noon
But -- what else has he been paid for ? '' She brooded on this for a while and then determined to take one thing at a time and follow it to a conclusion . So she once more quitted her room and descended by the elevator -- openly , this time -- to the office . It was now noon and the hotel office was filled with guests , and the clerks and bellboys were all busily occupied . Josie wandered carelessly around until she found the stairway leading to the basement . Watching her opportunity she slipped down the stairs . The basement was not as barren as she expected to find it .