mg.greeneyes-第6部分

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　make　it　impossible　for　him　to　continue　in　our　service。　That　is　all。〃
　　
　　
　　CLEVE　BRANCH　was　studying　Ling　Soo。　He　knew　instinctively　that　the　ancient　Mongol　was　speaking　the　absolute　truth。　But　he　sensed　a　subtle　something　in　Ling　Soo's　phraseology。
　　While　Cleve　was　considering　the　statement　that　had　just　been　made；　Joseph　Darley　asked　another　question；　and　Cleve　forgot　all　else　in　his　interest　in　this　new　subject。
　　〃Does　the　Wu…Fan；〃　asked　Darley；　〃intend　to　be　a　ruling　power　here　or　elsewhere？〃
　　Cleve　knew　that　Ling　Soo's　reply　would　be　important。
　　〃The　Wu…Fan；〃　said　the　Chinaman　blandly；　〃is　an　ideal。　It　consists　of　those　who　think　and　believe　in　mon。
　　〃You　Americans　have　your　orders…your　lodges；　as　you　call　them。　They　have　swayed　the　minds　of　those　who　belong　to　them…many　working　toward　the　mon　good。　Such　is　the　Wu…Fan；　but　it　is　Chinese；　not　American。〃
　　〃That　is　just　my　point；〃　declared　Darley。　〃The　Chinese　are　different　from　Americans。〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　Ling　Soo；　in　a　precise　tone。　〃The　Chinese　are　more　peaceful　than　your　race。　We　bide　our　time。　We　are　not　on　the　rush。　The　Wu…Fan　seeks　no　quick　results。　It　is　patient。〃
　　〃Then；〃　prompted　Darley；　〃your　attitude　toward　American　customs　and　government　is…〃
　　He　left　the　statement　for　Ling　Soo　to　fill。　The　Chinaman　did　not　hesitate。
　　〃It　is　friendly；〃　he　declared。　〃Friendly；　because　it　protects　the　Wu…Fan。
　　In　China；　the　Wu…Fan　would　be　impossible　now；　because　our　native　land　is　ruled　by　those　who　conflict；　who　will　not　allow　those　who　believe　in　the　past　to　have　their　say。
　　〃The　jackals；　there；　have　found　the　dragon　weary。　The　jackals；　here；　are　afraid　to　attack　the　young　and　healthy　dragon。　For　if　they　so　do；　they　shall　find　themselves　departing　from　the　law　of　this　land；　which　allows　to　all　the　right　to　think　and　act　with　peace。〃
　　Darley　threw　a　sidelong　glance　toward　Cleve。　The　description　that　he　had　given　of　Ling　Soo　was　being　proven。　It　was　evident　that　the　Chinaman　himself　had　vague　ideas　regarding　the　present　purpose　of　the　Wu…Fan；　and　that　the　society　constituted　no　menace。
　　Yet　there　was　a　suavity　in　Ling　Soo's　bearing　that　placed　Cleve　on　his　guard。　He　felt　that　it　would　be　necessary　for　him　to　know　more　of　this　order　before　passing　final　judgment。
　　Joseph　Darley　was　a　keen　individual；　but　it　was　quite　possible　that　he　had　been　deceived　by　Ling　Soo's　honeyed　expressions。
　　There　was　one　important　question　that　had　not　been　answered。　What　was　the　attitude　of　Ling　Soo's　underlings　toward　their　chief？　That；　Cleve　was　determined　to　discover。
　　As　the　interview　drew　toward　its　close；　the　Bureau　of　Investigation　agent　was　already　looking　toward　the　future。　He　was　vaguely　planning　an　independent　course　of　action。
　　〃We　of　the　Wu…Fan　have　a　high　ideal；〃　Ling　Soo　was　reiterating。　〃You　have　seen　the　Wu…Fan　here；　Mr。　Darley。　It　exists　beyond　San　Francisco。
　　〃Throughout　this　country；　we　have　many　followers　who　feel　it　their　duty　to　contribute　liberally　toward　the　future　of　our　cause。　I　have　my　representatives　who　travel　here　and　there　on　their　mission　of　friendship。
　　〃Some　day〃…Ling　Soo　swelled　with　pride…〃the　Wu…Fan　will　be　known。　It　will　bring　to　this　country　a　new　era。　Perhaps　that　day　will　be　distant。　It　has　not　yet　e。　But　when　it　is　here；　my　friends；　the　Wu…Fan　will　be　ready。〃
