The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-07-28

the firm at heart. He finally got an
idea Tor perhaps he and Miss Worth
got 4 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 view TO bet.
ter profit, which latter would perhaps
be thus greater than otherwise, and
take the statue itself for old brass,
Il was an excellent way out of the diff
ficulty, and needed only Mr.. Dahn's
consent; which, after considerable
meditation and pacing of the floor,
was finally given.
Mr. Holt prepared TO get 70 work
at once, AS was once remarked, Mr.,
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 Mr. Dahn followed him to
the back of the store, standing back
to watch him, for the jewels We're fas-
cinating. Mr. 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 a loud scream broke upon
the air. Mr.. 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
that there must be some awful danger,
and implored Mr., Holt not to touch
the figure, Then she explained that
the idea had come to her, just as Mr..
Holt was about to touch the diamond
eyes, and had in its suddenness
frightened her
Mr.. Holt was somewhat puzzled. He
was rather inclined to laugh at the
matter, and try it again, but Mr.. Dahn
held him back.
There may be something in IT," he
said.
Then Mr.. 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, Mr.
Holt standing back all the while some
what dazed Mr.. Dahn jabbed the
Nahadeya in the eye with the window
pole. standing back as far as he
could, and wondering at his own
bravery, But nothing happened. He
jabbed 1t vigorously in several other
places. Still no extraordinary phe-
nomena took place He was per
picked. But Mr.. Hollis 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
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
the store. At the same time there
was a mufIled grinding and scraping
as Of some works inside the bronze
figure, and then long noise, like the
up of a clock chain. Mr.. Holt
stood there rubbing his hands, which
were numbed from the blow on the
other end of the pole so that he could
barely move them. And all of them
stood motionless, gasping, too dumb
founded to speak, until Mr.. Holt
urned his pale face to the other two,
and said in a hoarse whisper:
Such a diabolical engine"
And that was just where your head
would have been," said Mr.. Dahn, his
low comprehension just having
,aught this significant fact.
Miss Worth caught her breath. Mr..
Iolt held out his hand to her.
you don't know what I owe you,"
le said