The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-06-22


through my back just as | shot my friend. That
day will surely come what have to do then,
with wife or children whom should leave
wdow-with children whom | should leave
tatherless What have to do with settling
= with comfort or home shall have them
when the pistol bullet sends me to my grave
beside my friend" said the German lock-
smith.
So much for what learned from my friend
the surgeon, concerning the past life Of the SIM
gular man by whose appearance | had been so
powerfully struck. Ofthe remainn portion
of his history the particulars came under my
own knowledge, and with the circumsta noes OF
It's termination | was myself to a certain extent
mixed up. My revolver was sent back TO me
repaired, just as was about TO sta ri away on
short journey ntothe enyrons, and Twas in some
haste, set off without trying 1t. In the course
Of day, however, partly wishing to ascertain
how far my pistol was restored TO a condition OF
usefulness, partly from desire to bring down
bird which saw OF the wing, apparently in
piStol-shot, lifted my revolver TO let fly at him
The weapon missed fire. On examination,
found that the defect 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, The hammer did not fall upon the
cap with sufficient force TO explode it. ! tried
the pistol several times, and finding II useless
sent 1t again, on my return to Jerusalem, TO the
German locksmih, charging my servant to eX
plain to him its new detect, and above all
things TO caution him as to its being loaded, as
/ had done on the former occasion. Mark how
IT returns to him again and again. Why not
have done its work at once The revolver
was brought back TO me the next day in state
as was told, of perfect repair This time |
took it into the garden TO try it. Che first time
it went off well enough, but the next tme-for
| | was determined TO prove IT thoroughly-I
found that its original defect had returned, and
the lock would not stir, pull at the trigger as |
might.
"There is something radically wrong here,
/ said. 81 will 90 myself and see the German
Iocksmith about it,
''That pistol again" said the German lock-
smith looking up, as | entered his miserable a
bode.
What would not have given TO have been
able to say anything that would have altered
the expression of that haggard countenance =
But it was impossible. ] made some attempts
10 draw the poor fellow into conversation,
they didl wholly useless, my comparative ;gno-
rance of his language would have stood IN the
way of my saying anything that could have
been OF any service. Our conversation then
limited itself to the matter in hand, aud we a
greed that the only thing to be done with The
pistol now was TO take its lock of, and make
/ perfectly new one in limitation OF it. This,
however, would take some time, aud it would
be necessary that the locksmith should keer the
weapon by him for three or four days at least
fIe took it from my hands as he told me 50, and
placed it carefully on a shelf, at the back OF his
shop.
"Above all things" said, rs left The house,
'Fabore all things, remember that the revolver
Is loaded"
81 shall not forget IT. he s1id, turning round
to me with ghastIy smile.
This, then, was the third time that ps-
ol was taken back 10 the German ior re-
pairs.
1t was the last
The German locksmh, being very much oC-
Cupicd, owing TO the reputation be had obtain
as a clever workman, had taken into his en-
pEoymenta sort OF apprentice or assistant, 10
help him ID the simple and more mechanical
parts OF his trade. He was not much of use, a
stupid, idle, trilling fellow at best. One day
soon after had left my revolver for the last
time to be mended, this lad came 10 from exc
cutting some erIand, and standing idly about the
place, took down my pistol from :he shelf on
which it lay, and began TO look at 1t with some
curiosity, not being accustomed 10 the sight Of
a revolver.
The locksmith turning round from his work,
saw the lad occupied hastily told him to put
the pistol back IN the place where he had taken
it from. He had not, time he sad, to attend to
it yet. II was loaded, and 1t was dangerous 10
pull it about in that manner. Having said
this, the German lockSmlth turned round, and
and went on with what he was ABOUT, with his
back towards the lad whom he had just eau
toned, and who, he naturally supposed had
restored the pistol al once TO lis shelf
/ The boys curiosity, however, was excited by
the revolver, and instead of doing as he was bid
he retained it in has 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 10 himself, ''Strauge, how that
pistol returns to me, again and again."
The words were not out OF his lips when the
fatal moment, so long expected, arrived, and
the charge from my revolver entered his back.
He fell forward in moment, saying, as he fell
ssAt last ~
The foolish bog rushed out of the shop with
the pistol in his hand, screaming for assistance
SO loudly, that the neigh5ors were soon alarmed
and hastened ina 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 hls garments TO examine tine