Alleys of Darkness developed from a Sailor Steve Costigan story into a Dennis Dorgan version and was published in the January 1934 issue of The Magic Carpet Magazine under the credited name Patrick Ervin. The catalogue records a $54.00 sale and Howard’s share as $45.90. The story is also associated with the title Alleys of Singapore.

"Alleys of Darkness," originally written by Howard as a Sailor Costigan story but published under the pseudonym Patrick Ervin featuring Dennis Dorgan, is a gritty narrative set in the shadowy underworld of Singapore. The tale intertwines deceit, treachery, and personal betrayal, reflecting Howard's flair for vivid, action-packed storytelling in the realms of pulp fiction.

Since Howard also had 'The Shadow of the Vulture' in the same issue, they used the pseudonym Patrick Ervin. Alternate title 'Alleys of Singapore'. First published in Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934. Howard wrote the story in around or it was completed around May 1933. The story sold for $54. After his agent, Kline, took his cut, Howard earned $45.90 for it.

Steve Costigan was changed to Dennis Dorgan, Mike was changed to Spike, and the name of the boat was changed from Sea Girl to the Python. Dennis Dorgan was not originally a distinct character but was used as an editorial alias for Steve Costigan, created to broaden the appeal and sales of Howard's stories in different publications. This practice was a strategic move by Howard and his agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, to market the stories more effectively.

According to Paul Herman, no typescript exists where Howard himself rewrote a Costigan story as a Dorgan story. Though in fact, Bob did write some original Dennis Dorgan stories. More commonly, Kline would take an existing Costigan story he had in stock and pencil in the changes, and/or have his people completely retype the typescript to make all the changes cleanly.

The changes to “Alleys of Darkness” were likely made by Kline, with Howard’s implied approval, to help sell the story under a different character’s name. The magazine did not do the edits but were part of a broader effort to market Howard's works.

In 2014, The REH Foundation Press published the story in Fists of Iron Volume 3 with the restored text from Howard’s original carbon, featuring Steve Costigan. Both the first and second drafts of the story, which exist as carbon copies, clearly identify Steve Costigan as the protagonist.