r family?"

"I have no family or near relatives."

"That is well. I will not conceal from, you that there are risks. But
the pay is high. Can you endure exposure? Laboring in all weathers?
Subsisting on rough fare and sleeping as you may?"

"I have camped in the northern forests."

"Yes," mused the voice. "You look hardy."

Average Jones arose. "You--er--are spying upon me, then," he drawled
quietly. "I might have--er--suspected a peep-hole."

He advanced slowly toward the door whence the voice came. A chair
blocked his way. Without lowering his gaze he shoved at the obstacle
with his foot.

"Have a care!" warned the voice.

The chair toppled and overturned. From it fell, with a light shock, the
strange valise, which, striking the floor, flew open, disclosing a small
cardboard cabinet. Across the front of the cabinet was a strip of white
paper labeled in handwriting, each letter being individual, with what
looked to the young man like the word "MERCY." He stooped to replace the
bag.

"Do not touch it," ordered the voice peremptorily.

Average Jones straightened up to face the door again.

"I will apologize for my clumsiness," he said slowly, "when you explain
why you have tried to trick me."

There was a pause. Then:

"Presently," said the voice. "Meantime, after what you have accidentally
seen, you will perhaps appreciate that the employment is not without its
peril!"

Average Jones stared from the door to the floored cabinet and back again
in stupefaction.

"Perhaps I'm stupid," he said, "but a misshapen valise containing a
cabinet with a girl's name on it doesn't seem calculated to scare an
able-bodied man to death. It isn't full of dynamite, is it?"

"What is your branch of scientific work?" counter-questioned the other.

"Botany," replied the young man, at random.

"No other? Physics? Entomology? Astronomy? Chemistry? Biology?"

The applicant shook his head in repeated negation. "None that I've
specialized on."

"Ah! I fear you will not suit my purpose."

"All right. But you haven't explained, yet, why you've been studying me
through a peep-hole, when I am not allowed to see you."

After a pause of consideration the voice spoke again.

"You are right. Since I can not employ you, I owe you every courtesy
for having put you to this trouble. You will observe that I am not very
presentable."

The side door swung open. In the dimness of the half-disclosed apartment
Average Jones saw a man