The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-07-10
The Eye Of
Benares
A Man Counts His Loss as
Gain
By CLARlSSA MACKIE.
Copyright by American Press Asso-
al
By CLARlSSA MACkIE.
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

Stones was a dusty. sun smitten alley
in the business quarter of Benares.
The striped awnings, unstirred by any
breeze, dropped Imply above the tiny
shops burrowed out Of the stone walls.
Stephen Lawler swung briskly down
the narrow thoroughfore, his blue eyes
keenly awatch for familiar face. At
last he came to the shop of Hanzai-
Benal and, thrusting aside the hang
ings, stopped and entered
The proprietor. aged. white bearded
and patriarcha Of visage. sat like
hewn stone image of "Contented Old
Age" Before him was large. heavy
block of Agra granite. worn smooth
by much tratficking and rubbing of
leather jewel bags in brown. slim
hands.
''My lord is late" remarked Hanzai-
Benal. with q 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.
bat the Eye Of Benares-it never
sleeps. and it watches for the coming
of its maSter!"
LAWYERS eyes followed the backward
jerk Of the Hindus thumb, and he
stihed sharp exclamation Of wonder
at the sight Peering down at him
from the gloom of the darkened in
terror was lurid red and angry eye
that seemed to belong to nothing hu.
man. Fiercely glowering out of space.
at first it impressed him as exerting
some strange influence over him. Then
he laughed shortly and remembered
that he was in India and must keep
his wits about him.
$50 that Is the famous Eye Of Ben
nares?' he asked with assumed non
chalance.
The jeweler nodded solemnly. 1T
never sleeps. and it seeks unerringly
the souls Of the wicked. No wrong
doer can hide from its searching light.
What Is now passing through the brain
OF my lord is revealed to the eye"
Il have heard all that before. Han
zai- Benal." remarked Lawler sjgnifi.
cantly. MY time is limited. as
must catch the train for Calcutta.
where a steamer awaits me-"
II was only reminding my lord Of
the mysterious power Of the ruby"
said the Hindu humbly as he opened
a large ebony box and placed it on
the stone table. He pulled out tray
after tray and placed them before
his customer. revealing glittering
array OF precious stOnes-diamOnds
rubies. emeralds, pearls, lapis iazuli
and sapphires-bankrupt spells from
the treasure chests Of many hard
pressed prince.
"What are these?" demanded Law
Ter without interest as the stones I'M
der the jewelers. skiliful manipulation
dazzled his eyes almost to blindness.
Perhaps my lord prefers one Of
these to tue Eye of Benares." suggest
ed Hanzai-Benal craftily.
1.-THE deal is of. Hanzai. Benal," said
Lawler CURLY 1--we dickered with
you over this COMPOUNDED ruby for the
past two weeks. and now when !
come to you with the purchase money
you sidestep the bargain. Not an.
other rupee will add to the offer |
made you. ana you will either deliver
the goods now or consider the Incl.
dent closed. Which shall it be?"
MY lord has purchased the ruby"
said the Hindu hastily. He clapped
his hands sharply and then held his
palms upward. The Eye Of Benares
dropped softly down into Hanzai-
Benals slim brown fingers and was
deftly flashed in LAWYERS face and
then placed on the stone table. shall
the bargain be concluded?" asked the
jeweler suavely.
Lawler dropped to his seat on the
rug and took the beautiful stone be-.
tween finger and thumb. The sunlight
increased its brilliance thousandfold.
From every finely cut facet it radiated
light and color-the color of blood.
He bent over the stone. examining it
closely ana even bringing out mag.
nifying glass to assist his keen eyes.
There was not one flaw on this mag
nificent jewel. which was as large as
a walnut and slightly flattened in
shape.
Hanzai-B enal watched his customer
anxiously. He knew that Stephen
LAWYER was agent for large Ameri
can firm Of importing jewelers.. and
the sale of the Eye Of Benares was
not their first business transa elton.
though it was destined to be their last
Slowly the American brought forth
his leather wallet. together with "
heavy bag Of gold. These he set down
on the table among the jewel trays
and close beside the ruby he had pur.
chased "Your letter writer is here
the notary?" he asked. 1.-THE transac.
ton must he in writing"
For an instant the Hindu hesitated.
and then he clapped his hands. From
the shadows there were evolved the |
dim outlines Of a turbaned form. and |
then there slipped down on the carpe. |
the thinnest specimen OF Brahmir |