The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-11-04
A Friendly Game Of Checkers ,

will get the checker-board, III play you
a game-you're learning so lapidly that
it's really a pleasure to try quits with
you"
Mrs. Spoopendykc gigs.ed with de-
light, kissed her husband or the top of
the head and futtered away to find the
board and checkers.
(which shall | take, the white or the
red men ?" she asked, as she pumped
down in a rocker about foot aad half
lower than his easy chair, and arranged
the apparatus at an angie of fifty de-
grees.
81 think you Inexperienced my sug-
gostion," retorted Mr. Spoopendyke. 81
didn't propose to 60 sliding down hill at
this season. Ny idea was a game of
checkers, and il you think those men are
going to stand around on board tipped
up on one end, and wait to be moved,
you're not thoroughly acquainted with
their habits. There can't you hold it
like that" and Mr.. Spoopendyke jerked
his wife's side Of the board up to her
chin and began arranging tue white
checkers on his rows.
"May be I'd better put book under
it," recommended Mrs. Spoopendyke.
''Or if you could lower your knees lit
tie, it would come even"
every likely" replied Mr.. Spoopcnd-
kylle, "but my knees weren't constructed
with especial regard to checkers. They
were put where they are and fastened
and they won't run up and down like a
flag. If you can't hold up your side Of
the board, we won't play"
ooh yes, certainly" said Mrs Spoop-
endyke. "Let's see, is it your move, or
mine ," and she jabbed man right across
the line out Of the lower square of the
double corner and gave the board hitch
! to rest her arm.
"What are you trying to playP de-
manded Mr. Spoopendyke, "Think this
is game Of base ball Don't you know
you've got to move cattecornered
faint your move, anyway. Put that
back. There. Now I'll move there"
"Oh | know you're going to jump
me, you always do" squealed Mrs. Spoop-
endyke, picking up the checker she had
moved before and putting it in her month
while she studied the prospect. ''If l
put it here you'll
"Swallow it, why don't ye! If ye
don't want it jumped, why don't we swal-
low itr' interrupted Mr.. Spoopendyke
"Cant we leave the measly things alone
till We get ready to move! Put itdown,
1 tell ye.
Mrs. Spoopendyke restored it to it's
square and kept her thumb on it so as
not to lose her move.
'If put it there, can you Jump p" she
asked, wiggling it around and finally
drawing her hand away in jerks as if
afraid to leave it.
.'Just watch and see" grinned Mr.
Spoopendyke, as he popped man over
it and gathered it in.
s'Now III move here said Mrs.
Spoopendyke. 81 don't know, though.
Perhaps I'd better move here" and she
chased a man over half dozen squares.
"Going to move in EN- alll" demand
ed Mr. Spoopendyke. think that
mans triplets and goes In six places at
once Move it there Now Let me
see. Let me see, and Mr.. Spoopendyke
began to whistle.
Mrs Spoopendyke glanced around to
see that the pillow shams had not slid
off, and then up at the curtains to see if
they hung right, and then the turned to
the board again and shoved man into
another square.
"What We doingl" howlcd Mr.. spoop-
endyke. faint your move! / amt
moved yet. Going to play this thing all
alone Put him back and wait till |
move"
"Mrs. Spoopendyke put it back with
a SIGH, and raised the BOARD little to
get a rest for her elbow on her knee.
"Hold it still, can't we p scowled Mr..
Spoopendyke. "What dye think this
thing is, anyway, wash board9 Well,
l. amt, and it amt a water-pitcher,
either. It's a checker-box and wants
to be held level. Now I'll move here"
he continued, not noticing that he left
his king row open.
"Then do 1 jump these two men and
get kingr inquired Mrs Spoopendyke.
sOf course do. Crown me. I've got
the first king" and Mrs. Spoopendyke
clucked Historically.
.s.No you amt either. | didn't mean
that move. If you can't play checkers