Author: Johnston McCulley
Category: Mystery
Go to read content：https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/johnston-mcculley/page,3,7486-the_black_star__a_detective_story.html
CHAPTER III--INTO THE PIT
Instinct and experience told Verbeck that this sight might prove toomuch for Muggs and he gripped the smaller man by the arm to indicatethat he was to maintain quiet. It was well he did so, for subsequentproceedings were highly unusual and mysterious.
The Black Star nodded to the other man and stepped across the room,where there was another small blackboard attached to the wall. When hestood before it he nodded again, and the other picked up the chalk andstarted to write, and thus they conversed, each writing on hisblackboard 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 hisvalet. Escaped when they went to call police."
It seemed that the Black Star grew taller and straighter as he lookedat the other man, and Verbeck and Muggs could see his eyes glitteringthrough the black mask. They expected him to roar a rebuke, adenunciation, but he did not. He faced the blackboard again and wroterapidly:
"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 blackstar on his bed and scattered others in library. I was putting letteron 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 walkedslowly to the table. There was a pile of letters on one end of it, andthe Black Star picked up one and read it, shook his head, and put theletter in the pocket of his robe. He pressed against the end of thetable, and a drawer shot open. Verbeck and Muggs could see that thedrawer was half filled with money and jewels.
The Black Star took out some money and threw it on the table. Heclosed the drawer and walked back to his blackboard, and picked up thechalk to write again:
"You will not be safe here for some time. Verbeck or his man mightrecognize you. Take that money and catch the first train for Chicago.Return and report one month from to-night at midnight."
The other man read and bowed his head. There was no hesitancy in hismanner; he acted like a man who had received orders that he knew hehad to carry out. He went forward and picked up the money, and, withit clutched in one hand, he backed to the door and lifted the otherhand in salute to the Black Star. The Black Star nodded, and the otherbacked through the door and closed it.
Muggs hurried across the room to the window to watch, while Verbeckremained gazing through the crack in the door at the Black Star, whosat down in the armchair and began inspecting the letters on thetable. The minutes passed. Muggs returned and reported that the otherman had put the robe and mask in the box, and had slipped away throughthe trees. Still the Black Star sat at the table, and that for whichVerbeck had been waiting did not come to pass--the master criminal didnot remove the mask from his face.
Another adventure appealed to Verbeck now. He decided to face theBlack Star in his den. He confided his intention to Muggs in whispersand gave his orders, and, disregarding Muggs' mouthings concerning his"hunch," slipped across the room to the window and let himself out.
He found the robe in the box and quickly put it on, then adjusted theblack mask. Beneath the robe, his hand clutched the butt of hisautomatic. Searching the edge of the casement, he found a push buttonand touched it with his finger. Inside, a bell tinkled.
A few seconds passed, and then there was a sharp click and the doorflew open. Verbeck entered and closed the door after him. Before himwas a long corridor, musty, the air in it rank, dust on walls andceiling. It appeared that the entire house had not been renovated,only the one room.
Verbeck slipped along the corridor to where a streak of light enteredit, indicating a door. Holding the pistol ready beneath his robe, heopened the door and stepped into the room, and stood beside theblackboard as the other man had done. The Black Star was not there.
The seconds seemed hours as he waited, trying to keep his eyes awayfrom the door behind which he knew Muggs was watching him, his earsstrained to catch the first sound of the master criminal's approach.Then the other door opened, and the Black Star appeared and walked tohis station on the other side of the room. He nodded his head, andVerbeck picked up chalk and eraser and turned to the blackboard.
He was playing a dangerous game, and did not know how soon he would bedetected. He felt small fear, for Muggs was waiting to help him, andhe had heard nothing, seen nothing to indicate that the Black Star hadallies in the house.
"Number Four," Verbeck wrote on the board.
