The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-09-18
THE LIVING CHESS-MEN.
A Desperate Game for Life or
Death in India.

This game reminds me of great
chess-game that l once played" said
the Captain, as he checkmated his op-
ponents king and drew back in his
chair to begin a story. ut was the
great game of my life," he continued,
land shall never forget it. In fact
we were playing with living chess-men.
You don't believe it, Ell? Well, just
listen to my story, and 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
second to his love for his profession, and
his life as a soldier had given him plen-
ty of opportunities to crafty his pas
sion In this particular.
You remember spent couple of
years in India, when young fellow, and
during that time I met with many ad-
ventures that none of you have ever
heard. Although have seen considerable
and fighting, l think. on the whole, tn at
those two years were the most exciting
of my life. We were on the constant
go then, and if we weren't hunting men
we were hunting wild beasts in the
jungles.
MY friend Captain Rawdon was an
English officer stationed at Calcutta at
the time he invited me to visit him. He
had just taken wife in that far-ofr
country, and they were living happily
in neat little place short distance
out of the city. He wanted me to come
out and see him, and above all to select
wife from among the English ladies
that wero living there at the time Jack
always took fatherly interest in me in
this way, but unfortunately his plans
never worked out we'll.
well, to make long story short, l
went out to Calcutta one year and found
every thing just as my friend represent
ed it. 1t was a 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 Gus
toners. Jack roamed over the country
with me whenever he could get away
from his duty, and together we succeed
ed in having pretty lively time.
Jacks wife was a pretty, piquant-look-
ing lady, the daughter of an old En-
glish officer who had died in the East
Indian service. She took great friend
ly interest in me. and returned her
feelings with interest. When wo were
not hunting we would spend hours
listening to Evelyn's playing or sing
ing. which was truly delightful recrea-
ton.
''Ourl mutual friendship thus grew
apace, and we all three hogan to look
ahead and regret the time of our part
ing. My duty called me back to Amer
lea in a few months, and l was almost
as loath to leave as they were to have
me go. Jack vainly implored me to
enter into business in Calcutta and
take up my permanent abode there, but
told him that had other ties and in
terests to draw me away, vet 1 should
have almost decided to stay with them
longer if an incident had not occurred
which made me rather tired of India.
Zone day rumors came in that there
was trouble with the Hindoos. There
were risings in various parts of the
country, and the British residents be-
gan to tremble for their lives. Jack,
as Captain in the army, had to leave his
home to help quell the rebellioas. I, of
course, was left to protect his home and