The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1897-01-28
JOHNNY NEELEY'S NERVE.

speaking of men Of nerve and abil-
ity to shoot straight" said an OLD
ranchman from New Mexico, at the
Hoffman House, says a New York cor
respondent of the st. Louis Globe-D Dem
ocrat, maybe some of you have heard
of Johnny Neeley? Medley came down
to Santa Fee in the old days before the
railroads. He hailed from st. Louis
Or Kansas City, or somewhere up tn ere
and was agent for something or other,
I've forgotten what. He was a little
chap, weighed about 100, and his face
was as smooth as a girls. but, say,
that fellow was one CONCEALED lump
of nerve.
"The town was tough in those days,
and was full of tough men who could
shoot and we're always looking out for
a chance to practice with their weap-
ons. This fellow Neeley was so little
aud was such all innocent-looking chap
the boys soon marked him as a tender
foot and prepared to have fun with
him. He was q jolly, devil-may-care
sort. 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
around the saloons and watch the gang.
When some of the boys would shoot
out the lights he always appeared
pleased and interested. Medley ignored
several insults, and always walked
away when one of the bad men of the
town tried to pick a quarrel with hln,
so the gang concluded that he would
not fight, and then they were ready to
begin their fun.
lone night Neeley strolled into the
White Rose saloon, and sitting down
by a small table some distance away
from the gang. began smoking a long
bla. k Mexican cigar while reading a
newspaper that had come down by the
last stage. He puffed away at The
cigar until half an inch OF ashes hung
at the end.
The young fellow was tilted back
in his chair with the cigar pointing mp
at an angle of 45 degrees. The ashes
made a splendid target, and big Bob
Sweeney cautiously drew his gun II
gave the boys the wink.
"There was a fash. a loud report,
and the bullet from Bob's pistol 1eckcd
| the ashes off Neeley's cigar just as light
and smooth as If he 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
expected. Instead he slowly folded his
newspaper, laid it down on the table,
and then turned and looked at the
| gang with a questioning expression OIL
| his face. He did 0 eve remove tue
| cigar from his mouth.
"Hhen he saw the smoking revolver
in Swceny's hand he got up, II walk
ing ever toward the table where the
gang were seated, asked in the milde.it
sort Of tone, Did you shoot at me OF
MY cigar:'
The gang was completely taken back
at the & v'ness of the fellow.
~ just thought I'd flip the ashes
eff yer sheroot, young feller, an save
you the trouble replied Sweeny, wh'
still held lis revolver.
""Thank you very much. l just want
ed to know what you were shooting at
1t was d good shot. There's no hare
feelings. Have one with me"
"As Medley spoke he pulled out an
other long cigar and handed it to Swe
ny. The Zig fellow held out his HAND
1Ol tiC NISaly put hC Nuc A'lliy ''"S
by the action of the young man.
Then Neeley went back to his owl
table and set down again. AS soon II:
Swrrnr had recovered from his sur
Prise lie winked at the crowd, and
putting UP his gun, struck Il match tt
light his cigar.
AS he raised the burning mattel
toward his mouth there was a sharl
reDOrt. and il was knocked out of his
fingers.
"Quick as lightning Johnny Neele!
had drawn a 6-inch derringer and hat
shot the match out of Sweeny's fingers
"'Never light a cigar with a match
The fumes of the sulphur may spoi
the flavor of the weed! Allow me tt
offer you a light said Neeley. stepping
over and extending his lighted cigal
with his left hand.
"Say, Bob Sweeny's face was