midnight
`` What a hand to hold in the dark -- the dark of life ! '' he said aloud . `` Courage , soldier ! '' he added , as he opened the door by which he had entered , through which Burlingame had gone , and strode away towards the town of Askatoon , feeling somehow in his heart that before midnight his luck would turn . From the dining-room Kitty had watched him go . `` Courage , soldier ! '' she whispered after him , and she laughed ; but almost immediately she threw her head up with a gasping sigh , and when it was lowered again two tears were stealing down her cheeks .