ten o'clock
He was a devotee of the moving pictures , and every nickel he could spare went into the coffers of one or the other of the `` picture palaces '' in Lumberton . Lumberton was a thriving city , with both water-freight and railroad facilities besides its mills and lumber interests ; so it could well support several of the modern houses of entertainment that have sprung up in such mushroom growth all over the land . Mr. Hammond 's films taken at Lumberton were of an educational nature and the Board of Trade of the city expected much advertising of the industries of the place when the films were released . However , to get back to Mrs. Sadoc Smith -- Her instructions from Mrs. Tellingham included the putting out of the lamp in the big room the four Briarwood girls occupied by ten o'clock every night ; but Mrs. Smith allowed Ruth to come downstairs after the other girls were in bed and write under the radiance of the reading lamp on her sitting-room table . It was quiet there , for Mrs. Sadoc Smith either sent Curly to bed , or made him keep as still as a mouse . And there was nobody else to disturb the young author as she wrote , save the cat that delighted to jump up into her lap and lie there purring , while the scenario was being written . Ruth did not avail herself of this privilege often ; but she was desirous for the scenario to be finished and in Mr. Hammond 's hands .