Monday noon
At these yearly events , every workhand on a ranch went to the fair , whether the cattle starved or not . But with Mr. Brewster 's help , it was so planned that half of them went from Monday morning until Tuesday noon , and then the other half went from Tuesday noon until Wednesday night . In this way each side had plenty of time to spend their hoardings , and to drink all the `` Sure Death '' whisky that could be had in Oak Creek . The great ranch-wagon rumbled away Monday noon , and a gay party it carried , too . The tents were tightly rolled and tied to the sides , while rolls of bedding and hampers of food were stacked under the high front seat . Hard wooden seats were clamped to each side for the travelers to sit upon . Tom Latimer and John kept every one laughing , so that no one complained of the uncomfortable seats that seemed to grow harder the nearer the travelers came to Oak Creek .