“Needn’t waste time there, Muggs, if you want to get to that Verbeck man of yours,” he heard the sergeant saying. “There’s some trick about it, of course, or it wouldn’t belong to the Black Star. We were outside the window on the fire escape, and saw him open that, and heard what he said. So we’ll just guard this end here, in case they should open it and try to come up. The lower floor is guarded, too, and they’ll be mixing things there in a minute; they’re waitin’ until Black Star gets his hands on some money and stuff. We want to get him with the goods, see? Men all around the block, too—a mouse couldn’t get away. We’ve got him this time!”
“How’d you know?” Muggs demanded.
“Don’t ask me! Some tip to the chief—and it sure was a correct tip. Two thirds of the night relief is scattered around this block right now. Here’s where we clean up. By George, I’m sorry you and Verbeck didn’t do it!”
“Didn’t we?” Muggs snarled.
“You wouldn’t have done much, I guess, bound and gagged the way you were—just been left here for another joke. Nope! The police get the credit for this—the police and whoever tipped this off. One of the Black Star’s men did it, I suppose—some one that was sore at him for something.”
“Guess again!” Muggs snarled. He didn’t fancy this belittling of Roger Verbeck by a lieutenant of police.
He turned and hurried across the hall and into the corridor, and sped down the stairs. He wanted to get around to the other side of the block and see what was transpiring in the National Trust Company’s building. He had forgotten the fantastic robe in which the Black Star had dressed him, and the laughter of one of the policemen in the hall brought it to mind. Muggs tore the robe off and growled his imprecations, and ran on as the policeman laughed again.
At the entrance to the building an officer held him up with leveled weapon, not being sure of his identity. Muggs lost time until another lieutenant appeared who knew him and ordered his release. He reached the street, sprinted for the corner, darted around it, and reached the front of the bank.
Everything seemed quiet there. Half a dozen policemen were standing on the sidewalk, and there seemed no commotion inside.
“Why don’t you get in? Why don’t you do something?” Muggs wanted to know. “Standin’ here like dummies that ain’t got——”