eleven o'clock
I entered my offices , feeling that the blow had already fallen ; and I was surprised , but not relieved , when I found everything calm . `` But fall it will within an hour or so -- before I can move to avert it , '' said I to myself . And fall it did . At eleven o'clock , just as I was setting out to make my first move toward heating old Galloway 's heels for the war-path , Joe came in with the news : `` A general lockout 's declared in the coal regions . The operators have stolen a march on the men who , so they allege , were secretly getting ready to strike . By night every coal road will be tied up and every mine shut down . '' Joe knew our coal interests were heavy , but he did not dream his news meant that before the day was over we would be bankrupt and not able to pay fifteen cents on the dollar .