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tell it by his talk at lunch； and when the Governor reminded him that no
rain was contracted for until the next day； he mentioned that the
approach of a storm is something that modern science is able to ascertain
long in advance； and he bade us come to his office whenever we pleased；
and see for ourselves what science said。 This was； at any rate； something
to fill the afternoon with； and we went to him about five。 Lin McLean
joined us on the way。 I came upon him lingering alone in the street； and
he told me that Mrs。 McLean was calling on friends。 I saw that he did not
know how to spend the short recess or holiday he was having。 He seemed to
cling to the society of others； and with them for the time regain his
gayer mind。 He had become converted to Ogden； and the New…Yorker； on his
side； found pleasant and refreshing this democracy of Governors and
cow…punchers。 Jode received us at the signal…service office； and began to
show us his instruments with the careful pride of an orchid…collector。
〃A hair hygrometer；〃 he said to me； waving his wax…like hand over it。
〃The indications are obtained from the expansion and contraction of a
prepared human hair； transferred to an index needle traversing the
divided arc of〃
〃What oil do you put on the human hair Jode？〃 called out the Governor；
who had left our group； and was gamboling about by himself among the
tubes and dials。 〃What will this one do？〃 he asked； and poked at a wet
paper disc。 But before the courteous Jode could explain that it had to do
with evaporation and the dew…point； the Governor's attention wandered；
and he was blowing at a little fan…wheel。 This instantly revolved and set
a number of dial hands going different ways。 〃Hi！〃 said the Governor；
delighted。 〃Seen 'em like that down mines。 Register air velocity in feet。
Put it away； Jode。 You don't want that to…morrow。 What you'll need；
Hilbrun says； is a big old rain…gauge and rubber shoes。〃
〃I shall require nothing of the sort； Governor；〃 Jode retorted at once。
〃And you can go to church without your umbrella in safety； sir。 See
there。〃 He pointed to a storm…glass； which was certainly as clear as
crystal。 〃An old…fashioned test； you will doubtless say； gentlemen；〃 Jode
continuedthough none of us would have said anything like that〃but
unjustly discredited； and； furthermore； its testimony is well
corroborated； as you will find you must admit。〃 Jode's voice was almost
threatening； and he fetched one corroborator after another。 I looked
passively at wet and dry bulbs； at self…recording； dotted registers； I
caught the fleeting sound of words like 〃meniscus 〃and 〃terrestrial
minimum thermometer；〃 and I nodded punctually when Jode went through some
calculation。 At last I heard something that I could understanda series
of telegraphic replies to Jode from brother signal…service officers all
over the United States。 He read each one through from date of signature；
and they all made any rain to…morrow entirely impossible。 〃And I tell
you；〃 Jode concluded； in his high； egg…shell voice； 〃there's no chance of
precipitation now； sir。 I tell you； sir；〃he was shrieking jubilantly
〃there's not a damn' thing to precipitate！〃
We left him in his triumph among his glass and mercury。 〃Gee whiz！〃 said
the Governor。 〃I guess we'd better go and tell Hilbrun it's no use。〃
We went； and Hilbrun smiled with a certain compassion for the antiquated
scientist。 〃That's what they all say；〃 he said。 〃I'll do my talking
to…morrow。〃
〃If any of you gentlemen； or your friends；〃 said Assistant Lusk； stepping
up； 〃feel like doing a little business on this； I am ready to accommodate
you。〃
〃What do yu' want this evenin'？〃 said Lin McLean； promptly。
〃Five to one；〃 said Lusk。
〃Go yu' in twenties；〃 said the impetuous puncher； and I now perceived
this was to be a sporting event。 Lin had his wad of bills outor what of
it still survived his bride's shopping。 〃Will you hold stakes； doctor？〃
he said to the Governor。
But that official looked at the clear sky； and thought he would do five
to one in twenties himself。 Lusk accommodated him； and then Ogden； and
then me。 None of us could very well be stake…holder； but we registered
our bets； and promised to procure an uninterested man by eight next
morning。 I have seldom had so much trouble； and I never saw such a
universal search for ready money。 Every man we asked to hold stakes
