nd invested all she had. The stock was two dollars a
share. Now it would not fetch two cents. This it was that reduced us
to such extreme poverty."

"Do you think Mr. Browning was honest in his recommendation of the
mine?" asked Luke, thoughtfully.

"I don't know. He claimed to be the principal loser himself. But it is
rather remarkable that he is living like a rich man now. Hundreds lost
their money through this mine. As Mr. Browning had himself been in
California----"

"What is that?" asked Luke, in excitement. "You say this Browning was
once in California? Can you tell when?"

"Half a dozen years ago, more or less."

"And he looks like the man to whom my poor father confided ten
thousand dollars for us," thought Luke. "It is very strange.
Everything tallies but the name. The wretch who swindled us was named
Butler."

"Why do you ask when Mr. Browning was in California?" asked the young
man.

"Because my father died in California," answered Luke, evasively, "and
I thought it possible that Mr. Browning might have met him."

CHAPTER XXI

A FRIEND IN NEED

"Mr. Browning is a man of very peculiar appearance," said Kean.

"You refer to the wart on the upper part of his right cheek?"

"Yes, it gives him a repulsive look."

"And yet he is popular in Milwaukee?"

"Yes, among those who were not swindled by his mining scheme. He has
done more harm than he can ever repair. For instance," added the young
man, bitterly, "this crime which I have committed--I will call it by
its right name--I was impelled to do by my mother's poverty, brought
on by him."

"How does it happen that you are not at the office to day?"

"I felt sick--sick at heart, rather than sick in body, and I sent word
to my employer that I could not be there. I dread entering the office,
for at any time exposure may come."

"If you could only raise the fifty dollars, you could replace the
money before it was inquired for."

Ambrose Kean shook his head.

"I can't possibly raise it," he said, despondently.

"I would let you have it if I possessed as much money, but, as you may
suppose, I am poor."

"I am no less grateful to you, Luke. You have a good heart, I am sure.
You don't despise me?"

"No, why should I?"

"I have been guilty of a crime."

"But you are sorry for it. Is there positively no one with whom you
are acquainted who is rich enough to help you?"

"There is one lady in Chicago--a rich lady--who was a schoolmate of