Author: Johnston McCulley
Category: Mystery
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CHAPTER V--MUGGS ON GUARD
When 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, bringingsleet and snow with it. It had been all one with Muggs whether theBlack Star froze to death or not.
Verbeck closed the window. He didn't want to carry the man into thefurnished room for fear some other member of the gang might come tomake a report, although now it was almost three o'clock in themorning. So he threw the door open wide and rolled in the couch andlifted the Black Star upon it, covering him with two heavy portieresthat hung before one of the doors. However, there was no expression ofthanks 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 madean inspection of the house from bottom to top. No other room wasfurnished; there were no arrangements for cooking, no store of food.The Black Star, then, did not live here, only came here to receive themembers of his gang. That would make it possible for Verbeck to remainaway from the house except at night.
He went back to the furnished room and conducted an investigationthere. First he looked at the orders in the envelopes. Nine was thehighest number there, but Verbeck did not know how many envelopes hadbeen given out that night before his arrival. And the orders wereastounding.
Only one had to do with gathering information; the others concernedprojected crimes. Some of them Verbeck could not understand, sincethey referred to orders given previously. But others indicated notonly crimes, but the manner in which they were to be committed. Theytold what to steal and just where to steal it, where there was dangerand where there was none. Verbeck began considering whether he shouldgive these orders out if any more men called. Taking the place of theBlack Star did not include aiding in crimes, he told himself. He wouldissue orders of his own, orders that would keep the members of theband from their nefarious business, but at the same time would keepthem in touch until he could arrange a wholesale capture.
Verbeck fumbled around the end of the table for several minutes beforehe 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 abundanceof money in the drawer. There were half a score of diamond rings, too,a pearl necklace, other gems. There was a box of little rubber typeand an ink pad and a small memoranda book.
Verbeck opened the book. On the last written page of it he foundsomething that interested him. At the top was a date--that very day--andbelow was a list of numbers, with hours set opposite. The book toldwhen members of the band were expected to report. Verbeck found thatthe first was Number Three, due at nine o'clock that night. And fromthen until two o'clock the next morning others were due at statedintervals. The entire band, it was evident, was to appear for orderswithin a few hours and comparison of the book with the printed ordersgave Verbeck an inkling of the scheme.
The Black Star had, indeed, planned a staggering blow to the city'spride; his band of crooks was to make a specialty of stealing jewelstaken from safe-deposit boxes to be worn at the Charity Ball. For afew hours these valuable jewels would be protected only by ordinarysafes in residences, and during those few hours the members of theBlack Star's band would strike.
Verbeck went in to see that the Black Star was as comfortable as hecould be while bound and gagged, and then walked over to the window.The storm was dying down; the snow and sleet had almost ceased tofall, but the cold seemed to be increasing.
Returning to the furnished room, he sat down beside the table to wait.An hour from the time Muggs had departed the bell tinkled. Verbeckadjusted his mask and touched the button that opened the door. In amoment Muggs stood beside him.
"Here are the keys, boss," he said. "I've got the car near the mouthof the alley, and the lights are out. We can take him along thehedge----"
"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 byone blew out the candles. Then he closed the door and helped Muggscarry the Black Star through the musty hall. Another moment, and theywere outside.
It was not particularly a difficult task to carry their man along thehedge and to the car, and there Verbeck put him in the back and got inbeside him, while Muggs took the wheel. They made their way slowly upthe hill and to a well-paved street, and there Muggs turned on thelights and the car rushed forward through the night.
The old Verbeck place was one of the city's landmarks. It was closednow, 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 alonewith a staff of servants. He preferred his apartment, and to live init with no servant except Muggs.
But now, betrothed to wed Faustina Wendell, Verbeck was contemplatingtearing down the old house and erecting a mansion in its place for hisbride. The present house occupied the center of the block. It wassurrounded by trees and tangled underbrush. The walks about it were inpoor condition, and nobody ever approached it. It was to this placethat he was taking the Black Star.
It was a long, cold ride. The Black Star groaned and threw his headfrom side to side, indicating that he wanted the gag removed, butVerbeck declined to accommodate him. He was taking no chances with theBlack Star.
The machine lurched and skidded along the streets, dashed alongboulevards, swung around corners. Muggs was putting on all possiblespeed, for the dawn was not far away.
The machine was finally brought to a standstill before the doublegates that opened into the driveway of the old Verbeck place. Verbeckgot 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 Starin and made him comfortable on a couch Verbeck built a fire in thelarge grate in the living room. Then he removed the man's gag, and allhis bonds except those which held his hands fastened behind his back.
"There, Mr. Black Star!" he said. "It has been an exciting night. Yousent a man to invade my apartment, and in turn I invaded your place ofbusiness--I suppose that is what you'd call it--and made you prisoner,with the aid of this very good friend of mine. And now you arehere--and I'm quite sure you don't know just where. And here you'llremain for the time being, until I form some plans and put them inoperation. You'll be kept warm, and you'll have food. Muggs will guardyou. And you'll be unable to escape."
"All very clever," the Black Star retorted. "But you are playing withfire, Mr. Verbeck, and are liable to be badly scorched."
"I'll run the risk of that."
"Remember, I told you my organization has a long arm. I'm storing allthis up against you."
"Very kind of you, I'm sure." He turned to Muggs. "How do you want towork this thing?" he asked.
"Just let him fuss around with his hands tied, boss," Muggs said."I'll get a strap or some rope from the closet and tie 'em properly.And if he tries any funny tricks I'll either shoot him or pound him onthe head with the butt of the gun--'tis immaterial. You can leave it tome, boss."
And Verbeck knew by the expression of Muggs' face that he could.