The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-01-21

chess table at midnight with an armed
%lunatic, who tells you, in terrible ear
nest. that he will murder you II ne
beats YOU. What a tiendiSh Whlm!
UIfler ordinary circumstances. | knew
| was liable to make mistakes. ana
lose Il game against an inferior player,
but it is difficult to describe what l
felt at being obliged to plcy, when Il
false move might cost me my life.
A hundred thoughts flashed through
my brain. Could my grim and terrible
opponent really play a skillful game:
If he could. should | be able to make q
stand agairs II him until someone came
to my rescue? Even if | could beat
Kim. what guarantee had | that my
life would not still he in danger? And,
besides, | was morally hound 10 pre-
vent. if possible. the man taking his
own life.
| looked up at him. His eyes were
fixed upon the board with II terrible
stare, and there appeared TO be no es-
cape from the awful ordeal of being
forced to stake my life on Il game of
chess.
Without consulting me. he selected
the white pieces and moved first. He
played what ch~ess-playcrs call an IT.
regular opening, but there was nothing
very remarkable or fantastic about 1t.
| tried to keep cool, but as lifted the
| pieces my hand trembled ard my head
felt or fire
| soon discovered that my opponent
knew perfectly well what he was do
ing. and that whatever the particular
form his madness might take, it did
not prevent him from playing an eX-
t~relaely skillful game. He quickly en-
forced m exchange of pieces to his
own advantage. and secu ed n vigorous
attack upon my king. The position.
no doubt was n simple II to defend.
but my feelings had been wrought up
to such a state of excitement that i
seemed incapable Of Analysing the
most ordinary combinations.
Suddenly l was startled by my OPP
poEent almost kissing between his
teeth:
Mate in six moves"
Good heavens! This. then. was the
man Of whom my host had been talk
ing. \ cold SILVER ran through me.
The terrible words: Mate in six
moves" sounded in my ears like a
dcath-knell.
What did they mcan:" | asked my
self. Did the demented wretch see
his way clear to force Il mate in six
moves, in spite of anything | could do?
Or was he only uttering an expression
he was in the habit of using. which had
no significance for the game we were
engaged inG"
| tried to calm myself. in order to
examine the position on the board. SO
far as | could make out, it was impossi-
bic to force a mate in six moves. and
except that my opponent had some adj
vantage in the AMI Of attack. our
positions seemed to me about equal.
After uttering the Ominous words:
Mate in six moves" my opponent
leaned back in his chair and INDUCED
in n series of horrible chuckles which
seemed to make my blood run cold.
Then. assuming his former position, he
slowly lifted his queen.
'One."' he cried, as he brought the
piece down with a bang which shook
the table.
BY making this move he offered me
a piece, which l promptly took. think
ing he had made a blunder which
would give me the game.
Two" said my opponent, without a
moments hesitation, as he replaced
one of my knights with his own, while
/, thinking it to be n piece in my favor,
accepted the challenge, and took his
knight off the board.
Three" he cried, with a white queen
giving check to my king.
Great beads of perspiratiOn now
began TO break upOn my forehead. |
had lost the game. and unless me0
came to my rescue, | thought | should
most aSsuredly he killed. | pretended
IN mo StnRyinp tho nnSitinn hnt ~
head was busy trying to concoct some
scheme for my escape from this terri
BILE dilemma. Seeing, however. that
my opponent was getting excited. |
moved my king to the only available
square.
"Four-check!' he almCSt shouted, as
he moved his queen n square back.
My position was now desperate. |
could only prolong the game by inter.
posing my rock, and as I reluctantly
pushed the piece forward l saw, with
horror. my opponent pick mp the pistol.
"Ffve-check" and away went my
rock.
My king had now only one move, to
he followed by a checkmate. Never
shall forget what my feelings were
at that moment, and now that the time
for action had come, / felt pOwerless TO
move hand or foot. My head seemed
to reel, and almost mechanically |
made my last move.
"SiX-mate" he literally Shricked.
and | saw him raise the revolver on a
level with my head. ~Instinctively |
closed my eyes and the next instant
there was a loud report. and / fell to
the floor unconscious.
How do YOU feel low? You had q
narrow escape"