midday
He faced about to meet her eyes shining with wonder . `` I wanted to ask you , '' she said hastily , `` if -- was it this friend you spoke about -- that found you in the park -- who set you on the road to fortune ? '' `` That 's what he said , '' Duncan answered , twisting his brows whimsically . Like almost all business Radville , Duncan went home for his midday meal . It was n't much of a walk from Sam Graham 's store to Miss Carpenter 's , and he did n't mind in the least . On this particular day he was sincerely hungry , but he had much to think about besides , and between the two he just bolted his food and made off , hot-foot for the store , greatly to the distress of his landlady . Naturally , knowing nothing about Sam 's note , although he knew Pete Willing by sight as the sheriff and town drunkard in one , it did n't worry him at all to discover that gentleman tacking toward the store as he hurried up Beech Street , eager to get back to his job .