midnight
They did this , standing on the fringe of a crowd that thronged about the newspaper offices , watching , eager , but patient , the figures which were flashed on a screen . The crowd was less demonstrative than is usual on such occasions . A feeling of anxiety prevailed , a consciousness of vital issues endangered and put to the test . Toward midnight the crowd grew thicker . But it was more joyous now . Taylor and Langdon were leading . It became evident that they must win .