A Rich Man's Secret : An Amazing Formula for Success [1 ed.] 1567185800, 9781567185805

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An esoteric message on a simple headstone leads

a young

man

to discover.

.

.

A Rich Man's Secret (The Key

to

Wealth

& Wisdom Lies Just Beyond Your Thoughts)

/ L/hen he saw the headstone, he sensed meaning, a message that he was meant to

more than

who was

L/ he sure"

that.

Something impelled him

had special

it

learn.

He knew no

to learn

more about

in this grave.

rich

map

man knew he

to his secret

hidden treasure were evidence

needn't leave a step-by-step "trea-

parchment: The "steps" leading to his invisible

and existed beyond physical

—

outside anyone's mind.

whomever would

They were

there, awaiting

leave his or her mechanical thinking behind

and take the step of faith required to enter the unknown. These directions this road map can't be misplaced and cannot fade. They're permanent beyond time!

—

—

—

About the Author Ken Roberts

has had an incredible career. Like so

years studying self-help guides,

about

how

to achieve personal

knew

of us, he thought he

then

Ken

moving from job

many

of us, he spent

and worrying

to job,

success. Like so

and professional

the answer, but his schemes

fizzled.

many

And

discovered the inner principle that you too will learn in

Rich Man's Secret.

His book

is

A

unique, with none of the recycled and

adages that you find crowding the self-help shelves. Ken Roberts is an American "everyman" who found success. Today, his philosophical and financial guidance has reached over 200,000 subfruitless

scribers in

86 countries. These people also seek a better life, and find in a combination of that profound folk wisdom, savvy mone-

Ken Roberts

tary strategy,

and

friendly help that

comes with the discovery of the

surprising principle revealed in this novel.

To Write to the Author you wish to contact the author or would like more information about this book, please write to the author in care of Llewellyn If

Worldwide, and we

will forward

your request. Both the author and

publisher appreciate hearing from you and learning of your enjoyment

of this book. Llewellyn Worldwide cannot guarantee that every letter

written to the author will be answered, but

all will

be forwarded.

Please write to:

Ken Roberts c/o Llewellyn

Worldwide

P.O. Box 64383, Dept. K580-0, St. Paul,

MN 55164-0383, USA

Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for reply, or $1.00 to cover costs. If outside U.S.A., enclose international postal reply coupon.

Catalog From Llewellyn Worldwide

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send your

P.O. Box 64383, Dept. K580-0, St. Paul,

MN 55164-0383, USA

New

Worlds

A Rich Man's Secret An Amazing Formula for Success

Ken

Roberts

1997 Llewellyn Publications St. Paul,

Minnesota 55164-0383, U.S.A.

A

©

1995 by Ken Roberts. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Rich Man's Secret

FIRST EDITION

Seventh

Printing, 1997

Cover design: Anne Marie Garrison Cover art and interior art: Charles Shields Book design and layout: design Editor: Rosemary Wallner Project coordinator: Jessica Thoreson

W

Library of Congress Cataloging- hv Publication Data

Roberts, Ken, 1951-

A rich man's secret

:

an amazing formula

for success

/

Ken

Roberts. p.

cm.

ISBN 1-56718-580-0 1. I.

Motivation (Psychology)

—

Fiction. 2. Success

—

Fiction.

Title.

PS3568.023878R5 .54—dc20

1995

813'

95-6490

CIP Llewellyn Publications

A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. P.O.

Box 64383,

St. Paul,

MN 55164-0383

Acknowledgments My special

thanks to Guy Finley, whose inspiration, insight, and encouragement helped bring A Rich Man's Secret to light. Each of his books is a touchstone you will remember and refer to often.

Books

by

Guy

Finley:

Available from Llewellyn Publications:

Como

The Secret Way of Wonder The Secret of Letting Go Triunfar Sobre La Ansiedad y Los Problemas Freedom from the Ties that Bind Designing Your

Own Destiny

,

—fcjives of great men

We

can make our

And,

lives

all

remind us

sublime

departing, leave behind us

Footprints

on

the sands of time;

Footprints that perhaps another, Sailing o'er lifes

solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again.

Chapter / L/ hat as

is it?

he reached

What

is it I

need

to

i

know! Victor asked himself

to answer the phone.

"Hello, Victor!" said his wife, Christine. called.

I

"My

office just

we were having!"

qualified for that big sales contest

Victor held the phone tightly to his ear and began to

Where

are

all these tears

tears scared

him.

He

could remember crying as a

never past grade school. Pull yourself

Dont

cry.

coming from? What's going on? The

together,

little kid,

but

he thought.

upset Christine.

"That's great, honey. What's the prize?" Victor asked, trying to sound upbeat.

"Since the others

made those last two listings, we get to go with on a secret getaway for a whole week," Christine I

explained.

"A

secret?" asked Victor,

"Well,

it's

"A

secret where?"

a secret," laughed Christine.

Victor didn't understand. "You to your office, get

place

on

a bus,

and

mean

it's

we're going to drive

going to take us some-

—and we don't know where?"

"No," said Christine, "We're going to "Fly?" exclaimed Victor.

I

fly

there!"

.

Ken Roberts

2

LAX

"Yes; the bus will bring us to

board a plane for

we'll

we'll get

I

know

don't

a smaller plane and

on

from the

When we

where.

and

office

land,

will take us to our secret

it

destination. Isn't that romantic?" Christine giggled.

"You mean you don't have

a clue as to

where we're

going?" asked Victor.

"No, we were only told what

an inkling

as to

is

it

doing wrong?

I

need

1

to

Do

be? Victor

it

No

wondered. What from everyone

think differently

1

know, and how do

they'd talk about the trip to his wife,

just told you.

one has

where we're going," explained Christine.

Well, where could

am

I

is it...

else?

what

What

With promises that Victor Truman said good-bye 1

later,

find

it?

hung up the phone, and began searching the want

ads again, wondering

if

he would ever find

Right Place.

his

Ever since high school Victor knew he wasn't cut out to follow the path his friends planned on.

company and applying

He dreaded

to him.

nature, like oil

Ym not

—

mitter

My

really

is

the thought;

it

for a big

just foreign

and water.

lazy,

1

were

simply wasn't of his

he thought,

in fact,

I

feel like

with no outlet to plug into. But what

dad says

Working

for a nine-to-five job

just

my

haven t found

such a thing for

am

a powerful transI

Right Place.

1

supposed to do?

wonder

if

there

me

Victor thought back on

all

high school, he performed magic

he had

tried.

at parties

While

still

in

and church groups.

After graduating, he landed a seasonal job at Universal Studios, the

motion picture complex. That ended when the

summer crowds went home, and worked part-time

He

so

he enrolled

at a local college

at a clerical job.

recalled sitting in the college parking lot before his

first class

in the morning, staring at his textbooks.

There was

A Rich Man's Secret something so foreboding about them;

like a fly in a

soup, he just didn't belong. After his

made the Dean's

list

merely out-of-place,

—of

3

scholastic probation.

like a dog-lover at a cat

bowl of

semester, Victor

first

He

wasn't slow,

show.

Victor's search continued: self-help books, seminars, self-

employment, unemployment, meditation, relaxation

regi-

mens, career counseling, therapy... each one costing more than the

making ends meet

Now

he remained

last. Still

thirty,

unfulfilled;

and he wasn't

financially either.

married, and the father of a son and daughter,

Victor lived with constant conflict: torn between "heaven and earth"

the

—

his earthly responsibilities of supporting a family

him

small Voice telling

still,

that his Right Place did exist.

wasn't an issue with

search.

It

ing, his

concern was

Deep within, Victor like that!

he laughed

anyway

—how

Although

tells

is

Something more,

exhausted from the

of whether to keep

me

on

try-

longer he could hold out.

impelled to teach.

felt

to himself.

ened out, but something

He was

him

how much

there

and

1

cant

to teach!

How

do you

my own life straightWhat would he teach,

get

to search for (but not find) your happiness? it

shook

his pride as a father

and husband,

Christine had obtained her real estate license and had gone to

work ing

selling

somewhat deliver

homes

in

Southern California. Victor began

sell-

insurance, so both his and Christine's schedules were

life

flexible.

and pick up

The

They their

alternated and helped one another

two children from a

real estate brokerage Christine

was a small firm with

Fernando

chose to apply with

offices in a well-to-do area in the

Valley. Christine

group of agents.

local preschool.

became one of

San

this close-knit

— Ken Roberts

4

The brokerage was owned by

Although he never salesman on his own, his office

Les was a motivator, and did

enjoyed

much

success as a

a husband-and-wife team. well.

it

consistently ranked near the top of sales comparison charts of

other agents in the area. a

Ann

was a sweet, mild

woman

with

keen business sense who ran the day-to-day operation of

the office. Les was a convivial the office. least

once

"Work a

tered bus that

together, play together" was his motto.

He looked

met

and boarded a char-

to a special restaurant or

—and dreaded—

these outings.

forward to the camaraderie, to being with

Christine's fellow agents

them were very

and

their

husbands and wives. Most

successful in their

and he enjoyed being with them

He was

At

a special outing. All the

at the office

would take them

event. Victor loved

ings.

that was the atmosphere in

month he arranged

agents and their spouses

of

man and

own work

or business

in casual, social surround-

ever-hoping to learn the reasons for their seem-

ing success. This also brought up the inevitable comparison

between himself and them.

They were

well

on the way, already enjoying what he

strove for: big houses, custom furnishings, expensive automobiles, tax shelters, private

schools for their children, excess

cash and the free time to spend

Once on an

it.

office junket to

Palm

Springs, the group

gathered in the hotel lounge to plan the afternoon

Some

had

activity.

of the group wanted to stay at the hotel and play tennis;

the others wanted to go shopping. Victor felt a pang when one of the women said, "My husband makes more than enough money, why shouldn't I go spend some of it?" If only

A Rich Man's Secret he could

tell

5

Christine to go out and spend what she wanted.

Heaven knows she

deserves

it.

who

Raising two children, taking care of a husband

know

his Right Place, trying to catch

working

as a real estate

up on

agent... all this

credit card debt,

in the confines of a

rented 800-square-foot house. Yet Christine did

and an ever-present smile on her

grace, style,

doesn't

it all

with

encouraging

face,

Victor in whatever his latest plan happened to be.

At home

later that night, a

washed over

frustration

tremendous wave of

Victor.

It filled

him

and

failure

all at

once with

and

feelings of guilt, anger, remorse, jealousy, hopelessness, self-pity. "I

can't go," he told his wife.

have so many

when and

bills to pay,

"How can

not to mention

I

all

go

when we

that

we need

The thought of everything overwhelmed him, and he slumped down onto the couch. "Oh, Victor..." Christine looked down at him with such sadness, but she knew she'd better try to pull him out of this state before he definitely made his mind up to not go. "...you if

have to go.

I

they ever do get paid?"

won't have any fun without you. Besides, you're

always the one

who

you, Victor; we'll

all

has the best time of

all.

Everyone

likes

miss you."

Victor looked at Christine's cute, pouty face and smiled, still

feeling guilty.

She was

so petite

and sweet.

third child rather than the supposed

He

felt like

her

head of the household.

Ken Roberts

6

Head this

of the household,

family together

"No, hon,

have I'll

and makes more money than

just can't go. It'd

I

me around

try to close

he thought. Sure! Poor

do!

probably do you good to not

your neck for awhile anyway. You just go and

some

sales

while you're gone."

Christine's face dropped, start dinner.

I

Christine holds

and she went

The phone rang and

to the kitchen to

she answered

Les...yes, he's here. Just a minute." Victor looked

it.

"Oh,

hi,

up and saw

Christine holding the phone out. "Hello?" said Victor, taking the phone. "Hello, Victor. How's

it

goin'?"

Victor was surprised; Les had never called specifically for

him

before. "Fine, Les.

How are

you?"

"Great, Victor, just great. Listen, did Christine

I'm very excited about this mystery trip we're taking; it's

really

going to do you a

"Why do "Oh, this trip

so,

lot of

I

think

I

think

good."

Les?"

don't know. You've been

I

is

you say

you?

tell

on my mind and

going to be good for you, too."

"Well, thanks, Les.

It's

nice of you to

call."

"Atta boy, Victor. Keep on keepin' on!" Les sounded

like

Victor's father.

"Thanks... bye."

"That was

different.

What

did he want?" Christine was

smiling, eyes wide. "Yes,

it

was

different. Les

been thinking about

me

never did that before. Said he'd

lately,

and that the secret

trip

was

going to be good for me." Victor was looking out the window,

wondering what

Les'

words

really

meant.

"Then... you're going?" Christine asked in a rising voice, anticipating a yes answer.

A Rich Man's

Secret

Victor brought his gaze back to Christine. She could

he was see,"

he

At

tell

trapped in thoughts of guilt and gloom. "We'll

still

said,

walking out of the kitchen.

some hope, Christine considered. She

least there's

called after him:

"I

love you, Victor."

Victor was up well before the children and Christine the next

He was watching

show when Christine came and snuggled under the blanket with him on the couch. "What time did you get up?" She kissed him on the cheek.

day.

the morning

"Five-thirty," Victor said, just as surprised saying

Christine was to hear

it

as

it.

"Five-thirty? What's going on?" she said, teasingly. "I

don't know.

I

even

tried to

go back to

sleep, but

I

had

to get up."

"Who's

woman on

this?" Christine asked, looking at a well-dressed

the television.

"Some kind

of business psychologist," Victor answered.

"...and," continued the psychologist, "not only are busi-

ness trips where the spouse goes along more productive than

the 'leave-the-spouse-at-home' jaunts that corporations are

infamous

for,

but the children of these marriages benefit great-

ly as well."

"Really? "It's

How so?" asked

good for children to be away from both parents at

times. Children

much

the show's host.

as parents

need vacations from their parents

need time away from

Christine looked at Victor,

who

just as

their children."

couldn't help but smile.

Ken Roberts

8

"Then

that settles

it?"

she pronounced, slapping

him on

the knee.

"Okay.

The

kids win,

and get a vacation from both of

Victor leaned over to kiss Christine as she hugged the neck.

us."

him around

big

morning came. Victor and Christine were

packed, the car was loaded, and they were off to her

Although they were given general for the climate they

would be

would be

available, they

were bound

still

instructions

—how

and what types of

in,

had no idea where

it

all

office.

to dress

activities

was they

for.

Enthusiasm was high

as the

agents and their spouses

greeted their traveling companions and transferred luggage

from their cars to the waiting bus,

engine running and

its

air

conditioner going. Soon, they were off on the forty-minute trip to

Los Angeles International Airport.

The

commotion weren't as diverse as usual. This trip prompted one main topic: Where were they headed? Speculation ran up and down the rows of seats. They didn't need passports for this journey, so that limited the guessing but only slightly. Everyone on the bus had his or conversations and

—

her

own

theory and eagerly explained the reasons behind

it.

Christine secretly hoped they were bound for Hawaii.

Victor was smiling, but the other husbands.

had

all

The

—

as

always

other

men

—comparing himself

the latest in sports gear, clothes, even luggage.

tened to them

name

places they

9

to

were well-traveled, and

He

lis-

had been that he had never

Ken Roberts

10

There was one obvious fact that Victor was aware of, but he usually pushed aside in his comparisons: Although the others had more money and seemingly solid occupations, they weren't happy not really. Their smiles and even heard

of.

—

were convincing on the

talk

surface, but just

beneath the pol-

ished veneer Victor could see the same fears and anxieties he

had.

The

better he

he had noticed

The

others

managed

latest food, fashion,

in their ruts.

had come

to

know

these people, the

more

this.

and

and keep up on the

to pay the bills

furnishings, so they were comfortable

Victor wasn't, so he searched harder. That was

the only difference.

After devouring the greater part of the self-help and suc-

books on bookstore shelves, he knew from himself that

cess

they

all

missed the mark somehow.

elusive Something, that

needed

What was

this

mark, this

to be understood? All the

books, strategies, methods, and techniques that Victor had studied and pursued claimed authority based

on one of only

two premises: One, that we can control outside events, or two, that

we should work

to control

and change our thoughts.

Victor had already concluded that attempting to control outside events side events,

is

futile because, if

we can indeed

with what do we control them?

Any

control outcontrol,

if it

were possible, would have to come from something we do, and anything we do

is

determined by our thoughts. So

this conclu-

sion leads to the second genre of self-help/success books: that

we can

control our thoughts.

But can we?

We know

—with our thoughts—

ing

Isn't

or

something

is

we wouldn't

something inherently wrong with

awry in our think-

try to

this?

change them!

What

is

the source

of these negative, harmful thoughts? Nothing Yve ever read or tried

A Rich Man's Secret answers

which must be

this,

the reason

reasoned. So what

"

*

why

V

"subconsciousHhat" and "hidden such

11

the

'positive- this,

so" don't work, Victor

the secret?

is

"Oh, look! We're here!" Christine was leaning forward

in

her seat and touching the tinted window with her finger. Conversations got louder airlines terminal

grand

slap,

as the bus pulled

up to the domestic

and stopped. With a loud

blast of air

and a

the big bus door swung open.

moved

In one large, bounding mass, the excited group

through the electric double doors of the terminal and stopped in line at the

metal detectors.

belt buckles, pocket change,

wish Christine and

1

every self,

bell, light,

looking

and

down

1

A few were detained because of

and metal sunglass frames.

had Rolex watches so

big they set off

siren in this building, Victor

thought to him-

She looked

like a little girl

at Christine.

standing in line, wide-eyed, her big white teeth showing through a smile of anticipation. Just

as

he was enjoying

this

vision, feelings of guilt descended again: You can thank

What's wrong with you? You

Christine for

this trip.

knows

success formulas forward

wife

all the

who

and backward, but

one who it's

your

delivers the rewards!

His feelings really got control of him: You got less experience than

you

re the

you do,

re just lazy! She's

yet she wins this trip.

Why

aren't

the successful real estate salesman?

Les and

names being

them

Ann,

ever-smiling at the group's guesses of city

tossed up to them, but never saying a word, led

to departure gate three.

As they turned into the waiting number and destina-

area, they all spotted the lettered flight

tion sign posted at the ticket counter. In unison they said

Knowing they would take a shuttle flight from guessing now narrowed down to one or two states.

aloud.

the

it

there,

Ken Roberts

12

Even though the primary destination was known now, they were hard-put to come up with where a smaller plane might be taking them. The suspense was ever greater now, although the guessing lessened. Knowing more of the puzzle

meant they now knew

less.

The views below transformed from

the dry, sandy, barren

deserts of the southwest to green terrain spotted with

and more

rivers, lakes,

After settling

more

and ponds.

down through

layers of thick lazy clouds,

the kind not often seen in Southern California, the plane

landed and came to

rest at the terminal.

Although the

tele-

scoping walkway from the terminal to their plane was fully enclosed, the outside heat and humidity crept passed through the air It

became

it

in.

As they

and on into the air-conditioned terminal,

chilly again.

was a long walk to the escalators that took them down

into the baggage area.

With luggage

in

hand, the smiling

group boarded a tram that took them on a short

trip to

what

appeared to be the local commuter airlines terminal.

With

the usual rubber-band-engine and bird-strikes-from-

the-rear jokes, they checked their bags at the counter, passed through detector,

what looked

seats

to a small twin-engine

up on what was more of a stool than a

stairway, they entered the cabin,

two

to be a makeshift metal

and walked across the tarmac

airplane. Stepping

one-man

each with an

aisle

which was twelve rows of

down

the middle.

They had

to

A

Rich Man's Secret

13

hunch down to walk the aisle and take their seats. Each seat had a window and a headset tucked into the pouch on the back of the seat in front. The cockpit, with a pilot and copilot, had a wooden sliding door for separation, but it was never closed during the bumpy flight.

They landed

farmland area surrounded by

in a

sprawling blankets of pine this airport

There was

trees.

one runway

at

and no control tower.

Here they were, but they

know what

that

airline office offered

only

didn't

still

meant. The waiting area in the tiny a vinyl

just

large,

well- worn chairs, so they

couch and two

meandered

outside and congregated under a huge magnolia tree.

More

know whether to be elated or good or bad? The thought that it was

confused than ever, they didn't disappointed all

—was

this

a practical joke crossed their minds, but

Murmurings of "Where rose

from the gathering

didn't

know

and

are we?" as

what. Les and

bits

no one spoke

of nervous laughter

they stood and waited for

Ann

it.

—they

stood in the middle of the

group, smiling.

"Look!" someone

said,

the long red-clay road.

with water,

as

if it

It

pointing to four vans coming

down

wasn't raining, but the air was heavy

could rain at any moment.

The

tires

of the

four vans sent up no dust from the roadway as they approached, alternately appearing and disappearing between the

tall trees

As

and high, wild shrubbery lining the access road.

the vans

came

this wasn't a joke.

closer, into clear view, the

Each van was

jet

group knew

black with what looked to

be a coat of wax half an inch thick. They looked wet. In small ornate lettering along both sides of each van ran the words

Grand Hotel.

Ken Roberts

14

Two men jumped from

the front seats of each van, walked

toward the group, made a shallow bow, and smiled.

"Welcome

to the

Grand Hotel,"

Each attendant wore a with a shiny black stiff,

stiff,

down

silk stripe

their leader said.

trim uniform of black pants

the outside of each

leg;

high-collared, snow-white tunic with large brass buttons;

and a white cloth-covered helmet with a brim front and similar to those

As

worn by

itself

rear,

hunters in Africa.

safari

the baggage was loaded into the

divided first

a

van, the group

last

up into three smaller groups, climbed into the

three vans, and headed back

down

the red dirt road.

Anticipation was high again; something truly special was just

ahead.

The

red-clay road

made

a surprisingly

smooth

ride.

Even

though the van's

air

knowledge that

was hot and humid outside was ever present.

The

it

little line

conditioners provided cool, dry

no

The

hills or

countryside was gently rolling,

mountains, and lush green every-

where. This was almost a tropical climate

was large and abundant.

phone poles with

the

of vans turned off the dirt road onto a two-

lane asphalt highway. basically flat,

air,

ease.

It

The

—

all

the vegetation

climbed over fences and up trees

were

stout, solid,

tele-

and shady.

This was rich farming country.

Between the ing

some

areas of natural, thick, jungle-like

thirty to forty feet high,

acres of crops.

were

flat,

growth

ris-

smooth-looking

There was corn, melons, and soybeans,

all

planted in perfectly straight rows so long that they'd disappear

over one

mound and

reappear some distance away.

They passed one shallow pond. The animals hud-

Occasionally, a herd of cows was seen.

herd standing in the end of a

dled under the shade of a giant oak

with Spanish moss.

tree,

which was dripping

A Rich Man's Secret Where could cities,

they be headed?

