CHAPTER XXXV--AN UNEXPECTED BLOW
The Black Star took his aeroplane to an altitude of three thousandfeet, circled over the city, and finally started down the river. Hegave all his attention to the machine, and did not even glance at theman who sat beside him. Far below were the lights of the city where hehad stolen so many fortunes in money and jewels the past six months,the city he had terrorized, at whose police he had scoffed, and thehome of Roger Verbeck, the young millionaire clubman who had sworn tocapture him.
Well, Verbeck had not captured him, he thought. He had made the youngclubman a laughingstock more than once. He had made his efforts appearchildlike and foolish, and so he was satisfied. For he would have toleave this particular city now, he knew. His last two adventures hadalmost resulted in his downfall. In them he had lost many men,including his most trusted lieutenants. The man beside him really wasthe only one left whom he could trust.
He could afford to retire for a time, and that was what he would do,he decided. He had ample funds. He would call the remainder of hisband together in a couple of days, at some new headquarters--for he hada feeling that the present one was dangerous after to-night--give themtheir share of the money on hand, and then pack up and get out.
War-ridden Europe did not appeal to him now, but there was Japan andChina and the South Seas. He'd spend a year or so touring around,taking life easy, enjoying himself, spending his money, and gloatingover some of the magnificent jewels that the band had stolen and whichhe had claimed in his share of loot.
When the country had begun to forget the Black Star he'd reappear insome other city, organize his band again, and start his depredationsanew.
It took the Black Star only a few minutes to decide this. Havingdecided it, he felt better. He looked down at the river, and failed tosee any craft.
"I'll go to headquarters," the Black Star told his man. "You go onwith the plane and hide it in the usual place back in the woods, andthen get into town. I'll send you word in the usual way within acouple of days where to have the men come for their share. I'm goingto give up the present headquarters, for it'll be dangerous afterto-night, I am afraid. I'll pack up and get out by noon to-morrow."
"Verbeck's roadster is near the front gate," the man reminded him.
"That's right--got to get that out of the way before daylight. You goahead with the plane, though. I'll get the suit cases in the house,and then run the roadster up the road and drive it into the river offthe cliff."
He turned the plane toward the shore and descended slowly. On reachingthe ground the master criminal tossed the suit cases overboard, thensprang out himself.
"Good night," he said.
"Good night, sir."
The plane, with its engine roaring, took the air. The Black Starpicked up the heavy suit cases and started for the road.
After all, he was thinking, it would be a relief to get away and giveup his dangerous occupation for a time. He hated to admit it even tohimself, but to-night's business had shaken him. He had almost feltfear, especially when he had been cornered in the halfway room.
But he had succeeded. He had made a last big haul. He was safenow--there remained only to leave the headquarters, meet the men, anddistribute some money, and then quit the city for the West and Chinaand the South Seas. Crime didn't pay, eh? Well--he had made it pay!
He decided that he'd send a last sarcastic note to the police, thenewspapers, and to Roger Verbeck, just as he left. He chuckled againnow as he thought of Verbeck. It seemed that he had been unable to getinto action to-night. How he would rage when told that the Black Starhad escaped again! How funny little Muggs would snort! How the fatchief would fuss and fume! Yes--the Black Star had had his fun as wellas his profit!
He reached the gate and passed through it up the drive to the house.Here he set the suit cases down on the porch and unlocked the frontdoor. Then he took the loot inside, struck a match, and applied it tothe wick of a lamp. A hasty glance around the room told him thatnothing had been disturbed during his absence. For a moment he stoodin the center of the room and listened and looked about. Then he putthe suit cases on a table.
He threw off hood and mask and overcoat and hat, and opened the suitcases. Before him were the bundles of bank notes, the two bags ofgold, the packages of securities--a fortune!
He laughed lightly and went to a cupboard and got out crackers andcheese and a can of fish. He laughed as he ate his simple meal, andpromised himself a gorgeous dinner before another twenty-four hourshad passed.
Having eaten, he put the remainder of the food away, closed the suitcases again, lifted a trapdoor in the floor beneath a rug, and put theloot in a hidden box there. He stretched his arms and glanced at hiswatch. It would be daylight within the half hour now, and he neededsleep. He decided that he'd retire and rise in about four hours. Fourhours of sleep would refresh him enough, he decided, for the timebeing. He wanted to smuggle himself and his ill-gotten gains into thecity by noon.
Keen eyes watched his every movement through the keyhole in the doorthat opened into the adjoining, unused room. The mysterious man whohad trailed the abductors there early in the evening was still in thehouse. The hours had seemed doubly long--but he had waited.
