nine o'clock
`` Not if she pauses to think what you did to help another mother out , '' hinted Dave . `` Well , good night , fellows , '' called Dick as he reached his corner . `` We 've had a bully time , but that wo n't get us up early in the morning . '' The bookstore was due to close at nine o'clock , but it was twenty-five minutes after that hour when Dick swung in through the front door . `` Mother , here 's the boy , '' called Mr. Prescott , being the first to espy the returning son . `` Young man , you 'll have to give your mother a good account of yourself . She 's been worrying about you . ''