”The Occupant of the Room” by Algernon Blackwood

"The Occupant of the Room" is a short story by English writer Algernon Blackwood. The tale tells of a Englishman on vacation in the Swiss Alps, who attempts to reserve a room at a quiet village inn, only to discover there are no vacancies. He is later offered a room that is 'in a sense engaged', and the rumours voiced by the inn's porter regarding the possible fate of the previous occupant excite his imagination.