o it； an Overlook Hotel that had existed thirty years ago。
Horace M。 Derwent Requests
The Pleasure of Your pany
At a Masked Ball to Celebrate
The Grand Opening of
THE OVERLOOK HOTEL
Dinner Will Be Served At 8 P。M。
Unmasking And Dancing At Midnight
August 29； 1945 RSVP
Dinner at eight！ Unmasking at midnight！
He could almost see them in the dining room； the richest men in America and
their women。 Tuxedos and glimmering starched shirts； evening gowns； the band
playing； gleaming high…heeled pumps。 The clink of glasses； the jocund pop of
champagne corks。 The war was over； or almost over。 The future lay ahead； clean
and shining。 America was the colossus of the world and at last she knew it and
accepted it。
And later； at midnight； Derwent himself crying： 〃Unmask！ Unmask！〃 The masks
ing off and。。。
（The Red Death held sway over all！）
He frowned。 What left field had that e out of？ That was Poe； the Great
American Hack。 And surely the Overlook — this shining； glowing Overlook on the
invitation he held in his hands…was the farthest cry from E。 A。 Poe imaginable。
He put the invitation back and turned to the next page。 A paste…up from one of
the Denver papers； and scratched beneath it the date： May 15； 1947。
POSH MOUNTAIN RESORT REOPENS WITH
STELLAR GUEST REGISTER
Derwent Says Overlook Will Be 〃Showplace of the World〃
By David Felton； Features Editor
The Overlook Hotel has been opened and reopened in its thirty…eight…year
history； but rarely with such style and dash as that promised by Horace
Derwent； the mysterious California millionaire who is the latest owner of