Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-08-28
CHECKMATE.

Old Mr.. Archer was devoted chess
| player and an expert, at that He held
chess TO he the only game fit for u gem
tleman There were few of his acauaint-
ances who could cope with him, and but
one Of them who could match him fair
~. That was james Bittles, his lawyer.
1t was close contest between the two
first one ahead and then the other.
Bittles stood high at the bar, but he
mainly won and retained Archer's con.
fidence by his ability as chess player.
He was barely 40, and Archer maintain
| ed that by the time he reached 90 he
would surpass all those around.
Archer had daughter - his only
child. Her father had married late in
girl her mother had died. Lefty held
place in his heart next To chess itself. A
bright. lively and pretty girl was Lefty
Archer, and she would be an heiress TO
something over million. Her father
feared she would become the prey OF q
fortune hunter, and endeavored To avert
II by the provisions Of his will. He neg
lected to execute his testament, how
ever. until Lefty was nearly twenty
years old. anda spinster still. II was none
too soon, for the week after he died sud
denly of an apoplectic fit.
When the will was opened 1t was found
that Bittles was named sole executor and
constituted guardian OF Lefty until she
was 81, and trustee of all the estate, real
and personal. The conditions of the
trust were that, IL Lefty married with
the consent of Bittles, the trustee was
To turn over to her all the property on
the day Of the wedding, and SO long as
she remained unmarried after 2l to pay
her the rents and the interest as they ac-
crued; but If she married without his
consent, she was TO receive only five
thousand a year. and the residue Of the
estate beyond that necessary to secure
this payment was To be conveyed 10 a
third party or her heirs. This third party
was described as:
"Catherine Sinclair, daughter Of Cor
don Sinclair. now or late of the city OF
Baltimore, and the state Of Maryland, il
she be still single; or, il she be a married
woman. then TO the said Catherine Sin
known. 10 her and her heirs forever"
A further provision was that in case
the said Catherine Sinclair. by whatever
name she might he known, was dead,
and had left an heir or heirs, the proper
~ over and above the reserved amount
in the contingency mentioned was given,
devised and bequeathed tc him, her or
them. Who Catherine Sinclair or her
father was, Lefty could not tell, nor
could the lawyer, but il was suggested
that it was an early flame of Archer's.
Some thought that the possible legatee
was mythical, and brought forward 70
scare Lefty from making an imprudent
match. But the power of Bittles in the
matter was as absolute as pen and ink
could make 1t.
Bittles proved himself TO be a vigilant
guardian and IA careful trustee-guard-
ing his ward against adventures, and
managing the estate with prudence and
vigor. Everything went well until about
ten months after Archer's death. Then
the current OF affairs rippled little.
Lefty and Bittles both fell ia love--Ietty
with Carter Cooke, a young man who be-
longed to what. before the late war, was
known as lone OF the first families Of
Virginia." and Bittles, In spite of his
forty years, with Lefty. who did not
care snap for him, looking upon the
middle aged bachelor as venerable per
son. and bestowing her heart upon his
younger rival. Love is like the measles,
and IL we be attacked with ii in middle
age, the disorder assumes an aggravated
form. Bittles had a very severe attack
indeed.
Lefty might well be excused for recip-
rocating the feelings of Carter Cooke
The young man was not only by blood,
but by culture and associations, a gentle
man, with no censurable habits, and
with polished manners. He had a well
proportioned figure, as well as pleasing
face. and he did not even drop his r's. az
% many Of the tidewater virginians do.
He was well liked in New York. where
he spent about half Of the year: and
though not by any means a fifth as rich
as Lefty would be, was possessed Of a
handsome competence. Bittles pro-
nounced him TO be fortune hunter, and
frowned upon his suit. really because Il
WIN NiSikGu 10
make. Lefty was not Of an age to re-
feet on the serious consequences OF her
guardians disapproval. and, had she
been. her cheerful temper would have
bed her to optimism. Then Carter Cooke
was n skillful chess player, and Lefty,
who had been taught by her father, was
about as expert as he. which strength
ened the bond between them.
/ The wooing went on In spite OF the
frowns OF Bittles, and the latter began
10 show the bitterness OF defeat. This
was seen when the young lover, with
I Lettys consent. made a formal proposal
10 the guardian for the hand Of his ward.
mo, sir; decidedly. nor replied Bit.
ties. Il have nothing against you per.
sonaily, Mr.. Cooke Your respectability
Is undoubted: but do not consider you,
nor will any one else, a match for Miss
Archer in fortune. have examined the
statement your counsel laid before me
and find you have barely four thousand
year. while the property OF my ward
yields twelve times thai amount, most OF
II In real estate that is rising In value. ]
should be false TO my duty II approved