mg.greeneyes-第4章

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　　〃THAT'S　the　one；〃　declared　Branch。　〃If　you　read　the　newspaper　reports；　you　may　have　learned　that　Laird　wrote　a　letter　shortly　before　he　was　killed。　I　rather　suspect　that　the　letter　was　addressed　to　me。〃
　　〃Remarkable！〃　exclaimed　Darley。　〃This　is　somewhat　amazing　to　me。　You　are　sure　that　his　death　was　caused　by　the　Wu…Fan？〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Branch。　〃I　believe　that　his　death　was　connected　with　the　Wu…Fan；　but　how；　I　cannot　tell。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Darley；　nodding。　〃That　is　an　important　point。　It　brings　up　other　elements。　I　may　be　able　to　offer　a　possible　solution。　Nevertheless；　this　theory　es　as　a　surprise　to　me。　Tell　me；　have　you　seen　any　other　cases　that　resemble　that　of　Laird？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Branch。
　　〃You　know　nothing　more　about　the　Wu…Fan？〃
　　〃Nothing　of　importance。〃
　　〃Then；〃　said　Darley；　tapping　the　arm　of　his　chair；　〃it　is　time　that　I　told　you　what　I　know。　You　have　seen　only　the　confusing　angles　of　the　Wu…Fan　situation。
　　〃If　you　understand　the　Chinese　nature；　you　will　know　that　every　individual　has　a　habit　of　interpreting　all　important　matters　in　his　own　way。　That　is　one　reason　why　centralized　government　has　never　been　highly　effective　in　China。　It　is　the　reason　why　a　clear　idea　of　the　Wu…Fan　and　its　purposes　can　be　gained　only　by　a　study　of　Ling　Soo　himself。〃
　　〃And　you　know　Ling　Soo？〃
　　〃I　do。　The　Wu…Fan；　Mr。　Branch；　is　primarily　a　San　Francisco　problem。　It　began　here；　it　took　hold　here；　and　the　Civilian　mittee　looked　into　it。　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　Ling　Soo　himself。〃
　　〃What　did　you　find　out　about　him？〃
　　〃I　found　him　to　be　a　cultured　Chinese　gentleman；　an　Oriental　idealist；　whose　plans　are　as　astounding　as　they　are　absurd。
　　〃The　Wu…Fan；　Branch；　is　a　curious　paradox。　It　is　both　an　imaginative　dream　of　useless　ceremony；　and　at　the　same　time　a　gigantic　scheme　to　make　Ling　Soo's　own　race　the　dominating　power　in　America！〃
　　〃You　mean　that　Ling　Soo　thinks　he　can…〃
　　〃I　mean　that　Ling　Soo　prides　himself　as　being　the　emperor　of　a　colossal　domain　that　takes　in　all　the　United　States；　that　when　he　says　the　word；　his　faithful　followers　will　rule　all！　But　at　the　same　time；　he　is　too　wise　to　ever　say　the　word。〃
　　〃But　these　men　who　work　for　him…〃
　　〃Ah！　They　are　believers。　He　has　divided　the　whole　of　this　country　into　imaginary　provinces。　He　has　appointed　viceroys　and　prefects。　From　them　he　collects　tribute。　In　true　Chinese　fashion；　he　sells　his　great　offices　to　the　highest　bidders。〃
　　〃Then　there　is　danger　that　Chinese　outbursts　may　occur　throughout　the　country？〃
　　〃A　danger？〃　Darley　laughed。　〃Theoretically；　yes。　Practically；　no。　Ling　Soo's　empire　is　a　dream　of　the　future。
　　〃He　estimates　that　the　Chinese　population　is　increasing　more　rapidly　in　America　than　the　white。　Today；　the　Chinese　occupy　what　may　be　termed　a　subservient　position；　because　they　are　such　a　small　minority。　But　in　years　to　e；　they　will　increase　until　they　constitute　a　powerful　minority。
　　〃Ling　Soo　foresees　that；　at　that　time；　they　will　encounter　persecution。
　　They　will　be　restrained　by　laws　directed　against　them。
　　〃Then…and　then　only…will　the　ruler　of　the　invisible　empire　of　these　Chinese　give　the　word。　His　viceroys　will　call　upon　their　subjects　to　arise。
　　〃The　whole　scheme　of　Ling　Soo's　well…planned　government　will…according　to　his　beliefs…go　into　effect。　It　will　replace　the　existing　government。
　　Quickly　and　speedily。〃
　　〃The　man　must　be　crazy；〃　declared　Branch。　〃It　will　take　hundreds　of　years…〃
　　〃The　Chinese　think　in　terms　of　centuries…not　in　terms　of　years。〃
　　〃But　the　man's　schemes　are　treasonable！〃
