three o'clock
The coolness and courage with which Bob and Joe had acted and the part played by Herb and Jimmy in checking the spread of the flames were not overlooked . The comment that went with it was warm and appreciative , so much so in fact that , while the boys were not wholly displeased with it , they felt , as Joe expressed it , that the reporter was `` spreading it on too thick '' and feared that they would have to undergo no end of `` joshing '' from their mates . Their lessons in school that day did not receive all the attention that was due them , for their minds were taken up pretty fully by the events of the last twenty-four hours . But three o'clock came at last , and with it came the reminder that they were to call on their way home at the Sterling House , in order to see Miss Berwick , in accordance with her request of the day before . Bustling , motherly Mrs. Sterling greeted Bob and Joe with a smile , as they made known their errand . `` So here are the young heroes that the paper has been making so much fuss about , '' she said mischievously , and Bob and Joe blushed to their ears . `` Just wait a minute until I run up and see if Nellie is ready to receive you . ''