Mr. McGuire did not know why lending has been frozen, and suggested that only Mr. Hartwick would know the answer. When Mr. Hartwick was pressed for the reason for the delay, he stated that the Bank was conducting an internal audit and until that audit is complete no more major loans can be acted upon.
Rumors abound, as they always do in Blackstone, and there is speculation that this audit may not be internal, but may have been initiated by governmental control agencies. Mr. Hartwick would not comment on that issue. Since the day of the ground-breaking ceremony for the reconstruction project, the wrecking ball--so far swung only once--has stood idle on the Asylum grounds. Lifelong residents of Blackstone have said they could never imagine not dwelling in the shadow of the historic--and to some ominous--structure that housed several generations of mental patients. Now, it seems, Dame Fortune has perhaps seen fit to intervene on behalf of the countless ghosts in danger of being left homeless.
Articles from previous issues:
Darkness, Depression Push Some to Brink, Says Shrink
Library's Seasonal Scribes Series
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