The Bum

The BumIt Rained. It Rained.Waves of rain flooded the afternoon. I walked in West Madison Street like a deep-sea diver. An autumn wind slanted the rain and fired it against the town like pistol caps. I moved through this sea bottom of a day soaked, chilled and deeply pleased.I had a use for the rain, a double use. It would help turn me into a bum, an objective advised by my city editor, Mr. Mahoney. "You'll never get this story unless you disguise yourself as a broken-down, witless bit of f...