Play@YSDC

Monday, March 13, 1922
approaching noon
Providence, Rhode Island

Dan and Calum finally pack all the equipment into the trunk and proceed towards the City Hall in hopes of finding someone there. Luck shines upon them as they see Karl striding towards the square.

Dan waved his arm out of the rolled-down window and called out, "Hey Karl!" He pulled the car over in an empty parking spot and hopped out. "I think we're pretty well off far as supplies go. Could still use a camera incase we come across something interesting. How did you fare?"

Karl Werner

"Hullo, chaps," says Karl, jauntily, "My camera equipment is in my auto. Will you need my cots and blankets and cooking gear?

"City Hall was rather a washout. The clerk was a total dullard. But Pearl felt that she was on to something at the library. I told her to carry on while I rendezvoused with you lot."

"Well," Dan says "we have the cots covered. But we could probably use the blankets and cooking gear sure enough." He looked at Calum and said, "So to the library then?"

You make your way back to the library and Karl shows you to the old clippings. Pearl hardly notices you come in. As you start looking at the stacks of newspaper clippings Pearl shouts out:

"I have it!"
Exhausted, she hands you the clipping and leaves the room to take a breath of fresh air: The article is from the Providence Insider. You've never heard of this newspaper before. It must have gone out of business some time ago.

"Good show, Pearl!" Dan commends. "Quite a find. I wonder how much bearing it will have on our investigation? A serious and mysterious illness had befallen the original owner. Nothing else noteworthy ... to find then?" He frowned, "I was hoping for something a little more eye-opening."

Karl Werner

"Hmmmm. I was hoping for something more recent," Karl mutters, "I'm not much surprised at doctors a hundred years ago being unable to diagnose an illness. Most were quacks and pill-pushers from what I understand. I rather doubt that poor Mr. Nichols is haunting his former residence.

"I wonder if we can find anything out about the fate of this Walter Corbitt. Of course, he probably died before the Civil War. From whom did our employer purchase the property? I cannot believe that this city has no records on the transferrence of property!

"Miss Brunhilda," he calls, crossing to the reference desk, "Where should we go to look up a property in town and who has owned it over the years? I appeal to your encyclopedic knowledge, schoene Frau."

Brunhilda

She appears out of the thin air in no time at all.
I don't think you'll have easy access to that type of file. I would assume they'd be at the High Court. You might have better luck at the Providence Journal, they're the oldest and they've been most esteemed newspaper for decades. Although they don't have anything earlier than 1878. That's when their building burned down. Anything earlier than that you'll find here. We've yet to finds someone to keep these clippings organised. I personally appologize for the disarray.

Dan Marrison

Dan listened quietly while the two conversed and shrugged indifference. "I think maybe we should just head over to the house. Once there and having explored it thoroughly, we can discuss if any additional research is necessary."

ooc,I'm sorry, I can't remember who Walter Corbitt is. Should I know the name in character?

"So who is Walter Corbitt?" Dan asked trying to fill in his gaps of ignorance.

Karl Werner

Karl points to Corbitt's name in the clipping. "Apparently, he was the second owner of the property in question," he smirks. "I propose that we have some luncheon and then adjourn to the house before it grows later in the day. I shall have to swing by my digs to get some gear, but Miss Wealstone can help out with that while you chaps set up our base camp, as it were. Come, let us be off."

Dan Marrison

Dan says "I'll drop the stuff we have here in the car over at the house, then make my way back to the library for some more legwork through the dusty archives."

As you all leave the Library, you pass Pearl on the steps outside, leaning against a baulstraude.

"It's so da ... sorry it's so stuffy in there, I had to get out for some air, and it ain't done nothing for my head. I think that I need something to eat, pretty quick too by the sounds my tummy's making." Pearl giggled and covered her mouth in mock horror as her stomach rumbled. "Oh my - I do apologise!" She fans her face to try and cool herself down a little, and to hide her crimson cheeks.

You spot a nearby diner. The food is tasty and warm and fills your stomach quickly. You relax over a cup of tea after finishing.

Calum
I recon we go back for some stuffy air if you don't mind. That article about Mr. Corbitt sounds like it's just the beginning of the story. I'm sure we'll find more information on him and the house between the time of the article and the fire in the Providence Insider. There's nothing like having a good background before you start digging at the site my professors always told me.

Karl Werner

"And my mentors at the the Society for Psychical Research in London, England always warned against clouding one's perceptions with pre-conceived notions. But to each his own, right?" Karl smiles evenly at Calum, "Why don't Dan and I collect my gear and take everything to the house, while you and Miss Wealstone continue at the library? That way we can set up in daylight, rather than stumble around with only lanterns. Did you buy kerosene?"

