Page:Betty Gordon in Washington.djvu/162

152 Mrs. Arnold's treasures in the stiff little parlor of the Pineville house. All good Americans know the White House and the Capitol long before they make a pilgrimage to Washington.

On their arrival at Fairfields they found Mr. Littell playing solitaire, and something in his undisguised relief at seeing them made Betty wonder if time did not hang heavily on his hands.

After dinner Bobby proposed that they turn on the phonograph and have a little dance among themselves.

"Oh, that will be fine!" cried Betty.

"Then you can dance?"

"A little—mother taught me."

So the girls danced and had a good time generally for an hour or more, with Mr. and Mrs. Littell looking on. Then Betty sank down on the arm of Mr. Littell's chair.

"I've been thinking of something," she half whispered. "Do you like to play checkers? If you do, I know how."

Maybe Mr. Littell understood that she was doing it largely to keep him company. But he said nothing, and they played checkers for nearly two hours. Betty was a fairly good player and managed to land several victories.

"With a little more practice you'll make a very good player," declared Mr. Littell. "I appreciate your staying to play with a cripple like me,"