The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-11-10
CheCkmatiOg the Devil
IoriginaLl

tOFiBinaLl
A young man sat In a cafe fitting a
spoon on the edge of finger bowl. He
had finished bis dinner and was smok-
Ing his cigar. His face was a picture
OF dependency. A gentleman entered
the cafe. looked about for q vacant
table and. seeing none, seated himself
ct the one occupied by the melancholy
man. The stranger dlned, rinsed his
lips and fingers. wiped them with his
napkin and lit cigar. The young man
still sat broodlng.
Pardon me-" said the stranger. "You
seem distressed. Perhaps may re-
lIeve you"
There was a kindly, irresistible tone
In the voice, and step by step the
stranger won the young mans conf
dence till at last he confessed that the
cause Of his distress was love.
"UnrequittedT asked the other.
mo; the girls father will not con-
sent"
That's bad, and she-will she not
marry you without his permissIon3".
'No."
Him. said the stranger. "That'a
doubly bad. II seems to me that your
only course Ia to convince the father
that
"Oh, no one can convince him OF any.
thing. ! wish was as certain OF one
thing rs he Is Of everything"
The stranger called for a bottle OF
wine and invited his newly made ac-
quaintance to join him. The latter
produced a card with the name George
Wincheil on II. The stranger glanced
at II. but, whether from inadvertence
or intention. failed to respond with his
own card
When the bottle was empty WlncheIl
ordered duplicate. and, his mind be-
Ing on his obdurate would be father
in-law and his tongue being loosenOd
BY the wine, he told his companion
much about the old mans idiosyncra-
sizes. One feature seemed to interest
the stranger.
Hes got picture hanging in his
library OF the devil playing chess with
a young man for his soul. The devil
looks triumphantly at the young man,
on whose face ls depicted despair. The
chessmen stand In such position that
no move can possibly save him from a
checkmAte."
How do you know thatr' asked tho
stranger.
Because II Is 30. Mr.. Granger, the
man ! am talking about, has had nu-
merous experts to look at the picture,
aud they all say the devil must win in
four moves. I've studied II out my
self with the same conclusion. Here
Is the board" And. taking out an old
letter and a pencil, he laid down the
position OF the pieces.
The stranger looked at the diagram
thoughtfuliy for few minutes.
well" asked the young man, don't
you seeT'
"Yes, see, said the other
Il told you tue devil had him cor.
nered.n
"Just as the owner OF the picture
has you coruered," replied the stranger,
with a smile. "And now am COINS
70 bid you good night. All the world
loves a lover. and you may be assured
that love you. l wish could help
you In your affair. by the bye, could
you secure me- look az tine pletureT'
Certainly"
George Wlnehell having obtained
from his sweetheart the necessary per-
mission, called with his newly made
friend, They were ushered Into the
library, and while there looking at the
picture It's owner entered.
"Are you sure" asked the stranger,
''that the young man Is beatenf
Perfectly" said Mr.. Granger.
II doubt t."
doubt TEL Haven't had dozen or
more chess experts TO make the matter
certalnf"
II am sorry to disagree with them"