New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-21
n |frange Legacy.
BY PERCv RUDD.

The Kingston Hotter had grown TO be quite a
landmark in the vicinity OF Cneapside- II was a
homeiy old place. possessed IN some OF its rooms
OF the correct ancestral air Of fustiness-
Here on the night Of October -. 1SO2 came
middle aged man. tall and thick set. his skin bear
ing color which it beyond the power OF an
English sun TO bestow. Having given his name at
the office and seen about the bestowal OF his lug
gage. he retired TO private sitting room, where
he had been only few minutes when the manager
OF The hotel tapped gently the door and entered
Mr. Bygott. believer said the intruder.
The stranger nodded.
There has been a telephone message for you
this afternoon. Your uncle rang up from Maid
stone and told you would arrive in the course o.
the day. and-excuse me mentioning il, sr-we were
10 supply you with whatever money you might
require
Bygott stared in blank amazement.
There is some mistake" he said Il have
uncle at Maidstone. and If the estimabe gentleman.
whoever he is did stand in that relationship
me he could possibly have known that I
expected in England, much less your hotel to-
But you are from abroad said the manager,
still dubious and that was what our message said.
we We're 40 expect Nj Bygott who was return
and vg wG9t s WAS IN my w0gdoe gneIes name
For a moment the strangers face wore comic
ar OF peTpleNty, then his smile broke cover
= m very sorry he said but my magma ton
ton. The message is evidently for another Mr.
Bygott- with more extensive ties Of relationship
The manager saw that il was useless to pursue
You wiz pardon for troubling you. sir" he
said in the doorway.
Bygott ass 4red him that no apology was neces-
sary Left 10 himself. he drew his chair nearer
over IN his mind this unlooked-for welcome II
was his first night in the old country for twenty
had come back 10 his starring point for a few
weeks OF rest and change; his limited pocket told
ten vowed out there in Australia that his journey
home should not be made until the bell had rung
on the last Jap IN MS race Tor wealth, out the OLD
country had drawn him 10 it Ike 8 magnet when
the race was but half-run. II seemed like a
mockery for this spurious uncle TO come into his
Looking back down the vista OF years, he had
they with hts mother and father had long since
his nanesake. the fortunate nephew OF Mr..
Bygott Of Maidstone.
. knock at the door disturbed his thoughts and
a waiter followed its sound into the room
You are wanted at the telephone. sir he said
The waiter noticed his surprise. ana fastened %
THE gentleman asked II Mr.. Bygott had ar
rived He IS waiting at the tnstCCment now. str"
conductor down the corridor 70 the telephone box
This was probably his nanesake again, or per
means anxious % claim relationship He almost
He caught up the receiver and sang out.
rs that Mr.. Bygott7'' came an answering voice.
only dIniy heard through the buzzins OF the wirs-
MI. Harold Bygott!y..
anxious 70 know II You had arrived He IS very
I'll. Mr.. Bygott, very III. indeed not expected to
Suddenly the the buzzng on the wire became roar
But he Is not my uncle shouted me hoSeA
There answering y0iss only eEaGkI,ins
wave Of sound that rose and fell IKE tne burning
OF wood in new lit Are
5S 9 @a+4 s e on to h rs 6s s 9G
gether he could make nothing OF them II was
wire and that his words running Of, into space
oefoTe ORE '9ey Isf amScatior For he want.
ed TO clear up this unfortunate case OF naisteAer
Identity but the fates We're against him. and OF
course the fates conquered
He went back 10 his room IN uneasy frame OF
He would shake the dust Of tho Kingston Hotel
from his SHOES and so get out OF d z o. a SS
as much as they liked until the real nephew came
So it came about that early the following morning
Harold Bygotf tie e9loai WIZ s a. vas IS soo1 lost
In the maze OF London
4 week had gone by. and Harold Bysott from
Australia comfortably enscOnced in his new guar
and oTt INTO ths Stream OF Londons pleasures, had
only casual thought for the adventure Which pc
memory came back with quick rush as. glancing
The Standard his eyes happened % LA-1 u" 'i0
following paragraph p,.,o.. ,,-, s,svaa AZ tbs
Kingston Hotel Cheapside. on the night OF the
2lth October 1892 coTmunica[e at once WIN tn. EaSs
& Bowen, Chancery Lane, when ne VIII near OF
At first the old inclination was strong within him
70 wash his hands OF AFFAIR IN winch. 1e lOisA
himself he was the veriest nterloper. Then read
ing the paragraph 9gaiT he peg3n % see Emo Sfv -
the Kingston Hotel Cheapside on tAe hLglt %
the Path october 19G2-that was surely Tor MS eye
and his alone They probably imagined ne was
some one else but the least he could do was 20
can on East & Bowen and clear up the MISTAKE.
once having fxed determination there YES no
staving him. Within hour or reaCIng the &C
vertisernent he had sent in his card 70 the senior
partner at the Offices in Chancery Lane ana ne
next minute was following II hlrnseII, -sl- E--ls'
vas a short clean shaver gentlemen wearing spec
tacles. and modelled all over Ike lawyer; ..
7 am very glad you have called Mr.. Bygotr
week They told at the hotel that you desired
10 live outside the sphere OF Mr.. Bysott OF MAID
The other smiled They told you the truth"
Wen Veil the desire was not mutual continued
What do you ulean?''
First of all 7 want 10 ask you few questions
said Mr.. East dryIy; are you OF , lT,,SgtorapI
YOU never heard OF him before the night OF the
PATH"
Then IS IT a fact that you crossed from New
York in the Celtic and landed al Liverpool on mo
morning 0f the same day
1T is not. 7 have just reached London from
Australia
Purely by accident-if that is what you mean
Mr. East whisrled softly
This is the most remarkable case OF mistaken
identity that have met with in the whole course
Of nv legal experience" he said in explanation
Il am glad you have realized the situation at
last said BygOtt rising 20 go
Not so fast. my friend. said Mr.; East IN the
same uUier voice You have not done with the
-rbsr rs Rvgott resumed his seat the solicitor
went on Some explanation a due 70 You. Mr.
Bygott. before YOU can see Things as they are Ny
late client James William bYs"tl, was Formerly
a brewer the City. but seven wears ago ne retired
from active participation IN business and Went 10
live al Maidstone. He a bachelor with con-
~. and FT an