six o'clock
If you are here Christmas Day , I 'll send you where you belong . '' Tom took the fifty dollars and the advice ; and the next day -- the day before Christmas , the day set for Rita 's wedding -- Sukey 's father entered Billy 's store , as I have already told you , in great agitation . After Yates had talked to Billy for three or four minutes , the latter hurriedly closed the store door , donned the Brummel coat , and went across the road to the inn where the Indianapolis coach was waiting , and took his place . At six o'clock that evening Dic arrived at Billy Little 's store from his southern expedition . Finding the store door locked , he got the key from the landlord of the inn , in whose charge Billy had left it , went to the post-office , and rejoiced to find a letter from Rita . He eagerly opened it -- and rode home more dead than alive . Rita 's wedding would take place that night at eight o'clock .