The uncertain, timorous actions of the strangers in Thieves' Alley brought a fantastic smile to the lips of the smoker. He watched them as they looked up at the boot and compared notes in rather subdued tones. "This must be the place," said one of the men. There was no mistaking the note of disgust in his voice. "Looking for some one, gents?" demanded the smoker, without rising from the stool on which he sat leaning against the wall. "Is this No. 24--Hello! It's Dick!" "Ain't you afraid to be seen down here, Joey?" asked the man on the stool, chuckling. "It's worth an honest man's life to be seen 'ere," said Joey Noakes, in hushed tones. "God 'elp 'im as can't 'elp 'isself if he ever strolls in 'ere unawares." "It's rather late in the night for any one to be about," said Dick Cronk. "Still, I've been expecting you, gents. That's why I'm sitting out here, takin' things easy--and makin' things easy for you. If you don't mind I'll keep my seat, David. It ain't wise to be seen hobnobbin' with swell gents at this time o' night--in Hell's Kitchen particularly. I know what you're here for. _He's_ back there asleep. Don't worry. I've got him safely sidetracked." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to indicate the narrow passage. The others looked down that filthy corridor and shuddered. "What a place!" muttered David Jenison. "Wot 'as Brad been up to to-night?" demanded Joey. Without changing his position, Dick Cronk, in as few words as possible, told them of Braddock's vigil. "Don't hang around here a minute longer than you have to," he said in conclusion. "There are a hundred eyes on you right now. You don't see 'em, but they're looking, just the same. I thought you'd be blame' fools enough to come, so I waited up. Something told me you would go to Joey's when you left her, kid, and you'd make him come along to hunt me out. Brad's safe, and he's not going to do anything just yet. So go home and go to bed. I'll see you to-morrow and we'll arrange for a time when she can talk with him. She'll see him, won't she?" "Of course. She is eager to see him. I am to bring him to her as soon as--" "We've got to handle him carefully or--" began Dick.