midnight
He was in the same plight as the manufacturer who has to adulterate and misrepresent his product . If he does not , some one else will ; and the saloon-keeper , unless he is also an alderman , is apt to be in debt to the big brewers , and on the verge of being sold out . The market for `` sitters '' was glutted that afternoon , however , and there was no place for Jurgis . In all he had to spend six nickels in keeping a shelter over him that frightful day , and then it was just dark , and the station houses would not open until midnight ! At the last place , however , there was a bartender who knew him and liked him , and let him doze at one of the tables until the boss came back ; and also , as he was going out , the man gave him a tip -- on the next block there was a religious revival of some sort , with preaching and singing , and hundreds of hoboes would go there for the shelter and warmth . Jurgis went straightway , and saw a sign hung out , saying that the door would open at seven-thirty ; then he walked , or half ran , a block , and hid awhile in a doorway and then ran again , and so on until the hour . At the end he was all but frozen , and fought his way in with the rest of the throng -LRB- at the risk of having his arm broken again -RRB- , and got close to the big stove .