about seven o'clock
In fact , his offer to help was almost too willingly given to suit Dave , who expected him to protest at being dragged out on such a night . No protest came , however ; Lewis slipped into his boots and slicker , explaining meanwhile : `` I 'm sorry this play came up , for I do n't want folks to think I got a gang of thieves workin ' for me . '' But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere to be found . No one had seen him since about seven o'clock , nor could it be discovered where he was spending the night . Dave remembered that it had been about seven when he left Las Palmas , and ascertained , indirectly , that Tad had a telephone . On his way from Austin 's Law had stopped at a rancho for a bite to eat , but he could forgive himself for the delay if , as he surmised , Urbina had been warned by wire of his coming . `` That 's too bad , ai n't it ? ''