hesaid，“butit’suncertainandcostly。“
TheGovernorhesitatedabouttheholeintheroof，whichHilbruntolduswasforametalpipetoconducthisgeneratedgasesintotheair。TheownerofthebarnhadgonetoLaramie。However，wefoundastove-pipehole，whichsaveddelay。“Andwhatdaywouldyouprefertheshower？“saidHilbrun，afterwehadgoneoverourcontractwithhim。
“Anydaywoulddo，“theGovernorsaid。
ThiswasThursday；andSundaywaschosen，asadaywhennoonehadbusinesstodetainhimfromwitnessingtheshower——thoughitseemedtomethatonweek-days，too，businessinCheyennewasnotsoinexorableasthis。Wegavethestrangerssomeinformationaboutthetown，andleftthem。Thesunwentawayinacloudlesssky，andcamesoagainwhenthestarshadfinishedtheiruntarnishedshining。Fridaywasclearanddryandhot，likethedynastyofblazingdaysthathadgonebefore。
Isawasorryspectacleinthestreet——thebridegroomandthebrideshoppingtogether；or，rather，hewithhiswadofbillswasobedientlypayingforwhatshebought；andwhenImetthemhewascarryingascarletparasolandabonnet-box。Hisbiscuit-shooter，withthelustofpurchaseonher，wasbrilliantlydressed，andpervadedthestreetwithsplendor，likeanescapedparrot。Linwalkedbesideher，butitmightaswellhavebeenbehind，andhisbearingwassodifferentfromhiswontedhappy-go-luckinessthatIhadamindtotakeoffmyhatandsay，“Good-morning，Mrs。Lusk。“Butitwas“Mrs。McLean“Isaid，ofcourse。
Shegavemearemote，imperiousnod，andsaid，“Comeon，Lin，“somethinglikeacrossnurse，whilehe，outofsheerdecency，madeheragood-humored，jocularanswer，andsaidtome，“Ittakesawomantoknowwhattobuyforhouse-keepin，“；whichpoorpieceofhypocrisyendearedhimtomemorethanever。Thepuncherwasnotofthefibretosucceedinkeepingappearances，buthedeservedsuccess，whichtheangelsconsidertobeenough。Iwonderedifdisenchantmenthadsetin，orifthiswereonlythepreliminarystageofsurpriseandwounding，andIfeltthatbutonetestcouldshow，namely，acomingfacetofaceofMr。andMrs。Lusk，perhapsnottobedesired。Neitherwasitlikely。Theassistantrain-makerkepthimselfsteadfastlyinsideornearthebarn，atthenorthcornerofCheyenne，whilethebride，whenshewasinthestreetatall，hauntedtheshopsclearacrosstowndiagonally。
OnthisFridaynoontheappearanceofthemetaltubeabovetheblindbuildingspreadsomeexcitement。Itmovedseveralofthecitizenstopaytheplaceavisitandasktoseethemachine。Thesecallers，ofcourse，sustainedapoliterefusal，andreturnedamongtheirfriendswithacontemptforsuchquackery，andagreatlyheightenedcuriosity；sothatprettysoonyoucouldheardiscussionsatthestreetcorners，andbySaturdaymorningCheyennewastalkingoflittleelse。Thetownprowledaboutthebarnanditsoracularmetaltube，andheardandsawnothing。
TheGovernorandIletitbeconfessedwentthereourselves，sincethetwenty-fourhoursofrequiredpreparationwerenowbegun。Wesmelledforchemicals，andhethoughttherewasasomething，buthavingbeenbredadoctor，distrustedhisimagination。Icouldnotbesuremyselfwhethertherewasanythingornot，althoughIwalkedthreetimesroundthebarn，snuffingasdispassionatelyasIknewhow。Itmightpossiblybechlorine，theGovernorsaid，orsomegasforwhichammoniawasinpartresponsible；
andthiswasallhecouldsay，andwelefttheplace。Theworldwasasstillandthehard，sharphillsasclearandnearasever；andtheskyoverSaharaisnotmoredryandenduringthanwasours。ThistenacityintheelementsplainlygaveJodeamaliciousofficialpleasure。Wecouldtellitbyhistalkatlunch；andwhentheGovernorremindedhimthatnorainwascontractedforuntilthenextday，hementionedthattheapproachofastormissomethingthatmodernscienceisabletoascertainlonginadvance；andhebadeuscometohisofficewheneverwepleased，andseeforourselveswhatsciencesaid。Thiswas，atanyrate，somethingtofilltheafternoonwith，andwewenttohimaboutfive。LinMcLeanjoinedusontheway。Icameuponhimlingeringaloneinthestreet，andhetoldmethatMrs。McLeanwascallingonfriends。Isawthathedidnotknowhowtospendtheshortrecessorholidayhewashaving。Heseemedtoclingtothesocietyofothers，andwiththemforthetimeregainhisgayermind。HehadbecomeconvertedtoOgden，andtheNew-Yorker，onhisside，foundpleasantandrefreshingthisdemocracyofGovernorsandcow-punchers。Jodereceivedusatthesignal-serviceoffice，andbegantoshowushisinstrumentswiththecarefulprideofanorchid-collector。
