Sure, I can wait, says Ted. If you're lookin' for a place to eat, Joe's Diner across the way serves coffee and hot meals, though I dare say Mrs. Waitley at the Inn can whistle up a coffee and some food too.
”Thanks for the suggestions,” Dorothy says to Ted.
”I can manage my suitcases Dr. Bellwether, thank you. Though it would be a great help for you to hold the door open.” She walks up to the front door and waits for someone to open it.
Thank you sir, I and one or two others will be back out shortly. I appreciate you working with us, and for the suggestions.
Stevie grabs the Waitley door, holding it open for Dorothy and the others, letting them lead the way. After you, madam.
Ted gets back inside the Model T and waits for the investigators to check into the Waitley Inn.
The building looks old and in need of repair, with black and white half-timbered walls, red roof tiles and a couple of red-brick chimney stacks. Once inside the investigators find a small lobby and counter. A sign next to a brass bell says "ring for service".
After ringing the bell a crooked-old woman appears from a door behind the counter. She asks how long they plan to stay and after being told no more than a few days she says she has four rooms available. The investigators are shown to their rooms, all of them on the second floor. They are a bit small and dingy but serviceable. Depositing the luggage in their rooms they head back down stairs to the lobby.
In the lobby, before taking things upstairs, Dorothy, will you be okay here by yourself? Dr. Bellwether and I will be as quick as we can. Gene will likely be out most of the day.
Turning to Gene, Don't get caught up in the spooky stuff, just find out what you can. We can always look harder at anything should things seem amiss with Croswell. As of right now, he's just out of sorts and has gotten himself into something. He may just be an odd duck, but if not, then we want to stay on the right of this.
Hefting up his kit, Meet back here in five, roll out in ten. If you change your plans, and that goes for me too, tell somebody. The town is small but we are all strangers here.
”I would be fine staying here, but there’s no reason for me to do so,” Dorothy says with a smile to Stevie. She pulls a cloth-bound book from her purse, an assortment of pencils, and a fountain pen. ”Ready for notes. I’m quite proficient at researching in libraries. I wish you and Dr. Bellwether well. I hope someone finds information that proves I’m worried for no reason.”
She looks at her wristwatch. ”So, be ready to go in ten minutes? Not a problem.”
The investigators are interrupted by the frail voice of the old woman, evidently Mrs. Waitley the proprietor, who had appeared again from the door behind the counter carrying a dust-cloth. If it's a library you're after the Peabody Institute Public Library is only 10 minutes walk away on Sylvan Street. From the bottom of this Street, which is Putnam Street, go right onto Elm Street then follow it down to Sylvan Street. The library is just passed Danvers Town Hall next to Mill Pond.
Gene check into his room, drops off his bag and heads down to the lobby to rejoin the others. While he waits he talks briefly to Mrs. Waitley.
"Thank you Mrs. Waitley. The Peabody Institute Public Library sounds excellent and I think Ms. Crick and I will head there shortly, but I wonder if you could recommend any local experts on local legends, ghost stories, tall tales and what not. We're here collecting the local lore and our cab driver had some good leads to start with, but I'd love to go right to the resident expert if one exists. We're looking for the sort of things that everyone know that might not make it into the newspapers for whatever reason."
When the others have gathered and before the group splits to take care of individual investigations Gene tries to reassure them that he's not just chasing ghosts down a rabbit hole. "I know it sounds like I'm in this for the ghost hunting, but it's a convenient angle that might give us some leads to work with. We know that Mr. Croswell would have been trying to find the sort of information that I'm asking about now. Learning it ourselves helps us figure out what he might have been looking for, and if we can track down the local experts we'll be able to ask them about him as well because surely he would have talked to them himself. Knowing from the locals how he was doing before checking into Danvers could help us figure out what's happening."
Mrs. Waitley gives Gene a bemused look. I don't know of any residents of Danvers who'd be able to help you. You could maybe try asking at the Danvers Historical Society. It's on Page Street, one block over from here off of Elm Street. You could also maybe try the Danvers Herald for old newspaper stories.
Catching the conversation Gene, Dorothy and Mrs. Waitley, Do you pair maybe want to walk together, check the Historical Society and then the paper, or the other way around. We can drop you at one then you can walk to the other second while Dr. Bellwether and I check in with Croswell? We all agree to meet back here no later than dinner, say 5:30?
”A ten minute walk?” Dorothy says, ”That’s extremely convenient.”
As Stevie speaks, she looks at her watch. ”Yes, no later than 5:30.”
She smiles at the woman, ”Thank you for the suggestion, Mrs. Waitley.”
Finally she turns to Gene, ”Are you ready to go?”
Sounds like we have a plan. The doctor and I will visit Croswell's home. Gene will escort Dorothy to the Historical Society and then either alone or together to the newspaper. We all meet back here by 5:30 for dinner.
Holding open the outside door Stevie allows the others to exit and then moves to the taxi. Smiling to Ted he waves to allow Doc Bellwether to decide, upfront or in the back, taking whichever spot the other declined. Ready sir, we need to check up on the affairs of a colleague, Larry Croswell, sorry Mr. Lawrence Croswell, at <insert address here>. You don't happen to know Larry do you Ted?
