about noon
`` Yes , '' he said confusedly ; `` yes , ma'am , I think she is . '' Then he felt a curious tingling about his ears and realized , to his consternation , that he was blushing . `` She 's too droopin ' a type for me , '' said Miss Jim , removing an ostrich tip from her angle of vision ; then she continued in a side whisper : `` Say , would you mind making Nick take this bottle of milk at twelve o'clock , and resting a little ? He ai n't as strong as he lets on , and he has sort of sinking spells ` long about noon . '' Receiving the bottle thus surreptitiously offered , and assisting the lady to gather up her bundles , Mr. Opp bowed her out , and turned to face the embarrassing necessity of giving instructions to his new employee . He was relieved to find , however , that the young gentleman in question possessed initiative ; for Nick had promptly removed his coat , and fallen to work , putting things to rights with an energy and ability that caused Mr. Opp to offer up a prayer of heartfelt gratitude . All the morning they worked silently , Mr. Opp toiling over his editorial , with constant references to a small dictionary which he concealed in the drawer of the table , and Nick giving the presses a thorough and much-needed overhauling .