The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-08
THELIVING CHESS-MEN
BT GEORGE E. WALSH.

"This game reminds me of a great
chess-game that once played" said the
Captain, as he checkmated his oppo-
nent's king, and drew back his chair to
begin story. ''It was the great game
of my life," he continued, Sand I shall
never forget it. In fact, we were play,
ing with living chess-men. You don't
believe it, eh9 Well, just listen to my
story, aud you'll think such playing as
this mere fooling."
We had been playing for nearly two
hours, and the Captains skill had won.
His love for the game of chess was only
seco2d to his love for his profession, and
his life as asoldicr had given him plenty
of opportunities to crafty his passion in
this particular.
''You remember spent q couple years
in India, when young fellow, and dur
ing that time Imet with many adventures
that none of you have ever heard. AL
though I have seen considerable service
since then, ,and some hard work and fight
ing,I think, on the whole, that these two
years were the most exciting of my
life. We were on the constant 60,
then, and if VIC weren't hunting men,
we were hunting wild beasts in the jun
giles.
My friend Captain Rawden was an
English officer stationed at Calcutta at
the time he invited me to visit him. He
had just taken wife in that far-ofl
country, and they were living happily in
q neat little place short distance out OF
the city. He wanted me to come out
and see him, and, above all, to select q
wife from among the English ladies that
were living there at the time. Jack al
ways took fatherly interest me in this
way, but unfortunately his plans never
worked out well.
- "Well, to make long story short, !
went out to Calcutta one year, and found
everything just as my friend represented
it. 1t was delightful place for hunting,
and we did some pretty rough riding
over the country and through the jungles
in pursuit of game. managed to secure
my first man-eater shortly after arrived,
and several other tough customers. Jack
roamed over the country with me when
ever he could get away from his duty,
and together we succeeded in having O
pretty lively time. Jacks wife was a
pretty, piquant-looking lady, the daugh.
ter of an old English officer who had
died in the East Indian service. She
took great friendly interest in me, and
I returned her feelings with interest
When We were not hunting we would
spend hours listening to Evelyn's playing
or singing, which was truly delightful
recreation.
+" ''N1utual friendship thus grew apacc,
and we all three began to look ahead and
regret the time of our parting. DIy duty
called me back to America in q few
months, and was almost as loath to leave
as they were to have me 50. Jack vainlI
implored ne to enter into business in Cal,
cutta, and take up my permanent abode
there; but told him that I had othcl
ties and interests to draw me away; yet
should have almost decided to stay Will
them longer, if an incident had not oc
Cured which made me rather tired oil
India.
- "One day rumors came in that there
was trouble with the Hindoos. They
were risings in various parts of the coun
try, and the British residents began te
tremble for their lives. Jack, as Captain
in the army, had to leave his home tc
help quell the rcbellions. I, of course
was left to protect his home and wife
There was little orno disturbance arount
Calcutta at the time, but the insurgent:
soon rose UP around us on every side
until we were completely hemmed in
The soldiers were off in another part O
the country, and Jacks homo was left il
helpless condition.
"The result was that one day we wer
surrounded, and after brave defens'
we were captured by a party of natives
and carried away hundred miles or 81
into the interior. After our capture
did not get another glimpse of jack
wife for long time, and I felt consider
ably worried about her fate. was car
ried before a Rajah, Or native Prince
who had rebellcd against the Britisi
rule. The Rajah was q great chess
player, and he had been indulging in hi
fayoritc came before l was Drought int,