Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-09

NoAC' va, az. Ill ucIcs IL you
win, you'll get her back. So, I don't
see-''
Feminine logic" he snorted, AMI
bent over the board. His elbows
were on his knees, his head in his
hands, his fingers tangled in his hair.
A dozen moves.
Check" she breathed.
Eyes. That's it. If there were no
checks in the game I would not fear.
So far, it appears, have none to
give"
She started. A great light broke
in upon her. So this was what was
keeping him silent? So this was tho
trouble, was it-money? Being sure
now. she could tantalize.
With half-closed eyes she regarded
his bowed head, musing silently. Its
my last chance to tease him and I'll
make it count. Torment him good
If I am to be your slave for the rest
of my natural life, I'll be the tyrant
as long as I can, my future lord and
master. You poor, dearest, most
foolish, bestest of dear old boys,
20"
"Check!" he blurted, savagely. Tie
tide was turning.
"Ah! Asking so soon? My king"
But the man Strengthened up, rigid
and white us marble. She had gone
too far-was frightened. The taunt
was cruel. She hastily placed a pawn
before the threatened king.
"You see, I do cherish my king
after ALL" she said, tenderly.
eyes; a pawn will do was the bit
ter reply. 1T has done before and
will again.
"Really?'
"Yes," desperately. 81 once lived
two weeks on my watch"
why, I've lived on the watch ever
since l knew you'll" with wide-open in
nocence. Then, with smile of keen
intelligence: Before papa located
the Maidenstake-that was his first
mine, you know-he lived three days
on his overcoat. Regular goat"
"Wh-y-" But the subject was a
dangerous one, and he let it res,
where it. was!
Silence again. From the brooding
forest came the splashings of distant
water playing among the rocks.
More moves-his, calculated and
wary; hers, studied, but for Q differ
tnt end.
well, that's all over. See. I OFFER
check" she whispered. His hand
plunged for his knight; but. in light of
recent disasters, he stopped, and long
and carefully surveyed the squares.
Then he accepted the opening. She
langhingly moved an innocent pawn,
and under the black batteries thus IN
masked he found his game all but
hopeless. Again he began to boil. while
she listless1y, on dainty finger, tried to
balance the captured queen. From the
board he looked at her. Never had she
played such a game. Was it accident
young luck? Was she budding wom-
an, rich, lovely, loving and lovable. his
for the asking-a pearl. or a coquette,
beneath contempt? "Whichever you
are. I will conquer. Man must mas
ter he told himself-and the moves
went on.
'If l win" he murmured.
She said nothing-only flushed.
"Ah, young lady, I may yet have
my queer" and he pushed white pawn
to within one square of her king row
'You may-if you can break through
my defenses," came the prettily defa ant
retort. and with it toss of the head
and a flash of white teeth and dark
eyes.
"Castleing? All, I'm afraid that that
is the trouble. Castles, when once used
are hard to get along without"
Not at ALL assure you. I would
rather have bishop and kni ght-with
perhaps pawn thrown in-than any
castle. Besides, have enough for tw c
-see?" and delicate fingers rested on
the tips of the two ebony castles, in
defiance of all rules. "Nov, you won't
make me move them, will you, just be.
cause I touched them to show YOU
will you?" and, bird-like, her head was
turned sideways and half invitingly up
on the rack. What did she mean? Die
she mean it-a Desdamona hint-o1
was she joking, heartlessly, on danger
Gus ground, only to stiffen, repellant
and wither him if he dared? This CIR
woman-his wife! Ecstasy! But he
futtered back to earth.
"And I would rather have my queer
than the whole checkered board OF
life" he said in low, vibrant tone; il
| thrilled her with sudden, breathless
| nameless dread-an exquisite fear
! The white pawn had stolen into the
black king row.
"Now, give me my queen!" he de
manded, exultantly, trembling with ,
curbed throbbing.
Not yet" she warned; you must
win first"
ooh, that's easy"
| "Is it?"
| He was stunned. For an instant tn.
! girl famed with shame, fearing, panic
stricken, that she had been overbold
forward, unmaidenly. Heart-wrnng
she was about to take refuge in an icy
impregnable reserve, when
! '-Nhat a fool am" he blur ted out
the picture of bewildering despair
The honest frankness surprised her t.
a ripping laugh. The situation wa!
saved--and he was master of it.
"Check" "Check." "Check," cam,
the words, measured and merciless
vet as rich and fervent with soul year,
ing as cello chords.
"Oh, dear! What'll I do? You'v
won mel mean-that is-you hav'
me-