Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-07-25

the taller OF themJ VINO was evidently tho
leader.
Slowly Ben's hands went up, and then
the tall man spoke again:
"'Rube, you can keep the youngster
covered while manipulate the combine
"For few moments the man worked
at the safe in silence, and then, suddenly
springing to his feet, knocked young Gil
more senseless.
"When Ben recovered consciousness.
he was lying on his bed, and the robbers
were seated by his side with their pistols
once more shining in his eyes.
"'You have changed the combination.
Now open that safe, or die!
1.-The words came low and sharp, and
Ben realized that to refuse meant death.
Yet, as he thought of the terrible suffer-
ing the poor people of the neighborhood
would undergo should their hardearned
money be taken from them, he resolved
to give up his life rather than aid these
men in opening the safe.
"'Will you work that combine? grated
the robber chief, pressing the revolver's
muzzle against the youths head.
Gilmore closed his eyes, anticipating
instant death, as he answered in tones
that left no doubt of his determination:
"'No, l will never open that safe, and
il is useless for you to ask me to do So
with an oath, the man brought his
revolver down on Ben's head, and for the
second time that night the youth rolled
to the floor unconscious.
when he again recovered his senses,
the burglars had removed the mattress
and covering from the bed and were plac-
ing it around the safe.
HE could see an open keg Of powder
in the door which led to the ware room,
and in an instant realized that they were
going to blow open the safe.
He groaned at the thought, and then,
as his eyes fell upon blazing brand on
the hearth near his hand, a new light of
desperate determination cleaned in his
eyes.
al guess that II deaden the report,
said one of the men, after he had sue
ceeded in arranging the mattress.
"Then, stepping toward the keg of
powder, he continued:
"Come, boys; I'll take what powder
is needed, and you can set the remainder
in the wareroom out of danger.
1.-The three were bending over the keg,
when suddenly Ben leaped to his feet and
hurled the blazing stick directly at them.
"A cry of horror from the men, and q
spout of flame shooting skyward, was
the last Ben saw or heard for many hours.
THE people of Benela were awakened
by the tremendous report, and by the
time they had reached the streets the en-
tire rear end of Major Garvin's store was
in a bright blaze.
Hard work and plenty of water saved
the building, however, and the fire was
soon extinguished.
The torn and mangled remains of the
three masked men were discovered and
carried into the open air.
1.-TWO were dead and the other was dy-
ing, but before breathing his last, the
suffering burglar recovered sufficiently
to tell what had occurred.
AT that moment the body of young
Gilmore was found under the mattress,
and quickly carried to the nearest house.
When the explosion occurred, the bed
clothing and mattress had struck him
first, thus saving his life.
when Ben opened his eyes at 9o'clock
the next morning, the committee of mer-
chants and a physician were in his room,
while a great throng of farmers and
laborers were gathered in front of the
house.
ION observing that his bookkeeper had
recovered consciousness, Major Garvin
came forward and said:
"'They are dead, Ben; but one lived
long enough to tell us what you did to
save the money. The people are here
and appreciate your action more than
words can express.
"A pleased smile lit up the pale face,
and seeing that his mind was perfectly
clear. Major Garvin asked
"'What is the new combination, my
boy?
IL simply signed the old with my first
name, came the low answer.
Stepping 10 the door, Major Garvin
said:
THE combination is "Benela Ben, "
| and the safe will be opened Ill few
moments.
Then some one proposed three cheers
| for the young bookkeeper-for Benela
| Ben-and only those who can compre-
| bend what the safety Of the money meant
! TO these people can understand the energy
and enthusiasm with which they were
! given.