"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. Verbeckwondered whether he had made a mistake, and he soon found out, for theBlack 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 BlackStar knew him for an intruder, and knew also that he must haveobserved a great deal to be able to don robe and mask and start theblackboard conversation. The master criminal could be expected to actwith dispatch.
Before the Black Star could make a move Verbeck's robe parted and hisleft hand emerged, holding the pistol ready for instant action. Withhis 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, scarcelyknowing what step to take next. The man before him did not speak, butthose glittering eyes--burning, malevolent, ominous--seemed to cry outwith surprise, hatred, and threats.
"So you are the Black Star?" Verbeck said. "Quite a comedy you playhere, eh? Masks hide faces and blackboards take the place of spokenwords. A very clever crook--you. But I said a clever man could findyou, and I say it again. This is the best proof of it, isn't it? Youchallenged me--and I have come. So your man thought he had escaped, didhe? If ever you see him again, tell him that his bonds were left loosepurposely, so that he'd escape and could be shadowed here. Allow me,sir--Mr. Roger Verbeck, 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 ofunderestimating the cleverness of the man before him, and he was alertfor tricks. He saw the Black Star's hands contract and his armsstiffen, and imagined the master crook calling down curses on the headof the man who had led enemies to his stronghold.
Then the Black Star spoke--in a low, penetrating voice, almost amonotone, 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 tolive up to my estimation of myself," Verbeck replied.
"You have done something no outsider has done before--you have seen theBlack Star in his workshop. That is, indeed, a rare privilege. And, ofcourse, you'll pay for it in the end."
"You think so?" Verbeck asked.
"I presume you started out with the intention of handing me over toyour stupid police. The greatest and most difficult thing, you perhapsthought, would be to locate me. Well, you have located me--and yourtask is but begun."
"Indeed?"
"It takes evidence to convict."
"Naturally," said Verbeck. "Suppose I call the police now. How aboutthe robe and mask you wear, that star, these blackboards, thoseprinted letters identical with ones that have been received by thepolice and the newspapers? Evidence? This room is full of it!"
"But, when you get right down to the point," said the Black Star,"you'll want evidence of theft and burglary, you k
now."
"I never heard of a gang yet where some one wouldn't turn state'sevidence."
The Black Star chuckled, and through the slits in his mask his eyesseemed to be dancing with delight.
"That is just where my cleverness comes in," he said. "To show you howlittle I fear you, Roger Verbeck, I'll tell you things no man knowsexcept myself. I can tell you, for instance--and it is the truth--thatthe Black Star does have a band working for him, but that not one ofthem ever saw his face or heard his voice."
"Nonsense."
"Not nonsense, but the truth. So certain am I as to what is going tohappen to you, Roger Verbeck, that I'll reveal secrets and show youhow useless it would be to fight me, before you--er--cease to trouble mefurther. I say no member of my band ever saw my face or heard myvoice, and it is the truth. I say, moreover, that I never saw the faceof one of my band or heard his voice, that I know nothing of theirnames or identities, and, whenever a crime is committed, I do not knowwhich person or group does the work. Can you understand that? Turnstate's evidence, Mr. Verbeck? Not a man of them knows a thing totell, except against himself."
"Rot!"
"The truth," said the Black Star. "Attend me closely. I reveal mymethods to you, because you'll never pass them on. I began my workyears ago. I have a genuine partner, who is not in this city at thepresent time. When I decided to invade this town he came here. Herented this old house and fixed up this one room in it. Thefurnishings were carted one at a time, and they were unloaded severalblocks away and fetched here at night. When everything was ready, Icame.
"My gang? This one man who knows me got the gang together. Every oneof them is an expert in his particular time. Each was eager to workunder me, for I am in a position to insure success and big profits. Myorganization extends farther than you dream. Each man was fetched hereand taught what to do. Here he comes to get orders and to report.There is no conversation except on the blackboard; and masks arealways worn.
