Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

110 meet before going to the warehouse. They then ordered that the watchman who had been engaged be dismissed immediately. When they were alone, Hugh com- plimented George on a truly outstand- ing display of avarice in action and went forth to push delivery on as many of the final purchases as he could. They met the Smiths, as specified, at the office and then all traveled to the warehouse in George’s car. The building was dark, the street deserted. Hugh meditated upon the wisdom of accompanying the Smiths to such a place. He pressed his elbow against the gun under his arm and was glad that foresight had prompted him to bring it, but he wished that foresight had told him to stay in bed with a sick headache. They stood beneath a feeble light over the door of the warehouse while Hugh got out the keys. Without pre- amble, one of the Smiths pointed to a shadowy doorway across the street. ‘Why are those men hiding there?” he asked. Hugh quickly faced about. There was a sudden excited voice, and two’ men darted out of the shadows across the way. One turned and threw a glittering something that flashed through the dim light and then rapidly ran up the street after his companion. Hugh ducked and drew his gun, but the two disappeared down an alley before he could get off a shot. He thought of giving chase for an instant but decided that he did not want to play peek-a-boo up an unlit alley with any such citizens as those. Behind him he could hear George’s excited voice. ‘“Perez’s playmates!” he was say- ing. “Hugh, I’d forgotten all about them! One of them threw a knife. Did you see that, Hugh? It only missed me by a hair. Why didn’t you shoot him? Why didn’t—” ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION - “Calm down, George, they’re gone.””. Hugh replaced his gun and picked up the keys from where he’d dropped them. “I think that we’d better get inside. I’m sorry, Mr. Smith, about this little scuffle. Just some business acquaintances who—” His voice died away. The thrown knife had not passed harmlessly by as he had thought. It was sticking out of the chest of one of the Smith brothers, buried nearly to the hilt. “Mr. Smith! Here, let me help you! George, take the keys and open the door. There’s a phone in the office. We need an ambu- lance. Smith’s hurt.” Hugh moved to take the wounded Smith’s arm. “It is nothing.” Both Smiths were regarding the knife without interest. “Does it interfere with your move- ‘raent?” the unhurt Smith asked. The other moved his arms about. “No, not at all. Let us go inside. We can remove it there.”” George opened the door with shaking hands and then before his and Hugh’s unbelieving eyes, the two Smiths walked unhur- riedly into the building. Hugh went ahead and led the way with a small pocket flash through the cluttered main room of the warehouse to the inner office. After hastily lock- ing the outer door, George brought up the rear. Once within the office, Hugh turned on the light and illumined the drab dirty room. The Smith who had been hurt was tentatively wiggling the knife in his chest as if to see how firmly it was stuck. The other Smith moved over so he blocked the view. His shoulders heaved. When he turned again, he had the knife in his hand and was wiping it carefully with a pocket handkerchief. There was no discerni- ble expression upon either of the Smiths’ faces. And worst of all, there was no blood, not anywhere. Glancing at George, Hugh could see that his Comicdbooksaco im 6!