15

The

skyline included

no

not even a town. They passed weathered farmhouses

with tin-roofed barns and out-buildings. Mostly there were small, single-story, light-colored brick

the highway a hundred yards or

same

as the next,

so.

homes

set

Each looked

back from

basically the

with simple, boxy hedges, a magnolia tree or

two, and a screened aluminum patio attached. This was a

heavenly climate

for bugs,

which were constantly dotting the

van's windshield.

Every so often, the vans passed the impressive gates of large estates.

Through most of

these imposing arched, brick-

shrub-and-wood entrances, the group could trace long meandering driveways, up and front of three-

and

down

four-story

knolls, to

mansions

where they circled

—the kind

in

of "palaces"

not often seen, except in movies. These glimpses charged the

atmosphere in the vans even more than jolt

it

already was.

made the expectant

of these occasional sightings

The

travelers

mentally compare the richness of these passing estates to what lay in store for

them

at their van's final destination.

Then

little

caravan slowed and made a

the

the highway. There in front of

entry arch they had seen so

them

far.

left

turn off

rose the largest, widest

Rising up from a cluster of

giant camellia bushes, neatly trimmed to form great round

mounds, two massive square rough-wood heavy wooden arch, two

feet tall, that

pillars

Across the face of the arch in carved gold-leafed the words

Grand Hotel. The

passengers' eyes

quartet of vans neared the end of

The

its

supported a

spanned the entry road. letters

widened

were

as the

journey.

scenery inside the gate was not the typical natural,

overgrown countryside they had seen on the highway behind

them. Here were meticulously cared-for grounds: closely

Ken Roberts

16

mowed,

rolling lawns; tightly

trimmed rows of hedges; neatly

maintained duck ponds. Although no buildings were in sight yet, evidence of an exclusive resort was apparent. Now they could see part of a golf course several hundred yards off to the right. Its lighter, finer color

and texture was speckled with

golfers in their brightly colored outfits. Here and there could

be seen

little electric

Grand Hotel maintenance

with

carts

khaki-uniformed drivers.

And

there now, just off to the

among

brick buildings

left:

a glimpse of wood-and-

scores of oak trees.

looked so different: each one was laced with

green Spanish moss that dropped

The oaks here fragile gray

down from

and

strong, thick,

outstretched branches.

Expectations were higher than ever

now

as the

vans

pulled up and stopped under a wide, arched, ivy-covered brick

porte cochere, the

When rushed

Grand

Hotel's

main entryway.

the van doors opened, the heat and humidity

in. It felt tropical.

Victor and Christine

with the others through the overly

tall

moved along

double oak doors that

two attendants held open, and then into the Grand Hotel.

The

lobby rose two

encircling

it.

A

stories,

with a second-story balcony

four-sided rock fireplace was the centerpiece

and three hallways opened into

this central area.

All the fur-

nishings were antique. Except for the telephones and alu-

minum

luggage carts the bellhops pushed along, they could

have been standing in the mid-nineteenth century.

The manager

greeted Les and welcomed the entourage.

called out each traveler's line of bellhops that

When

He

to the next in a

had quietly formed since the group

arrived.

name was called, Victor and Christine followed down the second long hallway from the fireplace.

their

their guide

name and motioned

A Rich Man's Secret The

enameled wood

electric-lantern lamps

on the

The hallway had a and dark wood walls. Old

hotel was old but richly elegant.

rather low

enough

17

ceiling

mounted along the

light to navigate by.

walls revealed the

Dimly

Grand

lit

walls provided just

old framed photographs

Hotel's history. Victor

step to the middle of the hallway

when

had

to

they passed occasional

small antique tables and chairs placed along the walls of this

narrow passageway. Christine was grinning wider and wider with each step as she anticipated the elegance that was sure to meet their room's

Slightly

them when

door was opened.

more than halfway down the long

hop stopped and faced the door small gold numbers.

He

to his

left.

hall,

the bell-

One- two- three,

in

inserted the key in the lock, slowly

pushed the door open, and motioned with his hand and a

new

smile for Victor and Christine to enter their

quarters.

Christine was visibly impressed.

"Oh, goodness," she sighed,

As much

as Christine

1

"it's exquisite!'

was elated

in these

opulent sur-

roundings, Victor was equally depressed. All the usual negative thoughts that

you

re

even here, you

thing like this. just

dont

tormented him: Remember, You don't belong

in in

fit

Right Place,

loser.

a place

You

11

it's

Christines doing

never be able

to afford

in such plush surroundings

youd

like this. If

maybe youd make a

little

any-

—you

quit trying to find your

progress

—

that's just

an

excuse you use because you're too scared and lazy to go get a real job; Christine deserves It

with

was

a

lot better

than you,

difficult for Victor to

all this

look pleased and surprised

turmoil and brutality going

The group met

for

that's for sure!

on

in his head.

dinner that evening in the main dining

room, and those thoughts were

still

working him over:

Ken Roberts

18

Everyone's dressed nicer than you. You look so out- of-place.

Everyone

else

is

As they were

activities.

to sun by the pool,

and uncomfortable.

Some would

began plan-

play tennis, a few

two were going horseback

and, as always, several of the ping. Victor

stiff

finishing their meal, the others

ning the next day's

wanted

you look so

at ease, but

women

riding,

started in about shop-

even

Christine's face, but she didn't

watched

he expected she should, knowing they didn't have extra money for unnecessary shopping. She spoke of taking a walk and catching up on a book she and some of the other flinch as

women

were reading.

Victor was being bruised by defeating thoughts again, but

Do

time he wondered:

this

finally feel

cess?

the others think like

good about myself once

How much money

and success

Nothing the others planned ested Victor, so he agreed

much

golf

—much

tator.

He

never could understand

—

golf

it

do the following day to his

him

took a

own

surprise

work done? Maybe some of

to go

hadn't

partner, so

in as a golfer

How

inter-

—

He

just a spec-

played so

did they ever get

their success will

he

—

how businessmen

full half-day:

will I

it?

and wouldn't make a decent

suggested that they not count

much

to

do

and

amount of suc-

with several of the others.

golfing, of all things,

played

will

do,

I

gain a certain

I

any

rub off on you, his

thoughts told him. Later, as she slipped

between the

cool, stiff sheets of their

king-size bed, Christine said, "I can't believe

how

agreed to go golfing tomorrow." Victor chuckled. prised, too.

But you know

into view as

we were

"I

was

part of the golf course

sur-

came

driving in here today? All of a sudden,

got this urge to get out

peace and

how

quickly you

on

it.

Not

I

to golf, but just to enjoy the

stillness of it." Victor's eyes trailed off.

"So when

I

M ir

ir

3 ~T ir

X < cc

o CD CN 00 CD

C0~

CO

< u_

—




DC LU Q_

0)

_J

CD

CO CO

C/)

l ement Watt was a legend," Mr. Jessup began, "and a

up into one.

delightful mystery all rolled

but no one seemed to

very well.

was loved by

He

all,

wasn't secre-

by any means, but he seemed to be everywhere and

tive

nowhere and

know him

He

at the

same time." The old man squinted

raised his forehead as

could

if

his eyes

an enigma. Victor

to demonstrate

that he was enjoying his reminiscence.

tell

"How do you mean?"

Victor asked, moving forward

on the

edge of his chair.

"Clement Watt was

And none

a rich

man.

knew

A very, very wealthy man.

We'd hear a little bit here that he traded in the commodity markets, and another little bit there that he owned big businesses, and of

none of the

us,

bits

I

suspect,

the half of

were ever the same.

no end

to

Clement Watt's

guessed

it

if

doin's.

It

it.

seemed there was

just

But you never would have

you didn't know him, and

if

you did know him,

he'd never talk about his accomplishments."

"Did you know him?" Victor's eyes widened. Just then, Billy

The copy

for

"Yes,

old

man

came through

looked over Victor's head. "You got that

my friend here, sir. It

the door, but didn't interrupt.

came out

Billy?"

nice." Billy was proud of his work.

69

Ken Roberts

70

Victor turned in his chair and Billy held out the copy. Victor took

it,

at the article as

and looked

if it

were a picture

of Christine. Christine! Victor remembered that he missed

know how he would

the van and didn't

Hotel. Before he figured her.

But not

He had

yet.

that was leading to

get back to the

Grand

out, however, he'd better call

it all

tapped a vein here with Karl Jessup

what seemed

"Thanks very much. This

to be a gold mine.

a perfect copy," Victor said.

is

"You're welcome." Billy felt a

more important and

little

appreciated the attention.

Victor turned back toward the old

man and

continued:

"So you knew Clement Watt personally?"

The

old

man

laughed. "Well,

twelve-year-old boy could

know

a

I

knew him

man

as

good

in his seventies.

I

as a

met

him with my daddy on several occasions, and 1 saw him around town here many times growing up. My daddy always spoke fondly of Mr. Watt and would

tell

me

things about him.

knew more about

man

Thinkin' back now,

I

believe

from the few times

I

was actually near him. This sounds

I

that

mighty peculiar, but he had a presence about him that you could just

feel.

He

could calm you

"You mean he'd

try to

down just

bein' near him."

calm people down? How?" Victor

looked confused.

"No,

it

was

just his way, his

manner.

He

spoke

soft,

but he

spoke with authority. You knew he knew what he was talkin' about, that's

it.

No

gossipin',

no

chitchat.

He

always had a

purpose to what he said."

"Then you had conversations with him?" Victor asked. "Well, no, but one time I was next after him at the barber shop. That's the time I heard him speak the most. The barber was used to gossip talk and politics talk and such, and I

A Rich Man's

Secret

71

remember old Mr. Watt just sat there and had a pleasant smile on his lips. I could tell he didn't want to talk gossip or politics, but

it

him

didn't bother

that the others were.

quiet and happy, enjoying and taking

it all

He

just sat there

in."

"But you said he was extremely wealthy?" Victor was digging. u

Oh, he

wasn't here

all

would've

on

sitting

known

to

mention the big corporatook

sat on. It

a board meant,"

much, and my daddy

that

New

Chicago or

daddy used

and the boards he

what

figure out

My

was.

tion he started,

me

awhile to

he chuckled. "He

told

me he was

off to

York or Boston and such. But you never

it."

"Well, didn't he like to talk big business or talk about

money?" "Not that

I

heard that Saturday morning in the barber

shop.

He

here.

Whenever he was in town here, he stayed at Emma's down on Park Street. He had a permanent

wasn't a flaunty type and didn't even

own

a house

boarding house

room "I

there,

my daddy

saw him there once,

and he was tendin' his

Isn't

it

too.

I

was walkin' down the

some flowers

to

hands and knees.

man.

said.

He

in the front yard.

looked up and

grown-up talked

to

me

like a

Down on

said, 'Hello,

a beautiful day?' Bein' a kid,

I

street

young

was surprised a

grown-up, and

it

took

me

a

minute to answer back. "'Yes

sir,'

I

and

said,

he must've thought

him

for treatin'

he wasted "Karl?

me

like

or

I

remember

some thin'.

I

thinkin'

really liked

an adult and didn't want him

to think

there?" Sara's voice echoed up the stairway.

Not now! Victor hoped thinking.

stood there.

was dumb

on me."

his time

You up

I

just

his face didn't

show what he was

Ken Roberts

72

gotta go put supper on," she

"I

announced from downstairs.

Good! Victor thought, maybe

she'll

go home

cook and

to

leave Karl alone. "I'll

down

be

presently, Sara,"

knew

Darn! Victor

his time

ting first-hand information.

he called back. was

short.

Here he was

Maybe he could

get-

get another clue

from Mr. Jessup. "It

mentions Emma's boarding house in the paper," Victor

held up the copy Billy had made. "Did

Emma know

Mr. Watt

very well?"

"Oh,

'spect so, but she's

I

been long gone now.

believe her daughter runs the place now, though. there where

I

saw him that

knew

Victor

his time

day,

free to see

it! ),

"Mr. Jessup,

do

up and over on Park Street."

was about to end, and he

covery was safe with Mr. Jessup (after

was

I

It's still

all,

anyone

felt his dis-

world

in the

so he asked his Big Question:

happened on an old cemetery out by the

I

Grand Hotel that isn't used much anymore." "Oh, yeah, the old Civil War Cemetery. My momma and daddy's buried there. Haven't been out there for many years, though."

"Well, apparently Mr. for a reaction or

"He

is?

Watt

is

buried there." Victor waited

comment.

You know, now that you mention

recollect hearing that fact

it,

it

seems

I

do

some time back." The old man

rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes,

the

and

first step..

The

When "That's

old

there's a ."' .

man

message on his headstone.

It

says

Take

Victor waited.

looked at Victor, waiting for him to

finish.

Victor just looked back expectantly, Mr. Jessup said, it?

Nothin'

else?"

A Rich Man's Secret "No, nothing

The

else, just

man

old

Take

the

73

first step."'

chuckled. "That sounds like old Mr. Watt.

Very few words, but words with meanin'. That's what tellin'

you.

He

was

me

like that. Say, let

I

was

see that copy you

got there." Victor handed it.

"My daddy

him

wrote

the article.

He continued reading, and smiling. my time, but that orphanage's been

landmark around here. after

it

smiled as he quickly read

this."

"That was before

named

He

on Watt

It's

him soon

after the

Street,

a

you know. They

orphanage went

in,

my

daddy told me."

Do you want

"Karl!

supper tonight or not?" Mrs. Jessup's

voice coming up the stairway was playful, but she meant business. "Yes, dear heart. I'm comin'," Mr. Jessup called

back

as

he

stood and handed the copy back to Victor with a fond smile

on

his face.

"Thank you very much, Mr.

Jessup. You've

been more

than kind to me."

"Oh, nonsense, young memories

You brought up some good

me."

for

The two

fella.

left

down

the office and walked

the stairway to a

waiting Sara near the front door.

"Thank helped said,

me

you, Mrs. Jessup, for sharing your husband. He's

very

much

this

afternoon

—

evening," Victor

looking out through the glass door.

"Glad we could help," she smiled. this

er,

young'un

home and feed him

"Now

or he turns

I've got to get

grumpy and can-

tankerous on me."

The

old

chuckled.

man grumbled under

his breath

and Victor

Ken Roberts

74

"Oh, young

fella,

was

I

just thinkin'.

me

somethin' old Mr. Watt said to

He

front yard.

told

me

to

that,'

just

remembered

that day out in

Emma's

never believe that somethin'

couldn't be done. 'Don't believe that,

I

if

it

somebody

else tells

you

and don't believe it even if your own mind tells you he said. I had an inklin' that he had told me somethin'

very important

—

for a long time.

especially to a young'un.

And

you know,

got

it

me

I

remembered that

through some tough

Helped save this paper one rough spell we went through here. Remember that, Sara?" "Yes, dear. Now if you don't move along, it'll be bedtime." "You goin' back to the Grand Hotel?" Mr. Jessup asked times.

Victor.

"Weil,

don't have a car, and the last van back

I

Victor realized he had been irresponsible the track of time

and missed the van. This could be

could be stranded here.

He

felt

warm and

"Oh, go over to the hotel.

serious;

lost

he

embarrassed.

real nice. Just

It's

left...."

way he had

go up one

block to Park, then over one block more to Second Avenue. Tell ole

Walton

"Thanks and held up

I

said 'Hey.'"

again, folks. You've

his

hand

been

terrific."

Victor smiled

to say good-bye.

Sara and Karl waved back, locked arms, turned, and walked the opposite direction down very sweet together.

grow old together It

had

was

They looked Victor hoped he and Christine would

like that.

still fairly

light out, but

to call Christine, but right

he had to find a

First Street.

home

far off.

for the night. Victor felt that

new

He

now, even more importantly,

thing big was about to happen to

about to take on a major

evening wasn't

him

direction.

here, that his

some-

life

was

A Rich Man's Secret He walked up

75

Avenue toward the courthouse. There were few cars on the road, and even fewer pedestrians. First

Everyone seemed to already be home

for dinner.

He reminded

Victor was lonesome for Christine.

himself

again that he'd better call her soon or she'd be worried.

As he

arrived at Park Street, he looked up, across the

atop the courthouse where lights illuminated

street,

white tower.

What

a picture. Victor took

it all

in:

its

A

grand

balmy

summer's evening in a small American town. Brick and pastel-colored buildings lined up, quaint and cozy, along the short streets.

Two young

boys riding their bicycles

down

the

front steps of the towering courthouse across the street

(something they would never do during business hours), and the bright-white tower silhouetted against the dark-blue sky of dusk.

Up

and down Park

Street,

on both

sides of the court-

house, hundreds of huge old trees with their dark, broad, irregular forms slowly disappeared into the the kind of small- town- America scene

looming night. This

Norman

is

Rockwell captured

so perfectly Victor thought. ,

He offices

crossed First

along Park Street until he reached Second Avenue.

Just across ing;

it

Second stood the Park Hotel. What a grand

was a

large, two-story, gray-brick structure

high, slender, arched

Eight

Avenue and walked by the shops and

tall

windows

build-

with

six

across the front of each floor.

square white posts lining the edge of the sidewalk

supported a large white trians below.

White

wooden balcony

that sheltered pedes-

picket railing decorated the front edge of

on the secof each window

the balcony and created a sitting deck for rooms

ond

floor. Brass gas

lamps hung on both sides

lintel, so at night the Park Hotel became a shining beacon.

Ken Roberts

76

Victor could almost hear a honky-tonk piano's tinny tones

"Camptown

playing

Races." of the two eight-foot framed-glass entry

He opened one

doors and could feel the weight of the dark-green velvet curtains that

hung on the

inside.

Another time machine: Victor

stepped into the late 1800s.

A ceiling

down

large gas chandelier spilled

over what looked more

out of the vaulted

an opulent private great

a hotel lobby. Dozens of tiny gas flames glowing

room than

from the ends of

room with

like

its

ornately shaped brass tubing filled the

a nice, quiet, flickering glow.

Heavy,

were everywhere: in

rich, sedately colored fabrics

the chairs, couches, love seat, curtains, and rugs.

grand room. Dark rated

wood paneling and

"Good evening,

old oil landscapes deco-

sir."

man

Victor turned to the back corner of

standing behind a polished dark-wood

registration desk. Victor wasn't certain the

him

was a

long walls.

its

the lobby, to a

to

It

at

first.

man was

speaking

All the thick, soft furnishings in this

room

soaked up sounds, so his salutation reached Victor almost whisper.

When

he realized the

man was

as a

speaking to him,

Victor smiled and walked across the large room.

He was

a thin, average-looking

ness suit with a

stiff

man

in a dark

white shirt and boring

and proper behind the

registration desk as

tie.

if it

brown

He

busi-

stood erect

were a sympho-

ny conductor's podium, arms and hands outstretched, clasping the smooth

A

wooden

railing that

framed the top of the counter.

small brass lamp with a green glass shade illuminated the

large leather registration book.

The countertop was dark green

marble with small golden veins coursing through

it.

A Rich Man's Secret my

"Hello,

name's Victor Truman and

evening, please."

and

tie,

wonder

J

if

hell

me

let

77

I

need a room

this

check in without a coat

Victor wondered.

"Very good,

sir,"

"A room

relieved.

I

missed the

thought

I

cue. Victor was

for one?"

me.

"Yes, just

Hotel, so

man on

responded the

I'd

last shuttle

back to the Grand

spend the night in town," Victor

explained.

"Welcome

to the Park Hotel,"

he

said,

not noticing, or

possibly ignoring, Victor's attempt at conversation.

have any luggage that the

man

you'll

"Do you

need carried up to your room.7

"

mechanically continued.

From what he

just told the

man, Victor thought the answer

was obvious, but he responded anyway: "No, no luggage." "If you'll

kindly complete our register," the

man

requested,

holding out a pen. The pages were already facing forward. Victor took the pen and looked to the most recently complet-

ed line of information for guidance. begun.

The

A

new page had

top line contained the handwriting of a Mr. or

Mrs. Keith Andersen of Grants Pass, Oregon, just this

who

registered

morning. Victor guessed Mrs. Andersen wrote

the handwriting was light and flowing, as

had made

just

it.

if

a feminine

this:

hand

"11:30 A.M." was written by another hand.

Probably Walton's.

Victor wrote in the information and considered

much

nicer this

was than saying

all

these personal facts out

who keyed them into a computer. Much way. Then Victor wondered if he could use

loud to a hotel clerk

more

civilized this

a credit card.

"Can

I

how

put this on

my

Visa card?" Victor held

it

out.

Ken Roberts

78

"Of

course,

sir."

behind a big square

The man took the card and went to work wooden box that covered the counter just

to his right.

know how much a room here have much choice. And after all,

Victor realized he didn't

would

but he didn't

cost,

Mr. Jessup recommended the Park Hotel, and he didn't seem to be the least bit extravagant.

Then "Yes,

Victor remembered: "Are you Walton/" sir, I

am," Walton answered, looking up with a puz-

zled expression.

"Well, hello, Walton. Mr. Karl Jessup over at the Daily

Gazette told

sound right

tle

me

you 'Hey!'" The word

to tell

much

in the lobby of the Park Hotel;

'hey' didn't

too crude.

Walton looked

slightly embarrassed, perhaps

perturbed, but

managed

even a

lit-

to respond: "Tell Mr. Jessup

thank you." Victor guessed the ruffled Walton's just

down-home demeanor

image of his impeccable

been used by Mr. Jessup

Jessup was fond

of:

night, Mr.

bet he had

once again play a game Mr.

a credit card receipt for Victor to sign,

said perfunctorily, "Your

Truman, and

departure. Your

He

teasing ole Walton. Victor smiled.

Walton produced and then

to

self.

of Karl Jessup

room

is

I

room

is

sixty-five dollars a

shall total this statement

number

upon your

205, upstairs."

That sounded reasonable. Walton handed Victor

a

key with a very large square head. "205" was stamped in

"Thank

you, Walton.

And where

can

I

get

heavy it.

some dinner

now?" "You may dine until nine o'clock

Walton extended

his

in our dining

room."

hand toward a wide curtained archway

leading from the lobby.

Next

to

it

stood what must have been

A Rich Man's Secret a nine-foot tall grandfather's clock.

showed eight out came the

"Is

first

Something

The

big black hands

in the big clock clicked,

of eight mighty gongs.

They weren't

and deep. Walton was writing

just strong

Probably

o'clock.

79

filling in the

time

1

checked

in,

and

loud,

in the register.

Victor surmised.

there a telephone nearby?" Victor asked.