"At the first, these men drew numbers out of a box, and in addition Igave each a countersign. I issue orders by number, and they report bynumber. If I was on the witness stand at this moment and wanted tobetray my men I couldn't do it. I could only say that a certain crimewas committed by Number One, for instance--but if all were lined upbefore me I couldn't swear they were members of my band, because I'dnot know. Do you understand that, Mr. Roger Verbeck? Very clever, eh?We work together, yet were we to pass on the street we'd not dream weknew one another. Absolute protection--you see? Hand me over to thepolice this minute--if you can--and it will avail you nothing. No jurywould convict on the evidence that could be presented. And myorganization, 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 everything yet. I have aband of men who do the real work. And I have an organization thatcollects knowledge I must have. Every man and woman in thatorganization has a very good reason for being loyal to me----"
"Women?"
"Yes," said the Black Star. "Many women! People in every walk of life.And, naturally, I have arranged it so that I could harm them, but theynever 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 thecombination of the safe in your dressing room, Mr. Verbeck, if you areskeptical, and tell you also that there is nothing in it at thepresent time that we desire. There is a bundle of stock certificatesand deeds in the upper right-hand pigeonhole, and a score or more oldcoins 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 yourhead--I do not know the names or faces of my real workers, but I doknow the identities of those who gather my information. I know them,and could punish them--but they do not know me. Tidy littlearrangement? I fancy you'll not find a flaw in it."
"You have deluded yourself into thinking it is perfect," repliedVerbeck. "Suppose one of your crooks is captured while committing acrime, and brings the police down on you to save himself?"
"He would not. If he kept his mouth closed, the organization wouldsave him. If he played traitor, the organization would save me and seethat 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 protects me. Youhave pitted your cleverness against mine, Mr. Verbeck, and you havebeen successful in your first attempt--you have located me. And nowwhat 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 laughedat in the end, and I'd probably conclude by suing you for heavydamages. Believe me when I say everything has been thought of, and forevery attack there is a defense arranged. Also, to hand me over to thepolice would be to warn all the others, and you'd have a difficulttime convicting me without their testimony. And there is anotherthing----"
The Black Star hesitated.
"Say it!" said Verbeck.
"I have said that my organization is far-reaching. If you meddled inmy affairs, the chickens might come home to roost. You are up againstsomething regarding the magnitude of which you know very little, Mr.Verbeck. I have only just begun my organization in this city, butalready it is broad enough to cause you pain and chagrin, did I put itto work."
"I suppose," said Verbeck, "that you imagine you are going to frightenme by this lot of pointless talk."
"You may be a very clever man in some things, Mr. Verbeck, but in thisyou are no better than a babe. Did I take the fancy to do so, I couldmake you one of my organization, too. But you have gone too far forthat--you have discovered too much."
"You'd make me join your band of crooks!" exclaimed Verbeck, laughing.
"I could force you to be a loyal and obedient member, believe me, ifsuch was my desire. You do not realize, sir, the strength of the BlackStar and his band. You do not realize how very little you know. Youhave heard my voice, that is true, and you have seen my workshop--buteven 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 tablewith a pistol in your hand. I am seated, and my hands are on the tablebefore me, so that you could fill me full of lead before I could get aweapon 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--andyou are standing over a cement-lined pit twelve feet deep. Before youcould shoot, my toe would press the button--so! And down you go, Mr.Verbeck, through the floor and into the pit, and the trapdoor comes upagain--so!--and you are a prisoner in the darkness--you who tried tomatch wits with the Black Star!"
It all had happened in a second of time. A section of the floor hadswung downward with a crash, and Roger Verbeck had been dashed to thebottom of the pit. The one shot he fired went wild, the bullet buryingitself in the ceiling. The trapdoor closed again--and the Black Star,standing at the end of the table now, threw back his head and laugheduproariously.
And the laughter died in his throat as he sank suddenly to the floor!For Muggs was through the door as Verbeck shot downward, and the buttof his automatic had crashed against the Black Star's head just behindthe left ear.