"If he hurt my boss——" Muggs began, almost sobbing.
And then he felt moved to sudden action again. He rushed into the living room and to the telephone. He rattled the hook frantically, and presently heard the operator's reply.
"I want the police!" Muggs cried into the transmitter. "Mr. Verbeck is gone—been taken away!"
"Say! There are a couple of detectives here now to see Mr. Verbeck," the operator replied. "They're coming right up!"
Muggs darted back into his own room and began dressing with such speed that he was almost fully clothed when the officers knocked at the door. Muggs hurried to let them in.
"What's this about Mr. Verbeck?" one of them asked.
"The Black Star's got him!" Muggs cried. "They doped us while we slept, and——"
"I guess I can tell you all about that," the detective interrupted. "They put out the night clerk and the telephone operator with those cursed vapor guns."
"And Mr. Verbeck is gone! They must have taken him! We've got to find him! There's a black star—pasted on his bed——"
"The chief just sent us up to see Verbeck about this business. The Black Star's gang rescued their leader to-night—turned him loose. He left a note saying that he was going to raid the town."