"About three months ago," continued Luke, "we were surprised by receiving in a letter from a stranger, a message from my father's deathbed."
Thomas Browning started and turned pale, as he gazed intently in the boy's face.
"How much does he know?" he asked himself, apprehensively.
"Go on!" he said, slowly.
"In this letter we learned for the first time that father had intrusted the sum of ten thousand dollars to an acquaintance to be brought to my mother. This man proved false and kept the money."
"This story may or may not be true," said Browning, with an effort. "Was the man's name given?"
"Yes; his name was Thomas Butler."
"Indeed! Have you ever met him?"
"I think so," answered Luke, slowly. "I will read his description from the letter: He has a wart on the upper part of his right cheek—a mark which disfigures and mortifies him exceedingly. He is about five feet ten inches in height, with a dark complexion and dark hair, a little tinged with gray.
"Let me see the letter," said Browning, hoarsely.