfast, and +sat at a table far back in one corner, refusing to hold conversation +with anybody who approached. + +The sheriff was gathering anger. He did not intend to let Roger Verbeck +and the police get all the credit when the master crook was caught +again. He would go after the Black Star himself, he decided--swear in +more deputies and call upon his men to win. There were certain political +reasons for this. Moreover, the sheriff was a conscientious man; since +the Black Star had escaped through his work, it was his duty, he felt, +to recapture him. + +Sheriff Kowen left the restaurant and walked toward the county jail, +where he maintained his office. He passed countless persons he knew, +both men and women, and saw many smiles that possessed a quality the +sheriff did not relish. But he refused to take a taxicab--he would show +the public that he was not in hiding! + +"If I ever meet that Blanchard woman again----" the sheriff told +himself; and just then he saw her. + +She was on the walk a few feet ahead of him, going slowly toward a +department store. Sheriff Kowen hurried up to her, touched her on the +arm. + +"I want to talk to you!" he said gruffly. + +"Oh, good morning, sheriff!" she said, and smiled. + +The sheriff was disconcerted for an instant, but composure returned to +him quickly. + +"We are only a block from the jail, and my office," he said. "I want to +talk to you there. Shall we walk, or shall I call a cab and charge it to +the county?" + +There was a certain meaning to the last sentence, but she did not seem +to realize it. + +"I should be charmed to talk to you," she said, "but I have some +shopping to do this morning." + +"Your shopping will have to wait, young woman. This is a serious +business." + +"Why, what can you mean?" she asked. + +"Either you walk along with me to my office, or you go as a prisoner!" + +"Are you insane? Arrest me?" + +"In a minute!" said Sheriff Kowen. + +"I--I don't understand this--but I'll go along with you," said Mamie +Blanchard. + +"I thought you would," the sheriff returned. + +He said nothing more as they walked down the street. He took her into +his private office and offered her a chair at one end of his desk. He +closed the door, telling the stenographer that he was not to be +disturbed for the present. + +"Now kindly tell me the meaning of this," said Mamie Blanchard. "I--you +almost frightened me!" + +"What do you know about the Black Star?" Kowen asked. + +"Why, I read this morning that he escaped from your jail last night. You +should be more careful." + +Sheriff Kowen's face turned purple with wrath, but he controlled himself +and bent toward her across the desk. + +"And the cell he formerly occupied is now empty," he said. "Are you +anxious to inhabit it for a time?" + +"What do you mean, sir?" asked Mamie Blanchard. + +"You tipped me off about that gambling house. It was nothing more or +less than a trap whereby the Black Star could get a gang of his men into +the jail and free him. You know it, and I know it, and it won't do you +any good to try to bluff me!" + +"Why, how dare you? How perfectly silly!" + +"Silly, is it?" + +"I never heard of such a thing! This affair must have turned your brain! +I came in here yesterday merely to ask you if you required the services +of a woman detective. I always have wanted to take up detective work, +you know. You told me you did not, and so I left." + +"What sort of nonsense is this?" the sheriff cried. + +"Nonsense? Oh, I am sorry now that there was nobody else in the office +to hear me!" And Miss Mamie Blanchard sat back and smiled at the +official on the other side of the desk. + +"So that's the way of it!" Kowen said. "You'll stick to that story, will +you, because nobody else heard what you said yesterday? Woman detective! +You know what you came in here for yesterday--to carry out the orders of +the Black Star, help frame up that gambling-house deal----" + +"Really, I do not care to listen to any more such talk!" Mamie Blanchard +told him. "I am living with my mother at a respectable private +hotel----" + +"And your brother, the one who was going to the dogs?" + +"Oh, I have no brother! You must be mistaken, sir!" + +"You told me yesterday----" + +"Really, you are mistaken. You are confusing my conversation with that +of some other person, surely. Brother? Oh, no, sir!" + +Sheriff Kowen stared at her. "You are a wonder," he said, "but I am +afraid that you can't get away with it. The best thing for you will be +tell me all you know about the Black Star, where his headquarters are +located, and what he has planned to do. Do that--and do it right--and I +may forget all about what happened yesterday." + +"But I do not understand you! How should I know anything about that +notorious criminal." + +"Want me to throw you into that empty cell?" + +"You dare!" she said, indignantly. "My people have money, sir, and I can +promise you a damage suit that will give you food for thought! Are you +not ridiculous enough in the eyes of the public already?" + +Sheriff Kowen's face purpled again as he glared at her. He did not +doubt, knowing the past history of the Black Star's organization, that +this Blanchard woman would cause him trouble. + +"Well, I'm going to let you get away with it for the time being," he +said. "But don't think for a minute that you're fooling me! You are a +member of the Black Star's gang, and I know it! When we land him and the +others, we'll land you, too! And you'll get a nice, long sentence from +the court!" + +Mamie Blanchard stood up. "I do not care to be insulted further!" she +said. "I regret that there are no witnesses. If you annoy me any more, I +shall bring the matter to my lawyer's attention." + +"I suppose he belongs to the gang also," said the sheriff. + +He got up, too, but before he did, he touched a button beneath his desk. +It caused a buzzer to sound in another office. This told the deputy +there that the person leaving the sheriff's private room was to be +shadowed. + +Kowen opened the door and bowed his visitor out. She held her head high, +and there was an expression of indignation in her face. The sheriff +watched her disappear into the hall, and then reached for his hat. + +On second thought, Kowen had decided to shadow Mamie Blanchard himself, +assisting his deputy. He gave Miss Blanchard time to reach the street, +and then he started. She was already half a block away, making for the +nearest department store, and Kowen saw his faithful deputy trailing +her. + +Mamie Blanchard, under the eyes of the sheriff and deputy, entered the +store and began making purchases in an ordinary manner. Kowen approached +the deputy and engaged him in low conversation. + +"That's the girl that tipped me off about the gambling house," he said, +"and I know blamed well that she belongs to the Black Star's gang. I +tried to get some information out of her just now, but she's pretty +wise. We'll keep out of her sight, work independently, and trail her. +She may lead us to the big crook's headquarters." + +Mamie Blanchard made purchases at several departments, and then left the +store. If she was aware that she was under surveillance, she did not +betray it by her actions. She visited a soda fountain and ate ice cream, +emerged again, and finally engaged a taxicab. Sheriff Kowen engaged +another, and his deputy a third. + +They trailed her to a part of the city where were to be found houses +that once had been the homes of wealthy persons of social prominence. +But now those of wealth and society had moved to another section, and +these relics of other days were rented for various purposes. Here were +to be found small shops, cheap boarding houses, palmists, clairvoyants +and others of their ilk. Here and there were smaller houses back from +the street, some with billboards before them. + +Mamie Blanchard left her taxicab at a corner, glanced around, and walked +down the street. Kowen and the deputy shadowed her. It was not difficult +in this section. + +Mamie Blanchard was acting as if apprehensive now. She glanced around +continually. Once she stood for several minutes in front of a store +window. + +"On the right track!" Sheriff Kowen told himself. "She's going to that +crook's headquarters, all right, and she wants to make sure she isn't +being followed." + +He made a sign to his deputy, and they began to approach each other. +Mamie Blanchard had walked on down the street. Suddenly she darted +through a little gate, and walked swiftly toward one of the smaller +houses that sat back from the street. + +Kowen and his deputy saw her go into the cottage. + +"Go telephone for half a dozen of the men," Kowen ordered the other. +"When they come, scatter them around the block, and then come back here +to me. Either that house is the Black Star's headquarters, or the people +there have something to do with him. I'll watch." + +The deputy hurried away, and Kowen kept his eyes on the house. He +supposed there was a rear door, but behind the house was a high, blank +wall, and he knew that nobody could leave the place without walking +directly toward him. + +Kowen's heart began pounding at his ribs. If he could capture the Black +Star so soon after his escape, he would be the man of the hour. He would +show charity by calling in the police and Roger Verbeck, but theirs +would be reflected glory, and Kowen knew it well. + +The deputy returned at the end of half an hour. Men were posted behind +the alley wall, he explained, and were watching the house from the +buildings on either side. Nobody could get out without being seen and +stopped. + +"Then we'll go in," the sheriff said. + +They walked boldly to the front door of the cottage, and the sheriff +rang the bell. Nobody answered. Three times he rang, and yet nobody came +to the door, nor could they hear the slightest sound inside the house. + +"They're in there, all right; and won't answer!" Sheriff Kowen whispered +to the deputy. "They have spotted us, and know that we have them +cornered. I'm going to signal for the other men, and we'll break into +the place. It's stretching the law a little, maybe, but I'll run the +risk. This isn't like an ordinary case; we're after the Black Star, +remember!" + +The sheriff gave the signal, and then he and the deputy remained on +guard and alert for five minutes, at the end of which time half a dozen +more deputies had come from near-by buildings and joined their superior +officer. Kowen explained the situation to them in a few words. + +"And you want to be ready to go into action!" he concluded. "If the +Black Star or any of his gang are in this house, they'll be prepared to +put up a fight, and don't forget it! Watch out for those vapor guns and +bombs!" + +The sheriff rang the bell again, waited for several minutes, gave those +inside a last chance to come to the door. But he waited in vain. + +"Can't afford to waste any more time," he told his men. "We saw that +Blanchard woman go in there, and, from the way she acted before she did, +I'm sure this is either the big crook's headquarters or where some of +his people are living. Every minute we wait out here, we give them a +chance to get ready for us. Two of you men remain outside and see that +nobody gets away from the place; I'll call you if we need you inside." + +Kowen signaled to one of his biggest deputies. The man advanced, put his +shoulder against the door, pressed against it. + +"Got it bolted, I guess!" he said. + +He backed away, rushed forward, struck the door again with his shoulder, +and burst the door open. + +Sheriff Kowen and his deputies sprawled into the little front hall of +the cottage! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +WHAT KOWEN FOUND + + +No volley greeted them. + +There was no crash of vapor bombs, no cloud of pungent gas, no clash +with desperate and determined criminals who fought on behalf of their +leader and master! + +There was nothing but silence--a silence broken only by the deep +breathing of the sheriff and his deputies, who had sprawled into that +hall expecting to meet with instant battle, and to whom the unexplained +silence was more trying than combat. + +Again Sheriff Kowen gave a signal, and one of the men opened the door at +the end of the hall. They entered an ordinary living room that was +adorned with cheap furniture; it might have been the living room of the +home of a family in moderate circumstances. + +They passed on to a small dining room, investigating an ordinary +bedchamber. Sheriff Kowen began thinking that he had made a serious +mistake. + +"That woman came in here--and where is she now?" the sheriff said. +"Search the rest of the house--go into the basement--don't leave a +corner untouched. We're in here now, and we might as well do our work. +That woman is here some place, remember that. We saw her come in, and +she hasn't left." + +They searched the kitchen, another small bedroom, and found nothing, +neither a trace of Mamie Blanchard nor anything that would indicate +that the cottage was a den of thieves. They located a trap door, and +opened it, and saw a flight of steps running down into a dark basement. + +"Careful!" Kowen warned his men. "They're probably down there waiting +for us! We'll not all run into the trap!" + +He delegated one man to remain above. He flashed his electric torch, but +could see nothing except the flight of steps and the landing at the +bottom. With some of the others close behind him, with his electric +torch in one hand and his revolver in the other, Sheriff Kowen started +to descend the steps. + +Each instant they expected to hear the sound of a shot, or the explosion +of a vapor bomb, or to encounter one of the traps rumor said the Black +Star always had in his headquarters. Step by step they descended, but +nothing happened. + +They reached the landing, peered around the corner of a concrete +projection. Sheriff Kowen gasped. + +"Careful!" he warned again. "This is the headquarters, all right, and +there doesn't seem to be anybody here--but you never can tell. Watch out +for tricks and traps! Be careful what you touch and where you step. When +he was after the Black Star before, Roger Verbeck found himself in a +trap when he thought he was boss of the situation--don't forget that!" + +The sheriff stepped to the floor, walked a couple of paces away from the +steps. He saw an electric switch on the wall, hesitated a moment, and +then turned it. The basement was bathed in light. + +All the deputies with him were on the floor of the basement now. A +chorus of gasps escaped them. + +The basement was not like the rest of the house. It was furnished +lavishly. In the middle was a long table. At either end was a blackboard +on the wall. There were half a score of heavy chairs scattered about. +There were some papers on the table. + +"Watch the walls," Kowen instructed. "We've found the new headquarters, +all right. We'll beat Roger Verbeck and the police this time, thank +Heaven! Watch the walls--they're liable to open up and let a gang of +thugs in on us any time. I'm going to look at these papers on the +table." + +He posted his deputies where he wished them, and advanced slowly and +carefully across the floor. He was afraid the floor would open and +swallow him, afraid of some clever trap that would turn victory into +defeat and make him a laughingstock. + +He reached the table without accident, and glanced at the papers there. +There was no handwriting in sight. The papers had been printed with tiny +rubber stamps. Kowen remembered that such was the Black Star's method. + +He picked up the nearest and began reading. His eyes bulged and an +exclamation escaped him. + +"Great--great!" he muttered. + +For he was holding in his hands some of the master rogue's orders to his +band. Moreover, they had to do with the campaign of crime the Black Star +had promised. Kowen read it swiftly: + + Number Eleven reports that all is in readiness in his department. + Number Four will be at his post a quarter of an hour before + midnight. Number Ten will have charge of the men opening the + vault. One of the watchmen is a man of ours and will attend to his + companion; he is to be bound and gagged afterward by Number Eight, + as we may need him again and do not want any suspicion attached to + him. Automobiles will be at either end of the alley. Exit through + basement door after work is done. The bags of gold are to be put in + the limousine, which will be driven by Number Twenty. + +"This is great!" Kowen told himself again. "If we only can nab the whole +gang----" + +He picked up another sheet of paper, and started reading that. Once more +an exclamation of satisfaction escaped him. + + Midnight, Tuesday. National Trust Company. Preliminary work + completed. All who have received orders will act accordingly. Must + be no failure in this first case. Loot will be heavy. + +"Going to tap the National Trust, is he?" Sheriff Kowen said. "Well, +we'll be ready for him at midnight! He's going to run into a bunch of +trouble." + +The chief deputy stepped to his side. "Suppose they find out that we +have located their headquarters," he said. + +"Let us hope they won't find it out," replied the sheriff. "Don't touch +another thing here." + +"How about that woman?" + +"That's the one thing that puzzles me," the sheriff admitted. "She came +in here, and we didn't see her leave, and I don't see where she can be. +I suppose she came to get orders, or something like that." + +"You can bet that there's some other way to get out of here," the deputy +told him. "You can bet that the Black Star doesn't let his gang hang +around headquarters much. The way he did before was to have them show up +one or two at a time, at certain intervals. He's probably issued all his +orders and has quit for the day." + +One of the other deputies startled them. + +"Here's a little trap door--and a tunnel!" he said. + +Sheriff Kowen hurried to the corner. The deputy had spoken the truth. +There was a small trap door in the floor, and when it was opened the +mouth of a narrow tunnel was disclosed. Sheriff Kowen issued his orders +rapidly. Into the tunnel they went, flashing their electric torches, +revolvers held ready for instant use. + +They followed it a distance of a hundred feet--a dusty tunnel that +twisted like a serpent. They came to another small door, finally managed +to get it open--and stepped through the thick wall into the alley! + +"So that is it!" the sheriff exclaimed. "That is how the woman got away +from the house without our seeing her! Careful, now! We'll go back and +see that everything is as we found it. I've got a little plan that will +be a winner!" + +Back they went through the tunnel. They closed the door, saw that the +rugs were in place and that everything in the basement was as it should +be, and went up the flight of steps. + +They made sure that nothing in the house had been disturbed, went +outside, and found that the front door had not been much damaged. One of +the deputies locked and bolted it on the inside, then got out through a +window. + +"We'll hope that none of his gang has seen us around here," the sheriff +explained. "I've got to let the police in on this, but we'll get the +credit, all right. I haven't men enough! We'll have deputies and police +scattered all around this place to-night, and we'll nab anybody that +goes into this cottage, either by the front door or the alley tunnel. +We'll be waiting for Mr. Black Star at the National Trust Company's +place, too. The police can help, but we'll get the credit! And when we +get that crook back in jail----" + +Sheriff Kowen did not finish the sentence, but some of his deputies +grinned. They realized that the master crook would be in for a bad hour +when he was once more behind the bars. Sheriff Kowen knew how to punish +prisoners who tried to escape. + +"The big crook isn't as clever as he was before," the sheriff said. "I +guess those few months in jail have dulled his wits. If we can catch +some of those whelps that worked the game on us and got him away, I'll +be highly gratified. I won't need much help when it comes to teaching +them a lesson!" + +Once more his deputies grinned. They walked to the corner, received +fresh orders there, and scattered. Sheriff Kowen engaged a taxicab and +ordered the chauffeur to take him to police headquarters with the +greatest possible speed, traffic regulations notwithstanding. + +He found the chief of police there, and Roger Verbeck in conference with +him. Verbeck's big roadster was at the curb, and Muggs was at the wheel. +Kowen grinned at him as he entered the building. + +"So here you are!" the chief greeted him. "You've got a nerve to show +your face after letting the Black Star get away from you!" + +"Oh, I don't know!" Kowen said, smiling at them. "Have you gentlemen +done anything?" + +"What can we do except wait until he pulls off a stunt, and then go +after him?" the chief demanded. + +"Go after him first! That is what I did." + +"Oh, did you?" asked the chief mildly. + +"With some measure of success," said the sheriff modestly. "I have +discovered the Black Star's headquarters. I have seen some orders to his +gang that he left scattered around his table. I found nobody at home +when I called, and have every reason to believe that the crook and his +gang don't know they have been located." + +"Where is the place?" Verbeck asked. + +The sheriff told him. + +"Possibly you are right," Verbeck said. "But the Black Star is a tricky +individual, remember. And the orders are----" + +"At midnight to-night," said Sheriff Kowen, trying to retain his +modesty, "the Black Star's gang will try to loot the National Trust +Company's vaults. Now, let's get down to business!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +VERBECK INVESTIGATES + + +Roger Verbeck and the chief looked at the sheriff aghast. His +announcement had startled them. In his previous career of crime, the +master criminal had raided that establishment, and had almost wrecked it +because he removed so many assets. + +"How do you know that, Kowen?" the chief demanded. + +The sheriff told the story, not sparing himself, for he wanted to +convince the men before him, and now that the recapture of the Black +Star seemed so near, he could afford to speak the truth. + +He related the story of Mamie Blanchard's first visit to his office, and +of how he had trailed her after meeting her on the street. + +"That woman," said Verbeck, after Kowen had described her carefully, "is +a member of the old organization, and is known as The Princess. She +caused us a lot of trouble before." + +"She certainly did!" the chief admitted. "She is almost as clever as the +Black Star, is trusted by him, and handles a lot of his work. We didn't +get her when we caught the Black Star and smashed his old gang, and we +had supposed that she had left the country--possibly had gone to South +America. She came from Brazil, originally." + +Then Kowen continued his story, and told of finding the papers on the +table in the basement. + +"That's the part of it I don't like," Verbeck said. "It isn't like the +master crook to leave papers like those scattered around." + +"Didn't you get into his old headquarters once and find papers and +orders there?" the sheriff demanded. + +"I did, I'll admit. But really I do not like the appearance of this. +Describe that basement room to me again, Kowen." + +The sheriff did so. + +"Well, you seem to have described the room I saw last night," Roger +Verbeck said. "Perhaps you are right; but I think we are assuming too +much when we think the Black Star's people are not aware of the visit of +you and your men there. It would be more like him to have the place +watched continually." + +"It all looks good to me," the chief put in. "I happen to know that the +National Trust Company has a lot of gold in its vault just now--and you +can bet that the Black Star knows it, too. That organization of his is a +wonder. Why, my own secretary might belong to it, for all I know. We +found a police captain in the old one, remember." + +"Well, what are we going to do about it?" the sheriff asked. + +"What have you to suggest? It's your game," the chief reminded him. + +"I've got to have the help of the police, of course," Kowen replied. "I +haven't men enough, and this job calls for trained men. I think we +should combine forces." + +"Certainly," the chief agreed. + +"We ought to have a gang around the block that contains that cottage, +ready to nab anybody that goes in or comes out; and we ought to be +ready for the crook and his gang at the National Trust." + +"How do you want to work it?" the chief asked. "Do you want to watch the +cottage with your men?" + +"I'll send some of my men there, and you do the same," Kowen replied. +"And we'll both have men around the bank. I want to be there when the +big row comes off. Let's figure it out!" + +"Mr. Verbeck is in command of this, as far as I am concerned," the chief +informed him. + +"That suits me," the sheriff replied. + +They spent an hour perfecting their plans, and then the chief began +issuing his orders. Those orders went to officers in all parts of the +city. They were of such a nature that the Black Star, if some +confederate reported them to him, would not be exactly sure what they +meant, except that the chief of police expected him to attempt some +gigantic crime and would have his men in readiness. + +"If you see that Blanchard woman again, put her in the jug!" the chief +told the sheriff. "If you are afraid of a suit for damages, turn her +over to me. I'm not! She's The Princess, and there is a little charge +pending against her right now. Don't forget that." + +"If I had arrested her to-day, I wouldn't have found the crook's +headquarters," Kowen retorted. "But I'll nab her if I see her again, all +right!" + +The sheriff, well pleased with the arrangements that had been made, left +police headquarters and hurried to his own office, to give orders to his +own men. Kowen was exceedingly well pleased with himself. Even the chief +of police, his ancient enemy, admitted that he had done the work. Kowen +could see, in fancy, the newspapers of the following morning, with +their glowing accounts of how, within twenty-four hours after the Black +Star's escape, he had located the crook's headquarters, had learned his +plans, and had captured him again and broken up his band. That should be +political capital, Sheriff Kowen thought. + +He reached his office, called his chief deputy, and gave him +instructions. He warned the man that orders should be issued carefully +so that the Black Star might not learn what was planned. + +"We don't want to let that crook think we are wise to his game," Kowen +said. "If he does, he'll simply move his headquarters and call off this +little robbery. Then we'll have to start all over again--and I want to +get that man back in a cell before to-morrow. Newspapers and public jump +on me, will they? To-morrow they'll be saying how great I am!" + +The chief of police had remained in his office to make further plans. +Roger Verbeck left, and went out to the roadster. He ordered Muggs to +drive to a certain corner across the city. That meant that Roger Verbeck +had some deep thinking to do, for, when he had not, he drove the big +roadster himself. So Muggs, with a thousand questions trembling on his +lips, kept silent, though he looked at Verbeck reproachfully now and +then. + +Muggs reached the corner Verbeck had designated, and glanced around +scornfully. Muggs did not favor this section of the city. It reminded +him too much of certain quarters of Paris where he had existed in years +gone by, when he had been a criminal. + +"Wait here," Verbeck said. + +"Aw, boss, ain't I in on this?" Muggs protested. + +"Want to have the car tagged for being left longer than the law allows +on this street?" Verbeck demanded. "If I am not back in twenty minutes, +drive around the block and wait on the opposite corner--and keep that up +until I do put in an appearance." + +"This ain't a sweet end of town," Muggs said. + +"Are you feeling a certain amount of alarm for me, Muggs? Have you an +idea that I cannot take care of myself, in broad daylight?" + +"Aw!" Muggs exclaimed, in huge disgust. + +"You'll get plenty of action, Muggs, before this thing is over, if that +is what is bothering you," Verbeck said. "What I am going to do just now +calls for one man, and only one." + +Verbeck walked down the street, and Muggs hunched down behind the wheel +and glared at those who passed. + +Verbeck turned the first corner and disappeared, as far as Muggs was +concerned. He journeyed another block, turned another corner, and so +approached the little cottage that Sheriff Kowen had investigated. He +walked past it slowly, and glanced at the building. There was no sign of +life about it. + +Verbeck went on around the block and turned into the alley. He found the +little door in the wall, but there appeared to be no way of opening it +from the outside. He hurried on through the alley and made his way to +the front again. If this was, in reality, the Black Star's headquarters, +Verbeck did not want to spoil things by having some of the band see him +loitering in the neighborhood. + +He returned to the roadster, told Muggs to drive him home, and grinned +at the look of disgust in Muggs' face. + +"Ain't I in on this at all, boss?" Muggs wanted to know. "Gee! When we +was after that big crook before, you let me know everything. Don't you +trust me no more?" + +"Certainly I trust you!" Verbeck told him. "You know that I do! But why +bother you with minor details? In other words, Muggs, I am not sure of +anything yet." + +Reaching his rooms, Roger Verbeck spent the remainder of the day reading +books, as if the Black Star and his band did not exist and call for +thought. He ordered dinner earlier than usual, and then dressed in a +plain dark suit, and put on a soft cap. + +"Into the roadster again, old boy," he told Muggs. "Drive me to the same +corner." + +Muggs did so gladly; but when the corner was reached, he was disgusted +once more to find that Verbeck wanted him to remain with the car. + +"I don't seem to be nothin' but a chauffeur," he complained to the world +at large. "I used to amount to somethin', but I guess I don't any more." + +"Muggs, I told you that this is a one-man job," Verbeck said. "And I am +the one man!" + +He walked on down the street, chuckling at Muggs' grumbling. He passed +the little cottage once more. There seemed to be no lights inside it. +The yard about it was in pitch darkness, for the glare of the street +lights was cut off by the high buildings on either side, by the +billboards in front and the alley wall behind. + +Verbeck slipped inside the yard. For a time he stood against the +billboard and listened, and then he went forward like a shadow, and +finally reached a corner of the cottage. + +He made his way around the building, listening at doors and windows. He +found a window unlatched, and raised it inch by inch, without making the +slightest noise. A moment later, Roger Verbeck was inside the house. + +He held his electric torch ready, and his automatic. Not a sound reached +his ears to indicate the presence of any other human being in the house. +Verbeck flashed the torch, located a door, passed through it, and was in +the kitchen. + +There he found the door leading to the basement, and listened beside it +for some time. Then he opened it, slowly, cautiously, a bit at a time. +There was no light in the basement. + +Verbeck propped the door open with a chair, and descended the steps +carefully, not flashing his torch. He reached the bottom, listened for +some time, and then pressed the button. The shaft of light flashed +across the room. + +"Kowen was right--this is the place!" Verbeck told himself. "The +furniture--everything seems to be the same. But I don't like it. It +doesn't seem right, at all. I never knew the Black Star to be careless +like this before." + +Verbeck flashed his electric torch again and looked carefully around the +room. He even walked across to the table and read the orders Sheriff +Kowen had found there. The house was being watched by the police and +deputies by this time, Verbeck knew, for the men had received orders to +take up their positions soon after nightfall. The officers could be +depended upon to capture anybody who visited the cottage. + +Verbeck went back up the steps, crept through the house, and got out +through the window by which he had entered, and which he now closed +again. As he moved away from the house, an officer spoke to him. + +"I thought that was you, Mr. Verbeck," he said. "Have you been inside?" + +"Yes. There is nobody there now," Verbeck replied. "Is the door in the +alley wall being watched?" + +"Yes, sir," said the officer. "We've got good men scattered all around +the place. If that big crook or any of his people come near here, +they'll be nabbed!" + +Verbeck hurried up the street and sprang into the roadster, smiling at +Muggs' sour look. + +"Drive to police headquarters, Muggs," he directed. "We'll stay there +until a little before midnight, and then we'll go to the National Trust +Company with the chief and his men, and watch for the Black Star. If he +really attempts to rob that place to-night, he is going to be caught in +the act." + +"I'd like to get my two hands on him!" Muggs growled. + +"Perhaps you'll have the chance," Verbeck said. + +"If I do," Muggs said, "you can bet that the big crook will have a sore +throat for a month!