"I didn't know you were in New York, kid. The last I saw of you was when we quit Sandino." "And I never suspected that 222 Reuter Place would be you, Rusty. What's the lay, old man, and is there any chance to connect?" "You bet your life there's a chance. Three hundred a month and found. But the boss has the final say-so, though I'm sure he'll take you on my recommendation." He opened a door, led Justus Miles through an inner room, knocked at a far door and ushered him into the presence of a man who sat behind a roll-topped desk. There was something odd about this old man, and after a moment's inspection Justus Miles saw what it was. He was evidently a cripple, propped up in a strange wheelchair. He had an abnormally large and hairless head, and his body was muffled to the throat in a voluminous cloak, the folds of which fell over and enveloped most of the wheelchair itself. The face of this old gentleman--though the features were finely molded--was swarthy: its color was almost that of a negro--or an Egyptian. He regarded the two men with large and peculiarly colored eyes--eyes that probed them sharply. "Well, Ward, what is it?" "The man you advertised for, Mr. Solino." * * * * * Solino regarded Justus Miles critically. "You have been a soldier of fortune?" he asked. He spoke English with the preciseness of an educated foreigner. "Yes, sir. Rusty--that is, Mr. Ward knows my record." "I was his sergeant in France, sir; saw fighting with him in Morocco, Turkey, Nicaragua--" "You can vouch for him, then; his character, courage--" "You couldn't get a better man, sir. If I had known he was in town I would have sent for him." "Very well; that is sufficient. But Mr.--Miles did you say?--understands he is embarking on a dangerous adventure with grave chances of losing his life?" "I have faced danger and risked my life before this," said Justus Miles quietly. The other nodded. "Then that is all I am prepared to tell you at this time." Justus Miles accompanied Ward to his room where the latter laid out for him a change of clothing. It was luxurious to splash in warm water and bath-salts after the enforced griminess of weeks. The clothes fitted him fairly well, the two men being of a size. Lounging in his friend's room after a substantial meal, and smoking a Turkish cigarette, he questioned Ward more closely. "Who is the old fellow?" "I don't know. He hired me through an advertisement and then set me to employing others." "But surely you know where we are going?" "Hardly more than you do. Solino did say there was a country, a city to be invaded. Whereabouts is a secret. I can't say I care for going it blind, but neither do I like starving to death. I was in about the same shape you were when you applied. Desperate." Justus Miles stretched himself comfortably.