按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
67
… Page 68…
LIN McLEAN
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
68
… Page 69…
LIN McLEAN
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
69
… Page 70…
LIN McLEAN
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