five o'clock
Col. Van Ellis seemed to be doing a general business there . Some of the men who came appeared to be canal workmen , and these left what seemed to be reports of some kind . From a break in the wall Ned could hear all that was said and see a great deal of what went on in the front room . At five o'clock a tall , dark , slender man whose black hair was turning gray in places entered the front room by way of the secret stairway in the side wall . He handed some papers to Col. Van Ellis and seated himself without being asked to do so . `` What , as a whole , are the indications ? '' Van Ellis asked .