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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 on yu'；
doctor； I'll chipShucks！〃 Lin's hand fell from the empty pocket； he
remembered his wad in the stake…holder's hands； and that he now possessed
possibly two dollars in silver； all told。 〃I can't chip in； doctor；〃 he
said。 〃That hobo over there has won my cash； an' he's filling up on the
prospect right now。 I don't care！ It's the biggest show I've ever saw。
You're a dandy； Mr。 Hilbrun！ Whoop！〃 And Lin clapped the rain…maker on
the shoulder； exulting。 He had been too well entertained to care what he
had in his pocket； and his wife had not yet occurred to him。
They were disputing about the rainfall； which had been slightly under
half an inch in a few spots； but over it in many others； and while we
stood talking in the renewed sunlight； more telegrams were brought to
Jode； saying that there was no moisture anywhere； and simultaneously with
these； riders dashed into town with the news that twelve miles out the
rain had flattened the grain crop。 We had more of such reports from as
far as thirty miles； and beyond that there had not been a drop or a
cloud。 It staggered one's reason； the brain was numb with surprise。
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 said the rain…maker； 〃I'm packed up； and my train'll
be along soonwould have been along by this； only it's late。 What's the
word as to my three hundred and fifty dollars？〃
Even still there were objections expressed。 He had not entirely performed
his side of the contract。
〃I think different； gentlemen；〃 said he。 〃But I'll unpack and let that
train go。 I can't have the law on you； I suppose。 But if you don't pay
me〃 （the rain…maker put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the
fence） 〃I'll flood your town。〃
In earthquakes and eruptions people end by expecting anything； and in the
total eclipse that was now over all Cheyenne's ordinary standards and
precedents the bewildered community saw in this threat nothing more
unusual than if he had said twice two made four。 The purse was handed
over。
〃I'm obliged；〃 said Hilbrun； simply。
〃If I had foreseen； gentlemen；〃 said Jode； too deeply grieved now to feel
anger； 〃that I would even be indirectly associated with your losing your
money through thisthis absurd occurrence； I would have declined to help
you。 It becomes my duty；〃 he continued； turning coldly to the inebriated
Lusk； 〃to hand this to you； sir。〃 And the assistant lurchingly stuffed
his stakes away。
〃It's worth it；〃 said Lin。 〃He's welcome to my cash。〃
〃What's that you say； Lin McLean？〃 It was the biscuit…shooter； and she
surged to the front。
〃I'm broke。 He's got it。 That's all；〃 said Lin； briefly。
〃Broke！ You！〃 She glared at her athletic young lord； and she uttered a
preliminary howl。
At that long…lost cry Lusk turned his silly face。 〃It's my darling Kate；〃
he said。 〃Why； Kate！〃
The next thing that I knew Ogden and I were grappling with Lin McLean；
for everything had happene