3:45
`` If I 'd had the sense of a pack-mule I should have been on the lookout for just such a trap as this . Look at the date of that message ! '' The general manager did look , and shook his head . '' ` Received , 3:45 , P.M. ; Forwarded , 9:17 , P.M. ' That will cost somebody his job . What do we do ? '' `` We get busy at the drop of the hat . Luckily , we have the news , though I 'll bet high it was n't Hawk 's fault that this message came through with no more than eight hours ' delay .