Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-10-12
HIS CASTLE ON THE RHINE.

HIS CASTLE ON THE RHINE.
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-Amer-
ican who had made lot of money brew
ing lager beer. Bishoff bought with the
castle few pieces of furniture, pictures
and other curiosities that were several
hundred years old and had been handed
down from one purchaser to another.
With the decay of the castle and the
gradual breaking up or loss of these ar
ticleS all that remained had finally been
concentrated in one room, which, when
the owner was there, he used for living
ard bed room. In this apartment was
an antique fireplace big enough to roast
an OK. Over the chimneyplace hung
picture that was especially priced by Carl
Bishoff.
Bishotf was an admirable amateur chess
player. Indeed, he had on several occa-
sions tackled professionals with fair sue
cess. The reason he piized the picture
that hung over the chimneypiece at his
castle was because it represented a Gu
rious position between chess players.
They were in medieval dress, the one
long and thin with black beard, the 9TH
er stocky, whose beard was fiery red.
The dark man wore his beard at point,
while his muStachioS were turned upward,
giving him malignant expression. The
red-bearded man was of pleasant coun-
tenance. The picture represented him
looking on the board, evidently troubled
at a prospect OF being checkmated by his
antagonist, who was regarding him with
an expression of triumph. On a plate
attached 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 check
mate in the same number.
Bishoff chuckled at this legend, saying
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 a
method by which the short man could
save himself and had failed. He conSid-
cred the problem insoluble, and several
chess experts who had seen the picture
had agreed with him.
One autumn Bishoff, who had run over
from America to Berlin, concluded to pay
visit to his castle TO see that all was
ready for the coming winter. A care
taker lived in a room that had been re-
paired and furnished for him and his wife
and he could provide what Bishoff re-
quired in the way OF refreshments. Bish-
off would be obliged to spend one night
in the castle and would do so in the room
already described.
1t was lowering afternoon when he
reached the castle, clouds hanging low
about the battlements. After making an
inspection and talking over the condi-
tions with his caretaker, Bishoff, who had
directed a fire TO be built in his chamber,
dined there, and when he had finished
pulled a big armchair up before the blaz-
ing logs. Not feeling especially happy
in his gloomy abode, he directed his care
taker to make him a hot punch. This
was set on table beside him, and as the
hours slowly passed he drove of his
loneliness with frequent potations.
Presently he fell into doze. 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. Bishott
looked up, expecting TO see the caretak-
er. He was mistaken. The person who
entered was one he had never seen. He
approached Bishoff with outstretched
hand and with a cordiality that seemed
more appropriation host than a guest.
Then he drew a chair befoe the fire,
warmed his hands and, taking pipe from
his pocket, began to smoke.
"Well," he said to Bishoff, "thiS is
dismal night without, but pleasant within.
Pm glad you've made yourself comtoHa-
ble."
Bishoff has never been very clear in
his statements about this man. Were il
not that he has been so sure he was
awake and so explicit about some cir
cumstances 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
a red beard. But at his entrance Bishofl
did not connect him with the picture.
Bishoff was so astonished thatfor some
time he made no response. Indeed, he
couldn't think of anything to say. Final-
ly he broke silence by asking in German
"Wheuce come YOU ?"