About two o'clock
About a week before the present time he had received a brief letter from his roustabout friend , Baker , dated from a town about fifty miles away , telling him that he had been working on a steady job , but had some business in Pleasantville in a few days , and asked Bart to write him as to the whereabouts of Colonel Harrington . Bart had replied to this letter , wondering what mystery could possibly connect this homeless vagabond and the great ruling magnate of Pleasantville . `` Now then , my friends , '' said Bart briskly , as he saw to it that everything was in order for the sale , `` the motto for the hour is quick action and cash on delivery ! '' About two o'clock there were several arrivals . Half an hour later the place was pretty well filled . There were several village storekeepers , some traveling men from the hotel , and railroad men off duty . Nearly a dozen country rigs drove up to the platform , and the rural population was well represented .