Ken Roberts - A Rich Man's Secret

8/9/2019 Ken Roberts - A Rich Man's Secret

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An esoteric message on a simple headstone leads a young man todiscover ...

A RICH MAN'S S ECRET(The Key to Wealth & Wisdom Lies J st Beyond !o " Tho #hts$

he sa% the headstone he sensed it had s e ial meanin# a messa#e thathe %as meant to lea"n. He )ne% no mo"e than that. Somethin# im elled

him to lea"n mo"e a*o t %ho %as in this #"a+e.

0 ,"i h man )ne% he needn-t lea+e a ste *y ste /t"ea s "e0 ma to his

se "et a" hment1 The /ste s0 leadin# to his hidden t"eas "e %e"e in+isi*leand e2isted *eyond hysi al e+iden e,o tside anyone-s mind. They %e"e

the"e a%aitin# %home+e" %o ld lea+e his o" he" me hani al thin)in#*ehind and ta)e the ste o3 3aith "e4 i"ed to ente" the n)no%n. These

di"e tions,this "oad ma , an-t *e mis la ed and annot 3ade. They-"ee"manent,*eyond time5

A678T THE A8TH7R Ken Ro*e"ts has had an in "edi*le a"ee". Li)e so manyo3 s he s ent yea"s st dyin# sel3 hel # ides mo+in# 3"om 9o* to 9o* and

%o""yin# a*o t ho% to a hie+e e"sonal and "o3essional s ess. Li)e somany o3 s he tho #ht he )ne% the ans%e" * t his s hemes 3i::led. Andthen Ken dis o+e"ed the inne" "in i le that yo too %ill lea"n in A RichMarts Secret. His *oo) is ni4 e %ith none o3 the "e y led and 3" itlessada#es that yo 3ind "o%din# the sel3 hel shel+es. Ken Ro*e"ts is anAme"i an /e+e"yman0 %ho 3o nd s ess. Today his hiloso hi al and3inan ial # idan e has "ea hed o+e" ;


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*"o #ht its "eade"s )no%led#e in the 3ields o3 meta hysi s and h man otential.

Lea"n a*o t the ne%est *oo)s in s i"it al # idan e nat "al healin# ast"olo#yo lt hiloso hy and mo"e. En9oy *oo) "e+ie%s ne% a#e a"ti les a alenda" o3e+ents l s ""ent ad+e"tised "od ts and se"+i es. To #et yo " 3"ee o y o3Llewellyns New Worlds of Mind and Spirit send yo " name and add"ess to1Llewellyn's New Words of Mind and Spirit ?.7. 6o2 > B=B K =< St. ?a lMN D>


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/!es the * s %ill *"in# s to LA 3"om the o33i e and%e-ll *oa"d a lane 3o" I don-t )no% %he"e. When %e land%e-ll #et on a smalle" lane and it %ill ta)e s to o "se "et destination. Isn-t that "omanti 0 Ch"istine #i##led.

/!o mean yo don-t ha+e a l e as to %he"e %e-"e#oin# 0 as)ed i to".

/No %e %e"e only told %hat I 9 st told yo . No one has anin)lin# as to %he"e %e-"e #oin# 0 e2 lained Ch"istine.Well where could it !e1 i to" %onde"ed. What is

it...what am 2 doing wrong1 (o 2 thin differently fromeveryone else1 What is it 2 need to now and how do 2find it1 With "omises that they-d tal) a*o t the t"i late"

i to" T" man said #ood *ye to his %i3e h n# thehone and *e#an sea" hin# the %ant ads a#ain

%onde"in# i3 he %o ld e+e" 3ind his Ri#ht ?la e.


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E+e" sin e hi#h s hool i to" )ne% he %asn-t t o t to3ollo% the ath his 3"iends lanned on. Wo")in# 3o" a *i#

om any and a lyin# 3o" a nine to 3i+e 9o* %e"e 9 st3o"ei#n to him. He d"eaded the tho #ht it sim ly %asn-t o3his nat "e li)e oil and %ate".

I-m not la3y/ he tho #ht in fact 2 feel li e a powerful

transmitter+with no outlet to plug into. But what am 2supposed to do1 My dad says 2 -ust haven't found myRight &lace. 2 wonder if there really is such a thing for me.

i to" tho #ht *a ) on all he had t"ied. While still inhi#h s hool he e"3o"med ma#i at a"ties and h " h#"o s. A3te" #"ad atin# he landed a seasonal 9o* at8ni+e"sal St dios the motion i t "e om le2. That ended%hen the s mme" "o%ds %ent home so he en"olled at alo al olle#e and %o")ed a"t time at a le"i al 9o*.


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He "e alled sittin# in the olle#e a")in# lot *e3o"e his 3i"stlass in the mo"nin# sta"in# at his te2t*oo)s. The"e %as

somethin# so 3o"e*odin# a*o t them li)e a 3ly in a *o%l o3so he 9 st didn-t *elon#. A3te" his 3i"st semeste" i to"made the ean-s list,o3 s holasti "o*ation. He %asn-tslo% me"ely o t o3 la e li)e a do# lo+e" at a at sho%.

i to"-s sea" h ontin ed1 sel3 hel *oo)s semina"s sel3

em loyment nem loyment meditation "ela2ation "e#imens a"ee" o nselin# the"a y...ea h one ostin# mo"ethan the last. Still he "emained n3 l3illed and he %asn-tma)in# ends meet 3inan ially eithe".No% thi"ty ma""ied and the 3athe" o3 a son and da #hte"

i to" li+ed %ith onstant on3li t1 tom *et%een /hea+enand ea"th0,his ea"thly "es onsi*ilities o3 s o"tin# a3amily and the still small oi e tellin# him the"e isSomethin# mo"e that his Ri#ht ?la e did e2ist. He %ase2ha sted 3"om the sea" h. It %asn-t an iss e %ith him o3


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%hethe" to )ee on t"yin# his on e"n %as ho% m hlon#e" he o ld hold o t.

ee %ithin i to" 3elt im elled to tea h. 4ow do youli e that5 he la #hed to himsel3. 2 can't get my own lifestraightened out/ !ut something tells me to teach5 What%o ld he tea h any%ay,ho% to sea" h 3o" (* t not 3ind$yo " ha iness

Altho #h it shoo) his "ide as a 3athe" and h s*andCh"istine had o*tained he" "eal estate li ense and had#one to %o") sellin# homes in So the"n Cali3o"nia. i to"*e#an sellin# li3e ins "an e so *oth his and Ch"istine-ss hed les %e"e some%hat 3le2i*le. They alte"nated andhel ed one anothe" deli+e" and i ) thei" t%o hild"en3"om a lo al "es hool.

The "eal estate *"o)e"a#e Ch"istine hose to a ly %ith


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%as a small 3i"m %ith o33i es in a %ell to do a"ea in the SanFe"nando alley. Ch"istine *e ame one o3 this lose )nit#"o o3 a#ents.

The *"o)e"a#e %as o%ned *y a h s*and and %i3e team.Les %as a moti+ato" and did it %ell. Altho #h he ne+e"en9oyed m h s ess as a salesman on his o%n his o33i e

onsistently "an)ed nea" the to o3 sales om a"ison

ha"ts o3 othe" a#ents in the a"ea. Ann %as a s%eet mild%oman %ith a )een * siness sense %ho "an the day today o e"ation o3 the o33i e.Les %as a on+i+ial man and that %as the atmos he"e inthe o33i e. /Wo") to#ethe" lay to#ethe"0 %as his motto.At least on e a month he a""an#ed a s e ial o tin#. All thea#ents and thei" s o ses met at the o33i e and *oa"ded a

ha"te"ed * s that %o ld ta)e them to a s e ial"esta "ant o" e+ent. i to" lo+ed,and d"eaded,theseo tin#s.


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He loo)ed 3o"%a"d to the ama"ade"ie to *ein# %ithCh"istine-s 3ello% a#ents and thei" h s*ands and %i+es.Most o3 them %e"e +e"y s ess3 l in thei" o%n %o") o"* siness and he en9oyed *ein# %ith them in as al so ials ""o ndin#s. He %as e+e" ho in# to lea"n the "easons 3o"thei" seemin# s ess. This also *"o #ht the ine+ita*le

om a"ison, *et%een himsel3 and them.

They %e"e %ell on the %ay al"eady en9oyin# %hat hest"o+e 3o"1 *i# ho ses stom 3 "nishin#s e2 ensi+ea tomo*iles ta2 shelte"s "i+ate s hools 3o" thei"

hild"en e2 ess ash and the 3"ee time to s end it.7n e on an o33i e 9 n)et to ?alm S "in#s the #"o had#athe"ed in the hotel lo n#e to lan the a3te"noon a ti+ity.Some o3 the #"o %anted to stay at the hotel and laytennis the othe"s %anted to #o sho in#. i to" 3elt a

an# %hen one o3 the %omen said /My h s*and ma)esmo"e than eno #h money %hy sho ldn-t I #o s end some


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o3 it 0 I3 onlyhe o ld tell Ch"istine to #o o t and s end %hat she%anted. Hea+en )no%s she dese"+es it.

Raisin# t%o hild"en ta)in# a"e o3 a h s*and %hodoesn-t )no% his Ri#ht ?la e t"yin# to at h on "edit

a"d de*t %o")in# as a "eal estate a#ent...all this in the

on3ines o3 a "ented =


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ha+e so many *ills to ay not to mention all that %e need%hen and i3 they e+e" do #et aid 0 The tho #ht o3e+e"ythin# o+e"%helmed him and he sl m ed do%n ontothe o h.

/7h i to"...0 Ch"istine loo)ed do%n at him %ith s hsadness * t she )ne% she-d *ette" t"y to ll him o t o3

this state *e3o"e he de3initely made his mind to not #o./...yo have to #o. I %on-t ha+e any 3 n %itho t yo .6esides yo -"e al%ays the one %ho has the *est time o3all. E+e"yone li)es yo i to" %e-ll all miss yo .0

i to" loo)ed at Ch"istine-s te o ty 3a e andsmiled still 3eelin# # ilty. She %as so etite and s%eet. He3elt li)e he" thi"d hild "athe" than the s osed head o3the ho sehold.4ead of the household he tho #ht. Sure5 &oor $hristine


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holds this family together and ma es more money than 2do5

/No hon I 9 st an-t #o. It-d "o*a*ly do yo #ood tonot ha+e me a"o nd yo " ne ) 3o" a%hile any%ay. !o 9 st#o and I-ll t"y to lose some sales %hile yo -"e #one.0Ch"istine-s 3a e d"o ed and she %ent to the )it hen tosta"t dinne". The hone "an# and she ans%e"ed it. /7h hiLes...yes he-s he"e. J st a min te.0 i to" loo)ed andsa% Ch"istine holdin# the hone o t./Hello 0 said i to" ta)in# the hone./Hello i to". Ho%-s it #oin- 0

i to" %as s " "ised Les had ne+e" alled s e i3i ally 3o"him *e3o"e. /Fine Les. Ho% a"e yo 0/ "eat i to" 9 st #"eat. Listen did Ch"istine tell yo I-m+e"y e2 ited a*o t this myste"y t"i %e-"e ta)in# I thin)it-s "eally #oin# to do yo a lot o3 #ood.0


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/Why do yo say so Les 0/7h I don-t )no%. !o -+e *een on my mind and I thin) thist"i is #oin# to *e #ood 3o" yo too.0/Well than)s Les. It-s ni e o3 yo to all.0/Atta *oy i to". Kee on )ee in- on50 Les so nded li)e

i to"-s 3athe"./Than)s.. .*ye.0

/That %as di33e"ent. What did he %ant 0 Ch"istine %assmilin# eyes %ide./!es it %as di33e"ent. Les ne+e" did that *e3o"e. Said he-d*een thin)in# a*o t me lately and that the se "et t"i %as#oin# to *e #ood 3o" me.0 i to" %as loo)in# o t the%indo% %onde"in# %hat Les- %o"ds "eally meant./Then...yo -"e #oin# 0 Ch"istine as)ed in a "isin# +oi eanti i atin# a yes ans%e".

i to" *"o #ht his #a:e *a ) to Ch"istine. She o ld tell he%as still t"a ed in tho #hts o3 # ilt and #loom. /We-ll


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see 0 he said %al)in# o t o3 the )it hen.At least the"e-s some ho e Ch"istine onside"ed. She

alled a3te" him1 /I lo+e yo i to".0i to" %as %ell *e3o"e the hild"en and Ch"istine the

ne2t day. He %as %at hin# the mo"nin# sho% %henCh"istine ame and sn ##led nde" the *lan)et %ith himon the o h. /What time did yo #et 0 She )issed himon the hee). /Fi+e thi"ty 0 i to" said 9 st as s " "isedsayin# it as Ch"istine %as to hea" it.

/Fi+e thi"ty What-s #oin# on 0 she said teasin#ly./I don-t )no%. I e+en t"ied to #o *a ) to slee * t I had to#et .0/Who-s this 0 Ch"istine as)ed loo)in# at a %ell d"essed%oman on the tele+ision.

