The pioneer express., 1912-02-02
LUCKY
THOMPSON
By ELLEN B. CARMEL
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

~
Doubtless any one permitted to ex-
anime the records Of u chancery court
would be surprised at the number of
cases where fortunes have been left
to those who cannot be found or. If
found. only after years Of search
Sometimes the heirs have died before
the testator: sometimes they have mys.
teriOusly disappeared. never again to
he heard 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. preferring that
their property shall 60 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
ite escapade with boys. They don't
do 1t SO much now. for steam has TAX
en- the romance out of the life before
the mast. Indeed. instead Of q mast
the modern vessel has smOkestack.
Zachary. having read sea stories. be-
came infatuated with the great deep
and shipped as cabin boy on barken-
tine trading between New York and
Hongkong.
The boy made a trifing 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 hogged 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 60 home.
Indeed. he got as far away as pos
sible 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 4 girl who should have had
better sense. She. too. had never had
any luck. and now there were two un-
lucky mortals who proceeded to bring
into the world unlucky children.
Thompson in order to ill the stomachs
Of his wife and children. though be
had been born gentleman. took up
any occupation that appeared. at last
accepting position with an under
taker. This led him into that depart
ment of the mortuary business which
pertains to carrying the dead to their
last resting place.
He was taking his hearse to cover
after funeral one evening when he
ran into light buggy driven by
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 on 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. lit
was your fault. and you'll have to pay
for my buggy"
II don't believe there is any law
to compel me to do that" said Thomp-
son.
There isn't. eh? Well think l
ought to know since I'm a lawyer"
"Just my luck!.' moaned Thompson.
IF any one else had run down a
wagon he wouldn't have happened to
hit lawyer
BY this time q small crowd collected,
and q 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 $500 buggy"
''Shall take him in?" asked the cop.
''NOt II he will give bis 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 he
asked.
EYES,"
"How did you happen to be named
Zachary TayIor?"
"Born when General Taylor licked
the Mexicans and named for him"
''Who was your father?''
ssEdward Prentiss Thompson
''Did you have any brothersr'
s.Yes-one."
Ellis name?"
winfield Scott Thompson"
.And you consider yourself an un-s
lucky man!r
Never had any luck 80 far
s'Well. you've got It now. Ten years
ago your brother. Winfield Scott
Thompson. died and left yon Nm estate
worth $2O0OOO. and the executors ot,