Did you really have something definite in mind, or are you all up a tree yet?”

The color flamed into the girl’s face.

“I had an advertisement that sounded hopeful,” she said after an instant’s hesitation, lifting truthful eyes to his face. “I wasn’t sure about it, of course. But I had no trouble in getting my first job last fall. But the head of the firm died, and the business went into the hands of a receiver. Then this last job I had to leave. The man was—well—just impossible! He was very offensive. I couldn’t stand it. I had to leave without my pay, which made things very hard. And—I wouldn’t feel like going back for a reference.”

“Of course not,” said Greg firmly. “We’ll manage without that, I think. Now, suppose you tell me what kind of work you do.”

“I’m a good secretary,” said the girl earnestly.” I can take dictation rapidly and accurately, and I have a record speed on the typewriter. I understand filing, I can write a good hand, and I’ve done some bookkeeping. I’m willing to do almost anything.”

“That ought to be a fairly comprehensive line, I should say,” said Greg gravely. “Now, Miss McLaren, suppose you just put this thing out of your mind and rest quietly here. I’ll guarantee to get you a good job by Monday, or as soon after as the doctor thinks it’s safe for you to go back to work, and in the meantime this room and this nurse are yours free, and there’s to be a bronze tablet to that effect put on the door early in the week.”

“Oh, but I couldn’t let you take any more trouble for me,” protested the girl anxiously. “I really couldn’t.”

“Well, that’s too bad,” said Greg smiling contagiously, “but I’m afraid you’ll just have to this time. I really couldn’t surrender my rights. I brought you here and feel I have some little right to say what you’ll do. I’m going to guarantee to put you in shape to work and put you into a good-paying job before I hand you over to yourself again. How’s that? By the way, what salary do you usually get?”

“Oh, I’ll take anything, anything, at first. I must of course.”

“No,” said Greg, “you won’t. You’ve got to have a good salary. You can’t live on ‘anything.’ Would you mind telling me what you ought to get?”

The girl named a ridiculously small sum.

“That’s what I got last, and of course welfare and insurance had to come out of that.”

“That’s outrageous!”said Greg, drawing his brows together.

“I had no idea anybody would have the face to pay such small wages.”

“Jobs are very scarce,” said the girl, looking deeply troubled. “I’m afraid you’ll find out. All wages are very low indeed!”

“Well, the job that I’ll get for you will have better wages than that!” said Greg with confidence. “Now, you go to sleep again and get really rested. I’ll be seeing you again tomorrow if the nurse doesn’t think I stayed too long today, and Monday I’ll have some good news for you. Now don’t you worry. I’ve killed a bear and a rattlesnake and fought wild steers. There’s just one more thing in that line I’d like to do, and that is beat up that last fellow you worked for, and I will yet if he ever gets in my way.