midnight
`` Only saw a paragraph in the Chicago papers . It was n't my case , and the only thing that interested me was that the name happened to be the same as assumed by the man I was following -- why ? '' `` Because this gentleman here is Frederick Cavendish , who was reported as killed -- struck down in his apartments on the night of April 16 . Instead he took the midnight flier West and you followed him . The dead man was Tom Burke ; wait a minute and I 'll tell you the story -- all I know of it , at least . '' He told it rapidly , yet omitting no detail of any interest . The two detectives , already half convinced of their mistake , listened fascinated to the strange narrative ; it was a tale of crime peculiarly attractive to their minds ; they could picture each scene in all its colours of reality .