He walked around the end of the table and toward the two prisoners, and he laughed aloud as he looked down upon them.

"Well, Roger Verbeck, here is the Black Star's new headquarters," he said. "You often have wished to see the place, I believe, so take a look. You still think you can match wits with the Black Star, eh? I have done as I threatened. I have had you and Muggs abducted, and I am going to take you along to-night when we do our little trick, and then leave you unconscious on the spot for the city to laugh at. Aren't you about ready to admit that the Black Star is too crafty for you?"

"Scarcely," came the reply in a firm voice.

"Why, my men tell me it was like kidnapping babies to get you and Muggs to-night. It really was a shame to do it. So you are going to continue your efforts to capture me, eh?"

"I am-certainly!"

"Um! Your voice almost has the note of fear in it. You do not seem as sure as you did the last time I had the pleasure of entertaining you for a few minutes."

"A few minutes is right!" Muggs put in. "You've got your dirty hands on us three times now, but you've never kept us longer than a few minutes. And you'll not keep us to-night--"

"I fear you err, my dear Muggs. I am taking no chances with you or your precious master to-night. As I live, Mr. Verbeck, your face appears changed. Your cheeks are somewhat thinner. That comes, I suppose, from living in continual fear of me. Let me see! Um! It has been about three weeks since I informed you of my intention to abduct you and make you a laughingstock again. You've been worrying about it all that time, eh? Been fearing to sleep or eat or ride abroad? Small wonder your face is thinner and your voice expresses fatigue."

"He's been off his feed!" Muggs blurted out. "And he's had a bad cold.

You needn't think me, or my boss, either, would let anything you said throw a scare into us!"

"Indeed? Had a bad cold, eh? I truly am sorry I did not give you this little entertainment when you were in good physical condition. But everything is prepared, Mr. Verbeck, and also you neglected to inform me you had a cold and wanted to discontinue this fight until you were better."

The Black Star laughed again as at a good joke, and Muggs growled imprecations deep down in his throat, but the other man merely looked the Black Star straight in the eyes and remained silent.

"I trust you understand the program, Mr. Verbeck," the master criminal went on, his laugh at an end. "It has been about six months since you made your foolish boast that you could capture me. You should know by this time that it is an impossibility. However, you have had some excellent fun trying it, and I have enjoyed the battle immensely. But now it must end. It is getting to be a bore."

"Really?"

"Exactly. You're a sportsman, I believe. I'll make a deal with you. If Roger Verbeck does not capture the Black Star within the next twenty-four hours, after being right here and seeing the Black Star's headquarters, and being taken by the Black Star to the scene of to-night's crime-then Roger Verbeck gives his word of honor that he'll stop his feeble attempt and not bother the Black Star more."

"Roger Verbeck does nothing of the sort!"

"Still determined, eh? Very well. Then, Mr. Verbeck, we are going to take you and your man Muggs with us. We're going to give you a dose from a vapor gun and leave you where the crime is committed, as I said we'd do. We'll give the alarm ourselves and have the police find you two there unconscious. Then let the public laugh! I fancy you'll hear a howl go up for you to be ordered off the case. I'd not be surprised if you were hounded out of this town, which has been your home all your life."

"I think not."

"Which shall you do-make the deal I proposed or be made a public laughingstock again?"

"I make no deals with a crook!"

"And what's more, you're wastin' your breath," Muggs put in. "You leave my boss alone! He's about half sick. He's said a hundred times that you'll get too fresh some day. Some day you'll overlook a bet, make a mistake, and then he'll get you. And I'll be right there, I hope when the gettin's got!"

"You are a very boisterous man, Muggs," the master criminal said.

"You'd be very vicious, I imagine, under some circ.u.mstances. Please do not be so violent. I abhor violence."

"You're right; you'll abhor it if I ever get my hands on you proper!"

Muggs exclaimed.

The Black Star brought the palms of his hands together sharply.

"Enough of this chatter!" he commanded. "We have scant time before leaving here for the scene of the evening's festivities. You have decided, Mr. Verbeck, to be made a laughingstock! Very well!"

"And where is this to take place?" came the question.

