midnight
But they hinted that there had been times in the past when Red had said or done that which could not be forgiven by his victims , and that he had more than once alienated people of standing whose good-will he could not afford to lose . `` He keeps a woodpile back of the house , '' James Macauley had told her once , laughingly , in the last days before she had married Burns , `` where he works off a good deal of high pressure . If you catch a glimpse of him there , at unholy hours , you may know that there 's murder in his heart -- for the moment . Art Chester vows he 's caught him there at midnight , and I do n't doubt it in the least . But -- a woodpile is n't always handy when a man is mad clear through , and when it is n't , and you happen to be the one who 's displeased His Pepperiness , look out ! I give you fair warning , smiles and kisses wo n't always work with him , much as he may like 'em when he 's sane ! '' `` I 'm not afraid , thank you , Jim , '' Ellen had answered , lightly .