Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-09-08

pressed by the episode that had
brought 70 Bulgcr his doom. When
the estate came finally into his hands
he found that II had dwindled to less
than fifty thousand dollars.
ut Is tainted wealth" he told him
self. 'Therc is only one course, res
titutiOn. Then for my old, humble,
contented life with n lesson, l shall
never forget"
Bliss went all over the private pa
pers of his half-uncle. lie finally
unearthed the Robert Lane transac-
ton. II was n fragrant case. Getting
Lane into his clutches, Bulger had
Systematically robbed him. He had
seized the home and business of the
merchant and absorbed II for Il com
parutivelv small debt. When he came
to figure up the frightful sacrifice
and injustice that had b]cggared Lane,
he was appalled,.
Step by step Bliss wrought out the
need Of justice. He proceeded sys-
tcmaticnlly to restore 20 the account
of Robert Lane every dollar that had
been so unfairly wrested from him.
Then Bliss sought to find the old
mendicunt. He Swallowed him, when
the old man, counting the coins he had
begged, FASTENED down the street,
Bliss was electrified to see him enter
a florist shop and expend all his mon
ey for a bunch Of roses.
Bliss continued to follow him, even
when Lane entered Il wretChed tene-
ment house. In his eugerness the ex-
merchant left open the door of n room
in which lay n beautiful girl upon a
couch, his daughter, Inez, wasted with
fever and in delirium.
Bliss was thrilled at the pathetic
%wanderings Of the sufferer. She was
in fancy once more in the rose garden
Of their old hOme-the paradise that
Max Bulger had stolen from them.
From that moment there began in
the life OF this young man II sole i'm
pulse-restitution for the stricken
Lanes, father and daughter. Mystic
riously. for them, all at Once n lawyer
appeared who told them that there
was Il likelihood of realizing some
thing from the Bulger estate. There
was a removal to new living quarters,
the services of a skilled specialist for
Inez and then-Oh! the wild joy Of IL
one day they found themselves in
the old home, with money in bank,
In fact, the restoration to old cOndi-
tions, except for intermediate depri-
walton and sorrow, was complete.
1t was a labor of love to Bliss to
duplicate the old furnishings Of the
house rs fully as possible. The day
before the place was all ready for It's
occupants, he was hanging a picture
in the very room that vas to be the
boudolr Of Inez Lane, when the step
ladder gave way. He was precipitat
cd to the floor, insensible. A sur
9 sent for directed his removal t.
the next house, as a limb was broken
and aside from that Bliss had sus
tanned severe Commissions about thu
head.
His awyer came and arranged TO
his care in this home until he coul'
be safely removed. Was it he VIII,
divulged to the Lanes the myster.
of their suddenly restored wealth
Was ii the lady who owned the hOus
where Bliss lay as invalid who ha,
caught certain words referring to he
new n~eighbors, uttered by Bliss in hi
early siege of fever consequent 0
his injuries, who had given lnez n clu
to the identity Of Bliss? Rather WA
it fate that led the gentle-hearted gin
to each day send II fresh bouquet q
flowers to the sufferer who had mad
it possible for her to be among tn
old delightful surroundings.
Then a closer acquaintance, n da
spent in the lovely garden of "ne1
door neighbOrs," the truth known full
and Inez Lame aware of how grand
this noble-hearted young man ha
come into her life.
] And he, who had made himself poo
7 to restore to the victim Of his sordi
relative his just due, found himse
. rich, infinitely rich in the possessiC
of a love, compared with which all Il
treasures Of earth were as dross.
/ - .- AtUEtaIthIn oil