Lee Archer

“ Rolath Guelph.
Money? Peter looked at the bill that was enclosed. It was a five-hundred-dollar-note! And they said they would exchange pound for pound! That meant that for one pound of old newspapers, he would get one pound of banknotes!
It sounded screwy, but Peter Merton was not a man to argue. If it worked, fine; if it didn't, what could he lose?
Peter jammed his hat on his head, folded the list and the five hundred dollars in his pocket, and strode out the door. He stopped in the outer office at the desk of Miss Simmons, who was typing up some letters. ”

“ Rolath Guelph.
Brady looked up at Peter with what could well be called a jaundiced eye. He said. "Did you think this would get you off the hook? How stupid do you think we are? Phony bills, a phony story, phony letter—Merton, you're just plain phony, all the way through. Come on along; it's back to the hoosegow for you. And this time, try—"
It is difficult to say what Brady might have suggested that Peter try, for he never finished the sentence. ”

“ Peter protested. "They are perfectly good bills!"
"Oh, they're good imitations, all right," Brown said. "The most amazing fakes I've ever seen. The paper is perfect, the engraving is beautiful; in fact, the only thing wrong is the serial numbers. Why, some of those numbers won't be printed on bills for twenty or thirty years yet."
"Now, Mr. Merton," said Brady, "tell us where the plates are. Who printed these amazing phonies?"
"I don't know," Peter said. "I—I—" he stammered. Frightened, he didn't know what to say. He was afraid to tell them about Rolath Guelph and the Time Transfer ”

“ Irene said. "We could have used that trunkful of money to get married on."
Peter's grin broadened. "Don't worry about that. Remember, Old Man Crabley gave me the right to keep any money that was recovered from Quiggs."
"Did you get it?" Irene asked excitedly. "Did Quiggs tell where he hid it?"
Peter shook his head. "Nope. He didn't steal it. I found the money in that pile of stuff in my office.
"Evidently, Rolath Guelph was trying out his machine and took the bundle of money and replaced it with another bundle of that queer plastic paper of his. ”

“ Twythe, the firm's lawyer, draw up a paper which will give you all rights to whatever money is recovered from Quiggs by the police."
Peter started to say something, but Old Man Crabley just patted the air with a hand. "Tut, tut, my boy; think nothing of it. Any young man who can save a sum like that at your age deserves extra consideration. ”

“ With the valuable information you have given us, we will be able to do a great deal more research, and will have much better success in pinpointing our future contacts.
It is too bad we could not meet in person, but it is impossible to transfer living things through time. ”

“ The more you take, the more you find. And just when Quiggs has cut your future down to nothing. A wonderful discovery! Or is it? Of course it is. You'll be the richest man in the world. But will you?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Fantastic October 1956.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Peter Merton sat at his desk after the District Attorney's men left, and put his head in his hands. He was still sitting that way when Miss Irene Simmons came in. ”