The Tupelo journal., 1913-08-08
DUNDERHEAD's LUCK
After Numerous Mistakes and
Accidents He Gets the Girl
He Was After.
BY CLARA INsz DEACON.

widower and lived on the interest OF
the money he had been wise enough
to lay by in his younger days.
Colonel Grafton was the owner OF
the Grafton Wooden Mills, and making
money out of the capital invested.
Fate was going to bring these two
men together, but she was in no hurry
about it. They had lived in the same
town for five years and had never met
either in a business or a social a
They simply knew each other by
sight.
The judge had a daughter m
Bessie. At the time the happenings
that follow took place to stir up the
country and almost precipitate an
other panic Miss Bessie was twenty
years old. Her aunt was her chaper-
on and her fathers housekeeper, and
a large and fresh assortment of young
men were seekers after her hand and
her fathers cash.
The colonel had a son Burt who
who was making his way through
college. Making his way does not
signify that he was saving wood, hoe
ing corn or cutting ice to make good
for his board and tuition. 1t simply
means that he was somewhat slow
and absent-minded, and did not get a
grip IN the higher studies as the ma
jority of students did. He was a good
boy but a little slow!
Young Mr.. Grafton had come home
on his summer vacation. He was 60
ing to learn the Office work at the
Mills, fish, sail and take trips here
and there in an auto.
Miss Bessie Rosser was also home
on her vacation. She also had plans,
but every girl is liable to change her
plans at a moments notice. She !
not know of the existence of such a
young IA as Burt Grafton.
On the morning after his arrival
home young Grafton started for the
Mills to devote half an hour to learn
ing the business and then go a-fish-
ing. There was one busy street cor
mel in the town and he struck It. He
J also struck a tall, slim man with
bowed shoulders and a chip convent
entity ready to be knocked on. 1t was
Judge Rosser. His walk abroad was
always aggressive and his look de-
faint. He had somehow imbibed the
idea that he personally owned most
of the sidewalks in the busy burg.
OF course young Grafton did not
know this. He was used to walking
where he pleased at college, even If
one of the professors stood In the
n way, and as a consequence there was
a collision between him and the Judge.
and the Judge arose to shout at him:
What do you mean, yon dunder-
head, by bulling your way through .
crowd like this!"
IT didn't see you" was the apollo
getic answer.
Then you're Blind"
"T hope-hope."
Hope nothing! You shouldered
again. t me and ought to be led around
like a dancing bear!"
Fl apologize, STR"
.But l don't accept It! You are q
3 ~dunderhead, sir-a dunderhead! You
ought to be obliged to give public no
tice when you are going to charge
through the streets!"
The judge was sized up for what he
was-an irascible old man who loved
a rowland the younger man passed
on with a bow. On the next block he
turned into a store to shake hands
with a merchant and l%aughingly said:
Just met a raging hon and had a
narrow escape from death"
What do you mean!'
Happened to bump into an old
chap who was on the wrong side of
the street and he gave me down the
banks in great shape. Called me a
dancing bear and a d~underhead.
Thought he was going to haul off and
paste me one"
: Huh! Wonder who 1t could be-"
Some old crank living here in
town, ] suppose"
\ A young lady who had been at n
of the nearby counters and heard ev-
cry word arose and left the store,
and as she passed the young man she
bestowed upon him a look SO full Of
contempt and scorn that he whispered
4 to the merchant.
eff I've stolen her purse o. gobbled
4 up her dog / ask her forgiveness"
you've done worse than that. young
5 mani" was the reply.
! How? which,"
"I guess it was her daddy o fell
foul of. Sounds very much like him.
j That's Miss Rosser, the belle of the
town"
"Just nv luck! Well / hope she
forgets my face, for that girl looks
n good to me. So long"
Having learned all about the wooden
mill business during the remainder of
the day, young Grafton hied him to a
fshing-tackle store ext morning to
procure an outfit. He had jointed a
rod and was fourishing it about when
a man entered the store just in time
i to have his plug hat knocked off and
va --IIS--