　　Ling　Soo's　voice　retained　its　placidity；　but　it　carried　a　hidden　challenge。　The　mogul　of　the　Wu…Fan　was　lost　in　his　dream　of　future　glory。　Here；　in　his　own　environment；　he　sat　in　the　state　of　an　emperor。　Was　his　dream　purely　a　mad　one？　Reason　said　yes。
　　Reflecting；　Cleve　realized　that　he　was　viewing　the　genius　who　might　some　day　bring　the　much　discussed　yellow　peril　into　reality。　At　the　same　time；　he　knew　that　it　would　be　difficult；　now；　to　bring　the　action　of　the　government　against　Ling　Soo　and　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Unless　this　man　and　his　organization　had　already　embarked　upon　overt　crime；　there　could　be　no　charge。
　　
　　
　　JOSEPH　DARLEY　was　rising　to　leave。　Cleve　Branch　did　the　same。　It　was　then　that　the　stooped　servant　entered　and　approached　the　throne　at　the　mand　of　Ling　Soo。
　　The　crouching　man　spoke　in　Chinese　to　his　master。　Ling　Soo；　in　return；　gave　an　order。　Cleve　was　watching；　and　he　observed　a　marked　change。
　　Ling　Soo's　suavity　was　gone　when　he　dealt　with　his　countryman。　He　was　stern…visaged；　and　his　quiet　eyes　took　on　a　startling　glare。　The　servant　responded　in　a　plaintive　voice；　and　Ling　Soo；　forgetful　of　the　presence　of　his　guests；　spat　harsh；　fierce　words。
　　The　servant　started　toward　the　door。　Ling　Soo's　eyes　still　flashed…until　they　met　Cleve's　stare。　Then　their　anger　dwindled。　They　became　placid　and　retiring；　a　gentle　smile　replaced　the　angry　frown　on　Ling　Soo's　countenance。
　　〃My　servant；　Wu　Foy；〃　he　said。　〃He　is　faithful；　but　very　stupid；　or；　as　you　Americans　might　say…dumb。〃　Ling　Soo　cackled　as　he　used　the　slang　expression。　〃I　must　tell　him　many　times　when　I　speak　to　him。　Many　times　is　many　times　too　often。　One　time　is　sufficient。〃
　　Darley　bowed　and　touched　his　finger　to　his　forehead。　Cleve　did　the　same。
　　The　visitors　turned　and　left　through　the　brass　doors；　which　lay　open　before　them。
　　As　they　neared　the　door　to　the　anteroom；　Cleve　managed　to　glance　behind　him。　The　doors　were　still　open。　Ling　Soo；　enthroned；　was　staring　straight　ahead。
　　Silent　and　motionless；　his　distant　figure　seemed　sinister　and　menacing　to　Cleve。
　　Foy　appeared　and　opened　the　door　to　the　anteroom。　The　brass　doors　were　closing　now。　The　form　of　Ling　Soo　was　hidden　from　view。　The　servant　acpanied　them　into　the　anteroom；　and　pressed　the　button　for　the　elevator。
　　The　light　was　vague　here；　and　the　forms　of　the　standing　men　cast　long　shadows　on　the　floor。　Cleve　was　glancing　toward　those　shadows。　To　his　surprise；　he　saw　four　instead　of　three！
　　He　looked　up　in　surprise；　then　toward　the　floor　again。　The　fourth　shadow　was　slipping　away。　Dwindling；　it　drew　itself　toward　the　door　to　the　anteroom。
　　It　vanished　while　Cleve　was　staring　at　it。
　　Looking　up　quickly；　the　government　agent　saw　the　door　that　led　into　Ling　Soo's　abode　closing　silently。　What　was　that　he　glimpsed　through　the　crack　of　the　closing　door？　It　seemed　like　a　mass　of　black…a　huge；　living　shadow！　What　could　it　mean？　Had　Ling　Soo　followed　them？
　　No；　that　was　hardly　likely。　It　seemed　more　that　someone　had　slipped　from　the　anteroom　into　the　hall　toward　Ling　Soo's　reception　room…someone　who　had　been　waiting　here；　half　hidden　in　the　gloom！
　　A　sudden　recollection　came　to　Cleve　Branch。　He　remembered　that　when　he　and　Darley　had　passed　the　Mukden　Theater；　he　had　seen　such　a　shadow　on　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　the　playhouse。　It　had　caught　his　attention　then；　but　he　had　forgotten　it　in　his　interest　to　reach　Ling　Soo's。