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +MYSTERY AND AN ALARM + + +Muggs drove the powerful roadster slowly through the streets. The +newsboys were crying extra editions of the evening papers, editions that +had a great deal in them concerning the master crook and his intentions. +Verbeck had Muggs stop, and bought the papers, and was glad to see that +there was no inkling of Kowen's discovery in them. + +Verbeck did not feel satisfied. Remembering the Black Star's methods, he +could not convince himself that the master rogue would let himself be +captured again just as he inaugurated his campaign of crime. If the +National Trust Company was to be robbed, the Black Star would be there +in person, unless he had changed his tactics, for previously he always +had commanded his men during a big crime. + +But even the greatest criminals are wrecked by trivial accidents, +Verbeck knew well, and so he tried to tell himself that it was a +careless woman member of the band who had betrayed the crook's +headquarters and plans. Yet it was foreign to the character of The +Princess, as Mamie Blanchard was called by the members of the +organization, to be careless. + +"Well, we'll know the truth soon!" Roger Verbeck told himself. + +They reached police headquarters and went inside. The chief was waiting +for them. + +"Everything ready!" he announced. "We're going to land that crook quick +this time! I'm taking no chances, you can bet! I'll have every available +man around the National Trust Company's building. I've got some of them +inside right now, and in the adjoining building, and there will be a +crowd in the alley and in the streets." + +"I went up and took a look at that cottage," Verbeck said. + +"So that's what you were up to!" Muggs put in. + +"How did it look?" the chief asked. + +"Well, I can't swear to it, of course, but that basement room looked +like the one where the Black Star had me last night; and the orders +Kowen told us about were on the table. I didn't touch them, but I read +them." + +"Let us hope the crook doesn't get wise to the fact that we are on to +him," said the chief. + +"The chances are," said Verbeck, "that he had completed his work when +Kowen and his men got inside the house, and that the Blanchard woman was +the last of the band to visit there to-day. If the Black Star follows +out his usual method, he'll hurry back there after he pulls off the +robbery, providing we don't get him at the bank." + +"And if he dodges us at the bank, the men will pick him up when he goes +back to the cottage--very pretty!" the chief said. "Verbeck, I have an +idea that we are going to win to-night. The rogue's good luck has +deserted him, that's all." + +The chief opened a box of cigars and passed it around. From time to time +a sergeant came in to report about men being posted. Now and then some +detective telephoned rumors and information he had gathered. + +"The streets are jammed," the chief said, after one of these telephone +calls. "The blamed newspapers are out with big stories of how the Black +Star telephoned them that he would start his campaign of crime at +midnight. Well, somebody in the mob might get hurt, but it helps us, in +a way. It has been easier for us to get our men placed without some of +the crook's gang reporting the fact to him." + +"Oh, the chances are that he knows all about it," Verbeck said. "And he +probably doesn't care. The Black Star is original, don't forget that. +He'll not try to rob that trust company in any usual manner. He'll get +into the building with his men in some way we do not expect, and if +we're not on guard he'll get out again--with bags of gold. Did you +inform the bank officials?" + +"Great Scott, no!" gasped the chief. "They'd light up the place, remove +the gold, give the whole thing away. We want to catch the Black Star. +I'll guarantee that he'll never get away with anything there to-night. +You don't seem to have much confidence, Verbeck." + +"I haven't," Verbeck admitted. "I fought the Black Star before, you +know. I can't make myself think that he will walk into a trap--yet +everything seems to point toward it. Well, I'll be going, I guess. It is +eleven o'clock now." + +Muggs followed him to the curb, and this time Verbeck took the wheel +when they got into the roadster. He drove through the city and toward +the place where he lived, and, when he was sure that he was not being +followed, he circled through the streets and approached the retail +section of the city again. + +Verbeck parked the roadster several blocks away from the National Trust +Company. Then he and Muggs made their way through the crowd in the +street, their caps pulled down over their eyes, Verbeck hoping that he +would escape recognition. + +They went through an alley, and stopped in the darkness just before they +reached the other street. The rear of the trust company building was +just opposite them. + +"A quarter to twelve," Verbeck whispered. "The chief is to meet us here. +The sergeants know where he is to be in case he is needed quickly." + +"Why not get into the bank building?" Muggs asked. "Are we going to stay +here in the alley and let a bunch of policemen do this thing? Gee, boss, +ain't we goin' to handle it ourselves?" + +"We'll be right on hand, Muggs, if anything starts," Verbeck promised +him. "Don't worry about that!" + +Five minutes later, the chief found them there. + +"Now for the big drama!" the chief whispered. "Everybody is set and +ready. That master criminal, as he calls himself, is due to receive the +surprise of his life in a few minutes. I only hope he is on the job +himself--glad to nab any of his crowd, of course, but he is the man we +want in particular." + +"Those orders read 'midnight,'" Verbeck said. "If he carries them out, +we haven't long to wait." + +"Got an idea he won't carry 'em out?" the chief asked. + +"He may know that we are aware of his intention," Verbeck replied. "He +isn't fool enough to walk into a trap when he knows where the trap is, +you know." + +The chief flashed his torch and glanced at his watch. + +"Well, it's three minutes of midnight now," he said. "I wonder how he'll +try it." + +"He certainly will not walk up to the front door and break it down," +said Verbeck, chuckling. + +"I've got men in the basements of the buildings on both sides of the +trust company," the chief said. "If he tries to use a tunnel, he'll find +himself caught." + +"He came down from the sky on one occasion," Verbeck reminded the chief. + +"Look!" Muggs cried. + +He had glanced up at the sky as Verbeck spoke, and now was clutching at +their sleeves and asking them to look up, too. Far above the city a +bright light appeared, a light that traveled in circles. It grew larger +and brighter rapidly. It blazed forth like a monster searchlight, and +bathed in splendor the building of the National Trust Company. + +"Airplane!" Muggs gasped. + +"Then he's a long way up in the air," said the chief. "An airplane makes +considerable noise! It isn't an airplane!" + +"Then what is it?" Verbeck asked. + +"You've got me--but it isn't an airplane, or, if it is, it must be a +couple of miles high. That light doesn't seem to be that high up." + +The crowds in the street were yelling and shrieking now. The searchlight +continued to bathe the trust company's building in brilliance. The +police and deputies posted around the corner were amazed. Sheriff Kowen, +on the other side of the building, ran around like an insane man, +calling upon his men to do something. + +The light was extinguished; and again it blazed forth, and this time it +swept up and down the alley, revealing the chief and Verbeck and Muggs, +and officers who had been posted there. + +"The Black Star has something to do with that!" the chief said. + +"And he's spotted us!" said Verbeck. + +"Then we lose, for he'll not try to rob the trust company." + +"Don't be too sure of that! Some of his band may be in there now, and +this light, wherever it is, may be to attract our attention while other +men carry away the loot." + +"I've got plenty of men in the building," the chief replied, "and +they'll flash a signal the moment they see anybody that doesn't belong +in there. That light gets me. How high do you suppose it is?" + +"It's comin' closer to the ground," said Muggs. + +Once more the light was extinguished, and the crowds in the street grew +silent. Again it blazed forth, and this time it was so bright and near +that a man could not look into it. + +Then they heard a laugh, and the well-known voice of the Black Star. + +"Hello, chief! Hello, Verbeck and Muggs! Watching the trust company, are +you? I'm afraid that'll not do any good!" + +The chief drew his revolver and fired rapidly into the air. The Black +Star's sarcastic laugh reached them, and the light was extinguished +again. The sky was black; they saw nothing, heard nothing. + +"What kind of a thing is this?" the chief gasped. "He wasn't more than +a hundred feet above us when he spoke. What can it be? He can't be in an +airplane, or we'd hear the roar of the engine!" + +"And his band is probably looting the vault of the trust company right +now, or has looted it!" Verbeck said. + +He ran quickly across the street, and Muggs and the chief followed at +his heels. They knocked on a rear door of the building, and it was +opened at once. + +"Everything all right?" the chief asked. + +"Nothing doing yet, chief," replied the detective who had opened the +door. + +"We'll take a look and make sure," the chief said. "I don't like this +business at all!" + +They went through a corridor and found the two watchmen. They had the +lights in the vault room switched on. + +"That vault hasn't been touched," Verbeck said, "unless they have +tunneled from beneath. The door hasn't been opened." + +"That crook was wise," the chief declared. "He knew that we were here +waiting for him. How he found it out is more than I can tell--some of +Sheriff Kowen's carelessness, I suppose." + +A detective came running toward them through the corridor. + +"Chief!" he shrieked. "Sergeant just came from headquarters! He says +that the Black Star's gang is looting the First National--just got the +alarm!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ORDERS AND LETTERS + + +The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had +they watched Mamie Blanchard continually. + +When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, +hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the +tunnel. She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, +listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut +again. That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person +knew exactly how to do it. + +Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a +taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the +elevator and went directly to a suite. It was not the same hotel she had +visited after telling Sheriff Kowen about the gambling house, but she +found the same people there--a middle-aged woman and a middle-aged man. + +"Well?" the man asked gruffly. + +"Couldn't be better," said Mamie Blanchard. + +"What happened?" + +"I let him see me, and he took me to his office in the jail. Said he +knew that I was a member of the Black Star's band, and threatened to put +me in a cell if I didn't tell all I knew. I bluffed him, of course, and +then he got the wise idea of letting me go and trailing me. You could +almost see it sticking out on his forehead." Miss Blanchard stopped to +laugh. + +"Go on!" the man commanded. + +"The sheriff and a deputy trailed me. When I got near the cottage, I +began acting in a peculiar manner. I hurried inside, locked the door, +and went out through the tunnel and the alley. At the corner, I saw the +sheriff and his deputy still looking at the cottage." + +"Well, you did your part!" the man said. "Now we'll wait to learn +whether the rest of the plan worked out." + +They waited for half an hour. Then the telephone rang, and the man +answered. When he hung up the receiver and turned away, he was grinning. + +"It worked!" he said. "Number Ten has just reported. The sheriff sent +for more men, and broke into the house. They found the basement room and +read the orders, and they found the tunnel, too. Number Ten reports that +the sheriff has gone to police headquarters." + +"And that means," said Mamie Blanchard, "that there'll be half a hundred +cops around that cottage to-night, and all the rest will be at the +National Trust Company." + +"Exactly! And while they are at the National Trust, we'll be looting the +First National. That fake headquarters did the trick--just as the big +boss said it would!" + +"What now, Landers?" Miss Blanchard asked. + +It was the first time she had spoken his name. Like herself, Landers had +been in the Black Star's old organization, and now was one of the master +criminal's shrewd lieutenants. He had helped organize the new band, and +had engineered the Black Star's rescue. + +"I must go and report," he said. "I'll report for you, too. You'd +better stay pretty close to this suite for a few days. They'll be +looking for you now, you know." + +"I might as well be in jail as be a prisoner here," Mamie Blanchard +pouted. + +"It's orders!" Landers told her. "You'll be needed again soon, and +needed badly." + +Landers left the hotel, engaged a taxicab, and drove out along the river +road until he came to a resort. He paid the chauffeur there, and walked +along the shore, watching the bathers, acting like a prosperous man on a +little holiday. + +But after a time he left the resort and walked on along the road. He +turned into a lane, when he was sure that he was not being observed, and +approached a ramshackle farmhouse that was hidden in a grove. + +Landers entered the house, went down a flight of steps to the basement, +and stopped in a little room. There he put on a long black robe and his +black mask, and touched a button. In the distance a bell tinkled. Then a +buzzer sounded, and Landers opened the door and stepped into the Black +Star's headquarters. + +The master rogue was sitting at one end of the table. He got up and +stepped to the nearest blackboard. Landers went to the one at the other +end of the room, and picked up the chalk. + +"Number One," he wrote. + +"Countersign?" wrote the Black Star. + +"Amboy." + +"Report!" the Black Star wrote. + +Landers turned to the blackboard and wrote rapidly. + +"Sheriff decoyed to fake headquarters. Decoy escaped in manner planned. +Sheriff broke in and found room in basement. Number Ten reported to me +that everything was left as it was, and that sheriff went immediately to +police headquarters." + +"Good," wrote the Black Star. + +"Any further orders?" + +"Act to-night in accordance with the orders given you yesterday," the +Black Star wrote. "That is all." + +Landers bowed, and backed from the room. He took off mask and gown and +hung them up, put on his hat and gloves, and made his way from the house +and into the lane again. Once more he was the prosperous gentleman +enjoying a day in the woods and along the river. + +Back in the old farmhouse, the Black Star was receiving another report, +this time by telephone. + +"Number Eight," said the voice. + +"Countersign?" asked the Black Star. + +"Harvard!" + +"Well?" + +"I have been in communication with Number Twelve, who is in police +headquarters. Sheriff Kowen went there and held a conference with the +chief and Roger Verbeck. They fell hard for that fake headquarters +stunt. They are planning to watch the place to-night, and all officers +not there will be in the neighborhood of the National Trust Company, +where they expect us to strike." + +"Very good!" the Black Star said. "You have your orders for to-night?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Carry them out. There is nothing new!" + +The master rogue hung up the receiver, put the telephone away in a +secret niche in the wall, and sat down at the end of the long table +again. A man entered with a tray containing luncheon, and the Black Star +removed his mask and ate. The servant was a member of the old +organization, and took part in no crimes--it was not necessary for the +Black Star to wear a mask in his presence. + +Having eaten, the master criminal stretched himself on a couch in one +corner of the room, and slept. It was dusk when he awakened. He ate +again, and as he finished the little bell on the wall jangled. The Black +Star put on his mask, and touched a button. + +The robed and masked man who entered was small. He went directly to the +blackboard. + +"Number Sixteen," he wrote. + +"Countersign?" + +"Providence." + +"Report!" + +"First National received shipment of currency to-day as expected," the +other wrote. + +"What amount?" + +"Three hundred thousand." + +"What else have you to report?" + +"One of the watchmen is our man, and he will attend to the other. Number +Twenty has investigated the vault, and reports that he can open it in +twelve or fifteen minutes." + +"How about transportation?" the Black Star wrote. + +"One limousine and three closed autos; all has been arranged." + +"Good!" the Black Star wrote. "That is all--except I want no mistakes +made to-night." + +The other man left the room. The master criminal touched a bell button, +and the servant entered. + +"Has the mechanic reported?" the Black Star asked. + +"Yes, sir. The machine is in perfect working order, sir. He will test it +further after dark." + +"Very well. I want him to be ready to start about eleven thirty, perhaps +a quarter of an hour sooner than that." + +"Yes, sir." + +The servant bowed and left the room. The Black Star took paper out of a +drawer, and a box of rubber stamps, and began composing a letter that +was to cause the chief of police, the sheriff and Roger Verbeck much +chagrin before morning. + + To those poor fools whom it most concerns: + + I was amused at the manner in which you guarded the little cottage + so well. That fake headquarters was placed there in order to have + you send all officers to the National Trust Building. I understand + it fooled even Roger Verbeck. You may place all the blame on the + sheriff, since he responded so well to my decoy. While you guard + the National Trust, I shall be looting the First National of the + shipment of currency it received to-day. It is the first blow in my + campaign. And when you learn that I am looting it, and rush there, + I shall----But you will know what by the time you read this note. + +The Black Star put the folded note into an envelope, and addressed it to +the chief of police. Then he composed another to be mailed to a +prominent newspaper. + + I, the Black Star, begin my campaign to-night. Three nights from + now, I and my men shall steal certain jewels and art objects that + are famous. You may guess what they are, and where. Guard all + jewels and objects of art in the city, if you wish, but that will + not prevent us from getting them. ***** + +The Black Star put the letter into an envelope, addressed it, and then +put both letters into one of his pockets. He glanced at his watch, and +took off his robe, but retained the mask. He donned a heavy ulster, and +rang for the servant again. + +"Tell the mechanic to be ready in ten minutes," he said. + +"Yes, sir." + +"After I have left the house, throw on the protecting current, and do +not turn it off unless you get the proper signal." + +"I understand, sir." + +"The wires were tested this afternoon?" + +"Yes, sir; everything is in excellent condition." + +"Good!" said the Black Star. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A DOUBLE CRIME + + +At a quarter of twelve that night, a man walked rapidly through the +alley behind the First National Bank. He knocked on the basement door of +the building adjoining. The door was opened by a watchman. + +"Everything's all right," the watchman reported. + +"Did you attend to that other fellow?" + +"He'll sleep for a couple of hours yet." + +"Fine work. You are to disappear after this, of course. Go to the hiding +place arranged for you, and you will be sent ample funds. You are not to +attempt to leave the city until you get orders to do so. Understand?" + +"Sure. I know my business, all right." + +"You'd better! The boss is going to be mighty strict during this +campaign of his. The man who makes a mistake or disobeys orders won't +last very long. Where are the robes?" + +The watchman opened a box, took out a robe, and handed it over. The +other man put it on quickly, affixed the mask, and started toward a door +that opened into the basement of the bank building adjoining. At the +door, he turned again. + +"Let the others in, and tell them that they are to hurry," he told the +watchman. "They'll give the usual signal, of course. Hand them their +masks and gowns." + +He opened the door and hurried into the other basement, went up a flight +of steps, unlocked another door, and was on the first floor of the bank. + +Down in the basement, the watchman admitted other men who arrived two +minutes apart, until twelve in all were in the building, and gave them +robes and masks. They hurried into the other basement and up the stairs, +and took up their positions. + +Some guarded the stairways that led to the second floor. Others were +scattered around the first floor, watching the doors and windows. Two +hurried into the vault room. + +The shades had been drawn at all the windows, and were fastened securely +at the sides and bottoms so that no light could be seen from the +outside. An electric torch was flashed on the door of the vault, and +held there, and one of the men began working on the lock with tools +taken from beneath his robe. + +"It's a cinch!" he whispered. "The more intricate they are, the easier +it is to open them. I didn't work once in a safe factory for nothing!" + +Save for the rasping of tools against steel and the heavy breathing of +the man who worked, there was silence in the vault room and in the rest +of the building. Presently there came a sharp click, the workman gasped +his satisfaction and stood up. The big door was pulled open. + +Both men hurried inside the vault. They began stuffing packages of bills +into canvas bags which had been in the box with the robes. + +"That's all!" one of them whispered to the other. "The boss said for us +not to bother with securities or any of the small stuff. We'll go!" + +"We'd better, or they'll be on us in another minute," the other man +replied nervously. "When you opened that door you sent in an alarm." + +"And it went to a protective agency where the man on night duty is one +of us," the other replied, chuckling. "He'll have to give out the alarm, +of course, but by the time he gives it out, we'll be far away. What time +is it now?" + +"Twelve thirty." + +"Just right! Send the signal to the others. The lieutenant is standing +by the window at the end of the hall." + +A hiss escaped the man's lips, and was carried and echoed through the +building. The men gathered in the corridor, the lieutenant made sure all +of them were there, and then they descended into the basement, and +passed from it to the one adjoining. + +"Signal for the autos," the watchman was ordered. "Then make your own +get-away. And be sure you remember all that you've been told. Obey +orders!" + +The watchman stepped into the dark alley, and flashed an electric torch +five times. A chauffeur at the mouth of the alley counted the flashes, +and honked his horn. A procession of four automobiles started through +the alley. + +They did not stop, but merely slowed down, and into each machine sprang +the men who had been assigned seats there. The automobiles continued +through the alley and turned into the next street, where the chauffeurs +put on speed. + +There were few persons in that particular section of the city at the +time, but those who were on the street saw the automobiles filled with +robed and masked men. They knew what that meant--that the Black Star's +band was working in the vicinity. Their terror kept them dumb until the +automobiles had disappeared, and then they gave the alarm. They knew +that there was but one thing in that section that would attract the +master crook--and that was the vault of the old First National. The +alarm went to police headquarters. + +A few blocks down the street, the automobiles scattered, and one by one +made their way to dark parts of the town, where the men in them took off +their robes and masks, and, one by one, left the machines and darted +away. + +The band was scattered fifteen minutes after the vault had been looted, +and one machine, a closed one, was running out along the river road +toward the resort. The chauffeur drove in a leisurely manner, and the +car attracted no undue attention. + +At the end of the lane running to the old farmhouse, where it was pitch +dark, the door of the closed car was opened, and a man sprang out. The +automobile went on along the river road. The man who had jumped from it +carried two canvas bags stuffed with currency. He was Landers, the Black +Star's trusted lieutenant. + +Landers hurried along the lane, entered the grove about the house, and +took a telephone from its hiding place behind a clump of brush. He +called the house, and the servant who remained on guard at the +headquarters answered. + +Landers gave a password, then put the telephone away and sprang to his +feet. He came to the wire fence that ran around the house, but he did +not touch it. He knew that it was charged with a deadly current. A light +flashed in a window, and Landers opened the gate and went on to the +house. He disappeared inside. His work for the night was done, except +that he had to turn in the swag. + +But the Black Star and his band were not done for the night. The men who +had left the automobiles and scattered, immediately made their way to +the National Trust Company's building, and lost themselves in the throng +of people there. They bumped elbows with policemen and deputies and +detectives, and grinned when they recognized one another in the crowd. + +They were in time to hear the alarm given, and to see policemen spring +into automobiles and hurry away. They saw Muggs drive through the crowd, +and Roger Verbeck spring into the roadster and start for the First +National Bank. Word flashed through the crowd that the master rogue's +band was looting the First National, and the crowd melted away like snow +beneath a blazing sun, hurrying toward the scene of the robbery. + +One by one, and cautiously, the Black Star's men entered the alley +behind the National Trust Company's building. Here, too, a basement door +was opened for them by a watchman. Once more they put on masks and gowns +from a supply that was in readiness, and posted their guards in the +building. Once more two selected men hurried into the vault room. + +They began their work on the door of the vault; and suddenly the Black +Star himself appeared before them, his face masked, the flaming star of +jet on the hood of his robe. + +"Make it as quick as possible!" he ordered. "We don't want to be here +too long. Did things go all right at the other place? Was the get-away +good?" + +"Everything went off as planned, sir," one of the men reported. "The +work was done to the minute, and the get-away was as you had ordered, +sir." + +"Disguise your voice when you speak to me, you fool!" the Black Star +said. "And hurry with that vault! We can't spend all night getting +inside that box!" + +The rasping of tools against steel, the heavy breathing of the workman +told that the man was doing his best to hurry. But the vault of the +National Trust Company was a complicated affair, and it was a quarter of +an hour before the door finally was swung open. + +"Lively, now!" the Black Star commanded. "Those bags of gold are what we +want--and all we want here at this time. Get them to the rear door as +soon as possible, and signal for the autos. All you men get busy!" + +The masked and robed members of the band carried the heavy bags from the +vault, hurried through the corridor with them, went down the stairs, and +to the basement door. + +The Black Star watched the work. When it was completed, he walked across +the room to the nearest telephone, took down the receiver, and gave the +number of police headquarters. + +"Is the chief there?" he asked. + +"He's here, but he's busy. What do you want with him? Who is this?" the +desk sergeant demanded. + +"I think he'll talk to me, all right. This is the Black Star talking." + +There was an exclamation at the other end of the wire, and presently the +chief spoke. + +"Hello! This is the chief!" + +"This is the Black Star! Did my new searchlight puzzle you a bit +to-night, chief? When you know the secret you'll be more startled than +puzzled. Did you wonder where my voice came from, and how I happened to +be in the air just over you? Maybe you got the idea that I was putting +on a ventriloquist's act." + +"We'll get you, you fiend!" the chief cried angrily into the +transmitter. + +"Why, chief, how violent you sound! I am afraid you are working yourself +into a passion." + +"You got away with it this time, but you'll not do it again. And you had +to lie to do it this time!" + +"Indeed? How is that?" + +"You used to boast of what you were going to do, and dare us to catch +you at it, and you always told the truth in those days. You must be +losing your nerve. You said, you crook, that you were going to rob the +National Trust--and then you went after the First National." + +"Oh, that was just a little job on the side!" the Black Star said. "I +told you no falsehood, chief. I said that I would rob the National +Trust, and that is exactly what I have done. I am speaking from the +vault room of the National Trust this very minute. I have just removed +several bags of gold coins!" + +"What's that?" the chief cried. + +"I am leaving a letter here in the vault room for you, chief, and have +just mailed another to a certain newspaper. You'd better come right over +here and get your letter, chief. And thanks so much for rushing all +your silly policemen over to the First National when you got the alarm, +so they would not bother my men here. It was very thoughtful of you!" + +The Black Star laughed, and put up the receiver. He laid the letter +addressed to the chief in the middle of the table, and pasted little +black stars around the room on the marble. He ran to a rear window and +saw three automobiles passing through the alley. In them were his men, +he knew, and also the gold coin taken from the supposedly impregnable +vault of the National Trust. + +The Black Star laughed again, went to the stairs, and began mounting +them, flight by flight, stopping now and then to laugh at a bound and +gagged watchman. Presently he reached the roof by means of a trap door. +He closed the door again, and fastened it securely. Then he took an +electric torch from his pocket, and flashed a signal toward the sky. + +He removed his robe, rolled it up, put it beneath his arm. He picked up +his heavy ulster from the roof, where he had left it before descending +into the bank, and put it on. + +Once more he pointed the electric torch upward and flashed a signal. +Then he touched match to cigarette, walked to the edge of the building, +and glanced over. + +He heard the sirens of police automobiles in the distance. He saw the +machines stop and policemen spring from them. He watched as they gained +entrance to the building, saw a crowd gathering in the street below. The +Black Star chuckled again, took a vapor bomb from the pocket of his +ulster, and hurled it at the street. It struck, exploded, and a cloud of +white, pungent vapor drifted across the pavement. Shrieks and cries of +alarm reached his ears. He saw one policeman stagger and fall, overcome +by the gas. + +The Black Star, still chuckling, walked back to the middle of the roof. +He flashed another signal, and then returned the torch to his pocket. + +He laughed again--and waited! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MORE MYSTERY + + +Police headquarters was thrown into a turmoil for the second time that +night when the chief received the master criminal's telephone message. + +Roger Verbeck and Muggs rushed for the roadster, sprang in, and drove +like mad through the streets toward the National Trust Company's +building. + +The chief shrieked his orders, officers tumbled into department +automobiles, and followed Verbeck. They reached their destination, and +sprang out. Verbeck already had ascertained that the front doors of the +bank were locked and bolted. He rushed around to the alley, followed by +Muggs, the chief, and a dozen officers. A detective hurried to telephone +Sheriff Kowen. + +The basement door was open, and they rushed inside. They found the +watchman bound and gagged--he was a member of the Black Star's band, but +they needed him again, and so made the attempt to remove all suspicion. + +"The Black Star!" he gasped when they had removed the gag and bonds. "He +was here with his gang! They carried out gold--went away in autos +and----" + +Verbeck had rushed on to the vault room. The chief and some of the +others followed. They found the door of the vault standing open, money +scattered on the floor, papers in confusion. + +"He cleaned out all the big stuff!" the chief said. "One of you men +telephone the president of the trust company and tell him to hurry down +here." + +"Here's the letter he mentioned, chief," Verbeck said. + +The chief ripped it open and read it, then thrust it into one of his +pockets. As he turned away, there was a sharp explosion in the street, +then a bedlam of shrieks and cries. They rushed to a window and threw it +open. + +"Bomb!" somebody in the street was shouting. "It came from the roof!" + +"One of that crook's gas bombs!" the chief exclaimed. "On the roof, is +he?" + +Verbeck already was running toward the stairs, with Muggs just behind +him, determined to be in the midst of the affair. Muggs had been +complaining again that he was not playing a principal part in this +drama, and that he felt he was entitled to one. + +Half a dozen officers took after them, the chief bellowed orders and +posted guards throughout the bank. He sent other men to the floors above +to release the watchmen. And then he followed Roger Verbeck, running up +the stairs, puffing and panting, wishing that the elevator was running. + +They came to the little steel stairs that led to the trapdoor and the +roof. Verbeck tried to open the door, and found that it was fastened on +the outside. + +"Either the Black Star or some of his men are up there!" Verbeck said. +"The door wouldn't be locked on the outside, otherwise." + +One of the detectives had procured a fire ax from the hall on the floor +below. He ran up the steel stairs and attacked the heavy door +vigorously. The chief sent a man for another ax. + +More officers had come up the stairs now, and stood at the bottom of the +steel steps, waiting for the trapdoor to be opened. + +"As soon as we get through, rush up there and go at them," the chief +directed. "We don't know how many are up there, so be ready to mix it! +Shoot, if you have to, but get him alive if you can. And look out for +vapor guns and gas bombs!" + +"Somebody on the roof is asking for you, chief!" the man with the ax +called down. + +The chief hurried up the steps. "Well, who is it?" he demanded. + +"This is the Black Star. Can't you recognize my voice? Still practicing +violence, I see, and this time on a door!" + +"Well, what do you want?" the chief cried. "Do you want to give yourself +up?" + +"Certainly not, my dear chief. I just wanted to let you know that I was +here." + +"And we're going to get you!" the chief cried. "If it is necessary we'll +get you with a gun! If you start using that vapor stuff when we get the +door open, my men will shoot. Understand that? I'll give you one minute +to surrender and open the door!" + +"Why on earth should I do such a thing as that?" the Black Star wanted +to know. + +"Because you are at the end of your rope, that's why!" the chief +replied. "If you try to go down a fire escape, you'll be plugged. And +that's the only way you can get off the roof." + +"I have no intention of going down a fire escape," the Black Star +replied. "I give you my word of honor--or dishonor, if you prefer it +that way--that I shall descend no fire escape to-night. Does that +satisfy you?" + +"Are you going to give yourself up?" + +"Dear me, no! I couldn't think of it. I have had a very pleasant +evening, chief--very pleasant indeed--and profitable, also. By the way, +did you get your letter?" + +An exasperated chief descended the steps and motioned for the detective +to go to work with the ax again. The heavy blows began raining against +the door. Between them, they could hear the Black Star laughing. + +"Get through that door!" the chief shrieked. "We've got him in a trap!" + +"I wouldn't be too sure of that," said Roger Verbeck. "He seemed to +speak with confidence." + +"But how can he get away?" + +"The Black Star used to be noted for doing some peculiar and seemingly +impossible things," Verbeck reminded the chief. + +"I want to be the second man through that door!" Muggs said. "I got it +comin' to me, boss. You ain't let me do a thing to-day, and I want to +get my hands on that big crook!" + +"That's what we all want to do," the chief remarked. "Get ready, men; +that door will be open in a minute!" + +The detective had succeeded in cutting a hole in it. Now he put his face +close to the aperture and looked out. He could see nothing but darkness. +Cautiously, he extended a hand and felt for the bolt, located it, shot +it back. He whispered the news to those behind him. The officers crowded +the steel stairs, and Muggs got well in the van. Muggs declined to be +sidetracked longer. + +The detective threw the door open, and they stumbled up the steps and to +the roof, their weapons held ready, to dart to either side, expecting a +shot, or a vapor bomb at least. + +Their electric torches flashed, and the roof was bathed in light. There +was nothing behind which a person could hide, except two chimneys. The +officers approached the chimneys, carefully, ready for instant combat. +They circled them--and found nobody. + +"He's here--got to be here!" the chief cried. + +They rushed to all the fire escapes and found that nobody was on them. +They shouted to officers in the street below, and were told that the +fire escapes had not been used. They searched every square foot of the +roof, looked along the parapet, found nobody. + +"I tell you that crook's got to be here!" the chief shouted. "How could +he get away?" + +"Airplane," one of the detectives suggested. + +"Don't be an ass!" the chief shrieked. "An airplane makes a lot of +noise. And it wouldn't be easy to pick up a man from a roof in the dark, +you fool! The only way it could be done would be to trail a rope and let +him grab it, and that would mean a dead man on the pavement below. You +ass, an airplane travels with speed!" + +"Well, he doesn't seem to be here," Verbeck offered. + +"But where could he have gone?" the chief cried. "Even the Black Star +can't make himself invisible at will!" + +Then they heard the Black Star laugh derisively. + +They flashed their torches and again searched the roof. Once more they +heard the laugh. Now it seemed to be to one side of them, and now to +another. Above them, behind them, in front of them they heard it. + +"This thing will drive me crazy!" the chief cried. "Flash those torches +again! That crook is somewhere right here on the roof! Look for another +trapdoor!" + +They searched the roof, and found nothing; but again they heard the +laugh, only it sounded far away now. Suddenly the roof was bathed in +bright light that seemed to come out of the sky. + +"He's up there--on something!" the chief shrieked. + +They emptied their revolvers and automatics toward the sky. The light +died out, flashed forth again and almost blinded them. Once more they +heard the sarcastic laugh of the Black Star, as if far in the +distance--and then the light was gone. + +They stood silent, looking upward. Not the slightest sound came to their +ears, except echoes of the shouts in the street below, where people were +wondering about the peculiar, blinding light. + +"What does it mean?" the chief cried. "Verbeck, what has that devil +done?" + +"I haven't the faintest idea," Roger Verbeck replied. "I don't +understand that laugh, and I can't imagine where that light comes from. +I'd think naturally, that it was an airplane, but, as you said, it would +be almost impossible to pick a man off the roof at night--and an +airplane makes a lot of noise. And we didn't hear a sound--remember +that!" + +Once more the voice of the Black Star reached their ears. He seemed to +be shouting to them, and to be not so very far away. + +"Good night, gentlemen!" he called to them. "It has been a splendid +evening of amusement and profit. Good night--and let me express the hope +that you'll have pleasant dreams!" + +That was all. Though they waited on the roof for half an hour longer, +they heard nothing more from him, saw nothing of him, and finally they +turned and went back down the stairs, puzzled, angry, but determined to +make the master rogue pay. