Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION flectively. He seemed to have exhausted his repertoire of possible questions and a slightly awkward silence en- sued. It was broken by the doctor. “Perhaps you would like to search the house,” he said. “I need hardly say that my conscience is absolutely clear. Mr. Stock is a very dear friend, and nobody could be further than myself from seeking to do him harm, but, of course, I realise that you police officers must consider everyone as a possible suspect if you think there has been any suggestion of foul play.” “Well, sir, I hardly think that would be necessary—not at this stage, at least,’’ said the detective-sergeant with a slight air of embarrassment. “But I insist,” said Dr. Blaise. “I am sure you will feel that your job, so far as I am concerned, has been done thoroughly if you do so.” The detective-sergeant looked at his young assistant as if mutely seeking his opinion. But that young man merely shrugged his shoul- ders. The detective-sergeant pondered for a few moments and then said: “Well, per- haps we might take a quick look around. I’d also like to have a word with that parlour maid of yours.” “By all means,” said Dr. Blaise suavely. “Come this way.” The two police officers, after questioning the parlour maid, searched the mansion inaratherhalf-heartedmanner. They did not expect to find anything which would help them in their investigations and before they had finished, the detective-sergeant, an old hand at such routine mancu- vres, had begun to show visible signs of boredom. His interest, however, began to perk up somewhat when the Doctor took them down to his worksheds, which lay at the bottom of the adjoining grounds. One of these sheds had been converted into a laboratory and was of little interest to a layman, containing only work 134 commicloookks.com