noon
It was a familiar joke in Clayton that the buggy had a regular track , and that the wheels always ran in the same rut . Once , when Carter Nelson had taken too much egg-nog and his aunt thought he had spinal meningitis , the usual route had been reversed , and again when the blacksmith 's triplets were born . But these were especial occasions . It was a matter for investigation when the doctor 's buggy went over the bridge before noon . `` Anybody sick out this way ? '' asked the miller . The doctor stopped the buggy to explain .