Walton

"There's one in your room,"

replied, looking up,

"and also a public telephone in the hallway between the dining

room and the

lounges."

"Thanks." Victor disappeared through the archway.

He was now

in a

narrow

anteroom,

area, a kind of

between the hotel lobby and the dining room.

A

dark-wood

rostrum stood unattended next to a matching curtained arch-

way opposite the one he had see into the dining room.

way

as

wide

as the

room

It

led

A middle-aged woman, full

just

through. Victor could

was old and elegant,

up a

too.

flight to the hotel's

A

stair-

rooms.

her hair in a tight bun, wearing a

black skirt and starched white blouse came through the

archway from the dining room. her

come

in:

A

wonderful aroma followed

good home cooking.

"May

I

seat

you

for dinner?"

She had

a soothing, motherly

quality to her voice. "Yes, please. I'm dining alone," Victor said.

"Very well. Please, follow me."

The aroma was even bread wasn't

better in the dining room. Fresh, hot

far away.

The dining room was as large as the lobby, but the light was dimmer in here. Curtains were drawn in the windows. A glass

lamp with two burning candles

sat in the

of forty or more round tables in the room.

middle of each

Cane

chairs with

leather seats circled each table. There were perhaps twenty

Ken Roberts

80

diners, all carrying

on

conversations, yet the

antly quiet and subdued.

The woman

room was

pleas-

led Victor to a smaller

round table with two chairs next to the front window.

It

was

away from other diners and Victor appreciated that. "This looks perfect," Victor said, "Thanks very much."

"Your waiter will serve you presently. Enjoy your meal." Victor sat and parted the his fingers.

The

gas lamps

sidewalk outside.

A

window

on the

curtains slightly with

front of the hotel

couple strolled

by.

The

line of

up the

lit

handsome

gas street lamps along Park Street stood at attention as far

down

the sidewalk as Victor could see.

And what

a

menu!

Victor's

eyebrows rose

as

he saw

his

choices for dinner: Buttermilk fried chicken with butter beans

and glazed sweet potatoes. River bottom gumbo with butter-

ham

milk cornbread. Country smoked boiled

new

with red-eye gravy,

potatoes covered in lemon garlic butter, and snap

beans cooked with hambone.

He made

his selection quickly (the

order with the waiter, and then er

archway in the back wall

this

first

seat,

wooden

one and pulled

change from a

the dining

his

room by anoth-

for the telephone.

Halfway down

hallway to the lounges there were low alcoves in the wall,

each with a the

left

gumbo), placed

his pocket.

dime into the

slot

shelf,

his

and telephone. Victor

sat in

Grand Hotel key and most of

his

He

fed

Good,

the

phone numbers on

and punched

in the

it.

number. "Grand

Hotel, good evening," the voice said. Victor couldn't believe

he had gotten through

"Room

for just a dime.

123 please."

"Hello." "Hi, sweetie, "Victor!

it's

Where

me." are you? I've

been very worried."

A Rich Man's Secret knew you would "Where are you?" "I

"I just

in

be,

and I'm

81

sorry."

checked into the Park Hotel over here

room "Why? What happened?" "I'm really onto something

in town. I'm

205."

here, Chrissy.

C. W.? Well, he really existed, and

somewhere around

sage hidden

"What

I

Remember

think he did leave a mes-

here."

did you find?"

"The date that was hidden

in the decoration

on the head-

stone was the same date of the local paper that carried an

about C. W.

cle

wealthy

—

arti-

Clement Watt. He was a very They even named a street after

his name's

man around

here.

him. But he wasn't a

he was

celebrity or anything like that,

actually kind of a quiet, private person, but very powerful

—

in

a good way."

"You sure

this isn't just a coincidence?"

Coincidence? Coincidence!

He had

forgotten to ask Mr.

Jessup about the yacht named Coincidental. The van driver said

it

just a

belonged to the orphanage. "No way,

when

"Tomorrow.

its

will I

have another clue to check out and

trips into

start

catch a hotel van on one of

all right,

Victor."

love you, honey."

love you, — you "I

too, Victor;

"Well, something has, or "I

I'll

I'll

town here."

"I'm so glad you're

to

this isn't

you be home?"

thing tomorrow morning.

"I

know

coincidence!"

"Well,

first

I

hope

so.

Good

and

is

if

about

night, Victor.

I

anything ever happened

to,

and

it's

love you."

great!"

Ken Roberts

82

Victor's

new

surge of enthusiasm overtook his appetite,

gumbo

but he remembered the

as

he returned

re-read the Daily Gazette newspaper

room.

He

bites.

The

room

205.

Victor opened the door he immediately thought of

his grandmother's house. There's a certain smell that

humid climates take on. This room had and took

between

old clock in the hotel lobby was bonging out nine

o'clock as he headed up the stairway to

When

to the dining

article

in

it,

homes

in

too. Victor liked

it

an extra deep breath.

The room was

small but

with an old-fashioned

full.

It

contained a double bed

two bedside

quilt,

tables with ornate

on white lace doilies, a small clock radio on telephone on the other. A three-drawer dresser and

antique lamps one, a

mirror stood next to the room's only window, across from the bed.

A proud old three-rung chair stood next to the small wall

closet next to the

No

no toothbrush,

Nine o'clock

was glad

TV, nothing

on

all

the radio

the

first

station

came

clothes,

—not being

this just sort of

way

to read,

nowhere

around here

to the

left.

to go.

at night.

moved more than an inch

in clearly. Elevator music.

inch more, hard-core country music. Turn

News. No. Two inches more, close

it

Keep some

to

The Garden

brother, a garden talk show.

Californians are crazy.

And

try

to the right edge

of the dial, a call-in talk station. Let's see what

"Welcome back

He

Slowly turning

more. Forties big band era music. That sounded nice. Let's another.

and

did.

to the right, the needle

before the

An

it

No

at night.

radio. Let's see what's

knob

no

luggage,

This was new for Victor

either.

turned the tuner knob

going.

No

what could he do now? All of

And he

happened.

the

door.

television, Victor noticed.

prepared. But

The

bathroom

this

is

like.

Variety Show.'" Oh,

the rest of the country thinks

A Rich Man's "Our

special guest tonight

famed Huntington Gardens San Marino? That's

"Our topic

this

right

in

is

the chief rosarian of the

San Marino."

near where

evening

H3

Secret

—

roses

1 live!

—has

lit

call

is

to

213-555-BUDS. That's 555-2837."

Five, five, five, B-17-D-S?

Two, one, that

up the station

The number

switchboard, but keep trying to get through.

Oh, come

on. Wait a minute!

three area code? That's Los Angeles!

I

must have heard

wrong.

"Hello? You're cial guest rosarian

KPLA! Then

on the tonight

that

is

some time warp, or going

line

with Gary Morgan and our spe-

on KPLA."

Los Angeles! Wait a minute,

am

1

in

nuts, or what?

"Yes, I'd like to ask your guest about the

American Rose

Society?"

What? the

don't believe

I

American Rose

this!

1

remember seeing an

article

Society in that newspaper. Victor pulled the

copy from his pocket, even though he knew the rose

remembered seeing had not been dental! Victor

about

copied. This

thought of the yacht again.

He

is

article

he

just too coinci-

felt

goose bumps

slowly spread over his back, shoulders, and arms.

"The American Rose Society was founded in 1899 to encourage research and help dispense information on all aspects of roses. The society began in Louisiana and is a thriving organization today with many local volunteer consultants you may contact for help and advice." Here 1 am all the way across the country listening to a radio station back

home. This must be

signal skips over vast distances.

but never had

"Thank

it

happen

you.

And

to

me

let's

that

But

phenomenon where

it's

the radio

so clear! I've heard of

before

go to our next

caller, please."

this,

Ken Roberts

84

"Hello?"

on the air. What is your question for our guest?" "Is it true there's no such thing as a blue rose?" "That's correct, there are no blue roses. Not many people aware of this fact. The so-called modern era of rose grow"Yes, you're

are

ing began in 1867

when

the

hybrid tea rose

first

that dominates present-day rose gardens

Exciting

new

new

hybrids of

colors

flourish at the turn of the century.

as the

—was introduced.

there

is

to

But a sky-blue, true-blue, or

Some

hybrids

Blue Girl, in 1964, and the Blue Nie of 1981 are

There are

actually lavender-colored roses.

and purple

class

and bicolors began

delphinium-blue rose has never been grown. such

—the

roses

mauve,

sometimes incorrectly called blue

gray,

roses,

but

The Japanese and Australians are amounts of money conducting gene-splicing

no true-blue

spending vast

also

rose.

experiments, using genes from petunias and other plant families,

but there

still is

no

true-blue rose."

"I'm afraid we're out of time tonight. This

thanking our special guest

Gardens

in

this

San Marino. Tune

is

Gary Morgan

evening from the Huntington in next

Variety Show,' same time, right here

week

to 'The

Garden

on KPLA, Los Angeles.

Stay tuned for news, sports, and weather with Mary Ashley." 1 still

cant

believe this!

Victor

other surprises lay in store. the words, "Take the

first

true-blue rose would look.

He

step,"

left

fell

the radio

on

to see

what

asleep mentally repeating

and trying

to imagine

how

a

—Victor awoke to birds chirping. Actually, one yapping blue woke him. He got out of

jay in particular

window, and pushed the curtains breathtaking.

What

a

morning!

bed, walked to the

aside. Beautiful.

Humid

Absolutely

skies definitely are

more dramatic. There's more substance to them somehow: more clouds, more moisture, more feeling. Maybe the beautiful skies are

why

people can tolerate humidity.

The sun was

red, rising

behind white bands of clouds.

A

pink cast dribbled over the landscape. Thick, moist shafts of pink sunlight shot through the

trees

and into the glistening

green grass beneath them in the park across the

This was a very special day. Victor

He phoned

felt

street.

it.

the front desk and Walton answered. Doesn't

he ever go home?

"Good morning, Walton. This

is

Victor

Truman

oh-five."

"Good morning, "Walton,

is

"Of course,

there a

little gift

shop in the hotel?"

sir."

"Good. Would

"We have

sir."

they have razors and such?"

a full selection of toiletries,

85

sir."

in two-

Ken Roberts

86 "Great. Could

some items delivered

get

I

to

my room

this

morning?"

"What

items would you like?"

"Let's see.

A

razor,

Yep, that should do

it.

"And would you morning,

toothbrush, toothpaste, and a comb."

like to order breakfast in

your room this

sir?"

room open

for breakfast?"

"Is

the dining

"It

opens in twenty minutes."

"Then I'll come down to eat. Thank you." "Very good, sir. Your sundries shall be brought up presently."

"Thanks very much, Walton, you're a champ."

That caught Walton "Thank

"Bye." Victor

ly

hung up and

hoping that

"And

all

night.

He

KPLA would be Go

Classic Radio,

on.

says

Eddy Arnold singing

Away.'

WCCR,

time, twenty-four hours, where

The weatherman

he realized that the

turned the volume up, secret-

that was the legendary

'Make the World

on Country today.

cleared his throat.

smiled. Poor Walton.

for his supplies to arrive,

had been on

classic,

He

you, I'm sure."

Waiting radio

off guard.

it

it's

It's

all

the classics,

all

should hit the mid- to high-

an extra pitcher of iced tea or lemonade today;

Now

see

if

the

going to be a hot one

eighties today with the humidity doin' the same. Better

scorcher.

his

seven-forty-five here

you can guess the

title

it's

make

gonna be

a

of this ole tune

from the Queen of Country Music, Miss Loretta Lynn." Twenty-four hours. That means KPLA's signal drowned out this strong local station

thought of the yacht again.

last night.

Coincidental? Victor

A Rich Man's Secret His

toiletries arrived

"dressed" quickly.

Not

short-sleeved tourist

packed

he thought, looking into

Maybe

I'll

buy one of those big floppy

numbers Yve seen so many of on

this trip.

He

new supplies in the paper bag in which they Then he remembered Jeffrey and Nicole. The kids

his

arrived.

always liked the sets

and Victor showered, shaved, and

too wrinkled,

the mirror at his shirt.

87

from

hotels.

shower cap.

shampoo, conditioner, and body

little

Nikki

will be especially pleased

And Jeff likes

er in the nightstand

lotion bottle

with

this plastic

postcards. Victor pulled the top

open and there

it

draw-

was: a set of stationery

and a color postcard of the Park Hotel. After checking out and thanking Walton, Victor went

The curtains were pulled back and sunlight streamed in. The abundance of sunshine made this a completely different room than it had appeared into the dining

last night.

room

for breakfast.

There were only

six

people having breakfast

—

three

couples scattered about the big room. Victor requested the

same

table

What there,

from the night before,

at the front

a view: the long sidewalk trailing

an occasional pedestrian. To the

window.

off,

left

a car here

and

across the street

was the grand brick courthouse, and everywhere

else

and what looked

and leaves.

like miles of trees, grass,

Everything green, and every shade of

Waiting gravy,

for his breakfast of

and sausage

links,

was park

it.

scrambled eggs, biscuits and

Victor re-read the article, something

he had done twenty times since that copy was made not much over twelve hours ago.

Emma's boarding house and the orphanage: the only two he had. Finding Mr. Jessup and

leads

was a their

blessing.

his microfiche

machine

Deep, muffled tones from the big clock made

way through the dining room.

It

was nine o'clock.

— Ken Roberts

88

Victor laid the article up against the plate opposite his

which would be every word of

it

Christine's

as

she were here

if

—and examined

he enjoyed his meal.

Victor paid his

bill

and asked the waitress

if

she

knew

where Emma's boarding house was located.

"Oh,

yes,

it's

just

two blocks farther down Park Street

on Second Avenue, then Third," she pointed out through the window, away from the courthouse, "then Fourth Avenue, and there's Emma's." here.

The

hotel's

"Does

Emma run

"Oh,

don't think so anymore."

I

it/"

Victor asked, testing her knowledge.

Victor thanked her and

forgetting something, looked

bag in his hand, touched the smiled.

down

He

was

article folded in his pocket,

to find

Then he smiled again when he know what it was he was looking

in the right place to find

just after

he was

white paper

for.

didn't actually

knew he was

felt like

at the little

Nope, he had everything he needed

was looking

It

the hotel.

left

and

what he

realized for.

he

But he

it.

nine o'clock, but the

air

was already warm

and heavy. The white clouds were billowing now. Victor could hear the blue jay that woke

still

him

as

he passed the end of

the hotel building and headed along the sidewalk to Emma's.

A row of shops and businesses lined hotel to Third Avenue. dise. Parker's

One was

Park Street from the

Parker's

General Merchan-

was a wooden two-story building that seemed a

out of place along this section of Park Street.

bit

formal than lier

all

somehow.

walked under

It

was

less

the other brick structures and looked friendIt

its

created

its

own atmosphere when one

enormous deep wooden porch that began

from the second story window and enveloped the entire walk in front of the building,

all

the

way out

side-

to the street. It

A Rich Man's Secret was almost

being indoors under here. Victor could easily

like

look through the large window panes and

no

since there was

Victor peered to determine

if

89

glare

under

was open:

around the store

voluminous porch.

in, first to see if Parker's

they had men's

Yes, Parker's

this

all

was open, and then

shirts.

A woman

with a shopping bag

came out of the store. Now, do they have men's shirts? Yes; over a doorway through the back wall was a sign: Men's Women's Children's Clothing Upstairs. Victor went

He came also

in.

out carrying a larger bag than he entered with.

was wearing a new

He

shirt: a slightly oversized, square-tail,

short-sleeve style with a subdued print that looked less touristy

than the loud

floral designs

he had been

Feeling refreshed now, he continued

where he

seeing.

down Park

left off.

Crossing Third Avenue, everything changed:

an

Street

all-residential

He was

in

neighborhood now with one long row of

antique homes. Every one of them had to have been built in the mid- to late- 1800s; the telltale architecture was outstanding.

The Queen Anne

style

abounded: wooden homes embell-

ished with high porches; ornamental white railings, posts, and turrets;

siding;

stone chimneys; steep-roofed dormers; scalloped

wood

and an abundance of fine, detailed woodwork.

Old, stout magnolia and oak trees stood in the front yards of most of these homes, protecting the family that lived

Ken Roberts

90

Their strong roots had reached out and beyond the

inside.

front yards over the years

sidewalk twist,

and now made

turn, and undulate as

large sections of the

a river flowed beneath

if

A

walk through time. Victor smiled and was coming to Fourth Avenue, and the end house. it.

It

was the belle of the

They saved

ball.

Victor thought. This house was a palace. the mighty old trees that occupied

on the block was diminished by

Two

flights of

stairs

its

It

the best for last,

stood taller than

yard. Every other

this old

house

grand dame.

ten feet wide led up to a deep, covered

porch that encircled the entire house. The porch had an extra gazebo with

its

own

spiral roof jutting

nolia tree at the front

left

corner.

roofs towered the second story.

out toward a huge mag-

Above

Its

the porch and gazebo

rooms had

their

own

cov-

ered balconies with white posts, railings, and gingerbread dec-

The

oration.

third-story windows' decorative white

frames were tucked under the front roof's

The

many

wood

gables.

separate roof of the home's rear section also rose

three stories, had two brick chimneys of

a white balcony railing running

Best of

all,

its

its

own, and flaunted

entire length.

there was a small rectangular

wooden

sign with

green script lettering planted in the lawn next to the oversized porch:

Emma's Boarding House.

Victor took a deep breath and climbed the eleven steps to

Then it was another good four paces The big porch could have been a room

the top of the porch.

to

the front door

of

its

own.

tops,

It

itself.

had wicker

chairs, benches, coffee tables

and a round table-and-chairs

chair, big

enough

for three adults,

set.

with

glass

A broad wooden swing

hung from two thick chains

in the circular gazebo-corner of the porch.

A Rich Man's Secret He times

91

pulled back the screen door and rapped lightly three

on the

front door.

Moving back

a step, he closed the

screen door and watched the leaded glass panes in the door.

few seconds

A

was movement behind the glass. handsome middle-aged woman in a simple,

later there

A

"Hello."

trim house dress and white apron answered the door. "Hi.

My

name's Victor Truman and I'm doing a

torical research.

Mr. Karl Jessup

who owns

the Daily Gazette

newspaper was very helpful yesterday, and an from 1899 led

me

little his-

article

I

found

here to Emma's boarding house."

"Oh, my. Eighteen ninety-nine,

that's

way before my

"Are you the proprietor, ma'am, may

how

wasn't quite sure

to go about this.

I

He

time."

ask?" Victor

want

didn't

to

sound pushy. "Yes, I'm

Emma's granddaughter."

"How do you I

do?" Victor nodded his head. "In this article

found," Victor took

it

out, "it tells of a

it

from

his pocket, unfolded

it,

and held

man named Clement Watt when he dediIt also says that when in

cated the orphanage here in town.

town he

lived at

Emma's boarding house. Would

same house where he stayed?" Seems

too

good

this

be that

to be true,

but

please say yes.

"Yes, this

the house.

is

Would you

wait a moment,

please?"

"Yes

I

will.

you, thank you! is

the house,

she it.

Thank I

wonder what

the other. lips.

is

the house!

she's doing?

and I'm standing here on

knows what I'm Victor's

you." This

talking about,

mind was

racing.

The woman

He

and

Thank you, thank

She didnt say no,

the porch. she's

stood

finally returned

this

The doors open,

doing something about

on one

foot

and then

and had a smile on her

That's good, that's good, Victor encouraged himself.

Ken Roberts

92

"Won't you come in? My name's Colleen." She smiled bigger now and pushed the screen door open with her right hand, stepping aside so Victor could enter. Victor wiped his shoes on the welcome mat, smiled at Colleen, and stepped "I

do appreciate any help

sure

about Mr. Watt," Victor told her.

at all in learning

What an

in.

more

understatement

that was, as he would soon find out.

The house was Shiny hardwood area rugs; high pastel-painted

as striking

floors

on the

inside as

it

was outside.

covered with thick, rich, deep-colored

wooden ceilings with ornate crown molding; wood walls with many old watercolor and oil

paintings, each hanging from a thick velvet cord. Antiques

were everywhere

—everywhere!

stools, couches. ..all antique.

Chairs, tables, lamps, books,

What

a showplace, what a

museum, Victor thought. "Please follow me," Colleen said, pleasantly.

They walked from this large atrium/sitting area through a doorway into an old-fashioned parlor that was just as stuffed with antiques. This room felt more snug than the other. It had a lower ceiling and a small fireplace. The area rug in here was of deep reds and dark blues. Sitting in a delicate fabric-and-wood armchair was an elderly

had white

woman. She

was very thin, wore glasses that made her

hair,

blue eyes look larger than normal, and had such a sweet smile. Victor

"Mama, about.

And

was captivated. this

is

Mr. Victor Truman, the

Mr. Truman, this

is

my

man

I

told

you

mother, Mrs. Minnie

Nelson." Colleen spoke deliberately and slightly slower. Victor smiled, smile.

He made

still

looking at those eyes and that sweet

a half-bow to the mother.

A Rich Man's Secret "It's

a pleasure to

93

meet you, ma'am. Thank you

for seeing

me." "Sit

down, young man." The old woman motioned with

her hand for Victor to

in a chair like hers

sit

on the opposite

side of the fireplace.

"Well,

leave you two to talk. Mr. Truman,

I'll

you some refreshment?" Colleen awaited folded hands, as

if

I

his response

offer

with

in prayer.

me

"Please, call

may

No, no thank you, I'm very com-

Victor.

fortable." Victor looked at

Minnie. "Mrs. Nelson?"

"Colleen, dear, bring us a pitcher of your delicious lemon-

That should

ade.

hit the spot

on

a day like today."

Victor thought of the local radio program he had heard just that "I'll

A pitcher of lemonade sounded good.

morning.

be right back." Colleen

left

the

room and Victor

turned to face Minnie Nelson.

"Colleen

tells

woman's blue eyes

me you sparkled.

"Yes, Mrs. Nelson.

I

asked of Clement Watt."

The

old

That sweet smile returned.

found

this

newspaper

article

from

1899 that says Mr. Watt stayed here when he was in town." Victor was holding the copy.

"May

I

see that?" she asked.

"Of course, Mrs. Nelson."

The

old

woman

forward to give

it

reached out her hand and Victor leaned

to her.

"And

don't call

name's Minnie. I'm over eighty, but

Nelson' makes

me sound

showed that sweet smile "Yes,

Minnie.

"Oh

aren't

you?

old."

I

me

Mrs. Nelson.

My

don't feel eighty. 'Mrs.

She winked

at Victor

and

again.

And you sure don't

you the charmer.

