The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-27
extended hand sank slowly on the BED

eNtenutu manu- siiDk eiONiy oh shN pNNs
Agha had passed away.
For some seconds we stood as he had
left us; the doctor holding the candle,
and the sergeant in the background,
Dick kneeling on one knee on one side
and the dead mans comrade, still hold
ing the cup, on the other, while stood
q little way off at the foot. The doctor
was the first to recover himself. lie
stopped forward with the candle. He
glanced at the face of the dead soldier
and then at Dick. There" he said,
in a matter-of-fact tone, as he touched
the dead mans comrade with hts foot.
"Thcre, that will do now-7it's all over"
Dick rose slowly to his feet, his eyes
still fixed on the dead mans face. Then
lac turned to the soldier who, at the doc
tors touch. had also risen, Get supper,
Bani," he said, then come to my quar-
ters." lie turned and left the hut with
out another word.
i fingered TO say few words to the
doctor, and then followed him. He had
thrown himself down in the chair lie
had occupied before we were sum
moned, and when came in he was star
ing curiously at the ring which he still
held in his hand.
"Do you know, Bert" he said, looking
up as / entered, there's something
confoundedly queer about this business,
and now / come TO loolo at il, this ring
seems to be about the queerest part Of
it."
80 / thought, too, Dick" / replied,
the whole scene coming back to me as
he spoke. IF / were you, / think I'd
get rid of the ring the first chance that
offered"
sect rid of it?" he said. "But you
haven't looked at II yet It's got the
queerest stone in it."
He held IL out To me as he spoke, and
took and examined il. 1t was certainly
curiosity. 1 had never seen stone
at all like IL before. 1t was large, oval
in shape and much thicker than any
stone / had ever seen is d ring. Most
likely it's shape and sixS, indeed, had
suggested the form of the ring, which
was that of an eye with strange over
hanging III and brow. The stone itself
was of dull, deep red color, with sort
of angry light deep down in the center,
but nothing that could be called a
sparkle on the surface.
"Well," said, as handed 1t back to
its new owner, lit is curiosity, i admit,
and / shouldn't wonder IL 1t was of some
,alue,~Sut there's something queer and
uncanny about 1t, too. What do you
mean to do with the ring?"
..I think I'll wear it," said Dick, "any-
how till we get back TO Calcutta, and
hear what old Isaac, at the bazar. has to
say about it,"
"I'm blessed IL I'd wear the thing, IL
/ were you," / said.
'It's more than trifle clumsy, but IL
it's at all valuable il will be safest on my
hand as long as we're out here. Be
sides, don't you remember what Agha
said?"
About it's being a talisman, you
mean? Oh, of course, that was orly
bit of his superstition. They're all
like that, even the best of these fell
lows"
Dick looked at the ring for minute,
and slowly tried it on first one ard then
another of his fingers. II would only
1t his thumb. mot much Of an orna-
ment," he remarked, holding 1t up for
rue to see. At that point we were inter-
rnpted by the arrival of supper, and al
though found my eyes wandering oc-
casionally to the singular gem, nothing
more was said on the subject. The man
who cleared away supper had scarcely
left the room, however, when the sentry
challenged again, and in moment he
appeared at the door followed by the
soldier we had last seen beside Agha's
bed. "Come in, Bani," said Dick, and
stood before us.
lie was u smart, soldier-like figure, yet
somehow he was hardly like most of our
men.
"You were the friend Of Agha ?" Dick
said in Hindostanee, looking at the man
with interest.
"He was to me as IL one mother had
borne us, sahib," he replied, with en-
phasis, again bowling low.
"When Agha was called by Azrael,"
Dick resumed, che commended you TO
my care--is il not SOP"
1T is even so, sahib," he replied, with
another salaam.
Dick looked at him thoughtfully for
moment. Thou canst be faithful?" he
said.
"As Ali, the blessed, the lion of the
faith"
Dick paused again, as IL even yet not
certain, then he said: 1T is well. Twill
zee what can be done. In the meantime
you can attend upon me in the place of
Agha. Now, you are weary, and have
need of rest Go, therefore, for the pres
ent."
The man raised his head from the
obsequious attitude in which he had
held it during the interview. For the
moment there was a bright flash in his
| eye; for the moment thought he was
going TO say something In answer. Then
\ be Salaamed once moro nnd ynS pone