midnight
I kept on trying , but finally gave up . Could the mob have taken them away ? But Old Joe answered , no , a definite hour had been set . The ex-service men were to gather on the stroke of midnight . We had nearly an hour yet . My first thought was that we should hurry to the Socialist headquarters and get Carpenter out of the way . But my friend pointed out that the place was certain to be watched , and we might find ourselves held up by the armed detectives ; they would hardly take a chance of letting their prey escape at this hour .