the hour of nine
It did seem to these two boys , after their companions had gone to work , that the hands of the clock would never point to nine . They had walked slowly from their boarding-house to the hotel , hoping to pass away the time by looking in the shop-windows ; and yet , walking as slowly as they did , they were on the sidewalk opposite the house as early as eight o'clock . Since they could not content themselves anywhere else , they remained there until it should be time for them to call , still speculating as to what their good-fortune was to be , and wishing the minutes would pass more quickly . The clock was just striking the hour of nine when they entered the office of the hotel , and found Mr. Weston and Paul evidently awaiting their arrival . Whatever the surprise was that Mr. Weston had in store for them , it was not in the hotel that they were to receive it ; for as soon as they entered Paul and his father started towards them , leading the way out into the street at once . It was quite evident that Paul did not intend to allow himself to run any risk of betraying the secret , for he walked on ahead with his father , glancing over his shoulder every few moments at the puzzled-looking boys behind . Down Twenty-third Street to Sixth Avenue Mr. Weston led the way , and after they had gone down the avenue some distance he entered a neat-looking little periodical and stationary store , nodding familiarly to the proprietor , as if he had been a regular visitor there .