nine o'clock
`` So Hallam 's got that smart young man of his at work , has he ? '' the Freight Agent muttered . `` Well , we 'll see what we can do with him . '' But he deliberately waited till nine o'clock that night before responding . Then opening the telegraph key at his elbow , he called Duncan , and Duncan , who had learned telegraphing , as he had learned many other things , as a part of his equipment for work , promptly went to his key and answered the call . The General Freight Agent spelled out this message : `` Simply impossible to furnish cars you ask . Have n't got them . ''