Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-10-28
The Eye, of
Benares
A Man Counts HisaLoss as
Gain
BY CLARlSSA, NfACKlE II
Copyright by AmericanaPress Asso-
citation. 1911.

In the business quarter OF BenareS-
The striped awnings, unstirred by any
! breeze, dropped linply above the tiny
3 hops burrowed out Of the stone walls.
Stephen Lswler swung briskly down
th e narrow thoroughfore, his blue eyes
Ike emily awatch for familiar face. At
last he came to the shop of Hanzai-
BeIiaf and. thrusting aside the hung
ings, stopped and entered.
The proprietor. aged, white bearded
and patriarchal OF visage, sat like
hewn stone image OF "Contented Old
Age" Before him was a large, heavy
block OF Agra granite, worn smooth
by much trafficking and rubbing OF
leather jewel bags in brown. slim
hands.
''My lord is late" remarked Hanzai-
Benal. with a trace Of reproach in his
kindly tones, as he signaled for the
American TO be seated on the rich rug
before the stone table. Il might be
browsing in the heat OF the noontide,
but the Eye Of Benares-it never
sleeps. and ii watches for the coming
of its master.'
LAWYERS eyes followed the backward
| jerk of the Hindu's thumb, and he
| stified a sharp excla mation Of wonder
4 at the sight. Peering down at him
! from fine gloom Of the darkened in
| terror was a lurid red and angry eye
that seemed to belong to nothing hui
man, FjerceIy glowering out of space,
1 In
some strange influence over him. Then
| he laughed shortly and remembered
| that he was in India and must keep
his wits about him,
80 that is the famous Eye OF Ben
naresY' he asked with assumed non
| chaiance,
The jeweler nodded solemnly. ut
never sleeps. and 1t seeks uperringly
the souls of the wicked, No wrong
doer can hide from its searching light.
What is now passing through the brain
or my lord is revealed to the eye"
II have heard all that before, Han
xai-Benal," remarked Lawler signif-
cantly MY time is limited. as
must catch the train for Calcutta.
where a steamer awaits me-"
~ was only reminding my lord of
the mysterious power Of the ruby
said the Hindu humbly as be opened
q large ebony box and placed It on
the stone table, He pulled out tray
after tray ana placed them before
his customer. revealing q glitterine
array OF precious stones-diamonds
rubies, emeralds. pearls. lapis lazul
! and sapphires-bankrupt spells iron
the treasure chests Of many a hard
pressed priRce,
What are these9' demanded Law
I leF without interest as the stones IN
I der the jewelers. skillful manipulation
dazzled his eyes almost to blindness,
> Perhaps my lord prefers one o.
these to the Eye or Benares," suggest
I ed Hanzai- Benal craftily.
1.-THE deal is off, Hanzai-Benal," sale
LaWler eurtly, I've gickered witt
:. you over this COMPOUNDED ruby tor tn
past two weeks, and now when
come to you with the purchase none.
you sidestep the bargain. Not an
4 other rupee will l acd to the offer
made you, and you will either deliye
the goods now OF consider the tncl
3 dent closed Which shall 1t beT.
# my lord has purchased the ruby,
said the Hindu hastily. He clappe
his hands sharply and then held hi
c palms upward. The Eye OF Bensre
J; dropped softly down inte Hsnzs
n Bepslis slim prown nngers and wa
: deftly flashed in Lawler's face an
u then placed on the stone table. "Sha
x the bargain be concluded?" asked th
q jeweler suavely.
- Lawler dropped tp bis seaF on tn
, pug ana took the beautiful stone b.
II tween finger aud thumb. The sunligi
- increased its brilliance a thousandfol'
' From every finely cut facet 1t radiate
- light and color-the color Of blood.
He bent over the stone, examining
cl0sely and even bringing out a ma
~ pifying glass 10 assist his keen eye
q There was not one flaw on this ma
nifieent jewel, which was as large (
D. a walnut and slightly fiattened
&c shape.
In Hanzai-Benal watched his customs
anxiously, ne knew that Stephf
u. Lawler was agent for large Amer
I'd GAN firm OF importing jewellers, ar
m the sale Of the Eye OF Benares WI
! not their first business transactio
~ though it was destined to be their lai
ID. Slowly the American brought for
nis leather wallet. together with
heavy bag Of gold. These he set dow
on the table among the Jewel ira
and close beside the ruby be had pv
'se chased. Your letter writer is here
on the notaryf" he asked ,."The transs
ers ton must be In writing"
.de t'or an instant the Hinau hesitate
nd and then he clapped his hands. Fro
lge the shadows there were evolved t
IKE dim outlines of turbaned form, a
'ns then there slipped down on the carr
sur the thinnest specimen of a Brahm
,er priest that Lawler had ever seen, a
he had seen good many.
sw- The priest or secretary OF notar,