Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

WAIF ASTRAY sitting there talking to Mr. Dirim for the last quarter of an hour. One time, he stood by you. You ain’t a believer!” There was arustling outside, a faint slithering. Rabbits. Sam paid it no heed. “See, see!’’ jeered Billy. “‘He was here and you don’t know. Said we had to take the journey. J was chosen!” “Take the journey ?”’ Suddenly, the moonlight seemed to grow a little less; a firm voice spoke to them. “You ain’t taking any jour- ney, son.”’ The boys leaped to their feet. The spare figure sil- houetted was that of Ed Harrison junior; he carried a shot gun. Even as he spoke there was a scrabbling as two more men found safety on the ledge after descending the precipitous path by a rope. For a moment there was silence. Then Billy let out a shriek. *““Dirim!”’ he yelled. “‘Dirim, come help!” Ed Harrison advanced and clapped a hand over his mouth. One of the men asked: ““What the hell was that he said ?” No one answered him. The third seized the shaking, un- resisting Sam, and he said: “We knowed you boys ’ud 147 be here. You got a few ques™ tions to answer, you.” “Me?” said Sam. “ ’Bout what?” “* *Bout, bout murder, may- be,”’ said the third man. ‘““How’d you know we was here?’ asked Billy. “Got a ’phone call,” an- swered Harrison. ““Guy with a queer name—said he was a hunter or somethin’; name of —er—Darran, I think. Can’t locate him, but we located ~ you.” Thecar hummed on towards the depot. Billy and Sam were conversing in whispers. Com- panions in misfortune, their quick-sparking enmity and suspicion had vanished, and they were chiefly concerned with trying to think of fresh ways of convincing the police ~ that they were telling the truth. “But it must be a kind of plot,” whispered Sam. He glanced round; the large cop in the back of the car where they were seated was dozing, and the one in front was talking to the driver. “Sure, we told them every- thing.” ) ‘““Ain’t nothing we missed; ain’t nothing we can do to make ’em believe us.” Billy asked again: “Why comicloooks.com