The Press., 1915-04-28

possession he was beside himself with rage.
 II have no further stake" he said. Have you not some article" said the stranger, looking about him, "that I would accept for stalker" l. But he saw nothing of any value. The jailer urged him to accept certain articles of furniture, but he declined them all Finally he said:
 Have you any prisoners?'
 "One."
 "On what charge is he confned?''
 Murder. He is to be executed next week.
 "Ah, ifev'
 <. "Yes; a life. The prisoner has of fered me money to release him.
 And why did you not accept" E Ut would be my ruin.'
 The stranger seemed lost in thought; then suddenly he said:
 q will give you chance to win 100 louis without taking any risk. You are good fellow. and l have learned much about chess from you. I will stake 100 louis against your prisoner that I beat you three games in success sion. In the first I will checkmate you in ten moves. in the second in nine and in the third in eight moves" Y The jailer's eyes were big with won- der eff you could do that you would be Garnier the great chess player of Paris"
 Did not say I wished you well?' s"YOu are very kind, monsieur
 Come, write out an agreement to re- lease your prisoner on the terms have made" and the speaker began to set the chessmen.
 This was too much for the jailer. The stranger was willing to present him with 100 louis for the instruction he had given him. On the terms it was impossible that he should not win. He had beaten his adversary most of the games. His losses had happened to come on games where the stakes were high. What the stranger now proposed was impossible. When the chessmen were set the stranger placed 100 louis on the table. and the games began.
 To the jailer's amazement his adver-
 
 Perceiving that something was wrong. the beaten man would have backed out. but the stranger reached for the order for the prisoners release and held it.
 Proceed" he said "If I lose game I will give it back to you"
 The jailer's only hope being in the opponents failure, he consented. The stranger won. The jailer lay back in his chair and gasped.
 Shall we play the third?'' asked the man who had come to learn chess.
 No You are Garnier. You can win without moving piece"
 aEhe stranger put the order for re lease in his pocket and showed the hundred louis over to the jailer.
 'I, am ruined" said the poor man, refusing to touch it.
 The stranger took out pocketbook and drew from it large number of bills. "Take this," he said, 'and go to Virginia. l will remain in your place till you are safely out of France
 That night the jailer and his family disappeared, and the next day the pris- oper, Martin Valkier. turned up in Switzerland.
 One day the man who had won at chess appeared at the dwelling on the Ya1kier estate. It looked like house of mourning, for it's head had been condemned to die. The stranger on this account. was refused admittance. He then sent to Marie a bit of paper dated at Berne, on which was written:
 Marie-You have my consent to your marriage with the bearer, M. Garnier. YOUR FATHER.
 Marie came into the room where her suitor was waiting with a face full of anxious wonder. Garnier told her how he had learned of her fathers misfortune and how he had laid plan to free him, admitting at the same time that he was the chess player who had astonished Paris with his skill and adding. "Now that your father is safe in. a foreign country we can bide our time 10 free him from this imputation."
 The real murderer was eventually caught, and after his confession Martin Valkier returned to his home. But be- fore this tile lovers had been united. : U. S., Not U. S. A.
 Do you know what is the proper abbreviation of the United States? It is U. S.. It is not U. s. A. There is widespread and apparently utter ig-