The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-09-21

ID, and as i was JUST ABOUT 10 blaIt oh ~
hort Journey into the envrons, and was In W
some haste, set off without trying 1t. 81
In the course of the day, however, partly
wishing to ascertain how far my pistol was IL
restored to a condition Of usefulness, and
partly from desire to bring down bird "
which I saw on the wing, apparently within 8
pistol shot, l lifted my revolver to let fly at C
him.
The weapon missed fire.
On examination, found that the defect I
this time was precisely the reverse of what
it had been before. The lock went so loosely
now, and had so little spring in it, that the
hammer did not fall upon the cap with suffi-
cient force to explode it. 1 tried the pistol
several times, and finding it useless, sent it
sgsin, on my return to jerusalem, to the
German locksmith, charging my servant to
explain to him its defect, and above all
things to caution him as to its being loaded,
as had done myself on the former occasion.
& Mark how the pistol played with the mans
life Mark how it returns to him again and
again! Why not have done its work at
once The revolver was brought to me
the next day in a state, Os was told, Of per-
feet repair.
This time I took it into the garden and
tried it. The first time it went off well
enough, but at the next time--for was de-
termined to prove it thoroughly--1 found
that it's original defect had returned, and the
lock would not stir, pull at the trigger as
might.
"There Is something radically wrong
here," | said. II will 60 myself and see the
German locksmth about it without delay"
"That pistol, again." said the locksmth,
looking up as entered his miserable abode.
Whot would not have given to have been
able to say anything that would have altered
the expression Of that haggard counten0nce.
But it was impossible. made some attempts
to draw the poor fellow into conversation
though | felt that even if these had not
, proved (as they dd) wholly useless, my com.
puratve ignorance of his language would
hsve stood in the way of my saying any
I thing that could have been Of any service.
Our conversation then limited itself to the
, matter in hand, and we agreed that the only
thing to be done with the pistol now was to
4 take its lock off, and make new one in i'm
: iation Of it. This, however, would take
I some time, and it would be necessary that
n the locksmith should keep the weapon by
!. him for three or four days at least. He took
o it from my hands, as he told me so, anc
8 placed it carefully on shelf at tie back o
ia his shop.
o "Above all things" | said, as left tht
. house-"above all things, remember that thu
6 revolver is loaded"
n 81 shall not forget it, he said, turnin!
o round 10 me with CHASTITY smile.
This, then, was the third time TINT pisto
it was taken back to the German locksmitl
10 for repair.
ID II was the last.
st "I can see," continued the narrator of thi
b, story, looking round on US after pause
81 can see that you all know what happen
ed, and that have have only to tell yo
" how the fatal termination Of my story wa
,a brought about"
10 The German locksmith, being very muc
n occupied, owing to the reputation he had oh
i tanned as clever workman, had taken int
.is his employ yment sort of apprentice or as
S. sistant, to help him in the more simple an
,e moro mechanical parts of his trade. He wa
os not of much use. A stupid, idle, trifin
he fellow at best. One day, soon after lie
lis nv revolver for the last time to be mende
10 this lad came in from executing some e
s- rand, ard standing idly about The place, too
nd down my pistol from the shelf on which
&c, lay, and began to look ut it with some cur
i'm osity, not being accustomed to the sight {
q revolver.
he The locksmth turning round from h
he work, saw the lad thus occupied, and hasti
told him to put the pistol back in the plac
he had taken it from. He had not time,
III Sulu1 W uttChu " IL yCS ~ -"O' iooNSOS ~i
est it was dangerous to pull it about in that maj
Nv ner. Having said this, the German loci
he smith turned round, snd went on with VIII
as he was about, with his back towards the Ii
I'D whom he had just cauntioned, and who,
ne naturally supposed, had returned the pist
lily at once to its shelf.
At The boys curiosity, however, was excit
led by the revolver, and, instead Of doing as
as was bid, he retained it in his hand, and we
i'm on prying into it, examing how the loo
md acted, and what were its defects.
uld The poor German was going on with
80 work, muttering to himself, "Strunge he
TO that pistol returns to me again."
n The words were not out Of his lips whe
re. the fatal moment, so long expected, arrive
nm and the charge from my revolver entered
ore back. He fell forward in moment, sayi
ore as he fell, "At last"
as The foolish boy rushed out of the sh
, of with the pistol in his hand, screaming
the loudly for assistance that the neighbors we
uld soon alarmed, and hastened 10 a crowd
i'm. the house of the poor locksmith.
BILE MY friend the surgeon was instantly sc
me for, and from him gained the particul
,tol which follow: Dbl. .a.ssa.}
NU -.L colI l., - s.