noon
Helen 's eyes were wet , but she was smiling . `` No , '' she said softly to Kitty and Stanford , `` that was _ not _ Lawrence Knight . Poor old Larry never could have done that . '' It was a little after the noon hour when Kitty , who , with her father , mother and brothers , had been for dinner at the home of one of their Prescott friends , was crossing the plaza on her way to join Mr. and Mrs. Manning , with whom she was to spend the afternoon . In a less frequented corner of the little park , back of the courthouse , she saw Patches . The cowboy , who had changed from his ranch costume to a less picturesque business garb , was seated alone on one of the benches that are placed along the walks , reading a letter . With his attention fixed upon the letter , he did not notice Kitty as she approached .