Author: Johnston McCulley
Category: Mystery
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CHAPTER XV--THE CHALLENGE
Silence for a moment, save for Muggs' single gurgle of disgust, andthen:
"What's that?" Roger Verbeck demanded, stepping forward and facing thechief.
"They let him escape, I'm telling you! How, in the name of all that'shuman, they could do it is more than I can guess! Don't ask me--asksome of these boobs! For months we've been crazy to get this BlackStar--we have him handcuffed and in the wagon--and he escapes! He's beengone an hour or more. He's probably ransacked the mayor's house andblown up the vault of the First National Bank in that time, just toshow his anger at being pinched. Ah-h!"
The chief sputtered his wrath again.
"Out!" he cried to his men. "Out--every man of you! Some of you sawthat crook's face--though I doubt if you can tell me now whether he'sgot one eye or two. Out, and get him! Don't come back until you do!Get out of here--and I'll break the man who dares to report noprogress! Out, fools!"
Glad to escape their superior's wrath, the detectives scattered, andthe uniformed men ascended the stairs to the room used by thereserves, there to discuss the latest event in lowered voices, for thechief's command did not apply to the "harness bulls."
The chief beckoned Verbeck and Muggs to follow him into his privateoffice.
"It's enough to drive a man insane!" he exploded, reaching for his boxof 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 hadthe eight crooks and this Black Star. As they started to get out, twoof the crooks bumped my men aside, two more tripped at the end of thewagon, the female crooks of the gang pretended to faint, and the BlackStar made a dash for the alley. One of the fools took a shot at himand smashed a fourth-story window across the street. He made a cleanget-away with the bracelets on him! Think of it! Right here atheadquarters! 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 finedetectives of mine! And every newspaper in town knows we had our handson the Black Star and let him go. They've been pestering the life outof me, and I tipped off the capture as soon as my men telephoned fromthe Charity Ball, where you handed the crook over, thinking thedepartment would get a little credit. And now they'll be worse on methan before. I'll resign! I'm done! But I'll break some of 'emfirst----"
"Your men are after him, aren't they?" Verbeck interrupted.
"Yes--they're after him. They've been after him for four months, and alot of good it has done. You tell me your story, Verbeck; there aresome things I don't know."
Speaking quickly, Verbeck did as he had been requested, telling thechief of his discovery of the Black Star, and of how he had playedmaster criminal for a day in an effort to corral the band. Heexplained how the Black Star had an organization that gatheredinformation for him and another that committed the crimes. When he hadfinished the chief chewed at his cigar and smote the desk with a palm.
"Great scheme!" he exclaimed. "Got an organization that reaches intoevery 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 menare right here in headquarters!"
"It is possible," Verbeck said.
"Well, his perfect plans are spoiled now, at any rate. And half adozen of my men have seen his face--besides you and this man Muggs ofyours. So I suppose he'll make a break and get away; he'll be afraidto work here any more. We'll send his eight crooks over the road, butnot the Black Star, eh? 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 Verbeck gravely.
"See here!" he exclaimed. "There may be considerable danger for you.Even if the Black Star beats it, and his plans are smashed and hisorganization scattered, some of his friends may take it out on you forgetting 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 apartmentof 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 Iscarcely think a couple of your men would be of much value. I'd ratherrely on myself and Muggs."
"Rubbing it in, eh? I don't blame you! But you can have the men if youwant them."
"No, thanks, chief. I'll go along home now and get some sleep. Here'shoping you catch your man. He didn't have much of a start, and he hadhandcuffs on his wrists--but he's a slippery customer. My man cantestify to that. He slipped away from him once, and left a bump on hishead when he did it."
"Better let me send up those men, Mr. Verbeck, even if they are prettymuch worthless. We don't want to have you found knifed in bed somemorning."
"I'm not afraid of any of the gang, chief, and the Black Star can'torganize 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 whokills."
"No?"
"No; he's the sort that takes a pride in being a master criminal whouses brains instead of violence in pulling jobs no other man wouldapproach and in doing them in a neat manner. Did he ever leave amussed-up safe behind?"
"He generally unlocks 'em, takes what he wants, puts one of his blamedblack 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, andthey did not speak until they were in the roadster and a block frompolice headquarters, on their way home. Then Muggs broke the silencein 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, theorganization will come to their rescue in some manner."
"I noticed you swallowed that bunk the chief handed out about thisBlack Star making a break for other parts, now that he has been seenby 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, andhe's just the sort of man to try to show me I cannot. I wouldn't bethe least bit surprised if he remained in the city for the purpose ofmaking 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 thebachelor-apartment house, and then ascended to Verbeck's apartment.Muggs snapped on the lights in the library, while Verbeck threw offhat and overcoat and gloves and reached for his favorite pipe. Heglanced at the clock on the desk--it was within a few minutes of fourin the morning.
He gave an exclamation, took a quick step forward, and looked at theface of the clock again.
On the glass, directly over the figure IX, _had been pasted a tinyblack star_!
"That wasn't there when I dressed last evening," Verbeck mused. "Sohe's been here since he escaped the police, eh? That is pretty swiftwork!"
Muggs hurried in from the bedroom.
"Boss! Look!" he cried. "This was pinned on your pillow!"
He extended an envelope. A black star was pasted on it. The letter wasaddressed to Roger Verbeck.
"Swift work!" Roger exclaimed again.
"Boss, my hunch is workin' yet! Telephone the chief to send up themmen--let him send twenty of em!"
"One moment, Muggs! Your solicitude for my welfare is overwhelming--butsuppose 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 nev
er saw me before. You have discovered 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 Verbeck, and get you good! I do not contemplate 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 purpose.
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, buthis eyes narrowed to two tiny slits when he read that "poor fool," andhis lips set in a straight line. That "poor fool" stung Roger Verbeckalmost 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 whatthis is going to be," he said. "On your toes, Muggs! Forget that hunchof yours! We don't quit until I stand in court and hear a judgesentence the Black Star for his crimes, until I watch him pass inthrough the doors of a State prison. Think what he's done, Muggs--ofthe decent persons he's forced into his gang! This is going to be thehardest 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, evenour friends, may be in his organization--and he'll soon get it workingagain. But we can trust each other, Muggs."
"You said something there, boss! You bet we can!"