midnight on Saturday
`` You know an army has to obey orders , do n't you ? '' he floundered on desperately . `` Well , I 'm like a one-man army ; there are a lot of rules I 've got to follow . This is Monday afternoon , and I must reach New York by midnight on Saturday ; that 's ninety miles or more , and you never could make it in the world . I 've got just a dollar and a half , and I must n't beg , borrow , or steal food or a lift or anything , but work my way , and never take any job that 'll pay me more than twenty-five cents . `` Of course , if people invite me to get up and ride with them for a little I can accept , or if they offer me food , but I ca n't ask . Even the money I earn in quarters here and there I must n't use for traveling , but only to buy food or medicine or clothes with .