CHAPTER XXXI
AN EMPTY NET
MUGGS never forgot that wild ride in the flivver. The street-car conductor drove the little machine as if it had been a racing car. It lurched around corners, almost ran down traffic policemen, swung ahead of street cars. The conductor was like a maniac. He always had craved excitement and adventure. Now it had come to him, and he intended to make the most of it.
They dashed up to the Branniton residence, and Muggs, not even thinking of thanking the conductor, sprang out and rushed across the lawn.
"Boss! boss!" he shrieked above the din.
Somebody told him that Verbeck was on the veranda. He rushed there and found his employer.
"Boss, was I in time?" he asked. "I got loose as soon as I could!"
"You bet you were, Muggs. The Black Star's inside, with some of his gang!"
"I told the big stiff this was goin' to be his unlucky night! You give me a chance to get at him, boss! I've got a few scores to settle with that bird!"
"We'll all get at him, Muggs! We'll be inside in a minute!"
The doors and windows were crashing in now. Policemen and deputies were pouring into the house. Shots greeted them, shots from both automatics and vapor guns. They struggled through clouds of the