I'll

look eighty, either." bet you're married, aren't

Ken Roberts

94

"Yes,

ma'am

"Sure you

some sharp

—

er, yes,

are,

Minnie,

am."

I

you smooth- talker. Wouldn't take long to

little gal

hook

a catch like you."

for

Oh, that smile

again. Victor smiled back.

Minnie was enjoying every

bit of the old article. Victor

followed her eyes and could see that she was taking in every

word.

When

she finished, her eyes jumped back to re-read the

headline.

"Mr. Watt. Dear, dear Clement," she spoke, but not to

Then her eyes focused on Victor. "And what would you like to know about Clement Watt?" She was serious now, Victor.

with a "I

bit of suspicion

want

to

know

and protectiveness

in her voice.

everything about him," Victor said, naively.

"Why?" she questioned. Colleen entered the room with a tray on which glass pitcher of

placed

it

lemonade and two

on the small antique

glasses filled

with

sat a tall ice.

She

coffee table in front of a love

seat against the wall.

"Here,

I'll

do the honors." Victor stood and thanked

Colleen.

"Oh, playful

isn't

mood

he the chivalrous one," Minnie teased, her

returning.

Colleen giggled and fine.

Call

me

if

said, "I see

you need anything;

you two are getting along

I'll

be in the kitchen."

Victor poured out two glasses of lemonade and handed

one to Minnie. He

"Ummm,

sat

that's

down

again and took a

"Homemade from homegrown and took a

sip.

good."

lemons," Minnie declared,

sip herself.

"Now why Minnie asked.

are

you so interested

in

Clement Watt?"

A Rich Man's Secret

95

Victor was impressed. This old gal doesn't miss a

trick.

Gets right down to business. "I

when

didn't actually even I

found that

know

name

his

until yesterday,

over at the Daily Gazette newspa-

article

per office.

why were you

"Well, "I'll

have

looking for this article?" she pushed.

back up a

to

bit,"

Victor explained, sitting up in

his chair.

"All right, back up then.

with

mock

"Good. Thank you, Mrs. didn't

We

have

all

day," said

Minnie

gruffness.

have

—

er,

Minnie.

I

was hoping we

to rush our conversation."

"Never rush anything, young man. You remember Everything

—everything—has

own rhythm, and the world "Yes,

is

full

only a fool

its

its

own

pace,

its is,

of fools." Minnie smiled again.

tell

me

everything." She placed her glass

side table, folded the article up,

back in her arm chair

"You mean "I said

"Yes,

time,

rush that. Sorry thing

ma'am."

"Now you sat

own

tries to

that.

it?

as

if

You mean

handed

it

to say "Let's

everything

7

on

a

back to Victor, and

have

it!"

"

'everything,' didn't I?"

you

did.

Okay, here goes...."

Victor began his autobiography and discovery of the cemetery. Minnie Nelson carefully listened to every word. She

never interrupted and never showed any signs of emotion.

She

just listened

so soothing

it

with the

made

it

sincerest, dearest look

very easy for Victor to

on her

tell

about himself that he had never said to another person

even Christine.

face,

her things

—not

Ken Roberts

96

he finished nearly an hour later, with "And so here I am, talking with you," Minnie remained silent and still, as if summing up everything he had just told her. Victor took a

When

swallow of lemonade.

Then Minnie broke the long silence: "You're "What am I?" Victor raised his eyebrows. "You're a seeker.

and

this,

that's

why

I

And

had Colleen

very special.

invite

you

in.

Clement would have taken fondly

seekers are.

Victor's expression

"Now

that's very,

let

showed he wanted

me do some

a seeker."

to

sensed

1

Very

special,

to you."

know more.

Her hands were clasped

talking."

with both index fingers pressed together and pointed upward.

She

rested

them

against her

what she was going

remember

"I

lips, as if

considering

how

to put

to say next.

that cemetery well. Papa used to take us

on Sundays. Seems

there after church

for family outings, doesn't it?

But

it

a bit odd, a cemetery

was pretty much the

custom to pass through the cemetery over

to the big

local

meadow

where the townsfolk would gather on Sundays. Those are pleasant memories.

know

"I

quite

the headstone you saw

some time

he secreted Take the

after

he passed on.

first

step

—no more, no

much

less

Clement's.

sonally ordered those carved I

didn't

I

when

I

I

I

know

in the stone's decoration, but the

revealed, are very

While

—Clement's.

saw

once

it

of the date

words he posed,

—and the next

will

knew he must have first laid

eyes

be

per-

on them.

never heard him speak quite those exact words, that

was the principle he lived

—and prospered—

by. If

even

just a

handful of us would live our lives in an attempt to completely

understand that message, not only would we reach the heights

we long

for,

but this whole world would vastly improve.

A Rich Man's Secret "Please,

97

young man, Victor: Do not judge or draw any

conclusions about what I'm telling you here, as difficult as

Keep an open mind

will be.

as best

you can. You are hearing

things that very, very few people ever do. for certain, but

I

have a glimpse into

it

it all

know why

don't

I

because

has been

it

revealed to me, in just the way those carved words you've

seen promise.

"Clement Watt was a wise man, a very man. Not

this foolish

world thinks.

thought about this

way you think

in the

world we

it

that

He was

that

I

and help with

well.

Our

started to speak.

never

for us

all

and had

thirties,

just

borne Colleen

no time

all.

in

my

My mama— that's Emma

The whole

this prop-

family would pitch in

the chores and extra work that the guests

boarders enjoyed being part of a real family as just stay a short

while and then leave a

little huffy, sayin' it

was too much comin's and

enough peace and

quiet.

'Good

riddin's!'

goin's

then they can

just

go to

—

,'

well,

and not

Papa used to say

they don't like this family and what

'If

She stopped

boarding house right here, on

Oh, some would

about 'em.

I

way

finger.

remember him.

little

was good

required.

wiser than the world.

passed on. Before that, there's

don't

and papa ran a erty. It

my

just into

when Clement life

in the

live in."

him by holding up an index was

mean, and not

way before now, but he was wiser than

Minnie paused and Victor

"I

I

special, very wise

we

got here,

you know."

Victor smiled.

"Poor old Papa; he had such a temper. Anyhow, never a time us.

I

there's

Clement wasn't boarding with which seemed to be at least a few

don't recall that

Whenever he was

here,

days every month, sometimes longer,

I

remember him being

in

Ken Roberts

98

the garden.

He

loved the garden.

We

garden in the neighborhood, and

always had the prettiest I

do suspect

it

was on

account of Clement. "I

remember one summer evening: was

hot.

It

and

sit

about

just

what

and, with

asked

if

bedtime, but

I

my

my

so

was doing when

I

it

was

to stay

up

knew

my

big blue eyes,

make them up another pitcher of went off to bed. I think they knew what I

I

to

would be

yes, that

real nice.

into the kitchen, squeezed those lemons,

big fresh pitcher of lemonade.

Clement and

I

went outside on the porch

voice, rolling

little

me

they'd like

was up to and said

one

wanted

uncle Charley, and Clement.

sweetest

lemonade before

to

was hot, oh

It I

with the grown-ups on our front porch. There was

Papa and Mama, exactly

my

And

then

So

I

hurried

and brought back a I

just sat

down next

didn't leave. I'm certain they noticed, but

said anything

and

I

had the time of my

life,

sitting

up

no

late

with the grown-ups, listening to their voices muffled by the night, trailing off the porch into the darkness ets

where the

crick-

took over.

he couldn't figure out why we we always had a room or two that he reckoned we had the cleanest, tidiest

"At one point Papa weren't always

full

went empty. He

said

house and the best

said

up, that

home

saw him nudge

cookin' this side of the Mississippi,

Mama

and make her giggle and blush. we got the prettiest darn garden in town!' he said, givin' Clement a jab on the knee. 'We're doin' everything right, so what's wrong?' I remember him asking. then

I

'And on top of

"Clement 'you

all that,

said, 'W.

know how many

J.,'

that's

what everyone

called Papa,

eggs a codfish lays at one time?' Papa

looked at Clement like he just took leave of his senses. '"No, Clement,

I

reckon

I

don't.

How many?'

A Rich Man's Secret

99

'"A million,' Clement told him. Papa made a surprised

'And how many

face.

Papa answered.

"'Just one,'

Clement wasn't

just jokin'

"'Well,

I

lay at

could

I

one

tell

time?'

Papa knew

now.

And what

"That's right, just one. after she lays those

hen

eggs does an old

one million

does the codfish do

eggs?'

don't know,' Papa said, 'what does she do?'

'"Nothing. She does nothing after laying one million eggs.

But what does that old hen do

one

after she lays just that

egg?'

'"She cackles up a storm!' Papa was catching on, but he still

couldn't quite see the point of

this.

'"That's exactly right: she cackles.

you,

W.

that

it

"I

J.?'

So what does

Papa couldn't think of anything

to say.

that

tell

'It tells

you

pays to advertise!'

remember they

all

burst into laughter

—even Mama

but then she shushed them, saying we were going to wake our boarders and the neighbors. '"So

what

are

you saying

'"I'm saying to toot your

exactly,

own horn and

Take out an advertisement and place

is

Clement?' Papa asked.

tell

ring your

people

own

how good

here. In fact, tell 'em you're so picky

bell.

your

and particular

that you take applications and require references before you'll let just

anybody board

at

Emma's!'

"Papa put an advertisement

in the

paper like that.

worked magic, and we

always had a waiting

wanting to board with

us.

That's

when we

that you're in now, with three times the

list

built this

number

It

of people

house

of rooms,

that were always full up. Still would be to this day, but

Colleen and her husband and children

manageable now without having tend to so

many

boarders like

just like

it

nice and

to bring in outside help to

we used

to do.

J

Ken Roberts

00

remember Papa and Clement talking business around the kitchen table late one night when I got out of bed for water. I "I

always figured that Clement helped Papa with the money. That's

when he had

his

own

whether he was here or not Victor couldn't

private

room

that was always his

—and mostly he was "He

resist:

not."

lived right here, in this very

house?"

above our heads here." She pointed to the

"Just

ceiling.

"That was his favorite room, with a balcony and clear view out over the park across the

street.

"Clement was a wise man; he understood things the of us didn't. Like

he was here, I

I

I

said,

he was wiser than

could actually feel a change in the atmosphere.

can't describe this very well, but

"We

I'll

try:

when Clement would be here, but like month never went by that he didn't spend

never knew

said, usually a

I

three or four days with us.

It

was never

knew. Everyone was fond of Clement his visit

regular;

—

we

especially

just

never

me

—and

was always a pleasant surprise we looked forward

"Usually

I

would find him here when

school, but before

was here. went.

rest

When

this world.

He

He was

he was not shy

I

set foot

on the

I

to.

came home from

front porch,

I

knew

that he

brought a peacefulness with him wherever he a quiet

man

—

I

never saw him emotional

—but

at all."

Minnie gave that smile and continued.

"I

again, closed her eyes, laughed,

always thought of

never mean, but nothing swayed him.

him

He

as a lion:

He was

could walk into any

kind of situation and knew precisely what to do. Confidence,

complete confidence,

"What Minnie

that's

what he had."

did he look like?" Victor interrupted again, but

didn't

seem

to mind.

A Rich Man's Secret "He's right here

rush of goose

among

Minnie smiled. Victor

us,"

bumps sweep over

looked to the back wall of the simple gold-leafed

101

A

parlor.

a

She pointed and

his back.

wooden frame from

felt

hung

portrait

in a

a black velvet cord.

"That's him?" Victor stood and walked over to the picture.

A large family Bible lay atop a waist-high antique wood bookstand directly beneath the picture. Victor had to lean over to get close

enough

1892? This

is

a

handmade

to read the small, white,

in the lower right corner.

"Matthew Brady

Studios,

I

letters

New

York,

Matthew Brady photograph?"

"That process was called daguerreotype. plate.

it

remember

as a small girl

"I

do believe

it

when he

me

was forty years

by the time he brought

old, so

wasn't here."

took over a year of

ing before he brought

that.

a copper

begging Clement for a picture

of himself so he could be around even

Minnie chuckled.

It's

He

said

it

my

ask-

was taken when he it

to

me, some

twenty years had passed." She chuckled again.

"Did

it

look like him?" Victor asked, seriously.

Minnie was laughing now. "Not very much. sented that to me,

I

was

wasn't too tactful.

I

said,

just a

young

'Who

is

girl, as

this?

I

I

When he

said,

pre-

and usually

asked for a picture of

and Clement and I just laughed and laughed. Mama later what I had said and was so embarrassed of her improper little girl. I remember she turned red, opened her

you,'

found out

mouth, and placed her hands against her cheeks, aghast that could be so rude. But Clement just laughed.

He

couldn't have

cared less. That man had no vanity in his bones." Victor was laughing along with Minnie when he

down

I

sat

again.

"It's

getting rather warm,"

with her hand.

Minnie

said,

fanning her face

Ken Roberts

102

Oh no,

don't

"Would bit cooler?"

make me

Minnie

elbow

raised her

in

to the

yet.

verandah where

it's

a

for Victor to help her up.

arm out through the

foyer,

through the

and onto the broad, shady front porch.

"Now which "I

now, Victor thought, not

me

They walked arm front door,

leave

you care to escort

is

your favorite chair?" Victor asked.

have a fondness

for that rocking chair just over there."

She nodded her head toward the end of the porch,

right

under the cupola.

"Then

that's

where we're going." Victor smiled.

Their footsteps sounded good on the wooden

floor.

Victor

helped her into the old rocking chair. "I'll

go get our lemonade," he

said.

Colleen must have heard them walking and leaned out the front door.

"Can

I

get you

"Yes, Colleen.

iced tea

now? That

"Good

idea,

two anything?"

How will

about some of your delicious mint

ward

mama.

off this heat."

It'll

take a few minutes, but

I'll

be

back." Colleen disappeared into the kitchen.

"You "This sat

is

sit

right there."

Minnie pointed

how Clement and

where you

are,

I

and he'd

used to

sit

sit

and

to the swing seat. talk after supper.

I

in this rocking chair."

Victor raised his eyebrows. "That rocking chair?"

"This very chair." Minnie smiled her smile and closed her eyes for one brief

moment. Victor

smiled, too, his eyes trailing

off across the street to the park.

"The most valuable times of my

on

this

wanted

life

were spent right here

porch with Clement." She continued with what she to impart to Victor,

his lesson to continue.

who

sat

up

in the swing, eager for

A Rich Man's Secret "Mr. Clement Watt was a wealthy man. ularly

way

He

was a spectac-

wealthy and powerful man. But more than

and not

you're thinking,

in the

just in the

way the world wants

to

think upon these things." Victor cocked his head to the side the way a puppy does

when

trying to understand.

it's

"Clement Watt owned more companies and more railroads and more businesses and more land than anyone including myself

—ever knew. He used those things show others the

a pure, higher purpose: to world's ways.

He

way his

this

is.

infinitely

who

think, being a gardener. But then

I

and who would have cared? That's the

listened,

world

He would have been

a teacher.

more contented, would have

fallacy of the

used his vast wealth and position to teach.

Clement was

Yes,

as part of

But he wasn't

after the masses, either.

With

extreme wealth and power, he could have commanded the

front page of newspapers

whenever he

desired.

reached the masses with the wave of his

Clement was looking

"He

He

could have

little finger.

No,

for seekers, like yourself.

dealt with the world's most powerful

men

—

presi-

once heard a rumor around town here Clement had just come from a meeting at the White House with President Woodrow Wilson, so I asked him about

dents and leaders.

I

that

it

—

if

the rumor was true.

recollect.

Clement smiled

think any

less

"I

of

me

if

I

We at

didn't

were

me and

sitting right out here as said,

I

'Minnie, would you

have dinner with the President?'

took that to mean that he had indeed just seen

President Wilson, because ing anything about

never mentioned the rumor say-

him having

She winked and smiled

how rambunctious

I

dinner with the President."

at Victor.

He

chuckled and thought

she must have been as a young

woman.

— Ken Roberts

104

Clement saw Warren Harding quite often, and they would exchange cigars. And Mark Twain, too; he and Clement got along famously and enjoyed each other's company and cigars.

know

"I

for a fact that

—

"Gee, that's surprising..." Victor

thought aloud.

"Why?" asked Minnie. "Well, you'd think that

someone

so special

—

so wise

wouldn't have a bad habit like that."

"There you go thinkin' again!" Minnie straighter,

of

all,

up a

little

and Victor knew another lesson was coming.

"First

nothing smells quite so good

handmade

cigar.

as the

sat

aroma from a

fine,

those cheap, stinky ones nowadays that

It's

give cigars a bad reputation."

Victor smiled. praising a

good

It

seemed funny,

this cute little

woman

cigar.

"Some of the fondest memories I have are those times when I'd get a whiff of one of Clement's cigars halfway down the block walking home from school. I'd smile with delight and run the

rest of the

way home, knowing

find

I'd

Clement

tending the garden.

"Other times, on hot summer nights, my papa and Clement would be sittin', talkin' softly on the front porch, and the

way up

rich,

to

my

woodsy scent of Clement's room.

I

cigar

would find

its

it made me feel as if I made me feel connected

used to love that;

was down on the porch with them.

It

to them."

Victor understood, and ing these special

"When winked

I

felt grateful

that

Minnie was

moments with him.

would make a generalized, ignorant

at Victor, "

—statement

as

you

just did

—

"

about

shar-

Minnie cigars,

A

Rich Max's Secret

105

Clement would quote Shakespeare, from Hamlet: There nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes Victor nodded,

as

is

so.'"

it

he contemplated what Minnie had

just said.

"When

you watch your thoughts, Victor, instead of being the

way

— can you receive

the

taken over by them, you have an open mind, which it

Then

should be.

— and only

then

is

answers you desire. Another of Clement's favorite truisms

came from the

Bible,

I

believe: 'Nothing

not be made manifest.' Even down to

Minnie paused and smiled

is

secret, that shall

cigars."

"And about your The world Another passage, from

at Victor.

comment

regarding something being a 'bad habit':

has this

all

backwards

as well.

Matthew, wisely teaches that

it's

'Not that which goeth into

mouth defileth a man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.' The more you remember to the

watch your thoughts, the

clearer you will see the truth in this,

While the world wastes

Victor.

you work

at

on curing

its life

watching your thoughts. As you do

'bad habits,' that, all else

will take care of itself."

Victor

hend

felt

it fully,

the depth of wisdom in

but he sensed that

it

this.

was

He

true,

didn't compre-

and that

would take on an entirely new meaning and focus

his life

as a result

of this visit with Minnie. "I

believe

Clement knew

by helping those people. river

He once

who

that he could help

more people

were, in turn, overseers of

many more

said that a drop of water at the source of a

was imbued with much more responsibility and potential

than a water drop

"What was he

down

at the

mouth

of the river."

trying to help people do?" Victor asked.

Ken Roberts

"He to

life,

convey

tried to

and that

it is

to people that there

a higher level

is

completely possible to live

it

right here

and now." "But he owned so much, and carried such weight... why

would he spend

when

his time

who

"For the few

the world

isn't interested?"

seek, for those fortunate

have that tiny spark in us and desire a better is

possible.

possible

Clement was

— and

a living

that

He

'If

people only

knew

—and other

sense life is

used to read

Shakespeare, Walden, Thoreau, Balzac, Longfellow very fond of Longfellow

we

example that such a

completely practical.

who

few of us

life

—he was

classic literature

and

baker, the clerk, the minister, the schoolboy, the banker,

the school lished a

marm

little

could

all

be happy and prosperous.'

book that he made

dreds of employees received.

He

Know. He planted that seed many,

it

took root.

sure every

called

it

in every

Anyone who worked

one of

say,

The

the lessons these writers teach!

and

He

pub-

his

hun-

Something You Should

one of them; and for

in

Clement was very

fortunate indeed.

"To have the wisdom that he had sibility

—and the

desire

—

to share

it

carries a certain respon-

with other like-minded

individuals."

Minnie repositioned

herself in her chair as she thought of

an example. "Suppose you were coming out of a jungle that you had

tried for years to get through. After so

much

effort,

you discovered that taking the treacherous jungle path not only led nowhere, but was unnecessary

as well. Finally leaving

the jungle once and for always, you see hoards of people run-

ning to get through the jungle that you secret of.

Now

I

ask you, Victor, would you

just discovered the tell

them?" Minnie

A Rich Man's Secret

107

leaned forward, those big blue eyes open wide, awaiting Victor's response. "Yes, of course

"But what

if

I

would."

only one or two of those people at a time

heeded your admonitions?" She leaned back, eyes "I

would

"Then you know the answer

dom

that

—

and joy

still

wide.

still try."

to your question.

Clement possessed comes to tell others."

With the

wis-

a certain responsibility

—jy'ictov was

trying to absorb the big mental mouthful of

information that Minnie had revealed to him, but a thousand questions were cropping up at the same time.

"Well, what did he understand about the jungle exactly?"

he

finally asked.

that, but

It

seemed that Minnie had

something

He hoped

still

answered

just

wasn't registering about her

him inane and a disappointment. Minnie smiled knowingly. Good, Victor metaphor.

she didn't consider

thought. "I'm going to

knew. This I

speak

it

tell

isn't to

you something of what Clement Watt

say that you'll

to you. This

is

now know

it

simply because

just the first step that places

you

clos-

er to the edge of the jungle."

Victor thought of the words inscribed in Clement Watt's

headstone.

"You can then begin to see your way clear of the jungle, or you can run right back in is

—

as

it

—

as

dangerous and painful as

it

most people do, preferring the known over the

unknown." Victor

"What

felt

the gravity of what was coming.

I'm about to

tell

you, Victor, will shock you.

don't have the luxury of time, you and

I,

and

this

is

We

a fortu-

itous opportunity for a very special seed to be planted in your

109

Ken Roberts

no

care. Like the parable of the sower,

road and birds

came and

and some

among

fell

yielded a crop, ty.

And

some

some

ate them; others

thorns. But a few

a hundredfold,

seeds fell

fell

some

fell

beside the

on rocky

on good

sixty,

places;

and

soil

and some

thir-

by the way, Victor, that chapter goes on to say that for

whoever

more shall be given and he shall have an abun-

has,

dance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be

taken away from him."

"Do you mean the

rich get richer

and the poor get poor-

err Victor pondered.

way you're thinking. Victor! Stop thinking about money! "Yes," she said pointing a finger, "but not in the

—

Money and The wise are money, ings

if

the wise use of rich,

and more

that's their desire.

— including money—

it

—comes with understanding.

just naturally

The

foolish are poor,

Do you

and

bless-

naturally elude them. Don't pursue

money, Victor. Seek understanding naturally follow.

comes, including

see

why

first,

the world

then is

things just

all

foolish?"

