mg.greeneyes-第7部分

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　were　keeping　them　concealed。
　　
　　
　　TURNING　toward　the　sidewalk；　Cleve　stopped　suddenly。　Before　him；　he　observed　a　splotch　of　blackness。　It　was　the　tall；　silhouetted　shadow　of　a　man。
　　The　same　shadow　that　had　been　on　the　floor　of　Ling　Soo's　anteroom！
　　Once　again；　Cleve　was　too　late　when　he　looked　up。　The　shadowy　surface　was　uncanny。　For　the　moment　that　Cleve's　gaze　found　it；　the　blackness　started　to　glide　swiftly　away。　Searching　for　its　owner；　Cleve　barely　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　tall　man　stepping　off　into　the　darkness。
　　With　no　attempt　at　haste；　Cleve　moved　to　the　sidewalk　and　stared　in　the　direction　that　the　figure　had　gone。　But　the　elusive　phantom　had　vanished　into　the　gloom　beyond。
　　What　did　that　shadow　mean？
　　Three　times；　now；　Cleve　had　seen　it。　Did　it　indicate　that　a　man　was　on　his　trail？　If　so；　who　was　the　man？　What　was　his　purpose？　Was　he　a　member　of　the　Wu…Fan？
　　Lacking　a　name　for　this　man　whom　he　knew　existed；　Cleve　supplied　one…The　Shadow！
　　That　name　sounded　familiar　to　Cleve。　He　recalled　certain　reports　which　had　included　mention　of　a　person　known　as　The　Shadow。　A　certain　man　had　been　instrumental　in　thwarting　the　plans　of　a　counterfeiting　ring。　Again；　this　unknown　had　balked　the　schemes　of　Red　agents　who　had　been　active　in　America。
　　The　Shadow…a　man　who　moved　by　night。　Could　this　be　the　same　personage？
　　Future　events　might　tell。　Meanwhile；　Cleve　decided　to　be　on　the　watch；　not　only　for　visible　members　of　the　Wu…Fan；　but　for　this　invisible　being　whom　he　identified；　in　his　own　mind；　as　The　Shadow。
　　In　all　his　activities　as　a　government　agent；　Cleve　Branch　had　followed　one　sure　formula；　when　no　other　seemed　available。　He　knew　that　those　who　looked　for　trouble　would　surely　find　it。
　　Last　night；　Cleve　had　visited　Ling　Soo。　If　the　leader　of　the　Wu…Fan　had　nothing　to　conceal；　Cleve's　visit　would　have　meant　nothing　to　him。　Hence；　Cleve　would　now　be　a　nonentity。
　　But　if　Ling　Soo　chanced　to　he　a　dangerous　plotter；　it　was　a　sure　bet　that　the　visit　had　aroused　his　suspicions。　Therefore；　he　would　be　on　the　lookout　for　Cleve　Branch。
　　Here；　in　Chinatown；　Cleve　was　in　the　enemy's　territory。　He　knew　well　that　Ling　Soo　would　know　of　his　presence。　Being　aware　of　it；　Ling　Soo　would　be　sure　to　have　his　henchmen　on　the　trail。
　　That　was　what　Cleve　wanted。　For　he　had　an　uncanny　ability　when　it　came　to　spotting　hidden　watchers。　He　had　proven　this　tonight；　when　he　had　seen　that　shadow。　Only　a　shadow…but　a　shadow　meant　a　man　in　the　background。
　　Cleve　was　thoughtful　as　he　again　wended　his　way　along　a　slanting　thoroughfare　of　Chinatown。　His　regular　formula　called　for　a　new　step　now。　It　was　time　to　turn　the　tables　on　those　who　were　watching　him…to　watch　them　instead。
　　Ordinarily；　Cleve　would　have　waited　longer；　in　hopes　of　gaining　a　plete　knowledge　of　unknown　watchers。　But　here；　in　Chinatown；　the　streets　seemed　peopled　with　unseen　eyes。　Latticed　windows　were　suspicious。　Alleyways　seemed　made　for　lurkers。　Even　the　smiling　shopkeepers　must　be　taken　into　consideration。
　　So　Cleve　decided　to　lose　no　time。　He　would　investigate　the　Wu…Fan；　and　before　he　began；　he　would　gain　the　additional　information　he　required；　from　one　qualified　to　know。
　　
　　
　　TURNING　into　a　side　street；　as　though　at　random；　Cleve　Branch　strolled　by　a　little　restaurant。　He　gazed　curiously　at　the　sign　above　the　doorway。　There；　surrounded　by　Chinese　characters；　he　read　the　words：
