Richard Connell

“ That sort of thing makes me sick."
"Matt Cobb didn't exactly say he wag a crook," admitted Cephas. "He said Diamond Steve Paige was known all over the west coast as a square gambler. I don't believe there's no such thing as a square gambler."
"Cephas," I said to him, in my most serious, elders'-meeting manner. "I don't believe a word of this story. Neither should you. We know that Reverend Pendlebury has worked for us night and day for ten years; we know him to be a gentle, good soul, and a real man. Only mighty mean people would believe that story. ”

“ His fat right hand was adorned by a remarkable ring made of an obese gold snake with ruby eyes in the act of being choked to death by a diamond in its mouth the size of a hazel nut. No one doubted the rumor that he had won this ring playing poker with a Chicago traveling man who, on an unlucky evening, had ventured into Bald Eagle Inn. ”

“ Still smiling, the Reverend Pendlebury spoke.
"There, there. Job, you've no reason to be flustered. You're doing your duty. Don't think I haven't heard the talk that's been going round about me. But before I say anything further about this story you've heard. I really think we'd better talk about that note. I've worried about it all day. it's more pressing than the other thing.'"
A series of loud raps on the front door made him stop. Deacon Peck opened the door. Into the room came a lanky, long-nosed, youngish man. Roy Siller, doer of odd and dirty jobs for Jesse Hornbeck. ”

“ Job Sanderson seemed about to throttle him. but the Rev. Pendlebury stepped between them and laid his hand on Job's thick arm.
"it's no use, Job," he said. "The law is on his side. I signed the note in the name of the church with the consent of all of you. Mr. Middlemass insisted that it be a time note and promised to renew it. He's gone back on us. There's nothing we can do but pay. And where are we to get $13,000?"
He turned to Roy Siller. ”

“ I asked. "What grounds have we for even suggesting Reverend Pendlebury had a past?"
"My brother Matt," said Luke Cobb in his high, nasal tenor, "ain't exactly a fool. I admit he started the story, before he went back to Nome. He says he remembers his Klondike days like they was yesterday and he says he remembers Diamond Steve Paige, too. I admit Reverend Pendlebury don't conduct himself like no gambler, but—did you ever notice the way he picks up the little cards with the announcements on them."
"No." ”

“ Our presence on such a mission is an insult to that good man upstairs. Rev. Daniel Pendlebury was never any more a gambler than you were, Job Sanderson, or you, Luke Cebb. We've got enough on our hands as it is, I guess. Do you know that today Is the fifteenth of the month and the note falls due? ”