The Project Gutenberg eBook, Sugar Plum, by Reginald Bretnor, Illustrated
by Ashman

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Title: Sugar Plum

Author: Reginald Bretnor

Release Date: May 5, 2010 [eBook #32266]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

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Transcriber's note:

This etext was produced from _Galaxy Science Fiction_,
November, 1952. Extensive research did not uncover any
evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication
was renewed.

SUGAR PLUM

by

R. BRETNOR

Illustrated by ASHMAN

[Sidenote: If not for two items, this would be a funny story--the Atomic
Age brought back the 1925 vogue, and inhibition is not shatter-proof.]

On a clear spring evening in 2189, Charles Edward Button came home half
an hour late for his supper, tossed his hat to the robot butler who came
out from behind the DoItAll, and announced that he had just bought a
planet.

[Illustration]

His wife, Betty, was looking small and long-suffering on a plastic
reproduction of a Victorian love-seat, and her cousin Aurelia, a large,
handsome woman, was standing behind her protectively.

"Of course," he informed them, "it's not a _big_ planet. But what a
bargain! With real oceans, and two moons, and--"

"Real estate, real estate, real estate!" Cousin Aurelia's tart voice cut
him off in mid-sentence. "You know what's come of every one of your
investments. Call the man _right now_ and tell him you want your money
back!"

"I'm afraid it's too late." Charles avoided her eye. "I bought it up at
a tax-auction and--well, the government never refunds."

"I _thought_ so. A planet nobody wants. Probably all run down, with
swamps and deserts, and in some dreadful, shabby