twelve o’clock
It was a matter of a few minutes to lay the plan before Mrs. Baird and , with her help , to reach Dr. Farwell by long distance telephone . Over the wire the two men renewed their acquaintance of college days and the doctor was only too delighted to give his consent . In less than an hour the two girls were wrapped up in countless fur robes in the back seat of Uncle Roddy 's comfortable car , while that relieved gentleman was at the wheel , and the chauffeur , always along in case of tire trouble , occupied the seat beside him . As it was twelve o'clock when they started , Uncle Roddy suggested luncheon at the hotel in the village . That was lark number one . The food was terrible , but Uncle Roddy was so funny the way he imitated the waiter and teased the big green parrot , that as long as the food was filling , it did n't matter about the taste . On the road they had two tires blow out , and as the second happened just on the outskirts of Irvington-on-the-Hudson , home of Rip Van Winkle , Uncle Roddy suggested dinner at the Sleepy Hollow Inn .