The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-07-08
HIS LAST GAME.


and almost the first man he ran
across was Uncle Brill, as everybody |
called him. Uncle Brill was the
champion checker player Of that |
country, and he had downed every
man, stranger or citizen, who came
along. There was something about
this stranger which made Uncle
Brill suspect that he was a good
player. So he doffed his hat and
said:
II begs your pardon, but mebbe
you play game of checkers now
and then to pass away the timer
"Mebbe I do when kin find any
body as knows the noble game, " re-
piled the stranger.
Didn't you ever hear of Uncle
Brill of this town?"
mo, l never did. Is he jumper
or what9"
ellis best holt is checkers, sir. He
hasn't lost a game in the last 20
years.
'Mebbe you might be the critter
yourself2" queried the stranger as
he looks the old man over.
"Mebbe | ar. Yes, sub, that's
my name, though I'm not generally
alluded to as 'critter.
"And you know how to play
checkersg'
II reckon | dew"
THAT good. I've got week off,
and I'm glad to find somebody to
amuse me- Come to the tavern after
supper.
When Uncle Brill left home that
evening, he told his wife he might
be gone two hours. The stranger
was waiting for him, lot of idlers
had gathered, and the game began
at once. After two or three moves
had been made each player saw that
he had an old hand to deal with and
began to hedge. There was no hurry
about playing, The stranger lay
back in his chair and told about the
celebrated games he had played with
celebrated people, and Uncle Brill
followed suit, and when mid
night came only four or five moves
had been made. AS the spectators
all departed the man said to Uncle
Brill:
"Mebbe your wife will be anxious
about you, and mebbe you want TO
go home and give this game to omef'
"Mebbe sot down here to sot fur
three days if necessary replied
the old man, and the game went on.
The pair were left alone in the
barroom, and at daylight neither OF
them had king At 10 o'clock in
the forenoon the stranger got the
first one. Neither had stopped fol
breakfast, but after every move the
stranger would lie back and tell &
story which consumed the mex
hour. At noon Uncle Brill got {
king, but night had come before
each had a pair. The game wen
right ON through the evening up t
midnight, right on into another day
and both were as watchful and Wig
liant as ever. At noon word wa
brought to Uncle Brill that his Gov
had died, but he would not abandon
the game. AT night he got wore
that his old woman was very sick
but he still stuck. At midnight
when they were left alone again
the stranger said:
"Old man, you'd better give it u,
and go home. It'll be ag'in you
reputation, of course, but you'll he
to make the best of it. !"
"I've sot out to sot here till wi
this game or die!' was the reply
and the game went on.
An hour after daylight the firs
comers found Uncle Brill bendin
over the checker board, with hi
hand on king as if preparing for
! move. The stranger was leanin
back in his chair and telling stor
. of how he once played game whic
lasted seven straight days. The vii
} itors came and spoke to the ol
champion, but he made no answer
I Then they laid a hand on his shou
der and found that he was dead.
dead. ehf" queried the pate1