midnight
`` You got me ; I 'll think it over and let you know . '' In spite of his garrulous complaints the grave-digger was at work in a new grave on the sagebrush flat a mile or more from town when the undertaker and the liveryman drove up at midnight with all that remained of Billy Duncan jolting in the box of a lumber wagon . The coffin of unplaned lumber was unloaded at the grave and the liveryman hastened away , for he himself had no liking for these nocturnal drives , but neither was he the man to quarrel with his own interests . If the Health Officer and His Honor , the mayor , asked no questions when the hospital deaths went unreported , he felt that these frequent midnight pilgrimages were no concern of his . The undertaker peered into the shallow grave . `` This hole looks like a chicken had been dustin ' itself . '' `` You 'd think it was deep enough if you was diggin ' in these rocks and drawin ' only $ 5.00 for it , '' was the tart reply .