eight o'clock
None of the boys was what might be called nervous , but when it came to possible danger for the motor girls -- Jack 's sister , his friends and his chum 's friends -- somehow a fear seized each of the three young men ; a fear to which they had thought themselves almost immune . `` There 's the lights from the Wayside , '' announced Jack , a little later , and then they turned their cars into the broad , private roadway . Jack was first to reach the hotel office , but Ed and Walter were almost at his heels . `` Has a party of automobile folks come in here since eight o'clock ? '' he asked of the man at the desk . `` Yes , '' replied the clerk , turning over one page of the big book . The boys ' hearts gave a sort of jerk -- it must be their girls , of course .