mg.greeneyes-第9节

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mean　new　lodgings　at　another　hotel。　The　abode　of　Cleve　Branch　would　temporarily　be　unoccupied。
　　Hugo　Barnes　affected　indifference　as　he　passed　the　Mukden　Theater。　The　first　part　of　the　game　was　ended。　Hidden　watchers　could　stare　in　vain。　Keen　eyes　could　not　detect　the　presence　of　this　disguise。　The　watched　had　bee　the　watcher。
　　Tomorrow；　Cleve　Branch；　in　a　new　identity；　would　meet　in　person　members　of　the　Wu…Fan。　But　in　the　meantime；　Hugo　Barnes　was　on　the　lookout　for　a　mysterious　shadow。　Now；　he　felt　sure；　that　shadow　would　not　move　away　as　it　had　gone　before。
　　There　was　a　patch　of　darkness　on　the　sidewalk　beyond　the　Mukden　Theater。
　　No　shadow　could　have　been　visible　there。　Perhaps　that　was　why　the　alert　eyes　of　Hugo　Barnes　failed　to　see　a　tall；　dark　figure　that　stood　motionless　in　a　blackened　doorway。
　　But　the　watching　form　saw　Hugo　Barnes。　When　the　disguised　man　rambled　by；　the　silent　figure　moved。
　　Flitting　invisibly；　it　followed　at　a　distance。　A　jet…black　cloak　and　low…brimmed　hat　concealed　the　peering　eyes　that　watched　the　man　called　Hugo　Barnes。
　　From　unseen　lips　came　a　low…almost　inaudible　laugh…a　sound　that　was　eerie　in　its　tone。
　　The　disguise　prepared　by　Moy　Chen　had　failed　in　its　first　test。　Beneath　the　semblance　of　Hugo　Barnes　was　the　concealed　personage　of　Cleve　Branch。
　　The　Shadow　had　seen…and　The　Shadow　knew！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VI　
　　　THE　WU…FAN　MEETS　
　　ANOTHER　evening　had　arrived　in　Chinatown。　Tonight；　odd　Oriental　buildings　were　aglow；　even　to　their　pagoda…shaped　roofs。
　　A　Chinese　parade　was　moving　along　the　narrow　street　beside　the　Mukden　Theater。　The　eyes　of　viewing　throngs　were　watching　it。　No　one　paid　attention　to　those　who　jostled　their　way　along　the　narrow　sidewalks　behind　the　pageant　crowd。
　　Among　the　few　who　were　pressing　past　the　standing　hordes　was　Cleve　Branch…in　his　disguised　personality　of　Hugo　Barnes。　He　was　on　his　way　to　something　more　important　than　a　motorized　version　of　an　Oriental　pageant。　He　was　bound　to　a　meeting　of　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Moy　Chen　had　served　him　well。　Without　even　mentioning　the　name　of　the　undercover　Chinaman；　Cleve　had　made　the　acquaintance　of　the　men　whom　Moy　Chen　had　suggested。
　　A　roll　of　paper　money；　tactfully　displayed　in　a　Chinese　shop；　will　work　wonders。　With　Cleve…or　Hugo；　as　he　preferred　to　call　himself…it　had　proven　a　perfect　passport。
　　He　had　made　friends　with　three　Americanized　Chinese。　From　one　of　them；　he　had　heard　of　the　Wu…Fan。　He　had　mentioned　the　subject　to　another。　The　third　had　discussed　it　of　his　own　accord。
　　Through　his　expression　of　admiration　for　Chinese　customs；　Hugo　Barnes　had　received　an　unexpected　invitation　to　be　present　at　the　meeting　of　the　order。　He　had　accepted。　The　place　had　been　named。　It　was　Ling　Soo's。
　　Cleve　paused　before　the　entrance　to　Ling　Soo's　abode；　and　waited　while　a　Chinaman　detached　himself　from　the　crowd　that　lined　the　curb。
