The Press., 1912-02-28
The Eye Of
Benares
A Man Counts His Loss as
Gain
BY CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

shops burrowed out of the stone walls.
Stephen LAWYER 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 patriarchal of visage, sat like a
hewn stone image Of 'COntented Old
Age" Before him was 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 his
kindly tones, as he signaled for the
American to be seated on the rich rug
before the stone table. II might be
browsing in the heat of the nOOntide,
but the Eye of Benares- never
sleeps, and it watches for the coming
Of it's masterv'
LAWYERS eyes followed the backward
jerk of the Hindu's thumb, and he
stifled a sharp exclamation of wonder
at the sight. Peering down at him
from the gloom of the darkened in
terror was a lurid red and angry eye
that seemed to belong to nothing hui
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
mares p 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 it's searching light.
What is now passing through the brain
Of my lord is revealed to the eye.'
81 have heard all that before, Han
zai-Benal,' remarked Lawler signifi-
cantly. my time is limited, as l
must catch the train for Calcutta,
where q steamer awaits me-"
81 was only reminding my lord OF
the mysterious power of the ruby ~
a large ebony box and placed it on
the stone table. He pulled out tray
after tray and placed them before
his customer, revealing a glittering
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 these?' demanded Law
Ter without interest as the stones I'M
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 off, 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 l add to the offer
made you, and 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-
Benars 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.
LawIer dropped to his seat on the
tween finger and thumb. The sunlight
increased it's brilliance thousandfold.
From every finely cut facet it radiated
light and color-the color Of blood.
He bent over the stone, examining 1t
closely and even bringing out a mag
nifyfng 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-Benal watched his customer
anxiously. He knew that Stephen
Lawler was agent for large Ameri-
can firm of importing jewelers., 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
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. "The transac.
ton must be in writing"
For an instant the Hindu hesitated,
and then he 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 Lawler had ever seen, and
he had seen a good many
The priest or secretary or notary
he acted in whatever capacity he was
reqnired-drew forth a roll Of yellow
paper and an inkhorn from the tin
writing case at his waist. He -four
ished a long goose quill and adjusted
huge horn spectacles on his nose.
Il am ready" he uttered, his little
black eyes fixed greedily on the ruby.
Lawler, in the suffering Hindu
stani he had learned, dictated the
terms of the short document. When
he had concluded and the paper had
been duly signed and witnessed Law
Ter counted out the price of the Eye of
Benares and pushed a pile of golden
rupees across the table.
At the same instant he picked up the
ruby and, carefully rolling it in silk
placed it in the inner
pocket of his linen coat. The Brahman
watched him ceaselessly.
Lawler rose to his feet with a sharp
breath of satisfaction at the conclu-
sion Of such a good piece Of business.
His firm had given him a commission
to purchase for one Of their customers
as large ruby as the worlds markets
afforded, and the agent confidently be-
lfnva6 he had accommodated the task