“Ahairhygrometer，“hesaidtome，wavinghiswax-likehandoverit。
“Theindicationsareobtainedfromtheexpansionandcontractionofapreparedhumanhair，transferredtoanindexneedletraversingthedividedarcof——“
“WhatoildoyouputonthehumanhairJode？“calledouttheGovernor，whohadleftourgroup，andwasgambolingaboutbyhimselfamongthetubesanddials。“Whatwillthisonedo？“heasked，andpokedatawetpaperdisc。ButbeforethecourteousJodecouldexplainthatithadtodowithevaporationandthedew-point，theGovernor’sattentionwandered，andhewasblowingatalittlefan-wheel。Thisinstantlyrevolvedandsetanumberofdialhandsgoingdifferentways。“Hi!“saidtheGovernor，delighted。“Seen’emlikethatdownmines。Registerairvelocityinfeet。
Putitaway，Jode。Youdon’twantthatto-morrow。Whatyou’llneed，Hilbrunsays，isabigoldrain-gaugeandrubbershoes。“
“Ishallrequirenothingofthesort，Governor，“Joderetortedatonce。
“Andyoucangotochurchwithoutyourumbrellainsafety，sir。Seethere。“Hepointedtoastorm-glass，whichwascertainlyasclearascrystal。“Anold-fashionedtest，youwilldoubtlesssay，gentlemen，“Jodecontinued——thoughnoneofuswouldhavesaidanythinglikethat——“butunjustlydiscredited；and，furthermore，itstestimonyiswellcorroborated，asyouwillfindyoumustadmit。“Jode’svoicewasalmostthreatening，andhefetchedonecorroboratorafteranother。Ilookedpassivelyatwetanddrybulbs，atself-recording，dottedregisters；I
caughtthefleetingsoundofwordslike“meniscus“and“terrestrialminimumthermometer，“andInoddedpunctuallywhenJodewentthroughsomecalculation。AtlastIheardsomethingthatIcouldunderstand——aseriesoftelegraphicrepliestoJodefrombrothersignal-serviceofficersallovertheUnitedStates。Hereadeachonethroughfromdateofsignature，andtheyallmadeanyrainto-morrowentirelyimpossible。“AndItellyou，“Jodeconcluded，inhishigh，egg-shellvoice，“there’snochanceofprecipitationnow，sir。Itellyou，sir，“——hewasshriekingjubilantly——
“there’snotadamn’thingtoprecipitate!“
Welefthiminhistriumphamonghisglassandmercury。“Geewhiz!“saidtheGovernor。“Iguesswe’dbettergoandtellHilbrunit’snouse。“
Wewent，andHilbrunsmiledwithacertaincompassionfortheantiquatedscientist。“That’swhattheyallsay，“hesaid。“I’lldomytalkingto-morrow。“
“Ifanyofyougentlemen，oryourfriends，“saidAssistantLusk，steppingup，“feellikedoingalittlebusinessonthis，Iamreadytoaccommodateyou。“
“Whatdoyu’wantthisevenin’？“saidLinMcLean，promptly。
“Fivetoone，“saidLusk。
“Goyu’intwenties，“saidtheimpetuouspuncher；andInowperceivedthiswastobeasportingevent。Linhadhiswadofbillsout——orwhatofitstillsurvivedhisbride’sshopping。“Willyouholdstakes，doctor？“
hesaidtotheGovernor。
Butthatofficiallookedattheclearsky，andthoughthewoulddofivetooneintwentieshimself。Luskaccommodatedhim，andthenOgden，andthenme。Noneofuscouldverywellbestake-holder，butweregisteredourbets，andpromisedtoprocureanuninterestedmanbyeightnextmorning。Ihaveseldomhadsomuchtrouble，andIneversawsuchauniversalsearchforreadymoney。Everymanweaskedtoholdstakesinstantlywhippedouthisownpocketbook，wentinsearchofLusk，anddisqualifiedhimself。ItwasJodehelpedusout。Hewouldnotbet，butwasanxioustoserve，andthuspunishthebraggingLusk。
Sundaywas，asusual，chronicallyfine，withnocloudorbreezeanywhere，andbythetimethechurch-bellswereringing，tentoonewasfreelyoffered。Thebiscuit-shooterwenttochurchwithherfriends，soshemightwearherfineclothesinaworthyplace，whileherfurloughedhusbandrushedaboutCheyenne，entirelyhisownoldselfagain，hiswadofmoneystakedandinJode’skeeping。Manycitizensbitterlylamentedtheirlackofreadymoney。ButitwasagoodthingforthesepeoplethatitwasSunday，andthebanksclosed。
Thechurch-bellsceased；thecongregationssatinside，butoutsidethehottownshowednoSundayemptinessorquiet。Themetaltube，thepossiblesmell，Jode’ssustainedandhaughtyindignation，theextraordinaryassuranceofLusk，allthishadendedbyturningeveryonerestlessandeccentric。Acitizencamedownthestreetwithanumbrella。
