GREEN EYES .....................................................................................................................................................1

Maxwell Grant.........................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER I. THE MARK OF DEATH ..................................................................................................1

CHAPTER II. THE FACE FROM THE DARK.....................................................................................6

CHAPTER III. A MIDNIGHT CONFERENCE ...................................................................................11

CHAPTER IV. LING SOO ....................................................................................................................16

CHAPTER V. CLEVE WORKS ALONE .............................................................................................22

CHAPTER VI. THE WUFAN MEETS..............................................................................................28

CHAPTER VII. CLEVE SEES THE SHADOW..................................................................................32

CHAPTER VIII. DARLEY OFFERS ADVICE...................................................................................39

CHAPTER IX. THE SHADOW LAUGHS ...........................................................................................44

CHAPTER X. THE CHINESE THEATER ...........................................................................................47

CHAPTER XI. CLEVE PLAYS THE SPY..........................................................................................51

CHAPTER XII. A SHOT FROM THE DARK .....................................................................................56

CHAPTER XIII. GREEN EYES SPEAKS...........................................................................................60

CHAPTER XIV. THE SUBTLETY OF LING SOO............................................................................64

CHAPTER XV. GREEN LIGHTS GLOW ...........................................................................................69

CHAPTER XVI. MOY CHEN FAILS ..................................................................................................73

CHAPTER XVII. THE FATE OF A TRAITOR ...................................................................................77

CHAPTER XVIII. THE HAND OF FOY.............................................................................................82

CHAPTER XIX. THE CHINESE JUNK..............................................................................................86

CHAPTER XX. ON THE TORTURE RACK......................................................................................91

CHAPTER XXI. THE BATTLE ON THE JUNK................................................................................95

CHAPTER XXII. GREEN EYES MEETS THE SHADOW................................................................99

CHAPTER XXIII. CLEVE GETS CREDIT.......................................................................................103

THE MOUNTAIN LIMITED was clicking slowly over the rails that trail through the highest and wildest

land in America the western slope of the Rockies. Speed was cut down as the big special labored toward

Outside, the gloomy mountains hung over the track; seemed about to close in on it, and wipe out the train and

Within the club car of the train, only a handful of men remained in the comfortable chairs.

All of these were dozing away, with the exception of one who sat at the end of the car, puffing furiously at a

pipe that was no longer alight. His lips twitched, his eyes blinked furiously, and every time one of his dozing

companions stirred, he whirled around quickly, as though the sound had some hideous portent.

Pulling a watch from his pocket, he gave it a hurried glance, then allowed his eyes to wander around the car.

Satisfied that no one was observing him, he crossed quickly to the writing desk.

His hand shook, partly from nervousness and partly from the swaying of the train. Making no effort to control

the blotching of the pen, he pushed it rapidly across the paper. There was something furtive in his haste.

Finally he signed his name Stephen Laird and blotted the letter. Just then one of the other men in the car

mumbled something drowsily, and Laird thrust the letter into his pocket. He leaned back and assumed an air

For a minute he sat there, tensely posed in an attitude of ease. Then, he took the sheet of letter paper from his

Rapidly Laird addressed an envelope, blotted it, put the letter in, and stamped it. The glue from the stamp

Stephen Laird jumped up from the desk, and started to walk forward in the car. Suddenly he stopped, went

back to the writing desk, and, picking up the blotter that he had used, thrust it into his pocket.

It was a new sheet of white blotting paper, and had retained an almost perfect reproduction of what Laird had

written. Drops of sweat appeared upon his forehead, as though in horror at a near escape.

The sweat made a mark on the man's forehead stand out in relief. It was a red mark almost as red as blood.

LAIRD started toward the front end of the car again. As he neared the corridor, the porter appeared, blinking

"Or, no, wait a minute." Laird took the letter from his pocket, and held it tentatively for a minute. He studied

The porter gazed back timidly. He noticed that the passenger's eyes were close together. They seemed like

Laird seemed satisfied with his scrutiny. He relaxed slightly, and handed the porter the letter. The latter gazed

"How did you know my name?" He shot the question at the terrified porter viciously.

Again Laird relaxed. The porter tried to pull himself together, but just as he was on the point of regaining his

It seemed to strike terror to the Negro's soul, though he could not explain why. There was something sinister

Laird laughed, half in relief at having gotten the letter off his hands, half in amusement at the porter's obvious

terror. Then he turned and walked unconcernedly back toward the rear of the train.

After the passenger had gone, the porter stood still a moment, trying to connect the red mark with something

else in his experience. Finally he shook his head, and walked to the letter rack in the rear of the car.

Into the open rack he dropped the letter. There were already a half dozen envelopes there, ready to be mailed

The porter disappeared into the linen closet. Immediately one of the dozing men leaped to his feet. He sprang

to the letter rack, threw a quick glance around the car, and withdrew the letter the porter had just placed there.

THE train was slowing down still further as it reached the pass through the mountains. As the man who had

just stolen the letter hastened in the same direction Stephen Laird had taken, he noticed that there was hardly

The letter thief quickly reached the observation car. It was deserted. The man walked to the glass door at the

rear of the car, hesitated a few moments, and then stepped out onto the platform.

Although it was now past one o'clock, there was a man sitting in the darkness on the left side of the little

platform. He glanced up sharply as the thief appeared; but the newcomer paid no attention to him. Instead, he

After a few minutes of silence, the man on the left lighted a cigarette. The glare of the match in his cupped

hands revealed the sallow, nervous features of Stephen Laird. The crimson mark stood out over the blinking,

The match went out. Laird's head was facing forward, looking straight back along the dropping tracks that

The train rattled as it bumped over a switch point and onto the doubletracked roadbed that indicated a

It carried a single green light. Laird's eyes focused on that glare. His body shook with an irresistible shudder.

That single disk of brilliant green had awakened some horrible memory in his mind!

The words were not loud enough for the man who had stolen the speaker's letter to distinguish. His side of the

platform was wrapped in a blanket of clickings and grumblings as a long line of darkened sleepers passed by,

Brakes ground as the eastbound limited slowed. A crying gasp sounded on the observation platform. It rose to

a crescendo that was completely obscured by the noise of the brakes and the passing train. Finally it sank to a

The observation platform was dark. The brakeman who climbed over the rear railing noticed nothing as he

The limited picked up speed on the easy down grade to Truckee. The brakeman, his work done, turned to go

into the car. His red lantern swung within a foot of the chair that Laird had been occupying. The light showed

the huddled, motionless form of a man. His head was forward on his chest. His breath was coming in short,

The brakeman set down the lantern and shook the huddled body. There was no response. Quickly the train

hand swung the helpless man into the closed part of the car, and dropped him on a long couch.

The light in the car showed a horrible sight. Stephen Laird's chest was covered with blood. His coat and vest

The brakeman dropped to his knees to support the gory victim, and shouted for the porter. The latter brought

Both the brakeman and the conductor focused their eyes on the crimson sign that stood out like a beacon

The porter ran to try and find a doctor. It was immediately apparent that without medical assistance, Laird

would not live the few minutes it would take the train to get to Truckee and a hospital.

Laird's lips were moving. The conductor bent over, trying to catch something that would give a clew to the

"See " The words were cut off by a gurgle of blood issuing from Laird's pale lips.

"T A G " A pause, and then: "A " The pale lips and dimming brain were trying to say something of

such importance that it had to be spelled. The conductor wrote down the letters.

They were the last that Stephen Laird ever said. His mouth opened, and more blood gushed forth. His fingers

A physician, hastily aroused by the observationcar porter, hurried in, dressed in trousers over pajamas. He

THE conductor went through Laird's pocket, looking for a railroad check. He found it, in an envelope marked

Stephen Laird. He wrote the name on a sheet of paper, and then copied his notes. He read them to the doctor:

" 'See in the box. Tag A.' He tried to spell it. 'T A G' then, he managed to gasp out the letter 'A.' That

The brakeman went out on the platform where he had found Laird's body. He called to the conductor, pointed

The conductor took the fragment. It was part of the blotter that Laird had thrust into his pocket in the club car.

This scrap bore only two letters: R and D, in reverse, the last letters of the murdered man's signature.

The conductor did not realize this. He searched for the rest of the blotter, in vain.

"Go up ahead," he said to the brakeman, "and bring back the porter from the club car. Maybe he'll know

"Yes, suh," he said. "That's the one, suh. He give me a letter, suh, jus' a li'l while ago. I got it heah, Misteh

While he spoke, he had been searching through the mail for Truckee. There was no envelope with Stephen

Meanwhile the observationcar porter and the brakeman had been having trouble keeping curious passengers

"Here's a gentleman who says he's from the newspapers, conductor. Shall I let him in?"

The conductor nodded his assent. A man bustled forward, dressed, like the doctor, in pajamas and trousers.

He showed the conductor his credentials. He was a correspondent from one of the newspaper syndicates,

The conductor told this man what he knew about the murder. The latter's eyes glistened. This was a fine

"Laird said something, too, about eyes," remarked the conductor thoughtfully. "Green eyes, as I remember it.

But that was when I first got there. This is all I have written down: 'In the box,' and then 'see,' and then this

Up ahead, the whistle blasted through the night. The train was coming into Truckee, where the authorities

The little group of men around the dead man dropped into silence. The correspondent was sitting down

But he said nothing about the red mark on Stephen Laird's forehead, because no one had thought to mention

Living, the red mark on Laird's forehead had impressed three men: the porter, the conductor, and the

Now that Laird was dead, the mark was dying, too, as though it were connected with his soul, rather than

The porter had been sent back to his car. All that the newspapers and the authorities were told was that a man

had been found stabbed on the observation platform; a fragment of blotter had been found beside him; he had

uttered certain vague words and letters before his death; and a letter which he had written had been stolen.

But of all the details marking the murder of Stephen Laird, that vanished crimson mark was most significant.

That spot that shone like blood was the mark of death! Now, death had struck; and its mark no longer

SEVERAL days had passed since the strange death of Stephen Laird, passenger on the Mountain Limited.

The case had created a wide sensation at first. Now, with no solution toward the mystery, it had dropped into

It was evening, in San Francisco. A tall, welldressed man entered the lobby of the Aldebaran Hotel, carrying

a light suitcase. He stepped up to the desk to register. The clerk noted the name which the writer fashioned in

The clerk looked over the list of vacant rooms. The Aldebaran was a secondrate hostelry, and was never

filled with guests. But due to its location on one of the noisy streets that angle northward from Market, the

rooms on the upper floors were always occupied. At present, there was just one vacancy on the eighth floor,

"No," said Arnaud, shaking his head emphatically. "I want to be as high up as possible. If I can't get a room

"Wait a moment!" The clerk pretended to make a sudden discovery. "Here you are, sir Room 806. A very

The guest seemed highly pleased, and turned his bag over to the waiting bell boy. The clerk called out the

number of the room, and Henry Arnaud started to the elevator. The clerk shrugged his shoulders.

There was a very definite reason why Room 806 was vacant. Until a few nights ago, it had been occupied by

Stephen Laird. That guest had left the Aldebaran one evening to take the Mountain Limited for Chicago.

The police at Truckee had discovered an envelope in Laird's pocket, marked with the number of the room and

So, on the following morning, the police of the coast city had called at the Aldebaran to search the room for

clews that might lead to a solution of the murder of Stephen Laird. The room had been bare of evidence, and

There was no ban now; but 806 was not to be offered to a guest without good excuse for so doing. The excuse

had worked excellently tonight. Henry Arnaud had insisted upon an eighthstory room; he had received the

The clerk's eyes scanned the lobby. He wanted to be sure that the issuing of Room 806 had caused no

comments. Many of the guests at the Aldebaran were permanents who might talk about the fact that Laird had

One man who had been reading a newspaper was strolling from the lobby; no others showed any sign of

MEANWHILE, Henry Arnaud had reached Room 806. The room occupied a corner of the hotel. One

The room was small. It had no bath. A large wardrobe stood in the corner, in lieu of a closet. The only

modern touch to this room was a reading lamp on a small table beside the single bed.

Yet Arnaud did not appear dissatisfied with his quarters. He tipped the bell boy and carefully locked the door

after the attendant had left the room. He seated himself in a chair beside the bed. He took an old newspaper

As Arnaud spread the paper, his eyes rested upon a paragraph relating to the death of Stephen Laird. It was an

exact account of the man's demise, and gave the conductor's version of everything he had heard the dying

What was the meaning of the statement, "Tag A," the last message that Laird had tried to give? That was a

mystery. The newspaper paragraph also stated that the envelope scrawled with 806, Aldebaran Hotel, had

Henry Arnaud smiled as he scanned that notice. It explained his presence here tonight. He had chosen this

The light that shone upon Henry Arnaud's face revealed a countenance that was both distinctive and unusual.

Henry Arnaud was possessed of firmly molded features that appeared almost as if they had been chiseled by a

One could not have told the age of this man. Forty years might have been a fair estimate, but its accuracy

He was a being with a human mask, whose face became more inscrutable as it was examined closer. In the

proximity of the light, it was even more impressive than in the poorly illuminated lobby. Arnaud's eyes were

Slowly, Henry Arnaud raised his hand and extinguished the light beside the bed. The room was now in total

Henry Arnaud had not stirred from his chair. But now, his eyes were turned toward the window.

Blocks away, they saw the glow of an illuminated district. Henry Arnaud was looking toward the strangest

The lights from that cluster of steeppitched streets betokened a merging of Occidental invention with the

glamour of the Orient. There, within sight of this hotel, dwelt the largest settlement of Chinese outside of

Electric signs glowed with Chinese characters. These were accompanied by English words. It was upon one

such sign that Henry Arnaud's eyes were focused. This sign bore the large words:

The sign itself was a bizarre Oriental creation. Rows of colored lights crawled dragonlike from the lower

corners until they reached a glittering ball of resplendent incandescents near the top of the sign.

Above these was a small circle of yellow lights that did not move. From the center of the circle shone two

lights of green, placed side by side. They seemed a challenge to the man who watched them from the window

An imaginative person had Henry Arnaud been such might have sworn that those lights were staring back

Click! The lamp came on in the room. Henry Arnaud arose from his chair and walked about. He doffed his

coat and vest. He removed his collar and necktie. He went to the telephone and ordered ice water.

When the bell boy arrived, Arnaud opened the door and stepped into the hall to receive the pitcher. He

"Leave a call at the desk for me," he said. "Tell them seven thirty and to keep on ringing until I wake up.

I'm dead tired. I'll be sleeping soundly ten minutes from now, and it takes lots of noise to arouse me."

The door closed. The lock clicked. The bell boy returned to the elevator and stood waiting in the deep silence

The Aldebaran was a gloomy hotel. When the bell boy had gone down in the elevator, the place was as still

ACROSS the hall from Arnaud's room, a door was ajar. Eyes were peering through the crack of that door

eyes that stared with a sinister purpose. They were glued upon the single exit from Arnaud's room. They were

Now a figure appeared from the door. It was a grotesque, crouching figure that crept slowly forward, making

no noise as it advanced. The clothes that it wore were dark; but the face above them bore a yellow tinge.

In action, although not in guise, this creature bore the semblance of a Chinaman. His hands were close against

He listened outside the door of 806, his face now hidden from the light. This was a secluded portion of the

hall. Yet the crouched man seemed ready to slide back to the other room at the first sign of an approaching

Within the room, Henry Arnaud again stood in darkness. The only indications of his presence that reached the

The clasps of the bag clicked as Arnaud undid them. He coughed slightly as he removed articles of apparel

from the bag. The door of the wardrobe banged dully as he pushed it shut. Then the bed creaked as Arnaud

The noise of his breathing was interrupted occasionally by a slight cough. Then those sounds decreased, and

The man outside the door was listening intently. With the subsidence of all sound, he moved, surely, but

One hand came from his body. Deftly, he inserted a pass key in the lock of the door. The key turned. The

Softly, steadily, the door of Henry Arnaud's room opened until it was ajar like that of the room across the

In this end of the hall, the light was dim and obscure. Even so, the filtering rays might have attracted the

attention of a man awake upon the bed. But there was no sign to show that Henry Arnaud had stirred.

The sinister approacher took this as a good sign. He stepped softly into the room, and closed the door behind

He crept around the foot of the bed, and passed slowly by the halfopened window. He was close to the floor;

the dim, reflected glow from Chinatown was not sufficient to betray the presence of the sneaking native who

But those vague rays of light did tell something of the man's purpose. Something gleamed in one of the

creeper's hands. It was the blade of a long, vicious knife the silent weapon of a noiseless assassin.

The crawling Chinaman stopped at the table by the head of the bed. He listened there; then loomed upward.

His body extended over the bed. His knife was in his right hand, ready to deliver a wellaimed thrust. His left

The hovering creature was one who planned his purpose well. He was ready to perform two operations

When the light came on, the knife blade would descend swiftly toward a vital spot before the sleeping victim

Click! The light was on. Its sudden glare revealed the face from the dark the yellow, leering face whose

The knife blade gleamed beside that sinister countenance. But it remained suspended motionless.

THE lean, leering face of the Chinaman became a hideous, glaring monstrosity. The stooping man wheeled

With the lamp still lighted, he dropped beside the bed, and his peering eyes glared beneath. Arnaud was not

Writhing serpentlike along the floor, the man approached the wardrobe the only spot in the lighted room

The big door of the upright chest was latched a sign that no one could be within. But the Chinaman

intended to make sure. He was willing to rely upon his blade, even though his intended victim might be on

His clawlike hand clutched the little knob of the wardrobe. It drew the door open, and the Chinaman leaped

Revolting though the yellow face had become, the look of perplexity now upon it was ludicrous. The man

stood momentarily thwarted, but his bewilderment did not last. He sprang back across the room and

The sinister face from the dark had returned to the dark. But those insidious eyes were still searching. They

The head extended through the opening, and turned downward toward the street below, a drop of sixty feet. It

appeared again at the side window. Here, too, it inspected a sheer drop of more than sixty feet.

The wicked face turned its gaze toward the distant glow of Chinatown. There, the sign of the Mukden Theater

still displayed its roving change of lights. But the luminous circle at the top now presented a blank center.

The Chinaman turned his eyes back into the room. His hands were buried against his body. The knife was

Ten minutes went by; then the crouching figure went back across the room and tiptoed to the other side of the

hall. The door of 806 was closed and locked. But the tricked assassin waited, wondering.

Within the room, the dim glare of the distant lights was totally obscured by a black shadow in the window.

Henry Arnaud had returned. He went noiselessly to his suitcase and took it with him to the window. He

His body virtually invisible swung from the window. Long arms, reaching upward gripped a protruding

row of bricks below the roof. With amazing agility, the man ascended and drew himself to safety. His bag

Across the roof he strode, toward the rear of the hotel. He slid down a wall to a lower building. His form

Henry Arnaud had gone. He did not reappear. But in his stead, a tall, blackclad man arrived at the end of a

Stooping in the gloom, he compressed his suitcase into a small, compact bundle that disappeared beneath the

flowing cloak that he wore. From beneath his slouch hat, this man peered forward with shrewd, gleaming

There, in the silence, hidden lips laughed, and their low, throbbing mockery made an eerie sound on the night

In the guise of Henry Arnaud, The Shadow had come to San Francisco! The Shadow dread avenger, who

What was his purpose here? Did it concern the strange death of Stephen Laird? Had that event declared the

existence of criminal hands whose actions could be ended only by the power of this one man who waged

Only The Shadow knew! Tonight he had thwarted the first of his hidden enemies. He had walked into a trap.

Back in the hotel, that evil face was still on watch its wicked eyes staring across the hall toward a room that

The Shadow, strange wizard of the night, had learned why Stephen Laird had occupied that room. With that

knowledge gained, The Shadow was gone. Only the echo of a weird, mocking laugh remained.

TWO men were seated in the living room of an elegantly furnished apartment. One, the host, was attired in

His gray hair gave him a firm dignity. His eyes, mild and kindly, showed passivity, but with it, human

The visitor, plainly dressed, was about fifteen years younger. He had an air of assurance, and his chin

portrayed the man of action. But now he possessed a patient attitude that seemed at odds with his natural

"I have come to you, Mr. Darley," he said, "because you are a man who keeps confidence. You may be

surprised by my visit. You may wonder what it is about. But you will quickly understand.

"I told you that my work concerned the Civilian Committee of San Francisco, of which you are the head; but

I must explain that it is also of a nature that will make it a private matter between you and myself."

