eight o'clock
Even to keep the _ Post _ silent had been something of a strain upon his instinct for truth , for a voice within him had whispered that an honest journal _ ought _ to have some opinion to express on a matter so locally interesting as this . To publish this editorial would strain the instinct to the breaking point and beyond . For it would be equivalent to saying , whether anybody else but him knew it or not , that he , the present editor of the _ Post _ approved and endorsed West 's position , when the truth was that he did nothing of the sort . At eight o'clock that night , he succeeded , after prolonged search of the town on the part of the switchboard boy , in getting West to the telephone . `` Mr. West , '' said Queed , `` I am very sorry , but I do n't see how I can print your article . '' `` Oh , Lord ! '' came West 's untroubled voice back over the wire .