Johnston McCulley


KD55200
This Book is Number
.. IN
..
The Little Utility Circulating Library
1713 MURRAY AVENUE
SQUIRREL HILL, PITTSBURGH, PA.
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It is understood that in accepting this book you agree to abide
by the rules





REE


THE BLACK
STAR









NA
ERA
Agent
A section of the floor had swung downward with a crash.
Frontispiece, Page 40.


KD 55200
Copyright, 1921
• By CHELSEA HOUSE
The Black Star
HASARD
US! OSITY
Lir BY
wwsavivvo
All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
languages, including the Scandinavian.


viii
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER
XIII. MUGGS-GREAT LITTLE MAN. . . 114
XIV. UNEXPECTED NEWS . . . . . . 121
XV. THE CHALLENGE . . . . . . . 124
XVI.
A NOCTURNAL VISIT
.
.
.
. .
133
XVII. INTERRUPTED CONVERSATION. . . 144
XVIII. MYSTERIES . . .
.
.
.
.
. .
151
XIX.
SUSPICION .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
102
XX. THE VOICE ON THE WIRE . . . . 175
·
XXI. THE END OF THE WIRE . . . . 185
·
·
XXII. ON THE SCENT .....
XXIII. INTO THE VAULT ....
202
·
XXIV. How IT ENDED . . . . . . 207
·
XXV. SHADOWED BY THREE , . . . . 215
·
XXVI. A MAN OF MYSTERY . . . . .
220
XXVII. IN BLACK STAR'S HANDS . . . . 230
·
XXVIII. THE POLICE LAUNCH . . . . . 241
·


CONTENTS
CHAPTER
XXIX. BLACK STAR TAKES A TRICK . . . 246
XXX. MUGGS IN ACTION . . . . . . 253
XXXI. IN THE BANK . . . . . .
XXXII. A Narrow ESCAPE .....
XXXIII. PUZZLED POLICE ......
XXXIV. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHIEF. 285
XXXV. AN UNEXPECTED Blow
.
. . .
293
XXXVI. IN CUSTODY
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.





THE BLACK STAR
CHAPTER I
AN AIDED ESCAPE
VINDS whistled up the river, and winds whistled
down from the hills, and they met to swirl and
gather fury and rattle the city's millions of window-
panes. They carried a mixture of sleet and fine snow,
the first herald of the winter to come. In the busi-
ness district they swung signs madly back and forth,
and roared around the corners of high office build-
ings, and swept madly against struggling trolley cars.
They poured through the man-made cañons; they
dashed out the broad boulevards—and so they came
to the attention of Mr. Roger Verbeck, at about the
hour of midnight, as he turned over in his warm bed
and debated whether to rise and lower the window
or take a chance with the rapidly lowering temper-
ature.
"Beastly night!" Verbeck confided to himself, and
put his head beneath the covers.
He slept—and suddenly he awakened. A moment
before he had been in the midst of a pleasant dream;
now every sense was alert, and his right hand, creep-
ing softly under the cover, reached the side of the
bed and grasped an automatic pistol that hung in a
rack there.


12
THE BLACK STAR
From the adjoining room—his library—there came
no flash of an electric torch, no footfall, no sound
foreign to the apartment, nothing to indicate the pres-
ence of an intruder. Yet Verbeck sensed that an in-
truder was there.
He slipped quietly from the bed, shivering a bit
because of the cold wind, put his feet into slippers,
and drew on a dressing gown over his pajamas. Then,
his pistol held ready for use in case of emergency,
he started across the bedroom, taking short steps and
walking on his toes.
A reflection entered the room from the arc light
on the nearest street corner. This uncertain light
was shut off for an instant, and Verbeck whirled
quickly, silently, to find another man slipping up
beside him. It was Muggs--a little, wiry man of
uncertain age, who had been in Verbeck's employ for
several years, valet at times, comrade in arms at times,
willing adventurer always. Muggs bent forward until
his lips were close to Verbeck's ear.
"I heard it, too, boss,” he said. "Somebody in the
library!"
Verbeck nodded; they crept nearer the door. Inch
by inch, Verbeck pulled aside one of the curtains,
until they could peer into the other room. A gleam
from the corner arc light penetrated the library, too.
It revealed the interior of the room in a sort of semi-
gloom, causing elusive shadows that flitted here and
there in such fashion that they scarcely could be dis-


14
THE BLACK STAR
"It appears," said Verbeck, "that we have dis-
covered you in a delicate position.”
“Aw, don't try to be clever! I guess you've got
me, all right!"
"Rather unceremonious, this call,” Verbeck went
on. "Why didn't you send up your card from the
office?"
"Aw "
"Be seated, please!".
Still holding his hands above his head, the burglar
took the chair Verbeck indicated.
“Now, Muggs— Verbeck said.
Muggs had been waiting for the word. He sprang
away from the window and took the cords from the
portières. Working swiftly, he bound the burglar's
hands behind his back, then fastened them to the
chair. Then he assumed the role of guard, and Ver-
beck lowered his pistol and walked toward the desk.
"I fancy you didn't find much, my man," he said.
“This is a bachelor apartment, you know, and there
is little of value in the library unless you seek books
or pictures."
“Aw "
“If you had entered the dressing room now
But, of course, if you had done that, Muggs prob-
ably would have filled you full of lead first, and made
a complete investigation afterward. It is better for
you that you didn't enter there. Why you should
crawl into a bachelor's apartment, when there are so


AN AIDED ESCAPE
15
many pretentious residences where silver and plate
are to be found, not to speak of women's jewels, is
more than I can fathom. You must be an amateur
at this sort of thing. Um! What is this?"
On the desk was a sealed letter addressed to Mr.
Roger Verbeck, the address having been stamped with
rubber type. In one corner of the envelope had been
pasted a tiny black star. On the polished surface
of the desk other little black stars had been pasted.
There was one also on a vase. There was another
on the glass door of a bookcase.
"The Black Star!” Verbeck exclaimed.
He turned swiftly to scrutinize his prisoner, but
there was no expression on the man's face to denote
that he showed interest, and he was looking at the
floor. Muggs was watching the bound thief closely,
but his dancing eyes and parted lips showed that Ver-
beck's words had interested him deeply.
"So! We are honored by a visit from the Black
Star, Muggs!" Verbeck said. “Think of that! The
cleverest crook the town ever had to worry over-the
man who got the famous Smith diamonds and cracked
a safe across the street from police headquarters, who
has lifted half the silver in town and stripped society
women of their jewels—and he has paid us a visit.
We must be getting important, Muggs-eh?”
“Yes, sir," said Muggs.
"Well, well! The man every one is looking for
and cannot find, who has been sending naughty notes


AN AIDED ESCAPE
black star on your bed within a foot of the spot
where you rest your head while you are sleeping.
After this exhibition, either admit that the Black
Star is clever, or do as you boasted you could do
-catch me.
we
"Read it, Muggs," said Verbeck, guarding the pris-
oner himself as Muggs obeyed. “What do you think
of that, eh? Intended us to wake up and find these
things stuck all over the place! Trying to show us
how very clever he is, this naughty Black Star, and
we catch him at it. There'll be joy at police head-
quarters over this. Now you just keep your eyes
on this gentleman, Muggs, while I get into my clothes,
and then we'll continue the entertainment."
Verbeck hurried to the dressing room, leaving
Muggs on guard, and dressed as swiftly as possible.
He carried a topcoat and cap to a chair near the door
of the bedroom, and then he hurried over to the bed.
The Black Star had done as he had said. On the
head of the bed was one of the little signs, and who-
ever had placed it there had put his hand within six
inches of Verbeck's head. The man in the other room,
Verbeck decided, had done that first, then gone into
the library to finish his work.
Verbeck hurried back and relieved Muggs.
“Go and get into your clothes," he ordered, “and
then hurry back here. I'll try to entertain our guest
while you are gone."


18
THE BLACK STAR
He drew up a chair and sat down, facing the pris-
oner, and less than six feet away. He was humming
a tune, and there was a smile playing about his lips.
Had the prisoner been well acquainted with Roger
Verbeck that smile would have put him on guard.
Verbeck already had formed a plan. He and Muggs
understood each other well, thanks to sundry adven-
tures in which they had participated in the four cor-
ners of the earth, and he knew that Muggs even now
was reading the note he had scrawled hurriedly and
left on the dressing table, and would act accordingly.
“The Black Star-well, well!” he exclaimed, grin-
ning at his prisoner again. "And so you are the clever
crook?"
"I'm not saying anything!”
“You decorated the head of my bed with that thing,
I suppose ?"
“You can suppose all you like."
“Thanks! Rather surly, aren't you?"
"You hand me over to the police, and you'll get
yours!” said the prisoner.
“Are you, by any chance, trying to frighten me?"
"I'm giving you fair warning. You hand me over
and you won't live long to gloat about it!”
Roger Verbeck grinned again and resumed his hum-.
ming. His eyes never left the prisoner, but he was
thinking deeply. In the first place, the letter from the
Black Star bothered him. The remarks that the Black
Star accused him of making he had made. But the


AN AIDED ESCAPE
puzzling part of it was that he had made them to
half a dozen friends when there was no stranger near.
He had spoken them in a drawing-room in the pres-
ence of Faustina Wendell, his fiancée; Howard Wen-
dell, her brother, and some others concerning whose
integrity there was no question. How, then, had the
Black Star heard of them?
The Black Star had terrorized the city for the past
four months. Whenever a master crime was com-
mitted a tiny black star had been found pasted on
something at the scene of operations. The police had
been unable to get a clew. Each crime seemed bolder
and more daring than the one before, and more highly
successful. The Black Star sent taunting letters to
the newspapers and police, and the public demanded
his arrest and imprisonment with loud voice.
His crimes, too, showed a deep knowledge of pri-
vate matters. It appeared that the Black Star knew
the interior arrangements of residences he robbed.
Sometimes he even knew the combinations of safes—
for in two instances a safe had been opened and
looted, and then properly closed again, but with a
tiny black star inside it. He was aware when valua-
ble jewels were taken from safe-deposit boxes to be
worn at some affair; he knew when members of fami-
lies were out of the city, or servants absent. He
had shown in a thousand ways that he possessed
knowledge of great value to a criminal.
Roger Verbeck's boast had not been an idle one.


20
THE BLACK STAR
He believed sincerely that no crook could be so clever
but what some honest man could match wits with
him and win. He believed, too, that the Black Star
did not work alone, but was the leader of a band.
Not for an instant did Verbeck think the man he had
taken prisoner was the notorious Black Star, but it
pleased him to let the prisoner believe he did.
His first impulse had been to call the police and
hand the man over. But he guessed that such a course
would not insure the capture of the master crook,
and that the prisoner would refuse to talk, take a
sentence for burglary, and thus allow the Black Star
and the others to go free.
It would be clever, Verbeck decided, to allow this
man to escape, to shadow him, and to learn more.
Roger Verbeck had adventured with Muggs scores of
times, and he yearned for an adventure now. Here
was his chance. Besides, the Black Star had issued
the challenge.
Muggs returned fully dressed. For an instant the
eyes of master and man met, and there flashed be-
tween them an understanding.
“Better look at this chap's bonds, Muggs," Verbeck
said. "We don't want him escaping before the police
come.”
Muggs bent behind the prisoner's chair and fum-
bled with the cord, and when he arose his eyes met
those of Verbeck again, and Verbeck knew that
Muggs had obeyed orders.


AN AIDED ESCAPE
“Now go down and call the house manager," he
directed, “and I'll telephone the police.” .
Muggs hurried out into the hall. Verbeck left his
chair and stepped back to the door of the bedroom.
"I fancy you'll be secure for a moment or so," he
told the prisoner. “You'll scarcely get away unless
you carry that chair with you."
He backed through the curtains, grasped his top-
coat and cap, and crossed the room on his toes and
unlocked the hall door. To cover the sound of the
key turning in the lock, he spoke as if calling a num-
ber on the telephone
"Hello! Police headquarters ?” he asked. “This is
Roger Verbeck speaking. Hurry up here! I've just
caught the Blak Star trying to loot my rooms. My
old address—yes!”
And while he spoke he opened the door, so that
his voice would drown any squeak the hinges might
give; and then he slipped into the hall and hurried
to the front stairs. He dashed down the three flights
four steps at a time.
The prisoner had tugged desperately at his bonds
and had felt them give. With sudden hope, he had
worked furiously to get free. He was through the
window and descending the fire escape as Verbeck
finished the imaginary telephone message to the po-
lice, exulting at what he fondly thought had been his
close escape.


CHAPTER II
THE BLACK STAR
VERBECK found Muggs at the corner of the apart-
V ment house, standing in the shadows and trying
to shield himself from the stinging sleet and biting
cold wind.
"He's just reaching the ground, boss,” Muggs said.
“See him?"
"I see him. Be careful now, Muggs; we don't want
to lose him. Thanks for understanding and loosen-
ing his bonds. There he goes !".
The erstwhile prisoner had reached the ground and
was darting through the shadows toward the alley.
Down this he ran for half a block, then crept between
two buildings, and so reached the boulevard near a
corner, with Verbeck and Muggs a hundred feet be-
hind him. It was difficult trailing the man through
a storm of sleet and fine snow, but Verbeck and
Muggs had trailed men before, sometimes for amuse-
ment, and at other times through necessity.
The man hesitated at the curb a moment, then
struck across the driveway. Verbeck and Muggs fol-
lowed. They took opposite sides of the walk and
slipped along over the frozen ground, darting from
shadow to shadow, always watching the elusive


THE BLACK STAR
23
shadow ahead. At the street crossings their quarry
walked across boldly, and they could not follow in-
stantly for fear of being detected, but they always
picked up their man again, once they were across.
Thus they covered a dozen blocks, and it appeared
that the midnight prowler considered himself safe
now. He hurried down a cross street, his head bent
forward against the cold wind that swept up the
hill. Block after block Muggs trailed him, while
Verbeck shadowed from the other side of the street,
dodging into dark doorways now and then when he
expected his man to look behind.
The quarry stopped at a corner, lighted a cigar,
and stood waiting. Muggs was concealed in a door-
way fifty feet behind him; Verbeck was in another
doorway across the street.
An owl car came along, and their quarry boarded
it. But Verbeck had been expecting that, and for
some time had been watching a taxicab standing be-
fore a drug store on the corner. As the owl car
started up again, Verbeck dashed across the street,
and he had the chauffeur out of the drug store and
into the seat before Muggs reached the spot.
"Follow that owl car," Verbeck directed. “There's
a man on it that we'd like to see when he gets off.”
"I'm wise," the chauffeur cried. "Fly cops, eh?
Get in!"
The cab lurched along the slippery street, keeping
half a block behind the owl car. Whenever the car


24
THE BLACK STAR
stopped, the cab drew up at the curb, and Verbeck put
out his head to watch. But their quarry remained
aboard.
"If this keeps up we'll clear out of town," said
Muggs.
“Anxious for action ?". Verbeck asked, laughing.
“You may get plenty of it before we are done. Have
a bit of patience, Muggs."
"I've got patience, all right, boss—and I've got a
hunch, too."
"Let's have it!" At times Verbeck had a great
deal of respect for Muggs' hunches.
"I've got a hunch we'd have done better if we'd
handed thạt gent over to the police.”
"'I gave you credit for understanding the situa-
tion, Muggs.”
"Oh, I understand what you want to do, all right.
It'd be great to clean up this Black Star and his
gang single-handed, hog tie 'em all, then call in the
cops and hand 'em over-especially since he sent you
that sassy note—but I've got a hunch we're going up
against a stiff game. This Black Star ain't no slouch!"
"Afraid?" snarled Verbeck.
That touched Muggs on a tender spot, and Verbeck
knew it. Muggs turned deliberately and faced his
employer.
"If that's the way you're looking at it, boss," he
said, "trot right along and I'll be behind you. Go the


THE BLACK STAR
25
limit, and I'm in the first seat on the right-hand side.
But, all the same, I've got a hunch."
The taxicab stopped again. Verbeck put his head
from the window and immediately opened the door
Their quarry had left the owl car and was starting
down the dark cross street.
Giving a bill to the chauffeur and telling him he
need not wait, Verbeck hurried to the corner, with
Muggs at his heels. Shadowing here was difficult
work, for there was unimproved property, and some
old estates not well kept up, where sidewalks were
bad and the footing uncertain, and where untrimined
trees and thick underbrush furnished multitudes of
dark spots.
Uphill and downhill, always against the biting cold
wind and sleet, their man led them. Finally he crossed
a vacant lot and made directly for an old house far
back from the street in the midst of a grove of trees
that now were swaying and snapping in the storm.
"So that's where the Black Star lives!” Verbeck
said.
He and Muggs had small difficulty following their
man now, for there was a low hedge behind which,
by stooping, they could make their way unseen. Their
man reached the side of the house and went along
it until he came to a door. Beside the door there was
a box on the ground. As Verbeck and Muggs watched,
the man they had been following raised the lid of the
box and took something out.


26
THE BLACK STAR
"He's putting on clothes,” Muggs whispered.
His actions could not be observed well, but it did
appear that he was donning an overcoat or a robe of
some sort.
"And he's putting on a mask," said Muggs.
“What's coming off here?”.
"I imagine we are in for an interesting time," an-
swered Verbeck. “Watch him now!"
He had stepped up to the door, and they could see
him put out his hand. Through a lull in the storm
there came to Verbeck and Muggs the tinkling of a
hell, then a sharp click, and the door flew open and
their quarry disappeared inside, closing the door after
him.
Verbeck and Muggs hurried around the end of the
hedge and to the house. A few feet from the door
was a window. Verbeck had no more than glanced
at it before Muggs was at work. Verbeck never had
inquired too closely into Muggs' past, but from what
he had seen from time to time, he had reason to
believe that Muggs knew a thing or two about crooks'
methods, and now he had more evidence of it. In
an instant almost Muggs was sliding that window up
slowly, inch by inch, making no noise, and carefully
pulling aside the curtains behind it.
Another moment, and Verbeck was standing inside
the house, with Muggs beside him. They heard no
voices. Step by step they made their way across
the room to the opposite wall, searching for a door.


THE BLACK STAR
27
Then they saw a streak of light that penetrated
from an adjoining room, where a door sagged in its
casement, leaving a crack through which a man could
see. Verbeck knew this house. For several years
it had been deserted, not kept in repair, the grounds
not kept up. It belonged to an estate in litigation,
and could not be sold, and the heirs had refused to
build a more substantial residence for the rental it
might bring in. He was surprised to find it inhabited,
and he imagined that the Black Star and his band were
making use of it surreptitiously.
But when he applied his eye to the crack in the
door, expecting to see a room almost barren, filled
with dust and cobwebs, two or three boxes, some
burning candles--a typical resort of thugs—he faced
a surprise. He was looking into a room that had
been newly decorated and was furnished lavishly.
Expensive rugs were on the floor; pictures adorned
the walls. There was a massive library table in the
center of the room, an armchair beside it, books and
papers and magazines on it.
On one wall of the room was a small blackboard,
with chalk and an eraser in a box beneath it. Before
this blackboard, standing erect, was their quarry
dressed in a long black robe that covered every por-
tion of his body, even his head being enveloped in a
hood, and over his face a black mask.
There was no one else in the room. The man be-
fore the blackboard stood stiffly and silently, like a


28
THE BLACK STAR
soldier at attention. Behind the door, Verbeck and
Muggs waited, scarcely daring to breathe.
Then a door on the other side of the lavishly fur-
nished room was thrown open, and another man came
into view. He, too, was dressed in a long black robe,
and had a black mask over his face. But he had a
mark that distinguished him from the other, for on
the front of his hood was a black star, formed of jet,
that flashed in the light.


CHAPTER III
INTO THE PIT
INSTINCT and experience told Verbeck that this
1 sight might prove too much for Muggs and he
gripped the smaller man by the arm to indicate that he
was to maintain quiet. It was well he did so, for sub-
sequent proceedings were highly unusual and mys-
terious.
The Black Star nodded to the other man and
stepped across the room, where there was another
small blackboard attached to the wall. When he stood
before it he nodded again, and the other picked up
the chalk and started to write, and thus they con-
versed, each writing on his blackboard and erasing
after the other had read.
“Number Six," the man wrote.
“Countersign?”
"Florida.”
"Report," wrote the Black Star.
“Carried out your instructions, but was caught by
Verbeck and his valet. Escaped when they went to
call police."
It seemed that the Black Star grew taller and
straighter as he looked at the other man, and Verbeck
and Muggs could see his eyes glittering through the


30
THE BLACK STAR
black mask. They expected him to roar a rebuke,
a denunciation, but he did not. He faced the black-
board again and wrote rapidly :
"You are a blunderer. We have no use for the
man who fails."
"I did not fail,” the other wrote on the board
quickly. "I put a black star on his bed and scattered
others in library. I was putting letter on desk when
they caught me.”
“Did you come straight here?"
“No. I shook them off first. I got away before
they raised an uproar. Came on owl car, got off
several blocks back, and cut down the hill."
The Black Star motioned for him to erase this last,
and then walked slowly to the table. There was a
pile of letters on one end of it, and the Black Star
picked up one and read it, shook his head, and put
the letter in the pocket of his robe. He pressed ·
against the end of the table, and a drawer shot open.
Verbeck and Muggs could see that the drawer was
half filled with money and jewels.
The Black Star took out some money and threw
it on the table. He closed the drawer and walked
back to his blackboard, and picked up the chalk to
write again:
"You will not be safe here for some time. Ver-
beck or his man might recognize you. Take that
money and catch the first train for Chicago. Return
and report one month from to-night at midnight.”


INTO THE PIT
"Countersign?"
"Florida," wrote Verbeck.
He turned to find the Black Star's eyes glittering
straight into his. The flaming jet on the hood seemed
to be dancing in derision. Verbeck wondered whether
he had made a mistake, and he soon found out, for
the Black Star turned to the blackboard and wrote
rapidly:
“Number Four is a woman, and Florida is not
her countersign.”
And then he faced Verbeck again.
The crisis had arrived sooner than Verbeck had
expected. The Black Star knew him for an intruder,
and knew also that he must have observed a great
deal to be able to don robe and mask and start the
blackboard conversation. The master criminal could
be expected to act with dispatch.
Before the Black Star could make a move Verbeck's
robe parted and his left hand emerged, holding the
pistol ready for instant action. With his other hand
he waved toward the armchair, and then he spoke:
"Sit down! And put your hands flat on the table !"
His eyes still glittering into Verbeck's, the criminal
obeyed.' Standing at the end of the table, Verbeck
confronted him, scarcely knowing what step to take
next. The man before him did not speak, but
those glittering eyes—burning, malevolent, ominous-
seemed to cry out with surprise, hatred, and threats.
“So you are the Black Star ?" Verbeck said. "Quite


34
THE BLACK STAR
a comedy you play here, eh? Masks hide faces and
blackboards take the place of spoken words. A very
clever crook-you. But I said a clever man could
find you, and I say it again. This is the best proof
of it, isn't it? You challenged me—and I have come.
So your man thought he had escaped, did he? If
ever you see him again, tell him that his bonds were
left loose purposely, so that he'd escape and could
be shadowed here. Allow me, sir-Mr. Roger Ver-
beck, at your service!”.
Verbeck raised a hand and tore off his mask, and
bowed low in irony, meanwhile watching his victim,
for he did not make the mistake of underestimating the
cleverness of the man before him, and he was alert
for tricks. He saw. the Black Star's hands contract
and his arms stiffen, and imagined the master crook
calling down curses on the head of the man who had
led enemies to his stronghold.
Then the Black Star spoke—in a low, penetrating
voice, almost a monotone, obviously disguising his real
tones.
"I suppose you think you are very clever?" he said.
"I don't advertise my cleverness like some persons,
and then fail to live up to my estimation of myself,"
Verbeck replied.
"You have done something no outsider has done
before you have seen the Black Star in his work-
shop. That is, indeed, a rare privilege. And, of
course, you'll pay for it in the end.”


36
THE BLACK STAR
"Not nonsense, but the truth. So certain am I as to
what is going to happen to you, Roger Verbeck, that
I'll reveal secrets and show you how useless it would
be to fight me, before you—er-cease to trouble me
further. I say no miember of my band ever saw my
face or heard my voice, and it is the truth. I say,
moreover, that I never saw the face of one of my
band or heard his voice, that I know nothing of their
names or identities, and, whenever a crime is com-
mitted, I do not know which person or group does
the work. Can you understand that? Turn state's
evidence, Mr. Verbeck? Not a man of them knows a
thing to tell, except against himself.”
"Rot!"
“The truth," said the Black Star. “Attend me
closely. I reveal my methods to you, because you'll
never pass them on. I began my work years ago. I
have a genuine partner, who is not in this city at
the present time. When I decided to invade this town
he came here. He rented this old house and fixed
up this one room in it. The furnishings were carted
one at a time, and they were unloaded several blocks
away and fetched here at night. When everything
was ready, I came.
“My gang? This one man who knows me got the
gang together. Every one of them is an expert in
his particular line. Each was eager to work under
me, for I am in a position to insure success and big
profits. My organization extends farther than you


INTO THE PIT
37
dream. Each man was fetched here and taught what
to do. Here he comes to get orders and to report.
There is no conversation except on the blackboard;
and masks are always worn.
“At the first, these men drew numbers out of a
box, and in addition I gave each a countersign. I
issue orders by number, and they report by number.
If I was on the witness stand at this moment and
wanted to betray my men I couldn't do it. I could
only say that a certain crime was committed by Num-
ber One, for instance—but if all were lined up before
me I couldn't swear they were members of my band,
because I'd not know. Do you understand that, Mr.
Roger Verbeck? Very clever, eh? We work to
gether, yet were we to pass on the street we'd not
dream we knew one another. Absolute protection-
you see? Hand me over to the police this minute
Gif you can-and it will avail you nothing. No jury
would convict on the evidence that could be presented.
And my organization, in a hundred different ways,
would come to my rescue."
“I thought none of them knew you,” said Verbeck.
“That is the truth. You do not understand every-
thing yet. I have a band of men who do the real
work. And I have an organization that collects knowl-
edge I must have. Every man and woman in that
organization has a very good reason for being loyal
to me "
"Women ?"


THE BLACK STAR
“Yes," said the Black Star. “Many women! Peo-
ple in every walk of life. And, naturally, I have
arranged it so that I could harm them, but they never
could harm me. I heard of your foolish boast of
last night, didn't I? How do you suppose I knew
that? And I can tell you the combination of the
safe in your dressing room, Mr. Verbeck, if you are
skeptical, and tell you also that there is nothing in
it at the present time that we desire. There is a
bundle of stock certificates and deeds in the upper
right-hand pigeonhole, and a score or more old coins
in a drawer at the bottom.”
“How do you know that?” Verbeck demanded.
“I know a multitude of things, Mr. Verbeck. Get
this idea in your head—I do not know the names or
faces of my real workers, but I do know the identities
of those who gather my information. I know them,
and could punish them—but they do not know me.
Tidy little arrangement? Í fancy you'll not find a
flaw in it."
"You have deluded yourself into thinking it is per-
fect,” replied Verbeck. “Suppose one of your crooks
is captured while committing a crime, and brings the
police down on you to save himself?”
"He would not. If he kept his mouth closed, the
organization would save him. If he played traitor,
the organization would save me and see that he got the
limit. I could convince you if I wished to talk more,
but I do not; I must protect the organization as it


INTO THE PIT
39
protects me. You have pitted your cleverness against
mine, Mr. Verbeck, and you have been successful in
your first attempt—you have located me. And now
what are you going to do about it?”
“Suppose I hand you over to the police?".
"Even if you could do that—and I am not admitting
it-you'd be laughed at in the end, and I'd probably
conclude by suing you for heavy damages. Believe
me when I say everything has been thought of, and
for every attack there is a defense arranged. Also,
to hand me over to the police would be to warn all
the others, and you'd have a difficult time convicting
me without their testimony. And there is another
thing "
The Black Star hesitated.
"Say it !” said Verbeck.
“I have said that my organization is far-reaching.
If you meddled in my affairs, the chickens might come
home to roost. You are up against something re-
garding the magnitude of which you know very little,
Mr. Verbeck. I have only just begun my organiza-
tion in this city, but already it is broad enough to
cause you pain and chagrin, did I put it to work.”
"I suppose," said Verbeck, “that you imagine you
are going to frighten me by this lot of pointless talk."
“You may be a very clever man in some things,
Mr. Verbeck, but in this you are no better than a
babe. Did I take the fancy to do so, I could make


40
THE BLACK STAR
you one of my organization, too. But you have gone
too far for that-you have discovered too much.”
"You'd make me join your band of crooks!” ex-
claimed Verbeck, laughing.
"I could foree you to be a loyal and obedient mem-
ber, believe me, if such was my desire. You do not
realize, sir, the strength of the Black Star and his
band. You do not realize how very little you know.
You have heard my voice, that is true, and you have
seen my workshop-but even you, Roger Verbeck,
have not seen my face.”
"And what is to prevent me taking a look at it
now?"
"This," said the Black Star. “You are standing at
the end of the table with a pistol in your hand. I am
seated, and my hands are on the table before me, so
that you could fill me full of lead before I could get
a weapon from beneath my robe. But the toe of my
left shoe, Mr. Verbeck, is resting on a button in the
floor—a button that works a trigger—and you are
standing over a cement-lined pit twelve feet deep.
Before you could shoot, my toe would press the but-
ton-so! And down you go, Mr. Verbeck, through
the floor and into the pit, and the trapdoor comes up
again—90 !-and you are a prisoner in the darkness
-you who tried to match wits with the Black Star!"
It all had happened in a second of time. A section
of the floor had swung downward with a crash, and
Roger Verbeck had been dashed to the bottom of the


CHAPTER IV
ROGUE FOR A DAY
M UGGS was a product of the slums, and had known
IV the inside of a prison. Five years before,
Roger Verbeck had picked him up in Paris, at a time
when Muggs was contemplating throwing himself into
the Seine, for misery and crime and poor living had
broken his spirit and made existence a nightmare.
Verbeck had taught him that wits can be used for
honest purposes, had given him a home, and in re-
turn Muggs, in his gratitude, gave Verbeck what serv-
ices he could. He was of the type willing to die to
save a benefactor pain.
Muggs had not struck the Black Star a light blow,
and when the master crook fell, Muggs knew he would
remain unconscious for some time to come. He was
sobbing and calling to Verbeck in a low voice as he
put his foot beneath the table and felt for the button.
He could not find it at first, for in his eagerness he
was not methodical. Then he quieted down, and, get-
ting down on hands and knees, went over the floor,
inch by inch, until he felt a little knob through the
rug.
His hand went out; he pressed the knob. At the
end of the table appeared a yawning chasm, as a sec-


ROGUE FOR A DAY
43
tion of the flooring fell back. Muggs was at its side
in an instant.
“Boss! Boss !” he called.
"I'm all right, Muggs! Not even scratched, and not
stunned. Hurry up and get me out of here. And
watch that chap "
Muggs was on his feet, looking wildly about the
room. There was no ladder, no rope, nothing that
could reach to the bottom of that twelve-foot pit.
But there was a couch in the corner, and Muggs tore
off the cover and carried it to the pit's edge.
“Grab it, while I brace myself, boss,” he directed.
“Then climb—I can hold you.”
And so Verbeck emerged from the pit, bracing his
feet against the wall of it and climbing hand over
hand up the couch cover, while Muggs, above, braced
his feet and bent back, gripping the other end of the
cloth. Then the trapdoor was closed again.
"Have you killed him?" Verbeck cried when he saw
the form of the Black Star on the floor.
"I felt like it, but I thought you'd want him again,
boss. I just gave him a smash behind the ear."
“Um!"
"Don't you think we'd better call the police now,
boss? I got a hunch "
"You heard what he said, didn't you, Muggs? If
the police take him in, the others will discover it, and
escape. And he said some other things that have me
guessing. How did he know what I said last night


44
THE BLACK STAR
at a private reception in a private residence, eh? I
know none of his crooks was close enough to over-
hear me. And how does he know what's in my safe?
He says he even knows the combination of it, and I
don't doubt him.”
“Then what are we going to do, boss ?”
Verbeck had slipped off his robe, and now handed
it, together with the mask, to Muggs.
"Put these outside in the box, then hurry back,"
he directed
As Muggs rushed away, Verbeck bent forward
and took off the Black Star's mask. There was re-
vealed the not unhandsome face of a man about forty-
five. Verbeck contemplated this countenance as he
started to remove the Black Star's robe. It was one
he never had seen before. Despite the Black Star's
words, Verbeck had been half of a mind that the
master crook was some one known to the city in
general as a respectable man, a sort of Jekyll and
Hyde.
Muggs returned, and the Black Star was gagged
and bound with a curtain that Muggs tore from one
of the doorways and ripped into strips.
“And now ” Verbeck began.
He did not complete the sentence. On the wall
above his head a bell tinkled. Verbeck and Muggs
looked at each other, the same idea in the mind of
each.
"Another crook," Muggs whispered.


