midnight
Parker regretfully concluded that he must keep his own counsel until some act more overt and ominous forced him to share his responsibility . That evening , as he sat in his room at the tavern , busy with his first figures of the survey , some one knocked and entered at his call , `` Come in ! '' It was the postmaster who appeared at Parker 's invitation to enter . That official stroked down his beard , tipped his chair back , surveyed the young man with the solemnity of the midnight raven and observed : `` I hear you and Colonel Gid had it hot and tight up to Poquette to-day . '' `` There was an argument , '' returned Parker , quietly . `` I do n't want to be considered as meddlin ' with your affairs , Mr. Parker , but I 've known Gid Ward for a good many years , and I want to advise you to look sharp that he does n't do you some pesky mean kind of harm . '' `` I have been warned already , Mr. Dodge . ''