1.   They came a few at a time, trying on the bright silks and yards of taffeta.

2.   His last entry came a few hours before he was taken away.

3.   His plea came a few hours before he was scheduled to go to trial.

4.   It came a few hours before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was to meet in Washington with U.S. President George W. Bush.

5.   It came a few hours before polls were to close.

6.   The suicide bombing came a few hours before PLO leader Yasser Arafat met Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Gaza City.