midnight
A few editors there were , like Blenkinsop , of _ The Plainsman _ , who maintained stoutly that it sounded the death-knell of the machine , but there was no gainsaying the result . The `` Paramounters '' ticket , with or without the help of the machine , was elected by sweeping majorities everywhere ; and Gantry , roaming the corridors and lounging-rooms of the Railway Club and reading the bulletins as they were posted , shook his head despairingly over each fresh announcement . Late in the evening , finding that the senator 's party had left the Inter-Mountain the day before to drive to Wartrace , the traffic manager called up the Quaretaro Mesa country-house and poured the news of the _ débâcle _ into Evan Blount 's ear . `` We 've gone to the everlasting bow-wows , and Mr. McVickar has disappeared , and the end of the world has come , '' was the way he phrased it for the listening ear ; but the word which came back must have been peculiarly heartening , since from that time on to an hour well past midnight Gantry figured hilariously as the self-constituted host of any and all who would be entertained . At Wartrace Hall there was also rejoicing , albeit of a quieter sort . Five people sat around the cheerful blaze in the library , and when Crowell , whose telegraph instrument was in the adjoining den , had brought the final report from the outlying wards of the capital , he was told to close his key and go to bed . After the young man had withdrawn , the Honorable David rose to stand with his back to the fire .