five o'clock
Warren Smith sat in the ward with the nurse and Gay , and the room was very quiet . It was a long vigil . They were only waiting . At five o'clock he was still alive -- just that , Smith came out to say . Meredith sent his driver with a telegram to Helen which would give Plattville the news that Harkless was found and was not yet gone from them . Homer took the cab and left for the station ; there was a train , and there were things for him to do in Carlow . At noon Meredith sent a second telegram to Helen , as barren of detail as the first : he was alive -- was a little improved .