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necessary absences from home she； too； went out…of…doors。 This he often
discovered； and would beat her； and she would then also beat him。 After
the beatings one of them would always leave the other forever。 Thus was
Sidney kept in small…talk until Mrs。 Lusk one day really did not come back。
〃Lusk；〃 said the Governor； finishing his story； 〃cried around the saloons
for a couple of days； and then went on hauling poles for the government；
till at last he said he'd heard of a better job south； and next we knew of
him he was round Leavenworth。 Lusk was a pretty poor bird。 Owes me ten
dollars。〃
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃none of us ever knew about him when she came to stay
with Mrs。 Taylor on Bear Creek。 She was Miss Peck when Lin made her
Mrs。 McLean。〃
〃You'll notice；〃 said the Governor； 〃how she has got him under in three
weeks。 Old hand； you see。〃
〃Poor Lin！〃 I said。
〃Lucky； I call him；〃 said the Governor。 〃He can quit her。〃
〃Supposing McLean does not want to quit her？〃
〃She's educating him to want to right now； and I think he'll learn pretty
quick。 I guess Mr。 Lin's romance wasn't very ideal this trip。 Hello！ here
comes Jode。 Jode； won't you lunch with us？ Mr。 Ogden； of New York； Mr。
Jode。 Mr。 Jode is our signal…service officer； Mr。 Ogden。〃 The Governor's
eyes were sparkling hilariously； and he winked at me。
〃Gentlemen； good…morning。 Mr。 Ogden； I am honored to make your
acquaintance；〃 said the signal…service officer。
〃Jode； when is it going to rain？〃 said the Governor； anxiously。
Now Jode is the most extraordinarily solemn man I have ever known。
He has the solemnity of all science； added to the unspeakable weight of
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representing five of the oldest families in South Carolina。 The Jodes
themselves were not old in South Carolina； but immensely so inI think
he told me it was Long Island。 His name is Poinsett Middleton Manigault
Jode。 He used to weigh a hundred and twenty…eight pounds then； but his
health has strengthened in that climate。 His clothes were black； his face
was white； with black eyes sharp as a pin； he had the shape of a spout the
same narrow size all the way downand his voice was as dry and light as
an egg…shell。 In his first days at Cheyenne he had constantly challenged
large cowboys for taking familiarities with his dignity； and they； after one
moment's bewilderment； had concocted apologies that entirely met his
exactions； and gave them much satisfaction also。 Nobody would have hurt
Jode for the world。 In time he came to see that Wyoming was a game
invented after his book of rules was published； and he looked on； but
could not play the game。 He had fallen； along with other incongruities；
into the roaring Western hotch…pot； and he passed his careful； precise days
with barometers and weather…charts。
He answered the Governor with official and South Carolina
impressiveness。 〃There is no indication of diminution of the prevailing
pressure；〃 he said。
〃Well； that's what I thought；〃 said the joyous Governor； 〃so I'm going
to whoop her up。〃
〃What do you expect to whoop up； sir？〃
〃Atmosphere； and all that；〃 said the Governor。 〃Whole business has
got to get a move on。 I've sent for a rain…maker。〃
〃Governor； you are certainly a wag； sir；〃 said Jode； who enjoyed
Barker as some people enjoy a symphony； without understanding it。 But
after we had reached the club and were lunching； and Jode realized that a
letter had actually been written telling Hilbrun to come and bring his
showers with him； the punctilious signal…service officer stated his position。
〃Have your joke； sir；〃 he said； waving a thin； clean hand； 〃but I decline to
meet him。〃
〃Hilbrun？〃 said the Governor； staring。
〃If that's his nameyes； sir。 As a member of the Weather Bureau and
the Meteorological Society I can have nothing to do with the fellow。〃
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〃Glory！〃 said the Governor。 〃Well； I suppose not。 I see your point；
Jode。 I'll be careful to keep you apart。 As a member of the College of
Physicians I've felt that way about homeopathy and the faith…cure。 All very
well if patients will call 'em in； but can't meet 'em in consultation。 But
three months' drought annually； Jode！ It's slowtoo slow。 The Western
people feel that this conservative method the Zodiac does its business by is
out of date。〃
〃I am quite serious； sir；〃 said Jode。 〃And let me express my
gratification that you do see my point。〃 So we changed the subject。
Our weather scheme did not at first greatly move the public。 Beyond
those who made up the purse； few of our acquaintances expressed
curiosity about Hilbrun； and next afternoon Lin McLean told me in the
street that he was disgusted with Cheyenne's coldness toward the
enterprise。 〃But the boys would fly right at it and stay with it if the round…
up was near town； you bet；〃 said he。
He was walking alone。 〃How's Mrs。 McLean to…day？〃 I inquired。
〃She's well；〃 said Lin； turning his eye from mine。 〃Who's your friend
all bugged up in English clothes？〃
〃About as good a man as you；〃 said I； 〃and more cautious。〃
〃Him and his eye…glasses！〃 said the sceptical puncher； still looking
away from me and surveying Ogden； who was approaching with the
Governor。 That excellent man； still at long range； broke out smiling till his
teeth shone； and he waved a yellow paper at us。
〃Telegram from Hilbrun；〃 he shouted； 〃be here to…morrow〃； and he
hastened up。
〃Says he wants a cart at the depot； and a small building where he can
be private；〃 added Ogden。 〃Great； isn't it？〃
〃You bet！〃 said Lin； brightening。 The New Yorker's urbane but obvious
excitement mollified Mr。 McLean。 〃Ever seen rain made； Mr。 Ogden？〃
said he。
〃Never。 Have you？〃
Lin had not。 Ogden offered him a cigar； which the puncher pronounced
excellent； and we all agreed to see Hilbrun arrive。
〃We're going to show the telegram to Jode；〃 said the Governor； and he
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and Og