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lin mclean-第16章

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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
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