The Shadow was beckoning. As each Chinaman approached, The Shadow’s long fingers raised a stack of coins and dropped them into a trembling palm. Instinctively, each fellow clamped his other hand upon the money. None were omitted. There were eight in all, including Noy Dow. Each stepped back, sober of expression, clinging tightly to the coins.
“Who is the traitor?”
The Shadow’s query was a hiss that brought shudders to huddled shoulders. Then came The Shadow’s own answer to his question:
“The traitor! His coins shall name him!”
The Shadow beckoned to Tuan. Shaking, the first Chinaman came to the desk and half opened his hands. He was about to count the coins when The Shadow delivered an order:
“Drop them!”
Tuan let the coins clatter on the desk. The Shadow stopped their rolling and spread them out for the count. There were exactly six. Scooping the loose cash, The Shadow swept them into the opened drawer.
Leng was next. He neared the desk, then opened his hands as if he had experienced an electric shock. The Shadow trapped the coins and counted them. Six again. The cash went into the drawer.
Wing Sook of the tea shop laid his hands calmly upon the desk and let his coins fall gently so they did not roll. He, too, had six. He stepped back with a relieved smile.
The Shadow motioned to Noy Dow, the next in line. Copying Wing Sook’s example, the secretary let the cash fall from his half-opened hands, then, with a confident grin, joined the other Chinese.
“Look, Doctor Tam!” The Shadow’s exclamation made Noy Dow stare. “See these coins that Noy Dow has returned. They are not six in number.”
“There are only five!” put in Doctor Tam, his tone perplexed. “Only five coins—”
“There stands the traitor!”
THE SHADOW’S accusing finger pointed out Noy Dow. A changed expression had swept the student’s bespectacled face. Noy Dow was cringing; half-faltering, he tried to edge toward the door. His left fist was closed, stealing furtively toward his pocket.
“Each had but six coins.” The Shadow’s sinister tone was almost a contemptuous sneer. “There was to be no seventh. Yet the guilty man believed there would be one coin more; for he had seen Satsu count out seven.
“I knew that whoever feared his guilt would also fear possession of a seventh coin. So sure was Noy Dow that he held it that he kept one coin within his left hand, thereby hoping to drop only six.
“Instead, he dropped but five; for six was all he held. He tricked himself into his own betrayal. Within his left hand, he holds the coin he stole from the six. That missing coin is the mark of his treachery!”
Doctor Tam came leaping from his desk. With driving hand, he caught Noy Dow’s wrist and forced open the student’s fingers. The stolen coin lay glistening in Noy Dow’s perspiring palm.
Realizing the folly that he had performed through his own tenseness, Noy Dow could only blurt a single gasp.
Dragging the guilty man to the desk, Doctor Tam waved for the others to leave. All departed, including Satsu. Noy Dow was slumping, moaning piteously. Doctor Tam settled him in a chair. When the student looked up, he saw himself faced by the eyes of his master; turning, Noy Dow shuddered as he caught The Shadow’s gleaming gaze.
“I–I gave up the prisoners,” gurgled Noy Dow. “I yielded them — to Shan Kwan — because — because of his niece, Loy Ming. She came here when I called her — they took the drink that brought long sleep—”
“Long sleep!” queried Doctor Tam.
“Yes.” Noy Dow steadied. “So they would not wake until this evening. Loy Ming has called me, telling me that they dined with Shan Kwan. Dined, though they believed that it was no later than morning.”
The Shadow’s burning gaze showed understanding. Cliff had called Burbank from Shan Kwan’s. That part was logical; but why had Cliff made false statements? Noy Dow’s next words explained.
“Shan Kwan had given them — given them the torture,” stammered the student. “The — the torture that is pleasant; that he calls the torture of delight. One man withstood it; he was given a drink that dazed him. The other — the other had drunk pleasantly. He had smelled the incense; he had heard the music. Both were sweet.
“Shan Kwan cajoled him. The prisoner told much; then wrote as Shan Kwan directed. After that, he called by telephone, repeating what Shan Kwan had said to say; believing that he was doing as he should do. Through that prisoner’s speech, guards were drawn away. Shan Kwan has gained the Fate Joss — with its War Dogs.”
DOCTOR TAM was seated with head bowed. Noy Dow’s treachery had crushed him. At last the physician straightened; his eyes glinted with just frenzy. But before he could loose a tirade against Noy Dow, The Shadow stopped him.
Strangely, The Shadow’s tone had taken on a gentleness. Its mild and kindly understanding astonished Noy Dow. Expecting condemnation, the secretary was amazed to hear The Shadow’s plea in his behalf.
“I suspected Noy Dow,” The Shadow told Doctor Tam, “but I knew you trusted him. That was why I wanted you to realize — of your own accord — what he had done. Sometime, however, acts are performed through fear. Not fear for self, but for another. Such deeds are not always treachery. Let us hear Noy Dow tell why he yielded to the command of Shan Kwan.”
Doctor Tam nodded slowly. His eyes lost their outraged glare. He, like The Shadow, gazed in kindly fashion. Noy Dow spoke soberly.
“I feared for Loy Ming,” he said, slowly. “Shan Kwan is powerful. Unless I aided him, she would have suffered. Had you been there, Doctor Tam, I could have told you; but your stay was too short to allow me time.
“While Shan Kwan holds Loy Ming in his power, she will suffer if she disobeys him. Not only that, he threatened to make me suffer if she failed him. I did not care for myself; but Loy Ming cared because of me.
“If I could find a way to release Loy Ming from her uncle — to protect her with no future fear, I would go through any ordeal. Shan Kwan has told me that I may come with him; that I may marry Loy Ming and dwell with them. But that will not be happiness, not while Shan Kwan still lives.
“I have listened to his words; but I was never more than half believer. Those who come to him are influenced by the compelling hospitality that he offers. Drink, incense, music — those delights control the senses and make men the slaves of Shan Kwan. Yet only those of less resistance — such as Hoang Fu — will become fanatics at the mandarin’s wish.
“To me, there is no such happiness. My love for Loy Ming counts more than all else. Should I dwell in Shan Kwan’s palace, my consciousness of his evil would bring me constant fear for Loy Ming’s safety. Yet I must go there; that I may suffer with Loy Ming.”
SINCERE were the words that had poured from Noy Dow’s lips. Doctor Tam sat stupefied. He was impressed by the student’s statements; and his feeling was one of utter hopelessness concerning the struggle with Shan Kwan. Then came The Shadow’s whispered laugh.
Doctor Tam stared, almost challenging; but his face changed as he heard the words that followed. With The Shadow’s speech came a solution that brought a firm smile to the physician’s lips, an expression which Noy Dow reflected.
“Noy Dow has spoken well,” pronounced The Shadow. “He shall go to live with Shan Kwan the Mandarin. His purpose will not be to suffer misery with Loy Ming. Instead, Noy Dow shall serve in the very cause which he approves.
“Your aim, Noy Dow, will be to gain the facts we need. To be ready for the stroke that we shall deliver. To serve in the rescue of men who are prisoners. To regain the Fate Joss that belongs in Jehol. When you have paved the way, Noy Dow, I shall visit the palace of the mandarin.