noon
He was well known at the county seat , and on no less than three occasions had his name mentioned in the `` big city '' papers in connection with the arrest of notorious horse-thieves . And now the whole town was trembling with a new excitement , due to the recognition accorded her triple official . On Monday morning he had ventured forth from his office in the long-deserted `` calaboose , '' resplendent in a brand-new nickel-plated star . By noon everybody in town knew that he was a genuine `` detective , '' a member of the great organisation known as the New York Imperial Detective Association ; and that fresh honour had come to Tinkletown through the agency of a post-revolution generation . The beauty of it all was that Anderson never lost a shred of his serenity in explaining how the association had implored him to join its forces , even going so far as to urge him to come to New York City , where he could assist and advise in all of its large operations . And , moreover , he had been obliged to pay but ten dollars membership fee , besides buying the blazing star for the paltry sum of three dollars and a quarter . Every passer-by on this bright spring morning offered a respectful `` Howdy '' to Anderson Crow , whose only recognition was a slow and imposing nod of the head .