Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-05-09

him. With an angry glance at
Briefly and suggestive hitch at his
hip pocket, where the handle Of a
big six-shooter could be plainly
seen, he proceeded with his testi-
mony and for 9 time got along
smoothly enough. The cross en-
animation, however, was too much
for the witness. Repeatedly he was
admonished BY the Justice to an
swer the questions and avoid insult
ing personalities. Still he was ugly,
cross and abusive and indnlged in
a vicious sheer when Briefly quiet
IL remarked that nothing he might
say could make him forget he was
in court of justice. At last, los.
ing all patience and finding res
traint next to impossible, Briefly
insisted that the court should take
q recess. Immediately on adjourn
ment, the crowd poured into "The
Carbonate" directly across the
street, and filed the saloon to it's
utmost capacity.
While long line of thirsty souls
were standing at the bar drinking
or waiting to be served, a cry of
''look out" was heard, and instant
~ the sharp and loud reports Of two
reyolyers scattered the crowd in all
directions. Who drew first none
could say, but the little one evident
ly got in the first shot, for Nc
Laughlin was seen to stagger and
put his hand to his breast. He did
not finch. however, and both men
continued to FIRE with great rapidity.
A this critical juncture something
was noticed to be wrong with Brier-
ly's pistol. 1t would not revolye,
and in working with it the chamber
dropped out and rolled on the floor.
Again McLaughlin's pistol rang out
and bullet hole through his an
tagonist's hat showed that the effect
of the first shot had not destroyed
his aim, although he staggered a.
round the room like a drunken man.
Coolly STOPPING down, Briefly pick
ed mp the chamber of his revolver,
deliberately replaced it and began
firing again.
While fixing his weapon he had
got into corner at one end of the
bar or counter and Mclaughlin
took similar position at the other
end. The fire now raked the coun-
ter from end to end, to the danger
and horror of a number of specta-
tors 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, quiet. molten
sive German, who had nothing to
do with the ARRAY, put an end to
the bloody business. The proprie-
tor of the Carbonate, now a we'll
known citizen of Denver, jumped
across the counter and seized Brier-
ly 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
through the heart, the fearful
wounding Of Mclaughlin, who was
sinking fast from a serious flesh
wound in the breast, and slight
flesh wound received by Briefly.
The barroom duel over, Leadville
resumed its normal condition. The
fight was eminently satisfactory.
Both men were game, but the little
one had come out on top. Briefly
was well known throughout the
sage brush country. He was a
prime favorite with everybody, and
NO bigger heart ever beat in little
body. On more than one occasion
he had talked over his turbulent
life and the exciting scenesin which
he had been an actor. No mention
was ever 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 sor.
row, hope and despair. Few men
ever knew how thoroughly Briefly
despised, in his latter years, the
reputation of fighting man.
Such a reputation, he would bit.
terly remark, is . curse to anyone,
Every reckless fool who wants tc
get his name up as a desperate
thinks he is in duty bound to have