Mohave County miner., 1888-03-24

Dound which located the intruders 20 0
foot. drew myself forward and looked
down the opening. could see q lighted
candIc and two or three dark figures al
the safe, and l could hear the comtina.
ton being worked. Ny first thought tgas
to drop my hand down and open frs In
their direction, but remembered that We
Ind 20 many articles hanging mp that no
bullet had a chance Of reaching 10 thc
safe. was wondering what 70 do when
heard ono Of the men whisper:
"ft'B oil d---i nonsense. We night
work here week and not hit it, -
But told you 10 bring the tools end
you wouldn't" protested another.
"Oh, dry up'' put in q thlrd voice.
"Nhat we want 10 do Is 10 90 up anal
bring that counterhopper down aud make
him open the box. ..... E
"I'Gi give the cuSsed thing few nsare
trials" said the first man, aud heard
him working away again. Ny eyes conbl
not haze told me the nnmbsg Of robbers,
but my cars had. There were three oi
/. them, and they ~ssc no ,acubs desperate
and deteinained haen. They spoke oi
bringing ne down 20 open the safe rs II
no resistance was anticipated or taken
into account, Indeed, they Nigh. well
reason that they had me at their mercy.
The rain was now falling, tho night was
very dark, and pistol shot I'm the store
could not have been heard IN either Of the
dwellings II they had renected that 7
might be armed, they would have offset
Il with the fact that was a boy u 1e,
with a girls face and probably girls
nerve. j don't deny that was q bit
ratified, and that my lip would quiyer IN
spite OF me, but was a. the same time
fully determined 10 protect the store II II
cost me my life. How TO get at the fel.
lows was what bothered me, but thai
trouble WIS soou solved.
There whispered the man at ihc
combination, al he let 20 Of IL, ~ won't
fool here another minute. That kid know
the combination, and we can make him
work g. Come on
They were coming up stairs. The best
place for me would he at the head Of to,
stairway. The stairs had q half turn Il
them, and would fire upon the first unr'
~h" came within range. beard the nv:
coming back 70 the stairway. and 81
nerve gave way. II wasn't from cowrf...
ice, but the knowledge that was 10 ~
a human being upset me. decided I
retreat TO my room, and, IL they pcrslsicf
In coming that far, would shoot. TII
trio had rubbers on their feet, but the
came up stairs without trying very hGr,
70 prevent making noise. Tho one Gh.
came first had tho candle, and, as he =
to the head Of the stairs, l saw knife IL
his other hand. They made no dcIsy {
approaching my room, and with grr
effort braced myselt for what saw nut.
happen. They could not see me unit
within three or four feet Of the door, aur
their first intimation that was out Of he,
was when they heard me call out:
Stop, or IN shoot you''
] had them covered with the weapon
and for fifteen seconds there was den(
silence. Then they got plan. The nIaI
with the candle dashed ID on the foor.
nd l suppose they meant 10 rush IN OF.
me In the dark. but checkmstcd 1t bS
opening fire. They then either meant e
retreat down stairs or toward the rear o.
the floor, for I saw the three toscthc.
moving OF, and fired al their dim tigures.
Three seconds later there was grca
shout Of horror, followed by the ire
meDdOus report Of the double barreicL
spring gun, and then there was absolute
silence. think I stood Ia the door
shaking like leaf, for fully thrr
minutes bcfo-e the silence was broken by
a groan. Then IL came to me that the
robbers had fallen through the open door
upon the cond leading to the gun.
struck a match, lighted my own candle
and, going 10 the opening. SAW three bolies
lying below. Running back 10 the lr-l
room to rcchargo my revolver, I the
went down stairs TO investigate Il VIZ
as | suspected. The three had pite'c.
down together. The top Of ones hcu.
bad bccn blown of by the SHOT, q sccoi
had n hole in his chest as big as your list
while the third, who was responsible fO
tho groans, was severely wounded in bot
legs. IL was three months before b'
could bc put on trial, and he then 90
four years IN prison. The whole thin
was put up job. The 'drover" was /
Chicago burglar called "Clawhamiue.
Dick. and he had hidden himself In tn
store that night, and then let his pals g.
by the back door. They had horse ant
wagon in the rear Of the building, and ID,
plan was 10 rob the store OF goods as wei
as 10 get NJ the money In the safe. A bi
Of carclcsoncss on my part not only save
the store and probably my life, but wipe
out very desperate gang --Nsw YorI
Sun.