The Black Star: A Detective Story

by Johnston McCulley

  CHAPTER IX--"CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST"

  That evening there came the heavy winds again. They came as nightdescended, to howl about buildings and shriek through the streets,carrying the merest suggestion of snow. They swayed the arc lights,rattled signs, and shook skeletons of trees. And then they settleddown to a steady blow from the north, and soft snow began to fallheavily. And through the steady sheet of snow gleamed thousands uponthousands of incandescent bulbs at the big hall where the Charity Ballwas to be held.

  That hall had been built to hold thousands, and its capacity would betested this night. On the dancing floor would be women famous insociety, stately matrons, pretty girls enjoying their first socialseason. Gowns to dazzle would be shown by hundreds, andjewels--precious and famous jewels--would flash reflection from myriadsof electric lights--jewels taken from safe-deposit boxes to be worn atthis affair, and then to be returned to their hiding places.

  The galleries would be filled with spectators; a gigantic orchestrawould please musical ears; in the streets outside, hundreds oflimousines would be waiting for the end.

  Verbeck was thinking of the scene at the big hall as he drove hisroadster out to the old place again shortly after ten o'clock thatnight. He had intended going to the old house earlier, but had beendelayed in carrying out his plans. And now everything was done--therewas nothing more to do except await the appointed hour, call policeheadquarters, ascertain that the members of the Black Star's band werein jail, and then turn over the Black Star himself. He would have agood excuse to escape the plaudits of the police and reporters atheadquarters--he would have to hurry to the big hall to dance with hisfiancee and escort her to her home.

  The gates were open, and Verbeck sent the car through and along thedriveway, and brought it to a stop where it would be shielded by thecorner of the house from the swirling snow.

  When he entered the living room, the Black Star was sitting on thedivan in the corner, and Muggs was pacing back and forth before him,still preaching on the merits of an honest existence as compared to alife of thievery.

  "Everything is lovely, boss," he reported to Verbeck. "This gent hasbeen getting restless, but he hasn't made a move he shouldn't. I'vebeen hoping he would--I haven't taken a pot shot at a man in ages."

  "We'll have no carnage, Muggs," said Verbeck, laughing. "We want tohand him over entire, not in pieces. Give me that pistol, and I'llwatch the gentleman while you untie his hands and fasten them again infront instead of behind his back. I'm going to give him a cigar tosmoke; he'll need it to quiet his nerves."

  Muggs did as he was ordered, and the Black Star accepted the cigarwith good grace and puffed at it with evident enjoyment.

  "Do we call the police now, boss?" Muggs asked.

  "Not yet, Muggs."

  "You and I have done a lot of things, boss, in all corners of theworld," he said in a whisper, so the Black Star could not hear. "Whenyou feel that you can't hold in any longer, you make me stop being avalet, and let me be a comrade, and we go out after adventure. It'salways been all right. But, about this thing---- Boss, I told you I hada hunch."

  "I'm afraid your hunch isn't working well this time, Muggs. The thinghas been accomplished. I'm merely waiting here until the police make amove I requested them to make, and then we'll surrender the BlackStar. It hasn't been so very much of an adventure, after all, has it,old man? There hasn't been much excitement--not what we callexcitement."

  "I'll not be satisfied until the police have their hands on him,boss."

  "Neither shall I. But nothing is going to happen, Muggs, to bother us.Keep that hunch of yours until another time."

  Muggs resumed his guard of the prisoner, and, though he asked Verbecknothing concerning the plans he had made, there was a question in theexpression of his face. Verbeck lighted a cigar for himself, and satdown not far from the Black Star. He looked at his watch.

  "It is half after ten," he announced. "Mr. Black Star, in exactly anhour and a half the police will take into custody some of your people;eight men and two women, to be exact."

  "Indeed?"

  "Exactly," said Verbeck.

  "Would you mind telling me how this is to be done? I am somewhatinterested and wholly skeptical."

  "Last night," said Verbeck, "I assumed your robe and mask, and playedat being the Black Star. I destroyed the orders you had prepared,countermanded all of which I learned, and issued new orders of my own.There was no hitch in the arrangement. Not one of them becamesuspicious as far as I could see."

