Nevada County picayune., 1890-09-11

member of the committee.
 And glad of an opportunity to satisfy the curiosity of his compan- ions he continued:
 '.'This Mir. Rose and his two friends came in yesterday, and have spent the time since their arrival in looking at some of the timber lands in this locality. They contemplate purchasing several thousand acres, and intend erecting monster saw mill on the river a few miles below.
 After few comments on the new enterprise, the committee of mer- chants adjourned to their homes, and Gilmore was left alone with his ledgers.
 "The office stood some fifteen feet back from the store, with narrow hallway connecting the two, and when the clerks had handed in their note books and returned to their own sleeping-rooms in the rear of the larger building, Ben knew he would see no more of them until the next morning.
 "Aftor depositing the receipts for tlS T .I, r. II. I q. drawing his chair near the fire, at tempted to read.
 Ut was useless, however, as the cunning face of the man who had glanced in while the committee were present. kept passing through his mind.
 " He evidently heard Major Gar vim mention the combination, unused Ben, as the mans face once more appeared to stare at him from the paper he was reading.
 Then, after few moments si- lenCe, he muttered
 '' Starvation and untold misery would be the portion of these people were the money stolen. 1 am going to change the combination again.
 With that he left his seat, and walking to the huge safe, knelt down before it,
 Just q, 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 it was open.
 "Threc masked men stood just in side the room. and three deadly revolvers covered the young book keepers heart.
 Throw up your hands, com handed the tallest of them, who was evidently the leader.
 "Slowly Ben's hands went up, and then the tall man spoke again;
 Rube, you can keep the young ster covered while l manipulate the combine
 For a few moments the man worked at the safe in silence then, suddenly springing to his feet, he knocked young Gilmore senseless.
 "When Ben recovered conscious ness 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 cOmbina- ton. Now, open that safe or die
 "The words came low and sharp, and Ben realized that to refuse meant death. Yet, as he thought of the terrible suffering the poor people of the neighborhood would undergo should their hard-earned 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 muzzlc against the youths head.
 "Gilmore closed his eyes, antici pating instant death, as he answered in tones that left no doubt of his de- termination!
 "'No, l will never open that safe, and it 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 on the floor uncon- scious.
 'When he again recovered his senses the burglars had removed the mattress and covering from the bed, and were busy placing it around the safe,
 "He could see an open keg Of powder in the door which led to the
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