按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
buted。〃
Darley gasped。 He knew that The Shadow had been able to learn much； in the disguise of Foy…and； unquestionably； this amazing man had divined the rest。
Yet Darley was sullen and resentful。
Why should he allow himself to be overe by one lone man…no matter who that man might claim to be？
〃A clever scheme；〃 said The Shadow slowly。 〃The Wu…Fan was a blind。 Small wonder you tried to make it appear an innocent organization。 The Civilian mittee was a blind…a plan whereby you could operate as a privileged person； without any danger from the regular authorities。
〃These trips of the Sepia between San Pedro and San Francisco。 You； Joseph Darley； aboard a yacht engaged in a coastwise cruise！
〃No wonder the revenue agents did not search for hidden partments in the lockers and closets of this yacht。 How could they suspect opium on a ship that had not been abroad？〃
〃All empty talk；〃 cried Darley； in sudden rage。 〃You cannot prove a word。
How can you link me with the Wu…Fan？〃
〃Through Green Eyes；〃 declared The Shadow quietly。
〃Green Eyes；〃 laughed Darley。 〃Where will you find Green Eyes？〃
〃He stands before me；〃 said The Shadow； looking squarely at the mild face of Joseph Darley。 〃Green Eyes…the slayer of Stephen Laird。 The man who took vengeance in his own hands。 The American who feared betrayal because Green Eyes knew too much。 Green Eyes…the master mind more scheming than Ling Soo； is…〃
The Shadow paused。
〃Who？〃 demanded Darley。
〃…Joseph Darley；〃 declared The Shadow。
〃Prove it！〃 came Darley's challenge。
〃I can prove it；〃 said The Shadow； 〃because I know the secret of Green Eyes！〃
AS Darley stared； the man who looked like Foy closed his eyelids。 Yet the eyes still seemed to be open！ They were gazing； with livid； flashing green； directly at Joseph Darley！
The green eyes vanished。 In their place were the eyes of The Shadow。
Stern； unyielding eyes…more powerful than those weird flashing optics of green！
〃I know your simple secret；〃 said The Shadow。 〃I learned it the first time I saw you as Green Eyes。
〃Not your eyes； Darley； but your eyelids； sent those sparkles。 Two flat； green stones； attached to your eyelids。 They caused that sinister sparkle that has deceived your panions。
〃Your green eyes were amazing； Darley； when you looked at your followers。
They did not know that your lids were closed； not open； when that strange gaze made them quail。〃
As if to emphasize his statement； The Shadow closed his eyelids。 Again； that amazing flash of insidious green。 But to Darley； that glow meant opportunity…not menace。
The Shadow's eyes were closed！ This was Darley's chance！
Like a flash； the mitteeman whipped out an automatic； and aimed it squarely between those glimmering eyes。 But his ruse failed。
The Shadow had given Darley the opportunity； so he knew what to expect。
The Shadow's own fingers pressed the trigger of Ling Soo's revolver。
The green eyes still shone from The Shadow's lids。 Then they disappeared。
The Shadow viewed the crumpled form of Joseph Darley。
Shooting with sure aim； knowing that Darley had not moved from the cover of that upraised gun； The Shadow had felled Green Eyes。
A startled man was ing to the cabin。 One of the crew had heard the shot。 He saw Darley's form； and hurried toward it。 The Shadow fell upon him as he passed。 The man lay helpless upon the floor。
Stepping to the deck； The Shadow listened。 He could hear a faint sound from the water。 He went back into the cabin。 Garbing himself in coat and hat that lay upon the chair； The Shadow stepped noiselessly upon the deck。
The other members of the crew were forward。 They were standing on the deck； with long wooden boxes at their feet。
The precious load of opium had been packed。 Two small boats were approaching。
By the actions of the man who approached them in the dark； the crew of the Sepia thought that he was Darley。 For as the coat…clad figure spoke in a low tone； the voice was Darley's voice。
The boats were at the side。 Men were rising from them。 Looking upward through the gloom； they saw two green eyes staring down at them。
The members of the Wu…Fan clambered over the side。 They crowded about Darley； asking in low voices that they might see the list。
They seemed awed and amazed to find Green Eyes here。 But their surprise was to be greater。 For as they walked toward the boxes that the coat…clad figure indicated； a peal of gibing laughter burst through the night。
It was the laugh of The Shadow！
Standing with Ling Soo's revolver in his left hand； and Joseph Darley's automatic in his right； The Shadow was backed against the pilot house； covering the crew and the members of the Wu…Fan。
He fired one shot in the air。 This was not muffled； like the report in the closed cabin。 It could be heard far…across the waters of the bay。 It was a signal to all who might hear that something was amiss upon the yacht Sepia。
NO green eyes were sparkling now； from beneath the hat which The Shadow wore。 The members of the Wu…Fan realized they were tricked。 The crew of the yacht went wild with fury。 With one accord； a dozen men precipitated themselves upon this lone figure that had e upon them。
Revolvers and knives were ing into view； but not a single weapon could avail。 Quick； staccato shots rang out； but all came from The Shadow's guns。 Men were falling…some clutching at The Shadow's feet。 Others were groveling by the rail。
Only two escaped。 At the rear of the attacking horde； these men； both members of the Wu…Fan； leaped to the rail and gained the motor boat that had brought them there。 Hastily they set the motor in action。 They were chugging away to safety。
But then The Shadow acted。 His shots were used； but with a gun borrowed； unasked； from a victim； he stood by the rail and blazed into the night。
One man gasped and slumped to the bottom of the boat。 The second succumbed to another bullet。 Chugging onward； the motor boat continued； swerving crazily； with no hand at its wheel。
The shots had aroused cries from other boats anchored in the distance。
Lights were gleaming。 The long rays of searchlights were being focused on the Sepia。
Dimly； from the distance； these rays revealed the figures sprawled upon the deck。 But they did not show the form of The Shadow。
The master of the night had returned to the night。 A little motor boat was picking its elusive way back across the bay toward San Francisco。
That boat was guided by the hand of The Shadow！
CHAPTER XXIII
CLEVE GETS CREDIT
RIDING eastward on the Mountain Limited； Cleve Branch was reading the accounts of the great dope ring and its exposure。 All the news was there。 His name was emblazoned in screaming headlines。
For Cleve Branch had played a part； after all。 Recovering his senses in the hospital； he had answered questions relating to the Bureau of Investigation badge that had been found beneath his coat。 Then he had lapsed back into unconsciousness。
Another agent had been summoned。 At the police station； he had learned of Cleve's mumb