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ANOTHER TELEPHONE CALL + + +The newspapers the following day were full of the exploits of the Black +Star. They explained that the master crook had inaugurated his campaign +of crime and revenge by looting two of the richest financial +institutions in the city. From the First National his men had obtained +more than three hundred thousand dollars in currency. From the vault of +the National Trust Company had been taken a quarter of a million in gold +coin. + +Banking officials were frantic. They made arrangements to safeguard +their property, fearing to lose the confidence of their depositors. They +engaged extra watchmen, men they knew personally, since to engage a +stranger, no matter how good his references, might be to put one of the +Black Star's men in the place. + +Sheriff Kowen and his deputies were blamed, the chief and his policemen +were declared incompetent and inefficient, and Roger Verbeck and Muggs +were held up to ridicule. + +The mysterious light that had come out of the sky was described at +length, and many speculations made as to its nature. The scene on the +roof of the building, told by one of the detectives, was played up, and +there were many conjectures as to what it meant. + +Had the master criminal come into possession of some wonderful new +invention? Was he able to escape when and as he liked? Some inclined +toward this belief, and others declared that the Black Star had gone +down a fire escape under the noses of the officers, entered the building +through a window at some floor, walked down the stairs and emerged into +the alley and gone his way. The Black Star, one paper stated, was a mere +man and did not call upon the supernatural to aid him. He merely had +better brains than the police. + +Where would he strike next? + +Within three days, he had said in his letter to one of the papers, he +would steal, with the aid of his band, jewels and famous objects of art. +Thousands of persons had valuable jewels, and it was well known that the +master criminal was a gem fiend, that he had a great collection and +gloated over them. Perhaps he meant a jewelry establishment, a wholesale +diamond house. + +When it came to famous objects of art, there was a wealth of them in the +city. Two millionaires had great collections. There was a famous museum +that housed several hundred priceless paintings. Here and there +throughout the city were others. + +Jewels were carried to safe-deposit vaults. The guards at the museum +were doubled. The two millionaires obtained police protection for their +residences. And the city waited. + +Two days passed, during which nothing was heard of the Black Star and +his band. Sheriff Kowen and his deputies searched in vain for Mamie +Blanchard. Roger Verbeck and Muggs drove about in the big roadster +continually, watching people, trying to catch a glimpse of some known +member of the Black Star's old organization. + +The city was gone over, block by block, in an effort to locate the +master crook's headquarters, but to no avail. The search extended to the +suburbs, but nobody thought of the old farmhouse far up the river near +the pleasure resort. + +"Well, it's about time we heard from him again!" the chief said to +Verbeck on the morning of the third day. + +"I look for him to strike to-night," Verbeck said. + +"And where do you think he'll strike?" + +"That is the puzzle," Verbeck admitted. "I scarcely think he will +attempt the museum. It would be a blow to civic pride if he did and +succeeded, of course, but the odds would be against him." + +"He seems to thrive on odds that are against him," the chief replied. + +"Sooner or later, we'll get him!" Verbeck declared. "Sooner or later one +of his people will make a slip that will give us the clew we need. They +can't keep it up forever." + +"But I want to land him right away!" the chief fumed. "Did you happen to +read the morning paper? If this sort of thing keeps up, the mayor will +be asking for my resignation, and I'll go out of office without having +vindicated myself. Confound Kowen, anyway! Why couldn't he keep the +crook when he had him? But for Kowen, the Black Star would be doing time +in the big prison right now!" + +"But he isn't--and it doesn't do any particular good to wail about it," +said Verbeck. "The thing to do is to get him again. Made any plans?" + +"I'm up in the air!" the chief complained. "What plans can I make? I've +got men guarding the museum, and those millionaires' residences, and a +few scattered near the jewelry establishments. And I'll hold men ready +to go to any section of the city when we get an alarm. That is all I can +do. If we knew where he was going to strike----" + +A buzzer sounded, and the chief took up the telephone. + +"Hello!" he called. + +"That you, chief?" + +"Yes." + +"Ah, good morning. This is the Black Star! I have tapped a private line +again, chief, to have a little chat with you! I've been resting for a +couple of days, giving my men and women a holiday. But I'm eager to be +busy again!" + +"When I get my hands on you----" the chief began. + +"Tut, tut! Why do you always grow violent when I do you the honor of +calling you up?" + +"Honor? Insult, you mean! We'll get you, and get you good, one of these +days!" + +"I'll have all the wealth in town if you delay it very long," said the +Black Star laughing. "By the way, chief, I'd suggest that you keep a lot +of your men at headquarters to-night. You are going to need them." + +"Think so?" + +"I know it! And I have a faint idea that the newspapers are going to say +more naughty things about you to-morrow. That was a pretty grilling the +_Herald_ gave you, wasn't it?" + +"I'll give you a grilling when I get my hands on you!" the chief said. +"So you're going to pull off some sort of a stunt to-night, are you?" + +"I am. Inaction bores me, chief. My men are eager to get to work again. +They take great pleasure in helping outwit the stupid men on your +force." + +"We'll see who'll do the final outwitting!" the chief cried. "I'm going +to----" + +"Going to get me, I think you said before. Sorry to dispute you, chief, +but I can't agree. How do you expect to accomplish it?" + +"Tell me one thing," said the chief. "How did you get off that roof, and +where did you go?" + +"Sorry, but that is a sort of state secret for the present," the Black +Star replied. + +"Well, if you didn't go down one of the fire escapes, write a letter to +the newspapers and say so. They're swearing that you walked right out of +that building before our noses." + +"All right, chief, I'll inform the papers that I did nothing of the +kind. But I'll not explain at this time just what I did do. You see, I +might want to do it again soon." + +"If you are so blamed sure of your ability, why not tell me what you are +going to do to-night?" + +"Gladly chief. I am going to collect some jewels and some objects of +art." + +"Oh, are you?" asked the chief. "Going to collect them in any particular +spot?" + +"Naturally; but I do not intend to tell you the spot just now. That +would be running too much of a risk, I am afraid. By the way, is Mr. +Verbeck there?" + +"He is!" + +"I haven't time to speak to him, but will you kindly tell him for me +that I hope he shows more speed in this little duel with me. I was +disgusted with him the other evening--he showed no cleverness at all. +Tell him that I hope he improves. And now, chief, I must end the +conversation for the time being." + +There was a click at the other end of the wire. The chief slammed the +receiver into its hook and whirled around in his chair. + +"Wanted me to tell you to show more cleverness and make the game more +interesting, Verbeck," the chief said. "Make it interesting for him if +we get the chance, all right! Says he's going to collect jewels and +objects of art this evening." + +"Then I suppose he'll do it," Verbeck said. "Have your men ready to jump +out as soon as the alarm comes in. What is the sheriff doing, chief?" + +"Kowen? Sleeping on the job, I suppose. He swears that he and his +deputies will catch the Black Star--beat us to it. I had a row with him +yesterday at luncheon. Kowen makes me tired! He's looking for that +Blanchard woman." + +"The Princess? He's not likely to find her," Verbeck said. "Either the +Black Star has sent her out of the city, or she is in hiding some place +where she'll not be located easily. You can wager that the Black Star +takes good care of The Princess--she is one of the most valuable members +of his band!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +INSIDE THE MUSEUM + + +That afternoon, about the hour of three, an elderly gentleman who looked +like a person of culture and refinement, entered the Municipal Museum. + +At the information desk, he asked concerning a certain painting, and was +directed to the second floor. He thanked the woman at the desk and +ascended the stairs, passing the close scrutiny of the guards and the +police stationed there. There was nothing to cause suspicion in the +appearance of an elderly man who evidently was a lover of art. + +He found the painting for which he had asked, and stood before it for +some time, looking at it, now stepping forward and now retreating, now +and then walking to one side to get a better reflection of light on the +canvas. + +"Marvelous!" he said, in a thin voice, to one of the attendants. "Such +coloring! And such technic!" + +"Yes, them old boys knew how to sling the paint," the attendant informed +him. + +"Sling the paint? What a quaint idiom!" the elderly gentleman remarked +and the attendant walked on, calling upon the world to witness that the +crop of maniacs was getting larger every year, and that they all visited +the museum. + +Having inspected that particular picture to his evident satisfaction, +the elderly gentleman went through the galleries, viewing other famous +paintings. All the attendants and guides noticed him and put him down as +a harmless art lover. There was a benevolent appearance about him; he +appeared to be the sort of man who makes donations to museums and +hospitals. + +He finally made his way to the statuary hall. Here, at the time, there +was but one guide, and he was handling a group of four tourists. The +elderly gentleman gave them scant attention. He adjusted his spectacles +and began viewing the statue nearest the door, finished with that and +went on to the next, and to the next. The guide and his tourists left +the hall--and the elderly gentleman was alone there. + +He walked quickly to the other end of the hall, turned and looked back +at the door, and made sure that he was not observed by any of the +attendants or visitors. + +Above his head there was a small trapdoor that opened into the attic of +the building. The elderly gentleman betrayed agility remarkable for his +years. + +He sprang to the nearest window ledge, sprang again and grasped the +heavy molding, hung with one hand, and with the other pushed up the +trapdoor. Then he pulled himself up and disappeared--and the door was +put back in place. + +The attic was seldom entered, it appeared. There was nothing at all +stored there, and the dust was inches deep everywhere. The elderly +gentleman made his way carefully through this dust, obliterating his +tracks behind him, and reached a corner of the attic, near a window. +Here was a dark space in a gable, large enough to accommodate a hiding +man. The elderly gentleman sat down there. + +"This will be the death of me!" he growled. "Dust and heat and foul air! +I wish the Black Star had picked some one else for this part of the +job!" + +He took out a handkerchief and tucked it around the edge of his collar, +then stretched himself between the rafters. + +"Can't smoke--dare not sleep," he grunted. "And it'll be hours before I +can get out of here. This is one sweet game I'm playing! But there'll be +a handsome profit in it, all right!" + +The hours passed. In the big museum below visitors came and went, +passing beneath the scrutiny of the guards and the police. Five o'clock +came, and the rooms were cleared. Guards searched them well, made sure +nobody was inside the building except those who had a right to be there. +The custodian and his assistants left. The big doors were locked. Night +guards and policemen remained, walking through the rooms. Down in the +basement an engineer threw a big electric switch that sent a powerful +current through the frames that guarded the priceless objects of art. + +Much had been made of that scheme of protection in the newspapers. When +that current was turned on, any person touching one of the paintings +would be rendered unconscious immediately. Moreover, an alarm would be +sounded in the building, another flashed to police headquarters, another +to the sheriff's office. + +"The Black Star will never tackle this place," said one of the policemen +to a guard. "He's going after something else. His gang couldn't get +near the building without the men outside spotting them, and we could +put up a scrap and keep them out until help came from headquarters." + +"I think he'll tackle the private collection of some millionaire," +replied the guard. "I don't see how he could hope to get in here and get +away with anything." + +Outside the building, police paced beats beneath bright lights that +illuminated every door and window. Inside, more police and the regular +museum guards talked and smoked and wished the long night was over. + +Up in the attic, a perspiring elderly gentleman, who was elderly no +longer because he had removed a very clever wig, and perspiration had +ruined his make-up, looked at the radium dial of his watch and grunted +that, at last, the time had come. It was nine o'clock. + +He got up and made his way slowly and carefully across the attic through +the dust to the trapdoor. He lifted it a fraction of an inch and looked +down. + +The statuary hall was dark save for a small incandescent light that +glowed in the wall near the door. No guard or policeman was in sight, +and the door leading to the corridor was closed. + +The trapdoor was opened wide, and the man dropped to the floor, making +not the slightest sound as he struck. He had removed his shoes in the +attic, and had put on a pair of rubbers. He darted behind a statue, and +listened, and wiped the perspiration from his face. + +Then, running lightly from statue to statue, he made his way toward the +corridor door, watching it continually, ready to dart into hiding if it +should be opened by guard or policeman. + +At the door, he stopped again to listen, and then he turned the knob and +opened it cautiously. There was nobody in the corridor as far as he +could see in either direction. The guards and policemen, it was evident, +were on the floor below. + +He took one of the Black Star's vapor guns from his pocket and held it +ready. He slipped into the corridor, darted into a niche in the wall, +listened again. He could hear two policemen talking on the floor below. + +A guard entered the corridor and disappeared into one of the rooms. The +man in the niche waited until he came out and started down the hall. The +guard passed within three feet of him. The silent vapor gun was +discharged, the guard gasped and started to cry out, but unconsciousness +claimed him. + +The man who had used the vapor gun drew the unconscious guard back into +the niche. He used a hypodermic needle on the guard's arm, drugging him +so that he would remain senseless for some time to come. + +"No need to worry about you for a few hours," he growled. + +Still he waited, going to another niche on the other side of the wide +corridor. Another guard came from the floor below and started along the +hall. He received the same treatment the first guard had received. + +Then the man who held the vapor gun hurried through the corridor and +came to the head of the wide staircase. + +"Ten men inside, and I've taken care of only two of them," he growled. +"The boss certainly gave me my share of work to do in this little +affair!" + +He saw two policemen sitting at the bottom of the stairs. He saw a guard +in the distance, another just emerging from one of the rooms on the +floor below. + +"Where are George and Fred?" he heard the guard ask. + +"Went to the second floor," one of the policemen replied. + +"Guess I'll go up and help them, and then we won't have to bother about +the second floor until early in the morning. Get the card table ready, +and we'll have a little game. Nothing to worry about. Looks to me as if +the Black Star didn't intend to come here. I guess the boys on the +outside would let us know if there was any danger." + +The guard started up the stairs, and the man lurking at the top darted +into the first niche and crouched there in the semidarkness. The guard +passed, the vapor gun was exploded, and the guard toppled forward as had +the others, and was drugged as the others had been. + +"Seven more, and the engineer," growled the Black Star's man. + +Once more he went to the head of the stairs. Four policemen were putting +out a collapsible card table. Two guards were approaching along the +corridor. The seventh member of the protective squad, the Black Star's +man knew, was at the front door, where the officers outside could see +him. He was supposed to show himself there at the end of each hour, to +let them know that everything was all right inside. + +The Black Star's man darted through the corridor and went softly down +the rear stairs. He made his way through the hall toward the front. He +knew where the light switch was located; he had found this out several +days before, when preparing for this night's events. + +He reached the switch, jerked it down, and plunged the lower floor in +darkness. He darted forward as he heard the exclamations of the six men +in front. He dropped behind a statue just as one of the policemen +flashed his electric torch. + +"Fuse out, I suppose," he heard one of the guards say. "I'll get the +engineer--he attends to all that stuff." + +He hurried toward the basement entrance. The man at the front door +merely shouted to know what was the matter, and remained at his post. + +The five others were clustered about the card table. The Black Star's +man crept forward and took a vapor bomb from beneath his coat. This was +the perilous moment, he knew. This particular bomb was a delicate one +that would make no noise as it exploded. But unless the vapor struck +into the nostrils of the five men, disaster might come. If one of them +escaped unconsciousness for a moment, he would be able to give the +alarm. + +Another bomb came from beneath the coat. The first one was hurled to the +marble floor at the back of the five men. The second followed it. + +Clouds of vapor arose. The Black Star's man held a sponge to his +nostrils, flashed his torch and watched. It had worked--the five men +were staggering--had fallen! + +He had swift work to do now. At any moment the guard might return with +the engineer, or the other guard come from the front door. He knelt +beside the first man, and drove home the point of the needle. He worked +in the dark, for it was safer that way. One by one he drugged them, and +then he darted noiselessly toward the door that led to the basement. + +He was just in time--the guard and engineer were coming up. + +"Guess it's a fuse," the guard was saying. "Lights on the upper floor +are still burning." + +They stepped into the dark corridor, and the guard called for one of the +policemen to flash his torch. The Black Star's man stepped up close, and +again the vapor gun was discharged. They staggered and fell. + +The needle was used again, and then he darted toward the entrance. The +guard there had reported to the one outside, and was returning. + +"Hurry up with those lights!" he shouted. + +He gasped; collapsed. The Black Star's man caught him and let him down +to the floor. He was holding the sponge to his nostrils again. + +"I'll be going asleep from that vapor myself in a minute, if I'm not +careful," he told himself. "I've hardly any more of the stuff. It's a +good thing they're all down and out!" + +He lifted the unconscious guard and carried him to one side, where he +could not be seen from the entrance. Then he ran through the corridor +and threw the light switch again, so that those outside would think +everything was all right in the interior. + +Then he ran to the basement door, hurried down the steps, went to a big +electric switch on the wall, and threw that. The deadly protective +current was shut off all over the building. + +Up the stairs he dashed to the second floor. He hurried to a window on +one side of the building, took an electric torch from his pocket and +flashed it seven times. + +The flashes were observed by a man in a window across the street. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +MISSING MASTERPIECES + + +A half a dozen policemen were on guard outside the museum. They walked +around the building continually, and communicated at the end of each +hour with one of the guards inside. Now and then they gathered near the +entrance to talk and wish their vigil was over. + +Ten minutes after the Black Star's man had flashed his torch from the +window, these six officers were startled by sounds of an altercation in +the street. Two men, their voices raised, were quarreling. Others +passing in the street stopped to listen. Threats were hurled back and +forth. The men grappled, started to fight. + +Two of the policemen left the museum and started running toward the +combatants. When they were halfway one of the fighting men darted +backward, drew a revolver and began firing. + +There was a crowd on the corner now. The quarrelsome one continued to +shoot; the other man fell in the street. + +The four other policemen forgot the museum. They ran toward the corner, +clubs in their hands, to beat back the crowd, to help take charge of the +murderer, to send for an ambulance, if it proved to be necessary. + +The Black Star's man observed this from a window. He flashed his torch +again, and then ran down the stairs and to a little side door of the +museum, which he unlocked. + +Four men darted across the street and through this door. It was locked +again immediately. + +"All of them down and out!" the man who had been inside reported. "We'll +have to work swiftly. They'll be expecting a guard to show his face at +the door at the end of the hour. Come with me--I know the paintings the +boss wants." + +"How about that electric current?" one asked. + +"I turned it off, of course. Hurry!" + +They ran up the stairs and into one of the galleries. The man who had +been inside indicated six paintings. Men crawled beneath the protecting +railings, drew knives and started cutting the paintings from their +frames. + +"No time to waste!" the leader informed them. "We've got about fifteen +minutes more." + +He ran to one of the windows and glanced out at the street. The crowd +was growing larger. The police had ascertained that the man who had +fallen was not shot, but had stumbled in his mad haste to get away. The +two men had been arrested, and the patrol auto called. None of the +police had started back toward the museum, though some of them glanced +in that direction now and then. + +Inside, the paintings had been cut from their frames and made into +rolls. The rolls were tied up with rope and then lashed together. + +"Out you go!" said the man who had hidden inside. + +They hurried down the stairs and to the little side door. The one ahead +opened it and glanced out. + +"Coast all clear!" he announced. + +Two went first, carrying the roll of paintings with them. The others +left one by one, darted across the street, and each went in a different +direction. Those with the paintings had an automobile waiting; they +jumped in and were driven rapidly away. + +The men who had fought were carried away to jail; their part had been +done well. The policemen went back to the museum, joking about the fight +they had witnessed. + +"They'll make it up in the morning and get fined for fighting and +discharging firearms," one of them declared. "Business quarrel, eh? +Pretty vigorous business men, I think!" + +"Suppose everything's all right inside?" another asked. + +"That gang inside is so busy playing cards that they wouldn't know it if +a battle was staged in the street." + +The end of the hour came, but no guard showed himself at the front door +to say that everything was all right. One of the policemen pounded upon +it, but got no response. + +"That's funny!" he said. "They ought to answer--that's their orders!" + +He pounded upon the door again, and still he got no reply from those +inside. + +"Think we'd better go in?" one of the others asked. + +"We've got orders not to do it unless we know there's trouble inside." + +"Well, there may be trouble." + +"Card game--that's all. You listen to me--hand that guard a call down +when he shows up. He's a sort of fresh guy, anyway--thinks he owns the +museum, I guess!" + +Once more he pounded on the door and got no response. The police began +to look serious. + +"Aw, how could anything happen?" one of them asked. "Nobody could get +into the museum, could they? And there was nobody in there when it was +locked up except them that belonged. Ain't we been on watch?" + +"Well, that scrap called all of us across the street for a time, +remember." + +"Yes, and we'd better forget that if there happens to be any trouble +inside. I think we'd better go in and investigate. This doesn't look +exactly good to me." + +He took a key from his pocket--a key to the front door of the museum, +that had been given him for just such an emergency. He unlocked the door +and went in with two of the others, locking the door behind him. + +They hurried through the entrance and started down the corridor toward +the wide stairs that led to the floor above. The one in advance gave a +cry of horror and started forward. Stretched on the marble floor were +policemen and museum guards, unconscious, and plainly drugged in some +manner. + +"Call headquarters!" one of the policemen shrieked. "Get the chief!" + +Another ran to the nearest telephone, which happened to be in the office +of the custodian. Within a short time he had the chief on the wire. + +"This is Officer Riley, at the museum," he said. "There's something +wrong here. No guard showed up at the front door at the end of the hour, +and so we came inside. We found all the guards and officers +unconscious, laid out!" + +"What's that?" the chief cried. "What laid 'em out? What's happened out +there?" + +"We just got inside the building--haven't had time to investigate--don't +know what's been going on!" Officer Riley gasped. "Thought I'd better +call you at once." + +"Keep your eyes open--we'll be right up there!" the chief cried. "Keep +right on the job!" + +"Better bring the police surgeon with you, chief. There seems to be +something wrong with these men." + +That telephone conversation caused another tumult at police +headquarters. The chief bellowed his orders, then ran with Verbeck and +Muggs to the former's roadster, which was in readiness at the curb. With +Verbeck at the wheel, the powerful car dashed through the streets toward +the museum, and behind it came half a dozen police department autos +filled with detectives. + +They reached the museum, left the cars and hurried to the entrance. One +of the men inside unlocked and opened the door. + +"They are still unconscious, chief!" he reported. "Looks to me as if +they had been doped." + +The police surgeon made a swift examination. + +"They have been drugged," he announced, "and pretty badly, at that. I'll +have to get busy on them at once, or we'll have dead men on our hands." + +"Bring them around as soon as you can," the chief said. "I want to hear +what they've got to say. And you men search the entire building! We'll +look into this! One of you call up the superintendent of the museum and +get him down here. Lively!" + +The officers scattered throughout the big building, turned on all the +lights, and began their search. They found the unconscious guards on the +upper floor and carried them below for the police surgeon to work on. +The surgeon sent in a call for his assistants. + +Policemen who searched the statuary hall discovered the open trapdoor. +They got up into the attic, and investigated there, and found nothing +except dust and footprints in it. Down to the first floor they went to +report this. + +Verbeck and Muggs hurried to the attic and investigated for themselves. + +"Very simple," Verbeck said. "Some member or members of the gang got up +here during the day, remained in hiding until night, and then got down +and handled the guards and officers." + +"Yeah, but where are they now?" Muggs wanted to know. + +"Not in the building, you may be sure. They managed to get out in some +manner." + +"And what did they swipe?" + +"The superintendent will have to tell that, I suppose. There are several +thousand things in this place, Muggs, that are almost priceless. The +Black Star has done it again. Let's go downstairs and see if there is +anything in the nature of a clew." + +They hurried down the stairs. The superintendent of the museum had just +arrived--a worried, frantic superintendent who immediately telephoned +for more guards and one of his assistants. + +"I am almost afraid to look," he announced. "Do you suppose anything has +been taken?" + +"That little side door is unlocked," one of the detectives reported to +the chief. + +"It shouldn't be," said the superintendent. "It always is locked except +when we are receiving new exhibits, which are delivered at that +entrance." + +Verbeck grasped one of the officers by the arm. + +"Have you watched closely all night?" he demanded. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Didn't leave the museum at all?" + +"For a few minutes. There was a shooting scrape at the corner----" + +"Did all of you go there? How long were you gone? Speak quickly, man!" + +"Weren't gone more than half an hour. But we watched the museum, just +the same. It's light----" + +"From the corner you couldn't see that little side door!" Verbeck +thundered. "Any of the Black Star's men who had hidden in the museum +could have rendered these guards and officers unconscious, taken what +they wished, and walked right out of that side door with it, while you +were over at the corner. That fight was staged for a certain purpose!" + +"Oh, you fools!" the chief cried. "The newspapers are right--the police +force is a gang of imbeciles! Idiots! You've let him get away with it +again!" + +The superintendent of the museum had been going through the building +with a couple of detectives, and now they heard his cry of surprise and +rage from the upper floor. + +"What is it? Find something missing?" the chief cried. + +"Six famous paintings!" the superintendent shrieked. "Six of them gone! +Six priceless masterpieces--cut from their frames--carried away! The +protective current--it must have been turned off! Six of the most +priceless pictures!" + +"Great Scott!" the chief ejaculated. + +"Now there will be a fine row!" Verbeck said. "We've got to catch the +Black Star and get those paintings back! Every art lover will howl until +we do! And, worst of all, they didn't belong to the museum--they were +merely loaned. And the six are worth more than a million dollars!