The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ANECDOTE

A YOUNG MAN JUST MOVED INTO HIS NEW APARTMENT AND
FOUND A NOTE ON A TABLE. IT READ--"I AM DE VIPER.
EXPECT ME AT 4:00." THE MAN NONCHALANTLY DISPOSED
OF THE NOTE. A HALF HOUR LATER, ANOTHER MESSAGE
WAS DELIVERED TO HIS APARTMENT--"THE HOUR IS DRAWING
NEARER WHEN THE VIPER WILL APPEAR." THE MAN BEGAN
TO FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY. AS THE AFTERNOON WORE ON,
A SIMILAR NOTE AND WARNING APPEARED. FINALLY, AT
3:45 THE TELEPHONE RANG; A MYSTERIOUS VOICE
RESPONDED--"IN VIVETEEN MINUTES I WILL BE THERE.
DE VIPER WILL COME TO YOUR ROOM--BE READY." THE MAN
NERVOUSLY WAITED, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT. FOUR
O'CLOCK--THE BELL RANG--THE DOOR OPENED. THERE
STOOD A LITTLE MAN. HE SAID--"I AM DE VIPER. I
HAVE COME TO VIPE YOUR VINDOWS."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT