“The newspapers said at that time that the taking of the image would doubtless result in the discovery of the burglar.  In this, the newspapers were wrong.  The burglar has never been brought to punishment.

“On the other hand, however, the taking of the Brass God led to the recovery of two sacred ornaments belonging in a Hindu temple in India.  It seems that two prominent Hindus read the article concerning the Little Brass God and made inquiries at police headquarters and at all the pawn shops in the city concerning it.  The idols had been stolen years before and these men considered it their duty to restore them to the temple if in their power to do so.

“They found one of the Little Brass Gods without difficulty, it having been purchased a few months ago by a dealer in antiques.  They might have known of the wealth contained in the belly of the idol, but it is certain that the dealer in antiques never did.  Of course the East Indians learned all that any one knew concerning the destination of the image taken from the pawnshop, and so one of them, the man who was killed, went north in quest of it.

“So far as Pierre is concerned, it is probable that he was picked up here in Chicago and sent north by Sigsbee.  Of course we shall never know the truth of that matter, but it is plain that he is not the man who took the idol from the pawnbrokers’ shop.

“Well, that ends the case so far as we’re concerned,” George replied, “and if you’ve got any more Boy Scout excursions in view, Mr. Horton, I wish you’d suggest a hot climate for the next one.  It seems to me like I never would get warm again!”

“What do you think of the people who live up in the Hudson Bay country all the year round?” asked Mr. Horton.  “How would you like to wander around there year after year, as Oje does?”

“Say that Oje’s a good Indian!” Tommy exclaimed.  “I tried to get him to come on down to Chicago with me, but he said he wouldn’t live here on a bet.”

“What are you going to do with the two Little Brass Gods and all the precious stones?” asked Sandy.

“I would suggest,” Mr. Horton replied, “that the two idols be returned to the Hindu still remaining in the city, the companion of the one who was killed, and that the jewels be returned with them.”

“That’s a lot of money to give away,” Sandy suggested.

“There’s nothing compulsory about it!” laughed Mr. Horton.  “If you boys want to run the risk of being chased up by those Hindus until they finally get their hands on the idols, you may do so.”

“Not for mine!” exclaimed Thede.  “I don’t want any dusky East Indians chasing me up!”

It was finally decided to restore the two little Brass Gods with the jewels to the Hindu.  Later the body of the East Indian was taken from its grave near James Bay and transferred to his own country.

“There’s one little commission I’d like to have you boys undertake,” Mr. Horton said, after all the details of the Tupper case had been settled.  “There’s quite a bunch of trouble down here in a coal mine that I’d like to have you boys look into.”