about ten o'clock
But I 'll have this thing cleared up by then . You do n't appreciate -- you _ ca n't _ appreciate -- what a corking assignment it is . '' Anderson had a peculiarly engaging smile , and five minutes later he was wrecking the pantry of all the edibles his fellow-boarders had overlooked , the while his landlady told him her life 's history , wept over the memory of her departed husband , and confessed that she hoped to get out of the boarding-house business some time . A good night 's sleep and a hearty breakfast put the young man in fine fettle , and about ten o'clock he repaired to a certain rooming-house on Main Street , the number of which he obtained from the clipping in his pocket . A girl answered his ring , but at sight of him she shut the door hurriedly , explaining through the crack : `` Mrs. MacDougal is out and you ca n't come in . '' `` But I want to talk to you . '' `` I 'm not allowed to talk to reporters , '' she declared .