1989 AJHSME Problem 14

When placing each of the digits 2,4,5,6,9 in exactly one of the boxes of this subtraction problem, what is the smallest difference that is possible?

\text{(A)}\ 58 \qquad \text{(B)}\ 123 \qquad \text{(C)}\ 149 \qquad \text{(D)}\ 171 \qquad \text{(E)}\ 176

\begin{array}{cccc} & \underline{\,\,} & \underline{\,\,} & \underline{\,\,} \\ - & & \underline{\,\,} & \underline{\,\,} \\ \end{array}

Full credit goes to MAA for authoring these problems. These problems were taken on the AOPS website.