ten o'clock
Allison was in evil humor , as is many a better man when beginning to realize that he has made an ass of himself . Wells had been after him with a hot stick on discovering that the only authority for his accusations against Miss Wallen was `` that devil 's tool Elmendorf and a creature of his own coaching . '' Allison knew , moreover , that Forrest was back , commanding a company of his regiment , for his own associates were pouring into his ears their praises for Forrest 's nerve and calm courage in facing with only twenty men a furious mob of nearly a thousand and rescuing some so-called `` scabs '' from their hands , poor fellows who had been pulled from the platforms of the P.Q. & R. trains . `` He 's ` way down below the stock-yards , anyhow , and wo n't be there to-night , '' said Allison to himself : so , at ten o'clock , with Florence on his arm , he entered the brilliantly lighted parlor . It was full of well-gowned women and of men in the appropriate garb of the hour and occasion , while not a few of the officers were in uniform . The general and some of his staff were almost the first to greet them . Presently Mr. Sloan joined the party , and the first thing he did was to begin telling of Forrest 's prediction as to the attitude of the general government in the event of trouble .