He watched the Black Star carefully now. He had made sure that he hadreturned to the headquarters alone, and now he was awaiting hischance. He knew that the Black Star had a couch in the room on theother side of the headquarters room, and would sleep there if hedecided to go to bed.
He watched him as he removed coat and vest and took off his shoes anddonned a pair of slippers. And then he crept softly across the room,unlocked the door that led to the hall, and slipped out.
Foot by foot he made his way along the hall, and noiselessly, for hehad removed his shoes. He reached the door of the room where BlackStar slept, and crept inside and went across to the other door, andthere, crouching at one side, he waited.
The Black Star finished undressing and put on a pair of gorgeouspajamas. Then he turned off the light and started for his couch. Hepassed through the door.
And then he gasped in surprise and alarm, tottered, tried to curse,and fell forward unconscious into the arms of the other man, a victimof his own vapor gun.
The man who had caused his downfall laughed aloud now and ran to thelamp to light it again. From a corner he carried ropes and bound theunconscious man securely. He gagged him, too, and propped him up in achair and tied him in it with ropes.
Then he whirled toward the trapdoor beneath the rug, and managed toget it open. He lifted out the suit cases and other boxes in whichvaluables had been stored.
"Money, securities, and jewels!" he said. "I guess I'll just take careof these, Mr. Black Star!"
He laughed again, half in relief and half in pure joy, and then herushed across to the telephone. For the second time that night hecalled a number--the number of police headquarters. And then he gave astartling message.
CHAPTER XXXVI--IN CUSTODY
When the Black Star opened his eyes he saw a peculiar-lookingindividual before him, scarcely half a dozen feet away, who held anautomatic pistol in his hand in a threatening manner. This individualwas dressed in greasy overalls and jumper, and had a soft hat pulleddown low over his forehead. The collar of his jumper was turned up sothat scarcely any of the face could be seen except the eyes. His handswere dirty; his hair was black and long, and apparently needed cuttingbadly.
"Well, I've got you, all right!" the individual growled in a hoarsevoice. "Pretty good pickin' around these diggin's, too. Notice theswag I've got here on the table?"
He bent forward and tore the gag from the Black Star's mouth.
"Talk, if you want to," he offered. "Black Star, eh? Big crook, eh?"
"Who are you?" the Black Star asked.
"What do you care?"
"I am interested. Any man who can put me down and out--and I supposeyou are the one who did it--interests me strangely. So you think I amthe Black Star?"
"I know it."
&n
bsp; "I suppose you want to join my organization and are taking thismelodramatic way to show me you are fitted?"
"Guess again!"
"Well, what is the idea, then? I suppose you realize what you arerunning up against when you tackle the Black Star?"
"I know that, all right, and I'm not scared."
"You're not very communicative," said the other. "Suppose you untie menow, and we'll talk business. If it is money you want----"
"Why untie you when I've got it all right here on the table?"
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"Give you a surprise," came the answer.
The Black Star saw the man before him straighten up suddenly. His handwent to his hat, and the hat came off, and with it a black wig. Andthen he smiled and bowed.
"Roger Verbeck!" the Black Star gasped.
"At your service, Sir Crook! I said I'd get you, and I have!"
"But---- How did you get here so soon? I saw you back at the NationalTrust--as I was leaving."
"Pardon me, my dear Mr. Black Star. You are not very observing, areyou? How many times have you seen me, spoken to me?"
"Half a dozen, I suppose."
"But never paid particular attention to me, did you?"
"I never had a chance particularly, as I always saw you underconditions of excitement."
"That was one bad mistake you made. You should know me when you meetme face to face."
"I know that, all right, but you haven't answered my question--how didyou get here so quickly, and alone? How did you know where myheadquarters was?"
"Naturally, since I was out to get you, I just discovered that."
"One of my men turned traitor, I suppose."
"Indeed, no. I did it all by my own little self, Mr. Black Star. Isaid six months ago that I could get you, and you dared me to try. Youwent right ahead with your crimes, and you made a fool of me onseveral occasions. You always prepared for every possible emergency;that was it. You never made a mistake. You went ahead on your thievingway, and I told you that no criminal could be successful for always,no matter how brainy a man, and that some day you'd make a mistake.You've made one--and now you're going to pay for it. For you're goingto jail from here, Mr. Black Star. I'm going to see you in theprisoner's dock, as I swore I should. And I'm going to follow you tothe doors of the penitentiary, and see them close behind you. You haveto pay for your career of crime. Every criminal must pay! He maysucceed for a time, but in the end he pays! He can't dodge the law ofcompensation."
