about noon
`` He has gone out west , Mrs. Parloe says , and she does n't expect him back for two or three months . '' `` Gone west , '' cried Nat . `` When did he go ? '' `` He went away about noon . '' `` Did he take any baggage ? '' asked John Garwell . `` Yes , sir , a dress-suit case , and he sent an expressman around for his trunk , too . ''