The Press., 1912-02-28

lowed it up. The Branman moved to
the narrow entrance of the shop and
blocked the opening by carelessly
Iounging there.
Farewell, Hanzai-Benal," said Law
Ter courteously. 81 shall return next
year and look at your goods. If you
have anything of great merit-ike the
Eye of Benares-let me know through
the medium of the public letter writer.
Here's my card"
He dropped the bit of pasteboard
down on the table and turned to go.
AS he did so there was a rushing for
ward from the shadowy corners, a
heavy cloak was thrown over his head,
while agile fingers slipped here and
there among his garments in search of
the Eye of Benares.
Help, help! yelled Lawler as he
pulled out his revolver and endeavored
to crowd the muzzle under the edge
of the muffiing cloak.
They pulled out the white handker-
chief in which he had wrapped the
Eye of Benares, only to find it empty,
for Stephen Lawler by clever sleight
of hand had deluded them and con-
cealed the ruby elsewhere. While
they searched him with nimble fingers
he struggled to release himself from
their wiry grasp. 1t was a case of one
against seven, and Lawler was fast
losing his strength when all at once
there came the welcome sound Of an
English speaking voice, and stout
stick was III heavily among the
squirming legs in the shop.
AS if the stick had possessed some
magic inspired by the sharp authori-
tative voice of it's wielder, LAWYERS
assailants vanished, bearing with them
the enveloping cloak. Hanzai-Benal
still sat before his table, replacing the
jewels in the box, his placid features
somewhat disturbed.
In the doorway was a stout figure
clad in gray fannels-a good Ameri-
can face, clean shaver, strong and ut
terly fearless. whats all this? Hey,
therev' bawled the stranger at the
jeweler.
LAWYER stepped down into the street,
and his hearty hand struck the open
palm of the newcomer. "Mr. Ferriss,
where did you come from? I have to
thank you for saving me from a nasty
row. You came in the nick of time"
Don't thank me-thank Beatrice
here. My dear, where are you hiding?
All, this is Stephen Lawler-used to
know his father. This is my daughter"
LGwler found hir1self greeting the
most charming girl he had ever met,
known that Mr.. Ferriss must have
had a daughter. He had missed years
of joy in not knowing her before.
Mr.. Ferriss was INDUCING in a lin
guistic combat with HanZai-Benal in a
broken mixture of English, Arabic,
scraps of Latin and very little Hindu
stani. LAWYER came to the rescue.
"Just tell him." sputtered Ferriss,
hopping his heated brow, ''that have
called to get the ruby my daughter
left here to be engraved. She took
fancy to have it engraved. 1t isn't
first class stone; J. may as we'll admit
it. l picked it up last year at an auc-
ton room in Paris, but Bee doesn't
know that. She thinks its a pigeon
blood. Tell the old rascal I've come
for it and want it in hurry; got to
eaten train for Calcutta
Lawler looked long into the shrinking
face of HanZai-Benal, and then from
some mysterious source about his gar
ments he brought forth the Eye Of
Benares. "This the thingY he asked
carelessly.
Eyes, and the rascal hasn't touched
it yet. Never mind. Here, Beer He
tossed the counterfeit that was bril-
liant enough TO stand among the rarest
gems without detection. "What were
you doing with it?'' he asked Of Law
Ter. and the agent told him briefly.
The sight of two revolvers pointed
close to his venerable head induced
Hanz@i-Rc@al to clap bis hands a9d
bring from the darkness the bag of
RUPEES which Lawler counted before re-
turning to his pocket ''The Eye of
Renares was watching you, Hanzai-
Benal," he said coolly.
AS they all made their way to the
railroad station, for it developed that
they were all to sail home on the same
steamer. Beatrice Ferriss turned to
Lawler.
81 am afraid you are very unhappy
now that you cannot fulfill your COM
mission to procure a great ruby for
your firm" she said sympathetically
Il haven't a regret in the world"
assured Lawler hastily. II count this
the luckiest day of my life"
He reiterated this statement the day
they were married, and he added that
the pair of brown eyes he had won
far outmatched the farfamed Eye OF
RonaroS whioI, still o1T1dne him