noon
`` Gambling ? '' asked Mrs. Lawrence , whose own first-born left college prematurely because of fatal propensities in that line . `` W-e-l-l , '' answered Elmendorf , pursing up his lips , `` I wo n't say there may not have been something of that kind , but the main trouble is more serious . I speak from excellent authority in saying that the general gave him just sixteen hours in which to pack and start , fixing the noon train to-day as the limit , -- very probably to prevent his seeing the -- er -- woman in the case again . '' -LSB- Illustration -RSB- -LSB- Illustration -RSB- Miss Allison declined to come down to dinner that night , and Mrs. Lawrence had no power to compel her attendance . What she hoped was that when Mr. Allison came in he would send his mandate ; but Mr. Allison did not come .