Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11

was an American, q countryman OF
Paul Morphy. have forgotten his name,
but IL was Robert Houdin who acquainted
us with each other-Houdin, the prestidigi-
tator-and il was in his apartments that We
played"
NV ears tingled; the laursls which tacit
fraud had placed npon nv brow scared me
like living Goals Should I reveal my
self3
"It would be the greatest pleasure Of my
life," Moltke went on, 'to meet that man
again that 1 might lay the tributes of my
admiration at his feet
NV resolve was taken. Stepping into
the circle threw open my great coat and
held out my hand to Won Moltke. For q
moment he looked at me as though dazed.
AmericsuP' 81 am Edward Smith, Of
whom you have spoken" was my re-
joinder.
Moltke seized me by the hand. "Gentle-
men," he exclaimed, II have the pleasure
of introducing to you the greatest chess
player in Paris during the tournament
'Pardon," interposed; 81 have no title
to your praise.
"Here is your title" came the reply, and
he took from . small portefenille . folded
paper. IT got it from Andersen three
years ago; it is the score of the game we
played in Robert Houdin's atelier. That
game was drawn, but it Should have been
yours"
"By no MEANS" exclaimed, determined
to reveal the secret of my mechanical ally.
'"The game belonged to you"
"Since you force me to do so," said
Moltke, 81 will make a somewhat humili-
ating cofession. Not one of the moves with
which replied to yours was my own. I
should, beyond doubt, have been defeated
but for the aid of a mechanism which
Houdin had concealed in the chess board,
and which prompted all of my moves"
good old-fashioned American oath sailed
across my lips .'Confound that double
dealing knave," I exclaimed; Eve have
both been duped. The renegade! How he
must have laughed in his sleeve at our
folly! Imbeciles we have been; noddle-
pates; lay figures in harlequinade Of
foolsP' And another variegated assortment
of expletives bewildered the bystanders.
"What do you mean?" interrogated
Moltke, seizing my hand in establishment
81 mean" was my fierce retort, "that I,
like you, fell into the snare which our dear
friend of the Palais Royal had spread for
both. mean that he had prepared this
game before we came; had marked it upon
two cylinders which were concealed in the
board, one on each side; and that after we
were seated, he simply turned crank
prompting each of us in turn"
Moltke burst into ringing laugh, which
was echoed by all present.
San ingenious plot, truiyf he ex-
claimed. ~ have discussed with him the
possibility of constructing an automatic
chess player. He contended that it was
bagatelle to any skilled mechanician.
Monsieur Houdin,' said to him, prove
your claim to that distinctions; sweep aside
the bagatelle' We laid a wager; and,
few weeks later, the day after my first game
with you, he announced to me that the
automaton was completed. Cunning
rogue, he outwitted me cleverly."
Another general laugh followed; then the
Major thick-set, dark-browed man of
about 49, took the word. He had been
scanning the paper Moltke had produced
the score of the memorable game.
81 have seen these moves before" he
said, with measured emphasis; "this is
either the fifteenth or sixteenth of Greco's
perfect games" sFriends," interrupted
Moltke, ''it is very cold here. have at my
barracks some fine old Lacrymae Christi
which should be shed to commemorate this
occasion. Will you come with me?"
Passing his arm through mine he drew
me along, the rest following. With a faint
smile he placed his lips close to my ear.
''Son," he whispered sadly, 'that game
was not drawn; was it? Were We not both
checkmated?"
TrrIrrNp