  "And the orders?" the Black Star asked, interest showing in his face.

  "Were the same in each instance," said Verbeck. "The orders make itpossible for the police to round up the entire gang at one swoop.They'll be kept separate until I turn you over and tell all I know.With those facts upon which to work the detectives will have notrouble getting confessions. As for you--Muggs and I can swear toenough to convict you, especially after the police have searched thathouse where you had your headquarters."

  There was a look of apprehension in the Black Star's face now, but hedid not pretend to Verbeck that he was alarmed.

  "May I ask how you expect to catch these persons?" he asked.

  "Yes--and I'll tell you. There was a flaw in your perfect arrangement,Mr. Black Star. You taught your crooks to work in the dark, and notask questions. They have faith in you; and if you ordered one of themto enter the First National Bank at noon and hold up the first tellerto the right, he'd perhaps do it, believing that his work was only apart of a big scheme and that he'd escape consequences because of someplan of yours."

  "True," said the Black Star. "I have issued orders that seemeddangerous, but were not so when a man knew all the different angles ofmy plan."

  "Exactly. And so, when I gave orders that seemed dangerous, scarcelyan objection was raised. You want to know how they are to be captured,eh? Here is a copy of the orders I gave each, Mr. Black Star, listento it!"

  Verbeck pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and read:

  "You will dress as well as possible--evening clothes if you can--and attend the Charity Ball. I give you herewith money for ticket and other expenses. You will mingle with the crowd on the dance floor, and, working alone, lift all the jewels you can. Be careful of discovery, but do not fear the outcome. Between ten o'clock and midnight will be the best time for you to do your work.

  "Exactly at midnight you will be in the southwest corner of the lobby, where there is a drinking fountain. Before going there put a bit of red ribbon on the lapel of your coat. If you see others wearing this sign, do not speak to them or give them any attention. Follow these instructions to the letter, and our great plans will be consummated. It is to be a big clean-up, and all arrangements have been made."

  Verbeck ceased reading, and looked across at the Black Star.

  "You understand?" he asked. "Each one thinks he does not know all theplan, but will be safe if he carries out his instructions. I gave eacha bill out of the drawer in the table, and I told the women to wearthe red ribbon on their shoulders. A score or more of detectives willbe in the neighborhood. At midnight they will take in custody all whowear the red ribbon. A quick search will disclose stolen property intheir possession. You see? I don't know whether Pm guilty of a felonyor not, ordering them to steal like that, but I guess I'll beforgiven, since it is in such a good cause.

  "So there goes your perfect arrangement, Mr. Black Star. Those crookswho have been trusting you will be cursing your name before long. Andyou're going to the penitentiary with them. You can't be crooked andget away with it always--no matter how clever you are. And all this,Mr. Black Star, because you overplayed your part by sending a man toput a letter on my desk. You needn't sneer--I'm not meaning to praisemyself. There are a thousand men in town who could have overcome you,given the chance I had."

  "I am not sneering at your egotism," said the Black Star, apparentlywithout emotion. "I am sneering at the futility of your plans. Iwarned you, Roger Verbeck. I told you
that chickens come home toroost. So you'll send my men and women to jail, will you? You'll breakup my organization? You strike me a deathblow like that--and you'llstrike yourself one at the same time."

  "I've heard your pointless talk before," Verbeck said.

  "But this is not pointless talk, Roger Verbeck. It is very much to thepoint. I told you that I had an organization that gatheredinformation, didn't I? I said it was separate and distinct from theband that committed the crimes. You have made the grave mistake, Ifear, of mixing the two bands together--and the consequences will notbe to your liking."

  "Indeed?"

  "Yes--indeed! How do you suppose I heard of your boast at thatreception a few nights ago? How do you suppose I know so much aboutpeople's private affairs? I'll tell you, Roger Verbeck--I know becausemen and women of your acquaintance belong to my organization. Youdon't believe that, eh? You will--soon."

  "I scarcely can imagine any of my friends turning crook."

