Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 22 – And His Repelatron Skyway

“Masked and costumed both. Why?”

The security chief’s voice was tense with alarm. “Tom, I’ve just received an anonymous tip that one of your guests is an impostor. He may be a killer who aims to stop you from carrying out your African project!”

CHAPTER XIV

THE SKELETON BOMBER

TOM stiffened at the news. “How did you get the

tip, Harlan?” he asked softly.

“An unsigned note. I got home late and found

it slipped under the door. No clues.”

“Okay, don’t do anything just yet,” Tom told

him. “Let me try to handle this.”

After hanging up, Tom stood for a moment

deep in thought. How could he check out the tip

without alarming the guests or spoiling Sandy’s

party?

A few seconds later Tom strode off in search of

his sister. Sandy, dressed in a leopard costume, was just putting on a new dance record.

“How many guests are here at the party, Sis?” Sandy giggled. “At least a houseful!

Why?” “Just wondered. Did everyone show up?” “Now that you mention it, I’m not sure.

Mm—

let me see. If you want to count Bud and Phyl,

there should be twenty-four.”

“Thanks.” Tom went out on the patio and then

came back inside, counting every guest in sight.

121

122 REPELATRON SKYWAY

There were exactly twenty-four!

Tom frowned uneasily. Could Ames’s tip have been a hoax? Or had the impostor overpowered and taken the place of one of the real guests?

Unfortunately, the Swifts’ alarm system had been turned off for the evening, since some of the guests did not possess the special wristwatches. Sandy and Phyl had felt that with the grounds brightly illuminated, there would be no danger, especially since all the guests would be asked to show their invitations at the door. But Tom realized that the impostor might have used his victim’s invitation.