midnight
For a long time Jimsy read on . At first frequent footsteps passed the door of the stable , but as it grew later these ceased . Folks went to bed early in Meadville . Long before midnight there was not a sound on the streets . Jimsy read doggedly on . But he was painfully conscious of an almost irresistible desire to lie back and doze off , if only for a few seconds . The exciting events of the day had tired him out , nor was the book he was reading one calculated to keep his wits stirring .