bootlegging。 Prostitution in the Midwest。 Smuggling in the coastal areas of the
South where his fertilizer factories were。 Finally an association with the
nascent western gambling interests。
Probably Derwent's most famous investment was the purchase of the foundering
Top Mark Studios； which had not had a hit since their child star； Little Margery
Morris； had died of a heroin overdose in 1934。 She was fourteen。 Little Margery；
who had specialized in sweet seven…year…olds who saved marriages and the lives
of dogs unjustly accused of killing chickens； had been given the biggest
Hollywood funeral in history by Top Mark — the official story was that Little
Margery had contracted a 〃wasting disease〃 while entertaining at a New York
orphanage — and some cynics suggested the studio had laid out all that long green
because it knew it was burying itself。
Derwent hired a keen businessman and raging sex maniac named Henry Finkel to
run Top Mark； and in the two years before Pearl Harbor the studio ground out
sixty movies； fifty…five of which glided right into the face of the Hayes Office
and spit on its large blue nose。 The other five were government training films。
The feature films were huge successes。 During one of them an unnamed costume
designer had juryrigged a strapless bra for the heroine to appear in during the
Grand Ball scene； where she revealed everything except possibly the birthmark
just below the cleft of her buttocks。 Derwent received credit for this invention
as well； and his reputation — or notoriety — grew。
The war had made him rich and he was still rich。 Living in Chicago； seldom
seen except for Derwent Enterprises board meetings （which he ran with an iron
hand）； it was rumored that he owned United Air Lines； Las Vegas （where he was
known to have controlling interests in four hotel…casinos and some involvement
in at least six others）； Los Angeles； and the U。S。A。 itself。 Reputed to be a
friend of royalty； presidents； and underworld kingpins； it was supposed by many
that he was the richest man in the world。
But he had not been able to make a go of the Overlook； Jack thought。 He put
the scrapbook down for a moment and took the small notebook and mechanical
pencil he always kept with him out of his breast pocket。 He jotted 〃Look into H。
Derwent； Sidwndr lbry？〃 He put the notebook back and picked up the scrapbook
again。 His face was preoccupied； his eyes distant。 He wiped his mouth constantly
with his hand as he turned the pages。
He skimmed the material that followed； making a mental note to read it more
closely later。 Press releases were pasted into many of the pages。 So…and…so was
expected at the Overlook next week； thus…and…such would be entertaining in the
lounge （in Derwent's time it had been the Red…Eye Lounge）。 Many of the
entertainers were Vegas names； and many of the guests were Top Mark executives
and stars。
Then； in a clipping marked February 1； 1952：
MILLIONAIRE EXEC TO SELL COLORADO
INVESTMENTS
Deal Made with California Investors on
Overlook； Other Investments； Derwent Reveals
By Rodney Conklin； Financial Editor
In a terse munique yesterday from the Chicago offices of the monolithic
Derwent Enterprises； it was revealed that millionaire （perhaps billionaire）
Horace Derwent has sold out of Colorado in a stunning financial power play
that will be pleted by October 1； 1954。 Derwent's investments include
natural gas； coal； hydroelectric power； and a land development pany
called Colorado Sunshine； Inc。； which owns or holds options on better than
500；000 acres of Colorado land。
The most famous Derwent holding in Colorado； the Overlook Hotel； has
already been sold； Derwent revealed in a rare interview yesterday。 The
buyer was a California group of investors headed by Charles Grondin； a
former director of the California Land Development Corporation。 While
Derwent refused to discuss price； informed sources 。。。
He had sold out everything； lock； stock； and barrel。 It wasn't just the
Overlook。 But somehow。。 。 somehow。。。
He wiped his lips with his hand and wished he had a drink。 This would go
better with a drink。 He turned more pages。
The California group had opened the hotel for two seasons； and then sold it to
a Colorado group called Mountainview Resorts。 Mountainview went bankrupt in 1957
amid charges of corruption； nest…feathering； and cheating the stockholders。 The
president of the pany shot himself two days after being subpoenaed to appear
before a grand jury。
The hotel had been closed for the rest of the decade。 There was a single story
about it； a Sunday feature headlined FORMER GRAND HOTEL SINKING INTO DECAY。 The
acpanying photos wrenched at Jack's heart： the paint on the front porch
peeling； the lawn a bald and scabrous mess； windows broken by storms and stones。
This would be a part of the book； if he actually wrote it； too — the phoenix going
down into the ashes to be reborn。 He promised himself he would take care of the
place； very good care。 It seemed that before today he had never really
understood the breadth of his responsibility to the Overlook。 It was almost like
having a responsibility to history。
In 1961 four writers； two of them Pulitzer Prize winners； had leased the
Overlook and reopened it as a writers' school。 That had lasted one year。 One of
the students had gotten drunk in his third…floor room； crashed out of the window
somehow； and fell to his death on the cement terrace below。 The paper hinted
that it might have been suicide。
Any big hotel have got scandals； Watson had said； just like every big hotel
has got a ghost。 Why？ Hell； people e and go。。。
Suddenly it seemed that he could almost feel the weight of the Overlook
bearing down on him from above； one hundred and ten guest rooms； the storage
rooms； kitchen； pantry； freezer； lounge； ballroom； dining room 。。。
（In the room the women e and go）
（。。。 and the Red Death held sway over all。）
He rubbed his lips and turned to the next page in the scrapbook。 He was in the
last third of it now； and for the first time he wondered consciously whose book
this was； left atop the highest pile of records in the cellar。
A new headline； this one dated April 10； 1963。
LAS VEGAS GROUP BUYS FAMED COLORADO HOTEL
Scenic Overlook to Bee Key Club
Robert T。 Leffing； spokesman for a group of investors going under the name
of High Country Investments； announced today in Las Vegas that High
Country has negotiated a deal for the famous Overlook Hotel； a resort
located high in the Rockies。 Leffing declined to mention the names of
specific investors； but said the hotel would be turned into an exclusive
〃key club。〃 He said that the group he represents hopes to sell memberships
to high echelon executives in American and foreign panies。
High Country also owns hotels in Montana； Wyoming； and Utah。
The Overlook became world…known in the years 1946 to 1952 when it was
owned by elusive mega…millionaire Horace Derwent； who 。。。
The item on the next page was a mere squib； dated four months later。 The
Overlook had opened under its new management。 Apparently the paper hadn't been
able to find out or wasn't interested in who the key holders were； because no
name was mentioned but High Country Investments — the most anonymous…sounding
pany name Jack had ever heard except for a chain of bike and appliance shops
in western New England that went under the name of Business； Inc。
He turned the page and blinked down at the clipping pasted there。
MILLIONAIRE DERWENT BACK IN COLO…
RADO VIA BACK DOOR？
High Country Exec Revealed to be
Charles Grondin
By Rodney Conklin； Financial Editor
The Overlook Hotel； a scenic pleasure palace in the Colorado high country
and once the private plaything of millionaire Horace Derwent； is at the
center of a financial tangle which is only now beginning to e to light。
On April 10 of last year the hotel was purchased by a Las Vegas firm；
High Country Investments； as a key club for wealthy executives of both
foreign and domestic breeds。 Now informed sources say that High Country is
headed by Charles Grondin； 53； who was the head of California Land
Development Corp。 until 1959； when he resigned to take the position of
executive veep in the Chicago home office of Derwent Enterprises。
This has led to speculation that High Country Investments may be
controlled by Derwent； who may have acquired the Overlook for the second
time； and under decidedly peculiar circumstances。
Grondin； who was indicted and acquitted on charges of tax evasion in
1960； could not be reached for ment； and Horace Derwent