Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 47 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Mr. Mercer’s robot won the third and fourth. The fifth was a draw. But then Mr. Hobbs’ robot cut into Morphy’s lead and pulled ahead. Capablanca took a two-game advantage, held it through another draw, then won the decisive game. The entire tournament had been played by the robots in less than three hours. ““We won, Dad!”’ said Mike. “*T knew we could do it.” Mr. Hobbs waved away the congratulations. “It was very novel. and interesting. The robots must play a return match sometime soon, Mercer. But I’d much rather play a living game with you, old man. One we can relax over, with cigars and a drop of port. This lightning chess makes me dizzy. What do you say, my friend ?”’ Mr. Mercer struggled to be gracious and succeeded. He smiled and held out a hand to Mr. Hobbs. “‘Of course,” he said. “But your Capa- blanca is a better man than my Morphy. No doubt of it.’ The old man swallowed, then said with an obvious effort: ““And you're a better player than I am. I always knew it, but pride kept me from admitting it. Yes, I’d like a man-to-man game. How about tomorrow night ?” Carol shot a fond glance at her father. “The old boy’s really a good sport, deep down,”’ she said to Mike. She drew him away from the group of professional chess enthusiasts who were clustered around the robots, examining them and talking to their owners. She squeezed Mike’s hand. “T think I can be just as gooda sport about something much more important than chess— important as that is to our Pops. Seeing your father to- night reminded me that he uses a wheelchair. I’d got so used to seeing it that I’d forgotten he was lame—truly forgotten. And of course he had to have a robot—for a lot more important reasons than my father got one.” “Darling,” said Mike. “I’m sorry I made such a fuss about the house,” said the girl. “We'll have it put up whenever you say. I can wait a few months because I know we'll be spending the rest of our lives in that house. If”’— conmmiclooolks.comn