“No. I can find out—”
“Take him down to Loy Rook’s. Right away. That is most important.”
SNEAKS left the room. He saw a man sitting in the corner. The tip-off made a sign. Sneaks threw a sidelong glance and recognized Cliff’s appearance. He began to act furtively. He slipped out into the night.
His part was well played. Within two minutes, Cliff Marsland had left the dive and was scanning the sidewalks for the little gangster. He saw the stooping form of Sneaks Rubin in the distance.
Sneaks wandered cunningly. He gave no sign that he was being followed. He strode along through side streets, with the air of a man who has a definite objective. Cliff kept up the pursuit. It was not long before they reached the vicinity of the building where Loy Rook lived.
But on his journey, Sneaks had passed a lookout post where one of Jake Dermott’s vigilant men was always on watch. There, Sneaks had paused.
Standing in the light, the man had recognized him. So while Sneaks, slowly lessening his pace, reached Loy Rook’s neighborhood, the word had already reached Jake Dermott.
Sneaks turned into a back street. Here, on the fringe of Chinatown, Cliff Marsland was wondering. He knew that Harry Vincent was stationed at Loy Rook’s. Could that be where they were going?
The Shadow’s agents were kept well posted through the medium of Rutledge Mann. It was unlikely that Harry would expect Cliff; but Harry was always alert. Much might be gained tonight.
Cliff hoped that Sneaks would linger along the way, so that Cliff would have a chance to notify Burbank, The Shadow’s night sentinel. But had Cliff known where the trail might lead, he would have sent word before he had followed Sneaks into the second dive. It was too late now.