The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-03-26
!. "A TERRIBLE
I BILLIARD MATCH.

O y . B.. . Z a
ing a day in London. It was dread
fully wet, and, having completed my
business, strolled into billiard room.
Both tables being engaged, I sat down
to watch the players at one Of them.
They were both very good players. and
I was glad to look on. When the game
was finished one of them left, and the
other asked me if I would care to play
answered that I should, and the
game began. Though he was well
dressed man and very polite, he had a
certain cunning look about his eyes
that I did not like. We had a very
good game, he eventually winning by
fourteen points.
Have another"' I asked.
II don't mind, if you will come to
my place and have game. I have
splendid board at home"
declined at first, but he pressed me
so that it would have been churlish to
refuse, and at length consented. His
house was only about two hundred
looking place, without a light to be
seen anywhere about it. He took a
key from his pocket and opened the
door.
L don't like having servants about"
he explained. Il like the house to
myself. We are the only inhabitants
of the place"
Whether it was fancy or not I do
,ot0 1,,1tn 1,nc I, int Of
satisfaction and cunning beamed upon
my guard. He passed up two flights
of stairs land then he stopped before a
door and flung it open, saying, at the
same time: "Welcon,e to my billiard
ROOM" I looked hastily around the
apartment. 1t was, as he said, an Or
binary billiard room. A bright fire was
burning on the hearth. The table was
nicely brushed, and there was q good
collection of cues in the rack.
What do you think of :t?' he
asked.
1T is splendid"
I selected a cue, he did the same,
and the game commenced. [ saw at q
glance that he was thoroughly at home
on the table. We kept we'll together
all the game, the final score reading:
Spot, 100; plain, SO.
IN ow we'd better have another
game Two hundred up this time"
I'm afraid l shall not have time," l
replied.
''Oh. yes, you WILL If you haven't
got time. you had better make it, for
intend you to stop and play me anoth-
er game. For heavy stakes, too. We
will play for our livesv
y1,o41 T e,1,o tnI
shall certainly not play on those
terms"
ooh, yes, you will" said he, produc-
ing a revolver, cor else 1 shall shoot
you"
My heart sank within me. [ was in
the clutches of mailman. However,
l put on the best face ! could and tried
to talk him out of it.
why should you seek to murder
me?'' I asked.
TITS not MURDER" he retorted. hot
ly. you have as much chance to win
as 1 have. IT you want to know why
! am playing you, [ will tell you all
about it. I was told last night in a
vision to play someone, and also told
the place to go to. Now you know. If
I did not obey, I should be lost for
ever"
But" I urged, "why should you
choose me?'
1T is fate,' he answered, moodily.
Then his manner suddenly changed:
Put, come, enough of this. Will you
play or not?'
NO" I answered, manfully.
VERY good. I will count ten. If
your mind does not change before
then. you will be a dead man. One,
r. f<>,, f1.n +l,~
-remorseless voice. r!.rz -.
''Ill play!" yelled. --''
''Ah, I thought so. Now we'll ar-
range the terms. Match two hundred
up, to be played between Jenkins and
Morley. Winner to receive losers life.
quite ship shape. isn't it?'' he said,
laughing like child.
But" I said. suppose I win, how
do know, then, that you will not kill
na:'
You have no need to fear" he said;
I must obey the spirit. If you'll wait
half minute, Til 90 and get you a
drop of brandy. Oh!' he went on, as Il
CLEAN of hope shot across my face,
you can't get away"
Alas! tire enough, the place was as
safe as a prison. Would he never come
back? The time passed slowly on. He
had been gone half an hour, when the
door slowly opened and he came in,
dressed as if for masked ball, in the
character of Mephistopheles.
''NOw you know who I am" he said.
AS you may imagine, the sight did
not reassure my shattered nerves
much. Indeed, if anything, 1t made
me worse. He looked so demon-li like
and spiteful. He poured me out a
glass of brandy and handed it to me.
(How sane he seemed in some things
But his mind soon reverted back to
the old topic.
Are you ready to play yet?' he
asked. "
I tried to think of some further ex.
cuse, but could not. There was moth,
ing for it but to begin. He broke, and
I followed; the game was very slow
nobody scoring anything Of any ac
count. AS for me, was too nervous
I trembled from head to foot; he, or
the contrary, being as cool as possible
Slowly but surely, he forged ahead;
was rapidly losing ground, my chance
of winning was small. Suddenly al
idea shot through me. His back was
Turned With ono 1aan r was IN him