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came upon his lips。 The edges of his teeth that were tipped with gold glistened in the light。 Pouncing upon a by… stander he began to talk。 For the bystander there was no escape。 The excited man breathed into his face； peered into his eyes； pounded upon his chest with a shaking forefinger； demanded； compelled attention。
In those days the Standard Oil Company did not deliver oil to the consumer in big wagons and motor trucks as it does now； but delivered instead to retail grocers； hardware stores； and the like。 Joe was the Standard Oil agent in Winesburg and in several towns up and down the railroad that went through Winesburg。 He collected bills； booked orders； and did other things。 His father； the legislator； had se… cured the job for him。
In and out of the stores of Winesburg went Joe Wellingsilent； excessively polite； intent upon his business。 Men watched him with eyes in which lurked amusement tempered by alarm。 They were waiting for him to break forth； preparing to flee。 Although the seizures that came upon him were harmless enough； they could not be laughed away。 They were overwhelming。 Astride an idea； Joe was overmastering。 His personality became gigantic。 It overrode the man to whom he talked； swept him away； swept all away； all who stood within sound of his voice。
In Sylvester West's Drug Store stood four men who were talking of horse racing。 Wesley Moyer's stallion； Tony Tip； was to race at the June meeting at Tiffin； Ohio； and there was a rumor that he would meet the stiffest competition of his career。 It was said that Pop Geers； the great racing driver； would himself be there。 A doubt of the success of Tony Tip hung heavy in the air of Winesburg。
Into the drug store came Joe Welling； brushing the screen door violently aside。 With a strange ab… sorbed light in his eyes he pounced upon Ed Thomas； he who knew Pop Geers and whose opin… ion of Tony Tip's chances was worth considering。
〃The water is up in Wine Creek；〃 cried Joe Wel… ling with the air of Pheidippides bringing news of the victory of the Greeks in the struggle at Mara… thon。 His finger beat a tattoo upon Ed Thomas's broad chest。 〃By Trunion bridge it is within eleven and a half inches of the flooring；〃 he went on； the words coming quickly and with a little whistling noise from between his teeth。 An expression of help… less annoyance crept over the faces of the four。
〃I have my facts correct。 Depend upon that。 I went to Sinnings' Hardware Store and got a rule。 Then I went back and measured。 I could hardly be… lieve my own eyes。 It hasn't rained you see for ten days。 At first I didn't know what to think。 Thoughts rushed through my head。 I thought of subterranean passages and springs。 Down under the ground went my mind； delving about。 I sat on the floor of the bridge and rubbed my head。 There wasn't a cloud in the sky； not one。 Come out into the street and you'll see。 There wasn't a cloud。 There isn't a cloud now。 Yes； there was a cloud。 I don't want to keep back any facts。 There was a cloud in the west down near the horizon； a cloud no bigger than a man's hand。
〃Not that I think that has anything to do with it。 There it is； you see。 You understand how puzzled I was。
〃Then an idea came to me。 I laughed。 You'll laugh； too。 Of course it rained over in Medina County。 That's interesting； eh？ If we had no trains； no mails； no telegraph； we would know that it rained over in Medina County。 That's where Wine Creek comes from。 Everyone knows that。 Little old Wine Creek brought us the news。 That's interesting。 I laughed。 I thought I'd tell youit's interesting； eh？〃
Joe Welling turned and went out at the door。 Tak… ing a book from his pocket； he stopped and ran a finger down one of the pages。 Again he was ab… sorbed in his duties as agent of the Standard Oil Company。 〃Hern's Grocery will be getting low on coal oil。 I'll see them；〃 he muttered； hurrying along the street； and bowing politely to the right and left at the people walking past。
When George Willard went to work for the Wines… burg Eagle he was besieged by Joe Welling。 Joe en… vied the boy。 It seemed to him that he was meant by Nature to be a reporter on a newspaper。 〃It is what I should be doing； there is no doubt of that；〃 he declared； stopping George Willard on the side… walk before Daugherty's Feed Store。 His eyes began to glisten and his forefinger to tremble。 〃Of course I make more money with the Standard Oil Company and I'm only telling you；〃 he added。 〃I've got noth… ing against you but I should have your place。 I could do the work at odd moments。 Here and there I would run finding out things you'll never see。〃
Becoming more excited Joe Welling crowded the young reporter against the front of the feed store。 He appeared to be lost in thought； rolling his eyes about and running a thin nervous hand through his hair。 A smile spread over his face and his gold teeth glittered。 〃You get out your note book；〃 he com… manded。 〃You carry a little pad of paper in your pocket； don't you？ I knew you did。 Well； you set this down。 I thought of it the other day。 Let's take decay。 Now what is decay？ It's fire。 It burns up wood and other things。 You never thought of that？ Of course not。 This sidewalk here and this feed store； the trees down the street therethey're all on fire。 They're burning up。 Decay you see is always going on。 It doesn't stop。 Water and paint can't stop it。 If a thing is iron； then what？ It rusts； you see。 That's fire； too。 The world is on fire。 Start your pieces in the paper that way。 Just say in big letters 'The World Is On Fire。' That will make 'em look up。 They'll say you're a smart one。 I don't care。 I don't envy you。 I just snatched that idea out of the air。 I would make a newspaper hum。 You got to admit that。〃'
Turning quickly； Joe Welling walked rapidly away。 When he had taken several steps he stopped and looked back。 〃I'm going to stick to you；〃 he said。 〃I'm going to make you a regular hummer。 I should start a newspaper myself； that's what I should do。 I'd be a marvel。 Everybody knows that。〃
When George Willard had been for a year on the Winesburg Eagle； four things happened to Joe Wel… ling。 His mother died； he came to live at the New Willard House； he became involved in a love affair； and he organized the Winesburg Baseball Club。
Joe organized the baseball club because he wanted to be a coach and in that position he began to win the respect of his townsmen。 〃He is a wonder；〃 they declared after Joe's team had whipped the team from Medina County。 〃He gets everybody working together。 You just watch him。〃
Upon the baseball field Joe Welling stood by first base； his whole body quivering with excitement。 In spite of themselves all the players watched him closely。 The opposing pitcher became confused。
〃Now！ Now！ Now！ Now！〃 shouted the excited man。 〃Watch me！ Watch me！ Watch my fingers！ Watch my hands！ Watch my feet！ Watch my eyes！ Let's work together here！ Watch me！ In me you see all the movements of the game！ Work with me！ Work with me！ Watch me！ Watch me！ Watch me！〃
With runners of the Winesburg team on bases； Joe Welling became as one inspired。 Before they k