'The Blue Hotel,' by Stephen Crane, Part One

01The Blue Hotel, Part 1 The Palace Hotel at Fort Romper was painted a light blue.

02A color of blue found on the legs of a certain bird that makes it bright in any surroundings.

03The Palace Hotel then looked always loud and screaming in a way that made the bright winter scenes of Nebraska seem only a dull gray.

04It stood alone and when the snow was falling, the town 200 yards away could not be seen.

05When a traveler came from the railroad station, he was obliged to pass the Palace Hotel before he came to the group of low houses, which was Fort Romper.

06It was believed that no traveler could pass the Palace Hotel without looking at it.

07Pat Scully, the hotel owner, had proved himself a master at choosing paints.

08It is true that on clear days, when the long lines of trains swept through Fort Romper, passengers were surprised at the sight.

09Those that knew the brown-reds and the dark greens of the eastern part of the country laughingly expressed shame, pity, shock.

10But to the citizens of this western town and to the people who stopped there, Pat Scully had performed a wonder.

11As if the displayed delights of such a blue hotel were not sufficiently inviting, Scully went every morning and evening to meet the trains that stopped at Romper.

12He would express greetings and welcome to anyone he might see hesitating.

13One morning, when a snow-covered engine dragged its long string of cars to the station, Scully performed the marvelous trick of catching three men.

14One was a shaky and quick-eyed Swede with a great, shining, cheap bag.

15One was a tall, sun-brown cowboy who was on his way to a job near the Dakota border.

16One was a little, silent man from the East Coast who didn't look like it and didn't announce it.

17Scully practically made them prisoners.

18He was so quick and merry and kindly that each probably thought it would be cruel to try to escape.

19So they followed the eager little man.

20He wore a heavy fur cap pulled tightly down on his head.

21It caused his two red ears to stand out stiffly, as if they were made of tin.

22At last, Scully grandly conducted them through the door of the blue hotel.

23The room which they entered was small.

24It was occupied mostly by a huge stove in the center, which was burning with great force.

25At various points on its surface, the iron had become shiny and glowed yellow from the heat.

26Beside the stove, Scully's son, Johnny, was playing a game of cards with a farmer.

27They were quarreling.

28With loud words, Scully stopped their play and hurried his son upstairs with the bags of the new guests.

29He himself led them to three bowls of icy water.

30The cowboy and the Easterner washed themselves in this water until they were as red as fire.

31The Swede, however, merely placed his fingers in the bowl.

32It was noticeable throughout these proceedings that the three travelers were made to feel that Scully was very kind indeed.

33He was giving out great favors.

34They were giving out great favors.

35Afterward, they returned to the first room.

36There, sitting about the stove, they listened to Scully shouting at his daughters, who were preparing the noon meal.

37They employed the silence of experienced men who moved carefully among new people.

38The Swede was especially silent.

39The Swede was especially silent.

40He seemed to be occupied in making secret judgments of each man in the room.

41One might have thought that he had the sense of foolish fear which accompanies guilt.

42He looked like a badly frightened man.

43Later, at dinner, he spoke a little, directing his conversation entirely to Scully.

44He said that he had come from New York, where he had worked for ten years as a suit maker.

45These facts seemed to interest Scully, and afterward, he told that he had lived at Romper for fourteen years.

46The Swede asked about the crops and the price of labor.

47He seemed hardly to listen to Scully's lengthy replies.

48His eyes continued to wander from man to man.

49Finally, with a laugh, he said that some of these western towns were very dangerous.

50And after this declaration, he straightened his legs under the table, nodded his head, and laughed again, loudly.

51It was plain that this had no meaning to the others.

52They looked at him, wondering, and in silence.

53After dinner, it was decided to play a game of cards.

54The cowboy offered to play with Johnny, and they all turned to ask the Swede to play with the little Easterner.

55The Swede asked some questions about the game.

56Learning that it wore many names and that he had played it under another name, he accepted the invitation.

57He came toward the men, as though he expected to be attacked.

58Finally seated, he looked from face to face and laughed sharply.

59This laugh was so strange that the Easterner looked up quickly.

60The cowboy sat with his mouth open, and Johnny paused, holding the cards with still fingers.

61Afterward, there was a short silence.

62Then Johnny said, Well, let's begin.

63Come on now.

64They pulled their chairs forward until their knees touched under the table.

65They began to play, and their interest in the game caused the others to forget the strange ways of the Swede.

66Suddenly, the Swede spoke to Johnny.

67I suppose there have been a good many men killed in this room.

68The mouths of the others dropped open, and they looked at him.

69What are you talking about?

70said Johnny.

71Johnny.

72The Swede laughed again, his loud laugh, full of a kind of false courage.

73Oh, you know what I mean, all right, he answered.

