midnight
Bertha nodded . * * * * * It was after the Olympia had been made over into a larger Tivoli Opera House that Frank met Aleta Boice . She was a member of the chorus . Their acquaintance blossomed from propinquity , for both had a fashion of supping on the edge of midnight at a little restaurant , better known by its sobriquet of `` Dusty Doughnut , '' than by its real name , which long ago had been forgotten . Frank had formed the habit of sitting at a small table somewhat isolated from the others where now and then he wrote an article or editorial . Hitherto it had unvaryingly been at his disposal , for the hour of Frank 's reflection was not a busy one . Therefore he was just a mite annoyed to find his table tenanted by a woman .