Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

STAND-IN case, there was no question of my not getting back. I had set it to nip out into the garden when I brought the gravicop down into the garage. When I got back and Wally didn’t appear, I guessed some- thing had gone wrong.” “T still don’t see why you had to play such a trick on me. I don’t see why you couldn’t have sent Wally to the meeting.” He sighed. “I’ve told you. We had to make decisions about new developments. The Government’s check on robot construction is hopelessly out of date, and we want to let some of the higher-ups know just what possibilities there are—we want a freer hand in design and so on.” “It'll spoil things if every- one has robots like ours.” “I don’t mean to go that far. The authorities would have a fit if they knew we'd been able to produce human- oids like this. They still won’t give permission for any- thing but the most obviously mechanical, box-like contriv- 97 ances. That’s what we want to get cleared up. That’s why I had to go to this meeting tonight and discuss future policy, and what weight we could bring to bear on the Government. And [I knew you’d been counting on us having a nice quiet evening together, so...’’ He shrugged apologetically. Barbara tried to continue with her resentful expression, but her original anger was fading. She said: “Oh, all right. But don’t think I’m not cross. And this had better be the last time.” “Tt will be, darling.” “Mind it is.”’ “Of course. It won’t hap- pen again.” She studied him reflectively. “It is the first time, this one, I suppose? You haven’t ever done it before ?’’ 3 *“You’d have noticed,” said Walter, glibly, “just as you noticed this time. I ought to have known I couldn’t fool you with Wally.” “No, that’s true,” said conmiclooolkks.com