Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

MISTAKE ON MARS of cash. I~ even signed a paper giving him full rights in the stuff. Not that it made any difference; éhe formula was common property back on Earth, but it revealed the type of man he was. Greedy, like all of his kind and class. Greedy and selfish, and afraid to take a chance. Personally, I’ve little time for such people, and I wouldn’t have given him what I had if it hadn’t been for the fact that I had to keep him quiet until after the race. After he had gone [| scowled down at what was left. I was living in with him to save paying double rent, and the cramped apartments served both as living quarters and warehouse for the De- Fumers. I waited until it was really late, then, slipping on an airsuit, I loaded my pockets with bottles of the De Fumer and went out to the rocket field. What I did then I’m not proud of and I would never have done it had there been any other way out of my difficulties. In short, I spiked the fuel tanks of the three favourites: with a half-litre of De-Fumer each. I didn’t know what it would do, but I could guess. Racing rocket fuel is a 19 careful blend and a closely guarded secret. I’d adulterated it with, I hoped, the inevitable result that they would lose the race. Then I set to work to collect as many bets as pos- sible in the time I had left. By the time take off had arrived I was fairly well loaded and, as the rockets screamed up- wards from the field, I closed my book and got ready to either run or pay out. I had to run. I still don’t understand it, and probably never shall. Mason was to blame, of course; he had _ obviously varied my formula, and the stuff I’d tipped into the tanks had worked in a way I’d never dreamed possible. Anyway, I.was well on the journey to Shyller by the time all three favourites landed in a dead heat and, as far as I know, the punters are still looking for me. Slim Murphy isn’t though. I’d signed over full rights to the new formula, the one which had increased the rocket thrust by ten per cent., and it didn’t take him long to make some tests and discover what had happened. I read about it in the papers. I should be shot. comicloooks.comn