Black Star's Subterfuge/Chapter 11

ILEY and Muggs blocked the doorway.

"Better keep every one out except a choice few," Riley said to the chief, in a low voice. "You come, and Mr. Verbeck—possibly one of the captains—that'll be enough."

Something in the tone of his voice caused the chief to look at him with quick suspicion, and caused Roger Verbeck to glance with apprehension at Muggs. But neither Riley nor Muggs gave them a sign as to what they were to expect.

The chief, however, took the hint. He selected one captain to go along, and ordered another to guard the doorway and keep every one out of the building for the present. The mayor had not been courageous enough to leave the gate.

Flashing his electric torch, Riley led the way down the hall and steps, and to the door of the headquarters room, the others crowding after him. Verbeck got a chance to whisper to Muggs:

"What is it?"

"Just another little trick."

"But"

"Wait, boss—you'll have to see it!"

The door of the headquarters room was closed, but Riley threw it open, and they stepped inside. The chief and his captain gasped when they saw the rich furnishings. But they were not new to Verbeck, and his glance wandered elsewhere. Everything seemed the same as when he had been there before, except

There was a phonograph, with a gigantic horn, on the mahogany table.

"The Black Star—his men" the chief implored.

"None here!" Riley answered.

"Nonsense! They couldn't have escaped! Unless there's a tunnel of some sort"

"There is no tunnel. Neither the Black Star nor any of his men has been in this building since you arrived."

"But" the bewildered chief gasped. "Why—nonsense! Haven't they been shooting at us? Haven't we heard him screeching to his crooks?"

Riley pointed to the phonograph.

"That is what you heard," he said.

"But the shooting"

"Let me tell it in my own way, chief, and we'll get at it quicker. After I was put out by that blamed vapor gun—which the Black Star kindly explained to me afterward—I came back to life to find that Verbeck and Muggs had been taken away. I supposed, naturally, that they had been doped first, and would be unable to find the place again. Since I did know the whereabouts of this place, I supposed the Black Star intended to keep me where I'd not do him any harm. The first thing he did was to assure me I'd not meet with violence—and that Verbeck soon would be back."

"But"

"Wait, chief! I want you to get this straight. After that, the Black Star went ahead to explain a few things, gave me the laugh, took off his robe and mask, put on his coat and hat, and bade me adieu as cheerfully as you please. That was within ten minutes after Muggs and Verbeck had been taken away—and I've been the only man in this building since until Muggs stumbled in here a few minutes ago."

"Nonsense! The shooting" the chief persisted. "Oh, there is an explanation of all that! By the way, what time is it?"

"Three o'clock!" answered the captain, after glancing at his watch.

"Then he's done it!"

"Done what?" the chief cried.

"Got away with a hundred thousand in gold coin. He said he was going to, didn't he?"

"But the shooting" The chief could think of nothing else.

"Look at the two blackboards," Riley said. "You'll find your explanation there. Read the one to your right first."

They whirled to read. Verbeck, with sinking heart, was reading it already. And this was the message the Black Star had left:

"Now read the other blackboard," Riley said. "Oh, it is interesting, all right—the crook!"

They turned to the second blackboard, and read:

The writing ended, for the blackboard was filled with it. "But the shooting" the chief exclaimed again.

"Here is the rest of it—written on a sheet of paper," Riley said. "The Black Star left it on the table. Read this."

He handed it to the chief, who read it aloud:

Muggs gave a snort of disgust and turned away from the table. Roger Verbeck's eyes met those of Detective Riley, and each read determination in the other's countenance. The Black Star had evaded them again, but the end was not yet.

"And I've got to tell the newspaper men!" the chief exclaimed. "That gold—I wonder if he got it—and from where!"

His answer came immediately. A sergeant of detectives hurried to them from the hall.

"Chief!" he cried. "Word just came from headquarters. There's been a consulate robbed. Got a fortune in gold yesterday at noon, to buy war stuff. Thought they were keeping it quiet, I suppose. The Black Star knew about it, though. His men robbed the vault and left the watchman on the floor, bound and gagged, with a black star pasted on his forehead. It's a hundred thousand in gold coin! Consul's frantic!"

"Yes," said the chief wearily, "it seems the Black Star knew about it!"