midnight
Then there was a mayor . At the time this story opens Mr. Appelby was mayor , and Moses Sagger was chairman of the Selectmen . Mr. Sagger had an ambition to be mayor the next year , and he was working to that end . `` Well , Herbert , '' said Mrs. Dare to her son at dinner the day following the fire , `` I hope you do n't get up to go to any more midnight alarms . '' `` Why , mother ? '' `` Because I was worried to death about you . I knew you would get hurt , and , sure enough , you did . ''