St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-01-07

Lte main OmCeS OF BulllVantS Linn
ited--a firm or organization, evolved
through the exigencies of con-
temporary men and manners. And
yet Bullivants dealt with the ever-old
primeval passions of human weakness
misfortune, cupidity, envy, hatred,
malice and all uncharitableness.
Before we reach the matter in hand,
let us stroll through Bullivants' Offices.
Passing the plain-lettered glass door,
we enter first the outer bailey, where
q primly-coiffed young lady takes our
names and inquiries coldly If we have
an appointment. Passing this female
Cerberus, we attain by successive de-
grees, like pilgrims bound from Purga-
tory to Paradise, the sanctum of the
registrar, the secretary, and the man.
ager. until, possessing the magic
"Open Sesame" of Case" we reach
the holy Of holes presided over by
Bullivant himself-or some one who
represents the firm name.
Everything speaks of quiet, orderli-
ness, system and power Somehow
you feel that these people will help
you where everyone else has failed
which is really their raison d'etre, for
Bullivants Limited is really haven of
forlorn hopes. There is no conceiv.
able mystery which they will not at
tempt to unravel. Their integrity is
unimpeached and unimpeachable.
Once they took hold of your case
you might rest assured 1t was not
hopeless, which was the chief reason
why Philip Forster. Esq. of the Inner
Temple, had requested consultation
on behalf of his client, Lady Laura
Melwood, relict of the late Sir Charles
Melwood of Barton-Melwood, Suffolk,
whose only son, Arthur Melwood, heir
to the baronetcy, bad been missing for
the last five yeats, despite scores of
appealing advertisements and the best
efforts of the smartest detectives.
The only son of widowed mother,
Arthur Melwood was in great demand
II alive; If dead, satisfactory proof of
his demise must be obtained ere the
estates could pass to his cousin; the
law allowed but one year more of time
Bullivants was indeed a forlorn hope.
Forster and his client speedily pene-
trated the various Offices until they
pane to the den of the chief inquis-
tor, Darrell Callister.
Yours is the case of a missing
heir, Mr.. Forster?" said Callister, con-
sulting the card index on his desk,
after the necessary introductions.
"Yes. Let me have the bare facts,
please, briefly and conciseiy."
Thus adjured, Solicitor Forster pre-
scented his oral brief, as follows:
Five years ago Mr.. Arthur Mel
wood sailed from the port of London
rs passenger on the trading brig CALI
ope, bound for South American ports.
The young man was of a rowing dispo-
sition and left home with the full per-
mission Of his parents, although some
what to their regret. He has never
been heard of, dead or alive.
Three years after he sailed, his
father, the late Sir Charles, died, leav-
tho oldest in England. The estates are
strictly entailed in the male line, and
falling a direct heir must descend to
q cousin.
Eight months after sailing, the Cal
Hope was sighted by the steam col
Iier Seahorse abandoned in the South
Atlantic with all sail set and appar-
emily uninjured allow or aloft. A boats
crew from the whaler boarded the
brig. and found her totally deserted.
She had left port with a crew of ten
men, besides captain, mate and the
captains wife and child. Not rope
yarn was started; there were no signs
of struggle Or bloodshed, the quarters
and clothing of the crew and the cap
tain's cabin were in apple-pie order;
In the latter were the ships papers,
some money, apparel and sewing
machine, on the latter a spool Of
thread, just as it had been left, prov
ing that no rough weather had been
encountered since the abandonment.
Not a boat was missing from the dav-
its-hence all hands must have been
taken off by a passing ship, even if
1t were conceivable that they had
abandoned perfectly sound and sea-
worthy ship-something unimaginable.
The only thing out of the way was. a
line trailing over the stern which had
been severed by knife cut.
1.-THE Calliope was towed into Port
Stanley, in the Falklands, the nearest
British port, and there sold after the
salvage claims were satisfied. Two
years later she foundered with all
hands of a new crew off the Horn.
But of the original crew that left Lon
don nothing has ever been heard or