The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-18

take a recess. Immediately on adj
journment, the crowd poured into 1.-THE
Carbonate" directly across the street,
and filed the saloon TO its utmost
capacity.
While the long line of thirsty souls
were standing at the bar drinking or
waiting to be served, a cry of look
OUT was heard, and instantly the
sharp and loud reports of two revolt
vers scattered the crowd in all direc-
tions. Who drew first none could say,
but the little one evidently got in the
first shot, for Mclaughlin was cen to
stagger and put his hand to his breast
He did not finch, however, and both
men continued to fire with great
rapidity. At this critical ~juncture
something was noticed to be wrong
with Brierly's pistol 1t would not re-
volve, and In working with it the
chamber dropped out and rolled on the
floor. Again McLaughlin's pistol rang
out, and a bullet hole through his an
tagonlst's hat showed that the effect Of
the first shot had not destroyed his
aim, although he staggered around the
room like a drunken man. Coolly
STOPPING down, Briefly picked up the
chamber of his revolver, deliberately
replaced it and began firing again.
While fixing his weapon he had got
into a corner at one end of the bar or
counter and Mclaughlin took a similar
position at the other end. The fire
now raked the counter from end to
and 70 tho 1aorar anl hnrrnr Of n
number of spectators who had taken
refuge from the flying bullets behind
the bar at the beginning OF the fight.
With the crack of the pistols was heard
the wild cry of some poor devil in the
line of fire. The shrek and fall of one
of the number, a quiet, inoffensive
German, who had nothing to do with
the ARRAY, put an end to the bloody
business. The proprietor of the Car
Donate, now a well-knovn citizen Of
Denver, Jumped across the counter and
seized Briefly with an iron grasp,
while others caught Mclaughlin and
wrenched the revolver from his hands.
The result of the shooting was the
death of the unfortunate German. shot
lllIouSH lhS IiCoL l.. biC A'IAAu NOuuu-
ing of Mclaughlin, who was sinking
fast from a serious flesh wound in the
breast, and a slight flesh wound re-
ceived by Briefly.
The barroom duel over, Leadvillc re-
sumed its normal condition. The fight
was e~minently satisfactory. Both men
We're game, but the little one had come
out on top. Briefly was well known
throughout the s~age-brush country.
He was 4 prime favorite with every
body, and no bigger heart ever beat in
a little body. On more than n occa-
sion he had talked over his turbulent
life and the exciting scenes in which
he had been an actor. No mention had
ever been made of his early life, but a
tiny miniature of a fair-haired, blue
eyed maiden, which he always carried
next his heart, might have told its sad
story of love and sorrow, hope and de-
spair. Few men ever knew how
thoroughly Briefly despised, in his lat
ter years, the reputation of a fighting
man..
Such 4 reputation, he would bitterly
ASLAaAh1 - " IL ~ ohSObS' HFNAS
reckless fool who wanted to get his
name up as a desperate thinks he is
in duty bound to have a difficulty with
you, while you are expected to resent
every grievance, real or imaginary,
with the knife or pistol. "If l had to
live my life Over again, nothing short
of absolute dishonOr would make me
fight anybody" His reflections on the
past were evidently not of a pleasant
character, and there car be no doubt
that he deeply and sincerely regretted
many events in his reckless career. 1t
was singular how so quiet and gem
tlemanly a little fellow could get into
so many ugly scrapes. His early griefs
weighed upon his mind, and like many
another gallant fellow he sought for
getfulness in strong drink. Doubtless
this had much to do with his numerous
deadly quarrels, for few men were
more quiet and inoffensive when sober.
Poo Brierly! With him life's itful
fever is over, and he sleeps beneath the
pinon bushes, on the carbonate hills,
his secret buried with him. Peace tc
his ashes!-Washington Post.