The Marshall republican., 1912-01-04
The Eye Of
Benares
A Man Counts His Loss as
Gain
BY CLARlSSA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
BY CLARlSSA MACKIE

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 LAWYER swung briskly down
the narrow t~horoughfore. his blue eyes
keenly awatch for a 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
md patriarchal of visage, sat like n
hewn stone image of "Contented Old
Age" Before him was a large, heavy
block Of Agra granite. worn smooth
by much traficking and rubbing of
leather Jewel bags I'm 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 tho rich rug
before the stone table. II might be
browsing in the heat OF the noontide.
but the Eye Of Benares-it never
tlecps. and II watches for the coming
Of its masterv'
LAWYERS eyes followed the backward
Jerk Of the Hindu's thumb, and he
ttiged a sharp exclamation OF wonder
Mt the sight. Peering down at him
from the gloom OF the darkened I'm.
terror was a lurid red and nngrv eye
that seemed 20 belong to nothing hu-
man. Ficrcely glowering out OF space.
ut FIRST Il impressed him as exertinR
tome 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 or Ben.
naresT' he asked with assumed non.
chalance.
The jewcler nodded solemnIy. at
never sleeps. and Il seeks u~nerringly
the souls of the wicked. No wrong.
tioer can hide from fits searching light
What In now passing through the brain
OF my lord Is revealed To the eye"
II have heard nil that before. Han.
kai.Benai." remarked LAWYER siGnif.
rantiy. MY time In limited. as !
must catch the train for Calcuttn.
where a steamer awaits me-"
IL was only reminding my lord Of
the mysterious power OF the ruby"
said the Hindu humbly as he opened
a large ebony o and placed Il on
the stone table. He pulled out tray
after tray and placed them before
his customer. revealing a glittering
Army OF precious stones-diamonds,
tubies. emeraids, pearls. lapis lazuli
md sappbires-bnnkrupt spells from
the treasure chests OF many a hard
pressed prince.
"what are ,heseY" demanded Law
Ter without Interest as tho stones un.
der the jewelers. skillful manipulation
tiaxzied his eyes almost TO blindness.
Perhaps my lord prefers n OF
these TO the Eye Of Benares," suggest
ed Hanzai-Be craftily.
"The deal IL on, Hanzai- Benal," said
Lawler CURLY. "I've 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, and you will either deliver
the goods now or consider the incl
dent closed. Which shall It bel"
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-
Benai's slim brown fingers and was
deftly flashed In LAWYERS face and
then placed on the stone table. "Shall
the bargain be co~ncluded?" asked the
jeweler suayely.
Lawler dropped to his seat on the
rug and took the beautiful stone be-
tween finger and thumb. The sunlight
Increased its brilliance a t~housandfold,
From every finely cut facet It radiated
light and color-the color Of blood.
He bent over the stone. examining II
closely and even bringing out n mag
nifying glass to assist his keen eyes,
There was not one flaw on this mag.
nifcent Jewel. which was as large as
q walnut and slightly nattened In
shape.
Hanzai-B enal watched his customer
~anxiously. He knew that stephen
Lawler was agent for a large Ameri'
can firm Of importing jewellers. and
the sale Of the Eye Of Benares was
not their first business transaction,
though It was destined to be their last
Slowly the American brought forth
his leather wallet. together with Q
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 II here
the notaryr he asked. THE transac
ton must be In writing"
For In instant the Hindu hesitated
ana then no ciapped his hands. From
tho shadows there were evolved the
aim outlines OF . turbancd form. and