en lead a
woman up the steps from a cab just now. What shall we do?"

"You run your machine to the nearest drug store and find out where the
nearest police station is. Then get a few cops in your machine, and
come to that house, for you'll find me there," ordered Burke. "How far
down the block?"

"Nearly to the next corner," answered Reggie, who leaped into his
racing seat and started away like the wind.

Burke hurried down, following the path of the other, until he came to
the house. He looked at the sign, and then glanced about him. He saw
an automobile approaching, and intuitively stepped around the steps of
the house next door, into the basement entry.

He had hardly concealed himself when the machine stopped in front of
the other dwelling.

A big Swede, still carrying his emigrant bundle, descended from the
machine, and called out cheerily in his native language to the
occupants within the vehicle. Burke, peeping cautiously, saw two buxom
Swedish lassies, still in their national costumes, step down to the
street. The machine turned and passed on down the street.

Burke saw the man point out the sign of the employment agency, and the
girls chattered gaily, cheered up with hopes of work, as he led them up
the steps.

The door closed behind them.

Burke quietly walked around the front of the house and up the steps
after them. He had made no noise as he ascended, and as he stood by
the wall of the vestibule he fancied he detected a bitter cry, muffled
to an extent by the heavy walls.

He examined the sign, and saw that it was suspended by a small wire
loop from a nail in the door jamb.

Bobbie reached upward, took the sign off its hook, and turned it about.

"Well, just as I thought!" he exclaimed.

On the reverse side were the tell-tale letters, "Y.W.C.A."

"They are ready for all kinds of customers. I wonder how they'll like
me!" was the humorous thought which flitted through his mind as he
quietly turned the knob. It opened readily.

Bobbie stood inside the hallway, face to face with the redoubtable Pop!

Pop's eyes protruded as they beheld this horrid vision of a bluecoat.
A cynical smile played about Burke's pursed lips as he held the sign up
toward the old reprobate.

"Can I get a job here? Is there any work for me to do in this
employment agency?" he drawled quietly.

Pop acted upon the instinct which was the result of many years'
dealings with minions of the law. He had been a