ten o'clock
`` No , '' she said defiantly . `` I jest put in a word , that 's all . '' Mrs. John C. swept on in the strain of her hopeful heralding . `` So , soon as Sam told that -- ` twa 'n' t more 'n half an hour ago -- I says to him , ` You go an ' stir up some o ' the boys , an ' ` long towards ten o'clock you jest surround the old Pelton house an ' git him , tea-set an ' all . Stan 's to reason , ' says I , ` it 's an old deserted house , an ' he 's goin ' to git part of a night 's rest there . ` Fore mornin ' he 'll be up an ' put for some banjin ' - place he 's got , an ' then that silver 'll be melted up an ' you never 'll see hide nor hair on ' t again . ' One spell I thought mebbe he was goin ' to build up a fire in the old fireplace an ' melt it right then an ' there ; but John says ` tai n't likely .