They stood under the starlight in a back yard, with houses about them on all sides.
"Go down that alley, and you will be on the street," said the girl.
"Down that alley, and then hurry--run--find the first taxi.

Will you do that ?" "We'll sure go, and we'll wait for Caroline Smith--and you, too!" "Don't talk madness! Why will you stay?
You risk everything for yourselves and for me!" Jerry Smith was already tugging at Ronicky's arm to draw him away, but the Westerner was stubbornly pressing back to the girl.

He had her hand and would not leave it.
"If you don't show up, lady," he said, "I'll come to find you.

You hear ?" "No, no!" "I swear!" "Bless you, but never venture near again.

But, oh, Ronicky Doone, I wish ten other men in the whole world could be half so generous and wild as you!" Suddenly her hand was slipped from his, and she was gone into the shadows.
Down the alley went Jerry Smith, but he returned in an agony of dread to find that Ronicky Doone was still running here and there, in a blind confusion, probing the shadowy corners of the yard in search of the girl.
"Come off, you wild man," said Jerry.