midnight
The train from ` Frisco was very late . It should have arrived at Hugson 's siding at midnight , but it was already five o'clock and the gray dawn was breaking in the east when the little train slowly rumbled up to the open shed that served for the station-house . As it came to a stop the conductor called out in a loud voice : `` Hugson 's Siding ! '' At once a little girl rose from her seat and walked to the door of the car , carrying a wicker suit-case in one hand and a round bird-cage covered up with newspapers in the other , while a parasol was tucked under her arm . The conductor helped her off the car and then the engineer started his train again , so that it puffed and groaned and moved slowly away up the track .