about four in the afternoon
`` Oh . '' `` Good-by , Mr. Crowe , '' and a click at the other end showed that Mrs. Ellicott had hung up the receiver , leaving him to shriek `` But listen -- '' pitiably into the little black mouthpiece in front of him until Central cut in on him angrily with `` Say , whatcha tryin ' to do , fella ? Break my ear ? '' After cindery hours in a day coach -- the fine and the loss of his Pullman reservation have left him with less than three dollars in cash -- Oliver crawls into Vanamee and Company 's about four in the afternoon . Everybody but Mrs. Wimple and Mr. Tickler is out of Copy for the moment and the former greets him with coy wit . `` Been taking your vacation at Newport , Crowie ? Or didja sneak the Frisco account away from Brugger 's Service when you were out West ? ''