five minutes to six
Obed reached home even more disgruntled than when he left it . He sat up until after twelve , thinking and smoking , and when he went to bed he had a brilliant idea . The next morning he wrote a letter and posted it . The morning train for Boston , at that season of the year , reached East Harniss at five minutes to six , an `` ungodly hour , '' according to the irascible Mr. Ogden Williams , who , in company with some of his wealthy friends , the summer residents , was petitioning the railroad company for a change in the time-table . When Captain Sol Berry , the depot master , walked briskly down Main Street the morning following Mr. Gott 's eventful evening at the club , the hands of the clock on the Methodist church tower indicated that the time was twenty minutes to six . Issy McKay was already at the depot , the doors of which were open . Captain Sol entered the waiting room and unlocked the ticket rack and the little safe .