Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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rection in which he had been standing. There was a small idol, whose face was contorted beyond description, gazing at Terry with ogling eyes. Be- tween the protruding orbs, high up on the forehead, was a small, green, imitation glass emerald. Though it was only an imitation it shone bril- liantly. At the base was carved in small letters, Naida of Jaipur. Terry's complexion changed quickly from a feverish red to a leaden color as the blood drained from his face. Terry turned again toward the old proprietor who was standing in the same position as when Terry had entered. Addressing the other old man Terry said, I'll take this small idol with the inscription--let's see, I believe it reads 'Naida of Jaipur! That is a remarkable resemblance of its model, they tell me, the old man said. The stone in the original must be a handsome gem, 'ventured Terry -then he added slowly as if thinking suddenly became rather diificuit, Beautiful-just like a gargantuan cat's eye. The old man in front of the fireplace whirled around, then stopped short as if afraid of some unseen object. I Terry raised his eyes from the small idol and glanced at the man now facing him. There stood before him an ancient, grey-haired man, whose long beard fell to his waist. Unfortunate fellow, Terry said to himself. Not only is the old codger bent double with age, but he's also blindg his eyelids have grown together from years of lost vision. Hassein spoke again, this time more softly, more imploringly. I have some curios that I'm sure you would be interested in-they're so rare I thought it best to keep them under lock and key. If you step this way, sire, I would be only too glad to show them to you. Led by the old man Terry followed him into the back room in which there were many piles of boxes that had not as yet been unpacked. Has- sein led Terry to one corner of the storeroom and there turned toward him. Reaching out his hand toward Terry, Hassein said, Excuse me, sire, you are standing in front of the drawer in which the curios are. I-Iassein's left hand touched Terry's coat lapel and pushed him politely backwards, apparently out of the way of the drawer. Simultaneously Hassein's right hand opened the drawer and extracted from it a jewel-studded dagger, obviously of oriental design. Terry's eyes widened. Why, that is an exceptionally beautiful thing. I should like to have it, he said enthusiastically. Would you ? asked Hassein slowly. But without Waiting for an answer he added quickly, Then take it! T H E M I S S I L E Page twenty-one

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curios to his now countless collection. He affixed his gaze to one in par- ticularg it read: BAROUN HASSEIN Curios and Unique Articles From Every Country in the World 1836 Grove Street, N. W. Making a mental note of the item, he arose from the table and rang for his valet. The valet, after helping Terry don his coat, summoned the car and chauffeur. The valet accompanied Terry to his limousine and, helping his em- ployer into the car, received orders as to the time for lunch and what foods to prepare. The chauffeur of the expensive car was commanded to carry its occu- pant to 1836 Grove Street, N. W. Slowly from the suburbs to the much poorer business section, the automobile sought its way. As Terry's car stopped before Hassein's Curio Shop, he already had made a visual inventory of the neighborhood. It was that of slums, dives, beer parlors and criminals' hide-outs. Terry knew such places by ex- perience. He got out as soon as the chauffeur opened the door for him, then walked into the shop with the air of one who was afraid of becoming con- taminated if touched by any article in the store. On the floor, on the counters, suspended in the air by strings, peeping from shelves along the walls, throughout the whole space of the store there were goods from Spain, China, France, England-truly from every country in the world. He would certainly enjoy this visit, as it was a veritable mecca for any curio collector. Yes, splendid-but the proprietor, yes, where was the proprietor? Ah there he was, warming himself in front of the hearth-yes--he was fac- ing the fire. Terry spoke. I say there, may I look over your stock? From the figure in front of the fire came a deep, husky reply. Yes, sir, you may observe at leisure. I am at your service. The prices and a short history of every article are on the bottom of each of them. Thank you, very much, replied Terry. Picking up various articles at random, he came across none in par- ticular that seemed to interest him very much. As he was just about to leave, he turned directly opposite to the di- Pagetwenty THE MISSILE

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Removing his left hand from Terry's lapel with the speed of lightning, he jabbed the gorgeous dagger into the lapel Where only a second before his hand had rested. The blind Hassein with the agility of a tiger sprang back several steps and patiently waited for Terry's body to fall dully to the floor. Terry fell forward on his face. The dagger, which possibly might not have killed him, was driven entirely through his body by the impact of his fall. The old man leaned over the body and with the manual skill of a blind man withdrew from Terry's pocket a cigar case in which there were ten cigars. Taking them out, the old man balanced them for a moment in his hand, then smiled as he thrust them into the silk sash that encircled his waist. Without any further delay than to slip on a light Indian top coat, the proprietor hurried to the rear door of his establishment, opened it, Went out, closed it softly behind him and Walked through Chinatown toward the San Francisco waterfront. . . . . They say there is an unsolved case in San Francisco con- cerning the murder of a millionaire believed to have been killed by a blind curio importer. IV. INDIA . was Far into the inland of India in a village known as Jaipur thousands of natives walk slowly every morning at sunrise to pay homage to the protective god of Jaipur, whom the natives call Naida. Among them is an old man, who, with the rest of the mass, bows three times reverently, then resumes his seat before an antiquated hard- wood table, on whose surface there is, carved from solid blocks of wood, small likenesses of the huge idol Within the temple. On the bottom of each idol there is inscribed the words Naida of Jaipur. The idols are exceptionally well done, although the carver is blind. Thousands of tourists annually come miles through the scorching heat to see the huge idol with its distorted face-and the emerald that is embedded in its forehead, which, having been stolen nearly a half century, mysteriously reappeared in the brow of the prodigious idol. Page twenty-two T H E M I S S I L E