mg.greeneyes-第16节

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　him　up　the　aisle。
　　That　someone　could　only　be…The　Shadow！
　　The　more　Cleve　Branch　pondered；　the　less　he　knew。　He　sought　for　a　hidden　connection；　but　could　not　find　one。　Joseph　Darley…Foo　Chow…the　two　Americans　he　had　met　tonight…these　could　hardly　interest　The　Shadow。
　　In　the　past；　The　Shadow　had　shown　an　interest　in　Cleve's　affairs。　Tonight；　there　could　be　no　reason　for　such　interest。
　　Amid　these　scattered　thoughts；　Cleve　realized　one　important　fact。　He　must　remain　in　San　Francisco。　He　must　spend　his　future　time　in　Chinatown。　Somehow；　he　felt　that　the　interests　of　The　Shadow　were　identical　with　his　own。
　　Behind　the　Wu…Fan…in　spite　of　Darley's　opinion　to　the　contrary…there　might　lay　the　key　to　a　mighty　scheme　that　carried　a　threat　of　danger。　Cleve's　duty　was　to　uncover　such　a　plot。
　　This　mysterious　man　he　had　termed　The　Shadow　must　know　facts　that　were　important。　It　would　be　imperative　to　meet　him　and　find　out　what　he　knew。
　　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　hanging　curtain。　He　slid　behind　it　and　found　himself　backed