The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 94: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Indestructible Story. 87 me, and now I feel that my mind is giving way. I shall add my testimony to the ones already in the box, and then at the first opportunity leave both coin and records in some one’s possession. Who am I that I alone should bear the burden? Whoever opens the box may rest as- sured of the truthfulness of every word contained in it. The damnable piece of silver * * * has been traced down from the day when * * *_ until it came into my hands. How this record was kept the inclosed papers will explain. In some cases they were made by the men and women who suffered; in others, by learned men, whose attention had been attracted to the fatal coin, and who took pains to search it out. Early in its existence it became a matter of history. Earlier still—aye, the very day it became infamous, it was marked, indelibly marked, in such a manner that none can mistake it.”’ Then followed explanations which were necessary to prove the authenticity of the manuscript, but which I will not give now. ‘The records will be preserved carefully for any who may care to examine them. And now, as I said, I propose to tell my story in my own way, and I will begin with this ill-gotten piece of silver at a time when its evil story had become well known in the world, reserving to the last my description of it, and my account of how and why it is possessed of such a curse. | The first scene opens in Rome—Christian Rome—in the days of Julian, the Apostate. But he was not always “the apostate.” In early life he was a follower of the humble Nazarine, and not until his cousin Constantius died did he forsake the faith. Why did he take the CONNIE OOOKS (E©)