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him to me more than ever。 The puncher was not of the fibre to succeed in
keeping appearances； but he deserved success； which the angels consider
to be enough。 I wondered if disenchantment had set in； or if this were
only the preliminary stage of surprise and wounding； and I felt that but
one test could show； namely； a coming face to face of Mr。 and Mrs。 Lusk；
perhaps not to be desired。 Neither was it likely。 The assistant
rain…maker kept himself steadfastly inside or near the barn； at the north
corner of Cheyenne； while the bride； when she was in the street at all；
haunted the shops clear across town diagonally。
On this Friday noon the appearance of the metal tube above the blind
building spread some excitement。 It moved several of the citizens to pay
the place a visit and ask to see the machine。 These callers； of course；
sustained a polite refusal； and returned among their friends with a
contempt for such quackery； and a greatly heightened curiosity； so that
pretty soon you could hear discussions at the street corners； and by
Saturday morning Cheyenne was talking of little else。 The town prowled
about the barn and its oracular metal tube； and heard and saw nothing。
The Governor and I （let it be confessed） went there ourselves； since the
twenty…four hours of required preparation were now begun。 We smelled for
chemicals； and he thought there was a something； but having been bred a
doctor； distrusted his imagination。 I could not be sure myself whether
there was anything or not； although I walked three times round the barn；
snuffing as dispassionately as I knew how。 It might possibly be chlorine；
the Governor said； or some gas for which ammonia was in part responsible；
and this was all he could say； and we left the place。 The world was as
still and the hard； sharp hills as clear and near as ever； and the sky
over Sahara is not more dry and enduring than was ours。 This tenacity in
the elements plainly gave Jode a malicious official pleasure。 We could
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 J