ABOUT WITH THE JUVENILE GANG I WAS LEADING. AS I CREPT UP THE LONG CURVED STAIRWAY TO MY ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE HUGE HOUSE MY MOTHER AND I HAD INHERITED FROM DAD, I SENSED THAT SOMETHING WAS AFOOT.

I DON'T KNOW TO THIS DAY WHY I FELT SUCH A PRICKLING SENSATION AT THE BACK OF MY NECK, AS IF I WERE WALKING INTO MORTAL DANGER, BUT I JUST KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP. PERHAPS IT WAS THE COMPLETE STILLNESS IN THE HOUSE AND THE FACT THAT MY MOTHER, WHO USUALLY WATCHED TELEVISION IN THE STUDY AT THAT HOUR, WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

I TURNED THE KNOB OF THE DOOR TO MY BEDROOM, AND IT SUDDENLY WAS SNATCHED OUT OF MY HAND AS THE DOOR WAS JERKED...ON INWARD, OPENING TO REVEAL A TALL IMPERIOUS FIGURE WHICH WAS THAT OF AN ATTRACTIVE BUT FORMIDABLE WOMAN.

"GOOD EVENING, MASTER ROBERT,' THE

PERSONAGE SAID.

"WHO ...

WHO ARE YOU?" I

INQUIRED.

"AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?" THIS LAST WAS N A MORE DEMANDING VOICE.

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