The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-05
THE OLD pRAueHTs BOARD.


There comes a pleasant story to my
ears OF ex-President Cleveland. ..Cleve
his title In those days-happened TO be
spending a few days at the home of a
relative in a reposefsl hamlet The young
mans visit was during the winter. when
the place was deSolate and dreary
enough. When he got his bearings. tired
Of tramping about in the snow and ice,
he sometimes dropped into Uncle Silas,''
the village store. One gray-skyed after
noon he came upon the regulation circle
Of gossips. One Of the characters of the
place was sandy-haired, smalI-eyed.
pucker-faced Ike Sanders. a prodigious
boaster. This local Sir Oracle was a con-
firmed checker player Lazy and shift
less. the long winter hours were passed
by him up at Uncle Silas' where from
4 favOrite corner he watched the VIC
Tins On the afternoon that Grover en-
tered, the excitement over in that cor
ner seemed To be running. milder
faced, middle-aged little man was nerv-
Ously bent over likes slow and impressive
moves of the checkers. The game was
close and Sanders opponent, no other
than the village schoolma ster, had held
a slight advantage: suddenly Ike sur
rendered one of his men to the foe, who
promptly seized the opportunity. An
other man was yielded. and then the trap
became APPARENT. and the devoted dominic
rushed to his ruin.
.Ha-ho, Ho-hoi Why. you can't play
checkers any moro than you can scrape
the sky, was IsaacS taunt, as he
grasped his victory.
The poor schoolmaster. his thin cheeks
pinking with modification. shrank back
with faint excuse for his defeat. Ike
carelessiy rearranged the draushts,
boastfully placed the board over on the
firkin. and looked No with challenge
in his eye. Say, Uncle Silas.' he called
out. have We got anybody else THIN
they can play checkers here? No? Well,
put the board away" Uncle Siias adj
rnitted that Isaac was master at the
game and was making preparations to
place the checkers on the desk when the
young stranger, plying the schoolmaster,
found voice:
I say. Mr.. Sanders. would you mind
trying a game with me?'
with you? Sho! young fellow, you
don't want TO play against Ike San
ders,''
We'll would be willing to try.
"Oh. come; you can't play nothin
against me I'm tired of beating this
village. anyhow. Now, take the advice
of a friend and don't waste your time,
young man"
= might give you some trouble
though"
"Humph! You're sassy enough about
it, and TO take down your conceit a peg
or two, I'll let you have a game"
Once more the firkin was moved into
place and the knot of spectators peered
over the shoulders of the contestants
and old Silas again resumed mis- wOnted
attitude. As the game advanced there
was no sound in the room save the clatter
of the wooden blocks as they changed
from square to square. The young
players black men wedged themselves
boldly in among the whites. Isaac began
TO pucker up his thin lips Hoon his fin
gers opened and shut nervously as his fist
lay against his hips, and his left foot
tapped impatiently on the pine boards.
His moves became hasty and his manner
irritable. Lookers-on took in the situa-
ton; glances of relief were interchanged.
some holder ones nudged their neiShbors,
and soon Ike didn't know what folks
meant by ''disturbin the game" When
few more moves effectually placed him
IN coventry and his remnants We're COM
pletely hedged in he began really to I'M
derstand His under lip dropped and he
had only voice enough to murmur:
''Wa'al, the first games yOurn, and
that's all We kin reckon on The second
game started The result was as before.
Ike's enemies crowded around to see him
put down by that there young Grover
-leveland." Another and another victory
was wrested from the crestfallen Ike.
When the fifth contest failed to change
the tide, Sanders. unable to control him
self longer. pushed his way out through
the door, followed by jeers and laughter
from former victims, now become tor
mentors. Young Mr. Cleveland received
enthusiastic congratulations, his eyes
flashed triumphantly, and a smile. that
ultimately became famous, lurked in the
| creases of his chubby face.-Chicago
Inter-Ocean.