seven o'clock
Such was the text of the ultimatum , a certified copy of which Engineer Scott had delivered in person into the hands of the receiver at noon . It was now eight forty-five P.M. . The east-bound night express was ready for the run to A. & T. Junction ; the fast mail , one hour and thirty-five minutes late from the east , was backing in on track nine to take on the city mail . On track eight , pulled down so that the smoke from the engine should not foul the air of the train-shed , the receiver 's private car , with the 1010 for motive power and `` Red '' Callahan in the cab , had been waiting since seven o'clock for the order to run special to Gaston . And as yet the headquarters office had made no sign ; sent no word of reply to the strike notice . Griggs was on for the night run eastward with the express ; and `` Dutch '' Tischer had found himself slated to take the fast mail west . The change of engines on the mail had been effected at the shops ; and when Tischer backed his train in on track nine his berth was beside the 1010 .