Joseph Darley nodded slowly. He knew that this was an important meeting. He had received a telephone call

that afternoon, from this man, who called himself Cleve Branch. Darley had arranged the appointment for

As chairman of the Civilian Committee, Darley held a most important executive position, and special

meetings of this type were not foreign to his work. Therefore, he was definite in his reply.

"Whatever your purpose," he said, "you can rely fully upon my keeping it confidential, Mr. Branch. I

understand that you seek my cooperation in a certain enterprise. Whether or not I can give that cooperation,

you have my absolute promise that whatever you may tell me shall reach no other person."

"Very well," said Branch. "My work, Mr. Darley, is in behalf of the Bureau of Investigation, Department of

Darley leaned forward in his chair. He realized now the prime importance of this visit. On former occasions,

Darley had supplied valuable data to the government. Now, he understood, his services were to be sought.

"I have come to San Francisco," continued Branch, "to make a thorough investigation of the activities of the

DARLEY leaned back in his chair. He considered the ceiling thoughtfully. When he spoke, it was plain that

his mind was reverting to facts which he knew well, and was seeking to give in detail.

"Yes," said Darley. "I do. More than that; I know him well. He is a man with a complex brain. A Chinese

"Before I answer that question," replied Darley, with a thoughtful smile, "I should like to know what

impression you have already formed of the WuFan. I ask that, because you are probably acquainted with its

"In other words, you may have seen something of the effects; while I believe myself to be acquainted with the

"I can tell you what I know," said Branch. "That is not difficult. When we first encountered the organization,

we supposed it to be an offshoot of some Chinese tong. But we soon discovered that it was a different

"Our agents began to report that in virtually every city where Chinese lived, there were men of that race who

appeared to be identified with the order. They are chiefly Chinese of the more enterprising class restaurant

"All wear an emblem like this" from his pocket, Branch drew a white button that bore a golden dragon head

"and these are of different colors. We have seen many variations; and we have learned that there are certain

"We have observed, also, that payments have been made by stationary members to the travelers. Questioning

of members has produced only vague answers. There's no one in the world who can tell you less than a

"But we have learned, from isolated cases, that some of these Chinamen have a pretty big idea of their

importance. But more than that" Branch extended his forefinger as he spoke "it appears that there are a

few Americans tied up with the outfit. They might speak if we could locate them. But, though we hear of

"Americans," said Darley thoughtfully. "Yes, Ling Soo knows a number of Americans; but I did not know

"One was," declared Branch shortly, "but he isn't any more. That's the reason why I am here."

"I knew of him. He knew of me. He was to communicate with me. I was waiting. But he happened to die very

"He was murdered. Not so many nights ago. Stabbed to death on the Mountain Limited, going East."

"You mean the man Laird?" questioned Darley, in a surprised voice. "The man who was found dying on the

"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

"Not at all," replied Branch. "I believe that his death was connected with the WuFan; 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 comes as a surprise to me. Tell me, have you seen any other cases

"Then," said Darley, tapping the arm of his chair, "it is time that I told you what I know. You have seen only

"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 WuFan and its purposes can be gained only by a

"I do. The WuFan, Mr. Branch, is primarily a San Francisco problem. It began here; it took hold here; and

the Civilian Committee looked into it. I made the acquaintance of Ling Soo himself."

"I found him to be a cultured Chinese gentleman, an Oriental idealist, whose plans are as astounding as they

"The WuFan, 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!"

"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

"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

"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

"Ling Soo foresees that, at that time, they will encounter persecution. They will be restrained by laws directed

"Then and then only will the ruler of the invisible empire of these Chinese give the word. His viceroys

"The whole scheme of Ling Soo's wellplanned government will according to his beliefs go into effect. It

"If taken seriously, yes. But Ling Soo is too cagy for that. His organization cannot be considered as more than

"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 lawabiding of all Chinese in America. As a

result, our Civilian Committee organization felt that they needed our friendship rather than our opposition."

"Yes; and because they have incurred the enmity of lawless Chinese. The members of the WuFan; peaceful

and idealistic, feel that the tongs, with their wranglings, are detrimental to the progress of the great cause.

"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 WuFan is large enough in San Francisco to protect itself if

"So, when you speak of death from the WuFan, I know that you are mistaken. There have been deaths

"I'm getting the point of it now," said Branch. "This fellow Laird, who was undoubtedly doing some work for

"Exactly," declared Darley. "If I had known more about the traveling activities of the WuFan, I would have

"But I should state emphatically that if the WuFan 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 WuFan 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 WuFan

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 complete report from your committee. But I won't need it until after I've made my

"That's what I'm out to get now facts on the WuFan. I want to know the best way to go at it. You've done

"By seeing Ling Soo," responded Darley. "That takes you right to the source. He is quite willing to talk. Why

"As my friend he never questions them. I have always taken members of the Civilian Committee with me

when I have visited Ling Soo. Your name will mean nothing to him. In fact, I do not even have to introduce

"The membership of our committee undergoes constant changes as the members outside of executives like

myself serve as volunteers without fee. We investigate affairs of the community and report them to the

Cleve Branch arose and walked in short paces, hands in pockets. He swung toward Joseph Darley and

"Thanks, Mr. Darley," he said. "I have come to the right man. I'm leaving now and when you're ready

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

If the visit were to be made tomorrow, Darley realized, it must be planned at once. For the Chinese liked to

So Joseph Darley sat down at the telephone table in his apartment and called the Chinaman, Ling Soo, to tell

CHINATOWN was a splash of light the following evening, when Joseph Darley and Cleve Branch arrived

there in the committeeman's limousine. To Darley, a visit to this district was scarcely more than a matter of

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

Darley had purposely left the limousine on the border of Chinatown. Now, he led the way along a narrow

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

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

The committeeman led the way into this entrance. They passed through a plain, lighted hall. They reached a

Darley opened the door, and the men ascended in the lift. It was an automatic elevator that moved in a solid

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

Darley a man who was a traveler remarked upon it as he drew a tasseled cord which hung from the door

"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

THE door opened as Darley ceased speaking. A crouching servant, garbed in Chinese robes, stepped back

A casual observer might have mistaken the man's stooped position for a bow. Cleve realized that it was the

He felt a revulsion toward this servant of Ling Soo. The man seemed treacherous. Those halfclosed,

If the impression of the servant was any forecast of the master, Ling Soo would be a man to watch.

The stooped Chinaman was gliding along a splendid hallway, with the two visitors traveling in his wake. He

reached a pair of doors faced with hammered brass. Fantastic dragons writhed in basrelief upon the panels.

The servant, as though performing a ceremony, bent low and touched his forehead with his fingertips. The

They were in a large, sumptuous reception room large enough to be a meeting place. It was furnished in

Cleve did not notice the decorations closely. He was interested in the figure at the end of the room. There, in

The man's face was like fine yellow parchment. He might have been fifty years old. He might have been a

A living joss god, he sat in solemn state, while curls of strangely scented incense smoke rose languidly beside

The face of this man Ling Soo was cryptic. It had a kindly expression, yet was Sphinxlike in its

solemnity. The man's eyes almost gentle blinked mildly through largerimmed spectacles.

He was like a character in a play, Ling Soo; yet Cleve, as he approached him, realized that this was all a

In fact, the government man was somewhat at a loss. He wondered how one began to treat with so unusual a

Darley, as an act of courtesy, raised one forefinger and tapped his forehead. Ling Soo responded with the

Cleve responded in the manner that Darley had done. The Chinaman returned the friendly salute.

This ceremony ended, Darley became businesslike. He drew one of the nearby chairs toward Ling Soo's low

LING SOO was the first to speak. Cleve, despite his previous contact with intellectual Chinese, rather

expected Ling Soo to talk in pidgin English, for the man, Cleve knew, was one who upheld Chinese customs.

But here Cleve was surprised. Ling Soo, when he talked, displayed a marvelous facility with the English

"Greetings, gentlemen," he said, in calm, easily enunciated words. "Greetings, to my friend, Joseph Darley

"Good evening, Ling Soo," said Darley politely. "This is Mr. Branch, one of my associates. I deemed it wise

"His kindness does me honor," commented Ling Soo. "He shall be welcome here whenever he may choose to

come. Your friends, Mr. Darley, are pleasant ones to meet. They are what you say" he paused only

Darley laughed, and Branch joined in. Ling Soo beamed with pleasure. He seemed to pride himself upon his

"I shall tell you why I have come here this evening," said Darley briskly. "I want to talk with you about the

WuFan. Changes take place in affairs everywhere even here in the Chinese settlement. You know it is my

"Tell me, Ling Soo. Has there been any new development in the policy of your order?"

"The WuFan never changes," said Ling Soo solemnly. "It is the same always. It shall be the same always.

The WuFan is the spirit of my native land. It continues the ancient and honorable customs that lived through

"I understand that," replied Darley. "But I have to look at it from a different standpoint than you, Ling Soo. I

can't forget that China itself has undergone some radical changes during recent years.

"Chinatown is a microcosm of China itself. There can be changes here as well as in your native land."

The mild eyes flashed. Ling Soo's passivity vanished, for an instant. Then it returned. Cleve wondered at the

change. It had been in the dark eyes alone. The face had given no different expression.

But with the return of Ling Soo's normal character, the thin, yellow lips parted in a broad smile, and from

"Would one question the lion," he asked, "to learn what the jackal seeks to accomplish?"

"The WuFan," cackled Ling Soo, "is mightier than an lion." His voice and expression became solemn. "The

symbol of the WuFan is the ancient dragon greater than the lion. But the enemies of the WuFan they

"Then," said Darley, "you believe that what I already know about the WuFan is complete that my previous

"Tell me," resumed Darley, "is the progress of the WuFan continuing uninterrupted? Is your membership

"All who join the WuFan respond the same," declared Ling Soo. "What I have told you of the WuFan, I

shall repeat. It is the living spirit of old China the WuFan. It seeks not to do harm. It seeks only to do

"Those who believe in it are trustworthy. They rise higher in the order as they prove their worth. They are

"One must not judge the WuFan by a single member any more than one should judge a race by an

"What does one mean by punishment? That is a question. We have no form of punishment embodied in our

code. We place a ban upon the traitor. He is no longer allowed to mingle in the affairs of the WuFan. We

CLEVE BRANCH was studying Ling Soo. He knew instinctively that the ancient Mongol was speaking the

While Cleve was considering the statement that had just been made, Joseph Darley asked another question,

"Does the WuFan," asked Darley, "intend to be a ruling power here or elsewhere?"

"The WuFan," said the Chinaman blandly, "is an ideal. It consists of those who think and believe in

"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 common good. Such is the WuFan; but it is Chinese, not

"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.

"Then," prompted Darley, "your attitude toward American customs and government is "

"It is friendly," he declared. "Friendly, because it protects the WuFan. In China, the WuFan would be

impossible now, because our native land is ruled by those who conflict, who will not allow those who believe

"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

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

Yet there was a suavity in Ling Soo's bearing that placed Cleve on his guard. He felt that it would be

Joseph Darley was a keen individual, but it was quite possible that he had been deceived by Ling Soo's

There was one important question that had not been answered. What was the attitude of Ling Soo's underlings

As the interview drew toward its close, the Bureau of Investigation agent was already looking toward the

"We of the WuFan have a high ideal," Ling Soo was reiterating. "You have seen the WuFan here, Mr.

"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 WuFan will be known. It will bring to this country a new

era. Perhaps that day will be distant. It has not yet come. But when it is here, my friends, the WuFan will be

Ling Soo's voice retained its placidity, but it carried a hidden challenge. The mogul of the WuFan was lost

in his dream of future glory. Here, in his own environment, he sat in the state of an emperor. Was his dream

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

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

The crouching man spoke in Chinese to his master. Ling Soo, in return, gave an order. Cleve was watching,

Ling Soo's suavity was gone when he dealt with his countryman. He was sternvisaged, and his quiet eyes

took on a startling glare. The servant responded in a plaintive voice, and Ling Soo, forgetful of the presence

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

"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

Darley bowed and touched his finger to his forehead. Cleve did the same. The visitors turned and left through

As they neared the door to the anteroom, Cleve managed to glance behind him. The doors were still open.

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 accompanied them into the anteroom, and pressed the button for the

The light was vague here, and the forms of the standing men cast long shadows on the floor. Cleve was

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

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

The elevator was here. Mechanically, Cleve followed Darley into the car and felt the descent begin. He was

Cleve pictured Ling Soo, the suave Chinaman whose courtesy was lulling. He recalled Foy, the crouching

But more than that, he visioned the black form that he had seen upon the floor the rising shadow that had

There were three occupants of that apartment which he had just left; and of the three, the one whose shadow

Even more astounding and impressive than the parchmentfaced Ling Soo and sinister Foy, was the living

TWENTYFOUR 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

Perhaps the chairman of the Civilian Committee was right, in that Ling Soo's organization was scarcely more

The Bureau of Investigation, he reflected, was different from the Civilian Committee of San Francisco. The

Here, in his pocket now, Cleve had a report given him by Darley at the office of the committee, that

Cleve had accepted the report with thanks. He had remarked upon its conciseness. When Darley had asked

"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 WuFan. My report, Mr. Darley, can not be made until I have investigated on my own."

The head of the Civilian Committee 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

There was nothing in his action to indicate that Cleve Branch was bound toward a definite destination. His

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

The lighted lobby of the Mukden Theater attracted Cleve. He stopped there and viewed the placards in the

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 blandfaced Chinese, Cleve was on the lookout for

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

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

With no attempt at haste, Cleve moved to the sidewalk and stared in the direction that the figure had gone.

Three times, now, Cleve had seen it. Did it indicate that a man was on his trail? If so, who was the man?

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.

Future events might tell. Meanwhile, Cleve decided to be on the watch, not only for visible members of the

WuFan, 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 WuFan had nothing to conceal, Cleve's visit

But if Ling Soo chanced to he a dangerous plotter, it was a sure bet that the visit had aroused his suspicions.

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

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

Ordinarily, Cleve would have waited longer, in hopes of gaining a complete 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

So Cleve decided to lose no time. He would investigate the WuFan; and before he began, he would gain the

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:

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

Beneath the printed item, Cleve carelessly traced a little wavy line. The waiter bowed and left to get the

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

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

He reached a little entry at the head of a flight of stairs. A quick glance showed him an open doorway at the

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

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

"Branch," said Cleve quietly, by way of introduction. "Investigating the WuFan and its head, Ling Soo."

"Met Ling Soo last night," continued Cleve. "Received report on him from Joseph Darley of the Civilian

Drawing the report from his pocket, Cleve passed it across the table to Moy Chen. The Chinaman studied the

It was several minutes before he had completed his survey. Then he passed the report back to its owner and

Moy Chen shook his head as solemnly as he had nodded it. Then, for the first time, he spoke.

"THIS is quite complete," he declared, in slow, short syllables. "I can tell you nothing more."

"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 WuFan at

first hand, you understand? It's spreading all over the country, and I'm here to take a good look at its

Moy Chen considered the question thoughtfully. His blinking eyes and round face showed perplexity. Cleve

"A man named Stephen Laird was killed," he said. "He was an American. He was also a member of the

"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 WuFan. Americans may travel with

"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 WuFan, he could do so. I think I could tell him how."

"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 WuFan. If he should listen well, and

"Great!" exclaimed Cleve. "That's my ticket, Moy Chen. If I join the WuFan, I'll have the real slant on the

"As soon as possible," mused the Chinaman. "As soon as possible. That is now. You shall be someone else

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 wellpressed clothes

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

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

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 led the way through a series of passages and down two short flights of stairs. They arrived in a

little groundfloor office, coming through a door that slid back to form a portion of the wall.

Seating himself at a desk, Moy Chen carefully wrote out a list of names. These were Chinese businessmen

"You must have money," declared Moy Chen. "You must show much money to those who are the right

The Chinaman produced a stack of bills from a desk drawer, and tendered them to the newly created Hugo

"It is from here you must go," declared Moy Chen. "It is to here you must come back, while you are Barnes.

When you should wish to be Branch again, you must go away by the door through which you came when you

"You come here, when you wish," added Moy Chen, "because you have found great interest in those goods

which I sell. It is because of that I bring you in this room. Here I bring those who mean good business."

So saying, the Chinaman opened the door of the room and brought Cleve into the back of a large store

With calm demeanor, Moy Chen led his companion to the front of the shop, stopping now and then to point

out some attractive piece of merchandise. At the door to the street, the Chinaman became silent and stood

"Thanks," said Hugo Barnes, in a voice that varied greatly from the tones of Cleve Branch. "I like your shop.

Best place I've seen in Chinatown. I've got my eye on a couple of things I want. I'll come back in a few days

Moy Chen bowed, silently and with courtesy. He watched with approving eyes as Hugo Barnes shuffled from

THE man who called himself Hugo Barnes smiled in a peculiar manner as he sauntered along the street.

Cleve Branch was eliminated for the present. This new identity would mean new lodgings at another hotel.

Hugo Barnes affected indifference as he passed the Mukden Theater. The first part of the game was ended.

Hidden watchers could stare in vain. Keen eyes could not detect the presence of this disguise. The watched

Tomorrow, Cleve Branch, in a new identity, would meet in person members of the WuFan. But in the

meantime, Hugo Barnes was on the lookout for a mysterious shadow. Now, he felt sure, that shadow would

No shadow could have been visible there. Perhaps that was why the alert eyes of Hugo Barnes failed to see a

But the watching form saw Hugo Barnes. When the disguised man rambled by, the silent figure moved.

Flitting invisibly, it followed at a distance. A jetblack cloak and lowbrimmed hat concealed the peering

From unseen lips came a low almost inaudible laugh a sound that was eerie in its tone.

The disguise prepared by Moy Chen had failed in its first test. Beneath the semblance of Hugo Barnes was

ANOTHER evening had arrived in Chinatown. Tonight, odd Oriental buildings were aglow, even to their

A Chinese parade was moving along the narrow street beside the Mukden Theater. The eyes of viewing

throngs were watching it. No one paid attention to those who jostled their way along the narrow sidewalks

Among the few who were pressing past the standing hordes was Cleve Branch in his disguised personality

of Hugo Barnes. He was on his way to something more important than a motorized version of an Oriental

Moy Chen had served him well. Without even mentioning the name of the undercover Chinaman, Cleve had

A roll of paper money, tactfully displayed in a Chinese shop, will work wonders. With Cleve or Hugo, as

He had made friends with three Americanized Chinese. From one of them, he had heard of the WuFan. He

had mentioned the subject to another. The third had discussed it of his own accord.

Through his expression of admiration for Chinese customs, Hugo Barnes had received an unexpected

invitation to be present at the meeting of the order. He had accepted. The place had been named. It was Ling

Cleve paused before the entrance to Ling Soo's abode, and waited while a Chinaman detached himself from

The Celestial entered Ling Soo's. Cleve gave him time to reach the elevator; then went in alone. He waited

He drew the cord at the anteroom door. This was in accordance with instructions. Foy appeared and glared

"My name is Hugo Barnes," he said. "You savvy? Go tellee boss that Melican man is here."

The words had their effect upon Foy. The stoopshouldered man evidently recognized the name of Hugo

There were more than two dozen persons in Ling Soo's reception room. Cleve stood uncertainly for a

moment; then one of his Chinese friends came forward and drew him toward the large chair where Ling Soo

Awkwardly following his companion's gesture, Cleve touched his forehead with his forefinger and received

The leader's eyes were mild, but quizzical, as they rested upon the American. There seemed to be some

purpose in Ling Soo's study. Americans were rare converts to the WuFan, Cleve fancied. There were none

here tonight besides himself. Perhaps they were much desired. From what Moy Chen had said, Ling Soo

"It is a pleasure, Mr. Barnes," said Ling Soo, with a friendly smile. "A pleasure, indeed, to have you with us

this evening. I have heard about you from my friends. They say that they have told you the purpose of the

"They have," replied Cleve, in the voice he used for Hugo Barnes. "I was very interested in what they had to

"They have suggested," continued Ling Soo, "that you be named a member of the WuFan. Is that your

HE clapped his hands. There was silence in the room. Foy crept forward, and stood beside his master's

throne. Ling Soo, in the singsong words of the Chinese language, made an announcement to the others. A

At Ling Soo's command, Foy thrust forward a small box. From it, Ling Soo produced a small blue badge that

"My comrade," he said, in slowly enunciated English, "you are now an associate of the WuFan. Those you

see here tonight are men high in our order. All who wear the badge of the WuFan shall be your friends. You

Foy had gone away while his master was speaking. Now the man returned and held a brass dragon head

Solemnly, the leader of the WuFan 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

The members of the WuFan 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

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

Ling Soo was discoursing upon the glory of the WuFan. 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

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 WuFan.

