The Other Lodgers by Ambrose Bierce

the other Lodgers

Ambrose Bierce

" in_order to_take that train ," said colonel Levering, sitting in_the Waldorf- Astoria hotel , " you_will_have remain nearly all night Atlanta that_is fine city , but I advise you not to_put at_the Breathitt house , one_of_the principal hotels it_is old wooden building urgent need repairs there_are breaches in_the walls that you_could throw cat through the bedrooms have locks on_the doors, furniture but single chair each , and bedstead without bedding-- just mattress even these meager accommodations you cannot_be_sure that you_will_have monopoly ; you_must take your chance being stowed with lot others sir , it_is most abominable hotel

" the night that I passed it_was uncomfortable night I got late and was shown room on_the ground floor apologetic night - clerk with tallow candle , which considerately left with i_was worn out two days and night hard railway travel and had_not entirely recovered from gunshot wound in_the head , received altercation rather than look for better quarters I lay down on_the mattress without removing clothing and fell asleep

" along toward morning I awoke the moon had risen and was shining at_the uncurtained window , illuminating the room with soft , bluish light which seemed , somehow , bit spooky , though I dare say had uncommon quality ; all moonlight is_that way if_you_will observe imagine surprise and indignation when I_saw the floor occupied at_least dozen other lodgers ! I sat , earnestly damning the management of_that unthinkable hotel , and was about spring from_the bed to_go and make trouble for_the night - clerk -- him of_the apologetic manner and_the tallow candle -- when something in_the situation affected with strange indisposition move I suppose i_was what story - writer might call ' frozen with terror ' for_those men were obviously all dead !

" they lay their backs, disposed orderly along three sides of_the room , their feet to_the walls-- against the other wall , farthest from_the door , stood bed and_the chair all the faces were covered , but under their white cloths the features of_the two bodies that lay in_the square patch moonlight near the window showed sharp as_to nose and chin

" i_thought this bad dream and tried cry out , one does nightmare , but could make sound last , with desperate effort I threw feet to_the floor and passing between_the two rows clouted faces and_the two bodies that lay nearest the door , I escaped from_the infernal place and ran to_the office the night - clerk was there , behind the desk , sitting in_the dim light another tallow candle -- just sitting and staring he_did_not rise : abrupt entrance produced effect upon him , though I_must_have looked veritable corpse myself occurred to_me then that I had_not before really observed the fellow he_was little chap, with colorless face and_the whitest, blankest eyes I ever saw had more expression than_the back of_my hand his clothing was dirty gray

"'Damn you ! ' I_said ; ' what do_you_mean ? '

" just the same , i_was shaking like leaf in_the wind and did_not recognize own voice

" the night - clerk rose , bowed (apologetically) and -- well , he_was longer there , and at_that moment I_felt hand laid upon shoulder from behind just fancy that if_you_can ! Unspeakably frightened , I turned and saw portly, kind - faced gentleman , who asked :

"' what_is the matter , friend ? '

" i_was not long telling him , but before I_made end went pale himself ' see here ,' he_said , ' are_you telling the truth ? '

"I had now got myself hand and terror had given place indignation ' if_you dare doubt ,' I_said , 'I'll hammer the life out you ! '

"' ,' replied , 'don't do_that ; just sit down till I tell you this_is_not hotel used to_be ; afterward it_was hospital now it_is unoccupied , awaiting tenant the room that you mention was_the dead - room -- there were always plenty dead the fellow that you call the night - clerk used to_be that , but later booked the patients as_they were brought I don't understand his being here has_been dead few weeks '

"' and who_are you ? ' I blurted out

"'Oh, I look after_the premises I happened to_be passing just now , and seeing light here came investigate let_us_have look into that room ,' added , lifting the sputtering candle from_the desk