　　The　elevator　was　here。　Mechanically；　Cleve　followed　Darley　into　the　car　and　felt　the　descent　begin。　He　was　wrapped　in　thought。
　　Cleve　pictured　Ling　Soo；　the　suave　Chinaman　whose　courtesy　was　lulling。　He　recalled　Foy；　the　crouching　servant　of　the　Mongol　master。
　　But　more　than　that；　he　visioned　the　black　form　that　he　had　seen　upon　the　floor…the　rising　shadow　that　had　bee　a　thing　of　life。
　　There　were　three　occupants　of　that　apartment　which　he　had　just　left；　and　of　the　three；　the　one　whose　shadow　Cleve　had　seen；　was　the　most　mysterious。
　　Even　more　astounding　and　impressive　than　the　parchment…faced　Ling　Soo　and　sinister　Foy；　was　the　living　form　that　had　appeared　only　as　a　shadow！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　V　
　　　CLEVE　WORKS　ALONE　
　　TWENTY…FOUR　HOURS　after　his　journey　to　the　sanctum　of　Ling　Soo；　Cleve　Branch　paid　another　visit　to　Chinatown。　This　time　he　went　alone。　No　one…not　even　Joseph　Darley…knew　of　this　trip。
　　Cleve　smiled　to　himself　as　he　wended　his　way　through　the　bizarre　streets　of　the　Chinese　quarter。　He　was　thinking　of　Darley　and　of　Ling　Soo。
　　Perhaps　the　chairman　of　the　Civilian　mittee　was　right；　in　that　Ling　Soo's　organization　was　scarcely　more　than　a　fantastic　idea。　But　Cleve　was　determined　to　learn　if　Darley　was　right。
　　The　Bureau　of　Investigation；　he　reflected；　was　different　from　the　Civilian　mittee　of　San　Francisco。　The　agents　of　the　government　must　be　thorough　in　their　methods。
　　Here；　in　his　pocket　now；　Cleve　had　a　report　given　him　by　Darley　at　the　office　of　the　mittee；　that　afternoon。　The　report　covered　all　that　Darley　knew　about　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Cleve　had　accepted　the　report　with　thanks。　He　had　remarked　upon　its　conciseness。　When　Darley　had　asked　him　his　plans；　Cleve　had　told　him　exactly　what　they　were　to　be。
　　〃I　shall　stay　in　San　Francisco　for　a　while；〃　Cleve　had　said。　〃In　and　out　of　Chinatown；　I　may　uncover　facts　that　refer　to　the　Wu…Fan。　My　report；　Mr。
　　Darley；　can　not　be　made　until　I　have　investigated　on　my　own。〃
　　〃Excellent；〃　Darley　had　agreed。
　　The　head　of　the　Civilian　mittee　had　been　useful。　Cleve　knew　that　he　could　count　on　him　later　on；　if　necessary。　But　tonight；　the　Bureau　of　Investigation　agent　was　out　to　tap　another　source　of　information　that　might　be　even　more　valuable　than　Joseph　Darley。
　　There　was　nothing　in　his　action　to　indicate　that　Cleve　Branch　was　bound　toward　a　definite　destination。　His　footsteps　were　carrying　him　along　the　well　known　channels　of　Chinatown。
　　He　was　scarcely　more　than　a　sightseer。　He　stopped　before　Oriental　shops　and　admired　their　wares　in　the　lighted　windows。　He　looked　at　curious　doors　as　though　wondering　what　lay　behind　them。
　　Yet　all　the　time；　Cleve　was　cautious。　He　traced　his　steps　in　varying　directions；　doubling　suddenly　on　his　tracks　to　note　if　he　were　being　followed。
　　For　Cleve　knew　the　ways　of　subtle　Chinamen；　and　of　all　that　he　had　ever　met；　Ling　Soo　had　appeared　most　crafty。
　　The　lighted　lobby　of　the　Mukden　Theater　attracted　Cleve。　He　stopped　there　and　viewed　the　placards　in　the　lobby。　Foo　Yat；　the　Cantonese　tenor；　was　playing　there。
　　The　man　must　have　been　a　headliner　in　his　native　land；　Cleve　decided；　for　a　steady　throng　of　patrons　was　entering　the　playhouse。　As　he　watched　the　flow　of　bland…faced　Chinese；　Cleve　was　on　the　lookout　for　Wu…Fan　badges。　He　saw　none。　If　any　had　them；　they　were　keeping　them　concealed。
　　
　　
　　TURNING　toward　the　sidewalk；　Cleve　stopped　suddenly。