Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-30

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. Wers
it not that he has been so sure he was
awake and so explicit about some
circumstances connected with the visit
one would be warranted in assuming
that he was dreaming. At first, he
saws, 1t only struck him that the man
was very queer looking, very queerly
dressed and wore a red beard. But
at his entrance Bishoff did not con-
meet him with the picture
Bishoff was SO astonished that for
some time he made no response. In
deed. he couldn't think of anything to
say Finally he broke silence by ask
in German:
Whence come your
From up the river. have had
hard pull. Do you know I came near
being caught in that whirlpool? I was
pulling along when l heard a voice
singing. CHANGING up. saw a beauti-
full woman looking at me- oh, so tender
ly. 1 could not keep away from her.
Turning toward the shore, soon found
my boat was beginning to whirl With
a powerful effort l turned and pulled
back into smooth water. The singing
continued sweeter than before, but |
stopped my ears with a bit Of cloth
found in my boat and did not look to-
ward the shore. 1 narrowly escaped
the Lorelei."
THE Lorelei!" exclaimed Bishonf.
you tell your experience as il 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. l need a bracer after
my narrow escape"
Taking a mug from the mantel, he
poured out some of the liquor and
drank it of.
zone would judge from the way you
conduct yourself" said Bishon, that
you are at home here"
81 am"
What do you mean?" snapped Bish-
off angrily.
ooh, don't get huffy. Let us enjoy
ourselves together" Then, noticing
chessboard and chessmen on a table,
he added:
do you play chess?"
Yes"
well, there is no better way of
spending an evening. Let US have
game"
He took up the chessboard. set the
pitcher OF punch aside. placed the
board on the table, arranged the men.
without saying by your leave" be
took the first move. Bishof, wonder
ing at the mans audacity, lowered his
eyes TO the chessboard and soon forgot
his establishment in the game. He saw
at once that the stTa niger was an eI-
cellent player. The game was a long
one and for some time neither gained
an advantage; then BlshofT. thinking
he saw a way TO checkmate his an
tagOnist. moved and looked up at his
antagonist as il to say, IN soon have
you now. ny fine fellow"
The stranger looked up. too, and
with a low laugh turned his head
toward the picture Of the chess play
erS that hung over the chimneyplece.
BishoT glanced from the board to the
picture then back to the board. He
started Thee chessmen were Ia the
same position as in the painting. Bish
OF having the advantage. And then ii
dawned on BlshsH that his visitor and
the man with the red beard were one
and the same
81 viii checkmate you in six moves"
said the stranger.
You mean that viii checkmate
you in six moves" said Bishoff.
This against your castle that IL is I
who checkmates yon." He drew forth
a draft for 10000 marks on a bank in
Cologne
Done" said BishoR
His opponent took up a piece and