mg.greeneyes-第8部分

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　　It　vanished　while　Cleve　was　staring　at　it。
　　Looking　up　quickly；　the　government　agent　saw　the　door　that　led　into　Ling　Soo's　abode　closing　silently。　What　was　that　he　glimpsed　through　the　crack　of　the　closing　door？　It　seemed　like　a　mass　of　black…a　huge；　living　shadow！　What　could　it　mean？　Had　Ling　Soo　followed　them？
　　No；　that　was　hardly　likely。　It　seemed　more　that　someone　had　slipped　from　the　anteroom　into　the　hall　toward　Ling　Soo's　reception　room…someone　who　had　been　waiting　here；　half　hidden　in　the　gloom！
　　A　sudden　recollection　came　to　Cleve　Branch。　He　remembered　that　when　he　and　Darley　had　passed　the　Mukden　Theater；　he　had　seen　such　a　shadow　on　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　the　playhouse。　It　had　caught　his　attention　then；　but　he　had　forgotten　it　in　his　interest　to　reach　Ling　Soo's。
　　The　elevator　was　here。　Mechanically；　Cleve　followed　Darley　into　the　car　and　felt　the　descent　begin。　He　was　wrapped　in　thought。
　　Cleve　pictured　Ling　Soo；　the　suave　Chinaman　whose　courtesy　was　lulling。　He　recalled　Foy；　the　crouching　servant　of　the　Mongol　master。
　　But　more　than　that；　he　visioned　the　black　form　that　he　had　seen　upon　the　floor…the　rising　shadow　that　had　bee　a　thing　of　life。
　　There　were　three　occupants　of　that　apartment　which　he　had　just　left；　and　of　the　three；　the　one　whose　shadow　Cleve　had　seen；　was　the　most　mysterious。
　　Even　more　astounding　and　impressive　than　the　parchment…faced　Ling　Soo　and　sinister　Foy；　was　the　living　form　that　had　appeared　only　as　a　shadow！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　V　
　　　CLEVE　WORKS　ALONE　
　　TWENTY…FOUR　HOURS　after　his　journey　to　the　sanctum　of　Ling　Soo；　Cleve　Branch　paid　another　visit　to　Chinatown。　This　time　he　went　alone。　No　one…not　even　Joseph　Darley…knew　of　this　trip。
　　Cleve　smiled　to　himself　as　he　wended　his　way　through　the　bizarre　streets　of　the　Chinese　quarter。　He　was　thinking　of　Darley　and　of　Ling　Soo。
　　Perhaps　the　chairman　of　the　Civilian　mittee　was　right；　in　that　Ling　Soo's　organization　was　scarcely　more　than　a　fantastic　idea。　But　Cleve　was　determined　to　learn　if　Darley　was　right。
　　The　Bureau　of　Investigation；　he　reflected；　was　different　from　the　Civilian　mittee　of　San　Francisco。　The　agents　of　the　government　must　be　thorough　in　their　methods。
　　Here；　in　his　pocket　now；　Cleve　had　a　report　given　him　by　Darley　at　the　office　of　the　mittee；　that　afternoon。　The　report　covered　all　that　Darley　knew　about　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Cleve　had　accepted　the　report　with　thanks。　He　had　remarked　upon　its　conciseness。　When　Darley　had　asked　him　his　plans；　Cleve　had　told　him　exactly　what　they　were　to　be。
　　〃I　shall　stay　in　San　Francisco　for　a　while；〃　Cleve　had　said。　〃In　and　out　of　Chinatown；　I　may　uncover　facts　that　refer　to　the　Wu…Fan。　My　report；　Mr。
　　Darley；　can　not　be　made　until　I　have　investigated　on　my　own。〃
　　〃Excellent；〃　Darley　had　agreed。
　　The　head　of　the　Civilian　mittee　had　been　useful。　Cleve　knew　that　he　could　count　on　him　later　on；　if　necessary。　But　tonight；　the　Bureau　of　Investigation　agent　was　out　to　tap　another　source　of　information　that　might　be　even　more　valuable　than　Joseph　Darley。
　　There　was　nothing　in　his　action　to　indicate　that　Cleve　Branch　was　bound　toward　a　definite　destination。　His　footsteps　were　carrying　him　along　the　well　known　channels　of　Chinatown。
　　He　was　scarcely　more　than　a　sightseer。　He　stopped　before　Oriental　shops　and　admired　their　wares　in　the　lighted　windows。　He　looked　at　curious　doors　as　though　wondering　what　lay　behind　them。
　　Yet　all　the　time；　Cleve　was　cautious。　He　traced　his　steps　in　varying　directions；　doubling　suddenly　on　his　tracks　to　note　if　he　were　being　followed。
　　For　Cleve　knew　the　ways　of　subtle　Chinamen；　and　of　all　that　he　had　ever　met；　Ling　Soo　had　appeared　most　crafty。
　　The　lighted　lobby　of　the　Mukden　Theater　attracted　Cleve。　He　stopped　there　and　viewed　the　placards　in　the　lobby。　Foo　Yat；　the　Cantonese　tenor；　was　playing　there。
　　The　man　must　have　been　a　headliner　in　his　native　land；　Cleve　decided；　for　a　steady　throng　of　patrons　was　entering　the　playhouse。　As　he　watched　the　flow　of　bland…faced　Chinese；　Cleve　was　on　the　lookout　for　Wu…Fan　badges。　He　saw　none。　If　any　had　them；　they　were　keeping　them　concealed。
