CHAPTER XXIX
CAUGHT IN THE NET
At the Branniton residence, Richard Branniton was stretched on thefloor, unconscious from the effects of a vapor gun. The men werestanding against one wall, the ladies against another. The Black Star'smen guarded the doors and windows and watched the guests. The mastercriminal himself was in the center of the room.
"I must have all your jewels, ladies," he said. "You need not bealarmed; you shall not be harmed if you conduct yourselves properly. Andyou gentlemen will be safer if you indulge in no attempt to better yourpresent condition. I assure you that you are at the mercy of my band."
He made a sign, and three of his men took bags from beneath their robesand started toward the line of women.
"Take off your jewelry and toss it into the bags," the Black Stardirected. "Married ladies may retain their wedding rings and theirengagement rings, but must give up everything else. That is just to showthat I am not hard-hearted, as some persons would have the worldbelieve."
He laughed gleefully as his men began their task. Terrified womenremoved their jewels and handed them over. Weeping women, hystericalwomen, surrendered necklaces, brooches, rings. The bags were filledrapidly, and the Black Star's men stepped back again.
"And now we have something else to do," the Black Star said. "Which ofyou gentlemen is Lord Sambery?"
One of them stepped forward, a dignified man of perhaps fifty. "I havethat honor," he said stiffly.
"I admire you greatly, sir," the Black Star said. "I have read a greatdeal about the work you have done. I admire you so much that I insistyou become my guest for a time."
"I beg your pardon?" stammered the astonished nobleman.
"I insist upon it, sir!" the Black Star said. "And where is Sir BurtonBanks?"
"I am here!"
"I admire you, too, sir, and you shall be my guest also," the Black Stardeclared.
"Allow me to decline your hospitality," said Sir Burton Banks stiffly.
"But I cannot allow you to do so," the master criminal said, chuckling."You see, you mean money to me."
"How is that?" Sir Burton Banks demanded.
"Not your money," the Black Star said. "It has occurred to us that youtwo gentlemen are in this country on an important mission, and that yourtime is very valuable. We have an idea that, if you should be detained,certain persons and personages would pay a handsome sum for yourrelease."
"Why, confound the fellow! He means to abduct us and hold us forransom!" Lord Sambery exclaimed.
"You have guessed it," the Black Star said.
"But this is the United States of America, sir, and we are in one of itsgreatest cities! I never heard of such a thing! The idea ispreposterous! You can't do it!"
"Can't we?" asked the Black Star with a laugh. "It's a very simplething. We just render you unconscious and carry you away--and you cannever be found."
"Why, you dare not!" cried Sir Burton Banks.
"I am not particularly prone to fear," the master criminal said. "I havedared many things, and accomplished many things harder than kidnaping acouple of gentlemen. You need fear nothing; you shall be treated withevery courtesy."
"I--I shall fight!" Lord Sambery declared.
"You are an elderly man, sir, and, also, I abhor violence," the BlackStar reminded him. "You cannot fight long against one of my vapor guns,your lordship."
"I--I--my country will have you punished for this!"
"The first thing will be to capture me, your lordship," said the mastercriminal. "I was captured before, but managed to escape, as perhaps youknow. But we are wasting valuable time in conversation, and I'll haveample time to talk to you during the next two days. I am forced to haveyou gentlemen put to sleep for a short time, but I assure you there areno bad after effects."
"You--you----" Sir Burton stammered.
"It is quite useless to protest, or to attempt to fight," the Black Starinformed him. "By the way, I am going to take Mr. Branniton along, too."
"You fiend!" Branniton's wife cried.
"He shall not be harmed, my dear madam, but it will cost him somethingto regain his liberty. He caused me considerable annoyance; he was theprosecuting attorney at my trial."
"And he shall be again!" Mrs. Branniton retorted.
"Perhaps--we shall see! I have no idea of standing trial again, my dearmadam. By the time I am captured, your husband probably will be a UnitedStates senator, or an ambassador abroad. I realize that he is a man ofpromise."
The Black Star signaled to two of his men, and they advanced toward LordSambery and Sir Burton Banks. The latter showed that he intended tofight, regardless of what the master criminal had said. But the BlackStar's men rushed in, discharged their vapor guns, and darted backagain. The two diplomats toppled over on the floor. A woman shrieked.
"They are not harmed a bit," the Black Star assured them. "They willsimply awake from a sleep, and feel quite fit. Ladies, I regret that Iinterrupted your little party. I suggest you continue it after I leavewith my men. In reality, you should thank me. You will have something totalk about for the remainder of your lives; and women, I have heard,love to talk!"
He backed toward the entrance to the hall.
A shrill whistle came from the lawn outside--another--a third. The BlackStar whirled toward the door. His men stood still, listening. Into theroom rushed a robed and masked member of the band.
"Police, sir--all around the place!" he cried.
Black Star's Campaign: A Detective Story Page 29
