Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

SOME OTHER TIME ““Stop!’’ Carpenter flung out a hand. “Don’t touch it!” Louise stopped, startled. “What ? Why——?”’ Carpenter walked slowly over to the chair and smiled sickly at Louise. If anybody touched that chair now, it couldn’t be her. He would have to pick it up and take it back where it belonged, behind his desk. “Doctor Carpenter,’’ Louise said. ‘“What is the matter with you this morning? Are you sure I shouldn’t ring Doctor Hamlin? He could be over here——”’ “I’m perfectly sure, Louise. Now, please, no more ques- tions.”” Carpenter spoke as brightly as he could. The girl would think him verging on a nervous breakdown. if he carried on like this. He looked at the chair. “Louise,” he said, suddenly. “Just pop out and see if Arm- strong has anything more to report about Katrin, will you? Just in case these two com- mittee men decide to go nosing around.” 13 ““Why—all right, Doctor.” She went away, her chin high, wondering, Carpenter guessed miserably, why he wanted her out of the office. She knew that if he wished to be alone he only had to ask. She’d begin to wonder if some- thing had occurred to make him angry with her. The thought was a knife in his heart. What could he offer ? A broken, fever-ridden doctor of thirty-six. Oh, sure, she loved him. He knew that. It: had been the knowledge that there existed someone in whom he could have complete confidence, someone who wanted him, someone who loved him, that had kept him going during the latter years when it seemed that it would be easier to forget the whole thing and closeup the Research station. And now he was dwelling on those thoughts because he was afraid to pick up his own office chair. Carpenter walked round the chair cautiously, He studied it morosely, noticing for the first comiclooks.cormn