ten o'clock
At a late hour a small boy named Newcamp delivered a bulky package to Scattergood , and vanished into the darkness . The package was about large enough to contain a timber leg . The town seethed with politics next morning , and the deacon was in the center of it . The meeting was called for ten o'clock . At nine thirty a small boy wriggled up to the deacon and whispered in his ear . The deacon quickly made his way out of the crowd and down the stairs into the basement room under the barber shop -- for news had been given him of a chance to swap for votes . He burst into the room , and stopped , frowning , for Tilley Newcamp stood before him .