The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-12-05
JOHNNY NEELEY7 s NERVE. ]

Speaking cf men Of nerve and abil-
ity to shoot straight said an OLD
rancMman from New Mexico, at the
I Hoffman House, says New York cor
5respondent:of the st. Louis Globe DEM
4ocrat, maybe some Of you have heard
OF Johnny Neeley? Neeley game dowa
: to Santa Fee in the old days before the
railroads. He hailed from st. Louis
or Kansas City, or somewhere up there
and was agent for something or other,
I've forgotten what. He was a little
chap, weighed about 12o, and his. face
was as smooth as a girls, but, say,
that fellow was one colgealed lump
lof nerve. s.
The TOWN was tough in those days,
and was full of tough 1nen who could
!shoot and were always looking out for
la chance to practice with their Wecp-
ions. This fellow Neeley was SO little
sand was such an innocent looking chap
4 the boys soon marked him as a tender.
foot and prepared to have fun with
him. He was jolly, devil-nlay y-care
sort, who loved to gamble, and spent
more time at the card table, than he
did attending to business. a. 6,
HE did not drink, but loved to hang
around the saloons and watch the gang
4 When some of the boys would shoot
out the lights he always appeared
pleased Interested. Neeley ignored
& several insults, and always walked
away when one of the bad men of the
town tried to pick a quarrel with him,
so the gang concluded that he would
not fight, and then they were ready to
begin their fun. s, ~ ss5s f. .s. s
Zone night Neeley strolled into the
..Wbite Rose saloon, and sitting down
lby j small table some distance away
from the gang, began smoking a long
bla' k Mexican cigar while reading
newspaper that had come down by the
last stage. He puffed away at The
cigar until half an inch OF ashes hung
at tie end. = @..5 = ~
the young fellow was tilted back
I in his chair with the cigar pointing up
at an angle of 45 degrees. The ashes
made q splendid target, and big Bob
Sweeney cautiously drew his gun and
gave the boys the wink.
There was a flash, a loud report,
the ashes off Neeleys cigar just as light
( and smooth as if lie had brushed them
away with his finger. To the surprise
of every one present the young fellow
did not jump and yell as they had
xrected. Instead he slowly fofded his
newspaper, laid it down on the table,
and then turned and looked at the
gang with a questioning expression OH
his face. He did not even remove the
cigar from Ills mouth.
'.ahen he saw the smoking revolver
III SWeeny's hand he got up, and walk
ing ever toward the table where the
gang wtre seated, asked in the mildest
sort Of t"ne. Did you shoot at me Or
MY cigar:
The gang was completely taken back
at tie cvu.ness of the fellow.
..s.I just thought I'd flip the ashes
eff yer sheroot, young feller, an save
you the trouble replied SWeeny, who
still held Lis revolver.
- Thank you very much. just want
ed to know what you We're shooting at.
1t was a good shot. There's no hard
feelings. Have one with me!'
.'As Nee]ey spoke he: pulled out an
otler long cigar and handed it to Swe
ny. The big fellow held out his hand
Tie clS1I, UVL uc was uILoN
I by the action of the young man.
''Tllen Neeley went back to his own
table and SGT down again. AS soon as
4 S,r,1,y Lad recovered from his sur
prise lie winked at the crowd, and,
putting Up his gun, struck a match to
light his cIGar. .a---
.'.As he raised the burning match
toward l1s mouth there was a sharp
report, and it was knocked out of his
fingers. -v 54-' ~ -...
''Quick as lightning Johnny Neeley
had drawn a 6-inch derringer and had
shot the match out of Sweenys fingers.
s." 8 Never light cigar with q match.
The fumes of the sulphur may spoil
the flavor of the weed! Allow me to
offer you light said Neeley, stepping
over and extending his lighted cigar
with his left hand. -. Ill.,,
"Say, Bob Sweenys face was a.
study. He let his cigar drop on the ta-
. bic, and with his hands on his knees
he just sat there for a minute and
stared at the young chap.
Ibid YOU do thaty he gasped at
last.
Yes; but I apeant no .offense. Here
q Is a lightr
bob picked up his cigar, but when
4 lie went to light it the boys saw that
his hand was shaking trife.
5ARs1sI1e got the cigar burning, and
then he sat and puffed it in silence
which time he got UP, and,
glancing at the half burned match "
ing on the floor, said:
Well ], IL be --!! y
s'Sweeny marched up to the bar and
hook a drink without a wOGd to the