Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 47 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION my father gets a mechanical monster to play chess with, your father doesn’t have to have one. He could have borrowed ours.” “Oh, he could, could he? Well,” said Mike, “‘it just so happens that your father - won’t let anybody else play with Mr. Morphy. In fact, Mr. Mercer won’t even play chess with my dad any more. Says he’s too busy proving something with the robot— something about a robot as- similating all the best strategy of his opponent until he can’t be beaten by the human being who trained him.” “*T think the entire matter is too childish to discuss,” said Carol Mercer. “Two mature, retired men in their prime of life caring about nothing but chess, chess, chess. And now _ you aid and abet the mania by buying another stupid robot for—for just exactly what it would have cost us to put up our pre-fabricated house. Really, Mike, you don’t have any consideration for me—for us. If that’s all you think of our engagement you can consider it off!” Carol burst into tears, but ehecked them instaatly. She took off her glove and then her engagement ring. She handed the gleaming circlet to the robot. ‘“‘Here, robot,’ she said. “Obviously he thinks more of you than he does of me,” The robot, reacting as he had been trained, automatic- ally extended a hand and let the ring fall into his pink, fleshoid palm. “Carol, wait,” said Mike. But she put the car into gear and sped off, leaving him and the robot standing on the sidewalk. Mike took the ring from the mechanical man and stared at it for a moment before stuffing it into a pocket. *“Women,”’ hesaid. “They re one hundred per cent. pure, unadulterated emotion, with- out an iota of logic.” The robot, who was one hundred per cent. logic with- out an iota of emotion, adapted his response to the situation. ““You’re right, sir.”’ Mike hailed a cab. The driver watched his two fares get in. He leaned back and whispered to Mike: “That comicloooks.conn