　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HOANG…HO　CAFE。
　　
　　The　place　seemed　picturesque。　Cleve　entered。　He　ascended　a　flight　of　stairs；　and　found　himself　in　a　little　room　that　had　entrances　in　each　of　its　four　walls。　Patrons　could　enter　it　from　all　quarters。
　　Cleve　glanced　at　the　menu。　He　chose　an　item　that　suited　his　taste。　When　a　waiter　approached；　Cleve　indicated　his　choice；　with　the　point　of　a　lead　pencil　that　he　had　taken　from　his　pocket。
　　Beneath　the　printed　item；　Cleve　carelessly　traced　a　little　wavy　line。　The　waiter　bowed　and　left　to　get　the　order。
　　In　leisurely　fashion；　Cleve　consumed　the　Chinese　dish。　He　looked　about　the　restaurant　as　he　ate。　There　were　only　Chinese　here；　and　none　of　them　appeared　to　pay　any　attention　to　the　American。
　　Cleve's　eyes　were　not　only　on　the　patrons。　At　times；　his　gaze　roamed　along　the　floors　and　up　the　walls。　For　Cleve　had　hopes　that　here；　as　before；　he　might　observe　a　shadow。
　　His　wily　search　was　in　vain。　The　waiter　came　with　a　check。　Cleve　drew　some　coins　from　his　pocket；　and　dropped　them　with　a　clink。　The　waiter　made　change；　then　walked　toward　the　doorway　at　the　right。
　　Cleve　waited　until　the　man　was　out　of　sight。　Then　he　strolled　from　his　table；　and　followed　the　same　path　that　the　waiter　had　taken。
　　He　reached　a　little　entry　at　the　head　of　a　flight　of　stairs。　A　quick　glance　showed　him　an　open　doorway　at　the　left。　Cleve　stepped　through　the　opening；　and　the　door　slid　shut　behind　him。
　　Simultaneously；　a　light　appeared　in　the　darkness。　It　disclosed　a　short　passageway；　with　a　closed　door　at　the　end。　Cleve　stopped　before　the　door；　and　tapped　softly。　The　door　slid　open；　and　he　stepped　into　a　room　that　was　furnished　like　an　office。
　　The　room　had　no　windows。　A　Chinaman　attired　in　American　clothes　was　seated　by　a　desk。
　　Approaching　this　individual；　Cleve　Branch　drew　back　his　coat　and　showed　the　glimmer　of　his　badge。　The　Chinaman　pointed　to　a　chair　on　the　other　side　of　the　desk。　In　another　moment；　Cleve　was　seated　there。
　　He　had　never　before　seen　this　Chinaman；　but　Cleve　knew　who　he　was。　Moy　Chen；　Chinese　merchant；　was　the　secret　undercover　man　to　whom　all　Bureau　of　Investigation　agents　could　look　for　assistance　when　in　San　Francisco。
　　〃Branch；〃　said　Cleve　quietly；　by　way　of　introduction。　〃Investigating　the　Wu…Fan　and　its　head；　Ling　Soo。〃
　　Moy　Chen　nodded　solemnly。
　　〃Met　Ling　Soo　last　night；〃　continued　Cleve。　〃Received　report　on　him　from　Joseph　Darley　of　the　Civilian　mittee。〃
　　Drawing　the　report　from　his　pocket；　Cleve　passed　it　across　the　table　to　Moy　Chen。　The　Chinaman　studied　the　papers；　slowly　and　solemnly；　his　brow　wrinkling　as　he　read。
　　It　was　several　minutes　before　he　had　pleted　his　survey。　Then　he　passed　the　report　back　to　its　owner　and　nodded；　while　he　blinked　in　owl　fashion。
　　〃Can　you　add　to　it？〃　questioned　Cleve。
　　Moy　Chen　shook　his　head　as　solemnly　as　he　had　nodded　it。　Then；　for　the　first　time；　he　spoke。
　　
　　
　　〃THIS　is　quite　plete；〃　he　declared；　in　slow；　short　syllables。　〃I　can　tell　you　nothing　more。〃
　　〃You　know　of　the　Wu…Fan？〃
　　〃Of　course。　I　have　been　told　of　it。〃
　　〃But　you　have　never　sought　to　join？〃
　　〃No。　The　tongs　would　not　permit。　I　must　not　oppose　the　tongs。　I　learn　much　through　them。〃