Victor nodded.

Colleen came out onto the porch, the screen door ping closed behind her. "Here's that special order: pitcher of

my

mint iced

secret-recipe

of one large pitcher, two glasses of

and napkins down on Victor and Minnie. Just

a

tea."

ice, a

She

railing,

later.

looked

and began yapping and chattering up a

with her hand. "Git! Git! You old jabber mouth,

you

full

round wicker side table between

storm. Minnie feigned surprise and then shooed

to

A

set a fresh tray

small plate of cookies,

then a blue jay landed on the porch

directly at Minnie,

slap-

Can't you see

I

him away

git! I'll talk

have company today? Git!" She

A

Rich Man's Secret

III

looked at Victor with a hopeless expression. Victor began laughing. Colleen giggled and

They were alone

again.

went back

was warm and

It

A

white, puffy clouds dangled in the sky.

only the leaves of the

trees;

into the house.

it

outside. Big,

still

moved

slight breeze

wasn't quite strong enough to

cool things down. Victor and Minnie sat and sipped Colleen's

immense

sweet, delicious iced tea, taking in the gazes

met and they conducted

Do you Yes,

sincerely wish to

Minnie, please

She began

as

"All right, then.

if

tell

Secret?

me.

that conversation

The

mental conversation:

a silent,

know The

Their

quiet.

Secret

is

this:

had been spoken aloud.

There

is

something enor-

mously wrong with how we think; how you think, how think,

how

understand

everyone thinks. it

to

do about

it.

about.

what

It's

I

can't explain

any great degree. But

This all

is

I

can

what Clement Watt's

of the wise

men who

and

it,

don't

I

you what to

tell

life's

I

work was

all

ever walked this earth

tried to teach others."

Victor never expected to hear anything like ly

not from a sweet

little

eighty-year-old

sensed that what she had just told true.

He

fixed

on the

at

him was

this, especial-

woman. But he true.

Absolutely

took a deep breath and was expressionless, his eyes floor.

He

took another deep breath and looked up

Minnie. She was watching him closely and knew

it

was

time to continue. "Victor, look at all those trees."

motion with her

thin, wrinkled

a

sweeping

arm and hand. "Do they

amongst themselves, resent each 'I

She made

other,

and say

fight

to themselves,

should be a pine tree instead of a magnolia'?" Victor smiled and

looking.

moved

his

head back and forth

slightly,

Ken Roberts

112

"Do they tomorrow

fret

about the heat today, or worry about what

yesterday? No. Well, carefree,

moan about what happened to them then, why aren't you and as happy,

will bring, or

and

I

successful as these trees?

more sophisticated than the

Because our brains are

tiny brains these trees have."

Victor enjoyed her one-sided question-and-answer logue. for she

He thought Minnie

mono-

should have been a school teacher,

would have been a good one.

Who knows? Perhaps she

had been.

Minnie leaned forward and downward, her eyes looking up to Victor now. She lowered her voice but increased intensity. "Victor Truman," she said

principals office

— "I'm about

—he

word: Learn. You must I'm about to

tell

you.

now

something

to divulge to you

that very, very few people ever learn.

And

its

a kid in the

felt like

that's the operative

seek to learn and understand what

There

is

nothing in

more impor-

this life

tant to seek than the understanding of this. Nothing. 'Seek ye

the

first

you'

is

kingdom of Heaven and

how

it's

all things

shall be

added unto

been so eloquently put."

Victor straightened himself.

"Those thoughts that rush through your mind,

my

mind,

Clement's mind, Plato's mind, everyone's mind, are not ours.

We us.

do not create them; they come from somewhere outside

Not knowing

be our

own

—

or even suspecting

—

this,

individual, self-made thoughts.

these thoughts." Victor didn't

know what

them to believe we are

we

We

take

to say, but before

he

could decide, she continued.

"What's wrong with believing that we create them

we all

carry these horrendous thoughts

times believing that

we

are it!"

—

this beast

is

that

—around

at

A Rich Man's Secret This was a could see

this.

lot for

She

Victor to take in

sat

back in her

113

all at

chair,

once and Minnie

took a sip of iced

tea,

and gave Victor that understanding, motherly look. He returned a weak smile.

"Now

look, Victor," she continued in a softer, calmer

voice. "There

and

what

it is

is

only one thing on this earth to understand,

not even resolving, but

just told you. Seeking,

I

simply seeking to understand this fact that we are not our

thoughts will answer any and every question you will ever pose. This living."

is

not philosophy, Victor;

rock-solid, practical

She pushed the back of one hand

of the other.

know what Study

it is

this,

It

I

open palm

smacking sound. "You don't

life?

This

is

what

to

do with

it.

you'll always get your right answer.

"Have you read "No,

a slight

do with your

to

and

made

into the

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?"

haven't read

it."

Victor hoped she wouldn't scold

him.

"Read

it,

Victor!" Minnie smiled.

"It's

what

a story of

we're speaking about! Clement spoke of that book very often.

He

dined privately with Robert Louis Stevenson on

several occasions

and

told

me

fascinating accounts of their

conversations."

Victor was feeling overwhelmed now. "So what do

about these thoughts you speak

of?

somewhat desperately. Minnie smiled compassionately.

I

I

do

have to think!" he said

"Yes, dear,

you do

—we

new way; you must How? It's the most differently simple, yet most profound, idea you have ever heard: You must begin to watch your thoughts." Minnie paused and

all

do. But you

begin to think

must begin

to think in a

than you do now.

Ken Roberts

114

smiled.

She looked

resting

one on the

"But

angelic, eyes shining, her

other, in her lap.

know what

I

two small hands,

I'm thinking," Victor responded, with

doubt.

do you know that you have the most worried look

"Victor,

on your

know

face now, that

it's

that your right leg

wrinkled

prune?

And

beating faster than a

is

do you

humming-

wings?"

bird's

moment. He looked down

Victor froze, his eyes fixed for a

and caught

his right leg

stopped his

leg,

"That

bouncing madly against the

Then

that type of hypnosis

lives.

is

to call being lost in thought.

how most

people live their entire

That hypnosis, and abiding by what the beast

head constantly Wars,

He

they both smiled at one another.

what Clement used

is

seat.

closed his eyes, relaxed his face, and looked

sheepishly at Minnie.

And

like a

tells us,

fights, lawsuits,

and anxiety are a

is

how

this

in our

poor world operates.

neighbor-against-neighbor, crime,

fear,

result of listening to those beastly thoughts

and believing we are them. "Shakespeare said 'Sleep no more!' This

is

what he meant

by that. This hypnosis that we're under keeps us forever run-

ning in

circles, like

"But

all this

this secret,

the donkey chasing a carrot."

great literature you

how come none

of

its

mentioned that addresses millions and millions of

readers gets the message?" Victor's eyes narrowed, awaiting her

response.

"That

is

a perfect demonstration of

entire thought process

is,

have you read any of the "Yes,

Victor.

literature

some of it."

"And what

did you think?"

It's I

how

insidious this

so well-veiled. Tell me,

spoke of?"

A Rich Man's Secret thought

"I

time that

I

"And

it

115

was cumbersome reading, so much before

missed most of

its

my

original meaning."

did your professors help?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Well, they taught us that these people in the story had

we have

the same fears, desires, and problems that

modern

today, in

times."

"So what did you

infer

from the observation?"

"That nothing's changed."

"And are,

much normal

that you're just pretty

and that

life's

the

way you

a struggle," she finished his sentence.

"Right," Victor nodded.

"We

take

it

as history, as

entertainment.

We

don't see

the obvious. Clement mentioned The Purloined Letter to

once, by Edgar Allan Poe, enjoyed meeting.

I

read

it,

whom

me

he said he would have

and he and

I

discussed

it

in the

garden one day.

'"We don't story.

see the obvious,'

Our thoughts

at

them!

the same question you just

"We

said,

are as close as our

never take a close look

him

he

I

is

the lesson in that

own

imagine

1

breath, but

had

we

likely asked

asked of me."

don't see the obvious," Victor repeated, half to

himself.

"Another of

and authors was Walt

his favorite people

Whitman. He and Clement apparently spent much time together. remember being the center of attention among my I

little

classmates at school, reveling in telling stories about

Whitman had had. My teacher, remember, once accused me of fabricating fanciful tales. was so upset by this, and ran the whole way home that day to tell Clement how abominably had been treated, and how humiliated was." Minnie made a sorrowful face to conversations that Clement and Mr. I

I

I

I

Ken Roberts

116

how

demonstrate

many

she looked that day

years ago,

and

then smiled. Victor chuckled. "I

came running

into the backyard here,"

Minnie pointed

her thumb behind her, "and found Clement where he usually

was

—working

ing

one of

and he

I

his

hands and knees, enjoy-

blurted out

up on one knee.

raised

and looked me

ders

on

in the garden,

his big cigars.

He

my

put his

straight in the eyes

woe to him hands on my shoultale of

with that wonderful,

knowing expression of his. '"Minnie, he said softly and calmly, 'now what told you to '

get so upset

and

"'Just a

flustered like this?'

thought in

head, knowing

I

my

head,'

I

replied,

hanging my

had forgotten again." Minnie took a deep

breath and exhaled. "Oh, that dear, kind

man was

so

patient with me.

'"And what did that thought

tell

you exactly?' he con-

tinued. '"It

girls

told

—and

like you,

me

that

that I

and that

I

was ugly

—

didn't deserve to I

wanted them

uglier

than

all

the other

have an important friend

to like me.'"

Victor had a sad look on his face, listening to Minnie recall this

memory.

"Victor,

wake up!" she snapped, clapping her hands.

Victor was startled. "Don't you go getting lost in thought over this.

on

Stay awake now!

this porch.

Know

that you're sitting here with

Sense where your feet

are tight or relaxed.

If

are.

Know

if

me

your hands

you don't know these things, you're

hypnotized, asleep, and those thoughts took you over again."

With

lips,

Minnie barked

manner she could

muster. Victor

a smile barely breaking past her

these orders in the sternest

pictured her as a military

drill instructor

and smiled. "Come

A Rich Man's Secret on,

come awake,"

had

117

she motioned with her hand to do what she

said.

Separating himself mentally, as

he saw that

self,

Then he

eyes.

his face

if

thinking outside of him-

was tight and wrinkled around his

sensed his rigid jaw and relaxed

it.

His hands

were clenched, and he opened them. His toes were tightly

them loose. Then he noticed his shoulders were bunched up, and he let them relax. Then he looked at he

curled;

let

Minnie. "That'a boy," she smiled, reassuringly.

where you

are, you're lost in

lifted

as

to

if

if

you're asleep like

her chin and gave one nod of her head downward

add an exclamation point to the end of that statement.

She smiled and sleep

And

you don't know

thoughts have a fine ole time running you ragged."

that, those

She

thought.

"If

"Now where

said,

was

I

before you

went

to

on me?"

Victor couldn't remember, and just as he began to feel

ashamed, he caught

it:

Once

again he removed himself from

himself and quickly did a rundown on his condition jaw, hands, feet, shoulders.

He

in short breaths.

relax as

He

also noticed

—

face,

he was breathing

took in a deep breath and

body

let his

he exhaled.

Minnie noticed "That's right!"

rosebush

all this

She winked

among

all

with great approval on her face. at Victor.

"Clement pointed

to a

the others there in the corner of the back-

yard..." Victor's

he listened

mind

started to

to last evening.

mind and came back

again.

wander

off to the radio talk

show

But then he caught his wandering

He

didn't think

Minnie noticed.

Ken Roberts

118

"...and said, 'Minnie,

what

if all

these other rosebushes

suddenly didn't like this one rosebush here?

any

Would

make

that

difference at all to this rosebush?'

"'No,"

I

answered.

'"And would than

it is

this

one rosebush be any

less

spectacular

now?'

"'No,'

said again.

I

'"Then what

make

the only thing that could

is

this little

rosebush here feel sad and hurt?' he asked me.

'"Only

if

the

little

rosebush had thoughts about the other

rosebushes.'

"That's absolutely right.

And what

if

this little

even did have those hurtful thoughts, what could '"It

could

know

that they were there, but

do?'

wouldn't have

Clement smiled and gave my shoulders a

to listen to them!' little

it

it

rosebush

squeeze with both hands.

"That's right, Minnie!' he said."

Victor was amazed

how Minnie

could remember those

conversations so precisely. "Victor,"

Minnie continued, "you always remember

what you've learned here today: There's nothing only something to life,

see. Just

and everything

and given

to you.

this,

to do, there's

be the unbiased observer in your

you'll ever

need to know

Clement used

to say this to

off a barrage of questions, 'Well,

will

be revealed

me when

what about

this

I'd fire

and what

about that...'" she tapped her fingers and thumb together rapidly, imitating a bird's beak.

have sounded that's

Then

like that old blue jay.

what my mind sounds

Victor nodded, realizing

she chuckled.

Come

"I

to think

must

on

it,

like!"

how

insightful her little joke was.

A Rich Man's Secret "But the important thing

doing

Not

this, Victor.

try to suppress

anyway. You

and watch.

just

to

know

that our minds are

that you're to fight those thoughts, or

them, or even

And

is

119

remember

try to

drown them out

—we

can't

watch them. Watch and watch

to

what happens!" There was that

then, watch

special smile again.

Colleen poked her head through the doorway again.

"Mama,

it's

time for your nap now."

"Oh, I'm too wound up "but Colleen's right,

"Minnie,

how

I

will

deeply and looked at the

"By

stayin'

to rest,"

should go I

lie

Minnie

raised her arms,

down."

ever thank you?" Victor breathed

frail,

sweet old woman.

awake and makin' the best use of your

she said with forced sternness. Clement used to

Minnie,

isn't a foot race,

it's

just a great big

tell

me

life!"

'Life

classroom to

learn in.'" "It just

seems so overwhelming. Almost impossible."

"Colleen?" Minnie looked to her still

left to

see

if

Colleen was

standing in the doorway. She was. "Bring that family

Bible out here to our friend."

that said "Wait until you see

She turned

to Victor

this."

Colleen returned to the porch carrying the Bible and carefully placed

it

with a look

on

Victor's lap.

It

large, thick

was heavy. The

cover was gold-stamped, and had beautiful gold-edged pages. It

looked very old and had been read often. Victor looked up at Minnie with a smile.

"Open

it,"

she ordered expectantly, waving a hand.

Victor placed his right hand along the edge of the smooth gold pages and at that place

felt

and

a separation.

let

He

carefully

opened the Bible

the top half open out fully and rest

on

his

A Rich Man's Secret left

He

thigh.

coursed over

"This

is

looked

him from

—

I

down on

121

the open Bible and a chill

his scalp to his toes.

don't believe

it

—

this

is

impossible*."

mouth

His

was open and his eyes were wide. "Yep, so impossible that you're looking right at

Minnie

it,"

said matter-of-factly.

There

in front of

him

—

fragile, flat,

and wrinkled

—was

a

sky-blue rose carefully dried between the pages of the Bible.

"This

is

impossible!" he repeated,

open.

"I

expert

— say that

don't believe this!

can't be done!"

I

just

is

an

tells

you.

—an

had

different

it

stared at the blue rose.

'It's

again. "That's

what

impossible,' they say. All the experts,

Victor, believe those harmful thoughts in their heads. But

know

still

impossibility, that

Minnie chuckled, her eyes twinkling the world

eyes

heard an expert on roses

a sky-blue rose

He

mouth and

now; you know

better.

Now

to say to those so-called experts."

see

you

what Clement

She motioned

to the

Bible again.

Victor looked down,

still

amazed, and saw a piece of

lowed stationery resting on the pages to the blue rose.

At

left,

yel-

opposite the

the top center of the sheet, two letters in old-

fashioned type were printed: C. W. There was handwriting in old black fountain-pen ink. Victor looked up at Minnie, eye-

brows

raised.

She

"He wrote

smiled.

this?" Victor

looked back

down

and read aloud:

Things are not what they seem. Always seek "The Impossible," which never more than a step away.

is

at the

paper

Ken Roberts

122

The

chill surged

"Nothing

remember

Never

dear Victor, as long as you

to leave those thoughts

flinch; just watch."

don't

know how

head,

I

Clement,

'I

just

my

smiled at

me and

its

own, almost magically.'"

down

at the blue rose

and the handwriting

A peaceful feeling came over him.

again.

"Does anyone know about

my

"Just

And now

family.

"Oh,

I

know

wanted

Minnie?"

this blue rose,

you, of course," she added.

"You never told anyone about

it?"

to tell everyone, to tell the world, in fact,

better now."

"But the world's been trying to create a blue rose ever.

by.

She remembered something and

said in exasperation to

I

know how!' and Clement

Victor looked

I

watch them go

just

how, Minnie. Always, remember now and the

is

how comes of

but

and

to not listen to those awful thoughts in

just don't

'Now

my

impossible,

is

continued. "Once

said,

through Victor's body.

I

just

heard that expert on the radio

last

for... for-

night say the

Japanese and Australians are conducting expensive experi-

ments

—

splitting genes

these." Victor looked "I

know,

I

—trying desperately

down and

to create

one of

studied the blue rose again.

know, Victor." She held her hand up, her palm

facing him. "This

is

quite a gardening community,

and we

would have become immensely famous having a blue rose growing in our garden. The American Rose Society would have named

it

after

Clement.

It

would have made the cover

of The Saturday Evening Post magazine even."

"Well, what happened?" Victor couldn't wait to hear the rest of the story.

And he had

"This was one of the

so

last

many more times

questions.

Clement was here

two or three months before he passed on.

I

—

just

was married by

A Rich Man's Secret then, and

we

all

lived together in this very house.

had a corner of the backyard that was garden. Papa had built

"When he was make over

him

his

own

just his, for his small

potting and tool shed.

to the courthouse

called

town, and

He

loved those flowers.

me

over. Like

knew what

I

I

I

said, this

was seeing.

is

just like

quite a gardening

centifolias

a rather tall plant.

roses

Neyron were

variety

as usual, a

that plant

Victor started to interrupt. Minnie

They

all

petals.

But

And

like

me, was the one blue one.

This

Cabbage

called the Paul

deep pink, with row upon row of

said those exact words:

I

on

introduced way back in 1869.

first

there, right in front of

you, Victor,

called

rose

to

it

my

that pretty true-blue

it

rose, just

and

line

couldn't believe

I

you — but there was: — one of many —what we Every other —on was what was supposed be — what was eyes

would

and bank and such, Clement was

was across the yard putting clothes on the

Clement

Clement

here, other than the brief walks he

usually in his garden. "I

123

impossible!"'

is

knew

his question

and

kept talking.

looked at

"I

it

and touched

wasn't playing a trick

Was

pened:

just

laughed at

asked, 'Minnie, you

can't

we

nature?

'I

just

know:

a day

Why would

came out

—

want

Now

to is

all

asked

I

it,

was

my

it

if

Clement

him how

it

hap-

hybridized?

carryin' on.

know howV And

I

Then he

finished his

how.' That's right,' he said,

'Why

stand here and enjoy this beautiful expression of

special little secret? "I

carefully to see

on me. Then

a cutting, did he bud

it

"Clement lesson with

it

we want It

to let the foolish world in

on our

surely wouldn't be special after that.'

in the yard every day

—sometimes

several times

to admire that beautiful, one-of-a-kind rose.

When

it

Ken Roberts

124

reached press

it

its full

bloom,

begged Clement to

I

in that family Bible.

He

let

"I'm sure glad he did," Victor whispered,

how

it

me

pluck

it

and

reluctantly agreed."

wondering

still

could have happened. Minnie saw the wheels turning

in his head.

"Victor, you're

mind rose

trying to figure

still

scrambling to explain

is

it,

it

out, aren't you?

Your

thinking perhaps the blue

was a mutation or some such thing." Victor smiled sheepishly.

"Well,

Clement!

let I

me

came up with

meant, and

this

it,

it

at

it,

and

this theory

what he

is

and over, you look

did the very same thing. Poor

I

me, 'Minnie, don't

said to

time,

you:

tell

that,

think, realize.' said: 'If

I

and

finally

he

asked what he

you misspell a word over

you wonder

if

you got

it

right this

bothers you. But then you go to the dictionary, look at

know

that

it's

spelled right,

and from then on whenever

you write that word, you don't have to

think

about

it,

you

just

realize it.'"

Victor paused and looked at her before he spoke. "Minnie, did that rosebush

"My Clement

bloom again

after

Clement passed away?"

family talked and wondered about that often after left us.

And

the very next season there were seven

beautiful true-blue roses

on

that plant amongst the deep-pink

ones." Victor's eyes burst open.

How could you keep

it

"What

did you do with them?

a secret?"

Minnie smiled and paused. "It wasn't easy. More than anyone, I knew what Clement had taught me, and I knew what the right thing to do was. I do believe Clement could have planned cult to leave

way just to teach me. It was very diffithose roses on the bush and let them come and it all

that

A Rich Man's Secret go naturally.

was very

It

watching those them.

And

this too;

selfish,

worked

I

difficult.

I

had

to

work extra hard

impish, greedy thoughts and not act

just as

my

hard at helping

at

on

family with

you can imagine. But when we watched that

last

and fall away, we knew we had done the right thing. No amount of worldly gain we could have possibly received from those roses would have come even close to the value we all received in wisdom petal of the last of the seven blue roses die all

from them." Victor wished he fully understood what Minnie was saying.

"Clement was a and he gave

his

truly rare

whole

life

and remarkable man, Victor,

to let others

know

they can be the

same."

"Did

it

ever bloom again?"

"No, never again

—not blue or pink."

"Mama, time for that nap." Colleen must have left after she handed Victor the Bible, but she was back again, and Victor realized this was

it.

"Minnie," he sounded solemn,

"How can

ever thank

I

you?"

"How? Now

is

how," she smiled, sitting forward in her

rocking chair. She looked small and

fragile, like

Victor carefully closed the Bible and asked,

"May

I

the rose.

return this

for you?"

"Oh, nonsense. Colleen and

I

will take care of that."

She

waved her hand. "I

wonder

if

I

should keep pursuing Clement's clues

must have meant that headstone

—he

to lead to something."

Victor was puzzled. "I'm sure he did. into me, so

I

He

certainly didn't figure

can't be his secret."

They laughed

on you running together.

Ken Roberts

126

"But you all

are,

Minnie; you're a gold mine and a diamond

rolled into one!"

