Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-28
Messrs. Hawkins & co.-George

Messrs. Hawkins & Co.-George
Arnewood died three years ago in Gull
gong, N. s. w. am his only son, and
have ample documentary evidence as
to his identity, marriage, ETC., and my
own birth. My grandfather, Mr.. Basil
Arncwood, having (as you state) died
intestate, infer that I am heir to at
least a portion of his property, though
the entail was, I believe, barred years
ago. Kindly inform me on this point.
l can sail for England at once, if neces-
sary. Yours truly,
Luke ArnewOod.
P. S.-My father, for his own rea-
sons, preferred to be known out here
as George Arnott, and that is the name
|, too, at present go under. So, when
you write. address to Mr. Luke Arnott,
as above.
To this letter replied, stating that
we were merely acting as inquiry
agents for the family solicitors, from
whom he would learn full particulars
in due counsel forwarded his letter to
Messrs. O'Brien & Grudgery. and there
my task, for the time, ended.
The correspondence that ensued be-
tween them and Luke Arncwood
proved to be entirely satisfactory as to
the validity of the latter's claim. He
sent a quantity Of papers and letters
left by his father, the certificate of his
mothers marriage at Deptford, and Of
his own birth in Kensington, portraits
of his father taken at intervals during
his career land. of course, easily recog-.
niZable by those who had formerly
known HIM. and variety of other
documents sufficient to satisfy dozen
family lawyers. He even sent his own
photograph, duly autographed, in order
to facilitate their recognition of him
upon his return. And. finally, declin-
ing all monetary assistance as uneces-
sary he wrote to announce his forth,
coming departure for England.
So far, all seemed plain enough. But
the voyage home, even by the longest
route, ought not to take more than six
or seven weeks; and as more than four
months had elapsed since the date OF
the proposed departure, the solicitors
We're becoming anxious and the other
claimants to the estate were pricking
up their ears. Failing Luke Arnewood,
the heir would be his cousin, Richard,
then stationed, with his regiment, at
Dover: while after Richard, distant
kinsman, Philip Blake by name, stood
next in succession. Captain Richard
Arnewood's interest in his overdue
Cousins fate was easily understood;
and, indeed, even the more distant
kinsfolk would naturally have their
eyes open to possible contingencies.
The written Instructions brought
over by Mr. O'Flynn authorized me to
prosecute our inquiries with the ut
most dispatch, and without any spe-
cial regard to economy in expenses.
Consequently. instead of contenting
ourselves with the postal service, as
upon the former occasion, we made
fairly free use of the cable. And this
time our Australian agents proved in
valuable. They traced Mr.. Luke Ar
mott to Brisbane. Thence the same in
dividual Travelled to Sydney as Mr..
Luke Arnewood, crossed over to New
ealand, and, after leisurely tour in
that colony. finally booked his passage
to England by the N. u. S. N. Co.'s
mail steamer Wairoa upon September
3Cth. The Wairoa (whose route was
via Cape Horn duly arrived upon No
vember 18th, and an examination of
her passenger list showed the name of
l.. Arnott among the saloon passen-
gers. For some reason or other the
wandcrer had reverted to the fictitious
name for this voyage. But no trace
could be found of his movements after
he had quilted the ship in dock.
10 set the question of. identity at
rest. MI. O'Flynn was sent over with
called upon us to say that several of
the officers and stewards of the ship
had at once recognized in it their late
MAY 1 see it?" 1 asked.
"To be surea," he answered, handing
it to me.
1 fairly jumped from my seat in
For. despite the disfigure-
ment caused by violent death, the
face of the man had seen lying on the
sofa in Tom Webbs room was, unmis-
takahly. the original of the photo
graph!