Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

RAT RACE 69 “Got one little chore for you,” said the sheriff. ““Otherwise everything’s quiet. Maybe we’ll get a chance to catch up on our paper work.” He hoisted himself out of the chair. “‘Doc Bellarmine did the autopsy on that Cerino woman, but he left a bottle of stomach washings at the Johnson-Tule Mortuary. Could you pick up the bottle and run it out to the county hospital?” “Sure,” said Lewis. “But Ill bet her death was natural causes. She was a known alcoholic. All those bottles in her shack.” ““Prob’ly,” said the sheriff. He stopped in front of Lewis’ desk, glanced up at the calendar art. “Some dish.” Lewis grinned. ‘““When | find a gal like that I’m going to get married,” he said. ‘““You do that,”’ said the sheriff. He ambled out of the office. It was almost 8:30 when Lewis cruised past the mortuary in his county car and failed to find a parking place in the block. At the next corner, Cove Street, he turned right and went up the alley, parking on the concrete apron to the mortuary garage. A southwest wind which had been threatening storm all night kicked up a damp gust as he stepped from the car. Lewis glanced up at the gray sky, but left his raincoat over the back of the seat. He went down the narrow walk beside the garage, found the back door of the mortuary ajar. Inside . Dole e a bbls: a Ne 4 comicboolks.conn