Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

WAIF ASTRAY shape of a little brown man. Now he visits me, see? He comes and he talks. Says Il got a job to do for them, because they got limits... Damn!” Billy almost squealed. “How could I of made it up?” His voice dropped to a pleading. “Sam, be a pal, stay and see if it ain’t right. Tell you what,”” he added, “‘when Mr. Dirim comes tonight, I'll ask him to leave proof for the morning.” He was coaxing now. “‘Hah? Hah, Sam ?’’ Sam said: “Fairy folk.” The golden light of the lamp gave him the colour he lacked. “Oh no, Sam. This little guy’s real. You stay. See. There’s the bed, and we got food, and your uncle Mike sleeps till about noon Sunday, SO > i Billy blew out the light. Sam gasped. Billy said, plead- ing still: “Take the canvas down; the moonlight’s so good.” A long, long pause; then there was a movement, and the next moment Sam was taking down the canvas and rolling it up. “Don’t forget to wake me when he comes.” “You'll wake,” said Billy. The morning sun was prob- ing into the cave when Billy rose and crossed to his sleep- ing companion, with some- thing dark and cylindrical in his hand. He shook Sam awake. Sam sat up. ‘Hah!’ He rubbed his eyes and stared owlishly at Billy. Then he grinned. “See!” he said, and his voice had a jeering note. “See—I said he wouldn’t come; your Mr. Dirim!” Billy leaped in anger, his face contorted, his mouth working. “You trying to send me crazy? I woke you up long about half past two, soon as he come. I ast him if I was to wake you, and he said yes, you was good for having proof, and I woke you and you sat and listened!’ His voice was high and frenzied. “He told us ’bout how he could make people smaller and then big again, and how Dirims had to have me do things for them till they was Earthmen!” Billy had Sam by the throat, but Sam threw off the clawing fingers of the other and then stood ready to defend himself. He, too, was angry now. “Loony Indian! What did I ast him, then ?’’ 143 comcloooks.com