half past five
He had got some detectives , he said , and there was some sort of a story about his having kept right on the train to Salem , Ohio , but if he had they 'd lost the trail there , and anyhow , with the railroad service tied up by the storm there was n't much chance of his getting to Finleyville in time . Luckily Mr. Stitt was in bed with a mustard leaf over his stomach and ice on his head , and did n't know whether it was night or morning . But Thoburn was going around with a watch in his hand , and Mr. Sam was for killing him and burying the body in the snow . At half past five I just about gave up . I was sitting in front of the fire wondering why I 'd taken influenza the spring before from getting my feet wet in a shower , when I had been standing in a mineral spring for so many years that it 's a wonder I 'm not web-footed . It was when I had influenza that the old doctor made the will , you remember . Maybe I was crying , I do n't recall .