The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

THE THING THAT WAS CAESAR’S. knows what became of it or where it was during all the years when Europe was in darkness—probably with Gen- ghis Khan in the East. No doubt it was still working like the poison in the egg of the fabled cocka- trice that killed all it looked upon. Hand me that long case behind you if you please.” Oakes picked up the long glass- topped mahogany case that he pointed out and laid it on the desk before the old curator whose hand passed trem- blingly from compartment to com- partment. Finally his hand hovered over a small square case. He opened it and took from it a small silver coin which he handed to Oakes. “Examine it. Examine it carefully. It is a tetradrachm of Antiochus—sil- ver—look at the design on the obverse —note it well. Do you remember the scratches that you described so accur- ately as being on the inside of the box?” 6é Yes—’”’ “Those undecipherable scratches that meant nothing to you would have been as plain as print to my trained sight. They stood for Cesar Augus- tus Imperator—” “ And then—still you have not told me—what is this box that you speak of?” Like a very tired old man, Professor Errol leaned back in his chair. “My very dear sir when I have told you what I have told you there remains but little. I have told you what should clear the matter up if you had ever heard of this box. What would you say if I should tell you that this box— this silver box, as mythical for years as the Holy Grail that Galahad sought of old, is older than that very Holy Grail. “ That silver box that was stolen by the Mexican Cardona has passed from land to land; from race to race for two thousand years, bearing God’s curse of war and famine with it. It has seen the Roman soldiers storm the walls of Jerusalem! It has seen Judas Iscariot flee from the temple after—after he 627 had flung down the very silver of which the box is made at the feet of Caia- phas, the high priest, telling him to take it back, for it was the Price of. Innocent Blood—’”’ Both Marjorie and Oakes drew back from him as they would have drawn back from a maniac. ““Why—what do you mean? you— What is—’ — “Tt is the Price of Innocent Blood. It is the silver that was paid for man’s salvation—” “For man’s salvation? not understand—”’ “No? It is very simple. Do you not understand, sir, that that very box that I have sought so long is actually made of the thirty pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot took back and would not keep—the silver that was finally used to purchase Aceldama, the Field of Blood where no grass grows to this day. Why for twenty centuries the priests have taught that certain virtues attached to certain holy relics like the fragments of the True Cross and the Holy Veil of Treves—can you not see, now, why this thing has carried a curse—’’ “Tf it is true—if it can be true—”’ Oakes’s voice was very low and sol- emn. “ Do you really mean that this remarkable tale is true? That the box is what you say it is?”’ The old man nodded, too weak and exhausted for further speech. “We will come back at some time to-morrow when you have had time to recover from all this excitement. I am sure it has been bad for you. What in the world is that newsboy yelling about? Look at the crowd. Open the window some one—’” It was Norton who threw open the sash so that the raucous shout of the newsboy filled the room: “ Revolution in Mexico!” the boy shouted: “ President Madero mur- dered in cab on way to palace by agents of Huerta—all the details of the brutal crime—” “ There,” the old man at the desk Are still I do COMicdoo S CO@