　　〃If　taken　seriously；　yes。　But　Ling　Soo　is　too　cagy　for　that。　His　organization　cannot　be　considered　as　more　than　a　harmless　order　with　scattered　members。
　　〃On　the　surface；　it　is　so　vague　and　theoretical　that　to　attack　it　would　mean　ridicule。　Ling　Soo　is　accumulating　wealth；　which　he　intends　to　pass　to　his　successor；　that　the　great　cause　may　go　on。
　　〃Those　traveling　representatives　of　his　are　like　the　collectors　whom　the　ancient　Chinese　emperors　used　to　send　into　their　provinces　to　gather　funds　for　the　support　of　the　imperial　Peking　government。
　　〃But　in　actual　practice；　these　disciples　of　Ling　Soo　are　the　most　law…abiding　of　all　Chinese　in　America。　As　a　result；　our　Civilian　mittee　organization　felt　that　they　needed　our　friendship　rather　than　our　opposition。〃
　　〃Because　they　behaved　themselves？〃
　　〃Yes；　and　because　they　have　incurred　the　enmity　of　lawless　Chinese。　The　members　of　the　Wu…Fan；　peaceful　and　idealistic；　feel　that　the　tongs；　with　their　wranglings；　are　detrimental　to　the　progress　of　the　great　cause。　They　try　to　keep　clear　of　the　secret　societies　known　as　the　tongs。
　　〃In　turn；　the　tongs　see　loss　of　power　threatening　them。　So　they　are　hostile；　and　the　only　thing　that　has　prevented　an　outburst　has　been　the　fact　that　the　Wu…Fan　is　large　enough　in　San　Francisco　to　protect　itself　if　openly　attacked。
　　〃So；　when　you　speak　of　death　from　the　Wu…Fan；　I　know　that　you　are　mistaken。　There　have　been　deaths　because　of　the　Wu…Fan；　but　the　Wu…Fan　itself　is　free　from　blame。〃
　　〃I'm　getting　the　point　of　it　now；〃　said　Branch。　〃This　fellow　Laird；　who　was　undoubtedly　doing　some　work　for　the　Wu…Fan；　may　have　crossed　some　tong　leaders。〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　declared　Darley。　〃If　I　had　known　more　about　the　traveling　activities　of　the　Wu…Fan；　I　would　have　informed　the　government　long　ago…just　as　I　have　done　in　certain　other　matters。
　　〃But　I　should　state　emphatically　that　if　the　Wu…Fan　can　be　considered　as　a　menace；　all　that　lies　in　the　distant　future；　and　to　oppose　it　at　the　present　would　be　making　great　oaks　out　of　newly　planted　acorns。〃
　　
　　
　　〃WELL；　Mr。　Darley；〃　said　the　Bureau　of　Investigation　agent；　〃you've　given　me　a　real　slant　on　this　affair。　You　seem　to　know　the　inside　workings；　and　from　what　you　say；　the　Wu…Fan　won't　cause　us　any　worry。
　　〃However；　I'm　here　for　one　important　purpose…to　get　a　report　at　first　hand。　I　want　to　see　how　the　Wu…Fan　works。　I　want　to　know　all　I　can　about　Ling　Soo。　I　want　to　get　the　real　lowdown　on　Stephen　Laird's　death。
　　〃That's　a　State　affair…not　a　government　proposition…unless　it's　directly　traceable　to　a　widely　working　organization。　I　can　use　a　plete　report　from　your　mittee。　But　I　won't　need　it　until　after　I've　made　my　own。
　　〃That's　what　I'm　out　to　get　now…facts　on　the　Wu…Fan。　I　want　to　know　the　best　way　to　go　at　it。　You've　done　your　bit；　but　you　can　probably　suggest　the　way　for　me　to　proceed。〃
　　〃By　seeing　Ling　Soo；〃　responded　Darley。　〃That　takes　you　right　to　the　source。　He　is　quite　willing　to　talk。　Why　not　see　him？〃
　　〃In　what　capacity？〃
　　〃As　my　friend…he　never　questions　them。　I　have　always　taken　members　of　the　Civilian　mittee　with　me　when　I　have　visited　Ling　Soo。　Your　name　will　mean　nothing　to　him。　In　fact；　I　do　not　even　have　to　introduce　you；　other　than　as　an　associate　from　my　office。
　　〃The　membership　of　our　mittee　undergoes　constant　changes　as　the　members…outside　of　executives　like　myself…serve　as　volunteers　without　fee。　We　investigate　affairs　of　the　munity　and　report　them　to　the　authorities　if　we　deem　it　necessary。〃
　　〃And　you　have　never　reported　the　Wu…Fan？〃
　　〃Never…outside　of　stating　that　such　an　order　happened　to　be　in　existence。〃
　　〃Then　you　have　sanctioned　it？〃
　　〃Practically。　We　have　not　censored　it。〃
　　Cleve　Branch　arose　and　walked　in　short　paces；　hands　in　pockets。　He　swung　toward　Joseph　Darley　and　extended　his　hand。
