Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Cole was composed, and felt in command of the situa- tion, even after Mr. Grom produced the deposition which had been taken from JoAnn’s father in Lexington, Virginia, and messaged to Mars. The lieutenant had his story well rehearsed. Yes, he admitted, he had known deceased on Earth, years ago. No, he was not the father of her child. Who was, then? “The man could have been any one of half a dozen persons,” he said, blandly. His whereabouts on the night of the crime? “I was in my quarters, reading. I did not leave the post that night. You can check the pass roster.” He did not mention that he had made his way out and back again through the dunes at the far end of the gunnery range. No sentry had seen him. Mr. Grom made notes of the answers to his polite questions. 126 “T see that you are carrying your service pistol, Lieuten- ant. May I examine it?” Cole handed it over. Chambers full; it had not been fired recently—or cleaned, either—in some time. Mr. Grom commented on the fact. “Careless of me,” Cole said. He smiled with one side of his face. “I do hope you won’t report me to my C.O.” Mr. Grom made a note of the serial number of the pistol and handed it back. ‘*That will be all, lieutenant. Thank you.” LATER THAT DAY Lieutenant Cole was in Mary Hell’s. He had to be there to cinch the case against Lania, and pre- vent any further suspicion from attaching itself to him. He had with him the pistol which had killed JoAnn Deveraux—his other service pistol, acquired surreptitiously during a visit to the ordnance shack, and not registered. He ai : comicloooks.corn