"Oh, go on," Minnie waved him away. "What does your heart

her

—not your head—

own

you to do?" she asked, touching

tell

heart with her fingertips.

me to keep looking," Victor said, sitting up He remembered to separate himself from his He did a quick once-over of his face, jaw, hands,

"It tells

straight. thoughts.

feet, shoulders,

and breathing. Minnie noticed and smiled.

"Then

off

Victor

knew now that this really was good-bye. may kiss you on the cheek?" Victor

you

go,

"Minnie,

young man," she

said in a

motherly way.

I

surprised

himself by asking this and hoped she wouldn't be offended.

okay by me, but what

"It's

about

it?"

your sassy

little

wife say

Minnie snapped back.

won't

"I

will

tell her,

so she'll never know." Victor stood

and

stepped over to Minnie. She looked so sweet sitting there, like

He bowed down and

a precious little bird.

cheek.

It

made

a

kissed her right

smack.

little

"My, my!" Minnie smiled, touching her cheek.

wash

it

for a

Colleen was smiling

mother

won't

as she

stepped over and helped her

up.

"May

I

help?" Victor

"Oh, no! No! You

That was an

"How

did you

moved

git!

interesting

as

if

be; didn't she choose to

to take

Minnie by the arm.

You have things

way

know my

She responded wink.

"I

week!" she giggled.

to put

wife

is

to

go learn now."

it.

sassy?" Victor asked.

that were a

silly

question: "She has to

marry a seeker?" Minnie gave Victor a

A Rich Man's Secret

127

Victor smiled, thanked them both, picked up his white

paper bag, and descended the

many porch

walked down the wide pathway there,

he turned around

pear into the house.

The

to

steps.

to the sidewalk.

He

slowly

Stopping

watch Minnie and Colleen disap-

screen door slapped shut and Victor

was alone again. Take

the first step,

Absolutely true!

he thought, and

He had

the next will be revealed.

stepped right into a miracle.

m

hungry, Victor thought.

It

like

more houses from here on down

the

Park Hotel,

mind

He

Now

made.

the block.

it

racing.

the thoughts really raced.

How different

Think Yllgo back the orphanage.

told

It

deliberately slowed his pace

noon. Looks

close to

and ask around about

and he caught

raced,

But why?

eat,

must be

and

He

to hurry up.

felt

each step he

laughed out loud.

this was.

hotel, Victor could see that the

than

when he had

were more of a

town

in the

His

him

As he approached Third Avenue, one block from life

to

than

town had come more

to

The people he saw They were all across

morning.

left it this

local class

Main

little

the

tourists.

Street section where he had

first

entered.

Victor realized he didn't think of himself as a tourist any longer.

He was

Victor

felt

a "local" now. Thinking of that

the

new

made him

smile.

spring in his step as he crossed the

boardwalk under Parker's General Merchandise's looming front porch. His footsteps echoed under here. If those goofy -looking sports shoes

have

this

all the tourists

I

were wearing

wear,

against this boardwalk. Victor caught that thought.

how

1

wouldn't

simple pleasure of hearing leather soles and heels clopping

critical

he was and grimaced.

129

He

realized

Ken Roberts

130

"Never

He

flinch, Victor!"

could hear Minnie's voice

again. Never flinch, he considered, just watch. Be an unbiased observer.

Here's the hotel.

1

wonder

if

Walton s

still

here? Yes, Yll bet he

Victor entered the Park Hotel lobby.

grand

And

in full daylight.

still

just as

Several people were passing through.

Walton on the phone, being

there was

self. It felt

was

It

is.

good to see a familiar

face.

The

impeccable

his

big clock

showed

it

was 12:15. 1

wonder

thought

He walked ties

stood.

if

there's a

he turned to

as

to the

As

podium where

a "local,"

front window.

crowd

in the dining

room? Victor

exit the lobby through the archway.

a

young hostess

he requested

twen-

in her

"his" table-for-two in the

She turned, peeked around the heavy velvet up a menu and

curtains, turned back, smiled, picked

said,

"Right this way, please."

There were more people than he'd seen on ous

the hotel dining room. Twenty,

visits to

were having lunch here today. Being mostly

The

they were talking business.

than ago,

it it

was

this

morning

dawned on him

had happened here Waiting

at

maybe

locals,

thirty,

he guessed

noise level was also higher

at breakfast

—and

two previ-

his

—only about

dinner

last night.

four hours

So much

in such a few short hours.

for his food to be prepared, Victor read his

of the article again.

And

again. "Don't think,

remembered Clement Watt's Clement Watt

left

copy

realize ."

He

instructions to Minnie. All right,

a permanent clue

—August

4,

1899

—on

his

headstone. That led to the only record he

knew

that

what happened

And

that revealed this

article.

that day: the newspaper.

would report

Victor looked the copy over again. But what

Jessup hadn't purchased that microfiche machine?

if

Mr.

Seemed

A Rich Man's Secret like a

weak

link

if

Mr. Watt wanted to leave a permanent

chain attached to his

Okay, so

131

secret.

must be

the next step

and

in this article,

that

seems

obvious, really.

"Excuse me," Victor said to a passing waitress.

The sound

and

waitress turned

"Do you know where age

—

is

this "Is

the Children's

Home

—the orphan-

from here?" She paused momentarily, her eyes rolling

up to the fifth

That made him

said, "Yes, sir."

old.

ceiling. Victor

grade

when

—

remembered

Woods

old Mr.

a teacher of his in the

—catching him looking up

like

asked a question in front of the class and saying,

the answer written

on the

ceiling, Victor?"

The whole

class laughed.

"Yes," the waitress continued, "go out the hotel, turn left

to the corner, turn left

blocks to

Watt

You'll see

it

It's

on Second Avenue, go down

Street, turn left again

standing

all

by

itself. It

and go another block.

takes in the

a very large, two-story, white building

all

Victor repeated

it

to

to her

He

and traced an

thought

anyone watching from another

and nodded that he understood her

"Got only she

it.

Thanks," he

knew about

the

said.

this

itself."

She

all.

invisible route in

must look very strange

table.

The

waitress smiled

directions.

"Watt

man whom

whole block.

by

smiled, realizing that was a lot to memorize after

the air in front of him.

three

Street,"

that street

he whispered.

was named for.

If

Ken Roberts

132

The

chimed once as Victor walked through the Walton was on the phone again, as another cou-

big clock

hotel lobby.

ple stood in front of his desk.

He

looked busy.

Victor pushed the big heavy door open and was out

Park Street again.

He

the corner. Children's

He

turned

turned

Home.

1

Three blocks

left

left

and began

wonder what

to

Watt

and walked the few

I'll

his journey over to the

find.

Street, a left turn,

block more. Victor noticed

how

watch

he was

his thoughts. Usually

on

steps to

little

and

just

one

he remembered to

lost in

them, thinking

about the past, or whisked away by the future. Several times during his

visit

with Minnie, he thought

ing was rather simple ever,

this

thought-watch-

and obvious. More and more now, how-

he was seeing that

it

wasn't.

This was a lovely old residential

street; so quiet

Majestic white sycamores lined the street

on both

and shady. sides, their

boughs meeting high overhead. Low, cotton-ball clouds peeked through an occasional opening was

its

own

in the leafy

dome.

It

peaceful environment under here.

Victor spotted what must be the roof of his destination well before he exited the dark-green tunnel.

It

was an inviting

red gabled roof, the shade of a red rubber ball, fresh and clean looking, not like

the

many

homes he was

He

of the dark, moist, weathered ones

on

passing.

parried a slinging tree branch and high-stepped over

the same

tree's

root rising from the middle of the sidewalk and

emerged from behind what must have been a ten-foot-high wall of dense shrubbery.

There atop a gently sloping mound of neatly cut lawn, probably a hundred yards back off the sidewalk, rested the Children's

Home.

A

white storybook picket fence ran along

A Rich Man's

Secret

133

the sidewalk and disappeared at the bottom of the Home's rolling property.

"There

it

is,"

Victor said under his breath, a broad smile

forming.

The 6,500

square foot house was enormous,

than Victor envisioned.

made

special.

it

much

was a simple house, but

It

larger

its size

A white, wood-frame house, with lots of plain

windows. Four red-brick chimneys rose high above the

roof,

one on each outside wall of the home. It

appeared

much

taller

than two

stories; its floor

was high

above the ground to accommodate a complete basement with high windows that could be seen sides of the house.

and

The

at

ground level

all

along the

front porch was necessarily very high,

also extremely deep.

A

simple, neat, low shrub ran the

perimeter of the house.

Only a few large trees stood in front, none close to the home. A few more were in back. Two stout ropes tied to a graceful aging limb of one of the trees dropped

down some

twenty feet and held a weathered old two-by-eight

two

feet

above the ground.

It

Victor wanted to go swing on

The

swayed

less

than

slightly in the breeze.

it.

narrow, crowned gate in the simple white picketed

fence was covered by a pergola, nearly invisible beneath the

cascading ivy

it

supported. Victor cautiously opened the stur-

dy gate and grimaced when

it

creaked as he slowly and care-

What am I doing, trying not to wake anyone? A cobblestone walkway meandered up to the front steps. Victor watched his steps and noticed how the grass fully closed

and latched

it.

grew between the smooth,

slightly

rounded stones.

He

con-

sidered that this was the very same house and property described in the article from 1899 that was in his pocket. The

Ken Roberts ceremony must have taken place

on

this

right there in front

huge old porch. Mr. Watt

of

may have walked

me now these

—

same

cobblestones.

wooden

Victor climbed the three flights of wide

and took four long door.

was

It

boards.

strides across the

difficult to step softly

stairs

deep porch to the front

on the

enameled

bare,

Reaching up and taking hold of the gleaming

brass

door knocker, Victor inhaled deeply, rapped twice, and waited.

He

caught himself rocking sideways from one foot to the

other and stopped.

Then he

noticed his clenched hands and

relaxed them.

"Watch, watch, watch." his head.

He

could hear Minnie's voice in

She must be napping now.

A smiling middle-aged woman opened the door. "Hello," she said, pleasantly.

Smiling back, Victor began his well-practiced speech. "Hello.

My

name's Victor Truman, and

I've

come

to speak

with the director of the Children's Home."

"That would be Mr. McCully. asked, as

if

she already

Is

he expecting you?" she

knew he had no appointments

sched-

uled at this particular time.

"No, no

he's

not expecting me," answered Victor.

a very brief question concerning the founder of this

"I

have

home, Mr.

Clement Watt." "Oh,

name

yes,

Mr. Watt," she

said, as

if

come

in.

in a long time. "Please,

she hadn't heard that I'll

tell

Mr. McCully

you're here."

Victor thanked her and stepped into a large entry hall. "I'll

just

be a moment," she said and turned to leave the

room through

a

doorway on the opposite

side of the room.

A Rich Man's Secret was good that she didn't invite him to maybe Mr. McCully would see him immediately. At the end of the entry room was a fireplace with com-

Victor considered sit

—

it

that

fortable-looking chairs, end tables, and reading lamps.

looked very homey. brick fireplace.

had similar

Two

portraits

hung on

Although they were of

It

either side of the

different

men, they

all

qualities about them: serious, but concerned.

Victor concluded that they were kindly men. These must be the

Children's Home's Directors since 1899.

McCully

's

picture

is

up

I

wonder

if

Mr.

there!

Turning to the wall directly opposite him, Victor breathed in deeply,

and

between two small was a very

electric wall

He

wall

lamps with tiny fabric shades

large oil painting in a

was Clement!

on the

his eyes widened. There, centered

heavy ornate wood frame.

It

looked older than he did in Minnie's picture

of him, but there was no doubt, that was Clement. Victor

stepped closer to study the painting.

block etched

letters

A

small brass plate with

attached to the bottom of the frame con-

Clement Watt, Founder. 18524933. Since he was eighty -one when he died, Victor calculated, he was in his sixties when Minnie began to know him. Victor heard the woman's footsteps. She returned through the doorway and said with a smile, "Mr. McCully will be

firmed

happy

it:

to see

you now."

Great. Victor tried not to

seem too

excited.

"Thank you

very much," he smiled back, half bowing. "Please follow me."

He

took one

last

glance at Clement and

felt

a chill run

through him, and followed her through the doorway.

They walked down

a quiet

hallway and the

stopped and turned at a door at the end.

woman

Ken Roberts

136

"Here's Mr. McCully's office," she said.

"Thank you again," Victor said, slowly entering the doorway. As he stepped through, there on his left was Mr. McCully, walking around a rather small desk, right hand extended, a pleasant smile on his face. Victor stepped toward

him and they shook hands. "John McCully," he said with an energetic handshake and confident smile.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. McCully. I'm Victor Truman."

have a seat." Mr. McCully gestured to one of the wooden chairs angled in front of his desk. "Thank you, sir." Victor sat and wondered if this chair was "Please,

two simple

dreaded by

all

the children

who

lived here. Victor felt like a

student, in a way.

"Mrs. Dowell

tells

me

you're inquiring about our founder,

Mr. Watt." Mr. McCully sat back and clasped his hands across his

wide stomach.

He

appeared to be looking forward to

this

conversation.

"Mr. McCully," Victor shifted in the hard

"I'm looking for information, but Victor suddenly aloud.

He

felt

a

felt his face

I

don't

wooden

know what

chair, it

is."

when he heard these words and head get warm and wondered if Mr.

little

foolish

McCully could see his embarrassment. Watch, watch, He remembered Minnie's directions again and relaxed

watch. as best

he could. "I

"but

I

never knew Mr. Watt, of course," Mr. McCully began, understand he was quite a

man

—very unassuming, very

powerful, and extremely wise. I'm the fourth director to oversee the Children's

Home, and

to strict guidelines set

it's

down, I'm

run and operated according

told,

by Mr. Watt himself."

A Rich Man's Secret Victor was surprised saying so

much so

—but

quickly. But

grateful

now

it

—

137

that Mr.

McCully was

was his turn to speak.

"Mr. McCully," Victor paused momentarily. Yes, he'd just better level with Mr. McCully; he

had nowhere

else to turn: "I

discovered Mr. Watt's headstone in the old cemetery out by

Grand Hotel." He studied Mr. McCully's expression carefully. There was no reaction. "A date August 4, 1899 is the

—

hidden in

it."

He

—

kept watching for a reaction.

Still

none.

"Since that's not his date of birth nor the date of his death,

assumed

it's

somehow." No change

significant

McCully's demeanor. "So

I

dug up," an

I

in Mr.

interesting choice of

words, Victor thought, "this newspaper article from that date."

Victor produced the copy from the worn white bag that had

become

his briefcase.

Mr. McCully looked interested

now and

carefully took the

copy Victor held out. Watch, watch, watch, Victor remembered as he sat and waited for Mr. McCully to read the

He

article.

smiled twice as he read every word. Victor's mind was rac-

ing,

but he caught

and watched.

it

Then he

shoulders to relax them. tight,

and he relaxed

me, he thought, and

it.

1

There's so

don't even

He

raised

and lowered

noticed his forehead;

much know

it

his

was

going on in and around it

most of

the time.

He

thought of Minnie. Mr. McCully handed the copy back to Victor. silent for a

something

moment

as

— something

if

He was

in thought. Victor anticipated

big.

But he remembered himself

again and relaxed.

Mr. McCully was

up

at the ceiling,

still

leaning back in his chair, looking

with a slight smile on his

lips.

Then

his

chair creaked and groaned and he sort of free-fell forward into

an upright,

sitting position.

His hands were

now

clasped

on

Ken Roberts

138

He

the desktop.

acted as

if

he wanted

to speak, but

speaking. Victor leaned forward, his eyes say, "Yes, yes!

Finally

What

is

he wasn't

open wide,

as

if

to

it?"

he spoke.

"Mr. Truman, please

come with me."

Mr. McCully stood, but didn't look at Victor. a kind of blank look, as

Victor following.

if

in thought.

He

They ended up back out

He

had

still

left his office,

with

in the entry hall at

the wall opposite the fireplace and four pictures. Without a

word, Mr. McCully turned to Victor and gestured with his

hand

two small frames hanging on the

to

Victor smiled and looked at Mr. McCully

on the two

zeroed in

frames.

One was

illustration. It

story house, with four chimneys,

"That's

this

and a very

McCully looked

this

one

is

it

could have

large porch.

like

he was

a copy of the article

Victor pointed to the second frame and to read

"Is

like

was of a large two-

still

trying

something out.

"And away

and then

house!" Victor realized.

"Yes, in 1899." Mr.

to figure

briefly,

possibly a photo, but

one of those old-fashioned types that looked been an extremely detailed

left

wall.

from

I

moved

showed you!" in just inches

it.

Mr. Wheeler's picture one of those?" Victor turned and

pointed back to the fireplace. "Yes. He's at the top left side.

successors,

"But

seemed

and

I

The

other three were his

follow them.

that's all

I

know." Mr. McCully's voice

to be trying hard to recall

trailed off.

He

something that would solve

Victor's puzzle.

Victor read enough of the original article to be sure didn't contain

some

fact that his

copy

didn't.

Then he

it

turned

A Rich Man's Secret to Mr.

McCully with an expression

He looked back at how to help you."

139

that asked,

Victor with a look that said,

"What now?" "I don't know

Victor turned to the portrait of Clement Watt on the adjoining wall

"I

wonder

if

he

left a

secret here,"

he

said,

speaking more to the picture than to Mr. McCully.

"From what

I know about him, I'd say you're onto McCully sounded very supportive; Victor

little

something.'" Mr.

appreciated that. "Well, thank you very

much

for your time

and help, Mr.

McCully." Victor shook his hand, thanked him, and walked to the front door.

"What "I

will

think

you do now?" Mr. McCully asked.

I'll

go to the

trustee of..." All of a

sudden

McCully must know who

who

First it

National Bank and see the

dawned on Victor

that Mr.

that would be since that's probably

signs his paycheck.

Mr. McCully caught the same thought and continued

where Victor Farmer. He's

left off.

now

"...That will be Mr. Farmer, Mr.

Tom

the bank president and handles the endow-

ment personally. Tell him said hello." "Where is the bank?" Victor asked. "It's right on Park Street, across from the courthouse." With renewed enthusiasm, Victor smiled and shook Mr. McCully's hand again. "Mr. Tom Farmer. Great. That's where I'll go next. Thank I

you again, Mr. McCully."

"Not

at

all.

And

if

I

can help in any way, please,

just ask."

Mr. McCully stood in the doorway awhile as Victor walked across the broad porch, down the cobblestone pathway.

steps,

and along the

J

Ken Roberts

40

Just before reaching the front gate, Victor stopped

and

turned around to face the house again.

The

well!

Where

the well?

is

across the property but didn't see

happened

to the well?

It

He scanned back and forth the well. What could have

should be somewhere close to the

porch, as described in the article. He'd read

how

it

so

many

times,

could he forget the well? I'd

three,

better go see Mr. Farmer, just in case the

he reasoned.

come back and

If

bank

closes at

he doesn't know about the well,

I'll

ask Mr. McCully.

Victor briskly retraced his route over to the Children's

Home

and calculated that

it

must be about two- thirty.

hungry again, but there was no time

to eat

He was

now.

Watch, watch, watch. Minnie's words came to mind again.

It

was warm and humid. Victor kept up the pace, however,

and before too long found himself back on the corner of Park Street

and Second Avenue, where the Park Hotel stood,

down and way back

across the street from the courthouse.

just

Along the

had considered that he must have walked in front of the First National Bank on his way to the library, but he couldn't remember it. He turned left onto Park Street, walked along the block of shops and offices to First here, Victor

Avenue, and now stood

at First

and Park. There

it

was:

one

building in from the corner and right across from the grand

courthouse building.

A Rich Man's Secret The building.

were

tall

National Bank was a very

First Its

141

one-story, brick

tall,

windows and doors matched the

and narrow,

doors and entered. counter with two

too. Victor

opened one of the twin front

was quiet and cool

It

teller stations

building: they

stood to the right.

room was scattered with half same number of people were either

a dozen desks.

walking quietly about, looking very

efficient.

the

About halfway

sitting

A

inside.

small

The rest of About the

behind the desks or

back, in the middle of the floor, with four

leather chairs in front of

it,

sat the biggest

small rectangular nameplate was perched

all.

A

front edge.

It

desk of them

on

its

read T. Foster.

A man who looked too young to be the manager of a bank sat

behind

it

and was talking on the phone, head down,

ing furiously with his free hand. Victor wondered

he was

sitting at his desk, talking

furiously.

this

He

concluded that

bank; he was

he knew

if

on the phone, and writing

T. Foster

was

really

nowhere

in

thought, a million miles from here.

lost in

What Minnie had

writ-

explained to him seemed so simple,

almost too simple, this morning; but now, in just a few short hours, Victor was beginning to sense the weight of

had taught him. Everyone he

realized. They're all

on

in this

bank

is

what she

really asleep mentally,

autopilot!

Victor stepped close enough to T. Foster's desk to

know

he was waiting to see him, but stayed far

not be intrusive. As

if

let

him

enough back

to

by habit, Victor caught himself letting

his eyes wander, not really seeing anything at

all.

He was

asleep, too, along with the rest of these people!

He remembered

himself and realized that he was nervous

and self-conscious standing Watch, watch, watch.

He

in the

middle of the floor

like this.

relaxed his knees and shoulders, and

— Ken Roberts

142

growing warmer and warmer

felt his face

nervous and self-conscious he his lip

felt.

He

as

he saw how very

caught himself biting

and relaxed his jaw and facial muscles. Then he

noticed that his right foot was turned over on

its side.

This

watching and relaxing was hard work. Just

when he noticed

his

hands tightly clenching the

white bag they held in front of him, T. Foster spoke in Victor's direction.

"May

I

help you?"

Victor stepped up to the desk. "Yes, Mr. Foster, is

my name

Victor Truman. I'm here from Los Angeles to see Mr.

Farmer." Victor thought calling

much

couldn't be that

take, but the Los

Maybe even

him

even though he

Mister,

older than himself, was a good

Angeles part may have been a

move

bit too

to

much.

misleading. Victor began to immediately worry,

but he caught his face and forehead wrinkling with worry and relaxed them. "Yes, Mr.

Truman.

Is

Mr. Farmer expecting you?"

This could be trickier than

it

was with Mr. McCully.

Better use the one ace he held.

"No, no

he's not.

that should do

it.

ful in

an

me

Mr. Watt's Children's

must be one of the noticed just then

Mr. McCully sent

over here." There,

Home endowment

largest accounts in this bank. Victor

how he

flipped from worried to nearly boast-

instant.

"One moment, Mr. Truman. Won't you be "Thank you."

seated?"

him while T. probably mahogany

Victor took the chair directly in front of Foster walked to a heavy oversized

—

door to an office in the rear corner of the bank. There was a brass plate

on

it

but Victor couldn't read

it

from here.

