The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-08-15

0tA WIN VIII - nto 0V8S
night. when I was summoned TO the
nearest town on business. was alb
sent for three days and when ! re-
turned Keister looked even more
CHASTITY than on the day following
his strange performances with the
~rattiesnske. ] attempted TO approach
the subject several times but was un-
able TO break through his chilling
reserve.
From that time forward Keister
was a changed man-so changed that
even the dullest NAVY noticed II. ari
wondering eyes.
On the morning Of the Goth Of
August there was a great commotion
among the workmen who tented on
the south side Of the river near the
bridge. One Of their number had
been found dead in his blanket. and
the doctor who acted as coron
limited that there had been foul play,
although he finally brought in a ver-
diet of death from heart failure.
Kcister seemed greatly affected by
the unhappy affair, and did not put
in his appearance after dinner
Three mornings later another man
was found dead. and the following
morning still another. Upon the face
Of each victim was a look Of wide
eyed terror that was horrible TO see.
OF course the excitement was at
white heat. and the terrified navyies
began TO pack their duds and disap-
pear as if by magic.
Then an extraordinary thing hap
pened. The last victim came to life
as they ere burying him and kicked
the end out Of his coffin. After they
got him out Of the coffin he was SO
terrified for a time he could not
speak but lay upon the grass rolling
his eyes wildly. Finally he gasped,
half shouted:
"Keister, The devil A snake. Oh.
oh, OH"
When finally the poor fellow became
| calm enough to tell his story, IL was
this: In the night he had awakened
from what seemed a hideous night
mare TO find Keister looking intent
ly at him with snake-hke, glitterine
eyes. Upon his face, which showed
distinctly in the moonlight, was the
most diabolical expression he had
ever seen. He tried to cry out anc
get away, but he was powerless tc
move. keistcr was the devil come ol
his soul. At this point Of the story
the poor fellow began to rave. anc
it soon required six.men to hold him
The navvies began 10 whisper
among themselves, and soon thu
whisper. like the awakening of thu
sea. grew into a hoarse clamor- Pres
emily some one among them shouted
"Keister, Where is he? Let
stretch HIM"
knowing that Keister vas in hi
room and that il would not he lonl
before they would be searching
for him, / fastened toward the board
ing house, with the assured feelin!
that my friend was a doomed man
they found him
Ifound the door of his room locked
and when he did not answer TO m,
knock promptly broke il open a
| stepped in an ominous rattle fror
the direction of the bed made m
start back. When my eyes bccam
accustomed to the twilight OF tn
room. / saw Keister's lifeless forr
upon the bed. Coiled up beside hin
and looking at me with venomou
eyes. was a big rattlesnake- JUS
then | heard the howls Of the al
preaching mob. and sprang TO tn
door.
.Keister, Keister, Down wit
K~eister.- they shouted. and woul
have borne me down and trampled m
under foot. had i not drawn a revo
T.. Yer and leyeled il at the head Of til
| leader. a brother Of Keister's last va
' tim
Raising my 6isengaged hand f
silence. | said SO that all could hes
l me:
' "Keister is dead upon his bed: |
: has been bitten by a RATHER
e Never shall i forget the look
: superstitious awe which. in the hus
: that followed, came over that dai
' sea OF faces. A moment before, an
n they had been distorted with passion
c now. they seemed 10 resemble tho
e Of overgrown children who had II
tened 10 a ghost story Soon tn
slipped away by twos and three
l until only the head engineer and m
n self we're left with the dead--Can
q dian Magazine