“Either him or one of his crooks!”
“But we couldn’t find a trace——”
“I don’t care,” Muggs interrupted; “if we knew absolutely that there wasn’t another human bein’ within ten miles—I know a man smashed me on the back of the head with a blackjack! I’ve had it done often enough in my life, and I know the feelin’! And as I fell he grabbed me by the shoulder and slapped that black star on my face! Don’t tell me!”
The meal at an end, they discussed the trap Roger had proposed to set for the Black Star, perfecting details and deciding just how the scheme was to be worked. It was planned that Roger should go into the business district the following morning and arrange matters with a jewelry firm, communicate to the newspapers the news that he intended having the famous diamond necklace reset, and arrange with the chief to have the jewelry establishment crowded with officers day and night.
So Roger retired at eleven that night, leaving Riley and Muggs on guard. He slept in the bedroom, with his clothes arranged beside the bed on a chair so that he could don them quickly if an alarm came from headquarters that the Black Star had committed the great crime he had promised. He was to arise at five and let Riley and Muggs sleep from five until ten. Then they would take up the watch again, and Roger would go into town about his business.
At five o’clock Muggs awoke him, announcing that he had cleaned the bathroom and arranged the bath.
“Anything happen?” Verbeck asked. “I’ve slept like a dead man.”
“Quiet night, boss. Riley went out at midnight and prowled around the grounds a while and talked with the cops. Nobody’d been near the place, he said. I’ll have some coffee ready by the time you’re dressed, and when you’ve had it Riley can go to bed.”
“And so can you, Muggs.”
“Not for some time, I ain’t. You can bet I ain’t goin’ to let you be alone in that room with both Riley and me asleep. Look what happened to me in the kitchen when I was alone!”