46
THE BLACK STAR
The man stepped away from the blackboard, put
one hand beneath his robe, and took out a letter, which
he threw on the table. Then he went back to the
blackboard and stood at attention.
Verbeck went to the table and picked up the letter.
He ripped it open, watching the other meanwhile, then
lowered his eyes to read. What was written there
was startling and very much to the point:
Mrs. Greistman will wear diamonds and rope
of pearls at Charity Ball. They will be taken
from safe-deposit box during the afternoon.
After the ball they will be kept in safe in Greist-
man library. Safe is old one. Library is on first
floor; one door opens into hall; three windows,
one opening on veranda and others on side of
house and shaded from street lights by vines and
trees. All servants sleep on second floor, in the
rear. Mr. and Mrs. Greistman and daughter
sleep on same floor, in front, latter on left side
of hall, parents on right side as you face rear of
house. Daughter subject to insomnia, especially
after brilliant society events, and often takes
sleeping draft.
There it was, full information that indicated the
Black Star contemplated getting the Greistman jewels,
reported by means of the organization, no doubt.
The note had been written on a typewriter, and there


ROGUE FOR A DAY
47
were no marks on the envelope. Any active crook
might have been able to discover where the members
of the Greistman family slept, and learn where the
safe was kept, and how the doors and windows of
the library were located, but only some one in close
touch with the family could know when they antici-
pated taking the jewels from the safe-deposit box
and where they would be kept the night after the ball.
Verbeck found himself wondering how this infor-
mation had been obtained and whether the man who
now stood before him in robe and mask had obtained
it or was merely a messenger to carry it to the Black
Star. He stepped back to the blackboard and picked
up the chalk again.
"Where did you get information?" he wrote.
"As you instructed,” came the written answer.
Verbeck could ask no more without betraying him-
self. He had no idea regarding the identity of the
man before him. It was possible, of course, for him
to call Muggs from the other room and overpower
the crook, but it was doubtful if the man would talk
and reveal anything after he discovered he was not
dealing with the Black Star, but with an outsider.
And what Verbeck wanted was accurate knowledge;
he would have to be careful not to arouse the man's
suspicion.
: "Good !” he wrote on the blackboard. Then he
nodded to the man, as if in dismissal. But the other


: 48
THE BLACK STAR
did not seem ready to go, and acted as if there was
something wanting.
“Any orders?” he wrote finally.
Verbeck remembered the pile of letters on the end
of the table, and now he went over and inspected
them. They were orders for members of the band,
evidently, for on each envelope a number was stamped.
He found the one marked "Eight,” and took out the
sheet of paper it contained. There were the orders the
Black Star had prepared for this man:
At three o'clock in the afternoon there is a
committee meeting of the Browning Club in a
parlor of the second floor of the National Hotel,
at which Miss Freda Brakeland will be present.
Manage to be in the lobby of the hotel after the
meeting, and meet Miss Brakeland as if by acci-
dent. Talk of the Charity Ball, and ascertain
whether she is to wear the famous Brakeland
jewels at that affair. Report in usual manner
here at ten o'clock at night; and remember that
no excuse can be accepted for failure.
Here was another glimpse of the Black Star's work.
Verbeck, after a moment's thought, decided to give
the man his orders and let him go. He would con-
tinue to play at being the Black Star and discover all
he could of the master crook's plans. Perhaps he
would be able to prevent the wholesale theft of valu-


ROGUE FOR A DAY
49
able jewels; for it appeared that the Black Star in-
tended a series of crimes following the Charity Ball.
This man before him had orders to report the follow-
ing night, so there was no object in exciting his sus-
picions now.
Verbeck would have given a great deal at that
moment to have been able to peer behind the other
man's mask. Who was this man before him who
could be expected to engage Miss Freda Brakeland
in conversation without arousing suspicion? Some-
body who belonged in the city, surely, somebody well
known in society, for Freda Brakeland was one of
the most exclusive and unapproachable women of the
younger set
Verbeck was annoyed by the Black Star's threat
that the chickens might come home to roost. He was
astounded at the lines of information gathered for
the benefit of the master crook, and a multitude of
questions rushed to his mind, none of which he could
answer. He decided to refrain from calling in the
police at present, at least until he discovered more.
And now to Verbeck came another plan he decided
to use. He placed the orders on the end of the table
and motioned for the other man to pick them up;
then he hurried to his blackboard and wrote supple-
mentary orders there:
Pass the northwest corner of First Avenue and
American Boulevard at exactly two o'clock in


THE BLACK STAR
afternoon on your way to the hotel. Stop on
corner, remove hat, and pretend to brush dust
from it. If there is to be any change in your
orders, an envelope will be slipped to you at that
time; otherwise, go ahead as you have been
directed.
It seemed to Verbeck that the other man expressed
surprise in the way his shoulders straightened and his
head lifted, and for an instant Verbeck feared he had
attempted too much. But the other only nodded that
he understood, then saluted and backed out of the
door. Two minutes later Muggs came in from the
other room and reported that the crook had put robe
and mask in the box outside, and had hurried away.
"I'll get him!” Verbeck said. "He'll stop on that
corner and give the sign, and then I'll follow him.
I'll learn who it is that's helping the Black Star gather
valuable information. We've got to stick to the game
now, Muggs, old man!”
"I'd call the police- "
“Not yet! I'm going to play this game myself
until it gets too hot for me. The Black Star chal-
lenged me, didn't he? I'll have plenty of evidence
before I call in the police."
"What about the chief crook in the other room?
He's conscious again.”
Verbeck paced the floor for a time, his head bowed,
thinking


ROGUE FOR A DAY
"I have it!” he exclaimed at last. “You get out of
here, Muggs, and hurry to the garage and get my car.
Stop at the rooms and get that bunch of keys in
the right-hand drawer of my desk- "
“The keys to the old place ?"
“Yes. We'll take the Black Star there, Muggs.
Bring the car to the corner nearest this house, then
hurry in and help with him. We've got to have it
done before dawn. Hurry! That's what we'll do,
Muggs! We'll take the Black Star to the old house,
and there you'll guard him, while I play master crook
in his mask and robe."


CHAPTER V
MUGGS ON GUARD
W HEN Muggs had departed Verbeck got up and
walked into the other room, where the Black
Star was on the floor in an uncomfortable position.
Muggs had left the window open, and the cold air
swept in, bringing sleet and snow with it. It had been
all one with Muggs whether the Black Star froze to
death or not.
Verbeck closed the window. He didn't want to
carry the man into the furnished room for fear some
other member of the gang might come to make a
report, although now it was almost three o'clock in
the morning. So he threw the door open wide and
rolled in the couch and lifted the Black Star upon
it, covering him with two heavy portières that hung
before one of the doors. However, there was no
expression of thanks in the Black Star's countenance.
Verbeck went back into the other room and closed
the door behind him. He took a candle from a shelf
in the corner and lighted it, then made an inspection
of the house from bottom to top. No other room
was furnished; there were no arrangements for cook-
ing, no store of food. The Black Star, then, did not
live here, only came here to receive the members of


MUGGS ON GUARD
53
his gang. That would make it possible for Verbeck
to remain away from the house except at night.
He went back to the furnished room and conducted
an investigation there. First he looked at the orders
in the envelopes. Nine was the highest number there,
but Verbeck did not know how many envelopes had
been given out that night before his arrival. And
the orders were astounding.
Only one had to do with gathering information;
the others concerned projected crimes. Some of
them Verbeck could not understand, since they re-
ferred to orders given previously. But others indi-
cated not only crimes, but the manner in which they
were to be committed. They told what to steal and
just where to steal it, where there was danger and
where there was none. Verbeck began considering
whether he should give these orders out if any more
men called. Taking the place of the Black Star did
not include aiding in crimes, he told himself. He
would issue orders of his own, orders that would
keep the members of the band from their nefarious
business, but at the same time would keep them in
touch until he could arrange a wholesale capture.
Verbeck fumbled around the end of the table for
several minutes before he found the spring which
released the drawer and caused it to open. As he
and Muggs had seen earlier in the night, there was
an abundance of money in the drawer. There were
half a score of diamond rings, too, a pearl necklace,


54
THE BLACK STAR
other gems. There was a box of little rubber type
and an ink pad and a small memoranda book.
Verbeck opened the book. On the last written
page of it he found something that interested him.
At the top was a date—that very day—and below was
a list of numbers, with hours set opposite. The book
told when members of the band were expected to re-
port. Verbeck found that the first was Number Three,
due at nine o'clock that night. And from then until
two o'clock the next morning others were due at stated
intervals. The entire band, it was evident, was to
appear for orders within a few hours and comparison
of the book with the printed orders gave Verbeck an
inkling of the scheme.
The Black Star had, indeed, planned a staggering
blow to the city's pride; his band of crooks was to
make a specialty of stealing jewels taken from safe-
deposit boxes to be worn at the Charity Ball. For
a few hours these valuable jewels would be protected
only by ordinary safes in residences, and during those
few hours the members of the Black Star's band
would strike.
Verbeck went in to see that the Black Star was
as comfortable as he could be while bound and gagged,
and then walked over to the window. The storm
was dying down; the snow and sleet had almost
ceased to fall, but the cold seemed to be increasing.
Returning to the furnished room, he sat down be-
side the table to wait. An hour from the time Muggs


MUGGS ON GUARD
55
had departed the bell tinkled. Verbeck adjusted his
mask and touched the button that opened the door.
In a moment Muggs stood beside him.
"Here are the keys, boss," he said. “I've got the
car near the mouth of the alley, and the lights are
out. We can take him along the hedge
“Good !” Verbeck interrupted.
They went inside and lifted the Black Star and
carried him out. Verbeck took off mask and robe
and put them on the table, and one by one blew out
the candles. Then he closed the door and helped
Muggs carry the Black Star through the musty hall.
Another moment, and they were outside.
It was not particularly a difficult task to carry their
man along the hedge and to the car, and there Ver-
beck put him in the back and got in beside him, while
Muggs took the wheel. They made their way slowly
up the hill and to a well-paved street, and there Muggs
turned on the lights and the car rushed forward
through the night.
The old Verbeck place was one of the city's land-
marks. It was closed now, and had been closed for
the greater part of the past five years. It had been
bequeathed Verbeck, the last of his family, by his
father, and the young man had had no desire to repair
it and live in it alone with a staff of servants. He
preferred his apartment, and to live in it with no
servant except Muggs.
But now, betrothed to wed Faustina Wendell, Ver-


56
THE BLACK STAR
beck was contemplating tearing down the old house
and erecting a mansion in its place for his bride.
The present house occupied the center of the block.
It was surrounded by trees and tangled underbrush.
The walks about it were in poor condition, and no-
body ever approached it. It was to this place that
he was taking the Black Star.
It was a long, cold ride. The Black Star groaned
and threw his head from side to side, indicating that
he wanted the gag removed, but Verbeck declined to
accommodate him. He was taking no chances with
the Black Star.
The machine lurched and skidded along the streets,
dashed along boulevards, swung around corners.
Muggs was putting on all possible speed, for the dawn
was not far away.
The machine was finally brought to a standstill be-
fore the double gates that opened into the driveway
of the old Verbeck place. Verbeck got out and helped
Muggs throw open the gates, and they drove in.
There was fuel in the house, and after they had
carried the Black Star in and made him comfortable
on a couch Verbeck built a fire in the large grate in
the living room. Then he removed the man's gag,
and all his bonds except those which held his hands
fastened behind his back.
“There, Mr. Black Star!” he said. “It has been
an exciting night. You sent a man to invade my
apartment, and in turn I invaded your place of busi-


CHAPTER VI
AN UNPROFITABLE AFTERNOON
V ERBECK put his car in the garage, returned to
his apartment and slept. He awakened at eleven
o'clock, rushed through bath and breakfast, got the
car out again, purchased groceries, and whirled away
toward the old house.
There he found Muggs pacing back and forth, with
the pistol in his hand, reading the Black Star a lecture
on the evils of a nefarious existence. The Black Star
looked disgusted.
“If you're going to keep me prisoner," he told
Verbeck, "I'd be obliged if you'd give me another
jailer."
"What's the matter with Muggs?"
“Barring the fact that he is insane, he may be all
right. I don't want to be talked to death.".
Verbeck gave him a grin for answer and unpacked
the groceries. He had small time to spend here, and,
taking Muggs into a corner, he bade him be sure to
guard the prisoner carefully.
“You may not see me again until to-morrow morn-
ing, Muggs," he said. "I'll be busy this afternoon,
and to-night I'm going to that house where the Black
Star has his headquarters and start some plans going.”


THE BLACK STAR
then he saw Howard Wendell, the brother of his
fiancée, walking slowly down the street close to the
curbing.
Verbeck drew back quickly behind the pillar. If
Howard Wendell saw him, he undoubtedly would stop
to talk, and Verbeck did not want to hold a conversa-
tion just then.
Wendell passed without seeing him. He stopped
for an instant on the corner; he removed his hat, and
he ran one hand around the brim of it as if brushing
away dust.
Verbeck's jaw dropped and his eyes bulged with
amazement. The next instant he was chuckling at
the coincidence of it. There was no possibility of
Howard Wendell being a member of the Black Star's
band, of course. The boy accidentally had done what
Verbeck had ordered the crook to do, that was all,
and when he came to think of it Verbeck realized it
was a natural thing for any man to do, and wished
he had told the crook to use some other sign.
Howard Wendell walked on up the street, and
Verbeck continued his watch. The minutes slipped by,
and no other man gave the sign. A doubt entered
Verbeck's mind. That boast he had made at the re-
ception_Howard Wendell had heard that, and the
Black Star had known of it soon afterward. And
Howard had given the correct sign.
"Bosh! Can't be!" Verbeck muttered to himself.
"I'm a fool to think it for a minute. Why on earth


62
THE BLACK STAR
He entered the electric and sat beside her as she
piloted the car through the busy streets. She was
giving all her attention to the driving, and he did
not attempt conversation. And now that her face
was in repose, it seemed to Verbeck that there was a
peculiar expression on it, one that he was not used
to seeing. He would have sworn that the girl beside
him, who had promised to be his wife, was anxious,
worried—and that was foreign to her nature.
The Wendells had been wealthy once, but were not
now. Mr. Wendell had died two years before, leaving
an estate much smaller than was anticipated. His
widow had built a modern apartment house, and from
it derived an income, the Wendells living in one of
the apartments on the first floor. Yet they had
enough to maintain their position in society, and this
was an important position, for the Wendells were an
old pioneer family, noted for piety and pride.
"You are looking tired,” Verbeck observed.
"You're not very complimentary, Roger. Perhaps
I am a bit tired, though.”
"Too much Charity Ball ?” he asked.
"I am not worrying much about that. I intend go-
ing, of course.”
"I should hope so," Verbeck said.
“Would it disappoint you very much if I said I'd
rather not?”
"Nothing you can do will disappoint me," he said
loyally; "but I cannot imagine a Charity Ball without


AN UNPROFITABLE AFTERNOON 63
you in attendance. . Are you thinking of remaining
away?”
She was looking ahead, and Verbeck imagined that
her lips quivered for an instant.
"Is anything the matter?” he asked. “You don't
seem to be yourself to-day."
"I-oh, it is nothing, Roger! Perhaps I am a
bit nervous. Let us talk of something else. Here
we are at home. You'll come in, of course?”
He followed her inside, and greeted her mother,
who immediately left them alone.
“Now," Verbeck said, bending toward her, “tell
me what is troubling you. I can see that there is
something."
"Really it is nothing, Roger. Perhaps I am a bit
out of sorts. And—what I said about the ball—for-
get that, please."
"But if you do not wish to gan ” he said.
"Can't we decide it to-morrow afternoon, dear?
All right-let us leave it until then. Perhaps I'll be
feeling better."
"And there is no trouble--nothing I can do to
help?” he persisted.
"Foolish boy! I'm just—just tired.”
"Then I'm going to run right away and let you
rest. I ought to be downtown, anyway. I'll tele-
phone the garage for my car.”
He went to the telephone and sent in his call, then
returned to sit beside her. She was trying hard to


64
THE BLACK STAR
smile and act naturally, but Verbeck knew something
was troubling her. But he imagined it might be some-
thing connected with the family finance, and so did
not press her for an answer.
The car came from the garage, and Verbeck left,
and drove through the streets in a way that defied all
traffic ordinances. He had failed to identify the crook
who had received orders to speak with Miss Freda
Brakeland. And something was troubling his fiancée,
and Faustina had refused to confide in him. It had
been an unprofitable afternoon.
And there was a busy and dangerous night before
him.


CHAPTER VII
IDENTICAŁ ORDERS
FIGHT o'clock that night found Roger Verbeck in
the Black Star's headquarters, the room put in
order, and the candles burning. He was sitting at
the end of the long table, in robe and mask, and with
the little rubber stamps he was busy writing out or-
ders. All the orders were identical; the ones pre-
viously written by the Black Star had been destroyed.
Promptly at nine o'clock the little bell on the wall
tinkled, and Verbeck, shutting the drawer in the table
and holding his automatic in readiness beneath his
robe, went to the wall and pressed the button that
opened the door. He hurried from the room, and
waited.
Presently he entered again, to find a masked and
robed figure standing before the blackboard. Num-
ber and countersign were given, and Verbeck handed
the man his orders and a twenty-dollar bill taken from
the drawer in the table. The man bowed and went out.
Nine-thirty brought another man, and the same
ceremony was observed. Ten o'clock brought the
member of the band to whom Verbeck had given
orders the night before. After he had written his


66
THE BLACK STAR
number and countersign, Verbeck whirled to the
blackboard.
"Report,” he wrote.
“Browning Club meeting was postponed, and I
missed the person you mentioned,” the other scribbled
on the board. “I followed her, and spoke with her
later in a tea room. She will wear her jewels, in-
cluding the famous ruby collar.”
Verbeck nodded for the man to erase. Again he
found himself wondering at the identity of this man
who could talk so freely to Freda Brakeland. And
now he wrote on the blackboard himself:
"Why did you not carry out orders ?".
“Pardon, but I did.”
"You appeared at the corner I mentioned ?”
“Yes. Nobody approached me, so I went on as
ordered.”
Verbeck wondered whether the man was speaking
the truth, whether he had appeared at the corner, as
ordered, and Verbeck had missed him. It was pos-
sible, he knew, because of the throng of shoppers.
And, again. The robe effectually disguised the
man before him, but Verbeck imagined he was taller
than Howard Wendell. He told himself again he
was a fool to think that the man before him was his
fiancée's brother. He had half a notion to order
him to remove his mask, but thought better of it.
This man was a crook, could be nothing else. And


IDENTICAL ORDERS
67
Verbeck dared do nothing that would arouse suspicion
and endanger the plan he had formed.
“Very well,” he wrote on the board; then went
to the table and tossed the proper envelope toward
the other.
The man picked it up and read the orders. It
seemed to Verbeck that he appeared startled. He
went to the blackboard and wrote again:
"Are you sure, sir, that these are my orders?"
"Yes,” Verbeck wrote.
“Must I carry them out?”
"They must be carried out to the letter," wrote
Verbeck.
The other hesitated a moment, then wrote rapidly
on the board:
"You are unfair, but I am unable to help myself.”
And then, as Verbeck started forward, the other
saluted and darted out of the door, to hurry down
the dusty hall. Roger returned to the table. He
half wished he had forced the other man to remove
his mask.
Ten-thirty o'clock brought a woman. Verbeck
knew she was a woman because he could see her
hands, the fingers covered with rings and the bottom of
her skirts showed beneath the robe. Her writing on
the blackboard was unmistakably feminine, too. The
Black Star had said that women belonged to his or-
ganization, but Verbeck had not anticipated meeting


68
THE BLACK STAR
one in this house; he had believed they worked on
orders transmitted by others.
"Everything arranged,” the woman wrote on the
board. "It will be easy. I'll get the necklace about
three o'clock in the morning and hide it where you
ordered. It may be found there any time after four
o'clock.”
Here Verbeck found himself facing something of
which he knew nothing, some crime already outlined
by the Black Star.
"Disregard all previous orders,” he wrote, "for the
time being. I have new orders for you, and you'll
attend to them first. Do you understand ?”
“Yes,” she wrote.
He threw her envelope on the table, and she read
the instructions it contained. She, too, scribbled a
protest on the blackboard.
“Isn't it dangerous ?" she wrote.
"Carry out your orders. You do not know all the
scheme, remember.".
"I understand. I'll obey."
Then she hurried out.
At eleven o'clock the bell tinkled again, and Ver-
beck admitted another of the band. This one, too,
was a woman. She appeared timid, whereas the first
had given every indication of being used to this sort
of thing. Her hand trembled as she wrote her num-
ber on the board. Then she gave her countersign
and waited.


IDENTICAL ORDERS
69
Evidently she was not working on a case, but had
reported to get orders. Verbeck had no orders ready
for her, for her number had not been on the list
he had found in the Black Star's book. Apparently
this was her first visit, or else the Black Star had
not contemplated making use of her at the present
time.
He took orders he had printed for one of the others
and put them on the end of the table, motioning for
her to pick them up and read. As she advanced to-
ward the table, Verbeck found that her eyes were
upon him, and she seemed afraid to touch the en-
velope. She opened it finally, read quickly, and Ver-
beck thought she gave a little cry. She staggered
backward, but seemed to regain her composure as he
started forward to aid her, and backed away from
him. The sheet of paper fluttered from her hand to
the floor.
Verbeck stooped and picked it up, and handed it
to her. She did not seem to see it—she was looking
down at Verbeck's hand. Like a wild thing, she
whirled around and rushed back to the blackboard and
seized the chalk.
"Where did you get that ring?" she wrote rapidly.
Verbeck answered on his board:
"Why? Do you fancy it?".
"Where did you get it?”.
"That is my personal and private business," he


70
THE BLACK STAR
wrote. The ring was a peculiar signet he had picked
up abroad and had worn for years.
The woman dropped the chalk to the floor. She
raised one hand as if to put it to her face; she dropped
it again; her eyes burned into Verbeck's from behind
her mask; then she gave a cry that expressed pain
and despair, and hurried through the door and into
the hall.
"Well, what do you think of that?”' Verbeck mused.
"Was she really frightened or only playing a part ?
I wonder if the Black Star has been treating her
badly and has made her afraid of him? She seemed
awfully interested in my ring—because she'd never
noticed it on the Black Star's hand, I suppose. If
she should be suspicious But she couldn't do
anything if she was!"
The members of the band continued to arrive at
intervals, but there were no more women. Verbeck
received their numbers and countersigns, and gave out
copies of the orders. At three o'clock in the morning
he decided there were no more to come. Two women
and eight men had been received during the night
ten persons had walked into the trap he had con-
structed. Less than twenty-four hours, and the Black
Star and his band would be in the hands of the police.
Verbeck felt that he had planned well.
At half past three o'clock he left the house and
walked five blocks to catch an owl car. Half an hour
later he was on the boulevard, approaching the build-


IDENTICAL ORDERS
71
ing in which he had his rooms. As he reached the
steps of the apartment house he happened to turn
and glance down the street. He saw a man dodge
behind a lamp-post a short distance away.
Verbeck stepped into the vestibule, waited a mo-
ment, then stepped out again quickly. Again he saw
the man dodge behind the post.
Darting down the steps, Verbeck ran toward the
man. A shadowy form rushed across the driveway
and lost itself in the shadows of the underbrush.
Verbeck stopped and retraced his steps. He doubted
whether he could catch the man, and he wasn't in-
clined to pursue him at that hour of the morning.
Perhaps it was not a man watching him, but a lurking
thief, he thought, and at the same time he felt that
he had been under surveillance.


CHAPTER VIII
THE POLICE GET A TIP
VERBECK arose at noon to face the day that meant
V the culmination of his plans. As he bathed and
shaved and dressed he kept thinking of the prowler
he had seen a few hours before. Could it be possible,
he asked himself, that some of the Black Star's band
had grown suspicious and would take an active part
against him? Had the Black Star, a prisoner in the
old Verbeck house, sent out some message from his
prison calling for rescue? Verbeck was half afraid
he had made some blunder, had overlooked some-
thing that would allow the master criminal to turn
the tables and emerge victor from the duel of wits.
He telephoned the garage for his roadster, and
hurried out to the old Verbeck place, taking with him
a lineman from the telephone company's office. The
lineman connected the telephone, which had been out
of service.
"How is the prisoner?” Verbeck asked Muggs after
the lineman had departed.
"Down in the vegetable pit, thinking of his sins."
"Fetch him up,” Verbeck directed, and began carry-
ing in the food he had purchased before running out
from town,


THE POLICE GET A TIP
73
It was a surly Black Star who entered the living
room, with Muggs at his heels urging him on. He
no longer was handsome because of a two days' growth
of beard and dark circles under his eyes. He glared
at Muggs malevolently as he crossed the room and
sat down stiffly on a divan.
"How long," he demanded of Verbeck, "are you
going to keep me prisoner, with a maniac for jailer?"
"Probably until a late hour to-night. But you need
not be confined in the pit again. I'm going to have
Muggs keep you in this room, where it is warm and
comfortable. I want to give you a bit of liberty until
to-night."
“And then?"
“Then I'll probably hand you you over to the police,
and you'll have mighty small freedom for years to
come.”
"Indeed ?”' the Black Star snarled. “You have ar-
ranged everything, have you? Planned a coup of
some sort?”
“Time will tell,” said Verbeck.
"And don't you ever stop to fear for yourself?”.
“I haven't felt particularly afraid at any time.”
"I have warned you that the arm of my organiza-
tion--"
"Is a long one—I remember,” said Verbeck. "The
arm of the law also is long, Mr. Black Star, and a
clever, honest man can outwit a clever crook any time,


74
THE BLACK STAR
as I said once before. You called it a boast, I be-
lieve."
"You are not done yet."
“Certainly not-but I'll be done within a few
hours."
Verbeck walked to a corner and beckoned Muggs
to him.
"I'll return to-night, some time after nine o'clock,"
he said. “I want you to watch the Black Star well,
Muggs. If he escapes now "
"Why don't you call in the police, boss?"
"And spoil everything? I'm going through with
this now I'm going to nab the Black Star and his
gang.”
“Then there's something big coming off, and I'm
not to be in on it?" Muggs demanded.
"Neither am I, Muggs—at the moment it comes
off. But we'll both be in at the finish—and we'll be
there strong. Just curb your curiosity, Muggs, until
this evening. I'll explain everything then. Careful,
now, and don't let the Black Star escape. I fancy
you've been aggravating him."
“Aw, boss
“He looks it. Haven't you ?”
"I was just reciting a list of his sins, boss."
"Well, Muggs, recite less and keep your eyes open
more. Watch every move he makes. Don't you use
that telephone, and don't let the Black Star get near
mo
use
near


26
THE BLACK STAR
An excited voice told him that the chief under-
stood.
“Now, listen to this," Verbeck went on. “I have
arranged for all the Black Star's band to be at a cer-
tain place at the same time, so you and your men can
take them all. Keep quiet, chief, and don't ask ques-
tions. I want you to send men enough to arrest them
-eight men and two women are in the crowd. They
are to be arrested just when and where I say. If
you let as much as one of them escape all my work
and yours probably will have been for nothing. When
you get them you'll find stolen property on every one.
And as soon as I learn you have all of them under
arrest I'll turn over the Black Star to you, I'll tell
you where and how he met the members of his gang
and gave them orders, and I'll let you have the inside
workings of one of the smoothest crooks' schemes
ever devised. But if you make one false move--"
A torrent of words over the wire stopped him for
a moment.
“No questions, I said,” he went on. “You have
understood so far? Very well! No, I'll not tell you
who I am or where I am! Very well, if you'll not
listen! I'll call you up later, when you're in a better
mood, and explain where you are to make the catch.
Good-by!"
And an irate Roger Verbeck strode from the tele-
phone booth, went out to the street, and sprang into
his car to drive furiously down the thoroughfare.