74I don't.

75Johnny protested.

76The card game stopped, and the men stared at the Swede.

77Johnny evidently felt that as the son of the hotel owner, he should make a direct inquiry.

78Now, what are you trying to say?

79He asked.

80The Swede's fingers shook on the edge of the table.

81Oh, maybe you think I haven't been anywhere.

82Maybe you think I don't have any experience?

83I don't know anything about you, answered Johnny.

84And I don't care where you've been.

85I just don't know what you're trying to say.

86Nobody has ever been killed in this room.

87The cowboy, who had been steadily gazing at the Swede, then spoke.

88What's wrong with you, fella?

89Apparently, it seemed to the Swede that he was powerfully threatened.

90He trembled and turned pale near the corners of his mouth.

91He sent an appealing glance in the direction of the little Easterner.

92They say they don't know what I mean, he remarked bitterly to the Easterner.

93The latter answered after long and careful thought.

94I don't understand you, he said calmly.

95The Swede made a movement then, which announced that he thought he had met attack from the only place where he had expected sympathy.

96If not help.

97I see that you are all against me.

98I see...

99The cowboy felt as though he had lost his senses.

100Say...

101He cried as he threw the cards fiercely down upon the table.

102Say, what are you trying to do?

103The Swede jumped up.

104I don't want to fight, he shouted.

105I don't want to fight.

106The cowboy stretched his long legs slowly and carefully.

107His hands were in his pockets.

108Well, who thought you did?

109He inquired.

110The Swede moved rapidly back toward a corner of the room.

111His hands were out protectingly in front of his chest.

112But he was making an apparent struggle to control his fright.

113Gentlemen, he almost whispered.

114I suppose I'm going to be killed before I can leave this house.

115A door opened and Scully himself entered.

116He paused in surprise as he noted the terror-filled eyes of the Swede.

117Then he said...

118What's the matter here?

119The Swede answered him quickly and eagerly.

120These men are going to kill me.

121Kill you?

122shouted Scully.

123Kill you?

124What are you talking about?

125The Swede put out his hands helplessly.

126Scully turned upon his son.

127What is this, Johnny?

128The lad had become ill-tempered.

129I don't know.

130He answered.

131It doesn't make any sense to me.

132He began to pick up the cards, gathering them together angrily.

133He says a good many men have been killed in this room.

134Or something like that.

135And he says he's going to be killed here, too.

136I don't know what's wrong with him.

137He's probably crazy.

138Scully then looked for explanation to the cowboy.

139But the cowboy simply shook his head.

140Kill you?

141said Scully again to the Swede.

142Kill you?

143Man, you're crazy.

144Oh, I know.

145Burst out the Swede.

146I know what will happen.

147Yes, I'm crazy.

148Yes.

149Yes, of course.

150I'm crazy.

151Yes.

152But I know one thing.

153There was suffering and terror upon his face.

154I know I won't get out of here alive.

155Scully turned suddenly and faced his son.

156You've been troubling this man.

157Johnny's voice was loud with its burden of undeserved blame.

158Why, good God.

159I haven't done anything to him.

160The Swede broke in.

161Gentlemen, do not trouble yourselves.

162I will leave this house.

163I will go away because...

164He blamed them with his glance.

165Because I do not want to be killed.

166You will not go away.

167Said Scully.

168You will not go away until I hear the reason of this business.

169If anybody has troubled you, I will take care of him.

170This is my house.

171You are under my roof.

172And I will not allow any peaceful man to be troubled here.

173He looked threateningly at Johnny, the cowboy, and the Easterner.

174Don't, Mr.

175Scully.

176Don't.

177I will go away.

178I do not want to be killed.

179The Swede moved towards the door, which opened to the stairs.

180It was evidently his intention to go at once for his bag.

181No.

182No.

183Shouted Scully commandingly.

184But the pale-faced man slipped by him and disappeared.

185Now.

186Scully angrily to the others.

187What does this mean?

188Johnny and the cowboy cried together.

189Why, we didn't do anything to him.

190Scully's eyes were cold.

191No.

192He said.

193You didn't?

194Johnny repeated his words.

195Why, this is the wildest madman I ever saw.

196We didn't do anything at all.

197We were just sitting here, playing cards, and he...

198The father suddenly spoke to the Easterner.

199What have these boys been doing?

200The Easterner thought again.

201I didn't see anything wrong at all.

202He said at last, slowly.

203Scully began to shout.

204But what does it mean?

205He stared fiercely at his son.

206I ought to beat you for this, my boy.

207Johnny was wild.

208Well, what have I done?

209He screamed at his father.

210He said.

211He said.

212He said.

213He said.

214He said.

215He said.

216He said.

217He said.

218He said.

219He said.