he and his new customer had met somewhere under peculiar
circumstances.

"I don't know. I don't remember you," answered the customer, shrugging his
shoulders. "I haven't been in California long. I suppose you were born
here."

"No; very few of those now living in California were born here. I once
lived in Iowa. Were you ever there?"

"Never," answered the customer. "I've been in Missouri, but never in
Iowa."

"I have never been in that State. Are you going to stay here?"

"I don't know. It depends on whether I can make any money. I suppose you
don't want to hire a clerk?"

"No."

Ernest said to himself that this man with his shifty looks and suspicious
appearance would be about the last man he would think of engaging.

"Perhaps Mr. Ames would give you a chance to work some of his claims," he
suggested.

"I will look about me a little before I apply to him," replied the
customer.

"Did you come here alone?" he asked after a pause.

"No. A friend came with me--Luke Robbins."

The stranger started a little when Ernest pronounced this name, so that
young Ray was led to inquire, "Do you know Luke?"

"How should I know him? Is he a young man?"

"No; he is probably about your age."

"I suppose he came with you from Nebraska?"

"Iowa."

"Oh, yes, Iowa. He isn't in the store, is he?"

"He is working for Mr. Ashton on one of his claims."

At this point a new customer came in and the visitor, after a brief delay,
left the store.

When Ernest had waited upon the new customer he looked for the first
visitor, but missed him.

"I wonder who he was," he reflected, puzzled. "I am sure that I have seen
him before."

But think as he might he could not trace him.

Yet with this man he had had a very exciting experience in Oak Forks, for
it was no other than Tom Burns, the tramp who had entered his cabin during
the night and robbed him, and later had attacked him when digging for
Peter's hidden treasure. It had been only a few months since they had met,
but Tom Burns, during that time, had grown a thick beard, which had helped
to disguise him.

It is hardly necessary to explain how Burns had found his way out to
Oreville. It was his business to tramp about the country, and it had
struck him that in the land of gold he would have a chance to line his
pockets with treasure which did not belong to him. So fortune had directed
his steps to Oreville.

When he entered the store in which Ernest was employed, he