"I can tell you something about her. She lost her money by investing in a California mine—I think it was the Excelsior Mine."
"She, too?"
Luke looked surprised. He did not understand the meaning of this exclamation.
"I have a thousand shares of that worthless stock myself," continued the old lady. "It cost me two thousand dollars, and now it is worth nothing."
"The one who introduced the stock was a Mr. Browning, of Milwaukee."
"I know. He was an unscrupulous knave, I have no doubt. I could afford the loss, but hundreds invested, like poor Mary, who were ruined. Is the man living, do you know?"
"Yes, he is living in Milwaukee. He is rich, and is prominently spoken of as a candidate for mayor."
"If he is ever a candidate I will take care that his connection with this swindling transaction is made known. A man who builds up a fortune on the losses of the poor is a contemptible wretch, in my opinion."
"And mine, too," said Luke. "It is very strange that he answers the description of a man who cheated our family out of ten thousand dollars."
"Indeed! How was that?"