THE POLICE GET A TIP 77
No excited chief of police could bully him with a lot
of mandatory questions, he told himself. Let them
fuss and fume for a time, then they'd listen when he
telephoned.
His actions had the desired effect. At police head-
quarters there was a spirited debate for five minutes
between the chief and his secretary as to whether
the telephone communication had come from some
practical joker. The secretary was inclined to be-
lieve that it had. The chief insisted that some mem-
ber of the Black Star's band had turned against him
and was engineering his downfall.
Verbeck drove on through the streets until he
reached the Wendell apartment house. Faustina was
waiting for him, and again Verbeck noticed that
anxiety was stamped on her face, and now he thought
there was a look of fear also.
"Well, here we are," he said. “And what about
the ball?”
“I—I have decided to go,” she said, looking at him
peculiarly.
"Brother Howard going, too?”
“Yes—he is going.”
“With any particular young lady?”
“No-alone.”
“Good! Will you be angry, Faustina, if I ask
you to go to the ball with Howard? I cannot ex-
plain just now, but-well, I'll be there late, in time
to have a couple of dances and bring you home. I'm


78
THE BLACK STAR
sorry that I cannot explain exactly—it is something
important that will keep me away until late."
He looked up, to find her staring at him fixedly.
"Why—what is the matter?” he stammered.
"I-oh, Roger, it is nothing !".
He sat down beside her and started to take her in
his arms, but she drew away from him.
"Why, Faustina-
"I'm-oh, I'm just a bit nervous, Roger.”
“There seemed to be something troubling you yes-
terday, and there certainly is to-day," he said. “Can't
you confide in me, Faustina ? Is there anything wrong
-anything I can do to help?"
"Nothing you can do—to help,” she said.
“Then there is something wrong?"
"Don't ask me, please, Roger. I'm nervous, wor-
ried. Just let me rest until to-night-I'll try to be
all right then. Certainly I'll go to the ball with How-
ard-and expect you later. And now you'll go, won't
you, Roger? I must lie down—and rest.”.
The puzzled Verbeck walked slowly to the door,
Faustina following him. He took her in his arms
and kissed her. She did not return the caress, and
she seemed on the verge of tears.
“Don't worry," he said softly.
“You tell me not to worry.”
"Why, yes. Perhaps whatever is troubling you
will cease to trouble. We'll talk of it to-night?
You'll let me help you?”


THE POLICE GET A TIP
79
“Yes,” she said, “we'll talk of it to-night. We
must talk of it to-night.”
Verbeck hurried out, got into the car, and started.
for the business district. Faustina's actions and man-
ner worried him, yet his mind was busy with the Black
Star and his affair. Once the Black Star and his
band of crooks were handed over to the police he'd
look into Faustina's trouble, he told himself. Per-
haps Howard was running about too much. Perhaps
there was financial trouble in the family. Whatever
it was, he'd smooth things out, he promised. He
couldn't have Faustina worrying.
He drove carefully now through the heavy traffic,
and finally stopped before a hotel. There he entered
a public telephone booth, and called police headquar-
ters again. Once more he got the chief on the wire.
“Will you listen now, and ask no questions?” he
demanded. “This is no hoax, so you'd better act on
my tip."
Then he told the chief where the members of the
Black Star's band could be captured, and when and
how.


CHAPTER IX
“CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST"
THAT evening there came the heavy winds again.
They came as night descended, to howl about
buildings and shriek through the streets, carrying the
merest suggestion of snow. They swayed the arc
lights, rattled signs, and shook skeletons of trees.
And then they settled down to a steady blow from
the north, and soft snow began to fall heavily. And
through the steady sheet of snow gleamed thousands
upon thousands of incandescent bulbs at the big hall
where the Charity Ball was to be held.
That hall had been built to hold thousands, and
its capacity would be tested this night. On the danc-
ing floor would be women famous in society, stately
matrons, pretty girls enjoying their first social season.
Gowns to dazzle would be shown by hundreds, and
jewels-precious and famous jewels—would flash re-
flection from myriads of electric lights-jewels taken
from safe-deposit boxes to be worn at this affair, and
then to be returned to their hiding places.
The galleries would be filled with spectators; a
gigantic orchestra would please musical ears; in the
streets outside, hundreds of limousines would be wait-
ing for the end.


"CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST” 81
Verbeck was thinking of the scene at the big hall
as he drove his roadster out to the old place again
shortly after ten o'clock that night. He had intended
going to the old house earlier, but had been delayed
in carrying out his plans. And now everything was
done—there was nothing more to do except await the
appointed hour, call police headquarters, ascertain that
the members of the Black Star's band were in jail,
and then turn over the Black Star himself. He would
have a good excuse to escape the plaudits of the police
and reporters at headquarters—he would have to hurry
to the big hall to dance with his fiancée and escort
her to her home.
The gates were open, and Verbeck sent the car
through and along the driveway, and brought it to a
stop where it would be shielded by the corner of the
house from the swirling snow.
When he entered the living room, the Black Star
was sitting on the divan in the corner, and Muggs
was pacing back and forth before him, still preaching
on the merits of an honest existence as compared to
a life of thievery.
'"Everything is lovely, boss," he reported to Ver-
beck. "This gent has been getting restless, but he
hasn't made a move he shouldn't. I've been hoping
he would—I haven't taken a pot shot at a man in
ages." .
"We'll have no carnage, Muggs," said Verbeck,
laughing. “We want to hand him over entire, not


82
1 THE BLACK STAR
in pieces. Give me that pistol, and I'll watch the
gentleman while you untie his hands and fasten them
again in front instead of behind his back. I'm going
to give him a cigar to smoke; he'll need it to quiet
his nerves."
Muggs did as he was ordered, and the Black Star
accepted the cigar with good grace and puffed at it
with evident enjoyment.
"Do we call the police now, boss?” Muggs asked.
"Not yet, Muggs."
"You and I have done a lot of things, boss, in all
corners of the world,” he said in a whisper, so the
Black Star could not hear. “When you feel that you
can't hold in any longer, you make me stop being
a valet, and let me be a comrade, and we go out after
adventure. It's always been all right. But, about
this thing — Boss, I told you I had a hunch.”
"I'm afraid your hunch isn't working well this
time, Muggs. The thing has been accomplished. I'm
merely waiting here until the police make a move I
requested them to make, and then we'll surrender the
Black Star. It hasn't been so very much of an ad-
venture, after all, has it, old man? There hasn't been
much excitement-not what we call excitement.”
"I'll not be satisfied until the police have their hands
on him, boss.”
“Neither shall I. But nothing is going to happen,
Muggs, to bother us. Keep that hunch of yours until
another time."


"CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST” 83
Muggs resumed his guard of the prisoner, and,
though he asked Verbeck nothing concerning the plans
he had made, there was a question in the expression
of his face. Verbeck lighted a cigar for himself, and
sat down not far from the Black Star. He looked at
his watch.
"It is half after ten," he announced. “Mr. Black
Star, in exactly an hour and a half the police will
take into custody some of your people; eight men and
two women, to be exact."
“Indeed?” .
"Exactly,” said Verbeck.
"Would you mind telling me how this is to be done?
I am somewhat interested and wholly skeptical.”
"Last night,” said Verbeck, "I assumed your robe
and mask, and played at being the Black Star. I
destroyed the orders you had prepared, countermanded
all of which I learned, and issued new orders of my
own. There was no hitch in the arrangement. Not
one of them became suspicious as far as I could see."
"And the orders?" the Black Star asked, interest
showing in his face.
"Were the same in each instance," said Verbeck.
“The orders make it possible for the police to round
up the entire gang at one swoop. They'll be kept
separate until I turn you over and tell all I know.
With those facts upon which to work the detectives
will have no trouble getting confessions. As for you
--Muggs and I can swear to enough to convict you,


84
THE BLACK STAR
especially after the police have searched that house
where you had your headquarters.”
There was a look of apprehension in the Black
Star's face now, but he did not pretend to Verbeck
that he was alarmed.
“May I ask how you expect to catch these persons?"
he asked.
“Yes--and I'll tell you. There was a flaw in your
perfect arrangement, Mr. Black Star. You taught
your crooks to work in the dark, and not ask ques-
tions. They have faith in you; and if you ordered
one of them to enter the First National Bank at noon
and hold up the first teller to the right, he'd perhaps
do it, believing that his work was only a part of a
big scheme and that he'd escape consequences be-
cause of some plan of yours."
“True," said the Black Star. “I have issued orders
that seemed dangerous, but were not so when a man
knew all the different angles of my plan.”
“Exactly. And so, when I gave orders that seemed
dangerous, scarcely an objection was raised. You
want to know how they are to be captured, eh? Here
is a copy of the orders I gave each, Mr. Black Star.
Listen to it!"
Verbeck pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket
and read:
“You will dress as well as possible-evening
clothes if you can--and attend the Charity Ball.


“CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST” 85
I give you herewith money for ticket and other
expenses. You will mingle with the crowd on
the dance floor, and, working alone, lift all the
jewels you can. Be careful of discovery, but
do not fear the outcome. Between ten o'clock
and midnight will be the best time for you to do
your work.
"Exactly at midnight you will be in the south-
west corner of the lobby, where there is a drink-
ing fountain. Before going there put a bit of
red ribbon on the lapel of your coat. If you see
others wearing this sign, do not speak to them or
give them any attention. Follow these instruc-
tions to the letter, and our great plans will be
consummated. It is to be a big clean-up, and all
arrangements have been made.”
Verbeck ceased reading, and looked across at the
Black Star.
“You understand ?” he asked. “Each one thinks
he does not know all the plan, but will be safe if he
carries out his instructions. I gave each a bill out
of the drawer in the table, and I told the women to
wear the red ribbon on their shoulders. A score or
more of detectives will be in the neighborhood. At
midnight they will take in custody all who wear the
red ribbon. A quick search will disclose stolen prop-
erty in their possession. You see? I don't know
whether I'm guilty of a felony or not, ordering them


86
THE BLACK STAR
to steal like that, but I guess I'll be forgiven, since it
is in such a good cause.
"So there goes your perfect arrangement, Mr. Black
Star. Those crooks who have been trusting you will
be cursing your name before long. And you're going
to the penitentiary with them. You can't be crooked
and get away with it always—no matter how clever
you are. And all this, Mr. Black Star, because you
overplayed your part by sending a man to put a letter
on my desk. You needn't sneer-I'm not meaning
to praise myself. There are a thousand men in town
who could have overcome you, given the chance I
had."
"I am not sneering at your egotism," said the Black
Star, apparently without emotion. "I am sneering at
the futility of your plans. I warned you, Roger Ver-
beck. I told you that chickens come home to roost.
So you'll send my men and women to jail, will you?
You'll break up my organization? You strike me a
deathblow like that-and you'll strike yourself one
at the same time.”
"I've heard your pointless talk before," Verbeck
said.
"But this is not pointless talk, Roger Verbeck. It
is very much to the point. I told you that I had an
organization that gathered information, didn't I? I
said it was separate and distinct from the band that
committed the crimes. You have made the grave


"CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST” 87.
mistake, I fear, of mixing the two bands together-
and the consequences will not be to your liking."
"Indeed?"
“Yes-indeed! How do you suppose I heard of
your boast at that reception a few nights ago? How
do you suppose I know so much about people's private
affairs? I'll tell you, Roger Verbeck-I know be-
cause men and women of your acquaintance belong
to my organization. You don't believe that, eh? You
will soon.”
"I scarcely can imagine any of my friends turning
crook.”
“Not voluntarily, perhaps. Not because they need
money, either—not always.”
"Explain,” Verbeck said.
"I've told you I have a partner who knows me well
-he and I work together. Some of the organization
know him, but not one knows me, nor has seen my
face or heard my voice. If you are skeptical, I'll
outline the plan in a few words. In Chicago, for in-
stance, we caught a certain youngster of this city
when he was in trouble. He was extricated from his
scrape, and the price of it was that he join my organi-
zation. We held something over his head. Deathly
afraid, he carried out my orders; he feared to refuse.
Through him we brought into the organization the
girl to whom he was betrothed-threatening to send
her sweetheart to prison unless she joined the band.
You see? A sort of endless-chain affair.”


THE BLACK STAR
"I don't believe it !" Verbeck exclaimed.
"You want proof, eh? In ten minutes, Roger Ver-
beck, you'll be giving me my liberty, and you'll be
moving heaven and earth, with me beside you, trying
to prevent the capture of those people at the Charity
Ball. You know who told me of your boast at that
reception? He told me because he admires your native
cleverness-begged me to stop everything and leave
town, for, he said, if you started out to get me you'd
do it.”
* "He was a sensible man, and you should have taken
his advice," said Verbeck.
"I am telling you the truth, Verbeck. The man
who told me was Howard Wendell, the brother of the
girl you expect to marry.”
"You lie!” Verbeck cried, springing from his chair.
Muggs snarled, and stepped forward, ready for a fray,
but Verbeck motioned him back.
"I do not lie,” said the Black Star. "I told you
to beware, that the chickens might come home to roost.
Two months ago Howard Wendell was in Chicago
on some business for his uncle. We knew him—we
wanted him. A man already a member of the organi-
zation saw to it that Howard Wendell went the pace
for a few days. He is but a boy, we'll say-he was
easily led. · He woke up one morning to find that
he had gambled away three thousand dollars of his
uncle's money. He was almost insane because of what


"CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST” 89
he had done. His friend took him to my partner;
my partner gave him the money."
"But that "
"Wait! In return he gave my partner a check
drawn on a bank in this city. Of course it was a
forged check. Oh, he did not intend it as deceit!
He said the check was worthless. My partner laughed
and said he knew it, but that he would keep it until
the boy could pay-if he never paid, it would be all
right. My partner, you see, owned the gambling
house where the money was lost. You begin to under-
stand?"
Verbeck still stood before him, hands clenched.
“But the next day he was informed that the check
would be presented, would be returned, and that he
would be arrested for having written it-unless he
did as he was ordered. That is how Howard Wendell
became a member of our organization.”
“You beat!” Verbeck cried.
"Don't beat me up yet-please," sneered the Black
Star. “If you stop to do that you'll suffer consider-
able anguish later. I am not done—there are more
chickens coming home to roost. What numbers did
the men have, those to whom you gave orders?".
Fearing, Verbeck told him.
“So? Howard Wendell is one of them, Verbeck.
He is the one who brought you the letter that first
night concerning the Greistman jewels—remember?
He'll be one for the police to nab to-night. He must


90
THE BLACK STAR
have been surprised to get orders like that he under-
stood he was to do nothing except gather informa-
tion."
Verbeck felt that the Black Star was speaking the
truth. Howard had objected to the orders—had said
that they were unfair to him, but that he was unable
to help himself. It had been possible for him to tell
the Black Star of Verbeck's boast. He had given
the sign that afternoon before seeking a talk with
Freda Brakeland. And the police would capture
Howard Wendell through Verbeck's planning, cap-
ture him with stolen jewels in his possession.
“And the women?" the Black Star asked. “Tell
me quickly! Whạt numbers did they have ?"
Verbeck told him.
“The first is one of the cleverest in the organiza-
tion,” said the master crook. “She is an experienced
thief. But the second-small wonder you did not find
her number in the book! She is a new one. That was
her first visit, and I had ordered it some days before.
She was brought into the organization through her
love for another, a member of her family. So she'll
be caught, too, eh? And do you know her identity,
Roger Verbeck ? Do you know the woman you are
handing over to the police through meddling with
my affairs? I'll tell you-gladly: She is Miss Faus-
tina Wendell-your fiancée !"


CHAPTER X
CAUGHT IN A NET
SILENCE followed the announcement of the Black
» Star-silence for a moment, during which Muggs
watched his master and waited for the sign that he
was to choke the man on the divan into insensibility
for daring to say such a thing. But the sign was not
given.
Suddenly Roger Verbeck felt sick at heart. The
Black Star's tone, his bearing, the expression in his
face told that he spoke the truth. And Verbeck knew
enough to confirm it. Faustina had been acting in a
peculiar manner. And that second woman who had
called on him in the Black Star's headquarters—how
timid she had appeared, how afraid! She had reeled
when she read her orders. She had demanded to
know where Verbeck got the ring he was wearing.
And that very afternoon, when he met her at her home
-her words had been mysterious, her actions out of
the ordinary.
“So you see how it is,” the Black Star was saying.
"Do you want to save her, save her brother also ?
Then release me, and I'll help for I must save those
friends of mine. I'm as much in the dark regarding
them as you, for I've never seen any of their faces,


92
THE BLACK STAR
remember. You realize what will happen if they are
caught, don't you? There could be no escape from
the penitentiary for any of them. And there are
things to be found in my headquarters-notes in Faus-
tina Wendell’s handwriting, for instance, notes giving
information ”
He stopped at the look that came into Verbeck's
face.
“And you think I'll let you go now?” Verbeck de-
manded. “Why, I'll fight you more than ever now!
You've made a cat's-paw of that boy; you've dragged
the sweetest and most innocent girl in the world into
your filthy scheme.”
"The prosecuting attorney won't consider her inno-
cent when he reads those notes.”
"You'd have me let you go-then you'd try to
drag me into the mess to save my intended wife!
And, through me, others—and so on! It's fight you
and beat you now, or surrender to you like a cow-
ard, and let you go ahead with your nefarious plans.
I'll take the chance, Mr. Black Star!"
Verbeck looked at his watch; it was a quarter of
eleven. He whirled to face Muggs.
"Guard this crook!” he cried. “Guard him well.
Shoot him if he tries to escape!”.
“What are you going to do, boss?".
"I'm going to play the game out to the end. I'm go-
ing to the ball and save Faustina Wendell and her
brother-and I'm going to see that the police get the


CAUGHT IN A NET
93
others, and then this man here. That's all I have to do
--get Faustina and Howard away in time. This
crook's clever scheme has another angle-nobody can
swear the Wendells are mixed up in this. That's what
I have to do-separate the crooks from the innocent
victims. Watch that man!"
Muggs screeched at him. The Black Star tried to
tell him something. But Roger Verbeck had dashed
from the house and toward his machine. He was al-
most sobbing, and fear gripped at his heart. The
chickens had come home to roost! No wonder Faus-
tina had acted so peculiarly, small wonder she had
shown anxiety! And she was in danger. He had
ordered her to steal—perhaps her love and fear for
her brother would lead her to do so. She might be
caught in the act-Faustina Wendell, proud daughter
of one of the pioneer families, caught stealing jewels!
And his ring—she had recognized that! Great
Heaven! Did she think he was the Black Star?
Did she imagine he had played on her love to make
her a member of a band of thieves? What might she
not suspect, when she had seen that ring?
She would remember that he had led a sort of wild
life in the ends of the earth, never showing a tendency
to settle down until he had fallen in love with her.
She might pile up the little things until she had a
mound of evidencewomen do such things. She
might doubt his manhood, really believe he was the
master crook, brutal enough to endanger the girl he


94
THE BLACK STAR
professed to love and her brother. Had Howard Wen-
dell noticed that ring, too? Had Howard been the
midnight prowler waiting on the boulevard to see
what time Verbeck reached home?
He was in the car, out of the yard, rushing like
the wind down the street, not caring whether the
machine skidded perilously through the snow. It
was almost eleven o'clock; he had ample time, more
than an hour. It would be a simple thing, after all,
merely to get Faustina and Howard to one side and
see that neither wore a red ribbon, let the police cap-
ture the others, and then explain.
Then another thought came to him—those notes
the Black Star had said were in the house where he
made his headquarters! The captured men would talk,
mention that house, and the police would search.
Faustina might be endangered in that way. He didn't
dare take the chance of leaving those notes until after
he went to the ball. He'd have to search for them,
find, and destroy them.
There was more than an hour—he had ample time.
He drove the machine at a furious pace, disregarding
police, who shrieked at him, barely missing trolley
cars, dodging pedestrians at crossings. Out along the
long boulevard it was easier going, for there the wind
had swept the pavement clear of snow, and there was
not so much traffic. He left the paved street and cut
down the hill toward the old house where the Black
Star had established his headquarters. He did not


CAUGHT IN A NET
95
have time to take precautions; he trusted to the good
fortune that always had stood at his side in emer-
gencies. He turned the machine to the curb a block
away from the house, sprang out, and rushed across
vacant lots toward his goal.
Through the dusty hall he rushed, reaching in his
coat pocket for matches. He found a candle in the
furnished room and lighted it. Then breathlessly he
began his search.
Nothing was in the drawer at the end of the table
except what he had seen before. There was no fur-
niture in the room in which letters might be concealed.
He inspected the couch, but found nothing. He ripped
the seat and back from the armchair, but his search
was not rewarded. In the kitchen he opened drawers
and bins, but found nothing except dust and cobwebs.
He rushed back to the Black Star's room again.
His foot found the trigger of the trapdoor, and he
opened it and crept to the edge of the pit to hold the
candle and peer down. There was nothing but the
smooth cement walls and flooring. He ripped away
rugs, searched the floor, finally stood, panting, beside
the table in despair.
"He lied !” he gasped. "He must have lied-and I
have been losing time!"
He looked at his watch again—it was one minute
after eleven o'clock. It would take him only fifteen
minutes to reach the big hall where the Charity Ball


96
THE BLACK STAR
was being held if he drove swiftly, and so he had
time for further search, but it seemed of no use.
Staggering against the side of the table, he threw
out his hand to grip the edge--and a drawer shot
out!
He forgot the place and danger, and gave a cry
of joy. Accident had accomplished what search had
failed to reveal. The drawer was half filled with
papers. He inspected them quickly—yes, there were
several notes in Faustina's handwriting, and a forged
check for three thousand dollars in the bolder scrawl
that belonged to Howard Wendell. The Black Star
evidently had had that check close at hand to show
the boy now and then in case he thought of quitting
the organization.
There were other letters, too, the handwriting of
which Verbeck seemed to recognize, but could not
quite place-letters written by other victims of the
Black Star, he supposed.
He carried them to the grate, set them afire, fed
them to the flames one at a time. He ran back to the
table and pressed the edge of it all the way around,
and found one other drawer. There was nothing in
it, however, and he felt that he had secured and de-
stroyed all the dangerous papers there. The fire in
the grate died down. Verbeck stirred the ashes to
make certain nothing remained that would give a
clew. Then he blew out the candle and started through
the dusty hall to the door.


CAUGHT IN A NET
97
As he reached it he stopped in alarm. Creeping
toward the house from the hedge were two men.
Far to the right were two more. To the left were
two more. He heard a sibilant whisper from near
the wall a short distance away. Light from the near-
est street lamp flashed against a policeman's shield.
The police were surrounding the house!


CHAPTER XI
CLOSE QUARTERS
M UGGS stood in front of the door for a moment
· after Verbeck had dashed from the house, then
turned to face the Black Star again. Muggs' lower
jaw was shot out, his eyes were narrowed, and, but
for Verbeck's orders, he probably would have launched
himself at the Black Star and attempted the old-
fashioned retaliation known as “beating up."
Muggs was small in size, but he had great strength
in his arms and shoulders, and possessed knowledge
of a multitude of tricks to aid him in the art of self-
defense or aggression. He worshiped Roger Verbeck.
He was ready at any time to fight for Verbeck, to
defend his life and his happiness. The fact that the
Black Star had caused his master misery was enough
to make Muggs want to throttle the man. But Ver-
beck had decreed against that.
Muggs wished he was at his master's side, helping
him in the fight. He imagined Verbeck driving the
roadster at top speed through the streets to the big
hall; he fancied him entering upon the brilliant scene
there, as he had intended doing at a later hour, getting
Faustina Wendell and her brother to places of safety,
then witnessing the capture of the Black Star's band.


CLOSE QUARTERS
99
He anticipated a telephone call from Verbeck telling
of success.
Meanwhile he walked back and forth before his
prisoner, the pistol held in his hand, and raged at the
man on the divan.
“A cur like you causing a man like Mr. Verbeck
pain!" he exclaimed. “Killing's too good for you!
I hope you get a life sentence. But he's got you,
Mr. Black Star! My boss has you! Have your little
signs pasted on his bed and all over his library, will
you? Leave sassy letters for him, eh? I reckon you're
sorry for it now!"
The Black Star still was smoking the cigar Verbeck
had given him. He blinked at Muggs, and puffed at
the cigar furiously, then suddenly bent forward and
bowed his head on his hands.
“That's right!” Muggs went on. "Think of your
sins! Do a little wailing yourself! Cause my boss
trouble, will you? You'd better put your head in your
hands and wish you'd played straight! Small good
it will do you to repent now, you scum!”.
The Black Star's head bent lower; he was a picture
of misery. Muggs looked at him with scorn and
turned to walk the length of the room. He stopped
his tirade long enough to pick up a sandwich from the
table and begin eating it. He imagined the Black
Star about to weep because disaster had overtaken
him-and. Muggs always felt disgusted when he saw
a man weep.


100
THE BLACK STAR
But the Black Star was not weeping—he was en-
deavoring a subterfuge. When he bowed his head,
the burning end of his cigar rested against the rope
that bound his wrists together. Now and then he
puffed again, until the rope was scorched. Strand
after strand was burned through as Muggs talked.
“Getting your dirty hands on your betters and mak-
ing them join your gang !” Muggs said, walking back
toward him. “You got your hands on one too many,
I guess. And I'll be a witness at your trial, too! I'll
help send you over the road "
He had passed the Black Star and was about to
turn. And at that instant the Black Star sprang.
Muggs was taken unawares. A fist dealt him a blow
on the back of the head. As he staggered forward,
trying to turn, the pistol was wrenched from his hand
and the butt of it crashed against his temple. The
Black Star struck him even as Muggs had struck
the Black Star in his headquarters room, when Roger
Verbeck was shot into the pit.
"Take that, you whelp!” the Black Star cried. “Try
conclusions with me, will you—you and your precious
master? You haven't whipped me yet! There's some-
thing in that old house I want-money, and those let-
ters-money to get me away to Chicago, and the letters
to send to the prosecuting attorney with a sarcastic
little note. I'll fix your precious master and his girl.
And while he's trying to save her I'll be taking a train
out of town. As for my crooks—bah! I never saw


CLOSE QUARTERS
IOI
their faces--they are no friends of mine. Let 'em
go to prison—there are plenty more crooks to be had !"
He kicked the prostrate Muggs and hurried from
the house. He did not know exactly in what part
of the city he found himself, but he made for a cross-
ing where he had seen a trolley car flash past, where
he could make a start downtown.
And Muggs, groaning in pain, remained on the
floor, but he was not fully unconscious. He had heard
every word uttered by the Black Star—they seemed
to ring in his brain. He kept telling himself he wanted
to get up, he wanted to do something—but he could
not. He struggled mentally to rise, and finally his
will was communicated to his muscles. He rolled over,
sat up on the floor.
Dizziness overcame him, but he closed his eyes and
bit his lower lip and tried to master it. And in time
he did, and staggered to the divan and fell upon it.
What was it the Black Star had said ? That he
was going to his headquarters to get money and letters,
that he was going to leave the members of his band
to their fate, and make his escape. He must stop
the Black Star! Verbeck's plans would be shattered
unless he did. And the Black Star would be a living
menace to Verbeck unless he was stopped, and per-
haps would build up another organization in some
other city. Even in this moment of pain Muggs,
though claiming no superior power of reasoning,
could not help but think what a fool the Black Star


102
THE BLACK STAR
had been to tell Verbeck his schemes. That was the
man's weakness—he had to boast. It was boasting
that had brought him to the close attention of Roger
Verbeck and caused all the trouble.
"My hunch was right," Muggs muttered. “I told
the boss—that I had a hunch!”
He sat up again; the dizziness had passed, but his
head still pained. He must act quickly, he kept telling
himself over and over. Then the plan for which he
had been groping flashed into his brain.
Muggs sprang to the telephone and called police
headquarters. He got the chief on the wire.
“The Black Star has escaped !” he cried. “You'll
get his gang down at the dance, but you'll not get
him unless you hurry. He knocked me down and
escaped. I know where you can catch him—if you're
quick !”
Shouted queries and commands came to him from
the frenzied chief.
"A house—in the south end of town!" Muggs
gasped. “A deserted house—he has his headquar-
ters there! He's gone there to get money, then he'll
get out of town. You can catch him! . . . What's
that? Oh, yes I didn't give you the address !"
Muggs swayed from the telephone, but in a mo-
ment had gathered his strength and was talking again.
He gave the location of the house, and the chief said
that he understood.


CLOSE QUARTERS
103
“And I'll be there—I'll start right now," Muggs
added. “I'll be there to indentify him."
Sudden decision had come to Muggs, and he stum-
bled away from the instrument without further words,
not even stopping to hang up the receiver. He hur-
ried across to the door and threw it open and went
out. The stinging cold air refreshed him. He started
along the driveway.
By the time he reached the boulevard, Muggs was
himself again, except that the pain pounded in his
head because of the blows the Black Star had given
him. He hurried along the street, half running. On
the first corner he waited for a car.
An automobile came along, bound for town, and
Muggs hailed the driver. He was a private chauffeur
going to the big hall to fetch home from the ball
some of the women of the family for which he worked.
Muggs told him it was a matter of life and death,
and the chauffeur allowed him to crawl up beside him
and put on speed. Five minutes later, well down in
town, Muggs got off and hailed the first taxicab he
saw, offering double pay if good time was made, and
the cab soon was rushing toward its destination.
The police had acted promptly on Muggs' informa-
tion, and as the taxicab whirled around a corner half
a dozen blocks from the goal, Muggs could hear in
the distance the shrieking of a siren on a police auto-
mobile. He urged his chauffeur to greater speed. At
a corner he stopped the cab, paid the driver, and the


104
THE BLACK STAR
next moment was running down the dark side street
toward the deserted house.
He slipped along the hedge and crept near the wall,
making his way toward the door. It was closed, and
Muggs did not try to open it, but went on to a win-
dow. He raised it as he had that first night when
Verbeck had been with him. Muggs wanted to get
inside and catch the Black Star at work. He wanted
just one blow at the Black Star before the police
arrived, for the blow that had been given him, and
for the misery Verbeck had been caused. Then he'd
gladly hand the Black Star over to the authorities.
He slipped through the window. As he did so the
police automobile stopped on the nearest corner, and
men piled out of it and ran forward to surround the
house. Muggs gave them one glance, then left the
window and stepped softly across the room. Light
was coming through that crack in the door-the Black
Star was there!"
Muggs put his eye to the crack. He did not see the
Black Star-he saw Roger Verbeck just blowing out
the candle and starting to enter the dusty hall!
The meaning of the situation flashed over Muggs
in an instant. The Black Star had not arrived yet.
Verbeck had come here to get those letters before
going to the big hall. And he-Muggs—had brought
the police! They would capture Roger Verbeck-
and there was nothing to prove that Roger Verbeck
was not the Black Star!


CHAPTER XII
AT THE CHARITY BALL
UGGS jerked open the door, rushed through the
no furnished room, and entered the hall.
"Boss! Boss !” he hissed.
Verbeck was just recoiling from the outer door.
He closed it as noiselessly as he could and hurried
back.
“Boss !"
“That you, Muggs?".
“Yes. That devil worked a trick on me—he got
away. He intended to come here and get money, then
hurry out of town. I-I telephoned the police, boss,
to come here, and I came myself to identify him. I
didn't know that ”
"All right, Muggs. I understand. You did right.”
“But I let him trick me-and the cops are here.
If they catch you they'll think you're the Black Star."
Verbeck realized that even better than Muggs. If
the capture was made at the big hall, and the prisoners
questioned as they would be, and mercilessly-Faus-
tina Wendell and her brother, under the strain, might
give evidence that would convict him.
“We've got to get away, boss!"
She had recognized the ring, Verbeck was thinking.


