Wednesday, May 6, 2009

In April of 1910, seven locked doors were soon to be unlocked at the Baulwinn Estate sale in New Orleans, Louisiana. The rest of the estate had been auctioned off years past and the only remaining contents were those closeted behind these seven locked doors. The estate manager Claude Belfort, had written letters to the Baulwinn family in adherence to the Estate's written wishes requesting all in possession of a key to the estate be present. Over a period of six weeks Baulwinn's from all over the world came to New Orleans to witness the opening of the estate's locked doors. On April 17th the final Baulwinn and owner of the seventh key, LouisaMae and her newborn daugther, had arrived. The great mystery would soon unveil itself to those witness and the owners of seven identical keys. Once placed in seven identical keyholes instructed to occur at precisely the same time, a flick of a wrist and the doors unlock.
The Baulwinn reunion was big news for New Orleanian society. Mr. Belfort was constantly appeasing the bunch by taking them out to the country side for carriage rides and arranging formal groupings with those who have vested interest in the properties of the Baulwinn estate. Mr. Belfort worked extra hard for young Edward Baulwinn who anticipated a great inheritance upon the unlocking of the doors. As the youngest key holder, Edward was the anomaly when compared to his brothers and sisters. Edward had not quite settled into any profession therefore he was alert to oppurtunity as he was anxious to acquire a defining position in which to elevate himself to the desired ranks of his colleagues and foremost his family. During his visit, Edward had developed a curiosity to explore New Orlean's port. Mr.Belfort frequently had to arrange day carriages shuttling Edward to small posts where he would sip teas and watch the unloading of foreign vessels. While awaiting the unlocking of the seven doors, Edward devised a plan involving the Lousiana port and his conceptualized inheritance.

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