CHAPTER XVII
MUGGS SEES HIS MAN
Again the morning newspapers carried full-page stories of thedepredations of the Black Star and his band. Once more the police werecalled idiots, and demands were made that the chief resign. SheriffKowen was held up to scorn.
The newspapers carried another story, too--that Roger Verbeck had had aquarrel with the chief of police over the way the fight against theBlack Star was being conducted, had left police headquarters with Muggs,too angry to speak to the reporters, and had declared afterward, whenseen at his apartment, that he was done. Why should he perform theduties of the police and at the same time submit to the abuse of theimbecile chief, he was said to have asked? As far as he was concerned,the Black Star could loot banks and private residences and conducthimself as he pleased. Roger Verbeck might, within a few days, takehimself out of the city and remain until there was some resemblance oflaw and order again.
The chief of police merely admitted that there had been trouble betweenhimself and Verbeck, and said that he felt the police force capable ofattending to its own affairs without any help from plain citizens, aremark that caused more than one caustic editorial.
The Black Star had sent another letter to the newspapers, and it madeinteresting reading. It was as follows:
TO THE PUBLIC: I said I would purloin famous objects of art and valuable jewels, and I have kept my word, as I always do. Some day when I have time, and it will not imperil any of my people to do so, I shall send a letter telling just how it was done.
My campaign against the city has been highly successful so far, and I have no reason to believe it ever will be otherwise. The antics of the police and the sheriff and his deputies are particularly amusing to me; it would be more amusing if they were foemen worthy of my steel.
I shall rest for a day, and two nights from now shall resume my campaign. For the trouble I experienced during my incarceration, the city must pay in full. I do not even care to state the nature of my next exploit, but I guarantee that it will be sensational. *****
Roger Verbeck and Muggs slept until noon that day, then had breakfastand read the newspapers. Verbeck's face glowed when he read of thequarrel between the police and himself.
"It may work, Muggs, and it may not," he said. "I fixed it up with thechief, and he certainly has done his part. The Black Star will have uswatched for a few days, anyway, so we must be on our guard. But if hegets the idea that we are after him no longer, we may be able to pick upthe trail."
"It's a hoodoo to work with cops!" Muggs declared. He had small respectfor the police, a state of mind that was a relic of the old days whenhe had fought against them himself.
"Well, we'll see what we can do by working alone, Muggs. Have youanything to suggest?"
"Only that we find his headquarters, catch the crook in 'em, and givehim all that's comin' to him!" Muggs said.
"That happens to be a large order, Muggs. If we can do those things,victory will perch on our banner."
"I didn't know Victory was a bird," said Muggs. "In pictures they alwaysmake her a woman."
"Muggs, that was a figure of speech--merely a manner of talking. Victoryalways perches on a banner, Muggs--don't forget it. I've read it athousand times. Anything more to suggest?"
"You'd better go and see your girl," Muggs told him. "You ain't been tosee her for almost a week, and she'll be gettin' peeved at you."
"I thought you hated the idea of me getting married."
"I do, but it can't be helped," Muggs retorted. "And she's some girl, atthat. Besides, boss, if I drive you over there, and around town a bit,it is just possible that we might spot somebody who belonged to thatcrook's old gang."
"That's what I've been trying to do since he escaped, Muggs, and haven'thad any luck," Verbeck said. "Get out the roadster."
"Roadster?"
"Yes; we shall not take Miss Wendell out with us. I'll visit her for ashort time, and then we'll drive around town."
Muggs got out the car, and ten minutes later was driving Roger Verbeckacross the city to the apartment house that was the home of FaustinaWendell, Verbeck's fiancee. Verbeck watched the people on the streets asthey rode along, and Muggs did when it was possible, but they failed tosee anybody for whom they were looking.
Verbeck hurried inside when the apartment house was reached, and Muggscrouched down behind the wheel, pulled his cap low over his eyes, andpretended to be half asleep. But he was scrutinizing every man and womanwho passed the roadster.
Muggs was rejoicing secretly because Verbeck had elected to workindependently of the police. That meant that Muggs would play a moreactive part in the affair, and he was as eager for a large part as anactor in a stock company. Muggs craved adventure and excitement, and thelust of combat was strong within him.
"I'd like to find the big crook!" he growled, as he watched thepassers-by. "I'd like to find him with just the boss, and hand him a fewand lug him off to jail and throw him in! Make fun of my boss in thenewspapers, will he? The big stiff!"
Muggs glanced toward the apartment house. He supposed that Verbeck wouldremain there about two hours instead of a few minutes, as he didgenerally.
"I can't understand this love stuff!" Muggs said. "There's plenty ofchances to fight without gettin' married. I suppose I'll have to keepdressed up all the time and stand in a corner after the boss gets backfrom his honeymoon. It's enough to make a man turn bad again! It'senough to----"
Muggs suddenly ceased speculating on marriage and the status of a valetin a family. He had spotted a man walking along the street, on theopposite side. He turned his eyes and watched him, and his heart almoststood still.
"Landers!" he gasped. "The Black Star's lieutenant--or anyway he wasbefore. He's done somethin' to his face and hair, and he's fatter--buthe's Landers. He's got a nerve paradin' the streets this way!"
This was something that Verbeck should know! But Roger Verbeck wasvisiting Miss Wendell, and she lived on the tenth floor, and in a rearapartment, with her mother. It would take Muggs several minutes to getinside the house and telephone up, and Verbeck several minutes to getdown to the roadster. And Landers was signaling a taxicab!
Muggs darted inside the house and up to the desk.
"I'm Mr. Verbeck's chauffeur!" he said. "He's visitin' Miss Wendell. Youphone up that Muggs had to hurry away--that he saw a man. He'llunderstand!"
Then Muggs dashed out to the street again, sprang into the roadster,started the engine, whirled the big machine around, and pursued thetaxicab.
"This is tough luck!" Muggs told himself. "It's a cinch that Landersknows this car. He'll spot it in a minute, if we get out of the heavytraffic! I wish I had the boss along!"
The taxicab did not make good speed through the traffic, and Muggsremained about a third of a block behind it. After a time it turned intoa cross street, and presently stopped before an exclusive hotel. Muggsswung the roadster to the curb. He saw Landers get out, pay thechauffeur, and disappear into the hotel.
Muggs was out of the car instantly, and hurrying forward. He approachedthe entrance, and glanced in. Landers had not stopped at the desk, buthad gone directly to an elevator. That meant that he was a guest, or afrequent visitor.
When the elevator came down again, Muggs hurried over and spoke to theboy.
"The gent that just rode up with you----" he began.
"Mr. Smith?"
"Maybe his name's Smith--I don't know. I just wanted to find out wherehe went--got a message for him--phoned it from the office over there."
"He comes here to visit Miss Whaley and her elder sister," the boyexplained. "You just ring up No. 256, and I guess you can get him."
Muggs went across the lobby and into a telephone booth. But he did notcall room 256. He called Verbeck at Miss Wendell's apartment, and gothim on the wire.
"I spotted Landers, boss!" he said. "I trailed him to the New NortoniaHotel. He calls himself Smith here, and he visits a couple of wo
men whocall themselves Whaley; they're in room 256."
"Great!" Verbeck cried. "Stay there until I come over, Muggs; I'll startright away."
"Suppose he leaves before you get here, boss?"
"Then trail him, Muggs, and telephone to me as soon as you can. I'll goback home if I miss you!"
Muggs went out on the street again and got into the roadster. He movedthe car a bit nearer the hotel, and then thought better of it andcircled to the other side of the street. And there he remained, watchingthe entrance of the hotel.
Black Star's Campaign: A Detective Story Page 17