Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-06-23
ONE GENT

stare at him from the paper he was read
ing.
@Then, after a few moments silence,
he muttered:
Starvation and untold misery would
be the portion of these people were that
money stolen. / am going to change the
combination again.
with that he left his seat, and walking
TO the huge safe, knelt before it
Just as he completed his task, and was
about TO rise. cold draught of wind
famed his cheeks, and he turned toward
the door With the knowledge that il was
open.
Three masked men stood Just inside
the room, and three deadly revolvers
covered the bookkeeper's heart
Throw up your handsr commanded
the taller of them, who was evidently the
leader.
Slowly Ben's hands wentup, 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 Gill
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 diep
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 combineY 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, l 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 rOoms
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
I. al. I.t lsfrHak s4E
desperate determination cleaned in his
eyes.
~ 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.
4The 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
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 tho
time they had reached the streets the en-
tire rear end of Major Garvin's store was
in bright blaze.
"Hard work and plenty of water saved
the building, however, and the fire was
soon extinguished.
"The torn and mangled remains Of tho
three masked men were discovered and
carried into the open air.
4. n a ~
ing, but before breathing his last, the
suffering burglar recovered sufficiently
70 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 9 o'clock
the next morning, the committee of mer-
chants and physician were in his room,
while a great throng of farmers and
laborers were gathered in front Of the
house.
"On observing that his bookkeepcr 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:
@sWhat is the now combination, my
boyT
@'I simply signed the old with my first
name,' came the low answer.
Stepping to the door, Major Garvin
said:
~sThe combination Is @Benela Ben,
and the safe will be opened in few
Moments
Then some one proposed three cheers