Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 033 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XIV. THE SHADOW LEARNS

THE bright lights of Broadway were aglow. It was early evening in Manhattan, and the dancing glare of Times Square was luring pleasure-seekers. At Forty-seventh and Broadway, a barker was crying forth the advantages of a trip to Chinatown.

Hugo Urvin, nattily dressed and sporting a new cane, lingered beside the filling bus. He drew a half dollar from his vest pocket, and tendered it to the barker. He received a ticket and stepped aboard the bus.

A few minutes later, another customer approached the barker, and also paid a half dollar. This man was a tall, calm-faced individual, who appeared quite inconspicuous despite the keenness of his hawklike features. He entered the sight-seeing bus, and took a seat in back of Hugo Urvin.

The Shadow was on the trail of his quarry. He had picked up Urvin's course outside of the apartment house where the young man lived. Already, he had discovered the simple but ingenious way in which Urvin paid his secret visits to the Chinese district.

Had Urvin been one of those New Yorkers who make their Chinatown trips as individual excursions, The Shadow would long since have learned his identity. The master of detection had spent long periods of observation in the streets of Chinatown.

But as a sight-seer on a bus - one of those many visitors to Manhattan who nightly go in herds to see the Chinese district - that policy had enabled Hugo Urvin to conceal his visits to the shrine controlled by Chon Look.

The big bus rolled down Broadway. Half an hour later, it stopped on a dingy thoroughfare, and the guide ordered the passengers to alight. The group moved along, most persons herding close to their fellows, anticipating adventure.

The sight of uniformed policemen patrolling this district as a regular beat did not dispel the enthusiasm of the crowd. The guide's build-up of the lurking dangers to be found in Chinatown was sufficient to preserve the awe which these visitors had gained.

Ablaze with light, the corner of Mott and Pell glimmered ahead. Most of the sight-seers were taking in the curious sights about them, when the guide turned his charges down the side alley toward the Buddhist shrine.

Two persons in the crowd followed with leisurely indifference. One was Hugo Urvin; the other was the hawk-faced man who watched him.

Unconscious of the eyes which took this interest in his affairs, Urvin swirled his cane and strolled through the doorway with the group of visitors.

CHON LOOK and the Chinese girls bowed solemnly when the crowd came in. With his singsong English, the keeper of the Buddhist shrine began to explain the purposes of prayer papers and wishing sticks. Hugo Urvin glanced curiously at the wishing sticks after Chon Look had laid them aside; but tonight the young man had no envelope.

This would have been a clew to the quiet individual, who was watching. Unfortunately, the clew was lacking. Nevertheless, The Shadow did not relax his vigil. The lecture terminated. The visitors departed, and, on the way, each received a wrapped package.

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