noon
I gave him close scrutiny and saw the look of which I of all men best knew the meaning . The big brown eyes were set on space ; the outer corners of the handsome mouth were drawn hard and tense as though weighted . As I had my wife with me it was impossible to follow him , but when I got home I called up his house and his clubs , intending to ask , him to run up and smoke a cigar with me , but could locate him nowhere . I tried again in the morning without success , but when just before noon the tape began to jump and flash and snarl , I remembered Bob 's ugly mood , and all it portended . Fred Brownley was Bob 's youngest brother , twelve years his junior . He had been with Randolph & Randolph from the day he left college , and for over a year had been our most trusted Stock Exchange man . Bob Brownley , when himself , was as fond of his `` baby brother , '' as he called him , as his beautiful Southern mother was of both ; but when the devil had possession of Bob -- and his option during the past five years had been exercised many a time -- mother and brother had to take their place with all the rest of the world , for then Bob knew no kindred , no friends .