midnight
The last day of April had arrived ; but the snow banks were still deep in the cañon . Nothing further had been heard from Henry Francis , but the old man at last seemed reconciled . Perhaps Francis was not well enough to come through the snow . It was Sunday , and at midnight came the fatal stroke . He did not regain consciousness , and died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon , May 2 , 1882 . Then strange things happened . Hintzen , a large , heavy man , unused to exercise , appeared on snow-shoes at Sherwood 's house and asked if Mr. Palmer had said anything about his property .