nine o'clock
A large proportion were young men . To most of them the fact that Slade had fallen into the sheriff 's hands was known ; and I gathered from some aside conversation which reached my ears , that Frank 's idle , spendthrift habits had hastened the present crisis in his father 's affairs . He , too , was in debt to Judge Lyman -- on what account , it was not hard to infer . It was after nine o'clock , and there were not half a dozen persons in the room , when I noticed Frank Slade go behind the bar for the third or fourth time . He was just lifting a decanter of brandy , when his father , who was considerably under the influence of drink , started forward , and laid his hand upon that of his son . Instantly a fierce light gleamed from the eyes of the young man . `` Let go of my hand ! ''