/Some )ind o3 * siness sy holo#ist 0 i to"ans%e"ed /...and 0 ontin ed the sy holo#ist /not only


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a"e * siness t"i s %he"e the s o se #oes alon# more"od ti+e than the Olea+e the s o se at home- 9a nts

that o" o"ations a"e in3amo s 3o" * t the hild"en o3these ma""ia#es *ene3it #"eatly as %ell.0

/Really Ho% so 0 as)ed the sho%-s host./It-s good 3o" hild"en to *e a%ay 3"om *oth a"ents at

times. Child"en need +a ations 3"om thei" a"ents 9 st asm h as a"ents need time a%ay 3"om thei" hild"en.0

Ch"istine loo)ed at i to" %ho o ldn-t hel * t smile./Then that settles it 0 she "ono n ed sla in# him

on the )nee./7)ay. The )ids %in and #et a +a ation 3"om !oth o3

s.0 i to" leaned o+e" to )iss Ch"istine as she h ##ed hima"o nd the ne ).

he *i# mo"nin# ame. i to" and Ch"istine %e"e all


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a )ed the a" %as loaded and they %e"e o33 to he"o33i e. Altho #h they %e"e #i+en #ene"al inst" tions,ho%to d"ess 3o" the limate they %o ld *e in and %hat ty eso3 a ti+ities %o ld *e a+aila*le they still had no idea%he"e it %as they %e"e *o nd 3o".

Enth siasm %as hi#h as the a#ents and thei" s o ses

#"eeted thei" t"a+elin# om anions and t"ans3e""edl ##a#e 3"om thei" a"s to the %aitin# * s its en#ine" nnin# and ai" onditione" #oin#. Soon they %e"e o33 onthe 3o"ty min te t"i to Los An#eles Inte"national Ai" o"t.

The on+e"sations and ommotion %e"en-t as di+e"se ass al. This t"i "om ted one main to i 1 Whe"e %e"e they

headed S e lation "an and do%n the "o%s o3 seats. They didn-t need ass o"ts 3o" this 9o "ney so that limitedthe # essin#,* t only sli#htly. E+e"yone on the * s hadhis o" he" o%n theo"y and ea#e"ly e2 lained the "easons


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*ehind it. Ch"istine se "etly ho ed they %e"e *o nd 3o"Ha%aii.

i to" %as smilin# * t,as al%ays, om a"in# himsel3 tothe othe" h s*ands. The othe" men %e"e %ell t"a+eledand had all the latest in s o"ts #ea" lothes e+enl ##a#e. He listened to them name la es they had *eenthat he had ne+e" e+en hea"d o3 The"e %as one o*+io s

3a t that i to" %as a%a"e o3 * t he s ally shed asidein his om a"isons1 Altho #h the othe"s had mo"e moneyand seemin#ly solid o ations they %e"en-t ha y,not"eally. Thei" smiles and tal) %e"e on+in in# on thes "3a e * t 9 st *eneath the olished +enee" i to" o ldsee the same 3ea"s and an2ieties he had. The *ette" hehad ome to )no% these eo le the mo"e he had noti edthis.

The othe"s mana#ed to ay the *ills and )ee on thelatest 3ood 3ashion and 3 "nishin#s so they %e"e


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om3o"ta*le in thei" " ts. i to" %asn-t so he sea" hedha"de". That %as the only di33e"en e.A3te" de+o "in# the #"eate" a"t o3 the sel3 hel and s

ess *oo)s on *oo)sto"e shel+es he )ne% 3"om himsel3that they all missed the ma") someho%. What %as thisma") this el si+e Somethin# that needed to *e

nde"stood All the *oo)s st"ate#ies methods and

te hni4 es that i to" had st died and "s ed laimeda tho"ity *ased on one o3 only t%o "emises1 7ne that %e

an ont"ol o tside e+ents o" t%o that %e sho ld %o") toont"ol and han#e o " tho #hts.i to" had al"eady on l ded that attem tin# to ont"ol

o tside e+ents is 3 tile *e a se i3 %e an indeed ont"olo tside e+ents %ith %hat do %e ont"ol them Any

ont"ol i3 it %e"e ossi*le %o ld ha+e to ome 3"omsomethin# %e do and anythin# %e do is dete"mined *yo " tho #hts. So this on l sion leads to the se ond #en"e


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o3 sel3 hel @s ess *oo)s1 that %e an ont"ol o "tho #hts.6 t an %e We )no% somethin# is a%"y in o " thin)in#,%ith o " tho #hts,o" %e %o ldn-t t"y to han#e them5

2sn't something inherently wrong with this6 What isthe source of these negative harmful thoughts Nothing2've ever read or tried answers this/ which must !e thereason why the 7positive8this/9 7su!conscious'that/9 and7hidden such so9 dont wor i to" "easoned. So what isthe secret1

/7h loo)5 We-"e he"e50 Ch"istine %as leanin# 3o"%a"din he" seat and to hin# the tinted %indo% %ith he" 3in#e".Con+e"sations #ot lo de" as the * s lled to thedomesti ai"lines te"minal and sto ed. With a lo d *lasto3 ai" and a #"and sla the *i# * s doo" s% n# o en.In one la"#e *o ndin# mass the e2 ited #"o mo+ed


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th"o #h the ele t"i do *le doo"s o3 the te"minal andsto ed in line at the metal dete to"s. A 3e% %e"edetained *e a se o3 *elt * )les o )et han#e andmetal s n#lass 3"ames.

2 wish $hristine and 2 had Role: watches so !ig theyset off every !ell/ light/ and siren in this !uilding i to"tho #ht to himsel3 loo)in# do%n at Ch"istine. She loo)edli)e a little #i"l standin# in line %ide eyed he" *i# %hiteteeth sho%in# th"o #h a smile o3 anti i ation. J st as he%as en9oyin# this +ision 3eelin#s o3 # ilt des ended a#ain1

!o can than $hristine for this trip. Whats wrong with you )oure the one who nows all the success formulasforward and !ac ward/ !ut its your wife who delivers therewards5

His 3eelin#s "eally #ot ont"ol o3 him1 )oure -ust la3y5Shes got less e:perience than you do/ yet she wins this


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trip. Why arent yo the successful real estate salesman1Les and Ann e+e" smilin# at the #"o -s # esses o3

ity names *ein# tossed to them * t ne+e" sayin# a%o"d led them to de a"t "e #ate th"ee. As they t "nedinto the %aitin# a"ea they all s otted the lette"ed 3li#htn m*e" and destination si#n osted at the ti )et o nte".

In nison they said it alo d. Kno%in# they %o ld ta)e ash ttle 3li#ht 3"om the"e the # essin# no% na""o%ed do%nto one o" t%o states.

E+en tho #h the "ima"y destination %as )no%n no%they %e"e ha"d t to ome %ith %he"e a smalle" lanemi#ht *e ta)in# them. The s s ense %as e+e" #"eate"no% altho #h the # essin# lessened. Kno%in# mo"e o3the ::le meant they no% )ne% less.

The +ie%s *elo% t"ans3o"med 3"om the d"y sandy *a""en


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dese"ts o3 the so th%est to #"een te""ain s otted %ithmo"e and mo"e "i+e"s la)es and onds.

A3te" settlin# do%n th"o #h laye"s o3 thi ) la:y lo dsthe )ind not o3ten seen in So the"n Cali3o"nia the lanelanded and ame to "est at the te"minal. Altho #h theteles o in# %al)%ay 3"om the te"minal to thei" lane %as

3 lly en losed the o tside heat and h midity "e t in. Asthey assed th"o #h it and on into the ai" onditionedte"minal the ai" *e ame hilly a#ain.It %as a lon# %al) to the es alato"s that too) them do%ninto the *a##a#e a"ea. With l ##a#e in hand the smilin##"o *oa"ded a t"am that too) them on a sho"t t"i to%hat a ea"ed to *e the lo al omm te" ai"lines te"minal.With the s al " **e" *and en#ine and *i"d st"i)es 3"omthe "ea" 9o)es they he )ed thei" *a#s at the one man

o nte" assed th"o #h %hat loo)ed to *e a ma)eshi3t


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metal dete to" and %al)ed a "oss the ta"ma to a smallt%in en#ine ai" lane. Ste in# on %hat %as mo"e o3 astool than a stai"%ay they ente"ed the a*in %hi h %ast%el+e "o%s o3 t%o seats ea h %ith an aisle do%n themiddle. They had to h n h do%n to %al) the aisle and ta)ethei" seats. Ea h seat had a %indo% and a headset t )edinto the o h on the *a ) o3 the seat in 3"ont. The

o ) it %ith a ilot and o ilot had a %ooden slidin# doo"3o" se a"ation * t it %as ne+e" losed d "in# the * m y3li#ht.

They landed in a 3a"mland a"ea s ""o nded *y la"#es "a%lin# *lan)ets o3 ine t"ees. The"e %as 9 st one" n%ay at this ai" o"t and no ont"ol to%e".He"e they %e"e * t they still didn-t )no% %hat thatmeant. The %aitin# a"ea in the tiny ai"line o33i e o33e"edonly a +inyl o h and t%o %ell %o"n hai"s so theymeande"ed o tside and on#"e#ated nde" a h #e


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ma#nolia t"ee. Mo"e on3 sed than e+e" they didn-t )no%%hethe" to *e elated o" disa ointed,%as this #ood o"*ad The tho #ht that it %as all a "a ti al 9o)e "ossedthei" minds * t no one s o)e it. M "m "in#s o3 /Whe"ea"e %e 0 and *its o3 ne"+o s la #hte" "ose 3"om the#athe"in# as they stood and %aited 3o",they didn-t )no%%hat. Les and Ann stood in the middle o3 the #"o

smilin#./Loo)50 someone said ointin# to 3o " +ans omin# do%nthe lon# "ed lay "oad. It %asn-t "ainin# * t the ai" %ashea+y %ith %ate" as i3 it o ld "ain at any moment. Theti"es o3 the 3o " +ans sent no d st 3"om the "oad%ay asthey a "oa hed alte"nately a ea"in# and disa ea"in#*et%een the tall t"ees and hi#h %ild sh" **e"y linin# thea ess "oad.As the +ans ame lose" into lea" +ie% the #"o )ne%this %asn-t a 9o)e. Ea h +an %as 9et *la ) %ith %hat


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loo)ed to *e a oat o3 %a2 hal3 an in h thi ). They loo)ed%et. In small o"nate lette"in# alon# *oth sides o3 ea h +an"an the %o"ds "and Hotel.

T%o men 9 m ed 3"om the 3"ont seats o3 ea h +an %al)edto%a"d the #"o made a shallo% *o% and smiled./Wel ome to the "and Hotel 0 thei" leade" said.Ea h attendant %o"e a sti33 t"im ni3o"m o3 *la ) ants

%ith a shiny *la ) sil) st"i e do%n the o tside o3 ea h le#a sti33 hi#h olla"ed sno% %hite t ni %ith la"#e *"ass* ttons and a %hite loth o+e"ed helmet %ith a *"im3"ont and "ea" simila" to those %o"n *y sa3a"i h nte"s inA3"i a.As the *a##a#e %as loaded into the last +an the #"odi+ided itsel3 into th"ee smalle" #"o s lim*ed intothe 3i"st th"ee +ans and headed *a ) do%n the "ed di"t"oad.Anti i ation %as hi#h a#ain somethin# t" ly s e ial %as


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distan e a%ay.7 asionally a he"d o3 o%s %as seen. They assed onehe"d standin# in the end o3 a shallo% ond. The animalsh ddled nde" the shade o3 a #iant oa) t"ee %hi h %asd"i in# %ith S anish moss.Whe"e o ld they *e headed The s)yline in l ded no

ities not e+en a to%n. They assed %eathe"ed

3a"mho ses %ith tin "oo3ed *ams and o t * ildin#s. Mostlythe"e %e"e small sin#le sto"y li#ht olo"ed *"i ) homesset *a ) 3"om the hi#h%ay a h nd"ed ya"ds o" so. Ea hloo)ed *asi ally the same as the ne2t %ith sim le *o2yhed#es a ma#nolia t"ee o" t%o and a s "eened al min m

atio atta hed. This %as a hea+enly limate 3o" * #s%hi h %e"e onstantly dottin# the +an-s %indshield.E+e"y so o3ten the +ans assed the im "essi+e #ates o3la"#e estates. Th"o #h most o3 these im osin# a" hed*"i ) sh" * and %ood ent"an es the #"o o ld t"a e


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lon# meande"in# d"i+e%ays and do%n )nolls to %he"ethey i" led in 3"ont o3 th"ee and 3o " sto"y mansions,the)ind o3 / ala es0 not o3ten seen e2 e t in mo+ies. These#lim ses ha"#ed the atmos he"e in the +ans e+en mo"ethan it al"eady %as. The 9olt o3 these o asional si#htin#smade the e2 e tant t"a+ele"s mentally om a"e the"i hness o3 these assin# estates to %hat lay in sto"e 3o"

them at thei" +an-s 3inal destination. Then the little a"a+an slo%ed and made a le3t t "n o33 thehi#h%ay. The"e in 3"ont o3 them "ose the la"#est %idestent"y a" h they had seen so 3a". Risin# 3"om a l ste" o3#iant amellia * shes neatly t"immed to 3o"m #"eat "o ndmo nds t%o massi+e s4 a"e "o #h %ood illa"s s o"teda hea+y %ooden a" h t%o 3eet tall that s anned the ent"y"oad. A "oss the 3a e o3 the a" h in a"+ed #old lea3edlette"s %e"e the %o"ds "and Hotel. The assen#e"s- eyes%idened as the 4 a"tet o3 +ans nea"ed the end o3 its


