Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

THE PHOENIX TREATMENT “T really must go.” A soft warm hand squeezed Joseph’s. “‘They’re missing me already.” “But wait——” “Not now.” Sita smiled swiftly. ““Tonight. Come back at ten. It will be alright. My husband is abroad.” That night, when Joseph followed Sita into the house, she hastened to reassure him. “I have given the servants leave. We are alone.” He nodded uncertainly. Surely, now was the time to end the farce, reveal himself as her husband and She laid a hand on his arm. ‘‘What is your name?” “Er—my friends call me Jacko.” “Jacko .. !” She laughed. **Nice name.” *“Glad you think so.” Joseph cursed himself. His opportunity had gone. He should have blurted out the truth, come what may. Yet—there was the snag! What would the cost have been? He tried to imagine Sita’s reaction to the news that the stranger she had tacitly accepted as her lover- to-be was, in fact, her own husband. The mere thought 55 of her humiliation made him shudder. It would have ended all possibility of future hap- piness between them. Joseph decided against present revelations concerning their legal status. That would have to await some future opportunity. Meanwhile, his rejuvenation having achieved such phenomenal results, he was determined to make the best of the situation. In the lounge, Sita once again eluded his embrace. “Not in my husband’s house,” she murmured, waving him to a seat while she paced the room. ““Tomorrow—yves. I will leave this house at noon, and follow you to the ends of the Earth if you wish it; but to- night I must write a letter to Joseph.” “Your husband ?”’ “Yes. It is best that I should go before he returns. Make a clean break—though it grieves me to cause him the slightest pain. We both tried so hard to make a success of our marriage: but——” VBuUt t Sita flushed, veiling - her eyes. “There was one in- superable obstacle. The dis- parity of our ages——” “He should have known better!” shouted Joseph. comicloooks.com