Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-02-13
The Eye Of
Benares
A Man Counts His Loss a.
Gain
BY CLARISSA MACKE
Copyright by American Press ASso.
citation, 1911
By cLARlSSA MA6E

by S1AAfNSSA MAANl6
Copyright by American Press Asso.
citation, ISL
The Street Of the Sellers Of Precious
Stones wis 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 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
and patrlarchal 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 trace of reproach In bis
kindly tones. as he signaled for the
American to be seated on tho rich rug
before the stone table. ~ might be
browsing in the heat Of the noontide,
but the Eye of Benares-it never
sleeps, and 1t watches for the coming
Of its masterr'
LAWYERS eyes followed the backward
jerk of the Hindu's thumb, and he
sti1ed 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.
80 that is the famous Eye Of Ben
naresT he asked with assumed nom
chaIance.
The jeweler nodded solemnly. at
never sleeps. and It seeks unerrtngly
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 sjgnih.
cantly. MY time is limited, as !
must catch the train for Calcutta.
where q steamer awaits me-"
II was only reminding nv lord OF
the mysterious power Of the ruby"
said the Hindu humbly as he opened
large ebony box and placed 1t on
the stone table. He pulled out tray
after tray and placed them before
his customer, revealing a glittertng
array OF precious stones-diamOnds,
rubies, emeralds, pearls, lapis lazuli
and sapphires-bankrupt spoils from
the treasure chests Of many a hard
pressed prince.
what are theseT" demanded Law.
Ter without interest as the stones un-
der the jewelers. skillful manipulation
dazzled his eyes almost to blindness.
perhaps my lord prefers one OF
these to the Eye of Benares." suggest
ed Hanzai- Benal craftily.
THE deal is of, Hanzai-B Benal," said
Lawler curtly. 1--WE dickered with
you over this confounded 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 l add to the offer |
made you. and you will either deliver
the goods now or consider the incl
dent closed Which shall 1t beT
my lord has purchased the ruby"
said the Hindu hastily. He clapped
bis hands sharply and then held bis
palms upward. The Eye OF Benares
.:ropped softly down into Hanzai.
I.enars slim brown fingers and was
deftly flashed in LAWYERS face and
then placed on the stone table. "Shall
the bargain be concludedY' asked the
jeweler suavely.
Lawler dropped to bis seat on the
rug and took the beautiful stone be-
tween finger and thumb. The sunlight
increased its brilliance th0usandfold.
From every finely cut facet It radiated
light and color-the color Of blood.
He bent over the stone, examining 1t
closely ana even bringing out mag
nlfying glass to assist his keen eyes.
There was not one faw on this mag
niflcent jewel. which was as large AZ
q walnut and slightly hattened IN
shape.
Hanzai. Benal 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 waa
not their first business transaction.
though 1t was destined to be their last
Slowly the American brought forth
bis 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 be in writing"
For an instant the Hindu hesitated,
and then be ciapped his hands. From
the shadows there were evolved the
dim outlines OF a turbaned form. and
then there slipped down on the carpet
the thinnest specimen Of a Brahmin
priest that Lawier had ever seen. and
be had seen q good many.
The priest or secretary or notary
he acted In whatever capacity he was
required-drew forth a roll Of yellow
paper aud an inkhorn from the tin
writing case at bis waist He 6our.
ished a long goose quiz iid ad)ustod
huge horn spectacles Oh his nose.
II am ready" he uttered. bis little
black eyes fixed greedily OH the ruby.
Lawler. In the suffering Hindu
stani he had learned. dictated the
terms of the short document When
be had concluded and the paper had
been duly signed and witnessed Law
Ter counted out the price Of the Eye OF
Benares and pushed pile Of golden
rupees across the table.
At the same instant he picked up the
ruby and, carefully rolling 1t In o silk
handkerchief, placed 1t in the inner
pocket Of his linen coat The Brahman
watched him ceaselessly.