"I'm not in jail yet, Mr. Verbeck."
"You'll be there soon. I notice you are slipping your foot along thefloor. I presume you are looking for the button that throws a trap andopens a pit beneath where I am standing. Might as well give up. Ifound that trap several hours ago and wrecked the spring. Oh, I've gotyou this time, Mr. Black Star!"
"Several hours ago! I don't understand."
"You made a mistake, that's all--a bad and a sad mistake."
"Suppose you tell me about it."
"In good time," Verbeck replied. "I am waiting for some friends ofmine--Muggs and the police and some others."
"You've called the police?"
"To hand you over--yes. How did you escape them to-night? I warned themwhat you were going to do."
"So that's how they discovered it! But how could you warn them, when Ihad you abducted and carried here and had you watched every minute ofthe time until---- What do you mean? Explain!"
"You made a bad mistake," Verbeck reiterated. "That explainseverything. Ah!"
Down the road a siren shrieked. Verbeck deliberately turned his backon the Black Star, walked through the house and threw open the frontdoor. Two automobiles splashed through the mud and stopped near thefront gate.
"That you, Verbeck?" some one called.
"Yes. Come right on in!"
He went back and stood before his prisoner again.
"Quick, Verbeck--let me go!" the Black Star begged. "I'll do anythingyou say--let you give them back the stuff----"
"Save your breath!" Verbeck replied.
The crowd rushed in from the road. The chief and Muggs were in thelead, and half a dozen officers, revolvers in their hands as if theywere expecting another battle, followed at their heels. They stoppedin astonishment when they saw Verbeck.
"Wha-what----" the chief cried.
"No questions!" Verbeck begged, laughing. "Here is the Black Star,chief, and there is the loot he got to-night, and some jewels heobtained in other robberies. See that you don't let him get away thistime! I got him--as I said I would. And where is---- Ah!"
Another man came through the door and stood at Verbeck's side. Everyman there except Muggs gasped in surprise, and Muggs only grinned.Here were two Verbecks, alike except that one was an inch shorter thanthe other and slightly thinner in the face.
"Here is the explanation, gentlemen," Verbeck said. "I discovered thatthe Black Star was having me shadowed night and day. The men whoshadowed had to report some time, of course. I got the idea that if Icould get some one to take my place I might shadow the Black Star'sshadow and so find his headquarters. When he threatened three weeksago to abduct me and let me witness his next crime, I realized thathere was my chance. Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to my cousin.His father and mine married sisters--perhaps that is why we look somuch alike."
"Your cousin!" the chief gasped.
"He has been living out West. I wrote him full details, and he came onto help me. I smuggled him into my house and let him take my place. Hewent out with Muggs, visited my fiancee in my place, went to my clubsa bit. Only Muggs was in the secret, for I didn't want to take achance of having that secret leak out. And I shadowed the shadow,waiting for the abduction, and to-night it came. Mr. Black Star, Icame here on the rear of my own roadster, which carried yourprisoners. I put your watchdog to sleep and entered this house, andI've been here since. I overheard your plans and telephoned the policeas soon as you had left.
"I wanted to be in at the death, of course, but knew I could not getback to the city in time. And I had a suspicion that you'd escape thepolice at the last minute, as you had so many times before--so Iremained here, waiting for you, and when you came I succeeded inmaking you my prisoner. While you were gone I examined the house andfound many interesting things.
"In your excitement at planning and carrying out a big crime you madea mistake, Mr. Black Star--you didn't use your eyes, didn't observeclosely. You took my cousin for me. That's all. And now you must pay!Oh, yes! I must decorate you as you have often in the past decoratedme."
He took a bit of paper from his pocket and he pinned it to the BlackStar's breast while the master criminal sputtered his wrath. It read:
Mr. Black Star: Never depend on the eyes of others but use your own. Because Muggs drove a roadster and my cousin looks like me, your men took it for granted that my cousin was me, and you let it go at that. That was your mistake.
Roger Verbeck.
"Now, chief, take your man," Verbeck concluded. "And don't let him getaway this time. And you, Muggs, go out and get the roadster ready.We're going home! There is a telephone, chief, if you want to give theglad news to the papers."
Muggs turned toward the door. The adventure was over, Muggs knew. Hewas no longer comrade in arms--now he was chauffeur and valet andall-around man to Roger Verbeck--until that young gentleman should feelthe call of adventure again.
THE END
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