Horton settles up front, next to the driver. He remains quiet, but listens intently as Stevie speaks with Ted, trying to judge the man's reactions.
52 Orchard Street, Salem, repeats Ted. That's back the way we just came but it's no problem so long as you're payin'.
Ted cranks the engine until it starts, then gets back into the driving seat. Larry Croswell the writer? No, I've never met him. He writes ghost stories and such like. Not really up my street. I prefer this. Ted hands Stevie a battered copy of "Amazing Stories".
Amazing Stories vol 3 issue 10, Jan. 1929.
Ted releases the handbrake and the Model T heads off on the bumpy ride back to Salem.
Dorothy and Gene watch the Model T trundle off before turning left into Elm Street and disappearing from view. They then consider which of the four places Mrs. Waitley mentioned they should visit first - the Historical Society as Stevie suggested, or somewhere else.
”I still think finding information about the asylum is the best course of action and then follow up with any local legends about hauntings. So the library first and then the Historical Society?”
Flipping quickly through the magazine, I don't get much into reading during my downtime, which frankly there's not a lot of these days. The Doc's been covered by the Explorer's Journal twice so far, and had a writer serialize our second dig in Adventure magazine. Stevie passes the booklet back up front to Dr. Bellwether.
Me, shrugging, I think the Doc kind of gets a thrill over how they play up the more "exciting" side of what he does, glossing over the long sweaty hours hacking through thickets or baking under a desert sun digging in the dirt for broken bits of pottery.
Horton flips through the magazine, chuckling once or twice. "I think we are all guilty of that, to some degree. If someone hears that I helped a few dozen soldiers during the war with their shell-shock, got them back on their feet, it doesn't seem that interesting. But when they hear that I did it in a tent, not far removed from the trenches, and that we were all in mortal danger the entire time, well, then they can't hear enough."
He gazes out the window for a long moment, then speaks again. "Yes... people have romanticized views of danger and excitement."
After an uneventful journey Ted pulls up outside Croswell's place on Orchard Street and pulls the handbrake on. Here we are, 52 Orchard Street, he says. The time is 10am.
Thank you Ted. We should only be a few minutes, if you can spare them.
Stevie will check the door for access. Assuming it is locked he will check the front porch and stoop for a spare key. If he doesn't find one he will pass around the house through the yard to the left, and check the same for the back door.
Stevie notices a plant pot on the front porch and lifts it up to reveal a spare front door key hidden underneath. He smiles at his discovery and feels his confidence sour.
Waving back confidently to Ted, smiling to Doctor Bellwether, Stevie inserts the key into the front door. Here goes nothing. Trying very much to look like he belongs there he unlocks the door and swings it wide. He lets the light filter in behind him, adjusting his sight for the dimmer interior, then steps inside, moving to the left or right (whichever is least obstructed) to make room for his companion.
He scans the room and takes in the basics before beginning any search.
Horton will move up right behind Stevie, not crowding him, but close enough to help if something should go wrong.
He has his medical bag in hand.
The pair of investigators find themselves in a dark and gloomy parlour. On the wall opposite the front door there's a fire place topped by a mantlepiece on which there's an ornate Art Deco clock and a small stack of letters. To the right of the fire place an opening leads into a short passageway that forks left and right. On the left wall there's a narrow window covered by a pair of reddish curtains, which are drawn closed. A gas lamp is mounted on either side of the window. On the right wall there's a dark wood-panel sliding door that is closed. The floor and walls are covered by reddish Art Deco carpeting and wallpaper. A brown leather couch and a pair of matching armchairs are set around a low coffee table that sits in the middle of the room. On the table there's an ash tray, a newspaper, and a couple of magazines. Neither the gas lights nor the fire are lit and the room feel very cold. Once the front door is shut the room will be illuminated only by some dim light coming through the closed curtains.
Wish I had brought my torch. Can you open the curtains Doctor? Stevie moves over to the mantle and fireplace. He will take a poker and check the ashes in the fireplace, if any. He will then take a look at the letters beside the clock.
How old is the newspaper there, nodding towards the coffee table, do you think?
Horton steps over to the curtains, sliding them open to let in the natural light. He walks over to the table and picks up the newspaper, looking at the date.
The room brightens as soon as the curtains are opened, the sunlight picking out tiny motes of dust suspended in the chill air. Raking through the ashes of the fireplace Stevie finds nothing of interest. The fire must have been out for several days. Horton picks up the newspaper, a copy of the Salem Evening News, Sunday edition, and sees on the cover a story about a reconnaissance flight by the Richard E Byrd Expedition over King Edward VII Land, Antarctica. "Very interesting discoveries", a scientist from Miskatonic University is quoted as saying. The paper is dated 27 January 1929. Looking through the letters, Stevie finds one from Danvers Asylum. "Thank you for choosing our institution for your convalescence", an official writes. "All preparations for your arrival on 28 January have been made. Every effort will be made to ensure that your stay with us is as therapeutic to your mental and spiritual health as possible."
