The Press., 1911-12-06
sk (
 His Castle on
 the Rhine.
 And How He Sold It to a Descendant of Its First Owner. By, F. A. MITCHELL. Copyright by American Press Asso-
 f-...#H citation, 1911.
By F. A. MITCHELL.
Copyright by American Press Asso- citation, 1911.

l. . 1. .. +e*t++.s.
 On the left bank of the Rhine is the ruin of one of those old castles which have stood in that region for centuries. This particular castle some years ago was bought by Carl Bishoff, German American who had made a lot of mon- ey brewing lager beer BishoG bought with the castle few pieces of furni- ture, pictures and other curiosities that were several hundred years old and had been handed down from one pur- chaser to another. With the decay of the castle and the gradual breaking up or loss of these articles all that re- in one room, which. when the owner was there, he used for q living and bed room. In this apartment was an antique fireplace big enough to roast an OK. Over the Chmneypiece hung a picture that was especially prized by Carl Bishoff.
 Bishoff was an admirable amateur chess player. Indeed. he had on sev- eral occasions tackled professionals with fair success. The reason he prized the picture that hung over the chimneypiece at his castle was be- cause 1t represented a curious position between chess players. They were in medieval dress, the one long and thin with black beard, the other stocky, whose beard was fiery red The dark man wore his beard at point, while his mustachios were turn ed upward, giving him malignant expression. The red bearded man was of a pleasant countenance. The picture represented him looking on the board, evidently troubled at prospect of being checkmated by his antagonist, who was regarding him with an ex- pression of triumph. On plate at- tached to the frame was the name of the picture in German. "Che"kmate In Six Moves" There was legend con- nected with the painting that the man
 who had built and owned the castle would some day return to repossess it.
 When he came-so the legend said
 he would assume the position of the red bearded man in the picture, and instead of being checkmated in six
 moves he would checkmate in the same number,
 Bishoff chuckled at this legend, say ing that if any one could get his castle in that way he was welcome to do so.
 He had studied for hours trying to discover Il method by which the short man could save himself and had failed. He considered the problem in- soluble, and several chess experts who had seen the picture had agreed with him.
 One autumn Bishoff, who had run over from America to Berlin, con- cluded to pay q visit to his castle to see that all was ready for the coming winter. A caretaker lived in a room that had been repaired and furnished for him and his wife and could pro- vide what Bishoff required in the way of refreshments. Bishoff would be obliged to spend one night in the cas- tie and would do so in the room al- ready described.
 It was a lowering afternoon when he reached the castle, clouds hanging low about the battlements. After mak- ing an inspection and talking over the conditions with his caretaker Bishoff, who had directed a fire be built in his chamber, dined there, and when he had finished pulled a big armchair up before the blazing logs. Not feeling especially happy in his gloomy abode, he directed his caretaker to make him hot punch. This was set on a table beside him, and as the hours slowly passed he drove off his loneliness with frequent potations.
 Presently he fell into a dose How long he slept he didn't know, but the first thing he did know the door was opened and a man came into the room. Bishoff looked up, expecting to see the caretaker. He was mistaken. The person who entered was one he had never seen. He approached Bfshoff with outstretched hand and with cor diality that seemed more appropriate for host than a guest. Then he drew a chair before the fire, warmed his hands and. taking a pipe from his pocket, began to smoke.
 "Well," he said to Bishoff, "this is a dismal night without, but pleasant within. I'm glad you've made your self comfortable"
 Bishoff has never been very clear in his statements about this man. Were it not that he has been so sure he was awake and so explicit about some connected with the visit one would be warranted in assuming that he was dreaming. At first, he says, it only struck him that the man was very queer looking, very queerly dressed and wore red beard. But at his entrance Bishoff did not con meet him with the picture.
 Bishoff was so astonished that for some time hn made DO rasnnnsA To- Iced. he couldn't think of anything to say. Finally he broke silence by ask in German:
 "Whence come your"
 From up the river. I have had a hard pull. Do you know I came near being caught in that whirlpool? was pulling along when I heard voice singing. Glancing up, l saw beauti- full woman looking at me, oh so tender Iy. I could not keep away from her. Turning toward the shore, soon found my boat was beginning to whirl. With a powerful effort 1 turned and pulled back into smooth water. The singing continued sweeter than before, but stopped my ears with a bit of cloth l found in my boat and did not look to- ward the shore. narrowly escaped the Lorele.'
 "The Loreleir' exclaimed Bishoff. "You tell your experience as if it had really happened. The Lorelei is a myth"
 "Call her what you like. I don't wish any more of her. I'll take some of that punch. need a bracer after my narrow escape"
 Taking q mug from the mantel, he