The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-01-19
Just Pure Nerve.

when one of the group asked il thew
had ever known OF Johnny Neeley,
who staid awhile in Santa Fe in the
early days of the town. He wasn't a
bad man" little, smoothfaced chap,
weighing perhaps 1875 pounds. But he
was lightning, and by and by the boys
learned that he carried large quaint.
ties of r with him at all times.
One night Medley strolled into the
White Rose saloon and sitting down
by a small table some distance away
from the gang began SIN 0king a long,
black Mexican cis ar while reading a
newspaper that had come down by the
last stage. He pulled away at the
cigar until half an inch of ashes hung
to the end.
The young fellow was tilted back in
his chair pointing up at an angle of
forty-five degrees. The ashes made a
splendid target, and Big Bob Sweeney
cautiously drew his gun and gave the
boys the wink.
There "a a fash, a loud report, and
the bullet from Bob's pistol f9cked the
ashes off Neeley's cigar just as light
and smooth as if he had brushed them
away with his his fingers. To the sur
prise Of every one present the young
fellow did not j imp and yell as they
had expected, Instead he slowly folded
the paper, laid it down on the table
and then turned and looked at the gang
with a questioning expression on his
face. He did not even remove the cigar
from his mouth.
When he saw the smoking revolver
in Sweeny's hand, he got up and, walk.
ing over to the table where the gang
were seated, asked in the mildest sort
of tone, Did you shoot at me or my
cigar9"
The gang was completely taken
aback at the GOODNESS of the fellow.
II just thought I'd flip the ashes off
yer cheroot, young fellow, and save
you the trouble, replied Sweeney, who
still held his revolver.
Thank you very much. / just
wanted to know what you we're shoot
ing at. 1t vas a good shot. There's
no hard feeling. Have n with MEL
As Nelly spoke he pulled out another
long cigar and handed il to Sweeney.
The big fellow held out his hand for
tina cigar, but he was fairly dazed by
the action of the young man.
Then Neeley went back to his own
table and sat down again. As soon as
Sweeney had recovered from his sur
prise he Winked at the crowd, and,
putting up his gun, struck a match to
light his cigar. As he raised the burn.
ing match toward his mouth there was
a sharp report, and 1t Yves knocked out
of his fingers, Quick as lightning
Johnny Medley had dra wn a 6 inch der
ringer and had shot the match out of
S~weeney's fingers.
Never light a cigar with a match.
The fumes of the sulphur may spoil the
flavor of the weedl Allow ma to offer
you a light. said Nicely, stepping over
and extending his lighted cigar with
his left hand.
Bob S~weeney's face was a study. He.
let his cigar drop on the table, and,
with his hands on his knees, he list sat
there for a minute and stared at the
young chap.
Did you do thatG" he gasped at last.
YES, but l meant no offense. Here is
a light"
Bob picked up his cigar, but when
he went to light it the boys saw that
his hand was shaking a tr1fs. He got
the cigar burning. and then he sat and
pulled it IN silence for five minutes, at
the end of which time he got up, and,
glancing at the half burned match ly
ing on the fl Dor, said:
well, I'll be-"
Sweeney marched up to the bar and
took a drink, without q word to the
gang. Then he started out. To reach
the door he had TO pass the table where
Neeley sat quietly reading the news
paper. AS he walked past the young
fellow the big bully took off his hat
and went out at ohe door on tiptoe
Pretty soon the others of the gang fol
lowed, and before morning every man
in Santa Fe knew that little Johnny
Neeley was the quickest and best s1ot
IN the territory 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 boast
ing of anything and playing in