Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-17

I said. 4 viii 10 myseIf and seq the German

] said. 4 viii 90 myself and sec the German
lOckSmith about it, without delay
"'That pistol again. said the Iocksmith,
looking up, as entered his miserable abOde.
What would not have given 70 have been
able 70 say anything that would have altered
the expression Of that haggArd eountenanee.
But II was impossible. lmade some attempts
to draw the poor ElIOw into eonveshtion,
though felt that even IL these had not pro-
we'd Gas they did, wholly useless, my eOmpaF.
alive ignorance Of his language wOnId have
stood in the way Of my 1yiBg anything that
could have been Of any service. Our convcr-
Sation, then, limited itself TO the matter in
hand, and we agreed that the OnIything to be
done with this pistol now was to take its lock
OF, and make perfectly new one in imita.
ton il. This however, would take sOme
time, and It would be necessary that the lock-
smith should keep the weapon by him for
three or four days at least. lie took 1t from
my hands as he told me 50, and placed Il
carefully on shelf at tlN back Of his shop.
"'AbOve all things | said as ] left the
house-1above ell things, remember that the
revolver iS loaded"
"'I shall not forget it, he said, turning
round to me with . ghastly smile.
'This, then, was the third time that that
pistol Was taken back to the German lock-
smith for repair.
ut was the last.
II can See," continued the narrator of this
strange story, looking round uS, after pause
~ can see that you ell know what happen.
ed, and that 4 have only 10 tell you Aoto the
fatal termination Of my story was brought
about
"The German locksmith, being very much
occupied, owing to the reputation he had OBJ
tai2ed Is . clever workman, had taken intO
his employment q sort Of an apprentice or
assistant, to help him in the simple and more
mechanical parts Of his trade. He was not Of
much use. A stupid, idle, tri6ing fellow at
best. One day, soon after had left my re-
volver for the last time to be Inended, this
lad came in from executing some errand, and
standing idle about the place, took down my
pistol from the shelf on which il lay, and be.
gan to look at it with SOme curiosity, not be-
ing accustomed to the sight Of revolver.
THE locksmith. turning round from his
work, saw the lad thus occupied, and hastily
told him to put the pistol back in the place
he had taken it from. He had not had time
he said, to attend TO il yet. II was loaded,
and it was dangerous to pull it about in that
manner. Having said this. the German lock.
smith turned round, and went on with what
he vas about, riGh his back EOr0rds the lad
whom he had just cautioned, and who, he
naturally supposed, had restored the pistol ct
once to its shelf
1.-The boys curiosity, however, was excited
by the revolver, and, instead of doing as he
Was bid, he retained il in his hand, and went
on prying into it, examining how the lock
acted, and what were its defects.
''The poor German was going on with his
work, muttering to himself Strange, how
that pistol returns to me, sgain.'
1.-THE words were not out Of his lips when
the fatal moment, 50 long expected, arrived,
and the charge from my revolver entered his
back. lie fell forward in . moment, saying
as he fell, AT last
"The foolish boy rushed out Of the shop
with the pistol in his hand, screaming for Is.
sistance 20 loudly that the neighbOTs were
soon alarmed, and hastened in crowd to the
house Of the poor lOcksmith.
my friend the surgeon was instantly sent
for, and from him gained the particulars
which follow
Turning the poor fellow over on his face,
and cutting open his garments to examine
the wound, tho surgeon said tn those who
were standing around: The ball has entered
his back; II BY chance II should have glanced
off and passed round by the ribs, ~ will some.
times happen, this wound would not be fatal.
"'lt q fatal, said the wounded man, ith
sudden effort Have been waiting for this
stroke 90 long, and shall il fail to do It's work
when It comes! It is fatal he gasped again,
and | shall die but not here
Il have TO relate horrible and incredible
thing. which, Impossible ~ Il seems, il yet
true.
Suddenly, the German locksmith started
up from where he lay, pushing aside ell those
who stood around him with an unnatural and
inc0nceivable strength. Ills body swayed for
an instant from side to side, and then he dar.
ted forwards. The crowd gave way before
him, and he rushed from the house. He tore
along the StreetS-the few people whom he
met giving way before him, and looking after
him in horror IS he few slOng-his clothes
cut open at the back. blood stained and drip.
ping. and with death in his regard. Not one
pause, not IN abatement in bis speed till he
reached the iniir:nary, passed the man who
kept the door, and up the stairs he flew, moi
stopped till he came to q bed which stands
beneath the window, and across which the
shadow Of Q cypress falls when the sun be-
gins to sink.
II was the bed on which his friend had
breathed his hast.
~ must die here, said tho German lock.
smith, as he fell upon it. 1T is here that
must die
"And there he died. The haunting thought
which had made his existancc living death
was justified. The prescntiment had come
true ct last; and when the thunder-cloud
which had hung 80 long over this mans life,
had discharged its bolt upon bis head, it seem.
ed to Us a. Il the earth were then lighter, fol
the shade had passed away.
"Is death the name for release like this:
Who could look upon his happy face, 40 be
lay upon that bed, and say soi
'It was not the end Of liIe-but the be.
ginning"
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