"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?"