“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 for me.”
There was nothing to do but accept the invitation. Cleve went along with Darley and his friends. He was silent as they rode away from Chinatown.
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 that someone was there; that someone had followed him up the aisle.
That someone could only be — The Shadow!
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 Shadow.
In the past, The Shadow had shown an interest in Cleve’s affairs. Tonight, there could be no reason for such interest.
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 his own.
Behind the Wu-Fan — 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 again, Hugo Barnes must rove the streets of Chinatown.
That box in the Mukden Theater! Was it The Shadow’s hiding place? That was a thought, but like all others, it led to no conclusion.