Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-12-01
His Castle on
the Rhine.
And How He Sold 1t to a
Descendant Of Its First
Owner.
By F. A. mitchell.
Copyright 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 Blshoff, Il German
American who had made lot of mon
ey brewing lager beer Bishoff 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-
NAMED 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 chimneypiece hung
picture that was especially priced by
Carl Bishoff
Bishoff 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 mt his castle was be-
cause 1t represented 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 a
point, while his mustachios were turn
ed upward, giving him n 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-
preston Of triumph. On plate at
tached to the frame was the name of
the picture in German. "Checkmate 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 ut this legend, say
ing that IL 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. lie considered the problem in
soluble. and several chess experts who
had seen the picture had agreed with
him.
One autumn Bishof, 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 n room
that had been repaired and furnished
for him and his wife and could pro-
vide what Bishoff required In the way
OF refreshments Bshoff would be
obliged to spend one night in the cas-
tie and would do 50 In the room al
ready described.
II was II 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 fire be built In
his chamber, dlned there, and when he
had finished pulled big armchair up
before the blazing logs. Not feeling
especially happy In his gloomy abode,
he directed his cnretaker to make him
a hot punch. This was set on a table
beside him, and as the hours slowly
passed he drove of his loneliness with
frequent poiations
Presently he fell into n 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.
Bishof looked up, expecting to see the
caretaker. He was mistaken. The
person who entered was one he had
never seen. He approached Blshoff
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 bis
hands and, taking pipe from his
pocket, began to smoke.
"Well," he said to Bishoff, this Is
n dismal night without, but pleasant
within. Pm 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 80 sure he was
awake and so explicit about some
circumstance connected with the visit
one would be warranted I'm assuming
that he was dreaming At first, he
says, II only struck him that the man
was very queer looking, very queerly
dressed and wore red beard. But
at his entrance Blshoff did not con
meet him with the picture
Bishoff was 80 astonished that for
some time he made no response In
deed. he couldn't think Of anything to
say. Finally be broke silence by ask
In German:
"Whence come your
From up the river. I have had a
hard pull DO you know / came near
being caught In that whirlpool? was
pulling along when heard voice
singing. CHANGING up, saw a beautI-
fuI woman looking at me, oh, so tender.