T.

A Rich Man's Secret knocked twice

Foster

143

and then walked into the

softly

office,

closing the door behind him.

Moments

later

he returned and

said,

"Mr. Farmer will see

you now." Victor thanked

him and walked toward

Farmer was standing

he seemed pleasant and calm.

Just a

mind. Victor guessed he was in his

and Mr. Farmer invited Victor Mr. Farmer broke the "Yes,

sir.

the big door. Mr.

He wasn't smiling, but busy man with lots on his

as Victor entered.

to

They shook hands

sixties.

sit.

"So you know John McCully?"

ice.

Mr. McCully helped

me

with some research I'm

doing on Mr. Clement Watt, the founder of the Children's

Home." Victor then paused from Los Angeles, and

trip

He

continued:

discovered Mr. Watt's headstone

cemetery by the Grand Hotel."

in the old

"There's a date

And

I

since

it's

—August

4,

comment from "I'm here on a

for a reaction or

Mr. Farmer. There was none.

1899

—hidden

Still

no

in the decoration.

not his date of birth or date of death,

must be significant

in

reaction.

I

assume

it

some way."

Mr. Farmer leaned back in his leather swivel chair, finger-

touching and pressed against his

tips

But

least he

still,

this article." Victor

handed read

Good. At

no comment was forthcoming. searched the newspaper files, and on that very day was

looks interested. "I

lips.

it.

it

produced and unfolded the copy and

to Mr. Farmer.

He

acted as

if

He

paused and waited as Mr. Farmer

he had never seen

it,

or

if

he

did,

it

was

bringing back pleasant memories. Victor remembered to

watch himself. He saw that he was

still

nervous, but relieved,

that Mr. Farmer didn't feel that Victor was wasting his time.

Mr. Farmer finished the

"My

uncle was the very

first

article,

handed

trustee of the

it

back, smiling.

Watt endowment,"

Ken Roberts

144

he volunteered. Good, he was beginning

to

warm

up. Victor

waited for more, but there wasn't any.

"So

began researching the clues in

I

Mr. Watt considered August

this article to see

why

4, 1899, important enough to

hide in his headstone."

Mr. Farmer was thinking, and Victor waited.

He

noticed

his hand was clutching the arm of the chair and relaxed

He

also noticed a thought going by that told

just a big

waste of time

—

him

and everyone

his

was

it.

all

Then he thought. He

else's.

forehead tighten in reaction to that

felt his

this

relaxed again.

could be, Mr. Truman, that Mr. Watt was just so proud

"It

of the Children's office wall

up

Home

—

Mr. Farmer's eyes traveled the

"

to the ceiling.

He was

still

thinking. Victor

waited and watched.

"My

uncle was very fond of Clement Watt." Mr. Farmer

was speaking to the window sat

up

straighter

didn't speak of

all,

but

I

Victor weren't there. Victor

of course, their's being a fiduciary

always

Watt. That was unusual, for ple." Mr.

if

and anticipated some good information. "He

him much,

relationship and

as

Farmer smiled,

still

my

knew my uncle

respected Mr.

uncle respected very few peo-

looking out the window.

Victor smiled, too, and thought of Minnie. "I

knew Mr. Watt was

spoke of him, vast wealth

knew

a special

as little as that was,

man

by the way

and not

just

my

uncle

because of his

and position. Indeed, very few people actually

the extent of his holdings and enterprises." Victor was

all ears

and wondered

bounds of discretion.

if

Mr. Farmer had

He hoped

just

stepped over the

he'd keep going!

Mr. Farmer turned his chair around backwards and pulled a well-worn, leather-bound notebook about the size of a small-

A Rich Man's Secret town telephone

directory from a

145

row of books and

files

stand-

He

turned

ing along the top of the credenza behind his desk.

back and placed edges and looked

'This

it

on

his desk in front of him.

down

at

try,

I

have ever seen in

and

again, it

its

my

is

to

the clearest piece of writ-

dealings in the financial indus-

been considerable." Mr. Farmer was smiling

that's

down

looking

still

touched

down by Clement Watt

trust. It

all

He

fondly, almost reverently.

the directive laid

is

administer his children's ing

it

respectfully at the book.

contains the routine legal jargon, but

when

it

"Of course

comes

to the

home's day-to-day operation and the children's treatment, care,

and education, you know

Show

it

to

this

is

an inspired document."

me! Victor's thoughts were shouting.

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to divulge any of tion, but

I

will tell

Clement Watt

will

I'm afraid that's

Darn!

Now

"I will tell

all

you that whatever you can learn about Mr. be a treasure to you your entire I

can

tell

I

life.

Again,

you."

what!

you that

I

can

recall

no connection between

that article and that specific date and these instructions.

informa-

its

wish

I

endowment

could be of help."

"You have been, Mr. Farmer. Now, more than sure I'm onto something

ever, I'm

and should keep going." Victor stood

his shoulders. "But just don't know where." They shook hands again and Mr. Farmer spoke like

and shrugged

I

a

father to Victor. "Follow through, son, for you have every-

thing to gain."

"Now

what/" he muttered. Victor suddenly realized that

he was experiencing a feeling that was very familiar

He was

exuberant and ready, with nowhere to go!

to him:

Ken Roberts

146

Victor was standing out front of the First National Bank, staring out across the street at the

huge courthouse building.

His shoulders slumped as he realized he didn't even remember leaving Mr. Farmer's office, exiting the bank, and ending

up here on the sidewalk. All that could have taken place an

hour ago, or a day ago,

for that matter. "Stay

awake, Victor,"

he heard Minnie saying. As he remembered himself and

came no

into the present, the words Take the

less

—and

the next will be revealed crossed his

Those words had gotten him

And

first step

—no more,

mind.

where he presently was.

to

monumental stride this had been! Four short days ago, if someone had told him all that was about to happen, he wouldn't have believed it. As he stood there in front quite a

of the bank, contemplating

had already proved ing to push

him

C. W.'s prophetic message

he realized that something was

What was telling him to moment? He stood firm and

along.

do something at this just

true,

how

rush and just

attempted to

watch the best he could. Although he couldn't

any one thought in in his

going!

Victor stayed put.

As

Don

t

I

dont know what

just stand around!

agitated as his mass of thoughts

became, he reasoned: Yve taken

Now

identify

message up there

particular, the general

head was, Get

try-

to

the first step

do next.

instruction, to take the first step

I

If

and

it

led

stay true to

—no more,

no

less

me

here.

C. W.'s

— then

the

next will be revealed. The others just happened to come more quickly, apparently; this

ones taking a

little

longer. So,

V 11

just

wait and watch.

He

felt

funny

the sidewalk.

—nervous,

actually

The thoughts were

stupid standing out here like

could get arrested for

loitering.

this.

—

just

really

standing there

hopping now: You

on

look

People are watching you. You

Someone

inside the

bank

is

going to

A Rich Man's Secret come out and It

you

tell

to leave, or

worse

147

yet, call the police

on you.

was a never-ending barrage.

Never before had he examined what was going on

own mind

All that he learned this morning with

like this.

Minnie was making more and more before?

are against me! All right,

off

didn't

I

ever see that

seems so obvious, but so esoteric as

thoughts parading through

the next step

Why

obviously not!

best interest

It all

thoughts.

sense. These thoughts are

—

my

not in

well.

The

my mind right now are not for me that's the first step. And when I see

they

—

that,

immediately apparent: Don't go along with those

is

Dont

in his

do what they say!

So Victor stood right there, refusing to give in and dash somewhere anywhere! just to appease these relentless

—

—

thoughts.

Two men were approaching from library

on the

the direction of the

corner. Victor was determined to stay put

even

though the thoughts droned on and now had new ammunition:

Those two men are looking

businessmen and

wont

They

at you.

think well of you.

homes, two nice cars, kids

look like respectable

They both have

families,

money

in the

Victor could hear

them

in private schools, lots of

bank. Victor watched and just stayed put.

They were very

close

now and

more than

talking. Actually, they were doing

seemed

to be almost arguing.

what he wants to him.

to

One was

saying, "Look! If that's

do with the property, then

And no one

can make me!

I

talking; they

I

don't like

sure won't sell it,

and

I

won't

go along."

The other man then responded with an have

just struck

that says

The

we first

him: "I've got

can't put

man was

it!

That's

some C, C, and Rs puzzled.

"What

it!

idea that must

There's

no law

in the deed...."

are C, C,

and Rs?"

Ken Roberts

148

"Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions!" The second

man

boasted.

The two men walked that he was standing

were walking down

right past Victor, not

even aware

They weren't even aware

there.

that they

this sidewalk, Victor realized.

Victor had heard Christine speak of C, C, and Rs before in

connection with her various

listings of

homes

in exclusive

neighborhoods. There's a homeowner's association that comes

up with a

of dos and don'ts that

list

Things

living in that neighborhood.

your

home

if

the color you intend

and you

street,

is

actually a condition of

like

you can only paint

approved by the associa-

committee, you can't work on your car in

tion's architectural

view of the

is

can't park a boat at the front curb.

Wait a minute! There must have been C, C, and Rs Clement Watt's day,

manent a document the

deed

to the

anything from Children's

a

s

grave,

it

would be

to be

Then found

the

is

about as per-

in his directions

.

And

endowed

the perpetually

just said

how thorough and

clear

even though the directive

not be public, the deed to the Children's

That has

deed

is! And, deeds are public records. Yes, Home. If Clement Watt could control

Home. Mr. Farmer

Mr. Watt was

real property

as there

Children his

And

too!

in

Home surely

is.

The

may

deed.

it!

the thoughts started again: Yes, but what

newspaper

article

if

you hadn't

—how would you have even known

Home? Victor caught this doubt, and the face that came with it. He relaxed. It didn't

about the Children's

wrinkles in his matter what

if,

did

it?

The

fact

is,

he

Victor took a deep breath. grance of the

air

and

felt its

and arms. He relaxed

had found

He

the article!

smelled the natural

warmth and humidity on

his shoulders

fra-

his face

and hands. Back

in the

A Rich Man's Secret he looked up and

present,

149

there, right in front of him, stood

the courthouse.

Victor crossed Park Street and Capitol Parkway, the circular street that

in the park.

separated the courthouse and

He

made

an island

it

hurried up the broad walkway lined

on each

and high-stepped up the wide, curved stairs two at a time to one of the four enormous front doors under the columned portico. Judging by his own height, these side by rosebushes,

doors must be over twelve feet

He

tall.

entered into a large anteroom with two doors in each

of the three inside walls.

doorway

to his

A

brass sign

hung over each. The

immediate right was labeled Museum. That

was very appealing, but the day was

late

and Victor needed

to

see that deed.

The door

in the

one: Land Records.

back corner to

The door opened

his left

seemed

to be the

into a small waiting area

created by a stand-up countertop. Four

wooden

chairs stood

against the wall facing the counter. Victor noticed that the

countertop was solid

— there was no section

exit through. Various official-looking forms,

and papers were neatly arranged

A woman

in her

forties,

in

it

to enter or

announcements,

in little stacks.

working diligently

at

her desk,

heard Victor enter, but continued until she reached a good place to stop.

She smiled

pleasantly as she rose and stepped

over to the counter. "Hello," she said.

Victor smiled back. "Hello.

Is

this the office

where

I

can

get a copy of a property deed?"

"Yes

it is."

"Good. I'm interested

on Watt

Street

in the

Home

deed to the Children's

—between Third and Fourth Avenues?

I

don't

Ken Roberts

150

think it

was named Watt Street

it

at that time, though;

was Third Street then." Victor watched to see

lowing

this.

of him.

He

lished the

She was.

If

if

I

think

she was

fol-

anything, she seemed to be way ahead

continued: "Also, since a Mr. Clement Watt estab-

home

as a

foundation, the most recent deed will

probably be one from him, or one of his companies, to the Children's

Home

Foundation

"The Children's so

I

Home

itself.

was dedicated

would guess that that deed would

Her forehead furrowed.

"Yes,

August of 1899,

in

also be dated that year."

can search that deed by

I

property address, but anything before about 1910

now.

And

I'll

archived

only have a photocopy of the original deed.

Those that old were mostly handwritten, and stored elsewhere. So

I'll

so they're preserved

be searching our working copies

and can produce a copy of that copy

what she

is

She smiled

for you."

long do you think

submit

"How

will take?"

it

now, but since we're

this request to a clerk

almost closed today, likely before

if

was humorous.

just said

"Well, that sounds good to me," Victor smiled back.

"I'll

as

I

would think

I'll

have

it

for

you

—

well,

noon tomorrow."

"That'll be great," said Victor.

"I'll

see you then.

Thanks

very much."

Victor

left

the

Land Records

office

and

nothing to do until the deed was found. o'clock;

he could

visit

the

o'clock van back to the

museum

It

realized

he had

was nearly four

awhile, then catch the five

Grand Hotel and

return here

on the

one o'clock van tomorrow. Victor walked diagonally across the foyer and slowly

opened the big wooden door marked Museum. this rather small

room with

a very

tall ceiling.

No

one was

in

The afternoon

A Rich Man's Secret sunlight streamed in the

covered the walls and

tall

151

palatine windows. Memorabilia

filled several long, glass display cases.

This was more of a scrapbook room than a true museum,

Victor thought, as he looked into the long glass case nearest

the door. Mostly old letters, mementos, and newspaper accounts of the town's major events and leading

He moved

citizens.

next case and examined old photographs and a sample spike from the first railroad line to the

through town. Oh, and of the Civil

here's

War Cemetery

where C. W.'s tombstone was

placed. Victor studied this

could recognize parts of

He worked

his

standing at the case

dows that looked

it.

a photo of the dedication ceremony

photograph carefully to see

Yes, those

later if

he

cannons look familiar.

way around the museum room and was on the front wall, beneath the tall win-

so impressive from the street.

flower beds, and trees looked so peaceful outside.

The The

lawn, hotel,

shops, and businesses along the opposite side of Park Street

were pretty

as a picture. It

was quiet here. The only noise came

from Victor's footsteps on the shiny hardwood

He

floor.

took in a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He

felt

the

warmth on his face and smelled the musty air in the room. He opened his eyes and looked down into the case before him. Waves of chills started at his head and ran down sun's

through his body to his

feet.

In the glass case, looking right at

him, was a photograph of Clement Watt. tered card beneath Children's

it

read:

Home, August

4,

A

small hand-let-

Clement Watt, founder of the 1899.

There was a calm, confident, peacefulness about him. There was such kindness and wisdom in his slight smile. Did he leave a secret message to be found? Minnie seemed to think

so.

Victor leaned forward on his toes, looking out the

Ken Roberts

152

window behind the

Emma's board-

display case, trying to see

down Park Street. No, too many trees. He looked back down into the glass case. Next to C. W.'s picture was a photograph of the Children's Home. It's even ing house two blocks

warmer and homier-looking lawn

is

There

s

thick the

same white up

blestone walk that

today.

The

trees are taller

and green. The hedges and picket fence

and

little

Where's the well?

well.

full.

gateway, and the cob-

Perhaps C. W. did walk

to the large front porch.

same stone pathway. The

now. The

mature and

vines are

It's

nowhere

in this picture.

There, next to the two photographs was the newspaper article.

Victor took his copy out and held

the two. Exactly the same. So C.

W.

did

this article, this clue to his headstone's

it

out to compare

manage

to preserve

hidden message.

Victor was more confident than ever that he was right path,

and that there was, indeed, a path. He had

lowed C. W.'s directions more, no

less

He was again: the sight.

And

on the

precisely:

—and the next

will

Take the

first

step

fol-

—no

be revealed.

at that uncomfortable, but always rewarding, place

end of as

the next step

his thoughts, with

he was learning, is

no apparent next

that's the right place to be, for

always grander than anything his

can dream up. The secret

is

step in

to simply

remember

own mind

this.

—Victor knew there was nothing the copy of the deed. There was o'clock van back to the

else to

still

do now but wait

for

time to catch the five

Grand Hotel,

so he left the court-

house and enjoyed a brisk walk back through town.

He

walked past the picturesque shops and buildings along Main Street to the sturdy old oak tree standing in the cul-de-sac.

The van was on

time. Victor

and an older couple were

its

only

returning passengers.

He

sat

on the

rear

bench

seat

where he could stretch out

and watch the passing countryside more comfortably. There were very few cars on the road. Victor thought of home, where at five o'clock in the

afternoon the streets were jammed.

After miles of green, open spaces and bright blue

skies,

the

van turned under the Grand Hotel entryway arch and on up the driveway to the welcoming porte cochere.

As

they pulled

under and stopped, Victor realized he had not remembered himself even once since leaving town. This observation

153

made

Ken Roberts

154

him

came

grimace, but the instruction

flinch, just watch."

He

and

smiled,

Victor went straight to his to be

"home."

also felt

It

good

to

silently

room

him

again: "Don't

thanked Minnie.

at the hotel.

It felt

good

to be rid of this noisy paper bag

that served as his attache and suitcase

all

day.

What

a day

it

had been.

He

freshened up, put on some aftershave, and went look-

As he walked through

ing for Christine.

the grounds, he noticed

how

the hotel and around

deeply absorbed others were in

their thoughts; they're walking on autopilot, miles

He remembered

away

mentally.

himself again and vowed to stay awake the

of the evening.

rest

Five minutes later he was at the tennis courts and realized

he didn't remember walking

that

him

all this

time

is

was

useless, that to stay

impossible.

A

there.

and even though he noticed

his face

it,

awake

Then he remembered

frown came over

another thought told for

any length of

the blue rose.

When

Christine was playing singles with another agent.

she saw him, she dropped her racquet, ran out of the court,

and hugged him. "You look

"Oh "Where

Chris Evert out there," Victor smiled.

missed you so much," she

I

said,

hugging him again.

did you get this snazzy shirt?"

"This?

Now

like

all

I

It's

need

my is

tourist shirt;

I

blend in with the crowds.

a video camera." You cant even afford a video

camera, his thoughts reminded him. Victor caught that thought, relaxed away the tension that came with silently addressed

show me well. All

how

it:

Well,

to afford one!

if

you

Doing

re so this,

it,

and

smart and all-knowing,

he

realized that all

he had to do was stay out of those thoughts.

was

A Rich Man's Secret "Do you mind "No,

if

we

155

stop now?" Christine asked her friend.

that's fine," the

woman

replied, "see

you two

at

dinner."

Christine gathered her things, and she and Victor went

back to their room to dress

for dinner.

Although what Victor had

just

experienced amounted to

the two most important days in his

life

—

a true turning

point

—

And

although Christine sensed the impact of his discovery

it

wasn't something to be shared with others casually.

from what

Victor had told her on the phone and this

little

evening while dressing urge to speak of

for dinner, they

among

it

others.

And what

Dinner dragged on and on. it

Victor was

now

both contained the

a different view of

able to see. People talking incessantly, but

not really even listening to each other. Victor noticed himself rushing through the meal. to rush?

Why

cant

I sit

Why? he

here calmly

thought. What's

and enjoy

this

telling

me

meal?

Victor tried to see exactly what his thoughts were telling

him

that

made him want

to hurry. All

he saw, however, were

He was rushing. It occurred to him to deliberately slow down and see what would happen. The pressure increased. He still couldn't identify any particular thought, their effects:

but he was watching the pressure build.

and Victor

him

told

true.

down, took a deep breath,

He

did notice a thought that

in his chair.

everyone else at the long table was watching him.

inspection, however, he saw that this was clearly not

Everyone

else

thoughts, and had this

grew even more,

finally just put his fork

and relaxed back

Upon

It

room having

was self-absorbed,

no awareness

dinner.

lost in their

own

that they were even here in

Ken Roberts

156

Christine noticed what Victor was doing and asked

about

it.

"If

I

don't

know why

moment, then I'm choices.

that

him

I

I'm acting the

I

am

at

any given

machine, and machines have no

just a

What happens

way

them

to

is

just accidental.

noticed

I

was rushing through dinner, a million miles away in

thought, so

down to see what made me rush along."

slowed

I

were saying that

it

was

my

thoughts

Christine didn't understand completely, but she tried. Victor continued, half-whispering to his eager student. "If

dinner

I

know

don't

—

that I'm sitting here in this

no one here does

as

— then

Christine opened her eyes wider as "If

if

room having

I'm lost in thought."

to say, Yes, go on.

I'm lost in thought, then I'm either mulling over some-

thing from the past, which

is

usually something painful, or I'm

projecting something out into the future, which also

So I'm

painful.

usually living in a

is

made-up dream and

usually

actually

The only way to really live is to be right knowing what's really going on." here in the here and now Christine was listening intently. "You mean like driving a hurting myself.

—

—

car for miles it?"

and miles and not remembering anything about

she asked.

Victor considered her example for a "Yes,

I

think

so.

The

moment and

instinctual part of the brain obviously

kept the car on the road and out of the lane of oncoming

But you

—the

past or future. future don't

—were

driver

And

even

and projected

said,

lost in

cars.

thought, somewhere in the

that can't be living, because the past and

exist

—

fantasies."

they're just based

on

stored memories

A Rich Man's Secret

157

Christine nodded and tried to sort out these

Dinner was over and people began room.

One

of Christine's friends

new

ideas.

to leave the dining

came over and suggested

that

they join her and her husband in the hotel theater where the

movie War Games was being shown. Christine looked at Victor.

He

could see that she wanted

to go.

"Sure,

let's

go." Victor said. "I

The showing began meet

The

hope they have popcorn."

at eight o'clock, so

they agreed to

at the hotel's private theater a little before then.

theater was

down

a hallway off the balcony that circled

the hotel lobby's massive fireplace.

It

was a spacious room, but

the low ceiling, windowless walls, and subdued lighting it

made

feel intimate.

Six rows of dark-brown leather chairs sat in the cool, dark, quiet

room awaiting

their audience.

They were

alter-

nately spaced, so each had a clear view of the curtained wall at the front of the

room.

Victor and Christine arrived before their friends and took chairs

on the

right side of the theater, halfway back.

They

sat

and spoke in whispers about Victor's discovery as people began

filtering in.

"Over here," Christine

said in a

saw her friend and her husband. In atory to whisper.

hushed voice when she

this

room,

it

just felt oblig-

Ken Roberts

158

The

what

their

movie,

War

four spoke of their secret vacation spot,

activities

had been, and someone asked about

this

Games. Christine's friend had heard conflicting opinions,

some

for

and others

against.

Just then the curtain covering the front wall slowly

opened

electrically to reveal a textured white screen.

Within

seconds the movie began.