Stevie waves the Danvers letter towards Dr. Bellwether, So he did check himself in, looks like the 27th. We'll take this with us, to support trying to see him.
Letter in hand, Stevie moves over to the sliding door, opening it to spot what's in the next room.
Beyond the sliding door Stevie finds a dining room with similar decor to the Parlour. Curtains are drawn across a set of bay windows at the front of the house. A dining table in the centre of the room is home to a large dining table surrounded by six chairs. A drinks cabinet is in one corner. On the side of the room to the left of the sliding door a staircase ascends to the second floor. Further along the wall an opening leads to another room.
"Yes, the paper is from the 28th, as well. An interesting looking Antarctic expedition. Hm. Madness, I think, to want to go to such an inhospitable place." He steps over to join Stevie at the sliding door.
Curious, Stevie looks into the drinks cabinet. I imagine the kitchen is through there, and upstairs may lead to the bedroom.
Thinking about the other doors from the living room, One of those rooms back there may be his study, or a library perhaps? Dorothy did say he lived alone, did she not? I know Evie, I know. One of these days I need to start paying attention. Before the bill comes due.
As to the expedition, Yeah, glad the doc declined that one. The Explorer's Club offered him a spot, but he has plans now on something else, but he won't say what. Stevie looks over the cabinet closely, checking the bottles for anything interesting, or Canadian. Reviewing some kind of clay statuette and pictograph with a colleague. Been locked away for two weeks now in consultation. Standing upright, That's how I ended up coming to Boston instead of him, too busy with the professor.
The drinks cabinet is stocked with several half-empty bottles of alcoholic drinks, including rum, bourbon and gin. Through the opening on the left wall Stevie sees an ordinary-looking kitchen with cupboards lining the walls around a gas stove.
Gene nods to Dorothy, "That sounds fine, Ms. Crick. The library to start and then we'll check at the Historical Society. It'll be good to see the town some as we walk there, I think. I don't take may cabs around Arkham, and it'll be good to get back on my feet to get about again. I find that I get some of my best thinking done while I'm walking."
As they walk down the streets of Salem, Gene makes some awkward small talk and keeps his eyes open for any place that's particularly noteworthy or that he thinks might have provide a lead of any sort along the way.
Stevie considers topping off his personal flask but hesitates. He closes the cabinet and noses briefly around the kitchen, then asks the doctor, If you want to check the upstairs I can finish checking the rooms down here. Should wrap this up fairly quickly, right? Just anything which might suggest why he needed time in such a place instead of curled up here by a warm fire with a stiff drink.
"Of course, I'll gladly take a look. Usually, though, I can tell you that one would seek treatment at an asylum for one of two primary reasons; either they need continuous medical assistance, or they find that their residence is not restful enough for some reason. That could be... family members, neighbors, proximity of things like trains or other loud disturbances... but could also be things like memories linked to a place, or an association in the mind between the location and some traumatic event. I suppose what I am saying is... the answer might not be immediately apparent to us." Having said this, Horton heads upstairs to look around.
Understood, and thank you doctor. I suppose I've let Gene's suspicions of spooky tales color my considerations. I'll try to keep an open mind. Looking around the dark rooms, I suppose some could consider this home a bit dour, maybe maudlin.
Nodding to Dr. Bellwether as he moves upstairs Stevie passes into the front parlor and down the hallway to check the left and right forks. He will check the left hallway first.
Dorothy and Gene stroll to the end of Putnam Street, where it joins Elm street. Turning right they follow the road until it merges with Sylvan Street. They pass a fair number of people going about their business, this being pretty much the centre of Danvers.
Entering Sylvan Street they pass Danvers Town Hall on their right, an imposing Greek-Revival style building, before finally arriving at the Peabody Institute Public Library.
Peabody Inst. Public Library, Danvers, MA
Horton climbs the stairs at Croswell's place to a landing on the second floor. There's a linen cupboard to the left and a bathroom to the right. Straight ahead are two half-open doors, and another half-open door is around the corner facing the front of the house. From what he can see from the hallway they all open into bedrooms.
In the hallway off the parlour, Stevie finds a door to the left and right and one in front of him. The one in front opens into a store room filled with various pieces of junk. The door to the right leads into a breakfast room adjoining the kitchen. The door to the left leads to what looks like a study. Book shelves line the walls of the study filled with books, and there's a desk with a draw underneath and a chair.
Horton moves to the first door, easing it open as he looks inside.
Stevie will ignore the breakfast nook and the store room for the moment, moving to check the desk in the study. He will look over the top of the desk for any work Croswell might have left out, then check any drawers in the desk.
As they approach the colonnaded building, Dorothy Crick says, ”Would you like to start with the newspapers? I thought one of us could do that and the other could look for books on the town’s history...recent history around the turn of the century and building the hospital whenever that was. As for newspaper articles, I would focus on any mention of escaped patients, fires, classified ads to see how often it needs to hire new help, building expansions -- oh, permits! I wonder if we could have seen those at city hall.”