noon
Then he came in and lighted a candle . `` Noon of the 25th , '' said Truxton bitterly . `` In twenty-four hours it will be all over , eh , Spantz ? '' `` At noon to-morrow , '' said Spantz grimly . There were half a dozen men in the outer room , conversing in low , excited tones ; the fervent gesticulations which usually marked their discussions were missing , proving the constraint that had descended upon them . One of them -- it was Julius Spantz -- brought in the food for the prisoners , setting it on the floor between them . `` It is usually the duty of our friend Julius to feed me , '' observed Truxton to his fellow-prisoner .