a quarter to one
Ralph saw him speak to his mother , and a moment later both passed into the cottage . It was now drawing toward noon , and the people began to cross the bridge in both directions , on their way to dinner . Each one either paid a cent or passed over a ticket , sixty-five of which could be had for fifty cents . At a quarter to one the same passengers began to go back to their work , and this was kept up for half an hour , at the end of which the young bridge tender had collected twenty-one cents and forty-three tickets . Several horns now began to blow from both Big Silver and Silver Lakes , showing that the boats wished to pass through the draw . The bridge , which had been closed by Ralph immediately after the rescue of Horace Kelsey , was opened for their accommodation . While the young bridge tender was waiting for the last vessel to clear the draw the young man from New York came back from the cottage , bringing with him the lunch Mrs. Nelson usually brought herself .