Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

STAND-IN “We'll give him a few minutes to get in a panic, then [ll call him on the visi- screen and tell him what’s happened. He deserves a shock. Fancying his chances with my wife—or with what he thinks is my wife!” Barbara shook her head, but seemed unable to speak. “The key, darling,” said Walter, impatiently. She took it from her pocket and held it out reluctantly. He turned to the cupboard and opened the panel. “The way you take it so calmly,”’ he said, as he reached for the switch, “anyone would think you were Babs. Now, that would be funny— if you were Babs and I was Wally, and we were sitting here talking while all the time our real selves were out somewhere ... You know, I’ve almost got myself won- 107 dering if I am the real one, after all.” He turned, laughing. There was no reply. Bar- bara sat staring in front of her. She did not move, did not speak. Walter said in a hushed, strained voice: “No. No.” He went over and touched her. She did not respond. The finger of the clock moved smoothly and remorselessly on. “Oh, no,”’ said Walter again. He sat down heavily in the chair facing the immobile Babs. He sat there waiting, staring as though hypnotised at the calm, beautiful face before him—staring, and re- membering the living face that this one imitated. And at last, painfully, he began to understand the mean- ing of jealousy. conmmicloooks.comnn