　　〃I　understand；〃　said　Cleve。　〃Well；　Moy　Chen；　I'm　not　satisfied　with　this　report。　I　want　to　see　the　Wu…Fan　at　first　hand；　you　understand？　It's　spreading　all　over　the　country；　and　I'm　here　to　take　a　good　look　at　its　headquarters。　How　would　you　suggest　I　go　about　it？〃
　　Moy　Chen　considered　the　question　thoughtfully。　His　blinking　eyes　and　round　face　showed　perplexity。　Cleve　offered　a　suggestion。
　　〃A　man　named　Stephen　Laird　was　killed；〃　he　said。　〃He　was　an　American。　He　was　also　a　member　of　the　Wu…Fan。　Can　you　explain　that？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Moy　Chen　simply。　〃As　you　have　said；　Ling　Soo　has　men　who　travel　far。　They　go　many　places　for　him。　They　see　many　people　who　are　Chinese；　and　who　are　with　the　Wu…Fan。　Americans　may　travel　with　more　ease　than　may　Chinese。　That　is　why　Ling　Soo　can　use　Americans。〃
　　〃What　are　the　qualifications？〃
　　〃I　do　not　know；　but　I　can　make　a　suppose〃…Moy　Chen　was　slipping　into　a　trace　of　pidgin　English。　〃If　an　American　man　should　seek　to　be　with　the　Wu…Fan；　he　could　do　so。　I　think　I　could　tell　him　how。〃
　　〃Give　me　your　idea；　Moy　Chen。〃
　　〃There　are　certain　Chinese　who　are　easy　friends　for　an　American　man　to　make。　If　that　American　man　should　be　full　of　interest　in　what　they　say；　he　would　hear　from　them　in　the　Wu…Fan。　If　he　should　listen　well；　and　speak　high　of　it；　they　would　want　him　to　be　with　the　Wu…Fan；　too。〃
　　〃Great！〃　exclaimed　Cleve。　〃That's　my　ticket；　Moy　Chen。　If　I　join　the　Wu…Fan；　I'll　have　the　real　slant　on　the　whole　crew。　But　I　won't　be　Branch　when　I　meet　that　outfit。〃
　　〃You　must　be　someone　else；〃　agreed　Moy　Chen。
　　〃And　you　are　the　man　to　see　that　I　am；〃　returned　Cleve；　knowingly。
　　〃When　do　you　wish　to　do　this？〃　asked　Moy　Chen。
　　〃As　soon　as　possible；〃　answered　Cleve。
　　〃As　soon　as　possible；〃　mused　the　Chinaman。　〃As　soon　as　possible。　That　is　now。　You　shall　be　someone　else…now。〃
　　Rising　slowly；　he　went　across　the　room　with　short；　toddling　steps。　He　beckoned　to　Cleve　to　follow。
　　Through　a　door　they　went；　into　a　side　room。　From　a　large　chest；　Moy　Chen　removed　well…pressed　clothes　and　a　box　of　make…up　materials。
　　The　transformation　began。　Cleve　submitted　himself　to　Moy　Chen's　art。　The　Chinese　undercover　man　was　a　master　in　the　creation　of　disguise。　With　subtle　touches　here　and　there；　he　seemed　to　change　the　contour　of　his　subject's　face。
　　When　Cleve　had　donned　the　other　clothes；　he　examined　himself　in　the　mirror　at　the　side　of　the　room。
　　He　found　himself　staring　at　a　face　that　he　could　never　have　recognized　as　his　own。　It　had　taken　on　a　swarthy　hue。　The　cheeks　seemed　less　full。　Even　the　square　chin　had　lost　its　challenge。　Deftly；　Moy　Chen　had　added　patches　of　eyebrows　that　had　effected　the　most　noticeable　change。
　　Rubbing　his　hand　over　his　face；　Cleve　was　pleased　to　find　that　his　new　visage　would　stand　the　test。　He　had　heard　of　Moy　Chen's　ability　in　forming　new　features。　He　had　witnessed　it　now；　in　himself。
　　〃You　say　that　Ling　Soo　has　seen　you；〃　declared　Moy　Chen。　〃He　has　seen　the　man　named　Branch。　He　has　not　seen　this　man。　You　may　go　to　see　Ling　Soo。　He　will　not　know。　That　I　can　say…and　I　mean…sure。〃
　　Cleve　reached　in　the　pocket　of　his　vest　and　produced　a　wallet。　It　was　a　special　one　that　he　always　carried　with　him。　It　contained　cards　and　other　identifying　articles　that　bore　the　name　of　Hugo　Barnes。　He　showed　these　to　Moy　Chen。　The　Chinaman　nodded。
　　
　　
　　MOY　CHEN　led　the　way　through　a　series　of　passages　and　down　two　short　flights　of　stairs。　They　arrived　in　a　little　ground…floor　office；　ing　through