"I am thinking of taking you along to-night, Muggs, when we call upon Mrs. Richard Branniton and her guests. But if you are not a good boy, I shall leave you at home."
The Black Star chuckled and turned toward the end of the table. The bell on the wall tinkled, and a robed and masked man entered and went to the blackboard, which here was installed on one side of the room.
"Number Three," he wrote.
"Countersign?"
"Colorado."
"Report," wrote the Black Star.
"Lord Sambery and Sir Burton Banks arrived on time and now are at the Branniton house."
"Any new developments?"
"None have been learned. We are watching closely," wrote Number Three.
"I have decided to seize Branniton himself to-night, with the other two, and hold him for ransom," the Black Star wrote. "You will have your squad attend to it, and be sure that they do not fail. The man who prosecuted me must be punished."
"I shall attend to it, and warn the men that they must not fail."
"There have been no changes in transportation means?"
"None whatever."
"That is all. Retire," the Black Star wrote.
The man backed through the door and closed it after him.
"You're goin' to run against a snag," Muggs told the Black Star. "You're bitin' off more than you can chew, and it's likely to choke you!"
