The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-27

mortal man, I reckon had any business
O. ruboin' knees with Yves Cotterl under
no airthly checker-board in all this vale
otears.
mind onc't tn come along a high-ton-
ed Teller from in around mi nop'lus SOM
ers.-Wuz a lawyer, er some p'fessional
kind o. man. Had big yaller luther
kivvered book under his arm, and a
bunch O. these-'ere big envelopes and a
lot O. suppeenfes stickin' out O. his breast
pocket. Mighty slick-lookin' Teller he
wuz; wore a stovepipe hat sorto' set
way back on his head-sos to show off
his Ginerl Jackson forr' ed, don't you
know Well-sir. this Teller struck the
place, on some business er other. and then
missed the hack at ort to a TUX him out
o here sooner'n it did take him outl-
And whilse he wuz a-loafn' round, sorto'
lonesome-lilxe a Teller allus is in a strange
place, you know-he kindo' drapped in on
our crowd at the Shoe-Shop ostenchably
to get a boot-strop stitched on, but l
knowed. the minute he set foot in the
door, at that Teller wanted comp'ny
wuss' n Goblin.
Well, as good luck would have 1t, there
set Yves, as usual with the checker
board in his lap, a-playin' all by hissef
and a-whistlln' so low and solem' like
and sad it rally made the crowd seem
like religious getherun' o. some kind
er other, we wuz all so quiet and still
like, as the man come in.
Well. the stranger stated his business
set down, TUX off his boot, and set there
nussin' his foot and tallkin weather fer
ten minutes, I reckon, fore he ever
| 'peared to notice Yves at all. We wuz all
back ard, anyhow, bout talkin much;
besides, we knowed long dfore he come
in, all about how hot the weather wuz,
and the poor chance there wuz o. rain,
and all that, ana so the subject had
purity well died out, when Jest then the
feller's eyes struck Yves and the check
erboard,-and TIL never fergit the warm,
salvation smile at flashed over him at
the promisin' discovery. "whatr says
he, a-grinnin like a. angel and a-edgin'
his cheer lords Yves, have we a check
board ard checkers here?"
I'VE hev.' says I, KNOWN at Yves
wouldn't let go O. that whistle long
enough to answer-more'n to mebby nod
his head.
And who is your best player?" says
the Teller, Hndo' pitiful-like, with an
other inquirin' look at Yves.
Him." says /, a-pokin' Yves with a
peg-fioat. But Yves on'y spit kindo' alb
sent-like, and went on with his whistlin'
Much of a player, Is he?" says the fell
Ter. with a sorto' doubtful smile at Yves
agin.
plays a purity gcod hick'ry," says I,
a-pokin' Yves ag'in. yves" says I,
there's a gentleman, at 'ud mehby like
to take a hand with you there. and give
you a few idys." says l.
Gees" says the stranger, eager-like a
settin' his plug-hat keerfur up in the
empty shelvin' and a-rubbin his hands
and snilin as confident-like as old Hoyle
hisse'f.-"Yes indeed, I'd be glad to give
the gentleman" (meanin' Wes) "a Idly er
two about ChecISers-if he'd jest as lief
ca use | rtck6n ef fhere're any one thing
at do know more about an another it's
Checkers" says he; land there're no
game at delights me more-pervidin', O.
course. | find a competitor Sat kin make
it anyways inrerestin -
Got much Of rickord on Checkers D.
says 7.
WELL" says the Teller. IT don't like to
breg, but I've never ben beat-in any le-
gitimut contest says he, land I've play
ed more'n one o. them" he says, here