nine o'clock
Old Snyder 's house was the second from the western end of the street , Tom Connor 's , three hundred feet distant , came next , while next to Tom 's , another three hundred feet away , was a house which still belonged to Yetmore and was at that moment standing empty . You will wonder , very likely , why I should go into all these details , but you will cease to wonder , I think , when you see presently of what transcendent importance to Joe and me was the situation of these three houses . Joe and I , laying hands on our host 's kit of tools , at once went to work on the window . As Tom had said , it was a simple job , and though it was something of a handicap to work by lamplight , we went at it so vigorously that by nine o'clock we had completed our task -- very much to our satisfaction . Stepping outside to observe the effect , we saw that old Snyder 's windows were lighted up also ; but we had hardly noted that fact when his light went out . `` The old fellow goes to bed early , Joe , '' said I. `` Yes , '' Joe replied ; and then , with a sudden laugh , added : `` My wig , Phil ! I hope there wo n't be anybody coming out from town to-night .