“Through the passage — up the steps — then to the right — through the curtained door — into the hallway outside of Ling Soo’s inner room—”
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 the closing door.
There were barriers ahead, but Cleve could pass them. A simple movement of The Shadow’s hand had shown Cleve the way to find the secret catches.
Cleve reached the head of the stairs. He was in total darkness. He felt a barrier ahead, but an opening to the right.
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 Cleve had huddled, the night that he had spied on Ling Soo and Joseph Darley.
This was his way to the hallway; then the anteroom; and finally the elevator. This roundabout exit from the secret den could not be watched.
The Shadow might be following; or he might have left by the theater. Perhaps he had assumed his garb of black!
These were problems upon which it was useless to ponder. For Cleve could only remember his instructions and another whispered phrase which had been The Shadow’s final utterance:
“Pung-Shoon — tonight!”