the hour of twelve
Only this might at any moment develop into the reality of a Wild Far East . After a moment to give me a chance , Craig himself left the car pulled up close by the side of the road and went ahead on foot . At last he came to the cross-roads just around the bend , where in the moonlight he could read the sign : `` Williams Avenue '' and `` Brownlee Avenue . '' He stood there a moment , then glanced at his watch which registered both hands approaching the hour of twelve . He gazed about at the deserted country . Had the appointment been a hoax , after all , a scheme to get him away from the city for some purpose ? Suddenly , at his feet in the dust of the road something heavy seemed to drop .