mg.greeneyes-第15部分

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ewed　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　against　a　depressed　door。
　　For　a　few　moments；　nothing　happened。　Then；　the　crouched　form　of　Foy　appeared　from　the　inner　room。
　　Peering　from　a　corner　of　the　curtain；　Cleve　saw　the　evil；　stooping　Chinaman　wend　his　way　toward　the　outer　door　that　opened　into　the　anteroom。
　　Ling　Soo　appeared；　walking　slowly　with　Joseph　Darley。
　　Until　now；　Cleve　had　never　seen　the　Chinaman　standing。　On　both　previous　occasions；　Ling　Soo　had　remained　seated　on　his　throne　that　betokened　his　high　office　in　the　Wu…Fan。　Tonight；　he　saw　Ling　Soo　as　a　squat；　chunky　figure。
　　The　Chinaman　was　short；　but　heavy。　He　was　attired　in　a　black　robe。
　　Emblazoned　on　the　back　was　a　large　golden　dragon；　the　sign　of　the　Wu…Fan。　Words　were　being　spoken　by　Ling　Soo　and　Cleve　heard　them　plainly。
　　〃You　are　sure　that　it　is　safe；〃　Ling　Soo　was　saying。　〃It　must　not　be　seen。〃
　　〃It　is　buried　in　a　bottom　table　drawer；〃　declared　Darley；　in　return。
　　〃Nothing　of　value　lies　there。　No　one　would　know　its　purpose。　Do　not　worry；　Ling　Soo。〃
　　〃You　are　going　back　to　your　apartment　now？〃
　　〃No。　I　shall　not　return　until　late。〃
　　〃Since　no　one　will　be　there…〃　The　rest　of　Ling　Soo's　statement　was　lost。
　　It　died　away　as　the　men　reached　the　entrance　to　the　anteroom。
　　A　buzz　was　all　that　Cleve　could　hear　now。　Ling　Soo　was　gesticulating。
　　Darley　was　shaking　his　head；　then　nodding　as　though　in　agreement。　Cleve　ducked　as　Ling　Soo　turned　and　came　waddling　back　toward　his　inner　room。　He　heard　the　door　of　the　anteroom　close。　Then　came　a　cackling　laugh…the　harsh　chuckle　that　Ling　Soo　used　when　he　was　pleased。
　　Hiding；　Cleve　relied　only　on　his　ears。　He　heard　talk　close　by；　probably　at　the　dragon　doors。　The　words　were　uttered　in　Chinese；　by　Ling　Soo。　A　short　response　in　the　same　language　came　from　the　lips　of　Foy。　The　brass　doors　clanged　shut。
　　A　slight；　scarcely　audible　movement　now　told　that　Foy　alone　was　in　the　hallway。　Cleve　peered　forth　to　see　the　Chinese　servant　headed　toward　the　anteroom。　He　went　through　the　door。　It　closed　behind　him。　Cleve　was　alone。
　　What　should　he　do　now？　Intuitively；　Cleve　waited；　and；　while　he　remained；　he　reflected。
　　Something　important　had　taken　place　tonight。　Ling　Soo　had　discussed　unusual　affairs　with　Joseph　Darley。
　　Whatever　the　meaning　might　be；　it　was　certain　that　the　presence　of　an　intruder　was　something　that　Ling　Soo　would　doubtless　resent。　For　Cleve　to　burst　in　now　as　Hugo　Barnes　would　be　a　grave　mistake。　It　would　be　preferable　to　reserve　a　visit　with　Ling　Soo　for　a　later　occasion。
　　Joseph　Darley　was　gone。　Foy　was　in　the　anteroom。　That　indicated　that　the　servant　had　also　made　his　departure。
　　Foy　had　been　present　during　the　discussion　between　Ling　Soo　and　Darley。
　　That　meant　nothing；　for　Foy　could　not　talk　English。
　　It　was　imperative　that　Cleve　should　learn　the　facts　regarding　this　unexpected　conference　between　Ling　Soo　and　Joseph　Darley；　As　Hugo　Barnes；　Cleve　could　meet　Ling　Soo；　but　it　was　certain　that　he　could　learn　nothing　from　the　impassive　Chinaman。
　　To　question　Darley…say　tomorrow…would　mean　a　reversion　to　the　character　of　Cleve　Branch。　How　could　that　be　avoided？　A　sudden　thought　came　to　Cleve。
　　A　paper…an　expected　symbol…safely　hidden…in　the　bottom　drawer　of　a　table…at　Joseph　Darley's　apartment…where　no　one　would　be　tonight　…
　　
　　
　　THESE　disjointed　thoughts　burst　upon　Cleve　Branch。　They　were　the　answer　to　his　problem！
　　Darley　had　evidently　received　the　paper　from　Ling　Soo。　It　probably　referred　to　something　that　concerned　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Groping　for　an　explanation；　Cleve　thought　that　perhaps　peace　was　to　be　declared　between　the　Wu…Fan　and　the　Tiger　Tong。
　　But　what　was　the　use　of　such　wasted　speculation？　The　paper　itself　would　tell　the　story。
　　There　was　one　sure　way　to　see　it。　That　was　to　go　to　Joseph　Darley's。　Cleve　was　acquainted　with　the　apartment　and　its　location。　If　he　could　find　that　paper；　he　might　learn　all。
　　What　if　Darley　should　return　and　discover　him？　What　of　it？　In　an　emergency；　Cleve　could　reveal　his　dual　identity　to　Darley。
　　Yes；　that　was　the　solution！　He　would　go　to　Darley's　and　find　the　paper。　Go　there　now。　Acting　responsively　to　his　thought；　Cleve　moved　sidewise　from　the　curtain　and　strode　cautiously　to　the　door　of　the　anteroom。　He　found　the　catch　of　the　door　and　opened　it。
　　As　he　had　felt　certain；　the　anteroom　was　empty。　Foy　had　gone；　as　well　as　Joseph　Darley。
　　Cleve　descended　in　the　elevator　and　breathed　freely　when　he　reached　the　street。　The　pageant　had　gone　by　now；　and　Cleve　quietly　joined　the　passing　throng　of　pedestrians。
　　He　reflected　now　on　the　safety　of　his　position。　As　Hugo　Barnes；　he　would　not　be　suspected　if　any　Wu…Fan　men　had　seen　him　ing　from　the　entrance　to　Ling　Soo's。　For　Cleve　was　a　member　of　the　Wu…Fan　himself。
　　He　could　risk　the　visit　to　Darley's…and　be　sure　that　in　a　pinch　he　could　explain　all　to　satisfaction。
　　In　the　fashion　of　Hugo　Barnes；　Cleve　shuffled　along　the　street；　and　cast　a　wary　eye　toward　the　Mukden　Theater　as　he　passed　by。　Only　one　factor　had　been　omitted　from　his　calculations　until　now。　That　factor　was　The　Shadow。
　　But　tonight；　Cleve　saw　nothing　that　indicated　the　presence　of　the　man　in　black。　The　Shadow　could　not　be　everywhere。　Furthermore；　Cleve　had　never　seen　actual　traces　of　his　presence　outside　of　Chinatown。　Traveling　into　the　city　proper；　he　felt　sure　that　he　would　free　himself　from　the　realm　of　The　Shadow's　observance。
　　Past　the　outskirts　of　Chinatown；　Cleve　hailed　a　passing　cab　and　gave　an　address　near　the　apartment　house　where　Joseph　Darley　lived。　Reaching　his　destination；　he　alighted；　paid　the　driver；　and　waited　until　the　tail　light　of　the　departing　cab　had　faded　in　the　distance。
　　Here；　Cleve　felt　safe。　He　smiled　the　peculiar　smile　of　Hugo　Barnes；　as　he　stepped　into　the　shuffling　stride。
　　Hugo　Barnes　would　enter　Joseph　Darley's　home　tonight。　There；　Hugo　Barnes　would　make　a　find　that　would　be　of　interest　to　Cleve　Branch。
　　And　The　Shadow　would　not　know！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XII　
　　　A　SHOT　FROM　THE　DARK　
　　TO　enter　the　apartment　ho