Evening star., 1942-06-22

golfer who Is seriously considering
taking up grooming for living. Mr..
Kibbee is the actor who is always
Shirley Temples father or uncle or
great-uncle, and Mr.. Hardy is the
man who earned his niche in pos
terlty by gaining IS pounds after
going on the Harper's Bazaar Nine
day Wonder Diet" seven times
hand running.
Up until recently horses have
been the chief sporting interest OF
the Messrs. Crosby, Kibbee and
Hardy. Crosby's horses are famous.
He was the first man to tap the
rich South American field for horses
even slower than American
ones. Hardy's silks (navy blue with
crossed pork chops on the back, and
red-eye ham gravy stains on the
sleeves have finished last at all
the important spas in this country.
Kibbee always had a bet on Bings
and divers horses.
X X X
on the Pacific Coast. The tracks
where the thoroughbreds ran were
turned into camps for the Japa-
nese, so Crosby, Kibbee and Hardy
have formed backgammon stable
At the moment their long thor
oughbred" is one Stu Atkinson.
Atkinson according to Gallaudet
is a beautifully bred, chestnut-col-
ored backgammon player, by Double
out of Cannon. He admits that he
is the best backgammon player in
the world Crosby, Kibbee and
Hardy wonder if he is telling the
truth. A few weeks ago the own
ers" decided to send their pride
against a pair of foreign-looking
gentlemen who appeared at the
Lakeside Golf Club in Hollywood
and offered to play backgammon
for any stake
Crosby "saddled" Atkinson in the
locker room, Kibbee gave him his
last-minute instructions, and Hardy
told him to play a running game
only If necessary.
The duel was fought in the card
room of the club. Knowing the
club, it is easy to picture the scene.
Watching and pulling for Atkinson
were Alan Hale, Bob Hope, Adolph
Menjou. Bill Frawley, Johnny Weiss
muller. Charlie Coburn, Marty Zahn
and a hundred others.
Atkinson, away from the gate with
double skies, cut out the pace for
the foreigners. and held a sub
stantial lead going into his inner
board. The new owners" patted
themselves on the back and started
counting the money they were go
ing to win. Then Atkinson wearied.
He started pulling up lame with ace
deuce throws. On came the for
eigners.
Just like my horses used to do"
said Crosby.
Just like mine used to do," said
Hardy.
Just like my bets used to do"
said Kibbee, calling for Jones, the
club majordomo, to bring him a
tomato juice.
We will now cut to five days later.
The foreigners have beaten
Atkinson at every distance. The
owners of the new stable" are
bleeding from the wallet. They
conferred. They decided that they
had sent Atkinson in without proper
training. They scratched" him
from further stake engagements
with the imported runners and put
him in training.
They are working him exactly
like a horse. Crosby calls him at
6 in the morning. Practice your
throws with the dice" he says.
For an hour Atkinson throws dice.
At 8 Kibbee takes over and drills
him In moving his men to the
nearest point on the next table.
Hardy then cools him off for half
an hour and then instructs him in
the proper methods Of blots.
A few nights ago Atkinson was
an usher at a big wedding. His
owners" insisted he usher with a
backgammon board under his arm.
Next week he will be sent out
against the foreigners once more.
with this tightener under his
belt" Crosby said, I'VE are confident
of victory. Atkinson Is a grand
colt. He will 60 on to become the
Man O. War Of backgammon"
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