　　The　Celestial　entered　Ling　Soo's。　Cleve　gave　him　time　to　reach　the　elevator；　then　went　in　alone。　He　waited　for　the　lift　to　descend；　and　rode　up　to　the　floor　where　Ling　Soo　lived。
　　He　drew　the　cord　at　the　anteroom　door。　This　was　in　accordance　with　instructions。　Foy　appeared　and　glared　suspiciously。　Cleve　lost　no　time　in　declaring　his　false　identity。
　　〃My　name　is　Hugo　Barnes；〃　he　said。　〃You　savvy？　Go　tellee　boss　that　Melican　man　is　here。〃
　　The　words　had　their　effect　upon　Foy。　The　stoop…shouldered　man　evidently　recognized　the　name　of　Hugo　Barnes。　He　hesitated　no　longer。　He　opened　the　door　and　allowed　Cleve　to　enter。
　　There　were　more　than　two　dozen　persons　in　Ling　Soo's　reception　room。　Cleve　stood　uncertainly　for　a　moment；　then　one　of　his　Chinese　friends　came　forward　and　drew　him　toward　the　large　chair　where　Ling　Soo　sat　in　state。
　　Awkwardly　following　his　panion's　gesture；　Cleve　touched　his　forehead　with　his　forefinger　and　received　Ling　Soo's　salute。
　　The　leader's　eyes　were　mild；　but　quizzical；　as　they　rested　upon　the　American。　There　seemed　to　be　some　purpose　in　Ling　Soo's　study。　Americans　were　rare　converts　to　the　Wu…Fan；　Cleve　fancied。　There　were　none　here　tonight　besides　himself。　Perhaps　they　were　much　desired。　From　what　Moy　Chen　had　said；　Ling　Soo　always　required　capable　traveling　delegates。
　　〃It　is　a　pleasure；　Mr。　Barnes；〃　said　Ling　Soo；　with　a　friendly　smile。　〃A　pleasure；　indeed；　to　have　you　with　us　this　evening。　I　have　heard　about　you　from　my　friends。　They　say　that　they　have　told　you　the　purpose　of　the　Wu…Fan。〃
　　〃They　have；〃　replied　Cleve；　in　the　voice　he　used　for　Hugo　Barnes。　〃I　was　very　interested　in　what　they　had　to　say　about　your　order。〃
　　〃They　have　suggested；〃　continued　Ling　Soo；　〃that　you　be　named　a　member　of　the　Wu…Fan。　Is　that　your　wish？〃
　　〃I　should　consider　it　an　honor；〃　said　Cleve。
　　〃So　it　shall　be；〃　declared　Ling　Soo。
　　
　　
　　HE　clapped　his　hands。　There　was　silence　in　the　room。　Foy　crept　forward；　and　stood　beside　his　master's　throne。　Ling　Soo；　in　the　singsong　words　of　the　Chinese　language；　made　an　announcement　to　the　others。　A　response　of　approval　came　in　reply。
　　At　Ling　Soo's　mand；　Foy　thrust　forward　a　small　box。　From　it；　Ling　Soo　produced　a　small　blue　badge　that　bore　the　head　of　a　golden　dragon。　He　tendered　it　to　Cleve。
　　〃My　rade；〃　he　said；　in　slowly　enunciated　English；　〃you　are　now　an　associate　of　the　Wu…Fan。　Those　you　see　here　tonight　are　men　high　in　our　order。
　　All　who　wear　the　badge　of　the　Wu…Fan　shall　be　your　friends。　You　have　received　the　first　honor；　the　others　will　be　yours；　in　the　future。〃
　　Foy　had　gone　away　while　his　master　was　speaking。　Now　the　man　returned　and　held　a　brass　dragon　head　between　Ling　Soo　and　the　new　member。
　　Solemnly；　the　leader　of　the　Wu…Fan　touched　the　dragon's　head　with　his　forefinger；　and　then　pressed　the　finger　to　his　forehead。　He　nodded　to　Cleve。
　　Acting　the　part　of　Hugo　Barnes；　the　government　operative　placed　his　own　forefinger　upon　the　dragon's　head　and　pressed　it　to　his　forehead。
　　The　members　of　the　Wu…Fan　saluted；　and　Cleve　stepped　back。　The　men　who　had　introduced　him　were　extending　their　congratulations。　Cleve　fastened　his　badge　upon　his　coat。　It　seemed　to　be　the　practice；　here　at　the　meeting；　to　keep　the　badges　in　view。
