Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 314: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“You are going to execute him?” “That is the penalty.” Gedso faltered, but only for a moment. “If ... if you will drop that sentence, | will guarantee to bring peace to these mines in five days.” Drummond knew he had a winning card. “I can suspend the sentence until you do, if we must bargain for what Is actually a duty. That is a very wild offer,” he added, “in the light that peace has not been brought to this place in seventy- five years of constant endeavor by the greatest engineers of the Empire.” “Release him to me and | will do it in four days!” “Wilder still. But—it is a bargain. If you fail, of course, the sentence goes back into effect. And now, if you will be SO good as to step aside, | will relieve myself of your company.” Drummond left and Gedso wandered back to the table to stand there fingering the copies without being wholly aware of them. The folly of his statement was beginning to grow upon him and he could not clearly understand what strange emotional forces had so led him to Stake his reputation. And then he remembered half-pint Stewie with the snub nose and the grin and sighed with relief. There was just a chance— Gedso dropped upon his knees beside his baggage and began to haul forth engineering treatises. THE scout ship vibrated nervously as her tubes warmed as though she shivered at the consideration of the cruise she was about to undertake or, again, in annoyance with the agitation and harshness in the voices of the group of men who stood at her side on the ground. “It was my belief that you only intended an aerial examination of the mines,” said Blufore haughtily. CORniclooo SS CO