Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-02-13

but disappeared soundlessIy. as though
It might have been caught by pair Of
dark hands and passed on to one and
another pair until secrecy had swal.
lowed It up The Brahman moved to
the narrow entrance Of the shop and
blocked the opening by carelessly
lounging there.
Farewell. Hanxai- Benal," said Law.
Ter courteously. II shall return next
year and look at your goods II you
have anything Of great merit-like 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 90.
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 be
pulled out bis 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 1t 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. Ii was 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 q stout
stick was laid heavily among the
squirming legs In the shop.
As If the stick had possessed some
magic inspired by the sharp authori'
tative voice Of its wielder. LAWYERS
assailants vanished. bearing with them
the enveioping cloak. Hanzai-BenaI
still sat before bis table. replacing the
jewels IN the box. his placid features
somewhat disturbed.
In the doorway was a stout figure
clad in grav iannels-a good Ameri.
can face. clean shaven, strong and ut
terIy fearless "What's all this? Hey.
theraw bawIed the stranger at the
jeweler.
Lawter stepped down into the street,
and his hearty hand struck the open
palm of the newcomer. "Mr. Ferriss.
where did you come from? ! have to
thank vou 'or saving me from nasty
row. You came In the nick Of time"
"Don't thank me-thank Beatrice
here. Ny dear. where are YOU hiding3
All. this is Stephen Lawler-used to
know his father. This is my daughter"
LawIer found himself greeting the
most charming girl he had ever met.
and be wondered why he had never
known that Mr.. Ferriss must have
had daughter. He bad missed years
Of Joy IN not knowing ber before.
Mr.. Ferriss was indulging In n lin
guistic combat with Henzai- Benal in a
broken mixture Of English. Arabic.
scraps Of Latin and very little Hindu
stani. LawIer came To the rescue.
"Just tell him" sputtered Ferriss
mopping his heated brow. that have
called to get the ruby my daughter
left here tn be engraved. She took a
fancy to have 1t engraved. 1t isn't
trst class stone; } nav rs well admit
Il. / picked 1t up last year at an auc'
ton room IN Paris. but bee doesn't
know that. She thinks its pigeon
blood. Tell the old rascal I've come
for 1t and want 1t in hurry; got to
catch a train for Calcutta"
Lawler looked long into the shrinking
fsce OF Hanzai.B .Benal. and then from
some mysterious source about his CUR
ments he brought forth the Eye OF
Benares. "This the thingr he asked
carelessly.
"Yes. and the rascal hasn't touched
It yet Never mind. Here, Bee" He
tossed the counterfeit that was bril-.
liant enough to stand among the rarest
gems without detection. What were
you doing with itT he asked Of Law.
Ter. and the agent told him briefly.
The sight of two reyolvers pointed
close to bis venerable head induced
Hanzal. Benal to clap bis hands and
bring from the darkness the bag Of
RUPEES which Lawler counted before re-
turning to bis pocket. "The Eye OF
Benares was watching you. Hanzai.
Benai," he said coolIy.
As they all made their way to the
railroad station. for 1t developed that
they were all to sail home on the same
steamer. Beatrice Ferrlss turned to
Lawler.
II am afraid you are very unhappy
now that you cahnot fulfill your COM
mission to procure great ruby for
your tirm." she said sympathetically.
T haven't a regret In the world"
assured Lawler hastily. Il count this
the luckiest day Of my life"
He reiterated this statement the day
they were married. and be added that
the pair of brown eyes he had won
far ouimatched the farfamed Eye Of
Benares, which still eludes him.