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 committeeman 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

He had learned that a call had come from the Civilian Committee two days before. Hence, Cleve had called

What had Darley wanted? Did he have new information on the WuFan and its activities?

Cleve smiled in the style of Hugo Barnes. Right now, a stranger in San Francisco, he was in a better position

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 sourfaced Chinaman who

"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 dragonheaded badge "and tonight he sayee he not

"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

Something was happening at the Sun Kew. The badge of the WuFan 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

"You will learn of our next meeting, Mr. Barnes," he said, in a pleasant voice. "Before then, you may come

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

"I shall discuss that matter with you," smiled Ling Soo. "In the meantime, remember that wherever the

WuFan is welcome, you are welcome. 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,

Ling Soo made the sign of the WuFan. Cleve returned it and stood as though at a loss for what to do next.

Foy was approaching. Ling Soo indicated the servant. Understanding at last, Cleve followed the leering

WHEN he reached the street, Cleve found that the passing pageant had ended. The meeting at Ling Soo's had

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 WuFan was concerned, and the badge which Cleve had received

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

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

Ling Soo had assured him that all privileges were his. Ling Soo could not become angry if his new follower

To incense Ling Soo would, of course, be to jeopardize his newly gained standing. Cleve realized that; but he

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

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 WuFan and its methods. It might be

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

He had seen no trace of The Shadow, since he had come 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

It escaped Cleve's vision for that moment. Then it was obliterated by the darkness of the side street into

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

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

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 villainouslooking. One glance assured Cleve that

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

It was several minutes before a tawdry waiter noted that an American had entered. He approached and

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 shortmuzzled .38. It was his favorite weapon, that revolver. It had

He had carried it to Ling Soo's. He had brought it here; and now his fingers sought it. There might be trouble

The waiter was returning. His face did not appear friendly. Again, the Chinaman spoke in his native tongue.

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.

Not one of the crowd seemed to be able to talk English. It began to impress Cleve as ridiculous. They were

As the explanation dawned on Cleve, he smiled and let his revolver glide from his hand.

These men must be lesser members of the WuFan. 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. These Chinese did not identify the strange American with

Cleve thought of the emblem beneath his coat. He had put it there, because it was to be worn concealed in

Right now, Cleve decided, that emblem would settle matters much more effectively than his government

Quietly and impressively, Cleve drew back his coat and showed the sign of the WuFan. He stepped back as

THE result was entirely opposite from what Cleve had anticipated. Before he could move another step away,

a knife gleamed as the nearest Chinaman leaped toward him. A wild, angry shout arose, and with it came the

In another instant, the mad assailant was flinging himself upon the amazed American. Cleve leaped

The charging man was none too accurate. His blade sliced Cleve's sleeve. But this momentary escape was no

The door was behind him, but there was no escape now. With the bright blades descending, Cleve saw death,

That action made him helpless. His hand had no time to gain the gun from the hidden pocket. Yet Cleve's

futile effort to elude the knife thrusts actually contributed to the unexpected happening that thwarted the

Two sharp shots cracked from the blackened doorway. The wellaimed missives found their marks. The first

smashed the wrist of the one attacker, the other reached the shoulder of a knifeswinging Chinaman.

Both were upon Cleve now. One knife was poised above his head, but the hand that held it was guided by a

deadened arm. The thrust was futile, and as Cleve struck the threatening hand, the blade flew free along the

As he rolled free from his crippled antagonists, Cleve encountered a greater menace. The Chinaman who had

A huge, surly fighter, he pounced upon his prey with upraised arm, and the broadbladed dirk seemed certain

Again an automatic spoke from the door. The Chinese assassin dropped his blade. It clattered beside Cleve.

Once again, the hidden marksman had prevailed. The Chinaman was shot in the hand. He dropped to the

The man's actions indicated that he was no longer in the fray. He was writhing, as though in pain. But in that

Seeking to deceive his hidden foe, the big Chinaman huddled on the floor, and his left hand, out of sight from

Cleve was crawling to his feet, his back turned toward the huge Chinaman. Up came that hidden left hand.

Swinging into play, it drove the wicked blade straight for the center of Cleve's back.

The action was deft and swift. Those firmly clenched fingers formed a fist that even a bullet might not loosen

Quick though the assassin was, the hidden sharpshooter was swifter. His fourth shot sounded. The bullet,

skimming a few inches away from Cleve's back, reached its chosen mark not the hand that held the knife,

There was a sharp clack as the leaden missive clipped the blade. The knife was wrested from the hand that

Cleve Branch, staggering to his feet and drawing his revolver, found himself facing a trio of startled,

Who was this mysterious rescuer? Cleve did not know. He realized only that he had been saved from certain

The attack had been frustrated by an unseen hand, and one lone comrade was ready to assist against a new

THE menace of the first encounter had been its suddenness. Cleve had warning of the danger that was

He was in the midst of an Oriental nightmare. This room was dimly lighted by swaying Chinese lanterns. The

three Chinamen, writhing on the floor, seemed grotesque in their odd garbs. Cleve had no dread of them now.

A singsong cry was passing back and forth. The name "WuFan" was uttered in a weird, hostile tone. The

Strange eyes were peering from openings in the opposite wall. A chattered gabble was telling what had

happened. Amidst the lull, Cleve raised his revolver as a threat, and began to back toward the door where he

The effect of his action was startling. It was the spark that kindled the fire of rage among the foeman. One

purpose dominated the entire throng of Chinese: that their victim should not depart alive.

If Cleve had supposed that his enemies were armed only with long, wicked knives, he now learned his

Cleve did not wait for the firing to start. He blazed away with his revolver, straight at the nearest group of

opponents. One Chinaman fell. The others dropped behind the shelter of the tables.

Like rats, these Mongols had slipped out of sight, and opened fire from their ambuscades.

As he sought the protection of a table, Cleve fired at spots where his enemies had been. He aimed well, but

He was one against many, and the odds were impossible. His one lone revolver might account for a few of

the attackers; but doom was inevitable. Cleve could never make that short dash to the door and expect to

Bursts of flame were coming from all quarters now. The room was ablaze with revolver shots. Cleve Branch

was the target, and bullets smashed against the table which he had chosen for a buffer. Cleve's answering

But he still had help. The man at the door was fighting with him. There, from an angle, the hidden marksman

could see all portions of the room. He had a dozen targets, and he chose them well.

Yellow hands spread and dropped their weapons. Fingers that were pressed to triggers suddenly lost their

purpose. The sharp, staccato barks of the automatic were tokens of unerring aim.

A strange silence dominated the room as the echoes of gunfire died away. Cleve, bewildered, gradually

His revolver was empty and useless in his hand. He had brought no reserve supply of cartridges. He knew

that his weapon had done little damage. Those shots from the door had turned the tide!

Prone, helpless Chinese were sprawled about the room. Those who still remained active were too wary. They

were crouching, fearfully, in corners; or they were back behind the refuge of the doorways.

They knew too well that their own shots would betray their presence. They had seen the havoc wrought. Not

TO Cleve, the silence became a sign that all his enemies were fallen or had fled. In that he was wrong. His

These men were snipers at heart. They had attacked openly because they were many against one. Now,

realizing their error, those who remained uninjured were lying low, awaiting a false move by the man whose

The blackened door was refuge, in Cleve's mind. The bursts of flame that had emerged from it were signs of

sure protection. With gunfire ended, he felt that escape was the only course. Escape, before fresh attackers

Springing from behind the table, Cleve leaped straight toward the door. His dash carried him no farther than

five feet. The shots came from hidden Chinamen. A bullet winged Cleve in the shoulder, and he sprawled

The hidden friend was answering. Shots rang from his reloaded automatics. But now the task was

superhuman. Cleve's false move had placed his helpless body where it was a target for the aim of merciless

These Chinese would not be content to let that body lie. Dead or alive, the form of Cleve Branch was due to

Cleve's eyes, upraised toward the door, were staring with both misery and amazement. For before him

appeared a strange, unaccountable form. Sweeping in from the darkened hallway came a living shadow!

No longer a mere fleeting phantom, The Shadow appeared as a man garbed in black a flowing cloak upon

his shoulders, a slouch hat pulled low over his inscrutable visage. Two blackgloved hands were clutching

His first move was a swift one. Like a living form of darkness, The Shadow swept forward, and his tall shape

blotted out the form of Cleve Branch. Willfully, The Shadow had made himself the target for those hidden

No longer was Cleve the victim that the murderers sought. Their fire turned toward this new menace the

man who had spoiled their schemes the hidden marksman who had sent their comrades sprawling with his

Swaying evasively, The Shadow made a strange target. His tall form, moving with a mystic rhythm, seemed

to elude the fire of his foeman. A bullet clipped the top of the slouch hat. Another zimmed through the

From hidden lips came a mocking laugh a merciless mirth that boded no good for the relentless enemy. A

living target, The Shadow had played the Chinamen's own game. He had caused their eagerness to prevail

Unscathed by the shots that had greeted his appearance, he had surveyed the scene with piercing eyes. He had

marked the spots from which betraying spurts of flame had told the presence of the snipers.

Now his automatics came into sudden action. They burst forth with roars that sounded like cannon in that

lowceilinged room. They formed a swift barrage a deadly hail of uncanny fire that rained destruction on

One bullet caught a yellowvisaged sniper as he dodged behind a door. The man toppled sidewise and

sprawled into the room, his revolver striking the floor four feet beyond his body. A sneaking form, slipping

The Shadow's left hand, with quickly moving forefinger, turned the path of an automatic across a blackened

Somewhere in that darkness lay a man whose revolver was pointed, ready to deliver a fatal bullet. The shot

THOSE deadly automatics brought another silence to the den of death. Down to a single shot that remained in

his righthand gun, The Shadow had dealt destruction to the hidden murderers. Not one Chinaman remained

A prone man in a corner was trying to rise and deliver a last shot; but his effort failed. He sank back helpless,

There was an open window across the room. It opened on a narrow crevice between this building and the

next. Through it, a yellow face was peering. This single assassin had crawled to his perch from the floor

The Shadow did not see that face, for his gaze was turning to the floor. There, a crippled knifewielder was

writhing upward at The Shadow's side. His blade was poised in his left hand. Seeking to attack at close range,

The Shadow saw his foe. His right hand swung wide with a long, forceful blow. It struck the Chinaman's

raised wrist, and hurled the assassin sidewise. The knife, loosened from the grasp which held it, clicked

A yellow hand was beside the face at the window. A gleaming revolver shone. Its muzzle was pointed

directly at the form in black. The Shadow's cloak was spreading, and its crimson lining formed a background

The Shadow, turning suddenly, saw the threatening gleam. His lowered automatic swung upward. Its last shot

The Shadow's bullet found its mark. It whizzed past the extended arm, almost clicking the gleaming gun. It

The leering yellow face dropped backward. A hand waved wildly as the helpless Chinaman toppled from his

perch. A moment of impressive silence; then, from the crevice below the window came a dull crash, as the

The Shadow was helping Cleve to his feet. Dazed and bewildered, the disguised government man clutched

They reached the wall beside the doorway. A clatter sounded in the passage. The Shadow's protecting grip

He saw the man in black leap to the other side of the doorway. Three Chinamen dashed in; two carrying

They had come, as reinforcements, from the street. Attracted here by the sound of gunfire, they paused and

The man with the knife saw Cleve. With a cry, he leaped toward the crippled American. The men with the

Like an avenging demon, The Shadow was upon them! With mighty force, he clutched the Chinaman who

held the upraised knife. He swung the man's body as though it had been a form of straw!

Upward, backward, that body went. It was hurled, dirk and all, upon the gunarmed Chinese who were

One man evaded the hurtling form and grappled with The Shadow. The other wriggled free, and fired wildly

at the man in black. But as he pressed the trigger, The Shadow, twisting with amazing skill, precipitated

Of the two grapplers, it was the Chinaman not The Shadow who received the shots. The wrestler's grip

The Shadow, never faltering, seized the Chinaman who held the revolver. He plucked the gun from the

Sweeping toward the door, The Shadow gripped Cleve and swung him to the passage. The blackgloved

These reports from the captured revolver sounded as a warning to all who might choose to follow. They were

accompanied by a taunting, gibing laugh. The challenge was not answered. Few could have followed, had

Police whistles sounded in the distance, as Cleve Branch faltered along the narrow street, supported by the

man who had rescued him. The fresh air was reviving. Cleve's wound ached dully now.

They were threading through dim, obscure streets. The man in black had become an obscure being. The only

sign of his presence was the clutch of that guiding hand. Then, suddenly, the hand was gone. Cleve was

He stood bewildered for a moment; then, with a start, he recognized his surroundings. The alleyway in which

he stood opened on a lighted thoroughfare. Cleve hastened toward the street ahead. Arrived there, he turned

sharply to his right, and slipped into an open doorway into the shop of Moy Chen!

Cleve Branch had been rescued from the dive called the Sun Kew. His phantom rescuer had brought him to a

These thoughts were amazing; but more startling was the knowledge that the strange shadow that had crossed

CLEVE BRANCH glanced at his watch. It was five in the afternoon. One could not gauge time without a

watch, here in Moy Chen's upper office, for the little room was windowless. Cleve Branch was himself now.

Moy Chen smiled placidly as he saw Cleve rubbing his shoulder. The wound had been a nasty one; but Moy

Cleve had been living here since that eventful night at the Sun Kew, and now he was ready to sally forth in

"I shall be back, Moy Chen," he said, as he arose from his chair. "I intend to visit Ling Soo, when the

"Visit Ling Soo," said Moy Chen quietly. "But do not go to that place where you did go to the Sun Kew."

Moy Chen had explained that the Sun Kew was a gathering place for members of the Tiger Tong a secret

society that had often wreaked havoc in Chinatown. For some years, now, the Tiger Tong had been quiet; but

its members did not relish intrusion by Americans, at any time. That, to Moy Chen, was the probable

Cleve had mentioned that he had shown the badge of the WuFan. That, Moy Chen presumed, had caused

Moy Chen, Cleve had discovered, played a very passive part in the affairs of Chinatown, and seldom paid

attention to the business of his neighbors. As an undercover man, it was wise for the Chinese merchant to

Since Cleve had signified his readiness to depart, Moy Chen guided him. They went into the passage, and at

the end, Cleve found the open door that took him to the head of the obscure stairway. He did not enter the

While recovering from his wound Cleve had lost all contact with outside affairs. He had resumed his normal

personality for the definite purpose of visiting Joseph Darley. He knew that the chairman of the Civilian

Committee was constantly feeling the pulsebeats of Chinatown; and through Darley, Cleve might learn new

HE arrived at Darley's apartment shortly before six o'clock. Cleve found Darley at home. The committeeman

"Well, well," said Darley. "I've been looking for you. Tried to communicate with you before I went to Los

"In and out of Chinatown," replied Cleve, with a smile. "Browsing about the district."

"I'm going there tonight," said Darley. "Why don't you come along? We'll have dinner at the St. Thomas

This was convenient. As Cleve Branch, the government agent could visit the Chinese district with Joseph

Darley. As Hugo Barnes, he could go alone and attend the meetings of the WuFan. So the invitation for

"Yes," said Darley. "I just arrived home this afternoon. I called you at your hotel. I wanted you to go with me

if you had been able to spare the time. I had a most enjoyable trip; down to Los Angeles by air, back by

"Wonderful! Leo Frane, the movie magnate, is the owner of the yacht. He is East at present, and he ordered it

up here to Frisco to meet him on his return. We had delightful weather from the time we left San Pedro."

"Yes. I have cruised with him occasionally. He knew that I was coming to Los Angeles, so he had the yacht

held there until I arrived. I may go back to Los Angeles with him when he comes West and if you have

They left the apartment for the hotel. Darley found a secluded table in the corner, and ordered a sumptuous

To Cleve, after his recent adventures, the luxurious hotel seemed a strange contrast to Chinatown.

Within walking distance of this fine hostelry, where wealthy guests appeared in evening dress, lay the region

cut by bizarre streets, where the intrigue of the Orient lay deep. It seemed incredible that these two

Chinatown, true enough, had adopted the mechanical inventions of America. Had social San Francisco, in

As Cleve's thoughts dwelt on Chinatown, Joseph Darley's conversation turned to that very subject. Leaning

"I had almost forgotten it," he said. "I had information for you that time I phoned to your hotel. Something

"That the WuFan has encountered the open enmity of the Tiger Tong an organization that has caused a

great deal of trouble in the past. It is rumored that the Tiger Tong has been active against members of the

Darley's statement was intensely interesting. It explained something that Cleve had found perplexing. He

realized now why the displaying of the WuFan emblem at the Sun Kew had brought on the sudden attack.

But the Bureau of Investigation agent carefully refrained from giving indication of his extreme interest. He

THERE were matters which Darley should know and matters which he need not know. Facts about Moy

Chen belonged in the latter class. So far as any one except Moy Chen was concerned, the connection between

"That was all I had to tell you before I left," continued Darley. "Today, at the office, I found another report on

"I only glanced over the papers. Tomorrow I can let you see them. I think, however, that I can give you the

"It appears," said Darley, "that the Tiger Tong made it known in no uncertain terms that it did not like the

WuFan. So Ling Soo sent a delegate to talk with a leader of the Tiger Tong, who makes his headquarters at

This was illuminating! The delegate must have been the man who said he would not go again!

"The delegate," continued Darley, "encountered some sort of trouble. So Ling Soo ordered three men to go

"They waited until late at night, because the riffraff of the Tiger Tong are usually around the Sun Kew in the

evening. When the delegates arrived there, they found the police in possession. There had been a riot at the

"The police could not find out," declared Darley. "But it was in reference to that riot that Ling Soo wrote to

me. He believes that the Tiger Tong lured a few members of the WuFan to the place and attacked them.

"Whether or not Ling Soo's followers rendered a good accounting and escaped, is a matter of speculation. It

seems evident, however, that the disturbance was made by the members of the Tiger Tong themselves."

"Yes," resumed Darley, "and it would be extremely unlikely that Ling Soo would have ordered an attack at

that place. The WuFan is not admired by the other tongs. If the WuFan should start trouble with the Tiger

"Because it proves that any member of the WuFan is in danger. It settles in my mind the question of

Cleve reflected. Joseph Darley's theory appeared correct. Stephen Laird had died from a knife thrust. The

members of the Tiger Tong had been knifewielders. They had attacked Cleve an American and a member

IT was logical that Stephen Laird also an American affiliated with the WuFan had been a victim of the

Tiger Tong. If this were true, it meant that Cleve's investigation of this case was ended.

The Chinese tongs were already under surveillance. The Bureau of Investigation was interested in the

WuFan only because it was a new organization. Laird's death had appeared as a smirch upon its record.

With the WuFan exonerated, Cleve could make his final report and leave San Francisco.

He put one question to Joseph Darley, because he knew that the answer would have an important bearing on

"We must remember," he said, "that Stephen Laird was not killed in San Francisco. He was murdered while

"Yes," said Darley emphatically. "At least to the degree that it affects this case. Had Laird been killed far

away from San Francisco or in some small city we could hardly blame the tong. This city and New York

are the strongholds of the tongs. But Laird was less than a night's journey on his trip eastward.

"Some member of the Tiger Tong may have been appointed to kill Laird. Failing, the assassin took the

chance of following him on the train. It goes badly with tong members, you know, if they fail in a definitely

Cleve was thinking. He was recalling the dying words of Stephen Laird, as they had been emblazoned in the

These statements and a vague reference to someone with green eyes were the only message that Laird had

Perhaps, somewhere, Laird had left a report. A tag marked "A" might have been a bit of evidence that would

Green eyes! Cleve had noticed none as yet. Ling Soo's eyes were usually dull. They flashed at times, but they

were dark not green. So were the eyes of his crouching servant, Foy. Dark eyes all dark eyes.

Cleve smiled as he looked at Joseph Darley. Thinking of eyes, he encountered those of the committeeman.

Mild, kindly eyes, of a light grayishblue. Like Darley's countenance, and the man's gray hair, they expressed

"I think that you are right," declared Cleve. "While I remain in San Francisco, it would probably be best for

me to learn facts about the Tiger Tong instead of the WuFan. Can you aid me in that?"

"I shall do as much as possible," said Darley. "The police can also give you information. They know of men

The decision seemed a good one. It obviated further necessity of being Hugo Barnes. With complete data on

the Tiger Tong evidence, perhaps, of attempted killings or actual deaths of WuFan members Cleve

With thoughts along these lines, Cleve dined with Joseph Darley. But as he ate, Cleve had new thoughts

The invisible man who had chosen to appear on one occasion still remained a mystery!

