5 o'clock
`` Trust Old Hickory Ellins to find out whether you 're any use or not , '' says I. `` He do n't miss many tricks . If you do get canned , though , you can make up your mind that finance is your short suit . '' Nearly a week goes by without another word from Mr. Ellins . And every night as Brink streamed out with the advance guard at 5 o'clock he 'd stop long enough at my desk to swap a grin with me and whisper : `` Well , I wo n't have to break the news to Dad tonight , anyway . '' `` Nor to the young lady , either , '' says I. `` Oh , I had to spill it to Marjorie , first crack , '' says he . `` She 's helping me hold my breath . '' And then here yesterday mornin ' , as I 'm helping Old Hickory sort the mail , he picks out a letter from our Western manager and slits it open .