Karl pushes his plate away and puts down enough coins to cover the cost, plus a small tip. As he starts to rise, he is struck by a sudden thought and sits again.

"Oh, I almost forgot. My attorneys advise that I require any associates involved in psychical research with me to become members of The Seer Society. Dues are only one dollar per month and we are then all mutually protected against liability. I will collect a month's dues now and bring membership cards for you from my office. Unless you wish the annual deal of only ten dollars for twelve months -- including a subscription to The Seer monthly journal?"

Calum
To each his own of course. Once we encounter anything psychic to research I will consider your offer. Calum returns to sipping his tea with a sattisfied smile on his face.

"Kerosene... hmm... not any more than comes with the lanterns off the shelf, which I figure is none. We'll have to make a quick stop on the way," Dan responds to the inquiry.

When he hears about this Seer Society and the dues, he is taken aback and furrows his eyebrows. With Calum's response, he chuckles and says, "And my boxing club manager advises that I require anyone who is accompanying me in possible physical altercations to become members of the club - for your own safety's sake of course. What a surprise, the fee just happens to be a dollar as well. You'll get free access to the boxing ring with a membership."

Calum
"Since you mention it, The Archeological Society..." He winks at Dan

"Ah, never mind. Let's cut to the chase, eh?" Carl pays for his food and drink, also leaving a moderate tip and finishes his tea.

"So, who's up for a few hours in a wee dusty room with loads of old sheets of newspaper?"

sorry, I messed up the character name

Pearl sighs;

"I suppose that'll be me then. There is nothing for it I presume, but I'd appreciate a bit of a hand this afternoon - there's a bit much for one girl on her own." Pearl flutters her eyelashes at the men outrageously before continuing;

"Err I assume that you are all aware that you have to be an equity member to work with a professional actress, but I can get you all signed up real cheap, special rates as there are so many of you." Her face breaks out into a wide grin as she finishes off.

"You know I feel a lot better after having this lunch. I think we are all going to get along just fine on this investigation ... ohh I feel just like a real private eye!"

Dan Marrison

"Gotta have a gun handy to be a private eye. Got your gun handy, miss?" Dan asked out of curiousity. "Never know when you might need it."

He looked at Karl and said, "Ready as ever, I suppose. How about you? Jog by your place, pick up some stuff, get some kerosene, then drop it all off at the house and come back to help with the research. Sounds like a full afternoon."

Karl Werner

A frown of disappointment temporarily clouds Karl's face when everyone refuses his offer, but then he smiles pityingly at his companions: "Well, then, you will have to assume all liability for yourselves.

"Yes, I am ready, Mr. Marrison. I'll take my car and you can follow me to my place, while Miss Wealstone and Mr. Childs return to the library. And mind you, Mr. Childs," he continues in a playful tone, wagging his finger at Calum, "No hanky-panky in the stacks. It would distress Brunhilda."

Chuckling at his 'joke' and taking a last bite of bread, Karl rises and walks down the street to his Stutz Bearcat and waits for Dan to drive up behind him.

The drive isn't far into a section of town that is commercial with flats above storefronts. He pulls into an alley beside a narrow three-story redbrick building. The ground floor is taken up by a shop window with The Seer - painted in an elegant font and a glass-paned door. Karl unlocks a wooden door beside that, which opens into a narrow hallway.

"My brother has the flat immediately above the offices, mine is the top floor. But what we need is in the cellars. This way." Karl leads Dan to the cellar stairs and down into a low-ceilinged space dominated by a furnace and water boiler and a pile of coal. To one side are a number of wooden crates. Muttering to himself, Karl opens two before he finds what he wants, taking out a pair of somewhat musty folding cots, and a canvas bag full of pots and pans and tin plates and cooking utensils. He adds a couple of cloth-covered canteens and a battered lantern. Loading everything but the lantern into Dan's arms he says, "Put these things in your trunk while I get some blankets."

A few minutes later, Karl appears in the alley and stows four Navajo blankets and the lantern in his trunk.

"What next?"

@ Imp and Gaffer. Decide on something and we'll move along. I'm guessing you're both going to the house to drop off the wares, but I'd rather just be certain.

I think Dan had said we still need kerosene, but I'm willing to say we bought some on the way and get to the house.

Dan Marrison

ooc,Yeah - we just needed the kerosene. I think someone else said they had a camera, so we need to make sure that's accounted for. Other than that, nothing more to do than drop the stuff off in the house.

Dan told Karl, "I think we should do a quick sweep of the place after dropping the stuff off... just to make sure all the doors and windows are secure and there are no squatters. Shouldn't take more than ten minutes."

Karl Werner

"Sounds fine," says Karl, "I'll follow you." He gets into the Stutz and guns the engine.