"Ah! Roger Verbeck thinks I fear to tell him in advance, does he? Why, sir, I'll even tell you every detail of the proposed crime, if you wish. You are most certainly my prisoner, and cannot warn the police, and, could you, it would avail those stupid police nothing. One could steal the b.u.t.tons off their uniforms and they'd not know it until the next day."

"I'm listening!"

"Such impatience!" the Black Star exclaimed. "Attend me closely, then, Mr. Verbeck-you also, Muggs. Little good it'll do you! It is my intention to-night to reap a harvest of some three hundred thousand dollars in money and securities. Quite ambitious-that? Merely an ordinary task for the Black Star, I a.s.sure you."

"You're th' original shrinkin' onion!" Muggs declared.

"Silence, please, while I explain. The money and securities I mentioned are in the vaults of the National Trust Company. Those vaults are impregnable, it is said. This is a joke, of course. With us it will be as easy to get that fortune as it would be to purchase a new cravat."

"You're some modest violet!" said Muggs.

"Keep quiet, Muggs, and hear the plans," the Black Star said, his eyes glittering through his mask. "Within the past two months there has been formed in the city a new lodge called the Knights of Certainty.

When one understands things that t.i.tle is rather a good joke. Many good men have heard of the order and wondered why some one did not ask them to join, I presume. The membership was strictly limited. Members of my own band form the lodge."

"And you're the supreme boss crook!" Muggs said.

"Another remark, Muggs, and you get the vapor gun. Mr. Verbeck, you'd better warn your man to remain silent!" The Black Star evidently was getting angry.

Muggs turned his head and found his fellow prisoner indicating that he was to be quiet. Muggs obeyed.

"It would be a difficult task to get into a meeting of the Knights of Certainty," the Black Star went on. "We're mighty particular who sees things. I may mention that, from the moment we hired our hall and put in furniture, the room has been under close guard, one of our own men even doing the janitor work. This hall is on the third floor of the American Building, adjoining the National Trust Company. We have been making our preparations nightly, of course, working from our hall.

Some excellent carpenter and mechanical work has been done, and now, when we wish, we have merely to pa.s.s through a wall to a stairway and then make our way over a trail we have prepared to the vaults of the bank and loot them.

"Everything is prepared, I a.s.sure you. At this moment my men are in the uniforms of the watchmen, and doing their work. There will be no one to molest us. The vault locks have been fixed so that a few turns of the k.n.o.bs will unlock them, and yet an expert would swear that time locks and other protections are in perfect working order. It has taken us some time to get this state of affairs prepared, but the reward will be well worth our trouble. The bank received a heavy gold shipment two weeks ago. Negotiable securities are piled in the vaults.

The bank, in addition, always carries a heavy cash balance, for it has numerous branches and small affiliated banks. Yes-I fancy we will be well repaid for the work we have put on it."

"If you get the stuff!" said Muggs.

The Black Star whirled toward him, and one of his men stepped forward, but the master criminal decided to let the remark pa.s.s. He walked to the head of the table and glanced at his watch.

"We start in half an hour," he said. "Number Six, go down to the river and inform Number Ten to be ready to get away instantly."

Once more he faced his prisoners.

"How do you like my new headquarters?" he asked. "Only a few chosen and trusted men of mine come here. This is a ramshackle old house, but I have three rooms fixed up comfortably. And there are things of value in it, believe me! I find it advisable to dispose of loot slowly. I'd hate to flood the market and lower prices."

He laughed again, and once more turned toward his men. For a moment he conversed with them in whispers, ignoring his prisoners. A bell tinkled presently; the Black Star touched a b.u.t.ton on the end of the table, and a few seconds later the man who had been sent away returned.

"Everything ready, chief," he reported in a low tone.

"Ah! Number Four, telephone Main 5782, ask for Gregg, and say that Mr.

Stewart will have four cases of eggs to-morrow. That will tell those at the other end that we are starting."

The man designated moved swiftly across the room to the telephone and sent the message. The Black Star waved a hand, and another man approached the two prisoners, a vapor gun in his hand. They twisted and turned in their bonds, but the gun did its work; the Black Star laughed again as their heads fell forward.