Why was The Shadow here? Why had he been at Ling Soo's? Why had he followed Cleve? Why had he made

Important questions all. But there was another realization that brought a furrow to Cleve's brow as he

The Shadow had followed him while he was Cleve Branch, and also while he was Hugo Barnes. Could it be

Cleve recalled that he had been left close by Moy Chen's shop. Evidently, The Shadow knew that Hugo

Instinctively, Cleve glanced about him. His eyes sought the floor. They saw a shadow there! But there was no

mystery to this shadow. It belonged to a gentleman who was dining alone at a table close by scarcely within

Cleve watched as the gentleman arose and strolled from the dining room, his shadow moving with him. A

Evidently a guest at the hotel not a person whom one could connect with darkened alleyways and sinister

The departing guest was speaking to the head waiter at the door of the dining room. That was a considerable

distance away, and Cleve lost his passing interest. He turned to dinner and continued with the course that he

Yet his thoughts were still of The Shadow. That man of mystery was one whom Cleve could not forget.

Although he did not mention it to Darley, Cleve intended to remain in San Francisco.

THE gentleman left the dining room and walked slowly across the spacious lobby of the St. Thomas Hotel.

He stopped at the desk, and spoke to the clerk. He received a key that bore the number 1216.

Henry Arnaud nodded pleasantly and went to the elevator. He rode upstairs in silence. His face was

inscrutable as calm as it had been the night when its owner had first arrived in San Francisco.

Henry Arnaud's shadow moved along the twelfth floor beside the man who cast it. Cleve Branch had noted

that shadow in the dining room. A difficult thing to recognize a person's shadow. No wonder that Cleve had

Calm, deliberate, Henry Arnaud was not the type of person whom one might expect to see garbed in a black

cloak and slouch hat, with smoking automatics looming in his hands. The Shadow, as Cleve had seen him,

The artifices of Moy Chen the dabs whereby the Chinese merchant had transformed the visage of Cleve

Branch into that of Hugo Barnes these were childlike when compared to the craft of The Shadow.

As a master of disguise, The Shadow had no equal. His personality of Henry Arnaud was assumed. So were a

hundred others each as effective as this one. The Shadow was a man of changing countenance, and he alone

The only guise to which he constantly resorted was that of a figure clad in black a sinister, menacing figure,

that brooked no opposition. Many had seen the man in black, but the countenance beneath the brimmed hat

The flash of piercing eyes that was all that ever showed, between the turneddown brim and the upraised

One man had seen The Shadow's face seen it against The Shadow's will. That man had sought to thwart

But that man no longer lived! Like other foemen of The Shadow, he had gone to deserved oblivion.

For The Shadow, whether in his customary black or in the guise of some adopted personality, was the sworn

enemy of those who plotted crime. With law and lawlessness swinging in the balance, The Shadow was the

A master of detection, a man with vast resources, a swiftmoving phantom of the dark, The Shadow sought

Of all his amazing abilities, his greatest was his power of action. No odds were too great for The Shadow. His

AS Henry Arnaud, this man of the dark was now entering his room on the twelfth floor of the hotel. The

room contrasted greatly with that room in the Aldebaran Hotel, where Henry Arnaud had disappeared so

This apartment was a luxurious one a small suite in itself. One of the most expensive rooms in the St.

Thomas, it was furnished in completely modern style. Yet it had one factor in common with Henry Arnaud's

The tall, dignified man extinguished the light after he had entered the room. He was silent in the darkness. No

A small light shone above a glasstopped mahogany writing desk. Its rays, covered by a green shade, were

The light gave no sign of Henry Arnaud. That individual had vanished with the darkness. Another personality

Two long, white hands appeared within the glow of light. They were hands that moved as of their own accord

hands that belonged to no visible wrists. For the arms beyond the hands were masked within black sleeves.

The hands, though slender and perfectly shaped, were hands of strength. Buried muscles vibrated beneath

their skin. They were the hands which, encased within black gloves, had loosed destruction upon the hordes

There was a difference in the hands, as they now appeared. One was unadorned but on the other the left a

A strange, weird stone, it glowed with many changing colors. From deep crimson, its flashes turned to

darkish purple. It was a rare jewel a girasol, or fire opal this stone that The Shadow wore. Its very

The hands were busy. A paper and pencil were brought into the light. A clipping lay upon the table. The right

hand took the pencil and marked a circle around words in the clipping. Then those words were transcribed to

The dying statements of Stephen Laird had been copied by The Shadow. There they stood, in tabulated form.

Cryptic, unexplainable statements. Perhaps the ravings of a fevered mind. The Shadow's pencil paused above

them. The hand crossed out the top line. At the right it inscribed, in capitals:

Moving to the second tabulation, the hand crossed out the statement "Tag A"; but the letters still remained.

Once more the voice pronounced the letters that the dying man had uttered. But this time, the hand made a

Phonetically, both spellings were the same! Spoken aloud, the letters "T H E A" sounded identically

"Tag A" was a myth. Stephen Laird had not talked of it. He had uttered a word which the conductor could not

catch. To make it plain, the dying man had tried to spell. What he had said was: "T H E A"; what the

Perhaps it was the pause, the gasping pause that Laird had made before the final letter that had caused the

deception. The result had been an error by the listening conductor. His ears had caught the syllables exactly;

The Shadow had divined the meaning. The completion of the unfinished task required the addition of only a

After the letters T H E A appeared the letters T E R. The message was complete. Stephen Laird's

The light went out above the desk. Its click signified that The Shadow's task had been completed. But nothing

A FORM was moving silently in the darkened room. It stood, lost in blackness, beside the open window. It

was from this spot that the similarity between Room 806 in the Aldebaran Hotel, and Room 1216 in the St.

From this window, an observer commanded the same view of the city that one gained from the window in the

Aldebaran Hotel. The Shadow, now, was gazing straight toward Chinatown, exactly as he had gazed on the

In the distance, the watcher saw the crawling lights of the sign that topped the Mukden Theater. The

luminous ring of stationary lights was aglow above the moving lines. From the center of that circle glowed

They sent a message a message meant for others, not for The Shadow! But he received their message.

Those luminous spots were aglow for the first time since that other night. Like focused eyes, they seemed to

The man of the dark was preparing to accept the challenge. Those spots of green were the instruments of

some unknown personage. Like The Shadow, that man had a veiled identity. He, too, possessed a strange,

Amid the darkness of the hotel room, a whispered sound arose. It shuddered softly. It reverberated from the

walls. It mocked and taunted as its eerie tones were carried forth into the night.

It was the answer to a challenge. The distant spots that shone like glowing emeralds were the visible symbol

of Green Eyes. The sardonic laugh that issued from this silent room was the audible reply of The Shadow!

The echoes of the sardonic laugh died away. The sinister mirth was ended. Silence, alone, prevailed. The

IT was gala night at the Mukden Theater. All the elite of Chinatown had turned out. The reason was the

return to America of Foo Chow, one of China's most celebrated dramatic actors. Since the days of the

dowager empress, this famous impersonator had dominated the theaters of old China.

The prices rivaled those of a "Follies" premiere. Chinese firstnighters were entering the playhouse so

eagerly that it was difficult to distinguish individuals in the throng. Americans were there, displaying advance

Joseph Darley and Cleve Branch arrived afoot. Darley had discharged his limousine. He had picked up two

friends on the way, and with four seats reserved, there would be room for all the party.

Within, the Mukden Theater resembled a large American playhouse. In fact, it was more American than

Chinese, for in its construction, the builders had adopted the most modern plans. The seats which Darley had

obtained were on a side aisle. Cleve noticed that there were boxes on both sides, but only the upstairs ones

This was probably due to the narrowness of the stage. The aisles converged sharply, And the entire stage was

not fully visible even from the spot where Cleve was located. The upper boxes, projecting over the audience,

The downstairs portion of the theater was not entirely filled. Darley explained that this was due to the high

prices asked for seats. Later in Foo Chow's engagement, prices would be lower, Then the less wealthy

The show began. It was Cleve's first experience in a Chinese theater, and the costumes and gestures of the

Gorgeously dressed women appeared upon the stage. Darley explained that they were impersonators. For

years there had been a taboo on actresses in China, and that custom was in force here.

Tragic gesticulations and chanting singsong voices became monotonous. Cleve looked over the sea of faces

He wondered if Ling Soo had fared here tonight. Probably not. Lost in his fantastic dream of a Yellow

The body of the theater was bathed in gloom. The side aisles by the walls were black. All eyes were toward

the stage. Hence neither Cleve nor any one else in the vast throng observed a motion there.

A tall, black figure was gliding along the wall. It reached the curtain that marked the entrance to the side

A phantomlike shape stood beside the individual entrance to Box C. Then it passed the last curtain, and stood

Box C was a deep recess, with a high, solid railing. Its black interior was impenetrable while the performance

was going on. The black form stationed itself in a corner of the box, and waited there, motionless.

The Shadow was in the Mukden Theater in the very place that Stephen Laird had tried to designate!

Shrouded in blackness, the invisible man of the darkness was prepared for all who might come this way. A

THE performance continued on the stage. Foo Chow made his appearance, garbed in a mandarin costume. He

was a tall, wellbuilt Chinaman, whose very appearance excited the approval of the audience.

His work was more interesting than that of the other actors; but, to Cleve Branch, it grew monotonous, and he

Joseph Darley seemed to share Cleve's restlessness. He spoke to his companions in a low voice.

"Foo Chow's part is ended now," he explained. "I met him once before. I'll go back stage and arrange an

He left his seat, gained the aisle, and followed the wall until he reached the curtains that led to the downstairs

Cleve watched Darley go, and saw him disappear behind the curtains. Then Cleve studied the stage

indifferently, and settled himself back in his seat. This evening was a wasted one, he decided.

The performance was nearly ended when Darley returned. He motioned from the end of the row, and they

They pushed through the thick curtain. Cleve was the last of the four. He noticed the inner entrances to the

unoccupied boxes, as he passed. Then they reached the sliding door to the wings of the stage. Darley

conducted the party to a dressing room, where he introduced his friends to Foo Chow.

The Chinese actor was a most interesting specimen of his race. He was much older than he had appeared

"I like these visits to America," he said, in perfect English. "There is an appreciation here that one does not

find in my own land. There, they are used to my work. Here, it is new to those who witness it."

To Cleve, the brief visit was as uninteresting as the performance had proved to be; but he made no comment.

Ling Soo the WuFan the Tiger Tong. These were matters that seemed of more importance than a visit

Such thoughts brought Cleve's mind to The Shadow. He was still thinking of the mysterious man in black

They followed the narrow passage beside the boxes, Cleve again at the rear. As they came to the curtain, the

Something prompted him to look in the nearest box. It was Box C, although Cleve did not know it, and would

have thought nothing of the fact. He stepped past the curtain of the box. He saw the outlines of seats, by the

A board creaked under Cleve's foot as he approached a chair and stood there, watching the stage.

The Chinese play was drawing to its close. Cleve Branch viewed it mechanically. He had a vague impression

that someone was here, close beside him, in this box. He turned instinctively and stared at the shadowy

Cleve shrugged his shoulders and left the box. He felt that his imagination was getting the better of him.

Yet as Cleve walked up the side aisle, beside the wall, he could not help but glance back at times. He seemed

DARLEY and the others were waiting at the entrance of the theater. They walked slowly through the lobby,

one man stopping to point to a picture of Foo Chow, whom they had just met. It was a fulllength likeness of

Cleve's eyes, moving to the right, stopped suddenly. There, on the marble panel of the lobby, was a long,

mysterious shadow. It bore a striking resemblance to a man to the man whom Cleve had seen that night at

A grotesque, silhouetted face a black portion that was shaped like a large slouch hat in every detail, Cleve

As though it possessed eyes that sensed Cleve's gaze, the substanceless shape melted away. Cleve whirled,

and was in time to glimpse a tall figure moving into the dark. The cloak the hat both betokened the

For an instant, Cleve was about to spring in wild pursuit. Long had he sought The Shadow. This time, he

But Darley's hand was upon his arm, and realizing that the committeeman was watching him, Cleve

abandoned his desire. The matter of The Shadow was one that he chose to discuss with no one not even

"Come," suggested Darley. "My limousine is waiting. We can go up to my apartment and enjoy ourselves for

a while. These Chinese theatricals are all right for the Chinese. But they leave the evening rather tasteless

There was nothing to do but accept the invitation. Cleve went along with Darley and his friends. He was

Why was The Shadow at the Mukden Theater tonight? Cleve wondered over the perplexing question. Then

he remembered the thoughts that he had experienced while he had been standing in the box. He had felt sure

The more Cleve Branch pondered, the less he knew. He sought for a hidden connection, but could not find

one. Joseph Darley Foo Chow the two Americans he had met tonight these could hardly interest The

In the past, The Shadow had shown an interest in Cleve's affairs. Tonight, there could be no reason for such

Amid these scattered thoughts, Cleve realized one important fact. He must remain in San Francisco. He must

spend his future time in Chinatown. Somehow, he felt that the interests of The Shadow were identical with

Behind the WuFan in spite of Darley's opinion to the contrary there might lay the key to a mighty

scheme that carried a threat of danger. Cleve's duty was to uncover such a plot.

This mysterious man he had termed The Shadow must know facts that were important. It would be

imperative to meet him and find out what he knew. Tomorrow would be soon enough. Tonight, the best plan

would be to assert that his work in San Francisco was ended. The identity of Cleve Branch must go; once

That box in the Mukden Theater! Was it The Shadow's hiding place? That was a thought, but like all others, it

While Cleve was cogitating thus, a simple event was taking place at the St. Thomas Hotel. Gentlemanly

Arriving in his room, Arnaud looked about and smiled. He extinguished the light and walked softly toward

Once again, the eyes of The Shadow were upon the glittering lights that topped the Mukden Theater.

Crawling lines, varicolored flickerings, and the ring of stationary lights were glowing as before.

But no longer did two lurid spots of green stare forth into the darkness, like glowing, Promethean eyes. The

Strange events had happened tonight. Cleve Branch had been where he could have learned them, had he

The Shadow laughed, as he had laughed before. His laugh was one of hidden understanding.

CLEVE BRANCH had left San Francisco. He had departed on the morning after his visit to the Mukden

Theater. He had gone with a report received from Joseph Darley; the final report that concerned the WuFan

But Cleve had left the city only as a personality. In his place, another man remained.

Once again, Hugo Barnes was on the watch in Chinatown. Moy Chen had replaced his former workmanship.

One was the Mukden Theater; for there, he had encountered the presence of The Shadow. The other was the

The place was also the headquarters of the WuFan. And, it could be watched simultaneously with the

Fifty feet away from the entrance to the theater, Cleve lounged idly at the doorway of a Chinese auction

house. The place was busy tonight, and the figure of Hugo Barnes was inconspicuous.

Cleve rubbed his hand across his face. He could almost feel the swarthiness of his complexion. He touched

his overhanging eyebrows. They, more than any other feature, had changed his countenance.

Cleve had no fear of recognition, but he was wary in his actions. For although the personality of Cleve

Branch was safe from detection, he remembered well that Hugo Barnes was now a budding member of the

The badge of membership was fastened to Cleve's vest; and, recollecting his experience at the Sun Kew, he

Bright lights began to flash. Long rows of bulbs showed on the sides of buildings. Strange music blared from

Small crowds were forming along the sidewalks solemn, aged Chinamen, dainty Chinese flappers, old and

young were gathering to witness another of the many parades that cleaved their way along this teeming

The crowd was not as large as it had been on the last pageant night. Nevertheless, it obscured the view of

Ling Soo's entrance. The lobby of the Mukden Theater was on a higher level, for the street sloped upward in

Cleve pushed his way to the curb, and moved across the street ahead of the approaching procession. He

stationed himself at a new spot, and was pleased to note that here he could observe both Ling Soo's door and

Someone jostled against Cleve. He turned and stared squarely into the face of Joseph Darley!

An exclamation stopped on Cleve's lips. His features formed a pleased grin. As Hugo Barnes, Cleve had

CLEVE watched the committeeman work his way along the street. What was Darley's mission here tonight?

Knowing the comparative 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 WuFan could be learned

But there was a very definite reason why Cleve could not communicate with Darley. That very morning,

Cleve had announced that he was through with his investigation. Right now, he was supposed to be traveling

Banners were waving in the lighted streets. Exotic music was sounding with rhythmic beat. But Cleve

Ling Soo had said that Hugo Barnes, as a new member of the WuFan, would be welcome at headquarters

Now was the time to do so! Perhaps, by visiting Ling Soo, he might be introduced to Darley and hear what

A great idea, especially as Cleve's disguise had proven its worth already, so far as Joseph Darley was

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

Cleve went forward to the brassfaced doors that bore the Chinese dragons. These portals, too, were slightly

Pressing his ear to the crack, Cleve scanned the side wall and noted a hanging curtain in the hallway. It would

The buzz of conversation reached his cars. English words were distinguishable. As Cleve listened, they

"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

"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.

Dying, Stephen Laird had spoken of green eyes. Had he been telling of a living person? Of his murderer? The

WHY did Ling Soo name Green Eyes? There was something sinister in the title. It brought a chain of wild,

Joseph Darley had said nothing of any one called Green Eyes. Was he hearing the name for the first time

"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 come to me."

"But you must have the paper," came the tones of Ling Soo. "It will be the symbol that they shall accept."

The doors began to tremble. Quickly, Cleve slipped toward the hanging curtain. He slid behind it and found

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

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 WuFan. Tonight, he saw Ling Soo as a squat,

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 WuFan. Words were being spoken by Ling Soo and Cleve heard them

"It is buried in a bottom table drawer," declared Darley, in return. "Nothing of value lies there. No one would

"Since no one will be there " The rest of Ling Soo's statement was lost. It died away as the men reached the

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

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

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

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

Joseph Darley was gone. Foy was in the anteroom. That indicated that the servant had also made his

Foy had been present during the discussion between Ling Soo and Darley. That meant nothing, for Foy could

It was imperative that Cleve should learn the facts regarding this unexpected conference between Ling Soo

As Hugo Barnes, Cleve could meet Ling Soo, but it was certain that he could learn nothing from the

To question Darley say tomorrow would mean a reversion to the character of Cleve Branch. How could

A paper an expected symbol safely hidden in the bottom drawer of a table at Joseph Darley's

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

Groping for an explanation, Cleve thought that perhaps peace was to be declared between the WuFan and

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

What if Darley should return and discover him? What of it? In an emergency, Cleve could reveal his dual

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

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

He reflected now on the safety of his position. As Hugo Barnes, he would not be suspected if any WuFan

men had seen him coming from the entrance to Ling Soo's. For Cleve was a member of the WuFan 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

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

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

TO enter the apartment house, Cleve Branch took the simplest and most effective method. He walked in the

He knew that an attendant was sometimes on duty. If the man happened to be there, Cleve intended to make a

false inquiry, using a fictitious name. But the attendant was not on hand, and Cleve calmly sauntered up the

He used this course because he did not wish to wait for the automatic elevator, which might be on an upper

story. The apartment which Darley occupied was on the third floor. Cleve arrived there a minute after he had

The question of forcible entrance was one that proved perplexing for a time. The apartment house, like so

many San Francisco buildings, was on a hill, and Darley's apartment faced the upper side. Entrance by a

window would have meant a climb of nearly twenty feet. The door was the better plan if Cleve could get in

Recalling what he had seen of the apartment on his visits to Darley, Cleve remembered that the place had an

unused kitchenette. That would be at the back. Cleve spied the entrance to a fire escape down the hall, and

There he saw a window the only window at the end of the apartment. He could almost reach it from the fire

escape. Climbing over the rail, Cleve reached out and tried the window with one hand. It appeared to be

There was no fear of detection, for this new apartment house was isolated from neighboring buildings. No

Cleve jarred the window of the kitchenette. He pushed inward and upward, with his right hand, while his left

The window yielded suddenly. Only Cleve's firm grip upon the rail prevented him from falling.

He clambered through the open window and made his way through to the front of the apartment. There, he

Cleve had noticed several tables in this room; and now the question arose as to which would be the proper

The drawers of one table were unlocked. He rummaged there, but found that they contained few articles and

no papers. The second table had locked drawers; this, Cleve decided, must be the one.

