Evening star., 1923-07-29

| is going TO turn our church into a
burlesque show?"
Siller shrugged his shoulders.
1T will be his property. l reckon VI
he said. and I guess he can do what
he pleases with it,"
Job Sanderson seemed about to
throttle him, but the Rev. Pendlebury
stepped between them and laid his
hand on Jobs thick arm.
ITS no use, Job," he said. The
| law is on his side. / signed the note
in the name of the church with the
| consent of all of you. Mr.. Middle
| mass insisted that 1t be time note
and promised to renew 1t. He's gone
back on us. There's nothing We can
do but pay. And where are we TO
get $l3,o00?"
He turned to Roy Siller.
Couldn't you give US. say. three
days? In three days we could per
| haps raise the money"
Siller spat into the CRATE.
Nothing doing, dominic. Jesse
| Hornbeck's last words were Get the
| dough- / don't mind tellin' you that
| there's a big game runnin' at the inn
! tonight and Jesse could use the
| money very handily there. Well
| his voice hardened. do l get the
money"
saw the beginning of a glitter in
! the Rev. Pendlebury's gray eyes. as
he consulted his watch.
Eight thirty" he said. Your
! money is not due until midnight
Will you wait here. or will you come
| back at II for it?"
I'll wait here. right here" said
Roy Siller, staring at him. suspi-
| ciously.
Gentlemen" the Rev. Pendlebury
| turned to us, I'VE were discussing an
1 other matter when Mr.. Siller came
| in. Wen take 1t up again, If you
wish"
Just a minute, reverend" said Jot
sanderson. He bent over and whis.
pered something to Luke Cobb.
! saw Luke nod. Then Job spoke.
"I guess the rest will agree with
| me-" said Job, when I say that we
| don't want to go any further with
| that other matter. ! reckon we were
| fools to listen for a second to such
a wild yarn, and we're sorry, rever-
| end The matter is closed. Wen
| forget it"
| We all nodded to show we were
behind him.
THE Rev. Pendlebury's eyes were
J. glistening and for the first time
his voice faltered.
Thank you. gentlemen. from the
bottom Of my heart" he said. III
| means everything to me to have your
confidence in my work for the church
| Our church." Then his eye fell
on the striped back of Roy Siller
| lolIing In his chair. Our church.
| he began again, but he couldn't go on
| Roy Siller spat into the fire. Then
| I saw the Rev. Pendlebury's small
| hands go up to his face and pinch
the ends of his white mustache;
( saw the glitter in his gray eyes grow
pace to the door and back. Then
sa wthe glitter in his gra yeyes grow
! sharper. Suddenly he walked to the
ancient desk in the corner of the
| room, sat down, grasped a pen and
| began to write. He finished a short
| note, sealed 1t and handed 1t to Jot
| Sanderson.
! "Elder Sanderson." he said, al
business, ct am going out. You are
mot to open this note till I have beer
gone five minutes. Then do me ont
favor; stay here till midnight and dt
not deliver the keys of the church t.
siller until then. Will you do that?'
| Yes"
VERY good. Good night, gentle
men,"
He closed the door behind him, ant
we heard him go upstairs; then W.
heard him moving around in his bed
room; then, after about ten minutes
we heard the tap. tap tap of his liml
as he came down the stairs; then w
fheard the front door slam as he wen
out.
At last Job Sanderson's stiff, hur
|ried fingers tore open the envelope
His lips read the words to himself
then. louder, to US.
elders and deacons of WillowtoI
Church:
"I herewith resign as your minis
ter"
DANIEL PEEDLEBURY."
We looked at each other biankiy.
'I don't understand" began Luk'
Cobb.
what can he mean?" said Deacon
Peck.
whats he going to dot" said Dea
con Fuller.
"was he insuredT" asked Deacon
Bogardus.
TITS too late to stop him now. any
how" said Job Sanderson.
Roy Siller broke in upon our spec
ulations.
"You might as well hand over tn
keys" he said, if you haven't th'
leash. Then we could all 60 home"
saw the cords stand out on tn
backs Of Job Sanderson's knottet
nstG
you'll wait till IL. siiler." he sail
fierceHa - q