Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-11-21

months before the boys had chance
to see his nerve tested again. He was
gambling more and more all the time
and was usually broke.
"One day there drifted into the
town a regular professional bad man
He wore his hair long, and called
himself Arizona Jake. His available
assets consisted of two revolvers, 8
knife and a record of two murders
and three plain killings. Before he
had been in town many hours he let il
be known that he was hunting trou
BILE, and the boys decided that he
should not be long finding it.
"It was always believed that Bot
Sweeny put the stranger up to pick
ing a row with little Johnny Neeley
but they couldn't prove it at the
inquest.
at was late at night, and Neeley
was in the faro bank playing the high
card and losing right along as usual
He seemed to have faith that his luck
would change that night, and kept
close watch of the game. He had
spent his last dollar for chips, and had
staked his last stack when Arizona
Jake entered the place with regular
Indian war whoop, and fired shot
through the roof as warning that he
was out for trouble.
"Nearly every one in the place got
out of his way, but Johnny Neeley
did not even look up from the card
table. Jake was big, strong fellow,
and when he caught sight of the little
smooth-faced chap sitting there play
ing faro, it seemed to set him wild
He walked over, and, catching hold
of the back of Neeley's chair, lifted
both 4 feet from the floor, and then
let 90.
"The young gambler got quite a
jolt by the fall, and, as he straight.
ened his chair, he looked up in mild
surprise at the big desperate who tow
cred 8 feet above him.
"'Get out, you white-faced kid
Gu home to your ma! You are nice
looking thing to be setting down to a
game like a man! Get out! Whoop J!
"With a fearful string of oaths, Ari-
zona Jake brandished a pistol over
Neeley's head, and ordered him to
leave the game, and get out of the
house.
T"The boys held their breaths for a
minute but, to their surprise, Neeley
merely said to the big bully, please 90
away and do not annoy mel
"'Go awayl Ha, ha like that
Say, young fellow, do you know me ?
"'Don't want to; let me finish this
deal,' replied the young gambler.
"Tbe big bully seemed little non
plussed because Neeley would not re-
sent anything he did, and, standing a
few feet away, he began to curse and
abuse the young fellow. BY this
time Neeley had lost his last chip.
"'I'll try one more deal. Give me
SIS worth of chips on my gun J! said
the gambler, as he took out his revol-
yer and passed it over to the dealer.
"The chips were pushed across the
table, and Nicely staked them all on
one turn of the cards.
"Arizona Jake had seen the young
man pass over his pistol, and, with a
yell, he jumped and seized Nicely by
the collar, lifting him clear over his
head. He swung him around two or
three times, and then let him drop on
the floor.
"Neeley landed on his feet, and
there was fire in his eyes.
"Quick as flash he reached across
the faro table and snatched up his
pistol from the open drawer where
the dealer had put it.
"J1ke saw the movement, and
reached for his own guns, but he was
not quick enough.
"There was a loud report, and the
big, cowardly outlaw tumbled over,
shot through the heart.
"Neeley turned back to the faro
table just as quiet as if nothing had
happened, and, handing his pistol
back to the dealer, he said:
60 on with the deal |! My last
five ON the queen