Evening star., 1923-07-29

He hasn't made a move not to-"
said Deacon Peck.
But suppose he won't. what them"
I asked. "At the end of today-at
| twelve midnight-he has a right to
take over the church property. ! asked
Judge Easterly on the way down. Do
| any of you happen to have thirteen
thousand dollars on you?"
Job Sanderson refectively rasped
his thumb along his stubbIed Jaw.
81 reckon we all know about that
note he said. slowly, "and ! reckon
we all know what we can expect
from Jesse Hornbeck. But" he went
on, IT reckon 1t would be almost bet
ter to have no church at all, than to
have one whose minister Is accused
of being an ex-gambler."
Job Sanderson." said. now
you're calling names. What proof
Easy. elder. easy" he said. I'm
not the man to Judge any man with
| out a fair trial. I'm confident
| Reverend PendIebury can clear him.
| self Of this charge"
Then why go any further with
| this miserable business?" I asked.
What grounds have we for even
| suggesting Reverend PendIebury had
a past?"
my brother Matt" said Luke Cobb in
his high, nasal tenor. amt exactly a
fool I admit he started the story. be-
fore he went back to Nome He says
he remembers. his Rondike days like
! they was yesterday and he says he re-
members Diamond Steve Paige, too. I
! admit Reverend Pendlebury don't con-
duct himself like no gambler, but-did
you ever notice the way he picks up the
little cards with the announcements on
them"
| No"
We'll, he shuffies 'em and then fans
'em out exactly like they was a hand at
cards" Luke said this with a trium.
phant air.
BY thunder. that's So" admitted
Deacon Peck.
I've noticed II myself" said Deacon
Bogardus He looks down at the
'nouncement cards sort Of excited like
as if he expected to see three aces
! stead of Ladies' Aid Society will meet
at three"
And when he lays 'em down" pur-
sued Luke Cobb, he don't just lay 'em
down, all at once. like you or / would
No, Stree. He deals 'em down. one at
a time"
You're gabbling like bunch OF
school-kids." I said warmly. II don't
believe he knows an ace-from "a
now-iack."
Neither do l." said Deacon Fuller
Well" said Job Sanderson in his
deep. presiding voice, that's neither
here, there nor elsewhere. I reckon
the best thing for us to do is call
him down, tell him what we've heard.
then tell him we don't believe 1t. and
see what he has to say
DEFORE any one could object he
ID had moved to the door, and called
up the stairs.
"Oh, Mr.. Pendlebury, would you
mind stepping down here a minute?'
On the stairs we heard the brisk,
uneven tap of his limp and the Rev
erend Pendlebury came in smiling. I
felt like dog. I think the others did.
too.
| "At your service, gentlemen" he
said. Job Sanderson flushed and he
| fumbled about with his words.
| We'll. you see, now Reverand," he
began, we've been sort Of hearing
things lately; Of course we don't take
any stock in them, but we feel that
| something ought to be done to-tc
put the kibosh on them, as the boys
say-so-" He stopped and traced
patterns with his thumb nail on the
study table.
Still smiling, the Reverend Pendls'
bury spoke.
| There. there, Job. you've no rea.
son to be flustered. You're doing your
duty. Don't think haven't heard
the talk that's been going round
about me. But before I say any.
thing further about this story you've
heard, I really think we'd better talh
about that note. I've worried about
the other thing"
A series OF loud raps on the front
door made him stop. Deacon Psct
opened the door. Into the, room came
a lanky. iong-nosed, younEish man
Roy Siller, doer OF odd and dirty job,
for Jesse Hornbeck. We all stiffenet
hastily In our chairk
"wsIlr' said JOB Sanderson. custly
| 4
ID OF sILLER lit cigarette, dis
] N charged blue smoke from hi,
I long nose and smiled.
81 guess you amt heard" he said
that Jesse Hornbeck bought a fran
| chise in the Marcus-Gruber buriesqu,
| circuit when he found he was prob,
ably goin' to gave . swell site for 9
theater."
Job sanderson rose Up from hil
chair, his body and voice quivsrinl
/ with wrath.
| you dsmnabIe jackai" he cried
do you mean to say that Hosnhsci