Galaxy Magazine (June 1956) by Galaxy

Author:Galaxy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 1956-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

story of all time must be drunk!" He jerked the cigar from his mouth and gave me a narrow-eyed, searching look. "Ted, I just hope for your sake this isn't some kind of a joke."

T^IFTEEN minutes later, we -*• pulled up to the police station in a three car convoy, with a big crew from the paper. I led the group inside, feeling the ex-

THE SCAPEGOAT

citement grow in me. I marched up to the desk sergeant * Where is he?"

The desk sergeant looked

startled. "Who?"

Well, he wasn't there. He just wasn't there! It was like getting tackled two yards from a touchdown by a tackier you hadn't realized was anywhere near!

Jones pushed forward, chewing agitatedly on his cigar. "Edward, you've got some nerve, pulling a stunt like this! It's an outrage!"

"Take it easy," I said weakly. "Something's gone wrong."

"It certainly has. You must have gone insane!"

"Listen here! If you don't stick with me on this, I'm all through with the paper!"

"That suits me fine!"

I watched him leave, trailing cigar smoke. The others followed. My face burned and s*weat trickled down my back and along my sides. I wanted to hit out at something . . .

A hand gripped my elbow. It was Sergeant Thompson. "Mr. Potter, you shouldn't let this get you down. People's kids get in scrapes all the time. Tomorrow you'll have a talk with the judge and everything will turn out okay."

I jerked my elbow away. "In other words, you think I'm batty,

too!"

"No," he said, gripping my elbow again and starting me toward the door. "Ifs been hot

■:iiri

t it

te rest. 1

you just need

"Thompson," I said, dragging myself to a halt, "I know it sounds nuts, but this Ashe character really exists. Help me find him and you can cut yourself a slice. It'll be big time!"

The grip on my elbow increased. "Go home, Mr. Potter, and get a good nighf s sleep."

"But it's on the level, Thompson. Jones and I busted up. Fm playing on your team now!"

His face got all flushed. "My isn't a game and I don't be-

J

• 19

long to any team. Get wise, will you? Stay in your own back yard for once. It could stand a lot of weeding!" He pushed me out the door then — so hard, I almost fell.

STANDING there, feeling the & heat press in on me, I tried to dope out the next move. My car was still at Jones' place, so I'd need a cab. I turned toward the drugstore at the end of the block where I could phone. Walking along, I recalled Ashe had taken a cab earlier in the evening. If I could talk to the driver, I might get a lead on his whereabouts. I walked faster.

I thought of Thompson and his remark about the back yard . . . and the weeds. Again, for the

76

GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION

third time, a chill traveled the length of my spine. I began to run. I ran past the drugstore and all the way home.

They were both in the bedroom.

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