The Oakley Collection

Crack’d and Crook’d Manse.P2 (Essie, Peter, Jimmy, Richie) Saturday noon, April 4th, 1924 : Jimmy had just fired his flaregun which caused the Pseudopod to exit back up the fireplace flue. “What the hell was that?!” As they gathered their senses, Essie caught sight of the saltshaker under the sitting chair inside the room. Richie happened to notice a kitchen canister lying under the divan. Jimmy quickly discarded his cloak as parts of the creatures’ gore dripped from it. [ Sanity check: 1/2 ] As they pondered what next, they jumped at the sight of ripples along the wall: to imply the creature moved within the walls. “No wonder the wallpaper cracked and moisture everywhere. It’s like a slim trail.” Apprehensive, Jimmy reentered the Den to gather the shotgun and emptied shells. That’s when he saw the cannister labeled “Salt”. He quickly began loading the empty shells with gun-powder and salt (2 minutes per shell as a delicate operation). Peter stood guard in the hallway door to the...

Crack’d and Crook’d Manse.P1 (Essie, Peter, Jimmy (Lance), Richie) 10am Friday, April 4th, 1924 : Marina thanked the mailman, then settled into her routine of opening said mail. “Excuse me Mr. Graves, here’s a letter request for your services.”  Peter scanned the letter, “Gamwell, Dodge brothers. Arthur Cornthwaite a mutual friend? Never heard of either nor the town. Why would they contact me? Must be good advertising. Marina, get me a map to find Gamwell while I call the others.” Essie picked up the phone on the 4 th ring. “Cornthwaite? I haven’t heard that name in over ten years. Athur was on the Texas dig with my husband Richard and myself. He was another archaeologist. Seems his fascination was lost civilizations. Indian mounds didn’t hold his interest, but he always pondered searching for the lost Anasazi Indians, who mysteriously disappeared from the four-corners area (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico) after eons of civilization there. Arthur a...