midnight
Martin Skidway was an old offender , and through the efforts of Dyke Darrel he and his uncle had been detected in crime and sent to the Missouri State prison for a term of years . It was a mere accident that the detective came upon the escaped young counterfeiter , or rather it was through the young villain 's own foolhardiness that he was again in durance vile . `` I will not serve my time out , you can bet high on that , '' asserted the young prisoner in a confident tone . Dyke Darrel more than half suspected that the young counterfeiter knew something of the late crime on the midnight express , and during the ride to St. Louis he did all that he could to worm a confession from the prisoner . `` It is possible that you may get your freedom at an early day , '' said the detective . `` I have heard of men turning State 's evidence , and profiting by it . '' `` I suppose so . ''