Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-05-23
A TERRIBLE
BILLIARD MATCH.

Ing day In London. 1t was dread
fully wet. and, having completed my
business, strolled into billiard room.
Both tables being engaged. sat down
to watch the players at one of them.
They were both very good players, and
/ was glad to look on. When the game
was finished one of them left. and the
other asked me IL would care to play.
I answered that should, and the
game began. Though he was well
dressed man and very polite. he had
certain cunning look about his eyes
that 1 did not like. We had a very
good game. he eventually winning by
fourteen points.
Have another?" asked.
Il don't mind, II you win come to
my place and have game. l 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
! yards from the hotel. large, bare
| looking place, without a light TO be
seen anywhere about ii. He took
| 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 l do
| not know but as he said this CLINT or
| satisfaction and cunning beamed upon
his face. and. somehow, threw me on
/ my guard. He passed mp two flights
! of stairs and then he stopped before a
| door and flung 1t open. saying. AT the
/ same time: welcome to my billiard
room" | looked hastily around the
/ apartment. 1t was, as he said, an or
! dinary billiard room. A bright fire was
i burning on the hearth. The table was
! nicely brushed. and there was n good
collection of cues In the rack.
What do you think Of itF' he
asked.
lit is splendid"
4 I selected a cue, he did the same,
and the game commenced. ! saw at
glance that he was thoroughly at home
on the table. We kept well together
all the game, the final score reading:
Spot. 100; plain. SO.
Now 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 IL you haven't
got time, you had better make 1t, for |
intend you TO stop and play me anoth-
er game. For heavy stakes, too. We
will play for our livesw
What do you meanY' / shouted. II
shall certainly not play on those
terms"
"oh. yes. you will" said he. produc-
ing a revolver, '.or else | shall shoot
you"
My heart sank within me. / was in
the clutches of mailman. However,
put on the best face could and tried
to talk him out Of 1t.
why should you seek to murder
meF' asked.
IT'S not murder" he retorted, hot.
". ssYou have as much chance to win
as / have. III you want to know why
) I am playing you, will tell you all
. about IT, / was told last night In a
: vision to play someone. and also told
, the place to go to. Now you know. II
: did not obey. should be lost for
ever
"But," / urged. why should you
choose meT'
"It is fate" he answered, modify
:, Then his manner suddenly changed
{ "But, come, enough OF this. Will yor
: play or notT'
NO" answered. manfully.
VERY good. / will count ten. II
your mind does not change before
q then. you will be dead man. One
: two. three. four. five, six" went on the
] remorseless voice.
a "I'll play yelled.
: "Ah, | thought SO. Now well Ir
n range the terms. Match two hundred
up. to be played between Jenkins ant
Morley Winner to- receive losers life
Qnite ship-shape. isn't itH he said
I laughing like child.
8 But" | said. suppose / win. how
II do know, then, that you will not xii
d met''
You have no need to fear" he said
must obey the spirit. III you'll wal
half a minute, I'LL go and get you ;
8 drop Of brandy. ohp' he went on. as {,
d CLEAN of hope shot across my face
: "you can't get away"
= Alas! tire enough. the place was al
a safe as prison. Would he never com
back? The time passed slowly on. III
had been gone half an hour. when TIL
i door slowly opened and he came in
. dressed as IL for masked ball, In tn
e character of Mephistopheles.
II "Now you know who am" he said
d AS you may imagine, the sight di'
u not reassure my shattered nerve
II much. Indeed, If anything, 1t mad
: me worse. He looked so demon-lik
= and spiteful. He poured me out
!. glass Of brandy and handed II to me
le 0Iow sane he seemed In some things
IT But his mind soon reverted back I
al the old topic.
al Are you ready to play YETI h
II asked.
10 tried to think OF some further ez
- cuse. but could not. There was notl
I, ing for 1t but 10 begin. He broke, an
= / followed: the game was very slow
20 nobody scoring anything Of any az
Is count. AS for me. I was too nervous
by trembled from head to foot; he. o
r the contrary, being as cool as possible
A. Slowly but surely, he forged ahead;
"A was rapidly losing ground. my chanc
OF winning was small Suddenly n
| IIoa obnf fhrott0h rua IIta hoctx xys,