Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-12-18
JUST PURE NERVE.

They had been talking of nervy mon
when one of the group asked if they had
ever known of Johnny Medley. who
staid awhile in Santa Fe in the early
days of tho town. He wasn't dad
man." little, smooth faced chap,
weighing perhaps 1875 pounds. But he
was lightning, and by and by the boys
learned that he carried large quantities
Of nerve with him at all times.
One night Medley strolled into the
White Rose saloon, and sitting down by
small table some distance away from
the gang began smoking long, black
Mexican cigar while reading a newspa-
per that had come down by the last
stage. He puffed away at the cigar un-
til half an inch of ashes hung at the end.
The young fellow was tilted back in
his chair pointing up at an angle of 45
degrees. The ashes made splendid
target, and Zig Bob Sweeney cautiously
drew his gun and gave the boys the
wink.
There was a flash, loud report, and
the bullet from Bob's pistol fecked the
ashes off Medley cigar just as light and
smooth as il he had brushed them away
with his fiifger. To the surprise of every
one present The young fellow did not
jump and yell rs they had expected. In
stead he slowly folded the newspaper,
laid it down O. the table and then turn
ed and looked the gang with a ques
tioning expression on his face He did
not even remove the cigar from his
mouth.
When lie saw the smoking revolver in
Sweeney's hand, he got up and, walk
ing over toward the table where the
gang were seated, asked in the mildest
sort of tone, "Did you shoot at me or
my cigar?"
The gang was completely taken abaclr
at the GOODNESS Of the fellow.
II just thought I'd flip the ashes off
yer oheroot, young Teller, and save you
the trouble, replied Sweeney, who still
held his revolver.
"Thank you very much. l just want
ed to know what you were shooting at.
It was a good shot. There's no hard
feelings. Have one with me!'
As Neeley spoke he pulled out another
long cigar and handed it to Sweeney.
The big fellow held out his hand for
the cigar, hut he was fairly dazed by
the action Of the young man. Then
Medley went back to his own table and
sat down again. AS soon as Sweeney
had recovered from his surprise he
winked at the crowd, and. putting up
his gun, struck match to light his ci-
gar. AS he raised the burning match
toward his mouth there was sharp re-
port, and it was knocked out Of his fin
gers. Quick as lightning Johnny Medley
had drawn inch derringer and had
shot the match out of Sweeney's fingers
"Never light cigar with a match
The fumes of the sulphur may spoil the
favor of the weed Allow me to offer
you light, " said Medley, stepping over
and extending his lighted cigar with his
left hand.
Bob Sweeney's face was study. He
let his cigar drop on the table, and, with
his hands on his knees, he just sat there
for minute and stared at the young
chap.
"Did you do that?" he gasped at last.
''Yes, but meant no offense. Here
is light"
Bob picked up his cigar, but when he
went to light it the boys saw that his
hand was shaking trifie. He got the
hur nd ln GOT nd
pulled it in silence for five minutes, at
the end Of which time he got up, and,
glancing at the half burned match lying
on the floor, said:
swell, III be --l'
Sweeney marched up to the bar and
took a drink, without word to the
gang Then he started out. To reach
the door he had to pass the table where
Medley sat quietly reading the news
paper. As he walked past the young fell
low the big bully took off his hat and
went out at the door on tiptoe. Pretty
soon the others Of the gang followed,
and before morning every man in Santa
Fe knew that little Johnny Medley was
the quickest and best shot in the terri
tory and that his nerve was the pure
stuff.
That little shooting match fixed the
jokes on him. Medley continued on the
even tenor of his way, never Boosting Of
anything and playing in hard luck most
Of the time, for six months passed before
the boys had chance to see his nerve
tested again. lie was gambling more
and more all the time and was usually
broke.
One day there drifted into the town
regular professional bad man. he wore
bis hair long and called himself Arizona