Inamomenttheby-standershadreducedittoasordidtangleofribs。
OldJudgeBurrageattemptedtoaddressusatthecorneraboutthevastprogressofscience。Thepostmasterpinnedacardonhisbackwiththewell-knownlegend，“Iamsomewhatofaliarmyself。“Andallthewhilethesunshonehighandhot，whileJodegrewquieterandcolderunderthecertaintyofvictory。Itwasaftertwelveo’clockwhenthepeoplecamefromchurch，andnochangeorsignwastobeseen。Jodetoldus，withachillsmile，thathehadvisitedhisinstrumentsandfoundnonewindications。Fifteenminutesafterthattheskywasbrown。Sudden，padded，dropsicalcloudswerebornintheblueaboveourheads。Theyblackened，andasmartshower，thefirstintwomonths，wetusall，andceased。Thesunblazedout，andtheskycameblueagain，likethoserapid，unconvincingweatherchangesofthedrama。
AmazementatwhatIsawhappeningintheheavenstookmefromthingsonearth，andIwasunawareoftheuniversalfitthatnowseizeduponCheyenneuntilIheardthehighcryofJodeatmyear。Hisusualpunctiliousbearinghadforsakenhim，andheshoutedaliketostrangerandacquaintance：“Itisnohalf-inch，sir!Don’tyoutellme“’Andthecrowdwouldswallowhim，butyoucouldmarkhisvociferouscourseashewentproclaimingtotheworld。“Afailure，sir!Thefellow’sanimpostor，asIwellknew。It’snohalf-inch!“Whichwastrue。
“Whathaveyougottosaytothat？“weaskedHilbrun，swarmingaroundhim。
“Ifyou’lljustkeepcool，“saidhe——“it’sonlythefirstinstalment。InabouttwohoursandahalfI’llgiveyoutherest。“
Soonafterfourthedropsicalcloudsmaterializedonceagainaboveopen-mouthedCheyenne。Noschoolletoutforanunexpectedholiday，noherdofstampededrangecattle，conductsitselfmoremiscellaneously。
Gray，respectablemen，withdaughtersmarried，leapedoverfencesandsprangback，prominentlegislatorshoppedhowlingupanddowndoor-steps，womenwavedhandkerchiefsfromwindowsandporches，thechatteringJodeflewfromanemometertorain-gauge，andoldJudgeBurrageapostrophizedProvidenceinhisfrontyard，withthepostmaster’slabelstillpinnedtohisback。Nobodymindedthesluicingdownpour——thissecondinstalmentwasmuchmoreofathingthanthefirst——andHilbrunalonekeptacalmexterior——thefaceofthemanwholiftsaheavydumb-bellandthrowsanimpressiveglanceattheaudience。AssistantLuskwasbynomeansthusproofagainstsuccessIsawhimputabottlebackinhispocket，hisfacealreadydisintegratedwithatipsyleer。JudgeBurrage，perceivingtherain-maker，cameoutofhisgateandproceededtowardhim，extendingthehandofcongratulation。“Mr。Hilbrun，“saidhe，“IamJudgeBurrage——theHonorableT。ColemanBurrage——andIwillsaythatIammostfavorablyimpressedwithyourshower。“
“Hisshower!“yelpedJode，flourishingmeasurements。
“Why，yu’don’tclaimit’syourn，doyu’？“saidLinMcLean，grinning。
“Itellyouit’snohalf-inchyet，gentlemen，“saidJode，ignoringthefacetiouspuncher。
“You’remistaken，“saidHilbrun，sharply。
“It’saplumbbigshow，half-inchornohalf-inch，“saidLin。
“Ifhe’sshorthedon’tgethismoney，“saidsomeignoblesubscriber“Yes，hewill，“saidtheGovernor，“orI’mashort。He’searnedit。“
“Youbet“’saidLin。“Fairandsquare。Ifthey’regoin’backonyu’，doctor，I’llchip——Shucks!“Lin’shandfellfromtheemptypocket；herememberedhiswadinthestake-holder’shands，andthathenowpossessedpossiblytwodollarsinsilver，alltold。“Ican’tchipin，doctor，“hesaid。“Thathoboovertherehaswonmycash，an’he’sfillingupontheprospectrightnow。Idon’tcare!It’sthebiggestshowI’veeversaw。
You’readandy，Mr。Hilbrun!Whoop!“AndLinclappedtherain-makerontheshoulder，exulting。Hehadbeentoowellentertainedtocarewhathehadinhispocket，andhiswifehadnotyetoccurredtohim。
Theyweredisputingabouttherainfall，whichhadbeenslightlyunderhalfaninchinafewspots，butoveritinmanyothers；andwhilewestoodtalkingintherenewedsunlight，moretelegramswerebroughttoJode，sayingthattherewasnomoistureanywhere，andsimultaneouslywiththese，ridersdashedintotownwiththenewsthattwelvemilesouttherainhadflattenedthegraincrop。Wehadmoreofsuchreportsfromasfarasthirtymiles，andbeyondthattherehadnotbeenadroporacloud。Itstaggeredone’sreason；thebrainwasnumbwithsurprise。