The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-25
a q 80 s5sSsA - AEyS
M(EIll aa!gle
DEATH WON Tie GAME.

Eight months and a half the game had
gone on. And such game, my children!
Tom Penny, Britisher, against Jonathan
Pym, Yankee; England against America;
the Old World against the Newl
Between the Club Electric of New York
and the Club Eccentric of London emula-
ton had exalted itself to patriotism. On
the day of defeat the Gag of the vanquished
nation would float reversed from the bal
cony of the dishonored club and all the
chessboards for six months at least re-
main yelled with Grape.
Thus openly must be carried, and as
frankly borne, these tokens of mourning
and affront, which no revenge should ef-
face.
For such was the condition of the COM
bat-the match to be the only one of its
kind.
The momentous question of the battle
decided upon, then arose the subsidiary
question. Where should the encounter
take place?
They sought ground of Cancellation.
But where find it,
Cornelius Kevick, the impresario, In
charge Of the affair, proposed to charter
steamer, which should be stationed in mid
ocean, equidistant from the American and
she English coast, aboard which the two
adversaries should betake themselves and
there remain while the match lasted. In
genious as it was, however this idea was
forced to the wall. They must find some
other way.
They found tin the electric cable,
which once more was going to merit its
name of "bond of union" between the
Old and New Worlds.
This is how it was that for eight months
and a half Jonathan Ppm and Tom Penny
had disputed by dots and dashes for the
glorious title of Universal Champion of
the Noble Game Of Chess"
At u o'clock, say, Tom Penny would
telegraph to Jonathan Ppm.
And one hour later Jonathan Ppm would
respond.
Dating from Oct. IS, 1889, the game for a
long while had been indecisive Toward
the end Of December Tom Penny showed
signs of weakness, throwing the partisans
of Jonathan Ppm into state of excitement
that set them to quarrcling among them
selves like political bosses"
But suddenly. in the middle Of January
the English champion by genial ruse re-
conquered all mis- lost advantage. Down
went Pyni up went Penny!
At last, on the 25th day of May, 1889, the
American had enc of those inspirations
that conquer even destiny. On the re-
ceipt Of his dispatch Tom Penny had cold
sweat.
But he did net give up-oh, no-and five
days later, on the 30th of May, had posi-
lively CLEAN of hope. A sudden move Of
his adversary had opened to him door OF
safety. One such bEunder at that moment
J - 4 = l. Ia
Tom Penny examined the board more
closely. The biunder was not certain 1t
might cover a supreme stratagem. What
should he think? What course to pursue
of the two in view? Was it sham or errors
Should he pass the door that had been
opened to him? If error, Jonathan Pym
was lost; if sham, Tom Penny was routed.
That day Tom Penny wrote out his own
telegram; he played his last stake and
knew it.
AN hour later, unfolding his message, |
Jonathan Pym smiled triumphantly.
Gentlemen" said he to his colleagues |
Of the Club Electric, wait until tomorrow
In twelve houls' time England's champion
will have signed his own condemnation
The next day in London members of the
Club Eccentric found Tom Penny on the
plexy and still rigidly clutching in his |
hand the dispatch that had killed him.
And already for two long hours in the |
grand salon Of the Club Electric Jonathan |
Ppm had awaited from London the tele |
gram of his yanquished foe
Jonathan Pym frowned and fdgeted |
That telegram he must have-then, and /
then only, could the game be ended. With /
out it the match would remain unfinished .
The door opened and flunky appeared .
bearing on a salver a folded paper.
"A dispatch for Mr.. Jonathan Pym."
lie seized it, opened it and read aloud !
She following four words;
Your adversary is dead"
The paper escaped his fingers and fell to
the floor, caught up at once by those be-
side him to verify the text.
THAT is not alp they cried; 'they de
mand a response"
'They shall have itr' said Pym, and
with a firm hand writing beneath the
line Your adversary is dead'' the two
words Il also!' he drew pistol from his
pocket and sent ball through his brain.
The game was still a draw between
them, but was no longer an international
afair.-Boston Globe.