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9o "ney. The s ene"y inside the #ate %as not the ty i al nat "alo+e"#"o%n o nt"yside they had seen on the hi#h%ay*ehind them. He"e %e"e meti lo sly a"ed 3o" #"o nds1

losely mo%ed "ollin# la%ns ti#htly t"immed "o%s o3hed#es neatly maintained d ) onds. Altho #h no* ildin#s %e"e in si#ht yet e+iden e o3 an e2 l si+e "eso"t

%as a a"ent. No% they o ld see a"t o3 a #ol3 o "sese+e"al h nd"ed ya"ds o33 to the "i#ht. Its li#hte" 3ine"

olo" and te2t "e %as s e )led %ith #ol3e"s in thei"*"i#htly olo"ed o t3its. He"e and the"e o ld *e seen littleele t"i "and Hotel maintenan e a"ts %ith )ha)i

ni3o"med d"i+e"s.And the"e no% 9 st o33 to the le3t1 a #lim se o3 %ood and*"i ) * ildin#s amon# s o"es o3 oa) t"ees. The oa)s he"eloo)ed so di33e"ent1 ea h one %as la ed %ith 3"a#ile #"ayand #"een S anish moss that d"o ed do%n 3"om st"on#


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thi ) o tst"et hed *"an hes.E2 e tations %e"e hi#he" than e+e" no% as the +ans

lled and sto ed nde" a %ide a" hed i+y o+e"ed*"i ) o"te o he"e the "and Hotel-s main ent"y%ay.When the +an doo"s o ened the heat and h midity" shed in. It 3elt t"o i al. i to" and Ch"istine mo+ed alon#%ith the othe"s th"o #h the o+e"ly tall do *le oa) doo"s

that t%o attendants held o en and then into the "andHotel.

The lo**y "ose t%o sto"ies %ith a se ond sto"y *al onyen i" lin# it. A 3o " sided "o ) 3i"e la e %as the

ente" ie e and th"ee hall%ays o ened into this ent"ala"ea. All the 3 "nishin#s %e"e anti4 e. E2 e t 3o" thetele hones and al min m l ##a#e a"ts the *ellho s

shed alon# they o ld ha+e *een standin# in the midnineteenth ent "y.

The mana#e" #"eeted Les and %el omed the ento "a#e.


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He alled o t ea h t"a+ele"-s name and motioned to thene2t in a line o3 *ellho s that had 4 ietly 3o"med sin e the#"o a""i+ed. When thei" name %as alled i to" andCh"istine 3ollo%ed thei" # ide do%n the se ond lon#hall%ay 3"om the 3i"e la e.

The hotel %as old * t "i hly ele#ant. The hall%ay had a"athe" lo% enameled %ood eilin# and da") %ood %alls.

7ld ele t"i lantem lam s mo nted alon# the %alls"o+ided 9 st eno #h li#ht to na+i#ate *y. imly lit old

3"amed hoto#"a hs on the %alls "e+ealed the "andHotel-s histo"y. i to" had to ste to the middle o3 thehall%ay %hen they assed o asional small anti4 e ta*lesand hai"s la ed alon# the %alls o3 this na""o%

assa#e%ay.Ch"istine %as #"innin# %ide" and %ide" %ith ea h ste asshe anti i ated the ele#an e that %as s "e to meet them%hen thei" "oom-s doo" %as o ened.


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Sli#htly mo"e than hal3%ay do%n the lon# hall the *ellho sto ed and 3a ed the doo" to his le3t. 7ne t%o th"eein small #old n m*e"s. He inse"ted the )ey in the lo )slo%ly shed the doo" o en and motioned %ith his handand a smile 3o" i to" and Ch"istine to ente" thei" ne%4 a"te"s. Ch"istine %as +isi*ly im "essed.

/7h #oodness 0 she si#hed /it-s e:;uisitel 0

As m h as Ch"istine %as elated in these o lent s ""o ndin#s i to" %as e4 ally de "essed. All the s alne#ati+e tho #hts to"mented him1 Remem!er it-s$hristine's doing that you


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real -o!0 $hristine deserves a lot !etter than you thats forsure5

It %as di33i lt 3o" i to" to loo) leased and s " "ised%ith all this t "moil and *" tality #oin# on in his head.

The #"o met 3o" dinne" that e+enin# in the main dinin#"oom and those tho #hts %e"e still %o")in# him o+e"1=veryones dressed nicer than you. )ou loo so out8of8

place. =veryone e e is at ease/ !ut you loo so stiff anduncomforta!le.

%s they %e"e 3inishin# thei" meal the othe"s *e#anlannin# the ne2t day-s a ti+ities. Some %o ld lay tennis

a 3e% %anted to s n *y the ool t%o %e"e #oin#ho"se*a ) "idin# and as al%ays se+e"al o3 the %omensta"ted in a*o t sho in#. i to" %at hed Ch"istine-s 3a e* t she didn-t e+en 3lin h as he e2 e ted she sho ld


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)no%in# they didn-t ha+e e2t"a money 3o" nne essa"ysho in#. She s o)e o3 ta)in# a %al) and at hin# on a*oo) she and some o3 the othe" %omen %e"e "eadin#.

i to" %as *ein# *" ised *y de3eatin# tho #hts a#ain* t this time he %onde"ed1 (o the others thin li e 2 do/and will 2 finally feel good a!out myself once 2 gain a

certain amount of success1 4ow much money and successwill do it1

Nothin# the othe"s lanned to do the 3ollo%in# dayinte"ested i to" so he a#"eed,m h to his o%n s " "ise,to #o #ol3in# o3 all thin#s %ith se+e"al o3 the othe"s. Hehadn-t layed m h #ol3 and %o ldn-t ma)e a de ent

a"tne" so he s ##ested that they not o nt him in as a#ol3e",9 st a s e tato". He ne+e" o ld nde"stand ho%* sinessmen layed so m h #ol3,it too) a 3 ll hal3 day1


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4ow did they ever get any wor done1 May!e some oftheir success will ru! off on you/ his tho #hts told him.

Late" as she sli ed *et%een the ool sti33 sheets o3thei" )in# si:e *ed Ch"istine said /I an-t *elie+e ho%4 i )ly yo a#"eed to #o #ol3in# tomo""o%.0 i to"

h )led. /I %as s " "ised too. 6 t yo )no% ho% a"t o3

the #ol3 o "se ame into +ie% as %e %e"e d"i+in# in he"etoday All o3 a s dden I #ot this "#e to #et o t on it. Notto #ol3 * t 9 st to en9oy the ea e and stillness o3 it.0

i to"-s eyes t"ailed o33. /So %hen Ihea"d the %o"ds O#ol3 o "se- toni#ht the %o"d Oyes- 9 stso"t o3 o ed o t o3 my mo th.0

/Well I-m so #lad yo ame I %o ldn-t ha+e had asm h 3 n %itho t yo he"e. Wasn-t dinne" deli#ht3 l Andthe hina sil+e"%a"e la e ta*le loths and na )ins %e"e


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9 st so deli ate and "e3ined...I-m so ha y a*o t *ein#he"e i to".0 Ch"istine )issed him #oodni#ht and t )edthe *eddin# nde" he" hin "eady 3o" slee .

i to" loo)ed o+e" and "eali:ed that his %i3e %asdeli ate and "e3ined too and those %e"e 4 alities that helo+ed most a*o t he". He loo)ed onto he" s%eet

ontented 3a e and leaned do%n to )iss he" nose. 4owvery fortunate 2 am he tho #ht as he t "ned nde" the

o+e"s to #o to slee . It %asn-t lon# *e3o"e the tho #htssta"ted at him a#ain1 She should leave you >ictor. 2f itwerent for her own hard wor shed never e:periencethe good things in life li e this trip0 youre sure nevergoing to ma e it. )oure -ust a millstone around her nec .the hotel-s less 3o"mal,tho #h still +e"y im "essi+e,*"ea) 3ast a"ea. 7 t th"o #h tall #lass and oa) do *le


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doo"s a "oss 3"om the 3i"e la e +isito"s ste ed do%n intoa la"#e,at least thi"ty ya"ds a "oss,o ta#onal #lass%alled "oom. A #"o+e o3 mi#hty old oa) t"ees s ""o ndedand o+e"h n# e+e"y side o3 the "oom so +ie%s 3"om it%e"e 3"amed th"o #h the oa)s. It %as all so lean and#"een o tside1 the #ol3 o "se #a"dens %al)%ays la%ns

and nat "al %oodsy stands o3 ines oa)s and sh" *s in%hi h the "and Hotel %as sit ated.

In the middle o3 this "oom %as a la"#e "e tan#le3o"med o3 lon# se"+in# ta*les d"a ed %ith %hite sta" hedta*le loths. The dis lay %as one o3 the la"#est *"ea)3ast* 33ets i to" had e+e" seen. The ta*les %e"e laden %ithe+e"y )ind o3 e## dish 3ish and a +a"iety o3 *"ea)3astmeats as %ell as 3"esh 3" it latte"s asso"ted *a)ed*"eads and "olls an a)es %a33les "e es and *lint:es. I3


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yo didn-t see %hat yo %anted one o3 the 3o " he3sattendin# 3"om inside this "e tan#le o3 3ood %o ld ma)e it.

i to" loaded his late and sat do%n %ith the othe" men.A"o nd these eo le he listened mo"e than he tal)ed.

They all %e"e %ell a 4 ainted no% ha+in# seen ea hothe" s ally on e a month 3o" o+e" a yea". They s o)e3ai"ly 3"an)ly and i to" o3ten 3elt that the"e %as m h he

o ld lea"n 3"om )no%in# them. 6 t he ne+e" )ne% %hat)ey 4 estions he sho ld as). The mo"e he %as %ith themho%e+e" the less e"tain he %as that they e+en )ne% any/se "ets to s ess.0


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The mo"e he o*se"+ed them in these in3o"mal sit ationsthe mo"e he *e#an to see little hin)s in thei" a"mo". 7neo3 the men 3o" instan e %as de3initely an al oholi . i to"ne+e" sa% him 3allin# do%n d" n) * t he also "a"ely sa%him %itho t a d"in) in his hand. i to" had as)ed Ch"istinei3 she )ne% ho% this man-s ma""ia#e %as #oin#. Ch"istinehad ans%e"ed that the man-s %i3e %as nea"in# the end o3

he" tole"an e 3o" his d"in)in#. Anothe" o3 these men"e "esented a Ja anese ele t"oni s 3i"m that had *een)in# o3 the hill 3o" t%o yea"s " nnin# in the +ideo #amema")et. He %as "a)in# in the money * t also s endin# it3 "io sly. The last 3e% months ho%e+e" he hadn-t *eenso +o al a*o t the health o3 his * siness. i to" as)ed himthis mo"nin# ho% sales %e"e #oin# and lea"ned that *admana#ement had se+e"ely h "t the 3i"m. This st m*le hadallo%ed the om etition to not only at h * t to alsosi#ni3i antly s " ass the om any he "e "esented so the


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3 t "e %as #l m. I3 the om any made a ome*a ) at allthe man said it %o ld *e lim in# 3o" a lon# %hile.As 3a" as i to" o ld tell the most %ell "o nded ands ess3 l man in the #"o %as Ray. Ray-s %i3e Ma"ion%as a #ood 3"iend to Ch"istine and had hel ed he" alon#%hen she 3i"st 9oined the "eal estate a#en y. Ray andMa"ion had t%o hild"en a 3e% yea"s olde" than i to" and

Ch"istine-s. They seemed to *e the most ha ily ma""iedo le and the most sta*le.