106
THE BLACK STAR
Perhaps it was Howard Wendell who had watched
as he went home that night. Yes—he'd have to escape.
"Oh, boss! I said I had a hunch!”
"Quick!” Verbeck whispered. “And be quiet! My
roadster is at the curb a block away. We must get
out and reach it. How many policemen?”
"A dozen at least, boss—and there may be another
auto full of 'em coming."
“Hush! Some one is trying that door now. Into
the kitchen with you!"
Muggs hurried through the kitchen door. Verbeck
pushed him into a closet and bade him remain there
until he returned. Then he went from the kitchen
to the dining room, and there he lifted his pistol and
sent three shots ringing into the ceiling.
Another instant and he was back in the kitchen,
in the closet with Muggs.
"Perhaps they'll think the Black Star has com-
mitted suicide when they hear those shots and find
there isn't a light,” he whispered. “There is a window
behind you, Muggs. Can you open it quietly and
without attracting attention, while those police are
wondering about the shots?”
Muggs went to work, making no noise. The win-
dow was raised a fraction of an inch at a time. Ver-
beck turned the key in the closet door, for things
might come to a pass where seconds of delay would
mean everything.


AT THE CHARITY BALL
107
Finally the window was open. Muggs, putting out
his head cautiously, looked around.
"Only one man on this side, boss,” he reported.
“The others have gone around to the door."
“They're in the house," Verbeck replied. “They're
flashing their torches—I can see them in the hall
through the keyhole.”
“This side of the house is dark, boss, shaded by
trees. And there is a drift of snow against it. We
might get out without being heard or seen.”
"Try it !” ordered Verbeck grimly.
Muggs went first, like a shadow, and soon was
standing beneath the window in the deep darkness
close to the wall. Verbeck followed, almost afraid to
breathe, expecting every second to hear the challenge
of a policeman and to be taken. But finally he, too,
stood in the shadows against the side of the house.
“One man,” Muggs whispered. “See him? We've
got to hurry—those cops in the house will be through
searching soon. You wait here, boss.”
Muggs slipped away beneath the trees; Verbeck
could scarcely see him. Nearer and nearer he got to
the unsuspecting policeman, who was watching the
group in front of the door. Then Muggs sprang, and
the policeman went down. It had been done without
noise, with a single blow, but not effectually enough to
render the officer unconscious for long.
Verbeck hurried across and joined Muggs; each
took a deep breath, and then, just as the man on


108
THE BLACK STAR
the ground raised a cry they darted out into the open,
racing for the hedge.
Behind them was a chorus of cries, a fusillade of
shots. They got to the other side of the hedge and
ran wildly for the street. Behind them came the de-
termined pursuit, a captain shouting orders. As they
ran, Verbeck found himself wondering at the queer-
ness of it—that he and Muggs had been forced to at-
tack a guardian of the law in the interests of justice.
Verbeck promised himself to make that policeman a
handsome present when things were straightened out.
More shots whistled near them—the police were
through the hedge now. On and on they ran, Verbeck
slightly in the lead. They saw a police auto standing
in the street near them, another at the other end of
the block. And Verbeck's roadster was a block away!
They were in the street now, running at their ut-
most speed. Behind them came the pursuing police-
men, while others rushed toward the automobiles, in-
tending to take up the pursuit in that manner if the
quarry got away. Nearer and nearer they came to the
roadster. When they reached it Muggs sprang to the
wheel. Verbeck threw himself in beside Muggs.
"Shoot at 'em a couple of times, boss, and slow 'em
up," Muggs said.
"That's going too far. Get up on the boulevard !"
The car started. Another fusillade of shots came,
none taking effect. The machine skidded around the
corner and dashed at the hill. It lurched and swayed


AT THE CHARITY BALL 109
over the soft, snow-covered ground. Behind came the
two police automobiles, their sirens shrieking.
Muggs reached the boulevard, and opened her up.
He had no idea except to shake off pursuit. Ver-
beck glanced at his watch as they passed beneath a
light-it was twenty minutes after eleven. Events
had been occurring rapidly in the last half hour. And
he was working under a close time limit, too. He had
to escape the pursuit, and he had to reach the big
hall before midnight to save Faustina Wendell and
her brother.
Verbeck looked back continually—they did not
seem to be gaining. The streets flashed by. Muggs
narrowly evaded collision a score of times, for he
was taking desperate chances. To escape, and to save
Faustina, and all in forty minutes of time—that was
task enough. Added to the mental strain of this was
the fact that the Black Star had escaped, and that
Verbeck's case would fall down in part because of it.
Yet some of the work would be good, for the band
would be broken up partially, at least, if the officers
at the big hall caught the thieves with stolen goods
in their possession.
They did not seem to be able to gain on their pur-
suers, and the precious minutes were flying. They
took corners at a reckless pace, zigzagging through
the city in a vain attempt to outwit those who fol-
lowed. Now and then Verbeck waved his hand to
indicate a turn, and Muggs obeyed.


110
THE BLACK STAR ::
They skirted the retail district, and got to the whole-
sale district, where there was scant traffic at this hour
of the night, but always behind them came the two
police automobiles, sirens shrieking, officers screech-
ing.
“We can't dodge 'em, boss !” Muggs yelled.
Verbeck looked at his watch again. He had only
thirty minutes! But an automobile going at racing
pace can cover a lot of ground in thirty minutes, even
through the streets of a city. On they dashed, twist-
ing and turning, never gaining, just holding their own.
Down another hill they raced, and now they were
near the stockyards. Here there was no pavement;
here the mud and slush and slime splashed over the
machine and around them, and the auto lurched and
skidded dangerously.
“Slow down at the next turn,” Verbeck ordered.
"I'll drop off, and you keep on. Get away if you
can—work back into town and give them the dodge.
I can't waste another minute—I've got to get to the
big hall. And I can't do it in the machine, for we
can't shake them off.”
"I can take you back nearer the hall, boss."
"I'd not dare try to drop off there-they might see
me. But here, where it is so dark— At the next
turning, Muggs !"
“Boss-
“Here we are! Get away if you can, and if you
do, come to the hall later. I'll be all right!"


AT THE CHARITY BALL
III
They made the turning, and Verbeck dropped off,
and then Muggs opened her up again and dashed on
along the muddy street, and behind him rushed the
determined police in their two automobiles. They
passed within forty feet of Roger Verbeck, who was
inside a stockade, in close proximity to a hundred
startled Texas steers.
Less than thirty minutes—and he was at the stock-
yards. There was not a second to waste. He could
not glance at his watch to get the exact time without
striking a match, and he did not dare do that because
some watchman might see and apprehend him. He
got out of the cattle pen and started running along
the street in the dark, toward the nearest car line.
Slush and mud splashed over his trousers, and he
realized that he would not be the usual well-groomed
Roger Verbeck society knew when he invaded the
big hall.
He boarded a car, drew his overcoat close around
him, and crouched in a corner. It seemed that the
car stopped at every street, that it made wretched time.
The blocks never before had seemed so long. Verbeck
looked at his watch again, fearing he would be too
late. He felt on the verge of screeching to the motor-
man to give the car greater speed.
Finally it was up in town, and Verbeck got off and
rushed for the nearest taxicab stand. In an instant
he was inside a machine, and a chauffeur was taking


112
THE BLACK STAR
chances to earn the extra pay promised him if he
reached the hall before midnight.
Verbeck took out a handkerchief and wiped off
his pumps, and brushed mud and slush from the bot-
toms of his trousers as well as he could. He smoothed
down his hair, and tried to regain his composure so
that he would appear outwardly calm at least. He
would have to enter the hall in a matter-of-fact way.
An excited entrance would attract attention.
The cab stopped before one of the entrances of
the hall. Verbeck glanced at his watch again-it was
five minutes of twelve. As he sprang out he tossed
the chauffeur a bill. He took a deep breath, threw
back his shoulders, handed his ticket to the man at
the door, and stepped into the lobby with a smile on
his face.
Three men were loitering in the southwest corner
by the drinking fountain. Two more were approach-
ing, and a woman was walking toward the fountain
from the opposite direction. All the men wore bits
of red ribbon on their coat lapels—the woman on her
right shoulder.
And Verbeck saw something else, too-men who
were scattered about in couples, each couple pretend-
ing to carry on an animated conversation, but watch-
ing the corner. They were detectives, several of
whom Verbeck recognized.
He walked past the fountain swiftly and turned
the corner. Faustina Wendell and her brother were


AT THE CHARITY BALL
113
approaching him side by side, each decorated with
the red ribbon. In a moment they would be out where
the detectives would see, if they had not been observed
already. Verbeck had removed his hat and coat, and
as he turned the corner he tossed them to a check
boy. He almost ran forward to meet Faustina and
Howard. He knew it lacked but a few seconds to
niidnight.
"Quick!” he whispered as he met them. “Don't ask
questions, but, for Heaven's sake, do as I say! Take
off that red ribbon-quick! Howard! Get back on
the floor-anywhere to get out of sight. Faustina
- come !"
Verbeck himself tore the ribbon from her shoulder
as Howard removed his own. He pushed Howard
ahead of him until he was on the dancing floor. He
grasped Faustina about the waist-he waltzed her out
into the crowd !
The hands of the clock pointed to midnight-and
from the southwest corner of the lobby came sounds
of a commotion as the detectives, obeying their orders,
closed in on the Black Star's crooks.


CHAPTER XIII
MUGGS-GREAT LITTLE MAN
VERBECK felt Faustina grow limp in his arms,
and he waltzed her to a position near the wall
and the door. Howard stepped over to them.
“You-you- " Faustina was trying to speak.
"Don't say a word,” Verbeck whispered. “I under-
stand everything. There is no danger for you. I
have destroyed all the notes you wrote and the check
Howard gave.”
"But ”
"Thank Heaven I was in time! I almost failed to
save you!"
"To save me ".
"Careful-whisper! Step closer, Howard. I, too,
was almost caught in the Black Star's trap. I dis-
covered his hiding place and took him prisoner. I
knew his gang would have to be caught if ever he
was to be convicted, and so I tried to play a lone hand
against him. Muggs warned me he had a hunch,
he said. While the Black Star was kept prisoner I
played his part, issued orders, got all of the gang
to be here to-night, then informed the police to take
them in."
“Y011— " Howard began.


116
THE BLACK STAR
There was more commotion in the lobby. Some
of the dancers were walking in that direction, and
Verbeck led Faustina there, with Howard on her other
side, in a manner as natural as possible.
The Black Star's men and the woman wore hand-
cuffs. Detectives were taking jewels from them, gems
they had stolen in the last hour or so. One of the
men already was cursing the Black Star aloud, swear-
ing that the Black Star had betrayed them and de-
claring he would tell everything he knew. Verbeck
was thankful he had gone to the house and destroyed
the letters.
“There were to be eight men and two women,”
he heard a captain say. “We're one man and one
woman shy."
"I saw another woman with the red ribbon on,"
spoke up one of the detectives. “Maybe I'd recognize
her if I saw her again.”
"We'll have all the exits guarded, and you can
look "
Verbeck whirled to Faustina.
“We've got to get out of this quick!” he said.
"That man may have seen you, may recognize you.
If we get out now we are safe, for if he saw you
on the street afterward in different clothes he'd never
recognize you. And nobody would suspect Faustina
Wendell. But right now it would be dangerous for
him to see you."
“What can we do?" Howard asked in sudden alarm.


MUGGS-GREAT LITTLE MAN
"Quiet! Act naturally, for Heaven's sake. Come
with me to the door. You came in the electric?”
“Yes,” Faustina said.
“Get all our things in the check room, Howard-
as naturally as possible, remember—and meet us at
the door
Already he was leading Faustina toward the near-
est entrance. The captain of detectives was rushing
there to go on guard immediately. Howard came
from the check room, and Verbeck put Faustina's
wrap over her shoulders.
"Wait a minute there!” It was the captain of
detectives who called to them. “I want to see you
before you go- Oh, 'tis you, Mr. Verbeck? You
and your young lady and her brother? Go right
along, sir. We're trying to catch a crook or two-
we want to watch all who leave. Sorry to have
bothered you, sir "
"That's all right, captain,” Verbeck said. “I hope
you catch your crooks." He lifted his hat and led
Faustina out into the corridor, Howard following.
They went out into the softly falling snow and the
blur of thousands of electric lights to safety.
They started toward the corner where the electric
had been left. But before they reached it Verbeck
halted in surprise, and with an exclamation of un-
belief on his lips. Muggs was running toward him.
“May I speak to you a minute-boss ?” he asked.


MUGGS-GREAT LITTLE MAN 119
escort my fiancée home, and she's waiting in a car
at the corner. This is Muggs, my man. He'll follow
out to my fiancée's home with the car, and I'll drive
right back in it to headquarters and tell you the story.
Watch that man, captain-he's a smooth customer.
Muggs—you understand ?”
“Yes, sir,” said Muggs.
He stepped aside with Verbeck as the officers car-
ried the Black Star around the corner to a patrol
wagon—the Black Star was wearing handcuffs.
“The police followed me back up in town,” Muggs
explained. “I couldn't get away by running, so I
tricked 'em. I went to the union depot-time for a
bunch of trains to be due, you see, and a big crowd
there. I got a lead on 'em and whirled around the
corner and stopped my car among a bunch of others
- got out and was standing on the walk looking inno-
cent and picking my teeth when the cops rushed by.
They went on past the depot-supposed I had gone
that way. Easy! Then I started up again to get
back near the hall. Remember that dark space near
the middle of the viaduct, where so many holdups
come off? Just as I got there I saw Mr. Black Star
sneaking along with a suit case in one hand. Stopped
the car and smashed him on the head with a wrench
before he knew it! Threw him in the car and covered
him up-see? Easy!”
Verbeck's hand gripped that of Muggs for an in-


120
THE BLACK STAR
stant, and then he hurried to join Faustina and
Howard.
"We've got the Black Star, too," was all he said.
"I'll have to run back to police headquarters after I
go home with you, and tell them all about it. And
I'll explain the entire thing to both of you to-morrow
morning. I suppose you'll kiss me now, Faustina,
even if Howard is looking? You wouldn't, you know,
when you suspected me of being the Black Star.”
Although she was driving the car, Faustina ran the
risk of collision by taking her eyes off the street long
enough to do as Verbeck wished.
Then, satisfied, he settled back in the seat beside
Howard.
"One thing," he said, "I shall do. After this I'll
pay more attention to any hunch Muggs may get.
Great little man-Muggs!"


CHAPTER XIV
UNEXPECTED NEWS
TT was exactly one o'clock in the morning when
1 Mr. Roger Verbeck clasped in his arms Miss
Faustina Wendell—dainty, sweet, and twenty-four-
and pressed upon her lips an ardent kiss.
"It is time for little girls to be in bed,” he said after
the kiss. "We'll talk it all over this evening.”
There was another kiss, and then Roger Verbeck
followed Howard Wendell to the outer door, turned
up the collar of his ulster, and hurried out into the
blinding snowstorm to where Muggs awaited him.
Muggs sat behind the wheel of Roger Verbeck's
powerful roadster, his chin down in his coat collar,
and allowed the soft snow to pile against the side of
his head, meanwhile listening to the purring of the
engine and living over again the events of the past two
days. Muggs was a modest man, but even in his
modesty he was forced to admit that he had something
to do with the fact that the Black Star now was in the
hands of the police.
"Dreaming, eh?" Verbeck demanded, stopping be-
side the roadster.
"Excuse me, boss. I didn't think you'd be out so
soon."


I22
THE BLACK STAR
"We've got to hustle down to police headquarters
-remember that, Muggs. We must tell the chief and
his boys what happened. All they know is that they
have made some arrests on our information. Drive
slowly."
Muggs started the roadster and drove on. He
stopped the machine in the blinding snow at a corner
and squawked the horn. Reasonably sure at last that
he could cross without maiming half a dozen pedes-
trians for life, he sent the roadster down a side street
and stopped it before police headquarters.
“Get out, and come in, Muggs," Verbeck directed.
"You're in on this. I hope we can keep away from
the newspaper boys, or we'll both have our pictures
in the papers. Come along."
They hurried across the walk, threw open the front
door of headquarters, and entered. And just inside
the door they stopped, confronted by a scene that was
a commingling of confusion and hysteria..
Half a dozen detectives were scattered along one
wall, looking as if they wished to be elsewhere. Three
or four uniformed officers stood about nervously. A
captain sat behind his desk and chewed savagely at
his mustache. And up and down the center of the
big room strode the chief of police, waving his arms
and bellowing accusations and charges of cowardice
and incompetence.
"Babies! Fools!" the chief was shouting. "I'll
have the shields off every one of you for this! Haven't


THE CHALLENGE
125
cuss the latest event in lowered voices, for the chief's
command did not apply to the "harness bulls."
The chief beckoned Verbeck and Muggs to follow
him into his private office.
"It's enough to drive a man insane!” he exploded,
reaching for his box of cigars and passing it around.
“How did it happen?" Verbeck asked.
"Don't ask me! The wagon stopped before the
jail door as usual. We had the eight crooks and this
Black Star. As they started to get out, two of the
crooks bumped my men aside, two more tripped at
the end of the wagon, the female crook of the gang
pretended to faint, and the Black Star made a dash
for the alley. One of the fools took a shot at him
and smashed a fourth-story window across the street.
He made a clean get-away with the bracelets on him!
Think of it! Right here at headquarters! They
thought he was knocked out "
"Probably he was shamming," Verbeck observed in
an emotionless voice.
"You'd think anybody'd watch out for that—but
not these fine detectives of mine! And every news-
paper in town knows we had our hands on the Black
Star and let him go. They've been pestering the life
out of me, and I tipped off the capture as soon as my
men telephoned from the Charity Ball, where you
handed the crook over, thinking the department would
get a little creclit. And now they'll be worse on me than


126
THE BLACK STAR
before. I'll resign! I'm done! But I'll break some
of 'em first-
"Your men are after him, aren't they?" Verbeck
interrupted
"Yes—they're after him. They've been after him
for four months, and a lot of good it has done. You
tell me your story, Verbeck; there are some things I
don't know.”
Speaking quickly, Verbeck did as he had been re-
quested, telling the chief of his discovery of the Black
Star, and of how he had played master criminal for
a day in an effort to corral the band. He explained
how the Black Star had an organization that gathered
information for him and another that committed the
crimes. When he had finished the chief chewed at
his cigar and smote the desk with a palm.
"Great schene!" he exclaimed. "Got an organiza-
tion that reaches into every corner, eh? No wonder
we had a time trying to get a line on him! Oh, he's
a master crook all right! Great Scott! Maybe some
of his men are right here in headquarters !"
"It is possible,” Verbeck said.
"Well, his perfect plans are spoiled now, at any
rate. And half a dozen of my men have seen his
face—besides you and this man Muggs of yours. So
I suppose he'll make a break and get away; he'll be
afraid to work here any more. We'll send his eight
crooks over the road, but not the Black Star, eh?


THE CHALLENGE
127
That'll be one nice stain on my department! But,
thank Heaven, his work is done in this town!"
Suddenly the chief sat forward and regarded Ver-
beck gravely.
“See here!” he exclaimed. “There may be con-
siderable danger for you. Even if the Black Star
beats it, and his plans are smashed and his organiza-
tion scattered, some of his friends may take it out
on you for getting hands on him and spoiling their
game. You may be a marked man. Better let me,
send a couple of good men up to that bachelor apart-
ment of yours. And you'd better stay close around
home for a few days, until we know how things are
going to be."
"Pardon me," said Verbeck, "but from what you
have told me to-night I scarcely think a couple of
your men would be of much value. I'd rather rely on
myself and Muggs.”
“Rubbing it in, eh? I don't blame you! But you
can have the men if you want them.”
“No, thanks, chief. I'll go along home now and get
some sleep. Here's hoping you catch your man. He
didn't have much of a start, and he had handcuffs
on his wrists—but he's a slippery customer. My man
can testify to that. He slipped away from him once,
and left a bump on his head when he did it.”
“Better let me send up those men, Mr. Verbeck, even
if they are pretty much worthless. We don't want
to have you found knifed in bed some morning."


128
THE BLACK STAR
"I'm not afraid of any of the gang, chief, and the
Black Star can't organize again and issue orders until
he has a new headquarters. And, remember, I've
talked to the Black Star. He isn't the sort of man
who kills.”
“No?”
“No; he's the sort that takes a pride in being a
master criminal who uses brains instead of violence
in pulling jobs no other man would approach and in
doing them in a neat manner. Did he ever leave a
mussed-up safe behind ?”.
"He generally unlocks 'em, takes what he wants,
puts one of his blamed black stars in 'em, and locks
'em again—cuss him!”
"There you have his character, chief. Good night!"
Verbeck and Muggs made their exit in dignified
and proper manner, and they did not speak until they
were in the roadster and a block from police head-
quarters, on their way home. Then Muggs broke the
silence in characteristic fashion.
“Whaddaya know about that!” he exclaimed in
great disgust.
"The Black Star is a clever man, Muggs."
"His pals helped that get-away."
"Certainly—thinking that, with the Black Star at
liberty, the organization will come to their resoue in
some manner.”
"I noticed you swallowed that bunk the chief handed


THE CHALLENGE
129
out about this Black Star making a break for other
parts, now that he has been seen by a few cops."
"You think I swallowed it, Muggs?"
"I was hopin' you didn't."
"Well, I didn't, Muggs. I boasted I could capture
the Black Star, and he's just the sort of man to try
to show me I cannot. I wouldn't be the least bit
surprised if he remained in the city for the purpose
of making a laughingstock of me."
“That's the way I'm looking at it, boss."
"I fancy we'll hear from him in a few days, Muggs."
They put the roadster in the garage at the rear of
the bachelor-apartment house, and then ascended to
Verbeck's apartment. Muggs snapped on the lights
in the library, while Verbeck threw off hat and over-
coat and gloves and reached for his favorite pipe.
He glanced at the clock on the desk-it was within
a few minutes of four in the morning.
He gave an exclamation, took a quick step forward,
and looked at the face of the clock again.
On the glass, directly over the figure IX, had been
pasted a tiny black star!
"That wasn't there when I dressed last evening,”
Verbeck mused. “So he's been here since he escaped
the police, eh? That is pretty swift work!"
Muggs hurried in from the bedroom.
"Boss! Look!" he cried. “This was pinned on
your pillow.!"


130
THE BLACK STAR
He extended an envelope. A black star was pasted
on it. The letter was addressed to Roger Verbeck.
"Swift work!” Roger exclaimed again.
“Boss, my hunch is workin' yet! Telephone the
chief to send up them men—let him send twenty of
'em!”
“One moment, Muggs! Your solicitude for my
welfare is overwhelming—but suppose we read this
entertaining epistle before making a move. Perhaps
I'll want to fight this out alone.”
He ripped the envelope open, took out a sheet of
paper, unfolded it, and read:
MR. ROGER VERBECK: You almost had me,
but at the supreme moment I escaped. You have
seen me; so have police officers and eight of my
band who never saw me before. You have dis-
covered some things concerning me, but what you
have found out is as nothing when compared to
what you do not know. This little incident has
served to put an edge on my wit.
You boasted you could catch me do it! And
the next time hang on to me until I am behind
the bars—and even then I'll triumph. I laugh
at you and your efforts, as I laugh at the police.
I am not going to run away! I'll even keep you
informed of my movements—and then you cannot
get me. And, for the trouble you and your man
have caused me, I am going to get you, Roger


THE CHALLENGE
131
Verbeck, and get you good! I do not contem-
plate violence on your person—that would be the
resort of an ordinary thug. But I'll hurt you,
Roger Verbeck, in a thousand ways, break you
down, ruin you, make you a joke, until you'll
curse the day you first heard of the Black Star.
It's a fight to a finish between us. Every place
you turn you'll be reminded of me and my pur-
pose.
Sleep well to-night, and in security, for you'll
need the rest. The moment you awake the fight
is on. And I'll know when you awake. I'll know
every move you make, and I'll almost know every
thought in your head-you poor fool! *****
Roger Verbeck took the most of that epistle as a
matter of course, but his eyes narrowed to two tiny
slits when he read that "poor fool," and his lips set
in a straight line. That "poor fool” stung Roger
Verbeck almost as much as the unpardonable phrase
would have stung him.
He handed the Black Star's letter to the waiting
Muggs.
"We've fought some pretty good battles, Muggs,
but nothing to what this is going to be," he said.
“On your toes, Muggs! Forget that hunch of yours !
We don't quit until I stand in court and hear a judge
sentence the Black Star for his crimes, until I watch
him pass in through the doors of a State prison.


132
THE BLACK STAR
Think what he's done, Muggs—of the decent persons
he's forced into his gang! This is going to be the
hardest fight of our lives.”
"My coat's off, boss, and my sleeves rolled up!"
"Good! We'll fight alone, if we can. There is no
one we can trust. Police officers, persons we meet
every day, our acquaintances, even our friends, may
be in his organization—and he'll soon get it working
again. But we can trust each other, Muggs."
"You said something there, boss! You bet we
can!”


CHAPTER XVI
A NOCTURNAL VISIT
ERBECK opened his eyes at eleven o'clock that
morning after a dreamless, refreshing sleep to
find Muggs standing at the foot of his bed, fully
dressed, grinning, the morning newspapers in his
hands.
"They've got it all, boss,” he reported. “That
Black Star sent letters to the papers last night by
special messengers, and from a downtown hotel.
Whaddaya think of his nerve? Here it is-story of
the whole thing, givin' us a lot of credit and makin'
fun of the police for lettin' the crook escape. I'll
bet that fat chief has a fit when he reads this !".
"Probably he read it several hours ago and already
has had his fit," Verbeck said. "Had breakfast?
Yes? You're the original early bird, Muggs. Well,
I'm famished !"
Verbeck bathed and dressed in record time, and
hurried to the café in the basement, eager to eat and
be gone before the regular luncheon crowd gathered
to point him out and make remarks about his pursuit
and capture of the Black Star.
No sooner had he seated himself at his favorite
table than the waiter placed before his eyes an extra


134
THE BLACK STAR
,
edition of one of the evening papers, damp from the
press. Roger spread it open to find his own portrait
gazing at him from the front page, and as he waited
for his toast and eggs and coffee he read.
The Black Star had sent a letter to the evening
paper also, but through the mail, with a special-de-
livery stamp affixed. Again the master criminal
scoffed at the police, threatened some particularly
daring crimes to demonstrate that he did not fear
them, and then paid his respects to Roger Verbeck.
A reproduction of the last paragraph of the Black
Star's letter was shown in the paper :
TO ALL Whom IT MAY CONCERN: There is
war between myself and Roger Verbeck, who
caused me considerable trouble the last few days.
I hereby warn all persons not to give aid to this
enemy of mine--to refuse him shelter, food,
clothing, refuse to hold conversation with him,
or have business dealings with him of any sort
whatsoever. Against those who dare disobey this
order I'll strike-and strike hard.
* * * * *
Roger smiled as he read that paragraph; he pre-
sumed it was one of the Black Star's jokes—for he
had discovered that the master rogue had a sense of
humor. Certainly it could be nothing else. Roger
Verbeck was the last of one of the city's old families,


A NOCTURNAL VISIT
135
a young man respected by all, with unlimited wealth
at his command, possessing a myriad of acquaintances
and legions of friends. This warning of the Black
Star was very liable to fall upon deaf ears.
Still, it was embarrassing, and Roger found himself
frowning because of the unpleasant publicity. That
was one way the Black Star could fight him—by mak-
ing him ridiculous through the newspapers; for it was
certain that the papers would print any letters the
Black Star sent them. Roger caught a vision of fu-
ture days of horror, with every one pointing him out,
joking him, making his life miserable. On the streets,
at any of his clubs, wherever he met his friends, his
name would be coupled with that of the Black Star.'
There would be but one escape--and that by capturing
the master crook, turning the laugh on him, and so
ending the affair.
Having breakfasted, Verbeck had Muggs get out
the roadster, and they drove to police headquarters.
The snowstorm was at an end, and the day was warm
for March. But they failed to find the spirit of spring
prevalent when police headquarters was reached.
A sleepy chief paced the floor of his private office,
chewing at his inevitable black cigar. Detectives,
plain-clothes men, and uniformed officers rushed in
and out: Telephones rang.
"Don't ask me," the chief roared when he saw his
visitors. "I'll tell you—it'll take less time. We
haven't got him. We haven't even discovered a trace


136
THE BLACK STAR
of him. The handcuffs he wore were found in an
alley less than half a dozen blocks away—and that's
all. He's found time to send letters to the papers
and to nie."
“He sent one to you?" Roger asked.
"He did. If ever I get my two hands around the
throat of that Black Star I'll choke the life out of
him. I wouldn't care if he got mad and sent me cuss
words—but he called me a blanked fool!"
"Ah! We are fellow sufferers," Verbeck said.
“That's what he called me.”
"You! You've heard from him?”.
“When I got home this morning his black stars
were pasted around my apartment, and I found a
letter pinned to my pillow-or rather Muggs did.
Here it is."
Verbeck handed it over; the chief read it. Then
the head of the city's police department sat down
before his desk, thought for a moment, and finally
pushed a button. A sergeant entered.
"Send me Detective Riley !” he ordered.
A moment's waiting, while the chief chewed his
cigar and Roger and Muggs puffed at theirs. Then
Riley entered and saluted his chief respectfully.
Detective Riley was a man of fifty, and he had
been in the department since the age of twenty-one.
He knew every inch of the city, and was a man of
nerve and resource. But for his honest and out-
spoken opinions of political leaders undoubtedly he


A NOCTURNAL VISIT
137
would have been high in the department. As it was,
he was satisfied.
· "I believe you know Mr. Verbeck, Riley," the chief
said.
"I certainly do, sir,” the detective answered, grin-
ning at Roger. "His father got me my job on the
force, and I taught Roger how to hold a bat when
he played ball on the corner lot near the old Verbeck
place.”
“Um! You know this town pretty well, too, and
you're an honest man. Sit down—and listen. You're
going on the trail of this Black Star, Riley. And if
you're in at the death when he's nabbed I'll see you
made a captain, if I have to go into politics myself
and slay half a dozen ward bosses who don't like your
looks."
"Some special line of work, sir? I'm already as-
signed to the case.”
"So is every other man in the department. Yes-
this is a special line of work. You are to glue your-
self to Mr. Roger Verbeck and hang on. Under-
stand?"
"But, chief " Roger began.
“Just a moment, Mr. Verbeck. I admire your cour-
age and all that, but we've got to do this in proper
fashion. You've been threatened by this Black Star.
He's going to take you partly into his confidence so
he can make a fool of you. I want Riley with you
for two reasons. The first is that you are going to


138 : THE BLACK STAR
have police protection whether you wish it or not. If
Riley is with you and Muggs, one man can be awake
and on the job always, yet all of you get plenty of
rest. The second is that Riley can add his police ex-
perience and knowledge of crooks and the city to your
natural courage and cleverness. Understand ? If this
Black Star communicates with you or makes a move
against you in any way Riley will be there and on
the job to help. You'll not lose time sending to head-
quarters for assistance."
“I understand, chief."
“Another thing. Do you feel you can trust Riley ?”
"I certainly do," said Verbeck earnestly.
“Good enough! It isn't every one we can trust in
this game. You take Riley with you and go after the
Black Star, independent of this department-just as
you did before, except that you'll have a regular officer
along. And we'll work on our own lines. And be-
tween us, we'd ought to get our hands on him. Riley
knows a certain private phone number he can use in
case of emergency, and a call will rush a score of men
to any part of the city. That's agreeable ? Get out,
then, and take Riley with you! I'm going to lie down
on the couch and take a nap."
Verbeck laughed and led the way from the private
office, waiting in the lobby with Muggs while Riley
went to his locker for certain paraphernalia he always
had on his person when engaged on a particular case.
“I like that guy," Muggs confided in a whisper.


