Evening star., 1923-07-29

Deacon Peck began to hunt around
for his mittens. The big. bass voice
of Job Sanderson stopped them.
wait a bit" he doomed. 1--WE
promised the reverend we'd stay till
u, and we're going to-"
Roy Siller took a seat, surveyed
our gloom ridden faces with great de-
liberation. then drawled:
"Evenin', gents. l called about a
little matter OF note owed by the
church as party of the first part, to
Mr.. Jesse Hornbeck, party of the sec
ond part. OF course. I'm a bit early.
You've got till IL. If you want
to stand on your legal rights. But
thought you'd be glad to pay now
so we can all go home. I'll trouble
you to hand over, thirteen thousand
in cash. and then I'll give you the
note and the deed to the church prop
erty you executed when you made
the note
He tapped long envelope In his
coat pocket.
Thank you for coming. Mr.. Siller,'
the Rev. Pendlebury said in his level
tone "Of course, If we don't hap
pen to have the money at this time
Mr.. Hornbeck will be kind enough
to extend the note, I'm sure"
"Oh, are your My fingers itched
to choke the gloat out of Sillers voice
Val 6i l.
comm. dominic. My orders were TO
get the money"
And If you do not get it?"
PAY up or close up"
Don't you think If I saw Mr.. Horn
beck and had a talk with HIM"
| Not a chance. dominic" cut in
Siller. IT'D be a waste of breath
| Jesse Hornbeck means business He
amt forgot the cracks that have
been made about him by some people
| in this town. he looked pointedly
round the table-"and now that he:
in the saddle, he's going to ride. He
said to tell you you could bet your
bottom dollar on that"
But" said the Rev. Pendlebury, "ir
good would 1T do him to take over
the property? What use could he
make of , church,"
Roy Siuer spat peevishly. His smile
| was sour Guess | can wait, too,'
he drawled. You might as we'll en-
| joy this place as long as you can.
He sprawled himself with proprie-
| tary air in the Rev. Pendlebury's chair
by the fire.
IVIIE watched the minute hand of the
w clock climb up to the arc toward
twelve. Five minute to twelve. Roy
Siller stood up and began to wind a
gaudy muffier around his pale neck
Deacon Peck began again the search
for his mitten under the table. Job
Sanderson slowly, painfully, straight
ening out his big body; his lips were
shut tight; his hands ploughed down
/ into the deep cave of pocket in his
corduroy trousers. and / heard the
jingle of the church keys. Then We
all heard another sound-a roaring
coughing noise-and we all recogniz-
ed it. 1t was the sound that heraided
the approach of Jesse Hornbeck and
| his red car.
The jingle of keys in Jobs pocket
stopped, and / knew that his big
hand had closed on them vise-liIte, and
stilled them. Hate wrinkles converged
round his eyes. There was a war
like spark behind the spectacles OF
Deacon Fuller; / saw Luke Cobb Bit
ing his lip.
Deacon Peck had gone to the win.
dow.
IT'S Jesse Hornbeck's car. right
enough" he said. Hes coming ur
the path"
| We heard the sound of feet on the
porch, and unconsciously we moved
together. shoulder to shoulder. Roy
Siller took q step forward to greet his
employer; he was smiling widely
Then the door opened.
I A man stepped into the yellow
light. 1t was not Jesse Hornbeck. I,
was q stranger, with the face of ouI
minister. He was dressed in a checked
suit of old fashioned cut. fiamboy-
| ant, ribald sort of suit. The vest. cut
low, revealed an expanse OF stiff
white shirt bosom and in the center
Of the bosom was big diamond stud
that caught the rays Of the oil lamI
and shot them back into our amazed
eyes. A black string bow tie fitted
] Unto an old-tirne collar. On the mans
! head was a wide-brinrned black sloucf
hat, tilted back at an angle. The faot
underneath the hat was the face Of ths
Rev. Pendlebury; 1t was pale. but
1t was calm. and there was
slight smile on 1t. We stood there
gawking at him. We saw him walk
with that slight, hitching limp of his
to the table. We saw his thin right
hand 60 into q pocket of the checked
suit. When he drew 1t out there wa
a large roll OF bills In It; he laid the
money on the table-big bills. yellow
| hundreds.
'M-. siileg," he said, clearly. I'll