CHAPTER XXXI--IN THE BANK
The forces were about even, and these men of the Black Star'sorganization whom he had taken into his inner circle, and, in ameasure, into his confidence could be expected to put up a brave fightto save themselves and their master from capture or death. They knewhow the public regarded the Black Star and his band; they knew what ajury would do to any one of them who stood in the prisoner's dock, andthat the judge would give the limit of imprisonment to any declaredguilty.
So, as the lights went out, there came a scattered volley from thecriminals, who had darted to different parts of the lodge hall. Muggsand most of the policemen, however, anticipating that volley, hadthrown themselves flat on the floor, and they fired at the flashes andchanged their positions quickly.
Again volleys were exchanged, and shrieks of pain told that some ofthe bullets had found human marks. The lieutenant was bellowing hiscommands, urging his men to guard doors and windows. In the darknessit was impossible to tell policeman from criminal, and both sidesceased firing.
There came a rush, and some of the Black Star's men reached the doorthat opened into the hall and threw it open. They were met by a streamof light from the corridor, and saw more policemen standing thereawaiting them, their weapons held ready; there was no escape that way.
The light made it possible for the police to shoot again, and two ofthe criminals went to the floor badly wounded. Others ran to the frontwindows, but there was no way of escape there, for it was threestories to the ground; nor could they reach the rear windows and fireescape, for the police were on guard there.
They were cornered in the lodge hall, and knew it. To each of themcame the thought that prison was better than death--for no murder wascharged against the Black Star's band. And they had faith in theirmaster and his organization--arrest did not mean prison necessarily.
"Throw down them guns, or take it!" the lieutenant commanded.
One of the Black Star's lieutenants groaned, threw down his gun, andput up his hands. Then the others followed his example. They couldn'tunderstand how the police happened to be there--the Black Star hadalmost always managed to lead them astray before. They began wonderinghow it fared with the Black Star and the others on the floor below.
"Once too often this gang has tried to put over something!" thelieutenant said as his men snapped handcuffs on the crestfallencriminals. "We've got you this time, and you'll do a long stretcheach."
"We was only holdin' a meetin'," one of the men replied.
"Yeh? I know all about that meetin'. Masks on your faces, and theBlack Star and some more down in the bank, and Muggs bound and gaggedin a chair--and you was only holdin' a meetin'. Down to the wagon yougo now, and straight to the hoosgow!"
Muggs was not listening to this tirade of the lieutenant's. No soonerhad he seen that the battle was over than he had raced across the hallto the wall where the Black Star had touched a hidden button andcaused an aperture to show there. He pressed the wall frantically, butwith no result. He covered every square inch of it near where he hadseen the Black Star put his hand, but no opening appeared.
"Needn't waste time there, Muggs, if you want to get to that Verbeckman of yours," he heard the sergeant saying. "There's some trick aboutit, of course, or it wouldn't belong to the Black Star. We wereoutside the window on the fire escape, and saw him open that, andheard what he said. So we'll just guard this end here, in case theyshould 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' untilBlack Star gets his hands on some money and stuff. We want to get himwith the goods, see? Men all around the block, too--a mouse couldn'tget 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 rightnow. Here's where we clean up. By George, I'm sorry you and Verbeckdidn't do it!"
"Didn't we?" Muggs snarled.
"You wouldn't have done much, I guess, bound and gagged the way youwere--just been left here for another joke. Nope! The police get thecredit for this--the police and whoever tipped this off. One of theBlack Star's men did it, I suppose--some one that was sore at him forsomething."
"Guess again!" Muggs snarled. He didn't fancy this belittling of RogerVerbeck by a lieutenant of police.
He turned and hurried across the hall and into the corridor, and speddown the stairs. He wanted to get around to the other side of theblock and see what was transpiring in the National Trust Company'sbuilding. He had forgotten the fantastic robe in which the Black Starhad dressed him, and the laughter of one of the policemen in the hallbrought it to mind. Muggs tore the robe off and growled hisimprecations, and ran on as the policeman laughed again.
At the entrance to the building an officer held him up with leveledweapon, not being sure of his identity. Muggs lost time until anotherlieutenant appeared who knew him and ordered his release. He reachedthe street, sprinted for the corner, darted around it, and reached thefront of the bank.
Everything seemed quiet there. Half a dozen policemen were standing onthe sidewalk, and there seemed no commotion inside.
"Why don't you get in? Why don't you do something?" Muggs wanted toknow. "Standin' here like dummies that ain't got----"
"Easy there, man!" one of them replied. "We're doin' something, allright. You just wait here with us until we get the signal."
"Wait nuthin'!" Muggs exclaimed. "I'm goin'----"
"Wait, Muggs! We know the Black Star is in there and what he's doing,and we know he's got Verbeck in there. Take it easy--we've got itplanned and we'll get him with the goods."
"You'll let him get away with half of what's in the vaults, that'swhat you'll do!" Muggs stormed. "I've seen that gent work before. Youjust let me get in there! I've got a score or two to settle with him!"
"You'll have to wait----"
He was interrupted by the blast of a whistle. Instantly the officerswere active. They sprang to the big double doors of the bank andcrashed them open and tumbled inside. Others who came running took uptheir stations outside to watch every exit. Muggs was the second manthrough the front door.
It was dark inside, save where some light came through the windowsfrom the street. The police flashed their torches and charged throughthe main room and into the office section. They tumbled over lowpartitions and scrambled over tables and desks and chairs, workingtheir way back of the cages toward the vaults.
There had been officers stationed inside the building before the BlackStar and his men arrived to begin operations, and they were in thefront of the charge. It had been the chief of police who had given thesignal on the whistle. Through a glass partition he had watchedproceedings until what he judged was the right moment to act. He waseager to catch the master criminal with loot in his hands, to get suchevidence that there would be no possibility of a mistrial oracquittal.
There was the sound of crashing glass as the partitions went down.There was a loud command for the Black Star and his men to throw uptheir hands and surrender.
There came a deafening crash, and a cloud of vapor rolled toward thepolice. Some inhaled it and fell; others, guessing what it meant,tried to hold breath until it passed, though it half blinded them andmade 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 himselfwith the body of his bound and gagged prisoner. Three men whoretreated before him carried two heavy suit cases between them.
Shots rang out, but none fell. Those of the police who had not beenrendered unconscious by the gas bomb charged again. They saw the BlackStar back into a little side corridor, saw him hesitate a moment bythe wall, put his hand against it, and saw an opening appear.
Through this opening his men darted. He stepped into it himself, stillusing his prisoner as a shield. Then the opening closed.
"We've
got him--got him!" the chief cried. "Our men are watching thetop of that between-the-walls business he built, and we are watchingthe bottom. He can't get out. He'll give up or he'll stay there andstarve. 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, butthe chief was quicker.
"I know, Muggs," he said. "The scoundrel's got Verbeck in there. Butwe'll get 'em--and I don't think he'll hurt Verbeck."