ten minutes to four
He resembled a cat watching beside a gopher hole . By half-past three o'clock he had finished figuring out approximately the amount of money Mrs. Reardon would have in the Hibernia Bank at the end of five years -- figuring on a monthly saving of fifty dollars and interest compounded at the rate of four per cent . So , having satisfied himself that Johnny would yet be a lawyer and the girls learn to play the piano , Mr. Reardon heaved a sigh and reluctantly went to call Michael J. Murphy for the final accounting . At ten minutes to four Mr. Uhl , the second assistant , a man of some thirty years and ordinarily possessed of a disposition as placid as that of a little Jersey heifer , ordered one of his firemen to go and call the watch to relieve them . Mr. Reardon , his monkey wrench firmly grasped in his right hand , knew that at exactly ten minutes to four Mr. Uhl would issue that order -- so he was on the spot to receive the fireman as the latter came leisurely up the greasy steel stairway . As the fellow emerged on deck he paused to wipe his heated brow with a sweat rag and draw in a welcome breath of cool fresh air . He did not succeed in getting his lungs quite full , however , for Michael J. Murphy , lurking beside the door , thrust the barrel of his gun in the fireman 's ribs , effectually curtailing the process of respiration practically at once .