midnight
While the agitator was speaking , Billy Rand moved quickly here and there through the crowd , as if searching for some one . After the mass meeting on the street there was a meeting of the Mill workers ' union . Later , Vodell 's inner circle met in the room back of Dago Bill 's pool hall . It was midnight when Billy Rand finally returned to the waiting Interpreter . Evidently he had failed in the mission entrusted to him by the old basket maker . The next morning , Billy Rand again went forth with the Interpreter 's message . On the morning following the day of the funeral scarcely half of the usual force of workmen appeared at the Mill .