CHAPTER XXXIII.
CONCLUSION.
Franklin was intensely surprised at Walter Robinson's astonishing declaration.
"Do you mean to tell me that Wilbur Bliss is alive?" he cried.
"Exactly."
"Mrs. Bliss thinks him dead—that he was murdered."
Well, it is due to his pure luck that he is alive. Montague Smith sent him on a voyage from which he was never expected to return, but he discovered the plot against him and thwarted his enemies. There was a man on the vessel who was expected to dump Wilbur Bliss overboard in mid-ocean, but he got sick with the small-pox and Wilbur nursed him through it, and the man got so ashamed of himself that he confessed the whole thing. He left the ship at Melbourne, and Wilbur started for home to accuse Montague Smith of the whole thing. But the ship was wrecked, and Wilbur was cast away on an island, and did not get back to San Francisco until five days ago."
"I declare, it sounds like a fairy tale!" cried Franklin. "Where is Wilbur Bliss now?"
"He has gone to hunt up his sister, while I came to hunt up you."
"Find him and bring him along without delay," said the young electrician.
Walter Robinson knew exactly what street Wilbur Bliss had taken in starting on his search, and he found the man in less than a quarter of an hour. Then the two, accompanied by Franklin, went to the hotel at which the latter had left Mrs. Bliss.
The meeting between brother and sister was a very affecting one. Mrs. Bliss could hardly believe her eyes, and shed many tears of joy, in which the inventor joined. It was a scene Franklin never forgot.
One of the first questions Wilbur Bliss asked, was concerning his only child, whom he had left in the Home in New York when he had started for Australia on the trip upon which Montague Smith had sent him.
Franklin asked for a description of the child, and from this, said he felt certain that little Cora was the one. Subsequent events proved such to be the case. Belden Brice had adopted her, merely because he was lonely, and because he desired to do something for the man, who had left the country after selling him a patent, upon which he had realized a small fortune.
Belden Brice had expected to return the child to Wilbur Bliss upon his return, but, through Montague Smith had received the report that the inventor was dead; Smith believing such to be the case, as he had never heard from his tool to the contrary. To clear himself, if possible, Montague Smith had cought to make Mrs. Bliss believe that Belden Brice was solely to blame for her brother's disappearance and supposed death.
After the joyful meeting at the hotel, a visit was paid to the nearest police station, and officers were sent to the residence occupied by Nathan Fipher, with a view to arresting the man and Montague Smith. The officers found the place deserted, even the servant girl having disappeared.
"It is more than likely Montague Smith has returned to Chicago," said Franklin. "It would be well to telegraph to that city and have him held."
A telegram was sent, and on the following day Montague Smith was arrested at his home, where he was packing his trunk preparatory to fleeing to Canada. Nothing was discovered concerning Fipher; and Captain Cosgrove and the Sunflower also disappeared, to be searched for in vain.
When Franklin returned to Chicago, he found Belden Brice waiting for him. The speculator listened to all that his young employee had to tell with much interest.
"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,
Franklin returned to Paterson and resumed his old place in the electrical fan works. But this was not for long. At the end of the first week, Mombray, the superintendent, came to him and informed him that he was promoted to the experimental department, and that Mr. Brice had given orders that he should be allowed to pursue his investigations as he saw fit.
This change delighted the young electrician, as it gave him an opportunity he had long desired. He applied himself diligently to his work, and in the course of a year produced several decided improvements in electrical fans; and also invented an electrical burglar alarm, which Belden Brice had patented for him, and manufactured at the works; paying Franklin a handsome amount on every one sold.
The young electrician was not only determined to use his brains and make money, but he was also determined to save it. He applied himself strictly to business, and at the end of three years had accumulated enough to buy a half interest in the works from Belden Brice, who had become sole owner. Thus the boy who had been nothing but a bench hand, developed into a wealthy manufacturer, and that solely through his own untiring perseverance.
Franklin did not forget his relatives, who had now removed to the city where the young electrician did business. His Uncle Will is now the head bookkeeper at the electrical works, at a good round salary, and the family live in an elegant home which Franklin purchased and furnished out of his own pocket.
The young electrician has many friends, but none that is quite so near to his heart as the one he saved from death on the railroad. Although Cora Bliss resides in Chicago, the two corresponded constantly; and perhaps some day Franklin will take her under his protection for the remainder of life; who knows?"
But here we will leave Franklin Bell. Bound To Be an Electrician, he has succeeded even beyond expectation, so, wishing him all success in the future, we will shake him by the hand and say adieu.
THE END.