Once again, he might be followed. He knew but little, so far, of the Wu-Fan and its methods. It might be customary to trail new members.
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 of Hugo Barnes.
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 phantomlike across the street behind him.
It escaped Cleve’s vision for that moment. Then it was obliterated by the darkness of the side street into which Cleve Branch had turned.
The Shadow had not been deceived! The Shadow knew!
CHAPTER VII
CLEVE SEES THE SHADOW
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 shuffling gait of Hugo Barnes.