The Prescott daily news., 1913-06-25
REFORMING OF TAMMAS
By ALBERT LOUIS WOOD.


 who worked under me when I was pit boss in the Black Diamond mine, as far as l can remember, Tammas Sar- gent was the only total abstainer.
 One afternoon a prematurely fired shot projected ton of coal, more or less, in Tammas' direction, distribut- ing it somewhat impartially over vari- ous portions of his anatomy. As was my custom when any of the men was hurt, l made it a point to drop in on him for few minutes every day
 "The doctor says" he volunteered to me on one such occasion, that ma pure blood an guid habits be better than his physic. That's win O the dummy"
 "The dummy Tammas, and what may that be?' I queried
 I've never told a soul. But I'll gie 1t to you in confidence. It's the story of ma reformation. Time was when l drank with the best or, mayhap. the worst O them.
 Them days David Stephens and me was fast cronies. One night had na been feelin' weel the day, David comes to me, as usual, to go to the tavern for few drams. Come to the tavern. David says. Perhaps, as you're not feelin' over weel a bit O brandy would be better than ordinar speerit, rammas.' So I cad for the brandy an feelin' some better after the first one. kept callin'. Now, bein' sick like at the start, and the brandy bein' strong and unqualified. it soon went to ma held. By an by David said summat not to my likin', an took ex- captions to 1t. To mak' a long story short. we soon parted in anger. T declare I never felt so strange afore nor since as 1 did when I got the air that night. The sense of direc- ton left me an lost ma way in a place l could ha' mapped out in my sleep. l walked and walked till was fair knocked up. o, 1t was a peetiful condition!
 At last my pins gied out beneath me. sunk down in stupor. It must a been two o'clock when I awoke, awoke. doused wi dew, stiff an cauld My senses were still befuddled, but not so bad as before. I was lyin' in a ravine near where Hallen's street sewer empties into Williams creek. My first feelin's was of anger with myself and David. With myself for bein' such beast, an with David for over persuadin' me to drink with i'm. "As I rubbed ma eyes, tryin to get the cobwebs out O them, caught sight O some one lyin' on the groom near by. Lookin' close, 1 saw twas David. Here says I, be you followin' me, mon?' There was no answer. 'Haud up yer held an be ceevil, else III baste tha shoot. mon, I said. Still no answer. I'll mak' thee talk, yelled. an just then ma han touched a bit stone. In my anger I heaved 1t at i'm and it struck full on his heid
 There was still no soun' from Da- yid. l rose up and staggered over to m. put my and on i'm. David was cold as deith.
 That seemed to sober me. Ma held cleared up. The 'orrible truth came to me. 'ad murdered ma best friend in cold blood. I could ma bide the place, but turned an ran as fast as could toward whoam. Once there, went to ma room and fell on the bed.
 When daylight come, l thought ev- erE footstep was the constable comin' 70 ale to jail. On sudden there was a knock on the door an David en- tered.
 T was never a believer Tn ghosts, out at that moment my views changed. All the buried superstitions O my an. sestors was resurrected. David I gasped, low came you 'ere?'
 David took ma and. I shuddered. But twas with relief to find it warm an 'uman, instead O clammy an shostlike. 'Forgi'e me, auld mon,' he said. I was in the wrong last night
 Thank God, you're alive, Dayid.' says l. I might a killed you in the lrink
 No fear you'd hurt friend, drunk ,r sober.' he says.
 But did na the stone hurt you. David? speired.
 ho iooheu at me uumlounded an edged away. 'Tammas. you're sick an put O your head. I'll get doctor he says.
 Ma, ma. none O. that says I.
 'Tammas.' he says again, ''twas an III trick had played on me last night You'll min 1t was Allow Fen. I left