The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1896-12-12
I1HgIY NEELETS NERVE.

at maybe some Of you have heard
= 1obnnv Neeley? Medley came dow
~ santa Fe. in the old days before the
N.,I-,sds. He hailed from St Louis
-Korsas City, or somewhere up thare
O.5 vas agent for something or other,
- forgotten what. He was a little
han weighed about 12O, and his face
-. es smooth as a girls, but, say,
.,,, fellow was one CONCEALED lump
Of nerve.
SThe town was tough in those days,
and WAS full of tough men who could
,hoot and we're always looking out for
chance to practice with their. weap-
oDs This fellow Neeley vas so little
and WIS such an innocent-looking chap
.ho bovs soon marked him as a tender
60, and prepared to have fun with
him He was a jolly, devil-may-ca3e re,
so-t who loved to gamble, and spent
more time at the card table than he
did attending to business
~He did not drink, but loved to hang
,rmrnd tie saloons and watch the gang.
when some of the boys would shoot
ant the lights he always appeared
rI.ssed and interested. Medley ignored
several insults, and always walked
.uny when one of the bad men Of the
+own tried to pick a quarrel with him,
% the gang concluded that he would
mt fight. and then they were ready TO
begin their fun.
zone night Neeley strolled into the
White Rose saloon, and sitting down
bv 4 small table some distance away
nom the gang, began smoking long
Ns.k Mexican cigar while reading a
pswsnaper that had come down by tie
hst stage. He pulled away at the
cigar until half an inch OF ashes hung
lie end.
'TIe Young fellow was tilted back
IN his chair with the cigar pointing up
usn angle of 40 degrees. The ashes
made a splendid target, and big Bob
Sweeney cautiously drew his gun and
ave the boys the wink.
There was a fash, a loud report,
and The bullet from Bob's pistol flecked
the ashes of Neeley's cigar just as light
aud smooth as if he had brushed them
IWav with his finger To the surprise
Of every one present the young fellow
did not Jump and yell as they had
erected. Instead he slowly folded his
newspaper. laid it down on the table,
and then turned and looked at the
gang with a questioning expression on
biz face. He did not even remove the
cigar from his mouth.
/ ha
In SWeenys hand he got up, and walk
IL. ever toward the table where the
garg ware seated, asked in the mildes't
sort Of t.ne, Did you shoot at me or
NY cigar:
The gang was completely taken back
at Tue { v.neSS of the fellow.
II Just thought I'd flip the ashes
IF yer sheroot, young Teller, an save
you The trouble replied Sweeny, who
still held LIS revolver.
Thank you very much. just want-
ed to knoT what you were shooting at.
1t was q good shot. There's no hard
feelings Have one with me"
As NeeIey spoke he pulled out an
other long cigar and handed it to Swe-
ny. The Zig fellow held out his hand
fol. the cigar. but he vas fairly dazed
By the ACTON of the young man.
Then Medley went back to his own
table and SIT down again. As soon as
SNc,n- lad recovered from his sur
Prise ie winked at the crowd, and,
putting Up his gun, struck q match 10
light his cigar.
As he raised the burning match
toward bis mouth there was a sharp
report, and it was knocked out Of his
fingers.
Quick as lightning Johnny Medley
had drawn a 6-inch derringer and had
IhOt the match out of Sweeny's fingers.
Never light a cigar with a match.
The fumes of the sulphur may spoil
the favor Of the weed! Allow me to
offer you a Iightr said Neeley, stepping
over and extending his lighted cigar
with lis left hand
Say, Bob Sweeny's face was a
study. He let his cigar drop on the Ia
Die, and with his hands on his knees
ne Just sat there for a minute ana
sHred at the young chap.
Did you do that? he gasped n
last.
Yes; but meant no offense. Here
Is lightr
Bob picked up his cigar, but when
ne went to light it the boys saw that
MS hand was shaking a trifle.
He got the cigar burning, anu
then he sat and pulled it In silence
Ior five minutes, at the end OF
which time he got up, ana,
glancfng at the half-burned match ~
ING on the floor, said:
Well. Ill be -r'
Sweeny marched UP to the bar and
TOOK drink without a word to the
gang. Then ne started ont. To reach
NE door he had to pass the table
where Medley sat quietly reading the
newspaper. AS he walked past the
young fellow the big bully took OF his
nat and went out at the door on tip
Toe. Pretty soon the others Of the
gang followed and before morning
every man in Santa Fe knew that little
tommy Neelcy was the quickest and
oeSt shot in the Territory; and that
us nerve was the pure stuff.
That little shooting match fixed the
young fellows standing in the society
OF the Territory, and the boys did not
make any further efforts TO play jokes
On him Medley continued on the even
M