The Huttig news., 1909-03-20

at it. He wasn't superstitious, he said, but he had seen things done in the Hindoo temples that passed the comprehension of a western mind. Just before he left Calcutta there was great furore about the temple thieves, who wrought great losses in the temples; and then the priests got their magic to working. Then the things that happened to the thieves were most awful-and the stories that got abroad about them were worse yet. I suppose. Paralyzed. blasted, driven insane, mutilated killed on the spot--and when the night was dead and silent and lonely among the terrors of the shrines Fearful things were wrought by the magic of ] the Hindoo priests, and temple rob- ping grew less lucrative But this Hindoo, said the sailor, with the scared head and eyes of a madman and the bronze Mahadeva. must have been a temple robber, and he had most surely carried away a memen- to of it."
 The bronze Mahadeva resumed it's place in the back of Knotter & Dahn's store; and what is more. it bid fair to keep the place a long time to come. Many customer would come. and look with favorable eyes upon it's jewels, perhaps even ask it's price. But as soon as they noticed it's ugly. menacing look, the snarl of the lips drawn back from the teeth, that made one shudder, or perchance if sne, heard anything of its story, they looked at it once more, and decided they would rather not take it. Over and over again it happened thus, and it seemed that this one of Knotter & | Dahns investments was to be bur idle capital
 But MT. Holt had the interests of the firm at heart He finally got an idea tor perhaps he and Miss Worth get it somehow between them, for they were forever talking about the statue together) This was nothing less than to take the valuable jewels out of their settings in the idol, pre- pare them for sale with a view to bet ter profit. which latter would perhaps
 
 take the statue itself for old brass It was an excellent way cut of the diff ficulty, and needed only Mir Dahns | consent; which, after considerable meditation and pacing of the floor. was finally given.
 MT. Holt prepared to get to work at once. As was once remarked. Mr. Holt was pretty good at such things He got his tools, and little plush lined box to put the stones in: Miss Worth and MT Dahn followed him to the back of the store, standing back to watch him, for the jewels were fas- einating. MT. Holt surveyed the fig ure for a moment, and finally fixed upon the brilliant diamonds which were set in the pupils of its eyes, as the first thing to turn his attention to He stood on his toes, and had lifted his arm and almost touched the dia- mond, when loud scream broke upon the air MT. Holt dropped hts tools turned pale, and looked around
 The scream had come from Miss Worth, who stood pale and trembling leaning on table. In reply to the | anxious questions of the men. she could at first answer nothing, only that there must be some awful danger. and implored Mir. Holt not to touch the figure. Then she explained that the idea had come to her, just as Mir Holt was about to touch the diamond eyes. and had in it's suddenness frightened her
 
 Mr. Holt was somewhat puzzled He was rather inclined to laugh at the matter. and try it again, but MT. Dahn held him back.
 There may be something in it," he said
 Then Mir Dshn fairly outdid him. self. His ingenuity surpassed any thing in his previous history.
 Suppose it is" He turned around, caught up the gas lighter, but put it down, and fetched the long window pole used for the rear windows Mr. Holt. standing back all the while some what dazed. MT. Dahn jabbed the Mahadeya in the eye with the window pole. standing back as far as he could. and wondering at his own l UIdNcly- put HctHinS happened. lie jabbed 1t vigorously in several other places. Stil no extraordinary phe- nomena took place. He was per plexed. But MT Holt's face lighted up as he caught the idea He seized the pole. and with the sharp point of it, standing away the length of the pole, began to gouge out the diamond eye of the figure.
 The result was astonishing. The bronze arms of the figure were l stretched forward, somewhat below the level of the shoulders. One of them suddenly ierked inward, swing l ing from the shoulder, and hit the win dow pole a terrific blow that broke the hickory stick in two pieces and sent them flying and whirling across 1 the store. At the same time there was muffied grinding and scraping. as of some works inside the bronze l figure, and then a long noise. like the winding up of clock chain. Mir. Holt