one o'clock
`` What is that poor boy doing , I wonder ? '' said Mrs. Brinkley to herself . The next morning Dan Mavering knocked at Boardman 's door before the reporter was up . This might have been any time before one o'clock , but it was really at half-past nine . Boardman wanted to know who was there , and when Mavering had said it was he , Boardman seemed to ponder the fact awhile before Mavering heard him getting out of bed and coming barefooted to the door . He unlocked it , and got back into bed ; then he called out , `` Come in , '' and Mavering pushed the door open impatiently . But he stood blank and silent , looking helplessly at his friend .