The Killers by Ernest Hemingway

About the Author....
July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961

• American Novelist, Short-story writer and journalist
• Nicknamed himself Papa
• Famous Writer/ Celebrity
• Died of Severe Alcohol & Depression
• Adventurous- Enjoyed Safari's
• Lived in Key West (common place for writers)
  
• Killers .1927.

Summary:

It all went down at Henry's lunch-room in Summit. Two mysterious men had come about. Getting dark, Al and Max had finally decided what to order. Nick Adams and George were watching them

curiously behind the counter. After having trouble distinguishing the dinner menu from the lunch; Al ordered ham and eggs while Max ordered bacon and eggs. Both were almost identically dressed, overcoats and all. Max had sarcastically referred to their waiter George as bright boy. Al turned to Nick the other waiter and called him the same thing.

Then asking the two waiters to go behind the counter, they started to get aggravated and waited for the nigger cook to come out.

Sam had come out and was then immediately tied up with Nick back inside the kitchen. Nick and George highly confused on the situation at hand. The Hit men were there for one reason. That was to kill a Swede named Ole Anderson. What was unusual was that Mr. Anderson had not shown up that day. He was a frequent member to the lunch-room everyday at six o 'clock. Ole Anderson had never even seen these two men, leaving George in awe to the fact that they were going to kill him for a friend. The clock was ticking and it was already fifty-five past six. Al meant business with his sawed-off shotgun and the towel tied on each of their mouths. Max was convinced that they were through with it. He considered the two bright boys and the nigger all right. Al on the other hand thought it was sloppy and that Max was too gregarious. After the hit men had dispersed from the restaurant, Nick was obliged to see Ole. He had gone to the Hirsch's rooming-house where Ole Anderson had been staying at the time. Ole had been previously been a heavyweight prizefighter. He was lying on the bed with all his clothes facing the wall, as Nick was telling him what had just occurred in the lunch-room. Ole had no interest in hearing any of the story as well as in calling the police. All he said toward the wall was "I just can't make up my mind to go out. I been here all day." Ole then saying "I'm through with all that running

around." Mrs. Bell had escorted Nick out while telling him that Ole was a generously nice man. Nick went back to the eating-house and told about his encounter with Ole Anderson. Knowing that he was going to die left them all in sorrow. Nick figured that he had double-crossed



somebody and was then convinced he would have to get out of that town.






Themes:


This story had dealt mainly with avoiding your problems. Ole Anderson was running away from them. Messing with the wrong people can get you into a lot of trouble. Ole's troubles was the consequence of being murdered. You can only run from a situation for so long but sooner or later it will come back to bite you. It was the end of the match for Ole.

Sneak Peak of the movie