The Huttig news., 1910-02-05

 at it. He wasn't superstitious. he said but he had seen things done in l the Hindoo temples that passed the i 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 l things that happened to the thieves i were most awful-and the stories that got abroad about them were worse yet, I suppose. Paralyzed blasted driven insane, mutilated ] killed or the spot-and when the night was dead and silent and lonely among the terrors of the shrines Fearful l things We're wrought by the magic of l the Hindoo priests, and temple rob bing grew less lucrative But this Hindoo, said the sailor, with the scared head and eyes of 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, 1t bid fair to keep the place a long time to come Many a customer would come, and look with favorable eyes upon it's jewels. perhaps even ask it's price i But as soon as they noticed it's ugly, menacirg look, the snarl of the lips drawn back from the teeth, that made one shudder. or perchance If rne. 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 & Dahn's investments was to be bur idle capital
 But Mr. Holt had the interests or the firm al heart. He finally got an idea tor perhaps he and Miss Worth got 1t somehow between them, for they were forever talking about the statue togetber) This was nothing less than to take the valuable jewels out of their settings in the idol, pre- pare them fer sale with view to bet ter profit, which latter would perhaps be thus greater than otherwise and take the statue itself for old brass. It was an excellent way cut of the diff. ficulty, and needed only MT. Dahn's consent; which, after considerable meditation and pacing of the floor, was finally given
 Mir. Holt prepared to get to work 1t once. As was once remarked, MT Holt was pretty good at such things. He got his tools, and a little plush lined box to put the stones in; Miss Worth and Mir Dahn followed him to. the back of the store. standing back to watch him. for the jewels were fas- einating. Mir Holt surveyed the fig nre for moment, and finally fixed upon the brilliant diamonds which were set in the pupils of it's eyes, as he first thing to turn his attention to- He stood on his toes, and had lifted his arm and almost touched the dia- nond, when loud scream broke upon he air. MT. Holt dropped his tools. turned pale, and looked around.
 The scream had come from Miss Worth, who stood pale and trembling leaning on a table In reply to the anxious questions of the men, she could at first answer nothing, only hat there must be some awful danger. md implored Mr. Holt not to touch he figure. Then she explained that he idea had come 10 her, just as Mr Holt was about to touch the diamond eyes, and had in it's suddenness frightened her.
 MT. 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 MT. Dahn 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, MT. Holt standing back all the while some what dazed Mir Dahn jabbed the Mahadeya in the eye with the window pole, standing back as far as he could. and wondering at his own bravery. But nothing happened. He iabbed il vigorously in several other places. Stil no extraordinary phe- nomena took place. He was per plexed But Mr Holt's face lighted up as he caught the idea He seized the pole. and with the sharp point of It. standing away he length of the pole, began te geuge out the diamond eye ef he figure.
 The result was astonishing. The bronze arms of the figure were stretched forward somewhat below the level of the shoulders One of them suddenly jerked inward swing 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 mutfied grinding and scraping as uf some works inside the bronze figure. and then long noise. like the winding up of a clock chain. Mr. Holt