A NOCTURNAL VISIT
139
“The chief ?”
"Naw! This Riley. I'm glad he's goin' to be
along."
"If I needed a recommendation for Riley—which
luckily I do not—that would be the best I could get,"
Roger said, and he meant every word of it.
"I think the three of us can make the Black Star
look like a sucker !"
"You don't want to underestimate the Black Star,
Muggs. Whenever you feel inclined to do so, re-
rnember a certain smash behind the ear he gave you
recently when you thought his hands were tied.”
"He'll never do it again!" Muggs declared. "If I
ever get my lamps on that man again I'll forget how
to turn my head!"
Riley returned, and the three went out to the road-
ster.
The greater part of the afternoon was spent in
Verbeck's apartment discussing plans for the cam-
paign. There was no sense, Riley pointed out, in
running blindly around town trying to find the man
they wanted; for the Black Star, it was to be sup-
posed, was in hiding for the time being, and without
doubt planning a campaign of his own. Detectives
were watching railroad stations, hotels, and lodging
houses, and the deserted residence where the Black
Star had had his headquarters. There was nothing
for the three men who sat in Verbeck's library to do


140
THE BLACK STAR
except wait for the master criminal to make the first
move.
Roger visited Faustina Wendell for an hour that
evening, while Muggs and Riley remained outside in
front of the house where she lived with her mother
and brother. Then the three returned to Roger's
apartment and spent an hour around the pool table.
"A crook works at night if he's breaking safes
and vaults," Riley said. “Hence it is proper that
we are prepared for night work. I suggest we never
retire until four or five o'clock in the morning and
get up about noon. Then we'll be ready to jump if
anything happens.”
"Get a deck of cards, Muggs," Verbeck ordered.
“What Detective Riley says goes. By the way, Riley,
I've ordered the roadster left standing in front of
the building all night, ready for a quick jump.”
"That's the stuff! I wish this Black Star would
hurry up and start something. I'm anxious to get
into action.”
Tired of cards, they played pool again, and then
they read, and then they talked of the Black Star some
more, and finally they began wondering if it wasn't
time to retire.
“Just four o'clock,” Verbeck announced.
And then the telephone rang!
Roger stepped across the room to the desk and
picked up the instrument; Muggs and Riley were on


A NOCTURNAL VISIT
141
their feet, eager to know what the message would
be, and hoping it was a call to battle.
"Is this Mr. Verbeck's apartment?" a voice de-
manded.
"Yes," Roger answered.
"And who is this speaking ?”
“This is Mr. Verbeck."
"Indeed? I thought perhaps it was that dolt, De-
tective Riley, from headquarters. I understand he is
a more or less permanent guest of yours.”
“Who is this?” Roger demanded in turn.
"Pardon me for not telling you before. This is
the Black Star."
“What's that?" Roger exclaimed.
"I assure you I am the Black Star.' This is not
one of your friends playing a joke on you. I just
thought I'd call you up and say that the letter I sent
the newspapers was meant. I've already made a move
against the manager of the apartment house where you
live because he hasn't ousted you."
"Indeed?” Roger asked, beckoning Riley and Muggs
toward him.
"You think I am jesting? I never jest about my
work, Mr. Verbeck. I imagine you'll have to find
another home before night. Pardon me if I ring
off now. It is possible you are sending Detective
Riley or Muggs to another telephone to trace this
call. And that would be both unnecessary and em-
sure


142
THE BLACK STAR
barrassing for me. For I am speaking to you from
the office of your own apartment house. Good-by!"
Roger Verbeck dropped the telephone, spoke a
dozen quick words, and was running out into the hall,
closely followed by Riley and Muggs. Down three
flights of stairs, four steps at a time, they rushed,
and into the lobby.
Not a person was in sight.
From outside came the roaring of an autmobile
engine. They ran to the door, hurled it open, and
hurried out. Tearing down the broad boulevard was
Roger Verbeck's big roadster, and the man who drove
it turned an instant to wave one hand at them.
“The nerve of " Muggs began.
Detective Riley emptied his automatic at the van-
ishing car, and growled low in his throat because
he knew he had missed.
"The night clerk - ” Verbeck cried. “Where was
the clerk ?”
They rushed back into the lobby. They heard doors
slamming on the floors above as tenants, aroused by
the turmoil and shooting, started an investigation.
And they heard groans coming from behind the long
desk.
Verbeck vaulted the counter, and cried out in sur-
prise. On the floor, bound hand and foot, and gagged,
was the night clerk of the bachelor-apartment house.
In the middle of his forehead was pasted a tiny
black star!


A NOCTURNAL VISIT
143
And pinned to his breast was a card that bore this
information:
TO THE MANAGER: This is just a hint that
Roger Verbeck must go. If he does not, my
next demonstration will be more disastrous.
* * * * *


CHAPTER XVII
INTERRUPTED CONVERSATION
DETECTIVE RILEY grasped the nearest tele-
phone and sent an alarm to headquarters. Less
than an hour later the report came that Verbeck's
roadster had been found abandoned on a corner in
the heart of the city, but that no trace of the Black
Star had been discovered.
In the meantime the night clerk had told his simple
story. A man had entered and asked whether a Mr.
Rodney Stone lived there. The clerk said no such
person was registered. Sure that no other person
was in the office, the visitor pulled an automatic from
his pocket and ordered the clerk to throw up his hands.
The clerk was forced to obey, and believed at the
time that he was the victim of an ordinary holdup
man, and rejoiced that all funds, except a few dollars,
were locked in the safe, which he could not open.
But his visitor walked behind the counter and forced
the clerk to stretch out on the floor, threatening death
if he made a sound. He bound and gagged him,
pinned the card to his breast, and stamped his brow
with a black star, then walked calmly to the switch-
board, looked at the guest list to find the number
of Verbeck's apartment, called Verbeck, held his con-
versation, and hurried out of the front door,


INTERRUPTED CONVERSATION
Gentlemen guests of the house in all sorts of night
attire heard this story and looked upon Roger Verbeck
with varied emotions. Some envied him the adven-
ture and publicity, others feared for him, but the great
majority was thinking of that warning and wondering
whether they could find new quarters that day, and
Roger Verbeck knew it.
The manager said nothing, for Verbeck had lived
there for years and was excellent pay, but he looked
worried.
"I'll discuss this matter with you later," Roger said,
and he beckoned Muggs and Riley and led the way
back to his apartment.
There they lighted fresh cigars and sat at the long
table in the library, Muggs and Riley silent and wait-
ing for Roger to speak.
"Well, we've got to move,” he said after a time.
“If we don't, the others will, for they'll be afraid
the Black Star will demolish the place with a bomb.
Perhaps it'll be best, after all.”
"But where?” Riley asked. “He'd bomb another
hotel just as quick if that's his game."
"I have a place of my own—the old Verbeck place,
Riley. You know it. Muggs knows it, too, for there
we kept the Black Star prisoner for a day and night
before we handed him over to the police.”
“I remember it,” Riley said.
"A big, old house in the middle of a block of
ground, surrounded by trees and tangled underbrush.


146
THE BLACK STAR
I intend to have it torn down and a new residence
erected in its place after I'm married. We can go
there with fuel and provisions and make ourselves
comfortable. There is a telephone, so we can keep
in touch with headquarters. We'll be by ourselves,
and so need fear no spies of the Black Star. We can
conduct our campaign from there."
“Great!” the detective exclaimed.
“No fear of spies, and nobody to bother us. We'll
make it our headquarters. One of us can be on guard
all the time. The Black Star will have to be very
clever to get at us there. And if he does he'll be
injuring my own property, and he'll not be hurting
some outsider who has no concern in this affair. Let's
get some sleep, then go ahead with our preparations.”
It was noon when a much-relieved apartment-house
manager saw them drive away in Verbeck's recovered
roadster, the back of the car heaped high with pro-
visions. Half an hour later they had reached the
old Verbeck place and unloaded the car; Muggs had
built a roaring fire in the living-room fireplace, and
they were making themselves comfortable.
“This thing of working in the dark gets on my
nerves," Riley admitted. “I'd rather catch sight of
this Black Star committing a crime and have a chase,
a sort of running fight, and either victory or defeat
at its end. But what can we do? Here we must
sit, waiting for him to make a move. How do we know
where he'll strike next? He may rob a bank, rifle


INTERRUPTED CONVERSATION 147
some lady's jewel case--we can't tell. We've got to
wait until he does something, and then take up the
trail. You had a hot trail before, Roger-one of his
men led you to him and you had a chance to get
hands on him.”
"I fancy that, in his egotism, he'll announce where
he'll strike next,” Verbeck said. "He's done it be-
fore."
"If he does it again we'll get him!” Riley said.
They made a tour of the grounds and looked
through the house. There was little more than dust
and cobwebs in the house, and the furniture was cov-
ered, except in the big living room and one bedroom,
which they made habitable. Then they devoured the
luncheon Muggs had prepared.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when there
came a knock at the front door, and when Verbeck
opened it he found ten policemen and a sergeant in
plain clothes standing before him.
“What's this mean?” he demanded.
"Chief's orders, Mr. Verbeck," the sergeant re-
plied. “These men are to surround the block and
guard your house."
"But that is just what we do not want!" Verbeck
protested.
“Chief's orders. Here's a letter he told me to give
you. He got it by messenger a couple of hours ago."
He handed Verbeck the letter. It was from the
Black Star and addressed to the chief. It read:


148
THE BLACK STAR
Within four days I will commit my greatest
crime since coming to your fair city.
Within four days I'll make a huge laughing-
stock of Roger Verbeck. His sudden change of
residence will not save him from the punish-
ment I intend administering to him.
Within four days!
* * * * *
Verbeck handed the letter to Riley, and faced the
sergeant again.
“No doubt the chief means well, but I don't need
so much police protection," he said. “There are three
of us here, and all of us will not sleep at once.”
“My orders, Mr. Verbeck.”
"Telephone the chief,” Riley suggested.
Verbeck hurried to the telephone, and called head-
quarters and got the chief.
"I don't want this squad of men out here, chief,”
he said.
"The orders come direct from the mayor, Mr. Ver-
beck, and he'll not countermand them. That threat
of the Black Star's is too strong to be ignored. I
didn't call you up before I sent the men out because
I knew you'd object. Those men will not bother you.
They'll surround the block and stay out of your way,
and be relieved at stated intervals. They'll serve to
keep the curious away, and they'll be there to guard


INTERRUPTED CONVERSATION 149
the house in case you three men rush out on a chase
or anything like that.”
"But- " Verbeck began.
“I insist, Mr. Verbeck. We cannot afford to run
chances. If anything happened to you, and we hadn't
given you protection after receiving those threats,
we'd never hear the last of it. You're a prominent
young man, remember. Just let the men stay. You
haven't heard anything, have you?"
"Not a thing,” Verbeck replied, “and we can't make
a move until we do.”
“We've got the greatest dragnet in the history of
the department in operation-watching every exit
from the city and searching everywhere-have cor-
ralled half a hundred suspects already. If the Black
Star is in the city we'll get him. We're only hoping
he's brazen enough to tip off where he is or what he
intends doing. If he does, he may find he has gone
too far.”
“But really, chief, I'd rather not have the men
here."
A rattling noise came through the telephone, and
another voice spoke.
“Get off the line !" the chief roared. “This line's
busy."
“Pardon me," said the voice. "I just wanted to tell
Mr. Verbeck that he'd better let the police remain.
He'll need them to guard him.”
“Who the devil are you?" the chief roared.


150
THE BLACK STAR
"I am the Black Star !"
"W-what?"
“Fact, I assure you. You might as well shout from
the housetops, chief. I know everything you do and
say. So you've got out the dragnet, eh? Might as
well call in your men; it'll not do any good to tire
them out."
"How-what- " the chief stammered. He was
beginning to realize that the Black Star actually was
on the line and speaking.
"Don't excite yourself, chief. And you, Mr. Ver-
beck, if you relish protection, better let the chief scat-
ter a hundred men around your place. Even that
number wouldn't save you!"
“How'd you get on this line? Where are you?"
the chief shouted into the instrument, not realizing
he was talking foolishly.
"Possibly I've tapped the line right in police head-
quatrers building—who knows?” the Black Star
taunted. “And you scarcely can expect me to tell
you where I am. Why not find me? Go right on
hoping I'll be brazen enough to tip off what I intend
doing, chief—it does a person good to hope."
“You—you're a devil !" the chief exploded.
“Thanks for the compliment! Good-by !"
Again the rattling sound, and then they heard the
Black Star's voice no more.


MYSTERIES
153
“We've got to start a checker tournament or some-
thing lively like that,” Riley declared, “or we'll go
insane. Some time during the next four days, eh?
Ain't that what the Black Star said in his letter? I
wish he'd make it to-night. And I'll bet that the devil,
just to be ornery, will wait until the last hour of the
four days. Where do you suppose he'll strike?".
“That's a hard question to answer,” Verbeck re-
plied. "He's liable to do almost anything that means
profit. You want to remember that he had an or-
ganization that was collecting information for him,
as I discovered. He knows more than we think. He
has combinations of safes, knows the personal habits
of people, knows-oh, everything that a crook would
want to know if he pulled off a job! The informa-
tion I found tabulated at his headquarters was all
concerning jewels to be worn at the Charity Ball, but
Heaven alone knows, besides himself, what he had
gathered in the way of facts before that.”
"But he said he'd commit the greatest crime since
he'd got to town,” Riley went on. “What could that
be? He's turned some pretty good tricks, you'll re-
member.”
"He might get into the vault of the First National,"
Verbeck offered.
"No chance! That's the finest "
"Pardon me, Riley. Fine vaults and burglar-proof
affairs do not seem to bother the Black Star. You


154
THE BLACK STAR
remember how he robbed the safety-deposit boxes of
the National Trust, don't you?”
"Well, what would be something big he could do ?”
the detective asked.
"He goes after money, but jewels are his particular
delight, if I have judged the man correctly,” Verbeck
said. "He has some perfect arrangement for dispos-
ing of them at a profit, I suppose. And there are
half a hundred places he could make a rich haul of
jewels. He's what might be called a jewel fiend, Riley.
He Ah!"
"What's the matter?'' Riley asked, looking up
quickly and stopping his pacing.
“I have an idea.”
“If it's anything that will help us catch the Black
Star or bring him out of his hole so we can chase him,
for Heaven's sake let us have it!” Riley cried.
"It is something that may bring him out of his hole
-a trap! Why didn't I think of it before? And it
can be arranged easily.”
“Let's have it, then.”
"As you know, I am to be married soon. My gift
to my bride will be the same my father gave my mother
--the famous Verbeck diamond necklace. That neck-
lace is in a certain safe-deposit vault now, and I'll
not even tell you where it is."
“But where's the trap, Roger?”.
“A moment, Riley-don't be so impatient. That
necklace is the same as the day my father clasped it


MYSTERIES
155
S
on his bride's throat. That was a good many years
ago, and fashions in jewel settings change. So nat-
urally, before I present it to my bride, I'll have to have
the stones reset.”
"Sure."
“The stones alone are worth a quarter of a million
dollars-enough to tempt any jewel thief, and espe-
cially a jewel fiend, since some of the stones have his-
tories. Now-suppose it gets noised abroad that I
am having the necklace reset for my fiancée. The
newspapers, we'll say, print the history of the necklace
and tell of my intentions. It is announced that the
jewelry firm of So & So is to do the work, and that
the necklace has been taken from the safe deposit and
now is in the vault of that firm.”
"I begin to get you, Roger."
"I thought you would. If you were the Black Star,
and read that in the papers, what would you do?
If you were the Black Star and held enmity for me,
and wanted to turn a big trick to show your contempt
for the police, what would you do?”
"Ha! I'd pinch that necklace, thereby getting a
quarter of a million in stones, and some other truck
as well—and at the same time get square with Mr.
Roger Verbeck."
"Exactly, Riley! Even the Black Star would fall
for that trap. If he could get those stones, he'd not
only have a handsome profit, he'd make a laughing-
stock of me--what he has sworn to do. See?"


156
THE BLACK STAR
“And you'd be takin' a mighty big chance to do it."
"Ah! As it happens, there is a paste duplicate of
the necklace. That will be sent to the firm of So & So
-the real firm to be decided between us later. And
there we can fix a trap, have the place watched night
and day, be on the job ourselves. Either the Black
Star will not have the courage to go after it—or he'll
go after it, and we'll catch him. And we'll get him
when he has the paste jewels in his hands, and give
him the laugh, along with a term in prison."
"Great-great!” Riley exclaimed. “But can you
do it?”
"I'll make the arrangements to-morrow. It'll be like
throwing out bait to catch a big fish.”
“A sucker!” Riley gurgled.
“If he doesn't make some sort of move to-night we'll
make the arrangements to-morrow. We'll bring him
out of his hole where we can get on his trail."
Mr. Muggs walked slowly into the room from the
kitchen, his face inscrutable.
“Boss, you bought that bread at the delicatessen,
didn't you?” he asked.
“Yes, Muggs."
“Just picked a loaf off the counter and had it
wrapped up?"
“Why, yes!”
"Didn't notice anything unusual about it?**
“No. What do you mean, Muggs? Isn't the bread
good ?”


MYSTERIES
157
"And we got right into the car with it and came
here and put it with the other stuff on the table in the
kitchen "
"Yes—yes! What's the trouble?”
"Did you notice the top of the loaf carefully when
you picked it up?"
“Yes, confound you! What "
“And the old Dutchman wrapped it up right under
your eyes, didn't he? And we brought it here, as
I said, and I unwrapped it and put it on the table
when I unwrapped the other things. I looked at it
when I did that, I know I looked at the top of it,
and there wasn't anything the matter with it then
and that was less than two hours ago, wasn't it?"
"Muggs, if you don't tell us " Verbeck began.
"Oh, I'll tell you, all right, boss. On the top of
that loaf now, right down the middle of the top, is a
row of little black stars.”
"What!" Verbeck and Riley cried in a breath.
They rushed into the kitchen. Muggs pointed at
the bread dramatically. As he had said, there was a
row of the little black stars down the middle of the
top of the loaf.
“This beats the deuce !” Riley exclaimed. "How
did they get there?"
"I'll swear they were not there when that loaf was
wrapped,” Verbeck said.
"And I'll swear they wasn't there when I un-
wrapped it," Muggs declared. “And now they are


MYSTERIES
159
“Humph!” Riley said, and looked at Muggs suspi-
ciously.
"Boss, he thinks I done it !” Muggs exclaimed.
"Nonsense !" Verbeck replied.
"I don't think you're a member of the Black Star's
gang, if that's what you mean,” Riley stated, “but I
do think it wouldn't be a bit past you to try out a
little joke.”
"I didn't! Boss, I swear I didn't!"
"I believe you," Verbeck said.
“Then it's mighty puzzlin',” Riley declared. “Rows
of black stars don't go stickin' themselves to bread
of their own accord.”
He stepped back and looked at the interior of the
kitchen again. No one had entered or left by the
rear door or any of the windows—that much was cer-
tain. No one could have entered from the living room
through the pass pantry. Then
The table stood beside the range. Over the range
was a big hood that opened into a wide chimney,
Riley went forward and peered into the hood-struck
a match and held it beside his head and peered into
the chimney's wide mouth. There was some dust and
soot sprinkled over the back of the range, but Riley
could not tell whether it had been sprinkled there
recently, because the house had been uninhabited for
so long that dust and soot and cobwebs were every-
where.
“Where does that chimney go?” he asked.


160
THE BLACK STAR
"It is one of those old-fashioned, wide chimneys
that run straight up through a house, with stove-hole
openings in every room,” Verbeck answered.
"We'll just take a look upstairs. You can remain
here, Muggs, and keep your eyes open."
Riley led the way up the broad stairs and he had
his automatic clutched in his hand. Dust-every-
where was dust! They searched all the rooms of the
second floor, though long search was not needed, for
the deep dust on the floors showed no trace of foot-
prints.
“Anything above?” Riley asked.
"Garret-two rooms half finished,” Verbeck an-
nounced.
“They made their way up the narrow stairs and
raised the trapdoor. The two half-finished rooms
were deep with dust also, and cobwebs hung in clus-
ters before stove holes.
"False alarm, I reckon,” Riley said. “But it beats
me. You don't suppose Muggs ”
"I do not,” said Verbeck. “I know Muggs well-
he'd not try a trick like that.”
· "Humph! Something mighty funny about this!
Whoever put those stars on the bread didn't enter by
kitchen door or window, and didn't go down the chim-
ney from one of these upper floors. Those stars must
have been put there by the delicatessen man when you
bought the bread. Muggs just didn't notice them


MYSTERIES
161
when he unwrapped the loaf-that's all. It's the only
way they could have got there!"
They started back down the narrow stairs. As
they reached the second floor they heard Muggs' voice,
coming to them weakly, as if from a great distance,
and with a note of pain in it.
"Boss! Boss!”
Four steps at a time Verbeck took that last flight,
with Riley two jumps behind him. They rushed
through the living room and into the kitchen. They
saw Muggs reeling toward them from the door, stag-
gering toward the table, trying to hold one hand to
his head.
"Muggs! Muggs! What is it?" Verbeck cried,
grasping him by the arm. "You're hurt, man! Your
head's bloody! You "
"Look! His forehead!” Riley cried.
On Muggs' forehead was a tiny black star!


CHAPTER XIX
SUSPICION
UGGS apparently was making an effort to speak,
but could not collect his wits. Blood was flow-
ing from a wound on the back of his head. He stag-
gered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck
helped him to a chair. Riley, preferring effective
methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and
dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs' face.
"What happened?” the detective demanded.
Muggs sputtered and spat, and sat more erect.
"I'm—all right now," he gasped.
“Tell us !”
"I–I looked around after you went upstairs—then
bent over the stove to arrange the pots. Something
smashed me on the head—that's all I know. I think
somebody grabbed me by the coat collar as I started
to fall. I woke up and found myself on the floor-
and tried to call the boss.”
“That's all?" demanded Riley.
“Y-yes.”
Detective Riley took charge in this emergency with-
out as much as mentioning the matter to Roger Ver-
beck. He ran to the rear door and jerked it open,
observed that the snow was still innocent of foot-


SUSPICION
163
prints, then put a police whistle to his lips and blew a
vigorous blast.
The sergeant came running, one of the men with
him.
“Bring your men in closer and watch all sides of
the house !” Riley commanded. "Watch the roof, too,
particularly the mouth of the chimney!"
The sergeant turned away, shouting his orders.
Riley slammed the door shut and whirled toward the
stove.
"Into the other room, Roger, and watch the stairs
-and have your automatic ready,” he said. “In the
chimney is the only place a man could be to pull off
these stunts, and if he's in the chimney he's going to
be smoked out!”
He grasped the paper that had been around the pro-
visions and threw it into the stove. He opened the
drafts, and reached for more paper. The stove roared
-smoke and flame sprang up into the chimney and
through the big hood.
"Watch her, Muggs—more paper when she needs
it-and hold your gun ready, man! You're all right?"
Riley cried.
"I'll watch 'er!"
Riley sprang into the other room. “Come!” he
commanded Verbeck, and ran up the stairs again.
Once more they looked into all the rooms on the sec-
ond floor, and knew that nobody had been in any of
them. Once more they ascended to the garret and


164
THE BLACK STAR
looked into the two half-finished rooms there—and
found nothing. Not a track was in the deep dust, not
a cobweb had been brushed from a wall.
"What's that door over there?” Riley asked, point-
ing across one of the rooms.
"Small closet-never used except to store toys in
when I was a kid,” Verbeck answered.
"We'll just- No use, though! Look at those
cobwebs on the doorknob! Nobody in there! This
beats me! Let's go down again!"
They retreated down the stairs, and went out on
the veranda. No one had come from the house, the
sergeant said. Smoke, and even flame, was pouring
from the top of the chimney.
"All right, sergeant-return your men to their posts,
but keep a close watch,” Riley said. "No-there isn't
anything much wrong."
The sergeant knew there was, but he knew also
that Riley did not talk when he preferred to remain
silent. He sent the men back to their posts, and
Riley and Verbeck reëntered the house and closed
the door.
In the kitchen Muggs was still putting paper into
the stove, and Riley ordered him to stop.
"If he was in that chimney, he's a dead man,” the
detective said. “And if he was a dead man, he'd
fall and smash that hood to bits. So he isn't in the
chimney—and wasn't—and he isn't upstairs in any


SUSPICION
165
room—and he didn't enter from outside. We've been
dreaming."
"Not much we haven't!” Muggs exclaimed. “Look
at this bump on my head!”
"Then please explain it!” Riley roared. “Explain
those stars on the bread and the one between your
eyes. I suppose this Black Star has spirits to help
him or something like that. Give me an answer!"
“The Black Star,” Verbeck observed, “is a smooth
article."
"He is,” Riley admitted, “when he can smash a
man on the head without coming into the house to do
it. Ha! The basement!"
There was a door opening into the basement from
the kitchen, and it was locked. Moreover, an in-
vestigation showed that the bolt had not been shot
for some time, for dust and cobwebs were on that
bolt and on the door around it. Nevertheless, Riley
opened the door, drew out his pocket flash lamp, and
descended into the basement with Verbeck at his heels.
The basement was large, but nothing was stored
in it now except a small quantity of fuel. It did not
take Riley and Verbeck long to decide no intruder
had been in the basement.
“Looks mighty funny to me!” Riley declared. "If
that Muggs man of yours is playing tricks- "
"Would he smash himself on the head ?" Verbeck
demanded, something of anger in his voice.
“Such things have been done before. A little rap


166
THE BLACK STAR
would start the blood, and he might have shammed a
great deal of that staggering-around business. You
don't suppose this Black Star has got hold of Muggs
-corrupted him or got the hooks into him?"
"I do not!" Verbeck replied emphatically. "I'd
stake my life on Muggs. He's loyal! If the Black
Star tried anything like that Muggs would tell me
at once.”
"Then how did it happen? Answer me that! It
stands to reason, doesn't it, that nobody has been in
this house except the three of us?”
"It looks that way, but, "
"Humph! You go right ahead thinking what you
like, Roger. As for me, boy, I'm going to keep one
eye on Mr. Muggs.”
"But-
“Don't be angry now. It's my business to be sus-
picious of people. I knew you when you were a baby,
and I'm right with you in this scrap with the Black
Star. You've lived with this Muggs man for some
time, and you think he's loyal-sure! He's somewhat
of a stranger to me, and I look at him from the out-
side, and don't see him with any rosy waves of glory
around his head. No insult meant, Roger. I'll just
keep an eye on him, and if he ain't guilty it won't hurt
him a bit.”
They went back to the kitchen. Muggs, now that
the excitement was over, was going ahead with the
preparations of the evening meal. Half an hour later


SUSPICION
167
he had it ready, and the three of them ate it in the
living room, while Muggs groaned now and then and
held his hand to the back of his head often, appar-
ently not noticing that Riley eyed him constantly.
"If I get my hands on that Black Star I'll kill him!”
Muggs promised. “That's the second time he's
smashed me on the head!”
"Maybe the Black Star didn't do it,” Riley said.
"Either him or one of his crooks !"
“But we couldn't find a trace
“I don't care," Muggs interrupted; "if we knew
absolutely that there wasn't another human bein'
within ten miles—I know a man smashed me on
the back of the head with a blackjack! I've had it
done often enough in my life, and I know the feelin'!
And as I fell he grabbed me by the shoulder and
slapped that black star on my face! Don't tell me!"
The meal at an end, they discussed the trap Roger
had proposed to set for the Black Star, perfecting
details and deciding just how the scheme was to be
worked. It was planned that Roger should go into
the business district the following morning and ar-
range matters with a jewelry firm, communicate to
the newspapers the news that he intended having the
famous diamond necklace reset, and arrange with the
chief to have the jewelry establishment crowded with
officers day and night.
So Roger retired at eleven that night, leaving Riley
and Muggs on guard. He slept in the bedroom, with


SUSPICION
169
Riley retired to the bedroom. Muggs curled up on
the divan. Verbeck paced the floor for a time, and
then threw open the door and went out on the veranda
for a breath of morning air. The squad of police
had been changed, and the new sergeant in charge
hurried toward Verbeck across the lawn.
"I brought you the morning papers, Mr. Verbeck,”
he said, “when I came on duty. Thought perhaps
you'd like to have 'em."
“Thanks, sergeant.”
“Your name certainly is in all of them! Say, is it
true what they say?"
“And what do they say?". .
· "That you were planning a trap for the Black Star
and he knew all about it?"
"What!" Verbeck cried.
He grasped the papers and opened the first that
came to his hand. Great headlines told of the day's
progress in the Black Star case. The attack on the
hotel clerk was exploited at length, the removal of
Verbeck and Muggs and Riley to the old Verbeck
place mentioned. The paper told how the place was
surrounded at all hours by policemen, and grilled the
police department because the dragnet had caught
nothing but small fish.
The eight crooks arrested with the Black Star, and
who really aided his escape, had been bailed out. Bail
of five thousand had been fixed in each case, and two
famous criminal lawyers had appeared and put up


170
THE BLACK STAR
forty thousand dollars cash, refusing to say for whom
they acted, merely declaring the crooks were their
clients.
“So they're loose !" Roger thought. “They'll be at
work again or else they'll all jump bail and so keep
from betraying the Black Star's secrets. I imagine
it'd be worth forty thousand to him to have his plans
safeguarded.”
He read on. At two o'clock that morning, just
as the paper was going to press, a messenger boy had
appeared with a letter from the Black Star. The
press had been stopped to get in this latest bit of news.
The messenger declared he had been called to a prom-
inent hotel and handed the letter by a distinguished-
looking gentleman whose description did not tally
with that of the Back Star.
That letter read:
Within three days!
Within three days I commit the greatest theft I
have perpetrated since coming to the city!
Within three days I make a huge joke of Roger
Verbeck, who dares match wits with me!
I know all that goes on—I know everything!
The police dragnet is most amusing. They never
would dream of looking for me where I am
hiding!
I know, for instance, that yesterday afternoon,
and again last evening, sitting in the living room


SUSPICION
171
of his ancestral home, Roger Verbeck planned
with Detective Riley and Muggs, Verbeck's man
of all work, to set a trap for me. Very clever-
had I not learned of it.
Let Roger Verbeck understand that he may
advertise to his heart's content that he is having
his famous diamond neckace reset at a promi-
nent jeweler's—and hope that I'll take the bait
and try to steal the jewels while a crowd of
police are waiting to make a capture—but his
hopes will be in vain. I am planning something
bigger than the theft of the Verbeck necklace.
The shock will come soon-
Within three days!
* * * * *
Verbeck did not go back into the house just then.
He thanked the sergeant for the papers again, and
turned toward one end of the veranda, to stand there
and look off down the street, thinking.
It was almost uncanny what this Black Star knew.
It was beyond belief that either the Black Star or one
of his confederates had been in the house and over-
heard those conversations. Had they not searched
the house from bottom to top the evening before ?
How, then, had the knowledge reached the Black
Star? Three men knew of that plan-himself, Riley,
and Muggs. Then either Riley or Muggs, on the face


172
THE BLACK STAR
of things, must have conveyed the information to the
Black Star.
"I can't believe it—I can't!" Verbeck told himself.
He considered Muggs first. He believed in Muggs'
loyalty, had received many manifestations of it.
Muggs also had entered the first chase of the Black
Star with zeal, had in reality effected the crook's
capture. Would he turn traitor now?
There was that affair of the evening before, when
Muggs had received the blow on his head. There
was the affair of the stars on the bread. Search had
revealed that nobody was in the house. Who had
put the stars on the bread then, and who had struck
down Muggs and stamped his forehead? Had Riley
been right? Was Muggs a Black Star man? Had
he stamped that bread himself, given himself a wound,
and pretended to be badly injured for a time just
to carry out the orders of the master criminal?
Then he considered Detective Riley. He would as
soon believe Muggs guilty as Riley. His father had
been Riley's benefactor. Riley had known him since
he was a baby, had taught him how to play baseball,
how to swim. Yet in the last few years he had not
seen much of Riley, and maybe he had been caught
in the net of official graft. Maybe he was no longer
honest, save on the surface. Perhaps, angered at
last because he had not received the promotion he de-
served, he had turned crook and was trading on his
reputation for honesty.