Ray %as a sel3 made man e" middle lass. He %o")edha"d and "an an e2e ti+e sea" h 3i"m he and his *"othe"had *e# n in Ne% !o"). Ray and i to" #ot alon# %ell

e"ha s *e a se they %e"e o3 the same ent"e "ene "ial*ent. Ray al%ays en9oyed i to"-s ene"#y and enth siasmand seemed to nde"stand that i to" %as sea" hin# 3o"his Ri#ht ?la e and 9 st hadn-t dis o+e"ed it yet. i to"al%ays ho ed Ray %o ld ha+e some %o"ds o3 %isdom o"


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mode"n ele t"i a"ts loo)ed li)e it %o ld *e 3 n.A3te" doin# %hate+e" #ol3e"s do (to i to" it seemed li)eso m h e33o"t motion and e2 ense 3o" not m h*ene3it$ the t%o 3o "somes and i to" %al)ed o t to the

a"t a"ea loaded the *a#s o3 l *s and s ooted o t to the3i"st tee.It %as a #o"#eo s mo"nin#1 The s n %as still *elo% the

to s o3 the t"ees and s nli#ht st"eamed th"o #h thei"lea+es and *"an hes. e% o+e"ed e+e"ythin#. 6i# lo in#

lo ds some 4 ite lo% seemed to dam en theatmos he"e. i to" tho #ht the othe"s %e"e tal)in# toom h and dist "*in# the h sh that they %e"e ente"in#. It%as ool and leasant * t yo o ld 3eel the heat andh midity * ildin# %aitin# to des end at 9 st the "i#htmoment. It %o ld *e hot and m ##y a3te" a %hile * t 3o"no% this %as a alm and *liss3 l settin#.

i to" en9oyed d"i+in# the a"t and t"ied to *e as hel 3 l to


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the othe"s as he o ld. He 3et hed l *s "e la ed di+ots%i ed the %et #"ass o33 #ol3 *alls and %as 4 ite en9oyin#his day /#ol3in#.0

The s n %as hotte" and hi#he" no% nea"ly o+e"head. Andit %as h mid. The *i"ds seemed to 3ly a little slo%e" andthe l sh #"eene"y s ""o ndin# the 3ai"%ays d"oo ed a *it

nde" the %ei#ht o3 the ai". !o al%ays )ne% %he"e the

s n %as,yo o ld 3eel its heat. Wa"m ai" "ose in t%istin#ethe"e al "i**ons 3"om the la%n./ a"n50 e2 laimed one o3 the #ol3e"s. i to" loo)ed 9 stin time to %at h a #ol3 *all d"o and disa ea" into the%oods ne2t to the 3ai"%ay.6e3o"e he )ne% it i to" *l "ted o t /?ll 3ind it50 He le3tthe a"t and %al)ed o+e" to %he"e the #ol3 o "se met the%oods "o*a*ly thi"ty o" 3o"ty ya"ds 3"om %he"e the *alllanded. The %oods onsisted o3 "athe" thin ine t"ees#"o%in# densely to#ethe". 7ne shot e+e"y th"ee o" 3o "


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3eet. i to" o ld *a"ely see thei" *ases *e a se thi )* shes o+e"ed the 3loo" o3 the %oods. It loo)ed 3ai"lysolid and i to" %as no% do *tin# that he o ld ente"these %oods to "et"ie+e the *all at all. He %al)ed alon#this li+in# %all o3 %oods a %ays loo)in# 3o" a lea"in#./!o *ette" #et anothe" *all 0 he alled to%a"d the othe"s/this may ta)e a%hile.0

/Let it #o 0 someone "ied * t i to" %as loo)in# 3o"%a"dto this no%,/#ol3in#0 %as #ettin# a little *o"in#./?m #onna 3ind it. !o #o on and Til at h .0With that i to" %as on his o%n all alone at the ed#e o3anothe" %o"ld. E+e"ythin# a*o t the #ol3 o "se,e+en its

onds,%as o*+io sly man made1 the la%n %as tooe"3e t im e a*ly t and a"ed 3o" the onds %e"e"o*a*ly 3ilte"ed e+en thei" ed#es %e"e li ed and

t"immed the sand t"a s too %e"e "a)ed sha ed andsmoothed to e"3e tion.


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The %oods %e"e so 4 iet. E+en the *i"d alls %e"e m tedin this nat "ally so nd "oo3ed la e. A hea+y 3 ll smell o3

ine *" sh and moist de ayin# lea+es and ine needlesmade i to" *"eathe dee ly to ta)e it all in. He )e tloo)in# 3o" an ent"an e then 3o nd a assa*le /doo"%ay0to d ) th"o #h.

i to" smiled as he eme"#ed 3"om this nat "al t nnel.

Standin# "i#ht he st"et hed his hands o+e"head andsi#hed. It %as m h li)e a athed"al inside these %oods."his must !e the true meaning of the word sanctuary hetho #ht as he %al)ed dee e" and dee e" into this s e ialne% la e.

The #"o nd %as so dee ly added it %as li)e ste in#on a nat "al matt"ess o3 nde"#"o%th. With ea h ste

i to" s " n# sli#htly %ith a " stlin# so nd. He loo)eda"o nd to %he"e he tho #ht the *all "o*a*ly 3ell * t then


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he a sed./I don-t %ant to hase some #ol3 *all 0 he %his e"ed /I%ant to stay in these %oods.0 As soon as he s o)e these%o"ds i to" 3elt a ea e %ash o+e" him 3"om head to toe.It 3elt so #ood so alm somethin# ne% that he ne+e"e2 e"ien ed *e3o"e. A %a"m tin#lin# #lo% 3illed his 3a es al and ea"s. i to" smiled and as)ed o t lo d /What is

this 0 Helosed his eyes inhaled dee ly and sa+o"ed this ne% "i h

sensation. A3te" a 3e% moments he slo%ly o ened hiseyes ho in# he %o ldn-t shatte" this deli ate moment in%hi h he %as imme"sed. Witho t thin)in# he #in#e"lyt "ned in the di"e tion o osite o3 %he"e the #ol3 *allmi#ht ha+e landed and too) a a tio s ste 3o"%a"dt"yin# not to dist "* the almness that had des ended.

The #ol3 *all had no meanin# no%.


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A do:en st"ides late" he s otted a lea"in# some 3i3tyo" si2ty 3eet a%ay s ""o nded *y lo% 3"ee #"o%in#sh" **e"y a#ainst a +e"y old s lit "ail 3en e. He +ent "edto%a"d the 3en ed a"ea.Ste in# o+e" the 3en e th"o #h a hole in the sh" **e"yhe %as standin#.. .yes it %as t" e.. .in a emete"y.

This %as an old emete"y. i to" "ead some o3 the datesa"+ed in the headstones1 6o"n D=D ied D=>= D=;P

DG


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time so it didn-t 4 ite meet its t%in that %as a"tially a9a".i to" o ld see that the"e %as no lo ) as he %al)ed

to%a"d it. He shed a#ainst the #ate that %as sli#htlyo ened and it "ea)ed.

?ust li e in a movie i to" tho #ht smilin# ne"+o sly.7 tside the emete"y he no% stood on a di"t ath that ledto the #ates 3"om a small a+ed "oad assin# th"o #h the%oods nea"*y. i to" "e ente"ed and loo)ed a"o nd this3inal "estin# la e a#ain.

Most o3 the headstones loo)ed +e"y old. They %e"ea*o t t%o and a hal3 3eet %ide and th"ee 3eet tallstandin# mo"e o" less "i#ht 3"om *ases made o3 thesame stone. Some %e"e %hite" than othe"s * t othe"s%e"e mottled %ith %hat i to" # essed to *e a )ind o3*la ) moss. The a"+in#s on thei" 3a es %e"e all inta t * t


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the 3ine *la ) #"o%th made them mo"e di33i lt to "ead. These %hite * t stained *la ) stones seemed to *e someo3 the oldest1 The"e %as Ni holas Hen"y Ri hto" D= BDG


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%as %al)in# +e"y slo%ly and a"e3 lly,almost a stal)in#,as i3 to not let his "esen e *e )no%n.

The hains and illa"s at ea h end o3 this ya"d %ithin theemete"y didn-t lose1 They ended 3o " 3eet sho"t o3 ea h

othe" to 3o"m an ent"y%ay. Standin# 9 st o tside theseo enin#s in the hain at *oth ends %as an old st **y

annon. i to" %al)ed to the 3a"the" one.

The annon %as made 3"om a dee *la ) metal * t it %asnot smooth and shiny as i to" tho #ht it sho ld *e.Rathe" this %as a so3t loo)in# metal %ith smallindentations o+e"in# it 3o"min# an e+en atte"n all o+e".

The annon %as nine o" ten in hes in diamete" at the "ea"and ta e"ed do%n to only a*o t 3i+e in hes at its/* siness end.0 The *o"e also s " "ised i to"1 It %as onlysli#htly mo"e than t%o in hes in diamete". The annon"ested in a #"anite "adle and didn-t seem to *e atta hede2 e t *y its shee" %ei#ht. i to" shed a#ainst its side


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as ha"d as he o ld * t the annon didn-t "oll o" * d#ee+en a *it.Loo)in# *a ) a "oss this ya"d to the t%in annon at theothe" end i to" noti ed that the"e %e"e no standin#headstones in he"e. As he loo)ed lose" he sa% noma")e"s o3 any )ind at all. Loo)in# *a ) a#ain he noti edan a" hed #ate%ay s annin# the o enin# in 3"ont o3 the

othe" annon. S elled o t in lette"s si2 in hes hi#h3a*"i ated 3"om the same %"o #ht i"on sed to ma)e theslim a" h%ay itsel3 %e"e the %o"ds Con3ede"ate ead.

/Wo%50 i to" *l "ted /This is a Ci+il Wa" emete"y50 This time the +ol me o3 his o t* "st s " "ised him e+enmo"e and he loo)ed a"o nd a#ain. He had %al)ed "i#ht

ast the Ci+il Wa" a" h * t missed seein# it *e a se,heo ld see no%,a lo% sl n# lim* 3"om an oa) t"ee o+e"ed

it 3"om that side. He loo)ed a*o t the Con3ede"ate ead


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ya"d a#ain 3o" names and dates * t 3o nd none. M sthave !een a mass grave he "easoned as he le3t this a"eath"o #h the a" h%ay.

S annin# the emete"y a#ain i to" noti ed that +e"y3e% headstones stood alone that most %e"e a"t o3 a/set0 s ""o nded and se a"ated *y tiny %"o #ht i"on

3en es 9 st a 3e% in hes hi#h. Ste in# o+e" one o3 these/#"o s0 nea" him he immediately sa% the "eason 3o" thelittle 3en es1 These %e"e all 3amily lots. He stood in 3"onto3 the Thomas 3amily no%. The"e-s John his %i3e Ma"yhe" siste" J ne. In the "o% *ehind %as the Re+e"e 3amily.

i to" loo)ed 3a"the" a "oss the emete"y and s otteda sin#le #"a+e %ith a la"#e" than s al headstone and itso%n little "e tan# la" i"on 3en e s ""o ndin# it. The lose"


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he d"e% the mo"e inte"estin# this #"a+e site *e ame. Why%as this one so di33e"ent 7ne 3eat "e i to" noti ed %asits "o o"tions1 E+e"ythin# a*o t this #"a+e %as sli#htlyla"#e" than the othe"s. The headstone itsel3 its dee ly

a"+ed lette"s and n m*e"s the sho"t o"nate i"on%o")*o"de" %e"e sim ly la"#e" than any o3 those s ""o ndin#

it,la"#e" than any that i to" had seen at all 3o" thatmatte".

Who was this i to" %onde"ed an egomaniac1&erhaps the family was the wealthiest in the area. No that%asn-t it. Se+e"al othe" #"a+es and ma")e"s he had seenin the last 3e% min tes %e"e mo"e o"nate,some %e"e#a dy e+en. No this %asn-t an e#o t"i * t the"e had to*e some "eason %hy this #"a+e %as di33e"ent.

i to" sea" hed 3o" a l e on the headstone itsel31 The"e


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%as an a" hed "o% o3 odd loo)in# 3o"ms 3"om the le3t ed#eto the "i#ht. %re they flowers6 No0 too angular .4ieroglyphics1 i to" didn-t thin) so hie"o#ly hi s loo)li)e small i t "es * t these didn-t. 6eneath the a" hedline o3 3o"ms %as a s)eleton )ey. That o ld 9 st *e#ene"i de o"ation o3 the time li)e the an#els ha" s andho "#lasses he had seen on so many othe" ma")e"s.

Then the name %hi h %as no name 9 st initials1 C. W.Why -ust initials6 i to" ::led. May*e no one )ne% hisname. May*e he-s a she5 ?e"ha s %hoe+e" a""an#ed C.W.-s * "ial sed his o" he" ni )name. The dates D= ;DGBB. He, o" she,%as ei#hty one. And the h"ase1 "a ethe first step , no mo"e no less+and the ne:t will !erevealed .

i to" in+esti#ated some o3 the s ""o ndin# #"a+esloo)in# 3o" l es to C. W.-s identity. Witho t any l ) he"et "ned to C. W.-s lot and st died it a#ain. He 3a ed it


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s4 a"e on and sa% nothin# he mi#ht ha+e missed *e3o"e.He stood on ea h side o3 it loo)in# 3o" somethin# n s al.

Then 3"om *ehind. i to" s4 atted lo% and i" led C. W.-s#"a+e and headstone 3"om this lo%e" an#le loo)in# 3o"additional in3o"mation. Nothin#.

A#ain standin# at the 3oot i to" 3o nd himsel3 sta"in#

at C. W.-s hallen#in# headstone and those %o"ds1 "a ethe first step+no more no less+and the ne:t will !erevealed.

i to" s o)e C. W.-s inst" tion alo d se+e"al times. /I3I did that "i#ht no% 0 i to" said /that %o ld meanste in# 3o"%a"d "i#ht onto the #"a+e itsel35 Really Co ldthis *e %hat C. W.-s messa#e means Isn-t thatsa "ile#io s What i3 someone sees me 0 He loo)eda"o nd the emete"y a#ain +e"y slo%ly.