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SOME FISHERMEN + + +At his headquarters, the Black Star was pacing the floor nervously, his +hands clasped behind his back. A buzzer sounded, and he hurried to the +telephone, taking it from its hiding place in the niche in the wall. + +"Hello!" he said. + +"Number Eleven." + +"Countersign?" + +"Kokomo." + +"Report," ordered the master crook. + +"Everything went off as planned, sir. I got into the attic without much +trouble, and subdued the guards and policemen when the proper time came. +The fight was started as soon as the men received my signal." + +"How about the loot?" + +"We got all six of the paintings, sir, and they are on their way to you +now." + +"Good! That is all for to-night. Report at the usual time in person +to-morrow." + +The Black Star hung up the receiver, rang the bell three times, took the +receiver down again. The ring was heard by men at a telephone instrument +in the woods a quarter of a mile away. + +"Hello!" one of them answered. + +"Start!" the Black Star said; and then he hung up the receiver again and +touched the bell button. The servant came into the headquarters room. + +"Tell the mechanic to be ready to start within five minutes," the master +rogue ordered. + +The servant hurried away, and the Black Star took off his robe and put +on the heavy ulster once more. Presently he hurried from the room, +closing and locking the door behind him. + +In the woods, six men left the hidden telephone and hurried along a +narrow, winding path through the darkness, going toward the bank of the +river. + +They did not speak as they hurried forward, single file, like Indians +following a trail. They reached the shore, and in a little cove came +upon a motor boat hidden beneath overhanging willows. The six got into +the boat. + +They moved the craft out into the stream and pointed its bow toward the +city. The six were dressed as fishermen, in uncouth clothing, stubbles +of beard upon their faces, their sleeves rolled up. In the launch was +fishing gear. There was nothing in the appearance of the craft to create +suspicion, but a mechanic, had he looked at the engine, would have +marveled that common fishermen could possess such a perfect piece of +machinery. + +The regulation lights were burning. The launch made ordinary speed down +the stream. Two of the men were singing raucously. To all appearances +here were six fishermen going to the city to carouse at some cheap +resort on the waterfront. + +At the lower end of town, the launch turned toward the shore. At a small +dock she was moored. But only five of the men left the boat--one +remained curled up in the stern, hidden by a mass of canvas and fishing +gear. + +The five entered a cheap resort and drank, and then went upon the +street again, as if starting to another place. They slipped through a +dark alley, emerged on a side street and hurried along it, maintaining a +conversation that had to do with fish and market prices. + +After a time they came to a public square in an old section of the city. +Here were business houses that had been there for scores of years, +famous establishments that scorned to move to a more modern district of +the town. + +They stopped on a corner and talked loudly, half quarreling, as +intoxicated fishermen might be expected to do. A policeman warned them +to lower their voices and behave, and they went on up the street, +slowly, staggering a bit, laughing now and then. + +On the next corner was a bakery. The basement door was open, and a baker +stood in it. Odors of fresh bread and cakes poured out. + +"Um!" one of the fishermen gasped. "Any chance to get some hot bread?" + +"Do you happen to have the price?" the baker asked. + +"We sure have!" + +A passing pedestrian heard the conversation, smiled, and walked on. + +"Come downstairs, then," the baker said. + +They descended the stairs and entered the oven department. They threw +coins on a table, and each was given a loaf of warm bread, and they +began eating, still laughing and talking. The baker's assistant had +finished his work and washed up, and now was telling his employer good +night. He hurried up the steps and went away. + +The baker led the five fishermen into a rear room to show them more +ovens, where cakes were baking. He closed the door between the two +rooms. Instantly the demeanor of the five men changed. + +"Everything all right?" one of them asked. + +"There is one guard in the diamond room. The others are on the two +floors," the baker replied. + +"How many in all?" + +"Only four." + +"Cinch!" said one of the five. "Let's go!" + +"I'll have the other stuff ready," the baker informed them. + +He opened the door and glanced into the other room, closed the door +again and motioned that everything was all right. The five men hurried +to the other end of the room, and one of them pressed against the wall. +A small door swung open. + +They passed through the wall and into the basement of the building +adjoining. An engineer was asleep in a chair before his table, and he +was rendered unconscious immediately by means of a vapor gun. The five +hurried up a flight of stairs, opened a door, and entered a rear hall. + +They were at the back of a famous jewelry establishment now, one that +had a famous name in the business world, one which scorned to move to +better quarters, but which was protected by every known device. Another +door was opened, and they were in a storeroom. + +They moved with more caution now, for this was dangerous ground. The +Black Star had planned this attack on the assumption that he would be +expected to rob a more pretentious establishment. Few men knew that a +large shipment of gorgeous diamonds had recently been received by this +firm--but the Black Star knew it. One of his band was a trusted clerk in +the house. + +Moreover, at that moment, the Black Star was creating a diversion. In +the principal retail district of the city there was a fashionable +jewelry store housed in a modern building. It was being heavily guarded +this night, for the proprietors had taken cognizance of the master +crook's announcement that he intended to purloin rare jewels, and they +flattered themselves that their establishment would be the one visited. + +More than a score of special watchmen and police officers were in this +building. One of the proprietors himself was on hand, aiding in +safe-guarding the jewels. The entire establishment was brilliantly +lighted. The shades and fire curtains at the windows were raised, and +the door of the vault room stood open so that it could be seen from the +front street. The Pioneer Diamond Company was taking no chances of being +looted. + +And suddenly the building that housed the diamond company was bathed in +brilliant light that seemed to come out of the sky! People in the +streets, remembering what had happened three nights before, began +shrieking that the Black Star and his men were at work. An alarm was +sent to police headquarters, and relayed to the chief at the museum. The +Black Star was robbing the Pioneer Diamond Company! + +Leaving a small police guard at the museum, the chief hurried to the +scene with the remainder of his men. Verbeck and Muggs went ahead in +the roadster, charging through the streets, the horn shrieking a +warning. As they arrived, the bright light had disappeared, but soon +they saw it again. + +"That's the Black Star," Verbeck said. "I can't figure out how he does +it, but I suppose the solution will be simple enough when we learn it." + +"I'd like to beat it out of him!" Muggs said. + +The police had entered the building, and the chief had ascertained that +nothing had happened. As far as they knew, there was nobody in the +establishment who did not have a right to be there. But that did not +mean that the danger was over. + +"I don't like the looks of this!" Verbeck said. "I am inclined to +believe that the gang is doing the real work in some other place." + +"I've got men every place where there is any quantity of precious +stones," the chief said, "and they have orders to send an alarm to +headquarters the instant they see or hear anything that seems to be +suspicious." + +The bright light from the sky had disappeared again. Out in the street +there was a series of explosions, and Verbeck and Muggs and the chief +rushed to a window, and saw clouds of vapor rising from the pavement. + +"He's got some scheme!" the chief declared. "Watch yourselves, you men, +and be ready to go into action! More of you go into the vault room and +watch there!" + +The proprietor was like a maniac, and the chief whirled upon him +angrily. + +"What's the matter with you?" he demanded. "You don't see any of the +crook's gang around here, do you? How can we do anything until they +show up? You give me a pain." + +"There is a fortune in the vault----" + +"And it'll probably remain there!" the chief said. "We are playing a +game that is tough enough without having an insane man raving around +us!" + +Another shower of vapor bombs came from the sky. The people in the +streets were scattering, seeking cover. Once more the bright light +blazed forth. Out into the street rushed Verbeck and Muggs. The light +disappeared, and presently they heard the voice of the Black Star. + +"Better watch those diamonds, gentlemen!" he shouted. "You'll be missing +a lot of them the first thing you know. I love gems, and I happen to +know that there are some glorious ones in the vault of the Pioneer +Diamond Company." + +The voice died away, and they heard no more. Verbeck and Muggs rushed +back into the store. The chief was in the vault room. + +"Are all your diamonds and expensive jewels in that vault?" the chief +asked the member of the firm who was spending the night in the store. + +"All except a few small stones such as the Black Star would not bother +about." + +"Then Mr. Black Star is going to fall down on the job!" the chief +declared. "We'll just pack this vault room full of officers. The only +way those crooks can get in then will be to tunnel through the bottom of +the vault!" + +"They can't do that--the vault is impregnable!" the member of the firm +declared. + +The chief laughed scornfully. "It may be impregnable as far as ordinary +criminals are concerned," he retorted, "but we are dealing with the +Black Star, please remember, and he dotes on supposedly impregnable +things. Vaults do not seem to bother his men much. Open the door of the +vault, and sit in it yourself. We'll watch the inside as well as the +outside." + +The door of the vault was opened. An investigation showed that +everything was all right. And so they waited for the blow that they +expected. + +A telephone bell rang, and the member of the firm hurried to the +instrument to answer. + +"It's a call for you, chief, from your headquarters," he reported. + +The chief rushed to the telephone. He was experiencing a feeling of +apprehension. + +"Hello!" he cried. + +A desk sergeant at headquarters answered him. + +"That you, chief? The Black Star's men are raiding a diamond store +downtown. I just got the tip from a watchmen who dodged them. Wait--I'll +give you the address!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HOT BREAD + + +Far downtown, the five fishermen passed through the storeroom and +entered another hall. They walked through this to the end, making not +the slightest noise. Each man held a vapor gun in his hand and was +prepared to use it if occasion demanded. + +At the end of the hall, another door was opened with a duplicate key one +of the men took from his pocket. The five crept through, and closed the +door again. + +"Two men on each floor, and one in the diamond room," the leader +whispered. "Make sure that we get them all." + +The band scattered. Two remained on the lower floor, two started to the +floor above, and one made his way toward the diamond room in the rear. +Dim lights were burning here and there, and the men moved from shadow to +shadow, noiselessly alert. + +On the lower floor, the two watchmen were eating their night luncheon. +They sat close together, talking in low tones. A light was burning above +the table upon which they had put their lunch boxes, but the spot could +not be seen from the street through the windows. + +The Black Star's two men advanced carefully. One of them made a sign, +transferred the vapor gun to his left hand, and took a bomb out of his +pocket. He hurled it behind the two watchmen. + +They sprang to their feet, gasped, dropped. The two members of the Black +Star's band turned away and darted to the foot of the stairs, ready to +help their companions if help should be needed. + +On the second floor, the two watchmen were found separated and rendered +unconscious immediately. The man who had gone toward the diamond room +stopped just outside the door and peered in. The watchman inside +evidently feared no interruption. He was sitting with his back to the +open door, reading a newspaper. + +A shot from the vapor pistol, and he was unconscious. Three of the other +four men hurried into the room. The other remained below, on guard at +the end of the hall through which they had entered. + +Tools were taken from pockets, and work began on the door of the vault. +Two of the band were experienced workmen in whom the Black Star took +pride. They worked swiftly, yet thoroughly. They knew that opening the +vault would take some time. + +On the lower floor the two watchmen remained stretched on the carpet. +Presently, one of them opened his eyes, then raised his head and looked +around carefully. + +It happened that he had inhaled very little of the vapor from the bomb. +As he fell he had tottered to one side, and the draft from the nearest +ventilator had carried the fumes away from him. He was a man who had +read all the newspapers ever had printed concerning the Black Star's +methods, and he guessed immediately what had occurred. + +He did not know with how many men he had to contend. He supposed they +were raiding the diamond room, and that there were guards posted, but +could not be sure. He listened intently, glanced around again. He saw +nobody, heard nothing except a slight sound that came from the diamond +room, the rasping of tools against steel. + +The watchman had been long in the service of the firm, and was a trusted +man. But he also was an old man, and not very strong. He was not the +sort to combat the Black Star's band single-handed, though he had a +revolver in his pocket. + +But he was the sort who would take a chance to give an alarm. He glanced +at his unconscious companion, looked around the room again, and started +crawling slowly over the floor, a foot at a time. + +He came to the first aisle, and looked down it. There was nobody in +sight. He crept along the counters, behind them, stopping now and then +to listen. He was not making fast progress, but he was afraid to risk +everything in the interests of speed. + +Finally he reached the end of the counter, and once more he looked +around and listened. He could still hear the slight noise in the diamond +room, but that was all. He had an open space of twenty feet to cross +now, and he proceeded faster, and finally reached the door of a private +office. + +He raised himself, opened the door noiselessly and entered. Then he +sprang to his feet, locked the door, and darted to the telephone on the +desk. + +He had expected to find the telephone useless, and was gratified that +such was not the case. Once more he paused to listen, and then lifted +the receiver from the hook, and put his lips close to the transmitter. + +"Number?" asked the girl at central. + +"Police headquarters--quick!" + +It seemed to him that he waited an eternity before the voice of the desk +sergeant came to him over the wire. + +"Robbery!" he gasped. "Black Star's men!" + +"Where, man--where?" demanded the sergeant. + +The watchman gave the address. + +"This is one of the watchmen," he added. "The gas bomb didn't put me +out, and I managed to crawl to the office. Hurry--hurry! They are in the +diamond room now--I don't know how many of them! But hurry!" + +Then the old watchman sank into the chair before the desk, weak and +trembling. He had done his part, and he could not do more. He took out +his revolver, and tried to decide whether he should attack them. It +would be better, he thought, to wait until the police came--they would +not be long. + +Up in the diamond room the Black Star's men had opened the vault door, +finally. They reached for three certain trays, and swept the diamonds +from them. They had orders what to get and what to leave--the master +rogue wanted only some stones recently received, one hundred superior +stones upon which a high valuation had been placed by experts. + +With the gems in their pockets, they left the diamond room and closed +the door behind them. They started down the hall to meet the men who had +remained on guard. + +And suddenly they heard police sirens shrieking, and the front of the +establishment was bathed in light. + +"The cops are on us!" one of them gasped. + +"We needn't worry if we can get through the basement wall and into the +bakeshop. But we'll have to hurry," another replied, rushing along the +hall. + +They darted down the stairs, closing and locking all the doors as they +went, for they did not want the police to guess the manner of their +entrance. The Black Star might have need of the baker in some other +enterprise. + +They came to the wall and tapped upon it. The baker swung the little +door open, and they stepped into the shop. + +"Cops all around the place!" he reported. "Must have been tipped off in +some way. Where are the stones?" + +"Here!" one replied, and tumbled them on the table. + +Before the baker was a pan of dough. He worked swiftly, forming it into +light biscuits--and into each biscuit he put diamonds. He put the +biscuits into a pan, greased the tops of them, put the pan into one of +the ovens. + +"Two bottles of beer there--open them!" he ordered in a whisper. + +One of the five fishermen obeyed. They poured the liquor out, drank a +part of it, put their glasses down upon the table. + +There was bedlam in the streets now. The police had surrounded the +block. They were battering at doors, and the old watchman was letting +them in at the front entrance. A crowd already had started to gather. + +"Tight hole!" one of the fishermen said. + +"Not unless you lose your nerve!" the baker answered. "Beginning to get +scared?" + +"I guess I've got as much nerve as the next man!" + +"Then show it!" the baker said. "Make a wrong plan, and all of us will +be in trouble. They are sure to come in here in a minute or two." + +Verbeck and Muggs had entered the establishment with the chief. The old +watchman told his story in a few words. Lights were turned on, and the +place searched, and the unconscious men found. Then Verbeck hurried to +the diamond room, with the others at his heels. + +The door of the vault was open. Empty trays were on the floor; and at +the bottom of the vault was a sheet of white paper, upon which had been +pasted a row of little black stars. + +"Looted!" the chief gasped. "But where can they be?" + +"Gone before we got here!" Muggs said. + +"The watchman says he heard them just as we came up. There are only two +exits to the ground floor--the front door and the rear one--and no +windows in the back large enough to permit a man to pass through." + +"And the back door is bolted on the inside--I investigated it," Verbeck +said. + +"Then, where have they gone?" the chief cried. "This thing is getting on +my nerves! But we've got the block surrounded, and every man inside the +lines will give an account of himself." + +The search of the block began, and it was a methodical and thorough +one. Building by building, room by room it went on, while the crowds +gathered outside. The chief took up his station on a corner and received +reports that were highly discouraging. It appeared that the master +criminal's men had disappeared into thin air, or else had left the place +before the police arrived. + +Verbeck and Muggs conducted an investigation of their own, but found +nothing to help them. + +"This gets my goat, boss!" Muggs said. "I think it's a hoodoo to work +with the cops." + +"I'm beginning to think that myself, Muggs," Verbeck replied. "The Black +Star tricks the police, and when we are with them we get tricked, too. +Beginning with to-morrow, Muggs, you and I tackle the job on an +independent basis." + +"That's great, boss! And we'll get that big crook, too!" + +"We'll get him!" Verbeck promised. + +"And when we do, you turn your back for about five minutes, and let me +handle him," Muggs begged. "I want to give him the sore throat, and give +it to him bad!" + +"Maybe you'll get the chance," Verbeck said. + +Down in the bakeshop the five fishermen were making merry around the +table. Upon them entered half a dozen policemen, a captain at their +head. + +"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the officer demanded, +looking at them suspiciously. + +The five fishermen showed alarm in their faces. The baker rushed +forward. + +"Why, they're friends of mine, captain," he said. "They're fishermen, +and come up from the wharf now and then at night to have a little drink +of beer with me. I've known them for years." + +"What are your names, and where do you live and work?" the captain +asked. + +They were ready with that information. They had prepared it in advance; +and, if their answers were investigated, they would stand the test. + +"Well, maybe you're all right, but we can't afford to take any chances," +the captain said. "The Black Star's gang has made a haul in the jewelry +house on the other side of the block, and we're taking a good look at +every man around here. You'll have to stand a search, or be taken in!" + +The five fishermen announced that they were willing to be searched. The +search was carried out immediately. From their pockets were taken +knives, bits of twine, chewing tobacco, soiled handkerchiefs--things one +would expect to find in the pockets of such men. They had, of course, +hidden their vapor guns and their drilling tools in a safe place under +the cellar flagstones before the police came upon them. + +"Well, what are you hanging around here to-night for?" the captain +demanded. + +"They just came up to have a little drink with me, and to get some fresh +bread," the baker explained. "They are waiting for it now--fresh-bread +and light biscuits. Jim, there, is a fiend for my light biscuits." + +As he finished speaking, the baker turned to his oven and opened the +door. A delicious aroma streamed forth, and the men sniffed. Bread and +biscuits were tumbled out, and the baker started wrapping them up. + +"What did that gang get in the jewelry store?" he asked the captain. + +"Don't know exactly--diamonds, I suppose. You men get your stuff and get +out of here. I guess you're all right. How are you going to get home?" + +"We've got a launch down at the wharf," one of them replied. "She ain't +much to look at, and ain't any race horse, but she does manage to get +through the water a bit. Good enough for our business, I reckon." + +"Get your stuff and come along. I'll see you through the lines," the +captain told them. "We'll have to search your shop, baker. I'll leave a +couple of men to do that." + +"All right. But I ain't in the diamond business," the baker said, +grinning. + +The captain opened the door and motioned for the five fishermen to pass +him. He conducted them to the street and across it, and passed them +through the lines. They went on toward the waterfront, talking loudly, +swaggering and staggering a bit, jesting, and now and then singing a +snatch of song. + +Four of them carried a loaf of bread each. The fifth man carried a dozen +light biscuits beneath his arm. + +And in those biscuits was a fortune in diamonds! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +MUGGS SEES HIS MAN + + +Again the morning newspapers carried full-page stories of the +depredations of the Black Star and his band. Once more the police were +called idiots, and demands were made that the chief resign. Sheriff +Kowen was held up to scorn. + +The newspapers carried another story, too--that Roger Verbeck had had a +quarrel with the chief of police over the way the fight against the +Black Star was being conducted, had left police headquarters with Muggs, +too angry to speak to the reporters, and had declared afterward, when +seen at his apartment, that he was done. Why should he perform the +duties of the police and at the same time submit to the abuse of the +imbecile chief, he was said to have asked? As far as he was concerned, +the Black Star could loot banks and private residences and conduct +himself as he pleased. Roger Verbeck might, within a few days, take +himself out of the city and remain until there was some resemblance of +law and order again. + +The chief of police merely admitted that there had been trouble between +himself and Verbeck, and said that he felt the police force capable of +attending to its own affairs without any help from plain citizens, a +remark that caused more than one caustic editorial. + +The Black Star had sent another letter to the newspapers, and it made +interesting reading. It was as follows: + + TO THE PUBLIC: I said I would purloin famous objects of art and + valuable jewels, and I have kept my word, as I always do. Some day + when I have time, and it will not imperil any of my people to do + so, I shall send a letter telling just how it was done. + + My campaign against the city has been highly successful so far, and + I have no reason to believe it ever will be otherwise. The antics + of the police and the sheriff and his deputies are particularly + amusing to me; it would be more amusing if they were foemen worthy + of my steel. + + I shall rest for a day, and two nights from now shall resume my + campaign. For the trouble I experienced during my incarceration, + the city must pay in full. I do not even care to state the nature + of my next exploit, but I guarantee that it will be sensational. + ***** + +Roger Verbeck and Muggs slept until noon that day, then had breakfast +and read the newspapers. Verbeck's face glowed when he read of the +quarrel between the police and himself. + +"It may work, Muggs, and it may not," he said. "I fixed it up with the +chief, and he certainly has done his part. The Black Star will have us +watched for a few days, anyway, so we must be on our guard. But if he +gets the idea that we are after him no longer, we may be able to pick up +the trail." + +"It's a hoodoo to work with cops!" Muggs declared. He had small respect +for the police, a state of mind that was a relic of the old days when +he had fought against them himself. + +"Well, we'll see what we can do by working alone, Muggs. Have you +anything to suggest?" + +"Only that we find his headquarters, catch the crook in 'em, and give +him all that's comin' to him!" Muggs said. + +"That happens to be a large order, Muggs. If we can do those things, +victory will perch on our banner." + +"I didn't know Victory was a bird," said Muggs. "In pictures they always +make her a woman." + +"Muggs, that was a figure of speech--merely a manner of talking. Victory +always perches on a banner, Muggs--don't forget it. I've read it a +thousand times. Anything more to suggest?" + +"You'd better go and see your girl," Muggs told him. "You ain't been to +see her for almost a week, and she'll be gettin' peeved at you." + +"I thought you hated the idea of me getting married." + +"I do, but it can't be helped," Muggs retorted. "And she's some girl, at +that. Besides, boss, if I drive you over there, and around town a bit, +it is just possible that we might spot somebody who belonged to that +crook's old gang." + +"That's what I've been trying to do since he escaped, Muggs, and haven't +had any luck," Verbeck said. "Get out the roadster." + +"Roadster?" + +"Yes; we shall not take Miss Wendell out with us. I'll visit her for a +short time, and then we'll drive around town." + +Muggs got out the car, and ten minutes later was driving Roger Verbeck +across the city to the apartment house that was the home of Faustina +Wendell, Verbeck's fiancée. Verbeck watched the people on the streets as +they rode along, and Muggs did when it was possible, but they failed to +see anybody for whom they were looking. + +Verbeck hurried inside when the apartment house was reached, and Muggs +crouched down behind the wheel, pulled his cap low over his eyes, and +pretended to be half asleep. But he was scrutinizing every man and woman +who passed the roadster. + +Muggs was rejoicing secretly because Verbeck had elected to work +independently of the police. That meant that Muggs would play a more +active part in the affair, and he was as eager for a large part as an +actor in a stock company. Muggs craved adventure and excitement, and the +lust of combat was strong within him. + +"I'd like to find the big crook!" he growled, as he watched the +passers-by. "I'd like to find him with just the boss, and hand him a few +and lug him off to jail and throw him in! Make fun of my boss in the +newspapers, will he? The big stiff!" + +Muggs glanced toward the apartment house. He supposed that Verbeck would +remain there about two hours instead of a few minutes, as he did +generally. + +"I can't understand this love stuff!" Muggs said. "There's plenty of +chances to fight without gettin' married. I suppose I'll have to keep +dressed up all the time and stand in a corner after the boss gets back +from his honeymoon. It's enough to make a man turn bad again! It's +enough to----" + +Muggs suddenly ceased speculating on marriage and the status of a valet +in a family. He had spotted a man walking along the street, on the +opposite side. He turned his eyes and watched him, and his heart almost +stood still. + +"Landers!" he gasped. "The Black Star's lieutenant--or anyway he was +before. He's done somethin' to his face and hair, and he's fatter--but +he's Landers. He's got a nerve paradin' the streets this way!" + +This was something that Verbeck should know! But Roger Verbeck was +visiting Miss Wendell, and she lived on the tenth floor, and in a rear +apartment, with her mother. It would take Muggs several minutes to get +inside the house and telephone up, and Verbeck several minutes to get +down to the roadster. And Landers was signaling a taxicab! + +Muggs darted inside the house and up to the desk. + +"I'm Mr. Verbeck's chauffeur!" he said. "He's visitin' Miss Wendell. You +phone up that Muggs had to hurry away--that he saw a man. He'll +understand!" + +Then Muggs dashed out to the street again, sprang into the roadster, +started the engine, whirled the big machine around, and pursued the +taxicab. + +"This is tough luck!" Muggs told himself. "It's a cinch that Landers +knows this car. He'll spot it in a minute, if we get out of the heavy +traffic! I wish I had the boss along!" + +The taxicab did not make good speed through the traffic, and Muggs +remained about a third of a block behind it. After a time it turned into +a cross street, and presently stopped before an exclusive hotel. Muggs +swung the roadster to the curb. He saw Landers get out, pay the +chauffeur, and disappear into the hotel. + +Muggs was out of the car instantly, and hurrying forward. He approached +the entrance, and glanced in. Landers had not stopped at the desk, but +had gone directly to an elevator. That meant that he was a guest, or a +frequent visitor. + +When the elevator came down again, Muggs hurried over and spoke to the +boy. + +"The gent that just rode up with you----" he began. + +"Mr. Smith?" + +"Maybe his name's Smith--I don't know. I just wanted to find out where +he went--got a message for him--phoned it from the office over there." + +"He comes here to visit Miss Whaley and her elder sister," the boy +explained. "You just ring up No. 256, and I guess you can get him." + +Muggs went across the lobby and into a telephone booth. But he did not +call room 256. He called Verbeck at Miss Wendell's apartment, and got +him on the wire. + +"I spotted Landers, boss!" he said. "I trailed him to the New Nortonia +Hotel. He calls himself Smith here, and he visits a couple of women who +call themselves Whaley; they're in room 256." + +"Great!" Verbeck cried. "Stay there until I come over, Muggs; I'll start +right away." + +"Suppose he leaves before you get here, boss?" + +"Then trail him, Muggs, and telephone to me as soon as you can. I'll go +back home if I miss you!" + +Muggs went out on the street again and got into the roadster. He moved +the car a bit nearer the hotel, and then thought better of it and +circled to the other side of the street. And there he remained, watching +the entrance of the hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +MUGGS MEETS DISASTER + + +Muggs knew that it would take his master some time to get there from the +apartment house, and he hoped that Landers would remain in the hotel +until Verbeck arrived. Muggs began speculating, too, as to the identity +of the two Misses Whaley. Probably they were members of the Black Star's +organization. + +Muggs was doomed to disappointment. Before ten minutes had passed, he +saw Landers come from the hotel and start walking up the street. Muggs +wheeled the roadster, and followed slowly. Landers was on the opposite +side. + +"I hope he don't look this way and spot me!" Muggs growled. "He sure +would remember this car. There ain't another like it in town, and he saw +plenty of it when we were after the big crook before. I sure hope he +don't look this way!" + +It appeared that Muggs was to have his wish. Landers walked briskly down +the street for three blocks, and then stepped to the curb. A big touring +car was standing there, and Landers spoke to the chauffeur and sprang +in. The car started down the avenue, and Muggs followed in the roadster. + +The touring car cut across the city, following the boulevards and +keeping away from the busy streets, and it appeared to Muggs that the +chauffeur was trying to make speed. After a time it turned into the +street that led to the river drive, and the speed became higher. + +"Drivin' for his health, is he?" Muggs asked himself, and then answered: +"Not any, he ain't. That bird's got all the health he needs. It's coin +he's after--other folks' coin!" + +Mile after mile Muggs followed the car ahead, now creeping up closer +when there was traffic, now dropping behind so there would be no +suspicion that he was deliberately following. Muggs knew that the +roadster he was driving could overhaul the other car at any time. He had +made a note of the other car's number, too. + +Then they reached the pleasure resort, and the car ahead turned in. +Muggs promptly followed. + +"Must be out for his health, after all," he mused. "Maybe he's goin' to +meet some more of the gang out here. It'd be a good place at that, in +all this crowd." + +On seeing Landers get out, he parked the roadster and followed his man. +Landers walked down to the water front and watched the bathers. Muggs +watched him from a corner where he could not be seen. He saw that +Landers glanced around now and then, as if to search for some one, or to +see whether there was an enemy near. + +Then Landers began walking along the shore of the river, and presently +turned into a little grove and made his way toward a road that ran +through the woods. + +"Now we get it!" Muggs said. "Here's where he meets some of the gang. I +wish the boss was here!" + +Muggs followed him cautiously through the woods, careful not to attract +attention. They came to a lane, and Landers turned down it, glanced +around, and then began walking faster. + +Muggs remained in the woods, but followed as swiftly as he could. He +managed to keep Landers in sight. After a time he saw his quarry leave +the lane and plunge into the woods again, cut through them, and come out +where there was a clearing and an old farmhouse in the midst of a grove +of trees. + +Crouching behind a clump of brush, Muggs watched Landers stoop and pick +up something. The man's back was turned and Muggs could not see what he +was doing. Presently he got up, walked to the gate, stood there a +moment, and then opened it and passed inside. He took great care, Muggs +thought, to see that the gate was closed and latched again. + +The valet remained where he was for several minutes, and then crept +forward under the brush until he reached the spot where he had seen +Landers stoop. He felt around there--and found a telephone. + +"Ha!" Muggs said to himself. "This is a funny thing to find around here. +He phoned before he opened that gate, too! I've got an idea that fence +ain't a pleasant thing to touch, and I ain't goin' to try it until I +know. I wish the boss was here!" + +He put the telephone back, crept on through the brush, and watched the +house. There was nobody in sight. + +"I'll bet that's the big crook's headquarters, or one of his branches +where he plans things," Muggs told himself. "And I ain't man enough to +tackle it alone. The thing for me to do is get back and phone the boss, +and get him out here with a gang!" + +Muggs started to back through the brush. He heard a step behind him, +then whirled and tried to get to his feet. He found himself in the +clutches of two men dressed as fishermen. + +In his younger days, Muggs had enjoyed a reputation for being an +excellent rough-and-tumble fighter. He still retained some of his +strength and all his knowledge of how to conduct such a combat. He +uttered no word, but went into action. + +He kicked, struck, tried to bite and to get his thumbs into the eyes of +one of his antagonists, ignoring all rules of fistic combat, striving +only to be victor. But he found that he was fighting men who were used +to such tactics. + +Back and forth across the ground they fought and wrestled, until Muggs' +breath was coming in gasps, he was seeing red, and he felt his strength +going. Another fisherman crashed through the brush and threw himself +into the fray--and Muggs went down from a blow to his chin. + +He came back to consciousness to find two of the fishermen bending over +him, one of them throwing water in his face. He struggled to get up, but +they held him securely. Then he saw that he was not out of doors, but in +the house. + +"No more fightin' for you just now!" one of the fishermen growled at +him. + +"Let me up, and I'll show you!" Muggs said. "What you mean jumpin' me +like you did?" + +"What do you mean by snoopin' around and investigatin' things you ain't +got any business investigatin'?" + +"I don't remember investigatin' anything. Can't a man bum through the +woods any more? Is there a law agin' it?" + +"There is in this particular section of the woods," the fisherman +replied. "And you needn't try to run any bluff, either. We watched you +lookin' at that telephone--and we was watchin' you before that, +trailin' a man." + +"Yeh?" Muggs asked. + +"Yeh! And now you're goin' to do a little explainin'." + +"Let's see you make me!" Muggs exclaimed. + +"We ain't goin' to try to make yeh. There's another man to do that. You +get up and we'll tie your hands behind your back, in case you want to +get violent and beat somebody up. And if you start a fight again, we'll +just wallop the everlastin' face off you. Get me?" + +They lifted Muggs up. He started to struggle, but was no match for them. +They held him, and lashed his wrists together behind his back with fish +cord. Then they thrust him along a narrow hall and to a door. + +One of them pressed a button, and Muggs heard a bell tinkle. Then a +buzzer sounded. + +"In you go!" one of the fishermen said. + +They opened the door and thrust