The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-01-19
After His Own
Heart
NNNNNNNNN-N
BY AID SCHUSTER

w had been cut to the heart by the
perfdy of Minerva Jones he decided
to become confirmed bachelor. Adam
was wealthy enough TO play the part
and romantic enough to embellish the
role with those touches and graces
which fiction gives it.
At forty Adam Laird was known as
a woman Halter. He was known also
as a handsome man who owned large
home in which he lived life of ease.
The few men who had been invited
to join him at cards or discussion re-
ported his library was as comfortable
and handy a place as a man could
wish. In Tannerville there were
many who, in the stress of domestic
affairs, yCarned more than once for
retreat like that of Adam Laird. 1t
was assumed by these men that Adam
was riotously happy.
Adam tried to take comfort in his
sadness. He was fond of imagining
that Minerva Jones would look upon
the wreck she had made of his life
and shed bitter tears. 81 am account
able to no one but myself" he unused,
"and therefore 1 am happier than any
man in Tannerville." But for all Of
that, the hours were slow in passing.
The bachelor took to chess as
companion to his loneliness. With a
rule book, he studied the moves and
on a board before him conducted
games with an imaginary opponent.
Then he subscribed to q chess maya
zine and in time considered he was an
expert There was no one in Tanner
Vile with whom he could play.
An idea came to Adam after reading
a chess problem in his magazine. 1t
was signed c. Y. Riddle, Minnowville,
a name he had seen attached to many
another communication on the subject.
Adam wrote Riddle proposing that
they carry on game by mail. He
even offered a silver cup for the win
ner.
Before the month was out the game
was on, and it was game to thrill
the soul of the ardent chess fan. Abb
ner had a whole day in which to de-
eide his move. Then he mailed pos
tai card to Riddle carrying the de-
cision and waited until he received,
the card which revealed the manner in
which his play was countered.
Riddle was good chess player.
Adam consulted his books, studied
hours over his board, and played as
if his life and reputation were at
stake. 1t took six months to play
that game and Riddle won. Exhausted
Adam went for a vacation in the
woods. He would return and have his
revenge.
Adam sat before his chess board
undecided as to the opening gambit.
"At last I have put Minerva and
women out of my mind. l will live for
a higher purpose. l will give my life
to chess !" Before he went to bed he
mailed his card to Riddle and the Sec
ond great game was on its way.
The bachelor was enough of the
chess player to realize that c. Y. Rid
die was player after his own heart.
AS the game progressed there came
the desire to meet the man, to play
with him over a common table. So
Adam wrote including the words:
"You are a player after my own
heart" And Riddle accepted on con-
dition the other would make the trip.
81 find" wrote Riddle, Il will not
be able to leave Minnowville. Let me
know when you expect to come"
The adventure started off in a dis
concerning way. When Adam rang the
bell at the Minnowville address he was
welcomed by a calm-eyed woman Of
thirty.
81 am looking for c. Y. Riddle, a
gentleman with whom l was playing
a game of chess"
The woman smiled. 81 am Carolyn
Y. Riddle" she answered, land you
are Adam Laird? You cannot imagine
how 1 have enjoyed our camel"
Adam gasped. His chess route to
happiness was blocked by a woman!
He should have guessed it, he told
himself. They were everywhere. But
this woman who smiled with so much
of understanding could play the game
as well, if not better than he. She
was-and this was his consolation
an extraordinary woman.
81 thought you were a man." he
apologized, land yet l might have
known by the-er-delicate way you
handled your rocks" He blushed and
told himself he was talking like an
idiot.
Suppose" said c. Y. Riddle 1--WE
start on that game"
Adam, at the chess table, looked at
the waving brown hair brought almost
into his face as the girl leaned over
the board He could not fix his mind
on knights, bishops, pawns and the
rest. 1t seemed to him somehow that
this was what he had been wanting
for a long time, girl to sit opposite
him at table, at chess, breakfast
any kind of table.
Every evening for week he called
to continue the game and all the while
he knew he was beaten.
"It is all up" he said when she
checkmated him. He looked at her
| and thought he read his future in the