Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-07-26

tcSluCS l Was Nniall LpHllN W IlOfNAef
II pos be the man taking his own life
looked up at him. His eyes woro liked
on tho board with a terrible stare, and
there appeared 60 be no escape from tho
awful ordeal of being forced 10 stake my
lifo on samo Of chess.
Without consulting me he selected tho
white pieces and moved first lio played
what chess players cali an irregular open
ing, but there Was nothing remarkable or
fantastic about IT, tried to keep cool,
but rs / liftcd tho pieces my hand trem-
blcd aud my hcal felt on fire
l soon discovered that my opponent
know perfectly wcli what be was doing,
and that wh~tcycr tho particular form his
madness might take 70 did not prevent
him fom playing the game accurately and
In earnest. lie quickly forced an exchange
OF pieces 10 his own advantage and secured
q vigorous attack upon my king. Tho po-
sition no doubt was simple ono 20 do
fend, but my feelings Lad been wrought
up TO such "A state Of Excitement that
seemed incapable Of analyzing the most
ordinary combinations
Suddenly was startled by my opponent
almost Kissing between his teeth, Mnte
in six movcsN'
Good heavens! This, then, was the man
Of whom my host had been telling.
cold shiycr ran through me. Those terri
bio words, Mate In six movesV' sounded
In my ears like dcathkncll What did
they mean? asked myself. Did tho de-
mented wretch SEQ his way clear 10 force
mate In six moves In spite Of anything
could do, or was he only tutoring an OK
preston he was in tho habit OF using
which had no significance for the game wo
were engaged in?
tried TO be calm myself in order 10 cX'
anime tho position on the board. 50 far
as / could make out, Il was impossible 10
forcc "a mato in six moves, and beyond that
my opponent had somo advantage in tho
matter of attack our positions seemed TO
be about equal.
After uttcring tho ominous words,
"Mato In six moycs!" my opponent leaned
back in his chair and INDUCED in a series
Of horrible chucklos, which seemed to
make my blood run cold. Thon, rcsuming
his former attitude, he slowly lifted his
queen. "Oner' lie cried as be brought
the piece down with bang which shook
the table. by making this move he offered
me piece, which promptly took, think
ing he had made a blunder which would
give mo the game.
mcnts hesitation, as he replaced one Of
my knights with his own, while J. think
ing ii TO bc piece 20 the good, accepted
the exchange and took the whito knight
of the board The moment l had done so
/ realized that | had fallen into "a fatal
trap. 1t was plain that ] must ho mated
in four moves, and without doubt this
cunning mailman had forCseon the mate
six moves ahead.
"Throe!" lie cried, tho white queen Civ
ing check 10 my king. Great beads Of per
spiration now began To break out on my
forehead. had lost the game, and unless
some one CGmc 20 my rescue | thought !
should most assurcdly be killed. l pre-
tended to be studying tho position, but my
head was busy trying 10 ConcOct some
scheme for my escape from this terrible
dilemma. Seeing, however that my oppo-
nent was getting excited, ! moved my
king to the only available .quarc. -Four
! check" Eo almost shouted as lie moved
! his queen one square back. My position
was now desperate. could only prolong
the game by intcrpo,ing my rock, and, as
l reluctantly pushed the piece forward, !
saw with horror my opponent pick up the
! pistol.
give chcck!' and away went my rock.
! My king had now only one move, followed
/ by mate. Never shall l forget what my
feelings were at that moment, ana now the
! time for action had como l felt powcrless
TO move hand CT foot My head seemed to
reel, and almost mechanically / made my
! last move
six, matc"' hc literally shrickcd, and l
saw him raise tho revolver on a level with
my head. Instinctiycly l closed my eyes,
and the next Instant thcro was loud re-
| port, and ! fell to the ground unconscious.
"iow DO you feel now You certainly
| had a harrow Clcapc'
l opened ny eyes and saw DR.. Charley
! bonding over mo
Is that you, Goctor;" ] murmured.
| Am l really CliycY | thought ! was
! dead. "
You axe not only alive, but unin-
! jugod, was the comforting reply, and
then my host told ne that at theVory mo-
mems the mailman raised the revolver to
fire 1t lac lie bad noiselessly entered the
room and was just in time TO knock tho
would lie assassin arm in an upward Gl-
rcction, SO that the weapon went OF with
out doing amy more harm than Il little
damage to tie room. / had simply been
overcome and f4licn down ia dead faint,
owing to the mental strain that had I'M
dprgono. My opponent had been immedi-
atoly oyerpowcrcd by the keepers who
were waiting in readiness
1t seems that after bidding me good
night tho doctor had had occasion 10 open
the sliding door arrangement, which when
closed cflcctually shut of the house from
the asylum. BY some means my mad OPP
ponclt had slipped through unobscrycd
J and mado his way to the study. His alb
sence had been discovered and the doctor
and his assistants had instituted a quiet
and careful search until at length, hear.
ing "a voice in tho study, they made all
haste there and arrived just in time, as
| believe, to save my life.
When | said goodby to the doctor next
day, made up my mind that it would be
a long time before paid him another Wis
1t, and TO this day l never sit down To q
game of chess without the terrible expert
cncc of that night being wildly recalled
TO my MISUNDERSTANDING.
a Telegraph Language.
Switzerland IS the country Of ideas A
new vocabulary o: ciphers for use in tolo-
! frrotre baa bocr, r,stbt{ohn1 I,rp l.,