The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-01-29


placed upon siranders sioaideft
We took our place upon the white
squares, While the chief ordered some
Of his du.ky warrior. 70 take positions
on the black squares.
"We were al arranged then for
actual playing. II vas q rather pic
turesque sight from the chiefs high
point Of view, but the horrible import
o. the whole Performance gradually
daWned upon us, and we had no eyes
for the beauty or picturesqueness Of
the scene. We watched StranGer
With pale faces, while that individual
returned our gaze sionily and eooily.
He vas playing for a terrible stake,
and Is lives depended upon the skiA
Of his moves. The chief was no mean
player. although ordinarily Strander
couid essiiy have beaten him, but
the anxiety Of his position seemed 70
tell severely on him. he played ap-
parcntly with reckless haste, making
blundcrs that brought forth harsh
laughs from the chief and wild shouts
from the spectators One by one
Siranders pawns we're captured and
removed from the board. Then one
Of his castles followed. and next a
knight. His king was also nearly cor
neTed, SO that for q time Il looked as
II 1t was caught. The old chief had
the word check already framed ca
his lips when Stran6er seemed TO pull
himself together with an effort, and
by 6 dexterous move eXtncaie3 his
king from it, porilous position.
"The game then proceeded more
slowly. Strander studied the dusky
warriors of his opponent a. they stood
in their positions on the queer chess
board. He moved the few remaining
fellows Of his crew with sl0wness and
precision. had been selected as
knight, and ! found myself time au6
again brought into such close proxim-
ity to the chiefs knight that J feared
Tor my freedom. But IN some strange
way Strander alwsys brought me out
Of the dangerous position, and by far
sighted planning gave me chance 20
capture some Of the Tavns Of the en-
envy.
My greatest trinlaPb came vhehI
captured in a double play the chiefs
bishop and castle Nothing could
have made me feel hsppiera, ihatm
mont. and ] could see the chief scovl
with anger and determination Tie
loss of these men made the battle
more equal. and The chief grew nery-
Gus and restless HIS fingers PLAYED
feYerishlv Riih his long tunic and his
mustarhe was twisted and tVuled
several times between each play. His
warriors also los, their cheerful man
ners and 10 longer shouted when be
made move.
"But Stunder vas Ikea sphinx.
lie was sol,crand serious, end his eyes
vtu glued upon the plsyers before
him. Thought he often looked al me
with q queer expression. and even
when be vas Watching hos opponents
plav a CLEAN from the corner q his
ewes appeared to take me IN Was he,
after an, merely playing with the
king 10 give him the impression that
it vas a hara-ioughi game Ibezan
to helie,e that De- Was only fooiing
with bis antagonist. and thst the game
was well within hand. This suspicion
vas further confirmed hy the way hc
eyed me. I fclt certain thsi be hsd
selected me for the sharp work, snd
ihst be uss phnningA graud coup
which WOULD end the game J grew
more confident al this aud br,aihe1
easier
"But following this came a series
OF mi.hsps or mistakes which reised
the hopes q The hloodthirg varri
ou around, -Four pawns, castle, and
I a bishop were swept in rapid suoces-
SION from the chess board ) fairly
csptd IN surprise az this. coming So
so0n after uy confidence In Siren
ltr's strategy The shouts 0iapprev-
q which rent the ar made me feel
faint and diny / looked around.
There were barely half DOZEN of my
crew left On hoard The others had
an been captured, The game vas
surely lost, and cur lives would paw
( the penalty,
"rhc Ola ehieiin hs g,ee made tu0
Upid moves tocorner Simnder's king
and queen. Strandsr appeared fright-
/ ened and demoraliEgd, raeU he Quiz
I ctlymade a few moves. and in ayoice
that seemed plaiDuvely modest ana
frightened. he said;
Your maiesty ischeCkedf
~rho chief u,,fva q sort ~ eroul
ana moved his king Is one side
Stmnter followed up his advantage.
and called 'check again. Ia some
mysterious way Stnnasr had ar.