San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20
of
In Jnarein One Mser He Encounters Another
Illustrated William Fisher

lHCtHSe Duruius. htIt was Pi"-
found quiet. The Hindu did not
speak. lie bowed low and IAotioned
US with courtly gesture 70 follow. Att
er crossing several roms we entered
spacious apartment given over 10 the
preservation of books. Cases filled
with thousands of volumes erected
were no windows. The light of day
was admitted through the glassed
apex of the ceiling, but it was now
evening, and the sole illumination
came from tall candles rearing them
was faint haze of smoke-the smoke
which disseminated the Odor notice
able upon entering the house.
Welcome, Friend of the Written
Word" said voice. rich, melodious,
beautiful, land welcome TO your COM
panion."
1t was then that my eyes first rest
cd upon the face of the Beggar of Ben
ares, and whatever aprehensions of
and | entertained vanished as if by
some magic of exquisite purity. 1t
was the face of an old man who has
lived beautifully; a face which spoke
at once of childlike simplicity and of
profound wisdom.
The Beggar sat, Oriental fashion,
upon low divan. His robe was white,
out no so white as his beard. At his
feet crouched q second Asiatic, given
to stoutness, with head bowed upon
knees and face hidden as if in per-
petual reverence.
We have come" said Alpin Stone.
"to drink at the fountain of your
7 wisdom"
The wisdom" said the Beggar
gently, "of child lost in the wilder
ness"
| felt a great shame, shame for
the presence Of n firearm in my pos
session. 1t seemed a sacrilege.
BE seated" said the Beggar. at
is well to comfort the body" He spoke
word to the servitor at his feet,
who arose and placed chairs for our
convenience.
Never from the lips of man have /
heard such gracious eloquencei The
talk was Of virtue and beauty, and of
tine triumph of spirit over flesh. One
| listened as to revelation. l was at
| peace; was made to feel that the
world was good and to perceive the
fecbleness Of evil.
And now," said Alpin, "let us
speak Of men. We of the West rest
under cloud Of ignorance and mis-
/ Names come to us on the wind of
rumor, but they remain names. To
some we must be grateful-to the
Patron who sent you to us, the Ma
haraja Of Sawnpore. Tell us of him. +"
The servitor at the feet of the Beg
gar lifted his head for an instant,
and felt the sharpness Of his piercing
glance. :.
"A youth, bound to the flesh. but
striving toward the heights of purity"
said the Beggar. But | thirst. Let
such refreshments as are fitting be
brought"
The survivor clapped his hands ;
portiers opened. and a slender girl,
swatched to the face in white. en-
tered bearing a tray. She moved slow
ly. and, if the phrase be permissible,
with mechanical grace, and stood
waiting. The eyes of the servitor did
not lower themselves, but remained
fixed on AlIsn Stone.
"Enlighten us, Master" said Alpin.
and some subtle change in his voice
caused me to sit tense and apprehen-
sive, lis not evil worked under the
shelter of virtue of blacker face than
evil which stands fearless in the
open?"
l looked to the Beggar. His head
rested upon his breast: his eyes were
closed, and his face was one of per-
feet peace.
The Master sleeps" said the ser
yitor.
at is well,' said Amin. "He will
neither see nor hear
1T is WELL" replied the servitor.
'Rutton Lal,' said Alpin.
II am Rutton Lal."
| AT first / was deceived. His
goodness deceived me-"
1T was well conceived" said the
fat servitor. rising. He laughed with
an amusement which was inexplicably
repulsive to me. "See," he said.
! You came TO gain knowledge. Look. "
With sudden gesture he threw back
| the folds which concealed the face of
the girl bearing refreshments. 1t was
white face, Western face.
lures had been made familiar in the
UuDllC SluCt utI ohNSs
RuitOn Lal spared me a glance.
"You know what you know said he,
and laughed again. Now the work
of your lives is accomplished
Suddenly Alpin elutched my arm.
"The table" said he, and. remember
ing, | began to rccite those labors
of my schooldays. "One times one is
one, one times two is two, one times
/. p..N
counted | saw things which were not.
The Beggar of Benares vanished from
his seat, and in his place sat woman
of gracious beauty at whose face coll
cd snake. and as l watched, recit-
ing mechanically. fighting TO perceive
the real from the unreal. the snake
uncoiled and moved toward me. Alpin
stood beside me, staring. wide of eye,
wagering upon his feet. i tried to
cry out, but no sound came. / know
but / do not know how / knew. that
the approach of that serpeant meant
the approach Of death. but L was
powerless 10 move. six times six
is thirty-Six: six times seven IS
fory-two: six times eight" | could
not recall it, / struggled to remember
the answer.
Rutton Lal came very close to
Alpin Stone and laughed in his face.
We who do the bidding of the
Maharaja of Sawnpore do it well.
he jeered, and suddenly stopped jeer-
ing, for Alpin no longer wavered on
his feet with drowsy face and half
shut eyes: Alpin's left hand clutehed
the fat olive throat, aud there was
the sound of a blow as the butt of
Alpin's automatic fell upon the lank
hair of Ruttou Lal's rounded skull.
The man sank TO u, ground.
jenkins, said Apin.
clenched my hands, rubbed my
eyes. The beautiful woman gave
place to the sleeping Beggar the