noon
Apparently business at this time of the year was not pressing , for , beyond arranging some papers with legal headings , and glancing over a newspaper or two , Dixon did no work . The most of the time he sat industriously smoking , his eyes set upon the uncheerful winter landscape without . Once , when the boy was absent he took from his breast-pocket the pistol , and examined it again with a knitted brow ; after which he locked it in a drawer of the desk , and resumed his pipe . At noon he sent the boy away , and , locking the office-door , turned his face homeward . The town was awake now , or as much so as it was likely to be . A few sleighs and sleds were standing before the doors of the saloons , and it appeared to Dixon that an unwonted excitement prevailed in and about `` Buckey 's , '' all the men visible being gathered before the familiar red door , and all talking at once in even louder tones than usual . As Dixon came nearer , two of the men started forward and approached him .