“Don’t excite yourself, chief. And you, Mr. Verbeck, if you relish protection, better let the chief scatter a hundred men around your place. Even that number wouldn’t save you!”
“How’d you get on this line? Where are you?” the chief shouted into the instrument, not realizing he was talking foolishly.
“Possibly I’ve tapped the line right in police headquarters building—who knows?” the Black Star taunted. “And you scarcely can expect me to tell you where I am. Why not find me? Go right on hoping I’ll be brazen enough to tip off what I intend doing, chief—it does a person good to hope.”
“You—you’re a devil!” the chief exploded.
“Thanks for the compliment! Good-by!”
Again the rattling sound, and then they heard the Black Star’s voice no more.
[CHAPTER XVIII—MYSTERIES]
Verbeck turned and told Riley and Muggs, as well as the policemen, what had occurred over the telephone.
“That man ain’t human,” the sergeant offered.
“You bet he is human, and by that token we’ll get him!” Riley declared. “He thinks he’s playin’ a funny game, and he is, but there’s an end to every game.”