He could handle locks after a fashion; but something prompted him to try the third table before he proceeded

Here were unlocked drawers, and the first bottom drawer that Cleve opened brought him his reward. The

drawer contained two stacks of papers. Lifting them, Cleve discovered others strewn beneath.

DARLEY had been wise, he realized. An unlocked drawer, filled with useless papers, would not command a

Cleve withheld his haste, for he realized that it would be wise to replace these papers as he found them. So he

laid the stacks upon the table, exactly as they had been in the drawer. One by one, he began to examine each

He stopped at odd moments to listen. There was a tenseness to this work, and Cleve realized that he must

Once, fancying that hidden eyes might be watching him, Cleve stared toward the window, but saw nothing

Again, he listened, wondering if he had heard the door of the apartment open. He laid these qualms to his

Ordinarily, Cleve was cool and indifferent to danger; but the sinister atmosphere of Chinatown had made him

He reflected that the job of burglary which he was now performing was by far the simplest and least

dangerous task that he had undertaken since his advent in San Francisco. Here, at least, he was safe from the

Cleve reached the last paper in the drawer. He unfolded it in expectation. It must be the one he sought. He

could see markings through the sheet as he unfolded it. Then, with the paper spread before him, he stared

It was, without doubt, the paper that Ling Soo had mentioned. But it did not contain a word of English. It was

Darley, Cleve felt sure, had no extensive knowledge of the Chinese language. The only solution was that

Ling Soo had given certain information to Darley, and had included this paper as evidence. But to Cleve, the

Cleve hesitated, wondering what to do. He could take the paper with him, but he felt that such a course would

be an error. The only man whom he could trust to translate it was the undercover agent, Moy Chen.

That would mean a trip to Chinatown; time lost there; and a return journey, to get the paper back into the

If possible, Cleve did not want Darley to find the paper missing. That might lead to difficulties and

complications. A safe course would be to copy the Chinese characters on another sheet of paper.

But they were numerous and intricate. Cleve knew well that any inaccuracies in the transcription might ruin

Seeking an answer to this dilemma, Cleve stood staring at the paper, forgetful of all about him. The light was

dim, for the floor light which he had turned on was in a corner at the opposite side of the room.

Cleve, fancying he heard a footfall, turned. His mind, working with lightning speed, flashed the thought that

it must be Joseph Darley, and that explanations would be in order. At that instant, a man leaped upon him.

Cleve had not seen the face of the attacker; nor could the man have seen his, for an arm swung fiercely as it

Backward went Cleve, wrested by a powerful opponent. His hands clutched wildly in thin air. Twisted

sidewise by the arm that lay across his face, Cleve's eyes had just enough space to peer upward and catch the

His legs gave way beneath him. Cleve landed flat on his back, half beneath the table, his face staring upward

Half stunned by the blow against the back of his head, Cleve saw and heard everything in disjointed fashion.

Like a portrait in a frame, he recognized the evil face of Foy, the servant of Ling Soo. Descending with

arrowlike aim came the flash of the falling dagger as the yellow hand aimed it for the victim's heart.

Then, from the direction of the window came a sharp report accompanied by a flash of flame. Like a dummy

figure, Foy's form sprawled sidewise and rolled upon the floor, the knife still extending from the

The lamp went out. Lying in darkness, his head throbbing, Cleve wondered what would happen next. Silence

It moved about the room, while Cleve, prone and helpless, felt himself incapable of motion. The light

Almost wearily, Cleve closed his eyes. He opened them again to see the paper with the Chinese characters,

The light was turned upon the drawer. The paper seemed to fold itself and drop back in its hiding place.

Cleve's senses were returning; still he lay motionless. He knew that The Shadow was in action. Once again,

the man of the dark had saved his life. The best course now was to wait until he could divine The Shadow's

All noise had ceased, and Cleve wondered what was happening. The events that had just taken place began to

Gripping the leg of the table, Cleve drew himself to his feet. He stood swaying in the darkness. His ears

detected no sound. Cleve groped his way toward the lamp in the corner. He found it. He drew the cord.

The table drawer, its papers replaced, was closed. The Shadow was nowhere to be seen. But, most

Foy had sought to kill. The Shadow had shot Foy. They must be enemies; yet both had left. It was possible

that one had been instrumental in the departure of the other; still Cleve wondered that he had not heard them

Then he realized that his own deadened senses must have betrayed him. He had lost all knowledge of the

He pieced it all together. The Shadow had shot Foy from the window. The wounded assassin must have fled

by the door. The Shadow, making no effort to follow, had remained a short while; then had departed by the

Cleve went to the window, and found it closed, but unlocked. He opened the window and inhaled fresh air.

He closed the window and stole across the room to the hallway; there, he found the door of the apartment. It

Cleve was turning toward the living room when he heard a sound outside the door. He slipped along the hall

toward the kitchenette. He heard the clicking of a key in the lock, and gained his refuge just as a flood of light

Peering from darkness, Cleve saw Joseph Darley enter and turn toward the living room. The light there must

Darley's momentary departure served Cleve well. He slipped through the window of the kitchenette, and

He traveled softly down the iron steps and reached the darkness at the bottom of the building. His mind was

That was but one problem. More important was the matter of the paper which Cleve had been forced to leave

The thought of that paper hovering before the glimmer of a tiny light made Cleve realize that another besides

ONCE again, the green spots shone from the sign above the Mukden Theater. But tonight, no eyes were

watching them from the twelfth floor of the St. Thomas Hotel. Henry Arnaud had checked out the night

The lights were not visible to Ling Soo, across the street from the theater. For he was seated on his throne in

the windowless room, where he dwelt in state. His placid countenance was more inscrutable than ever.

Ling Soo clapped his hands. Foy came skulking into the room. Ling Soo addressed the servant in a singsong

The master arose from his throne and waddled across the room, with Foy at his heels. Pressing a spot upon

the wall, Ling Soo operated a panel that slowly opened. He ordered Foy to go first. The servant entered; Ling

The two passed down a spiral stairway that was hidden in the darkness. They seemed familiar with the

pathway, for they moved steadily toward the bottom. When they were far below the level of Ling Soo's

apartment, they stopped before a solid barrier, which, like the panel, opened at Ling Soo's touch.

This revealed a dim corridor. Ling Soo stepped by his servant and took the lead along the narrow passage.

The men were passing through a tunnel laid beneath the street. They came to a final barrier. This slid away

Ling Soo rapped once. He paused and rapped again. A door slid up into the ceiling. The leader of the

A small group of men were seated about the room. Their forms were barely visible, for the room was

These persons were awaiting the arrival of others. Ling Soo and Foy joined the group.

Here, Ling Soo was no chieftain. He was one of a select few. That was all. A rap at the door. Another man

A light came on at the top of the room. It was a peculiar, flickering glow that cast an odd hue over the

It showed them clad in long robes, much like the black attire that Ling Soo wore. But it made faces difficult

to distinguish. Yellow and white, alike, were toned with a strange, colorless pallor.

One member of the group spoke a single word in the Chinese language. All turned in his direction. At first

glance, he was no different from the rest. But as the combined gaze was focused upon him, a strange oddity

There was mystery in their glare a strange, unaccountable mystery. The glow from those eyes sparkled in

the light. It seemed to be a flashing, living flame! It disappeared at moments; then returned.

He was the amazing member of this assemblage. No greater than any other for all were equal he seemed

to dominate through that uncanny individuality which he possessed. No one could meet the glance of those

THE silence which followed was broken by the voice of Ling Soo. The leader of the WuFan spoke in

English. It was the use of this language that revealed the personnel of the assemblage.

Most were Chinese, of culture and with command of English. A few were Americans, unfamiliar with the

"Our plans are made," declared Ling Soo. "We were prepared last night. We have now discovered danger."

"We have discussed this one man who has troubled us," continued Ling Soo. "We let him join the WuFan to

mislead him. I purposely let him hear of the Sun Kew. He went there, but escaped. How, we do not know.

"I told all this two nights ago. Last night, I supposed that all was safe. But he has appeared again this man

A low murmur of suppressed rage came from members of the circle. Ling Soo silenced it with upraised hand.

"I sent Foy, The Slayer," declared Ling Soo. "Last night, Foy did not kill. Foy has not spoken. He does not

Another member spoke. His voice, though quiet, was less deliberate than that of Ling Soo. This man was

"An agent of the government," he said, "is dangerous, even though he may know but little. It was wise to let

"He does not know," interposed Ling Soo, "but he may learn. Should he learn now, the danger would be

"I have misled him once," replied Ling Soo calmly. "He became a member of the WuFan. He expects to

A murmur of approval greeted the plan. Then came Ling Soo's next statement uttered with quiet

"The time is near," said a solemn voice. Green Eyes was speaking. "Until now, it was wise to wait. But we

cannot act with this danger present. Let us rely on Ling Soo. Let him bring our enemy here. Here, he shall

ALL seemed satisfied with the verdict. Silence gripped the group of plotters. The most important business

"Shall the death be that of torture?" he questioned. "Or shall it be by the hand of Foy?"

"The torture is not needed," replied Green Eyes. "The hand of Foy has been known to fail."

"You are right," declared Green Eyes. "Foy shall have his opportunity to correct his error. Our enemy shall

"Let our brother from China be the witness," pronounced Green Eyes. "He shall see the hand of Foy, The

"We await the action of Ling Soo," asserted the man called Green Eyes. "When he is ready, I shall know. My

call shall tell that the time has come. It shall be the last. After it, our work must be done."

There was a motion in the subterranean room as the members of the insidious group began to retire, one by

Ling Soo, with Foy standing at his side, became engaged in conversation with a man in the corner. Their

Ling Soo, squat, heavy, and owleyed; Foy, stooped, silent, and leering; the third man, aged but

wellfeatured. He was listening intently, this stranger, and his face could be seen by both Ling Soo and Foy.

"Our brother from China shall see." This was the import of Ling Soo's words. "He shall see the hand of Foy.

When that hand strikes, its work is quick and sure. When Foy has failed as you have heard Green Eyes say

"Yes," declared Ling Soo. "There was one who died not long ago, but by another hand. It was Green Eyes,

himself, who dealt death then. It is seldom that Green Eyes strikes. His hand is firm, but not so certain as the

The pride in Ling Soo's voice indicated that Foy was his protege. Foo Chow nodded solemnly.

"We all have work," declared Ling Soo. "Green Eyes has spoken. It is for me to watch and act; that the time

The room was almost deserted. Foo Chow observed the fact and bowed to Ling Soo. Then the actor left by

When he had gone, Ling Soo spoke to Foy. Followed by his silent servant, the leader of the WuFan made

One man alone remained. He was seated in his chair, thoughtful and still. He was a sinister figure in that

flickering light. He was looking straight ahead and, as he gazed, his eyes glowed and flashed their sparkles of

The light in the room went out. But in the semigloom that still remained, the dull glow of two green spots

was visible. Those spots moved upward and across the room. They marked the progress of Green Eyes, as he,

The members of the inner shrine had made their plan. The dragonmen, who controlled the WuFan as their

The silent, secret room was devoid of occupants. Far above it, on the roof of the Mukden Theater, a huge,

illuminated sign flashed forth into the night. The uppermost circle of light upon that sign was a blank space

No longer did the call of Green Eyes beckon to the few who knew its meaning. When next it sent its message

WHEN Ling Soo planned, he employed an uncanny craftiness that showed a mingling of Oriental wisdom

and Occidental efficiency. Behind those bespectacled eyes of his lay a brain that prepared schemes far more

Ling Soo seldom disclosed the workings of his mind. When he did indulge in reminiscent talk, he used the

Chinese language, and the man to whom he expressed his views was Foy the sinister servant whom Ling

Ling Soo could be stern with Foy. He dominated the man, and thereby assured himself of Foy's lasting

When Foy incurred Ling Soo's displeasure, the master spoke harshly. But between these occasional outbursts,

Ling Soo usually chose to treat his servant as a confidant although even then, he was careful not to say too

Back in Ling Soo's abode, the squat Chinaman was seated on his picturesque throne. He had adopted his

favorite pose that of leader of the WuFan. Foy, hovering near, awaited his master's bidding. No orders

"Last night, Foy," he said, in his native tongue, "you failed. Tonight you shall see that Ling Soo never fails.

The crouching servant leered as his master spoke. His wicked face seemed to express interest in what Ling

"It is time that you should prove your strength, again," resumed Ling Soo. "You have been lacking, Foy. You

have not lived up to the name that I have given you the name of Slayer. I am disappointed, Foy.

"I had marked the traitor the man called Laird for your knife. But Green Eyes spoke, and said that he

would do that deed. Green Eyes can strike, Foy, but he cannot slay with the skill that you have shown. When

Foy, although unspeaking, seemed to agree with what Ling Soo had said. The master's voice became more

"I sent you to the room in the hotel," he said. "To the room in which the traitor Laird had lived. A new man

had come there. His actions showed that he was an enemy. I ordered you to slay. You did not slay."

"We may forget that man," resumed Ling Soo, ignoring Foy's protest. "He has not appeared since then. It may

"I sent you to watch the home of Joseph Darley; to watch while Darley was not there. To come and tell when

he had returned. You say to me that you entered there and saw the man whom we call Barnes. Yet you failed

"That is no excuse, Foy." Ling Soo eyed the servant coldly. "It is not like Foy to say that one went away

before Foy could strike. This has happened twice, Foy. It shall not happen again."

Ling Soo paused reflectively and changed the subject with a thoughtful, even tone.

"The man whom we call Barnes," he said. "He has another name. He is the man who came here before, with

"I have been told that he is in these streets tonight. So I have sent two of the WuFan who know him, to bring

"I wish to speak with him, Foy. But we must remember that you sought to slay him last night. He may have

known your wish. He may be suspicious tonight. Do nothing, Foy, to make him view you as an enemy."

SCARCELY had Ling Soo finished speaking, before a bell rang softly close by. Ling Soo nodded to Foy.

He was blinking mildly when the door opened and Foy entered, followed by the man who called himself

To Cleve Branch, firmfaced in spite of his disguise, this meeting was an important one. Since that event at

Joseph Darley's last night, he had been wondering whether it would be wise to again visit Ling Soo. For

there, he knew, he might encounter Foy, the insidious slayer who had so mysteriously escaped after The

Prowling through Chinatown, pondering on this important question, Cleve had encountered one of the

Chinese acquaintances who had arranged his entrance into the WuFan. The man had been glad to see him.

In a low voice, he had told Cleve that Ling Soo desired to see his American friend as soon as convenient.

The servant's face was as ugly as before; but it showed no deepset malice. It seemed evident that Foy must

have failed to recognize the man whom he had tried to knife at Darley's. Nevertheless, Cleve had clutched the

handle of his stubnosed pocket revolver as he had crossed the hallway toward the sanctum of Ling Soo.

The staid leader of the WuFan smiled placidly as Cleve awkwardly raised his forefinger to his forehead.

Cleve sat down in a chair indicated by the WuFan chieftain. He felt relieved when he saw the crouching Foy

retire to a corner of the room, where he stood in plain view, his slitted eyelids nearly closed.

Cleve felt at ease as he reflected on the circumstances of this visit. Ling Soo had no knowledge of the spying

which Cleve had done. The most that the Chinaman could know was that Cleve had entered Joseph Darley's

apartment, in search of a paper which Ling Soo had given to the head of the Civilian Committee.

Foy had gone there, in anticipation of an intruder. The fact that Cleve was the man who had entered could not

have given Ling Soo a real inkling of the part that Cleve was playing, in the disguise of Hugo Barnes.

Perhaps as Cleve had thought before Foy had not recognized him. If that were true, Cleve's position here

Cleve studied Ling Soo carefully, as the Chinese leader began to speak. There was nothing in the squat man's

bearing, or in his speech, that betokened menace. On the contrary, Ling Soo was friendly. In fact, he seemed

almost chiding; and it was that manner that lulled Cleve into believing that all was well.

"YOU have been here once," remarked Ling Soo. "Once is not often. That is why I have sought you, tonight.

It is well that we are friends. It would be better if our friendship should increase."

"There is a reason," declared Ling Soo, "why I seek the better acquaintance of my American friends who

"Our great order needs the advice of such friends. For, though the WuFan is of China, its purpose lies in

America. Great power will come to those who believe with the WuFan. Would you like to share that

The proposition was suggested in a mild, friendly tone. Cleve, thinking keenly, believed that he understood

It was a positive fact that Stephen Laird had been an agent of the WuFan. Laird had been slain and Cleve

inclined, from experience, to the theory that the Tiger Tong had been responsible.

Despite the fact that sinister Foy had wielded a knife with which he had sought Cleve's life, the government

It was logical that Ling Soo needed someone to take the place that death had caused Stephen Laird to vacate.

If so, it would be to Cleve's advantage to seize the opportunity. He put forward a question, which, if

"Yes," responded Ling Soo quietly. "Danger threatens all who learn the inner secrets of the WuFan. One can

"We of the WuFan have enemies. We must guard against them. Hence those who are the chosen few of our

Ling Soo's impersonal speech carried a subtlety which was not detected by Cleve Branch. Keen though the

investigator was, his urge to learn more overcame his natural reluctance to accept such luring statements as

He saw his opportunity. Established as an inner member of the secret order, he could quickly learn the truth

concerning the death of Stephen Laird. Not only that; he could gain important information of the WuFan's

"My American friends," commented Ling Soo sadly, "are all too few. I must have more of them. There is

"Think well before you accept my offer, friend Barnes, for I warn you that many duties will be imposed upon

you. But if you choose to accept, I can assure you that a great power will be yours."

Ling Soo's change of tack his unwillingness to force Hugo Barnes into the inner circle of the WuFan

He made a definite reply as he stared squarely into the owl eyes that were large and kindly behind the thick

"I accept your offer," said Cleve, in the tone of Hugo Barnes. "What do you wish me to do?"

"You must promise, first," declared Ling Soo softly. "Promise by your oath in the WuFan to keep your new

He caught Ling Soo's gesture, and followed the statement by making the sign of the WuFan, to which Ling

"You have promised," said Ling Soo, with a touch of sternness in his voice. "Tomorrow night, you may meet,

"Be cautious in your actions until then. Await the hour of ten. Come, then, to the Mukden Theater, which lies

across the street from the doorway to my home. There you will see a man with folded arms. Upon his finger a

Ling Soo displayed his left hand. Upon it was a ring, fashioned with the head of the golden dragon. Cleve

noted that the eyes of the little dragon were two tiny emeralds. It brought a sudden meaning to his mind.

Could this be an inner secret of the WuFan? Those were words which Stephen Laird had uttered. Green

"Approach that man," continued Ling Soo, apparently oblivious to the fact that his visitor was still staring at

the dragon ring. "When you see him face to face, make the secret sign of the WuFan."

The squat Chinaman solemnly raised his finger to his forehead, and Cleve duplicated the action.

"That man will lead you to the meeting place," declared Ling Soo, in a final tone. "There you will learn the

"Remember" the voice spoke more deliberately than usual "until then, you must tell no one of your

Ling Soo clapped his hands. Foy came gliding forward, carrying the brass image of the dragon. He held it

Ling Soo placed his finger upon the dragon's head; then raised it to his forehead, and held it there. Cleve, in

response, pressed his finger to the metal image, and placed it to his forehead. He held that position until Ling

LING SOO slipped down from his throne. It was his act of special courtesy to accompany an honored guest

Foy going ahead to open the doors, Cleve and Ling Soo walked out to the anteroom. With Foy, they formed a

Cleve, softly repeating the instructions he had received, stepped into the lift. It was then that he saw

something which startled him. A shadow on the floor, beside the two Chinese a long, mysterious shadow!

Could he be here? Cleve looked up quickly. Except for Ling Soo and Foy, the anteroom was empty.

Quickly seeking to cover up his mistake, Cleve closed the door of the elevator and began the descent. But as

Up above, Ling Soo was returning toward his inner room. Behind him stalked the form of Foy. The servant's

hands were doubled against his body. Ling Soo noticed it as they entered the inner room. The leader of the

"Foy!" he said. "Foy. His hand is ready" the words were in Chinese "ready to strike tomorrow night! Foy,

A murderous grin came over the leering features of Foy. The man's yellow skin was livid in the dull light of

the room. The brass dragon image was lying on a taboret. Ling Soo drew a silk cloth from beneath his robe.

"Ling Soo has planned," he said solemnly, in Chinese. "Foy shall strike. His victim shall be the man who

Grinning, Foy stared at his master. Ling Soo cackled again as he tapped his forehead knowingly.