  "Not voluntarily, perhaps. Not because they need money, either--notalways."

  "Explain," Verbeck said.

  "I've told you I have a partner who knows me well--he and I worktogether. Some of the organization know him, but not one knows me, norhas seen my face or heard my voice. If you are skeptical, I'll outlinethe plan in a few words. In Chicago, for instance, we caught a certainyoungster of this city when he was in trouble. He was extricated fromhis scrape, and the price of it was that he join my organization. Weheld something over his head. Deathly afraid, he carried out myorders; he feared to refuse. Through him we brought into theorganization the girl to whom he was betrothed--threatening to send hersweetheart to prison unless she joined the band. You see? A sort ofendless-chain affair."

  "I don't believe it!" Verbeck exclaimed.

  "You want proof, eh? In ten minutes, Roger Verbeck, you'll be givingme my liberty, and you'll be moving heaven and earth, with me besideyou, trying to prevent the capture of those people at the CharityBall. You know who told me of your boast at that reception? He told mebecause he admires your native cleverness--begged me to stop everythingand leave town, for, he said, if you started out to get me you'd doit."

  "He was a sensible man, and you should have taken his advice," saidVerbeck.

  "I am telling you the truth, Verbeck. The man who told me was HowardWendell, the brother of the girl you expect to marry."

  "You lie!" Verbeck cried, springing from his chair. Muggs snarled, andstepped forward, ready for a fray, but Verbeck motioned him back.

  "I do not lie," said the Black Star. "I told you to beware, that thechickens might come home to roost. Two months ago Howard Wendell wasin Chicago on some business for his uncle. We knew him--we wanted him.A man already a member of the organization saw to it that HowardWendell went the pace for a few days. He is but a boy, we'll say--hewas easily led. He woke up one morning to find that he had gambledaway three thousand dollars of his uncle's money. He was almost insanebecause of what he had done. His friend took him to my partner; mypartner gave him the money."

  "But that----"

  "Wait! In return he gave my partner a check drawn on a bank in thiscity. Of course it was a forged check. Oh, he did not intend it asdeceit! He said the check was worthless. My partner laughed and saidhe knew it, but that he would keep it until the boy could pay--if henever paid, it would be all right. My partner, you see, owned thegambling house where the money was lost. You begin to understand?"

  Verbeck still stood before him, hands clenched.

  "But the next day he was informed that the check would be presented,would be returned, and that he would be arrested for having writtenit--unless he did as he was ordered. That is how Howard Wendell becamea member of our organization."

  "You beat!" Verbeck cried.

  "Don't beat me up yet--please," sneered the Black Star. "If you stop todo that you'll suffer considerable anguish later. I am not done--thereare more chickens coming home to roost. What numbers did the men have,those to whom you gave orders?"

  Fearing, Verbeck told him.

  "So? Howard Wendell is one of them, Verbeck. He is the one who broughtyou the letter that first night concerning the Greistmanjewels--remember? He'll be one for the police to nab to-night. He musthave been surprised to get orders like that--he understood he was to donothing except gather information."

  Verbeck felt that the Black Star was speaking the truth. Howard hadobjected to the orders--had said that they were unfair to him, but thathe was unable to help himself. It had been possible for him to tellthe Black Star of Verbeck's boast. He had given the sign thatafternoon before seeking a talk with Freda Brakeland. And the policewould capture Howard Wendell through Verbeck's planning, capture himwith stolen jewels in his possession.

  "And the women?" the Black Star asked. "Tell me quickly! What numbersdid they have?"

  Verbeck told him.

  "The first is one of the cleverest in the organization," said themaster crook. "She is an experienced thief. But the second--smallwonder you did not find her number in the book! She is a new one. Thatwas her first visit, and I had ordered it some days before. She wasbrought into the organization through her love for another, a memberof her family. So she'll be caught, too, eh? And do you know heridentity, Roger Verbeck? Do you know the woman you are handing over tothe police through meddling with my affairs? I'll tell you--gladly: Sheis Miss Faustina Wendell--your fiancee!"