THE BAD MAN FROM TEXAS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 31, 16 April 1907, Page 7

THE BAD MAN FROM TEXAS.

"Speaking of men' of nerve and ability to shoot straight," saie the old ranchman, "maybe some of you have h-ard of ' Johnny Neeley ? Neeley came down to Santa Fc in the old days before the railroads. He hailed from St. Louis or Kansas t'ily, or somewhere up there, and was agent for something or other, T have. forgotten what. He was a little chap, weighed about one hundred and twenty pounds, and his face was as smooth as a girl's, but say, that fellow was one congealed lump of nerve.

"The town was tough in those days, and was full of tough men who could f-hoot, and were always looking out for a chance to practise with their weapons. This fellow Neeley was so little, and such an innocentlooking chap the boys soon marked him as a tender-foot, a ud prepared t 0 have fun with him. He was a jolly, devil-may-care sort, who loved to gamble, and spent more time at the table, than he did attending to his business.

"He did not drink, but loved to hang about the saloons and watch the gang. When some of the boys would shoot out the lights he always appeared pleased and interested. Neeley ignored several insults, and always walked away when one of ~the bad men of the town tried to pick a quarrel with , him, so the gang concluded that he would not fight, and then they were ready to begin their fun.

"One night Neeley strolled into the White Hose saloon, and sitting down by a small tabic some distance away from the gang, began ■smoking a long, black, Mexican cigar, while reading a newspaper that had come down by the last stage. He puffed away at his cigar until hall an inch of ashes hung a t the end. "The young fellow was tilted back in his chair, with his cigar pointed "P at an angle, of forty-five degrees. The ashes made a splenoid targvf, and big Hob Sweeny cautiously drew out his gun and gave the bovs the wink.

"There came a flash, a loud report and the bullet from Hob's pistol flecked the ashes off Neeley's cigar just as light and smooth a s if he had brush.d them away with his fingers. To the surprise of everyone present, the young fellow did not jump and yell as they expected. Instead he slowly folded the newspaper, 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 Sweeney's hand .he got up, and walking towards the (able where the gang were seated, asked in the mildest sort of tone: 'Did you shoot at me, or my cigar?'

"The gang were completely taken aback at the coolness of the fellow, "I just thought I'd flick the ashes off your cheroot, young fellow, an' save you the trouble,' replied Sweeny, who still held his revolver. "Thank you very much. I just wanted to know what you were shooting at. It was a good shot. There's no bad feeling. Have one with me.'-

As Ncoley spoke ho pulled out another long cigar, and handed it to Sweeny. The big fellow held out his hand l'ov the cigar, but he was fairly dazed by the action of the young man.

"Then Neelcy went back to his own table, and sat down again. As soon as Sweeny had recovered from his surprise he winked at the crowd, and, putting up his gun, struck a match to light his cigar. "As he raised the burning match towards his mouth there was a sharp report, and the match was knocked out of his fingers. "Quick as lightning Johnny Neeley had drawn a six-inch Derringer and had shot the match out of Sweeny's fingers. " 'Never light a cigar with a match. The fumes of the sulphur may spoil the flavour of the weed. Allow me to offer you a light,' said Neelcy, stepping over, and extending his lighted cigar with his left hand. "Say, Bob Sweeny's face was a study. He let his cigar drop on the table, and, with his hands on his knees, he sat there just a minute, and stared at the young chap. " 'Did you do that?' he gasped at last.

" 'Yes; but I meant no offence. 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 trifle.

"Ho got the cigar burning, and then he sat and puffed it in silence for five minutes, at the end of which time.he got up, and glancing at the half-burnt match lying on the floor, said: 'Well, I'll be hanged!" "Sweeny marched up to the bar, and took a drink without a word to the gang. Then he started out. To reach the door, he had to pass the table where Neeley sat quietly reading the newspaper. As he walked past the young fellow, the big bully took off his hat and went out of the door on tiptoe. Pretty soon the others of the gang followed, and before morning every man in Sante Fe knew that little Johnny Neeley was the quickest and best, shot in the territory, and that his nerve was the pure stuff. "That little shooting match fixed the young fellow's standing in the society of the territory, and the boys did not make any further effort to play jokes on him. Neeley, continued on the even ten 0 r of his way, never boasting of anything, and playing in hard luck most. of. the time for six months before the boys had a chance to see his nerve tested again. lie was gambling more and more all the time, and was usually broke. "One day there drifted into the town a professional bad "man. He wore his hair long and called himself Arizona Jake. His available assets consisted of two revolvers, a knife, acd a record of two murders, and three plain killings. But before he had been in the town many hours he let it be known that he was hunting trouble, and the boys decided that he should not be long in finding it,

ing a quftiTnl •#i'.J> l;!,u«. J oUtujyj Neeley, but :h*y; cwUJ* t jwovo ;«, ut\ the inquest. "It was late one night, wwl N'c»Uy was in the faro bank playing IJmJ high card, and losing right a!or>g rj» usual. 110 seemed (o have f:i!Uf> that his luck would change Hint night, and he kept closo watch on t.he game. Ho hat' spent his last dollar for chips, and had staked his last stack, when Arizona Jake entered the place with a regular Indian war-whoop, and fired a shot through the roof as a 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 (able, .fake was a big, strong fellow, and when lie caught sight of the little smooth-facet) chap sitting there playing faro it seemed to set him wild. He walked over, and catching hold of the back of Neeley's chair, lifted both fore feet from the floor, and let them go. "The young gambler got quite o jolt from the fall and as ho.straightened his chair, he looked up in mild surprise at the big desperado who towered three feet above him.

"Git out, you white-faced kid! G 0 home to ycr ma! You're ' a nicelooking thing to ,bc setting down to a game like a man! Get out! Get out ! Whoop !'

"With a fearful string 0 f oaths, Arizona -Take brandished a pistol over Neeley's head, and ordered him to leave the game, and get out of the houso. • "The boys held their breath for a minute, but, to their surprise, Neelex merely said to the big bully: 'Please g 0 away and do not annoy me.' " 'Go away! Ha, ha! I like that! Say, young fellow, do you know me'?' " 'Don't want to; let me finish this deal,' replied the young gambler. "The big bully seemed a littlo non-plussed because Neeley would not resent anything he did, and, standing a few feet away, he began to curse and abuse the young fellow. By this lime Neeley had lost his last chip. " 'l'll try one more deal. Give me sdol. worth of chips or. my gun,', said the gambler as he took out his revolver and passed it over to the dealer. "The chips were pushed across the . % table, and Neeley staked them on one turn of the cards. "Arizona Jake had seen the young man pass over his pistol, and, with a yell, he jumped up and seized Neeley by the collar, lifting him clean over his h'ad. 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 eves.

"Quick as a flash h 6 reached across the faro table and snatched up his pistol from the open drawer where the dealer had put it. "Jake 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 o ver, shot through the heart. "Neeley turned back to the faro table just as quiet as ifWthing had happened, and, handing his pistol back to the dealer, he said:

" 'Go on with the deal! My last five was on the queen!"- —"The Weekly Telegraph.".