mg.greeneyes-第8章

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　　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　were　approaching　him；　and　each　listened　for　a　few　moments；　then　received　a　sign　of　dismissal。
　　Soon　all　but　Cleve　had　departed。　He　approached　the　Chinaman's　throne。
　　Responding　to　Cleve's　salute；　Ling　Soo　spoke。
　　〃You　will　learn　of　our　next　meeting；　Mr。　Barnes；〃　he　said；　in　a　pleasant　voice。　〃Before　then；　you　may　e　here　when　you　wish。　I　should　like　to　see　you…often。　I　shall　have　time　to　talk　with　you　in　English。　I　understand〃…Ling　Soo's　voice　was　almost　questioning…〃that　you　are　a　gentleman　who　spends　much　time　in　leisure。〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　returned　Cleve；　in　his　affected　voice。
　　〃I　shall　discuss　that　matter　with　you；〃　smiled　Ling　Soo。　〃In　the　meantime；　remember　that　wherever　the　Wu…Fan　is　wele；　you　are　wele。　All　privileges　are　yours。　None　shall　question　them。
　　〃I　may　state　that　I　confer　special　duties　upon　all　our　American　members　when　they　desire　them。　These；　also；　we　may　discuss　when　you　visit　me　alone。〃
　　Ling　Soo　made　the　sign　of　the　Wu…Fan。　Cleve　returned　it　and　stood　as　though　at　a　loss　for　what　to　do　next。　He　was　playing　the　part　of　the　fictitious　Hugo　Barnes　to　perfection。
　　Foy　was　approaching。　Ling　Soo　indicated　the　servant。　Understanding　at　last；　Cleve　followed　the　leering　creature　to　the　anteroom。
　　
　　
　　WHEN　he　reached　the　street；　Cleve　found　that　the　passing　pageant　had　ended。　The　meeting　at　Ling　Soo's　had　lasted　longer　than　he　had　supposed。
　　But　the　evening　was　not　yet　over。　Cleve　still　saw　work　that　he　could　do。
　　The　Sun　Kew！
　　That　was　to　be　his　next　destination。　From　what　his　Chinese　informant　had　said；　something　was　taking　place　there　tonight。　Whatever　it　might　be；　the　Wu…Fan　was　concerned；　and　the　badge　which　Cleve　had　received　would　be　a　token　of　recognition。
　　Cleve　slipped　the　badge　from　his　coat　and　surreptitiously　fastened　it　to　his　vest。
　　Ling　Soo；　so　Cleve　understood；　had　delegated　a　man　to　be　present　at　the　Sun　Kew。　That　man；　for　some　reason；　had　presented　an　excuse。　It　was　assumed　that　Ling　Soo　had　sent　one…or　more…of　the　followers　in　his　stead。
　　Who　was　to　know　which　ones　had　received　the　order？　Ling　Soo　had　talked　privately　with　each　departing　member。　Could　he　not　have　told　Hugo　Barnes　to　go；　also？　That　seemed　likely　enough；　but　another　thought　occurred　to　Cleve。
　　Ling　Soo　had　assured　him　that　all　privileges　were　his。　Ling　Soo　could　not　bee　angry　if　his　new　follower　took　advantage　of　this　one　and　appeared　at　the　Sun　Kew；　tonight。
　　To　incense　Ling　Soo　would；　of　course；　be　to　jeopardize　his　newly　gained　standing。　Cleve　realized　that；　but　he　saw　no　risk。　Everything　appeared　advantageous。
　　Cleve's　mind　was　settled。　Hugo　Barnes　would　be　a　visitor　to　the　Sun　Kew。
　　Cleve　had　not　been　idle　during　the　past　three　days。　As　Hugo　Barnes；　he　had　been　gaining　a　wide　acquaintance　with　the　ins　and　outs　of　Chinatown。　Many　portions　of　that　labyrinthic　region　were　still　unknown　to　him；　but　he　had　seen　the　Sun　Kew　more　than　once。
　　It　was　a　dilapidated　place　that　appeared　to　be　a　decadent　Chinese　restaurant。　Ten　minutes　would　take　him　to　that　obscure　portion　of　Chinatown　where　the　building　that　housed　the　Sun　Kew　was　located。
　　Wending　his　way　along　the　street；　Cleve　so　guided　his　course　that　he　had　opportunity　to　glance　behind　him。
　　Once　again；　he　might　be　followed。　He　knew　but　little；　so　far；　of　the　Wu…Fan　and　its　methods。　It　might　be　customary　to　trail　new　members。
　　His　second　visit　to　Ling　Soo's　had　brought　Cleve　once　more　into　the　field　of　surveillance…but　now　he　was　a　new　person；　introduced　by　Chinese　members　in　good　standing；　instead　of　Joseph　Darley。
