The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-07

Castle on
the Rhine. ::
And How He Sold 1t to a
Descendant Of Its First
Owner.
By r. A. Mitchell.
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
By r. A. Mitchell.
by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

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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 Bisho6, a German
American who had made a lot OF mon
ey brewing lager beer. Bisbon bought
with the castle few pieces OF furni-
ture. pictures and other curioeities 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-
manned had finally been concentrated
In one room. which. when the owner
was there. he used for a living and
bed room. In this apartment was an
antique fireplace big enough to roast
an OK. Over the chlmDeypiece hung
a picture that was especially priced by
Carl Bisho1f.
Bishof was an admirable amateur
chess player. Indeed, he had on sew
eral occasions tackled professionals
with fair success. The reason he
priced the picture that hung over the
chimneypiece at his castle was be-
cause II represented curious position
between chess players. They were in
medieval dress, the one long and
thin with q black beard, the other
stocky, whose beard was fiery red
The dark man wore his beard at
point. while bis mustachios were turn
ed upward. giving him malignant
expression. The red bearded man
was of 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-
preston of triumph. On q plate at
tached to the frame was the name of
the picture in German. "Checkmate In
Six Moves" There was a legend con-
nected with the painting that the man
who had built and owned the castle
would some day return to repossess 1t.
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 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 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.
1t was a lowering afternoon when
he reached the castle, clouds hanging
low about the battlements. After max
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 big armchair up
before the blazing logs. Not feeling
especially happy In his gloomy abode,
he directed hts caretaker to make him
a hot punch. This was set on table
beside him. and as the hours slowly
passed he drove off his loneliness with
frequent rotations.
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 man came into the room.
Bishofr looked up. expecting to see the
caretaker. He was mistaken. The
person who entered was one he had
never seen. He approached Bishoff
with outstretched hand and with cor
diality that seemed more appropriate
for host than aSuest. Then he drew
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 80 explicit about some
circumstances connected with the visit
one would be warranted In assuming
that he was dreaming. AT first he
savs. 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-
hect him with the picture
Blshoff 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. I have had
hard pull. Do you know came near
being caught In that whirlpool? | was
pulling along when I heard a voice
singing. CHANGING up. saw a beauti-
full woman looking at me. oh. so tender
ly, could not keep away from her.