midnight
For a time every dream was realized -- the work was put on him by degrees , things ran smoothly , and his despatcher , Garry O'Neill , soon reported him all right . A month later Bud was notified that a despatcher 's trick would shortly be assigned to him , and to the boys from the branch who asked after him he sent word that in a few days he would be showing them how to do business on the main line . The chance came even sooner . O'Neill went hunting the following day , overslept , came down without supper and could not get a quiet minute till long after midnight . Heavy stock trains crowded down over the short line . The main line , in addition to the regular traffic , had been pounded all night with government stores and ammunition , westbound . From the coast a passenger special , looked for in the afternoon , had just come into the division at Bear Dance .