The Huttig news., 1910-02-05
Che Adventures | of t6e | Bronze | |Mahadeva
Copyright. bv Daily Story Pub. Co
By MILES J. BREuER

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 If we had seen the burglar, our first feeling would perhaps have been one of astonished admiration at his skill. By some art, he kept himself almost invisible in the big dark store, and so noiselessly did he move that it seemed as if some dim shadow was gliding around among the rows of ta. bles. Only the little spot of light from the dark-lantern darted around over the bric-a-brac, resting for an in. stant here and there; and occasionally a dark hand reached swiftly out, and hen it was that another silver ink stand or napkin ring or gold-mounted cigar-case found it's way into the bulg ing black bag. He did not tam, per with the huge safe: perhaps he was not out fer heavy nights work, but merely some light recreation.
 Finally he reached the back of the store where there were various large objects, a iardiniere stand, a tall stair lamp, a big elaborate umbrella-sta and statuettes, and figures of plaster, o Therefore he soon came across the bronze Mahadeva He could not have helped noticing it, for it's two diamond eyes reflected in brilliant gleams the least bit of light. and the TOW of splendid colored gems around it's neck twinkled and coruscated. and shone in perfect splendor in the rays of the 1uTa IT size, but it sat squat-legged on a queerly carved and fretted pillar-like pedestal, so that the top of its conical hat was about six and half feet from the floor. All over it was that lacy fretting and frilling characteristic of Hindoo work; and it was hideously ugly.
 It's jewels must have fascinated the burglar, for he stood in front of it awhile. regarding it. Then, it is hard to say what happened At least he moved up to 1t. Then something shot out from somewhere with exceeding swiftness; and there followed slowly heavy muffied thump. There was a slight clink as the black bag hit the floor, some more queer noises, and then all was still in the shop. All the rest os the night, the dark lantern, which was tipped over on it's back, shone up at the ceiling, and a dark huddled mass lay very still on the floor among the statues.
 Miss Worth walked briskly up the street; she surveyed the world cheer fully through the crisp, early-morning air. Opening Knotter and Dahn's big front door with her key. she hurried to the back of the store. where the desk stood in railed-in space Miss Worth had come little early, for there were few extra notes to be transcribed before the work on the days regular correspondence began. Reaching the end of the space in which the tables stood she saw the huddled mass on the floor among the statues By 1t were some dark splotches. and the black bag, with a silver inlaid ivory paperweight rolled out of the mouth of it. She stopped suddenly, checked scream. and ran swiftly, and very frightened. to the front of the store, where she stood, her heart beating swiftly, listening intently and peering back into the store Hearing and seeing nothing, she tried to muster up courage to go back and look again, but finally determined to wait until somebody came.
 This somebody" happened to be Mr. Frederick Holt. He was the young man whose duty it was to ar range the goods on the tables so that they might be most tempting to GUS toners when they came He wondered little to see Miss Worth standing out in front of the store with a fright ened expression on her face. And he had to acknowledge to himself, incidental ly, that she looked rather charming in her distress Miss Worth was un- deniably pretty; being a stenographer had not as yet left it's stamp on her, as it does on too many young ladies who meddle with it. MT Holt listened to her story; then he went to the back of the store and turned over the hud- died thing, so that the white face Stlll SHuWluS dH eager CIdily eApTeS- sion, looked up at him. He shuddered, and not knowing just what to do de. cided to wait till the boss" came.
 Mr. Dahn, the junior partner, came along duly, rubbing his hands and beaming in pleasant anticipation of the visit of certain big customer. He started somewhat as he saw the expressions on the faces of his clerk and stenographer. He also looked at the body, and with admirable presence of mind telephoned for d detective.
 The detective. had he been Sher- lock Holmes, would have been able to ask for his fee immediately, and ex- plain the details fully to Mir Dahn i but as it was. he could only identify i the burglar as well-known expert and dangerous cracksman, the news of whose death would be exceedingly welcome to the police. and then think nard in his perplexity as he looked closely all over the s.ore He could not think of motive as it is wont to he technically called, much less