8 o'clock
The coveted pass to the Yellow Creek gold-field lay but eight miles distant , and as the K. & Z. was still twenty miles east , it appeared certain that the Middle Western would win the great race . The time had passed uneventfully with the three young telegraphers , the end of the second week finding Alex and Jack together with the construction-train at the rail-head , and Wilson Jennings back at the temporary station and material-sidings at the viaduct . Perhaps the last few days had passed least interestingly with Wilson , alone in his little box-car station , not far from the old river-bed . Saturday had seemed particularly slow , for some reason , and shortly after 8 o'clock Wilson threw aside a book he had been reading , and catching up his hat , made for the door , for a brief stroll , previous to retiring . The moon was momentarily showing through a break in the cloudy sky , and looking to the west , Wilson was somewhat surprised to discover the figures of two men approaching . When as he watched they reached the first of a train of tie-cars , and leaving the rails , continued forward in the shadows , Wilson stepped back , in disquiet . The strangers came opposite , and paused , looking toward the station window and speaking in subdued voices .