The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-24
A Romance Of The Pistol.

Barney McBriar was the hero and the
terror Of Mad Mule Flat. lie was by pro-
lcssion shootist, twenty years. of ngc
His sole stock III trade consisted of two navy
revolvcrs, Il couple of derringcrs aud Il
bowie knife These articles never left his
person. lie sustained life, mainly, by
swallowing daily an indefinite number of
"whisky straights," " for which no barkccp-
er ever thought of demanding pay. lie
ruled Mad Mule Flat with rod of iron
Ills four pistol barrels were four literal,
ruling rods of iron. Ills body was adorned
with comely raiment, he lodged and fed
sumptuously; his linen was of the p,rest
and whitcst; yet like unto the wild lilies of
the valley, he neither toilcd nor spun. The
Isrueltish clothing dealer groancd heavily
in spirit when Barney Mcl}riar entered his
establishment and ordered of him suit yet
he vcntured no rcmonstrancc. WhyI Be
cause it is unhealthy to irritate shootist.
Barney MclSriar was Il shootis.
at the tender age OF nmc years, Barney
Mci5riars schoolmarm one day boxed his
cnrs Whcrcupon little Barney whipped
ont bowie knife, the present of a Texas
uncle (whose last advice was never to take
blow from any man), and with it he eX-
plorcd the digestive organs of his female
afterwards afflicted with chronic dyspepsia,
the effect of this cutting rcproof. After
this occurrence the Board of Education mt
Mad Mule Flat were unable to procure any
more school-marms. So, little Bamcy's
education was for Il time neglected, although
he managed to keep himself in practice by
playfully shooting two Of his little brothers,
who were thereby MANNED for life. Pclcg
Haddam kept school ut Bull Tail Gulch.
The interesting little Barney was sent to
Mr. Haddam's seminary. When Mr. Had
dam heard that he was to be patrOniZcd by
the youthful McBriar, he made his will and
had his life insured 'I'hc wise man fore
sccth evil, and hidcth himself, but the sim
pie pass OH and are punished" Pclcg Had
dam next provided himself with a double
barrcllcd shot-gun The Juvenile McBriar
heard of the military preparations of his
future prcceptor with GOODNESS, merely re-
marking, "I'll get him yet"
It was Il bright May morning in June.
Pcleg Haddam was running his school under
full head of steam. Suddenly he detected
the sanguinary AIcBriar reading the Life
book, you, SIR" said Pclcg Haddam to
Barney 'Mcisriar. 81 won't.5 Pccg Had
dam snatched the saffron colorcd volume
from his grasp. III an instant, little Barney
jcrEcd out his sX-shootcr and blew off Mr..
IIaddam's head! The school being with
ont Il head Immediately broke up. Iaddam
was inferred along with the school-marm,
and the unfortunate pedantic couple form
ed nucleus for Barney Mcl3riar's cemetery.
Public opinion was principally on the side
of the gallant NicBriar. lie became an
object of interest and sympathy, and hence
forth was no longer regarded by his elders
as child. The Board of Education eXpcr-
fenced II great difficulty in getting another
target for Barney, as Bull Tail Flat was
avoided by all paripatetic pcdagogues. At
length discharged convict strayed into
camp, and unaware of the risk he ran was
induced to take the school at thirty dollars
a month and 'board around.
The discharged convict prccoptor, conn
planning one morning that he was obliged
to sleep, while boarding in a Dutch family
along with four Of his pupils, Barney Nc
Briar, who allowed no one to abuse the
inhabitants of the Flat save himself, "cool-
ly blew the top of the convicts. head. Off. I"
He then gave himself up to the authorities.
Forty-six of tho leading and influential citi-
zens of the town ut once offered to give
bail for Barney McI5riar. The day of trial
came. The Court, after sentencing
prisonmcnt at San Quentin, for stealing a
pair of boots, called the case of the People
vs.. McBriar. McBriar marched proudly
into the court room. The trial lasted four
hours. Forty or fifty witnesses testified
favorably as to themoral character of the
defendant The jury were out five min
utes, and returned verdict of "Not Gull
ty.". The court then adjourned, and every
body got drunk. Many young men rcck-
oned that night as the proudcst period Of
their existence, when they were fortunate
enough, to he introduced to Mr.. Mcl}riar
and take him by the hand. lie was the
lion OF the day, and after killing couple
of strangers that night, left the next morn
ing, attended by large concoursc of
friends.
Six yca,s had elapsed. Barney Mcl'riai
and his friend McShO0t were seated smok-
ing on the piazza of the Magnolia Hotel.
Barney was regarding, with an obscrvant
eye, his cemetery on the hillside, which had
Increased considerably in size, and was laid
out in q neat and tasteful manner. Occa-
sonally citizen of the Flat, minusan arm,
nose, IN car, or leg, limpcd ,pasS the
limping evidence of Barncy's pistolary skill.
Barney had been reading Naltnns on popu-
lation that morning and felt that some
thing should be done to pretcnt the fright
full increase Of the human race. Moreover,
he had killed no oiic for three days. His
conscience I, troubled him. ''Thorcs ono
grave needed to make the number even q,
tho left hand row Of the third plat Of my
cemetery said McBriar. You mean the
strangers s'lttlcpartmcnt2" said McShoot.
"McBriarwood" was laid ont.i 'folr separ-
ate plats. One for politicians one FOL
strangers, eney ;fpr ssclloolmast ars, 'ana fone