“His pals helped that get-away.”
“Certainly—thinking that, with the Black Star at liberty, the organization will come to their rescue in some manner.”
“I noticed you swallowed that bunk the chief handed out about this Black Star making a break for other parts, now that he has been seen by a few cops.”
“You think I swallowed it, Muggs?”
“I was hopin’ you didn’t.”
“Well, I didn’t, Muggs. I boasted I could capture the Black Star, and he’s just the sort of man to try to show me I cannot. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he remained in the city for the purpose of making a laughingstock of me.”
“That’s the way I’m looking at it, boss.”
“I fancy we’ll hear from him in a few days, Muggs.”
They put the roadster in the garage at the rear of the bachelor-apartment house, and then ascended to Verbeck’s apartment. Muggs snapped on the lights in the library, while Verbeck threw off hat and overcoat and gloves and reached for his favorite pipe. He glanced at the clock on the desk—it was within a few minutes of four in the morning.
He gave an exclamation, took a quick step forward, and looked at the face of the clock again.