A TRAGEDY OF THE BACK BLOCKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8210, 4 August 1905, Page 2

A TRAGEDY OF THE BACK BLOCKS.

A gruesome yarn of the Tarn o' Shanter order is told of an East Roader (writes the Stratford correspondent of the Taranaki Herald). Tarn had been to market and left Stratford in the gloaming with a bottle of Glenlivet in his pocket and a considerable portion of another diffused throughout his anatomy. He also carried, wrapped in newspaper, three pounds of sausages ancl chunk of beef. He had not meandered far on his homeward journey when he was overtaken by a crony—a drouthy one—and hospitality demanded the production of the bottle. One nip led to another, which provoked a third, and it then became absolutely necessary that the worthy pair should take advantage of a convenient log to rest a while and discuss the No-license question. Their views proved divergent, the argument became an heated one, and the friend although he loved Tarn like a vera brither, finally lost his temper, rolled Tarn off the log into the road and himself made off in high dudgeon for home. Tarn, after an ineffectual effort to rise, and feeling-very tired, composed himself to sleep, having first with thoughtful care tucked inside his shirt the beef and sausages, which had somehow escaped from the parcel. Tarn's friend had travelled but half a devious mile when a white-faced horseman galloped madly down the road pulled up alongside and excitedly accused him of having murdered poor Tarn, ' who was lying dead on the road half cut to pieces. Shocked and sobered,, Tarn's crony begged the horseman to ride hard for a doctor whilst he returned to the scene of the supposed crime. He arrived first. Tarn was lying on his back in the road, his waistcoat and shirt were open, and there —but one glance was enough. Sick with the poor man swooned away, and only caiafc to his senses to find the doctor'in fits laughter, the messenger trying to pick a quarrel with Tarn, and Tarn unbosoming himself of a variety of strange oaths, three pounds of sausages, and a roast of beef.