Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-04

never dream of looking for it" Present
ly Duncan came in followed by the cook,
| each carrying a portion of a bountiful,
warm supper for two, which was deity
arranged on the table and then Duncan,
with a nod to me said: "Thare, set We
doom an fill yer mouths wi yer meat an no
be c~laverin a night, set up Jenny en-
Bill an hav.yer supper" Mac looked at
Duncan, then at me, and with that alacrlty
| characteristic of those whose minds are
unsettled, pulled up a chair and com
menced filling up his plate. One mouth
full suficed however to appease his stom-
ach. 81 want a drink before | eat"-Tea
and water were offered and rejected. He
became loud in his demands for whiskey.
Swore he dad'nt had but one drink that
day. Accused first Duncan, then Chase,
then everybody in general and finally the
friends of having stolen his demijohn.
His clamor became violent and his frenzy
SO wild that it required the united efforts
of both Duncan aud myself to keep him
indoors. Whiskey he wanted and "Whis-
ky I'll have if | have to go up to 'Loafer's
Shanty' to get it." he shreiked. His de-
lerium increased. After a hurried and
low toned consultation with Duncan, he
spoke out. Eye shall hev' whisky. "A
hair o the dag that bit We Gamma do ye
muckle HARM. I'll gang up to tn Shanty
an bring We doom the speerits." Get
whisky, get a gallon" roared Mac. Dun
can though not over fond of equestrian
exercise. took a horse from the stable and
was off up the trail and soon returned.
With that caution which is characteristic
of his race Duncan had not procured a
very large quantity of "speerits' for he
placed on the table a slim pint bottle not
nearly full, with the remark "Tak' jest a
wee drap, its ow'r strong. Andy telft me
twas ayond the proof" With a derisive
look Mac grabbed the bottle and before
Duncan could snatch it from his greedy
grasp had swallowed nearly half its con-
tents. "Heavens an airth mon, hav' We a
sheet-iron stomauch that We maun powr
burnin' whisky intel We like water in
a rat hole?" he said as he handed the bot
tie to me for safe-keeping. Mac o o be
came less violent, noticing which Duncan
said good night to us and went out. With
some little persuasion Mac got into bed
but was no sooner down than up again
demanding more drink, which was met by
a flat refusal on my part. He. stormed
and swore, wandered back to the fiends,
talked mysteriously of piles Of money,
promised to make me rich, winding up
each time with a demand for drink. 1t
was evident that a further refusal would
result in another violent %outburst, so |
poured him out moderate dose and got
him to lie down. His talk became less
forcible, then indistinct and finally he
slept. Twice before morning did he
awake. Once with a startling yell which
penetrated and seemed TO re-eaho back
from surrounding hills. The second time
with a wailing moan and shiverin5 nerV-
business.
When morning came, he was conscious
of his surroundings. but was dazed Is 10
what had produced his condition O weak
ness and nervousness. An explanation OF
it, he seemed, barely able to realize, but
was as passive and tractable as q child.
His nervous system was badly Shocked.
his appetite for food gone and deenins It
necessary to quiet his nerves and alleviate
his su~fferlngs, | started over to Chase's
house, amile away to procure something
of a soporitic kind. That there was q
short cut through the woods and across a
rivulet, | knew; but as yet had never gone
that way. The noisy little streanlet had
been crossed and in a swale | suddenly
came opposite to al object which attract
ed my attention and invited my curiosity.