　　〃Thanks；　Mr。　Darley；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　e　to　the　right　man。　I'm　leaving　now…and　when　you're　ready…soon…I'll　count　on　you　taking　me　to　see　this　chap　Ling　Soo。〃
　　〃That　will　be　tomorrow；〃　responded　Darley；　with　an　agreeable　smile。
　　〃Great！〃　said　Branch。　〃I'll　phone　you　at　your　office。〃
　　With　that　declaration；　the　government　operative　made　his　departure。　Joseph　Darley　was　alone；　smiling　to　himself；　as　he　recalled　the　interview。　How　vague；　he　thought；　were　the　idea's　of　those　who　saw　things　from　the　outside。
　　If　the　visit　were　to　be　made　tomorrow；　Darley　realized；　it　must　be　planned　at　once。　For　the　Chinese　liked　to　arrange　their　affairs　well　in　advance。
　　So　Joseph　Darley　sat　down　at　the　telephone　table　in　his　apartment　and　called　the　Chinaman；　Ling　Soo；　to　tell　him　that　he　could　expect　visitors　on　the　morrow。
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　IV　
　　　LING　SOO　
　　CHINATOWN　was　a　splash　of　light　the　following　evening；　when　Joseph　Darley　and　Cleve　Branch　arrived　there　in　the　mitteeman's　limousine。　To　Darley；　a　visit　to　this　district　was　scarcely　more　than　a　matter　of　routine。
　　Cleve　Branch；　although　familiar　with　portions　of　the　Chinese　settlement；　still　found　it　unusual。　His　observant　eyes　wandered　here　and　there；　peering　toward　the　yellow　faces　of　passing　Celestials；　noting　carefully　the　appearance　of　Americans　who　were　passing　through　the　district。
　　Darley　had　purposely　left　the　limousine　on　the　border　of　Chinatown。　Now；　he　led　the　way　along　a　narrow　thoroughfare　that　was　paratively　level　for　this　hilly　portion　of　the　city。
　　The　two　men　passed　by　lighted　Chinese　shops。　They　turned　a　corner；　and　encountered　a　gay　scene。　On　the　right　was　the　bizarre　Mukden　Theater；　a　playhouse　which　presented　stars　from　the　Orient。　Branch　noted　the　billings…in　English　and　Chinese…that　announced　the　arrival　of　popular　actors　from　Shanghai　and　Canton。
　　They　were　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street　from　the　theater；　and　Branch；　glancing　across；　noted　persons　idling　by　the　entrance　to　the　playhouse。　Some　were　Chinese；　others　Americans。
　　Time　moved　slowly　here　in　Chinatown；　in　this　spot　of　the　Orient　dropped　from　its　native　soil。
　　Joseph　Darley　stopped　at　a　door　that　lay　diagonally　across　the　street　from　the　Mukden　Theater。　It　formed　an　unpretentious　entrance　between　two　shops。
　　The　mitteeman　led　the　way　into　this　entrance。　They　passed　through　a　plain；　lighted　hall。　They　reached　a　small　elevator　at　the　end　of　the　passage。
　　Darley　opened　the　door；　and　the　men　ascended　in　the　lift。　It　was　an　automatic　elevator　that　moved　in　a　solid　shaft。
　　They　reached　a　spot　that　Cleve　Branch　estimated　as　two　stories　above　the　street。　The　elevator　stopped。　They　made　their　exit　into　a　small　anteroom。　The　atmosphere　was　altogether　Oriental　now。　This　silent　spot　seemed　miles　away　from　the　street　below。　For　here；　with　the　elevator　behind　them；　both　men　sensed　the　exotic　setting　of　China　itself。
　　Darley…a　man　who　was　a　traveler…remarked　upon　it　as　he　drew　a　tasseled　cord　which　hung　from　the　door　at　the　other　side　of　the　anteroom。
　　〃You　are　in　China；　now；　Branch；〃　he　said。　〃You　will　meet　a　man　whose　mind　dwells　in　China。　Not　content　with　keeping　aloof　from　the　realities　about　him；　he　desires　to　spread　the　customs　and　traditions　of　his　native　land。〃
　　
　　
　　THE　door　opened　as　Darley　ceased　speaking。　A　crouching　servant；　garbed　in　Chinese　robes；　stepped　back　that　the　visitors　might　enter。　Cleve　Branch　eyed　the　man　suspiciously。
　　A　casual　observer　might　have　mistaken　the　man's　stooped　position　for　a　bow。　Cleve　realized　that　it　was　the　Chinaman's　natural　posture。
　　He　felt　a　revulsion　toward　this　servant　of　Ling　Soo。　The　man　seemed　treacherous。　Those　half…closed；　slit…like　eyes　returned　Cleve's　glance。
　　If　the　impression　of