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i to" li3ted his "i#ht 3oot into the ai". Hesitatin# midst"idehe #ently set his 3oot do%n in the hallo%ed *ed *"in#in#his le3t 3oot and 3o"%a"d to meet the "i#ht. i to"e2haled alo d and let his %ei#ht settle in on *oth 3eet. He*"eathed a little 3aste" and shallo%e".

i to" loo)ed do%n 3"om his ne% n om3o"ta*le osition3"om this stee an#le a*o+e C. W.-s headstone. The"e

lea"ly dis layed in 3"ont o3 him as he loo)ed do%n"ot" din# o t 3"om the 3a e o3 the #"anite ta*let %e"e

lette"s and n m*e"s. !es,the"e they %e"e5 A # st D=GG. ?lain as day.No% %hat A o"din# to the othe" dates on the ma")e" C.W. had a a"ently died in DGBB so A # st D=GG %as aday he o" she %as ali+e.

i to" le3t the emete"y *y its main #ates %al)ed do%nthe little di"t ath and o t onto the a+ed "oad. This "oad%as too na""o% to *e a main hi#h%ay and i to" didn-t


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see any "oad ma")in#s. An o asional a" assed so itseemed to *e a *li tho"o #h3a"e. i to" t "ned "i#ht asthis seemed to *e the di"e tion *a ) to the "and Hotel.

i to"-s mind %as * sy t"yin# to n"a+el the ::le hehad ste ed into,lite"ally. He didn-t )no% %hat his ne2tste sho ld *e * t he %as %al)in# *"is)ly e+en tho #h

the hot hea+y atmos he"e made it some%hat la*o"io s.He had %al)ed %hat he # essed to *e o+e" t%o milesmay*e lose" to th"ee %hen a small *la ) "and Hotel

i ) t" ) lled *ehind him slo%ed do%n andsto ed.Its d"i+e" %as a s "y little man e"ha s si2ty 3i+e yea"sold. i to" tho #ht he loo)ed li)e one o3 Santa-s el+esonly old no%./Need a li3t 0/7h yes that-d *e #"eat 0 smiled i to" o enin# the as


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sen#e" doo". /I-m stayin# at the "and Hotel.0/Well %el ome a*oa"d. My name-s ?ete.0

i to" shoo) the little man-s o en hand and said /Than)yo +e"y m h 3o" sto in#. I-m i to".0/!o -d-a had 4 ite a %al) ahead o3 yo this is )ind o3 a"o nda*o t "oad that ta)es yo a %ays 3"om the hotel*e3o"e it *"in#s yo *a ) a#ain to the main "oad. Ho%-d-ya

#et o t he"e this 3a" 0/Well 0 e2 lained i to" ta)in# a hea+y *"eath /I %as%ith some #ol3in# 3"iends o3 mine and I le3t them on thesi2th 3ai"%ay loo)in# 3o" a *all one o3 -em hit into the%oods...0 The old man h )led./...and it %as so leasant in the"e I de ided to 9 st lea+ethem and do some e2 lo"in#.0/It #ets "etty thi ) in some o3 them %oods did yo #et all*"am*led 0 as)ed ?ete./No 0 "e lied i to" loo)in# at his le#s and a"ms /I


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seemed to do 3ai"ly %ell. I ame a "oss an old emete"y inthe"e so I %asn-t in the %oods all that m h.0/Ah yes the old emete"y 0 the old man "e alled. /That-sthe o"i#inal to%n #"a+eya"d 3"om a lon# lon# time a#o.0/ o yo )no% anythin# a*o t it 0 i to" as)ed sittin# a little st"ai#hte" in his seat./No not m h - e t that it-s a histo"i al site and %hen

the hotel #ot that land they had to )ee it and allo%a ess to it. I %as the"e a o le o3 times I thin) it-ss e ial *e a se o3 those Ci+il Wa" #"a+es in it.0

i to" o ld tell he %asn-t #oin# to lea"n m h mo"e 3"om?ete so he as)ed /Whe"e an I 3ind o t mo"e a*o t it 0/Well 0 ?ete tho #ht ta in# his 3in#e"s on the sti ) shi3t/%hy don-t yo loo) ol- Ha . He-s *een at the hotellon#e"-n most anyone. I-ll *et he )no%s somethin- a*o tthe la e.0 /Who-s Ha 0 i to" as)ed his eyes %idenin#./Ha 7h he-s the hotel "eli . Ha -s *een a"o nd seems


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li)e 3o"e+e". He " ns the sta*les,thin)s it-s his 0 ?eteh )led.

They-d *een d"i+in# ten min tes o" so and i to" %as #ladthat ?ete had ome alon# %hen he did. He o ld see the

"and Hotel main ent"an e no% and onside"ed ho%yeste"day %hen he had assed th"o #h this ent"an e hehad no idea that a myste"y li)e he 9 st 3o nd in the

emete"y %o ld *e n3oldin#. This %as somethin# "i#hto t o3 the mo+ies5/!e 0 ?ete said /I ha+en-t ta)en that "oad in o+e" a yea"?ll *et don-t )no% %hat made me t "n o33 on it today.0/Well I-m s "e #lad yo did o" I mi#ht-a *een lost 3o"days50 ?ete lled nde" the #"and o"te o he"e and

i to" #ot o t./Than)s a lot ?ete. It %as s "e #ood " nnin- into yotoday5 7h *y the %ay do yo thin) Ha -s at the sta*leno% 0 /S "e he-s always at the sta*le. J st 3ollo% the


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ath%ay *ehind the s%immin- ool. !o -ll see si#ns alon#the %ay.0 With that i to" "aised his hand and #est "ed#ood *ye. ?ete %a+ed *a ) and d"o+e o33 a"o nd the* ildin#.

I3 %hat they had told him that mo"nin# %as a "atethe #ol3 #"o %o ld *e *a ) 3o" l n h in a*o t an ho "

so i to" de ided to se this time to *e#in hisin+esti#ation o3 C. W.-s esote"i messa#e. He %al)edth"o #h the lo**y ast the hotel #i3t sho and o t to the

ool a"ea./Whe"e-s the ath that leads to the sta*le 0 he as)ed a

assin# %aite" *alan in# a sil+e" t"ay o3 olo"3 l tall d"in)son the alm o3 one hand./Ri#ht o+e" the"e si" 0 the yo n# man motioned %ith hishead./Than)s 0 smiled i to" %onde"in# %hy the %aite" alled


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him si". o I loo) that old No he "o*a*ly 9 st said thato t o3 ha*it. i to" loo)ed a"o nd at the s n *athe"s onthe "and Hotel-s handsome *la ) and tan haiselo n#es. Ea h lo n#e had a li on smo)ed lasti s n+iso" that o ld *e mo+ed in all di"e tions and an#les to*lo ) o t the s n %he"e+e" one desi"ed. Some eo le hadthe s n +iso" la ed di"e tly in 3"ont o3 thei" 3a e and "ead

a *oo) held di"e tly *ehind it. They loo)ed 3 nny toi to". He sa% th"ee o" 3o " ladies 3"om his #"o * t they

eithe" had thei" eyes losed o" %e"e "eadin# so he silently%al)ed ast a "oss the "ed tiled ool de ) a"o nd thes otlessly lean sh 33le*oa"d o "t ast a olo"3 l 3lo%e"#a"den and s lashin# 3o ntain to a na""o% #"a+el3oot ath.

The #"a+el made a ni e " n hin# so nd %ith ea h 3ootste . A 3e% ste s alon# %as a small %ooden si#n %ithindented %hite lette"s1 Sta*le. He 3ollo%ed the ath on


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do%n a )noll a"o nd a la"#e #"o+e o3 oa) t"ees ast somesmall %hite and #"een * ildin#s he # essed %e"e 3o"maintenan e and sto"a#e (yet they loo)ed #ood eno #h toli+e in$ and on a sli#ht "ise. As he "ea hed the to thesta*le a ea"ed.It %as a %ooden *a"n sha ed * ildin# %ith da") #"eent"im +e"y neat and tidy loo)in#. To the side o3 it %as a

la"#e o""al ainted *"i#ht %hite. Th"ee handsome shinyho"ses stood in the shady a"eas "o+ided *y se+e"al h #eoa) t"ees that i" led the o""al. i to" tho #ht this settin#%o ld ha+e made a e"3e t No"man Ro )%ell aintin#.As he a "oa hed the * ildin# he noti ed a small si#n%ith the no% 3amilia" %hite lette"in#1 733i e. It %asatta hed to the %all ne2t to a t h doo". The to hal3 %aso en. i to" %al)ed and ee"ed in. It loo)ed andsmelled 9 st li)e he ima#ined a sta*le "i#ht o t o3 the 7ldWest %o ld1 hay leathe" %ood and ho"ses. Loo)in#


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di"e tly at him 3"om a "oss the *am %as a ho"se standin#in a stall. i to" %as sta"tled *y a nea"*y +oi e1 /Can I heya 0He didn-t 4 ite )no% %he"e it ame 3"om. He then sa%%hat loo)ed li)e an old lan)y o%*oy #ettin# 3"om a%ooden hai" *ehind an an ient i#eon hole "oll to des).

The old man loo)ed %eathe"ed * t +e"y 3"iendly.

/?m loo)in# 3o" Ha 0 i to" e2 lained./!o 3o nd him. What an I do 3o" ya a"tne" 0/Ha I %as on the #ol3 o "se today and a identally3o nd the old emete"y in the %oods 0Ha nodded. /That sed to *e a "eal s e ial s ot -"o ndhe"e 4 ite a landma"). ?eo le sed to st"oll th"o #h it onS ndays a3te" h " h then on o+e" to a *i# meado% that

sed to *e %he"e a"t o3 the #ol3 o "se is no% 3o" i ni s.It %as a "i#ht * sy la e on S ndays1 eo le st"ollin- )ids" nnin- and lim*in- t"ees men it hin- ho"seshoes.0


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Ha -s eyes t"ailed o33 %ith his +oi e. He had one o3 thosesilly #"ins on his 3a e sta"in# o33 into the hay lo3t a*o+e.

i to" tho #ht t%i e a*o t ontin in#1 May*e he %o ldsta"tle the old man. ?e"ha s em*a""ass him Th"ee o" 3o "mo"e se onds o3 n om3o"ta*le silen e assed and thenHa sna ed a%a)e a#ain./!e that %as a "eal ha y la e on S ndays.0

/Well %hat ha ened 0 i to" %onde"ed alo d./The to%n sta"ted mo+in- mo"e east%a"d. In my yo n#e"days I hel ed * ild a 3e% o3 those 3an y ne% ho ses some*i# shots sta"ted ttin- in east o3 to%n. They t"ied to o tdo ea h othe"1 %ho o ld * ild the *i##est 3an iestho se. To "ists still d"i+e *y -em today,that %holese tion o t ast to%n. Then the hotel o%ne"s 3i# "ed they

o ld * y a lot o3 this land he"e a"o nd the o"i#inal"o e"ty and ma)e a #ol3 o "se o tta it. 7nly the 3e%

o"i#inal 3amilies that settled these a"ts %e"e sin- the


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emete"y to * "y thei" )in so it )ind-a " n do%n andloo)ed sha**y mostly. Sin e the hotel o%ne"s %anted asm h o3 the land -"o nd he"e as they o ld #athe" theymade a deal %ith the ity 3athe"s to maintain the emete"y i3 they o ld * y the land on *oth sides o3 it.0/Is the emete"y still sed 0 i to" as)ed./7h yeah * t only *y those 3amilies %hose "elations a"e

al"eady in it 0 e2 lained Ha . /!o -ll still see a ne% #"a+e#o in on e in a%hile. And I see 3lo%e"s e+e" so o3ten that

ome o tta the"e in the hotel-s om ost hea o+e"yonde".0

i to" %as deli#hted %ith the amo nt o3 in3o"mation Ha)ne% a*o t the emete"y. /Well do yo )no% %ho C. W.mi#ht ha+e *een 0Ha loo)ed ::led and "e eated the initials /C. W. 0/!es. The"e-s a headstone in the emete"y a*o t 3o " 3eethi#h 0 i to" t o t a hand to demonst"ate 3o " 3eet


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3"om the 3loo" /%ith a 3an y %"o #ht i"on *o"de" a"o ndthe #"a+e.0 Ha s "at hed his head and %"in)led his 3a e./Well I-m s "e I m sta seen it * t I don-t "e olle t theone yo mean.0 /The"e-s )ind o3 a messa#e on it 0 i to"

ontin ed oa2in# Ha alon# /that says Ta)e the 3i"stste ....-0 i to" leaned to%a"d Ha eyes %ide hando tst"et hed anti i atin# the ans%e".

Ha t"ied to "emem*e" * t nothin# %as the"e. He "aisedhis eye*"o%s and sh" ##ed. i to" onside"ed as)in# Haa*o t the date,A # st D=GG,that seemed to *e these "et C. W.-s osth mo s messa#e di+ l#ed * t he too)a *"eath and "ee+al ated1 No Ha hadn-t e+en *een *o"nin D=GG and %hat i3 this myste"y he had st m*led ontoa t ally led to a hidden t"eas "e some%he"e i to"tho #ht the *est o "se o3 a tion no% %as to sh" # allthese 4 estions o33 as 9 st idle "iosity so as not to "aiseany s s i ion in Ha .


