two to five in the afternoon
A little later came the news that he had sent a counter ultimatum to the representatives of the labor forces sitting in permanence in their hall over McGuire 's saloon . From two o'clock until five the offices of the plant would be open , and all former employees would be paid in full and discharged . Those who failed to make application between the hours named would not be taken back on any terms . From two to five in the afternoon Wahaska , figuratively speaking , held its breath . At half-past three , young Dahlgren , of the _ Daily Wahaskan _ , spoiled a good story for his own paper by spreading the report that most of the men had sullenly drawn their pay , but as yet not a man of them had signed on for further employment . At four o'clock the _ Daily Wahaskan 's _ windows bore a bulletin to the effect that a mass indignation meeting was in progress in front of the Pottery Flat saloon ; and at half-past four it was whispered about that war had been declared . Raymer and Griswold were telegraphing for strike-breakers ; and the men were swearing that the plant would be picketed and that scabs would be dealt with as traitors and enemies .