four o'clock
in the afternoon
An advancing step sounded behind him , and , understanding , he moved ahead . After a while the foot-fall again gained upon him , and once more the walk merged into the interminable jog-jog of the back-trail . It was morning when the two began that last relay . It was four o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived amid the outskirts of the scattered prairie terminus which was their destination . Within ten minutes thereafter the two had separated . The older man , in charge of a lank , unshaven frontiersman , chiefly noticeable from a quid of tobacco which swelled one cheek like an abscess , and a nickle-plated star which he wore on the lapel of his coat , was headed for the pretentious white painted building known as the court-house . The younger , catching sight of a wind-twisted sign lettered `` Hotel , '' made for it as though sighting the promised land .