Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

TO-MORROW IS ANOTHER DAY might happen if the psychia- trist couldn’t cure him. He was knotting a tie when Irene knocked again and brought in his breakfast, to- gether with a couple of letters. He took them from the tray and slit them open. The first was from a firm of advertising agents in Man- chester, who had apparently heard of his recent quarrel with his present employers, and offered him a job “‘if he ever felt in need of a new post.”’ A tongue-in-cheek let- ter. They were well-known for their sharp practice, and evi- dently thought that he, dis- credited, would be available at bargain price. He threw the letter away. The other one was from a solicitor in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and informed him that he had inherited a hun- dred and seventy thousand pounds. He stared at it blankly. Dear Mr. Michel, We have ascertained be- yond doubt that youare the closest surviving relative of 11 Pierre Michel de Tours, who died in 1672. In ac- cordance with the terms of his somewhat unusual will, as ratified, secured and en- dorsed by his descendants, you receive one per cent. of the estate he left at his death. This, owing to the prudence of one of your ancestors, in depositing it at compound interest ap- proximately a _ hundred years ago, amounts to the considerable sum of one hundred and seventy thous- and pounds (£170,000) in round figures. I should be glad to see you at any time which suits you, to complete the formalities of transference. Yours faithfully, pp. Harrop Sons and Longman, Walter A. Harrop. One half of his mind struggled to reject the reality of the letter, on the basis that ““Nothing like this ever hap- pens to me.” At the same time, he suddenly felt a contentment and a relaxation comiclooks.corn