The Damned Thing

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I am called back to relate."

The coroner smiled.

"The account that you posted to your newspaper," he said, "differs probably from

that which you will give here under oath."

"That," replied the other, rather hotly and with a visible flush, "is as you

choose. I used manifold paper and have a copy of what I sent. It was not written

as news, for it is incredible, but as fiction. It may go as a part of my

testimony under oath."

"But you say it is incredible."

"That is nothing to you, sir, if I also swear that it is true."

The coroner was apparently not greatly affected by the young man's manifest

resentment. He was silent for some moments, his eyes upon the floor. The men

about the sides of the cabin talked in whispers, but seldom withdrew their gaze

from the face of the corpse. Presently the coroner lifted his eyes and said: "We

will resume the inquest."

The men removed their hats. The witness was sworn.

"What is your name?" the coroner asked.