Loy Ming led the way down the stairway, past the open temple. Even the glitter of the Fate Joss, standing on its pedestal, did not capture The Shadow’s interest. His staggers became greater as he was moved along the hall. Looking back, Loy Ming saw that her uncle’s servants were searching their human burden in quest of hidden weapons.
They found none. The Shadow had come unarmed. When he reached the door of his designated room, he floundered heavily. Swaying almost from the grasp of the servant, he jolted toward Loy Ming and thrust out a hand to clutch at the girl’s arm.
Loy Ming aided the men to support The Shadow. As she did, she felt his hand tighten on hers.
OPENING her fingers, the girl received a squarely wadded note. Keeping it hidden, she stepped back to let the mandarin’s men carry The Shadow into his room. She saw the slouch hat fall to the floor. The cloak trailed as The Shadow sprawled wearily upon his couch.
The servants returned. They dropped the brass door. Loy Ming let them precede her along the passage. When they made a turn, she quickly opened the paper, to find two folded wads within. One was addressed to her — Loy Ming — the other to Noy Dow. Both names faded as the girl stared.
Remembering her own slip, Loy Ming unfolded it and read instructions for both herself and Noy Dow. This writing vanished word by word, for it was in the same special ink as the names. She realized that the still folded note — Noy Dow’s — would retain its writing until it contacted the air. She knew also that it must contain duplicate instructions, in case she did not have opportunity to speak with the young Chinaman.
That was forethought on The Shadow’s part; for Loy Ming was not sure that she would see Noy Dow except in the presence of her uncle. Moreover, time was short; it was quite close to midnight, and The Shadow’s instructions called for action at that hour. He had told nothing of his plans; only the parts that she and Noy Dow were to play.
The girl realized that she had lingered long when she reached the passage that led by the temple. The servants were waiting for her to arrive and unlock the door. The papers safely in the pocket of her robe, Loy Ming hurried along and unbarred the way. As she opened the upper door, she encountered Noy Dow, just about to unlock the door from the other side.
Shan Kwan was still at the table. Evidently he had wondered why Loy Ming had delayed and had sent Noy Dow to get her. Shan Kwan had shown great courtesy to his prospective nephew, giving Noy Dow full liberty to do as he chose. This was not only good policy with a new convert to the cult; it was also in keeping with the tradition of old China. As a male member of the family, Noy Dow was entitled to complete privileges.
Loy Ming, a woman, was little better than a servant, in Shan Kwan’s estimate. Realizing that her uncle meant to chide her, Loy Ming gave a quick whisper as she thrust the message into Noy Dow’s hand. The student bowed low to Shan Kwan and spoke in English.
“Honored sir,” he declared, “I shall visit the temple. I shall bow before the mighty Joss, that favor shall be shown to me and all within this abode.”
Shan Kwan dismissed Noy Dow with a nod of approval. The student heard him speak to one of the servants, using a dialect with which Noy Dow was familiar. Then, without daring a glance toward Loy Ming, Noy Dow descended.
OUTSIDE the temple, he opened the note and read it. He glanced at his watch and saw that it lacked only twenty minutes until midnight. Already, Noy Dow knew, cult members were being admitted through the outer portal; but they were being herded in a lower reception room.
This part of the long-halled building was deserted. Noy Dow had every chance to hurry about unobserved. He reached the hall where the prison rooms were kept. He paused in that portion of the maze and looked down a long corridor which ended in a door.
That was the way to the sub-celler; Noy Dow had gained keys from Loy Ming. There was no need, however, to go in that direction. Instead, Noy Dow hastened along the passage past the prison rooms.
At the end of it, he came to a low-ceilinged arch that housed an emergency door. That was the possible barrier which Doctor Tam had pointed out to The Shadow. It cut off the side of the building and could be controlled from the reception hall. The barrier was up; the way being open, Noy Dow took it. He followed a passage that brought him to the secret side entrance.
Here was a barred door. Laboriously, Noy Dow loosened its fastenings and unlocked it with one of his keys. He grinned in satisfaction. The Shadow had ordered it opened, if possible, for exit; Noy Dow had guessed that invaders might be coming in by that opening. They would still have to break a wooden outer door; but Noy Dow was too cautious to risk a trip through the passage that led to it. He had to be on the watch for a chance prowling servant.
Time was getting shorter. Hurrying back, Noy Dow stopped and listened to footsteps in another passage. Some one of Shan Kwan’s servants was on inspection duty. Noy Dow had found since his arrival here that the mandarin had a much greater retinue than the outside world supposed. Fully fifty attendants were in Shan Kwan’s employ.
Footsteps lingered; Noy Dow guessed they were in the passage by the prison rooms. At last they departed. Noy Dow hurried past the archway with its raised barrier and reached the prison rooms. He stopped at the door of the one where The Shadow had been placed. He looked at his watch; it showed six minutes to twelve.
As Noy Dow waited, a sudden clang alarmed him. He swung about just in time to see the archway barrier drop shut. Another clang came from further away. Noy Dow gasped; it was a dropping barrier of which he had not learned; one that cut off the passage to the deep sub-cellar. Noy Dow’s exit keys would be useless because of that intervening door.
Metal-faced barriers had made this place a trap. Before they could be beaten down, Shan Kwan’s attackers would be here. Somehow, the mandarin must have learned that an escape was under way. Still, the cause was not lost. The path past the massive solid brass doors of the temple room stood clear. Those doors were always open; and the course through the abode of the Fate Joss was the one that The Shadow had chosen.
By the little door at the back of that temple room, a way could be found to the obscure side exit into the laundry. Haste was essential, before Shan Kwan guessed that the temple route would be used. Noy Dow waited no longer.
Fumbling for the proper key, he started to unlock The Shadow’s door. As he did, he heard the sharp babble of approaching voices, coming toward this passage. Seconds only remained for Noy Dow to open that room wherein The Shadow — only a short while before — had been flung upon a couch in helpless stupor!
CHAPTER XXII
WITHIN THE TEMPLE
INSIDE his prison room, The Shadow was seated on the edge of the couch. His dizziness still persisted, despite the fact that he had stood the test. Through sheer will, The Shadow had conquered the effects of those two last draughts that he had taken to deceive Shan Kwan.
All during his repast with the mandarin, The Shadow had fought off the overpowering influences that had inflicted themselves upon his senses. His besotted actions had been feigned; but he had actually felt the daze-provoking liquid that Shan Kwan’s servant had poured as a finishing touch.
The Shadow heard Noy Dow’s key in the outside of the door — the only side that could be unlocked. Rousing, he drew a tiny phial from an inner pocket of his Chinese tunic. He quaffed a purplish liquid from this little bottle that Shan Kwan’s men had not discovered. The elixir gave The Shadow vigor.
Dizziness counteracted, fully garbed in cloak and hat, The Shadow was springing forward as the door came open. Out into the hall — not one second too soon. Already two of Shan Kwan’s men had arrived to discover Noy Dow opening the door. The Shadow sprang past the student, to deal with the attackers.