Play@YSDC

Luckily, Bernard seems to hesitate.

OOC,Luck roll (65% stat) talking to [b]Bernard[/b]: [dice]0[/dice]

"Bernard my dear boy!" Balzac cries a little giddily. "I loved your dear father like a brother [sniff], and that means I love you like an - ah - uncle! Come and give your nephew a hug!" Balzac weaves towards Bernard with his arms out wide and a glazed smile on his rather sickly face.

Bernard hesitates, and then the sight of the ghastly-looking Balzac lumbering towards him is too much. He heads back to the front door.

"Whatever you're doing just get on with it and leave" he says over his shoulder. "l don't want to come back here and see any of you. Especially you, Alice."

He leaves, and with a collective sigh of relief, the heroes hear his car start, and he drives away.

"The feeling is mutual," says Alice after Bernard is thankfully gone. "We'd better report to the sheriff before anyone else shows up."

Henry Glynn

"I think your chances of becoming the next Mrs Putnam are in irreperable disrepair." nods Henry.

"Yes, best get to Pa Peters before anyone else does and put this business to rest .."

Under leaden skies the companions return to Ma Peter’s store in Ross’s Corners, bearing their sad tidings. Entering, they find the place contains not just Ma put her husband the Sheriff and a couple of other men. They are greeted warmly by Ma, who then raises her eyebrows at their exhausted appearance.

“Dear Lord, what happened to you folks? You all look like you’ve seen a ghost!” she exclaims.

"We had a terrible experience staying at the farmhouse last night!" says Alice. "There were all these horrifying noises outside starting around midnight, and there was banging on the back door. It sounded like that vagrant was trying to get back inside! The noises stopped after a couple of hours, but we were too afraid to go outside until morning, and there was no telephone, so we couldn't call for help."

Henry Glynn

"Horrifying noises" echoes Henry for emphasis.

"Our friend Dr Balzac was particularly impressed so we must quickly remove him to a place where his agitations can be calmed."

Balzac giggles in a sickly manner.

“That darn hobo must be batshit crazy!” exclaims one of the men, turning red when he realizes the inappropriateness of his comments.

“Do you know where the hobo went?” asks Pa.

"I'm sorry, I've no idea," says Alice. "I was too afraid to even look outside."

Pa

“Well, we’d better get out to the farmhouse and take a look. Maybe we can pick up his trail. Are you folks still staying on?”

Henry Glynn

"No, it's now in the care of Professor Putnam's son Bernard. We're planning to return to Arkham with Dr Balzac (poor fellow)."