Hank turned and went back to her.  Backed by his never before questioned honesty of purpose, he approached the girl and removed his soft-brimmed hat.  Elsie had but time to sum up his handsome frank face with one shy look of modest admiration when a burly cop hurled himself upon the ranchman, seized him by the collar and backed him against the wall.  Two blocks away a burglar was coming out of an apartment-house with a bag of silverware on his shoulder; but that is neither here nor there.

“Carry on yez mashin’ tricks right before me eyes, will yez?” shouted the cop.  “I’ll teach yez to speak to ladies on me beat that ye’re not acquainted with.  Come along.”

Elsie turned away with a sigh as the ranchman was dragged away.  She had liked the effect of his light blue eyes against his tanned complexion.  She walked southward, thinking herself already in the district where her father used to work, and hoping to find some one who could direct her to the firm of Fox & Otter.

But did she want to find Mr. Otter?  She had inherited much of the old cutter’s independence.  How much better it would be if she could find work and support herself without calling on him for aid!

Elsie saw a sign “Employment Agency” and went in.  Many girls were sitting against the wall in chairs.  Several well-dressed ladies were looking them over.  One white-haired, kind-faced old lady in rustling black silk hurried up to Elsie.

“My dear,” she said in a sweet, gentle voice, “are you looking for a position?  I like your face and appearance so much.  I want a young woman who will be half maid and half companion to me.  You will have a good home and I will pay you $30 a month.”

Before Elsie could stammer forth her gratified acceptance, a young woman with gold glasses on her bony nose and her hands in her jacket pockets seized her arm and drew her aside.

“I am Miss Ticklebaum,” said she, “of the Association for the Prevention of Jobs Being Put Up on Working Girls Looking for Jobs.  We prevented forty-seven girls from securing positions last week.  I am here to protect you.  Beware of any one who offers you a job.  How do you know that this woman does not want to make you work as a breaker-boy in a coal mine or murder you to get your teeth?  If you accept work of any kind without permission of our association you will be arrested by one of our agents.”

“But what am I to do?” asked Elsie.  “I have no home or money.  I must do something.  Why am I not allowed to accept this kind lady’s offer?”

“I do not know,” said Miss Ticklebaum.  “That is the affair of our Committee on the Abolishment of Employers.  It is my duty simply to see that you do not get work.  You will give me your name and address and report to our secretary every Thursday.  We have 600 girls on the waiting list who will in time be allowed to accept positions as vacancies occur on our roll of Qualified Employers, which now comprises twenty-seven names.  There is prayer, music and lemonade in our chapel the third Sunday of every month.”