Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04
Mr.. JoBS0N OWNS UP

IOd say tHhl tilc tidihS oAS Pc~nS@ -
that everything is ready?' said Mr.. job
son to Mrs Jobson at dinner Tuesday even
ing last. The Jobsons were due to leave
for the seashore on the following day at
noon.
Trunks all packed. everything ready"
replied Mrs. Jobson.
''Uh-huh-all right" said Mr.. Jobson
That let's you out. Now, I'll tell you the
program for tomorrow morning: / sup
pose you remember, don't you, that the gas
was left burning in the bath room during
the six weeks that we were away last
summer
oh yes, remember" said Mrs. Jobson.
but you remember, don't you. that you
were the last to leave the house when we
went away last year. and that you
II know that that's the claim you set up.
Mrs. Jobson," interrupted Mr.. JObson. but
also know that you were utterly unapie
to substantiate that claim. Nothing uckies
you more. when anything goes wrong
around this establishment, than to be able
by hook or crook. to throw the blame on
me II there's any way In the world tnat
you can do It. It's about ten to one that
II this house were to burn to the ground
while / was on a business trip about 400
miles from the District of Columbia, you'd
rig up some kind of a scheme to make ne
responsible for it. Now. tomorrow morn
ing. after you get dressed and ready TO
start. want you to leave the house to me-
You can run up on the hin and see your
sister and meet me at the station at noon'
or you can make morning raid on what
ever bargain sale that happens to be COM
ing Off tomorrow morning, or you can run
down and look at the Washington relics In
the National Museum during the forenoon
the only stipulation make being that the
house must be left absolutely to me during
the couple Of hours preceding our de-
parture. I'll take the last look around
these premises myself. and
Tt gently put IN IN mrs Mrs o; y0n s TO-
take a final survey to zee that everything
is all right and
mo. Mrs Jobson 1t won't be better for
broke In Mr.. Jobson severely. ~ intend to
arrange matters this time so that there'l
be no chance for division Of responsibility
for anything that goes wrong. If anything
get away. then I'll stand for it-there's
nothing evasive or craw-fishy about me in
these matters.
And so 1t was-f1xed. Mrs. Jobson sent
the housemaid away as soon as the break
fast dishes were washed on the following
morning. and then arrayed herself In her
travelling clothes.
IT shall run up to see my sister on the
HILL" she said to Mr.. Jobson as she was
fixing the brown veil around her hat, land
meet you at the station at a quarter to Il
Now. be sure to remember that the man is
to be here promptly at IL o'clock for
the
You don't need to tell me anything about
the arrangements" interrupted Mr.. JObson.
I've got the whole thing plotted and chart
ed out in my mind, systematically. I'm
assuming the full responsibility myself this
time for the scheme to be carried out cor
rectly in every detail. and the only thing
that you'll have to worry about will be
whether your hat Is on straight not.
just run away now and I'll attend to
things And make a huge mental effort, If
you please, and try not to be more than
three-quarters of an hour behind time in
meeting me at the station"
But" put in Mrs. Jobson, as mildly as
she knew how. you'll surely remember,
won't you. that the man is to call here
promptly at II for the
viii you be good enough to credit me
with enough sense to get under an awning
when 1t rains?" broke in Mr.. Jobson. chop
PLY, and then Mrs. Jobson knew that she
had better keep whatever other suggestions
she had in mind to herself. AS she stood
on the steps. however on her way out she
said. Remember. now. the man for the"
but Mr.. Jobson scowled darkly upon her
and she made for the car
After she had gone Mr.. Jobson lit a cigar
and started on leisurely tour of the house.
II was then little after 10 o'clock. He be-
gan the tour in the basement. taking out
the window screens and locking all the
windows and doors and tightening I'D the
water faucets. He left everything all pat
on the basement floor. Then he strolled
through the rooms on the first floor maxi
Ing everything taut. Then he assembled to
the second floor, washed his hands turned
the water faucets so tight that they would
require wrench to be loosened, and so ON.
The door leading into the store room was
closed. as usual. as he passed by and
figuring that there was nothing to he done
In that room. Mr.. JobsOn did not enter IT.
After completing his round Mr. Jobson
>looked at his watch
"Haif-past TO-" said he to himself. "rn
nave time to get a shave and to go down
Tor box of those cigars of mine before
starting for the station" and. taking a last
satisfied look around. he descended to the
nrst floor with his hand valise. pulled ali
VI ehe snaoes down. went out and locked
the vestibule and the outside doors a fer
MIN. and hoped downtown car
guess maybe everything isn't left snue
and ship-shape In that plant this time "
said he to himself. compIaisantly. as he
clambered aboard the car
He dropped in at his Office after eat+;,.
his shave and CIGARS and became so inter'
ested in some mail on his desk that when
ne suddenly recollected that he was due at
tne STATION he found upon glancing at his
watch. that he was already ten minutes
behind the time he had appointed for Mr.
Jooson to meet him. So he jumped into a
cab and told the driver to drive to the sia-
ton as fast as he could
1t lacked just six minutes to train TINA
when Mr.. Jobson arrived at the station and
round Mrs. JobsOn waiting for him
DID the man come she started tn ask
him. but he hustled over to the ticket win
dow to get the tickets and didn't catch her
question. He returned to her side when
he had bought the tickets.
well. the trains ready" he said. swe.d
better get aboard"
Aren't you going to check the baPeaee7.
inquired Mrs. Jobson
For about half minute Mrs Jobson
thought that Mr.. Jobson was going To fan
down. he looked SO utterly collapsed. weak
at the knees. chagrined sheepish and fool
ish His Jaw fell and he stared yacantlv
at Mrs. Jobson.
Why-I-I- he started to saw. bnt
his throat was hot and dry and the words
wouldn't come.
you left the house before the man came
for the baggage?" sweetly inquired Mrs.
Jobson.
''Ye-ye-ye-es my DEAR did," was Mr.
Jobson's unprecedentedly humble and mild
reply.
Mrs. JobsOn tapped her foot on the sta
ton floor and smiled amiably. Right then
Mr.. Jobson broke his record of many years
He gazed foolishly at Mrs. Jobson and said
in weak. hoarse tone:
ITS on me- I'm the pinhead this time
And that extraordinary admission was
he sob