　　Yes；　Hugo　Barnes　was　safe！　There　was　no　sign　of　a　follower　tonight…not　even　a　glimpse　of　an　elusive　shadow。　The　Shadow！　Cleve　thought　of　the　unknown　man；　and　indulged　in　the　smile　that　was　characteristic　of　Hugo　Barnes。
　　He　had　seen　no　trace　of　The　Shadow；　since　he　had　e…a　new　man…from　the　shop　of　Moy　Chen。
　　But　while　Cleve　Branch　was　congratulating　himself　upon　that　very　point；　a　vague　blot　upon　the　curbing　slid　phantomlike　across　the　street　behind　him。
　　It　escaped　Cleve's　vision　for　that　moment。　Then　it　was　obliterated　by　the　darkness　of　the　side　street　into　which　Cleve　Branch　had　turned。
　　The　Shadow　had　not　been　deceived！　The　Shadow　knew！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VII　
　　　CLEVE　SEES　THE　SHADOW　
　　THE　entrance　to　the　Sun　Kew　was　unimpressive。　Only　an　old；　dimly　illuminated　sign　betokened　the　place。　Cleve　Branch　entered　warily；　moving　lightly　up　the　cracked　wooden　steps；　abandoning；　for　the　moment；　the　shuffling　gait　of　Hugo　Barnes。
　　The　interior　was　as　uninviting　as　the　outside。　Cleve's　supposition　was　right。　The　Sun　Kew　was　a　restaurant…or；　rather；　it　had　been　a　restaurant；　and　still　preserved　a　shred　of　the　resemblance。　The　place　was　populated　by　approximately　a　dozen　Chinese；　who　sat　at　old　tables　in　the　large　room。
　　Most　of　the　men　were　drinking；　and　Cleve　suspected　that　their　beverage　was　the　rice　liquor　relished　by　Chinese　of　the　lower　class。　Some　of　those　present　were　villainous…looking。　One　glance　assured　Cleve　that　none　of　the　men　who　had　attended　the　Wu…Fan　meeting　were　here　now。
　　Cleve　had　entered　the　room　from　a　narrow　hall。　He　did　not　know　what　lay　up　that　darkened　passage。　He　observed　the　doors　of　other；　smaller　rooms。　But　his　chief　attention　was　turned　to　the　men　about　him。
　　Slipping　into　a　chair　at　a　corner　table；　Cleve　avoided　close　inspection。
　　He　kept　his　eyes　alert；　turning　his　gaze　occasionally　to　the　door　through　which　he　had　arrived。
　　It　was　several　minutes　before　a　tawdry　waiter　noted　that　an　American　had　entered。　He　approached　and　addressed　a　few　words　in　Chinese。
　　Cleve；　responding　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders；　indicated　that　he　did　not　understand　the　language。　The　waiter　retired。　Cleve　decided　that　the　man　had　gone　to　inform　someone　who　spoke　English。
　　Under　his　coat；　Cleve　had　packed　a　short…muzzled　。38。　It　was　his　favorite　weapon；　that　revolver。　It　had　served　him　well　on　more　than　one　occasion。
　　He　had　carried　it　to　Ling　Soo's。　He　had　brought　it　here；　and　now　his　fingers　sought　it。　There　might　be　trouble　in　this　place。　Still；　the　gun　must　be　the　last　resort。
　　The　waiter　was　returning。　His　face　did　not　appear　friendly。　Again；　the　Chinaman　spoke　in　his　native　tongue。　A　shoulder　shrug　was　Cleve's　second　answer。
　　The　waiter　signaled；　and　a　man　arose　from　a　table　close　by。　He　came　over　and　asked　a　question　also。　Cleve；　half　rising　from　his　chair；　now　found　himself　in　the　center　of　a　group　of　inquisitive　Chinese。
　　They　regarded　him　as　an　intruder。
　　Yet　they　were　not　malicious　in　their　actions。
　　Not　one　of　the　crowd　seemed　to　be　able　to　talk　English。　It　began　to　impress　Cleve　as　ridiculous。　They　were　trying　to　urge　him　toward　the　door。
　　As　the　explanation　dawned　on　Cleve；　he　smiled　and　let　his　revolver　glide　from　his　hand。
　　These　men　must　be　lesser　members　of　the　Wu…Fan。　Here　they　were　holding　a　special　meeting；　awaiting　the　arrival　of　more　important　members。　So　Cleve　believed；　and　his　assumption　was　a　logical　one。
　　None　of　the　men　from　Ling　Soo's　had　appeared。