"Tut, tut, Muggs! You'll be working yourself into a passion, my dear boy. By the way, Muggs, tell the chief that he need not bother about tracing this telephone call. I have tapped a private wire and am talking over it—understand?"
A click came over the wire, and it went dead. Muggs put up the receiver and turned away from the desk, growling.
The door of the office was thrown open—and Roger Verbeck hurried in.
"Boss! Boss!" Muggs cried.
"One minute, Muggs! We haven't time for a demonstration of affection at present. Well, chief, he had me nabbed, and I've seen the inside of his new headquarters."
"Know where they are?"
"I haven't the slightest idea. I was in an inside room—unconscious when taken there, and unconscious when they brought me away. I came back to life up in the park, where they had dropped me, got a taxi and hurried here. I suppose we have it all to do over again. We've got to catch that fiend, of course!"
"Will you help, Verbeck?" the chief cried. "Will you take the time and trouble?"
"You know it! Why, the Black Star challenged me again—said I couldn't catch him."
"You're in command, Verbeck, as you were the other time. Any orders now? Where shall we start in?"