 Why did the driver who killed Nancy and Reggie Laughton pretend to be drunk?
Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. THE ULTROOM ERROR by JERRY SOHL Smith admitted he had made an error involving a few murders—and a few thousand years. Kanad transfer out of 1609 complete, intact, but too near limit of 1,000 days. Reginald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Laughton, 3495 Orland Drive, Marionville, Illinois, U. S. A. Arrive his 378th day. Nancy Laughton sat on the blanket she had spread on the lawn in her front yard, knitting a pair of booties for the PTA bazaar. He was gurgling happily, examining a ball, a cheese grater and a linen baby book, all with perfunctory interest. It was her brother who lived in Kankakee. As he did so the baby's knees hit the side of the play pen and young Laughton let out a scream—half from hurt and half from sudden lack of confidence in his new handler. Around the corner and after the man came a snarling mongrel dog, eyes bright, teeth glinting in the sunlight. Surprised, the man dropped the screaming child on the lawn and turned to the dog. "I tell you, the man said he was my brother and he made me think he was," Nancy told her husband for the tenth time. Martin Laughton sighed. "I can't understand why you believed him. I can't say I dreamt it because there was Reggie with his bleeding knees, squalling for all he was worth on the grass—Oh, I don't even want to think about it." "We haven't lost Reggie, Nancy, remember that. "Nancy, for heaven's sake, of course I believe you. "I'm going with you," Nancy said, hurriedly rising and coming over to him. They found Reggie peacefully asleep in his crib in his room upstairs. They paused in the room for a moment and then Martin stole his arm around his wife and led her to the door. "As I've said, sergeant, this fellow hypnotized my wife. The police sergeant looked at the father, at Nancy and then at the dog. The bank still owns most of the house. "No ... Nancy had taken a sedative and was asleep by the time Martin finished cleaning the .30-.30 rifle he used for deer hunting. He put it by the stairs, ready for use, fully loaded, leaning it against the wall next to the telephone stand.
 The driver did not have enough time to make up a more convincing story
 The driver did not have enough time to make up a more convincing story  To confuse the authorities so it would take longer for them to figure out his identity  To get a manslaughter charge instead of a murder charge  The driver was not pretending -- he was actually intoxicated