About two o'clock
His capital handwriting and knowledge of book-keeping made him a valuable man for that work . He sat behind his desk with the books before him , and impassively performed his duties , but it was his first public appointment , and he was really deeply gratified . He felt paid for all his year 's hard study . About two o'clock , when the voters were thickest at the polls , a man galloped up with an excited air , and reining in his foaming horse , yelled : `` Deering has withdrawn in favor of Russell ! '' The crowd swarmed out . `` What 's the matter ? '' `` Who spoke ? ''