five o'clock
I did n't worry , though , because I thought I knew where she 'd gone . But I would n't ` a ' asked her , -- I 'd as soon slap anybody as quiz 'em , -- an ' besides I knew ' t somebody 'd tell me if I kep ' still . Friendship 'll tell you everything you want to know , if you lay low long enough . An ' sure as the world , ` bout five o'clock in come Mis ' Postmaster Sykes , lookin ' troubled . Folks always looks that way when they come to interfere . Seems ' t she 'd just walked past the poorhouse ruins , an ' she 'd see Elspie settin ' there side of 'em , all alone -- '' ' -- _ singin ' _ , ' says Mis ' Sykes , impressive , -- like the evil was in the music , -- ` sittin ' there singin ' , like she was all possessed . An ' I come up behind her an ' plumped out at her to know _ what _ she was a-doin ' .