The Draughts Board.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 56

The Draughts Board.

**"- *i 2 Ifi tkiee evenings ago such a tb|ng as a

checker board was never known in Mr Grattan's house. He and his aged partner have managed to pass the long evenings very pleasantly, and he supposed they were happy enough, until a friend from the East paid them a flying visit, and asserted over and over again that the game of check&s was not only all the rage there, but that it seemed to quicken the perceptive faculties, enlarge the mind, and render the brain more active. After giving the subject due thought, Mr Grattan walked down, town and purchased a checker board, and when, evening came he surprised his good wife by, biinging it in "from the woodshed, and saying: I

" Well, Martha, we'll have a game or two before we go over to the social. I expect to beat you all to flinders ; but you won't care." " Of course not; and if I beat you, why, you won't care," she replied. They sat down, and he claimed the first move. She at once objected; but when. he began to grow red in the face she yielded;', and. he. led' off. At the fourth move she took -a man, chuckling as shs raked him in.

" I don't see anything to grin at," he sneered, as he moved a man backwards.

"Here! You can't move that way!" she called put.

I can't, eh? Perhaps I never played checkers "before you' were born? " She saw a chance to jump two more men, and gave in" the point; but as she moved ha cried out : S " Put thenf nien right back there. I've concluded not to move backwards, even if Hoyle does permit' it "

She gave in again ; but when ha jumped a. man hex nose grew red and she cried out : " I didn't mean to move there. _I was. thinking of the social. ' ' , ' r " Can't help the social, Martha; we must go by Hoyle."

In about 10 minutes she jumped two men, and went into the king row, shouting : " Crown him! Crown him! I've got a king.'' '■ One would think by your childish actions that you never played a game before! '.he growled out. " I know enough to beat you ! " " You do, eh ! Some folk are awful smart." " And some folks ain't,' she snapped, as her king- captured another man.

" What in thunder are you jumping that way for? " "A king can jump any way." '' No, he can't. '

" Yes, he can. '

" Don't talk back to me, Martha Grattan. I •was playing checkers when you were in your cradle."

" I don't care! I can jump two men whichever way you move ! "

He looked down on the board, and saw that such was the case, so he ioared out : " You've moved twice to my once." " I haven't." " I'll take my oath you have." " I can't play against any such blackleg practice."

"Who's a blackleg? You not only, cheated, but you tried to lie out of it."

Board and checkers fell between them. He could get on his hat quicker than, she couldfind her bonnet, and that was the only reason why he got out of , the house first. A Wood-ward-avenue grocer found him- sitting on % basket of cranber-ries at the door, as he waa closing up for the night, and, asked 'him if he' was waiting for his wife to come along. '• Well, not exactly. I stopped here to feel' in my pocket for the- key of the house. I shall sleep on the hay to-night, and see if it won't' cure this cold in my head'! " — Detroit Free Press.