about five
in the afternoon
Mr. Stirling had been express agent for the B. & M. for eight years , and was counted a reliable , efficient employee of the company . For some months , however , his health had not been of the best , and Bart had been glad when he was impressed into service to relieve his father when laid up with his occasional foe , the rheumatism , or to watch the office at mealtimes . Bart was on duty in this regard at the present time . It was about five in the afternoon , but it was also the third of July , and that date , like the twenty-fourth of December , was the busiest in the calendar for the little express office . All the afternoon Bart had worked at the desk or helped in getting out packages and boxes for delivery . A little handcart was among the office equipment , and very often Bart did light delivering . On this especial day , however , in addition to the regular freight , Fourth of July and general picnic and celebration goods more than trebled the usual volume , and they had hired a local teamster to assist them .