The Rose Petal Staircase

First known notice, strange as my stock and trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you've got a job for me, George Valentine. Right full details. Standard of California, on behalf of independent chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invites you to let George do it.

The Rose Petal Staircase, another adventure of George Valentine. My dear Mr. Valentine, once again I take pen in hand despite the fact that you have not answered my first letter. Since that time, my tireless genealogical search has led me to the little town of Culliver, named as you perhaps know after the once eminent senator Culliver.

Here in the senator's very house lies the tragic object of my search. God had faithfully these many years by the senator's two surviving daughters. The waves of faith are strange and death wears many hats.

However, I do not believe that I will require your assistance as anticipated. They can manage women, particularly spinsters. They can make them see their lights and emit the cobwebs and jealous ruins of this house.

There's a marble staircase which I am sure will lead me not only to the object of my search, but to the resolution of the future as well. Yes, I am sure I can trick them all, sincerely, Professor Fulton.

But George, we never did a letter from him. No. Trick them all. Funny thing to say. Well, it says P.S. It's too bad that you couldn't have seen this wonderful stair casement to Valentine. It's a delight to the eye, made of solid marble, but exactly the color of faded rose petals.

Yeah. Brooks, see, I wonder what it was that Professor Fulton was searching for that he found there. She'd be a biologist, huh? Yeah. Something to do with a person, probably. Or a dead person. Anyway, I'm curious about a rose-pedal staircase set in cobwebs.