The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-01-28
An Up to Date
Medieval ale
By RUTH GRAHAM

va -
lonely coast. have an assistant who
takes my place at night for week
then l take the night and give him
the day. There are one or two others
connected with the station who arc not
operators. One of these is il fine chess
player, and having him with me en-
abled me to while away many an hour
when l had nothing to do
Now, what l am going to relate
don't ask any one to believe. | should
certainly not believe it myself If any
one told it to me as bona fide expe-
rience. l do not say that | didn't
dream it: that did not experience 1t
when unconscious l make no expla-
nation whatever. That you are at
liberty to do for yourself. only as
sert that to me it was an actual occur
renee.
One night when YVES on duty alone
l amused myself when not sending or
receiving message working out soil
taire problems on the chessboard.
Presently heard football behind me,
and man stepped into the operating
room. The moment he did so heard
the sound Of distant thunder
Were going to have Storm" he
said. II prefer spending the time
while it lasts in here than outside If
you don't mind"
assured him that he was welcome,
though I confess he was not. did
not like his looks; there was sinister
expression on his face. There was no
to being alone with him.
II see you play chess" he said. Pm
very fond Of it myself We. might
have game while waiting for the
storm to be over
care you not afraid to be in an cleo
storm?' asked.
II afraid? What is there to be
afaid off,"
"A bolt
"a bolt!'' sneeringly. Young man.
do you know what electricity is? NO?
Well, have always known what it
is. Perhaps you think this towering
affair of yours something wonderful.
It's very clumsy. But I'll admit it's
an improvement on the old system Of
wires. You don't feel the electric
waves rolling around the globe. do
you? do. They are dashins against
me all the while"
This is a bad go. thought-alone
with mailman: storm coming on.
There only remains to get an IS o S"
call to make the situation diabolical.
"Come," said the stranger, taking a
seat facing me and pulling the chess
board partly on his knees, lets have a
game"
A vivid flash of lightning and 81
multaneous crash sent a thrill OF hOr-
ror through me, but seemed to have no
! more effect on the stranger than If
some one had struck a note on mu-
! steal instrument. l feared for the ap-
paratus towering over cur heads. My
visitor, having placed the men. moved
a pawn. l was too bewildered to play.
did not touch piece
"Come. come. Mr. Operator said the
stranger. Don't be ratified by little
thing like that. You'll get something
more exciting before long. There's
ship out there only about hundred
miles. She's running at full speed into
mist But the lookout doesn't see
it; he's asleep. If you wish to know
, who made him doze, did. l put the
steamship company up to trying to get
on with a reduced force. That did the
business. Check!'
l suppose had played mechanically
and without knowing it. for the word
Check woke me up to the fact that
, my pieces as we'll as the strangers
had left their original places, and. col
lecting my ratified faculties, took in
the situation, which was that my king
was in check.
l doubt if there is anything except
chess that under the circumstances
would have kept my faculties absorb
ed. have a, passion for chess prob
lens. and despite the storm and the
disagreeable expression on the mans
lace CuIcICu lulO IuS f5d"C WIN az
my mind. soon got my king out Of
check. but in another moment he was
checked again. heard the instru-
ment click. but at the moment saw
chance to checkmate my antagonist.
and, fearing the combinations would
leave me if delayed, went on with
my moves But my antagonist elud-
ed me, and was brought up with an
lOther "Check!'
1t was evident that l was in hole
that would require all my brain power
to get me out of. and. though was con
scious Of the rafting of the instrument.
l did not know what was being trans
mitted got out of this hole only to
be led into another. with an occasional
chance to checkEate my antagonist.
such opportunities always ending in
failure
Then came q break. and the next
thing knew was lying on the floor
and my assistant at the instrument
The stranger had gone.
"Vhot'S tho matter ." I asked