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/7h I-m s "e it-s nothin# at all. It 9 st s " "ised me to 3inda emete"y o t the"e o33 the #ol3 o "se li)e that. 6 tthan)s 3o" yo " time. It %as ni e meetin# yo Ha .0/No "o*lem 0 Ha %a+ed his hand /Come see me %henyo %ant to ta)e a "ide.0

/Than)s ?ll do that. So lon#.0 #ood. 4ap didn-t givethe ;uestions a!out $. W. and his cryptic message asecond thought. But now what1

i to" %al)ed *"is)ly *a ) to%a"d the hotel. Theh midity slo%ed his a e * t he still smiled. What amyste"y5 He %as onto a sto"y he"e. He o ldn-t %ait to tellCh"istine all a*o t his n s al mo"nin#.Ch"istine %as s)e ti al * t she sa% the e2 e tation in

i to"-s eyes that she had seen so many times *e3o"e. This is %hat she lo+ed a*o t him. /Well %hat no%

i to" 0


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/So 3a" old C. W.-s inst" tions "o+ed o t1 I too) that 3i"stste and it led to the date,A # st D=GG,hidden in theheadstone. That an-t *e an a ident.0/!o ha+e all %ee) to sol+e this myste"y.0 Ch"istine smiledand )issed his hee).missed s n"ise * t o ld tell it had *een *ea ti3 l The%o"ld o tside the %indo% %as 3"esh and #"een and %et.White *illo%y lo ds 3illed the s)y. The *i"ds %e"e al"eady* sy %o")in# and layin#. A la"#e l m "o*in e" hedon an oa) lim* 9 st o tside loo)ed +e"y ha y. A tan#led

ie e o3 yam dan#led 3"om his *ea). It loo)ed *a ) and3o"th se+e"al times and then too) o33 to 3inish its ho"es.

i to" sho%e"ed and d"essed 4 i )ly. He had nothin#s hed led today * t the anti i ation o3 sol+in# hismyste"y om elled him to #et o t and a*o t. Ch"istine%as 9 st a%a)enin#. She s4 inted ya%ned st"et hed he"


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a #lo"io s mo"nin#. i to"-s eyes sea" hed 3o" 3amilia"3a es. He smiled and nodded #ood mo"nin# to se+e"al o3Ch"istine-s 3ello% a#ents and thei" s o ses. Then he

a #ht si#ht o3 /the #an#0 sittin# at th"ee ome" ta*les o3the la"#e "oom. They %e"e lo de" than the othe" dine"s

i to" o ld hea" thei" la #hte" and tal)in# a "oss themany ta*les. The men %e"e 9 st 3inishin# *"ea)3ast and

sayin# thei" 3a"e%ells *e3o"e lea+in# 3o" the #ol3 o "se./Wanna *e my addie today 0 one o3 the #ol3e"s as)ed.

i to" smiled /No than)s.0 The %omen #ot to lea+e too and as)ed a*o tCh"istine. i to" said she %o ld 9oin him 3o" *"ea)3astsoon. He sat do%n at a ta*le 3o" t%o and loo)ed o t at thene% day. He en9oyed the silen e.

The *i"ds %e"e es e ially a ti+e this mo"nin#. Theyho ed a "oss the e"3e tly t"immed la%n and 3l tte"ed3"om *"an h to *"an h in the oa)s 9 st o tside the i t "e


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%indo%s o3 the dinin# "oom. i to"-s tho #hts %e"e asa ti+e and animated as the *i"ds1 2 wonder what it costs to

eep this place up1 Must cost thousands of dollars a dayfor all the careta ers around here. 4ow can people affordto stay here+especially with a family1 2t must !e nice to!e a!le to....

2 wonder if $hristine and 2 will ever have enoughmoney to splurge on a vacation li e this1 2 dont deserveto !e here. =veryone in this place can -ust loo at me andsee that. Why didn't 6 -ust nuc le under go to college/get good grades/ and start clim!ing that ladder1 )d !e onthe second rung !y now. But what company would 2 have!een wor ing for1 2 don't even now5 2 can't even imaginewhat )d li e to !e doing. 4ow's that song go1 / on-t fall inlove with a dreamer/ for he'll always let you down.9 &oor


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$hristine0 what a loser she got stuc with. 2 wonder if sheever thin s of leaving me1 2 can't even succeed atmarriage....

/Hey #ood loo)in#. Mind i3 I sit do%n he"e ne2t toyo 0 i to" s ddenly "emem*e"ed %he"e he %as and"eali:ed ho% s%eet Ch"istine-s +oi e so nded.

/Why yes I thin) that %o ld *e 4 ite ni e 0 i to"layed alon# as he "ose lled o t a hai" and #est "ed

3o" he" to sit. 2 sure don't now what she sees in me/ hetho #ht.

Ch"istine too) a dee *"eath and loo)ed o t at thehotel #"o nds the +ie% %as ins i"in#. / id yo o"de"*"ea)3ast 0 /No I 9 st #ot he"e. idn-t yo see the othe"slea+in# on yo " %ay in 0/No I %as %onde"in# %he"e e+e"yone %as 0 Ch"istine


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ommented as she i )ed the one a#e *"ea)3astmen that loo)ed mo"e li)e a %ine list,3an y ty e and

n "ono n ea*le names.I must have !een daydreaming longer that 2 thought/

i to" "eali:ed./!o "a"ely #et *e3o"e me, o ld it *e that this

isn-t "eally yo at all that I-m sittin# at *"ea)3ast thismo"nin# %ith She"lo ) Holmes instead 0

i to" smiled. She's so insightful/ he tho #ht. *fcourse5 $. W./ the gravestone/ and the mystery5

/That-s "i#ht I-+e #ot a "eal time myste"y to sol+e. I-mon a mission50/What-s yo " ne2t ste 0 Ch"istine as)ed.

i to" tho #ht o3 the messa#e on the headstone1 "a ethe first step ,no mo"e no less+and the ne:t will !e


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revealed . /I don-t )no% 0 on3essed i to" The %aite" ame to ta)e thei" *"ea)3ast o"de".

Ch"istine and i to" sat and en9oyed the l sh o nt"yside 9 st o tside the %indo%s. It %as so alm and ea e3 l and4 iet he"e./The "and Hotel limo sine de a"ts in ten min tes.0 A

+oi e in the "e e tion a"ea o tside the dinin# "oom *"o)ethei" "e+e"ie. Ch"istine and i to" loo)ed at ea h othe" andsmiled. S ddenly i to" #ot le3t the ta*le and h ""iedo t the dinin# "oom doo"s. He "et "ned moments late" and*e#an tal)in# *e3o"e he sat do%n1 /That limo sine #oesinto to%n and *a ) th"ee times a day.0/Whe"e-s to%n 0 as)ed Ch"istine./I don-t )no% * t I-m ta)in# the one o- lo ) limo to 3indo t. Wanna #o 0/I an-t today. The #i"ls a"e meetin# 3o" l n h and then a


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#ame o3 a"ds.0/What-d-ya yo say %e ha+e a ni e leis "ely *"ea)3ast andthen #o st"oll a"o nd the #a"dens a%hile 0/So nds ha"min# 0 Ch"istine smiled. /It-s 9 st so lo+elyhe"e isn-t it 0

i to" %as the only e"son %aitin# in the "and Hotello**y at D;1


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s ddenly *e a " sh o3 to "ists 3loodin# do%n the halls 3"omthei" "ooms to at h the one o- lo ) limo.

i to" stood %ith his hands in his o )ets a in# thelo**y. He #lan ed o tside th"o #h the leaded #lass doo"s%at hin# 3o" the limo to a""i+e. He hea"d an a to en#inea "oa hin# and shed on one o3 the *i# do *le oa)doo"s to %ait o tside.A 3amilia" *la ) +an %ith its #old "and Hotel lette"in#slo%ly lled nde" the o"te o he"e and sto ed. Thed"i+e" le3t the en#ine " nnin# and lim*ed o t. He %al)eda"o nd the 3"ont o3 the +an headin# 3o" the lo**y andsmiled and nodded at i to"./It-s a hot one today isn-t it 0/!es it is 0 said i to" "eali:in# that he %as al"eady 3eelin# dam 3"om the hi#h h midity. /Is this the limo #oin#into to%n 0/!es si". Clim* on in %he"e it-s ool i3 yo li)e. We-ll *e


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lea+in# in 9 st a o le o3 min tes 0 "e lied the d"i+e" ashe shed his %ay th"o #h the *i# oa) doo"s into thelo**y.

i to" hea"d 3ootste s on the meande"in# *"i ) ath that"an the len#th o3 the hotel. It %as mo"e o3 a t nnel "eally1old thi ) +ines om letely on ealed the osts and t"ellisalon# and o+e" the %al)%ay. T%o %omen tal)in# ame

nea"e" and nea"e" thei" ha"d heels lo in# on the *"i )sand e hoin# th"o #h the +ine. It %as a leasant so nd.

i to" had al"eady de ided he %anted to "ide in the 3"ontassen#e" seat so he o ld as) 4 estions o3 the d"i+e" on

the %ay into to%n. I3 these t%o %omen %e"e "idin# too he)ne% they %o ld %ant to sit in a seat to#ethe" and

ontin e tal)in#.7ne o3 the lo**y doo"s o ened and the d"i+e" e2ited. Hesto ed held the doo" o en and ontin ed to loo) *a )into the lo**y. A 3e% moments late" a %oman %ith t%o


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yo n# hild"en eme"#ed holdin# thei" hands.i to" o ened the 3"ont assen#e" doo" o3 the +an and

ste ed to the seat. Feelin# the d"y ool ai" inside he4 i )ly losed the doo" and %aited./7)ay e+e"yone #oin- into to%n 0 as)ed the d"i+e" as heo ened the +an-s *i# side doo" and hel ed 3i"st the %oman%ith hild"en and then the t%o tal)in# %omen the ste

and into the +an-s *en h seats. The +an %as oolin# do%n 4 i )ly a#ain as the assen#e"s%at hed the d"i+e" %al) a"o nd the +an o en his doo"and lim* in.As they slo%ly lled a%ay do%n the d"i+e and th"o #hthe im osin# "and Hotel ent"y a" h the assen#e"s hadsettled in1 The mothe" %as ointin# o t the si#hts to he"

hild"en and the t%o %omen %e"e hatte"in# a%ay as*e3o"e. They t "ned onto the hi#h%ay and %e"e soont"a+elin# alon# at 3i3ty miles e" ho ".


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The d"i+e" %as a man in his 3i3ties i to" # essed and"o*a*ly a nati+e o3 this a"t o3 the o nt"y. He had those

tell tale dee " ts and 3 ""o%s in his 3o"ehead and ne )that i to" had noti ed on ?ete Ha and othe" hotel sta33he sa% at the l *ho se and dinin# "oom. May*e theh midity a ses it i to" tho #ht./So %he"e-s to%n 0 i to" as)ed sta"tin# a

on+e"sation./7h it-s a*o t thi"ty min tes o33 yonde".0 The d"i+e"motioned the "oad. It-s the o nty seat a t ally.0/What-s it )no%n 3o" 0 i to" as)ed./Well sed to *e a *i# money ente",3an y hotels"esta "ants and *an)s 3o" the "i h Easte"ne"s %ho * ilt*i# ole mansions he"e alon# the "i+e" to +a ation in.No%adays it-s mostly "eti"ed 3ol)s and to "ists he"e.0

The o nt"yside %as #"een and moist. Moss dan#led 3"ommany o3 the t"ees. E+en %ooden 3en es %e"e s atte"ed


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%ith moss and o3 a "i h da") olo" 3"om *ein# sat "ated%ith %ate". White yello% " le and "ed %ild3lo%e"s

o ed o t 3"om tall #"ass and lo% * shes on *oth sideso3 the hi#h%ay.

They %e"e 9 st no% assin# the "oad i to" "e o#ni:ed to*e the *a ) "oad that led to the emete"y %he"e he had3o nd C. W. o" +i e +e"sa.

/Whe"e does that "oad lead 0 i to" as)ed "etendin# notto )no%./It " ns alon# the ed#e o3 the hotel "o e"ty a %ays. Someo3 the #"o nds "e%s se it 0 the d"i+e" e2 lained.

i to" o ld tell he %asn-t #oin# to lea"n m h 3"om him. The +ie%s 3"om the ool om3o"ta*le +an %e"e

*e omin# mo"e inte"estin#1 La"#e %hite mansions "ested a#ood tenth o3 a mile *a ) 3"om the "oad at the to o3 lon#%indin# d"i+e%ays that ended in a i" le. Most %e"e th"ee


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sto"ies hi#h %ith da") olo"ed "oo3s. An o tside o" hen i" led many o3 these homes and had an e2t"a little "oo3o+e" this e"imete" o" h. The d"i+e" alled them "ain

o" hes and said they %e"e indi#eno s to this a"ea o3 theo nt"y. Most o3 these estates had a # est ho se s ally

*ehind the main ho se and t%o o" th"ee o t * ildin#s

s atte"ed a*o t the "o e"ty. &ro!a!ly for water pumpsand e;uipment i to" on l ded.

