The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18

gator and his host was chess. Sir George Granville had been in the front rank of Eng fish chess players when Crewe disappointed the chess world by suddenly retiring from match chess at the outset of brilliant ca reer, in order to devote his wonderful gifts of intuition and insight to crime detection. His intellect was too vigorous and active to be satisfied with the sedate triumphs of chess; his restless temperament and vital force needed wider and more vigorous scope.
 But, despite the wide fame he had won as a criminologist, chess enthusiasts still shook their heads when his name was men, toned, as people are wont to do when they hear the name of a man of brilliant parts who has not made the most of his life. It was nothing to them that Crewe had achieved fame in the role he had chosen for himself; that the press frequently praised him as public benefactor who had brought to jus skill These were vain triumphs for man who had beaten turgieff and the young South American champion, and had seemed destined to bring the worlds championship to England.
 The chess tie between Crewe and Sir George Granville had long ago strengthened into mutual regard. Sir George liked and admired Crewe. though he did not under stand the depths of his character. Crewe re- with which he controlled his large interests. and the fact that he had never allowed his career as business man to warp the kindli- ness of his nature or interfere with the nat ural generosity.
 They talked of various things: of chess. at first, as is inevitable with two chess play CTS. Sir George pulled up the chess table and reset the abandoned game in order to see if there was not some defense to the blacks position at the stage when the game was abandoned-the baronet had played with the black pieces. He came to the con- clusion that there wasn't, and congratulated Crewe on his attack.
 "Do you know, I cannot help regretting sometimes that you have virtually given up the game," he added, as he placed the ivory chessmen one by one in the box. "It is a long while since England has had really great chess player"
 "Oh, I don't know," replied Crewe. "There are more things in life than chess"
 Some people do not think so," replied Sir George, with a smile. "Your old opponent Merton was telling me at the club the other night that he would consider his life had been well spent if he could but find sound answer to that new opening of Taisker's"
 "That is proof that chess gets hold of one too much," replied Crewe. with an answering smile.
 "Still, you might have been champion of England" pursued Sir George. meditatively.
 Crewe shrugged his shoulders slightly.
 "One cannot have it both ways," he said.
 "You prefer crime investigation to chess?" continued Sir George, inquiringly.
 "In some ways, yes. Both have their fas- cination, but ih chess the human element is lacking. It is true you have an opponent, but he is not like your hidden opponent in crime. When your hidden opponent has in- telligence, then the game is wonderful while it lasts. But intelligence in crime is as rare as it is in every other walk of life Most crimes are like chess problems-once you find the key-move, the rest is easy. The really perfect crime mystery is as rare as a perfect chess problem. As rule, the ma- chinery of the human brain is not delicately adjusted enough, or sufficiently complex, to devise problem both complex and subtle in crime-or in chess'
 Sir George did not speak. It was so rare- ly that Crewe could be induced to speak of his experiences in crime investigation that he did not wish to check him by interrupting. But Crewe showed no sign of continuing He