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

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

MAN IN A MAZE the role, you might be a bit more explicit,” said Sweet, without sympathy. ““But you’d better hurry—my time is limited.” Tyler pulled himself to- gether, and told miserably of all the things that had gone wrong. Sweet insisted on a tour of the scenes of the incidents, and everything— with one exception—appeared to be normal. The curtain button worked the curtains and not the fan, and all the rooms stayed put, and the right water came from the right taps. But when they entered the laboratory Tyler shivered. *““Something’s gone wrong with the heating now,” he muttered. “It’s freezing in here.” Sweet looked surprised. “I don’t notice it.”’ “No?” Tyler felt another of those horrible little qualms. He looked at the wall ther- mometer. Sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit it said—and that was the house temperature that the thermo-couple was supposed to maintain. “It seems to be me,” saia Tyler, wretchedly. “But I still > 33 think if you stick around something will happen that you can detect, too. I could use an independent witness.” “I’m afraid I must go soon,” said Sweet, glancing © casually around the lab. “But I must have someone else with me when these . things happen, to put the matter beyond doubt one way or the other. Am I ill— or are things really happen- ing?” “Surely the best thing is to see a doctor?” “Yes, I suppose so. But if only someone could stay with me. My only real friend is in Italy just now. I don’t know who to ask.” ‘“*Ask no one,” said Sweet, brutally. “This is my house. It’s not an hotel.” “Could I have a servant, . then?” “‘What on earth for? This house was especially designed to do without bothersome servants. No, little man. If you don’t like this house the way I like to have it, then you’d better start packing.” “Have you another lab anywhere I could work in, Mr. Sweet?” commiclooolkks.com