seven o'clock
`` Delighted ? Well , rather ! '' cried Alex , gleefully , and throwing his school-books into a corner , he dashed up-stairs to change his clothes , hastily ate a lunch his mother had prepared , and fifteen minutes later was hurrying for the depot . Needless to say Alex was a proud boy when shortly after seven o'clock he reached Watson Siding , and at once took over the station for the night . For it is not often a lad of fourteen is given such responsibility , even though brought up on the railroad . Alex was soon to learn that the responsibility was a very real one . The first night passed pleasantly enough , but early the succeeding night , following a day of rain , a heavy spring fog set in , and shortly before ten o'clock Alex found , to his alarm , that he could not make himself heard on the wire by the despatcher .