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At Ling Soo's mand； Foy thrust forward a small box。 From it； Ling Soo produced a small blue badge that bore the head of a golden dragon。 He tendered it to Cleve。
〃My rade；〃 he said； in slowly enunciated English； 〃you are now an associate of the Wu…Fan。 Those you see here tonight are men high in our order。
All who wear the badge of the Wu…Fan shall be your friends。 You have received the first honor； the others will be yours； in the future。〃
Foy had gone away while his master was speaking。 Now the man returned and held a brass dragon head between Ling Soo and the new member。
Solemnly； the leader of the Wu…Fan touched the dragon's head with his forefinger； and then pressed the finger to his forehead。 He nodded to Cleve。
Acting the part of Hugo Barnes； the government operative placed his own forefinger upon the dragon's head and pressed it to his forehead。
The members of the Wu…Fan saluted； and Cleve stepped back。 The men who had introduced him were extending their congratulations。 Cleve fastened his badge upon his coat。 It seemed to be the practice； here at the meeting； to keep the badges in view。
Cleve noticed that the emblems were of different colors； but all were alike in that they bore the dragon's head。
Ling Soo was speaking in Chinese。 Between the sentences； one of Cleve's Oriental friends was trying to interpret the remarks。
Ling Soo was discoursing upon the glory of the Wu…Fan。 All were listening in awed silence。 When Ling Soo had finished； some of the Chinamen approached him one by one。 Each individual appeared to have some request。 Ling Soo responded gravely to each in turn。
To Cleve； the meeting was both assuring and disappointing。 He was confident that Ling Soo had no idea of his identity； that the enthroned Chinaman had accepted him as Hugo Barnes。 But at the same time； he had hoped that he might learn important secrets here tonight。 This hope was unfulfilled。
It became apparent that there were no rites or mysteries conferred upon one who had just joined the Wu…Fan。
Unconsciously； Cleve found his thoughts turning to other matters than the meeting。
What would Joseph Darley say if he knew the character which Cleve had assumed！ Cleve had called Darley tonight； but had learned that the mitteeman had left by airplane for Los Angeles。
Cleve's call had been in response to a message sent to the hotel where he had been stopping。 After three days as Hugo Barnes； Cleve had made a phone call to his old hotel。 In his natural voice he had announced himself as Cleve Branch。
He had learned that a call had e from the Civilian mittee two days before。 Hence； Cleve had called Darley at his home； only to learn that he was out of town。
What had Darley wanted？ Did he have new information on the Wu…Fan and its activities？
Cleve smiled in the style of Hugo Barnes。 Right now； a stranger in San Francisco； he was in a better position to learn facts pertaining to the Wu…Fan than was Darley。
LING SOO's firm tones came to Cleve and interrupted his thoughts。 The leader was speaking forcefully to one of his subordinates。 The man was bowing in apology。 Cleve could see the fiery flash in Ling Soo's eyes。
There was silence as Ling Soo's voice raised； and he addressed the assembled group。 Cleve could not understand the flow of Chinese words。 His blank look attracted the attention of a sour…faced Chinaman who happened to be standing beside him。
〃You hearee？〃 asked the Chinaman； in a low voice。 〃You no savvy？ Me tellee you。 He say he has go to the Sun Kew。 He showee this〃…the speaker thumbed his dragon…headed badge…〃and tonight he sayee he not go。
〃Ling Soo velee angry； him not go。 He sayee he send someone else； mlaybee。
Tonight blig talkee down at Sun Kew。 Velee important one go。 Mlaybee more go。
They keepee dlagon here。 They showee him！〃
The man's action was explanatory。 He pointed again to his emblem； then indicated beneath his coat。 Cleve understood。
Something was happening at the Sun Kew。 The badge of the Wu…Fan would serve as a mark of identity。
Ling Soo's anger had subsided。 One by one； the members were approaching him； and each listened for a few moments； then received a sign of dismissal。
Soon all but Cleve had departed。 He approached the Chinaman's throne。
Responding to Cleve's salute； Ling Soo spoke。
〃You will learn of our next meeting； Mr。 Barnes；〃 he said； in a pleasant voice。 〃Before then； you may e here when you wish。 I should like to see you…often。 I shall have time to talk with you in English。 I understand〃…Ling Soo's voice was almost questioning…〃that you are a gentleman who spends much time in leisure。〃
〃That's right；〃 returned Cleve； in his affected voice。
〃I shall discuss that matter with you；〃 smiled Ling Soo。 〃In the meantime； remember that wherever the Wu…Fan is wele； you are wele。 All privileges are yours。 None shall question them。
〃I may state that I confer special duties upon all our American members when they desire them。 These； also； we may discuss when you visit me alone。〃
Ling Soo made the sign of the Wu…Fan。 Cleve returned it and stood as though at a loss for what to do next。 He was playing the part of the fictitious Hugo Barnes to perfection。
Foy was approaching。 Ling Soo indicated the servant。 Understanding at last； Cleve followed the leering creature to the anteroom。
WHEN he reached the street； Cleve found that the passing pageant had ended。 The meeting at Ling Soo's had lasted longer than he had supposed。
But the evening was not yet over。 Cleve still saw work that he could do。
The Sun Kew！
That was to be his next destination。 From what his Chinese informant had said； something was taking place there tonight。 Whatever it might be； the Wu…Fan was concerned； and the badge which Cleve had received would be a token of recognition。
Cleve slipped the badge from his coat and surreptitiously fastened it to his vest。
Ling Soo； so Cleve understood； had delegated a man to be present at the Sun Kew。 That man； for some reason； had presented an excuse。 It was assumed that Ling Soo had sent one…or more…of the followers in his stead。
Who was to know which ones had received the order？ Ling Soo had talked privately with each departing member。 Could he not have told Hugo Barnes to go； also？ That seemed likely enough； but another thought occurred to Cleve。
Ling Soo had assured him that all privileges were his。 Ling Soo could not bee angry if his new follower took advantage of this one and appeared at the Sun Kew； tonight。
To incense Ling Soo would； of course； be to jeopardize his newly gained standing。 Cleve realized that； but he saw no risk。 Everything appeared advantageous。
Cleve's mind was settled。 Hugo Barnes would be a visitor to the Sun Kew。
Cleve had not been idle during the past three days。 As Hugo Barnes； he had been gaining a wide acquaintance with the ins and outs of Chinatown。 Many portions of that labyrinthic region were still unknown to him； but he had seen the Sun Kew more than once。
It was a dilapidated place that appeared to be a decadent Chinese restaurant。 Ten minutes woul