The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-19
THE CROSS And THE COIN.


From the Chicago Record-He rald-l
Prof. Jasper Flint was an antiquarian
and Aramaic scholar, a collector OF
coins and an atheist. Coin collecting
was a mania with him. Jasper Flint
was as hard in his heart and in his life
AS is the stone from which he took his
name Unlike the flint. however. no
steel. nor anything else for that mat
ter. could strike fire from the profess
sor. With him religion was sheer.
The only things that he loved We're the
coins in his collection case, and his
work i'm the Oldberry library, where he
translated ancient manuscripts for
livelihood.
1t was the first bright afternoon of
spring The southern sun came warm
through the plate glass window of the
little library room where Prof Flint sat
all alone at his work of translation. he
had gone through some Syrian material
thoroughly but with little interest The
air was close. he felt drOWSy and twice
he nodded Suddenly he saw lying on
the table beyond the little wicker paper
basket q cylinder of copper with the
end Open He took it up and found
roll OF parchment prOtrudlng- The pro-
fessOr was surprised. The librarian had
not told him of this addition to the
afternoons work. He unrolled the
parchment and saw in an instant that
the characters were Aramaic. He read
a few lines and d look of amazement
came to his face. He finished the read
ing and trembled-
THE coin OF the Christ" he said, and
tne words came IN gaSpS- u snail be
the king of the worlds collectors
He spread out the manuscript once
more and carefully studied some lines
which We're drawn in corner. The
directions are simple muttered the
scholar. This tube was found in ruins
near Jerusalem and bought by the il
brary unopened They broke the seal
that I might translate it, and there is
no man IN the west except me who can
do it. The secret is safe
Jasper Flint left the library building.
Three weeks later he stood ten miles
from Jerusalem, where Kedron's brook
meets the vale of Hinnom. With him
were two labOrers. who. under his di-
rection, were chiseling into great rock
known for centuries as the Face of the
Prophet. Suddenly the professor stopped
the mems work and ran his hands over
the rock.
Drill along these lines" he said
sharply.
The men obeyed They found that a
stone had been cemented into what had
been an opening in the rock. In an
hour the inserted bit of masonry was
free. The men removed it and looked
at their employer. The professors face
was gray as the Clipped rock at his
feet. but his eyes were blazing; there
was IRE in this man at last
Jasper Flint put his hand into the
opening in the rock. When he with
drew it IL held a casket. There was q
great joy in his face A blow with ham
mer and chisel and the casket was
open. The scholar lifted a small object
from within and held it up. something
of awe coming into his face as he die
so. The wondering Orieutals saw thai
he held a small coin across which al
right angles ran two lines. which were
as the very sun for brightness. They
looked again at their employer Tie
light radiating from the coin was upOr
his face which now seemed to hold tn,
peace of perfect cohtentment.
Professor jasper Flint was back il
Chicago. He had in his possession the
coin of great price, the coin which alone
was worth the combined holdings of al