Something familiar about it struck Hiram, and the next moment he realized why.
"If that wasn't Bill Bender, I'm a Dutchman," he muttered, his heart beating a little faster.

"But what can he be doing round here at this time of night ?" As he put the question to himself, Bill Bender, walking rapidly, as if he had come from some distance, and had not dodged round the corner a moment before, suddenly appeared from round the angle of the bank building.
"Good evening, Bill," said Hiram, wondering if his eyes were not playing him some queer tricks; "wasn't that you just went round the corner ?" "Who, me ?" blustered Bill.

"You need to visit an oculist, young man.
I've just come from a visit to my aunt's.

It was her birthday, and we had a bully time.

Sat up a little too late, though.