midnight
But he learned that the grocer at the village , half a mile away , had gasoline for sale , and two young fellows volunteered to go after some while Ted overhauled the car . In half an hour he was ready to start . He made Scrub get into the seat , and , shaking hands with the constable and shouting a merry good-by to the others , he started for St. Louis . It was past midnight when he drew up in front of the Stratford Hotel , hungry and tired . Scrub was fast asleep , and , taking him in his arms , Ted entered the hotel . As he stepped inside , the clerk stared at him as if he had seen a ghost . `` How 's everything ? ''