midnight
But then quickly the laughter died . The time for action had come . Mary Burke said that she would stay with what was left of Mrs. Zamboni , to answer the door in case any of the hotel people or the detectives should come . Hal asked Jim Moylan to see Edward , and say that Hal was writing a manifesto to the North Valley workers , and would not be ready to leave until the midnight train . These things agreed upon , Hal shook hands all round , and the eleven men left the room at once , going down stairs and through the lobby , scattering in every direction on the streets . Mrs. Swajka and the pseudo-Mrs . Zamboni followed a minute later -- and , as they anticipated , found the lobby swept clear of detectives .