Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-02-06

s.crack !-the can fell-a loud ehont-but instead of
a smile of pleasure, dark frown settled upon the
face Of Fink He made motion except to clutch
his rifle, though be would have crushed it, gazing
at the youth strangely
Various shades of passion crossed his features
SURPRISE rsge, suspicion-but at length they eompos
ed themselves into sad expresson the ball had
grazed the top of his head cutting the scalp and the
thought Of treachery had set his heart on fire.
There was loud call upon Mike to know what he
waiting for, in which Carpenter joined pointing
to the upon his head and bidding him fire, if he
knew how!
carpenter, my son. said the boatman, ''I taught
you to shoot differently from that last shot You've
missed once, but you won't again :"
He fred and his ball, crashing through the FORE
head Of the youth, laid him corpse mid his sud-
denly hushed companions
Time on-many at the fort spoke darkly of
the deed. Mike Fink had never been known to miss
his aims-he had grown afraid of Carpenter-he had
murdered him While this feeling was gathering
against him, the unhappy boatmen lay in his cave,
stunning both sympathy and sustenance He spoke TO
none-when he did come forth twas a spectre, and
only to haunt the grave of his boy or, if he did
break silence twas to burst into paroxysm of rage
against the enemies who had "turned his boys heart
from him.
At the fort by the of Talbot, the
gunsmith of the station he very loud and bitter
in his denuncis tons of the 'murderer as he called
Fink, which finally reaching tie of the latter,
filled hm with the most violent passion, and he swore
he would take the life of his defamer The threat
was almost forgotten, when day, Talbot who
at work in his shop Fink enter the fort, his
first visit since the death of Carpenter. Fink ap-
proGched-Ie worn, sick and wasted there
was no anger in his bearing but he carried his rifle
chad he gone without it y and the gunsmith was
not coolly brave man moreover his life had been
threatened.
talbot. you've accused me of murdering-my
boy-Carpenter that loved like a son-that can't
live without-I'm not mad with you now hut YOU
must let me show you that | couldn't do it-that I'd
rather died than done it-that you've wronged me"
"Fink," cried he, snatching up pair of pistols
from his beIch, "don't approach me-if you do, you
are dead man -
Talbot said the boatman, in a sad voice, ''you
needn't be afraid you've done me wrong-Im come
to you to talk about Carpenter-my boy!''
He continued to advance, and the gunsmith again
called to him.
'Fink, know you-if you three steps near
er III fire, by - ~
Mike carried his rifle across his arm and made no
hostile demonstration, except in gradually getting
nearer-if hostile his aim
By this time he was within few steps of the door,
and Talbots agitation became extreme. Both pistols
were pointed at Fink's breast in expectation Of a
spring from the latter.
''By the Almighty above u.s. Fink I'll fire. don't
want to speak TO you now-dont put your foot on
that step-don't."
INK did put ms loot on the step, and the same mo-
ment fell heavily within it, receiving the contents of
both barrels in his breast His last and on, words
were:
81 did not mean to kill my boy -
| Poor Mike we are satisfied with our seniors cor
viction that you did not mean TO kill him. Suspicion
of treachery doubtless entered his mind, but
dice and murder never dwelt there.
few weeks after this event, Talbot himself per-
ished in attempt to the Missouri river in
skif