Handing the brass image to Foy, the leader of the WuFan, plodded toward his throne, with his servant

Yet more sinister than these living men was the long shadow that lay across the floor in front of Ling Soo's

Foy retired to the outer room. Ling Soo rested on his throne. He was staring toward the floor. The sinister

IT was late the next afternoon. Cleve Branch was sitting in a hotel room. He was himself again; but tonight

Ling Soo had told Hugo Barnes to be cautious in his actions until the meeting time. Cleve had taken those

With Ling Soo, he had secretly agreed that the less seen of Hugo Barnes the better. So immediately upon

leaving the abode of Ling Soo, he had shambled away in Hugo Barnes style, and had stolen into the shop of

Cleve had not required the services of Moy Chen to remove the traces of Hugo Barnes. Cleve had done that

himself, wiping away the makeup with a thorough application of cold cream. Himself, again, he had

Indifference had gripped Cleve on his way to the hotel. As Cleve Branch he could not be identified with

Hugo Barnes, member of the WuFan. Cleve had decided to rest and to forget. He had slept late in the

morning; he had eaten his meals in his room. Now, with dinnertime approaching, he was ready to go forth.

He glanced at himself in the mirror. Due to the dimness of the room, Cleve saw only the outline of his face

not its details. He chuckled to himself. With this game of Branch and Barnes, it was sometimes difficult to

Had the lights been on in the room, Cleve might have noticed something unusual about his face. But, as it

was, Cleve had not seen his mirrored reflection closely since he had left Ling Soo's the night before!

A door was ajar across the hall. Cleve did not notice it as he left the room. When he reached the lobby, he left

He did not observe the man who peered at him over the top of a newspaper. That man was dressed like an

In the barber shop, Cleve slipped into a chair and ordered a shave. In glancing at Cleve's face, the barber

But the man made no comment; and Cleve did not encourage conversation. He was thinking of his plans for

tonight. He was still in a meditative mood when he left the barber shop, and dined in a small restaurant near

There, as before, Cleve paid no attention to the persons about him. He did not see the sidelong glances of a

man who was seated at a table in the corner. For Cleve, while he ate, was considering an important visit

CLEVE was thinking about Joseph Darley. So far as he knew, the committeeman still had the paper with the

Chinese inscription. Darley had received the paper from Ling Soo. In their discussion, both Darley and Ling

After all, Cleve felt that he had adopted the wrong course when he had entered Darley's home, like a burglar.

Cleve was positive now that the Chinese assassin had not recognized him as Hugo Barnes. All during the

fray, Foy's arm had been across Cleve's face. Then had come the shot the extinguishing of the lamp the

Ling Soo, last night, had sounded genuine in his talk. So far as the WuFan was concerned, Cleve felt safe;

and he smiled as he thought of an additional precaution that would render him secure. That would be adopted

First: Ling Soo might have feared that the paper would be molested, and had therefore sent Foy to watch the

apartment. The vicious Chinese servant must have been listening outside, while Cleve was in the apartment.

There might have been reasons for this. Perhaps Ling Soo had thought that he had made a mistake in letting

Darley have the paper. Ling Soo's suggestion to Darley that the paper might be stolen had all the

These perplexities had been bothering Cleve all day; and for that reason, he had decided to follow the very

The best way to learn the import of the paper was to visit Darley and see if the man mentioned it. That was

It was after seven o'clock when he left the restaurant and rode in a cab to Darley's apartment. The doorman

was on duty when Cleve entered. He rang up Darley, and announced the visitor. Cleve was ushered upstairs.

He found Darley in his living room. The man seemed agreeably surprised to see him.

As they shook hands, Cleve felt fully at ease. He had planned to give a reason for his unexpected return to

San Francisco; and he realized that Joseph Darley could know nothing of his adventures in the guise of Hugo

"Back to San Francisco," said Cleve, with a smile. "This time I am pleased to say it has nothing to do

"I did," said Cleve, "and now I am virtually on leave for the next few weeks. I have to report at San Diego,

later. So, with nothing to do, I remembered your invitation to join you on the yacht cruise to Los Angeles."

"Grand!" exclaimed Darley, with enthusiasm. "Leo Frane is due here at the end of the week. Keep in touch

"All right," said Cleve. "I just dropped in to say 'howdy.' I'm running over to Sausalito tonight on the ferry.

"By the way" Darley's face became serious "if you have not fully closed that case of the WuFan, I

advise you to wait a short while. There have been new developments that may affect the WuFan."

"I have received information," returned Darley. "It came from Ling Soo. It refers to the activities of the Tiger

Tong. It proves, more conclusively than ever, that the tong not the WuFan is responsible for any

difficulties that may occur. In fact, I may say that this new information completely exonerates the WuFan of

DARLEY went directly to the drawer where Cleve had looked two nights ago. He brought out the very paper

"This," said Darley, "refers to certain activities aboard the PungShoon a Chinese junk which came through

the Golden Gate a few days ago. The PungShoon now lies at anchor in San Francisco Bay.

"This paper, from the translation that Ling Soo gave me, indicates that certain members of the Tiger Tong,

now sought by the police, intend to sail on the PungShoon tomorrow. They are going back to China, Ling

Soo claims, to induce certain of their countrymen members of the tong to come to San Francisco."

"As new recruits for the Tiger Tong's warlike campaign against the WuFan. At least, that is Ling Soo's

"I am investigating tonight. I expect to go aboard the junk in behalf of the Civilian Committee. There I shall

"If I see any signs of Tiger Tong men, I shall report it to the authorities. The PungShoon will not receive

"I should be glad to have you accompany me," said Darley. "Not as a government agent for this matter is

"At teno'clock," answered Darley. "I have a dinner engagement, now; after that I shall meet other members

"I don't think I can make it," said, Cleve, knowing that the time Darley mentioned was identical with the hour

of the WuFan meeting. "I am very tired tonight. Came in from Denver on the Canyon Special, and I expect

to turn in early. But I would like to talk with you tomorrow to learn what you may have found."

"Very good," agreed Darley. "Incidentally, I understand that Ling Soo is calling a special meeting of those

high in the WuFan. He, too, may have more information tomorrow. Call at my office about noon. Will that

Darley's mention of a special WuFan meeting tonight was illuminating. This must be the very meeting that

Cleve was to attend. With the existence of the meeting known to Darley, Cleve felt fully assured that all

"If you're going downtown," suggested Darley, "why don't you come along with me? My car is waiting

Cleve accepted the invitation. He sat in a chair by the window and waited, while Darley went to get his coat

This window, Cleve reflected, had played a very important part in his career. It was from this very spot that

All was a hazy recollection to Cleve. He remembered Foy and the knife, rolling away. Probably the bullet had

Cleve had seen men fall, virtually unhurt, under similar circumstances. He had often seen wounded men rise

and run. Foy must have escaped almost unscathed, for the crouching, sneaky Chinaman was back at Ling

Cleve's eyes looked over the city. There he saw a flashing light that shone above a dull glow. He recognized

it by its crawling lines the sign over the Mukden Theater. That was where Cleve would be tonight in the

Darley was back. He was speaking as he stood beside Cleve, also gazing toward the lights of distant

Two tiny green specks appeared in the luminous circle above the Mukden Theater sign. Only Darley noticed

them, for Cleve was rising from his chair. Those specks were shining globes of light, showing from the

The two men chatted as they rode through the night. Cleve alighted at a corner near his hotel. Beneath the

Cleve's face was in full view plain in the light. Every feature was visible to Darley. There, on the center of

Cleve's forehead, Darley noted a tiny spot of red. It flared in vivid crimson, like a blot of blood.

The limousine drew away. Cleve stood alone. Darley had not mentioned the spot that he had seen; so Cleve

He did not know that his forehead bore the same mark that Stephen Laird had carried that night on the

ACCUSTOMED, as Cleve Branch was, to the atmosphere of Chinatown, he felt uneasy tonight as he trod his

way along the narrow, hilly street. This district seemed more sinister than ever.

Perhaps the chill air from the bay was responsible. That air betokened an approaching fog, that would be

thick when morning dawned. Already a vague mist seemed to be settling through Chinatown.

Each alley that Cleve passed was gloomy a place for hidden eyes. The very doors between the lighted shops

As Cleve walked by a placid Chinaman, pipesmoking at the door of a store, he fancied that he saw the

Why this thought of prying eyes? If they were watching Cleve Branch, they would gain nothing; for soon

Cleve Branch would be a lost identity, replaced by Hugo Barnes. Yet all Chinatown seemed alert tonight,

The explanation, had Cleve known it, was on his own forehead. There, beneath the glow of every light he

It was a secret of the WuFan known to the most trusted Chinese members only. The mark of death the

No matter what guise he might assume, Cleve would not be able to avoid those stealthy looks from almond

Cleve Branch and Hugo Barnes would be alike tonight. Both, men who would be watched!

This had begun the night before. When Cleve had touched the brass dragon and placed his finger on his

It was the method of Ling Soo, the crafty leader of the WuFan. So did he mark the men whose lives he

An invisible paste, spread upon the surface of the metal dragon, had reached the forehead of Hugo Barnes.

Within an hour after its application, the bloodlike spot had come there. It had shown on Cleve Branch, too,

Since then, members of the WuFan had been watching. Clever, shrewd and stealthy, they had not missed a

The sight of that mark meant that quick reports must be given of every place the marked man went. All with

Reports were even now on the way to Ling Soo, that the leader might issue orders to his secret followers. The

It was strange, Cleve thought, as he strode along, that with all these impressions of concealed observers, he

saw no traces of The Shadow. He had fancied, last night, that the mysterious man had been in Ling Soo's

CLEVE was approaching the HoangHo Cafe. He reached the side entrance. There he paused. Despite the

creepy feeling of watchers from the darkness, he hurried up the stairs and gained the door to Moy Chen's

Cleve knew the secret of that door, now a certain lightly tapped signal, a moment of waiting, and the way

Eagerly waiting by the door, he listened for all sounds. He fancied that someone might be creeping up the

stairs by which he had come. Cleve was about to return and look. Then the door slid open, and he stepped to

the passage. A few moments later he had reached the security of Moy Chen's windowless sanctum.

To Moy Chen, seated at his desk, Cleve signified that he intended to assume his disguise. The two men went

As Moy Chen applied the makeup to Cleve's face, he remarked upon the tiny spot he saw on the agent's

"Wonder where I got that?" he said. "Blot it out, Moy Chen, when you put on the eyebrows."

But, somehow, the mark would not blot. All applications that Moy Chen made failed to cover it effectually.

Moy Chen arranged the heavy eyebrows, and found that he could diminish the mark, even though he could

Cleve, looking in the mirror, decided that the makeshift would do. It was better than too much disguise.

"Tonight, Moy Chen," explained Cleve, "I attend a meeting of the inner group of the WuFan. I may

"I am to be taken to the meeting place. I will not find the man who is to lead me until ten o'clock. You have

been nearly fifteen minutes with my makeup. I will be out of here before half past nine."

"A half an hour for you, Moy Chen," declared Cleve. "I know your connection here. I was told that if I

"Very well," said Cleve. "Have two men at the Mukden Theater by ten o'clock. Two men who can trail me to

"I have been working alone," said Cleve, "with this very purpose in mind. The other men will not be linked

Cleve slipped into the suit he wore when acting the part of Barnes. He drew his stubnosed revolver from his

"If I encounter trouble," he said grimly, "I'll give those fellows something to think about. A shot will be the

Cleve had spoken in his own voice. Now he dropped into the character of Hugo Barnes.

Accompanied by Moy Chen, he made his way to the shop. He talked with the merchant, as they stood by the

door. Then Cleve was on his way, confident that no one could penetrate his disguise.

MOY CHEN watched him from the door. Keen though the Chinaman's vision was, he did not see the lurking

Had Moy Chen continued to watch, he might have seen a sneaking Celestial pick up the trail. For the mark on

the forehead of Cleve Branch was now visible on Hugo Barnes, whenever he walked by a lighted spot along

Moy Chen, however, did not wait. He had remembered Cleve's last admonition. In approximately a half hour,

Hugo Barnes would be at the entrance to the Mukden Theater. Others must be there, too.

Upstairs ambled Moy Chen. His thoughts, somehow, reverted to that bloodred spot on the forehead of Cleve

As he considered it now, Moy Chen felt sure that spot meant danger. For though, because of his undercover

work, Moy Chen had avoided close contact with the WuFan, the pretended merchant at least knew the

sinister ways of Chinatown. People did not appear adorned with crimson spots unless there was a reason.

Reaching his windowless room, Moy Chen went to the desk and unlocked a drawer. From it, he produced a

By this phone, Moy Chen communicated with Bureau of Investigation agents. One or more could always be

reached, at a special address in San Francisco. Time and again, the undercover man had brought government

agents, seemingly from nowhere, to spoil the welllaid plans of the Chinese tongs.

For the first time, now, Moy Chen was using his informative weapon against the WuFan. Tong leaders had

never learned this secret. Ling Soo, whom Moy Chen had never thwarted, could not possibly know it.

So thought Moy Chen. But Moy Chen did not know the meaning of that mark on the forehead of Cleve

Moy Chen clicked the receiver. He leaned close to the telephone in order to speak clearly when the operator

This message was important. There would be just time for men to reach the Mukden Theater. The

headquarters which Moy Chen was calling was less than ten minutes from the border of Chinatown, where

The operator's voice sounded. Moy Chen was about to speak. But the number never left his lips.

A yellowfaced man had sprung across the room. His bands were at Moy Chen's throat. Another man was

While one was choking Moy Chen, the other was calmly placing the receiver on the hook and putting the

The hands on Moy Chen's neck were merciless. They were hands that worked for Ling Soo.

A quick report, flashed to the leader of the WuFan, had told that Cleve Branch the man who bore the mark

Whoever lived in that secret room must be watched. That was the word from Ling Soo. The choking fingers

The Chinese merchant struggled, but in vain. His throat was rattling. His eyes were staring. His vain

resistance became weaker. His struggles ceased. Then, only, did the fingers loose their hold.

Padded footsteps sounded softly as two men traced their way toward the passage that led back to the

Cleve Branch, unknowing, was on his own tonight. There would be no sleuths on hand to witness the meeting

No word would reach the ears of the Bureau of Investigation field office in San Francisco. No longer did the

For the sprawled, pitiful form upon the floor of the windowless room would never move again.

CLEVE BRANCH was cautious as he approached the entrance of the Mukden Theater. He passed the lobby,

walking on the other side of the street, and stared at the display boards, which were the only objects in view.

The fact that no one was waiting there was not surprising, for it was not quite ten o'clock, Cleve did not

expect the messenger from Ling Soo until that time. He crossed the street and shambled by the lobby, in plain

By this time, the men summoned by Moy Chen should be in the vicinity. Moy Chen, always exact, would

have given them a close description of Hugo Barnes. Cleve knew he could rely on that, for the features of

Cleve stopped suddenly when he had passed the lobby. He fancied that he had heard a hissing whistle in the

Its significance puzzled Cleve. He did not know that it was a signal used by the secret minions of the

WuFan that it meant that no one should now molest the man who bore the mark of death.

Passing the lobby once again, Cleve made a close inspection from this close range. Seeing no person, he

Perhaps that phantom shade that indicated The Shadow would be here tonight. No, it was absent. Cleve

wondered. Had something happened to that mysterious man, whose vigilance had twice saved Cleve from

Cleve pulled a watch from his pocket. The timepiece registered exactly ten o'clock.

Cleve shuffled past the deserted box office, closed now that the evening's business was done. He stood alone

in the light, where he could easily be seen by the men whom Moy Chen had summoned.

They were keeping under cover well, Cleve decided. That was their job. Cleve gave no sign that might betray

his interest in their presence. He had often worked this way before. It was his task to play his affected part.

With all the characteristics of Hugo Barnes, he went farther into the lobby,. There, a man stepped into view

This individual was a placidfaced Chinaman dressed in American clothes. He did not look at Cleve; in fact,

he seemed totally disinterested in Cleve's presence. But the man's arms were folded, and upon his finger was

Even at this distance, Cleve could catch the sparkle of the tiny emerald eyes set in the gold design.

Approaching the man, Cleve bent his head a trifle and made the sign of the WuFan. The Chinaman

While Cleve stood waiting, the Chinaman turned slowly. With arms still folded, he walked into the theater.

The action meant that Cleve was to follow. He did so, but controlled his shuffling gait to allow time for any

The man looked back impatiently. Cleve sensed that it would be unwise to delay too long. He slipped his

hands in his coat pockets a pose that went with the character of Hugo Barnes and sauntered leisurely after

THE Chinaman turned to the left, and silently strode down the blackened aisle. Cleve was close behind him.

He suspected that the Chinaman was going back stage, and thence out into the night; for this was the pathway

They reached the curtain at the entrance to the boxes. There, the Chinaman stopped. He motioned for Cleve

Cleve did so, boldly. He knew well that a false step now might loose unexpected dangers. He must play his

part that of a neophyte in the order of the WuFan, seeking admission to a higher order.

He might be watched every step of the way; and this part of the journey might be only a blind to test him out.

Cleve was experienced in his work. He knew how to play his part. He obeyed the Chinaman's gesture; but his

Through the curtain, Cleve was shuffling toward the door to the stage when he felt the Chinaman's hand

The man opened the curtain of the nearest box. He gripped Cleve's arm firmly and guided him forward.

Cleve was momentarily astonished to find his foot poised over empty space, where there should have been a

solid floor. He was advancing toward the seats by the rail of the box, but he was moving downward, and his

Staring upward, Cleve caught a last vague glimpse of the dome of the theater. Then, almost before he realized

There was a slight noise above. Cleve kept boldly on, and his foot struck the level. The passage was broad

here. The Chinaman was beside him. The guide pressed against a barrier ahead; a door opened into a dim

They were nearing the meeting place and it was here, beneath the pit of the theater!

A recollection came to Cleve. He recalled that night when he had stood in the box above; how he had sensed

He had been at the entrance to the inner shrine of the WuFan almost at the top step of the concealed

He must have been observed, then, by some watcher in the dark. If so, he had been close to death. For the

WuFan no matter how friendly it might seek to be was, after all, an Oriental scheme.

The ways of the Chinese were dark, reflected Cleve, and he knew that intruders to this secret spot would

They were at a door now. The guide tapped once. Then again. The barrier slid upward. The passage had

inclined downward, since the stairs and the room which Cleve now saw were far beneath the theater.

While he wondered how effective a revolver shot might prove if used as a signal, Cleve glanced about him to

The strange, flickering light made him blink. Its peculiar glow was troublesome. He could not distinguish

One was Ling Soo. Cleve could tell it by the squatness of the man's form. The other, crouched on a stool

Cleve noted his guide was making the sign of the WuFan. He, too, performed the salute. It was returned by

Again, Cleve's eyes were roving, past Ling Soo. There he saw a sight that made him pause, aghast.

Two brilliant eyes sparkled in the light. Their green hue sent long flashes, that seemed like livid tongues of

CLEVE'S guide urged him to a vacant chair. He sat there and waited. The group appeared to be awaiting

Cleve assumed the indifferent attitude of Hugo Barnes. The strangeness of this room was menacing; yet he

felt a security in his false identity. He believed that calmness and silence would serve him well.

The door slid up, and another man entered. Cleve could not recognize him in the light. Although the man sat

Ling Soo began to speak, in English. His words, though low, were friendly in their tone.

"Tonight," said Ling Soo, "we have a new friend who seeks to be with the WuFan. Is it right that we should

The question came from Green Eyes. Cleve could see the glowing optics sparkle as they stared in his

"The sign," came the Chinaman's whisper, in oddly spoken tones. "The sign of WuFan."

Cleve understood. Deliberately he arose and stood in the center of the group. He felt no fear, whatever. With

Although he did not realize the fact, Cleve's finger rested exactly upon that reddish spot the mark of death.

It was hidden now, by the finger that had made it. Cleve, who had made the mark unwittingly, was now

It was toward Green Eyes that Cleve was facing; and the glowing rays that sparkled in the light had gained

He did not realize what was happening behind him. His right hand, absent from his pocket, no longer

The attack came on the instant. The two men nearest Cleve bounded forward. Each seized an arm.

Struggling madly, Cleve was borne backward. Other members of the insidious crew were thronging forward.

Their massed attack was overpowering. Cleve's arms and legs were held as he lay prone upon the floor.

There was no use struggling. Cleve realized that as his wrists were pinioned behind his back. He felt the

cutting pressure of leather thongs as his assailants bound him hand and foot. The gag that was pressed

between his teeth proved tight and merciless. The helpless man could barely gasp for breath.

