The Washington times., 1901-11-03
IL A KINGS GAMBIT

We shall lose them. for we do not play
according to Steinitz; but their loss will
make no difference to the ultimate result
of the match.
This is an extraordinary proposal" !
said
1T is; we do not act like ordinary be
ings We are not ordinary beings. But
do you consent?"
You must give me time" l answered.
My chess reputation will suffer, and
cannot permit that
"OnIy temporarily. You play two games
according to our directions. and the re-
maindor as you please. The reputation
you lose one day will be regained the
next"
But how can you direct me? You can
not come and give me hints during the
game"
No; you are to play from directions
given here and now"
''Ridiculous?H l cried. you do not know
the moves that Leschevitsky will make
and the result will be most absurd. In
fact. many of the moves may be quite
impossible or Illegal
I'VE will risk that" said the president.
But what will be thought of me?' l
/
all the world to see. This match is not
played in corner; the eyes of every
body are upon il. How can l make my
self so contemptible?''
Then" said the president, 'ff you are
obstinate, there is no more to be said"
He signed to the two men vino had
brought me to the meeting "Blindfold
this gentleman he commanded They
obeyed. in spite of my frantic, if feeble,
resistance.
Now, carry him to that chair and tie
him in it"
As soon as this was done, and so effec-
tually that / could scarcely move a limb.
the president advanced slowly toward me.
In the dead silence could hear his steps
like the notes of doom.
Now" ne said as the drops of sweat
broke ou1 on my brow. we are deter
mined. We give you five minutes Then
Get the garrotte ready he said to some
body.
You who have never been in such posi-
ton may fail to realize its horror. You,
on the other hand, who have no reputation
that you value, who have never struggled
to attain. and at last attained, distinc-
ton in any walk OF life which is to you
worth more than life itself. may smile at
what to you is the ridiculous scruple that
kept me so long undecided What is it to
you, the mere performance of a set of die
tated moves upon a board? Why one way
Of arranging a few bits Of bone rather
than another? Not so did it seem to me.
1t was death either way: a physical death
If ! refused, a moral death If i consented.
Never again. l knew, would chess be as
it had been; never again should I hold
OH
was hard. Thoughts of all kin is coursed
through my brain as rapidly as It is said
they do-through the brain of one drown
ing.
-Four minutes gone, said the stern
voice OF the president -You have one
minute in which to make your choice.
Still silent?' he added after a pause;
and"-turning to his -followers-''you told
me this man was a coward?"
He showed precious little fight NUT
tered one Of my two captors. who was OBJ
Vionsly one of those poor fools to whom
material things alone appeal.
4 coward 1 was and am; but the choice
they had given me might have made an
apparent hero of a pupil-teacher. Every
man, however timid, has one thing which
Will make him turn. out of the silence
came the ticking Of the presidents watch,
which he was holding in his hand to count
the seconds. 1 mechanically counted the
sounds while uninterruptedly pursuing an
other train of thought. Scruples, counter
scruples. chased each other through my
brain; but l saw that it l yielded chess
WAS over for me: II had lost ali that
sacredness which had hitherto secured
my undoubting devotion. l would never
give way.
''Fifty-five," said the president Fifty
six! Fifty seveni"
II was not cowardice nor the dread Of
death that made me change. but simply
the uncomfortable impulse to decide one
way or the ether. ! have felt it in chess,
when my clock was running out: the i'm
pulse to make a move 1 knew to be bad
rather than hesitate longer about good
one. Many people must have felt the
same.
q give in" I said just as the sixty was
being pronounced.
THAT is wise responded the president
in a kindly, condcscending voice. 1t is
not pleasant to die young"
But l replied. all my hatred of my
bargain returning on me now it was ire
vocable, that only gives me more years
Of misery to 20 through. You are aware
that / shall never be able play chess
again?"
I'VE have some notion of that" said the
president. DO not think VIC fall to enter
into your feelings. We are quite con-
scioIs that you are making a great sacri-
fee" A pause. Remove the bandages."
he said TO his assistants; and | was re-
stored to a mockery of liberty And
therefore. he went on, the society has
decided to compensate you for the loss of
your livelihood by the sum of five thous-
and pounds. / did net tell you of this
before; / could see by your attitude that
such an offer was the very thing TO make
you refuse even to the death; but now
that you have promised, it can do no
harm"
Even then, however, | felt and must
have shown an intense repugnance 10 the
idea Of selling my gifts for money; for
he proceeded. as If answering my un-
spoken thought, You are not receiving
bribc. You consented before This is an
entirely unexpected honorarium You need
feel no shame. Now we have just a few
triiing formalities to 90 through"
Here began a horrible ceremony. the
details OF which / spare the readc7. in
voiving all the most detestable ing-nmtIcs
OF mental torture which the human mind
can invent. IT came to this. that / bound
myself 10y terrible imprecatiOns 10 reveal
nothing OF what had happened until three
years had passed. This over the president
handed me a paper containing the two sets
Of moves l was TO make.
There is no need to disguise from you
their general meaning" he observed.
They are a code. For example. your first
move is d l TO D f-no outrage TO chess
81.
thing in our code. What, you cannot