174
THE BLACK STAR
coat. He looked at Muggs. He saw the seamed and
wrinkled countenance, the eyes that twinkled kindly,
the doglike look of devotion in the face-Muggs, who
had fought for him scores of times, who had been
willing in some of their adventures to lay down his
life for the man who had saved him from the Seine.
NoMuggs could not be disloyal!
· Detective Riley, then?


CHAPTER XX
THE VOICE ON THE WIRE
T seven o'clock Verbeck ordered Muggs to bed,
promising to call him with Riley at ten o'clock.
He had kept the morning papers from Muggs, for
he had decided to announce the failure of their con-
templated trap when both men were facing him.
When snores from the adjoining room told him
that Muggs was in a heavy sleep, Verbeck decided to
make a tour of the house by himself in an effort to
solve the mysteries that had been puzzling him. Auto-
matic held ready, he crept softly up the stairs and
examined every room on the second floor, looking
at every window and door, but failing to find as
much as a track in the dust.
He mounted to the garret once more and peered
into the two half-finished rooms there. Then he re-
turned to the first floor and sat down before the table
in the living room, trying to think it out. He asked
himself again whether Muggs had really put those
black stars on the bread and had wounded himself
in an effort to make Verbeck believe he had been
attacked. What would be the motive? Verbeck
shook his head because he could think of none. And
had Riley betrayed their contemplated trap? Again


176
THE BLACK STAR
he asked himself the motive, and told himself there
was none, unless Detective Riley was a member of the
Black Star's band and acting under the orders of the
master criminal.
He paced the floor, and occasionally went on the
veranda, fighting down the belief that either of the
men had turned against him, calling upon himself to
have faith in them.
Ten o'clock came, and he awoke Riley and Muggs
and prepared coffee while they dressed. He put the
coffee on the table, with butter and rolls, and scattered
the newspapers around. Then, as the two men began
eating, he walked to the nearest window and stood
looking out over the snow-covered lawn.
Presently there was an exclamation behind him, and
he whirled around, to find both Muggs and Riley
staring at newspapers as if they could not believe
their eyes. Verbeck decided that either they were
genuinely surprised, or were good actors.
“Yes," he said before either of the others could
speak, “the Black Star knows. It will not be neces-
sary for me to go into town and make arrangements
with the jewelers and the chief.”
"But- ” Riley began, and stopped and looked at
the paper again.
“Yesterday afternoon I discussed the matter with
Riley,” Verbeck went on. “We sat here at the table
and talked in ordinary tones. Last evening the three
of us discussed it, sitting at the table and speaking


THE VOICE ON THE WIRE 177
softly. I doubt whether a man, had he even been in
the bedroom adjoining, could have understood us
clearly. Yet the Black Star knows all about it-he
knew in time to have that letter reach the newspaper
by two o'clock in the morning. I, for one, am certain
I did not communicate with the Black Star or any of
his crooks."
He turned his back upon them again, and looked
through the window.
"But-but- ” Riley stammered. “Why, nobody
except the three of us knew anything about it!".
"Exactly!” said Verbeck. -
"Then how You don't think I tipped it off
in any way?"
"Boss,” cried Muggs, "you don't suppose I "
"I am not thinking, or supposing, anything about
it,” said Verbeck. “We are confronted by facts.”
"Well, let's consider the matter squarley," Riley
offered. “Even if we take it for granted that either
Muggs or myself is a member of the Black Star's
band, when would either of us have had a chance
to betray the plan?”.
"You went outdoors and prowled around consider-
able about midnight," Muggs said. “You had a
chance then."
"If it comes to that, my impetuous friend, you
were alone in the kitchen yesterday afternoon while
Roger and I were discussing the matter. You were
there when mysterious black stars got stuck on a


178
THE BLACK STAR :
loaf of bread and when there was an alleged mys-
terious assault on your own person committed by some-
body who could not have been in the house at the time.”
Riley showed some anger in his voice.
"You accusin' me?" Muggs demanded.
"You accused me, didn't you?”
Verbeck turned away from the window and walked
to the table.
“Suppose we cease all accusations," he said. "I
cannot think either of you would do such a thing.
Muggs has demonstrated his loyalty to me scores of
times. You, Riley, owed your start in life to my
father, and have known me since I was a toddling
baby. I can't believe either of you guilty of this.
And yet—there are the facts. Only we three knew-
and the Black Star knew soon afterward. We'll just
call this another little mystery added to those that
have gone before. Eat your rolls and drink your
coffee. We'll not discuss the matter further now."
Riley and Muggs made pretense of eating as Ver-
beck walked to the door and went out on the veranda
again, but for the most part they glared at each other
across the table, each suspicious of the other appar-
ently.
The telephone rang, and Verbeck hurried in from
the veranda to answer it. It was the chief speaking.
"Everything all right out there?” he asked. “Good!
Say, is that right, what the papers say about you plan-
ning that trap about the necklace ?"


THE VOICE ON THE WIRE 179
“Yes," Verbeck answered.
“But, how the deuce - "
"I don't know,” Verbeck interrupted. “There evi-
dently was a leak somewhere, yet it seems impossible.
It's just one of those things that cannot be explained.”
"Anything can be explained,” the chief declared.
"But we'll have to talk of that affair later. I've just
had a telephone message from the editor of one of
the evening papers. He received a letter from the
Back Star through the morning mail. The Black Star
says he is going to pull off thạt big crime of his within
twenty-four hours. So get on your toes, you people!
I suppose he means to-night.”
“What plans have you made ?" Verbeck asked.
"Of course, we have no idea what he is going to
do. We're having special guards around the largest
banks and trust companies. All we can do is to wait
for an alarm. When we get it we can rush to the
spot and take up the trail. We'll keep in touch with
you."
Again there came that peculiar, rattling noise they
had heard once before while holding a telephone con-
versation. Both Verbeck and the chief waited for
the voice they knew they would hear.
"Hello!" it said. “This is the Black Star! I'm
too busy to talk long, so please listen—and do not
swear over the wire, chief. I have been listening to
your interesting conversation. Make all the prepara-
tions you like, chief, but they'll avail you nothing.


THE VOICE ON THE WIRE
181
to the chief. He told me he knew what I had been
saying to you here a very few minutes ago, and that
I was unjust in my suspicions."
"If either of us were guilty he might say that just
to help us out—to make you think we were all right
so we could go on doing his dirty work,” Riley warned.
“But the fact that he knew our conversation of a
few minutes ago shows he might have heard us speak-
ing yesterday about the trap. I am quite sure neither
of you have had a chance to communicate with him in
the past half hour."
Riley rose ponderously from the table and crashed
a fist down on it.
"Then tell me,” he said, "how this crook knows
what we say here in this room!"
“I wish I knew !"
“We've searched this house from bottom to top,
and he isn't in it. To hear what we said he'd either
have to be in the basement under us or in an adjoin-
ing room, and then he couldn't hear half of it. This
thing gets my goat!”.
“Then here is something that'll please you, Riley.
The Black Star has sent another letter to a paper, so
the chief told me, saying he's going to commit this
big crime of his within the next twenty-four hours.
I suppose he means during the night some time."
"Then we'll get on his trail!” Riley shouted. “We
won't have to work in the dark any more. At least
we'll know where to start. He's got to come out of


184
THE BLACK STAR
"Yes; but what--"
"Listen, please! I will not have a chance to tele-
phone again. Look around your living room. Look
at the center leg of your table. And then-follow
the wire! All the help you can get—act quickly—and
follow the wire!"
And the unknown woman rang off.
Verbeck whirled to the others, speaking rapidly,
starting back across the room toward the table. With
Muggs and Riley beside him, he went down on his
knees to investigate the center leg. Riley was the
fortunate one. An exclamation of disgust escaped
him.
"Boobs! Boobs! That's what we are! A com-
mon, everyday dictograph disk! And we never
thought of it! Look!"
He pointed to the bit of metal.


THE END OF THE WIRE 187
proved block of land, where it ran from tree to tree
as before.
Led by Verbeck and Riley, with Muggs at their
heels, the police waded through snowdrifts, crashed
through wet underbrush, rending the black night with
the light of their torches. The wire twisted from
tree to tree, never more than a few feet above the
ground.
"Whoever laid that wire didn't waste any time,”
Riley said.
They lost it in a clump of brush, but found it again.
Every man of them was wet to the waist now from
breaking through the drifts of snow, but their en-
thusiasm was not dampened.
“We've been half an hour already!” Muggs pro-
tested. “How far does this thing run?”
No one took the trouble to answer him. They
had crossed the unimproved block at last and reached
another street. Once more the wire sprang to the
crosspiece of a telephone pole, and across the street
to another. Now it ran along the edge of a private
park to a narrow alley, and there it followed the roof
line of sheds.
They began exercising some caution now, for there
was no telling where the wire would end, or when, and
they did not care to stumble on the retreat of the
Black Star unprepared for a clash. Muggs, some paces
ahead of the others, strained eyes and ears to detect
the presence of a foe. Muggs didn't feel sure they


188
THE BLACK STAR
had done right in following the wire, but he realized
that the tip from the unknown woman was one that
could not have been ignored.
At the end of the alley, the wire ran in the direc-
tion of a cross street. Here it was suspended from
the trees again, but higher, and there was difficulty
in following it. It took half an hour to reach the
next corner, and there the wire turned back toward
Verbeck's house.
“ 'Tis a quarter after one,” Riley said. “There's
been no alarm from headquarters, or we'd have had
the man coming after us in the roadster. But where
the deuce does this wire run?"
Down the street a block, around the corner, went
the wire, from tree to tree, now high in the air and
now looped low. To the alley again, and down it in
the black night! Here, their torches flashing, they
followed it from shed to shed, and finally came to
where it ran down the side of a garage and so reached
the ground. Muggs dug frantically with his hands
until the snow had been thrown to one side. The
wire ran beneath a board, and half a dozen men
scraped snow away until the board could be raised,
Verbeck and Riley working frantically and urging on
the others.
The board ended at the edge of an iron manhole,
and Riley, with a muttered curse, got up from his
knees.


190
THE BLACK STAR
ing elbows of big gas maines, on the alert for unin-
sulated electric wires. The cement walls were cov-
ered with frost, the air was like that of a refrigerator.
They made a turning, and went on, always following
the little wire that had been looped along the joints
of the gas main. And always they were on the alert.
flashing their torches ahead, expecting to be greeted
any instant by some show of hostility. They knew
the reputation of the Black Star—these men. Per-
haps, after all, this was his trick. Perhaps they would
find themselves prisoners underground, or face some
new peril the master criminal had invented for their
discomfiture.
Another curve in the big bore, with Riley stop-
ping them and creeping ahead to peer around the
bend, and be sure no danger waited! They made
their way along as swiftly as they could now, their
teeth chattering, their hands numb with the cold. And
now the wire ran to the roof again, along a smaller
gas main, and so to another manhole.
"Out again into the night!” Riley grunted. “What
do you know about that? Well-let's get after it!"
They got beneath the manhole covering and fought
to get it free. It was heartbreaking work, for the
covering had a weight of snow above it, and ice filled
every crevice. But finally they felt it give, and after
a time forced it a short distance to one side, the snow
caving in upon them.
Muggs crawled up and dug at the snow. Inch by


THE END OF THE WIRE
191
inch they forced the manhole covering back, and
finally they emerged into the open air and closed the
covering again. They traced the wire to a tree at
the end of the alley, and from there to a telephone
pole, and across the street in the usual manner.
They spoke but seldom now. They were almost
exhausted; more than one feared they had been
hoaxed. Again they flashed their torches and fol-
lowed the wire, once more across the corner of an
unimproved lot, across another street, and then-
"Wh-what?" Riley cried. “Do you see where we
are? Back to Verbeck's place—that's what! On the
other side of the house !"
He would have said more, but Verbeck's grasp on
his arm stopped him. Into Verbeck's heart had come
a sudden fear, and he didn't see the advisability of
the sergeant and the police squad knowing every-
thing.
"What kind of a stunt is this?" the sergeant
growled.
"Never mind!” Riley counseled sternly, aware of
what the end might be. “We've been following this
wire, haven't we? Very well! We had a reason for
wanting to know where it ran. And that's all."
The sergeant subsided, but he guessed that it was
not all.
They were in the yard of the Verbeck place again
now, the wire running from tree to tree as before.
Finally it sprang to the side of the house, and down


192
THE BLACK STAR
it to a window in a rear room. There Riley, who
was leading, stopped.
“That's all for the present, sergeant,” he said.
"Go inside and get warm—you and the men. If
there's been any telephone message, come out and
tell us."
The men needed no second invitation to hurry to
the fire, and they followed the sergeant rapidly around
the corner of the house toward the veranda, leaving
Verbeck and Riley and Muggs alone beneath the
window.
"Well?” Riley said.
"Follow it!" Verbeck commanded. “It must end
somewhere. And we don't need the squad with us
when we find the end."
“That's the way I looked at it. Great Scott, what
a chase! Through the snow and through the
sewer "
"No message!" the sergeant shouted from the
veranda.
Muggs raised the window. They crept over the
sill into the dusty room. Again Riley's torch flashed,
and they saw the wire running up the side of the
window to the ceiling and through it.
"To the floor above!" Verbeck said.
They ran to the stairs and went up. As they
passed the door of the living room, they saw the police-
men standing before the big fireplace, extending their
numb hands to the blaze.


THE END OF THE WIRE 193
They had no difficulty locating the wire on the
second floor. It came from below, and ran up the
side of a window. It followed the border of the wall
paper, and once more it penetrated a ceiling.
"Into the garret !” Riley said.
They ran up the narrow stairs. Riley and Muggs
both held their automatics ready now, and Verbeck
reached for his. They threw open the door opening
into one of the half-finished rooms. There was the
wire, almost hidden as it ran along the bottom of
the window. It followed a wide crack in the floor
across the room. It disappeared into the wall.
Riley raised a hand for silence, and pointed to the
floor.
"We were blind before," he whispered. "See those
tracks? Whoever made them scattered dust behind
him. They're almost obliterated—but there they are!
We didn't use our eyes before. And that wire
"Must run into the old toy closet,” Verbeck inter-
rupted. “But—see here! The door of the closet is
locked on this side, and you can see it hasn't been
opened.”
"You're right-it hasn't! But we'll just take a
look!"
Verbeck turned the key. Muggs and Riley focused
the light of their torches on the door, and held their
automatics ready. Verbeck sprạng aside and hurled
the door open.


194
THE BLACK STAR
: The interior of the closet was flooded with light.
All three gasped as they looked.
No Black Star menaced them with weapon. No
diabolical engine of destruction was there.
But there was the end of the wire!


196
THE BLACK STAR
"I thank you cordially for the police protec-
tion afforded me while the chief had his dragnet
in operation. It was amusing to look from the
window and watch the officers guarding the house
carefully to see that I was not disturbed.”
"If ever I get my hands on that devil " Riley
exclaimed.
“Keep still, Riley—let me finish it! There may be
need for haste yet.”
Verbeck read on:
"I said I'd make you a laughingstock, and I
have. To-night I send letters to the papers tell-
ing them how I hid in your own house, listened
to all your plans over a dictograph, and tapped
your telephone wire. You cannot hope to match
wits with the Black Star.
"It was very simple. I came here the night I
escaped, after visiting your apartment and mail-
ing a few letters. Only two of my band knew
of my whereabouts and aided me-one of them
the charming woman who told you to follow the
wire.
“The second night I strung the dictograph wire,
tapped the telephone, and carried my provisions
here. Then I attacked the apartment-house clerk.
I felt very confident you'd move here after that,
and I guessed correctly.


ON THE SCENT
197
"You came. I rested and ate and listened to
your conversations. At night, by means of a can-
dle, I signaled from the window to a friend, who
took down my messages for the papers and the
chief of police.
"It has been great entertainment, I assure you.
It was very convenient for me to keep in touch
in this way.”
“That's sarcasm for you!” Riley exploded.
“Quiet!" Verbeck demanded, and read on:
“Is there anything to explain? Ah, yes! My
mode of entrance was not through the door. I
strung the wire to the wall and through the hole
there, retreated after covering my tracks with
dust, and entered in a different place. Perhaps
you know your old family estate, Mr. Verbeck,
and perhaps not. If you will look at the end of
this closet you'll see a section of wall that can
be removed. I fixed that. It opens into an old,
wide chimney. At some time when the house was
remodeled, and the new chimney built, a part of
this old one was left intact, probably to save the
trouble of remodeling the garret. Inside the
chimney you will find a rope ladder--not very
well made, it is true, yet serviceable. Descend,
and you'll be able to get into the new chimney.


198 . THE BLACK STAR
Go down far enough and you will find yourself
beside the hood over the kitchen stove.
"By extending a hand down while you three
were in the living room, I was able to put on your
loaf of bread the black stars that bothered you
so much. I was able in the same manner to tap
Mr. Muggs on the head as he bent over his pots
and pans. It was a scientific tap, and as he reeled
I clutched him by the collar and decorated his
forehead with a star. Very simple, I assure you.
"I nearly laughed aloud when Riley built the
big fire to smoke me out if I happened to be in
the chimney. I had got back into the old chim-
ney, of course, and closed the opening by that
time.
"Thanks once more for your splendid hos-
pitality. To-night being the time for my best
effort so far in your city, I must leave you. My
new headquarters have been arranged by my
friends, and I am sure they'll prove much more
confortable. I'll direct my work from there
hereafter.
"Since I had to get away from your house,
I had a certain woman call you up and tell you
to follow the wire. I knew it would take an hour
or two for you to do so. After you had gone,
I descended the chimney, slipped out of the back
door. At least, that is what I intend doing after


ON THE SCENT
199
writing this letter, and I am sure my plans will
come out all right.
"I would like to use your splendid roadster
again as I leave, but cannot, as I have made other
plans.
“And now, Mr. Verbeck, search this closet
well, and you'll find a short note telling you what
I intend doing to-night. The search may delay
you a little, and delay will help me.
66* * * * *"
As Verbeck finished reading, and crammed the letter
into his pocket, Riley, muttering madly to himself,
began pawing among the Black Star's provisions in
search of the note. Muggs attacked a pile of old toys
in a corner. Verbeck stood still in the center of the
closet for a moment, astounded.
The Black Star had hidden in his house, with the
police guard around it! The Black Star had sent
word to the newspapers of what he had done.
Laughingstock! Roger Verbeck would not dare
show his face among his friends, unless There
was one way to wipe out this slur the Black Star
had thrown upon him—by capturing the master crim-
inal at his work!
Verbeck joined in the search. Working frantically,
they hurled toys around the closet, scattered cans and
boxes of provisions, shook blankets. Then Verbeck
remembered the opening in the wall, and sought until


200
THE BLACK STAR
he found it. There, pinned to the top rung of the
crude rope ladder, was the note.
“Read it, quick, boss!” Muggs begged. “I want
to get my hands on that crook! I'll show him how
to tap me on the head !”.
Verbeck read quickly:
"As you have said, I love jewels-especially
diamonds. There is a new shipment in the city
that exceeds in value even your famous necklace,
Mr. Verbeck. The general public does not know
of this shipment, which has just been received.
But, having ways of finding out things, I do
know of it.
"To-night I raid the vault of Jones & Co.,
diamond importers, on the second floor of the
National Building.
or* * * * *
With a roar that could have been heard half a
block, Detective Riley sprang through the door and
toward the head of the stairs, Muggs and Roger
Verbeck at his heels.
Four steps at a time they took the two flights, and
burst into the living room like madmen, startling the
officers there.
"Quick!” Riley cried to the sergeant. “Call head-
quarters, private line! Tell them to surround block
of National Building Black Star's rạiding Jones &


ON THE SCENT
201
Co.! You, Muggs! Start the car! Ready, Ver-
beck ?”
· The sergeant whirled toward them.
“Phone's dead! Wires cut, I suppose!” he re-
ported.
"Of course! Trust the Black Star not to forget
that! Get the nearest phone, sergeant-probably one
across street !”
He dashed out, following Verbeck. They sprang
into the roadster. Muggs sent the machine shooting
at the big gate, through it, into the broad boulevard,
sounding his horn like a maniac, jumping the power-
ful engine into its greatest speed.


CHAPTER XXXII.
INTO THE VAULT
VERBECK and Muggs had taken many wild rides
V in the big roadster, but nothing that compared
to this. On the boulevard, the street cleaners had
removed most of the snow, but the slush had frozen,
and the going was treacherous. The car skidded from
side to side, at times almost turned end for end,
lurched and swayed sickeningly.
Detective Riley gritted his teeth and clung to one
end of the seat in which Verbeck crouched. Muggs
bent forward, squinting his eyes and trying to get a
clear view ahead. They turned corners and swept
around curves at dangerous speed, sprang down hills
as if the car was some wild thing running for life
from a hereditary foe.
It was half past two o'clock in the morning, and
few vehicles were abroad, a fact for which Muggs
gave devout thanks. They reached the edge of the
business district, yet he did not slacken the car's
speed. Detective Riley had said no word since the
start—now he was the sleuth on the trail, the officer
of the law ready to try conclusions with the criminal.
Neither did Roger Verbeck speak, not even to shriek
orders to Muggs, for Muggs did not need orders, and


INTO THE VAULT
203
Verbeck was thinking of the humiliation in store for
him unless the master criminal was caught.
Muggs dodged an owl car by less than a foot, and
took a corner on two wheels. Riley would have been
dashed from the machine had not Verbeck flung an
arm around him. Down another hill they raced, and
into a cross street, where the heavy traffic of the day
had obliterated the most of the slush, and the going
was safer.
They were within a few blocks of their destination
now. Verbeck and Riley were both wondering if the
sergeant had been able to get to another telephone and
notify headquarters. The Black Star might have a
chance of escape if the block was not surrounded.
And they were not certain that he had not com-
mitted his theft and escaped already. He had had
plenty of time while they were following the dicta-
graph wire, especially since it was certain his plans
had been made carefully. Would they arrive in time
to find him at work? Or, would they find the door
of the vault open and a fortune in jewels gone?”
Riley bent over and screeched in Muggs' ear:
"Stop that horn! And stop the machine at the
corner this way!”.
Muggs nodded that he understood. He drove
around another corner, and swung the roadster to a
stop. Riley sprang to the walk, Verbeck and Muggs
following closely. They hurried around the corner
and to the entrance of the big building.


INTO THE VAULT
205
started down. Riley drew Verbeck and Muggs close
to him.
"No lights until we're sure where we stand," he
instructed. “He may be ready to shoot, if he's still
in there, and a light furnishes a swell target. There'll
be a faint light inside, reflected from the stairs. I
know this place. This is the only entrance except
a freight elevator at the rear. There are windows, of
course, that open into the court. I'm afraid he's
gone that way! Ready ? Come on, then, and keep
your eyes open!”
Inch by inch Riley swung the glass door open, so
as not to make any sound. Inch by inch they crept
inside and closed the door again. Here the aisles
were covered with thick carpets. An uncertain light
came through the door and made the interior of the
gem store a mass of shadows.
Before them was the general retail salesroom, with
its rows of counters and show cases on either side,
and its divans and chairs in the center. Slowly, care-
fully, holding weapons and torches ready, they crept
from shadow to shadow, scarcely daring to breathe,
fearing they would make a sound.
They soon were convinced nobody was in the sales-
room. They came to the partition in the rear, and
found the door partly open. Here they redoubled
their caution. If the Black Star was present he was
somewhere behind that partition.
Riley opened the door carefully, and they stepped


CHAPTER XXIV
HOW IT ENDED
VERBECK'S whisper was so low that Riley and
Muggs scarcely could hear it, yet they could de-
tect the note of exultation:
“We've got him!”
That was all, and then they started to creep for-
ward, their eyes on the vault, from which not a bit
of light came. The Back Star evidently was working
in the dark.
Foot by foot they made their way noiselessly to-
ward the open door, expecting every instant to see
their quarry step forth and confront them, ready to
prevent him fighting his way to liberty. They lis-
tened, too, for the sound of feet in the room behind
them that would tell of the arrival of the police, but
the sound of feet did not come.
And now, at last, they were within six feet of the
open door, staring into the blackness of the vault,
from which came not the slightest sound. Verbeck
felt his heart pounding at his ribs like a trip hammer
as they waited. The seconds passed.
Then Riley spoke in a low, tense tone, yet his voice
seemed to roar through the place:
“Come out, Mr. Black Star! We've got you!"


HOW IT ENDED
209
was no man in the light's path, but it did not penetrate
to the corners.
Riley expelled his breath in a great gasp of deter-
mination, and slipped forward. Verbeck and Muggs
closed in. If the Black Star was waiting for them
to rush, then the moment for the rush had arrived.
Muggs could endure the suspense no longer. His
nerves were on edge. He gave a subdued squeal and
sprang across the path of light, grasped the door,
hurled it shut, twisted the handle.
"We've got him-got him!” he screeched.
Riley's light showed the perspiration standing out
on his forehead in great globules.
“Why did you do that?" the detective demanded.
"We've got him! Turn on the lights! The police
will be here in a minute, then he'll have no chance
to escape !"
Riley would have had it otherwise, and Roger Ver-
beck had anticipated having the Black Star in shackles
by the time the police arrived, but that could not be
helped now. Riley went around the room until he
found the electric switch; he threw it, and the room
was suddenly brilliant with light.
"Well, we've got him, anyway,” Verbeck said.
"The Black Star may be able to get into a vault, but
I'll defy him to get out of that one except by the
door."
“Yes, and he'll be dead before he gets out that


212
THE BLACK STAR
your medicine !” Riley cried. “We've got twenty men
here, with guns pointing at that door. You make a
hostile move when we open it, and you'll see your
finish!”
He nodded to the police, twisted the handle, and
threw the door open.
Light flooded the interior of the vault. Half a
dozen officers, Riley at their head, rushed.
A cry of consternation came from the detective.
Verbeck and Muggs crowded through to look inside.
On the floor of the vault were empty trays that
had held jewels. Among them were empty chamois
bags. Mountings of inferior value were scattered
about. But no master criminal stood before them,
ready for Lattle, or in token of surrender!
“Gone!" Muggs cried.
"But he can't be gone!” Riley shrieked. “We saw
him step into the vault! We came right up, never
taking our eyes from the door! Muggs slammed the
door and twisted the combination. There's no way
in or out except the door!''
“Gone!” Verbeck echoed.
The chief of police swore. The manager of Jones
& Co., who had left his place of safety, tore his hair
and lamented his loss and berated the police.
"He-he can't be gone!" Riley reiterated.
Verbeck, his heart sinking, stepped inside and looked
around. Fastened in the corner of one of the trays
was what he had feared he would find—a letter written


HOW IT ENDED
213
by the Black Star and addressed to himself. He read
it swiftly, then handed it to the chief, and threw wide
his hands in a gesture of momentary despair.
And this is what he had read:
MR. VERBECK AND AIDS: I am leaving this
because I assume you'll find my other note at the
house and follow me here. I dare say that, when
you entered you saw me standing before the open
door of the vault. You watched, and saw me
enter the vault. Did you not? You did not!
Your eyes deceived you! I intend waiting here
until you arrive, to add one more small bit to my
evening's entertainment.
Illusion, my dear Mr. Verbeck—all illusion.
The dim light coming in from the street, you
know, helps some. You will notice that there
are many mirrors scattered around the room.
I took the liberty of moving a few of them
to serve my purpose. Go back to the door at
which you entered and look at the vault. Have
your silly Muggs stand ten feet to the right of
the door to the room. Now look at the vault,
Mr. Verbeck, and it will appear that the silly
Muggs is standing in the vault door. You fol-
low ? Simple, old-fashioned mirror illusion that
won't even go at country fairs any more. And
you fell for that!
For, when you enter the room, I shall be stand-


214
THE BLACK STAR
ing within ten feet of you, and you'll imagine
you see me in the vault door, and creep forward.
I'll take two steps to the right, and you'll think
I have entered the vault. You'll advance toward
it, and I'll step outside quietly to the window that
opens on the court, let myself down a rope al-
ready prepared, and be on my way—with this
excellent collection of diamonds. All thought out
beforehand, you see !
I have made you a laughingstock, as I prom-
ised, but I am not done with you yet. I defy
you again, Roger Verbeck, as I defy the police.
You'll hear from me soon.
* * * * *
They snapped out the lights and tried it-Muggs
standing where the Black Star had said—and found
it was so.
They went to the court and found an open window
from which a rope dangled to the ground floor below.
Then they placed a guard and went out, leaving
the manager to estimate and bemoan his loss.
"He's a devil-a devil!" the chief was muttering.
"He's human—and we'll get him yet !" Roger Ver-
beck answered, and the fighting look was in his face
when he spoke.