him forward, and he heard the door +slammed behind him. Muggs blinked his eyes rapidly, for the hall had +been half dark, and the apartment in which he now stood was lighted +brilliantly. + +He saw a room with expensive furnishings. A long table was in the middle +of it, heavy chairs were scattered around, and before him was a man +dressed in a black robe, with a black mask on his face, and a flaming +star of jet on his hood. + +"Greetings, my dear Muggs!" the Black Star said. "I regret it if some of +my men handled you roughly, but then you are inclined to violence +yourself." + +"You--you----" Muggs gasped. + +"Be seated, Muggs. You must be fatigued after your recent exertions. I +understand that you put up a good fight." + +"I'll put up a better one if I ever get a chance at you!" Muggs growled. +"I'll show you how to make fun of my boss in the newspapers! You _big_ +crook!" + +"That is not an insult, my dear Muggs, but a compliment. I flatter +myself that I am a big crook. Please sit down." + +Muggs complied. He was still weak from the fight, and he felt that he +wanted to gather what strength he could, for use in case an opportunity +presented itself. + +"I understand that you followed a certain member of my organization," +the Black Star went on. "I have rebuked him for his carelessness. Since +you have discovered my location, I cannot allow you your freedom, of +course, and have you bring the police down upon me. I make it a point, +as perhaps you learned before, to change my headquarters now and then. +But I am very comfortable and safe here, and have no intention of moving +for some time. So you are to be my guest, Muggs, until I do decide to +move." + +"That's what _you_ say!" Muggs exclaimed. + +"I scarcely think you'll escape, Muggs, if that is what is in your mind. +And, if you behave yourself, I may show you some very interesting +things. I shall feed you well, Muggs, and give you plenty of cigarettes. +What more can man desire? I do this because I admire your loyalty to +your employer. Perhaps, if I keep you prisoner, and so inform him, he +will exert himself and add spice to our little game. Mr. Verbeck hasn't +betrayed any great amount of cleverness recently, you know." + +"Is that so?" Muggs retorted. "He could, if he wanted to, I guess! It +looks as if you don't read the newspapers. My boss ain't in the game any +more. He and the chief had a scrap!" + +"Oh, my dear Muggs! Give me credit for having some intelligence, and +some clever people in my organization. I happen to know that it is all a +trick--and not a very clever trick at that. I know the arrangement he +made with the chief. Thought I'd take my eyes off him, didn't he? Utter +rot!" + +"I tell you he had a scrap----" + +"If that is so--if Verbeck is no longer trying to capture me--why do you +betray so much interest in my affairs?" the Black Star demanded. "Why +did you follow my man to-day? Why did you trail him through the woods? +Muggs, your story is weak." + +Muggs saw that it was, but he wasn't willing to admit it. + +"I didn't say I had quit, did I?" he asked. "Maybe I'm after you on my +own hook. There's a fat reward up, ain't there?" + +"That's not at all clever, Muggs. But we need talk along this line no +more. We understand each other, Muggs. You are my enforced guest for a +time, and I trust that you'll appreciate my hospitality. If you start +causing trouble, I shall be forced to descend to means I abhor--and use +violence!" + +"You untie my hands and take off that fool robe, and I'll give you all +the violence you want!" Muggs cried. "Maybe I can't fight half a dozen +thugs of your gang, but I can handle you, all right, without any help!" + +"I fear that I must refuse to accept the challenge, Muggs. I have work +to do, and it would be delayed if you happened to lay me up for a few +days. Perhaps, some other time----" + +"Yellow streak!" Muggs taunted. + +"Take care!" the Black Star thundered angrily. "You may go too far, my +man!" + +"Don't you 'my man' me! Even my boss don't do that, and no crook's goin' +to! Not on your life!" + +"Then do not make me lose my temper," the Black Star said. "Go over to +that couch and make yourself comfortable, Muggs. You may see and hear +some interesting things. Since you are to be my guest for some time, +until a certain thing is accomplished, I do not care how much you learn. +I have an idea that some of my people are about to report." + +Muggs, a sudden gleam in his eye, got up and went over to the couch. It +was like the Black Star to let him overhear orders and commands; and +there always was a chance that he could escape and give the alarm. He +needed rest now to gather his strength. He would wait, learn all that he +could, catch the Black Star off guard as soon as possible, and effect an +escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IMPORTANT INFORMATION + + +The Black Star watched him closely as he sat down on the couch and tried +to make himself comfortable, which was a difficult thing for him to do +with his wrists lashed behind his back. + +"Muggs," he said, "where did you pick up Landers?" + +"What you talkin' about?" + +"You know very well. You followed Landers out here, and some of my men +saw you trailing him, saw you find the telephone. You know Landers well, +for he was one of my old organization and escaped when Verbeck caught me +and scattered my men." + +"What difference does it make?" Muggs asked. "I picked him up, didn't +I?" + +"I give you credit for it, Muggs. But just where did you pick him up? If +any of my men are careless, I want to know it. Was it Landers' +carelessness or your cleverness?" + +"I saw the big stiff walkin' along the street and gettin' into an auto, +and trailed him," Muggs said. + +"Very good!" replied the Black Star. + +Muggs felt sure that there was a note of keen satisfaction in the Black +Star's speech, and he guessed the reason for it. The master crook +thought Muggs meant that he had seen Landers getting into the touring +car. He was worrying for fear Muggs knew of his visit to the hotel. + +"Some more of the gang there--them Whaley women!" Muggs told himself. + +A bell on the wall tinkled, and the Black Star hurried to one end of the +room and pressed a button. + +"I must ask you to remain perfectly quiet, Muggs," he warned. "You may +see all you like, since you'll never be able to give out the information +soon enough to hurt my plans, but you must not speak when any of my +people are in the room. Be good, Muggs, and I'll have your hands untied +after a while." + +The door at the other end of the room was opened, and a robed and masked +man came in and went to the blackboard. He regarded Muggs carefully, but +the Black Star motioned for him to proceed. + +"Number Two," he wrote. + +"Countersign?" + +"Bennington." + +"Report," wrote the Black Star, and as Muggs watched they held their +conversation on the blackboards, writing and erasing, neither speaking a +word. + +"Invitation list includes all prominent and wealthy persons in the city +and some from out of town," wrote Number Two. + +"Date remains the same?" + +"Yes; to-morrow night." + +"How about detectives?" + +"Four--two men and two women--from the usual agency. We cannot handle +any of them by the customary means, but they will not be hard to get out +of the way." + +"Make arrangements for doing so," wrote the Black Star. "If you need +help, ask for it to-morrow morning. What arrangements have been made +about refreshments?" + +"A caterer is to serve them. Two of the waiters are our men." + +"Good! Anything special regarding possible loot?" + +"Since it is such an affair, all the women are likely to wear their most +expensive jewels," wrote Number Two. "Social rivalry that exists at +present will tend toward this." + +"That is all for the present. Retire!" + +Number Two erased what was written, bowed, and backed through the door. +The Black Star glanced at a little clock that stood on the table before +him. + +"I have a few minutes before the next man reports, Muggs," he said, "and +so I'll be glad to explain in part. I presume you have heard of our fair +city's society leader, Mrs. Richard Branniton?" + +"Sure!" said Muggs. + +"She is giving quite an affair to-morrow evening at her palatial +residence, Muggs. Her husband, if you happen to remember, was the +district attorney who prosecuted me when I was on trial recently. At +this reception and ball, she is to entertain two prominent diplomats who +are visiting in the city. The cream of the city's wealth and society +will be present, Muggs. It will be some party!" + +"Well, what about it? I ain't invited," Muggs growled. + +"You may be a guest at that, Muggs; I may take you with me." + +"Oh! You're invited, are you?" Muggs asked sarcastically. + +"No; but I am going. It isn't quite the thing to go to an affair to +which you have received no invitation, yet I intend doing it, Muggs. +There are times when I am not strictly conventional, as you may have +guessed. I am going, Muggs--and I am going to take about twenty or +thirty of my best men with me." + +"It'll sure be some party, then!" + +"There will be a few exciting moments, I doubt not. You see, Muggs, the +ladies will wear fortunes in jewels--and I love jewels. Besides, they +are worth money when properly marketed. I shall strip Mrs. Richard +Branniton's guests of their precious jewels. This will injure that lady +socially to a certain extent, and thereby hurt Mr. Branniton, who was +quite nasty at the time of my trial." + +"He wasn't nasty enough!" + +"Oh, well, you are prejudiced, Muggs. And the jewels are not all, Muggs. +We are going to abduct those two famous diplomats and hold them for +ransom. Is not that a master stroke? I certainly am a big crook, am I +not?" + +"You can't get away with it!" Muggs said. + +"Nonsense! We have a place prepared to which we shall take them. We have +a method of collecting the ransom when it is paid--a safe method. And it +will be paid, Muggs--two hundred thousand dollars for each man. You see, +they are here on international business, and very important business at +that. It will be necessary to secure their release at once. If it is not +accomplished, there might be trouble with a certain other country. Oh, +we have it all planned, Muggs, and the job will not be so difficult as +others I have handled." + +"You go to monkeyin' with the government, and you'll get yours good and +plenty!" Muggs warned him. + +"I fear no government, Muggs! I tell you, our plans are perfect. The +ransom will be paid within three days." + +The Black Star went to the table, opened a drawer, and consulted a +memorandum book. Again the little bell on the wall tinkled. Once more +the Black Star pressed a button and a robed and masked man entered and +stepped up to the blackboard. + +"Number Four," he wrote. + +"Countersign?" + +"Delaware." + +"Report," wrote the Black Star. + +"Lord Sambery and Sir Burton Banks will arrive to-morrow morning at ten +o'clock and be taken at once to the Branniton residence. They will have +luncheon there, and then be taken for a drive through the city." + +"How many will be in the party?" + +"Just the luncheon party--perhaps fifteen." + +"What else?" the Black Star wrote. + +"Diplomats will return to the Branniton residence and remain for the +reception. Arrangements you ordered have been made." + +"Good!" the Black Star wrote. "Report at usual time to-morrow for +additional orders. Retire!" + +The man bowed and backed through the door. The Black Star turned toward +Muggs again. + +"Oh, it is a wonderful organization, my dear Muggs!" he said. "It is far +more wonderful than the one I had before." + +"I ain't carin' much about it!" Muggs said. "These blamed cords are +cuttin' my wrists, and my nose itches and I can't scratch it!" + +"Suppose I untie you?" + +"You'd better watch me, if you do." + +"Ah! That is what I thought," the master crook said. "You retain your +violent nature, I see. One of these days you will realize the futility +of it, Muggs." + +"I'll realize my life ambition by beatin' you up!" Muggs replied. "You +goin' to take off these cords?" + +"Not that. But I'll have your wrists tied in front, so you will be able +to scratch your nose," said the Black Star, chuckling. + +He opened the hall door and called two of the fishermen into the room. +For some reason, it appeared, the fishermen did not wear robes and masks +before the Black Star, and evidently did not care that Muggs saw their +faces. + +The master rogue issued his orders, and the two men untied Muggs' +wrists, lashed them again in front of him, and then hurried away. + +"Now you may scratch your nose," the Black Star said. "I suppose you'll +be trying to free yourself, too. Allow me to tell you, Muggs, that you'd +not get very far if you did." + +"I noticed Landers wait until the current was turned off that fence," +Muggs said. + +"Ah! You know about that, do you? But that is only one thing among many, +my dear Muggs. I'd advise you to be a contented prisoner for the time +being. You'll gain nothing by trying to escape." + +"Well, how long are you goin' to keep me here?" + +"Until I move to my next headquarters, I said." + +"And when'll that be?" + +"In two weeks possibly. Until then, Muggs, you must be one of us. When I +move, I'll have you dropped somewhere in town, and you can tell Verbeck +and the newspapers all you saw and heard. You'll be getting your picture +on the front page, Muggs." + +Again the bell tinkled, and once more a robed and masked man entered and +stepped to the blackboard. He gave his number and countersign. + +"Report," wrote the Black Star. + +"It is as you thought--Verbeck is still after us." + +"Anything more about Verbeck?" + +"He visited his fiancée this afternoon, and afterward took a taxi and +got out at a busy corner. He remained there for some time, and then went +home. He acted as if he was waiting for somebody." + +"Anything else?" + +"Verbeck's roadster is at the resort down the river, and has been there +for several hours. We didn't see Verbeck." + +"His chauffeur left it there; that is his chauffeur on the couch," the +Black Star wrote. + +The man at the other blackboard turned and regarded Muggs through the +slits in his mask. Muggs knew what that meant. Here was a man who was +not acquainted with him, but hereafter he would know Roger Verbeck's +chauffeur when he saw him. + +"Anything else?" the Black Star wrote again. + +"Sheriff Kowen is swearing in more deputies, and some of them are +experienced officers who have retired." + +"Anything from police headquarters?" + +"Nothing, sir, except that the chief is keeping in communication with +Verbeck through some third person. We have not located this person yet." + +"Do so as soon as possible, and let me know the result over the +telephone," the Black Star wrote. "That is all!" + +The masked man bowed and backed through the door. Once more the master +crook faced Muggs. + +"You see, my dear Muggs, I find out everything," he said. "I could tell +you what Roger Verbeck had to eat at breakfast this morning. How can a +man like Verbeck expect to win against an organization such as mine?" + +"He'll win, all right!" Muggs growled. "He'll get you before he quits!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +ON THE TRAIL + + +Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing +Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his +fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had +the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as +possible. + +He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and +looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them. +Verbeck's enthusiasm began to die instantly. He had hoped to find Muggs +still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more +of the gang. + +For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided +that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the +hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man. +So Verbeck went home to await another telephone message, as he had told +Muggs he would do. + +At the end of an hour, he had received no message. He paced the floor, +consumed several cigarettes, and began worrying a bit about it. That +Muggs was the sort of man to rush into trouble, Verbeck knew well. Muggs +was inclined to fight first and think about things afterward. If Muggs +had located Landers, and Landers did not know it, there were several +possibilities. + +Muggs might have followed the Black Star's lieutenant to the master +crook's headquarters, or been decoyed to some other place and made +prisoner. It was the silence of Muggs that bothered Roger Verbeck. +Surely he could have managed to get to a telephone within an hour, +Verbeck thought. + +Verbeck waited for another hour, and still had received no message from +Muggs. He called a certain number himself, and spoke at length to the +man who answered him, and who would relay the message to the chief of +police by word of mouth. + +"Muggs spotted one of the Black Star's men and started to follow him," +Verbeck said. "He hasn't reported to me since. Tell the chief to have +all the men on the force look for my roadster, as Muggs was driving it. +Muggs may need help. And wherever that roadster is found, some of the +Black Star's men may be in the neighborhood. Understand? Possibly Muggs +has not had a chance to communicate with me. He may be a prisoner." + +Roger Verbeck continued to pace the floor of his living room and wait. +Half an hour afterward his telephone bell rang, and he hastened to +answer, hoping that the call was from Muggs, and that it would lead to +the apprehension of the Black Star or some of his people. + +"Mr. Verbeck?" asked a voice. + +"Yes." + +"Good afternoon. I trust that you are in excellent health. This is the +Black Star speaking!" + +"Well, what do you want?" Verbeck growled. + +"Aren't you rather discourteous this afternoon? I have important news +for you, too. Your man, Muggs is making me an extended visit at my +headquarters. That is what I wished to let you know. He followed a +member of my band, and stumbled upon the place. Some more of my men +subdued him. I must keep him here now, of course, but I shall take good +care of him, I assure you." + +"You'd better!" Verbeck said. + +"And your splendid roadster, Mr. Verbeck--Muggs was driving it, as you +know. I have had one of my men take it downtown and leave it in front of +the public library. You'd better hurry there and get it, or you'll be +fined for leaving it standing in the street so long. I couldn't leave it +where Muggs deserted it, you know; that might have given a clew to my +whereabouts." + +Then the Black Star terminated the conversation abruptly, and Roger +Verbeck slammed the receiver into its hook. Verbeck had hoped that the +discovery of his roadster would put the police and himself on the right +trail. + +Once more Verbeck called the go-between, and had the chief of police +informed of his conversation with the Black Star. Then he called the +office of the sheriff. + +"That you, Kowen?" he asked. "This is Roger Verbeck. It has been given +out, as you know, that I am no longer working with the police, and I am +not certain whether the Black Star believes it, or not, though I +scarcely think that he does. So I don't want to call on the police for +help just now. I wish you'd hurry right up here to my place, Kowen. I've +got an important clew. And have one of your men go to the corner by the +New Nortonia Hotel and wait there for us, will you? We may need him." + +"I'll send a good man there, and I'll be with you in fifteen minutes!" +Kowen declared. + +The sheriff was as good as his word. A quarter of an hour later he was +sitting before the table in Verbeck's living room, puffing at a cigar +Verbeck had given him. + +"Well, Verbeck, what's the idea?" he wanted to know. "If you've got a +clew to that crook's whereabouts, for Heaven's sake let's get busy on +it. If we don't land him pretty quick, the dear public will be running +us out of town." + +"I visited my fiancée this afternoon," Verbeck said, "and left Muggs +sitting in the roadster. A few minutes later, the clerk in the apartment +house telephoned up to me that Muggs had said to tell me he had seen a +man, and would call me later. + +"I knew what that meant, of course. We had been watching continually for +some of the Black Star's old people. So I waited eagerly for his +message, and finally it came. The man he had been trailing was Landers, +one of the Black Star's trusted lieutenants. Muggs said he had gone to +the New Nortonia Hotel, and was visiting a couple of women named Whaley, +who had room 256 there." + +"Some clew!" said the sheriff. + +"Wait! I told Muggs I'd be right over, but that if Landers left the +hotel to follow him and call me at home later. When I got over there, +Muggs was gone. I came home, and waited a couple of hours, but got no +message from him. Finally the Black Star called me up. He said he had +Muggs at his headquarters and would keep him a prisoner for a time. +Muggs stumbled into some sort of a trap, it seems. We don't know where +the crook's headquarters are, of course. But I'm inclined to +investigate room 256, at the New Nortonia Hotel, sheriff. What do you +think about it?" + +"I should say we will investigate it!" Kowen declared. "If the Black +Star's lieutenant visits the people in that room, I want to know who +those people are." + +"Muggs said they were two sisters named Whaley. That means nothing, of +course. They probably belong to the Black Star's gang. They may be +important, or they may be merely mediums through whom members of the +band receive messages and orders from one another. Now, we want to go +about this thing carefully, sheriff. We ought to investigate, but we +don't care to have them know of it until we learn all there is to be +learned." + +"I get the idea," the sheriff agreed. "Let's go!" + +"We'll wait until after dark--which will not be more than a couple of +hours," Verbeck said. "I'll have some dinner sent up here, and that will +help kill the time. I visit that hotel now and then myself--have a +bachelor friend who lives there. So the clerk and elevator boy will +think nothing of it if we go right up without being announced. You leave +the little details for me, Kowen. All I want is your official +support--and your good right arm, of course, in case we get into a bit +of trouble." + +"You can have 'em both!" the sheriff said. + +Verbeck ordered the dinner, and the sheriff indulged in a moment of +luxury. Never before had he smoked such cigars or eaten such food. Being +a young man of fortune was a good thing, Kowen decided. He didn't see +why Roger Verbeck should go around trying to round up a master crook +when he was so comfortable at home. + +Night descended, and they left the apartment and the building by means +of a rear stairs. Verbeck explained that it was probable that the Black +Star had somebody watching the place. + +"We don't want them to think we know anything about that hotel," he +said. "We may lose our chance to nab some of them if they get an idea we +are on the right trail." + +They walked through back streets, keeping in the shadows as much as +possible, and finally reached the hostelry. There, of course, they had +to enter boldly. Verbeck nodded to the clerk and hurried to the elevator +with the sheriff at his heels. They ascended to the fourth floor, where +Verbeck's friend, Lawrence, lived. + +"We're here on business connected with a gentleman known to fame as the +Black Star, Lawrence," Verbeck said, finding his friend in his suite. + +"Good Lord! Think I'm a member of his gang?" Lawrence asked. + +"Scarcely, or we'd not be taking you into our confidence," Verbeck +replied. "Be a good boy, now, and help us, will you?" + +"Surely! That big crook nipped my aunt's diamonds the last time he was +on a rampage, and she never got them back. Just give me a chance at him. +Those stones were to have been mine some day." + +"In that case, you probably want revenge," said Verbeck, laughing. "Now, +answer a few questions. You've lived here for three or four years and +should know something about the place." + +"I know all about it," Lawrence said. + +"Where is room 256?" + +"Ah! I had that room when I first came here, before I could get a suite. +It's on the second floor, directly beneath us a couple of stories, with +a fire escape running past its principal window." + +"Of course there would be a fire escape," said Verbeck. "There are times +when fire escapes are handy things. Lawrence, do you know the people who +have that room now? I understand a couple of sisters live there--Whaley +by name." + +"I've seen one of them many times--sour-looking old girl about forty. +Freeze you with a glance, and all that sort of thing--one of those women +a man always dodges." + +"Sure she is about forty?" + +"Great Scott, don't I know the sex? Can't I guess a woman's age nine +times out of ten? Aren't half the girls in town mad at me now because I +always insist on doing it, and telling the truth about my guesses? She's +forty, and she's fat--not plump, but fat--and she always looks as if she +was ready to bite." + +"Well, that description doesn't mean anything in my young life," Verbeck +said. "I had hoped for something different. How about the other sister?" + +"I've glanced at her a couple of times, but I haven't seen her at all +recently. Maybe she's ill." + +"What does she look like--that's what I want to know." + +"Um!" said Lawrence. "Grace of a gazelle, my boy. Would have made +advances, my boy, if the other hadn't frozen me with a glance." + +"Hair?" + +"Auburn--distinct auburn, the shade I most prefer--and plenty of it. +Eyes, a sort of gray--don't know exactly what you'd call 'em. And the +girl can wear clothes. There's a subtle perfume about her, my boy----" + +"And you only glanced at her a couple of times, eh? How old do you say +she is?" Verbeck asked. + +"Thirty," Lawrence replied. "Five feet six; weighs about a hundred and +twenty-five, has magnificent shoulders----" + +"I knew it!" Verbeck cried. + +"Can you place her?" Kowen asked. + +"It is only a guess, of course," said Verbeck. "But I think I know who +she is. And I'm sure you'd be interested in meeting her, Kowen. You'll +take such a fancy to her that you'll probably want to take her to jail +and put her into a cage. Kowen, is that man of yours at the corner, do +you suppose?" + +"If he isn't, he'll be fired pretty quick!" + +"Go out and find him, and plant him beneath that fire escape. Tell him +to nab anybody, man or woman, who tries to go down it. A person can go +down that escape to the parlor on the first floor, you know, step +through a window there, and walk out the front door of the hotel. Then +you hurry right back here, Kowen." + +The sheriff grasped his hat and hurried from the suite. Verbeck lighted +a cigarette, looking toward the ceiling and smiled. + +"I say, what is this all about?" Lawrence demanded. "Let me in on it, +will you? I haven't had a bit of excitement for ages. I'm getting stale, +man." + +"Callow youths such as yourself should not run into danger," Verbeck +explained. + +"Confound it, I'm no callow youth. I'm only three years younger than +you." + +"But I have had experience, Lawrence. Restrain yourself for a few +minutes, and you may see some excitement. But don't ask questions at the +present time. I hate answering questions. We must wait until the sheriff +comes back." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A TENSE MOMENT + + +Sheriff Kowen located his deputy instantly, and gave the man his orders. +Then the sheriff showed that there was real stuff in him. He did not +turn around and reënter the hotel by the main door. It had occurred to +him that, if any of the Black Star's men were on watch, they might get +suspicious if they saw him around the place too much. + +Kowen walked down the street, entered a cigar store, made a purchase, +and sauntered on around the block. He darted into the alley and reached +the rear of the hotel building, and went in at the servants' entrance +when he was sure that he was not being observed. + +He exhibited his badge to the first man he met, and was shown how to +reach the rear stairs. By this means he mounted to the fourth floor and +so reached Lawrence's suite again. + +"My man's ready," he reported to Verbeck. "If anybody gets down that +fire escape and away, it'll be peculiar. That man can handle bad ones as +easily as others handle infants." + +"What are you going to do?" Lawrence inquired. + +"The sheriff and I are going to investigate room 256 and the inhabitants +thereof," Verbeck replied. "We are going to walk up to the door and +knock. If we find, when the door is opened, that we have made a +mistake, we shall apologize and say something about knocking at the +wrong door. If we find that we have not made a mistake, there probably +will be fireworks." + +"I always did like fireworks," Lawrence said. "Do I get to see these?" + +"You may look from your window all you please," Verbeck said. "But we +can't have you with us just now. There may be nothing in this, and there +may be a lot. Ready, sheriff?" + +"You know it!" the sheriff answered. + +"Allow me to suggest that you put your revolver in your coat pocket, and +put your hand in the same pocket and grasp the revolver. Don't show the +weapon, of course, until we are sure that we are right. We don't want to +frighten innocent persons, if it can be avoided." + +"Who do you think is in that room, Verbeck?" Kowen asked. + +"Let us see!" Verbeck replied. + +Ignoring Lawrence's demand that he be allowed to accompany them, they +left the suite and walked slowly down the stairs. They reached the +second floor, and went along the hall until they reached No. 256. There +they stopped, listened. They could hear somebody talking inside. + +Verbeck knocked smartly and then stepped close to the door, the sheriff +at his side. The voices within were stilled, but nobody answered. +Verbeck knocked again, and suddenly the door was thrown open. + +Sheriff Kowen gasped, and his revolver was whipped from his pocket. +Roger Verbeck merely chuckled. The woman who had opened the door gave a +little screech and tried to close it again, but Verbeck's foot +prevented. They thrust her back, stepped inside, and closed the door +behind them. + +"Good evening, Miss Blanchard!" said Sheriff Kowen. "I tell the truth +when I say that I am delighted to see you!" + +"And it is some time since I have had the pleasure of greeting The +Princess," Verbeck added. "Pardon the peculiar manner of this call, but +we felt that it was necessary." + +The face of the woman before them had gone white, and now it flushed. +She stepped backward into the room as they advanced. Sitting near the +window was another woman--fat and forty--and she sprang to her feet. + +"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" she cried. "I shall call the +office----" + +"Calm yourself, madam!" Verbeck told her. "I have not the pleasure of +your acquaintance, but I find you in bad company, and that is +sufficient." + +"Yes, and I've got a couple of dandy cells down at the county jail!" the +sheriff said. "They're all cleaned and waiting for you. Hot and cold +water, and eats three times a day. I've stopped raiding gambling dens +for the moment and am taking up another line of work." + +He glared at Mamie Blanchard, who was standing close to the table and +glaring back at him. + +"Sit down, Miss Blanchard!" Verbeck said. "We are going to have a short +conversation. And kindly do not attempt any foolish move. I dislike to +fight a woman, but at times it seems to be necessary." + +Mamie Blanchard sat down. Verbeck could tell, by glancing at her face, +that she had regained her composure--that she was clever, dangerous, a +woman to be watched closely. + +"Well, what is it?" she demanded. + +"I don't suppose you'll do as I ask, but I am going to give you a +chance," Verbeck said. "I want some information about the Black Star." + +"I don't know anything about him. I was in his old gang, as you are +aware. I supposed you had come to arrest me for that. He didn't see fit +to include me in his new organization, because you knew me, I suppose." + +"That statement is not at all clever of you," said Verbeck. "You are +talking to men who know better. You helped engineer his escape, didn't +you?" + +"Since you know, I did. That is, I got the sheriff to raid the gambling +house, and decoyed him to the little cottage. The Black Star gave me +that much to do because I needed money. But that is all." + +"You mean your work for him is done?" Verbeck asked. + +"Yes." + +"You're not in touch with him any more?" + +"No." + +"Um! And yet Landers, his trusted lieutenant, is a frequent visitor +here." + +"Perhaps that is for personal reasons," said Mamie Blanchard. "We saw +each other a great deal when we were in the old gang, and we are--well, +interested in each other to a certain extent." + +"I wish that I could believe your story of a fond romance, but I am +afraid that I cannot," Verbeck said. "Let us put the cards on the table. +You know, Miss Blanchard, that it is only a question of time when the +Black Star will be recaptured and his band scattered or sent to jail. +It will go easier with you personally if you give me the information I +desire; and please do not waste time and breath by saying that you do +not know. Where is the Black Star's headquarters?" + +"I don't know--and that is the truth." + +"Possibly it is the truth, but you report to him through somebody. I +suppose it is Landers, since he calls here so much. When will Landers be +here again?" + +"I don't know." + +"What do you know about the Black Star's plans for the future?" + +"I don't know anything about them," said Mamie Blanchard. + +"She knows, all right, but she'll not talk," the sheriff declared. +"Might as well haul them both to jail, I guess. There's an old charge +against this Blanchard woman, and we can hold the other on suspicion +while we make an investigation." + +"You dare take me to jail!" shouted the fat-and-forty lady. + +"Tut, tut!" said Sheriff Kowen. + +The sheriff did not take his eyes off Mamie Blanchard. He was aware that +she was clever, and he was watching for her to make some move. He +watched her hands particularly. + +Verbeck bent forward in his chair again. "It will be a great deal better +for you to talk," he cautioned. + +"I've said all that I am going to say!" Mamie Blanchard declared. "If +you want to take me to jail, take me! The Black Star will get me out, +and he'll take pay from the city because I was arrested!" + +"You think you can bluff me with a speech like that?" Kowen demanded. +"Not in the least, young woman! You do not seem to appreciate what you +are facing." + +"And you," she said, "do not seem to appreciate what is behind you at +this moment!" + +"Trying to get me to turn around, so you can make some sort of a move, +are you?" the sheriff asked. "That's old stuff--telling a man to look +behind him." + +"There is something behind you, all right," she said. + +A man's voice greeted them from the rear. + +"I've got both of you covered! Drop that gun, sheriff!" + +Both the sheriff and Verbeck suddenly felt something pressing against +the backs of their necks. Each knew what it was--the muzzle of a weapon. + +"Drop it!" said the voice again. + +The sheriff dropped his gun. He knew it was the only thing to do when +another man had the drop on him. + +"Sit still! Don't turn around!" said the voice again. + +Suddenly the air about the two men was filled with pungent fumes. Their +heads dropped forward. Once more a vapor gun had done its work, and done +it instantly and well. + + * * * * * + +Roger Verbeck and Sheriff Kowen returned to consciousness to find that +they were bound and gagged and lashed to chairs placed against the wall. +The two women were still in the room. Landers was there, too. + +"You fail again, Verbeck," he said. "You must be losing your +cleverness, as the Black Star says. You enter a room as you entered +this, and sit down and turn your back upon a closet without examining it +first. It was very easy to overcome you after that. I didn't look for +any brains in the sheriff, of course, but I did in you. + +"The question now is what to do with you. We have been discussing it +while you were unconscious. Had I my way, you'd be put where you'd +bother us no longer, but the Black Star will not countenance that sort +of