Cleve felt himself raised; then he was laid in the center of the room amid the circle, like a human sacrifice.

Staring upward, he could see only those sparkling green eyes; and to Cleve's cars came the cold words of

"You swore to support the WuFan," came the insidious voice. "Instead, you were a traitor! There were

"The work of the WuFan will go on. You can never stop them. Once death was planned for you at hands

"Again, death was meant for you, by the hand of Foy. You eluded it. Tonight, no effort can avail you.

"Fool! You were not content to believe what you were told about the WuFan. Your life was spared only

because the WuFan was wise. But now, the decree of wisdom has been changed. There is one fate for you.

THE room seemed to echo with the sinister word. Caught up by the lips of the others, it was hissed in a low,

The others echoed the statement. Green Eyes was silent; but Ling Soo took up the burden.

Foy arose and stood crouching by his chair, as sinister a figure as any in that room.

Each took his stand beside the helpless body of Cleve Branch; Foy on one side Foo Chow on the other.

A word in the Chinese language was uttered by Green Eyes. One by one, the members of the fiendish gang

Ling Soo leaned forward to stare gloatingly into the face of the man whom he had betrayed. Then he was

Green Eyes that strange, unknown monster, stood before the victim. The flashing optics sparkled as though

Two hands approached Cleve's face. The green eyes flashed close before him. The hands, with roughly

sweeping touch, pulled away the disguising eyebrows and the other tokens of Moy Chen's craftsmanship.

There, in the uncertain light, the face of Hugo Barnes had been destroyed, and in its place were the features of

It was Cleve Branch who had sought to thwart the vile schemes of the WuFan. It was Cleve Branch, now,

Unable to send a cry for help; not even knowing the purpose that lay behind the secret mission of the

The menace of the startling eyes was gone; but it brought no comfort to Cleve Branch. Green Eyes, too, had

The final thud of that barrier was like a knell of doom. The last hope faded from Cleve's closing eyes.

FOY was gloating fiendishly as he stooped above the prostrate form of Cleve Branch. The sight of a helpless

Foo Chow, cold and observant, was a menace also. In neither of those glaring faces could Cleve see a sign of

Foy's right hand came from his robe. It held a wickedlooking knife, sharppointed and long of blade.

Speaking in his native tongue, the Chinese slayer addressed Foo Chow. He passed the knife to Foo Chow,

The slayer seemed in no hurry to do his work. Usually silent, he was loquacious now. His quaintly intonated

voice was explaining to Foo Chow that the art of the death thrust was as well known in America as in China

Cleve could not understand the meaning of the words; but there was something in their inflection that made

Foy crouched low. He placed his hand above Cleve's heart, and seemed to be choosing the exact place for this

thrust a perfect thrust that Foo Chow would long remember. This, Foy had said, was to be a model stroke

The pointed blade poised motionless, a foot above Cleve's breast. Cleve could not see it, but he sensed its

He had divined, from Foy's attitude, that the slayer intended to perform a quick, effective murder. That, at

One lone, wild thought came into Cleve's maddened brain. That thought was of The Shadow the strange

Seeking to forget the knife above, Cleve rolled his head and stared in each direction.

There were no shadows in this room. The queer, flickering illumination came from some hidden source. All

the floor was the same dull hue. The walls were straight and barren. Only the door offered hope.

Cleve stared toward it, hopelessly. If that barrier could only move upward to admit the only man who could

But the door did not move. Low, sinister whispers made Cleve stare upward. He saw the gloating face of Foy,

with its cruel lips uttering words to the witness. Foo Chow stooped and looked at Cleve's body, to note the

Up came the hand of Foy. The blade glimmered its message of death. The hand lowered and swung upward

Cleve's bulging eyes were amazed as they saw the knife fly backward from Foy's hand, as the slayer's arm

With a swift, incredible leap, Foy flung himself across Cleve's body. The hands of the slayer seized the throat

The struggle was swiftly ended. Foo Chow was motionless. Foy crouched above the body of this victim,

Had Foy gone mad? Had he chosen to be alone when he dealt the death thrust that would end Cleve's life?

The sinister slayer was picking up his knife; he was coming back to Cleve. The helpless man closed his eyes

There was pressure at his feet. Cleve felt his body being rolled over. He moved his feet, and found that the

thongs were gone from his ankles although their cutting pressure still could be felt.

Now the knife slashed the thongs that bound his wrists. Another cut; the gag was loose. Firm arms were

Bewildered, he tottered, scarcely able to stand, and he stared at the face of Foy. The man was no longer

crouching. His figure had enlarged. Tall, slender, and erect, he was Foy no longer. Only his face appeared to

LIKE a flash, the explanation came to Cleve. It all went back to that night at Darley's.

He remembered the certain shot that had felled Foy a shot fired by The Shadow. Why had Cleve doubted

the marksmanship of that firm hand that had aimed so often and so perfectly at the Sun Kew!

The single shot at Darley's had killed Foy. The evil Chinaman had not escaped. His dead body had been

Last night at Ling Soo's! That shadow on the floor. A shadow, long and weird, with no one there but Ling

That shadow had belonged to Foy not to Foy himself, but to the man posing as Foy!

Incredible though it seemed, this was the truth. The Shadow had played the part of Foy so perfectly that he

Harbored in the very haunt of Ling Soo, The Shadow, as Foy, had been admitted to the inner circle of the

Perhaps he had learned the secrets of the order; perhaps he knew the insidious schemes that brewed tonight;

But The Shadow did not speak. Dwindling, he again became the sinister, crouching Foy, so real in his pose

With grimaces, this stooping man signaled Cleve toward the door. Faltering, Cleve went in that direction.

The false Foy stood by the wall. The barrier moved upward. Cleve was in the passage, with the form of Foy

Cleve moved toward the door that led to the exit through the box in the theater. His companion stopped him.

Cleve looked down at the crouching form. On the floor he saw its shadow long and amazing. This, alone,

The crouching man drew Cleve through an opening that had appeared in the wall. There, in a dim, narrow

"Through the passage up the steps then to the right through the curtained door into the hallway

The rest was plain. Cleve saw the way to safety. A firm hand thrust him forward.

From the end of the passage, Cleve turned to glance behind him. He caught one last glimpse of Foy through

There were barriers ahead, but Cleve could pass them. A simple movement of The Shadow's hand had shown

Cleve reached the head of the stairs. He was in total darkness. He felt a barrier ahead, but an opening to the

Knowing his location, he was sure that the hidden door before him led into the inner room where Ling Soo

might be. To the right, the passage would lead to that door behind the curtain the very door against which

This was his way to the hallway; then the anteroom; and finally the elevator. This roundabout exit from the

The Shadow might be following; or he might have left by the theater. Perhaps he had assumed his garb of

These were problems upon which it was useless to ponder. For Cleve could only remember his instructions

The words meant worlds to Cleve. They were the one inkling to what the WuFan might be doing.

Once away from here, lost in the belated crowds of the street, Cleve could summon aid, and raid the junk that

GROPING, he found the door. The secret catch was the same as the others. The door slid aside.

Cleve peered from the curtain. The brass doors to Ling Soo's inner room were closed. The hall itself was

Cleve moved forward, and as he did, he tripped stupidly upon the bottom of the curtain. Seeking to regain his

As he regained his feet, Cleve heard a sound beyond those brass doors. He looked behind him as he reached

Turning, Cleve saw the brass doors opening. Peering between them was the spectacled face of Ling Soo.

The sight of that hated visage maddened him. He pressed the trigger, and fired toward the opening. His first

shots made in haste, were wild. The brass doors clanged, and Cleve's bullets smashed against the emblazoned

Still firing, with vengeance dominating him, Cleve suddenly realized that he was clicking empty cartridges.

Hastening, Cleve gained the elevator and reached the passage to the street. He knew that Ling Soo's warning

was on its way. He must hurry hurry away from Chinatown, where grim death lurked.

He reached the street and pressed through the throng. In his mad desire, Cleve forgot all else but that one

Away from here, he would be free to act. Within the range of the WuFan, death was a constant danger.

Stolid Chinamen stepped out of the way as Cleve dashed down the street. One man, blocking his path, stood

firm. The eyes that peered through yellow lids saw the mark of death upon Cleve's forehead!

The Chinaman was a member of the WuFan. He seized Cleve, and grappled with him. Cleve swung at him

with his empty revolver, but missed his aim. He struggled free and stumbled forward, with his enemy in

They were at the edge of Chinatown. Another yellow man had joined in the chase. Cleve's legs were

weakening. He staggered toward the wall and fell, his shouting enemies upon him.

Clutching claws began to beat Cleve's head against the wall. On the verge of safety, he was facing death

again. But others were coming to his aid. Three passing Americans, seeing the menace to their countryman,

Scudding like rats, the two WuFan men dropped their victim and fled for shelter. They scurried into the first

alleyway that they saw, but their swift pursuers caught them and laid them flat with wellplaced blows.

Cleve, limp and helpless, was carried to a drug store to await the arrival of an ambulance.

He mumbled words as he recovered consciousness. But his words were scarcely audible.

Cleve Branch had been saved from the hand of Foy for the hand of Foy was dead. It was the hand of The

But Cleve was helpless, now. He could not tell that he had been seen, alive and free, by Ling Soo, leader of

the WuFan. Shrewd and cunning, Ling Soo could not fail to realize that the cause had been betrayed by Foy.

THE PungShoon, squat and square rigged, lay at anchor in San Francisco Bay. Solemn, yellowfaced

Chinamen, paced its highset decks. A little motor boat lay beside the wooden ship.

Americans were visiting the PungShoon. One was Joseph Darley. Two others were members of the Civilian

Standing in the light that came from a cabin, Darley looked questioningly at his companions. They had timed

this visit late, for the express purpose of finding if men had been smuggled aboard.

"There's no one here, Mr. Darley," said one of the revenue men. "We searched this ship from stem to stern,

"Yeah," said the first. "You saw it, Mr. Darley. Can't figure what it's for. The men won't spill a word about it.

Let them keep their secret if they want to. We've got plenty to do besides trying to solve Chinese puzzles."

"Well," said Darley, "there's no use watching the boat all night. You know its arrangement, now. Take

"If any Chinese try to make the slip on this junk, we'll nab 'em," he said. "We've labeled the crew, and we can

"You saw below. All loaded up with secret cupboards and what not. I'm giving you a straight line, Mr.

"That's what it is," reaffirmed the officer. "We got wind that it was headed this way, with a cargo of dope.

You could pack a million dollars' worth of that stuff without a bit of it to show. So we were watching for this

"Simple enough," said the revenue man. "This voyage was a blind. They've pulled that gag before. Let 'em

come into port a few times to get the lay. Then they'll be wise, and slip over a fast one on the next trip."

"Plenty long," declared the agent, "We won't hear from this tub again for months. But she'll be back you

"It's trouble enough tonight," was his comment. "Well, we can go in a few minutes, as soon as some of these

"Ones whom we know. They gave us the tipoff. So we came down to look around. Wanted them here to

"Yes," explained Darley. "We haven't bothered the police with this, because it may all be a false alarm. That's

As they reached the center of the deck, Darley turned to see a crouching Chinaman advancing from the side.

He recognized the face of Foy. He knew that Ling Soo's servant was to be here tonight, as chief of the

As Foy spoke no English, and Joseph Darley did not discourse in Chinese, Darley merely acknowledged his

"We can go, now," he said to the revenue man. "This fellow knows whom to let on the ship."

THE Americans went over the side. Darley was following when he saw the squat form of Ling Soo coming in

The presence of the chief of the WuFan was important. It had been arranged that Ling Soo would come only

"Wait a few minutes. I'll come along. I want to speak to a man who has just arrived."

There was a response from beneath. Darley turned to Ling Soo. The Chinaman's face was serene. He spied

Foy, and beckoned to the servant. He spoke a few words in Chinese, and Foy responded.

Ling Soo's question was pertaining the death of Cleve Branch. He wanted to know if all had gone well. Foy

"A man was killed tonight," he said. "A man named Moy Chen. There is something I wish to tell you about

Indicating that he wished Foy to follow, Ling Soo waddled toward a cabin. He and Joseph Darley seated

Foy, at Ling Soo's bidding, remained a short distance away, huddled with hands before his breast. He

"It is this," said Ling Soo, his eyes upon Darley. "The man Moy Chen was a prominent Chinese merchant,

As Ling Soo spoke, his right hand was resting upon a molding at the side of the cabin. With scarcely more

than a gesture, he drew his chair away, but still retained his hold upon the molding. It came with his hand.

The floor of the cabin opened. The form of Foy straightened as it plunged into the hold below!

"Come!" exclaimed Ling Soo, releasing his hold so that the trap would spring back into place.

He and Darley hurried down a steep flight of steps, Ling Soo showing amazing speed for his odd bulk. The

Chinaman slid open a door. A flashlight gleamed in his hand. It revealed the unconscious form of Foy.

"Foy is a traitor!" declared Ling Soo. "I have tricked him. He knew that I might come here. He does not know

"Men of the WuFan seized him," said Ling Soo placidly. "They tried to kill. He was carried away,

Ling Soo was bending over the form of Foy. Assisted by Darley, he dragged the prostrate body toward a

The glow showed a square room near the bow of the ship. In its center stood a heavy upright frame two

Ling Soo took a piece of stout rope. He crossed the wrists of the man who passed for Foy. He tied them

tightly. He twisted a piece of wire to hold the knots firm. Pushing the end of the rope through a hole in the

Darley, assisting, raised Foy's body upright. He held it in that position, while Ling Soo pulled the rope taut.

Foy's form, grotesquely lengthened, was hanging by its wrists, the toes just tipping the floor.

LING SOO bowed in acknowledgment. He seemed to accept the statement as an order. He listened placidly

"Keep him here," he told Ling Soo. "Let him hang until he gains his senses if he does."

Darley's last phrase was a sound one; for the hanging form seemed devoid of life. It had dropped a distance of

more than twentyfive feet when Ling Soo had drawn the trap in the cabin, high above!

"Should Foy seem able to speak," continued Darley, "threaten him with the full torture unless he tells. He will

know its meaning. Each hour on that rack grows longer. No man can withstand its pain."

Ling Soo beamed pleasantly. This cruelty was something he seemed to relish. His own eyes blinked as they

"If he does not speak," declared Darley, "you must wait until the others are here. Come again, to this spot,

"Whether he speaks or does not speak, he must die then by your hand. Your killing shot will be the first

"Then for the shore you with the ones who have fired. Let the sailors light the flares. Meanwhile the others

Darley said no more. Ling Soo understood. He asked a single question, although it was unnecessary.

"Yes," said Darley. "I shall show it to each one. To each shall go his own allotment. You need not worry,

Ling Soo. Your work is here. Instead of being in your secluded apartment, you can perform the task assigned

With that, Darley was gone. Ling Soo was alone, blinking stolidly at the form of the man who looked like

Foy. A hateful look came into Ling Soo's eyes. He approached the hanging form, and from a hidden pocket in

the front of the prisoner's black robe, Ling Soo whisked forth a gleaming knife.

Cackling, Ling Soo placed the blade beneath his own robe. The knife of Foy The Slayer's only weapon!

Explanations had been unnecessary. Darley had accepted Ling Soo's word of Foy's perfidy. From the moment

that Ling Soo had glimpsed the fleeing form of Cleve Branch, the sinister Chinaman had known that Foy was

He had noted Cleve's attire. He had known that only Foy could have pointed the way to escape. Sneaking

through the underground passageway, Ling Soo had reached the meeting room, where he had found the still

Ling Soo had played his cards craftily. Knowing that Foy would be at the Chinese ship, he had hurried to the

junk and had done his part there. That secret trap an artful device that Ling Soo had seen used before.

Yet, despite the fact that Ling Soo was a master of craftiness, despite the fact that he knew Foy was a traitor,

The disguise of The Shadow was too perfect even for the shrewd eyes of Ling Soo!

BUT that could not save The Shadow, now. Ling Soo, cold and deliberate, was at work, cackling as he used

He had attached the end of the rope to a stout hook on the wall. It went there at an angle from the top of the

This, the most formidable of all contrivances for slow death, was a device that utterly defied escape. Those

hands bound and wired could do nothing more than claw the empty air. Well did Ling Soo know the

The toes of the prisoner, barely touching the floor, could not support a fraction of his weight. All strain was

on the wrists. Arms and shoulders must take the burden that would increase with each succeeding minute.

Foy, the traitor, was doomed. His fate would be a bullet through his heart. Just how soon his life would pass

Tomorrow, thought the cackling Ling Soo, this body would be found, before the ship cleared the harbor.

Those who discovered it would see the evidence of a fiendish Chinese plot. That plot would be attributed to

Let the American authorities learn the identity of Foy! It would be to Ling Soo's liking.

For it would prove beyond a doubt that the WuFan had been attacked by enemies. Foy servant of Ling

It added the perfect touch that Ling Soo desired. Members of the WuFan were coming peacefully to his

ship. Here, a short outburst would take place. The members of the WuFan would flee, Ling Soo among

That brief attack would be attributed to the Tiger Tong. It was to serve another purpose. For while all

attention of harbor patrols would be centered on the Chinese junk, other members of the WuFan would be

Shots lights flares all were ready for a short, quickly finished outburst. It would all be over before

investigators arrived. But with this, there would be a finishing touch later the finding of Foy, no longer

Ling Soo cackled in exuberance. He took the lantern in his hand. He reached up and tipped back the head of

Foy. The face, streaked with blood from a gash above the forehead, was grotesque and brutal. It shone with

The squat Chinaman waited. He thought that Foy was regaining consciousness. The slitlike eyelids were

moving. Ling Soo cackled again, and his insidious chuckle was loud in that hollowed space in the heart of the

Foy would have his chance to speak. If he would not speak, Ling Soo would wait and give him an

Ling Soo, as though in ceremony, uttered words aloud designing, perhaps, that they would reach the ears of

These were the words which Ling Soo uttered, in the language of his native land.

THE eyes of Foy opened. They were wide, and they gleamed in the light of the lantern gleamed as Ling

An instant later, that flash was gone. The yellow lids were half closed, in the manner of Foy.

Before him, The Shadow saw the merciless form of Ling Soo. Then The Shadow looked upward, and his

halfclosed eyes took in the strange surroundings. His keen brain, usually alert, was working slowly for the

The strain upon the wrists was great. The Shadow, brought to full wakefulness by pain, began to sense the

hopelessness of his predicament. In this terrible position, escape belonged to the realm of impossibility.

Ling Soo's cackling laugh echoed in the gloomy compartment. The master of the WuFan was gloating. He

spoke to his false henchman, Foy, and his words were filled with sinister significance.

"Why did you betray?" This question was in Chinese. "Tell me why or you shall know the torture."

"Your misery will be long," declared Ling Soo solemnly. "Speak! Tell the truth of your perfidy. Then only

"You let our enemy escape," gloated Ling Soo, "but that shall not save you. He was overpowered perhaps

he is dead at this moment. I am to perform the duty that was to be yours. Our plans shall prevail in spite of

"You will not speak?" Ling Soo's question was malicious. "Then know the torture! Your senses have been

gone. You have not felt the great pain yet. Unless you speak now, I shall depart. You shall suffer while I am

"You have had your choice," said Ling Soo calmly. "I go. If you cry out it can do you no good. Our friends,

He hung the lantern on the wall. He stood, squat and glaring, by the open door to the next compartment. The

shadow of Foy, long and fantastic, spread across the floor. Ling Soo had no time for shadows.

"Remember," came his cackling, singsong tones, "you are in the rack of torture. The rack from which no man

With that, Ling Soo was gone. Leaving the lantern so its glow would remind Foy of his hopeless position,

As an instrument of agony, the Chinese torture rack was one of the strangest and most formidable devices in

all the world. It brought slower pain than did the infernal creations of the Middle Ages, but its work was sure.

Ling Soo had spoken the truth when he had praised this Oriental contrivance; but he had been in error when

he had said that escape was impossible. Some years before, one man had managed to extricate himself from

its toils. The American, Houdini, had allowed himself to be fastened in a Chinese torture rack and had

There had been only one Houdini a master of his art. Strong and powerful, he had used his amazing

ingenuity to its utmost in that escape. Now The Shadow, weakened from his terrible fall into the hold of the

With The Shadow, it meant life or death. Unless his mighty mind could divine the only possible way of

overcoming the hold of this machine, unless his weary muscles could respond to the efforts that were

Time, too, was short. The Shadow, with wired ropes about his wrists, had been restrained while unconscious.

