midnight
`` It 's too bad you ca n't stop off , at least for a day or two , '' said Luke to Dave . `` It would suit me down to the ground to have you join us . '' `` And I 'd like first-rate to do it , Luke , '' answered our hero . `` But I promised to be in Washington by to-morrow , and that means that I 've got to take the midnight train from New York City . '' `` Well , we 'll get down to New York by three o'clock this afternoon . That will give us nine hours in which to have a good time . You 've got to come up to our house for dinner , '' continued Luke ; and so it was arranged .