The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-15

- >%8S <rSNH kA@AsER Ex tt<ttt Afkr-s&
when onc ef shs group asked II they had
ever known 81 Johnny Neeley. wha stayed
ewaiie IN santa Re In she early days ct
sae TOWN. He wasn't q had man.. . lit-
&c smooth-fAced char. weighing perhaps
Ii ponnds- But Ne was lightning and by
ana ny the hcys feared that ne carried
saree quantities. OF nerve with him ~ al
one ntgAt Neesey ssrc.s~d faso the
White Rose saiecn, and xsssins down by
= email table some distance away frosu
the sang began smoking = long black
Mexsean cigar while reading a newspaper
that had come down by the iass stage He
puGed away at the cigar until half an inch
OF ashes hung AZ the end.
1he young Fellow was tilted hack IN MS
chair with the cigar pointing up ~ an an
Gle OF - degrees The ashes made .
splendid target. and bag Sob Sweeney eau
tsonsiy drsw ais gun and gave the boys
she wink
There was fash. q loud report and rhe
bullet rom Bob's pistol aeeked the ashes
of Neeiey's cigar Just az light and smooth
as II he had brushed them away with his
finger. To the surprise OF every enc pres
ent tho young fellow did not lump and
yell ~ they aad expected. Instead, ne
slowly folded the newspaper. lad It down
ON the table. and then turned and looked
az the gang with a questioning expression
on his face. He d.d not even remove the
cigar from his mouth.
When ne cav the smoking revolver sn
sweeney's hand he got up. and walking
over toward the table where the sang was
seated. asked IN the rnildest sort OF tore,
did you shoot 1T me or my cigar-'
The gang vas completely taken aback
81 tho coOsnesU Of T7se fellow.
II just thought I'd NIP the ashes OF yer
chsroos. young Teller. an save Won the
trouble" replied SWEENEY. who stia held
his revolver.
Thank yeu very much. j Just wanted
to know what you were shooting at. It
was good shot. There's no hard feelings.
Have one with mel.
As Neciey spoke he pulled out another
long cigar and handed II TO Sweeney. The
big fellow he'd out mis- hand for the cigar.
but he was fairly daxed by the acton Of
the young man. Then Neeiey went back
20 his own table and eat down again. As
soon as Sweeney had recovered from his
surprise he w.nked at the crowd. and, put
ting up his gun, struck q match to Eight
MS cigar. As he raised the burning match
toward his mouth there was a sharp re-
port and II was knocked out Of has fingers.
Quick as lightning Jofnny Medley had
drawn 5-inch derr,nger and had shot the
match out OF sweeney's fingers.
Never iignt a cigar with a match. Tho
fumes OF the sulphur may spoil the flavor
OF the weed. Allow me to offer You .
light said Medley, stepping over and ex-
tending his lighted cigar with his left
hand.
Bob Sweeney's face was study He let
hss cigar drop on the table. and with his
hands on his knees he Just sat there tor
minute and stared at the young chap.
Did you do that?" he gasped 1T last.
'.Yes: but meant no offsnse. Here 70 .
Tight"
Bob picked up his cigar. hut when he
went 20 light II the boys saw that his hand
was shaking . tribe. He GOT the cigar
burning. and then he sat and pufred II In
silence for Ave minutes. At the end Of
which time he got up. and. xiancinG at the
half-burned match lying on the dor. said:
Well, I'll Be --.''
Sweeney marched up 20 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 Neeiey sat quietly
reading the newspaper. As he walked
past the young fellow the Dig bully took
OF his hat and went out 81 the door On
t.ptoc. Pretty soon the Others Of the gang
followed. and before morning every man
IN Santa Fe knew that little Johnny Nee
ley was the quickest and best shot In tho
territory. ana that his nerve was the pure
stuff
That little shooting match fixed tho
young fellows standing IN tho society of
the territory. and the boys did not make
any further efforts TO play Jokes on him.
Neeiey continued on the even tenor Of his