About 9 o'clock
Blissam , by thunder ! I went back and found him beside Mrs. Billwock , with a young one on his knee , and as much at home as if he was the uncle of all concerned . I made up my mind that Blissam could n't be any more sociable than I could , and I set out to do my prettiest . About 9 o'clock we both went out together , and , perhaps naturally , drifted to the smoking room of his hotel . He was an old hand on the road , and full of stories of his own and others ' experience . I tried to be a good listener . `` There are some mighty queer men in the trade , '' said he , as he puffed his cigar .