Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-10-13
Mr.. BARNARD DIDN'T DO A THING.
His Name Began just Like That of the
Chap Somebody Was Looking For.


Chap Somebody Was Looking For.
An amusing Omaha narrative is that
of Barnard. Barnard told it on him
self and seemed to feel that he was
lucky in being able to relate the ad-
venture. Barnard has some capital
and frequently makes loans on farm
property. He is tender hearted and
would not see a sparrow fall; but also
he does not care to see his investments
go to pot.
II went out into Chase county once"
he said, ''to look after some land which
it seemed was going to have to take
on mortgage. | reached there dirty
and disreputable after long ride,
through tie sand region, and, after
finding the little country hotel, broke
Immediately for a barber shop. The
barber was fierce looking fellow and
he used laundry soap, as I shortly
learned. That has nothing to do with
the story-I simply mention it as an
index to his desperate character. He
was exceedingly nervous, and in few
minutes l began to regret bitterly that
/ had not gone to a tinshop to be
| shaved.
" Strangers? he said, as he took
small nip off my chin.
Eyes. | came from Omaha"
" 'Omaha?' with renewed interest.
4 been sittin' up nights for a man
/ from Omaha.
81 made some monosyllabic re-
sponse, and he nicked out three cor
nered excavation near my jaw
&" Yes; that $ what makes me ner-
vous. I'm just little bit shaky. I
amt had no sleep for five nights and
days, expectin' him. You see, he's
comm out here to take my claim away
from me on a mortgage. I'm going to
kill him if | see him in time.
II started in the chair and he
blamed me for the long scratch which
he made in my left cheek. l wanted
to get right out of that chair, but was
afraid that this wild creature might
suspect me. In lieu Of safer things,
sympathy, it seemed to me, was proper
at this moment
" Has the fellow any right to take
your laud?' 7 inquired
Legally, mebbe, yes tv nights.
no. put in SIX year 90 tl.t ground
oH on on from the barber business.
an m > ing to hang to e. usuaI p
have my owl Wy. Iou 49, =.
the only barber in town
+" Yes. But about
Three other fellers have come
here at odd times and tried to git my
trade. One shot-two skipped me
here yet.
"He said this as dispassionately as
a clock ticking off the seconds, and
incidentally he took about a quarter s
worth of skin off my neck.
" I'm an honest man an a good
barber, he said, AN don't intend to
be run over. The people out here
know me an paternize me. Travelin'
men say they've heard of my Hoffman
House shave all over the state Therel
That was your fault, not mine. You
ought to set still. I'll plaster some
soap over it an stop it. l dom usually
cut any one over twicet, but settin up
waitin' fer that Omaha feller has kind
of upset me. Mebbe you don't know
the man? Names Barn-something
Ought to be pretty prominent over
there. I'll prominent him, though
HE had his razor right under my
chin. & never saw the man in my
lifer I hissed between my teeth, being
consumed with horror
g SO? Well, if he ever comes out
here, as hear he is goin' to, you'll
here OF a new death. I'll be here Civ
ing the delighted public the real Hof-
man House shave years after that fell
ler's sizzled into cinders. Wait there
I want to put lie on your hair. Got
to give you the best job in the house.
And I meekly returned to my chair,
while he rubbed compound of lard
and musk into my scalp. 1 gave him
half dollar and he shook hands with
@e four times and insisted on know
me. I told him it was
l..