"I declare, Franklin, you have played the part of a genuine hero!" he exclaimed, when the young electrician had finished. "You have accomphshed far more than I sent you to do. I am heartily thankful that this mystery concerning Wilbur Bliss is cleared up. I shall miss little Cora very much, but I am glad she has her father to look after her once more."
Through confessions made by Montague Smith, it was learned that the batteries shipped on the Sunflower had really been smuggled into Canada. From there many had been shipped to England, Germany, and France, the patents holding good in those countries. In the past two years Belden Brice had been swindled by the H. Y. Smith Co. out of little short of thirty thousand dollars in royalties.
Montague Smith was released under bail furnished by a friend, and disappeared a week before his trial was to come off. His friend at once set up a claim against his property; as did also Belden Brice, and Wilbur Bliss and his sister.
It took nearly a year to straighten out the legal complications arising out of the mixed condition of affairs. At the end of that time, however, all claims were paid, to the satisfaction of everybody. Belden Brice and Wilbur Bliss bought the battery works jointly, and soon after began to manufacture several new styles of batteries, which the latter invented and patented,