　　
　　
　　TURNING　toward　the　sidewalk；　Cleve　stopped　suddenly。　Before　him；　he　observed　a　splotch　of　blackness。　It　was　the　tall；　silhouetted　shadow　of　a　man。
　　The　same　shadow　that　had　been　on　the　floor　of　Ling　Soo's　anteroom！
　　Once　again；　Cleve　was　too　late　when　he　looked　up。　The　shadowy　surface　was　uncanny。　For　the　moment　that　Cleve's　gaze　found　it；　the　blackness　started　to　glide　swiftly　away。　Searching　for　its　owner；　Cleve　barely　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　tall　man　stepping　off　into　the　darkness。
　　With　no　attempt　at　haste；　Cleve　moved　to　the　sidewalk　and　stared　in　the　direction　that　the　figure　had　gone。　But　the　elusive　phantom　had　vanished　into　the　gloom　beyond。
　　What　did　that　shadow　mean？
　　Three　times；　now；　Cleve　had　seen　it。　Did　it　indicate　that　a　man　was　on　his　trail？　If　so；　who　was　the　man？　What　was　his　purpose？　Was　he　a　member　of　the　Wu…Fan？
　　Lacking　a　name　for　this　man　whom　he　knew　existed；　Cleve　supplied　one…The　Shadow！
　　That　name　sounded　familiar　to　Cleve。　He　recalled　certain　reports　which　had　included　mention　of　a　person　known　as　The　Shadow。　A　certain　man　had　been　instrumental　in　thwarting　the　plans　of　a　counterfeiting　ring。　Again；　this　unknown　had　balked　the　schemes　of　Red　agents　who　had　been　active　in　America。
　　The　Shadow…a　man　who　moved　by　night。　Could　this　be　the　same　personage？
　　Future　events　might　tell。　Meanwhile；　Cleve　decided　to　be　on　the　watch；　not　only　for　visible　members　of　the　Wu…Fan；　but　for　this　invisible　being　whom　he　identified；　in　his　own　mind；　as　The　Shadow。
　　In　all　his　activities　as　a　government　agent；　Cleve　Branch　had　followed　one　sure　formula；　when　no　other　seemed　available。　He　knew　that　those　who　looked　for　trouble　would　surely　find　it。
　　Last　night；　Cleve　had　visited　Ling　Soo。　If　the　leader　of　the　Wu…Fan　had　nothing　to　conceal；　Cleve's　visit　would　have　meant　nothing　to　him。　Hence；　Cleve　would　now　be　a　nonentity。
　　But　if　Ling　Soo　chanced　to　he　a　dangerous　plotter；　it　was　a　sure　bet　that　the　visit　had　aroused　his　suspicions。　Therefore；　he　would　be　on　the　lookout　for　Cleve　Branch。
　　Here；　in　Chinatown；　Cleve　was　in　the　enemy's　territory。　He　knew　well　that　Ling　Soo　would　know　of　his　presence。　Being　aware　of　it；　Ling　Soo　would　be　sure　to　have　his　henchmen　on　the　trail。
　　That　was　what　Cleve　wanted。　For　he　had　an　uncanny　ability　when　it　came　to　spotting　hidden　watchers。　He　had　proven　this　tonight；　when　he　had　seen　that　shadow。　Only　a　shadow…but　a　shadow　meant　a　man　in　the　background。
　　Cleve　was　thoughtful　as　he　again　wended　his　way　along　a　slanting　thoroughfare　of　Chinatown。　His　regular　formula　called　for　a　new　step　now。　It　was　time　to　turn　the　tables　on　those　who　were　watching　him…to　watch　them　instead。
　　Ordinarily；　Cleve　would　have　waited　longer；　in　hopes　of　gaining　a　plete　knowledge　of　unknown　watchers。　But　here；　in　Chinatown；　the　streets　seemed　peopled　with　unseen　eyes。　Latticed　windows　were　suspicious。　Alleyways　seemed　made　for　lurkers。　Even　the　smiling　shopkeepers　must　be　taken　into　consideration。
　　So　Cleve　decided　to　lose　no　time。　He　would　investigate　the　Wu…Fan；　and　before　he　began；　he　would　gain　the　additional　information　he　required；　from　one　qualified　to　know。
　　
　　
　　TURNING　into　a　side　street；　as　though　at　random；　Cleve　Branch　strolled　by　a　little　restaurant。　He　gazed　curiously　at　the　sign　above　the　doorway。　There；　surrounded　by　Chinese　characters；　he　read　the　words：
　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HOANG…HO　CAFE。
　　
　　The　place　seemed　picturesque。　Cleve　entered。　He　ascended　a　flight　of　stairs；　and　found　himself　in　a　little　room　that　had　entrances　in　each　of　its　four　walls。　Patrons　could　enter　it　from　all　quarters。
　　Cleve　glanced　at　the　menu。　He　chose　an　item　that　suited　his　taste。　When　a　waiter　approached；　Cleve　indicated　his　choice；　with　the　point　of　a　lead　pencil　that　he　had　taken　from　his　pocket。
　　Beneath　the　printed　item；　Cleve　carelessly　traced　a　little　wavy　line。　The　waiter　bowed　and　left　to　get　the　order。
　　In　leisurely　fashion；　Cleve　consumed　the　Chinese　dish。