Account closed

Boston, Mass., Feb. 18; Control of the long-established drug manufacturing firm, Barcroft Chemicals, was assumed today by Arthur Kelman, a New York financier. Majority interest in the firm had been held in the Barcroft family since its founding in 1845. The late John Barcroft, III, president of the firm until his death in September, was the only surviving member of the family.

Mr. Kelman said today that he intends to completely reorganize the firm. He stated that complete modernization of methods and policies would result in higher stockholder profits and improved service.

While Mr. Kelman, at 32, is still a young man, he has gained a considerable reputation in financial circles. At a meeting of Barcroft investors, held today in the company’s century-old offices on State Street, complete confidence was expressed in the Kelman management. Present value of the company’s assets and plant is not known; however, on the New York exchange....

MEMO: FROM ARTHUR KELMAN, TO WAREHOUSE DEPARTMENT. RE: STANDING ORDER NUMBER E-4, SABAZIUS.

The books show a standing order under the above name and number, but I cannot find the original order, nor the address of the consignee, “Sabazius.” Apparently this order is being shipped out around the first of each month, and represents nearly $100 worth of biological material; however, there seems to be absolutely no record of any payment.

Naturally, I do not want to accuse anyone of dishonesty, but if this account is otherwise correct, this is extreme inefficiency, at least. I would like to have the following information by tomorrow morning:

Pat: the new boss wants to know about the Sabazius order, and all I could tell him was what old John III told me, 20 years ago. “Don’t ask questions; just ship the stuff.” I never even asked what was in it. As far as the books are concerned, it’s a steady loss item, like alcohol evaporation. Kelman seems to think somebody’s stealing in the warehouse, which is typical of the way he looks at things.

The enclosed list of material is to be despatched on the first instant of each month until further notice, to the following individual: Doctor Sabazius, Greenlane, Water Road, Mintonville, Maine.

It is to be packed in a strong wooden box, with straw, and marked “Do Not Delay, Perishable.” I would suggest the use of the Fall River Steamship Packets. I understand their vessels stop at Mintonville.

This order is to remain standing until further notice, and is to be carried as a gratis order, without charge. It represents the interest on a debt owed to the consignee, and it must not be cancelled.

Note, added March, 1884. If you have any difficulty obtaining Item 7 from our regular supplier, see Doctor Goodwin at Boston General Hospital. On Item 3, the new supplier is in Kentucky, address attached.

Note, added May, 1907. On attached order, Item 6 must be replaced at once; consignee returned same by Express. Please follow the shipping list exactly. Cattle blood not satisfactory.

This file of the original order is utter nonsense, typical of the way business has been conducted in the past. Order E-4 is cancelled as of this date. It represents a loss of thousands. Take care of it.

Reason: gross insubordination and deliberate misappropriation of merchandise. These people were given direct orders to cancel a shipment (E-4, Sabazius) and nevertheless have continued to ship the order each month for the past three months.

Enclosed find a “contract” of some sort, which I received in today’s mail. Some of the terms are rather curious. I’d be interested to learn whether anything else like this ever turned up, whether in any of the old Barcroft records, or more recent files.

The “contract” seems to be in rather bad Greek. Although I’m far from expert in the classical languages, I have attached what I imagine is a partial translation.

I’m sending this along for your files primarily as a curiosity—but if you think it can be collected, be sure and let me know! Seriously though, for the sake of the firm’s reputation, I would prefer that you destroy it or at least keep it under lock and key. I would not like to see some sensationalist get a story like this going, even if the founder of the firm has been dead for 50 years.

As soon as this arrived this morning, I started checking. I called the Chief of Police in this town, Mintonville; it’s a place with about 50 or 100 population, I should guess. The Chief claimed there was no such address, and that “Water Street” was the name of a canal of sorts that opened directly into the harbor. Mintonville used to be a fishing village, apparently.

Then I tried the local Express office, since the order referred to had been shipped by that method. The local agent “didn’t know,” but vaguely remembered that the order was always picked up ... by “somebody.” Signed for, to—per “Sabazius.” Somebody was probably getting something for nothing for quite some time, and apparently decided to have one more try at making a “touch.” I can’t imagine where the “contract” with the original Barcroft signature came from, though.

Please try to send more heat up to Mr. Kelman’s office. He has been complaining about the chill in the rooms, and I found it quite cold in there myself this morning.

Also, will you check with the night porter about making sure that all the waste baskets are emptied in the Executive Office wing? It was not done over the weekend or last night. And you might also ask the night porter to be a bit more careful. There are dirty footprints all over the rug in Mr. Kelman’s office, and a bad odor. Possibly there’s a dead mouse or rat somewhere. Would you check up, please?

If you can’t find who is entering these offices at night and making trouble, I’ll have to arrange to hire someone who can. I don’t want to hear any more excuses. Not only were the floors dirty and soaked with water again last night, but the portrait of the firm’s founder, in my office, was deliberately and disgustingly defaced.

...was found by a night watchman who had been recently hired, because of repeated damage to the offices by unknown night prowlers. The watchman reported having seen a man apparently about to jump from a fourth-floor fire escape. However, when the watchman reached the fourth floor, the prowler was gone.

Mr. Kelman was found unconscious at his desk. He had decided to remain at the company offices in order to investigate the recent damage to the rooms. At General Hospital, Mr. Kelman was pronounced dead of heart failure; however, the Police Department has requested an autopsy because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the death.

Police and company officials stated that there were no losses of any kind, and that the safes had not been disturbed.

...and that I, John Barcroft, do therefore agree to fill the conditions of the loan as aforesaid, paying the mage Sabazius in such materials as he may require for his work and for his continued existence in the flesh. And these materials shall be regarded as interest upon the principal of the said loan of magickal aid.

Also, that if at any time the payment of interest shall come into default, the whole principal shall be due and collectible, consisting of those elements of the soul and body listed above, and may be taken by the mage Sabazius for his own purposes, from myself, my heirs, assignees, or whomever shall be head of the Barcroft Company.

signed, John Barcroft, 1849

witnessed, for the Brotherhood:

Azrael Sabazius, Doctor Magicae.

PRINCIPAL COLLECTED AND ACCOUNT CLOSED. SABAZIUS FACILIT.

Transcriber’s note:

This etext was produced from Fear!, July 1960 (Vol. 1, No 2). Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Obvious errors have been silently corrected, but minor inconsistencies have been retained as printed.

New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Account closed

Account Closed

Transcriber’s note: