Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 41 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

FLY BY NIGHT It was with a calmer con- science but a bitter mind that he flew home and went to sleep, suspended a foot above his bed. Two days later William Newton was one of a huge crowd standing on the corner of two of the busiest down- town streets. All necks were craned backwards, watching a man painting the tall flag pole atop the city’s highest skyscraper. The wind was strong up there, he could see, for the pole swayed back and forth alarm- ingly. Newtonsensed thecrowd shuddering at the chances that foolhardy man seemed to be taking—fascinated by a cour- age they did not have. He knew few realised that if the man felt the slightest tinge of fear from the dizzy height he would not be up there at all. That to some people heights are not half as fearful as the hazard of crossing a busy street in traffic... or working with “‘hot”’ electricity . . . or with chemicals . . . or around machines. Suddenly there was a gasp of horror. The top half of the 59 flag pole bent outward at an acute angle. “It’s breaking!” Newton could see the man swiftly unfasten his safety belt and start to slide downward. Unfortunately, he was on the under side of the pole and his weight was breaking it more swiftly. A great cry! The pole had broken free, and pole and man were hurtling to the street some four hundred and fifty . feet below. Newton was as horrified as the rest. But he knew another horror, too. And _ shrank away from the knowledge that he, William Edward Newton, could save that man from dying ... and did not dare do sO. That he, with the marvel- lous power that had been given him, was a damned coward in the face of publicity. Who can know the speed of thought in an emergency? How long can a man live ina heartbeat? What pictures can he see; what experiences re- live during a short gasping breath? Instantaneously Newton re- viewed all the things connected comiclooks.conn