the hour of nine
Say , you might as well come over an ' stay with me while you 're round here . I do n't reckon you 'll enjoy herdin ' with these rough-necks . '' Bat 's offer was not one to be overlooked by a man in my circumstances , so after supper found me sitting in his kitchen making gloomy forecasts of the future , between cigarettes . Shortly before the moon-faced clock nailed on the wall struck the hour of nine with a great internal whirring , some one tapped lightly on the door . Bat himself answered the knock . His body shut off sight of whoever stood outside . I could just catch the murmur of a subdued voice .