He started after Caroline Smith, not even knowing her name--with just a picture of her.

We found out that she lived in sight of the East River, and pretty soon we located her here." "And what are you hoping to do ?" "To find her and talk to her straight from the shoulder and tell her what a pile Bill has done to get to her--and a lot of other things." "Can't he find her and tell her those things for himself ?" "He can't talk," said Ronicky.

"Not that I'm a pile better, but I could talk better for a friend than he could talk for himself, I figure.

If things don't go right then I'll know that the trouble is with the gent with the smile." "And then ?" asked the girl, very excited and grave.
"I'll find him," said Ronicky Doone.
"And--" "Lady," he replied obliquely, "because I couldn't use a gun on a girl ain't no sign that I can't use it on a gent!" "I've one thing to tell you," she said, breaking in swiftly on him.
"Do what you want--take all the chances you care to--but, if you value your life and the life of your friend, keep away from the man who smiles." "I'll have a fighting chance, I guess," said Ronicky quietly." "You'll have no chance at all.

The moment he knows your hand is against him, I don't care how brave or how clever you are, you're doomed!" She spoke with such a passion of conviction that she flushed, and a moment later she was shivering.