Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-07-18
--you haze cAs.red the combination.

~<You haze chsAxed the combination.
Now open that safe, or der
The words cssSe low and sharp, and
Ben ralized 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 Gather than aid these
men in opening the safe.
xviii 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:
mo, will never open that safe, and
1t 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 a blazing brand on
the hearth near his hand, a new light of
desperate determination cleaned in his
eyes.
'"' guess that IL deaden the report
said one of the men, after he had sue
ceeded in arranging the mattress.
Then, stepping toward the key of
powder, he continues:
"'Come, boys; I'll take what powder
is needed, and you can set the remainder
in the wareroom out of danger.
"The three were bending over the key,
when suddenly Ben leaped to his feet and
hurled the blazing stick directly at them.
"A cry of horror from the men, and a
spout of flame shooting skyward, was
the last Ben saw or heard Tor 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 Garvins store was
in a bright blaze.
Hard work and plenty of water saved
the building, however, and the fire was
soon extnguished.
The torn and mangled remains of the
three masked men were discovered ana
carried into the open air.
Two were dead and the other wasdy-
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 8 clock
the next morning, the committee of mer-
chants and a physician were in his room,
while 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?
Al simply signed the old with my first
name,' came the low answer.
stepping to the door, Major Garvin
said:
THE combination is "Benela Ben, ="
and the safe will be opened in a 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.