noon
Mr. Flint had not been to the office for two days . A sniffling cold had kept him at home . Claire had rather looked for him to-day , and had prepared herself for a flood of accumulated dictation . But the threat of dampness evidently dissuaded him , for the noon hour came and went and Mr. Flint did not put in an appearance . At about three o'clock in the afternoon a long-distance call came on the telephone for Miss Robson . Claire answered . Flint was on the other end of the wire .