Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION and contrary to regulations, been allowed to handle the controls. There was nothing in an owner being on his ship at odd hours. Particularly when the owner was pioneering a new venture. By the time the local authorities realised what was intended he was off the Earth, outward bound. Patrols watch- ing for him approaching the moon and the nearer planets did not get near him. He was sighted more than once, but on a course which would never bring him to any of these outposts. He: answered no signals. His ship, moving on a novel line, edging away from any possible contact, fled away steadily down the heavens. It was not a menace to navigation. It was a ghost, dwindling and diminishing beyond the frontiers. The authorities, he was sure, could be relied on not to pursue him. To them he would be committing suicide, choosing an expensive way of ending his life. He was mad. He was dead. He would soon be forgotten, except in so far as the ground regulations 90 would be tightened up by reason of what he had done. He was satisfied that it should be so. And yet, not satisfied. If he could have felt that there was some person, no matter who, who would feel his absence, not senti- mentally, grieving over his loss, but rather gratefully in that they had known him; then he could have no regret for having left. But he did not know of anyone whom he might expect to have such feelings. Which was, perhaps, as well. Had there been some such person, he might not have had the courage to have gone. The ship went on. He read. He slept. He watched. He had no idea where he was in relation to the Earth. The Earth no longer existed. Time did not exist. Perhaps he did not exist. Probably, soon enough, -that last would be the truth. All that was, was the ship and himself and his stores. And his diet, the one the physicians had drawn up for him. For one reason and another, while he continued comiclooks.cormn