The Washington times., 1901-11-03

an adventure or about which clings the
slightest association Of mystery. Conceal
meut, indeed, except with regard to the
real object of my combinations" has al
ways been repugnant 10 me; and as for
adventure, / have never willingly dared
anything more serious than n voyage to
America or a few nights in Budapest. EX-
element is bad for chess. Allow your
brain to he upset, and you may overlook
a mate in two.
Now To my narrative. In 1898, as You
will remember, I became champion of the
world. defeating the holder. after very
tough contest, by ten games TO eight, with
several draws l WIS immediately chal-
lenged for return match, but circum-
stances hindered me from responding for
some time In the summer Of 1891, how
ever, all the preliminaties were arranged,
and ! was preparing TO set out for Mos
COW, where the match was to he fought.
was in the best of health and spirits.
and confident Of retaining my title; for,
while / had improved since my last con-
test. my opponent had, perhaps. deterior-
ated. Before departing 1 played a few
exhibition games at Simpson $. in which
1 showed clearly that l had lost none of
my skill.
On the evening of the 2Sth Of August I
gave the last of these exhibitions. 1t was,
1 remember, blndfold performance ana
l won nine of my ten games. Ihe tehlh
/ could also nave won: but to win II would
have involved exposing a little combina-
tion which I intended to play on on
Ieschevitsky in Moscow, and l therefore
deliberately permitted my opponent TO
enjoy his little triumph. At i O'Clock the
last of my antagonists resigned, ana SCI
off placidly for my humble lodgings
walked; for chess players even the great
est, cannot afford small luNuries. Brains
are not well paid in these days. There Is
more real thinking in one of my Evans
Gambits than in ten novels Of --. But,
then, what can you expect? To succeed
you must be only Just superior TO your
fellows.
1 was walking gently on, thinking out
nv little trap for Leschevitsky, dreaming
indeed. of anything rather than OF poll
ties and assassinations, when suddenly
noticed that two men were walking close
behind me. l confess it-I have no phys
ical courage. Look at my size, if you
wonder at it There are some chess play
ers who are tall and strong, but they are
not the greatest. / Gr,ckened my pace,
but the two men followed. Ny heart beat
quickly-shau I own it2 l ran, though
violent exercise is not the kind OF train
ing in which I indulge before a great
match l find gentle walking sufficient
However. did not get far. In ten strides
the two men were up with me, and each,
not urgently, seized an arm. Do you Won
der that I was terrified? I looked round
for help. but no one was in sight.
Don't be afraid" said one OF my cap
tors buietly; come with us ike a SEN
sible imam, and no harm will happen TO
YOU. Resist he added more sternly
and we shall know what to do.
1 yielded to superior force, and accom-
panied them meekly enough; SO meekly,
indeed. that though We passed several
policemen on our march 1 gave no sign.
A warning compression Of their fingers
on my arm, in fact, reminded me to re-
main quiet After twenty minutes or so
of rapid walking, we reached a house in
a by-street Here my compa anions knock
ed. The door was instantly opened, and
after few words in a language which /
did not understand. the doorkeeper ush-
cred US upstairs into a room on the second
floor Here all my terror did not prevent
my instant perception that l had fallen
into the hands of Nihilists, Anarchists, or
some other secret society; for round a
long table We're gathered some twenty
men upon whose faces was stamped the
unraista3Sable mark Of desperation and
crime, while there was also not wanting
that indefinable look of superiority and
dignity which showed that they were not
ordinary criminals. At the head of the
table sat an elderly man who might even,
in other circumstances. have been called
venerable, SO regal and commanding was
his aspect, and so awe-inspiring his voice
To this aged Rhadamanthus my two
captors introduced me, in a few words
which ! guessed TO be Russian: indeed,
some Of them. from my cosmopolitan way
of life, ] was able even to understand:
they were not complimentary to me.
gathered that the miscreants fancied they
had got hold Of a poor poitroon, on whom
it would not be hard to impose their com
nands. The president seemed rapidly 10
grasp the situation, and then turned TO
me. He spoke in English. in which there
was but the slightest trace Of foreign
accent to be detected.
Your name is Cohen?' he said, inter-
negatively.
1T is ] replied.
"A Jew
Yes; but my family has been in Eng
land for century or more
you are q chess-player?"
drew myself up proudly. 81 am"
answered. Most people are aware Of
that fact.
And you are the champion OF the
woT,d?" he went on.
For the last three or four years l have
enjoyed that distinction"
And you are going to MOSCOW at the
end of this week to defend your title?"
Il am
Very good Now, let me assure you
that If you obey cur instructions you are
in no danger whatever" He smiled 4
very sinister smile. l was more awed by
that smile than by the gloomy faces that
lined the table. But if you deviate from
our instructions in the slightest degree
your life is not worth six months pur-
chase" He paused again for his words
to have their full effect.
As for me, ] cannot explain with what
terror they filled me: / was as one
stunned. The president watched me with
his keen eyes flaming from under his
shaggy brows. As If satisfied with HIS in
specti0n, he went on in a gentler tone:
Let me repeat, this service involves no
danger and no iishonor to you. / know
all about your chess skill. We are con-
WINGED that you can easily afford to throw
away Two SAtl'S III your HldltA Win
Lescheyitsly-"
Il cannot sell my games, I said; for
here he had touched me on a tender spot.
Not even all the terror Of that room, not
the worst that they could do. should
make me prostitute my skill for gain
Chess Is the one sport. if sport it can he
called, which has never been tainted with
the slightest whisper OF suspicion; and the
honor OF the noble fraternity of chess
r.IaNers should be safe in my hands /