They %e"e #ettin# lose" to to%n no% the homes %e"eomin# alon# "o% a3te" "o%. They %e"e m h smalle" than

the estates and sit ated on less a "ea#e./A"e %e the"e yet 0 i to" 9o)ed./J st a*o t 0 smiled the d"i+e" /9 st a o le miles mo"e.0

i to" had noti ed a %ide *and o3 t"ees o33 in the distan ea %hile *a ) and # essed it %as the ath o3 a "i+e". Thesna)in# #"een *and a ea"ed to "oss the "oad they %e"e


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on a hal3 mile o" so ahead. The "oad "+ed o t o3 si#ht soi to" %aited e2 e tantly to +e"i3y his theo"y. Soon 9 st

ahead o3 them %as %hat loo)ed li)e a h #e *am %ith no3"ont o" *a ) %alls. It %as a o+e"ed *"id#e5/Loo)5 It-s so *i#50 i to" e2 laimed. The %omen and

hild"en in *a ) sat 3o"%a"d to see %hat i to" %as soe2 ited o+e". They didn-t seem im "essed at all. ?"o*a*ly

*e a se they %e"en-t 3"om So the"n Cali3o"nia %he"e s hst" t "es don-t e2ist. The hild"en as)ed thei" mothe"%hat all the ommotion %as a*o t so she ointed o t thelandma") to them and e2 lained its 3 n tion and " ose.

The "oad too) on an hill slo e a "oa hin# the o+e"edt%o lane *"id#e and i to" %as deli#hted a#ain1 /It-s a%ooden *"id#e too50 he anno n ed as the +an latte"eda "oss. The d"i+e" h )led at i to"-s enth siasm.

The "i+e" *elo% %as %ide and a a"ently am ly dee . A3e% small "o%*oats slid *y nde" the *"id#e * t i to"


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3o sed on a la"#e handsome ya ht do )ed se+e"alh nd"ed ya"ds a%ay alon# the "i+e"-s ed#e. It %as anele#ant old nat "al %ood *oat not the a"ti3i ial loo)in#

lasti and 3i*e" #lass +a"iety./That *oat loo)s li)e the 8.S. "esidential ya ht 0 i to"stated * t %as "eally as)in# the d"i+e" 3o" mo"ein3o"mation.

/That-s a "eal #en ine *ea ty 0 said the d"i+e" /Whata +essel she is. 6elon#s to the o" hana#e al%ays has. I%as a*oa"d he" on e yea"s a#o. !e a "eal *ea ty. He"name-s $oincidental 0/ $oincidental 0 i to" as)ed. /What-s that mean 0

/ on-t )no% * t I al%ays "emem*e"ed it 0 the d"i+e"smiled. /She-s al%ays )e t in ti to ondition I hea",shi sha e I # ess yo o ld say.0 The d"i+e" seemed

"o d o3 his n and smiled. i to" smiled %ith him.


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"his is too good to !e true i to" tho #ht. He %ishedCh"istine %e"e %ith him no%. The +an had 9 st "ossed the#"and old *"id#e made a 4 i ) "i#ht t "n at a lon# "o% o3

"im and "o e" i to"ian ho ses all ainted in *"i#ht astels and ame to "est *eneath the la"#est oa) t"ee i to"had e+e" seen. The "oad 3o"med a la"#e i" le a"o nd the

oa) and led *a ) o t the %ay they d"o+e in. /End o3 theline 0 the d"i+e" anno n ed.

i to" sensed that somethin# enti"ely ne% a%aited himhe"e.

What now1 i to" %onde"ed. The +an %o ld "et "n tothis s ot at 3i+e o- lo ) to a""y # ests *a ) to the "andHotel so he had a*o t th"ee and a hal3 ho "s to 3ind %hathe %as loo)in# 3o". 6 t %hat %as that i to" lim*ed o to3 the hotel +an and %at hed it ll a%ay th"o #h the


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hea+y lo% sl n# *"an hes o3 the #iant old oa) t"ee.i to" t "ned and 3a ed to%n. 72nviting9 is the word

that descri!es what I-m seeing i to" tho #ht. %nd 7co3y9and 7per feet9 and 7charming/9 too. Something a!out this

place -ust ma es you want to drin it all in/ to em!race it.i to" %as standin# at one end o3 a "athe" sho"t *lo )

o3 small sho s and * sinesses on *oth sides o3 the st"eet.Ea h %as a om lete little * ildin# nto itsel3,somemade o3 *"i ) some made o3 %ood and othe"s o3 stone* t all a* tted ea h othe". ?ust li e Main Street/(isneyland/ tho #ht i to". He o ldn-t hel * t smile andta)e in a dee *"eath.

He *e#an %al)in# do%n the side%al) nde" the tetidy a%nin#s and ast the 3lo%e" 3illed %indo% *o2es o3ea h little sho . He 9 st assed A Stit h in Time a


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milline"y. No% he %as in 3"ont o3 The Time Ma hine %ithan anti4 e *o2 ame"a and *la ) loth hood dis layed%ith old 3ashioned hoto#"a hs o3 3amilies o les andindi+id al o"t"aits o3 to "ists d"essed in lothin# and

"o s o3 the nineteenth ent "y. He es e ially li)ed thehoto o3 a ste"n loo)in# 3athe" shot# n a "oss his hest

standin# # a"d ne2t to his th"ee an#eli da #hte"s # ssied in "i**ons and la e d"esses.

Ne2t he assed the 8.S. 6an) a sto t little *"i ) * ildin#%ith hea+y da") #"een 3elt "tains han#in# 3"om thi )"o nd *"ass "in#s atta hed to shiny *"ass "tain "ods.

i to" loo)ed into the *an) and %hat he sa% %as "i#ht o to3 an old Weste"n1 A thin *ald m sta hed man %ea"in# a#"een +iso" stood *ehind the telle" *a"s ato a solid oa)

o nte". 6"i#ht "ed #a"te"s a"o nd ea h a"m held hisslee+es . He %as smilin# as he %aited on a stome"


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%ho %as the only thin# /%"on#0 %ith this i t "e1 He"3l o"es ent o"an#e sho"ts " le tan) to *la ) nylon3anny a ) and #ly "ed and *l e " nnin# shoes s oiledthe s ene.

i to" t "ned 3"om the *an)-s 3"ont %indo% and ontin edhis ent"y into this "e3"eshin# othe" %o"ld. He %as nea"in#the end o3 this st"eet no% and a "oa hed Fi"st A+en e

that "an e" endi la" to Main the st"eet he %as on.7n the o"ne" a "oss the st"eet a la"#e "o nd lo ) satato an o"nate i"on ole. T%o thin %"o #ht i"on a"ms

9 tted o t 9 st *eneath the lo ) and ea h held a lay oto+e"3lo%in# %ith *loomin# 3lo%e"s and as adin# %hiteand " le alyss m. It %as e2a tly t%o o- lo ).

2 have three hours i to" "eminded himsel3. But threehours to do what1 J st then the lan#in# o3 a *"ass *ell

o ld *e hea"d not 3a" a%ay. i to" loo)ed a"o nd * t


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o ldn-t 3ind the so " e. The lan#in# #ot lo de". He hea"dthe distin ti+e so nd o3 a small #asoline en#ine. /? tt

tt 0 / lan# lan# 0 and 3"om a"o nd the o"ne" a ea"eda ho"seless a""ia#e.

A *i# smile 3o"med on i to"-s 3a e. What a t" lyleasant and "e3"eshin# s " "ise this %as. That-s %hen it

o ""ed to him1 He hadn-t seen an a tomo*ile sin e heste ed o t o3 the +an5 As the shiny a""ia#e assed

i to" "ead the %o"ds /F"ee Sh ttle0 ainted in # ildedlette"in# on its doo". The d"i+e" %as d"essed t m o3 the

ent "y style li)e the *an)e" * t his assen#e"s st ) o tli)e so"e th m*s in thei" i"ides ent syntheti 3a*"i s st"aon o hes and +ideo ame"as. He 3elt em*a""assed to *ea to "ist too.6 t he %asn-t he %as he"e to sol+e his myste"io s "iddle.


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i to" #lan ed *a ) at the tall "o nd lo ). It %as a littlea3te" t%o.

He %ent o+e" the headstone in his mind. The date1A # st D=GG. What ha ened on that day he"e in D=GG

i to" %as dayd"eamin#. When he ame to his eyes %e"e3o sed on the ome" st"eet si#ns a "oss Fi"st A+en e.

The"e atta hed to the st"eet si#n ost %as a small metalsi#n %ith #"een lette"s1 Li*"a"y. An a""o% on the si#n

ointed 3a"the" do%n Fi"st A+en e. That-s it5 i to" almostsaid alo d. "he li!rary5 2'll get a newspaper from %ugust @D=GG.

i to" *e#an %al)in# alon# Fi"st A+en e in thedi"e tion the a""o% ointed. Not )no%in# ho% 3a" he %o ld*e #oin# o" %hat side o3 the st"eet the li*"a"y %as on

i to" %as ale"t. He assed mo"e sho s,and mo"e


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to "ists. He hea"d the moto" and *ell o3 the ho"selessa""ia#e "et "nin#. 6 t this time he didn-t sto to admi"e it

as it h ##ed ast and made a le3t t "n on Field St"eet.Whe"e %as the li*"a"yAll the st"eets he %as assin# ended at Fi"st A+en e1 MainSt"eet the 3i"st he had %al)ed alon# %hen the +and"o ed them o33 then he t "ned le3t %hen Main St"eetended %he"e the ho"seless a""ia#e a ea"ed he assedSe tion St"eet Field St"eet and %as no% standin# at the

ome" o3 Watt St"eet %he"e the to "isty a"t o3 to%na a"ently ended. Watt St"eet "ossed Fi"st A+en e and

ontin ed on. He"e %as the 3i"st sto si#n i to" had seenin to%n and this %as a oint %he"e st"eet t"a33i *e#an. A"o% o3 3i+e steel osts lanted "i#ht a "oss Fi"st A+en e)e t moto" +ehi les 3"om ente"in#.

i to" still sa% no li*"a"y si#n and %onde"ed i3


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someone 3o"#ot to ost one. He loo)ed Fi"st A+en eand sa% a la"#e "ed *"i ) th"ee sto"y * ildin# a*o t th"ee*lo )s a%ay. He %aited 3o" a a" to t "n le3t onto WattSt"eet 3"om Fi"st A+en e and ontin ed %al)in# Fi"stto%a"d the * ildin#. May!e the li!rary's up there i to"said to himsel3 still seein# no 3 "the" si#ns. He "ossed

Se ond St"eet then Fi"st St"eet.?a sin# 3o" t%o a"s to ass alon# Fi"st St"eet his

head onstantly mo+in# so as not to miss a li*"a"y si#ni to" noti ed a +e"y old t%o sto"y sed *"i ) * ildin#

dia#onally a "oss the st"eet 3"om %he"e he stood. Smalla" hed %indo%s "an a "oss the se ond sto"y. The 3i"st 3loo"o3 the * ildin# %as all *"i ) e2 e t 3o" the %ood 3"amed#lass 3"ont doo" and a %ide i t "e %indo% ne2t to it. a")#"een an+as a%nin#s o+e"ed *oth the doo" and %indo%.


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La"#e #old 3oil old e"man lette"in# 3illed most o3 the%indo% ane1 (aily #a3ette Q &u!lished continuouslysince 6AA . 7+e" a h nd"ed yea"s old. i to" smiled. 2wonder if this is the original !uilding1 "hat's pro!a!ly thenewspaper 2'm loo ing for. He loo)ed and )e t %al)in#.?a") St"eet %as 9 st ahead. May!e the li!rary's down

there .A st"eet en i" led the ma9esti th"ee sto"y "ed *"i )

* ildin# that ho sed the o "tho se and #o+e"nmento33i es. Named Ca itol ?a")%ay it "eated a ont"astin#*o"de" a"o nd the losely t"immed la%n and 3o"mal "ose#a"dens leadin# to the o "tho se. 7n th"ee sidesst"et hin# o t 3"om the * ildin# %e"e a")s,+e"y la"#eold t"ees shelte"in# meande"in# ath%ays and o asionalta*les and *en hes. As he a "oa hed the "* to "oss


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?a") St"eet i to" noti ed anothe" li*"a"y si#n atta hedhi#h on the old 3ashioned lam ost. It ointed le3t 3a"the"do%n the st"eet.

He t "ned and %al)ed alon# ?a") St"eet. "his must !eclose to the way it was in the 6A s i to" tho #ht. The"e%as a ea e and sim li ity that %as so om ellin#. He

assed Mille"-s Inn & inne" Ho se a t%o sto"y *"i )* ildin# %ith tall na""o% %indo%s and a sti33 st"i eda%nin# shadin# the 3i"st 3loo". The hea+y %ood *a" *"assand #lass o"naments and thin %ooden hai"s loo)edin+itin# th"o #h the "tained 3"ont %indo%s. Ne2t he

assed ". Sims- A othe a"y a one sto"y ainted *"i )st" t "e %ith *"i#ht %hite %ooden t"im a"o nd its 3"ontdoo" and %indo%s. 7ld e"ami lee h 9a"s and thi ) #lass*ottles o3 all olo"s ado"ned the t%in dis lay %indo%s.


