The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-13
He Had to Deal With Three Murderous
Rurglars-Enective Work of
Spring Gun.

ne B0OWeO me b bAOCkuu, revolver 6uO
spring gun, which were to be used, or on
Ind to be used, to defend the place; and
Ae windows were protected with stout
)inds and the doors by double locks. The
ghways at that time were full of tramps,
hd there were hundreds of men who had
etermined to make living BY some other
cans than labor. Several attempts had
ben made to rob the store. and it had come
that pass that no clerk wanted to sleep
here alone.
The merchant seemed satisfied with the
hswers I gave him, and on certain Mon
Jay morning ! went to work. The same
light store about four miles away was
rOken into and robbed and the clerk seri-
usly wounded. Two nights later three
1orses were stolen in our neighborhood. At
" end of the week farmer who was on
way home from our store was robbed on
highway.
Il had not been light sleeper from
Abit these occurrences would have tended
prevent too lengthy dreams as lay in
by little bedroom at the front of the sec
nd story. The revolver was always placed
nder my pillow and the shotgun stood
.ithin reach. The spring. gun was set
bout midway of the lower floor. It was q
ouble- barreled shot gun, each barrel CON
aiming big charge of buckshot, and the
nan who kicked the string and discharged
he weapon would never know what hurt
i'm.
It did not seem possible that anyone
ould break into the store without arousing
ae. There was no door to my room, and
fter the people in the neighborhood had
one to bed I could hear the slightest
olse in the store. had looked the place
YER for a weak spot and had failed to find
but my own confidence came near prov
az my destruction. should have told
on in describing the store that just over
be spot where we set the spring gun was
opening through which we hoisted and
3wered such goods as were stored for q
me on the second floor. When not in use
his opening was covered by trap door.
Toward evening on the tenth day of my
lerkship I hoisted up lot of pals and
abs and had just finished when trade be-
anne 30 brisk that was called to wait
pom customers. Later on I saw that had
1T the trap door open and I said to myself
nat would let it go until went to bed.
he store had the only burglar proof safe
d miles around, and it was customary for
le farmer who had 800 or so to leave it
18th us. He received an envelope in which
yenclose it and he could take it out and
ut it in as he liked. On this evening four
five farmers came to deposit, and rs
fterward figured up. we had about 81, 500
! the safe.
| There were two strange faces in the crowd
aat evening. One belonged to a roughly
ressed, evil-eyed man, who announced
imself as drover, and the other was
Professional tramp. gave the latter
iece OF tobacco { and some crackers and
aeese and he soon went away, and we were
busy up to nine o'clock that I did not
i've the drover much attention. When W.
anne to shut up the store he had gone from
~ mind altogether. We counted up the
ssh. made some charges in the day-book,
nd it was about 10 O'Clock when the mer-
lant left. was tired, and took candle
BRING gun, and went to bed. had to pass
thin six feet of the trap-door as / went to
" room, but did not zee it. It was rather
lilly night in October and We had no fires
st, and as got under the blankets the
armth was 30 grateful that I soon fell
sleep.
Il was the first night had gone to bed
ithout thinking of robbers and wondering
ow should act in case they came in. /
id not know when fell asleep. Isudenly
'und myself upright in bed, and there was
I echo in the store, as if the fall of some
ming had aroused me. It was one o'clock
I'D had been asleep almost three hours.
Gaming on my elbow strained my ears to
itch the slightest sound. and after min
10 heard movement downstairs. While
could not say what it was, sort of in
met told me that it was made by some
imam being.
Everything on the street was as silent as
be grave. My window-curtain was up, and
could see that the sky had thickened and
ae very black. did not wait for the noise
be repeated. ! was just as sure that some
Inn. and crept softly out of bed, drew on
y trousers and moved out in the big room,
aving the revolver in my hand. There was
door at the head of the stairs. intended
| go there and listen down the stairway.
AS was moving across the room, which
as then pretty clear of goods as far as the
ap-door. suddenly recollected this open
3 and changed my course to reach it. It
as terribly dark in the room. and one un-
miliar with the place would not have
,red to move foot. Half way to the tran
got down on hands and knees and as I
ached the opening settled down on INV
omach. There was dim light down
Is in the store. After minute heard
lispers, then the movement of feet. then
certain sound which located the intruders
foot. They were at the safe in the
ont of the store.
drew myself forward and looked down
e opening, could see lighted candle
id two or three dark figures at the safe,
Id could hear the combination being
prked. My first thought was to drop my
nd down and open fire in their direction,
1t remembered that We had SO MANY arti-
ss hanging up that no bullet had a chance
hitting the men. / was wondering what
do, when heard one of the men whis-
4:
Fits all id nonsense. We might work
ire q week and not hit it,"
But told you to bring the tools and You
puldnst." protested another.
Oh, dry up!' put in a third voice.
What we want to do is to go up and bring
nt counter-hopper down and make him
EN- the box
.Pll Give the cussed thing few more
tals, said the first NAH, and heard him
Prking away again. My eyes could not
We told me the number of robbers, but
ears had. There were three of them,
d they were no doubt desperate and de-
Fmined men. They spoke of bringing me
wn to open the safe al il NO resistance
be anticipated or taken into account. In
led, they might we'll reason that they had
at their mercy. The rain was now fall
e, the night was very dark. and pistol
Ot lp the Sore could not have been heard
either of tina dwellings.
II they had reflected that might be
med they would have Offset it with the
ct that was boy of 10 with girls face
d probably girls nerve. don't deny
ut was bit ratified and that my lin
Puld culver in spite of me, but ! was at
same time fully determined to protect
store il it cost mo my life. How to get
the fell0WH was what bothered me, but
1t trouble Waa soon solved.
There" whispered the man a& the conn.,
nation - b let g Ct H. Il von't fool
llr