midnight
`` My two men and I were close to that thicket for some time before we broke in on the affair . We heard enough to supply all the evidence that the courts will want against these worthies . '' As the futile questioning was drawing to a close , ` Gene Black suddenly roused himself to say sneeringly : `` Gentlemen , look at your station clock . It 's fifteen minutes before midnight . A quarter of an hour left ! Where 's your through train ? If it reaches here fifteen minutes from now it will be too late . ''