From almost the opening scene, Victor grew more and more enthralled. "This is a movie all about thoughts," he excitedly whispered in Christine's ear. indicate that she didn't understand 'Til tell

you

later,"

War Games was

a

he

to

what he meant.

said.

new

which had been made

She shook her head

Fonda and Walter Matthau.

on the

angle

into a It

movie

in

best-seller FaiUSafe,

1964 starring Henry

was about World

War

III

being

triggered accidentally.

In

War Games,

David, a bright high school student

spends a lot of time at into his school's

home on

his computer,

main computer and change

Desiring to learn more about a

who

can even tap

grades.

new computer game on

the

market, he programmed his computer to automatically dial

company that produced this new game. His computer makes contact with another computer, but it's not the one he hoped to reach; it belongs to

phone numbers

in the vicinity of the

the U. S. Defense Department. This computer's purpose

prevent World

War

analysis of early

warning systems and nuclear deterrents.

David challenges

III

it

is

by making judgments based on

to a

game

nuclear Warfare" and the computer

called "Global is

to its

Thermo-

delighted to oblige.

Since this "thinking" computer runs the United States' entire defense system,

its

activities are projected

onto several

A Rich Man's Secret

159

huge screens in the underground war room command center. The small hotel audience was enthralled as War Games reached its climactic ending. But Victor was the most wideeyed and compelled of

he

tion of the

all.

Because of what Minnie explained,

he was watching a very accurate demonstra-

realized that

human

brain in operation.

Knowing

this,

one

could plainly see the mental error people make that prevents

them from attaining the life they truly desire. As David's and the computer's nuclear "war" between the United States and Russia unfolded on the screens before them, the U.S. General and his icked.

They were watching

nuclear war

come

were

staff

and pan-

baffled,

the elements of a full-scale

together, but couldn't verify

—

or deny

—

its

authenticity.

The computer was game they were playing

in control.

David asked

it if

this

was a

or the real thing.

"What does it matter?" the computer replied. With only a few hours remaining before the computer began launching nuclear warheads toward Russia, David ly

located the computer's programmer and brought

command center. He can't stop can

learn,

it

never learned

in a "thinking" process

They begin

futility;

that

any of them

whereby

it

is,

is

it

doesn't

know

to attempt to

can learn

it

the

engage

futility.

suggesting games that would demonstrate this

to the computer. if

to the

the computer, but explains that, although

value of giving up. So their only hope it

him

final-

The programmer

still

asked his group of assistants

play Tic-Tac-Toe.

They

all said

"Why?" he continued. "Because you see the

Once you know

the secret of Tic-Tac-Toe,

because no one ever wins

—

it

it's

always ends in a

no. futility in

it.

futile to play

tie."

Ken Roberts

160

So they challenged the computer to a game of Tic-TacToe. When the computer asked how many players, they answered "Zero" which meant the computer would play against

itself.

While the nuclear war

were launched and headed

missiles

and some 2,400 Russian

escalates,

on

for their U.S. targets

the screens before them, the general wants to retaliate and

immediately launch our missiles in a counter-attack.

But the programmer understands the computer and to

convince the general that what he sees on the screens

him

before

is

Don't respond

As

just a like a

machine's hallucination.

machine," the programmer

"It's tells

a bluff.

him.

the general fights his impulse and training to react and

respond, the computer begins playing

TaC'Toe, until of

tries

moves

The

it's

game

after

game of Tic-

racing through every possible combination

at lightning speed.

tension builds as Russia's missiles are just seconds

away from

striking their targets,

when

the Tic-Tac-Toe games

cease and another series of calculations screen:

The computer

playing

—and

finally

is

applying what

understanding

it

fills

the primary

just learned

—Tic-Tac-Toe

from

to every

possible combination of nuclear confrontations.

When win

the computer concludes that neither side would

in scenario after scenario streaming by at nearly the speed

of light, the big screen suddenly goes blank. silent,

the screens are dark, the computer

The

A

strange game.

is

thinking.

big screen twinkles as the computer announces

conclusion: to play.

is

The room

The only winning move

is

its

not

A Rich Man's Secret

161

Victor was electrified. This was a movie about think!

It's

we

so obvious, but

We can't see

ous solution.

how we

can't see the only logical, obvi-

the forest for the trees.

Obviously. Victor heard two couples leaving the theater discussing the movie's "flaws."

ment about being

He

understood Minnie's com-

wiser than the world a

little better.

Christine and her friend were partners in a tennis tourna-

ment, and had to be ready early the next morning, so they decided against having a

good nights and

left

Victor explained

had revealed

to

late treat

and

They

coffee.

said their

the theater for their rooms.

—two or three times—how what Minnie

him about our

thoughts, and our misunder-

standing of them, was so dramatically and clearly shown in

War Games.

Christine tried to follow his excited explanations,

but Victor saw that she was tired and needed to sleep.

He had

trouble falling asleep, reflecting

day's "coincidental" events.

store for

him tomorrow.

He

anticipated

That's

on

this

important

what might

lay in

when he remembered

to

watch, instead of be, his thoughts. His forehead was furrowed, his

hands were clenched,

his legs

were twisted under the cov-

ers in the strangest fashion.

Victor repositioned himself in a natural, comfortable position,

and kept watching. Then he noticed how rapid and

shal-

low his breathing was; he consciously slowed and deepened It

occurred to him

tomorrow was going

that his

to unfold.

mind wanted

He

noticed

to project

how

it

just

it.

how raced

along, thousands of thoughts speeding by, that very few could

even be singled out and examined. His mind, he saw, was relentless.

No

wonder Minnie

As he caught

called

it

a "beast."

his thoughts again projecting tomorrow's

events, he thought of the

movie they had

just seen. It

dawned

Ken Roberts

on him that his mind could not possibly know, or project, what would happen tomorrow how could it? But then, isn't

—

this

what worry and anxiety are

about? Arent worry and anxi-

all

ety simply ignorant projections that can't possibly be based in reality?

Minnie's words came to him: "There

mously wrong with

Can

this really

how we

be true?

is

something enor-

think."

Could

this

consequences of one grand delusion?

whole world be suffering

What a prospect.

the

—Jyictov awoke with the in the

window.

Christine

A

still slept,

The morning light was dim squawked in bursts outside.

sunrise.

blue jay

and Victor used

this

time to quietly watch

his thoughts.

Lying

still,

aware of his breathing and moving chest, he

noticed his eyes darting about the room, unwilling to settle on

one

What

object.

told

them

be giving them orders, but doesn't

want me

1

to be so restless?

cant

to lie here in

bed

After several minutes of

see

it

or sense

like this.

this,

Some

And

But what

he noticed

head tighten with an expression of

it.

thought must

something

is it?

and

his face

frustration.

He

fore-

couldn't

catch a thought, but then realized one just told him he failed

when he He remembered watch. He relaxed and

miserably at this thought-watching business. That's

caught the tightness in his face and forehead. Minnie's instructions to not react, just

began again.

No

wonder nothing new

I'm so busy see, there s

see

it

at the beck

and

enters

my

no room for anything new;

anyway He knew he had I

mind, Victor considered.

call of these thoughts that

I

dont even

Ym never present enough to

just received a valuable clue to

the importance of staying present, and the value of separating

himself from these invisible, never-ending task masters.

163

Ken Roberts

164

when

Victor realized he was lost in thought again

Christine had awakened and actually gotten out of bed before

he knew his

Another shock and pang of

it.

mind. Just watch, don't

disgust shot through

But what a waste of

react.

thought told him. Maybe, he considered, but present and out of

to stay

thoughts, III just be lost in defeated.

He

this it.

if I

time, a

don't attempt

rush of negative, destructive

If

I

dont

then I'm already

try,

noticed his breathing again, something he hadn't

done since twenty minutes ago when he began

"Good morning! You

this exercise.

ready for the big tournament?"

think so," Christine said, stretching and yawning.

"I

"Want

have breakfast together?"

to

"Sure. That'd be nice.

noon, but

thought

I

just in case they find

"Good.

If

we

I'd it

is

supposed to be ready by

town

sooner."

hurry,

around the grounds

The deed

take the nine o'clock van into

maybe we can

after breakfast. I'm

get a nice walk in

due

at the courts at

nine also."

They

dressed and were in the dining

room

at a table

next to the picture-window wall well within an hour. Christine ordered a fruit plate and Victor was enjoying eggs,

bacon, and

"There isn't there."

topic

all

grits.

really

is

something

Christine spoke as

along,

which they

to all this if

you stumbled onto,

they had been discussing the

hadn't.

The answer was

obvious,

but Victor reiterated what they both already knew. "Absolutely. This for,

and

it

is

what

I've

—we've —been searching

was right here, under our noses,

only thing that makes perfect sense. But

you noticed

how

little

all

the time.

it's

not

It's

easy.

the

Have

you know where you are and that

A Rich Man's Secret you're

even breathing?

asleep

we

are

Isn't

it

shocking to

realize

how

deeply

?"

begun

"Yes, I've

"Everyone

to notice that."

else in this

room

— in the

thinks they're alive and well, but

look at them

165

—

at us

—

to see

how

all

whole world!

you have to do

is

—

just

deeply asleep and frightened

they are." "I

was thinking about being on the tennis court yesterday

my

and how poisonous that

I

looked

fat

thoughts

are.

They were

ple were laughing at me, that I'd never be I

wasn't a good mother and wife, and

less.

It's

wonder we make

a

telling

me

and ugly out there running around, that peo-

it

good

at tennis, that

on and on;

through

life

it

was relent-

as well as

we

do,

carrying this tremendous burden.

"Then

thought

I

how

impressionable small children, espe-

and how they can be severely damaged because

cially, are,

them over and over that they're no good, bad, that they'll never amount to anything.

cruel parent will

that they are

tell

Well, the child usually believes

come from we

—

adults

all

these

lies

because they

a source the child believes without question

parent or elder.

—

And

then

listen to

without question. But look at them

a

—how

it

occurred to

me

just last

and believe these thoughts if

we'll just stop a

—

its

night that

in our

moment and

head

take a

horrendous!"

Victor smiled proudly at Christine. She knew. She under-

stood the treasure Victor had found here. "Let's

go

for that walk,"

he

said.

Ken Roberts

They had walked

for nearly

and clearings around the

an hour, meandering the paths

hotel.

was a hot, tropical morn-

It

but the lush setting and fragrant scents made one forgive

ing,

the humidity.

Christine and Victor were coming up a knoll to the tennis courts,

still

"If

discussing their discovery.

hadn't run into Minnie or whatever else

I

we would

here yet,

last night: all set

to

wage war, believing that

only way. But like the programmer

computer

in a totally

new

direction so

the futility and destructiveness of

Minnie

—

W.

or C.

that leads to a completely "I just

walk

this

"Me "So it.

noticed

sent the

could learn for

itself

present path of under-

—has shown

us another direction

new outcome.

little I've

been here mentally on our

morning."

I

think the point

how

not knowing

I

can't

is,

like

change

I

am

is

are.

Go

get 'em,

lost

Minnie taught me,

it;

all

I

can do

is

just to see

just see

certainly better than being lost

it.

and

it.

"Here we

those thoughts ful

its

it

who

too," Christine whispered.

Obviously,

Seeing

how

find

be like that computer in the movie

still

and prepared

that's the

standing,

may

I

tell

you,

I

champ!

And no

matter what

say you're the prettiest, most grace-

of all!"

Christine hugged and kissed

him good-bye and

Victor

left

the tennis courts to catch the van into town.

He

sat in the

back of the van again. Six others came

aboard and soon they were underway. Victor resolved to stay

awake the

entire trip into town, but they

the hotel's entry arch

when he

realized

had barely cleared

he had not even been

A Rich Man's Secret aware of his

own

breathing. Darn!

And

167

then he remembered:

Don't react just observe. Be an impartial observer. ,

The smooth easy

ride

and cool

—even tempting—

tained a determined sent in the here and

The

air inside

He

the van

started over.

made

He

to drift into mental sleep.

effort,

it

very

main-

however, and managed to be pre-

now for several

short stretches.

old covered bridge was just ahead. Victor readied

himself to get a good look at the Coincidental

when

they

crossed over the bridge.

The

driver slowed the

van and with a

were on the wooden planks of the bridge. Victor the river.

He

The boat was

bump they looked down

slight

gone; the Coincidental wasn't there.

turned and looked up river but saw only two small fishing

boats drifting along.

As

the van pulled into the cul-de-sac and

came

to a stop,

began the moment he

dis-

covered the Coincidental missing. Faster than he could

see,

Victor caught his

his

mind drew

mind

racing.

It

conclusions, changed those conclusions, and

made assumptions.

In those few brief

moments, those

thoughts took Victor through a whirlwind of emotions

—from

elated to depressed, from hopeful to forlorn. All this turmoil

because the Coincidental wasn't there.

no evidence

at all.

And

all this

His mind had no knowledge whatsoever,

except that the Coincidental wasn't docked where days ago, yet his

it

based on

it

was two

reeled off a multitude of imaginings that sent

emotional system gyrating.

Victor considered

expended minute!

how much energy he must have

in just the past few seconds

— and how

profitably to

it

— not even one

would have served him much more

have remained

in the present.

Ken Roberts

Thanking the down Main Street

driver as he left the van, Victor headed into town.

forty-seven as he turned

himself rushing and pace. it

It

was

as

if

left

made

a stiff tail

The

onto

clock post showed nineFirst

Avenue. He noticed

a deliberate effort to slow his

wind was pushing him along. But

wasn't anything so obvious as that

—

it

was

just those

invisible thoughts.

He

Watt Street, where the automobile traffic began, and looked down it to see if the Children's Home was visible.

crossed

No, those towering old

the street blocked the view.

he

tried to look

trees providing a tunnel

Coming up on

First Street

over

now,

through the glare in the front windows of the

Daily Gazette building and see Mr. or Mrs. Jessup.

There was the courthouse, a block away but in

and

its size

stature.

he had business

Thoughts

how

still

there,

Since he had been in it

it,

still

imposing

and now that

was familiar rather than intimidating.

streamed through Victor's mind, telling him

foolish this search of his was.

They

told

him

there was

no

nothing to be found, and that he was impractical and

secret,

irresponsible to be expending

all this

time and energy on

nothing but a childish wild-goose chase.

When

Victor caught these thoughts, he stopped abruptly

on the sidewalk. Then a whole new barrage of thoughts came: What are you doing? People are staring at you! in his tracks

Get

going,

ready!

you have

That

deed's probably

Move!

He

stayed put and saw

what was going on was

to get to the courthouse!

all just

when he

more

clearly

than he ever had

here. First the thoughts told

him

just

that this

an irresponsible, childish waste of time. Then

actually, physically, stopped his pursuit

—

as those

A Rich Man's Secret thoughts told stop, but to

Amid

him

to

do

—they

the flurry of rushing, conflicting thoughts coursing

through his mind, Victor more taught

shouting to not

rallied again,

keep pressing on! Very strange.

fully realized

him and what Clement's note 11

meant: Always seek

what Minnie had

to her in the Bible

1

the impossible.

'

Its

solution

just

lies

beyond

your mind.

Now

This had to be what that instruction meant.

how my mind

seen

how can this all

trust

1

it?

Yve

with nothing but chaos and conflict,

filled

So how can

I

mentally stand aside and watch

taking place? That's the great lesson Minnie taught me, or

might never have

And this is Come

known

to think of

it,

was a

there

what Clement was

For things are not tle,

is

that

life

past bury

strife!

its

all this

turmoil.

trying to teach Minnie.

this is also

what they seem. In

what he meant the world's

in the bivouac of Life, be not like

hero in the

outside

I

in his speech:

broad

dumb, driven

field

of bat-

Be a

cattle!

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant,

let

the

dead

dead. Act, act in the living present. Heart within, and

God o'erhead. "fust

beyond your mind" means "no future" and

past." Stopping

mind

is

"just

and taking a good look

beyond"

it.

So

this

is

"the

at what's going

where

my

Heart

is,

on

with

dead

in

my

"God

o'erhead."

A sense of calm swept through him; a feeling of tranquility. Victor looked over at the courthouse and crossed Park

more slowly than those thoughts

Street, deliberately walking

him

told

to. It

occurred to him that the way

it

mostly was

now, he was a slave to the thoughts in his mind, and that task was to reverse this: His job was to actually

way

his

slave

mind now operated

so that these thoughts

and not the master. He

his

change the

became the

also considered that, based

upon

Ken Roberts

170

what he learned from Minnie, be brought about by force or

transformation could not

this

but just the observation of

will,

the entire process would bring about the change.

All

this, in less

time than

Now

other side of Park Street. eat

first

and then check

his shoulder at the dining

when he This

is

took him to cross over to the

his

in at the

Victor silently responded.

eat,

ing.

it

mind was

Records

He

room windows

recalled C.

W.s note

But

I

to go

did just

in the Park

Hotel

had control of him

again.

he thought. These

impossible,

office.

him

actually looked back over

realized that his thoughts

Then he

telling

thoughts are too overpower-

to

Minnie

in the Bible

and

remembered himself again. Victor bounded up the steps to the courthouse and pushed

open one of

its

heavy doors. His footsteps made sharp,

tall,

hollow sounds across the office all

He

entered the Land Records

and saw four people gathered around one of the

looking

men

floor.

down

intently at

desks,

some paperwork. One of the two

looked up and spoke to Victor.

"Yes,

may I help

"Ah,

yes," said Victor, nervously. Just

you?"

nervousness and tried to see

spoke to a

woman

deed — from

its

then he noticed his

cause. "I was in yesterday

here about obtaining a copy of an old

1899." Victor quickly studied the two

around the desk.

and

Yes, the

one who helped him was

women

there.

She

looked up and smiled.

"Oh,

yes.

Hello there. Yes, your deed was brought in very

soon after we opened this morning. Apparently trouble locating it among the old records." "That's great," said Victor.

clenched and relaxed them.

He

they had no

noticed his hands were

A Rich Man's Secret your envelope

"Let's see,

is

right over here."

She went

to

another desk and picked up a very wide, very long brown envelope with a waxed-string and fastener attached. She

unwound

the string, opened the envelope

flap,

and pulled out

a single sheet of white paper. Walking to the counter where

Victor stood, she began looking "Yes, this erty, if

is

it

over.

the most recent deed recorded on the prop-

you could call

it

the paper sideways, "in

ed

it

recent

May

—

it

was recorded," she turned

of 1899."

She smiled and hand-

to Victor.

He was

very excited and noticed his hands shaking as he

took the copy.

He

written.

He

could see

was handling

this wasn't the original

it

had

been originally hand-

all

very gingerly and then realized

it

and wasn't

The woman

delicate.

noticed this and smiled.

"Oh,

this

wonderful, just fantastic!" Victor

is

mind racing now. All he wanted and study every inch of

it.

to

do was go

"How much

is

sit

said, his

someplace

the fee for this?"

"Five dollars," the lady replied.

Victor laid the copy

out of his wallet.

he thought

worth

It's

five

pulled five dollars

hundred— even

five thousand.'

to himself.

"Thank you up his

on the counter and

very

much

for

your help," Victor

said,

picking

prize.

"Not looking

at all," the lady replied. "I

hope

it's

what you're

for."

Victor smiled, turned for the door, and the next thing he

knew, he was standing on the front steps outside the courthouse. Where was

1

the last

walking from the Records

few moments?

office

,

I

don't even

across the foyer,

remember

and out

the front

Ken Roberts

172

doors. Insidious. Yes, that's a very accurate term to describe

how

thoughts operate. It

was a splendid

day,

even with the heat

and flowers around the courthouse were

rising.

The

trees

so fresh

and

vibrant. Victor inhaled a deep breath of clean park air

and

decided to

down

sit

right here,

all

on the edge of

a large planter,

and enjoy every word of this deed.

He

chuckled to himself. Here he was,

to Disneyland, all It

like a child

a trip

worked up over a copy of an old deed.

looked almost a hundred years old: completely hand-

even the recording mark was dated and signed by

written,

hand. There was the

title

—Land Deed. Then

bounds description of the property running graphs.

It's

a wonder they got so

page; the handwriting larger

on

and

for several para-

much information all on one Maybe the original deed is

isn't all that tiny.

copy was reduced

this

a meets-and-

to fit

on one page by

the photo-

copying machine. Here's some legal

Clement Watt deeded

Home

Children's

according to

Here

its

it is!

mumbo

jumbo, but from what

the property

from

his

own name

Foundation, with directions that

it

I

can

tell,

over to the

be governed

by-laws.

"This grant

is

in fee simple

and

it is

conditioned

upon the foundation of preserving the statue of the well I have placed on the property. It must henceforth and forever remain on this property, completely visible and accessible both to the property's residents and That's that well

7 .

it!

Victor read

it

again.

visitors alike."

Now

what's so special about

A Rich Man's Secret As

173

Victor waited for someone to open the door, he wondered

he looked presentable. He

Home

if

practically ran to the Children's

from the courthouse and was

He

out of breath.

still

straightened his hair and wiped his brow with his fingers.

Mrs. Dowell answered the door. "Hello, Mrs. Dowell.

you

If

recall,

I'm Victor Truman.

I

was here yesterday meeting with Mr. McCully."

Truman. Nice to

"Yes, Mr. "I

know

see Mr.

I'm always showing up unannounced, but could

McCully

"Oh,

I

few moments?"

for just a

not here

he's

now. He's hosting a group of gen-

just

tlemen on a river cruise after

see you again."

this

morning.

expect him back

I

lunchtime."

"You mean the Coincidental 1." "Yes.

Have you seen

"Yes,

I

gone

this

first

saw

morning

"They

it

as

I

it?"

two days ago on the

came

river.

Then

was

it

into town."

rather early this morning," she smiled.

left

"Mrs. Dowell, in the newspaper account of the dedication

ceremony of

home back

this

an inscription on

its

in 1899, a statue of a well with

roof was mentioned.

Is

that well

still

on

the property?"

"Why,

yes.

It's

just

around back, down a

little

path to a

slight clearing."

"Would "Oh,

down and

it

yes,

be okay

by

all

if

I

went down

means. Certainly

to look at it?" it's

all right.

Just

go on

take your time."

"Thank you, Mrs. Dowell. Thank you very much." Victor wondered if Mr. McCully had said anything about himself or the reason for his tainly

was kind and

cordial.

visit yesterday.

Anyway, she

cer-

Ken Roberts

He

the big broad porch and walked on the law

left

around the house to the back. Several children played in tl yard while a young girl in her teens supervised. She looked i as Victor

came around the

he pretended he was

corner.

Not wanting

to startle h
M

!

./