Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-06
IEAPINe FORWARD, PLUNGED 1T INTO
THE KINGS HEART.

In the Empire Service club. Piccadilly. whose
members are mainly retired Indian civil ser
wants chess numbers many adherents. Members
come and 60, but chess remains. 1t is part OF
the institution.
When Galsworthy dropped in after focr-year
absence and announced that he had retired on
pension be was welcomed to the chess table where
Dunning had reigned supreme as far back as
memory goes. But Galsworthy. though obviously
far inferior to Dunning, game after game.
After a while 1t was noticed that be did so By
a peculiar combination Of pawn. and queen play.
As chess players know. a player who can force
any OF his pAwns to the opposite base OF thu
board without its being captured en- route, may
exchange it for a second queen, an advantage
which decides the game almost Immediately In
his favor.
cit is a Persian trick" said Gaiswcrthy. 'It
is named 'shah's mate after celebrated shah
who invented ii. 1 learned it from Rassul
Kahn"
The Afghan chief whose wife murdered
bim?" asked Dunnlng.
81 was in command Of the mission that was
sent to him." said Galsworthy. 'Rassul was a
tributary Of the Indian government. and when
his misdeeds eliminated in his numbering his
SON. the heir apparent and shutting up the
mother IN a rat-infested dungeon. IL was decided
that mission should be sent to remOnstrate
with him. As a matter OF fact, Rassul was
then homieidal maniac, but this we did not
know. What knew that he was a chess
enthusiast, snd. as had some experience Of the
game, was selected TO lead the eompsny into
his capital.
when we were one days march from the
city We were Suddenly surrounded by TRAssuiis i
entire army, horse foot and artillery. Resist
anee would have been suicidal. We submitted
to capture. being. though armed. ostensibly a
peace embassy.
I'VE were taken before Rassul. and there.
assuming all the dignity 1 could mister, I
warned him to reform. He thought awhile and
asked me II 1 played chess. When 1 admitted
this be smiled in a diabolical manner ard PROM
Used me a game the morrow.
That evening. after 1t was dark, I was con-
Quoted to a pavilion in an open field, in COM
pany with eight Of my infantrymen. two troop
ers, a couple Of civilian interpreters whom I had
brought, and two carriages. The rest Of the
party were escorted TO the frontier with all
honor.
Next morning, when awoke, discovered
that we were drawn up at the base Of a gigan-
tic field, plowed In alternate squares to produce
the effect Of q huge ehess-board. At the oppO-
site end. 800 yards away, was Rassul Kahn on
throne. with his retainers. And then learned
the diabolical scheme that had been Matched.
Rassul was matching his wits against mine for
king, the soldiers pawns. the two troopers
knights, the carriages representing castles. and
the clerks bishops. being opposed By RaBsul's
scldiery and a couple Of fanatical priests.
"But as I had no queen the mother Of the
murdered boy brought out from her dun
geon. daSed and staring vaeantiy around her,
and placed at my side Then. from our thrones.
Rassul and directed the game.
I'VE were unsrmed; the Afghans armed.
-
from the field amid the Jeers Of the multitude
each Of my poor men who came within range Of
capture was literally hacked to pieces by his
antagonist. My queen taken early in the
play, but apparently at Rassul's command was
not harmed. being merely placed under guard
''In spite Of all my efforts. saw that the
game was going against Suddenly I be-
thought Of the shah's trick. Rassul, intoxicated
with victory. had forgotten IT. stsalthiIy
pushed up my three remaining infantrymen.
while Rassul was hammering at my defeuses.
had been forced from my throne and was
moving from square to square. Three moves and
should be checkmatedi / saw the ruffians,
upon their squares. gloating over my anticipated
murder. And then. suddenly I turned the ia
blea I thrust my men forward; two were cap
tured and instantly hacked to pieces; the third
pushed home the square adjacent 10 Rassld
on his throne.
"a queen. a queenF shouted the multitude.
And they brought forward the mother CT the
murdered boy and set her in my soldiers place
by Rassul's throne.
''She stood there motioniess one instant; the
next with a wild cry. pulled something from
the bosom OF her gown, and. Ieaping forward.
plunged IT into the kings heart. II was
'Checkmatei' she cried they told me afterward.
Come. Dunning. III play you another game"