〃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　knew　what　had　come　over　them；　the　base　runners　were　watching　the　man；　edging　off　the　bases；　advancing；　retreating；　held　as　by　an　invisible　cord。　　The　players　of　the　opposing　team　also　watched　Joe。　　They　were　fascinated。　　For　a　moment　they　watched　and　then；　as　though　to　break　a　spell　that　hung　over　them；　they　began　hurling　the　ball　wildly　about；　and　amid　a　se…　ries　of　fierce　animal…like　cries　from　the　coach；　the　runners　of　the　Winesburg　team　scampered　home。
  Joe　Welling's　love　affair　set　the　town　of　Winesburg　on　edge。　　When　it　began　everyone　whispered　and　shook　his　head。　　When　people　tried　to　laugh；　the　laughter　was　forced　and　unnatural。　　Joe　fell　in　love　with　Sarah　King；　a　lean；　sad…looking　woman　who　lived　with　her　father　and　brother　in　a　brick　house　that　stood　opposite　the　gate　leading　to　the　Wines…　burg　Cemetery。
  The　two　Kings；　Edward　the　father；　and　Tom　the　son；　were　not　popular　in　Winesburg。　　They　were　called　proud　and　dangerous。　　They　had　come　to　Winesburg　from　some　place　in　the　South　and　ran　a　cider　mill　on　the　Trunion　Pike。　　Tom　King　was　re…　ported　to　have　killed　a　man　before　he　came　to　Winesburg。　　He　was　twenty…seven　years　old　and　rode　about　town　on　a　grey　pony。　　Also　he　had　a　long　yellow　mustache　that　dropped　down　over　his　teeth；　and　always　carried　a　heavy；　wicked…looking　walking　stick　in　his　hand。　　Once　he　killed　a　dog　with　the　stick。　　The　dog　belonged　to　Win　Pawsey；　the　shoe　merchant；　and　stood　on　the　sidewalk　wagging　its　tail。　　Tom　King　killed　it　with　one　blow。　　He　was　ar…　rested　and　paid　a　fine　of　ten　dollars。
  Old　Edward　King　was　small　of　stature　and　when　he　passed　people　in　the　street　laughed　a　queer　un…　mirthful　laugh。　　When　he　laughed　he　scratched　his　left　elbow　with　his　right　hand。　　The　sleeve　of　his　coat　was　almost　worn　through　from　the　habit。　　As　he　walked　along　the　street；　looking　nervously　about　and　laughing；　he　seemed　more　dangerous　than　his　silent；　fierce…looking　son。
  When　Sarah　King　began　walking　out　in　the　eve…　ning　with　Joe　Welling；　people　shook　their　heads　in　alarm。　　She　was　tall　and　pale　and　had　dark　rings　under　her　eyes。　　The　couple　looked　ridiculous　to…　gether。　　Under　the　trees　they　walked　and　Joe　talked。　His　passionate　eager　protestations　of　love；　heard　coming　out　of　the　darkness　by　the　cemetery　wall；　or　from　the　deep　shadows　of　the　trees　on　the　hill　that　ran　up　to　the　Fair　Grounds　from　Waterworks　Pond；　were　repeated　in　the　stores。　　Men　stood　by　the　bar　in　the　New　Willard　House　laughing　and　talking　of　Joe's　courtship。　　After　the　laughter　came　the　silence。　The　Winesburg　baseball　team；　under　his　manage…　ment；　was　winning　game　after　game；　and　the　town　had　begun　to　respect　him。　　Sensing　a　tragedy；　they　waited；　laughing　nervously。
  Late　on　a　Saturday　afternoon　the　meeting　between　Joe　Welling　and　the　two　Kings；　the　anticipation　of　which　had　set　the　town　on　edge；　took　place　in　Joe　Welling's　room　in　the　New　Willard　House。　　George　Willard　was　a　witness　to　the　meeting。　　It　came　about　in　this　way：
  When　the　young　reporter　went　to　his　room　after　the　evening　meal　he　saw　Tom　King　and　his　father　sitting　in　the　half　darkness　in　Joe's　room。　　The　son　had　the　heavy　walking　stick　in　his　hand　and　sat　near　the　door。　　Old　Edward　King　walked　nervously　about；　scratching　his　left　elbow　with　his　right　hand。　　The　hallways　were　empty　and　silent。
  George　Willard　went　to　his　own　room　and　sat　down　at　his　desk。　　He　tried　to　write　but　his　hand　trembled　so　that　he　could　not　hold　the　pen。　　He　also　walked　nervously　up　and　down。　　Like　the　rest　of　the　town　of　Winesburg　he　was　perplexed　and　knew　not　what　to　do。
  It　was　seven…thirty　and　fast　growing　dark　when　Joe　Welling　came　along　the　station　platform　toward　the　New　Willard　House。　　In　his　arms　he　held　a　bun…　dle　of　weeds　and　grasses。　　In　spite　of　the　terror　that　made　his　body　shake；　George　Willard　was　amused　at　the　sight　of　the　small　spry　figure　holding　the　grasses　and　half　running　along　the　platform。
  Shaking　with　fright　and　anxiety；　the　young　re…　porter　lurked　in　the