"Safety first," said Townsend.
Keekie Joe liked Townsend and felt at home with him.

He admired and trusted him because in the beginning Townsend made a point of calling the fellows blokes and guys and talking about "dem t'ings." "If yez want a guy ter lay keekie, I'll do it fer yez," Keekie Joe said.
"If we see any cops coming," said Townsend, "we'll turn the traffic sign on them and make them stop." On Sunday morning, Townsend rowed ashore with Keekie Joe and invaded the tenement in Barrel Alley.

He took a brand new package of cigarettes to Mr.Keekie Joe, Senior, and Keekie Joe, Junior, was struck dumb with awe at the familiar and persuasive way in which Townsend talked to his parent.

The result of the interview was that Keekie Joe returned to the island on a week's furlough from his squalid home.

The Barrel Alley gang, which was mobilized in front of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, made catcalls at the stranger as the pair passed along and when they were some yards distant, several of them summoned Keekie Joe to their loitering conference.
"Hey, Keekie, come 'ere, I want ter tell yer sup'm," one called.
Keekie Joe hesitated and turned.