　　Cleve　noticed　that　the　emblems　were　of　different　colors；　but　all　were　alike　in　that　they　bore　the　dragon's　head。
　　Ling　Soo　was　speaking　in　Chinese。　Between　the　sentences；　one　of　Cleve's　Oriental　friends　was　trying　to　interpret　the　remarks。
　　Ling　Soo　was　discoursing　upon　the　glory　of　the　Wu…Fan。　All　were　listening　in　awed　silence。　When　Ling　Soo　had　finished；　some　of　the　Chinamen　approached　him　one　by　one。　Each　individual　appeared　to　have　some　request。　Ling　Soo　responded　gravely　to　each　in　turn。
　　To　Cleve；　the　meeting　was　both　assuring　and　disappointing。　He　was　confident　that　Ling　Soo　had　no　idea　of　his　identity；　that　the　enthroned　Chinaman　had　accepted　him　as　Hugo　Barnes。　But　at　the　same　time；　he　had　hoped　that　he　might　learn　important　secrets　here　tonight。　This　hope　was　unfulfilled。
　　It　became　apparent　that　there　were　no　rites　or　mysteries　conferred　upon　one　who　had　just　joined　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Unconsciously；　Cleve　found　his　thoughts　turning　to　other　matters　than　the　meeting。
　　What　would　Joseph　Darley　say　if　he　knew　the　character　which　Cleve　had　assumed！　Cleve　had　called　Darley　tonight；　but　had　learned　that　the　mitteeman　had　left　by　airplane　for　Los　Angeles。
　　Cleve's　call　had　been　in　response　to　a　message　sent　to　the　hotel　where　he　had　been　stopping。　After　three　days　as　Hugo　Barnes；　Cleve　had　made　a　phone　call　to　his　old　hotel。　In　his　natural　voice　he　had　announced　himself　as　Cleve　Branch。
　　He　had　learned　that　a　call　had　e　from　the　Civilian　mittee　two　days　before。　Hence；　Cleve　had　called　Darley　at　his　home；　only　to　learn　that　he　was　out　of　town。
　　What　had　Darley　wanted？　Did　he　have　new　information　on　the　Wu…Fan　and　its　activities？
　　Cleve　smiled　in　the　style　of　Hugo　Barnes。　Right　now；　a　stranger　in　San　Francisco；　he　was　in　a　better　position　to　learn　facts　pertaining　to　the　Wu…Fan　than　was　Darley。
　　
　　
　　LING　SOO's　firm　tones　came　to　Cleve　and　interrupted　his　thoughts。　The　leader　was　speaking　forcefully　to　one　of　his　subordinates。　The　man　was　bowing　in　apology。　Cleve　could　see　the　fiery　flash　in　Ling　Soo's　eyes。
　　There　was　silence　as　Ling　Soo's　voice　raised；　and　he　addressed　the　assembled　group。　Cleve　could　not　understand　the　flow　of　Chinese　words。　His　blank　look　attracted　the　attention　of　a　sour…faced　Chinaman　who　happened　to　be　standing　beside　him。
　　〃You　hearee？〃　asked　the　Chinaman；　in　a　low　voice。　〃You　no　savvy？　Me　tellee　you。　He　say　he　has　go　to　the　Sun　Kew。　He　showee　this〃…the　speaker　thumbed　his　dragon…headed　badge…〃and　tonight　he　sayee　he　not　go。
　　〃Ling　Soo　velee　angry；　him　not　go。　He　sayee　he　send　someone　else；　mlaybee。
　　Tonight　blig　talkee　down　at　Sun　Kew。　Velee　important　one　go。　Mlaybee　more　go。
　　They　keepee　dlagon　here。　They　showee　him！〃
　　The　man's　action　was　explanatory。　He　pointed　again　to　his　emblem；　then　indicated　beneath　his　coat。　Cleve　understood。
　　Something　was　happening　at　the　Sun　Kew。　The　badge　of　the　Wu…Fan　would　serve　as　a　mark　of　identity。
　　Ling　Soo's　anger　had　subsided。　One　by　one；　the　members　wer