midnight
`` I ai n't never seen no spirits walk , but I 've seen folks try to walk that was full of spirits , and there wa 'n' t no visible improvement in their steppin ' . '' This was a pleasant allusion to the departed Mr. Holmes , who was currently said to have `` drunk hisself to death . '' A scarlet flush , which mounted to the roots of Mrs. Holmes 's hair , indicated that the shot had told , and Mrs. Dodd went to her own room , where she carefully locked herself in . She was determined to sit upon her precious spade until midnight , if it were necessary , to keep it . Mrs. Smithers was sitting up in bed with the cold perspiration oozing from every pore , when the kitchen clock struck twelve sharp , quick strokes . The other clocks in the house took up the echo and made merry with it . The grandfather 's clock in the hall was the last to strike , and the twelve deep-toned notes boomed a solemn warning which , to more than one quaking listener , bore a strong suggestion of another world -- an uncanny world at that .