The Black Star Part 39

He watched him as he removed coat and vest and took off his shoes and donned 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 he had removed his shoes. He reached the door of the room where Black Star slept, and crept inside and went across to the other door, and there, crouching at one side, he waited.

The Black Star finished undressing and put on a pair of gorgeous pajamas. Then he turned off the light and started for his couch. He pa.s.sed 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 victim of his own vapor gun.

The man who had caused his downfall laughed aloud now and ran to the lamp to light it again. From a corner he carried ropes and bound the unconscious man securely. He gagged him, too, and propped him up in a chair and tied him in it with ropes.

Then he whirled toward the trapdoor beneath the rug, and managed to get it open. He lifted out the suit cases and other boxes in which valuables had been stored.

"Money, securities, and jewels!" he said. "I guess I'll just take care of these, Mr. Black Star!"

He laughed again, half in relief and half in pure joy, and then he rushed across to the telephone. For the second time that night he called a number-the number of police headquarters. And then he gave a startling message.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI-IN CUSTODY

When the Black Star opened his eyes he saw a peculiar-looking individual before him, scarcely half a dozen feet away, who held an automatic pistol in his hand in a threatening manner. This individual was dressed in greasy overalls and jumper, and had a soft hat pulled down low over his forehead. The collar of his jumper was turned up so that scarcely any of the face could be seen except the eyes. His hands were dirty; his hair was black and long, and apparently needed cutting badly.

"Well, I've got you, all right!" the individual growled in a hoa.r.s.e voice. "Pretty good pickin' around these diggin's, too. Notice the swag 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 suppose you are the one who did it-interests me strangely. So you think I am the Black Star?"

"I know it."

"I suppose you want to join my organization and are taking this melodramatic way to show me you are fitted?"

"Guess again!"

"Well, what is the idea, then? I suppose you realize what you are running 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 me now, 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 hand went to his hat, and the hat came off, and with it a black wig. And then 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 National Trust-as I was leaving."

"Pardon me, my dear Mr. Black Star. You are not very observing, are you? 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 under conditions of excitement."

"That was one bad mistake you made. You should know me when you meet me face to face."

"I know that, all right, but you haven't answered my question-how did you get here so quickly, and alone? How did you know where my headquarters 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. I said six months ago that I could get you, and you dared me to try. You went right ahead with your crimes, and you made a fool of me on several occasions. You always prepared for every possible emergency; that was it. You never made a mistake. You went ahead on your thieving way, 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 going to jail from here, Mr. Black Star. I'm going to see you in the prisoner's dock, as I swore I should. And I'm going to follow you to the doors of the penitentiary, and see them close behind you. You have to pay for your career of crime. Every criminal must pay! He may succeed for a time, but in the end he pays! He can't dodge the law of compensation."

"I'm not in jail yet, Mr. Verbeck."

"You'll be there soon. I notice you are slipping your foot along the floor. I presume you are looking for the b.u.t.ton that throws a trap and opens a pit beneath where I am standing. Might as well give up. I found that trap several hours ago and wrecked the spring. Oh, I've got you 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 of mine-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 them what you were going to do."

"So that's how they discovered it! But how could you warn them, when I had you abducted and carried here and had you watched every minute of the time until-- What do you mean? Explain!"