CHAPTER XXV
SHADOWED BY THREE
DOGER VERBECK'S powerful, four-seated road-
ster, its curtains up against the fine drizzle of
rain, and with Muggs at the wheel, drew up when
the traffic policeman raised a warning hand, and waited
for the cross-town stream of vehicles and pedestrians
to pass.
It was eight o'clock in the evening, and the streets
were thronged. Crowds were hurrying toward the
theaters; more crowds were making for a big auto-
mobile show, and others were hastening toward a large
hall, where there was to be a mass meeting, at which
infuriated speakers would demand that the police de-
partment of the city capture instantly the Black Star,
the notorious master criminal, who, with his band of
clever crooks, had terrorized the city for half a year.
Verbeck's car was of foreign make and of peculiar
appearance, and it was natural that it should be rec-
ognized. Muggs bent over the wheel and gritted his
teeth as he heard the expressions passed by pedestrians,
and the young man beside him looked straight ahead
as if seeing nothing and hearing nothing.
"When you goin' to get the Black Star?"


216
THE BLACK STAR
“What's Black Star payin' you to hold off, Ver-
beck ?”
"That crook's too much for you, ain't he?”
"Well, well—so he hasn't caught you again ?"!
Those were samples of the remarks being passed,
and they made Muggs want to get from the roadster
and fight his way into the midst of the mob. Muggs
knew better than any one else how Verbeck, since
the memorable day when the Black Star had dared the
young millionaire to capture him, had tried every
means in his power to get hands on the master crim-
inal.
The Black Star had written again to Roger Ver-
beck, saying that he and his man Muggs would be
abducted by the Black Star's men, taken to the master
crook's new headquarters, for which they had been
searching in vain, and from there taken to the scene
of a big crime. They would be forced to stand by
under guard and watch the crime committed, and
then they would be treated to shots from the vapor
gun the Black Star and his men used, and left un-
conscious on the spot-laughingstocks for the public.
That letter had been sent to the newspapers three
weeks before, and as yet the Black Star had not ab-
ducted Roger Verbeck and Muggs. The criminal, in
another letter to the papers, insisted that this was not
because he had not had an opportunity to effect the
abduction, but because preparations had not been com-
pleted for the next big crime.


CHAPTER XXVI
A MAN OF MYSTERY
M UGGS, crouched down behind the wheel, watched
IV the fine rain beat against the wind shield of the
roadster, and hoped he would not have to remain in
that position of inaction for long.
He observed a man approaching along the sidewalk,
a man who glanced at the apartment houses as if
seeking a certain one. Directly opposite the roadster
this man stopped, looked around for an instant, and
then hurried over to Muggs.
“Know where the Albemarle Apartments might
be?” he asked.
“They might be almost any place, but I've got an
idea you'll find them in the middle of the next block,"
Muggs replied. “It's a big, white, brick building.".
"Thanks,” the other growled.
He turned away—and as quickly turned back again.
Reflection from the light on the corner flashed from
something he held in his hand. A small cloud of
vapor rushed at Muggs' face. Muggs gasped, and
his head fell forward.
Instantly the other man sprang into the roadster,
lifted the unconscious form of Muggs from the
driver's seat, and placed it in the rear seat, afterward


A MAN OF MYSTERY
221
throwing a robe over it. Then he took Muggs' place
behind the wheel, crouched forward, waiting.
The motor cyclist stopped beside the roadster at
this moment.
"Got him all right?” he asked.
“Cinch! Muggs is now sleeping peacefully in the
rear beneath a heavy robe. I sure caught him off
guard.”
"Well, Verbeck is the next job. He may stay in
there talkin' to his girl half the night, and he may
be out in three minutes. It'll be a game of wait, I
guess. I'll hang around to give help, if you need it,
and be ready to jump in as soon as you get him. You
gave Muggs a heavy shot, didn't you?"
"I guess he's good for half an hour in dreamland,
all right."
"Verbeck wants to get a heavy shot, too. When
we get out on the river road we can bind and gag
the two of 'em. Careful now. If we miss out on
this the big boss'll half kill us.”
"I ain't never failed him yet, not the B1- "
"Cut it!" the motor cyclist exclaimed. "Be gentle
with that name around these parts. This is the home
of Verbeck's fiancée, remember, and Heaven knows
what sort of cops might be posted around here. I'd
better duck now."
He left the roadster and walked a short distance
down the street, finally coming to a stop against a
wall. There he waited in the shadows, as did the


A MAN OF MYSTERY
223
"Great! Walked right into the trap!" It was the
motor cyclist who spoke. He got into the car and
aided his companion in putting the second uncon-
scious man in the rear, under the robe. “Better let
her out now!” he went on. “We've got 'em both-
Verbeck and Muggs. I reckon we caught 'em off
their guard. They didn't expect to get that vapor
stuff right here on the boulevard. Great idea of the
boss to always give a man what he doesn't expect !
I guess this'll put a crimp into young and handsome
Mr. Verbeck. Nail the boss, will he? Huh!”
The other had turned the roadster, and now it
darted up the boulevard at a speed perilously near the
limit allowed by city ordinance. From the mouth
of the alley darted the light truck, and took 'up the
pursuit. The driver of it was chuckling again, evi-
dently at the ease with which the Black Star's men
had made Verbeck and Muggs captives.
The Verbeck roadster led the way up the boulevard,
and, after a time, turned into a side street. Down
a long hill it dashed, with the light truck following
less than a block behind. Traffic was passing in both
directions, but the speed of roadster and truck did
not diminish to any great extent.
Now the residence district was left behind, and the
two machines were passing through the dark whole-
sale district. Here the truck dropped a short distance
behind, and its driver glanced around frequently to
see whether any other machine was following.


A MAN OF MYSTERY
225
They came to a bridge, and so crossed the river.
Here the man who rode on the rear end of the car
was exposed twice as it flashed under the bridge lights,
but no bridge tender observed him. It was a bad
night—the tenders merely stepped to the doors of their
tiny houses, saw that a motor car was passing, and
let it go at that.
On the other side of the river, the speed of the
car decreased. After a time the machine was driven
from the main road into a sort of lane. Here the
going was slower yet, for the mud was deep and
the roadbed cut into deep ruts. The car lurched from
side to side in such fashion that the man who rode
behind was almost hurled off.
He could hear the men in the car talking now.
"Nearly there—better dim the headlights," one of
them was saying.
Instantly the headlights were dimmed, and in the
semidarkness the car plowed on through the mud.
Now it approached an old house, from one window
of which a light flashed. The car was stopped. The
man who had been riding behind dropped off into the
mud and crept through the black night toward the
fence.
One at a time, the two unconscious prisoners were
taken from the roadster, carried through a gate up a
walk, and to the front door of the old house. A bell
would tinkle, the door would be opened, the prisoner
handed over. After that had been done, the roadster,


A MAN OF MYSTERY 227
to his knees, grasped a hairy throat, discharged the
vapor gun, and felt the body relax. His hands worked
swiftly in the darkness on a mission of exploration.
He was chuckling again as he got upon his feet. So
the Black Star did not depend wholly on human be-
ings to guard him—he had trained dogs!
Should there be another dog, he might sound an
alarm before the vapor gun got in its work. The
prowler knew that, and so he hesitated no longer,
but hurried around the end of the house. Here he
found a cellar window unlocked. A moment later he
was inside the house.
He had an electric torch in a pocket, but feared to
flash it here. Again he listened for a time, and then
felt his way around the wall, and so came to a flight
of steps. Up these he crept, to find a locked door at
the top.
Once more he listened, and seemed to hear voices
coming from a distance. He reached in another
pocket, drew forth a key of peculiar shape, and worked
at the lock of the door for some time. On the other
side a key fell out with a clatter. He waited fully
a minute, scarcely daring to breathe, but decided at the
end of that time that the noise made by the falling
key had not been heard.
Now he turned the knob, and presently opened the
door half an inch. Bit by bit he threw it back, and
finally stepped into the room. He closed the door be-
hind him as carefully as he had opened it, and even


228
THE BLACK STAR
searched and found the key and locked the door again.
Hurrying noiselessly across the room, he entered
another, and finally passed into a narrow hallway. He
carried the vapor gun in one hand now and his electric
torch in the other. At any instant, he knew, discov-
ery might come. Some place in that håll a door might
be opened, and light flood it. He was liable to stumble
against one of the Black Star's men in the darkness.
· When he reached the other end of the hall he stopped
to listen again. Once more he heard voices coming
as if from a distance, and decided that they came from
some room on the second floor. He was bold enough
to flash his torch once' now, and discovered a rear
staircase. To this he made his way, and up it, and
into a hallway on the second floor..
Now he felt that he was on more dangerous
ground. He could hear the voices plainly, and could
locate the room from which they came. Toward the
front of the hall a thin streak of light streamed from
beneath a door.
He managed to slip into the room adjoining that
from which the light came. After listening for some
time there, he flashed his torch again. The room was
large, bare, dusty. On one side were two windows,
the panes filmed with dirt. On the opposite side from
which he had entered was another door, with some
old curtains hanging before it.
He crept across to this door, careful that the boards
of the floor did not creak with his steps. He bent and


A MAN OF MYSTERY
229
peered through a keyhole into the room beyond. He
did not chuckle now, for a chuckle might have meant
disaster, but he did smile, and the expression on his
face was one of lively satisfaction. He had arrived
at an opportune moment.
Caution remained with him, however. He hurried
back across the room and locked the door with the
key from his pocket. Then he journeyed to one of
the windows and made sure that it was unlocked and
that from it a man easily could drop to the ground.
That done, he went back to the keyhole again and
bent down to watch.
As he took up his position a deep voice came from
the other room, a voice that seemed to be issuing or-
ders in a tone that meant the speaker generally had
his orders obeyed instantly.
"All ready now! Bring those two back to earth,
and we'll have the show!" the voice said. "Number
Ten, get out of the house and down to the river and
see that everything is prepared. It is now nine-thirty
o'clock, and we want to leave about eleven.”


IN BLACK STAR'S HANDS 231
and then Muggs groaned and opened his eyes. Those
eyes seemed to flash fire when he took in the scene.
"Well, my dear Muggs, here we are again,” the
Black Star said, laughing a little. “You regain con-
sciousness a second sooner than Mr. Verbeck, as I
have noticed before. That, I presume, is because you
are a tougher specimen of humanity.”
"You-you- ” Muggs stammered.
“What's this? Your gag has slipped ? That is
well, for I was about to have it removed, anyway.
So you can talk, eh?”
Muggs waved his head from side to side and caused
the gag to slip again.
"I'd talk to you with my fists if I had th chance!"
Muggs said.
“There you go again-always violence! I have
wondered many times how Mr. Verbeck can put up
with you. Ah, Mr. Verbeck is in the land of the con-
scious again, I perceive !"
Muggs turned his head and looked at the man be-
side him. Then he faced the Black Star again.
“Them ropes on his arms are too tight and that
gag's chokin' him," Muggs complained. “You treat
me rough if you want, but you treat my boss decent
or I'll have somethin' to say to you some time.”
"You scarcely are in a position to threaten just
now, Mr. Muggs,” the Black Star replied, laughing.
“However, Muggs, it is not my intention to cause


IN BLACK STAR'S HANDS 233
to get you and Muggs to-night. It really was a shame
to do it. So you are going to continue your efforts
to capture me, eh?”
· "I am-certainly !"
"Um! Your voice almost has the note of fear in
it. You do not seem as sure as you did the last time
I had the pleasure of entertaining you for a few
minutes."
"A few minutes is right!" Muggs put in. “You've
got your dirty hands on us three times now, but
you've never kept us longer than a few minutes. And
you'll not keep us to-night "
"I fear you err, my dear Muggs. I am taking
no chances with you or your precious master to-night.
As. I live, Mr. Verbeck, your face appears changed.
Your cheeks are somewhat thinner. That comes, I
suppose, from living in continual fear of me. Let
me see! Um! It has been about three weeks since
I informed you of my intention to abduct you and
make you a laughingstock again. You've been worry-
ing about it all that time, eh? Been fearing to sleep
or eat or ride abroad? Small wonder your face is
thinner and your voice expresses fatigue.”
"He's been off his feed !" Muggs blurted out. "And
he's had a bad cold. You needn't think me, or my boss,
either, would let anything you said throw a scare into
us!"
“Indeed? Had a bad cold, eh? I truly am sorry
I did not give you this little entertainment when you


234 . THE BLACK STAR
were in good physical condition. But everything is
prepared, Mr. Verbeck, and also you neglected to in-
form me you had a cold and wanted to discontinue
this fight until you were better.”
The Black Star laughed again as at a good joke, and
Muggs growled imprecations deep down in his throat,
but the other man merely looked the Black Star
straight in the eyes and remained silent.
"I trust you understand the program, Mr. Verbeck,"
the master criminal went on, his laugh at an end. “It
has been about six months since you made your foolish
boast that you could capture me. You should know
by this time that it is an impossibility. However,
you have had some excellent fun trying it, and I have
enjoyed the battle immensely. But now it must end.
It is getting to be a bore.”
"Really?".
"Exactly. You're a sportsman, I believe. I'll make
a deal with you. If Roger Verbeck does not capture
the Black Star within the next twenty-four hours,
after being right here and seeing the Black Star's
headquarters, and being taken by the Black Star to
the scene of to-night's crime—then Roger Verbeck
gives his word of honor that he'll stop his feeble at-
tempt and not bother the Black Star more."
"Roger Verbeck does nothing of the sort!"
"Still determined, eh? Very well. Then, Mr. Ver-
beck, we are going to take you and your man Muggs
with us. We're going to give you a dose from a


IN BLACK STAR'S HANDS
235
vapor gun and leave you where the crime is com-
mitted, as I said we'd do. We'll give the alarm our-
selves and have the police find you two there uncon-
scious. Then let the public laugh! I fancy you'll
hear a howl go up for you to be ordered off the case.
I'd not be surprised if you were hounded out of this
town, which has been your home all your life.”
“I think not.”
"Which shall you do-make the deal I proposed
or be made a public laughingstock again?”
"I make no deals with a crook!"
“And what's more, you're wastin' your breath,"
Muggs put in. “You leave my boss alone! He's about
half sick. He's said a hundred times that you'll get
too fresh some day. Some day you'll overlook a
bet, make a mistake, and then he'll get you. And
I'll be right there, I hope when the gettin's got!”
"You are a very boisterous man, Muggs," the
master criminal said. “You'd be very vicious, I im-
agine, under some circumstances. Please do not be
so violent. I abhor violence.”
"You're right; you'll abhor it if I ever get my hands
on you proper!” Muggs exclaimed.
The Black Star brought the palms of his hands to-
gether sharply.
"Enough of this chatter!” he commanded. “We
have scant time before leaving here for the scene of
the evening's festivities. You have decided, Mr. Ver-
beck, to be made a laughingstock! Very well!”


236
THE BLACK STAR
"And where is this to take place?" came the ques
tion.
“Ah! Roger Verbeck thinks I fear to tell him in
advance, does he? Why, sir, I'll even tell you every
detail of the proposed crime, if you wish. You are
most certainly my prisoner, and cannot warn the police,
and, could you, it would avail those stupid police noth-
ing. One could steal the buttons off their uniforms
and they'd not know it until the next day.". .
“I'm listening !
"Such impatience!" the Black Star exclaimed. "At-
tend me closely, then, Mr. Verbeck-you also, Muggs.
Little good it'll do you! It is my intention to-night to
reap a harvest of some three hundred thousand dol-
lars in money and securities. Quite ambitious-that?
Merely an ordinary task for the Black Star, I assure
you.”
"You're th' original shrinkin' onion Muggs de-
clared:
“Silence, please, while I explain. The money and
securities I mentioned are in the vaults of the National
Trust Company. Those vaults are impregnable, it is
said. This is a joke, of course. With us it will be
as easy to get that fortune as it would be to purchase
a new cravat.”
“You're some modest violet !” said Muggs.
"Keep quiet, Muggs, and hear the plans," the Black
Star said, his eyes glittering through his mask.
“Within the past two months there has been formed


IN BLACK STAR'S HANDS 237
in the city a new lodge called the Knights of Cer-
tainty. When one understands things that title is
rather a good joke. Many good men have heard of
the order and wondered why some one did not ask
them to join, I presume. The membership was strictly
limited. Members of my own band form the lodge.”
"And you're the supreme boss crook!” Muggs said.
“Another remark, Muggs, and you get the vapor
gun. Mr. Verbeck, you'd better warn your man to
remain silent !" The Black Star evidently was getting
angry.
· Muggs turned his head and found his fellow pris-
oner indicating that he was to be quiet. Muggs
obeyed.
"It would be a difficult task to get into a meeting
of the Knights of Certainty,” the Black Star went on.
"We're mighty particular who sees things. I may
mention that, from the moment we hired our hall and
put in furniture, the room has been under close guard,
one of our own men even doing the janitor work.
This hall is on the third floor of the American Build-
ing, adjoining the National Trust Company. We
have been making our preparations nightly, of course,
working from our hall. Some excellent carpenter
and mechanical work has been done, and now, when
we wish, we have merely to pass through a wall to
a stairway and then make our way over a trail we
have prepared to the vaults of the bank and loot them.
“Everything is prepared, I assure you. At this


238
THE BLACK STAR
moment my men are in the uniforms of the watchmen,
and doing their work. There will be no one to molest
us. The vault locks have been fixed so that a few
turns of the knobs will unlock them, and yet an
expert would swear that time locks and other pro-
tections are in perfect working order. It has taken
us some time to get this state of affairs prepared,
but the reward will be well worth our trouble. The
bank received a heavy gold shipment two weeks ago.
Negotiable securities are piled in the vaults. The
bank, in addition, always carries a heavy cash balance,
for it has numerous branches and small affiliated
banks. Yes—I fancy we will be well repaid for the
work we have put on it.”
"If you get the stuff!” said Muggs.
The Black Star whirled toward him, and one of
his men stepped forward, but the master criminal de-
cided to let the remark pass. He walked to the head
of the table and glanced at his watch.
"We start in half an hour," he said. "Number Six,
go down to the river and inform Number Ten to be
ready to get away instantly."
Once more he faced his prisoners.
"How do you like my new headquarters ?” he asked.
"Only a few chosen and trusted men of mine come
here. This is a ramshackle old house, but I have
three rooms fixed up comfortably. And there are
things of value in it, believe me! I find it advisable


IN BLACK STAR'S HANDS : 239
to dispose of loot slowly. I'd hate to flood the market
and lower prices.”
He laughed again, and once more turned toward
his men. For a moment he conversed with them in
whispers, ignoring his prisoners. A bell tinkled pres-
ently; the Black Star touched a button on the end of
the table, and a few seconds later the man who had
been sent away returned.
"Everything ready, chief," he reported in a low
tone.
"Ah! Number Four, telephone Main 5782, ask
for Gregg, and say that Mr. Stewart will have four
cases of eggs to-morrow. That will tell those at the
other end that we are starting.”
The man designated moved swiftly across the room
to the telephone and sent the message. The Black.
Star waved a hand, and another man approached the
two prisoners, a vapor gun in his hand. They twisted
and turned in their bonds, but the gun did its work;
the Black Star laughed again as their heads fell for-
ward.
"Clever Mr. Verbeck and clever Mr. Muggs," he
said. “Their attempts to capture me are childish,
to say the least. Get ready now, for we must be off.”
The men removed their robes and masks and put on
overcoats and soft hats. The Black Star took off
his robe, but his hood and mask remained in place,
and the overcoat he donned had a wide collar that,
when turned up, effectually hid his face. No one,


240
THE BLACK STAR
without looking at him squarely under a bright light,
could have seen the mask.
The master criminal waved his hand, and his men
picked up the two unconscious. prisoners. He led the
way, and they followed, and the last man out turned
off the light. Their steps sounded in the front hall-
way, the door latch clicked—they were gone.
The man who had been watching all this through
the keyhole chuckled aloud now, and presently he
opened the door with his key and slipped into the
headquarters room.
There he stood for some minutes to listen, for he
wanted to be sure that he was alone in the house, and
then he crossed the room to the telephone, took down
the receiver, and called a number in a soft voice.
The number was that of police headquarters.


CHAPTER XXVIII
THE POLICE LAUNCH
WN on the bank of the river a speedy launch
was concealed under overhanging trees. Two
men were waiting in it when the Black Star, his other
followers, and the two prisoners arrived. The pris-
oners, still bound, were stretched on a robe in the
bottom, the Black Star and his men got aboard, and
the launch slipped almost noiselessly out into the
stream and started down it toward the city.
The craft showed its lights properly, but it kept
away from all other vessels, and the men aboard
crouched down low and spoke in whispers. In time
the two prisoners groaned and opened their eyes, the
effect of the vapor having worn off, and at a sign
from the Black Star one of his men inspected bonds
and gags and made sure that they were secure. The
Black Star did not want any slip this night with a
fortune at stake.
"Your attitude this evening puzzles me, Mr. Ver-
beck," the master criminal whispered in a sarcastic
tone. "You do not seem to be your usual self. Three
or four times now I have had you as prisoner, and
we have exchanged some conversation, and while I
cannot say that I know you well, yet you do not seem


THE POLICE LAUNCH 243
“Police launch!” he hissed over his shoulder.
Up the river and directly at them rushed a high-
powered craft that was hurling back the water from
her bows. Her searchlight was sweeping the river.
The Black Star growled orders, his men stretched
beside him on the bottom, and the engineer hurled
quantities of sacks over them. Then he snapped on
the lights again and started the launch forward slowly,
for he would be able to escape suspicion that way
better than if discovered by the searchlight and found
to be drifting without lights burning.
For a moment the searchlight rested on the launch,
which continued on its course. The police craft swung
in and headed directly for it. A hail came across the
water. The launch was slowed down and the police
boat stopped almost alongside.
"Who are you, and where are you going?" an offi-
cer demanded.
"This is the launch Speedy,” the engineer replied.
"I'm runnin' to th' fish market with a load o'sacks.
What's th' matter?"
“Seen any other launch?” the officer demanded.
"Nope!”
"How far have you come?"
“From the mouth o'th' river. Good fishin' there
now."
"I'll come aboard and look you over," the officer
said.
The police boat started slowly and swung nearer.


244
THE BLACK STAR
In that instant the Black Star's engineer acted. He
threw on the power and dropped, for the wheel was
locked. The screw churned the water and hurled a
great wave at the police boat.
Behind, the men in the police boat were shouting,
and a fusillade of revolver shots spattered around the
Black Star's craft. But the police found themselves
at a disadvantage. The Black Star's launch was
swifter, and the police boat was headed the wrong
way and had to be turned. While the turn was being
accomplished, the firing continued, and the searchlight
kept the prey in sight, but that prey was gradually
putting distance between itself and the boat behind.
The Black Star's boat was a hundred yards in the
lead by the time the police launch had straightened
out and taken up the chase in earnest. The grim race
was on, with the police firing at times, and the search-
light always playing on the vessel ahead. The Black
Star had crawled from beneath the sacks now, and
was directing operations.
"All the speed you have, and get around the bend,"
he ordered. “We can leave the boat and take to the
touring cars. We'll be lost in the city before they
can telephone headquarters or get cars and trail us!"
The bend in the stream was not far ahead now,
and the master criminal issued further orders. The
two prisoners were treated to shots from the vapor
gun again. The siren of the launch shrieked a mes-
sage to the men ahead waiting with the touring cars.


THE POLICE LAUNCH
245
Around the bend—and the launch dashed for the
shore. As it was reached, the police boat came into
view, its searchlight trying to pick up the quarry,
The Black Star and his men tumbled out, carrying
the prisoners. From the road a short distance away
came the honking of an automobile horn.
Then the searchlight struck them, and the police
launch turned and headed for the shore. More flashes
of flame split the darkness, and bullets whined through
the trees and underbrush.
But the Black Star and his men were in the dense
woods now and hurrying along a narrow path that
led to the road. They reached the two waiting motor
cars and tumbled in, and the automobiles started to
ward the city.
The police were just leaving their boat and rushing
into the woods, flashing their pocket torches, their
revolvers held ready, calling to one another. They
reached the road in time to hear the roaring of two
motors and to see two cars disappearing down the
highway. They wasted another fusillade of shots, and
then hurried back toward the boat.


248
THE BLACK STAR
and ran up the bank. The Black Star could see them
reach the floor of the bridge and run along it to the
tender's shanty. Then they scattered, hiding among
girders and along the bridge approach.
“Um! Very clever !" the Black Star said to his
man. "There is only the one road, too. We drive
at a furious pace on to the bridge; we see the draw
open, and we stop—and the clever police spring out
and make us all prisoners. Very clever-except that I
anticipated it.”.
"Maybe we could turn around and get back to our
launch,” his man suggested.
"Fool! In the first place, we'd lose valuable time,
and then, when we did come up the river, we'd have
to clash with the police boat again. Also, my brainy
friend, if our launch is where we left it, you may be
sure there is a police guard there waiting for us to
return. If you happen to have any brains, try to use
them."
The Black Star's man gulped and kept silent.
"Go back to the cars and have all the men come
here, bringing Muggs and Verbeck,” the master crim-
inal ordered.
The man obeyed; within two minutes all were
grouped around the Black Star, and the unconscious
prisoners were on the ground at the foot of a tree,
The Black Star explained their predicament.
"You chauffeurs, get back in the cars, turn on the
lights, and drive on to the bridge," he instructed.
cament.


BLACK STAR TAKES A TRICK
249
“When the police question you, simply say you have
been out to that road house on the river bank earlier
this evening—which will be true—and not finding
fares there, or prospects of any, are on your way
back to the city. Admit you heard firing back on the
road, and saw men rushing through the trees. ' Say
you didn't stop because you were afraid of being held
up—there have been several automobile holdups in
that vicinity recently. And argue with the police as
long as possible, while we do our part.” :
The chauffeurs hurried away. They ran some risk,
they knew. They might be put under arrest, but they
had little fear of that. Both held licenses as public
chauffeurs, and they had established the road-house
alibi on the master criminal's orders. And, if held,
the Black Star would see that they were bailed out
and then they'd simply jump their bail.
“We're going through that bridge and to the city,
and we're going in the police launch," the Black Star
told the others. “That'll be rather rubbing it in, but
the police deserve it. I'll write a letter to the papers
afterward, telling just how we did it. There is only
one man in the launch. We must seize it and make
a quick get-away. Run under the bridge and straight
up the river. We'll desert the police boat a short dis-
tance down the stream. I've arranged for two taxi-
cabs to be there. I wasn't exactly sure where it would
be best to leave our own launch, and I always prepare
for emergencies."


250 ' THE BLACK STAR
He led the way through the brush on the bank of
the river. They had but a short distance to go, and
they were directly opposite the police boat and about
a hundred feet from it when they heard the two auto-
mobiles run up on the bridge and stop at the command
of a policeman.
The Black Star was a wise general; he did not send
all his men forward at once. Had he done that, the
engineer of the launch would have been suspicious
and instantly sounded an alarm. The master criminal
selected one man, and had him walk boldly through
the brush and down to the launch. In the semidark-
ness the engineer of the launch would believe him to
be one of the plain-clothes men returning with orders.
The Black Star's man was within a dozen feet of
the boat before the engineer was aware of his ap-
proach, for he was busy with the searchlight. He
turned when he heard the man splashing through the
mud at the edge of the river, and before he could ask
a question he received a shot from a vapor gun and
collapsed in the bottom of the boat, unconscious.
The searchlight had been playing on the bridge ap-
proach. The Black Star's man swerved it aside for
a moment, and then back into position, thus notifying
his master that his work had been accomplished.
Down through the brush crept the Black Star and
his men, carrying their two prisoners. They reached
the launch and boarded it, and the master criminal's


BLACK STAR TAKES A TRICK 251
engineer hurried to his machinery. The police engi-
neer had been tossed out on the shore.
But the escape was not to be made without trouble.
There was a captain in charge of the police squad
who thought quickly. When the two empty auto-
mobiles reached the bridge, and the questioning of the
chauffeurs began, this captain ordered half his men
to return to the launch and go back up the river to
look for traces of their quarry. They broke through
the brush just as the launch's engineer was put on
the shore.
The mere sight of men aboard the launch was
enough to tell the police what had occurred. They
charged forward, shooting wildly and yelling alarms
to their companions up on the bridge. Bullets smashed
into the sides of the craft as it backed slowly away
from the shore. The engineer was doing his best,
but he could not turn and put on speed until safely
away from the shallows.
It was a perilous moment for the Black Star and
his men. The criminals returned the fire, but made
no attempt to hit their targets, for the master crook's
orders always stood against inflicting wounds or
causing death, unless it was absolutely necessary.
Crouching in the bottom of the launch, they waited
for the engineer to back out into the stream. More
police were hurrying down from the bridge, and soon
would be firing at the launch. And they would be
able to keep up their volleys until the launch was


254
THE BLACK STAR
bers of the Knights of Certainty would be seen again.
The Black Star and his men would leave behind a
couple of hundred dollars' worth of furniture -and
take away between two and three hundred thousand
in coin and negotiable securities. And the next blow
perhaps would be struck in a different section of the
city and at an unexpected moment, as usual.
The lights of the launch went out, and her speed
was cut down until she scarcely crept through the
water. Closer and closer she slipped to the shore,
inside the shadows of large warehouses. She passed
the end of a street, went in closer, and came finally
to the alley. Silently the men lashed her to piling
there.
The two taxicabs were waiting, and the transfer to
them took but a few minutes. With curtains up, they
crept to the mouth of the alley, turned into a street,
and sped along it toward the business district. There
was nothing unusual in the appearance of the taxicabs.
A score of police officers would have glanced at them
once, and then turned away. Repeatedly they were
held up at crossings by the theater and café crowds
passing. They were caught in traffic jams, but their
chauffeurs puffed at cigarettes and waited noncha-
lantly until they could go ahead.
They reached the front of the building where the
Knights of Certainty had their hall, but did not stop
there. They went into the alley and pulled up at a
little side door. One of the men got out, rapped on


256
THE BLACK STAR
oners were revived now and had been placed side by
side in chairs before one of the curtained windows
in the rear of the hall.
“Ah, Mr. Verbeck and Mr. Muggs!" the master
criminal smirked. “You are conscious again, then?
'Twas a pity you didn't see the little fight we had with
the police. I'd tell you all about it, but we haven't
the time to spare, and you can read about it in to-
morrow's papers. Well, here you are in the hall of
the Knights of Certainty. You see the aperture in
the wall? My mechanics have arranged a passage-
way between the walls of the two buildings. We
have a sort of glorified dumb-waiter, and by its use
can descend to the first floor of the National Trust
Company's building. Simple, eh? I regret I cannot
explain the method we are going to use to get into the
burglar-proof vaults. Did it become public prop-
erty, the manufacturers might invent some means of
counteracting it. Kindly sit still, gentlemen, while I
have my men prepare the way."
He deliberately turned his back and walked to the
center of the hall again and called his men to him,
all except the guards near the doors. He issued in-
structions, and two men hurried to the aperture in
the wall and disappeared. The Black Star was the
commanding general now, and his followers were
eager to obey.
For fifteen minutes perhaps he paced the floor,
glancing at his prisoners now and then, and often


258
THE BLACK STAR
and realized that he had been bound well. There was
no hope of slipping from these ropes. Here was no
broken glass upon which he could saw the ropes, as
Roger Verbeck had done once. Nor could he manage
to get his fingers into a hip pocket and extract a knife
that opened with a touch of the thumb and cut his
bonds with that as he had done once before when in
the Black Star's hands. Back at the master crimi-
nal's headquarters he had been searched and his knife
taken from him.
He racked his brain for an idea that would lead to
release, and could think of none. On the first floor
of the adjoining building, he guessed, the Black Star
and his men were filling suit cases with the wealth
of the National Trust Company, and a helpless and
raging prisoner was being forced to watch the crime
and endure the taunts of the Black Star at the same
time. If only he could be free and have a good auto-
matic in his hand-
He glanced at the Black Star's men again; they
were not even looking in his direction; they knew well,
he supposed, that he could not make a move. He could
only sit in the chair against the curtained rear window
and look straight ahead, absolutely helpless.
He imagined that he could hear a slight noise out-
side the window, but it was not repeated. If he could
have seen, he would have noticed that the point of a
sharp knife pierced the heavy curtain directly behind
him, and where none in the room could see. Working


MUGGS IN ACTION
259
slowly, cutting an inch at a time, that knife made
a slit half a foot long.
Then Muggs heard the slightest suggestion of a
whisper.
“Muggs! We're here to help, but must move care-
fully. I'm going to cut your ropes and slip you a
gun. Hold your arms tight so the ropes won't fall
away until you're ready. Steady now!”.
Muggs might have shrieked his happiness had not
the gag prevented. He didn't pretend to know the
owner of the voice, and he didn't care much, so that
it was a friend. One thing he did know-it was not
the voice of Roger Verbeck. And it was not the
voice of old Detective Riley, who had helped Muggs
and Verbeck several times in their effort to take the
Black Star. It was a strange voice, but welcome for
all that.
Muggs felt a knife sawing at the ropes that bound
his wrists together behind him. He caught the ends
as the ropes were severed, and held them so that they
would not drop away and alarm the Black Star's men
before his feet were free.
The knife was working on the ropes that bound
his feet now. It was slow and tedious work, and
at times the knife was still. Finally Muggs felt the
last rope give, and he heard the whisper again.
"I'm going to slip you an automatic. Stick 'em
all up and hold 'em while we break in behind you.


