2
a.m.
All I had to do was to close my eyes , and I could hear my companions singing that grand old hymn in the greatest city in the world . It was a relief to hear the telegraph instrument , which had been quiet for hours , call my office . Both passenger trains were nearly ten hours late , and were slowly struggling towards my station . It was just 2 a.m. when I received the order from the dispatcher at Winnipeg to detain the east-bound train at my station when she arrived , till the west-bound express crossed her -- double tracks are yet unknown out there . I replied back that I understood the order , and was just about to let the red lantern swing round from the station and face the track , when I was startled by hearing a tremendous kicking and howling at the door . In my surprise , I forgot to turn the lamp which was to signal the engineer to stop at the station for orders . Little wonder I was agitated .