one o'clock
I can send a wire from there to my firm asking for an indefinite vacation . Oh , they 'll grant it , all right . They want a man like me in their business . '' It was after one o'clock , work was in progress , and Conniston and Jimmie Kent swung into their saddles and started for Valley City . Before they had ridden a mile down the mountainous road Conniston heard Kent whistle softly , and ahead of them , coming to meet them , saw a light pole buggy swiftly approaching . A moment later and the man driving had stopped his horses and was looking with small , shrewd eyes into Conniston 's . He was a short man , round of face , round of eyes , round of stomach .