Astounding Science Fiction, October 1950 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION cautionary, careful thinking that Joe should have done. Joe leaned over and picked up a two-inch bar of steel that had been carelessly dropped on the field. In the steel hands of the armor suit he slowly twisted it until it sheared in two. He dropped the pieces on the ground. He advanced on O’Conners. The inspector looked from side to side at Joe’s companions uneasily. “What are you doing—?” Joe reached out swiftly and clamped him between the two steel arms. The inspector squealed and wriggled loose. Joe let him drop to the dusty ground. For a moment, O’Conners looked from one to the other of the faceless men. “You'll pay for this! Til sue—” They advanced again. The disheveled man turned and ran in panic across the field. Yes, he’d pay, Joe thought tiredly. But it was worth it to see that red tape artist scrambling in the dust. He shuddered when he thought back to that moment when he’d almost believed that O’Conners’ way was right. That young Barnes had died because of carelessness in dealing with tae strangers was bitter knowledge. But regulations piled on regulations were not the cure for care- lessness. The red tape promoters added law to law and pretended it was wisdom. They de- manded obedience to regulation merely for the sake of regulation, and they had long ceased to think outside the scope of their sacred rules. But they betrayed themselves when their laws did not cover the situation at hand. There had been the Trojan incident of Malabar Seven. There had been the death of the nine Cordomarians. And there was the death of Barnes. There was no simple answer. All the laws in creation could not cover all the cases of emergency aboard interstellar ships. Each had to be made a separate case, and some- times you could make mistakes that way. But not as many as by the blind application of blanket regulations. The fight that Joe had carried on for so long to have the regulations modified would have to go on. He turned back to the building and changed from the steel armor suit. Then he went across to the girl who was still waiting in the yellow car. AS HEALER. One Lady writes: ‘‘ My sister suffered very badly for years, but since 1! gave her a Joan the Wad to keep near her she is much easier. Do you think this is due to Joan or the Water from the Lucky Well ? ” AS LUCK BRiINGER. Another writes: someone sent us a Joan the Wad. *‘ Queen Joan. AS MATCHMAKER. A young gir. wrote and informed me that she had had scores of boy friends, but it was not until she had visited Cornwall and taken Joan back with her that she met the boy of her dreams, and as they got better acquainted she discovered he also has *“* Joan the Wad.’’ AS PRIZEWINNER. A young man ‘wrote us only last week: ‘“ For two years I entered competitions without luck, but since getting Joan the Wad have frequently “been successful although I have not won a big prize. But I know that who won £2,000 in a competition, has one because I gave it bim. When he won his £2,000 he gave me £100 for myself, so you see I have cause to bless ‘“ Since the War my wife and I bave been dogged by persistent ill-lnck, and we seemed to be sinking lower and lower. One day We have never found out who it was, but, coincidence if you like, within a week I got a much better job and my wife had some money left her. then we have never looked back and, needless to say, swear by Since ueen JOAN THE WAD roa. Queen ot the Lucky Cornish Piskeys LATOR. Thousands of persons all over che world claim that she has brought them Wonderfu Luck in che way o Health Wealth and Happiness HISTORY FREE FOR A STAMP you will send me your name and address, a 1/— stamp and a stamped addressed envelope ior reply, | willfsend you a history o the Cornish Piskey folk, and the marvellous miracles they accomplish. All you have to dois tosend a 1s. stamp 196, JOAN’S COTTAGE, A man writes: ‘‘ 1 had some shares that for several years I couldn’t give away. They were 1/- shares, and all of a sudden they went up in the market to 7/9. I happened to be staring at Joan the Wad. Pure jmagination, you may say, but I thought I saw her wink approvingly. ; I sold out, reinvested the money at Q greater profit and have prospered ever since.’ and a stamped addressed envelope for the history to - LANIVET, BODMIN GoOmichbooksnco re a ee termes ne emanate