afternoon about six
o'clock
That was a happy invention of mine , about heart disease , '' he continued , with a low laugh . `` Though she only half believed it , she will not dare to run the risk of giving him a shock . '' It was about this time that the quiet tenor of Dodger 's life was interrupted by a startling event . He still continued to visit the piers , and one afternoon about six o'clock , he stood on the pier awaiting the arrival of the day boat from Albany , with a small supply of evening papers under his arm . He had sold all but half a dozen when the boat touched the pier . He stood watching the various passengers as they left the boat and turned their steps in different directions , when some one touched him on the shoulder . Looking up , he saw standing at his side a man of slender figure , with gray hair and whiskers .