Twenty-Four Minutes Past Midnight Summary

The Colonel shows up at the cottage the next morning. He demands that Charlie tell him where his dog is and that he be held accountable for his thieving ways. Charlie admits that he stole the dog, and explains why. He refuses to tell the Colonel where the dog is, so Charlie's mother pays the Colonel sixpence for Bertha. The Colonel says that they can eat the dog for all he cares, and that he will accept the sixpence as payment for her, but that Charlie is still fired.

Charlie goes to work for a farmer across town, and doesn't get to see much of his brother or Molly after that. Molly's parents find out about Charlie's theft of the dog, and forbid Molly to see any of the Peaceful family. Charlie tries every day to see...