midnight
`` I 'll have the blast against the roadbed here ready in five minutes , Black . '' `` Now , you 'll have three trains stalled along the line tonight , Cub Reade , '' laughed Black sneeringly . `` Getting any train as far as this wo n't count for a copper 's worth ! Your road has to get a through train all the way into Lineville before midnight . We 'll blow out the roadbed here , and then where are you ? '' At these words even the brief hope that had been in Tom Reade 's mind , died out . With the roadbed gone at this point also , he did not see the slightest chance for the S.B. & L. to save its charter or its property rights .