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i to" %onde"ed %hethe" this %as a 3 n tional ha"ma yo" a m se m * t he didn-t sto to 3ind o t the li*"a"ya%aited.

Contin in# ast Wal)e"-s Me" antile and se+e"al nma")ed sho s and * ildin#s i to" a""i+ed at the end o3?a") St"eet. A solita"y t%o sto"y %ood 3"amed * ildin#

stood *e3o"e him. It o ld ha+e *een a "i+ate home * t3o" the little %ooden si#n osted in the 3"ont la%n1 Li*"a"y.A %hite i )et 3en e *o"de"ed the 3"ont ya"d. i to"o ened the small #ate st"ode the stone %al)%ayste ed onto the o" h and ente"ed the 3"ont doo".A a"ently this hadn-t *een a "i+ate "esiden e a3te" all1inside %as 9 st li)e a li*"a"y only smalle". Fillin# 9 st onela"#e "oom %as e+e"ythin# yo -d e2 e t in a li*"a"y1 *oo)shel+es ta*les and hai"s a"d 3iles ma#a:ine "a )s and

o y ma hine. A stai"%ay "ose to the se ond 3loo" %hi h


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i to" ass med %as 3illed %ith mo"e o3 the same. Comin#th"o #h the 3"ont doo" la ed one di"e tly in 3"ont o3 theli*"a"ian-s des)./Hello may I hel yo 0 The li*"a"ian %as an att"a ti+eyo n# %oman "o*a*ly in he" ea"ly t%enties slende" and%holesome loo)in# %ith dee *"o%n hai" *l shed hee)sand the most *ea ti3 l da") *l e eyes i to" e+e" "emem

*e"ed seein#./!es than) yo 0 he ans%e"ed noti in# ho% ni ely onse"+ati+ely she %as d"essed1 a sim le st"ai#ht na+y s)i"t

"etty %hite *lo se %ith la e olla" and a thin na+y *l e"i**on tie 3o"med into a la"#e d"oo y *o%.

OTm loo)in# 3o" a o y o3 a ne%s a e" 3"om this a"eain D=GG.0

/That %o ld *e the (aily #a3ette9 she said %itha tho"i ty /* t o " sta )s only #o *a ) t%o yea"s.0

/Is that the same ne%s a e" * ildin# I assed *a ) on


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Fi"st St"eet 0 i to" in4 i"ed./Why yes 0 the li*"a"ian smiled seemin# leased that she%as dealin# %ith someone %ith a little )no%led#e. /That-sthe o"i#inal,and only,ne%s a e" he"e. And that-s itso"i#inal home too.0/ o yo )no% i3 they )ee mi "o3i he "e o"ds 0 as)ed

i to".

/That-s inte"estin# yo sho ld as) this 0 she e2 lainedso ndin# li)e a tea he". /Someone else %as he"e somemonths a#o %ith the same "e4 est.0

/!o mean 3o" a o y o3 the (aily #a3ette 3"om D=GG 0i to" noti ed his +oi e "isin# in anti i ation o3 he" "e ly.

He ho ed he" "es onse %o ld *e /no.0/!es D=GG. What ha ened that yea" a"o nd he"e

that-s so im o"tant 0 She smiled and s ddenly too) on ane% e+en so3te" demeano".


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No% i to" didn-t )no% %hat to say. /7h m I-m 9 stdoin# some "esea" h %o").0 Then he "emem*e"ed themi "o3i he. /Was this e"son a*le to 3ind a o y o3 the

a e" that 3a" *a ) at the ne%s a e" o33i e 0 i to" ho edshe %as satis3ied %ith his ans%e"./I-m not e"tain 0 she "es onded a a"ently not s s i

io s /* t he ne+e" "et "ned he"e so e"ha s he did 3ind

%hat he %as loo)in# 3o" at the ne%s a e" * ildin#.0i to"-s an2iety "ose a#ain. I-m pro!a!ly too late he

tho #ht./Than)s +e"y m h. !o e *een +e"y hel 3 l.0 i to"

smiled and ste ed *a ) to%a"d the 3"ont doo"./7h yo -"e %el ome. ood l ).0 He" eyes s a")led

and she seemed li)e she meant it. 2'C need it/ i to"tho #ht. He "et "ned he" smile and e2ited the li*"a"y.

i to" %al)ed 4 i )ly *a ) ?a") St"eet to%a"d the


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o "tho se * ildin# to Fi"st A+en e and t "ned "i#ht. 7nesho"t *lo ) mo"e and he "ea hed Fi"st St"eet. The"e on the

ome" %as the ne%s a e" * ildin#.i to" %onde"ed i3 the la"#e *"ass doo")no* he %as

t "nin# %as a t ally o+e" a h nd"ed yea"s old as henoti ed the %o"ds &u!lished continuously since 6AA

a#ain. 2 )no% they didn't have microfiche !ac then/ hetho #ht as he o ened the tall hea+y #lass 3"ont doo" tothe (aily #a3ette * ildin#.As i to" ente"ed his ho e3 lness "ose. "his office surelydidn't loo li e this a hundred years ago . The"e %e"e

om te" te"minals e+e"y%he"e. The (aily #a3ette mayha+e *e# n as a *a )%oods o nt"y a e" * t it %asn-tone anymo"e. May!e the 6ADD edition is now little !its ofmagnetic data in one of these computers.

A stand o nte" se a"ated the ent"y a"ea i to"


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stood in 3"om the %o")in# a"ea %hi h %as the enti"e 3i"st3loo" o3 the * ildin#. es)s hai"s a e"s and eo le3illed it all. i to" %onde"ed %he"e the "intin# "esses%e"e. The noise le+el *elied the 4 iet o nt"y li)e loo) o3the 3"ont o3 the * ildin# o tside. H stle and * stle %e"ea "o "iate %o"ds to des "i*e this s ene inside.

A slim man in his 3i3ties shi"t slee+es "olled and %ea"in# an old 3ashioned #"een +iso" %al)ed 3"om his des)a "oss the "oom to the o nte" %he"e i to" %aited./What an I do 3o" yo 0 he as)ed leasantly.

Tm loo)in# 3o" the A # st D=GG edition o3 yo " a e" 0i to" said mo"e li)e a 4 estion than a statement.

/8m 0 the man s4 ee:ed his hin. /That-ll ta)e somedoin#.0

i to"-s ho es d"o ed as he %aited 3o" the man to thin)./!o -ll ha+e to tal) to Sa"a Jess the o%ne"-s %i3e. She


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%as %o")in# on that.0i to" ho ed /%as %o")in# on0 didn-t mean that it ne+e"

ha ened./Let-s see... 0 the man t "ned and loo)ed *a ) o+e" his

sho lde". /7h the"e she is no% 9 st sittin# do%n at thatdes) *y the %indo%.0 The man ointed o t a little %oman%ho m st ha+e *een in he" se+enties. He lled o en alo% s%in#in# doo" at a *"ea) in the o nte"to . i to"

assed th"o #h than)ed the man and %al)ed a "oo)edath *et%een des)s and sta )s o3 a e"s and *o2es o+e"

to the olde" %oman. He %aited *"ie3ly at the side o3 he"des) ntil she noti ed him standin# the"e.

/7h hello yo n# man. I-m so""y my mind %as onsomethin# else.0 She %as a s%eet %oman %ho didn-t a the" a#e. She %o"e a 3lannel shi"t and )ha)i sla )s * t still


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loo)ed 3eminine in them. She mo+ed 4 i )ly and #a+e theim "ession that she o ld "eally ta)e a"e o3 * sinessa"o nd he"e. i to" 3elt he had met the "i#ht e"son tohel him./That-s all "i#ht 0 i to" smiled. /I 9 st d"o ed in *e a seI-m loo)in# 3o" a o y o3 yo " ne%s a e",the A # st D=GG edition.0

/Well that's *e3o"e my time 0 she #i##led. /Can-t saythat a*o t m h these days tho #h.0

/7h ome on 0 i to" m sed /I-ll *et yo " n i" lesa"o nd e+e"yone he"e.0/Not li)e I sed to 0 Sa"a smiled seemin#ly loo)in# 3o"somethin#. /A 3e% yea"s a#o %e had a *i# " sh on he"e to

onse"+e s a e. We had a %a"eho se 3 ll o3 e+e"y *a )iss e and then %e *o #ht that mi "o3ilm ma hine so %e

o ld lea" o t all those a e"s. They %e"e a 3i"e ha:a"d


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too.0 i to" # essed that that-s %he"e the "intin# "esses%e"e no% in the %a"eho se./Let me see he"e I had a lo#*oo) some%he"e that lists allthose old "e o"ds.0 i to"-s ho es 9 m ed. /No e it-s nothe"e. Let me #o he ) %ith Ka"l. E2 se me yo n# man%hat-s yo " name 0/I-m so""y,it-s i to". i to" T" man.0

/E2 se me i to". My name-s Sa"a and I-ll *e "i#ht *a ). J st ma)e yo "sel3 at home.0/Than) yo .0

Sa"a ho ed o t o3 he" hai" and headed 3o" astai"%ay that "ose alon# the o osite %all to the se ond3loo". He noti ed ho% nim*ly she lim*ed the stai"s. #oodcountry stoc he h )led to himsel3 ho in# he-d *e thata ti+e and a#ile at he" a#e.

i to" sat and %onde"ed %ho %as doin# %hat amon#


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the do:en o" so eo le s ""o ndin# him in this "oom.Loo)in# do%n at Sa"a-s des) he s "mised that she

"o*a*ly #ot mo"e done than the othe"s e+en tho #h shehad no om te" te"minal 9 st an old "ota"y ty etele hone. He" sha" *o n y nat "e eliminated the need3o" hi#h te hnolo#y.

He hea"d he" omin# do%n the %ooden stai"%ay andsmiled as she "et "ned to he" hai"./My h s*and Ka"l an hel yo . He has the lo#*oo) in hiso33i e 0 she anno n ed./That-s #"eat5 Than) yo M"s. Jess 3o" yo " hel .0

i to" stood as someone %al)ed o+e" to see he" Sa"aloo)ed at him and smiled as she #a+e him a little %a+e.

i to" held his hand to si#nal #ood *ye and "et"a edhe" ath o+e" to the stai"%ay. Clim*in# the stai"s he %onde"ed i3 they %e"e a ent "y old too. The to o3 the


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stai"%ay o ened into anothe" la"#e "oom stai"s. 6 t thisone %as t in t%o *y a %all %ith a do *le %ide doo"%ayth"o #h the ente". He o ld see th"o #h to %hata ea"ed to *e d"a3tin# ta*les %ith tall stools and lon#%ell lit #lass ta*les %he"e eo le %e"e a""an#in# and

astin# ie es o3 a e". The hall o3 the "oom he no% stood in %as a t ally one

la"#e o33i e. The"e %as a leathe" o h and o33ee ta*le tohis le3t a#ainst the %all a %ooden on3e"en e ta*le %ithei#ht hai"s a"o nd it in the ente" sta )s and sta )s o3*o2es e+e"y%he"e and a #"and 3o"mida*le des) 3a in#him 3"om the o osite side o3 the "oom. E2 e t 3o" the

om te" s "een on the ed#e o3 the des) and the a"tta*les and lam s in the ne2t "oom this o ld *e a %o")in#o33i e o3 a h nd"ed yea"s a#o.A hea+y "ed 3a ed 9o+ial loo)in# man sittin# *ehind thela"#e des) stood and smiled. /Ho% do yo do. ?m Ka"l


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Jess .0 i to" %al)ed 4 i )ly to%a"d him. The t%o shoo)hands. /Ho% do yo do si". ?m i to" T" man.0

The man smiled and motioned %ith his hand. /?lease #"a*a hai".0

i to" sat in one o3 the t%o %ooden hai"s t"immed in %ell%o"n leathe" and said /M"s. Jess -s *een +e"y o"dialand I a "e iate yo " time to hel me.0

Ka"l Jess i )ed a *la ) note*oo) *inde" on his des)and smiled. /Sa"a said yo -"e loo)in# 3o" a a e" o3 o "s3"om the late nineteenth ent "y 0It too) a moment to "e#iste" and then i to" "e lied /!essi". A # st D=GG.0/Ei#hteen h nd"ed and ninety nine. !o s "e %e"en-ta"o nd then yo n# 3ella. Come to thin) o3 it neithe" %asI50 The old man h )led and a#ed th"o #h the *la )note*oo).

/No si" 0 i to" ans%e"ed 3eelin# as i3 he o%ed the


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)indly old man an e2 lanation. /I 3o nd an old...0 No/!etter not get into this i to" tho #ht /...?m )ind o3 ahisto"y * 33 and I %ant to see %hat it %as li)e li+in# he"eon my *i"thday at the t "n o3 the ent "y.0 i to" ho edhe so nded on+in in#./Well 3"om %hat my daddy sed to tell me in many %aysit %as a %hole lot *ette" then than no%.0 The old man %asstill lea3in# th"o #h the note*oo). ood i to" tho #hthe !ought it.

/He"e %e #o yo n# 3ella yo -"e in l ). We o ldn-t#o all the %ay *a ) to D==< %hen my daddy sta"ted

Ken Roberts - A Rich Man's Secret

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Transcript of Ken Roberts - A Rich Man's Secret