two minutes past twelve
His idea was that he would have to speak loud to have his voice carry . At last he gave up , hot and perspiring from the mental exertion . Outside the drug-store he just had time to catch the last stockyards car . His watch told him that it was two minutes past twelve . He stepped forty-five minutes later into an office in which sat two men with their feet on a desk . The one in his shirt-sleeves was a smug , baldish young man with clothes cut in the latest mode . He was rather heavy-set and looked flabby .