The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-03

not out his full strength" with a |
mocking smile he continued Prob |
ably the stakes are now too trivial 10 |
make 1t worth while for you to exert |
your full powers. This must he reme- |
died. I, on my part, will stake one |
OF my daughters; you shall, if you win.
nave her to wife, and with her a dowry
OF TWO hundred purses of gold. And
you on your side must, suppose, play
Tor the stake you played for at first.
ana then, you remember, you won i'm
five moves and easily enough
Your majesty" said Osman, who
saw at once that the temper of the
sultan had changed, and who enter
tained no doubt but that his own fate
was already determined upon, "what-
ever stakes you decree must, of course.
be accepted, but this time / have no
new gambit to pit against your un-
rivaled and ever victorious Skill"
The sultan appreciated the compli-
ment, but 1t did not cause him to alter
his decision.
The afternoon of the next day was
fixed as the time appointed for the
playing Of this fateful game. During
the interval Osman pondered deeply on
the best course to pursue in the predica-
ment in which he now found himself.
He was in little doubt that even though
he should win this game, another equal
ly momentous would follow, and That
nothing could avail to keep his head,
on his shoulders if Murad had. as he
shrewdly suspected, determined TO get
rid of him. Yet it was clear that, under
these circumstances, to win would
probably be less Immediately fatal than
to lose it might for a short time de-
lay, if it could not avert, the end that
seemed inevitable Therefore. when ,on
the following afternoon, the Grand
Vizier faced the sultan at the chess
board each of these good players sat
down determined to win if he possibly
could manage it,
They were not alone. A large number
of the great officers and high officials
of the state and the palace sat watch
ing the game which might so suddenly
terminate the brief and brilliant career
of one of the players. Every move
was followed with the keenest interest.
The game was fought with great skill
. and indomtable patience by both con-
testants. 1t lasted long, and the
chances of victory and defeat still held
an even balance.
1t was the Grand Vizier's turn. He
moved his piece. when suddenly it
flashed upon him that the move was q
. mistaken one. Virtually it sealed his
fate. Unless the Sultan should by
some extraordinary obtuseness overlook
, the opportunity afforded him, three
, moves would at once terminate the
, game and cut short the life of Osman.
: He dared not raise his eyes from the
Ii ,rl, -l,A I,,,,-
tarily betray to the Sultan his con-
seriousness of the blunder he had COM
mitted.
For some time the whole assembly
sat silent and motionless. The sultan
! made his delay? Was he gloating over
the assurance of victory and purposely
, prolonging the anxiety and apprehen-
sion of his victim, or could it be pos
sible that he had really failed to OBJ
serve the opportunity provided for him
; and was still considering undecided his
. next move?
The pause continued so long that Os-
man ventured at length to raise his
eyes to his adversary. Rather than
suspense it would be preferable to know
the worst. AS he looked up a strange
sight met his gaze. The Sultan sat with
his head bent down; the afternoon was
sultry and at the very crisis of the
battle he had fallen asleep!
There was little doubt that when he
woke the first glance must reveal the
, opportunity that was presented TO him
Meanwhile none dared to disturb him,
and the unhappy Osman was compelled
. to await, with as much patience and
!, fortitude as he could command, the
! tragic and inevitable result.
No man in that large assembly either
spoke or stirred With calm, unrufiled
= demeanor, truly Oriental, they sat silent
i and watchful till the Sultan should
awake and deign to continue the game
{. which his sleep had so suddenly inter-
!, rupted Silence reigned in the court
u without no less than within the hall it.
= self.
At length the call tn prayer of the
Muezzin on the mosque reSounded
> through the heavy air: Come to pray
u er come to prayer, God is most great
. God is most great. There is no God but
God" Still the Sultan slept, and nc
t one in that bejeweled crowd dared tC
Z disturb his slumber.
At last an incident that none could
|, have foreSeen occurred to break the si.
a lence One of the soldiers stationed al
II the door followed uncOnsciously the eX'
ample set him by his imperial master
+ and fell asleep, and suddenly his scimi-
S ter falling from his relaxing grasp
n fell changing on the marble steps,
e All looked up with amazement-al
e except Murad.
n Then Osman rose and touched the
= Sultan lightly on the shoulder and HI
r fell forward with a crash among the
I | chesSmen--for he was dead.-SaI
: Francisco "Argonaut."
;,