instantly whipped out his own pocketbook； went in search of Lusk； and
disqualified himself。 It was Jode helped us out。 He would not bet； but
was anxious to serve； and thus punish the bragging Lusk。
Sunday was； as usual； chronically fine； with no cloud or breeze anywhere；
and by the time the church…bells were ringing； ten to one was freely
offered。 The biscuit…shooter went to church with her friends； so she
might wear her fine clothes in a worthy place； while her furloughed
husband rushed about Cheyenne； entirely his own old self again； his wad
of money staked and in Jode's keeping。 Many citizens bitterly lamented
their lack of ready money。 But it was a good thing for these people that
it was Sunday； and the banks closed。
The church…bells ceased； the congregations sat inside； but outside the
hot town showed no Sunday emptiness or quiet。 The metal tube； the
possible smell； Jode's sustained and haughty indignation； the
extraordinary assurance of Lusk； all this had ended by turning every one
restless and eccentric。 A citizen came down the street with an umbrella。
In a moment the by…standers had reduced it to a sordid tangle of ribs。
Old Judge Burrage attempted to address us at the corner about the vast
progress of science。 The postmaster pinned a card on his back with the
well…known legend； 〃I am somewhat of a liar myself。〃 And all the while
the sun shone high and hot； while Jode grew quieter and colder under the
certainty of victory。 It was after twelve o'clock when the people came
from church； and no change or sign was to be seen。 Jode told us； with a
chill smile； that he had visited his instruments and found no new
indications。 Fifteen minutes after that the sky was brown。 Sudden；
padded； dropsical clouds were born in the blue above our heads。 They
blackened； and a smart shower； the first in two months； wet us all； and
ceased。 The sun blazed out； and the sky came blue again； like those
rapid； unconvincing weather changes of the drama。
Amazement at what I saw happening in the heavens took me from things on
earth； and I was unaware of the universal fit that now seized upon
Cheyenne until I heard the high cry of Jode at my ear。 His usual
punctilious bearing had forsaken him； and he shouted alike to stranger
and acquaintance： 〃It is no half…inch； sir！ Don't you tell me〃' And the
crowd would swallow him； but you could mark his vociferous course as he
went proclaiming to the world。 〃A failure； sir！ The fellow's an impostor；
as I well knew。 It's no half…inch！〃 Which was true。
〃What have you got to say to that？〃 we asked Hilbrun； swarming around
him。
〃If you'll just keep cool；〃 said he〃it's only the first instalment。 In
about two hours and a half I'll give you the rest。〃
Soon after four the dropsical clouds materialized once again above
open…mouthed Cheyenne。 No school let out for an unexpected holiday； no
herd of stampeded range cattle； conducts itself more miscellaneously。
Gray； respectable men； with daughters married； leaped over fences and
sprang back； prominent legislators hopped howling up and down door…steps；
women waved handkerchiefs from windows and porches； the chattering Jode
flew from anemometer to rain…gauge； and old Judge Burrage apostrophized
Providence in his front yard； with the postmaster's label still pinned to
his back。 Nobody minded the sluicing downpourthis second instalment was
much more of a thing than the firstand Hilbrun alone kept a calm
exteriorthe face of the man who lifts a heavy dumb…bell and throws an
impressive glance at the audience。 Assistant Lusk was by no means thus
proof against success I saw him put a bottle back in his pocket； his face
already disintegrated with a tipsy leer。 Judge Burrage； perceiving the
rain…maker； came out of his gate and proceeded toward him； extending the
hand of congratulation。 〃Mr。 Hilbrun；〃 said he； 〃I am Judge Burragethe
Honorable T。 Coleman Burrageand I will say that I am most favorably
impressed with your shower。〃
〃His shower！〃 yelped Jode； flourishing measurements。
〃Why； yu' don't claim it's yourn； do yu'？〃 said Lin McLean； grinning。
〃I tell you it's no half…inch yet； gentlemen；〃 said Jode； ignoring the
facetious puncher。
〃You're mistaken；〃 said Hilbrun； sharply。
〃It's a plumb big show； half…inch or no half…inch；〃 said Lin。
〃If he's short he don't get his money；〃 said some ignoble subscriber
〃Yes； he will；〃 said the Governor；〃or I'm a short。 He's earned it。〃
〃You bet 〃' said Lin。 〃Fair and square。 If they're goin' back o