noon
she cried breathlessly . `` A dreadful accident on the railroad , just the other side of Croydon . News telegraphed half an hour ago , '' answered the man , wiping his hot face . `` The noon train ? Was Sir John in it ? Quick , tell me all ! '' `` It was that train , miss , but whether Sir John was in it or not , we do n't know ; for the guard is killed , and everything is in such confusion that nothing can be certain .