The Shadow had followed him while he was Cleve Branch, and also while he was Hugo Barnes. Could it be possible that this man of the dark knew the existence of both identities?
Cleve recalled that he had been left close by Moy Chen’s shop. Evidently, The Shadow knew that Hugo Barnes had contact there. Where was the explanation of the riddle?
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 earshot of Cleve Branch and Joseph Darley.
Cleve watched as the gentleman arose and strolled from the dining room, his shadow moving with him. A waiter was bowing as the man went by.
Evidently a guest at the hotel — not a person whom one could connect with darkened alleyways and sinister dives in Chinatown.
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 was eating.
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.
He was determined to learn the secret of The Shadow!