two in the morning
Not a word escaped his lips whereby his keenest , most delighted listener could have probed to the heart of his mood . To the loss of his claim was attributed all his pyrotechnics , and no one , unless it was Rickart , was aware of the old proverbial `` woman in the case , '' who had planted the sting that stung . Rickart , like a worried animal , following the footsteps of his master , sought vainly all night to head Van off and quiet him down in bed . At two in the morning , at McCoppet 's gambling hall , where Van perhaps expected to encounter the jumpers of his claim , the little cashier succeeded at last in commanding Van 's attention . Van had a glass of stuff in his hand -- stuff too strong to be scathed by all the pure food enactments in the world . `` Look here , boy , '' said Rickart , clutching the horseman 's wrist in his hand , `` do you know that Gettysburg , and Nap , and Dave are camping on the desert , waiting for you to come home ? '' Van looked at him steadily .