IN THE BANK
263
ds
men
handcuffs on the crestfallen criminals. “We've got
you this time, and you'll do a long stretch each.”
"We was only holdin' a meetin',” one of the men
replied.
"Yeh? I know all about that meetin'. Masks on
your faces, and the Black Star and some more down
in the bank, and Muggs bound and gagged in a chair
—and you was only holdin' a meetin'. Down to the
wagon you go now, and straight to the hoosgow!"
Muggs was not listening to this tirade of the lieu-
tenant's. No sooner had he seen that the battle was
over than he had raced across the hall to the wall
where the Black Star had touched a hidden button and
caused an aperture to show there. He pressed the
wall fractically, but with no result. He covered every
square inch of it near where he had seen the Black
Star put his hand, but no opening appeared.
"Needn't waste time there, Muggs, if you want
to get to that Verbeck man of yours," he heard the
sergeant saying. “There's some trick about it, of
course, or it wouldn't belong to the Black Star. We
were outside the window on the fire escape, and saw
him open that, and heard what he said. So we'll just
guard this end here, in case they should open it and
try to come up. The lower floor is guarded, too, and
they'll be mixing things there in a minute; they're
waitin' until Black Star gets his hands on some money
and stuff. We want to get him with the goods, see?


264
THE BLACK STAR
Men all around the block, tooma mouse couldn't get
away. We've got him this time!”
“How'd you know?” Muggs demanded.
“Don't ask me! Some tip to the chief—and it sure
was a correct tip. Two thirds of the night relief is
scattered around this block right now. Here's where
we clean up. By George, I'm sorry you and Verbeck
didn't do it!"
"Didn't we?” Muggs snarled.
"You wouldn't have done much, I guess, bound
and gagged the way you were—just been left here
for another joke. Nope! The police get the credit
for this—the police and whoever tipped this off. One
of the Black Star's men did it, I suppose—some one
that was sore at him for something."
"Guess again!" Muggs snarled. He didn't fancy
this belittling of Roger Verbeck by a lieutenant of
police.
He turned and hurried across the hall and into the
corridor, and sped down the stairs. He wanted to get
around to the other side of the block and see what was
transpiring in the National Trust Company's building.
He had forgotten the fantastic robe in which the Black
Star had dressed him, and the laughter of one of the
policemen in the hall brought it to mind. Muggs tore
the robe off and growled his imprecations, and ran
on as the policeman laughed again.
At the entrance to the building an officer held him
up with leveled weapon, not being sure of his identity.


266
THE BLACK STAR
It was dark inside, save where some light came
through the windows from the street. The police
flashed their torches and charged through the main
room and into the office section. They tumbled over
low partitions and scrambled over tables and desks
and chairs, working their way back of the cages to-
ward the vaults.
There had been officers stationed inside the building
before the Black Star and his men arrived to begin
operations, and they were in the front of the charge.
It had been the chief of police who had given the
signal on the whistle. Through a glass partition he
had watched proceedings until what he judged was
the right moment to act. He was eager to catch the
master criminal with loot in his hands, to get such
evidence that there would be no possibility of a mis-
trial or acquittal.
- There was the sound of crashing glass as the par-
titions went down. There was a loud command for
the Black Star and his men to throw up their hands
and surrender.
There came a deafening crash, and a cloud of vapor
rolled toward the police. Some inhaled it and fell;
others, guessing what it meant, tried to hold breath
until it passed, though it half blinded them and made
their eyes smart and torrents of tears run from them.
. Over the noise and confusion rang the mocking
laugh of the Black Star. Through the gas cloud they
could see him retreating, shielding himself with the


IN THE BANK
267
body of his bound and gagged prisoner. Three men
who retreated before him carried two heavy suit cases
between them.
Shots rang out, but none fell. Those of the police
who had not been rendered unconscious by the gas
bomb charged again. They saw the Black Star back
into a little side corridor, saw him hesitate a moment
by the wall, put his hand against it, and saw an open-
ing appear.
Through this opening his men darted. He stepped
into it himself, still using his prisoner as a shield.
Then the opening closed.
“We've got him-got him!” the chief cried. “Our
men are watching the top of that between-the-walls
business he built, and we are watching the bottom.
He can't get out. He'll give up or he'll stay there
and starve. And if he doesn't give up mighty quick
we'll go in after him."
Muggs grasped the chief by the arm and opened his
mouth to speak, but the chief was quicker.
"I know, Muggs," he said. “The scoundrel's got
Verbeck in there. But we'll get 'em-and I don't think
he'll hurt Verbeck.",


CHAPTER XXXII
A NARROW ESCAPE
TYTHEN the Black Star had entered the aperture in
W the lodge hall, and the panel closed behind him,
he flashed his electric torch around the interior of a
space about five feet long and three wide.
"Notice our ingenuity, Mr. Verbeck," he said.
“Here we have constructed, as I remarked, a sort of
dumb-waiter between the walls of the two buildings.
It took considerable time, and great care was neces-
sary, but the job will be profitable for all that Every
bit of material had to be smuggled into the lodge hall,
but we did it without the stupid police suspecting any-
thing was wrong
"I am sorry that I cannot remove your mask and
gag and discuss this bit of work with you, but you
might shriek and call down our foes. Kindly give
me your close attention now. You see this small cable
running through the corner? I pull on it like this
similar to the old-fashioned elevators, you see. And
down we go!"
The little box arrangement crept downward slowly
as the Black Star chuckled his satisfaction. There
was not the slightest noise; the holes even had been
greased so the cable would slip through silently. Inch


A NARROW ESCAPE
209
by inch the box descended. It was insufferably hot,
and the air was bad. None spoke a word until the
descent of the box stopped, and then the Black Star
turned to his prisoner again.
“We are at the bottom," he said. "You see this
small button here? It is connected with an electric-
light signal that we installed, and when I press it a
certain number of times it conveys a meaning to one
of my men in the bank. The little bulb light, I assure
you, is cunningly hidden. You see, I am prepared
for everything, Mr. Verbeck. Perhaps that is why I
am so successful.”
He reached out and pressed the button. There
was a wait of half a minute, and then a green bulb
glowed in the top of the box.
"Ah, the coast is clear!” the Black Star said. “We
are about to take a fortune in money and securities
from the strongest bank in the city, Mr. Verbeck, from
a bank that boasts its vaults cannot be opened by
burglars."
The Black Star chuckled again, and then pressed
against the wall. An opening showed before them,
and one of the Black Star's men stood just outside,
masked.
"All ready, sir," he reported. “The suit cases are
on a table before the vault's door and you have only
to open that door and step inside.”
“The watchmen are on duty ?”
“In front on the two upper floors, sir, and in the


270
THE BLACK STAR
rear on this floor at this time. He has to punch his
report box there in ten minutes."
"Guard the corridor, then. I want only the three
men with me in the vault room. Should there be trou-
ble, use the back exit, and leave this for me and those
working with me."
He stepped out as he ceased speaking, and the men
behind him carried the prisoner between them as they
had on the floor above. They were in a narrow side
corridor that ran from the offices to an alley entrance
an entrance used by directors when they attended
a meeting, and by bank officials when they desired to
get out of the building without seeing some unde-
sirable.
Along this narrow corridor they walked slowly,
bending low when they came to a place where light
came through the windows from the street. They
opened a door and passed through an office, opened
another door, and were in the vault room.
“Put Mr. Verbeck in that chair at the end of the
table and facing the door of the vault," the Black
Star whispered to his men. "I want him to have the
privilege of watching operations. Then, when we are
done, we'll pin a nice little note to his breast, put
him to sleep, go away, and telephone the stupid police
to come here and find him. And then the public can
have a laugh.”
His men obeyed him, and the Black Star turned
to the door of the vault. He chuckled again as he


272
THE BLACK STAR
work, only one bit of work out of many good ones.
I am going to make one more trip. I have heard of
a certain diamond necklace that is kept in this vault,
and I want it, if it can be found quickly. Ii I do
not get it to-night I'll have to rob this place again, and
I have made it a rule heretofore never to strike twice
in the same place."
Even his own men marveled at the man's com-
posure. Here he was robbing the strongest finarcial
institution in the city, entering a vault considered im-
pregnable, and without showing the slightest nervous-
ness. Apparently he was in no great hurry to get
away. He might have been a man in his own home,
showing his friends treasures taken from a private
safe.
Then came the sound of a distant shot, the sound
of breaking glass, a man's shriek The Black Star
hurried irom the vault and stood listening, and the
faint light from the street showed that there was some
concern in his countenance. One of the watchmen
came running in from the corridor.
“The red signal!” he exclaimed. “The signal from
the lodge hall!”
"Quietly, quietly, my man,” the master criminal
said. "Nothing ever is gained by getting into a sweat
when quick thinking is necessary. Give the signal
and go out the rear way—all of you."
"But you, sir?"


A NARROW ESCAPE
273
"I'll take care of myself-go! Undoubtedly those
fools upstairs are frightened at nothing."
But a fusillade of shots from the lodge hall above
gave the lie to his words.
“Something appears to be wrong," he said. "I
suppose we may as well get out of here and into our
between-the-walls box. Pick up the suit cases, men.
I am sure I don't imagine what has happened. There
is no way in which the police could have been in-
formed. If you were not my prisoner now, Mr.
Verbeck—but you are, and so is Muggs. I was going
to bring Muggs down here and leave him with you,
but he'll have to miss this share of the fun, I think.
One moment, Mr. Verbeck, until I decorate your
breast with a sarcastic note.”
He reached in his pocket and brought forth the note
he had prepared, and stepped toward the prisoner,
reaching to his lapel for a pin.
"We'd better hurry," one of his men suggested.
“Are you afraid, when I am here beside you?" the
Black Star demanded. “Such a man has no place in
an organization like mine."
"I'm afraid for you, sir—that's all.”
"Your solicitude for my welfare overwhelms me.
Start on, my man, and I'll be with you almost in-
stantly."
The three men started toward the door with the
suit cases. The Black Star bent forward to pin the


274
THE BLACK STAR
note on the breast of the man before him. And then
the chief's whistle came.
With the crashing in of the front door of the bank,
the Black Star was a changed man. He grasped his
prisoner by the shoulders, jerked him from the chạir,
and dragged him across the room to the office door.
Through the offices police poured in upon him. His
hand dived into his pocket, and came forth, holding
a round object about the size of a tennis ball. He
hurled it on the floor in front of the advancing foes.
There was a roar as the bomb struck, a hiss as
the cloud of vapor spread. The Black Star laughed
mockingly, and backed toward the wall, shielding him-
self behind his helpless prisoner's body. He touched
the wall, and the opening appeared. He went in, still
carrying his prisoner, and in the little box he laughed
again, aloud, and tugged at the cable.
"Quite a bit of excitement, Mr. Verbeck,” he ob
served. "But here we are, safe and sound, and with
the suit cases filled with loot. Now I wonder what
brought those police down upon us. I suppose I'll
have to go through my organization and ask a few
questions. And if there is such a thing as a traitor
-ha!"
He tugged at the cable again, and the box ascended.
"Listen to the poor fools pounding on the wall!”
he exclaimed. “They will have difficulty, I imagine,
finding how that opening is caused. You notice, my
dear Mr. Verbeck, that when I opened it either above


A NARROW ESCAPE
. 275
or below, I press the wall with my hand. That is
merely a trick, should some one be observing too
closely. As I do that, I touch the real spring with the
toe of my shoe. Men can press with their hands all
day and not find it."


CHAPTER XXXIII
PUZZLED POLICE
S he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned sud-
denly and gave his prisoner a shot from the
vapor gun. His own men evidently had guessed what
was coming, for they turned their faces away, and
each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that
close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
"Quick, now!" the master criminal instructed his
men. “I don't know how it happens that the police
came down on us, but they're here, and I suppose
the block is surrounded. We can't go up, and we
can't go down—yet. The men upstairs must have
been overcome, since the fighting has stopped, and the
bank is full of police. So we'll try the halfway
station."
He tugged at the cable, and the car stopped. He
flashed his torch on the wall, and then pulled the
cable again and forced the car to ascend as slowly as
possible, while he looked closely at the wall.
"Here's the scratch we made," he said finally, and
stopped the box. He pressed against the wall, and
a new aperture showed. “In with you,” he instructed,
"and don't forget the loot.”
The three men stepped past him and into a tiny


278
THE BLACK STAR
"We'll get him—you're worrying about Verbeck,
that's all. I don't think he'll hurt your boss.”
“The Black Star'll get out some way!"
“Take it easy, Muggs," the chief advised. “We've
got the entire block surrounded. Every door and
window is being watched. Why, I've even got men
watching the sewer connections. Not a rat could get
out of this block without being seen and caught.”
“Yeh? We had him surrounded in a house once
out on the river, and didn't he get to the roof and
streak it away in an aëroplane?".
"Well, you may be sure he hasn't any plane on the
roof of this building, Muggs. He couldn't have driven
it here and landed-he'd have been smashed to bits,
and, besides, some one would have heard or seen him.
An aëroplane makes a noise. And he didn't have any
on the roof at supper time, because one of the watch-
men we found bound and gagged lives up there, and
he just told me he'd seen nothing suspicious. We've
got him in a trap, I tell you.”
The wall crashed in, and the men fell back, half
expecting to face a fight with the Black Star and his
men. But their torches showed them a dark shaft
running up between the walls and a cable in one
corner of it, and that was all.
They cleared away the débris. Up in the lodge
hall the other policemen smashed through the wall,
too, and sent a shower of bricks and plaster down.


PUZZLED POLICE
281
night. If we did we might find that the stupid police
had sealed up the bottom and top of the shaft. That'd
be lovely, wouldn't it?"
He chuckled again as his three men shuddered at
the thought of being interred alive. He went to the
wall and pressed against it, and the panel slid back
three or four inches. Leaning forward carefully, the
Black Star glanced down.
He could see the flashes of the police torches at
the bottom of the shaft, and he could hear Muggs and
the chief in a lively argument. Glancing up, he saw
the flash of a torch at the top. He reached out, know-
ing that his hand could not be seen unless several
torches were flashed down the shaft at the same time,
and pulled at the cable. The box began to ascend.
It was halfway to the hole in the wall before the
chief noticed it, and then, thinking the men above
were raising it, he shouted for them to lower it again.
While they conversed by shrieks and yells, the Black
Star brought the box opposite the sliding panel and
gripped the cable there.
The men below and the men above tugged at the
cable, but the box remained in place. The Black Star,
still chuckling, took pencil and paper from his pocket
and scribbled a note, and pinned it to the breast of
the unconscious man before him. Then he tumbled
his prisoner into the box.
"Go down to your friend, the chief, and mystify
him, my dear Mr. Verbeck," the Black Star said.


282
THE BLACK STAR
"You have not indulged in much action this evening.
I trust the chief will unbind you, and that when you
regain consciousness you'll join in the chase.”
He chuckled again, tugged at the cable, and sent
the box downward, and then closed the panel and sạt
down beside his men.
"Listen now, and you'll hear a roar!” he exclaimed.
“But how are we goin' to get out, sir?” one of
the crooks asked.
“Don't worry about that. What time is it?"
The man flashed a torch and glanced at his watch.
"It's almost two o'clock."
"Ha! Then we'd better get out of here within the
hour. It'll be daylight by four-thirty, and I want to
be back at headquarters before then. You know how
I am going, of course."
"I know how you'll go if you get out of here,” the
man replied. "Getting out of here is what is worry-
ing me.”
"Don't worry—it causes gray hairs. Listen!"
They could hear a commotion at the bottom of the
shaft. The box had reached its destination, and the
bound, gagged, and unconscious man had been seen
and taken out.
"It's Verbeck!" the chief cried. "He's doped, or
something!"
"Vapor gun!” Muggs explained.
"Then they've sent him back to us. But where did
he come from? Answer me that! He didn't come


PUZZLED POLICE
283
from the top, and there's no place between here and
the top where he could come from. Unbind hiin,
you men, and take that gag off. Maybe he can tell
us something when he gets rid of that vapor dope.
What's this a note?”
One of the men held his torch, and the chief read it
swiftly:
DEAR CHIEF: Here is Roger Verbeck safe and
sound. Since you don't seem able to make very
much war against me, perhaps you'll revive Ver-
beck and let him get into the game. I've kept
him pretty quiet to-night. I'm sending him to
you out of the sky, my dear chief, you might say.
At least, you don't know where I am sending
him from, and cannot find out. ' I don't know
how you got on my trail so swiftly to-night, but
it didn't save the bank from losing a vast sum,
and didn't help you much, did it?
* * * * *
"If I ever get my two hands on that man he'll never
live to stand trial!" the chief promised. “Verbeck
conscious yet? We've got to look into this business.
I tell you the Black Star's somewhere in this build-
ing. He's somewhere in that shaft "
"But he can't be," a lieutenant protested. “There
isn't a place in the shaft where a man could leave the
box"


CHAPTER XXXIV
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHIEF
THE head of the police department, knowing that
a crowd surrounded the block now, and that
news had gone abroad that the Black Star and some
of his men had been cornered, and that certain news-
paper reporters were standing by and waiting to see
whether the police would be made again to look like
fools, grew frantic. Also, his determination to cap-
ture the Black Star increased. He had his men drive
every one out of the bank building and guard the
offices and corridors, and, leaving four men to guard
the bottom of the shaft, with two others, he got in the
box and started to ascend.
The Black Star, from his post above, heard the chief
issue these orders, and knew the box was on its up-
ward journey.
"Couldn't be better," he told his men.' "Only four
at the bottom of the shaft now. You know we have
to go, of course? Hurry through the corridor to the
narrow flight of stairs in the rear, and climb!"
"But- "one of his men began.
"Silence, fool. The box is almost opposite us!”
The chief and his two men were ascending slowly,
examining every inch of the walls with their torches.


WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHIEF 287
The Black Stạr hissed a warning to the man on
the floor. The box came directly opposite the aper-
ture in the wall. The man on the floor gripped the
cable and stopped it, and as he did so the Black Star's
vapor gun worked. Three times he pressed the trig-
ger, filling the box with stupefying gas. The chief
was the first to topple forward; the other two were
unconscious almost instantly.
The Black Star and his men staggered backward,
holding the little sponges to their nostrils. The air
cleared, and then the master crook opened the panel
to its greatest extent, and hauled the chief of police
and his two men inside the little room.
"Lively now," the Black Star commanded. “Only-
four men at the bottom, remember, and there are
three of us. I'll hurl a vapor bomb as soon as we get
to the bottom, and you be ready with your guns. I'll
take one of those suit cases. Number Ten, you take
the other. And you, Number Six, make sure of at
least two of the men at the bottom, if you can.”
They got into the box and started it downward,
leaving the chief and his two men in the halfway
room. They mumbled a conversation so that the men
below would hear it and think nothing was wrong.
Foot by foot they drew nearer the bottom of the
shaft. Finally the box jarred and stopped.
A bomb crashed at the feet of the four men stand-
ing less than half a dozen paces away; the cloud of


WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHIEF 289
tion, and prepared for a dash on the part of the crooks.
The Black Star hurled another vapor bomb, and
checked the pursuit for a moment, but not for long.
They were on the fourth floor now, and they could
tell by the sounds that officers were rushing up the
broad stairs in front. The Black Star was glad that
the elevators were not running. Had they been, he
could have made a swifter get-away, but also the
pursuit would have been closer.
Now they were panting because of their exertion,
but did not slacken their pace. The fifth floor was
reached, and half a dozen policemen dashed down a
hallway at them. Once more there came a fusillade
of bullets—and another of the Black Star's men fell.
There remained only himself and one other now-
but they kept hold of the two suit cases filled with
loot.
The top floor was above them, and they reached it
only by hurling two more vapor bombs. They rushed
along a hallway toward the front of the building
now. They came to where a curving iron stairway
led to the roof, and up this they rushed, exposed to
the shots of the police as they came into view.
The Black Star threw his last bomb. The man
behind him staggered and fell, but was upon his feet
again instantly. He gasped that he had not been
wounded, had only tripped on the edge of a step.
They reached the little door at the top, threw it open,


290
THE BLACK STAR
and dashed out on the roof. The door was slammed
behind them, bolted, and barred. The bars constituted
another of the Black Star's preparations against emer-
gencies—his men had affixed them the last thing that
evening.
On the other side the police crashed against the
little door, fired into it, and then realized that it was
a metal, fireproof door, and proof against their bullets.
It was another case where axes would be necessary.
It took several minutes to send word down and get
axes from below, and then the assault on the door
began. They took turns working at it, for this was
no easy task. Finally the hinges gave a trifle, and they
redoubled their blows, while others behind them got
ready to give battle. The word spread below rapidly
-the Black Star and one of his men were on the roof,
trapped. They would be prisoners or dead soon now.
If the police could not get at them through the door,
then the fire department would be called, ladders would
be raised, and they would be reached that way.
The door gave again; some of the police cheered.
With revolvers held ready, they waited for the blow
that would hurl the door to the roof and let them
through.
The door crashed-and a roaring filled their ears.
'A gust of wind swept back against them. Something
dark showed against the sky. They heard a mocking
laugh.


292
THE BLACK STAR
Tell that to the papers, and give my respects to
Roger Verbeck and Muggs.
* * * * *
"Got away-got away with th' goods," the ser-
geant muttered. "Oh, heavens! What will th' public
say to this? They'll clean out the department from
the chief to th' office boy!"


CHAPTER XXXV
AN UNEXPECTED BLOW
THE Black Star took his aëroplane to an altitude of
three thousand feet, circled over the city, and
finally started down the river. He gave all his atten-
tion to the machine, and did not even glance at the
man who sat beside him.' Far below were the lights
of the city where he had stolen so many fortunes in
money and jewels the past six months, the city he
had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and the
home' of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire club-
man who had sworn to capture him.
Well, Verbeck had not captured him, he thought.
He had made the young clubman a laughingstock
more than once. He had made his efforts appear
childlike and foolish, and so he was satisfied. For he
would have to leave this particular city now, he knew.
His last two adventures had almost resulted in his
downfall. In them he had lost many men, including
his most trusted lieutenants. The man beside him
really was the only one left whom he could trust.
He could afford to retire for a time, and that was
what he would do, he decided. He had ample funds.
He would call the remainder of his band together in
a couple of days, at some new headquarters—for he


AN UNEXPECTED BLOW 295
ster up the road and drive it into the river off the
cliff.”
He turned the plane toward the shore and descended
slowly. On reaching the ground the master criminal
tossed the suit cases overboard, then sprang out him.
self.
“Good night," he said.
“Good night, sir."
The plane, with its engine roaring, took the air.
The Black Star picked up the heavy suit cases and
started for the road.
After all, he was thinking, it would be a relief to
get away and give up his dangerous occupation for a
time. He hated to admit it even to himself, but to-
night's business had shaken him. He had almost felt
fear, especially when he had been cornered in the
halfway room.
But he had succeeded. He had made a last big
haul. He was safe now—there remained only to
leave the headquarters, meet the men, and distribute
some money, and then quit the city for the West and
China and the South Seas. Crime didn't pay, eh?
Well—he had made it pay!
He decided that he'd send a last sarcastic note to
the police, the newspapers, and to Roger Verbeck, just
as he left. He chuckled again now as he thought of
Verbeck. It seemed that he had been unable to get
into action to-night. How he would rage when told
that the Black Star had escaped again! How funny


CHAPTER XXXVI
IN CUSTODY
W/HEN the Black Star opened his eyes he saw a
V peculiar-looking individual before him, scarcely
half a dozen feet away, who held an automatic pistol
in his hand in a threatening manner. This individual
was dressed in greasy overalls and jumper, and had
a soft hat pulled down low over his forehead. The
collar of his jumper was turned up so that scarcely
any of the face could be seen except the eyes. His
hands were dirty; his hair was black and long, and
apparently needed cutting badly.
"Well, I've got you, all right!" the individual
growled in a hoarse voice. "Pretty good pickin'
around these diggin's, too. Notice the swag I've got
here on the table?”
He bent forward and tore the gag from the Black
Star's mouth.
"Talk, if you want to," he offered. “Black Star, eh?
Big crook, eh?"
“Who are you?” the Black Star asked.
“What do you care?”
"I am interested. Any man who can put me down
and out-and I suppose you are the one who did it


300
THE BLACK STAR
-interests me strangely. So you think I am the
Black Star?”
“I know it."
"I suppose you want to join my organization and
are taking this melodramatic way to show me you are
fitted ?"
"Guess again!”
"Well, what is the idea, then? I suppose you re-
alize what you are running up against when you tackle
the Black Star?”
"I know that, all right, and I'm not scared.”
"You're not very communicative," said the other.
“Suppose you untie me now, and we'll talk business.
If it is money you want. ”
"Why untie you when I've got it all right here on
the table?"
"Well, what are you going to do?”.
“Give you a surprise," came the answer.
The Black Star saw the man before him straighten
up suddenly. His hand went to his hat, and the hat
came off, and with it a black wig. And then he
smiled and bowed.
"Roger Verbeck!" the Black Star gasped.
"At your service, Sir Crook! I said I'd get you,
and I have!”
“But — How did you get here so soon? I saw
you back at the National Trust as I was leaving.”
"Pardon me, my dear Mr. Black Star. You are


IN CUSTODY
301
not very observing, are you? How many times have
you seen me, spoken to me?”
“Half a dozen, I suppose."
"But never paid particular attention to me, did you?"
"I never had a chance particularly, as I always saw
you under conditions of excitement."
“That was one bad mistake you made. You should
know me when you meet me face to face.”
"I know that, all right, but you haven't answered
my question—how did you get here so quickly, and
alone? How did you know where my headquarters
was?”
"Naturally, since I was out to get you, I just dis-
covered that.”
“One of my men turned traitor, I suppose.”
"Indeed, no. I did it all by my own little self,
Mr. Black Star. I said six months ago that I could
get you, and you dared me to try. You went right
ahead with your crimes, and you made a fool of me
on several occasions. You always prepared for every
possible emergency; that was it. You never made a
mistake. You went ahead on your thieving way, and
I told you that no criminal could be successful for
always, no matter how brainy a man, and that some
day you'd make a mistake. You've made one—and
now you're going to pay for it. For you're going to
jail from here, Mr. Black Star. I'm going to see you
in the prisoner's dock, as I swore I should. And I'm
going to follow you to the doors of the penitentiary,


IN CUSTODY
305
minute, as you had so many times before—so I re-
mained here, waiting for you, and when you came I
succeeded in making you my prisoner. While you
were gone I examined the house and found many
interesting things.
"In your excitement at planning and carrying out a
big crime you made a mistake, Mr. Black Star-you
didn't use your eyes, didn't observe closely. You
took my cousin for me. That's all. And now you
must pay! Oh, yes! I must decorate you as you
have often in the past decorated me."
He took a bit of paper from his pocket and he pinned
it to the Black Star's breast while the master criminal
sputtered his wrath. It read:
Mr. Black Star: Never depend on the eyes of
others but use your own. Because Muggs drove
a roadster and my cousin looks like me, your
men took it for granted that my cousin was me,
and you let it go at that. That was your mis-
take.
ROGER VERBECK.
"Now, chief, take your man,” Verbeck concluded.
“And don't let him get away this time. And you,
Muggs, go out and get the roadster ready. We're
going home! There is a telephone, chief, if you want
to give the glad news to the papers."
Muggs turned toward the door. The adventure


306
THE BLACK STAR
was over, Muggs knew. He was no longer comrade
in arms—now he was chauffeur and valet and all-
around man to Roger Verbeck-until that young gen-
tleman should feel the call of adventure again.
THE END





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