nine o'clock
Mart had had much to say of late of the foreigner 's convincing logic and thrillingly eloquent appeals to the workingman . _ There _ was the man to wring the neck of capital and bring the bloated bond-holders to terms , said he . Mart never missed a meeting where Elmendorf was to speak , and had more than once been brought home , fuddled , in the cab which conveyed the agitator back to the scene of his labors in the Allison homestead . The cab was paid for by the Union , and Elmendorf did n't mind having it wait outside while he assisted Mart within and stopped to condole with Mrs. Wallen the elder , or Mrs. Wallen junior , and to inquire significantly , if he did not see her , where Miss Wallen was ; he always supposed the library closed at nine o'clock , and was not aware , he said , that anybody except the janitor was permitted to remain there later . He knew very well that the librarian was sometimes there until nearly midnight . He knew well that it was there and in the evenings , mainly , that Miss Wallen worked at the transcript of Forrest 's reports . `` At least , '' as he said to himself , and suggested to others , `` that is the _ ostensible _ purpose of her frequently prolonged visits . ''