Ambrose Bierce 
Damned Thing [PDF ebook] 

Hugh Morgan’s corpse lays savaged on the floor of a wood cabin, and becomes the subject of an inquest into how he perished. No evidence that can be found explains how he died, however. His friend claims that he suffered convulsions, while Morgan’s diary indicates insanity — a claim only strengthened by his obsession with "the damned thing -" but perhaps there is more to Morgan’s ramblings than is realised at first…