violence. He is tender-hearted in some things, as you know. + +"It appears that you have discovered our little retreat here, and so we +cannot remain. These ladies will have to go out with me, without even +taking their clothes and toilet articles, and not return. It is a +nuisance to find another hiding place, but there are plenty of them in +the city. We shall have to leave you here, of course. I promise to +telephone the hotel later, and have you released. + +"Thought you'd get some information, did you? Let me tell you, Roger +Verbeck, that you'll never catch the Black Star this time. And he'll +strip the city before he is through. He has planned something for +to-morrow night that will not only startle the city, but the entire +country as well. There is not a chance in the world of you or the police +or the sheriff's force preventing it--or doing anything after it has +been accomplished." + +Landers motioned to the women, and they went to the closet for hats and +cloaks. + +"I don't see the sense of leaving everything," Mamie Blanchard said. "We +can say at the office that I am going away for a few days, but that my +sister will remain. They'll think that you are merely taking me to the +train. At least, I can take a bag. I can put a lot of things in that." + +"Very well; perhaps that would be best," Landers agreed. "Take your +time, my dear. There is no need to rush things. We are not likely to be +disturbed here. You'd better put on a heavy veil, too. There may be a +deputy or two around the hotel, and some of them might recognize you. +I'll telephone for a taxi just before we go down." + +The two women began packing the bag, while Landers turned his back on +his prisoners, went to the window and looked down at the street. + +Verbeck and the sheriff glanced at each other helplessly. There was +small chance that they would be able to trail Landers and the women if +they got away now; and after this they would keep in hiding better. It +appeared that the Black Star's good luck was with him yet. + +Verbeck tugged at his bonds, but knew instantly that there was small +hope of freeing himself. If he did, Landers held the advantage. But it +was Verbeck's idea that he could get free at least soon after the others +left the room, and make an effort to trace them. + +Landers turned away from the window. + +"Verbeck, your man trailed me this afternoon," he said. "He saw me come +into this hotel, I suppose, and found out what room I visited. He's out +at the Black Star's headquarters now, a pampered guest; but when I get a +chance, I'm going to give him what's coming to him. He was the cause of +my getting a rebuke from the Black Star." + +"I wish you'd rap that sheriff on the head," Mamie Blanchard remarked. +"He's a nuisance!" + +"The Black Star will not stand for work like that, and you know it," +Landers replied. "Besides, the sheriff is harmless; we have little to +fear from him." + +Sheriff Kowen's face grew purple with wrath, and he gurgled behind his +gag. + +Mamie Blanchard was packing the bag, and her stout companion was +gathering the things to put into it. Verbeck continued working at the +bonds about his wrists. The cords were cutting through the flesh, but he +did not desist. He knew that every second would be precious as soon as +Landers and the two women left the room. + +He stopped for an instant, because the exertion was tiring him, and his +wrists pained so much. He saw that Kowen was trying to get free, too, +and knew that he was making a failure of it. Landers had done his work +well; it was evident that the man was an expert at binding and gagging. + +Presently Landers came over, inspected their bonds, and laughed. + +"You are only mutilating your wrists, Mr. Verbeck," he said. "I assure +you that you will be unable to get free. I promise to call up the hotel +within an hour or so, and tell them to come up and release you. It will +get into the newspapers, of course--and the public will have another +laugh at your expense--but you should be used to that by this time, you +and the sheriff both. The town should give us credit for handing them a +laugh now and then, as well as thrills." + +The sheriff gurgled behind his gag again. + +Verbeck looked past him to the window at which was the landing of the +fire escape. He saw a shadow there, and looked away. Then he glanced +back again, a new hope born in his breast. Once more he observed a +shadow, and then a man's face showed for an instant as he peered inside. +The man was his friend, Lawrence. + +Lawrence had fussed and fumed for ten minutes after Verbeck and the +sheriff had left. He had opened the window by the fire escape, and had +looked down. The shade at the window in the room on the second floor was +only partially drawn, and Lawrence could see the light streaming out. + +"Wonder what those chaps are up to?" he asked himself. "Mean of Verbeck +not to let me in on it. Ought to hear some sort of an explosion soon, I +fancy. Maybe there'll be a row--give the hotel a bad name--beastly +mess!" + +He waited for half an hour longer, hanging out of the window and +watching below. He saw nothing, heard nothing. At the foot of the fire +escape a man was standing--the sheriff's deputy. + +Then the lust for adventure was born in Lawrence's bosom. He chuckled at +the very idea. He opened the window wider, and got out on the landing of +the fire escape. + +He began slowly descending the ladder, round by round, passed the +landing on the third floor, and continued to the second. He went close +to the window, and looked in. + +He saw the sheriff and Roger Verbeck bound and gagged and lashed in +their chairs. He saw Landers walking around the room, a revolver in his +hand, and the two women packing the bag. + +"Great Scott!" he breathed. "Verbeck and Kowen seem to have come a +cropper! Prisoners, eh? Ought to give them a bit of help, I suppose. +Can't let that other chap get away with this, of course." + +Landers walked toward the window, and Lawrence drew back from it. He +waited a moment, then glanced in again--and met Verbeck's eyes. Lawrence +nodded his head. He went to the end of the fire-escape landing and +looked down at the deputy, who had been watching him carefully, +remembering his orders. He took a notebook from his pocket, and a pencil +from another, and scribbled a message: + + Come up quick! Man and two women in room have Verbeck and sheriff + bound and gagged. They are packing bag and preparing to leave. I + can't tackle this alone. I'm Verbeck's friend, Lawrence. Either + come up the fire escape or go inside and to room 256 and nab them + at the door, and I'll watch here. + +He tossed the note down, and the deputy picked it up and read it. The +deputy was not certain just what to do. If he went inside the hotel he +would disregard the sheriff's orders, which had been to watch the fire +escape. So the deputy decided to climb. + +He sprang up and caught the bottom of the iron ladder, reached the first +landing, and worked his way up, watching Lawrence closely, a weapon held +ready if Lawrence proved to be foe instead of friend. Lawrence glanced +inside the room again, and gestured to Verbeck that he had reason to +hope. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ON THE ROOF + + +Lawrence peered through the window again, as the deputy made his way up +the fire escape. The two women were putting on their hats and veils. +Landers had stepped before Verbeck and Sheriff Kowen again, and was +speaking to them. + +"I shall report all this to the Black Star," he was saying, "and he will +take great pleasure in relating it to the newspapers. We must give the +dear public another chance to laugh, as I said before. I regret that the +chief of police is not with you." + +Just then the deputy reached the landing of the fire escape, and looked +at Lawrence closely. + +"We haven't any time to lose," Lawrence whispered. "Look inside the +room." + +Lawrence, realizing that the deputy was suspicious of him, stepped back, +and the other man took a step forward and glanced through the window. + +"I want to get in on this; Roger Verbeck is a friend of mine!" Lawrence +declared. "What are we going to do?" + +He looked through the window again as he spoke. Mamie Blanchard had +picked up the bag and stepped to the door. The older woman was following +her. Landers was preparing to leave. + +"Don't worry, gentlemen," he was saying. "I'll notify the hotel to +release you within an hour or so, I'll turn out the lights, of course." + +The deputy waited no longer. He appeared to be convinced now that +Lawrence was acting in good faith. He sprang forward, thrust his foot +through the window, kicked at the glass repeatedly, rolled up the shade +and sprang into the room. Lawrence was only a pace behind him, and eager +for the fray. + +Landers and his companions had whirled around at the first crash of the +glass. One of the women screamed. Landers cursed, sprang to the light +switch, and snapped off the lights. The door was hurled open, and the +two women fled into the hall. Landers fired one shot from the vapor gun, +sprang after them, stopped long enough to turn the key in the lock on +the outside, and hurried after his female confederates to the elevator. + +Lawrence and the deputy charged across the room, trying to keep from +breathing, from inhaling those poisonous fumes. The deputy hurled +himself at the door in an effort to break it down. But it was well +braced against the woodwork outside, and resisted his efforts. + +Lawrence staggered back to the window and took great gulps of the fresh +air. Then he whirled around again, turned on the lights and began +fumbling at Verbeck's bonds. Verbeck and the sheriff were weak, but the +fumes of the vapor gun had not rendered them unconscious. The draft from +the broken window had prevented that. + +Lawrence tore the gags from the mouths of the bound men, and worked at +the fastenings again. + +"Down the fire escape!" Kowen shrieked to his deputy. "They called for a +taxi. If you see a cop, get him to help. We'll be after you in a +minute!" + +The deputy darted to the window, and went down the fire escape with the +agility of a monkey. Verbeck and Kowen, freed of their bonds at last, +got upon their feet. Since it seemed impossible to break down the door +leading to the corridor, Verbeck hurled himself against the one opening +into an adjoining room. It crashed in, and they staggered into the +apartment, startling a man who was dressing there. + +"Officers--after crooks!" Kowen gasped. + +They flung the hall door open, and rushed out. Lawrence was not far +behind them. Verbeck ran at once to the elevators and glanced at the +indicators above the doors. + +"All at the bottom except one--and that is almost at the top," he +gasped. "They surely haven't had time to get to the ground floor, unless +they just happened to catch an elevator on the fly, or else went down +the stairs." + +The sheriff made no reply; already he was dashing down the wide, marble +stairs. He reached the floor below, gave the lobby a single glance, and +then hurried to the elevators. + +"Two women and a man just come down?" he asked. + +"Nobody's come down for the last ten minutes or so," the starter +replied. "What's the row?" + +The deputy had charged in from the street. + +"They haven't come this way!" he said. "The taxicab is still waiting for +them in front." + +"Around to the alley!" the sheriff commanded. "Watch every exit there!" + +The hotel manager was on the scene by this time. + +"What is the disturbance about?" he demanded. + +"We're after some of the Black Star's gang," the sheriff replied. + +"In my house?" + +"Yes; and they've been living here for some time, if you want to know. I +thought this was an exclusive place, where a tenant had to have all +sorts of references. Those two women who call themselves Whaley----" + +"Why, they are all right!" + +"Are they?" asked the sheriff. "One side!" + +He took up a position whence he could watch both the stairs and the +elevators. The deputy had hurried to the alley. Two policemen came in +from the street, and the hotel detective put in an appearance. Kowen +took instant command of the situation. + +"Let nobody leave the building for the present--nobody!" he commanded. +"Let nobody pass out unless either Verbeck or I give them permission!" + +Kowen sprang up the wide stairs again. He reached the second floor, and +stopped to listen. He heard no sound of pursuit or combat. The elevator +came down from above, and the sheriff stopped it. + +"Take two women and a man up?" he asked. + +"Yes, sir," said the operator. + +"Know them?" + +"Miss Whaley and----" + +"That's enough! Where did they go?" + +"To the roof. They said they wanted to take a look at the city, as one +of the ladies was going away." + +"I'll go up and take a look myself!" the sheriff said. "And give us a +little speed!" + +The boy whizzed the elevator to the top floor; he didn't know what it +was all about, but he sensed excitement. + +"You take that flight of stairs to the roof," he explained. "There is a +door at the top." + +Kowen did not wait to thank him. He rushed for the stairs--and ran into +Verbeck and Lawrence. + +"They're on the roof!" Verbeck said. "And the door is locked, of +course!" + +"Then we've got them!" Kowen declared. "It's a cinch they can't get +down!" + +"Don't forget that we had the Black Star on a roof once, and he got +down," Verbeck reminded him. "I just examined that door; it's a strong +one." + +"Why use the door?" Lawrence asked quietly. "I know this building pretty +well, and I can get to the roof without going through the door at all." + +"How?" Verbeck asked. + +"I can get through that window, hang to the cornice, and draw myself +up." + +"You'd fall, man!" Kowen declared. "You'd kill yourself!" + +"I can do it!" Verbeck exclaimed. "It isn't a bit harder than things I'm +doing in the gymnasium all the time." + +He hurried to the window, opened it, and looked at the cornice above. + +"Don't try it!" Kowen said. "It's twelve stories to the pavement below, +Mr. Verbeck." + +"But I'm not going to fall!" + +"They're not worth it----" + +"What? The Black Star's first lieutenant, and the cleverest woman in his +band? I'm going up! You go to the door at the head of the stairs and +pound against it--make them think you are trying to break +through--attract their attention! Do it now!" + +He removed his shoes as he spoke. Kowen made a last protest, which drew +no reply from Verbeck except a grin. Then the sheriff and Lawrence went +back up the steps, and began pounding against the door. + +Verbeck was cool and collected now. He realized the task that was before +him, and he knew the danger he would be running. A fall would mean death +on the pavement twelve floors below. Verbeck was thankful that it was +dark. + +Once more he looked up at the cornice. Then he got through the window, +balanced himself on the sill, and reached up and grasped the edge of the +cornice with his hands. + +He hesitated a moment, took a deep breath, and started to draw himself +up. It was a difficult task, even for a man who always had been known as +an athlete. He managed to get one elbow over the edge of the cornice, +and thus he held himself, and rested, and tried to reduce his breathing +to normal. + +The hardest part of the task was before him, he knew. He had swung away +from the window below. If he was forced to lower himself, he doubted +whether he could swing his legs in enough to brace himself on the sill. + +"Have to do it, now!" Roger Verbeck told himself. + +Again he started drawing himself up. He got his other elbow over the +edge of the cornice, rested again for an instant, and then started to +turn. Now his chest rested against the cornice. He exerted all his +strength and managed to get one leg up. It was not difficult, after +that, to draw up the other. So he remained stretched on a narrow ledge +twelve stories above a busy street, panting, almost exhausted, dizzy. + +Verbeck closed his eyes and stretched himself out to his full length. He +realized that he could not hope to go the remainder of the way until he +had recovered his strength. However, it did not take him long to +recuperate. + +He raised himself on his elbows and glanced upward. The parapet was +above him, and not difficult to scale, but to reach the edge of it he +would have to stand up straight on the narrow ledge upon which he now +was stretched. + +Verbeck took a deep breath and started drawing up his knees. Presently +he was in a kneeling position. Then, inch by inch, he raised his body. +His hands crept up the face of the wall before him, stretched out and +grasped the edge of the parapet. + +Once more he was forced to draw himself up. He was very quiet about it, +too. He did not know but that Landers might be directly above him, ready +to receive him, or to thrust him over. + +He got his elbows over the edge, and stopped to breathe and to listen. +He could hear Kowen and Lawrence pounding on the door, and he found that +Landers and the women were not near. + +Verbeck began to think that good fortune was with him. He continued to +draw himself up, and finally was stretched, panting, on the top of the +parapet. + +He was in no hurry, now. He had no intention of clashing physically with +Landers while in an exhausted condition. There was no way, he thought, +in which Landers and the women could escape from the roof except through +the door at which the sheriff and Lawrence were pounding. + +Verbeck waited until he felt refreshed, and then slipped down to the +roof. Noiselessly he made his way across it toward the door. He came to +a chimney, and stopped beside it, to watch and listen. + +He had no weapon on him, and he knew that Landers had a vapor gun. One +shot from that might render him unconscious, put him out of the fight. +He could hear Landers and the women talking not very far from where he +stood. + +"They can't get through that door for some time," Landers was saying. +"I'm going to telephone." + +"He'll not come!" Mamie Blanchard wailed. "Why didn't we go down the +stairs instead of up? We might have known we would have been caught in a +trap." + +"We'll see whether he'll come or not!" Landers said. "If the telephone +is not out of commission----" + +During the hot summer months, the roof was used as a garden. There was a +little building in one corner of it that was used as a refreshment +stand, and there always was a telephone there. + +Verbeck knew that Landers was rushing across the roof to the building. +He heard him smash against the frail door, heard it crash in. The women, +it was evident, remained near the door leading to the stairs that went +below. + +Leaving the shadow of the chimney, Verbeck crept forward toward the +little structure where Landers had gone to telephone. He hoped to catch +the Black Star's lieutenant at a disadvantage and subdue him. He was +much interested, too, in what Landers' telephone message might be, and +to whom it would be sent. + +Without a sound, Verbeck crossed the roof and came to the side of the +little building. Landers had flashed an electric torch, and was taking +the telephone from beneath the counter. Verbeck saw him take down the +receiver. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +MUGGS GIVES A TIP + + +It was evident that the hotel switchboard operator was surprised to get +a call from the roof. + +"Oh, it's all right!" Verbeck heard Landers say. "I'm up on the roof +with the Misses Whaley. One of the ladies is going to leave the city, +and she wanted to call a friend from here--just a whim. I found the door +unlocked." + +Then he gave a number. Roger Verbeck made a mental note of it. Here +might be a clew that would lead to something important. + +Verbeck crept close to the door, and listened. Presently Landers spoke +again. + +"Hello! This is Landers! I'm trapped on the roof of the New Nortonia +Hotel with Mamie and her sister. Kowen and his crowd are trying to break +the door in now, but I think it'll take them some time, and then I can +stand them off for a while. If you don't come for us, we're caught.... +Yes, Verbeck and the sheriff. They walked in on us. I got them under +control, but some others came. The place is a regular trap.... Thanks! +But hurry!" + +Verbeck slipped to one side as Landers put the receiver on the hook and +hurried out. He followed the Black Star's lieutenant back across the +roof, and watched as he met the women. + +"He'll come for us!" Verbeck heard Landers say. "It'll take him some +time, of course--fifteen minutes at least. We'll have to hold off those +men on the other side of the door. If it comes to the worst, some of +them will get something more than a dose out of a vapor gun. I don't +intend to spend fifteen or twenty years in prison!" + +"If we had only gone downstairs----" Mamie Blanchard began. + +"If we had, we'd have run into a few deputies. I tell you they planned +to trap us! They've shadowed some of us----" + +"Then it must have been you!" Mamie Blanchard told him. "I have not been +out of the hotel, remember. It's your carelessness that got us into this +mess!" + +"Well, we won't quarrel about it," Landers said. "You women go to the +other side of the roof and wait. I'll stay near the door and handle +those men if they manage to break it open." + +Landers approached the door, and Verbeck crept after him. The light was +so faint that he could see little--just a shadow where the master +crook's lieutenant was walking. Verbeck crouched as he advanced, made no +noise, and was ready to stop if Landers betrayed any suspicion. But +Landers, it appeared, did not expect a foe on the roof, and was intent +only upon the door at which the sheriff and Lawrence were pounding. + +Verbeck had picked up a piece of timber beside the little refreshment +stand. It was the only weapon he had. He hated to use it, but he felt +that the situation justified its use. Landers was about a match for him +physically, and it was Verbeck's duty to make a prisoner of him, open +the door, and let the others take the women into custody. + +Landers was stamping upon the door. + +"Get away, or I'll fire through it!" he called, as the pounding ceased +for a moment. + +He sent one shot crashing through the wood and Verbeck could hear a +chorus of shrieks below. He knew Landers' plan--to delay them as much as +he could. And for what? That was what Verbeck could not fathom. + +To whom had Landers telephoned? How could he be rescued from the roof? +Would the Black Star and his band face a battle with police and +deputies, attempt to raid the hotel and save Landers and the two women? + +Landers had stepped back, and was listening to what was being said +below. Verbeck crept forward until he was within six feet of the other +man. He raised the piece of timber. + +He sent but one blow home, but he knew as it struck that it would send +Landers crashing to the roof, even though it did not render him +unconscious. He sprang past him, and fumbled at the heavy bolts on the +door, drew them, and threw the door open. + +"Up--quick!" he cried. + +Glad cries from the sheriff and Lawrence greeted him. They sprang to the +roof, two deputies at their heels. They seized the groaning Landers, and +rushed across the roof toward the women. + +"Torches!" Kowen cried. + +The torches flashed. The women were standing near one of the big +chimneys. Kowen led his deputies toward them. + +"You don't get away this time!" he said. "It's handcuffs and a cell for +you! You've played your last game with the Black Star, you two +beauties!" + +The fair prisoners were led toward the stairs. Landers had been +handcuffed, and was being carried to the floor below. Verbeck and +Lawrence followed them, but when they reached the floor below, Verbeck +called the sheriff aside. + +"Landers telephoned from the refreshment stand on the roof," he said. "I +have made a note of the number; it might lead us to something. But here +is the funny part--he asked somebody to come and rescue him. How they +are going to try it, I do not know; but I think that message went to the +Black Star." + +"Maybe he'll try a raid here," Kowen suggested. + +"Landers estimated, so he told the women, that he would be here in +fifteen minutes, at least. But how could even the Black Star get enough +of his men together to raid a place like this in that length of time? +It's the roof we have to watch. You remember how the Black Star escaped +from the roof of the National Trust Building, don't you? He seems to +have methods of which we know nothing." + +"Some more of that light stuff, and talking to us out of the air, +probably," the sheriff said. "Well, what shall we do?" + +"Have your deputies put the prisoners in a room and guard them. We'll +stay here by the door and watch the roof!" + +Sheriff Kowen gave the orders. He and Verbeck remained by the door, +Lawrence with them. + +"What's the big idea?" Lawrence inquired. + +"Perhaps nothing; we are waiting to see," Verbeck replied. + +"Well, can't you let a fellow in on it? If it hadn't been for me, those +people would be far away by this time; and you'd be bound and gagged in +that room, waiting for the public to laugh at you!" + +"Simply this," Verbeck said; "Landers telephoned to somebody to rescue +him from the roof, and we are waiting to see who comes to do it, and how +he comes." + +They waited for ten minutes without hearing or seeing anything. They +left the door and walked to the nearest chimney, and stood there, +watching, listening, like men who expected something to drop from the +sky. + +And something did come from the sky--that puzzling, brilliant light they +were learning to know so well. It flooded the roof, swept across it, +almost blinding the three men there. Verbeck and Kowen and Lawrence ran +back to the open door, shading their eyes with their hands. + +The light disappeared and they heard the Black Star's voice. "What have +you done with my people?" he shouted. + +"We've put handcuffs on 'em, you crook!" Kowen shrieked. "And we'll do +as much for you one of these days!" + +"Watch out!" Verbeck warned. + +Some sixth sense seemed to tell him what was coming. And it did--a vapor +bomb that burst not ten feet from the doorway. They darted back and away +from it. They saw the bright light flood the roof again. Then the +darkness came once more, and they heard nothing more, saw nothing more. + +"I'd like to know how he does that!" Kowen said. "Does he hang around in +the sky like a star? Well, he didn't rescue anybody, anyway! That's one +comfort!" + +"He hasn't been more than fifteen minutes getting here," Verbeck said. +"But we don't know how he is traveling, and so we can't judge how far +away his headquarters might be. That telephone number----" + +"We can investigate that, at any rate, the first thing in the morning," +Kowen said. "I'll get the telephone people busy. Now I'll take these +prisoners down to the jail and give each of them a nice little room, +American plan." + +The prisoners were taken away, the excitement in the hotel died down, +Verbeck went to Lawrence's suite to smoke a cigarette and get away from +the crowd for a time, and finally started home. + +He was worrying about Muggs, for one thing. He was hoping that the valet +would find some way in which he could be of service, while he was a +prisoner in the Black Star's headquarters. He knew that Muggs could be +depended upon to make every effort. + +The Black Star's threat--about doing something sensational the following +night--also came to his mind. Was the master rogue to win again? Was +there no way in which he could be stopped, recaptured, put behind prison +bars? Already the city was in the grip of terror. No man could tell +where the Black Star would strike next. He might loot another bank, or a +jewelry store, or raid the jail in an effort to rescue his companions +in crime. The public was considering everything--except the thing that +the Black Star had actually planned to do. + +Mrs. Richard Branniton completed her arrangements for entertaining the +distinguished diplomats, Lord Sambery and Sir Burton Banks, and had no +thought that the master criminal might pay her residence a visit while +her guests were enjoying themselves. + +Verbeck reached his rooms and threw himself into an easy-chair to rest. +He did not fear for himself. He did not think that the Black Star would +make an attempt to abduct him again, for prisoners were only in the way +at the master criminal's headquarters. Also, there were half a dozen +plain-clothes men in the apartment house, watching everybody who +entered, ready to act in any emergency that might present itself. + +It was too early to retire, so Verbeck smoked, and tried to read a +magazine, but found that he could not get himself interested. He +disliked to go to one of his clubs, for all the other members would want +to discuss the Black Star and nothing else. + +He started across the room to get a favorite book from the case, but +whirled around and went back, because the telephone had rung. + +"Hello!" he called. + +"Verbeck?" + +"Yes." + +"This is the Black Star. Some of my men have informed me how Landers and +the two women were caught. It took courage to climb to the roof the way +you did, but that is not the point. Those three people are very +necessary members of my organization, and I want them released." + +Verbeck laughed into the telephone. + +"Have you called the sheriff?" he asked. "He seems to be the man in +charge just now." + +"I have not called the sheriff yet. I thought I'd call you first, and +get you to influence him. You see, Verbeck, I have Muggs here with me." + +"What has that to do with it?" + +"Simply this--if I have to descend to violence, I'll do it. Nothing +shall stop me from having my revenge upon the city. Unless those people +of mine are released by noon to-morrow, I'll blow the jail off the +map--and I'll attend to Mr. Muggs." + +"In what way?" Verbeck asked. + +"I'll simply have him knocked on the head and dumped into the river. If +I have to be violent, I'll be a proper thug! What have you to say?" + +"Nothing, except that you have a wonderful nerve to speak as you do." + +"Perhaps you think I can't blow the jail to pieces?" + +"I do not say you can't, but I don't think you'll do it--not with +Landers and The Princess inside it." + +"And maybe you think I'd hesitate about making away with Muggs, do you?" + +"I scarcely think you'll do anything of the sort," Verbeck said. "You +would accomplish nothing, and you'd be hanged for murder after we caught +you." + +"You don't think I am serious," the Black Star replied. "I agreed to +give you until noon to-morrow----" + +"But I couldn't make the sheriff turn them loose! You may be sure that +he'll guard them well, and see that they stand trial. Why, if they were +turned loose----" + +"I'll arrange that. They are to be freed and put in the middle of the +polo field. I'll do the rest. On second thought, I'll give you more +time, Verbeck, if you have to argue with the sheriff. I'm going to be +busy to-morrow night, as I have said. I'll give you until the following +morning. I'll ring you up then for your answer; and it had better be +what I want to hear." + +"You actually think we'd do such a thing?" Verbeck asked. "We'd look +pretty, wouldn't we, turning three criminals loose because another +criminal asked it!" + +"Not an ordinary criminal--but the Black Star! And I don't ask it--I +demand it! Muggs is here, and I am going to let him speak to you. +Perhaps you don't really believe that he is here. He'll tell you that I +am serious and mean what I say." + +Verbeck waited, his heart pounding at his ribs. If Muggs only had the +presence of mind, if he---- + +"Hello, boss!" came Muggs' voice over the wire. + +"Hello, Muggs." + +"I'm sure here in this big crook's headquarters, boss. I don't know what +he intends to hand me, but it'll be plenty." + +"Muggs, what do you want me to do?" Verbeck asked. + +"Well, maybe I'm prejudiced," Muggs said, "but I don't care to be +knocked on the head and thrown in any river. It wouldn't be a hard job +for them--the river ain't far away!" That was a hint, at least. "And it +ain't exactly nice to be croaked with music ringin' in your ears----" + +Verbeck heard an exclamation of rage, the sound of a blow, a gasp, and +then nothing more except a little click that told him the wire was dead. +Muggs had tried to give a tip, and had not been given a chance to +complete it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +ON THE TRAIL + + +Verbeck tried to remember the exact words that Muggs had spoken. He had +said plainly that the headquarters of the Black Star were not far from +the river. That in itself was a help, but not a very great one. + +There were thousands of places in the city, not far from the river, +where the Black Star could hide and where the members of his band could +visit him. The headquarters might be in a warehouse on the water front, +in some pretentious mansion on the hills overlooking the stream. + +And what else was it that Muggs had said? That he didn't want to die +with music ringing in his ears! Verbeck wondered what that might mean, +for it was the statement, evidently, that had caused such a quick end to +the conversation. + +Verbeck paced the floor and thought it out. He knew the city from one +end to the other. He had been born there, reared there, had watched it +grow. Music ringing in his ears---- + +"The resort park!" Verbeck gasped. "That's what he must have meant! The +Black Star's headquarters will be found near the river and near the +resort park, where the band plays every afternoon and evening!" + +Verbeck rushed to the telephone, called the sheriff, and asked him to +come to his apartment immediately. + +"I've got a tip that's better than the last one," he said. "Muggs gave +it to me." + +"Muggs?" + +"Don't ask me to explain now. Hurry up here. And have the telephone +people investigate that number I gave you, and report to you here about +it." + +Then Verbeck called the chief of police, finally locating him at his +home. + +"Chief, there's no use keeping up the bluff any longer," he said. "The +Black Star knows very well that I am still after him. I wish you'd get +over to my apartment as soon as you can. I've got something important to +tell you. Kowen will be here----" + +"Why did you call Kowen?" the chief demanded. "Couldn't we handle it +alone? I understand Kowen won enough glory to-night to last him a +month." + +"Come over, and do your quarreling here!" Verbeck said. + +Kowen was the first to arrive, fifteen minutes later. + +"What's the big tip?" he asked. "Anything to it?" + +"Wait until the chief gets here." + +"Did you send for the chief? Was that necessary, Verbeck? It seems to me +that we worked pretty well together this evening. Why give the police +some of the credit? I lost the Black Star, remember, and I ought to have +a chance to get him back!" + +"There'll be work enough for all of us--and glory enough," Verbeck +assured him. + +Then the chief came storming in and exchanged glares with the sheriff. + +"Before we begin, it might be well to have an understanding," Verbeck +said. "You gentlemen must stop scrapping and become allies. We have a +big job on hand, and we want to wind it up as quickly as possible." + +Then he told them of his conversation with the Black Star, and of what +Muggs had said. + +"Let them go?" Kowen screeched. "I'd let him wreck the town first! Those +crooks are in jail, and they're going to stay there!" + +"That isn't the point," Verbeck interrupted. "It's the little tip Muggs +gave that interests us. According to what he said, the Black Star's +headquarters are near the river, and I believe, when he spoke of the +music, that he meant the resort park." + +"I think you're right!" the chief exclaimed. + +"But where could the headquarters be in that locality?" the sheriff +wanted to know. + +"It's our job to find out," the chief said, "and we'll start at +daylight. If we can locate it before night, perhaps we can stop whatever +it is that the big crook intends to do." + +The telephone bell rang again. The call was for the sheriff, and he +spent some time listening to the person at the other end of the wire. +When he turned toward them again, his face was beaming. + +"It begins to look good," he said. "That was from the manager of the +telephone company. He looked up that number that Landers called. It is a +little summer cottage far up the river beyond the resort park." + +"Great!" the chief exclaimed. "We'll land 'em yet!" + +"But that isn't the funny thing about it. The manager says he sent a man +out there in a machine. There is nobody living in the cottage, and +there hasn't been for months, yet the telephone bills have been paid +regularly." + +"Meaning," said Verbeck, "that the bills are paid by one of the Black +Star's organization. Of course his headquarters are not in the cottage. +But we'll find the place somewhere in that locality." + +"Where do you get that?" Kowen asked. + +"It means simply that somewhere between the cottage and the next station +on the line, the Black Star has plugged in on the wire. When that number +is called, the bell rings in his own headquarters. When he calls, it +appears to the switchboard operator that the number is calling." + +"I believe you've got it!" the chief cried. + +"In the morning, you can go to that cottage and follow the wire, examine +every foot of it, discover where the other wire is plugged in, follow +it, and find the place that we want. Other men can search through the +neighborhood. We're on the right track!" + +For another hour they worked perfecting their plans, and then the chief +and the sheriff, friendly again, took their departure. Verbeck left a +call at the office for an early hour, and made haste to retire and +fortify himself with sleep. + +He was up soon after break of day, had his bath and breakfast, and went +down to get his roadster from the garage, feeling particularly fit. He +drove immediately to police headquarters and went into the private +office of the chief, who with Sheriff Kowen was waiting for him. + +"I had twenty men out there at daybreak working on that telephone line," +the chief said. "They are scattered, of course--look like linemen. In +fact, they are making a bluff at stringing a new line--but they are +searching for the place where the Black Star taps the wire. It wouldn't +surprise me much to find that the Black Star knows as much about our +plans as we know ourselves--he seems to be able to get all the +information he wants--but maybe we can get the better of the fiend this +time!" + +"Are we going to wait here for that wire squad to report?" Kowen asked. + +"No; there is no use in that," the chief replied. "I have sent twenty +more men out there--all in plain clothes. They went out a couple at a +time; have been going out since midnight. Some are near the resort park +and others are scattered through the woods. Did you send your deputies +to the other side, sheriff?" + +"I did; between us we have men on the north, east and south, and the +river is on the west. Maybe we have that crook's headquarters +surrounded, and maybe we haven't." + +"We may as well start out there," Verbeck put in. + +The chief got into the roadster with him; the sheriff had a car of his +own, driven by a deputy. They drove rapidly through the city and out +along the river road. They came to the resort, and got out and parked +their cars. The sheriff and the chief began receiving reports from their +forces. + +All the buildings in the resort had been searched well, and nothing +found. Men had discovered nothing suspicious in the woods. There was a +large fish cannery near, and it had been investigated thoroughly. The +men scattered around the woods were closing in, drawing the net +tighter. + +The wire squad was at work. They had followed the wire from the little +cottage, after making an investigation there and being sure that the +cottage was not the entrance to a subterranean abode used by the Black +Star. Even while the man in charge of the squad was making his report, +word was flashed down the line that the extra wire had been found. + +The sheriff and chief got into Verbeck's machine, and he drove them a +quarter of a mile down the road. The wire had been tapped in a very +clever manner, as one of the electricians of the department explained. +It was running underground, through a small cable. + +The chief called for more of his men, and they began unearthing the +line. It seemed to run straight toward the east, and through the woods. +The chief sent a captain and half a dozen men ahead of the wire squad. + +"We're getting close to them, I think," the chief declared. "I feel that +this is going to be our lucky day." + +After a time they found a telephone instrument attached to the wire and +hidden beneath a heap of brush. Next they came upon the old farmhouse, +with the wire fence around it. There the telephone wire left the ground +and ran from tree to tree through the grove, to disappear into the +building. + +"There!" the chief said. "We'll get the place surrounded----" + +He gave quick orders, and the force of officers began closing in. Within +a few minutes, the house had a circle of determined men around it. +Verbeck and the chief had been watching it closely, while the sheriff +placed the men. They had seen no sign of life. + +"Probably gone--if this is really the place," Verbeck said. "It wouldn't +have been difficult for the Black Star to learn our plans, and he had +all night in which to get away." + +"Well, we'll get in there, anyway," the chief said. "It may be our luck +that he is still there with some of his gang. If he is gone, and had to +get out in a hurry, he might have left something behind that will give +us a clew as to what he intends doing to-night." + +"And we could put a lot of trust in that, couldn't we?" said Roger +Verbeck. "He won over us before, because we gave considerable attention +to some bogus orders he left on a table in a bogus headquarters--don't +forget that." + +"I'm not liable to; the precious newspapers won't let me," said the +chief. + +The men were creeping through the brush now, approaching the fence. +Verbeck had the chief issue an order for them to stop. + +"I don't like the looks of that fence," he said. "You'll notice that the +house is old and weather-beaten, and about to fall to pieces, from its +appearance; but the fence is a substantial one, and new. I have an idea +that the man who touches that fence will meet with serious trouble." + +"By George, it is a new fence!" the chief admitted. + +"Wait!" Verbeck said. + +He crawled forward alone, foot by foot, stopping now and then to glance +toward the old farmhouse, and made his way toward the fence that held +the deadly current. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +END OF THE TRAIL + + +Half a dozen feet from the fence Verbeck stopped. He watched the house +for a couple of minutes, and then advanced another pace. He was within +three feet of the fence now, and he saw what he had expected--wires and +cables of metal cunningly woven in the mesh of the structure itself, and +in such manner that the whole thing would be charged when a current was +turned on. + +The chief had crawled up behind Verbeck. + +"That fence is deadly!" Verbeck said. "The Black Star used something +like this once before, you'll remember, and half a dozen men were +seriously shocked and burned. We don't dare try to pass it at present. +The current may or may not be running through it. We can't take the +chance. If the gate was open, we probably could pass through without +danger, but the gate is a part of the circuit." + +"Well, are we going to let a fence tie us up?" the chief asked. "If the +Black Star and his band are inside, every minute we spend out here gives +them a chance to get ready for us." + +"Warn the men!" Verbeck said. + +The chief sent the word around the circle of officers--nobody was to +touch the fence, since it probably was charged with a deadly current, +and shocks and burns would result. Sheriff Kowen had crawled up to them +through the brush. + +"Look!" he exclaimed suddenly. + +A dog, attracted by the men in the woods, had been running from one +group to another. Now, chasing a stick one of the men had thrown, he +brushed against the fence. A single yelp came from him; and he was +stretched on the ground, apparently lifeless. + +"You see?" Verbeck said. "Perhaps it wouldn't kill a man, but it would +burn him badly, and put him out of the game." + +"We've got to get through!" the chief declared. "And how are we going to +do it?" + +One of the electricians had crawled forward, and they explained the +situation to him. + +"If the current is that strong, we can't fool with it," he said +earnestly. "Electricity isn't a timid plaything at best, and a dose like +that fence hands out is too much for anybody. You'll notice that the dog +hasn't moved; he's dead. And since we can't get through that fence----" + +"We can go over it!" Verbeck added. + +"How?" the chief and sheriff asked in chorus. + +"Bridge the thing," said Verbeck. "We've got men enough, and there are +trees enough." + +"It'll be one ticklish job," the electrician warned. + +"But it can be done," Verbeck declared. "Chief, have all your men watch +the house closely. If anybody in there tries to interfere with me, +bombard the place." + +Verbeck sprang up and ran parallel to the fence for a distance of half a +hundred feet. He had spotted a big tree there that had a projecting +branch not fifteen feet from the ground--a branch half a foot in +diameter that extended over the fence and into the yard about the house. +He swung himself into the tree, reached the branch, and crept out along +it. He crossed over the deadly fence, hesitated a moment, and dropped. +Roger Verbeck was inside. + +He found that he was partially screened from the house by a clump of +brush. He turned his back upon the house and crept toward the fence +again. The chief and sheriff hurried to meet him. + +"Almost all your men can do as I have done," Verbeck said. "We don't +even have to bridge it. Have them come over, one by one, and have the +others watch the house closely. If the Black Star or any of his men are +in there, they know we are after them and are watching us." + +The chief issued the orders. The men made the perilous trip one at a +time, and dropped to the ground beside Verbeck. Twenty men in all +crossed over, and left the others to guard outside the fence, +maintaining the blockade around the house. + +Not a sign had come from within to show that their presence was known. +But Verbeck and those who had fought against the Black Star before knew +that that did not mean safety. It was like the Black Star to wait for +the proper moment before striking. + +"Be careful, you men!" Verbeck warned. "We are fighting the Black Star, +please remember, and he can be unscrupulous at times. You may consider +yourselves in danger from the moment we start toward the house. In his +old headquarters he had some of the most diabolical traps known to man; +and you always find them where you least expect them. Beware of the +doors and windows. Investigate them before you touch them; and if we +get inside the place, be alert continually. You may expect pitfalls, +vapor bombs--anything!" + +The officers scattered and surrounded the house inside the fence. Those +on the outside crept as close as they dared, weapons held ready, and +watched the doors and windows. + +On and on went those inside the fence, until they were almost against +the walls. The chief, the sheriff, and Verbeck were at the front. + +"Doesn't seem to be anybody around," the chief said. "They got wise and +left, I suppose. Well, we'll investigate the place anyway, since we are +here." + +He started up the steps that led to the small veranda at the front of +the house. His foot struck the lowest step. + +There was a sharp explosion, and half the veranda was torn away. Verbeck +and the others reeled backward. A cloud of smoke filled the air; and it +was not the pungent vapor used by the Black Star in his bombs. + +"That was the real thing!" Verbeck declared. + +The chief was pale and trembling as he retreated. + +"I'll get that fiend!" he declared. "Look at the hole that explosion +made in the porch floor! If a man had been over that----" + +"They set it off too quick!" the sheriff said. "We've got to move +carefully, or we'll be having casualties." + +"We must take that chance!" the chief said. "We've got to get that +fiend, and policemen are paid to run into trouble when it is necessary. +Into the house, men! Get in any way that you can! Try to take care of +yourselves, but get in!" + +The officers cheered and shouted. They plunged toward windows and +doors. They smashed panes of glass in, and hurled themselves against +doors as if they knew no fear. + +Half a dozen explosions came, but no man was injured. Here and there a +policeman made an entrance, and others followed him. Within five minutes +Verbeck and the chief and Kowen found that all were inside, gathered in +the big hall at the front of the house, and that no man had received a +scratch. + +"I guess we're on the right trail, sure enough!" the chief said. + +"And this is where we must be careful," declared Roger Verbeck. "This is +where we are liable to run into traps." + +The search of the house began. There were but two floors and the +basement, and the search started at the top. There the officers found +nothing except unoccupied rooms that were filled with dust. They even +went into the garret, and found nothing except a heap of discarded +clothing that looked as if it had been there for years. + +Next they searched the ground floor. In the rear was a kitchen, almost +immaculate, with its pots and pans and stores of food. There were three +bed-chambers that appeared to be in constant use. And that was all. + +"I suppose it is in the basement, as usual," Verbeck said. + +"Careful, men!" the chief warned. "If they are in the basement, they'll +put up a fight. That big crook knows what is in store for him when he's +caught, so you don't want to bank too much on that old bunk of his that +he abhors violence. A cornered rat will put up a stiff fight!" + +They found the basement door. Roger Verbeck went forward, grasped the +knob, and jerked the door open suddenly. Again there was a rending +explosion, and the panels and framework were shattered. Back through the +hall staggered Verbeck and the others. The vapor the master crook used +was mingled with the smoke of the explosion, and was sweeping through +the hall. + +But the police had been prepared for it. They ran to the open windows +and inhaled the fresh air, remaining there until the poisonous fumes had +been swept out of the open front door. Then they rushed back into the +hall. + +Before them was a stairway shrouded in dense darkness. Verbeck took an +electric torch in one hand and his automatic in the other, and began the +descent, a detective immediately behind him. He flashed the torch on the +stairs, hesitated before treading upon each one, made his way step by +step toward the bottom, expecting every instant to hear the crash of +another explosion. + +He reached the end of the flight, and found himself in a narrow hall. +Along this he went, a file of other men behind him. He came to a door. + +"This seems to be the place," he whispered. "If they are inside, we are +due for a warm reception." + +He grasped the handle and jerked the door open. This time there was no +explosion. He flashed his torch again. In front of the door was a heavy +curtain of some sort. + +Verbeck put out his hand and moved the curtain aside gently. He could +see into the room--could see in the path of the electric torch, and that +was all. + +Verbeck knew that the situation was precarious. It meant something to +enter a dark room in which the Black Star and some of his men might be +waiting. It took courage, the more so since Roger Verbeck was well +acquainted with the master rogue's methods, and realized that the Black +Star was fighting for freedom now. + +"Hold the curtain--and wait!" Verbeck whispered to the man nearest him. + +He slipped inside the curtain and stood with his back against it. He had +extinguished the torch. There was not a glimmer of light, not the +slightest sound. + +Verbeck held his automatic ready, and suddenly flashed the torch in his +left hand. He played it down the length of the room, sweeping the streak +of light from side to side. + +"In!" he cried to the others. "Torches!" + +They crowded into the room, their lights flashing. The room was +thoroughly illuminated. The chief gave a cry that was echoed by the +sheriff and the others. + +Without a doubt, they were in the Black Star's headquarters. Verbeck +knew the room instantly for the one in which he had been prisoner for a +short time. There were the long table, the blackboards, and on the table +a black robe and mask that had been discarded by some member of the +band. + +"Careful!" the chief warned. + +"I don't think there is any need of caution," said Roger Verbeck. "I +have an idea that neither the Black Star nor any of his people are +around the place. He knew we had got on the right trail--and he has +moved. The Black Star always has another headquarters prepared, +remember. He moved half a dozen times the last time we fought against +him. There is a lamp on the table--one of you men light it." + +Verbeck walked across the room to the blackboard, upon which there was +some fine writing. + +"I thought so!" he exclaimed. + +This is what he read: + + GENTLEMEN: I am aware that you are going to locate the place where + I live and work, and so I suppose I am forced to move. Had not that + fool of a Landers telephoned me from the roof of the hotel, had not + Roger Verbeck overheard the number he called, I would have been + safe here as long as I wished to remain. + + I am leaving for a new place that already has been prepared for me. + I am taking Muggs along as a sort of hostage. There is no rush, + since I have all night to make the move. + + When I go, I shall leave bombs attached to some of the windows and + doors, and connected with the veranda steps. They will annoy you, + perhaps, and make you think that you are brave men rushing into + danger. It is just a little joke. + + For this inconvenience, the city shall be made to pay dearly, of + course. It costs me something each time I move my headquarters. I + have to leave furniture behind, and I have to inform all my people + of the new location. But the people of the city shall pay! + To-night, I strike, and I shall strike hard! + +"Fooled again!" the chief shrieked, in rage. "And we were on the right +trail, too!" + +"We'll get him yet!" declared Sheriff Kowen. "Some of his people will +make another slip----" + +"And, in the meantime," Roger Verbeck interrupted, "we'd better be +preparing for to-night and what it may bring forth. After this, the +Black Star will strike with twice his usual strength and cunning. He has +said he would--and the crook always keeps his word!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE BIG BLOW + + +Reduced to a state of unconsciousness by means of a vapor gun, Muggs was +moved, some time during the night, to the new headquarters. When he +regained consciousness he found himself in a room similar to the old +one, except that it was somewhat smaller. Muggs did not know in what +section of the city he was. + +The Black Star was speaking over the telephone, and as Muggs sat up on +the couch, he hung up the receiver and turned around. + +"Well, Muggs, we have had a bit of excitement," the master crook said. +"Verbeck risked his life to get to the roof of a certain hotel, but he +managed to get a telephone number that caused us considerable trouble. I +have just received a report from one of my men. He tells me that +Verbeck, and a squad of police and deputies, have surrounded the old +house and are creeping upon it as if it contained a crowd of desperate +characters. They will have some excitement, too, Muggs, and then will +discover nothing but an empty nest." + +"Yeh?" Muggs asked. "They'll discover you, too, one of these days; and +then I hope they give you life!" + +"Inclined toward violence again, Muggs, when I have been treating you so +nicely? I am really ashamed of you." + +"As if I cared!" Muggs scoffed. + +"I am thinking of taking you along to-night, Muggs, when we call upon +Mrs. Richard Branniton and her guests. But if you are not a good boy, I +shall leave you at home." + +The Black Star chuckled and turned toward the end of the table. The bell +on the wall tinkled, and a robed and masked man entered and went to the +blackboard, which here was installed on one side of the room. + +"Number Three," he wrote. + +"Countersign?" + +"Colorado." + +"Report," wrote the Black Star. + +"Lord Sambery and Sir Burton Banks arrived on time and now are at the +Branniton house." + +"Any new developments?" + +"None have been learned. We are watching closely," wrote Number Three. + +"I have decided to seize Branniton himself to-night, with the other two, +and hold him for ransom," the Black Star wrote. "You will have your +squad attend to it, and be sure that they do not fail. The man who +prosecuted me must be punished." + +"I shall attend to it, and warn the men that they must not fail." + +"There have been no changes in transportation means?" + +"None whatever." + +"That is all. Retire," the Black Star wrote. + +The man backed through the door and closed it after him. + +"You're goin' to run against a snag," Muggs told the Black Star. "You're +bitin' off more than you can chew, and it's likely to choke you!" + +"I scarcely think so, Muggs. This little affair is so well planned that +there can be no failure. It is the master stroke of my career. It will +add to my fame, and, at the same time, it will be highly profitable. +When the news gets out, the country will be shocked." + +"You go to monkeyin' with the government, and you'll get yours!" Muggs +told him again. "Them gents are guests of the government, ain't they?" + +"I should think that they were, Muggs. They are here on very important +international business. I may mention that it is so important that I +expect to collect the ransom within forty-eight hours. I understand +there are certain negotiations pending, and that there can be no delay." + +The Black Star sat down at the end of the table and began consulting his +memorandum book again, completely ignoring Muggs, who remained sitting +on the couch. Muggs' hands were lashed together, and he knew that he was +being watched continually. And yet he felt that he had a duty to +perform. + +"I ain't helpin' the boss at all," Muggs mused. "I tried to, once, and I +fell down. If this big crook puts that over to-night, it'll make the +boss a bigger laughingstock than before. Gee, I wish I could do +somethin'!" + +Verbeck was wishing the same thing late that afternoon. When it came to +locating the new headquarters of the master crook, the police and +deputies admitted that they did not know which way to turn. + +Meanwhile the city was in terror. The Black Star had said that he would +strike to-night--and strike hard. Banks and financial institutions were +sending in frantic demands that they be given adequate police +protection. Jewelry establishments were doing the same. Private +detective agencies were swamped with orders for operatives. From one end +of the city to the other, men and women asked the question, where would +the Black Star strike? + +Mrs. Richard Branniton was not thinking of the master rogue. She was +busy entertaining her distinguished guests. Luncheon had been served, +and they were being shown the city. Then they returned to the Branniton +residence, and sought their suites to get some rest before the reception +of the evening. + +Branniton had engaged four more private detectives, making eight in all, +and had planned to have them scattered about the house. But that was the +ordinary safeguard against ordinary jewel thieves, and had nothing to do +with the Black Star. Branniton was not thinking of the master crook, +either. His mind was upon the fact that he was gathering political +influence by entertaining the two famous diplomats. + +Late that afternoon, Roger Verbeck went to police headquarters for a +conference with the chief and Sheriff Kowen. + +"We can't do anything except have our men waiting and ready," the chief +said. "I've received about a thousand reports from my men, and there +isn't one of them worth the paper it's written on. They seem to think +they've got to report something or get into trouble with me. The papers +are right--the police are a gang of fools and court jesters!" + +"Well, what can we do?" Kowen complained. "Did we get credit for getting +on that crook's trail? We did not. The evening papers are roasting us +because we didn't nab him. I'm getting pretty sick of this business!" + +"We wouldn't be in this business if you hadn't been asleep and let that +gang get the Black Star out of jail!" the chief reminded him. + +"Wait!" Verbeck commanded. "Are we going to fight among ourselves? Is +that a way to catch the Black Star?" + +"What's the matter with Muggs?" the chief demanded. + +"The chances are that Muggs is not able to do anything," Verbeck +replied. "I can imagine that he is being watched closely since he gave +me that little tip over the telephone; and I'm hoping that nothing worse +has happened to him. Muggs, you may be sure, will help us if he gets the +chance." + +Nightfall found them still at police headquarters. They had sent out for +something to eat. The police reserves had been gathered. Kowen had his +deputies ready. The Black Star, they knew, might strike at eight in the +evening, at midnight, at three in the morning. They had to be ready. +Their one hope was to get a quick alarm, to reach the scene in time to +capture the master rogue, or at least important members of his band. + +The residence of Richard Branniton was a blaze of light. Guests were +arriving--prominent men, beautiful women, bejeweled leaders of the +city's society. An orchestra was playing in the ballroom. Men and women +were greeting one another, laughing and chatting. + +The Branniton residence was surrounded by wide lawns studded with big +maple trees. Here and there were dark spaces not reached by the lights +from either the house or the street. Two blocks away was a small park. + +At nine thirty o'clock several men approached this park singly, each +acting as if he was going about his business or hurrying to his home. +They followed the walks, and now and then they passed and whispered a +few words to one another. + +More men happened to walk through the alley in the rear of the Branniton +house. Some of these men had bundles beneath their arms. There was a +door in the alley wall, and before it was a caterer's wagon. Men were +carrying refreshments into the house. + +At one of the corners of the residence, in the rear, there was a small +veranda that was shrouded in darkness. While the caterer's men were +carrying in the provisions, several of the other men, who had been in +the alley, slipped through the door and sought the dark veranda. +Crouched there, they waited. + +Here and there a shadow flitted across the lawn from dark spot to dark +spot--but the shadows were men. A big limousine stopped on a side street +half a block away, the shades drawn at all its windows. A truck stalled +on the other side street, apparently, and four men in it worked at the +engine. Finally one left, saying he would telephone for help. + +Across the avenue from the Branniton residence a crowd had gathered to +watch the guests arrive, muttering when two police officers urged them +to move on. In the crowd were several men who gave one another knowing +looks now and then. + +The last guests arrived. The hour of ten struck. Inside the Branniton +house the orchestra was playing and couples were dancing. Mrs. Richard +Branniton was beaming upon her guests, and her husband was seeking to +make an impression upon Sir Burton Banks and Lord Sambery. Branniton had +hopes of receiving an important diplomatic post abroad. + +As the hour of ten struck, the men beside the dark rear veranda +unfastened the bundles they had been carrying, and put on black robes +and masks. More men approached the house from the other side, keeping in +the shadows, and when they reached the darkness near the wall put on +robes and masks. + +At ten minutes after the hour of ten, thirty men had gathered beside the +dark veranda, and fifteen more were scattered near the house, on guard. +In the midst of these thirty men, the Black Star suddenly appeared. + +"I want no mistakes!" he whispered. "Is every man in his proper place?" + +"Yes, sir," one of them replied. + +"One of the waiters is a man of ours. Has he reported?" + +"Not yet, sir." + +They waited a few minutes, and another man slipped around the corner of +the house. + +"Everything is ready, sir," he reported. He was the waiter. + +"How soon can you do your part?" the Black Star asked. + +"In about five minutes." + +"Off for about three minutes, and then on again!" + +"Yes, sir," said the waiter, and he slipped away and reëntered the +house. + +The Black Star whispered a command, and the men scattered, keeping well +in the darkness, but gradually surrounding the house, except in front, +where it was brilliantly lighted. + +And suddenly the lights in the house went out! + +Feminine shrieks, boisterous laughter, jests came from those within. To +them it was a joke--a fuse burned out at a critical time. Branniton +called upon his servants to ascertain the cause of the trouble +immediately and remedy it. + +Then, as suddenly as they had been extinguished, the lights came on +again. The waiter had manipulated the switch in the basement as the +Black Star had instructed. + +Mrs. Richard Branniton's guests shrieked in alarm now. The doors had +been closed; the shades had been drawn at the windows. And before each +door and window stood a man dressed in a black robe, with a black mask +over his face. Each one so dressed held a weapon menacingly before him. + +A voice from the hallway caused them to turn. They saw a tall man +dressed in a robe, his face covered with a mask--and on the hood of his +robe was a flaming star of jet. + +"Do not make a move, ladies and gentlemen!" he cried. "I am the Black +Star, and these are my men! We will use violence if we are forced to do +so, though we'd rather not. I may mention that the few detectives you +had in the house have been taken care of, and you are absolutely at our +mercy. The telephone wires are cut, too. We are here to make a +collection of rare jewels and ornaments, and to carry away with us three +men." + +"You crook!" Branniton cried, rushing toward him. + +The Black Star raised his arm. A vapor gun exploded. Richard Branniton +crashed to the floor. Women screamed. + +"He is not injured--merely rendered unconscious!" the Black Star called +out. "If you faint, ladies, I am afraid that nobody will be able to take +care of you, so please don't do it. Line up against that wall, +ladies--and the gentlemen against this one. Remember--my men will fire +at the first move any of you make!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +MUGGS TAKES A CHANCE + + +It was an evening of varied experiences for Muggs, one that he liked to +remember later as being the acme in adventure and chance taking. + +Muggs had been held a prisoner in the headquarters room at the place to +which he had been moved, listening to the Black Star perfect his +arrangements for his descent upon the Branniton residence--a prisoner +who was allowed to see and to hear, yet was helpless to give a warning. + +Now and then he got up from the couch and walked back and forth across +the room, while the master criminal chuckled behind his mask, and +frequently indulged his taste for sarcastic remarks. + +"My dear Muggs, it would be a feather in your cap, would it not, if you +were able to tell the authorities all that you know now?" the Black Star +asked. "What a sensation you could cause by walking into police +headquarters and shrieking your information into the ears of the chief +and the sheriff and Roger Verbeck! But I am afraid that you will not be +able to do anything of the sort, Muggs. However, we all have our little +disappointments in life." + +"You'll have somethin' worse than a disappointment before this thing is +over!" Muggs snarled. + +"You are still inclined toward violence--eh, Muggs? You should cultivate +a more peaceful nature, such as I possess. Violence merely destroys +itself, my dear Muggs." + +"Yeh, and I'll probably destroy you before we make an end of this!" +Muggs declared. "I tell you that you can't get away with it! You're +about due to strangle on what you've bitten off!" + +The Black Star did not reply to that; he merely chuckled and went back +to the end of the table to consult his memorandum book again. It +appeared to Muggs that the master crook consulted that book to a great +extent this day, acting as if he felt that there was some minor detail +he had forgotten. + +After a time, the little bell on the wall tinkled, and a robed and +masked figure entered the room and went to the blackboard. Muggs glanced +at him in disgust. The Black Star's men had been reporting continually +during the day. + +"Number Five," the man wrote. + +"Countersign?" wrote the Black Star on his blackboard. + +"Everglades." + +"Report." + +"There appears to be no suspicion as to what we really intend to do +to-night. The police reserves are being held in waiting, and the sheriff +has his deputies ready for action, but those seem to be all the +arrangements that have been made." + +"How about Verbeck?" the Black Star wrote. + +"He is at police headquarters now, waiting for the alarm so he can take +the trail." + +"Good. That is all," the Black Star wrote. + +The member of the band bowed and backed through the door. The Black Star +wrote something in the memorandum book, closed it and put it into a +drawer in the table. Then he turned toward Muggs again. + +"Muggs, I have decided to have you remain here this evening," he said, +"I cannot spare the time to watch you, and so shall not take you with +me." + +"Thanks for that much!" Muggs growled. + +"You will remain in this room, Muggs, and I shall have to keep your +wrists lashed together, of course. I know that it will be +uncomfortable--but that is the penalty for discovering my old +headquarters and forcing us to move. I can't have you interfering with +my plans to-night, you know." + +"If I had a chance, I'd interfere with 'em, all right!" + +"But the chance is missing--eh, Muggs? Do you mean you'd try to prevent +me from making a fortune for my band by running away with some jewels +and a couple of diplomats?" + +"You haven't run away with them yet," Muggs told him. + +"It is only a matter of an hour or so, my dear Muggs. Probably I shall +bring those diplomats here. You'll have the chance, Muggs, to associate +with a lord and a knight." + +The Black Star rang, and his servant entered. + +"I am going to leave our prisoner here to-night when I leave," the Black +Star said. "I expect to find him here when I return. You understand?" + +"He'll be here, sir!" the servant promised. + +"As long as he behaves himself, give him the liberty of this room," the +master criminal went on to say. "If he does not behave, handle him in +your own way." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Tell the mechanic to be ready to start in ten minutes." + +The servant hurried out. The Black Star glanced into his memorandum book +again, and paced the floor, now and then looking at the little clock on +the table. After a time, the servant returned. + +"The mechanic is ready, sir," he reported. + +"Good. Take care of Muggs while I am gone, but do not pester him so long +as he is a good boy." + +"He'd better not pester me!" Muggs growled. + +The Black Star wrapped his robe closely around him, and put on the heavy +ulster over it. He looked at Muggs once more, his eyes glittering +through the mask. Then he chuckled, and hurried through the door. + +Muggs threw himself full length on the couch and glared at the man who +acted as the master rogue's servant. + +"I'm gettin' mighty tired of this," he complained. "The eats are all +right, and I suppose I hadn't ought to kick, but it ain't nice to have +your wrists tied together all the time." + +"If you're schemin' to get me to unfasten 'em, you ain't goin' to work +the scheme, I can tell you that!" the servant declared. "Them wrists of +yours stay just as they are, far as I'm concerned." + +"You'd better never let me get 'em loose!" Muggs warned him. + +"You wouldn't do much if they were." + +"Is that so? I could separate you into sections in about ten minutes!" +Muggs told him. + +The servant laughed, sat down at the end of the table, and started to +smoke. Muggs glared at him, rolled over, and turned his back to the +room and the man in it. + +Muggs might not have shown it outwardly, but he was almost frantic. The +Black Star and his men were on their way, he knew. Before long they +would surround the Branniton residence. They would get inside, rob women +guests of their jewels, kidnap the two diplomats and Branniton, and rush +away again before the police could reach the scene. Once more the public +would howl, and the newspapers would ask why the police and Roger +Verbeck did not capture the master criminal who did much as he pleased +with the wealth of the town. + +Muggs did not know, of course, where he was at the present moment. This +new headquarters might be out at the edge of the city, or in the very +heart of it. But Muggs did know that, if he could escape from the +building, there would be a chance of warning the police and Verbeck, +possibly in time for them to do something. + +He tested the cords that lashed his wrists, and told himself for the +hundredth time that they could not be removed. Everything had been taken +from his pockets, including his knife. He had glanced around the +headquarters room whenever he had a chance, and he had failed to see +anything that might help him. + +To get his wrists free--that was the first task. And then he would have +to escape from the place, wherever it was. He did not know whether the +servant was the only man remaining there; the Black Star might have +others around, on guard. Nor were men all that had to be considered. +There might be traps in the house, there might be another deadly fence, +or something like that. + +Muggs was beginning to feel desperate. He knew that every second had its +value now. He rolled over, sat up on the couch, and yawned. + +"I sure hope the Black Star turns me loose to-morrow," he said. "He +hinted that he might, after he pulled off to-night's stunt." + +"Yes, and maybe he won't, unless the sheriff lets Landers and those two +women go," the servant said. + +"Gee, the sheriff won't do that. Even my boss couldn't make him do it. +He's got those three in the jug, and there they'll stay, unless the +Black Star rescues them himself." Muggs got up and walked slowly to the +table. "There ain't any law against me havin' a smoke, is there?" he +asked. + +"Help yourself--anything like that goes as long as you behave," the +servant replied. + +"The Black Star has a good brand of cigarettes, I'll say that much for +him," said Muggs. "My boss smokes the same kind." + +"You're kinder crazy about that boss of yours, ain't you?" the servant +asked. + +"Sure! Why not? He saved my life, and he certainly has helped me since. +He gives me a steady job, good money, and treats me decent." + +"He ain't like the general run of bosses, then." + +"I should say not!" Muggs declared. + +He put a cigarette in his mouth and picked up a match. It was an awkward +task with his bound wrists. He struck the match, held the flame to the +end of the cigarette, and puffed a cloud of smoke. + +"If every man had a boss like mine," Muggs continued, "the world would +be a better place. I had a boss in Paris once that was a terror. I +almost strangled him one day." + +"Why didn't you?" the servant asked. + +Muggs dropped the flaming match--into the filled wastebasket. + +"Oh, somethin' happened to stop me--somebody got his lamps on me, or +somethin'. And I didn't happen to get a chance again. I had to do a +dodge. The cops was after me." + +"Cops?" + +"Say, I've had real cops after me in my day!" Muggs boasted. "I cut out +that line of life a few years ago, when I met Mr. Verbeck, but before +that I was somethin' of a terror--especially in Paris." + +"Paris? I've never had a chance to go there," said the servant. + +"You want to go when you get a roll, some time. It's some town, +boy--_some_ town!" + +Muggs puffed at the cigarette again, and then turned toward the couch. +The servant gave a cry and sprang from his chair. + +"You cursed fool!" he shrieked. "You dropped that match in them papers!" + +Muggs whirled around, astonishment in his face. "Put it out--or the +whole darned place will burn down!" he cried. "If it catches on them +curtains and things----" + +He darted forward himself, snatched a small rug from the floor, and +began beating at the flaming wastebasket. The servant was working on the +other side of the table, trying to watch Muggs at the same time, but +the latter seemed to be eager to put put the fire. + +Muggs smashed at the flaming paper with his rug--and managed to scatter +it. He ran from burning sheet to burning sheet, beating at the flames. +The servant was not so watchful now. Muggs seemed intent only on putting +out the fire and preventing a serious blaze; but as he fought the flames +he managed now and then to thrust his hands and wrists into the fire! + +The flames seared his flesh, but Muggs ignored that. He saw the cords +that bound his wrists begin to smoke. He saw fire attack one of them. He +thrust his wrists into the fire again, as he beat at a sheet of flaming +paper, and tugged at his bonds. The fire was almost out now. He tugged +at his bonds again. + +They gave--they snapped--Muggs was free! + +He gave a cry of relief, whirled around--launched himself straight at +the Black Star's servant! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE ALARM + + +The man realized in that instant that he had been tricked. He snarled +like a beast and sprang to one side. + +Muggs was upon him before he could utter a cry. They clashed, each +trying to find the other's throat. Muggs found that this would be no +easy battle. Here was a man who was used to rough tactics, such as did +not meet with the approval of the Black Star. + +Across the room they fought, Muggs trying to get the advantage, trying +to keep the other from shrieking for help, trying to get in a blow that +would silence his adversary for a time. + +The servant fought to carry out his orders that Muggs should be kept +prisoner; but Muggs fought with the knowledge that he was trying to +prevent the Black Star from having success in his latest undertaking, +trying to help Roger Verbeck to victory. + +Back and forth across the room they continued to battle. They fought +fiercely, and both were becoming exhausted. Now they were on their feet, +wrestling, and now they were upon the floor, rolling over and over, +striking at each other, reaching for each other's throat and eyes. + +And finally Muggs managed to get the grasp for which he had been +striving. The servant gave a groan of pain, and his hold on the valet +relaxed. Muggs choked--choked, and finally sprang to his feet and +looked down at the unconscious man. + +He would be unconscious for some time, Muggs knew, as he did not intend +to waste precious time binding and gagging him. He ran to the door +through which the Black Star had gone, and stood there for a moment to +listen. He heard nobody outside--remembered that nobody had been +attracted by the sounds of combat. + +Muggs lifted the curtain, opened the door, and stepped into a dark hall. +He had no weapon, no electric torch, not so much as a match in his +pocket. He ran lightly to the end of the hall and found another door. +This he opened cautiously, an inch at a time. He found that it opened +into a room that was dimly lighted, a room that did not seem to have +seen much use. + +Muggs hurried in and closed and locked the door behind him. On the +opposite side there was another door; Muggs listened at that for a time, +and then opened it. He found himself facing another hall. + +He hurried into it, and went on. He came to a flight of stairs and went +up. He realized, now, that he had been in a basement. At the top of the +stairs was a large room, half filled with rusted machinery and empty +packing cases. + +Muggs stooped and picked up from the floor a short iron bar; he had a +weapon now. On he went, across the big room to a window. He looked out. + +He was in the manufacturing district, he knew. This building was an old, +abandoned factory. He could see the yard filled with scrap iron, the +high fence around it, and, beyond, the empty street. Farther beyond that +was the city, flashing with light. + +Muggs started to raise the window. It stuck, but he managed to pry it up +with the bar of iron, stopping now and then to listen and watch. He +couldn't convince himself that the Black Star had left no guard other +than the servant now unconscious below. That wasn't at all like the +Black Star, Muggs thought. There must be a trap somewhere. + +Then he remembered that the Black Star had been forced to move quickly. +Perhaps this headquarters had not been completed when the master +criminal had taken up his abode there. + +Muggs got the window up, put out his head and looked around. It was +pitch dark beneath the window and along the wall. Muggs got through, +lowered himself and dropped. + +He crouched against the wall, listening, the bar of iron clutched in his +hand, ready for instant fight if occasion demanded it. Then he started +following the wall, going toward where he had noticed a gate in the high +fence. + +He reached the corner of the building, and glanced around it cautiously. +Not far from him, he seemed to see something move. Muggs was not sure at +first whether it was an elusive shadow or a man. He decided an instant +later that it was a man. + +He scarcely breathed now. He had escaped thus far, and he did not intend +to be stopped. He did not intend to waste much time, either. Even now, +perhaps, the Black Star and his followers were surrounding the Branniton +residence. Even now, perhaps, they were robbing women of their jewels, +rendering the three men they had decided to abduct unconscious, and +preparing to carry them away. + +Like a shadow, the iron bar held ready, Muggs crept along the wall in +the direction of the guard. + +He was within ten feet of him when a match glowed. The flame shot up, +and Muggs could see that the match was burning in the man's cupped +hands, and that he was trying to light a cigar. Muggs covered the ten +feet in two springs, the iron bar swept through the air and landed. +There was a little whimper, and the Black Star's guard was stretched on +the ground. + +Muggs turned and ran across the yard. He had decided not to try the +gate, for there might be another guard there. He sprang, grasped the top +of the fence, running the risk that it might be charged and deadly, +found that such was not the case, and drew himself up. A moment later, +he was in the street. + +Muggs never had been much of a runner, but he ran to-night. Up the +street he went, his elbows glued to his sides, head bent forward, +stumbling and staggering over the rough cobblestones, but making +excellent progress. There was no person on the street, no vehicle in +sight. This was an old manufacturing district far down the river, where +there was nothing to attract people. Only a few street lights were +burning, and they were far apart. + +Almost breathless, Muggs ran on. His heart was pounding at his ribs, his +side pained, his breathing was labored. He turned a corner into another +street, and continued running! + +Would he never reach a telephone? Would he never run across a member of +the police force? Was there nobody in that end of town who could help +him? Block after block he ran, always looking for a light, for a dingy +saloon, for some place where he could get into communication with police +headquarters and give the alarm. He was in despair; he felt that he +could not keep up much longer. + +Presently he saw lights ahead of him, and felt hope and joy surge within +him. Ahead, only two blocks away, was one of the barns of the city +street railway. + +Panting, exhausted, Muggs stumbled through the entrance and ran into the +little office. Half a dozen conductors and motormen sprang from their +benches and hurried toward him. + +"Quick--telephone!" Muggs gasped. "Police----" + +He saw the telephone instrument on the wall, and lurched toward it. He +grasped the receiver, tore it from the hook, began calling into the +transmitter. One of the conductors was trying to talk to him; one of the +motormen was trying to stop him from using the instrument until he +explained. Muggs threw out a foot and kicked him away. + +"Police headquarters! Police headquarters!" he shrieked. "This +headquarters? Give me the chief! This is Muggs! Yes--Muggs! +Hurry--hurry!--That you, chief? Mr. Verbeck there? This is Muggs. I +just--got away. Black Star's gang--going to raid--Branniton house--get +jewels--kidnap them swells----" + +And then Muggs sank slowly against the wall. + +His words had electrified the conductors and motormen. They picked him +up, and one of them continued the conversation, telling what had +happened, but he soon found himself talking to nobody. The chief had +recognized Muggs' voice and that had been enough. + +The conductors and motormen threw water into Muggs' face, and he gasped +and sat up. They helped him to a bench and sat him there, while he +fought for breath, grasped his chest where it pained, struggled to +regain his strength. + +"Got--to get there----" he gasped. + +"Where?" one of the men cried. + +"Richard Branniton's house--in the--West End!" + +"The foreman's flivver's out in front; he'll let us use it," a conductor +cried. "I don't go on duty for an hour yet. Come on!" + +He ran toward the curb, and Muggs staggered after him. Muggs got into +the cheap little car. The obliging conductor cranked it and sprang in +beside him. + +"We'll get there quick, or we'll shake every bolt and nut off the blamed +thing!" he said. + +The flivver lurched away down the street. + + * * * * * + +It would have done Muggs good had he been able to see the effect of his +message at police headquarters. The chief sprang from his chair +shrieking the news. Verbeck and the sheriff dashed with him through the +assembly room and out to the street, and as they went, the chief shouted +his orders. The reserves ran out and sprang into the automobiles, the +deputies did the same. + +"Good Muggs!" Verbeck cried, as he drove like a fiend through the +streets. "I knew he'd do it--if he had a chance!" + +Verbeck swung between two street cars, causing two motormen to turn pale +for an instant, and then to curse joy riders. Strung out behind the +powerful roadsters were the police cars. The sirens were not working +now. The chief had issued orders that they were not to be used if it +could be avoided, as it would indicate to the Black Star and his men +that they were coming. + +"Hope we get him this time!" the chief shrieked into Verbeck's ear. +"Drive, man, drive!" + +Verbeck drove. He forced the powerful roadster to do its utmost. He +called upon the expensive engine to pay for itself this night. He swung +around other vehicles, dashed around corners, swept up hills like a +comet. + +They passed through the retail district, and got on a wide avenue where +there was not so much traffic, and where better speed could be made. And +now they were in the section of better residences, speeding on. + +They turned another corner--and the Branniton house was but four blocks +away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +CAUGHT IN THE NET + + +At the Branniton residence, Richard Branniton was stretched on the +floor, unconscious from the effects of a vapor gun. The men were +standing against one wall, the ladies against another. The Black Star's +men guarded the doors and windows and watched the guests. The master +criminal himself was in the center of the room. + +"I must have all your jewels, ladies," he said. "You need not be +alarmed; you shall not be harmed if you conduct yourselves properly. And +you gentlemen will be safer if you indulge in no attempt to better your +present condition. I assure you that you are at the mercy of my band." + +He made a sign, and three of his men took bags from beneath their robes +and started toward the line of women. + +"Take off your jewelry and toss it into the bags," the Black Star +directed. "Married ladies may retain their wedding rings and their +engagement rings, but must give up everything else. That is just to show +that I am not hard-hearted, as some persons would have the world +believe." + +He laughed gleefully as his men began their task. Terrified women +removed their jewels and handed them over. Weeping women, hysterical +women, surrendered necklaces, brooches, rings. The bags were filled +rapidly, and the Black Star's men stepped back again. + +"And now we have something else to do," the Black Star said. "Which of +you gentlemen is Lord Sambery?" + +One of them stepped forward, a dignified man of perhaps fifty. "I have +that honor," he said stiffly. + +"I admire you greatly, sir," the Black Star said. "I have read a great +deal about the work you have done. I admire you so much that I insist +you become my guest for a time." + +"I beg your pardon?" stammered the astonished nobleman. + +"I insist upon it, sir!" the Black Star said. "And where is Sir Burton +Banks?" + +"I am here!" + +"I admire you, too, sir, and you shall be my guest also," the Black Star +declared. + +"Allow me to decline your hospitality," said Sir Burton Banks stiffly. + +"But I cannot allow you to do so," the master criminal said, chuckling. +"You see, you mean money to me." + +"How is that?" Sir Burton Banks demanded. + +"Not your money," the Black Star said. "It has occurred to us that you +two gentlemen are in this country on an important mission, and that your +time is very valuable. We have an idea that, if you should be detained, +certain persons and personages would pay a handsome sum for your +release." + +"Why, confound the fellow! He means to abduct us and hold us for +ransom!" Lord Sambery exclaimed. + +"You have guessed it," the Black Star said. + +"But this is the United States of America, sir, and we are in one of its +greatest cities! I never heard of such a thing! The idea is +preposterous! You can't do it!" + +"Can't we?" asked the Black Star with a laugh. "It's a very simple +thing. We just render you unconscious and carry you away--and you can +never be found." + +"Why, you dare not!" cried Sir Burton Banks. + +"I am not particularly prone to fear," the master criminal said. "I have +dared many things, and accomplished many things harder than kidnaping a +couple of gentlemen. You need fear nothing; you shall be treated with +every courtesy." + +"I--I shall fight!" Lord Sambery declared. + +"You are an elderly man, sir, and, also, I abhor violence," the Black +Star reminded him. "You cannot fight long against one of my vapor guns, +your lordship." + +"I--I--my country will have you punished for this!" + +"The first thing will be to capture me, your lordship," said the master +criminal. "I was captured before, but managed to escape, as perhaps you +know. But we are wasting valuable time in conversation, and I'll have +ample time to talk to you during the next two days. I am forced to have +you gentlemen put to sleep for a short time, but I assure you there are +no bad after effects." + +"You--you----" Sir Burton stammered. + +"It is quite useless to protest, or to attempt to fight," the Black Star +informed him. "By the way, I am going to take Mr. Branniton along, too." + +"You fiend!" Branniton's wife cried. + +"He shall not be harmed, my dear madam, but it will cost him something +to regain his liberty. He caused me considerable annoyance; he was the +prosecuting attorney at my trial." + +"And he shall be again!" Mrs. Branniton retorted. + +"Perhaps--we shall see! I have no idea of standing trial again, my dear +madam. By the time I am captured, your husband probably will be a United +States senator, or an ambassador abroad. I realize that he is a man of +promise." + +The Black Star signaled to two of his men, and they advanced toward Lord +Sambery and Sir Burton Banks. The latter showed that he intended to +fight, regardless of what the master criminal had said. But the Black +Star's men rushed in, discharged their vapor guns, and darted back +again. The two diplomats toppled over on the floor. A woman shrieked. + +"They are not harmed a bit," the Black Star assured them. "They will +simply awake from a sleep, and feel quite fit. Ladies, I regret that I +interrupted your little party. I suggest you continue it after I leave +with my men. In reality, you should thank me. You will have something to +talk about for the remainder of your lives; and women, I have heard, +love to talk!" + +He backed toward the entrance to the hall. + +A shrill whistle came from the lawn outside--another--a third. The Black +Star whirled toward the door. His men stood still, listening. Into the +room rushed a robed and masked member of the band. + +"Police, sir--all around the place!" he cried. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +MUGGS ARRIVES + + +Verbeck's roadster was stopped on the corner nearest the Branniton +residence. Verbeck and the chief sprang out and darted across the walk. +The police autos came up and discharged their loads of officers. The +chief issued his orders rapidly. + +"Surround the place! Get into the alley! Pick up everybody that looks +suspicious--and be ready to fight and fight hard! Let's get them this +time!" + +Officers hurried to every side of the house, poured into the alley, +rushed across the lawn. They caught the men with the limousine, and +those with the truck that apparently was stalled, and held them for +investigation later. They drew a close net around the Branniton place, +and the chief and Verbeck, with half a dozen trusted men, started toward +the front veranda. + +But the master criminal had had watchers scattered around the lawn. They +were caught in the police net, too, but they were able to give the +alarm. They rushed inside the house; and the Black Star was informed +that the police were upon him. + +He ordered the guests into one of the smaller rooms, and closed and +locked the door on them. He had the lights turned off all over the +house; the waiter attended to that. He issued his orders rapidly, like a +general conducting a battle, sent men to defend the doors and windows. + +"Violence appears to be necessary," he said. "We must drive them off and +get away, or there'll be more of them upon us within a short time!" + +From a window over the veranda, the Black Star looked at the situation. +Two of the police automobiles were playing searchlights on the sides of +the house. Another was driving across the lawn to do the same on the +front. The Black Star took an automatic from beneath his robe, and fired +one shot across the lawn. + +The shot was a signal. From every window shots were sent at the men +surrounding the house, shots that were not meant to wound or kill, only +to terrify. But the chief's men were not easily frightened. + +They sought refuge behind trees and clumps of brush, and returned the +fire. They shattered windows and made it impossible for the Black Star's +men to remain in them. They poured volleys against the doors. + +But the master criminal and his men were safe so far. The officers were +not able to get inside the house. The Black Star had no wish to stand a +siege, for he knew that there could be but the one outcome. There came a +lull in the battle, and the Black Star shouted from his window. + +"Is the chief there?" + +"He's here!" came a voice from the darkness. + +"This is the Black Star!" + +"Well, what do you want? Are you and your men ready to surrender to us? +We'll get you, and get you good, if you don't!" + +"Surrender?" the Black Star said. "When I hold the advantage?" + +"I don't see it!" the chief shouted. + +"No? My dear chief, there are in this house the most prominent persons +in your fair city. We have with us, also, two diplomats of international +fame. I abhor violence, but in such a case as this, it becomes +necessary. You will withdraw your men. You will take them to the corner, +beneath the electric light, where we can see them plainly. You will keep +them there fifteen minutes, and after that you may do as you please." + +"I see myself!" the chief cried. + +"If you do not, I shall use violence upon those in the house. For every +ten minutes we are forced to remain here, I shall take a human life. For +every one of my men wounded or slain, I shall take another human life. +Think it over, chief!" + +The chief did think it over, with Roger Verbeck to aid him. The Black +Star was at the end of his rope. Captured again, he was certain to be +convicted and sentenced to prison for life. He was the sort who would go +out fighting--the sort to do all the harm he could before he went out. + +"We're not sure that it's not a bluff!" Verbeck said. "But we can't do +as he asks, of course." + +"We'll rush the house!" the sheriff declared. "That's our business in a +case of this kind, isn't it? We may lose a few men, but it must be done. +What else is there to do?" + +"We'll have to rush it!" the chief returned. "Our aim is to get inside +and fight it out as quickly as possible, without letting that fiend have +time to do much damage. I'll give the orders." The chief whispered them +to a captain, and he passed them on. + +The Black Star was shouting from a window again. "'Well, what is the +decision, chief?" + +"You say you want fifteen minutes?" the chief asked, more to gain time +than anything else. + +"Fifteen minutes will be enough, thank you. Remain on that corner with +your men for fifteen minutes, and then do as you please. That is all I +ask." + +"Well, you're asking enough! What do you suppose the public will say +when they know I had you and let you go?" + +"My dear chief, they'll probably give you credit for saving the lives of +some prominent persons. I understand that the mayor is a guest here this +evening. Shall I have him come to the window and decide what you are to +do?" + +"Let him come!" the chief said. + +He knew in advance what the mayor would say. The mayor would tell him to +charge the house, break in, and capture the Black Star and his men. The +mayor happened to be a man of courage. + +Thus the chief had gained a little time, and that was all he +wanted--time enough for his orders to be passed around to all the +officers. Now his men were ready. + +The chief blew his whistle. The searchlights that had been playing on +the house were extinguished; and through the darkness the police and +deputies rushed upon the Branniton residence! + +A volley greeted them from the windows, but the Black Star's men were +firing wildly into the darkness, and their shots had no effect. Officers +and deputies crowded the veranda, attacked the French windows, battered +at the doors. + +A cheap automobile lurched around the corner and stopped in front of the +house. Muggs had arrived! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +AN EMPTY NET + + +Muggs never forgot that wild ride in the flivver. The street-car +conductor drove the little machine as if it had been a racing car. It +lurched around corners, almost ran down traffic policemen, swung ahead +of street cars. The conductor was like a maniac. He always had craved +excitement and adventure. Now it had come to him, and he intended to +make the most of it. + +They dashed up to the Branniton residence, and Muggs, not even thinking +of thanking the conductor, sprang out and rushed across the lawn. + +"Boss! boss!" he shrieked above the din. + +Somebody told him that Verbeck was on the veranda. He rushed there and +found his employer. + +"Boss, was I in time?" he asked. "I got loose as soon as I could!" + +"You bet you were, Muggs. The Black Star's inside, with some of his +gang!" + +"I told the big stiff this was goin' to be his unlucky night! You give +me a chance to get at him, boss! I've got a few scores to settle with +that bird!" + +"We'll all get at him, Muggs! We'll be inside in a minute!" + +The doors and windows were crashing in now. Policemen and deputies were +pouring into the house. Shots greeted them, shots from both automatics +and vapor guns. They struggled through clouds of the pungent vapor, +here and there a man dropping because he had inhaled some of the fumes. +They grappled with men in black robes and masks. Through the house they +fought, while outside were others who watched every exit and caught +those who tried to get away from the place. + +One of the deputies had been an electrician formerly, and he knew where +the light switches were located in the Branniton house. He fought his +way to the kitchen, found them, and turned on the lights. + +Things were better for the policemen and deputies after that. They could +tell friends from foes. The Black Star's men barricaded themselves in +certain rooms. Some of them threw down their weapons and held up their +hands in token of surrender, and were immediately seized and handcuffed. +The others were cleared from the lower floor, fought up the wide stairs, +and continued the battle on the second floor. + +Verbeck and Muggs were in the thick of the fight. They were looking for +the Black Star. So were the chief, and Sheriff Kowen. They searched the +basement and the rooms on the ground floor, but found no trace of him. + +"He's on the second floor!" Verbeck cried. "Up we go!" + +The guests who had been held prisoners were released from the room in +which they had been locked. The women fled to the lawn, and across it to +the street. Some of the men went with them; others joined in the fray. +There was a crowd in the street now and more people were arriving every +minute. Word had flashed throughout the city that the Black Star and his +followers had been cornered in the residence of Richard Branniton. + +The members of the band were being caught rapidly. A few had been +wounded, a few officers also. But the criminals were scattered now, and +here and there one surrendered, or was overpowered. + +Verbeck and Muggs, the chief and the sheriff thought of nothing but the +Black Star. They knew that the policemen and deputies could care for the +others of the band. It was the master criminal himself that they wanted, +to put him behind prison bars once more, to have years added to his +sentence, to send him to the big prison up the river where he no longer +would be a menace to society at large. + +They ran from room to room, searching for him. They shrieked suggestions +to one another above the din of the battle. They found a room at one end +of the upper hall, with the door locked, and hurled themselves against +it and broke it in. + +There they saw the man they wanted. He had thrown off his robe and mask. +He held a bomb in his hand--and stopped them with a gesture. + +"Wait!" he commanded. "This is not a vapor bomb--it is the real thing. +It can blow all of us to bits! So four of you came to get me, eh? Mr. +Verbeck, and the chief and the sheriff--and Muggs. I suppose, since you +are free and here, that you did all this, Muggs?" + +"You bet I did!" Muggs cried. + +"Wait, gentlemen! Don't make a move to raise a weapon, or we all will be +hurled into the hereafter." The Black Star stepped back toward a window. +"I suppose you have me cornered," he said. "I suppose you think you are +going to take me back to jail. But it happens that I have one card yet +to play!" + +He hurled the bomb, and it exploded. It was a vapor bomb, after all. +The cloud of pungent gas assailed them. They whirled to either side, +away from it. There was a crash of glass. + +"He's gone through the window!" Muggs shrieked. + +Trying to keep from breathing, they rushed to the window, got through it +and to the roof of the veranda, where they gulped the fresh air! + +The Black Star had jumped to the ground. They saw him for an instant. +Then he was lost in the darkness. The chief shouted a warning to his +men. + +"Down, and after him!" Verbeck cried. + +"We've got him!" cried the chief. "The entire yard is surrounded. He's +in a trap!" + +Muggs was the first to reach the ground. He did not stop to climb down +one of the posts, but did as the master criminal had done--jumped. + +Verbeck and the chief and Sheriff Kowen were not far behind him. +Officers who had been on the veranda charged after the Black Star in +response to the chief's command. + +The net grew tighter. They were in a corner of the lawn, calling to one +another. A police auto drove across the grass, and the searchlight was +turned on. + +There was the circle of policemen and deputies, with Verbeck and Muggs, +the chief and the sheriff at one side of it. + +But the Black Star was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE LETTER + + +"He can't have got away!" Muggs exclaimed. + +"Where did he go?" the chief demanded. + +"He didn't come past us," one of the policemen declared. "I don't see +how he got out of the circle. Why, he hasn't had time to get away; and +the men in the street----" + +The officers in the street already had been warned. The entire block was +surrounded; it seemed impossible that the master criminal could escape. + +"Maybe he dodged the boys here, but he'll never get away from the +block!" the chief declared. "Have more searchlights turned on the lawn, +and tell the men in the alley to keep awake. He can't be far!" + +Out of the sky came a blinding light. It flooded the house and lawn, +turned the night into day. + +"That--that light----" Sheriff Kowen gasped. + +The light disappeared. They waited, watching the sky. They were silent +now. No sound reached their ears except the din from the house. They saw +nothing. + +And then they heard the Black Star's voice. + +"Did you really think you had me?" it said. "I must admit that you have +wrecked my plans and scattered my organization again. Some of my men +will have to go to prison, I suppose, but you haven't caught me, never +will catch me! I shall leave the city, and you cannot prevent it. I have +prepared for this emergency. When my organization is formed again, +perhaps I shall return. My campaign is over for the present, but there +will be another!" + +The voice died away. There was silence for a moment, and then the +brilliant light flashed again, flooded the lawn, almost blinded the men +there. + +"There is a letter by the alley gate!" The voice of the Black Star now +came to them faintly. "Good night, gentlemen!" + +"Gone!" the chief gasped. "Gone!" + +"But how on earth----" Kowen began. + +"That letter!" Verbeck cried. "Let's get it!" They hurried to the alley +gate, and there they found the letter, as the Black Star had said. They +carried it back to the police automobile, and read it in front of the +searchlight. + + GENTLEMEN: If you have this letter, it means that my plans have + been ruined, and that I have been forced to escape. I cannot + neglect this chance to tell you how futile have been your efforts. + + Have you wondered how I spoke to you out of the sky? Have you + worried about the bright light? Are you surprised at the way I + escaped you just now? + + I have in my organization a wonderful man. He is a mechanical + genius gone wrong. He has perfected airplanes as no man dreams they + can be perfected. I have been using an airplane--but it is a + _noiseless_ airplane! Can you imagine what that would mean if the + world had the secret? An airplane, as the public knows it, heralds + its approach. With this, I can sail at night over the city, + without making the slightest noise. I can hover over a certain + spot---- + + Yes, I mean _hover_. For this airplane is so perfected that it can + stand still in the air. It can be raised or lowered straight up or + down. Do you understand now? + + The airplane was hovering over the lawn, a rope ladder dropped from + it. I merely climbed up the ladder as the airplane ascended. I am + writing this in advance, but I know what I shall do, if forced. I + always plan for every emergency, you see. And while you poor fools + bite your nails in your chagrin, I shall be speeding through the + air to a certain refuge I have prepared. There I shall recuperate + and plan some more. ***** + +Roger Verbeck read the letter aloud. A chorus of gasps came from those +who heard. + +"Well, he is gone!" Verbeck said. "But his band is broken up, and that +is something!" + +"And if he ever comes back here, we'll get him, won't we, boss?" Muggs +asked. + +"We'll get him!" Roger Verbeck said. There was determination in his +voice. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Black Star's Campaign, by Johnston McCulley + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40484 *** |