The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-18
LUCKY
THOMPSON
BY ELLEN 3. CARMEL
Copyright by american Press Assoc
ciation. 1911.
BY ELLEN 3. CARMEL


cases where fortunes haye been left
10 those who cannot be found or II
found, only after years Of search
Sometimes the heirs have died before
the testator; sometimes they have mys-
terIously disappeared, never again to
be beard from. The reason that prop
erty often passes through this phase is
that the members Of families as the
years go by become separated and
often lost to each other. When per
sons who have no one near and dear
to them make wills. preferrng that
their property shall go to their own
kindred. they usually leave their es-
tates to such, possibly not having
heard anything Of the legatee for
years.
Zachary Thompson when he was a
boy ran away and went to sea. Fifty
years ago and more that was favor
lite escapade with boys. They don't
do 1t so much now, for steam has taxi
en- the romance cut Of the life before
the mast. Indeed. instead Of mast
the modern vessel has a smokestack.
Zachary. having read sea stories, be-
came infatuated with the great deep
and shipped as cabin boy on a barker
tine trading between New York and
Hongkong.
The boy made trifling mistake in
thinking he would like the sea. Even
in that day there was no romance in
being reproved by the captain, sworn
at by the mate and logged by the
cook Even the scullion tyrannized
over little Zachary, and, having made
one voyage, the boy remained ashore,
though he was too proud to so home.
Indeed, he got as far away as pos
sibe from his home and went to work
in store, his principal duties being
to sweep out early in the morning,
make the fires, clean up generally and
run errands the rest of the day.
Thompson spent twenty years try
ing to keep his head above water, and
with very poor success. The only
thing about him that was successful
was keeping up his pride.
When he was thirty years old he
married a girl who should have had
better sense. She, too, had never had
any luck. and now there were two I'M
lucky mortals who proceeded to bring
into the world unlucky children.
Thompson in order to ill the stomaehs
Of his wife and children. though he
had been born a gentleman, took up
any occupation that appeared. at last
accepting q position with an under
taker. This led him into that depart
slent Of the mortuary business which
pertains to carrying the dead to their
last resting place.
He was taking his hearse to cover
after a funeral one evening when he
ran into light buggy driven by a
gentleman who, being nearsighted and
darkness having come on. did not see
him in time to get out of his way. and
Thompson. who was dreaming IA his
bad luck and his luckless wife and
children, collided with him and smash.
ed the vehicle.
You should paint your funeral wag-
on red or some other color if you're
going TO drive around nights running
people down. said the gentleman. 1T
was your fault. and you'll have to pay
for my buggy"
81 don't believe there is any law
to compel me to do that" said Thomp-
son.
"There isn't. eh? Well l think /
ought to know since I'm lawyer"
Just my luck moaned Thompson.
"If any one else had run down
wagon he wouldn't have happened to
bit lawyer"
BY this time small crowd collected,
and policeman was among the num-
Der.
whats up?' he asked.
"This driver Of black wagons for
dead men on dark nights has run into
me and smashed a $500 buggy"
'Shall take him in?' asked the cop.
mot If he will give his name"
Thompson was discouraged. He
gave up his name without a murmur:
Zachary Taylor Thompson"
The gentleman looked up from the
memorandum book on which he was
about to write the name.
Zachary Taylor Thompson" hs
asked.
Yes"
How did you happen to be named
Zachary Taylor?"
Born when General Taylor licked
the Mexicans and named for bin."
"Who was your father?"
Edward Prentiss Thompson" i
did you have any brotbersp
''Yes-one."
"His pame:'
winfield Scott Thompson"
"And you consider yourself an I'M
lucky MANI
'Never had any luck so far"
"Well. you've got it now. Ten years
ago your brother Winfield Scott
Thompson. died and left you an estate
worth 100000, and the executors of
The viii are clients of mine. We've
been hunting for you ever since your
brother died, and if we hadn't found
you before the end of this year your
property would have gone to chart
ty.'
"By gum exclaimed the hearse
driver. MY luck has all come in a
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