Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION gations led them directly to Mary Hell’s. The man as- signed to the case was In- spector Grom, who was round and short, but whose untamed, erect black hair lent six inches to his height. He was one of the rare Martians who had to wear glasses. He had chosen heavy, square-rimmed frames, and they gave him a profound look, although he was light- hearted by nature. Mr. Grom came with a constable, and questioned Mary, as the dead girl’s employer. Mr. Grom, ap- parently, had done some spade work elsewhere, because he went right to the question of JoAnn’s relations with the other girls. Mary had to admit that they could have been better. “Ah,” said Mr. Grom. “‘And were there any persons —or was there any one per- son—who might have had reason to hate the deceased ?” Against her will, Mary ad- mitted that JoAnn and Lania did not get along at all, especially toward the end. 124 There had been those argu- ments, and the hair-pulling match. Mr. Grom prodded the details out of her. “I see,’’ he said. ““Now—the girl Lania has been questioned and it is her contention that she was in her room, here, at the time of the killing. It would be helpful to us if you could corroborate that.” “Of course she was up there, if she says so.”’ “Ah, but you must say so, too. Did you see her go to her room, or did you see her in it, or hear her there at the disputed time ?”’ “No,” said Mary. “I was busy downstairs.” “‘Then she could have gone out—I say could have, not did—and could have returned without your knowledge?” Mr. Grom asked. “Yes, [suppose so. But the kid didn’t do it. If you want to find the real killer look into what Lieutenant Cole was doing. He had all the motive in the world, from what I understand. He had to kill * oath Nee eas =" aut 6 he een Be en Oe ee ee ee a comiclbooks.com +