mg.greeneyes-第18章
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Tomorrow would be soon enough。 Tonight； the best plan would be to assert that his work in San Francisco was ended。 The identity of Cleve Branch must go； once again； Hugo Barnes must rove the streets of Chinatown。
That box in the Mukden Theater！ Was it The Shadow's hiding place？ That was a thought； but like all others； it led to no conclusion。
While Cleve was cogitating thus； a simple event was taking place at the St。 Thomas Hotel。 Gentlemanly Henry Arnaud was asking the clerk for the key to 1216。
Arriving in his room； Arnaud looked about and smiled。 He extinguished the light and walked softly toward the window。 He stood there； staring out across the city。
Once again； the eyes of The Shadow were upon the glittering lights that topped the Mukden Theater。 Crawling lines； varicolored flickerings； and the ring of stationary lights were glowing as before。
But no longer did two lurid spots of green stare forth into the darkness； like glowing； Promethean eyes。 The mysterious lights had vanished。
Green Eyes had sent his message。 The call had been answered。
Strange events had happened tonight。 Cleve Branch had been where he could have learned them； had he known。 But only The Shadow knew！
The Shadow laughed； as he had laughed before。 His laugh was one of hidden understanding。
For The Shadow had learned what he wanted to know！
CHAPTER XI
CLEVE PLAYS THE SPY
CLEVE BRANCH had left San Francisco。 He had departed on the morning after his visit to the Mukden Theater。 He had gone with a report received from Joseph Darley； the final report that concerned the Wu…Fan and its persecution by the Tiger Tong。
But Cleve had left the city only as a personality。 In his place； another man remained。
Once again； Hugo Barnes was on the watch in Chinatown。 Moy Chen had replaced his former workmanship。 The identity of Cleve Branch was obscured by the features of Hugo Barnes。
There were two spots in Chinatown that Cleve decided were worth watching。
One was the Mukden Theater； for there； he had encountered the presence of The Shadow。 The other was the abode of Ling Soo。 It was possible that The Shadow might appear there。
The place was also the headquarters of the Wu…Fan。 And； it could be watched simultaneously with the Mukden Theater。
Fifty feet away from the entrance to the theater； Cleve lounged idly at the doorway of a Chinese auction house。 The place was busy tonight； and the figure of Hugo Barnes was inconspicuous。
Cleve rubbed his hand across his face。 He could almost feel the swarthiness of his plexion。 He touched his overhanging eyebrows。 They； more than any other feature； had changed his countenance。
Cleve had no fear of recognition； but he was wary in his actions。 For although the personality of Cleve Branch was safe from detection； he remembered well that Hugo Barnes was now a budding member of the Wu…Fan。
The badge of membership was fastened to Cleve's vest； and； recollecting his experience at the Sun Kew； he wisely kept it hidden。
Bright lights began to flash。 Long rows of bulbs showed on the sides of buildings。 Strange music blared from up the street。
Small crowds were forming along the sidewalks…solemn； aged Chinamen； dainty Chinese flappers； old and young were gathering to witness another of the many parades that cleaved their way along this teeming thoroughfare。
The crowd was not as large as it had been on the last pageant night。
Nevertheless； it obscured the view of Ling Soo's entrance。 The lobby of the Mukden Theater was on a higher level； for the street sloped upward in that direction。
Cleve pushed his way to the curb； and moved across the street ahead of the approaching procession。 He stationed himself at a new spot； and was pleased to note that here he could observe both Ling Soo's door and the front of the theater。
Someone jostled against Cleve。 He turned and stared squarely into the face of Joseph Darley！
An exclamation stopped on Cleve's lips。 His features formed a pleased grin。 As Hugo Barnes； Cleve had escaped recognition。 Darley had viewed him as a total stranger！
CLEVE watched the mitteeman work his way along the street。 What was Darley's mission here tonight？ A visit to Ling Soo？
Yes…the surmise was correct。 The man had turned into the little entrance。
Knowing the parative frequency of Darley's visits to Ling Soo； Cleve realized that the meeting of the two men might be of small significance。
Whatever might be discussed in relation to the Wu…Fan could be learned from Darley afterward。
But there was a very definite reason why Cleve could not municate with Darley。 That very morning； Cleve had announced that he was through with his investigation。 Right now； he was supposed to be traveling east； away from San Francisco。
Banners were waving in the lighted streets。 Exotic music was sounding with rhythmic beat。 But Cleve scarcely saw or heard。 A brilliant plan was forming in his mind。
Ling Soo had said that Hugo Barnes； as a new member of the Wu…Fan； would be wele at headquarters any time。 Cleve had never accepted the standing invitation。
Now was the time to do so！ Perhaps； by visiting Ling Soo； he might be introduced to Darley and hear what the Chinaman was telling the chairman of the Civilian mittee！
A great idea； especially as Cleve's disguise had proven its worth already； so far as Joseph Darley was concerned。
Acting upon the impulse； Cleve threaded his way past solemn Chinamen who were watching the parade。 He reached the door to Ling Soo's quarters and entered。 The elevator came to the ground floor when he pushed the control button。 Two minutes later； Cleve Branch was standing in Ling Soo's anteroom。
A pull of the tasseled cord beside the door would summon Foy。 But Cleve hesitated before performing the action。 He noted that the door was ajar。 Foy must have failed to close it tightly。
Softly； Cleve opened the door and stepped into Ling Soo's hallway。 The place was deserted。
It gave Cleve an idea for an excuse； should he be discovered。 He could claim that he received no response to his ring…that he supposed it would be all right to enter。 In character with Hugo Barnes； such an explanation might easily satisfy Ling Soo。
Cleve went forward to the brass…faced doors that bore the Chinese dragons。
These portals； too； were slightly open。 Not enough for Cleve to peer through； but sufficient for him to listen。
Pressing his ear to the crack； Cleve scanned the side wall and noted a hanging curtain in the hallway。 It would afford a hiding place； should he need it。
The buzz of conversation reached his cars。 English words were distinguishable。 As Cleve listened； they became clearer； and he caught snatches of the talk。
〃It is wise to wait；〃 came Ling Soo's voice。 〃But it is not wise to wait too long…〃
The words became inaudible。 Perhaps the man was speaking in a lower voice。
Cleve thought he heard the words 〃Wu…Fan〃 and 〃Tiger Tong。〃
Then came Darley's response。
〃Los Angeles。。。 next week。。。〃 These were the words that Cleve heard plainly。
〃Last night。。。〃 This was only a snatch of Ling Soo's statement 〃It has been settled。。。 Green Eyes。〃
There was an impressive sound to the final words。 They were uttered as one would speak a name。
Green Eyes！
Dying； Stephen Laird had spoken of green eyes。 Had he been telling of a living person？ Of his murderer？ The thought was startling！
WHY did Ling Soo name Green Eyes？ There was something sinister in the title。 It brought a chain of wild； fantastic ideas。
Joseph Darley had said nothing of any one called Green Eyes。 Was he hearing the name for the first time tonight？
〃They are ready；〃 Ling Soo was saying； in a tone that made Cleve realize the men were just within the doors。 〃Green Eyes must speak again and name the exact hour。 Then you will be ready。 The men will e to me。〃
〃Good；〃 said Darley。
〃But you must have the paper；〃 came the tones of Ling Soo。 〃It will be the symbol that they shall accept。〃
〃It is safe at my apartment。〃
The doors began to tremble。 Quickly； Cleve slipped toward the
