Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
JOBSON PLAYS CHECKERS

JOBSON PLAYS CHECKERS
When Mr. Jobson came home the other
afternoon he had package under his arm
which he deliberately unwrapped on the
dining room table as soon as Mrs. Jobson
had put away his coat and hat The pack
age contained fine new checkerboard and
checkers.
Il have determined to do some reverting
to first principles during the long winter
that is upon IS" said Mr. Jobson, and in
stead of putting in about four nights a
week at the theater. Mrs. Jobson-''
| why, when did we ever go to the theater
four nights a week?'' inquired Mrs Jobson.
-four wearisome nights per week at
| the theater," continued Mr.. Jobson, as if
he had not been interrupted sI intend to
| resort to simple methods of amusement
| that entertain while they at the same time
exercise the mind; It's queer that we've
| never played checkers during all of these
| years; come to think of it, though 1t isn't,
| either, when consideration Is given to the
| way you've dragged me out of my home,
| night in and night out, ever since we've
| been-----''
Now, you know" interrupted Mrs job
| son, that we do not average two nights
| out week during the cold weather
| and
$50 that we haven't had time for such
| calm, peaceable, homelike ways of passing
J tht evenings DIT checker playing, went
Mr.. Jobson. Did L ever tell you that
when l was a young fellow 1 could just
| beat the head off anybody 1 ever played
checkers with, Mrs. Jobson? Well, L could
| VI course, l don't profess to be any sort
| OF champion now, but L guess, after all,
| l can hold my
Il haven't played since 1 was a young
/ girl, said Mrs. Jobson. 81 won prize,
! though, L remember, in a competition we
mad between us girls at the game of give
| away-not the real game, you know
| Il know what you mean-childs play"
said Mr. Jobson, indulgently. 'Weil. I'll
teach you the real game. OF course,
~ not play with you on even terms
TOT some weeks-IH give you couple
| the principles of the game fixed upon
your mind 1t is game requiring some
little intellect, checkers is, Mrs. Jobson, but
| do not agree with those who assert that
| the female mind is entirely incapable of
| how" '
| Mrs. Jobson did considerable rejecting
curing the progress of the dinner. She felt
that she could eternally waIlop Mr.. Jobson
| at the game of checkers, for her father
| who had been the champion of a whole
| county mad taught her the fine points of
| the game from her little girfhood Mr. Job
| sons allusion to the female mind however
| decioed her, and there was a slight com
| preston about her lips when, after Jobson
mao finished his newspaper and cigar thew
sat down at their first game of checkers
Now, the object of the game" Mr.. job
l
| late all of your opponents checkers that
you cam finally leaving him nothing to"
On, l know that much about it, said
Mrs. Jobson. And not to break your king
row if you help It, And to lead your
| opponent into traps And to make him
Jump once, SO that you can get two or three
OF his men. l remember that"
| 'Oh, you do, do your" INQUIRED Mr. lob
| son, with confident air. Il suppose that.
| while I've been smoking you've been looking
| up the game i'll the encyclopaedia? How
70
| gene. Now, shall l give you a couple of
men out of my king row to start with, Or
shail we begin on even terms, just for the
| purpose of permitting me to show you how
| TO manipulate The men? You needn't feel
| badly, you know, if l beat you after giving
you a couple of men, for
| We'll, said Mrs. Jobson. perhaps it
| would be as well for the first game for you
| to give me-
| Certainly, certainly, my dear" said Mr..
| Jobson, with extreme amiability. Now,
| you just take what two you like from my
| king row-those'n do-and make any move
| You like-h'm-not such a weird move that,
| either-well, l guess 1 can block that little
| game
Yes, but you must jump you know"
| said Mrs. Jobson.
| Jump where?" inquired Mr.. Jobson, with
| surprised look "Oh, yes, now L see. Well,
now-jump again, you say? By Jove, SO 1
| must! Weller"
1 Mr.. Jobson was gazing at her with a
shocked and somewhat suspicious express
| 9io4i. oue ildu given MIN a couple of
| and then, taking three herself had landed
plump into his king row. where she was in
| a position, with the aid of the king, to eat
| him up in detail.
| Now, who in the world would think
| you'd have known how to do that?" said
| Mr; Jobson, looking considerably crest
| fallen. Accidental, though, of courseo
| Must nave been an accident HIM. Well
| the accident has just cost me the game so
| Wen try another of the same sort Just
| PICK couple again off that king row of
1 hT.ruy
| your accidental playing for general results
| this time. My move? Eli? My jump? And
| again? Blamed if 1 haven't permitted my
| self to fall into another accidental trap.
ana you re in the king row again, All comes
| from my being in trance instead Of really
| watching the game. I'll"
Give up?" inquired Mrs. Jobson. sweetly
| 'Ho! Give up, you say!" said Mr. Jobson,
| a bit sternly. You're taking that air
about it, are you? Give up! Why, of course
| won't give up! Just go ahead and move.
| precisely three minutes I'll
Jump said Mrs Jobson.
HUH" asked Mr.. Jobson. studying the
board why, you get two of EN- there.
| don't you? Blamed if"
Give up now?" inquired Mrs. Jobson,
| calmly.
Look a-here," said Mr. Jobson, suppose
| you don't assume quite such a lol the con-
| quering heroine comes manner in this
Lets play even men this time. DEAR"
| said Mrs. Jobson. It'll be moro interest
| ing"
why, you won't have show in ten
thousand playing even up with me, and l
wouldn't subject you to the modification
Of
Suppose we try, anyhow" said Mrs.
| Jobson
| "oh, well. if you've got so pulled up over
| the pair of accidental, fiukey games you've
| won, why, just to take you down a peg,
I'll
| 1t was Mr. Jobson's first move. Instead
| of massing his forces in the center. he be-
gan playing that fragile game from the
| sides, and before he had made five moves
| Mrs Jobson had two of his men for one of
hers, and no chance of his getting his man
| back. Mr.. Jobson's forehead began to per-
| spire, he leaned his chin in his hand and
panted heavily and he II ga rdnd Mrs I1,l,=