eight o'clock
The Overland Limited , aglow with lights , stood in the Dearborn Street station in Chicago waiting for eight o'clock and the last of its fortunate passengers . Near the entrance gates , through which perspiring men and women were hurrying , stood the rear cars of the train . Within these could be seen joyous passengers locating themselves and arranging bags and parcels . In fifteen minutes the long journey of Ned Napier and his chum Alan Hope to the far southwest was to begin .