noon
His lower lip dropped in consternation . His excuse for leaving had been completely forgotten . `` A quarter of an hour after school '' was the sentence for the offense , and he opened his geography with a feeling of thankfulness that it had not been more . All about the brick-paved school yard , on the walk , and in the street gutters , were scattered oblongs of blue paper as he scampered from the deserted building at noon . The boy picked one of the handbills up and read with an odd thrill : Professor T. J. O'Reilley 's PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW _ in _ Three Stupendous , Sidesplitting Parts _ at _ NEIGHBORHOOD HALL , _ Monday , October 4 , at 4:15 p.m. _ Punch and Judy . The old favorite as played before the Crowned Heads of Europe .