eight o'clock
Shirley left the office . Townsend went to the telephone in the front room . Shirley had delayed his evening meal to fit his appointment at the Model Trucking Company . Near eight o'clock he crossed the street to go up the alley to Cherry Street . At the crossing of the dark alley he encountered a policeman and was greeted casually by that officer . In front of the lighted office he accosted another officer , standing in a darkened area near a car parked in front . `` Maybe this is a warning , '' he thought , as he stepped into the well-lighted office .