Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

MAN IN A MAZE dustrial Sciences on plastic tensions. But wiai I came to see you aboui was thai anom- aly in the refraciive indices of resins at certain temperatures. Have you followed that up?” Tyler was taken aback. *““Er—no. I’m sorry, I thought —TI had no idea re “May I sit down?’ said Sweet, sitting down. “Certainly,”’ said Tyler, be- latedly. “Listen, little man, for your own good don’t take offence at my rudeness. It’s merely a habit. ’'ve always been rich and able to afford the privi- lege of being rude. Those who have actively resented it have always regretted it. So don’t oppose me. I can do you some good.” “In what way?” “Why didn’t you follow up that resin business?” “I haven’t the necessary equipment.” “Would you like the equip- ment?” Tyler hesitated. “Actually, I’m hot on the tail of some- thing else at the momen ” **You’ll never get anywhere, little man, if you try to chase all the hares in all directions 47 at once. Hang on to one tail at a time until you’ve cap- tured your quarry.” “I know. But I’m always reaching the point where I have to quit practical in- vestigation for theory. Be- cause of lack of equipment.” “Tm offering you all the equipment you'll ever need,” said Sweet, irritably, winking twice to the second. “But why?” *“‘Let’s say I’m a patron of science. That I back little ferrets like you to find out things. It’sa good investment.” Tyler didn’t like being de- scribed as a little ferret nor being addressed as a little man—perhaps because he was a little man. ba “I’m not interested in making money for you, Mr. Sweet. My line is pure re- search for the sake of research. I’ve told that to a number of industrialists. They said they quite understood and let me have the run of their labs. For a time. Until they dis- covered that I meant what I said and pursued lines that promised no commercial ex- ploitation whatever. Then they thanked me, fired me, and comiclooks.conrn