nine o'clock
Great and growing as was her curiosity , the girl asked no more questions . She was determined not to ask them . And the Captain , neither while in the city nor during the homeward journey , referred to the `` hen '' in which he and his friend from Chicago were mutually interested . It was not until nine o'clock that evening , when supper was over and Zoeth , having locked up the store , was with them in the sitting-room , that the hitherto secretive fowl came off the nest . Then Shadrach , having given his partner a look and received one in return , cleared his throat and spoke . `` Mary - ` Gusta , '' he said , `` me and your Uncle Zoeth have got some news for you . I cal ` late you 've been wonderin ' a little mite what that business of Mr. Keith 's and mine was , ai n't you ? ''