He had gained no opportunity to fight against the bonds when they had been placed upon him.

His arms were already wearied from the strain which they had undergone. For he had dangled long before his

There he hung. His fingers could not reach the knots upon his wrists. They were more than a foot below the

cross beam of the rack. It was humanly impossible to move upward. Nor could his feet avail him, for they

Buried alive in the hollow of the deepset Chinese junk, The Shadow faced the most terrible situation in his

Free, he could struggle against odds that were seemingly unconquerable. Bound with ordinary restraints, he

could fight his way free. But he was now in the grasp of the powerful device that was the greatest

Could, The Shadow meet this formidable test the one that Houdini alone had undergone successfully?

His motionless, hanging body, with its still shadow stretched across the floor, betokened complete

helplessness. The longer that it remained in that position, the more The Shadow's strength would dwindle.

At last, The Shadow moved. In the silence of that room, broken only by a soft lapping of tiny waves against

the wooden sides of the PungShoon, the hands of The Shadow clutched above his head. Futilely at first,

BUT the fingers, alone, could afford no aid. Although they worked with supernormal strength, they did not

The fingers did not seek that impossible task. They were twisting at the rope. The dangling form began to

sway. The toes added to the sidewise motion. Grazing the floor, they added to the swing.

The action was prolonged and tedious. The fingers, gripping, worked from above. The feet raised slightly

from the floor each time the body moved gently to one side. As it went in the opposite direction, the feet,

Inch by inch, the motion increased. Each swing was longer, now. Fingers and toes, working together and

It could not strain the stout rope. That was too firmly fastened. Ling Soo had left naught to chance.

Yet the pendulum swing kept on, while the grotesque shadow on the floor followed back and forth beneath

Wider longer were the swings. Off to the right, The Shadow's foot almost touched the upright post on that

The wild swings still increased. Then came the final one, that served The Shadow's purpose.

The right foot, stretching to its utmost, went barely past the upright post. The extended toes were just beyond

that spot. With uncanny skill, the tip of the foot caught the post and stopped the swing.

The body did not return across the floor between the posts. Instead, the foot made the utmost of its

momentary hold. It squirmed and worked until the ankle was beyond the post. Then, with the body moving

Inch by inch, The Shadow's lower limbs were climbing to the top of the upright post!

The objective was reached. The Shadow rested. His body, doubled, was beneath the crossbeam. His knees

gripping near the joint of the upright post, were taking the strain from those tired wrists and arms.

Now The Shadow writhed in superhuman effort. Difficult though his first action had been, the present task

Twice he failed; but on the third time, with a mighty lunge, he urged his body to the top of the crossbeam.

Poised there, balanced on the beam, his body was relieved of all burden. His hands, coming up with him,

How could The Shadow work against them? His hands were helpless. His muscles were tired to the utmost.

The straining wrists seemed scarcely capable of further action. Their strength was gone.

With elbows gripping the sides of the upright beam, The Shadow steadied his body. His head bent forward.

His lips were against those binding ropes. With his teeth, The Shadow attacked the knots!

HE did not strive to undo the twisted bits of wire. The cord, with its knots, was the real force that held the

wrists so tightly clamped together. Each tug that The Shadow made each grip that his teeth supplied

They loosened gradually. The wires kept them from coming further undone. But now the wrists were aiding.

They spread and pressed, forcing the wires to the sides of the knots. The knots tightened; but the wrists had

Again, the teeth worked while the wrists rested. Once more the knots were slowly loosened. Then came the

sharp tug of the straining wrists. The slack increased; but the binding wires now held with a tighter grip.

The wrists moved backward and forward. The ropes chafed them raw. They twisted and turned until finally

The Shadow's legs were holding him now. Each time he tugged with his arms, his form nearly toppled from

its perch. At last, when strength seemed gone, the amazing man rested for a moment; then gave a final,

But the sudden release had thrown The Shadow's body to one side toward the front of the torture rack. His

knees lost their hold. The right hand clutched for the crossbeam too late. With his left wrist still tangled in the

It was the left hand, seizing the crossbeam as it passed, that broke the fall. Momentarily, The Shadow hung

The cord came taut as the left arm fell; the wrist, now held only by a large, loose loop, wrenched free. The

He lay there, a strange figure in the guise of Foy. His face was streaked with blood. His wrists were raw. His

lips were bleeding from contact with the binding wires. His strength seemed gone, as he breathed heavily and

The Shadow had accomplished the seemingly impossible! He had escaped from the Chinese torture rack! He

had duplicated the feat of the great Houdini, under the most difficult of all conditions!

His form was motionless. Was he lapsing back into unconsciousness? Had all his strength been spent?

Time was short. The Shadow was in the hold of a strange ship, manned by a hostile crew! What hope could

Minutes ticked by. Long, silent minutes, as hopeless as those that The Shadow had spent on the torture rack.

The limit of his time had come. Footsteps sounded without the closed door. Hands rattled at the barrier.

LING SOO paced the broad deck of the PungShoon. He looked upward at the towering turrets of the

oldfashioned Chinese ship. There, in the gloom, he could distinguish the forms of sailors. They were

The insidious Chinaman was gloating. He and four members of the WuFan were aboard the junk. It had

been Ling Soo's plan to go below and slay the false Foy himself. Then he had realized that a better scheme of

He had dispatched two of his men to do the work. Both were ones whom he knew that he could trust. One

traitor like Foy did not mean a flock. For the secret methods of the WuFan were too insidious to permit

Other traitors had been discovered before traitors like Stephen Laird when they had begun to suggest

Ling Soo was near the door to the oddly furnished cabin. His keen ears were set to hear a dull shot from

below. That shot would mean the death of the traitor, Foy. Then Ling Soo would give the signal. No time

It had been difficult for Ling Soo to waddle up those stairs from the hold. That reason, as much as any, was

why the leader of the WuFan had delegated his appointed work to his trusted subordinates.

By the highrailed side of the ship, Ling Soo could see the forms of the other two WuFan men. They were

As soon as the signal was given, pandemonium would break loose. Then Ling Soo would join his

companions, and they would escape, by the little boat, accompanied by the men who came from the hold.

All the crew of this ship were Chinamen members of a chapter of the WuFan, which existed in China

itself. They were sworn to secrecy. They had done good work before; they would do good work tonight!

Ling Soo grinned as he bethought himself of what would be happening elsewhere, when others of the

WuFan took advantage of the furor on the junk to do a work that would mean great profit for Ling Soo.

Profit for Ling Soo and for Green Eyes! Millions of dollars in good American money!

The muffled report of a gun shot came to Ling Soo's ears. Then came a second. Good!

The smile spread over Ling Soo's face, and he cackled softly. Both men had done their work. Each had sent a

Ling Soo stared about him in the dark; toward the high decks; toward the tall, squarerigged masts. The time

From beneath his robe, Ling Soo produced a gleaming revolver. He pointed it off toward the bay. He pressed

Shots cracked from spots about the ship. Loud cries sounded. Ling Soo stood waiting, watching the stairs at

A head and shoulders appeared from the stairs; then the body of a man a crouching, sinister form.

Had the others aided him? No there would have been but one shot, if they had been traitors also. They

Ling Soo knew the truth in an instant. Those two muffled pistol shots had been from the hand of Foy. The

A flare went up from a high deck. Its lurid glare showed the form of Ling Soo, on the deck beside the cabin

The leader of the WuFan had pointed his revolver toward the hated form of the approaching Foy. But before

The revolver fell from Ling Soo's grasp. He tottered toward the side of the ship. He sprawled upon the deck.

As the flare died away, the two men by the rail came dashing to their leader's rescue.

Another flare revealed the form of Foy, now on the deck. The Shadow, still in the guise of the crouching

Ling Soo, lying back against supporting arms, saw his enemy. He raised a long, hideous cry that rose above

It was the battle cry of the WuFan the cry that meant death when uttered by the leader! The pointing hand

As the flare sizzled away, shouts came from everywhere. Ling Soo's two companions drew revolvers and

Bursts of flame from the cabin door stretched them, motionless upon the deck. The sailors whose shots had

been wild and meaningless were firing again. The bullets from their revolvers smashed against the sides of

Then came another flare. It showed a new sight. The Shadow was in the center of the deck. Swinging rapidly,

The forms of maddened sailors were visible in the light; but their hasty shots could not seem to strike that

strange target the crouching form that bore the semblance of Foy. From the decks, the range was too great

But The Shadow's automatics mocked the distance. Bullets, coming from those tongueflamed muzzles

found the marks toward which they were directed. Sailors with upraised revolvers fell before they could fire.

In that brief interval, The Shadow loosed his entire load of deadly missiles. The automatics were empty. But

when another flare came from an upper deck, it revealed two gleaming revolvers in those mighty hands

NOW the aim of both those guns was directed toward a single spot. While bullets sank into the deck beside

his weaving body, The Shadow had seen a group of faces peering from a rail upon a highpitched deck.

The Shadow's revolvers spoke their message. Two men, rising, toppled from the rail of the high deck. One,

clutching an object on the rail, fell crashing to the deck below. Beside him came a hissing, burning flare. It

scattered upon the deck. Its flaming portions were scattered about in all directions.

Another flare was starting from that same high rail. The man who had lighted it, dropped suddenly, as The

Shadow spotted him for death. The second flare fell like a sudden meteor. Its fragments scattered also some

Unable to withstand those inhuman shots, startled sailors sprang from their hiding places. Stumbling over the

bodies of their fallen comrades, they leaped for the places which were farthest from the deadly bullets.

Like monkeys, they scrambled up the masts of the towering junk, and pressed themselves upon sailfurled

rigging. A mocking laugh came from the lone man on the deck. The laugh of The Shadow, it reached the ears

Other wreaths curled upward from spots of the deck as the dried wood of the old PungShoon blazed like

Amidst the rising holocaust, the terrible man on the deck swept back toward the cabin from which he had

The Shadow's revolvers were empty. He tossed them away, and stooped to pick up the revolver which Ling

Something gleamed through the air. A knife was whistling from the rigging, its sharp point driving straight

Was it instinct that told The Shadow? Or did his keen ears sense the approach of that murderous blade,

With his hand upon Ling Soo's gun, The Shadow dived suddenly away. The shimmering blade passed within

an inch of his twisting body. It struck the deck at the exact spot where Ling Soo's gun had lain.

But The Shadow did not let the thrust remain unanswered. Swinging upward, the muzzle of his revolver

seemed to follow the path along which the knife had come. No one was visible, behind the sail where lay the

A burst of flame from the revolver. A cry from high above. The form of a man tumbled from the darkness,

That master stroke ended all resistance. Yellow faces ducked behind the sails. Knives, already in hand, were

thrust back in the belts from which they had been drawn. Not a single gun spoke.

The Shadow, backing toward the rail, had stifled all opposition. Wherever that revolver might point, there

With another peal of taunting mirth, The Shadow passed the huddled forms of Ling Soo and his two

bodyguards. Over the rail and down the ladder; yet from the side of the junk, these gibing peals of laughter

A muffled motor chugged. The little boat brought by Ling Soo had left the side of the big ship. In it was a

lone, crouching figure, stooping at the wheel so low that he was almost invisible.

Whistles were sounding. Boats were putting out from everywhere to reach the junk, which was now a mass of

smoke, tinged with spurts of rising flame. Forms were leaping from the rigging, seeking the safety of the bay.

A police boat, swinging by the burning PungShoon, was capturing these miserable survivors.

All remaining on the junk were doomed. Some had missed when they had leaped for safety. Others had fallen

Among these, The Shadow knew, was Ling Soo. The insidious leader of the WuFan had gone to a deserved

The little motor boat was speeding swiftly through the bay, lost against the blackened waves, far from the

Within that craft, a crouching man was carefully placing his fingers to his face. Two tiny spots of color

THE trim yacht Sepia was anchored in the bay, close to the Oakland side. A man was standing by the

Darley was smiling as he looked across the bay and saw the miniature blaze that indicated the burning

The burning might have been an accident, through excitement of the crew; or it might have been by new

That did not matter. The junk was burning. All police boats, all other craft, would be at the side of the

flaming ship, upon which the fire had become a holocaust. Here, in the silence of the bay, the work would

The Sepia was a seaworthy craft; but its crew was small. They were trusted men, who obeyed Darley's

commands as implicitly as the followers of Ling Soo obeyed the leader of the WuFan. Darley could rely on

He glanced at his watch. In ten minutes, the others would be here. Darley drew the list with the Chinese

characters from his pocket. This would be useful, now in case of any disagreement.

Darley suddenly received the impression that someone was in the cabin, close beside him. He turned quickly.

Darley was amazed. He had believed Foy to be dead, in the torture chamber of the PungShoon. But here

was Foy, now and in his hand gleamed a revolver, its muzzle pointed toward Darley's body!

Instinctively, Darley looked at Foy's eyes. They were wide open glaring, as Darley had never seen them

Now, Foy was speaking not in singsong Chinese but in English! His firm, cold tones were scarcely more

"Joseph Darley" the voice carried an accusation "I have come to settle scores with you!"

"For your misdeeds," declared The Shadow. "You, pretended man of influence, are the worst of all the

plotters! The one who shared your wickedness Ling Soo has met his fate. Prepare for yours!"

DARLEY was too astounded to reply. He stood, helpless, beside the cabin window, wondering at the strange

transformation that had come over Foy. For, the crouching man was growing tall. His shadow lay across the

"You are wondering about Foy," said The Shadow, in a mocking voice. "I am not Foy. I am The Shadow."

"Perhaps you have never heard of The Shadow," resumed the sardonic voice. "Little wonder for although

"It was I who rescued Cleve Branch from that den, the Sun Kew, where he went as Hugo Barnes. It was I

"I found it necessary to kill Foy. I took his body with me. Some day it may be found. But I thought it best that

"I learned your fiendish schemes while I lived there in the abode of Ling Soo. I attended the meetings of the

inner group. I heard Green Eyes deliver his verdict of death to Cleve Branch. I saved the doomed man from

"You cannot strive against me longer, Joseph Darley! I have learned every step in your plotting. This yacht is

yours. Its pretended owner is a blind. On the way from San Pedro, you met the PungShoon, and transferred

"While the PungShoon burns, you are awaiting the WuFan men who are coming to unload your

milliondollar cargo. That list in your hand tells how the packages shall be distributed."

Darley gasped. He knew that The Shadow had been able to learn much, in the disguise of Foy and,

unquestionably, this amazing man had divined the rest. Yet Darley was sullen and resentful.

Why should he allow himself to be overcome by one lone man no matter who that man might claim to be?

"A clever scheme," said The Shadow slowly. "The WuFan was a blind. Small wonder you tried to make it

appear an innocent organization. The Civilian Committee was a blind a plan whereby you could operate as

"These trips of the Sepia between San Pedro and San Francisco. You, Joseph Darley, aboard a yacht engaged

"No wonder the revenue agents did not search for hidden compartments in the lockers and closets of this

"All empty talk," cried Darley, in sudden rage. "You cannot prove a word. How can you link me with the

"He stands before me," said The Shadow, looking squarely at the mild face of Joseph Darley. "Green Eyes

the slayer of Stephen Laird. The man who took vengeance in his own hands. The American who feared

betrayal because Green Eyes knew too much. Green Eyes the master mind more scheming than Ling Soo,

AS Darley stared, the man who looked like Foy closed his eyelids. Yet the eyes still seemed to be open! They

The green eyes vanished. In their place were the eyes of The Shadow. Stern, unyielding eyes more

"I know your simple secret," said The Shadow. "I learned it the first time I saw you as Green Eyes.

"Not your eyes, Darley, but your eyelids, sent those sparkles. Two flat, green stones, attached to your eyelids.

"Your green eyes were amazing, Darley, when you looked at your followers. They did not know that your

As if to emphasize his statement, The Shadow closed his eyelids. Again, that amazing flash of insidious

Like a flash, the committeeman whipped out an automatic, and aimed it squarely between those glimmering

The Shadow had given Darley the opportunity, so he knew what to expect. The Shadow's own fingers pressed

The green eyes still shone from The Shadow's lids. Then they disappeared. The Shadow viewed the crumpled

Shooting with sure aim, knowing that Darley had not moved from the cover of that upraised gun, The

A startled man was coming to the cabin. One of the crew had heard the shot. He saw Darley's form, and

hurried toward it. The Shadow fell upon him as he passed. The man lay helpless upon the floor.

Stepping to the deck, The Shadow listened. He could hear a faint sound from the water. He went back into the

cabin. Garbing himself in coat and hat that lay upon the chair, The Shadow stepped noiselessly upon the

The other members of the crew were forward. They were standing on the deck, with long wooden boxes at

By the actions of the man who approached them in the dark, the crew of the Sepia thought that he was

Darley. For as the coatclad figure spoke in a low tone, the voice was Darley's voice.

The boats were at the side. Men were rising from them. Looking upward through the gloom, they saw two

The members of the WuFan clambered over the side. They crowded about Darley, asking in low voices that

They seemed awed and amazed to find Green Eyes here. But their surprise was to be greater. For as they

walked toward the boxes that the coatclad figure indicated, a peal of gibing laughter burst through the night.

Standing with Ling Soo's revolver in his left hand, and Joseph Darley's automatic in his right, The Shadow

was backed against the pilot house, covering the crew and the members of the WuFan.

He fired one shot in the air. This was not muffled, like the report in the closed cabin. It could be heard far

across the waters of the bay. It was a signal to all who might hear that something was amiss upon the yacht

NO green eyes were sparkling now, from beneath the hat which The Shadow wore. The members of the

WuFan realized they were tricked. The crew of the yacht went wild with fury. With one accord, a dozen

Revolvers and knives were coming into view, but not a single weapon could avail. Quick, staccato shots rang

out, but all came from The Shadow's guns. Men were falling some clutching at The Shadow's feet. Others

Only two escaped. At the rear of the attacking horde, these men, both members of the WuFan, leaped to the

rail and gained the motor boat that had brought them there. Hastily they set the motor in action. They were

But then The Shadow acted. His shots were used; but with a gun borrowed, unasked, from a victim, he stood

One man gasped and slumped to the bottom of the boat. The second succumbed to another bullet. Chugging

The shots had aroused cries from other boats anchored in the distance. Lights were gleaming. The long rays

Dimly, from the distance, these rays revealed the figures sprawled upon the deck. But they did not show the

The master of the night had returned to the night. A little motor boat was picking its elusive way back across

RIDING eastward on the Mountain Limited, Cleve Branch was reading the accounts of the great dope ring

and its exposure. All the news was there. His name was emblazoned in screaming headlines.

For Cleve Branch had played a part, after all. Recovering his senses in the hospital, he had answered

questions relating to the Bureau of Investigation badge that had been found beneath his coat. Then he had

Another agent had been summoned. At the police station, he had learned of Cleve's mumbled words. He had

Reports were coming from the Oakland side of the harbor reports of the dead men on the yacht Sepia,

among them Joseph Darley. Revenue men had learned of the opium. Cutters were on their way.

Thus Cleve's part had been passive. It was believed that the schemes of the plotters Americans and Chinese

had been upset by quarrels that had started on the junk, and then ended on the palatial yacht.

It was the next day that Cleve had told his illuminating story, which had gone far to clear the mystery. A

burned body drawn from the PungShoon was recognized by Cleve. It was the squat form of Ling Soo.

Badges were found upon many of the dead men at the yacht. Cleve had led the way to the secret meeting

place beneath the Mukden Theater, where the dead body of Foo Chow had been discovered.

The mystery of Green Eyes had been revealed by a strange freak. When Darley's body had been found, the

eyes were open, bulging toward the ceiling of the cabin. When someone forced the lids shut, gleaming spots

The Shadow as a last mocking touch had affixed the stones to Darley's dead eyelids, that the man's secret

But this fact was not mentioned. Indeed, Cleve Branch himself had not dwelt upon the factor of The Shadow.

He said that a man had taken the part of Foy, and had rescued him; but be could not give any clew to the

Darley's list had been found in the cabin. Its Chinese characters described the distribution of the opium. The

members of the WuFan had not identified Darley with Green Eyes. They had been sent to the yacht, to find

the man in charge. The paper was the order which they were to follow, in case of difficulties in the removal

The end of the dope ring! Its tentacles unraveled, through Cleve's account of his investigation of the WuFan.

But though he was forced to take the credit, he knew that it justly belonged to one whom he did not know.

The end of the WuFan, the death of Ling Soo, the disclosure of Green Eyes all these had been