The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-12-07
L,ionheart, the
Champion
By JOHN PALMER

|
Russian Jew, but they called hiii
Llonheart for some reason that mac
been forgotten. He was seventy years
old. A patriarchal beard flowed over
his breast, his long locks, white al
snow, hung about his shoulders,
The other, sharp-featured young
man of the same race, sat slipping COZ
fee at the same table In Engels
Strange things happen in obscure parts
of New York Very few la the busy
world knew that the chess champions
ship of America was to be contested
in Engel's In the forthcoming evening
Hour after hour the knot of specta
tors would hang about the greasy Ia
BILE, watching each move in absorption
until the winner rose to receive Their
accamations.
A young woman, pretty in sallow,
oriental way, sat beside young lsaacs.
She had bobbed hair and listened at
tentiyely to the conversation, occasion
ally intervening with some remark
that fully matched that of the men.
They surveyed BolsneviSm, Platonlsin,
Malthusianlsm, Post lmpresslonlsln,
and BergsOnism.
give thousand dollars, Yankov,"
she whispered to the young man as
the patriarch turned to speak to an
admirer. "You can beat him, sure.
He's lost his grip now. Then we get
married and have our clothing store.
Seer
Yankov Isaacs nodded, and turned
courteOusly as the patriarch began to
speak.
well, lsaacs, If you win, l bear you
no malice" he said. Twenty years
| I've been the champion. | hoped for
one more victOry-five thousand dol
lars is not to be sneezed at, and 1t
means that farm in Vlneland Rosie
and he's looked forward to. Ach, II
only they'd played for such stakes in
my young days I'd be rich mani But
let the best man win"
agreed" said Isaacs, and smiled at
the young woman beside him.
The patriarch went away, and one OF
Isaacs' followers took his seat. say
you can beat the old guy easy" he
said. Hear about his son Moses?
No? Why, he's been hooked for get
ting away with his employers money
seven thousand dollars. Old Lion
hearts put up all his savings to get
him set free. l guess his minds pref
ty well mixed up. You'll win, Isaacs."
There was stir in Engers. The Ia.
BILE had been set out. Just an arm
chair each side of its iron stand,
common chess-board on the marble top,
twodollar box of chessmen. The
contestants took their places. The
young woman, at Isaacs' side, re-
NAMED outwardly as calm as If there
was nothing at stake.
Pawn to kings fourth. knight to
bishops third. Then came Lionhearts
move-pawn to Queens knights third.
The young man pondered.
He answered, and after the half
| nDuT VI DItDdl ullDll was HSuiiJ at al
end, Llonheart cOuntered again.
Isaacs had won his way by defeating
dozen chess players of superlative
quality, but he had never found a
master equal to Lionheart. Chess, be-
tween masters Is more rigid than mil
itary tactics Each move binds each
player dozen moves ahead, unless he
can discern some play that will change
the kaleidoscope. That was where
Llonheart exceled. Isaacs grew baf-
fled, played irresolutely. Why was
Lionheart's rock stationary at his
kings pawn's second2
Baflled, he began to wonder whether
what he saw as an undecipherable de-
sign was not an error, something Lion
heart had done and could not rectify
because each Of his own moves bound
LiOnheart to rejoinder. His surmise
grew into conviction. He had feared
that rock; now, boldly, he challenged
it with his queen.
And suddenly he saw tiny beads OF
sweat stand out on Lionheart's fore
head. The old mans hands trembled.
There was stir among the spectators.
Isaacs grew dizzy. Why, Lionheart
had uncovered his queen; in three
moves he could threaten king and
queen, drive Lionheart to disaster.
Lionheart moved, and the spectators
held their breath He had moved In
to defeat--unless lsaacs had not seen
the old mans oversight. Lionhearts
thoughts had been far away with his
son.
Isaacs poised his hand over his
knight. one moye-queen to her bish'
ops fourth-LiOnheart was done.
Isaacs glanced at the girl. Something
Incomprehenslbe was slgnalled from
her eyes. Isaacs moved.
A roar went up, and, swift as
lightning, Iionheart released his
queen. TO the unframed observer, the
game was an equal one. But lsaacs
rose, laughing.
"Your game" he said with an ironical
bow.
"Ah, there's life In the old dog yet"
Llonheart chuckled.
The girl slipped her hand through
her lovers arm. 1--WE can walt, Yam
kov," she whispered. 1T was well
his son God loves those who are