Judsonia weekly advance., 1916-09-06
The Stream of Power
Bp GENEVIEVE LEE
Copyright. 1916. by W. c. chapman.)

SiOS oo q SAAdi h. LlC Nhpilui SObi- ing, going, doubling trebling, and called 1t "the stream of power." Within its depths he lurked, ready to bounce on any unwary victim who trusted to it's treacherous course. Into the stream he lured fair but unsuspecting craft and generally scuttled them.
 His only living relative seemed to be Bliss Porter, just out of college and headed for a legal career. The young man had barely heard of this sordid half-uncle until he was amazed, in another city. struggling along indiffer- ently, to receive q check for five hun dred dollars from his relative, crisply ordering him to close up his affairs and come to Chicago.
 Il am going to leave my fortune to you" was the blunt startling an- nouncement of old Max, provided you learn my business and carry it on where 1 leave it off,"
 This seemed promising, but, at the end of week, after his esteemed relative had shown him "the ropes" Bliss Porter was disgusted The precious ways of the shark the tricks, the traps, the preyersons amazed and business men in need of money place themselves totally In the power of a heartless, deyouring monster. He saw family disrupted through the harsh measures employed in collect ing an overdue obligation. Max Bull ger cared only for his pound of flesh. It mattered little to him that his ex- acting extortions were at the cost of all his victim possessed.
 'I wouldn't accept his money, wouldn't adopt his business methods If lie gave me a million!" decided Porter. "I shall tell him so today and end the farce"
 They were out In the Bulger auto- mobile that afternoon and Bliss was waiting till they got away from the crowded business center to deliver his ultimatum. A jam of vehicles blocked them near the curb at one place. Di- rectly within reaching distance stood a thin threadbare old man. He put out his hand for aims to the passers- by. Porter's generous nature was touched by his forlorn friendliness. He took a dollar bill from his pocket, leaned out of the machine and placed 1t in the hands of the old man.
 "Oh. l thank you. sir" began the mendicant, and then his eye chanced to fall upon Bulger. The latter shrank, cringed. Into the face of the old man there had come fearful rage, yet, withal, tempered with certain dignity. He drew himself up to his full height. He tore the bank note into a hundred pieces. He leaned over and flung them squarely into the face of the covering Bulger.
 You and your broodl" he shout ed out, .I would starve ere 1 took charity from such," and then. the GU rious crowd surging about him, he screamed out frightful arraignment of Bulger. He accused him of ex- tortion, of ruining his business life, of driving him to beggary. The few words fell like burning hot missiles, and, as the automobile started up, Bulger gasped faintly:
 T am ill-get me home at 0nce."s
 He was, indeed, i'll, for he never got | over the shock of the fearful anath- emas hurled upon his guilty head It seemed to Bliss that day and night after that the old mendcant haunted Bulger. The latter gave up his blood money traffic. but would awaken in his sleep shrieking out the name of Robert Lane. He sought respite in new sphere of money-mad excitement, gambling on the stock exchange, be- came a fieecer, fleeced and losing most of his fortune in wild speculation.
 Then he died with the name of Rob- ert Lane upon his tortured lips and Bliss was his heir.
 The young man was infinitely i'm pressed by the episode that had brought to Bulger his doom. When the estate came finally into his hands, he found that it had dwindled to less than fifty thousand dollars.
 Tt Is tainted wealth." he told him. self. There is only one course, res titution. Then for my old, humble contented life with lesson, 1 shall never forget"
 Bliss went all over the private pa- pers of his half-uncle. He finally unearthed the Robert Lane transac- ton. It was fragrant case. Getting Lane into his clutches, Bulger had systematically robbed him. He had seized the home and business of the merchant and absorbed 1t for con- parativeiy small debt. When he came to figure up the frightful sacrifice and injustice that had beggared Lane,