midnight
The old fire-eater had endeared himself to more than one member of the Sampson Brothers ' Show , for he was always ready to do a favor . So more than Joe were interested in seeing that Ham kept on the good road along which he had started . But all of Joe 's efforts were of no avail . It was after midnight when he ended his search , and , rather than go back to the sleeping car where the other performers spent their night , Joe put up at a hotel , sending word to Jim Tracy of what he intended to do . `` I want to find Ham , '' Joe wrote in the note he sent to the ringmaster by a messenger boy , `` and I 've asked the police to be on the quiet lookout for him . If I stay at the hotel I can help him more quickly , in case he 's found , than if I am away out at the railroad siding where the circus train is . I 'll see you in the morning . ''