Author: Johnston McCulley
Category: Mystery
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CHAPTER XI--CLOSE QUARTERS
Muggs stood in front of the door for a moment after Verbeck had dashedfrom the house, then turned to face the Black Star again. Muggs' lowerjaw was shot out, his eyes were narrowed, and, but for Verbeck'sorders, he probably would have launched himself at the Black Star andattempted the old-fashioned retaliation known as "beating up."
Muggs was small in size, but he had great strength in his arms andshoulders, and possessed knowledge of a multitude of tricks to aid himin 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 andhis happiness. The fact that the Black Star had caused his mastermisery was enough to make Muggs want to throttle the man. But Verbeckhad decreed against that.
Muggs wished he was at his master's side, helping him in the fight. Heimagined Verbeck driving the roadster at top speed through the streetsto the big hall; he fancied him entering upon the brilliant scenethere, as he had intended doing at a later hour, getting FaustinaWendell and her brother to places of safety, then witnessing thecapture of the Black Star's band. He anticipated a telephone call fromVerbeck telling of success.
Meanwhile he walked back and forth before his prisoner, the pistolheld 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'sgot you, Mr. Black Star! My boss has you! Have your little signspasted on his bed and all over his library, will you? Leave sassyletters for him, eh? I reckon you're sorry for it now!"
The Black Star still was smoking the cigar Verbeck had given him. Heblinked at Muggs, and puffed at the cigar furiously, then suddenlybent forward and bowed his head on his hands.
"That's right!" Muggs went on. "Think of your sins! Do a littlewailing yourself! Cause my boss trouble, will you? You'd better putyour head in your hands and wish you'd played straight! Small good itwill do you to repent now, you scum!"
The Black Star's head bent lower; he was a picture of misery. Muggslooked at him with scorn and turned to walk the length of the room. Hestopped his tirade long enough to pick up a sandwich from the tableand begin eating it. He imagined the Black Star about to weep becausedisaster had overtaken him--and Muggs always felt disgusted when he sawa man weep.
But the Black Star was not weeping--he was endeavoring a subterfuge.When he bowed his head, the burning end of his cigar rested againstthe rope that bound his wrists together. Now and then he puffed again,until the rope was scorched. Strand after strand was burned through asMuggs talked.
"Getting your dirty hands on your betters and making them join yourgang!" Muggs said, walking back toward him. "You got your hands on onetoo many, I guess. And I'll be a witness at your trial, too! I'll helpsend you over the road----"
He had passed the Black Star and was about to turn. And at thatinstant the Black Star sprang. Muggs was taken unawares. A fist dealthim a blow on the back of the head. As he staggered forward, trying toturn, the pistol was wrenched from his hand and the butt of it crashedagainst his temple. The Black Star struck him even as Muggs had struckthe Black Star in his headquarters room, when Roger Verbeck was shotinto the pit.
"Take that, you whelp!" the Black Star cried. "Try conclusions withme, will you--you and your precious master? You haven't whipped me yet!There's something in that old house I want--money, and thoseletters--money to get me away to Chicago, and the letters to send tothe prosecuting attorney with a sarcastic little note. I'll fix yourprecious master and his girl. And while he's trying to save her I'llbe taking a train out of town. As for my crooks--bah! I never saw theirfaces--they are no friends of mine. Let 'em go to prison--there areplenty more crooks to be had!"
He kicked the prostrate Muggs and hurried from the house. He did notknow exactly in what part of the city he found himself, but he madefor a crossing where he had seen a trolley car flash past, where hecould make a start downtown.
And Muggs, groaning in pain, remained on the floor, but he was notfully unconscious. He had heard every word uttered by the BlackStar--they seemed to ring in his brain. He kept telling himself hewanted to get up, he wanted to do something--but he could not. Hestruggled mentally to rise, and finally his will was communicated tohis muscles. He rolled over, sat up on the floor.
Dizziness overcame him, but he closed his eyes and bit his lower lipand tried to master it. And in time he did, and staggered to the divanand fell upon it.
What was it the Black Star had said? That he was going to hisheadquarters to get money and letters, that he was going to leave themembers of his band to their fate, and make his escape. He must stopthe Black Star! Verbeck's plans would be shattered unless he did. Andthe Black Star would be a living menace to Verbeck unless he wasstopped, and perhaps would build up another organization in some othercity. Even in this moment of pain Muggs, though claiming no superiorpower of reasoning, could not help but think what a fool the BlackStar had been to tell Verbeck his schemes. That was the man'sweakness--he had to boast. It was boasting that had brought him to theclose attention of Roger Verbeck and caused all the trouble.
"My hunch was right," Muggs muttered. "I told the boss--that I had ahunch!"
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 theplan for which he had been groping flashed into his brain.
Muggs sprang to the telephone and called police headquarters. He gotthe chief on the wire.
"The Black Star has escaped!" he cried. "You'll get his gang down atthe dance, but you'll not get him unless you hurry. He knocked me downand escaped. I know where you can catch him--if you're quick!"
Shotted queries and commands came to him from the frenzied chief.
"A house--in the south end of town!" Muggs gasped. "A deserted house--hehas his headquarters there! He's gone there to get money, then he'llget out of town. You can catch him! ... What's that? Oh, yes--I didn'tgive you the address!"
Muggs swayed from the telephone, but in a moment had gathered hisstrength and was talking again. He gave the location of the house, andthe chief said that he understood.
"And I'll be there--I'll start right now," Muggs added. "I'll be thereto identify him."
Sudden decision had come to Muggs, and he stumbled away from theinstrument without further words, not even stopping to hang up thereceiver. He hurried across to the door and threw it open and wentout. The stinging cold air refreshed him. He started along thedriveway.
By the time he reached the boulevard, Muggs was himself again, exceptthat the pain pounded in his head because of the blows the Black Starhad given him. He hurried along the street, half running. On the firstcorner 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 fromthe ball some of the women of the family for which he worked. Muggstold him it was a matter of life and death, and the chauffeur allowedhim to crawl up beside him and put on speed. Five minutes later, welldown in town, Muggs got off and hailed the first taxicab he saw,offering double pay if good time was made, and the cab soon wasrushing toward its destination.
The police had acted promptly on Muggs' information, and as thetaxicab whirled around a corner half a dozen blocks from the goal,Muggs could hear in the distance the shrieking of a siren on a policeautomobile. He urged his chauffeur to greater speed. At a corner hestopped the cab, paid the driver, and the next moment was running downthe dark side street toward the deserted house.
He slipped along the hedge and crept near the wall, making his waytoward the door. It was closed, and Muggs did not try to open it, butwent on to a window. He raised it as he had that first night whenVerbeck had been with him. Muggs wanted to get inside and catch theBlack Star at work. He wanted just one blow at the Black Star beforethe police arrived, for the blow that had been given him, and for themisery Verbeck had been caused. Then he'd gladly hand the Black
Starover to the authorities.
He slipped through the window. As he did so the police automobilestopped on the nearest corner, and men piled out of it and ran forwardto surround the house. Muggs gave them one glance, then left thewindow and stepped softly across the room. Light was coming throughthat crack in the door--the Black Star was there!
Muggs put his eye to the crack. He did not see the Black Star--he sawRoger Verbeck just blowing out the candle and starting to enter thedusty hall!
The meaning of the situation flashed over Muggs in an instant. TheBlack Star had not arrived yet. Verbeck had come here to get thoseletters before going to the big hall. And he--Muggs--had brought thepolice! They would capture Roger Verbeck--and there was nothing toprove that Roger Verbeck was not the Black Star!