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"Jory, do you trust me?"

"Yes," I said, but I didn't

"Then tell me all you know about Paul Tell me if he's as sick as she says, or if he is alive at all Tell me why Christopher lives in your home, and is the one who acts like the father of you and Bart"

Oh, I didn't knohat to say, and I was trying hard to be a good listener so she'd keep on talking and I'd be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together Certainly I didn't want her to get the picture before I did

A long silence grew, and finally she spoke "You know, after Julian died, your mother lived with you in Paul's hoer sister, Carrie, to the inia Her mother lived there in a fine home It seems Catherine was detere The husband of your mother's mother was named Bartholomew Winslow"

That cursed darn lu to tell her that Bart was the son of anyone but Daddy Paul, I wasn't!

"Grand you, please do not tell s about my mother"

Her skinny hand reached to squeezeso loyal I just want you to know the facts" About that time she almost careened off the road into another ditch

"Grandmother, I kno to drive If you are tired and can't see the road signs very well, I can take over, and you could sit back and relax"

"Let a fourteen-year-old kid driveyou don't feel safe

with me at the wheel? All ons, then carriages, then taxis or limousines, but three weeks before I ca about your e of seventyfourand you see noell I learned"

Finally, after four near misses, we made the turn into our circular drive And there out front was Bart stalking soer, ready to thrust and kill

Madanored him as she pulled to a stop Briskly I jumped out and raced to open her door, but she was out before I got there, and just behind her Bart was stabbing into the air with his knife "Death to the eneedy- clothes! Death, death, death!"

Calmly, as if she didn't hear and didn't see, Madame strode on I shoved Bart aside and