six o'clock
`` There 's Fernald , the Customs agent ! '' He was right , and as soon as Fernald saw them , he hailed them , asking in surprise how they knew he was going to arrive at that time , and on a freight instead of a passenger train . `` To tell you the truth , Mr. Fernald , '' explained Garry , `` you were the last man on earth that we expected to see right this minute . The reason for our being here involves the telling of a long story , and we must keep a six o'clock engagement in order to prevent an armed posse from going in search of us . Perhaps you 'd better come along , and then we can tell you the story at the same time we tell Mr. Everett . '' `` Who 's Everett ? '' asked Fernald quickly .