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His dash carried him no farther than five feet。 The shots came from hidden Chinamen。 A bullet winged Cleve in the shoulder； and he sprawled headlong on the floor。
The hidden friend was answering。 Shots rang from his reloaded automatics。
But now the task was superhuman。 Cleve's false move had placed his helpless body where it was a target for the aim of merciless snipers。
These Chinese would not be content to let that body lie。 Dead or alive； the form of Cleve Branch was due to receive a full quota of revengeful lead。
Cleve's eyes； upraised toward the door； were staring with both misery and amazement。 For before him appeared a strange； unaccountable form。 Sweeping in from the darkened hallway came a living shadow！
It was The Shadow！
No longer a mere fleeting phantom； The Shadow appeared as a man garbed in black…a flowing cloak upon his shoulders； a slouch hat pulled low over his inscrutable visage。 Two black…gloved hands were clutching their automatics。
The Shadow was ing to the rescue！
His first move was a swift one。 Like a living form of darkness； The Shadow swept forward； and his tall shape blotted out the form of Cleve Branch。
Willfully； The Shadow had made himself the target for those hidden enemies。
His challenge was answered。
No longer was Cleve the victim that the murderers sought。 Their fire turned toward this new menace…the man who had spoiled their schemes…the hidden marksman who had sent their rades sprawling with his wondrous aim。
Swaying evasively； The Shadow made a strange target。 His tall form； moving with a mystic rhythm； seemed to elude the fire of his foeman。 A bullet clipped the top of the slouch hat。 Another zimmed through the flowing border of the black cloak。
From hidden lips came a mocking laugh…a merciless mirth that boded no good for the relentless enemy。 A living target； The Shadow had played the Chinamen's own game。 He had caused their eagerness to prevail over their caution。
Unscathed by the shots that had greeted his appearance； he had surveyed the scene with piercing eyes。 He had marked the spots from which betraying spurts of flame had told the presence of the snipers。
Now his automatics came into sudden action。 They burst forth with roars that sounded like cannon in that low…ceilinged room。 They formed a swift barrage…a deadly hail of uncanny fire that rained destruction on those who had unwisely found The Shadow's wrath！
One bullet caught a yellow…visaged sniper as he dodged behind a door。 The man toppled sidewise and sprawled into the room； his revolver striking the floor four feet beyond his body。 A sneaking form； slipping down behind a corner table； plumped suddenly and did not rise again。
The Shadow's left hand； with quickly moving forefinger； turned the path of an automatic across a blackened opening at the far side of the room。
Somewhere in that darkness lay a man whose revolver was pointed； ready to deliver a fatal bullet。 The shot never came。 The Shadow's remedy had worked。
Another Chinaman became motionless。
THOSE deadly automatics brought another silence to the den of death。 Down to a single shot that remained in his right…hand gun； The Shadow had dealt destruction to the hidden murderers。 Not one Chinaman remained capable of action…either in that room or in the hidden passageways beyond。
A prone man in a corner was trying to rise and deliver a last shot； but his effort failed。 He sank back helpless； and his revolver dropped from his grip。
There was an open window across the room。 It opened on a narrow crevice between this building and the next。 Through it； a yellow face was peering。 This single assassin had crawled to his perch from the floor below。
The Shadow did not see that face； for his gaze was turning to the floor。
There； a crippled knife…wielder was writhing upward at The Shadow's side。 His blade was poised in his left hand。 Seeking to attack at close range； he had approached The Shadow while the automatics were barking。
The Shadow saw his foe。 His right hand swung wide with a long； forceful blow。 It struck the Chinaman's raised wrist； and hurled the assassin sidewise。
The knife； loosened from the grasp which held it； clicked harmlessly away。
A yellow hand was beside the face at the window。 A gleaming revolver shone。 Its muzzle was pointed directly at the form in black。 The Shadow's cloak was spreading； and its crimson lining formed a background for the man within that cloak。 The revolver moved upward at the window。
The Shadow； turning suddenly； saw the threatening gleam。 His lowered automatic swung upward。 Its last shot sped on its way； just as the poised enemy prepared to loose his fire。
The Shadow's bullet found its mark。 It whizzed past the extended arm； almost clicking the gleaming gun。 It struck the body behind the revolver。
The leering yellow face dropped backward。 A hand waved wildly as the helpless Chinaman toppled from his perch。 A moment of impressive silence； then； from the crevice below the window came a dull crash； as the victim reached the bottom of his fall。
The Shadow was helping Cleve to his feet。 Dazed and bewildered； the disguised government man clutched his wounded shoulder and staggered forward under his rescuer's guidance。
They reached the wall beside the doorway。 A clatter sounded in the passage。 The Shadow's protecting grip was released。 Cleve managed to support himself against the wall。
He saw the man in black leap to the other side of the doorway。 Three Chinamen dashed in； two carrying revolvers； one holding a gleaming blade。
They had e； as reinforcements； from the street。 Attracted here by the sound of gunfire； they paused and stood blinking at the signs of carnage。
The man with the knife saw Cleve。 With a cry； he leaped toward the crippled American。 The men with the revolvers turned as they heard his shout。
Like an avenging demon； The Shadow was upon them！ With mighty force； he clutched the Chinaman who held the upraised knife。 He swung the man's body as though it had been a form of straw！
Upward； backward； that body went。 It was hurled； dirk and all； upon the gun…armed Chinese who were behind their rade！
One man evaded the hurtling form and grappled with The Shadow。 The other wriggled free； and fired wildly at the man in black。 But as he pressed the trigger； The Shadow； twisting with amazing skill； precipitated himself and his opponent upon the man with the gun。
Of the two grapplers； it was the Chinaman…not The Shadow…who received the shots。 The wrestler's grip dropped loose。 He fell dead； a victim of his rade's fire。
The Shadow； never faltering； seized the Chinaman who held the revolver。 He plucked the gun from the Mongol's grasp as one would wrest a toy from a tiny child。
Sweeping toward the door； The Shadow gripped Cleve and swung him to the passage。 The black…gloved hand delivered two quick shots back into the room。
These reports from the captured revolver sounded as a warning to all who might choose to follow。 They were acpanied by a taunting； gibing laugh。 The challenge was not answered。 Few could have followed； had they wished！
Police whistles sounded in the distance； as Cleve Branch faltered along the narrow street； supported by the man who had rescued him。 The fresh air was reviving。 Cleve's wound ached dully now。
They were threading through dim； obscure streets。 The man in black had bee an obscure being。 The only sign of his presence was the clutch of that guiding hand。 Then； suddenly； the hand was gone。 Cleve was alone。
He stood bewildered for a moment； then； with a start； he recognized his surroundings。 The alleyway in which he stood opened on a lighted thoroughfare。
Cleve hastened toward the street ahead。 Arrived there； he turned sharply to his right； and slipped into an open doorway into the shop of Moy Chen！
Cleve Branch had been rescued from the dive called the Sun Kew。 His phantom rescuer had brought him to a spot of safety。 Amidst a horde of enemies； he had been aided by a friend。
These thoughts were amazing； but more startling was the knowledge that the strange shadow that had crossed