twelve o'clock
Twelve o'clock , midday ! The hour they were dreading ! One of the shivering thieves beside the stove drew forth from a ragged pocket the plutocratic timepiece of a millionaire victim . The way his eyes narrowed as he looked at its face told the silent observers that it was twelve o'clock and after . Unconsciously every figure stiffened , every jaw was set , every nostril spread with the intake of air . Every mind 's eye in that fear-sick group leaped afar and drew a picture of the thing that was happening -- then ! At that very instant it was happening !